Ivich Part I

France's Ivich was my first glimpse of "modern" hardcore (specifically their LP which will be the subject of the Part II post); today's post concerns their two split 7"s (and I'm throwing in the "Illiterate" comp track). Whether any given Ivich track is blasting you with fast and fiery emotional HC, chunky mosh metal, or those odd, free-form undistorted pauses, you'll know who's doing it to you, as the band always sounds so very distinct. The two rippers on the E-150 split fit into the first category mostly-- fast and chaotic, and dripping with raw emotion. Their Spanish partners on side B take an even more straight forward, Chicagoan approach (MK-Ultra, Crudos, etc), except for the weird electronic track at the end. The music is tight, fast, and powerful, and ends before it could ever possibly get old.

The Ivich track on the Jasemine split is probably their least interesting one, and therefore this EP is posted for the sake of completism, as well as my mission to spread Jasemine's brilliance as far and wide as I can. I've already waxed hysterical over this post-Finger Print band's ugliness-meets-sublime beauty before, so just take my word for it-- Jasemine is essential listening, even if they only released four songs.

Ivich stuff is here

Ivich splits and a comp track

Life After Nausea

Final Warning was a band from New York City that didn't release too many songs. Hearing them on "Stop Vivisection" crank out 16 live tracks is pretty awesome indeed. Because of Neil's time in Nausea during the early days, we get a handful of Nausea renditions, and I believe a Hellkrusher cover. Stacey of Mankind?(I believe?) takes duet honors in lieu of Amy on "Electrodes" and I believe all FW tracks are accounted for too. Gruff and abrasive political hardcore for fans of Crucifix and Discharge...

"Stop Vivisection"

Song of the Week: "They Divide" (SSR)

Judging from the quietness around here, I suspect that everyone's summer has started off great. I hope that's the case. Mine has as well, but after just coming off of Mount Whitney everything seems so little and insignificant, including blogging. I'm trying real hard to snap out of it. Inspiration for the SOTW wasn't coming through for me either, so in these cases I throw out a song from a new record you may like...

SSR (Sedition Sub Rosa) was a huge hit at FE headquarters after I picked up their LP and EP on the strength of their myspace playlist. These Richmond, Virginians are the genuine article and play fairly noisy '80's Japanese meets Scandinavian hardcore punk. Not "Confuse" noisy, but there's a deliberate lo-fi quality that adds authenticity to the sound. Like their influences, they've mastered the art of using simple riffs that stick with you, and in addition add some catchy, semi-melodic guitar leads once in while to keep their records on your turn table indefinitely. Certainly a band to look out for, although their "Orwellian Future" 7" and self-titled LP are already admirable accomplishments. "They Divide" comes from their 7" and although the tempo is much slower than most of their tracks (which are more 'd-beat' in speed), it does wonders in capturing the eerie, dystopian feel the record's title foreshadows, and it's a real crusher!

"They Divide" by SSR

An Earwig's Guide To Traveling

I'll make this quick since most of you have this, and I've got to head to the mountains in about 5 minutes. Gasp was one of the most powerful and unique bands of the nineties and "An Earwig's Guide To Traveling" is the miscellanea that comprises the rest of their discography. I've been planning to post this for a while, and an e-mail from Mr. AD sealed the deal. Yes, the "Sore For Days Demo" is included in the collection. (Scans of the fold-out insert will be here when I get back).

"AEGTT" part I by Gasp (320 kbps... singles, comp tracks, demo)

"AEGTT" part II

Song of the Week: "Mlha" (Uz Jsme Doma)

Being on the mighty Nikt Nic Nie Wie label, I bought "Rybi Tuk" a couple of years ago thinking it would be some awesome crazy Polish punk. Uz Jsme Doma is neither Polish nor punk, but they were something incredible. What that something is, I still can't put into words. Passion and musical daring, it certainly exudes, and if genius was a musical genre, then there it would definitely fall. Tradition and innovation collide here in a voluptuous feeding frenzy to satisfy anyone's true Transylvanian hunger.

"Mlha" by Uz Jsme Doma

Between Cracking Up And Getting Yourself Together

I think I'll keep the crusty stuff I have in the pipeline for next week. In lieu, let's hear a band I recently rediscovered to most gleeful result. Plus, it was the first sunny morning of my vacation today, after days of June gloom. Yes, 8 Bark is much more appropriate, with their volcanic rhythm section and characteristic male/female harmonies. Punk in spirit and speed, but smart and daring enough to hang with the "undie" rock circuit, the band quietly refuses classification, much to my further enjoyment. For years, I only knew them through comp tracks. Getting ahold of a 7" and this amazing "Scam" LP has allowed me to see the error in my delay. "Scam" is themed around work, the meaningful kind, and ways to make the more meaningless drudgery of life less so. A couple of spins should do it, and you'll be hooked too I think.

"Scam" LP by 8 Bark

Violent Incendiary Distortion Monster

I feel like something fast today. Nailed Down circa 1995-97 fits that criterion. The obvious Lärm and Infest influence is observed in vicious collaboration with menacing Bostonian hardcore qualities and noisy Japanese amplification (made even more apparent by the band's choice of bands to cover: Negative FX, Kuro, and Confuse). "Violent Distortion" is an early example of the band's work before their sound changed a bit. On vinyl it was released as a 10" by a bunch of French labels, and Profane Existence Far East released it on 3" CD. What you get in the folder below are 320 rips of the CD with graphics from both versions of the release.

You'll also find rips of ND's "Honour and Glory" 8" flexi (Six Weeks Recs). The tracks are similar to "VD" but slightly less vicious, and a couple of raw live tracks are tacked on to the end. I did my best with the rip quality considering it's a flexi.

CD Cover:

Download both records here

Song of the Week: "First Step" (Jawbreaker)

Some summer vacations are about adventure and getting into trouble; this one is all about R'nR-- drinking it all in and convincing time to go a little bit slower. "First Step" is yet another (the 3rd) Jawbreaker Song of the Week, but it seemed so perfect and mentions two things I associate with leisure time: bikes and coffee (one I would like to do more of, the other less). Beer is not mentioned, but there's plenty of SOTW slots for those kind of songs.

"First Step" (Jawbreaker)

** Be sure to pick up a copy of the re-press of "Unfun"!

Work Is The Curse Of The Drinking Class

Whew! I got kind of busy there, but I think I'm back. My last day of work was Friday, so I'm gonna focus on catching up on blog stuff as much as I can this week while still maintaining my regiment of running around stupidly in the sunshine. Tonight we have one of Mikxx's recent obsessions: Norway's IOU! "A Cause For Anxiety" 7" was recorded a couple of years before the LP, and is a little less heavy and metallic. The band plays an intelligent take on the more modernized forms of old gritty hardcore... Born Against and Fucked Up come to mind, but as always, those are just ambiguous reference points. When it comes to music, the country of Norway has rarely let the world down, so see what you think...

IOU's "ACFA" EP

Song of the Week: "Only To Infinity" (Remains Of The Day)

Blame them for tainting the American well with a hemlock dram of "neo-crust" if you will, but I tend to credit Remains Of The Day with playing powerful and unique hardcore (yes, they were similar to Cwill, but still different enough). I think I heard somewhere that they had a member of Hellshock in their line up, but rather than stenchy crust, ROTD opted for dramatic narratives with fast and energetic tempos (mostly), dabbed with a few slow and somber interludes. If you follow the rule that crust should be simple and straight forward, this band is not for you. But if you like it when bands tunnel across boundaries and smuggle in musical contraban, maybe you already know this band, or should.

"Only To Infinity" (ripped from the vinyl version of "Hanging On Rebellion." Buy the full album at Crimes Against Humanity Recs.)

This post should be called "Remains of the Year," as the last week of school is finally here! Hopefully this means that posting will become more regular. I'll make that a goal, not a promise.