RADIOHEAD 'Kid A' CD (EMI)
If truth be told, Radiohead are too far ahead of the game to
seriously influence the UK indie scene. Listeners will commend
them and bands will mimic them with fake intellectualism, but
I don't think anyone will really understand what they're about,
including me. 'Kid A' is such a complex record it just goes way
over my head, and I'm left appreciating it on an aethetic level-
fantastic electronica applications, the cheeky nod and a wink
to trance music, the self conscious complexity, the obscure wordings.
They all add up to make an album you just can't put away. Like
the best art, it's something that needs to be returned to even
if you don't get the concepts. Then again, maybe there is no
intellectual depth and the band simply created something that
sounded good to them. Whatever its purpose, 'Kid A' is a dense,
emotional record, and an essential purchase for anyone intrigued
by music's limitless capabilities.
10/10
RADON '28' reissue CD
(No Idea) $10
"Quite possibly the best record on No Idea... ever"
it says on the No Idea flyer. That's some compliment considering
the competition but I have yet to read a bad word against these
guys. In fact No Idea has stuck with Radon since their early
fanzine days thus exemplifying everything the Florida hardcore
scene has to offer. Combining fantastic lyrical styles, an environmental
consciousness and just plain good ol' melodic hardcore with a
ruff edge, Radon transcend any scene stylistics and simple become
a band that have something to say , and say it in a very passioned
way.
8/10
RAIDEN 'The Killing Fist'
CDep (Retribute) £5 / $9
Isn't Raiden one of those ass kicking types from 'Mortal Kombat'?
A fitting choice for a name if that's the case. Okay, the production
is weak as shit, but there's enough happening across the five
tracks to make this stand out. The vocals are the best being
from the Slayer influenced Unborn school of throatkill mixed
with the low end guttural grunts. There is menace coming outta
those jaws but the rhythm section need to work a little harder
to lift their run of the mill metalcore riffage to a higher level-
it just sounds too basic, pedestrian and rigid. I guess Raiden
really come into their own when playing live.
6/10
RAISED FIST 'Ignoring
The Guidelines' CD (Burning Heart)
Raised Fist are unashamedly old school, with the sole purpose
of shouting it out in the name of pure hardcore. We're talkin'
Gorilla Biscuits, Shelter and Youth Of Today. The eleven songs
they deliver are bona fide with no lapses in concentration or
purpose. Okay, you'll have to listen hard to find the subtleties,
and there is an attempt to inject some melodic layers beneath
all the shouting and riffing, and there's even a good metal edge
just to keep 'em up with today's bands, but I like best when
they're just plain full on. Just like they used to do it in the
old days.
8/10
RANCID 'Rancid' CD (Hellcat)
'Life Won't Wait' was an awesome record, but with hindsight now
sounds a bit laboured. It was if the band tried too hard to be
as mad as possible by mixing styles, getting in all kinds of
people to help out and getting the sound absolutely perfect.
You always felt that Rancid never really needed to go to those
lengths since they are a punk band, and punk bands are supposed
to keep things as raw and basic as possible. The good news is
that 'Rancid' is all that. This time the band just let the pure
emotion and primal energy of the performance do the talking.
Okay, there's still that ska feel ('Radio Havana'), but it sounds
more genuine, while the straight ahead blasts of punk on the
openers 'Don Giovanni' and 'Disgruntled' tells us what Rancid
are really about. Then there's the singalong anthems as on 'Rwanda'
and 'Antennas' that would do Dropkick Murphys proud. And of course
there's pop punk of 'Black Derby Jacket' . This record could
have been all over the place, but the consistency is as remarkable
as it is difficult to pin down. I guess the unifying factor of
any Rancid album is the consistency of the song qualities. On
any true Rancid album you should have a problem trying to decide
which song is the best. THis is no exception- it's a task and
a half but I'm going with the third track 'It's Quite Alright'
simply because it's got such catchy hooks and distinctive vocals.
You know, you could write a good book on people's opinions on
what makes a Rancid album.
9/10
J. RAWLS- 'The Essence
of J. Rawls' LP (Groove Attack Records)
Albums centred on a producer de jour are all the rage at the
moment, especially in the UK. Moving further a field, Ohio,s
J. Rawls of the renowned Lone Catalysts crew delivers his addition
to the throng. Already well known for his predominantly jazzy
styling, within his compositions (slip on the headphones, and
check Black Star,s 'Brown Skin Lady' for evidence of his talent!),
Rawls dishes up yet more delectable treats for the ears, and
for his guest vocalists to flow over. With his talent behind
the ASR-10 and the wonderful array of guests involved, you have
to ask, 'Is this too good to be true?' The answer seems to be
'Yes!' as the needle moves through the tough double bass, and
precautionary tales of the Mass Influence guesting, 'Superhero',
through to the serenity inducing vibe of, 'Blue #2'. 'The Essence
of J. Rawls' is jazz, and it permeates every song here, melding
immaculately with the skipping drum patterns and sub bass pulses
that Rawls has concocted. Rather than becoming stale near the
end of the album, this flavour serves as a connecting thread
providing the project with a sense of cohesion. Quality control
does dip occasionally, but the vast majority of the material
will remain impressive after repeated listening. The stellar
cast of vocalists touch on a variety of topics with depth and
intelligence, varying from DoseOne,s magnificent abstractions
through to J-Live,s magnetic story-telling skills, making this
a surprisingly worthwhile purchase.
[Joe Maximus]
(8/10)
'Razor Blade Smile'
(film) Dir. Jake West (GB 1998)
The hedonistic self indulgence of Ken Russel mixed with the dynamic
energy of goth rock videos are the ingredients of this fine if
flawed Vampyre horror, that is strictly placed within the urban
psyche. Centered around Lilith Silver, played by legendary porn
queen Eileen Daly, it is the simple yet exhilarating story of
a young woman who has been a vampyre since Victorian times, but
needs to earn a living in modern day London. This she does so,
by becoming an assassin working for her lover a rather shady
villain. Her objective is to regain occultish rings from her
victims, who belong to an ancient sect called the Illuminati.
And so on. For what begins as a reasonably valid plot for any
good horror movie, soon gives way to anarchic capers in the best
tradition of British camp cinema. Eileen Daly, who for the most
part is kitted out in a rubber catsuit prowls around dark corners
loving her role like some perverse Emma Peel, while the old cliche
of lesbianism is played with relish. Those cliches from the Hammer
horrors are reworked with a nod and a wink, but essentially,
'Razor Blade Smile' degenerates into one woman's fantasies when
the use of cut and paste editing blurs the boundary between reality
and dream. This film is therefore a vehicle for Ms. Daly to romp
about with erotic abandon for the gratification of the audience.
It's not a cop out however, since Jake West recognises the new
interpretations of vampyrism from black metal/goth rock to a
nightclub culture where people play out their morbid fantasies
either through fashion, or S&M. This isn't scary by any means,
and is a vehicle for Ms. Daly to prove that she is the Vampyre
Queen of the Screen.
RED HARVEST 'Cold Dark
Matter' CD (Nocturnal Art Productions)
Norway's Red Harvest begin sounding like a good clone of Godflesh
at their most fearsome but as the album progresses neat little
touches are gradually introduced up to the point where industrial-core
and rock meld effortlessly. It's a momentum that is so linear
everything good about the band culminates in the final track
'Move Or Be moved', a huge tank of a song with some amazing triggered
drums and out of control keyboards. The atmosphere throughout
is of menace with tones as biting as the Northern blizzards.
Killer.
8/10
REGURGITATE 'Carniverous
Erection' CD (Relapse)
The sleeve graphics to this CD is soooo insane. What kind of
mind could envision such an unholy blow job? Repulsive an image
it may be, but like the gore soaked lyrics of a typical Regurgitate
song, there's something there that makes me feel kinda horny.
I guess that's what's so appealing about bands like these Swedish
splatterheads. Their visions of extreme sexual violence and perverse
fetishes click with our darker sides. If we're too chickenshit
to indulge in any of this, then Regurgitate will at least allows
us to visualise. Maybe that's the whole point. The world of Regurgitate
is a world where every person is a potential psychopathic pervert.
Not surprising that they should back up the words with equal
measures of ultra brutal grindcore. Gargling vocals spew vomit
and guitars lash out like blunt razors forced through tender
flesh. It's not a pretty listen but that's how we like it, especially
when Nasum's Mieszko lends a helping vocal chord to destroy any
move towards normality. But is all this just a one liner joke,
with only limited appeal? If you like extreme, fast, brutal grindcore,
then there is very little on 'Carnivorous Erection' that is remotely
boring. Closer study (if that's your thing) does show a band
that can take grindcore to higher levels without compromising
on its essence. And that's really what it's all about.
8/10
REGURGITATE 'Effortless
Regurgitation... The Torture Sessions' comp CD (Relapse)
If I were an American (heaven forbid!) I would be proud that
my country is served by a label like Relapse. While black metal
is getting all the props, these guys have shown an undying [sic]
commitment to true grindcore and death metal. Those visionaries
have recognised this compilation to be an important part of grind's
history circa 1993-94. The sixty three tracks of Carcass meets
Repulsion gore have been remastered to let that brutality shine
once again and has revealed a band whose 'music' will never date.
Essential for the curious.
8/10
REQ/ TEAM DOYOBI split
12"ep (Fat Cat)
Of all the noise/electronics 12"s I've heard in this Fat
Cat series, this is up there with the best of 'em. Okay, I don't
know shit about any of these groups, and the sleeve graphics
don't help, but they sound Japanese. Req and TD integrate a noise
vibe with cut and paste breakbeats and hard electro with dizzying
abandon. Whatever they're trying to say is less important than
the quality of the structuring, construction and atmosphere created.
Yeah, it's almost architectural, ie. the same feeling you get
experiencing a building that's dynamic in spatial organisation,
light and surface texture. Far out!
8/10
RETALIATION 'The Execution'
mCD (Headfucker)
Prior to Dawn, and all 500 of his other bands, Henke Forss did
time in a grind crust band called Nefarious who then became Retaliation.
This is their debut release following a couple of demos and comp
appearances and is definitely one to be savoured. Fans of anything
from Swedish crust to U.S. grind via Japanese high speed thrash
will find much here to help pass the long winter nights but I
found it a little too generic by the end. I think Henke's other
grind band Niden Div.187 were more extreme and original. The
22 songs also feature a cover of 'Like Weeds' by His Hero Is
Gone. Bastards.
6/10
ROADSAW 'Nationwide' CD
(MIA/Tee Pee) $15
Recently, the influence of 70s rock has been felt through all
genres of rock music, and Boston's Roadsaw definitely take a
glance back to the age of classic rock with love, even though
their songs have a slightly punkier edge and are fairly short.
Roadsaw's love of Zeppelin etc. is obvious. Also reminiscent
is the early Sub Pop stuff with Craig Riggs sounding a lot like
Chris Cornell used to. That's not to say Roadsaw are so embedded
in the past that they're dinosaurs before their time. Regularly
touring with the likes of Nebula, Slo-Burn and Fu Manchu give
them a freshness on recording.
[Simon Fairfax] 9/10
ROCKET FROM THE CRYPT
'Group Sounds' CD (B-Unique)
I'm not sure who I like more- Rocket From The Crypt or New Bomb
Turks (we're talking garage punk, metal folks)? I like NBT's
raw, fast blasts of power pop, but RFTC are way catchier with
their dynamic pseudo rocknroll structures, devastating horn sections
and no lack of coolness. They are the band you'd want to be seen
hanging out with while still holding on to your punk points.
'Group Sounds' has a fuller, phatter attack than previous releases
'Scream Dracula Scream', 'RFTC' and the awesome 'Hot Charity'
mLP. Garage punk has lately let me down. Either it's too sloppy
and carefree or just plain lame. Thankfully, RFTC are the band
for me to fall back on when I've got grease my hair. Not for
them songs sounding like they're played by a bunch of 14 year
old kids banging on home made instruments, neither for them sloppy
ballads to fill artistic voids, and neither for them high art.
That really would be selling out to the cause. Songs like 'Savoir
Faire' are the garage punk juggernauts we know and want while
'Straight American Slave is all about horn sectioned funk grooves
torn from Detroit's musical history books. As the masses are
finally waking up to garage punk with the White Stripes, it's
good to know that RFTC are still making their own kind of dirty
music.
8/10
ROOTS MANUVA 'Brand New
Second Hand' LP (Big Dada)
Media darling and bloke who's on as many tracks as he can possibly
be on at the same time, astounded the world this year with his
debut long player. But not me. Don't get me wrong, this is a
good album, but in some places he is in danger of disappearing
up his own gruff arse. The babble in parts is nonsensical rather
than abstract, but when it comes together it's incredible. The
new rinse of 'Fever' and the IG Culture produced 'Dem Phoneys'
will make the butt bounce, whilst future classic cuts like 'Movements'
serves a fresh platter of brainfood.
[Joe Maximus] 7/10
ROTSCHRECK 'Heatsink'
mCD (Tenderloin) £7.50/ $15
Scotland's Rotschreck seem like they've come out of nowhere only
to get a large number of people in the scene excited. Okay, they've
had two demos out, but it's this ep that's really lighting up
eyes and ears. The six tracks on here waver between crust and
metalcore. which reminds me of those UK underground bands like
Choke and Salem Justice? Great bands that never got anywhere.
Hopefully, Rotschreck will do it for those guys because there's
plenty here to suggest something special. The band certainly
try to mix the rhythms and moods to fit the rather gloomy lyrics,
and when they do get energised, as on 'Stranded' then they're
as metal as the best of them. If there is a weakness the recording
lacks an overall atmosphere which is more the fault of the production.
It does sound like a debut recording of individual songs rather
than a consistent, thoughtout album. But it's still early days
yet.
6/10
ROTTING CHRIST 'Sleep
Of The Angels' CD (Century Media) £12 / $16
While it is true that amongst the metal fraternity Rotting Christ
are the finest thing to come from Greece since Ouzo, the band
themselves are not content to rest on their laurels and be happy
with past achievements. They much prefer to go out and better
themselves musically. Again using the combination of Woodhouse
Studios and Samael's Xy, RC have created a haunting, dark piece
of work which sees the band using subtlety rather than brutality
to create a brooding guitar driven atmospheric album. Absorbing.
[Simon Fairfax] 7/10
ROTTING CHRIST 'Khronos'
CD (Century Media) £12/$16
It's unreasonable to compare one Rotting Christ album with another
because, as the band have stated, they prefer to make each album
different and full of surprises. So to compare 'Khronos' with
'Sleep Of The Angels' with 'Thy Mighty Contract' won't unearth
any valuable pointers to what makes each album good. But as Sakis
has said, what is consistent is the 'Rotting Christ feeling',
and this album is as distinctive a Rotting Christ effort as any,
from the dense atmospherics to the screaming guitars to Sakis'
perfected growls. Remarks that this album sees the band going
back to their roots seem exaggerated because the Gothic atmospherics
of 'A Dead Poem' are still very prominent. That's not denying
that the band aren't heavier. They are but not in the expected
'Thy Mighty Contract' cum black metal sense. They just sound
louder. It that due to the Abyss Studios/Peter Tagtgren influence?
Hmmm... maybe. I think his input has been to make Rotting Christ
sound louder without compromising on the trademark clarity and
the obsession with technicality. Their cover of Current 93's
'Lucifer Over London' is probably the best example of that, especially
within the underlying cyber metal touches. Here, the band reinforces
its commitment to remain steadfast in the Twenty First Century
stylistically, but I sense a lot more space for experimentation.
Just when they threaten to evolve the songs towards harder industrial
soundscapes they quickly retreat to the trademark sound. The
band remain too rigid despite their need to be different with
each record. It needs a timelessness and dark brooding edge to
match the lyrics. However, Rotting Christ will always be a Gothic
band at heart such is the mixture of beautified violence and
Hellenic Romanticism. they probably won't win any new fans looking
for yet another black metal record, and neither would the band
want to attract listeners who don't understand them or have different
expectations. Overall this is a very pleasing record, though
still not in the league of 'A Dead Poem' which continually grows
on me.
The CD also has a fine video of 'After Dark I Feel' from the
'Sleep Of The Angels' album. Though typically limited in means,
it's also immersed in the sort of iconoclastic iconography and
degraded colours that seem to permeate through most Rotting Christ
lyrics.
8/10
ROTUNDA 'My Only Weapon'
(3rd demo four songs- CDep= £2.50 / $5)
Birmingham's best and funnest aggro punk band finally do what
they've always threatened- put out a great quality killer CD
of old school hardcore with a hint of the pop punk kids like
(they like Queers). Not only does this contain Rotunda's catchiest
song 'Neutron Bomb' it contains their second catchiest with the
title track. In fact the other two tracks are their 3rd and 4th
catchiest too. Labels looking to release a record by a no nonsense
fast hardcore band could do worse than Rotunda. Fab.
33 Lincoln Road, Birmingham, B27 6PA, UK
7/10
RUBBISH HEAP 'Rubbish
Heap' CD (Conspiracy)
More than any band Belgium's Rubbish Heap sound the closest to
inheriting Rorschach's crown. In the past, other bands could
have attained it if not for their own self destruction, especially
all those heavyweight German groups like ABC Diablo, Luzifers
Mob, Dawnbreed, Acme, Systral. Then the emergence of Kiss It
Goodbye, Bloodlet and Dead And Gone reaffirmed the stature of
Stateside metallic hardcore, even though it was now associated
with the European sound (American hardcore was really either
about power violence or melodic pop). So, like it or not, Rubbish
Heap are carrying a lot on their shoulders. And I think they
can do it. This debut album is an incredible wasteland of aural
devastation with everything done BIG. It's emotive stuff matched
by a prose style of lyric writing which covers both the personal
and the political through intelligent vehemence. Despite all
this praise, there's still not a lot of variety as the album
progresses with each song handled the same taking into account
any subtle changes, so I think we've yet to really experience
the full majesty of Rubbish Heap (the band moniker is anything
but majestic!)
7/10
RUNNING GUTS/ MINDFLAIR
split mCD (Bones Brigade)
This is the kinda brutal shit lovers of gore grind with relish.
France's Running Guts use samples from dodgy movies just to set
the mood before erupting into an ultraviolence of their own.
A great production will make the rhythm section work yer loudspeakers
especially as the band vary their sound from pure grind to low
end bass crust. Germany's Mindflair are just totally insane.
Looking at death in the face screams, and a blurred 'music' accompaniment
just takes us back to the days of Carcass. Wouldn't it have been
cool if I had the lyrics?
7/10
'RUNNIN'
FEART' no.5 (Scottish fanzine) A5 60 pages Printed£1.50/$4
(runninfeart@hotmail.com)
Interviews with 4 Past Midnight, Beauty School Dropout, Hate
Fax, Critikill, Watershed, Overspill etc.
One of those zines that looks good, will inform you on up and
coming bands and is generally on the ball. Beyond that, the interviews
are uninspired (especially the piece on a Ramones film) and there's
not a lot of punk attitude. I guess it's worth buying this if
you want to know which pop punk records are worth getting but
the UK scene is saturated with unadventurous pop punk zines like
this.
12 Crusader Crescent, Stewarton, KA3 3BL, Scotland
5/10
RUPTURE 'Cunt Of God'
CD (Rhetoric) $12
Holy shit, if this isn't one of the best grindcore releases of
the year then I must be missing out somewhere. I don't think
anyone is going to better fastcore done the Rupture way. Okay,
Lack Of Interest come close but even they don't have the intricacy
and explosive rhythms that just jump out of the speakers and
grab ya by the bollocks. But they share a love of squeezing a
million words in very few seconds of grind. Put aside the very
non PC lyrics (they're out to piss people off) for a moment and
remember what you've got here. Four obnoxious Aussies and a 27
song bible of blasphemy.
9/10
SANITY'S DAWN 'Mangled
In The Meatgrinder' CD (Shredder)
Because Exhumed's 'Gore Metal' came first, we're inclined to
regard 'Mangled...' as rather derivative especially since both
albums carry similar sleeve graphics. But, we're not so trite,
since in truth Sanity's Dawn is a very different band to Exhumed
a band who's bias is towards pure heavy metal. SD are gargling
gorecore played the same unapologetically insane way since the
genre first came to light. Thus, Carcass obsessives are going
to be well served by these German butchers, though I'm not sure
what everyone else will make of it.
8/10
SAWN OFF /UNKIND split
7"ep (Flat Earth)
As is tradition, bands that split always tend to leave on a high.
Sawn Off are no different. This last effort is four songs of
supreme crust brutality- just as they have always delivered.
Hyperfast punk that has little time for art-fags. The anger is
so evident in the music, matched blow by blow by the lyrics.
Unkind, from Finland, slow things down a bit and add melodies
to their metallized punk almost like Amebix- and you know that's
no bad thing. This ep pits two very different bands together
but with the same agenda and outlook on life. Excellent.
8/10
SAWN OFF 'Sawn Off' comp
CD (Flat Earth)
Sawn Off are typically Bradford grind punk. Call that narrowminded
or lazy labelling but then again we all know what Californian
Power Violence is. Okay, what exactly is Bradford grind? Nothing
really. Just a band from Bradford that plays grind of some awesome
power. We're talking short, fast, loud and very crusty slabs
of brutality with intelligent lyrics, a dogdy rendition of the
Sweeney theme tune, a Judas Priest cover and a cool photo of
Carter on the sleeve. What more do you want? How about incredible
drum rolls and quickfire melodic breaks last heard on a No Comment
record; but other listerners will refer to anyone from Discharge
to Doom. Whatever. It's all good stuff. As is usual, the main
letdown is the less than dynamic production which lacks the meat
to emphasis some of the band's thick riffs. Is this release timely?
With a change in line up, are we going to experience a new phase
in Sawn Off's plan of attack or is it business as usual? I wouldn't
mind the latter but it could get a little too boring. Sawn Off
can do better. They will do better. Twenty six songs in twenty
six minutes. Neat.
7/10
Janek SCHAEFER 'Above
Buildings' CD (Fat Cat)
Janek Schaefer's ability to process source material is second
to none. Reading about him, and listening to his electronic music
you get the feeling that much of his work is derived from accident:
stumbling across odd instruments, taking field recordings on
the spur of the moment, improvising a recording made with damaged
equipment, even a sound recording of the 1999 Eclipse (!). It
suggests that there can never be a definable Janek Schaefer piece
created from within, because the external options presented to
him are infinite. Whatever is on this album would probably not
be heard if circumstances differed ever so slightly. So 'Above
Buildings' is a fine snap shot in an instant of time. That's
the essence of Janel Schaefer. The opener, 'Foreign' is improvisation
derived from an old family organ. The final result- a drone piece-
sets up a certain mood for the rest of the album, that is gentle
washes of sound, speckled by noise and full bodied drone brushstrokes.
The sombreness does lift you above building as subsequent levitation
becomes heady space flight. It's a calming album, that throws
up many textures on many layers so your response will be as infinite
as Janek's creative processes, but just don't think that this
is the only kind of thing he does. Surprise us again, mate.
8/10
SCUM OF THE EARTH 'Better
Late Than Never' comp CD (Boot To Head)
'Better Late Than Never' refers to this taking so long to come
out, with most of the songs being recorded in 1998. Nevertheless,
Australia's Scum Of The Earth, despite the changing lineup scome
across as a good hardcore band still trying to find their feet.
The mix and matche of styles covers Helmet like sludge, fast
punk, ska, street punk. It's all done with energy and limited
means but no focus. The delivery is dirty, which has its charm
in a garage punk sort of way,but SOTE needs a good production
to make that anger shine through.
5/10
2ND GEN 'Irony Is' CD
(Novamute)
Irony is Headache Music would be a better for title for this
record. 2nd Gen offer a forty minute assault of migrane inducing
beats, bleeps, pipe clanging and electronic parping. Most of
the tracks on this 10 song LP are just exercises in producing
unlistenable noise with the occaisional psychotic mumbling vocal
thrown in almost as an afterthought. This isn't music, it's fucking
morse code. Occaisionally something like tune a emerges e.g.
on the bluesy "Black Spring" or the soundtrack like
"Musicians are Morons" and "Measurement 9"
but 2nd Gen soon correct these lapses by burying the song under
their trademark wash of scratchy noise. It's worth saying at
this point that the whole thing sounds like it was recorded in
a cellar just to make the whole experience that little bit more
painful. This is easily the most unlistenable record I've encountered
since I gave up listening to John Peel three years ago. If you
like the weirdo bleep-bleep stuff he was playing back then (and
for all I know still is) you'll probably love Irony Is. Anybody
else should give it a miss and save themselves a couple of quid
on paracetemols.
[Linden Dunham]
5/10
'Selfow' comp CD (Oozebap)
Oozebap's intriguing three way split CD attempts to tie together
differing approaches to sound manipulation in an attempt to inspire
mental associations or responses. The works of Artificial Memory
Trance, Antenna Farm and Gabriel Amato may at first listening
seem to be reliant on arbitrary constructions, or dislocated
structuring with ideas seemingly pulled out of thin air. But
sound artistes tend to construct their pieces almost as physical
objects. Like sculptures which demand three dimensional space
between itself and the viewer, so sound sculptures are constructed
to provoke a different response at each point in time. In this
way, there is no need for such musical ideas like rhythm, melody
or tempo. It's all about juxtaposition and relationships.
Artificial Memory Trance aka Slavek Kwi gives us two lengthy
pieces that are an extension of his sound installation works.
Juxtaposition is provided by sounds sourced from field recordings,
voices, loops and even 'digital errors'. At each corner or instant
of time something new is thrown up that demands a response that
is also dependent on the listener's own environment. If he is
consistent in one thing, it's his mellow qualities and delicate
ambience. Antenna Farm have always worked to harden their digital
signals, so their four pieces could be seen as more vibrant with
a greater sense of colour. Again, God is in the details, so careful
analysis of juxtaposition will reveal things that are not only
intellectually stimulating but quite fun too. This is carried
on in similar vein by Amato. But whereas Antenna Farm utilise
many sound sources, the Diskono main man juxtaposes frequencies
whose digital outburst dance joyously. Such is the variety of
sounds, the listener will find it difficult to pull themselves
away from the mayhem offered.
Is electronica boring and sterile? Not, judging by this compilation.
7/10
SENSELESS APOCALYPSE 'Senseless
Stereotyped Idea' mCD (HG:Fact) $13
Is this the hi speed thrash assault kind of record you've all
been dreaming about? Near enough I'd say, if not exactly up to
wet dream level. The power is full on with a production to match,
the dual vocals are true paint stripper quality, and there's
even a melody or two squeezed into the precious seconds. But
no lyrics! For once yer mates will say, "what the fuck are
they screaming about". And you wouldn't know. I guess it's
really about experiencing the noise. To paraphrase an unmentionable:
Senseless Apocalypse are "mad for it".
8/10
SET FIRE TO FLAMES 'Sings
Reign Rebuilder' CD (Fat Cat/ Alien 8)
Sometimes I have a tendency to refer back to Swans when talking
about left of field music. I'm going to do that now, because
Set Fire To Flames have that same simplistic, emotive quality
that Michael Gira so forcefully instilled in some of Swans' tenderest
moments. Alongside their cut and paste techniques of editing
together associated soundbites, discordant soundscapes, segues
and off course blasts of sheer aural intensity. And like Swans,
Set Fire To Flames is not just about listening to another good
band, but about sharing an experience, becoming part of what
the band is. As individual songs, 'Sings Reign Rebuilder' is
harder to analyse because the breaks from one to the next are
less apparent so the flow leaves the whole album fragmented.
This is confirmed to some extent by the song titles. That's not
a negative aspect because it allows you to delve straight into
the music at any point in time and absorb that section in minute
detail. Believe me, that is an experience in itself.
The fact that this album features prominent members of Godspeed
You Black Emperor! may sway your opinions about their approach
to music. Certainly the familiar cellos, violins and guitar drones
are there but for me Set Fire are a more substantial band because
they do more with their instruments. Godspeed were more about
the final superficial sound effect that was fully absorbed by
its own destructive drones. I found that a little too bland an
exercise, an opinion strengthened by the full bodied ideas and
structures on this CD. Are Set Fire too self absorbed as well?
It's too early to tell, but they have created a bottomless pit
of musical directions so they can either triumph magnificently
or disappear up their own asses. Or like Swans will they call
it a day because of public indifference to a music that was too
advanced, too challenging, too emotional to handle? I hope I'm
not expecting too much from them but...
9/10
SEVERE TORTURE 'Feasting
On Blood' CD (The Plague)
Oh mama! Who says death metal is dead? Okay, if Severe Torture
were the only death metal band in the world, I'd still say death
metal is alive and well. 'Feasting On Blood' takes everything
you liked from the likes of Cannibal Corpse and Deicide and added
their own little touches like those totally monstrous grindgore
vocals and a militaristic drum barrage as good as those other
great newcomers Origin. But good death demands even more than
that!! It's got to have an unstoppable momentum without losing
out on melodies, it's got to have a precise technique without
losing out on that raw edge... oh whatever death metal needs
to be good, it's on 'Feasting On Blood'. Can't say more than
that.
8/10
SICK PUPPY 'Winners At
The Game Of Life' CDep (FEK)
As much as I want to salvage something of redeeming value from
this, I'm left with a huge feeling of disappointment. Sick Puppy,
from Birmingham, have delivered five mediocre songs in the pop
punk/ street punk vein. It's lack of effort like this that's
put me off most pop punk for good because it's a genre young
bands get straight into without requiring talent or a desire
to be original. This CD is just boring and lifeless, and the
production team need shooting. Why haven't they learned anything
from the bands they list as liking?
3/10
SHALLOW '16 Sunsets In
24 Hours' CD (Rise Above)
Well, this West Country groove rock band get the award for the
best stoner album title- whether they want to be called stoner
or not. The nine songs are big rock all the way in the manner
of Monster Magnet but without the idiosyncrasies. What Shallow
have produced is a pretty even, paint by numbers debut that relies
on effect rather than innovation. It's for those rockers who
just want something straight out of any hippie festival for the
early 70s. It's the kind of album Rise Above specialises in.
See also Sally, Hangnail, Orange Goblin, Sheavy. Adequate.
6/10
SHIKABANE 'Hatred' 7"ep
(Agipunk) $5
Absolutely dark and nihilistic death crust is presented by this
Japanese band with a forthrightness that just won't release you.
All four songs are incredibly dense musically but even then struggle
to keep up with the desparate evil of the vocals. Maybe this
is what Corrupted could sound like if they really speeded up,
or maybe Shikabane are just in the same league as Dead And Gone?
I mention Corrupted because like them, these guys do try to put
in as much variety into each song as possible to break the monotony
but do it in a way that has stuff happening at different layers.
I think a whole album of this would be absolute killer. This
is the vinyl version of the CDep out on MCR.
7/10
SHORT, FAST
+ LOUD ! no.6 (US fanzine)
(kinda A4 80 pages $2 cover price)
Interviews with Hellnation, Exclaim, Abstain, Jliat, features
on Ripcord, Larm.
Chris Dodge's fine zine is a welcome addition to the fastcore
scene. You know- grind, power violence, crust, punk. Okay, the
downside is the pretty mundane format- ads> columns> interviews>
reviews> ads, so they've got to rely on the writing to really
lift it. Generally the quality is average to above average. While
nothing is exceptional the features on Larm and Ripcord highlight
the zine's strength: SF+L! not only looks at the latest bands
but is a fine history lesson on bands that made what fastcore
is. If they keep this angle up then this zine will be a treasure.
The reviews are well written though I initially thought they'd
be sycophantic, and even if almost everyone gets a good review
at least the reviewer says why (their scene is so tight knit
I don't think they like to or are afraid to criticise each other.)
My personal fave is Max's 'Mosh Of Ass' zine within a zine. Here
all the demos of the weird and never to be heard again are reviewed.
Fuck, you've got to follow up on some of these bands. Of course,
this is the zine if you still miss hearing Crossed Out or Man
Is The Bastard being namedropped. A good effort.
PO box 420843, San Francisco, CA. 94142-0843, USA
7/10
SILENT STREAM OF GODLESS
ELEGY 'Themes' CD (Redblack)
Silent Stream Of Godless Elegy play what is commonly referred
to as 'atmospheric' doom metal, yet are quirkier and more upbeat
than that label would suggest. To be sure, those elements considered
de rigeur in the genre- growly male vocals offset by 'clean'
female vocals, downtuned guitars, violins- are present, but are
used in a manner that never grows tiresome or repetitive. Unlike
many of her more angelic counterparts, vocalist/violinist Zuzana
has a confident, soulful voice that contrasts nicely with 's
sometimes growly, sometimes tuneful croon. Interestingly, the
band uses a full-time cello player; while other metal bands such
as Paradise Lost have experimented a little with this instrument,
I don't know of anyone utilizing it to such a degree as on "Themes".
It works, too, the low, somber tones nicely complementing the
mood-based nature of the music. Although most songs on "Themes"
move along at a solid midtempo chug, the band's frequent use
of odd rhythms and general grooviness allows them to sidestep
the monotony so characteristic of their leaden contemporaries.
Recommended to lovers of the early 90s Peaceville doom sound,
as well as those into the likes of In the Woods... or SSGE's
Czech countrymen Root.
[Seth Patterson]
8/10
SIR MENELIK 'Space Cadillac'
remix 12"ep (Rawkus)
The theory of the remix being better or significantly different
than the original is put into full practical effect by DJ Sinna.
Flipping the same drums used by Kutmasta Kurt on 'Work The Angles',
Spinna adds fuzzy bass and funk guitar riffs to form a dancefloor
sureshot. Menelik and his dad Kool Keith disturb the world again
with talk of "saggy diapers": great. Spinna strikes
again on the ominous 'Terror Works' with its wicked electric
guitar sample in the chorus. El-P steps to bat on the production
tip for the final cut, 'Game Time' which isn't as fresh as the
other two, but it will still freak you out.
[Joe Maximus] 8/10
SISSY SPACEK 'Sissy Spacek'
mCD (Helicopter/ Nuform)
I don't even want to attempt describing this! 22 minutes, 78
songs. Noise, noise, noise. Absolutely, fucking insane noise!
And grindcore vocals!!! Taking samples, field recordings, feedback
and bass and drums the duo of John Wiese and Cory Ronnau create
a kaleidoscopic barrage of aural sensations. Ranging from minute
and delicate glitches to vast distortions, Sissy Spacek turn
worlds up side down, inside out and beyond resulting in 70% burns
to brain cells. The real way to hear this is on random play when
ever changing sound textures keep throwing up new things and
emotions, though the one, true over-riding feeling you'll get
is of absolute exasperation and bewilderment!
8/10
SKINLESS 'Foreshadowing
Our Demise' CD (Relapse)
This is one band who have worked so hard in the underground that
they all but forced a decent record label to take notice and
sign them. Skinless have been gigging and touring relentlessly
in America and Europe for several years, prior to being signed,
and it's paid off. Their sound is rooted in East Coast death
metal a la Suffocation, but is somewhat more varied than that
of the sadly defunct bashers-there are frequent blast sections,
but these segue nicely into groovier, more pit-friendly material.
Sherwood Webber is one of death metal's most entertaining frontmen
in a live setting, and this carries over to his recorded performance-prime
roars and screeches are in store for anyone into this sort of
thing. Most tracks on this album are preceded by silly, humorous
intros, reminding us that sometimes overly serious people need
to be fucked with once in a while. Maybe some people will scoff
at a band that will title songs "Merrie Melody" or
"Pool of Stool", but I think Skinless had exactly that
reaction in mind. Anyway, they've got the music to back their
antics up, so who cares? There is absolutely nothing on this
album that will appeal to people who don't live for brutal death
metal, and that's probably the best thing a Skinless fan could
hope to hear.
[Seth Patterson]
7/10
SKITZ 'Countryman' LP
(Ronin Records)
This is one heavyweight album: from the seventeen tracks contained
within, to Skitz's trademark reggae bass lines weighing down
the grooves of the vinyl. Pure heavyweight business. Unlike Lennox
Lewis, production don Skitz hasn't underestimated the competition
that surrounds him. The classic, 'Where My Mind Is At' from 1996,
stands strong amongst the newer material, like 'Inner City Folk'
which happens to be Roots Manuva,s other thought provoking lyrical
workout. If this is dropped as a 12, it could tear up the charts
this summer, without compromising in the slightest. The calibre
of the vocalists (and DJ's!) that Skitz has drafted in to bless
his subterranean grooves is impeccable, especially in comparison
to the shabby line-ups presented on other UK producer orientated
albums of late. The female triumvirate of Wildflower, Estelle,
and Tempa blaze trails of molten oestrogen upon the solid foundation
of upbeat soundtrack brass and that ever present bass! In stark
contrast, the testosterone fuelled Rodney P brings his classic
'gals and weed' lyricism to three tracks, with his cockney twang
sounding like an additional instrument to Skitz,s arsenal. What
makes this album an essential for any open-minded music listener
is the variety of moods that Skitz has managed to conjure with
his studio wizardry. The chosen guests enhance the temperament
of the beats that they bless: the prime example of this is, 'The
Junkyard'. Taskforce weave evocative tales of despair involving
their own estate, which could reflect any number of estates around
the UK. A pure classic, and worth the admission price alone.
Check for Skitz's latest productions on his own label, Titan
Sounds alongside fellow beat smith Mickle (www.titansounds.com/
titansounds@virgin.net).
[Joe Maximus]
(9/10)
Luke SLATER 'Wireless'
Dbl LP (Novamute)
He may have the name of The School Nerd, and probably is, sitting
in his studio playing with his mixers and computers, but the
end result is a mighty fine collection of hard hitting tunes
that breathe new life into electro- a type of pure electronic
pop that was destroyed by house and techno. 'Wireless' is kaleidoscopic
in its use of digital sound textures sometimes as single beats
or as layers and the contrast enriches each one. But never self
indulgently so at the expense of hi energy. Play this loud and
you've got yerself a cool DIY nightclub right in your own living
room.
8/10
SLEEP 'Jerusalem' reissue
CD (Rise Above)
As heavy metal legend has it, London Records handed over a six
figure sum to California's idiosyncratic stoner gods Sleep on
the premise that they will deliver something as phenomenal as
'Sleeps Holy Mountain'. Instead, that advance ended up in the
form of smoke rising from the band's collective bong, and the
album they delivered was just one 50 minute track of psychedelic
stoner doom riffing and insane lyrics. The band then split up,
no doubt heavily in debt, and London shelved the album. This
reissue proves why we almost missed out on a true metal classic.
Become Doomed.
8/10
SLIGHT SLAPPERS 'A Selfish
World Called Freedom' CD (HG Fact)
Slight Slappers have been exciting a lot of people the past couple
of years with their brand of brutal hardcore/ fastcore/ power
violence etc. so an album like this is destined for greatness.
It ain't as extreme as Senseless Apocalypse's album on this same
label, because the Slappers have a thrashier approach which finds
time for tight melodies. They try to do a lot across twenty songs
in twenty minutes, but they're best when they just go totally
mad forsaking all melody and musical reason. I think twenty minutes
is probably the right length for an album like this.
7/10
SLUDGEFEAST 'Baby You
Fuck Me Up' CDep (Seriously Groovy)
Sludgefeast's raw, fast garage is half way between something
on Amphetamine Reptile and Estrus. There's four songs on here
across as many minutes so we're talking some serious compression
of emotions. And it's awesome. The opening title track is the
band at their fullest but the most satisfying is the closer 'Right
On', a minimalist effort with the most basic of brass rhythm
sections, and yet it's still maximum rocknroll. Now if they can
translate this energy onto an album of 1- 1.30 min. songs then
we're going to have a real garage classic.
8/10
SNAPCASE 'Designs For
Automotion' CD (Victory)
Snapcase's posi-core has all the refined touches that pays its
dues to the pioneers like Youth Of Today and Gorilla Biscuits
but has matured for an age that demands a lot more. Metallic
riffs, punishing relentlessness of emotion and lyrics that inspire
personal ethics make Snapcase a hardcore band for 2000 and beyond.
There's so much in this album that it'll take countless listens
to absorb everything, while the immediacy is there in the slamming
rhythms. And ain't that what we all want from any band? Now argue
amongst yourselves if this is better than 'Progression Through
Unlearning'.
9/10
SOCIAL INFESTATION 'Lasciate
Ogni Speranza' 10" LP (Goatlord) $12
This is awesome. Social Infestation play totally dark, brooding
and crushing hardcore in the vein of His Hero Is Gone and a faster
Neurosis. It's a sweeping sound they have but when it matters
the band can pin point all that energy in short bursts of blastbeats
and grind violence. the production has worked hard for the band
letting the vastness of the the rhythm section envelop listeners
like a suffocating shroud while the vocal attacks are varied
in the styles of hardcore, death metal, grindcore and black metal.
There's not many a record where the vocals make an effort to
be versatile where appropriate. At times SI get really complex
like those fucking Relapse nu grind bands but just enough so
not to lose the momentum that true hardcore demands. By the end
seventeen songs is a meager ration for us but I think Man Is
The Bastard's vacant position of top grind band is about to be
filled if SI remain as focused as on this 10" and don't
fuck things up for themselves. Of course, I've got to mention
the lyrics. They're political but cleverly done and most people
will find empathy in what the band have to say.
8/10
SOCIETY OF FRIENDS 'Growing
Up Moving Away' LP (625 Thrashcore)
By all accounts, Society Of Friends, from Austin Texas (?) are
as crazy as fuck live as they are on record. I can well believe
it. Though clearly an anger filled album, 'Growing Up And Moving
Away' is so obviously made for the moshpits, either at some local
dive or next to your living room stereo. Across the sixteen short,
fast, and loud blasts there is an unforgiving reliance on pounding
beats that should be declared as tribal such is their power to
raise the dead from slumber. I guess, that's the nitty gritty
of brutal hardcore and grind- it's how it jolts the central nervous
system into a state of disorientation. And we love it for that
don't we? As a band, I can't say much about them. Essentially
SOF can be interchanged with any good brutal hardcore band. You'll
only really care for them for the music. That's okay, because
Society Of Friends have been described as a mixture of B'last
and Man Is the Bastard, though if that is a little too obscure
then Soilent Green certainly come to mind. Especially on the
stop start time changes and the extremes of vocal ranges. As
being part of a scene, god forbid, then Society Of Friends are
that breed of band that relives the pure intensity of late 80s
thrashcore while matching up to today's high brutalising expectations.
7/10
SOILS OF FATE 'Sandstorm'
CD (Retribute)
Sweden's Soils Of Fate haven't just made a mark with this debut
release. They've left a crater in the whole damn death metal
scene. Okay, hardly sophisticated death metal a la Gehenna or
Behemoth but certainly more brutal that those two put together.
This trio is a simple celebration of downtuned, blastbeat infested,
guttural death grind. In places they remind me of Excruciating
Terror but they do have a tendency that lets slip typical Swedish
metal flourishes like odd melodies and tearing guitar solos.
Self indulgence indeed. At the moment, 'Sandstorm' is a one liner
out there to make people sit up and listen. Now I want to see
them being more focused and bring in ideas to what they're about.
Excellent beginning.
8/10
SOLACE DENIED 'Of Hopes
And Fears' mCD (demo)
Superior underground black metal is always enjoyable to listen
to, especially when the end results are professionally done.
Solace Denied, from the UK, have given us five full bodied black
death metal tracks that grow in effectiveness with each listen.
At this stage, Solace Denied seem less to do with being a 'black
metal band' than as a band that is developing sublime songwriting
skills. Songs like 'Breath Of Torment' mix and match ideas which
though not wholly cohesive do indicate at ideas that should transcend
mere genre. I would hate to think that Solace Denied would want
to restrict themselves to any singular genre because the talent
seems to be there to expand towards more meaningful levels. It's
too early to state what they will do on the basis of this release,
but 'Of Hopes And Fears' on its own terms goes beyond satisfying.
www.solacedenied.com
7/10
SPANCER 'Countdown To
Victory' CD (demo)
Spancer's grind doom may revel in the dark horror of St. Vitus
as shown on 'The Beat Goes On' but they are closer to Grief in
their hateful tones. Across the other three lengthy tracks these
Germanic grinders fuel our despair with downtuned slow motion
aggression that is unrelenting. At times they do get bogged down
with their riffs as if they've got themselves stuck in this quicksand
of doom and monotony sets in. Then I tend to think of a band
like Burning Witch who always had something happening in the
background to which they could latch onto if similar problems
arose. Spancer don't seem to work on differing multilayers thus
their music at this point is simplistic if brutal. A little more
thought should make them as good as Grief. spancer@gmx.at
SPAZZ 'Crush Kill Destroy'
CD (Slap A Ham) $13
Fastcore never sounded so devastating when Spazz released 'Dwarf
Jester Rising'. That is until 'La Revancha'. And then they released
their retrospective 'Sweatin' To The Oldies'... and they sounded
even more devastating... that is until they released 'Crush Kill
Destroy'. I can't imagine they can possibly sound any more devastating.
But there's no tying these guys down so I'm already waiting eagerly
for their next LP. Of course, the secret lies in those weird
lyrics and weirder song structures which cry out, "yep,
Spazz weren't born normal". The Blue Cheer of H/C! Let's
Fucking Go!!
8/10
SPEEDRANCH^JANSKY NOISE/
CHILDS AND READ split 12"ep (Fat Cat)
Two very different noise bastards here. Childs and Read give
us two numbers of ambient drones sounding like a cross between
Lull and E.A.R. with some tweaking thrown in here and there.
Very haunting and mellow. So trust S^JN to fuck shit up with
their two cuts of scratch influenced aural barrage. Just imagine
every sound imaginable in a head on collision. The second piece
is one of the best of its kind where the noise builds up a momentum
with a dark keyboard like drone beneath it all. One for fans
of Bastard Noise. Monster monster.
7/10
SPINE/PRIMATE 'Hope Versus
Realisation' split CD (Blackfish) £5.00/ $10
Blackfish's unstoppable hardcore juggernaut picks up two more
bands on its long fruitful journey. Both bands are from the Midlands.
I've seen Spine live but they never struck me as being as powerful
as they are on this record. They always came across as being
generic but here they deliver versatile metallic hardcore across
six songs (check out 'Shadow Boxing'). Primate play a dark metallic
hardcore with screamed vocals and chugga chugga riffs. I guess
they're closer to some of those brutal Belgian bands like Congress.
Cool.
8/10
SPIRIT CARAVAN 'Elusive
Truth' CD (Tolotta)
'Elusive Truth' has, for me, suffered from a case of reputation
preceding quality. My expectations were high having read so much
about the band and their standing in the stoner rock scene. But
reality has shown this album to be nothing more than an adequate
collection of 70s styled songs. Any inevitable references to
mega Sabbath riffs attest to its predictability while the vocals
of Wino lack the menace we've come to expect from a legacy with
Obsessed and St. Vitus. As background music SC suffice but they
definitely don't distract and command the attention of fellow
stylists Goatsnake.
5/10
SPITE 'Bastard.Complex'
CD (Prosthetic)
For those suffering from Helmet and Fudgetunnel withdrawl symptoms,
then Spite is your perfect replacement therapy. Immediately catchy,
overwhelmingly brutal, and distinctively unsubtle, Spite taken
in large doses should suffice your need for rock. They are the
champions of America's sleazy underbelly the likes of Motley
Crue or Skid Row could only dream about. Put it down to Christopher
Boone's seedy narratives and inelegent growls. The cyber noir
production by Machine (Pitchshifter, Machinehead and Clutch)
almost tells you what to expect. Potent.
7/10
'Split Series vol 1-8'
sampler CD (Fat Cat)
By now, you should have gathered what the Fat Cat split series
is all about. Tracks from vols. 1-8 from the 12"s have now
been collected for the curious or hard of cash. Noise, electronics,
ambience, breaks, digital hardcore from the likes of Janek Schafer,
Team Dyobi, V/Vm, Foehn, Ad Vanz v Gescom, James Plotkin, Chasm,
Req, Third Eye Foundation, Speedranch^Jansky Noise. Of course
there's got to be a bonus track and it's a beaut. Merzbow delivers
a 15 min. bastard called 'Ab Hunter'. It couldn't be put on the
split with AMM because it was "too fierce to cut onto vinyl."
!!! Blistering, baby.
8/10
SQUASH BOWELS 'The Mass
Rotting The Mass Sickening' CD (Obscene)
Squash Bowels are as close to old Carcass as you could expect
but with a production that lets the blood curdle out of your
loudspeakers if not your burst eardrums. This is gore grind as
it was meant to be, but I have to say that the badly translated
lyrics (from Polish) have a charm of their own: "in bleeding
wounds/ violent pain ripping bowels/ is becoming of hook there/
he is eating/ falling from exhausted body". Not sure if
that makes sense but the juxtaposition of violent words makes
gore what it is. Brutally heavy and punishing.
8/10
STALINGRAD 'Stalingrad'
CD (Armed With Anger)
On the face of it, Stalingrad are the UK's answer to Today Is
The Day, but of course, they're more than that. Their debut album,
which has been so long coming, has all the signature elements
that made those Texans' album 'Temple Of The Morning Star' such
a heartstopper. 'Stalingrad' is as much a powerhouse as that,
but Bradford's finest has other things to offer that's closer
to home. Like the emerging devilcore scene in this country, following
in the footsteps of releases by Stampin Ground, Canvas, Medulla
Nocte and John Holmes, (and Voorhees still with something in
the pipeline) this album is a blend of metallic chugga chugga
riffing, sore throat vocals, a grindcore ugliness all shrouded
beneath a dark veil of contempt. No solutions are offered, just
observations on events that occur beyond our control. Such futility
should eventually inspire hope and ideas, but Stalingrad may
never reach that level- I guess they secretly do not wish to
offer hope. Supreme production, a versatile approach and noise
interruptions adds to the overall horror. CD also compiles some
early stuff plus a remix.
8/10
STAMPIN GROUND 'An Expression
Of Repressed Violence' CD (Kingfisher) £12/ $15
As brilliant as 'Demons Run Amok' was I had the feeling their
next album would be more of the same with songs all sounding
similar. I was partly right. Stampin Ground have refined their
sound to such an extent that they are now deeply embedded in
the devicore/ Euro metalcore style. But within those narrow guidelines,
we are given extremely powerful and versatile songs that only
work if you listen hard to all that's happening behind Adam's
unrelenting, sandpaper in the throat vocals. This is an album
for those who like their riffs chunky and brutal.
8/10
STAMPIN' GROUND 'Carved
From Empty Words' LP (Century Media) £12/$16
How metal are Stampin' Ground? Ask half the guys in the band.
How hardcore is Stampin' Ground? Ask the other half. Each half
is totally into what they believe in, so 'Carved From Empty Words'
isn't some lame half way house desperately trying to cater for
all tastes. Stampin' Ground have taken crossover and made it
a genuine vehicle for expressing their untamed anger. 'Metalcore'
is a burgeoning sound but it's also the one most prone to generic
releases, and I feel the band were conscious of that. They've
listened hard to the kind of music they're into and taken the
elements that really matter and built upon them, especially in
the riffs. More and more, these UK hard knocks are immersing
themselves in solid riffs, as if nothing else mattered. The downside
is that there's not much on this album that's actually memorable
as melodies. When it's over all that is left is the feeling of
being brutalised. Maybe you don't need strong melodies in metalcore.
In the live environment you just want something to slam to or
chorus' to shout to. There's plenty of that on here so once the
opener' 'Officer Down' kicks in the band strives successfully
to maintain the violence of those opening bars. Of course, the
production has helped a lot. Dave Chang seems to understands
what these guys are about and has let the band explore options
that make their ideas work. If there was one metalcore album
to get it would have to be this, and the good thing is, the band
has developed so much since their inception I think there's a
lot more they can surprise us with in the future. Brutal, baby,
brutal.
9/10
STARGAZER/INVOCATION split
CD (Dies Irae)
When a CD pops up featuring two underground bands that remind
me of two other great bands then I know I've got a good 'un.
Both bands hail from Australia and play pretty raw and aggressive
death metal with a black metal touch. And who do they remind
me of? Stargazer have got that hyper energetic presence with
a delivery to match I last heard from Angel Corpse; and Invocation
are pure gutteral death a la Sadistic Intent right down to the
polyrhythmic structuring and that torturous guitar sound. Anyone
would think these guys were pure Californian. But I'm not going
to take anything away from the bands' own individualities, because
if you listen hard then you will detect a depth of understanding
of what death metal should be. Stargazer's mix of incredible
drum rolls and over complex structures shows them being able
to blend speed with that complexity as on the opener 'Conqueror/Perennial
Fire' and 'Lust In Pyramis'. It's an intelligence reflected in
their quasi-mystical stance. Invocation are hardly subtle or
clever or pretentious. They just go all out with thick, bass
driven death metal across their six songs, collected as 'H.A.S.T.U.R.',
even if the lyrics name drop Satanic entities in typical black
metal fashion. Unlike Stargazer, who have a good sharp edged
production Invocation are muffled but I guess that's always been
the case of underground brutal death metal. I think they do try
to be technical but are successful only when they play death
metal pure and raw, which could sound devastating at a live gig.
As a complete CD Dies Irae have paired two very different bands
together and their differences do highlight the best in each
other so full albums by either band should be a formidable listen,
and maybe prove that Australia's extreme metal scene is substantial.
8/10
STICKS IN THROAT 'Move
On Zeroes' mCD (HG: Fact) $8
'Relentless yet catchy' are the words that immediately come to
mind whne listening to this. 'Melodic punk' might be another.
Of all the stuff I've heard on HG: Fact this sticks out most
(and the other stuff is great too!!), simply because they seem
to have that little bit further to make their songs distinctive
and memorable. They don't try to outpunk other bands by keeping
it rigid as on 'Don't Talk Nonsense' because they actually enjoy
playing their instruments (very garage rocknroll in places) and
showing off their skills. Okay, some purist may say this ain't
pure punk, but hasn't pure punk had it's day?
8/10
STIFF LITTLE FINGERS London
Forum: 23rd May 2000
One of the joys of going to see an original punk band is that,
with one or two minor variations, you know what the set
list is going to be. The band themselves know what the punters
want and oblige by cranking all of their old hits to delerious
acclaim. Well, that ís the way it usually works, except
this year SLF have thrown the rulebook out of the window. We
were promised a set which would be a 'history of the band'. What
we got was an evening of songs culled mainly from the later records
and Jake Burns's abortive solo album. To be fair, these songs
weren't bad but they lacked the incendiary brilliance of the
early stuff. As if to prove the point the likes of 'Alternative
Ulster', 'Tin Soldiers', 'Suspect Device' and the trademark slow
burn cover of 'Johnny' was all that drew an ecstatic response
from the crowd. The newer material just got polite applause.
It seems perverse of Jake Burns to claim that he wants to tell
the story of SLF and then drop most of the songs that do just
that especially 'Wait And See' which is an autobiography of the
band's early years. On the other hand, SLF have been together
longer as a nostalgia act than they were as a punk band. That
being the case it's true to say that the lacklustre later material
does tell their story. Unfortunately it's not nearly as exciting
as their earlier exploits.
[Linden Dunham]
SUB CITY RECORDS $13 each
Sub City is a charity based subsidiary of Hopeless Records with
5% of the retail price going to a charity or organisation chosen
by the bands featured. It's a good idea, but the records have
to worth buying in the first place.Not surprisingly things kick
of with the energetic 'Take Action' sampler (benefiting The Foundation
Fighting Blindness). It features 13 bands that would fall into
the Hopeless Records sound, mostly melodic hardcore and fast
punk, including Fifteen, Scared Of Chaka, FYP, Dillinger Four,
Against All Authority, Falling Sickness, Funeral Oration, Kid
Dynamite and Damnation. 7/10.
They've also released two split mini albums featuring Falling
Sickness with Dysentery and 88 Fingers Louis with Kid Dynamite.
Falling Sickness play straightahead hardcore with strong melodies
and sound totally pissed. Dysentery just sound totally pissed,
so don't expect anything too sophisticated from them. Just fast
punk with a strong singalong edge. Mosh to this. (benefiting
Schools for Chiapa/ Chanobjunetic Ta Chiapas) 7/10. 88 Fingers
Louis are pretty well known and deservedly so. They play fast
melodic hardcore with a rich deep sound and great singing. Revelation
meets Fat Wreck? Their three tracks leave no time to breathe.
Just slam and slam away. Kid Dynamite (ex-Lifetime) totally blow.
Just think 80s hardcore. No frills, no excess. Just snotty vocals
and a fired up vibe. A killer cover of Black Flag's 'Rise Above'
sez where it's at. (benefiting the fight against Multiple Sclerosis).
8/10.
The two full lengths are by Fifteen and Scared Of Chaka. Fifteen's
'Lucky' is uncompromising with politically charged songs. It's
worth taking time out to sit and read the lyrics separate from
the music. Everyone will relate to something on here. Not surprising
that Jeff Ott's distinctive vocals quiver with emotion and anger.
It could have become overbearing if not for the great tunes.
Probably the poppier of the bands on this label but not in a
dumb way. (benefiting the Redwood Summer Justice Project). 8/10.
But I've saved the best till last. Scared Of Chaka are still
ringing in my ears with their 'Masonic Youth' album. So it's
nice to know 'Tired Of You' carries it on with that fast garage
punk, but the punk is a little bit more punker. I've seen 'em
live and I'll remember it for a long time to come. (benefiting
New Day Youth And Family Services). 8/10
SUBURBAN
VOICE no.44 (US fanzine + comp CD)
(A4 148 pages $5 US/ $9 overseas ppd.)
Interviews with Blackout Recs., Cocksparrer, Dillinger Four,
DS-13, F-Minus, Good Clean Fun, Hot Water Music, Kill The Man
Who Questions, Nerve Agents, Varukers
If you know 'Maximum Rocknroll' then you'll know 'Suburban Voice'.
They've got the same sort of bands, same sort of format, but
thankfully a better sense of wit, interviewing depth, and greater
open mindedness. I think this zine comes out quarterly so the
review section is totally overwhelming. Is that a good thing?
Sure. Especially if you're looking for something to browse through
during lunch breaks at work. The CD is a 26 band comp that has
nothing to do with trendy label promotion and everything to do
with getting some good old down home rock and roll music to the
masses. It's stuff the editor simply digs. What more do you want?
Try these for size: Toxic Narcotic, A Poor Excuse, Last In Line,
Kill The Man Who Questions, Aus Rotten, Broken, The Control,
DS-13, Otophobia, Cap. Casualties, Countdown To Oblivion, A Thousand
Times No, Cops And Robbers, Melee, Beyond Authority, Fallen Short,
Trucker Crank, Ripcord, PTL Klub, Sanity Assassins, Executioner,
Shoot The Hostages, The Dread, Pajama Slave Dancers, God And
Texas, Art Yard.
PO Box 2746, Lynn, MA.01903-2746, USA
8/10
SUMMON 'Baptized By Fire'
CD (Baphomet/Plague)
Does anyone rate American black metal? I do. I think it has a
lot going for it as long as the bands remember they're American
and not wannabee Norwegians. But that's another story. Summon
is a trio of demonic terrorists that have used the recorded media
to unleash their debut album as weapon in the hope of undermining
America's upstanding values. Summon want to be dangerous and
given the opportunity probably would be. Their lyrics, like a
lot of American black metal bands, are about conquering armies
and warriors preparing to level civilisations. Call it metaphor
if you will, but if the band represent an undercurrent in immoral
values then America is a dangerous place to be. Musically , Summon
do call the tunes of battle but are also prone for excessive
experimentation. Are they consciously trying to break from the
mind numbing Darkthrone type linear guitar assaults by mixing
and matching styles and rhythms? I think so, but black metal
bands need to be focused before they take huge leaps in the name
of progression. Therefore, I hope Summon's next album will be
a step back where they become pure again by expanding on the
element s that make them a forceful listen. Good stuff.
6/10
SUNN O))) 'Flight Of
The Behemoth' CD (Southern Lord)
The sounds of Sunn emanate like shockwaves across the great continents.
Reverberating drones and doom tones are seismic vibrations channelling
themselves through the rock strata and can be felt by the billions.
It is that massive a sound. But Sunn O))) have mastered the art
of loudness with two prior releases, so are well placed to finetune
their destructive noise to more cerebral effect. It is not easy
to make something out of monotony and even harder to make monotony
sound interesting. Monotony is only intriguing if you don't try
to mess with it and accept it for what it is. Then the power
of Sunn O))) will come to the fore. I think too many people expect
something to happen in a Sunn O))) piece as if the monotonous
drone is simply the backbone for something greater.
The transition from the opening track 'Mocking Solemnity' to
'Death Becomes You' is so fine that you can't tell the difference
between the two. That is monotony in action and it's good. The
slow pulsations of drone occur as each string is struck and sustain
and decay is pushed to creditable limits. But the overall mood
is dark and claustrophobic.
As much as I love Merzbow the inclusion of his two remixes don't
seem logical, because slap bang in the middle of all this unrelenting
drone are two cuts that literally dance with an energy you would
never expect from Sunn O))). Merzbow's remixes ('Bow1' and 'Bow2')
do use Sunn O))) as the backbone but the use of piano and digital
noise loops and electronic glitches becomes a little too overwhelming.
Of course, they're great to listen too, but they all throw the
whole album off kilter. The final track 'FWTBT' returns to the
Sunn O))) we know and love but the gloom is heightened by an
extraordinary vocal that is as human as the music is 'musical'.
If going nowhere slow was ever a good thing, then Sunn O))) are
the pilots of this behemoth.
9/10
SUNN 0))) 'øø
Void' CD (Rise Above)
Seeing Sunn live was one of my most exhilarating experiences
ever. The band remained hidden behind the speakers so you just
watched the amps emanate their terrific harsh drone. It was loud
it was violent it was hypnotic. 'øø Void' somehow
lacks that sense of space and the four long pieces lack harshness.
Maybe it's because you can hear each long note being struck on
the basses that gives it a rock feel when true drone should deny
its creators' presence. It's a good start but there's a long
way to go before they've attained a purity. Be warned- playing
this loud will give you a headache.
6/10
'Superrappin' 2 12"
(Groove Attack)
Groove Attack have found both critical success and flack with
their hip-hop offshoot, Superrappin'. Having released full-length
material from the likes of J. Rawls and the Cali Agents, as well
as a plethora of 12" exclusives, they have been accused
of being part of the market flooding that is plaguing the independent
scene. With twenty-two new tracks on offer here, there's plenty
of ripe underground material to pick from, yet beware there are
some rotten apples amongst some of the choice picks, that I recommend
be used for the creation of cheap cider.
Amongst the bad bunch hip-hop's archetypal bum, Mike Zoot, makes
an unwelcome weed-fuelled return on Ayatollah's bubbling reggae
backdrop. When will labels learn that this man is abysmally untalented?
Jamaica's musical heritage also crops up on a track by the insipid,
Infamous MC: an art form so rarely plundered for samples by US
acts is represented so poorly on this compilation.
On a more positive note, Mr. Complex hooks back up with DJ Spinna
for a trip through his cosmic, electro beatscape to devastating
effect. The link-ups with top-class emcees and producers continues
with J-Live,s retrospective tales of university friendships,
weaving into J. Rawls, piano and drum fabric. Everybody's favourite
chubby (well, fat!) rapper, Biz Markie, makes a triumphant return
upon Paul Nice's bouncy castle of a beat, and my personal favourite
vocal track finds Pete Rock and Grand Agent trading verses in
the midst of the Soul Brother's filtered foliage.
New, emergent talent also gets a look in through the window of
greatness. Kali Wild, Bravo & Sandman and Five Deez continue
their ascension with innovative, energy filled tracks and strong
lyrics. The latter's producer, Fat Jon, presents the album's
highlight with his short, instrumental interlude.
This album is well worth picking up, despite the failures of
the A & R department to trash some of the filler that exists
within its realms and that plagues independent hip-hop as a whole.
[Joe Maximus]
7/10
SYMPATHY 7 'wordsandmusic'
CD (Starfish)
Gavin Henderson aka Sympathy 7 intriguingly describes his music
as "womb music" and should be "listened to in
a warm dark room with a good bottle of red wine." Dare I
say it, Sympathy 7 is therefore about melancholia and self absorption
and the unassuming album title directs the listener towards the
important things that matter. Tracks like 'Hypocrite' and ''Sponge'
are reflective of the overall moods but there is a variation
in tone that prevents this sinking into sublime moroseness and
ultimately depression. A good debut that needs some fine tuning
of memorable melodies.
6/10
TANGAROA 'Ever Fucked
A Black Metal Whore' CD-R (Self Released)
This is the frenzied knife attack, man gone apeshit, hide yer
kids, less painful to kill yerself, grindcore. To the ignorant,
it's just a lot of screaming and all over the place barrage of
guitar and drums. Fuck 'em. Tangaroa are already proving themselves
to be a might force and they're deeply involved in the UK grind
scene. The three songs here are out to make an impression, with
brutality dominating the technicalities. Converge do come to
mind. The production is a bit thin especially in the drums equalisation,
but when you impatiently have murder in mind, some things get
overlooked. Fierce stuff. daroa@mighty-tangaroa.co.uk.
7/10
TECHNO ANIMAL 'Dead Man's
Curse' CDep (Matador)
Urban angst and urban energy are the fuel for Techno Animal's
mix of hip hop (with a rap from Jamaican poet Roger Robinson)
and hard techno. Though, thankfully not created to suck up to
the fickle and trendy dance community, this ep will still pack
a punch at all the cool clubs with the enveloping bass lines
and pummelling drum programming of the title track or the piercing
dub of 'City Of Glass', TA has always been know to be the thinking
person's dance outfit and there's enough quirky touches to keep
them in that vein. Powerful stuff.
8/10
THE ACTION TIME 'Comedown
Blues' 7"ep (Southern) £2.50 / $4
Having my brain zapped by three songs of primal beat rock and
roll is my idea of a good time. Call it garage punk if you want
but its the essence of London's The Action Time that matters.
Forget the lost in the 60s image they have, or the retro sound.
These guys and chicks have got that electrifying groove. They
play the right notes with jagged sharp tones and the speed that
leaves no time for anything other than to get with the music.
Best song 'Fucked Up All The Time' is typical of the band's trashed
state of mind. That's good, baby.
6/10
THE BLACK LEAGUE 'Ichor'
CD (Spinefarm)
Ex-Sentenced vocalist Taneli Jarva carries on that band's melodic
language in this very excellent debut effort. Okay, I can't say
that I've ever been into mainstream to left field classic rock
or atmospheric metal simply because it ain't extreme. The Black
League are an exception. Every song stands out as a masterful
work that is more than just simply catchy tunes. This is a work
that only skilled musicians could produce and on that level you
will appreciate it. It's very Finnish in feeling and the cold,
classical graphics only highlight the morbid intentions of The
Black League. A triumph.
9/10
THE BUG 'Lowrider' 12"ep
(Fat Cat)
The a side is a fine minimalist cut of post techno consisting
of just drums and bass skipping around each other while a subtle
ambient atmosphere lurks in the background. It's a fine taster
to the b-side which expands on those simple ingredients to make
for one fucker of a hard beat festival. I'll spank anyone who
mentions Fatboy Slim because The Bug are that little bit more
adventurous. But I guess they all sleep in the same bed in that
velvet lined boudoir dedicated to dance. The second track on
this side sounds like a remix of the a side but goes all out
for post techno terror! Check it out.
7/10
THE CARETAKER 'Selected
Memories From The Haunted Ballroom' CD (V/VM Test) £8 /
$12
Nostalgia was never like this. Fond memories anyone holds for
30s music hall are soon quashed by this mysterious entity calling
itself The Caretaker (clue: think V/VM). Samples of musichall
is given the once over to evoke nightmares of an age that was
probably darker than Radio 2 may have you believe. The musichall
sequence in 'Eraserhead' certainly comes to mind, so I guess
that's the kind of world The Caretaker exists in. Of course,
in true V/VM fashion, there's also the odd smattering of harsh
electronic noise. Bizarre indeed.
7/10
THE CINEMATIC ORCHESTRA
'Motion' LP (Ninja Tune)
Jay Swinscoe's successful blend of sampling technology and traditional
jazz instrumentation continues on this full length project. The
beautiful syncopation of the two singles, 'Diabolus' and 'Channel
1 Suite' permeates the entirety of the album, but the result
is far from formulaic or predictable. The Shirley Bassey sound
bites and sweet sentiments of those two tracks stand in contrast
to the raucous rasping sax of 'Bluebirds'. The other connecting
strand for 'Motion' is the word 'epic': as if every soulful song
was crafted to rival a Bernard Hermann score. Short but sweet.
[Joe Maximus] 9/10
THE CLANCY SIX 'The Process
Of Corpse Decomposition' CD (Blood Beat)
This could have come out on Gravity Records. Fans of screaming
hardcore a la Angel Hair, Universal Order Of Armageddon, Heroin
or Fucking Angels are well served by this Pennsylvanian band.
But, of course, they are more than just simple styles. The violence
in the CD's title is matched in musical ferocity and lyrical
cynicism- not gore orientated but to do with decomposition of
the psyche in today's society and a fear of hospitals (if that
makes sense). If it don't just wallow in the complex and driving
hardcore attack that really does strive to tear out a melody
or two. On the typical 'Mechanisms Of My Escape', drum rolls
lock swords with pulsating basslines over which disorder reigns
through the strangled vocals. But is this all the band can do?
As a debut, it's a neat effort worthy of repeated listen, but
another CD of this pummelling onslaught may be too much to take.
They need to diversify their sound to absorb a greater range
of techniques though it seems that the band are stuck somewhere
between death grind and screaming hardcore. Tracks 1-7 are studio
recordings proper and 8-16 are from an early demo which reveals
a crustier, unrefined edge more in line with the fastcore bands.
Brutal and powerful stuff.
7/10
THE CONVOCATION OF...
'Pyramid Technology' CD (Tigerstyle)
Now and again, you don't want to listen to anything except some
crazy motherfucker guitar album. Like, you've done hearing Hendrix
and Blue Cheer and Led Zep and Sabbath and you want something
up there with 'em but from NOW. You want an album with like mad
wah wah pedals, fuzzbox effects, distortion, heavy blues vibes
and fucking hell acid rock. 'Pyramid Technology' is that record.
Nine full and fleshed out tracks and not a single dud one. Every
track is very distinctive but is held together by that strange
brew of 70s rock meets 90s post hardcore without falling into
the traps of stoner rock or retro grunge. Some may say that such
concoctions could only be formulated from a crazed mind. Well,
Tony Joy is guitarist and vocalist in this band- him of Born
Against, Moss Icon, Universal Order Of Armageddon and Great Unravelling.
These bands were seminal because they were warped. They caught
the hearts and minds of young people in their point in time.
The Convocation Of... are no different and should exact similar
devotion.
The youth want rock that hits them in the hearts, music that
has passion and songs that sound like someone actually cared
about writing them. The youth have had enough of the angry records,
the spleen has been vent. It's time to just take music for what
it should be. Is it that a song titled 'Eternal Dreamtime' should
be nothing less than pulsating stellar guitars over spooked drones
and dancing drum beats, or that an instrumental like 'Unlimited
Outer Thought Broadcast' couldn't be anything else but a modern
day acid rock explosion or that the opening 'Face To Face With
The Beast' has to be truly bludgeoning like Blue Cheer were the
only band that ever mattered. The references are there if you
dig deep enough, but I would like to think of the band as trying
to reinvent the tricks of the trade- they're not afraid of guitar
solos, but these are solos that speak to you. They don't fill
up space or destroy the vibes. Hey, this album was also made
for your air guitar and karaoke machine (god forbid!), and if
you ain't running around your room racing with Tony Joy's fretboard
action then you don't really care about rock.
Where do they go from here? Keep producing the same kind of album?
The freshness and vigour of their music tells me there's plenty
of songs like these hidden away on their hard drives, but as
revealed through Tony Joy's previous bands, he is not one to
sit still with the same kind of record so expect something even
more wild the next time round, and that can only be good news
for rock and roll.
9/10
THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN
'Calculating Infinity' CD (Relapse)
I really can't remember any band whose debut album has been more
anticipated than by these guys. To say their 'Under The Running
Board' ep whetted appetites would be an understatement. This
album is mindless in its brutality yet schizophrenic too. Suddenly
the lads remember they're musicians too and throw in plenty of
intricate, twiddly, jazzy passages just for the sake of it. I
guess they belong to that nu grind clique that includes Cave
In, Today Is The Day, Canvas, Coalesce and Isis (Neurosis too!).
It's a fine bunch of bedmates to have.
9/10
THE DONNAS 'Get Skintight'
CD (Lookout!)
Ok, let's get the important thing out of the way: I like the
chubby one best. Onto the record: yep, 'American Teenage Rocknroll
Machine' gets a face lift with songs with more meat to the bone.
The garagey looseness of that album now betrays the speed metal/
L.A. metal influence of their formative years. It's not heavy,
but the riffs and punch-the-air melodies perfectly compliment
Donna A's deadpan lovelorn vocals. People are getting into this
band and I can see visions of punk purists pulling their hair
out in rage. Of course it's radio friendly fodder, but The Donnas
do it with likeable cheese. Great.
7/10
THE GATHERING 'How To
Measure A Planet?' CD (Century Media) £12/ $16
One of the joys of hearing a new record is to pick up elements
from other favourite records or bands, whether that's the intention
or not. So when the first few bars of 'Frail' opens proceedings
I hear Jefferson Airplane's 'Triad', from 'Crown Of Creation'.
Both bands share many facets, in essence only, like female vocalists
who are as seductive as they are sirens of doom, while the rhythm
sections are immensely inventive combining strong melodies, with
heavily coloured tones and that desire to experiment with electronica.
Thus a song like 'Liberty Bell' is approached with a power that
reminds you of The Gathering's metal roots while 'Rescue Me'
is a marriage of synthesized pulsations and profound sadness
in gloom rock. What they're trying to achieve seems to be nothing
more than embellishing prog rock with an updated metal veneer.
That such a simple concept should throw up something as sublime
as this proves that keeping things simply and elegant will nourish
more good things than piling on effects to force out some kind
of atmospheric feel. Essential listening.
10/10
THE GATHERING 'If_Then_Else'
CD (Century Media)
'If_Then_Else' was never going to better 'How To Measure A Planet?'
It concluded that even before listening to this new album. And
I was right. This may have a more full on festival friendly rock
production that is good on the ears, but it lacks the subtle
idiosyncratic touches of the previous album. Or maybe I just
miss its almost Jefferson Airplane acidity . 'If_Then_Else' is
still a good album of signature songs- plus, the band begin to
play around with sound effects to reinforce Anneke supreme vocals
to keep it cutting edge.
8/10
'The General' (film)
Dir. John Boorman (Ireland 1998)
John Boorman's latest film tells the story of Irish master criminal
John Cahill. Shot in gritty black and white in what looks like
the very worst areas of Dublin the film presents Cahill as a
larger than life, almost mythic figure, unconstrained by his
dreary environment. In Boorman's own words his presentation of
Cahill is as a Celtic chieftain, a wily, charismatic leader of
men. Certainly the film makes a sustained attempt at this: we
see Cahill and his gang pulling off daring robberies, outwitting
the police, and sticking two fingers up to the IRA. Brandon Gleason
who plays Cahill turns in a suitable roguish performance delivering
some side splitting one liners especially in his (many) battles
with authority. What makes the film unpalatable though is the
way it tries to gloss over its subject's penchant for intimidating
witnesses and torturing untrustworthy henchmen. Boorman's approach
is to sweep these unattractive qualities under the carpet but
you're still left with the impression that ultimately 'The General'
is just a glorification of vicious criminal scum. John Voight
as Cahill's Gardai Inspector nemesis provides the film with some
moral weight, but not nearly enough.
[Linden Dunham]
THE LOCUST 'The Locust'
12"ep (GSL)
The sum of the parts making up this release should spell disaster:
fifteen songs but it's no more than twelve minutes long, they
all sound the same, the band were reputed to have their noses
up in the air when they toured the UK a while back, the lyrics
are a right load of bollocks, and Justin just screams no end.
The band probably don't care what you think. But it's rather
likable as an end result, especially in the brave mixing of electronica
and power violence hardcore. The cheesy synthesizer noises recall
b-movie soundtracks with an almost ominous air. Locust are closer
to Namanax in this sense than say MITB who also incorporate electronics
in between the hardcore, but they exist outside of any points
of reference. The weakness is in the lack of effort or cohesion.
This sounds like its been put together as it progressed when
a more diligent band would have created a genuinely fascinating
world. I'm sure there's meaning in the lyrics but there's nothing
to latch onto. Maybe I've missed something, but I'm just thick.
At the most basic level, Locust just want to be brutal, but mysteriously
so. Power violence that could go places if they really believed
in themselves.
7/10
THEORY IN PRACTICE 'Colonizing
The Sun' CD (Listenable)
Theory In Practice as a metal band fail miserably, but as a technically
proficient power outfit they excel. It all depends on what you
want out of rock. I like brutality and energy. TIP prefer overly
complex melodies, guitar solos, and excessive breaks done for
their own sake. Being Swedish, they do fit in with what's happening
alongside bands like In Flames et al, though these guys don't
have the sense of natural dynamics which makes songs emotional
and effecting. For those who want to hear an exercise in instrument
proficiency, then this is it.
6/10
[THE] PARALLAX VIEW 'The
Destruction Of Property' CD (Residentartmedia)
There's nothing like sitting down to some good ol' screaming
anti capitalist grindcore. It makes the armchair anarchist in
us to want to go out and lob a brick through some scumbag Bank
window- or at least get some mug to do it for us. 'The Destruction
Of Property' is simply twenty four tracks of working class paranoia
wrapped in guttural vocals, thunderous drums, huge blastbeats
and chaotic rhythms and not a lot of technical bravado. I guess
you'd have to be really into this kind of stuff for it to not
be monotonous, but at the same time the brutality on offer is
miles more genuine than on more polished releases. Lyrically,
they mean business (pun intended) even though these Michigan
fiends claim to have put the band together for a joke and the
pleasure of getting thrown out of their local club. But the way
things work, fastcore bands quickly build reputations and unfortunately
for them people start liking them. Fans of UK grind terror bands
Morose, Narcosis, Vehemence, Kerovokiansolution and Scalplock
will find their soulmates on the 'Destruction Of Property'. Okay,
the revolution is never going to happen but at least punks can
slip this into their multinational corporation produced CD players
and dream of a better world.
7/10
THE SEVENTH GATE 'None
So Bloody As The Kingdom Of Christ' mCD (demo)
Raw brutality from The Seventh Gate in true underground style.
A thin production and uncomfortable balance between guitars,
vocals and drums doesn't detract from the potential these guys
possess. the vocals are almost blackened while the riffs are
total death with a touch of old school, for example 'The Rubble
Of Glory' is a magnificent example of the band piledriving their
way through Christ's Kingdom with a good mix of brutality and
melodic lines to break up the song into manageable sections.
www.satanrock.com.
6/10
THE SWARM aka KNEE DEEP
IN THE DEAD 'Parasitic Skies' CD (No Idea) $10
Featuring members of Acrid, Grade and Left For Dead you can guess
that Canada once again delivers the goods for all you brutal
hardcore freaks. The CD is their 10" plus three songs from
the split ep with Morser plus three live songs from a show with
Drop Dead. It's killer stuff but it still ain't much if the lyrics
don't stand up. The Swarm have good lyrics- forthright but defined
by personal experience and anger. The Swarm are yet another band
of disenchanted young men who just don't buy into a society defines
its own standards of normality.
7/10
THORNSPAWN 'Bllod Of The
Holy Taint Thy Steel' CD (Baphomet/ The Plague)
Hearing tracks from Cradle Of Filth's 'Midian' makes me even
more thankful to God for giving us bands like Thornspawn. These
slaying black metallers out of San Antonio, Texas remind us what
true black metal should be. It has to be fast, unrelenting and
structured on simple,but effective riffs. Okay, not everything
they do on this CD is perfect, but its sheer ferocity and conquering
anthems makes up for any mistakes. Unless you're 100% into the
concept of raw black metal then the whole thing may sound a bit
monotonous without going anywhere. But raw black metal is what
raw black metal does- their sound is harsh and bloodchilling,
despite the much mentioned dodgy mix and Blackthorn's strangulated
vocals give no concessions to pretentious Gothic drama (Dani
Filth listen and learn). Blackthorn also drums so how weird is
that going to look at a live gig? At all costs the ferocity has
to be maintained to match the pretty killer lyrics- all about
conquering the hapless masses, genocide of the god fearing, and
general all out destruction. If that isn't black metal, I don't
know what is.
8/10
THOU SHALT SUFFER 'Somnium'
CD (Candlelight)
Ihsahn Emperor has been working on this material since the formation
of Emperor in 1991. Undergoing many changes, 'Somnium' is the
culmination of his interests in atmospheric and symphonic music.
He is at pains to stress this is not Classical music, but to
anyone it sounds it. Done mostly on synthesizers, the effect
of orchestra is convincing but it's the solemnity and somberness
of the untitled pieces that keeps it intriguing. Not so clear
is the purpose of it all, other than making you feel solemn and
somber. 'Somnium' means the dream. I guess that answers my confusion.
7/10
3D HOUSE OF BEEF 'Low
Cycle' CD (Luna Sound)
The demo album 'Front Towards Enemy' promised much but its power
was almost obliterated by the thin production that reduced the
bass rumbles to whimpering tones and drums to tin cans. Despite
its faults, 3D House Of Beef's Godflesh leanings were clear.
'Low Cycle' has thrown up what we wanted to hear because it has
finally consolidated the band's many strengths, and even more
emphasises their Godflesh-like aural explosions.
The opener 'Burster' quickly sets the pace and mood of the album
with a backbone of mid paced bass drum assaults. 3DHOB want to
be big and heavy. While not being doom, the painfully lumbering
rhythms and crust vocals are designed to pummel the soul. The
step from 'Burster' to 'Triumph Of The Weak' is seamless and
the band put their own patience to the test. It's a slow, unwieldy
song with a rhythm guitar to break beyond the moroseness. And
so it goes. With increasing anger and vehemence, 3DHOB create
their own soundtrack to an environment that is failing. The inner
sleeve text is written in the first person of someone at breaking
point, as the powers that be perpetually grind down the citizen.
In reality, it reads like a manifesto, in the manner of the Una
Bomber's, with between the lines threats to take take severe
measures. It's disturbing, but it needs to be said. If you want
people to take notice, you've got to make a loud noise. It's
not for nothing that the band state 'Sound... as A Weapon'. On
its own terms, despite its complexity, 'Low Cycle' is as traditionally
structured as any metal album and the groove touches as on the
bonus track 'See The' show a band wanting to rock with the best
of 'em.
A pummelling, thoroughly absorbing effort by a band that still
has much to offer.
7/10
324 'Boutokunotaiyo' CD
(HG Fact)
Who the hell are 324? To you and me they're just another Japanese
hardcore band. But that actually means a lot. 324 are another
GREAT Japanese hardcore band tearing up the loudspeakers with
the kind of quality we almost take for granted. I don't know
anything about this band except that they're a power trio playing
loud and fast crustcore. Think Uncurbed, think Health Hazard
but heavier, more technical and probably as pissed off. It doesn't
matter if you don't understand the Japanese language- they've
conveyed an attitude that transcends cultures. They're fucking
pissed!
8/10
THYRFING 'Urkraft' CD
(Hammerheart)
With this release, Thyrfing should finally shed the (unwarranted)
Dimmu Borgir comparisons plaguing them once and for all. "Urkraft"'s
chief difference to its predecessor, 1999's "Valdr Galga",
is that it's generally a riffier affair. Songs are generally
harder and more compact than on past efforts, and while the keyboards
are still making their presence known they're not quite as dominant
as they once were. Mention must be made of Thomas Vaanaanen's
fine rasp; he's made a steady progression from album to album,
and now stands as one of the genre's finer frontmen. To these
ears, Thyrfing's music is more or less equal parts melodic death
metal and good old Heavy Metal, with an emphasis on catchiness
and memorable tunes more than outright technicality or brutality.
For those not familiar with Thyrfing, they are often called 'Viking
Metal'; such a vague term isn't really helpful to potential listeners--
after all, bands as dissimilar as Enslaved and Manowar have both
been called this! In Thyrfing's case, this has little to do with
over-zealous odes to the Aesir or juvenile calls for 'pagan unity';
no, this is earthy music best enjoyed when the ale is flowing
and spirits are at their highest. Unlike some other 'Viking'
Metal acts, Thyrfing's music fortunately doesn't evoke images
of idiots dancing around in horned helmets at their local Swedish-American
Lodge. It's definitely singalong-y and very anthemic, though,
so the more self-conscious of you had better listen to this album
in private lest those fists start pumping and that head starts
to bob!
[Seth Patterson]
7/10
TIME OF ORCHIDS 'Melonwhisper'
CD (demo)
On their thanx list, these original math core rockers mention
Candiria, Ruins and Flying Luttenbachers. That almost sums up
the direction of Time Of Orchids- complex yet brutal with a strong
affinity towards distinctive melodies. It's all a little too
much to take in at first listen because you're overwhelmed by
thousands of things happening at the same time when you're expecting
fast, in your face noisecore a la Isis. Once you've gotten over
where they're coming from then these guys turn out to be pretty
good. The opening bars of 'Thread Of The Dream' is typical of
the band drawing the listener in with some no nonsense guitar
noise before exploding in all kinds of directions. A recording
that really stands out as being different yet is still affecting.
www.timeoforchids.com
7/10
TODAY IS THE DAY 'In The
Eyes Of God' CD (Relapse)
The opening soundbite says more than we might at first expect:
"the apocalyptic vision of a criminally insane charismatic
cult leader". TITD mainman stone cold Steve Austin would
relish being mentioned in the same breathe as Rev. Jim Jones,
David Koresh or that Moonies guy. This is the record for them.
It's maniacal, totally over the top, but still devastatingly
complex like all the best nu-grind should be. This is a record
that has the end of the millennium in mind. If there is going
to be apocalypse then humanity's got its soundtrack here. Blazing.
8/10
TORMENTOR 'Recipe Ferrum'
CD (Avantgarde Music)
As exhilarating as it is to listen to this 'Recipe Ferrum' is
a hell of an album to describe. There's so much in it from structuring
to subject matter to the compendium of musical styles that I
would need a page just to mention all its qualities. I'll simply
say that Tormentor's past as a pioneer black metal band has been
morphed into a truly avantgarde metal band that has lots of ideas
but with the ability to be ferocious. It's also an album that
will take more than a couple of listens to get into but some
long journeys just have to be made. Excellent.
8/10
TOTAL FUCKING DESTRUCTION
'v.30 Beta non demo' CD-R (reheasal)
Though they state this is not an official demo and just some
old and new songs recorded in a rehearsal space, anything these
guys do has to be taken fully on board. Okay, the sound quality
is what you'd expect in this context, but a little imagination
and extrapolation will tell you that TFD are one of the most
exciting and innovative bands going at the moment. Whether it's
the satanic vocals, the fluid drum rolls, the slashing guitar
rhythms, the devastating bass holocaust or the jazz breaks, it's
pure TFD.
7/10
TOTAL FUCKING DESTRUCTION
'v.2.0' (2nd demo 10 songs CD-R = $4 or downloadable rich666@voicenet.com)
As rough and ready as this is, TFD continue on from their first
demo with 10 more short, fast brutal slabs of blackish grindcore
(jazzcore intro excepted). The drums roll heavier, the vocals
spit blood, and the guitars are truly decapitating axes. Again
the humane lyrics are clever, sometimes funny, while going straight
for the jugular. Especially cutting is the song 'Single Bullet
Theory' about effective use and result of assassinations. The
band extend their evil intentions with help from guys from Hemlock
and D-River. We need an album from these guys desparately.
8/10
TOTAL FUCKING DESTRUCTION
demo 2000 (1st demo 12 songs- CD-R = $4)
Sick and twisted are the boys from TFD. As the spectre of Brutal
Truth was planning a little hiatus, drummer Richie Hoak opens
up the wounds with this bastard. Fierce, strangulated vocals,
and thirty second blastbeats makes this as destructive as you'd
want anything to be and they don't hold back, just like they
were in the good old days. Hey, if you can picture Madeleine
Allbright's pussy as these guys do on 'Madeleine Allbright's
Sexy' then you are as warped as them. On 'Pig's Head' some fuck
says how he feels no remorse for what he has done. Somehow I
think TFD believe he is speaking for them. Great start.
3 Bethel Church Road, Dillsburg, PA. 17019, USA
7/10
TOTAL FUCKING DESTRUCTION/VEHEMENCE
split 7"ep (Deathstill)
It's a long time ago that I last heard Vehemence when they had
just released the 'Return Of The Enemy' demo. These Londoners
came across as a pretty brutal metallic hardcore band, but the
new material here is more satisfying as it sees them transformed
into a grindcore outfit. I think they consolidated all the good
bits they had in the old days and just extended them. Thus, their
three songs are just piledriving riff after riff and earth shaking
drum rolls. Of course, I ain't got a clue what all that booha
is in aid of. TFD are just mad. They've got three tracks from
the demo 2000 so just read the review of that to see where they're
coming from. A more than satisfying grind release.
7/10
TRANSIENT WAVES 'Sonic
Narcotic' CD (Fat Cat)
'Narcotic' is an apt simile since TW's music is a subtle mixture
of delicate guitar washes and sudden rushes of wailing hits to
the brain. And it's a very pleasant experience so don't worry
about overdosing on this Michigan trio's music. They're about
as least a threatening band as you could imagine, especially
as Loren Jackson's dreamy vocals could never be anything but
seductive. This hints at shoegazer music though ceiling gazing
is the probable outcome. A good start but too much niceness can
begin to wear thin and they may be left behind by more adventurous
bands.
6/10
TRAPDOOR FUCKING EXIT
'Trapdoor Fucking Exit' CD (No Idea/ Bridge)
TFE's loud melodic hardcore is of the quality you would expect
out of Sweden. But before we trap ourselves by suggesting these
guys are riding on the backs of the now popular Refused and Hives,
let it be known that this quartet exists with their own agenda.
Their music is answerable to no one's expectations. In return
we get eight songs of energised, chaotic, heavy on the ripping
guitar licks type of hardcore combining simplistic melodies and
big build ups and a reliance on volume. Result: powerful songwriting
you can feel in the heart.
8/10
TRENCHER/BLACK QUEEN split
7"ep (Erosive)
UK's Trencher do their best to sound as ugly as possible with
a no-production delivery of grind cum black metal. In between
sound bites, nine songs compress complex structuring (well, that's
what I think it is) with noise devastation. Poor live sound but
promising nevertheless. Black Queen have one claim to fame in
that they feature ex-Assuck guys. Again, another thin sound dilutes
their two songs (from their 'Witch Metal CD-R) of crusty black
metal, though anyone should recognise a quality band trying to
get out. This would be ferocious stuff if given the right studio.
5/10
TRIBES OF NEUROT 'Rebegin'
Live CD (Invisible)
Five electronic soundscapes from '91 and '96, remixed with a
cut and paste of a gig from '95 may be classified as a retrospective.
But the timeless quality of their noise drone makes 'Rebegin'
a valid work in its own right, especially since the sleeve graphics
points towards some occultist concept. The five pieces are titled
with symbols representing the sun, water, air, earth, and fire.
The essence of these elements give substance to the intensity
and mood of each piece that confronts an environmental response
with cold analog drones. The drums, which are the hallmark of
TON are minimal but not at the expense of power. Like drum beats
heard beyond mountain ranges, they raise unknown forces. As one
would expect with this Neurosis noise project, the invocations
must be calling the tune of Apocalypse, despite the initial celebration
of the five life givers. Steve Von Till and his mates are never
ones for charitable optimism. As it progresses the tone becomes
darker, harsher and overwhelming. Sounds like we feeble humans
are going to get what we deserve on the Day of Judgment. Ha ha.
8/10
TWELVE HOUR TURN 'Bend
Break Spill' CDep (No Idea)
If previous release 'The Power Of Flight' was the uplifting experience
these members of Unwound and Palatka gave us, then 'Bend Break
Spill' is the band on a transient glide. The poly rhythmic guitar
flows, the liquid drumming and those infernal 'emo' vocals owe
as much to in your face power pop as they do to jazz (there are
some hints of fusion (probably unintentional)). The four songs
are pretty similar, so listen carefully for the subtleties. That's
not negative criticism, just a hint that some bands require a
deeper understanding.
7/10
TWELVE HOUR TURN 'The
Victory Of Flight' CD (No Idea) $10
As a point of reference we could say that 12hr.T is a step further
down the road of Florida's emo violence scene (members of Unwound
and Palatka are involved), we could also say that 12hr.T have
Washington D.C. sound in the vein of Circus Lupus. We could make
a lot of who they sound like. But that would not do the band
justice. We'll just say that 12hr.T have produced a powerfully
complex and melodic album that is over abundant in instruments
flying at each other at speed. Maybe the victory of flight refers
to the power of music to lift the soul.
8/10