LABEL INTENSIVE: Christine Kelly of Tridroid Records Lists her Top 10 Labels to Watch in 2017

Tridroid Records is an independent metal label launched in July, 2012 by original owner Andrew Rehberger and was one of the earlier labels responsible for the metal tape resurgence in the US. In 2016, after 4 years and around 80 releases to their name, the label would change hands and who better to take over than self confessed Tridroid fan Christine Kelly.   Having been involved in underground metal for about 15 years and with a desire to run a metal cassette label for years taking over at Tridroid Records seemed like hand of fate had dealt a winning hand.

Tragically Andrew would suddenly and tragically pass away, so what better endorsement to his memory than to continue what he created, indeed under Christine’s tenure the label is going from strength to strength.  So with recent releases from  Heavy Temple, Un and the forthcoming album from our own Daniel Jackson via project Void Ritual,  we have invited Christine to talk about 10 labels she digs and one’s you should to watch out for in 2017 and beyond. 

Before the days of Bandcamp, I mostly just looked for label owners who shared my taste and bought up anything they put out.  It's easier to pick and choose these days, but I still value finding labels that I can blind-buy from and trust that the release will look and sound amazing. Here's a few that I'm keeping my eye on this coming year: (click on the labels name for web links)

1). Graven Earth Records

Graven Earth came from nowhere in 2016 and put out 100% quality releases straight outta the gate. Sarcoptes, Possessor, and the cassette version of Khemmis – “Hunted” are just 3 of the things that caught my eye.  I can't wait to see what comes from this label in the New Year, because if I don't know the material, I know I should.

2). Small Doses

Full disclosure: Label owner Joe Beres does a lot of design work for Tridroid, but that's because I saw his work while I was in Minneapolis and liked his clean style and taste so much that I pulled him into my camp. Small Doses releases material more on the drone/industrial/noise side of the spectrum but also represents the diversity of those genres, with everything from Locrian to Bastard Noise to Whitehorse released under his aegis. You can be sure that anything coming out of Small Doses looks amazing, too, because Joe's aesthetic sense and knowledge of packaging ensure that his output is nothing short of stellar.

3). Werkstatt Recordings

If you're even remotely into electro-synth music, Werkstatt is a label to seek out. I'm a relative newbie to the new wave of electro, so I value someone who can sift through the glut and present the best of the best. The excellent art and design on Werkstatt's releases is something that inspires me, especially with their high level of output.

4). Sylvan Screams Analog

Sylvan Screams is the only label I've made it my business to own every single release by. To me, Mitch King at Sylvan Screams represents everything good about DIY cassette culture – he's a maniac, he knows his shit, and his releases consistently introduce me to bands I need to hear. It ain't an easy gig owning a tape label, and his devotion to it was one of the reasons I got into the biz. His stuff sells out pretty quick, so make sure you follow him on Facebook if you don't already.

5). Foreign Sounds/Children of the Night

The level of quality cassette releases on this label is just unprecedented. In 2016 they put out some of my favorites, including I Shalt Become – “Wanderings”, Krieg – “Blue Miasma”, and Onirik – “Casket Dream Veneration”. All have great packaging without being over-the-top. As a label owner, you want to see what other people are doing, and I'm always paying attention to FS/CofN.

6). Medusa Crush

Medusa Crush has been on my radar for a while. Their releases definitely don't adhere to a genre, and I know I'll hear something new and different every time. Then, MC released one of my favorite albums of the year with Lightsabres – “Hibernation”. Now I'm keeping an even closer eye on 'em, because, while they're not the most prolific label on my list, there's a lot to be said for quality over quantity.

7). Bindrune Recordings

The only reason this label isn't #1 on my list is because, if you're anything like me, you already know Bindrune. I've been blind-buying from Marty for over 10 years now, and his releases are the pinnacle of musical taste and design. I hope to still be buying everything he puts out 10 years from now.

8). Caligari Records

This is another one that's lower on the list because, again, you probably know Caligari. When it comes to US tape labels that brought the format back to the fore, Caligari is one of the biggies. If it's a metal release on tape, Caligari has it. Not to mention that the label name belies a love of Weimar cinema that I very much appreciate.

9). Grimoire Records

Grimoire Records is another label I'm always watching. Genevieve, Torrid Husk, Myopic, Barbelith, and Dendritic Arbor are just a few of the reasons why. It's also nothing short of remarkable to me that the owner does all the recording, mixing, and mastering for all of his own releases. This level of involvement is a rare thing these days, and I give huge props to his vision.

10). Broken Limbs Recordings

Broken Limbs can do no wrong. Wode, Our Place of Worship is Silence, Thrawsunblat, Cara Neir, Crowhurst, Sea of Bones, Immortal Bird... I'm gonna be honest, every single release is a worthy listen. And the artwork? Simply amazing. Definitely one of my biggest inspirations.

For more information on Tridroid Records check out the link below

Label Info: bandcamp || facebook

Lung Molde - 'Lung Molde' (Album Review)

By: Peter Man

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 30/10/2015

Label: Caligari Records

What makes Lung Molde particularly notable to me is the way they let chords ring out to the point of grisly decomposition; it is the essence of the album.  Drawing similarities to Dopethrone, Bongripper, and Weedeater, Lung Molde creates an obscenely gnarled sound that is very careful to not be too bold, furious, or trippy.  Their absolute despair, and yours, is always at the forefront of their music.

‘Lung Molde’ CS//DD track listing:

1). White in the Red

2). Witch Trench

3). Sunken And Drowned

4). Teeth And Tar

5). Vanquished

6). Skulls in the Acid Well

Lung Molde is:

JH |  Strings, vocals
MS | Hammers
AD | Strings

The Review:

Lung Molde hails from Portland, Oregon and unleashes their contaminated brand of downer doom on the world with 2015's debut, self-titled album.  This record contains six crushing tracks that are best listened to alone, with the lights turned down, in the middle of the night.  All vocals are done in a sort of low growl that prefers to subsist in mud.  While there are a few harmonizing riffs, guitar solos, and up-tempo grooves, they are infrequent.  Much of the album's time is spent grasping onto plodding riffs and slowly bruising them over and over until the remains are unrecognizable.  What makes Lung Molde particularly notable to me is the way they let chords ring out to the point of grisly decomposition; it is the essence of the album.

My personal favorite track, 'Sunken and Drowned', is the album's third offering and also its signature one.  It begins with a clean, yet warped guitar riff which morphs into a fully distorted onslaught that seems to be consumed by a forgotten cesspool in a scarred forest.  The main riff is endlessly beaten for almost four straight minutes before the tempo retreats into the band's trademark march of decay.  Track four, 'Teeth and Tar', is the only song to begin with an aggressive riff.  It features a couple of guitar solos and is a bit schizophrenic; it reminds me of the hybrid thrash/doom band Bison (bc).  The final track, 'Skulls In The Acid Well', surprised me with a duelling guitar feature that had a very classic rock feel.  It finishes out itself, and the album, with a tired whimper, accurately reflecting the band's goal of total surrender.  The other tracks dabble with some varied and familiar metal elements, but are equally as massive as the next, and force the listener to stay grounded in sorrow.

Drawing similarities to Dopethrone, Bongripper, and Weedeater, Lung Molde creates an obscenely gnarled sound that is very careful to not be too bold, furious, or trippy.  Their absolute despair, and yours, is always at the forefront of their music.

‘Lung Molde’ is available on DD here and cassette here

Band info: bandcamp

Act of Impalement – ‘Echoes of Wrath / II - Hyperborean Altar’ (Review)

Album Type: Compilation

Date Released: 6/6/2014

Label: Caligari Records

Act of Impalement – ‘Echoes of Wrath / II - Hyperborean Altar’ track listing:

1). Echoes of War 03:51

2). Heathen Omens 02:57

3). Atrocities & Spiritual Rape 04:43

4). Necromancers Theme 04:04

5). Teutoburg Forest 03:05

6). Upon the Hyperborean Altar of the Triad Gods 01:57

7). No Viking Funeral for Betrayers 00:53

8). Inquisition (of the Innocent) 02:36

9). Northumbrian King 04:42

10). Rise, Ancient Pantheon 03:08

The Band:

James De Rais | Bass

Vlad | Drums

Dark Druid | Guitars, Vocals

Review:

Nashville’s Act of Impalement is a golden example of the power that a fairly orthodox band can still have in a “post-everything” age. It’s simple, straight forward, filthy and strong and everything on tap is 100% post free. It’s a potent concoction of doom and mid-tempo death metal, without taking part in the Incantation worship that a lot of folks – including me – have been into for the last several years. This release is a cassette-only compilation of 2013’s ‘Hyperborean Altar’ and the ‘Echoes of Wrath’ EP released earlier this year, and while there are some differences in the production once ‘Echoes of Wrath’ ends and ‘Hyperborean Altar’ begins, the sound difference won’t put you off at all. This is a band that knows what it ought to sound like.

The material on ‘Echoes of Wrath’ occupies a space with a bit more life to it, starting with “Echoes of War” which gallops and swings like Celtic Frost or early Moonfog era Darkthrone, though this is much more death-infused than either of those bands ever were (save Darkthrone’s debut of course). In fact, it might be a good time to point out that despite their being obvious influences, Act of Impalement doesn’t strike me as derivative at all.

You’ll hear Celtic Frost, Autopsy, Winter, all with a guitar tone on the grizzly side of the Sunlight Studio sound popularized by Dismember. It’s a healthy mix to be sure, and one that yields some top quality results without question. The ‘Echoes of Wrath’ portion of things wraps up with “Atrocities & the Spiritual Rape”, and song that opens with a lurching, barbaric chug before building to a much speedier climax at a speed more in line Motörhead or early Entombed. After that pays off, it settles into a solid and deliberate grove, which sets the stage for last year’s ‘Hyperborean Altar’.

Generally, the “Hyperborean Altar” material finds its home in a generally slower tempo than “Echoes of Wrath”, though there are some violent speed outbursts; most notably on “Inquisitions (of the Innocent)”, which breaks suddenly from its deathly ‘Panzerfaust’-style crawl into a nasty, slow-grinding blast. By the time I got to this point on the compilation, it became clear that there weren’t going to be any real weak spots on this tape. That’s not to say that Act of Impalement couldn’t stand to embrace a bit more variety in terms of riff structuring or drum beat choices, but the whole thing is strong start to finish. “Teutoburg Forest” in particular is an example of what I think their blueprint should be going forward. It starts off as a headbanger; like some corroded, mutated and pitch-shifted version of Mayhem’s “Pure Fucking Armageddon”. Then it drops into a note-bending doom fest, with a palm-muted, stuttering collapse before the riff resets. It’s like the doom metal version of a rusty machine falling apart, which to these ears is a beautiful thing.

Although the cassette format isn’t for everybody, you’re not going to want to sleep on this release. If you aren’t interested in the cassette, try the Act of Impalement Bandcamp page for a digital download. Caligari Records have a great find on their hands, and if you like the idea of doomy death metal laced with black metal at its most primal, Act of Impalement should be pretty high on your list this year. 

Words by: Daniel Jackson

You can get it here

For more information:

http://actofimpalement.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/ActOfImpalement