Fresh Meat - Leather Daddy 7"

Artist: Fresh Meat
Album: Leather Daddy
Release: 2009
Label: Fashionable Idiots

Tracklist:

1. Bad Mask
2. Problem Fixer
3. Get to Work

It shouldn't be a surprise that some of the bleakest music being released right now is coming out of Allentown, Pennsylvania. After the steel mills and textile factories shut down in the 70's, the city became a burnt-out post-industrial shell. Bands like Air Conditioning and Pissed Jeans sound like they've been thrown into a black hole of self-loathing, as direct and brutal as Budd Dwyer's final press conference.

One of the latest Allentown acts to wind up on nerds' turntables is Fresh Meat, who have recently released two 7"s - their debut on Breathing Problem Productions last year, and this record, the Leather Daddy 7", on Fashionable Idiots earlier this month. They have no website or Myspace; the only contact information is found on their first 7", which lists 'youngstud4u69@gmail.com' as their email address. Although legions of bands are mining similar territory these days - think Brainbombs, Drunks With Guns, Flipper at their most direct - Fresh Meat have started to get weirder on Leather Daddy.

Instead of just retreating further into the impenetrable waves of feedback of their debut, the Leather Daddy 7" finds Fresh Meat branching out into more musical territory. The A-side sounds darker, vaguely post-punk, like if Public Image Ltd. hadn't given up on punk and fucked around with dub reggae on Metal Box. There's a bizarre guitar sound on both sides, a weird, siren-like squeal of feedback that adds to the totally fucked vibe. Then there are the lyrics - the vocals are mixed higher than on their first 7", and they're fucking awesome. "I'm just so sick of you/why don't you just do your stinking job" singer Ray Gurz says in the chorus; from the other lyrics, it seems like he's pointing his finger at a shitty dry cleaner, although it could be about hookers, too. One of the weirdest and best records of '09 so far. Fashionable Idiots still has copies, but they're going fast - get one before they wind up in the world's shittiest record store, eBay.

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- CB Radio

Slices - Self Titled 7" [16oh]

Artist: Slices
Album: Self Titled [16oh]
Release: 2009
Label: 16oh

Tracklist:

1. Nub City
2. Desert March
3. Coping Mechanism
4. Cave Crawl/Bad Mask

Every time I start to feel down on hardcore, there's always some new release that just gets me so fucking stoked all over again. This time around, it's the debut 7" from Pittsburgh's Slices. Featuring members of Brain Handle, Warzone Womyn, and Tusk Lord, Slices play what the 16oh release description calls "Crossed Out playing My War side b." Not only do I not want to steal that line, but I rarely believe hyperbolic label descriptions. I gotta say, though, that it is probably the most accurate description you will hear about this band's sound, which has progressed much from its sweet demo tape.

Kicking off with an unenthusiastic and monotone declaration of "1-2-3-4," "Nub City" is the best possible opener, a maelstrom of bass-heavy tones and fucked, yet extremely vicious vocals. What follows on the A-side of this 7" is more fast, fist-pounding goodness. Each of the three songs is a winner, but I find I've taken a liking to "Coping Mechanism" the most. The B-side is even darker and more punishing, yet in a feedback-laden and dirgier way. If you thought the A-side was dark and heavy, this will blow your mind even further. The brief "Bad Mask" is such an amazingly pained ending to this perfect EP. I honestly have not heard hardcore this dark in such a long time.

This shit is still available on absolutely sick blue vinyl, so make sure to pick it up from 16oh, who just recently repressed the Bookburner 7", which you should also pick up if you slept on it the first time around. Additionally, Slices has just released another s/t 7" on Home Invasion Records that is culled from the same sessions as the 16oh 7". I haven't received it yet, but it will be just as mammoth as this one. Hardcore rules.

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Buy 16oh 7" Here
To order the Home Invasion 7", email homeinvasionrecords@gmail.com and ask for prices. Dude is super nice, so don't be shy!

-Adam

Henry's Dress - 1620 7"

Artist: Henry's Dress
Album: 1620 7"
Release: 1993
Label: I Wish I Was A Slumberland Record/Slumberland

Tracklist:

1. 1620
2. Stumble [Demo]

I know I've already posted a bunch of shit from Henry's Dress (specifically their LP and 10",) but why not post their rarest release? The 1620 7" is the debut release from my favorite Slumberland band, which (let me tell you) is no mere feat. For the unacquainted, Henry's Dress were an indie band from the early and mid-90s from New Mexico and, later, San Fransisco that played lo-fi noise pop with alternating boy-girl vocals. You all wish you could make music like this.

On this specific release, the band is at its rawest, which is most definitely a positive thing. The band is still in an embryonic stage, but these two songs (actually, just the title track, as "Stumble" is practically an unfinished demo) are still fairly excellent, representing their slower, dreamier side. "1620," with its bouncy rhythm section (especially that booty bass) and its muted vocals, is pretty infectious, despite it's lack of torque. Not their best material by a long shot, this is still a very commendable effort. In fact, I would still say that the title track is a fantastic song. It took me such a long time to track this down in digital format (still looking for the actual 7",) but it was well worth the wait. Summer needs to fucking come faster.

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-Adam

Lilys - February Fourteenth 7"

Artist: Lilys
Album: February Fourteenth
Release: 1991
Label: Slumberland

Tracklist:

1. February Fourteenth
2. Threw A Day

Lilys' first release, February Fourteenth, is another perfect release on the legendary and flawless (if we ignore its post-2003 activity) Slumberland Records. Not only is this one of the strongest releases in their mostly-excellent catalogue, but this is my favorite material from this awesome ex-D.C. band, beating out both the amazing A Brief History Of Amazing Letdowns 10" and their classic LP, In The Presence Of Nothing.

If you haven't heard them before, Lilys sound like a mix of My Bloody Valentine worship and early-90s noise and indie pop. Actually, that's exactly what they are; Lilys brilliantly straddle the already unclear line between shoegaze and noise pop. The title track is probably the best Lilys song (OK, maybe tied with "Claire Hates Me." I can't decide!) and is a perfect pop slab of noisy feedback, melody, and heavyhearted lyrics. The B-side, "Threw A Day," appears on their previously mentioned debut album and is definitely no throwaway, as its one of the strongest songs on that album.

Unfortunately, this rip of this 7" comes with a few shitty spots of sound quality on the B-side. It's only for about five seconds or something, so deal with it (and send me a better rip if you have it.) Or, you could just listen to the LP version of the song, which is identical and can be found anywhere. But yeah, the main reason to listen to this is the A-side, and it sounds fantastic! Download this and enjoy another awesome fucking indie pop single. I know I am.

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-Adam

Disco Inferno - The Last Dance

Artist: Disco Inferno
Album: The Last Dance
Release: 1993
Label: Rough Trade

Tracklist:

1. The Last Dance
2. D.I. Go Pop
3. The Long Dance
4. Scattered Showers

Continuing my Disco Inferno post obsession (the most recent was It's A Kid's World), the next EP I present to you is also my favorite release (or tied with Summer's Last Sound,) The Last Dance. This particular 12" stands as probably their most accessible work as a whole, which is a true feat considering there are FOUR Disco Inferno songs here.

The title track is the one true pop song this band ever made and it's fucking incredible. Equipped with more brilliant prose from Ian Crause, this is one of DI's most emotionally-affecting songs. What could be better than this? Oh wait, I know: "The Long Dance," an alternate version of the original song with a better intro and an extended (and beautiful) instrumental section. However, the pure genius doesn't end there, as "D.I. Go Pop" is another of DI's unrivaled accomplishments. Not included on their best full-length of the same name for one reason or another, this is one of the most manic songs I've ever heard. Finally, The Long Dance ends perfectly with "Scattered Showers," a longer and more ambient track in which the guitar actually justifies the song title. It's all so great. God, I love this band.

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-Adam

Blutrache - Marsch Zu Neuen Zeitaltern [Demo]

Artist: Blutrache
Album: Marsch Zu Neuen Zeitaltern [Demo]
Release: 1999
Label: Black Order Productions

Tracklist:

1. Ewiges Zwielicht
2. Eternal War
3. Marching Towards The New Aeon
4. Die Rache Das Heidenbluts
5. Arische Freiheit

It got cold again.

Satanic Warmaster, led by Satanic Tyrant Werwolf of Finland, is not only one of the finest black metal acts around these days, but it also tends to be the NSBM band that is acceptable for everyone to listen to despite its political and ideological leanings. While certainly more well known for his current band, S.T. Werwolf's earlier project Blutrache rivals anything he's done up to this point.

If you stack up Blutrache's lone release, a demo cassette entitled Marsch Zu Neuen Zeitaltern, to Satanic Warmaster's early material (particularly the phenomenal Strength & Honour,) you won't find many drastic differences between the two. This is just some excellent raw BM with the occasional and tasteful keyboard flourish. What really stand out, however, are the NS elements, which are much more in the the spotlight than with anything released by Satanic Warmaster.

As previously mentioned, this is NSBM, so it's not for everyone, especially those who are extra-sensitive. However, if you can look past the right wing/fascist ideologies, there is so much here (musically) to fall in love with. If so, definitely give this one a chance. I have, despite its abhorrent ideologies.

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-Adam

Rocketship - Hey, Hey Girl

Artist: Rocketship
Album: Hey, Hey Girl
Release: 1994
Label: The Bus Stop Label

Tracklist:

1. Hey, Hey Girl
2. Naomi And Me
3. People I Know

Hey, Hey Girl, the first release by Sacramento, California's Rocketship, stands as one of the finest singles of the twee pop era, specifically for its ridiculously catchy (and saccharine) title track. While their lone album A Certain Smile, A Certain Sadness is one of my favorite pop albums of the 90s, I would argue that their original single is their real masterpiece.

The A-side of this 7" consists of the aforementioned "Hey, Hey Girl," which could easily serve as the archetype of the perfect pop single, as well as the almost-as-catchy (and possibly superior) "Naomi And Me." Both of these songs are concise, organ-driven 60s-style pop nuggets which are perfectly complimented by guitarist Dustin Reske's fey vocals. The B-side is a slower, more ambient take on the Rocketship sound, with whispered boy-girl vocals. The song doesn't really go anywhere, but it's still a pleasant diversion, even if it doesn't quite stack up to the flipside of the record.

This 7" isn't for everyone. Some might not be able to take the sugar-sweetness of this (my friend Ari is cringing as I play this on repeat,) but if you're not too hypermasculine or closeminded, I urge you to check it out. It's getting warmer outside, which means you all need a little more classic indie pop in your life.

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-Adam

Rorschach/Neanderthal Split 7"

Album: Rorschach/Neanderthal Split 7"
Release: 1991
Label: Veriform

Tracklist:

1. Rorschach - Brainhandle
2. Rorschach - Hardware (Septic Death)
3. Neanderthal - Fighting Music
4. Neanderthal - Fluids

Another of my favorite records released in the 90s, the split between Rorschach and Neanderthal is also one of the most brutal. On the A-side we have hardcore legends Rorschach providing one of their very best tracks with "Brainhandle," a shot of adrenaline in the form of fast and dissonant hardcore, as well as an awesome cover (like their version of "My War") of Septic Death's "Hardware." Neanderthal contributes two short, ruthless, and unwavering blasts of pure hatred. Not quite as sludgy as their masterpiece Fighting Music, it's still some of the most ferocious powerviolence ever created. Fuck.

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-Adam

Disco Inferno - It's A Kid's World

Artist: Disco Inferno
Album: It's A Kid's World
Release: 1994
Label: Rough Trade

Tracklist:

1. It's A Kid's World
2. A Night On The Tiles
3. Lost In Fog

After posting the amazing Summer's Last Sound, I kinda broke my promise of posting the remaining four Disco Inferno 12" EPs from their creative peak in a timely fashion. However, I will make up for this by posting one a week for the next month. You deserve it, people! :D

If you missed my last entry on this brilliant and groundbreaking act, let me give you a brief description of DI: they were an early post-rock (though, I'm guessing no one used that stupid name then) that relied heavily on samples and leader Ian Crause's bummer summer lyrics; think a less mopey, more misanthropic Morrissey.

This particular EP is notable for its title track, which is not only the catchiest song DI ever recorded, but one of the most infectious songs I have ever heard, despite its pessimistic lyrics surrounding youth and the Western culture of violence. But hey, musical and lyrical juxtaposition is what DI is all about. If there's one song that makes me want to dance, it's this one. Equipped with a sample of the drums from Iggy Pop's "Lust For Life," whistles, and bells, Crause lays down jagged guitar lines, all the while with bass that almost reaches the epic heights of bounciness established only by the finest booty bass.

Coming as no surprise, the B-side tracks are fucking weird and inaccessible, with "A Night On The Tiles" coming off as a circus act on whip-its and "Lost In Fog" resembling less evil, Jeff Greinke-esque dark ambient. Hello, 911? The sexual romance is over.

This isn't my favorite EP of their five classic singles, but "It's A Kid's World" might be my favorite song by DI and that certainly counts for something. Make sure to check this out and I guarantee you will have a hard time not playing the title track on repeat.

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-Adam

Cold Cave/Crocodiles/Blessure Grave 3-Way Split 7"

Album: Cold Cave/Crocodiles/Blessure Grave 3-Way Split 7"
Release: 2009
Label: Down In The Ground

Tracklist:

1. Blessure Grave - Reduce You To Black Smoke
2. Crocodiles - Refuse Angels
3. Cold Cave - An Understanding

This is a three-way split 7” not because the three bands share some bond or should be on a split together, but because Crocodiles only recorded a 2:48 second long song and suggested that their east coast friends Cold Cave to help fill out the rest of their side with Blessure Grave. Surely, Down In The Ground labelhead Tobias Frances saw this as a great opportunity to actually be able to sell the record, being that Cold Cave is lead by ex-hardcore playboy Wesley Eisold and is currently an Indie-buzz sensation.

Band by band, Blessure Grave from San Diego take up the entire A-side with a long, gothy post-punk track full of teary, echo-drenched guitars and synths over poorly-played drums. It works nicely and is definitely the standout track on the record.

Crocodiles, also from San Diego, is comprised of two ex-members of the sassy The Plot To Blow Up The Eiffle Tower, another trend flushed down the toilet here. This is dancy garage punk with a lot of energy and little new brought to the table. I heard another of their songs that sounded more akin to Brian Jonestown Massacre. I liked it more.

Cold Cave, who I said enough about above, could have been left off completely and I wouldn’t mind at all. The track is very amateur in comparison to their stellar 2008 EPs on Dais & Hospital that I very much enjoyed. This track is like a 9th generation dub of a Depeche Mode outtake. But what do I know? You be the judge. Cool kids like this records. Cover art by thee Mark McCoy.

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-Evander Holywar

Gomek - What The Hell Happened?

Artist: Gomek
Album: What The Hell Happened?
Release: 2007
Label: Drugged Conscience, Dead Tank Records

Tracklist:

1. Old Man You
2. Ex Friends Forever
3. Everybody Just Needs To Understand That I Hate Them
4. Suicide Pact
5. Twelve Steps To The Twelve Pack
6. To The Death Of The Party
7. Other Cities
8. Bomb Dot Com

Gomek was a female-fronted hardcore band hailing from Orlando, Florida, who (unfortunately) packed it in waaaaay too soon. I actually don't really know anything about this band other than that they appear to be named after the fabled Gomek the Crocodile, but I was lucky enough to pick this phenomenal 7" up thanks to a flattering description in the 16oh store.

Unfortunately, having a female singer will no doubt often first bring up comparisons to other female-fronted hardcore bands, so let's go with the heteronormative flow and say this is much more in line with Punch (but without the youth crew parts) than with Kingdom or Gather, both of whom suck. Gomek play the best kind of hardcore: the fast kind. Though not reaching the same breakneck speeds as the aformentioned Punch, Gomek is still energetic and dynamic, with a nice, raw production that serves the band's sound perfectly. I love this 7" and I hope you do too, as I have so much invested in your life.

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-Adam

:Edit: Members are now Chronic Youth and Worlds. Also, how the fuck could I forget to mention Sick Fix??? BAND IS AMAZING. GET STOKED FOR NEW LP IN THE FUTURE.

Nøught - Self Titled

Artist: Nøught
Album: Self Titled
Release: 2000
Label: Shifty Disco

Tracklist:

1. The Fans
2. Nøught I
3. Cough Cap Kitty
4. Red Rag
5. Goddess Awakes: I. The Tricks of Strangers, II. Locker, III. Widow's Lament
6. Stain Stones
7. All The Time Ha-Ha
8. Heart Stops Twice
9. Nøught II
10. Ignatius

Oxford, England’s natives Nøught's eponymous debut leads the listener to a world in which guitars sear as about every other instrument featured in the recording (the main being: guitar, bass, drums, electric piano) does (or does something similarly in terms of velocity and ah, frenetic characteristics) with an open-jaw-of-baleful-lion captivity that’s squeezes the limey contents of one's metaphorical balls within the context of music as a force of nature.

Now, it may seem I went a little overboard by way of such a description, but I must back myself up instead of backtracking. Along with a collective 'rock' fury, Nøught push themselves on this recording as a malleable force of musical power. The trio create a world that blurs rock, punk, hardcore (in the vain of older, more brazen hardcore that avoided pointless rehashes and down right dumb posturing), as well as an addition of jazz-like parts that go to great lengths to unify the whole recording. Along with the core instrumentation come a myriad of strings which embellish the recording with additional emotional breadth both beautiful and frightening.

Before I forget, it should be noted that this album is entirely instrumental. Not only is it instrumental, but it captures perfectly many styles throughout its running time of 57 minutes. These styles and genre guidelines are (yet not limited to) such semi-inane band pairings as: blistering, metallic guitar furies which have in a previous life coalesced with a Glenn Branca-esque guitar-chestra, atonal Slayer fret board running’s, wiry post punk guitar trappings meet head on with some ever-so-grumbling, fuzzy Sabbathian riffs (i.e. the 2nd track " Nøught I".) Included also are big band-like teases that throw in a heroic bit of noisy guitar which is backed by a maniacal and ever changing rhythm section (“All the time, ha-ha”,) and a personal favorite track of mine, "Stain Stones,” encapsulates a wiry jazz guitar-led (like many of this album's songs) intro, a furious, hypnotic, and rather-creepy midsection, which eventually crashes down before reaching the songs final coda, which is an espousal of a reconvening of the song’s jazz informed intro for a beautiful ending that, to me, sounds like not just one beautiful moon rising into the sky at night, but more like three moons on some alien planet.

Unfortunately, Nøught have not released anything since they threw this one to the light of day, albeit “Wet Sex Anesthetic,” which is pure cataclysmic fury and sounds heavier than anything on this album can be listening to by way of their Myspace page. Hopefully a release that will scour and devour all that is utterly innocuous within the realm of today’s modern and more under-the-radar music will soon fall upon all who are interested ears.

For fans of Guapo (of which Nøught's main man is a part of their live unit,) Miasma & the Carousel of Headless Horses, etc. Good luck finding this anywhere else, you won't.

ICDT Translation: Awesome, heavy neo-prog from the U.K.

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Buy Here (Only two left!)

-MXW

The Two Funerals - Tell Yr Story

Artist: The Two Funerals
Album: Tell Yr Story
Release: 2008
Label: The Cottage Records

Tracklist:

1. Intro/Western Apathy
2. Grey Skies
3. We're Still Alive

Now for something completely different (as opposed to this opener): me trying to write about a riot grrrl and pop-punk fusion band. I have always dug classic riot grrrl and some pop-punk (particularly with female singers,) but they're not exactly what I would call fields of expertise for me (like the history of the Vietnam War film!) As a result of my unfamiliarity with this type of thing, I apologize for this sure-to-be shiteous (I think Perez Hilton uses this word. Why do I know that?) review. I Digress...

The Two Funerals are a trio of (WARZONE) womyn from Blacksburg, VA, the home of the Hokies! This band loves their feminist politics, which is a good thing! The singer and guitarist of the band, Shannon, possess quite the voice and actually reminds me of Corin Tucker not so much in that they share a similar sound, but that they share a similar power. Shan got dem pipes.

The three songs collected on Tell Yr Story are all very good. The opener has a dancy intro which works wonderfully into "Western Apathy," which is no doubt the finest song they've done. "Grey Skies" contains very literal, in-your-face lyrics that don't really do it for me, but that's not to say they're bad. It's just, well, subtlety is not TTF's thing. I'm all for directness, but yeah. I don't know. I'm rambling. It just didn't do it for me, OK? Ahem, The final track, "We're Still Alive" helps pick things back up for a most excellent and emotionally affecting ending.

With this 7", the Two Funerals has come a long way from their first and amateurish (though not bad by any means) CD-R, The Two Funerals...Invade Poland. While they aren't going to change my opinion about this kind of music or make me start posting on the Plan-It X board, I will certainly be checking out all of their future releases, as I dig this band, even if their lyrical content (as positive and progressive and nice as it is) doesn't do it for me. Where's the hatred?

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-Adam

The Promise Ring/Texas Is The Reason Split 7"

Artist: The Promise Ring, Texas Is The Reason

Album: Split

Release: 1996

Label: Jade Tree

Tracklist:

1. The Promise Ring - E. Texas Ave

2. Texas Is The Reason - Blue Boy

The Promise Ring was started as a side project of Davey von Bohlen, the then guitarist/vox man of the legendary Cap'n Jazz. Texas Is The Reason's roots are a little closer to my heart. The guitarist of Shelter and the drummer of 108 put this band together. After they blew up and were about to make some serious change, they broke up during a tour of Europe. As far as I'm concerned, it was a great move. Their last release, Do You Know Who You Are?, was their worst release and they'd probably not mean as much to me if they had continued down that road.

Straight up, this is my favorite emo release ever. When these bands came together they made gold. Both tracks take my breath away. The Promise Ring song is heavier than any other Promise Ring that I've heard and the TITR song just blows me away. All their songs sound like they're written by hardcore kids and "Blue Boy" is no different. It is without question my favorite song of the genre.

Obviously, I favor TITR's side, but both are perfect and deserve some attention. Get at it.

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-Trey

Gorguts - Obscura

Artist: Gorguts
Album: Obscura
Release: 1998
Label: Displeased Records

Tracklist:
1. Obscura
2. Earthly Love
3. The Carnal State
4. Nostalgia
5. The Art of Sombre Ecstasy
6. Clouded
7. Subtle Body
8. Rapturous Grief
9. La Vie Est Prelude... (La Mort, Orgasme)
10. Illuminatus
11. Faceless Ones
12. Sweet Silence

This is not your average technical death metal record. This is not your average band. This is not wank. This is a darkened mindfuck of discordant riffage that possesses an eeriness entirely its own.

Gorguts, like so many unfortunate death metal bands in the late '80s and early '90s, was picked up and then dropped by Roadrunner Records (yeah, they used to be awesome). After releasing two straightforward-but-awesome death metal records for the label and finding themselves without a record home, frontman Luc Lemay regrouped the band with a new lineup for Obscura. In doing so, he completely changed the band's sound. The guitar parts simultaneously work with and against each other, the bass drives the groove and the drummer is out-of-control awesome. And the vocals? The shrieks of desolate spirits.

Interesting tidbit: Lemay graduated from a musical conservatory. He is fully trained and can (and has) written pieces for orchestras, string quartets and the like. Yet he purposefully has never learned the notes on his guitar neck, preferring to compose by ear and work both verbally and on paper with his bandmates.

No other group of musicians have ever made a record that sounds like this, nor will any future group of musicians. This is chaos calculated in a way that doesn't sound calculated, just downright scary.

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-Asa

P.S. Yeah, there's a newer tech-death band called Obscura, and while they do love them some Gorguts, they don't sound like ripoffs. In fact, they fucking rule.

Maggot Minded [Cassette]

Artist: Various
Album: Maggot Minded
Release: 2007
Label: Maggot Minded Tapes

Tracklist:

1. HIV - Hammer Skin
2. HIV - Shut In
3. HIV - Shut Out
4. Loose Change - Borrowed Guns
5. Loose Change - Cocaine Woman Blues
6. Horrible - Maggot Mind
7. White Boss - We Meld With The Earth
8. White Boss - The Sun Haze
9. Funerot - Stranded In Time
10. Funerot - Shellshock
11. Sisters - When We Wake Up
12. Sex Vid - Under The Rug
13. Sex Vid - Bang Bang
14. Sex Vid - Clinic

I found this cassette awhile back knowing nothing about it other than it featured WA's favorite hype band, Sex Vid. While I'm not a huge fan of the band (though I love the Nests 7",) this regional compilation still piqued my interest, so I decided to give it a go! Needless to say, this shit does not disappoint. Well, mostly. The production is VERY lo-fi, which, to me, is a very good thing. Some might be turned off by this, but it really serves this tape very well.

There are only a few minor gripes with this release. Horrible, whose lone contribution is practically the namesake of this tape (that, and the label,) play boring-ass metal. Sisters adds to the suckage with some bland garage punk stuff. As I'm not familiar with them and the production is so lo-fi, they might not even play this kind of stuff, but it's what it sounds like to me. That, and bad.

However, the rest of the bands all turn in a strong collection of songs. Sex Vid is Sex Vid, so if you like them you will like this. I actually find this to be some of their better stuff because it doesn't have the boring, uninspired production of many of their releases. HIV's chaotic hardcore serves as an excellent opening to the tape, while Funerot manages to play some legit thrash and does not fall victim to the standard, low-quality of shitty crossover revival. Loose Change kinda does the Sisters thing, only it's actually good. I think my favorite tracks on this cassette are from White Boss, which easily rival the Sex Vid's songs. "We Meld With the Earth" serves as a brutal, instrumental introduction to the fast and catchy hardcore of "The Sun Haze." It rules.

Overall, this is a most excellent release, with only a few hiccups. If anything, get it for the Sex Vid songs, you goofy cool kid.

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-Adam

Yussuf Jerusalem - A Heart Full Of Sorrow

Artist: Yussuf Jerusalem
Album: A Heart Full Of Sorrow
Release: 2008
Label: Floridas Dying

Tracklist:

1. Gilles De Rais
2. A Heart Full Of Sorrow
3. Greetings From Novi Sad
4. With You In Mind
5. Jihad
6. We Ain't Coming Back
7. Multicolor
8. The End Of Tomorrow
9. The One You Really Want

Yussuf Jerusalem defies genres as a whole. You can not really define this album as one or even three genres. It’s too much of a mind fuck. Instead, I present nine mini-reviews, one for each track on this debut album.

1. The opening track is straightforward, fast black metal filth.

2. Kind of a Dylan meets Stones meets Chemical Brothers. You’d think I’m kidding, but I’m not.

3. This song is very poppy and catchy and reminds me of when I first heard Pet Shop Boys when I was five years old.

4. I don’t know 60’s pop/psychedelia with a Stone Roses house kinda beat. What the fuck? It’s a Marianne Faithful cover.

5. This could be a track from some country you’ve never heard of on a Nonesuch compilation.

6. My favorite on the album, a total fucking pop gem.

7. Someone could tell me this was The Brian Jonestown Massacre and I’d likely believe them.

8. Death In June meets Puff The Magic Dragon.

9. More Dylan-esque fuckery.

OK, download this and scratch your head.

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-Evander Holywar

Drunks With Guns - Alter Human Industrial Fetishes 7''

Artist: Drunks With Guns
Album: Alter Human Industrial Fetishes
Release: 1987
Label: Dental

Tracklist:

1. Zombie
2. Leprosy
3. Enemy

If you don't know them, St. Louis' Drunks With Guns were a group of miserable, dick-headed punks making noise rock and, shit, were these lushes excellent at it. The band slowed down the standard punk sound and turned up the bass, creating a fucked, sludgy sound, all the while with confrontational frontman Mike Doskocil incoherently spewing out his pestilential verses.

This 7" is the best material from the mostly-excellent band, so if you like heavy, somewhat-idiotic (yet self-aware,) and just plain weird punk, then you will love this. Maybe? I do, and that's got to count for something.

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-Adam