All That Remains – The Fall of Ideals CD (Prosthetic/Target)

Yeah, I know, last month I made a plea for attempting to understand emo, but you know what? That was last month. This month, I’m back to hating it again. That goes for just about all melodic singing, so beware. You want to please me, scream your lungs out, you want to piss me off, just pretend you’re Dio. It would be unfair to call All That Remains emo, but they’re still way too melodic for me. Otherwise, it’s quite efficient death thrash like our own HateSphere, and of course that’ll go melodic every once in a while, I understand it, but these guys have no shame at all: Like, you wanna be Nightwish or what? Why would anyone want that? I don’t get it, but I hope it goes away soon.

http://www.allthatremains.cc
http://www.prostheticrecords.com
If you dig: HateSphere, Trivium

Jon A

Anything But Yours – Welcome to Karoshistan CD (San Martin Records)

Oh yeah, you thought Terror were pretty grim quoting Bukowski on their new album? Anything But Yours open their debut album with a William Blake quote from the movie “Dead Man”. Not only that, this album “is all about the stupidity of mankind,” and the inner cover reads “work till death.” Not your feel good hit of the summer, then. What we do like about them, though, is that they name our own Lack as one of their major influences, and they actually do sound a lot like Lack’s first album, “Blues Moderne”: Super aggressive screaming their guts out, angular shapes, desperation seeping through every second of it. But they’ve also refined that expression some, adding nuances to the greyness, building up monolithic soundscapes, and, strangely, adding a rockabilly twist here and there. That’s downright scary, you know. This might not be one of the most uplifting albums you’re likely to hear this year, it’s definitely not Set Your Goals, but ambitious, grandiose, and deadly serious, yes, it is. Reminds me of the Time to Burn album I reviewed a while back, but this one is better executed, I think. Highly recommended for those who dig dead industrial landscapes, anarchist lecture, sodomy, and soy punk.

http://www.sanmartinrecords.it
If you dig: Lack, Refused, Neurosis

Jon A

The Bad Dog Boogie - Hijo de Puta (San Martin Records)

This is the second album by high octane rockers The Bad Dog Boogie and thereby the follow up to the succesful album Motorfucker and the split ep shared with E.F. and German band V8Wankers. There is a new line-up and a fresh energy to the guys who releases on Italian label San Martin Record. The album is pure kick ass pig-rock and the sound contains more than a few references to the ones of Zeke, Mötorhead and Demented Are Go. An intense energy all the way through, the guys play with raw power and a spirit of fuck-you and no-shit attitude. Dirty rock’n’roll at it’s most with lyrics like ”I love nobody but my Chainsaw and my Gun” and ”Eat my Dust”. Decadence go home! These Bad Dogs know what they’re dealing with, they don’t pretend to achieve sofistication and they’re down right nailing the substance of what they intend to play. No more, no less! A good pogo party begins here…

http://www.sanmartinrecords.it
If you dig: Mötorhead, Zeke, El Guapo Stuntteam

Foxy

Scott H. Biram - Graveyard Shift CD (Bloodshot Records)

A brand new album by this (dirty old) one-man-band wonder who’s maybe a bit more diverse than the likes of Bog Log III og Lightning Beatman. Folk, countrypunk, blues, honky tonk, gospel and even death metal (”Church Babies”, well sorta death metal, haha), Mr. Biram masters it all. People who thinks ’alternative country’ or ’Americana’ are BS should give ”Graveyard Shift” a spin, it’s bloody amazing! A perverted version of The Carter Family? One of the best releases from Bloodshot in awhile along with the new Meat Purveyors.

http://www.scottbiram.com/
If you dig: Eddie Spaghetti, Hank III, John Schooley

Jens

Black Keys - Magic Potion CD (V2 Records/Bonnier Amigo)

Black Keys may hail from the city that spawned Devo (Ankron, Ohio), but this duo is one of the prime honkies to spread the word of primal delta blues today. With the previous album, ”Rubber Factory”, they infused a bit of roots music into the mix, but with ”Magic Potion” they are back at the pure hard egded blooze again like ”The Big Come Up” and ”Thickfreakness”. 11 excellent tracks of sweaty raw blooze, all killa no filla. BUY! And go see’em live if you have the chance, they’ll blow your mind!

http://www.theblackkeys.com/
If you dig: Hound Dog Taylor, early John Lee Hooker, Groundhogs

Jens

Blank Its - Happy Accidents (Empty Records)

Blank Its is a lo-fi punk-rock-noice trio from Portland, Oregon. Two guys and a girl. There are clear traces of the grunge sound of the nineties along with a punky attitude, a lot of noice and a monotone way of attacking the tunes to be found among the tracks on Happy Accidents . This cd contains 13 short and sharp songs recorded in Egg Studios, Seattle – and the scruffyness of especially the guitar sound in the production might very well origin from the location sound of this genuine Seattle studio. You know: There’s a way of catching a sound, an atmosphere or an era that kind of clings to certain studios – I guess that’s what the band went for?! Anyway. I like the lo-fi idea along with the over all sound of this record. The energy is good. But one thing that confuses me is: Why is the vocal hidden in a flood of effects and noice? It’s simply too muddy and not loud enough for me to hear the lyrics. Is that because the band wants to hide a lack of voice or a lack of good material? I don’t know. It’s a shame!

http://www.emptyrecords.com
If you dig: The Pixies meets a Seattle-sound with a punky twist…

Foxy

The Buckshots - Too Hot 2 Handle CD (Heptown Records)

The singer of powerpunkpopsters Psychotic Youth goes rockabilly? Well, strange as it sounds it’s actually works pretty good. It’s pretty traditional rockabilly with lotsa melody and hooks, and the expected songs about girls and cars. Frankly, I have no idea why a lyric sheet is included. Anyway, ”Too Hot 2 Handle” is a must for any greaser fan, and I’m very pleased to hear Jorgen Westman’s voice again, it reminds of many fun gigs of the 80s and 90s with the criminally underrated Psychotic Youth.

http://www.heptown.com/
If you dig: Carl Perkins, Stray Cats, Wild Wax Combo

Jens

The Cheating Hearts - S/T CD (Goodbye Boozy Records)

9 tracks of the most dirty, rectumshakin’, primal trashbluespunky shit I’ve heard in many moons. Kinda like taped hardcore sex between Oblivians, Cramps, Velvet Underground and Stones at their most fucked up. If I have friends over I put this on, crank it up at 11, and pass out while the neighbors bang on the door. Best album I’ve heard this summer!

http://www.syarecords.it
If you dig: Oblivians, Cramps, Tractor Sex Fatality

Jens

Colour Haze - Temple (Electrohasch Records)

How can you possibly keep topping your own achievements? Well, ask German legendary band Colour Haze – they seem to have found a hidden formula! The secret is of course an intense and consistent interest and understanding of music combined with a lot of outstanding talent and hard work. This is music with a lot substance. And this is the latest release in a row of brilliant records like Periscope, Los Sounds des Krauts and Colour Haze . Over the years the guys have refined their special sound and reaches yet another peak on Temple, witch I had the true pleasure of hearing some bits and pieces of already in april this year while mixing in Hannover at Institut Für Wohlklangforschung where this album is also recorded, mixed and produced. Temple is like a journey through the oceans of jazzy improvisations – though it’s all very stricktly composed according to frontman Stefan! It’s like diving into huge waves of massive sound and it’s like getting the thrills of spotting the tiny details of the fine sand underneath it all. Colour Haze has developed a sound which is an inspiration to still more bands throughout Europe and I hope that the band will soon gain all the success they deserve. This is the moment music becomes art!

http://www.colourhaze.de
If you dig: Colour Haze!

Foxy

The Come N Go - ”2” CD (Voodoo Rhythm Records)

Wow! This shit is lethal! Imagine Oblivians trash raunch messin’ up “Let It Bleed” period Stones. Positively mindblowin’! The Swizz combo even cover Oblivians’ “There’s No Butter For My Bread”, along with Creedence Clearwater’s “Commotion”. Blues Punk Trash rarely sounded this good. Another winner from Voodoo Rhythm. I’m addicted!

http://voodoorhythm.com/comengo.htm
If you dig: Oblivians, Stones, Tokyo Electron

Jens

Dark Skies : S/T CD (Empty Records)

Good news: Dark Skies sound a bit like my beloved Lincoln Street Exit. Bad news: Dark Skies lack a bit energy to pull it off completely, especially in the vocal department. Which is a shame because there’s a lot to like about the band who has a lotta obvious for that bluesy vintage Detroit protopunk/hardrock psych vibe. Mucho potential, next album will be killer I’m sure.

http://www.emptyrecords.com/
If you dig: Lincoln Street Exit, MC5, Groundhogs

Jens

Drive by Shooting - Problemchild (Self Released)

Drive by Shooting is a down and dirty punky rock and roll band from Berlin. We saw them earlier this year when they were opening for Marble Sheep but this is the first stuff I have heard of them since this 7” record with Rotor and a couple of other German bands. Anyway, the CD features 12 tracks in 34 minutes and most are 3 min or under but the last track. There is some organ on a couple of tracks as well. Anyway, short and to the point tracks with some raw production and jamming on the guitar, not just all riffs. The people into something, raw, dirty, a bit nasty and just down right rocking will dig this.

http://www.beap.de/dbs/
If you dig: old MC5, New Your Dolls, Gluecifer, Silver, Nixon Now

Scott

Electric Orange and Sula Bassana (Sulatron Records)

This is the latest release on the Sulatron Records label. It is a limited edition CD-r in an edition of 100 copies. Many of you may have heard of the German Krautrock band, Electric Orange, who plays a variety of styles of instrumental music, but mostly experimental and spaced out. The band has a lot of releases as CD-rs, mostly on their own label, as well as several vinyl records. Sula, has played with a lot of people and bands and is on bass on this recording (with lots of effects!). Anyway, we have 3 tracks featured here (32, 30 and 8 minutes). Vogelauto starts things off very slow and spacey and hypnotic as the music slowly builds up and the organ gets more intense and the guitar really kicks in. After 10 minutes is gets really spaced out for a while with far out sounds. From about 20 minutes to the end it becomes less interesting. Abschnelden is next for another 30 minutes and begins as weird off beat groove with the guitar just coming in here and there before a stable track forms some 15 minutes later. This is a totally tripped out track with only the bass and drums (some of the time) being stable and all else in flux. Wischwasch ends the CD is a very cool jam with a very heavy bass and hypnotic stoned playing. Far out experimental stuff..

http://www.sulatron.com
http://www.electric-orange.com/
If you dig: Cosmic Jokers, Ash Ra Tempel, Psychedelic Monster Jam, Electric Orange

Scott

Ramblin’ Jack Elliott - I Stand Alone CD (Anti/Bonnier Amigo)

Been playing this wonderful bluegrass album every 2nd morning for awhile. I ain’t that familar with Mr. Elliott’s +50 year career but if Woody Gurthie and other pre-Dylan folksy music is your thang, then by all means invest in ”I Stand Alone”, you won’t regret it! This old geezer got an amazing soulful voice, the kind that give you goosebumps and wish your dad was alive. Lucinda Williams provides vocals on ”Careless Darling”.

http://www.anti.com/
If you dig: Woody Gurthie, Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan

Jens

End of a Year – Sincerely, End of a Year CD (Revelation Records/Target)

Our older readers may recall the time before hardcore discovered Slayer, got tattoos, and started lifting weights, some of them will recall it as a time when hardcore was purer, more positive, constructive. Which is all terribly conservative, of course, and totally ignores the positive spirit that pervades the work of, say, Hatebreed, but sometimes, you know, it’s nice to hear a good, melodic hardcore record that sounds like someone you’d vote for if you had the chance. End of a Year have their musical roots in DC’s legendary Revolution Summer, and they never really leave them, even recording their debut album with Don Zientara in the Inner Ear Studio. It’s extremely nostalgic and retrogressive, for sure, they’re no Mars Volta or Refused, this is hardcore the way it sounded for a short while in the mid to late 80’s, but that doesn’t stop this from being a nice experience, an extremely sympathetic record, honest, poetic, righteous. This stuff is good for you.

http://www.revelationrecords.com
If you dig: Embrace, Government Issue, Fugazi

Jon A

The Evils - Liberty CD (Nicotine Records)

By-the-book punk’n’roll actionrock without much heart and guts. All the clichés are nail down to perfection, but it takes more than an 8-ball tattoo and titles like ”Motorcycle (Motorpsycho)”, ”Black Boots & Attitude” and ”RebelRock’n’Roll” to shake my ass. Some potential but pretty uninspired and bland. Let’s see if they get it right on the next record.

http://www.nicotinerecords.com/
If you dig: The Bones, Electric Frankenstein, Turbo AC’s

Jens

Four Easy Pieces – Birth of the Uncool CD (Last Shot Records)

Some people seem to think that just because you’ve learnt how to scream in tune, and play fast on the guitar, it’s required to make a rock record... Not so, and Four Easy Pieces could benefit from being a little more – easy, or this may very well have been their Last Shot Record... With song-names such as: Sexaholic, Friday Night at The ChaCha, Suicidal, and Fun By Myself (what?), it’s not hard for me to hate this guys... I mean, they are not that bad – but it’s just some of that pretentious hard rock that I love to hate. Jon A would have loved them, and should have kept them – so here, right back at you Jon! And for the love of God – stop screaming! You’d think Yoko Ono put a stop to that madness – and was she cool? I think not!

http://http://www.foureasypieces.com/
If you dig: Sweatmaster (without the cool edge)

Kristian

The Fleshtones - Beachhead LP (Nicotine Records)

Wow! Talk about getting the right folks to produce your album, half of the tracks are produced by Dirtbombs' Jim Diamond, the rest by Southern Culture On The Skids's Rick Miller. After some 29 odd years the Queens garage giants are still as vital as ever, from the debut "Roman Gods" to their previous "Do You Swing?" the Fleshtones prove they are still the top daddies of garagerock. And "Beachhead" picks up where "Do You Swing?" left, basic fuzzed out rhythm & blues rawk done with attitude and a great knack for writing catchy party stompers. The vinyl version has one extra track, “Superrock Baby”. The Fleshtones are one of the best goddamn live bands on the face of the earth, and to their credit they expertly transform their outerworldly live energy into their albums. "Beachhead" is a must for fans and for anyone who are tired of all the new fake 'garage' bands on MTV - The Fleshtones are the real deal, now shake yer ass!! By the time you read this band have demolished the Gutter Island festival! See interview elsewhere.

http://fleshtones.org/
http://www.nicotinerecords.com
If you dig: The Cynics, Kingsmen, Flamin' Groovies

Jens

Greg Graffin – Cold as the Clay CD (Anti-/Bonnier Amigo)

Oh, will you look at that: It’s an ageing punkrocker with a banjo!
So, this is Greg Graffin’s great homecoming album, where he pays homage to his family’s tradition of singing folk songs and traditionals at family gatherings, a tradition he has carried into his lifelong work with Bad Religion. Yes, this is the “there’s-always-been-a-folk-element-to-Bad-Religion” album. And, listening to it, it strikes you that yes, indeed there has, most notably in the vocal lines. These songs could all have been played by Bad Religion, in fact, hearing this record, you kind of wish they had been. Not that it’s bad or anything, but as Americana albums – or alt country, or roots rock, or folk, or whatever people call it when they don’t want to get confused with Stetson-sporting hicks; as this type of music goes, this album finds itself lacking some spice along the way. Granted, this is not the kind of music I listen to a lot at home, but to me, this album doesn’t really set itself apart from the couple of Will Oldham or Neil Young records filed away in my record collection. I guess I miss more of Graffin’s usual political ranting, an acoustic “Let Them Eat War”, or something. Sure, some of his own songs, like “Don’t Be Afraid to Run” and most notably “Rebel’s Goodbye”, a melancholy comment on the War on Terror, are political, but the agitation has been toned down for this album, where I think it could’ve spiced up the record some. I’m thinking Mojo Nixon or the Kinky Friedman album Jens played me one evening.
Meanwhile, I’ll stick with “Suffer”, “No Control”, and “Against the Grain”: To me, those three records are among the best ever recorded, not only in hardcore, but in music as such. Next month: Blind Marky Felchtone reveals his inner oboist.

If you dig: Bonnie “Prince” Billy, Neil Young, Neil Cassal

Jon A

Griddle- Klimty Favela (Your Permanent Records)

This is strange and interesting psychedelic rock release that came out on August 15th with a comic book to accompany the music. I only received the music as a CD-R so I can not comment on the comic book but it sounds very cool. The band is based in Oakland, CA. Anyway, it is 12 tracks in 52 minutes and ranges from Flaming Lips like stuff to Camper von Beethoven to Dungen and ends with a very Beatles inspired track. While, I think the first few tracks are pretty mainstream, strangeness, the album really develops in a cool psychedelic way into a real mind journey. Will be very cool to trip out to this with the comic book… Hope I get the chance..

http://www.griddle.cc
If you dig: Hieronymous Firebrain, Butthole Surfers, Flaming Lips

Scott

Harmsway - Oxytocin (Black Lodge Records)

I have never heard of this band but for some reason, but some of the music really grabbed me but not for long. This band has old members from Transport League, Born of Fire, Merciless and is lead by Freddie from Terrafirma (he wrote all the songs except one). This Swedish band mix straight up melodic (QOTSA sound) sound with metal guitars. Million Ways is like Dozer. As Time Goes by and High becomes Low are probably the best two tracks on the CD and great songs. The band soon runs out of ideas though and has to recycle itself with the same too cliché melodic stuff over and over. The QOTSA style singing is way over used. Move your Face is one of those too melodic tracks, trying to get the band on the pop radio or something…no solos…just sappy singing… Tsuanmi is a pretty boring riff rock instrumental. 9 out of 10 is pretty much the same. Prime Time is quite fast paced but that is it….Hocus Pocus ends the CD and begins with a killer riff, like some of the Terrafirma stuff and returns to the cool stuff like on the opening tracks. Not good enough…..

https://www.blacklodge.se
http://www.harmsway.se
If you dig: Dozer, Evergrey, Amorphis, QOTSA

Scott

Hatebreed – Supremacy CD (Roadrunner Records/Bonnier Amigo)

“Because you hate yourself
And you hate this world
And you hate your friends
And you hate everybody”
Oh, the joy! It’s been three years since “The Rise of Brutality”, and since then Jamey Jasta has been going through some tough shit, as he professed from the stage when Hatebreed played in Cph in June. So what’s new, then? Nothing much, really, the lyrics still preach self-help psychology and staying true to the scene in so many ways, and the music is the same, bottom heavy, mosh-friendly, pumped-up aggressive metal core. Hatebreed and Jasta are among the top-players in this scene, though, so they can afford to stick with the formula, since they were an integral part of its formation. By now, you no longer think of how much they sound like Slayer or Pantera or Sick Of It All, because nowadays, tons and tons of bands all over the world are blasting out the Hatebreed sound. That some of them, like Terror, The Warriors, or Raised Fist, actually do it better than Hatebreed is another thing completely. Listening through a whole Hatebreed album can be a bit tiring and monotonous, I must admit, there’s rarely ever much variation going on, and they don’t have that many memorable hooks, apart from the above quoted opener “Defeatist”.
That said, “Supremacy” is as good as “The Rise of Brutality” and “Perseverance”, and it’s a reminder of who’s the daddy in the scene.

http://www.hatebreed.com
http://www.roadrunnerrecords.co.uk
If you dig: Earth Crisis, Agnostic Front, Sick Of It All

Jon A

Icepick – Violent Epiphany (Abacus Recordings/Alveran Records)

Phew! Jamey Jasta is one angry mofo, that’s for sure. That should come as no surprise to anyone with a passing interest in modern hardcore, but that he was this rabid – phew, I had no idea! Someone should really lend this guy a shoulder to cry out on, because it can’t be healthy to stock up all that aggression inside. Where is the hate, man? Icepick is an all-star NYHC band that started over a decade ago and finally took form with this album. Jasta shares the vocals with Lord Ezec of Crown of Thornz, the line-up also features Frank 3 Gun from Terror, and among the many guests on the album, you’ll find both Ice-T and Roger Miret. It’s that type of album, then. No really, this is good, over-the-top brutal metal core, and if it’s a bit too much, that says more of the genre than it says of this record. No wait, it says more about you, you pseudo-intellectual, wanna-be vegan pinko!

http://www.alveran-records.com
If you dig: Hatebreed, Terror, Slayer

Jon A

Dee Jaywalker - 59 O’Clock (Nicotine Records)

”Play loud or not at all” it says on the front cover of this release. Well, that’s a bit of a gamble unless you’re really, really sure you’ve made a true masterpiece! And unfortunately that’s not the case with this particular album. 59 O’Clock contains eleven songs appearantly all made by the artist known by the somewhat silly name Dee Jaywalker. It sounds like mr. Jaywalker had a lot of fun playing around with a toy-drum-machine and some simple rock’n’roll-clichées stolen from the local boogie-woogie cover band of his hometown. Productionwise it’s not a masterpiece either: This drum sound is the thinnest I’ve heard for a long time, I can’t hear the bass whatsoever, and the guitar has such a massive distortion that it leaves only the treble in the sound. I’ve heard many kids kicking more ass than this! Track number 5 on this cd is a coverband-cover-version of Ramones’ all time classic Shocktreatment, which in this version requires more than a sniff of glue and a lobotomy to bare lending an ear to. Did I mention that the cover art looks like it was made by a 10 year old fooling around with photoshop version 1995 (read: Aesthetics like the one of a ”Absolute Bollox vol 43” cd bought on a petrol station in Hildesheim)?!. This does not work for me. Not even as a joke, sorry…

http://www.deejaywalker.com
If you dig: Kandis playing rock’n’roll-boogie-woogie

Foxy

Dee Jaywalker - 59 O Clock CD (Nicotine Records)

This Belgium gentleman is the guitarplayer of Marky Ramone & The Speedkings, and yes ”59 O Clock” is packed with classic 77’ punkrock ala Ramones and Johnny Thunders. Nothing you haven’t heard before, but done in a very endearing way, despite being a bit routine. I’m nuts about the ”Wild Curves” track which comes at you like a vintage Jeff Dahl killer tune. A solid release.

http://www.nicotinerecords.com/
If you dig: Ramones, Jeff Dahl, Johnny Thunders

Jens

Jens - If You’ve Seen Me Lately, Please Tell Me Where I’ve Been (CountryMan)

Jens, the keyboard player in the Spacious Mind, Cauldron, Holy River Family Band, etc.. is back with his 2nd solo record on the Goddam I’m a Country Man Records. It features some of the members of the above bands as well as a beautiful female voice (Linnea) who sings the same vocal lines as Jens speaks and this works very effectively. The music is very tranquil and beautifully composed. The opening track is really a brilliant mix of spacey stuff, beautiful music and back to the psychedelic vibe. Very much inspired by late 60’s psychedelic folk rock. Very interesting lyrics as well to tune into. If you are in the right mood, this is amazing stuff.

http://www.countrymanrecords.com/

Scott

Jet Black Combo : Southern Style CD (Heptown Records)

It’s no secret that 69-Hard were one of my fave Swedish punkabilly bands of the 90s. Well, some of the guys continued on the path of mixing rockabilly and punkrock, this time with some neat swing influences (think Louis Jordan). I’ve seen these Malmö greasers before at a Gutter Light show, and I’m glad to inform you that they’ve also nailed the down that energy on record. Many bands fail to stand out in the billy genre, but not Jet Black Combo who’s extremely wellcrafted bopping tunes got this old fool on his feet and dance like a hepcat!

http://www.heptown.com/
If you dig: The Untamed, 69-Hard, Louis Jordan

Jens

Kayser - The Good Citizen CD-EP (Scarlet Records)

Kayser is a band that was formed from the ashes of the Mushroom River Band and features two members from that band, including, the singer Spice, and known for his role in fronting Spiritual Beggars during their best years. What you get is 4 tracks, 15 minutes and one video! Good Citizen is like old school Spiritual Beggars but that soon changes. Lost in the Mud is old school 80’s thrash metal style stuff. Fall is a short 2 minute instrumental track with strumming guitar and quite melodic. Propaganda is next with a real heavy metal riff. The Video track is for the Good Citizen and shows the band playing in a very nice wooden studio room (no amps) and goes back and forth between a very straight looking guy doing a bunch of different stuff and it the end being very confused. Ok stuff but not that great interesting.

http://www.scarletrecords.it
If you dig: Spiritual Beggars, Mushroom River Band

Scott

Råd Ketil and the Loving Eye of God- Mattmar (Countryman)

The mystery of who is playing in Råd Ketil and the Loving Eye of God continues as the band release their 3rd CD. Rumors have it that it is Jens, Arne and one other in disguise. Some day it will be leaked, like all top secret documents… Anyway, back to the 6 strange spaced out droning tracks on this new CD ranging from 7 to 12 minutes each (55 min total).

It appears that these guys set up in the Space your Face studios in Umeå, took some good mind altering substances, could be tea, coffee, mushrooms, herb, alcohol, and improvised…. The opening track is a slow going track with loads of stuff slowly bubbling in and out and up and out, including some spoken samples. It leads directly into Sen Ska vi se vad jag Sjunger, which has a very strange baby voice, coughing, beautiful guitars, and a very strange dream…. Dry Air static sparks Northern Skies is next and starts with a heavy, cutting electric drone that washes your senses clean before it settles a little and some spaced out vocals and some cool string instruments are played. Far out… The title track is a 9½ minute journey with some cool string instruments and a heavy distorted bass line running through the track.… Go tripping in India or something…
Music for acid heads for sure… Fylgia is next and starts off slow and drony with small sounds fluttering in and out in the background… The sound starts to really flutter with delay and sound quite psychedelic and spaced out half way through the track and then ends somewhat like it started. The CD ends with the nearly 12 minute Tjälen track, another trip through time and space…

http://www.countrymanrecords.com/
If you dig: first couple of Tangerine Dream, Cluster, The Spacious Mind

Scott

Los Kikes - S/T CD (Sshaking Records)

Now here’s a strange one. Los Kikes may seem like a pretty offensive name, but these youngsters are from Tel Aviv, Israel. It isn’t every issue I get cds from Israel, in fact, I don’t recall ever receiving a record from the Middle East. But their music is even more strange, frankly it’s impossible to really describe Los Kikes. Death Surf? Black Metal Rockabilly? It’s pretty gloom and doomish stuff, especially the vocals, but suddenly it erupts into a Bo Diddley r’n’r rhythm spiced with Ventures-style surf guitar!?! Never heard anything remotely like Los Kikes, but I like it.

http://www.sshakingrecordss.com/kikes.htm
If you dig: Eh...Venom, Ventures, The Mummies?

Jens

Litterbug - Speaking through the Gaps (Just Say No to Government Music)

British band Litterbug has recieved nice reviews during the summer in f.ex. Strummer Magazine which has named the band ”the best out of Blackpool since Section 25”. This is an alternative and indepedent project all the way through - from band and sound to label concept. Compared with bands like The Pixies, The Clash and Pavement Litterbug nevertheless manage to catch a sound of their own – mainly thanks to the female vocal. This is a seven track ep running only 24 minutes. The sound is very lo-fi, the songs are short and concise. Pixies bass-lines meet quite dynamic drums meet synth and guitar. Featuring a unique, bright female voice that makes it all worth listening to in spite of the somewhat not so convincing technical production of this ep. The raw sound and lack of after-production is appearently a deliberate choice by the band. Best track is no doubt Laugh out Loud with a very catchy la-la-la-chorus. One thing that really thrills me about the label is their slogan: ”Still vomiting our disgust in the streets at your temples of consumerism” – did I mention the label usually puts out music with a harder edge to the sound?!

http://www.jsntgm.com
If you dig: The Pixies, Superchunk, The Clash

Foxy

Loudness - The Battleship Musashi EP (Tokuma Communications)

Ok, this came out one year ago but this is the newest studio material the band has released and it totally kicks ass… Fucking heavy! The band has released like 3 new DVD’s this year though. Anyway, we have 3 new songs, 4 in total as the last is a remix of the title track, called the Battle Mix. The title track is a killer thrash metal track with just an amazing intense guitar sound and vocal attack and some cool organ like sounds (could be guitar with akira!). Great track. Wolfgang Amadeus slows it down a bit and is sung in Japanese and English. More than Machine is a really cool instrumental track. I love the way it starts with some really spaced out cool guitars and comes back to this in the middle before he goes into hyperspace solo! The CD ends with the Battle Mix of the title track. It appears to have some extra sounds here and there but not a greatly different mix. Cool stuff…

http://www3.livemedia.co.jp/loudness/
If you dig: Exodus, Slayer, Anthrax

Scott

The Love Drunks - S/T (Alive Records)

This is some sexy blues punky twang. If you remember Poison 13 and (early) Gas Huffer, this is the same sorta loose yet tight deal. Stooges buttfucked by cowpunk? I dunno, but I fuckin’ love it! The lyrics are pretty messed up but insanely funny. The Love Drunks describe their brand of rock’n’roll as; ”We sound like what would happen if Jerry Lee Lewis played guitar". Yes, on some seriously bad (or good) drugs, haha. I bet they are a riot live! We

http://www.alive-totalenergy.com/Love_Drunks.html
If you dig: Poison 13, Monkeywrench, (early) Gas Huffer

Jens

Gil Mantera’s Party Dream – Bloodsongs CD (Fat Possum/Target)

Synth, on Fat Possum, in 2006? With their reputation? Has no one thought of the consequences? The culprit is Patrick Carney from, the absolutely fantastic, The Black Keys. In fact, he has somehow convinced Fat Possum to establish an entirely new label – Audio Eagle... Synth has never been my strong side, and I struggle to see the brilliance in bands like Kraftwerk – but it is undoubtably cool in New York, and using normal imperialist logic, it will be cool anywhere. It’s part of the wave of established synth revival we have seen for the past years, including bands like The Killers, that employ a mixture of synth and rock. Gil Mantera’s Party Dream is pure synth, and for that I give them credit. It’s also melodically strong and well produced. On the other hand, the use of voicebox in any music makes me want to puke – give me a banjo any day. I would trade this record for any other in the Fat Possum back catalogue, but seeing as this is what I’ve got, it serves it’s porpuse as a dance album very well! I just hope it’s not the dawn of a new day for everyones favorite blues label...

http://www.fatpossum.com
If you dig: Kraftwerk, The Killers

Kristian

Dom Mariani – Shell Collection CD (Off The Hip)

Dom Mariani is always able to deliver the goods, even though it may not always be perfect – just like Madonna! It’s good honest music, well written, and masterly executed. I’ve never been a big fan of his singing, but thankfully he doesn’t sing that much. The great parts of this album is his guitar play, his bridges and his solos – it’s cool-cat pop rock, straight from Down Under. It has that weird vintage sound to it that all Off The Hip records have – like you were listening to The Beatles in The Cavern, and that makes the retro sound a whole lot more credible. In any case, it’s a good piece of musical handywork...

http://www.offthehip.com.au
If you dig: Early Beatles, The Stems, The Beach Boys (no, really!)

Kristian

Model Citizen – Save It For The Campfire CD (Nicotine Records)

With cover design like this, how can you not love the band, even before having listened to the music! From nicotine records, with a modded lucky strike pack – hah! Anyway – on a musical note, what we have here is a deliciously unpretentious album! It’s as simple as that... It’s not made harder than it is, and the genre is rock, through and through, although not always the kind of rock young kids recognize. Huge inspirations from both The Rolling Stones and The Sonics, makes for both hamonious ballads with slide guitar, and hit and run rock music. In all ways, a very good album, set in a contemporary style!

http://www.nicotinerecords.com
If you dig: Rolling Stones, Rag City Dolls, At times – Bright Eyes

Kristian

Model Citizen - Save It For The Campfire CD (Nicotine Records)

An Alabama band who really doesn’t sound that southern rock-ish, more like some 80s Aussie garage outfit like Celebate Rifles or New Christs with a touch of Radio Birdman and some Paisley Underground. Clever wellcrafted songs injected with 60s pop, Detroit punk, psych, and rootsy rock’n’roll. File under adult rock, GOOD adult rock.

http://www.nicotinerecords.com/
If you dig: New Christs, Celebate Rifles, Nomads

Jens

Mushroom - Really Don’t Mind If You Sit This One Out (Four Zero Records)

A lot of you have probably heard of the San Francisco band, Mushroom. They have been releasing very interesting and strange psychedelic rock music with influences from jazz, funk, rock and kraut space rock for nearly 10 years now. This is an old archival recording of the band live at small clubs in San Francisco (Edinburgh Castle, Make Out Room, Last Day Saloon) from 1997 and 1998. You can hear there were few people at some of these gigs but that did not keep the band from experimenting and playing some tripped out music. This release which includes a few tracks from the bands very first concert, is focusing more on the spaced out kraut rock side of the band rather than the more laid back spaced out jazzy stuff they have produced. Tracks like the 18 minute Reeperbahn are just super cool stuff. The ending track, “Why do most German booking agents have brain Damage” is quite intense space rock stuff. Killer stuff that takes you on a trip… Oh yeah.. these all appear to be audience recordings but quite good.

http://www.4zerorecords.co.uk/
If you dig: Subarchnoid Space, Amon Duul, Spaceman 3

Scott

My Midnight Creeps - My Midnight Creeps (Tuba Records)

On this year’s Roskilde Festival Norwegian band My Midnight Creeps managed to cast a nice spell on everyone enjoying their late-night concert! The two front figures behind this project are Alex Kloster-Jensen (Ricochets) and Robert Burås (Madrugada) and the musical skills of these gentlemen are enough to make this interesting and worth checking out. This is good news for all garage/rock/psyche fans. With references to Spacemen3, The Sonics, Cramps and 13th Floor Elevators the band presents a broad range of good songs featuring some really nice guitar work, a barytone sax going berserk, trippy drums, percussions, harmonica, psyche-organs, beautiful lyrics and a great sound. No wonder this album has already been rewarded with a lot of Norwegian prizes and awards! The tracks are full of atmosphere and intense vibes. An album made for after-dark moments of tripping joy (Die for a Ride and A Long Trip), for rattles of the soul (Fell into a Hole) and for explosions of psyche (Untrue). Features a cool version of Willie Dixon’s classic ”Spoonful”, by the way…

http://www.mymidnightcreeps.com
If you dig: 13th Floor Elevators, The Sonics, Spacemen3

Foxy

New York Dolls - One Day It Will Please Us To Remember Even This CD/DVD (Roadrunner Records/Bonnier Amigo)

Everyone seems to have extremely strong opinions on the first real Dolls records since ”Too Much Too Soon” (1974), which is somewhat understandable since the Dolls were immortal proto-punk legends who influenced 100s (maybe 1000s) of bands. Do David Johansen and Sylvian Sylvian have the right to reform the band when 3 original members are dead, and use the name New York Dolls? I don’t know, but what I do know is that ”One Day” is a surprisingly good album, all things considered. Dave’s voice is still as snotty as in their heydays, most of the songs are strong and vital. Of course I miss Johnny Thunders’ raw hooks, and I could’ve done without Michael Stipe on ”Dancing On A Lip Of A Volcano”, but all in all, ”One Day” is a positive experience, sacred cows or not. The DVD is an okay docu on how the record was recorded.

http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/artists/NewYorkDolls/
http://www.nydolls.org/
If you dig: New York Dolls

Jens

Null$katte$nylterne - Instinkt CD

I was absolutely nuts about the Norwegians’ previously “Fortar, Hardar, Høgar” album, this is fortunately more of the same high quality of punkrock’n’roll whupass. Catchy as hell, and energetic as a bag of spiders on crank, Null$katte$nylterne belong in the league of fellow countrymen like Turbonegro and Skambankt. In fact, they might take crown of Norway’s most asskickin’ band very soon! Their recent performance at Gutter Island was fuckin’ outstanding, and so is “Instinkt”. Part 70s hardrock, part classic punkrock – all RAWK! See interview elsewhere.

http://www.nullskatte.no/
If you dig: Supersuckers, AC/DC, Skambankt

Jens

Planes Mistaken for Stars – Mercy CD (Abacus/Alveran Records)

Excuse me, where do I get into this record? I’ve been trying for a couple of weeks now, where it’s been lying like a guilty conscience next to the record player, something I ought to put on and make up my mind about, but somehow I just can’t get my head around it. This is even the kind of record I’d like: Bombastic, monumental stoner metal that sounds like the ocean swallowing up whole cities, big, pathos-laden epics – and yet, my attention keeps wandering away from it, and once it’s over, I can’t remember a single hook. Gared O’Donnell’s vocals don’t help any, somehow, he keeps reminding me of Eddie Vedder, and that’s extremely unsettling. But again, this album actually sounds like something I should like, so maybe I just haven’t given it enough listens, maybe I should just wait for that special moment to happen when it will all become clear to me, and I will be the one that’s swallowed up by it and carried away to a better place. Until then, I guess I’ll just leave it there next to the record player and put on the new Zao record once again. It’ll happen someday, I’m sure, just not now. I’ll let you know from the other side.

http://www.alveranrecords.com
If you dig: Zao, Mastodon

Jon A

Ratos de Porão – Homem Inimigo do Homem LP/CD (Beat Generation/Munster Records)

What’s to say about a new Ratos de Porão album, other than hats off to one of the longest running bands, not only in the Latin American hardcore scene, but in hardcore as such. This year is their 25th anniversary, which is quite an effort for a band that’s always been seen as underdogs to their more popular fellow Brazilians and friends, Sepultura. I already have 5 other records by RDP, representing the whole span of their career, from their early crust-punk stuff in Portuguese, through their early 90’s English-language records on Roadrunner Records, where they switched to a more polished crossover sound, to their latest material on Beat Generation, where they’ve switched back to their native tongue and are once more full throttle speed core. “Homem Inimigo do Homem” doesn’t add much to RDP’s palette, but it’s a fine album nonetheless. As always, the lyrics are politically conscious, dealing with child abuse in the Catholic church, the ongoing slavery in Brazil’s vast plantations, imperialism, war, exploitation, man’s ruining nature, etc. As such, it’s classic hardcore in the tradition of Dead Kennedys - fittingly, RDP are on Alternative Tentacles outside Europe – only mixed with thrash metal. Don’t get me wrong, this is not metal core as we know it today, this is crossover without the funny attitude.

http://www.ratos.com.br
http://www.munster-records.com
If you dig: Slayer, D.R.I., Dead Kennedys

Jon A

Reebosound: Reebosound (Omaha Records)

Again a story of a cd that landed in my hands through personal connections. This spring I was in Hannover mixing the coming debut album of Cherry Overdrive at the fabulous studio Institut Für Wohlklangforschung. While mixing night and day I kept running into this very hard working guy that looked exactly like Danish artist Tim Christensen. This shy guy called himself Missu and was doing a solo project featuring 12 songs. He was working all alone concentrated in the second studio at IFW. And here it is: The debut album of multi-instumentalist Missu – alias Sven Missullis alias Reebosound! And no shit: I’m really impressed! Mr. Reebosound manages to make things groove even though it’s all dub upon dup on himself playing. That’s someting. And being a guitarist he plays fucking cool drums indeed. That’s another thing. Missu furthermore has a pleasant voice to accompany the music and he presents some quite personal lyrics containing the full range between the smallest detail (traveling with a towel) and the great wide open space. One of the best song is Don’t Panic which is really dynamic, well played and well composed. Amazing! Of course the sheer production of this album is beautifully crafted by the hands and help of legendary Willi Dammeier. Bonus info: The cover pic is shot in Blåvands Hug, Denmark, on a holiday!

http://www.reebosound.de
If you dig: Dream Syndicate, The Modern Lovers, Steve Wynn

Foxy

Rencontrez L’Amour - Born of Punk and Reverb (Emma Records, 2006)

Operating from a farm near Leuven, Belgium, this is a band to watch out for in the times to come! These guys are gooood! Rencontrez L’Amour was founded back in 2001 and released their first demo, Brazilian Wax, in 2004. Now they’re back with their first full-lengh album released on their own label, Emma Records. And what a debut! These four guys sure know how to surf. This is an instrumental combo of surf-punk-rock and stoner. Sic! The bass/drum section is really heavy and leaned back indeed at many points throughout the album, which by the way presents a lot of catchy surf-riffs with that special twaaang! With this combination of genres the band accomplice an interesting personal sound that is very dynamic and pleasant – well, at least it pleases me! There are a lot of power and cool riffs to be found among the 12 tracks of this album, and the selection of sound-bits and pieces (snatched from movies/ radio?) which can be heard between the tracks just adds the right feeling and atmosphere to the musical journey. Furthermore the production and mixing has turned out just right for the guys – this really works, man!

http://www.rencontrezlamour.be
If you dig: Fifty Foot Combo, El Ray… Surf!!

Foxy

Rotter – Rotter! Over alt! 7” (Rabalder Records)

You got your Brazilian rats, you got your Danish rats; we’re global here, if not always revolutionary. That’s OK, because every once in a while it’s cool to hear a bunch of punks just blasting away, being totally obnoxious and loud and rude, just for the hell of it. The 8 tracks on this 7” aren’t gonna make you any cleverer, they’re not gonna make you go vegan or barricade your front door, they’re definitely not gonna make you feel sexy, and they’ll most likely make you smell of urine, but that’s what they’re here for: To annoy and make noise, and to make you pogo around your living room like a drunken crust punk until it’s over and you can start feeling like a grown-up again.

rotter@popstar.com
If you dig: Amdi Petersens Armé, Minor Threat

Jon A

Roy And The Devil’s Motorcycle - Because Of Women CD (Voodoo Rhythm Records)

The press release calls Roy And The Devil’s Motorcycle a mix of Velvet Underground, Spaceman 3 and Kyuss. And yes, they do cook up a very exciting cocktail of fuzz, psych, blues and hypnotic noise that is strangely addictive. I’m convinced they would appeal to a lot of different people, from trashpunks, acidheads to Black Rebel Motorcycle Club fans. Formed in Switzerland in 1991. Please come tour Denmark, I’m more than anxious to see and hear how this works on a stage!

http://www.roydmc.ch/
http://www.voodoorhythm.com/
If you dig: Velvet Underground, Stooges, Elmore James

Jens

Seid - Creatures of the Underworld (Sulatron Records)

Seid, have finally released their 2nd CD and it appears this will be the last one for some time as the band are splitting up, perhaps not for good but at least for now. Those of you who were lucky to see their last shows this August 2006, bastards… Anyway, the band have left us with a gem of a CD that I can’t stop playing. The CD opens with the cool Café Lola, one they played on the previous tour. The title track is next and a cool dark, brooding number. The band uses a wide variety of instruments, not just guitar, bass, drums and keyboards (about 10 different one!). You hear all sorts of stuff like horns, violins and strings. It is a great psychedelic soup of sound that just draws you into its cozy undercoat. Swamp Doom and the Evil Gnome are really cool tracks, a bit progressive rock, a bit psyched out stuff but both dark themed. Amazing stuff. Dragons and Demons is the longest track on the CD at nearly 9 minutes and a cool psychedelic trip.. You can almost hear the dragons and demons. The sound production is very cool and psychedelic on this CD. The band completely trips you out when the Balkan like parts appear, which they also had on their previously released CD. Do as you’re Told is the band heaviest hard rocking track on the CD and also one they played on their 2003 tour when I saw them. Moonprobe is a mellow and spacey instrumental piece that leads nicely into the uptempo and melodic Starla’s Dream track. Flight towards the Sun ends the CD and is an amazing track with a cool guitar and keyboard line. This one really builds and has a great melodic and spacey groove. You can also check out the Meet the Spaceman Video on the CD, the only official video the band produced. Maybe someday the band will release the 3 7” singles they released on a CD-EP.. Great body of work they left behind and one of Norway’s best and most unique bands.

http://www.sulatron.com
http://www.flying.to/seid
If you dig: Pink Floyd, Liquid Visions, Mandra gora Lightshow

Scott

Sick Of It All – Death to Tyrants LP/CD (Century Media Records)

5 years Ratos de Porão’s juniors, Sick Of It All are still veterans in the hardcore scene, and their impact on the scene is enormous: Without SOIA, it would be hard to imagine any of your Hatebreeds, Terrors, most of Alveran Records’ catalogue. Shit, even Agnostic Front, the band that originally defined the NYHC scene that SOIA caught up on as a second generation NYHC band, are imitating the sound of SOIA these days! What sets SOIA apart from their successors is the experience: These guys have spent two decades perfecting the formula, honing their craft, and they still write better melody lines, better mosh parts, better full-on thrashcore songs than most of their heirs. This album, their 13th (counting two live albums and an outtake comp), isn’t that different from their ’89 debut “Blood, Sweat, and No Tears”, to tell the truth, nor does it differ much from the rest of their discography: If anything, it’s a return to form, with less of the singalong choruses that have dominated their later work, more stick-up NYHC. Which means that there are few stand out tracks here, but still makes it a great record. Our own omnipresent Tue Madsen has produced, done a good job of it, even if it doesn’t bear any of his trademarks, but it sounds perfectly like SOIA. One thing that puzzles me a bit, is how European LP bonus track “Don’t Join the Crowd” sounds exactly like “To Be Continued…” on Set Your Goals’ debut album “Mutiny!” – there’s a link I’d have seen coming. Bow down to the masters.

http://www.sickofitall.com
http://www.centurymedia.com
If you dig: Cro-Mags, Agnostic Front, Hatebreed

Jon A

Silver – World Against World LP/CD (Bad Afro Records/VME)

We all have our guilty pleasures, and somehow, one of mine just happens to be this Norwegian, Christian glam punk band. They sound like Guns N’ Roses did on “Appetite for Destruction”, only – at least – a lot harder, but they’re also Norwegian. And Christian. And use tons of make-up and hairspray. I shouldn’t like this, I know, but there’s something about Silver, their energy, their power, their drive, that makes them totally irresistible. At the very least, this album is punkier than their debut, “White Diary”, keeping the mountainous sing-along choruses, but forsaking the down-tempo. Actually, not until track 10, “Quiet Havoc”, does it sound like they’re about to let up, but then it turns out that’s only an intro, and they continue their fast, snotty punk. Which makes it easier to defend liking them, even if the rest of the staff will laugh at me for liking this. They’re not as sensitive as neither Silver, nor me, it would appear. “White Diary” closed with the big, melodramatic ballad ”Angels Calling”, which was way too much, even for a Norwegian band; this time, Silver have chosen to round off the whole thing with something like an acoustic drinking song about not committing suicide, or something. Those Christians, you have to be vary of them.

http://www.badafro.dk
If you dig: Stooges, Guns N’ Roses, Sex Pistols

Jon A

Six Ft Hick - Canetrash 2CD (Spooky Records)

Took a while to get into this band, sounds like if Beasts Of Bourbon were signed to Touch & Go or AmpRep. Swamp bluespunk with noise/metal feel? Nah, that’s bullshit, Six Ft Hick is just bloody hard for an asshole reviewer like me to pigeonhole into any rigid genre. Aggressive rock’n’roll which I’m sure rocks like motherfucker live…hey wait, there’s a live bonus cd, and it actually rocks even harder! Wonder what a bluesy Jello Biafra would sound like if he was from Brisbane, Australia? And cared more about cheap whiskey than politics = Geoffro Corbett. Again, this is a ‘will-grow-on-ya’ release, and none the above makes any sense, it’s ‘canepunk’ or something. From the über eclectic Spooky Records label who always challenge the listener.

http://www.myspace.com/sixfthick
http://www.spookyrecords.com
If you dig: Helmet, Jon Spencer, Beasts Of Bourbon

Jens

Südstern 44 - The Dampfwalze (Sulatron Records)

This is a limited edition CD-R of 100 copies on the new Sulatron Label run by Dave Schmidt (Sula Bassana, Liquid Visions, Zone Six, Psychedelic Monster Jam). The label will release limited edition CD-Rs and other stuff, as well as a cool new mail order place. Anyway, this is described as psychedelic post rock and it is one 67 minute long jam recorded in 2004. It maintains quite a good flow and is best when the groove is heavy and the guitars really kick it up a notch. Sula plays guitar and is joined by another guitar, bass and drums (members of Zone Six and weltraumstaunen). If you would like to hear one long tripped out track that goes up and down and in and out, then check this one out. Some very good stuff.. Oh yeah.. costs 7€. This band will have a release on Nasoni in October this year.

http://www.sulatron.com
http://www.sulabassana.de/suedstern44/index.html
If you dig: Zone Six, Sula Bassana, CAN, Electric Orange, Øresund Space Collective

Scott

Sula Bassana - Endless Winter (Sulatron Records)

Sula (Dave) produced this during the long cold winter last year and it is mostly long spacey guitar excursions into space, with looping, overdubs and a lot of feeling… 4 tracks in 70+ minutes. Fields of Snow is a mellow slow echoy drifting piece with loads of delay guitar in layers. Cool. Next up is the 26 minute Endless which starts with a heavy guitar riff upon which delay guitar is layered on and this track has a pretty basic single kick drum and repetitive bass line leading the way for a while as well. Very psychedelic trip music. Some really beautiful guitar at the end of this track. This could have been a Zone Six jam. Crystal Cold follows for the next 17 minutes of more spacey David Gilmour influenced guitar like in the live from Pompei spacey stuff. Early Sun ends this delay-space-guitar workout for the mind. Very cool stuff, if you are in the right mood.

http://www.sulatron.com
If you dig: Ash Ra Tempel, Pink Floyd (early)

Scott

Terror – Always the Hard Way CD (Roadrunner Records/Bonnier Amigo)

Can you be more Slayer than even Slayer themselves? Terror make a good stab at it, and if Slayer hadn’t gone old school “Christ Illusion”, this actually sounds like the logical progression from “God Hates Us All”. This album is so furious, so fast, and, most importantly, so extremely well-written and well-executed, it’s like this is what metal core was always supposed to sound like. Of course, Terror are veterans in the scene, but even so, it’s awe-inspiring how much power they wield. I mean, the obvious comparison here would be the more widely recognized and more popular Hatebreed, but the way I see it, Terror are way above them, on album as well as live.

As for Slayer, being hardcore, this isn’t as nihilist on the lyrical side, even if it might sound like that at first listen, and seeing that misanthropic Bukowski quote printed on the first page of the booklet. It’s not that the spirit is as positive as in, say, Set Your Goals, but the pervading message is overcoming yourself, society, helping out your friends, giving it all back to the scene. Typical hardcore stuff, then, but with Terror it works, it doesn’t sound contrived.

If 2006 is the year of metal core, and so it would appear, “Always the Hard Way” is one of the best albums within that genre this year.

http://www.terrorhc.com
http://www.roadrunnerrecords.co.uk
If you dig: Hatebreed, Slayer, Agnostic Front

Jon A

The Thants demo CD

This is another project for Lee Tea of Thee Exciters, that Brit sure is busy in Malmö. I recently met him at the Cramps gig and he was kind enough to give this 4 track demo. It sorta follows the same brand of garagefuzz that The Exciters excel in, but this is probably even more 60s garagepunk-ish. “Back From The Grave” meets British Invasion? These are some boss tunes, and the production is actually better than most in the genre - so, Lee, give us a full length soon? I can only imagine that several labels right now are horny as hell to sign up The Thants.

Leetea69@aim.com
If you dig: Downliners Sect, Pretty Things, Thee Exciters

Jens

This Quiet Earth (Demo)

I met this band at the Progressive Rock festival in Göteborg, Sweden. They seemed like cool people and their description was interesting. This is their first real studio demo, although that band has recorded a lot of stuff to MD over the years. The opening 9 minute instrumental track is quite dark, but melodic. Reminds me of King crimson meets the Japanese band Mono to start and then it becomes much more uptempo and complex and then it comes back to this theme and ending with piano. Life Fastforward starts off quite funky and reminds me of some mid 70’s Gentle Giant stuff. The vocals are delivered in an interesting way as the music moves back and forth between heavy and dramatic to this more melodic bass driven part. Cool track. I look greatly forward to hearing a full CD by these guys. Someone sign them, please…

http://www.myspace.com/thisquietearth
If you dig: King Crimson, Anglagård

Scott

Towers of London- Blood, Sweat and Towers (TVT Records/Bonnier Amigo)

Well, this CD is all about attitude and plenty of it. You know press and hype sell, so that is what this band goes for but they can also deliver some good and catch Stooges meets the Sex Pistols style punky rock and roll but it is something we have all heard before. The press package was quite impressive and they really go for the Sex Pistols meets Gun’s and Roses look. Anyway, if you like it loud, snotty (cool British accent when singing snotty like), then this is worth laying down your load for..

http://www.thetowersoflondonus.com
If you dig: Screamin’ Eric, Stooges, Sex Pistols, punky side of Guns and Roses

Scott

WIT - Wit (Dang-a-lang Music)

This cd was given to me by a very nice and polite Swedish guy that confronted me in the hallway at Denmarks Radio on the day of Radiohuset Rocker in april. I’ve heard it serveral times since then and I’d like to give it a few words of notice. Wit is a trio from Malmö, and Wit is an ep featuring six songs in the section of no-bullshit-compositions. All six songs are very well and strictly composed indeed and they’re all very catchy tunes that really work their way into the ears of this beholder. Songs like Rebel Girl, Demonic and Tippy Toe Dance are all potential hits. The guys play very tight, the bass is surprisingly heavy and massive and the melodic guitar riffs really works. So does the powerful vocal and the successful production of this ep that has a kind of retro-garage sound combined with some progressive elements of 70’ies rock. I’d like to hear more from these gentlemen. Nice black/white graphic cover art by the way. Check it out, it’s good stuff!

http://www.wit.nu
If you dig: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, The Strokes, The Unit

Foxy

Yapé - Intimo (Private Release)

Yapé is a sort of side project of Johan and Josué from the First band from Outer Space. It was recorded as part of a musical training program that Johan is in. He has produced, mixed, engineered and played all the bass on this CD. As for the music, it is a very interesting mix of South American flute music mixed with guitar, drums and bass. There is a lot of improvisation here as the band develops their sound. The songs are a mixture of traditional Peruvian tracks and originals, but all done with their own flavor. A very enjoyable CD.

http://www.fbfos.com
http://www.sikuri.se
Scott

Zombina And The Skeletones - Monsters On 45 CD (Ectoplastic Records)

This is a comp of three of the Liverpool combo’s wonderful singles; “I Was A Human Bomb For The FBI”, “Mondo Zombina”, and “Staci Stasis”. 60s garage girlpop? Horror-powerpunkpop? Neo-New Wave? Anyway you cut it, Zombina is one of the most exciting British bands I’ve heard in decades. And this disc is a non-stop party for anyone who prefer their garagerock sweet with a campy ghoulish aftertaste. By the way their song “Red Planet” will be featured in the upcoming Troma flick “Poultrygeist: Night Of The Chicken Dead”. The film might be crap, but the song is gold!

http://www.zombina.com/
If you dig : Revillos, Pandoras, Barracudas

Jens

V/A – Actions Speaks Louder Than Words CD (Vampisoul)

This time, Vampisoul have chanced upon another collection of lost gems in the archives of the SSS International Group of Labels. Based in Nashville, one Shelby S. Singleton cut some 200 singles in the late 60’s to early 70’s with local talent aping the soul music that was pouring out of Chicago and Detroit at the time, before he bought the Sun Records back catalogue and settled on making money on that, rather than trying to find new talent himself. That the soul phenomenon wasn’t restricted to the northern cities has been well documented on other compilations like Jazzman Records’ “Midwest Funk”, so this is nothing shocking, but this none the less a fine selection of uptempo cuts.

http://www.vampisoul.com
If you dig: Stax Records, Chess Records

Jon A

V/A - It’s so easy – a Millennium Tribute to Guns’n’Roses (Mascot Records)

It’s soooooooo hard struggeling your tormented ears through this! But maybe it was in fact sooo easy to produce this compilation since there are no actual artistic ambitions involved in the project whatsoever?! The set-up: We invite 11 totally unknown Uncle-Bill-the-Bearded-Bastard cover bands (featuring former members by Rainbow and Motley Crue!) to play 11 exact cover versions of G’n’R classics! The pay-off: It sounds amazingly like 11 unknown Uncle-Bill-etc cover bands playing eleven songs by Guns’n’Roses! -Duh?! It would be a lot more thrilling to wipe my floor with Axl Rose’s new hair! Actually I wonder why he’s not contributing to this tribute, but that’s another story… oh, hang on - he is! But only live on/off stage! The question: WHY? And where did ’execution’ producer Jake Brown find a laboratory willing to make so many clones of Axl as featured on this tribute? And why is everyone playing their exact copy-soloes through a digital Line6 distortion? Is there a life after death? Is there a death after death?

http://www.mascotrecords.com
If you dig: Well, Guns’n’Roses for fuck’s sake!

Foxy

V/A – Sensacional Soul LP/CD (Vampisoul)

Another month rolls around, another couple of Vampisoul releases. These guys must be skipping their siestas to keep up this output, spending all their time rifling through dusty second hand record stores to unearth new material. We like that, like labels that aim to fill our record collection with obscure sounds. Not all of what they come up with is gold, of course, and on this double CD set there are some dull moments as well, like Jimmy Stone’s rehash of Sly Stone’s “Family Affair” that does nothing new to the song, imitating it down to the vocal style, or Circulos’ “Respect”, that we’ve already heard done a million times before. That’s a shame, because this is a good selection of Spanish funk and soul from ’66 – ’76. Mindblowing it is not, but another fine Vampisoul album it sure is. Keep ‘em coming!

http://www.vampisoul.com
If you dig: James Brown, Sly Stone

Jon A

V/A – Tales From the Asphalt Dancefloor LP/CD (Vodka Tonic Media)

Hey, didn’t I tell that tortured kid from Digital Leather to get a hobby, some fresh air, a bit of sunlight just last issue? Here he comes again, doing his Gary Numan-thing. This is so not healthy for you, boy! Your kundalini craves dick, and before you realize that, you’ll keep on feeling like this. OK, just one track isn’t that bad, I’ll admit, but then he pops up again in The Cutters with a girl singing “Fuck Pain”. That’s stretching it some. The rest of this EP, which comes as a picture disc limitied to 1000 handnumbered copies, leans more towards rock’n’roll, even though there’s a lot of synth on it. Destruction Unit are fine, as are Blanche Davidian, Sex for Cigarettes, and Billy Druid’s Atomic Gospel, even if none of them are that memorable. The press release stresses that “this is not dance punk”, it’s not supposed to be part of some new trend, and I’m happy for that, because even though I’m not much of a dancer, I’d hate to find myself taking my beautiful wife out for a dance and then being served this decadent stuff.

vodkatonicmedia@yahoo.com
If you dig: Gary Numan

Jon A