MAXIMUM PENALTY "Independent" Tape
Record Label - Flatspot
Formed in 1986, Maximum Penalty lay claim as one of the most unique bands that emerged during the peak of New York Hardcore. The band, established by vocalist Jimmy Williams and joined by guitarist Joseph Affe in 1988, started out as fast hardcore punk and gradually evolved to something more, driven by melody backed rhythms and soulful clean sung vocals. A staple at legendary venues like CBGB and Coney Island High from the get go, Maximum Penalty also made their way across North America and Europe in the ‘90s, sharing the stage with bands such as Agnostic Front, Madball, Sick Of It All, and Gorilla Biscuists. Maximum Penalty’s initial run spanned an impressive discography - Demo 89, 1995’s East Side Story EP, 1996’s Independent LP, 1997’s Super Life LP, and a number of tracks on various compilations including Blackout Records’ Where The Wild Things Are and Satisfaction Guaranteed. Maximum Penalty would emerge again in 2009 with the Life & Times LP (Reaper Records), carrying their sound to listeners new and old.
The impact Maximum Penalty has had on the modern hardcore scene cannot be denied. Turnstile featured the band on an influential playlist and the Hardlore podcast declared Maximum Penalty one of the “most underrated hardcore bands.” In 2025, Baltimore hardcore band End It released a cover of “Could You Love Me?” from 1996’s Independent, breathing new life into the track and swaying fans to discover the original. For its 30th anniversary, Independent will be pressed to vinyl for the first time ever through Flatspot Records.
Guitarist Joseph Affe remarks:
“Maximum Penalty’s Independent is the only record that has never had a vinyl release because at the time it was released on CD, vinyl was an afterthought. As we kept playing and putting out new releases, releasing Independent on vinyl was something we always wanted to do and here we are finally, 30 years later. Independent era was a great time in Maximum Penalty’s history - it means a lot to us to see that a newer crowd are discovering the record for the first time, it’s incredible!”
Tracklist:
01. Face Value
02. Find A Better Way
03. Could You Love Me?
04. …So God Help Me
05. Nowhere To Turn
06. Justice Paid
07. Where Were You
08. Life Jacket
Recorded Live At CBGB's 5/5/96
09. Hate
10. Comin’ Home
11. Be Yourself
12. Acceptance
13. Ivory Tower
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Pre-order means that you are ordering an item that is not yet manufactured or in stock. Pre-Order items will not ship before their release date. If your order contains one or more pre-order items, the entire order will be shipped in one package once the pre-order item is released.
Product Information & Safety
Disclaimer
Vinyl Orders- Please note that we do our best to protect vinyl records ideally for shipping, using our custom made mailers and additional cardboard squares. However, we can not guarantee that no damage on the way occurs. Ordering is at one's own risk. Vinyl might be delivered unsealed as we have to open copies to check vinyl colours, if not sufficiently labeled by the distributor / label.
Product Images- Please note that most of the images in our store are not actual photos but mock ups. These mock ups are digital representations of what we expect the final product to look like - however they do not represent the final product. Final vinyl pressings, prints, etc. may look slightly different.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pick up my order?
Yes, you can pick up your order from our warehouse in Berlin Lichtenberg. Please choose “Pick Up” as delivery method at checkout and pay for your order as if it was a regular order. You will be notified via e-mail once your order is ready for collection. Pick Up times are Monday - Friday between 10 AM and 4 PM.
Only orders fully paid in advance can be picked up. You can not shop directly from our warehouse → online purchases only.
If not collected within 7 days after being notified that your order is ready for collection, your order will be cancelled.
After receiving your ready for pick up notification via e-mail, you can find us at the following address:
Josef-Orlopp-Str. 92
10365 Berlin-Lichtenberg
Walk onto the backyard and look out for a green door with a black sign saying "EVIL GREED / EG Distribution GmbH" and our logo, next to a loading ramp. We're located on the second floor - please ring the bell.
How do I return items on my order?
As long as the items are unworn and unwashed they can be returned to the below address:
EG Distribution GmbH
Evil Greed - Returns
Josef-Orlopp-Str. 92
10365 Berlin
Germany
Please note that we do not cover shipping back to us. If you want to make sure your package arrives okay you might want to consider sending it trackable / insured. Please also include either a copy of your invoice or a brief note with your order number so we can assign the package to the right order / customer.
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Once the items are with us and have been checked by our team, we will refund the amount due to your preferred payment method!
Do you have a size chart for your items?
Yes, you can find it here.
Can I combine orders / add items to an already existing order?
We are not able to make any changes to already existing orders. If your order hasn't been processed yet, we can however cancel it so that you can place a new order containing all the items you wish to purchase.
When will my order arrive / how long does shipping take?
If your order does not contain any pre-order items (see below) it will be shipped within 1-2 days after purchasing. Once shipped, depending on where you are shipping can take up to 1-3 days (Germany), 7 days (Europe & UK) and 30 days (worldwide). If you want your order to arrive as soon as possible, please select FedEx at checkout.
How much does shipping cost?
You can find our shipping cost here.