Montreal garage-punk band The Gruesomes to reissue Gruesomania via Artoffact Records

Montreal-based garage-punk act The Gruesomes will reissue Gruesomania via Artoffact Records. 

Formed 30 years ago in 1985, the Montreal-based garage-punk band The Gruesomes are one of Canada's enduring legacies. They took their name from the scary neighbors on TV’s The Flintstones and carefully crafted an image of matching black turtlenecks, Beatle boots and bowl haircuts, combining it all with a snotty punk musical style. Early shows relied more on the group’s energy and humor than actual musical ability, but despite this (or because of it) The Gruesomes became an instant club favorite.

Less than a year after picking up instruments for the first time, The Gruesomes recorded their debut LP for Og Records, Tyrants of Teen Trash. The album sold well in both Europe and North America and dominated the number one position on alternative playlists across the country.

But it wasn't until 1987's Gruesomania that the band really hit their stride as one of the world's best garage acts. And indeed Canada's rock encyclopedia, Have Not Been the Same has called Gruesomania The Gruesomes' "calling card," while Exclaim! Magazine referred to it as "the missing link between the Stooges, New York Dolls and Black Haloes."

Artoffact Records is honored to present a reissue of Gruesomania, one of the best and most iconic garage-punk albums of its era. The album combines horror-shtick with the best in garage, surf, and rock'n'roll, and anyone who wants a slice of Montreal-punk in its most outrageous form should consider this a must-have. The new vinyl reissue is a remastered, numbered edition of 500, with bonus poster. Black vinyl is available, as is a limited collector's edition on gruesome green.