AA.VV.
This Is Boston Not LA

This LP, released way back in 1982, documents the very early stages of Boston's hardcore scene, before it was affected by the straight-edge machismo that distinguishes it from other American cities. Bands like DYS, SSD, Last Rights, and Negative FX are absent, and bands like Gang Green are present, making beer, Budweiser, a reason for living, almost as if they were a thrash metal band.

The compilation, created to encourage crafting a unique sound in the city of Massachusetts to avoid becoming just a bland copy of the Californian scene, and not, as mistaken, to assert Boston's superiority over Los Angeles, starts off with Jerry's Kids, who occupy the first six songs and a few tracks in the middle of the album. Raucous vocals, very compact structures, and with the pedal to the metal.
They are followed by the Proletariat, the most unusual group in the album: totally inspired by English punk, from which they take rhythmic structures (a "slower" rhythm compared to the Yankees' hammering) and, as the only group, far-left themes. While other groups criticize politics but don't delve into far-left ideas, the Proletariat cite Marx and title a song "Religion Is The Opium Of The Masses". The moment of the F.U.'s arrives, another good example of old-school HC, very adolescent voice, less dark atmospheres than Jerry's Kids, they imitate military marches (Green Beret) and indulge in 20-second bullets (Time Is Money).

We thus reach the highlight of this LP, the Gang Green, who along with the Freeze are the standout group. The 6 episodes by Gang Green are barely a minute-long punches, frenzied rhythms, awesome riffs, and above all, micro solos scattered everywhere (listen to Have Fun and try to say it's not fantastic, otherwise provide an address and I'll change your mind).
The band will then continue on their path that, while staying true to hardcore, veers towards thrash (but just a little!).
After a somewhat dull episode by Decadence who don't do a great job with Slam, we come to the other great group, The Freeze. They also step on the accelerator like their mates Gang Green, but their structures are more compact, no solos (except for the march of Trouble If You Hide). The riffs will make you mosh even against the wall, and the band seems the most cohesive and experienced of the LP. This band's merit is also playing that shard of a song named after the album, which has become a classic (It's included, along with Jerry's Kids' Straight Jacket, in the 'American Hardcore' film soundtrack).

I realize I lost track of the Groinoids, present in the compilation with 2 scattered episodes here and there, who offer an HC similar to Misfits in structure and themes. A CD (now reissued with the subsequent EP "Unsafe at Any Speed, with 6 songs from some of the groups mentioned above) that every punk aficionado worth this useless name should own, the compilation, which, along with 'Flex Your Head' from Dischord every good hardcore fan possesses jealously.