Category: Paintbox

If there ever was one hardcore band whose versatility is truly jaw dropping, then it had to be Paintbox. Earthball Sports Tournament from 2000 (on HG Fact) has got it all and more: insane, anthemic hardcore, melodic punk, hard rocking, crooning, crazy fast staccato vocals, acoustic guitars (that are actually fun listening to), bongos, harmonicas, violins, and of course Chelsea’s incredible guitar playing… A fucking wild ride, an absolutely great album. The only thing I do not find great about it, is the cover artwork… This version is the licence pressing on Prank Records from 2008.

What’s your handicap?

Once again: Paintbox! Hell yeah, definitely one of THE japanese bands for me! This was their first 7“, released in 1998 on HG Fact. Both songs (Flame and Desert) are of course also on the singles compilation album which I had posted way back then. They are just so fucking great, the best possible start for a truly unique band. Flame and Desert may not yet be as crazy and stylistically wild as some of Paintbox’s later work would be, but they are still two masterpieces of amazing and powerful japanese hardcore.

Burn everything to the ground!

Paintbox’s debut album from 1999, though this is the 2008 LP release on Prank Records. I’m not gonna say too much about it, since I’ve drooled, raved and gushed enough about Paintbox on this blog already. As everything by Paintbox, this LP is simply extraordinary. If you’re into hypercompetently played hardcore with eclectic excursions into various other genres and styles, then get it.

Also: Chelsea on guitar! SO GET IT!

Paintbox’s 2nd 7“, released in 1999, is testament to their creativity and uniqueness. The Door is a fast and driving piece of powerful hardcore punk with Chelsea’s trademark guitar leads, but the real kicker here is the intro supported by a fucking brass section, which also gets to play a solo with dual harmonics. Provided Railroad is somewhat slower, but gets to feature a harmonica, congas (bongos?!), a flamenco guitar solo and another brass solo. I’m not sure if I need to mention this, but ALL of these crazy musical excursion sound absolutely great!

Anybody wanna top that?!

If you ever wondered, what a song about the natural beauty of unrefined iron ore might sound like, look no further, for this is it! It’s hard rocking mid-tempo song full of melody and the late Chelsea’s beautiful guitar leads. While the two tracks b-side of this 7“ (among them Plastic Pump, their Poison Idea worship) made it on Paintbox’ singles collection, Genseki on the a-side (also released on their final album Trip, Trance & Travelling) did not.

Unrefined iron ore!

This 2009 posthumous release of Paintbox’s 7″es came in three versions, as a CD, as a double LP and as an LP. As this here is only the single LP version, it has less tracks than the other two. Still, it’s got Paintbox’s S/T 7″, their The Door/Provided Railroad 7″, the Back Reporter 7″, the Cry Of The Sheeps 7″ (drool, drool!), an awesome cover of Ghoul’s Judas/Intro off the tribute to Masami, plus their Poison Idea tribute.

I’m not gonna mention again just how awesome they are!

Cry Of The Sheeps by Paintbox is such anthemic, hymn-like hardrocking japanese hardcore, it’s gotta be heard to be believed! As almost all their releases it’s totally genius, extremely tight and hard to praise enough even by using exclusively superlatives!

Awesomestest!