HARLEM DEADS counting up the crime ROSE003

Underground Echoes: Harlem Dead’s ‘Counting Up The Crime’ (ROSE003)

Today’s dive into the archives brings us a release from the more obscure corners of the Japanese underground rock scene: Harlem Dead’s “Counting Up The Crime,” issued with the catalog number ROSE003.

This record is a 12-inch EP or mini-album, was released in 1988 on the Night Gallery/ROSE label. This is the same independent label that released early works by Justy-Nasty (ROSE002, ROSE004), suggesting Harlem Dead operated within a similar alternative/underground rock milieu, potentially connected to the burgeoning Visual Kei or indie scenes of the late 80s.

Information about Harlem Dead is scarce, typical of many bands operating on the indie circuit during that era. However, the release on ROSE Records places them within a specific context. Their sound likely incorporated elements of rock, perhaps leaning towards hard rock, punk, or the darker, more atmospheric sounds associated with early Visual Kei, but distinct from the polished metal or mainstream rock acts of the time.

ROSE003, “Counting Up The Crime,” is therefore a rare and intriguing artifact. For dedicated collectors of Japanese indie rock and the early Visual Kei scene, this release represents a chance to explore beyond the well-known names and discover the sounds bubbling just beneath the surface. It’s a snapshot of a band contributing to the diverse and energetic underground music landscape of late 80s Japan.