Velvety Sheath, Glistening Sword

John Berberian -- Middle Eastern Rock

2010-04-02T09:30:00.001-07:00

Oud mastery from 1968. To quote Fat Badger, who turned me on to this, "a few minutes in he's playing like his life depended on it." So true. Kinda like a cross between this and this, for those of you who have been following along.

256 kbps

Arriver -- Simon Mann e.p.

2010-03-12T14:56:00.001-08:00

A while back y'all went crazy for Arriver's debut album Vanlandingham and Zone, and for good reason -- it was fresh and epic and easily one of the best albums of the past few years. Well, they've finally put together some new material which I just so happen to have a copy of, and you're going to like it just as much, if not more. Gone are the denizens of the Zone and their hero Halon Hong, in their place is a real-life mercenary/asshat out to rape the dark continent. The music is somehow tighter and more focused and more determined to pummel your face, too. In a good way, as always.

Now, since this is hot off the presses, as it were, and since I don't usually post stuff that's brand new out of respect for the artists, I'm also providing you with a link to go buy it for yourself. By all means check it out, listen to it, love it, etc., but then go cough up a few bucks to show your support.

d/l
buy

Transmission -- Transmission

2010-01-12T21:58:00.002-08:00

By request, here's the Transmission self-titled album from 1996, which features Adris Hoyos post-Harry Pussy. Her relationship with guitarist Graham Lambkin went south not long after this was recorded, and he even tried to sue at one point to prevent its release. As if anybody would have noticed.

If you like HP, then this is certainly worth a listen.

224 kbps

ZA! -- Macumba o Muerte

2009-12-22T16:00:00.001-08:00

Holy shit. I don't know what else to say about this one. Holy fucking shit. Imagine some fluid combination of Masada, Oneida, Fela Kuti, Zu, Rudolph Grey, Fanfare Ciocărlia, Crash Worship, Tuvan throat singing, Einstürzende Neubauten, etc. (I could probably go on if I tried). If that sounds over the top, well...it is. But it works. I haven't been this floored by a new album in a long time. The album is a bit uneven, but the highlights are unlike anything else you've ever heard. I can't stop smiling.

VBR 192+ kbps

Alamaailman Vasarat -- Käärmelautakunta

2009-12-17T11:40:00.000-08:00

Finnish klezmer music from 2003. Go buy their more recent albums, starting with this year's Huuro Kolkko or 2007's Maahan. Fuckers just did a gig last month in Mexico and didn't even bother to swing by the U.S. Not cool.

256 kbps

V.E.G.A. -- Cocaine

2009-12-17T10:26:00.000-08:00

Oh hai. Haven't seen you in a while. Here's some strange music from Italy.

320 kbps

Bratty & Jackass -- Bratty & Jackass

2009-08-11T19:17:00.000-07:00

OK, I can pretty well guarantee that you've never heard this one. This is a CD-R the band made before splitting up some years ago. The appeal here is mostly the axework from the lead guitarist -- I can hear some Greg Ginn, some Sonny Sharrock, a little Nels Cline, maybe even a dash of Fred Frith. And, if you listen really closely, you may even hear him cashing my rent checks. Yup, that's my landlord, although at the time that this was recorded my money was just a twinkle in his filthy slumlord pocketbook (Hi, Drew.)

Anyway, if you've enjoyed any of the instrumental/jazzy/punky stuff I've posted (Coptic Light, Massacre, Warhammer 48k, Deep Turtle, The Wayward, etc.) you'll probably like this, too. I don't have an actual cover image, so that will have to do.

VBR @ 256+ kbps

The Wayward -- Overexposure

2009-07-27T16:12:00.000-07:00

2007 release from Baltimore-area "post-rock" trio. I put "post-rock" in "quotes" because I don't really know what "post-rock" is. This sounds kinda like fellow Baltimoreans Oxes but with vocals (although frankly they could ditch the vocals and be better off, if you ask me). Also sounds a bit like Trumans Water from time to time in that the songs often seem to be on the verge of collapsing altogether. In any case, you should check it out pronto. Thanks to Obinna for this one.

VBR @ 192+ kbps (re-zipped with track 6 included)

Shiny Beast -- Shiny Beast ep

2009-07-27T12:15:00.000-07:00

Posting this for Big Fat Satanist, whose blog is fucking incredible. I seriously can't believe how much high quality stuff he puts up over there. And quickly, too. I sometimes go weeks between posts, but he has a new post with multiple uploads almost every day. Stop wasting your time here and go over there now.

VBR @ 256+ kbps

Chang Ffos -- Azerubine

2009-07-24T09:54:00.000-07:00

4 song EP from Croatian heavynoise guys Chang Ffos.

320 kbps

Massacre -- Killing Time

2009-07-19T19:13:00.001-07:00

Really excellent no-wave noise rock played by early-'80s downtown NYC jazzmen, including Fred Frith on guitar. This is not the remastered version that came out in the late '90s, but the original from 1983. Perhaps the best of its kind.

VBR @ 256 kbps

Hauler -- The Haymaker

2009-07-15T09:55:00.001-07:00

Heavy stuff from defunct Vancouver, WA band Hauler. Thanks to Obinna for turning me on to this, even though I had to go find it for him.

320 kbps

Heinous Killings -- Hung with Barbwire

2009-07-14T21:04:00.000-07:00

Utterly ridiculous drum machine goregrind with some of the craziest vocals you'll ever hear. Apparently these guys have a real drummer now and are working on new material. Yes, I realize that it's barbed wire, not barbwire, but at least they get title case.

320 kbps

Carcass -- Symphonies of Sickness

2009-07-14T09:23:00.001-07:00

My first and still my favorite Carcass album. Can't believe this is 20 years old, but then I've said that a number of times on here. I also can't believe that it's still being imitated, though of course without the same wittiness/humor. I saw them on this tour (Reseda Country Club, probably 1990 or so) and was completely floored, and apparently they've re-formed and are playing again, although I doubt that it's the same now. Still, you should have this if you don't already.

192 kbps

Oneida -- Anthem of the Moon

2009-07-12T20:10:00.000-07:00

Before their current incarnation as a dull (and therefore more popular) indie sensation, Oneida made some truly interesting and varied music. I'm speaking roughly of the period that includes Each One Teach One, Enemy Hogs, Come on Everybody Let's Rock, the Steel Rod ep and this one here, perhaps my favorite of the bunch. There's an exuberant energy that's wholly absent from their later stuff. I think perhaps the personnel has changed since these days, but I can't be bothered to check it out. Anyway, this is from 2001, and it kicks major butt.

VBR @ 224+ kbps

Can Can Heads -- Last Tongues in Ass Pick

2009-07-05T19:29:00.000-07:00

More Finnish weirdness. This is a 9 song, 7'' EP from 1996. It's mostly instrumental with some structured parts and some not-so-structured parts, and some noisy parts and some fast parts and even the occasional trumpet bleat. If you tend to like the stuff on this blog, then you'll probably like this, too. If not, then go take a flying fuck at a rolling donut.

320 kbps

Coptic Light -- Coptic Light

2009-06-28T12:15:00.000-07:00

Instrumental explorations from former members of Antioch Arrow, Bitch Magnet and Storm & Stress. Released in 2005. Should appeal to those of you who enjoy Laddio Bolocko, Hella, those instrumental Black Flag albums, etc.

VBR @ 192+ kbps

Claw Hammer -- Claw Hammer

2009-06-24T09:39:00.000-07:00

More early '90s nostalgia for me. Claw Hammer always seemed to be opening up for whatever band I really wanted to see back then, so I kinda took them for granted. But this is some solid material here, and probably sounds better today than whatever the headliners were at the time. It's their debut full-length on Sympathy for the Record Industry from 1990. This album is sometimes called F.U.B.A.R., although I have no idea why.

192 kbps

Group Inerane -- Guitars from Agadez (Music of Niger)

2009-06-23T15:42:00.000-07:00

So-called "world music" has always been something that sounds better to me in principle than in reality. So much of the supposed music of the world sounds like a slight sprinkling of non-Western elements (instruments, scales, etc.) on top of what is essentially Western pop music (or worse yet, new age-y schmaltz). It mostly bores the pants right off of musical aesthetes such as myself and those of you reading this. But that's not to say that there isn't genuinely great stuff out there.

Enter Sublime Frequencies, a record label founded by members of Sun City Girls. Their mission is to track down and then make available these musical gems from faraway lands untainted by Western sounds or commercial interests. This particular one comes to us from Niger, and while the sound quality is not great, it's nonetheless easy to imagine yourself in the middle of some massive desert gathering with ululating and dancing and Nigeri hooch, whatever form that may take. (If it sounds like I'm describing a rave, fear not -- there are no glow sticks or whistles or ravers to spoil the fun.)

Anyway, I hope you all enjoy this one as much as I do.

320 kbps

L. Ron Hubbard -- Space Jazz: The Soundtrack of the Book Battlefield Earth

2009-06-17T12:11:00.000-07:00

Jesus holy fuck is this one weird. OK, all people of faith are by definition insane, and all religions are equally wrong -- we can all agree on that. But after hearing this I'm forced to admit that some doctrines are more jaw-droppingly bizarre and further out of touch with reality than others. Here we have a record from Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard that defies description, and if he had sat in his room and recorded it by himself, we could all laugh it off as the work of an isolated madman. But no -- on this one he had help. Semi-respected jazz musicians Chick Corea and Stanley Clarke helped to realize this vision. How these guys were not laughed right out of the metaphorical room, along with John Travolta and Beck and Tom Cruise and all the others, is beyond me. And if you haven't pissed your pants or fallen out of your seat or ejected milk from your nose by track 4, Terl the Security Director, then perhaps you should join them.

P.S. -- "Credit" goes to Losty for turning me on to this.

192 kbps

DeSalvo post deleted

2009-06-17T11:18:00.000-07:00

A representative from Rock Action Records requested that I remove the DeSalvo link, so I complied. If there are any other artists or labels out there whose music I've posted and who want the links taken down, just let me know and it will come down right away. I'm trying to help bands get exposure, but if they feel that it's hurting more than it's helping, I respect that. I may disagree, but that's another story.

xoxo

Circle -- Silver

2009-06-05T13:13:00.001-07:00

Most of you have probably heard Finland's hypnorock group Circle, but perhaps not this 4-song EP of theirs from 1993. So get to it already.

320 kbps

Deep Turtle -- Satanus Uranus Tetanus

2009-06-03T13:07:00.000-07:00

Sorry, I've gotten away from what should always be my main focus: Deep Turtle. Here's another 7'' of theirs, originally released in 1993, then re-released as part of the Rip-Off Dokumento retrospective. 4 songs. You need it.

256 kbps

Dawson -- Terminal Island

2009-06-01T19:37:00.000-07:00

Continuing with the late '80s/early '90s Scottish punk theme, here's something from the band Dawson. I believe that this was their swan song, and it's a good one. Much like Stretchheads, these guys play with abandon, and were probably better live, but here in 2009 I guess we'll have to settle for this. It came from Soulseek, and it's the not the greatest rip, so if any of you has something better let me know.

192 kbps

DeSalvo -- Demo

2009-05-29T11:43:00.000-07:00

Here's a new band featuring former members of the Stretchheads. This is their 4-song demo from 2003 which I found on Soulseek. They've got an LP out now, which I'll probably post before long as well. Sounds like they've been listening to Mastodon.

224 kbps

Stretchheads -- Five Fingers, Four Thingers, a Thumb, a Facelift and a New Identity

2009-05-27T15:32:00.000-07:00

Scottish punk band from the late '80s and early '90s that fit it around here rather well, although they're fairly new to me. Falls somewhere between Deep Turtle and Arab on Radar -- abrasive, fast, a tad whiny at times, but mostly top notch. I bet they were amazing live. Perhaps they're even good enough to let the rest of the world forgive Scotland for that I would walk 500 miles song by The Proclaimers.

Some of these guys are currently in a band called Desalvo, whose debut album will probably be up here before long, so stay tuned.

224 kbps

Mass -- Mass

2009-05-18T10:24:00.000-07:00

One and only release from German stoner rock/post-metal band Mass. Released in 2000 on Man's Ruin. It's very difficult to find any information about this band, so, on a completely unrelated note, you may be interested to know that there are people searching online for the phrase "sword in pussy" almost every day. Without a blog called Velvety Sheath, Glistening Sword, on which is posted an album by the band Harry Pussy, I would never have known this.

192 kbps

Bloarzeyd -- Delirious Insane Ventilator of Bloarzeyd

2009-05-15T11:08:00.000-07:00

So here's the 2006 debut from New Haven, CT noisemen Bloarzeyd. Sounds not unlike godheadSilo, and the song titles even reveal a similar sense of humor.

Fucking white people.

320 kbps

Dreams of the Drowned -- Thanatotropic Principle

2009-05-14T09:18:00.000-07:00

I've figured out what I don't like about most black metal -- there's little to no rock. The buzzing guitars and tortured screams are dramatic and moody, but then so is Nine Inch Nails' music. I need some rock in my metal, but for the most part these silly BM dudes are content merely with being a slight evolution from the goth-rock histrionics that I've hated since high school.

Dreams of the Drowned, on the other hand, know how to kick ass. Yeah, they're steeped in black metal, but they're talented enough to play more than just washed-out sheets of sound that go nowhere. They also get props for making their music freely available -- I'm just re-posting the link of their first full-length album. They're French, by the way.

320 kbps

Imahoritsuneoyoshidatatsuya -- Territory

2009-05-11T09:57:00.000-07:00

More spastic fuckery from Yoshida Tatsuya, the mastermind/drummer behind the Ruins. This time he's paired up with Imahori Tsuneo, guitarist of the Japanese prog outfit Tipographica. You'll have to wade through some onanie-style wankery to get to the good stuff, but when you do, it will feel good. I promise.

256 kbps

Ulcerate -- Everything Is Fire

2009-05-11T09:39:00.000-07:00

Brutal, technical Kiwi DM. Thanks to Josef for this one.

VBR @ 256+ kbps

Cherubs -- Short of Popular

2009-05-03T15:11:00.001-07:00

Posthumously released miscellany from Austin, TX noise rock stalwarts Cherubs.

VBR @ 256+ kbps

Hella -- Hold Your Horse Is

2009-05-03T13:52:00.001-07:00

For whatever reason, these guys have a lot of hipsterdouchebag fans, but don't let that deter you -- this is some truly innovative, unique music. Spastic drummer Zach Hill provides the melody here, or at least what passes for melody in this kind of music, while guitarist Spencer Seim just tries to keep up. They never were able to recapture the vibrant freshness of this album on subsequent releases, but at least we can still listen to this, their debut from 2002.

VBR @ 256+ kbps

Crackdust -- Dented Reality

2009-04-18T16:31:00.001-07:00

Yet another in a long line of old school death metal bands from Botswana in southern Africa.

Oh wait.

So I really expected this to suck, but it's actually decent. There's nothing new here (unless you count the fact that they're African), but it's well-executed DM. I guess there must be a bit of a DM scene in Gaborone, which is a city in southeastern Botswana, as I found 2 other DM bands from there -- Wrust and War-Tog. There could be others, too...what the fuck do I know about Gaborone and its music scene. This band gets bonus points because the lead singer looks like Lt. Daniels from The Wire (and therefore my cousin Ivar, too). Thanks go to Adrian for this one.

192 kbps

Moho -- 20 Uñas

2009-04-15T16:49:00.000-07:00

More music from uh-Spain. There seems to be a decent amount of noisy stuff coming from uh-Spain lately. I don't know much about these guys except that they're from Madrid, they sound a bit like Iron Monkey, and their name means 'mold.' ¡Qué bárbaro!

192 kbps

Brainbombs -- Obey

2009-04-11T22:15:00.000-07:00

Swedish misanthropy from 1995.

192 kbps

Rusted Shut -- Rehab

2009-04-06T22:46:00.000-07:00

Holy cow is this great. Plodding, noisy noiserock with perfect vocals and thudthudthud propulsiveness and angry hate and in-the-red, distorted dumbrock and I fucking love it. There is now officially one good thing to have ever come from Houston.

192 kbps

P.S. - I originally downloaded this from the excellent Lo-Res Viscera blog, which you should go check out now.

Arriver -- Vanlandingham and Zone

2009-04-05T15:22:00.000-07:00

This is a concept album of the highest order, in which our hero, Halon Hong, leads the oppressed denizens of Vanlandingham into a mighty fray in the Zone against their enemies, the Long. Or, the lining of the Long, I think. Or maybe the Long are the good guys...I don't know. But there's an epic battle going on here, with majestic music to fit. This is what metal is supposed to be about: raising swords, vanquishing foes, ending tyranny. No mercy to them shall be shown, indeed.

All hail Halon Hong!

VBR @ 256+ kbps

Ruins -- Graviyaunosch

2009-03-30T21:24:00.001-07:00

This is the Japnoise outfit, not the NZ BM outfit. Perhaps that's obvious, since Graviyaunosch is not a very evil-sounding name. Although I guess it could be a very very very very very forsaken (not to mention grim and frostbitten) mountain in Scandinavia or something. Instead, it's just some nonsense that singer/drummer Tatsuya Yoshida spit out while playing. This is another best of for me in that it's my favorite Ruins album.

256 kbps

YOB -- Elaborations of Carbon

2009-03-30T20:02:00.000-07:00

Chipmunk doom. Others may prefer The Illusion of Motion, but not me. I guess these guys may be back together, at least for a reunion show or something like that. Don't be scared by the drum circle/seance/prayer candle nonsense on the cover -- this is some heavy shit.

256 kbps

Gojira -- The Link

2009-03-26T00:01:00.001-07:00

Been busy of late, so sorry about my recent postlessness. Here's some French eco-metal from Gojira.

320 kbps

Furze -- UTD: Beneath the Odd-Edge Sounds to the Twilight Contract of the Black Fascist

2009-03-20T20:07:00.000-07:00

I don't really care for most black metal, but every now and then I'll come across one that has a little more to it than the standard tortured wails and My Bloody Valentine-esque guitars. This one has all the silly histrionics, but there's actually some interesting music here too. It's kinda disjointed and noodle-y and really poorly recorded, but that all adds to its outsider charm.

320 kbps

Harry Pussy -- Live 10''

2009-03-14T15:40:00.000-07:00

I can't believe I've had this blog for months without posting this, the most joyful musical recording I've ever heard. Of their various live and studio albums and 7'', this one, which turned out to be their final live performance, best captures the Pussy essence. Listen for lead singer/drummer Adris Hoyos panting into her headset microphone in between songs.

192 kbps

Goreinhaled -- The Art of Sickness

2009-03-10T14:24:00.001-07:00

Brutal DM from Spain. Or should I say 'from uh-Spain', since that's probably how they would say it? Anyway, es muy bien. Me gusta.

256 kbps

Düreforsög -- Knee

2009-03-07T19:00:00.000-08:00

1997 album from Danish weirdos Düreforsög, which apparently means "animal testing." There are some moments when they sound annoyingly close to Mr. Bungle, but all in all it's an inventive album with some excellent drumming and the sort of herky-jerkiness that I tend to like. I didn't know there were bands in Denmark.

192 kbps

Killdozer -- Little Baby Buntin'

2009-03-04T10:09:00.000-08:00

I was born feet first, and it shows in the way I think.
I work at the sausage-stuffing plant, it makes my clothing stink.
My old lady's name is Lois, I love it when she sucks my dink.
When we set Sonny's balls on fire, she didn't even blink.

320 kbps

Killdozer -- Uncompromising War on Art Under the Dictatorship of the Proletariat

2009-03-02T22:51:00.001-08:00

For Pharos and Melvin and anyone else who likes things that are good.

320 kbps (re-upped after Megaupload deleted the last one)

Killer Fox -- Orgasm of Death

2009-03-02T22:27:00.000-08:00

Extremely odd release from the Metal Enterprises record label, whose demented non-genius I first read about over at The Corroseum. Apparently this incarnation of Killer Fox is not a true incarnation at all, as half the band died in a car crash in 1987, while this came out in 1990 with none of the original members involved. Ingo Nowotny, head of Metal Enterprises, was known for rushing out product with little regard for quality or, in this case, copyright. (Look who's talking, eh?) In any case, I expected to snigger while listening to some utter sonic crapulence, but to my great surprise, I kinda like it. In fact many of these tunes would fit right in on the Old Lady Drivers debut on Earache. I should add that there is no moment during which any of this makes sense -- mostly you'll find yourself saying what the fuck? -- but it's bound to at least bring a smile to your face. And if I can bring a smile to the face of just one of you, it will all have been...oh, and the cover. The cover! How does this kind of thing happen? Anyway, enjoy.

192 kbps

Patife Band -- Corredor Polonês

2009-03-01T18:56:00.000-08:00

More music from Brazil, this time from 1987. It's a frothy mix of avant-rock, punk rock, jazz and no wave which only occasionally sounds Brazilian. At times they even approach the frantic freneticism of The Stick Men. And you know how I love frantic freneticism.

192 kbps

Luiz Bonfá -- Jacarandá

2009-02-28T15:32:00.001-08:00

Brazilian jazz fusion from 1973 featuring Stanley Clarke and Idris Muhammad and some other jazzmen that you may have heard or heard of. Those of you who have heard Mike Patton's Lovage album will recognize a sample from the 2nd song. If you don't like this, then I don't like you.

320 kbps (fixed)

Force -- Force

2009-02-28T14:00:00.001-08:00

Solid grind from Japan featuring members of Hellchild, From Hell, Swarrrm, Multiplex, etc. Released in 1999.

224 kbps

Toadliquor -- The Hortator's Lament

2009-02-25T13:47:00.000-08:00

Released in 2003, The Hortator's Lament collects the bulk of Toadliquor's previous vinyl-only recordings. These guys pose a serious challenge to Khanate for the title of slowest band. Actually, that reminds me of a joke. A snail is walking down the street when a gang of turtles approaches him, beats him up, and takes his wallet. So the snail dusts himself off and heads over to the police station to report the crime. When he gets there, the police ask "what happened to you?" To which the snail replies, "I don't know...it all happened so fast."

What is a hortator anyway?

192 kbps

Kroko -- Furia

2009-02-22T12:12:00.000-08:00

Instrumental trio fronted by Deep Turtle's guitarist Pentti Dassum, which makes it mandatory listening. Sounds a bit like The Nels Cline Trio or The Blue Humans in parts, but will remind you of Deep Turtle as well.

256 kbps

The Uphill Gardeners -- The Uphill Gardeners

2009-02-19T17:28:00.000-08:00

Instrumental noodlery from L.A. musicians who have gone on to be in bands such as Goliath Bird Eater, The Polar Goldie Cats, Get Hustle, Young People, etc. Most of which are pretty boring, actually. Guess they peaked early. Yes, that's the cover.

VBR @ 256+ kbps

Deep Turtle -- Riva!

2009-02-18T13:28:00.000-08:00

Double-7'' from the masters, released in 1993. At this point I shouldn't have to describe this or tell you that you need it, should I?

192 kbps

Yusef Lateef -- Live at Pep's

2009-02-16T14:42:00.000-08:00

Really, it's all the about the snake charming jazz of the first song, Sister Mamie. The rest of the album is a bit spotty, with some decent tracks and some forgettable ones, but Sister Mamie makes it all worthwhile.

VBR @ 256+ kbps

Trumans Water -- Spasm Smash XXXOXOX Ox & Ass

2009-02-15T18:37:00.000-08:00

This is probably my favorite "indie rock" album of all time, perhaps because that label doesn't really fit so well. It may also be my favorite album of the '90s, or at least in the top handful of albums, which is a much stronger statement. I guess these guys are still touring and playing songs from this album, although the lead singer has since become a Christian and started up Soul-Junk, a weird lo-fi hip-hop outfit whose lyrics pay tribute to a certain imaginary skygod. Anyway, you should really hear this if you haven't already. And you should re-hear it if it's been a while. This is their magnum opus -- 20 songs worth of unhinged lunacy. Spasm Smash is to '90s indie rock what Trout Mask Replica is to '60s/'70s folk/psych rock, what Double Nickels on the Dime or Zen Arcade is to '80s punk rock, and I could probably think of others if I tried. You owe it to yourself to know and love this album. Do it.

VBR @ 256+ kbps

Zu -- Carboniferous

2009-02-15T12:58:00.000-08:00

Italian freakout jazz/no-wave/metal trio. I'm not much in the mood for writing descriptions right now, so just download it already. You won't be sorry.

VBR @ 256+ kbps

The Dead -- The Dead

2009-02-15T12:03:00.000-08:00

Australian DM. Thanks to Klontarth for this one.

VBR @ 224+ kbps

Killdozer -- Burl

2009-02-08T12:22:00.000-08:00

Released in 1986, this EP was dedicated to the memory of Burl Ives. Most people have to wait until their deaths for such tributes, but Mr. Ives got to enjoy his before passing in 1995. Rather thoughtful of the Killdozer gents, wouldn't you say?

192 kbps (fixed)

Wrench -- Planets Surface

2009-02-08T10:29:00.001-08:00

1997 debut from Australia's Wrench. I know almost nothing about these guys other than the fact that they put out a great album in 1997, and they're Australian. Sounds a bit like so-called desert rock, and in fact it's nothing you haven't heard before, but it's really well executed. I couldn't find an image of the cover on the innertubes, so here's a photo of my dog getting a bath instead. I think I originally downloaded this from the Sludge Swamp, so credit where credit is due, etc.

192 kbps

The Pyramids -- Birth Speed Merging

2009-02-08T09:55:00.000-08:00

Out jazz from 1976 that I only recently discovered when a retrospective of frontman Idris Ackamoor's career was released by EM Records a few years back. I always prefer the original albums to compilations, however, so here's one of 'em.

VBR @ 192+ kbps

Various Artists -- Choubi Choubi! Folk and Pop Sounds from Iraq

2009-02-03T21:35:00.001-08:00

The peripatetic genii at Sublime Frequencies have made a habit (and record label) out of digging up exotic sounds from faraway lands. This gem from 2005 is a collection of Iraqi folk and pop music, in some cases from artists whose identity is unknown. If you've ever found yourself tapping your foot while waiting in line at a falafel stand, you should probably check this out now. Then go buy this and everything else in the SF catalog.

192 kbps (broken link fixed)

Jamaaladeen Tacuma -- Show Stopper

2009-02-01T23:42:00.000-08:00

Change of pace here. A quick look at the cover should tell you what's inside, at least in some rough sense. But don't worry, not all jazz fusion was bad. This one has its share of lows, such as tracks 3 and 5, but the highs, such as track 4, compensate. This dude did time with Ornette Coleman before busting out on his own, so you know he's good.

192 kbps

Something that you should do right now

2009-01-29T10:37:00.000-08:00

Go to soundweave, perhaps the best music blog on the interbutts, and read the top 50 of 2008 list. I'm not much of a list-maker myself, but I always enjoy reading others, and his is perhaps the best.

I realize that most of the traffic on this site comes from there, but those few of you who haven't followed that route to get here should go check it out now.

Fredrik Thordendal -- Sol Niger Within

2009-01-28T10:58:00.000-08:00

Solo album from Meshuggah's guitarist that is, in my opinion, better than anything Meshuggah has done. I don't always enjoy music when you can practically hear the musicians counting due to the weird time changes and whatnot, but this one succeeds despite the mathiness. I really dig the vocals, too. Maybe Meshuggah should let him sing instead of the other guy, who sounds like a meathead.

192 kbps

Voivod -- Nothingface

2009-01-23T11:55:00.000-08:00

There was a period of about 6 months, perhaps more, during which I listened to this album every day. That was quite a while ago, but I just listened again, and the magic has not faded. I'm still amazed that a cover song, Pink Floyd's Astronomy Domine, fits in so well with such an elaborate concept album. There something naive and sweet here, and I'm not sure that I could enjoy an album as much today as did this one back then. Sigh.

320 kbps (re-fixed)

Last of the Juanitas -- In the Dirt

2009-01-22T12:40:00.001-08:00

Really digging these guys lately. This is their latest, and while it's short, it packs a punch. I could make some sort of snide reference here, but I'd pay for it later. That's the best I could do on the cover image, sorry.

.m4a, so who knows (fixed corrupt .rar file)

Duobetic Homunkulus -- Části a Mechanismy Strojů

2009-01-16T09:29:00.000-08:00

As promised, here's what 2 of the members of !T.O.O.H.! are up to, post-!T.O.O.H.! The .mp3's are a mixture of 128 kbps and 192 kbps, which is weird and a little annoying, but they came straight from the band's website, and I wasn't able to find better copies.

get it

Obituary -- Slowly We Rot

2009-01-15T19:24:00.001-08:00

I fucking love this record. Obituary got more accolades for Cause of Death, but in my opinion that is far weaker than this. They were much more raw on this one, more punk, whereas on Cause they had Scott Burns in the studio making them sound like Morbid Angel and all the other Florida DM bands of that era. Not that that's a bad thing, exactly, but on this one they have their own thing going on. I can't fucking believe that this album is 20 years old now either. Egad.

320 kbps

Hail of Bullets -- Of Frost and War

2009-01-11T15:13:00.001-08:00

Speaking of Martin van Drunen, here's his new band, although they definitely have an old school sound, too.

VBR @ 256+ kbps

Pestilence -- Consuming Impulse

2009-01-08T13:59:00.000-08:00

Old-school DM from Holland. These guys have apparently reformed and are planning a mini-tour later this year, minus Martin van Drunen (the lead singer on this album). I saw these guys open for Death at the Reseda Country Club in 1990 -- my first death metal show. At the time this stuff sounded like the harshest, most misanthropic music imaginable. Now it sounds kinda quaint. And how can you not love the album cover? Of all the cheesy artwork produced during this era, it has to be one of my favorites. I guess the ants are the ones with the impvlse to consvme? So scary.

192 kbps

Eibon -- Eibon

2009-01-07T11:06:00.001-08:00

French (or is it Freedom?) doom/sludge/post-metal. Sounds a bit like Indian to me. 2 tracks of delicious heaviosity.

VBR @ 240+ kbps

Steel Pole Bath Tub -- Butterfly Love

2009-01-05T18:25:00.000-08:00

More golden-era-of-college-radio nostalgia for me. This one came out in 1989, and I think I played the song Heaven on Dirt on my radio show every week for a year. Or a month, or something. I was shocked to learn that these guys released an album as recently as 2002. They're from Bozeman, MT of all places.

192 kbps

Buried at Sea -- Migration

2009-01-05T12:43:00.000-08:00

Along with Dopethrone, this is one of the 2 heaviest albums ever recorded. I go back and forth about which I prefer. This one is less tuneful, but I'm not sure if that's a pro or a con. You obviously should have them both. If there's any other album missing from this discussion, let me know.

VBR @ 220+ kbps

!T.O.O.H.! -- Řád a Trest (Order and Punishment)

2009-01-05T00:44:00.000-08:00

Criminally underappreciated techgrind band from the Czech Republic. These guys manage to combine bizarre time changes and disparate musical influences in a way that isn't annoying. The name stands for The Obliteration Of Humanity, which matches the cheesiness of the cover art rather well. Although they've broken up, two of the members are still chugging along as Duobetic Homunkulus, whose debut EP is even more chaotic and weird. (It's also available free on their website -- maybe I'll save you all the trouble of finding it by posting it here in the days to come.)

192 kbps

Electric Wizard -- Dopethrone

2009-01-01T14:27:00.000-08:00

Happy new year, fruits. Here's an essential album that most of you probably already have. This is the remastered version with a bonus track released a few years back. If I'm ever in the market for a high-end stereo system, I'm bringing this with me.

320 kbps

Old Time Relijun -- Witchcraft Rebellion

2008-12-27T14:14:00.000-08:00

My favorite album by these guys. From 2001. This is one of a few bands whose lyrics must be ignored/unheard at all costs, along with Gojira, McLusky and others I can't think of at the moment. That's tough, though, because the main draw here is the deranged vocal stylings of wildman Arrington de Dionyso. I swear the fucker is possessed. Anyway, enjoy.

192 kbps

Reverb Motherfuckers -- Route 666

2008-12-23T11:22:00.000-08:00

So-called scum rock from NYC 1988. Featuring this guy on vocals.

320 kbps

Outlaw Order -- Dragging Down the Enforcer

2008-12-22T15:29:00.001-08:00

Basically, this is Eyehategod. All the members are the same, minus one, and the music sounds pretty much the same, too. Although, apparently Eyehategod is still together. Go figure. Maybe they just finally realized what a stupid name Eyehategod is. Like, if that's what you want as your name, then just be I Hate God. For years I resisted listening to them because of the terrible name, but when I finally gave in I was hooked. They're great, and this is great, too.

VBR @ 220+ kbps

Last of the Juanitas -- Hawaii

2008-12-22T11:26:00.000-08:00

I figured I'd post something from a Portland band since I'm in Portland for the holidays. It's a fucking winter wonderland here, too. Absolutely gorgeous.

192 kbps

Cave -- Butthash

2008-12-14T23:27:00.000-08:00

New 7'' from the Columbia, MO noise/kraut/psych scene.

VBR @ 256+ kbps

Corrupted -- El Mundo Frío

2008-12-13T17:28:00.000-08:00

A doom metal masterpiece. They could stop making doom metal right now and it really wouldn't matter, because the perfect doom metal recording is right here. This is one 70+ minute song, by the way, and while it's probably on 100 other blogs out there, I had to have it on mine, too.

320 kbps

Burmese -- A Mere Shadow and Reminiscence of Humanity

2008-12-13T12:32:00.000-08:00

I wonder how Thoreau would feel about having his words attached to this album (yes, I had to google it). Don't let the tame cover fool you - these guys are angry. I have to imagine that making music like this is therapeutic, though. Roar.

192 kbps

Phobia -- 22 Random Acts of Violence

2008-12-10T18:48:00.000-08:00

I can't believe these guys are still playing, and playing well. This is straight-ahead grind -- nothing you haven't heard before -- but it's well-executed. Thanks to Matt D for this one.

192 kbps

Bastards -- Monticello

2008-12-10T16:22:00.000-08:00

Midwestern hatecore from 1989. This is about as close as any band has ever come to sounding like Killdozer, which is no small feat. If I recall correctly, the label in the middle of the record had a photo of a woman that turned into a man when you fit it over the little knob in the record player. Or at least a woman with a penis, like the one on the back of the record. Maybe these guys were trying to tell us something?

256 kbps

nomeansno -- 0+2=1

2008-12-09T23:32:00.001-08:00

One of their finest. If you don't already know who these guys are, then you aren't currently reading this.

256 kbps

O.L.D. -- Old Lady Drivers

2008-12-09T22:06:00.001-08:00

Debut album on Earache records from 1988 featuring the first recorded appearance of James Plotkin. If you had told me that this guy would have a long and distinguished career when I first heard this, I would have said nay. But here we are 20 years later, and he's still going strong, although mostly as a producer. Also featuring Alan Dubin on vocals -- you may know these two from their work in Khanate. This is more of a historical curiosity (not an historical curiosity, because that's stupid) than anything else. In other words, it's not that good, but you may be curious to hear it anyway.

192 kbps

Azarath -- Diabolic Impious Evil

2008-12-09T21:24:00.001-08:00

Brutal death metal from Poland that sounds a lot like Behemoth, and not only because they share a drummer. Or maybe that is why...I don't know.

VBR @ 256+ kbps

Todd -- Comes to Your House

2008-12-08T13:10:00.000-08:00

I know next to nothing about these guys, except that they're from London and they sound a little like Unsane at times. Yes, I'm posting more retro-AmRep noisiness. I guess I don't really need to tell you that it's good, since, after all, I'm posting it, which I wouldn't do if it weren't. You see, I only like things that are good. And I definitely don't like things that suck.

VBR @ 192+ kbps

Indian -- The Unquiet Sky

2008-12-08T12:45:00.000-08:00

Downtuned sludgy doomy goodness. This was their debut, but none of the subsequent releases have the same impact. From Chicago.

VBR @ 224+ kbps

Impaled Northern Moonforest -- Impaled Northern Moonforest

2008-12-05T14:20:00.000-08:00

Featuring Seth Putnam of Anal Cunt. Sure, it's a joke, but it's a funny one. Acoustic black metal which was supposedly created because there was somebody sleeping in the next room. Then again, Seth doesn't exactly seem like the kind of guy who would care if somebody was trying to sleep, so who knows. This, believe it or not, has spawned a raft of imitators. Let your response to the song titles below be your guide.

A1	Grim and Frostbitten Moongoats of the North
A2	Forlorned Invocations of Blasphemous Congregations of Lusting Goat Sodomizing Sathanis
A3	Gazing at the Blasphemous Moon While Perched atop a Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Forsaken Crest of the Northern Mountain
A4	Bloodlustfully Praising Satan's Unholy Almightiness in the Woods at Midnight
A5	Nocturnal Cauldrons Aflame Amidst the Northern Hellwitch's Perpetual Blasphemy
A6	Transfixing the Forbidden Blasphemous Incantation of the Conjuring Wintergoat
B1	Masturbating on the Unholy Inverted Tracks of the Grim & Frostbitten Necrobobsledders
B2	Awaiting the Blasphemous Abomination of the Necroyeti While Sailing on the Northernmost Fjord of Xzfgiiizmtsath
B3	Lustfully Worshipping the Inverted Moongoat While Skiing Down the Inverted Necromountain of Necrodeathmortum
B4	Awaiting the Frozen Blasphemy of the Necroyeti's Lusting Necrobation Upon the Altar of Voxrfszzzisnzf
B5	Summoning the Unholy Frozen Winterdemons to the Grimmest and Most Frostbitten Inverted Forest of Abazagorath
B6	Entranced by the Northern Impaled Necrowizard's Blasphemous Incantation Amidst the Agonizing Abomination of the Lusting Necrocorpse
B7	Grim and Frostbitten Gay Bar

192 kbps

Kylesa -- Time Will Fuse its Worth

2008-12-04T16:32:00.000-08:00

I have no idea what the title of this album means. Think about it for a while and let me know if you come up with something. Is it just some nonsense thrown together and meant to sound deep? That's my take. Have you ever read a placard next to a painting in a gallery and felt embarrassment for the writer? Miró is betokening the epistemologial ontology of extemporaneous, preternatural synthesis. The viewer is invited -- nay, challenged -- to dichotomize the essential proclamation of vigor and foudroyance in this opus, and time will fuse its worth to him splendiferously.

To fuse is to bring two things together, but worth is only one thing. I suppose there could be something interesting to say about the worth of time...but one thing I know for sure is that the time you spent reading this just now was wasted, and thus worth nothing.

Fuse that in your time and worth it.

Oh, this album, despite the stupid title, is pretty good, so download it now.

192 kbps

The Golding Institute -- Final Relaxation

2008-12-02T19:27:00.001-08:00

Gregg Turkington, the warped genius behind Neil Hamburger, not to mention Caroliner, Faxed Head, Zip Code Rapists and others, makes his first foray into self-help/meditation tapes. Only for those who are prepared for the ultimate experience in extreme relaxation.

Thanks go to Dimitri for this one.

It's spoken word, so who cares about the bitrate

King Snake Roost -- Ground into the Dirt

2008-12-02T16:40:00.000-08:00

Australia had a decent little noise rock scene in the late 80s and early 90s. With the help of Amphetamine Reptile records, bands such as feedtime, Lubricated Goat and these guys found an audience among college radio dorks. (I know, because I was one.) Not all the stuff from that era still sounds good to me, but this one does.

192 kbps

Sayyadina -- Mourning the Unknown

2008-12-01T14:57:00.000-08:00

I guess this genre of music is called crust punk. It sounds more or less like grindcore to me, but maybe a little punkier or something. Do I sound old?

320 kbps

Deep Turtle -- Tutina

2008-12-01T14:41:00.000-08:00

More Deep Turtle = more essential music that you should download now. From 2002, their second phase, which means somewhat more mature songwriting and somewhat less anarchy. Emphasis on the somewhat.

192 kbps

Earth -- Earth 2

2008-11-30T09:36:00.000-08:00

The album without which Sunn 0)))) and Boris and Nadja and all the others would not exist. Ambient metal. Although it's very easy to tune this out and do other stuff while it's playing, the second it ends I feel empty inside and want to put it back on. Maybe that's the effect that noted heroin-enthusiast Dylan Carlson was going for.

320 kbps

Laddio Bolocko -- The Life & Times of Laddio Bolocko

2008-11-29T21:26:00.000-08:00

Noisy, krauty, jazzrock at its best.

VBR @ 224 kbps on average

Kemialliset Ystävät -- Kemialliset Ystävät

2008-11-28T14:46:00.000-08:00

Freakout forest fuckery from Finland.

320 kbps