Top Ten:
TEMPEST-live
SHARKPACT-live
PLEASURE LEFTISTS-live
BIMARKS-live
ISOTOPE-live
SCREAMING FEMALES-live
PRESSING ON-live
SEI HEXE-live
TEROKAL-live
BLOOD BENDER-live
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
November 2014 - #378
Top Ten:
SLAG-Mindslave-EP
XYMOX-Subsequent Pleasures-LP
BLOOD ROBOTS-LP
DEPARTURE KIDS-On The Go-LP
EXECUTIVE SLACKS-12"
PROTES BENGT-Påskstämning-EP
INSTITUTE-45/WIPERS-45
KNARK/KRÜGER-split EP
OVENS-EP/FRAU-EP
POIKKEUS/SBSM-live
SLAG – "Mindslave" EP
This is just so fucking on point. Proudly waving the banner of San Jose Supremacy, this first 7" launches SLAG straight into the pantheon of South Bay powerviolence alongside IN DISGUST (an obvious touchstone), GODSTOMPER, DEADPRESSURE, and T.A.D.R.O.E.V. Endlessly heavy with relentless blasting and some expertly blown-out production, this record emphasizes the best elements of crust-tinted grind with not a moment of filler. Great high and low vocals too; the only bummer worth noting is the lack of a lyric sheet. Tut tut, I could have at least used that to help set a cop car on fire. Fans of new-school grindviolence from ARCHAGATHUS to YOUR ENEMY: this is your new favorite shit. (WB)
(Regurgitated Semen)
VÅLDSAMT MOTSTÅND – “Gamla Goda Värderingar” EP
Swedish crust that bounces between death metal-infused chugging and
driving D-beat, complimented at times by an odd sense of melody. The
first song opens up with the death metal equivalent of a cheat beat,
but gets more bearable once the tempo kicks up, and the more hardcore
songs in the middle of the record are quite solid if you appreciate
epic vibes in this style. Unfortunately the band slows down again for
the plodding "Snake People", which has sick lyrics ('There will be no
burial for you in the lotus garden') but no real drive, ultimately
resolving into a mega-breakdown that’s about three sizes too tuff for me.
The two halves of their sound, which are never satisfyingly integrated, make this feel like a band that’s trying to pull from a smattering of influences, but still finding its own voice(s). (WB)
(Högre Tempo!)
RORT – “Warpath” LP
Manically riffy death-flavored grind from Melbourne, Australia, the fourteen tracks of RORT’s debut LP blur relentlessly into one another, making for an exhausting, almost nauseating listen (in this genre, not at all a bad thing). Precision drumming and brilliant tremolo leads win the day here—these guys know how to mine the noodle-y glory of ye old school death metal to perfection, and it makes the whole affair miles more fun than your run-o’-the-mill blastfest. There’s a more anthemic hXc element that occasionally comes to the fore, with some of the vocal hooks bringing a slightly moshy feel. Wrathful lyrics take on societal disgust as well as individualized hatred, a bit metal/hardcore word salad for my taste but it matches the music rather perfectly. Modern grind heads and hardcore kids who yearn for the glory days of MORBID ANGEL should not hesitate to pull the trigger on this one, and I can only imagine that these guys slay live. (WB)
(Regurgitated Semen)
IRON HAND – "Injected Fear" 12"
Seven tracks of tense d-beat hardcore from one of the best bands to come out of Connecticut in recent memory, this is IRON HAND's first full-length following two 7"s and an absolutely unreal demo tape from back in 2008. Three years have passed since their last release, but the basic M.O. is more or less unchanged: driving crust of the latter-day America-goes-Scandi variety, offset by forays into anthemic hardcore in the vein of RAW NERVES. Powerful stuff! I used to live in the same town as some of these dudes back when they still played in the underappreciated THEY AND THE CHILDREN, one of the first "modern" hardcore to resonate with me, and both bands share a lyrical and musical intelligence that easily sets them apart from the pack. Sadly, I moved across the country a few months before they played their first shows… still kicking myself for never catching the chaos live. (WB)
(Safety Meeting)
SLAG-Mindslave-EP
XYMOX-Subsequent Pleasures-LP
BLOOD ROBOTS-LP
DEPARTURE KIDS-On The Go-LP
EXECUTIVE SLACKS-12"
PROTES BENGT-Påskstämning-EP
INSTITUTE-45/WIPERS-45
KNARK/KRÜGER-split EP
OVENS-EP/FRAU-EP
POIKKEUS/SBSM-live
SLAG – "Mindslave" EP
This is just so fucking on point. Proudly waving the banner of San Jose Supremacy, this first 7" launches SLAG straight into the pantheon of South Bay powerviolence alongside IN DISGUST (an obvious touchstone), GODSTOMPER, DEADPRESSURE, and T.A.D.R.O.E.V. Endlessly heavy with relentless blasting and some expertly blown-out production, this record emphasizes the best elements of crust-tinted grind with not a moment of filler. Great high and low vocals too; the only bummer worth noting is the lack of a lyric sheet. Tut tut, I could have at least used that to help set a cop car on fire. Fans of new-school grindviolence from ARCHAGATHUS to YOUR ENEMY: this is your new favorite shit. (WB)
(Regurgitated Semen)
VÅLDSAMT MOTSTÅND – “Gamla Goda Värderingar” EP
Swedish crust that bounces between death metal-infused chugging and
driving D-beat, complimented at times by an odd sense of melody. The
first song opens up with the death metal equivalent of a cheat beat,
but gets more bearable once the tempo kicks up, and the more hardcore
songs in the middle of the record are quite solid if you appreciate
epic vibes in this style. Unfortunately the band slows down again for
the plodding "Snake People", which has sick lyrics ('There will be no
burial for you in the lotus garden') but no real drive, ultimately
resolving into a mega-breakdown that’s about three sizes too tuff for me.
The two halves of their sound, which are never satisfyingly integrated, make this feel like a band that’s trying to pull from a smattering of influences, but still finding its own voice(s). (WB)
(Högre Tempo!)
RORT – “Warpath” LP
Manically riffy death-flavored grind from Melbourne, Australia, the fourteen tracks of RORT’s debut LP blur relentlessly into one another, making for an exhausting, almost nauseating listen (in this genre, not at all a bad thing). Precision drumming and brilliant tremolo leads win the day here—these guys know how to mine the noodle-y glory of ye old school death metal to perfection, and it makes the whole affair miles more fun than your run-o’-the-mill blastfest. There’s a more anthemic hXc element that occasionally comes to the fore, with some of the vocal hooks bringing a slightly moshy feel. Wrathful lyrics take on societal disgust as well as individualized hatred, a bit metal/hardcore word salad for my taste but it matches the music rather perfectly. Modern grind heads and hardcore kids who yearn for the glory days of MORBID ANGEL should not hesitate to pull the trigger on this one, and I can only imagine that these guys slay live. (WB)
(Regurgitated Semen)
IRON HAND – "Injected Fear" 12"
Seven tracks of tense d-beat hardcore from one of the best bands to come out of Connecticut in recent memory, this is IRON HAND's first full-length following two 7"s and an absolutely unreal demo tape from back in 2008. Three years have passed since their last release, but the basic M.O. is more or less unchanged: driving crust of the latter-day America-goes-Scandi variety, offset by forays into anthemic hardcore in the vein of RAW NERVES. Powerful stuff! I used to live in the same town as some of these dudes back when they still played in the underappreciated THEY AND THE CHILDREN, one of the first "modern" hardcore to resonate with me, and both bands share a lyrical and musical intelligence that easily sets them apart from the pack. Sadly, I moved across the country a few months before they played their first shows… still kicking myself for never catching the chaos live. (WB)
(Safety Meeting)
October 2014 - #377
Top Ten:
COMMUNION OF THIEVES-live
PROTESTANT-In Thy Name-LP
MOTH-LP/NERVOUS TREND-12”
INFEKZIOA-EP
SKAVEN-LP
QLOAQA LETAL-LP
CIORAN-12”
CODE BMUS-LP/ZEX-45
MAAILIMANLOPPU/APOCALYPSE NOW/KUUDES SILMÄ-live
VATS/DEZ YUSUF/DAISY WORLD-live/DEADFEST-fest
GREAT SABATINI – "Dog Years" LP
Uptempo "sludge" by way of the noise-rock, GREAT SABATINI mine the
latter-day MELVINS catalog to produce a fairly generic, occasionally
punky take on the genre. It's not as proggy or catchy as King Buzzo
and co., of course, and the 'verbed-out vocals read more bizarro than
kvlt, but there's a couple of moments that I could see on a WEEDEATER
record (intended as a compliment). For what it's worth, the fuzzy
monster on the cover looks like a leftover from Gabba Gabba Hey or
Seasame Street, and I hate it. If you're someone who misses the glory
days of Ipecac Records and the like, this might be just what the
doctor ordered. For the rest of us, extremely skippable. (WB)
(Solar Flare)
NO FUN/LUBE – split EP
A nice little slab by two bands that share members in addition to
sonic tendencies, as illustrated in a cute little Venn diagram at the
center of the insert. Both NO FUN and LUBE split the difference
between high-energy garage rock and hardcore, with LUBE getting maybe
a bit more ambitious when they decide to solo. Vocals are pretty much
interchangeable between the two bands, channeling the primal scream of
the SONICS via MUDHONEY. Spite-filled nihilism is the lyrical order of
the day, but that's what we all came here for, right? I'm glad we had
this talk. (WB)
(WWTA)
PROTESTANT – "In Thy Name" LP
Hoooooly shit! I've always loved me some PROTESTANT, but this new
record is something else entirely, departing from their well-honed
dark hardcore attack to embrace the hateful, raw filth of black metal.
Cory's unmistakable vocals (and the occasional massive breakdown)
provide a link to the band's previous discography, and the
throat-ripping fury of metalpunk is definitely there, but they've
rebuild their sound from the ground up with some deliciously lo-fi
production. The whole thing is overflowing with jaw-dropping riffs,
played with the passion and precision of a band a decade into their
existence. Easily one of the top black metal/crust crossovers I've
heard—and believe me, I've heard far too many in the last several
years—I would have to say that this is also PROTESTANT's best, most
consistent full-length to date. Trends come and go, but In Thy Name is
the real deal. An instant classic. (WB)
(Halo of Flies)
REAGAN'S POLYP – "Deadenator" CD
A reissue of 1998's supposed "noise-rock classic" by these Arkansas
master trollers, I have to say that I'm pretty unimpressed. First
things first, the whole racist/sexist/un-PC shock rock thing is just
so beyond played out; I know you're trying to ape ZAPPA, but instead
of satirical and biting y'all just sound ignorant as fuck, not to
mention bo-o-o-oring. The opener "Bridges of Asses" encapsulates the
whole disjointed mess rather well, starting off with some truly awful
PAUL SIMON-esque crooning before awkwardly segueing into spastic
art-punk fuckery and then back into terrible "parody" pop that
honestly takes my mind back to MOXY FRÜVOUS. Ouch. The sheer breadth
of styles and sound they pull off over the course an hour is certainly
nothing to sneeze at, and there's a definite DEVO-ish ear for oddball
hooks, but one gets the feeling that REAGAN'S POLYP made it to the
thirty album mark (!) with the help of some not-so-judicious editing.
There are moments here worth exploring, such as the synth warfare on
"Hello Alien", but few will have the energy to pan for gold in this
sea of mediocrity. (WB)
(Vetoxa)
SKAVEN – "Discography" LP
Compiling their self-titled 7" along with material from splits with
DYSTOPIA and STORMCROW, this LP gives us the entire recorded output of
the short-lived SKAVEN, who managed to leave a lasting impression on
the East Bay (and worldwide) crust scene in just a couple of years.
For those of you who are unfamiliar, SKAVEN did a fairly upbeat take
on the legacy of classic UK crust like HELLBASTARD and AXEGRINDER, but
with the decidedly 90’s vibe of contemporaries such as ELDOPA. Along
with a undeniable skill for writing catchy fucking songs, their two
bass/one guitar setup yielded a fairly idiosyncratic sound; just
listen to those bass leads at the end of "Reflective Skin" and you'll
know what I mean. A truly gorgeous lyric booklet collects some of the
most depressing sentiments you'll ever find in a punk record, but what
else would you expect from a band that shares members with ASUNDER?
Great liner notes too, including the story of how "a member of a
well-known Bay Area band" bit someone's ear off in a massive
crusty-versus-skinhead brawl. A top-notch remaster by Brad Boatright
and a whole slew of posters and inserts complete the package, making
this hands-down the definitive SKAVEN release, a must-grab for any
scumfuck worth their own filth. (WB)
(Skuld)
COMMUNION OF THIEVES-live
PROTESTANT-In Thy Name-LP
MOTH-LP/NERVOUS TREND-12”
INFEKZIOA-EP
SKAVEN-LP
QLOAQA LETAL-LP
CIORAN-12”
CODE BMUS-LP/ZEX-45
MAAILIMANLOPPU/APOCALYPSE NOW/KUUDES SILMÄ-live
VATS/DEZ YUSUF/DAISY WORLD-live/DEADFEST-fest
GREAT SABATINI – "Dog Years" LP
Uptempo "sludge" by way of the noise-rock, GREAT SABATINI mine the
latter-day MELVINS catalog to produce a fairly generic, occasionally
punky take on the genre. It's not as proggy or catchy as King Buzzo
and co., of course, and the 'verbed-out vocals read more bizarro than
kvlt, but there's a couple of moments that I could see on a WEEDEATER
record (intended as a compliment). For what it's worth, the fuzzy
monster on the cover looks like a leftover from Gabba Gabba Hey or
Seasame Street, and I hate it. If you're someone who misses the glory
days of Ipecac Records and the like, this might be just what the
doctor ordered. For the rest of us, extremely skippable. (WB)
(Solar Flare)
NO FUN/LUBE – split EP
A nice little slab by two bands that share members in addition to
sonic tendencies, as illustrated in a cute little Venn diagram at the
center of the insert. Both NO FUN and LUBE split the difference
between high-energy garage rock and hardcore, with LUBE getting maybe
a bit more ambitious when they decide to solo. Vocals are pretty much
interchangeable between the two bands, channeling the primal scream of
the SONICS via MUDHONEY. Spite-filled nihilism is the lyrical order of
the day, but that's what we all came here for, right? I'm glad we had
this talk. (WB)
(WWTA)
PROTESTANT – "In Thy Name" LP
Hoooooly shit! I've always loved me some PROTESTANT, but this new
record is something else entirely, departing from their well-honed
dark hardcore attack to embrace the hateful, raw filth of black metal.
Cory's unmistakable vocals (and the occasional massive breakdown)
provide a link to the band's previous discography, and the
throat-ripping fury of metalpunk is definitely there, but they've
rebuild their sound from the ground up with some deliciously lo-fi
production. The whole thing is overflowing with jaw-dropping riffs,
played with the passion and precision of a band a decade into their
existence. Easily one of the top black metal/crust crossovers I've
heard—and believe me, I've heard far too many in the last several
years—I would have to say that this is also PROTESTANT's best, most
consistent full-length to date. Trends come and go, but In Thy Name is
the real deal. An instant classic. (WB)
(Halo of Flies)
REAGAN'S POLYP – "Deadenator" CD
A reissue of 1998's supposed "noise-rock classic" by these Arkansas
master trollers, I have to say that I'm pretty unimpressed. First
things first, the whole racist/sexist/un-PC shock rock thing is just
so beyond played out; I know you're trying to ape ZAPPA, but instead
of satirical and biting y'all just sound ignorant as fuck, not to
mention bo-o-o-oring. The opener "Bridges of Asses" encapsulates the
whole disjointed mess rather well, starting off with some truly awful
PAUL SIMON-esque crooning before awkwardly segueing into spastic
art-punk fuckery and then back into terrible "parody" pop that
honestly takes my mind back to MOXY FRÜVOUS. Ouch. The sheer breadth
of styles and sound they pull off over the course an hour is certainly
nothing to sneeze at, and there's a definite DEVO-ish ear for oddball
hooks, but one gets the feeling that REAGAN'S POLYP made it to the
thirty album mark (!) with the help of some not-so-judicious editing.
There are moments here worth exploring, such as the synth warfare on
"Hello Alien", but few will have the energy to pan for gold in this
sea of mediocrity. (WB)
(Vetoxa)
SKAVEN – "Discography" LP
Compiling their self-titled 7" along with material from splits with
DYSTOPIA and STORMCROW, this LP gives us the entire recorded output of
the short-lived SKAVEN, who managed to leave a lasting impression on
the East Bay (and worldwide) crust scene in just a couple of years.
For those of you who are unfamiliar, SKAVEN did a fairly upbeat take
on the legacy of classic UK crust like HELLBASTARD and AXEGRINDER, but
with the decidedly 90’s vibe of contemporaries such as ELDOPA. Along
with a undeniable skill for writing catchy fucking songs, their two
bass/one guitar setup yielded a fairly idiosyncratic sound; just
listen to those bass leads at the end of "Reflective Skin" and you'll
know what I mean. A truly gorgeous lyric booklet collects some of the
most depressing sentiments you'll ever find in a punk record, but what
else would you expect from a band that shares members with ASUNDER?
Great liner notes too, including the story of how "a member of a
well-known Bay Area band" bit someone's ear off in a massive
crusty-versus-skinhead brawl. A top-notch remaster by Brad Boatright
and a whole slew of posters and inserts complete the package, making
this hands-down the definitive SKAVEN release, a must-grab for any
scumfuck worth their own filth. (WB)
(Skuld)
September 2014 – #376
Top Ten:
KLAXON-EP
ALERTA ROJA-Algo Esta Cambiando…… Y Muy Violentamente-LP
NAPRED U PROŠLOST-Komunizam-EP
CONTORTURE/AHNA-split EP
DEGENERATE-Destreation-CD
ELECTRIC FUNERAL-2xLP/SUFFER THE STORM-side of split
NIGHTFELL-CD
BLOODSTAINS ACROSS BUFFALO-comp
EU’S ARSE-EP + split/KONTAMINAT-EP
KRUEL/BLAZING EYE/ARGENTAVIS-live
CONTORTURE/AHNA – split EP
Handle with care, this is fuggin’ deadly. Göteborg’s CONTORTURE goes straight for the jugular with their raging feminist käng, expertly toeing the raw/melodic line that has come to define Swedish crust in the last decade. Lyrics revisit familiar themes of autonomy, rape culture, and watching those around you age out of punk, but with a personalistic approach, and the lead vocals remind me of Kate from SCHIFOSI in all the best ways. On the flip, leading Canadian powerviolence freex AHNA lays out two more doses of their noisey blackened filth, sounding yet again like they’ve managed to record in one of the lesser pits of hell. This is actually a lot less blast-centric than their older material, with crusty rhythms offsetting the murky metalloid gloom, and the opening sludge of “Living in Fear” channels the headbanging glory of BOLT THROWER to perfection. Already a serious contender for my favorite split of 2014, this is nothing short of mandatory for all you metalpunx. (WB)
(Neanderthal.Stench/What Is Making Us Sick/Active Rebellion/Into the Abyss)
DEGENERATE – "Destreation" CD
Now this one is a blast. Thirteen years and a few comp tracks into
their existence, Osaka's DEGENERATE have dropped this fifteen-song
mindbomb, a dazzling collection of Burning Spirits HC with seriously
old-school vibrations. Somewhere between a stripped-down PAINTBOX and
the rock-n-roll flair of TETSU ARRAY, this is about as close as I'd
ever want to get to calling a hardcore record uplifting, but there's
definitely a infectiously soaring quality to the whole thing. You
better believe that there's some sizzlingly wankadelic leads in there,
but you know what? They fucking pull it off. Really though, that
guitar player is a goddamned ace, and thankfully he chose punk over
the ZEPPELIN-esque hard rock band he was probably destined to play in.
Don't pose, DEGENERATE is the real deal in 2014!! (WB)
(Bronze Fist)
SON OF MAN – "Call of the Morning Star" EP
Alright people, you asked for more chugging "Holy Terror"-style
hardcore, and here's another dose, with a pretty neat black metal edge
to sweeten the deal. The latter definitely helps to avoid the monotony
that plagues so many bands in this niche, and lot of the more punk-y
riffs almost sound like 80s UK crust, but I still didn't find a ton to
get excited about here. The prettier and/or catchier guitar parts
definitely had me excited a couple of times, but they always seem to
resolve into the same bo-o-ring cheaty drum part. And I'm sorry, but I
can't get behind any hardcore band that's never played a live show.
Seriously, why? (WB)
(King of the Monsters)
SUFFERING MIND/GUANTANAMO PARTY PROGRAM – split EP
The ol' slow vs. fast band split trick: does it ever get old? Poland's
reigning grind heroes SUFFERING MIND tear their way through three
burners, touching on power violence, crust, ripping black metal and
good ol' fashioned hardcore crush, preserving the lineage of greats
like MASSGRAVE and ASSÜCK. Some of the best material that I've heard
from 'em, these guys really hit a groove a few years back and seem to
be more or less unstoppable at this point. GUANTANAMO PARTY PROGRAM
offer up their take on the whole TRAGEDY meets NEUROSIS thang, and
while that's generally one of my least-favorite microniches, they do a
better job than most, reminding me of a less indulgent LIGHTBEARER.
Could the split seven-inch be the saving grace of the whole post-metal
trend? A girl can dream… (WB)
(Back on Track/Caramba/Halo of Flies)
TORCH RUNNER - "Committed to the Ground" LP
A repress of the 2012 full-length from these North Carolina crushers,
Committed to the Ground stands near the apex of a certain type of
blasty dark hardcore. In all honesty, it makes perfect sense that
they've made the move to Southern Lord alongside DEAD IN THE DIRT et
al, and the kids who go nuts for FULL OF HELL will eat this right up.
While TORCH RUNNER still finds its center in ugly, ripping grind, they
expand that core to include some crusty chugs and more than a couple
forays into SABBATH-worthy sludge, making up for what they sometimes
lack in dynamics with a well-honed sense of rage. Relentless touring
has given this band a degree of precision and focus that really
carries over here, and fans of modern heavy hardcore are definitely
starting to take note. (WB)
(Southern Lord)
VIVISEKTIO – "Mausoleumi/Noitavaino" 45
Definitely a cool story here: after lingering in relative obscurity
since their 80s heyday, Finnish vets VIVISEKTIO reunited and went
right back at it, releasing the 1984 LP a few years ago and now this
new single. The sound here is mid-tempo, latter-day anarcho with
rolling drums, but it's a bass-heavy, meatier-than-average
interpretation with just a hint of Italian hardcore in the vocal
department. While "Mausoleumi" takes a plodding pace and could stand
to benefit from a bona fide hook, the b-side here is the real gem,
following a similar formula but adding cool guitar harmonics and
powerful, shouted dual vocals on the chorus. It's worth noting the
excellent cover art, which puts a new twist on the classic psychedelic
watercolor/Wicker Man/nuclear reactor formula. At the end of the day,
this is a damn fine record, and it's always rad to see a band pick up
after twenty-plus years without losing any of their energy or
creativity. (WB)
(Kämäset Levyt)
KLAXON-EP
ALERTA ROJA-Algo Esta Cambiando…… Y Muy Violentamente-LP
NAPRED U PROŠLOST-Komunizam-EP
CONTORTURE/AHNA-split EP
DEGENERATE-Destreation-CD
ELECTRIC FUNERAL-2xLP/SUFFER THE STORM-side of split
NIGHTFELL-CD
BLOODSTAINS ACROSS BUFFALO-comp
EU’S ARSE-EP + split/KONTAMINAT-EP
KRUEL/BLAZING EYE/ARGENTAVIS-live
CONTORTURE/AHNA – split EP
Handle with care, this is fuggin’ deadly. Göteborg’s CONTORTURE goes straight for the jugular with their raging feminist käng, expertly toeing the raw/melodic line that has come to define Swedish crust in the last decade. Lyrics revisit familiar themes of autonomy, rape culture, and watching those around you age out of punk, but with a personalistic approach, and the lead vocals remind me of Kate from SCHIFOSI in all the best ways. On the flip, leading Canadian powerviolence freex AHNA lays out two more doses of their noisey blackened filth, sounding yet again like they’ve managed to record in one of the lesser pits of hell. This is actually a lot less blast-centric than their older material, with crusty rhythms offsetting the murky metalloid gloom, and the opening sludge of “Living in Fear” channels the headbanging glory of BOLT THROWER to perfection. Already a serious contender for my favorite split of 2014, this is nothing short of mandatory for all you metalpunx. (WB)
(Neanderthal.Stench/What Is Making Us Sick/Active Rebellion/Into the Abyss)
DEGENERATE – "Destreation" CD
Now this one is a blast. Thirteen years and a few comp tracks into
their existence, Osaka's DEGENERATE have dropped this fifteen-song
mindbomb, a dazzling collection of Burning Spirits HC with seriously
old-school vibrations. Somewhere between a stripped-down PAINTBOX and
the rock-n-roll flair of TETSU ARRAY, this is about as close as I'd
ever want to get to calling a hardcore record uplifting, but there's
definitely a infectiously soaring quality to the whole thing. You
better believe that there's some sizzlingly wankadelic leads in there,
but you know what? They fucking pull it off. Really though, that
guitar player is a goddamned ace, and thankfully he chose punk over
the ZEPPELIN-esque hard rock band he was probably destined to play in.
Don't pose, DEGENERATE is the real deal in 2014!! (WB)
(Bronze Fist)
SON OF MAN – "Call of the Morning Star" EP
Alright people, you asked for more chugging "Holy Terror"-style
hardcore, and here's another dose, with a pretty neat black metal edge
to sweeten the deal. The latter definitely helps to avoid the monotony
that plagues so many bands in this niche, and lot of the more punk-y
riffs almost sound like 80s UK crust, but I still didn't find a ton to
get excited about here. The prettier and/or catchier guitar parts
definitely had me excited a couple of times, but they always seem to
resolve into the same bo-o-ring cheaty drum part. And I'm sorry, but I
can't get behind any hardcore band that's never played a live show.
Seriously, why? (WB)
(King of the Monsters)
SUFFERING MIND/GUANTANAMO PARTY PROGRAM – split EP
The ol' slow vs. fast band split trick: does it ever get old? Poland's
reigning grind heroes SUFFERING MIND tear their way through three
burners, touching on power violence, crust, ripping black metal and
good ol' fashioned hardcore crush, preserving the lineage of greats
like MASSGRAVE and ASSÜCK. Some of the best material that I've heard
from 'em, these guys really hit a groove a few years back and seem to
be more or less unstoppable at this point. GUANTANAMO PARTY PROGRAM
offer up their take on the whole TRAGEDY meets NEUROSIS thang, and
while that's generally one of my least-favorite microniches, they do a
better job than most, reminding me of a less indulgent LIGHTBEARER.
Could the split seven-inch be the saving grace of the whole post-metal
trend? A girl can dream… (WB)
(Back on Track/Caramba/Halo of Flies)
TORCH RUNNER - "Committed to the Ground" LP
A repress of the 2012 full-length from these North Carolina crushers,
Committed to the Ground stands near the apex of a certain type of
blasty dark hardcore. In all honesty, it makes perfect sense that
they've made the move to Southern Lord alongside DEAD IN THE DIRT et
al, and the kids who go nuts for FULL OF HELL will eat this right up.
While TORCH RUNNER still finds its center in ugly, ripping grind, they
expand that core to include some crusty chugs and more than a couple
forays into SABBATH-worthy sludge, making up for what they sometimes
lack in dynamics with a well-honed sense of rage. Relentless touring
has given this band a degree of precision and focus that really
carries over here, and fans of modern heavy hardcore are definitely
starting to take note. (WB)
(Southern Lord)
VIVISEKTIO – "Mausoleumi/Noitavaino" 45
Definitely a cool story here: after lingering in relative obscurity
since their 80s heyday, Finnish vets VIVISEKTIO reunited and went
right back at it, releasing the 1984 LP a few years ago and now this
new single. The sound here is mid-tempo, latter-day anarcho with
rolling drums, but it's a bass-heavy, meatier-than-average
interpretation with just a hint of Italian hardcore in the vocal
department. While "Mausoleumi" takes a plodding pace and could stand
to benefit from a bona fide hook, the b-side here is the real gem,
following a similar formula but adding cool guitar harmonics and
powerful, shouted dual vocals on the chorus. It's worth noting the
excellent cover art, which puts a new twist on the classic psychedelic
watercolor/Wicker Man/nuclear reactor formula. At the end of the day,
this is a damn fine record, and it's always rad to see a band pick up
after twenty-plus years without losing any of their energy or
creativity. (WB)
(Kämäset Levyt)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)