Category: Gastunk

There’s a damn lot that can be said about Gastunk’s 2^nd LP, released in 1987. This here is the famous US version on Pusmort with the iconic cover artwork. The original japanese version had a different cover, a different mix, and especially a different vocal track: the A side of the US version has re-recorded vocals in english. Musically, this record is more rooted in metal than Gastunk’s previous releases (which already were pretty metallic). Still, Under The Sun has an unmistakable hardcore edge to it, and is definitely not a pure metal album. That’s enough shoddy description, just get the album!

Here it is.

Counter-Clock Wise came out in 1988, and it’s got two tracks off Gastunk’s third studio album. There is neither punk nor core on this record, but you get lots of hardrock and heavy metal melodies and great guitar work. Still I have to admit that I prefer Gastunk’s earlier phase of metal infused hardcore.

Is it appropriate to post a single titled counter-clock wise on the way we went back from daylight savings time to standard time?

On this 7“ single from 1986 Gastunk felt like mixing their trademark, metallic hardcore punk with some stereotypical spaghetti western, wild west music tropes: acoustic guitars and these hoove-imitating, stomping drum shuffles included. Side A -Geronimo- is obviously a hymn to native american Goyaałé (aka Geronimo), while side B’s title may no longer quite be the, err, preferred nomenclature.

Tatakae, Geronimo!

Wow, it’s been quite a while since I last posted a record by Gastunk. How did this happen? Was it because I had already posted everything I owned by that point? Well, yeah. Anyways, here is their 1986 12“ ep, with four tracks between power metal, hard rock, punk and hardcore. Watch out for songs longer than 6 ½ minutes, acoustic guitars, the sudden ending of an “endless” waltz, crooning vocals and dual leads!

And over-the-top artwork, of course!

“Dead Song”, Gastunk’s first LP from 1985, has the same strange-yet-great mixture of hardrock, heavy metal, punk and hardcore as the rest of their early releases. Since I’ve already praised Gastunk’s greatness in my earlier posts…

…this will have to do for today!

In 1985 the great looking hardockers of Gastunk released their first LP “Dead Song”. In 1988 they re-recorded the LP’s title track for a flexi disk which came as a freebie with a music magazine. Dead Song is another hardrockin’ epic of over 5 minutes complete with acoustic intro.

Somehow they managed to make it work!

Mr. Gazime (whoever that may be) from 1985 is Gastunk’s second 7″. It’s got a weird, yet very cool hard rock/power metal vibe to it, with great crooning vocals which sound like they could almost come from Mr. Frank Sinatra himself. Totally awesome!

They did it their way!