Dirty Rotten LP

As a metal-head, one needs to support punk as well. Only posers appreciate one without the other. D.R.I. are one of the greatest hardcore bands of all time, and with their realease of the Dirty Rotten LP, came the greatest barrage of noise to ever invade my ears under the label of "punk." This record was way ahead of its time.

The production on the album is nothing to write home about, but it's the best you could expect from an '83 punk release. All the instruments can be heard, with the drums coming out a little bit, which is nothing to complain about, seeing as how they are a highlight of the album. The guitars and bass are crisp and you can clearly hear what they're doing, which is unique when compared to other hardcore albums. With the runtime of the re-release with the Violent Pacification bonus tracks coming in at just over 20 minutes, the album is just long enough to keep you from wanting more, and short enough to keep you from getting bored.

The songs do sound quite the same, but you can easily tell them apart, for each song has its own individual quirks. The riffs are quite notable, which is what sets this album apart from most punk albums. Each and every song is packed to the brim with attitude, and they make you want to kill some capitalists.

The drums are the real highlight on this album. The way he blasts all the way back in 1982 just blows my mind. His fills and his beats are amazing and he fits in perfectly with what the guitars do. The way all their instruments come together is just one of the most amazing things you can hear. The guitarist shreds and his solos and just a chaotic orgy of string bending, but in a good way. The bass sounds great and really comes through on the album. The singers extremely fast spit vocals keep you interested while listening, and their lyrics are very politically driven.

This album is pretty much the most punk thing you will ever hear in your life: a must hear for anyone!