Reach Out International Records (aka ROIR) released some of the more important discs of the New York punk scene and its affiliates – the label continues to do so. Everyone from James Chance and the Contortions to the Bush Tetras were given life via ROIR cassette tape technology. Today, however, these releases function as authentic documents of a time where music was music and not a specific genre. And while most of that original run of tapes is most likely lost to time or just lost, ROIR has endeavored to reissue a good portion of its discography.

There’ve been countless tape come compact discs released through other labels that documented a sound, but New York Thrash has some of the biggest names and one of the more consistent track listings. Yeah, the Beastie Boys are on here and yes, they were a hardcore band (a pretty good one too). The Bad Brains crop up a few times as well, contributing two songs. But everyone already knows about those bands, or they should at least.

What’s most interesting here, and important from an historical point of view, are the second tier groups. Kraut’s probably one of the best known acts represented over the course of the disc, but really, the group would be considered average if it’d shown up just a year or two later.

Bobby Steele’s the Undead make an appearance subsequent to the guitarist’s split with the Misfits. And regardless of what one thinks of Glenn Danzig’s outfit, the Undead come off all poppy and digestible. The guitar’s still just dirt and grit, but Steele cops an Brit accent and goes in on an almost happy sounding melodic progression.

Just prior to Steele’s appearance, Nihilistics explain why the hardcore genre is occasionally met with snickers and dismissal. Granted, seeing as the tape was released almost thirty years ago, all involved need to be cut a bit of slack, but with “Here and Now” sporting lines like, “I believe in anarchy/So, burn the city down,” it’s difficult to take much of this seriously.

Again, though, some of the higher profile underground bands (if that makes any sense at all) render New York Thrash something of a pleasure to sift through.

Adrenalin O.D. turns in “Paul’s Not Home.” Lacking that musical acumen, the entertainment value of the song still can’t be understated. Beginning with a bit of a skit as some unwitting fool asks if Paul’s home, the song launches into what should be the answering machine message for anyone with the Apostle’s name. Lasting almost two minutes, the song runs out of steam less than half way through. But that readily explains why so many hardcore songs – in addition to the pacing – end so quickly.

Admittedly, there’s better hardcore out there – some tougher stuff too seeing as a lot of this just comes off as punk (Heart Attack’s track disputes that very statement). The variety on New York Thrash, though, points to a time when music was just what came out and not a genre. Boss…