REVIEWS
& LUNATIC RANTS
BOYD RICE - Standing In Two Circles BOOK (Creation)
I've waited a little over a year for this book to come out, and
all the waiting was well worth it. This book is a collection of almost every
article - 1986 through 2007 - written by Boyd Rice (except for a few missing
from Vessel of God and Dagobert's Revenge), some of which have
been previously unpublished. There are also lyrics from his musical output.
Plus, the book contains many photos of both Boyd and his artistic works (experimental
photography, abstract paintings and fetish pinups). Also, the book opens with
a 30+ page bio (by editor Brian M. Clark) for those who want a better look into
Boyd Rice's past, present and future. Standing In Two Circles (a title
taken from something Manson said about Boyd) turned out to be a great read. The pieces
all range in topic: pranks, soap from the 60s, exotica and outsider music, tiki
culture, the sacred bloodline of monarchs, alcohol, ideas for TV sitcoms and
movies, meeting Charles Manson, mondo film, meeting the Church of Satan's Anton
LaVey, tales of his journeys (music tours, vacation travels, and the quest to
study his genealogy), as well as personal anecdotes from his youth and early
career. The lyrics included are mostly for his work as a solo artist in NON,
but also included are lyrics to collaborations he's done with Death In June,
Current 93, Luftwaffe and others. All in all, it's a fun literary find for the
fan, or just for someone looking into something a little under the radar.
(March
06, 2009)
KRAFTWERK AND THE ELECTRONIC
REVOLUTION DVD (Sexy
Intellectual / MVD)
This DVD is a great watch! Clocking in at three hours, it's almost
three documentaries in one. First several musicians (Tangerine Dream's Wolfgang
Siedel, Klaus Schulze of Ash Ra Temple, Dieter Moebius from Kluster and others)
and journalists (Sounds' Diedrich Diedrichsen, David Stubbs from Melody
Maker and more) cover the German rock and psychedelic scene. Next, a worthy
look into what is commonly referred to as Krautrock. Lastly, it's all about
Kraftwerk - from their days as Organisation (1969) to their Krautrock beginnings
(1970 - 1973) and further on (1974 - present) to the electrofunk they coined.
Featuring interviews with ex-members, music videos, live performances and rare
photos, this doc shows that along the way Kraftwerk inspired thousands - including
David Bowie, Afrika Bambaataa, Juan Atkins and a million synthpop acts. Kraftwerk
and the Electronic Revolution has a few extras as well, so if you're not
worn out by the end of the documentary you can continue. The extras include
a mini-documentary on the Dusseldorf and Berlin scenes, plus a full interview
with ex-Kraftwerk member (1975 - 1991) Karl Bartos. If you're into Kraftwerk,
German psychedelia or electronic music, chances are you already have this. If
you haven't seen it, it's a great way to check out a lot of bands you may never
have heard of, as well as reimmerse yourself in one you should know rather well.
(March
06, 2009)
NICK'S MYTH - He Never Goes
Anywhere CD (Somber
Atlantic) Like The Scarecrow Frequency, Nick's Myth
is another project off the Somber Atlantic roster that's a solo musician rather
than just another band. Nick's Myth is actually San Diego, California songwriter
Nicholas Smith, though he's backed on He Never Goes Anywhere by several
guest artists. The music is a lyricless, dreamy alt-pop, which bears no resemblance
to any true genre. The music seems to be tailor made for
lazy afternoons or a walk through grassy hills with a set of headphones.
Spaced-out, slowed-down surf music? Ambient British indie-rock?
Quiet shoegazer doom-dirge? Either way, if you are looking for something hooky
and vibrant, yet lullful and somewhat psychedelic, this is the CD to check out.
(March
06, 2009)
VARIOUS ARTISTS - 910 Noise
V.3 CD (910
Noise) I really liked Volume 1. I missed Volume 2.
Gladly, Volume 3 found it's way to my mailbox. This is the third of this series
that promotes experimental noise projects from the southeast area of North Carolina
(area code 910). While there are a few acts that graced the first disc, much
of this volume are fresh faces and new sounds. The opener - Jeff Chapple - fits,
but this particular track would be better off on an alt-country sampler. Mr.
Stonecipher bashes in the head of ambient music with some harsh electronics.
Subterrene (a highlight of Volume 1) this time around sound even more like IDM
or what one would find on a 'chillout' comp. Baby Daddy provided a scraping
of your auditory system. Authorless return with quiet hums of a Tibetan-like
ritualness. Somnaphon deliver totally tweaked out electrobabble. Jason Ward's
track is a mix of lullful acoustic guitar and scratchy tape loops, while Carl
Kruger's "Hard Times for Soft Targets" is a Masonna-like explosion.
Mindcrosser return and quiet things for a bit, until Toys R Me Toys R U kick
into a drum-n-bass / jungle rhythm. Steph Dig It then bring it back down, and
the following collaboration between Mr. Stonecipher and Somnaphon will destroy
the speakers. Uva Tena produce an almost classical music piece with "End
Theme". The work of Donovan Quixote brought aboriginal music to mind (using
whale sounds). U-Gene dreamily plucks and pics, while One Lifeless Eye closes
it all out with a live recording of spacey atonal dirge. Once again, 910 has
brought the listener another great sample of the area's noise, ambient and experimental
artists. (March
06, 2009)
DAVID E. WILLIAMS - Every Missing Duck Is A Duck Missed CD (Disques
De Lapin) David E. Williams has been challenging musical
borders from his Philadelphia studio since the late 80s, with releases such
as Pseudo Erotica (1986), the Hello Columbus EP (1999), Hope
Springs A Turtle (2004) and now Every Missing Duck Is A Duck Missed.
As usual, his musical style is hard to describe, ranging from near-neo-folk
compositions to synthpop stylings, and sultry duets to singalongs. Without calling
his work 'outsider music', his musical output really is out there. While much
of the LP's tracks have a witty lyrical nature, darkness is around every lit
corner, since much of the record is based on David's grief, due to his girlfriend
Jennifer Bate's death from cancer. "Save A Chair for Jennifer" and
"Here Comes the Cold Narrator" are truly heart-tugging pieces, but
they're often offset by more upbeat numbers like "Kill Yourself in Cape
May" and "Hymn to the Genius of Idi Amin". Even with the emotional
back-and-forth, David E. William's newest work flows well, and leaves the listener
with a little more clearer thoughts on the ebbs and flows of life. A few cover
songs let you in on where Mr. Williams is musically coming from, such as Ludwig
Uhland and Friedrich Silcher's "Ich Hatt Einen Kameraden", "Lather"
from Jefferson Airplane, and "Hello Young Lovers" from the Rogers
and Hammerstein musical The King and I, though the true gems are the
originals which show where DEW is currently at. Since "Summer Wasn't Made
for You and Me", you should pick this up now. (March
06, 2009)
BLACK METAL SATANICA DVD
(Music
Video Distributors) A pretty cool documentary
here. Eighty minutes of in-depth talk with the newest school of European black
metal. Between song segments, live footage and photos, you get interviews with
members of Mordichrist, Vreid, Ondslapt, Rimsfrost and others. They cover topics
from the beginning of the musical movement, Satanism, the murder of Euronymous,
church burnings, the joke that is Xtian black metal, the current state of what's
going on in the scene, and my favorite, the segment on Shining which is known
as a 'suicide metal band'. The band advocates extreme violence and other acts
like suicide. Oh yeah, the singer is all scars, as they slash themselves with
razors during live sets. Good job! Though they shouldn't pull stunts like the
old 'our lead singer died' just to get publicity, cause The Dwarves did with
that the best with HWCBN and Maximum Rock-N-Roll a decade ago. Anyhow,
if you've already read The Lords of Chaos you'll already know a lot of
what's said, but it sheds some light on what's still going on the black metal
world. (March
06, 2009)
SKULLFLOWER - Desire for
Holy War CD (Utech)
This will be a quick review for several reasons. A) You should
know who and what Skullflower are. B) It's limited to only 750 discs, so it's
gone, gone, gone. And C) Oh what the hell... Skullflower was a band that influenced
hundreds of industrial metal acts, who later morphed into the solo guitar acrobatics
of Matthew Bower. Desire for Holy War is seven tracks which were recorded
in West Yorkshire from November to December, 2007. The disc is presented with
a cover painting by artist Stephen Kasner. Start your eBay search engines!
(March
06, 2009)
THE SCARECROW FREQUENCY
- Terminal Eclipse of the American Heart CD (Somber
Atlantic) The Scarecrow Frequency is actually just
a single musician John Argetsinger (from Seattle, WA). However, from one man
can come many sounds. I've never heard of this artist nor any of his projects,
but I'm pretty happy to finally be introduced. The music is a blend of lullful
ambient the likes of Ice Cake, and dreamy shoegazer ala My Bloody Valentine,
with trippy beats, lush keyboards, and a smooth flow. Most of the tunes are
either vocal-less or peppered with samples, though when there is it's provided
by John or coconspirator Erica Sherman. Twelve tracks that are best played on
the ride home after a black metal show, or the following Sunday evening just
before sunset. By the way, if you find that you want more after listening, track
down their first CD (also on Somber Atlantic), download their unreleased track,
"The Heart is a Lonely Hunter" for free, or check out Argetsinger's
other project, Red Dunes... I know I'm going to. (March
06, 2009)
JON JOSEPH - The Evolution of A Cro-Magnon BOOK (Punkhouse)
Another book I've been waiting about a year for has finally surfaced.
Jon Joseph was the singer of 80s New York hardcore legend Cro-Mags. This book
isn't just about the band, but about Joseph's entire life until now. Jon starts
with a brief family history and the tales of why he was taken from them by state
authorities. A large amount of the book covers his early years in foster homes
and youth centers - all the while dealing with abuse and getting lost in the
cracks of the system. While much of it is quite sad, it's good to see he's come
out of it all so well rounded. The book continues with running away, joining
the military (navy) and then finding punk rock in the very late 70s. After going
AWOL the book centers around his life in punk music, the Lower East Side of
Manhattan, and finding his path to the religion of Krishna. I found it great
that while he's on the subject of religion, he never tried to convert the reader,
other than occasionally asking that we all try to live a more positive life.
It's then off to touring with Bad Brains, leaving Krishna for cocaine, and finding
his way back on top from hitting rock bottom. The size of the book is huge,
as the stories just seem to pour from his pen, so I can see why it's so thick,
but lucky for the reader it was never boring. Jon Joseph is currently coming
out with a vegetarian cookbook, and he's also filming a movie he wrote about
boxing, so he's definitely still keeping his nose clean. Look out for future
projects, but every hardcore kid should pick up a piece of his past.
(March
06, 2009)
THE MEATMEN - The Devil's
In the Details Volume 1 DVD (Music
Video Distributors) The Meatmen are sophomoric,
sick, juvenile, perverted, childish, morbid, racist and blasphemous - and that's
why I love 'em. This newest outing by the newly reformed - er - I mean, reunited
band is packed with stuff (three hours worth) , and it's only the first volume!
Of course there's footage of the band. Live shows from the early 80s to throughout
the 1990s, with songs like "Tooling for Anus", "I'm Glad I'm
Not A Girl", and "War of the Superb Bikes". A few covers are
tossed about, including The Pagans' "Shit Called Love" and Gang Green's
"Alcohol", where GG singer Chris Doherty is brought up on stage for.
There are also music videos, like the hilariously cheap (at $20,000) "Centurions
of Rome", which was interrupted by... I mean, which featured a cameo by
Courtney Love. In between each musical number is a skit (like the VH1 spoof
Behind the Nonsense) or an interview with the Dutch Hercules himself,
Tesco Vee. Be sure to look for the segment where Tesco is on a public access
TV show for board games and reveals where his name comes from. Lastly, the true
highlight of this disc is Way USA; Tesco Vee's Mtv show, which only aired
two episodes (at 2am on Sunday). Here we get the Baltimore episode and it's
complete with deleted segments and more. I'm already looking towards Volume
2, just hoping they'll put the Niagara Falls episode on there. Now, in true
Meatmen fashion I say, you bet it's time for all you wicked wing-dingers to
stop your mindless moronic mayhem and grab an eye-full of visual viscera of
those that are the Drum Majors in the Squadron of Doom. Dig it? (March
06, 2009)
CULT OF YOUTH - A Stick
to Bind, A Seed to Grow 12" LP (Dais)
A Stick to Bind, A Seed to Grow is the newest release
from Brooklyn, NY's Cult of Youth. No CD yet, but this is a limited editioned
(500 copies) 12" slab. The music is a mix of neo-folk and darkwave synth,
a little similar to Death In June, before Douglas P directed it towards becoming
a full neo-folk outfit, and hadn't yet shaken off his Joy Division influences.
Some
songs are dark and somber (like "Torch of Man" or "Brick By Brick"),
while others have a pub singalong feel ("Cold Black Earth" or "A
Question of Will"), there are also tracks where I hear moments of British
pop-psych (such as on "Loss of Innocence"), and even Dadaist composition
("To the Floor!"). The vocals on the
record are a bit different from their live shows, where here, songwriter Sean
sings in a raspier basstone, where live he has an higher pitched, uncontrolled
rage going on. The packaging is top notch, as the LP comes in a gatefold sleeve,
with gold embossed printing and runic imagery. They also have available a self-titled
7" on white vinyl, and there are only 325 made of those, so get going...
for both. (March
06, 2009)
RICHARD KERN - Extra Action (and Extra Hardcore) DVD (Music
Video Distributors) I have to say that I looked
forward to this DVD release for two reasons. First, as a collector of underground
cinema and short films Extra Action (and Extra Hardcore) contains previously
unreleased works by Richard Kern. Secondly, my girlfriend was a Kern model and
I thought she might be on this disc somewhere. Well, I didn't have to say that,
but I was proud to. The 'Extra Action' segment is an hour of photographer /
filmmaker Richard Kern videotaping sixty amateur beauties and gorgeous girls,
all placed to music by Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore. Though I do love tits and
ass, my pick of the two would be the 'Extra Hardcore' segment, which contains
six of the Kern films that weren't available on the Hardcore disc (available
from Music Video Distributors), including The King of Sex, Catholic, Nazi
and Scooter and Jinx. Whether you're a fan of the Cinema of Transgression
or you just want to sexually relieve your aggression, this is the one disc you
must own. Oh, and by the way, my chick isn't on this release. I get her all
to myself, so good for me / bad for you. Actually, with all the other flesh
on here, I'm sure you couldn't care. (Aug
13, 2008)
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. (Aug
13, 2008)
THE OUT_CIRCUIT - Pierce
the Empire With A Sound CD (Lujo)
What a dreamy record! First, some history. The Out_Circuit is
more a collective than an actual band. It's basically a District of Columbia
chap named Nathan Burke (ex-Frodus), who settled in Seattle, and on his newest
work he's helped along by Thrice's Dustin Kensrue and Teppei Teranishi, Sean
Ingram from Coalesce, Beauty Pill's Rachel Burke, Andy Gale of Haram and Matt
Johnson of Roadside Monument. TOC's first release, Burn Your Script, Boys
(in 2003 also on Lujo Records) was hailed as Mogwai meets Built to Spill. The
newest LP is Gregor Samsa on some sweet ecstasy, or if Radiohead's testicles
descended and played some real post-punk. Ten tracks clocking in at a near fifty
minutes, and while the songs fluctuate in styles, they blend together so very
well without the album getting disjointed. There are moments of screaming backed
by fuzzy guitar or menacing keyboards, as well as hypnotic numbers filled with
ambient soundscapes, quiet piano and lullful vocals. Pierce the Empire With
A Sound is a pretty fresh escape into the many realms of indie-rock that
will leave the listener hoping it never ends. (Aug
13, 2008)
FIGHT AMP - Hungry for Nothing
CD (Translation
Loss) This quartet raise their ugly heads out from
New Jersey, to riff and stomp their way through dark clubs and concert halls
of this nation (and soon enough abroad). Starting somewhere around 2004 and
originally called Fight Amputation, these four guys bring you up against a wall
of riff were you have no choice but to worship at the altar of volume. They
released a few split records on Reptilian Records (with Günna Vahm), Kordova
Milk Bar Records (with Exodus), and others, plus a few self-released ditties
under the Knifehits Records banner (Ugly Kids Doing Ugly Things 7",
etc). Mixing an Amphetamine Reptile Records dirty dirge with the guitar work
and wild beats of Mastodon, they inflict a pleasurable pain on your audition.
If this sounds good to your ears, pick it up, and if you can't get enough check
out the new 7", Jerseys Best Cancer, a split record with fellow
NJ band Cash In, on Assassinated Records. (Aug
13, 2008)
SAILOR WINTERS - Parker
Volume 1 & 2 DOUBLE CD-R (Witch
House) Sailor Winters is the sometimes sinister /
sometimes darling work of Ryan Cox from the state of Georgia. He's released
a 7" (Monolith on Tsunami Records), an LP (Red At Morn on
Stickfigure Records), as well as many CD-Rs on his own label, Black Noise (including
his sophomore effort, Owe). His music varies in style, but is always
cohesive. There are times when his playful numbers bring to mind Aphex Twin,
Necropolis-era DJ Spooky or very early Xiu Xiu. There are other times
when his raging sounds will remind me of The Grey Wolves, Merzbow or Bastard
Noise. I'm going to have to say that while I've really enjoyed previous SW works
(especially the Red At Morn: The Movie DVD), this is by far his
best work. The first disc is forty-five minutes (nine tracks), the second forty
minutes (also nine tracks), and both are excellent experimental ditties, ranging
from menacingly quiet ambient to pleasantly punishing drone, tribal-like tunes
to bass heavy hypnotics, some peppered with vicious vocals here and there. Witch
House Records presents 'em in a DVD case with minimalist artwork and liner notes,
which leaves way more for the ears, but you won't be sorry... unless you miss
out. (Aug
13, 2008)
VARIOUS ARTISTS - Earache
My Eye DVD (Earache)
In the late 80s and early 90s Earache Records was probably the
biggest metal label around, and rightfully so. In 1989 Earache released a VHS
tape to show off some of their band's wares, as Mtv's Headbanger's Ball
didn't play much of their stellar roster. Strangely, and sadly, it hasn't seen
the light of day since. Of course, until MVD got around it it... as usual. Thirteen
music videos from the best of Earache's stable. There's industrial metal godfathers
Godflesh's "Crush My Soul", "Wolverine Blues" from Entombed,
"Greed Killing" from death metal daddies Napalm Death, Sleep's stoner
"Dragonaut", Fudge Tunnel, Brutal Truth, the amazing At the Gates,
and more. While I really enjoyed getting to see this, and I'm happy to own it,
I really wish there were some extras thrown in. Well, there's always Immortalized
and iCRUSHER Complete to watch afterwards. (Aug
13, 2008)
PERTH EXPRESS - s/t
CD (Teenage Disco
Bloodbath) I won't lie to you. I never knew who Perth
Express was. With that said... thanks Teenage Disco Bloodbath Records. Thanks
for enlightening me. Perth
Express' music is a smattering of grinding metal meets stoner rock mayhem -
not far off from the likes of Mastodon. This German
outfit has been around since 2003, and if you have missed out on them until
now (like I have), this just might be the place to start. This self-titled release
is a discography of the band. You get all four tracks from their demo, two from
a split 7", a bunch from their self-titled 10" and even more from
their self-titled 12". Altogether equaling twenty-three tracks coming out
to a near hour of riff after riff. The layout is pretty nifty too. It's done
on a black foldout recycled sleeve with hand printed silk-screened artwork,
along with a folded poster insert. Very minimalist, yet very striking. I find
it odd that the band doesn't title their releases, but who cares when the songs
are this metallically memorable. (Aug
13, 2008)
IRON MAIDEN AND THE NEW
WAVE OF BRITISH HEAVY METAL DVD (Sexy
Intellectual / MVD)
I love documentaries, and being a self-confessed music nerd,
I love music and band docs more so. When I was about thirteen, just before getting
into punk rock around fifteen, I was a huge fan of Iron Maiden, so this release
was right up my alley. Though focusing on the band that pretty much started
it all - Maiden - it goes heavily into the genre known as New Wave of British
Heavy Metal, also known as NWOBHM (pronounced 'new-ob-hum'). The story is mostly
told by a narrator, but also by many of those that lived it themselves, featuring
IM's Paul DiAnno, Diamond Head's Brian Tatler, Tino and Chris Troy of Praying
Mantis, and many more, including other musicians, DJs, promoters and music journalists.
This document goes deep into all the issues, so much so that it clocks in at
two hours and forty minutes! And, I wasn't bored for a second. DVD extras include
a mini-documentary on the practice of 'air guitar', an interview with Tony Wilson
covering his years at BBC Radio One's Friday Night Rock Show, over fifteen biographies,
and an interactive quiz (even after watching this - twice - I failed!). If you
once banged your head to killer guitar licks, this disc is one for you. If you
didn't... then please fuck off. (Aug
13, 2008)
SIRHAN SIRHAN - Blood CD
(Anodyne)
This trio formed in San Diego, California only a few years ago
(late 2005), and feature a former member of Molly McGuire. They're pretty new
around the block, only previously self-releasing a six-song EP, but either way,
they get a big thumbs up from me. Twenty-five minutes (eleven songs) of twisted
hyper-metal not far off of Melvins buggering Butthole Surfers, as Mastodon watches
in a backroom while drinking with Black Flag. Sometimes fast and pounding, sometimes
playing a steady groove, and other times all over the metal map. The vocals
range from distorted screaming - the kind where the singer tastes blood - to
a raspy singing, and even a few almost spoken tracks, while the tunes are noisy,
blasting, and in-your-face hardcore metal. By the way, for you vinyl junkies
out and about there's also a limited 12" version on Hi-Speed Records. Whether
5" plastic or 12" wax... the sounds will pummel you silly.
(Aug
13, 2008)
ONE WIN CHOICE - Never Suspend
Disbelief CD (Jump
Start) Do you like fast paced hardcore? Sing-a-longs?
Catchy guitars? Well then, you may want to check out New Jersey's One Win Choice
who serve up a new record of twelve tracks that clocks in at a little over half
an hour. Hardcore it is, with a near-street punk flavor, but admittedly, there's
a bit more here. 300
beats-per-minute verses, moshy breakdowns, and hooky choruses - it's all there
for you... and then some. Like a heavier Lifetime,
or a more pop-influenced Kid Dynamite, these five kids deliver a passion-filled
core that will make a dancefloor go nuts. If this record isn't enough for you,
check out their 2004 EP, All the King's Men (on Scorpion Records), or
the 2005 split album with Heartfelt Discord (on Eternal Hope Records). I know
I'm going to. (Aug
13, 2008)
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.
(Aug
13, 2008)
T. S. O. L. - The Early
Years Live DVD (Music
Video Distributors) When I first got into punk
rock, I was a bigger fan of the West Coast style of hardcore than any other.
Dead Kennedys, Black Flag, Minutemen, Circle Jerks, Bad Religion and - of course
- TSOL. This newest release by the band (check out TSOL: Live From OC
also on MVD) is a true gem from better days gone by. Days when hardcore and
punk were fun, and dangerous; challenging, and inventive. Not for mall-rats
and rednecks, but for outcasts and rejects. Two shows on this disc, a Flipside
show and a TargetVideo77 show, both recorded around 1983. While the Target show
is way shorter, it's filmed better (camera work and the feel of the show), but
the band and the music set for both shows are intense, energetic and ball-out
punk rock. All the classics are played too - "Darker My Love", "Superficial
Love", "Code Blue" and more. The disc extras are excellent additions,
including an interview from 1983, a hilarious live shot of "Abolish Government
/ Silent Majority" from The Vault 350 taped in 2007 (I'd like to see more
of this show), and an audio-only reading by Jack Grisham of a segment of his
new book, An American Savage Reformed (can't wait to pick that up).
(Aug
13, 2008)
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!.
(Aug
13, 2008)
DEAD BOYS - Return of the
Living Dead: Halloween Night 1986 DVD (Music
Video Distributors) There are a lot of punk
bands from back in the day that I wish I had seen live. Good for me, Dead Boys
was one band that I did catch. Yeah, it wasn't back in their early days, but
during their mid-80s reunion tour. Lucky me, right? Hmm, lucky... or just old.
Whatever. For those of you that didn't get around to catching this seminal Ohio
outfit you have Dead Boys: Live at CBGB 1977 (also released by Music
Video Distributors), and now there's this disc to boot. Captured on Halloween
night of 1986 in front of a packed house at NYC's Ritz, the Boys blast through
fourteen originals (fifteen of you count that they play their classic"Sonic
Reducer" opening the show and closing it out), and two cover tracks, but
not before being introduced by Joey Ramone. The show is documented all on one
camera, though not stationary, as it pans around, zooming in and out throughout
the action. Sad that Stiv Bators is no longer with us, as I'm sure they'd still
hold as much aural attitude today as they did during this set. The disc includes
an extra of Stiv's appearance on a Youngstown morning talk show, where they
air (unedited) a rare music video for "Sonic Reducer". This is a great
addition to any fan's collection, but for newbies, try Dead
Boys: Live at CBGB 1977 first . I'm sure once
you check that out, you'll be running out to get this one soon enough.
(Aug
13, 2008)
G.G. ELVIS AND THE T.C.P.
BAND - Back from the Dead CD (Mental)
This is a pretty funny release. I can't say that's it's 100%
original, but it ranks as one of the better punk takes on Elvis. Actually, does
Danzig-era Misfits count? Anyhow, this project features members of NOFX, Jughead's
Revenge, Aggression, Dr. Know, Ill Repute and other hardcore stalwarts, and
began under the name Punk Rawk Elvis. The music is a mix of classic punk tracks
and Elvis Presley songs. Vocally,
Eric Lara, who's playing GG Elvis here, sounds a lot like Choke of Slapshot,
so imagine early Slapshot playing humorously punked-out Elvis covers, and you're
close. "Blue Suede Shoes" goes back
and forth between the Elvis original and TSOL's "Code Blue". "Viva
Las Vegas" is Black Flag's "Six Pack" with the King's lyrics
attached, as "A Little Less Conversation" is BF's "Nervous Breakdown".
"Suspicious Minds" is Descendants. You get the idea... well, some
are done like the originals - kinda. See if you can pick out what's what. Fun
for the whole punk rock family. As an extra, Back from the Dead comes
with a DVD disc, which holds a skit done as a talk show, interviews and tons
of band photos. A blast to listen to, as well as watch. (Aug
13, 2008)
SLINGSHOT DAKOTA - Their
Dreams Are Dead, But Ours Is the Golden Ghost CD (Slingshot
Dakota) Originally a trio, Slingshot Dakota is now
a duo, and while I'm not familiar with their earlier sound (2004's Kenner
Sighs on Immigrant Sun Records), the loss of their third party doesn't hinder
their new LP in the least. The Long Island, NY pair (Carly on vox and keys /
Tom on drums) play a sincere mash-up of punk-influenced indie-pop. The keyboards
are normally fuzzy and sometimes near-psychedelic, though they clean up in parts
peppered about. The drums range from steady to frantic, and is what mainly gives
the songs their punky edge. The numbers on this release deal with personal issues,
but ones we've all dealt with, I'm sure. I can relate to the lyrics in "I-78".
Plus, as a trucker I drive on that sucker almost daily. I love that this disc
is an effort released by the band. I wish every musical outfit could be so self-reliant.
While I'm no enemy of record labels, I think many acts are better off cutting
out the middleman. (Aug
13, 2008)
PLAN 9 - Manmade Monster
CD (Nickel
and Dime) In 1997 a group of fiends... I mean friends,
decided to do a Misfits tribute band, and things went so well that they kept
the idea going and added originals. Their shows sold out, and even drew members
of big named bands just to watch. 2004 saw the release of their limited, red
vinyled debut 8 Hits From Hell, and got them even more notice. On this
new LP, when the intro hit, I thought it was going to be a Metallica-ish outfit
that played a creepy dress-up, but I couldn't be more wrong. It's straight-up
Danzig-era Misfits-esque songs with heavier guitars (check out the track "Blood"
for pure proof). Now, Aaron Fuller is no Glenn Danzig, but he pulls the vocals
off well enough. Ten originals, two Misfits covers (three if you count the hidden
lounge version of "I Want Your Skull"), and two Samhain covers. If
you'd like to check them out first - by all means - go see them live, or search
out the video for "Undead" on You Tube. Like me, you'll be hooked.
(Aug
13, 2008)
RAMMING SPEED - Brainwreck
CD (Teenage Disco
Bloodbath) Like the Cross Examination debut last year,
this CD couldn't have
come by at a better time. Lately, I've spun to death all my D.R.I. and Cryptic
Slaughter albums, so this has been one of my current faves. Late 80s
thrash ala M.O.D. / S.O.D., Cryptic Slaughter, or Dirty Rotten Imbeciles, with
a touch of grindcore and crustcore thrown in for total mayhem. This Boston madhouse
feature ex-members of Backstabbers Inc, Inheritance and Cyanide Breed, formed
in late 1996, released a 7" EP (Full Speed Ahead also on Teenage
Disco Bloodbath Records), and have toured the US leaving behind many a strange
tale to tell (arrests for suspected kidnapping!), besides leveling unsuspecting
mosh pits. At times Brainwreck sounds off like an awesome throwback to
early American thrash, other times they remind me of a more frantic Napalm Death.
The lyrics are a blast, and while the standard
fare is here (dickhead ex-friends, politics, etc), there are plenty of weird
ones involving zombies, great guitarists and Thor's hammer - though not all
in the same song. The disc is presented in its deserving manner, as a stylish
foldout digipack whose color scheme will catch the eye almost as quick as the
band catches the ear. If this five-piece doesn't get your ear, trust me... they'll
rip it off your pretty little head. (Aug
13, 2008)
INSIDE THE SMITHS DVD (Music
Video Distributors) Before I go into much,
I just have to say that this DVD is a must for any fan of The Smiths. Actually,
any self-respecting fan of The Smiths would not only already know about this,
but probably already have this. Still, The Smiths are a British... Wait, who
am I kidding? Forget their history, if you don't know who they are, you either
don't care or are undeserving of the info. This disc is first and foremost a
documentary from the perspective of 'the two other guys". Yes, there is
Morrissey and Johnny Marr, but there was also bassist Andy Rourke and drummer
Mike Joyce. While there are interesting contributions from New Order's Peter
Hook, Mark E. Smith (The Fall), Matt Osman of Suede, and quite a few others,
the tales from Rourke and Joyce are the highlights. There are stories of auditioning
for the band (Joyce tells a tale of seeing a bottle rocket fly around his legs
while at the drumset tripping on mushrooms), early practices, recording and
touring, plus they dish the dirt on Morrissey and Marr. The extras on Inside
the Smiths are just as good as the documentary itself. There are out-takes
about the lawsuit (where the judge described Morrissey as 'devious, truculent
and unreliable'), an interview with Aztec Camera's Craig Gannon (the 5th member
of Smiths in 1986), and best of all, a scene where Joyce pulls out a box containing
tapes that have a near 60 unreleased Smiths tracks (oh, how I want to get my
hands on them!!!). Lastly, the disc comes with a nice booklet too. It's all
good for the eyes in more ways than one. By the way, and if you are waiting
for The Smiths to reunite, when Morrissey turns down five million for one reunion
show, and says that he would 'rather eat my own testicles than re-form The Smiths,'
you know it's time to give up that dream. Well, at least we have stuff like
this to keep us busy. (March
20, 2008)
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).
(March
20, 2008)
FACTORIA - The Longest Summer
CD-R (Factoria)
Factoria is the brainchild of Washington state native Joan Devitt
Hacker. Her debut five song EP, The Longest Summer, was self-recorded
in Sydney, Australia and New York City on a home computer, over the course of
two years. She played all the instruments herself, including acoustic and electric
guitars, viola, and keyboards. The tunes are an ethereal mix of dreamy neo-folk
(similar to Current 93 or Nature And Organization) and lush low-fi pop (not
far off of Mazzy Star), which tell the listener tales of broken hearts and personal
trials. The CD-R is limited to a mere 37 copies, and each is handmade - every
disc being painted, with the layout personally silk-screened by the artist herself.
Gaining in popularity, the track "Don't Come Around Here Anymore"
was featured on Australian radio, and she even has her own fan flub (The Highest
Order of the Owl). If this sounds like your trip contact her personally and
see if she has any left. I doubt it, but she may hook you up somehow. (March
20, 2008)
SKULLFLOWER - IIIrd Gatekeeper
CD (Crucial Blast)
A lot of people are familiar with the name, but not the sound. They may have
heard it's just noise, or a Godflesh clone, or some Throbbing Gristle-influenced
madness. It's some, it's neither, it's Skullflower. Skullflower for the most
part is, and always has been, guitarist Matthew Bower - basically his amp worship
and song structures. Skullflower has two UK incarnations. The first incarnation
was formed around 1987 after Bower and drummer Stuart Dennison had exhausted
their stays in Pure, Total and A Sulphur of Lions, The Wayward Boys, respectively.
They played what can be best summed up as noise-rock (for that time); heavy
droning rhythm, psychedelic swirling guitars, and a driving, thunderous beat.
While coming off sounding very much like Godflesh, Skullflower predated Godflesh
and actually influenced much of what Justin Broadrick wrote for that band. They
came out with the Birthdeath EP (1988) and later the Form Destroyer
LP (1989 and both on Broken Flag Records), in 1990 they produced two more albums,
Ruins and Xaman (both on Shock Records), but it wasn't until 1993's
IIIrd Gatekeeper (funnily enough on Justin Broadrick's label, HeadDirt
Records) that they gained international notice. Of course, this is the repress
of that album with new liner notes, new package design (yet maintaining the
original release's artwork), and a remastering job. In 1996 Skullflower disband,
but Matthew reformed it solo in 2003 with revolving guests on as many as three
LPs (check Crucial Blast Records for the newer Skullflower material). Hey Crucial,
how about repressing Infinityland. (March
20, 2008)
POMEGRANATES - Two Eyes
CD EP (Pomegranates)
This Cincinnati quartet are an impressive bunch, who just may be the next big
indie chart toppers, so catch 'em while they're still fresh. A touch of Pinback
and a little Broken Social Scene. Maybe some Kings of Leon, and a smattering
of Arcade Fire. All in all, it's a nineteen minute ride of happy-go-lucky college
rock mixed with moments of reflective alt-pop. Melodic, yet catchy. Quiet, yet
explosive. Lush, yet minimalist. Songs you'll hum to yourself, and others you'll
find yourself singing aloud to. They now have a full LP on Lujo Records, so
if you can't get enough - and trust me, you just can't with these five tracks
- check out their other new five inch slice of plastic. (March
20, 2008)
END OF LEVEL BOSS - Inside
the Difference Engine CD (Exile
On Mainstream)
I'm actually grateful
this record was dropped in my box, as lately I've been pulling out the older
EoLB record (Prologue, also on Exile On Mainstream Records), not to mention
copies of Soundgarden's Ultramega OK and Louder Than Love. I was
getting a little tired of repeating that Seattle band's "Big Dumb Sex"
over and over again. A newer band with a stranger name is who fans of SST Records-era
Soundgarden should now look out for. End of Level Boss is the brainchild of
Hangnail guitarist and vocalist Heck Armstrong - lyrics, music and all. EoLB
play stoner rock-metal the likes of Kyuss, Atomic Bitchwax or Lowrider, and
mix it with an early 90's Seattle style. Sometimes the music is steamrollin'
rock-n-roll, while there are also dreamy or lush moments of guitar psychedelic
and trippy riff wizardry. Damn
it all if Heck doesn't sound like Chris Cornell too. Don't
let the popularity of Grunge at the end of the last millennium scare you away
from this record: it rocks. You might dig this, but your mom may love it!
(March
20, 2008)
KONSTANTINOV - Beyond the
Black Ocean CD (Black
Noise) Konstantinov is a project by solo musician
K. E. Lunsford (of Witchhouse Records), and is named after a Russian space vessel
by the same name, which was itself named after philosopher Konstantin Konstantinov
(1817 - 1871). It's one track clocking in at over an half hour, which brought
to mind astronauts... make that cosmonauts, and the furthest reaches of deep
space. It's dark and quiet ambient that utilizes actual room and open field
ambiance to create soundscapes. This CD is presented by Ryan Cox (the mastermind
behind Black Noise Records) in a DVD case, and though not numbered, I'm certain
is pretty limited. (March
20, 2008)
ELECTRIC WIZARD - Witchcult Today CD (Candlelight)
This three-piece doom legend from the UK began in 1993 after ex-members of Thy
Grief Eternal wanted to do something a little different. In 1995 the band released
their self-titled debut album (on Rise Above Records). The music was traditional-styled
doom, but the follow-up, Come My Fanatics... (on The Music Cartel in
1997) was seen as a landmark record for its psychedelic, downtuned fuzz and
bass heavy rhythm. Though recording two EPs, it wasn't until 2000 when they
came back with another LP (Dopethrone and later 2002's Let Us Prey
- both on Rise Above Records, as well as The Music Cartel) due to members Oborn
suffering a collapsed eardrum (damn, they must be loud!), and Greening breaking
his collarbone in a motorcycle accident. In 2005 under a new lineup EW released
the less psychedelic, We Live (now repressed - as all old EW releases
are - on Candlelight Records). Damn, I've been sober for almost a year now (well,
at least from the green monster) and this new record makes me want to lay around
in a haze, jamming to this CD. Not because it may enhance the experience, but
because I just may need it medically due to the punishing riffs and wall of
crushing ampage. Electric Wizard are back and better than ever, with eight nuggets
and an hour's worth sweet chiba-inspired doom damage. If you are into stoner
doom, I'm sure you already have this tucked away into your player, but if you're
interested in checking some of this stuff out... by all means, you can start
here. Don't blame me if you get hooked. (March
20, 2008)
DARTZ! - This is My Ship
CD (Deep
Elm)
This trio from Teesside, England bring us forty-five minutes of dance-y, yet
emotional punk. Twelve tracks of a postpunk vibe (Gang
of Four, APB, The Homosexuals), mixing emocore quikiness
(Brandtson, Benton Falls) and a math rock explosion (Don Caballero, Clikitat
Ikatowi). Some songs are straight forward and tightly structured, while others
are a mix of jangly pop, melodic groove and danceable hooks. My mind floats
with comparisons to label mates Free Diamonds, Dischord
Record's Q And Not U, and most notably Bloc Party.
This album was originally released by the UK's Xtra Mile Recordings, but Deep
Elm Records asked kindly and had it added to their limited-basis discs (only
1000 copies, only available online and not in stores). Get that internet fired
up, the credit card ready, and wait patiently by your mailbox. (March
20, 2008)
HELLOWEEN - Gambling With
the Devil CD (SPV)
Helloween is a power metal powerhouse who formed in 1983 in Hamburg, Germany,
from the ashes of Iron Fist and Powerfool. They produced their first EP, Walls
of Jericho, two years later, and a year after that they gave the world their
most popular albums, Keeper of the Seven Keys and Keeper
of the Seven Keys Pt II (all on Noise Records). In
1995 original lead vocalist, Kai Hansen, left to form Gammaray, but the addition
of new vocalist, Andi Deris, didn't slow down this metal machine. Helloween's
Gambling With the Devil is their twelfth album. Yep - number 12! While
albums like Rabbit Don't Come Easy saw them chill a bit, and Metal
Jukebox had them covering some odd pop choices, their newest LP picks up
back on the tracks their biggest fans would have loved to have put them on again.
Heavy, though still progressive. Technical, yet fast and in-your-face. These
metal gods have aged, but oh so gracefully. (March
20, 2008)
GENOCIDE - Apocalypse Visions
CD (Ván)
Now, there are two other bands named 'Genocide' from Germany, not to mention
nineteen others around the globe, so this may get a little confusing if you're
going to go to track this down. Best of luck to you, not to mention Ván
Records and the band themselves. This German trio (ex-members of Eternal Frost,
Elohim, and Vergeltung) started in 2005 and self-released their first demo In
Abhorrence Of Mankind soon after. Three of those songs later appeared on
2007's Blasphemic Terrorism EP (on Burning Churches Records). Whether
there is just one Genocide or hundreds of 'em, these guys are definitely a band
you should check out. Old school black metal in the vein of Gorgoroth, Marduk,
early Darkthrone, or a beefed up Hellhammer - brutality, speed and bleak anger,
packed with blastbeats, buzzsaw guitars, tortured vocals and seriously blasphemed
lyrics throughout. 'We
must secure the total extermination of all races and a future for nonentity.'
Hell yes! For vinyl freaks there should be a 12"
version available from Burning Churches by now, so let the hunt begin.
(March 20, 2008)
KRISTER BERGMAN - s/t CD-R
(Black Noise)
This is a far cry from what I expected out of the Black Noise camp, though it's
still a great listen. Pretty fresh, and a little different too from what usually
comes across my desk. Krister Bergman is a solo artist who was once behind the
Swedish project Demons That Drove. His self-titled EP is four tracks that are
a space-y mix of neo-folk and shoegazer - using almost nothing other than acoustic
guitars and vocals. It's dreamy, it's evocative, it's depressing as hell, but
I love every minute of it. The work of Krister Bergman brings to mind Earth
Covers Earth-era Current 93, or the gaining-in-popularity Factoria out of
NYC. The disc is limited to only fifty, but I'm sure these went awfully quick.
Ask nicely and the folks at Black Noise may help you out, but don't expect the
wonderful handmade covers that come with the original pressing. (March
20, 2008)
TAD - Busted Circuits and
Ringing Ears DVD (Music
Video Distributors) This isn't what I expected.
I thought this was going to be a live show and maybe some videos, but it's actually
a documentary. Very cool! Let me say that Tad is one of the most underrated
bands of the early 90's Seattle sound. Soundgarden, Nirvana, Pearl Jam - fuck
them all. Tad had strength, volume, riffs, balls, hooks, even moments of melody.
Now, why didn't Tad get the notice they deserved? I don't know... bad timing,
bad luck? Seriously, maybe both. In 1988 Tad Doyle puts out his solo 7"
("Daisy" / "Ritual Device") on fledgeling label Sub Pop
and both parties gain from it. Tad recruits members to start an actual band,
and their first two discs (God's Balls and Salt Lick) are hailed
as the next best thing, they even go on tour with an unknown local act to support
them (they were known as Nirvana). Then they put out the 8-Way Santa
LP and all hell breaks loose. Tad and Sub Pop are sued for the cover photo by
the redneck couple who appeared on it, who are now born-again Xtians. Then a
soda company (who I will not advertise for by mentioning their name) sues over
the use of their name in a song. Tad jumps on to a major label, which weeks
after the new record (1993's Inhaler) comes out they're dropped due to
a poster for the LP which featured Bill Clinton smoking a doobie and saying,
'This is heavy shit'. It's an amazing story of a fast rise and almost-as-fast
fall. All the while the music doesn't suffer and keeps on shredding, on and
on. The entire story is told by Tad and crew, as well as Mark Arm (of Mudhoney),
Kim Thayil (of Soundgarden), Krist Novoselic (of Nirvana) and Bruce Pavitt (of
Sub Pop Records). The doc contains plenty of live footage, back stage antics
and personal home video. As an extra, the DVD also contains every music video
(five) Tad has done. Plus, if you act fast, you can also get a free copy of
the poster I mentioned above. How? Buy the DVD and find out. (March
20, 2008)
GET BACK UP - Weathering the Storm CD (Organized
Crime) Nine songs, seventeen minutes! Oh, and it's
on Organized Crime Records. What does that all equal. Fucking hardcore, you
fools! Metallic hardcore too. While it's very old-school influenced, similar
in style to Gorilla Biscuits and Wide Awake, this disc also has a heavy metal
edge, packed with riffs and a heavy stomp the likes of Terror, Hatebreed or
Earth Crisis. These
five chaps have been slugging this hardcore brutality out since 2005 when they
formed in Buffalo, NY. They've been busy since, as they've been up and down
the East Coast, not to mention Midwest, making kids jump all over one another
in a live setting. If you're into any of the Bridge
Nine school, or earlier Organized Crime slabs, you won't be disappointed by
this. They also have a 7" due out anytime now (called Symptoms of Failure),
so if these songs went by too quickly, pick it up. Until then... I'm hitting
the repeat button on my CD player. (March
20, 2008)
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. (March
20, 2008)
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.
(March
20, 2008)
PAPERMOONS - s/t 7"
EP (Team
Science) With all the metal, power electronics
and hardcore I review, it's good to get away from it for a bit. This 7"
sure did the trick. Four (five) songs of lulling tunes, built for a lazy Sunday
evening as one watches the sun sink behind hills. Papermoons consists of a Houston,
Texas duo, Matt Clark and Daniel Hawkins, and these two gents play a mix of
Americana and alt-country with a modern twist. Harmonica, steel and acoustic
guitar, soft drumming mixed with samples, twisted noises and a touch of rock
vibe. The vocals are a mix of sung, spoken and almost whispered, all adding
to the quiet feeling. There are only 500 of the 7"es made (and they're
on blue and orange wax), so if this sounds interesting, hurry your ass up. You
can relax once you place it on your turntable. Actually, there's a CD version
(which includes a bonus track) for those that just aren't into vinyl anymore.
(March
20, 2008)
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. (March
20, 2008)
VERDUNKELN - Einblick in
Den Qualenfall CD (Ván)
Hailing from Germany, Verdunkeln is a duo (Gnarl and Ratatyske, both ex-members
of Graupel), and they play a sulky black metal with neo-folk leanings. They
began in 1998, but didn't record their first demo (eight songs, all unreleased)
until 2004. In 2005 they finally unleashed a self-titled debut LP, and are now
tracking the blood dripping from the wounds that record left, to pulverize you
with another beating. Yes, there will be many a likeness to Burzum throughout,
though it's no exact clone. They borrow, but make it their own well enough.
The recording is a lo-tech, muddled mix that black metal is usually known for,
and they skip much of the blast beats for slower doom-inspired riffs, while
at times delving into psychedelic or shoegazer material. The vocalist sings
in German, and though I know the lyrics are probably pretty dark, there is no
translation in the liner notes for the lyrics provided for me to be sure. I
actually don't mind that, as I'm pretty sad that English is becoming the world's
most used language, as well as most used in music. Phasen sehnen sich der widerstand!
Hope I wrote that correctly. (March
20, 2008)
D. O. A. - Smash the State: The Raw Original D.O.A. 1978-81 DVD (Sudden
Death /
Music
Video Distributors) D.O.A.'s
Greatest Shits [1978 - 1998] DVD was good, but it was short, and high
on their later more rock material. These guys are Canadian, as well as punk,
legends and deserve a lengthier video release. Is that what this is? Well, it's
about time. This newest DVD disc is pure punk rock - hardcore '81 (and before)!
There
are live shows on here filmed in San Francisco from 1980 and two from 1981,
an unknown Bay Area show from 1981, and the entire infamous Anarchist Anti-Canada
Day outdoor show from 1978 (as seen in pieces on Greatest
Shits). There's also a TV appearance from 1980
with the band performing "The Enemy", another TV appearance with a
studio version of "World War 3" from 1979, a '79 Canadian news report
on punk and D.O.A.. Seventy minutes of three-chord rock fury, snotty attitude,
trouble-making, and
political activism. Watch, and see if you can spot Circle
Jerk's Keith Morris. While I did like Greatest Shits, this is a million
times better. Buy this and catch an old favorite of the Kennedy clan (that's
Dead Kennedys, Jack), and they'll probably be an old school fave for you too.
(March
20, 2008)
WILDILDLIFE - Six CD (Crucial
Blast) This California three piece was picked up by
Crucial Blast Records on the downloading of just a few mp3 tracks posted online,
so those that spend every minute trying to promote your band via MySpace
(and the like) fear not... there is hope. Anyhow, they became a dominant listen
staple at the Crucial Blast headquarters, and the rest is musical, as they say,
history. At times, Wildildlife kicks around in a psych-haze, other moments contain
an Am-Rep noisecore sludge. There are parts where the riffs crawl at a snails
pace in a wall of riffage and amp worship, while others swirl in a possibly
drug-fueled ascension to light and decent into darkness - all at the same time.
The opening track is part Butthole Surfers, part Pixies, while the drums and
singing are very tribal. "Magic Jordan" was half psychedelic folk-revival,
half twisted doom menace. Though only six tracks the album clocks in at way
over an hour, so you know it's packed in epic space rock and fuzzed out jams
(hey, they thank weed and alcohol in the [very little] liner notes, so expect
it). A nice addition to Blast's already amazing label roster. Check it out,
and I'm sure you'll make the CD a part of your collection's roster.
(March
20, 2008)
FLIPPER - Target Video 77:
1980 - 81 DVD (Target
/ Music
Video Distributors) Some time in the late '70s
artist Joe Rees had seen that there was a future in using video with music.
In 1977 Rees founded Target Video. While collaborating with others he captured
events, rallies and performance art, but Target mostly
filmed punk, hardcore and new wave bands, and video taped some
of the largest names in those scenes (Cramps, Screamers, Talking Heads, Black
Flag, Iggy Pop, Circle Jerks and hundreds more). For a while there, Target was
almost a forgotten name. I had a few bootleg copies on VHS of a few of the live
sets they documented. Thanks to the folks at MVD, though nowhere near all, a
whole lot of Target stuff has resurfaced. This time around it's Bruce Loose,
Will Shatter and crew; the monster known as Flipper. To me Flipper was true
punk. Not the standard three chord stuff a thousand Sex Pistols clones produced,
but wild art-damaged rock noise that truly said, 'punk is attitude, not music'.
I used to walk around my high school singing "Ha, Ha, Ha" all the
time - it annoyed many, both the straight-laced and the punks. This DVD contains
two shows, one in Berkley from 1981 and another opening for Throbbing Gristle's
last US show in 1981 at San Francisco. It also has a TV segment where the guys
jam on "Sex Bomb" in 1983. Seventy minutes of live noise-punk dronecore,
featuring most of their better known tracks ("Love Canal", "Low
Rider", "One By One" and the aforementioned track I always sung),
as well as a few that may stump those in the know. These guys influenced rockers
from the Amphetamine Reptile school, the Seattle Sub Pop sound and even a few
doom metal acts, pick up this disc and see why. (March
20, 2008)
MOUSE FIRE - Wooden Teeth
CD (Lujo)
I'm surprised this isn't being worn down by radio stations like Miami's WVUM
(90.5 FM) or Tallahassee's WVFS (89.7 FM), especially since this band is from
Florida. These twelve tracks are right up their alley, plus they'll give a local
act some much needed exposure. Mouse Fire, and their debut LP, Wooden Teeth,
are a bit of melodic college rock with a touch of dancefloor groove - part Pinback,
part Franz Ferdinand (check out "Feel Good Drag" for proof). It also
brings to mind Koufax, Manchester Orchestra or the second-album-era The Killers.
This foursome from Lakeland, FL can't, I'm sure, get the press they deserve.
I mean, it's Lakeland, FL for god's sake. While a record label like Lujo Records
can sure as hell help them out with distro and recognition, it's almost like
starting from scratch. No wonder I left Florida. It's kinda like a black hole;
everything trying to escape, including light (or in this case music) cannot
escape. If you're tired of the bands everyone already knows about, checkout
one that no knows about and be hip - for once. (March
20, 2008)
SHIT OUTTA LUCK - Family
Tradition CD (Organized
Crime)
This is a bit of a different turn for OC Records. Well, not really: it is hardcore,
it is metal, it is heavy, hard, brutal and in your fucking face. So it does
fit their stable, but it's a little slower than their usual. Not that it is
in any way bad. Especially with an intro like Shit Outta Luck's starts with,
'This one is dedicated to our families, to the ones who fucked us up before
we even had a choice'. Now, that is starting a record off right! Milwaukee's
SOL started off in 2006 and feature exes from area hardcore bands Wings of Scarlet
and Die Alone. The songs are intense hardcore with a slower doom sound. At time
I thought of early Clutch, later Cable or Church of Misery, but all in all,
its hardcore vibe brought to mind Sheer Terror more than anyone else. I guess
it's all the hatred. The deep, dark, negativity... and still, I love these guys.
(March
20, 2008)
DŸSE - s/t CD (Exile
On Mainstream)
Hard to imagine this is a duo, but it is. Formed in 2003 in the land of green
and red - that's green as in herb, and red as in red light district - Amsterdam,
Netherlands. The name Dÿse comes from a motel the duo first met in front
of (Dÿsecatmotel).
Dÿse
feature ex-members of Rodeo Queen and Volt, and though I've never heard of either,
I'm glad Dÿse came my way. The music is a stop-start metal madness, not
far off of a heavy postpunk, or maybe a very early System Of A Down (hey, they
weren't bad when they began). There's a bit of Helmet-ish repetition, so there's
a good Amphetamine Reptile school of noise rock going on throughout. In all
seriousness, I really can't put my finger on any one band they sound most like.
Believe me, that's a good thing. There seems to be a serious vibe running through
their self-titled debut, but I can hear that these two fellows have a sense
of humor. Eight tracks in forty minutes that just may make you rethink the parameters
of metal music. (March
20, 2008)
TEXTURED BIRD TRANSMISSION
- Spectral Doves of Skeletal Intensity CD-R (Dead
Sea Liner) Textured Bird Transmission is...
well, I don't know, and supposedly neither does their label. Either way, they
produce some really dark ambient tunes, a sort of soundtrack for early 1900s
Expressionist German film. I can hear this playing well over movies like Nosferatu
or Der Golem. Creepy synths bleep, guitars feedback, metal clangs, all
of it over layers of soundscapes and textured drone. While I dig the music,
what I really like - almost as much - is the layout. Hand-painted waves of red,
orange and yellow (though I've seen green on other copies as well) over thick
cardstock. Time consuming, I'm sure, but quite impressive. Limited to only forty-eight
copies, so chances are you're a washed up sucker that missed out. Too bad for
you, I guess. (March
20, 2008)
KING OF PUNK: THE DOCUMENTARY
DVD (Music
Video Distributors) This is almost like two
documentaries blended into one. First, it's a chat with some of the biggest
names in punk history (from 1976 - 1983). There's Keith 'Monkey' Warren of The
Addicts, Cheetah Chrome (of Dead Boys), Jayne (once Wayne) County, Jack Rabid,
Joey 'Shithead' Keithley (of D.O.A.), Marky Ramone, M.D.C.'s Dave Dictor, Robert
'El Vez' Lopez, as well as members of UK Subs, Stiff Little Fingers, Sham 69,
Avengers, Exploited and more. They cover what punk was, and is, to them, how
they think it started, and why it has been so important to them and so many
others for so long. Secondly, it's a band documentary. The doc follows a Fayetteville,
North Carolina all-girl punk band OBGYN (where were they the long six months
I was up there?). From shows, to recording, to new members (their first male
addition), and then breaking up. You watch as the ladies grow up on screen,
form new bands, drift in and out of love affairs and one even has a baby. They
tell tales of being banned from a show because their name is 'satanic', and
another because it was 'too lewd'. Why they chose to follow this one band in
particular is a good question, since they're pretty much an unknown act, but
in the end it worked out well for the story - some acts make it, many don't.
The documentary title refers to no one person in particular, and is used to
reference how there are no idols in punk music - everyone is the king of punk.
So hail me, silly reader, I'm your King of Punk. And hail you, my kingly reader,
as you are mine. (March
20, 2008)
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! (March
20, 2008)
SALT THE WOUND - Carnal
Repercussions CD (Rotten)
This is one impressive metal
quintet. I
mean 'metal' in the best sense when it comes to describing it: punishing riffs,
nefarious (dual) vocals, and drums that speed and trail over you like a semitruck.
Plus, it scared the crap out of my girlfriend. This Cleveland, OH based outfit
formed in 2001, and they play a metalcore that's better than most bands copying
the stuff. While this is thick in a metalcore sound in the vein of All Shall
Perish and The Black Dahlia Murder, it brings more to my mind European-influenced,
American metalcore bands like Abigail Williams and Dead to Fall (with way better
vocals) especially
with the two opening tracks, "The Beginning",
and "Better Than This". Speaking of the vocals, one is a deep growl
that darks harsh words at you, while the other is a screeching banshee that
often makes me think a woman is being attacked (but it's a freakin' dude!).
I think this twelve song, thirty-five minute disc is their debut, but I can
find much information out there. Now, if I could only find where my girlfriend
is hiding. Hell with it, I'll just keep blasting
this. (March
20, 2008)
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. (March
20, 2008)
VARIOUS ARTISTS - This Is
Black Metal DVD (Music
Video Distributors) Though not many of the
bands on here can be considered black metal, per se, there isn't many other
genres they fit into all that well, so it's okay. I'll let it slide. Especially
since I haven't seen a Celtic Frost video in years! There are music videos here,
and interviews a'plenty. The aforementioned CF video as well as an interview.
There are videos and interviews by Throes of Dawn, Emperor, and Satyricon. There
are music videos for Cradle of Flith, Borknagar and Astarte. There are interviews
with Cronos and Mantas of Venom, David Vincent, Pete Sandoval and Tony Norman
of Morbid Angel. Strangely, all of the interviews are done by once-gang-bang-queen
Jasmin St. Claire - I didn't know she was a fan of death and black metal. Well,
it's not like I had ever seen a video of her's where where she had the available
dialogue to say she loved metal. I'm even more shocked none of the bands asked
her any weird porn questions or spilled tasteless porn jokes while she interviewed
them. I guess metalers are better behaved than image has it. There's even an
interview with Jasmin later in the disc. The DVD also comes with a clip of Black
Metal Parking Lot. You headbangers out there have probably already seen
Heavy Metal Parking Lot, and now there's a newer, heavier version. This
time around there are less stoned and drunk dumb-asses, but just as many sober,
corpse-painted, black clad dumb-asses. Funny stuff. (March
20, 2008)
KORPERSCHWACHE - The Joy
of Seppuku CD-R (Dead
Sea Liner) When many joke about suicide (though
I often hear one shouldn't) they'll use the term hara-kiri, and I'll
retort with the term seppuku. I usually get a befudeled look. It's the
same thing, ritual suicide through self-disembowelment. Um... anyhow, while
I totally find Korperschwache's sound to be enjoyable, I can see many committing
seppuku to this. The Joy of Seppuku can drive anyone not into noise music
straight to suicide. Usually a duo, Korperschwache
(which
means 'organic decay' in German) is, this time around, the work of just one.
Similar in vein to current Skullflower,
this act out of Austin, Texas washes the listener in feedback - sometimes lush
and dreamy, sometimes chaotic, noisy and menacing. Korperschwache
is good stuff to drown out the ramblings of a pissed
off lover, or the soundtrack to getting one going (rambling and pissed off,
I mean). The packaging by Dead Sea Liner is a nice
touch as well. Two sheets of thick and shiny paper that fit together like a
puzzle, with deep black screened ink. I'm sure this is limited, so hurry your
ears on over. (March
20, 2008)
SOL - Let There Be A Massacre
CD (Ván)
Seven tracks clocking in at an hour's length. What does that usually mean? Fuckin'
doom metal. Slow riffs and punishing rhythm. Downtuned guitars and fuzzed out
amplifiers. Sol is the solo work of one Emil Brahe. No bio sheet came with this
disc, so where he's from and where this was recorded is a mystery to me. Though,
I do know (thanks to the liner notes) that Emil played guitars, bass, drums,
accordion, clarinet and banjo, as well as doing all the samples and all the
vocals, though fellow misanthropist Martin Jacobsen helped with the track "The
Inanity of Man". While the music is total doom metal, it has moments of
operatic black metal - well, I mean, the slower parts of black metal. The songs,
like their titles ("Centuries of Human Filth", "Where Angels
Rot", etc) are dark and bleak, while the vocals fit, and are laid down
in two forms - a deep bellowing growl, and a raspy, near spoken hiss that sounds
almost like it's through gritted teeth. I'm a big fan of this style, so while
I dig what I've already got, I'm already looking forward to even more from the
Sol project. (March
20, 2008)
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