Blitz - Punk Singles & Rarities 1980-83 (2021)

Oi! band Blitz helped to successfully launch No Future Records with its first EP, All Out Attack. Fans snapped up all 1,000 copies of the first run in short order. During the summer of 1981, indie charts in the U.K. saw the release rise to the number three spot. Sales of the four-track EP, which was the first release by the new label, eventually totaled more than 20,000 copies. "Never Surrender," a single that followed the debut's release, climbed to the number two spot on the U.K.'s indie charts. It took the place of "Time Bomb," a single that Blitz's members had wanted to put out until the label nixed that idea. The group followed up with "Warriors," which was backed by "Youth." Critics and fans compared the single to efforts by the 4-Skins and the Business, and it, too, performed very well on the indie charts. For the second time in a row, Blitz hooked the number two spot. The group then made it onto the national charts with 1982's Voice of a Generation, its first album. It held steady on the charts at number 27 despite the fact that there was little to no promotional campaign from the label to back it up and grab some exposure. Still, members of Blitz did well for themselves. They embarked on a tour of the U.K. alongside Abrasive Wheels and G.B.H., but unfortunately the lineup failed to adequately fill the sizeable concert venues that were scheduled. Disappointment led to some rocky times. Mackie was the first to drop out of the band, followed by Nidge, and then Charlie. Mackie and Nidge teamed up as Rose of Victory to record another No Future EP, while Tim and Carl tried to keep Blitz going with a new lineup. They put out New Age, repeating the band's earlier indie chart successes when the release rose to number two. Telecommunication followed, but by then fans were becoming critical of what they perceived as a change in the group's sound. The new Blitz tried to persevere with the release of Second Empire Justice. Nidge, along with Attak's Gary Basset, tried to keep things going in the late '80s with The Killing Dream, an album put out by Skunx Records. Before things fell apart for good, Nidge brought two other musicians into the band and embarked on a European tour. ~ Linda Seida