CATACOMBS BENEATH THE FROZEN SEA

Probably my most valued recent acquisition is this new self released promo tape "Frozen To Death" from the mighty Innumerable Forms out of Boston. I would assume that most who are farmiliar with this blog would know about this band, but for those uninformed, this is the solo death metal project from Justin Detore of the Boston hardcore elite (Mind Eraser, No Tolerance, Mental, Rival Mob amongst about a million others). Six tracks in total here, on the A side, three new offerings in a keyboard intro and two totally new, crushing numbers, and on the B, remastered versions of the three songs from the IF 7" EP from a few years back. The new songs here are to be a part of a planned upcoming split release Blessed Offal, also from Boston. Channelling many of the Finnish greats of the early 90's, Detore has gone on record to state that he draws most influence from the group Demigod but I also hear massive similarities to the masterful Convulse. I can't really say anything without sounding like a broken record, this is just pure, crushing Finnish death metal that puts many current genuine long hair bands to shame. Even the reissue of the old tracks are stunning. They suffered for numerous reasons in their first incarnation, with this releases they've been given a whole new, and massively heavy breath of life/death. This was sold at Chaos In Tejas, but I secured this from an online American distro. I have a feeling a few copies may have been distributed around this way.

And the new promo/mix tape from everyone's favourites Rival Mob. "Mob Justice" presents five new songs, a cover and a cool/weird remix thing of "Hardcore For Hardcore" overdubbed with Phil Anselmo live sound clips. The new songs are pretty cool. I've had to gradually ease into them, they weren't immediate bangers to my ears, but with every listen I develop more of an interest. The intro is pretty fucking great, my biggest gripe with the whole thing though is how similar the Paincave recording sounds to the bands last EP. Like almost identical. I kind of expected a slightly different sound maybe. Regardless, this shits all over just about every other band trying this gruff NYHC sound at the moment. From what I can tell this is basically a taster to the new LP the band have due out on Revelation Records before the end of the year. Not sure if these exact tracks will feature on said album or if they will re-record. I grabbed this direct from Rev HQ a few weeks back.

BLOOD PROCESSION

Another release from Ireland's Drainland in the form of another split record, this time a 7" with countrymen Crows. Released by Drainland's previous main man Jamie Grimes and his label Suburban Mayhem Records. Black vinyl. This marks the final involvement that Jamie has with the band in terms of being an actual band member and to be honest it seems a bit odd to me. Over the years my interest in the group has developed directly with my fondness of the various aspects of the music that he was involved with; his vocals and his song writing. Without him I don't think it will really feel like the Drainland that I've come to appreciate. We will see with further releases though I guess. Apart from maybe one or two individual songs from previous releases I'd go as far to say that their two tracks here would have to be the best they have presented in terms of pure aggro. Their heaviest recording to date, and Jamie is at a true peak vocally. Best he goes out on a high like this then I suppose.

I wish I could be as excited about the effort from Crows. Musically it seems that they're going for the same kind of sound as their split mates; that downtuned, slightly sludgey hardcore with a pretty crispy recording. And admittedly this isn't horrendous, but the main singers abysmally weak vocals with cheap American accent really do quite a bit to ruin the experience for me. I don't know, maybe you'll like it?

END IT

Wilkes Bar straight edge powerhouse Stick Together put their second EP out a few months ago on Triple B Records and here it is on red vinyl. "Surviving The Times". The last time I posted about these guys was well over 12 months ago when I spoke about "No More Games". At the time I had good things to say in said post but I don't think it really hit me how good that first record of theirs was until a good three weeks after that. Such a perfect modern hardcore record with so many catchy fast breaks, slow bits and hooks etc. One of the best of the moment. While this EP retains many of those awesome elements of their earlier work, backed up by a slightly updated, more pronounced recording, overall this isn't as great. Not to say it's bad, there's plenty of fun bits like the triple snare catch in the beginning of "View Of One" and the guitar solo in the title track, there's just not as many songs that make me lift the needle and put it back down at the beginning again. I'td be worth mention to note also that the best song on the record and perhaps one of the best songs the band has ever written is actually a rehash from the demo.

RUSTY AXE THROUGH AARON TURNER'S HEAD

Last The Afternoon Gentlemen related post for the time being, this time in their split 7" with OSK from Canada. Black vinyl pressed by another handful of labels including Just Say No! and Rawer Breath. Black wax. Again, TAG kill it with their approach at pretty mind melting grind. There's a couple really big blatant mosh bits in here too which are cool. OSK play a pretty mixed bag style that incorporates some elements of grind and PV and smooths it over with a cool thrash veneer. Reminds me a little of Neon Hole and their side of the split 7" with Suffering Mind from many posts back. I like their style, but TAG certainly win it out here.

BONESTORM

It seems that everything post "Pissed Again" that The Afternoon Gentlemen have released has been of a much higher quality than that record. Another split 7" that they're involved in here, this time with Chicago's Cyborg. I think this was released last year to coincide with their tour of the US. Pressed by grind stalwarts RSR, mine's of the black variety. Ignore the hip hop samples scattered throughout their side of the record and you get some really solid grind that retains the quality recording elements of the other stuff of theirs that I've posted about recently. This time around they've managed to pack their side with some really fun songs and there's more than a couple times where they seem to make some obvious tributes to later Infest for good measure. Maybe that's just me hearing that though. Cyborg present some pretty typical, A grade powerviolence that would take cues from the obvious choices. I'd argue that these songs of theirs would probably be the best they've done so far, but with that said none of them are really far removed from anything that they've already released anyway.

Fold out sleeve with an insert and an obi strip.

BIN LURKER

Another The Afternoon Gentlemen record, this time their split 7" with Chiens from France. White wax pressed by Give Praise, Dead Heroes, I Feel good and Tombs In The Valley Productions. Not an as interesting contribution from The Gentlemen as the stuff from yesterday's post, but it retains merit in it's own right. Still much the same in recording qualities- clear and precise with very on point blasts that back up a tried and tested grindcore style with PV elements, very similar to the style that Baltimore's Magrudergrind employ to much success. The songs just aren't as interesting really, plain and simple. Chiens are just about the only grind band from France that I am even remotely familiar with, so to compare them to any of their countrymen would be impossible, but in terms of good grind on an international scale, these guys have got the gift. This stuff weighs up to that of The Gentlemen easily and perhaps even eclipses it with a perfectly murky, grindcore recording. The thing I love about some of these more prolific grind bands and their split release schedules is that I'm constantly privy to new and often awesome grind bands in their split-mates. Bands that I may otherwise never have heard of. The majority of the past fortnight's post fodder is tribute to that.

With poster.

KILL A BANKER

Suffering Mind/The Afternoon Gentlemen split 7" on clear vinyl. Crucificados amongst about six others should be blamed. I can't quite remember for sure but I think this is the record that introduced me to Suffering Mind originally. I had never been a massive fan of The Gentlemen to be honest before this record, but I was pretty impressed when I heard a few songs from their contribution online so I decided to grab it. And yeah, that was my first taste of Suffering Mind. This would be some of their best stuff, with a clear, menacing recording that marks the last with Ula on vocals. The Gentlemen's music here is arguably their best at this point too. Clear, heavy grind, with some PV elements to boot. I've never been a massive fan of the little alcoholic/binge drinking gimmick they've always utilised, but look past that tom foolery and ignore the often goofy lyrics and you get some relatively interesting grindcore here. Certainly the best band coming out of the UK doing this style right now.

DOWN WITH AUTHORITY

Suffering Mind/Lycanthropy split 7" on grey plastic. Zaraza Productions and Bullshit Propaganda. 2009. Two female fronted grind band going at it. Can't decide who's material I prefer here. Both pretty good, but I've certainly been surprised by Lycanthropy's contribution. As a female fronted grind band they certainly don't seem to be getting as much hype as Suffering Mind, not to say that they should just because of that fact, but it's certainly a point I hear about SM more often than not. I had no idea Lycanthropy were led by a lady until I read the creds. You could probably say that might be a good thing.

PICTURES

Suffering Mind/S.A.T.A.N. split 5" on red wax, pressed by something like five different labels, most notable I suppose would be Crucificados Records again. Now that Radek is on vocals for Suffering Mind a pile of the stuff that they're releasing in consistently getting alot better. Strong, thick, powerful vocal approach that suits the music near perfectly. S.A.T.A.N. play a brand of grind not too dissimilar from their partners in crime, though the blasts don't get as fast and they possess a bit ore of a straight forward approach with some thrash elements. Both bands have employed a pretty on point, clean recording style that suits their respective sides perfectly.

NOTHING LESS

Suffering Mind/Wojtyla split 7" on black vinyl, again pressed by too many labels to bother listing, though if memory serves Drop Out, Feel Good and Dead Heroes were three of the parties involved. More grind from both bands. A better recording from Suffering Mind, four tracks of pretty straight forward blasts, offset with the standard high and low vocals. Ula's pipes settle at a good point in the mix and she certainly sounds a lot more powerful here in general too. Wojtyla's side is more ore less the same, relentless grind with male vocals. The recording is good but the songs aren't quite as interesting.

OSTATECZNY POGRZEB

More Suffering Mind, this time their 10" Ep from 2009, "At War With Mankind". A joint effort by Crucificados, Drop Out, and Zaraza. Clear vinyl. Less listenable than yesterday's post subject as Ula's vocals tend to get quite unbearable after a while. What probably makes the LP more tolerable is how low her vocals are in the mix. Here, they're noticeably higher and hence become somewhat grating after a quick minute.

FUNDAMENTY ZYSKU

Getting back to some Suffering Mind Records, as mentioned a while back I think I've more or less managed to land most of their current discography minus a couple of inferior records. This is their s/t full length from 2010 on white wax. 625 Thrash and Crucificados released this. In terms of similar contemporary grindcore, of all of their material I'd say that this one if extremely comparable to some of the better Insect Warfare stuff. I think what does it here is the cool recording qualities. Some of their stuff is better than this, but I really like it regardless. Mean, relentless, no frills grindcore.

Comes with a big poster.