Mystic Records Part 9 (1989)
Before I get into it, check my want list here and get in touch if you have any of these. I posted a full discography here.
1989 was a killer year for punk and hardcore. It’s one of the best years for hardcore punk LPs ever with Start Today, No Longer At Ease, No Control, Bringin’ It Down, Brightside, Born To Expire, Just Can’t Hate Enough, Wasted Dream and the Where The Wild Things are comp. It’s just as strong for EPs True Till Death, Police Bastard, Ball Of Destruction, Miles To Go, and the Alone In A Crowd and Turning Point 7”s. In Mystic-land it’s the opposite of classic. They’re running on fumes and putting out band’s demos on 7”, doing repackaged re-releases or in the case of Ill Repute just putting out a completely unauthorized LP of demos (boooo).
This was a slog to get through but we’re in this together, right?
Ill Repute Transition LP Mystic Records, 1989
I’ve interviewed all four dudes from Ill Repute so get in those 185 archives and hear their individual takes on this. To summarize, Doug invited them down to San Diego to demo some tracks since they had just gotten the band back together. There was zero intention to release them. Then just like the Scared Straight LP a year prior, Ill Repute found out they got released by seeing the record in a store. Weak!
“Burnin’” is a killer song but not what people were looking for from Ill Repute in the ‘80s. It’s cool to hear a studio version of “Laugh It Off” but this record really shouldn’t exist. I can’t imagine the fury I’d feel if I bought this in 1989 expecting a kick-ass new Ill Repute record but when I put it on “Golden Rule” blasted out of my speakers. Halfway through “Let It Be” I probably would’ve signed this thing to Roadside Records™. Transition serves as proof that by the end of the ‘80s, Mystic was on some serious bullshit.
RKL The Best of RKL on Mystic Records 1989, Mystic Records
Songs from the LP and 7” in random order. Omitted are the three excellent songs from the Nardcore comp. This record was unauthorized. The same year, RKL put out a similar record on Destiny Records out of Germany (Nardcore songs included) that depicted Doug Moody getting his neck wrung on the cover. I guess we gotta call it even on the RKL bootleg wars.
Sacred Order “E” Ticket Thrash Records, 1989
This band from Milwaukee sounds like they only listened to D.I. and were like, “let’s do that but make it boring.” The guitarist did some art for Die Kreuzen’s 1986 record and I believe plays in the current lineup.
Social Spit There’s No Place Like Home Mystic Records, 1989
This San Diego band’s 1987 7” on Mystic was pretty killer. They’ve been infected by the crossover bug by 1989 and this record is pretty boring to me but you can be the judge. Cool cover art by Marc Rude who drew Earth A.D.
White Flag Skate Across America Mystic Records, 1989
A repackaging of their 1986 Feeding Frenzy LP.
Circle of Hate Go For It Super Seven Records, 1989
Mid-tempo punk with a bad recording. Possibly notable because the band is from Holland but probably not.
Diet Christ Band In The Bible Belt Super Seven Records, 1989
A band from Carbondale, IL that lands somewhere between hardcore punk and crossover. Terrible recording.
Government Issue Recorded LIVE! 7” Super Seven Records, 1989
Tuneful, mid-tempo punk from Columbus, OH. Good recording for Mystic but boring and pretty weak.
Jeff Dahl Powertrip 7” Super Seven Records, 1989
Re-release of the 1982 Powertrip 7”. Also pictured is the 1995 version that Jeff Dahl sold when he found a bunch of old 45s in his closet.
Meatwagon S/T 7” Super Seven Records, 1989
Cool 7” from this San Diego band that featured Scott Sellers on drums who played in NOFX for a minute. The record kicks off with one of GG Allin’s five good songs and then it’s a mix of hardcore punk and weirdness. If you like GG, The Dwarves or stuff like The Cows, this is worth checking out.
Rabid Fetus Cajun Justice 7” Super Seven Records, 1989
Tuneful, hardcore punk out of Lindsborg, KS. Good recording and good songs. Maybe if you like mid ‘80s Seven Seconds you’d like this. Worth checking out. The band name doesn’t reflect the music or the art at all.
Rat Pack is back four years after their first 7” on Mystic. The first three songs sound like dollar store Agression influenced by butt-rock. The last song, “Kids On The Edge” shreds though. That one has crossover thrash verses but really good anthemic choruses and a shredding solo by Alpo D.
Connecticut thrash metal group’s three-song 1987 demo re-released on 7”. Some early death metal elements creeping in. Rough recording but pretty killer songs for the style.
White Flag “R” is For Rad 7” Super Seven Records, 1989
Believe it or not, this actually IS rad because the first three songs are from their “lost” LP from 1982 that didn’t get released until after this. The other songs are live tracks.
White Pigs put out a really good hardcore punk 7” in 1984. In 1986, they put out a full crossover LP on - you guessed it - Combat Records. This 1989 7” on Mystic is eight songs from their 19 song 1985 demo.
In our next and final installment, it’s the final albums of Mystic’s original run before they hibernate for 20 years and then reemerge to put out even less relevant material.
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- ZN