A group of guys who came together with one goal: to play as fast as possible. That, at its core, is the origin of Gauze (not counting their digs at vegetarians, hehe). ‘80s Japanese hardcore is full of strange gems, and honestly, I’ve encountered some of the weirdest bands in history under the Japanese hardcore punk/noise umbrella. Gauze is one of those names that anyone even remotely into this scene immediately associates with the words “hardcore” and “Japan”—their cult status is undeniable. Writing even a few words about a classic LP like this makes you second-guess yourself: “Should I mention this?” or “What if I left that out?”
There’s even something in Japanese hardcore known as the “G bands.” A weird coincidence: a bunch of iconic Japanese bands all start with the letter G—Gauze, G.I.S.M., Gastunk, G-Zet, Gasmask, and so on. Strange but true. With that bit of trivia out of the way, let’s rewind to 1981, when Gauze was founded. That puts them right alongside many of their British peers and makes them a foundational, almost mythical band in Japanese hardcore history. Their global reputation in the DIY underground is solid gold.
"Equalizing Distort" is their second LP and arguably their most powerful and iconic. It’s the reason we’re here, and rightly so. Their version of the No Trend classic No TV Sketch, renamed Anti-Machine, is a wild reinterpretation on its own. I wonder what Calvin (of Calvin Johnson/Beat Happening) thought if he ever heard it—hehe. The album contains ten brutally fast, raw punk tracks that define its entire sonic identity. The previously mentioned "Crash the Pose" hilariously symbolizes their love for vegetarians, haha... But jokes aside, the lyrics hit hard. Topics range from drug use and biting sarcasm to society's wage-slavery ("Low Charge") and sharp jabs at tabloid media ("Thrash Thrash Thrash").
Overall, the bass plays a critical role in the mix, adding monstrous low-end power alongside those raw, ripping punk riffs. Vocals are filthy and deranged, sometimes even muttered like the singer’s chewing on the words. The songs are packed with energy and speed but also dive into darker moods here and there. If you love fast and savage hardcore punk, resisting this masterpiece is no easy task.
So yeah—don’t use your mom’s margarine, and make sure to frequently savor the classic Equalizing Distort. You’ve been warned.