Septic Death “Now That I Have Your Attention What Do I Do With It?” 1986. Pusmort Records. Hardcore punk/thrashcore/speed metal from Boise, Idaho (of all places). I got this mainly because Septic Death had a track on one of the best 80′s punk comps ever, the P.E.A.C.E./War album from ‘84 (Septic Death’s contribution to the comp is “Silence” which is also on this record). That track is pretty good – one of the best on Now That I Have Your Attention – but I think I was mostly enamored with the artwork done by Septic Death singer Brian “Pushead” Schroeder. Back in ‘86 I sent my $5 off to Pushead for a Septic Death t-shirt and I’m pretty sure he threw a poster and sticker into the package. (I probably figured a Septic Death t-shirt was the best way to piss off my parents and teachers without actually getting into any real trouble. I believe I wore it to school along with a pillow-case skirt and combat boots. 80′s punk fashion at its finest!). Pushead has since created artwork for many other bands, including Misfits and  Metallica as well as t-shirts for Thrasher and skateboard designs.

Honestly this isn’t the kind of punk I’m that fond of (not sure I really was back in the day, either). It is, for the most part, too fast, too chaotic, too guttural/screamy, too chest-beating masculine – it’s called thrashcore for good reason. There are a few tracks that have a bit more structure to them (and happen to be a little bit slower) that I do like, the aforementioned “Silence,” plus “Core of Reality,” “Negative Thrust,” and “Control.” Lyrically? Dunno. Sure the album comes with a lyric sheet but damn, trying to understand what’s being sung just with a listen is impossible (well, not completely – there’s lots of death, fear, blood, etc. etc.).