Enemy Noise - No Control, No Parade

Band request from California.

Enemy Noise are here to make a noise and shout out loud -

that may be a basic message but sometimes that is all I need.

They play aggressive punk/hardcore with a nice trashy feel

to things and really steamroller through the songs. Excellent

production makes sure that every bellowed vocal and distorted

guitar is crystal clear. The song arrangements steer clear of basic

noise and offer some intricate riffs to latch on to.

The 7 songs go by pretty quickly but leave you wanting to

hear them again.

Free download from Bandcamp

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The Pod - Assassins In The Mirrored Hall

Scott Endres from MAKE - those mighty drone/psychedelic/

post-metal noise makers - has created his solo project called The Pod.

With his tags of experimental/drone/psychedelic/ambient

describing things nicely, this plays like a soundtrack for a

film that does not yet exist.

Ominous textures with ghostly drones slowly drift over

you, bringing images of ruined buildings, grey skies that

are constantly raining and a wind that never dies - a perfect

soundscape for reading JG Ballard to.

Guitars are slowly brought into the mix, never over-powering

the songs but adding a muscular, restrained presence.

If you have ever wondered what the quieter moments

of Horseback mixed with The Mount Fuji Doomjazz Corporation

would sound like, give this a listen.

Recommended!

Pre-order CD at Bandcamp

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DSGNS - LXCN

Band request from Texas.

DSGNS play hardcore with a definite metal influence.

Vocals are of the face melting variety that leave no doubt

that this band are pissed off.

The songwriting is the strength here - not just blast beats - riffs

twist in and out of chord progressions, giving the ear something

to latch onto amongst the chaotic barrage of aggression being

spewed out. Off-kilter melodic pieces bring structure within

the song passages. DSGNS make very good use of a single

guitar establishing a riff before every instrument comes back

in, heavier than a neutron bomb being dropped on the suburbs.

Although very much in the vein of Norma Jean, these boys have

retained enough of their hardcore sensibility to find their own voice.

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Borderline Collie - S/T

Band request from Poland.

Dawid and Lucasz from the mighty fine noise makers "Objects"

have stripped things down and produced a collection of songs 

that are an instrumental, improvised, alt country blues, lo fi project.

Using just acoustic guitar and snare/tom, this collection of ambient
sounding alt country songs do not reflect their European background
but rather bring in a shimmering heat haze from Arizona deserts and
dusty, abandoned landscapes where the only thing that disturbs the
emptiness is the twang of a guitar.

If you need a break from angry shouty men who play
down-tuned guitars and take themselves too seriously,
check this out!

Free download from Bandcamp

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Cortez - Phoebus

Request from Lost Pilgrims Records.

Cortez are a hurricane made of evil intent, that leaves a trail

of destruction behind in its wake.

Hardcore is twisted into song passages that rub shoulders with

crust and sludge giving you a raw distorted barrage of dense,

chaotic tracks, overlaid with a bleak and ferocious emotional

message that is expressed through barking and tortured vocals.

Song compositions are taut and complex but the crucial basic

element that make you want to bang your head remains.......

this should sit nicely next to your Converge or early Botch collection.

Band Bio: “Phœbus” , the new album of Cortez, confirms the come back of the Swiss trio, just after the release of their 10’’ split with Plebeian Grandstand released last year.With this album Cortez is again proving that you can get out of the habitual pattern of power trio(guitar, drums and voice), and still burps noise-hardcore fury and incandescent anger. The band recently reorganized itself with the arrival of Antoine Tinguely on the guitar (ex-Berserk For Tea Time), Samuel Vaney, former guitarist, is now supporting the band as composer / mixer.Recorded partly in the REC Studio of Serge Morattel in Geneva, drums, and partly in their own rehearsal space, guitars and vocals, this new album is the result of hard work, giving the band big freedom in creation and the possibility to fully assume the production process. Complete independence in learning, creating and finalizing the record.“Phoebus” reaffirms the taste of Cortez for saturation, but also explores a wide range of possibilities. 

Like a threatening and corrosive mist the aggressive sound still remains intense, melancholic and emotional.The artwork accompanying this new album has been entrusted to Dehn Sora, bringing a subtle spark to this dark masterpiece.As a reminder, Cortez, formed in 2001, was revealed in 2005 and the horrific world of their first album “Initial”, was praised by unanimous reviews. After the release followed several tours in Europe, during which the group forged a reputation of exceptional performers. Sharing the stage with THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, ISIS, UNSANE, JESU, GOJIRA, BURST, THE OCEAN … each occurrence tended to confirm and affirm their originality and mastering of their subject.

This masterpiece is due out in january 2013 on Deluxe digipack CD (Lost Pilgrims Records, Basement Apes, Get A Life! Records) and 2XLP (Throatruiner Records, Basement Apes, Get A Life! Records)

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Ex- Breathers - Collision

Band request from Florida.

Ex-Breathers are a three piece who play "hardcore punk
from planet Z"!

I am digging the mix of hardcore, punk and some elements
of noise-rock on display here. There is an element of
controlled chaos with raging riffs that are scattershot
played over the intense rhythm section.

The recording has a live powerful sound which makes
these tracks really stand out. Post-hardcore song
arrangements stomp their caustic beat at a fair old speed
while the vocals are shouted and urgent but clear.

Ex-Breathers have really got a fucking great sound
going on here - kinda like Poison Idea covering Botch!

Highly Recommended!

Buy from Bandcamp

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Fucked Router!

Due to various technical difficulties and pathetic

pieces of equipment, it looks like I may be

off-line for some days.

The Ocean Doesn't Want Me - As The Dust Settles

Band request from South Africa.

The Ocean Doesn't Want Me meld equal measures of post-rock

and post-metal with impressive results.

Proceedings start off with Pelican style, majestic passages, intertwined
with clean vocals that are unhurried and almost dream-like that
crumble into dust as the next tracks explodes with a sonic
avalanche of fury ....... the guttural vocals telling the tale of
seven characters attending a funeral.

Crescendos are unleashed within the songs but the
multi-layered tracks (which are all pretty long) are skilfully
composed for maximun effect rather than just some cut'n'paste
loud/soft formula.

This is an album that should be listened to as a whole in order
to get the whole effect - do this and you will be well rewarded.

Name your price at Bandcamp

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Hell Comes Home

Joel from Hell Comes Home, a newish label from Ireland (Galway)

has released 12 7" splits (available as part of a box-set or individually) 

of sludge/doom/hardcore/metal which are definitely something

that readers of this blog should check out.

Each split has its own cover artwork showing
strange and detailed illustrations which give an
uneasy vision of the music they contain.

Kowloon Walled City / Thou 7"

Take a look at the lineup - some of my favourite bands
are featured here:

- Kowloon Walled City / Thou
- Suma / Ultraphallus
- Dephosphorus / Great Falls
- Akaname / Lesbian's Fungal Abyss
- Pyramido / Union Of Sleep
- Burning Love / Fight Amp
- Coffinworm / Fistula
- The Swan King / Tellusian
- Dukatalon / Rites
- Black Sun / Throat
- Dopefight / The Fucking Wrath
- Dead Elephant / Rabbits

Dead Elephant / Rabbits

Joel has put together what is clearly a labour of love. Support him
and these bands by investigating them out at once.

Bandcamp

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Big Mean Sound Machine - Marauders

Big Mean Sound Machine are a 20 piece band who want to kick

your arse with sound. Their MySpace tag reads "Live Experimental

and Electronic Afro-Beat, Funk and Dub" - can't say fairer than that!

Everything is driven by the groove of the rhythm section which give

a foundation for the horns, guitar and keyboards to play over.

All 9 tracks are instrumental and draw you in with a funk feel

that defies you not to nod your head along to them. Imagine Fela

Kuti jamming along with the Emperors New Clothes and you

get the vibe played here.

There is some shit-hot tight playing but does not sound over-produced,

it just seems to flow effortlessly.

Buy from Bandcamp

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2012 Band Compilation

Here is a collection of tracks that made my head explode

with pleasure last year. Ranging from Hardcore, Sludge,

Stoner, Noise Rock and more, these songs need to be heard.

The bands and labels concerned have all kindly given permission

for use as a free download compilation from Bandcamp.

Also included is a 24 page PDF booklet with all the bands

information, clickable links to their sites and my pithy reviews

Track Listing:

Direwolves - Growing Defeat

Millions - Shipwreck

Taste The Void - Monolith

Goat Bong - The Lost Art Of Bong Rips

Interlude - Entre Aires De Grandeza

Mudbath - Loserwood

Wolves Carry My Name - Lupus Milk

MAKE - Ancient Tongues

We Had A Deal - Chapter 1

Kabul Golf Club - Demon Days

Grizzly - The Cultist

Haut&Court - Krokodil

Robot (A) - Brief Introduction To Psychonautics

Towers - Serpent

Uncle Touchy - Body Hammer

Denizen - Casino Royale

Objects - Despise

Heemeyer - Turn In/Tune Out

Prehistoric Pigs - Swirlin' Rings Of Saturn

Kustodian - Commuters

Verdun - Last Man Standing

As you can see there is no excuse not to own this piece of sonic excellence.

Please spread the fuck out of this link and get these bands heard everywhere.

Free download from Bandcamp

Black Table - Sentinel

Band request from New York/New Jersey.

Black Table play experimental post-metal while the female
vocalist sounds like she gargles with razor blades and wolverine
toe-nails.

Complex song arrangements rub shoulders with technical

playing that is always on the aggressive side.

For a debut release, this is a very accomplished release - 

read their bio, have a listen and make your own mind up.

Black Table is an unsigned experimental metal band with members from Beacon NY, Monroe, NY and Jersey City, NJ. Originally from California, Mers Sumida performs vocals and guitar. Guitarist Ryan Fleming and drummer Michael Kadnar were in New Jersey metal band Randall Flagg and bassist Matt Mellon was a founding member of technical jazz metal act Mabus. We haven’t found an exact genre for ourselves, but others have described us as: “avant garde metal“ and “blackened metal meets post-metal with some progressive post-hardcore for good measure”.

In May 2012 we posted our DIY recorded demo “Heist” on bandcamp, which got us into the 2012 Winter is Coming Festival in New England, Ct. where we played with Vattnett Viskar, Ritual, and SIG:AR:TYR. Our demo song “Heist” and Ep “Sentinel” was reviewed on the music blogs Unhallowed Nation, Don’t Count on it Reviews, NashVile Reviews and a video from our last show is on Metal Injection, and Invisible Guy named “Heist” #5 on their Best Tracks of 2012 list. 

In August 2012 we released a special auditory project “DeepWell” on cd only, that we sold exclusively at our shows. An unsettling 20 minute instrumental ambient track that comes with implements to experience the music in the form of a ritual. Our Northeast Passage Tour was earlier this month with shows from Danbury, Ct to Nashville, TN to NYC. December 17, 2012 was the last day of our tour which was at Precious Metal in Manhattan with Meek is Murder, Tiger Flowers and I Am Heresy, also the last of Precious Metals’ 4 shows after 6 years. 

“Sentinel” was recorded and mixed at Trax East Studio with Eric Rachel, and mastered at West West Side with Alan Douches. A 12” vinyl will be released by Battle Stag Records in January 2013 but the digital download and cd is available  for name your price via bandcamp.

La Senelle Studio - Amaury Sauvé

When bands go into the studio to record, they suddenly find

that it can be a harsh mistress - as unforgiving as my wife

finding out that the reason we still have a broken fridge is

because I have brought the first 8 albums by Sabbath box set!

Bands quickly find out that the vocalist cannot remember any

lyrics, the guitar plays his solos different every time, when the

drummer goes from toms to snares he loses time and the fucking

bass player is counting 1, 2, 3, 4 under his breath the whole time!

Having someone knowledgeable to help you replicate your live sound 

into something listenable can mean the difference between a shiny

jewel of a track or runny, unpolished dog shit.

Amaury Sauvé owns La Senelle Studio and engineers + produces

some of the heaviest and best french bands around. He has been

involved in some of my favourite sounds from the last couple of

years and here is an awesome compilation, showcasing what he

does.

Includes tracks from Birds in Row, Direwolves, Comity, Taste The Void etc.

Name your price from Bandcamp

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The Tank Farm - Silent Creeper

After the last couple of posts here is something totally opposite

to what you - my faithful download monkeys - are used to.

The Tank Farm is a one man project from Australia which

centres around keyboards.

Short ambient instrumental songs with stark percussion drift 

into The Orb type meanderings with hints of quasi-dance rhythms, which

lull you into peaceful contemplations bookending tracks which for

me are the stronger part of this album.

The real surprise are the piano and vocal led tracks - in particular

Day Tripping - these have a real pastoral English feel to them which

reminds me of early Jethro Tull (minus flute) and for some reason

Peter Gabriel stripped down to just a piano, trying out some intimate

new compositions.

I would like to hear more but without the electronica side of things,

just an albums worth of the human side of The Tank Farm.

Give it a go - free download at Bandcamp

Primitive Man - Scorn

Primitive Man serve you up one of the filthiest, most destructive

releases you will hear this year. With vocals sounding like a

swamp monster spewing up bile in gouts of hatred, the music

is a gut-wrenching platter of blackened sludge, crawling out

of the mire at the torturous pace of the slowest doom ever heard.

Short passages of drones and muffled shrieks provide 

interludes of uneasy calm before the unrelenting barrage

starts again. I felt drained after playing this and just sat in silence

for a while, trying to clear my head and hoping my melted brain

cells would recover. In the meantime, read their bio and order

at once from Throatruiner Records.

Fronted by Ethan McCarthy of notable grind acts Clinging to the Trees of a Forest Fire and Death of Self, Denver, Colorado's PRIMITIVE MAN play some sort of blackened sludge/doom with hints of drone and d-beat in the vein of bands such as The Body, Thou or Khanate. An earth-shattering, bleak wall of crushing dissonance and pure sonic heaviness : "Scorn" is only the band's debut full-length, but it already sounds like one of the heaviest and most brutal records you'll hear for a while. Thirty nine minutes of pure, unrelenting destruction that will leave you bruised and bleeding.

Pre Order the 12" Here

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Make - Axis

Many thanks to Scott from MAKE for sending this to me.

After the mind exploding brilliance of "Trephine" - reviewed

Here., which went straight to my end of year list, I have been
waiting for the next development in their career.

Axis is an EP of 3 tracks that give you 30 minutes of drone/
post-metal psychedelic heaviness.

The first 17 minute epic tracks starts off with gentle guitar drones
and drifting post-rock elements, building up the tension so when
everything kicks in with a sludge like ferocity, it nearly tears your
fucking head off.

The other remaining tracks are just as strong, showcasing some
accomplished song writing and delivering the almost impossible
trick of inserting delicate, almost beautiful passages into a tsunami
of sonic heaviness.

As a taster for the next album, this should help cement their reputation
and propel them into much bigger things.

Highly recommended.

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Atragon - Volume 1

What better way to start of my first posting of 2013 than with

some heavy Doom.

Atragon play distorted doom with hints of sludge in the bleak

riffing. Two tracks over 24 minutes give the tracks time

to reach epic proportions and scope.

Hypnotic riffs circle around the song compositions and combined

with ominous drones give a template on to which fuzzed solos

are played with a very atmospheric feel. 

Gruff and weary vocals are buried in the mix giving proceedings

a very claustrophobic feel. This is heavy shit - if you ever wanted

a soundtrack when you read Lovecrafts' seminal work "At The

Mountains Of Madness", this is the album to play.

Recommended.

Name your price at Bandcamp

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