Year: 1981
Label: Secret
Format: CD, LP
Tracks: 15
Time: 36 min.
Genre: rock
Style: Street Punk
"troops of tomorrow"
Year: 1982
Label: Secret
Format: CD, LP
Tracks: 14
Time: 35 min.
Genre: rock
Style: Punk Hardcore
"horror epcis"
Year: 1984
Label: Combat
Format: CD, LP
Tracks: 11
Time: 44 min.
Genre: rock
Style: Goth Punk
"death before dishonor"
Year: 1987
Label: Rough Justice
Format: CD, LP
Tracks: 12
Time: 35 min.
Genre: rock
Style: Punk Hardcore
"war now"
Year: 1988
Label: Rough Justice
Format: CD, LP
Tracks: 12
Time: 36 min.
Genre: rock
Style: Punk Hardcore
Year: 1990
Label: Rough & Justice
Format: CD, LP
Tracks: 12
Time: 44 min.
Genre: rock
Style: Thrash
"beat the bastards"
Year: 1996
Label: Rough Justice
Format: CD, LP
Tracks: 13
Time: 51 min.
Genre: rock
Style: Thrash
With "the massacre" The Exploited received much, much more attention and interest from the metal community. You can first read my thoughts on that album over there. Now you know that album, from my point of view, had a few shortcomings. Most of them were set straight on Beat the Bastards.
Once again, the entire band supporting Wattie had been changed. Guitarist Gordon Balfour was replaced by Jamie Buchan. Drummer Tony Warren and bassplayer Mark Smellie were both replaced by Wattie’s brother Wullie Buchan who played drums and bass on the album (except for one song, ‘15 Years’). Also Wullie was responsible for all the samples added through the album. Speaking of those samples, throughout the album they really give it something extra. Adding to the eighties punk vibe whereas the album itself musically continued the crossover vibe already shown on the The Massacre and DeathBeforeDishonour. A lot of riffs found here have a lot more in common with S.O.D. and even "Amebix on speed and performed by Wiley Arnett" as I heard someone say a few years ago.
As said, Beat The Bastards really dealt with the shortcomings of The Massacre. None of the songs here sound overlong though the total length of the album might be a bit too much for some listeners. Also the addition of more (and good!) guitar solo's ready added something.
Highlights, there are plenty on the album. I can point out ‘Law for the Rich’ and the extremely powerful ‘They Lie’ and ‘Fightback’. These last two have “Scott Ian was here 1985” written all over the main riff. ‘Sea of Blood’ can even best be described as pure fuckin’ thrash metal and would’ve fitted easily on either Sepultura’s ‘Arise’ album or Sacred Reich’s ‘Ignorance’. And closing song ‘Serial Killer’ for some reason reminds me of the second Gorefest album (‘False’) from time to time.
For many fans however the best song here is the impressive ‘Don’t Blame Me’. With that very recognizable bass intro before plunging into uptempo crossover heaven.
Also worth mentioning is ‘System Fucked Up’ which is pure Discharge! Seriously. Back in 1982 both bands released groundbreaking UK82 albums (The Exploited ‘Troops Of Tomorrow’ and Discharge ‘Hear Nothing See Nothing Say Nothing’) without sounding alike. In 1996 however we have this Exploited song sounding remarkably like 1982 era Discharge. Great song as well!
All in all ‘Beat The Bastards’ is one of the better Exploited albums and by far the very best the released after the eighties. If you like crossover, just get this, now (*Review by Morbert ).
Year: 2003
Label: Dream Catcher
Format: CD, LP
Tracks: 13
Time: 33 min.
Genre: rock
Style: Punk Hardcore
"live in Leeds"
Year: 1983
Label: Radiation Reissues
Format: CD, LP
Tracks: 12
Time: 36 min.
Genre: rock
Style: Punk
"on stage"
Year: 1981
Label: none
Format: CD, LP
Tracks: 14
Time: 30 min.
Genre: rock
Style: Punk
