I don't even know if these things are still available, but the two-volume Murder Punk CDs that came out back in the '90s are a collection of some of the best Australian '70s punk I've ever seen (or heard). They feature great tracks from the Scientists, Fun Things, Razar, Leftovers, Victims, etc.

As far as I know, the source of these comps is a mystery. The only name listed on the discs was that of Martin Bryant, one of the most notorious spree killers of all time, and probably the reason the name "Murder Punk" was chosen to begin with. Pretty sick joke, but a great set of comps. I know that Underground Medicine and Bomp used to carry them, but not sure where you can find them today as I'm sure they're both OOP. Maybe eBay?

Anyway, are there any other comps like this chronically great Aussie punk from the late '70s or early '80s in the Bloodstains or Killed By Death vein?

there's a chosen few ep recently re-issued too (with the band's permission) - i'll find the details and post em up

Do the POP!

Surprised no one else is in on this Aussie conversation. Dirty Greg said:

Dirty Greg said:

I have both of those murder punk comps, the second disc being the better one (in my opinion). They re-released a two disc set of the Scientist stuff which is really really good. I got into a lot of these '77' Australian bands and found this comp 'Inner City Sound' which also has a book that you can get also (I don't remember if they came together) but it covers the late seventies and early eighties 'post punk' Australian bands. A pretty good read and the cd has a really cool fold out insert with a 'family tree' of all these bands as a lot of the guys went from one band to another.

Dirty Greg said:

I have both of those murder punk comps, the second disc being the better one (in my opinion). They re-released a two disc set of the Scientist stuff which is really really good. I got into a lot of these '77' Australian bands and found this comp 'Inner City Sound' which also has a book that you can get also (I don't remember if they came together) but it covers the late seventies and early eighties 'post punk' Australian bands. A pretty good read and the cd has a really cool fold out insert with a 'family tree' of all these bands as a lot of the guys went from one band to another.

Love the Chosen Few from Murder Punk. There *is* a Bloodstains Across Australia comp that I've only seen when a record collector friend let me borrow it for our special "Nozzfest" show another DJ and I did last year. Where the Birdmen Flew of course is a great one and for 60's stuff, Before the Birdmen Flew, I think there are 4 volumes of those. Back to the 70's and 80's, the Go & Do It comp on Aberrant has good stuff. Antipodean Screams came out on Off the Hip not that long ago. And the old "On the Waterfront" was really good, Happy Hate Me Nots have one of my fave songs ever and some other decent 80's stuff.