Search:hardcore

Crazy Industrial hardcore noisy little pearl !
Printed sleeve, coloured vinyl. imported from Australia for your ears !!

Ignite’s A Place Called Home 25th anniversary edition on vinyl with bonus tracks out in March 2025 Svart Records is proud to reissue the Californian melodic hardcore band Ignite’s album A Place Called Home. Previously released on vinyl only on its original release date in 2000 on TVT Records, A Place Called Home will finally be available on wax again on March 21st, 2025. Formed in Orange County in 1993, Ignite's sound is hard to pin down. Their music contains elements of punk, hardcore, alternative, and even heavy metal. Their 30-year career has produced several classic albums with A Place Called Home being their commercial breakthrough album, combining the spirit and muscle of hardcore and the catchy tunes of west coast punk rock. Sixteen songs loaded with great hooks, compelling, socially conscious lyrics, and the heaviness that hard music fans love. The band’s bassist and founding member Brett Rasmussen comments the reissue: "When I found out that the guys at Svart Records were licensing A Place Called Home for a vinyl reissue I was beyond stoked. This album will finally be available again, after being out of press for so long, and this time there will be colored vinyl! I'm really looking forward to spinning this reissue and I'm happy that it will be available for our fans to enjoy again on a turntable." The authorised Svart Records 25th anniversary edition of this modern genre-defining classic contains three bonus tracks previously only available on the European CD version of the album and comes with an insert. Available on Svart exclusive black & white marble vinyl, limited transparent red vinyl, and classic black vinyl. A Place Called Home is out on March 21st, 2025.

Ignite’s A Place Called Home 25th anniversary edition on vinyl with bonus tracks out in March 2025 Svart Records is proud to reissue the Californian melodic hardcore band Ignite’s album A Place Called Home. Previously released on vinyl only on its original release date in 2000 on TVT Records, A Place Called Home will finally be available on wax again on March 21st, 2025. Formed in Orange County in 1993, Ignite's sound is hard to pin down. Their music contains elements of punk, hardcore, alternative, and even heavy metal. Their 30-year career has produced several classic albums with A Place Called Home being their commercial breakthrough album, combining the spirit and muscle of hardcore and the catchy tunes of west coast punk rock. Sixteen songs loaded with great hooks, compelling, socially conscious lyrics, and the heaviness that hard music fans love. The band’s bassist and founding member Brett Rasmussen comments the reissue: "When I found out that the guys at Svart Records were licensing A Place Called Home for a vinyl reissue I was beyond stoked. This album will finally be available again, after being out of press for so long, and this time there will be colored vinyl! I'm really looking forward to spinning this reissue and I'm happy that it will be available for our fans to enjoy again on a turntable." The authorised Svart Records 25th anniversary edition of this modern genre-defining classic contains three bonus tracks previously only available on the European CD version of the album and comes with an insert. Available on Svart exclusive black & white marble vinyl, limited transparent red vinyl, and classic black vinyl. A Place Called Home is out on March 21st, 2025.

Formed in Oakland just before the pandemic's onset in late 2019, SPY has built on the foundation of bands like Bad Brains and Poison Idea rather than following the current wave of metallic hardcore. They’re set to unleash their latest EP, Seen Enough, on Closed Casket Activities, out February 21. No song on Seen Enough ever overstays its welcome, instead embodying what makes hardcore frenetic. Burning through six songs in under ten minutes, every track is a testament to the energy the band has built up through relentless touring. SPY worked with Jack Shirley at Oakland's Atomic Garden to record the EP. Shirley captured their essence by recording live to tape, eschewing the modern practice of individual tracking in favor of a more immediate, visceral approach that better represents their explosive live show. That in-room chemistry is immediately apparent – songs like "Stay In Your Lane" maintain the texture and grit you'd get at a show in between every huge riff. Seen Enough doesn't hide what it's about: society's continued descent with diminishing hope for course correction. From the jump, SPY has followed in the lineage of Bay Area punks like Dead Kennedys and Ceremony in both attitude and awareness. Their latest offering maintains the critical edge of their earlier material while expanding their lyrical scope, delivering a streamlined punch that hits hard through its runtime. By staying true to themselves, SPY has carved out their own niche in the modern hardcore landscape. After touring with legends and contemporaries alike including Gel, Full of Hell, Ceremony, Municipal Waste, Sunami and playing basically every fest worth caring about including Sound and Fury, Outbreak, Sick New World and LDB, 2025 is set to be a monstrous year for SPY.

The sounds, songs, and passages within Power Sucker are the very reason that Young Widows are still a band after an 11-year creative pause; they remain masters at making music with equal parts sonic and emotional weight. Young Widows have inspired scores of underground artists across the globe with their unique collage of noise-rock, hardcore, and post-punk and pioneering presentation. The Young Widows sound - or more accurately, the Young Widows feel - is in full battering ram motion on their fifth studio album. The heaviness of Power Sucker isn't mysterious. The Louisville, Kentucky power trio play their individual parts with such recognizable precision and style that once entwined together each completed piece becomes an integral part of the puzzle. The sizzling guitars, growling bass, and lock-tight drums rip through the pavement that Young Widows had previously laid to allow the most forward-moving vocal arrangements of their now two-decade career. Historical accomplishments aside, Power Sucker has the shock and wonder of a new band's debut album. After all, this is the regrouping of three passionate lifers once again sharing their undying love for the art of sound. No one and no thing can take those powers away.

The sounds, songs, and passages within Power Sucker are the very reason that Young Widows are still a band after an 11-year creative pause; they remain masters at making music with equal parts sonic and emotional weight. Young Widows have inspired scores of underground artists across the globe with their unique collage of noise-rock, hardcore, and post-punk and pioneering presentation. The Young Widows sound - or more accurately, the Young Widows feel - is in full battering ram motion on their fifth studio album. The heaviness of Power Sucker isn't mysterious. The Louisville, Kentucky power trio play their individual parts with such recognizable precision and style that once entwined together each completed piece becomes an integral part of the puzzle. The sizzling guitars, growling bass, and lock-tight drums rip through the pavement that Young Widows had previously laid to allow the most forward-moving vocal arrangements of their now two-decade career. Historical accomplishments aside, Power Sucker has the shock and wonder of a new band's debut album. After all, this is the regrouping of three passionate lifers once again sharing their undying love for the art of sound. No one and no thing can take those powers away.

Gates To Hell is ready to unleash their first full length album since signing to NB

The ground quakes, the surface fractures, and a colossal force rises from the abyss: GATES TO HELL have returned to deliver their undeniable truth—Death Comes to All. Blurring the lines between death metal, hardcore, and every brutal sound in between, GATES TO HELL bring a monstrous energy to the studio which has evolved into a rising juggernaut of sonic destruction.
Fueled by youthful ambition and a sharp creative focus, the result is a record that balances raw intensity with a sharpened sense of precision. With Death Comes to All, GATES TO HELL solidify their place in modern heavy music’s pantheon

Kicking 2025 off with a NEW LIFE, Kito Jempere resumes operations retro-outfit shining, all machines blazing, pulling up with a boiling four-trackpackage bound to get dance floors quivering in excitement. A stick ofdynamite flung into the mouth of today's corporate dance music blandness, 'New Life' finds the Saint Petersburg producer spitting multi-strain madnesswith reckless fun and adventurous panache. Take New Order in theirTechnique days, sprinkle with early hip-hop breaks and finish it with a funk-savvy mix of acid, happy hardcore and ghetto tech jack, and you prettymuch have the opening track and lead-single 'New Life' capsulized to a tee.
A blissed-out, choppy ride spinning recklessly into dance-y abandon, 'LoveFilter' takes us on a heavy-lidded trip across dreamy electronic folds andonto vaporous apexes, where drum-heavy jolts and sliced vocals collidewith spacious pads from outer space. As hypnotic as it reveals hard-hitting, 'Killer Line De-Part' deploys a warped kaleidoscope of trancey shades,grunge-y grit and largely '80s informed analogue wizardry, convergingtowards the most hair-raising finale with your feet in the air and a dumbsmile across the face. Rounding off the record, 'Put Love Into Your Heart(Club Mix)' is a luminous slice of trippy, feelgood electronics engineered fordance floor communion and uplifting let-go. Fill your heart with love.

Zoetrope Vinyl. Schrank zu klein, Arsch zu groß, blasse Waden, hellgrüne Luftballons in der Steckdosenfrisur - das ist Schwiegermutters Fiebertraum in Reinform, das ist der körperhafte Stinkefinger an die Selbstoptimierer*innen-Gesellschaft, das ist Punk in der Jetztzeit-Version, das ist der "EXTRA"Lifestyle. Paula Carolina zelebriert eben diesen Lifestyle Woche für Woche erfolgreich auf den Festivalbühnen der Bundesrepublik - und hat ihm mit "EXTRA" ein musikalisches Denkmal gesetzt. Paulas neue Single ist eine Musik-gewordene Ode auf die Weirdness und das Besonderssein, ein augenzwinkernd-romantischer Vorstoß gegen Normschönheit, Langweilertum und "Otto Normal"-Standards - "als wär' auf der Tanzfläche jedem scheißegal, was man anhätte". "EXTRA" ist nicht umsonst der Namensgeber des Ende September erscheinenden Paula Carolina-Debütalbums - dieser Song steht exemplarisch für die künstlerische Vision seiner Macherin, die ihren Platz zwischen den Stühlen unlängst gefunden hat: "Fühl' ich mich heute wie ein Punk oder doch nur wie die Göre von Nebenan? Egal!". Paula-Carolina-Musik ist "irgendwie anders" und jedes Mal ein bisschen neu. Zwischen rustikalem Gitarren-Geschrubbel, tanzbar-schiebenden Drums und kaum erwartbaren Airhorn Einschüben blüht die Weltenbummlerin in "EXTRA" erstmals überhaupt mit einer Rap-ähnlichen Stimmperformance auf. Paulas Vocal-Experimente münden zwischendurch in einer Vulkanausbruch-artigen Ohrwurm-Hook und im letzten Drittel des Songs in einer epochalen SingSang-Bridge. Zwischen Punk-Attitüde und Techno-Club-eske Hektik mischt sind also auch die nötige Portion Pop-Appeal. Wer "EXTRA" lieber in einem anderem Genre-Gewand hören will und sich in Jungle-, Dancehall- oder Happy-Hardcore-typischem Tanzstill zum Song bewegen möchte, kann dies übrigens auch tun. Ja, richtig gehört: Ab 3. August - also einen Tag nach Single-Release - wird täglich ein neuer Remix des Originalsongs veröffentlicht. Star-Produzent Marti Fischer, den Paula-Carolina-Fans spätestens seit seinem erfolgsgekrönten "Schreien! - Turbo Remix" kennen dürften, hat ein umfangreiches Begleitwerk zu "EXTRA" realisiert und mehrere, verschiedenartig elektronische Alternativ-Versionen der Außenseiter-Hymne zusammengeschustert. Als wäre das nicht genug "EXTRA" zu "EXTRA", haben auch Großstadtgeflüster eine stilechte Remix-Version der Single gefertigt und der Bonus-EP ihren Stempel aufgedrückt. "Es geht wieder los", im Kosmos Paula Carolina - und zwar so richtig.

Super Dead Records returns with an epic EP from Fibzy...Hold tight, cos its going to get hardcore...

The lost companion EP to The Unbearable Tightness of Being, by Ohio's,
Sweetheart
Recorded by the band in a warehouse in Columbus, Ohio, spring 2005.
A single sided 12" record containing one 12 minute song. Limited to 300 copies on
180 gram vinyl and digital.
This record is meant to go together with EW017- Sweetheart- The Unbearable
Tightness of Being LP. We highly suggest getting both records.
Sweetheart's latest offering, "The Process Of Making Us Well," serves as an intricate
sonic landscape woven with a fearless fusion of genres, defying the established
norms of post- hardcore. This one- track EP, released under theExpert Work Records
banner, is not just an auditory journey but a rock-solid proof of their ability to blend
post-hardcore, noise rock, punk, screamo, emo, and indie influences into an immersive
sonic experience that transcends conventional boundaries. Setting themselves apart
from the early noughties post- hardcore scene, Sweetheart skillfully navigate away
from the cliches that often haunted many underground acts of the era. "The Process
Of Making Us Well" unfolds as an epic composition, a 12-minute sonic odyssey that
takes the listener on a transformative journey. The band showcases a mastery of
dynamics, skillfully transitioning from serene, ethereal instrumentations to intense,
powerful crescendos, creating an emotional landscape that captivates the listener
from scratch to finish.
Released as part of Expert Work Records' series, "The Process Of Making Us Well"
holds the distinction of being Sweetheart's longest recorded piece. The record arrives
in a high- quality cardboard sleeve, decorated with an entirely minimalistic lettering,
leaving audio content in the sole focus. It's a wise choice, considering that
Sweetheart's music deserves your utmost attention. "The Process Of Making Us Well"
is an essential exploration into endless possibilities of post- hardcore, noise rock,
screamo, and emo music. Sweetheart, sadly overlooked amidst a sea of similar bands
during their era, emerges as a beacon of innovation with this remarkable release. "The
Process Of Making Us Well" solidifies Sweetheart's status as one of the best bands of
their time, a hidden gem deserving of retrospective recognition and appreciation

All songs recorded and mixed by Pat Lilley at Nexus Recording Studio in Waukesha
Wisconsin between 1998-1999. Songs 1,2, and 4 originally appeared on Parallel
Chlorophyll Regions (Highwater Records 005) 1998. Song 3 originally appeared on
Akarso/Seven Days of Samsara Split 7" (Ricky Schroeder Fan Club 001) 2000. Songs
5-8 originally appeared on Akarso/Faraquet Split CD (404 Records 002) 1999.
Milwaukee's underground scene of the late 1990s harbored many hidden gems, and
Akarso is certainly one of its finest. Blending elements of post-hardcore, math rock,
screamo, and noise rock, the trio quickly made a name for themselves during their
short yet intense existence. Their chaotic and intricate sound earned them a loyal
following within math and post-hardcore circles, and they toured extensively, leaving
behind a legacy that would influence the Midwest's underground music scene for
years to come. With Leave Quietly: 1997-1999, Akarso's complete recorded catalog has
been unearthed, giving listeners a chance to experience the raw energy and innovative
sound of a band that was well ahead of its time. Released through Expert Work
Records, this LP collects Akarso's recorded output from their brief but impactful run.
Featuring Nathan Lilley on vocals and guitar (who would later gain notoriety with Call
Me Lightning), Joe Wong on drums (now a prolific composer for TV and film and host
of The Trap Set ), and Greg Roteik on bass (of Key of Evil fame), the trio's musical
chemistry is undeniable. Their dynamic interplay and knack for combining dissonance
with technical precision is immediately apparent, and this collection serves as both a
time capsule and sheer example of their musical skills.
The songs feel unpolished in the best possible way, full of jagged guitar riffs, off-kilter
rhythms, and aggressive vocals. It's easy to hear why Akarso garnered attention
during their brief career: their music demanded attention. Tracks from the collection
highlight their ability to balance complex structures with visceral energy, reflecting
their post-hardcore roots while pushing into more experimental territory. At the heart
of Akarso's sound is their seamless blending of math rock's technical precision with
the ferocity of post-hardcore and noise rock. The intricate guitar work of Nathan Lilley,
coupled with the driving rhythms of Joe Wong and the powerful basslines of Greg
Roteik, creates a tense and unpredictable musical experience. Time signatures shift
without warning, dissonant riffs collide with frenetic drumming, and Lilley's vocals
pierce through the chaos with a cathartic and desperate intensity.
It's a challenging, chaotic, and emotionally charged album that captures the intensity
of Akarso's live performances and the raw energy of their songwriting. More than two
decades later, Akarso's music remains as vital and relevant as ever, and this collection
that their legacy will continue to inspire future generations of musici

Founded in Lombardy in early 2023 and now hailing from different parts of Italy, RESCÜE CAT is an energetic hardcore band bursting with attitude and... love! Starting off as friends in the local scene, they're now ready to make their mark as one of the fresh faces of Italian hardcore. With performances at major events like Venezia Hardcore and Built to Blast already under their belts, they've developed a distinct style that mixes intense, emotional lyrics, tight compositions, and dreamy imagery.

Pink vinyl. Founded in Lombardy in early 2023 and now hailing from different parts of Italy, RESCÜE CAT is an energetic hardcore band bursting with attitude and... love! Starting off as friends in the local scene, they're now ready to make their mark as one of the fresh faces of Italian hardcore. With performances at major events like Venezia Hardcore and Built to Blast already under their belts, they've developed a distinct style that mixes intense, emotional lyrics, tight compositions, and dreamy imagery.

Sub Pop proudly teams up with long-running Canadian punk icons Fucked Up for a limited-edition 7" single featuring two brand new, exclusive songs. "Disabuse" and "Self Driving Man" are unlikely light-speed cuts of pure hardcore from Fucked Up. These tracks bleed off the record, having been born from the indelible stamp of Poison Idea's 1990 anti-oppression anthem "Discontent" and Japanese punk legends Paintbox's "The Door." Sitting at the chaotic crossroads of punk, hardcore, and grunge, the two songs have found the most fitting home possible: a Sub Pop single. "Disabuse" is a song Damian wrote for his daughter, who experienced bullying and intimidation at school, while "Self Driving Man" wrestles the out of control automation of our world onto the pavement and into the abyss of faceless progress. The 7" comes on translucent emerald vinyl, and includes a lyric sheet.

The band is considered as a unique combination of the darkest sides of many
underground genres like grindcore, black/death metal, ambient, drone and of course
psychedelic music.

Tons formed in 2009 with members of hardcore bands from the 00's Turin scene (The
Redrum, Lama Tematica and NoInfo). Slow and heavy sounds take the place of
frenetic HC rhythms; the texts speak about weed in an ironic way, but also about a
certain tendency to esotericism that characterizes the city of Turin. In 2010 they
recorded a demo and in 2012 their first full length "Musinee Doom Session, Volume 1",
recorded by Danilo "Dano" Battocchio, was released for the Turin-based Escape From
Today (EFT050) and for the young Roman label, Heavy Psych Sounds (First non Black
Rainbows release, HPS005). In 2013 a split with Lento from Rome came out and Tons
began to plow the European venues, opening the stage for bands like Bongzilla,
Unsane, Church of Misery, Napalm Death, Pentagram etc ...

In 2015 the drummer Marco Dinocco left the band and was replaced by Andrea
Peracchia (Dogs for Breakfast/Slaiver). Paolo Paganelli (Woptime/Linea77) was also
added as lead guitarist. In 2018 the second full length of the band "Filthy Flowers of
Doom" was released for Heavy Psych Sounds Records, which would bring Tons again
around Europe in 2018 and in 2019. In 2021 they released a split record with the
mighty Bongzilla followed by a European tour together in 2022. On 7th October 2022
the band released a brand new album called "Hashension" and a repress for the 10th
anniversary of their debut album "Musinee Doom Session, Volume 1" with remastered
audio and a new cover artwork.

During these years Tons played in many important Festival, such as Desert Fest
London and Antwerp, Sonic Blast, Frantic Fest, Venezia Hardcore and HPS Fest.
QUOTE From the Band :"Three fun tracks for lovers of head banging who don't take
themselves too seriously like our friends Teo Segale (Rumore Mag.) and Ranch Sironi
(Nebula) to whom these songs are dedicated. "

This latest opus marks the band's studio comeback since 2018's "City Of Dope And
Violence", plus the opportunity to work with underground scene juggernauts like Tons
and Subsound Records and the consolidation of Alexander Lizzori as active producer
("Cyclops" / "2" era drummer and long time collaborator).

The band is considered as a unique combination of the darkest sides of many
underground genres like grindcore, black/death metal, ambient, drone and of course
psychedelic music.

Tons formed in 2009 with members of hardcore bands from the 00's Turin scene (The
Redrum, Lama Tematica and NoInfo). Slow and heavy sounds take the place of
frenetic HC rhythms; the texts speak about weed in an ironic way, but also about a
certain tendency to esotericism that characterizes the city of Turin. In 2010 they
recorded a demo and in 2012 their first full length "Musinee Doom Session, Volume 1",
recorded by Danilo "Dano" Battocchio, was released for the Turin-based Escape From
Today (EFT050) and for the young Roman label, Heavy Psych Sounds (First non Black
Rainbows release, HPS005). In 2013 a split with Lento from Rome came out and Tons
began to plow the European venues, opening the stage for bands like Bongzilla,
Unsane, Church of Misery, Napalm Death, Pentagram etc ...

In 2015 the drummer Marco Dinocco left the band and was replaced by Andrea
Peracchia (Dogs for Breakfast/Slaiver). Paolo Paganelli (Woptime/Linea77) was also
added as lead guitarist. In 2018 the second full length of the band "Filthy Flowers of
Doom" was released for Heavy Psych Sounds Records, which would bring Tons again
around Europe in 2018 and in 2019. In 2021 they released a split record with the
mighty Bongzilla followed by a European tour together in 2022. On 7th October 2022
the band released a brand new album called "Hashension" and a repress for the 10th
anniversary of their debut album "Musinee Doom Session, Volume 1" with remastered
audio and a new cover artwork.

During these years Tons played in many important Festival, such as Desert Fest
London and Antwerp, Sonic Blast, Frantic Fest, Venezia Hardcore and HPS Fest.
QUOTE From the Band :"Three fun tracks for lovers of head banging who don't take
themselves too seriously like our friends Teo Segale (Rumore Mag.) and Ranch Sironi
(Nebula) to whom these songs are dedicated. "

This latest opus marks the band's studio comeback since 2018's "City Of Dope And
Violence", plus the opportunity to work with underground scene juggernauts like Tons
and Subsound Records and the consolidation of Alexander Lizzori as active producer
("Cyclops" / "2" era drummer and long time collaborator).

Members went on to Sinkane, and Pompeii, This Morning. Originally recorded in the
summer of 2005 out west, while on tour, by Vince Tennant. The recording had been
shelved and unreleased. In 2023, Expert Work Records reached out to Sweetheart and
got the recording re-mastered. It will be released on limited vinyl and digital.
This is also a companion piece/ record with EW018 (Sweetheart- The Process of
Making Us Well). We highly suggest getting both records.
Sweetheart's "The Unbearable Tightness Of Being" is one of those records you should
put on your radar as soon as possible. A rediscovered artifact from 2005, the album is
a sonic panorama that intricately incorporates post- hardcore, noise rock, punk,
screamo, and indie elements into an innovative and complex sonic landscape. The
guitars, wielded with finesse, serve as the driving force behind Sweetheart's sonic
assault. From the opening chords to the closing refrains, they deliver a relentless
barrage of riffs that defy predictability. The interplay between the two guitarists
manifests as a dynamic dialogue - a musical conversation that seamlessly transitions
from chaotic dissonance to moments of clarity. Catchy, intricate, and hypnotic chord
progressions unfold, evoking the spirit of At The Drive-In and Fugazi while carving a
distinct sonic identity.
However, it's not merely about sonic assault; Sweetheart infuses the album with a
nuanced approach to melody. Amidst the aggressive riffage, this material treats
listeners with moments of harmonic beauty and unexpected melodic twists. Themes,
leads, melodies, and harmonies intermingle, creating a rich auditory experience that
transcends the boundaries of conventional post-hardcore.
The production quality of this long- lost gem further accentuates its brilliance.
Recorded in 2005 but kept in the shadows due to financial constraints and a desire for
perfection, the album has now found its moment in the sun. Expert Work's decision to
release the LP in 2024 has allowed audiences to appreciate the intelligent
craftsmanship that went into its creation.
"The Unbearable Tightness Of Being" is more than a musical journey; it's a sonic
exploration transcending all the possible sonic boundaries. Sweetheart's commitment
to experimentation and honesty, as emphasized by band members reflecting on their
creative process, is palpable. The act of listening, treated as a discipline, is evident in
the careful construction of each track - a result of repetitive practice, internalization,
and an unwavering dedication to their craft. In the grander narrative of the album's
release, the band's reflections on the passage of time and the meaning of their work
imbue the music with a poignant depth.
"The Unbearable Tightness Of Being" is a mandatory addition to any record collection.
It's not just a revival of the early 2000s scene; it's a sheer example of Sweetheart's
enduring brilliance and a celebration of a significant part of their musical legacy.

White LP. Born out of the early 1980's Austin noise punk scene, Scratch Acid deliberately eschewed the loud, fast rules of hardcore as everything they didn't want to be and embraced a weirder, artier sound. Prior to the release of their 1984 debut S/T EP, someone gave Touch and Go Records owner Corey Rusk a cassette of the recording, and he was instantly a huge fan. Rusk was immediately interested in releasing the EP and contacted the band to express his admiration. At the time, Scratch Acid had already committed to working with Rabid Cat Records, who released the band's debut release S/T EP (1984) and their only full-length album, Just Keep Eating (1986). The group quickly developed a riveting performance aesthetic, and, as the debut S/T EP made its way around the country via fanzines, college radio, and word-of-mouth, the band mounted short tours to the Midwest and the East Coast. After playing a total of 146 shows, Scratch Acid broke up after the long tour that followed the release of the Berserker EP (Touch and Go Records, 1987). Since that time, the band have had many imitators, and many alternative bands have cited Scratch Acid as one of their influences.

Born out of the early 1980's Austin noise punk scene, Scratch Acid deliberately eschewed the loud, fast rules of hardcore as everything they didn't want to be and embraced a weirder, artier sound. Prior to the release of their 1984 debut S/T EP, someone gave Touch and Go Records owner Corey Rusk a cassette of the recording, and he was instantly a huge fan. Rusk was immediately interested in releasing the EP and contacted the band to express his admiration. At the time, Scratch Acid had already committed to working with Rabid Cat Records. The group quickly developed a riveting performance aesthetic, and, as the debut S/T EP made its way around the country via fanzines, college radio, and word-of-mouth, the band mounted short tours to the Midwest and the East Coast. While he was not able to work with Scratch Acid directly through Touch and Go, Rusk had begun booking shows with Scratch Acid in Detroit, so he could see them live and meet them. A friendship formed, and Touch and Go Records would eventually release the band's second EP, Berserker, in 1987.