This collection boasts all the bollocks of Skrewdriver’s first full length “All Skrewed Up” and chucks in a few added bonuses for the hell of it. Such bonuses include an alternative version of “I Don’t Like You” which sounds like it was recorded after Ian Stuart Donaldson re- formed the group in London but presumably before they began their careers as outwardly racist knuckle- draggers and is altogether more brutal and entertaining than the original album version.
Additionally, the classic if admittedly moronic “Boots & Braces” is featured on this 12” and you can’t help but feel an urge to charge about the streets wearing said articles with a can of lager in your hand and violence in your mind! This is Oi! (or Street Punk if you prefer) at its best; rocking, rolling and spitting its way through the rhythm and blues. The stand out track of this almost flawless work is certainly the epic boom of “Back With A Bang” which screams defiance and rebellion (somewhat tarnished of course by the band’s later political direction). There are of course a few filler tracks on here and most of them are the same as found on “All Skrewed Up”, with the notable exception of the God- awful fucking mess that is “Built Up, Knocked Down” which is nothing short of hilarious.
Other gems here are the less well known “Better Off Crazy” and “19th Nervous Breakdown” and the simple classics “You’re So Dumb” and “Antisocial”. This is without a doubt my favourite Skrewdriver release and is ideal for anybody who loves what they were as opposed to what they so infamously became. This work also has the advantage of being the middle ground in between the “All Skrewed Up era” and the Neo- Nazi nonsense… Essentially what we are given is a thrashier, bolshier Punk Rock outfit with bigger balls than it had before. No politics here, thankfully, just good old Skinhead Punk Rock more than suitable for stomping your boots to.
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