In perfect timing with what was planned, we are proud to announce that the F.O.A.D. round of Japanese thrash-hardcore releases for September is out today! 5 incredible treasures from the past (1987-1996), ranging from well-known names like Asbestos to total niche obscurities like Unhuman Society Death and Gigatic Khmer. The common thread that binds everything together is: these are important underground recordings that would be completely lost without these restoration and reissueing works, in terms of quality and intensity these unknown thrash ragers are very interesting and deserve to be discovered and appreciated.

So to cut it short: ASBESTOS “Agonized cry” 2xLP, NIGA-ROBO “Bloody history of family” 2×7″EP, INZEST “Violence not words” LP (new edition), UNHUMAN SOCIETY DEATH “Demo 1989” LP and GIGATIC KHMER “A fetus – Demo 1989” LP are all out now on F.O.A.D. Records! We have already sent out all pre-orders and within the week we will finish the last wholesales. Beware because the diehard version of NIGA-ROBO is already sold out, and the other 4 are also going very fast. If you want to secure them to your collection, act fast! Next month is 100% hardcore, with 4 incredible releases. We can’t say much yet but among the names there is a true giant of Italian HC that for a very long time has been kept frozen without any chance of being reissued. Stay tuned because it’s a sensational surprise!

More in detail on this month’s 5 x rage-in-hell thrashers:

ASBESTOS “Agonized cry” 2xLP (F.O.A.D. 308)

The second full length of these pioneering Tokyo crusties for the first time on vinyl!  Originally released on CD only by Decontrol records in 1996 and never reissued to this day.. Gloomy, metallic hardcore blended with a strong crustpunk imprint.. if you enjoyed their classic debut “…the final solution” (also reissued by F.O.A.D. one year ago), “Agonized cry” picked up where they left off adding an even darker edge and adding some heavy Amebix/Antisect influences.. Viciously addictive riffs and vitriolic vocals alternating their trademark hoarse tones with full strength shouts. 14 SONGS!  Double LP with OBI strip and insert with lyrics and original artworks. Watch the trailer HERE

Available in the following versions:

Diehard white/black splatter vinyl limited to 150 copies

Solid black vinyl limited to 250 copies

–

NIGA-ROBO “Bloody history of family” 2×7″EP (F.O.A.D. 307)

Pioneering Sapporo City Thrash-Hardcore delivered by veterans of the local Metal/Punk scene (members of Satanic Hell Slaughter, No More Pain, Fast Draw etc..). Lost and found recordings made at Studio Zig in 1989, originally planned to be NIGA-ROBO’s first single but buried to this day due to the rapid disbandment of that line-up… Fast, hard-moshing Thrash rooted in furious Japanese Hardcore!! Double EP housed in a 12 page 7”x7” booklet with lyrics, drawings, photos and liner notes. Watch the trailer HERE

Available in the following versions:

Solid black vinyl limited to 250 copies

–

INZEST “Violence not words” LP (F.O.A.D. 196) NEW EDITION!

By popular demand we have decided to make this fast thrash classic available again.. New edition with different sleeve and vinyl colors, pressed from a way better lacquer cutting than the 1st edition.  Osaka Thrash-core inferno!! Reissue of their cult flexi disc “Another religion another violence” (1987) and rare “Motive of genocide” Demotape (1988). These shortly lived skullcrushers were responsible for some of the fastest and most furious Japanese Hardcore blended with mad thrashing riffs and vitriolic screams. If you’re possessed by the abuse of speed and aggression of bands like S.O.B., Outo, Gudon, Brain Death, Googolplex, Systematic Death etc. you can’t go wrong with this, just put this record up and you’ll be smashed by a bloodshed of manic fast ferocity!  One sided LP with silk-screened artwork on the b-side, OBI strip and insert with rare photos + scans from the EP and demotape.  Watch the trailer HERE

Available in the following versions:

Diehard marble violet vinyl limited to 150 copies (with black silk screened print on B-Side)

Solid black vinyl limited to 200 copies (with violet silk screened print on B-Side)

–

UNHUMAN SOCIETY DEATH “Demo 1989” LP (F.O.A.D. 313)

Another obscure Japanese Thrash gem unearthed.. Blasting Thrash-core force from Tokyo!  Official reissue of the band’s debut demotape recorded in 1989, sourced from the studio master tape. Grind infused Hardcore delivered with unmatchable Japanese HC energy and rage, often speeding things up with furious blast beats! Includes a fanzine styled booklet collecting a lot of rare gig flyers, photos, scans of the original cassette. Recommended to fans of “What’s the truth?”-era S.O.B., ROSEROSE, GENOA and SATANIC HELL SLAUGHTER.
Watch the trailer HERE

Available in the following versions:

Diehard mixed blue/yellow vinyl limited to 150 copies

Solid black vinyl limited to 200 copies

–

GIGATIC KHMER “A fetus – Demo 1989” LP (F.O.A.D. 314)

Official reissue of the band’s only demotape (1989) remastered from the best sounding source available after an accurate selection approved by the band. GIGATIC KHMER is a hidden gem of tight, progressive Thrash blended with a taste of ’80s Crossover HC and a solid guitar work that holds the banner of Japanese Metal high! Formed in 1988 in the Saitama Prefecture, G.K. are only known for their split flexi disc with Hellchild (1990) and this self-released demo. They often performed live at the cult “Thrash live in savagery” events managed by members of Genoa, sharing stage with bands like Hellchild, Shellshock, Warpigs, 666, Des-Poz and Excrow. Members of G.K. also played in Shellshock, Lawshed and Cocobat.  Some early Shellshock songs were originally written by GIGATIC KHMER. 
If you’re into powerful Japanese thrash blending precision with intensity, you definitely need to check this hidden treasure, that finally gets its deserved quality treatment on F.O.A.D. Records.
LP with OBI strip and insert with band photos, flyers, scans of the original cassette and band history in both Japanese and English..   Watch the trailer HERE

Available in the following versions:

Diehard red vinyl limited to 150 copies

Diehard red vinyl limited to 150 copies

After an extremely intense season, between summer festivals and an avalanche of releases that have kept us positively engaged at truly unparalleled levels, we are thrilled to be back to base ready to announce a new bombardment consisting of 5 vinyl thrash-grenades .. It’s useless now say it, the Japanese Metal/Punk formula in conspiracy with F.O.A.D. Records is always a winning card, by now we have lost count of the 100+ F.O.A.D. works dedicated to the most obscure and hard-to-find bands from the remote niches of this country so close to our hearts. And what we’re about to introduce for this month is exactly the sum of it all: 5 little treasures of Japanese Hardcore/Thrash ranging from 1987 to 1996.. needless to say, a golden era! Starting from the best known name, we’re stoked to announce the first time on vinyl of “Agonized cry”, the second album (1996) of the mighty ASBESTOS, then by popular demand we offer you a new version of “Violence not words” – the discography of INZEST, ultra-hardcore at lightning speed, and moving on to the most obscure thrash yet to be discovered, three rare gems from our crypts of rare demos and unreleased recordings: NIGA-ROBO 2×7″, UNHUMAN SOCIETY DEATH with their only demo 1989 on LP and GIGATIC KHMER, another fantastic and worthwhile thrash demotape to be played endlessly.

So to summarize: ASBESTOS “Agonized cry” 2xLP, NIGA-ROBO “Bloody history of family” 2×7″EP, INZEST “Violence not words” LP (new edition), UNHUMAN SOCIETY DEATH “Demo 1989” LP and GIGATIC KHMER “A fetus – Demo 1989” LP are available for pre-order. We will start shipping from September 20th 2023. As usual our recommendations are: 1) these are very limited titles, so if you want to secure the diehard versions don’t think twice.. act fast! As many of you asked for it, we have also made available a ltd. bundle with colored versions of all 5 at a discounted price, don’t miss out… 2) we will do everything possible to start shipping on the announced release date but please don’t stress us with constant requests on when we ship, tracking, changes of address or replacements of items, this is the sort of stuff that slows us down and really gives us nightmares, be patient and we’ll do everything to satisfy you as quickly as humanly possible. And if this month is dedicated to maniacs of Japanese Hardcore Thrash – also paying homage from the F.O.A.D. team to the myth of Sakevi (RIP),  get ready because on the next one we will stay in the Hardcore field, with some classics of intergalactic weight that we can’t wait to reveal!!

More in detail on this month’s 5 x rage-in-hell thrashers:

ASBESTOS “Agonized cry” 2xLP (F.O.A.D. 308)

The second full length of these pioneering Tokyo crusties for the first time on vinyl!  Originally released on CD only by Decontrol records in 1996 and never reissued to this day.. Gloomy, metallic hardcore blended with a strong crustpunk imprint.. if you enjoyed their classic debut “…the final solution” (also reissued by F.O.A.D. one year ago), “Agonized cry” picked up where they left off adding an even darker edge and adding some heavy Amebix/Antisect influences.. Viciously addictive riffs and vitriolic vocals alternating their trademark hoarse tones with full strength shouts. 14 SONGS!  Double LP with OBI strip and insert with lyrics and original artworks. Watch the trailer HERE

Available in the following versions:

Diehard white/black splatter vinyl limited to 150 copies

Solid black vinyl limited to 250 copies

–

NIGA-ROBO “Bloody history of family” 2×7″EP (F.O.A.D. 307)

Pioneering Sapporo City Thrash-Hardcore delivered by veterans of the local Metal/Punk scene (members of Satanic Hell Slaughter, No More Pain, Fast Draw etc..). Lost and found recordings made at Studio Zig in 1989, originally planned to be NIGA-ROBO’s first single but buried to this day due to the rapid disbandment of that line-up… Fast, hard-moshing Thrash rooted in furious Japanese Hardcore!! Double EP housed in a 12 page 7”x7” booklet with lyrics, drawings, photos and liner notes. Watch the trailer HERE

Available in the following versions:

Diehard blood red vinyl limited to 150 copies

Solid black vinyl limited to 250 copies

–

INZEST “Violence not words” LP (F.O.A.D. 196) NEW EDITION!

By popular demand we have decided to make this fast thrash classic available again.. New edition with different sleeve and vinyl colors, pressed from a way better lacquer cutting than the 1st edition.  Osaka Thrash-core inferno!! Reissue of their cult flexi disc “Another religion another violence” (1987) and rare “Motive of genocide” Demotape (1988). These shortly lived skullcrushers were responsible for some of the fastest and most furious Japanese Hardcore blended with mad thrashing riffs and vitriolic screams. If you’re possessed by the abuse of speed and aggression of bands like S.O.B., Outo, Gudon, Brain Death, Googolplex, Systematic Death etc. you can’t go wrong with this, just put this record up and you’ll be smashed by a bloodshed of manic fast ferocity!  One sided LP with silk-screened artwork on the b-side, OBI strip and insert with rare photos + scans from the EP and demotape.  Watch the trailer HERE

Available in the following versions:

Diehard marble violet vinyl limited to 150 copies (with black silk screened print on B-Side)

Solid black vinyl limited to 200 copies (with violet silk screened print on B-Side)

–

UNHUMAN SOCIETY DEATH “Demo 1989” LP (F.O.A.D. 313)

Another obscure Japanese Thrash gem unearthed.. Blasting Thrash-core force from Tokyo!  Official reissue of the band’s debut demotape recorded in 1989, sourced from the studio master tape. Grind infused Hardcore delivered with unmatchable Japanese HC energy and rage, often speeding things up with furious blast beats! Includes a fanzine styled booklet collecting a lot of rare gig flyers, photos, scans of the original cassette. Recommended to fans of “What’s the truth?”-era S.O.B., ROSEROSE, GENOA and SATANIC HELL SLAUGHTER.
Watch the trailer HERE

Available in the following versions:

Diehard mixed blue/yellow vinyl limited to 150 copies

Solid black vinyl limited to 200 copies

–

GIGATIC KHMER “A fetus – Demo 1989” LP (F.O.A.D. 314)

Official reissue of the band’s only demotape (1989) remastered from the best sounding source available after an accurate selection approved by the band. GIGATIC KHMER is a hidden gem of tight, progressive Thrash blended with a taste of ’80s Crossover HC and a solid guitar work that holds the banner of Japanese Metal high! Formed in 1988 in the Saitama Prefecture, G.K. are only known for their split flexi disc with Hellchild (1990) and this self-released demo. They often performed live at the cult “Thrash live in savagery” events managed by members of Genoa, sharing stage with bands like Hellchild, Shellshock, Warpigs, 666, Des-Poz and Excrow. Members of G.K. also played in Shellshock, Lawshed and Cocobat.  Some early Shellshock songs were originally written by GIGATIC KHMER. 
If you’re into powerful Japanese thrash blending precision with intensity, you definitely need to check this hidden treasure, that finally gets its deserved quality treatment on F.O.A.D. Records.
LP with OBI strip and insert with band photos, flyers, scans of the original cassette and band history in both Japanese and English..   Watch the trailer HERE

Available in the following versions:

Diehard red vinyl limited to 150 copies

Solid black vinyl limited to 200 copies

It’s not our style to get to the out-now date of new releases having not yet shipped the preorders, unfortunately in this case we even had to postpone the date of 1 week, due to a series of delays and negligence from the pressing plant… Finally, we have received the last parts missing today (June 29) so from now we’ll start to send everything as quickly as possible. We apologize for this unexpected situation but things went totally out of our control and thank you all for the many preorders and for waiting a bit more than usual. As you can read from the title, 2 out of 4 releases (Inzest and Chinpira) got sold out on preorder, so from today MESSIAH DEATH “Invocated unholy tracks: the most complete collection of Messiah Death” 2xLP gatefold and MILITARY SHADOW “Blood for freedom” LP are officially available and ready to ship. We still have a handful of limited colored vinyl copies of each, so if you haven’t yet secured them to your collection this is the last chance to do it! What to add? Stay tuned and keep an eye on our sites because we decided to tighten the times a bit to catch up with our release schedule, so from next week we’ll start to reveal new F.O.A.D. sonic crimes coming up next!

More in detail about Messiah Death and Military Shadow:

– MESSIAH DEATH “Invocated unholy tracks: the most complete collection of Messiah Death” 2xLP gatefold

Complete discography of these grim and aggressive Japanese Death Metal lunatics! Formed in Tokyo in 1987 on the ashes of Criminal Christ, MESSIAH DEATH stand among the earliest acts to raise the unholy flag of Death Metal in their country along with a handful of bands such as Crucifixion, Beleth, Vexation… considering that Necrophile and Transgressor started a bit later. Their style was originally inspired by classics like Possessed, Death, Slayer but gradually escalated to a much rawer and aggressive Death-thrashing onslaught with echoes of bands like Massacre (US), Morbid Angel, Nihilist combined to influences from the South American school of Mutilator, early Sepultura, Vulcano and so on. This double LP includes the band’s most complete discography to date, with even more tracks than the now hard to find CD collection released in 2013.
Contents:

– “Gore of the crucifix” Demo (1987)

– “Immortal kingdom” Demo (1988)

– “Invocated unholy souls” Demo (1989)

– “Live at Explosion Rock House, Tokyo” (1988)

– BONUS out takes and unreleased versions.

Audio restored from the original band’s sources and specially mastered for vinyl. Gatefold sleeve and MASSIVE full colored booklet including a wide selection of photos, memorabilia, original art, historical notes and lyrics!! Intense, flesh-ripping old school Death Metal at the rawest form! Watch the trailer HERE

Available in 2 different versions:

Diehard beer yellow vinyl with blood-red splattering ltd. to 150 copies

Solid black vinyl limited to 350 copies

==================

– MILITARY SHADOW “Blood for freedom” LP

Total Metal/Punk armageddon from this current-day Japanese terrorsquad! Their 2nd full length album for the first time on vinyl. Get ready for a vicious orgy of metallic Hardcore savagery exploding through incendiary riffs, epic GISM-flavored solos and rabid vocals. A must have for fans of GISM, DEAD ARMYS, THE SEXUAL and PARASITE!

Their debut CD “Metal Punk Ironfist” was undoubtedly a good surprise, but when we first played “Blood for freedom” we had no exitation in asking them if we could put it out on vinyl, it absolutely shreds! Comes with OBI strip and insert including lyrics and band photos. Watch the trailer HERE

Available in 2 different versions:

Diehard transparent red vinyl ltd. to 100 copies

Solid black vinyl limited to 200 copies

…and then another F.O.A.D. month with 4 x brain-melting Japanese Hardcore/Metal releases! Does this need an introduction? Those of you who have been following us in the last 5-6 years have certainly noticed that it’s almost a tradition for F.O.A.D. – once in a while – to dedicate a whole string of monthly outputs to one of the underground areas that has inspired and amazed us most through the years: JAPAN. It would take long to list them all, anyway so far we’ve consecrated to the noble vinyl format bands like NAPALM, SYSTEMATIC DEATH, TOXIC NOISE, SODOM, The GEROGERIGEGEGE, MUSTANG, GESS, HEDO, ROCKY & THE SWEDEN, Q.O.P., MAD CONFLUX, JUNTESS, SLIP HEAD BUTT, EIEFITS, VULGARITY KIDS, JANKY, 惡AI意 and more!

So once again we’re back to drive you through the darkest meanders of a land that continues to prove to be an inexhaustible source of hidden treasures to be discovered and enjoyed… stealing a sentence from a GISM tshirt design: “To hardcore collectors seeking the unusual“! The criminal 4 chosen for this month are the pioneering Tokyo Death Metal horde MESSIAH DEATH finally getting their full discography out on a deluxe double LP set, Osaka’s high speed Thrash/Hardcore maniacs INZEST with an official reissue of their legendary EP with bonus demo tracks, Sapporo City Hardcore veterans  鎮非羅 (Chinpira) seeing their 3 killer demos finally pressed on vinyl and then… if you thought that F.O.A.D. is all centered on reissueing antiquities buried in the past, you’re wrong – as we always keep an eye open on new interesting revelations from the current scene, and this is the case of the Metal/Punk brigade MILITARY SHADOW of which we’re honored to deliver you the deserved vinyl version of their fantastic new full length “Blood for freedom“.

So to cut short, here we are: MESSIAH DEATH “Invocated unholy tracks: the most complete collection of Messiah Death” 2xLP gatefold, INZEST “Violence not words” LP, 鎮非羅 (Chinpira) “Rebel Noise Hardcore Punk” LP and MILITARY SHADOW “Blood for freedom” LP are all up for preorders and you’ve heard this from us dozens of times:  you need to be seriously fast if you want to catch the limited colored vinyl versions, they are expected to get sold out very quick!

More in detail about each release:

– MESSIAH DEATH “Invocated unholy tracks: the most complete collection of Messiah Death” 2xLP gatefold

Complete discography of these grim and aggressive Japanese Death Metal lunatics! Formed in Tokyo in 1987 on the ashes of Criminal Christ, MESSIAH DEATH stand among the earliest acts to raise the unholy flag of Death Metal in their country along with a handful of bands such as Crucifixion, Beleth, Vexation… considering that Necrophile and Transgressor started a bit later. Their style was originally inspired by classics like Possessed, Death, Slayer but gradually escalated to a much rawer and aggressive Death-thrashing onslaught with echoes of bands like Massacre (US), Morbid Angel, Nihilist combined to influences from the South American school of Mutilator, early Sepultura, Vulcano and so on. This double LP includes the band’s most complete discography to date, with even more tracks than the now hard to find CD collection released in 2013.
Contents:

– “Gore of the crucifix” Demo (1987)

– “Immortal kingdom” Demo (1988)

– “Invocated unholy souls” Demo (1989)

– “Live at Explosion Rock House, Tokyo” (1988)

– BONUS out takes and unreleased versions.

Audio restored from the original band’s sources and specially mastered for vinyl. Gatefold sleeve and MASSIVE full colored booklet including a wide selection of photos, memorabilia, original art, historical notes and lyrics!! Intense, flesh-ripping old school Death Metal at the rawest form! Watch the trailer HERE

Available in 2 different versions:

Diehard beer yellow vinyl with blood-red splattering ltd. to 150 copies

Solid black vinyl limited to 350 copies

==================

– INZEST “Violence not words” LP

Osaka Thrash-core inferno!! Official reissue of their cult flexi disc “Another religion another violence” (1987) + rare “Motive of genocide” Demotape (1988). These shortly lived skullcrushers were responsible for some of the fastest and most furious Japanese Hardcore blended with mad thrashing riffs and vitriolic screams. If you’re possessed by the abuse of speed and aggression of bands like S.O.B., Outo, Gudon, Brain Death, Googolplex, Systematic Death etc… you can’t go wrong with this, just put this record up and you’ll be smashed by a bloodshed of manic fast ferocity!

One sided LP with silk-screened art on the back, OBI strip and insert with never seen before photos + scans from the EP and demotape. Watch the trailer HERE

Available in 2 different versions:

Diehard swirl pale-blue vinyl ltd. to 150 copies

Solid black vinyl limited to 250 copies

==================

– 鎮非羅 (Chinpira)  “Rebel Noise Hardcore Punk” LP

Sapporo City Hardcore!  Complete discography (1996-1998) collecting their 3 demotapes.. 18 songs! An adrenalinic aggression of traditional Japanese Hardcore fury delivered by local heroes of the SCxHC scene that also played in bands like F.U.P., SHOT GUN, WARSAW, BARRICADE, SLANG and more! If the 80’s are considered by many as the best decade for Punk and Hardcore, it’s a fact that Japan had an equally vital and intense movement in the 90s too, with an endless list of iconic bands and releases. And this is exactly what you’ll notice on this Chinpira discography, there are no weak parts from start to finish, it’s all there… caustic shouts alternated with gang vocals, blazing solos enhancing a solid guitar work at times leaning towards metallic territories and a pummelling rhitmyc section.

If you’re into bands like Nightmare, Death Side, Warhead, Crude and early Slang you’ll find a hidden gem here! And to go hand in hand with the greatness of the audio contents, this LP is enriched by a stunning packaging consisting of 3 booklets!! One is the replica of a very limited mini-zine they used to send together with the 1st demo, the other two contain a crazy amount of photos, original art and interesting details. Special 5mm jacket with OBI strip. Another total must have if you enjoyed the previous Japanese Hardcore works released on F.O.A.D.!  Watch the trailer HERE

Available in 2 different versions:

Diehard swirl coke-bottle green vinyl ltd. to 150 copies

Solid black vinyl limited to 250 copies

==================

– MILITARY SHADOW “Blood for freedom” LP

Total Metal/Punk armageddon from this current-day Japanese terrorsquad! Their 2nd full length album for the first time on vinyl. Get ready for a vicious orgy of metallic Hardcore savagery exploding through incendiary riffs, epic GISM-flavored solos and rabid vocals. A must have for fans of GISM, DEAD ARMYS, THE SEXUAL and PARASITE!

Their debut CD “Metal Punk Ironfist” was undoubtedly a good surprise, but when we first played “Blood for freedom” we had no exitation in asking them if we could put it out on vinyl, it absolutely shreds! Comes with OBI strip and insert including lyrics and band photos. Watch the trailer HERE

Available in 2 different versions:

Diehard transparent red vinyl ltd. to 100 copies

Solid black vinyl limited to 200 copies