The Beast - Power Metal EP - Mutha 006 - 1983

OK Folks, gonn stick with punky side of things here and give you another rare New Jersey gem from 1983 on the Mutha label.

I think this is a very under rated Mutha release but i guess because its labeled "Metal" some folks don't want to give it props but besides the shredding guitar playing of "The Hinge" and some of the content of the lyrics this definitely has a punk quality to it.

The guitar playing is top notch by Jack "The Hinge" Pitzer who reminds me a lot of Jack Endino in the Skin Yard days. The Hinge was a long time sound guy at the Legendary Brighton Bar, Long Branch, NJ, where The Beast has played numerous times back in the day and then he went on the play with Greg Gory of the famed Chronic Sick in the band The X-Men with members of NJ Psych greats Secret Syde and Laughing Soup Dish, but that's all a different story entirely...

The Beast Consisted of Scott Ruth (vocals), Jack "The Hinge" Pitzer (guitar), Ronnie Ace (guitar), Jeff Grass (bass), Doug Ryan (drums) - This group emerged from the band TYRANT, which included Mark Mutha. Members of the band were also went on to RIPPING CORPSE, another great NJ thrash metal band.

I've been trying to hunt down and complete my Mutha record collection since back in the day and being from the eara i've been lucky but I'm missing a bunch but i do have a large quantity so stay tuned and I'm sure I'll get to more in the very near future. I think a posting of "The Worst" Expect the Worst might be in order next!

Here is the Mutha story:

MUTHA RECORDS
When it's more than just a great record - IT'S A MUTHA!

Sometime in 1977, THE WORST and SCHRAPNEL tore a hole in the "Springsteen" picture that had represented the Jersey Shore music scene (or "SOAP" - Sounds Of Asbury Park), and so began NJ's premier, strongest, and probably longest lasting Hardcore Punk scene.
In 1978, Mark "Mutha" Chesley was playing in a HM band called TYRANT. He left that band to become manager for The Worst, and soon began hosting Mutha Record Nights at his home in Long Branch, where he would play records by hard and heavy bands like The Stooges, MC5, Blue Cheer, as well as obscure psychedelic bands from the Sixties, and the latest offerings from British and American Punk bands. Under Mutha's watchful eye. Jersey Shore Hardcore bands began to take shape. THE WORST, THE BURNT, CHILD ABUSE, and FATAL RAGE were among the first bands to emerge from this new Mutha-land.
The Fast Lane in Asbury Park (where local bands could open for national acts like The Dictators, Black Flag, etc..) as well as The Hot-Dog House (a rented loft in Asbury) were host to many of the early shows that Mark and the local musicians helped organize. Soon, The Brighton Bar in West Long Branch became home for this growing scene, and remains active to this day. The turning point for the Hardcore scene occured when Mutha Records was established in 1982 - simply for the love of music and to prevent good bands from becoming just a memory. The first release was a 7" EP by THE WORST, followed shortly by releases by CHRONIC SICK, and PUBLIC DISTURBANCE. But Mutha Records was not restricted to Jersey Shore bands, as other bands in the NJ/NY area soon filled Mark's growing catalog. "I'm for the underdog...and the underground" stated Mark, and with his help, music by the bands listed on this page will be around forever - as it should be.
Harry Baggs - Ear Wax Fanzine

If anyone has a Mutha stuff for sale or trade drop me a line!
But for now enjoy The Beast EP and you won't have to sell your left arm to hear it...

The Beast - The Beast
The Beast - Radical Man
The Beast - Enemy Ace
The Beast - The Shape