Pleasure Inflicted Suffering

This week, every post will be a random seven inch by a band I like, a couple of which have had other releases posted on this blog before. Most of the bands will be fairly obscure, like today's selection, "Human Ruins" by Running For Cover. The first time I experienced their LP, the term thinking-person's power violence came to mind. All of the cathartic punishment that keeps us coming back to this genre is present and accounted for on both of their releases; but the lyrics, which deal mainly with the meaninglessness of life, are tinged with existentialist musings, and on a couple there's even a bit of an Eastern element. PV songs about Kung Fu movies and enchiladas are fun and all, but it's kind of nice to see a band taking things a bit further.

Running For Cover - "Human Ruins" 7" (625 Thrashcore/Out of Limits, 2004)

They'll Put the Kibosh on You

I've been too stressed and busy to post much lately, so for a while I'll stick to mostly 7"s . In between these you find some reviews of bands I've come to know and love since starting this blog who have just released some incredible new records; some of these downloads will be limited time only, so check in now and then. Today's featured band is from the good ol' nineties and is ideal for the stressed and pressed for time. Devola have a lot to say, but mince few words. They have a lot of songs, but waste little of your digital space. The CD and 7" linked below will run through you like a bad 25 minute bout with dysentery, and leave you nice and cleansed, if not a little exhausted. The 625 label on the 7" should give you a further idea of the speeds we're dealing with, but there's evidence that this band doesn't take itself quite as seriously as others in the PV crew (note the Cookie Monster-with-groin-injury vocals). The CD finds the band exploring more modern hardcore territory, but rest assured that there are still blast-beats aplenty, and that this development only made the band rock harder.
Devola "Playing the Game of Revenge and Winning Every Time" CD and "The Resuscitation" 7"

I hope to one day have the Devola/Murdock split to post, butI'm not there yet.

Song Of The Week: "Vertigo Index" (Discordance Axis)

I'm re-reading The Crying Of Lot 49 right now. For some reason Oedipa's futile scraping for the truth and her association of the San Narciso landscape with a circuit board reminded me of "Vertigo Index." Now that I've re-read the lyrics, I want to watch Brazil again. And re-read Neuromancer. Is summer vacation here yet?

"Vertigo Index"

Alienation washes over me, downloading world apartment horror
Wheezing through tea stained lungs comes a voice piped in from a
vacuum

A tiled grove of telephone wires, rabbit ears and power lines
Insinuated in the residential disintegration that assassinates the sky

And now my being is networked
To be shared among us all.
And my world falls back into place
Or do I fall back into place In my world.

World Of Hurt

All four of the "Cry Now, Cry Later" comps have been compiled on CD, but with a line up and layout like this, I felt an urgent need to add volume one to the FE catalogue. The "Cry Now" collection is akin to the Deep Six "Reality" comps in that they gather as many kick-ass bands from every extremity of speed and heaviness that they can find. Installment #1 wasted no time in establishing Pessimer Record's superb ear for the sonic manifestations of violence, depression, and psychosis. This is the part of metal and hardcore history the documentarians will always try to keep secret. (I guess I'm supposed to warn people that Meat Shits' graphics are, well, graphic. So ask your mom's permission before you download and stuff).

The Troops:











The Comp

Nothing Can Save You

I've only got the time and motivation to post a quickie today (that is, an EP). I thought Oroku only released a 7" and their "Living Through The End Time" LP. Apparently they also released this split 7" with The Gammits Make War. Oroku was an incredibly promising, mid-paced crusty hardcore band from Seattle who, like many up there, didn't last too long as a band. I believe the three early tracks on this one were left off the CD version of the LP, but they're just as good as the band's other output (except that the recording was done in 30 minutes in exchange for a 12 pack, and it shows!). I posted Oroku's EP last summer, but it was remastered and tacked onto the CD, so contact Inimical Recs to get a piece of that.

I don't know too much about The Gammits Make War except that they're from New York City and they play snotty, melodic hardcore with lots of punch. Sometimes they have a more modern Econochrist thing going on, but at more sing-along moments I hear a bit of Drunk (the Norwegian band). It's quite a change from the mournful Oroku tracks, but they play the style well, and I'll be glad if I find more from these guys in the future.

The split

Song Of The Week: "Roses" (Sheer Terror)

Leave it up to me to darken your gala entry into the new year. Sorry, but this SOTW has caught me on my last day of vacation. There'll be no traipsing through daisy fields, for the band of the week is Sheer Terror, and the flower of choice is the rose in all of its thorny and funereal glory. "Roses" is kind of an odd song in that Paul Bearer's vocals don't break into the 2-packs-a-day snarling that epitomizes ST's sound. Instead he keeps the pseudo-operatic thing going all the way through, which only makes the song feel sadder. It'll take some getting used to. In "Roses" there's mention children's games and the subsequent tears they bring to the narrator, death, regret, idleness, depression, and a metaphor of the world as a stumbling drunkard. Kick your shoes off, it's time to come inside... the world of Paul Bearer.

It's been a wonderful year for the ....

"Roses"

Song Of The Week: "Fallout Of Our Being" (Nausea)

Whenever I post a compilation, I can always expect half as many downloads as usual. I guess I can understand that... wanting something more cohesive, etc. But I've discovered many of my favorite bands through comps... Nausea being the third Song Of The Week band for which this is true.

My introduction to Nausea was also my first glimpse at the stench filled bog we now call crust. "New York City Hardcore: The Way It Is" is admittedly an odd place for such a how-do-you-do. "Fallout Of Our Being" was nestled among a brigade of sportswear-clad straight-edgers and right-wing pseudo-skinheads. But in the late eighties/early nineties, I was (unfortunately) only acquainted with this New York scene, and a few other bands I love to this day, like Bad Brains and Agnostic Front. I remember seeing Nausea in AF's thank you lists, and that sparked the detective in me. Finding this comp got me a little closer, but upon interrogation, the clerk who sold it to me could direct me no further. The Nausea case would have to be left open for a time.

It would be years later when I'd finally discover that crusty beacon of light, Profane Existence, and Nausea's treasured gift to hardcore, "Extinction." Having now heard their discography numerous times, I can't necessarily say that "Fallout" is my favorite Nausea track. But its stomping d-beat power and bleak lyrics belted out so urgently and gruffly by Niel, knocked something into my head (or out of it).

So it was through Nausea that I would get to know the classic UK crust and political punk bands. Now, looking back, Nausea seems like the Noah Webster of this genre, establishing the American crust lexicon, while still paying respectful homage to their forebears. Whether you agree with their politics or not, it's hard not to recognize Nausea's place in the hardcore cannon, and I personally can't help but regard them as one of the all time greatest bands of the genre.


"Fallout Of Our Being"

Destitute Populations/Diseased Minds

Censored Opinions/Dwelling On Time


Are people really blind
or just absent of their minds
A continuous pattern towards
the fallout of our very being.

And when at war
Soldiers kill soldiers
It's man killing mankind
I ask you why, why must
life go to so much waste?

¡Libérame!

I'm on this whole compilation kick, so I hope you'll bear with me...
"Libérame" is the second comp posted on this blog that features a song each by Los Crudos and Huasipungo (yay!). And, like the last one, it's aim is to pass on information, as well as rock. This time the theme is the injustices perpetuated at the US-Mexico border (well, mainly). There's a small 'zine's worth of information and contact addresses, as well as the expected DIY art/design that makes releases like this even more meaningful. The line up is pretty impressive as you can see, consisting mainly of raw political punk/hardcore. Give it a spin if you think it might suit your fancy.

Here

A Week of Splits

This seems like a good week to unload some great split EPs on you- each day will bring a new one (ending Saturday). Some super stars you can look forward to hearing include Burst, Disclose, Excruciating Terror, etc. I'm fairly sure these are all out of print, but I can't be sure they haven't been posted elsewhere. Honestly, it's easier just to post something than check all the awesome blogs out there first. So, here is installment #1: They Live and Ruination (Deadalive Records, 1998?). They Live are alumni of the Infest/MITB/Spazz school of ass-pummeling, and Ruination take a more modern approach, resembling the angst-saturated chaos of Born Against, Kitchener, and/or Spacehorse. Both bands dominate (!), so you know what to do...

Download

More 7" Comps That Don't Suck Vol.7: "Books to Prisoners"

To continue on the 7" compilations with honorable intentions current, I present the "Books to Prisoners" comp (Young Heirs Project, 1996?). Proceeds from this release were donated to, well, the Books to Prisoners organization, whose purpose probably doesn't need to be spelled out any further. They've been around for over 30 years and deserve our support! Now for the music... This disc pre-dates the release of any discography CDs of its featured bands, so at the time of release this was a very exciting platter. Herein, we're treated to the under appreciated yet powerful modern hardcore stylings of Devoid of Faith and Drift, as well as the dark and dirty sludge riffing of Seized and the old school punch 'n kick of the almighty Los Crudos. Listen to this, read a book, donate, organize a prison break...

Listen

"Kamikaze Attacked Amerika/Yankee Bombed Hiroshima, Nagasaki" CD Comp.

Commenter dxb requested more CFDL, but sadly I don't have much. I do, however, have this amazing comp. CD on which they appear. Since I'm on this whole compilation kick, it seemed right to post it. As the title suggests, this CD contains almost 50/50 American and Japanese bands. When Sound Pollution and MCR let this thing out of the pen in 1996, it found a cozy place in my CD player for upwards of 15 or so months straight! I can't express what a great listen this one is, and to entice the skeptics, I'll supply a band list below (note: several bands contribute two tracks) with special annotation when (I feel it's) needed.

Bands (Japan)
Insane Youth - Heavy-handed hardcore- Japan meets NYC
Anti Authorize - D-beat Cookie Monster-Core!
Senseless Apocalypse - noise/grind at its finest... their 2 best tracks!
Disclose - Hey, it's Disclose!
Balzac - Japan's unabashed punk "Misfits"
Addiction - simple and catchy- 80's style
CFDL
Violent Pain - appropriately named
Bleed for Freedom - Rocked-out anthemic punk!

Bands (America)
Ottawa - Pre-.NEMA Tolkien grind. 3 Tracks from their split LP with Jihad
Final Warning - D-beat boot-stomp featuring the original singer from Nausea!
Suppression
Mankind? - Dirt influenced peace-punk-hardcore with squealy female vocalist
Spazz
Monster X - The first and only straight-edge grind band (!?!?)
Quadiliacha - Melodic, political punk/hardcore (Great for those who like Strike Anywhere but are ashamed to admit it)
Masskontroll - Portland's answer to Sweden

Download (192)

More 7" Comps That Don't Suck Vol.6: "In The Spirit of Total Resistance"

All right, this one's a double 7", but why split hairs!? "In the Spirit of Total Resistance: A Benefit for the Mohawk Nation of Kanesatake" (Profane Existence, 1992) is one of my all time favorites. This masterpiece has everything a good comp needs: variety, a combination of known and unknown bands, an honorable purpose, incredible information/packaging (64 page book!), and of course, some ass-kicking music. All the bands featured have their own unique sound (except perhaps Crudos and Huasipungo... but who's complaining?!), so if you've never heard this one, you're in for a fun musical adventure. To this day, I still think MITB's track, "Homo Afflictus," is my favorite song of theirs, and Crudos' "Quinientos Años" might be my favorite of their early tracks as well. Crudos' work is easy to find, but it's still nice to hear this song within the context of this comp's theme (500 years of indigenous resistance, etc.) I wish I had the time to scan the entire book(let)... maybe one day soon.

Track List:

1. Jonestown - "The Gnawing Flood of the Wasichu"

2. Los Crudos - "Quinientos Años"

3. Huasipungo - "Estúpida Ambición"

4. Charred Remains a.k.a. Man is the Bastard - "Homo Afflictus"

5. Pollution Circus - "The Angry Brigade"

6. One By One - "Self Determination for the Fucked Over of the World (Common Ground)"

7. Dogfight - "Texas Two Step"

Download It

More 7" Comps That Don't Suck Vol 4: "Our Voice Pro-Choice"

The "Our Voice Pro-Choice" 7" (Hands On Records, 1993) consists of half Utah bands and half non-Utah bands, and was a benefit for the Utah Pro-Choice Coalition (they probably needed all the help they could get!). As you can probably guess, the Utah bands are virtual unknowns (unless you're from Utah?). However, the two out of state bands (Born Against and Heroin) would become quite influential within the nineties modern hardcore pantheon.

Synopsis:

1. Anger Overload- "Waiting." I have not heard anything else by this band, and I'm not sure I would want to. They played metal with hardcore leanings that just doesn't do it for me.

2. N.S.C. - "Choice No Choice." NSC play old school punk not unlike The Avengers. Their track is not original, but still quite good and catchy.

3. Born Against - "Resist Control." BA need no introduction. "Resist Control" is a good example of their earlier, more straight forward material. This song is also compiled on their "The Rebel Sound of Shit and Failure" singles collection, and was originally a Life's Blood song. As the story goes, the release of the "Our Voice" comp. was delayed due to Sam McPheeters "misplacing" BA's layout for the insert behind his stereo. The comp. was thus completed after Clinton was sworn in, making the Bush Sr. imagery dated even for the record's own time of release.

4. Heroin - "Comes to Mind." San Diego's seminal gods of emotional and chaotic hardcore offer a very early track. If memory serves, this track did not make it onto the Heroin discography. While not as good as the band's later work, it is still great to hear this one... a real piece of modern hardcore history!

Download the Comp.

More 7" Comps That Don't Suck Vol.3: "Deadly Encounters"

As you can probably tell, I was really into the whole '90's west coast powerviolence/fastcore situation. Here's another little artifact with a bunch of favorites on it: The "Deadly Encounters Hardcore Compilation" (Agitate/Kill Music Records, 1997?). Half the bands on this one are from somewhere east of here (3 of whom are very well known!), but otherwise you'll notice the usual cast of LA and Bay Area superstars. As with many comps like this one, the cover is photocopied, the sound quality is checkered, and the songs are hit and miss. There were many detrimental skips on this ep, which I had to "repair" manually or with editing software; I hope it's not too noticeable.

Track List:
1. "Blinded" by Psycho
2. "Newest HC Song # 4" by Anal Cunt
3. "Newest HC Song #3" by Anal Cunt
4. "Drinkers of Mung" by Crom
5. "Redenbacher's Orgy of Pain, Fear and Pestilence" by Spazz
6. "Sarin" (Live) by Capitalist Casualties
7. "Boiling Point" (SSD) by Drop Dead
8. "Pressure" (Negative Approach) by Lack of Interest
9. "Viet Vet" by Violently Ill
10. "Better Never Than Late" by Charles Bronson
11. "Who Needs a Kleenex?" by Laceration
12. "Dig Up Your Dead" by Bad Acid Trip

Listen

The Holy Mountain/Deathcycle Split 5"

I haven't posted a new record in a while, and the Holy Mountain/Deathcycle split (Gloom Records, 2007) seemed like the right one to correct the situation. These bands are among the finest in contemporary American hardcore. Since first hearing "Entrails," I have often felt that The Holy Mountain don't get enough recognition for being one of the most impressive disciples of the dark and heavy sect of the Swedish style (the faction often compared to Tragedy...). I was similarly impressed by Deathcycle's debut LP, with its burly mixture of modern NY hardcore and thrash, and was excited to hear about this release. Each band drops one track here of demo-quality noise and destruction. Neither band is in its top form, but still, as mentioned before, these are excellent bands and this is a must-hear (check out records mentioned above if you get a chance). The 5" was released in a ridiculously small pressing (425... due to the expensive production costs), and are most likely gone by the time you read this (although you may still find one here and here). Sadly, The Holy Mountain disbanded last summer, but Deathcycle are still going strong.

The split (should be a pretty quick download)