THE LEGEND OF KANSAI HARDCORE – Book, THE RUSTLER “1988-1994” 2xLP, SWINDLE BITCH “Lonely wolf like a storm – 1993-1995” LP, THE UNDESIRABLES “s/t” LP… preorders start NOW!!
This is a very special month for F.O.A.D. Records, because the main release that we are going to present is a book, a kind of item that isn’t that frequent in the line of releases of a record label… Years ago we published “Dritti contro un muro” – the definitive book on the history of Italian Hardcore/Punk in the ’80s, now we’re back on a similar experiment… What we are going to introduce now is a book documenting the history of Hardcore in a specific area of Japan, the Kansai region. The development of this project required enormous efforts and above all in many cases it meant finding ourselves slammed doors in our face by many people we asked for help in translating. But at the end, due to a really lucky situation, our paths crossed with an old friend who has lived in Tokyo for a long time, married to a Japanese girl, and from him the input and the opportunity to complete this project was reborn! Finally we are happy to announce that the English version of “THE LEGEND OF KANSAI HARDCORE” is ready!! Written by Ishiya of DEATH SIDE and FORWARD in collaboration with Shintani of RAPES, this book is a unique report about the scene that gave birth to legendary bands such as ZOUO, S.O.B., OUTO, RAPES, WARHEAD, NIGHTMARE, MOBS and many more. The book is packed with interviews, rare photos (in stunning quality, full coloured) and at the end you’ll find an extra section all dedicated to the many Japanese Hardcore / Punk / Metal releases on F.O.A.D. Records. And to make it even more outstanding, we have prepared a limited hard-bound cover version with an incredible bonus: a ZOUO / RAPES split flexi disc with unreleased recordings of both bands… ZOUO’s rare track “731” is not appearing on the recent “Agony remains” discography on Relapse!
In conjunction with this, it made sense to release more themed material, so we picked two Japanese bands that we had in our pipeline for some time, both are classic ’80s-’90s Shizuoka Hardcore ragers and both feature a Japanese legend in HC drumming: Akiyama. We’re talking about The RUSTLER and SWINDLE BITCH, of which we’re glad to present total discographies for the first time on vinyl. And to complete another deadly race of F.O.A.D. releases that will hardly be forgotten, we’re moving to the UK to introduce The UNDESIRABLES, a new Hardcore beast seeing the joint venture of two iconic characters that wrote the history of British Punk: TEZZ (Discharge, Broken Bones, Battalion Of Saints and more) & RAT (Varukers, Discharge, The Vile and more)!! So to sum it all up: “THE LEGEND OF KANSAI HARDCORE” – Book (diehard edition with ZOUO / RAPES flexi disc!!), THE RUSTLER “1988-1994” gatefold 2xLP, SWINDLE BITCH “Lonely wolf like a storm – Complete Swindle Bitch 1993-1995” LP and THE UNDESIRABLES “s/t” LP on F.O.A.D. Records are all available on preorder. It goes without saying that the limited versions of these releases will not last long, as we’ve already got hundreds of requests, so we strongly advise you to act fast if you want to secure them to your collection! Planned release date: April 22, 2021!
THE LEGEND OF KANSAI HARDCORE – Book (F.O.A.D. 230)
“Kansai” is a region in Japan that lies in the southern-central territory of Japan’s main island Honshū and includes the prefectures of Mie, Nara, Wakayama, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyōgo and Shiga. The metropolitan area of Osaka, Kobe and Kyoto is the second-most populated in Japan after the Greater Tokyo Area. This book, previously published only in Japanese and now finally translated into English, is incredible journey through the depths of the Kansai Hardcore hell run by none other than Ishiya of DEATH SIDE and FORWARD fame. Teaming up with him in the interviews is Shintani from RAPES, whose career stretches from the early days of the Punk/Metal scene to the present. Packed with interviews, tons of interesting anecdotes and spiced up with rare pictures, this is the definitive work about that legendary scene, a true-to-the-bone, authentic Hardcore report… Bands included: ZOUO, S.O.B., OUTO, RAPES, WARHEAD, NIGHTMARE, MOBS, Charmy & Pon (LAUGHIN’ NOSE, NASHI) and more! Expanded version with an extra chapter all dedicated to the many Japanese Hardcore/Punk/Metal releases on F.O.A.D. Records with artwork and info. All written in English! 172 pages, full color. Watch the trailer HERE
Diehard edition with hard bound cover and ZOUO / RAPES split flexi disc (red) limited to 250 copies
Regular soft cover edition
The RUSTLER “1988-1994” gatefold LP (F.O.A.D. 225)
Another Japanese Hardcore gem on F.O.A.D. Records! Ultrafast, raging, powerful – three words to describe the overall feeling that we get approaching to any of the legendary names spawned by the Shizuoka HC scene. And with no doubt, The RUSTLER were one of the best representatives from there. Here you get their complete discography 1988-1994 consisting of their debut flexi disc, split 7″s with So What and Swindle Bitch, songs from “Shizuoka City Hardcore” and “Who’s chained up to the dogs of outrage!!” compilations and additional rare tracks never released on vinyl until now. 34 songs of uncompromised anger and speed, featuring Akiyama on drums (also in SWINDLE BITCH, ZAMZA, FORWARD and many more). This anthology shows the band’s progression from the early proto-blasting thrash assault of their s/t 10 song flexi disc, not far from the style of Deadless Muss (in their second phase) and early S.O.B., to a more traditional Japanese Hardcore approach. Double LP with gatefold jacket, OBI strip and 20 page booklet including a wide selection of rare photos, gig flyers and scans of the original releases. Watch the trailer HERE
Diehard splatter blue and white vinyl limited to 150 copies
Solid black vinyl limited to 350 copies
SWINDLE BITCH “Lonely wolf like a storm – Complete swindle bitch 1993-1995” LP (F.O.A.D. 226)
Shizuoka City thrashin’ Hardcore explosion!! Complete discography of this fast and raging brigade combining the 80’s/early ’90s tradition of the many legendary acts from their area with a solid thrash backbone and a touch of Burning Spirits Hardcore, enhanced by scorching guitar hooks and the throaty vocals of their frontman aptly named “Gorilla man”! Featuring Akiyama on drums (also in The RUSTLER, ZAMZA, FORWARD and many more). 24 tracks including their demos, the split 7″ with The Rustler, compilation tracks, live and more. Sourced from ultra-rare tapes and remastered for the best sounding impact on vinyl! LP with OBI strip and 16 page booklet with a lot of band photos, flyers, original artwork scans etc.. Watch the trailer HERE
Diehard smokey orange transparent vinyl (180 grams) limited to 150 copies
Solid black vinyl (180 grams) limited to 350 copies
THE UNDESIRABLES “s/t” LP (F.O.A.D. 231)
“Varukers and Discharge main-men go head to head!!“. Pounding, metallic Dis-charged Hardcore delivered by two timeless giants that wrote the history of British Punk: TEZZ (Discharge, Broken Bones, Battalion Of Saints and more) & RAT (Varukers, Discharge, The Vile and more)!! And of course you get the best elements from the 40+ years experience of these two iconic characters: taking the Punk Rock blue print ingrained in their souls and adding a touch of the thrashing vibe that has always distinguished Tezz’s song-writing and the perfect Metal/Punk crossovering of Broken Bones, the 4 brand new studio anthems included here are ready to hit your teeth like a pickaxe! One sided LP (180 grams) with silk screened art on B-side. Includes insert. Watch the trailer HERE
Diehard edition on swirl green blended with grey vinyl (180 grams) limited to 100 copies
Solid black vinyl version (180 grams) limited to 200 copies
