Gang Green — We'll Give It To You(CD Boxset)

We’ll Give It To You is a four-CD boxset bringing together all of the late 80s to early 90s  output from US Thrash crossover pioneers Gang Green on Roadrunner Records. Feature are two studio albums- You Got It (1987), Older…Budweiser (1989), one EP I81B4U (1988), live album Can’t Live With Out It (1990), and compilation King Of Bands (1991).

The four discs each come in their own slips, and these are presented in a flip-top box- which takes in the colour & design of the band's favourite tipple Budweiser. Also featured is a twenty-six-page colour inlay booklet- this takes in interviews with band members, loads of pictures, poster artwork, and a band family tree.

Gang Green where formed in the year 1980 in Braintree, Massachusetts - with the sound initially focused on punk/ east coast hardcore punk sound. Over the band's career, the four-piece line-up has been fairly shifting, though constant throughout the band's run is Chris Doherty- vocals & guitar, who was just 15 when the band first formed. The project has been a fairly on/off affair- with their period of activities being 1980–1983, 1984–1992, 1996–1998, and 2005–present. The band's first album was Another Waster Night (1986) which appeared on Boston Taang! Records- with the sound being focused on American hardcore punk.

This collection kicks off with the band's second album You Got It from 1987- this saw the band offering up thirteen tracks that blended their hardcore punk roots, with heavy metal, Thrash & speed metal for a romping ‘n’ playful ride. It went from speeding hardcore meet chug metallics of “We’ll Give It” featuring a great gang vocal chorus. Onto the pacing metallic rock groove of “Born To Rock”, through to the galloping & boisterous hardcore of  “L.D.S.B” which is a tribute to the band's favourite thing -drinking beer!. There’s thrash slug meets speeding hardcore spin of “The Climb”. All in all a most consistent second album, which found the band blending in the new elements in an organic and unforced manner.

Next on disc number two we find the band's third album Older…Budweiser from 1989. This ten-track album saw the bands blending of hardcore punk, heavy metal, rock and Thrash getting even keener. The album moves from Thrash meets metal chug of “Just One Bullet”, onto  AC DC  like rocking bound of “Tear Down The Walls” with the gang vocals, and punk wails keeping it from becoming too much of a copycat. There’s crossover gallop ‘n’ fist punching rebel power of “Why Should You Care”. With the album playing out with the band's parody of rock ballads/ sing songwriter fare “The Ballad” which is focused on the band's love of beer. Again another enjoyable ride of an album, which clocks in at just over the thirty-one-minute mark.

Disc number three takes in twenty-one tracks- bringing together the band's 1990 live album Can’t Live With Out It, and the 1988 EP I81B4U. The live album takes in fifteen tracks from the band's show at London’s Marquee Club in February 1990. The tracks featured largely come from the band's second and third albums, though there are one or two from their debut too. The recording is a suitable ruckus and revered up affair- with I guess more of their Hardcore spirit coming to the fore, though they are still metal and Thrash riffs present. The CDs finished off with six tracks from the I81B4U EP- which appeared between You Got It & Older…Budweiser, and really that’s where its sound sits.

Lastly, we have 1991 King Of Bands- this twelve-track album features a selection of tracks from all their three previous albums- as well as been book ended with two new tracks, that featured a new line-up. The two new tracks “Thunder” & “Rub It In Your Face” certainly see the band dig further into the more heavy metal and rock side of things, they are ok- through as they surround the compilation album filling of the album they feel a little at odds/ out of place. The compilation side of the release is a good blend of tracks from the band's past, though playing it as part of this box set doesn’t make it as compelling as it would have been as a stand-alone release.

I’ve always had a soft spot for Gang Green, and their blend of beer-soaked Crossover, Hardcore Punk, Thrash and metal- so it’s great to see this boxset appearing. It features a really nice look/ design, and it’s great to have these albums all in one place- sure King Of Bands is a strange mix of best of/ new material, but it still has its moments of worth.