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ABBADON 'I Am Legion'
CD (Snapper Music)
This has to be the worst recording I've heard in some time. Abbaddon
was always regarded as Venom's weak link, and without his pals
Cronos and Mantas to hide behind his true lack of musical ability
has become glaringly obvious. Not that the Newcastle black metal
pioneers were exactly talented mind you, but what Abbaddon has
put forth here is utterly unlistenable. Surprisingly, it's nothing
like the primitive metal onslaught his former bandmates churned
out; no, Abbaddon has decided to hop on the pseudo-industrial
bandwagon that drove pierced-lipped, vinyl-clad trendies mad
back in '94 or so. Alas for Abbaddon, though, he doesn't have
Trent Reznor's ear for poppy hooks. Everything here is drenched
in distortion and effects, but Abbaddon hasn't forged any cohesive
attack from all this noise; instead, his songs, just plod aimlessly
along, not really succeeding in doing anything but annoying the
listener. In other words, this isn't Noise a la Masonna, but
simply noise (as in the sort that grates one's ears). In this
month's Morbid Angel review I criticized that band for stagnating
and not really trying to do anything new, but perhaps Abbaddon
is one individual who SHOULD have stuck to his guns; blatant
trend-hopping (especially when the trend in question has long
since passed!) will get you nowhere, and it certainly hasn't
produced a very impressive release here.
[Seth Patterson]
2/10
ABDULLAH 'Snake Lore'
CD (Rage Of Achilles) £7
The debut eight song demo by these promising doom rockers has
thankfully been made legit for all to experience. Following in
the footsteps of Goatsnake et al, Abdullah create a genuinely
heavy sound that pendulates between stoner grind and Alice In
Chains/ Wool melodic rock so there's no chance of monotony. It
could be that they're just trying to find the right sound, but
at least they've made the most of simple means utilising effects
like phasing, reverse tape, and reverb to instil three dimension
to four track sparseness. It's raw but fresh. Looking forward
to their full length on Meteor City.
6/10
ABORTED 'Engineering The
Dead' CD (Listenable)
Though lyrically very similar to Exhumed (sexual violence and
gore) Aborted are a different breed of band. Where Exhumed have
leanings to the metallic scrapings of speed metal and grindcore,
Aborted are clearly straight forward death metal. They rely more
on the old school techniques of overdosing the listener in pummelling
brutality and explosive riffs and guttural vocals. Aborted do
try to mix and match riffs with something resembling melodies
but at the end of the day, the listener is after violent, heavy
music to accompany the sometimes gruesome, sometimes funny lyrics.
7/10
ABORYM 'Fire Walk With
Us' CD (Mercenary/WWIII)
Italy's electro black metallers Aborym have a keen sense for
theatrics. Clever use of soundbites from screaming women to marching
battalions set the scene of a distinctly dystopian world. With
songs that have commandeered the most hardened battle rhythms
and an unforgiving aura that revels in the forthcoming violence,
this is black metal as it was meant to be. Truly menacing. The
opening militarist beats and mournful synthes on 'White Space'
followed by perverse baroque guitar breaks is Aborym at their
most sadistically playful. Like any true assault, the enemy is
left guessing at the next move and likewise 'Fire Walk With Us'
is littered with twists and turns. Seemingly arbitary, and most
probably playful, the album is structured so that you always
feel there are deeper ideas to what imeediately hits you in the
face.
Most other black metal albums are left behind in their one dimensional
and linear predictability, and even if we could regard Aborym's
tricks as superficial, there is no escaping its impact. Just
experience the vocals on the title track where scratched vocals
are interspered by deep rumbling growls. But Attila was never
one to tie himself down with the mundane. Yes, that's the same
Attila on Mayhem's 'De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas' and Tormentor.
His style has always been to sing at odds with the prevailing
melodies yet the strange clash always added something that made
the music distinctly Atillafied. Nowadays how many black metal
vocalists could claim to have such an effect on their music?
But will 'Fire Walk With Us' attain classic status? Well, many
albums deficient in many qualities attain classic status simply
because they ar so different- some would use the word groundbreaking.
A contrived effort or not, this album deserves to act as a benchmark
at a time when black metal is transforming itself and is looking
for new life. Aborym have have written the battle hymns for the
new war. Who will help them win it?
9/10
'Across Uneven Terrain'
comp Dbl LP (Fat Cat)
Fat Cat has strengthened their hand around the elusive neck of
left field techno and electronica these last couple of years,
on the back of the underground's distaste for commercial dance
and paint by numbers drum and bass. This comp includes their
12" releases from 1997-1999, and is a good indicator of
where the scene stands at this point. I'm accustomed to electronics
on the harsher side a la Bastard Noise material, but this is
proof that there is a place for lightweight/ ambient sounds for
extreme music fans. Outfits like Process and Transient Waves
have pioneered the art of trance/ drone by avoiding cliches but
celebrating abstractions whether the end result is successful
or not. Then you have Immense who play gentle emo guitar akin
to Baby Harp Seal or Don Caballero. This sits quite comfortably
next to the minimal scratch turntablism of Live Human (a stand
out track). The most commercially viable piece is Bjork remixed
by Funkstorung, though thankfully it's less about the former
and more about the latter's techno mashing. Thus, the other artistes-
Fonn, Sons Of The Sun, Mice Parade, Insync v Mysteron, Various
Artists (who have an Autechtre remix) and Grain fall into place
along these lines making for a very stimulating collection that's
essentially easy on the ears but challengingly so.
7/10
ACURSED 'A Fascist State...
In Disguise' mCD (Distortion) $15
Full on crustcore across seven tracks may be enough to make this
debut worth chasing after. You know this band is Swedish, such
is the way those fuckers have cornered the market in this kind
of racket, but such predictability is for once forgivable. As
'To Kill The Pain' kicks in, the screamed vocals, the hyper speed,
the total scumboy hate of vocalist Kristofer just grabs ya by
the throat until the last track 'Greedy Bastards' fades away.
And inbetween it's chaos all the way, like all punk should be
with no concessions to silly guitar solos or melody.
6/10
ADRAMELECH 'Seven' mCD
(Repulse)
Two minutes into the second song, 'The Sleep Of Ishtar' Finland's
brutal death metallers throw in the most lame, out of place guitar
break imaginable, totally throwing all before and after off kilter.
Such unfortunate lack of thought is typical of this band, but
when they hit the mark, especially on the live renditions of
'As The Gods Succumbed' and 'Across The Grey Waters' (from their
powerful 'Psychostasia' album) I'm almost willing to forgive
'em. That's when the death metal is pure, heavy and unrelenting
which fans of Sadistic Intent would happily go to their grave
listening to. Above average- just.
6/10
ADVERSAM 'Animadverte'
CD (Scarlet)
While not exactly exploring new ground, Turin's Adversam promise
much with their brand of atmospheric black metal. They may claim
to play it in the old school way ala Mayhem and Darkthrone, but
the upfront keyboards and ultra clear production firmly places
them in the here and now. But things do move on, and if Adversam
do not wish to be stuck in the here and now they need to do something
different with an approach that's been heard many times before.
Emperor seem to be feeling a backlash at their rock metal leanings
but at least they tried something unexpected.
6/10
AFTERMATH 'Aftermath'
(1st demo nine songs - tape= $5.00)
Any tape featuring members of Resist, Godless, Amnesty and Yankee
Wuss, plus having two vocalists (one singing grindcore, the other
sounding like Eric Wood of MITB), live covers by Raw Power and
Celtic Frost, and influenced by punk from Poison Idea to Swedish
grind crust is a pretty essential purchase. This is brutality
all the way with the studio tracks being recorded clear enough
to suggest this band has something exciting to offer. A CD /
10" ep is on the way.
123 NE Fremont, Portland, OR. 97212, USA.
8/10
AGALLOCH 'Of Stone Wind
And Pillor' mCD (The End)
Is it worth pointing out that Agalloch are American? After all,
US black metal has its own stylistic reputation. My first few
listens, and without knowing anything about them, firmly placed
the mCD in the Scandinavian melodic death metal scene. The opening
track with its slow to mid paced rhythms and dancing riffs reveal
Sentenced influences with the cold atmosphere of very early In
The Woods. The latter comes to mind because Agalloch seem to
bask in some pagan concept that is atmospheric and classical.
But Agalloch's control keeps them a safe distance from In The
Wood's blackened ferocity. 'Folionum Viridium' and 'Haunting
Birds' consolidate their neoclassicism through synthes and 'choir'.
So Agalloch have set their stalls out as a band transporting
themselves to a mystical world not at hand in their native USA.
The 'Haunting Birds' piece does have an acoustic structure that
faintly touches on the quieter moments of a Morgion song (another
band more European than most Europeans). The first three tracks
are from an unreleased 7" from 1998, and they couldn't be
more different from the more recent cover of Sol Invictus' 'Kneel
To The Cross'.
If this is the band moving in the direction of their forthcoming
album they have become harder and less whimsical. Their sound
no longer appears to be of a band overwhelmed by influences but
one looking for an identity. 'Kneel To The Cross' is atmospheric
doom that both looks forward towards the majesty of Cathedral
but pays its due to the founders like Penance or Solitude Aeturnus.
Finishing off with a gothic interpretation of WB Yeats' 'A Poem
By Yeats', this mCD should set Agalloch up as a potent force
in the classic doom metal cum black metal scene.
8/10
AGORAPHOBIC NOSEBLEED/CONVERGE
'The Poacher Diaries' split CD (Relapse)
If violence is golden then nu grind's most prominent exponents
have the Midas touch. ANb have come a long way since their drum
machine days allowing a much more satisfying fluidity to their
intentions while Converge do what is expected. Their constant
barrage may be designed to crush skulls but the ever present
stop start time changes and complex multi layers creates an inertia
that is wary of grind's ability to become monotonous. It may
sound a little too contrived but they're still capable of much
more. A good pointer.
6/10
AKERCOCKE 'Goat Of Mendes'
CD (Peaceville)
The UK's best extreme satanic metal band has really grabbed the
goat by the horns with their new album 'Goat Of Mendes'. Those
sophisticated Satanists that make up Akercocke have sacrificed
their own sinister record label to join Peaceville and Martin
Bonsoir has pulled on a suit to contribute his unique, dark,
instrumental sounds to the band. My only snipe towards this album
is the harshness in which the female vocalists project their
voices, especially as for a lengthy introduction to the track
'Betwixt'. Although Jason Mendonca demonstrates impressive vocalist
skills on the album's best track 'The Horns Of Baphemot', Mendonca
has aggression, creativity and control over his variety of vocals,
clearly defining David Gray's purely evil lyrics.
The variation of feelings and sounds each individual track has
on 'Goat' makes the album more appealing to a bigger collection
of metal fans, including doom/death/blackmetal fans. Since Akercocke's
debut album these five guys have not only improved the production
sound since 'Rape Of The Bastard Nazarene' but also made it hard
to believe Akercocke are a London based band. It's good to see
that the UK can produce good quality EVIL metal; we usually expect
this kind of metal from Norway or Sweden. With all honesty this
album will feed your mind and stimulate the metal ear because
Akercocke truly BLAST FOR SATAN. Ave Satanas!
[Claire Kilpin]
8/10
ALASKA-J 'Pop Idiots'
CDep (London)
This is the kind of enjoyable indie fodder that major labels
keep throwing out as an antidote to the bland soulless pop these
same labels also keep throwing out. I don't think I will ever
understand the logic begind the workings of big labels but they
seem to make a lot of money. Alaska-J will no doubt rake in a
few more pennies for London because 'Pop Idiots' is very catchy,
its got the kind of attitude kids on the street will relate to
and the music has got the punky edge of Manic Street Preachers.
The dance/ DJ remix by Bedroom Rockers is cynically done: 'Pop
Idiots' is guaranteed to be a killer on the nightclub dance floors
or while you're waitng for yer pint down the town centre student's
pub. I guess Alaska-J have to be given some credit for producing
such a kids friendly song, so maybe the hardcore community can
learn some lessons from this. Can you start a revolution without
reaching to the mainstream in a way that's easily consumable
or do we stay locked behind the doors of the same small venues
playing to the same small crowds up to the point when everyone
just switches off? A hard one to answer but I hope some radical
band will find a way.
6/10
ALEJANDRA & AERON/QT?
split 12"ep (Fat Cat)
Alejandra & Aeron, from Spain, provide a track called 'Kitchen'
which filters sound sources from a er... kitchen. Fridges, cooking,
casual singalong are all digitally processed into this extraordinary
mini symphony of electronica. Rather than sounding ridiculous,
'Kitchen' simply elevates mundaneity in this series of movements.
Japan's new wunderkind utilises a Macintosh and associated software
to give us nine noise blasts that waver between harshness, glitch
mayhem and delicate beats. Of course, it all really works as
a whole though a CD would have benefited this in random play
mode.
8/10
ALIENGATES 'Dark Days
Quantum' mCD (demo)
Hugely influenced by all things Swedish from At The Gates to
Night In Gales with In Flames and Dark Tranquillity in there
somewhere Switzerland's Aliengates have produced a six song effort
that suggests there is no reason why they can't be as big as
those bands. Strong melodies and thrash metal attacks are combined
in this cauldron of hate. With it's professional packaging and
top production I think Aliengates probably think they're as big.
Good for them, but a few good festival spots should definitely
kick 'em into gear. Those lovers at Nuclear Blast listening to
this? www.aliengates.com.
7/10
ALL IS LOST 'All Is Lost'
(1st demo five songs - tape= £1.50 / $3)
AIL features Heath Crosby after his departure from Stampin Ground.
Though still playing metalcore, AIL is more back to basics (old
school?) and can therefore be bracketed with any number of Vegan
straightedge bands from New York to Belgium. Being a rehearsal
tape (recorded on 4 track in the bedroom) what you hear only
scratches the surface but there is a massive sound lurking within
just waiting to burst out alongside some nifty melodic touches.
We await in anticipation fot their forthcoming album on Household
Name.
Heath, 12 Glen View, Wigmore, HR6 9UU, UK
5/10
ALTAR 'In The Name Of
The Father' CD (Pavement)
Dutch death metallers Altar are one of the biggest bands in Europe
after a successful album 'Youth Against Christ' that even made
it into the indie charts. So they must have something going for
'em. They're not that extreme if we compare 'em to a band like
Immolation but I think the appeal lies in the clear, no nonsense
approach that's closer to thrash. In fact, Altar remind me a
lot of all those Paul Speckmann bands like Master, Deathstrike
or Abomination, especially in the vocal delivery and over complex
rhythms. I've liked Paul's work so I like this too even if it
is a little to rigid and formulaic. Distinctive.
6/10
AMBER ASYLUM 'Songs Of
Sex And Death' CD (Release Entertainment)
By 'eck, she's done it again. the demure Kris Force once more
seduces us with beautiful acoustic arrangements and soft silky
vocals, helped out mostly by Jackie Gratz on Cello, and a selection
of guests. SOSAD is possibly more experimental than the previous
affair with more emphasis on creating a soundscape, but without
sacrificing any of the erotic melancholy. To catergorise music
like this is nigh on impossible, ethereal acoustic ambient classical
is what obviously springs to mind, but AA are so much more than
these limited boundaries.
[Simon Fairfax] 9/10
'
American History X'
(film) Dir. Tony Kaye (USA 1999)
In what has to be one of the most gruesome displays of brutality
I have ever come across, a black man is caught redhanded stealing
a car in Venice Beach, California. The owner of the car is a
skinhead complete with a tattooed swastika emblazoned over his
naked chest. He just happens to be carrying a Colt 45 and with
it he orders the black guy to open his mouth and place it on
the edge of the curb. The next thing you hear is a crack, a thud
and the sound of broken teeth going agonisingly down someone's
throat.
Now I'm the type of guy who's hardly ever phased by anything
he sees on TV but after watching this scene I was left with a
phantom psychosomatic pain in my gums and in the back of my mouth
for the remainder of the movie. What's even more surprising is
that towards the end of the film I actually started rooting for
Daniel, the white guy. 'American History X' is the flipside of
other movies portraying racism. Unlike 'Mississippi Burning'
and 'Rosewood' it tells its story from a racist's point of view.
We see how the main character is driven to racism after his father
is killed by a bunch of black youths, how he becomes misguided
and drawn into a circle of violence which sees him land up in
the State Penitentiary. While doing his three year stretch he
becomes aware of the propaganda used in pro-white activist groups
and how much of a fool he was for being suckered into all the
madness. However, when Daniel comes out he finds that the past
has a very significant impact on the future. Among his problems
are a younger brother who idolises the man before he went to
jail and gangs both white and black out to settle scores.
In many ways the film seems influenced by the 1993 Hughes Brothers
film, 'Menace To Society' with flashbacks and a narrative. The
film preaches a good message without being too cheesy. You never
escape the feeling of impending doom and I found it hard waiting
to see how the story turned out. A well made film that requires
repeated viewing.
[Simon Adams]
AMOEBA 'Watchful'reissue
CD (Release Entertainment)
Amoeba's Robert Rich is called an ambient pioneer. The guy not
only creates the music but creates the instruments, develops
the technology and sets the industry standards too. Whenever
he releases an electronic record I guess we all sit up an listen.
'Watchful' is a gentle multilayered work that is never overstated
and incredibly in control. The subtle moodswings are luscious
yet expansive while the crystal clear production engulfs any
room with kaleidoscopic intensity. Listen to it with Amber Asylum.
8/10
AMOEBA 'Pivot' CD (Release
Entertainment)
Despite the name Robert Rich has made for himself as an ambient
pioneer, his collaboration with Rick Davies as Amoeba paradoxically
reveals an unexpectedly stronger songwriting side. You can sit
through the whole CD waiting for the Robert Rich drone washes
but it ain't going to happen. Instead, just enjoy the eleven
tracks of beautiful, affecting and delicate songs of lounge core
that conjures up associations with cafe jazz, fusion, funk, palm
court music, and new age ambience- but without actually being
any of that. I suppose 'Pivot' is the right title for this album
because the transient essence of the aural language used is the
focus around which everthing revolves. Most remarkable is the
sense of control throughout, with Amoeba resisting the temptation
to suddenly fly into harsher journeys for their own sake a la
Godspeed You Black Emperor, but I expect that was never the concept
anyway. It's this thoughtfulness that lifts the album, since
this is the kind of music most people would regard as dull, sterile,
soulless, or bland. I definitely keep finding myself going back
to this and the more ambient biased 'Watchful' when I need to
come back down after suffering grindcore and death metal.
7/10
AMORPHIS 'Am Universam'
CD ( Relapse/Spinefarm)
It's strange how Amorphis are still perceived by many as a death
metal band, when the truth is they're barely a metal band, period,
these days. This is not a criticism, merely an observation- I'm
actually quite impressed with this new sound they've been honing
over the past three albums. If I had to label these Finns (which
they would rather I not do!) I'd say that they were equal parts
70s-inspired rock and roll and atmospheric, moody metal with
a healthy portion of prog (mainly in the keys) cementing it all
together. New bassist Nicklas has replaced Olli-Pekka Laine admirably,
and his 4-string contributions blend in seemlessly. Amorphis'
music is very often bittersweet or melodramatic, but never downright
depressive, so the doom tag doesn't fit here. Anyway, the tunes-
standouts are opener "Alone", "Forever More",
and "Crimson Wave"-are too streamlined and groovy to
ever bring to mind doom metal. The death metal vocals are all
but gone, singer Pasi only employing a grunt here or there to
accentuate his vocal lines; fortunately, his 'clean' voice is
neither too clean nor too gravelly to grate on one's nerves.
In fact, it's his charismatic performance that has led the Amorphis
Mk. 2 bravely onward into new territory-the band felt that previous
singer (and current guitarist) Tomi's death-grunts could only
take them so far, so credit is due to the band for experimenting-and
having it work. Finally, the production is excellent here, thanks
to Simon Efemey- this was a concern with the past two albums,
as the production was too dense for the often subtle material.
It's safe to say that finally, Amorphis have found their signature
sound, and it's a good one.
[Seth Patterson]
8/10
AMPS FOR CHRIST 'Electrosphere'
Dbl CD (Shrimper) $20
Since 'Thorny Path' and a 7", there's also been two other
albums by Enid Snarb Barnes- 'Beggars Garden' and 'Circuits'.
All these have been released around the same time, so I guess
this review should sum up his collective work. For those still
in the dark, AFC is the name given to the home made and customised
noise generators, amplifiers and oscillators originally created
for Man Is The Bastard (Noise). In other words the instruments
are truly unique and you probably won't hear these sounds anywhere
else. But AFC is more than that. It is also a statement of intent.
Christian in outlook and deeply tied to the values of Nature
and folklore, Enid rallies the masses against the Corporate takeover
of our lives by evoking a tradition rooted in the DIY. Folk music
is about yourself and your community and how you feel. The very
nature of creating your own instruments is itself a reaction
against Corporate dictation of how something should be (suck
on this Bill Gates), while the uniqueness of noise transcends
the material world to some higher plain of perfection and love.
Makes ya think, dummy?
9/10
AMSVARTNER 'Dreams' CD
(Blackend)
Now this is a surprise.Going off at a tangent from their metal
by numbers debut 'The Trollish Mirror', Umea's Amsvartner have
come up with one of the most original metal albums in years,
mixing equal parts classic Maiden, modern day Entombed, with
hardcore sounds a la Biohazard and even Shai' Hulud. Such influences
are mixed by the band to form their own unique sound, with each
song creating its own different blueprint. It's just a shame
that the band is having line up troubles at the moment, although
the creativity shown by the band's core bodes well for the future.
[Simon Fairfax] 9/10
AMULET 'The Burning Sphere'
CD (Bitzcore)
Norway's Amulet play effective, if paint by numbers youth crew
hardcore. If Sick OF It All is your bag, then Amulet is a fine
extension to that band's dynamic style. I found this CD to be
totally cool, and is easy to sit through from beginning to end,
such is the flow. Everything you wanted to hear from Youth Crew
style is here- chugging guitars, catchy melodies, and anthemic
vocals that will get you joining in. But it's too straightforward.
For a debut this is good, but I expect a lot more off the beaten
track on their next release otherwise I'm inclined to think they're
only in it for the sheer enjoyment of it. And we can't have that,
can we.
6/10
ANAAL-NATHRAKH 'Anaal-nathrakh'
(1st demo four songs - tape= £2.00 / $5)
Painfully raw hyper black metal by this trio bodes well for those
of you whose past-time pleasures include anal torture. Three
originals and a cover of Mayhem's 'Carnage' is done with uncompromising
violence (Niden Div.187 anyone?) with some interesting electronic
touches here and there but one wonders if this is as far as the
band wishes to go. There's space for improvement and I have just
been listening to Limbonic Art so I'm obviously going to demand
a lot more effort.
15 Standlake Ave., Birmingham, B36 8JR, UK.
6/10
ANAL CUNT/INSULT split
CD (Wicked Sick) $10
This grindcore extravaganza pairs up Seth Putnam's two bands.
I guess you're all familiar (or have avidly tried to avoid) Anal
Cunt and they do as the Nation expects, but Insult is less well
known, though a more satisfying listen. They play old school
ultra fast thrashing hardcore. Lots of stop start time changes,
screamalong chorus' and tight as yer ass riffs. Totally brutal
and well recorded considering both bands are recorded live for
radio shows. But I understand Insult have blotted their copybook
by way of moronic, offensive lyrics. Er... that's why they're
called Insult. An absolutely essential buy.
8/10
ANASARCA 'Godmachine'
CD (Repulse)
Anasarca, who hail from Germany, play highly disciplined death
metal incorporating all the elements that make it so technically
satisfying: melody, plenty of blast beats and triggered drumming,
a versatile approach to rhythm and of course vocals straight
from the school of Gorguts. All ten tracks have a lot going for
them if you like this kind of death metal, but I think it's a
bit too controlled, and that live edge isn't so prominent. Just
compare it to the hellfire abandon of countrymen Desaster. But
Anasarca are out to impress, so as a debut this is a worthy addition
to the death metal scene.
5/10
ANCIENT CHINESE SECRET
'Caveat Emptor' CD (Slap A Ham) $13
This is the project Chris Dodge pencilled in as Doctor Bombay,
but had to change the name because there's already a band called
Dr. Bombay! The new name may recall the oriental fascination
of Chris' other band Spazz, but only on the surface. With his
missus Lydia Dodge providing effective, if deadpan, vocals this
is fourteen tracks of generally undefinable avant gardecore.
Kooky is the word I think. Anyway, the songs are fine reflections
on a life that just isn't fulfilling ambitions, while the music
has weird things happening along the way ??
6/10
ANGEL CORPSE 'The Inexorable'
CD (Osmose)
"The Inexorable means unstoppable, unrelenting, merciless,
a fitting title for the third Angel Corpse if I may say so!"
said vocalist Pete Helmkamp in an interview. I couldn't have
putting it more succinctly myself. Needn't bother carrying on
with this review. But then you may not realise that this album
also has as much intelligence as it packs a punch. Whether or
not you agree with the band's view on 'heretic supremacy' which
follows a survival of the fittest line beyond material values.
The lyrics are uncompromising and vicious, but laden with thoughtful
metaphor. It's a viciousness wholly deserving of the ultra fast,
ultra brutal death grind treatment. They have been compared to
Morbid Angel at their best and it's a fair comparison, since
no member of the band hides behind the others. Pete, Gene and
Tony play to their maximum abilities so the drums roll like a
Panzer Division on a good day, the riffs slice with razor sharp
efficiency, the sore throat vocals never give an inch, and the
speed? I've seen these guys live and to experience the speed
and the brutality is unforgettable. Let 'The Inexorable' be your
first fave record of the New Millennium.
9/10
ANGEL CREW 'Another Day
Living In Hatred' CD (Goodlife)
The singleminded hatred of Angel Crew is as equally matched in
their music as it is in the album title. I don't know what kind
of lifestyle these guys follow, but every corner seems to throw
up something that's going to be the focus of their frustration.
Angel Crew are the epitome of the young man who roams the streets
filled to the brim with personal crisis and burning with pent
up emotions. This is so clearly a man thing, and I guess it's
good that there is a band out there that confronts the demons
that we all hide within ourselves. Whether they provide solutions
or a way out is another matter but I guess, Angel Crew wouldn't
be Angel Crew if they weren't at war with something. Musically,
they are brilliantly hypercharged and their brand of crossover
metalcore is genuinely affecting. Madball and Sick Of It All
are the better known names that come to mind but this is also
the sound adopted by so many hardcore bands in the Benelux countries.
It's a sound whose brutalism is as much to do with the great
old school bands as it it death metal. I have to point out the
lead vocals of Pat who carries this effort up to higher levels
with an approach totally in tune with the driving rhythms and
blistering drum destruction. An album worth listening to a lot.
8/10
ANIMOSITY 'We Fear Animosity'
(1st demo three songs - tape = £2.00/ $5)
Mixing the melodic leanings of power metal with the bludgeoning
bass heaviness of sludge is a formula that seems to have come
up trumps with this demo. The three songs finds our Midlands
quartet working hard to overcome any semblance of mediocrity
and are self consciously different. Okay, the tunes are all over
the place and maybe they need to be more focused either towards
the guitar solo ridden melodies or the desire to be a forceful
grind band. Very good sound quality.
9 Meg Lane, Burntwood, WS7 8PJ, UK
7/10
ANTENNA FARM 'Early Mess'
CD (Phthalo)
'Mess' would be a fit description but in a positive way, as this
compilation is almost a catalogue of electronica's tricks of
the trade. Antenna Farm's three years of existence has been spent
creating noises sourced from computers to analogue recordings.
Careful listening will reveal a gradual shifting of intentions
as sounds become more organic and ambient reflecting an interest
in the urban milieu. The original recordings are beautifully
remixed with a new intent but most importantly 'Early Mess' is
about learning processes both for its creators and listeners.
I'm excitedly waiting in anticipation for new material.
8/10
ANTENNA FARM /MAIN 'AF_M'
collaboarative CD (Staalplaat)
Process is the key here. This live collaborative work recorded
in July 2000 at Extrapool is a pure study in tension and free
flows between the digital noise of Antenna Farm and the minimalist
drones of Main. I say process is the key here because as the
first track rolls in like a December fog, it's immediately noticeable
that there is a level of compromise to accomadate the differing
approaches of each artiste. Anyone who takes on Main must expect
to pull their punches in order to make sense of the logic behind
low volume drone. The Antenna Farm of the 'Early Mess' CD is
given new opportunities to not only deal with Main but possibly
even to rethink the nature of their own sounds. Is volume and
aural madness done for its own sake or is there a deeper essence
to their ideas that binds every concievable sound they generate?
For Main, it is a different matter. Anyone who has experienced
'Hz' or 'Firmament' will realise that Main is not Main unless
they are doing low volume minimalist drone. Therefore, expect
to hear less compromise on Robert Hampson's part though it is
intriguing that something that is supposedly so minimalist would
have such a hold on external input. Eventually, by the time the
CD's five untitled tracks have faded away there is that December
fog still swirling in the mind. This CD is almost a cold, impersonal
exploration of sounds that wash over you but the element of restraint
is all too obvious. It is difficult to get deep into any emotional
element of 'AF_M' and maybe that is why the listener may go back
to it again and again. The absence of emotion but the brilliance
of the construction confirms my view that this CD really is about
process, about making different elements fit together like the
parts of an engine, so the thing as a whole will work. A fascinating
example in collaboration that serves as a blueprint to an almost
divine artform.
8/10
ANTHEM EIGHTY EIGHT 'Define
A Lifetime' mCD (No Idea) $10
Anthem Eighty Eight is essentially Assuck plus one more. They
play heavy duty fastcore with an old school So Cal edge a la
Infest, but with more melody and slightly longer songs. Across
twenty one minutes, twelve brutalising songs take you back to
the days when hardcore was pure, anthemic and 100% shouted. Think
Gorilla Biscuits or Warzone too, but with drums designed to lay
waste whole Nations. Which isn't surprising since this was recorded
at Morrisound by A88's own Steve Heritage. Big records labels,
listen up!
7/10
ANTIGONE 'A Desolate Musing'
(1st demo four songs-tape= £2.50 /$5)
Despite being a four track recording London's Antigone have done
enough to suggest a lot of power and imagination lying within
their coarse black metal. They have a quite controlled formula:
harsh passages> melodic passages> harsh passages, and yet
manage to make the whole demo intriguing. I think non keyboard
atmospherics will play a large part in the band's make up in
the future but without compromising on the ferocious attack strategies
that makes for true dark metal. This band seem to be trying hard
not to fall into the mundane or derivative and therefore should
be able to focus easily on their overall intentions for the better.
A great debut.
antigone@demonic.co.uk
7/10
ARKANGEL 'Dead Man Walking'
CD (Goodlife)
Vegans, Arkangel have produced what someone wrote "possibly
the best metalcore album to come out of Belgium". I'm no
authority on the Belgian scene but it's safe to say that 'Dead
Man Walking' would figure pretty high if I was. Okay, you may
have read about the comparisons with Slayer, especially in the
riffs, but these guys go beyond all that with a finely tuned
collection of songs that balance melodies with extreme brutality,
so the whole work is a consistent blast of youthful anger directed
at humankind. Listen to this and it's no surprise to learn that
they inspire some violent mosh pits.
7/10
ARSONISTS 'As The World
Burns' LP (Matador)
Fondle Em's first assault on the world of hip hop came from this
Rock Steady affiliated collective, via the bounce of 'Session'.
Delivering their debut full length on a bigger label, the Arsonists
gather previous 12" tracks with more up to date material.
This is a varied album, largely held together by Q-Unique and
D-Stroy in terms of production and lyrics. From the furious battle
rhymes and orchestration of 'Worlds Collide' to the inspired
'Rhyme Time Travel', these pyros leave the competition charred.
[Joe Maximus] 8/10
ARTIFICE 'Half Life' (1st
demo six songs- tape= £3.00 / $6)
The presentation may be very professional but it's one of those
bands that remain annoyingly anonymous- no lyrics or band info.
But it is produced by rising wunderkind Dave Chang and it shows.
The excellent sound captures the power and feeling of this band
that play a pure heavy metal that's totally up to date. The chugging
riffs give it that death thrash edge that I love but it's the
alternating melodic/ gruff vocals that lifts this to another
level. A menacing demo by a menacing band.
PO Box 607A , Surbiton, KT5 8FS, UK
7/10
ASIAN DUB FOUNDATION 'Community
Music' CD (London)
With the exception of the spoken word by Ambalavaner Sivanandan
(the kind of banal, made for students, political rhetoric I hate)
'Community Music' is a very effective blend of heartfelt lyricism
and tuff dance. One can accuse the band of patronizing Asian
culture (because they're Asian they've got to give their music
an Eastern feel from bhangra touches to the obligatory Nusrat
Fateh Ali Kahn sample) but at the same time people need to be
aware that there is a multicultural musical environment out there.
In fact Asians need to be made aware that their popular music
goes beyond idiotic Bollywood songs and regurgitated bhangra.
At the end of the day it all comes down to the big beat and ADF
are masters of giving their songs that full on blast. Every song
is memorable and constructed with the live crowd in mind. But
take in the lyrics because they do have a lot to say whether
you're black, white, green or red. We're all in the same boat
fighting the same enemy in our own ways. If there is one band
that is convincingly angry and genuine while being essentially
pop, it has to be Asian Dub Foundation.
8/10
ASPECTS 'Correct English'
LP (Hombre)
"Every time you pick up the mic, you are broadcasting and
subjecting the world to your speech". The opening sampled
words on this long awaited piece of vinyl could be the ethos
for this talented mob of Bristolians. Every word seems to be
carefully chosen to nestle in snugly between the spectacular
beats of Specify. Alongside the Numskullz, Aspects have had a
long line of releases on the Hombre label, establishing themselves
as one of the best hip-hop crews around at the moment on all
fronts. The stylistically individual emcees El-Eye, Bubberloui
and my long time favourite, Probe Mantis still indulge in the
polysyllabic flows that peppered the debut '2012' EP, but they,ve
expanded their repertoire as not to exclude the casual listener.
The best examples of their more restrained flows can be
found on the current single, 'Best Music' and the sombre album
closer, 'Lost Soul'. Specify's beats have always been 'top choice',
but their intricacy has developed beyond expectations, with his
sample selections finely chopped over exquisite MPC drum programming.
The remake of Kronos Device (originally found on the first Wordlab
compilation), finds the live sounding drum pattern constantly
evolving to fit the emcees words and flows. There's so much on
offer within the realm of this album. After the beats and the
density of the flows dazzle you, you'll be touched by the deep
level of humour that runs throughout (represented in both lyric
content and delivery): the po-faced attitude usually connected
with UK hip-hop evaporates here. Can you tell me of a hip-hop
act that has recorded a song, based entirely on bird puns or
a song detailing the emcees love for '80's movies? Purchase this
album (don't steal it- support the home-grown), and discover
the sight of hip-hop's new horizon.
[Joe Maximus]
10/10
ASSAULT 'Assault' mCD
(HG Fact)
Maddening metallic crust from Japan in the vein of Driller Killer.
Which means fast and ferocious hardcore that never lets up, even
when they do manage to force a melody within the chaos. Assault
is probably the perfect name for the band. But can they keep
your attention over a full length? If they strengthen their melodic
side and actually make songs from all this chaos, then we could
have a real important band on our hands. But then again, maybe
they just want to be a heavy, fast crust band full stop with
no time for bullshit melodies. Either way, they're bound to please
most extreme music fans. Excellent.
8/10
ASSCHAPEL 'Rotting The
Body' 7"ep (Hungry Ghost)
They may hail from Nashville but they're definitely not out of
the Grand Ol' Opry. In fact, you couldn't be further from country
music when dealing with Asschapel. This ep features four songs
of varied grind that tries a bit of everything- sometimes they're
like Crossed Out, sometimes like the crusty Devoid Of Faith,
sometimes they're punkish like Phobia, but I bet all they really
want to be is like Asschapel. A great, invigorating record and
it's a shame that it's over so quick. An album's worth of Asschapel
would definitely have me on my knees in worship- just point me
in the direction of Nashville.
7/10
ASSERT 'Left Opposition'
CD (Household Name) £8
Do bands nowadays still sing about revolution and socialism as
if it never went away? Assert do. The sleeve even has a photo
of Trotsky. But a lot of kids are kinda dumb when it comes to
politics, and if Assert can at least make a few of 'em aware
of the evils of capitalist exploitation and fascism then they've
done something. The fact that Assert play good, fast, punky hardcore
with strong singalong chorus' only helps to draw those kids in.
Unfortunately, the production sounds a bit weak lacking the overwhelming
massiveness that's so essential for that extra kick to the teeth.
Worthwhile.
6/10
ASSHOLEPARADE 'Student
Ghetto Violence' comp CD (No Idea) $10
Assholeparade (one word) rekindle interest with this devastating
comp of all their released material. They're pretty much part
of the South East 'emo violence' scene (emo violence is used
tongue in cheek) alongside Palatka, End Of The Century Party
and In/Humanity. Screaming grind and raging melodies to you and
me. All together 44 songs are run through with typical energy
with snatches of death metal for that extra skull crushing power,
which improves with each record so after an hour someone should
be scraping you off the walls.
7/10
ASTARTE 'Doomed Dark Years'
CD (Black Lotus)
Female black metal bands, it must be said are about as rare as
dodo shit, so it's nice to come across one occasionally. Greek
trio Astarte may look like Charlies Angels in corpsepaint but
their primitive keyboard driven black metal is less than pretty
and Kinthia's vocals are anything but feminine. However, for
all the blast beats and in parts beautiful keyboard work, the
whole thing is let down by a poor production, uncharacteristic
of a certain M.W. Daoluth. There is still much to be appreciated
and will hopefully inspire more women to get involved in a male
dominated scene.
[Simon Fairfax] 6/10
ATOMIC BITCHWAX 'Atomic
Bitchwax' CD (Tee Pee/ MIA) $15
On 'Crazed Fandango' AB make their influences a bit too obvious
by mimicking Carlos Santana circa 1970. Clearly, these guys from
New Jersey have perfected the sounds of that era incorporating
psychedelia, monster riffing and a fluid guitar frenzy that had
them freaking out at the festivals. Fortunately, the rest of
this CD isn't as derivative, and manages to kick into gear at
the off and never lets up till the end. Featuring Monster Magnet's
Ed Mundell and members of Daisycutter, you know this is some
heavyweight shit for the mind. Cool.
7/10
AURORA BOREALIS 'Northern
Lights' re-issue CD (Die Hard)
These Maryland black metallers get a deserving re-issue of their
self released effort for us Europeans prior to a proper full
length album. Plus there's five bonus tracks from their 'Praise
The Archaic Lights Embrace' release just to prove that these
guys are consistently good. 'Northern Lights' is both pure black
metal and technically proficient, thus allowing their sound to
develop a distinctive style that is massive, fast and moody.
Speed is a primary element of AB's sound and seems to fuel much
of the intensity but there is an undercurrent of innovation that
is striving to break the mould. Whether you feel they are different
depends on whether you care. I do, so I expect 'Northern Lights'
to be the cornerstone of something a lot more substantial. Drummer
Derik Roddy has been playing in Malevolent Creation, Nile and
Hate Eternal, while Ron Vento was in the very promising Lestragus
Nosferatus so they have experience and ideas on their side. The
duo have a fine sense of balance, with Derik's rhythms essentially
the back bone to Ron's technical structuring and classic black
metal vocals. His occasional guitar solos, for once aren't there
for filler, but act as counterpoint to the rolling riffs we really
want to hear. I'm a great admirer of US black metal because of
it's adherence to a pure sound and 'Northern Lights' is a good
example of where that scene is at the present.
6/10
AUTECHRE 'Confield' CD
(Warp)
Scintillating beats, glistening pulses, delicate mixing, and
very quirky rhythms makes Autechre's post techno a refreshing
break from the harder edge electronica that I'm used to. The
structuring reveals a mathematical precision matched only by
Pan Sonic, but Autechre's minimalist safe approach has a tendency
to wash over you after repeated listens. It's much better to
hear this album in random play mode, then each piece takes on
a new quality and life. At its most basic, though, 'Confield'
is remarkably addictive, and the first choice for quality background,
chill out music.
6/10
AVSKUM 'Crime And Punishment'
CD (Distortion) $15
Avskum keep the flame burning for Distortion's esteemed brand
of hardcore crust punk. Wolfpack may be up there with the best
of them, but Avskum have got these fourteen songs to prove a
thing or two. Blazing guitars, screaming solos, the constant
barrage of drums and never to be repeated pained vocals all go
together in the way we all love. If you thought Swedish crust
was linear and one dimensional, then this will put you straight.
I see in the photo that one of the guys is wearing a Dwarves
T-shirt. That's always a good sign. So is any song about Star
Wars' Deathstar.
6/10
BARDO POND 'Set And Setting'
CD (Matador)
Bardo Pond's sixth
album is a tantalizing combination of space and stoner rock which
I'm tempted to pigeonhole as desert rock- but I don't know if
BP has ever seen a desert. Let's settle for the desert of the
mind (eh?)- expansive, desolate, and infused with an eerie beauty.
The seven long numbers typically ramble on with drones, swirling
guitars, a heavy bass/ drum backbone, and Isobel's outrageous
lazy ass vocals. Like true stoner rock, the band are fully immersed
in it all so this just goes on and on without direction or purpose,
until you give up caring about what it's all leading to. Weird.
7/10
BASTARD NOISE 'Throne
Is Melting' comp CD (Helicopter)
After many line ups/ collaborations, the duo of Eric Wood and
John Wiese is the one that is the most purposeful and concrete,
and this CD collects their first pieces together. Though it is
not clear on the sleeve notes, half of this CD is previously
unreleased stuff and half is reissue. The opening four pieces,
from 1999, feature the vocals of MacDonald of Amps For Christ;
track five is a collaboration with Kenny Sanderson of Facial
Hair ; track six is with Erik Hoffman of Groundfault; track seven
is the 'Red Hurricane' CD-R that was produced for the Japanese
tour, and finally track eight is 'Cosmic Eulogy' from the Japan
tour 12". Needless to say, this CD is a very heavyweight
and demanding release, that not only displays the armament of
our two boys but also shows how each collaboration can manipulate
the resulting noises. Noise is the all. There in nothing on here
remotely resembling a repetitive beat, so space is usually occupied
and stretched by drone flows over which is layered the distinctive
noise barrages. Most surprisingly is the cohesiveness of the
whole CD. Inexperienced artistes tend to throw in disparate elements
like a painting with conflicting tones, only to leave a resulting
mess. BN manage to tie things together by using distinctive sounds.
Again, just like a painting is held together by an over all colour
tone.
While tracks one to seven are very worthy efforts, they do not
compare with the mighty expanses of 'Red Hurricane' and 'Cosmic
Eulogy'. Maybe it is appropriate that Bastard Noise should apply
such broad, sweeping drones to pieces associated with outer space,
but this is them at their most impressionistic. 'Red Hurricane'
(about Jupiter's Red Spot) takes you into the eye of the storm,
and believe me it is not a safe place! To understand how these
two pieces were created would defy belief, though I'm assured
those who know their power electronics could point the way. But
it's not all to do with hardware trickery. There has to be an
emotional element so to enjoy/suffer/whatever this CD one needs
to be mentally prepared for a long journey.
9/10
BASTARD NOISE 'The Analysis
Of Self Destruction' CD (Alien 8) $16
Man Is The Bastard
went as far as it could go within the realm of traditional music
but its life force Eric Wood was always the one striving for
a purity that abandoned any semblance of human interference.
Thus, the band's final transformation into Bastard Noise is about
noise that denies it's human creators and looks to be judged
for it's own essence. The six pieces across 70 minutes is a wondrous
barrage of noise and power electronics created by mystrious instruments
that evoke sensations of an ether in turmoil- at a point of birth
or death? Given Wood's love of Nature this CD is a pseudo orchestral
work dedicated to the power of life's creative life forces and
I would recommend listening to this alongside anything by Tribes
Of Neurot. But this isn't hippie music! As well as being gentle
and reflective Bastard Noise are also responsible for some of
the most fierce sounds ever put down onto disc. Each song has
Wood collaborating with a member of past Bastard Noise (Barnes,
Connell and Baker) enabling differing sensations. Only 'Brotherhood'
is a solo work, though credit has to be given to the hardware.
9/10
BASTARD NOISE / BIZARRE
UPROAR split CD (self released by Bastard Noise) $12
Finland's Bizarre Uproar
are a noise unit much admired by BN's Eric Wood, so he teams
up with them on this fine if understated work. BU's two pieces
are minimalist with a trademark 'breathing noise' whose effect
is made the stronger when contrasted by BN's trademark tearing
harshness. Their three tracks are less expansive and forceful
than on 'Analysis Of Self Destruction' so it'll take a couple
of listens to really get into it, especially as the sense of
invention or innovation is less apparent. Maybe further remixing
might add meat to the bones.
6/10
BASTARD NOISE 'The R.A.
Sessions' 7"ep (Riotous Assembly) $5
The now legendary rant-core
aspect of BN comes to the fore in this four piece barrage. 'The
Approval Of Constant Rape' once again sees Lost And Found Records
get their skulls crushed by the sweet sounds of disgruntled drones
and filters. Revenge can be so satisfying. 'Pink Flag Truth'
follows suit then the mood changes with the haunting 'When Nature
Rebounds' and the minimalism of 'Space Burial (Preserved For
Eternity)'. This is one of the more successful BN releases simply
because it is so diverse in textures and feelings. Noble.
8/10
BEATEN BACK TO PURE 'Southern
Apocalypse' CD (Retribute)
Retribute is one of those small UK labels whose releases you'd
want to keep on buying (assuming you don't keep getting review
copies). Every release on the label has showcased talent that
excites. Okay, the final results may not be perfect, but they
are consistently good, while keeping the flag flying for extreme
rock that thrives on bludgeoning riffs and sand paper lined vocal
chords. This is the label to check out for the state of the underground
scene. In the hate filled boogie rock scene, they've given us
Beaten Back To Pure.
BBTP's debut meets all those credentials of riffs and throats
perfectly. This time though, the sound leans towards the stoner
crust of underground bands like Molehill. Dark, doomy but definitely
southern fried with a boogie mix. Their higher most peers may
be Eyehategod, Grief, or Crowbar but BBTP are strictly underground
with a rawness these band sometimes lack.
With lyrics as anthems for the seediest, mangiest, most scumbag
elements inhabiting the underbelly of society, BBTP have ripped
out the heart of America's dreamers. They live in a Nation of
the beaten down. Many have proclaimed that one day the South
will rise again. Pride is on the line here, but the battles have
to be won before the war is won.
It's a determination that expresses itself clearly in the wracked
violence of BBTP but the consistently dark tones, despite the
breaks into the relatively lighter Southern rock and roll, don't
offer the optimism many will look for. But, I guess, that's the
status quo that keeps this band's firebrand burning. Can you
imagine a Nation that eventually attains peace with itself? That's
when BBTP have to call it a day.
7/10
BEHEMOTH 'Thelema 666'
CD (Avantgarde)
Behemoth are one of those bands, alongside Gehenna, Myrkskog,
and present-day Enslaved, who have virtually created another
offshoot of metal; these bands, fusion of death metal, black
metal and even a few electronic influences has resulted in some
excellent music that is now simply referred to as 'extreme metal',
for lack of a better term. Labels aside, though, Behemoth have
never sounded as ferocious as this. I can't really say that this
is better than their last release, but the death metal quotient
has been raised considerably and that suits me just fine. Their
death-drenched riffing and "octopus-on-crack" drumming
style really sets them apart from their previous days of peddling
corny pseudo-Norsk pomp. Gone, too, is the panda-paint of yore,
so this is clearly an overhaul of grand proportions we're talking
about here: Behemoth in 2001 is a streamlined, deadly beast indeed.
They'd probably be furious with me for saying so, but "Thelema"'s
relentless attack aligns them more closely with The Crown or
even Defleshed than Emperor or Mayhem. That said, some of the
faster, more trebly riffs still have an unmistakable black feel
to them. It seems that few people care about lyrics these days,
but these guys have obviously spent more time than is normal
on their words- worth a read, if the occult is your bag. Those
lucky enough to see them in Europe report that they go down a
storm live too, so aficionados of razor-sharp yet epic music
had best get into this band pronto!
[Seth Patterson]
8/10
BENUMB 'Withering Strands
Of Hope' CD (Relapse)
Oh to be Benumb. Not content with delivering the most potent
mix of grind and power violence, they're in that predicament
of having to make each song its own without losing out on the
essence of what they are- a fast, brutal hardcore band. They
could have thrown in all kinds of samples and mix and match styles
to break up the danger of monotony, but that wouldn't be Benumb.
So what do they do? Keep the album short and cram it with plenty
of songs of what we want to hear (thirty two songs in twenty
four songs). How many of us have an attention span of beyond
twenty minutes when listening to grind? But Benumb get away with
it. How? Like any artform, if it is kept pure and focused, with
clear ideas and intentions then it will stand up on its own.
This album does exactly that. Benumb's idea of grindcore is based
on the need for immediacy and clarity. I think only Nasum and
Spazz are as equally determined to hold true to those objectives.
That makes the work of the studio engineers that little bit easier,
so it's no surprise that this album is a monument of rich, full
on sounds that will fill any room at whatever volume. Well, Benumb's
producer Bart Thurber has worked with Spazz and their album 'Crush
Kill Destroy' has exactly the same sound, focused around reverberating
basses. It makes Benumb's previous album 'Soul Of The Martyr'
seem like a collection of songs rather than the truly cohesive
effort this is. Now cynics are going to wonder if they can hold
it together and keep things interesting on their next album.
If they are as focused as on here and understand what their music
is about then we will be given another great Benumb album, with
the dividing line centering on the players' technical abilities.
Yep, more please.
9/10
'BIG DADDY'
no.3 (UK fanzine)
A4 100 pages £3.50/
$6 (bigdaddy@thebigdaddy.com)
Interviews with DJ Charlie Chase, Antibalas, Kid Koala, Stones
Throw Recs, Eddie Bo, Skitz, Phi Life Cypher etc.
Big Daddy by name and nature, this is the last word in underground
DJ culture from turntablism and graffiti to funk and Northern
soul. There's absolutely shitloads to read and each section has
it's own reviews it's that big. Apparently, the publisher who
produces this sold his house just to raise money for this mag.
It's a commitment that shows though in the quality and depth
of writing.
PO Box 384, Nottingham, N97 3HN, UK
9/10
'BIG DADDY'
no.4 (UK fanzine)
A4 100 pages £3.50/ $6
Interviews with Numskullz, Dilated Peoples, People Under The
Stairs, Q-bert, Snowboy, Brainfreeze etc.
Where do I start? As with the previous review for issue no3.
this is an absolutely absorbing issue even for those with a remote
interest in the underground DJ /Urban scene. This issue there's
a special look at the Bristol scene which seems to be the UK
centre for drum and bass. They get the word from the street from
independant retailers, and practitioners like Undivided Attention.
Further on, after you've plowed through the endless text on scratch
battle tapes there's an analysis of that genre called the Heavy
funk 45. You all knew about that anyway, didn't you? The zine
finishes off with their regualr features on Cannabis. The layout
may be chaotic but refreshingly so but it's rather more interesting
than the standard punk zine format of ads, columns, interviews,
reviews, ads... yawn. I especially like all the small snippets
thrown in randomly like top ten lists, small reviews, contact
addresses, profiles. The writing is knowledgeable and there's
a biting, laddish sense of humour throughout. Once again- essential.
PO Box 384, Nottingham, N97 3HN, UK
9/10
BINARY BROTHERS 'Binary
Exponents Vol. 2' remix12" (Mapache Brand)
Retna and Hombre boss
man Jamie add to the British realm of sci-fi grounded space cadet
music. Drastically reducing the number of guests from their first
outing has proved advantageous, as it gives Retna more space
to shine. 'Outlands' presents the additional abstractions of
Probe Mantis over some fantastic fuzzed out basslines, whilst
Thaw from the Quantum Deluxe crew blesses the futuristic spy
motion of 'Break The Code'. Surgical incisions from Beanz OBE
and Jay Le Surgeon complete the package. Let's hope vol.3 is
an album.
[Joe Maximus] 10/10
BIG IN JAPAN 'Destroy
The New Rock' CD (Honest Dons)
Big In Japan features members of Zoink! and Gain. Ergo, simple
logic says that Big In Japan should be a great band. Thank god
for logic. Big In Japan's debut effort is a magnificent, addictive,
power house slab of melodic punk. But I can't really see the
Elvis Costello influences that people have been talkin' about.
However, there is a strong New Wave vibe. Maybe that's what the
band means by destroying the new rock. They just wanna go back
to the good old days when songs were songs. That's a bit dubious
to me. No matter. Just don't miss out.
8/10
BLACK ARMY JACKET/ AGATHOCLES
split 7"ep (Deaf American) $5
There's an almost determined
approach by BAJ to go out there and be different. To put it simply,
there's no one like them. It doesn't mean what they do is excellent,
but you can sense something special. Yes, you can also cite apparent
influences like a faster Corrupted, or black metal or devil core.
Their two numbers will leave you scratching your head for clues
about what they are, but that's half the fun. No one is like
Agathocles too. They've had that trademark mincecore sound since
day one and it ain't running out of steam yet. Good grind.
7/10
BLACK DAWN 'Blood For
Satan' CD (Necropolis/ Seasons Of Mist)
How black are Black Dawn? Black as you'd want your most extreme
black metal band. These Finns know exactly what the fan wants,
and backed by a bio that places them at the centre of some ideological
Cult, 'Blood For Satan' reels out ten unrelenting killer tracks.
'Pitbound (The Fourth Trial Of Acolyte)' starts off just as 'Within
Ye Woods, Before Ye Throne' ends. There's not much variation
between the two, just unrelenting black metal brutality with
good production values. The soundtrack to your self mutilation.
7/10
BLADE 'Nobody Relates/
We'll Survive' 12" (Jazz Fudge)
Following on from the
musically patchy 'Hitmen For Hire', Mark B and Blade once again
combine to top the highlights of that ep. Blade's inspirational
philosophy and industry baiting is still contained within the
tight flow, sharpened further by the Cratebuster's antics behind
the SP1200. 'Nobody Relates' will get your butt wiggling with
its tribal ferocity. The chopped mandolin samples and sharp drums
of the flip provide the space that Blade's deep tones require,
whilst making your noggin nod like a fool.
[Joe Maximus] 8/10
BLOODREDTHRONE 'Deathmix
2000' (Ist demo 4 songs - CD-R = $6)
The band's bio states "experiences from the bands Emperor,
Satyricon, Einherjer, and Carpathian Forest as well as combining
influences from Cannibal Corspe, Deicide, Gorguts, Suffocation
and Slayer." Clearly you've got that death mix of the title-
the ferocity and dark vibes of black metal and the heavy duty
riffs, blastbeats and melodies of death metal. It's a mix that
can't go wrong. In fact you'd have to be a pretty shit band to
fuck it up. Fortunately, Bloodredthrone are not. A good introduction
to where they're coming from but just an introduction. Now signed
to Hammerheart?
Tchort, Teri Vik Schei, Korvettveien 61 G, 4624 Krist iansand
S., Norway / tchort@online.no
6/10
BLOODTHIRSTY MASSACRE
'The Common Enemy' (2nd demo 15 songs - CD-R = £1.50 /
$3)
The UK's scariest band
are back with another techno grind blast straight out of hell's
rear end. Ultra heavy and dark this is Slipknot meets Pitchshifter
at a Mortician graveyard romp. Morality is up for desecration.
The intermixing of samples throughout, evokes a world more insane
than that of The Terminator. It's a sound that's appropriate
as a soundtrack to some mad hi tech, gore computer shoot 'em
up. Excellent recording quality.
41 Ainslie St., Ulverston, Cumbria, LA12 7JE
8/10
BLOWBACK 'I Like Time'
mCD (HG Fact) $10
How mad is this? As mad as they look in the photos, buddy. Take
fast punk with a rocknroll edge and vocals that are bleeding
manic for the sake of being bleeding manic and you're half way
to getting to Japan's Blowback. Hey, the sleeve drawing ain't
bad either. Blowback are one of those bands yer mates are gonna
get confused by. "What's that cunt screaming for?"
they'll thoughtfully ask. "I ain't gotta fucking clue",
you'll answer with equal thoughtfulness. I guess that's what
good time punk is about. Just live for the moment and to hell
with the rest of 'em. Hugely listenable and hugely fun if nothing
else. (They've got a badge that features fishing rods!!!???)
6/10
B MOVIE RATS 'Bad For
You' CD (Junk)
There's nothing subtle about a Junk Records release and I'm sure
they're determined to keep it that way. As long as it's hi energy,
sleazy rock and roll, it'll pass. B Movie Rats more than meet
those credentials, and in truth the naive innocence of this kind
of music puts it byond critical analysis. Either it rocks your
world or it doesn't. Does anyone care that this record lacks
consistency, is 100% tried and tested, and cliche ridden? I didn't
think so. If you like anything from Hellacopters and Hookers
to New Bomb Turks and Devil Dogs or any band they've credited
for the advancement of the R&R revolution, then this is for
you.
6/10
BONGZILLA 'Stash' CD (Relapse)
The first thing you
may notice about playing this is the strangely herbal smelling
smoke that plumes from the speakers. It is obvious that Bongzilla
eat, drink, sleep, and, most obviously, smoke marijuana. In fact,
they probably use the drumkit as a huge bong! Bongzilla remind
me a lot of the Earache doom/stoner stuff, Sleep in particular
along with a Johnny Morrow vox style. The nine lengthy tracks
herein are hemp fueled jams rather than songs. However, Bongzilla
resist the temptation to make these ridiculously long and ultimately
boring. A nice Black Sabbath cover too.
[Simon Fairfax] 7/10
BORIS 'Absolutego' reissue
CD (Southern Lord)
It's almost pointless reviewing stuff like this. Either you get
into it or not. Either you're into ultra heavy, bass driven,
destructive, low frequency drome rock or you're not. Either you
enjoy torture or you don't. If you have a multi CD player put
this on after Earth, Sunn, and Melvins' 'Lysol'. This is a new
doom that will crush your senses and have you smashing up the
hi fi, or have you reaching for those acid tabs you stashed away
four years ago. Boris turn monotony into an artform across two
tracks from '96, and '97 but reissued as low frequency versions.
Collaborations with Keji Haino and Merzbow suggests they have
even more up their sleeves. They look cute though.
8/10
BORKNAGAR 'The Archaic
Course' CD (Century Media)
'The Olden Domain'
was a revealing work, waking us all up to the potential of black
metal as a viable musical genre, when it wasn't trying to mimic
early Darkthrone. Borknagar's secret lay in their clever melodies
and trademark layering of many aural textures, while still evoking
the 80s pomp metal of Man O War. In this respect 'The Archaic
Course' is as successful work as any, but that 80s influence
is much more apparent, at the expense of further progress, though
Oysten C. Brun's precise vocals really makes this special. Beautiful.
7/10
BRAINTAX 'The Travel Show'
12"ep (Low Life)
If Joe Christie keeps
making tracks as catchy as these, then he should have Christmas
Number Ones for years to come! The two year break between singles
has done Braintax the world of good. On all the tracks on offer
here, his melodic Northern inflections are cradled by immaculately
crafted drum chops and sweet loops. The standout cut 'Rational
Geographics' sums up the concepts of the ep: learning from experience
and appreciation of the greener side of nature!
[Joe Maximus] 8/10
BREAD AND WATER/REASON
OF INSANITY split 7"ep (Burrito)
Bread And Water deliver three songs of catchy crust punk that
mixes the standard dual vocal attack of shouty hardcore and gutteral
grind. But the band just love their melodies and a rhythm guitar
that touches on riffs reminiscent of Pennywise. But the mix has
given them a sound rawer than it should have been. Reason Of
Insanity debut with five songs that have less time for melodies.
They just go full out for a hardcore delivery with a deep reverberated
sound. The distortion in the bass is especially cool. Overall,
this ep is about timeless and powerful H/C like you want it.
6/10
BROKEN HOPE 'Grotesque
Blessings' CD (Martyr Music Group)
The full on gore grind
of the 'Loathing' album established the under rated Broken Hope
as one of death metal's most exciting bands. But the flow of
that album has suddenly given way to a complex sound that steadfastly
holds against the kinda numbing old school speed and directness
headbangers love. They're going to be at a loss trying to slam
to the eight songs on this because the band have moved to an
almost avant garde structure matched by Jeremy Wagner's distinctive
yet unrelenting vocal delivery. A strangely different band.
6/10
BRUJERIA 'Mextremist!'
comp CD (Kool Arrow)
Whatever you think about Brujeria's recent direction there's
no denying that this was the band to be seen with (if that was
ever possible) at the height of their powers. And despite, or
in spite of, their 'terrorist' image they created for themselves,
they are essentially a couple of guys playing the most ferocious,
skull crushing grind crust. Thankfully, there's not much refinement
in Brujeria's music- they just sledgehammer away at those drums
and shake those guitar strings with appropriate abandon, with
the odd change in tempo. Only heaviness is their blinkered goal.
It's a shame their 'El Patron' 7" is not included because
that is one of their most evil releases, but material from the
'Demoniaco' and 'Machetazo' eps destroy like nothing before them.
Only Corrupted have managed to outcrust these guys. It must be
a Mexican thing. Just experience, if you've got the guts, the
satanic brew that is 'Molestando Ninos Muertos'. An experience
it certainly is.
However, the whole concept is let down by non existent sleeve
notes about the songs or the band and the absence of death scene
photos from Mexican newspapers that made Brujeria sleeves so
er... nice. Nevertheless, the consistency of the songs throughout
the CD makes this work on a higher level than just a compilation.
The drum and bass remixes tagged on at the end are strange to
say the least.
7/10
BRUTAL TRUTH 'Goodbye
Cruel World' Live & comp Dbl CD (Relapse)
Will Brutal Truth be
missed? I hope so. Well for the music at least. The CD notes
avoids the issues over their break up... whatever. But BT were
a great grindcore band. The first CD features a live set from
Australia 1998 just prior to their break up and well- it rages.
Everything you heard about each member's abilities is confirmed
on this disc. Fast, unrelenting and brutal. Excellent sound quality
too. Disc 2 is a mish mash of compilation stuff released around
the time of 'Kill Trend Suicide' and '...Animal Kingdom', including
a radio broadcast from Japan. The sound quality varies but it's
the energy that matters and the band are on fire. Can you handle
33 tracks of insanity? It's time you made a start. I guess Brutal
Truth's strength was always in their perception of grindcore.
They always resisted the path of change or new musical directions
while understanding that not every record should be like 'Extreme
Conditions...'. They weren't afraid of concepts. Hell, 'Need
To Control' is one of my fave top ten albums of all time. In
hindsight they're like Napalm Death. But at least those Brummies
get on well with each other.
8/10
BULBUL 'Bulbul' CD (Trost)
Recalling the heady days of Amphetamine Reptile and Touch and
Go, Bulbul's debut is a compendium of diverse songs reminding
me of bands like Helmet and Pegboy. That's no bad thing because
I've always enjoyed the way the guitar has been given space to
breathe with a three dimensional depth and power. Almost a precursor
to today's self indulgent math rock. Bulbul's weakness is that
too much space has been given and things are flying all over
the space without a sense of purpose, spoilt more so by the feedback
piece that is out of place. An album with ideas but little passion.
6/10
BURNING WITCH 'Towers'
LP (Slap A Ham) $13
I would like to think
that, in the never ending debate about what doom metal really
is, Burning Witch should close the argument. Doom is doom- depressing,
slow, fearful, dark, the soundtrack to a heartstopping trek through
the dungeons in Quake. Not, as some labels would have you believe-
bouncy, melodic and decadent a la neo- NWOBHM or stoner. The
four very bass heavy songs show Burning Witch to be true doom
in a way not even Cathedral matched on their first record, and
I don't think any other band is doing that, with the exception
of Corrupted or Esoteric. If there is I want to know about it.
7/10
BURNMAN 'Notes For A Catalogue
For An Exhibition' CD (No Idea)
Burnman has risen from the ashes of grind band I Hate Myself,
and though both entities share that 'emo' approach, especially
in the lyrics, musically Burnman are more post hardcore a la
Circus Lupus. Okay, their lyrics are unnecessarily indicipherable,
but their music is over whelming. I'm actually listening to this
at low volume (cuz everyone's asleep) but it still sounds great,
even if the drums are mixed too forward. "It's what you'd
expect from No Idea" if that means anything. This label
has done Palatka, 12 Hour Turn and Hot Water Music. Says it all.
8/10
BURNT BY THE SUN 'Burnt
By The Sun' CDep (Relapse)
Most listeners are going to predictably acknowledge Dave Witte's
blazing drums, such is the guy's reputation from bands like Discordance
Axis. And deservedly so. But BBTS is way more. Showing the same
impatience as the Wermacht's merciless assault on Stalingrad,
and with equal firepower, these bastards give us four songs of
complex, grind insanity. To quote the first line on the first
song- "This is ludicrous speed". I can't help but think
of the impact The Dillinger Escape Plan made with their Relapse
ep. Now I am really excited. Album please.
7/10
BURNT BY THE SUN 'Soundtrack
To The Personal Revolution' CD (Relapse)
Bombastic overtures aplenty on this one. Noisecore legends Burnt
By The Sun wouldn't have it any other way. They have to be big
in everything they do. After hearing their debut ep, we need
them to be bigger, louder, more brutal, more magnificent. They've
done it. Though not pace driven (the cut up rhythms are designed
to make your head spin) the power lies in the clash of the titans.
We're talking members of Discordance Axis, Human Remains, Endeavour,
Times Up ripping it up like this was the only record they would
ever be allowed to make. The sum of the parts really do make
up the whole. It's just that the whole may be a little too big
for mere mortals to handle. Punishing, and gloriously so.
8/10
CADAVER INC. 'Discipline'
CD (Earache)
Much has been made of Cadaver Inc.'s gimmicky image of corpse
removal experts (it's a long story but www.cadaverinc.com has
to be seen to be believed), and it's something I can live with,
but on a serious level, this Norwegian band, that was previously
Cadaver (also on Earache) have been reborn in this incredible
incarnation featuring members of all the top black metal bands
(too numerous to mention). 'Discipline' is simply the first real
album of post black metal. The clinical cyber attacks and noirish
atmosphere, matched by a crystalline mix makes for original,
violent unrelenting metal that should be confronted on its own
terms. The opener 'Primal' is appropriately titled, as it takes
us back to the days of raw, brutal black metal. Then 'Deliverance'
introduces a groove to prove that these guys have got a melody
or two inside them. And so it goes. 'Discipline' is an object
lesson in control. This is what sets it off from pure black metal,
which tends to blindly shoot first then ask questions later,
with not always the best results. It is also a lesson in how
to be modern without resorting to keyboard dominated atmospherics.
For Earache, Cadaver Inc. couldn't have come at a better time.
The label has been slowly losing its identity, with its eyes
on a more mainstream metal audience, but hopefully the momentum
these guys have created will put the label on that course it
had set itself on in the early nineties.
8/10
CANDIRIA '300 Percent
Density' CD (Century Media)
An appropriate title since Candiria's fourth album is three times
as dense as most other metal efforts. Is that a good thing? For
the most part yes, but be prepared to be overwhelmed. Take time
to have a break if need be, but make the effort to become fully
accustomed to a sound that builds on its own momentum with an
emotive edge that is tied to harsh street climates. Candiria's
dependence of hip hop as an integral ingredient works well and
allows the medium its own breathing space, while recognising
rap's power of word play that metal tends to forget about. Brutal
in a vital urban sort of way.
8/10
CANVAS 'Lost In Rock'
CD (Household Name) £8.00
This one is a biggy,
so where shall we start? Let's just say that Canvas don't do
things by half. They need a big sound so they piled everything
on with a production to match- metal guitars, moody violins,
rabid screamed vocals, twiddly rhythms, nonsense lyrics, Fisher
Price Activity Centers- it's all there. And it works without
sounding too contrived or forced. This is complex art rock that
lies somewhere between noisecore a la Converge or Coalesce and
those weird emocore bands on Vermiform or Kill Rock Stars. If
that sounds like a good combination then Canvas is the one fer
U.
7/10
CANYON CREEP 'Hijack The
World' CD (demo)
Canyon Creep have only a few goals in life, the most important
being to search out "fine chicks". That's the opening
statement on the CD. Osama bin Laden may have higher goals when
he hijacks the world, but Canyon Creep's political aspirations
are much more noble. Over which we're given eight songs of no
brainer bar room boogie rock a la Fu Manchu, that does what it
sets out to do. With a heavy rockin' vibe, a 70s funk groove
and disturbingly catchy melodies, these guys deserve to be rewarded
with all the chicks their little dicks can handle. Far out.
7/10
CASTIGATE 'Bring Me The
Head Of Jesus Christ' CD (Pavement/System Shock)
If the highly technical,
but severely downtuned death metal brutalism of Deeds Of Flesh
is right up your street, then this debut by Castigate should
certainly please. All eleven songs run in a similar vein, but
there is an audacity in the band's overly complex structures,
that could have slain many a band, that eventually wins through,
even though it may take a couple of listens. With the exception
of the weak drum sound, the production has brought forward the
effective blastbeats which everyone loves, while the vocals are
pure Suffocation.
6/10
CATHEDRAL 'Endtyme' CD
(Earache)
There has been much made of Cathedral returning to their roots
and giving us a bit of that ol' 'Forest Of Equilibrium' magic.
Recent albums like 'Caravan Beyond Redemption' were good but
became far removed from doom by any stretch of the imagination.
However, Cathedral's return to old is less satisfying. Instead
of exploring true doom, the dark sludge sounds are used stylistically
just as the band has done with their Sabbath and 70s influences.
It's a thin veneer to appeal to the fans who couldn't deal with
the strange brews of recent albums. Paradoxically, that still
doesn't make this a bad album. Cathedral has totally defined
their sound so there's no way thay are ever going to break away
from that no matter how much you wish them to be like the band
of old. No one sounds like them, and I quite like what they do
nowadays. 'Endtyme' is a big rock album, with big lyrics, big
effects, big pretentions. In that sense they're closer to Cradle
Of Filth than your average stoner band. But Cathedral's Gothicness
is a lot more bearable than COF's. I think Cathedral have tried
to experiment with bold ideas that haven't quite worked. The
standout track is the acid rockish 'Astral Queen' probably because
it is so simple and 'relatively' understated. Definitely not
Cathedral, but hey, we like to be surprised. I have said this
before, and I'll say it again, I still find Lee's vocals struggling
to hold a note, but to be fair the songs are demanding. What
he lacks in vocals are more than made up in lyrics as Lee edges
ever closer to creating a whole fantastical universe of amazing
proportions that would make great reading if transposed to graphic
novel. Those of us who have followed Cathedral have experienced
too much to just drop them. I can't imagine living a rock life
without this band. That's the ultimate compliment.
7/10
CAVE IN 'Jupiter' CD (Hydrahead)
In an interview Cave In's Steve Brodsky stated that one of the
reasons the band changed their sound so much from their noisecore
beginnings is that they got fed up of hearing so many bands sounding
the same. But the direction they opted for reflected their influences
from 70s prog rock to the guitar noise of Fugazi, Sonic Youth
and Radiohead. These bands can be seen as a halfway house to
the noisecore of The Dillinger Escape Plan, Converge, Isis or
Neurosis, so it's not that radical a departure. Therefore, take
'Jupiter' for what it is instead of pondering on the whys and
wheres of stylistics. 'Jupiter' is a fantastic album if you love
heavy guitar rock, complex melodies, emotional singing and spaciness,
all tied together in a highly energized structure that goes for
catchiness rather than the 'difficult listen'. So, despite the
intellectual side, Cave In don't forget that they've got to rock
to appeal to the average metal head's most basic needs. To pick
out a standout track is difficult but I'm listening to 'Big Riff'
right now and believe me, that title says it all. But my fave
is the stronger 'New Moon' which builds itself up slowly from
an acoustic intro and suddenly explodes just after a false ending.
This song has the most stellar guitar sound you're likely to
hear anywhere, before fading away to an end. That's the way Cave
In work throughout the album, instilling their songs with one
surprise after another then fattening them with as much as they
can get away with. In that respect Cave In are more closely tied
to the traditions of 70s rock than any other band. They've also
proved themselves to be unlimited in imagination so unless something
disasterous happens, there is no reason to believe that their
next record won't be any less effective. Even if they rediscover
their noisecore leanings I think they will still be as original.
Essential.
9/10
CENTINEX 'Reborn Through
Flames' CD (Repulse)
Centinex's rigid melodic
death metal, typical of their native Sweden carries on from where
their last album 'Reflections' left off. I found that album a
little too monotonous, but now I see that sticking to the tried
and tested is Centinex's preferred option. If you can accept
all eight songs being similar, with not too much melodic intent,
then what Centinex have to offer is a fine blend of death metal
with black metal influences making themselves felt in the rapid
pace and the Satanic atmosphere. Call it the The Hypocrisy Effect.
However, I still believe the best is yet to come.
6/10
CEPHALIC CARNAGE 'Exploiting
Dysfunction' CD (Relapse)
It's all too obvious that CC have gone all out to be different.
Pure grindcore just ain't good enough for 'em. They've got to
mess about with it any way possible. I mean how many meanass
grindcore bands shift tempo a hundred times in one song? No wonder
they feel closer to home playing shows with The Dillinger Escape
Plan. It's intelligent stuff at the end of the day and that is
reflected in the cool lyrics. They may sound cynical and saddened
by shit society but CC sound like a band that's probably great
fun to be with. They smoke too.
8/10
CHARGER 'Fuzzbastard'
mCD (Undergroove) £3.50
Taking Black Sabbath's heaviest riffs as an obvious starting
point, but firmly placing themselves in today's scene, Charger
come across effectively as son of Iron Monkey. I'm not suggesting
they're jumping on a band wagon but the similarity is impossible
to ignore. The three tracks therefore rage as well they they
set up a stoner groove, but the last track 'Brickshithouse' is
as heavy as one and will probably mark Charger's real contribution
to the stoner grind sound should they split up tomorrow. Of course,
this is the start and there is room for experiment if they want
to really be different.
6/10
CHILDREN OF BODOM 'Follow
the Reaper' CD (Nuclear Blast)
With this album the Finns have moved somewhat away from their
previous death metal-influenced sound and into catchier, more
anthemic territory. In fact, if not for Alexi Laiho's vitriolic
snarl Children of Bodom would have more in common with the likes
of Stratovarius than Carcass, so high is the Wank and Widdle
Factor here. With this in mind, the first time I gave the disc
a spin I was horrified; normally 80s-sounding metal doesn't do
much for me aside from conjure images of Yngwie Malmsteen strutting
about in yellow spandex while clutching a double-necked guitar.
Repeated listens, though, dispelled my initial reservations because
this album is certainly one of the catchier, hookier discs to
come my way lately. In fact, like the new Nevermore album, "Follow
the Reaper" is so infectious that it's become a permanent
resident in my player, stubbornly refusing to leave. You'll find
more cheese here than at the Parmagiano Reggiano factory in Italy,
but I suppose for fans of this band that's precisely the point.
CoB's previous albums were peppered with blast-beats, but this
one is powered by a less manic-but no less intense-uptempo speed-metal
attack. I don't see any reason why previous fans of the band
won't get into "Follow the Reaper", despite its more
polished sheen. After all, this is hardly Nasum we're talking
about: this isn't very "extreme" music! The big question,
then (and one that the execs at Nuclear Blast are surely wracking
their brains over), is: will the Teutonic hordes into Helloween,
Gamma Ray, Primal Fear, et al be able to get past the raw vocals
and so open up Children of Bodom to a much wider audience? That
remains to be seen, but what we do have here is one very entertaining
album.
[Seth Patterson]
7/10
CHURCH OF MISERY 'Master
Of Brutality' CD (Southern Lord)
Once serial killer Ed Kemper has finished explaining his favourite
hobby Church Of Misery open up proceedings with riffs stolen
from Black Sabbath before submerging themselves in their dark
acid doom. Like Sleep, Cavity, Electric Wizard and Burning Witch,
COM don't so much create the traditional song, but simply build
on each musical passage and see where it takes them. 'Master
Of Brutality' therefore flows with a frictionless ease, kinda
like watching a stream of blood slowing trickling down a freshly
punctured corpse. It's a ghastly image but there's beauty in
it. Paradoxically, the sound of COM is not violent, considering
their serial killers obsessions, it's just heavy and overwhelming.
I'm tempted to compare this to the similar obsessions of Sutcliffe
Jugend who use power electronics of maniacal proportions to express
pain and violence, but COM are not really about that. The violence
is in the lyrics and the general fascination rather than in any
mood music. In truth. COM could be singing about anything and
I would guess they would have still sounded the same. Definitely
something you couldn't say about Sutcliffe Jugend. When the band
do a song about Herbert Mullin, the tone is remarkably upbeat
with a cool rockin' vibe. Anyone would think this was a modern
day truckin' anthem. So 'Master Of Brutality' is really about
rock music and how it made a band like COM. That's why they've
thrown in a cover of Blue Oyster Cult's 'Cities In Flame' slap
bang in the middle of their concept album. It's a good cover,
and proves my point that COM are not about shock value. They're
about good, heavy rock and roll.
7/10
CINERAMA 'Disco Volante'
CD (Scopitones)
Dave Gedge said, to some extent he felt limited by his old band
Wedding Present's reluctance to embrace anything beyond guitar
driven indie rock. No strings or orchestrations. With Cinerama
David has finally gotten the band I'm assuming he's always wanted,
which means strings and orchestrations. This is not done for
it's own sake, but out of admiration for intelligent easy listening
music of the sixties, most notably John Barry's scores for the
James Bond movies. The danger is that the album could sound a
little to old or dated before its time, but I think Cinerama
has pulled it off simply because the songs are so good, without
the needing to shout out to grab attention. The last similar
'retro' album I heard as good if not better was the April March/Los
Cincos collaboration, and that record took its cues from French
60s beat music. In truth, only a fool would dismiss this on superficial
levels because that is denying the substantial contribution Dave
Gedge has made to pop rock. And to prove themselves even more,
David reknewed his production collaboration with Steve Albini,
travelling all the way to his Electrical Audio studio in Chicago
to lay down these tracks. What a combination considering the
result. What a record period.
8/10
CIRCLE OF DEAD CHILDREN
'The Genocide Machine' CD (Death Vomit)
The Genocide Machine is humanity. With our tools, everything
we touch, we destroy. Anything that can be preserved is eliminated
if we can make a quick buck out it. Circle Of Dead Children say
they simply give voice to the frustrations of the people who
care. 'The Genocide Machine' is therefore, not surprisingly,
a harsh statement of facts. Screamed and spewed vocals tell it
like it is with the kind of power and violence expected from
true grindcore. From the opener, 'Migration' with it's blueprint
death metal crust attack to the closing drones and doom of 'CTRL*ALT*DELETE',
which sums up the band's feeling in a kind of spoken epitaph,
'The Genocide Machine' is a brutal, unrelenting slab of devastation.
Stylistically, the band try to mix it up with some noisecore
technical flourishes, hardcore, electronics, but in a way that's
consistent and unforced. They do know what being a grindcore
band is all about, and like the best of Napalm Death, go for
the throatkill. A song like 'Barbarian and Henchmen' could easily
fit comfortably on any Napalm Death album, and that is meant
to be a compliment. CODC are no copyists. And what about that
song with the crazy title- 'It's A Bloody Day When You Get Your
Head Nailed To A Cross'? The spectre of Cannibal Corpse at their
most ferocious is risen here. In their own strange way, CODC
have produced an album that is at the same time a traditional
grindcore album, but have added little flourishes to make it
an exciting, vibrant work without being contrived.
8/10
CIVIL RIGHTS 7"ep
(Civil Rights)
Great fast thrashing hardcore as would be expected from Japan.
Sometimes it's not worth reviewing these 7"s because their
high quality can be taken for granted. However, I'll say that
CR mix hardcore, thrash with fiery garage punk, that could still
do with a bit of cleaning up if transposed to CD. Then you'd
be guaranteed at least half an hour's worth of some of the most
effective punk put to disc. They have a song called 'Sex Drugs
Rocknroll'. Well, if that's what fuels CR then I want a bit for
myself. (Hey, if you do miss out on CR rest assured there'll
be another great Japanese band along in five minutes.)
7/10
COALESCE '0:12 Revolution
In Just Listening' CD (Relapse)
Coalesce complete the triad of Relapse most insane nu grind bands-
the other two being Today Is The Day and Dillinger Escape Plan,
but listen carefully and you'll find they're also as close to
Nomeansno if all that manic bass fretwork is anything to go by.
Their previous material almost pales in comparison, but then
Coalesce could be accused of contriving an overly complex grind
for its own sake. Do you like overly complex grind? I do, and
I'd rather listen to Coalesce do it than any other band. Leaves
most death metal bands looking lame too.
8/10
COLOSSAMITE 'Economy Of
Motion' CD (Skin Graft)
Deconstructed, destroyed, decomposed and disintegrated. This
is the logical approach to songs, done the Colossamite way. If
you take the heavy guitar violence of Colassamite origin band
Dazzling Killmen, Chicago's Craw, and the raped jazz of Iceburn
Collective then cut and paste all their weirder moments into
batches of noise and serenity, form and chaos, then that may
in some little way explain Colossamite. Nick Sakes of the band
said, "It's more just an urge to experiment, a "let's
see if we can do it" attitude." A good way to approach
most things, I'd say. Hmmmmmmmm.
8/10
COMPANY FLOW 'Little Johnny
From The Hospital' LP (Rawkus)
I have a theory why this is an instrumental album: El-P heard
his pants verse on 'B-Boy Document' and thought, "I better
shut up for a little while". I'm glad he has for the time
being, as this is truly bugged genius music. If you're heavily
into hallucinogens of any kind, this album will provide the soundtrack
to your dusty dreams. Tracks like 'Suzy...' and 'worker Ant Uprise'
are intensely visual and dramatic: the quality dips occasionally,
but for the most part this is tops.
[Joe Maximus] 8/10
'Contaminated 3.0' Dbl
comp CD (Relapse)
Of all the comps Relapse had put out, this one is that little
bit special. Not only is it an opportunity for us to sample their
recent output, it marks ten years of the label established by
Matt Jacobson (launched with the 7" ep of 'Flesh Ripping
Sonic Polka' by Velcro Overdose). But it was in '92 when the
label started releasing albums with the focus on Incantation,
Amorphis and Deceased. These three bands have been with the label
ever since. By '94 Relapse had established itself as a quality
grindcore label, with emphasis placed on professional design
and packaging. There were other labels that covered similar territory
but Relapse put that little bit extra effort in. It's an attitude
that's paid off considering the uncommercial nature of the death
metal and grindcore roster.
Disc One is a sampler of where Relapse is now and arguably the
phase where it has really exploded as a scene mover and shaker.
Now bands like Nile, Cephalic Carnage, Dillinger Escape Plan,
Today Is The Day, Nasum, Exhumed and Mortician have captured
the metallers' imagination just when everyone thought those genres
just couldn't go any further. Tracks from 'Calculating Infinity',
'Black Seeds Of Vengeance' and 'Temple Of The Morning Star' albums
simply explain themselves. And we're not done yet if advance
tracks from Vile, Burnt By The Sun and Pig Destroyer and Today
Is the Day are anything to go by. But the real gem has to be
the unreleased track 'From Where Its Roots Run' by Neurosis.
A song of such immense proportions and power it leaves even the
best from the other bands behind. I kid you not.
It's almost an anti climax to say that Disc Two covers material
from '93 to '98 with bands that might just be faded memories.
On closer inspection we are confronted with grind legends Flesh
Parade, Disembowelment, Anal Cunt, Blood Duster, Phobia, Disrupt,
Human Remains and Brutal Truth, so the past is truly alive, but
I think it's mean spirited for them to not end the CD with a
song off the very first out of print release. That aside, there's
no reason why Relapse can't go on another ten years (alongside
their electronica label Release Entertainment). The sleeve notes
may parody a shareholders report but methinks its closer to the
truth than we're led to believe if they are serious about being
a self sustaining, investment centric venture.
Oh yeah- no fucking black metal!
9/10
CORPSE VOMIT 'Drowning
In Puke' CD (Mighty Music)
Once you've got past ogling the sleeve graphics (which delayed
this release by a couple of years) you can bury your face in
ten songs drenched in the fanny juices of a thousand raped girls.
It's sick gore metal all the way but rather than being straight
and in your face like Exhumed, CV have a more complex sound a
la Deranged and the production revels in the presence of so many
blast beats and punishing drum rolls. There is an excess of guitar
solos which ruins the flow at times but these Danes have got
a classic in their hands. Rad.
7/10
CORRUPTED/ PHOBIA split
7" picture disc ep (Deaf American/ Rhetoric) $7
Each Corrupted release is special because you know they're always
going to come up with something new. On this one, their song
'Njeve- Segundo' pits one tearing black metal guitar riff a la
Dark Funeral against a slow drum percussion and guttural vocals
that is so haunting and exudes pure evil. What other band has
the balls to do this? Phobia carry on from their Slap A Ham releases
with four more ultra brutal crust cuts with trademark 'life is
pain' lyrics. All very devastating, but most importantly it's
vital because both bands are in control of their ideas.
8/10
CORRUPTED/NOOTHGRUSH split
CD (Reservoir)
If only the production wasn't so indifferent, then we could have
borne witness to the heaviest, most grinding album released in
the past year. On the same wavelength as Grief, Iron Monkey and
Cavity, California's Noothgrush present three painfully slow
works filled with an aural hatred that matches the despairing
anti human lyrics. Better still are Corrupted from Japan who
never fail to excite me because they play pure grind. Of their
two songs, the first is a nineteen minute sludgefest that is
as down tuned as you'd want with vocals reminiscent of the influential
Brujeria. Corrupted must be supported.
7/10
CORRUPTED 'Llanandose
de Gusanos' Dbl CD (HG:Fact) $20
Corrupted's very distinct doom crust is second to none and has
always been about maximum power, minimum speed, despair and pain.
With hindsight their past has also been formulaic. It's as if
they were gearing up their sound ready to take it to a higher
level- something that little bit different, that little bit more
extreme, that little bit on the left field even by their own
standards. 'Llanandose...' is that work and will take any Corrupted
fan by surprise. The first CD is split into three parts- an extraordinarily
bleak piano piece with distant, rumbling vocals, then the full
blown Corrupted attack and then a symphonic conclusion. The build
up and sudden fade describes the hopeless journey towards death
and futility of existence. In contrast the second CD is about
space and place after complete annihilation expressed as one
70 min. ambient drone with basses ominously rumbling at lower
levels. The Corrupted input here is minimal, relying mainly on
synthesizer tones constructed by Takehito Miyagi. It's an enigmatic
piece that will leave the listener drained or spiritually cleansed.
Welcome to Zen And The Art Of Doom Metal.
9/10
CORRUPTED/SCARVER'S CALLING
split 7"ep (Gouge) $5
No matter how brilliant 'Llenandose de Gusanos' is, we sometimes
want to hear Corrupted without the experimentation. Their eps
are the place to be if you want to hear Corrupted churn out immense,
but tradionally structured songs. This one is absolutely devastating
with the band mixing two vocals styles with the trademark slow
crust doom. There's very few bands that can put so much into
a single song as on 'Existence' and yet still make it sound deceptively
simple. It just rolls along at a constant pace but gathering
a momentum. You know that this could go on for seventy minutes
plus if vinyl allowed it. The lyrics are in English so you can
share their pain through words. Hmmm. Scarver's Calling aren't
daunted by Corrupted's supremacy. Again there's a dual vocal
attack with a varied approach. Very much in the vein of Brujeria
or Autopsy. Okay, the sound quality ain't brilliant but it just
can't hide the insanity of this band especailly on the fast rolling
'Mangler'. Their side is all about killing sprees and missing
children and all the nasty stuff right thinking people dislike.
I hope Scarver's Calling are nice guys too. Or has God given
them a calling to commit further acts of musical violence?
8/10
CORRUPTED 'La Victima
Es Tu Mismo' 7" (View Beyond) $5
Corrupted don't write mere songs, they write mini symphonies.
Whether the song is fifty minutes long or three minutes short,
it's all about expansive atmospheres or compressed dynamics.
'La Victima Es Tu Mismo' is a 7"ep that is monumental despite
it's physical size. The title track is lumbering doom with a
new touch of melodic guitar riffs, but the b side track is the
band at it's best. Here, they prove to be the heaviest, grindest,
crustiest band on earth but still manage to produce something
sensitive and heartstopping.
10/10
CRAFT 'Total Soul Rape'
CD (The Black Hand) £8/$13
Given that there is some conceit in calling your album 'Total
Soul Rape' as if all expectations will be satisfied, Craft have
done a very good job of providing us with an album that can reasonably
be called pure, violent black metal. I could, with blinding obviousness,
say that Craft are throwbacks to the days of Darkthrone at their
most dangerous. Maybe that's how they see it. But I've always
regarded good black metal not on stylistic terms, but on its
level of intergrity and purity. Black metal has to be raw, unrefined,
unsophisticated, almost unplanned. It should simply be a spontaneous
expression of violence through speed, grinding rhythms and cold
textures. 'Total Soul Rape' is all that. With a blazing dual
vocal attack, harsh black and white photocopy artwork, frostbitten
production and (most pleasing for me) a strong Arckanum influence
the band have expressed intentions without the need for us to
understand what is being sung. It's almost abstraction, but that
would be a concept too intellectual for these Swedes. But paradoxically
it would just as easy to dismiss Craft as simply not being a
very good band or out of touch with what's happening now because
of that illusion of simplicity b |
