Neurosis' Scott Kelly has returned with his third solo album, this time
recorded with a four-piece band under the name Scott Kelly and The Road
Home, which includes some of his Neurosis bandmates. The Forgiven Ghost In Me is a crushingly affecting folk-inflected album from Kelly that will definitely be one of his career highlights outside of Neurosis. Click HERE for the review.
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Monday, July 30, 2012
Column of Heaven - Mission from God
“I realised
what sort of a monster I had become.” That’s the chilling line from Peter
Sutcliffe’s confession statement to police in 1981, the man better known as The
Yorkshire Ripper, the man that terrorised a community for over a decade,
killing 13 innocent women, traumatising families and leaving a permanent stain
on England’s justice system. That particular quote is taken from Sutcliffe’s
account of the murder of his fifth victim, 16-year-old Jayne McDonald, the
youngest of his victims and despite his confession of being a “monster” after
finally being caught, the truth is Jayne was not his last victim as he would
murder eight more women and hold a death grip of terror over northern England
for another three years.
It is this
monstrous man that informs Column of Heaven’s LP Mission From God, a truly
harrowing title given that Sutcliffe believed that he was in fact on a mission
from god, with god’s voice in his head instructing him on his vile, misogynistic
killing spree. Members Andrew Nolan and Kristiansen grew in up the area
terrorised by Sutcliffe so the LP isn’t some pastiche attempt to shock, rather
an account of traumatic events that were happening next door, and broadly
speaking the record is about “how the physical and social landscape shapes us”,
according to a blog post from the band.
When
powerviolence mainstays The Endless Blockade ceased existence, bowing out with
last year’s invigorating split 7” with Pig Heart Transplant, Nolan and Eric
King took up Column of Heaven, having previously released a demo, and the
result is this chilling, simply fucking torturous LP. This is powerviolence
taken to a completely new level by a band that while still young in the sense
that they only formed in recent years, the prior tenure of The Endless Blockade
still looms and brings with it a seasoned experience that has allowed Column of
Heaven to ascend to a level previously unoccupied. Storming the gates with an
aggression unparalleled, this record is so short (at 17 minutes) but captures
so much intensity. Its intensity only matched by the gravity of the subject
matter, both being heavy and fierce in unfathomable ways.
The first
and last songs are ‘After The Mission’ and ‘Before The Mission’, respectively,
which suggests that the LP moves back over the events from 1981 to 1969 but the
album closes with an audio sample from a phone interview Sutcliffe gave from
prison detailing his suicide attempt long before he first took a life. Deep
confusion and incompetence surrounded the police investigation and perhaps this
arrangement of tracks is meant to represent that.
Concept or
no, Mission From God stands up as an evocatively devastating album but it’s
hard to separate the two with the barbarity of the music from the tales it
tells. The mesh of grind, powerviolence and molesting noise elements has bred a
terrifying beast known now as Column of Heaven.
8/10
Saturday, July 28, 2012
Unsung #3: Leng Tch'e / Fuck the Facts split
The Grind
That Annoys is jumping on the bandwagon of regular posts on underrated records.
Hell, why not? Unsung will take a look at those albums, EPs, demos or whatever
that are largely overlooked, whether it’s a discarded gem in the catalogues of
legends or the finest hour of an underground band with a fan base countable on
one hand. This instalment looks at…
Leng Tch'e / Fuck the Facts split 7"/CD
First off,
apologies! It’s been quite a long time since the last Unsung post. This is due
to a number of reasons but better late than never, right? The third instalment is looking at a split
release from 2008 that I adore, which brought together Canadian experi-grinders
Fuck the Facts and Belgian grindcore band Leng Tch’e.
Fuck the
Facts are not a band that could ever be called lax, the rather prolific
Canadian grind band have churned out several full-lengths and countless splits
and EPs since their formation over 10 years ago, coming to another impressive
climax last year with the full-length Die Miserable. This split 7” with
Belgium’s rather excellent grindcore outfit Leng Tch’e may be the band’s
finest short collection of tunes for a split. Both bands have always delivered
the goods and in fact, it was because of this split released in 2008 that got
me into Fuck the Facts having previously been into Leng Tch’e for a little bit.
The
Belgians’ four cuts are some premium grind assaults borrowing techniques from
Scandinavian grind with some judicial flavours of melody. It’s important to see
where this release stands in Leng Tch’e’s catalogue. Previously being with
Relapse Records (where Fuck The Facts were label mates), the band left soon
after this 7” and it would be the band’s final release (of new material) with the
label, with the exception of The Hand That Strangles compilation. Come 2010 and
the band’s next full-length, Hypomanic, they would find a new home with Season
of Mist, expanding on the foundations laid down by this 7”.
Fuck the
Facts really stand out though with their melody-heavy grind that isn’t really
grind… ahem… what I mean is the band, at their core, are still a grind band for
sure but have allowed some many different styles into their sound whether it’s
influences like that of death metal or metalcore, their sound has morphed into
something else. As proof, ‘Like Yesterday’ opens their side and treads on the
grandiose before pummelling through some barbaric tracks, and closes with
the eerily melodic ‘My Failures (Just Like Yesterday)’. The band takes us
through all the different spanners they’ve been throwing in the works,
something which really came to fruition with Die Miserable.
Oddly, there
was a CD release which featured more songs from each band than on the 7”.
Friday, July 27, 2012
Excerpt of new Swans song
Next month
Swans release their new record The Seer, an expansive double album affair. ‘The
Apostate’ is taken from the album and the band has been playing it live at some
recent shows. There’s now an excerpt of a live performance online (via Vice). The
live video is pretty impressive, mostly down to Michael Gira dancing and wildly
flailing his arms around like a man deranged (and one could argue that he is).
While Swans’ music is always evolving into new ghastly unrecognisable forms,
there is one constant – the reaction… the “what the fuck is going on here?”
reaction. That reaction remains intact and where exactly The Seer goes is
anyone’s guess. It’ll be a challenging listen for sure. My Father Will Guide Me
Up A Rope To The Sky was certainly so and it appears the band have
intentionally gone out of their way to fuck with us… again.
Thursday, July 26, 2012
New Reka track
Russian post
metallers Reka will re-emerge shortly with a new split LP with In The Hearts of
Emperors, which is available to order from Moment of Collapse now and the band
is streaming a slab of their side in the eight minute ‘Legacy’. Meanwhile, In
The Hearts of Emperors have yet to release anything from the split online but
I’ve high expectations as I really liked their split with Downfall of Gaia last
year, and am eager to hear more from the Swedes’ downcast sludge.
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Hooded Menace - Effigies of Evil
Finland doom's finest Hooded Menace are preparing the release of their third album Effigies of Evil in September through Relapse Records but click HERE for the full lowdown in the CVLT Nation review.
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Torche post video for Kicking
Torche make fun music so it's not surprising that their new music video is just that (and a little weird too). Check out 'Kicking' below, from their fantastic new album Harmonicraft.
Torche - "Kicking" (Stereogum Premiere) from stereogum on Vimeo.
Torche - "Kicking" (Stereogum Premiere) from stereogum on Vimeo.
Monday, July 23, 2012
New Between the Buried and Me track
After
announcing the details of their new album The Parallax: Future Sequence last
week, Between the Buried and Me have posted the first song from the album, the sprawling
‘Telos’. The song takes us through the various shades of BTBAM, first opening
with intense guitar assaults that remind us of Colors’ most brutal moments.
Conversely the song is enriched with the expected melody, of course laid down
by Tommy Rogers’ clean vocals. The Parallax: Future Sequence is a concept album
so it’s actually quite difficult to judge ‘Telos’ as a standalone piece.
Here is also
the tracklist for the new album which has 12 tracks, the most Between the
Buried and Me have put on an album, suggesting some shorter songs but The
Parallax: Future Sequence will still clock in at 72 minutes. The album is out
October 9th.
1. Goodbye
To Everything
2. Astral
Body
3. Lay Your
Ghosts to Rest
4. Autumn
5.
Extremophile Elite
6. Parallax
7. The Black
Box
8. Telos
9. Bloom
10. Melting
City
11. Silent
Flight Parliament
12. Goodbye
to Everything Reprise
Periphery - Periphery II
Djent’s “poster
boys” Periphery have never fallen off the radar since their 2010 debut with a
string of constant touring and in that time they've managed to release their second
album Periphery II: This Time It’s Personal earlier this month. In a scene that’s
become painfully repetitious and uninteresting how does its hold up? Click HERE
for the review.
Sunday, July 22, 2012
New Mono track
The stunning
Japanese instrumental rock collective Mono will release their new album, For My
Parents, in September, the much anticipated follow-up to 2009’s Hymn to the
Immortal Wind. This week the band released the first taster of the album in the
shape of ‘Dream Odyssey’, a suitable title for the band’s lengthy dreamy
soundscapes and as expected, the track is rife with lush string arrangements
and spectral guitars that weave together for the quintessential Mono sound. Pitchfork
are now streaming the song HERE or have a listen down below.
Friday, July 20, 2012
Downfall of Gaia interview
Germany's Downfall of Gaia recently signed with Metal Blade, a pleasant surprise for band that released records and toured DIY style for years. Now with a new LP slated for release in October, the hardcore band turned post metal four piece appear to only be on the rise. While on a short European tour last week that brought them to Dublin, I sat down for a chat with them. Read it HERE on CVLT Nation.
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Serpentine Path - Serpentine Path
Former and current members of Electric Wizard, Ramesses, Unearthly Trance and The Howling Wind have teamed up for Serpentine Path, who will release their death/doom opus in September but have a read of the review now on CVLT Nation HERE.
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
New Steven Wilson album for early 2013
Quick tweet
coming at you. Steven Wilson, who recently confirmed that Porcupine Tree were
on a hiatus of sorts, alluded that a new solo album would be out next year.
This evening he confirmed that he will be recording with his solo band in Los
Angeles throughout September and October and is aiming for an early 2013
release. Alan Parsons will be engineering the record, whose engineering skills
were a part of little ol’ albums like Dark Side of the Moon and Abbey Road. You
may have heard of them.
New Murder Construct song
Murder
Construct are a supergroup of sorts, including Cattle Decapitation vocalist
Travis Ryan and Exhumed and Intronaut drummer Danny Walker alongside ex and
current members of those respective bands and Phobia and Morbosidad. Having
only released one EP two years ago, the deathgrind troupe will release their
first full-length Results on September 3rd via Relapse Records and have debuted
a new song, ‘Compelled by Mediocrity’, complete with lyric video below.
Have a read
of the lyrics and it’s plain to see that Murder Construct are having a go at
modern metal, and specifically djent. Peppered throughout the track are jibes
such as “you were born with a silver Macbook Pro in your mouth” and “behind
your 9-string, musically bluffing”. Start to finish, the song is a searing
diatribe against the djent scene and million and one Periphery offshoots of the
last two years.
Thankfully
for Murder Construct, this new song is a little better than mediocre. It’s a
solid track and serves its primary purpose as a preview for Results. However,
with what is essentially a side project, Murder Construct isn’t a great deal
different from Cattle Decapitation.
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Toby Driver posts new song
The ever prolific, and always intriguing, Toby Driver has posted a new solo song ‘Grey Dream’ on the Kayo Dot Bandcamp page, having already released new albums this year with his long-time outfit Kayo Dot and the new “avant-garde”/BM-esque band Vaura, whose debut Selenelion is actually rather impressive. The details surrounding ‘Grey Dream’ are scant, much like the sparse arrangements and ambience that make up the song, but according to a post that gives a little context from Driver: “I have a series of solo songs similar to this one that some friends have been asking me to record for a while now. Here's a bedroom version. If any label out there wants to throw a pile of money at me to fund the recording of a real, professional studio album, you know, get at me, etc.”
Between the Buried and Me detail new record
Prog
metallers Between the Buried and Me have announced details of their album The
Parallax II: Future Sequence, the follow-up to last year’s EP The Parallax:
Hypersleep Dialogues. The album will land on October 8th via Metal Blade
Records and the artwork is below. The band’s first pure concept album, Future
Sequence’s tale began with the EP last year and will unfold on this new album.
According to guitarist Paul Waggoner: “The two main characters of the story
take on a journey through space and time with the unenviable task of having to
cure the flaws of humanity by any means necessary.”
“While the
EP served mostly as an introduction to the characters, Future Sequence contains
the action of the story. The lyrics are written in the stream of consciousness
style, which really helps to capture the perspective and emotion of the
characters. We really enjoyed the challenge of writing this record, and I think
we were all pleasantly surprised with how well the music and lyrics jived with
one another. I couldn't be happier with how Future Sequence turned out.”
As bassist Dan Briggs put it a while back, “Musically, it’s hard to describe. I’m really excited and I feel like I could go on and on and on about it. It’s pretty wild, I’m pretty excited about it, I think it’s different.”
As bassist Dan Briggs put it a while back, “Musically, it’s hard to describe. I’m really excited and I feel like I could go on and on and on about it. It’s pretty wild, I’m pretty excited about it, I think it’s different.”
Monday, July 16, 2012
Krallice announce new album
Via the now
usual succinct Facebook status, Krallice have announced their new album Years
Past Matter, the follow-up to last year’s impressive Diotima, and will be
released in “late August” on CD independently as well as a digital release.
Long-time cohorts Gilead Media will handle the vinyl release. The band features
Colin Marston, also of Dysrhythmia and Gorguts, the latter
of which has a new album coming out in August too and Gorguts is cooped up
still working on a new record, so between those bands and producing and mixed
myriad others, he just can’t seem to stop.
From Ashes Rises - Rejoice The End/Rage of Sanity EP
Behold. It’s the return of From Ashes Rise with
a new 7” to pave the way for a new album in the works. With two tracks, this
release is very much on the fence. Click HERE for the review on CVLT Nation.
Sunday, July 15, 2012
New Grave track
Swedish
death metal luminaries Grave are getting set to release their tenth album, Endless
Procession of Souls, and almost coming up on 25 years together, it’s quite the
milestone. The veterans are now streaming a new slab of death via the Century
Media YouTube page called ‘Passion of the Weak’. Grave have always been
consistent in their output, to varying degrees and while 2010’s Burial Ground
was solid enough, it demanded some more flair from the band and ‘Passion of the
Weak’ appears to be veering the new record that way.
Friday, July 13, 2012
Samothrace - Reverence to Stone
After four long years, Samothrace have finally released the follow up to 2008's Life's Trade with this new full-length Reverence to Stone and it is a sublime piece of work that has been worth the wait. Click HERE for the review now on CVLT Nation.
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Vaccine post new songs, add Irish dates
Vaccine
released their EP Crimes in Blood back in early 2011 and it actually feels like
a lifetime since then. But of course the band have been pretty busy touring
wise but now there’s some new material to tuck into, as well as some European
tour dates announced, which includes stops in July in Dublin (27th) and Cork (28th), venues TBC. *Two splits 7”s are in the works, a split with Coke Bust, and another called
Dead Inside and here are two tracks from the respective releases. Both are of
course short caustic slabs of powerviolence, not much to say, just listen.
(Thanks to Toxicbreed for the tip, click HERE for the rest of the European
dates)
*amendment, July 15th
*amendment, July 15th
Photo: Reid Haithcock |
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
New Slidhr track
I was
banging on before about the renaissance of sorts in Irish black metal. Over the
last 12 months there’s been a significant rise in the number of quality BM acts
on this isle and this year alone we’ve had releases from Wound Upon Wound,
Eternal Helcaraxe and Dunmharu, and Sodb’s demo is landing shortly. Anyway, the
next chapter is marked by Slidhr. Frankly, my knowledge of Slidhr is scant at
best but Deluge is the title of the new album coming soon on Debemur Morti
Productions and a new song ‘Hex’ can be heard below. The song is a powerful
blend of orthodox BM and some vague Deathspellisms, kind of like the material
from the split with Clandestine Blaze with Slidhr churning out some impressive
mid-paced black metal of their own. More details on the album soon.
Preview the Converge / Napalm Death split 7"
Pre-orders
are up now for the very limited edition split 7” between Napalm Death and
Converge, both offering two new slabs of sonic aggression each, with Converge
delivering a cover of Entombed’s ‘Wolverine Blues’, which includes guest
appearances from Aaron Turner and Tomas Lindberg. Deathwish, who are
distributing the 7”, are now streaming a very brief snippet of two of the
tracks to whet your appetite. Listen below and click HERE for the pre-order.
Monday, July 9, 2012
Burning Ghats - Different Names for the Same Face EP
This is
Vancouver’s Burning Ghats and last year they released their unforgiving 7”
Different Names for the Same Face and it’s simply devastating crusty hardcore.
Have a read and listen HERE.
Saturday, July 7, 2012
Unearthly Trance disband
New York
sludge doom outfit Unearthly Trance have decided to call it a day, releasing
the statement found below, thus quelling any expectations to a follow-up album
to 2010’s V and so it appears that the Manson split 7” with Wooden Wand is
their swansong.
“Unearthly
Trance has broken up. We have decided it was the right time and this time it is
for real. Thanks to
all the people around the world who have supported us in any way!”
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Ihsahn - Eremita
Ihsahn is
back with his fourth solo record, Eremita, following on from his previous trilogy
of albums. So what is next for the man behind some of the most evocative black
metal records in Emperor and subsequently some of the best progressive metal in
recent years? Click HERE for the review and find out.
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Nasum announce London date
Nasum, who
are on one last tour to properly call the band to a closer after the tragic
death of vocalist Miezsko Talarcyzk in 2004, have announced a London show for
September 25th. When the band announced the initial run of shows late last year,
a UK appearance was conspicuous by its absence. Until now. The band will play
The Underworld in Camden and tickets are on sale this Friday and Black Breath
are in tow for support.
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Conan start work on new album
It was only
a few months ago that Liverpool drone/doom/severe noise makers Conan released
their new album Monnos, to quite a bit of acclaim too. Now, the band have been
quick to get stuck into a new record, posting the following message:
Scant few
details, yes but also interesting news that we shall not be waiting too much
longer for more new Conan. Also remember that Conan are playing The Pint on
October 12th with No Spill Blood, Slomatics, ZOM and Wild Rocket. Event page
HERE.
This Gift is a Curse - I, Guilt Bearer
Sweden's blackened hardcore merchants This Gift is a Curse have released their first LP entitled I, Guilt Bearer and the review is online now over at CVLT Nation. Click HERE to read.
Monday, July 2, 2012
New Rat's Blood track
Rat’s Blood
are a little bit good. The Dublin punks have been gigging hectically for just
over a year now and released their first demo tape earlier in the year and have
now stuck up a new song online. If stuff in the vein of Scandinavian punk like Herätys
or dissonant Japanese hardcore then Rat’s Blood are for you and you should tuck
into this new song ‘Punx is Mutants’. Always keep your eyes peeled for any gigs
coming up too, they’re a band much better experienced live.
Sunday, July 1, 2012
New Dysrhythmia track
First post
of the new month right here and it’s a new Dysrhythmia track. Not bad, right?
The band confirmed their new album a few weeks, their first for Profound Lore,
will be called Test of Submission. Having released a demo track last year as a
wonderful taster, the prog metal trio have posted the title track of the new
record now too. When not playing with Gorguts, Krallice, Vaura or producing
countless records, Colin Marston and Kevin Hufnagel, with Jeff Eber, have the
supremely underrated Dysrhythmia, with their mind melting complex instrumental
metal and have released a series of quality records and Test of Submission should
(fingers crossed) be no different. Listen to the new song now on Metal Sucks
and just down below.
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