Description
Instigators – “Phoenix” Double LP (& CD)
An important UK band of the 1980’s, and one that has (perhaps) become a little bit over looked in more recent years (at least in this country): the Instigators managed to successfully bridge the early ’80s anarcho-protest-punk with the faster, beefier sounds that emerged in the mid 80s onwards; whilst also, through constant touring overseas, taking the UK hardcore sound and style out into the world at large (becoming pretty huge in mainland Europe as a consequence). This is their second full-length, originally released by Bluurg Records in 1986, repressed and extended into double LP in 2015 as part of Boss Tuneage Record’s Retro series, with the addition of a live set from Berlin 1987 on side C and D. Hearing it again now, you realise how ahead of the game Instigators were at this stage – evolving their punk energy into the more calibrated pace and higher level of musicianship, not unlike various Dischord bands from that same period (Scream, Dag Nasty, Soulside, Beefeater).