HOLY TERRORS – s/t 7” EP

Esync Records – Miami (1990)

Spirit
Shine
Stranger

Rob Elba – guitar, vocals
Dan Hosker – guitar, vocals
Frank Labrador – bass, vocals
Sam Fogarino – drums

First record by long running South Florida band. As of 2009, they’re still at it – at least Rob and Dan are. I’m not sure what happened to the Labrador guy – and Sam Fogarino fled Florida for fame and fortune with Interpol (the band, not the international police organization). They still play Shine at their shows (write more songs!!!) Holy Terrors were one of the first bands to emerge after the horrible crash of local music in the late 80’s. It’ sounds like the Terrors may have had some career ambitions at the time. Spirit, especially, is very commercial sounding featuring spacey guitar from Mr. Hosker. The record is maybe a little tame – especially given the beast the Terrors would become in live settings. Its good, its produced by Rat Bastard – it’s a nice start.

STRAIGHT YOUTH -- Together We Can Do It! EP

4 ½ Finger Records – Miami (1990)

Larry Edge – Vocals, Guitar
Ross Youth – Bass
Bruce Hard – Percutions

Positive Stand
X on my Hand
Str-8 Str-8 Str-8
No Drugs
Stupid Drugs
Hard Alertness

Part of the appeal of this record is that it can be imaged that not everyone will get the joke. These guys were involved with Powerhouse, a real straight edge band, and wound up in bands that were far from straight-edge land. The cover pretty much gives it away, I would say, but the music alone would certainly appeal to the boneheads of the time. All six songs are standard stop-start thrash with stupid and single-minded lyrics. X on my hand is the hit – the spoken part is great (“listening to this at home….I want you to get a marker …and put an X on your hand….”). This was the first release for the fine 4 ½ Finger label. That Ross Youth would be better off if he took some of the advice from this record takes some of the fun out of it for me, though.