Happy Bastards – “Box of Hard knocks”

Hailing from Rapid City, South Dakota, Happy Bastards carved out a unique space in the underground DIY community before recording their 2006 full-length album, Box of Hard Knocks. Released and distributed by the prominent anarcho-punk label Profane Existence, the record showcases a complex, driving style of crust punk that balances heavy rhythmic elements with dual male and female vocals. Musically, the band channels the aggressive, politically charged energy of early Pacific Northwest hardcore acts like Poison Idea and the metallic, gloom-tinged structures of pioneering crust bands like Amebix and Antischism. What makes the record stand out is its ability to remain structurally intricate and catchy without sacrificing its stark, aggressive intensity, all elevated by distinct cover artwork from renowned underground artist Marald.

Track Listing:

1. Nacimiento 1:43
2. Don’t Respect You 2:23
3. Nike Town 3:42
4. Redecorating By Moonlight 3:00
5. Neither Here Nor There 5:18
6. Buzzard 3:09
7. I’m My Only Twin 2:26
8. Shotgun Funeral 4:10
9. Denominated Reactor 2:04
10. Selective Sight 3:08
11. Nicodemus 2:30
12. Femme Fatale 1:59