Servus,

there's a little bit of springtime in the back of my mind... A new LEATHERFFACE record just came out that has the best drummer on it that ever played for the boat! Why? Because he's from Bavaria.

That being said, here are some updates:

OUT NOW are:

SURPRISE 009 - NAILS - S/T 7"

The first German band to be released on TAKEN BY SURPRISE RECORDS is called NAILS (not to be confused with the NAILS band from overseas with members of TERROR and whatnot) and is based in Berlin. NAILS is the voice of BOMBENALARM, the drums of MÖNSTER, the guitar wolf of MIGRA VIOLENTA and Mr Arndt on the great big ukulele. Driving hardcorepunk in a very classic way with great conscious lyrics. A very promising debut 7"! This record is a combined effort with my good friend Stachel's label LA FAMILIA RELEASES! I am also very excited that the living punk photo taking legend Mateus Mondini will put this one out on his label NADA NADA DISCOS in Brazil! The song ONE FIX is up on the TBS MySpace now, check it out!

SURPRISE 010 - DEFECT DEFECT - S/T LP

Fighting their way out of the basement comes Portland’s DEFECT DEFECT with their best record to date! After two quality Eps and constant touring, DEFECT DEFECT hit it just perfect with their catchy-as-hell melodic punk style that hits hard with Colin’s spastic and blunt vocal style with Adam’s excellent song writing. Tracks like Stolen Ground and Post Apocalypse are perfect bookends of this argent and essential LP. Featuring ex and current members of THE OBSERVERS, AUTISTIC YOUTH, THE MINDS, CLOROX GIRLS and the excellent ARCTIC FLOWERS this record will stick out over the pile of vinyl coming out in 2010. Do not miss out on this exciting band! Again a cooperation, this time with my friend Andreas THRASHBASTARD. The US version is out now on the outstanding RESIDUE RECORDS out of Chicago, IL and i hear there will be a Brazilian version also on NADA NADA DISCOS!! - http://www.myspace.com/defectdefect

GET IN TOUCH FOR WHOLESALE RATES AND POSSIBLE TRADES: info@takenbysurprise.net

Note: Please don't cry if I don't write back immediately, this is still a one man show here...

UP NEXT are:

SURPRISE 011 - AUTISTIC YOUTH - IDLE MINDS LP
Recorded a while ago (I think it was around the easter bunny fest last year?) this one is finally all mastered and HOLY SHIT it rips! I am currently waiting on the artwork to be finished and then this one will see the light of day! Of course this will be a collaborative effort with my internet husband's label SABOTAGE RECORDS again. The North American edition will be issued by the great PDX labels DIRTNAP and BLACK WATER! Check out the song DISCIPLES on the TBS MySpace! Out early summer... On tour in the USA in June!

SURPRISE 012 - RED DONS - FAKE MEETS FAILURE LP
Finally a new record and I cannot be happier to have this one out on TAKEN BY SURPRISE. I got the recording last summer and can't stop listening to it ever since. The band took a long time writing and perfecting new material since their 2007 debut LP, added Zache Brooks from SODA POP KIDS as a permanent guitar don and toured the USA and BRAZIL. A flawless LP of perfect punk music! Retired Nascar mechanic and nowadays fanatic Elk's Club member Doug Burns is finalizing the artwork while I am typing this and probably listening to Simon and Garfunkel...
Watch out for some killer screenprinted sleeves on this one! DERANGED will release this record over the pond... The song MY LIFE IN EXILE is up now on TBS MySpace! Out early summer... On tour in the USA in July! - http://www.reddons.com

SURPRISE 013 - BLOODY GEARS - S/T 7"
A WIPERS sounding band from Boston? Sounds komisch, is aber so... Following up their great demo, here comes the debut EP! Three songs of dark and moody punkrock, they are hitting it really hard. On the way to the pressing plant right now and available in late April. American version to be released on DERANGED - http://bloodygears.blogspot.com/

SURPRISE 014 - CANADIAN RIFLE - S/T 7"
A new CANADIAN RIFLE 7" just in time for their European adventure with NO SLOGAN starting late April 2010. 3 songs of mature melodic punk, taking cues from LEATHERFACE or early JAWBREAKER. One of the best bands to come out of Chicago, I am really happy to be releasing this one! Again a cooperation with RESIDUE RECORDS who will release this EP in the USA. - http://www.myspace.com/canadianrifle

THE FUTURE:

I was lucky enough to venture to California recently and watch the comeback gigs of the CLOROX GIRLS. Great times were had, Schnaps was consumed, Pinatas smashed and La Bamba was covered. Their new record is in the works and will be out on TAKEN BY SURPRISE in the fall of 2010, a label for the North Americas is yet to be found. Working title for the album is TROPICS OF CANCER, I hope they will stick with this, sounds great. Americans watch out for more shows on the west coast soon! There is a tape out now on BURGER RECORDS from Fullerton, CA that has some very old 7" tracks and rare demos on it.
I also met up with Jerry from SMART GUY RECORDS, who put out the first two CG LPs and we are about to work out a European press of the first CLOROX GIRLS album on TAKEN BY SURPRISE. No release date or anything on this one so far though. - http://www.myspace.com/cloroxgirls

Some other projects are being talked about but nothing is confirmed yet...

MAILORDER:

Lots of new shit is stocked, check it out! I also try and get more shirts in the webstore now, more to come soon... - http://www.takenbysurprise.net/shop

I do wholesale and trades together with SABOTAGE RECORDS so feel free to hit me up for any of his releases!! - http://www.sabotagerecords.net
There are some split shirts w/ SABOTAGE and GLW/DRK, check the MySpace for the design, only a few made, I should have them here real soon, get in touch if you wanna be properly dressed for the spring fashion weeks coming up!

A big fuck off to "people my age" who start bragging about how "old" they are and that they have seen everything blablabla so go ahead and live your stupid normal lives. It's a good time to be a punk right now, great and dedicated bands playing great music all over the globe, great labels putting out quality records and Bruce Springsteen just won another grammy...

OK that's about it right now, thanks for reading all this crap and not falling asleep... NO SURRENDER!!!

Michl