LETTERS 'I' THROUGH 'Z' BE DAMNED. REVIEWS FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE ALPHABET.

 Hey, it just ended up this way.  There's a bunch of rad stuff that popped up over the last month that's going to force me to make room on the top left side of my record shelves and push everything further down the line.  So yeah, check out some excellent bands (a couple of which from right here in Portland!) and they new music they're dishing out to you all.

ABANDONCY, “Pastel//Anguish”

The second full length from Abandoncy shows them exhibiting the traits of their native Kansas City emo/indie musical DNA- that Midwestern rock laid down by the likes of Season To Risk and Giants Chair but they go and make it weird.  They insert an uneasy, tension-filled distress to all their songs and just a bit of chaos here and there.  They’re kind of pissing in the genepool, if you know what I mean.  The exceptional cover art (by NYC-based illustrator Caroline Harrison) furthers the sounds on here- tranquil, Muscha-esque backgrounds with a seemingly distressed character in the foreground.  It’s kind of the sound that the band puts on display throughout the recording. In some cases it works quite well, and certainly makes them stand out as originators in their scene.  Other times it gets a bit far off course, particularly on the last couple tracks on the album; at least for my tastes anyway.  But if you like discomfort (and not just narcissistic gratification) with your loud and abrasive/scatterbrained rock this could be a decent place for you to start. (self-released)

 

ALMANAC MAN, “For Your Cause”

This is kind of a hard band to pin down because they definitely have their own sound.  While that sound owes a great deal to post-hardcore rock staples like Traindodge, or even stuff like Prize Country, one would think maybe these cats are from the Midwest.  But then they throw a sludgy backbone into much of their material that gives off a bit of a Northwest vibe.  And atop it all, a lot of fuzzy yet melodic and clever guitar work and now any sort of geographical indicator is about as useless as a map of Antarctica on Mars.  Turns out this trio hails from Denver, so there’s that. I guess if you’re in Denver you should probably seek these cats out.  I’m not sure if this record qualifies as an LP or an EP…  maybe, let’s say a mini-LP?  You get 6 songs, but they’re all sort of long to give you a solid 26-27 minutes of music.  So you tell me?  Either way, it’s a good mish-mash of different sounds that work very well together, even though it may not be easily categorized, and that’s a good thing, as it makes them their own thing despite a lurking familiarity to other like-minded artists. (The Ghost Is Clear)

 

BITTER BRANCHES, “Your Neighbors Are Failures”

At first I had a hard time mashing Tim Singer’s one-of-a-kind abrasive stream of conscious howl with music that wasn’t trying to murder you at all times.  Bitter Branches seemed to be coming from a somewhat less heavy direction and that was just weird to me.  But then they did a 7” last year that brought their sound into a bit more focus and made me a believer.  And now, with their first actual full length the group bring in a lot more Touch and Go/AmRep musical vibes that I feel are far more befitting the vocals than on previous recordings.  They have just embraced a sort of creeping, wild energy that sounds just as unhinged as the man behind the microphone and it works to wonderful effect.  From the Jesus Lizard-esque bass-drum dominance on “Circus” and tension-filled anxiety of “Solo Trip” to the Andy Coronado-style (Monorchid, Skull Kontrol) bouncy stop-start guitar work on “The Man Who Never Cries” and “Sorry, You’re Not a Winner” some of the influence is apparent and a great path to explore.  While Bitter Branches are at their best (in my opinion) when they’re ripping more aggressive, faster songs, or going for a deliberate lurking sort of nervous restlessness they do step back into familiar territory of some more melodic material on the longer songs reminiscent of their first EP but just more honed and articulated into a band that has figured themselves out.  (Equal Vision)

 

COORDINATED SUICIDES, “Frankie’s Chrysalis” EP

This Wisconsin-based group released a couple of these songs last year and I’m not sure why the significant lull between what is half this EP and all four tracks now, but whatever the case, here ya go.  In all likelihood you’re probably not familiar with this band, but a few years back they had another release and this is very different in a ‘damn, they really progressed, haven’t they?’ sort of way.  This new (ish?) EP combines a sound that can best be described as the unsettling screaming/singing manic heaviness of “Willpower”-era Today Is the Day mixed with some of the shoegaze-y elements that Sonic Youth would sometimes bring to the table, and then add a fuck ton of noisy sludge to the whole thing.  Yeah, odd mix right?  But it’s cool.  I played a show with these dudes a few years ago too and they were, by far, one of the most socially awkward bands I’ve ever encountered, which is good.  Bands this weird and unsettling should be strange humans as well.  Check out the wild style of the first three tracks and stick around for the fourth closing track “Victorian Gift” and it’s Neurosis-styled end times apocalyptic riffs.  A most interesting mix of sounds by weird dudes, it’s a win-win.  (AVRCRC)

 

DAY JOB, “Be a Friend, Make a Friend” EP

I say ‘god damn’.  If you know me you will know exactly why I absolutely fucking love this EP because it combines a couple of my favorite things in music.  But while you start taking predictable guesses towards what that is let me go off for a second just to mention this is a couple of the guys from Null’s side thing so I’m clearly going to be a bit biased.  Plus, you can hear some of that meditative repetitiveness here and there (particularly on “Finger Prints”).  OK, did you guess why I like this?  Day Job have successfully done the pairing of a lifetime- managing to extract the ear-shredding, revenge-tinged, vicious noise rock of the Unsane with the riff-centric, fun, face-melting heaviness of KARP.  I mean, there’s a canyon-sized landfill full of bands that worship and attempt to emulate both these bands but very few come close and Day Job full-on succeeds.  You get five songs that just start out ridiculously heavy and crazy and it does not let up one bit through the 15 or 16 minutes of this thing.  It’s early in the year, but this is probably going to be my favorite EP, or demo, or whatever this year.  Go listen to this right now and then listen to it again.  (self-released)

 

DRUG CHURCH, “Hygiene”

At this point, four albums and several EPs in (I’m going to vouch for this being classified as a unit of time measurement, like ‘four score’), and going on 10 years as a band, how does Drug Church keep it interesting?  I think from the get-go they never claimed to be a band attempting to re-invent the wheel.  Listen to any one of their records and there is a level of consistency throughout which may not yield leaps and bounds of artistic growth, but continually pays off in the ‘fun’ department.  At heart I think they’re a hardcore band as the overall tempo of their songs is fast enough, the guitars crunchy enough, and the vocal delivery (overall) barked/shouted/screamed enough to keep a steady stream of stagedivers pleased.  However, the band take enough influence in bouncy post-hardcore sonic mutations and grungy riffs just to throw Hard X Core purists off the scent.  I feel like it’s the band’s stock-in-trade.  So while aside from a couple new effects pedals on display during various songs’ bridges and the vocal pairing between Pat Kindlon (not yelling on this song) and Husbandry’s Carina Zachary on the slower, more subdued and poppy “Premium Offer” the band pretty much offer up what you expect of them.  Maybe some will see this as a shortcoming because it’s the same sort of music they’ve been giving you all this time but so what?  The riffs are great, the lyrics are clever as always (“You fooled fools but that’s worthless/ Your pulse asks “what’s the purpose?”/ When tired is the entire sum/ That shit just makes you tiresome” on “Tiresome” for example), and the whole thing wraps up in under a half hour how can you complain?  Just give a spin on songs like “Million Miles Of Fun”, “Piss & Quiet”, or the chugging breakdown that closes out the aforementioned “Tiresome” and try not to jump around like a dum-dum. (PureNoise)

 

DRY SOCKET, “Cessation” 7”

For a band that has lain dormant for the last couple of years from the live setting Dry Socket kept themselves relatively pandemic-busy.  They added a second guitarist (though not on this recording I believe) and came up with a new 7”.  While it’s only three songs (and under 6 minutes) the degree of ‘ripping’ that occurs here is boss level, so certainly an issue of quality over quantity is at work.  The disturbing cover image immediately brings to mind the famous Warhol suicide print, but I think this is something a bit different.  That striking image is made even more unnerving when opening track “Phantom Pains” starts off with a rush of feedback and noise and howling screams repeating a coda then breaks into a powerviolence clip to make it known that these are songs borne from a great deal of frustration, uncertainty, and anxiety (maybe all too familiar over these last couple years, yes?).  Second track “Red” is almost just as fast as vocalist Dani Allen trades back-and-forths with bandmates alongside a fastcore beat that recalls some of Portland’s well-worn crust punk/fast hardcore tradition.  Closer “Shake” has a bit more variety (fast, and faster!) within it’s overall structure and is somewhat more, for lack of a better word, ‘fun’ despite it’s dire seriousness lyrically as the chorus is repeated ad nauseum at the end to great effect.  (Dropping Bombs)

 

HELP, “2053”

So I’m officially late to the party here.  Help are a Portland punk band, and getting a snippet of their wild live show via videos is making me feel a bit stupid for not catching on earlier.  However, I’m rectifying that through writing up their brand-new LP, “2053”.  The band serve up short little panic attacks in the form of repetitive noise squalls, pulsing drums, and an almost stream-of-conscious vocal delivery that would come off as the ravings of a madman if it weren’t so poetic.  Imagine the likes of The Fall (or for a more modern comparison, Protomartyr), but far more aggressive.  It’s all short bursts of destruction behind a barking voice with lines like, “I just kicked a suicide to death. The murder was incomplete” to get you fixated upon some deep thoughts long after the song has disintegrated and rolled right into the next barrage.  10 beatings, 20-some-odd minutes, a whole days worth of manic contemplation as a result.  Get Help. (Nadine Records)

HOLY SHIT! TOURS AND SHOWS!

 OK, don't fuckin' jinx it, just be cool.  There's, like, multiple (we're talking plural here) bands that I've released records for who are playing some shows this spring and even (I said be cool)...  going on TOUR.

Like I said, be cool.  Just play it cool.  It will happen.  So maybe come out of your plague shelter and hit up a few shows, be safe, enjoy yourself, and maybe even try being a little social.  I know, it's awkward, but maybe going out to a few of these it will start getting easier.

Here's a bunch of upcoming dates for Gaytheist, Still/Form, Exhalants, USA Nails, and the big 'ol Pinko tour

PINKO

3/25 @ Hotel Vegas- Austin

w/ FUCK MONEY//GLASSING//EXHALANTS

3/26 @ The Lonesome Rose- San Antonio

w/ THE GRASSHOPPER LIES HEAVY//WHEP//THOUSANDAIRE

3/31- El Paso, TX @ Mona Bar w/ Honduh Daze

4/1- Tucson, AZ @ Club Congress

4/2- San Diego, CA @ Black Cat Bar

4/3- Long Beach, CA @ Alex's Bar

4/4- San Fernando, CA @ The Midnight Hour Records

4/5- San Francisco, CA @ The Knockout w/ Facet

4/6- Bend, OR @ The Capitol w/ The Kronk Men

4/7- Tacoma, WA @ Plaid Pig w/ Proofs

4/8- Seattle, WA @ Southgate Roller Rink

w/ GAYTHEIST, STILL/FORM

4/9- Portland, OR @ World Famous Kenton Club

w/ MAXIMUM MAD, STILL/FORM, SEA MOSS

4/10- Boise, ID @ CRLB

4/11- Salt Lake City, UT

4/12- Denver, CO w/ Moon Pussy @ Lions Lair

4/13- Lawrence, KS @ Replay Lounge

4/14- Denton, TX

 

EXHALANTS

3/25 @ Hotel Vegas- Austin

w/ FUCK MONEY//GLASSING//PINKO

 

 

GAYTHEIST

 3/31- Portland, OR @ Dantes w/ Zeta

4/8- Seattle, WA @ Southgate Roller Rink w/ Pinko, Still/Form

 

STILL/FORM

4/8- Seattle, WA @ Southgate Roller Rink w/ Gaytheist, Pinko

4/9- Portland, OR @ World Famous Kenton Club w/ Maximum Mad, Pinko, Sea Moss

 

USA NAILS

 w/ Mclusky

4/1 – Bristol, UK - Fleece

4/2 – Manchester, UK - Gorilla

4/3 – Birmingham, UK - Hare & Hounds

ALPHA HOPPER

5/8- Rochester, NY @ Bug Jar

WIPES

5/13- Allentown, PA @ Emmaus Theatre

SCREWED, TATTOOED, AND REVIEWED- FEBRUARY STUFF

 Occasionally I think to myself that I'm a fairly predictable study in regards to my taste in music.  But let me ask you this- where else are you going to find one person who gushes about a band's love of Life Of Agony, while also reviewing a group that worships the dirt Unwound trod upon?  Wild card suckers!  Don't try to pin me down.

AGE OF APOCALYPSE, “Grim Wisdom”

Ya know, I didn’t think I’d ever go for anything resembling Life Of Agony or Only Living Witness ever again primarily because 1) those bands are quite singular and they have very limited output that I personally enjoy (a great deal at that), and 2) pretty much every band that has ever tried to ape either of those bands has done so miserably and failed altogether.  So how the fuck did Age Of Apocalypse manage to be so godamn heavy and, like, really good at pulling off the singing parts?  They’re certainly an ultra rare breed and, if you know me, you’re probably just as surprised as I am about me vouching for this.  I’m weirded out by it too. However, you will get absolutely buried under the chug here.  This is the kind of band I hear in my head when the thought of going to a show in Troy, NY arises- some filthy club where, somehow, people are still allowed to smoke inside.  A bunch of guys that look like extras from “Goodfellas” hang in the back while dudes up front with intentional dirt staches, wife beaters, and $50 Hatebreed tattoos (“done by a friend at their house”) clobber the ever-loving shit out of one another.  The set ends, two people leave with broken noses.  A busted up old Camero is seen driving off through slush-covered streets while you change your shirt to go to your night job at a frozen foods warehouse, the thought of “Grim Wisdom” echoing in your brain for the rest of the week.  (Closed Casket Activities)

 

 

AUTHOR & PUNISHER, “Kruller”

Author & Punisher is a one-man band that’s been at this project for probably around 10 years at this point but this is actually my first time listening all the way through one of their records.  If it’s not obvious by the title this is an album about some kind of pastry.  Well, probably not, but it would be a fun surprise if it was!  OK, so what’s the deal with Author & Punisher (for those not in the know)?  Tristan Shone is the guy behind all this industrial noise and racket and the big deal is that he makes his own instruments and devices for creating the music.  And by some of the pictures I’ve seen it looks as if he’s in some sort of robot exoskeleton, like as if helmet-less Darth Vader were trying to pilot the Power Loader from Aliens.  And I’m not sure how the other records sound, but given the imagery I’ve seen I sort of expected this music to sound even more mechanized and noisy than it.  Like there’s parts on here that have soul and textured vocals, some guitar accompaniment, actual structures to the songs with different movements, and so forth.  So maybe this is the classic man vs. machine conflict, battling for the soul of a tortured human, imprisoned by his own robotic devices!  Oh, the humanity!  But seriously, this is stuff not intended for my enjoyment as I find the songs to be a bit too long, and a whole sludge/industrial mash-up isn’t really doing it for me.  However, it is well composed and inventive, particularly for a single person running it all. (Relapse)

 

BACKSLIDER, “Psychic Rot”

This is actually my first time listening to Backslider, knowing them only as a reference check for a couple members other outfit- the far noisier and riffy Eye Flys.  That’s not to say Backslider is without their fair share of floor-rattling riffs.  Between opener “Asymetric Torment”, “Bone Thief” and closing track “The Floating Door” they’re able to lay down chunky dirge but still keep things moving at a pretty good pace.  It’s on several other tracks like “Pseudomessiah” and “Collision Of Desire” where they’re blasting full speed, not quite sure if they’re aiming for straight up grindcore or powerviolence.  But honestly, who gives a rat’s ass, it all sounds good.  This is being hawked as a full length, but I’m a bit hesitant to go that far when the 10 tracks here clock in at just over 20 minutes, and two of those tracks are just weird sampled interludes.  Maybe a long EP?  I dunno, it’s a minor detail.  I’m sort of glad they keep it relatively short and to the point because the eight ass-beaters on here will keep you wanting more.  (To Live a Lie)

 

BIG WATER, “Park” EP

This Bummer-Canyons side project band offer up a quick EP after their debut full length last year.  They didn’t take long to put this out there, but then again it’s 5 songs in less than 10 minutes, so it’s not like they’re writing progressive concept records.  Or maybe they are, hell if I know what they’re yelling about.  Though if “Tours Over, I’m Driving My Mustang Home” is any indication I’m guessing no seismic, world-altering musical dissertations are being laid out here.  Nah.  This is three Kansas City dudes expressing some crazy, math-y emo where they get all noodley on the guitar but never lose the plot so you can still follow the rock.  Sure, it’s often kind of chaotic and wild, but it stays fun.  For fans of groups like Comadre, Forstella Ford, and bands whose entire discography consists of only 7” splits and/or late 90’s compilation appearances.  (The Ghost Is Clear)

 

CAPTIVE demo

One of the dudes from post-hardcore heavy-ass rockers Brain Cave up and decided to also get themselves on some Trap Them/HM-2 style grimey fastness trying to keep from unleashing their inner Terror love.  It’s all about finding some balance and side quests in life, right? Well, here you get blast beats fighting with beatdown smash-your-enemies parts and not a single song on this 4-song demo hitting the two minute mark.  Honestly, it’s impossible to be turned off by this (if you have any love whatsoever for heavy music) since it all goes by so quickly.  Just enjoy it, and barrel roll into your friends in some filthy basement.  (self-released)

 

IRON LININGS, “Pressure Valve” EP

I kind of happened upon this randomly and it’s one of those chances you take that pays off.  I really enjoy what’s happening here as Iron Linings may tread a familiar path of post-hardcore/noise rock with lots of heavy rocking parts, grooving heavy dirges, and the occasional chaotic tempter tantrum.  But there’s a feel to the guitars where they’re not constantly piling on as much distortion as possible and at times have a less aggressive, maybe melodic feel that I can only describe as sounding ‘Midwestern’.  Yeah, I know, I don’t write reviews for a living ok?  Anyway, much of the heavier sound comes from the plodding bass and the best example of all this is “On Pluto”, which has a great kind of bendy, twang drive with lumbering bass dirge for much of the song.  They’re not terribly far off from contemporaries such as Faking, or even Bummer (the last track begins with a total Bummer part), but this also wouldn’t be out of place coming out of somewhere like Louisville in 2005.  It’s a really fun listen and I’m sure you have 11 minutes to spare.  (self-released)

 

PRAYER GROUP, “Michael Dose”

I feel a little odd writing a review of this because I actually authored the press release for this record.  So instead of repeating myself, so I’ll try to vary the script. Virginia is not just for lovers, it would seem.  It’s also for misanthropic noiseniks bent on making your day exceptionally uncomfortable, which is kind of how Prayer Group have been rolling for several years now.  On their newest release they run the gamut of influence from noisy boy pack leaders like twisted and howling Jesus Lizard-ish worship (“Continuity”), sinewy and creepy thumpings reminiscent of Young Widows (“Spent”), not to mention a more chaotic ripping punk akin to Pissed Jeans (“World Of Mirror/World Of Mind”).  It’s nothing altogether new, but it’s good and it’s enjoyable.  And isn’t that what most of us want from a record?  No need to re-invent the wheel, so long as the tire is reliable and doesn’t blow out on you during the drive.  (Reptilian Records)

 

TORPORS, “TV Genius”

When you begin listening to the first full length from Torpors something immediately sounds familiar but, ya know, maybe it’s a just a coincidence.  Yet by the time you hit third track “Sense Of Self” with it’s nimble and clever bass runs and squalling guitar and then continues into the melodic/dirgey off-kilter thud on the title track it all becomes abundantly clear- these dudes fucking LOVE Unwound.  Holy shit.  It’s as if Unwound at their peak (which, for me, is around “Repetition” and “Challenge…”) just felt the urge to toss in some more of their punk/post-hardcore leanings and maybe gave a little love to Hoover while they were at it.  I mean it’s not just the focus on the creative bass parts and guitar leads, the vocals are right there as well.  The whole thing is a total love letter to the Olympia heroes of yore.  And if they weren’t such a unique band to pay homage to I’d think less of this group.  However, it’s done flawlessly, with adoration, and inserting a bit more aggression into the familiar sound.  There is literally no other information out there about this band aside from their bandcamp. (self-released)

 

WAR HONEY, “Shard To Shatter” 12”

I’ll give it to Handstand Records- they always surprise with something completely unexpected.  The label has released everything from thrashing toxic punk, to pop-dirge indie, and now to the dreamy, breezy melancholy of War Honey.  This is the kind of band you’d expect to find holed up in a dark corner of some smoky basement bar three nights a week crooning away to an ethereal, almost jazzy backbeat.  This relatively short EP (three songs and a brief instrumental interlude) give a hint at what they offer.  It’s honestly very outside my wheelhouse, but my only reference point here is that it strongly reminds me of that early 2000’s Jade Tree Records band Denali.  And while the vocals here soar in that same, highly trained sort of way it’s a little bit lower of a register pouring out of Gabrielle Dana with every fiber of her being.  This is a slick looking record too for being so short- pressed on a semi-translucent black vinyl with a screened b-side that shows through the darkened A-side.  Pretty cool.  (Handstand Records)

HEX RECORDS TO RELEASE FULL LENGTH FROM COLONIAL WOUND

 

Colonial Wound began in 2018 by bassist/vocalist Dylan Mikos (also of Good Fight Music heavy-hitters Yashira), drummer John Edwards (touring drummer for Kylesa), and guitarist Ben Clifton.  While they had a healthy scene of heavy music in and around their home of Jacksonville, FL to inspire and provide camaraderie Colonial Wound was aiming to do something noisier, uglier, and more disturbing.

The initial result was an EP that was self-released digitally before Detroit-area label Dropping Bombs pressed it onto 12” introducing a sound that had as much to do with crushing grooves a la Coalesce as it did the off-kilter guitar antics and wall-of-noise heaviness of groups like Engineer and Botch, combining lumbering hardcore and noise rock into a singular sludgy entity.

Not too long after the band added vocalist Jeremy Atkins to the lineup, making the group a 4-piece and they released another EP, “Degradation” on the New Morality label showing off their revised lineup.  The music remained just as heavy and punishing while further showing off the band’s creative side with a photo zine accompanying the record (the first 12” featured a silkscreened B-side).

Since that time Colonial Wound has been writing and demo’ing a bevy of new material, which they will record in April 2022 for their debut full length, which will be released by Hex Records by the end of the year.

NEW YEAR, NEW REVIEWS

 Welcome to weird world, version 2022.  It's a new year and with that comes the only thing that can save our sanity in these times- new and exciting music.  OK, so a it of it is from the tail end of that beast known as 2021, but most of this stuff is coming in fresh for the New Year to you.  Let's hope for a slice of enjoyable life within the next 300+ days, right?  For now, enjoy this stuff here.

CLOAKROOM, “Dissolution Wave”

It’s hard to believe Cloakroom has been a band for 10 years now and in that time they have created three (four, if you count their debut EP) nearly flawless records which have firmly put them in their own subgenre of the shoegaze/slowcore style.  They truly are their own thing and when a band comes around that borrows from them it’s really fucking obvious.  Best to just let Cloakroom be Cloakroom.  So like their other records their newest “Dissolution Wave” continues what the band has set out to do from the get-go, but things here feel a little less sprawling, though that could be in part it being their shortest (at 37 minutes) and most concise album.  In Cloakroom terms of course.  Maybe it’s just that the band is a familiarity at this point that I don’t have to sit through multiple listens of the new material to get what’s going on.  They still can combine one of the most massive bass tones on Earth with hints of early Pink Floyd psychedelia, somber vocals, a touch of country twang, and Hum-homage (without ripping them off) to create a document consistent in quality with any of their other albums.  While the band states that there is an ongoing story through these eight songs there remains variety throughout each track, showcasing all the qualities that make the band great- first track “Lost Meaning” opens things up in the groups most well-known fashion- huge guitars, massively distorted bass, soft vocals, and a lumbering beat.  That all quickly fades as the second song, the title track of the record, is an ethereal dreamscape floating in the clouds, shimmering in and out.  “Fear Of Being Fixed” and “Dissembler” are the most stoner rock selections here, riff-centered and fuzzy as it gets, the later of which shifts gears several times into more and more mellow sections before it cuts out completely and changes into a simple little coda to close out the LP.  All told, this is Cloakroom doing what they do well, the primary difference being combining elements they’re known for in new and interesting ways to make yet another fine addition to their catalog.  Oh yeah, and this is the first record to officially feature drummer Tim Remis (bassist of Sweet Cobra and Suicide Note) who has been in the group for a spell now already but first time on record.  Yay for Tim!  (Relapse)

 

GLOWING BRAIN, “Brain Dust”

This sounds like Motorhead being played by Hot Snakes.  I’m not really sure if there’s anything else I could really add to that.  Do I need to add anything more than that?  Shouldn’t that be more than enough for your interest to get piqued?  Like, if that doesn’t sound like a good time than you ought to re-think your life.  OK, so maybe some more thoughtful heavy punk like Sweet Cobra peeks in here and there, like on “Plastic World” and “Bleed Into”, but let’s not get too carried away.  Just put on “Everyone Higher Than Everyone Else” and have a non-stop circle pit in your basement until you pass out and then do it again (but slower) because it’s the longest song on the record.  This record cover is wild and I think it came from outer space.  You’ll freak out, you’ll thrash, you might barf, but you will enjoy the shit out of Glowing Brain. (The Ghost Is Clear)

 

PRIZE HORSE, “Welder” EP

I’m pretty much always interested in whatever New Morality decides to release when they take a chance on bands that draw outside the lines of standard hardcore.  The label itself appears to cater to the ‘core, but they certainly have an ear for other exciting sounds as well.  Enter Prize Horse, a Minneapolis trio who are playing (“say the line!”) heavy shoegaze/slow core that errs on the Cloakroom side of things, but with a bit less dour melancholy and a bit more in the airy/dreamy sort of side of the genre.  Yes, I know at this point it’s like ‘how much differentiation can that style have?!’  But like all trends in sound/style it eventually boils down to who does it good and who is merely just riding a trend, quickly to be forgotten as soon as the next cool thing comes around.  I’d like to think Prize Horse are doing it well.  They are not breaking new groundbut they are doing what they do well and creating a worthwhile collection of songs for you to space out to. (New Morality)

 

STOMATOPOD, “Competing With Hindsight” EP

This just screams Chicago 1993.  It’s like some audio engineers got together and decided to do a band that had the sonically astute noisy clatter of Tar and mashed it together with the melodic working man punk of Pegboy.  And then there would be several discussions over a six-pack of Old Style as to whether Divot or Southern would release the record.  If you’re under 40 none of these references will mean a thing to you and I realize I’m dating myself just by writing all this.  But hey, this is what I hear when Stomatopod offer up their newest 6-song EP, and wouldn’t you know it, in true Chicago style it was recorded by Steve Albini.  While more than half the record really follows my frame of thought in terms of the aforementioned references both “The Big Parade” and “Out Of Our Hands” veer into a poppier, more direct, framework.  Overall it’s a decent effort and all the players seem as if they have been at it for a long time, though whether it appeals to a younger crowd or not is anyone’s guess.  But is that even their aim?  I’m guessing they are not terribly concerned with that.  (self-released)

 

STRANGE LIMBS, “Not Worth Fighting For”

The new EP from Canadian metallic rock-sludge unit Strange Limbs may as well be a new band.  They released an initial EP a little while back in which the music was indeed similar.  However, the change in vocalists since that time has such a significant impact upon the overall feel of the music it’s almost best to just start here, forget the past, and see where they go next.  The gruff, more hardcore vocals on the previous outing were fine, and fit right in with the abrasive heaviness of the band.  But I’ve heard all that before.  It’s sort of like the same sound coming out of each instrument (vocals included).  Since bringing aboard Jessica Channer to yell into a microphone there’s a bit higher register to complement the grimy sounds of the rest of the group and it makes the music brighter and more interesting overall.  Musically (aside from the vocals), the band share some commonalities with fellow countrymen Cancer Bats in the sense of hardcore dudes wanting to just rock the fuck out, a bit of Every Time I Die when they clearly are rocking the fuck out, and some HM-2 love (or a close approximation of it) akin to Trap Them doing their best impression of “Wolverine Blues”.  The seven tracks are a real fun listen overall but still vicious and dirty enough to feel ugly afterwards.  (self-released)

 

SWEAT, “Gotta Give It Up”

The debut recording from this LA-based group finds members of Graf Orlock, Ghostlimb, and a wrestler teaming up to make hardcore punk leaning heavy into Thin Lizzy rock n’ roll, minus anything resembling melodic singing.  At times this really reminds me of some of the more rock-oriented hardcore that was coming out of the Boston scene in the early aughts like Suicide File, R n’ R, maybe a little Rival Mob, as well just a smidgen of Canadian brethren Fucked Up.  This is a debut however, so I think there’s some room for growth.  At times it lyrically gets a little too wordy and crams a lot into a short space, but the whole thing sounds like fun for the people making it.  For me, I think the band sound the most fun and engaging on the real quick ripper “Mental”, which is catchy, and quite sing-a-long-able.  And if you pick up an actual physical copy of this record the cover feels like it’s made out of corduroy.  Yo Tuna, you still making them crazy zines? (Pirates Press)

 

V/A, “Rhino Body Lover:  A Tribute To Shallow North Dakota” 2xCD

OK, let’s first get the strange title out of the way:  Shallow North Dakota were a 90’s sludge band out of Southern Ontario.  If there were ever a band’s band they were most certainly it.  Their output was not huge, but their sound was beyond massive.  While geography kept them somewhat isolated (I don’t know if they ever made it to the US for shows, despite being all of about 50 miles away) the riffs could not be constrained to mere borders and this 2-disc compilation ought to be proof of that.  Nearly 30 bands across the heavy noise rock spectrum have offered their worship of this band in the wake of the band’s drummer/vocalist Tony Jacome untimely demise last year.  All the profits of this go to his family, which is a kind gesture.  As for the bands representing on here- it’s pretty apparent that they have taken at least a sliver of inspiration from Shallow and by covering their songs (mostly pretty similar to the originals I might add, though Fuck the Facts speeds up “Open Minded”, which could be considered a cardinal sin to these titans of sludge) they shine a light on a band that is often spoken of in secretive, hushed voices and hopefully giving some life to their gargantuan sound.  Heavy hitters like The Great Sabatini, Cellos, Throat, Intercourse, Cell Press, Fuck the Facts, and The Grasshopper Lies Heavy all do their take on Shallow’s riff factory and do them justice.  While the price tag on all this is a bit more than one would expect (it is a benefit after all) there’s over two hours of music here so you certainly get your money’s worth.  (Learning Curve/ No ListRecords)

 

WOORMS/ THE GRASSHOPPER LIES HEAVY, “Various Plants and Animals Under Domestication” split 12”

The Grasshopper Lies Heavy may be waiting on like 5 of their records to actually be released in a physical format, but it certainly does not slow the band down from dishing out one molten slab of sonic heaviness after another, audio format be damned.  Here is a pretty quick follow up to their exceptional “A Cult That Worships a God Of Death” full length from last summer.  You get four songs taking up one side of this split.  The first two are in that lumbering, riffs-as-weapons style the band does so well and they certainly bring that noisy sludge and then stick it right in your brain hole.  Following that is an instrumental chaser that opens the door for the closer- an 8+ minute slow burner with a creeping melody that finds the band going in the other direction that they are known for taking on other records.  It’s a solid batch of tunes from these gearheads.

Woorms has the B-side with a single 20 minute track that moves through a number of different sections.  Things kick right off with some murder sludge straight from some long lost Electric Wizard album, complete with wacky samples before quickly adding some otherworldly sounds that you might find on a Gasp b-side or something.  At times they go into more mellow sections, or at least more quiet and subdued.  But they eventually bring back the Electric Wizard worship and get all acid-trip death cult on your ass while their vocalist pulls off his best Buzz Osbourne growl here and there.  I don’t generally roll with tunes that exceed 20 minutes, but there’s enough wild shit happening here to keep it entertaining most of the ride.

One last note- the actual physical record of this isn’t supposed to come out until November 2022 and they released the whole split digitally just now.  Personally that’s just weird to me, purposefully putting this out there so incredibly ahead of time and taking pre-orders on something where half the audience will probably move before their copies get in the mail.  Just wait a few months dawg, it’s cool.  (Forbidden Place Records)

HEX TO RELEASE DEBUT FULL LENGTH FROM STILL/FORM

 

Still / Form is a 3 piece band that emerged in the midst of the
stagnation of 2020, as people shuttered themselves in and thought of
ways to pass the time.

Guitarist/vocalist Robert Comitz’s previous band, Marriage + Cancer,
had recently dissolved and he was thinking of what was to come next.
After trading out some gear, messing around with new sounds and tones,
and coming across bassist Kirk Evans (Dark Numbers) and drummer Ryan
Losli (Almost Is Nothing/Ireshrine), Still / Form took shape.

They spent the better part of a year crafting songs in Comitz’s
recording studio, which made it easy to demo material as it came
together. As they got the songs to where they wanted them to be, Still
/ Form recorded an album’s worth of material.

By the summer of 2021, they came out of their recording cave and
played their first show. Things started moving along quickly after
that as the record went through several mixes, eventually being put
into the capable hands of Scott Evans (Kowloon Walled City) to work
his magic on it. The result is, “From the Rot Is a Gift”

Retaining some of the disturbing and jarring guitar work reminiscent
of Marriage + Cancer, but with a much more sludgy heft, Still / Form
plods and trudges through a gauntlet of experimental sounds, driving
bass, and sharp attack. Comitz’ raspy vocals provide an unsettling
disposition against the music that can’t simply be categorized as
‘metal’, or ‘noise rock’, but certainly can be filed into much broader
and less definable terms, such as ‘weird’ and ‘heavy’.

Hex Records will be releasing Still / Form’s debut full length, and in
the meantime the band will be out and about playing more shows.

For now, take a peek at some recent live footage of the band here:

IT'S THE END OF THE YEAR LIST YOU ALL KNEW IT WAS COMING.

 

I don't know about you, but this was the year for amazing EPs, singles, demos...  basically short records.  While a few LPs completely dominated (see the first two entries) there were so many good EPs that I was loving.  Don't know why.  That's just how my personal list played out.  Anyway, here's what was good for me this year, as well as some stuff I'm looking forward to next year.

 

TURNSTILE, “Glow On”

I’d say getting songs stuck in your head for multiple months is probably reason enough to add this to a year end list.  This an incredibly fun, engaging, and surprisingly very thoughtful record (well, minus “Dance Off”) and if you don’t want to bounce around and sing-along to this you might actually be dead inside.

 

QUICKSAND, “Distant Populations”

My favorite band ever has legit made some of their best songs.  I’m totally biased, but the band has really gotten their groove back of writing incredible songs together.  I couldn’t be more pleased.  This one has consistently gotten tons of play since it was released.

 

DRIP-FED, “Kill the Buzz”

Some of the most fun and ripping hardcore I’ve heard in quite awhile.  Super fun and melodic like the best Polar Bear Club jams paired up with the wild punk/hardcore energy of groups like Hour Of the Wolf to make this wonderful second LP from the Austin group.

 

BUMMER, “Dead Horse”

Total ass-beating music from this KC trio.  They make more noise between the three of them than a symphony of monster trucks tearing ass through a junkyard.  Riffs upon riffs upon riffs, heaped atop of pulverizing groove and a relentless drive to make some of the best new noise rock one could possibly ask for.

 

FIDDLEHEAD, “Between the Richness”

I was a bit biased against this group for no good reason previously.  I never really got into Have Heart and I got a bit uppity about hardcore kids acting like this band was re-inventing the wheel or something when countless emotional HC/indie bands from Rites Of Spring to Braid have pulled it off successfully over the years.  But I got over myself and realized this is just a really fucking good band who made a really fucking good record.  Super melodic, super driving, great vocals, and great songs.

 

 

Favorite EPs

 

PORCUPINE, “The Sybil”

Yes, bring on completely unhinged hardcore mayhem.  A band that covers Deadguy just as easily as they attempt a Suicide cover gets a nod in my book.  To me they sound like Rorschach for today’s world- making crazy music firmly rooted in fast hardcore, but completely open to taking chances on the unknown.  They did an excellent job with this ripping EP that comes in a really cool package and I hope they continue to make amazing new recordings at their seemingly furious pace.

 

CHERUBS, “Slo Blo 4 Frnz & Sxy”

You know I love weird and heavy and Cherubs are about as weird and heavy as it gets.  I don’t do drugs but Cherubs makes me think I do.  Can you break edge to audio recordings?  They recorded a few new songs and then offered digital versions (or just slow your record player to 33 rpm) of the same songs reallllly slow.  It’s fucked up.  But their sense of non-stop noisy feedback over the fuzziest of riffs and the wildest swinging drumbeat ever and vocals so off-kilter one wonders how people grow up to be this way.  I love it.  No one sounds like Cherubs and that’s what makes them incredible.

 

BRAIN CAVE, “Log World”

Post-hardcore leaning real heavy into the groove and riff, a foggy and grungy foot stomping affair from these Ohio dudes.  It’s not like they invented fire here, it just feels like these dudes read my mind in terms of the exact kind of music I love and laid it to tape.  A really nice follow up to their awesome full length from last year.

 

BEAUTY PILL, “Instant Night”

Another band that is incredibly one-of-a-kind.  Of course I can pick out things in their music that remind me of other genre defying artists, but they’re so far afield from one another that when Beauty Pill puts those pieces together it makes for something altogether whole and new.  If you can hang with Tortoise at the same time as De La Soul and musicians who play in museums you can appreciate Beauty Pill.

 

STUCK, “Content That Makes You Feel Good”

It took a bit to come around to Stuck, but after a bunch of listens I finally realized their full length from last year, “Change Is Bad” is super good.  So I got excited about this new EP, which is like a perfectly condensed summation of their sound that tells a story over five expertly-crafted post punk jams.  It’s so incredibly succinct and descriptive all at once through music and lyrics I’m blown away at the efficiency of it all.

 

COLONIAL WOUND, “Degradation”

Only three songs but total eardrum-blasting, angular and grooving metallic heaviness that hits all the right spots. Maybe I miss Coalesce and Engineer, and these Florida cats are just paying homage in the best way possible.  They will tear you in half.

 

KNUB, s/t

Look, I grew up in the 90s and heavy music that is not only real catchy but real heavy at the same time is like peanut butter and chocolate smashed together for me.  Knub have crafted the perfect 90’s-style heavy rock demo.  These guys are probably my age too so they know what they’re doing.

 WIPES, "Dumpster"/"You're the Boss"

Look, Tile was one of the goddamned heaviest bands ever, and equally as pissed.  This new iteration of Tile/new band is friggin' heavy and throws some curveballs in there too.  You're just not ready for what they're going to bring.

Runner ups

 

GLOOP, “Crayon Sun”

Super weird and noisy punk that these cats have been banging out for a few years now and they just really nailed it here.  Sassy chaotic punk without making you want to punch them in the face for it.

 

EKULU, “Unscrew My Head”

Hard-fucking-core.  Dudes with chops making well-crafted bangers that can throw thrash, NYHC style, Clevo style, and a bit of their own unique thing into a blender and churn out a face-crusher as a result.

 

OVLOV, “Buds”

Consistency is the name of the game for Ovlov, except this one is better.  Dino Jr worship with some added stoner rock buzz/bliss.  “Cheer Up, Chihiro!” when it brings that sax in…  man.  They’re on it.

 

 

I actually saw live music this year and these were my favorite shows

 

 

GAYTHIEST/ PET WEAPON, Kenton Club, Portland 7.24- The first indoor show I’d been to in over a year with probably the most fun band you could possibly go see.  It was like a great little reunion for all the people you’re accustomed to seeing at shows with a band that welcomes all to have a fun time with.  And we all had a lot of fun

 

 

BULLY, Mississippi Studios, Portland, 9.6- Bully are such a great live band.  They just tear it the heck up and write really damn good songs.  “Sugaregg” was one of the better records released a couple years back and it was cool to finally hear a whole bunch of those songs live.

 

 

QUICKSAND, Wonder Ballroom, Portland, 10.11-  Duh, it’s Quicksand.  They played their amazing new album, as well as a ton of songs you already love them for.  Steve Brodsky played second guitar and brought magic to the stage.  They never looked like they were having more fun than they were that night.  I was overwhelmed with joy.

 

 

Looking forward to in 2022:

 

 -All the records I ordered in 2021

 

-Drug Church, “Hygiene”

 

-Bitter Branches, “Your Neighbors Are Failures”

 

-Cloakroom, “Dissolution Wave”

 

-new stuff from Easy Prey, Still/Form, Colonial Wound, Wipes, Knub, Brain Cave, Mums, Truth Cult (hopefully)

 

-Pinko going on tour in April

 

-That Turnstile/Truth Cult/Ekulu tour in May

 

-Hopefully recording some new music this year with Dialysis, maybe play a show or two?