https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDBZYCR0Xjk
http://www.discogs.com/artist/149193-Final-Solution
Over the past few years, I've gradually liked this band more and more. Since many people here probably already know these guys and their overall background, I won't get too nerdy about my introduction. But basically, I think these guys are really underrated despite not really being anything special as far as sounds and subject matter. Still, I really enjoy the New York sleaze vibes, reminds me of movies like Taxi Driver and Cruising. I have most of the discography except the Rape Session 7" on BloodLust!, which I only have MP3s of. I've even attempted and failed miserably at pathetic "cover versions" of a couple songs.
I'm well aware that these guys don't appeal to many, being particularly derivative. I thought this was especially funny, because in this description, they're labeled as "a poor man's Intrinsic Action," which for me, you can't go far wrong. http://muhmur.blogspot.com/2011/07/power-to-destroy.html
Like it says on the Discogs page, I think it's the ugliness that really makes this band.
Normally, I try to avoid hype surrounding music I like, but in this case, I can't. These guys, according to many, were total degenerates, as far as intake of substances and indulgence with sex workers goes. I figure that's basically the subject matter of most PE of that time, so it only makes sense that they aren't just spewing a bunch of empty sentiments. From what I've heard and talked with people about, they often played for a totally clueless audience of hardcore and punk-type people, and the stage banter often supports that. I think back when there wasn't much of that music to go around, that kind of provocation sometimes could be appropriate.
Anyone have any particularly interesting stories/anecdotes concerning these guys? Most importantly, has anyone seen them live?
Final Solution are ,for me, the best PE outfit ever.I would go as far as to say one of my most loved bands.They had everything.There are the obvious comparisons of course, but who cares? I have pretty much everything the ever released (and through a couple of very kind and resourceful individuals one or two more recordings of them).You're exactly right when you say they didn't give any 'empty sentiments', they we're the real deal.Certainly not rich kids slumming it like other PE bands one could mention.There are many excellent anecdotes about them.One I heard a while ago is that after playing a show to (yes, probably a 'clueless' audience) they released a box of live crickets into the venue.
There are many stories regarding the end of the band too and other incidents,but not going to stir shit here.
They also did a cover of Sheer Terror's 'Rome Song', which makes them even better! Not only that, but as a large number of their NYC audience were hardcore fans and those involved in that genre they had some interesting friends.Bands like Cro-Mags turning up to a PE gig? Brilliant! I've heard several stories of Paul Bearer doing guest vocals for them.I would do awful things to go back in time and see that!
Whoever said they were 'A poor mans Intrinsic Action' is a moron.Final Solution SHAT all over Intrinsic Action.
my favourite USA project ever, one of the few names I consider an ever lasting influences and one Scott was one of the best voices ever.
I hate PE covers but Ravensbruck has been going on in my mind since the very first time I have heard them
they would need serious reissuing
for me, final solution is everything i want in a power electronics band. tracks pulled off live for maximum energy, blatant synth + vocals approach but with the sound quality on the recordings capturing a level of viciousness and maniacal violence that is perfect. early 90s, industrial sound with NYHC aggression, sleaze & drugs... and fuck they are called "final solution"! doesn't get any better to me!
For those who may not have heard this is the one to worship!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCQ2NNgtNBg
For as much as I despise lazy hyperbole like "best PE ever" etc it's hard to argue against that where this track is concerned. While there's plenty of stuff out there that appeals more to my personal taste this track achieves a perfection that may be unmatched. All the elements are in place here.
It would be good to see a reissue of this tape sometime.
I remember a few years back there was talks about a Final Solution boxset, but I think it was shelved after Greg Scott passed away. I remember ordering some tape from him and it had a hand-written thank you letter written on the back of an escort flyer. Wish I would have held onto that. My copy of Half/Dead had the song titles hand written on a piece of paper. Did they all come like that by any chance????
Quote from: GEWALTMONOPOL on November 13, 2014, 04:43:39 PM
For those who may not have heard this is the one to worship!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCQ2NNgtNBg
For as much as I despise lazy hyperbole like "best PE ever" etc it's hard to argue against that where this track is concerned. While there's plenty of stuff out there that appeals more to my personal taste this track achieves a perfection that may be unmatched. All the elements are in place here.
It would be good to see a reissue of this tape sometime.
ditto...
backing track sounds so distant yet haunting...
FS is one of the minority of pe units that actually enjoys a great deal of respect / admiration even here - in Japan, The Land Of The Ambivalent About PE. To qualify: I often feel that much gets lost in translation, but perhaps, in same cases, on occasion, a real sense of conviction can cut through the most stubborn of barriers.
Quote from: Major Carew on November 13, 2014, 11:20:26 AMFinal Solution SHAT all over Intrinsic Action.
My copy of 'Half-Dead' seems to be properly printed, etc. I asked the discogs seller how they came by it and they just said 'we aquired it from the collection of a loyal customer at our record shop who is recently deceased'......I have the 'PAin Demons' tape too, what seems to be an official/original copy.It's excellent.Murky sound quality but in a good way.I think the version of 'Bludgeoned' they do on that release has Greg Scott doing vocals.I've yet to hear any PE style vocals more intimidating than his.They're the kind of vocals that just make the hair stand up on the back of your neck..... genuinely frightening! You can hear more of those vocals on the track 'I don't exist' by his criminally underrated 'Hydra' project.
[(http://i1216.photobucket.com/albums/dd374/ComaDetox/20141113_195502.jpg) (http://s1216.photobucket.com/user/ComaDetox/media/20141113_195502.jpg.html)/i]
Always wondered if my copy was legit or if it was a personal copy. Comes in a plastic slip case.
I get the feeling there were probably a few different versions of that release floating around (personal copies for friends etc).That tape is the best material of the FS recordings i've heard.In particular the tracks 'Horny & Angry' and their cover of 'After Death' by the Nihilistics.
????
https://www.discogs.com/Trucido-Final-Solution-Trucido-Final-Solution-/release/8254978
So I've been really obsessed with Final Solution ever since I found out about them a year ago(?). Sadly, all I have is the "Rape Session" 7" from Bloodlust! and the "Do as you're told" 7" from AWB. I've been forced to download the rest of their catalog. I guess they will suffice. I found all of their stuff, including a a side a and b .mp3 of the bootleg live tape that I had to split up myself.
I too would do terrible things to see them live.
I ordered the new spit with Trucido from Analog Worship so I'm very excited to hear it. Also, is that boxset completely out of the question or could it possibly still be in the works?
(http://i.imgur.com/Q4eksIj.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/0QAnkZP.jpg)
Quote from: a_2_g_2 on May 16, 2016, 08:57:57 PM
Also, is that boxset completely out of the question or could it possibly still be in the works?
Not sure what boxed set you're referring to, but there could (potentially) be some more unreleased material in the works re. live recordings and rehearsal recordings.Yet to confirm though.
Quote from: Major Carew on May 20, 2016, 07:48:45 AM
Not sure what boxed set you're referring to, but there could (potentially) be some more unreleased material in the works re. live recordings and rehearsal recordings.Yet to confirm though.
I was referring to the one mentioned here:
Quote from: Coma Detox on November 13, 2014, 05:17:40 PM
I remember a few years back there was talks about a Final Solution boxset, but I think it was shelved after Greg Scott passed away.
@totalabuse Ha I've been trying to track one down. How'd you get your hands on that?
Friend had one he got from a collector... He offered to sell... I got a grip of AWB stuff that way... almost have a full collection including the Black Corps Zine
Quote from: Peterson on June 21, 2016, 03:29:45 AM
To those who've heard the live recordings from Half/Dead and (PA)in Demons 7/12 - is it just me, or does it sound like during some of EJ's rants/speeches, the other two are interrupting him with noise and cutting him off? Pretty funny. A couple of times, he starts his sentence over more than once.
Ah yes Ej's talks in between songs are always a treat.
A personal favorite:
"we're gonna do a song, its a brand new song here, beautiful song, its about anybody who's had enough, of enough, of enough..... this ones called horny and angry"
the audience comments are great too, like when they saying "louder! louder!"
Been a while, any news on the boxset of stuff that barely anyone has ever heard? Agreed with everyone else, best PE of all time.
Quote from: PuddysJacket on December 23, 2020, 08:03:12 PM
Been a while, any news on the boxset of stuff that barely anyone has ever heard? Agreed with everyone else, best PE of all time.
Promo information plus some other images my colleague made of track titles from the recordings. Plan is to release each of the live tapes quarterly.
(https://i.postimg.cc/wMyj8VT5/LIVE-TAPE-PROMO-10.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
(https://i.postimg.cc/CKGvJTGk/LIVE-TAPE-PROMO-04.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
(https://i.postimg.cc/dVLLcr4V/LIVE-TAPE-PROMO-02.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
(https://i.postimg.cc/xdLj9RHn/LIVE-TAPE-PROMO-03.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
(https://i.postimg.cc/B6cvBgQM/LIVE-TAPE-PROMO-05.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
(https://i.postimg.cc/pL4yWr6Y/LIVE-TAPE-PROMO-06.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
(https://i.postimg.cc/9f90rV33/LIVE-TAPE-PROMO-07.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
Quote from: Major Carew on December 23, 2020, 08:22:01 PM
Quote from: PuddysJacket on December 23, 2020, 08:03:12 PM
Been a while, any news on the boxset of stuff that barely anyone has ever heard? Agreed with everyone else, best PE of all time.
Promo information plus some other images my colleague made of track titles from the recordings. Plan is to release each of the live tapes quarterly.
(https://i.postimg.cc/wMyj8VT5/LIVE-TAPE-PROMO-10.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
(https://i.postimg.cc/CKGvJTGk/LIVE-TAPE-PROMO-04.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
(https://i.postimg.cc/dVLLcr4V/LIVE-TAPE-PROMO-02.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
(https://i.postimg.cc/xdLj9RHn/LIVE-TAPE-PROMO-03.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
(https://i.postimg.cc/B6cvBgQM/LIVE-TAPE-PROMO-05.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
(https://i.postimg.cc/pL4yWr6Y/LIVE-TAPE-PROMO-06.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
(https://i.postimg.cc/9f90rV33/LIVE-TAPE-PROMO-07.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
The cover designs on these look awesome.
They're not the cover designs, as I mentioned they are just promotional images my colleague made that were put online recently. The tapes will all have a simple uniform layout, with respective information for each live appearance & any necessary extra information, but all will be very simple in appearance.
that's a pity
Quote from: Major Carew on December 24, 2020, 11:28:14 AM
They're not the cover designs, as I mentioned they are just promotional images my colleague made that were put online recently. The tapes will all have a simple uniform layout, with respective information for each live appearance & any necessary extra information, but all will be very simple in appearance.
Even so, they look great. Very direct and effective.
First in the live series of FS live tapes now available, see New Releases section on this forum.
I had the two releases on Der Bunker and didn't take to them so I gave them to a friend, started listening to Hydra a lot collecting all his stuff as Greg Scott was in Final Solution too, that made me want to listen to FS again as Hydra made a big impression. I rebought Half Dead and was a lot more receptive to it, probably because of Hydra, both are ace projects. Great news about the live tapes.
A side question if anyone knows, with FS around in some form live, will there ever be any new studio recordings?
Quote from: Lazrs3 on January 24, 2021, 01:38:05 PM
A side question if anyone knows, with FS around in some form live, will there ever be any new studio recordings?
Doubt it. No Gregg Scott, no true FS.
tape sounds killer, vocals rip right through and the banter with the audience is great "you like movies? Taxi Driver? A Clockwork Orange? Salo?". Love all the "LOUDER!" shouts from the audience. Fukkin gimme some live noise this year for christssake!
Remastered reissue of Half/Dead on CD coming May 2021.
I got the first of the live cassettes and do like it a lot. I definiteley want to get them as they come out. Look forward to the CD Phage.
Just been listening to Mass Death and reading the liner notes on the CD... did the 'Institute of Death Studies' ever get to the stage of getting releases out?
Apart from the Coleman book, I also received the Greg Scott/Hydra book +3CD and tape from mk9. So great that this finally came to life.
Not a huge fan of landscape format, but here it works fine (and who the fuck I think I am to criticize such things?)
So while reading this and Coleman book, it will be Final Solution and Hydra all weekend! One of the better weekends in recent months.
So all hail to Greg Scott, and thank you Michael Nine for making this happen!
Quote from: cr on February 01, 2025, 11:35:22 AMApart from the Coleman book, I also received the Greg Scott/Hydra book +3CD and tape from mk9. So great that this finally came to life.
Not a huge fan of landscape format, but here it works fine (and who the fuck I think I am to criticize such things?)
So while reading this and Coleman book, it will be Final Solution and Hydra all weekend! One of the better weekends in recent months.
So all hail to Greg Scott, and thank you Michael Nine for making this happen!
What is the book like? I'm still on the fence about whether I should get this set. Hydra's Anal Test and Power are on YouTube, but they didn't make much of an impression on me. Maybe they would grow on me after repeated listens, but the writings and interviews might be more interesting.
Quote from: Manhog_84 on February 09, 2025, 06:12:09 PMQuote from: cr on February 01, 2025, 11:35:22 AMApart from the Coleman book, I also received the Greg Scott/Hydra book +3CD and tape from mk9. So great that this finally came to life.
Not a huge fan of landscape format, but here it works fine (and who the fuck I think I am to criticize such things?)
So while reading this and Coleman book, it will be Final Solution and Hydra all weekend! One of the better weekends in recent months.
So all hail to Greg Scott, and thank you Michael Nine for making this happen!
What is the book like? I'm still on the fence about whether I should get this set. Hydra's Anal Test and Power are on YouTube, but they didn't make much of an impression on me. Maybe they would grow on me after repeated listens, but the writings and interviews might be more interesting.
They did a flip-through video on Facebook or somewhere, but it looks like some essays about the guy/project, as well as some writings by those who knew him. And lots of pictures too, of course.
Quote from: cr on February 01, 2025, 11:35:22 AMApart from the Coleman book, I also received the Greg Scott/Hydra book +3CD and tape from mk9. So great that this finally came to life.
Not a huge fan of landscape format, but here it works fine (and who the fuck I think I am to criticize such things?)
So while reading this and Coleman book, it will be Final Solution and Hydra all weekend! One of the better weekends in recent months.
So all hail to Greg Scott, and thank you Michael Nine for making this happen!
May I ask what is the Coleman book? The Greg Scott book is a fascinating overview of a unique individual. Detailed insights into a little covered era: the birth of the NYC noise/PE scene: the children of the Industrial Culture book and egg creams from Gem Spa. I love that the CD is emblazoned with the logo of The Institute of Death Studies.
Quote from: Refried Garmonbozia on February 10, 2025, 04:02:10 AMMay I ask what is the Coleman book?
Quote from: cr on February 01, 2025, 11:16:34 AMAs a late Christmas present for myself, I finally got A Doorway to Joe - The Art of Joe Coleman.
Large, heavy and beautiful. Looking forward to dive into it this weekend.
Joe is one of my favourite artists, and I have several other books, but most of these contain his paintings from 80s and 90s.
This book also contains some paintings from the past ten years, which I never saw before.
But I think I'll need a magnifying glass to fully explore this greatness. Becoming an old fucker, haha...
It's worth mentioning as well that Eddie's current project, Wallmart, is great and well worth catching live if you are able. Very different thematically, but just as interesting.
I prefer Wallmart and Hydra to Final Solution. FS is good and all but... Got the Greg Scott book off Neural Operations and love it. Glad it comes with all the CDs with material on, I got the reissue of the Hydra/Death Squad tape off Neural too as it rarely comes up on discogs. Chuffed I own it. Any Beg For Eden fans out there. Than mini lp is killer.
Probably worth to mention in this topic that anyone into FS may want to check out Special Interests #17! It has LONG Final Solution interview that takes like... third of the magazine? Something like that. Questions made by Olsson, then recorded over the phone and transcribed into text by Henry Rial and John Grimaldi. Then finally, re-edited and added with further material by Ed just couple weeks before publication. Lots of good stories, things you may have never heard before. Some rare photos and so on.
For Finland and Europe, magazine is easy to get (Freak Animal, Satatuhatta, Tesco, OEC, Dunkelheit, Skuggsidan, soon Cold Spring and more) but for north america one may have to check out when S&W has copies or order from Europe. Or perhaps Detachment Programs has some for sale!
Awesome and fascinating interview indeed! Very deep and personal stories that will serve as a testimony.
I didn't completely get some of the rants regarding the "state of the scene" considering the amount of stuff he's been releasing and the space he's been given lately in this publication and WCN Podcast to voice out his opinion...
Anyway, very interesting gentleman. I will have to check out some of his works besides FS.
Quote from: Marciume on May 07, 2025, 10:25:57 AMI didn't completely get some of the rants regarding the "state of the scene" considering the amount of stuff he's been releasing and the space he's been given lately in this publication and WCN Podcast to voice out his opinion...
I might remember wrong as the interview had quite a lot of content to digest, but I think this feeling of neglect or not being welcome was mostly about his local scene, and especially about denied opportunities to get to play live as a power electronics project.
It's quite funny though, with the quite small amount of noise zines, podcasts etc., the artist has taken part in just two in a relatively short time and it can still create a feeling of him being "everywhere" hah! I mean, the zine/podcast amount is really good if we think about how much stuff they cover and how much worse the situation could be, but if you just add them together we're not talking about big numbers in any way. Good numbers if scaled to the size of the scene and amount of "devotees" interested in listening/reading them, but not if scaled to anything else, so the perspective gets oddly skewed.
But back on topic: the SI interview is indeed great, very informative and in-depth. No "filler" despite the length.
Quote from: DBL on May 07, 2025, 11:55:43 AMQuote from: Marciume on May 07, 2025, 10:25:57 AMI didn't completely get some of the rants regarding the "state of the scene" considering the amount of stuff he's been releasing and the space he's been given lately in this publication and WCN Podcast to voice out his opinion...
I might remember wrong as the interview had quite a lot of content to digest, but I think this feeling of neglect or not being welcome was mostly about his local scene, and especially about denied opportunities to get to play live as a power electronics project.
It's quite funny though, with the quite small amount of noise zines, podcasts etc., the artist has taken part in just two in a relatively short time and it can still create a feeling of him being "everywhere" hah! I mean, the zine/podcast amount is really good if we think about how much stuff they cover and how much worse the situation could be, but if you just add them together we're not talking about big numbers in any way. Good numbers if scaled to the size of the scene and amount of "devotees" interested in listening/reading them, but not if scaled to anything else, so the perspective gets oddly skewed.
But back on topic: the SI interview is indeed great, very informative and in-depth. No "filler" despite the length.
Yes, from talking to him, I think it's definitely a matter of dealing with the local SoCal scene.