Loading ...Metabolist – Hansten Klork
By Evan ~ September 25th, 2008. Filed under: collector scum.
The store recently began purchasing a rather large and expansive punk 45 collection. Punk collectors are notoriously stingy when it comes to parting with their records, but they’re usually meticulous and take great pride in keeping their collections in good condition. We’ve purchased several hundred 45s from this guy so far, and really it only amounts to the very tip of the iceberg. A lot of the high-end original pieces (Child Molesters, Chiefs, DRI, Ebba Gron) were purchased quickly (in what was perhaps the quickest sale of a high-end vinyl piece in the history of the store, someone called and ordered a $1,200 Child Molesters 45 ten seconds after I wrote it up for our online store). As far as the mid-range ($10-$40) 45s are concerned, they are massive in number, and as I have organized and priced them for the past two weeks I have had plenty of opportunities to learn about new bands. One such band was Metabolist. I’d seen them mentioned on the Electrical Audio forum, so when I noticed a copy of the Metabolist / Die Form 7″ at the store, I gave it a spin and was almost instantly sold on the band. When I returned from the store that night I downloaded Hansten Klork, which was the band’s only full-length LP.
It was described as “A real post-punk gem…never officially reissued,” although a Japanese CD version of the album was available very, very briefly. Further, Metabolist were a “very DIY band, recorded/released all their material themselves…This Heat meets Desperate Bicycles? Album starts punky, then goes Kraut, then just weird. Fantastic.” I think that’s pretty accurate, though I might also elect to compare the band favorably to experimental-legends Circle. They manage to squeeze both the cold, rigid sound of early industrial music and post-psychedelic ambiance into their compositions. Hansten Klork is a must hear.
Metabolist
Hansten Klork
MediaFire Download Link
Tracklist:
01. Curly Wall
02. Alien On Sunday
03. King Quack
04. Lights
05. Hoi Hoi Hoi
06. Merchandise
07. Hansten Klork
February 23rd, 2009 at 5:32 pm
Punk collectors are “usually meticulous and take great pride in keeping their collections in good condition”? This particular collection was most likely the exception to the rule. Most punk collectors; those who had snatched up evey single as they came out, usually didn’t give a shit about condition…at least until 20 years later when they wanted to sell them. Poison Idea’s “Record Collectors Are Assholes” sums up the original feelings of the majority of folks who have large punk collections. Thanks for the upload.
July 14th, 2010 at 1:01 pm
I’ve had this record on vinyl since I bought it used, probably late ’80s or possibly as late as ‘90 or ‘91. It really is a beaut. It was one of those discs I’d grabbed simply because I liked the cover, and it was probably sitting beside a Gang of Four record, or something with Jah Wobble on it at the shop.
The fact that I’d never been able find out any real information about other releases by these guys, and it’s sort of “timelessly weird” sonic quality, really adds to the joy of listening to it. One of the few LPs in my collection I can honestly call a “rare gem”.
I’ve no idea what it’s worth – I’ll never sell it.
From my cold dead hands! :)