Green As A Dying Whore

Between the post you see here and this post, you can have the entire Spine Wrench discography. I normally don't pay much attention to bands that use drum machines or could be considered "industrial," but Spine Wrench nail it real nicely. Not to mention, there's some residual crustiness from guitar/vocals man, Mid's, days in the mighty Deviated Instinct. In the two folders below, I've put rips of the EPs entitled "Tapping The Vein, " and "Spite Junkie," as well as re-ripped versions of the "Heeldrag" and "Soulscape" (this time from the CD edition which has an extra track) EPs, and a compilation version of the track "Spite Junkie" (all ripped @ at least 256 kbps). This should more than adequately meet your head-banging needs.


Spine Wrench Eps
Spine Wrench Splits

Song Of The Week: "Truth Right Now" (The Fix)

I wish I could be cool and say that I've been into The Fix since the beginning, but it isn't so; I only found out about them when Touch 'n Go Records finally released the retrospective LP. But discovering another contemporary of Negative Approach and Minor Threat that rivals each of those bands' greatness 30 years after the fact... it's almost as exciting as being there!

"Truth Right Now"

I can barely swim the tide
some official tells me save
every fuckin' cent I spend
I turn to dig my grave
I was looking on
concerned but not convinced
thought they'd gimme rope
They only wanted me lynched

It's my country
tis of thee
God sheds no grace
No not on me

Power overruns me
conspiracy so plain
nobody'd warned me
no profits bein' claimed
little bits of wisdom
we read but don't write
I wanna hear
the truth right now

Praying Into The Void

So this is it. The beginning and the end. This blog has a special emphasis on under-appreciated bands of the '90's, and Suicide Nation rank at the top. Black metal, grindcore, the sweaty chaos of living room shows, and blunt atheism... it was all harnessed and re-released in a cohesive tapestry by these five Arizona minstrels. The best material by them is always a little rough and ugly, but I wouldn't have it any other way. These two tracks, "A Prayer To The Void" and "City Of Demise" are superbly representative of this tradition and are essential if you enjoy the band's first LP. You can pick up their entire discography on this site, minus the second LP which is available here. If you know of any other vinyl output by SN that I've missed, please let me know!

The 7"

Creation Is A Suicide Nation

Some pretty rad cover art, huh? I call it... "Polar Bear in Ice Storm." If you look very closely, you'll see that this is indeed the Suicide Nation/Creation Is Crucifixion split 7". Unfortunately, I don't own the original press which actually does have cover art, but at least you get the two tracks and the lyric sheet. It saddens me a little knowing that this is probably my second to last post concerning Suicide Nation. Make sure you have their first LP and their split 7" with Yaphet Kotto (which are excellent!), and check back here in the next couple of days for one last piece to the puzzle. And, if SN's beautifully titled track, "The Covenant Of Shit," wasn't enough, we also have here the debut on this blog of noise/tech-grind/metalcore activists, Creation Is Crucifixion. Their track is pretty brutal and hair-raising; it's just too bad the production is so darn shitty!

The split

This Post Will Self-Destruct...

... in 24 hours! While I don't generally post records that are in print, this post is a gift to all the regular readers of this blog, especially Sean from NY who owns this split, but has no means of playing it. By now you might know Mass Grave (from Canada) who play brutal, high-energy grindcore that will satisfy fans of ENT or Disrupt any day of the week. They have other releases available that you should see about getting, too. Stormcrow should already be in your lexicon as well, but just in case, they are one of the best stench/crust-core bands going today. A couple of the tracks on this split have some gradual build ups, but eventually deliver the jugular attack this band excels at. You should still be able to find their full length, "Enslaved In Darkness," their split CD with Sanctum, and their split 7" with Skaven around in several places.

The Mass Grave/Stormcrow split was released by Agipunk and Mangled Ankle Records, but can be found in the states here, here, and possibly over there. It comes in a great gatefold sleeve, and if you have 12 or so extra bucks, it's more than worth adding to your collection!

Link has been removed. Enjoy these teasers:

Mass Grave- "Unconsciously Mundane"

Stormcrow- "Poisoned Minds"

Song Of The Week: "Silly Girl" (Descendents)

I've got some residual Valentine romance left in me on this oh-so amorous President's Day. I don't get excited over most holidays anymore, and truth be told, I can probably count the number of good Valentines Days I've had on a single hand. But lately, since finally getting it on vinyl, I've been listening to Descendents' "I Don't Want To Grow Up" a little too much. Somebody seriously needs to stage an intervention for me, because I just can't stop! I'm surprised the crack-like combination of eighties pop rock cheese and sap, and punk rock adrenaline rush hasn't been deemed illegal in most countries. I think if The Breakfast Club had been a more punk flick, this album would have been the perfect soundtrack. In many ways it became the soundtrack to my own teen experience. Of all the heart-string tuggers thereon, "Silly Girl" is for me the song most connected to the hormonal dictatorship of that fleeting time. The simple guitar line and angst-fueled lyrics conjure more of the frustrated-crush-feel, rather than the sense of carefree fun (as many of the other tracks do). But I guess that's just like me-- I gotta have some sadness or pain in my music, even if it is the Descendents!

"Silly Girl"

PS- Do we still need a disclaimer about the naive chauvinism of the band, or are we beyond that by now!?

Okara Revisited

I thought I had a firm handle of what the visitors to this blog like: straight hardcore and grind! But every once in a while, someone will contact me about the less aggressive bands I like. A couple of people now have stumbled upon FE by searching for the elusive Ottawa trio, Okara. I did a post during the first weeks of this blog, but did not post an entire record by the band. So this revisit goes out to Brian who reminded me that Okara was indeed awesome, more people need to know about them, and that an immediate repost is urgently in order! Below you'll find links to the band's discography minus one 7" that I'm missing temporarily. First you'll get their playful, dazzling, and perplexing LP, "Months Like Years," where the band shows itself in full control of its faculties and had the best production of its career (which still wasn't great, but it adds grit to an already heavy piece of rock!). Equal parts jazz, San Diego rock, and New Math, every track is full of hooks and grooves, but also a fair amount of nerdery. In addition, you'll also get Okara's split with Mothman, where Okara sound different than usual, but Mothman sound uncannily like Okara. Maybe the labels were switched, but a closer look reveals that the above conclusion is correct! Finally, I've included what I call "The Rose" 7", which I believe to be Okara's second. On it you'll find some of the best and darkest of the band's output-- four chilling tracks that render the poor production negligible. All three musicians are incredibly talented, but I think on all these records

you'll find yourself drooling over the rhythm section's incredible precision and energy. If there's any interest, I may post some bands related to Okara, like Shotmaker, Three Penny Opera, and 30 Second Motion Picture, but we'll just have to see about that. If you're interested in vinyl copies of the LP and 7", try this distro, where you can also find out about members' later projects.

Okara LP

Okara "Rose" 7" and Split with Mothman

All ripped at 320 kbps with inserts, etc...

Beldurrik Gabe

As promised, here's the sixteen track LP by shadowy Basque hardcore mercenaries (or at least that's how I picture them...), Karkaba. I'll be the first to admit that I enjoy their 7" a bit more, but if you love truly visceral hardcore, and especially if you love '80's South American bands, Huasipungo, or even Crudos almighty, this is one hell of a gratifying feast!

Karkaba "Beldurrik Gabe"

Get the band's 7" here.

Begin The De-Machofication...

As the sparse light of late winter signals the rising of the fauna, the minor subterraneans scurry at the feet of an awakened behemoth-- new to us, but seemingly older than the damp hills which held it dormant. Its name is Cull...

Yes, it is another gift from the musical birth machine of Portland, Oregon. And I promise I am not just posting Cull's new CD because Jacqui has been kind enough to comment here in the past and might be one of the cooler people on the planet. This post comes mostly from my sincere love for all things darkly metallic and crusty, and from my new and instantaneous appreciation for this band. The tendency to compare slow and heavy bands to Neurosis is a bit tired, so I'll choose some newer candidates with regard to Cull. The overall experience reminds me of the dissonant guitar cavortings of another new favorite, Agrimonia, as well as the deep and blackened forays of melancholia explored by Asunder. The three tracks are long, but are in no way indulgent, nor will you find yourself consigning them to "background music." The songwriting is entirely too inveigling for that, as are the scathing and bewitching screams that punctuate its urgency. So, what shall we label Cull? As you can see from the tags below, such an enterprise is neither easy, nor necessary. I can imagine fans of "progressive metal" claiming them, but I can also foresee a fair number of modern crusties lured into the fray (especially fans of the more epic bands like Remains of the Day, Fall Of Efrafa, Wake Up On Fire, etc.). Basically, if the harmonious melding of beauty and ugliness is what you seek, you can add the name Cull to your personal repository.

The Cull CD (mp3)

The Cull CD (m4a)

This is what you could/should do to support Cull:

- Go see them on tour next month (and buy the CD!)
- Become myspace "friends" with Cull
- Comment here on how much you like Cull
-Bloggers: post this CD!
-If you run a label, offer to release the vinyl version

Song Of The Week: "Guilt" (Plutocracy)

It occurred to me that I haven't posted anything really fast or really slow in a long while. In trying to reconcile the dearth of either, I got to thinking about the handful of bands that can do both the fast and slow thing expertly. While Plutocracy unleashed a shit-load of insane tunes, "Guilt" always impressed me with the way the band fused a catchy as hell stoner sludge riff amidst the usual Pluto grind lunacy. They always used extreme tempo shifts, but in this song it's as though they discovered "Take As Needed For Pain" during the previous night's smoke-fest and couldn't resist infusing their new inspiration. "Guilt" also comes from my favorite phase of the band's life: the middle... the time when each track flirted with total chaos, but was always reined in by the talent of the players. Their take on grind is impossible to duplicate. Some of the members continued doing similar but different things in bands like No Less, Agents Of Satan(?), Spazz, etc. Respectable bands in their own right, but Plutocracy laid waste to all!

"Guilt"






Hopefully sooner rather than later, I'll re-rip Pluto's live split with Phobia at a higher bit rate; stay tuned...

Itzul Gaitezen Haitzuloetara

The first description I read of Karkaba employed words like "primitive" and "powerful." Said description and the utter lack of any web presence for this mysterious Basque band led me to grab all I could find by them. Both "P" words above apply to the band's sound without a doubt, although, as is usually the case with great bands, words don't quite suffice. Karkaba have an excellent ear for good, crankin' old school riffs, and play them with tons of genuine rage. And, speaking of rage, the vocalist issues some of the most sincerely pissed off sounding yells of recent memory. The black and white photography adorning the covers and booklet is disturbing, yet nicely composed and consistently themed. I've included the lyrics in the folder below, which are mostly in the Basque language with Spanish translations provided. Definitely check this 7" out if you like your music good and raw. It's a rather long and satisfying EP, but if you want more I should have the band's LP up soon.

Aqui

Hard To Swallow: A Follow-Up

Not too long ago, I posted a bunch of ripping gems from the UK's mighty Hard To Swallow. Some of you apparently liked them too, so I thought I'd update you on some matters. Vocalist, Bloody Kev, stopped by and detailed the convoluted family tree of bands related to HTS. You can read that here. It also turns out that Kev started a blog which so far documents the bands and projects he and his mates have been involved in over the years. It's called Keep It In The Family! and you should check it out immediately! He's got links to lots of HTS material (thanks for links to my blog, man!), and will be posting live and unreleased rehearsal tracks one day in the future (in addition to lots of other music links you'll be interesting in exploring). So continue checking in over there and here for further updates...

No free music today... go to Bloody Kev's blog!

Dead and Gone & The Gaia

Every once in a while, Prank Records will crank out a little limited gem under the legs of their more high profile output. I missed out on the Dead And Gone/Gaia split... until now! It's kind of an odd pairing, but when both bands cook, little else matters. Such is the case here. Dead And Gone garnered some well deserved attention a few years ago with their Neurosis-shaded metallic punk. These sound like fairly early tracks, although I can't verify it because my copy had no insert. I can verify that the rhythm section's work on "Violets" conjures a beautiful, hair-erecting phenomenon when I listen to it, and that I wholly recommend these tracks...

With this split, The Gaia makes its third appearance on this blog. It's no coincidence-- I love the energetic hardcore these ladies belted forth! The three offerings herein have pretty good sound, and definitely fall more on the hardcore side of the slippery, diverse rock spectrum this band had mastered. If you enjoyed the material on the "This One" CD, you get more of that kind of tough love (I can't seem to find my copy, but I'm pretty sure these songs on not on it).

Enjoy

Song Of The Week: "Not Even Death" (Unhinged)

In the early days of the FE blog, I did posts on several formative favorites-- one being the band, Unhinged. It's about time for a revisit. I'd like to focus on "Not Even Death" because it was the second track I had ever heard from them, and it was the one that really grabbed me by the short ones. I had yet to hear Initial State or Zero Hour, so the impact of such simultaneously aggressive and mournful hardcore weighed heavy on me. It still does. And when I hear other bands playing emotive crust, I can't help but compare them to these bands, who set the quality benchmark high early on. Another thing that struck me about the 7" on which "Not Even
Death" appeared, is the choice of cover photos. It seems to be a stretch of the I-5 along Camp Pendleton or San Onofre. In the foreground is a sign I grew up seeing often: a silhouette of a family running-- their features drawn like caricatures of the Mexican stereotype. It felt eerie that these constant reminders of economic inequity, exploitation, and blatant racism would hit a nerve with a crust band thousands of miles away too. So maybe Unhinged left me with an early sense that the world wasn't so big after all, and that there were others out there who felt outraged. But really, I have no problem admitting that I was just blown away by the incredible power of their music.


"Not Even Death"

How do I know where I'm going. When it's going too far. Is it beer or blood I'm sweating. Is it love or hate I'm feeling. And then you wake up one morning. You find your soul's into bits. And then there's nothing left not even death. Not even death. I've seen a man he had only one eye. He said to me I want you to die. Try to wake up but I'm not asleep. Try to walk and never to scream. Try to find the help inside myself. But all I've found is a black hole. All I have found is a man with only one eye. Who's telling me I want you to die. And then you wake up one morning from no sleep at all. You find some friends calling for you. Small gestures you daren't name. I've
seen a smile when I thought I'd die. They said to me we want you back to life.

Stay Female Fronted Blog just posted the band's discography in case you don't have it.

Hardcore For The Broken & Battered

It's been far too long since my last proper Out Cold post; perhaps these two deleted 7"s will atone for the gap. This post provides a beautifully abrasive sampling of the two periods that compose OC's long history. "Lost Cause" (Fudgeworthy Recs) features the original line up (with a different vocalist), and if it wasn't for the recording date on the back (1994), you'd think this was an eighties band you overlooked. The music, the recording, the hairstyles... total eighties! This is a good thing, but their later releases are awesome too...

"No Eye Contact" (Kangaroo Recs) is more along the lines of most of OC's releases. Sheehan had taken over on vocals, and the band had refined their relentless working-class-hero-hardcore sound. If you've heard any of their albums after the self-titled one (sometimes called "Web Of Lies"), then this EP will satisfy the Out Cold addiction you've developed from that experience. Each side comes from two different recording sessions in 1997 and 1998 respectively, and damn if all the tracks don't completely shred!

Both 7"s are Here

Gutter Songs For The Godless

I'm in a compilations-that-don't-blow kind of mood, so I've got a couple of good ones today. The bands mainly fall into the new old school category in case that's your thing. The connection between the two comps is the appearance of one of my faves, Out Cold, although both tracks posted here are NOT exclusives. The first, "Bands That Don't Give A Shit About Being God," was pretty limited, but still might be in print. I don't know, so check with the label. In addition to Out Cold, it showcases some of best Massachusetts has to offer, including another favorite, The Conversions. The rest of the bands kick ass as well, and range from old school hardcore, to poppy punk. All of 'em are good.

Tracks & Bands:

1. Out Cold- "Doomsday Guy"
2. Violent Nuns- "The CIA Is After Me"
3. Sgt. Slaughter- "Wildman"
4. Social Circkle"- Private World"
5. Witches With Dicks" - It's Not You, It's Me"
6. The Conversions- "Chosen Few"


Keep scrolling for D/L link

In the folder below you'll also find this impressive, slightly older comp put out by Kangaroo Records, "Songs From The Gutter." Once again there's an Out Cold track that appears on one of their albums, but it's one of my favorites, so you won't hear me complain. Other bands that may perk up your antennae would be Brother Inferior, Final Conflict, and Seein' Red. The other bands compliment the awesomeness nicely.

Tracks & Bands:

1. Brother Inferior- "Collective Conscience"

2. Out Cold- "No Solution"

3. Yawp!- Inhuman Attrocity"

4. Brezhnev- "District 72"

5. Final Conflict- "Abort"

6. Boils- "Anthem 4 This Generation"

7. Seein' Red- "Dream"

Both Comps Are Here

Metrication Time

Have you heard The Conversions' full length, "Prisoners' Inventions"? I mean have you? That LP stormed the gates of my world and performed a six month sit-in on my turn table. I've been looking around for the band's other releases and finally found myself a copy of their 7"; it certainly doesn't disappoint. We get a smaller, rougher dram of their frantic, retrofitted punk angst-- a strangely organic junction of raw, old school defiance, and self-conscious, angular modernity. Somewhere out there, these Bostonians must be capturing the imaginations of some disenfranchised musical junkies; but strangely enough, I haven't heard or read very much about the band. Then again, lately I've been living a somewhat ascetic lifestyle in my cave constructed of vinyl, cardboard sleeves, and tattered, twice-read books, so what do I know? Anyway, see what you think...

The Conversions 7"

Song Of The Week: "Oilocracy"

I hope you'll humor me once more with this final celebratory send-off post for the Bushocracy. The occasion also gives me an excuse to post an excellent track by one of the best contemporary hardcore bands in the world: To What End?. It's as if this band read my mind about what kind of elements I like in my hardcore before they wrote their songs. Of course that's not the case, but I feel like these are the songs the band I don't have should have written a long time ago. If you like your hardcore simple and crude, you may have some difficulty with the guitar melody that seeps through at times, and the dissonance that sneaks up behind you now and again to tickle the hairs on your neck. But, really, I can't see how anyone could not like this band! Lyrically, these Swedes also put many American bands to shame with some pretty insightful and poignant rants in both Swedish and English. "Oilocracy" is my favorite case in point, exposing the nerves of one the most ghastly paradoxes of warfare (especially the modern strain):

What was that?
What do I know?
Maybe a smartbomb
Missing its target
Killing a tall man
At a wedding

Thicker than blood
Darker than night
The purpose beyond
A reason to kill

To war again
In boots and hats
a crusading clown
Throwing burgers to corpses
Hollywood war
Entertaining death

(repeat chorus)

Bye darling, I'm off
Another day at work
Dropping bombs somewhere
Watch TV have a beer
Kissing wife at night
Killing kids, raising kids
All in one day

To What End? have released two full lengths, a 7", and a split 7" with Witch Hunt. "The Purpose Beyond" is slightly the better of the LPs, but what "Concealed Below The Surface" lacks in songwriting is made up for in heaviness. Great band; support them if you have the means.

"Oilocracy"

Circulate The Pain

The Strange Ranger noticed that there aren't many (any?) high bit rate rips of "Wasted Dream" in circulation. Whether that's still true or not, someone's gonna need these tracks. I've made a series of rips from this cheap bootleg CD I found, and while I'm not sure how the quality of the CD compares to the original (since I obviously don't have it), check 'em out and maybe you'll like 'em. If you don't know Death Side, let your education begin with these tracks from the "Wasted Dream" LP (1989) and the "Satisfy The Instinct" 7" (1987). If you are familiar with Death Side, then you already know they were one the greatest hardcore bands in the history of great hardcore bands, and influenced half or all of the new bands you like (that is, if you believe hardcore lives on after '89). RIP Chelsea...

@ 320 Kbps:

"Wasted Dream" LP

"Satisfy The Instinct" 7"

@ 256 Kbps:

"Wasted Dream" & "Satisfy The Instinct"

The Social Darwinism Of War?

The excitement of adding a new favorite band to my list continues with the "Weed & Seed" 7". Whipped is by no means a new band, but for me they are; and it was all made possible by the power of blogging! Brandon H. introduced me to them, and Shawn pointed out the greatness of this EP (thanks for offering to rip it, by the way!). I finally found a (much abused) copy of my own and ripped it for you all. This is possibly the best and fiercest of the band's releases. If you enjoy the snottiness and power of bands like Dirt, Lost World, and Harum Scarum, Whipped might be a new old favorite for you as well. The band mentions that these tracks are "old," and since they deal with George Bush the senior's foreign policy, I would date them around the time of the band's inception ('90 or '91?). The four tracks have a long release history, appearing first on some comps and demos before being compiled conveniently for us here. Some of the lyrics are a bit naive (see post title), but their intentions are good and crusty, and the music is action packed! Member's previous involvement in Aspirin Feast may or may not interest you; either way, enjoy these crackly punk rock rips:

Here

We've (No Longer) Got Bush

Guarded relief. This was my reaction to the election of yet another Washington insider. I'll watch on with a reserved anticipation, but I've refused a ride on the bandwagon of hope and change. There's certainly one thing worth celebrating: the conclusion of one of the most embarrassing chapters in US history. I get a little smirky and giddy looking back at the "Mein Comp," 7". Ten new old school bands (you know what I mean) assembled for this cynical and playful anti-Bush collection. From the title, to the convertible stencil cover, to the CIA-styled, censored lyric sheet, this little record represents a forgotten time when people were genuinely pissed off about the actions of our fearless (brainless) leaders. It seems like for the last four years we've found ourselves in a stagnant state of dismal surrender, waiting for an expiration date while the rot spread openly and pervasively. So here we lay in a ditch dug by years of fear, reactionary zeal, and finally, baffled defeat. I want to say that we've learned our lesson from all this, but I know well enough how short-term our collective memory can be.

Bands and Tracks:

1. Knife Fight- "United We Stand"
2. Fourteen Or Fight- "Everything Is Not Alright"
3. Limpwrist- "A Letter To The President"
4. The Oath- "Bush Licked"
5. Punch In The Face - "We've Got Bush"
6. John Brown's Army- "Royal Mess"
7. Tear It Up- "Right Place, Right Time"
8. Gate Crashers- "Closets" *(Not sure this is really the title)
9. Reagan SS- "Merciful"
10. Last In Line- "Bomb Blast"

Here

Song Of The Week: "The Trail" (Three Mile Pilot)

This song of the week arrives a little bit late. I'm probably the only one who noticed, but since I started doing this as a way to be consistent I feel like an explanation is due. Last night, I was fortunate enough to witness the long-awaited return of possibly the best band San Diego ever produced-- Three Mile Pilot. I furthermore have no Internet connection in my house for time being. So I sit here in public, stealing some one's WiFi connection, and the choice for the week seems all too obvious. The band didn't play any tracks from their singles, sadly, so I've chosen "The Trail" to compensate. On few other tracks is the dimly lit corridor to Three Mile Pilot's world more accessibly and alluringly rendered. I can't imagine that too many of the visitors to this blog will find this form of rock appealing at first. Start with the bass work. 3MP features the most talented bassist I've ever had the pleasure of seeing perform (I've seen him with Pinback, but it just wasn't the same...). Then, follow their fragmented and enigmatic narrative into parts of the human psyche for which you've previously never known entry points.

"The Trail"

I recommend everything the band did, other than their first album. The material they played from their upcoming record was a little disappointing, but it had its moments.

Burning Sensation

Mr. Lo-Res Viscera put out an alert for more Selfish releases, so I figured I'd post my rips of their "Burning Sensation" 12" (Witch Hunt/Feral Ward/Tragedy Records, 2001(?)). What the band offers here is 9 1/2 round-houses of Burning Spirits riffs, hair-flying guitar solos, constipated Systematic Death vocals, Sugi artwork... all polished up with occasional guitar melody and a loud as fuck recording. And it's served up by the best Japanese hardcore band to ever come out of Punkaharju, Finland.

Get it.

H:G Fact put out the CD, but since I don't have it, I ripped the wax at 320. You can get a copy for dirt cheap here.

Saving Us From The Abyss Of Forgetfulness: Dir Yassin

How's about a timely and topical post on this oddly hot January morning (down here at least)?! In the Mediterranean region, I bet they're having similar weather. But while some of us are losing jobs and tightening our budgets, there's some serious shit going in that boiling crucible of the Middle East. Hence today's pick, Dir Yassin. For the five or six of you who don't know, DY was an anarchist hardcore band from Israel whose method certainly abides by the shorter-and-faster-is-better theory. Punk, fastcore, old school hardcore, modern touches of dissonance (on later tracks).... it's all here. Born Against meets Seein' Red? Okay, I'll go with that. But I think the band is more concerned with words than music. This "Discography" LP (Alerta Antifascista/Tofu Guerrilla Recs) is beautifully packaged in a gatefold sleeve and includes an attached, full-size booklet with lyrics (in English and Hebrew) and other writings. The primary concerns of the band are pointing out the imperial arrogance of the Zionist state, and achieving justice for the Palestinian people. They don't offer too much in the way of a solution to the last problem, nor do they discuss their views about "militant" groups like Hamas. But, hey, a burden of such enormity shouldn't fall on the shoulders of Dir Yassin anyway. I've done my best to reproduce the booklet in photo form in the folder below. There are some other interesting discussions as well, including one about whether or not western nations should impose "democracy" and their version of human rights on non-western ones. Yeah, it's heavy stuff for the weekend, but we can't be ostriches all the time here in the USA; especially since our tax dollars make up a huge portion of Israel's military budget.

Peace in the Middle East. (The 46 track Discography ripped at 256 w/booklet)

According to Alerta Antifascista Records, this is out of print; if you like it, I highly recommend getting the vinyl. I'm sure a bunch of distros have a straggler or two.

Louder Than Four Walls

If members of His Hero Is Gone, Slayer, Uranus, and Suicide Nation vacationed in the same Canadian ski lodge and were trapped in by an avalanche for 12 or so hours, they may have produced something like The Black Hand's demo, "Pulling Your Strings." The band itself has nothing to do with the others mentioned, but is related to Ire and Cobra Noir. Dig hard enough and you'll find a composite of all kinds of metal (namely, thrash, black, and speed metal), and various forms of modern hardcore and crust. But you won't have to dig too far to know that these guys are proficient as heck with their instruments and can write incredible songs. Hell, just listen to "Disburden" and I can almost guarantee you'll be hooked. Scorched Earth Policy Records re-issued these four tracks on a 10", which is what I've ripped for you tonight. Before closing shop, The BH also fired out an incendiary LP and one comp track that I know of. I still think these four tracks are my favorites:

Here

Song Of The Week: "Begin To Breathe" (Initial State)

I was on the bike, waiting at a signal last Sunday afternoon. The track list on the pod was finished, the light was changing; I had to choose a band quick. The reflexes didn't delay or fail me: "Abort The Soul" by Initial State it would be. And, for the hundredth or so time, I came to the same conclusion-- this has got to be one of the all time most powerful hardcore records! I've never pedaled so hard and furious in my whole life!

If you've had a chance to skim around this sight, it isn't surprising that Initial State shaped my musical expectations for the last 13 or so years. The band was basically Antischism after years of having endured a few beatings from life and getting their hides toughened and thickened in the process. The result was a name change and an album of such dread-inspiring conviction and power, that the band probably figured it would be pointless to try to match it with a follow-up (just a theory). I could let the adjectives pile up: urgent, bleak, noisy, heavy, fast... they all apply to Initial State, yet none of them are quite adequate. To sum up the desperate mission of the band, I offer my favorite track, "Begin To Breathe." It also illustrates the band's ideas about humanity's future. While I don't quite subscribe to their primitivist bent, during the time that this song arrests me in its clutches, I'll practically believe anything they tell me!






Lyrics











This is easily an album worth owning, so fork over some coins to Prank Records or your favorite distro and get a copy. I've owned 4 myself over the years: The original pressing on Clearview Records, The Prank CD (sat on/broke it), the Prank LP first edition (Clearview sleeves with electric tape cleverly covering the old address/clear vinyl), and the more current LP (sold it after finding the former item in the list for cheap). So, yes, I think I'm obsessed with this album! Members are/were involved in notable bands like, Chronicle A/D, Institute, Guyana Punchline, etc.

Earth Muthaz

Let's stop the gloom and doom for a quick moment to have some good wholesome fun! Don't The Gaia folks look like the kind of people you'd want to hang out with? Too bad you can't. The next best thing is to rock out to this high-energy 7" they put out in the mid nineties ("No. 1", Six Weeks Records). Don't worry, there are plenty of fast hardcore beats and riffs, and Gäna's vocals, from her deep from the diaphragm wails, to her warrior princess screams, may become your favorites of all time. Then you got the "gang" or "crew" style backup vocals, which for some reason sound better when done by women. These ladies add fun and rock 'n Roll to their hardcore in a way that doesn't seem forced. For a great way to start your Sunday...

Click here.



Repost Alert!!!

So it's back to the doom and gloom again. I've been wanting to re-rip and post Sink's "Sad But True" 7" for a while, and this seems like a great place to drop it. It's from the same era and country as Gaia, but it's non-stop menacing crust you'll receive from these pissed off women. Now you get it at 320 kbps, so you can enjoy the filthy crustiness in higher fidelity! The EP was originally released on MCR Records, but I ordered it many years ago from Sound Pollution, which unfortunately is closing its doors. It's the end of an era, but hopefully Ken Pollution will enjoy the time freed up by his retirement from record producing.

"Sad But True" @ 320

Bombing The Pulpit

I'm gonna make this quick and terse, like the music. Repercussions is a hardcore band. All the things that never get old about hardcore can be found in the grooves of twelvers like this one. Members may hold kinship with Signal Lost, Deathreat and Cold World, but what should matter is that it cranks rough and gritty all on its own. I'll go ahead file this under raging-bullcrap-free-listening-experiences.

Here

The 411 On The 403

Coming out of Florida, the "403 Comp" plays like a No Idea sampler. This translates to lots of variety, and intermittent sparks of brilliance. Some great indie/hardcore-type bands like Strikeforce Diablo and Twelve Hour Turn share some impressive material, as do reliable heavy weights like Cavity, Reversal Of Man, and Scrotum Grinder (Oh, and I can't forget the mighty Jud Jud!). There's also the usual sappy emo shite to skip through, which makes me happy this was on CD. But I know what you're looking at... you're wondering if you've heard that Assück track before. It appeared on one other comp that I know of, but on neither of the band's CDs. If you're an Assück fan, you shouldn't have to wonder if it's any good; but just so you know, it totally smokes!

Tracks:

1. Reversal Of Man- "These Hills Have Eyes"
2. Tomorrow- "rightasrain"
3. Assück- "Alabaster"
4. Strikeforce Diablo- "Spirit Of '59"
5. Hot Water Music- "Where We Belong"
6. combatwoundedveteran- "Put Your Weight On It"
7. Cavity- "The Oblivionist"
8. Omega Man- "Life After Death"
9. nineteenhundredandtwelve- "Six Feet Deep"
10. Early Grace- "twothousandandtwenty"
11. Discount- "History Is History"
12. Dragbody- "Inhuman Likeness"
13. Twelve Hour Turn- "Little One"
14. Cease.- Insurmountable"
15. Hankshaw- "Maple"
16. Bird Of Ill Omen- "Sharpshooter"
17. i hate myself- "Caught In A Flood With The Captain Of The Cheerleading Squad"
18. Scrotum Grinder- "Hot Air Not Fire"
19. Jud Jud- "Wah Wah Song"

Listen here

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"

The Beginning Or The End: Contrast Attitude & Acrostix

Split week concludes today with a nice 12" (Crust War, 2004) slab of modern Japanese crust! Both bands are rather different in style, but complement each other nicely. We are first worked over by the distortion suffused thrash ambush of Contrast Attitude. One could say that they sound like a noisier AGE, or a cleaner Disclose, but to me they're just an awesome hardcore band! The hints of discord and tight/energetic drumming really make this band stand out from the faceless crowd, as do the sincerely pissed-off vocals. Yep, this is how it's done.

I can anticipate some... "contrasting attitudes" regarding Acrostix. The three tracks herein come from the days right after or before the "Amebix Japan" comp, and, well, these dudes display their Amebix patch prominently on their torn and frayed sleeves (so to speak). A fan could say that Acrostix pays homage to or celebrates Amebix's style or influence; critics may quip that they brazenly plagiarize to mask a lack of creativity. Let's just say for now that they "appropriate" generously and audaciously from the venerated crust legends, a like scenario of which hasn't been witnessed since the Zoe LP. When you listen to the tracks, the musical shop-lifting will be all too noticeable, but as a preview... the tracks are called "Awave!" (?), "The Biginning (sic) Or The End," and "Eternal Winter," and the members of the band consist of Sin The Baron and Spider77 among others. I was happy to see that Acrostix did find some originality recently as can be heard on their 7" and LP (which of course I recommend). The tracks posted below create a problematic, if slightly awkward listening experience; the main problem ironically being that it's hard not to love it.

The split

Pride From The Depths: Orchid & Pig Destroyer

I'm a little under-motivated and hung over, but I said this would be a week of splits so, damn it, I'm seeing it through to the end! I'll make this quick since both Orchid and Pig Destroyer don't require too much of a jaw-wagging intro, and these tracks can be purchased in CD from here and here. I believe this was the first vinyl output by either of these bands; you get three tracks from the Massachusetts chaos hustlers, and eight from the mighty post-Enemy Soil/Anal Cunt grind machine from when one Scott Evans was still on drums. "Scans" and such are included.

And, whether this is a significant day for you or just another square on the calendar... happy New Year to you anyway!

The Split