This is an official reissue of a bootleg live show recorded in Ljubljana, Slovenia in 1986. I'm confused as to how a bootleg gets an "official" reissue, but the liner notes here are written by the Baron (bass/vocals), so... go figure. I never bothered to check out the bootleg release because I don't really care for live records and I generally can't stand the sound quality on bootleg live records. But believe it or not this thing actually sounds pretty fucking good. Included are six tracks from the "Arise!" LP and two from my personal favorite, the "Monolith" LP ("Fallen From Grace" and "I.C.B.M."), clocking in at just over 30 minutes of raw and eerily energetic material from this classic, classic band. A lot of people claim this band was/is overrated, but I think that's a load of shit, because they're fucking incredible. Their metallic brand of hardcore/punk, with its dark edge, droning chords, and seething intensity is often imitated and almost never matched. The sound is shockingly good for a live recording, especially considering its age and the band's penchant for the raw side of things. The mix is unbelievably even, with vocals only slightly dominating the hefty bass presence, rugged guitars, and plodding percussion. On rare occasion there are a few slight dropouts from the master tape, but everything else is in check. The band's performance is really fucking tight as well. I can't properly express how surprised I am at the quality of this set. The layout is of course all in black and white, with nothing but the band logo on the cover, and some of the band's typical artwork elsewhere. The inner spread could look better, but the lyrics are included, which is another very cool and extremely rare bonus when it comes to live releases. The liner notes briefly discuss the Baron's surprise at the band's level of "cult status", as well as mentioning a few tidbits about the show. But probably the most resonant lines deal with the band's perhaps not-so-untimely end: "I am happy that we stopped, we made a statement and lived by it, in the harshest of times and places, Amebix was a hardcore band that lived a hardcore lifestyle, we all survived, some less than others, but many of our people didn't. The music is primitive and dated, crude and na?ve even, but it stands as a testament to our times, a small light within a sea of darkness..." I gotta say, this is a great release, and knowing now how good it is, it's awesome to see it back in print, and officially at that. I can't say that it's mandatory for those who own the studio recordings (most of these songs are readily available on the latest pressing of the "Arise!" CD), but I find it to be a damn worthy document of the band's history, and it's certainly worth exploring. I never in a million year would've expected this to sound so strong. If you don't check this out, at least do yourself a favor and listen to Amebix, otherwise you haven't a clue as to what you're missing out on.
[Arson]
Running time - 34:22, Tracks: 8
[Notable tracks: Largactyl, Drink and Be Merry, I.C.B.M., The Darkest Hour]
Arson Records - http://www.arsonrecords.com
