Remdik – Remdik

(161 Strikes Data)

Cassette | DL

Out now

This medieval weapon themed Slovakian Oi album hits out for the rights of Roma and towards fascists with an amalgam of brutal Oi and thumping hardcore says Nathan Brown.

After I heard the rumblings of a brand new Balkan anti-fascist file label placing out predominantly Oi! model music I assumed folks have to know. The exact location and origins of 161 Strikes Data are mysterious however their first launch is Remdik’s self titled album.

Remdik is a Slovakian title for a morning star or mace (pictured on the quilt). Now this instantly places me in thoughts of Johnny Moped’s introduction to Laborious Loving Man on the Stay At The Roxy album which is not any dangerous place to begin. “Maces are principally iron balls with chains with spikes on it”.

Anyway, sufficient of 1977. Again to 2023. The album kicks off with medieval bugles earlier than a powerful clang of guitar and thundering drums. Then the heavy chug of the guitar and bass kicks in. Remdik have as a lot Sick Of It All as Blitz, Assault and different gruff heavy Oi bands of their DNA. One thing concerning the rawness jogs my memory of early US HC bands and Nineteen Eighties Finnish punk. The overdriven sound is just like Bootlicker’s debut 7″ and is delivered at the same tempo, however this has clearer manufacturing.

Highly effective regular drums sound like they’re being pounded by a large and with the bass create a tasty backside finish thud. The uncooked guitar is customary bar chord matching the bass notes with the odd primary single string or discordant whining solo which provides to the bluntness. The vocals are uncooked and shouted however this it Oi, proper, so what you anticipating? There’s a dose of hardcore and as Oi is trending with the hardcore yoof this can in all probability go down as properly with the youthful crowd because the previous punks’n’skins. If for no different motive, observe this down so you may impress your mates with figuring out a couple of Balkan Oi band lengthy earlier than they heard of them.

Lyrically this can be a combine of ordinary aggravating fare with an anti-fascist bent and a few distinctive qualities. For starters, what number of Oi bands sing up about, and condemn, the way in which Roma persons are handled? Remdik do. A few of the band members are from the Roma group themselves. After which there’s the title observe, because the band are at pains to level out, Remdik isn’t just the title of a medieval weapon. Oh no. “Remdik is a particular unit that desires to convey again to the scene what has lengthy been extinct: delight, power, self-discipline and all of the skinhead virtues!” The tune is about getting out on the streets and combating fascists. In addition they title test Oi Polloi which is sure to win them loads of associates.

Then there’s the quilt artwork. A skinhead driving a horse whereas flailing a mace round. And if that wasn’t sufficient, the label are donating all of their income from this launch to E-Romnja- a Roma feminist and non-profit group combating for the rights of Roma ladies and ladies. What a debut launch from a label I hope to listen to extra from.

Restricted to 100 copies on cassette or you may obtain from bandcamp.

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Phrases by Nathan Brown. His Louder Than Warfare creator archive may be discovered right here.