Japanese HC History, chapter 1: SLANG

 

SLANG




SLANG was formed in Sapporo, Japan in 1988.

During their thirty plus years of existence they have evolved and formed from influences including classic Japanese fast hardcore, old school NYHC and also English d-beat.


The song's lyrics always touch on difficult subjects like war, politics and all sorts of socio-political issues. As Ko (vo) said in an interview with Eriko Ishii ‘..it’s not hardcore, unless it’s real.’


The band have released 8 full length albums and appeared on many compilations and split EPs, for example with UK’s classic Extreme Noise Terror. After touring Japan together in 2009 both bands decided to share a piece of vinyl and recorded two unreleased songs each in November 2010.


SLANG toured the U.S. in summer 2010, performing at Austin's Chaos in Tejas Festival and followed with an East coast tour with Mind Eraser and World Burns To Death.

The tour was marked by the release of the “Life made me hardcore” album, reissued by Prank Records featuring exclusive artwork by the legendary classic rock artist Joe Pentagno (Motorhead).


The band is still going strong today, they run their own record label Straight Up Records, putting out the "Hard Core Ball" compilation series, pushing local bands from their hometown Sapporo. Ko has also run his live music venue, ‘Klub Counter Action’ in Sapporo since 1995 putting on lots of hardcore/punk gigs and events.

Check their well-done and informative website:


http://www.slang1988.com


https://kcasapporo.thebase.in/



DISCOGRAPHY:


Albums:


‘HYPOCRITICAL EVERYTHING’ - HG Fact - 1996

Other version of this album:

‘SUPER CHAOS’ (CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered) - Straight Up Records - 1998

‘SUPER CHAOS 199X’ (CD, Compilation) - Straight Up Records - 2005


‘SKILLED RHYTHM KILLS’ (LP, 45rpm, Album) - Conquest Wake Records - 2001

Other versions of this album:

‘Skilled Rhythm Kills’ (CD, Album) - Straight Up Records - 2001

‘Skilled Rhythm Kills’ (Cassette) - K.A.Z., Straight Up Records - 2001

‘Skilled Rhythm Kills’ + ‘Live at Klub Counter Action 2001.06.30’ - Schizophrenic Records - year unknown

‘Skilled Rhythm Kills’ - Chopstick Records - 2021


‘THE IMMORTAL SIN’ (CD, Album) - Schizophrenic Records - 2008

Other versions of this album:

‘The Immortal Sin’ (Cassette) - Blood of War Records - 2008

‘The Immortal Sin’ (CD, Album) - Loen Entertainment, GMC Records - 2008

‘The Immortal Sin’ (LP, 45rpm) - Pain Of Mind - 2009

‘The Immortal Sin’ (12”, 45rpm) - Schizophrenic Records - 2009

‘The Immortal Sin’ (LP) - Pain of Mind - 2009

‘The Immortal Sin’ (CD, Album, Reissue) - Straight Up Records - 2011

‘The Immortal Sin’ (Cassette) - Equilibrium - 2012


‘LIFE MADE ME HARDCORE’ (CD) - Straight Up Records - 2010

Other versions of this album:

‘Life Made Me Hardcore’ (12",Album, 45 rpm) - Hardware Records - 2010

‘Life Made Me Hardcore’ (LP, Album, Limited Edition) - Prank Records - 2010


‘WORLD PEACE”QUESTION’ NOW’ (CD, Album) - Straight Up Records - 2011


‘GLORY OUTSHINES DOOM’ (CD, Album) - Pizza of Death Records - 2012

Other versions of this album:

‘Glory Outshines Doom’ (LP) - Prank Records - 2013

‘Glory Outshines Doom’ (CD, Album) - Cleopatra - 2014


‘DEVASTATION IN THE VOID’ (CD, Album) - Pizza of Death Records - 2014

Other versions of this album:

‘Devastation in the Void’ (CD, Album) - Cleopatra - 2014

‘Devastation in the Void’ (LP, Album) - Prank Records - 2016


‘PIZZA OD DEATH RECORDS PRESENTS BECAUSE IT’S 2020’ (CD, ALBUM) - Pizza of Death Records - 2021



Singles & EPs:


‘HARD CORE LIVES’ (7”) - Straight Up Records - 1997

Other versions of this album:

‘Hard Core Lives’ (7”) - Mad Preacher / Mad Beat Records - 1997

‘Hard Core Lives’ (CD, EP) - Straight Up Records - unknown year


‘25 TA LIFE / SLANG - Never Tear Us Apart’ (7”, 45rpm) - Japan Overseas - 1999


‘SLANG / FACE OF CHANGE - S.C.H.C. Lives 1999’ (CD, Single) - Straight Up Records - 1999


‘S.C.H.C. In My Blood’ (CD, Single) - Straight Up Records - 2000


‘DEMO 2006’ (CD, EP) - Straight Up Records -2006


‘III Peace Hymn Ep’ (7”, 45rpm, Single) - MCR Company - 2008


‘Rain In August’ (7”, Single) - Blood Sucker Records - 2008


‘Amid The Raw Pain EP’ (7”, EP, 45rpm) - HG Fact - 2008


‘Humanistic Disorder’ (CD, Mini, EP) - K.A.Z. - 2009


‘Extreme Noise terror / SLANG - Hardcore Attack of The Low Life Dogs EP’ - Farewell Records, Straight Up Records - 2010


‘SLANG / Mind Eraser’ - 540 Records -2010


‘SLANG / Stagnation - Violent Party’ (Cassette, EP) - Bastard Rock Recs - 2010


‘SLANG / World Burns To Death - Our Grey Earth / Babylon Endures’ - Prank Records - 2010


‘Apocalypse Now / 162 Graves’ (CD, Single) - Straight Up Records - 2014



Compilations:


‘Sapporo City Hard Core - Early Demo’ - Straight Up Records - 1998


‘Greatest Shits’ (CD, Compilation) - Straight Up Records - 2018



Videos:


‘U.S. Tour 2010’ - Real Life recording, Straight Up Records - 2012



Miscellaneous:


‘THE SLANG’ (Cassette) - Not on label, self released - 1989


‘1990 Demo’ (Cassette) - Not on label, self released - 1990

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