1st off I made this profile because it is a god damm shame no one else has already. I have added all appropriate links to amazon and jade tree so you can buy the CD So do it seriously. and i stole the below review right off amazon
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The first SWIZ releases came out on vinyl in the late 80s on Amanda MacKaye's Sammich records label, which also put out the first SHUDDER TO THINK LP. Yes, that's Amanda MacKaye, as in the sister of Ian MacKaye of FUGAZI and MINOR THREAT. By the time SWIZ came along, Dischord and DC music in general had mostly "moved beyond" the primitive, galvanizing hardcore stylings of VOID, THE FAITH, SOA, etc. Bands were experimenting with what would later be called "post-hardcore" sounds: FIDELITY JONES, FUGAZI, FIRE PARTY and other bands were influenced by hardcore, but were experimenting with slower rhythms, more intricate song structures, less reliance on power chord riffing, etc. SWIZ defied this trend and tapped back into the DC hardcore scene's roots, invoking the rock n' roll ghosts of BAD BRAINS, SCREAM.
This CD is a complete discography of SWIZ's output during their approximately 6 year run, with one song from thrash side project FURY thrown on for good measure. The songs are powerful lyrically as well as musically. Shawn Brown's gruff, Rollins-esque vocals--which could make almost any song sound hardcore, no matter what the actual music was like--are the perfect complement to Jason Farrell's metal-inspired, crunchy, chunka-chunka guitars. The drums alternate between a faster, "d-beat"-esque pattern a la DISCHARGE and more mid-tempo beats a la mid-career BLACK FLAG. One song even sounds like an AC/DC song ["Lie"].
Because SWIZ are on Jade Tree, they are often mistakenly thought of as an "emo" or a "post-hardcore" band. That's not entirely true. SWIZ have much more in common with BLACK FLAG, SSD, and SCREAM than they do any post-hardcore types of bands like JAWBOX or QUICKSAND. However, because of the time of their appearance, and because of where they were, SWIZ often found themselves playing bills with weaker, more experimental bands, so the "post-hardcore" stigma sticks to this day. But make no mistake: this CD belongs alongside GORILLA BISCUITS, UNIFORM CHOICE, BLACK FLAG, DISCHARGE, MINOR THREAT, etc. on your shelf.
Vocalist Shawn Brown came from DC band DAG NASTY; their demos with him on vox are available on the "Dag Nasty 1985-86" release, which is probably the best thing out there by DAG NASTY. DAG NASTY fired Shawn Brown because with him they couldn't be melodic enough--his vox are just too rough. After SWIZ split around 1992 or so, Jason Farrell and other SWIZ members excepting Shawn Brown went on to form BLUETIP, who played a fairly aggressive post-hardcore type of music similar to early JAWBOX. In 1997, SWEETBELLY FREAKDOWN reunited BLUETIP with Shawn Brown; in other words, the lone SWEETBELLY FREAKDOWN album is essentially a SWIZ reunion album, and it coudl be purchased as a companion piece to the "No Punches Pulled" complete discography CD here. Later, Shawn Brown would front JESUS EATER.
This CD is essential for those interested in DC hardcore, but equally so for anyone interested in NYHC-type noise, or 80s hardcore in general. Can't recommend it enough.
stolen review by : Reviewer:Oliver Sheppard
