Klasse Kriminale / Ghetto 84 - Italian Oi! Tribute To NYHC Skinheads

Skinhead Sounds!

 

After 2017’s reissue of Klasse Kriminale’s classic debut EP “Costruito In Italia”, Skinhead Sounds! finally delivers some brand new material by these Italian Oi! legends! Along with cult-band Ghetto 84, the Italians pay homage to some of New York hardcore’s bands in the form of the “Italian Oi! Tribute To NYHC Skinheads” 7”!

 

So okay, it’s not exactly brand new material - the EP is stuffed with covers - but they sound great nonetheless! Where Klasse Kriminale picks up Warzone’s “The Sound Of Revolution”, Ghetto 84 gives their own take to Sick Of It All’s “Step Down” - and both outfits deliver an excellent job while doing so. While the music stays close to the original tracks, though obviously more Oi! than hardcore, the lyrics are complete transformed into Italian! Now my Italian is a bit rusty, so I can’t verify if the lyrics are completely new or (roughly) translated, but since it’s a tribute my money would probably be on the last option.

 

My - and probably your - lack of the Italian language is unfortunate though, as the foldout inner-sleeve is completely in Italian as well. Too bad, because it seems to be full of interesting stories and background information - luckily the various photo’s and letters from Raybeez (Warzone) to Marco (Klasse Kriminale) say more than thousands of words can tell.

 

But that’s not all! Because the aforementioned covers are just the A-side. On the B-side you’ll find a NYHC medley by Klasse Kriminale (featuring Ghetto 84’s Rude) build up by a variation of tracks originally by Warzone, Cro-Mags, Agnostic Front (Iron Cross) and Bad Brains! Although I prefer the stand-alone tracks on the flipside, this medley contains the songs original, English lyrics and is indeed a nice tribute to some of New York’s greatest hardcore outfits!

Packed in a nice, colorful sleeve, the 7” comes on black vinyl (200 copies) and limited red vinyl (100 copies).