Tennis Bafra - Abulia Jubilee (2012)

Band request from Sweden.

Here is their press release:

We are Tennis Bafra, your new swedish favourite band and february 6

we released our debut album Abulia Jubilee on DL/LP/CD..

Last year we toured Sweden and before our chevvy van

burst into flames we opened for Polvo (US) at Debaser Slussen,

played at Trästock festival, played with This Is Head (S), with

Kriget (S) at Debaser Malmö, played at STHLM INDIE and also did a gig

in a small bookstore in the tiny corner where they have books for kids.

Tennis Bafra has been torturing our guitars since the mid nighties.

Screaming feedback and noise along with killer rocking tunes makes a

fine union in the hands of us. Once described as slacker noise, we

couldn’t care less. We will be doing this regardless if anyone is

listening. But you should listen.

Wise words, you should listen because this is fucking great stuff.

Taking their cues from Sonic Youth circa "Sister" & "Daydream

Nation" but without the art-rock tag, they want to rock and put

feedback into your lives. Cleanish guitars mean you can clearly

hear the off-kilter riffs and the deadpan bored vocals are a reminder

that there is more than one style of singing.

This is meant to be played loud, possibly in a fast car, arm hanging

out of the window beating the rhythm on the door.

The guys have requested that I do not link the album as it is not available

for digital release yet but you can get the CD or Vinyl Here

Stream the whole album at Tennis Bafra - Abulia Jubilee

Long Weekends - Don't Reach Out 7" (2012)

Band request from Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Long Weekends play lo-fi garage rock that is full

of Ramones type song writing but which have the

epic feel of early Arcade Fire.

Clean guitar riffs are played over sprawling rhythm

sections that if were fuzzed up would not sound unlike

the Jesus & Mary Chain.

World weary vocals do not detract from the fact that

this brought a smile to my face and thoughts of summer

evenings, cold beer, ramshackle guitars and looking

forward to long weekends.

They have an EP from 2011 which you can listen to Here

The single is available as Pay What you want from Bandcamp

Michael Davis - RIP

Just found out Michael Davis - bass player from the MC5, passed

away from cancer on 19th Feb.

Play this clip very loud.

Swamp Abyss Sorcery by Satanic Recordings (2012)

A stonking good compilation from Satanic Recordings

has just been released. Full of fetid, swampy doom and

sludge bands, this Florida based label has put this out

there with a free download and encourages everyone

to spread it around. I am already checking out some

bands after playing this - here is their own description!

Down in Florida, there is a lurking heaviness afoot. A Satanist Skunk Ape barging its way through trundles ov swamp lichen and muck, swaths ov tropical trees and fanning fronds, hordes ov irritating (and sometimes life-threatening) insects, humid heat and monsoon-level rains to bring that heaviness to the rest ov the world. This southern-fried Yeti THROMBIBULOUS ov which I speak is now upon you all, in the form ov this compilation ov bands that are the sound ov what is RIGHT NOW here in the Sunshine State....

From the overlording gallop ov SHROUD EATER’s riff machine, to the expansive droning doom bliss that HOLLY HUNT brings, to the way-out interstellar atom-splitting that ORBWEAVER conjures (all from the Miami area). From the doom-master crush ov DRUID LORD, to the barreling aggression and earnest smash that newcomers FIRE IN THE CAVE supply (Orlando-area destroyers). FLYINGSNAKES gives a blackened push to their ultra-heavy smackdown here, as FATAL bridges the gap between Thrash supremacy and Death Metal monstrosity, while PARTY TIME bring both the smashup and the partydown to this Tampa Bay area mixture. From the direct lumbering fist-clench riff mongering that HOLLOW LEG provides, to the digustipating gurgletech Death Metal stylings ov EXTREMELY ROTTEN (Jacksonville area delegates). And I can’t leave out the D-Beat devil worship that HOT GRAVES transmits from Gainesville, FL. These are all bands that have played together over the years, formed bonds ov friendship and musical fortitude, and now stand together to show the world the state ov Flooridian Heavy circa 2012.

Listen

Free download from Bandcamp

Onodrim - Winter

Hailing from Pittsburgh, USA - this 4 piece play

a convincing mix of hardcore with a touch of

sludge. Loud and heavy riffs are strewn all over

the place and the vocals are barked out like a

demented David Yow.

These songs are brimming with inventive ideas and

never let up on the aggression. There are some guitar

lines that have real hooks to them and some cleaner

playing which have quite an epic feel to them.

Even though this is a demo, the production is fucking

great - everything just sounds awesome.

I really think you should give them a Listen

Name your price from Bandcamp

Website

Voice Of Ruin - S/T (2012)

Request from Domino Media label.

Voice of Ruin play metalcore which is a genre I do not

like or know much about. It sounds very powerful

and well recorded but I have no idea if it is any good

or not. As always, best to make your own mind up via

their video or links. For fans of As I Lay Dying, Job For

A Cowboy etc.

Listen

Because they are good guys, they have a free download link Here

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Palo Verde - Zero Hour

Request from Phratry Records.

Press Release:

PALO VERDE is a highly improvisational all-female, metal/sludge/noise

duo from Portland OR. The band initially formed as experimental

double-drum duo called Stick-It-In but evolved into the current

improvisational guitar/drums incarnation. Since 2006, they have

performed extensively in the Northwest and throughout the U.S.,

sharing the stage with bands such as Jucifer, Thrones, Black Elk,

Japanther, and Kusikia. Drummer Lauren K also plays guitar in the

blistering LKN.

RECOMMENDED IF YOU LIKE: Black Sabbath, Shellac, Jucifer.

Palo Verde has self-released several recordings including “History

for the Rest of Eternity” (Drunken Beagle) in May of 2010. They began

working with Phratry Records in 2011 with the release of “Zero Hour”

which was engineered by Christina Files (Victory At Sea drummer,

Shipping News engineer, Shellac live sound).

PRESS QUOTES

“If you like dark, pared-down, and unapologetic un-catchy music check

out Palo Verde, a two-piece powerhouse of a band. Lauren K’s smashing

drums and Terrica Kleinknecht distorted guitar are like a metal show

that could fit in your living room. Don’t expect some pop song that

will be stuck in your head. Their songs grow slowly and organically,

turning into a swirling growl of psychedelic guitar and mesmerizing

drumming. Streaming their songs online just barely do justice to

their sound, and if you get the chance to see them live you’ll be

treated to some of the most intense drumming of your life. (Don’t

forget to bring your anti-face melting serum).”

-- Bitch Magazine

“If you didn’t know Palo Verde was an improv duo going into a show,

you still might not know it when you leave. That’s how tight they

are.”

-- Tucson Weekly

“Palo Verde’s telepathically improvised slabs of sludge-metal riffing

are brutal punishment of the very best kind.”

-- Prtland Mercury

Buy from Bandcamp

Millions - Gather Scatter

Released in 2009, this is now available for free

download via Seventh Rule Recordings bandcamp

site - ideal chance for anyone who missed this the

first time around.

With a nod towards Noise Rock, this is Hardcore

with lots of riffs and time changes.

Strong vocals are on show here but with restraint

when needed.

Math-like guitar riffs are used sparingly but to great

effect, the variations and song dynamics never lose

sight of producing aggressive tunes that groove and

deliver a punch.

The twin guitar sound is distorted and weave together

a complex but still brutal riffage - "Millions" have quoted

their sound as "Black Flag" meet "King Crimson"!

If that sounds just too weird, would you settle for

post-hardcore with a ATDI influence?

Listen

Band Info

Free download from Bandcamp

Zeppheroin - The Atrocity Exhibition

Re Post:

Seeing as that my own files for my own music were

taken down in the recent purge, who am I to deny

the general public my own musical noise making?

Here are the new links!

From a template of Punk, the sonic sensibilities of

Post-rock, a smattering of Electronica and an unhealthy

obsession with distorted guitars, Zeppheroin have produced

an album with a disregard for modern production techniques,

going for the mind melting "Raw Power" needle-in-the-red

style that has distressed so many lovers of sterile digital music.

With a cleanish singing/shouting style that delivers the

themed lyrics dealing with loss, religion, self awareness and

governments in a sneer of despair, this 30 minute album delivers

a sonic assault on the world we live in.

PLEASE STEAL THIS MUSIC!

This album is all my own work and I urge you, my faithful

download monkeys to spread it all around. Any music blogs

that fancy putting this up, please do - sexual favours may be

possible!

Vist my shiny and quite magnificent Bandcamp page for

the free download Here

Disguised As Birds - Black Circles/New Demons

Request from Phratry Records, Ohio, USA.

Here is their press release:

DISGUISED AS BIRDS was born in 2004 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Their

new double EP is the band’s fourth release and the thirty-first from

Phratry Records (Cincinnati, Ohio). It is available as an 8-song

vinyl record with a 10-song download. It features the brand-new

“Black Circles” EP as well as a re-release of the 2009 “New Demons”

EP.

RECOMMENDED IF YOU LIKE: Shiner, Jawbox, Fugazi, Thin Lizzy.

Although the band possesses a dreamy, shimmering quality, Disguised

As Birds have built their sound on a foundation of explosively heavy

rock with frequent comparisons to Shiner, Regulator Watts, Jawbox,

Shipping News and Juno. And despite their artsy leanings, Disguised

As Birds unquestionably has the vibe of a classic rock band. In

spirit, if not in incessant riffing, they pack a great deal of soul

into every measure of every tune. The band has been touring off and

on throughout the MidWest for years. Influenced by all things rock

and roll, art, and the often cold and bleak environment in which they

live, this is a band that can pummel, sprint and soar.

PRESS QUOTES

“pledging allegiance to ‘90s noise rock and post-punk”

-- The Onion AV Club

“this Milwaukee-based group’s sound is aggressive while lyrically

introspective; a truly difficult musical feat to master.”

-- Music Examiner

While all the above is a good description, I can also hear

a Sonic Youth feel to some of the quieter moments and

because I am an old bastard and can remember such things,

when they are get into full rock mode, I am reminded of

Swervedriver or Catherine Wheel ........ which is a good thing!

Listen

Buy from Bandcamp

Enchantress - Vol 2/Hear Her Womb War

This is prime psych/stoner/doom riffage with some

fantastic guitar work. I thought there were two vocalists

because of the high and low scales being sung but nope,

there is just one guy doing it all. The guitars are fuzzed

out and give up some sprawling jam work, leaving the

drums and bass to find their own groove.

The songs are riff based and have a loose blues feel to

them which really suits their sound when they press

the magic button entitled 'heavy'.

Clocking in at 4 tracks spread over 22 minutes, this

leaves me wanting to hear a full length album.

Listen

Free download from Bandcamp

Facebook

Lead the Way - And In Vengeance We Strike

From the UK, Lead The Way are rooted in melodic

hardcore but have the infectious groove of skatepunk.

Plenty of distorted, chugging riffs are thrown around

with the occasional tasteful solo to liven things up.

The political lyrics and songs would not sound out

of place on a Propagandhi album but with the more

open passion of Strike Anywhere or Hot Water Music.

For a new band, they certainly hold their own against

the above bands - while not inventing the wheel, they

are going to be worth watching out for - also see them

if they play live, this sort of music just screams out to

be heard in the flesh.

Listen

Download for a tiny amount of cash at Bandcamp

All their details on Facebook or own website are under

construction, so no links to them.

The Next Hundred Years - Obese Momentum

Band request from Canada.

The Next Hundred Years play metal/stoner but have a

depth and complexity to their sound which combined

with the clean sung vocals actually are not a million

miles away from Tool.

There is a frantic energy to the songs but they know

when to pull back and give an almost psych feel to the

more atmospheric passages.

The guitars have a warm fuzz and tone to them but

the addition of a violin playing through effects stops

them becoming just another desert scene band.

While the majority of posts here normally come from

heavier genres, if you want some good solid rock and

like tunes that have some substance to them, give these

guys a listen.

Thanks to Josh for permission to put up link to the album - Here

Video from the album Here

They are recording at the moment and hope to have a new

release out sometime in March - there are some extracts to

have a look at with a short film Here

Koloss - End Of The Chayot

Atmospheric sludge from Swedish band Koloss that has

an epic feel that takes in some post-metal elements.

This is a very solid release that takes the best bits from

Isis and Cult Of Luna to excellent effect. Most of the songs

are around the 10 minute mark and take full advantage

of the track lengths to build up slowly, using a massive

drum sound to propel things along - this, combined

with the throbbing, low frequency bass and distorted

guitars which sound on the verge of feeding back make

the whole album a sonic trip into the land of brain explosions.

There are some sublime guitar riffs going on and the vocals

are suitably growled to deliver a really impressive debut.

Listen

Free download from Bandcamp

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Britches - Democracy

Britches show a confidence in their musical abilities not

to rely on pure noise or agression to put the music across.

Don't get me wrong, there is plenty of noise-rock attitude

here but it has a more controlled feel to things, bringing

some post-rock light and dark elements to the song

compositions.

Slightly distorted vocals are to the front of the sparsely

played music which means when the band move up a gear,

they do not get lost in the mix.

Some interesting compositions are explored and the

overall tone is most definitely sinister. This is could

well by a starting point for people who have always

been uneasy of giving anything with the noise rock

tag a play.

Listen

Free download from Bandcamp

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The Pledge Of Cain - Live at Carabar, Columbus

Taken from the last gig of their tour last year, brutal

French band The Pledge Of Cain have a record which

is the text book definition of heavy.

The four tracks which all clock in at over 10 minutes each

are bone-crushing slabs of doomy/sludge noise.

The rawness of the live recording gives the songs a massive

feel to them and the overall sound is epic.

With hardcore vocals and tight musicianship, this band

is definitely one to watch out for. This made my brain

hurt but in a good way!

Listen

Free download from Bandcamp

Facebook

Travels - Life

Here is some great melodic post-hardcore from Australia.

Using the same open compositions and vocal delivery of

the more intelligent side of hardcore - think La Dispute

or Torche Amore, this is a real gem of an album.

Travels are full of aggression but still manage to make

you feel the emotion of the lyrics. There is some classy

guitar work that weaves in and out of the riffs and the

production is crisp but solid.

This is stirring stuff.

Listen

Name your own price from Bandcamp

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