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THRONE OF HERESY - Decameron
The Sign Records
There's just something cool about a death metal act who push galloping rhythms to the point where you feel like you're speeding down the highway in a 60's era muscle car. I'm thinking a 65 GTO but these guys are from Sweden so who the fuck knows what they'd think. Here we have the third full length by Sweden's THRONE OF HERESY. Their past releases were on par with their country's melodic death metal pedigree. But on here things have changed.
Decameron is a concept album based on the horrors of the 14th century black death. Interesting enough aside from the obvious gallop of AMON AMARTH paced rhythms the band does include copious amounts of blackened death via a melodious touch. Toss in some atmospheric touches to lengthen a song or two. It all ends in a decent release which is based on ten stories chronicling the advance of the black plague.
In the end I kinda like this mainly because of my love of what a few other death metal acts do with the whole epic war themes. Plus THRONE OF HERESY have this infectious (pardon the pun) sound which draws in those of us looking for aggressive tales. So what's next, famine, pestilence? The whole human crucible awaits as far as suffering goes.
http://thesignrecords.com/
https://throneofheresy.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/throneofheresy
ELBOW DEEP - Sexually Offensive
Horror Pain Gore Death Productions
OK so as soon as I checked out their Facebook page and saw the photo of their bloody singer puncturing himself in the chest with a staple gun on stage I knew I was gonna like this. Now I must admit the irony of listening to this now at a time when sexual harassment is being exposed throughout politics and Hollywood. Of course a band named ELBOW DEEP from Chicago, Illinois and their second full length Sexually Offensive comes in for review.
The only thing crazier would be being visited by El Duce's ghost on Christmas Eve. By the way I seen a photo of this band's singer wearing a MENTORS shirt. So I'm not far off by saying that ELBOW DEEP are scumfuck metal whose lyrical influences come from such luminaries as in G.G. Allin, The MENTORS as well as IMPETIGO. Most of the music is death metal structured but the band also weighs in with some grindcore, punk, thrash and a little bit of doom.
People who just don't get the whole scumfuck motif in metal thing basically don't understand the facts. First off it takes far more talent and intelligence to weave a bunch of sick twisted themes into extreme metal than say pathetic progressive sludge droning. Secondly it has to be just offensive enough and yet funny to keep the average non-politically correct type interested. ELBOW DEEP does it perfectly. Hopefully they'll come east next year to my neck of the woods. I'll supply the staples.
http://www.horrorpaingoredeath.com/
https://hpgd.bandcamp.com/album/sexually-offensive
https://www.facebook.com/elbowdeepofficial/
GRANDE ROYALE - Breaking News
The Sign Records
Here's the third full length from Sweden's GRANDE ROYALE, a five piece act whose influences range from late 60's Detriot to 1990s Scandinavia. Yeah and since Nicke Andersson produced it plus their name is close to the title of a HELLACOPTERS' record I was kinda thinking it was gonna sound just like the HELLACOPTERS (and not ENTOMBED or DEATH BREATH). Well yes it does but in the style of their Grande Rock and High Visibility LPs. Frankly I never cared for that era of the HELLACOPTERS. I was a Supershitty to the Max, Payin' the Dues and collector of all their small format releases fan, still am.
Be that as it may GRANDE ROYALE do a fine job on here as far as respecting the rock. There are a few mediocre cuts on here that will make harder core types wretch. "Live With You" is a real downer unless you're into radio friendly pop. There's some Southern Rock worship on "Daily Illustration" as well as "I'm on the Loose". Otherwise this is a decent release of Swedes doing Americanna.
http://thesignrecords.com/
https://thesignrecords.bandcamp.com/album/grande-royale-breaking-news
https://www.facebook.com/GR.sweden/
NIGHT - Raft of the World
The Sign Records
Over the years I've heard a good amount of so-called 70's hard rock revivalist acts from Sweden. Almost all of em sucked or better yet sounded nothing like the music that I grew up with in the 70s. And yet hipsters in the metal media, who were still in their dad's balls in the 70s, seem to have had a collected love for such revisionist bull shit. But here we have a Swedish act who gets it right albeit they're more early 80s influence.
This is the third full length by this four piece act who got started back in 2011. Musically this is not NWOBHM which is something their fellow countryman WOLF and ENFORCER have done so well. Nor is this the HELLACOPTERS' energetic take on the STOOGES. NIGHT go to a territory from 79 to 83 in metal that was melodic yet powerful. If anything most of this reminds me of RAINBOW.
You've got some serious Blackmore style riffs and solos going on here. Check out opener "Fire Across the Sky" which is textbook RAINBOW is song structure right even down to the rhythm section. The only things missing are the keyboards and Cozy Powell's thunderous drumming. Other cuts like "Under The Gallows", "Where Silence Awaits" and the neoclassical instro "Omberg" all have that RAINBOW flavor to them.
As far as the rest of the album I keep thinking QUEENSRYCHE. Although vocalist / guitarist Oskar Andersson does have a decent range vocally he's no Geoff Tate but still he's great on here in this harmonious metal style. All in all if you're into throwback acts then here you go and it's done to perfection.
http://thesignrecords.com/
https://thesignrecords.bandcamp.com/album/night-raft-of-the-world
https://www.facebook.com/nightbandofficial/
CRAFTEON - Cosmic Reawakening
Self Released
Hailing from Denver, Colorado we have this four piece black metal act CRAFTEON. They're a concept band created by vocalist / guitarist Lord Mordiggian who is a teacher of literature (because if he was into gender studies I wouldn't be talking about this). Mordiggian decided to create this the band's debut full length inspired by his favorite writer H.P. Lovecraft.
Now as we all know, along with satanism and nature, Lovecraft is one of the more popular themes worked upon in the dark realms of extreme metal. Hell even some scribes in the metal media have coined the descriptive term "Lovecraft-ian" in order to convey a description they obviously lack in other ways to put into words. Be that as it may would you rather sit through another boring lecture on the meaning of Lovecraft's writings or listen to this? Better yet, go see their performance at a club.
As far as the eight tracks on here go, CRAFTEON do a great job on the melodic black metal template. There's a balance of aggression and melody that leans on a DISSECTION influence which is definitely unique for a USBM act. You would guess from their overall sound that the band hailed from Gothenburg instead of Denver. Mordiggian's vocals even carry that call of harsh Scandinavia.
The only negative upon this is that it's a self release. It should be on a label, big or small, because it should be widely circulated amongst fans. Hopefully it will sooner than later.
https://crafteon.bandcamp.com/releases
https://www.facebook.com/crafteon/
SUBSERVIENCE - Forest Of The Impaled
Black Bow Records
Here's a British version of kitchen sink death metal. Now I use the term "kitchen sink" as a reference to bands who toss out a bunch of genre styles in their sound. It can be looked upon as negative or positive and in this band's case it's the latter. SUBSERVIENCE, a Sussex quartet, use old school death metal as a base which they add progressive elements, core angst and thrash to create a modern metal sound which comes across as a cool threatening sound.
Obviously this five piece act like BOLT THROWER but then move on from there. This their debut full length starts off with a roar and the type of fury which will kick a few heads backward. Midway through the band adds some groove style that doesn't make you want to grimace. There's also a melodic texture added to the onslaught of punishment. This is the kinda stuff you wanna see slam pits form to and faces ripped apart. This is pretty damm good.
http://www.blackbowrecords.com/
https://subservience.bandcamp.com/
THE SHORT STACK
Too Many Releases, So Little Time, No Need To Write A lot About Em
NECROVOROUS - Plains of Decay
Dark Descent Records
Here's a three piece death metal act from Greece who channel Sweden circa 1988/89, oh fuck it lets go 1990 as well. This is ENTOMBED worship with bestial vocals. Actually this sounds a hellava lot better than that ENTOMBED AD release from a few years ago. It's also on Dark Descent so you know it's quality. Every nation needs their own old school Swedish death metal.
http://www.darkdescentrecords.com/
NOVEMBERS DOOM – Hamartia
The End Records
I was surprised by this latest one by Chicago's long time doom outfit. I'm am a fan of NOVEMBERS DOOM, got a few of their releases: Amid Its Hallowed Mirth, Of Sculptured Ivy and Stone Flowers, The Pale Haunt Departure and Into Night's Requiem Infernal, They're all great releases over their almost twenty five year career. I do consider them US Doom hierarchy. But Hamartia comes off sounding lite as in less death / doom and more ahhh mainstream appeal. Much of it was forgettable after a listen or two.
http://theendrecords.com/
BELL WITCH - Mirror Reaper
Profound Lore Records
Ya know I gave this band credit back in 2011 for their demo. Then a year later they became (or maybe they always were) hipster darlings who put out lackluster funeral doom. So a few more releases under their belt, this Seattle duo unleashes this two CD one track, broken down into two parts, over an hour's worth of slow crap. Self indulgence might be fine if you have talent and an ability to actually write cohesive songs. But it the case of BELL WITCH this sounds like noodling around in their practice space and they suckered someone to record it. I give them the finger.
http://www.profoundlorerecords.com/
EXTREMITY – Extremely Fucking Dead
20 Buck Spin
Soon to be featured in Decibal Magazine's LGBQT metal issue. Dan Martinez use to play guitar in CRETIN, play live with EXHUMED and the reformed REPULSION. Now he's transformed into Marissa Martinez-Hoadley and with this sorta left coast second tier super group he's put out a new five song EP (with an intro track) of extremely fucking rehashed West Coast death grind which at this point in time lacks balls.
https://www.20buckspin.com/
VALLENFYRE – Fear Those Who Fear Him
Century Media Records
Here's the third installment (full length that is) of Gregor Mackintosh's (PARADISE LOST) and Hamish Hamilton Glencross (former MY DYING BRIDE) side project where they get their old school death metal rocks off. Ah yeah this is great especially if you like modern day channeling of DISMEMBER and BOLT THROWER. Of course this time around they add more death/doom feel then previously. And they even toss in a few cues to their day jobs.
https://www.cmdistro.de/
EXCORIATE - Of the Ghastly Stench
Nihilistic Holocaust
So here we have a cassette demo by a Chilean death metal act put out by a French death metal webzine. Did I just get transported back to 1989 or what? As far as the band goes, EXCORIATE actually started out in 2002. Over the years they've managed to put out a few demos and splits. Hell after all these years they're still putting out a demo is weird given all the availability of self releasing.
Well be that as it may EXCORIATE do a fine job of waxing nostagia for people like me who actually remember. The handful of cuts on here push the whole death doom and gloom estectic of the late 80's death metal crunch. Opener,"Teofisto", is an instrumental that sets up the mood which is an obvious throwback style of the past. Next comes the bleeding into an actual cut, "Oh! Peaceful Derketa", which drags you along kicking and screaming. What follows is a mix of dirty death doom on the next two cuts.
EXCORIATE would do right by putting their whole discography on a compilation. After that they could do a new full length. They're the type of band you would expect to hear on Greyhaze Records.
http://nihilistic.shost.ca/
https://nihilisticholocaustrecs.bandcamp.com/
PARALYSIS - Life Sentence
Self-Released
Well I'm originally from New Jersey so seeing that these thrashers were from there as well made this worth a listen. No one told PARALYSIS that the old school thrash revival has long since been over and has been replaced by the latest trend, old school crossover. I guess we should be thankful for that because this four piece act are in no way trendy sounding. I mean honestly this sounds like some long lost release from those early days.
OK so it's the closing days of 2017 and we all know what old school thrash sounds like so lets just forgo the obvious. What makes PARALYSIS stand out is the most important part. First off the vocals by founder and guitarist Jon Plemenik are in that angst ridden old hardcore vein. The second key thing here is the lead guitar work by Ron Iglesias. This guy finds ways to slice open a song and insert a fiery solo that really doesn't come off sounding typical.
The third and final point about Life Sentence is the sound as a whole. The ten songs on this their debut remind me old New York Hardcore (later Metalcore) meets MEGADETH. You've got your gang chorus shouts via a song structures that Dave Mustaine reminisces about. But even with that said hey these guys are from Jersey so they must own every damm album by the speedier acts from New York.
All in all I'd call this a win win for PARALYSIS as well as any fan out there who yearns for modern interpretations of old Thrash / HC / Metalcore sounds that don't come over as contrived. I also like this band's history and dedication to their craft. It started out in 2010 via band leader Jon Plemenik's love of metal and wanting to recreate it. After putting out a couple of EPs they finally have this debut under their belts. Hopefully 2018 will see this band get a label deal which after listening to this they easily deserve.
https://paralysisthrash.bandcamp.com/album/life-sentence
https://www.facebook.com/paralysisnj/
OCCVLTA - Night without End
Dying Victims Productions
OCCVLTA have come a long way since I first heard their demo, We Command The Wolves, back in 2010. That primal four song release was a mix of blackened punk, doom and an obvious nod to CELTIC FROST. Now seven years later brothers Vrgh on guitar, Hord handling vocals and Torm drums (they're a four piece live) have progressed away from everything else to concentrate on their worship of Morbid Tales / Emperor's Return era CELTIC FROST.
OK its not a complete homage since these Germans do include some punk and first wave black metal primordial grit. But hey even the production on here sounds 1980s. Now in all honesty this is a great release, nine songs worth, especially if you consider all the wannabe HELLHAMMER acts that have come about ever since Century Media Records put out Demon Entrails nine years ago.
https://www.dying-victims.de/
https://occvlta.bandcamp.com/releases
https://www.facebook.com/occvlta
ALUNAH - Solennial
Svart Records
ALUNAH answers the question I've always wondered, what would ELECTRIC WIZARD sound like if they had a folksy, hippie female vocalist? Welcome in ALUNAH a four piece retro doom act from England (where else?) into the already packed group of female fronted doom acts. Strangely enough this band has been around since 2008 which puts them ahead of similar styled acts. How were they hidden for so long? And here we have their fourth full length to boot.
Doom is the subject here but of course you have to endure the soft metal opener "The Dying Soil" before the SABBATH-ian riffs enter the musical framework on "Light of Winter". Vocalist Sophie Day adds a different singing style to this now crowded sub genre. She's not into the haunting vocals or the blues, instead Day comes forth as dreamy, clean sounding and in a way hypnotic.
With Day leading on vocals the rest of the band (David Day on guitars, Jake Mason on drums and Dan Burchmore on bass) lays down the SABBATH influenced grooves which are on the melodic side. David Day does a stand out job at adding clean guitar solos that cut through what could be a really generic sound. Damm good.
https://www.svartrecords.com/
https://alunah.bandcamp.com/album/solennial-2
https://www.facebook.com/alunah.doom
MOULDERED - Chronology Of A Rotten Mind
Satanath Records
For decades now death metal acts from South America, specifically Brazil and Columbia, have had their own brand of brutality that would make a melo-deth fan shit their pants. MOULDERED on the other hand opted to forget their roots and go straight to being another bunch of children of CANNIBAL CORPSE. Of course as I'm writing this, Corpsegrinder and company are set to release another unexciting release.
I really have no need to listen to the new one by CANNIBAL CORPSE this month since MOULDERED do a real by the numbers job of channeling them. Think of thick chunky riffs, triggered drums with pounding snare runs and of course the brutal cookie monster vocals. There's even the occasional searing guitar lead that breaks the monotony. Also you gotta love the exorcism soundbite as an opening bite.
MOULDERED's full length debut might not be the most original beast on the extreme metal block, then again what is? But with that note aside it's still a good release.
http://www.satanath.com/
https://satanath.bandcamp.com/album/sat179-mouldered-chronology-of-a-rotten-mind-2017
https://www.facebook.com/MoulderedOfficial
SOLFERNUS - Neoantichrist
Satanath Records
The guitarist and drummer of this Czech band are also in ROOT but don't expect there to be a closeness in sound. SOLFERNUS do entertain the black metal vibe but with a surprisingly SLAYER influence. This is the second full length by this four piece from the Czech Republic and their last one came out in 2005. I guess they've been busy with other things.
As far as the SLAYER influence goes I'm thinking Seasons of the Abyss era. They definitely love their thrash. Most of the cuts on here have that head banging chunky riff salad working for em. Guitar soloing and drum work is also similar to the fearsome foursome of old. But it's not a carbon copy in the least. SOLFERNUS do add their own personality via venomous sounding vocals, song structure twists and actual melodies.
One wonders with so much talent why it took so long to produce something worthy of praise? Neoantichrist is a decent listen which really wouldn't fit into that standard blackened thrash sub-genre. Maybe next time they won't wait twelve years to put out a follow-up.
http://www.satanath.com/
https://satanath.bandcamp.com/album/sat180-solfernus-neoantichrist-2017
https://www.facebook.com/SOLFERNUS-322352119065/
HARVEST GULGALTHA - Altars Of Devotion
Nuclear War Now! Productions
There are times when things you're supposed to like are not up to snuff. Take this Phoenix, Arizona outfit for example. HARVEST GULGALTHA play blackened death doom, a style of extreme that I've written thousands of words of praise for bands who also create it. This band does a decent job of it on this their debut full length. But in a time when so many other acts have perfected a richer and horrific sound, HARVEST GULGALTHA are simply small fish in a huge sea.
Originally this came out as a limited to 100 copies cassette under the band’s Aphotic Sonance label. As with their original 2012 demo, Nuclear War Now! Productions also re-released it under their label. Sound wise what we got here is primal blackened death doom that stays away from any modern twists. A decade or so ago this would've been great and to a degree it still is. The cavernous vocals standing upfront and there's that thunderous wall of guitar/bass noise that keeps a steady level of power.
Although Altars Of Devotion is eight cuts in just slightly thirty eight minutes you would think it was just one continuous song with some atmospheric breaks. Listening to this is like watching a bog that emits gas and shows a few ripples. This trio keeps things minimal with absolutely no guitar leads, simple lumbering song structures with a non deviating tempo. Likeable but not noteworthy.
http://www.nwnprod.com/
https://nuclearwarnowproductions.bandcamp.com/album/altars-of-devotion
https://aphoticsonance.bandcamp.com/album/harvest-gulgaltha-altars-of-devotion
https://www.facebook.com/harvestgulgaltha
TYAKRAH - Wintergedanken
Satanath Records
The winters where I live are fairly unpredictable. For a few days in could be freezing cold then later on in the week it can warm up enough to see people wearing shorts. Yeah it's different from what most others are use to but we like it. Kinda like this debut album from TYAKRAH. This is a German duo who do push pass the edges of the black metal template. On here these Germans produce seven icy cuts which basically consists of four proper songs with three instrumental pieces that are blended in the opening, closing and in the very middle.
As far as the instrumentals go the opener has a classical elegance about it. The middle one has a more traditional pagan/folk feel from it. While the closing instro is a chilling nightmare. Song wise TYAKRAH throw more twists at ya then twisting mountain road. Early in "Gefrorne Tranen" the sound is atmospheric black metal which turns into straight up rock with raspy vocals and plenty of lead guitar theatrics. There's also some folksy spoken word parts.
The other cuts follow suit with the guitar lead work taking the forefront. This is definitely something different, at least for me, in black metal circles. Overall the songs stay in that atmospheric BM vein. Personally it's not my cup of grim but worthy for anyone else who wants to venture beyond the horizon for their black metal.
http://www.satanath.com/
https://tyakrah.bandcamp.com/releases
https://www.facebook.com/tyakrah/
WHORE OF BETHLEHEM - Extinguish the Light
Black Market Metal Label
Waitaminute, I thought the whore came from Babylon? Well be that as it may what we have here is some blackened death from Texas. A little warning towards ya. If you're not feeling well, as in you've got a cold like I do now, then listening to this will be more miserable than you already feel. This is the second full length by the five piece WHORE OF BETHLEHEM. I never heard their debut, Upon Judas' Throne, which came out in 2014. But after a few painful listens to this all I can say is that it's pretty damm good.
I just gotta say having a head full of snot and coughing your brains out makes a song like "Overtaken By Evil" feel ten times worse. With it's staccato riffs and jack hammer blast beats it feels like you're being attacked by a horde of harpies being commanded by a thousand eyed beast. That's just one of the many joyful tunes on here that would make any cruelty obsessed person grim with delight.
If anything, WHORE OF BETHLEHEM remind me of early BELPHEGOR. I mean the riff style and drum patterns as well as the song structures are similar. It's partially there on the opener "Ritual Purification" and full on with "Invocation". Nothing wrong with that since I like BELPHEGOR. All in all a good nine tracks (one's an instrumental) of blackened brutality.
http://www.blackmarketmetal.net/
https://whoreofbethlehem.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/wobethlehem
ACID WITCH - Evil Sound Screamers
Hells Headbangers Records
And I missed out on this one for Halloween this year? Damm You All To Fuckin HELL! Well that would be Hells Headbangers Records and yeah I was late to the costume doom and gloom party but hey I can still blast this during the christian holidays. Here we have the third full length by Detroit, Michigan's full on purveyors of filthy creepy doom.
ACID WITCH are the metal version of Halloween themes all the time acts like the surf and garage punk band genres except they hate people. I hate people to so that's why I like em and got on their hate train back in 2009 with their Witchtanic Hellucinations debut full length. After so many fuckin releases and wondering if SHITFUCKER members are cool enough to undergo a NUNSLAUGHTER type of Hallow-eve's frenzy, this one says hell yeah.
"Hardrock Halloween" is probaly the best cut on here since it leaves ACID WITCH and goes straight up sleazy SHITFUCKER. Be that as it may there are some doomy cuts available that tug on the line of doom filth. Lets have more Hammond organ to drive us in the hearse of hilarity. In between the the samples, which after ten listens actually sound funny, the crushing truth is that I'll see ya next year.
https://shop-hellsheadbangers.com/
https://acid-witch-detroit.bandcamp.com/album/evil-sound-screamers
ARGUS - From Fields of Fire
Cruz del Sur Music
Here's the fourth full length and you could say long awaited release by Pennsylvania's ARGUS, a band that captured my interest years ago. I got on the bandwagon at the beginning with their 2009 self titled debut full length. That one ended up on my year end favorites list. No surprise, I have liked everything else they've released since. That would basically consist of two more full lengths and two EPs.
ARGUS blends classic doom aesthetics and traditional metal bombast into something that comes close to CANDLEMASS meeting IRON MAIDEN. We're talking epic melodies matched with powerful rhythms that at times have that galloping approach. Toss in the powerful vocals of Butch Balich and you've got one top shelf metal release for 2017. I figured getting that point out of the way quickly.
After a short "Into the Fields of Fire" acoustic guitar intro, this release jumps in with power via the cuts “Devils of Your Time” and “As a Thousand Thieves". Along with Balich leading the vocal attack there's longtime riff creator Jason Mucio on guitar and drummer Kevin Latchaw keeping on with the classic pounding. ARGUS are now accompanied by new guitarist Dave Watson who produces some cool chunky leads (and also produced this release) and bassist Justin Campbell who's work is stand out.
Other standouts are “216” where newcomers Watson and Campbell strut and shine via powerful bass lines and guitar leads that cut through steel. "You Are The Curse" is a metal anthem to throw the horned fist to. "Infinite Lives Infinite Doors" brings forth the epic in eleven minute length. "Hour Of Longing" continues the doomish theme. Enough of the song by song stuff. This is just classic metal done by devotees. Nuff Said.
http://www.cruzdelsurmusic.com/
https://argusmetal.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/argusmetal
NEUROSIS - The Word As Law reissue
Neurot Recordings
Well prepare to pick yourselves off the floor because I'm about to say thank you to Neurot Recordings (or basically NEUROSIS) for giving this one a new reissue in 2017. I rarely talk much about reissues unless they're somewhat special or at least nostalgic for me. And NEUROSIS's second full length from 1990 fits. Now as I've always said, I'm not a fan of the modern era of the band's out put. But years ago things were different. One thing that I have seen over the years is this release getting maligned by modern day scribes. Their problem is that they look at this from the perspective of what the band did afterward. Let me tell you about when it did come out.
By the late 80's what people called the Punk/Hardcore scene here in the states at least was dead as far as being a cohesive banner to wave around. Most of the old bands were gone or lingering on. People started segregating bands by certain sounds as well as fashion and politics. It was not much different from what the metal scene is today with it's various genres and sub-genres. At times there was legitimate explanations for the differences then again other instances were just plain stupid. It was from within this chaos that NEUROSIS emerged with their debut Pain of Mind in 1988.
Pain of Mind was a good release which had hints of the band being influenced by other things but still it was on line with their Hardcore contemporaries. A year later came the three song Aberration EP on Lookout Records. While the two short cuts on the A-Side were fast heavy and fitting to deem as hardcore, it was the B-Side's "Pollution" which stood out mixing hardcore insanity with some slower sections. Frankly the 80's died on a good note with this EP.
When 1990 hit full stride the underground music scene suddenly had more variety as far as cool music then previously and then again there was some crap. New York Hardcore turned into Metalcore. Crossover was lingering around. Labels like Touch & Go and Amphetamine Reptile Records were putting great stuff whether it was experimental noise, post hardcore or just punk rock without the knee jerk childish politics. And lets not forget what was going on in Seattle. That's when Lookout Records released The Word As Law. At the time if you looked at that label's band roster, NEUROSIS stuck out like a sore thumb. They definitely were not your typical "East Bay" sounding band. In fact they were the hardest and heaviest sounding band on this Lookout compilation I had (still have on a cassette somewhere in a box.)
The first time I heard The Word As Law was in 1990 and on a cassette tape via tape trading (you must've heard of that practice). A few years later I would get it on CD with extra tracks. But anyways even back then I knew NEUROSIS had one foot in the hardcore scene and the other stepping away from it. A lot of people complain that the bass and drums are too high in the mix. The vocals are poorly done and the production overall sucks. I say fuck you! It was perfect for it's time and basically the whines come from people who got into the band after their debut on Relapse six years later (or better yet ten years later).
I think all the problems people nowadays have about this release are strengths at the time it came out. The up front sound of Dave Edwardson's bass lines are cool as fuck and remind ya of mid-80's hardcore when you'd hear that a lot. The drum work is phenomenal especially for a hardcore act. I think the vocals have an angst ridden spark of actual hate to em. Plus the overall song writing was a huge step away from typical hardcore. At the time people would say they were a West Coast version of NAUSEA. Ah no, if this band had a contemporary in 1990 it was HELMET who released STRAP IT ON the same year. All in all now that the band is putting all their older material out, on their own label that is, it's not a bad idea to pick this one up again.
https://www.neurotrecordings.com/
https://www.facebook.com/officialneurosis
https://neurosis.bandcamp.com/
GRIEVE / NO GODS - Split
Horror Pain Gore Death Productions
Here's a cool little split release featuring two extreme bands who both come from an area of the country I use to call home, aka: Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley. First of we have GRIEVE, a three piece act from Allentown, where I once lived decades ago and my son still calls home. GRIEVE are totally old school grind from when the damm genre started, the latter day hardcore scene. They give us three short cuts featuring a high pitched vocal assault with your basic punishing grind riff insanity plus some slower moments.
NO GODS also from Allentown take it a step further adding a more death thrash style. Frankly I like what this band is doing more so because they also have a cool late 80's metallish hardcore thing going on with them. We called that back in the day NYHC. Slam pit worthy kind of stuff and I mean a real circle pit and not that push and shove bullshit.
Both of these bands are cool as fuck. On a whole I like NO GODS the best because they stay true to a sound before a bunch of straight edge losers from Boston or Connecticut ruined it. Obviously they've listened to AGNOSTIC FRONT. To give them their do, GRIEVE also bring back a sound from the past that to many fail at. I've got a friend who sings in a local grind/power violence band and they go no where because their fans are a bunch of hipster losers. I bet GRIEVE has a better audience.
http://www.horrorpaingoredeath.com/
https://hpgd.bandcamp.com/album/split-3
