One of the greatest US hardcore records gets a special reissue. Remastered, the bloated edition includes three separate gigs as bonus tracks. Hardcore punk verging on speed metal at times (it deserves a place in any thrash/speed metal collection). Very little comes close to early POISON IDEA!
CD1 includes: Kings of Punk (LP, 1986) and Live: Pine Street Theatre, Portland, October 16 1984.
CD2 includes: Live: Satyricon, Portland, December 28 1985 and Live: Pine Street Theatre, Portland, January 31 1986
Review
More than just a punk rock milestone, Kings Of Punk is a great hardcore album. Death Wish Kids seethes with raw energy, while Made To Be Broken opens with a pop riff that has been ripped off by other bands several times over the years. One By One has a similarly catchy opening, before faltering into an off kilter riff in the vein of Fugazi. Jerry A.'s vocals sound like a young Henry Rollins possessed with piss and hate. These are dirty, sweaty, angry songs delivered in harsh tones. In short, Kings Of Punk is everything a hardcore album should be. - Metal Forces 4/5