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Hardcore from the Early Days: 3-Way Split: Target Cells, White Pigs, and Chronic: CD
Twenty-five tracks of obscure-but-spot-on early Northeast American hardcore, released by an Australian label. Those of you who can’t get enough of Killed By Death-style punk will plunge right in. First up is Connecticut’s Target Cells’ Cerebral Hemorrhage demo from 1982, of which about twenty-five were originally sold via Maximumrock’n’roll’s mailorder. It’s a little rudimentary and not as exciting as the Circle Jerks, who they cover, but it’s forceful and gets the job done. The White Pigs (1982-1997) flirt with crossover, and, thankfully, never take the plunge in. There’s only one big question mark hanging over the band, and I’ll leave it up to you, the reader, to make the call: “Saying things that are on my mind/ hating spics in the unemployment line.” Last up is my favorite band of the three, Chronic Disorder (1983-1992), who seem more discordant, spastic, unique, and revved up, like a hyperactive Dils (they’ve got a political sensibility) cross-spliced with the Angry Samoans (they’ve got a lot of snot). Not a bad split at all. Definitely a labor of love.  –Todd Taylor (Coldsweat)