Something I Learned Today

Punk Rock and Other Assorted Bullshit

Outpatients

September 04th, 2006 | Posted by: Eric | Category: 80's Hardcore

Outpatients - Hardcore Outcasts Revisited

While they’ve been long overshadowed by their western Massachusetts contemporaries Deep Wound, The Outpatients get more play on my on stereo these days. Scott Helland formed the Outpatients in 1982 with brother Vis Helland and drummer Mike Kingsbury while still the bassist for Deep Wound. During their hardcore heyday the band never released anything beyond compilation tracks, which included cuts on Bands That Could Be God, Flipside Vinyl Fanzine Volume 2, and the Empty Skulls cassette. The Outpatients relocated to New York and continued on into the 90’s though I’ve never heard this later material. The band’s early demos were released on CD in the mid-90’s as Hardcore Outcasts Revisited 82-84. 14 tracks of tight, fast hardcore with a sick grinding guitar sound.

Outpatients - Light Blue.mp3
Outpatients - Fight.mp3
Outpatients - GPD.mp3
Outpatients - Push-Button Warfare.mp3
Outpatients - Jenny Gurd.mp3

12 Comments so far

  1. Maarten September 4th, 2006 4:45 pm

    Thanks for this!

    Btw, the link to ‘Jerry Gurd’ is incorrect and leads to ‘Push-Button Warfare’.

  2. Eric September 4th, 2006 5:06 pm

    Thanks, Maarten - Jenny Gurd link fixed

  3. wes September 5th, 2006 1:06 am

    that picture is in the book american hardcore, cool

  4. Sam September 5th, 2006 11:49 am

    I think Outpatients were basically formed by Vis Helland, and his brother joined just to fill in an empty place or cause Deepwound stopped, not sure, but this can be found on the net.
    OP also had tracks on the Birth Defect comp tape in ‘83.
    Some of this stuff was also reissues by and italian label (which i allways forget the name, isn’t it Rave Up?) with Da Stupids an other band from West Mass.

  5. toddd September 5th, 2006 8:39 pm

    saw the outpatients in ‘86 with Christ on Parade and the Melvins in Stamford, CT. We were psyched to see them because of the demo, but they were speedmetal with double kick-drums and a fancy banner…totally different than what we expected. Kurt Cobain was the Melvins roadie at this show

  6. Peter - KBDRecords September 6th, 2006 5:46 am

    I have the Outpatients on a comp. cassete lying around somewhere that got some awesome rehersal tracks! Used to have their first LP but that was really bad except for one track.

  7. Mikhail September 6th, 2006 2:26 pm

    Isnt there a second CD? Like 85-92 or something like that? I think I remember seeing it. Havent heard it.

  8. chino mike September 7th, 2006 7:32 pm

    were a great, great band imho. rythmn section kicks ass and the vocals are leaning all over it. they were definitely one of the pioneering early hc bands in western mass and i’m surprised they they didn’t get some vinyl out in the early years. i remember how critical tapes were back then to bands so guess it makes sense they recorded on tape? too bad though. kfth says that free association did release an outcasts II ‘85-’95 CD, i’ve never heard it though. “82-84″ is killer, I bought mine from knowrecords.com for $8ppd - get it while you can!

  9. Al September 17th, 2006 9:00 am

    underrated band… one of the best live bands in Mass. ca. ‘83 to ‘85. They didn’t release an album for a very simple reason… no money to do it. Scott Helland now does gypsy style music, for want of a better term:

    http://www.myspace.com/scotthelland

    the later metal stuff isn’t that great.

  10. Peter - KBDRecords September 18th, 2006 5:01 am

    Al, they did release an LP. I had it but there where only 2 great tracks on it the rest where too much of bad speed metal. The LP was released in 1985 if my memory serves me right.

  11. brian October 16th, 2006 12:44 pm

    reminds me of the necros

  12. outpatient March 28th, 2008 4:43 pm

    any chance of posting the entirety of hardcore outcasts…would be great to hear more outpatients

Leave a reply