tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52886544530091415422024-02-08T04:18:13.812+11:00CacophemismsCacophemismshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00458855565095934854noreply@blogger.comBlogger100125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288654453009141542.post-41048474304126696902019-01-07T03:10:00.000+11:002019-05-27T23:14:44.394+10:002018 in reviewAs it turns out, this is Cacophemisms' 100th post. The 99th post was published two years ago. Even though enthusiasm for the blog has clearly faded, I decided not to shut it down entirely, just in case I ever felt the urge to tap out some words again.<br />
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And here we are, at the end of 2018, a year in which humanity's abject failings spilled out in a constant stream with a seemingly unending viscous, splattering thud. Going into specifics about the state of the world is utterly pointless here because (if anyone actually even reads this) doing so would only trigger the emotional reactions and ideological prejudices that self interested politicians, businesses and advertisers exploit in us daily by curating meaningless, incendiary rhetoric (lies) that we are all too willing to propagate every time we slide our grubby fingers across our touch screens. The public sphere has been reduced to a place of hysterical screaming, where uninformed opinions and degrading insults are ubiquitous. Too often we succumb to the addictive compulsion to be heard, even if we have nothing meaningful to say, rather than exercise the patience and effort required to listen, learn or understand.<br />
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But that's not what this is about. This blog started as a way for a few friends to share thoughts, impressions and tips about the music we love. In that spirit, it's the music that provided me with inspiration and an escape from the bombardment of human self defeat and wasted potential throughout 2018 that has driven me to finally log back in and type up some reflections.</div>
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So here goes...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixafF4DrIjd0lWKjOlvFvMm7f_fy6D6S-mc1rJ-OfU00nTKpBRr0gKTzn1zSBFEgVQmpz-HioKX9GK23KJdQLQk_TG44bCAlw0ZfNR3V0TXHa49zC3Kz9Sb1YCizxLVmnnPbCTjXBmF-Fm/s1600/sleepsciences.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixafF4DrIjd0lWKjOlvFvMm7f_fy6D6S-mc1rJ-OfU00nTKpBRr0gKTzn1zSBFEgVQmpz-HioKX9GK23KJdQLQk_TG44bCAlw0ZfNR3V0TXHa49zC3Kz9Sb1YCizxLVmnnPbCTjXBmF-Fm/s200/sleepsciences.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIy8vFS3XSadBEoAfQ-1l63NaSxECVHSEHHxdHIN8Cha6riZ0unHENRzHn-9pEx_n_spk1QIftp4lUAktrz3ultRmlvDwqA9VrxfShwjWO_1dZgReXzNrp-mk9o9dTpF4iumlIPzBgn7ok/s1600/hof.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIy8vFS3XSadBEoAfQ-1l63NaSxECVHSEHHxdHIN8Cha6riZ0unHENRzHn-9pEx_n_spk1QIftp4lUAktrz3ultRmlvDwqA9VrxfShwjWO_1dZgReXzNrp-mk9o9dTpF4iumlIPzBgn7ok/s1600/hof.jpg" /></a><b>Sleep</b>. There was a palpable air of excitement in the text messages and emails that shot around the morning <i>The Sciences</i> was released by stealth, and that communal buzz made the experience of listening to the album all the more enjoyable. It was powerful and mesmerising upon first contact, and the details that subsequently became clearer ensured its impact over time. In particular, I got a huge kick out of Jason Roeder's cymbals in "Marijuanaut's Theme", the gradual building of the gargantuan end section in "Giza Butler", and the way "The Botanist" leads hypnotically to the disorienting realisation that the album is over. Of course, Matt Pike's solos were searing. And if that wasn't enough, Pike further cemented his ever growing legend with both a toe amputation and the release of <b>High on Fire</b>'s blistering, raucous <i>Electric Messiah</i>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxdPeE-jGmqVt-McaZUlEid8yBzU_3_M7ECNf5zZ-EHg3_NpZQXYy_dCWxYyGI6QlVu-qRGQ6arWVFXj92jnhToXBOoqLMnN6cLHi6oat2A1fsCpUWkqcjJ81BYl4-_nHZwH_gbS4kTP62/s1600/brainoil.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxdPeE-jGmqVt-McaZUlEid8yBzU_3_M7ECNf5zZ-EHg3_NpZQXYy_dCWxYyGI6QlVu-qRGQ6arWVFXj92jnhToXBOoqLMnN6cLHi6oat2A1fsCpUWkqcjJ81BYl4-_nHZwH_gbS4kTP62/s1600/brainoil.jpg" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-TCmxtt5llCAGCelxOZXhNUJOSlkmXWFm_Bv87axmUVnvGvfTz6DH2qBS97SJ3uSE8x2bRi-9z_FOfFeqm4KwZyNUd5rfYrGvxQ4bsIU5aDs3QBWEQQw7XoCf3aEctm2zVcK7dvBbRvkE/s1600/tragedy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-TCmxtt5llCAGCelxOZXhNUJOSlkmXWFm_Bv87axmUVnvGvfTz6DH2qBS97SJ3uSE8x2bRi-9z_FOfFeqm4KwZyNUd5rfYrGvxQ4bsIU5aDs3QBWEQQw7XoCf3aEctm2zVcK7dvBbRvkE/s1600/tragedy.jpg" /></a>While nothing here is presented in any particular order, I need to mention <b>Brainoil</b> early. <i>Singularity to Extinction</i> was exactly the short, sharp, ripping onslaught of sludgy death metal/punk I was hoping for. Its grim ruminations on the incursion of technology into our lives were delivered with pure savagery and some of the sickest riffs I heard all year. <b>Tragedy</b> sparked a similar reaction with the welcome release of their <i>Fury</i> EP, which saw them (and their pick slides) returning to faster, shorter songs and delivering their trademark blazing, bombastic d-beat with a slightly more anthemic bent.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoPX4DtSVtO3Rh8NlUAOmQnoy9zxdY2Ld9tP4BsyU68JiuG0lutuRizq8rd5M9-M-hTn-WMfpLk5JuA83BMoYaBiNGQh2KgjyXW3JkMXu4u4GO1r0YodU3j5fJnJbBGap06hdwIlKw_h11/s1600/et.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoPX4DtSVtO3Rh8NlUAOmQnoy9zxdY2Ld9tP4BsyU68JiuG0lutuRizq8rd5M9-M-hTn-WMfpLk5JuA83BMoYaBiNGQh2KgjyXW3JkMXu4u4GO1r0YodU3j5fJnJbBGap06hdwIlKw_h11/s1600/et.jpg" /></a></div>
I have been surprised that <i>The Thundering Heard: Songs of Hoof and Horn</i> by <b>Eagle Twin</b> has been fairly absent from other year end lists and pieces, because it utterly blew me away. The sheer stupefying heaviness of the music produced by this unique duo ought to suffice, but the songs on this album were crafted brilliantly, churning with overblown melodrama and suspense, and providing more accessibility (see: fun; groove) in the immediately propulsive, earth shattering rhythms than those on earlier albums.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdhWga7pNJqSFHYJYTstJ3chVmeFVbjGphl1TmbFnYQ5hSL7TUNuJ-_QhcN3bwHf5be8uyddL4w3txACIMb8trvw38VdtNbGYqPdA07nYIvJclN_2vf8SC28AeMlrR-8QoXRXz6uB3Hd_Z/s1600/sumac.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdhWga7pNJqSFHYJYTstJ3chVmeFVbjGphl1TmbFnYQ5hSL7TUNuJ-_QhcN3bwHf5be8uyddL4w3txACIMb8trvw38VdtNbGYqPdA07nYIvJclN_2vf8SC28AeMlrR-8QoXRXz6uB3Hd_Z/s1600/sumac.jpg" /></a>I tend to think of <b>Sumac</b> as another band that, even more so than Eagle Twin, is creating something genuinely new and inspiring in heavy music that subverts and renders irrelevant many old tropes and cliches. This was exemplified on the challenging but engaging <i>Love in Shadow</i>, which built on 2016's <i>What One Becomes</i> by traveling more freely, intuitively and dynamically between quiet, focused experimentation and torrential volume and intensity.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyqy0mPhYsZugeiMy8ruHEynOFguHkdZIF0E9yN6_oTs-1SkWRfqTry7j8XvGDNjAJfMXd5iNIqPnTTTWu2nlIHXdF0mtQePeopzwhsXQs9fspOZuDW_2yeQ7DcKDK78MhhbdBBj5kQa7k/s1600/vc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyqy0mPhYsZugeiMy8ruHEynOFguHkdZIF0E9yN6_oTs-1SkWRfqTry7j8XvGDNjAJfMXd5iNIqPnTTTWu2nlIHXdF0mtQePeopzwhsXQs9fspOZuDW_2yeQ7DcKDK78MhhbdBBj5kQa7k/s1600/vc.jpg" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjG1PRakSaT_XaEe_LU8IgVTs4jW-Yt9w9Usftu5xocnUo7bUkf4kkg8H894iU2UO2tSPypFlTWP1_BaNj7WmcZhxYtHlEAUyG5KMr_KNFvcFLp3IvXquX5Xgbv3silUOb_9At8K9FO3C7/s1600/windhand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjG1PRakSaT_XaEe_LU8IgVTs4jW-Yt9w9Usftu5xocnUo7bUkf4kkg8H894iU2UO2tSPypFlTWP1_BaNj7WmcZhxYtHlEAUyG5KMr_KNFvcFLp3IvXquX5Xgbv3silUOb_9At8K9FO3C7/s1600/windhand.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7HEw6Gd9qSZKDt3d6XA9fXVwUpm0ZFXkB8J1UOOM1Y5pxt1DoGnatpRzIh7RoYaxbVw0rfagb1joLUfCNV8QkIdbiCTDCheRh_I85MFXWW8KP1QDRpE_i90UlxG-NXvsXGIlx-JFhFcJ8/s1600/un.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7HEw6Gd9qSZKDt3d6XA9fXVwUpm0ZFXkB8J1UOOM1Y5pxt1DoGnatpRzIh7RoYaxbVw0rfagb1joLUfCNV8QkIdbiCTDCheRh_I85MFXWW8KP1QDRpE_i90UlxG-NXvsXGIlx-JFhFcJ8/s1600/un.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR-1gur-NZ9X9YJirqptIyAkSq3iulY_EFufoyzdZTOyemCaw630AlF8R5e-rZ5u6mWG53FsJVS-BoxNnw6ZrrB-YJgI1Kc_FA4DYIqVTlyvKtFLSjy3-eZTd8d9CWYe5n5O_cbH2VvFt5/s1600/messa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR-1gur-NZ9X9YJirqptIyAkSq3iulY_EFufoyzdZTOyemCaw630AlF8R5e-rZ5u6mWG53FsJVS-BoxNnw6ZrrB-YJgI1Kc_FA4DYIqVTlyvKtFLSjy3-eZTd8d9CWYe5n5O_cbH2VvFt5/s1600/messa.jpg" /></a>There was a huge amount of superb doom, sludge and related music released in 2018. <b>Vile Creature</b> really stood out with <i>Cast of Static and Smoke</i>, an epic album based on a dystopian short story that was written by the band and provided with the LP, and which was also made available as an audiobook with its own separate score. <b>Windhand</b> delivered their highly engrossing, soulful take on the genre once again with <i>Eternal Return</i>, which offered a slightly lighter mood than previous albums.<br />
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Italy's <b>Messa</b> wove captivating jazz instrumentation into the rumbling, melodic <i>Feast for Water</i>, which was fantastic. And <i>Sentiment</i> by <b>Un</b> was an album of vast and varied funeral doom with well considered changes and progressions that kept things interesting throughout.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgk1yl2cTB8vxTLHhGSM6Q2DmO2Xb8C-DiT1hv4Y5WpkJ7QqhlYWGGdkt3TMWu4_jdrdms-zDuJvaSE3a7o67_0Z7PdPHuzPdELuhi_NEsD1aekSjAHENBoH07-BM_SxcwLqkKivrproR_/s1600/yob.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgk1yl2cTB8vxTLHhGSM6Q2DmO2Xb8C-DiT1hv4Y5WpkJ7QqhlYWGGdkt3TMWu4_jdrdms-zDuJvaSE3a7o67_0Z7PdPHuzPdELuhi_NEsD1aekSjAHENBoH07-BM_SxcwLqkKivrproR_/s1600/yob.jpg" /></a></div>
The ever impressive <b>Yob</b> is still love, and the magnificent <i>Our Raw Heart</i> cannot be forgotten. For all the album's grandiosity, which we have come to expect from Yob, it was also quite direct, particularly in more aggressive tracks like "The Screen" and "Original Face". I read an interview somewhere, in which Mike Scheidt talked about the different approach he had to take to his vocals on this album after his prolonged hospitalisation. That really comes through, but provides some new aspects for long time fans to enjoy.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg95bZG2mT8YqDIfHVZ7ae5N3Em_ho4AgUu1KuT8OHQj8YQWBcKbNEkCSMUWivw9Vc__mZzAiU5lRWIsbxqOaKjegyUkePh4OUJxvEJGTs3QaMV_tlqT-EJ_8C2Iz-17BKhxOU0r4IZHN-t/s1600/thou.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg95bZG2mT8YqDIfHVZ7ae5N3Em_ho4AgUu1KuT8OHQj8YQWBcKbNEkCSMUWivw9Vc__mZzAiU5lRWIsbxqOaKjegyUkePh4OUJxvEJGTs3QaMV_tlqT-EJ_8C2Iz-17BKhxOU0r4IZHN-t/s1600/thou.jpg" /></a><b>Thou</b> owned the middle part of the year, releasing two splits (with The Hirs Collective and the excellent Ragana), three EPs and the towering <i>Magus</i> LP. These releases all added something new and exciting to this vital, prolific band's disproportionately large body of work, and further proved that they will not be limited by the oppressively heavy sludge they have mastered. But to avoid repeating the large amount of coverage they received during the year, I'll just say that, as always, I'm looking forward to whatever they do next.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-cYNwWe9tqowrA5GuUhVs0e1Ta_7yT-GKisHcTHW8KYE85vQqa4c68L_MwtGCmkLhKARiZb8DkF6mK6CuOpXoyZVCZ2r7ccEiM9nRBe5j50fQ7eP1PIbVjpMUmzXCbAtILRFBaUfaxn-_/s1600/marijannah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-cYNwWe9tqowrA5GuUhVs0e1Ta_7yT-GKisHcTHW8KYE85vQqa4c68L_MwtGCmkLhKARiZb8DkF6mK6CuOpXoyZVCZ2r7ccEiM9nRBe5j50fQ7eP1PIbVjpMUmzXCbAtILRFBaUfaxn-_/s1600/marijannah.jpg" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibNxpw6eWe8IBoNIntbePf5DfUmg7vIW3viCXHyF1CEtcT5hyphenhyphenGn6Wy_SCOv01s_l4H438N3p3ghMOShhEpeUBrNU2r8odThpicIKLVBxP96OfqzguC0eAktNyBUravtNPTDdQbGNIwBdIy/s1600/earthless.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibNxpw6eWe8IBoNIntbePf5DfUmg7vIW3viCXHyF1CEtcT5hyphenhyphenGn6Wy_SCOv01s_l4H438N3p3ghMOShhEpeUBrNU2r8odThpicIKLVBxP96OfqzguC0eAktNyBUravtNPTDdQbGNIwBdIy/s1600/earthless.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRJUYmwTUGfe2va9QL4HXklBxlOD8ARQnbBy_ETqiY_LFKGLZ6QrXsZHtMAK6SUTiqDn3SADMHkoG3snyFqkDY8TngeM03Hwq1zx2VC9s9qpkmoY2fD6ASBG-Yb2jup_-tvwkYGYQXTAvb/s1600/fu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRJUYmwTUGfe2va9QL4HXklBxlOD8ARQnbBy_ETqiY_LFKGLZ6QrXsZHtMAK6SUTiqDn3SADMHkoG3snyFqkDY8TngeM03Hwq1zx2VC9s9qpkmoY2fD6ASBG-Yb2jup_-tvwkYGYQXTAvb/s1600/fu.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw7iEwqlRBOnegBkESg65HQP25wx5of7bphnnfQdoZtk0XurJtrJjMo2UB0D1s-iUMB7R5Ym-ZUNHDOSn0yZ5SOzQnKDRu95hyphenhyphen_u48rmUt3eBam9oCaha65O5O3lagI7cSaiAhRXIga7zv/s1600/Graveyard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw7iEwqlRBOnegBkESg65HQP25wx5of7bphnnfQdoZtk0XurJtrJjMo2UB0D1s-iUMB7R5Ym-ZUNHDOSn0yZ5SOzQnKDRu95hyphenhyphen_u48rmUt3eBam9oCaha65O5O3lagI7cSaiAhRXIga7zv/s1600/Graveyard.jpg" /></a>Singapore's <b>Marijannah</b> offered up an awesome dose of psychedelic stoner/'70s rock in the form of <i>Till Marijannah</i>, which featured some very catchy guitar lines within its melodic loudness. In a similar vein, <b>Earthless</b> dialled down the extended jams for more standard song structures and imbued them with Isaiah Mitchell's affecting voice on <i>Black Heaven</i>, with great results.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEcDv-YMM4HW7RgjSzxO5Nym71f0XmgqsRUeWoA7eG444PdXAQID57LYb-e2E7il5k0UUoBrBTtefcGEUwfFKzkvxZI0aHqFe0_a7_Al575SIo1AvczobGPuELcKT4DSy4SWGwTt9Z2Ky1/s1600/khemmis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEcDv-YMM4HW7RgjSzxO5Nym71f0XmgqsRUeWoA7eG444PdXAQID57LYb-e2E7il5k0UUoBrBTtefcGEUwfFKzkvxZI0aHqFe0_a7_Al575SIo1AvczobGPuELcKT4DSy4SWGwTt9Z2Ky1/s1600/khemmis.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7E4Ass-3ZMOSM6JvobDuJYun_cs0oR7Pc7Xw5_i-C6Xfn5wbV0kyWEAyVXAChBR95oWAKbVgc_CmZ69_DqfOeYusHkaJgfRC0jk2bzwbptgcHxXMU42qctWSBmoOh2VYqVchrLW79H9bn/s1600/ua.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7E4Ass-3ZMOSM6JvobDuJYun_cs0oR7Pc7Xw5_i-C6Xfn5wbV0kyWEAyVXAChBR95oWAKbVgc_CmZ69_DqfOeYusHkaJgfRC0jk2bzwbptgcHxXMU42qctWSBmoOh2VYqVchrLW79H9bn/s1600/ua.jpg" /></a><b><br /></b>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7E4Ass-3ZMOSM6JvobDuJYun_cs0oR7Pc7Xw5_i-C6Xfn5wbV0kyWEAyVXAChBR95oWAKbVgc_CmZ69_DqfOeYusHkaJgfRC0jk2bzwbptgcHxXMU42qctWSBmoOh2VYqVchrLW79H9bn/s1600/ua.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><b>Graveyard</b> brought the boogie woogie rock in fine style with <i>Peace</i>, which I thought was their best album since <i>Hisingen Blues</i>. <b>Fu Manchu</b> nailed what they do best with <i>Clone of the Universe</i>, and pulled out a special treat with the 21 minute "Il Mostro Atomico", a joyride featuring Alex Lifeson from Rush.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpySgUy24l21-ImUfbrnpwzuzfg0dp2Bue75Z2A0pmbUfJg2aLXelbeRguS1CrMLpJuZSOmOl6ACeMR6ghU0ErbzMInHovmYXDfJxPDHyw5aPF-PP_nCU-SnKIZdOe0DoMkQoh4ELhvxux/s1600/rt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpySgUy24l21-ImUfbrnpwzuzfg0dp2Bue75Z2A0pmbUfJg2aLXelbeRguS1CrMLpJuZSOmOl6ACeMR6ghU0ErbzMInHovmYXDfJxPDHyw5aPF-PP_nCU-SnKIZdOe0DoMkQoh4ELhvxux/s1600/rt.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPP7Nn2uwxy0l3kVwl9AZWoiCRCLkRV1F2PtPoLBoOpOoGH0dnG351ZCTnzPuTPlnmjmqXQ_6lv9AAW1FWH1MThI5MPndYc68p2UKt7eMI91Cqn8nF95iM-JXLpnko1-paSMGYH2uJiOEE/s1600/trappist.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPP7Nn2uwxy0l3kVwl9AZWoiCRCLkRV1F2PtPoLBoOpOoGH0dnG351ZCTnzPuTPlnmjmqXQ_6lv9AAW1FWH1MThI5MPndYc68p2UKt7eMI91Cqn8nF95iM-JXLpnko1-paSMGYH2uJiOEE/s1600/trappist.jpg" /></a><b>Uncle Acid & the Deadbeats</b> put out one of their most immediately enjoyable albums to date, with <i>Wasteland</i>. The main riff in "Shockwave City" is gold. And <b>Khemmis</b>, whose modern interpretation of classic metal honours the doom and prog rock of yore, dazzled with the further refinement and evolution of their craft evident on <i>Desolation</i>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTuOSbfMozaS_AFYKve1d7zkGWYmON4pAngK7LN36W_Y-Twc7klN8fL0YKchwhN14VSNvUUtWPmTf8s3TSIq__XVVfZCPjUo8wrCHBoJMnmum3vYfky_3Gena1Ysh5Yv4EVNsfe4Fa1LeL/s1600/at.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTuOSbfMozaS_AFYKve1d7zkGWYmON4pAngK7LN36W_Y-Twc7klN8fL0YKchwhN14VSNvUUtWPmTf8s3TSIq__XVVfZCPjUo8wrCHBoJMnmum3vYfky_3Gena1Ysh5Yv4EVNsfe4Fa1LeL/s1600/at.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Id9cz9eAWNm7JFgMQMx_pn0mdt7BTz5dtX4ZtOCrKCqWyzEuPIDi4XVtfHwmEafhhT20T8Y_mSsFI-oKvTSWWfI_rblfDtmosvXbZbDXSnLpMIcp4XXyEriQdpcrfKIHIXcCJRiZgMRx/s1600/extremity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Id9cz9eAWNm7JFgMQMx_pn0mdt7BTz5dtX4ZtOCrKCqWyzEuPIDi4XVtfHwmEafhhT20T8Y_mSsFI-oKvTSWWfI_rblfDtmosvXbZbDXSnLpMIcp4XXyEriQdpcrfKIHIXcCJRiZgMRx/s1600/extremity.jpg" /></a>Moving into faster territory, <b>Trappist</b>'s <i>Ancient Brewing Tactics</i> had me grinning from ear to ear with it's absolutely killer craft beer themed power violence. And <b>Racetraitor</b> returned to unleash livid protest and social commentary through slicing, shredding hardcore with touches of noise and ambience on <i>2042</i>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnCCISvAbnW-ORioFzJ7D8HEkJOSnlc-SxrVrsOHeB5Yh57lR1ndwiZ2afGYHyJaWjN7UPgsEDDfyZUKrQCDtHq92TFQx-bBUofyDAG40c53b9kisyY7nTz_0yPZVfmqk7pEZaMxJBSTlb/s1600/ulthar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnCCISvAbnW-ORioFzJ7D8HEkJOSnlc-SxrVrsOHeB5Yh57lR1ndwiZ2afGYHyJaWjN7UPgsEDDfyZUKrQCDtHq92TFQx-bBUofyDAG40c53b9kisyY7nTz_0yPZVfmqk7pEZaMxJBSTlb/s1600/ulthar.jpg" /></a>Although it would not be hard to dismiss <b>Anal Trump</b> as a gimmick, they actually produced an incredibly fun and solid 11 minute grind platter with <i>The First 100 Songs</i>, which I actually think might have pissed off both Individual-1 and Seth Putnam if they had ever heard it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3bGpGmOQXNDeZ6z_b6vqabwfwUzsseFXzhz5Tc9dMS02aiZMGUHhLlNHiD5qqrdFO3Fpc-moNGL87KT2dkbpLIk0PH2ZiRN0k4sqhQegkm9-uQjmcetCmzzOpFzr95_yNzSEJNNODgYP0/s1600/if.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3bGpGmOQXNDeZ6z_b6vqabwfwUzsseFXzhz5Tc9dMS02aiZMGUHhLlNHiD5qqrdFO3Fpc-moNGL87KT2dkbpLIk0PH2ZiRN0k4sqhQegkm9-uQjmcetCmzzOpFzr95_yNzSEJNNODgYP0/s1600/if.jpg" /></a>Death metal's resurgent popularity seemed to grow like a festering boil in 2018. Among the great albums that came out, Shelby Lermo's one-two punch of <i>Coffin Birth</i> by <b>Extremity</b> and <i>Cosmovore</i> by <b>Ulthar</b> hit me hardest. Where the former bludgeoned with unforgiving, straightforward hooks that had me involuntarily headbanging in my lounge room, the latter was an unhinged beast of Lovecraftian madness and confusion that held me fixated on the wild horror it portrayed.<br />
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Another standout was <i>Punishment in Flesh</i>, the first full length from <b>Innumerable Forms</b>. The album carefully meted out its breaks in pace from the slower, crawling, tense kind of death that dominates the band's approach. When it did, for example in "Re-Contaminated", the impact was monstrous.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-U1HkikROo2mCUm4ffaJVxOZv0AC7K8CjNToZ9GiyjuqdpqYkAbkW088m0hccn1tvhVtDA4xIymFHmkOolBptRR_We4wNO2cyU8aPM9sXmaffCiiJ5AGdIXXA4TxVfP4uau-UfKrdbIf-/s1600/hpi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-U1HkikROo2mCUm4ffaJVxOZv0AC7K8CjNToZ9GiyjuqdpqYkAbkW088m0hccn1tvhVtDA4xIymFHmkOolBptRR_We4wNO2cyU8aPM9sXmaffCiiJ5AGdIXXA4TxVfP4uau-UfKrdbIf-/s1600/hpi.jpg" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheu4G06wOlBtP4vhPuGpQqJueYIteNl7WqqEcu0-2TYNUxF-0WhmmPqKg7OgVE2GvR9EjLmyrCJ_vh4QAFrSLKNt_KAFenJ8yDsJrBxWPNyreiKa0dR7fPS_dJWGCQ2wbJbO7dqZRaJr06/s1600/droc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheu4G06wOlBtP4vhPuGpQqJueYIteNl7WqqEcu0-2TYNUxF-0WhmmPqKg7OgVE2GvR9EjLmyrCJ_vh4QAFrSLKNt_KAFenJ8yDsJrBxWPNyreiKa0dR7fPS_dJWGCQ2wbJbO7dqZRaJr06/s1600/droc.jpg" style="cursor: move;" /></a>I don't give hip hop as much attention these days as I once did, but as soon as I stumbled upon the news that <b>Edan</b> was back, teaming up with <b>Homeboy Sandman</b> on <i>Humble Pi</i>, I was sold. Edan has always operated on another plane, and hearing his idiosyncratic, off-kilter take on classic hip hop again, with tracks like "#NeverUseTheInternetAgain", was magic. Another highlight came from the mighty <b>Dr. Octagon</b>, with <i>Moosebumps: An Exploration Into Modern Day Horripilation</i>; a banger that saw Kool Keith and Dan the Automator revive that inimitable demented, sleazy, medical horror vibe with valuable input from the likes of Kid Koala, Del and Gary Holt.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeKeaq-eY0-8FqQLc-1A5_yb40NdQpK3Z3sN1hXg4lsdBnweqNtEwPkGMqG1GiWSazqGVKr4YPn2Lukcne297U8iLbjMUIAgcIRbHkcscxxaLHfzZkenqBVcp4lV2JCAmLivHDCMGXgZC4/s1600/mec.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeKeaq-eY0-8FqQLc-1A5_yb40NdQpK3Z3sN1hXg4lsdBnweqNtEwPkGMqG1GiWSazqGVKr4YPn2Lukcne297U8iLbjMUIAgcIRbHkcscxxaLHfzZkenqBVcp4lV2JCAmLivHDCMGXgZC4/s1600/mec.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg15tRGRWW7ro8YcFGxZMBk-ZfQFqdfHTeXFHltKuzC284Ji3IJudOcuwxrp3-9wFnpICzQhQ3F3CzTLzUFPt8-y-g4Qk1ZVfLEtSr9skaszG-GmAwjgN1kZymTnjSDEprkP-m46VG4Lw6J/s1600/za.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg15tRGRWW7ro8YcFGxZMBk-ZfQFqdfHTeXFHltKuzC284Ji3IJudOcuwxrp3-9wFnpICzQhQ3F3CzTLzUFPt8-y-g4Qk1ZVfLEtSr9skaszG-GmAwjgN1kZymTnjSDEprkP-m46VG4Lw6J/s1600/za.jpg" /></a>A quick note on a couple of albums that don't really fit stylistically with anything mentioned above. Even though it clearly does contain metal elements, the strengths of <b>Zeal & Ardor</b>'s <i>Stranger Fruit</i> lay at least as much in its powerful gospel/soul heart and its highly infectious pop sensibilities. While it lacked some of the irresistible raw, earthy quality of 2017's <i>Devil is Fine</i>, I thought <i>Stranger Fruit</i> was a step up overall, with the disparate musical styles contributing more cohesively to the extremely well crafted songs. And <b>Melody's Echo Chamber</b> provided a very welcome surprise with the fantastically quirky album, <i>Bon Voyage</i>. Melody's eclectic psychedelic dream pop is hard to pin down for all its unknowable twists, turns and occasional blasts of squealing fuzz, but I found it very easy to get caught up in her colourful, otherworldly trip.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO_vxB5lbwm5Ws4J-1bDVsKUHNT-GFnlS0L3Q0s2WCRmrgod908qCO91FvT29uU-VasfEeHBBk-E-_buuTLqNFcHZDO1awUTbLCzAAK6QwHN-BDW8VAzKhSdhml3-POgytxO4ycXqdYQUK/s1600/dd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO_vxB5lbwm5Ws4J-1bDVsKUHNT-GFnlS0L3Q0s2WCRmrgod908qCO91FvT29uU-VasfEeHBBk-E-_buuTLqNFcHZDO1awUTbLCzAAK6QwHN-BDW8VAzKhSdhml3-POgytxO4ycXqdYQUK/s1600/dd.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlyrh0ytJe9W5_dx94Vf1BqdawtnVPDAhjmfoeYQP_SO2WtbkLwRBYCjS_ica4omQnY1fCkaR6AJl7Fwa7MKRxIKP3-wd7h5OkjQv7L1b7ElF5WA7EVT8anJcoLbE6sNgwoTy1Dq6eHuBr/s1600/ec.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlyrh0ytJe9W5_dx94Vf1BqdawtnVPDAhjmfoeYQP_SO2WtbkLwRBYCjS_ica4omQnY1fCkaR6AJl7Fwa7MKRxIKP3-wd7h5OkjQv7L1b7ElF5WA7EVT8anJcoLbE6sNgwoTy1Dq6eHuBr/s1600/ec.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio0AAECypMIy-QTu8tk3SkMtgnGOZ85jg5MzsVUhyrQLYZ3G0njzrj4Zpt4YiqH9Sw6ebwgTbpkP3aGGQIEvOQvQZ9ctZ7XETycHnUrt5VVaIssCc_gTREHg5Fgzc_0o61TaDugu43o2tC/s1600/mc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio0AAECypMIy-QTu8tk3SkMtgnGOZ85jg5MzsVUhyrQLYZ3G0njzrj4Zpt4YiqH9Sw6ebwgTbpkP3aGGQIEvOQvQZ9ctZ7XETycHnUrt5VVaIssCc_gTREHg5Fgzc_0o61TaDugu43o2tC/s1600/mc.jpg" /></a>And finally, back to home with some releases by Australian artists that were among my favourites of the year. Wherever you are, support your local bands (just don't be a parochial moron about it)!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtgksofHL9p7AW4dSJmDV9pU8cRHZiXHjezi0CriT_AOCihfO1g1AtB5UdCyrq4oaHYRQlaGD9MVvhyphenhyphendhgO_13itdAuzUv_pqzd3L1k48xIOqslX3WAiahuy2sL98DfxNSnSiUWOzBunUy/s1600/givp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtgksofHL9p7AW4dSJmDV9pU8cRHZiXHjezi0CriT_AOCihfO1g1AtB5UdCyrq4oaHYRQlaGD9MVvhyphenhyphendhgO_13itdAuzUv_pqzd3L1k48xIOqslX3WAiahuy2sL98DfxNSnSiUWOzBunUy/s1600/givp.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUJIf5gmm1Krda-vqcVGbdqD3anJTBFDwP-3tQsWX8gumgCet2g79xBhLAb-2zu5rc_OzUDRR8mPufDE4JXzricRDrpG1TUQOLW248HKGwjZtoGpUFPjjiGG-EVtnIjgha3Lt91Fp31ELm/s1600/harmony.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUJIf5gmm1Krda-vqcVGbdqD3anJTBFDwP-3tQsWX8gumgCet2g79xBhLAb-2zu5rc_OzUDRR8mPufDE4JXzricRDrpG1TUQOLW248HKGwjZtoGpUFPjjiGG-EVtnIjgha3Lt91Fp31ELm/s1600/harmony.jpg" /></a>First up, <b>Encircling Sea</b> left a massive mark with <i>Hearken</i>, retaining the strengths of their atmospheric, black metal inflected doom within thematically focused, riff driven compositions that were truly devastating. <b>Mournful Congregation</b>'s <i>The Incubus of Karma</i> demonstrated why the band is such a dominant force in funeral doom, soaring majestically on transcendent guitar lines. And on <i>Abomination</i>, <b>Divide and Dissolve</b> used avant-garde influences and minimalist doom/drone to deliver an unflinching yet artful attack upon Australia's continued oppression of Indigenous people.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHvyjA3oaO1r4ehRHclNJwxGxPO0w5sOo2TH2_9mVuzhT5i9MIi9rozQnUKkVUe_SEiIpcNmFiAnnCkzyJWeWEf52gaROPuFHySInKnlCfUwqrlfs0yHNEzbofWdIRBpXutBv_FoTt0VI7/s1600/tfs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHvyjA3oaO1r4ehRHclNJwxGxPO0w5sOo2TH2_9mVuzhT5i9MIi9rozQnUKkVUe_SEiIpcNmFiAnnCkzyJWeWEf52gaROPuFHySInKnlCfUwqrlfs0yHNEzbofWdIRBpXutBv_FoTt0VI7/s1600/tfs.jpg" /></a>A slew of outstanding records came from bands featuring various Melbourne punk and indie veterans. <b>Geld</b> unleashed some awesome noise drenched d-beat fury with <i>Perfect Texture</i>. <b>Infinite Void</b> left a catchy, moody farewell statement of their spacious, melodic post punk on <i>Endless Waves</i>. <b>Power</b> belted out their rough and ready brand of punk'n'roll on <i>Turned On</i>. <b>Harmony</b> built further upon their gently dissonant, bare, multiple vocal approach with the emotionally stirring <i>Double Negative</i>. And <b>Tropical Fuck Storm</b> got joyously weird and sardonic with the unpredictable, noisy art rock of <i>A Laughing Death in Meatspace</i>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfa25Fzj-Oix9t_BkmshgeXNOteOYtzIoiLRha4uukQT3soN195uljbBXK9MGQeYoXx3ogus4Q6shA7MFAu9oxnxqS9TyfoKQ9nIhNjN71GChEAbFwjYnr6nmTQiig4GMMCrdanFPorOjh/s1600/ws.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfa25Fzj-Oix9t_BkmshgeXNOteOYtzIoiLRha4uukQT3soN195uljbBXK9MGQeYoXx3ogus4Q6shA7MFAu9oxnxqS9TyfoKQ9nIhNjN71GChEAbFwjYnr6nmTQiig4GMMCrdanFPorOjh/s1600/ws.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivbLtOoFZwwCjqMHmRSExjFw3GDNUZsDSz0Gfh74GCHDKCgAfznKfqhs6VlOLv1uWe6gOnQureQeS1Ivbngf-hSU8wI37bNK2EFZYAElIWGigY3ROj5zgOKTOyyiu2vJ3Yjn-_2loKQJwL/s1600/portal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivbLtOoFZwwCjqMHmRSExjFw3GDNUZsDSz0Gfh74GCHDKCgAfznKfqhs6VlOLv1uWe6gOnQureQeS1Ivbngf-hSU8wI37bNK2EFZYAElIWGigY3ROj5zgOKTOyyiu2vJ3Yjn-_2loKQJwL/s1600/portal.jpg" /></a>The mysterious <b>Portal</b> tore open another interdimensional mindwarp of obscure, experimental death metal with <i>Ion</i>, an album that really ensnared me after I saw the band perform at Dark Mofo in Hobart and was left in dumbfounded awe, scratching my head trying to understand how the hell they do it. And last, but by no means least, I am putting this post to rest right here in Canberra, with a nod to <b>Witchskull</b> and their second LP, <i>Coven's Will</i>. The record's rousing metallic riff worship seethed with hunger and rolled straight ahead with unshakeable intent. The band consistently sparked enthusiastic reactions when they let fly with this new material on stage, so here's hoping they get to take it further afield soon.<br />
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That's it. Thanks for reading. Good luck in 2019.<br />
<br />
LxP</div>
Cacophemismshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00458855565095934854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288654453009141542.post-11682023035103177112016-12-31T13:46:00.000+11:002017-01-01T21:09:47.705+11:00Cacophemisms' 2016 lists<b>Unkle K</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0zGlF_1upE6o7ujHEiBo9_4fMz9TNJBbjHM04w1X2M9ayy-VD8yQg6SZl_e_e-LFR8WEodZAcHTbyJQ6AGBqnHBCgAxeFZxCn2sDmXC_ASkP5N82fslm2o8NQb98jPcQO4BN2yU_JXUHl/s1600/2016unklek.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0zGlF_1upE6o7ujHEiBo9_4fMz9TNJBbjHM04w1X2M9ayy-VD8yQg6SZl_e_e-LFR8WEodZAcHTbyJQ6AGBqnHBCgAxeFZxCn2sDmXC_ASkP5N82fslm2o8NQb98jPcQO4BN2yU_JXUHl/s640/2016unklek.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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In no particular order...<br />
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Neurosis - <i>Fires Within Fires</i><br />
16 - <i>Lifespan of a Moth</i><br />
Agoraphobic Nosebleed - <i>Arc</i><br />
Backslider - <i>Motherfucker</i><br />
Slomatics - <i>Future Echo Returns</i><br />
Fistula - <i>Longing for Infection</i><br />
The Ruiner - <i>S/T</i><br />
Black Mountain - <i>IV</i><br />
Voivod - <i>Post Society</i><br />
Looking Glass - <i>Volume 4</i><br />
With the Dead - <i>S/T</i> (2015)<br />
Chthe'ilist - <i>Le Dernier Crépuscule</i><br />
Holy Serpent - <i>Temples</i><br />
The Wounded Kings - <i>Visions in Bone</i><br />
Beastmaker - <i>Lusus Naturae</i><br />
Mammoth Weed Wizard Bastard - <i>Y Proffwyd Dwyll</i><br />
Cobalt - <i>Slow Forever</i><br />
Wadge - <i>The End of Ethnology</i><br />
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Would have liked to listen more to the following bands' releases: Darkthrone, Weekend Nachos, Magrudergrind, Khemmis, Hornss, Poseidon, Salem's Pot, Moon Coven, Blood Incantation, Hymn, Cowardice.<br />
___ <br />
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<b>LxP</b><br />
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1. Sumac - <i>What One Becomes</i><br />
With a sharpened focus in their deconstructive approach to colossal heaviness and nerve wracking tension, Sumac incorporated more drive, momentum and, well, groove on <i>What One Becomes</i> than they did on 2015’s <i>The Deal</i>. The result is a stunning album that moves like tectonic plates shifting and grinding with nature’s unpredictable rhythms. Mountains slowly collapse under prolonged, oppressive dirges, with Aaron Turner’s voice the sound of rock being crushed to dust. Elsewhere, unexpected earthquakes of furious guitar and shattering drums eventually subside to provide glimpses of the tranquillity that follows devastation. And then the tremors start again.<br />
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2. Martyrdöd - <i>List</i><br />
There isn’t much better in life than music that slaps you hard across the face and demands your attention. The first time I played Martyrdöd’s <i>List</i>, it mercilessly set my ears ablaze and my blood surging. I loved its predecessor, <i>Elddop</i> but this strips away the emotional baggage that album carried and shreds with pure, direct intent. Scorching d-beat, face-melting leads and those instantly recognisable dry, scarred, howling vocals all charge full steam ahead. “Dromtid” provides one minute’s respite to catch your breath, but really, I wish this album didn’t stop at all.<br />
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3. Khemmis - <i>Hunted</i><br />
While their debut, <i>Absolution</i> was a good record, <i>Hunted</i> is a great record that sees Khemmis truly hit their stride. It weaves together swathes of doom, metal, rock and prog so smoothly that it’s difficult not to slip and fall headfirst into its vast world of fantasy, adventure and introspection. Nothing feels out of place as the songs advance; purposefully crawling, galloping and soaring on an epic and varied journey through the album. And the best thing is that even as it transports and mesmerises, <i>Hunted</i> also pounds with headbanging triumph.<br />
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4. Neurosis - <i>Fires Within Fires</i><br />
What is left to say about Neurosis, an unstoppable force renowned for rending hearts and minds with the elemental power it wields? <i>Fires Within Fires</i> is, for the most part, warm and familiar. But it also exemplifies Neurosis’ ongoing determination to dig deeper and uncover new aspects of their particular form of expression. Approaches to vocal melody and harmony shine through, especially in “Reach”; some riffs seem to invite more than destroy, such as in “Broken Ground”; and Noah Landis’ noise manipulation washes over everything with persistence and nuance.<br />
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5. Ghoul - <i>Dungeon Bastards</i><br />
Crawling from the sewers of Creepsylvania to once more wreak crossover thrash/death pantomime havoc, Ghoul lured untold legions of numbskulls into their drunken shout-alongs with speedy riffs, searing leads, utterly sick, gut-punching drums and…a board game. And in the ridiculous world we’re faced with, why the fuck wouldn’t we follow a gang of bloodstained sack-wearing cannibals into battle against the tyranny of all our Commandant Dobrunkums? Even if the Omicron Bomb holocaust is inevitable, at least we’ll go out partying.<br />
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6. Hammers of Misfortune - <i>Dead Revolution</i><br />
One of the albums I have listened to most throughout the year, <i>Dead Revolution</i> is compelling from end to end. A high octane prog-metal rollercoaster drawing on everything from Genesis and Deep Purple to Scorpions and Queensryche, it offsets cosmic organ and multi-part vocal harmonies with proto-thrash riffing and stabbing drum fills. I love that a band featuring members of Vhol and Vastum drops into Morricone-style horn pathos (“Here Comes the Sky”) and closes with a brooding traditional previously performed by Bob Dylan (“Days of ‘49”). But for mine, the title track is the highlight, and a great jump off point if anyone out there needs convincing.<br />
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7. Bloodiest - <i>S/T</i><br />
After continuing to listen to this album since <a href="http://cacophemisms.blogspot.com.au/2016/06/bloodiest-st-burlap-burnout-king.html" target="_blank">reviewing</a> it in June, my perspective on what makes it interesting changed. I hadn’t really focused on the importance of repetition and the sheer distance between the instruments in the recording. Sparse, simple interwoven phrases played by each instrument collectively make the overall mood chilling, allowing small changes to have a huge effect. And the propulsive strength of the rhythms underpinning the music is critical. They don’t seem to have turned that many heads, but Bloodiest are still echoing in mine.<br />
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8. Wormrot - <i>Voices</i><br />
Raging, thrashing, punky grindcore belted out by Singapore’s finest. Having only picked up <i>Voices</i> late in the year, I’m still getting a massive kick out of exploring its details. Throughout Wormrot’s aim-for-the-face attack, maniacal twists and sharp turns are wedged in with suffocating precision. But this is far from an exercise solely in blastbeat carnage. The 20 tracks are diverse and expand Wormrot’s sound into areas of greater melody and more tempered pace. Time will tell whether those elements leave an enduring impression, but for now I’m going to spin it again.<br />
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9. Helms Alee - <i>Stillicide</i><br />
Helms Alee have a unique ability to make grandiose, monumental music that retains an urgent, sweaty jam room vibe. Kick-and-tom-heavy war drum patterns drive <i>Stillicide</i>, with unshakeable, churning, distorted bass providing ballast. Guitars drenched in delay usually tinker and drift overhead, alongside the voices, to create atmosphere. But when they all drop down to join the rhythm section, a roaring monster wakes. Less wild and erratic than <i>Weatherhead</i>, more engaging than <i>Sleepwalking Sailors</i>, <i>Stillicide</i> is a superb chapter in the Helms Alee story.<br />
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10. John Carpenter - <i>Lost Themes II</i><br />
I picked up both 2015’s <i>Lost Themes</i> and its 2016 sequel on a recommendation fairly late in the year and have been absorbing both albums simultaneously; so this one’s a bit of a wildcard. But regardless of which of the albums I play, my reaction is the same. There is something magical about hearing music by John Carpenter - who along with Goblin lit a torch carried by the likes of Zombi, Perturbator and others - because even though it's comparatively barer and cleaner, it’s still engrossing, evocative and unsettling. Recommended comic book pairings: <i>Saga</i> or <i>Black Science</i>.<br />
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Honourable mentions:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7IbUVz1K3NBE_iV2xHk6iSjASu1TstP6dYSNTTQwlZ69-9_FypdUxjDMQTX1QQjzGGnaAQ-UKyDESSfsRdRbgjja_y78Q2s1_3ofYDIIaRYK_6PDvOFmROd6NXFFggQctZoH0pwAHu0e6/s1600/2016lxphm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="64" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7IbUVz1K3NBE_iV2xHk6iSjASu1TstP6dYSNTTQwlZ69-9_FypdUxjDMQTX1QQjzGGnaAQ-UKyDESSfsRdRbgjja_y78Q2s1_3ofYDIIaRYK_6PDvOFmROd6NXFFggQctZoH0pwAHu0e6/s640/2016lxphm.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Aesop Rock - <i>The Impossible Kid</i><br />
Agoraphobic Nosebleed - <i>Arc</i><br />
Black Mountain - <i>IV</i><br />
Blood Incantation - <i>Starspawn</i><br />
Deny the Cross - <i>Alpha Ghoul</i><br />
Dispossessed - <i>Insurgency</i><br />
Horse Lords - <i>Interventions</i><br />
Looking Glass - <i>Volume 4</i><br />
The Nation Blue - <i>Black</i><br />
SubRosa - <i>For This We Fought the Battle of Ages </i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivjdWPtAz0bQ6DZMyMOf-PvYq1MdOYNF81h8CGS8lOdDwNaFxn1rNfxjcFkdCLphyphenhyphen-05JiL_6IixgZUpnksM0LyQVvE1Du8UwPfVtfC3lVe3SxHIwN5S0M-f1MorhA_5FdZ4SSIeq1D5RA/s1600/2016db2k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivjdWPtAz0bQ6DZMyMOf-PvYq1MdOYNF81h8CGS8lOdDwNaFxn1rNfxjcFkdCLphyphenhyphen-05JiL_6IixgZUpnksM0LyQVvE1Du8UwPfVtfC3lVe3SxHIwN5S0M-f1MorhA_5FdZ4SSIeq1D5RA/s320/2016db2k.jpg" width="128" /></a><b>DB2K</b><br />
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Hierophant - <i>Mass Grave</i><br />
Deathspell Omega - <i>The Synarchy of Molten Bones</i><br />
Vermin Womb - <i>Decline</i><br />
Our Place of Worship is Silence - <i>The Embodiment of Hate</i><br />
Krypts - <i>Remnants of Expansion</i><br />
Blood Incantation - <i>Starspawn</i><br />
Magrudergrind - <i>II</i><br />
Fistula - <i>Longing for Infection</i><br />
Fange - <i>Purge</i><br />
Sex Prisoner - <i>Tannhäuser Gate</i><br />
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1. Looking Glass - <i>Volume 4</i></div>
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2. The Ruiner - <i>S/T</i></div>
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3. Holy Serpent - <i>Temples</i></div>
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4. Elephant Tree - <i>S/T</i></div>
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5. The Levitation Hex - <i>Cohesion</i></div>
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6. Die Antwoord - <i>Suck on This</i></div>
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7. King - <i>Reclaim the Darkness</i></div>
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8. Blood Incantation - <i>Starspawn</i></div>
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9. Conan - <i>Revengeance</i></div>
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10. Sinister Haze - <i>Laid Low in the Dust of Death</i> </div>
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___</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyoKa6IBIR48iJULMnl8zLwdJlsvx5_0I1M69-2Tj4hdrU4Gr24Bixz3xhpzyzWZ0BQrFmwnyx7nkOcu7ebLE6hWuppi1CF0H54sdOKbaeHmW84fRutHRrBCW7ua4OrxGEl2z_VsxxXrtD/s1600/2016bradk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyoKa6IBIR48iJULMnl8zLwdJlsvx5_0I1M69-2Tj4hdrU4Gr24Bixz3xhpzyzWZ0BQrFmwnyx7nkOcu7ebLE6hWuppi1CF0H54sdOKbaeHmW84fRutHRrBCW7ua4OrxGEl2z_VsxxXrtD/s400/2016bradk.jpg" width="132" /></a><b>Brad K</b><br />
<br />
1. Inverloch - <i>Distance | Collapsed</i><br />
2. Wadge - <i>The End of Ethnology</i><br />
3. Blarghstrad - <i>S/T </i><br />
4. Agoraphobic Nosebleed - <i>Arc</i> <br />
5. Darkthrone - <i>Arctic Thunder</i> <br />
6. Self Harm - <i>Hektik Kaos Demo</i> - One to watch in 2017.<br />
7. Backslider - <i>Motherfucker</i><br />
8. Fistula - <i>Longing for Infection</i><br />
9. Oniku - <i>Bokujou </i><br />
10. Chthe'ilist - <i>Le Dernier Crépuscule</i><br />
11. Cliteater - <i>From Enslavement to Clitoration</i> - Mostly coz it's funny.<br />
___<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQJ_-KyF4oIt5Fm0pF-rCq7kpHB-lIuJjcbZIjk9P7H0SLxD0IrWwD_4oEG8PPBv4PcaRubEZIM3nJc1Q9CPB22jV4vKipmYHoqX8f7mqVXr-1RERGpw9KdgUsWc-VxLE035PvtF-2KA6p/s1600/2016geoff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQJ_-KyF4oIt5Fm0pF-rCq7kpHB-lIuJjcbZIjk9P7H0SLxD0IrWwD_4oEG8PPBv4PcaRubEZIM3nJc1Q9CPB22jV4vKipmYHoqX8f7mqVXr-1RERGpw9KdgUsWc-VxLE035PvtF-2KA6p/s320/2016geoff.jpg" width="128" /></a><b>Geoff</b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
1. Blood Incantation - <i>Starspawn</i></div>
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2. Katatonia - <i>The Fall of Hearts</i></div>
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3. Chthe'ilist - <i>Le Dernier Crépuscule</i></div>
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4. Cultes Des Ghoules - <i>Coven, or Evil Ways Instead of Love</i></div>
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5. Perfume - <i>Cosmic Explorer</i></div>
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6. Inverloch - <i>Distance | Collapsed</i></div>
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7. Perturbator - <i>The Uncanny Valley</i></div>
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8. Wadge - <i>The End of Ethnology</i></div>
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9. Spire - <i>Entropy</i></div>
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10. The Ruiner - <i>S/T</i></div>
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___<i> </i></div>
Cacophemismshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00458855565095934854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288654453009141542.post-2967295467026954342016-06-27T13:03:00.000+10:002016-06-27T18:08:01.920+10:00Bloodiest - S/T / Burlap - Burnout KingI obviously haven't posted in a long time (not that anyone except the bots would notice), but here are mini-reviews of two releases that have left very different, but strong impressions in recent months.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfdrkGmsgVwMjSrhtkIXN4zV-ddF6w6oFSP7lNOHmuHdu_T4gwlEJ3VolMUqGKV93LUET5f-81im-bK8oqL-mfirmO3zoSu3dvrFMSSY8YEBqLU1FjLr8BCbRzgDNTcNi9HDLW0iHunIIV/s1600/bloodiest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfdrkGmsgVwMjSrhtkIXN4zV-ddF6w6oFSP7lNOHmuHdu_T4gwlEJ3VolMUqGKV93LUET5f-81im-bK8oqL-mfirmO3zoSu3dvrFMSSY8YEBqLU1FjLr8BCbRzgDNTcNi9HDLW0iHunIIV/s200/bloodiest.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<b>Bloodiest - <i>S/T</i></b><br />
The music on Bloodiest's self-titled LP takes form from the shadows, and by the time you notice it standing before you, it has lulled you into sinister hypnosis. Subtle drops of sound echo through vast chasms that bring Horseback's heady, misty landscapes to mind. Restrained, disarming guitar riffs and basslines cut from Tool's cloth wind their way in and out of the picture, gaining dominance as they are propelled gradually toward crescendos by compositions that patiently inhale and exhale with increasing malice. The building, claustrophobic tension does not break easily, however, making it much more impactful when the drums and throat are unleashed, for example, to finish "Broken Teeth". Still, it's not entirely surprising to learn from articles elsewhere that Bloodiest do not consider their music to be primarily metal. The ambient sensibility of Dead Can Dance comes through as much as more obvious comparisons like The Atlas Moth or Yob, making this music fascinating, absorbing and oddly unsettling.<br />
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Listen <a href="https://bloodiestband.bandcamp.com/album/bloodiest" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia9ubj4do2Zq3VJiTo9k3UY-aCKR4DRRN5OhptU2ySXBLssIeGgNj5SsX8F1SeCJHfiKVYAt3gMe91_NXQexZqwTVbvF8tMHk0a_0x9y6h1PygFqOtKv_t7_wVngQN01Kfbvwk2E1wApZ3/s1600/burlap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia9ubj4do2Zq3VJiTo9k3UY-aCKR4DRRN5OhptU2ySXBLssIeGgNj5SsX8F1SeCJHfiKVYAt3gMe91_NXQexZqwTVbvF8tMHk0a_0x9y6h1PygFqOtKv_t7_wVngQN01Kfbvwk2E1wApZ3/s200/burlap.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<b>Burlap - <i>Burnout King</i></b><br />
Sydney's Burlap sound like they're right on the edge of collapse. <i>Burnout King</i> is dirty, depraved, deranged, self-destructive noise rock done right. Hugely oppressive bass, possibly being played lying down in the corner of a room, eyes rolled right back, is forced conscious by the lethargic but insistent pounding of drums. Miserable, antagonistic guitar lines torment at will from a little further away. Everything keeps falling further behind everything else and discordance is thrown around like monkey shit. Spiteful rants about disaffection and isolation are grunted and snarled a-la David Yow and Pissed Jeans, but driven deeper into bitter self-deprecation by rabid, throat-shredding bellowing. And thankfully, notwithstanding all of the cliched garbage I have just written in the lines above, Burlap manage to pull all of it off sounding original and surprisingly dynamic. A snorter of a record.<br />
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Listen <a href="https://burlapsydney.bandcamp.com/album/burnout-king" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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LxPCacophemismshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00458855565095934854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288654453009141542.post-50068703290589083422016-04-13T21:05:00.002+10:002016-04-13T21:05:59.897+10:00Unkle K's Bands of the Week<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSNG9FjmQyi3RzUnCPvqKP87kUIqx5Jkqnb929j581NeRPy9mQdVDRkTA3S5T-HM4oYiQAwAx_ukUgE_c1zXFmk4SdEIklJzX4QcoXdQmNwbCwrvWl2DcfRcfRTnrqKApbK9lskf39NXaW/s1600/chtheilist+13-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSNG9FjmQyi3RzUnCPvqKP87kUIqx5Jkqnb929j581NeRPy9mQdVDRkTA3S5T-HM4oYiQAwAx_ukUgE_c1zXFmk4SdEIklJzX4QcoXdQmNwbCwrvWl2DcfRcfRTnrqKApbK9lskf39NXaW/s200/chtheilist+13-4.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<b>Chthe'ilist</b><br />
Quebec’s Chthe’ilist have released an absolute monster of an album with <i>Le Dernier Crépuscule</i>. I’m not really fussed with death metal these days, would rather listen to the original masters. But Chthe’ilist have given me that feeling I got when Nile’s <i>Among the Catacombs of Nephren-Ka</i> first came out. The comparisons to Finnish masters Demilich are warranted but Chthe’ilist bring a lot more to the table. The vocals are a great mix of styles and I particularly like the Alien/Predator style. The production is perfect, adding a murky fog to the whole experience. I can’t recommend this enough, especially for those who like me have fallen out of love with death metal.<br />
<a href="https://profoundlorerecords.bandcamp.com/album/le-dernier-cr-puscule" target="_blank">Bandcamp</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim6HfHAy1inkWHCMxsVBqofhaiArFhEdJO4itSahqRoHLVQsTwYJjF5TZnAUZ66ssr1EkqT2Je_TlJW-OYvr52K3OZHrm6hqQco_BWZL7q2TV1bQ17TXJ9LRBNAg-wfAodRU0Q16oLK1Ua/s1600/cloudstastesatanic+13-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim6HfHAy1inkWHCMxsVBqofhaiArFhEdJO4itSahqRoHLVQsTwYJjF5TZnAUZ66ssr1EkqT2Je_TlJW-OYvr52K3OZHrm6hqQco_BWZL7q2TV1bQ17TXJ9LRBNAg-wfAodRU0Q16oLK1Ua/s200/cloudstastesatanic+13-4.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<b>Clouds Taste Satanic</b><br />
I don’t know much about this band, only discovered them recently on Bandcamp and was instantly attracted to the name. What we have here is instrumental stoner doom from Brooklyn. Epic riffs that stick in your memory. There is a large number of reviews on their page that give a lot better description than I ever could.<br />
<a href="https://cloudstastesatanic.bandcamp.com/album/your-doom-has-come" target="_blank">Bandcamp</a><br />
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<b>Gig of the Week</b><br />
<b>The Levitation Hex</b> (<i>Cohesion</i> album launch), <b>Red Bee</b> and <b>Imperilment</b><br />
Friday 15 April at Transit Bar<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTDpRv7HX8I_GnYtYTaCUtdDTav4eudiN9lXMUybFOhksIqySLIHMxXJIjJTSk34abkyJUgBSlf5Fs4gfgMeI6eE7sUyNVwNEqkxlExqM6FCeeBcoGz7FPO0lRgpRyBR_YXbNsS-BokYgo/s1600/lev+hex+2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTDpRv7HX8I_GnYtYTaCUtdDTav4eudiN9lXMUybFOhksIqySLIHMxXJIjJTSk34abkyJUgBSlf5Fs4gfgMeI6eE7sUyNVwNEqkxlExqM6FCeeBcoGz7FPO0lRgpRyBR_YXbNsS-BokYgo/s640/lev+hex+2016.jpg" width="452" /></a>From the <a href="https://web.facebook.com/events/1526211941010739/" target="_blank">Facebook event page</a>:<br />
<i>Scissor Kick Champs and <a href="https://web.facebook.com/BMAmagazine/">BMA Magazine</a> proudly present...</i><i> </i><br />
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<i><a href="https://web.facebook.com/The-Levitation-Hex-170038509738897/">The Levitation Hex</a> "Cohesion" Album launch in Canberra!<br /> With special guests <a href="https://web.facebook.com/redbeemusic/">RED BEE</a> and <a href="https://web.facebook.com/imperilment/">Imperilment</a>.</i><i> </i><br />
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<i>A few years in the making and The Levitation Hex are ready to release their second offering COHESION. The album sees the band start to create their own sound and is a slight departure from the sound and style of the debut. The band decided to use no synthesisers but only Organ and Mellotron to add some tasty slices to the tracks. The album has an upbeat rock attitude and enough metal to keep everyone head banging. Sprinkles of 70s prog and 60s psychedelia are evident through the mesh of traditional heavy metal, hard rock and thrash metal. Cohesion is released April 15th in Australia <a href="http://www.levitationhex.net/">www.levitationhex.net</a> and the 6th of May in Europe through High Roller records. <a href="https://web.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hrrecords.de%2F&h=wAQFasFMO&enc=AZNtXwldnDPL8Nd0NWDSbzm_VRnkMINunnkLopS9vXYPauZTFbBm4BJ5wbQB7rFs8U4&s=1">www.hrrecords.de</a></i><i>.</i><br />
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<i>Lying somewhere between the fuzzy borders of punk, hard rock, prog and metal, RED BEE is Daniel Silk (vocalist/guitarist), Jim Silk (bassist) and Ian Dunn (drummer). Quick to dispense with formulaic rhythms and time signatures, RED BEE creates every one of their songs differently. An incredibly tight live band, RED BEE is explosive, atmospheric and energetic; they blow the minds of their audiences and leave them with sore neck muscles the next morning.</i><i> </i><br />
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<i>Imperilment are a 5 piece metal band from Canberra, Australia. They have been working tirelessly over the last few years to release their debut EP which is out now. Their sound is based around melodic, progressive groove metal with vocals that range from aggressive screams to clean, skin tingling melodies much like Jesse Leech of Killswitch Engage. With fast passed, technical riffs and complicated yet groovy drum compositions, Imperilment have developed a voice of their own and really make their mark in the Australian metal community</i><i>.</i><br />
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<i>Tickets are available now from <a href="http://www.moshtix.com.au/v2/event/the-levitation-hex-cohesion-album-launch/83434">http://www.moshtix.com.au/v2/event/the-levitation-hex-cohesion-album-launch/83434</a>.</i><br />
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Finally, check out <a href="http://www.secretdevilzine.com/">www.secretdevilzine.com</a> for band videos.<br />
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Unkle K<br />
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<b>Playlist: Unkle K</b><br />
1. Looking Glass - <i>Volume 4</i><br />
2. Clouds Taste Satanic - <i>Your Doom Has Come</i><br />
3. Camel of Doom - <i>Terrestrial</i><br />
4. Rush - <i>2112</i><br />
5. Chthe’ilist - <i>Le Dernier Crépuscule</i><br />
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<b>Playlist: LxP</b><br />
1. Eight Bells - <i>Landless</i><br />
2. Burlap - <i>Burnout King</i><br />
3. Northless - <i>Cold Migration</i><br />
4. Agoraphobic Nosebleed - <i>Arc</i><br />
5. Looking Glass - <i>Volume 4</i><br />
6. Magrudergrind - <i>II</i><i></i><br />
7. Black Mountain - <i>IV</i><i></i><i></i><br />
8. The Shrine - <i>Rare Breed</i><i></i><i></i><br />
9. Zombi - <i>Shape Shift</i><i></i><i></i><br />
10. Black Sabbath - <i>Mob Rules</i><i></i>Cacophemismshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00458855565095934854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288654453009141542.post-63378419368315689522016-03-01T19:51:00.000+11:002016-03-01T19:51:14.354+11:00This week's gigs<div style="text-align: center;">
Wednesday 2 March at Transit Bar</div>
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<b>GBH</b>, <b>The VeeBees</b> and <b>Urge to Kill</b></div>
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Thursday 3 March at The Basement</div>
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<b>Xibalba</b>, <b>Reactions</b>, <b>Honest Crooks</b>, <b>Panic Burst</b> and <b>Hatecrime</b></div>
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LxPCacophemismshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00458855565095934854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288654453009141542.post-17830939313133367542016-02-03T19:33:00.002+11:002016-02-03T19:33:46.177+11:00Upcoming gigs<div style="text-align: center;">
Friday 5 February at The Basement</div>
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<b>Ithaqua</b>, <b>Law of the Tongue</b>, <b>Siberian Hell Hounds</b>,</div>
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<b>Loather</b> and <b>BOG</b></div>
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Friday 19 February at Transit Bar</div>
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<b>Radio Moscow</b>, <b>Kings Destroy</b> and <b>Holy Serpent</b></div>
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...and up the highway, Saturday 20 February at the Manning Bar</div>
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<b>High on Fire</b>, <b>I Exist</b> and <b>Lo!</b></div>
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LxP </div>
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Cacophemismshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00458855565095934854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288654453009141542.post-46872113027947762932015-12-31T16:04:00.000+11:002016-01-19T10:42:03.706+11:00Cacophemisms' 2015 lists<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2IVrv0f6KDtpJdFXqqnzQfBMAko8bbCwc-oYgQg-i4m1OquU-O_-QhSgCCnc8VH0iol4dnR7B0bfA3AZq_jYDckHQ0C6rm2BPbgULsU90lPlBi6nhPHE0Ean5fxiT7AOKC_nRfqF4VN6X/s1600/Lemmy%252B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2IVrv0f6KDtpJdFXqqnzQfBMAko8bbCwc-oYgQg-i4m1OquU-O_-QhSgCCnc8VH0iol4dnR7B0bfA3AZq_jYDckHQ0C6rm2BPbgULsU90lPlBi6nhPHE0Ean5fxiT7AOKC_nRfqF4VN6X/s640/Lemmy%252B.jpg" width="420" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">R.I.P. Lemmy Kilmister, 1945-2015</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
___ <br />
<br />
<b>LxP</b><br />
<br />
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<br />
1. Elder - <i>Lore</i><br />
Elder’s star shone blindingly bright with this
masterpiece. My excitement and initial disbelief at how incredibly good
it was had me playing <i>Lore</i> almost constantly for over a month to make
sure I wasn’t dreaming. I am still in awe at how anyone could actually
come up with the music on this album. Nick DiSalvo’s ingenious guitar
lines are out of this world; but with such an unshakably solid rhythm
section as co-pilots, everything remains anchored to the enduring power
of the riff, no matter how far into ethereal realms the compositions
travel. There is a quicker pace and more classic rock swagger than on
previous albums, which opened up new dimensions for the band to explore.
What’s terrifying, though, is how easy they made it look when playing
these amazing songs live. And as their ascent continues, the question
beckons: what the hell are Elder going to come up with next?<br />
<br />
2. Acid King - <i>Middle of Nowhere, Center of Everywhere</i><br />
<i>Middle
of Nowhere, Center of Everywhere</i> begins as a faint signal from a far
flung galaxy, registering only a miniscule blip on an amateur
astronomer’s backyard SETI station. But as its pulses reach closer from
across the distance of light years, the supernovan magnitude of its
psychedelic power eventually becomes clear. The gravitational pull
exerted by its riffs of towering astral fuzz, the transcendent echoes of
lucid dreams permeating its exospheric vocals, and the cataclysmic
asteroid collisions of drumming that propel the whole transmission
through space-time all make the astronomer’s years of patient, dutiful
searching worthwhile. Long reign, Acid King!<br />
<br />
3. Vhol - <i>Deeper than Sky</i><br />
The
evolution of Vhol’s mind-bending amalgam of prog/thrash/speed metal on
their second album almost defies comprehension. It’s still batshit crazy
- probably more so than their debut - and the quirks come thick and
fast amid the righteous shredding. But the widely disparate sounds and
styles seem to implode and explode more cohesively. “3AM” sounds like welcome music for extra-terrestrials who are into D.R.I., yet it goes just fine a couple of
tracks before “Paino”, a freeform piano freak-out riding a thunderous
polka beat. Notably (perhaps bucking a trend), the black metal elements
from the first album have been heavily sedated. Vhol are brilliant and
<i>Deeper than Sky</i> is the next level.<br />
<br />
4. Meatwound - <i>Addio</i><br />
There’s
no point mincing words: Meatwound’s debut is a fucking killer. Drawing
from Unsane-style noise and Coalesce-style hardcore, it suffocates both
under piles of filthy crud. Opener, “In Toilet” torturously fights
through to a groovy, bludgeoning death knell that is very nearly
bowel-evacuating. “Goliath” immediately opens up an even crueller
bashing, and it becomes very difficult to turn away from the ugly scenes
that continue to unfold through these six tracks. It’s not just
pulverising anger, though. With desensitisation to the grit, the
progressions and changes that cause such tension in the songs emerge to
make <i>Addio</i> even more enthralling. I can’t wait for more.<br />
<br />
5. Windhand - <i>Grief’s Infernal Flower</i><br />
<i>Grief’s
Infernal Flower</i> saw Windhand refine the balance they strike between
crawling, rhythmic doom and haunting, yearning melody. Their music has
become more nuanced and the soulfulness that previously came to the fore
in the acoustic “Evergreen” (from 2013’s <i>Soma</i>) is more heavily infused,
lending the album strength. Yes, it’s definitely slicker and warmer
than the Windhand of old, and the vocals have been brought right out
from behind the guitar amps’ buzz. But with songs this good and a voice
as engrossing as Dorthia Cottrell’s, the results are magic. Cottrell’s
solo album of melancholy folk from earlier in the year is also well
worth checking out.<br />
<br />
6. Tau Cross - <i>S/T</i><br />
It was
enticing enough that Tau Cross is made up of members of Amebix, Voivod
and Misery. But what came out of the speakers when I dropped the needle
completely annihilated my expectations. These rousing punk/metal
anthems, which also invoke Fields of the Nephilim and Killing Joke,
immediately ignite a reaction and stir a sense of empowerment. An
instantly memorable, timeless quality soars through the masterful
songwriting, from its heaviest percussive bombardments to its sombre,
brooding acoustic hollows. And the Baron leads the charge all the way
with his poetic ruminations on tyranny and his infectious, raspy calls
for uprising. “Our day will come.”<br />
<br />
7. Bell Witch - <i>Four Phantoms</i><br />
<i>Four
Phantoms</i> is in this list because after months of listening to it, I’m
still grappling with it. So grandiose and cinematic, with so many
evocative peaks and troughs, I have loved listening to it as both
background music that magnificently fills the silence and as a
full-concentration journey through personified elemental devastation and
the resulting catharsis. Its tectonic movements carry so much more than
just the “sadness” many reviews have referred to. There is a vast array
of musicality and emotion hidden within the dominant funeral doom
tropes, with more secrets continuing to surface over time.<br />
<br />
8. Kowloon Walled City - <i>Grievances</i><br />
Here
is the logical but exhausting next step in Kowloon Walled City’s
visible trajectory from bellicose noise rock to something much more
exposed and considered. <i>Grievances</i> is built as much around the open
spaces between its monumental bursts of sound as the sounds themselves.
Every single deliberate string hit, skin strike, bass rumble and voice
crack is clearly audible in this remarkable expression of focus. There
are trailing remnants of riffs past, but the heaviness now resonates in
the music’s minimalism. Notes, vibrations and words are left to linger
so their impact sinks in…like the broken hopes of a spirit crushed
beneath the weight of a lifetime’s meaningless occupation.<br />
<br />
9. High on Fire - <i>Luminiferous</i><br />
<i>Luminiferous</i>
deftly carried all the beloved hallmarks emblazoned on the hearts of
loyal High on Fire fans and, with Kurt Ballou on production duties
again, presented them with heft, guts and clarity. But it also delivered
new surprises. The rolling freight train groove of “Carcosa”. The sheer
explosive fury of the title track. The hardcore leanings of “Slave the
Hive”. The way Des Kensel’s drumming really seemed to “speak”. And Matt
Pike’s open revelations of what he was so rabidly howling about,
including the conspiracies he apparently believes (“The Black Plot”)
and, most unexpectedly, the brutal hurt of lost love (“The Cave”). Bring
on the February Australian tour.<br />
<br />
10. Mutoid Man - <i>Bleeder</i><br />
This
brief outburst of blazing, speedy power pop is ridiculously addictive.
Hyperactively slashing and bouncing between turbocharged, thrashing
hardcore and wild noodling - and very occasionally slamming on the
brakes for a smear of sludge - <i>Bleeder</i> is exciting because of the
unpredictability that underlies its catchiness. The frenetic, incendiary
rhythms are irresistible, mostly due to the beastlike drumming
performance of Ben Koller (Converge). The saccharine vocals may be a
little much at times, but they also boost the over-the-top sense of
shameless fun that makes the album so damn enjoyable.<br />
<br />
Honorable mentions:<br />
<br />
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<br />
Agency - <i>The Stillness of Speed</i><br />
Black Breath - <i>Slaves Beyond Death</i><br />
Captain Cleanoff - <i>Rising Terror</i><br />
Christian Mistress - <i>To Your Death</i><br />
Cloud Rat - <i>Qliphoth</i><br />
Coliseum - <i>Anxiety’s Kiss</i><br />
Cosmic Psychos - <i>Cum the Raw Prawn</i><br />
Czarface - <i>Every Hero Needs a Villain</i><br />
Goatsnake - <i>Black Age Blues</i><br />
Hydromedusa - <i>S/T</i><br />
Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats - <i>The Night Creeper</i><br />
Witchskull - <i>The Vast Electric Dark</i><br />
___<br />
<br />
<b>Unkle K</b><br />
<br />
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<br />
Based on the few promo tracks I've heard, With the Dead's self-titled release would have been my album of the year, but I have not heard the whole LP so I have not included it.<br />
<br />
1. Magic Circle - <i>Journey Blind</i> - HEAVY METAL RULES THE WORLD!<br />
2. Venus Sleeps - <i>Dead Sun Worship</i> - Irish doomsters' debut deserved more love.<br />
3. Elder - <i>Lore</i> - Backed up this LP with one of the best shows I've seen in years.<br />
4. Goatsnake - <i>Black Age Blues</i> - So catchy and heavy. Great vocals, terrible lyrics. Good ol' Goatsnake.<br />
5. Black Trip - <i>Shadowline</i> - Lizzy/early Maiden worship from ex-Entombed man, Pete Starwind.<br />
6. Lucifer - <i>Lucifer I</i> - Maybe even better than last year's album by The Oath, with the addition of Gaz (ex-Cathedral).<br />
7. Black Breath - <i>Slaves Beyond Death</i> - Better than anything Entombed have released in the last 15 years.<br />
8. Church - <i>Unanswered Hymns</i> - Giant-killing doom. Soundtrack to the apocalypse.<br />
9. Mammoth Weed Wizard Bastard - <i>Nachthexen</i> - The name says it all.<br />
10. The Grand Astoria - <i>The Mighty Few</i>/"Masterplan"/"Kobaia Express" - Russian prog metal masters. Three releases in 2015.<br />
11. Holy Serpent - <i>S/T</i> - Great stoner/doom debut from Melbourne youngsters.<br />
12. Melbourne grind/gore: The Kill - <i>Kill Them...All</i>; Captain Cleanoff - <i>Rising Terror</i>; Clogged - <i>S/T</i>; Take That Vile Fiend - <i>Excreted Brain Matters</i> - The best grind releases of 2015 are from Hellbourne, of course.<br />
13. High on Fire - <i>Luminiferous</i> - If it ain't broke, don't fix it.<br />
14. Mansion - <i>Altar Sermon</i> - Kooky, creepy, churchy Finnish rock.<br />
15. Japanese releases: Sobbed/WDLK - <i>Split</i>; Legion of Andromeda - <i>Iron Scorn</i> - Brutal.<br />
16. Year of No Light/Bagarre Generale - <i>Split</i> - French masters can do no wrong.<br />
17. Witchskull - <i>The Vast Electric Dark</i> - Canberra's own. Great debut.<br />
18. The Body & Thou - <i>You, Whom I Have Always Hated</i> - Thou's brilliance almost wrecked by The Body's squawking parrot vocals.<br />
19. Funeral Horse - <i>Divinity for the Wicked</i> - Catchy Texan heavy rock. Production needs more balls.<br />
20. Yuri Gagarin - <i>At the Center of All Infinity</i>/<i>Sea of Dust</i> - Swedish space rock.<br />
<br />
Other releases I enjoyed this year include:<br />
Fought Upon Earth - <i>S/T</i><br />
Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats - <i>The Night Creeper</i><br />
Napalm Death - <i>Apex Predator - Easy Meat</i><br />
Ghost - <i>Meliora</i><br />
Drowning Horse - <i>Sheltering Sky</i><br />
People Problem - <i>Examinations</i><br />
Corsair - <i>One Eyed Horse</i><br />
Brume - <i>Donkey</i><br />
___ <br />
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<b>Geoff</b> (Mendicant Music)<br />
<br />
1. Arcturus - <i>Arcturian</i><br />
2. Captain Cleanoff - <i>Rising Terror</i><br />
3. Spectral Voice - <i>Necrotic Doom</i><br />
4. Witchskull - <i>The Vast Electric Dark</i><br />
5. Autopsy - <i>Skull Grinder</i><br />
6. Grave Pleasures - <i>Dreamcrash</i><br />
7. The Kill - <i>Kill Them...All</i><br />
8. Viscera Infest - <i>Verrucous Carcinoma</i><br />
9. Crypt Sermon - <i>Out of the Garden</i><br />
10. Archgoat - <i>The Apocalyptic Triumphator</i><br />
___<br />
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<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
1. Sumac - <i>The Deal</i></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
2. Horisont - <i>Odyssey</i></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
3. Coliseum - <i>Anxiety’s Kiss</i></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
4. Goatsnake - <i>Black Age Blues</i></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
5. Tribulation - <i>The Children of the Night</i></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
6. Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats - <i>The Night Creeper</i></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
7. Graveyard - <i>Innocence & Decadence</i></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
8. Black Breath - <i>Slaves Beyond Death</i></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
9. High on Fire - <i>Luminiferous</i></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
10. Grave Pleasures – <i>Dreamcrash</i></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
___</div>
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<br />
1. Witchskull - <i>The Vast Electric Dark</i><br />
2. Horisont - <i>Odyssey</i><br />
3. Church - <i>Unanswered Hymns</i><br />
4. Pissgrave - <i>Suicide Euphoria</i><br />
5. With the Dead - <i>S/T</i><br />
6. High on Fire - <i>Luminiferous</i><br />
7. The Kill - <i>Kill Them…All</i><br />
8. Captain Cleanoff - <i>Rising Terror</i><br />
9. Ufomammut - <i>Ecate</i><br />
10. Goatsnake - <i>Black Age Blues</i><br />
___<br />
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<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
1. Take That Vile Fiend - <i>Excreted Brain Matters</i></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
2. Legion of Andromeda - <i>Iron Scorn</i></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
3. Captain Cleanoff - <i>Rising Terror</i></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
4. Howls of Ebb - <i>The Marrow Veil</i></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
5. Clogged - <i>S/T</i></div>
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Cacophemismshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00458855565095934854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288654453009141542.post-65468948442463996992015-10-07T17:47:00.000+11:002015-10-07T17:47:03.385+11:00Unkle K's Bands of the Week<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ52vEdIf6kg1HQJ1aCgG5QIBw4FDkcnuRPC7FAr7Z9FIGvfV3pVoYl2DErDRLyHG98qAZ4sx3h4duIslaIiQzUGY8TGOTOgFa65h8wz5lTX3DYA9POHk_oS_9eWLRifdOuONwMVFMdFgI/s1600/suicidal+7-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ52vEdIf6kg1HQJ1aCgG5QIBw4FDkcnuRPC7FAr7Z9FIGvfV3pVoYl2DErDRLyHG98qAZ4sx3h4duIslaIiQzUGY8TGOTOgFa65h8wz5lTX3DYA9POHk_oS_9eWLRifdOuONwMVFMdFgI/s640/suicidal+7-10.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>Gigs</b><br />
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<b>The VeeBees</b><br />
Saturday 31 October at Snowy Vineyard & Microbrewery<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMX_-AXkJeJRBeoihrKURbkWlYE8ANnp3ZqX0zMlASK_UtdFd0xYQ7bU_tN7N1ow6wusKYzHx1mGXjhgHeX-WBVOsiSqPINgm-WRCJV-FHBTa-K4FC6KVZXAqK86vzQxcAJTP2EBmqrEVQ/s1600/vbman+7-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMX_-AXkJeJRBeoihrKURbkWlYE8ANnp3ZqX0zMlASK_UtdFd0xYQ7bU_tN7N1ow6wusKYzHx1mGXjhgHeX-WBVOsiSqPINgm-WRCJV-FHBTa-K4FC6KVZXAqK86vzQxcAJTP2EBmqrEVQ/s640/vbman+7-10.jpg" width="480" /></a>The VeeBees are playing a show at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/snowyvineyard">Snowy Vineyard & Microbrewery</a> on Saturday 31 October. Bus numbers are a little down and they need some more recruits, so come and join me on what should be a fantastic day of fine beers and hot grog rock. Here are the details:<br />
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<i>Ever since we wrote the song "I'd Rather Be On A Brewery Tour" we've dreamed of playing at a brewery. And now we are! It's on beer drinkers. We're playing on a brewery tour!!! And you're invited along for some fun.</i><br />
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<i>On Sat 31st Oct jump on a bus with us and head out from Canberra to The Snowy Mountains Brewery & Vineyard in Dalgety (about a 2 hour ride), sample some beers, eat some tucker, sample some more beers, watch The Vee Bees play some shit hot grog rock, more beers, wipe off the beer goggles and stumble back onto the bus home again. Oh yeah and it's a winery too, so if beer isn't your thing....</i><i> </i><br />
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<i>Tickets are $99.<br /> For your money you get a full day of unique fun including:<br /> *Pick up at 10am and dropped off at 6pm from Jolimont Centre (Canberra City).<br /> *Travel to and from the Brewery.<br /> *Free beer and wine samples. Samples only. <br /> *A two course meal.<br /> *The Vee Bees famous rock'n'roll show.</i><br />
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<i>Tickets are limited and available from the ticket tab or here: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fsnowywines.fasthit.net%2Fevents.cfm&h=lAQH9Rpsp&enc=AZMv8i7WHuUBeGTbjSUb0Rubr6QsZ5QL_9PRE5EnDbOSFrdyiN3JkRiItCJWUtwR5ig&s=1">https://snowywines.fasthit.net/events.cfm</a> (This link doesn't currently mention The Vee Bees by name but there is a photo of us. Purchase with confidence!)</i><i> </i><br />
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<i>Or if you just wanna rock up on the day there will be a $10 cover charge for the band. Food and grog available over the bar. There are no tickets for this option, just rock up on the day.</i><br />
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<i>Check out Snowy Vineyard and Microbrewery here: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fsnowywines.fasthit.net%2Findex.cfm&h=oAQFVba3W&enc=AZOLeNat99M8Crz0gL-yWXsf1e1sbUjHZ5ZDSSvisNh9SUltvhhLSr9XK0GCfJM2tGc&s=1">https://snowywines.fasthit.net/index.cfm</a></i> <i> And check this out too!! <a href="http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Ftheveebees.bandcamp.com%2Ftrack%2Fid-rather-be-on-a-brewery-tour&h=5AQFq4_iI&enc=AZP-S3hMOrLkaK6_yZlY2Z43_UQADJncm0_Leh6k5Po1dnXZdsn5pKtdhqnqyzGezQo&s=1">http://theveebees.bandcamp.com/track/id-rather-be-on-a-brewery-tour</a> </i><br />
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<b>Lecherous Gaze</b>, <b>Frown</b> and <b>Hygiene</b><br />
Thursday 22 October at The Phoenix<br />
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Alright, anyone who saw Californian punk rockers Lecherous Gaze when they toured a year or two ago will tell you what a great show they played at The Phoenix and that they are well worth checking out on this return trip. (Support these gigs, folks. We need more people at these midweek shows, which are pretty much the only time we get international shows here.)<br />
Listen to Lecherous Gaze on <a href="http://lecherousgaze.bandcamp.com/music" target="_blank">Bandcamp</a><br />
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<b>Captain Cleanoff</b>, <b>Wretch</b> and <b>Blight Worms</b><br />
Friday 16 October at Transit Bar<br />
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They need no introduction. Crushing, extreme grindcore at its finest!!<b> </b><br />
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One more plug. I have started uploading old metal videos that you can check out at <a href="http://www.secretdevilzine.com/" target="_blank">www.secretdevilzine.com</a> or on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcJN4FgQFSWapOlyJ14Sa9A" target="_blank">YouTube</a>. The website also has flyers and photos.<br />
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Unkle K<br />
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<b>Playlist: Unkle K</b><br />
1. Funeral Horse - <i>Divinity for the Wicked</i><br />
2. Funeral Horse - <i>Sinister Rites of the Master</i><br />
3. Witchskull - <i>The Vast Electric Dark</i><br />
4. Windhand - <i>Grief's Infernal Flower</i><br />
5. Lasers from Atlantis - <i>S/T</i><br />
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<b>Playlist: lxp</b><br />
1. Windhand - <i>Grief's Infernal Flower</i><br />
2. Khemmis - <i>Absolution</i><br />
3. Uncle Acid - <i>The Night Creeper</i><i></i><br />
4. Goblin Rebirth - <i>S/T</i><i></i><br />
5. False - <i>Untitled (2015)</i><i></i><i></i><i></i><i></i><br />
6. Czarface - <i>Every Hero Needs a Villain</i><i></i><i></i><br />
7. Kadavar - <i>Berlin</i><i></i><br />
8. Flagitious Idiosyncrasy in the Dilapidation - <i>S/T</i><i></i><i></i><br />
9. Witchskull - <i>The Vast Electric Dark</i><i></i><br />
10. Kylesa - <i>Exhausting Fire</i><br />
...not to mention Neurosis reissues.<i></i>Cacophemismshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00458855565095934854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288654453009141542.post-26938881431106418652015-08-27T21:10:00.002+10:002016-01-14T07:20:46.935+11:00Unkle K's Bands of the Week<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Church</b><br />
Wow. Epic doom from Sacramento, California's Church. This release is on the awesome <a href="http://transylvaniantapes.bandcamp.com/" target="_blank">Transylvanian Tapes</a> label, which specializes in cassette releases. I expect this release will get the vinyl treatment sooner or later as it is, in my opinion, the best doom release of 2015. Three crushing tracks of epic psychedelic doom that absolutely crushes with its heavy parts and mesmerises with its slow parts. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Thank you for the heads up, JJ Doomeddisciple.<br />
<a href="https://transylvaniantapes.bandcamp.com/album/church-unanswered-hymns" target="_blank">Bandcamp</a><br />
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<b>Venus Sleeps</b><br />
Dublin's Venus Sleeps continue the production line of great doom/stoner bands coming out of Ireland, along with Slomatics, War Iron, Wild Rocket, Weed Priest, etc. Venus Sleeps started out as a one man band but Sie Carroll seems to have got a full band together for this release. Most of the tracks have a bit of an E.Wiz feel, but they add enough of their own magic with fine results. Love the vocals, clear and creepy. I didn't know until I did more research that track 3, "Golden Hair" is a Syd Barrett cover.<br />
<a href="https://venussleeps.bandcamp.com/" target="_blank">Bandcamp</a><br />
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<b>Two Wolves</b><br />
What an album cover. Those responsible are Two Wolves from Auckland, Zealand. Two Wolves are terrific. They play dirty, sleazy, gritty, punky rock complete with heaps of slide guitar and harmonica, catchy tunes and gruff vocals. I could imagine this band being right at home on stage with The VeeBees or Boonhorse/LOG. This release came out in 2013 but is still worth tracking down. Two Wolves released a single, "Sand Purgatory" last year - the song rips but lacks the dirty sound of the <i>The Roar and Peal of Distant Thunder</i> LP.<br />
<a href="https://twowolvesnz.bandcamp.com/" target="_blank">Bandcamp</a><br />
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<b>Playlist: Unkle K</b><br />
1. Church - <i>Unanswered Hymns</i><br />
2. Two Wolves - <i>The Roar and Peal of Distant Thunder</i><br />
3. Venus Sleeps - <i>Dead Sun Worship</i><br />
4. Take That Vile Fiend - <i>Excreted Brain Matters</i><br />
5. Fought Upon the Earth - <i>S-T</i><br />
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<b>Playlist: lxp</b><br />
1. Tau Cross - <i>S-T</i><br />
2. Meatwound - <i>Addio</i><br />
3. Blackout - <i>S-T</i><br />
4. Church - <i>Unanswered Hymns</i><br />
5. Weedeater - <i>Goliathan</i><br />
6. Blockheads - <i>Human Parade</i><br />
7. Royal Headache - <i>High</i><br />
8. High on Fire - <i>Luminiferous</i><br />
9. Noisem - <i>Blossoming Decay</i><br />
10. Pod People - <i>Mons Animae Mortuorum</i> (first spin of this cracking vinyl pressing as I type!)<br />
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Unkle K Cacophemismshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00458855565095934854noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288654453009141542.post-58452290443848429582015-07-15T23:31:00.001+10:002016-01-14T07:19:40.414+11:00Unkle K's Bands of the WeekI have not posted for a while as my tinnitus of the last five years has spread to my right ear and has been excruciating lately, so music has unfortunately taken a back seat. Apologies to the Witchskull lads for missing your show last Friday, and I had to give the Black Cobra/Jucifer show a miss as well (anyone go? How was it?).<br />
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<b>The Grand Astoria</b><br />
This Russian band's name had me interested right from the get go, so I was very pleasantly surprised to discover how good they are. Formed in 2009, they have pumped out around ten releases, so I have much catching up to do. The songs on the latest releases tend to go from 10 to 25 minutes, whereas the earlier releases tended to stick to the five minute mark. There are multiple members but Kamille Sharapodinov (vocals, guitars, korg monotron) seems to be the main man. He has a great voice and sings in Russian, which really works. They play a weird mix of jazzy progressive metal that is highly recommended.<br />
<a href="http://thegrandastoria.bandcamp.com/album/the-mighty-few" target="_blank">Bandcamp </a><br />
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<b>Lucifer</b><br />
Last year I reviewed The Oath's stunning debut. Unfortunately they broke up not long after that release, but their brilliant vocalist, Joanna Sadonis has returned with a new band that features riff master Gary Jennings (Cathedral, Death Penalty). Not as upbeat as The Oath but mystically epic, catchy, doomy heavy metal. Headbanging guaranteed to start during the track "Izrael".<br />
<a href="https://soundcloud.com/rise-above-records/sets/lucifer-lucifer-i" target="_blank">Soundcloud </a><br />
Interview and debut album stream: <a href="http://www.invisibleoranges.com/2015/06/lucifer-interview-and-debut-album-stream/" target="_blank">Invisible Oranges</a><br />
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I usually try to feature at least one Australian band but nothing has really jumped out at me the last few months. I will endeavour to uncover some gems this month.<br />
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<b>Playlist: Unkle K</b><br />
1. The Grand Astoria - <i>The Mighty Few/Kobaia Express</i><br />
2. Lucifer - <i>Lucifer I</i><br />
3. Legion of Andromeda - <i>Iron Scorn</i><br />
4. Pink Floyd - <i>Live at Pompeii</i><br />
5. Goatsnake - <i>Black Age Blues</i> (Brilliant)<br />
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<b>Playlist: lxp</b><br />
1. Acid King - <i>Middle of Nowhere, Center of Everywhere</i><br />
2. Mutoid Man - <i>Bleeder</i><br />
3. Goatsnake - <i>Black Age Blues</i><br />
4. Cloud Rat - <i>Qliphoth</i><br />
5. Metz - <i>II</i><br />
6. Seremonia - <i>Kristalliarkki</i><br />
7. Abyssal - <i>Antikatastaseis </i><br />
8. Refused - <i>Freedom</i><br />
9. Hellbringer - <i>Dominion of Darkness</i><br />
10. Frank Zappa - <i>The Man from Utopia/Ship Arriving Too Late to Save a Drowning Witch</i><br />
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Unkle KCacophemismshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00458855565095934854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288654453009141542.post-89132890163208204362015-07-12T20:11:00.000+10:002015-07-12T20:11:50.786+10:00Twins of EvilThe last time <b>Black Cobra</b> were supposed to play in Canberra, there were about five of us who - either because of not being on Facebook or not hearing word from anyone "in the know" - showed up to a very desolate, very closed ANU Bar on a Tuesday night, only to find the show had been cancelled. Well, almost six years later, our town is finally getting another chance to see this killer double-barreled sludge juggernaut as part of a very exciting bill that also includes nomadic merchants of eclectic, ear-splitting volume, <b>Jucifer</b> and Melbourne's <b>Dead</b>, who always throw everything into their pummeling live shows. Having seen all three of these bands perform at other times in the last few years, I reckon this is definitely going to be one to get out and brave the cold for. Additional Canberra support comes from the always excellent <b>Looking Glass</b>, whose new album has got to be pretty damn close to being released by now! See you at The Basement this Tuesday 14 July, from 7pm.<br />
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lxpCacophemismshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00458855565095934854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288654453009141542.post-32696212881582770112015-06-08T20:29:00.000+10:002015-06-08T20:33:15.547+10:00Upcoming gigs<div style="text-align: center;">
Tuesday 9 June at Magpies City Club</div>
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<b>Weekend Nachos</b>, <b>Cursed Earth</b>, <b>Years of Abuse</b>, <b>Wretch</b>, <b><br />Hygiene</b> and <b>Autonomous Drones</b></div>
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Sunday 14 June at The Basement (early show - starts 4pm)</div>
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<b>Totally Unicorn</b>, <b>Lo!</b>, <b>Looking Glass</b>, <b>I Am Duckeye</b> and <b>...Is Dead</b></div>
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This one isn't in Canberra, but will be well worth the trip up the highway to Sydney...</div>
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Saturday 20 June at Hermann's Bar</div>
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<b>Pallbearer</b>, <b>Hawkmoth</b> and <b>Looking Glass</b></div>
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lxpCacophemismshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00458855565095934854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288654453009141542.post-13051385779005004562015-05-13T15:19:00.000+10:002015-05-13T15:19:20.732+10:00Unkle K's Bands of the Week<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivbwZgtoUq9apznhlCgB0Xf443LjxFH7uFOYwJRLotvKsN-bxxyztd1JWRZJUr4xdPPDJhwHpqn8HPSdLdfUF4fRIgMAJVnvFKv16lKoymsBusGg3e8RAssUYEX_5l65n0D5kae2G5KNHk/s1600/stagedive+practice+13-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivbwZgtoUq9apznhlCgB0Xf443LjxFH7uFOYwJRLotvKsN-bxxyztd1JWRZJUr4xdPPDJhwHpqn8HPSdLdfUF4fRIgMAJVnvFKv16lKoymsBusGg3e8RAssUYEX_5l65n0D5kae2G5KNHk/s640/stagedive+practice+13-5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_9aZnQQt9foO6QChNV6-34zD7uu5zMe_TVrUkU85jLax8IA8bhAMAPq_xQkUCtfsu6rZXOaai2I_DixnQ1qLwwhM2jw-0bkjgUsoMltsRWRM0T4yOyPVfaDu-Ia-a59M4KjIsMxYJ8o6d/s1600/MWWB+15-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_9aZnQQt9foO6QChNV6-34zD7uu5zMe_TVrUkU85jLax8IA8bhAMAPq_xQkUCtfsu6rZXOaai2I_DixnQ1qLwwhM2jw-0bkjgUsoMltsRWRM0T4yOyPVfaDu-Ia-a59M4KjIsMxYJ8o6d/s200/MWWB+15-3.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<b>Mammoth Weed Wizard Bastard</b></div>
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Welsh doomsters M.W.W.B totally sound like their name. What really impresses me with this one-track 30 minute beast is that it slowly builds to epic proportions but at all times stays thoroughly enjoyable. As you would expect, the riffs are MASSIVE. Highly recommended for those folks into mammoths, weed, wizards and bastards.</div>
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<a href="https://mammothweedwizardbastard.bandcamp.com/" target="_blank">Bandcamp</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCVbyL-NewHff8glgspml7-fFzyllc9T4IbNTD4UB4-APyXKK8B1C8-XMoc6eeC87F3Q95cIY98x1q7ZLOMIJp_kNMwK6XG8-iRVST_iIuE3U99pe5QSS5eQE60Aps_iaxOdNJ0TZ5YcaX/s1600/Elder+15-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCVbyL-NewHff8glgspml7-fFzyllc9T4IbNTD4UB4-APyXKK8B1C8-XMoc6eeC87F3Q95cIY98x1q7ZLOMIJp_kNMwK6XG8-iRVST_iIuE3U99pe5QSS5eQE60Aps_iaxOdNJ0TZ5YcaX/s200/Elder+15-3.jpg" width="200" /></a><b>Elder/Gold and Silver</b><br />
I didn't think Boston's Elder could top 2011's brilliant <i>Dead Roots Stirring</i>, as the following EP, <i>Spires Burn/Release</i> didn't really blow me away. But their latest, <i>Lore</i> has exceeded all expectations. Heavy, melodic, top class musicianship, fantastic vocals. Already shaping up to be my album of year. Seriously, strap in for track number one, "Compendium" and be transfixed.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbg4OGcmRQpUfEUPzvmjAC9LFKJG_1ebewHjLRcBZ38fUDzc17yHeN052lSY3x3iaaKnNq5S6uzAena701WmZHB5Cy0MaIRFbHOpdWTQrlq6QgkU_IOr9Ty2ih2MdavO3CTKkbcV9bo0as/s1600/goldandsilver+15-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbg4OGcmRQpUfEUPzvmjAC9LFKJG_1ebewHjLRcBZ38fUDzc17yHeN052lSY3x3iaaKnNq5S6uzAena701WmZHB5Cy0MaIRFbHOpdWTQrlq6QgkU_IOr9Ty2ih2MdavO3CTKkbcV9bo0as/s200/goldandsilver+15-3.jpg" width="195" /></a><a href="https://beholdtheelder.bandcamp.com/album/lore" target="_blank">Bandcamp </a><br />
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And as an added bonus, Elder guitarist Nick DeSalvo, along with Mike Risberg, have a brilliant release out: Gold and Silver - <i>Azurite and Malachite</i>. Very similar to Elder but a little mellower and jammier, without vocals. DiSalvo is really talented at playing the drums and keyboards, as well as sharing guitar duties with Risberg.</div>
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<a href="http://goldandsilver1.bandcamp.com/album/azurite-and-malachite" target="_blank">Bandcamp</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgWoGngHV2cXXBKaboTSydc7S6IyeprGS1lDPaBSgNDMtEVdRDPZfL7GdSGj-Wq616xhf64wTws4YLOOyF-iYp3GLkjdEdWFHjKKBNsrEKnT-4xvFkMxPQ0dtiSuHkRHLCMx-fIH0FQWew/s1600/sobbed+wdlk+15-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgWoGngHV2cXXBKaboTSydc7S6IyeprGS1lDPaBSgNDMtEVdRDPZfL7GdSGj-Wq616xhf64wTws4YLOOyF-iYp3GLkjdEdWFHjKKBNsrEKnT-4xvFkMxPQ0dtiSuHkRHLCMx-fIH0FQWew/s320/sobbed+wdlk+15-3.jpg" width="320" /></a><b>Sobbed/W.D.L.K.</b><br />
This split is from two of Kyoto's finest bands. W.D.L.K. open with two tracks that sound very much like Japanese legends Corrupted's older material, and go for around 17 minutes. Nasty stuff. Sobbed play a more traditional style of grind, like 324 or Realized, smashing out six tracks in six minutes. Thanks to old mate Emil Minty for the heads up. Melbourne's Die Pigeon Die recently played with both of these great bands on their Japanese tour in January - would have loved to have been there.<br />
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Sobbed: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/malebolgiagrind" target="_blank">Facbook</a></div>
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W.D.L.K.: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/w.d.l.k.kyoto" target="_blank">Facebook </a></div>
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<b>Gigs of the Week</b></div>
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Thursday 14 May at Transit Bar</div>
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<b>Hard-Ons</b>, <b>Super Best Friends</b> and <b>Yoko Oh No</b></div>
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Thursday 21 May at Magpies City Club</div>
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<b>King Parrot</b>, <b>High Tension</b> and <b>Colossvs</b></div>
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<b>Playlist: Unkle K</b><br />
1. Captain Cleanoff - <i>Rising Terror</i><br />
2. Elder - <i>Lore</i><br />
3. Witchskull - <i>Promo CD</i><br />
4. Year of No Lights/Bagarre Generale - <i>Split</i><br />
5. All Them Witches - <i>A Sweet Release</i><br />
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<b>Playlist: lxp</b><br />
1. Hydromedusa - <i>S/T</i><br />
2. Bell Witch - <i>Four Phantoms</i><br />
3. Sumac - <i>S/T</i><br />
4. Fu Manchu - <i>Daredevil</i><br />
5. Captain Cleanoff - <i>Rising Terror</i><br />
6. Zombi - <i>The Zombi Anthology</i><br />
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Unkle K Cacophemismshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00458855565095934854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288654453009141542.post-18187044569028675072015-03-25T14:27:00.000+11:002015-03-25T14:27:19.584+11:00Reviews: Samothrace / Norilsk / Zig Zags<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Samothrace - <i>Live at Roadburn 2014</i></b><br />
Featuring performances of both cuts from 2012's <i>Reverence to Stone</i> along with "Awkward Hearts", from their debut <i>Life's Trade</i>,
this set portrays Samothrace to be every bit as enveloping and
awe-inspiring on stage as I would have hoped. The vocals are noticeably
less prominent than they are on the studio albums, but that makes the
guitars soar even higher and provides a bit of a different feel that
those familiar with the songs can sink into. Unlike many concert
recordings, in which both the impact of the live setting and the quality
of the music can be completely lost, the majesty and power of
Samothrace comes across in full here, which is a testament to both the
band and the Roadburn team. I wish I had been there to see this.<br />
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Live it <a href="https://roadburn.bandcamp.com/album/live-at-roadburn-2014-2" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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<b>Norilsk - <i>The Idea of North</i></b><br />
Norilsk offer up an album of death/doom/metal that combines the cold and morose with the upbeat and melodic. The music creates an expansive and foreboding landscape that is broken up intermittently by atmospheric guitar lines that build tension and trudging rhythms that propel some fairly infectious doom riffs (often overlaid with tremolo picking). Morne and Paradise Lost influences are apparent. Being from Quebec, the band uses French lyrics, delivered through both death growls and whispers, which adds a point of interest. Although <i>The Idea of North</i> is produced more sharply than I normally go for, it is still compelling.<br />
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Listen <a href="http://norilskdoom.bandcamp.com/album/the-idea-of-north" target="_blank">here</a>. <br />
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<b>Zig Zags - <i>S/T</i></b><br />
Blasting out of an isolated garage stuck in the middle of a vast post-apocalyptic wasteland, Zig Zags hoist high a (black) flag rallying the punks, rockers and thrashers to keep the party alive. Absorbing the blood of The Stooges, The Ramones, The Misfits, Black Sabbath and old Metallica through their tongues, they spit their influences back out as twisted skate rock: something like a more nostalgic, lo-fi bastard sibling of The Shrine. Part Easy Rider, part Return of the Living Dead, all catchy as fuck.<br />
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Listen <a href="http://zigzags.bandcamp.com/album/zig-zags" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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lxpCacophemismshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00458855565095934854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288654453009141542.post-57618073907101480872015-03-18T20:36:00.000+11:002015-03-18T20:36:04.508+11:00Unkle K's Bands of the Week<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbpbKD_GOk5vL5hSGhc7W-k3nMIU66GveX4eQIDMclguhgmwqcmsXFJdtt0_RxDOLpNfjwUXQootFU69VHweJ8DbwU-SK3qJ4RKaz1eyFKYe3SSEBQGHFle8YlxRlw3JyV35jLbcQZSRUx/s1600/LizzardWizzard+18-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbpbKD_GOk5vL5hSGhc7W-k3nMIU66GveX4eQIDMclguhgmwqcmsXFJdtt0_RxDOLpNfjwUXQootFU69VHweJ8DbwU-SK3qJ4RKaz1eyFKYe3SSEBQGHFle8YlxRlw3JyV35jLbcQZSRUx/s1600/LizzardWizzard+18-3.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
<b>Lizzard Wizzard</b><br />
A new 7” from Brisbane’s Lizzard Wizzard to follow up from 2013’s excellent S/T tape. Another quality QLD stoner/doom outfit along with Frown and Zodiac. Song title of the month: "The Ghost of Randy Savage".<br />
<a href="https://lizzardwizzard.bandcamp.com/album/dankrupt" target="_blank">Bandcamp </a><br />
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<b>Holy Serpent</b><br />
Only one track to go on so far from this very promising Melbourne outfit's forthcoming release, <i>Shroom Doom</i>, out in May on Riding Easy Records. This is heavy, catchy and the singer has a killer set of pipes. Melbourne is pumping out quality doom at the moment with Horsehunter, Watchtower and Holy Serpent all making a massive impression on me.<br />
<a href="https://holyserpentband.bandcamp.com/album/shroom-doom" target="_blank">Bandcamp </a><br />
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<b>Elite Suppressor</b><br />
Old mate Kevin (Geeheeb), formerly of The Oily Menace has just torn my face off with his new project Elite Suppressor. Short nasty, noisy, punky grind turned up to the max. Vocals sound like a Japanese Man is the Bastard x10. Not for Opeth fans.<br />
<a href="https://elitesuppressor.bandcamp.com/" target="_blank">Bandcamp</a><br />
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<b>Gig of the Week</b><br />
Melbourne’s <b>Horsehunter</b> and South Oz’s <b>Space Bong</b> team up for this killer tour. Canberra show is Thursday 19 March at the Phoenix.<br />
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<b>Playlist: Unkle K</b><br />
1. Elite Supressor - <i>2015 Demo</i><br />
2. Lizzard Wizzard - <i>S/T</i><br />
3. Grief - <i>Alive</i><br />
4. Dystopia - <i>The Aftermath</i><br />
5. Motorhead - <i>Ace of Spades</i><br />
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<b>Playlist: lxp</b><br />
1. Elder - <i>Lore</i><br />
2. Brothers of the Sonic Cloth - <i>S/T</i><br />
3. War on Women - <i>S/T</i><br />
4. Torche - <i>Restarter</i><br />
5. V/A - <i>Back from the Grave Vol. 9 and 10</i><br />
6. Nux Vomica - <i>A Civilized World </i><br />
7. Gay Kiss - <i>Preservation Measures</i><br />
8. Burlap - <i>Demo</i><br />
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Unkle KCacophemismshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00458855565095934854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288654453009141542.post-51879152431071016472015-02-18T17:42:00.000+11:002015-02-18T17:45:00.803+11:00Unkle K's Bands of the Week<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYGj_ArDJdrne-7mlPbjCxsL_j3tAnrJDBheMJsekKMVDZDu_ZNneHGHBlHasFJ0h1d2uZ85i2teUNrOofplRZhw-Zx6Htd38cvaMDGPKB6KeKcWCpJZrnJ9ClWgFUsthXjjPiMwaxK_Xa/s1600/18-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYGj_ArDJdrne-7mlPbjCxsL_j3tAnrJDBheMJsekKMVDZDu_ZNneHGHBlHasFJ0h1d2uZ85i2teUNrOofplRZhw-Zx6Htd38cvaMDGPKB6KeKcWCpJZrnJ9ClWgFUsthXjjPiMwaxK_Xa/s1600/18-2.jpg" height="640" width="576" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thank you Dave S for this week's photo.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguaTV1yprtJxOAPnDX8IU0yAh8ePOzxym-2DmF_VCIeCeQxM8bVNWI2u30ZUXbQdbYvXCl1xqHMy47da6c1yEbFTwQkltW0WfJK8VLliwD-pKAHsbkRXqYj9gWZ8XxG26XAnepdT_jg7L7/s1600/LotusThief+18-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguaTV1yprtJxOAPnDX8IU0yAh8ePOzxym-2DmF_VCIeCeQxM8bVNWI2u30ZUXbQdbYvXCl1xqHMy47da6c1yEbFTwQkltW0WfJK8VLliwD-pKAHsbkRXqYj9gWZ8XxG26XAnepdT_jg7L7/s1600/LotusThief+18-2.jpg" height="200" width="198" /></a><b>Lotus Thief</b><br />
Wow, I’m really digging Lotus Thief’s blackish doomgaze. This band features members of Botanist (who I’ve been interested in for a while but their lo-fi black metal just does not click with me, which is a shame as the artwork is amazing). Anyway, this is a lot more accessible than Botanist, with only the drumming being similar. The melding of different styles really works for me, with only the quieter ambient interludes not really coming off.<br />
<a href="http://lotusthief.bandcamp.com/" target="_blank">Bandcamp</a> <br />
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<b>Wild Rocket</b><br />
Another bloody awesome Irish band. Along with Slomatics and War Iron, there are some great bands coming out of the Emerald Isle. Doomy space rock, but the vocalist sounds totally original with his kind of punky approach. It took me a few listens to get used to them but once they clicked with me I was hooked.<br />
<a href="https://wildrocket.bandcamp.com/" target="_blank">Bandcamp </a><br />
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<b>Playlist: Unkle K</b><br />
1. The Kill - <i>Kill Them...All</i><br />
2. Graveyard - <i>Hisingen Blues</i><br />
3. Lotus Thief - <i>Rervm</i><br />
4. Wild Rocket - <i>Geomagnetic Hallucinations</i><br />
5. Internal Rot - <i>Mental Hygiene</i><br />
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<b>Playlist: lxp</b><br />
1. Usnea - <i>Random Cosmic Violence</i><br />
2. Manhunt - <i>S/T</i><br />
3. Haapoja/Dephosphorus - <i>Collaboration LP</i><br />
4. The Kill - <i>Kill Them...All</i><br />
5. King Woman - <i>Doubt </i><br />
6. Los Saicos - <i>Wild Teen-Punk from Peru 1965</i> (cheers Dave/Brad)<br />
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Unkle KCacophemismshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00458855565095934854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288654453009141542.post-20871164729525367282015-02-02T19:06:00.002+11:002015-02-02T19:06:55.477+11:00Upcoming gigs<div style="text-align: center;">
Saturday 7 February at Transit Bar</div>
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With Heavy Heart 2, featuring <b>Inverloch</b>, <b>The Veil</b>, <b>Myraeth</b>, <b>Los Hombres del Diablo</b>, <b><br />Black Trillium</b>, and <b>And Then Silence</b></div>
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Wednesday 11 February at Transit Bar</div>
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<b>CJ Ramone</b>, <b>Hard-Ons</b> and <b>No Assumption</b></div>
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Saturday 14 February at Magpies City Club</div>
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<b>Harm's Way</b>, <b>Legions</b>, <b>I Exist</b>, <b>Hygiene</b> and <b>Urge to Kill</b> </div>
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Wednesday 18 February at The Street Theatre</div>
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<b>J Mascis</b> and <b>Peter Black</b></div>
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Thursday 19 February at Lacklustre HQ</div>
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<b>Manhunt</b>, <b>Internal Rot</b>, <b>Hygiene</b> and <b>Blight Worms</b></div>
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lxpCacophemismshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00458855565095934854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288654453009141542.post-31967103061635722432014-12-30T18:55:00.001+11:002015-01-04T12:53:23.152+11:00Cacophemisms' 2014 lists<b>Unkle K</b><br />
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Amazing year for releases. I couldn't possibly narrow it down to ten and I was still discovering 2014 releases with a couple of weeks until the end of the year.<br />
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1. Electric Wizard - <i>Time to Die</i> - The kings return.<br />
2. Eyehategod - <i>S/T</i> - Fantastic comeback considering their loss. Never released a bad album.<br />
3. Internal Rot - <i>Mental Hygiene</i> - Melbourne grind tornado lifts the bar. Look forward to the tour with Manhunt in February.<br />
4. The Oath - <i>S/T</i> - Looks and hooks, great heavy metal.<br />
5. Slomatics - <i>Estron</i> - Irish sludgers get better with every release.<br />
6. Occultation - <i>Silence in the Ancestral House</i> - A late discovery. Great dark doom rock.<br />
7. Yob - <i>Clearing the Path to Ascend</i> - Love the Neurosis-y elements creeping in.<br />
8. Yuri Gagarin - <i>S/T</i> - Swedish space rock, a heavier Hawkwind/Monster Magnet. Brilliant.<br />
9. Pallbearer - <i>Foundations of Burden</i> - Best described by someone else as 'opium den metal'.<br />
10. Horsehunter - <i>Caged in Flesh</i> - Young Melbourne doomsters, killer debut.<br />
11. Old Man Gloom - <i>The Ape of God (I & II)</i> - Double LP of APE CORE.<br />
12. Space Witch - <i>S/T</i> - Heavy as shit instrumental pommie space doom.<br />
13. Thou - <i>Heathen</i> - Maybe their best yet, which is a big call with their back catalogue.<br />
14. Satan's Satyrs - <i>Die Screaming</i> - Sleazy rocking punk brilliance. Would have rated higher, but those vocals.<br />
15. Manhunt - <i>S/T</i> - South Oz PV wrecking machine. Make sure to see them in February.<br />
16. Witch Mountain - <i>Mobile of Angels</i> - Don't go, Uta. Will be interesting to see where they go from here.<br />
17. Autopsy - <i>Tourniquets, Hacksaws and Graves</i> - Best death metal band ever.<br />
18. Obliterations - <i>The Hole</i> - More Sab/Flag thrashing madness from members of Black Mountain and Saviours.<br />
19. Super Fun Happy Slide - <i>Drop Your Pants & Grind</i> - Would have rated higher with more listens. Love this band.<br />
20. The VeeBees - <i>Outta Ammo</i> - 'Berra grog monsters hit the big league in 2014 with constant touring and a fantastic looking LP. Hardest blokes, hardest drinkers, hardest tourers in the land. <br />
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Just missing out: Floor, USA Out Of Vietnam, The Shrine, Jig-Ai, Godflesh, Monolord, Atomic Death Squad, Fistula.<br />
___<br />
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<b>lxp</b><br />
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1. Thou - <i>Heathen </i><br />
Words and thought are nothing. Instinct and experience are all. The facile trivialities with which we imprison our true, wild essence must be cast off and destroyed. Of course, Thou surely see the irony that such ultimately human-focused conceits, which are doubtless distilled from the work of numerous thinkers and writers, are expressed on <i>Heathen</i> through discursive lyrics accompanying deliberately contrived musical compositions. But this infuriating, hypocritical struggle is a reminder that we remain inescapably human. And <i>Heathen</i> unloads every single savage fragment of that struggle that it can muster, reaching out of the speakers with sheer desperation to grab, slash and tear mercilessly at the insufferable bullshit coating every single surface of our existence. This album really is something else. It builds upon everything Thou have done previously to see them masterfully controlling the brutality of their painfully heavy, skin-crawling sludge with finesse and seamlessly weaving in poignant moments of calm and serenity. The result is cohesive and nuanced while being visceral and vicious. Heathen forces a reaction and leaves a huge impression that has not dulled at all in the months since its release.<br />
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2. Yob - <i>Clearing the Path to Ascend</i><br />
There are many reasons that people revere Yob as something akin to a force of nature, not least being their craft in making music that is at once shatteringly heavy and deeply meditative. In that vein, <i>Clearing the Path to Ascend</i> is a record that comes as close as any other to cracking open some new, unexplored dimension where all is unbounded from the constraints of time. The spiritual chasm that Mike Scheidt’s howls rise from in the darker parts of the album seems as though it would disintegrate any unsuspecting feeble souls that unwittingly glimpse inside. But perseverance yields reward, and the entirety of this creation is far more psychically comforting than it is terrifying. “It’s time to wake up.” Yob is love.<br />
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3. Pallbearer - <i>Foundations of Burden</i><br />
Sometimes the hype is entirely deserved, and that rings true for <i>Foundations of Burden</i>. Pallbearer towered with their new spin on classic doom, which overflows with harrowing melodies, incredible tones and phenomenal songwriting. There are brilliant little touches secreted away amongst it all, which continue to reveal themselves after (many) repeated listens. A little more upbeat and accessible than <i>Sorrow and Extinction</i>, it remains epic, powerful and affecting.<br />
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4. Mantar - <i>Death by Burning </i><br />
It didn’t seem to garner that much attention, but this German/Turkish duo spat out a feral little mongrel with their debut, <i>Death by Burning</i>. It’s a raw, depraved concoction that both scrapes through howled doom and belts out primitive, straightforward death rock, while maintaining dark (but catchy) melodies. Rabid and hyperactive, it sounds like Black Cobra sinking into a tar pit and dragging Nirvana in with them, while Kyuss and Chuck Schuldiner (and maybe Darkthrone) throw rocks from the edge. I look forward to hearing more from this band.<br />
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5. Earth - <i>Primitive and Deadly</i><br />
Dylan Carlson and co. once again deliver the distorted dreamscapes and hypnotic repetition you would expect, but this time there is more. The enigmatic, rolling contours of <i>Primitive and Deadly</i> have a definite forward momentum. They are accentuated and given life by some surprising, soaring guitar leads and spectacular vocal contributions from Mark Lanegan and Rabia Shaheen Qazi. It all fits together perfectly, resulting in an album of irresistible, otherworldly blues that compels you to return.<br />
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6. Oozing Wound - <i>Earth Suck </i><br />
In short, <i>Earth Suck</i> consists of Oozing Wound throwing seven more noisy, sludgy, thrash tantrums. It is debauched, petulant and annoying in the best way possible, with frenzied riffing, psychotic screeching and hammering drums all working to toe a fine line between speedy bangers that can induce neck spasms and maddening assaults of repetition that could drive almost anyone over the edge. Spite and cynicism have never been so much fun.<br />
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7. Martyrdöd - <i>Elddop</i><br />
The blazing metallic d-beat of Martyrdöd’s latest album is punctuated with slower passages, featuring chords that ring out to accentuate a heightened emotional focus, as compared to 2012’s <i>Paranoia</i>. There are rock 'n' roll touches here and there and characteristic, squealing guitar lines ascend above the searing rhythms which, for the most part, refuse to be shackled by what seems to be a more considered approach to the songs. And those throaty, barked vocals wail painfully over everything to make sure the intensity doesn’t let up for too long. Great stuff.<br />
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8. The Atlas Moth - <i>The Old Believer </i><br />
The Atlas Moth took another evolutionary leap forward on <i>The Old Believer</i>. The depth in the music is almost tangible, as if you were hearing it inside a fevered hallucination. All the elements meld together with amazing subtlety, and moving the vocals further back in the mix has helped round out the edges of their quirky amalgamation of prog, goth, doom and sludge influences. My only gripe is that if they tread much further towards Tool, they could risk falling into parody (some would probably say they already have). But otherwise, this is a damn impressive record.<br />
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9. Grand Magus - <i>Triumph and Power</i><br />
Countless times have I jammed <i>Triumph and Power</i> at ridiculous volume in the rattling, collapsing Pulsar. The other commuter drones peer blankly with dull-eyed scorn at the aging loser they behold: grinning maniacally as he furiously bangs his head, he grasps the wheel with white knuckles, stubbornly clutching to a faded adrenaline- and testosterone-fuelled teenage fantasy of righteousness and battle, loosening his grip only to pump his fist at them in mighty, victorious defiance. And then I pulled in to the workplace carpark.<br />
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10. Fu Manchu - <i>Gigantoid </i><br />
A welcome return to form by these old favourites, <i>Gigantoid</i> doesn’t shake up the tried and true formula too much, but it does have a few tweaks to keep things interesting. It’s a bit more laid back and much more dynamic than Fu Manchu’s last couple of outings. Psych-inflected fuzziness comes to the fore, balancing out the more raucous, punk vibe that carries over from their recent albums. Closing track, “The Last Question” is a highlight, providing a fantastic, unexpectedly subdued, spacey exit.<br />
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Honourable mentions <br />
It has been a massive year for music, and picking out only ten albums was extremely difficult. A lot of my other favourites appear in the other lists in this post, but to avoid further duplication, here are some additional releases that I think also rate a mention.<br />
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Barghest - <i>The Virtuous Purge</i><br />
Corrupt Moral Altar - <i>Mechanical Tides</i><br />
Dead - <i>Captains of Industry</i><br />
Dilated Peoples - <i>Directors of Photography</i><br />
Harmony - <i>Carpetbombing</i><br />
Megaton Leviathan - <i>Past 21 Beyond the Arctic Cell</i><br />
Nux Vomica - <i>S/T</i><br />
Run the Jewels - <i>RTJ2</i><br />
Sunwolf - <i>Beholden to Nothing and No One</i><br />
Trap Them - <i>Blissfucker</i> <br />
___<b> </b><br />
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<b>Shane</b> (Cutting Hose, Burning Plastic)<br />
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1. Pallbearer - <i>Foundations of Burden</i><br />
2. Yob - <i>Clearing the Path to Ascend</i><br />
3. Thou - <i>Heathen</i><br />
4. Tombs - <i>Savage Gold</i><br />
5. Bongripper - <i>Miserable</i><br />
6. Earth - <i>Primitive and Deadly</i><br />
7. Panopticon - <i>Roads to the North</i><br />
8. Mutilation Rites - <i>Harbinger</i><br />
9. Godflesh - <i>A World Lit Only By Fire</i><br />
10. Nothing - <i>Guilty of Everything</i><br />
11. Solstafir - <i>Otta</i><br />
12. Morbus Chron - <i>Sweven</i><br />
13. Gridlink - <i>Longhena</i><br />
14. Midnight - <i>No Mercy for Mayhem</i><br />
15. Horrendous - <i>Ecdysis</i><br />
16. Electric Wizard - <i>Time to Die</i><br />
17. Today is the Day - <i>Animal Mother</i><br />
18. Eyehategod - <i>S/T</i><br />
19. Iron Reagan - <i>The Tyranny of Will</i><br />
20. Old Man Gloom - <i>The Ape of God (I & II)</i><br />
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<b>Geoff</b> (Mendicant Music, also posted with reviews <a href="http://www.mendicantmusic.com/2015/01/02/top-10-albums-gigs-of-2014/" target="_blank">here</a>)<br />
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1. Bethlehem - <i>Hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia</i><br />
2. Pallbearer - <i>Foundations of Burden</i><br />
3. Dead Congregation - <i>Promulgation of the Fall</i><br />
4. Bölzer - <i>Soma</i><br />
5. Thou - <i>Heathen</i><br />
6. Godflesh - <i>A World Lit Only By Fire</i><br />
7. Super Fun Happy Slide - <i>Drop Your Pants & Grind</i><br />
8. Mournful Congregation - <i>Concrescence of the Sophia</i><br />
9. Horrendous - <i>Ecdysis</i><br />
10. StarGazer - <i>A Merging to the Boundless</i> <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJHDHp9xAtb5juw8TUrmROO60Xzra-7jg7MxX44rzTjPJtlrU41YDzwEbZiqo_hHo7Vp-67NvM6JgnMuI5Me0rl1bhjvhnvXMvxX4Y2gO0sX8rIQGgGJ1xPp03Kmj_lGDf2hq8lrRbMsC6/s1600/2014+jj.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJHDHp9xAtb5juw8TUrmROO60Xzra-7jg7MxX44rzTjPJtlrU41YDzwEbZiqo_hHo7Vp-67NvM6JgnMuI5Me0rl1bhjvhnvXMvxX4Y2gO0sX8rIQGgGJ1xPp03Kmj_lGDf2hq8lrRbMsC6/s1600/2014+jj.jpg" height="400" width="160" /></a><b>JJ</b> (I Exist/<i>BMA</i> "Metalise")</div>
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1. Pallbearer - <i>Foundations of Burden</i></div>
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2. Yob - <i>Clearing the Path to Ascend</i></div>
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3. Electric Wizard - <i>Time to Die</i></div>
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4. Conan - <i>Blood Eagle</i></div>
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5. Thou - <i>Heathen</i></div>
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6. Super Fun Happy Slide - <i>Drop Your Pants & Grind</i></div>
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7. Autopsy - <i>Torniquets, Hacksaws & Graves</i></div>
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8. Iron Reagan - <i>The Tyranny of Will</i></div>
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9. Floor - <i>Oblation</i></div>
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10. Eyehategod - <i>S/T</i></div>
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<i>___ </i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTHCzWk-YA1Fg2saDHIRQIFNpC-PuhwLuV-IevZB0oLpDZ06L-CEoSqnvFHNXI7P1jBBHb6FYyNgiZhMZVX1kX6olF_4ZpQqdQ9pmLJgKAerp_kaiutPIywQp3244wwHcTvMCg9_t36Qd1/s1600/2014+DB2K.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTHCzWk-YA1Fg2saDHIRQIFNpC-PuhwLuV-IevZB0oLpDZ06L-CEoSqnvFHNXI7P1jBBHb6FYyNgiZhMZVX1kX6olF_4ZpQqdQ9pmLJgKAerp_kaiutPIywQp3244wwHcTvMCg9_t36Qd1/s1600/2014+DB2K.jpg" height="400" width="160" /></a><b>DB2K</b><br />
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1. Encoffination - <i>III: Hear Me, O' Death</i><br />
2. Pallbearer - <i>Foundations of Burden</i><br />
3. Monolord - <i>Empress Rising</i><br />
4. Boston Strangler - <i>Fire</i><br />
5. Super Fun Happy Slide - <i>Drop Your Pants & Grind</i><br />
6. Eyehategod - <i>S/T</i><br />
7. Internal Rot - <i>Mental Hygiene</i><br />
8. Yob - <i>Clearing the Path to Ascend</i><br />
9. Fistula - <i>Vermin Prolificus</i><br />
10. Conan - <i>Blood Eagle</i><br />
___Cacophemismshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00458855565095934854noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288654453009141542.post-62183981053864653482014-11-26T18:33:00.002+11:002014-11-26T19:18:36.033+11:00Unkle K's Bands of the Week<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Holy Serpent</b><br />
Another great new band from Melbourne. The stoner/doom scene down there is spitting forth some great new bands: Horsehunter; Watchtower. These guys are not as heavy as some of the other new bands, with the singer having a pretty mellow voice, but he can sing and combined with some rocking tunes, I’m keen to hear further output.<br />
<a href="http://holyserpentband.bandcamp.com/" target="_blank">Bandcamp</a><br />
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<b>Corsair</b><br />
Corsair from Charlottesville, Virginia have a rocking Lizzy-Gary Moore-Maiden vibe - great leads, cool vocals, great hooks. I found myself singing along after a couple of listens.<br />
<a href="https://corsair.bandcamp.com/" target="_blank">Bandcamp</a><br />
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<b>Video of the Week</b><br />
Keeping up with the old school vibe is Ryan Waste’s (Municipal Waste) <i>Living Fast</i> video channel, totally dedicated to heavy metal. First two episodes feature Raven, Venom and many other NWOBHM classics. Highly entertaining.<br />
Episode 1: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-doSw0LurI" target="_blank">YouTube</a><br />
Episode 2 (Part 1): <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pc4dVRaoyDQ" target="_blank">YouTube</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3fJVZBiAZPvy6T_vxuK331US-tjfP_OhyWHmDUz4JDfMCItN176F4LDlqlb7lQcr0bvPk2xl80BbLNVbsXMc6bP54w7ftIbBMZpTkjyCreGMDguPM-xzZUBWUef6XjQZm5DcoH863XvAZ/s1600/Full+of+Hell+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3fJVZBiAZPvy6T_vxuK331US-tjfP_OhyWHmDUz4JDfMCItN176F4LDlqlb7lQcr0bvPk2xl80BbLNVbsXMc6bP54w7ftIbBMZpTkjyCreGMDguPM-xzZUBWUef6XjQZm5DcoH863XvAZ/s1600/Full+of+Hell+2014.jpg" height="640" width="320" /></a>Episode 2 (Part 2): <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyJSjRzhbAI" target="_blank">YouTube</a><b> <br /><br />Gigs</b><br />
Couple of killer shows in the next few weeks. One for the kiddies with <b>Full of Hell</b> from the USA at a new venue called the Crossroads (a house) on Thursday 4 December, supported by <b>Idylls</b> and <b>Machina Genova</b>. And then on Saturday 13 December, <b>Witchskull</b> appear to be the youngest band on a bill of nursing home veterans appearing on a great old school lineup at the Croatian Club in Turner.</div>
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<b>Playlist: Unkle K</b><br />
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1. Corsair - <i>One Eyed Horse</i></div>
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2. Lucifers Friend - <i>S/T</i></div>
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3. Electric Wizard - <i>Time to Die</i></div>
4. Hawkeyes - <i>Poison Slows You Down</i><br />
5.The Shrine - <i>Primitive Blast</i><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd1tVm-W-AI-28U7khChuoLcSgkOWq67BVnn7EmPdjPX9erRESPs00hYVA0MrG0SxRri2D8wEOacvN75m6M2gofMcWR1THXbAlNcnVsuqA1d9Z_Nw2EhVU3_3Tq7ovAMlwB8uu7VM44e9Z/s1600/running+wild+26-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd1tVm-W-AI-28U7khChuoLcSgkOWq67BVnn7EmPdjPX9erRESPs00hYVA0MrG0SxRri2D8wEOacvN75m6M2gofMcWR1THXbAlNcnVsuqA1d9Z_Nw2EhVU3_3Tq7ovAMlwB8uu7VM44e9Z/s1600/running+wild+26-11.jpg" height="464" width="640" /></a><b> </b><br />
<b>Playlist: lxp</b><br />
1. Baptists - <i>Bloodmines</i><br />
2. Today is the Day - <i>Animal Mother </i><br />
3. Hoarse - <a href="https://hoarseflem.bandcamp.com/album/hoarse" target="_blank"><i>S/T</i></a><i></i><br />
4. Godflesh - <i>A World Lit Only By Fire</i><br />
5. Electric Wizard - <i>Time to Die</i><br />
6. Pneumatic Slaughter - <a href="http://pneumaticslaughter.bandcamp.com/album/failed-executions" target="_blank"><i>Failed Executions</i></a><br />
7. Horrendous - <i>Ecdysis</i><br />
8. Holy Serpent - <i>S/T</i><br />
9. Captain Beyond - <i>S/T</i><br />
10. Om - Enjoying revisiting all their releases.<br />
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Unkle K Cacophemismshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00458855565095934854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288654453009141542.post-81031100117968487692014-11-10T18:46:00.000+11:002014-11-10T18:46:12.509+11:00This week's gigsA couple of killer shows to look forward to at the end of this week...<br />
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Thursday 13 November at The Basement</div>
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<b>Meth Drinker</b> (NZ), <b>Whitehorse</b>, <b>Hygiene</b> and <b>Blight Worms</b></div>
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Friday 14 November at The Pot Belly</div>
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<b>Sete Star Sept</b> (Japan), <b>Michael Crafter</b>, <b>Machina Genova</b> and <b>Blight Worms</b></div>
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lxpCacophemismshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00458855565095934854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288654453009141542.post-40096881509957831652014-10-24T00:21:00.002+11:002014-10-24T00:22:49.350+11:00Unkle K's Bands of the Week<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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G'day folks,<br />
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Have not done this for a while, but with a bunch of killer tours coming up - Full of Hell, Sete Star Sept, Sleep and Whitehorse/Methdrinker before the end of the year - I thought I’d get back into the swing of things. The last few months has been spectacular for shows, with the Neurosis, Conan and Windhand tours all kicking arse, and that does not include Torche last weekend, which I unfortunately missed.<br />
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<b>Horsehunter<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1414065489480_2266" lang="EN-US"></span> </b><br />
Young Melbourne doomsters obliterate all comers with their debut release.<br />
<a href="https://horsehunter.bandcamp.com/" target="_blank">Bandcamp</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCifH3Q9pF4Wb2RNaaYXKfwwQgZuGfXaZzS9t7faCy0II9A0ji_L0w4p_DAXzb7qtjsAV7kTChjRoY4qWFWYWuncwdbJKtAtkktNh_r0GldUGAN-xMoNIB5Ipg1gGKnw2iJh8_HuPkq50J/s1600/yurigagarin+23-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCifH3Q9pF4Wb2RNaaYXKfwwQgZuGfXaZzS9t7faCy0II9A0ji_L0w4p_DAXzb7qtjsAV7kTChjRoY4qWFWYWuncwdbJKtAtkktNh_r0GldUGAN-xMoNIB5Ipg1gGKnw2iJh8_HuPkq50J/s1600/yurigagarin+23-10.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a><b>Yuri Gagarin</b></div>
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Killer heavy space rock from Sweden. Great leads and Hawkwindy keys.</div>
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<a href="https://yurigagarinswe.bandcamp.com/" target="_blank">Bandcamp</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD72hROteTcAqPJFCC-95OIbgJS4zSbAiETNVW60ywVD3xNRj_8RT6bTxOc_1qyuKIXz938qUFNhkwIxFBmDZnZnP5vks9Qgd2fGSvU2DnF8CDLMciTm8yQxiPmGwjTZcrhA_jFnCSdn_o/s1600/theoath+23-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD72hROteTcAqPJFCC-95OIbgJS4zSbAiETNVW60ywVD3xNRj_8RT6bTxOc_1qyuKIXz938qUFNhkwIxFBmDZnZnP5vks9Qgd2fGSvU2DnF8CDLMciTm8yQxiPmGwjTZcrhA_jFnCSdn_o/s1600/theoath+23-10.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a><b>The Oath</b><br />
Hooks and looks - great heavy metal from this now-split German/Swedish group.<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1414065489480_2278" lang="EN-US"></span><br />
<a href="https://theoath.bandcamp.com/" target="_blank"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1414065489480_2278" lang="EN-US">Bandcamp</span></a><br />
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<b><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1414065489480_2278" lang="EN-US">Gig of the Week</span></b><br />
<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1414065489480_2278" lang="EN-US"><b>The VeeBees</b>, <b>Stanley Knife</b> (Sydney) and <b>Brown Paper Bag</b> (South Coast), Saturday 25 October at The Chop Shop.</span><br />
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<b>Playlist: Unkle K</b><br />
1. Horsehunter - <i>Caged in Flesh </i><br />
2. Yuri Gagarin - <i>S/T </i><br />
3. Electric Wizard - <i>Time to Die</i><br />
4. Fistula - <i>Vermin Prolificus </i><br />
5. The Oath - <i>S/T</i><br />
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<b>Playlist: lxp</b><br />
1. Pallbearer - <i>Foundations of Burden</i><br />
2. Yob - <i>Clearing the Path to Ascend</i><br />
3. Megaton Leviathan - <i>Past 21 Beyond the Arctic Cell</i><br />
4. The Shrine - <i>Bless Off</i><br />
5. Horsehunter - <i>Caged in Flesh</i><br />
6. Earth - <i>Primitive and Deadly</i><br />
7. Dilated Peoples - <i>Directors of Photography</i><br />
8. Corrupt Moral Altar - <i>Mechanical Tides</i><br />
9. Shellac - <i>Dude Incredible</i><br />
10. Bastard Sapling - <i>Instinct is Forever</i><br />
(I'm also really looking forward to <i>Captains of Industry</i>, the new album from Melbourne duo DEAD, which will be out in a couple of weeks.)<br />
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Unkle KCacophemismshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00458855565095934854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288654453009141542.post-22398038254497887732014-07-30T21:14:00.001+10:002014-07-30T21:14:57.915+10:00Unkle K's Bands of the Week<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Merlin</b><br />
Kansas City band Merlin have an interesting approach to the stoner/doom genre, with what sounds like Western style slide used at times. The songs are catchy, the lyrics are cool and they create a great atmosphere over the course of these 5 songs. This band has made a massive jump as they improve with each release. Check out if you dig Clutch, the Melvins or Pentagram.<br />
<a href="http://merlin666.bandcamp.com/album/christ-killer" target="_blank">Bandcamp </a><br />
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<b>Eight Bells</b><br />
Out of the musical hotbed that is Portland, Oregon, comes Eight Bells, which is a new band made from ex-members of psychedelic rockers Subarachnoid Space. This is cool, going from proggy hard rock to proggy metal. I’ve read reviews that keep mentioning black metal but, besides the occasional vocal shriek, I don’t really hear it. I’ve also read some scathingly bad reviews of this, which surprises me because I think it’s pretty good.<br />
<a href="http://eightbells.bandcamp.com/album/the-captains-daughter" target="_blank">Bandcamp </a><br />
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<b>Judd Madden</b><br />
Judd Madden is from Melbourne and releases his own instrumental doom metal. This is around the 7th release from Judd in what seems to be a short period of time. Judd plays all the instruments himself and then puts his releases out on Bandcamp, and they are all available for "name your price" download. Each release seems to have stunning artwork and presentation. Support this dude.<br />
<a href="http://juddmadden.bandcamp.com/album/everything-in-waves" target="_blank">Bandcamp</a><br />
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<b>Video of the Week</b><br />
Electric Wizard - "I Am Nothing" (acid video), from the forthcoming LP <i>Time to Die</i>: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDo2Ujb7i3A#t=13" target="_blank">YouTube</a><br />
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<b>Playlist: Unkle K</b><br />
1. Merlin - <i>Christ Killer</i><br />
2. <span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1406714546467_2420" lang="EN-US">Bert Kreischer - Everythin</span>g<br />
3. Thou - <i>Heathen</i><br />
4. Neurosis - All<br />
5. Dead Infection - <i>Corpses of the Universe</i><br />
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<b>Playlist: lxp</b><br />
1. The Atlas Moth - <i>The Old Believer</i><br />
2. Sunwolf - <i>Beholden to Nothing and No One</i><br />
3. Trap Them - <i>Blissfucker</i><br />
4. Lecherous Gaze - <i>Zeta Reticuli Blues</i><br />
5. Barghest - <i>The Virtuous Purge</i><br />
...and also spinning everything Neurosis.<br />
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Unkle KCacophemismshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00458855565095934854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288654453009141542.post-30287316240585971382014-07-23T21:47:00.000+10:002014-07-23T21:47:52.543+10:00Obits transiting<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Next week, Canberra will be the first stop on a short Australian tour by <b>Obits</b> from Brooklyn, NY. Their indie and punk tinged rock 'n' roll comes straight out of the garage and will provide a welcome reprieve from the cold. The band features members of Hot Snakes, Drive Like Jehu and Girls Against Boys. If you haven't heard their music, there are a few videos and downloadable tracks on their <a href="http://www.obitsurl.com/" target="_blank">website</a>.<br />
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Wednesday 30 July at Transit Bar, with support from locals <b>TV Colours</b> and <b>Wives</b> (formerly Sweet Shoppe).<br />
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lxpCacophemismshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00458855565095934854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288654453009141542.post-40390996139927680452014-07-16T16:03:00.002+10:002014-07-16T16:04:42.252+10:00Mt. Mountain - EP<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I'm really getting the impression that there is something in the water over in the west...<br />
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Hailing from Perth, Mt. Mountain are definitely on the softer and more subdued end of what we usually cover on this blog. But when I hear warm, earthy, psychedelic rock such as that displayed in the five tracks on their (self-titled?) <i>EP</i>, I find it hard to resist.<br />
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From start to finish, the relentlessly hypnotic, down tempo rumble of the bass acts like an undertow, churning subliminally but forcefully, to drag you wholly into the rest of the music. It is by no means the most complex bass work out there, but it is extremely effective. Upon repeat listens, I found myself happy to just follow those thick, rubbery basslines as they meander unhurriedly through the rest of <i>EP</i>'s landscape<i></i>. <br />
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And that landscape resembles some kind of dense, mossy forest, spotted with sunlight, its shadows populated with a procession of familiar spirits crossing your path - the Black Angels, Dead Meadow, Mark Lanegan, Hawkwind.<br />
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However, even with its inviting familiarity, <i>EP</i> is more than just a moody psychedelic scrapbook. Mt. Mountain are not afraid to throw unpredictable elements together to make their music reverberate in its own interesting way. "Tomorrow", with its crooning harmonica, adds a touch of the Doors-inflected blues. In "FX/My Love", you know the breakaway riff is coming as the song builds, and when it does it kicks with a big, groovy swagger (akin to Black Mountain). But it only rears its head in that form once - when it returns towards the end of the song it is dismantled with noise, bends and notes left hanging in the air. In closer, "Ghosts" unexpected outbursts of fuzzy, spacey guitar cut right through the brooding, heavy-headed trudge that characterises the rest of the song, lifting it to unexpected heights. <br />
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Mt. Mountain's <i>EP</i> has plenty of twists and turns to hold your attention, but is also more than capable of lulling you into the aether. Highly recommended if you are looking to just drift away for about half an hour. Listen <a href="https://mtmountain.bandcamp.com/album/ep" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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lxpCacophemismshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00458855565095934854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288654453009141542.post-56572181926502291332014-06-11T17:10:00.003+10:002014-06-11T17:20:32.590+10:00Locktender - Rodin<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The premise of Locktender's music is the presentation heavy, emotional
post-hardcore interpretations of creative works by figures such as Franz
Kafka, William Blake and, on their new album, Auguste Rodin. And why
would I want to listen to screamo art appreciation essays? Well, the couple of times I have seen Rodin sculptures in real
life, it has been difficult to turn away - I remember standing and
staring slack-jawed at <i>The Gates of Hell</i>, transfixed by the
swarm of twisted, strained figures emerging from dark, solid bronze. So
with that in mind, curiosity took hold and I decided to give Locktender a
go...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh90c9LoXPlz9CKlt4UE3oIAw0NyB7Z-qsLLBzHGYnGoYfedCe-x9v1xbuk-javQw-OAfIOyRiwn5T1WhuSWFPG_w1I7CfbC8_kPgnLY1SIlxcgT53JoY-g73klojOYZ0GiSXLmyXLloCxs/s1600/locktender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh90c9LoXPlz9CKlt4UE3oIAw0NyB7Z-qsLLBzHGYnGoYfedCe-x9v1xbuk-javQw-OAfIOyRiwn5T1WhuSWFPG_w1I7CfbC8_kPgnLY1SIlxcgT53JoY-g73klojOYZ0GiSXLmyXLloCxs/s1600/locktender.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
The four tracks on <i>Rodin</i>, each titled after
one of the artist's sculptures, provide a sprawling and compelling
document of admiration for the album’s namesake. The music moves
continuously and fluidly through myriad atmospheres in a progression of
light and shade that, at different points, calls to mind Fall of Efrafa
and Cara Neir.<br />
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Opening song, "The Burghers of Calais" is
the standout. At just under 20 minutes in length, it patiently evolves
from lonely guitar lines resonating gently in empty space, through
tense, jangly riffs that build desperately into explosive outbursts of
metallic sludge that monstrously bellow bloody murder (while retaining
their soaring melodies), before returning to do it all again. The
absence of repetitive hooks, laboured phrases or simple breakdowns
provides a lot of time for contemplation, but when Locktender let their
savagery rip, they give it everything. The jagged onslaught of
percussive, noisy hardcore in the first half of "The Thinker"
exemplifies this, until the song shifts into a rousing refrain - "can we
still find the light at the end of the tunnel?" - which is delivered by
voices that seem to be inviting you to join in the thinker's engrossed
musings.<br />
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Then a black swan appears in the form of
“Eternal Springtime”, a piece that is more romantic chamber music than
hardcore. A surprising departure from the rest of the album, it features
only a lilting violin accompanying a swooning guitar composition. But
it also feeds smoothly into the intro of the final track, “The Man With
the Broken Nose”, which resumes the extended journey through contrasts
between the delicate and the brutal that characterise the album
overall.<br />
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The music on <i>Rodin</i> unfolds in a way that
makes it very easy to drift away thinking about the ideas Locktender are
trying to express, or the stories behind the artworks they are trying
to retell. Although it does get carried away in its own airs
and graces at times, it does so honestly, and the theatricality of the
band’s delivery seems completely forthright. While this album might draw
some polarised reactions, Locktender are trying something a bit
different and, in my opinion, managing to pull it off well and making it
interesting to listen to.<br />
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<i>Rodin</i> and the rest of Locktender's music is available on their <a href="http://locktender.bandcamp.com/" target="_blank">Bandcamp</a> page and their <a href="http://locktender.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">website</a>.<br />
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lxpCacophemismshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00458855565095934854noreply@blogger.com0