Ancestors- Ancestors II

No Site
Release Date:2009, April 14th
Label: Youth Attack
Release Type: EP; 7" white vinyl limited to 333, Cassette
Genre: Black Metal

Mark McCoy's enigmatic feedback drenched and punk ridden black metal project Ancestors strikes back with just over eleven minutes of harsher-than-thou music. For those of you unaccustomed to Mark McCoy he's the dude behind Youth Attack Records, Charles Bronson, Das Oath, etc and has more of a punk grounding when it comes to music (I even hear he's moved into visual art too, nowadays). That said, none of this is included in the Ancestors package. Info is rare and hard to come by for this band, owning the actual EP offers no help, except for eerie, but ultimately nice packaging and a thick white disc that appreciates the value.

Ancestor's style is defiantly an acquired taste. The guitar unleashes a fury of feedback and static throughout the whole record playing what sounds like sped up punk riffs. The frantic howls and drums are set against a permanent wash of static that weaves in and out of the music. While the production sounds like it's piss poor, it's obviously intentional and trying to capture that vibe that made the LLN so special (or horrible). Walking that line between punk and black metal like his American contemporaries Bone Awl, Ancestors strays from the stagnate and hypnotic virtues that seems to be Bone Awl's game and offers plenty of variation within each song.

In all honesty, each song sounds pretty spontaneous and like some sort of self satisfaction for Mr. McCoy. The songs are enjoyable, but they don't carry the feeling that serious and long term thought were put into them. If not listening too closely, the two songs can feel like many more shorter songs simply smashed or segmented together. Overall the music is harsh and bombastic, but there are instances of melody and some sense of relief (around the end of the second track is a good example). But be ready for high energy, loud, and painful as hell music.

I like this EP, and Ancestors is certainly gaining popularity in the underground, just try to find the first EP for a fair price. A cool direction to take black metal in, and a very cool and mysterious vibe to put out. Hopefully a more cohesive full length is in the works.

Buy here
Listen here (Great blog by the way, be sure to check it often)
-F

Infernal Stronghold/GATT- Pests

Official Sites:GATT----Infernal Stronghold
Released: February 2009
Label: Metalwar/Bullshit Propaganda
Release Type: 7" Split limited 500
Genres: Black Metal/Crust/Death Metal/Thrash Metal

Being just one of the goodies I picked up from the awesome Repulsion show, Pests, is a butting of heads between Philly's own Infernal Stronghold and GATT of Indonesia. What drew me to this release immediately was the beautiful packaging. The jacket is covered in beautiful gold detail via silkscreen and the inside is the same. There's writing galore and plenty to keep you intrigued and interested. If the pretty packaging wasn't enough, there's two patches included, much in the same style (with the dark gold print it's pretty hard to tell what's going on in the patches, but who cares? they look neat). Anyway, before even listening I was won over by the amount of effort simply put into presentation on both band's behalf.


So never hearing either band I was skeptical, worried that all this packaging was a guise to cover up shitty music; thankfully I was wrong.


Hand scratched into the inner rim of the vinyl one can tell that the first side is Infernal Stronghold's offering. With a cacophonous and hallowed out production, Infernal Stronghold play a very crusty version of black metal. Vocals drenched in reverb and throat blisteringly vicious, they spew lyrical venom in a very punkish attitude (although, from what I can tell there's only one singer, he kinda sounds like the chick from Nausea every now and then). The riffs exemplified jump from punk rumblings to thrashy outbreaks (listen to the second track to see what I'm talking about) all without conflict or any filler. The guitarwork is excellent and catchy. Quickly becoming a favorite, Infernal Stronghold absolutely slay with this thrashy crust meets black metal approach, something I'm a complete sucker for. They even incorporate some neat thrash breaks and blast beats, fan-fucking-tastic.


On side B we get GATT which made me an instant fan in the first 3 seconds. I cant really describe how awesome it is, but there's brief feedback then this slimy, throaty, "bleh!" (only thing close to it I can think of are some of Belphegor(AUT)'s blehs) that unleashes a really heavy thrash riff. If i had to finger them, I'd call GATT crusty death metal, similar to Hellshcok (although a hellauva lot better). Plenty of tempo changes, deep throaty vocals and downtuned thrashy riffs amidst blast beats, midpaced stomps and d-beats keeps the momentum flowing for GATT's side. The vocals are spot on, mid-ranged rasps, deep bellows, and high-pitched screeches, really ace. Each song is composed excellently and has enough variation to keep you pounding your fist but never allowing you to get lost, bored, or confused. I'm a big fan simply with this release alone. Crusty and heavy as hell, GATT absolutely fucking slay here.


This shit's cheap enough, defiantly buy it and support two bands who actually kick ass and seem to put a lot of effort into their music. Buy here

-F

Csorna - Black Horizons

Csorna Myspace
Release: 2009
Label: Self-Released
Release Type: Demo, Mp3
Genre:Black Metal

Relatively unknown, and maybe that’s how they want it, America’s Csorna offer up absolutely no information in terms of their lineup, image, or product. There’s no physical manifestation at the moment to confirm this band’s actual existence, all that exists are two demos in mp3 format with song titles and album art. The band’s myspace features no information, nor does it allude to any. When it all boils down to it, it doesn’t really matter.

Csorna’s Black Horizons blurs by quickly in a storm of static, wails, drums, and surprisingly melodic guitars. Playing a style of black metal that flirts with punk, the d-beat region, Csorna exemplifies competent and promising bedroom black metal. To unaccustomed ears, the permanent hiss of Csorna’s guitars that cuts through the foreboding intro track of ambiance could be quite offsetting, but when given time the listener is privileged to hear actual notes, melodies and progressions. The production found on Black Horizons is purposefully raw sounding and establishes mood quite well, yet it also allows everything that needs to be heard by the listener to remain in plain sight. Making comparisons is usually an unfair game, but Csorna seems to run with the school of lo-fi acts like Akitsa, Bone Awl, Vordr and Ancestors, while stepping away from the first two’s obsession with simplicity. There exists enough progressions, rhythm changes and structure so that the music maintains its vital energy and keeps your head banging.

The vocals are buried deep in the background and contribute a throaty and distorted kind of death howl a bit similar to Archgoat. The drums pound away beneath the sea of static allowing only the bass drum and various cymbal crashes to be heard on a consistent basis. Each song contains catchy, yet simple punk styled riffs which often rely upon power chords and predictable transitions. My favorite sections are when the drums break away from the ambiguity of lo-fi blast beats and slam into a powerful sounding punk beat (check out 2:25 in “Passage Through The Depths” and the beginning of “Bellows Of Ancient Souls”).

While the band isn't breaking ground, nor are they pushing boundaries, there's something I really like about them. The combination of death metalish vocals, abstract static of the most lo-fi quality, and the melding of punk and black metal in terms of song writing make this highly enjoyable.

A promising release, one can only hope that this band moves away from the crutch that is Myspace and release physical output. Download both demos here.
-F

ComFail MySpace
Release Date: 2009
Label: Self-released

Release Type: Full-Length

Genre: Grindcore

This is without a doubt one of the better DIY grind albums I have heard, especially coming from a band that is not already established. Anyone familiar with their first release, Perversions Of Guilt, will be greatly (and immediately) impressed with the production. Those unfamiliar with Perversions would never think this was recorded and mixed in a house. HealNoEvil realizes all the potential hidden in the travesty that was the production of Perversions - and the band made no effort to mask their anger at the music industry for doing it to them. Note to Complete Failure - stay pissed!

The band's tone sounds a little lower than standard thrash tuning, so one of the more noticeable benefits in the production comes from the bass. The tone/distortion allows the bass, on one hand, to remain audible, while on the other hand to cover its duties both in adding necessary depth to each song and serving as an all-important backbone. Just to clarify, do not expect 80's crossover basslines - but do expect that added punch of being able to hear what you are feeling.

So, what about the music? Over 12 songs covering 30 minutes they offer up a nice slab of unpretentious, hardcore-influenced grind. For those familiar with the band, the major difference this time around is that Complete Failure sound much more focused as songwriters and musicians throughout. The songs have purpose and are well presented - they are not just blasting to blast or sludging along for the sake of hardcore. As to be expected there is plenty of plodding, dissonant hardcore, plenty of the requisite straightforward grind and their signature full-speed-ahead assaults. What ties this all together is how well they transition from one style of riffing to the next. This is where their focus and comfort kicks in.

For the most part, if a song's length is under 2:30 it will be grind focused. The longer songs start off with (and feature) their dissonant/hardcore influences but also show off their skills in the aforementioned transitioning department. By looking over the playlist you can see how much of it grinds as well as how they spaced everything out. And they did all this in a house... Amazing.

I'm impressed by this effort. There were many moments on Perversions that I enjoyed - and just as many that left wondering if they were going to be another band that turns about- face instead of realizing their potential. Complete Failure came through. I recommend this to any grind head, but especially to fans of "Black Army Jacket" style powerviolence acts, since they will better appreciate the blended genres. Anyone with little to no interest in hardcore should still check this out as it definitely does grind and is also a great alternative to whatever you prefer.

Good luck buying this - there were only 100 limited edition copies made, and those were distributed on a brief tour. But do not fret: you can least listen to all of it in hi-def on their website, here. I cannot imagine they will horde this for long...

Holy Cannibalism - Grinding Blackened Thrash of Death

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/holycannibalismdmbm

Release Date: 2008

Label: Self-Released

Release Type: EP

For all those concerned, I have not died of cancer nor have I fallen off the face of the Earth. I merely suffered from a severe case of laziness and video game-addiction. Still am suffering from both, but at least I'm back posting now. Chainsaw Justice is still alive and kicking. Hide your children.

Anyways, here's my latest review. Enjoy.

+-+-+-+

Grinding Blackened Thrash Of Death is a very apt title. In this 15 minute EP, this Californian duo serves up eight seriously demented slices of metal that take from each of the aforementioned genres.

The basement-recording quality of the production values smears the songs in a glorious mess of barbwire static and noise. Gorehammerithius’ bellows, growls, and shrieks are all drenched in distortion, stripping away what little humanity that was in them to begin with. His maniacal blasting propels the songs at a frenetic pace. Blastbeats, cymbal crashes, and double-bass stampedes, run rampant. The Reaper, other half of the duo, wields the guitar. The tone is slightly lean, but raw and vicious.

With such a damn good production, it’s a shame the songs themselves aren’t as great. Structure-wise and length-wise, there isn’t much to complain about. The songs are longer than the minute-long bursts of noise in grind but slightly shorter than a standard death or thrash offering. Concise and straight-to-the-point while still having development. The drums are perfect. Gorehammerithius bashes his kit with incredible command, power, and speed.

The disappointment here, the only disappointment really, are the riffs. The riffs aren’t sleep-inducing, nothing near that. They’re quite potent with the speaker cranked up to an appropriately antisocial level, but just not memorable enough. There are moments in several of the songs where they almost descend into pure fucking headbanging armageddon, but it just doesn’t quite get there.

“Atomic Storm of Genocide” starts off noisily and furiously, and more than maintains its thrashing speed through its entire 2 and a half minute length, but it just doesn’t hit that perfect riff.

“Operational Horrors” and many of the other tracks (“Consumed By Flames”, “Strangled and Mutilated”) suffers from a similar case. It’s never downright disappointing, but that glorious headbanging moment never comes.

There are, of course, some saving graces. “Rotting Autopsy” locks into a great thrashing riff, riding atop a pummeling stampede of double-bass midsong, but the moment is short lived, as the song clocks in at 54 seconds.

Closer “Richard the Goatworshipper” just teases neck-snapping, back-aching headbanging chaos with the breakdown towards the end (not the E-string wanking kind, but the more general, tempo-change kind, so relax) but the bomb just doesn’t drop.

It’s a shame really. Keeping in mind though that Grinding Thrash of Death is only the band’s second release, I can see good things in the horizon. Even great things, possibly. Sure, Holy Cannibalism probably won’t become legendary, they probably won’t break any new ground, probably won’t be hailed as lyrical or musical geniuses, and probably won’t start a new trend in the underground. What they probably will do though, is put out a new release with more than enough headbanging riffs to shut me up and give me (and whoever else gets their hands on it) neck damage. And that’ll be enough to satisfy me, and many others, I suppose.

I’ll get my hospital fee ready.

Purchase

Hayaino Daisuki- Headbanger's Karaoke Club Dangerous Fire

Tracklist:

1. Into The Throat Of Berserk

2. Haiiro Ikotsu Gakidou

3. Horobit Monogatari

4. AKA

So, here it is, my first-ever review in all its glory. Unedited since the very first time I posted it in the Metal-Archives. I pretty much hate it, and was going to massively edit it before posting it here, but I decided I'd rather give all you Chainsaw Justice readers a chance to mercilessly mock and humiliate me.

Have fun:

Really, you shouldn’t even be reading this review right now. The fact that Jon Chang is in this project gives you a reason to buy it. Everything the man touches somehow becomes musical gold. From his work with Discordance Axis to his newer project Gridlink, I’ve yet to hear a bad album with the Changster on it (I’ve still got a few Discordance Axis splits before I truly have all of the Chang-man’s work, but, meh, close enough).

So, on to the music.

Chang and his mischievous little cohorts have left us a lot to love here. Matsubara (of Mortalized fame) tremolo picks his way through the majority of the songs, and does it with style and speed. The riffs are very catchy and very fast, when he isn’t tremoloing, he’s breaking out some juicy riff or hitting a blazing solo. The drums are well done, Eric Schnee proves that he’s a fast and efficient drummer whose style fits the music quite nicely. Jon Chang’s vocals are great as always, that madman shriek of his is still intact and shrill as ever. He doesn’t use his low grunts though- their absence on both this and the new Gridlink record is a bit disturbing, and a bit of a disappointment. Their occasional inclusion in some of Discordance Axis’ recordings were a real treat, it would be a shame if Chang were to stop using them. But, as always he efficiently delivers a solid vocal performance, one that complements the music quite well and pierces through my speakers like a audile spear. Collectively, the music absolutely rips, Hayaino Daisuki prove their ability to write catchy and fun thrash/grind at absolutely blazing speeds.

The only real problem I have with this record is the production. I’m no audiophile or anything, and can tolerate and enjoy lo-fi production when appropriately used, but the production on this record is sub-par at best. The bass drum is too loud while the guitars are not loud enough, which causes some problems. The constant rumbling of the bass drum renders the guitars near inaudible, making it difficult to discern Matsubara’s succulent riffs. When Schnee stops clanging on his blasted bass drum (which he does for about 98% of the whole record), the guitars come bursting out in full color, and you get to hear small sneak-peeks of how great this record would have been had the production not sucked.

Another small mention: This record is incredibly short. Even for an EP, Headbangers Karaoke Club is extremely brief, clocking in at a mere 14:02. Ultimately though, it isn’t a huge problem, it just leaves you wanting more Hayaino Daisuki to sink your teeth into.

Once you get past the shoddy production, though, you realize that this record truly shines. It’s everything that modern thrash/grind should be: fast, catchy, and fun as hell. Definitely worth a download, at the very least. Hayaino Daisuki released this EP in 2007, so we’ll hopefully get more out of these guys soon.

(Originally written for metal-archives.com)

Huh, that wasn't too bad, it's certainly better than I remember it being.

How was my writing, folks? Feel free to send me either criticisms or praise via comments or e-mail, I appreciate both.

Oh yeah, woohoo first post!

-Gravemarker

Download: http://www.mediafire.com/?jzz2ymtwdzm

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/hayainodaisuki

Purchase:
Amazon

Bonescraper - Demo 2009

Tracklist

1. Hunt For Blood
2. Torturer
3. Instant Death
4. Lurking Insanity

Stop digging, there is nothing deep here. Noktorn's previous projects (Rainfall, Feast of Roses, Septic Tomb) might have been more ambitious, striving to reach some kind of aesthetic or unconcieved atmosphere, but this is exactly what it sounds like upon first listen. It's death metal, very very brutal death metal, with no secret message or deeper meaning. Just death metal, pure and simple.

There is obviously a high amount of Mortician influence here. This demo follows that band's exact same style of writing, with lots of very simple, fast riffs that take no effort to write whatsoever, building up tension and releasing it during the slower, more calculated sections. The faster parts aren't effortless because Noktorn's (or Mortician) is lazy, but because they don't require any effort, and whether or not you spend thirty seconds thinking up a set of notes or spend hours dwelling on it, the end product would be the same. They're there to provide a function, and that is to build up intensity before the slow riffs, and they're not there to be listen to and analysed and appreciated on their own.

Did I mention that the production really goes too far? This is STUPIDLY low. There is so much low end on here that both my laptop and iPod earphones can barely contain it. The bass is just too much and goes beyond being heavy by regular standards and turns everything into sort of wavy floods of sounds that are sure to make your room shake if this is played too loud. The vocals only make things worse (but by worse I mean better), it's believable that Noktorn could have performed the vocals on the Septic Tomb album without pitchshifting, but there's no way in Hell I'm believing it this time. The vocals are insanely low and contribute more to the brute...brutality of this demo. The tremolo parts are even weirder, the chugging sounds almost normal under this much low end, the tremolo riffs just sound strange, with those superlow rumblings split up into mininotes whilst Noktorn murmurs with completely inhuman vocals over the top. The drum machine is a well programmed but super-obvious drum machine like the one used on Catasexual Urge Motivation's 'Encyclopedia of Serial Murders'. It does it's job of holding the beat and is pretty heavy, not interfering at all. Infact whilst listening to this you barely even think about the drum machine, which was probably intentional.

The songwriting is completely dumb on purpose and will appeal only to death metalheads that aren't exceptions to the rule that like death metal for it's sound and aesthetic and not just the fact that there are lots of great songwriters. This demo isn't memorable at all, not one bit, but it's super enjoyable while it's playing, which is most definitely it's purpose. Do you hate Mortician? Jungle Rot? Devourment? Then stay away from this. This is not Demilich worship. This is ugly, raw death metal that does not intend to excel beyond anything other than being death metal. It's about taking the basic elements of death metal and crafting really great songs with them without passing outside the boundaries of death metal by even the smallest step, 'normal' music listeners that don't like death metal will not like this at all, and it has been purposefully crafted in such a way. If you're a fan of death metal then I recommend you check out Bonescraper, this demo is a promising look at what the future holds.

- Colum Hill

(Originally written for Metal Archives)

Download: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=V6KECJL0

Landmine Marathon - Rusted Eyes Awake

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/landminemarathon
Release Date: 2008
Label: Prosthetic Records
Release Type: Full-Length

Now I don't know about you, but I personally think the name Landmine Marathon has got to be one of the badass band names ever, even in the realm of death metal. The image the name conjures up alone is enough to send me into a bloodthirsty, maniacal, morbid glee. Okay maybe that's a bit of an exxageration, but the point is, Landmine Marathon is a pretty sweet band name. And they have one hell of an album cover as well. What a whacky Freakenstein pig-zombie they've got there.

Now it'd suck major donkey balls if Landmine Marathon's music didn't live up their kickass moniker, but fortunately it does. Death metal is the weapon of choice here. Crunching riffs atop pounding drums isn't anything new, no way on God's green on earth, but there's nothing wrong with brutality if it's done like this. Landmine Marathon do a pretty good job of balancing between brutality and melody. There are plenty of straight-up tremolo riffs-and-blasts stuff here as well as headbanging riffs and evil leads. The vocals are no slouch in comparison to the instrumental, and often come into the spotlight, like with "Xenocide" and its fierce vocal hooks. What's more impressive is the fact that these are vocals are delivered by a female and that despite the fact she looks like she's probably the friendliest, most soft-spoken person in the world, she can pull off some of the most throat-lacerating screams to ever shred your ears. Not to capitalize on the fact that their vocalist has an X chromosome, but damn, can she shriek.

Anyways, that will be enough from me. Enjoy the music and the album cover. Those fucking eyes man.

They just keep glaring at you.

Purchase
- Amazon

Hellshock - Only the Dead Know the End of War

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/pdxstenchcore
Release Date: 2003
Label: Yellow Dog Records
Release Type: Full-Length

Now what we have here is a nice slice of apocalyptic crust punk with a heavy dose of thrash riffage. The band name is definitely a nod to good 'ol Hellbastard as well as a clever play on the word "shellshock". The band's moniker definitely fits their music perfectly, which conjures up hellish images of war-torn wastelands, skies blackened by toxic fumes and smoke, filth-ridden trenches, and omnipresent death. A good soundtrack to the endtimes I suppose.

Welcome to Trench Hell

Insect Warfare - Noise Grind Power Death

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/insectwarfare
Release Date: 2009
Label: 625 Thrashcore
Release Type: Full-Length

Insect Warfare's final release, 8 minutes and 56 seconds of vicious, unadulterated noise. Not for the faint of heart and the weak of mind. Need I say any fucking more?

I guess not.

Weapon - Para Bhakti... Salvation

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/theweaponchakra
Release Date: 2008
Label: The Ajna Offensive
Release Type: EP

I've never understand why this was myself, but black metal and solos seem to mutually exclusive phenomenons. Virtually all of the black metal bands I've encountered lack solos of any kind. It still befuddles me to this day. Especially when we have a band like Weapon putting solos into their own brand of black metal so well.

At two songs, Para Bhakti... Salvation is a relatively short affair, although to say it doesn't command your full attention throughout its 14 and a half minutes is very, very wrong. "Archana" sucks you in with its hypnotic and violent whirlpool of pounding blastbeats, crunching tremolo riffs, and satanic vocal incantations. The leads are effortlessly weaved into the song, adding an extra element of melody, but don't detract from the atmosphere whatsoever. "Archana" climaxes with a rousing solo and a wall of pounding double bass.

At this point it is safe to say that Weapon are no slouch when it comes to musicianship. The production has a raw, primitive edge to it yet retains enough clarity for the individual instruments to cut through. The drummer is no one-dimensional blastbeat machine, as he augments the songs with a variety of crashing fills and cymbal crashes. The guitar, is by no means, typical either. There are numerous catchy riffs and leads here, though they are far from being melodic and pretty.

"Para Bhakti... Salvation", the second half of this EP is a slightly different animal. While "Archana" retained a constant, slightly droning, blast-beated rhythm throughout, "Para..." shifts gears ever so slightly. The opening of it could very well be death metal, although there is an undeniable black metal mavolence to it. The song shifts into a slightly "rocking" midtempo swagger about two minutes in, though it could just be me. The song takes a steep dive into blastbeat territory, before it shifts back into the "rocking" riff, albeit backed by driving double-bass this time. The solo here isn't too commanding on its own, though juxtaposed to the rhythm, it adds a sinister and aloof melody. The song ends with an eerie chanted melody and tribal drums, begetting at the great and terrible things that are sure to come from this band.

Highly potent and highly recommended.

Download: http://www.mediafire.com/?yme20imwynz

Purchase

- Full Moon Productions

Ceremony - Violence Violence

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/ceremony
Release Date: 2006
Label: Bridge Nine Records
Release Type: Full-Length

Now in my book, fast and pissed does not usually equate to a band's music being automatically excellent. Things such as dynamics, musicality, emotional expression, and whatnot are often important factors in distinguishing the cream from the crap. Now Ironically enough, Ceremony are fast and pissed if nothing else. And you know what? It doesn't fucking matter one bit. This is white-knuckled hardcore played at ridiculous speeds. Turn this up loud enough and you can practically taste the spit and sweat. I think that should cover it about right so now I'll just let you find out for yourselves the sheer power of this fucker.

Pack your fists full of hate and get ready to take a swing at the world

Purchase:
- Deathwish Inc.
- Amazon
- CD Universe

Burdens - Burdens

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/burdenspa
Release Date: 2008
Label: Unsigned
Release Type: EP

I’ve been on a lovely little hardcore binge lately and Burdens is one of the better bands I’ve discovered in the last week or so. The Cursed-isms are heavy on this release, from the sledgehammer guitar tone to the biting lyrical diatribes and the fierce snarl they are spit out with. “Fit for Swine” opens the EP with a pounding riff roughly equivalent to a dropkick to your gut while “Thunderhawk” swings with a sharp vocal hook backed by a pounding rhythm. "Less and Less” is a minute long fusillade with its fire pointed against the self and closer “Power Trip” rails against the tyrant’s hand with seething rage and climaxes with pounding guitars and venomous spite.

A couple of the songs err when it comes to cutting some great moments short, but that doesn’t cripple the record. These guys still have much time to develop their craft. Overall, Burden's attack has as much wrath and fury as it has hooks and for me, that qualifies for a release worth listening to.

Download:

http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?memnjgmymwm

Converge - No Heroes

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/converge

Release Date: 2006

Label: Epitaph

Release Type: Full-Length

My so-called "better judgment" is saying I should be preparing for my midterm exams that are coming the day after tomorrow but honestly, fuck that. Besides, writing about Converge is heaps more entertaining than trying to memorize the Ideal Gas Laws. Anyhow, I am posting about these guys in celebration of their soon-to-be-released new album and my recent binge into metal's angry half-brother, hardcore. My little expedition into the world of hardcore punk began with this lovely band and now things have come full circle.

I know I'm quite prone to exaggeration but believe me when I say Converge are among the most influential and respected groups in hardcore. This release (and Jane Doe, commonly hailed as their magnum opus) should leave you no reason to doubt that. No Heroes storms out of the gates with the quad-barrelled assault that is "Heartache", "Hellbound", "Sacrifice", and "Vengeance". These songs showcase Converge in excellent form, with Kurt's dissonant guitar runs and Ben 's drumming whirlwind propelling the charge while Jake's trademark snarl at the forefront of the aural assault. "Weight of the World" slows down the breakneck pace, dipping into an atmospheric but unsettling instrumental, before they launch into the nihilistic title track. At this point, this is the Converge we all know and love but "Plagues" takes a turn into doomy riffage and slow, lumbering tempos. Album epic "Grim Heart/Black Rose" clocks in at almost 10 minutes, bringing to mind "Jane Doe", although it culminates in a very chaotic fashion, blasting punk beats and feral vocals riding a wave of crashing guitars.

"Orphaned" is an interesting animal, riding a sharp guitar hook that nonetheless still carves up virgin ears. "Lonewolves", a 2-minute anthem gives us a taste of Jake's "singing" voice before taking back to it's primal bark. "Versus" could be the most melodic track on this album, riding a fairly straightforward rhythm but nonetheless rips. "Trophy Scars" is another excursion into slow-paced apocalyptic atmospherics and "Bare My Teeth" hooks you in with a guitar riff that bleeds nihilistic fury. The album finishes with "To The Lions", a 3 minute barrage of dissonant tremolo picked fury and pounding drums.

Converge was and always will be one of my favorite bands in extreme music, and with any luck, they might become one of your favorites as well.

Find out here.

Purchase:

- Deathwish Inc.

- Amazon

Demolition Hammer - Epidemic of Violence

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/skullfracturingnecrology
Release Date: 1992
Label: Century Media
Release Type: Full-Length

Alright kiddies. Face-ripping thrash is the order of the day and I hereby present you Demolition Hammer's Epidemic of Violence. And believe me, this rips. Except not. For a band packing this many headbanging riffs, this powerful a guitar tone, this much double-bass blast runs, this many blistering Slayer-esque solos, these guys don't shred your face as much they completely fucking cave it in. Yeah, that's about right. These guys are armed to the teeth with riffs, and almost every single one of them will make you headbang like a maniac, provided you aren't afflicted with some disease of the bone which rends you incapable of showing your appreciation for thrash metal in the simplest and most common way. In that case, you should just try and try not to give a fuck about the consequences. This is music best listened to with a bottle of beer in one hand, horns raised high with the other, and your neck and head in constant headbanging motion.

Show your appreciation for this fine headbanging masterpiece by doing some fine masterful headbanging.

Purchase:
- Amazon

Insect Warfare - Endless Execution Thru Violent Restitution (FIRST POST BITCHES!)

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/insectwarfare
Release Date: 2006
Label: 625 Thrashcore
Release Type: EP

As the title says, this is my first post. Whoohoo. Anyways, I figured it was about time to get off my lazy ass and do something worthwhile with my life. What better thing to do than start a blog and upload music right? Technically, this thing's been sitting around for a good month or two already so I should've done something earlier but fuck that, better later than never right? Anyways, enough with my little rant there. Time for some fucking Insect Warfare.
Now I know World Extermination is the record everybody hails as their best, but I'll be damned if their earlier material doesn't have its fair share of gems. This lovely version packs their Gulf Coast Infestation demo, their At War With Grindcore EP, their stuff on their split with Hatred Surge, some Untitled track off their first demo, and one badass cover of Celtic Frost's "Into Crypts of Rays". Fucking awesome if you ask me. Their two covers (the other band they cover is Razor) piss over the originals. Not to say they were bad, but damn does "Into Crypts of Rays" sound better with that gut-rumbling bass and ripping guitar tone and that maniac Rahi practically growling his guts out. "Evolved Into Obliteration" steamrolls over you with its crushing riffs and "Human Slaughterhouse" boasts a neck-snapping thrash riff that descends into furious blasting. You'll also find "Chainsaw Justice" on this album (Yes, that is where I stole this blog's name from), "Hurricane Death" and other assorted lovelies on this release so there is no reason not to check this shit out. Especially when I am providing you it right here.

Enjoy, bitches.