Who the fuck are they?
Retaliator are a 4 piece skinhead/oi! band from the Norfolk area of England.They first formed in 1996 during the euro football championship,and recorded their first demo that August.The band played a few gigs before getting a support slot with Braindance and The Exploited in Norwich,and from then onwards they started to build up some sort of reputation with regular gigging.At this point the band were offered a single deal with Data records from Coventry,which resulted in the 'Feel the power'E.p.Although an oi band from the outset,Retaliator-like most new bands-had many line up changes in the early days.The original singer had a mohican which resulted in the band being labelled 'Punk',with support slots being offered with bands like The Varukers.This was not the path the band wanted to take,so a new singer was bought into the band.Ian-a former roadie- was taken on as singer and now the band were 100% skinhead.Since then Retaliator have gone from strength to strength,releasing two L.P's on Pure impact records and appearing on several compilation L.P's.They also are one of the first oi bands to play Portugal,which resulted in some good exposure in the national press there.Future release's include a split 12" single with Scotlands Bakers Dozen called 'Kick down the fucking walls' which should be out this year.Until recently ,Retaliators line up included Steve Gale from Loyalty but now the band are back to being a four piece.The current line up also includes two members of Condemned 84.Retaliator play a blend of oi and metal with a strong patriotic stance,so don't expect any PC bullshit from these lads!(and just for the record,that does not mean that they are nazi's either!)Like their website says 'Committed to aggression,committed to streetpunk'.Nuff said!
What have they released?
DEMOS:
2 track demo 1996. Tracks: Crusade & Shoot to kill
2 track demo 1997 (Fight back)
3 track demo 1998 (vengeance)
2 track demo 199? (So rare it bleeds)
SINGLES:
Feel the power 7" E.P (data records) 1998 (repressed on clear vinyl)
Patriotic alcoholics 7" E.P. (Guilty records) 2001
Kick down that fucking wall 12" split e.p with Bakers Dozen (Blind Beggar) 2002
ALBUMS:
Order of chaos (Pure impact) 1999.14 tracks
Against the grain (Pure impact) 2000.11 tracks
COMPILATIONS:
Around the world in 80 minutes (Rotten records) 2000
Fight,kill,hurt,maim.Split single with Ultima thule (pp records) 2000
Pure impact Xmas sampler (Pure impact) 200?
Never say die vol 2 (Sick mind records) 2 unreleased tracks
What do they sound like?
Power oi! streetpunk with occasional metallic edges,combined with a strong patriotic stance & a healthy disregard for political correctness!
(Phew! That ok Ian?)
Website/Contact?
