REVIEWS OF PARADISE LOST (EXPANDED)

ECTOMAG.COM
DRESDEN 45, PARADISE LOST (EXPANDED) (ARCLIGHT RECORDS)

Six years in the making and well worth the wait! The boys of Dresden 45 bring you a hardcore sound as big as all of Texas. But make no mistake this is more than just you typical hardcore album, Dresden 45 blends hardcore, thrash and speed core in away that most bands wouldn¡¦t have thought of, these guys are the shit and they know it. So much in fact that they have no problems with throwing in some rap and a DJ into the mix on a few trax, yeah how's that for versatile! One of the major highlights of this disc is the insane guitar work on it, showing that even the smallest bands can rival hell even out shine the some of the big guys out there. For those of you out there who may know Dresden 45 from back in the day, have fun with some of the old trax that have been remastered for the expanded version of Paradise Lost. For anyone out there who doesn't know about the mighty D45 get ready to be blown away with some killer shit!

LOLLIPOP Issue 67,
DRESDEN 45, PARADISE LOST (EXPANDED) (ARCLIGHT RECORDS)
by Ari M. Joffe

This here is the definitive collection of Dresden 45's work. The Texas-based hardcore band's tenure ran from '87-'93, and with this 20 track disc, you get pretty much all the tracks they ever recorded in one lethal package. It's hardcore: Fast, loud, riffy, and full of teen angst. There were tons of bands in the underground at the time playing this kinda stuff: Cryptic Slaughter, Suicidal Tendencies, D.R.I., etc. all rolled with it. Dresden 45 did it as well as any of 'em, and the proof's right here. Tunes like "Coexistence," "Jarvik 7," and "Mainlined" are mile-a-minute political tirades, pumped up with some awesome guitar solos, courtesy of Patrick Godbey. The dude wails, plain and simple.

So, yeah, this rocks. If you're into hardcore, this will definitely scratch your itch. If you're not too familiar with the genre, well, here's a great place to start.

THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE Vol. 23, No. 41, June 11 - June 17, 2004
DRESDEN 45: PARADISE LOST (EXPANDED) (ARCLIGHT RECORDS)

In the sprawl of economically depressed mid-Eighties Houston, hardcore was often the catharsis of choice for disenfranchised suburban teens. High schoolers themselves when the band started in 1985, Dresden 45 became one of the most beloved acts to emerge from this era. Following in the footsteps of H-town expatriates D.R.I., D45 fused punk rage to the loud, fast rules of thrash with a militaristic precision. Vocalist Brumby Boylston was a classic punk screamer, while guitarist Patrick Godbey threw down ramming speed guitar solos owing a lot more to Eddie Van Halen than Johnny Thunders. The quartet's unrelenting disgust at the lingering threat of annihilation ("Coexistence") and unrestrained greed ("Live for $") that epitomized the Reagan era make this expanded reissue of their sole album a trip back in time. Dresden 45 also paid homage to Minor Threat with rails against nicotine ("Smoke") and heroin ("Mainlined"). While their world-view was bleak and violent, their scream-along choruses and exhortations not to let the bastards win fostered an aural camaraderie. This was evident at shows during the band's late-Eighties heyday. Paradise Lost doesn't capture Dresden 45's live ferocity as well as it could've, but keep in mind it was recorded at a studio that normally did country songs and radio jingles. Sentimental Eighties refugees who've forgotten what it feels like to be 17 and pissed off should look into this.
-Greg Beets

HIGH BIAS MAY 23, 2004
DRESDEN 45: PARADISE LOST (EXPANDED) (ARCLIGHT RECORDS)

This disk collects everything the Houston hardcore quartet threw up from '87-93, including its self-released Paradise Lost LP and every track from its many 7-inches. Dresden 45 was a powerhouse, but one with a brain, smart enough to use actual dynamics to vary its unceasing attack, as well as leaven the raging storm with metallic leads, a stab at what would later be called stoner rock ("High on Gasoline") and an homage to rap ("Southern California 2"). The band had its shit down, dawg—burners like "Guilty of Birth," "Jarvik 7" and the eponymous theme song would start a mosh pit in a nursery school.
-Michael Toland

TANGERINE MAGAZINE
DRESDEN 45: PARADISE LOST (EXPANDED) (ARCLIGHT RECORDS)

Absolutely amazing thrash metal gems that somehow blend elements of hardcore, punk, and rap into a crushing blast of pure power.  This disc collects previously released material on one must have CD.  I've been listening to these underappreciated rarities almost daily for weeks now.  High voltage intensity energizes every track.  Screaming vocal violence, pile driving rhythm section, meth rush fret runs, and split second time shifts and breakdowns had neighbors four houses down the block giving me the evil eye.  Spring is here, windows are open, and everybody gets to hear how seeringly satisfying these speed thrashers were when they leveled Texas towns back in the 80's and 90's.  I'm sure they were every bit as impressed as I was with how these guys sound so raw and loud while being so incredibly tough ass tight.
- Glenn Tillman.

HELLRIDE MUSIC, March 18, 2004
DRESDEN 45: PARADISE LOST (EXPANDED) (ARCLIGHT RECORDS)

Cool, rippin hardcore punk from Texas, I was stoked to find this in the review pile Chris sent me. I got the LP back in the late 80's and loved it. That whole LP is included here as are various ep tracks. By the late 80's the scene was already fragmenting into sub-genres and unfortunately Dresden 45 got a little lost in the shuffle, not fitting neatly into any boxes. They're firmly rooted in hardcore but not to the extent to which it's punk roots are lost.

There are a lot more guitar solos here (many quite good) than were normally permitted in hardcore. The vocals are extremely urgent, a full raging tantrum going on here but in a very good way. Intelligent, well thought out lyrics and consistant energy make this a great lost jewel if you're into 80's hardcore.

FREE PRESS HOUSTON
DRESDEN 45: PARADISE LOST (EXPANDED) (ARCLIGHT RECORDS)

Hatched back in 1985, Houstonians Dresden 45 played an alloy of metal, punk, thrash and hardcore known as speedcore. They issued a handful of 7 inchers, the Paradise Lost LP and shared stages with a who's who of national bands at clubs like Cabaret Voltaire, AMC, Fitzgerald's and the original incarnation of the Axiom before calling it a day in 1990. Arclight has picked the perfect time to re-examine this Reagan to King Bush I era thrash created just after the golden age of hardcore. They've come up with a well assembled and annotated package that collects all of D45's output and adds two previously unreleased cuts.

Like an anvil to the brain they bludgeon you with hard and fast precision guitar that tilts to the Slayer side while still maintaining a Minor Threat flavor. "Newton's Bad Apple" is the prime example of their authoritative brawn. It's tight fisted vein bulging hardcore with guitar solos verging on metal without the wank factor. Their subject matter easily fits these violence wracked fear and terror obsessed times as they paint a bleak society that's a vast shithole of killing, drugs, greed, and despair. One listen to "Coexistence" - Man against man...Endless struggle future's grim...Mankind's choice to live or die will have you goose-stepping off to a recruiting office or scheming to become the next Timothy McVeigh. The sum effect of this enraged soundtrack will inspire you to lace up your Doc Martens, slap on a vintage DRI t-shirt and go out and stomp the Republicans that down-sized your job, health-care and future. The parental advisory on this one should read "Warning! This music will inspire civil disobedience."
- Tim O'Brien

RANK AND REVUE VOL. 2, Issue 25
DRESDEN 45: PARADISE LOST (EXPANDED) (ARCLIGHT RECORDS)

YEEEEAAAAAH! Punk fucking rock! Thrashing hardcore with substance and a wide speculum – meaning they stretch open this beast called humanity and expose all the bare nasty stank of it, pull the grisly pieces out and lay them on the table. This band will beat up your band. Hard to believe, but this record is just as bad-ass as their live show that left spacks of ground humanoid beef on the floor. I mean, put it this way: this record kicks your pinly ass and your fat friend’s ass too. The whole thing – it’s like watching Mad Max and eating three Casino burgers – a big, fat, fulfilling series of head-on collisions between self-destruction and annihilation of everybody stupid in general.

Fast, raging, raw, straight from the balls. No contrived poser horseshit here. Squaggling metallic leads and vicious juvenile delinquent tantrum yelling – gaaddammit that Brumby has got a cool voice. He writes kickass lyrics too – wisely blunt, taut and rhythmic, sardonic observations and valid complaints from worldly to petty. Stylie details splattered here and there: raunchy skratching and voice-of-authority narratives. Favorite tracks: Smoke – a harsh ridicule of weak, phony people and habits; and Briar Patch – a tore-up account of trying to leave home... but, wherever you go, you bring yourself. Or you run into the same shit you’re running away from?

This is not the same old shit. This is good shit, from the old school; D45 has aced the test of time. And they beat the snot outta all these star-search assembly-line nu-metal whine-core pussy-farts. 20 tracks of ass-beating bliss. What more do you want? Buy it! And like the sleeve says, play it loud. Or I’m-a kill ya!
- Bek Sabbath

PUNK PLANET Issue 60, March and April, 2004
DRESDEN 45: PARADISE LOST (EXPANDED) (ARCLIGHT RECORDS)

Despite what EPMD had to say, I've always had a fondness for "the crossover." But in this case I'm referring to the glorious mixture of punk and metal (second to my heart only after funk and metal) that began around the mid-'80s. An overlooked gem of that era is Dresden 45's first and only full-length, which was actually a compilation of most of the songs from their first two 7-inches. These guys were from Texas, home to fellow thrash pioneers, DRI. As much as I loved DRI, even up to 4 Of A Kind, this album blows Crossover (their genre-defining album) out of the water. Whereas Crossover was a little too slick and slow compared to DRI's previous work, Dresden 45's Paradise Lost was still raw and hardcore, only with better musical chops than most of their hardcore peers. Their album is filled with speed-metal riffs and leads, but it still retains the roughness and intensity of punk's early days. And the singer has a great hardcore yell along the lines of Dischord's early roster. For all intents and purposes, this is just a great hardcore album with metal influences. If you missed out the first time around, this album is going to be rereleased on Arclight Records soon with lots of extra songs. It's a must for fans of thrash and crossover, who I'm sure are poring over this magazine right now.
- Neah Shah