Released by: Acetate Records
Release Date: Out Now!!!
Genre: Punk/Rock & Roll
Links: http://www.acetate.com/bands/factory/index.html
Links: http://mvdb2b.com/s/FactoryST/AR27041
Line Up:
Vance Bockis – Vocals
Robbie Limon – Guitar, Vocals
Bruce Katsu – Guitar, Vocals
Bill Massey – Saxophone
Scott Sartorius – Bass
Mark Kermank – Drums
Tracklist:
1. Self-Submission
2. Where All The People Gone
3. Love You Forvever
4. Misfortunate Son
5. True Romance
6. Ecstasy
7. Girl That I Want
8. Love To Dance
9. Puerto Rican Streetfight
10. Six Feet Down
An interesting rarity came my way in the likes of a Punk Rock release. Now normally I don’t mind much interest in the genre as I once was in my younger days, but since these recordings are hard to find from this particular band, I thought I give it a shot. The Washington DC area punk rock band The Factory had their day in the late 80’s/early 90’s, but much like those sorta of bands then, crashed and burn faster then you could remember.
The enigmatic front man Vance Bockis (formerly of The Obsessed, 9353 and doom metal gods Pentagram) painted a dark picture in these tracks about your typical sex, drugs and rock and roll… well truth be told at least one of those vices got to singer as he suffered a long battle with heroin addiction. Apparently it caused so much stir in those circles that even Foo Fighter Dave Grohl’s D.C. punk band then, Scream decided to write a song about him called “GLC,”. Safe to say he finally kicked his demons and got clean, sad struggle nonetheless. It makes you wonder how far the band had gotten if… well you know.
Anyhow these rate tape recordings we’re found and 20 year old masters we’re found in various studios around the DC area. What you will find here is a glimpse into what most punk bands in the local circuit would of have sounded like back then, and on specialty genre cuts like the opener “Self-Submission” I can see why. How about the no pun intended “Misfortunate Son”, ahh even Credence would of been proud. The voice of Bockis mimits the great Mick Jagger and some early Stones influenced traces can be found in the graspy vocals of “True Romance”.A bit of the saxophone is injected in some of these songs featured on this debut and I could think of the song “Girl That I Want” featuring this jazzy instrument fluidly.
The band’s music reflected the nitty gritty mentality of the tough streets of the DC are then and perhaps now. Obviously you won’t find this type of music as urban in popularity as it used to be, but it’s nice that a package like this has resurfaced after some nearly 20 years of the band’s existence. A little piece of history tells a lot for some not familiar with The Factory an d for those still wanting some nostalgic sounds of the era that was.
Written by Denys
Ratings Denys 7/10
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