FEAR OF GOD- Konserven 7″EP (Two Sheds Records, Switzerland, 1993)
Recorded in 1987, this was one of my old band’s first demo tapes, recorded in a shed in Steinen. The shed was up on a hill, right in the middle of a pittoresque scenery of the swiss alps, complete with cows and farmers. One of them, for reasons only he had known, used to show up at the shed when we practiced. The ol’ geezer would just quietly walk in, without saying a word, give us some change and walk off again, quietly. I would love to know what he was thinking about the FEAR OF GOD noise coming out of that shed.
500 copies were made of this posthumously released 7″. I wanted to have some colors on the cover for once, but the guy who put this out had little money to spend, so I took some potatoes, cut the figures in them and used them as stamps, just like I was taught in the kindergarten.
PS: both intro and outro come from the german dubbed version of “Eat the Rich”, the movie with Lemmy.
Intro – Rubbish Planet.mp3
Two Sides of the Coin.mp3
Locked Away.mp3
Controlled by Fear.mp3
My Hands.mp3
Pelzfotze.mp3
Circle A.mp3
Trouble Maker.mp3
Pneumatic Slaughter.mp3
Absolution.mp3
Under the Chainsaw.mp3
7 up.mp3
First Class People.mp3
A Life in Rigorism.mp3
I’ve seen.mp3
Outro.mp3
rb wrote:
I love this 7″! It sounds like a mix between Repulsion and Mob 47. You guys were the shit! I wish I had seen you live in 87.
Posted on 26-Sep-07 at 1:12 pm | Permalink
astromouse wrote:
hahaha what’s this anti retro punk campaign all about? how can I help?
FEAR OF GOD shred man!
Posted on 26-Sep-07 at 1:27 pm | Permalink
Admin wrote:
We must destroy retro punk. RRRRRRRRIGGGHHT NOOOWWWW!!!!
Posted on 26-Sep-07 at 1:35 pm | Permalink
Slobodan Burgher wrote:
Punks is hippies. Kill em. Thanks for this lovely post of flowerpop music. I like it a lot.
Posted on 26-Sep-07 at 2:52 pm | Permalink
Adrian wrote:
first time i’m hearing this. i remember when your first ep was reviewed in mrr 20 years ago. so i ordered it and was virtually blown away. never before and never since have i heard such INHUMANE musick. now this demo here is a surprise! same songs but i can actually hear there are HUMAN BEINGS playing. don’t know yet whether to like this or not. it’s not as eruptive abrassive and devastating as the original ep but it has the same DESPERATE atmosphere. were you guys that desperate?
Posted on 26-Sep-07 at 3:10 pm | Permalink
Zach wrote:
Still one of the best grind/noise bands of all time. I really love in the Zeitgeist 2xLP how you said that Fear Of God was a noise (not grind) band that set out to destroy music. I only wish you had succeeded. Very strange to think that grindnoise/noisecore is almost totally dead these days.
By the way, do you still have a copy of the Blood Munster demo? I’m fucking DYING to hear that! Thomas Molch told me he doesn’t even have a copy anymore…
Posted on 26-Sep-07 at 4:37 pm | Permalink
Eddie wrote:
Erich, do you have Razz - Great Punk Rock Storm 8″? If you do could you post it? I have their Dead Social Desire EP if anyone wants to hear it.
Posted on 26-Sep-07 at 5:27 pm | Permalink
Admin wrote:
Sorry Eddie, never heard RAZZ.
Yep Zach - we were probably aiming a little too high, haha. These days, if I had a band, I’d say my goal is to destroy retro punk.
Posted on 27-Sep-07 at 12:02 am | Permalink
Slobodan Burgher wrote:
Retrofy destructo punk!
Posted on 27-Sep-07 at 4:35 am | Permalink
Buzzmozz wrote:
Novelty-core! I remember in the 80’s when every hardcore and metal bands tried to be the fastest band. It was stupid competion, it was fast for the sake of being fast. I know lots of people who will like a band ONLY because it is fast and like they say “brutal”! And Fear Of God is the perfect band for those morons! This music may sound “brutal” but it’s still played by a bunch of sissies. What a bunch of show off! If at least it doesn’t even have the intensity of great bands like GAI, KORO…
Stay BrOOOOtal and stay sick,
Mayhem666
Posted on 27-Sep-07 at 6:06 am | Permalink
Buzzmozz wrote:
I bet you won’t even publish my comment, because i’m right!
Posted on 27-Sep-07 at 6:10 am | Permalink
Admin wrote:
Yes, Buzz. You’re very right.
Posted on 27-Sep-07 at 7:20 am | Permalink
mayhem666 wrote:
what’s your problem buzzmozz? jealous?
Posted on 27-Sep-07 at 8:00 am | Permalink
George wrote:
“This music may sound “brutal” but it’s still played by a bunch of sissies.”
stupid wanker.
I never REALLY liked extremecore bands. this is no exception, but i honor the fact that it once was “novelty core” because that’s what it was: new and fresh. and i don’t give a shit WHY people like music. be it because of its speed, because it’s hip or because it’s from the same city. what a dork, this buzz guy. he’s probably from some retro punk band
Posted on 27-Sep-07 at 8:15 am | Permalink
JakeTheePope wrote:
Shit– I’ve tried about six times to post something coherent (a bit um… self-inflictedly woozy), but I end up with splintered thoughts/1000 things-at-once trying to get outta my typin’ mitts. So, I’ll keep it simple: I love this stuff! I’m glad you put this up b/c I listened to “Pneumatic Slaughter” like, four times in a row a few days ago. I know somebody’s gonna mention, “Paul Speckmann called– he wants his intro back!”, so to elaborate on that, ever heard Master’s “Unreleased 1985 Album”? I get a similar vibe from you guys, and believe me, that’s high praise comin’ from a slobbering Master fanatic– oh, and stir in a bit of the aforementioned Repulsion.
Ok, that’s still not particularly coherent, but it’s probably the best I’ll be able to come up with today.
Posted on 27-Sep-07 at 11:35 am | Permalink
Admin wrote:
Jake, that’s funny you’re mentioning MASTER (and flattering). I just spoke to Pual Speckmann two weeks ago, when MASTER played here. Nice chap, very down to earth, and probably another one of those sissies only in it for the brutality666ism (haha, that Buzzdude, what a dork).
Sure am a MASTER lover - how on earth did you think did we get that intro?
Posted on 27-Sep-07 at 11:43 am | Permalink
JakeTheePope wrote:
No no no– I knew you’d obviously heard Master before, just that I wondered if you’d heard that particular album (see prev. post). It’s much more raw and hardcore-tinged than the S/T album or even “7th Day”. Um, what I’m sayin’ is that the sound Master laid down on those unreleased (til a few years ago) tracks, has a very similar spirit to what you wuz doin’.
I’ll shut up now.
Posted on 27-Sep-07 at 12:02 pm | Permalink
Admin wrote:
I’m not sure, Jake, but I think this must be the unreleased LP from 85 you’re talking about. I know it from th tape version, cause that was all that was available of MASTER back in 87, when we snitched that intro riff.
Killer band, anyway. You should have seen Dave (Fear Of God bassist) and me two weeks ago, when they opened up with MASTER. We smiled like little boys, haha.
Posted on 27-Sep-07 at 12:19 pm | Permalink
RATOSECO wrote:
Brooootal!!! hahaha. Actualy isn’t too fast and short, is just… is just… BROOOOTAL!!!! hahaha
Classic!
Posted on 27-Sep-07 at 1:52 pm | Permalink
STiG(NZ) wrote:
Awesome. Old punks of the world don’t die they just blog and tell people about the “good old days”… Sweet band, I’ve got the CD at the shop.
Posted on 27-Sep-07 at 5:35 pm | Permalink
Zach wrote:
In regards to Buzzmozz commments, I can safely say that as someone who collects every small bit of memorabilia from the Kyushu noisepunk scene, and also considers KORO to be one of the most interesting 80’s USHC bands; FEAR OF GOD is more intense. I’m sorry, but it DOES get more intense than early 80’s HC. If you can’t see/admit that, you are stubborn, end of story.
Posted on 27-Sep-07 at 7:50 pm | Permalink
some fool wrote:
man fear of god is ssooo good i wish i had a band to sound like this becuz i dont liek most bands here its all the same hardcore stuff slow/fast but never fast short short songs fog is a really good band no matter if people say its just noise BUT ITS FUCKING GOOD NOISE
Posted on 27-Sep-07 at 10:17 pm | Permalink
martin wrote:
KORO and GAI …. what are these two bands supposed to have in common anyway? One is a great US HC band, the other one a lousy japanese DISORDER ripoff. That guy obviously knows what he’s talking about ….
Anyway. FEAR OF GOD blow them all away. One of the most original bands in the 80s and one of the most intense ever. I love these bits cause they’re not the ubergrind of the first ep and one can hear the band’s progession. Same with early NAPALM DEATH: One can notify the moment these guys heard REPULSION for the first time (REPULSION, ladies and gents, are the number one band in terms of broootality!). There’s just nothing like early grindnoise. Most intense music ever made! I was there in London from 75 to 79 when Punk exploded. It’s was a great time, best years of my life, but I can tell you that many wished the music to be louder, faster, faaaaaster! To bad we had to wait 10 more years for “novelty core” to come and blow the rest of the dust off. Buzzmozz you are obviously some asshole who didn’t understand what was going on.
Posted on 27-Sep-07 at 11:10 pm | Permalink
Admin wrote:
I’m really starting to like the term “Novelty Core”!
Posted on 28-Sep-07 at 12:09 am | Permalink
inuit wrote:
this rules hard…thanks alot. a potato stamp cover on a record like this rules as well. killer.
anymore unreleased fear of god floating around out there?
Posted on 28-Sep-07 at 6:06 am | Permalink
Admin wrote:
The majority of what’s ever been recorded is on the brazilian “Zeitgeist” Double LP that was released a few years ago. If ever find time and passion, I might work on a proper CD issue of at least a part of that material, if the offers from various record labels will still be valid by then (means in ca. 37 years, haha).
Posted on 28-Sep-07 at 6:28 am | Permalink
Struppi wrote:
I loved the lyrics of FOG, where are they?
Posted on 28-Sep-07 at 6:53 am | Permalink
Admin wrote:
Everywhere on the web. It’s maybe time for an official website again, I dunno.
Posted on 28-Sep-07 at 7:03 am | Permalink
pneumatic steven wrote:
Erich - you HAVE to re release all FEAR OF GOD stuff officially!! And please re-print the essay you wrote for the double lp - that was an awesome piece of history!
Posted on 28-Sep-07 at 7:36 am | Permalink
Billy wrote:
i ve never heard about this, cool recording! thanks!
i m trying to picture in my mind the farmer staring at some kids playing such brutal stuff
Posted on 28-Sep-07 at 10:45 am | Permalink
Slobodan Burgher wrote:
Re: Gai being “one a lousy japanese DISORDER ripoff” -for me that is the whole point, that is why I like it so much, as well as a compliment to the band. To think that it would be a neagtive thing ti say…HA! But why is the soundlevels so much higher of your rip Erich? When I play the goddamn stuff on headphones I near get a heartattack everytime…which, I suppose, is a compliment to you, sir. Now what about that Fear of God website? Lets see….and how about posting some FEAR OF WAR (sweden)? Lol
Posted on 28-Sep-07 at 12:04 pm | Permalink
Admin wrote:
Levels of what, Slobo - of GAI? I do normalize the levels in all my rips - gives em punch!
Posted on 28-Sep-07 at 3:00 pm | Permalink
Sean wrote:
Erich, do you remember trading this ep to me when it came out? I sent like 15 ircs haha!!!
Personally this is your best recording ever.
Posted on 28-Sep-07 at 5:08 pm | Permalink
Slobodan Burgher wrote:
Well you haven’t posted any Gai have you? Lol. Today I noticed that it is not all of your rips actually. But anyway some of them are much much louder for some weird reason than other mp3s. And by the way I am talking about things since you changed the URL…but nevermind this is easily changed in iTunes by turning on that annoying auto loudness-setting…or by just turning up all the other mp3s to your levels (get the pun there, Erich? Your levels!! ha ha ha)
Posted on 28-Sep-07 at 10:36 pm | Permalink
Admin wrote:
Cheeky bastard ain’t you Slobo har har
Yeah, I remember. The irc days. Haha.
Posted on 29-Sep-07 at 1:22 am | Permalink
moyo wrote:
I used to think of FOG as a ND rip off somehow. Now this demo changed my views totally! FOG had a totally own style that was rooted in HC more than in Metal (like ND ripping off REPULSION). This is absolutely brillant and up there with the classic recordings of the 80s. Congrats and please re-release this. You should try Relapse Records!
Posted on 01-Oct-07 at 8:42 am | Permalink
Speckmann wrote:
It was a real pleasure meeting the guys of FOG after all these years. The show was cool, and really a decent crowd, but it was obvious that I am old and most of the crowd was way too young. Many of the original songs that I wrote for Master were written when many of the fans were in their diapers or not even born. But old Metal Heads never die, and I will continue to push on. Speckmann
I suppose I should still be happy that people take the time to talk about this shit in 2007.
Posted on 18-Oct-07 at 7:39 am | Permalink
Assfault wrote:
At last I hear this phenomenal demo again!!! I got a really lousy copy of it in 87-88 or something. I got it from a guy who copied it from a guy who had copied from a guy… Don’t know if you ever played in Sweden but it got here anyways, THANK GOD for that.
/Swede
Posted on 11-Aug-08 at 3:11 pm | Permalink