Fang - Landshark! (1983)

Arising straight out of Berkeley, California in 1980, Fang originally began life as a partnership between guitarist Tom Flynn and drummer Brian Beattie (both of whom were previously members of an early Punk Rock band from Connecticut briefly known as Tapeworm). The two went on to produce a minimalistic Post-Punk 7" single by the name of Enjoy The View / Yukon just the following year in 1981, although Beattie soon wound up abandoning the project (eventually becoming a member of Glass Eye, a female-led Indie Rock band from Austin, Texas). Shortly after that commenced the revolving door of band members with Sam "Sammytown" McBride (vocals), Chris Wilson (bass) and Joel Fox (drums) all being aggregated to the lineup around early 1982. Recorded in October but released 4 months later on February 1983 through Boner Records (Flynn's own independent record label), Landshark! was the first EP/mini-album (whatever you want to refer to it as) that this Berkeley band put to wax. Fang took on a slightly different approach when it came to Punk/Hardcore. Whereas a good chunk of the bands at the present time played with nothing but unadulterated vigor and aggression, Fang injected a dose of despondency into their music. They also weren't shy in slowing things a pinch down, even opting to utilize sludgier, more dissonant guitars than the majority of their peers did (barring maybe Discharge, The Skitslickers and Flipper). In the bitter end, this seminal slab of Sludgecore Punk was birthed into the cold, decadent world. 

Clocking in at just 16 minutes, Landshark! contains 8 tracks. Fang starts things off with "The Money Will Roll Right In". Not only does this tune boast some cool guitar riffs, but the lyrics are also pretty damn hilarious (they often make me giggle). Sam McBride's deadpan vocal delivery will not be everyone's cup of tea, but there's an odd charm to it. "Law & Order" frequently incorporates guitar squeals and whines derived from Noise Rock, although the song is still anchored by the doom-y, buzzing guitar chords. Overall, this one is much darker and depressive, speaking of a cry for help in a "mechanical world". It feels even creepier when a particular line ("They called me a murderer, they called me a junkie, they said I did not belong in this world of law") brings to mind what happened to Sam seven years later in 1989 when allegedly under the influence of acid/narcotics he became excessively violent and ended up strangling his then-girlfriend to death (this tragic incident resulted in his imprisonment until he was released in 1995). "Diary Of A Mad Werrwöulf" has various churning riffs that get stained in your brain (in other words, they're quite infectious). Amusingly enough, it also features Sam howling like a wolf. The morbidly suicidal "An Invitation" is another highlight for me. Occasionally, Fang breaks out of their drug-induced stupor, in the process becoming swifter and mordacious, as evidenced on "Landshark", "Destroy The Handicapped", "Drunk & Crazy" (a Bobby Bare cover that lacks any resemblance to the original) and "Skinheads Smoke Dope". Ultimately, Landshark! might be a bit rough around the edges, but it still makes for a reasonably entertaining listen.