if you recall, I mentioned that Fight Fair features some members of Seeing Means More. this is Seeing Means More. they started out in 2002 as a traditional screamo band influenced by Indian Summer and Funeral Diner. they broke up shortly thereafter, and then reformed in 2003 with a new sound, far more aggressive. due to a growing interest in other forms of hardcore music, Seeing Means More ended up incorporating a heavier sound, screamo fused with hardcore and metalcore – a sound that later became to some extent synonymous with popular ’00s screamo. along with Takaru, Seeing Means More represented something more immediate than City of Caterpillar’s exploring crescendos, and something heavier and more metallic than Orchid. but at the same time the epic build ups of “Bernadetti Protti”, that eventually come crashing down into a devastating metalcore finisher suggests that evidences of both City of Caterpillar’s and Orchid’s influence can be found throughout this discography. their love for intricate melodic hooks and spoken vocals can be attributed to the Indian Summer influence. the end result is somewhere between the spastic, melodic and wonderfully artistic sound of bands such as The Spirit of Versailles and In Loving Memory – and the more direct and intense sound of bands like Loma Prieta and Comadre. all with sprinkles of Indian Summer, pioneers of the perhaps definite emo sound. check out this solid thirty minute discography. you won’t regret it! particularly not after listening to the depressing sagas that are the two last tracks, ending this discography as not only proof of what Seeing Means More were, but also hints for what Seeing Means More could have been.
Fight Fair – xFashionx
Fight Fair are a band featuring ex-members of Seeing Means More, and no block of text could possibly describe the treat you are in for if you choose to download this album. xFashionx is frequently described as awesome by some, whilst other are not so modest, deeming it the epitome of pop skram. this is no unfair description. Fight Fair takes on a sound much like that of My Chemical Romance’s first album, Aiden’s first album and every other good upbeat downheart alternative rock album of the early 2000s. they are however significantly less slick, and display a more obvious screamo/hardcore influence, in addition to their love for catchy pop hooks in between the melodic distorted ’90s punk rock guitars and interchanging Yellowcard-esque vocal harmonies, screams and gang vocals. filled to the brims with breakdowns and poppy metalcore explosions. this band has something for everyone. exploring previously unknown territory with a sound that’s less slick than My Chemical Romance début, but more polished than Oh, Apollo!’s début, Fight Fair tries to take the best of all worlds, and put it all on their own little pop skram planet. balancing the brutally honest and the ridiculously dishonest, Fight Fair makes washes out the line between the previously antonyms honesty and dishonesty, and creates their very own approach to music – FUN. this is one of the maybe most important bands in skram history, along with Emo Summer. certainly one of the most fun ones, no doubt. get this!!!
Posted in alternative, metal/metalcore
Nightmares – Hipster Trash+Maps
anyone remember these guys? I sure do. I put up their four song demo some time ago, and it ripped holes into brick walls. and now, here’s a new demo. this is supposedly a little testing of the waters before releasing a full length album… so I’m assuming that means a full length is on the way? if so – YESSSSS. to get back to this demo, it’s two songs. “Hipster Trash” and “Maps”. the first one is about hardcore fashionistas who make the scene look like a fucking joke. the second one is (I think) about rejecting social conventions and religion. both causes are valid, and it’s great that a band like Nightmares speak up. what’s even better is that they *shout* them. on top of a brutal as fuck hardcore sound with grindcore tendencies. despite being less than three minutes long, I hope this demo is an indication as to what the full length will sound like, because it sounds like the full length will be a crushing affair like none other. this band slays all. download.
Posted in crust/grindcore/violence, hardcore, metal/metalcore
Dire Wolf – Gloom
… you know what? Dire Wolf actually released another record in December 2009! so if you liked the first one, be sure to get this one as well. you can expect more of the same, but with some modifications. the vocals are rawer and the guitars are more melodic – to name the two biggest changes for my ears. but the music is actually even heavier this time around. they’ve found a glorious style of metalcore that sounds like it shares quite a bit with the original metalcore (S.o.D., C.o.C., D.R.I. and other three-letter-acronym-bands). for all I know, the members of Dire Wolf don’t like or listen to either of these bands, but the impression I’m getting is that their influence has somehow made its way into Dire Wolf’s sound. Dire Wolf are however far more versatile, and incorporate – like mentioned in the last post – a lot of different sounds. on Gloom, they melt these sounds together even more than on s/t, where there were more obvious whenever they changed the style around. it’s more subtle on Gloom, consequently perhaps resulting in a more consistently thick and heavy record. in any event, it’s really good and well worth checking out. especially if you are into the latest hardcore trends of incorporating a lot of influence from the crossover genres (metalcore, crust, and so forth).
Posted in hardcore, metal/metalcore
Dire Wolf – Dire Wolf
it’s time to get acquainted with yet another new band here on that’s punk. this time, hailing from Ann Arbour, Michigan – is Dire Wolf. and they present themselves with much grace. the first few crushing tones sort of reminding me of Kollwitz, actually! they quickly enough pick up pace, and place themselves comfortably within the modern hardcore formula, with a little dab of metal. but all along, I can’t shake this Kollwitz comparison. it’s clear to me that they do not actually sound like Kollwitz – but they do share some of the same qualities. there’s something adhesive and glutinous about it, like with drone or doom music. it’s very dark and brooding. and when they pick up the pace, they almost cross into power violence territory. this is a hardcore band that blends what I can only possibly think are widely different influences, into a unique and original sound of their own, that sometimes sounds like doom, sometimes like power violence, and sometimes even like black metal (the last minute and a half might be the highlight of the entire record). but at its core, this is just really good and experimental hardcore punk. in addition to this unique sound, they write lyrics that deal with both highly personal issues as well as political issues, or rather society’s and civilisation’s potential downfall as a whole. this record was released in February 2009, and I’m proud to present it here on that’s punk – albeit a bit late. this record is fascinating and well worth playing through. give it a go! also check this band’s MySpace on http://www.myspace.com/direwolfmi for tour dates, if you’re from the US. they’re ploughing through a chunk of it, starting the first of May. so check that out, and check this download out.
Posted in hardcore, metal/metalcore
Celeste – Morte(s) Nee(s)
“WOW” is the first thing that comes to mind when I press play on the new Celeste album. the line between screamo and black metal isn’t there any more. this is furious modern black metal of the absolute highest quality. but then enter the vocals, the sound alters slightly, and we’re back in that ever so lucent screamo/black metal border territory. while Celeste certainly are comparable to their countrymen Daïtro and Amanda Woodward, there’s something entirely different about them. if you take screamo and black metal – two already ugly as fuck genres – and fuse them together, you get the raw, dissonant and filthy mess of insanity that is Celeste. away with the typical dynamics of modern screamo, welcome loud and suffocating monotony, and an end result that is thicker than doom metal and more atonal than sludge. a depressing 41 minutes of nihilistic and misanthropic melancholy that will blow you away if you haven’t heard this band before (in which case I’d recommend you download the rest of their discography as well, available further down). on the other hand, if you have heard them before – you probably know what to expect. this album isn’t a giant leap in terms of musical style, by any means. it’s rather yet another step towards perfection. and let me assure you – Celeste are getting so close, it’s scary. scary, like the enraged wrath that unfolds onto the listener through this hateful album. it shows no mercy, whatsoever. you need to get this. and like the like the rest of their stuff, you can order it at their record label Denovali.
Posted in metal/metalcore, progressive/epic, screamo
Auguries of Innocence – Demo
well I don’t know about you, but I’ve been looking forward to this for a very long time. for those of you who hang on the forums (you lurker, you!), you’re probably aware of the sad disbanding of mamma, jeg blör… – so it is with great pleasure I introduce you to Auguries of Innocence. Mats played guitar and sang/screamed in mamma, jeg blör… – and now he sings/screams/growls/shrieks/whatever in Auguries of Innocence, a five piece deathcore act. and he does so with great skill and diversity, not unlike how every other member perform his key role to perfection. because let me assure you, everything is handled with the utmost care on this demo. Auguries of Innocence settles for nothing but perfection. the energetic drumming takes command and pummels the band through each of the compositions firmly with all of the corresponding breakdowns and tempo shifts. on top of this, the band has put ultra-melodic guitar riffs at high speeds – that sometimes takes the time to go into epic metal guitar solos, and sometimes to heavy palm muted riffs. in the middle of things are the vocals, sometimes intense shrieking, sometimes brooding low gutturals. at all times the execution is flawless, yielding a crisp and direct sound, helped by the rich mix. this is one of the very most accomplished and consistent demos I have ever heard, and you owe it to yourself – and everyone else – to give this a shot. it’s wonderful.
Posted in metal/metalcore
Lizards Have Personalities – In All Honesty
this band might be ten years too late, or it might have come at the perfect time to bring both nostalgia and a breath of fresh air at the same time to screamo. with a sound situated somewhere between Saetia and I Hate Myself and other screamo dinosaurs, it’s somewhat strange to have your first release in 2010. but it might just be the perfect time for this band to emerge. soft guitars twinkle and sparkle into raw and dissonant almost metal riffs. the vocals and lyrics are do not to escape their ’90s/early ’00s screamo influences. instead they hug them tight. and just like Saetia, Lizards Have Personalities operate on the very verge of bringing the lulz – yet somehow manage to just avoid it. if only barely. this in itself is quite the amazing feat though. dealing with these kind of lyrics and vocals you have to make sure to not go over the top, but how do you do that when it’s already so ludicrously over the top? I don’t know. but I’m glad that Lizards Have Personalities can scream «while staring at the ceiling, I was overwhelmed by the feeling – I am certain that I am alone» with a straight face, without me rofling. I am very much pleased that the deeply personal and semi-poetic lyrics maintain a notion of believability. because this is indeed awesome music. comparable to the beforehand mentioned dinosaurs and perhaps slightly to I Would Set Myself on Fire for You. it’s dynamic and ambitious screamo. get it!
Posted in metal/metalcore, screamo
Street Sweeper – Stylin on You
this blog seems to always be in need of decent hardcore. so it’s a nice thing then, that Street Sweeper makes AWESOME hardcore. Cro-Mags-like metallic hardcore even. ’80s thrash riffs and ’90s hardcore breakdowns with aggressive vocals and lyrics, and heavy, heavy drumming. so what it is is essentially pissed off metalcore (or “crossover metal” as the media eventually ended up coining it) with slightly more focus on the hardcore than on the metal, which is okay by me. the vocals are somewhat in the central of the mix, but the awesome thrash riffs really give them competition in terms of where the listener’s main focus end up. either way, everything is perfectly synchronised. this band is fucking tight. all over. and the breakdown on “Rubber Neck” is even heavier than Smash Your Enemies (b9 joke…). anyway, download this.
Posted in hardcore, metal/metalcore
When I Came Back From Death – Dead Language
so this band told me they sounded like Converge and that they played punk. and uh… well they might sound like Converge, I probably haven’t listened enough to Converge to really justify any comparing, but right off the bat, I hear nothing. and sure, there are some sort of punk in here. but to me, the upside down crosses and what I think is an overly obscure logo at their MySpace make more sense. there are some sick hardcore breakdowns and such, but what I hear when I put on When I Came Back From Death is essentially a blackened metalcore band. a *very* blackened metalcore band. with vocals that somewhat remind me of Bal-Sagoth, double pedal drums and black metal though punky sounding guitars, sort of like Carpathian Forest. all of this and tons of energy and aggressiveness. a highly interesting effort. do download!
Posted in metal/metalcore
TRONES – Gazing into shit and ruins
TRONES is a solo project by an ex-member of indietrash. this band doesn’t have all that much in common with indietrash, save for a taste for expressing itself in short noisy bursts. playing an eclectic mix of necro thrash, grindcore and noise. TRONES will leave an everlasting mark (of the beast) on you. consisting largely of blast beats, distorted guitars that vary between Burzum-like drone chord progressions and speedy thrash riffs, topping it off with some fairly nebulous vocals and samples, this is a band that will fucking gut you. download and listen.
Posted in ambient/noise, metal/metalcore
Quiritatio – Forgive and Forget
Quiritatio are situated deeply in the Norwegian hardcore scene – which is easy to tell. at least sometimes… because despite the undoubtedly typically depressing Norwegian core Quiritatio manage to stand out by being a thoroughly unique band that add lots of twist to the perfected formula of Orchid-like vocals, flying guitars and technical rhythm section. their misanthropic Cult of Luna-esque gloomy (yet hopeful – in the end) tales (whose influence can be spotted on the newest Dominic album posted beneath this post) are epic journeys throughout many a musical influence, most importantly various metal influences. the metal influence is highly noticeable, to put it kindly. not only in the immediate obvious, such as the low growling guitars as well as some guttural vocals, but also in the long, progressive and highly technical melodic structures. all of this diversity leads to a comparison to The Spectacle being somewhat necessary. but it doesn’t really matter matter who Quiritatio gets compared to. all you need to know is that they are great and you need to listen to them.
Posted in metal/metalcore, progressive/epic, screamo
The Crinn – Kills Curiosity
a lot of you might have heard of a band called The Crinn. a heavy-hitting mathcore band on Nuclear Blast. however, that currently active band can’t be all too compared to the band I’m introducing to you here. this The Crinn are an obscure alien specie that is here to kill all your curiosity regarding them. their weapon? complete and utter musical insanity like none other. though taking most influence from screamo, grindcore, mathcore and artsy punk/metal/alternative bands (The Blood Brothers), The Crinn pretty much just do their own thing (which they named sci-fi core back in the day). this is The Crinn’s first release. pretty obscure, but still sold through their MySpace. they have a different drummer (who by the way is featured on sickestdrummer.com) and a different vocalist, who you should be familiar with through other posts on this blog (e.g. Red From Winter). anyway their sound is kind of uhm… hard to break down into a paragraph or so. it’s jazzy, technical and roaming. constantly shifting tempo and just… everything. this band does not blend genres, it jumps between them at random. for people who haven’t been exposed to experimental music, this will probably come off as really messy and completely crazy. however I am sure that even the most alien to experimental and avant-garde music has the potential to appreciate this true master piece. it might take some time though… Kills Curiosity stands for me as the epitome of experimental screamo. it’s almost closer to free jazz. combine this with the super artsy lyrics («THE CHILD WITH NO TOES KNOWS WHERE THE WAY THROUGH DANGER GOES», and let’s not forget the legendary «BECAUSE LOVE AIN’T NO RELIGION, OUR LOVE WAS SCIENCE FICTION») and the awesome cover this comes in, and you’ve got a pretty good reason to buy this. a simply stunning piece of music. get it. it may change your perception of what is and what isn’t music. (or destroy it.)
Posted in metal/metalcore, screamo, who knows
Nightmares – Demo 2009
now I’m a man who appreciates some good feedback. this alone makes Nightmares eligible for this blog. but in addition to using feedback, the music is pretty good as well! what do you know. the opening track “Sick” is definitely sick, with blast beats, heavily distorted guitar riffs, hardcore shouted vocals and at times grindcore growled vocals dealing with pretentiousness and elitism. me like. a lot of the lyrics on this demo seem to deal with the punk scene and what we want from it and how we need to give as much as we take – as well as scenester kids and how they need to pull off their mask and just be themselves. the melodic content on this album is mostly in between hardcore, metalcore and grindcore. it’s heavy and mostly fast. what *really* makes this sound so fucking awesome though is that it’s recorded live, giving it tons of extra edge. I know that there probably isn’t much chance of this happening, but I would be an extremely happy camper if these guys decided to record any future full lengths in the same manner. the feedback, the chugging, the shouting… everything sounds raw, emotional and on edge. the sheer power of this recording can’t be neglected. listen to this people!
Posted in crust/grindcore/violence, hardcore, metal/metalcore
Stella Dawes – Contrasts
these guys sent me their album ages ago. but due to moving the blog and so on, it never got posted… till now that is! and I must admit I was quite curious to hear what this album was like, due to seeing them name dropped on quite some forums, as well as getting *very* glowing revies. well boys… here’s another one to add to the collection. the intro is a brooding and atmospheric droning glimpse of doom. suddenly it gets abruptly ended in favour of havoc and destruction, and the meaning of the album title gets all too obvious. after raping your ears for some few minutes, Stella Dawes proceed into more ambient drone territory, just to make sure you are in fact going insane, before launching another full scale attack. you know The Battle for Helms Deep in the movie adaption of The Lord of the Rings? it’s kind of like that. only in between these grandiose events, there’s bits of harmonic and genuinely catchy soft alternative bits, offering a healing moment to your ears. Stella Dawes does an excellent job at executing this, which is something that might have been out of place if not done properly. fortunately though, this band proves to be capable of taking many elements which might not look compatible on paper, and putting them together into gigantic master pieces. the progressive and diverse nature of this band makes it somewhat appropriate to draw comparison to another band on that’s punk – The Pax Cecilia. both bands play a screamo-tinged variant of progressive metalcore. the biggest difference might be that where The Pax Cecilia has piano-driven harmonies, Stella Dawes have droning intervals of noise rock that strive to create harmonies and melodic structures underneath all the terror – and succeeds at that, I might add. just like they succeed at pretty much everything they attempt at this album. whether it be brutal metalcore or the sweetest acoustic-driven interludes climaxing in a mix of screams and loud and heavily distorted yet soft on the ears guitars, they simply succeed. this is a bombastic début album full of brave compositions and intricate arrangements that require the utmost skill and devotion to pull of. they pull it off. download this album, then order it from their MySpace. do it now.
Posted in metal/metalcore, progressive/epic
Chronographs – There’s Nothing More Natural Than Disaster
Chronographs are a groovy punk band that’s somehow reminiscent to Method of Groove. with hints of hardcore, dashes of screamo and larger portions of southern rock, There’s Nothing More Natural Than Disaster is a pleasant listen throughout. though only four songs, it still manages to leave an impression. the southern rock/emo/hardcore fusion works out really well and doesn’t seem like a forced gimmick. it sounds completely sane and pretty awesome. the album overall is great, and the opening track in particular. brilliant effort that deserves a download; *your* download.
Posted in metal/metalcore, punk rock
Celeste – Misantrophe(s)
if you are like me and prefer early Isis over newer Isis – this album should tickle your fancy. if you don’t give a fuck about Isis (you should, btw), you should listen to this album because it is awesome. epic and grandiose progressive screamo mixed with powerful and hard-hitting black metal. what more can one ask of a band? it’s Euro-style breakdowns and interludes galore, black metal guitars and screamed vocals. screamed like Manhattan Skyline, Orchid and Quiritatio’s screams – not like Honeywell, Reach Out and mamma, jeg blör… but the main ingredient in Celeste’s music is how epic they sound, and the sheer progressiveness they display. so get on it. download!
Posted in metal/metalcore, progressive/epic, screamo
Celeste – Nihiliste(s)
with their second release, Celeste moves into black metal territory. fusing two genres that are thought to be almost polar opposites: screamo and black meta. (okay, there are screamo/metal bands out there. there are even punk/black metal bands. but this is *screamo/black metal*. that’s not like, the most common fusing ever.) but after listening to this album, you will most certainly not view the genres as opposites. not at all. they go hand in hand, forging a union of might and power. every bit as mesmerizing as the previous release, «this music is too dreamy». and the black metal influences will have you bobbing your head even harder this time around. almost… *yikes* – headbanging. like a proper metalhead. so if you’re really into punk but hate metal (for some obscure reason), this might be your gateway into the grandiose metal genre. if you’re into metal – consider this your entry to the rawness of punk rock. if you’re into both… well then you obviously put this on repeat. also be sure to check out Uranus, Iskra, One Eyed God Prophecy, The Spectacle, Manhattan Skyline and other punk bands with metal influences. but first: download this album. it’s a heavy mother fucker of an album. it rips. get it.
Posted in metal/metalcore, progressive/epic, screamo
Method of Groove – Demo
it has been pointed out to me that my blog is severely lacking good hardcore. not that what’s on it isn’t good – but more that there simply isn’t *enough* posts. so here’s one for you hxc guys. and what a post it is! Method of Groove plays groovy hardcore with straight up hardcore vocals (which reminds me of Send More Paramedics on more than on occasion, and also Minor Threat era Ian MacKaye at times). while this band pays tribute to 80s harDCore, like every other hardcore band, it is also noticeably fresh. and not by being more extreme or faster than harDCore – but by utilizing a vastly different and much more groovy metalcore sound, which even includes lenghty guitar solos. oh and the demo is really cheap at http://myspace.com/themethodofgroove
Posted in hardcore, metal/metalcore
Oh, Apollo – Hope! The river Arkansas.
from the very first second, this is energetic and intense. it pretty much starts out with screaming and noise. the guitars alternate between typical screamo stuff and metal riffs. the vocalist alternate between screaming and this feminine spoken word thing. it sounds a bit… errr… but it’s actually really good. it works. slightly in the background you have mostly upbeat drumming that is kind of experimental. very tight at all times. everyone should also pay attention to the breakdowns and these sweet calm parts, where the band really excels. and that sweetest of album outros… wow. this is just an awesome effort from a real good band. get it.
Posted in metal/metalcore, screamo
KriegOPFer – Opponere
Liquid Ballroom is the only track on here. but what a track! the breakdowns from crust-esque metalcore to funk to everything is just amazing. this is a track well worth of putting on repeat. heavy and fast drums accompany one of the sweetest chord progressions ever. as if that wasn’t enough – all the tempo (and genre for that matter) shifts make this track a definite winner. I also enjoy the vocals, and how they slightly remind me of Orchid. the band is a bit like Manhattan Skyline as well – though less technical. Alpinist-ish even.
Posted in metal/metalcore
KriegOPFer – Erasenation
KriegOPFer are a different band. for so many reasons. the oi/streetpunk-esque vocals, the metal guitars and overall crusty screamo feel shouldn’t go together this good. a heavy yet melodic Latvian metalcore band that performs with all the passion in the world. this needs to be heard. if not for the awesome guitar harmonies, then for the pounding drums and the crushing intensity that makes up the whole sound pictures. atmospheric and heavy metalcore semi-reminiscent of The Spectacle – though noticeably less screamo-tinged. check it!
Posted in metal/metalcore
Iskra – Iskra
this is without a doubt one of the most violent and intense albums I have ever put on this blog. and it definitely deserves to be on here. the music is very heavy and violent, but what is even better (or worse) is that the lyrics are equally extreme. and you can tell that these guys are serious when they urge you to «work illegitimate jobs, evade any tax» while stressing that «direct action is the only recourse for developing opposition». this is without a doubt an anarchist punk band. they practice what they preach. and the music is crushingly heavy, and a definite fresh breath of air – no matter what you were listening to prior to putting on this record. it is non-stop energy and intensity. it is one of the freshest albums ever, and you should not miss out on it!
Posted in crust/grindcore/violence, metal/metalcore
Iskra – Demo
by the early 90s the metal genre had grown overly technical and cold. the genre was simply drowning. then suddenly, from the Norwegian forests and mountains came a genre known as blackened metal. this was a genre that stood out in stark contrast to the other metal genres. it was lo-fi, had shrieking and painful vocals, no palm mutes and no concern as to whether it was actually technically impressive or not. it was simply raw. Iskra are kind of to punk rock what Darkthrone were to metal. it is raw, it is heavy, it is in your face like nothing like it – and it is awesome. this demo of lo-fi Amebix-like “blackened crust”. Iskra crosses black metal with crust. and the result is a very heavy form of crust with black metal guitars, kind of resembling Burzum (on speed). it also has much in common with the 90s power violence scene in terms of the political lyrics and how raw the music is. one detail Iskra does not share with black metal at all however is the sentiments that are evident in their lyrics. this is without a doubt anarchist punk rock, as creative and interesting as the likes of Rudimentary Peni and Crass. you will basically need to hear this to get this – so download it and have a go!
Posted in crust/grindcore/violence, metal/metalcore
Faustcoven – March of the Cloven Hooves
more ultra-heavy black metal from Norway. there’s more drone/doom-influenced black metal with drop tuned guitars, but this time there’s some semi-fast (well not slow as hell (pun intended) like they were at all times on the previous Faustcoven album I upped) guitar solos with upbeat (fast even!) war drums. shrieked Burzum-ish vocals and whatnot. this has it all. all that you would want from black metal. not as incredibly depressing and dark as the previous album, but all the more diverse.
Posted in metal/metalcore
Faustcoven – Satanic Doom
this is true Norwegian black metal indeed. war drums, slow and depressing guitars with shrieked as well as growled howls from hell. “Satanic Doom” is a more fitting description of this album than I would be able to give you. black metal at its heaviest (no look-how-fast-we-can-tremolo-bullshit) with clear doom influences. it’s droning and dark. probably best listened to in complete darkness by yourself. heil.
Posted in metal/metalcore
Fua – Retribution
hard hitting metalcore with metal style (grumpy) vocals. it’s drop-tuned and heavy like Minoria Activa. the vocalist kind of sounds like Corey Taylor’s growling voice on the s/t Slipknot album. the drums are fast and use double pedals. there’s also this nü-metal feel to them (as well as the guitars) on certain occasions. don’t let that scare you though. I mean the s/t Slipknot album was really good because of the aggressivity and in-you-face-ness. this has those qualities. and even though the vocals, drumming and guitars might be a bit Slipknot-ish (there’s no nü-metal DJing or extra percussion though), I assure you that even the most Slipknot-hostile music fan out there might still be into this, as it shares quite a lot with pessimistic hardcore punk like Black Flag or Negative Approach. there’s also a great deal of early 90s thrash influences to be spotted here. and it sounds tough and angry. and it’s cool. I guess it’s head banging material. I’m not much for that stuff myself, but if you are you must get this. if you are like me – not a head banging metal guy – get this anyway, and enjoy it nevertheless. it’s cool. especially the industrial-ish bits where it sounds all faux-rapcore-ish.
Posted in metal/metalcore
The Spectacle 10″
if you like what is often refered to as “post-rock” (ugh), you might like this. if you like extreme metal, you might like this. it’s diverse and epic progressive crust-tinged metal. enough said. get it. the album is magnificent. it will change you. and you’ll be better off for it.
Posted in crust/grindcore/violence, metal/metalcore, progressive/epic
The Pax Cecilia – Blessed Are the Bonds
The Pax Cecilia make very progressive metal stuff with the occasional skram guitars/vocals. and they do it well. there’s also a decent amount of instrumental stuff appearing on this album. Blessed Are the Bonds is simply filled with atmospheric piano-driven music as well as heavy metal guitars, progressive skram music and whatever. it’s all good, and well worth downloading. a highly diverse and consistent effort that just delivers so much, all the way through.
Posted in metal/metalcore, progressive/epic
Red From Winter – January 2004 Demo
gloomy hardcore-ish stuff with goth keys and skram vocals. yes, you read that right. it’s fucked up. sounds like a punk Cradle of Filth at times. the vocals are fucking huge. and the guitars are fast. what more then, could one ask for? nothing. get it.
Posted in metal/metalcore, screamo, who knows