English Dogs were a British hardcore punk band that began life in the early eighties. Two versions of the band exist, the punk and metal crossover band featuring original drummer Andrew ‘Pinch’ Pinching and second-era members Graham ‘Gizz’ Butt and Adie Bailey and a punk-based one featuring original vocalist Pete ‘Wakey’ Wakefield.

For those unaware, Mad Punx & English Dogs [Expanded Edition] is a 34-track 2CD digipack release featuring all of seminal UK/82 Punk band English Dogs recordings between 1983 and 1985.

Guitarist Gizz Butt (who also played in The Prodigy) has provided in-depth liner notes for the booklet and also overseen the remastering of the ‘Forward Into Battle’ album, long viewed as one of the first crossover albums to merge Punk with Metal and a firm favorite of followers of Speedcore.

Disc One: MAD PUNX & ENGLISH DOGS (EP) [1983]
1. Max (The Millionaire)
2. Psycho Killer
3. Free To Kill
4. Driven To Death
5. Left Me For Dead
6. R.I.P.

INVASION OF THE PORKY MEN [1984]
7. The Fall Of Max
8. World War 2
9. Your Country
10. Blind Man
11. Mercenary
12. Never Die
13. Astrophs Waiting
14. Newsflash
15. Ghost Of The Past
16. Carol
17. Spoils Of War
18. Cranked Up Really High
19. Invasion Of The Porky Men
20. Caveman Brain

Disc 1 has the Indie Chart No.19 12” single ‘Mad Punx And English Dogs’ as well as No.3 charting LP ‘Invasion Of The Porky Men’ and based on bands such as The exploited and other hardcore bands of this era, this offering has it all (including an up-tempo modern day, and still timeless feel).

Those of you who enjoyed punk recorded with a nice big budget in a great sounding studio without the garage drop-out noises so many bands had in those days, will be pleased to know they can have the volume cranked up really high without having to worry about any irritating ear damage here; as the six track Mad Punx & English Dogs brings forth such gems as both the boisterous thrash of Psycho Killer and the expedient R.I.P.

Having successfully emerging from the northern market town of Grantham in the early 1980s, English Dogs reached the punk spotlight opening for Charged GBH and Discharge. This, there brilliant debut album Invasion of the Porky Men, features the band’s original line-up, with drummer Andrew Pinching, bassist Mark ‘Wattie’ Watson, guitarist John Murray and vocalist Pete ‘Wakey’ Wakefield (the hardcore focus very different from the metal direction they would take after Wakey moved on and Gizz Butt added his guitar pyrotechnics).

Disc Two: TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH (EP) [1984]
1. Ambassador Of Fear
2. The Chase Is On
3. Incisor
4. Survival Of The Fittest

FORWARD INTO THE BATTLE [1985]
5. Forward Into Battle
6. The Final Conquest
7. Ultimate Sacrifice
8. Ordeal By Fire
9. False Prophet
10. Wall Of Steel
11. Nosferatu
12. He That Is Bound Shall Be Freed
13. Five Days To Death
14. Brainstorm

The second disc features the No.4 charting 12” EP ‘To The End Of The Earth’ alongside the No.4 album ‘Forward Into Battle’ and for me personally, the former here To The Ends Of The Earth is a 4-track EP slice of musical wonderment!

An epic crossover marvel that came at just the right time for the band, their slight reinvention was a significant, and noticeable success, with the stand out cut being the propulsive closer Survival Of The Fittest.

Forward Into Battle is, simply put, totally an epic thrash metal work of musical art! Their collective performances here are impeccable, especially the lead guitar work of Butt, with Jon Mackay providing a solid rhythm guitar (albeit sometimes, and unfortunately, somewhat buried in the mix.

The rhythm section is nothing short of a leveler, although the bass drums are a little muddled, sure, but the singing from Adie is justifiably reminiscent of a hoarser Paul Balluf (EXODUS), which I myself loved. Okay, sure, some metal purists might complain about his lack of vocal range, but he did start his career in a punk band, so back off!

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