FUCK IT by 1994! (2013)

Kind of Like: Lightning Bolt, I Smell Blood
Genres: Punk, Noise Rock, Post-hardcore
Preview: 


This new release from 1994! is a deviation from FCKYRHEAD, and was recorded really DIY (if you count iphone recordings).  The result is a guttural experience that will rock your brain in it's skull if listened through decent speakers (not your laptop).  The description on their bandcamp does a sufficient job describing it.  Speaking of 1994, this is the first time since 1994 that Michigan has been in the Elite Eight.  Looking really good for the Final Four right now at the half, sorry You'll Live, we're laying the smackdown on Florida...

I Smell Blood (2012)

Kind of Like: Lightning Bolt, Young Widows

Genres: Post-hardcore, Punk, Noise Rock, Math Rock

Preview:

So, Friday night I ventured out to see Kenny's (The Armed) new band, Nice Hooves.  The kid is in like ten bands and all of them are pretty awesome.  The show was five bucks and at the fashionable Loving Touch in Ferndale, Michigan.  It's an old sketchy massage parlor converted into a really solid punk bar, complete with good drink prices, a jukebox decked out with classic punk rawk music, and a slew of some of the nicest pool tables in metro Detroit.

This band, I Smell Blood, is from that not-as-cool London located in within our northern Canadian neighbors' territory.  They played right before Nice Hooves, and they really ripped it open.  They are a bass and drum combo, but the bass player uses different pedals to get guitar tones and fill in the empty space.  After listening to pretty much emo bands for the past few months, it's a breath of fresh air to get into a good punk/noise rock band that can bring the house down with a wall of sound.

Then Nice Hooves played and they were great as usual, followed by local favorites, Child Bite.  Somewhere in there, I stumbled outside to check out a hot dog stand Kenny was raving about that had hot dogs with mac and cheese on them.  As I got closer, Randall (also from Nice Hooves) told me they also had one with pulled pork on it.  I decided to get the best of both worlds, and I ended the night with a gigantic heavenly weiner smothered in mac and cheese and pulled pork.  It was awesome.

So, check these fellas out, and if you Euro guys should look out for Child Bite.  They are a great Michigan band that are heading out there.

Listen Here:

Loose Control by Git Some (2010)

Hairy is the new hotty

Kind of Like: Bearings, Akimbo, Hot Snakes

Genres: Punk, Hardcore, Stoner Rock, Noise Rock

Preview: Spotify

Been meaning to post these guys after catching them a week or two ago.  They played with Converge, Loma Prieta, and The Armed.  I had no idea who these guys were walking into the show, but after seeing them I am very excited about them.  They put on a great punk set and have a sound that not many people appreciate now of days.  They play some blistering, fast, and heavy rock and roll.  They just put out a 7" with Alternative Tentacles Records, that is nowhere to be found on the interwebs yet as a download.  However, they have plans to put out another full length and you can check out their 2010 effort, Loose Control, below.

Listen Here:

StreamPad: Git Some - "Lick, Lick, Lick"

Pervertor by Lord Mantis (2012)

This has nothing to do with the band, I think.  It is a cool picture nonetheless.

Kind of Like: Bolt Thrower, Dethlok, Indian
Genres: Metal, Sludge, Doom, Noise Rock
Buy: Candlelight Records
Preview:
I am not huge on metal like this, but it's been awhile since I posted something of this nature, especially something sludgy.  This is visceral and gritty as hell and I love it.  As someone from Sputnik put it: "The atmosphere is doomy and grim, kind of like a big black tornado swooping you (and your house) away."

What pulled me in initially was the album art; it is dark and awesome-looking.  Also, these Chicago natives got this record produced by Sanford Parker, who has produced albums by Indian and Pelican.  Both of which have been featured on here in the past.

Listen Here:

Neshama EP by Hollow Stars (2012)

Kind of Like: Grails, King Crimson, The Globes, Yeasayer
Genres: Indie, Rock, Experimental, Psychedelic, Noise Rock
Preview:

Hollow Stars began as a side project for ex-Deerhunter guitarist, Chris Mee.  Chris no longer appears to be part of the band, but they didn't let that get them down.  Instead, they forged ahead and recently came out with this effort. This reminds me of Grails, but instead of being a post-rock band with eastern music influences, this is like an indie/noise rock band with eastern music influences.  It is nice to see bands taking on music like this because it can be really hard to translate the scales and tendencies of eastern music and making it accessible to people here.

Apparently, this Atlanta group is up to big things, so look for more news coming in the near future?

Listen Here:

(Classic) Plague Soundscapes by the Locust (2003)

"I wanted to change the way people perceive music, or maybe just destroy it in general."- Justin Pearson, bassist/singer

Kind of Like: Daughters (old), An Albatross, Ed Gein

Genres: Experimental, Mathcore/Grindcore, Electronica, Noise Rock

Spotify: Here

Preview: Myspace

Oh boy, found this cd in my car the other day, and boy did I have fun with it.  This album clocks in at just over 20 minutes and features 23 songs.  So, standard grindcore song lengths.  It is a quick album, but it is extremely memorable to me.  From the hectic accellerandos of "Earwax" to the awesome synthesizer break down thirty seconds into "Virgin" to the time signature switches flowing back in forth at the end of "Halfie in your Pants" to the final intense laser gun shots/beats in the closer "Pickup Truck".  That is a fragment, consider revising.  All of those song names are shortened versions of course, the names are quite long.  This is how grindcore should be.

Listen Here:

StreamPad: The Locust - How to Become a Virgin

Palo Verde - Zero Hour [2012}

For Fans Of: Black Sabbath, Shellac, Jucifer

Genres: Metal, Noise Rock, Sludge

Spotify: Yessir

Preview:

Palo Verde is a highly improvisational all-female, metal/sludge/noise duo from Portland, OR. The band initially formed as experimental double-drum duo called Stick-It-In, but evolved into the current improvisational guitar/drums incarnation. Since 2006, they have performed extensively in the Northwest and throughout the U.S., sharing the stage with bands such as Jucifer, Thrones, Black Elk, Japanther, and Kusikia. Drummer Lauren K also plays guitar in the blistering LKN. We rarely ever get to witness women participate in metal music, and it always makes me happy to see talented women musicians make a name for themselves. Here's a review from Bitch Magazine:

"If you like dark, pared-down, and unapologetic un-catchy music check out Palo Verde, a two-piece powerhouse of a band. Lauren K's smashing drums and Terrica Kleinknecht distorted guitar are like a metal show that could fit in your living room. Don't expect some pop song that will be stuck in your head. Their songs grow slowly and organically, turning into a swirling growl of psychedelic guitar and mesmerizing drumming. Streaming their songs online just barely do justice to their sound, and if you get the chance to see them live you'll be treated to some of the most intense drumming of your life. (Don't forget to bring your anti-face melting serum)." -- Bitch Magazine

Volume Three by I Am The Agent (2012)

Geeked out.

Kind of Like: The World Is...(a really fucking long name), Sonic Youth, Run Squirrel
Genres: Post-rock, Post-hardcore, Noise Rock, Emo, Indie
Spotify: Nope
Buy: Oh, Silence Records (CD-R only ;( )
Preview:

Happy Super Bowl Day!  Who do I want to win?  Well, I'm a Michigan man, so I'm rooting for my boy Tom Brady.

If you are too lazy to hit play and take a listen, just think of a darker form of The World is a Beautiful Place mixed with influences of noise rock/grunge bands like Sonic Youth.  They consider themselves an alternative/indie band but I would consider them more specifically an emo band; these guys are prickled with emotion.  The vocals sound sincere and the music ranges purgative, noisy dissonance to calm, but solemn passages.

These guys hail from Australia, and this is this is the first album I have heard from them.  They have two others (volumes one and two). I am only just finishing the fourth and final song of volume three, but I have a feeling I will be exploring the other volumes in the near future or at least be absorbing this one for awhile.

Listen Here:

Attitudes EP by Stable Boys (2012)

Kind of Like: Pachachunga, Chalk Talk, Glocca Morra

Genres: Punk, Pop Punk, Garage Rock, Noise Rock

Buy: Evil Weevil

Preview:

It's nice to see the boys from bands like Algernon, Snowing, and Glocca Morra try something that is somewhat out of their comfort zone as far as recent projects go.  I am assuming Zack from Glocca Morra is on the vocals, and Tank from Algernon is doing drums.  Then sprinkle in other people from Snowing and what not.  I have a feeling I met some of them in Philadelphia, but the only name I remember is Zack's. This is pretty lo-fi, but it sounds cool like that.  It's like an old fun garage rock/pop punk band.  This comes out on 4/20, heh.

Listen Here:

Club Banger EP by Club Banger (2012)

Kind of Like: Girl Scouts, 1994!, Noumenon
Genres: Emo, Noise Rock, Math Rock
Preview: Facebook

This is a great mix of genres that you see with bands like 1994!.  Just imagine a little less gruffier vocals with a little more of that whole "walls of sound" feel.  The beginning of the first track doesn't do much to prepare you for the explosion of sound.  Noise rock is a somewhat underrated genre that I think a lot more people that like these mathy emo bands could get into, so here is a great transitional band that could do the deed for you.  Particularly, got a kick out of the sampling of Ditka's infamous 2-7 meltdown before the song "Slippery When Ditka".This is the debut EP from this band, and although it is rough around the edges it shows some great potential.  Googling "Club Banger" for photos doesn't work either.

Listen Here:

When The Revolution Comes, Everything Will Be Beautiful by the United Sons of Toil (2011)

Kind of Like: Young Widows (older), &U&I, Neurosis
Genres: Noise Rock, Post-hardcore, Math Rock
Preview/Buy:

That photo is from this Madison, Wisconsin band's European tour.  To view more interesting photos, check out the flickr album; gnarly stuff.  These guys sound like they know what the hell they are doing, and they show they have experienced musicianship.  This album is noisy, mathy and probably the complete opposite of the band I just posted.  I also found this amusing that was posted on their site:

"Shamelessly lifted from an interview with Conformists singer Mike Benker. Words to fucking live by. 


DO NOT PLAY LONGER THAN 35 MINUTES, TOPS. Leave people wanting more not less. The first Black Sabbath record is just under 38 minutes. Are you better than that record? Nope. 


GET THE FUCK OFF OF THE STAGE. Grab your drums and move out of the way. When you set up, take as long as you want. You are burning up your 35 minutes. When you are chit-chatting about how you just weren’t “feeling it tonight” while you remove wing nuts from cymbal stands, know that a band is ready to run you over. If you see another band helping you off the stage, that is a bad sign. Figure it out. 


STOP FORMING BANDS AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO SOUND. Get in the basement and play your asses off. Write ten songs and play the shit out of them then plays some shows. Scrap seven of the songs and write more before you dare record. The first ten songs a new band writes are usually not that good. Keep the best three. Not all of your ideas are good, numbnuts. Stop recording and releasing everything. 


IF SOMEONE SAYS “GOOD SHOW” SAY “THANK YOU”. If you complain about your set to someone who liked it, you look like a douche. Don’t be a whiner. Take the compliment and try harder next time."


Listen Here:

This Wave is Only For the Good Hearted by Brito (2008)

Kind of Like: The Red Scare, Young Widows, Shotmaker
Genres: Noise Rock, Screamo, Math Rock, Post-Hardcore
Preview: Myspace

Elementary Revolt has been featuring some great releases lately, and I have become especially fond off this album and this band from the Netherlands.  I was initially drawn in my the style of the album art.  I went to their myspace, and found their music to be just the kind of music I am really into lately; grinding, churning noise rock/math rock with post-hardcore/screamo feel and intense vocals over top of it all.  From the looks of it, this band is preparing to release new material soon, and I am pretty excited after hearing this.

Listen Here:

Gods by Down I Go (2011)

Kind of Like: The Crinn, The Rodeo Idiot Engine, The Armed
Genres: Experimental, Mathcore, Chaotic Hardcore, Noise Rock
Preview: Bandcamp
Buy: Shelsmusic

Out of all the new material I've been hearing lately, this definitely is the most interesting thing I've stumbled on. When I first listened it was one of those instances where I recognized the band being very talented, but I still wasn't sure how I felt about their sound because it's pretty out there.  Then I watched this Tim and Eric-esque video and I felt better about them, every time Poseidon looks at the camera trying to keep a straight face, I can't help laughing.  I also thought it was funny that on Last.fm, Kenny's band, the Armed, was one of the top bands they were "super" similar to.  I can see the comparison for sure not only in the music (twangy southern-style mathcore with elements of noise rock) but in the sort of theatrics as well, perhaps.  Honestly, it just looks like these guys are having a bunch of fun being in this band (except for the sailors.  Come on guys, Poseidon is upstaging you), and I am always for that.  WE ARE BUILDING A WAAAALL!!

Listen Here:

Young & Beautiful by The Armed (2011)

Kind of Like: Converge, Botch, DEP
Genres: Mathcore, Hardcore, Noise Rock, Thrash
Preview: Bandcamp, Pizza

Apologies for the lack of updates.  There are several things in my way: school is heavy at the moment, I fried my laptop last week and am hesitant to buy a new one, work sucks, doing the radio show and hockey season started/Tigers are in the playoffs/Lions are actually good now/ UofM is undefeated/sports.  Right now I am updating on a shitty desktop computer.  Eventually I will get sick of using this and get a new laptop, but who knows.  That being said the new zine will probably be very small and come out right before Fest as some kind of a preview edition.  And then after Fest, I will probably have much more material to work with (interviews/photos/news) for a much larger winter edition.  Who knows, everything is in the air right now.

I was hoping Kenny would post this, seeing that this is his band and all.  But he is being lazy and/or modest.  This came out last week, but I was reminded to put this up when I saw the great reviews it was getting on Sputnik Music.  They are kind of moving forward from a straightforward mathcore/hardcore band like Converge to something more unique, with elements of noise rock/garage rock thrown into the mix.  That's my take on it anyways.  I think so far this album has gotten the most exposure out of all their work.  As one reviewer wrote: "It's good and it's free. Rips hard. Get it now."

Listen Here:

Lenses Alien by Cymbals Eat Guitars (2011)

Kind of Like: Deerhunter, The War on Drugs, Girls, Male Bonding
Genres: Indie, Shoegaze, Noise Rock
Preview: Myspace

The timing of the above photo, is absolutely perfect.  Something about it just bothers me, it's almost awkward to look at.  For the record, the lead singer does not look like that; this is a pretty unforgiving shot. But it's like a train wreck, I had to share it.  Along with their new album.  I first heard it on Turntable.fm and when I saw it was floating around on the interwebs, I decided to pick it up.  I don't have much time to write about it, but it's pretty rockin', brah.

Listen Here:

Tripper by Hella (2011)

Kind of Like: bygones, Tera Melos, Zach Hill, Lightning Bolt

Genres: Noise Rock, Math Rock, Indie

Preview: The Needle Drop

"Hella began in 2001 in Sacramento, California as a two member band consisting of Zach Hill and Spencer Seim writing technically intricate music of a highly spastic nature. They play a blend of math rock and noise rock. On early albums, the band forged their classic sound, playing minimally arranged, abrasive instrumentals that still retain an idiosyncratic sense of melody."
-Last.fm

Music for spazzes.

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Zorch Discography (2009-2011)

Kind of Like: Lightning Bolt, Battles, Animal Collective
Genres: Electronica, Experimental, Noise Rock

Preview: 

" Zorch (US) is an experimental/noise rock band consiting of two members Zac (keyboards, omnichord and vocals) and Shmu (drums, omnichord and vocals). The band currently resides in Austin, TX. The 4 song demo was tracked live to tape in a day at Cacophony Studios."
-Last.fm

Listen Here

The Flaming Lips and Lightning Bolt by the Flaming Lips and Lightning Bolt (2011)

Kind of Like: Radiohead, The Flaming Lips, Lightning Bolt (duh)
Genres: Experimental, Noise Rock, Indie, Electronica




"The first three minutes of "I'm Working at NASA on Acid," a track from a new collaborative EP between the Flaming Lips and Lightning Bolt, sounds very much like the Lips in melancholy psychedelia mode. After that point, though, Lighting Bolt's signature pummeling beats drop in, pushing the song toward a ego-shattering climax. It's probably exactly like working at NASA while dropping LSD – at least if you assume it would be a very bad trip."
-Rolling Stone

The Flaming Lips just released a collaborative effort with Neon Indian not too long ago, and I wasn't really too into it.  I am liking this combination a lot more.  The first two songs are The Flaming Lips with Lightning Bolt, and the last two songs is Lightning Bolt with The Flaming Lips.  Whatever that means.  Long story short, if you like either of these bands, you probably will like this.  If you like both of them, what are you waiting for, ya dingus?

Oh yeah, and I may wanna pick this up on vinyl, it's damn sexy.  I'm just having a hard time finding places that have it.

Listen Here:

Get Your Heavies Out by Bearcubbin'! (2011)

Kind of like: These arms are snakes, Young Widows, ASIWYFA, Daughters
Genres: Math rock, Post Hardcore, Noise rock
Preview/DL:Bandcamp

Bearcubbin'! are back with 4 (technically 3) new tracks that focus on the heavier side of their catchy and intricately layered mathy grooves.

"The new heaviness of Bearcubbin'!. We wanted to try writing something more in the vein of These Arms are Snakes and Young Widows and leave alot of the looping aside. It turned out amazingly well." -Bandcamp

DL link above. Their older release and better description of Bearcubbin'! can be found Here.

Cold in the Guestway by Gypsyblood (2011)

Kind of Like: Guided By Voices, Dinosaur Jr., Pavement, Foo Fighters
Genres: Rock, Indie, Garage Rock, Noise Rock
Preview: Bandcamp

I've been trying to find a leak for this for months.  Maybe I just haven't been looking hard enough, but I finally found one.  I have been excited to hear this debut from the Chicago based band that got signed to Sargent House.  I heard the first song and have been looking for it ever since:

It's a pretty solid debut, and Sargent House continues to impress me by not only having a great roster of bands, but also having a great roster of bands from varying genres.  I haven't seen any plans for tours by them yet, but I'm going to keep my eye out.  Finally, for the people expecting a zine, I hope to have them mailed out tomorrow.

Listen Here: