Cassette Pets is a monumental double LP compiling 17 tracks from across the vast discography of ultra-prolific industrial duo Smersh. Formed in Piscataway, New Jersey in 1981, the duo of Mike Mangino and Chris Shepard convened every Monday night and worked on music. They improvised and wrote songs, which were never performed again once they were recorded, as the group remained a studio-only project and never played any gigs. They released the bulk of their material on their own label, which eventually became known as Atlas King, but other underground labels such as RRRecords, Börft, and KK Records issued their work, and they appeared on countless compilations. Their songs often featured abrasive guitars, screamed vocals, and heavy machine rhythms, and their work predated not only much of the industrial dance scene, but also the sound of '90s/2000s Detroit electro groups like Drexciya and ADULT. Smersh also possessed a wicked sense of humor, as displayed by silly, playful tracks like "Judy Mach 7" and the Prince parody "Sweet Little Bishop." Cassette Pets is a well-rounded sampler of Smersh's strengths, ranging from their more aggressive industrial side to their more beat-driven explorations. Tracks like "The Fuse Burns" and "Rhythm Crash" are unacknowledged electro classics, and "Hunter Killer" is a straight-up stormer, with thundering 4/4 beats and highly destructive, speaker-damaging guitars. As gritty and caustic as these home-recorded tracks sound, they shine with brilliant clarity thanks to George Horn's astonishing remastering job. This is simply an essential introduction to an innovative cult act. ~ Paul Simpson, Rovi

1		Greasing Wheezer
2		Johnny Claw
3		Bedknobs and Bruises
4		Special Branch Agent
5		She Is Nervous
6		Hunter Killer
7		Judy Mach 7
8		Sweet Little Bishop
9		The Great Vegetable Breakdown
10		The Fuse Burns
11		Rhythm Crash
12		Beat This
13		Jump Cut Current
14		Black on Pink
15		Herman
16		Blue Shorts
17		White Teen Cola