REVIEWS
& LUNATIC RANTS
I have
moved to Allentown, PA -- new address
here.
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)
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. (Oct
14, 2007)
SAILOR WINTERS - Red At
Morn: The Movie DVD (Sailor
Winters) If you're unfamiliar with Sailor Winters,
he is actually one man, Ryan Cox of the state of Georgia. He plays noise / ambient
music, and plays it well. His music is sometimes harsh and powerful in the vein
of Merzbow, The Grey Wolves or NON, while other times playful and rather upbeat
in the vein of Aphex Twin, DJ Spooky or Xiu Xiu. It's basically his entire third
release, Red at Morn, with accompanying music video and experimental
film - we have the marching beat of "Ashe", the fuzzy "Olodumare"
(whose video at times reminded me of Boyd Rice's short film Black Sun),
the tribal, yet droning "Orisha", the quiet and ethereal "Egun",
the menacing "Dahomean", followed by the impish "baKONGa",
the distressing, though often lush "Yoruban", next is "Maxim
Xul" a track that starts loopy and restrained, which almost turns into
black metal halfway through, then the rumbling and rumoring "Murmur",
the subdued and tasteful "Orre" and ending things off on the punishing
and abrasive "Black Noise". All of it extremely well dome for what
was probably put together on a home computer. Best of all, this is completely
self-produced (from the music videos to the disc packaging), and you can get
this for five bucks! No, that's no typo. You can buy this directly from his
website for $5. So order up, sit back, smoke a fat one and be prepared for an
over fifty-minute, trance-inducing ride. Just make sure your DVD player can
play burned discs. (Oct
14,
2007)
WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM
- Two Hunters CD EP (Southern
Lord) Wolves In The Throne Room is a
black metal three-piece from Olympia, WA and they can educate many folks in
the BM scene that you don't always have to be neck-breakingly fast and constantly
screeching to be dark, brutal and menacing. Their first album, Diadem of
12 Stars (on Vendlus Records), was an hour-long, three-song epic record,
and this newest work clocks in four songs at over forty minutes. Part Explosions
in the Sky / part Emperor - equally mixing Neurosis with Burzum. Shoegazer-ish
black
metal morphing from classic Gothic black metal to neo-folk and into progcore,
doom and more in an Isis meeting up with Ulver and beating up Mayhem in a ritualistic
musical bloodsport. From
powerfully crushing metal to quiet swirling lulls, they transition from genre
to genre without a hitch. The main vocals are in
a witchy screech, while other times there actually is a woman singing, backing
up the vocalist. This
new CD is a must for the prog-monsters who think Neurosis, or even newer Isis,
has gotten a little dull. And, if you haven't done
so, you should definitely pick up their debut as well. What the hell, just listen
here and I'm sure you will soon enough.
(Oct
14,
2007)
THE FUCKING WRATH - Season
of Evil CD (Goodfellow)
Supposedly this Montalvo, CA trio went into the studio on the
weekend of 06/06/06 to record Season of Evil. If so, thumbs up for that
alone. It's always nice for any record - especially
a heavy record - to have as much evil jammed into
it as (in)humanly possible... and not just in the album title. Also, try selling
yourself, and a few records, when you have the word 'fucking' in your band name.
Best of luck with that, evil ones! Anyhow, this LP is the debut end-product
of three dope-smoking, record store employees that are way into Black Sabbath,
Tragedy and very early Metallica. I can hear those three influences the most
here, but I also catch moments of Radio Birdman, Infest, Pentagram and Slayer.
In other words: it's a lot of grinding thrash with moments of southern-fried
apocalyptic riffs. Big guitars in front of mountains of amps, booming, bombastic
drumming, often at breakneck speeds, and growling vocals where you know the
singer's tasting blood. My biggest issue is that when the eleven songs are over
with, which clock in at under an half hour, I'm only half way done trashing
the place. I need more time and songs to finish the wrecking I've started, so
I know it's a bit early to ask, but could you guys hurry up with new album already?
Oh well, I'll just have to start this record over (and over) again.
(Oct
14,
2007)
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. (Oct
14,
2007)
OBITUARY - Xecutioner's
Return CD (Candlelight)
Let me just say that Cause of Death is one of my favorite
death metal albums of all time. Everything about Obituary in the early 90s was
intense - the riffs were heavy, the drumming was brutal, and the vocals were
shear torturous (for Tardy to produce, not for me to listen to). I really hated
it when they tried to jump on the Limp Dicksick bandwagon and attempted to tailor
their tunes for a more metal-rap sound. Well, they're back again, and while
this new album is no Cause of Death, it is way better that what they
ended on before the turn of the new millennium. Okay, for those that are unaware,
here goes... Obituary is a Tampa, FL outfit which started in 1984 under the
name Xecutioner (hence the spelling of the new album title). Throughout the
1990s Obituary held the title of fifth largest-selling death metal band, and
released four stellar LPs (Slowly We Rot [1989], Cause of Death
[1990], The End Complete [1992] and World Demise [1994] all on
Roadrunner Records) and one stinker (Back
from the Dead in 1997 and also on Roadrunner
Records). In '97 they split as Allen West formed Six Feet Under and Trevor Peres
formed Catastrophic. They regrouped in 2003, releasing a
new album (Frozen in Time, still on Roadrunner Records) and a DVD (Frozen
Alive on Metal Mind Productions) as well, and have now switched over to
Candlelight for their newest outing (sans Allen West). While
I still have a bigger heart for their earlier works, this record is nothing
for me to turn your nose up at either. John Tardy still has torturous vocals,
Donald Tardy plays drums like no other, and Trevor Peres still has killer guitar
licks. Good to hear that older folks - like myself - still have the power and
balls to fucking bring it on. (Oct
14,
2007)
MY FIRST TIME: A COLLECTION OF FIRST SHOW STORIES - Edited, Chris Duncan BOOK
(AK Press)
This was a real fun read. As the title boasts, it's a collection
'first time' stories - first time going to a punk show, that is. The book is
packed with over forty storytellers. Some of them are big names from big bands,
and others are simply nice folks with no more than a story to tell. There's
Blake Schwarzenbach of Jawbreaker and Jets to Brazil (whose first punk outing
was actually the movie Decline of Western Civilization), Even Worse /
Springhouse drummer and magazine mogul (The Big Takeover) Jack Rabid
(and though not written in the book, he also gave Beastie Boys their first punk
gig), Russ Rankin of Good Riddance, author (Our Band Could Be Your Life)
Michael Azerrad, Anna Brown's first time at Gilman, Ben Sizemore of Econochrist,
Al Quint (of Suburban Voice fanzine), The Dwarves' Blag Dahlia (who gives
the shortest, yet funniest entry), brothers Joe and Bull Gervasi, author (Going
Underground) George Hurchalla, and the ever popular 'many, many more' too.
Some stories are about going to one's first show at the age of twelve, while
others started to go at forty-one. Some went drunk or fucked-up on drugs and
others were straightedge right from the start. A few photos of the bands spoken
of, as well as a flyer or two are peppered throughout, but the book focuses
mostly on the words written, and though I do like photos - I'm a man of words.
My First Time is great for any punk rocker or hardcore kid tired of politics
or philosophy, and looking for some light reading. Worth the $16 (or £11
UK). (Oct
14,
2007)
RAGING SPEEDHORN - Before
the Sea Was Built CD (SPV)
Raging Speedhorn is a sextet from Northamptonshire, England,
beginning in 1998 from the ashes of Soulcellar and Box. They actually made it
into the UK singles chart with their single "The Gush" in 2001 off
of their self-titled debut LP (on ZTT Records). They then released a few more
albums, We Will Be Dead Tomorrow (2002, also on ZTT), a two-disc album
of live material and rare demos in 2004, and How the Great Have Fallen
(2005, on their current label SPV Records). With a new singer and a new bassist
one wouldn't think their sound has changed all that much from previous efforts,
but it has. Though the band is a dual-vocal beast, the new and main vocalist
(Bloody Kev, who once fronted Hard to Swallow) brings a very different style
than the previous singer, which is now more manic, brutal and in-your-face.
Musically they've moved away from the sludgecore sound of their early releases,
and are now opting for a more ethereal and intricate sound on Before the
Sea Was Built, which wouldn't be far off of Isis or Neurosis. The songs
aren't as long or epic as the previously mentioned outfits (the
entire ten song album is under an half hour) ,
but they're in the same sonic tones, as well as structure. It's a good listen
for those that are into the postcore sound, but are over the ten-minute stretch
of the usual prog-metal tunes. (Oct
14,
2007)
GIVING CHASE - A Cheap Print
of A Masterpiece CD (Jump
Start) Giving Chase are five guys from the streets
of Philadelphia, PA and they sound pissed, but luckily, while being angry enough
to put out a hardcore sound, they didn't go the route of the tough-guy chugga-chugga
school (ie: Hatebreed). Mixing equal parts California punk rock, old schools
hardcore ala New York City, the call-and-response Gainesville sound, and the
early emocore sound of D.C. I can hear it all in these twelve tracks: crowds
going completely wild, while pissed off dudes are bashing in their own instruments,
as the lead vocalist points his finger high in the air and the veins in his
neck attempt to break free of his body. I'm trying to think of a band that these
guys sound like and I can't put my finger on it. No one in specific, but more
like everything Bridge 9 Records put out with a little Hot Water Music. The
vocals are mostly screamed in a heavy bark by Mike Woliasnky, with two others
backing him up - another growler and another who actually sings in the background
(or often in the choruses). The packaging is a nice added touch to please the
eyes, as the band pleases the ears. If you can't get enough after your CD player
has worn out your copy, you can contact Jump Start Records because they also
carry an EP (2003's Nothing Ever Changes). Seriously though, where the
hell did these guys get the sample at the end of "Acceleration Couch"
- this LP could be worth it for that alone! (Oct
14,
2007)
DEPRESSED MODE - Ghosts
of Devotion CD (Firebox)
Depressed Mode began as a solo project of vocalist / synth player
Ossy Salonen from Finland, and featured sampled tracks and keyboards. Somewhere
along the line Salonen thought it would be better to add guitars, bass and real
drums. Guitarist Tomppa Turpeinen, an old band mate, was asked to fill in the
needed roles, and cared for the music so much he asked to be a part of the outfit.
It's cool to find out that this was recorded at Salonen's home (with vocals
being done in a closet), yet still having dooming sound, tight production and
a recording studio feel. The music mixes My
Dying Bride gothic doom, Dimmu Borgir symphonic
synthesizers, lush female vocals, Obituary-esque death metal growls, piano interludes,
and a wall of guitars crunching at a funeral's pace. It's a dark and cold sonic
landscape from a place on the map that doesn't see a lot of sun and is almost
always sunken in snow. Oh, and track eight ("Dunkelheit") is a Burzum
cover! It's a miracle more bands from that area don't sound like this.
(Oct
14,
2007)
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. (Oct
14,
2007)
HEMLOCK - Bleed the Dream
CD (Candlelight)
It seems that just when you want to cash in your chips on the
musical scope of the land of roulette wheels and dice tables, a band comes around
to change your mind. Hemlock
is based out of Las Vegas, NV, and like
four angry pit-bosses, they'll toss your ass right out of the action if you're
not careful. They originally formed in 1993, and released two previous records,
Pigeonholed and Shut Down. Their newest work, Bleed The Dream,
is their third album and is actually a re-release of their self-released LP,
but with the drum tracks redone by original drummer, Brian Smith. It's also
been remixed and remastered, not to mention it has two bonus tracks ("To
the Nines" and "Crooked Smile"). The music is metalcore in the
vein of Hatebreed, Lamb of God, Shadows Fall or Max-era Sepultura. The music
is beatdown material for wallop-packing while you mosh. The vocals really stand
out, and are a trade off between a deep barking growl and a higher pitched scream.
This is a good gamble if you're looking for music that could knock you on your
rear. (Oct
14,
2007)
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.
(Oct
14,
2007)
FREE DIAMONDS - By the Sword CD (Deep
Elm) When
I received the first LP (There Should Be More Dancing, also on Deep Elm
Records) by these three British lads, I was originally put off, but upon further
listen, I actually became a fan. I would even put their song "Blind Boys"
on compilations so friends could have a listen. When I saw this new album had
arrived in my mailbox I was seriously looking forward to checking it out. Boy,
I was not let down. Their sound has matured, and they've changed just a little,
but it's still Free Diamonds, that's for sure. FD seem to have added more musical
styles (rumba, calypso, country) to their already eclectic mix (R&B, garage,
punk), of which they can surely call their own. Herky-jerky, start-stop, jangly
postpunk meets fast-paced power-pop... think The Vapors having a jam session
with The Homosexuals. Haircut 100 or Medium Medium getting beat up by The Blood
Brothers or Avenging Disco Godfather. APB remixing Minutemen songs after listening
to nothing but The Meat Puppets for days on end. Their
newest five inch disc is over an half-hour of catchy, hook-filled tunes with
a dual vocal, pseudo-rap attack with pop sensibilities and a new wave flair.
This will make it big with the music-nerd crowd,
the postpunk aficionados and maybe even the dancefloor whores. (Oct
14,
2007)
N. I. L. - s/t CD (Battle
Kommand) Battle Kommand Records is, without a doubt,
my favorite black metal label out there. Their last few releases (Nachtmystium,
Obscurus
Advocam, Zoroaster, etc) have totally knocked me on my ass, and their newest
adventure into the realms of intense bleakness and Satanic terror leaves me
in much the same way. N.I.L. is a duo, consisting
of original member N. Imperial of Krieg and Twilight fame on most instruments,
who formed N.I.L. after a Krieg Euro-tour in 2004, but then soon called it quits.
In '06 N.I.L. resurfaced and absorbed into the fold J. Marcheski to handle guitars.
While much of their sound stays true to original black metal: heavy, primitive,
and very dark, it also has light moments of acoustic guitar and mandolin. The
music ranges from blastbeat mayhem and speed-picking insanity to doomy dirge
and droning sludge. Vocally, Imperial does a sort of witchy growl - half screeching
/ half barking, but he also mixes it up a bit throughout certain songs too,
so he rarely stays monotone. It's great to hear bands stay true to form, yet
venture out a bit from the norm. Hell, they even do a Big Black cover ("Bad
Houses"), which is a band I never thought a black metal band would take
on. These two should get many props for that alone. I can hear why many a metalhead
would give this many props even without that cover track. (Oct
14,
2007)
BROADWAY CALLS - s/t CD
(State
of Mind) For the most part, I don't get into much
pop punk. I think once it got on Mtv, it got on my nerves. I think the last
pop punk band I let into my life was (nationally) MXPX and (locally) 32forty
back before the new millennium. Well, I'll give it to a band that knows what
they're doing, and Broadway Calls knows how to write a catchy record. These
four chaps from Rainier, OR sweat over an forty minute, anthem-filled, fourteen
song work of punk pops o'pure sugar. Sweet, if you can handle it. Hey, if a
hard-ass like me can get into this, it must be done right. Songs that will make
one jump around their room and wish they were at the band's live show. If you
can't get enough of these hooks, State of Mind Recordings also released an EP
by Broadway Calls (Call the Medic) back in 2006, so you can bounce around
to that one as well. (Oct
14,
2007)
TOTAL SYSTEM FAILURE - The
Frozen Hour CD (Black
Noise) Total System Failure is a duo from... well,
who knows where (New Jersey, I think). What I do know is that TSF started in
2005 as the sonic tinkering of one Vinnie Paternostro. Vinnie began to manipulate
his saxophone through guitar pedals. He soon self-released a six-song, self-titled
CDr of his experiment and limited it to a simple 200 copies. A little while
later Paternostro was joined by Jay Reeve to process and manipulate the sounds
in a live setting. This new CDr is an aural document of their collaboration,
featuring VP's sax, with real-time manipulations, as well as looped noise and
electro-babble. I hear a blend of sonances from this seven song disc, and it
ranges from an etho-ambient sound similar to Bryn Jones' Muslimgauze to more
ritualistic power electronic ala Archon Satani, or even The
Grey Wolves. I'm pretty sure this, as are most
of the Black Noise camp's releases, limited edition, so if you are into sonic
insanity and textured mayhem, you may want to get a move on and order a copy
for yourself soon. (Oct
14,
2007)
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. (Oct
14,
2007)
MOONSPELL - Under Satanæ
CD (SPV) If
you think this is a new album by Moonspell... you're half-right. Let me explain.
In 1994 this Portuguese quintet released their first EP, Under the Moonspell
(with another seven albums following that - Wolfheart [1995], Irreligious
[1995], Sin / Pecado [1998], Butterfly Effect [1999], Darkness
and Hope [2001], The Antidote [2003] and 2005's Memorial).
What they've done here is re-record their entire Under the Moonspell
release, as well as other pre-Wolfheart tracks (the band’s early
demo tape, Anno Satanae) and released it as a new disc. If you're unfamiliar
with Moonspell, they're
the only metal band in Portugal with a certified gold record, and
they started out as a black metal band, but began to incorporate
elements of native-folk, as well as more gothic elements to their music (along
the lines of Paradise Lost and Tiamat). This newest work takes their older (read:
less mature) sounding stuff and revamps it with their current sound. The last
track ("Serpent Angel") on Under Satanæ
is a pre-Moonspell song that was actually written in '92, and has a bit more
of a black metal sound than the rest of this album, but still fits in perfectly.
If you like black or doom metal with a bit of musical thought behind it, and
a little flair, then this is the LP you should be checking out. (Oct
14,
2007)
JENA BERLIN - Quo Vadimus
CD (Jump Start)
Huh? I was totally thrown off upon first listen. I put this in,
and with the band name, the title, and the look of the release, I expected this
to be a girl and her acoustic guitar. Instead I was pleasantly shocked to hear
an almost post-hardcore D.C. / Gainesville sound. Jena Berlin isn't a she, they're
a they - a quintet to be exact. The name stems from where Karl Marx went to
college: the German cities of Jena and Berlin. Forming in Philadelphia around
2003, they developed a sound similar to Fugazi, Small Brown Bike and Hot Water
Music. They released their debut album in 2005 (Passion Waits as the Program
Keeps Going on Watch the City Burn Records) and Quo Vadimus is their
sophomore. This newest record is full of heavy grooves, passionate emocore,
dueling guitars, call-and-response vocals, and singalong hooks that will leave
crowds jumping in unison and people falling over themselves to get to the mic
and share the choruses. I can imagine the fun folks have during some of these
numbers ("Chelsea", "Motion Sickness", "Sand")
in their live set. At the same time, they also play a few emotional numbers
that can tug at the heart ("I Swear We're Leaving", "Island Living",
"And Another Thing..."), where I'm sure people sway arm in arm and
whisper along to the lyrics. (Oct
14,
2007)
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. (Oct
14,
2007)
STATIC RADIO NJ - One For
the Good Guys CD EP (Black
Numbers) This is a quick, but fun listen. Seven tracks
- the entire record - under ten minutes. It's all over so fast I hardly know
what to do with myself after it's over. I mean, my toes just started tapping.
I've barely begun bouncing in my seat, and then it's over in a flash. Static
Radio NJ is a fast-paced hardcore punk band the likes of Kid Dynamite, Ensign
and Paint It Black, with a touch of singalong flavor similar to New Jersey basement
favorites Lifetime. They started in 2002 as Static Radio, but later added the
NJ. Their EP was originally released as a five song, one sided 7" on Chunksaah
Records and it's still available for vinyl hounds, but this new CD version comes
with an extra two tracks ("Can't Keep Us Down" and "Who's Laughing
Now"). Static Radio HJ play upbeat, crowd-pleasing, punk-ish anthems that
will have crowds of kids falling all over themselves to sing into the microphone.
Get either version quick, and empty your room before you listen, cuz I don't
want you blaming me for all the broken shit afterwards. (Oct
14,
2007)
ROSETTA - Wake / Lift CD
(Translation
Loss) Rosetta tags themselves as 'metal for astronauts'.
Well, I've previously tagged this band as 'epic' (their last LP, The
Galilean Satellites [also on Translation Loss Records],
was a two-hour, double disc set), and I'll use that word to describe them again.
I compared their earlier work to Neurosis or Isis (whom they admit are influences
- so no harm there), and while some of that still holds true, they have really
created a sound all for themselves here. Some
of the music sounds as if Explosions In The Sky were not afraid to mess around
with vocals and a bit of electronics. The songs are also a haunting mix of heaviness,
lush Cure-esque guitar play, a touch of shoegazer, and ethereal instrumentation,
blending metalcore vocals, adding a sometimes quiet ambient to booming electro-babble.
It took the foursome from Philadelphia, PA two years to create this new masterpiece,
and it was well worth the wait. Seven songs (coming in at over an hour) of swirling
guitars, heavy riffs, multi-textured metal, and experimentally emotive song
writing. If you can't get enough try and find their recently released split
with Balboa, titled Project Mercury, on Level Plane Records.
(Oct
14,
2007)
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. (Oct
14,
2007)
VARIOUS ARTISTS - Taking
Back What's Ours: The Emo Diaries Chapter Eleven CD (Deep
Elm) I
thought this compilation series came to an end, but I'm kind of glad it's back.
Ten previous CD releases, with a compiled 135 unreleased emocore gems from bands
scoping the globe. I understand why the decided to call it quits in 2004, as
corporations like Mtv ruined the term 'emo', but Deep Elm Records has decided
to take it back. Rightfully so too, as this series has helped launch the careers
of bands like Jimmy Eat World, The Appleseed Cast, Planes Mistaken For Stars,
Sounds Like Violence and Further Seems Forever. This time around, the span of
three years since the last disc has given DE Recs a chance to scour through
mail bags of material to pick what's best for your ears. They've included bands
from the UK (Above Them, I'm Fashion You're Victim, My Awesome Compilation,
etc), as well as from throughout Europe (including Spain's This Drama, and Netherlands'
The Beautiful City). There's a ton of bands from the United States: Knockout
Kings and While You Were Gone from Texas, The Crash Engine from Portland, OR,
San Francisco's The Decoration, NYC's Young Hearts and a handful more. I hear
a Chapter 12 is in the works, and I'm totally looking forward to it.
(Oct