Three Nights of Rain & Grind In Vancouver

(Erosion)

Well technically two-ish of grind, powerviolence and rain followed by one of vagrants, cold wind and punk. It's a very uncreative title.

I recently got back from Vancouver and a few nights of local live shows: Baptists’ Album Release show at the Biltmore Cabaret, followed by Iron Lung/Column of Heaven/Osk/Koszmar/Cooked And Eaten in the back of Zoo Shop records, and then a kick of show in a photo gallery in a bad part of town for White Lung’s tour. This will be a quick one followed by a few posts with actual substance and content so don’t fret as I have plans.

It’s been a while since I’ve been in Vancouver longer than a transfer between flights so I did take a chance to try the New Amsterdam Cafe finally and I also was re-acclimated to the notorious presence of the underclass on west Hastings. Both of these things were interesting as was checking out venues I had not been to. All of this was amidst the pineapple express (awful term, sorry) we were going through on the coast so constant mild rain made everything a little more uncomfortably damp than you'd like.

Sanakan’s 2012 Year End List

Late as fuck.

Before I get to my top 20 for 2012 I’m starting with an unnumbered underrated records list that accompanies my overall honorable mentions; an idea I lifted from Haxan over at Forever Cursed. A few of the records I would consider fitting for this list end up on my top 20 and as such I’ve just left them off this one.

I’m also closing this whole shitpile with a best live shows list which I thought could be fun. Since I’ve been to quite a few this past year. I'm only listing six since they stuck out the most. I would split this into two posts but why not cram it all into one wall of text.

If you don’t give a shit and want the main list scroll waaay down.

Amenra - Live (2012)

Live, ConSouling Sounds
October 2nd, 2012

Genre: Atmospheric Sludge
Region: Belgium

It's coming up on the release date for Mass V, which is up for preorder right now from Soul Slayer and Neurot Recordings. Until then we have a live record of theirs.

Eight tracks in total from four different rituals from 2007 to 2010, each show recorded and mixed by different people. The first three (De Dodenakker—Nemelendelle, Your Shapeless Pain, Aorte—Ritual) are from the visceral live show on 23.10.09 in Belgium which were captured and released on their infamous dvd, as well as their four part 7" split series. 

"Your Shapeless Pain" is easily one of my favorite Amenra songs, and hearing it altered and slowed down slightly live makes it even more powerful. "Ritual" includes guest musicians from Oathbreaker (Caro on vocals, Gilles on guitar, Kristoffer on bass, Thomas on percussion) who they've toured with often and are fantastic musicians; Caro's vocals are great especially in the context of this song. A little different from her style in Oathbreaker.

The extension of this track is wonderful — as Colin is hoisted up on the chains and members of Oathbreaker are slowly added to the stage, creating a thick layer of spellbinding chugging and pounding drums, to the final moment when Caro screams Colin's lines: "Chains encircle my broken wrists — but we can get out of them now!" Deeply cathartic.

I've already given my appraisal of the dvd and the songs on it in a previous Amenra related post (on the re-press of Mass III-II and the various splits), so I shouldn't need to say much. They're much more impacting with the footage mind you, but the weight is still clearly represented regardless.

The switch in the first track, just when the final throes of De Dodenakker begin to ramp up to those crushing riffs, to the final hypnotic riff in Nemelendelle is a great touch. The two tracks melt together seamlessly, replacing one set of excellent riffs for another.

The next three tracks (Thurifer, Silver Needle Golden Nail, Razoreater) are from a 2010 show in the Netherlands. Track s7 (Nemelendelle) is from a 2007 show in Belgium, and track 8 (Am Kreuz) is from a 2009 show yet again in Belgium. The performances here do not disappoint, and are a great selection of tracks from their best albums. Especially Thurifer, Razoreater and Am Kreuz. Hearing Nemelendelle in full as opposed to the spliced version in the first track is great as well.

I'm a fan of anything Amenra as you probably know already, so what should I say about this? The bass feels a little underrepresented in the mix on the first three tracks but I don't have many other complaints. The track list is excellent and the additions to songs here and there make things more interesting too. Colin's vocal style is probably my favorite at this point in time, and he loses none of his tortured and agonized tone live; if anything these qualities are heightened.

I've still yet to see Amenra live but this coupled with the dvd is all I have to experience until the day comes I can witness one of their rituals.

Definitely a good representation of their art in live form. I suggest you guys grab this one if you're a fan of their work. You can get a copy from Soul Slayer's store and at ConSouling Sounds, its packaging is as lovely as the sounds within. It looks like stock is running out so grab it quick if you want one.

DOWNLOAD (Mediafire)
DOWNLOAD (Zippyshare)

Anhedonist - The Drear (2010)

Demo, Self-released/Independent
August 12th, 2010

Genre: Doom Metal
Region: USA

Their first full length "Netherwards" is going to finally be released in a matter of weeks and I haven't even posted this crushing slab from 2010. Shame on me

I saw them at Rites of Darkness III last winter and they did not disappoint. In fact they decimated the venue with powerful, slow blows of melancholic doom. The Drear is three tracks that hit just over ten minutes each and they are truly something to savor. They're dark and incredibly hypnotizing as they quake with unheard of sorrow, focused into the thunderous grooves expertly. Echoing and pained hoarse vocals and slow riffs meet with they cavernous and plodding drums.

The Insatiable Hole is continuously plodding, dark and subtle with melodic undertones while Despond has a section which picks up the pace slightly in the beginning (almost hitting death metal territory) before crashing downward into low tuned agony again. The last track Ouranophobia I remember clearly from ROD III. It settles into more seriously addicting slabs as heard in the first track with a clean section near the end to heighten the incoming towering conclusion to the record.

With this demo as a solid indicator I can confidently say that Netherwards will undoubtedly be among the heaviest releases this year next to Pallbearer's "Sorrow And Extinction" and Amenra's eventual release of "Mass V". Just listen to this new track!

Get this shit now and follow them over here. The vinyl release is limited to 500 hundred on Parasitic Records so I don't know if you can still get it. If not, go fucking preorder the Netherwards cd from Dark Descent Records (and eventually on vinyl via Parasitic Records and Nuclear Winter Records). Highly recommended especially for fans of Lycus, Sound Asleep, Pallbearer, Aldebaran, Evoken, etc.

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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.

DOWNLOAD (Mediafire) (Mass III-II)
DOWNLOAD (Mediafire) (Mass IIII)

Amenra - Mass II: Sermons (2005)

EP, Consoling Sounds/Independent
January, 2005



Genre: Atmospheric Sludge
Region: Belgium

Amenra are absolutely amazing and one of my favorite bands. Passion, agony and trudging darkness permeate everything they create. They signed to Neurot Recordings after touring with Neurosis not long ago which makes me smile, and soon their next album "Mass V" is going to be released. Amenra also recently repressed Mass IIII and Mass II: Sermons on vinyl and because of all this I thought I'd throw this up with the track list of the 2008/2011 reissue (with varying quality, unfortunately).

As with all their releases Amenra create a powerful and oppressive atmosphere on this EP. There are five tracks here: two of which that were not originally on the first pressing and one that appears on Mass III (track one, From Birth To Grave). Track two is from a four-way split and is on the short side with a spoken passage. Track five is Ritual II which is ten minutes long and resembles their Afterlives EP in that is largely quiet and acoustic with clean vocals for the first four minutes, and then explodes into extended versions of the final few heavy riffs heard on the original version of Ritual — slower, like they do in truly epic live shows such as this.

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Amenra - Mass III (2005)

Full Length, Fivestar Records
May, 2005



Genre: Atmospheric Sludge
Region: Belgium

Like a dark, poisonous, bleak avalanche of pain. The atmosphere here is completely suffocating. Truly something else, I can't praise Amenra enough.

1	The Pain. It Is Shapeless. We Are Your Shapeless Pain.		10:17
2	Némelèndèlle. Twuhste En Tljiste.		7:27
3	Die Strafe. Am Kreuz. Ich Schreibe Eine Bibel In Blut.		7:11
4	Le Fils Des Faux. Il Fallait Que Je Parte pour Que Tu Viennes.		7:28
5	From Birth To Grave From Shadow To Light		5:42
6	Ritual		8:00

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Amenra - Mass IIII (2008)

Full-length, Hypertension Records

May 2008

Region: Belgium

Genre: Atmospheric Sludge

"The soundtrack to a misanthrope's hate and agony", as someone described the band. Massive stuff as the title implies. Now with the LP version of Terziele (extended).

1	Silver Needle / Golden Nail		8:24
2	Le Gardien Des Rêves		4:26
3	De Dodenakker		10:01
4	Terziele		2:46
5	Razoreater		6:49
6	Aorte Nous Sommes Du Même Sang		9:01
7	Thurifer Et Clamor Ad Te Veniat		6:43

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DOWNLOAD (Mediafire) Extended Terziele