DEAD C - Harsh 70s Reality 2LP

Highly recommended.

Originally seeing the light of day in April of 1992, Harsh 70s Reality was not just a high water mark for that year, but for the ages. Technically this was the band’s fourth long-play outing, and as a double-album, it followed (and was ever so slightly informed by) two formidable juggernauts that preceeded it: Twin Infinitives and Lake. But it was Harsh 70s Reality that left the decade stronger and more resonant than it came in.

A 2012 anniversary edition-replete with gatefold jacket-came and went fairly quickly, so in 2023 it was agreed that it should stalk the earth yet again, this time akin to original packaging and viola; this time with a flat matte jacket finish, insert + updated audio shepherding courtesy of Josh Stevenson (Cindy Lee, Famous Mammals, Puppet Wipes, Alastair Galbraith, etc).

Harsh 70s Reality is one of the most compelling, darkest albums you'll ever hear.

This album conveys the apathetic rage of bands like This Heat (so much that one of the tracks is a reference to one of their tracks), through a noise rock sound reminiscent of Royal Trux. The noise rock tracks are stretched out to breaking point and are filled with these drony improvised pieces which just fill out the feeling of this album.