12 O'CLOCK HIGH - Complete Sessions Volumes 1 & 2 DVD (Atavistic / Music Video Distributors) From what I know, 12 O'clock High was a video program (named after the book on WWII B2 bombers by Beirne Lay Jr. and Robert Lansing, or maybe the movie, or the 1960s TV series or maybe the game... whichever). But, boy did they show some obscure and rarely-seen music videos, as well as some videos by those who went on to bigger, but not necessarily better things (ie, Soul Asylum, Savage Republic and Live Skull). We have here are two hours of early 90s alternative and noise rock videos, with a hint of punk ethics all along the way. Great videos by Pussy Galore, Crime and the City Solution (the less punk, more alternative stuff), Thin White Rope (two videos by this highly underrated 4AD band), Flaming Lips (two videos), Mudhoney (great song selection), Dinosaur Jr. (J. Masics is - or can be - god), Carbon, Babes in Toyland (yummy, yummy punk rock girls), Foetus Inc. (their more industrial rock stuff instead of their noise tracks, like his other band Wiseblood), Afghan Wigs, Halo of Flies (a great AmRep staple), Buffalo Tom (who can still take on any indie-rock band today), Bongwater and yep... Bad Brains "Soul Craft" (this disc might be worth it for this video alone). It also contains some bands I had never heard of, like Selektion Optik (experimental noise), American Music Club (alt-rock), Big Trouble House (alt-rock), but was glad to be introduced to. Plus, it also has a few videos by artists I have heard a bit about, but never had the chance to catch any of their filmed works, like Lee Ranaldo (two videos), David Atherton & Otto Piene and lastly Adrienne Altenhaus & Freddie. What can I say about MVD that I haven't said already, except the usual... someone there really knows their underground videos, for sure.

46 SHORT - Just A Liability CD (Go Kart) Do many of you sit around wanting a feeling of nostalgia enveloping your entire being? Go Kart can help you, and so can 46 Short. I'm highly skeptical when I see band bios and one-sheets tout names like Circle Jerks, Adolescents and Dead Kennedys. Well, shit the bed... no pop, metal, emo, ska or any other genre creeping its way onto this slab of real 80s hardcore-punk. That's just the way I want it. Featuring ex-members of Final Conflict, Just A Liability is the second album from these southern California guys, as Specimen (on Know records) was their debute. Opening with "Last in Line", the constant beat and furious guitars made me start bouncing in my seat right from the start. I think the Adolescents comparison is the closest, but songs like "Doctrine" did make me think of Circle Jerks a bit more. "1 in 25" had a little GBH feel. As the record goes on the driving beat, the anger and the sing-a-long choruses don't end, or even get weaker. Well, until track 15 through 45 (3 seconds of silence each), and then comes track 46 which is just someone puking their poor guts out. Fourteen powerful songs that bring me back to my youth. Damn, I'm an old fart. Bridge 9 would have loved to get their hands on this, but it's just too punk for them. Plus, I don't think these fellows wear Xs on their hands either.

86 MENTALITY - Goin' Nowhere Fast CD (Grave Mistake) Meaning 86'ed (as in nixed), instead of 1986, they could have fooled me with that punk-rock-inspirred 80's hardcore. This is as the subtitle suggests... two EPs, 86'ed tracks and extra swill. Seriously, it's two 7"es, two tracks they decided shouldn't be released (until now), two live numbers, plus a State of Alert and a 4 Skins cover. The District of Columbia's 86 Mentality remind me of a more hardcore Skrewdriver - musically, I mean, as there are no racist connotations behind 86's music or lyrical content. Funny how I'm sometimes weary of making certain comparisons, as I feel they may get me in trouble. Anyhow, the first EP of seven tracks (self-titled, 2004 7") is decent, but when they come to the next twelve songs (2005's On the Loose 7") they really come into their own. The music, the vocals and the lyrics are far better. The music also seems more heartfelt. The live material is well played (though they claimed to be pissed drunk), while the covers are fitting tributes (Henry would be proud, or hit on you guys... who knows?). Good thing to read that this discography may not be the last we here of those that have been 86'ed.

500 MILES TO MEMPHIS - Sunshine In A Shot Glass CD (Deep Elm) These five cowpokes from Cincinnati, OH wail out a mix of heafty riffs (combined with fiddle and steel guitar) with a sorrowful soul. They released an earlier LP on 3rd Silo Records (Before The Sun Rises) and got the notice of the emo-kings at Deep Elm Records. The sounds emitted from 500 Miles to Memphis (a name that comes from the distance of the band's hometown to Elvis' Graceland) may get them classified as alt-country, but there's a stronger rock-n-roll vibe, and a punky backbeat, that will separate them from many of their contemporaries. A few of the songs are slow and bring to mind contemporary and classic folk, while many are fast as pure punk rock fury. The lyrics, many which deal with heartbreak and loneliness, are also a bit different than your average country band, as guitarist / vocalist Ryan Malott croons about a coke-snortin' ex, accident victims asking for the sweet kiss of death and victory in times of (self) defeat. Altogether it's a true separation from your bland honky-tonk, I assure you. This disc, like Deep Elm's release of Clair De Lune's Assisted Living is limited to only 1000 discs to encourage sales through digital downloading (read: not file sharing). Also, it's another of a few that will not available in stores to spur people to get off their duff and order via mail. This is the CD for those that are into Drive By Truckers, Social Distortion or Lucero, but still want something a little different at the same time.

A FAITH CALLED CHAOS - Forgive Nothing CD (Volcom) I wouldn't normally review anything from Volcom. They can get any magazine to push their latest pick. But this record has really gotten a hold of me. A Faith Called Chaos is a group of schizophrenic Texans, playing a bouncing blend of hardcore, punk, arena rock and metal. Oh, and there are also moments of power pop, metalcore, 70s inspired stoner grooves and even new wave. You'd have to expect at least MPD in your band when it's a sextet. Two years ago they released their first EP, Beached Life Hopes (on Counterintelligence Recordings), but I think this LP puts all past material to shame. They really go off on this disc - energetically speaking, as well as musicianship and song writing. The vocals sound torturous. Not for me, I like them fine, but for that poor soon-to-have-throat-cancer of a lead vocalist. Powerful screaming. A somewhat gothic metal intro kicks into "Circa '99" which sets the pace and power of AFCC's debut LP. "Forgive Nothing" is a start / stop screamo of a song, with heavy metal in it's back pocket. "Boxing with Bayonets" is like an amped up and even more pissed off Turbo Negro. "The Pugilist" was their most emotional track, while still being heavy as all, and yet a little punk too. "I Hate This City" is pure rock fury, '77 style. A massive way to end this album... leave them wanting more for your next release, and keep 'em hitting play over and over until that next one comes out! Smart move. So when is the next one? My finger's getting tired of pushing the play button.

ABIGAIL WILLIAMS - Legend CD EP (Candlelight) This collection of four handsome men and one beautiful femme spill forth some hauntingly dark and impressively ugly metal. I mean 'ugly' in its best sense when it comes to describing metal: spirit-crushing keyboards, punishing riffs, nefarious vocals, and drums that trail over you like a tractor. Plus, it scared the crap out of all my housepets. This Phoenix, Arizona based outfit, featuring ex-members of Vehemence, play a symphonic and melodic metalcore that's better than most bands xeroxing the Swedes. While this is thick in the Nordic metal sound in the vein of At the Gates and Dimmu Borgir, it brings more to my mind European-influenced, American metalcore bands like Dead to Fall (with way better vocals) especially with the opening track, "From A Buried Heart", also Dawn of Retaliation (with better playing) or Bleeding Through (with better musical structures). The drum work is amazing - steady, intense, and incredibly fast - almost like a freakin' machine. The keyboards really add a wonderful operatic effect to these numbers. On this, their debut, limited edition five songer you get four brand new tracks, and "Procession of the Aeons" a track from their self-released demo Watchtower (also see if you can hunt down the Gallow Hill demo). When you give this a listen, you can hear why a label such as Candlelight offered a three record deal to band that's hardly been around a whole two years (forming in summer of 2005), as the playing is top notch, with its blistering speed and infectious grooves. Now, if I could just bring my cat out of hiding.

THE ABOMINABLE IRON SLOTH - s/t CD (Goodfellow) Nice! Stoner metal riffage the likes of Iron Monkey, Bongzilla and Eyehategod, all with much better vocals too. The Abominable Iron Sloth are a quintet hailing from the capital of California, Sacramento, and feature members of Will Haven and Oddman. This is their debut disc, containing nine numbers of sludgy doom metal, with moments of symphonic playfulness via some synth work (keyboards). The vocals are in a black metal, screechy witch rasp, but they fit well and often add to the bleakness of the numbers. I'm into minimalism, so the simple black and white layout with lyrics, song titles, thank-you list and story of the sloth was simple, but sweet. Sloth - doom metal - I get it!

THE ACADEMY - s/t CD EP (LLR) The Academy is a band I have heard a bit about, without ever releasing a thing. How the hell does some dude in Miami get to hear of an emo-rock outfit from Chicago who doesn't even have a release under their belt? Rabid fans and good song writing, I guess. Their debut, self-titled EP opens with "The Proverbial Unrest", a noise track that almost tells a short story, which develops into "The Author", the song that solidifies the sound you'll find throughout. "Judas Kiss" almost won highlight status. It's a mix of Saves the Day meets Quicksand, so it rocks with emotion, as well as forcefulness - from quiet to explosive. They do tend to go back and forth a lot within every song, as the next track, "In Our Defense" brought to mind Deep Elm bands like Brandtson mixing it up with harder edged emotive bands like Taking Back Sunday, or even Hot Water Music. The highlight is actually (as should be) the last track, "Absolution". That song brought to mind some of the better Coheed & Cambria material and ended the disc on a high note. The lyrics seem endless, and I'm usually amazed when singers can remember that much to say, but I guess it all sticks when it's important to the vocalist. When you're done with the music pop this into your computer for... well, I don't know. My PC is giving me shit about the enhanced features on this disc - won't let me run it. Die Gates!

ACROSS TUNDRA - Dark Songs Of the Prairie CD (Crucial Blast) You can tell this is music from a mixture of cold flatlands (South Dakota) and mile-high mountain cities (Denver, CO). Featuring ex-members of Examination of The... and Spirit of Versailles, Across Tundra's sound is large and expansive, booming into the horizon. Carving epic cuts of ethereal hardcore, with post-metal technique. A hint of Aaron Turner's Isis formula, and tossing in everything from riff-rock, metal ballads and shoegazer sensibilities. The guitars crunch at times, shimmer at others. The music drifts from punishing metal ala Pelican or Neurosis to softer rock elements and power metal prowess. All with haunting vocals the bring to mind soft AM rock, yet fit the sound of the music well. The listen is a audio ride through Heaven and Hell... a lovely punishment.

ADORE MIRIDIA - s/t CD EP (Goodbye Blue Skies / Landmine Youth) I am in no way putting this release down, but this is not the Adore Miridia I knew. Sad, that it took labels about four years to put out something by this band, and when they did it's almost as it were a different band. I remember Adore Miridia when they were a screamo-thrash outfit. These five tracks (four listed, one unlisted instrumental) are metalcore. Good metalcore, but not the screamo-thrash I expected... and wanted. Some of this reminds me of later metalcore-era Cave In (before they went Rush) or Jane Doe Converge. Those are great comparisons, but I wanted more Neil Perry or - for Dade people - Tyranny of Shaw. With that out of the way, this should finally put these locals on the map, as it still pummels the hell out of the listener. Either way, I'm just glad the band got to see plastic without it being posthumous.

AETHERIUS OBSCURITAS - Víziók CD (Paragon) Aetherius Obscuritas is actually (or was) a one-man band, the idea of the twisted mind of a Hungarian man who goes by the name of Arkhorrl. Formed in '99, and producing their first demo in 2002 (Világra Jött), followed by another demo in 2004 (Stotet Profecia), a split disc with Thokkian Vortex, then three amazingly brash and dark albums (Az Ejszaka Csaszara, Kinzo Harag, and Layæ Bolcsoje), which got Aetherius Obscuritas many comparisons to Burzum. All of this now brings us to the present, where AO adds a drummer, who takes place of the previous mechanical gadget. The songs mix the traditional school of Scandinavian black metal (insanely fast, drumming with lo-fi, chainsaw guitars) like Aske, Ragnarok and Ancient, and mixes it up with a touch of shoegazer melody, mournful doom, and even neo-folk. The vocals are in an evil witchy screech throughout. Some songs are in English while others are in Hungarian, and I like that mix. If you are into the depressing sounds of black metal bands like Défaillance, Whisper, Leaden, Animus, Strid and Voluntaria, the this will not let you down. Well, it's quite brooding and depressing, so it actually may.

AMERICAN CHEESEBURGER - s/t 7" EP (Tsunami) What a fun, though short, ride this was. I would had been a little longer had I not realized to switch from 33 to 45 rpm (that's 'revolutions per minute' to the CD-only crowd). A bit reminiscent of a lot of the early bands on California label Slap-A-Ham (Tsunami Records is from the other coast - Maryland). American Cheeseburger is a four-piece from Athens Georgia featuring drummer Jason Griffin of Tres Kids, and they rock the power-violence for thrills and thrash up songs within a minute or so - sometimes less. The track "Cheeseburger" being the shortest and funnest song on the disc, while the 7" record's closer ("Idle Hands") was the longest track at around two minutes. The music is in the vein of Infest or Spazz, with fast, punky thrash parts usually sliced in half by slow, moshy breakdowns. The vocalist - James 'Equalizer' Greer - does an almost gargling shriek I find more on black metal projects than anything else, though you can make out the lyrics here, but it works for AmCheese. By the look of their MySpace page the road gigs are long and packed together, so these kids are busy, and that's what makes a good band even better. They're on the right track with the tunes and the work-ethic. Thrash on American Cheeseburger... just make mine a soy patty.

AMON AMARTH - Versus the World CD (Metal Blade) First off, Happy 20th Anniversary to Metal Blade. Now, to the meat of this review. This is a good release, but not Amon's best effort. Better played, sweeter and more melodic than Once Set from the Golden Hall, but not as massive as The Crusher. They changed studios and producers, but still captured their sound well enough. Still, it is quality Swedish death metal, equally balancing harmony, melody and some gothic-inspired chords with roller-coaster double-bass drum and breakdown riffs. "For the Stabwounds in our Backs" is sonically tumultuous. The title track is another stand-out, using old-school death metal choruses, with newer Nordic guitar-pick trembling. Also heavy, is the Viking imagery - it also helps to have songs like, "Across the Rainbow Bridge" (which I actually didn't care for) and "Where Silent Gods Stand Guard". I didn't get a lyric sheet, but I would guess that the song, "Thousand Years of Oppression" is about Norse belief systems being wiped out by Christianity, beginning in the year 1000 AD. Either way it's a killer number, punching in much doom and some metal guitar licks. "...and Soon the World will Cease to Be" is the best way to close out an album. Ragnarok! One thing though - the drums are great, but where are the blast-beats? Oh, and collector nerds beware, there is also a limited edition double CD, with 14 extra tracks.

AN ALBATROSS - We Are the Lazer Viking CD EP (Ace Fu) From the get go I was impressed. I mean, it starts off like a stoner rock record on 78 rpm (uh, that's 'revolutions per minute' for you kids who have never seen vinyl). And for those who have yet to hear An Albatross much of their EP comes of like Daughters meets Avenging Disco Godfathers of Soul - but with less severe time changes, and lots of rock and fucking roll. Yes, in a few words: grindcore with keyboards - prominent keyboards - with rock hooks. There is much more though. I like this record so much, I don't care that it is eleven songs in under eight and a half minutes. Shorter than the much talked about Daughters EP, but I believe We Are the Lazer Viking blows that other disc out of the water. This is much more inventive. "The Revolutionary Politics of Dance" is not only a snappy title, it could be played at a Goth club as easily as a hardcore club. "Get Faster, Cry for Happy" was like The B-52s on meth-amphetamine. "The Manifesto of the Divine Children" is the world's catchiest rock song - and it's only twenty seconds long. Though great musically, yes, it is short on time, but Ace Fu loaded this thing with PC extras - four live shows (ranging from 5 to 11 minutes), a music video/short film by Andre Hyland, photo gallery and extras. Though I want to hear much more, I wonder if anyone can handle a full album (30 minutes +) of this mad music.

ANDUIN - Forever Waiting CD (SMTG Limited) Anduin is a side-project of Jonathan Lee of Richmond, Virginia. He should be familiar. Well, maybe not to you, but definitely with me, as he's a member of a band that released one of my favorite LPs of the last few years (An Ocean Without Water by Souvenier's Young America on Crucial Blast Records). This new output is mostly solo work, though there are collaborations with Miasmah's Jasper TX, Xela of Type (both doing remixes), and guest appearances by Kenneth Yates (of Caustic Castle) and others. Forever Waiting is a well-flowing forty minutes of hypnotizing atmospherics and ambient soundscapes. Dark and haunting, bringing to mind lonely country hills just a little after dusk. If you want more after these eight tracks, be on the lookout for future colabs with Noah Saval and J.TX. Oh yeah, listen up wax hounds, there's also a 12" LP format limited to only 300 copies, with each a slightly different color than the rest. Happy hunting!.

ANDY THE DOOR BUM - The Mt. Holly Sessions CD (Afterbirth Casserole) Not to far away from where I currently stand is a red-bearded cat that wails like his soul is on fire, and tells stories through rambled poetry via acoustic tunes in Charlotte, North Carolina. That cat man's the door of the Milestone Club, and though known as Andy the Door Bum or Ugly Dobro his birth name is Andrew Fenstermaker, and you should give a listen to what he wails. This is the second release for The Door Bum, as he earlier let the world in on what's inside his head via his 2005 release Door Booth Album. "Parrot Anthem" and "Alamissibamassippi" both had a touch of Delta blues ala Robert Johnson (the infamous musician that sold his soul to the devil) or Big Bill Broonzy. "Eyes" and "Horace Wells and the Chloroform Junkies" still kept a bluesy sound, but also incorporated catchy pop-punk hooks. "Black Snapper" was pure punk rock fury, while "Look It" is a garage rock anthem. In between his vocalized tracks are a few instrumental numbers that could be considered abstract or avant-garde as they emit a quality of cut-up tape-loops. Though I do have to point out that while I like the wild amalgam of music Andy brings to his latest work, it's his lyrical content that I've enjoyed most. If you're into philosophical songs about drinkin', lovin' 'n' losin' and wanting to kill the dude that broke into your car, by all means, take a trip up to The Milestone Club - or just send Andy some dough and ask (nicely) for a copy of his newest work.

THE ANGELS - I'm Gonna Wear Your Veins Like Chains CD DEMO (The Angels) Philadelphians just don't get enough crashing of instruments do they? Once-members of An Albatross, Sprocess, Trans Meggeti, and The Deadly now play a sorta San Diego screamo ala Heroin, with space-y keyboard interludes and electro-babble, normally ending in garage-punk anthems. Similar to An Albatross, but I like this even better. It adds some At the Drive-In-esque melodies, as well as an early 70's psychadelic-rock feel, with some 60's space-age pop. Blood Brothers meets Tarantula Hawk... The Stooges playing faster with DJ Spooky messing around every now and again - the clearest mental images I've gotten yet from this. If you don't feel like hunting this down, they'll get an EP from a good indie going, I'm sure.

ANOTHER KIND OF DEATH - Sleepless Every Night CD (Underhill) This disc starts it all like a kick in the teeth and ends just as menacing. It's a sweet, yet punishing kick, given from a loved one I'm sure. Caresses that bruise or love bites that bleed. Yes... I have issues. Now, though I love my homeland, I was not am familiar with Spain's Another Kind of Death, but I'm thoroughly blown away. "The Rope" and "Venganza" start it all off with Swedish speed picking, hardcore anthems, blasts, doom sludge and sing-a-long choruses. "Car Crash" and "...And I Chose You From Dead" (which goes into "Spitfire") have intense build ups, and then it's off to vicious breakdowns followed by chaoticore madness. It's all coming off as a bit of Converge, Zao, Norma Jean or Dead to Fall; mixing speed, intensity, rhythm and melody. Now, I have one major complaint... a band from Spain, and not one word in my native tongue? Por que? Si, claro... solamente para buena reputación en Los Estados Unidos.

ANTIGAMA - Discomfort CD (Selfmadegod) Antigama formed in Warsaw, Poland in 2002 by Different State member Sebastian Rokicki and Damnable's Krzysztof Bentkowski. Quickly recruiting two more members they blended hardcore, grind, noise and metal in a style very reminiscent of Pig Destroyer, and released their first LP, Intellect Made Us Blind (on Flood Records) soon after. Discomfort was originally released in Poland (with limited European distribution) about a year ago and is Antigama's second release, but now gets a reworking with two bonus tracks, a multimedia track (for "Flies") and worldwide distro. Highlights are the chaotically, insane opener "Flies", the blinding fast "President Says Yes", the choppy and noisy "Save Copy As", as well as the experimental track "Fala (Seed Remix)". A must for fans of Cephalic Carnage or Pig Destroyer.

APOLLON - Aleatorical CD (D. O. R.) This could have been one of the best CDs I've gotten in some time. A sort of Muslimgauze (of which Apollon composer Martin Lee-Stephenson had collaborated with on a few occasions before Bryn Jones' untimely passing) meets Autechre. Mantras, eastern instrumentation (or Australian, as in digeridoo), blips, static, hum and a beat. There is one major, major flaw. I have never found myself removing a CD from any power electronics, noise, ambient, glitch-techno or IDM, but I actually took it out to see if it was damaged. The volume goes up and down constantly, which is terribly annoying! Sometimes it's totally turned down, other times it's turned up so loud it peaks the speakers. And I do understand glitch-techno, but here the skips and pops seem really out of place, though plainly contrived. After "Issac the Blind" - a minimalist IDM track - it almost stops, or at least gets better. "Another American Flag" was the closest thing to what Timbaland has been doing (without the hip-hop vocals - or any vocals for that matter). I actually like it that I can't figure out if "I've Been Here Before" is a warped jazz record or a slowed-down recording of flies swarming. The final track "Love, Wisdom and Will" fits it's New Age title as it's a 13 minute low hum of ambient soundscapes.

ARCH ENEMY - Black Earth CD (Regain) In 1996, upon the ashes of Carcass, guitarist Michael Amott (also ex-Carnage and Spiritual Beggars) decided he still wanted to get a lot of anger out, and created the Swedish behemoth Arch Enemy to mix melody, mayhem and technical skills. Asking his brother, Christopher from Carnage, Johan Liiva from the band Armageddon (though in 2001 he was replaced with metal babe Angela Gossow) on vocal duties, and a few others to thrash out. Black Earth is a North American reissue of their first album from 1997, previously only available as an import from the European label Wrong Again Records. Musically, Arch Enemy take elements from many schools of metal - from death metal they reap speed and power, from thrash metal they take groove and structure, from black metal a bit of melody and bleakness, and finally from the Scott Burns' school of Tampa metal they take tons of progressive breaks, technical fills and enterprising bridges. To hear all of that mashed up as one number, check out track five ("Cosmic Retribution") with its metal groove and neo-folk interlude. Some are long crawlers of thrash ("Eureka" and "Fields of Desolation" are five minutes or more), while some of the heavy hitters ("Demonality" and "Time Capsule") are but a minute long. It only being their first album, you can hear why they are still around today, as good music is meant to play on. This re-release holds three extra tracks not on the original ("Losing Faith", "The Ides of March" and "Aces High") as well as a music video for the album's opening number ("Bury Me An Angel"). Nice to see that those in the States can get their hands on a few classics without paying the overseas prices, especially with some extras.

ARSON ANTHEM - s/t CD EP (Housecore) Eleven minutes of mayhem. Eight songs of speeding brutality. Dual vocaled power violence, hardcore grind like Spazz or sometimes even Infest. Wait! Am I reading the bio correctly? This is Phil Anselmo of Pantera, Mike Williams from Eyehategod, and III outta Superjoint Ritual. Holy shit. These are the last guys I expected to punk it up and thrash it out with a sound not far off of Negative Approach, Poison Idea or Discharge. Turns out that after Hurricane Katrina, Williams lost it all and moved into Phil's apartment. To cure boredom they spun every hardcore record in the house (while lighting many a bong, I'm sure). Surprise, surprise, because, besides the godly Eyehategod, I can't stand Pantera, Down, Superjoint Ritual, or Assjack - so, as I just wrote: surprise, surprise. And a mighty fine one at that. Forget your past projects Phil. Stick to this!

ASUNDER - A Clarion Call CD EP (Life Is Abuse) A three song EP of epic proportions, with not a single tune under twelve minutes. Thick guitars with a booming, vast sound, backed by bleak, gothic vocals. You know, funeral dirges made so famous by the English school of doom metal, and not that far off of what My Dying Bride has been doing lately (at least MDB's slower parts). With Asunder's sound you would expect them to be Brits, but they're from the West Coast (Oakland, Cali to be exact, and featuring members of Dystopia and Weakling) - so the green must be getting real good in Humbolt. "Twilight Amaranthine" begins with a very short Apocalyptic folk intro and on then, right to the riffs. Fifteen wonderful minutes of head pulsing guitars. "Crown of Eyes" was a slow, thick doom that would make fans of bands like Warhorse throw up the sign of the horns. The title track thrives on only a few riffs, but carries enough energy to level shit. If you care, you can stick around for an extra, unlisted track of ambient hums and white noise. I like noise, but if you're like me, you'll use it as your cue to replay one through three again. Lookout vinyl nerds cuz Nuclear War Now Records will have this out in a double 12" just for you.

AUDIOPAIN - The Switch to Turn Off Mankind CD EP (Vendlus) What an apt band name for this ride of thrash metal mayhem. This Oslo, Norway trio feature ex-members of Ghoul-Cult, Ved Buens Ende, and Virus. Forming in 1998, they released three EPs (Contagious [2000], 1986 [2000], and Revel In Desecration [2002]). Some splits followed, with Mysticum, Death To This World, Horns Forward and Lava Dictatorship, though in-between they managed to work on their debut LP (2004's The Traumatizer also on Vendlus Records), and in 2007 they self-released an EP, A Bomb's View. The awesome guitar work on this and older releases is pure old school in the vein of Overkill, Exodus and Testament. There are moments of European thrash (Sodom, Kreator) and American thrash (Slayer, Nuclear Assault), and the vocals are a raspy growl more familiar with metalcore, but they fit here just fine and bring something newer to the thrash table. While they do have slower moments, and the previously mentioned breakdowns, they usually keep the beats fast and furious at over 300 bpm. This is a killer mix of retro-thrash and contemporary metalcore that makes me wish I had a crowed moshpit right in front of me.

THE AUTUMN PROJECT - A Burning Light CD (Deep Send) A good mix of ethereal hardcore and ambient soundscapes the likes of Godspeed You Black Emperor or Mogwai, but unlike these guitar-god supergroups, The Autumn Project is a duo. Consisting of Mass.-based drummer / keyboardist Gustafson and guitarist Huffman, TAP play an epic mix of quiet drones and dooming metal. Self-releasing their works since 1999 (Dancing In the Shadows [their only release with vocals], Fable [2003, later re-released and named one of Unrestrained Magazine's 'Most Underrated Albums of 2005'] and 2004's La Luna De Negra - all on their own label, Zurecords), they finally received the notice of indepent labels at least, and the rest will be history for fans of this fusion genre. Five instrumental tracks that run close to an hour of melodic, lush tones pounded against riff after riff.

AVATAR - Quantum and Quarantine 3" CD EP (Halls of Gnosis Spermatikos) Avatar, not to be confused with Australia's Avatara (an ambient noise group whose music is based around the writings of Savitri Devi), is D To of Fremont, California. One track of ambient and orchestrated textures, which sometimes blend into pure noise. At times popping through harsh static, thumping waves of white, black and pink noise, and other times into lullful hums, cold, spacy guitars and lush keyboards. Very similar to the likes of Andrew Anti.5's Never Presence Forever, though admittedly NPF compositions are much better and have a better sound (sonically, as well as recorded). Limited to only 200 copies (I have # 20), and is presented in 3" disc format with a dark layout and artwork also by D To. Altogether, I'm pretty impressed and I'm very interested in the future of Avatar. Now it's up to D to see where else he takes us.

AVATARA - The Lightning and the Sun CD-R (Shadowlight) This was originally released as a cassette in 2001, now available on CD-R with 2 new tracks. Now this gets as many thumbs-up from me as I can give. Very minimalist ambient entirely dedicated to and inspired by Savitri Devi's book The Lightning and the Sun. Very atmosphereic, almost ethereal - using everything from modern instruments like synthisizers to Hindu chants and musical instuments. The music is minimalist in the sense of using limited samples/tracks at one given time - making for a quiet (yet powerful) record. For instance the track "Vishnu" is not much more than a few Indian (Hindu) instruments, a synth and a slice of Jospeh Campbell (telling a story about the god Indra which can be found in Transformations of Myth Through Time) but the track is beautiful. "Shiva" being another outstanding track here, with it's chanting and dark synths bubbling in the background to a flute-like soft whistle scattered through out. The two extra tracks are "Rays from the Black Sun" and "Eternal Blue Sky" - they are a bit noisier than the preceeding tracks and hardly fit into the scope of the earlier part of this disc, but are still quality ambient-electronic tracks. The packaging is common for a CD-R release. Same photo on the front, as on the back, as on the disc. It is a good layout, and nicely done with Devi's saddened face starring out at the listener, but I really wish there were liner notes. I would like to know who is behind Avatara... now I only hope to hear more of them in the near future.

THE AVENGING DISCO GODFATHERS OF SOUL - The Ultimate In Authenticity and Musical Usefulness CD (Alone) Named after a bad ass Dolemite movie, The Avenging Disco Godfathers of Soul are a killer organic/electro grindcore outfit. People slag them for attempting to copy The Locust, but I see these guys a bit different. More accessible, yes - but what is more accessible than Epitaph Records. Oh, sorry... Anti-Records. Duh. This LP opens like an emo record and prances along into what you think may be a bad take off on Reggie & the Full Effect. Just you wait. Along the lines of This is the Invasion! LP, but now coming at you from even much farther left field. Screamo elements and grindcore spurts offset by jazz interludes, Caribbean rhythms and electronic instrumentals. At ten tracks, six are actual 'songs' (seven if you count "The Close Chamber"), while four (or three) are more like electro-filler. Filler it is, but it somehow fits. Altogether this record shreds. I haven't stopped playing it for some time. "Invisible Jacket" sounds like a three-way between Universal Order of Armageddon, Tomahawk and Daughters. Yeah, sometimes it comes off extremely pretentious. Still kicks. My biggest complaint being that with so many styles of music being blended, much of the album sounded empty. Lots of silence in the background. What does it matter, they've broken up and I've been playing the hell out of it. Figures.

AVICHI - The Divine Tragedy CD (Numen Malevolum Barathri) I love one-man bands. It's amazing to hear what one person can do on his own, and as well as be surprised by how many instruments one instrumentalist can tackle. Avichi (a name taken from either the Theosophist concept of hell, or from the Sanskrit word for 'isolation') is the 2006 brainchild of a twisted metalhead who goes by the moniker Aamonael (actually the drums are well-handled by a chap called Xaphar). He hails from DeKalb, IL and The Divine Tragedy is his debut album. Now, this is some serious black metal folks! Screechy guitar, serious speed-picking, blastbeats, brutally guttural vocals. At times the music is faster than a flood victims drowning, other times as slow as the death of being burned alive. The guitar licks in "Messianic Deliverance" gave me goosebumps. "Prayer for Release" and "Taedium Vitae" were tracks as somber as a funeral march, then leading into the song "Aeonic Disintegration" which is as aggressive as a pitbull attack. While I really dig the sound, I'm also pretty psyched to have a lyric sheet - something a black metal band rarely does. Pick this up to hear what else many current black metal bands are rarely doing: holding my interests.

AWAKE AND ALERT - Devil In A Lambskin Suit CD (Five One) Awake and Alert formed in 2004 and self-released an EP in 2005 titled Weight (which won them tons of praise, and even 'Best Local Rock Release' by Get Out Magazine). Even so they managed to pass under my radar, but Five One, Inc. is letting me in on the wonder that is A&A by releasing their debut full length. This four-piece from Mesa, AZ perform some swell shoegazer. Actually, it goes beyond that - there's a touch of contemporary soul, a bit of lush pop, some alt-country, and a boatload of indie rock. There are moments of early Everything But The Girl, a touch of Coldplay, even some blues guitar solos ala Muddy Waters. I hear Fiest, Midlake, Ryan Adams, Sigur Rós and others, but their sound is pretty much their own. Immediately upon the opening track, you know that keyboardist Maya Peart's vocals are going to dominate this release, but everyone else backs up this beauty with strength and grit. The song writing is powerful, the playing is top notch, but one can't help being taken in by Peart's haunting pipes. There are no tracks that stand out and hit me, as the record seems to float from number to number in a sort of constant dream. To those seeking a radio hit, that could be bad, but for a band trying to build an entire album that's memorable, this is what you want. And it is what they've delivered: a damn memorable album.

AWKWARD THOUGHT - Ruin A Good Time CD (Thorp) The fact that AT come from NYC is no surprise. It seems that playing Oi! is no longer popular except in the NY/NJ area and small parts of California. Awkward Thought are not simply Oi!, but I hear it much more over the hardcore, punk and an iota of metal. The best description would be Agnostic Front meets Negative Approach (if both were to add some big mosh breakdowns) with Choke of Slapshot on vocals. For real. Or maybe, if Electric Frankenstein met up with Exploited but picked up the pace to over 400 bpm. I was almost doing 'skinhead aerobics' to "Take Your Music and Shove It". All the song paces are menacing and at an almost blitzkrieg speed, yet catchy and highly rhythmic. Three chords my ass! Oh, and I loved that most of the songs were encyclopedic - lyrically ("Lead the Way", "Easy Way Out", etc). I mean you can't go wrong with lengthy wordage - especially when there is a semblance of a brain behind it. "Swept Under the Rug" finishes off the 14 tracks with a slow metal intro quickly evolving into a mid-paced Boston-like hardcore epic. The graphic art for the cover was great, and was done by Gary Gilmore of Wrongway Fliers... not the serial killer, which could have fooled me, as the landscape with bodies on poles (ie - Vlad the Impaler) gave this a more metal look. As they say, never judge a CD by its cover.

BARONESS / UNPERSONS - A Grey Sigh In A Flower Husk CD (At A Loss) This is a split CD between two powerful Savannah, Georgia bands. I'm familiar with the work of Unpersons through their past LPs (the self-titled album, III and IV-Self Portrait on both Life Is Abuse Records and At A Loss Records). They formed back in 1997 and have been crushing eardrums and souls with their sonance since. Baroness, on the other hand, is new to me. Baroness formed in 2003 from the remains of punk-metal band Johnny Welfare And The Paychecks. The quartet has put out two EPs (First and Second, 2003 and 2005 respectively, on Hyperrealist Records), but this is the first time I've had the pleasure. This disc opens with two tracks from Baroness that are sludgey-yet-punky - a mad mix of math rock, hardcore and stoner rock. Heavy, yet playfully intricate. Hard with the riffs, but with a few challenging guitar licks. I hear elements of Mastodon and Isis, along with Jihad or His Hero Is Gone, and just a wack of Don Caballero or The Fucking Champs. Word is they've been picked up by Relapse Records and I can hear why. Next up is the aforementioned Unpersons who sling out four sonic attacks. Everything I've ever written about them still holds. They're a rampage of Protestant-era Rorschach, Racebannon-esque madness, Neurosis-like beauty, and City of Caterpillar screamo violence. A touch of rock groove, a lick of prog-metal, and demented vocals from the bowels of the underworld. I can see why these bands were paired here... two twisted sounds, that sound great together.

BASTARD NOISE -Three Dollar Date 3" CD (Housepig) Bastard Noise was a power electronics side-project of members of California grind / power violence outfit Man Is The Bastard. After a while, MITB went the way of most bands (broke up), and Bastard Noise became the main focus of these hellions. This is a re-release of the tracks off the Three Dollar Date 7", as well as the BN tracks (from a comp with Woes Is Me, as well as Namanax) from the split 7" with Hermit. Twelve tracks of bubbling and manipulated electro-sizzle (often with vocals) that should scorch many a speaker. The layout and packaging are well done, as it's all mini-versions of the original 7" layouts. Oh, and for you old farts who can't read the small print, Housepig encloses a small magnifying glass for better gawking with each 3" CD. Glad to see these tracks are in circulation again. Thanks piggy!

BASTARD NOISE / GOVERNMENT ALPHA - Resurrection CD (Bastard Noise / Government Alpha) A near seventy minutes of tunes that made all the dogs on my block go nuts. In all honesty, nobody does power electronics or harsh noise like the Japanese. So while I like Bastard Noise, if you don't want to be outshinned, don't share a noise split with a Jap. Tokyo head-exploder Yasutoshi Yoshida is the sole knob-twirler behind Government Alpha, who is also known for his work in Mecha Dote Chin and Barom One under the pseudonym S. Isabella. His six tracks will leave many writhing on the floor or running for the doors with a Masonna / Merzbow-like punishment. I like his work on two volume levels, loud and obnoxiously painful, making neighbors look out their windows in disgust, or set low to enjoy an almost jazz-like symphony of white noise. The last three tracks are from Eric Wood, ex-member of the once-crustcore Claremont, California outfit Man Is The Bastard, and Bill Nelson who together many know by the name Bastard Noise. Their selection of tracks are almost completely opposite, though complementing, to the G.A. numbers. B.Noise start with a very quiet, almost ambient tune ("Lost City"), and then pick up harsh tones here and there in the next soundscape ("Winter Sacrifice") finally retreating to quieter times for the CD closer ("Iron Mountain"). The packaging is a simple, but beautiful, three-panel waxpaper foldout that will make just as hard reading for some, as hard listening for others.

BATTLE ROYALE - Nichts Geht Mehr CD EP (Mondo Man) Berlin, Germany's Battle Royale serve us up their second EP (the first was a self-titled, three song 7" on Vendetta Records) with their style of thick riff metal, hardcore breakdowns and crusty power blasts. The EP's openning song, "Master Noster", goes from speed picking and blast beats to a groovy breakdown and back off into insanity. The beginning of "Ersticken" is another that has a groove, later kicking into brutal metalcore. It ends just as bad-ass as it started, too: a hooky riff, without rehashing the first one. The EP finishes off with "Einen Schritt Weiter" which is equal parts early 90s death metal and gothic doom. Sadly, I have to say the drum sound is weak, though the playing is fine. One of the many highlights is that they sing in their native tongue, rather than destroying English, as well as their music. Plus, you want to know what the songs are about? Each song has an explination in English, and that's good enough for me. For you vinyl hounds, tracks one, three and five also appear on a limited 7" on Vendetta Records. So hop to it.

BATTLESTAR - s/t CD-R (Battlestar) Battlestar is an eclectic trio from Tampa, Florida. Aside from the intro (which was fine, but at five minutes was far too long, and possibly should have been placed in the middle of the disc), you get an insane dose of heavy progmetal, blended with Afro-Cuban percussion and neo-folk interludes. A lot of Battlestar comes off as if Neurosis or Isis grew up listening to lots of Cynic or Paradise Lost. Heavy psyche-rock with moments of operatic techmetal, though the track "Beat Down" is almost pure Biohazard or even Sepultura. "Maiku" calms things down a bit with its quiet guitar and lulling pace, but "Martial Law" quickly brings back that progressive, yet aggressive sound. For a demo, the sound and recording is quality, so I'm sure more, and better is to come with this introduction to the world.

BAXTER - s/t [2 x] CD (Will Not Clear Man) A posthumous two CD set by this very under-rated Illinois power-pop outfit, whose members went on to form The Lawrence Arms, The Killing Tree and Rise Against, was a nice break from what usually comes around here. The first CD is their LP (Troy's Bucket), recorded in '96, which reminds me of bands like Floodgate, Cap'n Jazz and a lot of the more indie-(punk)rock stuff on Ebullition Records in the early 90s. There are moments - brief, but there - were you hear a huge Fugazi influence - at times the singer's voice could double for Guy's. The writing is great, the vocals are good, but this record deserved a more powerful mixdown. The second CD is actually my favorite. It starts off with their entire 1997 session for their "Lost Voices..." 7 inch (3 unreleased tracks - so that's always a thumbs up from me). The sounds from that session are broader and not as easily defined as the LP. Going back and forth from heavier stuff to more mellow stuff, giving it a more emo-sounding At the Drive-In sound. Closing the disc they give you the very alpha (their demo - The Red Tape) and their omega (2 songs recorded at pedophile R. Kelly's studio while he was away shooting a video - not that kind of video!). Oh, and one song that no one has any idea when and where it was recorded. The price of these two CDs? About what you'd normally pay for one. A good deal for good music.

BELOW THE SOUND - More Like A Gunshot Than A Car Wreck CD EP (Berserker / Crucial Blast) This is some catchy noise-punk. They take some of the better elements of the stop-start, off-time heavy acts out there like Clutch, Die 116 and Helmet, at times atop of some swift punk rock grooves. The guitar has a good crunch going, and that's where most of the Clutch reference comes to mind, as guitarist C. Roy plays a low rumble - like a motorcycle starting up - followed by many a dissonant, almost solo-like riffs you might find on an old X or Dead Kennedys record. You couldn't tell, due to the full sound, but this is a 3 piece - two brothers, and another conspiring in Albuquerque, NM. The timing and chord changes are very unique, and although their sound, seemingly, has ties to the AmReptile 'school of noise', Below the Sound hold their own, with a sound that is all their own. Throughout most of the record, during the louder moments, the snare drum almost sounds like a handclap. Sadly, not a real sounding handclap, but a Casio keyboard kind of sound. It detracts from the record slightly, mostly from the first track, "Extravaganza" and that a shame, because it's a good opener. I am unsure as to where, but I have heard "Subtractive" before - maybe from a friend or even the local college radio... they have a good 'stoner' show on some weeknight. "Hot Blooded Animal" closes out the record like a record should end, with heavy riffs and crunch - going out with a bang.

BELOW THE SOUND - Three CD (Crustacean) This is some catchy noise-punk. They take some of the better elements of the stop-start, off-time heavy acts out there like The Jesus Lizard, Die 116 and Helmet. This time around topped with some southern rock leanings, as 2002's More Like A Gunshot Than A Carwreck (on Crucial Blast and Berserker), was more straight-up math-rock. Ah, the bass - she really rumbles this time around too! The timing and chord changes are originally written, and although they sonically have ties to the AmReptile 'school of noise', Below the Sound hold their own, with a sound that's all their own. All the highlights of a good record are here: heavy, catchy, and most importantly, different.

BENEA REACH - Monument Bineothan CD (Candlelight) This LP had been destroying European ears for the past six months (on Tabu Recordings), but is now getting to U.S. listeners thanks to Candlelight's USA imprint. These guys are the closest thing to Mastodon I've heard in a while, but are even more metalcore, and slightly heavier. The dual vocals are way more crushing and the guitars have the same sound as Mastodon, but sound crunchier - maybe they've downtuned 'em more so. This five piece outfit began in Oslo, Norway and formed by ex-Extol guitarist, Christer Espevoll, together with drummer Marco Storm in 2005. The music has a lot of the ethereal hardcore edge of Isis, Cult of Luna or Mastodon (especially with the guitar riffage), along with a bit of tech-metal the likes of Meshuggah, Lyzanxia or early Candiria. In parts they even smash through progressive metal barriers in the vein of Tool. The vocals are very well done, as they're mostly screamed by one guttural growler, but often trade off with a higher-pitched screamer that shrieks like someone in pain. It all makes for a well blended mix of squelching guitars, pulverizing double bass beats and solidly destructive vocals. Interestingly enough, Beanea Reach has been nominated for a freakin' Norwegian Grammy Award, so I take it that the metal underground isn't so underground anymore.

BETTER PEOPLE - White Lighter CD-R (Better People) I wish there was more information to relay, but I'm stumped, not to mention currently lazy (check out their MySpace page for more info). This disc is a forty-five minute aural landscape, and the first release from Georgia, USA's Better People (who are in league with fellow local noise-maker Sailor Winters). The quieter moments throughout the enclosed soundscapes are similar to Nurse With Wound's later, less violent works. Playfully electronic, with a percolating, even bubbling backbone. The louder, harsher moments made me think of Archon Satani and their dark, ritual music. I'd like to make a note that many involved in this musical project, as well as its packaging, are trying to get burned discs recognized as an equal format to plant-pressed CDs, and I agree. One of the many ways to help bring power to the persons! Not the people.

BEYOND THE SIXTH SEAL - Earth and Sphere CD (Life Force) I awaited this debut LP for some time now. I had heard the A Homicide Divine EP and I knew it would be big things for them, if they made changes. Well they read my mind pretty well this time around - and I'm glad I could have been of service. Yeah, I wish I had something to do with this release. Either way, they got a new vocalist, Mike of The Red Chord. He shows wider vocal range than the vocalist of the previous release, and his tone is much deeper overall. The musicians take their sound and develop its style and presentation so much better, refining and honing in on what they care for most in heavy music. This album is this month's "stuck-in-the-player" CD. The disc begins with a slightly predictable intro, the soft piano that leads into heavy insanity. Let's focus on the music. Black metal hardcore or hardcore black metal? "A Potent Wind" was my standout track. Now, about the piano that links tracks 4 and 5 ("Faceless" and "Awaken"), again highly overused in metalcore. As usual, I'm bitching for nothing. Didn't you hear me already? This is my favorite CD this month... and possibly next. "LIft High The Banner of Falseness" is like Darkest Hour playing black metal. Kurt Ballou produces another gem. And bless the fact that he turned up the volume on the bass-drums (but maybe a little too high... I have twelves in the trunk & it hurts). Though... black metal with no blasts? With that said, what more is there to talk about here, because I dare not talk about the hidden track. I'm going to take a break from reviewing, cuz when you have such a hard-on for one, what can I say about another.

BIG AUDIO DYNAMITE - Live: E=MC2 DVD (Cherry Red) There's a line from the Big Audio Dynamite track "E=MC2" that I always use, 'Somebody I never met, but either way I know," and with greater use of the internet, especially with the rise of MySpace, I use it more than ever. I agree with post-modernist thinker Michel Foucault, in that we are now more connected, yet disconnected, than ever before. Wait... where was I? Oh yeah, Big Audio Dynamite. In late 1983 The Clash, prodded by their manager Bernie Rhodes, decided to give Mick Jones the ax. It was probably alright in Jones' book, as he went on to form Big Audio Dynamite with film director Don Letts (The Punk Rock Movie), and luckily had nothing to do with The Clash's 1986 release Cut the Crap. Soon after the split with Strummer and crew Mick's new project took off in alternative circles, as it was a mix of what he was later bringing to The Clash's table: hip-hop, reggae, and a bit of dance rock. In 1990, Jones scrapped the lineup and reformed the band as Big Audio Dynamite II (later in '94 changing it to simply, Big Audio). This disc is actually B.A.D.II, and contains a near hour of the band shot (on multi-angle cameras) in London's Town and Country Club in front of a sellout crowd. They play all the early songs I really like "Medicine Show", "E=MC2" and "The Bottom Line", as well as the later chart-topper "Rush" and even a Prince cover ("1999"). This was a great video captured for fans, as well as for folks - like me - who never got to see the band live.

BIRDFLESH - Mondo Musicale CD (Candlelight) When I first heard this I thought, "drum machine", but I was wrong, drummer Smattro Ansjovis is just insane that's all - and apparently never gets tired. Crystal meth? Maybe. Anyhow, Birdflesh began in Växjö, Sweden in 1992 and have been shredding since. They release three demos, more split releases than I can count (with Misery of the Defenseless, Morbid Jesus, The Dead, Catbomb, My Flesh Creeps At Insects, Splatterhouse, Death Metal Karaoke, and a handful of others). They've also set loose on mankind the Alive Autopsy LP (on Leather Rebel in 2001 / re-released in 2004 on Razorback Records), 2002's Night of the Ultimate Mosh (on Razorback Records), Mongo Musicale in 2006 on Dental Records and a slew of EPs. Relentless and unforgiving, almost nonstop grindcore with much influence from the California power-violence scene (most notably vocally). Birdflesh features members (the aforementioned drummer) of Dethronement and General Surgery, so I expected a certain sound, again I was wrong. Birdflesh keeps tripping me up, but I go on listening. Vocally they are better than most bands of this ilk, lyrically as well, as I'm not one who minds humor squeezed into dark music. But the music... it doesn't stop. It just keeps playing and playing, bludgeoning, stomping and hurting. It does not let up, so don't look for any breaks - except the spaces between tracks that are but a brief second of silence... silence before it comes back to pound, thrash and destroy. Twenty-five tracks in all, played in just a few seconds over a half an hour, and then I hit play again on my stereo to relive all twenty-five tracks and endure another half an hour of pain. Why do I do this to myself ?! Masochist? No, just a lover of harsh, rotten sounds.

BJERGA / IVERSEN - Cosmic Surgery CD-R (Housepig) One of the things about noisicians is that their work is usually released in limited quantities, so it's no wonder to me that certain projects have slipped under my radar. Yet, with an astonishing 30+ releases, I'm unsure as to how the Bjerga / Iversen duo escaped my notice. This time around, I didn't miss out as I'm now taking in their brand of pulverizing, palpitating vibrato with the sometimes quite / sometimes loud switch of lullful hums and punishing drone. This Norwegian set (Sindre Bjerga and Jan Iversen) handed in three tracks clocking at an half-hour of beatless, yet rhythm-filled feedback and pounding amplified electronics to Houspig, who in turn schooled me on a soundtrack for my days of wandering desolate landscapes, empty warehouses and abandoned buildings. In another of this label's limited edition releases (only 100 copies), and with the folded layout and disc sleeve with pitch black and layed-on-thick artwork by Nic Schmidt, a Seattle-based lino-block printmaster, it will surely leave many noise-heads scouring eBay years from now. But, before then, give the dough to those that deserve it rightfully so by checking out the Houspig site. I mean, who wants to pay collector's prices anyhow? Except for art snobs, of course. They not only do pay out the nose, but should.

BLACK COBRA - Bestial CD (At A Loss) I'm ashamed this sat on my desk as long as it did. A month on into it, I even went to see them live and this two piece blew me away. Still, this sat on my desk. I scratch my head and wonder, 'Why?' as the riffs of the very first track begin to pummel my ears. Miami locals, ex-Cavity (Jason) and ex-16 (Rafael) members apply all that they learned in their previous skull-crushing vehicles to prove physics wrong in that maybe there can be more-with-less. Imagine a doomy drone, with Floor/Torche-like riffage blending into walls of feedback and tribal drums, often crashing into a rock-n-roll nightmare of hooky beats and catchy downtuned fuzz. At a little over an half-hour, these eleven tunes'll sound sweet to the well stoned head-bobber, but might even appeal to the whiskey-and-wheelies crowd. Yeah, I'm talkin' bout bikers, cuz them guitars sure do sound like a hardtail with dual Y pipes. Yeehaw - now lets ride!

BLACK COBRA - Feather and Stone CD (At A Loss) Two ex-Miami boys, who also partook in the bands Acid King, 16 and Cavity, bring a duo of guitars and drums - crushing everything in front of them with battery and amps galore. Their first LP, Bestial, was a favorite of mine, and this follow-up not only holds a candle to it, but will melt the wax right out of your hands. A touch of Floor (and hence Torche), as it's rather doom-laden. The new material also has moments of technicality and speed flashing by, bringing to mind Mastodon or High On Fire. The riffs spare no one, but the vocals are probably the most fierce thing here, as the vocalist is possibly tasting blood, just for your listening enjoyment. While tracks like the opener, "Five Daggers", "Below the Cusp" and "Red Tide" will burst their way into your ears, they lighten the mood at times with "Thanos" and sections of "Dragon & Phoenix" without getting soft on us. The CD is presented in digipack, and comes with enhanced Quicktime videos for "Five Daggers", Ascension" and "El Doce de Octubre". If this disc and their previous isn't enough, check out their split CD with Eternal Elysium (though it's only available in Japan, I'm sure many of you cats can hunt this down like a lame mouse).

BLACK CRUCIFIXION - Faustian Dream CD (Paragon) I can't lie... the intro isn't bad, but the sound of it made me think I was in for a hellride. Finally the guitars kick in on track two ("As Black As the Roses"), and I'm feeling a little better about this. Then the vocals begin, and I'm starting to like this a whole lot more. Operatic gothic metal, where the vocals are actually sung - not far off of Type O Negative (but better). Featuring members of Beherit, they formed in '91 and released two EPs (The Fallen One of Flames and Promethean Gift), later recording Faustian Dreams, but then scrapping the band altogether. In '05 they reformed and decided to leave behind much of their earlier black metal sound, though hints do pop up here and there. At times I think of Celtic Frost, but BC really do sound like a much better Type O Negative. Sorry Pete!

BLACK ELK - s/t CD (Crucial Blast) Straight up rock-n-roll from the land of the waterfalls just north of California. From the Pacific Northwest's Oregon comes four chaps who are fine with all that rain, as it keeps them in the garage with the knobs up to ten (fine... eleven). Their decca-songed debut spills in my ear like The Jesus Lizard with more emphasis on guitar. Helmet, Melvins, Halo of Flies and Surgery on a weekend weed and whiskey bender in a recording studio out on some foggy mountain range. Vocally punishing, but lyrically amusing, the songs tell tales of alienation, anger and abuse, all written with with a bit of wisdom, as well as wit. Sometimes coming off as a rocked out Skinny Puppy, other times Karp with a dance groove. Another release from Crucial Blast to have you worshipping your speakers. Now, kick it up to ten. Fine... eleven.

BLANK GENERATION / DANCING BAREFOOT DVD (Music Video Distributors) I found Dancing Barefoot, to be interesting in a sort of Behind the Music feel without the annoying VH1 narrorator. A brief history lesson for me about one Ivan Kral and his stints in bands like Blondie, Iggy Pop and the Patti Smith Band - which at times almost seemed as if the documentry was about her. He wound up playing for John Waite (mid 80s pop icon - once called "a more acceptable Billy Idol") and later played Euro-pop in his last musical outfit. I never knew he existed, but I'm wrapped up in my own world anyway. The first half of this double feature is Blank Generation, a collection of Ivan Kral and Amos Poe's 8mm films and taped recordings of early New York punk legends. You have the Ramones, Blondie (pre-"Call Me" days), Talking Heads (a nice favorite), the ever infamous Television, Buster Poindexter's original crew (NY Dolls) and a few others. Recorded mostly at CBGBs in the mid 70s - live concert footage as well as off stage antics - artsy, trashy and stylish.

BLOOD OF THE BLACK OWL - s/t CD (Bindrune) Blood of the Black Owl originally started as Svart Ugle (releasing a three song demo) in 2004, but soon opted for the name change. Even so, the solo artist behind BOTBO has been fiddling with music for some time, though not so much in the field of metal, as Chet W. Scott was better known for his experimental, neo-folk and pagan music projects Ruhr Hunter and The Elemental Chrysalis. The switch over doesn't mess with his musical credibility whatsoever, as I've always found the fundamentals of dirge and doom to be rather folky in their musical progressions, just seriously amplified. Anyhow, this self-titled album under a new moniker is a little over an hour, and packed with elements of his old sounds delightfully crashing into newer vehicles. What Blood of the Black Owl emits is a mostly funeral dirge, with some aspects of black metal (guitar play and vocals), all the while laced with field recordings (wolf calls, wind blowing, crickets) and pagan instruments (ox's horn, brass bells, clay ocarina, etc). The vocals are interestingly laid down, as there is hardly a word throughout, but instead we are creeped out to a mix of whispered hisses, howls of pain, and a throaty growl not unlike the Nepalese vocal meditations of Bonist monks - all of which I would think more black metalists would want to copy. Already mentioning that this is over an hour, at eight songs, you know these musical numbers are in epic lengths, ranging from seven to thirteen minutes and often traveling as slow as refrigerated syrup, yet holding my interests throughout. The future looks bright for this CW Scott project, but I'm sure he'll want to keep the music as dark as possible.

BLOOD RED - Hostage (Initial) This is almost like U2 added hardcore to their repertoire back in 1986. Owes much to bands that were doing a lot of this in the early 90s, like Quicksand, Orange 9mm, Reason to Believe, Blindfold, Ashes, Sensefield and The Fountainhead. Hardcore music that owes as much to indie-rock bands like Samiam and Hüsker Dü, than to Judge, Wide Awake or Headfirst. The vocals do not always match the music well, as the track "Self Defense" proves this better than the rest. But for all it's worth there are many highlights to this record, as the musicianship is very good and beyond being simply well played, but again... stick to the screaming. Definitely for fans who enjoy those doing this style today, Errortype: 11 and Boysetsfire come to mind. But after track 6 - woosh. "Our Lady of Mayhem" woah! Should have thought about that one harder before releasing that number. If I were back in 1993, after most of those aforementioned bands broke up, I would have cherished side one of my vinyl copy (I had not purchased a CD until 1995). Side two would have been virginal.

BLOOD TSUNAMI - Thrash Metal CD (Candlelight) What an apt title for this forty minute ride of thrash metal mayhem. This Oslo, Norway quartet feature new blood, as well as an ex-member of Emperor (drummer Faust Eithun). Forming in 2004, and with the release of only a demo they were touring all over their home country, and soon got the notice of some labels. On Blood Tsunami's debut LP much of the riffs and breakdowns bring to my mind newer schools of metalcore the likes of Darkest Hour, Dead to Fall and As I Lay Dying, but the awesome guitar solos are pure old school in the vein of Overkill, Exodus and Testament. There are moments of European thrash (Sodom, Kreator) and American thrash (Slayer, Nuclear Assault), and the vocals (done by Pete Evil, host of Norwegian Mtv’s Headbanger's Ball) are a raspy screech more familiar with black metal, but they fit here just fine and bring something newer to the thrash table. While they do have slower moments, and the previously mentioned breakdowns, they usually keep the beats fast and furious at over 300 bpm. They get my praise alone for the ten-minute "Godbeater", which is a punishing mid-paced, riff-mad instrumental featuring guitar solo after guitar solo. The Saxon-esque cover work is also top notch. This is a killer debut of retro-thrash that makes me wish I owned some spiked wristbands and a denim jacket.

BLOWFLY - Fahrenheit 69 CD (Alternative Tentacles) It took punk legend Jello Biafra to currently school many of you all on the legend of Blowfly, but he was schooled himself. Developed in his early childhood ('you is nastier than a blowfly') by the twisted mind of Clarence Reid, who became the first 'dirty rapper' (he also recorded 'clean' numbers for the likes of K.C. and the Sunshine Band and Betty Wright). Beginning with 1965's Rap Dirty 12" (T.K. Records) and following it up with close to forty more releases and even a documentary film, The Twisted World of Blowfly. Still, chances are you never heard of him, and if it wasn't for local journalist Tom Bowker (who set up Blowfly's new band, as well as slapping drums) you probably never would have had the dirty, little pleasure either. The 2005 Blowfly is a little over a half hour of parodies, skits and originals in a voodoo cauldron of hip-hop-rock-punk-funk. Guest appearances by King Coleman (on "Hail to the 'Fly"), The Remnants' Dominic Siriani ("Blowfly for President"), Afroman ("Pimpin' Policy"), Slug ("The Great Debate"), Sound 4 Sound's original guitarist Chris Chavez and more. Hell, I'm backing the campaign - 2008 - Blowfly for president!

BLUT AUS NORD - The Works Which Transforms God CD (Candlelight) This is the fifth release for French soloist-gone-trio, Blut Aus Nord. Candlelight is making a hefty claim when they write in their one-sheets, 'the musical equivalent of Mayhem sodomizing Neurosis with a Godflesh joystick.' Though, damn it if it doesn't hold a semblance of truth. I'd like to compare their older material to this and see how their more-black-metal stuff holds up, but all of BAN's previous material was almost impossible to get in American hands, so I ain't got squat. Now, Blut Aus Nord's newest release starts quiet enough, with the experimental noise opener "End", but quickly takes off like a rocket launching into the speedy bpms of "Density". Black metal blast beats and eerie vocal screeches are here (the previously mentioned "Density", "Metamorphosis" and "Devilish Essence"), but sparse and peppered throughout the disc, as their newer Neurosis-like sound envelopes much more of this record. You'll find more experimental noise pieces ("The Fall" and "Our Blessed Frozen Cells") as well as six to seven minute epics, and even lush, yet dissonant instrumentals ("The Supreme Abstract"). This LP would be a thousand times better than it already is if it wasn't for the old Roland 909 highhat sound, but it did bring to mind early Godflesh. Come and see how wrong we are to think the French are all about wine, snails and frog legs. Well, maybe eye of newt.

BLUTCH - Materia CD (At A Loss) Raging from the town of Doms (in Belgium) these three doom hounds are slowly paving everyone under with their Melvins-esque tinged doom-metal. Before At A Loss Recordings got a hold of this European trio they had already self-released two CD demos, as well as later releasing two full-length albums on a Belgium label, Enjoy your Flight (on Delboy Records 2001) and Fra Diavolo (2003, also on Delboy). Forming at the very end of the last millennium, they're been carving a sludgey path forward with their downtuned guitars, as it wasn't until this release that they've gotten a good hold of North American ears. Definitely don't judge this by the opener, cuz it's over within seconds. "Beguiling Comer" is an epic ocean of wave after wave of oncoming riffs. "Masamune" is a sludgy mass of metal ending in an almost tribal drone. "Moving Ground" picks up the pace a bit with its beat and screams, but only until the closing ambient track ("Confutatis") lulls you off the record with its eerie hums and echoing clacks. The band seems very 'hands-on' because a members had a hand in everything from the recording to the layout (done by drummer Pask Storme) - just one of the many freedoms of independent labels. I'm sure many an American and Canadian will be thrilled to now have the pleasure of their ears being rent asunder by the hard rock / doom riffs of Blutch.

BORIS - Pink CD (Southern Lord) This Japanese trio always manages to keep me on my toes, as well as delighted. Pink opens up with a shoegazer-like number that made me scratch my head a bit, but kicked into the title-track so hard, I found it near impossible to breathe. Melvins and Kyuss meet The Hives and Division of Laura Lee out in the most arid of regions for some dessert sessions. A 70's acid-drenched rock and roll fuzzfest being kept on the road by the flimsy guardrail that is punk. There are straight-up rock tracks ("Woman On the Screen", "Electric"), '77 garage-punk ("Nothing Special", "Six Three Times"), doomy drone ("Blackout") and closing it all off with the shoegazer quality of the opening track ("Farewell", "Just Abandoned My-Self"). If you're unfamiliar and want to stay after class, or just need more rock-n-roll, Boris' first three are also on Southern Lord (Absolutego [2000], Amplifier Worship [2003] and 2005's Akuma No Uta).

BOXER REBELLION - s/t CD (Creep) A rather new band (formed in 2003) from the southeast of Pennsylvania is seeing good things comin' when they're already on their début LP. I like the mixing of street punk, NY / DC hardcore (ala Bad Brains) , Samiam-esque emocore. Boxer Rebellion will often play a more straight forward hardcore style: fast and furious... a little pissed off. At other times the style comes off sounding like Hot Water Music, with melodies and the call-and-return vocals. The lyrics to "Election Day" were almost as good as the song, even quoting 'fascist mistaken as liberal' Thomas L. Friedman's, 'One dollar, one vote,' (in his pro-gobalization spew The Lexus and the Olive Tree, pg 296). I hate ska, at least new ska (nothing after 1989... well, okay - maybe Operation Ivy), and the one-sheet makes mention that they throw in a little 'ragga-rage'. I was skeptical of this entire release when I read that, but when it first comes in on "Let the Chains Fall" (track four) they drop actual reggae and with style and soul, instead of distorting an entire island's culture. I especially like it when followed by even more powerful music, like the pure hardcore "History in the Making" and then the emo-tinged "Instigate". I can see this getting fans from the Rancid crowd, as well as the Bad Religion scene. Either way, I'm sure this output can probably land them a spot on Warped Tour, and the kids will be front row with spoons.

BRANDTSON - Death & Taxes CD EP (Deep Elm) I have a big space in my heart for emocore. I grew up on hardcore, and much of it was from New York and the D.C. area. So when NY started getting heavier, I liked it. And when DC started getting softer, I liked that too. Now in 2003, I admit I like the sugary stuff too. So, three LPs and two EPs later, Brandtson still have much hidden under their sleeves as nothing here is lackluster. A mix of snotty post-punk ala Jawbreaker and emo-hardcore similar to Hot Water Music - but where the vocals are closer to Jimmy Eat World or 32forty. "On Three" is a catchy number. It kinda freaks me out, because it could easily pass for something played on Mtv. They somewhat push the pop-envelope, but without getting lost in the glassy-eyed glitz of submitting to catchy rhythms of the lowest common denominator. Much hardcore is still heard here, but songs like "In the Pills" and "In A Word" remind me more of bands like Catherine Wheel and Low, than Rites of Spring or Reason to Believe.

BUILDING THE STATE - Faces in the Architecture CD EP (Amnot) Impressed. A simple word that says a lot about whomever you're speaking of. And that is what I am at this moment: impressed. For songs of shoegazer-esque indie rock, clocking in at twenty minutes. Building the State formed in 2003 in the hills of Gainesville, FL and are currently residing in the concrete jungle that is Brooklyn, NY. In 2004 they self-released a self-titled, four song EP, and later their debut album, The Flood is the Feeling, in 2006 (on Atlas Records), but this newest work totally blows their previous outings out of the water. Lush guitar that brings to mind newer Interpol, emotional instrumental interludes that evoke Explosions In The Sky, and warm vocals that are not far off later Appleseed Cast. A definite for fans of any of the previously mentioned bands, as well as Mogwai, Sunny Day Real Estate, The Velvet Teen, or Maserati. I wish I could say more, but sometimes I get tongue-tied over certain tunes, and this EP almost leaves me speechless.

BURMESE / FISTULA - s/t CD (Crucial Blast) Burmese! You have made me a fucking social pariah. I play this disc ALL THE TIME! Though I've learned now not to play the bands back to back. Now each band gets separate listenings. Burmese and Fistula are both great, but everyone just wigs out as I blast the hell out the the first ten songs. Burmese are a split electro / organic outfit that play a mix of grindcore and power violence mixed with harsh noise and power electronics. The likes of fashion designer Massona fist fucking Spazz, Infest and Man Is the Bastard in an orgy of bass and feedback. I won't try and dissect song per song, as I think it's like an opera... you just have to hear the whole thing to truly appreciate it. Fistula comes on and the mood chills. It seems like what they're smoking in "Green Lung" is coming through the speakers. People are more at ease, but they don't forgive me. They want those first ten tracks erased from their memories. They sneer at me, they plot. Woah, I think I'm just getting paranoid.

BURNOWT - Nature of Cruelty CD (Akhenation) This is some pretty good metalcore from a label I would never have expected it from. Akhenation did help with the Scumdrunk demo, but this is much harder-edged, I think. Head bobbing, mosh loving chugga-chugga with insane, high pitched, gargled screams, and guttural barks every so often. As if Spazz wrote longer, more metallic songs. At times it's very metal with speed picking, dual guitars, dissonance and intricate solos. Other times it's total hardcore with mosh breakdowns, balled fists and riffs that make you want to 'pick up change'. I honestly didn't care for the (attempts at) singing on "George", "Killtime Frenzy", "Suffocated Wounds" and the records closer, "Driven By Hate", but they are so brief that they don't upset the total flow of the LP. The lyrics are lengthy and wordy, which is always good - even better when there seems to be a brain behind it ("One Too Many" & "Self Mutilation"). A definite for fans of Brooklyn based metalcore (like Candiria) or some of the better bands on the Roadrunner roster.

BURNS OUT BRIGHT - Distance and Darkness CD EP (Deep Elm) I always love the 3" packed as a five inch deal. I had only heard Burns Out Bright from a South Carolina split record with Last to Know and Dade County Resistance (a record I admittedly bought because I live in Dade County and was curious of that band's name and sound). As for Burns Out Bright, I had liked what I previously heard, so I was pretty interested when I pulled this out of the Deep Elm envelope. Didn't even listen to it and I put it in the 'definitely review pile'. Yeah... Deep Elm knows good music. There are just as many moments of actual hardcore, as there are of emotive indie-rock on this teaser of an EP. The disc's opener "Crowded Streets, Empty Skies" goes from brief spurts of speed-picking (not so much in a metal sense) and hardcore-punk beats into something more akin to what Jets to Brazil do. Yes there are moments that bring to mind Thursday, while not coming off as a copy or clone. They just have the fury of hardcore, as well as the sensitive moments of pop-rock ("Watership Down", "Prodigal"). For all you south Florida kids, they have a sound not far off from Miami's 32forty, or even Naples' The Anchorite Four.

BUTTHOLE SURFERS - Blind Eye Sees All DVD (Music Video Distributors) From the Texan legends of art (punk) rock comes a concert video that took too many years to re-see the light of day, as it was originally a Touch & Go video released in the later 80s. Truly though, better late than never. I'm not big on later Butthole material, but a fan of their first four albums, and this concert has everything I could want - except the song "Sweet Loaf", but I forgive. Recorded in 1985, at two seperate shows within a month at Detroit's Traxxx, all captured on four to five good camera angles, and, my favorite, the sound is - for a 1985 punk show at some out-of-the-way dive - excellent. Thirteen tracks of everything from their heavy punk rhythms, to brass instruments making an appearance. Interjected between tracks are excerpts of an interview - you can also watch it separately in it's entirety - with the complete band, in bed, smoking pot, eating pizza and rambling - as if on acid. All ending on a quirky note as the 10-minute LSD-punk jam "PSY" plays and fades out with Gibbey Haines walking buck-naked in the snows of Detroit. The DVD extras would be impressive to many Butthole fans, I'm sure, as you get an extra live song recorded in 1991, and the picture gallery option show old flyers, as well as newer photos, while playing a rare version of their "American Woman" cover song, originally release as a 5" single. Releases like this make me lug out my old records - yes, vinyl - but I don't mind a bit.

CALL ME LIGHTNING - The Trouble We're In CD (Revelation) Milwaukee, Wisconsin's Call Me Lightning features ex-members of Hero of a Hundred Fights, Haymarket Riot, and Akarso, and offer us (via Revelation Records) their debut album. The music is very bass driven, almost as if Ikara Kolt were playing less punk and more no-wave. Sometimes coming off as if At the Drive-In were being bloodied up by The Jesus Lizard. "Ghost in the Mirror" brought to mind CBGB's era Talking Heads. "Pizza Party" was spastic, but filled with hooks - as was "Ghouls" (love that scream at the beginning). The album wraps it up with "Be the Lightning", a frantic, sorta half ballad / half screamo number. Admittedly, I'm not down with the lyricless, art-for-art's-sake waste of paper that is the layout. All those panels and no lyrics, but seemingly unnecessary artwork... not that art is unnecessary.

CANVAS SOLARIS - Cortical Tectonics CD EP (Sensory) Insane! How can anyone remember time changes, riffs, breaks and bridges like this? Canvas Solaris began in 1999 in the state of Georgia as a technical death metal outfit, but have grown into so much more. Sometime along the way CS decide to drop their vocalist, and as a three piece, focus their talents on instrumental mayhem with a nod to acts like Cynic and Spiral Architect. In 2003 they released their debut, the Spatial / Design four track EP, and following it up with 2004's Sublimination album (both on Tribunal Records). They were soon picked up by Sensory Records (a subdivision of Laser's Edge Records) and gave the world the LP Penumbra Diffuse in 2006. On their newest endeavor, Cortical Tectonics, they blast through some technical mathrock-inspired grooves ala Don Caballero or The Fucking Champs, with a psychotic jazzcore element the likes of Dillenger Escape Plan, and progressive metal tangents not far off of King Crimson or later Rush. A very unique ingredient to their sound are the additions of Afro-Caribbean world music and even touches of reggae (most notably on "Interface"). To me, "Gamma Knife" and the epic (near 20 minute) "Recticular Consciousness" are the two standout tracks because they incorporate so many everything this band is trying to do: from spastic moments of Voivod metal to quite passages in the vein of The Mahavishnu Orchestra. While this is great for folks into Dysrhythmia or Stinking Lizaveta, Canvas Solaris will probably find just as many new fans in the dark cervices of differing genres.

CAPTURE THE FLAG - Start from Scratch CD (Go Kart) We loved 'em for the Stooges, but were a little pissed over Eminem. So Detroit threw this trio at us, and while I'm still a little weary - Capture the Flag will do for now. Imagine if you mix Samiam (one of my all time favorite bands), with the dirty guitar sound ala Leatherface, or more recently, Gunmoll. Not impressed? You might just classify this as some emocore record - true. But it also adds mad guitar solos and stabs at 80s power rock that add an early Cars sound to it as well. There isn't a song on here that's a miss. They're all powerful and catchy - but a few standouts would be the emotive "609", the bounce-up-and-down "The Enemy Hand", the thrashy "This is Worthless", and the album's title track and closer. Oh, not a single melodramatic, acoustic numbers anywhere - just fast to mid paced beats and power chords. The lyrics are an interesting stream of soul-searching, psychoanalysis and a little finger pointing. Third time's a charm as the sound is better than their previous Conquer the World releases. Let's see - what is this? Their third LP. Yeah, it's about time Interscope/Atlantic comes by and tries to ruin things.

CATHETER - Dimension 303 CD (Self Made God) As much as the van these fucks ride in must stink like hell, I'd go along as a roadie. The crowds must smell ungodly too, but they must be a blast to take part in. They will all soon look like they smell... dead. Why? Metallic crustcore, you fucks! Fast, furious, and just a bit fun. Ten split releases of hyper-thrash since '99 got them an LP in 2003 (Preamble to Oblivion) and since then another trio of split release gets them the attention of Self Made God for this new release. Eighteen tracks of an amalgam of everything ever put out on Slap A Ham Records. This Denver trio maxes out their amps almost as much as their vocals and drummer max out their personal energy. A trio of speeds, slow, fast and super-fast fronted by a trio of vocals ranging from high-pitched screams to low-end growls. Also, I really like the cover art by John Santos, but it may be because it brought to mind Pushead (take that as a compliment!).

CATTLE DECAPITATION - Human Jerky CD (Satan's Pimp) This is Cattle Decapitation's first LP (which I heard sold out its entire pressing in less than one week), finally available on CD - and it's all digitally remastered. Eighteen tracks of goregrind and hardcore grind, coming from an ex-member of the The Locust (Dave Astor, who plays the drums like no other man, or machine). What can you say about a band that most of the eighteen song titles are either about gastrointestinal problems or throwing up, yet maintains links to both PETA and Church of Euthanasia? Okay, the songs themselves are not about those topics in specific. They are much more about humanity's sickening over consumption and religious folly, but yes they cover vegitarianism. Vegitarian Death Metal? I like it. The music is similar to bands like Rotten Sound - extreme blasts, Swede harmonics, many props to Cannibal Corpse and Carcass. As an extra we get PC enhanced stuff featuring live footage and a downloadable desktop, which contains artwork by Venezuelan artist Nelson Garrido. I still have to say that the vocals are my least favorite part of Cattle Decapitation ( and the fact that To Serve Man is their best record), but I love their music, as well as their message.

CELEBRITY MURDERS - Time to Kill Space CD (Chainsaw Safety) Hey, I thought this was supposed to come out on Reptilian? Anyhow, from the label that released New York's Celebrity Murders one-sided 7" comes a CD of nineteen tracks (seventeen with two unlisted - covers?) of hardcore madness. The band Celebrity Murders has been around for only two to three years and was formed by members of Kill Your Idols (Mike DeLorenzo), plus Indecision and The Shemps (Artie Phile). Fast and pissed off. Scratchy, yelling vocals backed up by pissed and raw hardcore-punk music. An upstate NY sound (very similar to Born Against) blended with old school Boston chanting choruses (SS Decontrol). Maybe Citizens Arrest with a more modern sound, yet trying to sound like an even older band? Eh, close. This will be big for fans of NYHC - from Absolution and Life's Blood to Sick Of It All and Violent Children (I couldn't come up with a NY band that began with Z... plus V.C. are from CT).

CELEBRITY MURDERS - The Island Of Man Eating Rats 7" EP (Chainsaw Safety) This somewhat new Long Island, NY band features Artie Philie (on vocals) of Milhouse and Indecision, and also has members of Those Of Us and Halfman. The demo was so loved, label after label offered 7"es galore, so you know their sound is tight. This CM release is their debut (other than the demo) and is a one sided, four song seven inch disc. Three killer tracks, which originally appeared on the demo, and a Life's Blood cover are on the musical side (the side you can actually play), while you have a hand-screened print on the reverse side (very nice touch). Musically, they're mixing many elements of early NY hardcore (NY City and upstate NY - similar to bands like Sick Of It All and the aforementioned Life's Blood) with their own angered twists. You know... fast and pissed off. Scratchy, yelling vocals and raw hardcore-punk music. If you liked the demo, this one's a keeper. This release is limited... so if you miss it, keep your ears peeled for more future releases, as they're recording a new LP late 2004.

CELESTIA - Apparitia: Sumptuous Spectre CD (Paragon) Class is in session, so read along. Celestia is a black metal quartet that was formed in Avignon, France, in 1995 by Noktu Geiistmortt (who is also a member of the duo Mortifera, as well as playing in Genocide Kommando and Gestapo 666). They released a few demos, but were really noticed after their A Cave Full of Bats EP (on Drakkar Productions) in 1999. They released a few 7"es and splits, but 2002 saw the original release of Celestia's Apparitia - Sumptuous Spectre LP (on Full Moon Productions), though the mixdown was pretty rough and somewhat flawed. They disbanded after another album in 2003 (Crucified Dead Flesh) and a few more demos. Newly reformed, Paragon Records will be putting out a new LP later in '07, but to give a classic the release it truly deserved, they are re-releasing the Apparitia album with a proper mix, remastered and with a new sleeve to boot (with photography by French artist Andy Julia). The music is true-to-form black metal. Bleak and somewhat minimalist, with haunting buzzsaw guitars, blast beats and screechy witch-like vocals. Unlike many black metal records, the bass guitar isn't just heard well here, it's played really well too. Very cool that this sees the light of day, I mean night, again. Better so in that it got the reworking it needed.

CELESTIA - Frigidiis Apotheosia: Abstinencia Genesiis CD (Paragon) Celestia is a melancholic black metal band from Avignon, France. Forming around lead member Noktu Geiistmortt (who also plays in Mortifera, Genocide Kommando and Gestapo 666) in 1995, they soon released their Evanescence demo and then the sophomore EP effort, A Cave Full of Bats (on Drakkar Productions in 1999). The next few years saw the band producing a handful of demos, their first LP CD (Apparitia: Sumptuous Spectre in 2002 on Full Moon Productions, and re-released on Paragon Records), a live release, and a few split releases with Draugwath, Inferno, Evil and Goatfire. Frigidiis Apotheosia: Abstinencia Genesiis is the latest release and we hear the sound maturing, as the album is a bit more intense than their usual minimalist black metal. This time around you get eight songs (45 minutes) of atmospheric, yet menacing guitars, mixed with a little bit of keys, acoustics and pipes. The music stays fast paced throughout most of the songs, but they do slow things down without getting too deep into doom. A nice addition to Paragon's roster, as well as earlier work with the band.

CELESTIAL - Desolate North CD (Bindrune) Celestial is one-man 'band' from Minnesota - one dark man, but like I've been quoted, 'The darkest character contains the brightest spirit." Hell, if not, why do you think there's so many sounds from nature on this recording? Yes, it is funeral dirge, as slow as mountains move and as seas regress. Yet, hardly to no guitar, but lots of keyboards, harps, even Native American flutes, all with samples of birds, crickets and running water. The vocals are in the doom vein of being guttural and gloomy, but fit into the thundering dirge well. Due to Celestial's use of synthetic soundscapes and aural textures, over organic 'rocking out', I'm tempted to call Desolate North death ambient, as much as I'd like to classify it as funeral doom.

CHRISTIAN DEATH - Live DVD (Cleopatra / MVD) When I was in high school I didn't much like Christian Death for one simple reason; I saw photos of Rozz Williams nailing a cat to a crucifix. Fuck the cross, I cared about the cat! No matter how many times I tried, I couldn't get past Mr. Williams photo-op with the little kitty disemboweled. In time though, the shock wore off and I listened with an open mind. So, who was the real godfather of the modern day gothic movement - Ian Curtis (Joy Division) or Rozz Williams. Neither actually played goth... well, Christian death didn't start out playing goth, but highly influence that particular scene. Either way, this live DVD concert is fun on many levels. First off, there were no cats injured - always a plus! Second, you should get into this if you're a fan of old Christian Death, becasue it is the original line-up (before Williams left to form a second Christian Death), appearing here in a 10 year reunion show, so you get to hear all the classics from the first records as well as the later goth gems. Thirdly, if you're a fan of gothic music. They play mostly their later material, but when they hit the older stuff, Williams gives it his all to appeal to new fans as well as old. Lastly, if you are a student of sociology. Why? Watch the dedaucery that goes along with this genre of music. Does any metal or hardcore singer try to make out with every girl in the front row - and if they do try - do they succeed every time? The gothic music scene is almost nothing more than pent up teens and twenty-somethings who prefer the dark side of life, all trying to hook up. Mr Williams, rest in peace, is just giving the crowd what they want... herpes. You also get (and this was one of the highlights for me) two unreleased tracks by one of Rozz Williams' (better) side projects, Premature Ejaculation while you watch a photo gallery of some interesting moments - as well as graphics - in Williams' career.

CIRCUS MAXIMUS - Isolate CD (Sensory) Circus Maximus is a Norwegian gang of five that knows what progressive metal should sound like. They originally formed in 2000, in the city of Oslo, and were actually a cover band that was known for tackling exceptionally difficult songs by other power metal outfits. They began to realize their talents were being wasted on performing other's music, so they began to write their own material. In 2005 they released their freshman effort, The First Chapter, on Frontiers Records. Their sophomore, Isolate, is a prog-metal masterwork - mixing technical guitar wizardry, insane keyboard riffs, amazing drumming and powerful vocals. Everything - from instruments to singing - is at the top of its game. The music ranges from heavy metal ("A Darkened Mind") to epic numbers ("Mouth of Madness") to ballads ("Zero"). The Circus Maximus sound puts out almost as much synth, as guitar work, as Isolate is equal parts keyboards and guitars in its mix of gothic metal, power metal and progressive metal, and even treading a path on some new ground. Yet, CM continue to put out a powerful sound that has made them a big name in progressive metal cliques. A must for those that are into Kamelot and Symphony X, and while many may claim that this a carbon copy of early Dream Theater... well, DT's later work never recaptured their early sound, so CM have just picked up the torch. Great to see this band dump the covers over working on their own talents.

CLOCK HANDS STRANGLE - Redshift / Blueshift CD (Team Grizzly) Clock Hands Strangle are five piece friends, which consist of the standard quartet of vocals, guitars, bass and drums, but also adding a multitalented instrumentalist that handles piano, trombone and even a glockenspiel. They're from sunny Melbourne, FL and Redshift / Blueshift is their debut LP. Like the title's namesake (two physics terms for light that is traveling away from us and towards us) the album seems to be split into two types of music: acoustic neo-folk ("Redshift", "Sing It!"), and indie rock with a little country flavor ("Elegy for a Star", "Photographer"). It seems that much of this album is influenced by new school alt-bands like Iron & Wine, Ryan Adams and Wilco, as well as older folk music such as Woody Guthrie, Peter Seegar and Joan Baez. While I do hear those influences, much of it plays to me like Pinback, later The American Analog Set, or Peter, Bjorn and John. Lyrically, they're just as complex, as Todd Portnowitz sings of scientific wonder, natural phenomenon, and spouts philosophical ponderings on friendship, religion and the nature of almost everything. Though I can pretty much make out what he's singing, I'm a little bummed there's no lyric sheet, but I'll forgive 'em.

CONVERGE - The Long Road Home DVD (Deathwish Inc.) Can you see the drool emitting from the screen? I have been waiting for this DVD since Iodine Records said they would be releasing it back in 2001. Well Deathwish Inc. (J. Bannon of Converge's label) have taken it for themselves as an "official" Converge release and run with it. All very well might I add. Every show segment picked from fan footage for this release is energetic, powerful and sometimes totally out of control. 21 song segments (with 23 songs), three full live shows (from Germany, Boston & New York) and a video for "Downpour". Everything here is worth watching twice or more! The footage of a packed-to-the-rafters warehouse in Providence where they play "Conduit" is great. Seeing the Converge guys going from the earliest of shows in '97 to just last year was a time-condensing wild ride. From a five piece to a four piece. Long hair, short hair, no hair. With tattoos and without. Kind of like watching your favorite band mature in many ways. The packaging is amazing for an independent label, with its slide-out gatefold insert and bright color schemes. I love Converge, almost since the very beginning - but do I agree with the larger-than-life statements made in the band biography? Not really. Ahead of the crowd they may have been, and forward they went, but I don't think the Sun would have burnt out if they had never formed.

CHARLES MANSON SUPERSTAR DVD (Eclectic) Charles Manson Superstar has been almost impossible to get for many years, except for poor bootlegged video copies. Later, it was available for a while on Screen Edge (UK), but many find problems with overseas DVD regions or NTSC video compatability - or they just plain gave up. Now widely available from those 'with a good nose' over at Eclectic, this, by far, has been my favorite Manson item for a while. Originally relased in 1989, directed, and voiced-over by ex-Church of Satan member, and once Radio Werewolf frontman, Barry Du... er, I mean, Nikolas Schreck (female voice-over by Zeena LaVey, daughter of Anton Lavey, founder of the Church of Satan). What can I say, old schisms and trash talk aside - this is the best documentary on Charles Manson you can find. The interview portions in comparrison to other Manson interviews is rather tame. Mostly, it's his relaxed manerisms. I think he enjoyed speaking to director Schreck, so he wasn't hostile and making as many threatening movements the public so wants to see from their self-imposed boogyeman. What evens out the interview are the interesting questions. Schreck knows the Manson case's more esoteric highlights and little-known points of interests. Admitedly, when I interviewed Manson (several years after seeing Schreck's work) I couldn't help, but to ask similar questions, in hopes he would spill something to me he hadn't mentioned before - no luck. Schreck gets much more out of him, but not as much as many would like. For generally unknown facts, weird coincendences and rare footage, this is a treasure trove for sick puppies, like ourselves, who love to know everything about Manson case and the mystique behind Charles Manson. The DVD of this new edition contains some of Manson's music, a bio on Nikolas Schreck and a photo gallery. It's also very nice to see that the original cover artwork by Joe Coleman has not been replaced.

CHROME / HELIOS CREED - Dual Forces DVD (Music Video Distributors) First school's in session: Chrome was started by Damon Edge in the mid-70s as a psychedelic glam rock band, but soon after meeting guitarist Helios Creed, they became the techno-punk outfit many fell in love with. A rock-n-roll band very much ahead of their time (practically inventing Drum 'N' Bass - check out the 1979 LP Alien Soundtracks for proof). This DVD collects all the known Chrome music videos from 1980 - 83 ("Dangerzone", "Meet You In the Subway", etc) as well as a brief live show (bad sound though). The disc also contains all Helios Creed music videos (in case you are unaware HC went on to do half a dozen solo albums after Edge's death), as well as a Helios live show (good sound quality here). As an extra you get a timeline of the band too. If you aren't a fan, don't go starting with this, but once you are... come back.

CLAIR DE LUNE - Assisted Living CD (Deep Elm) I had received Clair De Lune's previous LP, Marionettes (also on Deep Elm), and while I didn't dislike it, I was kinda left unimpressed, so I didn't give it a review. Well, these five chaps from Minneapolis, Minnesota have returned to slap me in the face for my insolence. Rightly so too, so I'll turn the other cheek. Their sophomore release is a mix of stomping and catchy popcore ("Killjoy", "I'm A People Person") in a style similar to of At the Drive-In or Sparta, and beautifully written, yet melancholy numbers like the title track and "Catapults" which brought to mind Koufax's or ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead's quieter moments. This blending works well because the album starts off powerful and hooky, quickly lulling you into an almost self-reflective mood, and coming right back to make you realize we're all crazy, fucked-up characters together in a world gone mad... so let's dance, then ending in the fitful though doleful melody of "Criminal" that makes you sigh and want to play this all over again. I'm not only fond of their second album, but this time around, I'm damned impressed. One interesting aspect of this release is that its limited to only 1000 discs to encourage digital sales via downloading (read: not file sharing), as the downloadable version comes with an extra track not available on the CD version. Also, this release is the first of a few that will not available in stores to encourage mail order. I think that this will help cure some people's musical apathy, as many shoppers tend to buy what they happen to come across. This makes fans get up off their ass and hunt things down, while relieving the record label a year down the line by not receiving back all the copies that sat in stores. There's a reason why they call this independent rock, you know.

THE CONTROL - Glasseye CD (Go Kart) When Buffalo, NY's The Control released their last EP (their third, The Forgotten, which was also on Go Kart), I found it a great four song teaser. I have looked forward to the constantly belated release of this, their first full length LP since. And, I have not been let down. Hardcore, yo! Hardcore old school, yo! Many can state that The Control's sound is based on late 80s hardcore (I hear Slapshot and Turning Point to Wide Awake and Headfirst). When listening to this new LP you hear in their sound that they have matured. A touch of the later branches of 90s NYHC is present. Everything from the more 'alternative influenced' schools, like Burn ("Tape 342"), to the more discordant and political branches like Born Against ("Anthill"). I don't even mind that they had redone "The Forgotten", as it's short, but fuckin' sweet. "Autofocus", "Real Bright" and "The Science of Story Telling" all have the older, more straight up hardcore sounds, but the back and forth is almost seamless and the record feels consistent, while still maintaining various hardcore speeds and sounds. Burn It Down Media did a great job with the cover and booklet design, as the artwork and layout is one of the best I've seen on the Go Kart roster. Good for the ears, good for the eyes, so it's good all around.

CONCRETE SOX - Your Turn Next CD (Speed State) Holy crap... This is it! The record that got me into thrash and heavier forms of hardcore when I was a mere lad. When I was first introduced to the punk/hardcore scene, I was more into the earlier forms of L.A. hardcore (Circle Jerks, Black Flag, etc) and the Frisco HC scene (Dead Kennedys, MDC, etc), but I saw an ad for this LP in Al Quint's Suburban Voice when it was originally released in 1986. I sent away for it, and I guess because the label was from the U.K., it took over 6 months for me to get the disc. But it was worth the wait - every month of it. I was blown away. The power, the speed. I was soon into bands like Amebix, Ripcord, Heresy and others. It helped make me the metalhead I am today. The entire album is here remastered and re-released with extra tracks. It's all here, "Eminent Scum", "Ten Steps to Oblivion", "Salt of the Earth" and of course the title track. The extras include four demo tracks, five live tracks and a track off the North Atlantic Noise Attack compilation LP. Sadly, at the rate I progressed through music when Whoops, Sorry Vicar 12" LP was released the next year, by the time I had heard about it I was already into Slayer and Napalm Death. And being the sorry, broke loser I used to be, I lost track of many of these killer overseas thrash bands.

COTTON FEROX - First Time Hurts CD (Kooks) Cotton Ferox... the swab they use to clean the arm of a convict who will be put to death by lethal injection. A name chosen to point out some of mankind's seemingly obvious, yet curiously overlooked hypocrisy. This recent album from Swedish electronics duo (Church of Satan member Carl Abrahamsson and Thomas Tilbert) Cotton Ferox can be amazingly painful, as well as soft and sweet. Their album also features a number of interesting guest vocalists on this debut, including Genesis P-Orridge (ex-Throbbing Gristle, ex-Psychic TV, currently in Thee Majesty), (another a Church of Satan member) Michael Moynihan (of Domain Press and Blood Axis), Krister Linder. Plus boasting lyrics by Albrecht Haushofer and Ernst Jünger. Opening with a spoken-word manifesto, which describes the music wonderfully ("Soft beats. Hard scapes. Hard words to soft structures, soft whispers to ravaging whipping."). For the track "Sanguine Essence", Michael Moynihan reads from his translation of Ernst Jünger's pessimistic text "Blut". The Ferox duo end the LP with "Phantasmoplasm" (featuring sung vocals by Krister Linder) and is an atmospheric electronic soundscape, which left me thinking this is pretty accessible music at times. So can a Satanist devote himself to seranadeing the herd? Why not?

COUNT THE HOURS - We Don't Care CD (Panic) Don't let the album's title fool ya, these five fellas do care. The lyrics and power behind the music prove so. This Washington state five-piece push out an amalgam of old school hardcore, contemporary metalcore and even a touch of emocore (the original DC kind). Nine tracks that run under half an hour - hell, twenty five minutes. Just forming a few years back (2004), they bring to mind bands that have been gone since long ago... or have currently reformed for the dough: Bold, Judge, Youth of Today, and No For An Answer. Sadly, many of you don't know who they are, so I'll type names like Modern Life Is War or Champion instead. Either way, you'll be moshing your new school (or old school) ass all over the place.

THE CRAMPS - Live at Napa State Mental Hospital DVD (Music Video Distributors) This DVD is insanity. Ooh... can I say that when talking about mental patients? Well, I think I just did. Filmed in June of 1978 at a free show at the Napa State Mental Institute, playing with The Mutants. I'm surprised with The Cramps lyrical content they'd be allowed in such a facility, almost as much at how surprised I am they didn't keep 'em locked up once inside. The video is grainy and shaky, the vocals are at times too loud, and can peak the speakers, but this was one hell of a punk rock spectacle. A short, eight song set which includes many old Cramps favorites like "Human Fly", "What's Behind the Mask" and "TV Set". Almost from the beginning the crowd becomes one with the performers and take equal command over the stage. They sing along without knowing a word. They clap. They do a ho-down. Mixed nuts, all fun. This DVD also has some great extras to boot. They include concert shots and live songs by Flipper, Crucifix, Toxic Reasons, M.D.C., Throbbing Gristle (lets see the release of some more Target and MVD!), Crime (playing live in a prison to hundreds of inmates), a Survival Research Labs performance and two live pieces by percussion artist Z'EV - all filmed '84 or before. My only complaint about this release is that where is The Mutant footage? Well, it's all good enough for me. I'm just happy to be out in the free world again, and they even gave me my shoelaces back.

CREAM ABDUL BABAR / KYLESA - s/t SPLIT CD EP (At A Loss) Imagine if between Pain of Mind and The Word as Law Neurosis had an unheard-of album. That would be the closest comparison to Cream Abdul Babar. But would you have ever guessed that's a trombone playing what sound like keyboards and sample-like noises. "Cocaine Piñata" has an old-school punk and thrash flavor, but the horn section gives it a much more insane sound. "Troy:Sailor" is a seven minute sludgy-hardcore, doom-fest. If this makes you want to hear more, definitely check out their full length, Catalyst to Ruins (also on At A Loss). The second half of this disc is made up of members of Damad and Cobra Kai; Kylesa. They're pretty new to me (though they had an LP on Prank). "The Curse of Lost Days" is a five part epic ride of quirky electronics, dark heavy metal and pure '77 punk-rock. As if Vice Squad and Kyuss got in a bar brawl, with Venom and Nurse With Wound waiting in the alley to rush inside and cut up the survivors. "TCoLD (Part 2)" got the riffs really going. "TCoLD (Part 3)" has a most punishing chord intro going into a NY hardcore-like anthemic chorus and then its onto some doom metal. "TCoLD (Part 4)" was a well lengthened, and somewhat quiet amalgam of guitars (plus many pedals), percussion and electronics. This disc would be worth it for either band alone, but here you get twice the goods.

THE CREEPNIKS - Graveyard Shindig CD (Gravewax) From East Texas comes an outfit sounding like they've crawled out of the Louisiana wetlands. Graveyard Shindig is sometimes sawing through a surf-y, beach vibe similar to The Champs or The Trashmen, while other tracks have a slow R&B sound of the early-to-mid 50s. The first track got me thinking this was going to be an instrumental record, but vocals kick in every so often ("Shadow Over Elkhart", "Hellbent Sickobilly") and give the record a completely different feel: very Cramps-esque, but with an even thicker Country Western flavor. Some tracks even have a hint of bluegrass throughout. While I can groove out on this album, and I would dig a small, private show, I wouldn't be able to handle a bar completely filled with Happy Days extras.

CRIONICS - Human Error: Ways to Self-Destruct CD (Candlelight) This is a somewhat new record out of Poland, released by Empire Records, originally in late 2002 and came with an issue of Thrash 'em All Magazine. Once you hear it, it's apparent why their melodic black metal got this album a bigger, better deal through Candlelight Records. Formed in 1997, releasing a demo in 1998 and again in 2000, finally getting worldwide notice in 2002, though it's still pretty new to almost everyone outside of central Europe. I had never heard their demos, so I would have to say that their first excursion into albumhood could be compared to much of what Emperor did. Not a bad start there. Or maybe Morbid Angel, but with better vocals and musical structures. While it's black metal (for the most part), it's a bit more intricate than the cookie-cutter shit that gets peddled by bigger labels as "black / death metal" nowadays. "Lunatic Gate" was a great number that goes from insane blast beats to a melodious, yet hammering middle, and back again. Crionics is a take-no-prisoners blend of Behemoth and Dimmu Borgir in that great Euro-style. The US pressing contains an extra track, a cover of a metal classic by Carpathian Forest. Well, it wasn't a classic to me - until now.

CRISIS - Like Sheep Led to the Slaughter CD (The End) Crisis was originally a New York outfit which had a previous release for Too Damn Hype (8 Convulsions), and in 1996 signed over to Metal Blade with two releases (Deathshead Extermination in 1996 and The Hollowing 1997), until moving out to the West Coast (Los Angeles) and recently being picked up by The End. So far, I like this new release best. Take equal parts New York hardcore, 90s heavy metal (not nümetal), a touch of doom and add some Helmet-ish repetition. The vocals actually help, too. I'm not used to a women barking at me, but it works on many levels. From the facts that it's a bit vicious (especially with those biting lyrics) to that she doesn't always sound like a girl screaming, but sometimes like a male screeching. Not to mention that when she actually speaks / sings, she has a very sexy voice - pardon any noted sexism. "A Graveyard for Bitches" is a moshy, metalcore number that leads us into "Nomad", which starts quietly, then blasting into doom riffs. "Secrets of the Prison House" has a 70s rock sound that made my head bounce. The LP's closer, "The Fate", begins as a Middle Eastern flavored, almost-Dead Can Dance tune (complete with Karyn Crisis doing Arabic-like chanting) that ended the disc on a rather soft note, without ruining the feel. They say, 'pretty girls make graves, these make mosh pits.

CRO-MAGS - The Final Quarrel: Live At CBGB 2001 DVD (Music Video Distributors) Like many a hardcore kid in the late 80s (or even early 90s) Cro-Mags were my all time favorite hardcore band. They pretty much established what hardcore was to become, and surely set the rules for what was to be known as "New York City hardcore". Sadly, they are no more, especially with the strife between founding members Parris Mayhew, Harley Flanagan and Jon Joseph. From the early 1990s into the new millennium Harley and Jon fronted two separate live bands billed as the Cro-Mags with differing musicians under the names Cro-Mag Jam, Cro-Mags-NYC, and even Age of Quarrel. What this DVD bills as the 'last Cro-Mags show ever' is actually the last time Harley, Parris and Jon shared a stage, as Jon Joseph still tours with his own version of Cro-Mags (featuring AJ Novello of Leeway and Rocky George of Suicidal Tendencies - two great old school bands in their own right). It took place at a packed CBGBs in 2001 and goes off like almost no other Cro-Mag show I've seen taped. The crowd is wild, they sing along, the band is energetic, vibrant and plays almost every song off the legendary 1986 album Age of Quarrel (plus doing a Ramones cover). The DVD is worth is for this set alone, but it does come with quite a few extras. There's footage of Harley having a jam session with his son, as well as Harley giving a tour of the now famous (and sadly no-more) NY club CBGBOMFUG (rest in peace Hilly!), a slide show and even a full live set from Harley Flanagan's current project Harley's War (which features members of Warzone and Murphy's Law - two more influential old school acts). If you are into any type of hardcore, old or new, this is definitely something that belongs in your collection.

CROSS EXAMINATION - The Hung Jury CD (Organized Crime) This disc couldn't have dropped at a better time for me. I've currently played out all my Poison Idea, Gang Green and early Suicidal Tendencies LPs, so this's been one of my favorites lately. Late 80s thrash ala Cryptic Slaughter, Dirty Rotten Imbeciles, M.O.D. / S.O.D. or "Possessed to Skate"-era Suicidal. With song titles like "Party Squad Unite" and "The Foodening $3.49 Mark of the Feast" and lyrics about pizza and beer, you know it's party time, bitch. Sometimes Cross Examination come off as a wonderful throwback, other times they remind me of a more fun Ringworm. Yeah, you record collector nerds are gonna go after the 7" version on Deep Six Records, but the CD is really just as good. Extra tracks, including the entire demo, as well as some video footage (containing proof they don't give a shit what the neighbors say), which you can gawk at if you pop this sucker in your computer. The jury ain't out on this end... Do I like this? Guilty!

CROSS EXAMINATION - Menace II Society CD (Organized Crime) I loved the first EP, The Hung Jury (also on Organized Crime Records), and what I said about them that time around still sticks - late 80s Cryptic Slaughter, Dirty Rotten Imbeciles, M.O.D. / S.O.D. or "Possessed to Skate"-era Suicidal Tendencies. Fast-paced hyper-thrash, with high-pitched vocals that will scream your poor little ears off. Singalong chants, hook-filled riffs... and did I mention tons of metal? Oh yeah, there's a lot of metal. This St. Louis, MI five piece will flip you out with quick songs about rockin', food, parties and - of course - beer. "Necropolis" is an insane track. Actually, while that one's catchy, every song on this disc is insane. They haven't lost their edge, nor their sense of humor, so while it's still hard as nails, it'll make you giggle like good weed. Cross Examination's new LP is available on CD or 12". Now, either format you get this on, the first pressing comes with a 12-page comic book (Tales from the Keg) created by the band, with full color cover. Don't miss out on the tunes, and the art.

THE CROWN - Possessed 13 2xCD (Metal Blade) Entombed was a favorite of mine back in 1993, especially the Wolverine Blues album. This record reminds me of that, plus a lot of the death metal I was listening to back then. I've been so into metalcore the last few years and I've been severely out of touch with true metal. The Crown's last few passed me by, and it's sad to say because I so like what I hear. Split in three "suites" (Initiation, Exaltation and Annihilation), they mix old American death metal (1990-95) with a bit of the newer Nordic (Sweden/Norway) sound. Together it makes for a killer combination. I hear Blitzspear, Morbid Angel and Deicide, but also a bit of At the Gates and Amorphis. "Face of Destruction" is one of the best tracks here. "Dawn of Emptiness" is classic death metal. And even though Johan Lindstrand's voice is great, the two instrumentals really make me do the "sign of the horns" and bang my head. Those tracks alone can carry the record for me, but I still play it all in its entirety. Both discs! Oh yeah... the second disc. US copies contain a second disc of the Forever Heaven Gone and Forget the Light demos, a Bathory cover and more (the import copies are one disc). Woo hoo - metaaaaaaaaal.

THE CROWNED HEADS OF EUROPE / SPORTS - split CD-R (Black Noise) Crowned Heads of Europe hail from Portland, Oregon and they force into your ear a quiet, yet menacing electro-babble somewhat in kin to Archon Satani, or early Coil. Think of sinister music that can be used in the darkest of rituals. Good enough to listen to on its own, yet can also be used as background music without being distracting. Sports only give us one track and they don't differ greatly from CHoE, so the tracks run into one another smoothly. This split CD-R is another from the folks at Black Noise out of Georgia, which, as usual, is limited to a small number of discs. Drop BN a line and check if any are still available before you have to hunt down originals amongst other bidders.

CULT OF LUNA - Salvation CD (Earache) I was just walking down the street with my girl on a jam packed holiday at the beach. Both of us were minding our own business, deciding to split the scene and head home. Then it happened... She screamed, 'Don't grab my ass!' I turned to see her hitting some drunk loser in the chest. He stumbles back, regains his footing and balls his fists as if he's going to smack my sweets one up in the face or something. I step in and cold clock the freak, and he falls about for a few seconds. Little did I know he had a few friends with him to help continue with this melee in his absence. I get sucker punched from my left. Good one! I take one on - toe to toe - while another jumps on my back. A third attacks my woman - what a puss, and they're supposedly gangster thugs. The guy on top, kicks my head which hits a metal railing, splitting my head open. Eleven stitches! Blood spills, people go to jail, and my new Cult of Luna CD, The Beyond, which I had just purchased and was in my back pocket is fucked. The cover and disc itself are now permanently stained with my iron-rich A positive, and track 3 doesn't even play. Their new LP, Salvation, plays a whole lot better, and brings to mind much less trauma.

CURL UP AND DIE - But the Past Ain't Through with Us CD EP (Revelation) This is - I would guess - part two of We May Be Through With the Past... (on Status Records) which came out about four months before this release. This half comes without the conceptual comics of the first. Still, four songs in twenty minutes? Well, that's a start. Similar to At Least We're Not robots, but still sounding like something new. More singing (not a bad thing), some of what sound to be electronics - but could still be replicated with organic instruments - and a few new added styles to their already manic chaoticore. The music is at its best. The last song is great, and mixes heavy parts with some very different softer styles I'm not used to hearing from CUAD. This is probably the best release they have done, so I definitely can't wait for a full LP - whether it has a concept or not. They're still with the crazy titles I see ("Nuclear Waste? Bring That Shit. We Want A State of Radiated Super Heroes", "If This Band Thing Doesn't Pan Out We're Joining the Army" and "It's A Fucking Time Machine" - all the liner notes list that last one spelled out completely in Morse code). As usual, an EP I wish was an LP. Good band, short on the tunes.

CURSED - Two CD (Goodfellow) Did you think You Fail Me became this millennium's Closure? You are in for a treat. Do you look for insane metallic-hardcore ala Jane Doe or before? Material like Cave In's Until Your Heart Stops, or the UK's Eden Maine? Cursed, baby! Ex-Ire and Black Hand members get Colohan from The Swarm and Left for Dead and form to bring a surprisingly fresh style to metalcore. These Canuck's have a hidden Ace up their sleeve... the riffs are rock as all, very Cable-like, but sometimes kicking into full on blast beats. "R.I.P.", "Head of the Baptist", and "Model Home Invasion" are great examples of this, which bring an almost-Melvins churn to mind. If you can't get enough, you can always check out Cursed's first, One (on Deathwish, Inc.). Vinyl hounds can get an 12" LP version of Two pressed on Sonic Unyon.