The Fix - At The Speed of Twisted Thought

Genre rock Publisher Touch and Go Records External Links Official The Fix Website Official Touch & Go Records Website

The speed thrash that is "Vengeance" kicks off At The Speed of Twisted Thought and you're in hardcore territory, circa 1981, Lansing, Michigan! Bring your helmet along because you're going to need protection, people have died for this kind of music. With dedication amongst some labels, collectors, and compilers; bands that were once doomed to remain regional scene flag bearers are finally being brought into the limelight. This scene did not start with the generic metal-pop sound that certain record labels now mass produce under the banner of "punk". Whilst the mainstream rock press picked up on some bands from the hardcore years like Black Flag, Bad Brains and Minor Threat and also predecessors like Dead Kennedys, to name a few; most were flatly ignored in favour of video-era choreographed pop and industry millionaires. This midwestern band The Fix were one of the thousands of maximum rock and roll bands in all four corners of the world from Israel to Poland that were the true alternative to commercialism and image; they were down with the kids and documented what was really going on in the world. Are you mosh pit and circle jerk ready? Are you ready to teach your little Green Day loving nephew or son a thing or two about where it all began?

At The Speed of Twisted Thought is not an album proper but a compilation containing singles, demos and live stuff, all buffed up and allowed to shine again. Track number four "Truth Right Now" ends in mid-air and you are reminded of that the English band Wire were also a possible influence on formative American hardcore, there are intricacies hidden beneath the noise and anger. I theorize on the joy of hind site, a lot of these bands may not even have heard of groups on the other side of the world! The pace doesn't let up until fifth track "Signal" which marches along with the same sort of military purpose and precision as "Troops of Tomorrow" by The Exploited. Punk peers D.O.A. are recalled in quite a few of the tracks as well as early Broken Bones, Poison Idea and Motorhead. At The Speed of Twisted Thought is an artifact from the years before hardcore "went metal", something that real punkers considered to be selling out. The idea was to rip up the rock rulebook, not copy it! Exclusion and macho imagery were never going to be cozy companions to punk; hardcore music was steeped in true passion and sweat, not pomposity and myth.

As well as being an addition to all of your other punk and hardcore albums At The Speed of Twisted Thought is a timely reminder to support the hundreds of thousands of DIY bands in all genres being formed every month. Don't wait twenty five years though! The quality on some of the live versions, particularly on "Cos the Elite" is dodgy, but this adds to the general effect of "being there". This kind of music excels in muddy, warped and scratchy conditions. The collection ends with "Media Blitz", 24 songs in just over 36 minutes and it is all over; the blurred post slam-dance effect kicks in and the only solution is either to take a breather and water, read the excellent liner notes contributed to by hardcore luminaries like Thurston Moore and Henry Rollins, or listen to it again. Thank you to The Fix and thank you for being there Craig, Steve, Jeff and Mike!