Black Mass - Of First And Last Things (2013)

Bit of shameless self promotion here. We (Black Mass) have been sat on this for some time now. Its a compilation of all the material the band had previously released. After myself and our two guitarists had joined we started building up our own recording rig and this compilation is the result of those forays into home recording. Its come out pretty good if I do say so myself. We have now dropped most of this from the setlist as well, so we saw this release as a good sign off for the first period of the bands life. For now, we have released it on Bandcamp for free. If it doesn't work then use the Mediafire link under, we only get so many free downloads a month. A physical version should be available from Witchunter Records in March.

Bandcamp

Mediafire

Cops - Demo (2012)

On the surface, Cops are a bunch of hardcore punks who enjoy Crossed Out and Suppression as much as the next guy and their band certainly reflects that. But scratch beneath the surface and it begins to show a much nastier side. Squelching little synths and electronics underpin the breakneck guitars and drums giving away a knowing nod to power electronics and noise. Maybe not really anything new in the world of power violence and grind but certainly integrated far better into the Cops sound than most. I have included both demo's in the link below. I don't know if they have anything else available, what little there is is well worth your time. I came across this on the always awesome Terminal Escape.

Cops - Demo I and II 

Casualties Of Jazz - Kind Of Black (2004)

It doesn't really get any simpler than this. Instrumental jazz trio cover Sabbath classics. That's nine Black Sabbath standards filtered through drums, double bass and Hammond organ. Its a superbly laid back listen with a ton of groove and some ingenious instrumentation. Well worth your time.

Casualties Of Jazz - Kind Of Black

Satanic Threat - In To Hell (2008)

We all have a love for the head banging fury that masters like Nunslaughter and the mighty Midnight obviously rule at. Now take members of both those mentioned acts and let them loose on some 80's hardcore records and you have this EP by Satanic Threat. Solid, US, 80's hardcore. Think Uniform Choice, Minor Threat, SSD and Youth of Today if they wrote songs about hating Christ and blaspheming. Solid, evil stuff.

Satanic Threat - In To Hell

Cult Ritual - S/T LP (2009)

 

Despite the meagre number of followers on here, I can pretty much garuantee that most of you have a pretty good knowledge of music and know something good when you hear it. Of those I pesonally know, sorry, I can pretty much wager that you are going to like this post.
I missed this album first time round, not suprising really, part of the Youth Attack Records stable, limited vinyl release, talked up across the boards and copies fetching upto 200 sheets on Ebay ( Christ!). Despite all this, its done the rounds online and across the blog networks and reached quite a few more people than anyone (including the band) probably intended.
To cut a long story short, Cult Ritual have pretty much found the perfect middle ground between AmRep noise rock, Sub Pop whistle and screech and good old hardcore punk and fashioned an immensly noisy and enthralling album that doesn't hold back in its screaming feedback and broken glass guitar sound while never compromising dynamics or forward thinking. Essental doesn't really do this justice but its far more venomous and angry than a million identikit chugging hardcore bands and posseses more energy and chaos than any number of so called punk rock clones. Cult Ritual are a pretty good definition of genuine hardcore thinking.

Cult Ritual - S/T LP

Helmet - Wilma's Rainbow EP (1994)

Page and his lads doing what they did best back in the 90's. The second single from "Betty" just hammered home the Helmet sound to all those pricks watching MTV. You can argue all you want about its influence and its fault for various other "genres" but you can't deny the groove.
The EP is backed up with a few decent quality live tracks including "Just Another Victim", the collaboration they did with House Of Pain. Which funnily enough both groups tend to play live, but separately.

Helmet - Wilma's Rainbow EP

Graham Central Station - Mirror (1976)

Larry Graham has got a fair few decent things going for him. He was a key member of Sly & The Family Stone, he is often credited with pioneering the slap technique applied to electric bass and he also worked with Betty Davis, Tower of Power's horn section and The Pointer Sisters. Amongst all this, he found time to form Graham Central Station back in 1973 with various musicians picked out of Jefferson Airplane, Santana and Hot Tuna. Mirror show cases this collectives combined playing skills on many levels. Some of the tightest and most energetic playing you are likely to hear.

Graham Central Station - Mirror

FUCK!!!! Some tight ass playing right here!

Big Black - Live at The Cafe Voltaire (1987)

Awesome live recording that captures Big Black's caustic sound and also Albini's caustic wit from a 1987 show in Milwaukee. I would use the term greatest hits to describe the set list but it feels redundant to use that term with Big Black, instead lets say its the best mixtape you could think up to give to someone to educate them on this amazing band.

Big Black - Live@The Cafe Voltaire

I got this over at a pretty sweet blog called Know Your Conjurer. Its an education reading that thing.

Breach - It's Me God (1997)

Solid gold, bulletproof classic. The dark, Swedish hardcore machine known as Breach have never really set a foot wrong. This album is my favourite and one of my biggest influences. I couldn't ever really describe how good this is, just get it listened to.

Breach - It's Me God

They ended the final show by smashing up all the instruments and then the guitarist did this little interview......

Coalesce - BBC Live Session (2009)

Anyone that follows this will know how I feel about Coalesce, so lets move forward with the least amount of fuss and back tracking. I love this band. 2009, when they toured for the first time over here and in Europe they played 3 tracks as a live studio session for the BBC Radio 1 "Rock Show".

Here are those 3 tracks. "Wild Ox Moan", " The Villain I Won't Deny" and "Through Sparrows I Rest" all sound pretty fucking monstrous. The BBC got it right this time.

Coalesce - BBC Maida Vale Session

Stop hanging about.....get onto it.

Black Mass - S/T EP (2010)

So, I started playing with another band recently. Loud, nasty, HM-2 worship. This is an EP they put out on Holy Roar Records and came in this neat, metal tin.  Now sold out, now posted up here.

Black Mass - Black Mass EP

Been jamming this weekend as well. Written some new riffs, booked some new shows. Can't wait. Check out the bandcamp page for a pretty sweet noise remix/mash up of the entire EP.

Profits - For The Few/1913 EP (2011/2010)

Been digging this a lot recently. Came across it on the Toxicbreeds Funhouse blog. Some pretty sweet, ripping grind influenced hardcore from Portland. If you dig early Pig Destroyer mixed with some elements of Cursed, Nasum and other such noisy fast stuff you will like this. So far they have done 2 EP's. For The Few and 1913 which are zipped up into the one file below. These are also available separately on the bands Bandcamp here. Got it. Good.

Profits - Both EP's

Coalesce - Last Call For The Living 10" (2000)

As I have said before, there are certain bands and albums, that if someone doesn't like, then I don't trust them. Anyone that reads this blog will know which I mean. Well Coalesce are on there as well. A prime influence on me musically and also one of the best bands ever. Fact.
So as a treat for a cold, dark Sunday night, here is the "final" release they put out just before they split up in 2000. It was made available at the "final" show. Of course, it being Coalesce, they reformed inside of 6 months and stopped selling this making it a pretty rare item.
"Last Call For The Living" is made up of very early demo recordings, when the band was still finding its sound. The recording quality differs quite a bit to anything else, but they are demos. Sean Ingram had not yet discovered "that voice" and his vocals on here owe more to the 90's hardcore scene they played for. The first 3 tracks are said demos and are followed by early versions of SXE baiting classic Harvest of Maturity and On Their Behalf as well as a early version of Simulcast. Bitchin' stuff.

Coalesce - Last Call For The Living

Certainly a completely different listen compared to any other Coalesce album and only real Coalesce geeks will get anything out of this. But then if your reading this, your a Coalesce geek like the rest of us losers.

Soundgarden - Live at Brixton Academy (1997)

You shouldn't need much of an introduction to Soundgarden. 90's rock legends. If you do then your not welcome. Superunknown is on the stereo on a regular basis at Pony Trot Towers. Amongst the slew of live sets knocking around online, I have realised that Cornell seems to be lacking the ability to hit those high notes these days. While musically spot on his voice seems to have taken a beating doing James Bond themes and rapping some one else's songs. This is a sound desk recording from the last documented UK show before they disbanded in 1997. It was the Brixton Academy and the setlist is pretty solid ( despite omitting "The Day I Tried To live"). The crowd seem pretty into it and do in fact sing along louder than Cornell at points which does disguise his sometimes off key warbling. But hey, its Soundgarden. You can't and won't complain.

Soundgarden - Live Brixton Academy 97

Only thing its missing is this masterpiece....................

Streets Of Fire - OST (1984)

Primarily made as a way for Walter Hill to combine, in his own words " everything I thought was cool when I was a kid" into one film. Which means you get lots of rain, neon, 50's greaser gangs, cool cars, jokes in tough situations, leather jackets, guns, fire, explosions and hot 80's women ( Diane Lane back then, come on!). He then managed to combine these with such cool things as Lee Ving punching out Rick Moranis, Diane Lane doing a pretty good lip syncing job, Micheal Pare over doing his tough hero act while still kicking lots of ass in his high waisted slacks, more ass kicking from a grubby, pseudo lesbian mechanic, William Dafoe in some PVC waders and a pretty sweet, pumping 80's sound track. With all these elements how could it possibly fail? Well it did, and turned out to be Walter Hill's biggest commercial failure. Despite being the main inspiration for Capcom's greatest future arcade achievement, Final Fight and being a true classic of cheesy 80's cinema. There really is no justice in the world.
The music was originally meant to involve Bruce Springsteen's song of the same title as the film, but on learning that it would be recorded with a different vocalist so Diane Lane could lip sync to it, he decided to pull out of the deal. Which left them with Ry Cooder, Jim Steinman, The Blasters (awesome) and Face To Face ( who also played the backing band The Attackers and also recorded the best song on here "Nowhere Fast") to fill out the soundtrack. Which they all do pretty well. its a solid effort from everyone. With the exception of "Nowhere Fast" and "Tonight Is What it Means To Be Young" most of the rest of this soundtrack has sunk into obscurity, which is a real shame as it contains some really good stuff. The doo wop tracks are good and both contributions by The Blasters are worth investigating.
Anyhow, here it is........................

Streets Of Fire - OST

The Jesus Lizard - Peel Sessions (1991/92)

Its The Jesus Lizard. I shouldn't have to say anymore really. This is a mix of two separate sessions they did for John Peel (god rest his soul) back in 1991/92. A nice bass heavy mix. They don't have the Albini clarity to them but I love how you can hear Sims bass thundering away behind Denison's guitar screeching. Don't think these ever got officially released other than being passed around the Internet. The Peel sessions where good.

The Jesus Lizard - Peel Sessions

Fugazi - Inner Ear Demo (1987)

I remember seeing Fugazi back in about 2000/01. One of the most unintentionally terrifying/upsetting moments in my young music goer life was brought on by some metal chump stood right in front of me, throwing a plastic beer glass into the pit. Ian Mackaye saw this. The band stopped. he pointed right at the chump and told him to pack it in. it seemed like he was pointing at me.
Fugazi's 87 demo right here. Songs that would go onto make up on the Fugazi and Margin Walker EP's and Repeater three years later. Recorded at the Inner Ear Studio. Everyone should love Fugazi. These versions really don't differ from the album versions at all. Little guitar tweaks or slight changes here and there. I'm not going to point any of them out for you, work it out yourself. There is the added awesome bonus of the unreleased (officially anyway) "The Word".

Fugazi - Inner Ear Demo

Kittens - Bazooka And The Hustler (1997)

 
You only have to look around the Internet to find out how much love and respect there is for this band. For this noisy, angular bunch of Canadian kids from an isolated town. It sits comfortably between Am-Rep noise and Fugazi/DC sleight of hand while belonging to neither. They released 10 albums between 1992 - 98. After they split they went onto be involved with KENmode, Hide Your Daughters and Projektor. Cursed covered them on the Blackout At Sunrise 7". That should be a good enough recommendation for you. I do not trust anyone who doesn't like this album.

Kittens - Bazooka And The Hustler

I was going to upload this myself but computer problems and the fact that the awesome folk over at [Shiny Grey Monotone] have beaten me to it not once, but twice in the past. This is there link. Show em some love while your at it as well.

Albums that influenced Oliver #2 : Bloodlet - Entheogen/The Seraphim Fall (1996/98)

It was a hard choice to make as I have always, ALWAYS, insisted on The Seraphim Fall as the most important Bloodlet album to myself. But then after several months reacquainting my ears with Entheogen I realised that they both had pretty important reasons for being on here and finally after wussing out I decided to post both.

Bloodlet became known to me through those Victory Records sampler CD's, number 3 to be exact ( same place I discovered Integrity, Snapcase, Earth Crisis and Deadguy ). It was "Dogman With Horns" of Seraphim... that I first heard. I didn't understand it at all. The production was so lo-fi and murky, the vocals didn't seem to suit the music, it had this weird allover the place groove that I just couldn't get my head around. It didn't make much of an impression on me. Then on a trip to Vinyl Exchange in Manchester I picked up the album they did prior, Entheogen, out of interest wondering if it was going to be any different. That's when it clicked.

Bloodlet - Entheogen

I loved everything about this album. The vocals had this nasty, twisted atmosphere to them that at first seemed odd but perfectly suited the way these songs lumbered out the speakers. Still heavily indebted to the whole metal/hardcore chug that Victory was renowned for in those days (before it went) but spiced up with twisted pinch notes and odd timings and a whole load of dissonance. But the single most important thing about this record for me was the fretless bass playing of Art Legere. That is what sealed it in the hall of fame for me. The bass just seemed to snake under the chugging and harmonies, the intro to "Eucharist" still gets me these days.
It was about a year later that I managed to get hold of The Seraphim Fall. After listening to the track of the sampler on repeat for what seemed like weeks I thought I was ready to face this album. Having spent so long with Entheogen I felt I had a good enough understanding of Bloodlet to give it a second chance.

Bloodlet - The Seraphim Fall

It was the production that hit me at first, it was so murky and lo-fi. Almost sounding like it had never been mastered properly. Being the geeky and stubborn minded fan I was, I stuck with it for weeks before one morning when due to a delayed train I had time to listen from start to finish with no interruptions.
All of a sudden the production made sense. It snared you in with the quietly mixed acoustic parts before the almost, subliminal heaviness of the guitars came crashing down and all the while that translucent bass tone was scaling up and down the fretboard like crazy. All the odd chords, strange lyrics, dissonance and weird interludes just made it so much more important to me than anything else I was listening to at the time. I knew no one who was into this. It was my find. I absorbed as much as I could from that album. Hunted for any more information on Bloodlet that I could find. I wanted to know everything about it. Still a very under rated album and certainly one the band never managed to better in my opinion. There are links to both above. Two very important and influential albums to me.

 ( These where the fashions of the time. Blond dreads and shelltoes.)

Shameless plug....but Kyuss content!

Yes, yes. I know its a bit shady but I am so chuffed with the end result of this recording and the fact it seems quite topical in recent announcement's. Its my band, The Ergon Carousel doing "Allen's Wrench" by Kyuss paired with our friends in the awesome Throats covering "Odyssey", also by Kyuss. This is lovingly pressed onto a single side 7". Some very tasty artwork done by the lovely Holly Lucas.

Its limited to 300. The first 50 had a secret, stencilled B-side. they might have some left, they might not. Holy Roar do some pretty sweet stuff so have a mooch around the store while you are there.
In the other Ergon news the album is finally nearing completion. Re-mastering is being worked on now, artwork as well. its all coming together.
Fast is back.

x