Fear – The Fear Record (2012)

Originally recorded in 1981 in Sound City Studios, California, titled simple “The Record” and released by Slash Records on May 16, 1982, and it’s definitively one of the pillars of modern Hardcore, a milestone of Punk/Metal/Hardcore colored brilliantly with Blues/Jazz and all sort of unexpected, out of patterns inflections and infusions. So, why would Lee Ving decide to re-record it 3 decades away? One possible explanation might be a shity record deal with Slash and a better deal signed now with The End Records and the 30 years anniversary may be a great opportunity for some smooth and simple cashing-in. Anyway, this band and the original album deserves both respect and celebration. This re-recorded version surprisingly sounds pretty raw, the few small changes do not really makes any difference and as always, if you want the best, go back to the original.
Several songs have been rewritten to shock/offend less. The 62-year-old Ving and the world over the last three decades have been changed. Ving try to seem more mature, while the world play the card of being more enlighten, sensitive or something… Some people get offended nowadays if you sing lyrics like the one of “New York’s Alright If You Like Saxophones”.

“New York’s alright,
New York’s alright,
New York’s alright,
if you like saxophones!

New York’s alright if you wanna be pushed in front of the subway!
New York’s alright if you like tuberculosis!
New York’s alright if you like art and jazz!
New York’s alright if you’re a homosexual!

New York’s alright,
New York’s alright,
New York’s alright,
if you like saxophones!

New York’s alright if you like drunks in your doorway!
New York’s alright if you wanna freeze to death!
New York’s alright if you wanna get mugged or murdered!
New York’s alright if you like saxophones!

New York’s alright,
New York’s alright,
New York’s alright,
if you like saxophones!”

But the truth is that now more then ever the “junk is king and the air smells shitty” here, there and everywhere, no matter in which town, city, village you’re living. So, the original fury of Fear make perfect sense in 2012 just like it deed back in ’82. And honestly? I don’t care about you – fuck you!! 😆
Featuring also a new track order and playing louder and noisier then 30 years ago, the 15 murderous track of “The Fear Record” are still mandatory listening to anybody who want to get into Hardcore.

Tracklist:

01 – I Love Livin In The City
02 – New York’s Alright If You Like Saxophones
03 – I Don’t Care About You
04 – Let’s Have A War
05 – Gimme Some Action
06 – Foreign Policy
07 – Beef Baloney
08 – We Destroy The Family
09 – Camarillo
10 – Disconnected
11 – We Gotta Get Outa This Place
12 – Fresh Flesh
13 – Getting The Brush
14 – No More Nothing

Formed in 1977, Fear it’s credited for influencing the American punk rock movement along with bands such as Black Flag and the Circle Jerks and as importance might be equal of the British Sex Pistols. Bands like S.O.D. are obviously were directly influenced by Lee Ving’s energy and creativity.
Bands such as A Perfect Circle, Soundgarden, Megadeth, Sacred Reich and Guns N’ Roses have covered their songs while Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers featured at one point on bass through the various line-up changes of the band.

This is a still breathing piece of history. If you don’t heard this album, you did not know shit about Hardcore.

Fear – Official Site
Fear – Official YouTube Channel
Fear @ Facebook

Fear @ The End Records
Fear @ The Omega Order
Buy The Fear Record @ iTunes

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Q_odSgDQeE&w=545&h=409]