Condemned? – Humanoid or Biomechanoid?
Back in the olden days, I was a big fan of Attitude Adjustment and Attitude?. Condemned? is the band bassist Keith Chatham made after a relocation to Australia. Attitude? was for a brief time called Condemned Attitude, and the bands recorded some of the same songs. I might be mistaken on some of this, as I have this information from my faulty memory of articles read in xeroxed punk/hardcore mags 20-odd years ago. And it seems to be quite wrong, read their real bio here: https://www.facebook.com/condemned/info?tab=page_info
I ordered this lp at Radio Holm in Ribe, but forgot to pick it up, and later discovered it in the bargains crate – my luck. Musically it is dark, spaced out and a tiny bit experimental crossover.
Nevertheless, this is a good record, that still gets frequent spins.
Condemned? are still active and in 2011 released the excellent Condemned 2 Death cd.
http://www.discogs.com/Condemned-Humanoid-Or-Biomechanoid/release/4383514
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
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!
Sete Star Sept/Lotus Fucker – Supplication/Destroy All Music Now
This is a record I have been having dirty thoughts about since I heard of it. Unfortunately it was sold only on the Sete Star Sept 2014 North American tour, (comes with tour poster), and I am kinda living in Denmark, with no funds for going to a noisecore show on another continent.
Luckily my good friend Josh of Limbs Bin had the privilege of being the opening act for Sete Star Sept and Lotus Fucker in NYC, and he was kind enough to purchase this marvelous split for me. And slap my ass and call me Charlie if obtaining this isn’t well worth the trouble. Both bands deliver top work. An interesting detail is that 7S7 emulate Lotus Fucker’s hardcore, and Lotus Fucker in turn emulate the trademark 7S7 noisegrind. Also they have swapped artwork style.
I’m too stoked to write more, I’ll have yet another listen instead.
http://sphc.bigcartel.com/product/sete-star-sept-lotus-fucker-split-7
I couldn’t find a vid from this particular split, and I have chosen to link to a Lotus Fucker video instead, as I love the band a lot, and want to share the joy. And let’s face it, everybody knows how Sete Star Sept sounds…
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…
Myrkur – Myrkur
Vær hilset. Ever since I saw Relapse Records promoting this ep, I’ve been intrigued. I’ve also worried that it would be crap. I got the record in the mail today, and I’m happy to say that it is in fact quite good. It even has the potential to grow on me I suspect. I really like the spheric vocals, and the drums (that some people dislike) sounds fine and groovy to me. The songs are good, and the musicianship fine for this old grinder. I might give this ep an extra review later on, when I have had the chance to delve into its depths. The kvtl/vn-kvlt-ness of this record is of no significance to me. I think this is a good black metal record, and I look forward to hearing more from her in the future.
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
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
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