Blockheads – This World Is Dead
At first I bought this as mp3’s, then I bought the cd, and now I have bought the lp. That’s how good this album is. From the opening song Deindividualized though the next 23 perfect grindcore songs to doom-ish closer Trail of the Dead, this is a solid album. Shame on me, but I had never heard of Blockheads before this was released, which serves to prove that I really am in the know about grindcore… That aside, it is always great to learn of new music. And I have a vain hope that this blog sometimes give my readers the urge to listen to unknown stuff. That way I try to give back all the good experiences other bloggers have given me throughout the years.
As a new thing on Vinyllistener, I’ll try to embed a video from the record.
This is pure grind, not many traces of metal, and plenty of sexy breaks. The vocals are varied, and the playing is super tight. I’m crazy about the cover too, very disturbing image – much more so than the usual grim shit.
http://www.discogs.com/Blockheads-This-World-Is-Dead/release/4267853
Nails – Obscene Humanity & Abandon All Life
http://www.discogs.com/Nails-Obscene-Humanity/release/4134543
http://www.discogs.com/Nails-Abandon-All-Life/master/530528
Nails are to me a very anonymous band. I know next to nothing about them, and I’m not curious. But I like these two slabs o’ wax. A lot. Fast and fierce hardcore with elements of grindcore.
I honestly can’t rcall how I heard about them, I guess it could have been in a Decibel Magazine, or a review on the grindtodeath.com blog. But I can’t be bothered to find out.
The anonymity and my disinterest in knowing about the band even stretches to me not knowing to lyrical content or their world view. Things that normally are important to me. But you see, the music does an excellent job in itself, and I’m afraid to break the spell, if I start reading about them. I like the innocence in it, like it was back in the pre-internet days, where you sometimes got a tape in the mail, with music on it, about which you knew nothing – and had no means to gather information about. All you had was a band name and some titles, and that’s the relationship I want from Nails. All dirty fast sex and no emotions. And that is what I get.
About these two records, I like both a lot, but favor Abandon All Life just a tiny bit over Obscene Humanity.
Nothing to see here, please disperse, daddy’s getting fucked.
Agoraphobic Nosebleed – Agorapocalypse
I was hugely disappointed when this lp came out. It put me off Agoraphobic Nosebleed for quite a while. But time mellows all feelings, and in recent months I have come to embrace the re-invented thrashy ANb.
The addition of Katherine Katz to the line-up, is a good thing. She sounds all sorts of pissed off, and easily matches the venom of Richard Johnson and James Randall. Scott Hull plays and programs like an evil genius.
I’d really like to go to Maryland Death Fest 2015 and see them live, but I fear my meager funds won’t get me there.
About Agoraphobic Nosebleed; I got into them quite late, I read about them in Albert Mudrian’s excellent book Choosing Death in 2004, and was intrigued by the notion of drum machine grind. Especially since I had plans of my own to make some machine-grind of my own.
The first ANb record I bought was Frozen Corpse Stuffed With Dope, then Honky Reduction, and then I began collecting their 7”s. Currently I have 26 Agoraphobic Nosebleed releases in my collection, but that includes multiples of their albums (cd/vinyl) and compilations.
http://www.discogs.com/Agoraphobic-Nosebleed-Agorapocalypse/release/1733308
Slayer – Show No Mercy
This record is in my opinion Slayer’s best work. Not that I’ve heard it all, mind you, but the punky ferocity on this lp hasn’t been matched by the band in their other works. And as you might have gathered from my previous posts on this blog, I have a certain fondness for having quite a bit of punk in my metal.
I heard this lp for the first time at my friend Ken’s house. We spent many hours obsessing over various records, and i recall Show No Mercy to be one of our absolute favorites. The thing was, that back then in 1985 you only had access to the music you – or one of your friends owned. There was radio, true, but Danish radio have always been more about gumpetung blues rock and weak pop than metal and punk. The only exception was Thursday evening’s Cementmix hosted by Katrine Ring and Alex Nyborg Madsen. I’m sure it was in a Cementmix we heard Slayer for the first time. I remember thinking they had more punch than Metallica. The music was menacing, and unlike anything else I had heard at the time. But it was still catchy and groovy, so instant win.
I had many years where I was disgusted with Slayer, but Agoraphobic Nosebleed’s cover of The Antichrist from Show No Mercy rekindled my old love. The ANb cover can be heard on their split with Halo:
http://www.discogs.com/Agoraphobic-Nosebleed-Halo-Untitled-Raping-The-Raper/master/10970
The reason for me spinning this lp today is that I’m binge watching Californacation, and the main character Hank Moody’s novels are called South Of Heaven, Seasons In The Abyss and God Hates Us All. All names of Slayer lps.
So here I am on a monday afternoon, unable to go to work due to a nasty eye infection, listening to Show No Mercy.
The version I have, is the grey vinyl Back On Black reissue. Strangely enough it is only now I own this record. I should have bought it 30 years ago…
Ghost – Opus Eponymous & Infestissumam
I have taken a long time to get to writing about my love for Ghost. But now I’m ripe.
Ghost is a Swedish heavy metal band. Little is known about the true identities of the members, who guise as Nameless Ghouls (instruments) and Papa Emiritus II (vocals).
They have released two albums, and this entry is about them both.
Opus Eponymous is their first lp. It deals heavily with satanic and carnal matters. The music is incredibly groovy. I read about Ghost when this was released, and gave the record a spin on Spotify. But I wasn’t in the mood for it, and dismissed it as wannabe Mercyful Fate. Then their second lp Infestissumem came out, and I stumbled upon a nifty yellow vinyl edition one day and had some change in my pocket. So I bought it, and was blown away. To be honest, I have always loved music with a satanic edge. I am not a satanist, but as you can see on this blog, I often listen to satanic music. And when I hear mainstream-ish music with satanic messages, I’m sold.
I have also always had a soft spot for bands in disguises, I have loved KISS since Unmasked came out in 1980. So apart from the sexy satanism and the groovy 1970’s heavy rock, the fact that the members are anonymous really makes me happy.
Acoording to my last.fm stats, I’ve listened to Ghost 317 times, and that’s only the digital plays… Baby – Daddy’s HOOKED.
My last.fm: http://www.last.fm/user/Sortebob
Opus Eponymous: http://www.discogs.com/Ghost-Opvs-Eponymovs/release/3818761
Infestissumem: http://www.discogs.com/Ghost-Infestissumam/release/4613550
Jucifer – Throned In Blood
This is some dirty, gritty shit. Very highly recommended. I have been into Jucifer for a few years, I like their very personal take on all things metal and punk. I hope to see the live in Copenhagen some day.
http://www.discogs.com/Jucifer-Throned-In-Blood/release/2232541
Machetazo – Mundo Cripta
Machetazo are one of my favorite bands. Sadly they have just announced their disbanding.
They play classic Carcass-clone goregrind, and do it very well.
I have a soft spot for Carcass-clones, General Surgery, Haemorrhage, The County Medical Examiners and Impaled to name some of the best.
http://www.discogs.com/Machetazo-Mundo-Cripta/release/1827038
Sete Star Sept – Visceral Tavern
Such a gruesome scene. And while the zombies eat, Kiyasu and Kae spiller op til dans.
Side A is a lot of short noisegrindy tracks. Side B is… weird.
Good record though.
http://www.discogs.com/Sete-Star-Sept-Visceral-Tavern/release/4645433
Pharmakon – Abandon
This lp is so menacing and ubekvem to listen to. It reminds me somewhat of Gnaw Their Tongues but is much more minimal and focused.
All four songs here are intense. As well as the cover which shows Pharmakon mastermind Margaret Chardiet’s body covered in maggots.
Get this. Also on Spotify.
Bathory – Bathory
Aaaaargh. This is a sweet lp. From beginning to end, it oozes evil.
No Yellowgoat – but the crosseyed goat looks good in white too.
Now Playing Records 