You know one of the first staples in the kitchen (especially for you bachelors out there) is the old stand-by of peanut butter and jelly. You always gotta have it, that quick breakfast, weekend lunches, or the occasional late dinner. Now, I don’t go for jam, or preserves, or even marmalade, just straight grape jelly, and creamy peanut butter. It’s nice, plain and simple. Sometimes plain and simple can still be just what the doctor ordered.

NIKMAT OLALIM (“Toddler’s revenge”) was formed in 2002 in Israel. They took their name from an extremist Jewish organization that set off a pipe bomb in an elementary school. Get the sense that they are a little political? Well, back to my analogy for a sec. There’s nothing fancy about the old-school hardcore punk these guys bang out, but it’s still damn good just like PB and J. This 7” is chock full of 6 songs, killer artwork, and a whole buncha attitude. They may be a “5” on the originality meter, but they’re a solid “10” on the up-your-ass meter. We start off with a sample clip from the “Lord of the Rings” collection, all about power, and taking over the earth. Then the fun begins. We have a great old-school mixture of haphazard bass noodling, chaotic guitar and steady drumming. This is complimented by some gruff vocals, giving the whole affair the sheen of perhaps the first COC album, “An Eye for an Eye”. The songs are short and free with a sense of anger and oppression. Lyrically, the atmosphere of daily life in the powder-keg of the Middle East bleeds through song after song. But had it come out of the U.K. or west coast in the early 80’s and you wouldn’t even think twice. The insert of the 7” is full of political rants and ramblings, along with lyrics in English and Hebrew. Best track is “The Complete Destruction of Israel”, which on its own finds a way to sum up what this band is all about. Switching from speed to chugging and centering on a classic BROKEN BONES-ish guitar solo, it’s over before you know it. Check out their website below. Shalom.

- Murtaugh

OFFICIAL SITE: www.gutzy.com/olalim

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