3/29 Columbus @LOD - HUNTED DOWN (NY), FUMES, FUTURE SHOCK

INFEST - Slave 12" OTD

I had this photo sitting on my desktop, might as well post it up on here. In the early 90s, I thought Miner was insane for buying this record at a NYC store for $20, I probably mocked him for it. It was the cool 2nd press blue/toothpaste version with blue on one side and the toothpaste color on the other. At that time, new HC LPs were $5, so $20 was kinda nuts. Years later, I was the one with the egg on my face, because I didn't own this record until the Draw Blank/Deep Six repress came out 14 years later.  >:(

Fast forward another 10 years, my sins having been paid/cleansed, I finally get the record. This is a nice little collage of an INFEST cosmic blast that all came together due to universal alignment. The poster was bought separately, this is the black vinyl version of the first pressing, I believe the mail order color vinyl versions only came with the poster.

Of course the shirt is not original (sorry, Joe D/Matt D) but I could not resist. I guess most people now know that INFEST is playing Maryland Death Fest and Chaos In Tejas this year (2013), better get in the merch line now.

By the late 90s, I had grown very tired of all the bands barking up INFEST's tree and failing miserably...but this band's greatness can not be denied! This LP should be in every household...kind of like a toaster oven. Beware the bootlegs, there were some made to look like the pressing you see here.

Go here for the ultimate INFEST maniac blog:
DEDICATED TO SOCIETY

5 / 5 bells

DUH

SOCIETY NURSE 12"

SOCIETY NURSE 12"
(Iron Lung Records//USA)

I loved this Seattle hardcore band's first EP and this 12" was everything I wanted it to be, even considering that there is a new vocalist. This 10 song record has a great flow to it, you get the feeling that these songs were all carefully crafted with the goal of putting out a record that is meant to be seen as a singular piece...with just the right amount of tempo changes and textures. I get a big MECHT MENSCH vibe and that's just fine by me. Of course the Matt Adis artwork is great. I really can't find anything bad to say about this record!

For now, only the record release versions are out there (#'d out of 75), but I understand the plan is to have the record available for the masses by the time they play their east coast US shows in the early part of 2013.

4.5 / 5 bells

NEGATIVE APPROACH in Columbus @Ace Of Cups 8/30/12

SATAN'S SATYRS-Wild Beyond Belief LP

 SATAN'S SATYRS-WILD BEYOND BELIEF LP

(2012,Trash King Productions//USA)

Im gonna jump back in the fire to review this LP before Solar D gets ahold of it. SATAN'S SATYRS hail from northern Virginia and it looks like its one guy playing all the instruments. This rock n roll weirdo goes by the name Claythanas, and I hope he lives in his mom's basement. Burnt and blown-out horror psych. Super catchy fuzz riffing with intense wah-wah axe soloing. The vocals are spewed and the organs are crude.  Don't detect any direct influences, but I bet dude dosed on Blue Cheer, Venom and Misfits a few times. At first I thought they sounded like Midnight, but S.S. has a more '60s helter skelter vibe and drumming style that sets them apart from more "metal" acts. Top notch shit right here. Heavy duty LP jacket with cool '60s biker horror poster for your wall in mom's basement. Another hit from Trash King out of DC.
 
4.5 / 5 bells

BIG EYES - Back From The Moon 7", BLOODY GEARS - Frozen Rain 7", BAD ADVICE - Do Not Resuscitate 7", SECTARIAN VIOLENCE s/t 7"

Here we have 4 new EPs sent to me from Grave Mistake.

 

BIG EYES - Back From The Moon 7"
(2012, Grave Mistake//USA)

Ok, first off, I am really not used to listening to stuff like this, so I am probably going to lack the language to talk about this record in a way that would satisfy the band or fans of the band. Now that the disclaimer is over, I have never heard this band before, but I like it. It's poppy, catchy, sweet, honest sounding, fun punk rock. 2 songs from this Seattle group, it looks like this record came out to accompany them on their Midwest tour in May of this year. The record sounds modern but disregards most of the annoying aspects of popular poppy punk music these days. It sounds like they draw heavily on 60s and 70s music, and that is always a good thing, in my book. BIG EYES has a catchy and smooth sound that remind me of THE ODD NUMBERS, I can't imagine any fan of poppy punk not liking this record.

4 / 5 bells

 

 

BLOODY GEARS - Frozen Rain 7"
(2012, Grave Mistake//USA)

This is an EP of dark, melodic punk from Boston, it looks like Ryan Abbott (Side Two, Failures, Social Circkle, etc) has been busy the past couple years, he drums in this band and recorded this EP. I hate to do the obvious, but a WIPERS reference is going to be unavoidable for most people that hear this record, from the vocals to the guitars and drums (but maybe that was the whole point?). Side A, the title track, is a great, moody, slow burn that makes this EP worth it, on its own. It says "single mix," so I have to assume that this will sound a little different than how it appears on their LP. The other side has 2 songs more on the upbeat side of things that continue to nail THE WIPERS sound. This is great stuff, I am really curious to hear the LP, Landscapes Of Disease. In that record, I hope that more of their own personality shines through it so I can enjoy it as a BLOODY GEARS record and not a band that simply sounds like THE WIPERS, but I suspect that the length on an LP will give them more room to show what they are all about.

4 / 5 bells

 

 

BAD ADVICE - Do Not Resuscitate 7"
(2012, Grave Mistake//USA - Tension Head//USA)

Well done, faithful early 80s style USHC 7" from members of GOVERNMENT WARNING, DIRECT CONTROL, THE LADIES, and some others. I assume the intent with this band was to create an early US hardcore worship band and I could see some people hearing this and asking themselves what long lost US82 record this is and why are they playing so well? So I guess I would say they hit the mark without fail. Bands like this are a crap shoot for me, you could almost flip a coin and achieve similar predictability on if I will like a band like this or not. This type of thing is so nuanced, it could be something so small as the way the drummer uses the high hat or kick drum that could turn me off, the way the vocals were recorded, or the way the guitarist is picking, but this record works for me, it sounds midwestern to my ears, which is home to most of my favorite early 80s USHC bands: NEGATIVE APPROACH, THE FIX, KORO, DIE KREUZEN, etc, so that wins extra points for me. This is a good 4 song 7" but I think I would have really been blown away by this if they were able to cram about 10 high quality songs that didn't let up on this platter. Fans of this style should give this a shot, I don't think you will be disappointed.

4 / 5 bells

 

 

SECTARIAN VIOLENCE s/t 7"
(2012, Grave Mistake//USA)

This looks to be a project band with members ranging from the US, the UK and Sweden. Burly, 6 song hardcore EP (1 instrumental), and they just completed a tour in the US to coincide with the record being released. I would imagine that you would probably find many fans of this record, as it is well played and brings the mosh that people around here want to hear. Sadly for me, this record is in one ear and out the other, just not very interesting to me; the predictable riffs, the mosh parts, the sound, and the lyrics. I guess I am just not crazy about the style and influences that I am hearing to really get into a record like this that isn't really doing anything new. I am sure this EP was fun to make and I hope the tour was great and all the best to them, that's what I assume this was all about anyway...I can't hate on them for that.

2.5 / 5 bells

New TRAUMA & TRAGEDY LPS

TRAUMA 12"
(Feral Ward//USA)

I admit, at first listen, I just thought the demo was "good" but wasn't blown away, then a few months ago once I heard that the Trauma LP was about to come out, I played it again, but LOUD this time and it clicked better for me, and got me pumped for the LP. I remember thinking that the vocals were probably going to be what would make or break the LP. I picked this up at the Columbus Tragedy show on 5/17 and I am happy to say that I was not let down. The sound is perfect and the vocals are strong and catchy. If you are looking for no frills hardcore punk with no gimmicks, here it is. This is Billy (Tragedy/Deathreat) on guitar and Todd (Tragedy/Deathreat) on drums with a member of the classic 80s Portland HC group, Final Warning on vocals. If this isn't trebly or mysterious enough for you, I feel sorry for you. Raging Portland HC at its best. Imagine a more raw and stripped down Deathreat, if you will. You should be able to get this soon from Feral Ward and various stores & distros.

4 / 5 bells

 

 

TRAGEDY - Darker Days Ahead 12"
(Tragedy Records//USA)

Holy shit there are tons of garbage reviews and blogtalk about this record out there. Indie blogs are all talking about this "secret" hardcore band Tragedy that the reviewer found out about through crusted-blackened handshakes and back alley dealings. Ok, I get that you need to cover this record, but come on, find someone that knows something about hardcore or the history of the band or the style of music to write about it. Fuck.

Picked this up as well at the show in Columbus. The CD version has a nice digipack tri-fold with letterpressing and the LP version has a great textured sleeve. Word is, the LP will be remixed or remastered for the official version, I am not sure which, but in listening to it, it doesn't sound much different than the CD version to my ears, so I am guessing that a remix is what we are headed for. Not that I think it sounds bad.

Kudos to them, this is their 4th lp in 10+ years of existence and I can completely understand the want to do something different. The Death Side and Japanese HC influence is almost gone as there is only one song with fast (ie thrashin') parts, and in its place, I hear a lot of Killing Joke, Amebix, High On Fire and Bolt Thrower. Yes...BOLT THROWER...a lot of it. Ever since I saw Matt Pike (High On Fire) tell the sound guy at a show to put on the s/t Tragedy LP some years ago, I could see a little circle of influence that the two bands started having on each other. Especially on Nerve Damage for Tragedy, and on this new album it is glaringly obvious. I have to admit, on first listen, I wished at different times for a classic Tragedy Japanese HC style ripper, but then it was "Oh shit, nevermind, this part is sick." The title track, "Darker Days Ahead" is by far my favorite, it is a Killing Joke style headbanging mechanical anthem that can easily stand up there with the best songs in their catalogue. "We never think of the future. It comes soon enough" has been echoing in my head for days. I love the 2nd song, you know the one that usually has a fist pumping, headbanging pace on their albums...and of course, the Motorhead style stomper, "Power Fades" is another immediate stand out for me. The only song I am not real crazy about is "The Feeding Hour," but one out of 4 albums and 2 7"s is nothing to cry about.

In truth, this still sounds like the same band; just imagine an album full of the slower and mid paced songs from the 1st 2 records with a modern day doom metal drum sound and a little more experimentation with the guitar riffs. The guitar sound is similar, the lyrics and vocals are of the top quality that I have come to expect from this band (Todd with the Entombed-howls and Billy with the Bastard-growls). The only thing that could really make me like this more is if they had a couple fast hardcore tunes on here, but maybe that would have been at odds with some of the production values they chose (they recorded with Billy Anderson instead of Polymorph this time). I think some people are not going to like this, but then again others will love the freshness and new direction.

Steel your patience and withold your Ebay dollars from the flipper-scum, this will be widely available soon enough.

4 / 5 bells

PITCHFORK SHOULD BE DESTROYED (...oh, and there's a new VOID LP)

Out now: VOID - Sessions 1981-83 LP
Available now from Dischord Records.

 

Killer demos, out takes and live tracks compiled for one of the best hardcore punk bands of all time. If you have never heard VOID, you should probably check out the split LP with FAITH first, but if you are a VOID fan, I would say this is essential. I just got my copy in the mail yesterday and immediately blasted it. Some more liner notes and a more classic looking cover would have been cool, but you will hear no more complaints from me, this is a great testament to these young lads lashing out in frustration in the early 80s. Hey, it was a time of Moral Majority scrutiny, fear of Nuclear Holocaust and Jams®; so there was a lot to be pissed about. It's really cool getting a nice sounding copy of early versions of these classic songs and some other shit that I haven't heard before. I still remember the first time I heard VOID, I was not ready for the unhinged, savage, clusterfuck that was about to smash my face with no impunity.

Oh, and some of you might get lucky and get a copy on red vinyl that seem to be randomly popping up.

Here is the Dischord description:
Sessions 1981-83 features 34 tracks including: 20 tracks recorded in November 1981 by Steve Carr at Hit and Run Studios (never before released); 10 tracks Recorded and Mixed in December 1981 at Inner Ear Studios (including the Flex Your Head cuts and the songs that ended up on the Condensed Flesh 7”); 2 tracks recorded in June 1982 at Inner Ear Studios by Don Zientara (out-takes from the Faith/Void LP); 2 live tracks from 1983. The LP edition features a free MP3 download.

 

Fans of the band, do yourself a favor, and avoid reading this article at all costs. Unless you want to read some boring trype (the exact opposite of VOID) written by some MASTADON FAN talking about WAVVES, PRURIENT and JOHN COLTRANE for some reason. Seriously PITCHFORK, stick to hyping shitty indie records and leave the real shit alone:
PITCHFORK ARTICLE

The best part of the insert:

PERDITION: East Coast Tour Tape (2009)

I was extremely excited to get this young, raw punk band to Columbus on their tour this year. There had been a bit of a buzz about them, people were happy to hear a band playing mid-paced d-beat really well, so I was happy to get to see them in Ohio. Wow, I have to say that their live show devastated me. I rarely get this excited about an American band these days, fucking great energy and perfect sound. Raw & noisy, but still powerful & dripping with ugliness and sweat.

It was on this tour that I picked up this "10-track cassette." 6 studio songs and 4 live songs, including a cover of a raw punk classic: Game Of The Arseholes by Anti-Cimex. Fucking hell, this band has it down. Well done lyrics and great sound. The songs on this tape are at least as good as their 7", so track this down if you can. I don't know if they plan on doing anything else with these songs other than just have them on the 75 tour cassettes that they made. Great band, can't wait to hear more from them...I will be picking up whatever they put out next!

FUCKED FOR LIFE:Distortion & Death demo review

Release Date: July 2009
Quantity: 100 cassettes/100 c.d.s

Tracklist:
Symptoms
Determined to Fail
Distortion and Death
Down the Hatch

FUCKED FOR LIFE are thrashing 5 piece d-beat hardcore from Cincinnasty. Hank of BRODY'S MILITIA on bass. Really tight bashing, gruff vox, and fantastic drumming. Their tightness and bad attitude remind me of early POISON IDEA but with a prominent scandi sound in there. Certainly F.F.L have no influences beyond 1985 which may be before some of these maniacs were born!! Can I borrow your time machine? Songs are about hating life, getting fucked up, distortion, and getting fucked up, in that order. This tape had me making fists at cyclists from my car. Fuck bicycles! "Distortion & Death" is their anthem, simultaneously catchy and neck-breaking. SIKKKKKK! The last song "Down the Hatch" is a mid tempo rocker with a killer riff akin to "Detroit Rock City" by KISS but played with a hatred for non-alcoholic beverages. Being familiar with the F.F.L. live wall of distort, this demo seemed a little quiet but its not like i didn't love it and I'm ready for more. If you like wrecking ball hardcore punk, check out FUCKED FOR LIFE, they are one of the best bands in Ohio.

8/02/09: SAVIOURS/SOURVEIN/NUKKEHAMMER columbus

sreepy floyd on back up vocals.

8pm doors $8
9:05-9:35 Tank Destroyer
9:50-10:20 Nukkehammer
10:35-11:15 Sourvein
11:30-12:30 Saviours

WINO: Punctuated Equilibrium LP/10"

Label: Southernlord Records SUNN99
Release Date: January 26, 2009/ vinyl summer 2009
Side A
Release Me 6:30
Punctuated Equilibrium 2:50
The Woman In The Orange Pants 3:33
Smilin Road 5:10
Eyes of The Flesh 4:14

Side B:
Wild Blue Yonder 6:26
Secret Realm Devotion 4:52
Water Crane 2:02
Gods, Frauds, Neo-Cons and Demagogues 3:12
Silver Lining 4:24

bonus 10"
Side A
Chest Fever4:33
Der Gift (The Poison) 2:44

Side B
The Comet And The Moon 4:45
On The (Sacrificial) Lamb 2:20

One of my favorite records of 2009 given THEE supreme vinyl treatment. Scott "WINO" Weinrich is definitely is a legend of underground rock, He has been called "The Godfather of Doom Metal", "America's Lemmy" and "Guitar Worlds' 64th Greatest Metal Guitar Player of All Time". That should be good enough for a short bio. Punctuated Equilibrium is Wino's first solo effort in nearly 30 years of playing Power Fucking Trio, Biker Doom, Stoner Van Jams, Heavy Metal Spirit Rock, Whatever you call it, we all should have started paying attention in the 1980s. This LP with bonus 10" EP is signature WINO songwriting; a blend of Black Sabbath, Grand Funk, Metal Punk and lead guitar ripping that makes Frank Zappa smile from beyond. If you don't dig guitar solos then I'm sorry, maybe you should try some WINO. On this album WINO is joined by drummer Jean-Paul Gaster and John Blank on bass. Needless to say these guys are top notch players and I'm sure they were stoked to play on this record because It wouldn't be as good without them. The first cut sets the tone, This is where I open my sunroof because "Release Me" has less gloom and doom than I expect from WINO. Spirit Metal for sure! The second (title) track is thrashy metal punk that shows WINO's other side, The side of a dude who saw VOID and SSD on acid. "The Woman in the Orange Pants" is the first instrumental on the album and it is similar to the super heavy prog moments of WINO's last band THE HIDDEN HAND. "Smilin Road" could easily be off MOUNTAIN's Greatest Hits, and I mean that in the best way possible. On this track I noticed how great of a drummer J.P. Gaster is. He Smokes! The last song on side one "Eyes of the Flesh" has that unmistakable WINO DOOOOOM vibe, sick wah leads that nod to SAINT VITUS. Side two kicks off with a song that sounds like WINO jamming with the rythym section of FUGAZI and getting the DUB treatment. "Secret Realm Devotion" is a 70s style burner with a cool dumptruck low end wah wah riff. "Gods, Frauds and Neo-Cons" is another heavy proggy jammer with good lyrics about war and deception ala MC5. The verse at the end of song segues into the last cut "Silver Lining" a positive but heavy WINO vibe permeating the verse, culminating in a solo guitar freak out. Since the vinyl version comes with a bonus 10" ill be reviewing it too. Side C starts with a THREE DOG NIGHT cover which is really good and has some cool keyboard hooks. Der Gift is a short Prog jam with a bunch of otherwordly guitar sounds. "The Comet and the Moon" is a kinda poppy 70s rock song dedicated to his wife. Lets see you do that, tough guy. The 10" closes out with another Soulful Riffer that has a little southern rock feel. So when does the next one come out already??

The artwork and packaging for "Punctuated Equilibrium" are fantastic. It comes with lyrics and liner notes where WINO lays down some heavy wisdom. The 10" actually has its own pocket on the inside of the gatefold. The vinyl is forest green swirled and it looks great with the full color record labels. Its really cool to see Southern Lord records give the best treatment to this recording, Good job robed hessians.

Sadly, bass player Jon Blank passed away soon after the release of this record, R.I.P.

RID THE WORLD demo review

Label: The Sacrosanct Opuscule (USA)
Release Date: April 2009
Quantity: 100

Track List:
Guillotine Christ
Lapse In Intelligence
Never Left The Locker Room
Carbon Copied For Your Safety
Giving Up
Sick Combat
RTW

A lot of great bands get forgotten over the years but apparently not INFEST. The influence of INFEST on HC music seems to grow instead of wither as time goes on. When INFEST was around they didn't really fit in with any scene and went under the radar, Now INFEST seem to be one of the biggest influences in USHC. Much more so than the bands that overshadowed them during their existence in the late '80s and early '90s. At this point in 2009 there are lots of INFEST emulators, most of which i have not heard or wished I had not. I recently got the RID THE WORLD demo from Snake of TSO label who put this out. RID THE WORLD is a hardcore band from Cleveland, which is one of the best places for a hardcore band to be from. Killer TSO packaging in red and black. Good job guys. The logo and insert are direct rip offs from INFEST. Everything about the RID THE WORLD demo screams "I FUCKING LOVE INFEST", therefore I have high expectations. The intro is bad; some dude making jokes about religion, then the INFEST worship begins and RID THE WORLD deliver the goods! Kill the Peace! GO! The recording is good, the bass guitar is gross and should serve notice to "powerviolence" bands with weak bass sounds. You wussbags could learn from RID THE WORLD. The lyrics are topical/political and fucking pissed. I especially like the song about dog fighting, "Sick Combat". I'm also totally into the fact that 7 out of 7 songs have gratuitous use of the word "fuck". So hardcore Joe Denuzio would point and say "FUCK"! The last song, RTW has a slow part/breakdown that is so frickin' hard! Cleveland must quake every time they play it. It almost made me go out and get a crew cut. INFESTesque and fast HC lovers order this from TSO now. Shreds.