January 2012
5 posts
4 tags
First Impressions: Trash Talk's "Awake"
In the interest of full-disclosure, I need to say that I really dislike Trash Talk. Seriously, I sincerely do not like the band for long-standing personal and professional reasons. In addition, I don’t buy into their so-called “DIY” gimmick, and their relentless touring over the years does not impress me. And that’s why it’s so difficult for me to genuinely say that...
4 tags
First Impressions: Bison B.C.'s "Dark Ages"
Released in early 2010, Bison B.C.’s Dark Ages offers up 7 tracks of pummeling, massive cacophonies of modern doom metal. While the album has plenty of slow, trudging, stoned-out amplifier worship; Dark Ages still manages moments of technical riffing, punchy bursts of driving speed, and dissonant, bitter melodies. Think Mastodon, but without those awkward post-Leviathan albums. Although...
16 tags
LP: V (Paradise Illusions)
01. All Pigs Must Die - The Blessed Void 02. Black Breath - Black Sin (Spit On the Cross) 03. Integrity - Dreams Bleed On 04. Doomriders - Night Beckons 05. Young and in the Way - Oceans of Eternal Depression 06. Pulling Teeth - Paradise Illusions 07. Black Flag - No Deposit/No Return
4 tags
First Impressions: Anne's "Dream Punx"
With not much - if any - of an introduction to Portland’s Anne, I threw their A389 Recording’s debut Dream Punx into my rotation this week. Clocking in at just over 30 minutes, the album offers up walls of droning, shoegaze indie rock; bringing to mind the likes of My Bloody Valentine, subdued Sonic Youth, and Low. Although Dream Punx is subtle on the attack, it still managed to bury...
4 tags
First Impressions: Jesu's "Ascension"
When importing Ascension into iTunes and getting my first glimpse at it’s hour long run-time, my immediate thought was “what the hell have I gotten myself into?” Considering I haven’t had much interest in Jesu since the initial selftitled and Silver EP releases, I really didn’t have much hope for Ascension to wow me; in fact, the majority of Justin Broadrick’s...
December 2011
3 posts
9 tags
LP: IV (Failure)
01. PJ Harvey - Silence 02. oOoOO - No Shore 03. Ceremony - Terminal Addiction 04. All Teeth - Lost 05. Swans - Failure 06. Give Up The Ghost - You And Me
11 tags
LP: III (Lack of Almost Everything)
01. Lewd Acts - Partners In Time 02. Cursed - Negative Two Point Five 03. Harm’s Way - Scrambled 04. Eyehategod - Lack of Almost Everything 05. Pulling Teeth - Bloodwolves 06. Moutheater - Hand of Glory 07. Prideswallower - Sightswallower 08. Helmet - Like I Care
4 tags
Bloodlet - Three Humid Nights in the Cypress Trees
After a 2 year hiatus, Orlando’s Bloodlet released Three Humid Nights in late 2002 with a resounding disapproval from longtime fans. The album showcased a bare-bones approach to the band’s style; incorporating stark, raw production (a la Steve Albini), and embracing creepy nuances (Neurosis) over any forced musical attempt. Three Humid Nights may not be an Entheogen or Eclectic, but...
November 2011
3 posts
5 tags
The Dead Unknown - Hope's Last Breath
Based out of Portland, OR, the Dead Unknown played a blend of metallic hardcore in the same vein as Chokehold and Morning Again. Preceded by a 2004 demo, Hope’s Last Breath was the band’s strongest and final effort to come to fruition before their demise. With guitar riffs heavily rooted in & influenced by death metal, and a grating, caustic vocal delivery, the Dead Unknown press...
14 tags
LP: II (Nauseous)
Streaming audio archived, direct download available here.
01. Black Ceiling - Memento 02. Cough - Northern Plague 03. Parasitic Skies - Torche Smoke 04. 108 - Angel Strike Man 05. Virgin Witch - Nail of Dicara 06. Bathory - Baptised In Fire And Ice 07. Like Rats - Hunger 08. The Burden - Swastika 09. Dead In The Dirt - Slave 10. Fight Amp - Get High and Fuck 11. Moutheater - Nauseous
11 tags
LP: I (Sometimes I Dream I'm Hurting You)
Streaming audio archived, direct download available here.
01. Blind to Faith - Mountains of Gold 02. Kittens - Jack Knife 03. Early Graves - Give Up 04. Between the Earth and Sky - The Birth and Death of Meaning 05. Kiss It Goodbye - Watching Hellraiser 06. Rwake - Smog Monster 07. Bohren & Der Club of Gore - Maximum Black 08. Angels of Light - Sometimes I Dream I’m Hurting You