Weird Korea/Spook Houses Split Cassette (2011)

Country: USA
Genre: Garage rock, punk, indie rock
Label: Self Released
Tracks: 8

(Band Request)

Wow. This is a killer release. New York' based Weird Korea's latest release is a split cassette with New Jersey's Spook Houses. Both Weird Korea and Spook Houses do a great job in navigating the fuzzy areas of garage rock, pop punk, and lo-fi indie rock. Both bands have a lot to going on, which makes it hard for me to pin either band down. At times I hear garage punk similar to Obits or older The Estranged. At other times both bands play a style of fuzzy, lo-fi indie rock similar to bands such as Blank Dogs, Thee Oh Sees, and Ty Segall. The main standout between the two bands is that Spook Houses have a "folkier" sound reminiscent of Against Me! Overall, Weird Korea and Spook Houses compliment each other well on this cassette. Great stuff. Thanks for sharing guys! On a side note, I also included Weird Korea's No Art, No Trade Ep and Spook House's Real Ghosts/Pretend Ghosts Ep for you to check out, which are available for purchase via both bands bandcamp pages.

WEIRD KOREA (bandcamp)
Spook Houses (bandcamp)
Weird Korea_Spook Houses Split Cassette (2011)
Weird Korea - NO ART - NO TRADE
Spook Houses - REAL GHOSTS - PRETEND GHOSTS

Frandy-Relief Demo (2011)

Country: USA
Genre: Hardcore, punk
Label: Self Released
Tracks: 5

(Band Request)

Damn, This is a killer demo. Frandy are a Flint, Michigan based band who play a dark, metallic, and technical style of hardcore/punk that's sure to be a hit with people who enjoy bands such as Converge, Botch, Trap Them, Achilles, and older Bleeding Kansas. Seriously, this is one of the best demos I've heard this year. Give Frandy a listen. You won't be disappointment. This band needs a label. Great demo guys!

Frandy on Bandcamp
Frandy Relief - Demo (2011)

Wolf Shaped Clouds - Demo (2011)

Country: Hungary
Genre: Emotive Hardcore, punk, screamo
Label: Self Released
Tracks: 5

(Band Request)

I received an email request from the band to do a post and just got around to listening to Wolf Shaped Clouds. Wolf Shaped Clouds are a Budapest, Hungary based band who play a noisey, chaotic, abrasive, and sometimes melodic style of music that reminds me of bands such as Ressurectionists, Orchid, Relics, and Ampere. Great music that almost borders on emoviolence at times. Do yourself a favor and give Wolf Shaped Clouds a listen. You'll be glad you did.

Wolf Shaped Clovds on Bandcamp
Wolf Shaped Clouds - Demo - (2011)

Drug Church-Demo (2011)

Country: USA
Genre: Hardcore, Punk
Label: Ride The Fury Records
Tracks: 3

(Band Request)
Hell yes. This is what the doctor ordered. Drug Church are an Albany based band who feature members of End Of A Year and California. What we have here are three great songs of gritty hardcore/punk that reminds me of a grittier Capital, (obviously)End Of A Year, Quicksand, and Silent Majority. Great stuff. This will be released on cassette by Ride The Fury records in the near future.

Drug Church on Bandcamp
Purchase: Ride The Fury
Drug Church - Demo (2011)

Zann-Earsick: More Adventures With Zann (2011)

Country: Germany
Genre: Hardcore, Punk
Label: Adagio 830, Vendetta, Per Koro, Protagonist Music, Crucificados
Tracks:6

I'm sure plenty of you know Germany"s Zann by now and know what to expect. Here's their latest EP. What we have here is 6 more songs of claustrophobic sounding metallic hardcore. If you're unfamiliar with Zann, picture Unbroken getting into fistfight with Perth Express and the members who are still standing starting a new band. Overall, this is a great EP. Unfortunately, I couldn't find a release date or label info. related to which label is going to put out the EP. Get in contact with Zann if you want a copy. Great stuff!

Zann on Myspace
Zann- Earsick - More Adventures With Zann (2011)

Jesuit-Discography Lp+7" (2011)

Country: USA
Genre: Hardcore, Punk, Metal
Label: Magic Bullet
Tracks: 12

JESUIT were an unrelenting, noisy hardcore band from Virginia Beach, VA. They existed from the mid-90′s up until the changing of the century. In their wake, they left a rather nice-sized dent in the intensely-PC witch-hunt/”safe space” era of DIY hardcore. Whereas events attributed to Charles Manson are often credited with bringing a savage and brutal end to the peace, love, and drug culture of the 60′s, events surrounding bands like JESUIT and GEHENNA not only elicited controversy at every tour stop, but pushed a movement toward hardcore finding its more violent, unpredictable, and entirely irreverent roots as the “Portlandia” cult of 90′s hardcore crashed to a halt.

Comprised of childhood friends Nate Newton (who went on to CONVERGE, OLD MAN GLOOM, and DOOMRIDERS), Brian Benoit (who went on to THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN), Brett Matthews, Kelly Posadas, and J. How, JESUIT managed to crank out twelve scathing blasts of fury and anguish in their time.

Jesuit's Discography features all twelve in reverse chronological order from the final 7″ on Hydra Head all the way back to the demo tape. All twelve tracks have been meticulously restored and remixed by Kurt Ballou at God City before being remastered by Bob Lipton at Peerless. The result is a behemoth of an album that sounds and feels more relevant than anything being marketed as “hardcore for the hardcore” today. Damn, I forgot who brutal this band was. You can easily see the members of Jesuit cutting their teeth on truly chaotic music in a way that launched them into their current bands. Definitely a must for fans of chaotic hardcore and metal. Enjoy.

Jesuit on Myspace
Purchase: MAGIC BULLET RECORDS
Jesuit - Discography (2011)

Des Ark - Don't Rock The Boat, Sink The Fucker (2010)

Country: USA
Genre: Indie, Rock.
Label: Lovitt
Tracks: 8

Aimee Argote's latest razes most of the bullshit baggage she tends to lug along through these eight baptism-by-fire songs of fury and forgiveness, empathy and accusation. Rock the Boat took two years and two studios to finish, with attention to detail the sine qua non. Then nearly another year passed before its release, but the wait was worth it. The explosive small-town kiss-off "Bonne Chance, Asshole" and defiant "It's Only a Bargain If You Want It" roil with tumultuous percussion and barbed guitar lines that snap and lash like flagellants' switches. On the flip side, the It-was-beautiful-but-I-have-to-say-goodbye break-up song "Howard's Hour of Shower" and the twinkling "My Saddle Is Waitin' (C'mon, Jump On It)" seem so frail you worry they'll shatter if not for choruses that prop them up like drunken lovers. Argote's vocals embody the extremes, snarling and imploring on the aggressive numbers, half-whispered pleas and sympathetic caresses elsewhere. The subject matter can be brutal and not always leavened by grace — "Girls Get Ruff" features a rape scene that leaves the narrator looking at men like a "stockpile of weaponry." But with songs that cut this close to the skin and music that hits all its various marks, that's not at all a bad thing.

Des Ark on MySpace
Des Ark on Bandcamp
Des Ark Webpage
Purchase: See into RAR file
Des Ark - Don't Rock The Boat, Sink The Fucker (2010)

Storm The Bastille-Behold EP (2011)

Country: USA
Genre: Emotive Hardcore/Screamo
Label: Self Released
Tracks: 6

Storm The Bastille are a Philadelphia, PA based band who play a chug heavy, epic, and at times chaotic style of emotive hardcore/screamo that reminds me of bands such as Loma Prieta, We Were Skeletons, and older 90's style bands such as Saetia and Joshua Fit For Battle. Sadly, this is Storm The Bastille's last recorded output and the band will be playing their final show in Bethlehem, PA in mid-June. Behold is a great EP and it's a shame Storm the Bastille is breaking up. I also added a link where Storm The Bastille's entire discography can be downloaded for free. Storm The Bastille-Discography: http://stbdiscography.tumblr.com/

Storm the Bastille on Bandcamp
Storm the Bastille - Behold EP (2011)

Old Growth-Out Of The Sand And Into The Streets LP (2011)

Country: USA
Genre: Post punk, Indie Rock
Label: Bakery Outlet Records/Echo Canyon Records
Tracks: 11

Old Growth write stripped-down, straightforward, sometimes tragic, songs of life, to which John Magnifico (Twelve Hour Turn) brings full chords from his guitar and rediscovers melody in his voice. John's lyrics parallel his songs - simple in form, but revealing an incredible depth of narrative that could easily be overlooked. Old Growth's sound is something like Uncle Tupelo, or Wire's early rock'n'roll numbers. Luke's (Science of Yabra) bass drives in line with Ben's mid-tempo drumming and backing vocals which fill in the right spaces. Ben also adds a few of his own songs, singing up front while nodding to the Ramones or the Stooges. Old Growth plays punk rock'n'roll. This is an amazing album. Fans of 12XU, Failure's Union, and No Idea records bands fans take note.

Old Growth - Bandcamp
Purchase: Bakery Outlet Records (USA)
Purchase: Echo Canyon Records(Europe)
Old_Growth - Out Of The Sand And Into The Streets - (LP 2011)

The Osedax - Delayed Response (2011)

Country: USA
Genre: Doom, Metal, Sludge
Label: Self Released
Tracks: 8

"Delayed Response" is the absolutely crushing self-released debut from McLean, VA's The Osedax, throwing down eight lengthy tracks for about an hour's worth of top-notch doom. These dudes just do not fuck around at all. The songwriting is utterly amazing right off the bat, and actually manages to strike a much more emotional chord than most bands of this nature. Of course there's a firm base of thick, plodding rhythms and sludgy runs – not to mention a variety of deep, burly growls and midrange snarls – but they also utilize tons of winding, dissonant melodies and subtly discordant chord phrasings that add a hell of a lot of power to the compositions. Plus, the tempos are all over the place, so they're not just locking into a slow, pounding groove for 6+ minutes straight and beating you over the head with repetition. In fact, some of the "faster" passages actually get pretty damn technical in the riffing department. This is also one of the first albums I've listened to in a while where the drumming jumps out at me as a true strength: The dude hits hard and doesn't stagnate, so there are a lot of forceful fills and well-placed flourishes. Great recording, too. The bass faintly pulses away behind a massive wall of guitars, the percussion is crisp and natural… everything gels together perfectly and is super fuckin' heavy without losing any detail. As usual I'm not doing a stellar job of properly communicating the intricacies of what this music has to offer, but listen for yourself and I think you'll understand. This is quite an outstanding album, and it will be a massive injustice if The Osedax doesn't start getting more attention ASAP. I'm impressed… --Aversionline.

The Osedax on MySpace
The Osedax on Facebook
The Osedax Webpage
Purchase
The Osedax - Delayed Response (2011)

Denizen - Whispering Wild Stories (2011)

Country: France
Genre: Stoner, Hardcore, Punk, Rock & Roll
Label: Prototype Records, Temple of Noise
Tracks: 8

Denizen formed in south of France between Montpellier and Sète in 2003. After a first demo / EP and a first album, 'Far From Common Strategy' (2006) issued on the label Prototype Records, the group participates in a split tribute to Black Sabbath with the bands Illtemper and Stuntman. Denizen then appears on a compilation produced in collaboration by Prototype Records and the Temple of Noise fanzine which found among other Tantrum, Basement, Marvin or Year Of No Light. A second album, 'Snatches Into Uproar' was released in 2009, still on Prototype Records. Denizen begins to move towards a more rock groove with Sludge and Stoner influences.

Whispering Wild Stories' is the third album by Denizen. Classic Rock influences are even more assertive : a 70's typed riffing, the wah-wah, a more melodic singing and eight songs with simples structures. The group incorporates a standard of Rock'n'Roll, Sunshine Of Your Love by Cream. As on the previous album, the mastering is entrusted to Nick Zampiello and Rob Gonella, which have long proven themselves with groups such as Keelhaul, Converge, Scissorfight to name a few. The artwork is signed Jimbob Isaac, guitarist / vocalist of Taint and worked with Clutch and Orange Goblin.

Denizen on Bandcamp
Purchase
Denizen - Whispering Wild Stories (2011)

(by request of the band)

C.aarmé - Vita (2006)

Country: Sweden
Genre: Hardcore, Punk, Post Punk
Label: Burning Heart
Tracks: 12

C.Aarmé... the Swedish militia of punk rock.

No, not the fashion punk that seethes from the oily pores of the corporate rock machines of today... this is the real sweaty deal. Destroyed amplifiers, guitars through windows, and blown out vocal chords. A maniacal attack of cataclysmic proportions. Feigning death for their required military service and hiding in the forests of Sweden only to emerge to behead the new garage punk aristocracy. The invasion has begun and no prisoners will be taken.

Sometimes, C.Aarmé’s fast energetic punkrock reminds you of Bad Brains. C.Aarmé have never heard Bad Brains. Sometimes, they remind you of Black Flag. C.Aarmé have never listened to Black Flag. “We just wanted to play fast and hard without deeper analysis, and this is the way it came out”.

C.aarmé on Myspace
Purchase
C.aarmé - Vita (2006)
... more C.aarmé

Best of Blogosfera. Week X.

-#1. -#2. -#3. -#4.
-#5. -#6. -#7. -#8.
-#9. -#10. -#11. -#12.
-#13. -#14. -#15.

(fucked blogger editor...)

Broken Water-Peripheral Star 12" (2011)

Country: USA
Genre: Indie rock, shoegaze, noise rock
Label: Perennial Records
Tracks: 5

Wow. I was really impressed after listening to Broken Water's latest 12" entitled Peripheal Star. Broken Water are an Olympia, WA based band who play an infectious blend of indie rock, noise rock, and late 80's to 90's shoe gaze. I hear noise elements of Sonic Youth, poppy shoegaze ala My Bloody Valentine and add a modern lo-fi approach and you'll begin to get where Broken Water are coming from. This is a great 12" and is definitely worth checking out. Great stuff!

Broken Water on Myspace
Purchase
Broken Water - Peripheral Star (2011)

Drugs Of Faith-Crroded (2011)

Country: USA
Genre: Grindcore, hardcore
Label: Selfmadegod records
Tracks: 14

Virginia’s hellishly talented grind trio Drugs Of Faith may have one of the best names in rock, but until now they haven’t had a proper full length debut. Bad ass demos, EPs and splits notwithstanding, it was high time to release CORRODED on Selfmadegod Records. The album was recorded at Developing Nations in Baltimore with Kevin Bernsten at the helm, and mastered by Scott Hull of Pig Destroyer/Agoraphobic Nosebleed, plus features a guest contribution from Pig Destroyer’s JR Hayes on a cover of His Hero Is Gone’s “Hinges” anthem. (MRR review)

Hell yes. I've been dying to hear Drugs Of Faith's debut full length. Fourteen tracks of brutal/punishing grindcore and hardcore with slight elements of blues and rock. Definitely a must for fans of His Hero Is Gone, Helmet, Unsane, and Agoraphobic Nosebleed.

Drugs of Faith website
Purchase
Drugs Of Faith - Corroded (2011)

Yakuzi - Ausardiaren Garaia (2010)

Country: Spain
Genre: Post Rock (not typical)
Label: Bonberenea
Tracks: 16... really 9

Mientras muchos de los nombres a los que se suele apelar para relacionar la música de Yakuzi han suavizado las formas con el paso del tiempo, ellos siguen picando piedra. Quizás porque es su forma de describir su entorno. De ver la vida a pie de ría. Y –el anagrama me viene al pelo- a pie de ira. De constatar su presente. Retumben o no los tambores de paz, el discurrir cotidiano sigue siendo duro, y cunden más unos bocaditos con los colegas que haber ganado el Villa De Bilbao o haber tocado en el Primavera Sound. Así que la manera más honesta de reflejarse es constatar lo mucho que sigue incólume en vez de lo poco que ha cambiado.

Hay algo de dramático y fiero en el arranque de “Nitro” abriendo “Ausardiaren Garaia” (Bonberenea Ekintzak 2011), en su palpitar inicial, algo de bocanada vital en busca del aire contaminado del cinturón industrial. Portada y contraportada muestran escuetas la dualidad vizcaína. Para un grupo casi instrumental, el minutaje amplio –como en “Izaki Ikusezinak”- es básico para comunicar, permitiéndose la incorporación de la trompeta de Ibon Rodríguez y la voz de Ibon Bilbao –Ama Say-, amén de samples con efectos parecidos a los de Migala pero en clave política. Quienes quieran post-rock de primera, ahí están los últimos minutos de “Rotor”, gaseosos y monumentales. Y si a veces se ceban en tramos impenetrables para oídos educados en el pop como los míos –“Otori”-, tienen a bien volver a captar la atención con un bonus donde el pulso –el beat- de “Apurtu” –con la colaboración de DJ Amsia- es mucho más seco que el de James Murphy. El eco de la sangre retumbando en venas de hormigón. Presión máxima. --Música en la mochila.

Yakuzi on MySpace
Yakuzi on Facebook
Purchase
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Yakuzi - Ausardiaren Garaia (2010)
... more Yakuzi

Breaking Apart-MMXI (2011)

Country: Italy
Genre: Hardcore
Label: Self-Released
Tracks: 3

(By Request From The Band)

Breaking Apart are a band from Milano, Italy who play aggressive and at times melodic hardcore. Breaking Apart will appeal to fans of The Carrier, Touche Amore, Give Up The Ghost, Dead Swans, and Strike Anywhere. Good stuff.

Breaking Apart on Bandcamp
Breaking Apart - MMXI (2011)

Lapse-Demo (2011)

Country: USA
Genre: Hardcore, punk, powerviolence
Label: Self Released
Tracks: 5

(By Request From The Band)

Damn, this is a killer demo. Lapse are a band from the Maryland/DC area who play brutal and punishing hardcore/punk/powerviolence. Lapse have taken elements of bands such as Orchid and Ampere and mixed this sound with the darkness/aggressiveness of bands such as Alarm or Enabler. 5 songs in under 5 minutes, including a Limp Wrist cover. Great demo, Guys! Thanks for sharing!

Lapse - Bandcamp
Lapse - Demo (2011)

Becaria - ¿Por qué les aplauden? (2011)

Country: Spain
Genre: Slowcore, Pop.
Label: DIY
Tracks: 6

¿Why do they clap for?...This came out from some guy that was in one of our two shows. Far from offending, that’s the truth: we’re not that kind of band that makes shows or tours. We like to play in our rehearsal room, share ideas, record them and then consider it as our treasure. Saying this it seems that we don’t want to be liked. That’s not truth, there’s nothing like knowing that someone feels something about your music, about your words. That’s why we make some copies and put this on Internet.

The following tracks keeps one order and a common sense: each song represents one of the steps in the tough road of falling in love. “La verdad” and “Stina” speaks about those mixed feelings in the first days of being in love. “Agotador” and “5 de mayo del año que viene” represents the runaway, trying to find your own way, whatever that means.

These songs were recorded between 2010 and 2011 in our rehearsal room and in ‘La Caída’ studio. You will hear bad executions, voices out of tone and some wrong stuff here. Reality bites: we’re bad musicians.

Becaria on Bandcamp
Purchase
Becaria - ¿Por qué les aplauden? (2011)
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... more Becaria

Unfun-Sick Outside View LP (2010)

Country: Canada
Genre: Punk, hardcore, grunge
Label: Fast Crowd
Tracks: 14

Here is another band that I recently came across. Unfun are a Vancouver, Canada based band who play a great style of grunge influenced hardcore/punk that reminds me of bands like Crimpshrine, Off With Their Heads, and Young Livers if these bands were influenced and run over by Neurosis and early Nirvana. Great stuff. I also included their Pain Prescription EP for you to check out as well good stuff. I could easily see Unfun being released on Deranged or Sorry State Records. Enjoy!

Unfun (Bandcamp)
Purchase: Fast Crowd Records
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Unfun - Sick outside view (2010)
Unfun - Pain Prescription EP (2010)

Heavy Cross - Moon Frost Demo (2011)

Country: USA
Genre: Hardcore, punk, crust, black metal
Label: Holy Throat Records
Tracks: 2

(By Request From The Band)

Wow, this came as a pleasant surprise. Heavy Cross are a California based three piece band who play a great style of blackened, metallic, hardcore/punk that's a must for fans of Salvation, Enabler, Tragedy, and His Hero Is Gone. This is a great demo. My only complaint is that it's only two songs and leaves me wanting more. Great demo, guys!

Heavy Cross(bandcamp)
Purchase: Winter & Throat
Heavy Cross - Demo (Mastered)(2011)

Pariso / Kerouac Split Ep (2011)

Country: United Kingdom
Genre: Hardcore, punk
Label: Holy Roar/Tangled Talk Records
Tracks: 11

Wow, this is an intense record. Pariso's follow-up to their Sooner Insignificant Better EP and offer up 5 more tracks of chaotic, dark, and pissed off hardcore. Pariso will appeal to fans of bands such as Converge, older Dillinger Escape Plan, Throats, and Gaza. Kerouac return with 6 more songs of dark and heavy as hell hardcore that takes hints from bands such as Achilles, Converge, and The Minor Times. This is a great follow-up to their Cold And Distant, Not Loving 10" released in 2010. Great EP! I'm definitely going to try to get my hands on a copy!

Kerouac on Myspace

Pariso on Myspace
Purchase: Holy Roar Records
Purchase:Tangled Talk Record
Kerouac & Pariso - Split (ep) [2011]

Lower Than Atlantis - World Record (2011)

Country: United Kingdom
Genre: Post hardcore, indie rock
Label: Sumerian Records
Tracks: 12

Wow, this band came out of nowhere for me. Lower Than Atlantis are a UK based band who play a great style of melodic and emotive blend of post hardcore and indie rock that's sure to be a hit for people who like bands such as Small Brown Bike, By A Thread, Title Fight, and later era Hot Water Music. I also included the band's debut record entitled Far Q. Great band. Enjoy!

Lower Than Atlantis On Myspace
Purchase:Sumerian Records
Lower Than Atlantis - World Record (2011)
Lower Than Atlantis - Far Q (2010)

Ironhide - Create/Collapse/Repeat (2011)

Country: Australia
Genre: Tech Metal.
Label: Six Nightmares Productions
Tracks: 10

The who's who of extreme metal on the debut for Brisbane's Ironhide. Dual vocal hardcore that sits nicely in The Red Chord, Converge and Misery Signals of this world. The 12 inch vinyl is out now on a brand new Sydney label Six Nightmares Productions, it really is sexy vinyl and pre orders get a tshirt (red vinyl sold out suckers), all the normal folk settle for black. Features a sweating lineup of guest vocals from Nathan Wyner of A Secret Death, Mike Deslandes of Coerce, Cam Gillard of To The North, Robert Allen of The Abandonment/In Trenches, Matt Cook from Marathon and Toshihiko Takahashi from Palm blah blah etc etc. If you can pick all the guest vox on each track ill give you a free lollypop cos I sure can't. Recorded by James Balderston (A Secret Death, Robotosaurus, Coerce) in October last year at Capitalsound Studios in Adelaide, a lot of the producing style reminds me heaps of Manhater, which is by all means an excellent thing. The mastering duties for this album were handled by Pelle Henericsson (Cult of Luna, Refused, Poison The Well) at Toteknik Studios in Sweden. With all those credentials you should at least give it a good listening to, especially if you like your metal fast and aggressive.-Ausgrind.

Ironhide on Bandcamp
Ironhide on Facebook
Purchase
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Ironhide - Create/Collapse/Repeat (2011) (Bandcamp)

(by request from the band)

Orphan - Decapitated Lovers (2010)

Country: USA
Genre: ProtoSludge, Noise Rock, Punk
Label: From The Nursery
Tracks: 10

From The Nursery is pleased to announce its fourth release, a new album by Brooklyn sheet metal duo, ORPHAN, titled Decapitated Lovers. Prominent among the album's nine tracks is a sprawling anthem, "Tarantula Downforce," which clocks in at over 8 1/2 minutes, and a cover of "Well Fed Fuck," originally recorded by Born Against. In 2008, Other Music named Orphan’s debut “the most ferocious record of the summer.” Two years later, that damaged intensity continues to drive the cold dark heart of a band called Orphan.The album features cover art work by Gardar Eide Einarsson, and is limited to 500 numbered copies pressed on clear vinyl.

Orphan on MySpace
Orphan on Facebook
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Orphan - Decapitated Lovers (2010) (#M)
... more Orphan

Seven Sisters Of Sleep-S/T (2011)

Country: USA
Genre: Metal, Sludge, Crust, Hardcore
Label: A389 Records
Tracks: 8

I've been meaning to post this record for a while now and I'm finally getting around to doing so. Seven Sisters Of Sleep are a California based band featuring ex-members of Tafkata and Arm And Sword Of A Bastard God who play a blackened, sludgy, style of hardcore influenced metal that gives nods to bands such as Eyehategod, Grief and Buzzoven. This is a great record and needs heard and appreciated. Highly Recommended! Enjoy! On a side note, Seven Sisters of Sleep's record is going to be released by Southern Lord in the near future.

Seven Sisters Of Sleep on Myspace
Seven Sisters Of Sleep: Facebook
Purchase:A389
Seven Sisters Of Sleep - st (2011)

Ruined Tongue-Demo/All Of My Bad Habits7" tracks (2009-2010)

Country: USA
Genre: Hardcore, punk
Labels: Radical Friends, Irish Voodoo Records, Reckless Minds Collective
Tracks: 5

(By Request From The Band)

Ruined Tongue is a Las Vegas, Nevada based band who play a brutal and devastating style of hardcore/punk that's sure to please fans of old Ceremony, Negative Standards, Deadhead, Surroundings, and Heathens. I've included their demo released in 2009 as well as two songs from their All Of My Bad Habits 7". Ruined Tongue are definitely a band to keep an eye on. Great songs guys!

Ruined Tongue: Bandcamp
Purchase: Here
Ruined Tongue - Demo.zip
Ruined Tongue split 7 final mixes

Run Of Lava - Exploded Allusion (2007)

Country: France
Genre: Hardcore, Metalcore, Thrash, Death Metal.
Label: Dragonstorm Records
Tracks: 9

At the beginning of the year was released the first EP of Run Of Lava. This CD composed of four nice songs which were a perfect mix between Metal and Hardcore. It was powerful, technical, angry and finally really well done. I was expecting something good from these guys and today I can tell you that they confirm my hopes with their first album "Exploded Allusion". That's great, Run Of Lave is a new promising French combo.

The music of Run Of Lava is a bit similar to the one of Vision of Disorder. The band plays a kind of mix between Hardcore (especially with the vocals) and melodic Death, though here (except maybe with the really good "Dry) it's a lot more brutal and less melodic, a bit more direct and aggressive. This is a perfect music to mosh and headbang with a lot of jumpy rhythms and the more you'll listen to it, the more you'll like it. The riffs are loud and efficient and all in all it's really groovy. The EP was promising but and the CD confirms that it was not some kind of chances, Run Of Lava is just a good band…

The production of "Exploded Allusion" is really good and the fact that the band is signed on a British label (Dragonstorm Records) will, I hope, help the combo to cross the French borders and find some fans all around Europe. Honestly, I will tell it again but the performance of the guys is really good and all the people who like modern Metal and bands like Vision of Disorder will probably like a lot this release. On the other hand, it's probably for open minded people and the ones who cannot stand Hardcore vocals will not fall in love with this release despite the fact that it's really nice musically speaking.

With "Exploded Allusion" Run Of Lava proves that the members of the combo are able to write good music! This first album is, in the style, a good release and I think that the band will find a lot of fans in France and maybe even out of the country. Recommended if you like Groovy Hardcore / Death Metal (or even Thrash) a la Vision of Disorder, Entombed or Pro Pain. Nice debut!

Run of Lava on Myspace
Purchase
Run Of Lava - Exploded Allusion (2007) (320kbs) (#M) (WAV)

By A Thread-S/T (2011)

Country: Canada
Genre: Post hardcore, indie rock
Label: Revelation Records
Tracks: 13

By A Thread has written and recorded some of the most dynamic and influential post-hardcore/rock ever to come out of the Pacific Northwest. Drawing on their experience in the hardcore band Strain, the four members of By A Thread create multi-layered, emotional music fueled by the power and desperation of the human experience. The album's tracks are as expressive, evocative and memorable as the band's debut, but reveal a maturity in songwriting and approach that has developed in the decade since that first release. This is an excellent album. Fans of Sunny Day Real Estate, Frontiers, and Elliot need to give this a listen.

By A Thread on MySpace
Purchase: Revelation Records
By A Thread-St (2011)

Guadalupe Plata - Guadalupe Plata (2011)

Country: Spain
Genre: Blues, Rock.
Label: Folc Records
Tracks: 13

Guadalupe Plata no genera nada extraordinario. Hablamos de un género que ya fue exprimido hace casi un siglo por tipos de la talla de Charlie Patton, Skip James o Blind Lemon Jefferson. Además, Perico no posee una voz increíble, ni tampoco compone de maravilla. Jimena golpe raro, como del revés. Y Paco Luis Marto toca el bajo con un palo y un barreño de los de drenar la sangre en las matanzas. No es nada fashionable. ¿Cómo se explica entonces el interés generado por el trío andaluz? ¿Cómo excusar que con apenas un Ep publicado en limitadísima edición ya se habían paseado por festivales como SXSW, Blues Cazorla, Monkey Week o Primavera Sound? Puede que sea su capacidad para generar sensaciones, algo que cualquiera que haya asistido a uno de sus conciertos habrá experimentado. Es esa mezcla de tensión, hipnosis, obsesión y sexualidad contenida que se te clava hasta el colon. Un collage sonoro construido con parches arañados de la cara pantanosa del Rock & Roll: Hound Dog Taylor, Billy Childish, Captain Beefheart, Jeffrey Lee Pierce, Screamin’ Jay Hawkins… Aunque no les basta con explotar sus cualidades revisionistas, también ponen de su parte explorando guiños propios de la tierra en la que crecieron (sus letras delatan una tradición).

“Su único pecado es la fidelidad a un género que se quiebra entre guiños de chulería rural y espasmos de blues resacoso”, publicaba la revista Ruta 66 hace casi un año a la espera del lanzamiento de su primer disco largo. -Espaciodemusicaindie

Guadalupe Plata on Mypace
Guadalupe Plata on Facebook
Guadalupe Plata on Bandcamp
Purchase
Guadalupe Plata - Guadalupe Plata (2011) (bandcamp)

Best of Blogosfera. Week IX.

-#1. -#2. -#3. -#4.
-#5.

Hightide Hotel-Secret Somethings Volume II (2011)

Country: USA
Genre: Emo, indie rock, post hardcore
Label: Self Released
Tracks: 10

Continuing on with my emo/indie rock kick, here's another great album I've stumbled upon recently. Hightide Hotel are a Philadelphia, PA based band who play a great style of emo, indie rock, and post hardcore similar to bands such as Snowing, Algernon Cadwallader, Monument, and Crash Of Rhinos. 10 tracks of music that make you wish it was summer. Great stuff.

Hightide Hotel (bandcamp)
Hightide Hotel-Secret SomethingsV2.

Crash Of Rhinos-Distal (2011)

Country: United Kingdom
Genre: Emo, indie rock, post hardcore
Label: Triste Records
Tracks: 7

Here's a great record I've been listening to constantly as of late. Crash Of Rhinos are a UK based band who play an infectious blend of emo, post hardcore and indie rock that has a strong mid 90's feel reminiscent of bands such as Cap N' Jazz, Braid, and Jazz June. Fans of Algernon Cadwallader, Snowing, and Monument need to give these guys a listen. Excellent record. Enjoy!

Crash of Rhinos: Facebook
Purchase: Here
Crash Of Rhinos - Distal (2011)

Jack And The Bearded Fishermen - Places To Hide (2011)

Country: France
Genre: Stoner, Metal.
Label: Impure Muzik
Tracks: 4

Following their formation in 2005, these gentle, not-so-hairy fishermen have sailed the East coast of France under the undisputed authority of their captain Jack. Though the crew of this intruiging ship may have changed slightly at their last few ports of call, they are currently docked in Besançon, their helm still fixed firmly in the same direction.

Taking into their itinery the nehanderthal blues, they will cross through troubled waters and musical fury. They will navigate between melody and impatience, skirting still pools of tension and waves of explosion...

Jack And The Bearded Fishermen on MySpace
Jack And The Bearded Fishermen on Bandcamp
Purchase
Jack And The Bearded Fishermen - Places To Hide (2011)

(by request from the band)

Absolutist - Blasphemy Ep (2011)

Country: Ireland
Genre: Hardcore, punk, crust
Label: Self Released
Tracks: 4

(By Request From The Band)

Wow this band gave me my hardcore/crust fix for the day. Absolutist are a three piece band from Ireland who play a great style of blackened, metallic, hardcore, punk with elements of crust and d-beat. Similar in vein to bands such as Cathedrals, Alphinist, His Hero Is Gone, Tragedy, and fellow countrymen Drainland. Brutal as hell! Great EP!

Blasphemy on Bandcamp
Absolutist - Blasphemy (2011)

Batillus - Furnace (2011)

Country: USA
Genre: Sludgecore, Doom, Metal, and a little Black Metal.
Label: Seventh Rule
Tracks: 6

New York doom quartet Batillus and Seventh Rule Recordings have finalized details for the release of band's debut full-length record, 'Furnace.'

The album, which was recorded at Semaphore Recording with engineer Sanford Parker (Yob, Unearthly Trance, Nachtmystium, Pelican) and mastered by Collin Jordan (Ministry, Ohgr/Skinny Puppy) at the Boiler Room, will be released on April 19th in North America, with the LP version available for Record Store Day.

'Furnace' will however, be available as a special tour-pressing LP from the band directly at shows prior to its official release. This tour pressing will feature art silk-screened by hand and will be limited to only 55 copies.

Batillus on MySpace
Batillus on Bandcamp
Batillus on Facebook
Purchase /// (merch)
Batillus - Furnace (2011) (Bandcamp)

Hawk Moon Records Volume II (2011)

Genre: Post Rock
Label: Hawk Moon Records
Tracks: 8


The second compilation album by Hawk Moon Records brings 8 tracks from post-rock acts across the world.

Hawl Moon Records on Bandcamp

(by request of the label)

Capsule-No Ghost LP (2011)

Country: USA
Genre: Hardcore, punk, posthardcore
Label: Rorschach Records
Tracks: 12

I'll keep this post simple. Miami Fla's Capsule have absolutely nailed it with No Ghost. An amazing follow up to 2008's Blue and 2010's split 7" with Furnace. Twelve tracks of angry, technical metal tinged hardcore/punk/screamo that show you how good this band is. Highly recommended. I can't begin to tell you how good this is. Just download it and purchase a copy while you're at it. Great band, killer album, great record label. Enough said. Props to Perception Through Dissonance for the original link.

Capsule on Facebook
Purchase: Rorschach Store
Capsule - No Ghost (2011)

Gun Outfit-High Places Ep (2011)

Country: USA
Genre: Postpunk, indie rock
Label: Make A Mess Records
Tracks: 4

Olympia, Washington's enjoying some of the best bands in the country again, and out from the basement comes High Places EP by Gun Outfit. The group's timeless, dueling guitar work twists and braids with melody around the trading vocalists, hypnotizing a growing legion of true believers stateside and abroad. Carrie Keith and Dylan Sharp shred with patience and deliberation, casting spells with the grace and power of Patti Smith or Husker Du, the lyricism and six-string tenacity of Felt or Television. Four songs and an empty room, you'll sit close to the needle to put it on over and over again. After last year's triumphant Possession Sounds LP (PPM), High Places is a bright, open page in Gun Outfit's continuing songbook. This EP has not left my turntable. Infectiously catchy and a suitable follow-up to Gun Outfit's Possession Sounds Lp.

Gun Outfit on MySpace
Purchase: MAKE-A-MESS RECORDS
Gun Outfit - High Places ep (2011)

Irons/Pulling Teeth-Grey Savior Split EP (2011)

Country: USA
Genre: Drone, ambient, progressive, metal, hardcore, punk
Label: Deathwish Inc.
Tracks: 6

Irons:
J. Bannon (Converge, etc), Dwid Hellion (Integrity, etc), and Stephen Kasner (Blood Fountains) are "Irons". A collective effort to create apocalyptic, non-linear music from a primal fine art based mindset. With this release, Irons have forged a pensive sonic reflection ripe with melancholy and despair. Electronic textures, haunting vocals, and unorthodox guitar work all dance together to create an unforgettable melodic portrait that is unlike anything out there today.

Pulling Teeth:
A stylistic departure for Pulling Teeth, here they utilize this release to tread into deeper, more experimental, musical waters. The featured opus "General Of Dark Hymns" shows a new kind of dynamic emerging from their dark well of creative character. Slowing the pace only to crash down with a force merely hinted at in previous Pulling Teeth recordings. The release also features a J. Bannon (Converge) remix of "Dismissed In Time", the epic closing track from their heralded "Martyr Immortal" album.

This is an interesting release. Irons create a stark electronic landscape with their music, while Baltimore, Maryland's Pulling Teeth take their blistering approach to hardcore/punk up a few notches and add some experimentation to the mix. I wasn't sure if I liked this at first, but Grey Savior definitely grew on me after a few more listens. Good Stuff.

Irons Myspace
Pulling Teeth Myspace
Purchase: Deathwish Estore
Pulling Teeth Split- Grey Savior (2011)

Object - On The Edge Of The Void (2010)

Country: France, Italy.
Genre: Noise Rock, Post Punk, Alternative.
Label: Str8line Records
Tracks: 9

OBJECT is a french-italian band comprised of Stephane Pigneul (guitar /bass/bass VI /voice), Alessio Ciborio Gioffredi (drums) and Danilo Scuccimarra on tour (guitar).

After years of concerts and happenings, OBJECT released a debut five track EP in 2007. The press greeted the record with enthusiasm, citing influences such as Ulan Bator, Joy Division, Virago and Sonic Youth. A series of concerts followed the release with OBJECT supporting acts such as Papier Tigre, Githead , Charles De Goal , Zëro, Jad Wio...

A Place to Hide, their first 's ten track album was recorded and produced by Amaury Cambuzat (Ulan Bator, Faust) It was mastered in Bologna (Italy) by Francesco Donadello and Amaury Cambuzat .

Object - French/Italian duet - met while working with Ulan Bator at a time they were both looking to explore a more violent and dirty approach to cold wave with elements of dark and minimalist pop mixed in.

Object on MySpace
Purchase
Object - On The Edge Of The Void (2010)

A Bridge Too Many-Weights 7" (2009)

Country: France
Genre: Hardcore, punk
Label: Distorted Charly Brown Records
Tracks: 4

(By Request from the Band)

Just got this in my email as a request ad I have to say I'm pleasantly surprised by what I heard. A Bridge Too Far are a French hardcore band who play a great style of hardcore similar to bands such as Bracewar, Paint It Black, Kid Dynamite, Give Up The Ghost, and The Suicide File. I wish more bands took the melodic route that blurs the line between hardcore and punk. A great 7" from a promising French band. On a side note, A Bridge Too Many will be touring Europe in early July with Birds In Row. Check them out if you get a chance.

A BRIDGE TO MANY on Myspace
Purchase: Distorted Charly Brown Records
A Bridge Too Many-Weights 7" (2009)

Small Brown Bike-Fell & Found (2011)

Country:USA
Genre: Posthardcore, punk, indie rock
Label: No Idea
Tracks: 11

Hell Yes. After reuniting in 2009 after a five-year break, Michigan's Small Brown Bike is back with their latest album Fell & Found. Small Brown Bike features the band’s original lineup and was produced by J Robbins (Jawbox). The end result is amazing. What we have here is a cleaner, more dynamic sounding Small Brown Bike. A possible influence being the time members of the band spent playing in Abel Baker Fox. Small Brown Bike features less distortion and feedback, but the urgency of the band remains intact and the music will hit you just as hard. Small Brown Bike will not disappoint you and has delivered an incredible album with Fell & Found. Small Brown Bike has had a huge influence on the punk/hardcore scene and can be seen with bands playing a similar style of music. Fans of Make Do And Mend, Title Fight, Bearing And Distance, Polar Bear Club, and My Heart To Joy need to do their homework and give Small Brown Bike a listen. Highly recommended!

Small Brown Bike on Myspace
Purchase: No Idea Records
Small Brown Bike-Fell and Found (2011)

Former Thieves-The Language That We Speak (2011)

Country: USA
Genre: Hardcore, Punk
Label: No Sleep Records
Tracks: 10

Former Thieves have been a band characterized by their hard work and grueling tour regimens in their seemingly short life span. But, that's about to change with their debut full length on No Sleep Records. Coming from the barren and simple fields of Iowa, Former Thieves have created a record that personifies the feelings and emotions of coming from nothing and fighting the entire way to what they have created. "The Language That We Speak" takes the listener through a thorough commentary on the frustration of midwestern life. Articulate, sharp, and sincerely pissed. Wow. This is a great record. I love it when a band is intelligent and isn't afraid to be creative when putting out a record. Former Thieves fit in with hardcore heavyweights such as Touche Amore and Defeater. Overall, The Language That We Speak is a great listen. Links taken from circling the drain. Another great blog you need to check out!

Former Thieves 0n Myspace
Purchase:No Sleep Records
Former Thieves-The Language That We Speak.rar

Ken Mode-Venerable (2011)

Country: Canada
Genre: Hardcore, posthardcore, noise rock, metal
Label: Profound Lore
Tracks: 10

Winnipeg, Canada's Ken Mode plays metallic noise rock with touches of post-metal, hardcore, sludge and doom-a product of long, hard winters culminating in a sound that whips, pummels and lacerates its audience like a wicked Manitoba wind. The power trio bares only the essential ingredients necessary to deliver maximum impact and is an exercise in efficiency and ferocity. Since 1999, they have played all over Canada, the US and Europe with the likes of Pelican, Daughters, Buried Inside, The End, Gaza, Engineer and Taint, and done various regional dates with Mastodon, Burnt by the Sun, Cursed, Baroness, Bison BC, Propagandhi, These Arms Are Snakes, and Despised Icon. With Venerable, the band unleashes their fourth and most devastating work to date. Recorded by veteran producer Kurt Ballou (Converge, Trap Them, Old Man Gloom) at Godcity Studios, the album is a volatile blend of epic, crushing hardcore fused with a Voivod-like metallic surge and sludgy doom influences. Devastation this massive has not been witnessed since the early experiments of Today Is the Day. Venerable is easily Ken Mode's best work to date, surpassing even 2006's Reprisal, and will land the group at the top of the North American noise rock / hardcore scene. Wow. This is Ken Mode's best release to date. I can't get over how much this band has progressed since I last listened to them. Venerable will be making people's best of lists for 2011. Definitely a must for fans of Botch, Breather Resist, Jesus Lizard, and Unsane. Great album!

KEN mode (bandcamp)
Purchase
Ken Mode - Venerable 2011

Xnoybis - Meanwhile (2010)

Country: France
Genre: Noise Rock, Metal
Label: Prototype Records
Tracks: 5

Xnoybis has already done a first album "Solace" and a wonderful split 7" with Pord. This record includes their new recording session of 3 new tracks + an old one with 2 tracks (one is the famous song on the split with Pord). Their music tends to be either noisy or hardcore under progressive and dark indus shades. The structures are clever and original, so you won't felt bored anytime !

For fans of Anodyne, Dazzling Killmen, Playing Enemy, American Heritage, Kiss It Goodbye, Tantrum, Godflesh, Unsane, Knut...

Xnoybis on MySpace
Xnoybis on Bandcamp
Xnoybis webpage
Xnoybis - Meanwhile (2010)
... more Xnoybis

Best of Blogosfera. Week VIII.

-#1. -#2. -#3. -#4.
-#5. -#6. -#7. -#8.
-#9. -#10. -#11. -#12.
-#13.

Le Dead Projet-Keep On Living (2011)

Country: France
Genre: Hardcore, posthardcore, metal
Label: Dingleberry Records
Tracks: 10

(By Request From the band)

Whoa, this took me by surprise. Le Dead Projet are a French based hardcore, posthardcore, metal band who play a chaotic style of music that melds together elements such as Converge with the refined destructiveness of Jr. Ewing or older Lack. This album took me by surprise and wasn't expecting what I heard. Definitely a great album that demands your attention. I can't begin to tell you how great this is. Thanks for sharing guys! I'm definitely going to check out Le Dead Projet's earlier releases. Highly recommended.

Le Dead Projet on MySpace

Le Dead Projet on Bandcamp
Le Dead Projet-Keep On Living (2011)

Strike A Match-Demo (2011)

Country: Norway
Genre: Punk
Label: Self Released
Tracks: 6

(By request from the band)

Strike a match are punk band from Oslo, Norway. Strike A Match's influences are varied but stick to the basic punk formula, for the most part. I mean this in the best possible way. I hear influences ranging from older Refused to Cloak/Dagger, Kid Dynamite, and possibly some Ten Volt Shock. Great demo. Check it out.

Strike a Match (Bandcamp)
Strike a Match - Demo (2011)

Iron Hand-Ursurper Divine 7" (2011)

Country: USA
Genre: Hardcore, Punk
Label: Redscroll Records
Tracks: 4

Iron Hand is a crust/d-beat hardcore band from Connecticut featuring current and former members of They And The Children, Last Words, and Estrogen Highs and feature a sound that incorporates influences such as Discharge, His Hero Is Gone, and possibly Cursed. Iron Hand includes sociopolitical lyrics within their sound and song topics can also be introspective in nature. Back on 3/23/11 I posted a preview song for you to check out. After speaking to Rick from redscroll records, he said the band would probably let me post the 7". Here's the seven inch for you to check out. Please support the band and Redscroll records and by the 7". Enjoy. Phenomenal debut! New Link. Now in mp3 format! Enjoy!

Iron Hand Bandcamp
Purchase: Redscroll Records
Iron Hand-Ursurper Divine 7 in.rar

Raein-As If LP (2011)

Country: Italy
Genre: Hardcore, punk, screamo
Label: Sons Of Vesta
Tracks: 11

Hell yes. Here's the last material to be released by Italy's Raein. Raein were one of the best emotive hardcore bands to come out of Italy. This cd collects all the material from the mid-era Raein, including all the songs from their split records plus the amazing döden marscherar ät väst 7" plus a couple of really hard to find songs. more than 35 minutes of heart-breaking and breath-taking screamo from one of the best bands ever for this genre, all packed in a nice three panels digipack adorned by a stunning artwork by alessandro baronciani. this is the only chance to get all that out of print and totally awesome music all at the same time. Great album! Enjoy!

Raein's on MySpace
Raein Facebook
Buy here
Raein-Ah_As_If.. (2011)