Discharge - Self Titled

Discharge is an influential Hardcore punk band formed in the UK in 1977, whose music is characterized by a heavy, distorted, and grinding guitar-driven sound and anti-melodic shouted or screamed vocals, with lyrics on anarchist and pacifist themes.

"There is no real music, and I'm just shouting and screaming!" was the rallying cry for Discharge, the band that laid the foundation for all future raw punk. The band was started in 1977 by the twin Roberts brothers Tony "Bones" (guitar) and Terry "Tezz" (drums). Originally a more straightfoward, '77-style punk band, Discharge had been knocking around in a few different incarnations before Clay Records owner Mike Stone moved to their stomping grounds of Stoke-on-Trent, England in 1979. Stone, a former Beggar's Banquet A&R guy and manager/producer of the Lurkers, was impressed by an intense live show and signed the band onto his label. With singer Cal and bassist Roy "Rainy" Wainwright, Discharge recorded their first EP Realities of War in 1980 with Stone producing. From the opening drum beat, nothing about punk would ever be the same. The Discharge style, emulated by countless bands since, is driving "D-beat" drums, trashed distorted guitar, high-pitched one note solos, and ultra-abrupt lyrics about the tragedies of war and death. Clad in studded leather jackets with soap-spiked hair, Discharge embodied the dirty sound the made. The band vomited out two more singles before the end of the year, and then upped the ante with the masterful 12" EP Why? in 1981. This release found Tezz replaced by new drummer Bambi and set the stage for their first UK tour, the Apocalypse Now package along with the Anti-Nowhere League, Chron-Gen, Anti-Pasti, and the Exploited. With amazing anthems like "Ain't No Feeble ~censored~," Discharge struck the middle ground between the dark, angry worldview and raw emotion of underground punk and the rowdy rock'n'roll of the better heavy metal bands (when told Discharge sounded like Motorhead, Rainy replied, "they sound like us".--KFTH

In 2002, the original line up was finally reunited for the release of Discharge. Shortly after the release of this record, the band toured, playing to generally indifferent audiences. Cal immediately left the band and was subsequently replaced by Rat of seminal UK band, THE VARUKERS. An honor for Rat, who sports a Discharge tattoo on his neck. The band continues to play in the UK.


Genre: Hardcore/Punk
Year: 2002


Tracklist:

01. You Deserve Me
02. Almost Alive
03. Corpse of Decadence
04. Trust 'em
05. M.A.D.
06. Accessories By Molotov
07. Into Darkness
08. Hype Overload
09. You
10. What Do I Get
11. Hell Is War
12. Accessories By Molotov (Remix)
13. Corpse of Decadence (Remix)


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