Customer Reviews

Early Years 1989-93

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This cd contains recordings from 91-93. A lot of these tracks re-recorded for "Pledge of Defiance" LP. So, best way to describe this is a chaotic UK82 band. They could have easily come out of the UK in the early to mid 80's. On this recording, they sound authentic and worth picking up.Lyrics are a little juvenile and sorta remind of the Exploited lyrically. Also this is when TOTAL CHAOS were more involved with anarcho punk scene and played with bands like Media Children and actually have an ANTISECT cover on here. This was BEFORE they turned into a ridiculous '77 pogo punk band. '77 punk can be good but these guys try a little too hard on their later recordings and look like/sound like tools. In the cd it says if you send 'em $10 they'll send you a 8 x 10 autographed photo, are they serious? Buy this for the music and try not to think about anything else.

Yes, Total Chaos actually did have recordings as far back as 1989. I still have their first self-titled album to prove it--purchased directly from the band out of the back of a Maximum Rock 'N' Roll magazine almost 15 years ago. Still, TC can't be defined as "old school" as their sound, even on later releases, is quite unoriginal. (These recordings are similar to late-70's/early 80's British hardcore like Chaos UK, Discharge, Conflict.)

"Early Years" is their self-titled first album re-released, plus a few extras. Though I don't have a turntable to play the old LP for comparison purposes, I'm sure that this has been remastered. The first album suffered from poor production; most of the songs were tightened-up and re-recorded for their 1994 Epitaph debut, "Pledge of Defiance." If you don't own Pledge yet, don't waste your money on this one.

Well,let me me start off by informing the ill-informed;Total Chaos didn't have any recordings out in '89 or '90,Secondly;niether the lyrics or the music is intelligent,inciteful or have much knowledge behind it.While it is true that this album does contain the music as it was in their earlier(sheesh!)years,there is much to tell behind the release of these songs and what the band did to come up.
I was a personal friend of the founding members of this band,and their "number one worthless roadie"(see their web page,if they still have one).What the band became(greedy for fame & money)wasn't at all what they were when they started(note the brand spankin' new "punk rock" clothing on the cover of "Anthems from the Alleyways").If you like your English-influenced,Bristle & Spiky punk rock-Buy this album,but think of it as a cartoon,and not a true Punk Rock recording.Good Luck in the 21st century,all you crazy Punk Rock kids-It's only gonna get harder. BONES

THIS CD IS GREAT FOR ANYONE LOOKING TO FIND NEW "REAL" PUNK BANDS. OR IF YOURE ALREADY A TOTAL CHAOS FAN, IT CHRONICLES THE BAND IN A GLORIOUS NEW LIGHT. THE ONLY TWO TRACKS THAT ARE NOT COMPLETELY GREAT ARE THE TWO LIVE TRACKS, BUT THOSE SHOW HOW MUCH ENERGY GOES INTO A TOTAL CHAOS SHOW. YOU HAVE TO BUY IT TO UNDERSTAND HOW GREAT THE BAND REALLY IS.