lxp
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| Akimbo, 2006 |
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| Witchcraft, 2010 |
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| Super Fun Happy Slide, 2008 |
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| Converge, 2006 |
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| Saint Vitus, 2013 |
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| ABC Weapons, 2008 |
Sunday, 22 September 2013
Various artists 2
Some more of my sketchy live photos from the vault.
lxp
lxp
Thursday, 19 September 2013
Northless - World Keeps Sinking
Northless play a gargantuan, rhythmically confounding kind of sludge that is as enveloping as it is punishing and difficult. Their last full length, Clandestine Abuse was unbelievably heavy, but it didn't let you in easily, and for exactly that reason it was completely addictive. Their releases since then (a split with Lightbearer and the Valley of Lead 10") hinted at the band's evolution, but on their new record, World Keeps Sinking (Halo of Flies/Gilead Media), Northless have launched themselves on to a new plane altogether.
Everything that gave Northless their edge previously is still here,
including the characteristic choked, mucous vocals and the teeth
clenching, skull fracturing, hard won riffs. But there is a load of
additional complexity and control, with a bit of quirk thrown into the mix.
This is the kind of record that needs repeated listens just to make sense of what the hell is going on. The songs are amazingly constructed and completely unpredictable. Titanic, destructive riffs unfold one after another, stuck tightly together by an absolute wrecking-ball of a rhythm section that morphs time and direction so effectively you don't even notice you've been transported to the next beating. Northless have nailed down the ability to forcibly drag their music along an erratic path of fury, misery, frustration, hatred, determination, false hope and...what's this? Dreamlike calm?
When the violence of "Communion" crumbles away to expose a gentle, breezy, clean, almost jazzy guitar finish, it allows the dust to begin to settle, and the full impact of everything Northless have done on this album sinks in. "Passage" picks up from there, providing a 15+ minute lesson in how to melt minds and faces at the same time. Possibly the album's standout track (at least that's my early impression), it exemplifies the whole approach Northless are taking to combining claustrophobic, suffocating heaviness with expansive, preconception-shattering songwriting.
World Keeps Sinking somehow manages to latch on to misanthropy and bathe it in a reflective, almost warm light. It's a fucking fantastic album, and I can't recommend it highly enough.
Listen on Bandcamp. Visit Northless' website.
lxp
This is the kind of record that needs repeated listens just to make sense of what the hell is going on. The songs are amazingly constructed and completely unpredictable. Titanic, destructive riffs unfold one after another, stuck tightly together by an absolute wrecking-ball of a rhythm section that morphs time and direction so effectively you don't even notice you've been transported to the next beating. Northless have nailed down the ability to forcibly drag their music along an erratic path of fury, misery, frustration, hatred, determination, false hope and...what's this? Dreamlike calm?
When the violence of "Communion" crumbles away to expose a gentle, breezy, clean, almost jazzy guitar finish, it allows the dust to begin to settle, and the full impact of everything Northless have done on this album sinks in. "Passage" picks up from there, providing a 15+ minute lesson in how to melt minds and faces at the same time. Possibly the album's standout track (at least that's my early impression), it exemplifies the whole approach Northless are taking to combining claustrophobic, suffocating heaviness with expansive, preconception-shattering songwriting.
World Keeps Sinking somehow manages to latch on to misanthropy and bathe it in a reflective, almost warm light. It's a fucking fantastic album, and I can't recommend it highly enough.
Listen on Bandcamp. Visit Northless' website.
lxp
Tuesday, 17 September 2013
Unkle K's Bands of the Week
Rectal HygenicsDirty, punky noise rock from Chicago's wonderfully named Rectal Hygenics.
Bandcamp
Iron Heel
Doom from Vienna, Austria, which wanders into stoner territory at times. Luckily the riffs are huge. Vocals are great. I can hear bits of Rev. Bizarre.
Throw Me in the CraterNasty, heavy-as-shit sludge from The Netherlands. This has a real dirty swagger, like Autopsy. Brings to mind the under appreciated Accept Death as well.
Gigs of the Week
Sick People (QLD), Sewercide (VIC), Eye Gouge, Hygeine and Coffin Birth
Wednesday 18th September, Magpies City Club
Wednesday 18th September, Magpies City Club
Black Coffee (A.I.B.C EP launch), The Oily Boys, Eye Gouge, Hygiene and Beach Slut
Saturday 21 September, Magpies City Club
Facebook 
Playlist: Unkle K1. Windhand - S/T
2. Kadavar - S/T
3. Thou - All
4. Shining - Black Jazz
5. AC/DC - Powerage
Playlist: lxp
1. Vista Chino - Peace
2. Enabler - All Hail the Void
3. Rituals - S/T
4. Jungbluth - Part Ache
5. All Pigs Must Die - Nothing Violates this Nature
Unkle K
Thursday, 29 August 2013
Unkle K's Bands of the Week
Sad week in metal. Joey LaCaze, Eyehategod drummer passed away. RIP, legend.
Raw, nasty hardcore punk from Massachusetts, USA. They have a really filthy downtuned sound that is very catchy. The singer looks as mad as the vicious vocals he spews out.
Album download: Cvlt Nation
Live in Brooklyn, 21 August 2013: YouTube
Epic classic doom from Las Vegas The brilliant melodic vocals of Shanda Fredrick really set Demon Lung apart from the countless doom releases that are coming out at the moment. Brings to mind the brilliant The Wounded Kings.
Bandcamp
Video of the Week
Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats - "Mind Crawler": YouTube
Playlist: Unkle K
1. Hoax - S/T
2. Demon Lung - The Hundredth Name
3. Drowning Horse - S/T
4. Uzala - S/T
5. Drug Honkey - Ghost in the Fire
Playlist: lxp
1. Orchid - The Mouths of Madness
2. Moss - Horrible Night
3. Obsessor - Obsession/Sick Salvation/In Fear of the End/Mental Hell
4. Naam - Vow
5. Eyehategod - Dopesick
Unkle K
Thursday, 15 August 2013
Unkle K's Bands of the Week
Brilliant French occult doom rock.
Bandcamp
Quality Ohio sludge.
Bandcamp
S.H.I.T.
Toronto's S.H.I.T would rip live I think. Nasty catchy hardcore punk with killer vocals.
I Exist - "Fool for Death": YouTube
Playlist: Unkle K
1. Stangala - Boued Tousek Hag Traou Mat All
2. S.H.I.T. - Demo 2012
3. Traitors Return to Earth - Betting on a Full Collapse
4. Armoured Angel - Hymns of Hate
5. Jucifer - за волгой для нас земли нет (The Russian Album)
Playlist: lxp
1. Holy Mount - Alpic
2. Phantom Glue - A War of Light Cones
3. Church of Misery - Thy Kingdom Scum
4. Drug Church - Paul Walker
5. Cult of Occult - Hic Est Domus DiaboliUnkle K
Sunday, 11 August 2013
To Cross the Oceans
We all know that for a long time now the reach of the music we listen to has extended far beyond the boundaries of the Western/American/UK/European/Australian cultural frames in which it is still stereotypically thought to exist by far too many people. I mean, as Magrudergrind say, "the South East Asian scene is the shit". And I never get bored of reading about the different places where metal and punk take root and are cast in a new light by people unleashing their own experiences through the power of the riff.
I have recently noticed more and more articles looking into metal and punk in different countries, and decided to point to a few of them here. Really, this a pretty lazy post in which I'm not adding anything new, just throwing out a few links some readers may find interesting.
Japan
Japan has been cranking out influential heavy music for years, and here in Australia, we are already lucky enough to have Japanese bands touring pretty frequently. Just a few highlights that spring to my mind from recent years are Boris, Unholy Grave, Numb, Birushanah, Realized and Sete Star Sept...and there have been many others. We've also got Cyberne coming back soon, and the very exciting news that Church of Misery will be headlining this year's Doomsday Festival. Nonetheless, I still enjoyed Craig Hayes' two part feature on Japanese metal at PopMatters, with part one giving a brief historical overview and part two focusing on a handful of standout bands.
Nippon Riffin': Part 1
Nippon Riffin': Part 2
Egypt, Libya and Tunisia
A part of the world whose music I'm much less familiar with is North Africa. So it was interesting to read Alasdair Bulmer's pieces for Invisible Oranges on metal in Egypt, Libya and Tunisia. I don't know if there are going to be further installments in this series but if there are, I'll post them further down the road.
African Metal #1: Egypt
African Metal #2: Libya and Tunisia
Mexico
Mexico already has a great reputation for crust and grind. Delving a little deeper into that area, the excellent Aborted Society (through their AbSoc Zine) have just kicked off a series called "Women of Mexican Hardcore". The first, in which Diana Mayoral interviews Mariana Huerta of Guadalajara crust band Antagonisten, was just published a few days ago. So keep checking in for more, in what promises to be a stellar feature that will reveal some fantastic new music.
Women of Mexican Hardcore: Mariana Huerta - Antagonisten
One final note: if you have any interest in magazines that are printed on actual paper, I would also recommend Annick Giroux's "World Downfall" column in Iron Fist magazine, featuring interviews with bands from all around the globe (I've only read the ones from Malaysia and Turkey, but they're well worth checking out).
lxp
I have recently noticed more and more articles looking into metal and punk in different countries, and decided to point to a few of them here. Really, this a pretty lazy post in which I'm not adding anything new, just throwing out a few links some readers may find interesting.
Japan
Japan has been cranking out influential heavy music for years, and here in Australia, we are already lucky enough to have Japanese bands touring pretty frequently. Just a few highlights that spring to my mind from recent years are Boris, Unholy Grave, Numb, Birushanah, Realized and Sete Star Sept...and there have been many others. We've also got Cyberne coming back soon, and the very exciting news that Church of Misery will be headlining this year's Doomsday Festival. Nonetheless, I still enjoyed Craig Hayes' two part feature on Japanese metal at PopMatters, with part one giving a brief historical overview and part two focusing on a handful of standout bands.
Nippon Riffin': Part 1
Nippon Riffin': Part 2
Egypt, Libya and Tunisia
A part of the world whose music I'm much less familiar with is North Africa. So it was interesting to read Alasdair Bulmer's pieces for Invisible Oranges on metal in Egypt, Libya and Tunisia. I don't know if there are going to be further installments in this series but if there are, I'll post them further down the road.
African Metal #1: Egypt
African Metal #2: Libya and Tunisia
Mexico
Mexico already has a great reputation for crust and grind. Delving a little deeper into that area, the excellent Aborted Society (through their AbSoc Zine) have just kicked off a series called "Women of Mexican Hardcore". The first, in which Diana Mayoral interviews Mariana Huerta of Guadalajara crust band Antagonisten, was just published a few days ago. So keep checking in for more, in what promises to be a stellar feature that will reveal some fantastic new music.Women of Mexican Hardcore: Mariana Huerta - Antagonisten
One final note: if you have any interest in magazines that are printed on actual paper, I would also recommend Annick Giroux's "World Downfall" column in Iron Fist magazine, featuring interviews with bands from all around the globe (I've only read the ones from Malaysia and Turkey, but they're well worth checking out).
lxp
Sunday, 28 July 2013
Unkle K's Bands of the Week
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| Oh, how the mighty have fallen (ha!) - Fear Factory at the Gathering of the Juggalos 2012 |
Great grindy powerviolence from Chicago. They have a bit of an Insect Warfare vibe but with more of a hardcore feel. Good stuff.
Bandcamp
GreberGreber is a southern Ontario 2-piece band featuring Marc Bourgon of Fuck the Facts and Steve Vargas from The Great Sabatini. They are a bass/drum combo that delve into the sludgier side of grind. Highly recommended.
Bandcamp
Innumerable Forms (USA), Mammoth Grinder (USA), Internal Rot (Melb), Throat of Dirt and Hygiene. Thursday 1 August, Magpies in the City.
One of the most crushing forces in current death metal, Innumerable Forms bring their suffocatingly dark, Finnish death inspired heaviness to Australia for the first time. Featuring members of Mind Eraser, Iron Lung, Hatred Surge, Mammoth Grinder, Gehenna and far too many others to mention, Innumerable Forms match or exceed the highest standards set by their other projects and pummel without mercy.
Mammoth Grinder members do time in Innumerable Forms but here go for the jugular in a more direct manner with their assaultive blend of death metal, crust, grind and thrash. A steamroller of apocalyptic riff devastation and decapitation by headbanging.
Supports come from Melbourne grinders Internal Rot and locals Throat of Dirt and Hygiene.
Videos of the Week
Greber - "Thunderstatement": YouTube
Mammoth Grinder - "Sentenced to Hell": YouTube
Playlist
1. Nothing More to Eat - S/T
2. Sick/Tired - King of Dirt
3. Scorpions - Blackout
4. Riot - Fire Down Under
5. Netjajev Society System - Discography 2005-2006
Unkle K
Friday, 19 July 2013
This Week's Gigs
While this one isn't in Canberra, the fact that the mighty torchbearers of doom, St Vitus are playing close by deserves a mention. Can't wait to get to the Hi-Fi in Sydney tonight to feel the full force of the power of the riff, with a great bill including French doom droners Monarch (who are also slated to stop by the ANU Bar on Sunday 28 July) and our pals Looking Glass. However, there is also a great show in town tomorrow night, Saturday 20 July, with heapings of sludge from Sydney's Yanomamo, local NBL legends Canberra Cannons, Mammon and Is Dead. 9pm at The Pot Belly, only $6. Check the facebook event page for more details.
lxp
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