Monday, November 6, 2017
DONE
It's been close to nine and a half years since I started this blog and as most would have noticed by now, the last two years or so have been really quiet. Various reasons have contributed to this, most of which I have spoken about before. As eluded to earlier this year, I had planned to hopefully make it to the 10 year mark, but the more I have thought about that idea this year, the more it's been feeling like a bit of a cop out, what with most of my fellow long term record bloggers plowing onwards with multiple weekly posts. I just don't think i'd be able to talk about that 10 year milestone with a clear conscience, when I have managed to post less than 40 times this year. So thanks everyone for the reading since mid 2008. it's weird, but when I think about it, I have actually been posting on here for more than a quarter of my life.
Sunday, September 10, 2017
INTRO BUST
Warzone- "Don't Forget The Struggle, Don't Forget The Streets" LP (Revelation)
Second Pressing of Reissue, 2017
Blue Vinyl /??
A recent second pressing of the new reissue of this iconic piece of NYHC history. Doubt that I need to say much more. One of the best records to come out of the later 80's USHC scene. Unfortunately there's been some issue when pressing and a double up of the centre label has been applied over the grooves of side B, but surprisingly, it still plays through the label, though the sound quality is a little crappy when the needle passes through that section.
Second Pressing of Reissue, 2017
Blue Vinyl /??
A recent second pressing of the new reissue of this iconic piece of NYHC history. Doubt that I need to say much more. One of the best records to come out of the later 80's USHC scene. Unfortunately there's been some issue when pressing and a double up of the centre label has been applied over the grooves of side B, but surprisingly, it still plays through the label, though the sound quality is a little crappy when the needle passes through that section.
Sunday, September 3, 2017
THE NEW STANDARD
True Vision- "Against The Grain" 7" (Painkiller)
First Pressing, 2016
Gold Vinyl /110
Marcus posted about this very record only a few days ago, and I posted about the promo tape last year, so I'll keep it brief. Debut 7" from True Vision from the UK featuring members of a number of the bands ripping it up over there at the moment. Straight Ahead/YOT styled Hardcore with a great recording. Possibly one of my favourite things to come out of this scene in a few years.
First Pressing, 2016
Gold Vinyl /110
Marcus posted about this very record only a few days ago, and I posted about the promo tape last year, so I'll keep it brief. Debut 7" from True Vision from the UK featuring members of a number of the bands ripping it up over there at the moment. Straight Ahead/YOT styled Hardcore with a great recording. Possibly one of my favourite things to come out of this scene in a few years.
Sunday, August 20, 2017
TAKE AIM
Wormrot- "Voices" Gatefold LP (Earache)
First Pressing, 2016
Black Vinyl /??
I was hugely fond of this bands first two LP's and more or less assumed that they had disbanded after an extensive period of non activity. They returned mid last year with this, their new album, along with a new drummer. Unfortunately, to me this one doesn't really meet the calibre of earlier material. They're going for something a little different here I think, more experimental bits, touches of melody, light atmosphere here and there, and the new guy can't blast as well as the old one. I get it, they needed to experiment a little (it's not even that much, just bits and pieces here and there), but I'm pretty one minded with my likes in Grindcore, and this one steps out of the box just a little too much for me. It's not even that progressive, but the less than great recording compounds these facts and I just haven't spun this nearly as much as they're first two in the time that I have had it.
First Pressing, 2016
Black Vinyl /??
I was hugely fond of this bands first two LP's and more or less assumed that they had disbanded after an extensive period of non activity. They returned mid last year with this, their new album, along with a new drummer. Unfortunately, to me this one doesn't really meet the calibre of earlier material. They're going for something a little different here I think, more experimental bits, touches of melody, light atmosphere here and there, and the new guy can't blast as well as the old one. I get it, they needed to experiment a little (it's not even that much, just bits and pieces here and there), but I'm pretty one minded with my likes in Grindcore, and this one steps out of the box just a little too much for me. It's not even that progressive, but the less than great recording compounds these facts and I just haven't spun this nearly as much as they're first two in the time that I have had it.
Sunday, July 30, 2017
STRAIGHT TO HELL
Obituary- s/t LP (Relapse)
First Pressing, 2017
Black Vinyl /3700
This marks only the second piece of Obituary vinyl to hit my collection, though there's quite a few more releases of theirs that I wish I had. In fact I would argue that despite what seems like more common opinion amongst the Metal elite, there's not single LP of theirs that isn't a banger. Their last album and Relapse debate "Inked In Blood" wasn't received very well but I loved it, and had I been able to secure a copy at a reasonable price (couldn't find one in any stores for under $60, ridiculous), I would have snapped it up. Thankfully I recently stumbled across this copy of their latest work in my local record store for a totally acceptable price tag. From what I can see online and in Death Metal circles, it seems that it has hit all the right marks with the wider community, garnering many positive reviews, and I'd say that there isn't a single snoozer on here. As with everything that they've done, the whole album is punctuated with that signature mutant groove and Tardy's hellish vocals, possibly the most identifiable in Death Metal? Nine new tracks here and a re-release of the title track from the "Ten Thousand Ways To Die" live record that they put out last year. The artwork is a bit lacking if you ask me, certainly a departure from the usual work anyway, but the jacket is pressed in a foil stamp and the cover is embossed and raised a little, so that's cool I guess. Regardless, the music is worth the purchase price.
First Pressing, 2017
Black Vinyl /3700
This marks only the second piece of Obituary vinyl to hit my collection, though there's quite a few more releases of theirs that I wish I had. In fact I would argue that despite what seems like more common opinion amongst the Metal elite, there's not single LP of theirs that isn't a banger. Their last album and Relapse debate "Inked In Blood" wasn't received very well but I loved it, and had I been able to secure a copy at a reasonable price (couldn't find one in any stores for under $60, ridiculous), I would have snapped it up. Thankfully I recently stumbled across this copy of their latest work in my local record store for a totally acceptable price tag. From what I can see online and in Death Metal circles, it seems that it has hit all the right marks with the wider community, garnering many positive reviews, and I'd say that there isn't a single snoozer on here. As with everything that they've done, the whole album is punctuated with that signature mutant groove and Tardy's hellish vocals, possibly the most identifiable in Death Metal? Nine new tracks here and a re-release of the title track from the "Ten Thousand Ways To Die" live record that they put out last year. The artwork is a bit lacking if you ask me, certainly a departure from the usual work anyway, but the jacket is pressed in a foil stamp and the cover is embossed and raised a little, so that's cool I guess. Regardless, the music is worth the purchase price.
Saturday, July 22, 2017
SPREADING THE DISEASE
Kommand- Demo Tape
First Edition, 2017
Easily the best demo that I've heard since the second Obscure Burial demo from a couple years ago, and a possible contender for my favourite outright release of this year. I haven't listened to any record or tape by any other new band this year more than this debut demo tape from LA's Kommand. Three simple, punchy, relatively short bursts of Death Metal that take cues from stuff like Mexican overlords Cenotaph (earlier) and some of the early 90's Finnish masters. An excellent, raw recording punctuates heavy riffs, tremolo picking, plenty of double kicking and blast beats. Themed 100% lyrically from the point of view of, and visually around Islamic extremism and the caliphate, it's a unique approach for any extreme band, but the thought does cross my mind about how they will be able to continue with the theme if they manage to move beyond this demo stage and release an extended collection of songs. Many of these great demo bands never do get beyond this stage, but I really hope that they do.
First Edition, 2017
Easily the best demo that I've heard since the second Obscure Burial demo from a couple years ago, and a possible contender for my favourite outright release of this year. I haven't listened to any record or tape by any other new band this year more than this debut demo tape from LA's Kommand. Three simple, punchy, relatively short bursts of Death Metal that take cues from stuff like Mexican overlords Cenotaph (earlier) and some of the early 90's Finnish masters. An excellent, raw recording punctuates heavy riffs, tremolo picking, plenty of double kicking and blast beats. Themed 100% lyrically from the point of view of, and visually around Islamic extremism and the caliphate, it's a unique approach for any extreme band, but the thought does cross my mind about how they will be able to continue with the theme if they manage to move beyond this demo stage and release an extended collection of songs. Many of these great demo bands never do get beyond this stage, but I really hope that they do.
Thursday, July 20, 2017
RAMEN BLOG
In the interest of total self promotion, please follow this link to my new Ramen blog. I'll always be a record collector, but it's getting harder and harder these days to maintain this blog as regularly as I used to. The new thing is just another way to keep my mind active at a more affordable rate.
Friday, July 7, 2017
RATHER BE DEAD
Necrot- "Blood Offerings" LP (Tank Crimes)
First Pressing, 2017
Gold Vinyl /1000
ON THE BRIGHTSIDE I recently picked up the debut album from Oakland's Necrot. Following three well received demo tapes and an LP to compile them last year, they've gone and unleashed this catchy as hell American Death Metal opus. Obvious cues would be the less technical stuff- Death, Autopsy etc. I've read many comparisons to Bolt Thrower too. Groovy, thick metal with a pretty slick recording.
First Pressing, 2017
Gold Vinyl /1000
ON THE BRIGHTSIDE I recently picked up the debut album from Oakland's Necrot. Following three well received demo tapes and an LP to compile them last year, they've gone and unleashed this catchy as hell American Death Metal opus. Obvious cues would be the less technical stuff- Death, Autopsy etc. I've read many comparisons to Bolt Thrower too. Groovy, thick metal with a pretty slick recording.
FUCK PHOTOBUCKET
So for more than five years now I have been paying to host most of the photos on this blog on the photobucket website. That was until earlier this year when they decided to increase their yearly fees by more than 1000%. Now they want more than $500au PER YEAR for me to host my photos for third party viewing on this blog. This wasn't of initial concern to me as they were still allowing existing hosted photos to display on third party sites like this blog, I just couldn't upload any new photos. I just stopped paying and started using Flckr instead. In the last few days though, photobucket updated their terms to state that they would no longer allow any 'third party hosting' to any users not paying this $500 fee. So now just about every photo on this blog before this year is rendered absolutely useless. They are essentially holding nine years of this blogs content hostage.
It seems that I'm not the only annoyed user, with a quick google search it is apparent that the distaste is quite widespread with even the BBC reporting on it. So fuck these extortionists, fuck photobucket. I won't be paying the fee and I doubt I will have time to re upload photos for nine years of posts to a competing hosting site, so I do apologise for the lack or viewable content on this blog moving forward. With just shy of nine years posting content on here, and a clear and obvious slow-down in activity over the last couple of years on my behalf (life, mortgage etc) maybe this latest development will be the nail in the coffin for this blog. I always imagined making it to ten years and then pulling the pin anyway. Maybe we will see.
It seems that I'm not the only annoyed user, with a quick google search it is apparent that the distaste is quite widespread with even the BBC reporting on it. So fuck these extortionists, fuck photobucket. I won't be paying the fee and I doubt I will have time to re upload photos for nine years of posts to a competing hosting site, so I do apologise for the lack or viewable content on this blog moving forward. With just shy of nine years posting content on here, and a clear and obvious slow-down in activity over the last couple of years on my behalf (life, mortgage etc) maybe this latest development will be the nail in the coffin for this blog. I always imagined making it to ten years and then pulling the pin anyway. Maybe we will see.
Monday, June 19, 2017
JUST CAN'T HATE ENOUGH
Sheer Terror- "Just Can't Hate Enough" LP (Blackout!)
Reissue, 2016
Black Vinyl /??
I've wanted a copy of this record for myself for years and years but original copies have always just seemed to elude me for this reason or that (and they also sell for quite a lot on discogs and the like). It was finally repressed lat year by Blackout records with some added live tracks. Overall package is a bit different to the original, but the title track is one of the greatest NYHC songs of all time and it's included here so it's all cool with me.
Reissue, 2016
Black Vinyl /??
I've wanted a copy of this record for myself for years and years but original copies have always just seemed to elude me for this reason or that (and they also sell for quite a lot on discogs and the like). It was finally repressed lat year by Blackout records with some added live tracks. Overall package is a bit different to the original, but the title track is one of the greatest NYHC songs of all time and it's included here so it's all cool with me.
Thursday, June 15, 2017
THE RAGE OF THE CITY
NYC Headhunters- "The Rage Of The City" 7" (Painkiller)
First Pressing, 2016
Green Vinyl /200
Though I only secured this earlier this year, the debut record from NYC Headhunters made my best of list for 2016 and it's seriously fucking good. As you'd expect, just straight forward, loud and burly NY inspired hardcore from Boston. Possibly one of my most spun records in recent times.
First Pressing, 2016
Green Vinyl /200
Though I only secured this earlier this year, the debut record from NYC Headhunters made my best of list for 2016 and it's seriously fucking good. As you'd expect, just straight forward, loud and burly NY inspired hardcore from Boston. Possibly one of my most spun records in recent times.
Tuesday, June 6, 2017
IMPLODE
Shackles "Lifeless Paradise" 10" (Resist)
First Pressing, 2017
Black and Red Vinyl /100
I've covered Shackles and their progression as a band pretty extensively on this blog over the years and it's been interesting to track that gradual mutation in that time. Over the years their focus has certainly sharpened and they've become a solid example of a hard working Australian Hardcore band. And with that I'd say that this latest 10" EP of theirs could be their largest progression between releases. They're still tapping the tried and true blast laden heavy hardcore method, but coupled with an obviously (and likely deliberately) less polished recording effort, this could probably be interpreted as their most 'punk' effort to date.
First Pressing, 2017
Black and Red Vinyl /100
I've covered Shackles and their progression as a band pretty extensively on this blog over the years and it's been interesting to track that gradual mutation in that time. Over the years their focus has certainly sharpened and they've become a solid example of a hard working Australian Hardcore band. And with that I'd say that this latest 10" EP of theirs could be their largest progression between releases. They're still tapping the tried and true blast laden heavy hardcore method, but coupled with an obviously (and likely deliberately) less polished recording effort, this could probably be interpreted as their most 'punk' effort to date.
Friday, May 12, 2017
RIGHT AND REASON
Shipwrecked- 2nd s/t 7" (PST)
First Pressing, 2017
Clear Vinyl /??
Via a limited release schedule over the course of the last 13 years, Norway's Shipwrecked have managed to build a pretty enviable following amongst the Hardcore underground and elite. I thought they were all but done until they announced a single show in the US this year and this EP to accompany it. Three new trax of what anyone familiar with any of their previous material would hope for- hard boiled Hardcore informed pretty heavily by Boston '82. Arguably, they've been setting the standard for what a modern band of this type should be playing for years now and this record does nothing to detract from that.
First Pressing, 2017
Clear Vinyl /??
Via a limited release schedule over the course of the last 13 years, Norway's Shipwrecked have managed to build a pretty enviable following amongst the Hardcore underground and elite. I thought they were all but done until they announced a single show in the US this year and this EP to accompany it. Three new trax of what anyone familiar with any of their previous material would hope for- hard boiled Hardcore informed pretty heavily by Boston '82. Arguably, they've been setting the standard for what a modern band of this type should be playing for years now and this record does nothing to detract from that.
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