Napalm Death – Apex Predator – Easy Meat
As always I have been eagerly awaiting the new Napalm Death lp for months. As you might have noticed, Napalm Death is my all time favourite band. And yet again they deliver as expected. I have been continuously satisfied by their releases for the past 15 years (DON’T mention their records from the 1990’s).
I have been through my intense love for Napalm Death in earlier posts, but as the big fat fanboy I am, I’ll try to expand my earlier outpourings:
Why I love Napalm Death
By Janus W. aged 44.
First and foremost; they have such a massive sound, I’m no stranger to listening to frail sounding music, but nothing pleases me as a true wall of sound (no offence, Phil Spector, but you didn’t have a clue as to what WOS is…).
Second; they play FAST – and I love speed.
Third: Barney’s and Mitch’s trade off vocals makes me sincerely happy
Fourth; they aren’t afraid to voice their opinions, in an intelligent manner too. Their lyrics have always been thought provoking and interesting.
Fifth; they are still evolving. I have a deep respect for their constant mutations, soundwise.
Sixth; c’mon, it’s motherfucking NAPALM DEATH!!!!
I shall say no more.
Well, one last thing, I’m proud (in a non nationalistic way, of course) that they have chosen Danish artists for both the cover – Frode Sylthe, and the video for Smash A Single Digit – Elf Shot Lame Witch.
As Shane told 17 year old me back in 1988, when I asked him how he got his bass sound: “If you wanna grind, you have to have distortion on the bass…”
http://www.discogs.com/Napalm-Death-Apex-Predator-Easy-Meat/release/6557389
Manfred Mann’s Earth Band – Chance
This is one of the first lps I bought after moving to Copenhagen in 1992. My girlfriend at the time – Lisa – and I discovered that we had a mutual liking for Manfred Mann. I have to admit, that the only song I had heard from Mr. Mann was Adolescent Dream, which I had taped from the radio sometime during the 1980’s. I bought this lp in a second hand record store called Accord, and was quite excited to get to hear more than the one song.
If you’re familiar with Adolescent Dream – and this album as a whole – you might understand my surprise, this wasn’t the weird electronic lp I had expected. But still a fair album, just different.
I haven’t listened to this for a decade or more, but it still has charm.
Oh, and there are sleeve notes in abundance which I dig a lot, I remember this was the first lp I saw with such.
I have to give you the lyrics for Adolescent Dream, as they’re beautiful and strange and haunting:
Adolescent Dream
You’re not the great romantic
Crystal juke-box queen
You’re not my old adolescent dream
You’re not my spiritual gypsy
My fifty Chevy Machine
You’re not my old adolescent dream
Oh no my friend
You stand above all that
You’re my life
My love
My blood
My soul
You’re not the way I planned it
The way it’s meant to be
You’re not my old adolescent dream
Oh no my friend
You stand above all that
You’re my life
My love
My blood
My soul
Oh no, you’re not my old adolescent dream
http://www.discogs.com/Manfred-Manns-Earth-Band-Chance/release/1479976
Cretin – Stranger
I have eagerly awaited this lp since Freakery came out in 2006. And this baby was worth the long wait. This lp has deservedly been featured on many top of the grind 2014-lists despite its late arrival. Good funny and catchy old school no fuss grindcore!!
The songs are honed to perfection, and the lyrics ore over the top.
And then there is the cover… I was a bit disappointed when I saw the cover online, but with the lp in my hands I’m utterly stoked. BEAUTIFUL!!
My crappy photos doesn’t do it justice, so I guess you’ll have to purchase this beast to enjoy it.
Did I mention that the lp grooves and grinds like it was 1989?
Get it!
Godflesh – A World Lit Only By Fire
This is a wet dream come true. A monolithic wet bastard of a dream. A new Godlesh lp, featuring the unholy trinity of Justin, Ben and Machine. I was deeply saddened by the 2002 message from JK that Godflesh was disbanding. God flesh was a huge part of my musical upbringing. The first record I heard was Streetcleaner back in 1989. I got it for christmas by my parents, and it was an eye opener for me. The massive monotone beats and the scorching guitar mated with that slab heavy bass.
Fast forward to present day. Back in June we got the brilliant Decline & Fall ep, which made me a very happy divorcee. Justin Broadrick has been by my side at every breakup I’ve had, and it seems fitting that Godflesh disbanded when I met my ex-wife, and released new material when we got divorced. My hippie girlfriend Mette with whom I shared 5 years back in the 1990’s was broken up with by me the the mantra “be what you are, don’t fucking care” from Love And Hate In Dub…
And now as the divorce has been dealt with, and I have moved away from my ex and my son, it is very fitting that the first lp I buy in my new home, is the new Godflesh, A World Lit Only By Fire.
I was a bit nervous when I listened for the first time. I was anxious that it might be crap. Luckily, that isn’t the case. I consider this the strongest Godflesh record since Selfless. I like the later records too, but have always had a hard time accepting human drummers in the mix.
From the very beginning feedback of New Dark Ages, I feel happy. The doomy riff on Deadend and the dark beauty of all the following tracks is a highly stimulating experience.
If you haven’t listened to Godflesh before, now is the time.
Go enjoy it on Spotify, and then go buy the record.
http://www.discogs.com/Godflesh-A-World-Lit-Only-By-Fire/release/6161200
Of course in blood red vinyl…
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
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
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.
Joel Grind – The Yellowgoat Sessions
YES!!! Thrashy blackish metalpunk! This is Bathory worship when it’s done to perfection. Joel Grind should be a household name by now, due to his merits in Toxic Holocaust. Here he is alone and darker than ever.
I had the fortune to get my mucky claws on this lp in time, as prices are getting steadily higher.
http://www.discogs.com/Yellowgoat-The-Yellowgoat-Sessions/release/4311429
Mayhem – De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas
De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas is a monolith of dark, fuzzy and creeping evil. I remember my mate Kenneth corresponding with Euronymous, and my friend Karen sleeping a night in Helvete, being freaked out by a knife flashing and mumbling guy known as Greven – The Count.
I also remember thinking that they took things way too far in Norway. When the killings and the arson was rumoured here in Denmark, I turned my back on most black metal. I have always loved Venom and Bathory though, so the frost remained in my veins – I know: 100% vn-kvlt.
During the last 5-6 years however, I have been smitten by that horned bug, and have learned to enjoy Burzum, old (and new) Darkthrone and last but not least Mayhem. Which (witch (hahaha, diabolical laughter)) brings us to the record at hand. De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas. And here it is, all the murder, arson and right-wing madness I turned my back at all those years ago. And even if I still reject the values and beliefs expressed in this record, I must admit that it is a masterpiece. Unrelenting and driving forever forward as a bloodthirsty Lovecraftian beast.
So if you have the same skepticism towards black metal as I had, I urge you – give it a try. Who knows? You might get hooked…
http://www.discogs.com/Mayhem-De-Mysteriis-Dom-Sathanas/release/2683492
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