Something I Learned Today

Punk Rock and Other Assorted Bullshit

Toxic Reasons

November 14th, 2005 | Posted by: Eric | Category: 80's Hardcore


Following the Veterans Day post and at the behest of a generous reader, here are the first two 7″s from Dayton, OH legends Toxic Reasons. For those unfamiliar you can find a band history here. Toxic Reasons began in 1979 and kept on releasing albums until their demise in 1995. Arguably their best era was the 1979-1983 period when their sound was a near perfect blend of both the snarl and crunch of American hardcore along with the tempos and melodies of classic Britpunk. They would release two singles (War Hero and Ghost Town - both below) during this period before recording their debut album Independence. The material on Independence was mostly rehashed from the bands singles in addition to their tracks the Master Tapes and Process of Elimination compilations. No matter, the album is a must have. And while I enjoy some of their later material (notably 1984’s Kill By Remote Control), these early tracks are really the best representation of the band.

From 1980’s War Hero 7″
Toxic Reasons - War Hero.mp3
Toxic Reasons - Somebody Help Me.mp3

From 1981’s Ghost Town 7″
Toxic Reasons - Ghost Town.mp3
Toxic Reasons - Killer.mp3
Toxic Reasons - Noise Boys.mp3

Notes:

  • Independence is still in print, buy it at Beer City Records
  • Dressed for the H Bomb has Toxic Reason’s 1984 God Bless America 7″
  • Pics from Ohio Punk Discography and Punk Rock Picture Sleeves

    • 9 Comments so far

    1. Satisfied '75 November 15th, 2005 11:48 am

      right on. solid as usual here.

    2. malfeitor November 15th, 2005 12:14 pm

      GREAT post. I’ve never owned either of these, thanks. Just picked up another copy of Kill By Remote Control but the first 2 7″s and Independence are more of the “classic” TR sound.

    3. Michael November 15th, 2005 10:17 pm

      Excellent. What a great band. Thank you!!!

    4. Dave McGurgan November 16th, 2005 1:53 am

      I just put “Independence” on my must-have list. Reading “Going Underground” right now and George Hurchalla is raving about them. Just one of those bands I missed on the first go round here on the east coast.

    5. Mr. Beer N. Hockey November 16th, 2005 3:58 am

      Ed Pittman was the only guy I ever saw pick up Joe Shithead and swing him around without getting hurt. Vancouver was lucky to have the Reasons hang out one summer way back. I Don’t Wanna Live In A Ghost Town fits cozy as new wool socks in the greatest rock songs ever category.

    6. scooper November 16th, 2005 3:56 pm

      wow, i haven’t heard these tracks since my freshman year in high school. thanks for the nostalgia trip!

    7. johnny November 17th, 2005 4:26 am

      killer stuff thanks

    8. chris December 1st, 2005 2:01 am

      this band is awesome, i love their sound. anti-flag covered war hero and it was pretty good, thats how i first heard of them

    9. Hecubus Rex February 14th, 2007 2:43 pm

      Saw them many times in Chicago in the mid eighties. They always put on a great show. Thanks for posting these, I had 3 of their albums, but no 7″s.

    Leave a reply