Repulsion: The Most Important Band You Haven't Heard

hip hop bunny hop · 04-14-2011, 07:47 PM

I searched for a thread on this band, and couldn't find any. What the ****.

If you listen to ANY extreme metal (or crust punk, for that matter), you have heard Repulsion's influence. This is a band that influenced heavies; Napalm Death, Carcass, Entombed, Death, etc. In short, everyone.

Here's some biography:

Repulsion initially went by a few other names, most important of which is Genocide. They distributed their first demos under this name as early as 1984, and their first demo won them enough acclaim that they opened a show for Slayer during that bands first-ever US tour.

Due to line-up instability, they (Scott C. & Matt O.) eventually moved down to Florida to merge with a little known band that went by the name "Death" whose members were Chuck S. and Kam L. Although anyone who has listened to Death's demos knows that the band was much more raw then, but even so, these guys were going in different directions, so the early supergroup was dissolved.

Scott & Matt returned to Michigan, where they reformed the band with the help of some locals. They continued recording and releasing demos, the highlight of which was the "Slaughter of the Innocent" demo. This demo was recorded live, with 16 tracks, for $300 in June '86.

This demo was later released as an album on the Necrosis label (run by carcass) in 1989 (3 years after being recorded), and while the band later got back together a few times, they never recorded anything as great as this demo.

This first track is from their first demo, recorded on a mono boombox in a bedroom in '84. The Celtic Frost + Discharge formula is at work here, but the NWoBHM influence is more evident. Really sick riffs, and you'll note the bass has yet to become fuzzy.

The next tracks (both of them) are from what went on to become their album; the songs have become stripped of (most) frivolous components, and you see what makes this band so revolutionary.

Remember, at this time punk bands had started to focus on gimmicks & imitating originators, and Thrash bands were falling victim to guitar hero antics and me-too scenester nonsense.

And Repulsion's response? To combine, in a manner that was congruent & logical, Slayer, Discharge, and Celtic Frost. Although this syncretic creation had its most obvious effect on extreme metal bands, it helped to revitalize punk by influencing bands such as Doom.

Slaughter of the innocent.... simplistic riffs delivered with a proto growls, a mini guitar solo done in a fashion later popularized by Morbid Angel. That a track from 1986 sounds so fresh today is a testament to their innovation.

Black Breath = Celtic Frost + Discharge.... this track, a contemporary of Bathory's 2nd album "The Return", has moments that sound positivelly black metal. Note the harmony around the 1:08 mark, then let the Celtic Frost esque groove hit you, and tell me this does not remind you of Panzerfaust era Darkthrone! Entombed later covered this track to good effect.

- Repulsion- Helga (Lost Her Head ) Demo[/url]

This track is their last notable song. Recorded in 1991 (a full 5 years after the "Slaughter of the Innocent" demo!), by this time the band had adopted many standard traits of Extreme Metal. The pace is slowed, the songs not as frentic, and vocals are a generic growl.

almauro · 04-15-2011, 09:22 AM

I heard of them! There up there with "Terrorizer" in the one album wonders of grindcore category.

jackhammer · 04-19-2011, 04:29 PM

Repulsion's album is certainly influential but has a very demo like sound to it and I'm not a big fan of Terrorizer. Infest's Slave album although more crust in origin is a cracking record that doesn't get nowhere near enough recognition.

Carcass through more fortuitous circumstances managed to release their first full length album a year before Repulsion's comp Horrified got onto the shelf but they are certainly influential.

~~pooka~~ · 04-19-2011, 06:24 PM

repulsion is sweet. recognize.

hip hop bunny hop · 04-19-2011, 09:58 PM

Terrorizer are a good band, although the members seemed to do more interesting stuff in their later bands. Siege is another great band that messed around in proto-grind, and although they didn't leave us with a lot, it is awfully fun to listen to.

But it's unfortunate Repulsion are so unknown in Grindcore; I can understand Carcass and Napalm Death being better known, but when people just know about Genghis Tron & Nasum... guh. It annoys the **** out of me, this focus on new releases.

Engine · 04-20-2011, 02:31 AM

I had never heard of Repulsion before now and I like them a lot more than any grindcore. This band is grindcore?

jackhammer · 04-21-2011, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Engine

I had never heard of Repulsion before now and I like them a lot more than any grindcore. This band is grindcore?

One of the pioneers without really knowing they were pioneers if that makes sense. Most of Horrified is demo material unfortunately.

hip hop bunny hop · 05-01-2011, 01:31 AM

The production on Horrified is not great, but it conveys the general idea of the music. When I listen to Entombed's cover of 'Black Breath' and the original, yeah, there is a difference - but it doesn't change the nature of the song.

Compared to other grindcore releases from the era, it's not bad (although I've only heard the remasters, so). I mean, if you want to talk about god awful production, Carcass take the cake with "Reek of Putrefaction".

But, yeah, Repulsion are grindcore, for sure. They just so happened to have written their name in the cement before it set.

EDIT:

Really, though. Repulsion have remained one of my favorite bands since I was in highschool. Back then, I would listen to later metal bands and find myself spotting the Repulsion influence. Now I find myself listening to earlier punk and metal bands, and somewhat figuring out just where they were coming from.

Alfred · 05-01-2011, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hip hop bunny hop

But it's unfortunate Repulsion are so unknown in Grindcore; I can understand Carcass and Napalm Death being better known, but when people just know about Genghis Tron & Nasum... guh. It annoys the **** out of me, this focus on new releases.

What's wrong with a focus on new releases? The new bands are the bands that are pushing the genre forward.

BastardofYoung · 05-02-2011, 04:28 PM

Repulsion is an essential part of the early Grindcore scene.

Probably my top 3 favorite albums in the style would be:

1. Terrorizer "World Downfall"
2. Repulsion "Horrified"
3. Napalm Death "From Enslavement to Obliteration"

Yeah, I would rank Terrorizer just a tad over Repulsion. But I do like to put on some Repulsion from time to time.

04-14-2011, 07:47 PM	#1 (permalink)
hip hop bunny hop Music Addict Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 1,381	Repulsion: The Most Important Band You Haven't Heard I searched for a thread on this band, and couldn't find any. What the ****. If you listen to ANY extreme metal (or crust punk, for that matter), you have heard Repulsion's influence. This is a band that influenced heavies; Napalm Death, Carcass, Entombed, Death, etc. In short, everyone. Here's some biography: Repulsion initially went by a few other names, most important of which is Genocide. They distributed their first demos under this name as early as 1984, and their first demo won them enough acclaim that they opened a show for Slayer during that bands first-ever US tour. Due to line-up instability, they (Scott C. & Matt O.) eventually moved down to Florida to merge with a little known band that went by the name "Death" whose members were Chuck S. and Kam L. Although anyone who has listened to Death's demos knows that the band was much more raw then, but even so, these guys were going in different directions, so the early supergroup was dissolved. Scott & Matt returned to Michigan, where they reformed the band with the help of some locals. They continued recording and releasing demos, the highlight of which was the "Slaughter of the Innocent" demo. This demo was recorded live, with 16 tracks, for $300 in June '86. This demo was later released as an album on the Necrosis label (run by carcass) in 1989 (3 years after being recorded), and while the band later got back together a few times, they never recorded anything as great as this demo. This first track is from their first demo, recorded on a mono boombox in a bedroom in '84. The Celtic Frost + Discharge formula is at work here, but the NWoBHM influence is more evident. Really sick riffs, and you'll note the bass has yet to become fuzzy. The next tracks (both of them) are from what went on to become their album; the songs have become stripped of (most) frivolous components, and you see what makes this band so revolutionary. Remember, at this time punk bands had started to focus on gimmicks & imitating originators, and Thrash bands were falling victim to guitar hero antics and me-too scenester nonsense. And Repulsion's response? To combine, in a manner that was congruent & logical, Slayer, Discharge, and Celtic Frost. Although this syncretic creation had its most obvious effect on extreme metal bands, it helped to revitalize punk by influencing bands such as Doom. Slaughter of the innocent.... simplistic riffs delivered with a proto growls, a mini guitar solo done in a fashion later popularized by Morbid Angel. That a track from 1986 sounds so fresh today is a testament to their innovation. Black Breath = Celtic Frost + Discharge.... this track, a contemporary of Bathory's 2nd album "The Return", has moments that sound positivelly black metal. Note the harmony around the 1:08 mark, then let the Celtic Frost esque groove hit you, and tell me this does not remind you of Panzerfaust era Darkthrone! Entombed later covered this track to good effect. - Repulsion- Helga (Lost Her Head ) Demo[/url] This track is their last notable song. Recorded in 1991 (a full 5 years after the "Slaughter of the Innocent" demo!), by this time the band had adopted many standard traits of Extreme Metal. The pace is slowed, the songs not as frentic, and vocals are a generic growl.

04-19-2011, 04:29 PM	#3 (permalink)
jackhammer Ba and Be. Join Date: May 2007 Location: This Is England Posts: 17,331	Repulsion's album is certainly influential but has a very demo like sound to it and I'm not a big fan of Terrorizer. Infest's Slave album although more crust in origin is a cracking record that doesn't get nowhere near enough recognition. Carcass through more fortuitous circumstances managed to release their first full length album a year before Repulsion's comp Horrified got onto the shelf but they are certainly influential. __________________ It be my music and film collection. “A cynic by experience, a romantic by inclination and now a hero by necessity.”

04-20-2011, 02:31 AM	#6 (permalink)
Engine air quote Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: pollen & mold Posts: 3,108	I had never heard of Repulsion before now and I like them a lot more than any grindcore. This band is grindcore? __________________ Like an arrow, I was only passing through.

05-01-2011, 01:31 AM	#8 (permalink)
hip hop bunny hop Music Addict Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 1,381	The production on Horrified is not great, but it conveys the general idea of the music. When I listen to Entombed's cover of 'Black Breath' and the original, yeah, there is a difference - but it doesn't change the nature of the song. Compared to other grindcore releases from the era, it's not bad (although I've only heard the remasters, so). I mean, if you want to talk about god awful production, Carcass take the cake with "Reek of Putrefaction". But, yeah, Repulsion are grindcore, for sure. They just so happened to have written their name in the cement before it set. EDIT: Really, though. Repulsion have remained one of my favorite bands since I was in highschool. Back then, I would listen to later metal bands and find myself spotting the Repulsion influence. Now I find myself listening to earlier punk and metal bands, and somewhat figuring out just where they were coming from. Last edited by hip hop bunny hop; 05-01-2011 at 01:34 AM. Reason: not enough praise issued thus far

05-02-2011, 04:28 PM	#10 (permalink)
BastardofYoung Buzz Killjoy Join Date: May 2011 Location: Canada Posts: 2,692	Repulsion is an essential part of the early Grindcore scene. Probably my top 3 favorite albums in the style would be: 1. Terrorizer "World Downfall" 2. Repulsion "Horrified" 3. Napalm Death "From Enslavement to Obliteration" Yeah, I would rank Terrorizer just a tad over Repulsion. But I do like to put on some Repulsion from time to time. __________________ last.fm ‎"I hope that someday we will be able to put away our fears and prejudices and just laugh at people." - Jack Handey.

04-15-2011, 09:22 AM	#2 (permalink)
almauro Way Out There Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 850	I heard of them! There up there with "Terrorizer" in the one album wonders of grindcore category.

04-19-2011, 06:24 PM	#4 (permalink)
~~pooka~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: the local county jail Posts: 133	repulsion is sweet. recognize.

04-19-2011, 09:58 PM	#5 (permalink)
hip hop bunny hop Music Addict Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 1,381	Terrorizer are a good band, although the members seemed to do more interesting stuff in their later bands. Siege is another great band that messed around in proto-grind, and although they didn't leave us with a lot, it is awfully fun to listen to. But it's unfortunate Repulsion are so unknown in Grindcore; I can understand Carcass and Napalm Death being better known, but when people just know about Genghis Tron & Nasum... guh. It annoys the **** out of me, this focus on new releases.