Between 1981 and 1983, a group of masked and anonymous musicians played under the name The Black Assassins - terrorising Brisbane with their politically-charged punk laced with satire. Greatest Hits is not a reissue, more along the lines of a lost album that sat under someone's bed for the last 23 years.

Recorded in a 6-hour session at Sunshine studios with (then Xero member) John Willsteed at the helm, these 13 tracks represent their most potent songs of the sets they played around Brisbane halls and pubs at the time. Unafraid of taboos, their song 'Azaria' tackles the delicate issue of Azaria Chamberlain's mysterious disappearance with a great degree of black humour that's quite a contrast to fellow locals The Mystery Of Sixes and their banned song of the same name.

In the height of Joh Bjelke-Petersen's madness, Brisbane needed such a band that would confront the idiocy of his Special Branch with their provocative lyrics and posters. The Black Assassins answered the call and years later, those who missed out can hear what Brisbane's ugliest band were all about. A fascinating piece of local aural history.

***** (Donat Tahiraj)

Time Off website, February 2006
http://www.timeoff.com.au/index1.php?area=Reviews&pg=37&subarea=188&sel=188