By SoDak
The best place to find good records in Rapid City, South Dakota, in the late 1980s was the Dissent house. Todd Smith, the drummer of Dissent, had boxes of seven-, ten-, and twelve-inch records, from the various bands he met while on tour, as well as from the network of punk rockers who started labels, published zines, and booked shows. It was a joy to flip through records at his house and to get his recommendations, as this provided a way to discover music by small bands from across the country. One of the countless gems that I picked up was Who Changed? (1988), a seven-inch record by Hunger Artist, from Rochester, New York, released by Hippycore Records.
Hunger Artist caught my attention, as they had a unique hardcore sound. The recording on Who Changed? is a little bright and raw, yet the mix is great, as all the instruments are clearly heard. On the song “3 to 4,” the bass jumps to the front, with notes that pop here and there, adding a nice texture to the song. Throughout the record, the two guitars have a slight buzz and brightness to them. On several songs, clean chords ring out, adding an emotional touch that grabs my attention. The drums propel the songs forward, generating excitement. The vocals are fascinating, as the singer’s voice is slightly strained, yet retains a melodic touch. The songs include interesting changes, rather than consisting of simply two parts.
The lyrics on this seven-inch record, written by several band members, address isolation, frustration, personal struggles, doubts, and anger—all of which is captured well in the vocals and music. The chorus of each song always grabs me, as I like to sing along. On “Who Changed?,” there is a strong rhymical aspect: “I am/What I think/You think/That I am/I damn myself/To the/Hell I plan.” I picture a crowd filled with friends singing along right before the breakdown. On “Samsara,” the words and instruments create a swirling feeling: “The fight still continues/Without an end or a beginning/Everyone plays the soldier/But no one knows who’s winning.” My favorite song on this record is “Empty Feeling.” The drums are hypnotic, relentless driving the song with a wonderful beat. The guitars and bass kick into high gear, and the vocals add to the propulsion with the opening lines: “Why do we hurt the ones we truly love/Why an iron fist in a velvet glove/Why kick and whine for the things we don’t need/Why push and shove when we could gently lead.” The bridge and breakdown, which has a slight ska-element to it, allows me to catch my breath. I have danced around the room many times while listening to this song.
In 1989, Hunger Artist recorded a full-length album that was never released—that is until now. These recordings were rescued from being lost forever and then buried in a closet for decades. Fortunately, the band ended up with the tapes, as it is a real treat to finally listen to their record Samsara (2023). The sound is rich and dynamic, adding a nice depth to each of the songs. The band’s growth is evident. They retain their unique sound, while the songs are more refined. There is a late 1980s D.C. influence, along the lines of Ignition, in the music. This is especially true in the opening track, “Inside Down,” which I think is especially captivating. Each of the eight songs has driving, catchy guitar lines, great punchy bass runs, and powerful drums. I love the melodic, emotional, strain in the vocals. The song “Samsara” is on both the seven-inch and the full-length. Both versions are great—the former is raw, whereas the latter is more controlled. I love having both versions in my life, as I do not prefer one over the other. I get chills each time I hear the guitar parts on “Just Listen” and “I’m Off.” They are magical in how they create a feeling of being propelled forward, similar to how Verbal Assault accomplished this feat. Samsara is a gem.
Thanks to Hunger Artist and Rabbit Rabbit Records for making this release materialize.
Order the record at: https://rabbitrabbitrecordspress.bigcartel.com/.
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