Kuro - Complete Hardcore Damnation

Kuro is one of the best Japanese hardcore bands of all time. While they never released an album, their Who the Helpless 8" EP is one of the most feral and crushing early Japanese hardcore records. The sound resembles Fuckheads-era Gauze or G-Zet in that you can tell Discharge is the base of the soup, but the playing is more precise, a little cleaner, and with an emphasis on heaviness and grit rather than pure density. People often remark that there's a Motorhead-esque quality to a lot of the best Japanese hardcore, and that's the case here, though the vocals are shredded, up there with John Brannon or Jerry A in intensity.

Tracklist:

SIDE A

01. X / ??
02. Human Clash
03. Body
04. Who The Helpless
05. Selfish Cow
06. ??? / OiMaeda
07. No More No
08. A.N.P.R.
09. Lightning Breaks
10. Furniture Fire
11. Dead Heat 10000V

SIDE B

12. Hey!Hey!Hey!
13. Midnight Baby
14. Jag Out
15. Top Less Go
16. Jag Out (1983 Gig)
17. Top Less Go (1983 Gig)

Tracks 1-7 from "Who the Helpless" 8" flexi (1984, Blue Jug Records)
Tracks 8-11 from "Fire" 7" EP (1986, KPP Records)
Tracks 12-13 from "Pinch & Ouch!" compilation (1985, KPP Records)
Tracks 14-15 from "Kuro" 7" flexi (1983, Blue Jug Records)
Tracks 16-17 from "1983 Gig" 7" flexi (1986, KPP Records)