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 dark hardcore (barf). Show all posts
Showing posts with label dark hardcore (barf). Show all posts
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
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)
Saturday, January 3, 2015
July 2014 – #374
Top Ten:
GOOD THROB-Fuck Off-LP
PRIMATE RESEARCH-Final-EP
RADIOACTIVITY-LP/DISTURD-45
GAS RAG-Beats Off-LP
AHNA/CETASCEAN-split LP/OSK-10"
CONFRONT-LP/LUBRICANTS-45
ELSINORES-Dreams of Youth-LP
'O' LEVEL-Pseudo Punk-LP
ZYANOSE/FRENZY/ABSOLUT/ZANNA NERA-live
HIGH FUNCTIONING FLESH/CRIMSON SCARLET-live
GENTLE ART OF CHOKIN/RESURRECTIONISTS – split LP
Two sides of first-rate Euro-style emoviolence, this is a must-have
for fans of modern-day heavies like SVFFER and LENTIC WATERS. I beg
the reader to see past GENTLE ART OF CHOKIN’s terrible name (I guess
it’s a reference to some fancy gold plates you can buy on TV or
something?) in order to see that they’re making some seriously fierce
grind/screamo/crust, ending up sounding somewhat like German
hardcore’s answer to CLOUD RAT and SIXBREWBANTHA. RESURRECTIONISTS
bring their own mathy take on a comparable sound, trading in some of
the manic overstimulation of the flipside for a focus on precision and
to-the-gut hardcore. Not a wasted note on either side, just firm,
efficient grind for the brutal kids. (WB)
(IFB / React with Protest / Moment of Collapse)
ROBOCOP/DETROIT – split LP
This is a repress of the 2012 split between two newer bands making
waves in the North American power violence scene, titled Dead
Language, Foreign Bodies. ROBOCOP stay true to genre form with a
chunky take on the traditional hardcore blasting, adding some
intelligence to the lyrics that I can't say I expected from a grind
band named ROBOCOP. They veer a little too far into metallic hXc for
my taste at times, and that major-scale riff on "Room 641A" kinda hurt
my soul, but they also manage to pull off a pretty sweet sax solo on
the tongue-in-cheek "Feminism Über Alles", and I really liked the,
ahem, experimental pastiche "Zapruder Frame 265." DETROIT take a far
more shit-fi approach to the whole thing, fusing punishing-yet-thin
breakdowns with blurry fastcore and some straight-up punk beats in
there for good measure. The vocals sound desperate and pained in the
best way, adding a slightly screamotional appeal, and they even
stretch into under-two-minute melodic epicness on "Into You". Hearing
this split is making me nostalgic for Squamish's infamous Fastcore
Fest, maybe I'll have to head up there again this year… (WB)
(Give Praise)
PROSPERITY DENIED/SIX SCORE – split LP
A dual slice of metallic hardcore rage from Austria, these bands take
different approaches yet fit together quite well. Wien’s SIX SCORE
blast through eleven tracks of grinding dark hardcore, adding samples
and a nice touch of death metal to the proceedings along with the
requisite double-kick d-beat. If you can hang with the metallic side
of grind you’ll find a lot to like here, although I found the vocals
and overall production to be kind of a grating after a few songs. They
definitely lost me with some of the moshcore breakdowns on the second
half, oof. Speaking of death metal and dubious mosh parts, PROSPERITY
DENIED from Mödling get points for naming a song “Fermented Grapes of
Wrath”, but a more punk XIBALBA is just not something I’ve been
looking for. Why anyone would want to use a PARLIAMENT bass-synth on a
metal record is beyond me, and the DANZIG-goes-melodic-hardcore
experiment on the closing track? No, thanks. (WB)
(Bloody Lips)
WAKE/REHASHED – split EP
Where the goofy meets the grind. REHASHED hail from Saskatoon,
layering their fun, throwbacky palm-muted hardcore with a whole mess
of thrash leads, unconcerned with who they make giggle in the process.
To be fair, these guys are about as tight as it gets, and definitely
know how to shred, even if they haven't made the crucial realization
that it doesn't always actually make the songs good. Calgary's WAKE go
through the usual grindcore motions, but in the absence of any
dynamics, tasty riffs or interesting vocals it gets pretty monotonous
pretty fast (no pun intended). Completists will no doubt want to hear
this for themselves, but for the rest of us this is honestly a pretty
inessential offering. (WB)
(Give Praise)
CLOUD RAT/ORGULLO PRIMITIVO – split EP
If you haven't heard Michigan's CLOUD RAT by now, I don't know what to
tell you; this is probably the fourth or fifth time I've written about
them in these pages, and they've been consistently putting out some of
the most compelling grind and atmospheric black metal-infused hardcore
to come out in years. The material here builds on the massive Moksha
LP, with a harsh, crisp production that gets downright beautiful at a
moment's notice, only to drop back into a smothering whirlwind of
blasts. The slower parts on "Skin Flowers" make their recently outing
with THOU make a whole lot more sense, but CLOUD RAT are nothing if
not a band that refuses easy comparisons. The flipside by ORGULLO
PRIMITIVO ("Primitive Orgasm") is a out-and-out experimental fuckfest,
moving as seamlessly as one could possibly hope between spastic bursts
of multi-voice spoken word poetry, solos for drum and vibraphone (!),
and some seriously creepy drum-and-vox "black metal". Zoinks! (WB)
(IFB)
PRIMATE RESEARCH – "Final" EP
Man, it's been a minute since I heard an American band that went for
the early 2000s neocrust thing and just fucking nailed it. No skramz,
no post-rock buildup yawn fests, just siqq'n'brutal d-beat-centric
punk played with intelligent fury and an unquestionable influence from
the scene that produced DEATHREAT and HIS HERO IS GONE. A power
violence element reveals itself a few tracks in, adding some extra
speed along with a sharp-yet-primal sense of dynamics. Personnel from
COMBATWOUNDEDVETERAN and HOLY MOUNTAIN make the success of this
Tampa-based unit a no-brainer, and if you need any more convincing,
they also manange a fucking great take on DISRUPT's "Squandered" with
the singer from SACRIDOSE. (WB)
(Financial Ruin/All We Know)
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)
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
January 2014 – #368
Top Ten:
HARD SKIN-live
LANDVERAAD-live
DESTRUKT-live
BACCHUS-live
VITRIOLIC RESPONSE-live
RUINED FAMILIES-live
CIORAN-live
INSTINCT OF SURVIVAL-live
WARPATH-live
DEAD RAMONES-live
BESTHÖVEN/FINAL SLUM WAR – split LP
In DISCHARGE worship as in life, some things never change. Thankfully, BESTHÖVEN is one of them. Twenty-three years into staking their claim as the world’s greatest (and most prolific) one-man D-beat band, this split finds Fofäo in top form, bringing us six new tracks—including a FORÇA MACABRA cover—of his huff 'n stumble brand of brilliantly inept noize. As usual, the production is paper-thin and bass-heavy, and of course there's nothing 'shredding' or 'technical' about the guitar solos—they just fucking rip, ok? Those seeking a crash course in how to write anthemic shit-fi need look no further than 'This World is Dying'; seriously, I think I might never get that chorus out of my head. On the flip we have Barcelona's FINAL SLUM WAR playing some charging raw punk with an obvious debt to South American hardcore. While their songs tend to blur together a bit more, there's a buzzing metallic edge to the guitar tone that I really dug, and the vocals are satisfyingly dark with nice touch of cavernous 'verb. All in all, a great split, recommended without hesitation. (WB) (Rawmantic Disasters/Nuclear Fear/Imminent Destruction)
FALTER – "Descent" EP
Angry, oft-chugging brutal hardcore from Milwaukee, FALTER cover a lot of ground in this ten-minute slab of bad feelings, hinting at a crusty atmosphere without actually going too far down that rabbit hole. While it’s mostly aggression and straight-up grime, the pretty, downtempo breakdowns were actually the highlight for me. Starting the second side of the 7” with one? Genius. Dark ‘core kids in the FULL OF HELL/SEVEN SISTERS OF SLEEP camp should definitely check this out, but to be honest I’ll probably just wait ‘til they start a doom band a few years from now. (WB) (Reality is a Cult)
GERANIÜM – LP
A repress of a record that was criminally overlooked (at least in the U.S.) in 2012, this is massive, sometimes gorgeous screamo/crust of the highest order. GERANIÜM hail from France and deliver a tense, deliberate take on the neocrust sound, coming off like a more fragile AGE OF COLLAPSE. Along with a plentiful trove of great crescendos and raging D-beat breaks, the vocals are a critical component, supremely raw and with a serious sense of passion and pain—worked for EKKAIA and it works here. Every time you think you’ve figured out what they’re up to, there’s a new element that’s just as gripping as what came before it, and the riffs feel instantly familiar in a way that let’s you know this is a record to remember. So many bands collapse under the weight of their ‘epic’ intentions, but GERANIÜM know how to make every note count, and there’s a immediacy throughout that few in this style are able to pull off. I need to get my hands on the split they just put out with FINISTERRE, damn. (WB) (Dingleberry/Dream Comes True/Up The Punx/Lubic/Contraszt!/Emergence/Tanker/Subversive Ways)
KRATZER/KVAZAR – split LP
A Greco-German collaboration twice over (one band and one label representing each country), fans of modern blasting hardcore should definitely give this one a shot. Thesaloniki's KVAZAR definitely own the split for me, solidly crusty grind that manages to sounds nasty while incorporating some melodic elements that give the songs a sense of depth and variety. KRATZER start on a similar note—though the focus here is more on dark hardcore than pure grind—and I definitely enjoyed the first few songs, but as their side progresses things go in a more shimmery post-metal direction that left me cold. Oh well. I guess this is KVAZAR's final release, apparently they've been broken up since 2010! Damn, guys, I hardly knew ye. (WB) (Blastbeat/7 Degrees)
LAVATCH – "Mental Deterioration" CD
A lot of bad decisions went into this one, oof. This group of angst-ridden souls from Cologne waver between melodic hardcore and tuff metalcore breakdowns with way, waytoo many crab vibes, throwing in the occasional spacey part for good measure. A lot of the more upbeat sections are honestly just pop-punk with mismatched screams laid over them, and really the whole thing just feels too clean for it's own good. There's no denying the sincerity of LAVATCH's intentions, and every once in a while a riff will pop up that's pretty damn awesome, but the world of polished hXc this represents means nothing to me. (WB) (Mudcore)
V/A – "Monomaniac, Vol. 1" EP
The concept is simple: throw together a bunch of today’s illest fast bands and have them each contribute a song (or three) in the minute-ish range. There’s some serious heavy-hitters on this 7”—THEDOWNGOING (Australia), SETE STAR SEPT (Japan) and DETROIT (Canada, confusingly) give an idea of the international intention here—and whole thing feels coherent despite the wide range of grind and black/death metal sounds it encompasses. Never thought I’d see CLOUD RAT and DIOCLETIAN on the same record, that’s awesome. I’m generally pretty compilation-skeptical—especially in the oversaturated world of latter-day grindcore—but this is just a great record from start to finish, with zero throwaway material and more than a few new bands I’m stoked to have discovered. There’s more to come, apparently, so keep eyes peeled in the future. (Blastbeat)
HARD SKIN-live
LANDVERAAD-live
DESTRUKT-live
BACCHUS-live
VITRIOLIC RESPONSE-live
RUINED FAMILIES-live
CIORAN-live
INSTINCT OF SURVIVAL-live
WARPATH-live
DEAD RAMONES-live
BESTHÖVEN/FINAL SLUM WAR – split LP
In DISCHARGE worship as in life, some things never change. Thankfully, BESTHÖVEN is one of them. Twenty-three years into staking their claim as the world’s greatest (and most prolific) one-man D-beat band, this split finds Fofäo in top form, bringing us six new tracks—including a FORÇA MACABRA cover—of his huff 'n stumble brand of brilliantly inept noize. As usual, the production is paper-thin and bass-heavy, and of course there's nothing 'shredding' or 'technical' about the guitar solos—they just fucking rip, ok? Those seeking a crash course in how to write anthemic shit-fi need look no further than 'This World is Dying'; seriously, I think I might never get that chorus out of my head. On the flip we have Barcelona's FINAL SLUM WAR playing some charging raw punk with an obvious debt to South American hardcore. While their songs tend to blur together a bit more, there's a buzzing metallic edge to the guitar tone that I really dug, and the vocals are satisfyingly dark with nice touch of cavernous 'verb. All in all, a great split, recommended without hesitation. (WB) (Rawmantic Disasters/Nuclear Fear/Imminent Destruction)
FALTER – "Descent" EP
Angry, oft-chugging brutal hardcore from Milwaukee, FALTER cover a lot of ground in this ten-minute slab of bad feelings, hinting at a crusty atmosphere without actually going too far down that rabbit hole. While it’s mostly aggression and straight-up grime, the pretty, downtempo breakdowns were actually the highlight for me. Starting the second side of the 7” with one? Genius. Dark ‘core kids in the FULL OF HELL/SEVEN SISTERS OF SLEEP camp should definitely check this out, but to be honest I’ll probably just wait ‘til they start a doom band a few years from now. (WB) (Reality is a Cult)
GERANIÜM – LP
A repress of a record that was criminally overlooked (at least in the U.S.) in 2012, this is massive, sometimes gorgeous screamo/crust of the highest order. GERANIÜM hail from France and deliver a tense, deliberate take on the neocrust sound, coming off like a more fragile AGE OF COLLAPSE. Along with a plentiful trove of great crescendos and raging D-beat breaks, the vocals are a critical component, supremely raw and with a serious sense of passion and pain—worked for EKKAIA and it works here. Every time you think you’ve figured out what they’re up to, there’s a new element that’s just as gripping as what came before it, and the riffs feel instantly familiar in a way that let’s you know this is a record to remember. So many bands collapse under the weight of their ‘epic’ intentions, but GERANIÜM know how to make every note count, and there’s a immediacy throughout that few in this style are able to pull off. I need to get my hands on the split they just put out with FINISTERRE, damn. (WB) (Dingleberry/Dream Comes True/Up The Punx/Lubic/Contraszt!/Emergence/Tanker/Subversive Ways)
KRATZER/KVAZAR – split LP
A Greco-German collaboration twice over (one band and one label representing each country), fans of modern blasting hardcore should definitely give this one a shot. Thesaloniki's KVAZAR definitely own the split for me, solidly crusty grind that manages to sounds nasty while incorporating some melodic elements that give the songs a sense of depth and variety. KRATZER start on a similar note—though the focus here is more on dark hardcore than pure grind—and I definitely enjoyed the first few songs, but as their side progresses things go in a more shimmery post-metal direction that left me cold. Oh well. I guess this is KVAZAR's final release, apparently they've been broken up since 2010! Damn, guys, I hardly knew ye. (WB) (Blastbeat/7 Degrees)
LAVATCH – "Mental Deterioration" CD
A lot of bad decisions went into this one, oof. This group of angst-ridden souls from Cologne waver between melodic hardcore and tuff metalcore breakdowns with way, waytoo many crab vibes, throwing in the occasional spacey part for good measure. A lot of the more upbeat sections are honestly just pop-punk with mismatched screams laid over them, and really the whole thing just feels too clean for it's own good. There's no denying the sincerity of LAVATCH's intentions, and every once in a while a riff will pop up that's pretty damn awesome, but the world of polished hXc this represents means nothing to me. (WB) (Mudcore)
V/A – "Monomaniac, Vol. 1" EP
The concept is simple: throw together a bunch of today’s illest fast bands and have them each contribute a song (or three) in the minute-ish range. There’s some serious heavy-hitters on this 7”—THEDOWNGOING (Australia), SETE STAR SEPT (Japan) and DETROIT (Canada, confusingly) give an idea of the international intention here—and whole thing feels coherent despite the wide range of grind and black/death metal sounds it encompasses. Never thought I’d see CLOUD RAT and DIOCLETIAN on the same record, that’s awesome. I’m generally pretty compilation-skeptical—especially in the oversaturated world of latter-day grindcore—but this is just a great record from start to finish, with zero throwaway material and more than a few new bands I’m stoked to have discovered. There’s more to come, apparently, so keep eyes peeled in the future. (Blastbeat)
Monday, November 18, 2013
October 2012 – #353
Top Ten:
GOUM – NOISESAP CD
Some truly strange and progressive female-fronted hardcore punk from Japan, this took me a little while to warm up to but now I must admit I'm quite into it. This very modern-sounding album has a definite 'everything and the kitchen sink' approach, bouncing between stoney FLOWER TRAVELLIN' BAND worship, rock'n'roll-y hardcore, and even some very 90s dream pop/shoegaze without feeling incoherent and/or watered-down as genre-hopping experiments so often do. Certain parts could be compared to the poppy side of BORIS, and the final instrumental 'Still You Say It's Safe?' is one such high point, doing the post-metal thing better than 97% of the bands in that safest of heavy genres. While the lyrics for 'Rotten Apple' are undeniably sketchy ("Those women that desire to be treated equally to men easily get carried away/Selfish-cunts taking advantage of their feminity"), the broader context makes it unclear if they're intended as dark satire or merely reactionary anti-feminism. One thing is for sure, this album isn't about easy answers. I for one can't quite get it out of my mind. (WB)
(Narm Discos)
MALATESTA - ABWESEND EP
Hailing from Munich and named for a 19th-century champion of insurrectionary anarchism, MALATESTA specialize in brooding melodic crust with the occasional hint of metal. Not all that gritty for a crust record, the combination of epic d-beats, forceful chugging and melancholic guitar work here recalls bands like ÖROKU minus the cello, while the obscure, washed out production adds several layers of screamotional depth. The vocal range on this record is simply fantastic, and really ties the whole thing together. A record to be listened to with pinkies raised, this is totally worth your time. (WB)
(self-released)
PYROKLAST – THE MADNESS CONFOUNDS LP
These guys nail the sound they're going for and it's catchy as shit at points, but to be honest I'm having trouble caring about what PYROKLAST have to offer here. These guys play no-bullshit, straight-ahead hardcore punk complete with the most cookie-cutter of left-wing punx politics, but the overall vibe is here more like crusty thrash metal. There's some nods to NYHC and thrashcore in there too, and those parts do help to break from the monotony of PYROKLAST's meat-and-potatoes shreddy hardcore, but the basic m.o. has already been done to death by every mediocre band formed in the wake of AUS ROTTEN. The guitar players are fuckin' shredders and there's no denying the hooks that are simply lying all over this record, but in the end it makes me think about beer bongs way more than I generally like my hardcore to. There's thousands of punks all over the world who would eat this right up, but sadly I ain't one of them. Oh well. (WB)
(Agipunk)
V/A – TOR JOHNSON RECORDS TEN YEAR ANNIVERSARY OMNIBUS EP
I can't confess to any real familiarity with the Tor aside from their D-list namesake and the THEY AND THE CHILDREN CD they put out years ago (props), but this little nugget makes about as compelling of a case for checking out their back catalogue as I can imagine. The first track is probably my favorite, a previously unreleased dose of crushing German-style metallic crust by Providence's SAINT JUDE. NOW DENIAL add a lo-fi pop-punk feel to their nonetheless super-legit take on the MISFITS' "We Bite", while THE PRETTY FACES manage to integrate some pretty killer toy piano melodies into their enjoyable melange of screamo, post-hardcore and NIRVANA-influenced alt-rock guitar. Finally, the awesomely-named A FINE BOAT, THAT COFFIN round things out with some fairly glitchy electronica paired with hardcore vocals. DIY as fuck right down to the recycled covers (mine came from a DIONNE WARWICK LP!), this rules, ok? (WB)
(Tor Johnson)
NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENT – DOG LP
Heavy and bleak dual-vocal punishment from Western Australia, NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENT offer up an enticing combo of sludge, powerviolence, and hardcore snarl that can't help but impress. A song cycle about mental illness and alienation accompanied by some fantastically schizoid artwork, words like discomfort, shame, and fffuuuuuuck are but a few brought to mind by this release. Never resting on a particular sound for too long, the band manifests an appropriately oppressive atmosphere throughout, to maddening effect. This is what they call a "total package". Get on it. (WB)
(Coffin Cut)
SEVEN SISTERS OF SLEEP – SUNDOWN EP
From the appropriately hellish wasteland of Orange County, this is dark hardcore for the Satan/weed set, pretty fucking good stuff. The requisite A389 mid-tempo pummel is in full effect, thick metallic hardcore a la XIBALBA punctuated by murky black metal and spot-on sludgecore breakdowns that had me headbanging impulsively. Sisters of SLEEP indeed, you can tell these guys have spent plenty of time on a certain 'Holy Mountain', and they're particularly indebted to Chris Hiakus' rightfully-legendary cymbal-plod. No complaints here. This single 7" comes in a gatefold sleeve just so it can contain the accompanying bonus CD, poster, download card, and embroidered patch that come with it. This, in turn, begs several questions. Like, why does one need a download card if a CD copy is included? And, more importantly, who wants to pay $13 for a 3-song EP? Fucking ridiculous. (WB)
(A389)
GHASTLY SPATS-Flesh Thing-EP
FUTURO-Sair de Mim-EP
REPLICA-flexi+live
WATER TORTURE-Shellfire!-EP
NO STATIK-Everywhere You're Not Looking-LP
TRUNCHEONS-Cashing in on Freedom-EP
HOAX-Discipline-EP
KNOTS-Heartbreaker/Action-45
COMMUNION OF THIEVES-demo+live
RAPE REVENGE/STRESSXRELIEF/DNF-live
GOUM – NOISESAP CD
Some truly strange and progressive female-fronted hardcore punk from Japan, this took me a little while to warm up to but now I must admit I'm quite into it. This very modern-sounding album has a definite 'everything and the kitchen sink' approach, bouncing between stoney FLOWER TRAVELLIN' BAND worship, rock'n'roll-y hardcore, and even some very 90s dream pop/shoegaze without feeling incoherent and/or watered-down as genre-hopping experiments so often do. Certain parts could be compared to the poppy side of BORIS, and the final instrumental 'Still You Say It's Safe?' is one such high point, doing the post-metal thing better than 97% of the bands in that safest of heavy genres. While the lyrics for 'Rotten Apple' are undeniably sketchy ("Those women that desire to be treated equally to men easily get carried away/Selfish-cunts taking advantage of their feminity"), the broader context makes it unclear if they're intended as dark satire or merely reactionary anti-feminism. One thing is for sure, this album isn't about easy answers. I for one can't quite get it out of my mind. (WB)
(Narm Discos)
MALATESTA - ABWESEND EP
Hailing from Munich and named for a 19th-century champion of insurrectionary anarchism, MALATESTA specialize in brooding melodic crust with the occasional hint of metal. Not all that gritty for a crust record, the combination of epic d-beats, forceful chugging and melancholic guitar work here recalls bands like ÖROKU minus the cello, while the obscure, washed out production adds several layers of screamotional depth. The vocal range on this record is simply fantastic, and really ties the whole thing together. A record to be listened to with pinkies raised, this is totally worth your time. (WB)
(self-released)
PYROKLAST – THE MADNESS CONFOUNDS LP
These guys nail the sound they're going for and it's catchy as shit at points, but to be honest I'm having trouble caring about what PYROKLAST have to offer here. These guys play no-bullshit, straight-ahead hardcore punk complete with the most cookie-cutter of left-wing punx politics, but the overall vibe is here more like crusty thrash metal. There's some nods to NYHC and thrashcore in there too, and those parts do help to break from the monotony of PYROKLAST's meat-and-potatoes shreddy hardcore, but the basic m.o. has already been done to death by every mediocre band formed in the wake of AUS ROTTEN. The guitar players are fuckin' shredders and there's no denying the hooks that are simply lying all over this record, but in the end it makes me think about beer bongs way more than I generally like my hardcore to. There's thousands of punks all over the world who would eat this right up, but sadly I ain't one of them. Oh well. (WB)
(Agipunk)
V/A – TOR JOHNSON RECORDS TEN YEAR ANNIVERSARY OMNIBUS EP
I can't confess to any real familiarity with the Tor aside from their D-list namesake and the THEY AND THE CHILDREN CD they put out years ago (props), but this little nugget makes about as compelling of a case for checking out their back catalogue as I can imagine. The first track is probably my favorite, a previously unreleased dose of crushing German-style metallic crust by Providence's SAINT JUDE. NOW DENIAL add a lo-fi pop-punk feel to their nonetheless super-legit take on the MISFITS' "We Bite", while THE PRETTY FACES manage to integrate some pretty killer toy piano melodies into their enjoyable melange of screamo, post-hardcore and NIRVANA-influenced alt-rock guitar. Finally, the awesomely-named A FINE BOAT, THAT COFFIN round things out with some fairly glitchy electronica paired with hardcore vocals. DIY as fuck right down to the recycled covers (mine came from a DIONNE WARWICK LP!), this rules, ok? (WB)
(Tor Johnson)
NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENT – DOG LP
Heavy and bleak dual-vocal punishment from Western Australia, NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENT offer up an enticing combo of sludge, powerviolence, and hardcore snarl that can't help but impress. A song cycle about mental illness and alienation accompanied by some fantastically schizoid artwork, words like discomfort, shame, and fffuuuuuuck are but a few brought to mind by this release. Never resting on a particular sound for too long, the band manifests an appropriately oppressive atmosphere throughout, to maddening effect. This is what they call a "total package". Get on it. (WB)
(Coffin Cut)
SEVEN SISTERS OF SLEEP – SUNDOWN EP
From the appropriately hellish wasteland of Orange County, this is dark hardcore for the Satan/weed set, pretty fucking good stuff. The requisite A389 mid-tempo pummel is in full effect, thick metallic hardcore a la XIBALBA punctuated by murky black metal and spot-on sludgecore breakdowns that had me headbanging impulsively. Sisters of SLEEP indeed, you can tell these guys have spent plenty of time on a certain 'Holy Mountain', and they're particularly indebted to Chris Hiakus' rightfully-legendary cymbal-plod. No complaints here. This single 7" comes in a gatefold sleeve just so it can contain the accompanying bonus CD, poster, download card, and embroidered patch that come with it. This, in turn, begs several questions. Like, why does one need a download card if a CD copy is included? And, more importantly, who wants to pay $13 for a 3-song EP? Fucking ridiculous. (WB)
(A389)
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)
June 2013 – #349
V/A – “‘Society Best’” LP
An ultra-cheep label omnibus from Antisociety, a newer outfit focused on repressing rare and out-of-print recordings from classic UK anarcho-punk bands. Accordingly, most of the stuff here are demo and live versions along with the occasional studio track, including ZOUNDS' bid for the greatest anarcho-anthem of all time, "Can't Cheat Karma." Odds and sods comps like this all too easily play out like effort to squeeze a quick buck from the leftover detritus of long-defunct acts, but luckily we're talking about one of the more fertile periods in punk history, and pretty much everything here is more than worthwhile for fans of peace punk and early crust. The roster is almost a who's who of the era, including the ever-underrated ANTI-SYSTEM, ANTISECT, PINK TURDS IN SPACE (who I had shamefully never heard before!), DOOM, ALTERNATIVE, and VARUKERS, not to mention a cut from the always-cute early DISCHARGE demos, goofy Johnny Rotten impression and all. I was intrigued by super lo-fi cut from REALITY ATTACK off of the label’s "Bullsheep Detector," which appears to be a compilation of Welsh anarcho-bands from the first half of the 1980s. That sounds awesome, and this is too. (WB)
(Antisociety)
HUNTING PARTY – “Sub Rosa With Whispered Pacts” EP
Building on its members’ experience in some of the best Bay Area hardcore acts of the past few years—MIGRAINE, VACCUUM, ECOLI, and YADOKAI, to name only a few—HUNTING PARTY play dark, menacing USHC that harkens back to a time when loyalty to hardcore meant more than a willingness to adhere to some played-out formula. This attitude comes to a head on the second half of “Straight Shooter,” where drums and vocals cut out leaving nothing but feedback and a single, pulsing guitar riff before everyone comes back in for a final two-second burst of rage…fucking brilliant. With molasses-thick guitar tone and an fittingly gritty vocal delivery, this records simply exudes toughness (though not machismo) without relying on generic breakdowns or having to waste time telling you about it. (WB)
(Hesitation Wounds)
WILD//TRIBE – "Endless Nights" CD
Required listening for all dedicated pogo wolves. Fort Worth's WILD//TRIBE dish out explosive, speed-crazy hardcore punk that owes more than a little bit to the shredding glory of Japanese bands like FORWARD and BASTARD, forgoing any sense of pretense in favor of songs about what's real in life: nonconformity, getting wasted, and bitter disappointment. Everything is airtight and totally overboard, but what really takes things to the next level are the lightning-fast melodic bass lines…seriously, the dude is unreal. I can only imagine the debauchery and excess that this band conjures up live, but for now, go ahead and put your money where your mouth is, break a beer bottle over your head and crank this way too loud. (WB)
(Under The Surface / Punkalive / Rescued from Life)
PIG CHAMPION – “Grief” EP
Not a previously-unheard of split by Boston sludge/doom titans GRIEF as the artwork initially led me to believe, this is in fact a concept EP from Chicago’s PIG CHAMPION, exploring the five stages of grief via mostly forgettable metallic hardcore. Tough, thrashy, and fast is this band’s bread-and-butter, but it’s the punishing, claustrophobic breakdowns that stand out here; the EP’s best song, “Depression,” is pretty much straight doom metal. Can't say I'm impressed with the total package, though I must tip my hat to PIG CHAMPION for bringing as much party mosh as they do to Dr. Elizabeth Kübler-Ross' notion of the psychological process of acceptance. (WB)
(Self-released)
OILTANKER / NO TOMORROW – split LP
I'll always remember OILTANKER as a bastion of crusty glory in the wilderness that was my time living in Connecticut, a state where I was on at least one occasion locked in a room and forced to listen to an entire HATEBREED record by my so-called "friends" in the hardcore scene. OILTANKER more than do justice to that nostalgic memory here, their crushing live energy captured perfectly with a manic, d-beat sound that takes the raw appeal of bands like DOOM into the twenty-first century. NO TOMORROW's side, on the other hand, failed to grab my attention, offering a rather unexceptional take on the same "Portland sound" that's launched a thousand more-or-less interchangeable melodic crust bands in the past decade. They do a competent job, no doubt, and fans of the style would be wise to check them out, but other than that there's not much to write home about. My kudos to everyone involved in this release for selecting a tone of colored vinyl that makes the whole thing look just like a giant turd. (WB)
(Profane Existence)
An ultra-cheep label omnibus from Antisociety, a newer outfit focused on repressing rare and out-of-print recordings from classic UK anarcho-punk bands. Accordingly, most of the stuff here are demo and live versions along with the occasional studio track, including ZOUNDS' bid for the greatest anarcho-anthem of all time, "Can't Cheat Karma." Odds and sods comps like this all too easily play out like effort to squeeze a quick buck from the leftover detritus of long-defunct acts, but luckily we're talking about one of the more fertile periods in punk history, and pretty much everything here is more than worthwhile for fans of peace punk and early crust. The roster is almost a who's who of the era, including the ever-underrated ANTI-SYSTEM, ANTISECT, PINK TURDS IN SPACE (who I had shamefully never heard before!), DOOM, ALTERNATIVE, and VARUKERS, not to mention a cut from the always-cute early DISCHARGE demos, goofy Johnny Rotten impression and all. I was intrigued by super lo-fi cut from REALITY ATTACK off of the label’s "Bullsheep Detector," which appears to be a compilation of Welsh anarcho-bands from the first half of the 1980s. That sounds awesome, and this is too. (WB)
(Antisociety)
HUNTING PARTY – “Sub Rosa With Whispered Pacts” EP
Building on its members’ experience in some of the best Bay Area hardcore acts of the past few years—MIGRAINE, VACCUUM, ECOLI, and YADOKAI, to name only a few—HUNTING PARTY play dark, menacing USHC that harkens back to a time when loyalty to hardcore meant more than a willingness to adhere to some played-out formula. This attitude comes to a head on the second half of “Straight Shooter,” where drums and vocals cut out leaving nothing but feedback and a single, pulsing guitar riff before everyone comes back in for a final two-second burst of rage…fucking brilliant. With molasses-thick guitar tone and an fittingly gritty vocal delivery, this records simply exudes toughness (though not machismo) without relying on generic breakdowns or having to waste time telling you about it. (WB)
(Hesitation Wounds)
WILD//TRIBE – "Endless Nights" CD
Required listening for all dedicated pogo wolves. Fort Worth's WILD//TRIBE dish out explosive, speed-crazy hardcore punk that owes more than a little bit to the shredding glory of Japanese bands like FORWARD and BASTARD, forgoing any sense of pretense in favor of songs about what's real in life: nonconformity, getting wasted, and bitter disappointment. Everything is airtight and totally overboard, but what really takes things to the next level are the lightning-fast melodic bass lines…seriously, the dude is unreal. I can only imagine the debauchery and excess that this band conjures up live, but for now, go ahead and put your money where your mouth is, break a beer bottle over your head and crank this way too loud. (WB)
(Under The Surface / Punkalive / Rescued from Life)
PIG CHAMPION – “Grief” EP
Not a previously-unheard of split by Boston sludge/doom titans GRIEF as the artwork initially led me to believe, this is in fact a concept EP from Chicago’s PIG CHAMPION, exploring the five stages of grief via mostly forgettable metallic hardcore. Tough, thrashy, and fast is this band’s bread-and-butter, but it’s the punishing, claustrophobic breakdowns that stand out here; the EP’s best song, “Depression,” is pretty much straight doom metal. Can't say I'm impressed with the total package, though I must tip my hat to PIG CHAMPION for bringing as much party mosh as they do to Dr. Elizabeth Kübler-Ross' notion of the psychological process of acceptance. (WB)
(Self-released)
OILTANKER / NO TOMORROW – split LP
I'll always remember OILTANKER as a bastion of crusty glory in the wilderness that was my time living in Connecticut, a state where I was on at least one occasion locked in a room and forced to listen to an entire HATEBREED record by my so-called "friends" in the hardcore scene. OILTANKER more than do justice to that nostalgic memory here, their crushing live energy captured perfectly with a manic, d-beat sound that takes the raw appeal of bands like DOOM into the twenty-first century. NO TOMORROW's side, on the other hand, failed to grab my attention, offering a rather unexceptional take on the same "Portland sound" that's launched a thousand more-or-less interchangeable melodic crust bands in the past decade. They do a competent job, no doubt, and fans of the style would be wise to check them out, but other than that there's not much to write home about. My kudos to everyone involved in this release for selecting a tone of colored vinyl that makes the whole thing look just like a giant turd. (WB)
(Profane Existence)
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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