Wednesday, June 17, 2009

CROW: Flock Of Beast 7" and SEE YOU IN HELL split 7" REVIEW

CROW: Flock Of Beast 7"

Crow: Flock Of Beast ep


Label: Prank (USA) - Prank101
Release date: May 2009

Tracklist:
side A:
•Flock Of Beast I

side B:
•Flock Of Beast II

CROW / SEE YOU IN HELL split 7"

Crow / See You In Hell split ep front


Crow / See You In Hell split ep back


Label: Phobia (Czech Republic)
Insane Society (Czech Republic)
Release date: May 2, 2009

Tracklist:
Crow side:
•Traitors
•Annihilation

See You In Hell side:
•V Zajeti
•Nadechnout Se

I am always chomping at the bit for new CROW material and when I found out that these new EPs were coming out, it was no different. For those that don't know, CROW is a Japanese band that has been releasing great material since the mid 80s. The trademark vocals are haunting and coarse...I love it. The music has transformed a bit since the early days of their DISCHARGE inspired d-beat days. For the most part, their recent stuff is crusty, metallic, dark hardcore, with a little experimentation here and there.

Each of these records come with 2 CROW songs, I have to admit, the songs on the SEE YOU IN HELL split shine a little brighter for me. The first song, "Traitors" is just fantastic. It starts off with an epic midpaced riff, that is harmonized, but then it picks up in pace. These days, "epic" and "crust" seem to scare people, but CROW defies all odds as they can do no fucking wrong. I don't feel that it takes away from their power, it just sounds wicked and haunting. Of course, I have to talk about the packaging for the SEE YOU IN HELL split. Really nice, silk screened, fold out covers, in silver ink, on black card stock. Looks great. The only little problem is that some of the type in the insert is too small and doesn't come through perfectly on the screen. The limited edition comes on red vinyl and 2 DVDs from SEE YOU IN HELL's '07 tour. It may seem like a bit much, but there is a lot of footage of many of the different great bands from their tour. Damn, I also have to mention, that the Czech band, SEE YOU IN HELL's side surprised the shit out of me. It's their best material that I have heard yet. It sounds more raw and seething than the previous efforts that I have heard. I will really be looking forward to their new releases...see if they can keep it up. I'm happy to say that their side is just as good as the CROW side. Fuck.

Ok, I just got the Prank ep today, "Flock Of Beast." When I first saw it, the cover art was a bit of a surprise, since they have never used a plain old picture of themselves live...as you can see, it's a picture of the vocalist. I usually look forward to some sick cut and paste, black/white art or even better, something hand drawn, like the demon face that they have been using on their recent releases, including both of these eps (originally from the cover of "The Door Of The End" 12" ep). Nevertheless, it still looks cool and you can't fault them for doing something different. 2 songs on this one and the songwriting is decidedly nastier than the SYIH split. Side A is a chugging, mid-paced, monster while side B picks up the pace but keeps the dark and ugly tone and ends in a mess of howling.

Both of these records are still available, and a re-mastered repress of the "Bloody Tear" 12" is coming down the pipeline as well. I'm crossing my fingers for another U.S. tour eventually, since I was a dumb ass and didn't fly to go see them when they came before.

DISCOGRAPHY:
•Who Killed Dove? 7" (1986, Crow)
•V/A Eye OF The Thrash Guerilla 12" comp tracks (1988, Selfish)
•Last Chaos 12" (Crow/Overthrow)
•The Crow 12" (Grind/Crust Records)
•Anarchy, Chaos, Destruction CD
•Death Of Nuclear Arms 7" (Crow)
•The Door Of The End 12" ep (Crow)
•Neurotic Organization 7" (Prank)
•split 7" with Artimus Pyle (Mangrove/Prank)
•Suck My Dick! comp tape (don't know anything about this one)
•V/A Cry Of Soul comp 7" tracks (Crow)
•V/A Patrick comp 7" tracks
•Live at Watts tape
•Live At Gilman DVD
•Bloody Tear CD/LP (Mangrove/Prank)
•The Vicious Dominant... tour 7" (Prank)
•Beating Of The Wings OF Destruction 12" (Crow)
•split 7" with See You In Hell (Phobia/Insane Society)
•Flock Of Beast 7" (Prank)

9 comments:

  1. Are you getting any copies of the SYIH/Crow split?

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  2. I do plan on getting some, I emailed the label, trying to work it out now. Keep an eye on on the Solar Funeral news page.

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  3. It looks like the label is sold out, they are working on a 2nd press. When that happens, I will try to get some.

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  4. Happy to see that you dedicated one or two sentences to our shitty band as well. By the way when praising the split EPs cover, who the fuck you think did all this artwork - CROW or that unknown band from Czech?
    Filip/SYIH

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  5. Greetings Filip! Yeah, these reviews were more about Crow, since I am a Crow fanatic. I assumed it was either Mirek/Phobia or SYIH that came up with the fold out design and took care of the screen printing for the split with Crow. Especially since the SYIH Utok! lp had a cool, handmade cover for the limited version. The handmade care definitely looks more in line with something you guys would do, but I didn't really know for sure, so I didn't comment on it. I actually have the Utok! and Umet Se Prodat LPs and I like them. But I think you guys really nailed it with the recording on this recent split. Take care, I will be looking forward to your future releases.
    //Dennis

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  6. cover art was done by comics artist from czech (i forgot the name -- Filipe?? :-))) and the whole idea how the cover looks is from Barvak / Insane Society ... I´m only looser who paid part of press :-)))
    Mirek / Phobia Records

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  7. Yeah, Mirek/Phobia said it all... the general idea of the cover was Barvaks one (inspired by ltd. SEPTIC DEATH 7" on Pusmort), the idea of the front picture was mine and Milan Sodoma, really talented Czech comix artists put it to reality... needless to say we are really satisfied. When I met CROW in person back in Dacember in Toyko and asked them to send some artwork for cover they seemed to have no idea at all about it, so we took it to our hands completely... I am glad you like it and that you like some SYIH stuff as well. Check out the v/a SPALTE BRNO NA PRACH LP where we have one song as well in similar style as this split!
    FiliP/SYIH

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  8. Thanks for the information, guys...really great job on this one.

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  9. CROW 's "Flock Of Beast" 7" has just been re-pressed on Clear vinyl on Prank Records. www.prankrecords.com

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