Resistant Culture - Welcome to Reality

Bringing you the sound of “Urgent tribal grindcrust”, Resistant Culture is one of the few recent truly anarcho-grind bands that follow in the sonic audio wake of Napalm Death and Terrorizer, and also gives a salute to the Discharge /Antisect/Doom crust boys in terms of social criticism and pure audio genius. Based out of L.A. this band is a blunt force strike against society in support of environmental issues and Native American/indigenous rights and cultures, including womens rights against sexual violence. The fact that this grind/death music is so reactive and pyrogenic, it should come with a warning label stating that "upon listening this sound may spontaneously burst into flames".

This band is the perfect slam to your head but also serves a real purpose and grind/death metal is the perfect medium to spread the aggression and bring about some insight into issues that do actually matter, not too mention the appearance of Jesse Pintado (RIP) of ND/Terrorizer on this recording to show his support for the band and their message. For a brutal band the lyrics are clearly audible and the infusion with tribal/Native American chants and even the occasional tribal instruments thrown in behind sound samples of military choppers in the back ground really creates an angst that takes a real message away from the mosh pit, but is undeniably mosh material.

This is some of the best grind/anarcho stuff that I’ve ever heard actually, it’s sophisticated yet completely brutal and throbbing. I’m always for giving the finger to bullshit and flushing the turds that run society through ignorance and greed like the giant hot steaming mass of shit that they are, and this is the band to do it with. Brains and real opinions done with some of the most intense and extreme music styles, blast beats meet the streets and desecrate them. AWESOME!!!!!!!! Please check this band out, they have several releases aside from this one and they are all flawless and equally as gnarly, bands this good need to be heard and definitely felt.

http://www.resistantculture.com/community/home

Bekhira - Demo 1996 (re-issue on Elegy Records, 2010)

Another fiendish and brilliant piece of black distorted filth to come our way from France, and this comes highly recommended for the true underground listener. Upon first listen it’s immediately obvious that this band is a sonic fury of dark and raw angst, it’s really hard to believe that this is a demo actually, although it’s a re-issue of a demo, it’s still too good to be a demo. The production is perfect, never dissolving the raw power and belligerence, but not well produced to the point of destroying the metallic muscle that is the buzzing chainsaw guitar riffs. If you want your metal black, strong, untainted, and straight ahead ferocious this is one to check out. Recommended for fans of Dark Sanctuary, Deinonychus, Chemin de Haine (as it contains members of these bands), Watain and Darkthrone, but I’d add in Funeral Goat, Hellhammer, and Vomitor.

www.elegyrecords.com

Hellveto - Kry (Pagan Records)

The true sound of Pagan Black Metal is the perfect description of this Polish masterminds work. Twelve years in the making and sweeping across the underground with his storm of symphonic and opaque sounds, unleashing the spirits of the ancient dead, but not forgotten, cultures and the people. Think of it as the hollow echoing voices of the past calling out as the spirits pass through you, the chill of the presence as they enter into your being and the thrill of the heathen energy within as it runs through your veins and you wield the axe.

I’ve been a follower of Hellveto since Autumnal Night and have heard my share of pagan and symphonic bands, but not too many can really haunt you like this stuff does. Autumnal Night felt like a blaze, you could actually feel the fire through the music and see the tribe performing a ritual as the inferno burned hotter and brighter lighting up the sky. This newest work, Kry, is as dynamic as you can get from a symphonic solo project, you feel the frosty dawn approach as the midnight fog crosses the Slavic plains and the stirring of the souls of the past as they scream out to signal the return of the pagan blood, yet always remains a black metal album.

This is truly epic, stark, bone-chilling, and resonating album that brings to life the true legend and spirit of the pagans. The wall of guitar encircles you as you hear the haunting voices muddled in the brewing of the storm, the keyboard is simply a backdrop to give you the feeling of something stirring, never diluting the sinister atmosphere created within this music, the percussion is tribal and perfect to summon the dead and unleash the beasts of pagan wrath and fury. If you are unfamiliar with this artist then I'd suggest you introduce yourself immediately, this is nothing short of FUCKING amazing. I’d also recommend checking out Blakagir.

Funeral Goat – Mass Ov Perversion (Daemon Worship Production, 2010)

I’m just blowing off some steam after a brutal week of hell, and now I’m prepping for one of the best weekends this year: High on Fire/Archons/Black Cobra/Bison B.C. in one night, San Diego Metal Swap Meet sponsored by one of my new label collaborators for my site and show, Deathgasm; so I’m fired up on the flames of Hell and just got some new tunes for my show and site and have to share them because they are burning a hole in my head where my ears used to be. Recommended for fans of Beherit, Archgoat, Blasphemy, Havohej, but I’d also add in Hellhammer and early Death/Autopsy as well, Darkthrone, Emperor (early), at times the vocals remind me slightly of Attila of Mayhem on De Mysteries, especially on the track “Morning Star”. I can almost here "FUUUNRRRLLLLLLLLL FOGGGGGGG!!!!!!!! Old school death and black metal fused flawlessly to create a charred brew of raw and brutal, rapid machine gun blasting metal. There really isn’t anything classic and essential that is not clearly influencing this Dutch band, but yet it still has a fresh stench of individuality and of its own festering existence.

I’m humbled to be able to review these releases, it means that I have proven my ability to not piss myself when shocked from a power line attached to my ass as my temples are consistently pounded upon by sledgehammers of buzz saw guitars and blast beat drums. I seriously hope that the blackened death onslaught of releases won’t let up anytime soon, this is a true spiked leather spank for the metal masochist, and it will leave your ears bleeding if you listen too loudly or closely.

As said in a prior review today, slit your throat on this album as well, serious debauchery and heinous violence is present here. The rhythm of an execution on a grand scale, a field of impaled and garroted bodies dripping and decaying in the hot sun of the end of it all as the maniac continues to slay in his path. Swing the axe, hack them up, and boil them alive, although this is more like being run over by a steamroller. For some reason this sound never gets boring or weakened with time or imitation, it’s always as incredible and makes your skin tingle as if it was your first time hearing it again 20 or so years ago. Another triumph for the legions of the bowels of the universe…bow down and give your self up. Every pulse and kerrang of the instruments throughout this album is an addiction, once you put this on you will have to finish and repeat, finish and repeat. Very few things can say “I hate!” like this music does.



Band info/contact/ audio samples: http://www.myspace.com/funeralgoat

Prosanctus Inferi – Pandemonic Ulutations of Vesperic Palpitation (Hells Headbangers Records 2010)

HHR unleashes pure necrotic fury in this firestorm of blackened US death metal as a welcomed scourge upon this wasteland called Earth. This album will slash through your senses and desecrate your insides to mush. Barbarous and crude, this is another piece of audio profanity that reeks of hatred and violence. According to the HHR website this band is for the diehard fans of: early Profanatica, AngelCorpse, Bestial Warlust, Necrovore, and Rites of Thy Degringolade; so that should be all the name-dropping needed here. If you’re sick fuck who really likes to get amped on riffs and blast beats and beat everything and everyone around you into non-existence, this is the soundtrack to your crime, trial, and execution. Electric chair ferocity, no wussy-ass lethal injection, potassium chloride is nothing (I’m a chemist so I should know) to having pure energy in the form of “High Voltage “short circuiting and charring your insides as you steam and twitch in agony ( I enjoy crime as well), being hit by lightning that is funded by the voters and directed at you with murderous intent.

The tracks on this vulgar concoction of an album are short bursts of insanity and murderous debauchery by way of deafening percussion blasts and guitar riffs so powerful they’d be able to demolish a building by sheer reverberation. This stuff makes your bones ache and your skin go limp as if you were some happy masochist being strapped down and abused. More unadulterated brutality coming out from HHR this year, and it seems as if the friendly wholesome folks over at HHR intend to turn up the heat with each release so that it hazes your taste of the extreme and brands your skin to initiate you into the world of the truly Fucked up and depraved. The welcome is as warm as one would expect from a Catholic inferno for the genuinely wicked, the true heat of Hades burns into your soul as the might of the music mills your physical being into minute specks of micro-organic matter!!!! Obviously this is some seriously brutal and noxious stuff here, addicting and definitely for those that really can take their audio to the extreme. Death heads must here this, so check the band and links out, this is one that’s not to be missed. Bend over and grab ‘em you fucking pussies, this will ram an anti tank weapon up your ass and pull the trigger!!!!!! This stinks of blood, sweat, putrid flesh of the weak and trampled, and the fear of those who were and are not quite ready for the sound of death and desecration, the profane and explicit… squeal piggy squeal!!!!!

For audio samples/info/purchasing: http://prosanctusinferi.hellsheadbangers.com/
For band contact: http://www.myspace.com/prosanctusinferi

Rainbow Bridge - New cassette Label for more of the best in experimental/psychedelic/electronic/shoegaze tunes

Here's one of my newest editions and lucky finds: if you you dig stuff like: Nadja, Methadrone, James Plotkin projects, Aphex Twin, Sonic Youth, Boris, Acid Mothers Temple, Circle, Japanese noise, Beta Lactam Ring records, NY No Wave bands (Suicide, Theoretical Girls, etc.) , Kraut Rock, power electronics and industrial, and many drone and weird doom project fans, you will find much to love on this label. Contact info will be on my links list and MP3 audio will hopefully be available here soon at the top of the home page if i cna get the damn thing to work. More truly underground sounds. Each of these casettes is custom and very rare, but not a ridiculously expenisve bullshit type of rare, so check out the audio and the links out for sure. AWESOME stuff. Here's some of the descriptions to go wiht the pics:

Sensible Nectar/Gorgonized Dorks split c62 - RB-038
This jam-packed cassette presents some of Sensible Nectar's most introspective and creative recordings yet as well as the latest works by the seasoned Gorgonized Dorks from Culver City, CA. With lyrics extremely political in nature, Justin Marc Lloyd of Sensible Nectar manages to drag you up and down the entire spectrum of harsh noise and nauseating psychedelia, complimented by the Dorks' masterpiece of frustrating and face-melting synth and feedback blasts, all the while living up to their reputation for being one of the craziest two-pieces in all the universe. Hand-stamped, black and purple, carefully spray-painted cassettes individually packaged with full-color cut-outs from a 1990's cat book. Each insert is unique and cute as well as disturbing depending on the nature of the photo. Lyrics and track information inside. Limited to 39.

Luminous/The Human Excuse/Sensible Nectar/Inappropriate King Live/Redroot split - CD - RB-036
Somehow, this diverse compilation of folk, noise, harsh noise, power electronics, ambient and drone all flows together flawlessly like a nonsensical, mixed-media collage. Enjoy the dirty murmur of the UK's Luminous (Tim Chaplin), the drone-meets-noise creations of Sensible nectar, the industrial noise of Inappropriate King Live, and finally the innocent, young, dream-pop folk of Redroot and The Human Exucse all in one spray painted, hand-numbered, hand-assembled, hand-stamped package with full color artwork inside. Limited to 35.

Spitting Ladyladys/Bacteria Earth - split CD - RB-034
Two swedish fellows under the moniker "Spitting Ladyladys" travel long, long light-years to bring you their intergalactic, foolish synth-noise science experiments. Following up is Bacteria Earth, providing you dense, depressing, doomsday drones that will drive you into oblivion. Imagine being sexually abducted by highly unintelligent, playful aliens then being dropped back on Earth in the unsafe zone of the set of 28 Weeks Later. Cardstock & paper packaging, numbered with inserts. Limited to 35.

Sensible Nectar/Spermwhales - split cassette (c62) - RB032
Sensible Nectar sets the stage for schizophrenic, chaotic noise alongside tortured, heavily-effected screams about self-loathing and terrible memory with occasional fantastic illusions and trances. Spermwhales take over all trance responsibilities on side B and send you into a half-hour long, nearly unconscious opus appropriately named "Comatose." Numbered, painted and bagged with artwork & goodies. Limited to 50.

The Royal Arch Blaspheme – S/T (Hells Headbangers Records, 2010)

Another obliterating and sonically devastating perverted piece of black metal audio coming our way, The Royal Arch Blaspheme unleash their occultist ideologies and sadistic noise on our equally depraved minds and ears through this album of purely disturbing and dense USBM. I just got this one in from HHR this morning and noting that it was the debut and featuring members of Profanatica and Krieg I sort of knew what horrors lay within and like a desperate fiend for the perverse and deranged I had to mainline this bastard ASAP, and what a Fucking rush this is. I’m still in the process of reviewing the recent Profanatica, but this gets to be my first priority as it is the newest audio high that I’m buzzed on currently. If the two names dropped already haven’t got you scrambling to slit your throat with this project, then hopefully the description coming will convince you to indulge and hand over your will power and submit to the true distorted monstrosity contained within this release.

The guitars are raw, and the riffs shred, but not like a clean and fresh cut, it’s more like a rusted jigsaw blade in need of lubing, it’s slow and blunt, the incisions are abysmally deep and jerk and rip through your flesh and into the bone as it is angry and out-of-control. This band wants to rip through the grain of your subconscious, but not with any sort of mercy, it’s intended to be a painful and slow ordeal. The guitar riffs buzz like a serial killers torture tool room being started up to prep the tools for your next taste of his sadistic fantasy, the grinders warm up to sharpen the next tool of the trade, the screeching of the blade on the surface as the sparks splatter in all directions as will your blood. This whole album reeks of elements of Krieg, Deathspell Omega, Funeral Mist, in terms of heathenish and bludgeoning aggression, it’s a continual Hell ride of whirlwind percussive artillery and buzz saw guitar, but not without a taste of Hellhammer, Darkthrone or Venom. True palpitations of the heartbeat of hell are heard throughout this album and the grueling and maniacal rants of diabolical ideals breathe its soul into it. A true inferno of unholy ritualistic bliss, and a must for the depraved and damned!!!!! This is absolute audio profanity and causes me to relapse to Kult Ov Azazel’s “Destroying the Sacred” for pure and unadulterated hatred and blasphemy. This will blow your head clean off!!!!!

For info/purchasing/ and audio samples: http://theroyalarchblaspheme.hellsheadbangers.com/

In Silentio Noctis - Through Fragments of Christianity

When it comes to the more Goth/Pagan metal I really approach with caution, some if it is awesome and well done, but others are way too overdone and Baroque and I want to puke after the first few skims through the album. None of that is an issue with this release, somehow this band manages to capture the grandiose and symphonic intensity of barbarian times and the Pagan spirit . Honestly, imagine Arcturus' "Sideshow Symphonies" but with Armi Paivinen's female voice converting it into a satanic and epic pagan ritual which she is conducting to ward off the worthless and ignorant Judeo-Christian/modern western culture.

Although classical in many ways, not to mention sophisticated, this band manages to not only fully indulge in the true spirit of the Left-hand Path, but creates the genuine feel of the neo-folk pagan vibe thatyou can actually feel radiating throughout this album. All that and yet this is still an agressive black metal band without compromise. Without the cover art and song titles it isn't clear that this is a Satanic album, black and ethereal at heart, but it IS and a true pagan masterpiece to add. No overdramatic emotional passages, way overdone folk and classical parts that water this down, no yelling "Satan" or his many other names in bloodcurdling screams, but this music is absolutely beautiful and skillfully done. For those that think that only the raw, basic, ugly and grim create Satanic metal, you have no fucking clue what Satanism is, Paganism, or real metal so pull your heads out of your asses, pick this album up and find out what the true occult sounds like.Highly recommended for fans of: Arcturus, Hellveto, Summoning, Windir, Falkenbach, later Bathory, Ataraxia, and also new comers featured on my site like UK based Ebonilumini. Listening to this will catapult you back to the glorious days of the past when rituals, magic, war, feast, and ale ruled as did the strong. By the way, I like the raw,ugly, grim stuff too...

For band info: http://www.insilentionoctis.com/
For audio samples and contact: http://www.myspace.com/insilentionoctis

War Ethic/Irons Split - Into the Abyss

Another cutthroat and monstrous release from the little DIY label Frequency 13…will the madness even end? Well hopefully not, although this stuff is massive enough in decibels and sheer strength to be audibly equivalent to a nuclear holocaust. Yes…Goddamn it… I’m still on my raw crust/proto black/early DM kick and so here’s another slam-dunk for the brutal and massively heavy!!!!!!!

This album here is a split between two artists, War Ethic and Irons, both of which embrace the ideals of the old tradition of the “Too Loud…Too Bad” mentality, but don’t expect mediocre noise and crap here, chances are if you’re reading this you’re here for a reason and that reason is that you like it loud, heavy, intense, brutal, bashing, smashing, etc.

The War Ethic contribution is 4 songs of pure Hellhammer, Discharge, Deviated Instinct, Autopsy, annihilating audio. Blitzkrieg drums and hollow sounding percussion, ultra low-end sagging 3 ton Gorillas ass tuning on some thunderous riffs, chaotic cymbal crashes and snare licks ala Fenriz ( Darkthrone ), honestly this is an instro. “Hails” back to the heyday of Grind/Death/ and proto-Black Metal, the true sound of ferocity and heaviness in the anarchist, yet skilled production of extreme audio. Take the second track, “ Negative Apex”, the sound can be compared to a ginormous metal structure/statue that suddenly picks it’s ass up and begins to move along, slowly creaking, clanking, clunking, as it moves on and undoubtedly crushes everything along it’s path into by sheer mass. If anyone so far is saying “Fuck Yeah!!!!” then check this out for sure, it’ll level you in amazement.

The next track, “ Goat Gas Mass” is another piece of crust/proto-Black Metal warp speed animosity flying towards you by way of warp speed guitar shreds and riffs. The name alone is awesome, and none likes a good fart/turd joke than me, and this is definitely one massive low-end blast for sure. This track stands out a bit from the others in that it incorporates some almost distorted doom elements in the slower parts, but never lets go of the full-fledged blunt force trauma it is applying to those standing in it’s wake. This is total drunken, anarchy, noise, slamming, crashing, smashing everything in existence into dust and then even further into oblivion type of music. Just when began to worry that sophistication and imitation were breeding out the true ”Fuck You” and “Eat Shit” mentality and sound in heavy music, these bastards come along and bring back the days of “Bigger...Louder…Faster…More!!!!!”.
I can safely say that Mick Harris, James Plotkin, Justin Broderick are a huge influence here, whether intentional or not by the artists, it’s present and unmistakable.


The two tracks contributed by Irons are equally as awesome and welcome here, but play more into a raw and distorted instro. Doom feel than the chaotic Crust/DM/Grind feel of War Ethic. There’s a sludgy and hard-hitting barrage of riffs and percussion with these last 2 tracks that are similar to the Pre-Electric Wizard projects, Coffins, some Ramesses even. As with most good stuff, it’s hard to draw exact comparisons to anything here, but this will pound your head in through sheer power and volume. Awesome…Awesome…Awesome stuff!!!!!! Unfortunately this band is now defunct, but it’s still a valid and incredible release worth obtaining, these guys are now working on their solo efforts Karaoke Vocal Eliminator and Ice Bound Majesty. Dave has most his releases available from his distro as well as many other labels and awesome artists so check him out at the link below for Rhesus distro. Also check out Aquarius Records and Crucial Blast, they sell FREQ 13 releases as well. As usual, support true indie and the underground, without support things will continue to die off in favor of crap and nothing worthwhile will get recognized until someone releases it 20 years later after the fact.


For more info/purchasing: http://rhesusdistro.blogspot.com/
For Audio check out: http://www.myspace.com/warethic

Vomitor - Devils Poison (Hell's Headbangers release)

Another recent addition to the pile of classic black/thrash taking us back to days of early Bathory,Celtic Frost, Hellhammer, throw in some Kreator and Sodom and even some crust like Deviated Instinct and that's about what you have hear in terms of sound and atmosphere. Raw, brutal, blazing, blistering, pulverizing, audio annihilation!!!!!! The use of echo effect on the vocals, on "Neutron Hammer" screams as much early Tom G. Warrior as it does the lyrics. The guitar is equally distorted and swirling around in a frenzy, but the skill level is clearly displayed. Where the the prior influences mentioned were learning to play as they went along these guys already can, so they not only capture the right vibe and sound, but they can run circles around it as well, creating one of the perfect fusions of "bare-bones" and "skull bashing" style and sound with thrash technicality to yield a massive head trauma from the sheer noise and energy emerging from this band.

As with many really great labels and bands of recent creation, or just recent growth to the point of being more noticeable, there is a definite drive to recapture the genre defining sounds and elements of the classic days, but push things forward a bit as well. Even on tracks like "Caligula", this band manages to blend some elements of doom into the riffs and tempo, so there really isn't anything left out here.

On the surface, as with most things that aren't the weird and absolutely experimental shit (that I really dig as well), this won't appear to break any new ground, and half of that doesn't either these days, but to anyone with a true ear to the ealry underground and knowledge of metal roots, this indeed "DOES", it's just not up front and in your face like the music is. This stuff will kick some ass and rip some new asssholes, so tread with caution, you might temporarily retire some of your classics in place of this because this captures them all into one album.

For more info on the band and audio check out: http://www.myspace.com/thevomitor
and also: www.hellsheadbangers.com for audio samples and info.

Disfigured Dead - Visions of Death (Hells Headbangers Records)

If anyone is unfamiliar with this label and is reading this... then this is your lucky day and welcome to one of the premier labels of the heavy underground. I lucked out and just joined forces with them for my show and reviews and all that I can say is that they have a mercenary of killer titles being released currently, this being one of them. Recently I've been on this old school Death metal kick, started with switching out my usual Death albums for "Scream Bloody Gore" and my Coffins catalog and just went apeshit for the last 3 weeks, including Crust stuff, so where does this album come into the picture? It's absolutely a "Hails" back to early '90's late '80's Death metal ala "Scream Bloody Gore", Malevolent Creation, the Gothenburg sound, some Celtic Frost in spots as well.

The honest sound of Sniveling pukes with attitude spewing out gut-wrenching lyrics over well-crafted riffs and melody. This isn't anywhere near as raw as the stuff it's compared too, which helps because evolution of sound and style has occurred since, but thankfully the attitude is just as much present as before so it remains "true" to it's roots. If you miss the days of full-on garage metal, all the guts, glory, and juvenile F.U. rebellion that we all love and hopefully still live up to...the tapes, bootlegs, scrambling to dub a band in a basement and pass it out at shows days, this band will take you back, but in style. The lyrics are clearly audible, and as ugly as we could hope for, but have a sense of social/political critique infused as if to be an unmistakable middle finger to P.C. society. This stuff is pure old school with a sense of maturity, which I hate to use in a metal review, but it doesn't weaken the aggression or sure gore here, so dig in and be dug into as well by the chainsaw riffs and bludgeoning rhythms. This will split your head clean open upon first listen and you will fester in joyous agony as it rips through you continually like Leatherface and his chainsaw, shredding, gnawing and grinding. Torture of the best kind for us sick fucks that thrive on it!!!!!!

Labyrinthine - Evoking the Multiverse (Self Release)

This band is one of the reasons that I continue doing this stuff, another indie self-sufficient artist that creates the most intricate and yet simple atmospheres of symphonic black metal. These guys found me and sent me some tracks for the show while waiting on the pressing to finish on this album to send out, the tracks were incredible and the album as a whole is worth the short wait. I must say it again, that the Satanic themes of nihilism are not only cliche, but are mainly spouted by assholes who know nothing of anything that is Left-Hand path, philosophical, intelligent or even legit, they just clone themselves after an image and shoot their mouths off when in reality they are actually just exercising their sphincter muscles and spouting out feces. Maybe I'm just bitter, but actually it's just that I get sick of bullshit, I fight against it, yet am continually surrounded by it and it's usually the ones preaching to be against it that are the worst offenders and piss me off the most. Music and art is not a pissing contest about image, it's about real feelings, thoughts and actions, and as said in reviews of recent albums by bands such as Kult Ov Azazel and Brown Jenkins, there are bands staying within their realm but doing genuine rebellious music and saluting originality and intelligence. So here's another band along similar lines in going it their own way, finding their own inspiration and doing it on their own terms.

As a science student of 11 years and counting, I've taken my share of math and physics courses and read some insane and abstract stuff on my own, and always wondered why there was so much material there for nihilistic and chaotic themes and yet no one seemed to be using it, until now. The band name alone, plus the cover art and title, shows an interest in the underyings of the universe, the fact that it is continually heading naturally toward disorder, the crazy mysteries contained within, and the mind fuck of debating it all. I had several people tell me that the only way quantum physics and string theory stuff makes sense is if you smoke a joint or drop some LSD and then sit down to work at it, that way you lose the normal sense of reality and "sense" , and can explore the universe by a completely different and natural means.

The actual music here is symphonic,atmospheric black metal, similar to Velvet Cacoon and Wolves in the Throne Room, although a bit more spacey aura as if floating through the vast dimensions of the universe , or that of having on an outer body experience. There are a lot of similarities to other reknowned artists, but this one-man project like Gravsahl, Hellveto, and many other has something that makes it unique as its own. Maybe it doesn't break new ground in sound, but it does expand the listening experience a bit as you traverse through the 6 tracks on the album. For those looking for a genuine listening experience, to be experienced in the dark, or in your mind as you wander through the strangeness of your own daily life and observe the oddities and seemingly empty and almost pointless existence of humans, this is one to check out. It may not be bludgeining and brutal, but is deeply cryptic in its own way and completely awesome. One of my recent top picks.

Namazu Dantai - Nocturnal Veils (No Visible Scars label release)

Another brilliant addition to the world of Power Electronics, this is some uneasy listening, apocalyptic and esoteric as well, but amidst the turmoil also comes some deserted and unperturbed textures of a cratered and barren surface completely deviod of life aside from your own. The feel of a storm, complete with thunder and the pandemic of the down pour of rain told through audio. The use of tape loops and real hands on recording and production is present here, not to mention a completely intense and equally distinct atmosphere. There are many layers to this abyss of electronic sounds, each one delicately planned and placed, with surgeons precision in each cut made into the compositions, each type of instrument/effect/sample specially located to create the right incision into the conscious and subconscious reality of the listener. This is the type of stuff that doesn't need, but could very well contain hidden messages to warp your mind and slowly turn you into a true psychotic. A subliminal, explicit, and well crafted audio journey into the darkest cavities of your mind and soul, the genuine experience of meeting your evil side and facing it, but ultimately losing to it as you begin to slice through your skin with the blade-like object closest in reach. The authentic feel of losing yourself into a schizophrenic mind set where senses and perceptions are confused, some completely lost, as you dangle over the edge of sanity and want to let go and plummet, but can't yet.

I really respect artists like this one, whose name I will leave out for a sense of anonymity, who are true to what they believe and speak. No hypocrisy here, no elitist shit, no bullshit, just honest Fuck you, humankind is worthless overall. I'm becoming more and more pissed off at labels and crap, NVS and anything supported on this site is against bullshit, the real DIY and independent spirit lives on!!!!!!!

Subklinik - Musik For Dekomposition (NVS Label Release)

As a long time veteran of the electronic/harsh music scene, this is the type of shit that got me out of metal as a 14 year old delinquent with stuff like:Cabaret Voltaire, Skinny Puppy, Frontline Assembly, Cubanate, and so many more, but that's not even scratching the surface here. Where many artists in the power noise/post industrial arena make purely apocalyptical and chaotic sound experiences, this artist choses to give you the precursor to chaos, the sensation of the end approaching and the moments leading up to the climax, and the desolate feeling of the aftermath. There's some great pulse of a beat running behind this music in the track "Flesh Dekomposition" that gives it the build up and feeling of movement toward the edge, but never pushing you over. The bleak, yet even soothing, hums of electronics surround the listener as one feels as though the worst is over and they are now picking up the pieces and hoping to move on, which is where most of the true horror begins.

There is something haunting and surreal about this music, it's very simple, but well done, as if the artist wants to entrance you into the feeling of being a captive by some psychopath, held bound in a damp and filth ridden cell, and hearing the footsteps of the captor outside the door pacing as you anticipate the next act of torture. The dripping of the wet runoff, the sweat, the darkness, horrid stench of mildew and rusted metal, the clanks of the chains as you writhe with fear, and that Goddamn humming of something in the distance... possibly an electric shortage in the works, or the sound of the next tool to be tested on you being sharpened.

Yes, that's some sick and fucked up stuff right there, but that's my interpretation of it and this is extreme music here so it fits. If you fear themes of death, disorder, chaos, torture, distress, abandonement of hope, you wouldn't be reading this anyway I'm sure, but if this is your first time don't be afraid it's a truly natural and animalistic sensation. Not an experience for the weak and timid, this is the sound of true anticipation of doom and inevitable pain on the horizon.

No Visible Scars is a true DIY label specializing in the real and intense audio experience, and one to absolutely check out if you are into this stuff or would like to be introduced. This is real atmosphere created here, audio art, and sensation, the true measure of the "extreme" and "Cult", "Grim", so fuck all the elitist shit that claims to be such by producing mediocre dribble, this stuff here and anything featured on my site is the real shit folks complete with the smells and foul taste in your mouth if you're not ready for it. Really disturbing and gruesome, yet exquisite stuff.

Du Hexen Hase - S/T (Debacle Records)

As this is a DIY and extreme/obscure and independent music site I am always beyond stoked to be able to review stuff like this one." What the hell is this stuff ? ", is the type of response this stuff will trigger when played to untrained ears, but honestly even I can't answer that well enough except to say that it's some sort of dark psychedelic distortion experiment.

Several things come to mind while listening to this : Nurse With Wound, the tape loops and sampled/jarbled feel of the effects; Acid Mothers Temple with their more experimental soundventures; Circle, for the eccentricity and mixture of musical elements; James Plotkin and his billions of musical projects; maybe some Einsturzende Neubauten; Faust; Guru Guru...the list could go on forever. There's so much ingenuity and atmosphere within this 3 track album, that it's hard to say that it's anything but trippy and a must for anyone into anything just mentioned. This would also go over really well for the drone heads into Sunn, the Southern Lord catalog, older Earth, and all of those instro/guitar/effect projects, Bass Communion, throw in some Aphex Twin even. This is a crazy concoction of some guys running amok with effects, musical equipment, LSD, and some massive THC buzz. Definitely like old kraut/weird stuff, which is one of the main reasons that I dig it. Cool, trippy, crazy, unusual audio. If you truly dig the trippy, you must hear this Seattle based group. Fans of Japanese experimental from the 70's up until now will really enjoy this one (AMT,Brush, Circle Triangle Square, Marble Sheep, Green Milk From the Planet Orange,etc. ).



http://www.myspace.com/duhexenhase

The Dead White - Endless Mess (Debacle Records release)

As a music fanatic, especially of the unique and independent variety that create real soundscapes and stay true to the art of underground music, this artist was exactly what I was looking for and am able to find thanks to indie/DIY labels like Debacle, NVS, and Frequency 13. Running my own DIY thing, even with backing of great known artists, look at the reviews, and affiliations with sites like Hellridemusic.com, it's still an absolute bitch to get labels to work with you, even though it's free advertising for those pricks and many claim to be DIY, "Cult", "underground", "indie" and all the other bullshit terms associated with stuff that falls flat and is no where near what it claims to be. Due to artists like this and some of those just mentioned, it makes it worthwhile to keep it going.

To describe this album would be to say that it lies somewhere between Krautrock (the more spacey and komische), ambient, decent showgaze and minimal electronic (no beats). Maybe imagine Boards of Canada in their more soundscape and less groovy tracks, some Aphex Twin (early years) ambient, Robert Rich, Biosphere, all combined. This music evokes the feel of a mellow morning, the sun coming up, a great filtered synth describing the blowing of a wind through the trees, the loops continuously hypnotizing you deeper into a trance as the first track is about 14 minutes in and then suddenly a distorted guitar comes into the mix and the loops speed up...then it just shuts off. It starts back up almost like it's ignition won't start completely and it skips,then returns fully with a bit darker ambient feel, but also a lot like Boris on their shoegaze album Flood. There's a certain sense of true DIY here, as if it's almost a live recording done all in one shot and is completely improvised and the artist can really use effects and make it all come together... true ambient genius here, and that's only describing the first of two long tracks.

The second is very much an experimental attempt gone right, this one is very ambient again until it reaches halfway, then it comes in full force with screeching feedback and distorted guitar, that makes me want to jump up and scream Boris, or think of some weird black metal/instro/crazy project. This stuff here proves that true artists are still in existence, true underground and spontaneous music is being made, and that ambient is anything but boring, no drone here, but drone heads would dig this shit for sure. Check out and support real music, support real labels with real artists that they actually support, not bullshit them and the rest of us. All of these cdrs are hand numbered and limited, I love the DIY packaging even, but it's well done DIY and almost feels like some weird vinyl find somewhere in a dusty crate with only a white label and clear slipcover.


http://www.myspace.com/debaclerecords

Brown Jenkins - Death Obsession

One more nail in the coffin of crappy black metal recordings claiming to be reminiscent of the old Burzum days of Norge, where true raw power and lo-fi was original and emotive, but now has been cliched and reduced to basement recordings of vocals sounding like the vocalists gonads are attahced to a car battery by jumper cables and the ignition is being turned on and off at random as the guitars and drum machine pound pathetically behind it all. This stuff is definitely polished for something very basic and simple done my a single man and his inspiration to do so. Brown Jenkins has been making some seismic waves in the underground for a while now and came to me of all people so I bought this album from him directly and am in total agreement with the general opinions of the mans work.

Although basic and stripped down, it really has a true complexity to it, a real sense of song structure, emotion, and rhythm. Nothing here is redundant or stale, for an album centered on bleak and grim music this album has a ton of life within it. Several bands responded to me recently about my reviews and said that I was genuine and that obviously took the time to listen to the stuff that I reviewed, and I did so here as well. For all those black metal haters that claim it to be unsophisticated dribble obviuosly haven't heard this and half the stuff that I'm really into. Hopefully artists/bands like this will turn the right heads and convert some over.

Take the track "Ashes in Her Mouth", the vocals are completely reminiscent of the deep death metal growl, but so well executed that they actually sound as though they are a harsh wind blowing across a snowy plain or through cold and stark forest. There is actually some melody amidst the fuzz, time changes, and actual dynamics in this song alone, but also the entire album. NOTHING on here is repetitive in a boring and lack of creative effort way, it's all solid and another album freezing with the chill of a snowy arctic desert.

There's a true hopelessness and isolated feel here, abysmal, straight from the catacombs. The vocals really add so much to this project, they have a more atmopsheric feel and aren't hidden behind the mix as they are in lots of the more esoteric sounding black metal stuff (which I'm a huge fan of as well). A more sophisticated version of old Xasthur days, with some elements of Wolves in the Throne Room/Velvet Cacoon/Nadja, but stands apart as it's own. There is a unique sound and feel here that proves yet again that this music is just as valid and worthy as any other. Metal and extreme/underground music is about individuality and freedom of expression, the true art of expression, and is constantly being bulldozed over by mediocre crap that claims to be what it's not and "True", "Cult",etc. I'm real, legit, speak my mind, never follow trends and truly understand the idea of being an "individual" and that's why I like what I do, get a ton of shit for doing so, and put the effort in for those of you who are like minded. Raise your middle fingers high and salute the real shit, here's some more of it coming your way.

I'd also recommend highly: Benighted Leams, Dormant, Finnr's Cane, Ebonillumini, Old Corpse Road, Gravsahl

Check this man out at: http://www.myspace.com/brownjenkins13
and (I'm hesitant to put labels here because they have been pissing me off as of late, but that's a whole other pile of shit to avoid stepping in for now) : http://moribundcult.com/

Bloodthirst - Sanctity denied

Another blistering album of war metal just seething with fury and hate, this is some seriously fast and massively aggressive metal, a steam engine of malevolence and sadism heading your way. Thrash heads take note.... this is true headbanger fuel of the highest octane rating!!!!! An audio recipe of Kreator and Funeral Mist hacked to bits and blended with shreds of with some Kult ov Azazel, a pinch of the blood of Bathory, simmered in Blood Feast and a drop or two of the oil of Bestial Mockery and heated over the flames of hell. The old days of speed, technicality and incredible aggression are returning with this Polish bird of prey, pillaging the posers and blitzkrieging the pathetic.

Of all the stuff that comes my way, especially as of late with my collection mainly consisting of classic and rare death metal and crust, this one proved yet again that something wicked this way comes. You old school thrash/metal heads like myself will gladly lose yours in the blades of this shredding machine of metal. A triumph to be heard by another band that manages to create the sounds of the glory days and spew it out with just a slightly different stench of rotting bowels and necrolust. If anything here has triggered your senses then PICK THIS FUCKING THING UP!!!!!!!!

www.bloodthirst.pl

Ebonillumini - The Ebon Channel

The sound of this London band is yet another one too hard to put in words, but so incredibly intricate, gloomy, mysterious, and definitely fitting in somewhere between pagan/atmospheric black metal, neo-folk, ethereal, and Siouxsie and the Banshees. The vocals remind me instantly of the best Siouxsie moments ( for me: "Blow the House Down" and "Cities in Dust"), and some Ataraxia as well, The Maiden Marshall has the perfect voice to pull off the esoteric and cryptic sound without being too operatic and over the top. This band fits well into the more ethereal Christian Death era, Cocteau Twins, Nythra, Nekyia, Dead Can Dance (first album) sort of sound... symphonic, acoustic, woeful, perplexing and magnetic for sure...also runs parallel to the dark prog Doom acts from Italy like Paul Chain, THC Witchfield, The Black, Akron... I'd even throw in some Arcturus as well.

"Jung" starts out like a Raison D'Etre, Desiderii Marginis, Atrium Carceri track, some field recordings of old doors creaking and slamming as someone walks down a hollow hall with soft spoken words of dark poetry behind the atmosphere as it flows throughout the song. Chimes ring and suddenly the mood switches to beautiful and the feel of light shining through begins as the vocals and acoustic passages turn into soft ethereal sounds.The feel of moving amongst the shadows is felt deeply throughout.

"Wax Tribe" stets out as an atmospheric Black Metal track with male vocals and a sound similar to Carrion Wraith/Brown Jenkins/Velvet Cacoon, then it quiets down for a second and the acoustic guitar and goth/folk feel comes back. The track moves smoothly between the two styles giving it the ideal mood, but also shows the superior skill and variation of this band.

This is highly recommended in general, but esepcially if you like the sounds of : Caina, Alcest, Cocteau Twins, Altar of Plagues, Lifelover, Blut Aus Nord, Hellveto, Wolves in the Throne Room, Carrion Wraith, and the many mentioned artists above. The fusion of so many dark and moody elements in this album surpass most descriptions that are substituting for the experience itself, so simply put ... it's an experience to be had. Yet another essential release for the black/folk/ambient/martial genres and for those of us out there looking for true atmosphere of the occult and an almost theatrical Victorian feel.

Check them out at: http://www.myspace.com/ebonillumini
they appear to still be unsigned which is unbelievable.

Finnr's Cane - Wanderlust

How to describe these guys for this review...now that's a bit of a challenge, I can compare them to Velvet Cacoon, Wolves in the Throne Room, Nadja, Hellveto, Summoning and so many others and still be either too broad or too narrow in comparison. If I add in comparisons to: Ataraxia, Olen'K, Rasion D'Etre, Allerseelen... I might be getting closer, but when music fits in so well with many styles but also strecthes and crosses those boundaries it becomes difficult to really explain in words.

This is the debut album from this Toronto group, and it's definitely a solid album that stands with others in the atmopsheric/pagan/shoe-gaze/symphonic black metal genre, but also treads deeply into the neo-folk/martial/neo-classical sector too. Mainly an instrumental album with the sparse vocals hidden behind the mix where they become more of a blur and part of the overall atmosphere then actual vocals.

This is definitely forest music, green lush forests full of moss and fungus, screams of wildlife passing through the dense mass of trees, and the sense of a secret world of elves and trolls, demons and spirits. Yet another album for the quiet cold night spent reading as a storm passes through or just before dawn. This album also would serve well as a soundtrack to a weird dream or even as an alternative soundtrack to an old silent horror film. You get the grandiose atmosphere and dynamics of the symphonic orchestra soundtrack, but the true chill of the cold and damp, somewhat lonely, somewhat desperate feel of a climactic moment between villain and hero, living versus the dead, and the thrilling confusion as to which side you stand on. True Gothic cinema, Walpurgisnacht, morbid yet romantic storyline and that about sums it up...ethereal, surreal, epic.

Fused with nature sounds of winds blowing through mountains and acoustic passages that almost massage the distorted riffs of guitar whilst clean, almost folk-like vocals pass through the fog. The drums sound almost tribal and you can feel and almost experience the ritual as the music flows. The album is truly beautiful and completely engulfing, the true sounds of the old religion and ways of the past cry out through this music. Fans of acts on the following labels will definitely enjoy this: Soleil Moon, Cold Spring, Ahnstern, Old Europa Cafe, Tesco and the like.