Cry Of Truth: The Story of Warhead's 1991 EP
Formed in 1990 at the bridge between two distinct decades of Japanese hardcore sound, Kyoto's Warhead married the raw, outsider energy of the 1980s with the ferocity and power of the 1990s. Whereas other classic punk bands play sparingly, reserving themselves to headline the occasional large show or fest, Warhead is still regularly playing all types of shows. Thirty years on, you can still easily catch the band playing tiny rooms, like Kyoto's Studio Socrates (which makes most town's punk squat look like a McMansion).
The band's raging 1991 debut, "Cry Of Truth," is no different. In the world of classic Japanese punk, the EP has remained shockingly accessible and holds the uncommon distinction of having been pressed (around) six times. Despite its accessibility, it still kicks the teeth in of all the obscure, overpriced Japanese flexis that collectors fetishize.
In 1992, a year after it's initial release, the "Cry Of Truth" EP was repressed for European audiences by Amok Records from Germany. At the time it was still uncommon for Japanese bands to receive release on labels outside of their home country. But Amok label head Holger Schmidt had a keen ear and the motivation to attempt it.
The story of how this release came together is told here through interviews with Warhead vocalist Jun Kato and Amok Records head honcho Holger Schmidt.
Interview with Jun Kato of Warhead
The city where you were from originally, Kyoto, was not as well known for hardcore as other cities were in the 1980s. What influenced you while in Kyoto, and did you find it more difficult to become known coming from Kyoto?
There were lots of punk bands in Kyoto those days, such as S.O.B., The Continental Kids, Bones, etc.), but when we have formed the band, we were young and did not know much, so we did not have any contact with any of the bands above. We were more like the delinquents who were fascinated to hardcore punk.
What bands most influenced your sound on the "Cry Of Truth" EP? Were you influenced by music from outside of Japan?
Our influence were Nightmare, Rapes, Deathside, also Gloom gave us some influence as we were hanging around together those days. Non Japanese bands are as such as Discharge, GBH, Disorder, Chaos UK, etc. British hardcore punk bands.
"Cry Of Truth" was recorded in October of 1991. Were all the songs shortly before the EP, or did some go back to an earlier period of the band?
I think we have just recorded the songs we were playing back in those days. We didn't have much songs though.
You recorded it at Jam Studio where bands like Warpainted City Indian, Nightmare, Lip Cream, So What and others had previously recorded. Did those bands impact your decision to record there? Were you pleased with the sound on your recording?
Influence from Nightmare was big. but it was very first recording experience for us and it was so difficult and we had hard time (laugh). Satisfied? We had no other choice but to release it, to make Warhead more known.
Before you released it yourselves, did you send the EP tracks to any labels like Blood Sucker or anyone else and ask them to put it out?
Manager of the record store called Abyss Records in Kyoto has organized it. I think he really has organized everything related to this release, and distribution was done by MCR. Thank you to Abyss Records manager!
What was the reaction to the EP? Did it sell well? Did Japanese punk magazines take notice?
I remember that the EP was sold good immediately. We also started to receive the letters from overseas, so it was the change for the band.
Was it difficult to get exposure in the Japanese hardcore scene compared to bands like Death Side, Bastard, Nightmare, Gauze, or other more established bands?
They were so great bands and we were just giving our best to go on, but it was so fun carrying on living in that way. We got more deeper into hardcore punk by playing with the bands I respect and talk to them. Getting more known? We were just young punks.
How did the re-release of "Cry Of Truth" on Amok Records come about? Did they write to you?
Mr. Ando from Break The Records has organized everything. He also sold the Warhead t-shirt which was not for sale back in that time. Thanks Ando!!
Was it received well in Europe at the time?
I don't know how it was as Ilive in Japan, but it was second time? Third time(?) of selling this EP in Germany, so maybe it means it was well received in Europe.
Any other final thoughts on "Cry Of Truth" or anything else from the early years of Warhead?
Urge! As I met hardcore punk, I could move out from the era that I was not sure how should I carry on living and do in my life. And I still can spend my life with friends, family and members. This is one way of resistance to this fucked up world, society. FUCK OFF!!!!!!!!!!
Interview with Holger of Amok Records
How did you first hear of Warhead? What were your thoughts?
I was always interested in the Japanese Punk and Hardcore scene since I listened to the track by The Stalin on the “Welcome to 1984” compilation in 1984. To get Japanese records in the 80s you had to get them from Japan direct. So I contacted loads of labels and people to buy or trade records. I had a good network around 1990. One of my contacts, Mike from Asia Records in Tokyo, visited me in 1991 and brought the Warhead 7” with him. When he put it on my turntable I was hooked immediately.
Did you write to them specifically to reissue the "Cry Of Truth" EP?
No. Mike brought the 7” over to Europe because Warhead was searching for a European label to do a European release of the 7”. Because I was immediately hooked at first spin of the 7” I also immediately wanted to do the release. After that it went fast. But because the people of Warhead did not speak English (or only a tiny bit) most of the contact went through Mike.
Was there a lot of interest in Germany and Europe at the time in Japanese hardcore? Was the EP well received by European fans?
I think there was a lot of interest. In the '80s most Japanese releases weren’t available in Europe or only for an unbelievably expensive price (up to three times of what a European release would cost). But a couple of labels already released Japanese Hardcore like Nuclear Blast, Jungle Hop International, Temple Of Love or In Your Face in Europe, Pusmort in the USA, and of course Amok Records.
The Warhead 7” was a big success and I think I even repressed it one time. There should be 1000 or 1500 copies around of the Amok version. I remember that a UK wholesale distributor sold around 100 copies of the 7” alone which was tremendous.
Did you ever write to other Japanese bands for a possible release in the 1980s through the early 1990s?
Yes, I did. I probably contacted several bands but I cannot remember which I asked. I released two other Japanese bands on my label before the Warhead 7”. I did 7”s by Raise Cain and Damn Excitable Zombies (D.E.Z.). The former was a European version of their Japanese release as well; the latter was an exclusive release.
Did you ever discuss further releases from Warhead on your label?
We probably did but I cannot remember how that went. As I mentioned before there was always a language problem in communication besides it always took some time to discuss anything since we had to write letters. I would have done another release with Warhead if I had the chance.
Were you involved in the rerelease of the EP by fellow German label Farewell Records?
No. I was absent from the scene for a long time and only got interested again in 2015 starting to buy new releases as well. So I was of course very surprised by the rerelease in 2016 by Farewell Records. I think it is great that another German label carries on doing Warhead releases. Until then I never realized Warhead was still around and people would still care about this old release. That was a very pleasant surprise.
Any final thoughts on the record or anything else to add?
The Warhead 7” was a very good release on my label back in the days. And I am also somewhat glad to have the sole version released with a different sleeve artwork. The front was done by the band as far as I remember. The back was by a guy from my local scene which he permitted me to use. The label artwork was done by Burkard Hinz, another friend of mine from those days who is still doing artwork and music. He still admires this release as well.
For more information on Amok Records:
https://amokrecords.bigcartel.com
https://instagram.com/collectingrecordswithholger
holger.schmidt@fh-dortmund.de
A current pressing of the "Cry Of Truth" EP can be ordered from Farewell Records at www.farewellrecords.de
Credits:
Intro by April
Interviews by Negative Insight
Translated by Yoshihiro Fukui
Photos of first pressing of "Cry Of Truth" from the collection of Yasuhiro Yoshitome
Complete collection of "Cry Of Truth" from Holger Schmidt
Band photos from the archives of Jun Kato
