Some Thoughts.

In an age of digital reliance, sometimes you seriously need to take a step back to appreciate anything.  Whether it be music, art, or even personal relationships; reflection is a necessity.  I left normal review site because I grew tired of the process, publicist are simply doing their job to push their product and I can respect that they are simply doing their job.  But then depending who you wrote for their was a level of not being honest about how you felt or a certain format you must follow.  While I was lucky enough not to deal with too much of this it felt rudimentary.  Why review something that is offered in a full album stream or leaked the same day anyways?  People obviously have every opportunity to form their own opinions unlike times say even ten years ago when people based purchases off magazine reviews. I saw writing in this fashion to be mind numbing and formulaic and truly pointless.  When I write just for myself, to share a story about my experience with the release and or artist it not only serves as a scrapbook of sorts for myself but it holds more meaning.  It isn't simply 2/5 or 7.5/10 stars or whatever fucking nonsense someone deems to rate art which is not something that should be graded anyways.  One can state whether or not they like something but to grade art is to belittle someone else when the critic himself tends to have little or no talent of his own.  At the end of the day its just one persons bullshit opinion flowing from his/her mouth and or keyboard in this case.  No one needs another critic to tell them what the fuck is hip, lame ass elitist mentalities have no place in this world, forged your own opinions.  Take what you will from anything on this blog, contribute if you want I have no problem letting it be a collective forum for others, or if you don't like this find another outlet to either voice your opinions but no matter what use your voice and don't settle for some hack to tell you whats "in" or isn't cool because its too "hyped".

Sokushinbutsu- Holy Ground

I was asked awhile ago by the band if I wanted to review this, but I wanted to wait for a physical copy to surface.  When I went to the A389 Bash and found a tape out of 100 put out by Unholy Anarchy I was pretty stoked. I always enjoyed the previous endeavors of Sokushinbutsu, Eddie Brock and Lapse but shit happens bands end, at least in this case members went on to do something even better.  The tape encased in a screen printed bag holds a lyric sheet/ poster and the tape hand numbered out of 100.  The jams though are rippers mix of death metal and grind/sludge/dbeat.  This 5 track tape was well worth it, the short tracks with good mix of structure kept me interested.  My favorite track is Rot Dominance, loved the tape hoping for more soon and maybe a tour since I wanted to look at records and eat food and skipped the sideshow in Baltimore, I fucked up but you don't have to check out the jams here.

The Bellicose Minds- The Buzz or Howl Sessions

Since I picked up The Spine from Dom fall of last year, I have been looking forward to listening to The Buzz or Howl Sessions re-release. Naturally pre-ordered the 10" the second it went up along with some other releases from A389. I finally got a chance to sit down and just indulge in my recent vinyl pick ups. I have been sitting here listening to this record spin on repeat. While I can't sit here and tell you how the 80's were grand or how I love goth; I can tell you The Bellicose Minds rip like those 80's goth/new wave/dark bands that you have obsessed over in different phases of your life. The opening track Oppression Depression rips and really speaks to me in my current state of working a dead end job. The bass drives ever song with a perfect tone as the guitar overlays seamlessly. The vocals feel like those spoke in mourning but yet feel so powerful its very pleasing. Overall the jams are very good. The best part of The Bellicose Minds is that it sounds natural, like they are not forcing this goth new wave revival as some aesthetic bullshit. The artwork is the same as the original tape, the inside linear sheet is nothing that spectacular a collage of show fliers on one side and the lyrics and two photos that fit the theme on the other. I really dig this release, I hope I get to hear more soon. I am however pretty bummed that the plans for The Bellicose Minds to play the A389 Bash fell through so hopefully they can do a tour out east sometime soon and hit up Cleveland. If you don't believe me just check it out yourself. Here

I might start writing again. not that you give a shit. i just finally updated my "tradelist" I could send you a copy although anything you would want is not for grabs most likely. pretentious asshole, am I right?

Full of Hell- Rudiments of Mutilation.

For those of you who don't know me it is no secret that I am a huge fan of A389 Records as well as Full of Hell as their previous full length The Roots of Earth are Consuming my Home was one of my favorite releases of that year. So Of course going into the pre orders for Rudiments of Mutilation, being the pretentious record collecting asshole that I am, I told work I needed to take a shit and pre ordered all three colors while on the clock. I was amazed how fast the 300 copies sold out and was stoked for the band. Then they arrived after debating on downloading the shitty rip that proved to be inaccurate about several times according to the label, band, and friends of mine who nabbed it. I waited til the mail came and I could put it on my stereo and zone out. (I realize written long after this experience but my computer has been broke for the past few months.)

Record in hand I let the needle drop and sat back with the linear notes. At first I felt more attached to Roots but with Dregs of Pluto and Rat King still being my favorite songs at the time its only convenient favoritism. After listening and re listening I finally feel capable of saying what I feel about Rudiments. While it took me a long to come to terms with the slow stretched out drones of Rudiments as a means of breaks from the relentless spastic blasts of fury. It comes together in a way that I can appreciate, while its not my favorite it does the job. But then it hit me with The Lord is my Light how bleak the tones had got me, rocking back and forth fingertips clawing at my own face ready to snap, waiting desperately for the oncoming onslaught. Then Bone Coral and Brine flirted with it and instantly drew back, teasing the audience but not quite giving you the blast beat barrage you desire until Rudiments of Mutilation and even still they pull back. It's like a game of chess tormenting you not quite letting you get what you want an end to your misery.

This album I think proves a lot about Full of Hell, they weren't held to the exact sound that gave them success with Roots, the amount of layers as to which they can play with astound me. Watching them live is a treat in my opinion the way they manage to reproduce such crisp yet discordant arrangements to allow you to lose yourself within it, to cliche-ly put Numb Your Mind. I honestly can't wait to continue to follow Full of Hell and see what they decide to experiment with next. Personally I still enjoy the ebb and flow of Roots more, there is a more dark and artistic feel within Rudiments that makes its an experience which is something that makes it worth checking out in my eyes.

You haven't checked out Rudiments of Mutilation yet? Well this week only you can download the record from A389 bandcamp which is something pretty cool for the band and label to offer.