Päivitys 31.8.2009

VINYYLIT:

FALL OF EFRAFA "Owsla" LP 12€
(Sound Devastation Records)
The first of a trilogy of records from Brighton's best Fall of Efrafa. This record shows the bands first tentative steps towards the epic doomy post-hardcore they now play. However, at heart "Owsla" showcases the bands d-beat crust punk past. An amazing debut. Limited edition of 300 copies on brown vinyl and including a poster.

FALL OF EFRAFA "Elil" 2LP 16€
(Sound Devastation Records)
The second installment in The Warren of Snares trilogy of records. "Elil" means predator, and with this record Fall of Efrafa take us further on the journey of a community rising up against an oppressive regime. Heavy black vinyl with etching on side D.

FALL OF EFRAFA "Inlé" 2LP 16€
(Sound Devastation Records)
The long awaited final chapter in The Warren of Snares trilogy, Fall of Efrafa conclude their mythological tale based on Watership Down. Crushing and beautiful; for fans of Neurosis, Envy, Buried Inside and GY!BE. Black vinyl.

NADJA / BLACK BONED ANGEL "Christ Send Light" LP 12€
(Sound Devastation Records)
Two titans of doom/drone collaborate together. The result is heartstopping, taking a similar path to Jesu. Massive guitars, mountainous bass, tribal drums, choral vocals. Sublime - essential. One sided black vinyl with etching on flipside. Limited edition of 750 copies.

CD:

FALL OF EFRAFA "Owsla" CD 10€
(Sound Devastation Records)
The first of a trilogy of records from Brighton's best Fall of Efrafa. This record shows the bands first tentative steps towards the epic doomy post-hardcore they now play. However, at heart "Owsla" showcases the bands d-beat crust punk past. An amazing debut. Features a CD-only bonus track.

FALL OF EFRAFA "Elil" CD 10€
(Sound Devastation Records)
The second installment in The Warren of Snares trilogy of records. "Elil" means predator, and with this record Fall of Efrafa take us further on the journey of a community rising up against an oppressive regime.

FLATLANDS "Black Sluice" CD 10€
(Sound Devastation Records)
After "Vermuyden", Flatlands took on another guitarist, which on this release gives them extra depth, technicality, ideas and heaviness. A progression from the EP, their debut album showcases their true live power. Fantastic.

SONS OF ALPHA CENTAURI "s/t" CD 10€
(Sound Devastation Records)
This 68 minute long debut from the Kent-based stoner prog outfit is a record to be proud of. They clearly are fans of Karma to Burn having adopted not only a similar riff rock style but a numbering of tracks. Hardly a problem though as Sons of Alpha Centauri deliver a highly original album, the likes of which have never really come out of England and all delivered in a style and finish not far from bands like Pelican and Isis. Anyone with a vague interest in Helmet, Kyuss and Karma to Burn should really enjoy this album. The lack of vocals doesn't really hinder the band as the music itself is memorable enough not to require them. A very solid offering.

Päivitys 22.9.2009

CD:

BLACK MARKET MINISTRY "Voices of the Coming Plague" CD 10€
(Leaf Lust Records)
If this is what the coming plague is going to sound like grab yer shit and run like fucking hell. Fans of Eyehategod (or any of the slew of bands from the southern part of the U.S. that seem to do this kind of stuff better than anyone else) this is a sure treat. There are faster punkesque parts that lead into all out sludge meltdowns. The riffs are thick and heavy, and the recording top notch. If you don't feel the need to launch a brick at someone's head while listening to this you need to be checked for a pulse. Filthy, miserable, heavy, loud and violent as shit. Sleeping on this band would make it suck to be you.

DIAL "s/t" MCD 7€
(Robotic Empire)
The old expression "like a ton of bricks" doesn't even come close here. The weight of a mountain is what Dial drops on you with their absolutely crushing 5-song debut EP. The austere New Zealand outfit originally self-released this as a demo, but the material contained within is leaps and bounds beyond what most bands accomplish even at their best. Dial successfully channels the darkest corners of the Am Rep catalog, the raw ferocity of classic hardcore, offtime kilter of math-rock, and the whole concept that music can actually be dangerous. The air-tight composure of Dial's debut recording is striking; focusing more on space and dissonance than technical shreddery. Obscenely heavy guitars collide with bludgeoning percussion and intense, vicious and scathing female vocals... turning the whole thing into a downright terrifying experience. Add an incredibly crisp recording, and this makes Dial's debut EP one of the most impressive demos in years.

TORCHE "s/t (Remixed Reissue)" CD 10€
(Robotic Empire)
Once described as "stoner pop", Miami quartet Torche could just as awkwardly be called "doom pop" or "thunder rock"... but what all these clumsy words boil down to is simultaneously one of the catchiest and heaviest bands to ever grace the worlds of metal, indie and underground music in general. Sound like hyperbole? Torche actually has their own patented "bomb string" tuning which is literally unparalleled in heavy music (past or present) and they use it liberally on this, their self-titled debut full-length album. Hinted at by members' former group Floor, truly anthemic, triumphant and absolutely massive heavy metal has never been this undeniably catchy! With gloriously sung, harmonized and soaring vocal arrangements accompanying the most monolithic riffs of modern times, Torche reaches to push the envelope and then engulfs it in flames. This is the deluxe, fully re-mixed and re-mastered edition of Torche's debut album which has been completely reworked from the ground up due to the band's overall dissatisfaction with the original release. This new version is a much more accurate representation of the band with an even heavier (and clearer) mix than the original, also containing an all new bonus track originally recorded during the initial tracking (but only recently receiving some absolutely epic vocal treatment) and expanded artwork.

MUUT:

THROAT "Good Times" Tape 5€
(Throat)
"Throat's message seems to be: Here's the riff, fuck you!" - Antti/Hebosagil
Pro-duplicated cassettes with on-shell printing and full colour sleeve. Limited edition of 200 copies.

Päivitys 20.10.2009

VINYYLIT:

DATURAH "s/t" 2LP 16€
(Denovali Records)
Daturah's debut record from 2006 finally available on vinyl. Amazing instrumental record. Definitely something for fans of Mono, Mogwai or Explosions in the Sky etc.! This is the black vinyl version with a white screenprint on side D, limited to 350 pieces.

HEIRS "Alchera" LP 12€
(Denovali Records)
Heirs' debut full-length "Alchera" is a 43 minute movement of oppressive instrumental power, cyclic ritualism and bleak hallucinogenic revelation. Recorded at Head Gap Studios by Neil Thomason in the heat waves of Melbourne in January 2009 and mastered by James Plotkin (Khanate), the 6 pieces recorded capture the band's live volume - a blanket of sound traversing a rolling dynamic landscape. Drawing influence from Michael Gira and his Swans legacy, the sledgehammer riffs and industrial pummel of Godflesh, and continuing Stegeman's incense shrouded low-end incantations from his work with doom dealers Whitehorse, combined with Jackson's reverb-soaked noise, "Alchera" strips bare the needless excesses of post-rock and heavy metal in favour of something much more concise and affecting. A lurching, drugged-out specter - holding solace in one hand, and vengeance in the other. From the seething metallic buzz and bluster of the opening track "Plague Asphyx", through to the crowning low-end droning turbulence of "Russia", the recording is an archetype for an existence shrouded in confusion, joy, disappointment and addiction. Black vinyl, limited to 150 copies.

KODIAK "s/t" LP 12€
(Denovali Records)
If you like Switchblade, Pelican, Earth or A Storm of Light, you should definitely check out the debut of these great guys from Germany! 2 songs, 40 minutes of algid and monolithic soundscapes - comparable to a long lonely haunting trip through the arctic. With a guest cello appearance of Emily from Audrey. Clear vinyl, limited to 350 pieces.

KONGH "Shadows of the Shapeless" 2LP 16€
(Music Fear Satan)
Swedish trio Kongh return with the follow-up to their critically acclaimed 2007 debut album "Counting Heartbeats" which established the band as a force to be reckoned with. On "Shadows of the Shapeless", the band has taken their dynamic and riff-driven thunderstorm a huge step forward, and the album will surely place Kongh at the very forefront of the European sludge/doom/metal scene.

MR. PETER HAYDEN "First Cycle Complete" 7" 5€
(Post Rock Cafe Hietakulma)
It's a spooky little record, this one. Apart from some scrawling on the inner label, which reveals its origin as probably Finnish, there's not much info here, and the music itself doesn't give away much. Esoteric, gloomy, repetitive, dark, occult doom metal with occasional vocals far behind in the mix and arbitrary voodoo drumming on top. Two alternate versions of one song, one of which sounds like Black Sabbath, the other like Hawkwind, both of which sound like they crawled out of the tundra and belong to some secret order. Black vinyl.

CD:

CELESTE "Misanthrope(s)" CD 10€
(Denovali Records)
The third record of this nihilistic misanthropic band from France! For those who don't know them yet: fans of Cult Of Luna, Breach, Neurosis or Dark Funeral should be all ears. And no... it's not another copy - they're very unique! Gatefold cd cover + 4 page booklet. Limited edition of 1000 copies.

CELESTE "Nihiliste(s)" CD 10€
(Denovali Records)
Second album from this French post-hardcore/sludge/doom outfit. Ten tracks of unrelenting heaviness, "Nihiliste(s)" bludgeons the listener with wave after wave of pummeling guitar, unrelenting drumming, and vocal-chord shredding screams. Celeste may not be blazing new ground with "Nihiliste(s)", but the album establishes a strong foundation for them to build upon. Stylish cardboard digisleeve.

L.A. NOISESCAPE Compilation CD 10€
(Bastardised)
The definitive Los Angeles noise compilation with tracks from Andorkappen, Impregnable, Circuit Wound, Pedestrian Deposit, Slujun, David Kendall, Indian Jewelry, Albert Ortega, ExJesus, Redglare, Rick Potts, John Wiese, AMK, Damion Romero, The Cherry Point, Mitchell Brown, Haircut Mountain Transit, Privy Seals, Toxic Loincloth, Bastard Noise, Obstacle Corpse, GX Jupitter-Larsen, Stane Hubert, Raven Chacon, Skull Sküll, Moth Drakula, Feed the Dragon, Son of Dad, Leticia Castaneda, David Scott Stone, Brian Miller & Kevin Shields, Kitten Sparkles, Adrian Bayless, Unicorn, +Dog+ and Amps for Christ.

WRATH OF THE WEAK "s/t" CD 10€
(Bastardised)
One-man black metal act hailing from Buffalo, NY. Falling somewhere between Velvet Cacoon and Ildjarn, creating a bleak, dense and hypnotically repetitive wall of sound.

Päivitys 10.11.2009

CD:

CORRUPTED "Paso Inferior" CD 12€
(Nostalgia Blackrain)
This is a re-release of their 1 track over 40 minute CD originally released on Corrupted's own label Frigidity Discos in 1997. Although their sound is mostly known as a hellish eruption of tortured, holocaustic, raging sonic pressure, this masterpiece starts off with silent, effective, dubby introduction leading slowly into chocking, heavy, painful, atmospheric requiem for all living existence. A totally spiritual ultra heavy masterpiece from the depth of darkness and chaos searching for the light in the distance. Definitely this album can be described as a turning point from early agressive style to nowadays deep, inner, atmospheric style, and one of the most important release during Corrupted's career.

Päivitys 9.12.2009

CD:

FISTULA "We, the Beast" CD 12€
(Choking Hazard Records)
On this recording, Corey Bing played guitar, did the vokills and got Bahb Branca on bass, Nate Linehan on drums and Scott Stearns for additional guitars. Fistula's fans are always surprised when they release something because they can't expect nothing from the band except something heavy and dirty, but it's always different. For this new release, the old school metal influences like Celtic Frost, Hellhammer and Autopsy are new for Fistula. It's brutal, full of hate and old school for sure! Limited edition of 500 copies in DVD cases.

THE STRANGLERS - CHAPTER 1 Compilation 2CD 13€
(Choking Hazard Records)
Painfully heavy compilation from Choking Hazard Records, bringing together bands from both sides of the Atlantic for a truly punishing experience. The bands featured are Atavist, Moloch, Austrasian Goat, The Whorehouse Massacre, Stasis, Feast of Sins, Ghost Empire and Welter in Thy Blood. Limited edition of 500 copies.

Päivitys 18.12.2009

VINYYLIT:

DARK BUDDHA RISING "Ritual IX" 2LP 15€
(Post-RBMM)
Hailed by many as the best Finnish sludge/doom album of 2008, this is the debut work of Dark Buddha Rising. Two heavy slabs of black vinyl, the other presenting the heavy psychedelic doom side of the band and the other going deeper into esoteric droney expression. Gatefold sleeve. Limited edition of 500 copies.

DARK BUDDHA RISING "Entheomorphosis" 2LP 15€
(Post-RBMM)
Second album from this amazing Finnish band, picking up where "Ritual IX" left a year earlier. Less droning, more riff-heavy approach with the doomy psychedelia reaching towards black metal atmospheres and kraut rock -like repetition. Two black vinyls in gatefold sleeve. Limited edition of 500 copies.

Päivitys 21.1.2010

VINYYLIT:

SWITCHBLADE "s/t [2009]" 2LP 18€
(Denovali Records)
Three years after the release of the critically acclaimed "s/t [2006]" album, Sweden's loudest trinity breaks the silence. In the three massive compositions on this, the fifth selftitled album, Switchblade takes you on a journey crashing through the walls of perceptual reality and returning knee deep in loss, vengeance and death. Brittle melodies erupt in to dense mass of impending doom as this beast drags its feet out of the darkness to prevail over daylight. In just over 49 minutes Switchblade reveal their dire predictions to the masses trapped in a decaying world. Where all that is light collapse under the tower of their hopes and dreams. Louder than that which crashes in heaven, slow as the march of celestial time. Heavyweight gatefold covers with a special spot varnish effect. Black vinyl with a screenprint on side D, limited to 320 pieces!

CD:

CELAN "Halo" CD 12€
(Exile on Mainstream Records)
And here we are: "Halo" is the debut album of Celan - a band you can pigeon-hole at your own gusto and categorize as noise, rock or whatever you like. Please approach this masterpiece as they made it: minds free, ready to be blown away by its sheer class, emotion and musical craftmanship. The line-up features Chris Spencer (Unsane, Cutthroats 9), Ari Benjamin Meyers (Redux Orchestra, Einstürzende Neubauten), Niko Wenner (Oxbow), Franz Xawer (Flu.ID) and Phil Roeder (Flu.ID).

Päivitys 19.2.2010

CD:

DRAGGED INTO SUNLIGHT "Hatred for Mankind" CD 10€
(Mordgrimm)
Already making waves in the underground, U.K.'s Dragged Into Sunlight's debut album "Hatred for Mankind" proves they're worth all the praise. Nearly an hour of sickening, gritty black metal with a lot of major doom and sludge overtones, and generally quite dank, horrid atmospheres throughout the album. Not settling for just slow crawl, the band accompanies the slower parts with faster bursts of sheer hatred as well as ambient passages. "Hatred for Mankind" was produced by Tom Drink and Billy Anderson (Eyehategod, Weedeater). Artwork by Justin Bartlett (Sunn O))), Gorgoroth).

Levytilausten toimitus onnistuu 26.-27.2. Roosterfestiin Lahden Torveen! Tee varaus viimeistään torstaina 25.2. sähköpostilla.

Päivitys 26.3.2010

CD:

BASEMENT "Underneath" MCD 7€
(Vicious Circle)
Totally underrated and almost forgotten noise rock release from 1998 by the French trio Basement. 5 powerful tracks with obvious influences from the likes of The Jesus Lizard, Unsane, Fugazi, Cop Shoot Cop and Distorted Pony. Despite the influences, Basement definitely had a sound of their own and this MCD deserves more attention even today, after 12 years of its release.
www.myspace.com/furianoise

SLEEPPERS "Subconscious Nocturnal Activity" CD 10€
(Vicious Circle)
Another forgotten noise rock gem from France! Sleeppers' second album, released in 1997, shows their own heavily rhythmical sound combining with influences from Unsane and Neurosis who they toured with in France a year prior to this release. Percussive foundation, aggressive and noisy riffs, distorted pissed off vocals - what else do you need?
www.myspace.com/sleeppers

SLEEPPERS "Adrenalien" MCD 7€
(Vicious Circle)
The follow-up to Sleeppers' second album "Subconscious Nocturnal Activity", this MCD was released in 1998. Somewhat heavier and more aggressive approach than before with more straight forward structures. The band definitely had their own sound yet clearly belonging to the 90s scene alongside Unsane, Today is the Day, Helmet, etc.
www.myspace.com/sleeppers


Levytilausten toimitus onnistuu 27.3. S-Osis (Turku). Rajoitettu distrovalikoima mukana Throat+Hebosagil keikoilla 2.-4.4. Jos tahdot varmistua, että haluamasi levy(t) on mukana, tee varaus sähköpostilla.

Päivitys 16.4.2010

CD:

ÄÄRIÖ "Alinen" CDr 8€
(Ääriö)
Ääriö joins the still minuscule scene of Finnish instrumental post-metal/-rock bands. Unlike most of the foreign bands within the genre, Ääriö keeps from copying post-rock household names such as Mogwai, GY!BE etc. and draws inspiration from more doom and stoner oriented sounds. Sticking to riffs and groove instead of technicality or over-the-top psychedelia, Ääriö definitely have a promising approach to an otherwise overcrowded genre. Pro-CDr in a beautiful fold-out carton sleeve.
www.myspace.com/aeaerioe

Päivitys 18.5.2010

VINYYLIT:

16 "Zoloft Smile" LP 12€
(Bastardized Recordings)
Ten sludge filled tales of urban decay, domestic despair, and misery delivered courtesy of this Los Angeles, CA based troupe. Terminally deviant tirades, fuzz enshrouded riffs, and bleary narco-rhythms conspire to lay waste to your eardrums (and frontal lobe). For fans of anything and everything heavy (and cough syrup). Don't fight it, you need this album!
www.myspace.com/16

BLACK SHAPE OF NEXUS / KODIAK Split LP 13€
(Denovali Records)
Two German heavy weights present one massive track each on this beautiful black slab of vinyl. Having already made their mark on previous, excellent releases Black Shape of Nexus pummel you with painfully slow doom and finish you off with acrid, harsh drones, giving down-tempo a whole new meaning. Kodiak equal their landmates in heaviness yet have a more slowly brooding approach to their dense, monolithic sound bringing together all elements of slow music. Heavy 180g black vinyl in heavy weight glossy gatefold sleeve. Limited edition of 420 copies.
www.myspace.com/sadhusonofabitch
www.myspace.com/kodiakdoom

YEAR OF NO LIGHT / ROSETTA / EAST OF THE WALL Split 2LP 18€
(Denovali Records)
Three of the best bands in underground post-metal converge for an excellent split. While none of them are reinventing the post-metal wheel, they are each doing something new to spice up the old recipes of the genre. East of the Wall pulls no punches with their three part epic "Scumbrella". Year of No Light decided to go "Through Silver in Blood" -era Neurosis and cover us in sludge. Finally Rosetta delivers one of the strangest, but best, cover of The Cure's "Homesick". All in all this triple split is worth the cost of admission; there is something for every fan of the genre to be found here. Two 180g clear blue/clear vinyls in heavy weight gatefold sleeve. This colour is limited to 200 copies.
www.myspace.com/yearofnolight
www.myspace.com/rosetta
www.myspace.com/eastofthewall

Päivitys 29.6.2010

CD:

SUBMERGED "Oxygenate" MCD 6€
(Bad Vugum)
Authentic Finnish mid-90s noise rock sound from this underrated Oulu-based quartet. Submerged were described to "combine the dissonance of Big Black with the riffing of Helmet" and adding the slightly more metallic heaviness of Fudge Tunnel into the mix, the description should be enough to wet the appetite of people into the aforementioned bands. Simply put: you need this disc.
www.myspace.com/mikkojuntunen

SUBMERGED "Sheddings" MCD 6€
(Bad Vugum)
Final release (1998) from this Finnish noise rock outfit, who on this disc moved from the tight, riff-heavy Helmet-style sound towards a more original, almost garage-y sound where guitars create a wall of sound and the drums take on a more hypnotic percussive approach. Definitely influenced by the early Bad Vugum roster, but less heavier Amphetamine Reptile bands also come to mind.
www.myspace.com/mikkojuntunen