Altered Beast

Aaron G sent me rips of his old band Altered Beast's demo thinking I would like it. He was goddamn right about that! It's too good not to post, in fact. Aaron threw down the No Comment and Spazz comparisons, which sums it up well, but I'll go ahead and throw in a "Mankind" era Infest one just to sound like I'm doing something here. By now you know basically what to expect, except for maybe the actual quality that awaits you. Trust me, if you like this genre, don't hesitate. Altered Beast only released this demo and didn't get much exposure outside of Chicago. Download now and tell your friends you've known about these guys forever.

Thanks again, Aaron!

Altered Beast Demo

Sawchuk

It's time for a couple more demos, the first being from Sawchuk-- a young Michigan band that's going strong (with the next featured band, such is not the case...). Matt from the band noted that Sawchuk isn't typical of the bands FE usually features, and in a way he's right, but not completely. I can always appreciate bands that draw inspiration from hardcore's heyday, and this band certainly does so with the "crew" styled backing vocals and old-school-gritty midwest-meets-east-coast barrage. I can discern a small influence from the more modern straight edge bands of recent times, but its subtlety in the mix is certainly an asset to the final impression made (at least to this blogger's ears). The final impression would be that Sawchuk is a solid hardcore band, and regardless of the listless recording quality, the band's power and heart shine through each of their raging tunes. I was a little skeptical when I saw titles like "Rust Belt Pride" and "Stand And Fight," but exploring further I found the lyrics to be quite thoughtful and at times moving. I look forward to these guys getting a decent recording budget and steady line-up, 'cause their next release will probably be a killer!

Check out the Sawchuk Myspace page for another download and show dates.

Sawchuk "Summer 2009 Demo"

August Is Cruelest Month

For my last summer vacation Song Of The Week, I was temped to post Bananarama's "Cruel Summer," but I opted for a band that never put out a weak track. Post Regiment was awesome, enough said. The booty-shaker this week is what I like to call their 'radio hit,' although it's dubious that it ever got any play. It definitely strikes the ears unawares with its sweet, poppy allure after an album-full of snotty-yet-sincere, fuckin' raging hardcore! Don't be surprised if this tune sneaks into your synapses while you're warming up for your morning shower-a capella session-- it's damn infectious! Being a non-Pole, I am not qualified to say that Post Regiment was the best band to ever come out of Poland, but I secretly believe this to be true. Sincerely so.

"Catch Another Train" by Post Regiment (from their self-titled first album).

If that doesn't work, click HERE

On a related side-note, the new El Banda 7" rules!

A Sad Symbol Of The Brotherhood Of Man

Note to the young folks out there: please do NOT name your band Sacrilege! Yes, it sounds badass, but there are already, like 20 out there. The most important one for me and many other fans of crust and thrash would be the UK's Sacrilege! Some nice bootleg operation in or near Andorra collected all the band's demos from '84-'86 on a limited (to 300) CD. There was an LP circulating the distros recently which collects the early demos, but this disk has both of the 1986 ones as well. If you're an obsessive Sacrilege-type, here are the demos ripped at 320. The back cover photo tells you which tracks are from which session.

The Demos Part 1

The Demos Part 2

Back Cover

dead.enewetak.bird

When I have the time, I don't have the motivation, and now that I have less time... The only way to solve this blogging dilemma is to unload a nice, quick EP on you. A good chunk of Enewetak's discography is all over this site, but what is this "Dead Bird" 7"? It's about what one might expect from this band as recorded by Matt Anderson in 1995, ie. it sounds a little more "Gravity" than "King Of The Monsters." The post-Rorschach menace is still worn sleeve-wise, though, and the band's chunky, metallic destiny is clearly visible on the horizon. The actual record's history is a little foggy-- we know that it was released on Revolutionary Powertools Records and came in a sealed envelop-sleeve, but just how many were pressed, I cannot say. Having almost never seen this thing around, I'd venture to say it falls into the rare as fuck category.

Here

Bringing Out The Dead

I managed to rip this modern classic before my needle turned to total shit. The glorious Ambulance LP also marks the return of the sub-sub genre of music this blog specializes in: bleak scandi-crust! (and yes, female vocals... not that it matters... or does it?). Ambulance now has a new line-up, including a different vocalist, but as solid as they are, they have yet to match the brilliance of "The End Of Our Time." It's one of those records that's so dark you want to off yourself, but so awesome and powerful it gives you a reason once again to live. Make a playlist of this, Tragedy, Schifosi, and Jeniger, and you'll be in your own personal twilight bliss.

"The End Of Our Time" by Ambulance (ripped from vinyl @ 320 kbps)

See if you can get a copy from the band.

Cap'n Jazz - Shmap'n Shmazz

Go ahead and laugh. Is Cap'n Jazz a guilty pleasure? Shit yeah. But heck, what other band could with so much ease summon the buried memories of those innocent years when the only worry you had was how to get 50 cents to buy an ice cream from the guy in the truck jingling "Pop Goes The Weasel" (who was probably a pedophile, but this could NEVER occur to you) with charmingly assonant psychobabble like "Dictioncanary can swear she's barely aware of her apparently paralyzing stares?" They will be called pretentious and other epithets of foulness, but I prefer to quote the band again and say that Cap'n Jazz was "a puppy, a balloon, and a happy accident"!

¡Que Suerte!

*This is the second to last in the fun-summer-Song Of The Week series. A week from today, it's back to work for me. I'm also awaiting a new stylus in mail for my turn table, but I still plan on doing some posts, so stay tuned! (I'll have to see what I've got in my CD collection...)

Puro Desmadre Parte Tres

Big thanks to Mike D for giving us the final installment of the Stapled Shut discography: the 5 track "Resin Heaven" demo. There are some exclusives as well as old favorites, the most exciting for me being the other version of my favorite SS track, "Fuck The Bullshit."

Get it here.

Vaya Sin Dios

I get the feeling Sin Dios' last full length, "Odio Al Imperio," was not meant for wide distribution. I didn't see it in too many American distros, and the enormous book(let) is completely in Spanish. Nonetheless, in technical aspects, "Odio" is possibly the band's best release. True, some of the revolutionary fire of their previous albums is missing from the songwriting, but the production and musicianship is certainly at its most mature. Since everything the band did is worth repeat listens, here are some quality CD rips if you missed it the first time, along with some low-budget but very legible pictures of the 100+ page book that accompanied it.

Listen here.

Read here

¡Ruido Anticapitalista!

This and the next post will be an alpha-omega sort of thing for one of my all time favorite bands. For something like 15 years, Sin Dios inflamed crowds with their lively and distinctly Spanish take on anarcho-hardcore. Simultaneously pissed and catchy, each of their records is potent enough to instantly wipe away my dissaffection, no matter the day or circumstances. Ripped for you today is what I believe to be their first release: a split LP with fellow Spaniards, Tarzan. Both bands offer top notch material, and the 'zine-styled booklet covers a lot of info on the early '90's political situation in Spain and Latin America. After their break-up, Sin Dios uploaded their entire discography at their site, but I'm not sure if it's still there (and I don't believe they posted the Tarzan tracks).

Sin Dios/Tarzan Split LP (@ 256 kbps) w/ booklet

This Bike Is A Pipe Bomb

Much of the blog folk hibernate during the summer, and who can blame them? I haven't been posting very much either due to some fun and distracting projects. Case in point: I decided to try my hand at bike building. I think it came out pretty damn well. Some Ramen months lay ahead, since the components add up to a minor fortune; but it was worth it for the learning experience and the badass finished product!



In celebration, it's time for another fun summer Song Of The Week. This Bike Is A Pipe Bomb change the term Folk-Punk from derogatory to complimentary. So here's a song from my favorite of their albums, "Front Seat Solidarity," that covers another activity I've been engaged in a little too often lately.


"Drunk Punk" by This Bike Is A Pipe Bomb

Big Fat Bag O' Splits!

Splits are always a great way to learn about new and obscure bands, but how about a grab-bag full of them? That's what we're dealing in today- a series of split 7"s I've run across recently and wanted to share. You probably haven't heard most of these bands, so unlike a real grab-bag, I offer some descriptions to either dissuade or entice:

The first split in the bag is from a couple of awesome Polish bands. You may recall Stupor from their split with Harum Scarum posted somewhere below. They play more of that thick and intense crust, like a more raw and heavy Post Regiment, while their partners, Verrecke play one long Amebix-meets-Counterblast dirge. It's as good as it sounds.

The name Spider Cunts kept coming up in blurbs about the lineage of Burning Kitchen (one of my favorite punk bands), so it was high time to check them out. What they deliver on this split is four obnoxious songs, mainly about getting wasted. The slamming drums, simple and catchy riffs, harsh vocals... I'm thinking a more obnoxious and punk Sin 34? Sure. Obnoxious is definitely the word here.

Oh, and The Dregs rage hard too. I don't know why I thought I'd dislike them; I actually ended up a fan. Nicely distorted guitars and screamed and wailed vocals that don't get monotonous like some bands' do. The hardcore attack and street punk sensibilities are reminiscent of Filth, but I wouldn't get too carried away with that comparison.

Finally we get to the international pairing of Yokel and Pisspoor. I hadn't heard of Australia's Yokel, and was impressed by their four well-played and vicious crust blasters. The vocals (especially the female member's) are scathing as hell. Granted, nothing originally is going on here, but it won't matter as you scream along, railing against genocide and greed!

Austin's Pisspoor offered some pretty good tracks on the "El Guapo" comp and their split LP, but there's something about these tracks that show a hitting of a stride. A band like this can only be successful if their anger comes across genuine and abundant, and really, that's exactly what this is-- unadulterated rage that's both punishing and cathartic.

Download a sack o' splits

Song Of The Week: "Wednesday Night Church Meeting" (Mingus)

I'm not a church-going man, but years ago when a friend copied "Blues & Roots" for me, the first track conjured an image of a sweltering Southern church packed with lay folk dancing themselves into an ecstatic fever. It was more than satisfying when later I bought the LP and could see the song titles.

"Wednesday Night Church Meeting"

The Steps To Hell

Farcical was yet another virile offshoot of the G-Anx/Elderberry Records tree. Where they fit into the lineage is a little hazy, but based on the recording date of the split below, the band appears to be pre-Counterblast. The first label I wanted to throw onto the 7" pictured above was Counterblast-lite. This is unfair, however, because the songwriting is every bit as engaging, albeit a little less heavy and depressing. I daresay the undistorted picking forays are at times more beautiful than Counterblast's best.



This early Farcical split sees the band hopscotching between the depression and brutality of their early incarnation (G-Anx) and the more mind-bending psychedelia of their more
progressive work. Awesome tracks, but don't ask me to pick a favorite between these two 7"s. As for the B side, I didn't quite "get" their fellow country-folk, Fatal Females, the first time I spun this disk. By the second time, whatever there was to "get" was thoroughly gotten. FF use low-frequency hum and hypnotically steady rhythm to lull you into a pleasing half-slumber of distorted shoegaze noise (post) punk. So simple, yet so good.


Both EPs here.

Oppressing Minorities/For God And Country

No matter how many "Punk Terrorist Anthologies" have been released, it's always nice to find more live Nausea material, especially from the not-often -heard line-up with Neil and Amy on vocals. Recorded in Connecticut in 1988, the three tracks committed to this little piece of wax are crushing and entertaining testimonials of a band hitting its stride on its way to greatness. More please.

Nausea live in Norwalk 1988 (ripped @ 320)

Tracks:
1. New Generation
2. Right To Live
3. Smash Racism

Puro Desmadre Parte Dos

I was stoked enough to find a cheap, good copy of Gasp's "Sore For Days" demo, but on the B side another treasure lay hidden-- the 23 song Stapled Shut demo! If that wasn't enough excitement for the day, five of the SS songs I hadn't heard before. Those of you who know SS's brand of fuzzed out thrashcore can probably relate at least a little to my child-like glee. It turns out I was wrong about the sequence of SS's discography; the gnarly, fuzzed out stuff was their demo material. On the tape posted below, you can get the entire demo, which includes the tracks from the band's split with Lack of Interest, the (I think) unreleased tracks, the entire "World Of Noise" 7", and "Chavala" from the Reality #2 comp. If you just want the unreleased tracks, I've got that for you too, as well as links to previous Stapled Shut posts if you prefer vinyl rips of the rest of the demo instead. If anyone knows titles for the unnamed demo tracks, you know where to click.

** Update: Thanks to an anonymous commenter, we now have all the track titles, and the title of the demo as well ("LA Times"). The missing titles are as follows: 7. "Stapled Shut" 8. "Killer Breed" 9. "What The Fuck" 10. "Blazing" 11. "Resin Heaven". Thanks again for your help!

The entire Stapled Shut Demo HERE
Just the 5 unreleased tracks HERE
Go to the Stapled Shut/Lack Of Interest post HERE
Go to the Stapled Shut 7" + Comp Tracks post HERE

Song Of The Week: "Fun Fun Fun" (The Big Boys)

I'm off to the beach...

"Fun Fun Fun"

They Use A Lot Of Vowels

You probably have a folder full of a ton of late '80's-early 90's, crusty stuff, but Amen's "Paranemia" LP might be the missing classic you didn't know you wanted. Or maybe you have this LP, and know that it's more thrashy crustiness than most people can handle in one sitting. When you're about to reach for that Disrupt box set, give this a spin instead.

"Paranemia" (Spinefarm Records, 1991 @ 256 kbps).

No Charade

Bry(curious) informed me of this awesome band, No Parade, which consisted of some folks from From Ashes Rise. Chrisapproach of the mighty Mosh Eisley blog answered the call by posting No Parade's excellent LP. I can only join in the fanfare by posting this 7" by the band, and saying thanks to the both of you for your help. No Parade is/was a no nonsense hardcore band that cared deeply about what they said, and knocked out some raging tuneage. I have issues with the use of the word karma in the song "Backs As Ladders," but even so, this band rules hard.

Get the 7" Here

6 Trax Hated True Sounds

Bless me readers, for I have sinned. It has been 5 months since my last Out Cold post. There's just something about the real deal that never gets tiresome, and Out Cold are just that (the real deal... not tiresome). OC rages, and doesn't give a rat's what you think about it. I like 'em; but they couldn't care less about that either. It's the straight, old school hardcore done right, and for this round they've snagged their Japanese counterparts, No Side, to fill the B side. My only complaint is that it's too short, but I don't think these bands could give two fucks.

Here.

Song Of The Week: "Summertime" (Crimpshrine)

It's here! My favorite season of the year. Spring always tries to win me over, but it's the summer that holds the key to mine. Whether it's the part of world I live in, or my chosen profession, I can't say. I hope you'll humor me for the next few weeks as every Song of the Week will be lively and celebratory on account of this season of fun (quite a departure from the usual depressing shit I post!). What better way to start than listening to Jeff Ott pine away over his long-distance lady-friend, ending with his promise of a summertime reunion? "Summertime" is one of about 13 songs on the "Duct Tape Soup" collection that I could listen to every day of my life, and it would never lose its sentimental value. I told you Crimpshrine would make it to the SOTW again; such an important band to me couldn't stay away for too long. So go pick some flowers and grab a bottle of cheap wine; turn off the computer and get out and play!

If for whatever reason you haven't heard Crimpshrine's "Duct Tape Soup" or "Lame Gig Contest" LPs, (or "The Sound Of A New World Being Born" LP for that matter), I'm not sure how you go on living! Give 'em a chance...

"Summertime"

The Kindness Of Others

Finally! I've been looking for the missing link to my little collection of In/Humanity splits forever, and now I at least have it digitally. This is all thanks to Mike (& wife), who's one of the coolest guys I've never met! If you know these bands already, the '90's screaming madness supplied by both will surely make your day. Shit, just the track title, "Dork Side Of The Farce" made mine. As a bonus, Mike threw in In/Humanity's long lost "Intolerable" 7"; you know, the one the band disowned. It's pretty hilarious to contrast this to their later work... night and day! You can still get the other In/Humanity splits here, and the Bonescratch 12" here (although I plan to re-rip that sucka soon).


Big thanks again to Mike and Co.

Get both EPs here






And, while I'm using other people's rip donations, I'll go ahead and re-post the massive Mine LP ("Tetanus"). I've been meaning to re-rip my copy, but bass player, Christian, found the original post and sent us these nice clean rips before I had a chance. Thanks a million, Chris! If you like you're hardcore smart, metallic, and brutal, I highly recommend! In another related coincidence, the Pope recently posted Mine's 7".

Get "Tetanus" here.

Sorry For The Delay

During the teaching season, I have a chronic case of head-up-the-ass. Hence I've neglected to post some music sent to me by some good bands/nice people. This post marks my first, albeit tardy, attempt to rectify my ineptitude. First up is the Toronto band, The New Enemy. Either Clint chose this blog randomly for his submission, or else he noticed the repeated Leatherface and Jawbreaker worship throughout the site. Those bands are good starting point for a description, as would be comparing them to a more hardcore sounding Sainte Catherines. The songs are cleanly recorded, but the vocals and heavy guitars add plenty of grit. "Outsourced" is a solid six track EP, and the band is offering it for free!


Here



Next up is a Stoner Rock/Doom outfit from Portland that goes by the name, Salvador! The only thing I had to get used to were the grungy "clean" vocals present in most tracks... after that I could easily appreciate these guys' take on a genre I'm normally finicky about. The vocals get more aggressive at times, but it's the thundering drums and, perhaps most importantly, the meaty-ass bass density that keeps me coming back. I don't think the band wants their entire CD shared, so here's a nice sample of Salvador's rock. Then contact the band to get a copy of the disk, okay?



"Lycanthrope"




Finally, Mother Disobedience of Athens Greece just sent me their Lahar EP. There's little of what we used to call music on this 12 minute track. By default, they will inevitably be labeled noise rock or post punk, but the band has a definite DIY/hardcore ethic and aesthetic. If you are a total riff-monger or melody addict, MD might turn you away. But if you're in the mood for something different or you love guitar feedback, give this a chance. The back cover states, "So artless, our music sounds experimental." Whether they are being charmingly self-deprecating or serious, is up to you to decide.

Here

Satanic Jihad Music

This is easily my favorite Cattle Press record. How could it not be with such a profane miasma of sour, dense chords gushing from the amps, and screams shrill enough to shake you from your stale purgatory of a life. I'm not sure if this 7" is properly called "Cattle Press" or "Silence," but there it is above, and the track list is below...

1. Silence
2. Uprising Embodiment In Serenity
3. The Hole Is Home

Here (@ 320 kbps)

What I Did On My Summer Vacation

This split is about what you'd expect from Bovine Records, Cattle Press, and Agoraphobic Nosebleed. Cattle Press bring the evil slow and heavy, and include a reworked version of "Splint" (IabhorHer). Agoraphobic Nosebleed are in their prime and serve up 17 furious originals and a Voivod cover. Yeah, it's that friggin good!


Here. (@ 320 kbps)

Update: The files have been re-uploaded. If you couldn't download it before, here's "Information." Thanks Strangeranger!

I'm thinking I should post the Cattle Press 7" next...

Song Of The Week: "School's Out" (Bla'st!/Cooper)

It should be no mystery as to why I chose this song. The lines declaring that school's out for summer and forever don't quite apply to me. But for the next 5 weeks, it'll sure feel that way!

"School's Out"

Reality Hates Me

Just when you think you have Affray nailed, they start fucking with your head. From the first track , I thought they were really awesome modern crust-core. But then the anthemic, melodic vocals kick in. Then the keyboards... then in comes the folky intro and violins. Then, finally, there's the dub/reggae riddim. It becomes clear before long that Affray isn't meant to be figured out. They're meant to be marveled at, and rocked out to!

From their 10", Token Tantrum struck me as a group of smart people, constantly growing and evolving. The two tracks on this split LP confirm this. This time the band "warms up" their previously frigid sound with a more Southern sludge feel, falling somewhere between Cavity, Lost, and Neurosis. The experience could be even more taxing on your patience, but listen carefully, lock into the groove, and it's hard not to become fully engrossed in the narrative.

Such a diverse and awesome split is rare to come by. Make sure you get this on vinyl if you can:

Halvfabrikat

Active Rebellion

Ruination

D/L The Affray/Token Tantrum LP (256 Kbps)

A World Badly Made

Amen makes its third appearance on this blog, this time covering Oi Polloi, and taking on subjects like nuclear fallout and raccoon-faced satanist posers. Their American tag-team partners are Short Hate Temper. You probably know these El Paso grinders from various power house splits with the likes of Slight Slappers, Scalplock, Quill, and Harsh. A fast EP for a week that cannot be over fast enough.

Here.

Gospelcore Attack

Amen is a band that should be mentioned along side Doom, Hiatus, and Disrupt during any conversation about nineties crust. Unfortunately, they aren't (at least not here in North America). The even sadder thing is that next to those bands, the Amen experience can often times be even more enjoyable. I'm lucky there's an entire cyber world between us, because some of you probably want to throw something heavy at me for my heresy. It's just an opinion, take it or leave it. The "Feikki" 7" was recorded in 1991 and released on Crash Mag Records. It's solid as fuck, from the art down to the riffs. If all goes well, I'll be posting a certain other Amen split sooner or later this week.

Feikki

Song Of The Week: "A Little Change Could Go A Long Ways" (City Of Caterpillar)

City Of Caterpillar was another Richmond band that shook my foundations upon first listen. The long song titles, long track lengths, and odd band name might strike you as pure pretentious bull-stein, but if you kick your patience into overdrive, you'll be rewarded with a sonic bildungsroman of magisterial proportions. The more developed and epic of their tracks lead the listener onto a winding, curving path of enchanting dream and jarring nightmare-- a slightly unnerving realm scored by hypnotic lullabies interspersed with suffocating layers of distorted mayhem. COC seriously destroyed all the boundaries created by labels with the sheer power of their songs, and brilliance of their playing. I won't go into who the members are or what bands they play(ed) in; COC did an impressive enough job making a name for themselves with a series of EPs and their mind-blowing LP. Give "A Little Change Could Go A Long Way" a chance when you're feeling patient. The build-up at the beginning is gradual as heck, but both the journey and the pay-off are well worth your time.

"A Little Change..." (128 kbps)

"A Little Change..." (320/Mediafire)

The Pimp Of Satan II

Satan's Pimp Records was the label equivalent of that kid at your school who liked to torch crickets with a maginifying glass. Case in point:













And why not?-- included below is a lesser Satan's Pimp comp, but it's got Gob and Noothgrush on it, which makes it automatically post-worthy.





D/L "Accidental Double Homicide" & "Accidental Decapitation Through Masturbation!"