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Daymares - Can't Get Us All
You wouldn't think Poland would be a haven for old-school hardcore, and apparently nobody told that to Daymares when they decided to put their band together back in 2006. That is just what their debut CD Can't Get Us All is, late 80's-early 90's styled US hardcore, with a small helping of Entombed style death metal thrown in for good measure. Nothing here is very remarkable, or even remotely memorable, which is a shame as it is apparent that these guys have the drive and determination, not to mention the attitude. Most of the songs follow a similar pattern, the riffs basic, the shouts monotonous, that it all begins to blend together after a while. If you like bands like the Cro-Mags, Tragedy, Pro-Pain, Ringworm, and Agnostic Front, this might be worth checking into |
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Drugs Of Faith - ST
From the musical battleground of Northern Virginia, in the shadow of Washington DC, the power trio that is Drugs Of Faith breaks out with their debut official release. Drugs Of Faith, founded by an Enemy Soil original member, bashes through its hardcore rock fused with grindcore songs utilizing dissonant chords and opposition bass, frontal attack drums, and lyrics covering the personal as well as the political landscape brought out by dynamic vocals. Focused yet a challenge to categorize, Drugs Of Faith carpet bombs the listener with its innovative, stylistic mix. |
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Hebosagil - Colossal
Around these parts we tend to quote press statements/torrent of words to point fingers and piss reality based A.I.D.S all over them. Or simply because we cannot think up a proper intro, as is the case here. I still piss on you, but this time not the assertion, a snappy snippet, believe it or not, giving you, the potential listener, a rather excellent impression of what to expect.
Quite impressive, I know, and likewise so is the fact that 'Colossal' is named so for a reason, a title not pulled out of an ass for a change. At first, however, that being before I adjusted the bass, it was all too colossal, coming across as a distorted mess made for the sake of melting amps and setting speakers on fire.
A bit of fiddling and a couple of listens later and I have more or less fallen in love with the album and its massive grooves interlaced with tons of filth and desperation. It's a downright ugly platter, this much thanks to a lo-fi and screeching but utterly punch-y production, one which the band use to its fullest, hammering home their message of doom and destruction with utter conviction. And the vocalist, well, he sounds fucked up alright, like he is tearing his face off while screaming bile, hate and frustration all over the place. Put simple, he is a perfect match.
I wholeheartedly recommend 'Colossal' to those into sludge and heavy filth, and only them, as I believe it takes a trained ear to appreciate the oppressive and churning nature of this band. |
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Reino Ermitano - Brujas del Mar
It seems to me that freedom is what Reino Ermitano's brand of doom is really all about. The freedom of the marginilized, the freedom of the outsider, the freedom of the alienated, and first and foremost the freedom of the individual to somehow remove society's strictures in the interest of pure self expression, to use all of one's gifts in pursuit of the lost chord, as it were. This is why Reino Ermitano ("Hermit Kingdom") doesn't sound quite like anyone else; they've absorbed a Heinz 57 mixture of musical influences like a parched sponge, and have in turn produced a characteristic sound that is a synergy of all the group's members. And after all, isn't that what being a successful group is all about? Damned straight! |
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Leather Nun - All Your Kin
Not to be confused with the legendary cult Swedish garage, goth and industrial group (yes, they played it all), the Leather Nun in question is a California three piece specializing in some pretty nifty and agile stoner/doom rock. Some may be more prone to tag them as simply 'doom', but this trio flexes way too many muscles and the pace de rigueur isn't all that slow and lethargic per se. Out in Austria's PsycheDOOMelic records, I get to wonder how is that music this good slips the hands of any American indie. Really, this is as good, if not better, than most of the stuff out here. Comprised of nine solid tracks of beefy girth, rotund melodies, confident playing, glutonic volume, swift dynamics, majestic vocals, a lot of this material is directly derived and even somewhat lifted from seminal bands like Pentagram, Saint Vitus and The Obsessed. In other words, the dudes of Leather Nun must have a poster of Wino Weinrich to which they prey on a daily basis. |
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Jesus Of Spazzareth - Kill The Blasphemer CD
SOLD OUT SOLD OUT
See the Tapes Section Too
Resurrected for the third time, Jesus Of Spazzareth finally present us with their first release 'Kill Him, Kill The Blasphemer' after 4 years of trying, courtesy of Calculon Records. For those not familiar with the band, a couple of members of Bumsnogger started a fun hardcore mob, but were plagued by the joviality and sometimes sloppiness that inhabitated early gigs. Coupled with a revolving cast of drummers and bassists, left them cast in a not so favourable light at times, despite their best efforts and raucous gigs.
However, things are looking up, with a settled line-up, new songs and more serious approach. Mainly dealing with the d-beat, old school hardcore with a filthy sound, a polite nod to thrash (check out the guitar solo that opens 'Stab Twist Kill'), and topped with a rock 'n' roll swagger, Jesus Of Spazzareth dish out 12 tracks that have been trimmed of fat and excess, and get to the point. The 2 vocalists approach works well with both having distinctive voices, and it's great to hear the English accent come through, when many favour to ape that of our friends across the pond. Lyrically, a wide range of subjects are covered including social issues like drinking, friendships and the d.i.y music scene, and also broader issues like military history. Intelligent stuff, indeed. The use of well-chosen samples at the start of each song lighten the mood in between the slabs of raging hardcore too.
A sterling début effort that buries the ghosts of Spazzareth's past, and deserving of a spin on your CD players. |
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Hemorrage - The Kill Sesions
Spain's masters of medical mayhem return with ten fan chosen cuts all recorded together in January 2007. As all the great bands from years past ala Napalm Death, Bolt Thrower, Carcass etc... Haemorrhage has decided to record some fan favourites live in the studio but instead of calling it the peel sessions they chose to call it The Kill Sessions. CD, LP, PICTURE DISC each have different cover artwork. |
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Positiva - Centaurs Ride
This 4-piece from Spain was founded in 2002. Musicians include ex-members of the Spanish underground acts Subliminal, Gilah Monster, Bliss and Shisha Pangma. Since then they`ve released 2 demos and player gigs with Los Natas, Amon Ra, Nebula, Viaje a 800, The Sword. `Centaur`s Ride`, their first full-length album, oscillates between desert groove rock and heavy psych. The 8 tracks in 43 minutes might very well suit fans of 500 FT. Of PIPE or NIGHTSTALKER. |
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Iron Hearse - ST
Iron Hearse first came to my attention on the bargain price sampler from Gallipoli Records called 'Heaviosity'. Their's was one of the stand-out songs from a selection of tracks with a generally high standard. The track was called 'Temples of the Gods' and struck me as perhaps a more groovy Cathedral. Good stuff.
This album proper from these Swindon lads sees that initial assessment verified and expanded on. Openers 'Rocktopus' and 'All Graves Empty' pair some simple heavy riffs with gruff vocals and some typical doom-style lyrics. It's pretty clear from the start this is sure as heck gonna be a rocking album with plenty of groove. But Iron Hearse are not one-style-wonders and mix in tempo shifts and solos with great effect.
Iron Hearse claim the usual influences from the past like Sabbath, Pentagram, and Hendrix (and I can hear some Thin Lizzy in there too). Now, whereas a lot of bands claim this heritage whilst actually imitating their peers, it's easy to hear that Iron Hearse are crafting their own sound in the wake of their esteemed forebears. In fact the only current bands that I would say Iron Hearse emanate from would be the aforementioned Cathedral, and on tracks like 'Blessed by the Anvil' and 'Crown of Doom' the works of Mr Scott 'Wino' Wienrich, currently rocking righteously with The Hidden Hand. Good company to keep indeed.
I've not really heard this type of grove-laden doom done so well for a while. A great transition album to take us from the laid back stoner summer into the dark autumn nights of doom. Fans of Wino, Orange Goblin and Sabbath will most likely love this. Highly recommended. |
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Infanticide - Extinction Scheme
It is that damn tasty sound representative of vintage crust/grind that gets me every time. It is the quick explosions of cranked 'n' crunchy guitars and nihilistic attitude that makes "Extinction Scheme" from Sweden's INFANTICIDE such a treat. Darn reliable, but in no way inventive, the band follows in the well-trodden footsteps of Sweden's better crust stompers.
For the most part, "Extinction Scheme" is speed, speed, and more speed, mixed with the occasional mid-tempo and punky groove. The vocal style is unashamedly Greenway-esque, mixed with those patented NAPALM DEATH screams. The attack? Just plan vicious. At 23 songs clocking in at just shy of 30 minutes, pretense is thrown headfirst through the living room window in favor of fuck-it-all destructiveness. The group is rather adept at briefly interrupting the breakneck pace for the aforementioned gnarly grooves, such as on "Do Not Think/Do Not Act" and "Misanthropic Approach"; so basic, yet so satisfying. A more purely crust punk — albeit still residing next door to (old) NAPALM DEATH/TERRORIZER grind — delivery is heard on tracks like "Shitstorm" with its pointed and almost catchy chorus (it's all relative, folks) and "Snaran Runt Halsen". And when you attempt to catch a breath during the opening seconds of a gloriously fat-ass and mid-paced section on "Existence on Repeat", the boys step on the gas and resume beating the snot out of you with speeding intensity. |
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Criminal Element - Career Criminal
Make a mental list of your top 10 all-time favourite Death Metal bands. Done? Good. Now tell me that CRIMINAL ELEMENT doesn't posses a member from at least one of these bands. This supergroup boasts among its ranks members of SUFFOCATION, DYING FETUS, CATASTROPHIC, VITAL REMAINS and PYREXIA. Needless to say, those are some big, big names (well maybe not CATASTROPHIC, but the others are).
What CRIMINAL ELEMENT have to offer is just under 19 minutes of poorly produced yet fairly satisfying Death/Grind of the very oldest school. Dirty chugging riffs, an assload of grooves, flurries of blasting Grind and a dual vocal attack of scream/growl alternation are the fare. Add one absolutely ball stomping, and I mean ball-fucking-stomping riff at the start of the title track and you've got yourself a slice of fine Death/Grind pie.
Some simple instructions for fans of SUFFOCATION, ASSUCK, NAPALM DEATH and TERRORIZER: Look at the album art in this review. Look at the 'Buy Me!' button below it. Click that button. |
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Exhale (Swe) - Prototype
SEE ALSO 12" Vimyl
Sweden is the Walhalla of the European grindcore scene. But with the tragic loss of Miezsko and Nasum the Swedish scene also lost its main export product. Of course there are a lot more bands that have the capabilities for an international break through. One of them is Exhale. The band was given birth in 2004, so a relatively new outfit you could say. Though two years later the lads knock on our door with a first full length album, called 'Prototype', out on Emetic Records (the label that also released stuff from Haemorrhage, Eyehategod and lots of other bands). From the first moment 'Prototype' sets the tone by opening up with a raging tempo, and to be honest, it keeps on going like a high speed train. Exhale seems to be one of those bands that like it fast an brutal, without any remorse. Keep on listening to it, since it's a quite catchy release. You could describe the sound as Dying Fetus meets Rotten Sound. Vocals vary from a hardcore alike scream to guttural deathmetal vocals. Something fans of European grindcore will appreciate a lot. |
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Barbara - Peger
uxtaposing noise-core, grind and doom, with strong hints of black metal, it's hard to accept the fact that Barbara's instrumental line-up is comprised only by a drummer (David OPP A.K.A Cadaver Eyes) and a bass player (Re-em H), both of them also deliver the screams and perverse whispers on their first album in four years, a hectic and mindless anti-musical rupture.
For fans of Today Is the Day, VOG, Truman's Water, Burmese, Lightning Bolt and Pig Destroyer. |
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Poochlatz - Victims of Self Preservation
The release is quite varied as well, and holds a couple of surprises - On two tracks ('I will not survive the ravage' - track 2- and 'Not just a conflict' - track 4) a clarinet can be heard. On track 2 this instrument adds a melancholic, sad touch to a storm of harhsnoise - the way everything is mixed together is very subtle - On track 4 the clarinet is mixed more upfront, and used in more freestyle-way, still adding that same touch of melancholy and sadness to the entire track. The combination of the two (harsh electronics and a more traditional instrument like a clarinet) works surprisingly well and is sure worth exploring, as long as it doens't become a gimmick, or as long as one doesn't overdo things. In these two tracks it sure is in place. Also worth noting is 'Black Milk' - track 1 - I immediately thought of Paul Célan's famous 'Death Fugue', and indeed: the track sports a declamation of Célans' Death Fugue, translated in Hebrew - In the background we hear a harsh layer of noise with a high natural feel, sounds like wind and fire. This is probably the most conceptual track on the record, and as such I've got a couple of conceptual sidemarks to add to it: personally I would have gone for the orginal - German - version of the poem, one of the problems Paul Célan - survivor of the Nazi Death Camps - struggled with after the war was his love/hate-relationship with the language of his persecutors: after all that was done to him and his people, how could he possibly continue to write in German, the language he was raised with? That being set aside: the backing layer of noise is very effective and manages to evoke an Auschwitz-like feel. Another one of my favourites on this record is 'We degrade' - track 6, different in structure and texture than the rest of the record, sporting a drone-like pulse. So overall an interesting release, of the 3 Appelbaum-productions that I have I sure like this one the best. But granted: this record will not cheer you up, it's claustrophobic and doomy, but we need this kind of records to forget these sunny days, and remember what happened only yesterday |
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Bill Skins Fifth - ST
Bill skins fifth(marko,nikola,nino,ljubinko) was formed in 2001 when four enthusiastic teenagers felt the need to wake the beast that was a sleep in their hearts for some time.What started as an idea developed in a slow, not so exotic,but very important process in these youngsters lives.In 2002 a member (Nino) leaves the band and the beast finds it's in a strange circumstances, he's weak and in state of hibernation. Later that year fresh blood (goran) joins the pack ... the beast feels strong and free to rage every time these four individuals walk on stage. Through out the years the band continues to blaze in the local clubs facing the usual ups and downs until finally in 2006 they release their seftitled deby album on fuck yoga records.The same year Fifth member (Adi) joins Bill skins.. and the beast turns into a machine with new evil ideas for a second record and 2007 European tour plans.... HAHHAAHA!!! |
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Only Until - Twrra Ortus
With quiet, truncated passages punctuated staccato-like with screamed vocals twinned with repetitive and crushing sections of wild-unharnessed riff no two songs are the same and it's a real delight that unfolds as each track reveals its centre. Third track 'Arcs' in particular contains some skilled technical guitar parts that brings to mind Scottish technical screamo chaps Kaddish in the fact that most of the complicated parts are delivered clean and fresh, rather than lost under the crunch of distortion, which is a rare treat with bands of this nature.
The album itself is well over an hour long and maintains interest, and for a collection of songs centred around a theme (it seems) of building new cities and warning of man's selfishness towards the earth itself, is no mean feat. Only Until have recorded what some would describe as a towering work, and for a relatively new band this is fantastic, definitely investigate if you want something that engages the listener and keeps on giving, something lacking in music released in recent times, an incredible release. |
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Among The Missing - Cease To Exist
Temp out of stock
2nd Album from Among The Missing - One half blistering thrash, one half sludge doom with a hint of psychedelia.
After a tough year for ATM, an album to make all the shit worth wading through.
Tracklisting:
1. Hymn (3:30)
2. Fable (0.48)
3. 95% Concentrate (3.37)
4. Mitre Square/Element of Change (5.02)
5. Among the Mything (1.26)
6. Brian Blessed are the Meek (1.23)
7. Knights of the Sun (7.44)
8. Finsbury Park (7.36)
9. Trembling Before (3.15)
10. Cease to Exist (11.21) |
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Filthpact - Total Crust Violence
FILTHAPCT were a brutal crust band hailing from Aberdeen, Scotland that sadly broke up in July of 2007. This CD is a fitting retrospective collection feautring allther band's studio recordings from 2004-2005), some live recordings from Aberdeen, Poland and Ireland, unreleased material and a tonne of remixes by various Noise and Techno artists. In total its 39 tracks and clocks in at just under 70 minutes. The CD will come in a gatefold card sleeve with a full lyrics sheet/poster |
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Among The Missing - Disorder of the Templar
Ol' Blighty seems to be big into this Doom/Hardcore/Sludge/Scumpunk/Grind combo thing, with luminaries such as Black Eye Riot, Helvis, Mistress and notable DIY'ers Among The Living leading the inebriated charge. ATM's Disorder of the Templar is the consummate collection of aural filth, an album that takes you from sweat, piss n' blood-drenched meth-punk (can't miss the tachycardia-inducing 'Catacombs' or 'Spider Web'), to stare-at-the-wall depressive-maniacs-unite anthems ('No Claw Draw') to violent chant n' mosh instigators ('Ten Pounds Of Fuck'....awesome title), to 15-minute strung-out-in-your-own-vomit epics (the hatefully impactful Space Rock-meets-Grief untitled track 12). ATM even employ guest vocalists such as Helvis/Raging Speedhorn/Shackle Me Not yeller Bloody Kev and a very welcome guest appearance by the great Harry 'Heck' Armstrong of Hangnail/ End Of Level Boss fame doing an unlikely duet on the excellent 'Retribution in Burtons'. |
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Trinakrius - Inquisantism
Here's something a little different for you. A five song (plus one cover) demo done in both English and Italian versions. I have to say I find myself preferring the Italian versions, you can tell the vocalist is more comfortable there. The difference doesn't stop at the multiple language format either. Trinakrius' melding of straight up metal, doom, NWOBHM riffs, moody keyboards and some horror soundtrack elements comes out a truly unique brew.
Starting off with a spoken word piece "Inquisantism(o)" (more ominous in Italian), the music really starts with "Intrinakrius" which builds from melancholy piano into a musical statement of sorrow and despair with at times growled vocals. A few times this was perilously close to the more metal end of early Theatre of Tragedy. It doesn't however sound like that was the influence, rather more like this band wandered into that territory through the side door. Adequately balanced by a horror soundtrack feel (great Italian heritage for that). Next up we get to the really good stuff. "The King's Devils (I Diavoli Del Re)" is to my ears the pick of the litter. It begins like a somewhat lighter version of Solitude Aeturnus or early Mirror of Deception, moves into some old school metal chugging, wallops you with a Candlemass like bridge (? I think bridge, it's a unique song structure) and then takes off on a NWOBHM style riff into the guitar solo, before returning to a sort of epic heavy metal with doom elements. Somehow they string this all together to make it work. This second track is also where the vocals take on the clean, soaring nature you'll hear for the rest of this. Really good stuff. |
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Souvenir's Young America - An Ocean Without Water
There's always room for some smoky slowed-down heavy rock around these parts, and ever since Earth unleashed their mighty 'Hex' on us all, we have been hypnotized into a permanently doomed state, lying in wait for the next slice of windswept metallic Americana. It seems then that the unusually moniker's Souvenir's Young America are here to help, and like Grails before them they take the framework of instrumental rock and give it a kick up the ass as they show they ain't afraid to turn those amps up to eleven. Fusing the chunky sound of Ash Ra Tempel and Amon Duul II with the heavy rock of Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin there might not be anything intensely 'current' about what the American band are attempting to produce, but what they lack in originality they make up for in attention to detail and sheer conviction. These are great tracks, and it's that simple - these are tracks you can turn up loud and simply let wash through you like all good instrumental rock should do. Slow burning and deeper than Loch Ness there should be plenty in here to get involved with and 'An Ocean Without Water' is one of those records that you find yourself getting more and more involved with the more you delve into its murky depths. Nice to see some of the old post rock crowd aren't afraid to take things into more experimental realms - lets hope there's more where this came from! |
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Katastrofialue - Tuskatakuu 1994-1998
A 36 song semi-discography CD featuring unreleased and out-of-print material from this cult Finnish crustcore band. A must for fans of violent crust,raw-punk, and noisy blown-out thrash! Formed in 1992, the devastating Finnish ensemble KATASTROFIALUE (roughly translated as "Disaster Area") delivered some of the most pulverizing scum-encrusted thrash of the past decade. The band combined an unrelenting early DISCHARGE and SORE THROAT influence with minimalistic (yet BRUTAL) metal stylings, headcrushing speed,and excruciating inhuman vocals. The band excelled at incendiary songwriting and memorable,gritty (yet sometimes beautiful?) atonal riffs laced with acidic vocals that employed their native tongue....expressing nihilistic,transcendentially intelligent and morbid ruminations on life through the lyrics.Awesome,brutal crustcore.This full length semi-discography CD features an unreleased studio album, their tracks from the NOT WITHOUT A FIGHT double CD compilation on CRUCIAL BLAST, more unreleased studio tracks, and their material from the 1994 split 7" with FREAK SHOW."Tuskatakuu '94-'98" comes packaged in a DVD style shrinkwrapped plastic case and features a Glossy booklet with lyrics, Finnish-to-English translations, liner notes, and more. |
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Jinn - ST
Review coming soon for this 11 song CD
1) It's Not Getting Any Better
2) Damaged
3) Song For?
4) Global Warning
5) Harvest
6) Negative God
7) Drawn Shut
8) Blind Eye
9) We Should Have Done This
10) Mickey's Revenge
11) Vikings Bloody Vikings |
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Microwaves - Contagion Heuristic
n the anti-tradition of whitebread Bay Area thrash metal, the violent morass of New York no wave, and a familiarity with Ralph Records / THE RESIDENTS insanity, Microwaves draws from a palette that is somehow as wide as it seems limited. Spiked skronk-infested guitars spit tonality-impaired riffs like so much chaff from a surgically calibrated tree shredder, while a propulsive fretless bass assault is jammed through all manner of alien effects, often rendering it as more a bowel-rumbling presence than an actual instrument. The percussive cyborg clatter and MICROWAVE's paranoid dual vocal attack serve to further blast MICROWAVES' dystopian thrash into the outer void. Features former 1985/CREATION IS CRUCIFIXION/CONELRAD/FATE OF ICARUS personnel. |
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Totimoshi - ¿Mysterioso?
the second full length from Oakland, CA-based trio TOTIMOSHI, intersects earthquake-heavy rock and wicked sludge riffage with the wiry hooks and dynamics of 80's post-punk / new wave, Spanish melodies, and an adventurous, occasionally improvisational fuzz attack. It's like someone gave an old Beggars Banquet band a cocktail of steroids, huge amps, and battered copies of Melvins' Stoner Witch and Mainliner's Mellow Out. Heavy, crunchy, catchy,hypnotic - ¿Mysterioso? winds, grinds, and explodes every step of the way. This re-issued, re-tooled version features enhanced CD-ROM extras, including video , photos, and more. |
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