By: Kory Kasler, Promotions Director
I don't use iTunes. I don't have a Spotify account. I've never used last.fm. I just spend way too much time on Bandcamp, and I thought I'd share some albums I've stumbled upon during that time.
1. "Sad Bastard EP" - Algebra
Algebra is a really solid alternative hip-hop act from Tulsa, Oklahoma. I am a big fan of Cincinnati hip-hop artist Evolve, and this album immediately reminded me of that same style. I wish there were more of this in the world and less Wiz Khalifa or Lil Wayne.
2. "SON.R22" - Hexis
European black metal/grind artist Hexis is definitely one to check out if you are into black metal. It adds a ton of intensity with the ultra-fast grind element and forms a really solid album. Check it out for sure.
3. "Demo 2011" - Traitors
Traitors is a strange mix of hardcore, punk, thrash and sludge. They do a great job of switching between the styles and still making the demo sound like an album and not just a collection of songs. The first track comes in and is really sludge-heavy, and then they go into the second track that is faster and has more of a thrash element in it. It's really interesting, and is definitely one for a fan of hardcore.http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
4. "DOMESPLITTER" - Direct Hit!
This is one of the best pop-punk albums I've stumbled across in a long time. It's got really catchy lines and a lot more energy than a lot of pop punk bands I've seen. The scratchy, screamed vocals really bring it all together to make it sound more intense than you'd expect from a pop punk band. Great album!
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5. "Follow Me" - Chalk Dinosaur
Chalk Dinosaur is a really eclectic project that encompasses some elements of surf rock, indie pop, funk, and all kinds of other odds and ends and really makes something unique. It's always good to see someone doing something new rather than copying what other people have done in the past. Definitely check it out. With that many different things mixed together, there's got to be something you like.
Showing posts with label thrash metal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label thrash metal. Show all posts
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Friday, October 21, 2011
Kory' Recs: "Are those supposed to be WORDS?"
By: Kory Kasler, Promotions Director
My family, not being into metal like I am, is constantly asking me things like: “What is he saying?” or “Are those supposed to be words?” when I am listening to something from the metal portion of my music library.
For this post, I’ve made a list of some of my favorite metal artists for any metal-loving Rock Lobsters who know that, yes, they are words.
1. Skeletonwitch
Being from Athens, I have been around Skeletonwitch for a long time. While I wasn’t around in 2004 when they came together, they became my favorite band after I purchased Beyond the Permafrost from the Haffa's Records metal section.
Their music is unique in that it doesn’t fit neatly into a certain genre; as, they combine elements of thrash, black metal, death metal, and other genres to put together some of the best blackened thrash music out there.
2. Toxic Holocaust
Toxic Holocaust is probably my favorite purely thrash band. There really isn’t much to say about them except that if you’re looking for some fast and intense thrash metal, then Toxic Holocaust is for you.
3. Horde
Say what you want about religious metal music, but it’s hard to deny that when it comes down to music alone, Horde is one of the best black metal bands out there in my opinion. Being around during the early part of the rise of black metal, they have the classic black metal sound: fast blast beat drumming, harsh, shrieked vocals, and foreboding chord progressions.
4. False
It’s always nice to see a band with a good female vocalist, and False is one of the best. If you’re looking for good, modern black metal, False is a great choice. Once again, great guitar, fast drums, and solid vocals.
5. Hilariously Disgusting Album/Song Titles
There are endless band, song, and album titles that are so disgusting and so ridiculous that you can’t help but laugh at them. The music is less-than-stellar, to say the least, but it’s fun to cruise YouTube looking for funny/disgusting song titles like Gutrot’s “Gorging on Menstrual Chunks” or Spermswamp’s “Fermented Anal Nectar.” Come on, you know it made you laugh (or throw up.)
My family, not being into metal like I am, is constantly asking me things like: “What is he saying?” or “Are those supposed to be words?” when I am listening to something from the metal portion of my music library.
For this post, I’ve made a list of some of my favorite metal artists for any metal-loving Rock Lobsters who know that, yes, they are words.
1. Skeletonwitch
Being from Athens, I have been around Skeletonwitch for a long time. While I wasn’t around in 2004 when they came together, they became my favorite band after I purchased Beyond the Permafrost from the Haffa's Records metal section.
Their music is unique in that it doesn’t fit neatly into a certain genre; as, they combine elements of thrash, black metal, death metal, and other genres to put together some of the best blackened thrash music out there.
2. Toxic Holocaust
Toxic Holocaust is probably my favorite purely thrash band. There really isn’t much to say about them except that if you’re looking for some fast and intense thrash metal, then Toxic Holocaust is for you.
3. Horde
Say what you want about religious metal music, but it’s hard to deny that when it comes down to music alone, Horde is one of the best black metal bands out there in my opinion. Being around during the early part of the rise of black metal, they have the classic black metal sound: fast blast beat drumming, harsh, shrieked vocals, and foreboding chord progressions.
4. False
It’s always nice to see a band with a good female vocalist, and False is one of the best. If you’re looking for good, modern black metal, False is a great choice. Once again, great guitar, fast drums, and solid vocals.
5. Hilariously Disgusting Album/Song Titles
There are endless band, song, and album titles that are so disgusting and so ridiculous that you can’t help but laugh at them. The music is less-than-stellar, to say the least, but it’s fun to cruise YouTube looking for funny/disgusting song titles like Gutrot’s “Gorging on Menstrual Chunks” or Spermswamp’s “Fermented Anal Nectar.” Come on, you know it made you laugh (or throw up.)
Friday, May 13, 2011
Branka's Recs: A Quick Look at the Punk and Metal Scene of Former Yugoslavia
1. Slovenia -- Slovenija
'Ti (Dežuje 7" EP, 1986)' - Tožibabe
Yugoslavia, a long dismantled country spread across a region the size of the state of Oregon, was home to a broad spectrum of cultures and corresponding countercultures, including very active punk and metal scenes. Slovenia, the most western (both geographically and culturally) of all the former Yugoslav republics, was home to a burgeoning scene that benefited strongly from nearby influences.
Amongst the most striking of its bands was the all-female band Tožibabe who brought a strikingly dark and nearly goth rock atmosphere to their brand of hardcore. They were included on the essential compilation Hardcore Ljubljana which demonstrated a number of bands from the Slovenian capital.
2. Croatia -- Hrvatska
'Povedi me (Sudbina, 1987)' - Crna Udovica
There's no doubt the degree of influence seminal bands like Judas Priest had on metal in general and this influence is certainly heard in many heavy metal bands from former Yugoslavia, including the hard-rockin' Crna Udovica from the coastal Croatian city Dubrovnik.
I have always felt that the southern Slavic languages aren't very well suited to this style of metal singing, which involves sustained notes, but in this case the vocalist does an exemplary job of flawless metal yowling on top of headbang-inducing riffs.
3. Bosnia and Herzegovina -- Bosna i Hercegovina
'Speed metal manijak (Bez Milosti, 1991)' - Bombarder
Ja živim svoj život, za sve ostalo nije me briga
Ne vjerujem u Satanu, ne vjerujem u Boga
Moja ljubav je buka i brzina
U mojim venama teče krv metalna
U mom tjelu je snaga nebeska
JA POSTAJEM — SPIIIID METALLLL MANIJAAAAK!!!!
I live my life, I don't care for anything else
I don't believe in Satan, nor in God
My love is noise and speed
In my veins flows blood of metal
In my body is power from heaven
I am becoming -- SPEEEED METALLLL MANIAAAAC!!
In the late '80s and early '90s, the Motörhead-inspired thrashy speed metal scene had spread to former Yugoslavia and the Big Three of this style were indisputably Evil Blood (from Croatia), Heller (from Serbia), and Bombarder (from Bosnia). My personal favorite of the three are the Bosnian speed metal maniacs Bombarder from Sarajevo. Their crowning appeal, on top of metal-devoted lyrics, is for maintaining an enduring feeling of urgency and chaos in the riffs, making you expect everything to fly off the rails and collapse entirely at any moment.
4. Montenegro -- Crna Gora
'Rotten Town (Street, Rotten, Thrash Derby, 2008)' - KK Street Bangers
As it turns out, the '90s were a dark decade for the region as a whole and left the punk and metal scenes especially crippled, with many members either dying during the conflicts, getting caught up in extreme nationalism, or otherwise dropping off the radar.
Fortunately, thrash metal is still alive in the region, as evidenced by Montenegrin thrashers KK Street Bangers from Podgorica. Their style reminds me immediately of East Coast thrash legends Overkill and I’m very pleased to see a post-millenial band from the region largely side-stepping the current fad of retreading turf American Bay Area bands have long since ground into dust.
5. Serbia -- Srbija
'Terorizam protiv dosade (Došao je kraj 7”, 1984)' - 2 Minuta Mržnje
I have often lamented the fact that I experienced the gr-80s for only a few months of my life and have no remembrance of them. These lamentations have intensified over the years as research and investigation into punk from former Yugoslav helped me discover that there was a flourishing punk scene in my hometown Novi Sad that was the subject of a documentary called Bilo jednom and a book called Novosadska punk verzija (text available only in serbian). One of the more intriguing bands of the scene was the band 2 Minuta Mržnje, a Serbian band that took it’s name from George Orwell’s dystopian classic Nineteen Eighty-Four and, very appropriately, recorded their demo in the year 1984.
6. Macedonia -- Makedonija
'Anarchy Loves to Sleep on the Floor of my Room' - FxPxOx
The Balkans, like much of the rest of eastern Europe, have long been afflicted with the nearly ubiquitous socially-acceptable vices of drinking and smoking--these activities are woven into the fabric of society and it’s almost impossible to imagine draconian Western measures against them being implemented in this region.
However, even in such a place, straightedge hardcore has made inroads and planted its pissed off XXX doctrine as best represented by the Skopje natives, Macedonian band FxPxOx--standing for ‘Forever Positively Obsessed’. Personal life choices aside, it’s gratifying to see a zest for ‘posi’ spirit in a former Yugoslav republic.
--Branka Šormaz, Web Director
'Ti (Dežuje 7" EP, 1986)' - Tožibabe
Yugoslavia, a long dismantled country spread across a region the size of the state of Oregon, was home to a broad spectrum of cultures and corresponding countercultures, including very active punk and metal scenes. Slovenia, the most western (both geographically and culturally) of all the former Yugoslav republics, was home to a burgeoning scene that benefited strongly from nearby influences.
Amongst the most striking of its bands was the all-female band Tožibabe who brought a strikingly dark and nearly goth rock atmosphere to their brand of hardcore. They were included on the essential compilation Hardcore Ljubljana which demonstrated a number of bands from the Slovenian capital.
2. Croatia -- Hrvatska
'Povedi me (Sudbina, 1987)' - Crna Udovica
There's no doubt the degree of influence seminal bands like Judas Priest had on metal in general and this influence is certainly heard in many heavy metal bands from former Yugoslavia, including the hard-rockin' Crna Udovica from the coastal Croatian city Dubrovnik.
I have always felt that the southern Slavic languages aren't very well suited to this style of metal singing, which involves sustained notes, but in this case the vocalist does an exemplary job of flawless metal yowling on top of headbang-inducing riffs.
3. Bosnia and Herzegovina -- Bosna i Hercegovina
'Speed metal manijak (Bez Milosti, 1991)' - Bombarder
Ja živim svoj život, za sve ostalo nije me briga
Ne vjerujem u Satanu, ne vjerujem u Boga
Moja ljubav je buka i brzina
U mojim venama teče krv metalna
U mom tjelu je snaga nebeska
JA POSTAJEM — SPIIIID METALLLL MANIJAAAAK!!!!
I live my life, I don't care for anything else
I don't believe in Satan, nor in God
My love is noise and speed
In my veins flows blood of metal
In my body is power from heaven
I am becoming -- SPEEEED METALLLL MANIAAAAC!!
In the late '80s and early '90s, the Motörhead-inspired thrashy speed metal scene had spread to former Yugoslavia and the Big Three of this style were indisputably Evil Blood (from Croatia), Heller (from Serbia), and Bombarder (from Bosnia). My personal favorite of the three are the Bosnian speed metal maniacs Bombarder from Sarajevo. Their crowning appeal, on top of metal-devoted lyrics, is for maintaining an enduring feeling of urgency and chaos in the riffs, making you expect everything to fly off the rails and collapse entirely at any moment.
4. Montenegro -- Crna Gora
'Rotten Town (Street, Rotten, Thrash Derby, 2008)' - KK Street Bangers
As it turns out, the '90s were a dark decade for the region as a whole and left the punk and metal scenes especially crippled, with many members either dying during the conflicts, getting caught up in extreme nationalism, or otherwise dropping off the radar.
Fortunately, thrash metal is still alive in the region, as evidenced by Montenegrin thrashers KK Street Bangers from Podgorica. Their style reminds me immediately of East Coast thrash legends Overkill and I’m very pleased to see a post-millenial band from the region largely side-stepping the current fad of retreading turf American Bay Area bands have long since ground into dust.
5. Serbia -- Srbija
'Terorizam protiv dosade (Došao je kraj 7”, 1984)' - 2 Minuta Mržnje
I have often lamented the fact that I experienced the gr-80s for only a few months of my life and have no remembrance of them. These lamentations have intensified over the years as research and investigation into punk from former Yugoslav helped me discover that there was a flourishing punk scene in my hometown Novi Sad that was the subject of a documentary called Bilo jednom and a book called Novosadska punk verzija (text available only in serbian). One of the more intriguing bands of the scene was the band 2 Minuta Mržnje, a Serbian band that took it’s name from George Orwell’s dystopian classic Nineteen Eighty-Four and, very appropriately, recorded their demo in the year 1984.
6. Macedonia -- Makedonija
'Anarchy Loves to Sleep on the Floor of my Room' - FxPxOx
The Balkans, like much of the rest of eastern Europe, have long been afflicted with the nearly ubiquitous socially-acceptable vices of drinking and smoking--these activities are woven into the fabric of society and it’s almost impossible to imagine draconian Western measures against them being implemented in this region.
However, even in such a place, straightedge hardcore has made inroads and planted its pissed off XXX doctrine as best represented by the Skopje natives, Macedonian band FxPxOx--standing for ‘Forever Positively Obsessed’. Personal life choices aside, it’s gratifying to see a zest for ‘posi’ spirit in a former Yugoslav republic.
--Branka Šormaz, Web Director
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