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)
Showing posts with label black metal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label black metal. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
Friday, January 2, 2015
May 2014 – #372
Top Ten:
BELLICOSE MINDS-The Buzz and Howl Sessions-10”
FUNERAL PARADE-LP
HEXIS-LP/RITUAL CONTROL-EP
KOMPLOTT-Sei Vivo, Sei Moro A Nessuno Importa-12”
DERROTA-LP/SUICIDAS-EP
SIMPLY SAUCER-45/THE SLIZZ-EP
SECRET PROSTITUTES-LP/ALERTA!-EP
RED MONKEY-How We Learned To Live Like a Bomb-LP
VASTUM/THE BODY/NEGATIVLAND-live
NOMAD/1984/STILLSUIT-live
HAYMAKER – "Let Them Rot" EP
A nasty little slice of hXc attack, Hamilton’s HAYMAKER bark and slam their way through four burly songs in about as many minutes on this, their umpteenth 7”. With personnel from CHOKEHOLD and LEFT FOR DEAD, you know this is going to be dark and aggressive, but everything here is honestly kinda generic compared to either of those pioneering acts. Lyrics about copdeath, poverty and hatred for fuckin’ society, man, round out a totally solid package that should impress fans of this label and new school hardcore in general. (WB)
(A389)
CONFLICT – "Live in London 2013" LP
For better or worse, this pretty much embodies every cliché for a live punk record: totally solid on its own terms, yet inessential for all but the most dedicated (or perhaps geographically isolated) fans of the militant anarcho-staple that is CONFLICT. The mix here is actually quite excellent, with great guitar tone, and the band was definitely on their game the night this was recorded, but even with all that I still can’t imagine ever wanting to put this on over the classic studio recordings. For a live set, there’s actually not much by way of banter, and aside from an introduction by Steve from LOST CHERREES, the only supplementary material we get is a CD reproduction of the LP. Make no mistake, CONFLICT is still a sight to see live—they ruled when I caught them in Hollywood in 2007, too bad RUBELLA BALLET had to cancel day of!—and anyone who caught Colin Jerwood’s comments on that police chopper that crashed in Glasgow last year knows they can still stir up a controversy with the best of them. Wait a sec, is that dude playing a five-string bass on the cover? Mind = blown. (WB)
(Antisociety)
CATHARSIS – "Light From A Dead Star I" 2xLP
Probably long-since sold out by the time you'll be reading this review, this is the first half of the four-LP discography reissue for the seminal ’90s anarchist hardcore band, representing their self-titled EP and the ever-so-epic first full-length Samsara. Having totally missed them in their heyday and never really having felt a connection to the music, I feel oddly positioned to review a band that means so much to so many. Personal taste aside, it’s obvious that CATHARSIS occupy a critical space in the lineage of modern hardcore punk, anticipating the emotive, melodic neocrust of the new millennium while retaining the East Coast metallic tuffness of their Holy Terror brethren INTEGRITY and RINGWORM. It's impossible to talk about CATHARSIS without mentioning its relationship to Crimethinc., of course, but I don't feel the need to dedicate any more ink to that often self-parodic organization/label/tendency/fun club, so I leave the reader to make what they will of said connection. Returning to the record at hand, the sheer abundance of monumental riffs on Samsara elevates things to whole other level from the first 7"—the lead that closes out 'Choose Your Heaven' stands out for me—but there’s also a good bit of filler to wade through on the way, and the more-than-occasional nod to Tom Morello grounds everything firmly in the late 90s (not necessarily a bad thing). With what feels like a thousand and one literary and philosophical allusions, haunted by the dual figures of St. Paul and Nietzsche's Zarathustra, this is bombastic anti-Christian agit-prop, with evocative lyrics and some truly stellar artwork that set it apart from the herd of imitators that followed. Following on their recent reunion, this reissue will be a godsend (get it?!?) for the dumpster-diving masses and anarcho-collecting élite alike…at least if you got your pre-order in on time. (WB)
(Crimethinc/Refuse)
HEXIS – Abalam" LP
I've been loving these Copenhagen-based black metal mindfucks ever since I reviewed their X 7" in these pages a few years back, so when I got my reviewer copy I decided to do this proper, waiting until sundown and lighting some Jesus candles to set the proper mood. As their first full-length, Abalam represents the pinnacle of the avant-meets-hardcore approach they've been honing for the past couple of years, an exhausting drag through twisted industrial dronescapes that never loses focus or a foreboding sense of nausea. Think somewhere between PORTAL, INFERNAL STRONGHOLD, and, I dunno, ORANSSI PAZUZU, yet nothing like any of them. As the perfect distillation of their earlier material, Abalam is a totally satisfying experience, but what I’m really curious to see is where they’re going to go from here. Speculation aside, I’m definitely excited to witness these demoniacs when they hit the U.S. this fall with PRIMITIVE MAN. (WB)
(Halo of Flies/Music Fear Satan)
BELLICOSE MINDS-The Buzz and Howl Sessions-10”
FUNERAL PARADE-LP
HEXIS-LP/RITUAL CONTROL-EP
KOMPLOTT-Sei Vivo, Sei Moro A Nessuno Importa-12”
DERROTA-LP/SUICIDAS-EP
SIMPLY SAUCER-45/THE SLIZZ-EP
SECRET PROSTITUTES-LP/ALERTA!-EP
RED MONKEY-How We Learned To Live Like a Bomb-LP
VASTUM/THE BODY/NEGATIVLAND-live
NOMAD/1984/STILLSUIT-live
HAYMAKER – "Let Them Rot" EP
A nasty little slice of hXc attack, Hamilton’s HAYMAKER bark and slam their way through four burly songs in about as many minutes on this, their umpteenth 7”. With personnel from CHOKEHOLD and LEFT FOR DEAD, you know this is going to be dark and aggressive, but everything here is honestly kinda generic compared to either of those pioneering acts. Lyrics about copdeath, poverty and hatred for fuckin’ society, man, round out a totally solid package that should impress fans of this label and new school hardcore in general. (WB)
(A389)
CONFLICT – "Live in London 2013" LP
For better or worse, this pretty much embodies every cliché for a live punk record: totally solid on its own terms, yet inessential for all but the most dedicated (or perhaps geographically isolated) fans of the militant anarcho-staple that is CONFLICT. The mix here is actually quite excellent, with great guitar tone, and the band was definitely on their game the night this was recorded, but even with all that I still can’t imagine ever wanting to put this on over the classic studio recordings. For a live set, there’s actually not much by way of banter, and aside from an introduction by Steve from LOST CHERREES, the only supplementary material we get is a CD reproduction of the LP. Make no mistake, CONFLICT is still a sight to see live—they ruled when I caught them in Hollywood in 2007, too bad RUBELLA BALLET had to cancel day of!—and anyone who caught Colin Jerwood’s comments on that police chopper that crashed in Glasgow last year knows they can still stir up a controversy with the best of them. Wait a sec, is that dude playing a five-string bass on the cover? Mind = blown. (WB)
(Antisociety)
CATHARSIS – "Light From A Dead Star I" 2xLP
Probably long-since sold out by the time you'll be reading this review, this is the first half of the four-LP discography reissue for the seminal ’90s anarchist hardcore band, representing their self-titled EP and the ever-so-epic first full-length Samsara. Having totally missed them in their heyday and never really having felt a connection to the music, I feel oddly positioned to review a band that means so much to so many. Personal taste aside, it’s obvious that CATHARSIS occupy a critical space in the lineage of modern hardcore punk, anticipating the emotive, melodic neocrust of the new millennium while retaining the East Coast metallic tuffness of their Holy Terror brethren INTEGRITY and RINGWORM. It's impossible to talk about CATHARSIS without mentioning its relationship to Crimethinc., of course, but I don't feel the need to dedicate any more ink to that often self-parodic organization/label/tendency/fun club, so I leave the reader to make what they will of said connection. Returning to the record at hand, the sheer abundance of monumental riffs on Samsara elevates things to whole other level from the first 7"—the lead that closes out 'Choose Your Heaven' stands out for me—but there’s also a good bit of filler to wade through on the way, and the more-than-occasional nod to Tom Morello grounds everything firmly in the late 90s (not necessarily a bad thing). With what feels like a thousand and one literary and philosophical allusions, haunted by the dual figures of St. Paul and Nietzsche's Zarathustra, this is bombastic anti-Christian agit-prop, with evocative lyrics and some truly stellar artwork that set it apart from the herd of imitators that followed. Following on their recent reunion, this reissue will be a godsend (get it?!?) for the dumpster-diving masses and anarcho-collecting élite alike…at least if you got your pre-order in on time. (WB)
(Crimethinc/Refuse)
HEXIS – Abalam" LP
I've been loving these Copenhagen-based black metal mindfucks ever since I reviewed their X 7" in these pages a few years back, so when I got my reviewer copy I decided to do this proper, waiting until sundown and lighting some Jesus candles to set the proper mood. As their first full-length, Abalam represents the pinnacle of the avant-meets-hardcore approach they've been honing for the past couple of years, an exhausting drag through twisted industrial dronescapes that never loses focus or a foreboding sense of nausea. Think somewhere between PORTAL, INFERNAL STRONGHOLD, and, I dunno, ORANSSI PAZUZU, yet nothing like any of them. As the perfect distillation of their earlier material, Abalam is a totally satisfying experience, but what I’m really curious to see is where they’re going to go from here. Speculation aside, I’m definitely excited to witness these demoniacs when they hit the U.S. this fall with PRIMITIVE MAN. (WB)
(Halo of Flies/Music Fear Satan)
Monday, November 18, 2013
September 2012 – #352
Top Ten:
MAUSER-EP+live
PASSIV DÖDSHJÄLP-Skit På Repeat-EP
ZYANOSE-LP+live
THE DICKS-Hate the Police-EP
AXEMAN-Arrive-LP
OEDE-One Man's Trash-EP
KROMOSOM-Paranoid-EP
V/A-More World, Less Bank Pt. 3-EP
WHITEHORSE-live
SIXBREWBANTHA-live
THE KILLER – OBEY NO ONE EP
This band is from Chicago and plays plodding, misanthropic hate mosh that fans of NAILS should eat right up. Some folks go goofy for the well-orchestrated hardcore call-out, but these guys pretty much lost me when the chugs cut out for a screamed “I am the champion!” halfway through side A. Still, nothing could prepare me for the same trick two minutes later, only this time offering “a toast/For those who hated life the most”. Yeah, that just happened. It's pretty hard to take seriously a record that spends this much time telling you how tough and dark it is, but the basic appeal of bands like NEGLECT and INTEGRITY is there for sure. Whatever, I’m spin-kicking my way out of this pit. At least they say they hate cops. (WB)
(Organized Crime)
AXEMAN – ARRIVE LP
Sprawling, idiosyncratic black/death metal insanity from LA's mind-numbingly prolific BLACK TWILIGHT CIRCLE, this is a vinyl repress of a tape originally released in 2010. Composed and performed almost entirely by VOLAHN (whose eponymous project is probably my personal favorite of the BTC bands), this is by far the most punk-sounding release to come out of the collective besides MATA MATA. Intended as unabashed early crust worship (most obviously of AMEBIX) and also drawing heavily from first-wave black metal like VENOM, AXEMAN melds the classic battle-crust aesthetic with the revolutionary, mystical use of Mesoamerican indigenous mythology that is central to the BLACK TWILIGHT program. The result is a thrashy take on the basic BTC style, with reverb-soaked production and washed-out guitars giving way to meaty mid-tempo parts and cosmic leads that can only be described as bonkers. It's a lot to take in, and those less inclined towards fuckin' metal might get lost when things get shreddy. Too bad, because the connoisseurs will tell that BLACK TWILIGHT (along with the related RHINOCERVS label) is making some of the best and most original black metal out there, and AXEMAN is no exception. Metalloid punkers and open-minded crusties will definitely want to get their hands on this. (WB)
(Darkest Heavy)
ROTE HEXE – RED WITCH LP
Doom metal is one of those genres that seems hopelessly overpopulated these days, but ROTE HEXE manage to carve out their own niche by mixing the southern sludge of bands like BUZZOV*EN with a distinctly post-NEUROSIS approach to doom. Even though they play wildly different genres of metal, the whole thing has a very BLACK BREATH vibe to it, with a spooky and sacrilegious tone throughout, and this band definitely sounds like they're aching to put something out on Southern Lord in the near future. Unfortunately, in the end this is an album with lots of hooks but not too many riffs, and it left me feeling a bit underwhelmed until the end, where the tempo picks up into some WEEDEATER territory that's a bit more fun than the slow stuff. The LP comes with a bonus flex, so that's pretty damn cool. (WB)
(Cricket Cemetery)
THE NAKED HEROES – DEMON THE WHISKEY DOWN LP
Ugh, why the fuck do people still make music like this? Lest the "sexy", retro-futuristic cleavage-bots on the cover confuse you, THE NAKED HEROES are nothing more than another tired 70s cock-rock clone, lacking even the slightest hint of originality or taste. The opening song – in which the singer enlightens us to the fact that he "don't want no ugly woman" – seems like it was written to gross people like me out, but having to hear the same goddamn song nine more times after that is what's truly offensive here. Even the comic book that comes with this record sucks. Ouch. (WB)
(Drug Front)
OEDE – ONE MAN’S TRASH EP
Some music is timeless, while other stuff is simply too weird to be of any particular era or scene. I really don’t know what to say here: delta blues, raw black metal and pulsing electronic soundscapes all figure into the bizarre concoction that is OEDE, and it fucking works. This is apparently a one-man act from Norway, but the record plays out like a bad acid trip through the Deep South that rivals THE GUN CLUB if only in sheer darkness. One might compare this to the "Crossroads" LP by France's brilliant DIAMETREGON, but OEDE have a style all their own, right down to the altered photographs of corpse painted and Baphomet-headed bluesmen on the cover art. I can only imagine where this band is going from here, but I want to follow. (WB)
(Holy Terror)
PASSIV DÖDSHJÄLP – SKIT PÅ REPEAT EP
Sick and brvtal metallic käng, this shit rips from the first note and never lets off. Not to be confused with AKTIV DÖDSHJÄLP (dödshjälp, in case you were wondering, means euthanasia in Swedish), PASSIV DÖDSHJÄLP provide a textbook demonstration of how to do modern d-beat/crust right, with dissonant, melancholic guitar work and vocals that project a powerful sense of desperation and foreboding. The driving drums and melodic, emotionally-charged songwriting can’t help but invite comparisons to the mature works of MARTYRDÖD, offset somewhat by the straight-ahead hardcore spirit of a band like TOTALITÄR. A must-listen for fans of the Swedish upper crust. (WB)
(Halvfabrikat / Total Punk)
NO MASTER – “BURNING SPIRIT” EP
The label on this seven-inch says "PLAY LOUDER", so I did. Good call. Kansas City's NO MASTER dish out quick blasts of raw, bass-heavy noise punk, sort of like what MAUSER might sound like if they'd turn down that damn treble knob. The tone and overall sinister feel are perfectly dialed in, of course, as are the nails-in-the-throat vocals, but what really takes this record to the next level is the insane abundance of hooks, which flow seamlessly into one another and make repeat listening a true pleasure. Breakdowns are few and far between, but always manage to add to the atmosphere, especially when they hint at the crust-metal vibe of bands like ACEPHALIX. For those of you who like your d-beat thick and oppressive, NO MASTER is sure to satisfy the craving. (WB)
(Self-released)
SUCKED DRY – EP
SUCKED DRY from Kansas City play a grimey form of USHC with a familiar progression of fast punk, blast beats and claustrophobic breakdowns along with several excellent opportunities for the well-refined floor punch. There's also a notable influence from classic powerviolence, with the utterly pissed off ghost of CROSSED OUT looming over the whole gnarly mess. The requisite smattering of tempo changes manages to keep things interesting, and the vocals give off a compelling sense of wierdo frustration throughout. Damned good stuff. (WB)
SHAVED WOMEN – S/T + LIVE @ APOP CD
A CD reissue of their extremely limited-run LP from 2011 along with a recent live cassette release, this release shows SHAVED WOMEN to be one of the more interesting bands in contemporary American hardcore. Very much in line with the art-kid NYHC revival currently being led by bands like HOAX, SHAVED WOMEN rely on killer vocals and inventive, varied guitar work to stand out from the crowd. The record kind of hangs out at a slow, deliberate pace, which just serves to make the uptempo cover of DIE KREUZEN's "Think Of Me" at the end of the LP feel that much more cathartic when it hits. Top this of with better-than-average lyrics and some truly fantastic original artwork and we're looking at a rad total package. I generally don't get the appeal of live recordings, especially for punk bands, but the utterly blown out sound on the second half of the CD helps to bring out the noizier tendencies implied on the studio tracks and actually made me want to come back again instead of skipping over them like I usually would. (WB)
(Ektro)
MAUSER-EP+live
PASSIV DÖDSHJÄLP-Skit På Repeat-EP
ZYANOSE-LP+live
THE DICKS-Hate the Police-EP
AXEMAN-Arrive-LP
OEDE-One Man's Trash-EP
KROMOSOM-Paranoid-EP
V/A-More World, Less Bank Pt. 3-EP
WHITEHORSE-live
SIXBREWBANTHA-live
THE KILLER – OBEY NO ONE EP
This band is from Chicago and plays plodding, misanthropic hate mosh that fans of NAILS should eat right up. Some folks go goofy for the well-orchestrated hardcore call-out, but these guys pretty much lost me when the chugs cut out for a screamed “I am the champion!” halfway through side A. Still, nothing could prepare me for the same trick two minutes later, only this time offering “a toast/For those who hated life the most”. Yeah, that just happened. It's pretty hard to take seriously a record that spends this much time telling you how tough and dark it is, but the basic appeal of bands like NEGLECT and INTEGRITY is there for sure. Whatever, I’m spin-kicking my way out of this pit. At least they say they hate cops. (WB)
(Organized Crime)
AXEMAN – ARRIVE LP
Sprawling, idiosyncratic black/death metal insanity from LA's mind-numbingly prolific BLACK TWILIGHT CIRCLE, this is a vinyl repress of a tape originally released in 2010. Composed and performed almost entirely by VOLAHN (whose eponymous project is probably my personal favorite of the BTC bands), this is by far the most punk-sounding release to come out of the collective besides MATA MATA. Intended as unabashed early crust worship (most obviously of AMEBIX) and also drawing heavily from first-wave black metal like VENOM, AXEMAN melds the classic battle-crust aesthetic with the revolutionary, mystical use of Mesoamerican indigenous mythology that is central to the BLACK TWILIGHT program. The result is a thrashy take on the basic BTC style, with reverb-soaked production and washed-out guitars giving way to meaty mid-tempo parts and cosmic leads that can only be described as bonkers. It's a lot to take in, and those less inclined towards fuckin' metal might get lost when things get shreddy. Too bad, because the connoisseurs will tell that BLACK TWILIGHT (along with the related RHINOCERVS label) is making some of the best and most original black metal out there, and AXEMAN is no exception. Metalloid punkers and open-minded crusties will definitely want to get their hands on this. (WB)
(Darkest Heavy)
ROTE HEXE – RED WITCH LP
Doom metal is one of those genres that seems hopelessly overpopulated these days, but ROTE HEXE manage to carve out their own niche by mixing the southern sludge of bands like BUZZOV*EN with a distinctly post-NEUROSIS approach to doom. Even though they play wildly different genres of metal, the whole thing has a very BLACK BREATH vibe to it, with a spooky and sacrilegious tone throughout, and this band definitely sounds like they're aching to put something out on Southern Lord in the near future. Unfortunately, in the end this is an album with lots of hooks but not too many riffs, and it left me feeling a bit underwhelmed until the end, where the tempo picks up into some WEEDEATER territory that's a bit more fun than the slow stuff. The LP comes with a bonus flex, so that's pretty damn cool. (WB)
(Cricket Cemetery)
THE NAKED HEROES – DEMON THE WHISKEY DOWN LP
Ugh, why the fuck do people still make music like this? Lest the "sexy", retro-futuristic cleavage-bots on the cover confuse you, THE NAKED HEROES are nothing more than another tired 70s cock-rock clone, lacking even the slightest hint of originality or taste. The opening song – in which the singer enlightens us to the fact that he "don't want no ugly woman" – seems like it was written to gross people like me out, but having to hear the same goddamn song nine more times after that is what's truly offensive here. Even the comic book that comes with this record sucks. Ouch. (WB)
(Drug Front)
OEDE – ONE MAN’S TRASH EP
Some music is timeless, while other stuff is simply too weird to be of any particular era or scene. I really don’t know what to say here: delta blues, raw black metal and pulsing electronic soundscapes all figure into the bizarre concoction that is OEDE, and it fucking works. This is apparently a one-man act from Norway, but the record plays out like a bad acid trip through the Deep South that rivals THE GUN CLUB if only in sheer darkness. One might compare this to the "Crossroads" LP by France's brilliant DIAMETREGON, but OEDE have a style all their own, right down to the altered photographs of corpse painted and Baphomet-headed bluesmen on the cover art. I can only imagine where this band is going from here, but I want to follow. (WB)
(Holy Terror)
PASSIV DÖDSHJÄLP – SKIT PÅ REPEAT EP
Sick and brvtal metallic käng, this shit rips from the first note and never lets off. Not to be confused with AKTIV DÖDSHJÄLP (dödshjälp, in case you were wondering, means euthanasia in Swedish), PASSIV DÖDSHJÄLP provide a textbook demonstration of how to do modern d-beat/crust right, with dissonant, melancholic guitar work and vocals that project a powerful sense of desperation and foreboding. The driving drums and melodic, emotionally-charged songwriting can’t help but invite comparisons to the mature works of MARTYRDÖD, offset somewhat by the straight-ahead hardcore spirit of a band like TOTALITÄR. A must-listen for fans of the Swedish upper crust. (WB)
(Halvfabrikat / Total Punk)
NO MASTER – “BURNING SPIRIT” EP
The label on this seven-inch says "PLAY LOUDER", so I did. Good call. Kansas City's NO MASTER dish out quick blasts of raw, bass-heavy noise punk, sort of like what MAUSER might sound like if they'd turn down that damn treble knob. The tone and overall sinister feel are perfectly dialed in, of course, as are the nails-in-the-throat vocals, but what really takes this record to the next level is the insane abundance of hooks, which flow seamlessly into one another and make repeat listening a true pleasure. Breakdowns are few and far between, but always manage to add to the atmosphere, especially when they hint at the crust-metal vibe of bands like ACEPHALIX. For those of you who like your d-beat thick and oppressive, NO MASTER is sure to satisfy the craving. (WB)
(Self-released)
SUCKED DRY – EP
SUCKED DRY from Kansas City play a grimey form of USHC with a familiar progression of fast punk, blast beats and claustrophobic breakdowns along with several excellent opportunities for the well-refined floor punch. There's also a notable influence from classic powerviolence, with the utterly pissed off ghost of CROSSED OUT looming over the whole gnarly mess. The requisite smattering of tempo changes manages to keep things interesting, and the vocals give off a compelling sense of wierdo frustration throughout. Damned good stuff. (WB)
SHAVED WOMEN – S/T + LIVE @ APOP CD
A CD reissue of their extremely limited-run LP from 2011 along with a recent live cassette release, this release shows SHAVED WOMEN to be one of the more interesting bands in contemporary American hardcore. Very much in line with the art-kid NYHC revival currently being led by bands like HOAX, SHAVED WOMEN rely on killer vocals and inventive, varied guitar work to stand out from the crowd. The record kind of hangs out at a slow, deliberate pace, which just serves to make the uptempo cover of DIE KREUZEN's "Think Of Me" at the end of the LP feel that much more cathartic when it hits. Top this of with better-than-average lyrics and some truly fantastic original artwork and we're looking at a rad total package. I generally don't get the appeal of live recordings, especially for punk bands, but the utterly blown out sound on the second half of the CD helps to bring out the noizier tendencies implied on the studio tracks and actually made me want to come back again instead of skipping over them like I usually would. (WB)
(Ektro)
May 2012 – #348
UNHOLY MAJESTY – “Age of Affliction” EP
With a distinct INTEGRITY/"Holy Terror" influence reflected in
chugging guitars and over-the-top lyrical posturing, UNHOLY MAJESTY
from the UK provide yet another entry in the hopelessly oversaturated
world of dark-ish hardcore that's really blown up in the last few
years. Unfortunately, good mixing and solid musicianship don't amount
to squat when the riffs amount to rehashed 80s thrash metal, only way
slower, like if you got too stoned and accidentally listened to a
MEGADETH 45 at 33 RPM. This is the kind of band that credits which
member performed each guitar solo, and yes, those solos are fucking
atrocious: predictable, noodling wankfests that sound like they were
lifted from every bad classic rock song you could possibly think of.
You almost have to love a band that could produce such cheezy shlock
while maintaining such a level of pretense as to self-identify in
their liner notes as “a psychological projection of your own
identity”…almost. (WB)
(A389)
HOST – “There’s Nothing Up There But Heavy Clouds” EP
New Hampshire's HOST offer up a short but brilliant dose of crushing,
pissed-off hardcore here, touching on the brutal, off-time fast/slow
of powerviolence without ever really getting blasty with it. Throwing
together fun-as-fuck mosh parts, galloping crust beats, and the
occasional gang vocal for good measure, HOST take their rightful place
alongside bands like DRAIZE, OILTANKER and VACCINE as part of the
vibrant New England hardcore scene currently destroying all posers.
Each song is wisely kept under under the two-minute mark, presumably
to keep the members from having a rage-induced aneurysm. (WB)
(Cricket Cemetery)
YOUNG AND IN THE WAY – “Amen/I Am Not What I Am” 2xLP
Baroque, harsh, and unabashedly esoteric shit, whoa. YAITW are from
North Carolina and produce black metal-laced crust with a solid
grounding in angry East Coast hardcore. This release is a compilation
of two albums, one on vinyl for the first time and the other
previously self-released by the band. First, 2010's Amen, which
oscillates between bludgeoning hardcore and slow, claustrophobic
breakdowns; the far-slower B-side of Amen, which plays out like an
extended dirge worthy of THOU, was actually my favorite part of the
record. Fast forward a year later to I Am Not What I Am and we find
YAITW upping both the speed and majesty factor exponentially, the
latter to the point of opening the album with several minutes of opera
singing sampled over creeping tremolo riffs, somewhat like a filthier
MORNE. The black metal influence goes beyond mere blast beats, with
horror movie keyboards and dreamy, symphonic passages constantly
cropping up to give the whole thing a delightfully demented feel. No
doubt, this is a project that aims high, but there's nothing better
than seeing something like this that's actual able to deliver on its
promises. Yeah, this is totally great. (WB)
(A389)
LE DEAD PROJET – “Keep on Living” LP
Epic screamo/neocrust by way of Paris, LE DEAD PROJET play an
atmospheric brand of hardcore that instantly reminded me of the German
powerhouse ZORN, with a focus on melody and vocal leads that's
decidedly post-something. Wailing guitars and a dynamic, at times
chaotic approach to songwriting puts this in the realm of Euro-crust
torchbearers ALPINIST, but with a slower, more deliberate feel that
fits the raw, heartfelt lyrical delivery well. There are times when
this record drags – an inevitability for me since the band never
really makes it out of mid-tempo – but LE DEAD PROJET manage to cover
a wide range of sonic territory while maintaining an overall coherence
that keeps things engaging. When the band does hit its mark, they
achieve some of the more compelling moments I've heard in this style.
(WB)
(Dingleberry)
HEXIS – “X" EP
Relentless, maddeningly bleak stuff. This mysterious outfit from
Copenhagen specializes in an incredibly dense form of black metal that
displays both avant-garde leanings and a decided hardcore/crust
influence. Like similarly-minded contemporaries ELITIST and THE
SECRET, HEXIS masterfully strike a balance between memorable riffs and
sheer sonic intensity, with jaw-dropping, almost industrial drum
blasts that blur together to create a massive, pummeling drone. The
one-sided seven-inch is quite possibly the most annoying (vinyl)
format in existence, but this band manages to pack more mood and
compositional wizardry into a few minutes than a lot of bands achieve
in entire LPs, so perhaps that can be forgiven here. The perfect
soundtrack for an anxiety attack, I fucking love this. (WB)
(IFB/Maximum Douglas/Orchid Scent/Parade of Spectres/Panda Banda)
With a distinct INTEGRITY/"Holy Terror" influence reflected in
chugging guitars and over-the-top lyrical posturing, UNHOLY MAJESTY
from the UK provide yet another entry in the hopelessly oversaturated
world of dark-ish hardcore that's really blown up in the last few
years. Unfortunately, good mixing and solid musicianship don't amount
to squat when the riffs amount to rehashed 80s thrash metal, only way
slower, like if you got too stoned and accidentally listened to a
MEGADETH 45 at 33 RPM. This is the kind of band that credits which
member performed each guitar solo, and yes, those solos are fucking
atrocious: predictable, noodling wankfests that sound like they were
lifted from every bad classic rock song you could possibly think of.
You almost have to love a band that could produce such cheezy shlock
while maintaining such a level of pretense as to self-identify in
their liner notes as “a psychological projection of your own
identity”…almost. (WB)
(A389)
HOST – “There’s Nothing Up There But Heavy Clouds” EP
New Hampshire's HOST offer up a short but brilliant dose of crushing,
pissed-off hardcore here, touching on the brutal, off-time fast/slow
of powerviolence without ever really getting blasty with it. Throwing
together fun-as-fuck mosh parts, galloping crust beats, and the
occasional gang vocal for good measure, HOST take their rightful place
alongside bands like DRAIZE, OILTANKER and VACCINE as part of the
vibrant New England hardcore scene currently destroying all posers.
Each song is wisely kept under under the two-minute mark, presumably
to keep the members from having a rage-induced aneurysm. (WB)
(Cricket Cemetery)
YOUNG AND IN THE WAY – “Amen/I Am Not What I Am” 2xLP
Baroque, harsh, and unabashedly esoteric shit, whoa. YAITW are from
North Carolina and produce black metal-laced crust with a solid
grounding in angry East Coast hardcore. This release is a compilation
of two albums, one on vinyl for the first time and the other
previously self-released by the band. First, 2010's Amen, which
oscillates between bludgeoning hardcore and slow, claustrophobic
breakdowns; the far-slower B-side of Amen, which plays out like an
extended dirge worthy of THOU, was actually my favorite part of the
record. Fast forward a year later to I Am Not What I Am and we find
YAITW upping both the speed and majesty factor exponentially, the
latter to the point of opening the album with several minutes of opera
singing sampled over creeping tremolo riffs, somewhat like a filthier
MORNE. The black metal influence goes beyond mere blast beats, with
horror movie keyboards and dreamy, symphonic passages constantly
cropping up to give the whole thing a delightfully demented feel. No
doubt, this is a project that aims high, but there's nothing better
than seeing something like this that's actual able to deliver on its
promises. Yeah, this is totally great. (WB)
(A389)
LE DEAD PROJET – “Keep on Living” LP
Epic screamo/neocrust by way of Paris, LE DEAD PROJET play an
atmospheric brand of hardcore that instantly reminded me of the German
powerhouse ZORN, with a focus on melody and vocal leads that's
decidedly post-something. Wailing guitars and a dynamic, at times
chaotic approach to songwriting puts this in the realm of Euro-crust
torchbearers ALPINIST, but with a slower, more deliberate feel that
fits the raw, heartfelt lyrical delivery well. There are times when
this record drags – an inevitability for me since the band never
really makes it out of mid-tempo – but LE DEAD PROJET manage to cover
a wide range of sonic territory while maintaining an overall coherence
that keeps things engaging. When the band does hit its mark, they
achieve some of the more compelling moments I've heard in this style.
(WB)
(Dingleberry)
HEXIS – “X" EP
Relentless, maddeningly bleak stuff. This mysterious outfit from
Copenhagen specializes in an incredibly dense form of black metal that
displays both avant-garde leanings and a decided hardcore/crust
influence. Like similarly-minded contemporaries ELITIST and THE
SECRET, HEXIS masterfully strike a balance between memorable riffs and
sheer sonic intensity, with jaw-dropping, almost industrial drum
blasts that blur together to create a massive, pummeling drone. The
one-sided seven-inch is quite possibly the most annoying (vinyl)
format in existence, but this band manages to pack more mood and
compositional wizardry into a few minutes than a lot of bands achieve
in entire LPs, so perhaps that can be forgiven here. The perfect
soundtrack for an anxiety attack, I fucking love this. (WB)
(IFB/Maximum Douglas/Orchid Scent/Parade of Spectres/Panda Banda)
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