How Could Hell Be Any Worse? - Epitaph 1982

8 / 10

Like most of you, I was introduced to the big BR through their tight, clean, slick, and speedy later material (Suffer, to be exact), so, in returning to this early work, I was initially disappointed, and decided to react to this unpleasant emotion by pretending that the offending record didn't even exist. "I rebuke you!" thus spake I.

But dude, I was mucked in the nnnn. This is a really good hardcore record, full of hooky catches, speedy drums, raw guitar fuzz, and an honest attempt at decent vocalization on the part of the still youthful Greggy Graffo. He hadn't quite developed that note-happy la-de-da pop voice he has now, but at least he hit some notes every now and again, and his voice didn't crack every other word like on the first record. Seriously, give this one a chance. I finally did, and it pleased the hell out of me. I mean, there's some GREAT stuff on here! "We're Only Gonna Die," "Fuck Armageddon...This Is Hell," "Into The Night," and on and on and on. Mostly fast with some clever slow stuff thrown in here and there for diversity, this is one heck of a fine debut for this band or any other! Phil Collins, for one example! And 1982? Punk was so young! It's not the cornball harmonious punk we now associate with the band, but it's still pretty darned enjoyable (aside from the fact that you can hardly hear the bass at all). Heck, there are those who feel that this is the only good record they ever made! What do you make of that? A barley casserole? Come on, please don't make a barley casserole out of that.

- Mark Prindle