VARIOUS ARTISTS 'AMERICAN GRAVE (GOTHIC PUNK & DEATH ROCK USA: 1978-1988)' 2LP (Clear/Purple/Teal Vinyl)

LABEL: Futurismo
RELEASE DATE: 11/06/2026
VARIANT: Clear/Purple/Teal Vinyl 2LP

Futurismo proudly present a vital compilation born in the shadows of American punk; AMERICAN GRAVE Gothic Punk / Deathrock USA: 1978-1988, the third volume in their Altered Vision anthology series. Drawing from darkest depths of the American spirit, American Grave is testament to a subculture spawned from late night savagery, graveyard hangouts and suburban isolation. Deathrock, post-punk, goth, whatever term you prefer, this compilation showcases the sounds and aesthetics of a tarnished golden era, an underground movement that took the DIY concepts of punk and the velocity of a burgeoning hardcore scene and immersed it in echoes, distortion, tribal rhythms and macabre vocals, thematically preying upon cult horror flicks, surrealism, and the manipulation of religious iconography. Whilst the UK had a counterpart scene many would hail as Goth, this was different, this was a truly American incarnation, a new breed of youth haunted by the ghosts of old blues, garage and glam, bleak theatrical imagery dressed up to evoke a response, smeared eyeliner, leather, bones... black. This was a backlash against a culture in decay, bucking against a puritanical oppression brought on by the archaic social standards set by their parents. It was aggression manifested as gloom, it was a ceremony, the celebration of death. American Grave has been co-curated by Wesley Eisold (Cold Cave/American Nightmare/Heartworm Press) in collaboration with Futurismo head honcho Del Jae, to bring you a haunting track list ranging from the all-important integral mainstays of the genre to those rarer and more elusive artists, including many recordings that have never been reissued before on any format. Featuring the music of Christian Death, T.S.O.L., The Cramps, Of A Mesh, The Gun Club, Twisted Roots, Kommunity FK, The Brainz, Theatre Of Ice, Burning Image, Fur Bible, PSI Com, Shadow Of Fear, Super Heroines, 45 Grave and more. The music on this compilation is reinstated further from a visual perspective by an array of incredible images by famed punk photographer Edward Colver and lovingly designed to the level you would expect from a Futurismo release. This 2xLP comes in a choice of limited-edition colored vinyl: 'Bat Corpse', 'Splintered Tomb', and the Heartworm Press exclusive 'Heart Worm'. It is housed in a gloss laminated outer sleeve with color inner sleeves and contains a large fold-out poster with unseen photos by the great Edward Colver, words by Lisa Fancher and liner notes by Wesley Eisold of Cold Cave/American Nightmare.

TRACKLIST

1 Christian Death - Spiritual Cramp

2 Of a Mesh - Guillotine

3 Super Heroines - Convicts

4 T.S.O.L. - Code Blue

5 Psi Com - Human Condition

6 Shadow of Fear - in the Flesh

7 The Cramps - Human Fly

8 Burning Image - the Final Conflict

9 The Gun Club - Death Party

10 Your Funeral - I Want to Be You

11 The Brainz - Elementary Monster

12 Theatre of Ice - She Sleeps

13 45 Grave - Violent World

14 Middle Class - the Call

15 Altar de Fey - Veil of Death (Demo)

16 Mighty Sphincter - Waltz in Hell

17 Dead Moon - Graveyard

18 Twisted Roots - Are There Cobwebs on My Face?

19 Fur Bible - Plunder the Tombs

20 Kommunity FK - Restrictions

21 Lords of the New Church - New Church

22 The Naked and the Dead - Taboo

23 The Flesh Eaters - See You in the Boneyard

24 Red Temple Spirits - Dreamings Ending