Vice Squad - Stand Strong Stand Proud

Back in the dark days of 1982, much of my time was taken up with listening to the makers of what was known at the time as 'hardcore punk'. It was all about fast, loud guitar rock music with a political message of anarchy and war. All very heavy. Bands such as Discharge, GBH and One Way System come to mind. Vice Squad were cut from the same cloth. Vice Squad could produce good music, and indeed this album entered the top 40 charts of the time. Thankfully the second album Stand Strong Stand Proud was a marked improvement. Of course, it’s sod’s law that it didn’t fare as well as the dodgy debut in the UK charts, but in every other way, it was superior. Better songs, better playing, better sound and you could actually hear the vocals properly too. Not exactly a great record, but a good one. Out Of Reach, a smart enough single which trailed the album just about made the Top 75, but this was to be the high watermark for the band. The anthemic title track was another good single, but missed the chart completely.
Stand Strong Stand Proud, despite several throwaway numbers, clashes with social malignancies like vivisection (“Humane”), political passivism (“Freedom Begins At Home”), and the steady erosion of punk values (“Out Of Reach”) with power and complete credibility. In addition, Beki’s point of view provides a welcome contrast to the typical male-dominance in modern-day hardcore. Of the other material ‘’Cheap’’ sounds a bit like the pop-punk of C86 four years early, perhaps the Shop Assistants in a bad mood and ‘’No Right To Reply’’ is agreeably fast and riffy. The band cover Bowie’s doomy ‘’Saviour Machine’’ quite well and ‘’Rock “N” Roll Massacre’’ combines powerful guitar work with a song about pop music fatalities including Jimi and Sid. There are a couple of offerings that fly by without leaving much impression, but the album ends strongly with the neat mid-pace stomp of ‘’Deathwish’’ and strong anti-war song ‘’Propaganda’’.
Highly recommended.

Vice Squad - No Cause For Concern

No Cause for Concern is the influential debut studio album by the British punk rock band Vice Squad, released in 1981 through Zonophone Records. Fronted by the iconic Beki Bondage, the album stands as a foundational pillars of the UK82 movement, which revitalised British punk with faster tempos, harsher guitar tones, and a raw street-punk attitude. The release was a commercial success for an independent-leaning act, peaking at No. 32 on the UK Albums Chart and cementing the Bristol-based band at the forefront of the second-wave punk scene.

Musically, the album features a relentless barrage of aggressive, fast-paced tracks driven by sharp socio-political commentary on youth culture, commercial exploitation, and urban disillusionment. Its tracklist includes notable anthems like "Young Blood" and "Angry Youth," alongside a chaotic, high-speed cover of Bob Dylan's "The Times They Are a-Changin'." While early pressings famously displayed the logo of Riot City Records—the independent label co-founded by the band—the album's major-label backing helped broadcast Vice Squad's signature DIY energy to a mainstream audience, securing its legacy as a definitive artifact of early 1980s street punk.

Vice Squad - Last Rockers 7"EP + Resurrection 7"EP

Last Rockers E.P. (1981)

Released in January 1981, Last Rockers served as Vice Squad’s explosive introduction to the world and remains one of the defining anthems of the UK82 punk movement. Fronted by teenage vocalist Beki Bondage, the Bristol-based band delivered a raw, driving sound that perfectly bridged the gap between classic 1977 punk and the heavier, faster street-punk wave. The title track’s dark, apocalyptic narrative resonated deeply with youth facing economic and social anxiety in Thatcher-era Britain. Accompanied by the tracks "Living on Dreams" and "Latex Love," the debut was a massive independent success, spending nearly 40 weeks on the UK Indie Chart and peaking at number seven. Its Triumph catapulted the band to national prominence, making them the flagship act for the legendary Riot City Records label.

Resurrection E.P. (1981)

Capitalising on their rapid momentum, Vice Squad released the Resurrection E.P. later that same year, further cementing their status at the forefront of the underground scene. The three-track record showcased a tighter, more ferocious musical attack, driven by aggressive guitar work and Bondage's distinctive, commanding vocals. The title track "Resurrection" combined fierce energy with a highly memorable hook, while the B-sides "Young Blood" and "Humane" tackled themes of youth alienation and social critique. The single out-performed their debut on the independent charts, climbing all the way to number four and catching the attention of major label EMI, who signed the band shortly after. Together with Last Rockers, this release established Vice Squad as a vital, influential force in second-wave British punk history.