MIDNIGHT (Cleveland) footage from Columbus @ Ace Of Cups 3/30/13

TROUBLE - Manic Frustration 12"

TROUBLE - Manic Frustration 12"
(1992, Def American//UK)

I have always been a Psalm 9 and s/t (1990) LP kinda guy and had always dismissed any TROUBLE album after the 1990 LP as "not metal enough" or "too stoner rock." Obviously I was a moron and 20 years later, I am finally coming around. After some reflection upon TROUBLE's lackluster ex-vocalist Kory Clarke (of WARRIOR SOUL fame (fame?), took over after Eric Wagner parted ways with the band in 2008), I pretty much realized that any TROUBLE with Eric Wagner singing is good TROUBLE. Hell, I'll go ahead and say that I would probably like any heavy music with Eric Wagner singing. Apparently, Manic Frustration was one of TROUBLE's best selling albums (almost reaching 100,000), but due to the year it came out, the vinyl is hard as hell to come by, for the compact disc was a bebe in full swing.

This record is actually a good midway point between the s/t (1990) LP (my favorite TROUBLE LP) and Plastic Greenhead. The album is fairly upbeat and also has a little of a poppier feel (that I love) than the preceding album. Hands down, my favorite song on here is The Sleeper. It could probably fit nicely on the B side of the s/t LP next to Black Shapes Of Doom. It wasn't until Amanda and I saw TROUBLE (still with Wagner, thank goodness) in Cleveland and they played The Sleeper that I decided to check out Manic Frustration again. Thank you, Cleveland. 'Scuse Me is also a favorite due to the great lyrics that hearken back to SAINT VITUS's Born Too Late:

'Scuse me for the clothes I wear
'Scuse me how long is my hair
'Scuse me 'cause I'm being real
Ya may not like it but it's way I feel


Hallucinations man they're outta sight
Mirror is right you know but I still love you


'Scuse me for livin' in the past
'Scuse me when your fads don't last
'Scuse me 'cause I choose to be blind
Ya may not like it though you really don't mind

How can you not love that shit? GREAT album, glad to have finally tracked down the LP. After getting this, I thought "why not" and now I have the Plastic Greenhead and Simple Mind Condition LPs on they way as well. Much easier to get, especially since Plastic Greenhead didn't come out on LP at all, originally, so it came out on vinyl later. Fuck, I love this band so much that I would feel comfortable cutting anyone out of my circle of friends and acquaintances that would not be willing to get a TROUBLE related tattoo.

4.5 / 5 bells

TANK - Filth Hounds Of Hades 12", NEGAZIONE - Lo Spirito Continua... 12"

TANK - Filth Hounds Of Hades 12" (Attic//Canada - Kamaflage//UK)
What really needs to be said about this band? Classic, powerful, driving, rock and roll Motorhead type band, I could sit around listening to TANK all day. This is the weird looking Canadian press from Attic Records (2nd press, I believe). Take me back to 1982, if only I was listening to TANK instead of HUEY LEWIS AND THE NEWS. I have bought lots of great records from RJ the past couple years and here is another one to add to the vault.

4 / 5 bells

 

NEGAZIONE - Lo Spirito Continua... 12" (Mordam//USA - Konkurrel//Netherlands)
It's difficult to imagine Mordam releasing a raging Italian HC record from 1986, but here is proof that it happened. The 1985 self-released Tutti Pazzi EP seems to be more talked about for its pure raw intensity; this Lo Spirito LP shows the band becoming more competent with their playing with a bit of a slicker and fuller production sound...but not too much, mind you. This is the 2nd pressing I got from my friend Andy (1st pressing was released by Konkurrel only), this is great quirky hardcore, I love the odd changes and song structures while still working within a more or less straight forward ripping hardcore punk sound. Each song is packed with riffs and fury, this is a one of a kind record. I would love to see hardcore punk bands these days use a little more imagination in their songwriting.

4.5 / 5 bells

WINTER - INTO DARKNESS gatefold LP REISSUE!

This is seriously some of the most grim music ever made. When I first heard this, my 20 year old mind was not prepared for the sledge hammer bludgeon that was to follow. Imagine lying in a Siberian torture tank filled with ice cold water while baluga whales continuously dive onto your decaying body.

Thick ass Stoughton gatefold jacket on black or white vinyl. T-shirt also available as a package deal.

**Note: After getting the record in the mail, I realized that it is not a 2xLP, sorry if that mislead anyone!

Order at Southern Lord



Here is the description from the site:

Sometimes a band is so far ahead of the times or just so original that people aren't ready for them and only years later do they get the praise they deserve. This is truly the case of Winter. Winter formed in 1988 out of the ashes of local punk bands Doomsday and Meltdown. The thriving underground music scene in NY at the time was split between NYHC, death/thrash metal and punk. Each one was separate from the other in musical style, politics (or lack thereof) and fashion. Somewhere in the middle of all that Winter arrived. At this time every band from the area were playing as fast as possible. Winter however was the complete opposite playing as slow and heavy as possible. They tuned lower than any band and their tempos crawled at a snails pace. Inspired by bands as diverse as Black Sabbath, Celtic Frost, Amebix, Rudimentiry Peni, King Crimson, Hawkwind, Carnivore and Discharge their combination of dark lyrics, low vocals and crushing slow tempos slowly built a following of punks metalheads and even some NYHC/crossover fans. In Long Island they would open up for the big death metal bands of the time like Sepultura and Death while also playing punk/d.i.y. /squat shows in NYC with bands like Nausea and A.P.P.L.E The band signed with Future Shock Records for the release of their debut LP Into Darkness. The album became an instant cult classic. As the years went on Winter's legacy slowly evolved from total obscurity to becoming a cult favorite who were respected around the world. Winter disbanded in 1991.

20+ years later the immense impact /influence of Winter continues on! From Cathedral to Grief to Unearthly Trance to Coffins. All these bands readily admit the influence of the mighty Winter. After a few dodgy reissues and shitty bootlegs from other labels comes the OFFICIAL re-release of "Into Darkness".

Your choice of 180 gram white vinyl or black vinyl with heavy-duty gatefold jacket and huge 18 page "zine"-style booklet with flyers, posters etc.. Original lp pressing was released in the early nineties and has long been out of print as well as highly sought after . ALL HAIL WINTER. RISE!!! $14 each

Miasmal (Sweden) / Hatred Surge / Mammoth Grinder / Innumerable Forms / Bone Sickness U.S. TOUR

Miasmal (Sweden)
Mammoth Grinder
Hatred Surge
Innumerable Forms
Bone Sickness

May 17th Austin,TX at Beerland w/ Hatred Surge,Mammoth Grinder and Anhedonist
May 18th Denton,TX at Rubber Gloves w/ Hatred Surge,Mammoth Grinder and Power Trip
May 19th St Louis,MO w/ Hatred Surge and Mammoth Grinder
May 20th Chicago,IL w/ Hatred Surge and Mammoth Grinder
May 21st Cleveland,OH at Now That's Class w/ Hatred Surge and Mammoth Grinder
May 22nd ????
May 23rd Boston,MA w/ Hatred Surge,Mammoth Grinder and Innumerable Forms
May 24th Brooklyn,NY at the Acheron w/ Hatred Surge,Mammoth Grinder and Innumerable Forms
May 25th Philadelphia,PA at the Barbary w/ Hatred Surge,Mammoth Grinder and Innumerable Forms
May 26th Maryland Death Fest
May 27th Maryland Death Fest
May 28th Maryland Death Fest
May 29th Maryland Death Fest
May 30th Richmond,VA at Strange Matter w/ Mammoth Grinder and Innumerable Forms
May 31st Atlanta,GA at Wonder Root w/ Mammoth Grinder and Innumerable Forms
June 1st New Orleans,LA at Siberia w/ Mammoth Grinder and Innumerable Forms
June 2nd Chaos in Tejas
June 3rd Chaos in Tejas
June 4th Chaos in Tejas
June 5th ?????
June 6th Phoenix,AZ at Sound Kontrol w/ Bone Sickness
June 7th San Diego,CA w/ Bone Sickness
June 8th Long Beach,CA w/ Bone Sickness
June 9th Los Angeles,CA at the BLVD w/ Bone Sickness
June 10th San Jose,CA at the House of the Dead Rat (416 w. San Fernando St.) w/ Bone Sickness
June 11th San Francisco,CA at the Hemlock w/ Bone Sickness
June 12th Oakland,CA at Victory Warehouse w/ Bone Sickness,Undergang and Acephalix
June 13th Arcata,CA at the Big Tree w/ Bone Sickness
June 14th Portland,OR w/ Bone Sickness
June 15th Seattle,WA at the Black Lodge w/ Iron Lung and Bone Sickness
June 16th Olympia,WA w/ Bone Sickness and Sanctuary of Blasphemy

Chaos In Tejas 2011 more bands announced, new poster

Bastard Priest- Under The Hammer Of Destruction LP

YES! Old school Swedish dödsmetal done right, in a way that hearkens back to Entombed's Left Hand Path or early Dismember. Under The Hammer Of Destruction is not as rough as the demo, but still retains the nasty, punk edge. This is my kind of metal. Great cover art, and an all out assault of your aural senses without any dicking around. Released by the great Blood Harvest label from Sweden, it is still available, so don't sleep! People in North America, can get this from 20 Buck Spin, among some others, I am sure.

Glean some songs here.

Christian Mistress- Agony & Opium LP

Fuck it. I am going to go ahead and say that this record is perfect. I love every song on this, from the raging Diamond Head riffs, on over to the Inepsy riffs, to the somewhat thin sound to the singer inflecting in the same way over and over again. This band from Olympia, WA also released a demo and 7" beforehand, that are also great. People have been talking up the 7", but personally, I think this LP is even better. I think hey have stepped up to the next level on their song writing and vocals. I love the breakdown in Home In The Sun and the riffing in Black Vigil is Diamond Head worthy. We also get perfect closure when they bring it on home with the epic ballad, Omega Stone. This is a classic metal record!

They are touring right now with The Thrones, catch them if you can.

Band website.
Order at 20 Buck Spin. I believe the 7" is still available as well.

Special thanks to Brandon for giving Laser a copy of the CM album, if it were not for this, Laser wouldn't have opened my eyes to this!

Tour dates w/The Thrones:

9/27 – Portland, OR @ Tube w/ Dj Nate C
9/28 – Boise, ID @ Redroom w/ Gravity Bong, Microbabies
9/29 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Club Vegas w/ Dwellers, Bees
9/30 – Denver, CO @ 3 Kings Tavern w/ Speedwolf, MjolnirDXP
10/01 – Lincoln, NE @ Bourbon Theater w/ Life of a Scarecrow
10/02 – Minneapolis, MN @ Turf Club w/ Seawhores
10/03 – Milwaukee, WI @ The Borg Ward w/ Breathe Fire, Slob Donovan
10/04 – Chicago, IL @ The Empty Bottle w/ Bible of the Devil
10/05 – Columbus, OH @ Carabar
10/07 – Lansing, MI @ Mac’s Bar
10/08 – Toronto, ON @ The Shop w/ Lullabye Arkestra, Wyrd Visions
10/09 – Montreal, QC @ The Playhouse
10/10 – Portland, ME @ Geno’s w/ AoK Suicide Forest
10/11 – Boston, MA @ O’Brien’s w/ Raw Radar War, Kintaan
10/12 – Providence, RI @ Machines With Magnets w/ The Body, Kintaan
10/13 – New York, NY @ Acheron w/ Villains
10/14 – Philadelphia, PA @ Kung Fu Necktie w/ Serpent Throne
10/15 – Baltimore, MD @ Golden West w/ Pilgrim
10/16 – Richmond, VA @ The Triple w/ Cough
10/17 – Charlotte, NC @ The Milestone
10/18 – Athens, GA @ Caledonia Lounge w/ Savagist
10/19 – Atlanta, GA @ 529 w/ Wizard Smoke, Whores
10/20 – Memphis, TN @ Hi-Tone Cafe
10/21 – Dallas, TX @ Nightmare w/ Deadsea
10/22 – Austin, TX @ Red 7 w/ The Roller
10/23 – San Antonio, TX @ TBA (**no Thrones)
10/24 – El Paso @ Mulligan’s North (**no Thrones)
10/25 – Tucson, AZ @ Solar Culture
10/26 – Los Angeles, CA @ Spaceland w/ Gypsyhawk
10/27 – Santa Cruz @ Blue Lagoon w/Dusted Angel
10/28 – Oakland, CA @ TBA
10/29 – San Francisco, CA @ The Hemlock w/Acid King
10/30 – Arcata, CA @ Alibi
10/31 – Eugene, OR @ Oak St Speakeasy

MAJOR RAGER 10/30/09 Locusta/Heath Deadger/Kurt Russell/Artillery Breath

Friday Oct. 30
205 E. Duncan
Columbus, OH
9 pm $5

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.