Blood, Sweat and No Tears

Sick Of It All, formed by Queens brothers Lou and Pete Koller (vocals and guitar, respectively) and joined by bassist Rich Cipriano and drummer Armand Majidi, released a self-titled EP in 1987, all the songs from which appear in re-recorded versions here alongside 11 new ones, all of it blasting by in just over 27 minutes. SOIA were one of the most popular acts at CBGB Sunday matinee shows and elsewhere on the East Coast live hardcore circuit, for good reason; their songs were fast and furious, showcasing Lou Koller’s authoritative bark while rarely passing the two-minute mark and eschewing fripperies like guitar solos and breakdowns. On this album at least, they kept the punk in hardcore.