Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Die Zorros - History Of Rock Vol. 7 (2003)


Die Zorros is a Swiss garage surf rock group featuring Voodoo Rhythm founder Reverend Beat Man who do amazing loose renditions of classic rock songs. History Of Rock Vol. 7 features covers of songs such as The Mamas And The Papas San Francisco, Led Zeppelin's Stairway To Heaven, and Europe's Final Countdown. The great thing is tho, is that there is either no lyrics or just one line repeated over and over again, maybe even just one word if your lucky. These guys released a new album this year which a gave a little listen to, but History Of Rock Vol. 7 has stayed on repete for some time now. Its lo-fi and simple as fuck but thats what makes me so happy with it. Good ideas done badly.



Tracklist:
1. Der Lachende Sarg
2. Summertime
3. Blue Moon
4. Black
5. Der Euro Kommt
6. Ahhh
7. Brazil
8. Be Bob A Lula
9. Zorro Rettet Russland
10. Ti Amo
11. Massachusetts
12. Stairway To Heaven
13. San Francisco 
14. Blue Berry Blue
15. Zorro Thema
16. Final Countdown

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

At The Gates - Slaughter Of The Soul (1995)


In the Wake of seeing these guys for the first time since their regrouping after a 16 year break. I give you my favourite metal album to date. My cousin showed this to me when I was twelve years old have always listen to this album as a source of relief and inspiration. These guys are like the forefathers of swedish melodic death metal for fucks sake! Nothing gets better or more original then this. GO!



Tracklist:
1. Blinded By Fear
2. Slaughter Of The Soul
3. Cold
4. Under A Serpent Sun
5. Into The Dead Sky
6. Suicide Nation
7. World Of lies
8. Unto Others
9. Nausea
10. Need
11. The Flames Of The End


Friday, November 2, 2012

Godspeed you! Black Emperor - 'Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend! (2012)


I got this the day it came out but like always im a little slow on posting it up here. If you have not heard of GPYBE by now, its time to crawl out of the hole you live in. These guys gave post rock the push up the arse it needed to step outside the same same sound of extensive reverb guitars and expected percussion builds. 'Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend! is the first release since their regrouping in 2010 after the band indefinitely broke up in 2003.  Bringing in the bands old trates of field recordings and  strings this new exciting treat is nothing but spellbinding. released as a 12" + 7" LP package, you find four tracks with two of which are 20 minute classically epic instrumental pieces and two that are more of a subdued soundscape characteristic. So if you are interested in having your ears opened up to a new sound check this out. 



Tracklist:
1. Mladic
2. Their Helicopters' Sing
3. We Drift Like Worried Fire
4. Strung Like Lights At Thee Printemps Erable

The Secret - Agnus Dei (2012)


Total fucking violence is what i think when i heard the title track off the secret's new album. Hailing from Italy this quartet delivers nothing but fast paced blackened crustcore that packs a fucking punch. True, the online hype leading up to this album has been well executed with pretty much every review site and blogger streaming early released tracks and artwork. But since its release I am fucking blown away by the immense brutality of this album, and am really enjoying the more dynamic song writing compared to their last Southern Lord release Solve Et Coagula which i still listen to religiously. So check it out and keep an eye on these guys in future days to come. 



Tracklist:
1. Agnus Dei
2. May God Damn All of Us
3. Violent Infection
4. Geometric Power
5. Post Mortem Nihil Est
6. Daily Lies
7. Love Your Enemy
8. Vermin of Dust
9. Darkness I Became
10. Heretic Temple
11. The Bottomless Pit
12. Obscure Dogma
13. Seven Billion Graves

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Chelsea Wolfe - Unknown Rooms: A Collection of Acoustic Songs (2012)


This is the second album from Chelsea Wolfe, and its a chilling album made with simple americana folk traditions, and often two chord arrangements. Its a different direction since her last album Ἀποκάλυψις where now we find her leaning more towards early PJ Harvey or Nina Nastasia. Unknown rooms is a little on the short side but i feel this brings it to a more close and personal conclusion. Its a bitter sweet story she tells with complete honesty. A beautiful album.



Tracklist:
1. Flatlands
2. The Way We Used To
3. Spinning Centers
4. Appalachia
5. I Died With You
6. Boyfriend
7. Our Work Was Good
8. Hyper Oz
9. Sunstorm

Monday, October 8, 2012

Alamaailman Vasarat - Valta (2012)


Finnish band Alamaailman Vasarat (ten points if you can pronounce it) have been writing and recording mind blowing instrumental albums for 12 years and their new instalment Valta is nothing from that. First off i didn't even know there saw such an instrument called a sub contrabass Tubax until i heard these guys. Let alone the idea of played dual cellos with distortion. I find a lot a finnish music has a certain feel which can be very strange indeed but Alamaailman Vasarat has crafted a sound of contemporary folk rock which is strong in texture and narrative. They are highly melodic band who have pushed the boundaries with folk music and Valta stands strong with the rest of their albums which i also recommend.  


Valta (MP3)
Valta (FLAC)

Tracklist:
1. Riistomaasiiraja
2. Henkipatto
3. Hajakas
4. Norsuvaljkko
5. Haudankantaja
6. Luu Messingilla
7. Vaara Kaarme
8. Uurnilla
9. Hirmuhallinto

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Eye - Center Of The Sun (2012)


I've only come across these guys in the past few day but their debute album Center Of The Sun has been on repeat ever since. Opening and title track Center Of The Sun is like a time machine back to the old days of Pink Floyd or Deep Purple. Dirty Hammond organ and fuzz guitar set the tone to this groove based journey with lyrics about galactic travel within and out. EYE are nothing new but are doing absolute justice. Check out EYE's live studio recoding below and keep an eye on the awesome skills of their keyboardist. 



Tracklist:
1. Center Of The Sun
2. Usurpers
3. Restorers
4. Rik Rite

Dark Dark Dark - Who Needs Who (2012)


DDD's latest release has had a very different approach since their 2010 release Go Wild. The line up has slightly changed but core members still stand. I found the songs a little more stripped back and delivered as a live performance then a studio recording. I had the chance of seeing them perform this album earlier in the year and hearing this album pretty much exactly as i did that night which i find a little bit of a disappointment. I still really enjoy the flow and songwriting of Who Needs Who but wish it had more of the dubbing and vocal harmonies they have become so popular for and not having the piano being the basses for every song but three. A little let down but hey what ya gonna do, I still love these guys.



Tracklist: 
1. Who Needs Who
2. Tell Me
3. Last Time I saw Joe
4. Patsy Cline
5. Without You
6. How It Went Down
7. It's A Secret
8. Hear Me
9. Meet In The Dark
10. The Great Mistake

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Dysrhythmia - Test of Submission (2012)


Edgy math rock metal gods Dysrhythmia have done it again with their newest release Test of Submission. Even after the first couple of tracks I've noticed their writing has become even more intense but with smoother transitions between sections rather then their last release Psychic Maps. Sweeping atmospheric melodic guitar melodies wash over a ridiculously tight drum and bass odd time signature blast beat base and Sonically this band has stepped more into their own and come leaps and bounds since this line ups first album Barriers and Passengers. Tasty taste. 



Tracklist:
1. In Secrecy
2. Test Of Submission
3. The Line Always Snaps
4. Running Towards The End
5. In The Spirit Of Catastrophe
6. The Madness Of Three
7. Like Chameleons
8. In Consequence

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Kayo Dot - Gamma Knife (2012)


Its Been a few years since I've had a good listen to Kayo Dot, so to my surprise I was very happy to have found they released brand spanking earlier this year called Gamma Knife. Lead by Toby Driver, Kayo Dot's albums have gone through many transitions, But I find this album relates more to there early recordings, maybe with a little more shine then the grittiness of Drowsing Anemone With A Copper Tongue in 2006. Abstract, avant garde, Jazzcore is what makes up Kayo Dot, with stems of Grindcore and Black Metal. Its Bitterly twisted but at the same time its opening and closing tracks sound more like a composition by Jeff Buckley.  Play this one at full volume to get the full experience. 



Tracklist:
1. Lethe
2. Rite of Goetic Evocation
3. Mirror Water, Lighting Night
4. Ocellated God
5. Gamma Knife

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Chelsea Wolfe - Ἀποκάλυψις (2011)


Amazingly dark and brooding recording from NYC artist Chelsea Wolfe. Thick with reverb and folk doom undertones such as Earth, Chelsea Wolfe even has similar characteristics as PJ Harvey or Portishead at times. I wasn't to much of a fan of her first recording The Grime and The Glow but she has come a long way and developed much more of her own sound and leaning away from cliche gothic witch pagan folk music. 




Tracklist:

1. Primal / Carnal
2. Mer
3. Tracks (Tall Bodies)
4. Demons
5. Movie Screen
6. The Wasteland
7. Moses
8. Friedrichshain
9. Pale On Pale
10. To The Forest, Towards The Sea


Monday, August 20, 2012

Max Crumbs - Pieces & Portions Vol 2 (2010)


Melbourne artist Max Kohane (Pivixki, Agents Of Abhorrence) released this free recording a couple of years back which is a total step in the opposite direction for this more commonly known extreme abstract grind drummer. His beats are creative, earthy and textural. Lending inspiration from Prefused 73, Boards of Canada, and DJ Shadow. I find the vocal elements on this recording a little bit distracting but over all his compositions and production is a pleasure to listen to. You can also find Pieces & Portions Vol 1 on his bandcamp.

     



Tracklist:

1. Speaker Milk
2. Pigeons Kissing
3. Crouching Otter Stance
4. Smiling In Surgery
5. Chest Peak
6. Apple Worm Salad
7. Altered States Of Beast
8. Yellow Acid Stains (featuring Nisa Venorosa)
9. Inkhorn

Sunday, August 5, 2012

Black Sleep Of Kali / Union Of Sleep Split (2012)


Hailing from Denver, Colorado this progressive metal/Doom group have supplied me with some solid music especially from their full length Our Slow Decay. but recently they released this split with German band Union Of Sleep. I haven't heard to much of Union of Sleep but judging but the samples of the net im convinced UOS will become a regular listen for me over the next while. Fans of early Baroness/Mastodon will probably really enjoy seeing that so many bands are heading down the road of signing to major labels and suck arse all over the shop. These songs are true and gritty the way it should be. with bone crushing grooves and guttural delivery.  Im pretty sure I'll put my order in for the LP as soon as my next pay check goes in.

 


Tracklist:
1. Cosmonaut
2. Eyes of Winter
3. The Witch
4. Call Of The Void



Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Old Man Gloom - No (2012)


After 8 years. OMG has finally released new album entitled NO. And holy shit! opening track sounds like it couldn't be from anyone else. lo-fi ambient static and electronics which leads into the more common bone crushing post sludgecore sound these guys are legends for. You can hear the trade off between Aaron Turner (ISIS) and Caleb Scofield (Cave In) who seem to come across as the main writers of the collaboration which also includes Nate Newton (converge). With NO clocking in at 59mins its a fairly epic listen that doesn't let off for some time, but I am a little disappointed that towards the end of this recording it does start to run a little thin and recycled. Not the best OMG release but definitely has its moments.  




Tracklist:
1. Grand Inversion
2. Common Species
3. Regain/Rejoin
4. To Carry the Flame
5. The Forking Path
6. Shadowed Hand
7. Rats
8. Crescent
9. Shuddering Earth

Sunday, June 24, 2012

Secret Chiefs 3 - Traditionalists, The Western Exile 7" (2012)


Long after Secret Chiefs 3's last full length album, its good to see them releasing 7" rarities and collectables. On this one you will find on the B side Trey Spruance and Mike Patton working together once again to create a superb version of Le Chanson De Jackey. backed by the chiefs Traditionalists to create a swinging western story of epic proportions.  Side A is another version of The Western Exil which was on their Book of Horizons. You can also find their Saptarshi / Radar 7" here 



Tracklist:
1. The Western Exile
2. Le Chanson De Jackey



Master Musicians of Bukkake - Totem three (2011)


This is one i've had on the back burner while i've been a slack arse and not posting anything for the life of me....SO. Don't let the name put you off. Lets Just say this band is made up of a all star cast featuring members of Sunn O))), Earth, Secret Chiefs 3, Sun City Girls, Grails, OM, and Asva. This collaboration takes its inspiration mostly from eastern music and philosophy and combines it with space rock and lo-fi film score. With artwork by Seldon Hunt who who has done a completely amazing job at describing the music of this band in a technicolor sacrilegious nightmare. 

 


Tracklist:
1. Bardo Sidpa
2. In the Twilight of Kali Yuga
3. Illuminating the Ten Directions/ Mahur
4. Prophecy of the White Camel/ Namoutarre
5. 6000 Years of Darkness
6. Reign of Quanity and the Signs of the Times/ Patriarch of the Iron Age
7. Failed Future

Secret Fun Club - Skull With Antlers (2012)


I had the privilege witnessing these guys last year in the states, then after staying in contact with them I got to play a house party in San Diego California together. A while ago they released their first LP judging by the cover its called "Skull with antlers" through locust front man's record label ThreeOneG. This southern Californian Duo really give something i haven't seen before. Their live show is a full body experience made up of volume and bottom end frequency onslaught, which is pretty hard to produce on a recording, but Secret fun Club give you math rock as if it was being played by John Bonham in outa space. A stella band who have made their music even that little bit more accessible through naming your own price on their Bandcamp site.

Monday, March 5, 2012

Lilacs & Champagne - Lilacs & Champagne (2012)


Lilacs & Champagne is the side project of psychedelic dub rock artists Alex Hall and Emil Amos (Grails). Lilacs & Champagne isn't entirely a new sound for these guys but more of a longevity and exploration of psychedelic soundtrack music of 60's and 70's cinema. This new release is a sample based trip-hop experience with deep reverb occult textures that set sail in the desert plaines of your mind. awesome. 



Tracklist:
1. Everywhere, Everyone
2. Lilacs
3. Nice Man
4. Sensations
5. Battling the City
6. Corridors of Power II
7. King Of Kings
8. Laid Fucking Back
9. Moroccan Handjob
10. Midnight Creeper
11. Listener X