Asexuals - Be What You Want

Tracks

Side 1

		Track Name	Length
	1	Be What You Want	02:22
	2	Contra Rebel	02:11
	3	Thrash Zone	02:25
	4	Mind Contraction	03:54
	5	3 Chord Speed	01:27
	6	C.F.R.	02:06
	7	We Seek No Glory	01:59

Side 2

		Track Name	Length
	1	Too Slow	02:18
	2	Asexual	02:31
	3	Mr. Useless	03:02
	4	Ego Trip	02:55
	5	Iraq Iran	02:38
	6	Mr. Rat	02:28
	7	Weekend Alky	02:22

Photos

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Information/Write-up

Montreal’s Asexuals exploded out of the suburbs in 1984 with Be What You Want, a debut LP that captured the urgency of early Canadian hardcore while hinting at the melodic sensibility that would define their evolution. Released on First Strike Records (and later reissued by Psyche Industry), the album straddles two poles: the raw speed and aggression of early '80s American punk, and a restless desire to push beyond the genre’s self-imposed limitations.

Opening with the title track—a rousing, anthemic call for individualism—Be What You Want wastes no time announcing the band’s identity: politically brash, emotionally honest, and sonically tight. Tracks like “Contra Rebels” and “Thrash Zone” blaze by with buzzsaw guitars and breakneck precision, channeling the spirit of Minor Threat, Black Flag, and D.O.A., but with a distinctly Canadian undercurrent.

John Kastner’s vocals are at once barked and hook-laden, delivering youthful frustration with clarity and defiance. Guitarist Sean Friesen lays down sharp, angular riffs while T.J. Collins (bass) and Paul Remington (drums) form a rhythm section that never loses focus—even at maximum velocity. Standout cuts like “Rich Kids” and “So Alone” show the band wasn’t content to simply copy the U.S. hardcore blueprint; there’s structure and intent beneath the speed, a sense of melodic architecture just starting to peek through the chaos.

The album also isn't afraid to court controversy—“Contra Rebels,” in particular, raised eyebrows for its ambiguous lyrics and was misinterpreted by some as reactionary rather than satirical. But that edge of confrontation is part of what gives Be What You Want its enduring bite.

Though rough around the edges and unapologetically confrontational, this LP laid the groundwork for the Asexuals’ later transition into a more melodic, post-hardcore outfit. In hindsight, Be What You Want stands as one of the most compelling documents of 1980s Canadian punk—less mythologized than some of its peers, but no less vital.
-Robert Williston

John “Filthy” Kastner: vocals
Sean “Head” Friesen: guitar
T.J. Collins: bass
Paul “Wally” Remington: drums

Produced by John Kastner
Engineered by Morris Apelbaum
Sound engineer: Peter Magoldric
Mixed by Morris Apelbaum and The Asexuals
Recorded at Silent Sound Studios, Montreal, October 27 – November 9, 1984
Management by Steve Sechi

Design by First Strike Graphics

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