Made Out Of Babies - Coward (2006)

Full Length, Neurot Recordings
September 18, 2006

Genre: Sludge/Post-Hardcore
Region: USA

Another band I've been hearing about for a while but neglected to check out, regretfully indeed. This is some sick stuff that straddles the sounds of angular hardcore like Narrows and bizarre doom like Battle of Mice and Neurosis.

What is immediately notable is the vocals of Julie Christmas which are strangely beautiful, piercing and a little disturbing; fitting in excellently amongst the dissonant and devastating guitar leads. I remember disliking her style while she was in Battle of Mice but that has since changed and I guess I just didn't realize she was playing in this band, otherwise I would've been all over this sooner. She keeps it melodic and clean to great effect until suddenly tumbling into a more harsh and creepy style for brief moments. Probably not for everyone.

This (like everything on Neurot) is difficult to place as just hardcore or just sludge so it can be expected that you'll be surprised. And again the sludge moments do remind me of Neurosis and Battle of Mice while the hardcore influence could be compared to Narrows or to a lesser extent Kiss It Goodbye (minus the intense and unbeatable anger) but that's about all I could compare it to — and vaguely at that. Great writing and pacing as well as unique sound. Go to Neurot to get a copy.

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Monkeypriest - The Psalm (2011)

Full Length, Féretro Records
2011

Genre: Sludge/Doom Metal
Region: Spain

I should be working on a paper but instead I'm listening to this and the new Leviathan album (which I'll get around to posting but you can find it over at our friend Forever Cursed).

What we have here is a plodding band from Spain that takes the sludge from Seven Sisters of Sleep and tears away the hardcore element leaving thick billowing clouds of heaviness in its stead (not unlike Canada's Weirding to some extent). Simple and satisfying all the way through with a few nice surprises. Slow dirty riffs, raspy vocals and steady pounding drums echoing from the bowels of a long-forgotten temple.

Opening with the ominous droning of a monk, The Psalm has seven tracks (including a Cerebral Fix cover) that all hit just under the seven minute mark, ending with a ten minute final track including vocals from Marco of the Spanish doom outfit Orthodox. The cover gives you a good impression of how the album sounds and feels. You can get a copy at their shop right here.

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The Axis of Perdition - Tenements (Of the Anointed Flesh) (2011)

Industrial/Atmospheric Black Metal

England

224 kb/s

The Axis of Perdition has for a long time been one of my favorite black metal bands, ever since I listened to their first LP, The Ichneumon Method (And Less Welcome Techniques). That album and their EP, Physical Illucinations in the Sewer of Xuchibara (The Red God) were extremely chaotic with harsh distorted vocals and with dark ambient whip cream. Their second LP, Deleted Scene from the Transition Hospital drifted towards more dark ambient and less black metal. And Urfe was almost a straight up audio book.

So this album, is kind of a surprising turn backwards. With some new twists. I can't really compare this album their previous works at all except for a few small details. Yes, this is harsh atmospheric scary black metal like The Ichneumon Method but it's as chaotic. You can find better comparisons from the band Blut Aus Nord. At first, I didn't like the idea and almost blew the album off. But I gave it another listen and it grew on me. So you guy's should give it a try and listen for yourselves.

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Jääportit / Umbra Nihil / Aarni / Caput LVIIIm - Tribute to H.P. Lovecraft - Yogsothery - Gate 1: Chaosmogonic Rituals of Fear (2010, Split)

Funeral Doom, Dark Ambient, Psychedelic, Drone

Finland

320 kb/s

From what I got, my friend found this album and bought on impulse. He gave it to me and said "I totally had to show you this." I'm glad he did, I'm a sucker for H.P. Lovecraft shit. At first, I wasn't expecting much but when I finally listened it grew on me. It's haunting, trippy, and very sifi. Basically what I feel when I read a story by Lovecraft. The track I have a problem with is Lovecraft Knew, as Aarni sounds kind of weak compared to the other artists here.

“Yog-Sothoth knows the gate. Yog-Sothoth is the gate. Yog-Sothoth is the key and guardian of the gate. Past, present, future, all are one in Yog-Sothoth. He knows where the Old Ones broke through of old, and where They shall break through again. He knows where They have trod earth's fields, and where They still tread them, and why no one can behold Them as They tread.”

H. P. Lovecraft, The Dunwich Horror

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Oxbow - An Evil Heat (2002)

Full Length, Neurot Recordings / Hydra Head Records
March 19th, 2002

Genre: Avant-garde/Noise-Rock/Sludge
Region: USA

If you haven't already seen or picked up a copy of the recent fantastic underground music industry documentary film Blood, Sweat & Vinyl: DIY in the 21st Century then I suggest you do so. For a while I've been hearing about this band Oxbow but only in vague mentions. Having received my copy of said documentary I was better introduced to them through it and I was surprised, confused and compelled by what I heard. Specifically their passionate live performance of Stallkicker and the vocalist's presence.

Apparently Oxbow been around for a while, jumping between Neurot and Hydra Head making some bizarre yet heavy noise-rock/psychedelic sludge, with a lead singer (Eugene S. Robinson) that is absolutely insane. What they remind me of is Daughters and their oddness if they slowed it down, went in a psyche-sludge direction, and had far more sexual undertones.

Similar to Neurosis they're impossible to describe accurately.  Likewise An Evil Heat is hard to describe without repeating myself. I'll just say it's not for everyone, you'll either love it or absolutely hate it, and the final track is a 32 minute tribal vocal/drum drone fest which is much different from the rest of the album; guaranteed to put you into a trance. Get a copy of the cd over at Neurot Recordings.

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Heresiarch - Hammer of Intransigence (2011)

EP, Dark Descent Records / Satanic Skinhead Propaganda
October, 2011

Genre: Death Metal
Region: New Zealand

Still waiting on my copy to arrive but since it's floating around out there already I might as well get it up. Their demo was promising and this takes another step forward with their sound. Containing members of the no bullshit death metal group Diocletian, Hammer of Intransigence is a destructive EP indeed. Not terribly unique but it packs quite a punch without a doubt.

It really isn't necessary for me to say much about this one. You already know if you'll like this or not but if you need a taste check out Carnivore, and if you do indeed like what you here support them by going to Dark Descent or Vault of Dried Bones to pick up some of their merch. The guys on both those labels are acquiring some excellent bands recently.

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Thrones / Sedan - Split (2011)

Split,  Joe Preston's Solid Gold Recordings
April 24th, 2011

Genre: Doom/Drone/Post-Rock
Region: USA

Since I didn't see this up elsewhere yet I figured I'd put it up here. I think it's vinyl only so yeah.

Joe Preston is a nice guy and has made heavy tunes for a long time. Both shows I've been to he puts on a great set and acts quite friendly before, during, and after all the doom.

This is his most recent release with a band called Sedan which I don't know anything about. They seem to be a instrumental/post-metal-ish band and offer up one 12 minute track "Erdman Set : El Jefe" to coincide with Joe's 14 minute spacey, droney, alienesque song "Bridal Veil". It's much quieter and ambient than Sedans side and has the trippy voice modulation found on tracks like Obolous. Sedan's track is surprisingly good, nice drumming and quite atmospheric with an 'ancient' psychedelic vibe around it (like a tamed Grails).

You can get a copy from him on his recent tour or over here.

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Gates - A Precessional Winter (2011)

Full Length, ASTRAL RA / Ivory Antler Records
June 21th, 2011

Genre: Drone/Doom/Noise/Ambient
Region: Canada

I've seen the 'spectral doom' ensemble Gates three times now (most recently last night) and honestly they get more dark, intense, loud and fierce every single time. Last night they tore the venue down and drowned it in waves of suffocating/oppressive noise and drone, performing a slight variation on this album (and thus of They Hide In The Shadows as well to some degree). Visual evidence from the show can be found here and here in two parts. It was quite an experience. If you ever get a chance to see them live don't hesitate.

This is a 2010 live recording of the album "Moths Have Eaten The Core", very limited (30 copies originally self-released from ASTRAL RA) though there are still a few copies floating about at live shows and Ivory Antler Records (who are repressing the aforementioned album) — I highly suggest grabbing one. Extremely loud and raw, paced well and engrossing. These guys deserve your attention and support so follow them here for updates (or listen here) and do what you can because they're doing something different, and doing it very well consistently.

"Recorded at a show last November as the snow began to fall. This one was the first performance where it all really came together. A fairly raw, rough document of the evening and of a developmental point in Gates growth as a live ensemble."

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Amenra - Mass III-II + IIII (2011)

Compilation, Tokyo Jupiter Records
October, 2011

Genre: Atmospheric Sludge
Region: Belgium

Yes I'm posting Amenra again. Why would anyone complain? I don't know.

This is the recent re-release/remaster of Mass III-II + Mass IIII from Tokyo Jupiter Records. If you don't have a copy of it (cd/vinyl) I suggest picking this one up from them, especially if you're not in North America. This contains the live variation of "Shapeless Pain" from their 23.10 Live Ritual DVD which is slower, more intense, and absolutely devastating. Colin's vocals are unbelievable.

I've posted both albums before but you can never have enough Amenra — never. Their next Mass is my most anticipated album for next year easily. To put it bluntly: they are unarguably one of the heaviest bands on the planet right now. Steve Von Till (Neurosis), Dwid Hellion (Integrity) and Jacob Bannon (Converge) concur:

"Amenra is deep, and real, and moving, and incredibly inspiring. A heavy, sonic spiritual quest awaits you at Mass in the Church of Ra" - Steve Von Till

"Mass IIII is the music within the darkest black dream" - Dwid Hellion

"Amenra in my opinion are one of the most interesting and powerful bands in aggressive music" - Jacob Bannon

Support them. Enough said.

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Gadget - Remote (2004)

Full Length, Relapse Records
February 16th, 2004

Genre: Grindcore
Region: Sweden

I can't believe I haven't posted this yet, I love this record. Gadget aren't very well known but they put out some top-notch grindcore, carving out a unique sound in an overcrowded genre.

Remote is filled with brilliantly written, furious, occasionally technical riffs and monstrous drumming and vocals, as well as a few brief moments of slower/sludgy tracks that break up the blasting appropriately ( "Failure" and the closer "Tema: Skit" are great examples). I highly recommend this one. Any fan of the genre should definitely give this a try as I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

Get a taste at their bandcamp.

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