The Need To Kill... Rage, Murder, Revenge & Retaliations ... The Rise Of The Working Classes

Hellbastard, a pioneering group from the UK crust punk scene, originally formed in 1984, but by the mid-2000s, the band had undergone several long hiatuses and lineup shifts. This collection of tracks, The Need To Kill... Rage, Murder, Revenge & Retaliations ... The Rise Of The Working Classes, was compiled and released by Civilisation Records in 2009 to archive the band's earlier, raw output and demos. The release serves as a bridge for listeners looking to understand the transition between the band's initial thrash-influenced hardcore roots and their development of the crust punk aesthetic that influenced generations of extreme metal musicians.

The design of the record reflects the gritty, DIY ethos that Hellbastard helped define in the late 1980s, prioritizing urgent, sociopolitical themes over high-gloss production. By presenting these archival recordings as a cohesive document, the label intended to honor the band's legacy at a time when crust punk was experiencing a significant historical reassessment. The release was received by the underground punk community as a vital piece of preservation, ensuring that the band's abrasive, politically charged commentary remained accessible to a new generation of listeners long after their initial influence had rippled through the scene.