6 of 7 thought this review was well writtenMost fans of the seminal hardcore band Void will have no doubt already grabbed this release by now, but for everyone else,
Sessions 1981-83 assembles the formative recordings of one of the greatest, most unique entities to emerge from the entire movement. Recognized primarily for their classic split with DC band the Faith, Void’s brand of relentless, feedback laced hardcore far exceeded most other standard meat and potatoes punk acts of the time, eventually spawning a slew of imitators across different genres. Released on Dischord near the end of 2011,
Session's thirty-four tracks consist primarily of demos and remastered versions of material from the
Condensed Flesh 7”,
Flex Your Head comp and twenty track
Hit and Run session, rounded off by a couple of live performances. Add in Ian Mackaye's liner notes and some performance photos and you've got yourself a pretty good deal. At the very least, it’s interesting to trace Void’s progression from their earliest sessions through to the increasingly atonal, chaotic sound that marked subsequent recordings, but thankfully these songs are still best appreciated for their enduring power and not just a curious relic from the past.
