Battalion of Saints

This is the sound of pure, unadulterated friction. Battalion of Saints represents the most aggressive edge of the early 1980s Southern California hardcore scene, stripping away the melody of traditional punk in favor of a relentless, high-speed assault. The guitars are jagged and overdriven, the drums are a nonstop barrage of d-beats and fills, and the vocals sound like they are being shouted through a megaphone in the middle of a riot.

What sets them apart is their sheer nihilism and the density of their sound. While their peers in the Nardcore or LA scenes often leaned into humor or surf-influences, the 'Batts' felt darker and more dangerous. There is a claustrophobic quality to their recordings, as if the music is physically pushing against the walls of the studio. It is music that refuses to breathe, maintaining a level 5 energy from the first second to the last.

Start with the 'Fighting Boys' EP or the 'Second Coming' LP. These recordings capture the band at their most volatile and influential, serving as a blueprint for the more aggressive 'skate rock' and crossover thrash movements that would follow in the mid-80s.