Sunday, October 29, 2017

Bandcamp Picks - Altarage, Vassafor, Krallice with Dave Edwardson, Blattaria



Spain's Altarage haven't been around for very long, but are proving to be masters of the new wave of discordant blast. Endinghent, their second album, is alternately blisteringly fast and creepingly slow, with the band's knack for dissonance keeping the listener on edge. Making death metal grate again. [€9]



Over the course of numerous demos, splits, and EPs since the Nineties, Vassafor have been a fixture of New Zealand's increasingly celebrated metal scene. Their second album Malediction heaps the atmosphere upon their filthy (at times surprisingly catchy) style of black metal without losing its evil core. Black and foul to the utmost. [€7.77]



Dave Edwardson's guttural vocals always brought an extra level of menace to Neurosis, so it's about time they were employed by a much heavier band like NY's Krallice. Frenetic and unpredictable, Loüm lets Edwardson's roar intersperse the dizzying progressive black metal that Krallice are known for. It's a testament to the album's ferocity that the bassist from Neurosis is the least metal thing about it. [$7]



The brainchild of Oklahoma-based Manuel Garcia, Blattaria is no run of the mill one-man black metal band. Their self-titled album (actually their second release) splits its time between skronking blasts and short psychedelic interludes, reaching John Zorn levels of neighbour-bothering cacophony. A wildly creative and unorthodox work; I look forward to hearing more from this project in the future. The album is available as a "name your price" download.

Sunday, October 22, 2017

Bandcamp Picks - Iron Monkey, Ufomammut, Deadsmoke, Stonebirds


One of a handful of bands that pioneered what we refer to today as "sludge metal", the mighty Iron Monkey have returned to sack the kingdom they helped build. 9-13, the band's first album since calling it quits at the end of the Nineties, sees them sticking doggedly to what they do best by molding piercing feedback around Sabbath sized riffs. A cogent reminder that beyond volatile personalities and gig drama, Iron Monkey's reputation was built around some really fucking heavy songs. [$10]


The inclusion of Ufomammut on the Neurot roster should be taken as a sign that they're a cut above the usual sludge/post-metal band. Album 8 puts them within spitting distance of psychedelic warlords Hawkwind, cramming effects into every available sonic space in the band's repetitive grooves. Black light poster boys for hell's own head shop. [$8]



Fellow Italians Deadsmoke shake loose most of doom metal's bluesy roots, leaving behind something primal and monolithic. The seven songs on Mountain Legacy won't be rushed, nearing doom/drone austerity in their sleepier than Sleep trudge. An arduous climb to the land of Nod. [€8]



Though rough around the edges, French trio Stonebirds are incredibly nuanced in their approach. Their third album Time sees them navigating between fragile melancholy and oppressive heaviness, finding common ground with the dronegaze of The Angelic Process as well as post-metal usual suspects Pelican and Isis. Doom for the thinking man. [€5]

Mixtape 39 - Parasytes



Here is the 39th installment of the Dreams of Consciousness podcast, featuring an interview with Montréal punks Parasytes.

Sunday, October 1, 2017

Bandcamp Picks - Unsane, Squalus, Usnea, Helpless

The return of mighty Unsane is always a cause for celebration. No surprises as to what they've cooked up with Sterilize - the NY trio's 8th album (and first for Southern Lord) is still the crushing noise rock that they pioneered in the Eighties, with Chris Spencer's trademark twanging riffs providing the only respite from the blanketing onslaught. Three decades of total destruction and we're all better for it.  [$8.99]



A re-shuffling of DoC faves Giant Squid, Pacifica CA's Squalus continue the pelagic themes and inventive heaviness of their previous incarnation. The Great Fish takes inspiration (and dialogue) from the movie Jaws, using two bass guitars and spacey keyboards to re-tell Peter Benchley's tale of a carcharodon terrorizing a small seaside town. Anyone with a soft spot for prog metal concept albums will find a lot to sink their teeth into here. [$9.99]



Portland doom quartet Usnea have been busy carving out their own niche in the post-post metal landscape. Portals Into Futility finds a middle ground between the cerebral sludge of the Neur/Isis crowd with the more hesher-centric death-doom of Morgion. Who says cookie monster vocals and post-metal don't mix? [$10]


As with most of the recent crop of power violence bands, there's no denying the influence of Converge on Plymouth's Helpless. Debt takes its cues not just from the Boston band's heaviest moments, but Kurt Ballou's speaker-cracking productions as well; the result is as headache-inducing as the best of Nails and Full of Hell. Like a power-drill through the skull - get the Advil out now. [£7]

An Interview with Nucleus

Chicago's Nucleus has been a band to keep an eye on for a few years now, playing a progressive style of death metal that hearkens back to Nocturnus and Voivoid, both musically and thematically. Their debut full-length Sentient and the follow up EP Fragmented Self were both impressive statements of purpose, and showed how far the band had come since their early recordings. As I love music that's both thoughtful and heavy, I got in touch with the band; guitarist Dan Ozcanli was kind enough to answer my questions.