Monday, April 21, 2014

Grab Bag of Justice Vol 2 - I've Been Busy!


Apologies for the prolonged absence, folks! It's been a particularly busy few weeks and recently the wonderful people at the excellent music blog Bucketlist Music Reviews have asked me to start reviewing records and shows for them. You can go read what I've written for them here and here!

Of course, I'll still be using Late Stage Deafness as my platform to blather on about the stuff I'm listening to on my own time. As such, here is another installment of Grab Bag of Justice!

1. Nomads / Treacherouskin Split EP "Violent Fucking World"


I'm a pretty cheap date when it comes to this particular flavor of raw, crusty hardcore. Give me some Feedback-laden, gain-knob-turned-to 11 guitars, a 200 BPM d-beat and a singer who sounds like he's been raised on a steady diet of crushed glass and bath salts and I'll probably invite you up to "see my apartment". This split EP from L.A. groups Nomads and Treacherouskin hits all the right buttons and then some. The Nomads side is fast, furious, and incredibly tight. Fans of NAILS and Dead in the Dirt will eat this right up. Metallic hardcore band Treacherouskin slow things down a touch but their two tracks are punishingly heavy and make me want to break furniture. For fans of Xibalba, First Blood, and random acts of property destruction.




2. Animals as Leaders - The Joy of Motion


I made the terrible mistake of avoiding Animals as Leaders because I didn't care for many of the acts with whom they tended to share a bill . I wrongly assumed that a group opening for Periphery, for example, would either be a boring Djent act or a talented group of musicians that would employ too much clean singing for my tastes. Dumb, Dumb, Dumb. Thankfully, a positive review of their newest record "The Joy of Motion" on the always excellent and hilarious Metalsucks.net  prompted me to give them a shot and I was completely blown away. Animals as Leaders' take on instrumental prog metal is nothing short of breathtaking. Guitarist and principal song writer Tosin Abasi creates rich, expansive soundscapes that showcase the band's considerable chops without ever entering the Wank Zone. All of Abasi's solos are in service of the the bigger picture. This is some seriously groovy shit.



3. Coffinworm - IV.I.VIII


This is the happiest record you will ever listen to. For fans of: Good will towards others, The promise each new day brings, The warmth and joy that healthy relationships add to your life, The laughter of small children, and That special tingle in your chest every Christmas morning. Let the dulcet tones of "Sympathectomy" act as your perfect pick-me-up cure for the Monday blues.


4. Biipiigwan - Something For Everyone, Nothing for Anyone.


As a big fan of Montreal sludge monsters The Great Sabatini, I was excited to hear that Steve Vargas was going to be drumming in another heavy project as Steve Vargas' side projects tend to be FUCKING SPECTACULAR . This new release from Ottawa's BIIPIIGWAN is no exception. Lead singer and principle song writer Musqwaunquot "Musky" Rice has crafted a record that is heavy and caustic, but remains riff-focused enough to keep your head bobbing through the oppression. Lyrically, the album explores a number of political and social themes, with particular focus on the mistreatment of native populations, environmental destruction, and the need for collective responsibility. A number of the songs are written and sung in Anishinaabemowin, an Ojibwe language which totally works for metal. It's also really cool to hear heavy music coming from a cultural perspective that is different from the typically homogeneous (read: white) North American metal scene. The album artwork will also give you a nosebleed if you stare at if for more than 30 seconds.

Steam the first track "Man" HERE

As always, I hope you all find something here that is to your liking! while I will try to post a bit more frequently, you can be sure that leading up to my upcoming Father/Son road-trip to Maryland Deathfest this May I will be posting up a storm! For example, it was just announced that Powerviolence lunatics ACxDC will be added to the line up due to some last-minute cancellations. SQUEEEE!



Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Grab Bag of Justice: Righteous Jams of the Last Few Weeks



Before I get started, I'd like to apologize to the six people that read my blog for the the long gap between posts. It's been a busy few weeks (read: I'm lazy), but now I'm back, baby! As such, I'd thought I'd give you a sample of the best stuff I've heard in the last four weeks. Hope you find something you like!

1. Seventh Circle - S/T



2014 is shaping up to be an excellent year for the new wave of so-called "negative" hardcore (While I hate to promote creating even more sub-genre classifications, the recent popularity of this style of music seems to warrant its own name, and "negative" or "dark" hardcore seems a poor descriptor); Baptists will be returning to God City to record their second full length, both Homewrecker and Trap Them will be dropping new LPs sometime this year, and fresh new talent Seventh Circle pop up out of nowhere (nowhere = Belgium)  to crush skulls and eat waffles (they are currently out of waffles).

Like the bands listed above, Seventh Circle successfully blend unbridled fury and technical prowess in such a manner as to  keep the listener in the "Fuck You, Punch Something" red zone without flying off the rails or becoming repetitive. I was also impressed by the recording quality seeing as the band recorded, mixed, and mastered the album themselves. If you dug NAILS' "Abandon All Life", you will dig this.

Check out an interview with the band and full stream of the album HERE

2. Destrage - Are You Kidding Me? No



This is straight up the wackiest shit I have heard in quite some time. It is hard  to provide accurate comparison acts, but if Dillinger Escape Plan and Protest the Hero had sex, and Mike Patton from Mr. Bungle watched, that would be pretty awkward/sexy. But just think of the soundtrack!

The musicianship these weirdo Italian prog-wizards put on display is amazing and, at times, almost beyond belief (especially the drums). But despite the musical master class, nothing feels noodily or masturbatory, meaning the songs fee like actual songs and not simply separate chunks of "Look what I can do!" time. Also remarkable is how Destrage are able to successfully incorporate a number of elements (electronics) and stylistic choices (there are some chorus sections that are unabashedly Nu-Metal in composition) that would normally be a massive turn-off. This is clearly music created by passionate people who are very serious about having as much  fun as fucking possible. This may not be for everyone, but you'll be hard pressed to find another record coming out this year that sounds anything like it.

The only video currently available is for the track "Purania" and while it is certainly a fun song, I think it's a poor representation of the full-on crazy-pants-ness of the rest of the record.



3. Ringworm - Hammer of The Witch



Along with fellow Cleavanders Integrity, Ringworm are considered the progenitors of the Metallic Hardcore subgenre, and arguable remain one of its strongest acts. Formed in 1991, Ringworm have toured relentlessly over their long career and released a vast amount of great material. Their influence is present on pretty much every Victory Records album released between 1997 and 2006 (commonly referred to as "The Less-Shitty Victory Years) and almost the entire Bridge Nine catalogue.

Their first full length as members of Relapse Records, Hammer of The Witch is Ringworm at their best - tight as testicles in cold weather and heavy as my heart at the end of Bridget Jones' Diary 2.  Check out the title track below:



4. Conquering Dystopia - S/T 



The term "Super Group" tends to get overused; the moniker used to denote bands comprised entirely of  top-shelf, well recognized talent, but seems to now be used to describe any collaborative effort that involves more than two people who simply play in other bands. In this particular case, there is no questioning Conquering Dystopia's pedigree; guitar work is handled by virtuosos Jeff Loomis (ex-Nevermore) and Keith Merrow, Cannibal Corpse bassist Alex Webster dishes up the low end, and  manning the drums is The Faceless percussionist and relative youngster Alex Rudinger.

Even if it's chock-full of expert shredding, most instrumental tech-death metal releases tend to lose me half-way through as the songs begin to blend together and morph into one extended sweep picking arppegio-fest. By using a far wider range of dynamics, tempo, and song styles ranging from super aggro tech-death to what are essentially power ballads, Conquering Dystopia have created a very complete and satisfying record. Sure, it's a wank-fest, but it's a great sounding wank-fest.

Stream and purchase the entire album HERE

5. Larry David - Grind Your Enthusiasm



What can you really say about a grindcore band dedicated to all things "Curb Your Enthusiasm"? Doesn't it sell itself? Actually, what stands out here is that beyond the hilarious gimmick, Larry David are a fucking top notch grind act and Grind Your Enthusiasm  would be an excellent record start-to-finish even if it didn't include all of the hilarious Curb Your Enthusiasm quotes. Sadly, this band no longer exists and this is their only full length recording.

If this doesn't put a smile on your face, you're probably Larry David.




Alright, that's it for now folks! Remember to start saving now; Record Store Day 2014 is only about a month away!

Sunday, February 9, 2014

Review: Behemoth - "The Satanist" - And not a single "f" was written that day

A pig roast and a drum circle? Sweet!

It has been five long years since Polish blackened death metal giants (subtle?) Behemoth released Evangelion, their last full length studio recording. Evangelon was classic Behemoth; epic, powerful blackened death metal propelled to breakneck pace courtesy of Zbigniew "Inferno" Promiński's masterclass in percussive destruction, Adam "Nergal" Darski's signature Eastern-tinged guitar lines and snarling vocals, and a metric fuck-ton of Satan. Simply put, Behemoth sound like the apocalypse if it were to be mic'd properly. Both Evangelion  and 2004's Demigod (Full disclosure: I have yet to listen to 2007's The Apostasy and have only heard a handful of tunes from their earlier studio work. Am I missing some crucial shit?) were excellent records that featured a number of stand out club bangers and very little filler. For Example:

   
The five years between Evangelion and The Satanist would prove to be incredibly difficult for Nergal, Behemoth's lead vocalist/guitarist. In March of 2010, Nergal was put on trial in his native Poland for violating the country's strict blasphemy laws by tearing apart a bible during a concert in 2007. The charges were eventually dropped. Less than a month after the end of the trial, Nergal was diagnosed with leukemia. While Nergal would eventually find a compatible bone marrow donor and recover, the illness effectively dashed any hopes of a new Behemoth record anytime soon. While Abyssus Abyssum Invocat, a compilation of live recordings, re-releases of previous material, and bizarre covers (While Behemoth covering Nine Inch Nails may sound interesting in theory, it is actually pretty Goddamn awful in practice), was released in 2011, fans eagerly awaited new material.

Thankfully, that wait is finally over and we have 2014's The Satanist. While I would have been completely content with Behemoth treading familiar ground, what is so wonderful about this album is the monumental amount of progression it shows in musicianship and songwriting. The opening track, Blow Your Trumpets Gabriel, begins at a slower, anthemic pace, with Nergal's growl chiming in over a simple down-tempo riff that includes the aforementioned horn section. And just before the flock begins to lose faith, the song explodes into a maelstrom of blasting drums and cacophonous, sporadic vocals, then switching yet again to a softer, melodious, multi-layered (was that a harpsichord?) outro.


 The next few tracks begin with Behemoth's typical fast-paced fury, but throughout these songs is evidence of more mature songwriting;  Behemoth make much better use of dynamics in order to create tension. In Messe Noir  the highly dissonant chorus sections are lent additional heft from the light touches in between. To top it all off the whole thing ends off with this ballsy, Power-Ballad-esque guitar solo, and it just fucking works! 

 The album's title track is again atypical in its structure; the song starts off subdued and mid-tempo, reminiscent of ballad-prone Nordic death metallers Amon Amarth, and as well  showcases drummer Inferno's technical ability beyond being able to jump to ludicrous speed. The song eventually ends up in the blast zone, but the guitar work is far more melodic and the accenting horns add an extra layer of grandeur to the whole affair. In The Absence ov light kicks off with signature Behemoth fury, but then abruptly cuts to an acoustic section with Nergal reciting what I can only assume is some seriously evil, pro-Devil, not-so-pro-Catholicism shit in Polish (however, it would pretty rad if he was just rhyming off his grocery list in a spooky voice). The album  ends with arguably the strangest, and in my opinion best, song on the record, O Father O Satan O Sun!  - Choir-like vocals are layered onto Nergal's in certain sections, and the riff is reminiscent of Led Zepplin's Kashmir. Just when you think Behemoth are going to let things fade out on a sacrilegious slow jam, they kick the fucking hornet's nest one last time for good measure mid way through before heaping on an ultra groovy guitar solo. The track ends with Nergal giving what sounds like a proper Sunday sermon, where one would assume this particular pulpit is built out of goat heads. 

If you are a fan of Behemoth's previous work and are worried by my description of this album that they've gone off the Underworld reservation fear not, this is still Behemoth: crushingly heavy, blistering speed, epic grandeur, and evil as fuck. This time around, however, it's the subtle touches and spaces in between the blasts that bring it to the next level. A more mature Behemoth, if you will. Go buy this now.

Oh, and I feel it would be improper to talk about Behemoth without taking a little shot at metal fandom, especially black metal purists, who tend to poo poo Behemoth for integrating elements of death metal into their sound in the early 2000's (Behemoth''s early releases, such as From The Pegan Vastlands were straight up black metal). Because of this style change, Behemoth are apparently no longer "cool". Gents, let me fill you in on an important truth; arguing about which bands that wear face paint and costumes are cool and which are lame is akin to arguing which version of Magic; The Gathering cards to bring to highschool to get girls to like you. 

For those who are curious, Jim plays a blue/green mill deck.





 

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Dad Metal - A Maryland Death Fest playlist for my father


This May I am heading to Baltimore to attend one of the greatest North American extreme music festivals; Maryland Deathfest. Simply put, I'm pretty fucking stoked. The line up is incredible, I'm probably going to go broke buying records and merch, and the closest I've come to Baltimore is watching the first 2 seasons of The Wire in a single sitting. To be sure, these are all valid reasons to be excited, but the greatest part about this trip will be my traveling partner and Festival-buddy; my father. 

Playing and listening to music was and continues to be important to both of my parents, and from a young age good music was drilled into my brain in hopes that I'd grow up with half-decent taste (Apologies. You both tried your best.). My early birthday party soundtracks skipped between Rafi and Hendrix, Sesame Street and Three Dog Night, Sharon, Lois, and Brahm and Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young. I heard the Dead Kennedy's "Too Drunk to Fuck" for the first time in my dad's workshop when I was thirteen. Regardless of what shitty music I was listening to, or the even shittier music I'm listening to now, my father always took a "hey, not my bag, but if you are into it, that's cool" approach. That said, he's much more likely to throw on a John Prine LP then rage out to Extreme Noise Terror. Therefor, in order to prepare him for the giant wall of sound that awaits him this May, I thought I'd make him an MDF playlist! Bonding!

  1. Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats - Mt. Abraxas - This relatively new English band's blend of late 60's fuzzed out psychedelic rock and Sabbath-era early metal makes for a groovy, head-bobbing music with just the right amount of heaviness. This, the first cut off of 2013's Mind Control, is a slow-burner and I think a great way to kick things off.


2.  Windhand - Orchard - I'm a sucker for good female vocalists in heavy music, and Dorthia Corrtell's rich, haunting voice fits perfectly with Windhand's slow doom metal vibe. Dad, while the first  two songs in this playlist may seem to indicate otherwise, I am not "on the pot". I'll be sure to ramp things up past 65 BPM in track 3.


3. Antisect - The World's Biggest Runt - Excellent early English anarcho-punk. Antisect's 1983 LP In  Darkness, There is No Choice , along with Amebix's Arise are widely considered to be the recordings that kicked off the whole crust punk movement, and for that the world is a much better, stinkier place. 


4. Capitalist Casualties - On The Take - This band has been churning out furious, politically-charged hardcore punk / powerviolence since the late 80's.  Similar to Antisect, this is a group whose influence can be heard on a vast number of contemporary recordings.



5.  Black Breath - Sentenced to Life - Along with Vancouver band Baptists, Black Breath was one of the first bands to turn me on to Southern Lord records, in my opinion the reigning taste makers of contemporary heavy music. Black Breath's blend of darkened thrash and hardcore is reminiscent of Entombed, especially in guitar tone. The title track from from 2012's Sentenced To Life will make your neck sore.



6. The Secret - Angus Dei - Do you like Trap Them? Do you like All Pigs Must Die? Do you like a Spicy Meat-a-ball? Do you like Mario and Luigi? How about the Godfather movies? Do you like tired stereotypes about Italians in place of actual comedy? (Good!). Another great band from the Southern Lord roster, Italy's The Secret play that familiar blend of dark hardcore / d-beat / death metal / grind that everyone seems to be jamming to these days. Personally, the more bands like this, the better!


7. Tankard - Die with A Beer In Your Hand - An 80's German speed metal band whose every song is about alcohol. What the fuck else do you need to know?




8. Noothgrush - The Jundland Wastes - While Noothgrush have existed since the early 90's, I am a relatively new fan and only have listened to a small portion of their total output. However, I have thoroughly enjoyed everything I've heard so far, especially their recent split EP with Japanese sludge monsters Coffins. This is dark, misanthropic sludge / doom that perfectly balances the brutal, industrial levels of evil with meaty riffage.




9. Candlemass - Tot - Candlemass purists will probably be pissed I'm not picking a track off of 1987's Nightfall, but Goddamnit to I ever dig Candlemass' 1999 love letter to Black Sabbath From the 13th Sun. Björn Flodkvist's vocals on this track during the verses are ethereal,  then the guitar comes in and HOT DAMN! A crushing, Iommi-esque riff with a freaking church bell on the accents!


10. Gorguts - An Ocean of Wisdom / Battle of Chamdo-  Avant garde technical death metal from La Belle Province! This track from 2013's Colored Sands demonstrates that  beyond the insane musical ability possessed by its members, Gorguts know how to write actual songs. That might seem like an odd compliment, but too often Tech Death bands seem content to travel far up their own asses and simply mash together a bunch of "Hey,look what I can do!" sections, creating records that can be praised for the skill they demonstrate, but are ultimately real snoozers to listen to. Colored Sands keeps you engaged from start to finish. The second tune I've included, Battle of Chamdo, is a classical piece frontman Luc Lemay wrote for piano and was then performed by a string quartet for the record. beautiful stuff.




Like any list, it's clear I'm missing stuff. There are many excellent bands playing at this year's festival that are not listed here. Is there a band I simply cannot miss at MDF? Let me know in the comments! and if you are going to MDF this year, Dad and I will see you in the fucking pit! Bonding Mosh!

Monday, January 6, 2014

Shut Up and Take My Money: Cult Leader




I have a confession to make; I own a shocking amount of band merch. My wardrobe is overflowing with logo-and-appropriately toughguy hardcore silliness / gory death metal slaughterhouse diorama-emblazoned t-shirts, long sleeves, and hooded sweatershirts. My wife has resigned herself to simply shaking her head in quiet disgust when I return from a concert toting a bookbag full of things that scream "I'm an adult that makes sound decisions about how to spend our disposable income". I know I have a problem and I don't care; If I like your band, I will buy ALL of your shit. What's that? You're selling a record I already purchased on iTunes four months ago on two different colors of vinyl? In the bag, good sir. You only have XXXXXL-size T-shirts that you poorly silk-screened yourself? Fuck it, it'll shrink in the wash. You've got a signature Pez-dispenser with matching lunch box?


If there is a band whose merch table I will pillage the most in 2014 if given the opportunity, it would be Cult Leader (Yes, I did just write an entire self-absorbed paragraph just to segue into a discussion about Cult Leader. "Blog" is just an easier way to say "Narcissism"). 

Cult Leader is a relatively new band formed by three quarters of the super excellent and now-defunct Utah-based Sludge/Hardcore/Grind/Whatever act Gaza. While Gaza released three full lengths and a EP during there existence, it was 2012's "No Absolutes in Human Suffering" that really made me a huge fan; oppressively heavy, tight musicianship, smart lyrics, and it imposes an atmosphere of pure dread and fury throughout (really, fun for the whole family!). Jon Parkin's vocals don't just sound angry, they sound positively unhinged.


In March of 2013, Gaza announced they were disbanding. While the band did not provide reasons for the split, it was reported that it was in part due to allegations of sexual assault made against Parkin by a woman in Idaho. While Parkin was never charged, it seems the rest of the band decided it best to move on. I was pretty bummed, as I had missed their last trip through Montreal, however in the same month three ex-members announced the formation of Cult Leader and just last month released a track from their forthcoming debut album "Nothing For Us Here". (Link goes to video - I'm unable to embed it here for some reason.)



"Skin Crawler" gives us a good idea of what we can expect from the new record; basically Gaza 2.0 minus John Parkin, which I certainly support wholeheartedly. So far this is the album I am most looking forward to in 2014. In short, Cult Leader, play a show in Montreal this year so I can buy all of your shit. I suggest your own line of Kool-Aid and shiny robes. I would totally buy that. 



Thursday, January 2, 2014

Happy  2014, err'body! 2013 was a pretty excellent year for music, especially for fans of all things fast and heavy. I don't want to call this a "best of" list, as it's rather genre specific, but these were my 13 favorite records of the year.

13. Seven Sisters of Sleep - Opium Morals: The mark of a good doom/sludge/drone album is its ability to create a consistent atmosphere throughout the entire recording. What makes Opium Morals special is the the band's ability to inject frenetic, blast beat sections without ruining the overall flow.



12. The BCASA - Fuck You Shredder - It's a punk rock concept album about the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.  I shouldn't have to say more than that, however for those unfamiliar with the band you are in for a hell of a ride. Catchy, well written jams that have infinite replay value.



11. Toxic Holocaust - Chemistry of Consciousness - It's rather difficult to criticize Joel Grind for a lack of innovation when he successfully distills everything we love about dark d-beat / thrash on every subsequent Toxic Holocaust record. "Chemistry" is nothing new, but that's the point.



10. Weekend Nachos - Still - I have a soft spot for bands that commit to pissing off as many people as possible. Fans of the powerviolence sub-genre either love these guys, or believe they singlehandedly ruined the genre. I belong to the former camp and "Still" is another excellent offering of pissed off negative hardcore / powerviolence. Favorite Track: S.C.A.B - a song ridiculing punks for espousing political beliefs they don't understand just because it's trendy. 



9. Noisem - Agony Defined - In their debut full length, this group of young whippersnappers (I think their average age is 19) hailing from Baltimore have released quite possibly the best thrash metal album of the year. Great songwriting that displays each member's insane chops without getting masturbatory and never takes its foot off the gas pedal. Very reminiscent of "Reign in Blood"-era Slayer. Your neck will get sore from headbanging.



8. Lumbar - The First and Last Days of Unwelcome - This is a recording that requires a bit of back story to really appreciate it; Lumbar is a special side-project comprised of three members: Tad Doyle, Mike Scheidt, and Aaron Edge. While recording the music that would eventually end up on this record, Aaron Edge was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and his deteriorating condition almost prevented him from completing the project. It is clear his experiences found their way into this recording and infused it with additional emotion heft. Musically, Lumbar produces somber, atmospheric doom clearly influenced by YOB and Bothers of the Sonic Cloth, but with Edge's heavier vocals make this comparable to Eagle Twin. 



7. Ghost B.C. - Infestissumam - It is difficult to separate the band's overall aesthetic from the music. For those unfamiliar, the members of Ghost BC perform and give interviews in full costume never revealing their true identities. Their  lead singer, Papa Emeritus, and his band of Nameless Ghouls bill themselves as a Satanic cult hellbent (see what I did there?) on bringing about the destruction of the Catholic Church and paving the way for the Anti-Christ. Their music is therefor obviously 70's pop rock...wait what? To be clear, Ghost is all about the pageantry; these were a bunch of Swedish kids who saw KISS and knew what they wanted to be when they grew up. Therefor it's difficult to say whether "Infestissumam" would stand up on its own without all the inverted crosses and anti-pope stuff, but I still find it super groovy!



6. Baptists- Bushcraft - Big thanks to Shane Saunderson for putting these guys on my radar. Their first full length after signing with reigning kings of heavy Southern Lord Records and recorded at Kurt Ballou's (Converge) God City Studios, Baptists successfully marry unbridled D-beat / crust ferocity with deft musical prowess. Drummer Nick Yacyshyn, formally of mathcore band A Textbook Tragedy, is a total Goddamn beast on this record. 



5. NAILS - Abandon All Life - Using sub-genre monikers to describe NAILS' latest record wouldn't aptly explain what's going on in "Abandon All Life". Elements of Hardcore, punk rock, grindcore, powerviolence, death metal, and D-beat are present, but they seem to appear all at the same time, crammed into 10 tracks and the whole thing barely lasts 17 minutes.  If "Cave Your Goddamn Skull In-core" was a thing, this would be that thing.



4. Deafheaven - Sunbather - A bizarre merger of black metal and shoegaze, bizarre only in that Deafheaven are able to marry the two styles of music so perfectly. Sunbather is a visceral, haunting, beautiful piece of music. Of course, nothing pisses off black metal purists like innovation from a couple of un-kvlt shorthairs injecting a bunch of that girly "feelings" crap into their super serious Pagan blood rituals in mom's basement. Deafheaven seem to revel in taking a poke at Metal's grumpiest sub-genre; beyond the daylight name of the record, the album art is bright pink. U Mad Bro?



3. Dead In The Dirt - The Blind Hole - This young Atlanta-based grindcore outfit sure seems angry. I mean, if I were vegan and straight edge, I think I'd be angry all the time too. (no offence to my vegan and/or straight edge friends; please don't beat me up.). "The Blind Hole" is a misanthropic slab of grindcore filth, but the group's ability to deftly add doom and hardcore influences provides the music with a satisfying low-end heft. One of the elements that makes "The Blind Hole" so successful is the production value; the tracks are clear and levels are perfect without subtracting from the crushing, oppressive vibe. Quite the opposite, actually; eschewing the grindcore / Crust technique of making a record feel "authentic" by having it sound as if it was recorded with a Sony Walkman encased in a layer of dog poo, the added weight lent to the bass and drums allows "The Blind Hole" to deliver a much more effective gut punch.



2. Mutoid Man - Helium Head - Evil Shananigans said it best "MUTOID MAN IS FUCKING AWESOME. I’ve gushed enough about this band by giving them awards for both song and rookie of the year, but I’ll just say this – keep supporting these guys so that they want to make more music and don’t deprive the world of their audio insanity." Helium Head is a great combination of heaviness, groove, and rock-n-roll fun times. Ben Koller, one of my all-time favorite drummers, lays complete fucking waste to his kit on this record. I Think I could listen to the title track "Gnarcissist" on repeat for a month. 



1. Full of Hell - Rudiments of Mutilation - Recommending this album feels like recommending the movie "Schindler's List"; undeniably great, but not really a pleasurable experience (unless there is something fundamentally wrong with you). Full of Hell's new record is pure sonic torture meant for only the most discerning of masochists; a blend of hateful negative hardcore and experimental noise music that is more bleak and menacing than anything I've ever heard before, and a brilliant follow up to 2011's "Roots of Earth are Consuming My Home". The excellent music blog CVLT Nation summed it up nicely " this record fucks with your ears, drags them through the dirt and subjects them to all manner of agony, rage and paranoia. It is nothing short of enjoyable."   




I'm sure I missed a bunch of great stuff, so if you've got any recommendations I'd love to hear them. Let's hope 2014 is just as good for music as 2013 was!