BATTALION OF SAINTS – Fighting Boys 12″

I like ranking things in lists, so here’s one of the three best 12″ ep’s that would fit on one side of a 7″, along with Black Flag Jealous Again and the Straight Ahead 12″.

These guys took the best elements of Motörhead (metal) and Discharge (d-beat) and combined it with a healthy dose of Southern California to make some rippin’ metal-tinged hardcore. Guitarist Chris Smith was a certified shredder, even lending some licks on one of the Kraut LPs, before his untimely demise (passed out in a bathtub, I believe.) Allegedly the band is cursed, as all original members aside from singer George Anthony are dead, but I saw these guys about 15 years ago and everyone from that lineup is still alive.

Also cool with this copy, aside from belonging to Chuck Dukowski, is that it has a press kit with it. I got one of these off ebay a couple years ago in a lot of random flyers, and it’s filled with KILLER material.