For those unaware, the punk rock revolution of the 1970s not only influenced legions of music lovers through political and social commentaries, it also inspired an entire generation of budding musicians to pick up the guitar, drum sticks, sledgehammer, whatever and form their own band.

One such rebellious upstart was Steve Zing, who found inspiration in a little punk rock outfit out of New Jersey called The Misfits. Steve was one of the few younger kids who used to sit on the wall and listen outside The Misfits rehearsals, remembers Misfits founder and vocalist Glenn Danzig.

Zing would eventually form Mourning Noise, a piss-and-vinegar fueled hardcore punk group that, like their horror punk mentors, had a penchant for the dark and macabre - demons, graves, monsters, and the like.

Although brief, Mourning Noise caused a ruckus loud enough to get the attention of Danzig who would eventually recruit young Zing to both of his post-Misfits bands, Samhain and Danzig.

Now, the complete studio recordings from Mourning Noise are being reissued on a deluxe collection that includes rare studio outtakes plus a special live performance at the legendary WFMU studio (CD and digital-only bonus tracks).

1982 Reel Platinum Studio (7 Inch EP):
1. Dawn Of The Dead
2. Fighting Chance
3. Laser Lights
4. Demon Eyes
5. Addiction

1981 Blue Moon Studios (Demo):
6. Monster Madness
7. Vincents Theme
8. Underground Zero

1984 Reel Platinum Studio (Unissued LP):
9. Nestle Baby Killer
10. Death In A White Cloud
11. Crimson Carrie
12. Mr. Surveillance
13. Progress For The People
14. Monster Madness
15. Murder Machine
16. Empty Grave
17. Vincents Theme
18. Underground Zero
19. Barbarian Hunt

1984 Reel Platinum Studio (Unissued LP Outtake):
20. Batman
21. Monster Madness (Version 2)

1985 Reel Platinum Studio (Outtake):
22. Foolish Grief

Live on WFMU 1982 [CD ONLY]:
23. Progress For The People
24. Fighting Chance
25. Vincents Theme
26. Laser Lights
27. Sergio
28. Addiction
29. Demon Eyes
30. Radical
31. Crimson Carrie
32. Dawn Of The Dead
33. Monster Madness

This quite brilliant album opens on the 1982 Reel Platinum Studio (7 Inch EP) and brings us the fervent Dawn Of The Dead and the absolutely frenetic Fighting Chance, before bringing forth the alt-punk of Laser Lights, the melodic rock of Demon Eyes and then the thunderous Addiction.

Next up is the 1981 Blue Moon Studios (Demo) which kicks off with the foot-tapping fun of Monster Madness, the SLF vibe of Vincents Theme and then the drum and bass-led Underground Zero.

Along next is the 1984 Reel Platinum Studio (an Unissued LP) that opens on the raunchy Nestle Baby Killer, the drum-led rush of Death In A White Cloud, the guitar fury of Crimson Carrie, the bass-enhanced, and ferocious drumming of Mr. Surveillance, and then we get the low ebb of crawl (that turns inward and upward soon thereafter) of Progress For The People.

Another Monster Madness is backed by the gently frenetic Murder Machine which is turn followed by the metronome-influenced rocker Empty Grave, and after another Vincents Theme, this unreleased LP ends with pulsating duo of both Underground Zero and Barbarian Hunt.

Next up we get two 1984 Reel Platinum Studio Unissued LP outtakes in the form of the brilliant Batman (main theme) and another Monster Madness (Version 2), with a 1985 Reel Platinum Studio outtake of Foolish Grief being one of the definitive stand out highlights on this collection, for me personally, of course.

For the CD Only crowd, Live on WFMU 1982 rounds the new compilation out nicely, and brings forth all the previously-aforementioned tracks, this time, of course, all played and recorded live.

In addition, Zing has written all new liner notes sharing for the first time ever the entire history of this brief but important band. The collection also features the full endorsement and introductory blurb from Glenn Danzig.

Finally, writes Zing, 35 years later, a piece of my youth lives on. Enjoy!

Official Purchase Links

Mourning Noise - Dawn Of The Dead (Official Music Video)

Stream The Single Dawn Of The Dead