Melbourne grind/metal/punk icons Blood Duster have announced they’ll be breaking up and playing their final show at the Corner Hotel on Saturday December 9. After over 25 years together, the band’s music spanned from grindcore, death metal and classic rock, all with an undercurrent of punk spirit and humour. Although less active in recent years, the band never missed a step from their heyday of landmark albums like Str8 Outta Northcote and Cunt, most recently releasing the unplayable KVLT, with scratches pre-cut into the pressing plant lathe. Uniquely Melbourne, the influence and unexpected success of the band saw them cross paths with almost everyone in the heavy music world, including opening for Slayer and headlining the Obscene Extreme festival in Czech Republic. After being an underage fan for years, I finally caught them at Bastardfest 2010 at the Corner Hotel. The show was an absolute ruckus, with the entire band performing in black metal corpse paint and insulting almost everyone in the house. I’m pretty sure I ended up with broken cartilage in my ear that night. The band’s final show will be supported by Fuck..I’m Dead, Contaminated, Neck Grip, Reaper, Blunt Shovel, Dead Root and Christ Crusher.
‘90s Epitaph punks DFL have announced the re-release of their 1997 third release The Tape Show on cassette. Out of print for years, DFL were one of the few bands on the mid-‘90s Epitaph roster not pedalling out by-the-numbers pop/skate punk of the era, preferring to stick to a classic ‘80s Californian hardcore-influenced sound. While the band didn’t receive nearly as much recognition and success as other bands more typical of the era, there’s been renewed interest in the past two years with all the band’s albums being rereleased and heard by new ears. Arguably the fast hardcore sound of the ‘80s has aged a lot better than typical ‘90s California punk, with the former reaching its nadir in a sea of wallet chains and baggy cargo shorts. The Tape Show will be remastered and re-released on Burger Records, due out Friday October 13.
Australian punk icons Cosmic Psychos have announced the release of a new single and a national tour this November. Joined by Melbourne sharpie revivalists Amyl and the Sniffers, the Psychos will tour in support of their new single Better in the Shed. The two bands will play two Melbourne shows on the tour, with Monday November 6 at Sooki Lounge in Belgrave with Private Function and a Tuesday November 7 afternoon show at Corner Hotel with Wurst Nurse. Tickets are on sale now.
