Admit You're Shit, Some Place Special

AYS were an anarcho punk band back in the 1980's unfortunately the lead singer later became an active member of the British far right movement. This CD does not represent those stupid views and doubtless Colin being Colin Mortarhate probably never paid them any royalties from the release of this CD. If you want to know more Ian Glasper rather rashly gave John Cato (he has a few nicknames) a chance to right his story in the book The Day The Country Died.

This review is from: Someplace Special (Audio CD

)Just another anarcho-punk band with a lot to say and little talent to express it... is not in the slightest bit true of AYS. 

AYS technically came out of the same 80s anarcho-punk scene but they have little in common. They play a brutal combination of US hardcore (including a cover of the Minor Threat classic "In My Eyes"!) with anti-political vocals that keep you awake at night. And they do a pretty good job of it too! 

It's a quick CD at under 40 minutes with 17 tracks but it's absolutely phenomonal. The bulk of the CD is composed of 11 parts of "someplace special" that have some ludicrously quick punk parts with ranting vocals but shows a great deal of technical ability with a pretty good production quality. As for some standout tracks: the whole thing! I guarantee you'll come back again and again to this CD that manages to play fast and well without merging metal or any other UK82 features into the sound. I've never heard anything remotely like it and the US influences show just as much as their UK ones. There are some nerves fraying (from Ian Glasper's "The Day the Country Died") about the lead singer being an open racist but this REALLY isn't represented in what is a sublime release! 

If you like punk of any variety I'd thoroughly recommend this CD without question. It's unique, highly listenable and has some truly brutal music to boot! Expect no mercy in what is one of the most under-represented and under-appreciated punk releases ever!

A.Y.S. 'Expect No Mercy...If You Cross Your Real Friends' e.p.
Admit Your Shit, AYS, was one of the Mortarhate bands that were coming out of the United Kingdom in the mid 80's. Mortarhate was Colin Conflict's (of Conflict) label. He was buddies with CRASS and was very inspired by them, but he (and the rest of the Mortarhate bands) took a different approach to the politics. Where CRASS was protest, Conflict (and Mortarhate) was riot (or Direct Action).Anyway, Admit Your Shit was probably my fave Mortarhate band (along with Exit-Stance) as they had real kick in their music, like they were playing their guitars with chainsaws and their drums with machetes. There's a distorted buzz in the songs that I just love, like it's produced badly maybe, but to me sounds Punk as fuck!!! They also do a rip-roaring Minor Threat cover that they totally make their own (I hate when bands cover other bands and don't add their 'touch' to it, when they just copy it note from note, how bland).