Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Suma - Ashes




Suma's 'Let The Churches Burn' was one of my personal bangers for quite some time. It's got the slow stoner drone of Sleep with the heavy-hitting weight of bands like Conan and Sunn. Though don't be afraid, this isn't a drone doom album that's just going to consist of senseless filler, this record sports riffs out the ass. With explorative noise passages accompanying the destruction, how can a true lover of doom not stand in awe at Suma's craft. Very impressive.


For Fans of: Conan, Sunn, Electric Wizard, Grief, Winter

ERRYDAY SMOKE WEED

Diocletian Live at Rites of Darkness II




Great live recording of Diocletian from Rites of Darkness II on December 11th 2010. The recording was made by Vorfeed .


Download it in MP3 or FLAC


Circle Takes The Square - Rites of Initiation




So emotive hardcore legends Circle Takes The Square are back for another go. This time it's still pretty raw but clean and concise parts ebb and flow through the mix as usual. The song structures are chaotic and tumultuous but still deliver that raw punk fury. Turns out that this is only 1/3 of their new record and that the rest will be out in November! Well, we've waited 7 years for new music so what's a little longer? Download the 4 new songs below!

ZING

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Interview with Traitor's Chris Friday




First I would like to thank you for taking the time to do this interview.

Not a problem.

How did you and your band mates start making music together?

The typical answer: Our old bands fell apart. It began with two determined individuals who were looking for an opening to escape their dissatisfaction with the tiresome routine of "everyday" life and their past musical ventures. Then we became three. Then five, and then three again. Finally, after arduous lineup changes, Nate and Cody fell into our laps and everything just clicked.

What inspired you to combine black metal and hardcore. Bands like Iskra, Martyrdöd and Young and In The Way have long made such a combination the center of their sound. How are you doing this differently? What was your motivation?

It was something that just sort of happened. It just felt right. I feel that our sound is a healthy blend of what our influences are rooted in, which is black metal and hardcore punk, but at the same time, we also try to step outside of the box and touch on everybody's individual influences to try and capture a more unique sound. We don't try to limit ourselves. We just want to be the band that we've always wanted to hear.

Black metal is a very elite community. How do you think black metal fans will view your music? How do you think hardcore fans will view the black metal elements in your music?

I feel that we've been well received by black metal and death metal fans, but we've certainly raised an eyebrow amongst the "hardcore" community.

What are your favorite things about the black metal sound?

The raw, natural, dark energy it creates.

Being from the Detroit area, what do you think of the local music scene? More importantly what do you think of the current state of local hardcore music?

Michigan's weird. The majority of bands playing "heavy music" in this area tend to sound uninspired, bland, and rather unimpressive. However, there is a growing amount of people scattered across the state that are doing pretty fantastic things, i.e. Discerned, Bearfoot (we're putting out a 10'' split with them this fall), Isenblast, Dredd, Against the Grain, Steamroller, Damages, Shades of Red, Wells, Cloud Rat, Time to Deal, Come Out Fighting, etc. The list goes on and on.

The hardcore scene in certain aspects has succombed to being more concerned with keeping itself divided rather than establishing an overall community, but I think it's safe to say that this will pass over time.

I saw on your page that you guys dig on Neurosis. I'm a huge fan of their music. Do you find yourself incorporating any elements of their sound into your music?

There's definitely a strong Neurosis influence on the newer material we've been writing. We wanted to experiment with a more atmospheric and sludgy sound than we have been on our past releases.

What current artists out there inspire you guys the most?

As a whole, I'd say everybody's influenced by Converge and Scandinavian metal/punk, but individually, we're kind of all over the spectrum. Nick (vocals) is really into NYHC and early 90's and early 2000's metalcore, stuff like Starkweather and Merauder. Nate (guitar) is a total black metal and death metal junkie. I'm (Chris, guitar) mostly influenced by black metal and d-beat/crust punk. Jeremy (bass) is a post-rock/post-metal enthusiast, and Cody (drums) is essentially a parallel to Nate, but he cites Metallica as being his biggest influence growing up.

Are there any words that you'd like to share with all of the young musicians out in the Michigan scene right now?

Not necessarily, but thank you for the opportunity to do this interview.

Friday, August 12, 2011

Stormcrow



Another discography post? You must be off your fucking rocker kid! Well, it's fucking Stormcrow so sit back and shut your mouth before the stench settles on your teeth.

Let's all be honest, what the fuck is stenchcore? I don't know and to be honest, I don't care but if it's what Stormcrow sounds like I'm all in. Stormcrow add a lot of metallic elements to their music and bring it all together in a very nice package. There's some doom, some thrash, some sludge, some death; it's all there with that crust perforating its battle-hardened backbone. Sadly they're no longer playing together.

Enslaved in Darkness

Stormcrow/Sanctum Split

Stormcrow/Skaven Split

Stormcrow/MassGrave Split

"Sacred Death" Stormcrow/Laudanum Split

Stormcrow/Coffins Split

The highlights include "Enslaved in Darkness", their split with Skaven and their split with Coffins. It's all good but these are the ones that get continuous play from me.

MassGrave




MassGrave are a grinding crust band from Canada and over the years they've managed to hone their crust craft into a force to be reckoned with. Face-bashing beats, gnarly riffs and inhuman vocals bring the package all together. Jam this shit and burn your money because where we're going the rich are all dead in the fucking gutter!

"Survival of The Richest" Split with Catheter

MassGrave/Warfair? Split

People Are The Problem

MassGrave/Pretty Little Flower Split

"Victims of a Bong Raid" MassGrave/Poser Disposer Split

MassGrave/Think Don't Prey Split

5 Years of Grinding Crustcore

MassGrave/Stormcrow

MassGrave/In Disgust

Warcollapse - Divine Intoxication



Warcollapse combine elements of crust, raw Scandi d-beat punk and grind. You can definitely hear the Napalm Death influence flowing through their guitar work and vocals while the driving drumming is (as always) accredited to Discharge. Great, powerful crust that drives itself with great beats, engaging vocal dynamics and a great message.

CRVST

Young and in the Way




This band is tearing shit up in the best ways. Get over here and listen to their shit at full blast for free! Then you can head over to Headfirst Records to grab their new 7", A389 for their re-releases of 'Amen' and 'I Am Not What I Am' OR you can buy all of that and more RIGHT now straight from them over this bandcamp page. Support something awesome and pony up some of your fun money for good music.

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Young and In The Way/Torch Runner Split




First I'd like to comment on this split's beautiful packaging. The outer sleeve's artwork is great for both sides and the inner picture is haunting as fuck. The liner notes look silk screened, the grey ink on the black stock paper looks and feels great to the touch. Well worth my money and WELL WORTH yours.

The Torch Runner side of the split starts up with a song that finds them trying to bite on some blackened crust but delves into a slower drive that build up into the next track where they reveal their blistering speed and throat-ripping vocals at full tilt.

Young and in The Way's side starts off with 'Rehash', a ripping track full of great riffs and a great weight to it. I'll probably be screaming "I've got your name!" at the top of my lungs for days to come. 'Provenance' opens up with a face-ripping speed and ends with slowed intensity but never abandoning that fire. Without a chance to breath you're introduced to 'Death' the slow and tortured epilogue to this side of the split. Short sweet and sludgy, it ends with a haunting soundscape that I can only equate to the noise you hear when you OD on monk's hood.

Once again this split is well worth your time and money. Great music, short and sweet with no frills. Buy it here.

WORSHIP DEATH

Young and in the Way - I Am Not What I Am



Yound and in The Way's brand of metallic crust is one that seems to be spreading quickly. Taking hints from Iskra and Martyrdöd they combine their charging crust not with the predictable european black metal sound but instead concoct a might brew with distilled elements of bands like Leviathan and Judas Iscariot, favoring the raw USBM sound over anything else. The ripping riffs collide and separate with ethereal consistency without abandoning the piss and vinegar of their intial attack. Great songwriting, great riffs; great punk fucking rock. Get into it.


Let them HATE, so long as they fear.

For Fans Of: Traitor, Martyrdöd, Converge, Iskra, Trap Them

Dopethrone - Demonsmoke



Ever wondered what Eyehategod would sound like if they had Attila Csihar as their vocalist? Well this is your dream come true! Dopethrone take EHG's brand of NOLA hatred and imbue it with demonic fire from the depths of the deepest bong load. Their riffs slug it out over groovy-as-fuck drums that drive the entire thing straight over the top. Pure doom bliss for those of us who like the slow 'n' heavy.

For Fans Of: Grief, Electric Wizard, Eyehategod, BuzzOv*en, Bongripper

SMOKE UP YA CUNT

Saturday, August 6, 2011

Tsjuder - Kill For Satan




Tsjuder rip out of the cold landscapes of Norway with a great piece of black metal fraught with cold (but still devastating) guitar tone, great vocal dynamics and drums that avoid the BLASTBLASTBLASTBLASTBLASTBLASTBLAST trap that many bands of their ilk seem to fall into. With riffs that seem to be a tad bit death metal inspired they're not afraid to forsake haunting melody/ferocity for rhythmic passages that pummel. Great band. Looking forward to catching them at MDF this year.

HAIL AND KILL

For Fans Of: Beherit, Black Witchery, Gorgoroth

Morta Skuld - Dying Remains



Morta Skuld always seem to be one of those bands that people overlook when it comes to 90's death metal. Their sound isn't occult in nature or really all that 'brutal' but they do play a highly potent blend of death metal that definitely makes them stand out from the crowd. Their ability to craft unique and engaging riffs is second to none. Did I mention the sick guitar tone on this album? Basically, if you can imagine a shovel digging into graveyard dirt you have a good idea what they sound like. Grab it. Listen to it and buy their new comp on Relapase entitled 'Through The Eyes of Death' to get your hands on some of their crucial demo material for the first time in almost 20 years!

FACE SHREDDING DEATH

Monday, August 1, 2011

Michigan bands that deserve your support

In this day and age it's hard to find bands worth your time. With rising gas prices deciding who you want to go support usually shorts out the locals because you figure "Oh, they'll be around. I can catch them again." But it's that very school of thought that damages our local scene. There are great bands that you can see all the time and support and these bands are deserving of your support because of the thankless work that they put into constructing great music for their community.

Beast In The Field
(Stoner/Doom)

Bruxism
(Grind)

Genocya
(Soul Thrashing Black Sorcery)

Nurse Ratched
(Stoner Grind)

Sauron
(Thrash)

DrinkHorn
(Black Metal)

Shit Life
(Grindcore)

Burn The Hearse
(Thrash)

Pig Champion Needs Support!




Our friends in Pig Champion need your help in order to record their next record! Support these dudes, not because we ask you; but because they deserve it. Lend a helping hand to good music. If you were in their position, you'd want the same thing from your scene. SUPPORT!

Donate here! Every dollar counts!