EXCLUSIVE: Behind Closed Doors at Number 10 following Boris' resignation (You won't believe who turned up!)

 

Foreword; "PARTYGATE: The Sequel

The Clown in Command has resigned yet we're not fucking celebrating. Okay, maybe we're celebrating a little. The straw-haired charlatan is on the way out, inevitably to be replaced by another totem of Tory deception and Westminster shithousery, but for now let's raise a glass of piss in his name and do a little fucking two-step while we're at it.  

What’s next? An independent Scotland, for starters.

We still hate Thatcher. The Queen's a dick. SAOR ALBA"

"The Union Rag" is the lead single taken from the Scottish hardcore punk/powerviolence group Freedom Fist's debut full-length, coming out on Roman Numeral Records this fall.

 Band info: facebook

ALBUM REVIEW: Friendship. "Undercurrent"

By: Eeli Helin

Album Type: Full-length

Date Released: 14/06/19

Label: Southern Lord Recordings,
Daymare Recordings

”Undercurrent” CD//DD//LP track listing:

1. Demise

2. Vertigo

3. Punishment

4. Lack

5. Abandon

6. Fiend

7. Plague

8. Garbage

9. Wrecker

10. Hatred

The Review:

Japan's Friendship ground their way to peoples consciousness with their 2017's debut LP ”Hatred”, that saw the seemingly unknown band deliver a unique hybrid of grindcore, powerviolence and sludge that left everyone wondering what it was that so violently and suddenly hit them. Released digitally and on CD by Daymare Recordings and on vinyl by Southern Lord Recordings, they now return with their highly anticipated second full-length titled ”Undercurrent”. The vicious blend of the aforementioned styles has been taken to a higher and more ruthless level, guaranteed to make your ears bleed and slap your blank, music police faces profoundly throughout its duration.

The album starts with a longer drone/feedback intro until starting an inextinguishable fire on "Vertigo". The track itself is a promise of an excellent album, wavering through d-beat passages and blast beats into a colossal breakdown and back to where it started. The following burst titled "Punishment" delivers what it states. The track, and the whole album for that matter, is punishing and unrelenting to the point of being exhausting. This is where the shorter running time comes to play, since shorter albums like this are easier to manage and you won't get that listeners fatigue at any point. From the beginning, Friendship's influences are quite apparent, but whereas the previous album lacked originality to a certain extent, "Undercurrent" makes up for that, providing a strong bedrock for the band to build on.

The exquisite, self-dependent writing is mostly distinct towards the latter part of the album. Tracks like "Fiend", "Plague" and "Wrecker" stuff more filth in a few minutes than a lot of bands do throughout their entire albums. There's a lot of variety and well placed hooks all around, which makes Friendship stand out as an interesting act that will certainly give you your money's worth. That being said, this album will fly over the heads of those who are not familiar with this type of aggressive, constantly pummeling execution. Others are born to it, others will never tolerate it, but if you keep an open mind, it is rewarding as hell when material like this comes along the way. While the band is still young, finding their own voice so early on is really exciting and interesting, and erects high expectations for whatever it is that they'll do next.

The only pothole they trip on a few times on "Undercurrent", is the repetition of similar song structures. Gladly this doesn't dominate the feeling of the entire album, you won't get the vibe of having the same song on repeat for ten times. These few dips and bends are overshadowed by the sheer brutality and suprisingly concrete, honest emotion, yet by the end you might have hoped that they would have explored themselves a bit further than they did. I don't find it necessary to get too much into it, but perhaps some slower and muddier tracks along the way could've made a significant change to the albums musical narration. Yes, there is slower, monumental riffs throughout, but they tend to lead up to the same, fast-paced conclusion from time to time.

Not to leave with a negative statement, "Undercurrent" is an album that every grindcore/powerviolence aficionado should check out as soon as possible. Highly akin to the kinds of Full of Hell and Nails, Friendship are bound to become a house hold name in the scene as their predecessors. They've already managed to generate a good amount of buzz within the last few years, and now on "Undercurrent" they prove themselves to be hungrier than ever. Having the support of the previously mentioned notable labels, there's no telling to where Friendship will head off to from here.

”Undercurrent” is available HERE

Band info: bandcamp

EP PREMIERE: Mister Lizard deliver deranged & warped sophmore effort "II"

Self-described as “warped hardcore/powerviolence”, Mister Lizard's latest release, 'II', shows absolutely no signs of that changing. Abusively intense with tongue firmly planted in cheek, Mister Lizard pull no punches.

Following 2017's self-titled release – a record of conspiracy theories, shapeshifting and government cover ups - 'II' aims to maintain that ridiculousness, fulfilling a niche but growing cult following.

'II' was recorded, mixed and mastered by Wayne at Bear Bites Horse Studio (Casual Nun, Death Pedals) around summer last year. Cover artwork by Hjalti Ragnarsson from Godchilla.  If you’re a fan of:

Daughters, Agoraphobic Nosebleed, Discordance Axis, Dillinger Escape Plan, Magrudergrind, then this new EP is certain to scratch that itch and is certain to leave you broken, beaten and scarred.  "II" will be issued on cassette via Astral Noize Records on 29/5/2019.  Preorders are being taken HERE and can be streamed in full below.

Band info: facebook 

SATAN'S DOZEN: 13 Unearthly Hymns Unearthed #6 (January 2018)

Compiled by: Andrei Moose

Artwork by: Josh Mashesh

SATAN’S DOZEN is THE SLUDGELORD’s attempt to present the very best music the underground scene has to offer and whilst we’d love to review every band submission we receive, not to mention the countless recommendations you send our way, in practical terms that is just not possible.  Therefore because we don’t want killer music to pass you by, each and every month our member of the Russian chapeter Andrei Moose  painstakingly sifts through the music labelled  killer  riffs” and chooses 13 of the best new albums released via bandcamp and bundles them together into the mightiest riff sandwich.

Whilst all the albums we have included below are top tier stuff, we have compiled them into a chart on a sliding scale of 13-1. So we hope you dig our selections for January 2018 and enjoy 13 Unearthly Hymns Unearthed.  

These bands need more exposure, so go “like” “share” and “follow” their pages, but most of all enjoy some of the best music the underground has to offer.  THE SLUDGELORD most sincerely approves.   Now, go heavy or go home.

13) Sons Of Nibiru – “Hellspirit” (Rzeszow, Poland), Released December 16, 2017

Psychedelic / Stoner-Doom

   
12) Borgonaut – “Borgonaut” EP (Trieste, Italy), Released January 31, 2018

Stoner-doom / Sludge

   
11) FILTHxCOLLINS / SKINLOVER – “Split 7” (Cardiff, UK), Released January 21, 2018

Sludge / Grindcore / Powerviolence

   
10) Taser – “Social Exclusion Blues” (Lahti, Finland), Released January 19, 2018

Sludge

   
9) Dowager – “Hymns for the Dead” (Los Angeles, California), Released January 1, 2018

Stoner-Doom

     

8) Nerveshatter – “Madhouse” (New York(, Released January 9, 2018

Noise / Hardcore / Sludge

   
7) Troll Teeth – “Boiled Alive” (New Jersey), Released January 1, 2018

Psychedelic / Stoner-Rock / Stoner-Metal

   
6) Psychic Lemon – “Frequency Rhythm Distortion Delay”(London, UK), Released January 12, 2018

Instrumental / Psychedelic / Kraut / Prog / Rock

   
5) Floaters – “WAITING FOR AMNESTY” (Tokyo, Japan), Released December 29, 2017

Stoner-Doom / Sludge

4) Smoke – “Stoned To Death” (Houma, Louisiana), Released January 12, 2018

Stoner-Doom / Sludge

   
3) The Mothercraft – “Pillars” (Edmonton, Alberta), Released January 5, 2018

Stoner-Rock

 
2) Legalize Crime – “Beat The Law” (Wroclaw, Poland), Released March 30, 2017

Sludge / Hardcore / Stoner-Metal

    

1) Orphans Of Doom – “Strange Worlds/Fierce Gods” (Kansas City, Missouri), Released January 26, 2018

Progressive/ Sludge / Doom / Metal

Band info: Orphans of Doom || Legalize Crime || The Mothercraft || Smoke || Floaters || Psychic Lemon || Troll Teeth || Nerveshatter || Dowager || Taser || Skin Lover || FilthXCollins || Borgonaut || Sons of Nibiru

ALBUM REVIEW: Friendship - "Hatred"

By: Charlie Butler

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 03/11/2017

Label: Southern Lord Records |

Daymare Recordings | Sentient Ruin

Laboratories

Over the course of twenty five crushing minutes, the band show they have honed their potent blend of crust, powerviolence, grind and sludge to deadly perfection. “Hatred” feels like burying your face in a bowl of razorblades while being kicked in the stomach.

“Hatred” CD//CS//DD//LP track listing:

1). Rejected

2). Regiside

3). Corrupt

4). Tortures

5). Compton

6). Grief

7). Life Sentence

8). Blue Berry

9). Execution

10). Dirtbags

11). El Chapo

12). Treason

The Review:

The dust has barely settled from my recent exposure to Friendship’s facemelting EP compilation. The Tokyo wrecking crew have wasted no time in releasing their debut LP “Hatred”, a relentless assault on the senses that cements their position as the current masters of all things short, fast and horrible.

Over the course of twenty five crushing minutes, the band show they have honed their potent blend of crust, powerviolence, grind and sludge to deadly perfection. There is a new found clarity and gut-churning heaviness to their bludgeoning onslaught. This has resulted in a marginally less raw and chaotic experience than before but still feels like burying your face in a bowl of razorblades while being kicked in the stomach.

“Rejected” and “Regicide” open the record in furious fashion like a warp-speed Iron Lung. Both tracks feature carefully deployed bursts of squealing feedback like a lead instrument, particularly powerful during the cacophonous climax of the latter. “Life Sentence” and “Blue Berry” find Friendship mixing in punishing, chug-heavy sludge riffs in amongst the high octane punk mayhem that bring an intoxicating air of hardcore brutality. The bands interest in the heavier and slower side of life is most evident in the monstrous “Corrupt”, a low tempo bruiser that bristles with Eyehategod/Noothgrush sludge attitude.

A re-recorded version of “Compton” from the band’s debut EP makes an appearance at the LPs mid-point. It is significantly burlier than its predecessor and encapsulates all that makes Friendship great in two minutes. Fret-mangling noise rock riffs lead to passages of exhilarating knuckle-dragging simplicity, a perfect balance of innovation and primal no-frills punk rock.

With “Hatred”, Friendship have delivered in style on the immense promise of their early work.

“Hatred” is available here

Band info: bandcamp

ALBUM REVIEW: Friendship - "I&II"

By: Charlie Butler

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 10/02/2017

Label: Sentient Ruin Laboratories

“I & II” is a devastating slab of high octane noise-riddled evil that makes most heavy bands sound weak and feeble in comparison.  The band’s brief outbursts of messy, feedback riddled punk mayhem are as exhilarating as they are terrifying.

“I & II”CS//DD//LP track listing:

1). Jerusalem

2). T.R.Ø.Y

3). Bill Evans

4). €ompton

5). Represent

6). Bottomless Pit

7). Abuse

8). SB

9). Hype

10). Slaughterhouse

11). Law

12). El Chapo

The Review:

Japan’s Friendship have delivered the nastiest listening experience of 2017 in the form of their “I & II” LP. This release brings together their first two self-released EPs to form one concentrated blast of aural terror. Incendiary opener “Jerusalem” packs more carnage into thirty three seconds than most bands manage in a whole album. It’s a punishing onslaught of frantic, ugly grindcore that sets the tone for horror to come.

Friendship take the sludge-coated powerviolence of Iron Lung and Weekend Nachos and ramp up the intensity and aggression way into the red and beyond. The band’s brief outbursts of messy, feedback riddled punk mayhem are as exhilarating as they are terrifying but they are at their most effective when they explore the extremes of the tempo spectrum within the space of a single track.

“T.R.Ø.Y” begins at a snail’s pace as the bass and drums carve out a torturous minimal riff that creates an air of bleak foreboding. This makes the eruption of furious crust that follows all the more potent. There are hints of off-kilter noise rock weirdness in amongst the wreckage too, best exemplified by the insane opening riff to “€ompton”. Somehow Friendship manage to take this construction of pummelling chords, bizarre string bends and ringing discord and make it the basis of a straight ahead grind assault. As the track progresses it slows and degenerates into a pit of barely-mobile doom torment reminiscent of Primitive Man at their most oppressive.

“I & II” is a devastating slab of high octane noise-riddled evil that makes most heavy bands sound weak and feeble in comparison.  If these two EP’s are a hint of Friendship’s fearsome power I suggest taking cover now in preparation for a full-length offering.      

“I & II” is available here

ALBUM REVIEW: The Drip - "The Haunting Fear of Inevitability"

By: Charlie Butler

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 13/01/2017

Label: Relapse Records

Over the course of a breathless half an hour they tear through thirteen cuts of crusty death metal infused grindcore. A healthy dose of melody cuts through the violence that brings to mind a cross between Nasum and At The Gates.  “The Haunting Fear of Inevitability” is an enjoyable shot of breakneck, bile-soaked rage that marks The Drip as a band to watch.

“The Haunting Fear of Inevitability” CD//DD//LP

1. Blackest Evocation
2. Anathema
3. Gruesome Poetics
4. Dead Inside
5. Covered In Red
6. Terror War Industry
7. Painted Ram
8. Wretches
9. In Atrophy
10. The Answer
11. Exile
12. Consigned to Fate
13. Bone Chapel

The Review:

Washington quintet The Drip certainly don’t mess around on their furious debut “The Haunting Fear of Inevitability”.

Over the course of a breathless half an hour they tear through thirteen cuts of crusty death metal infused grindcore. A healthy dose of melody cuts through the violence that brings to mind a cross between Nasum and At The Gates. The band aren’t averse to slowing things down either and add some meaty sludgy riffs into the mix to powerful effect and even drag their heels to a doomy crawl during the epic climax of “Wretches”.

The Drip are at their most effective when they  blaze through a variety of styles and tempos during the space of a single track as demonstrated on explosive curtain raiser “Blackest Evocation” or emerge from a blur of speed into a killer riff such as the crunching send-off of “In Atrophy”.  The stand out moments of the record hit hard but there are times when the band’s onslaught lacks that killer instinct and passes by without leaving a lasting impression. However, as a short-term adrenaline rush it can’t be faulted.

“The Haunting Fear of Inevitability” is an enjoyable shot of breakneck, bile-soaked rage that marks The Drip as a band to watch. Once they have honed their attack to perfection they could be a force to be reckoned with.

“The Haunting Fear of Inevitability” is available here

Band info: facebook || bandcamp

ALBUM REVIEW: Weekend Nachos - "Apology"

By: Charlie Butler

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 20/05/2016

Label: Full Length

The passage of time has done nothing to calm Weekend Nachos. There may be moments where they explore more melodic avenues but for the most part “Apology” is a shot of high-octane, feedback-riddled rage. The band’s unique blend of hardcore and powerviolence with a weakness for punishing sludge riffs is as potent as ever. “Apology” is a fine swansong for Weekend Nachos. It provides an effective reminder of the band’s devastating power while offering a tantalising glimpse of what might have been.

“Apology” CD//DD//LP track listing:

1). 2015

2). Dust

3). Fake Political Song

4). All

5). Judged

6). Dog Shit Slave

7). Writhe

8). N.A.R.C

9). POW MIA

10). World Genocide

11). Eulogy

12). Night Plans

13). Apology

The Review:

“Apology” is a bitter-sweet release from Weekend Nachos. The Illinois quartet have decided to call it a day after twelve years of fury but not before releasing this bile-soaked missive.

The passage of time has done nothing to calm Weekend Nachos. There may be moments where they explore more melodic avenues but for the most part “Apology” is a shot of high-octane, feedback-riddled rage. The band’s unique blend of hardcore and powerviolence with a weakness for punishing sludge riffs is as potent as ever. Dylan Walker from Full of Hell, shows up to add his bark to the breakneck “Dust”. Elsewhere the band vent their anger at the state of the world and poisonous friendships.

Most surprising is the epic ten minute title track. A sprawling, snail-paced instrumental reminiscent of label-mates Primitive Man’s more subdued moments, it sits crushing doom riffs either side of an unexpected sparse piano centrepiece. This central section evokes a haunting menace that makes the thunderous finale all the more effective when the full band rumble back into play. The track provides an appropriately grand finale for 

“Apology” but also shows that the band were still a strong creative force. It’s a shame this is the end of the road as it would’ve been interesting to see them go further down this path and integrate these more exploratory sounds with their usual primal attack.

“Apology” is a fine swansong for Weekend Nachos. It provides an effective reminder of the band’s devastating power while offering a tantalising glimpse of what might have been.

“Apology” is available here

Band info: bandcamp || facebook

RIYL: Nails, Trap Them, Dead in the Dirt, Napalm Death

Nails - "You Will Never Be One Of Us" (Album Review)

By: TJ Kliebhan

Album Type: Full Length
Date Released: 17/06/2016
Label: Nuclear Blast

“You Will Never Be One of Us” is as grim and dark a record as they come, and whilst they offer only one shade of black, they happen to do this shade incredibly well. For the brief instances they choose to experiment, they do so in a very meaningful and effective way; however it seems they would rather just flat out punish every living thing in existence.  This record’s power can physically obliterate the weak while exhausting all mental reserves of strength. Such exhaustion at the end of a record is now their certified trademark.

“You Will Never Be One of Us” CD//DD//LP track listing:

1. You Will Never Be One Of Us (1:29)

2. Friend To All (0:45)

3. Made To Make You Fail (0:55)

4. Life Is A Death Sentence (1:39)

5. Violence Is Forever (3:26)

6. Savage Intolerance (1:46)

7. In Pain (1:01)

8. Parasite (0:55)

9. Into Quietus (1:33)

10. They Come Crawling Back (8:14)

The Review:

If Nails has been anything over their career it is stubborn. The Californian trio is totally uncompromising in their swirling maelstrom of grindcore catharsis and the band are faced with expectations at this point in their career. What the band lack in innovating surprises, they make up for in unrivaled raw power. Nails want to kick your teeth in, and despite their records never eclipsing the 22 minute mark, Nails are relatively methodical when it comes to studio output. This is their first record since 2013’s “Abandon All Life”, a punishing record that was critically well received and garnered the band a loyal domestic following. Three years later, the band have finally made their follow up and debut on Nuclear Blast Records with “You Will Never Be One of Us”, a ferocious addition to the Nails canon that stands out as their best release to date.

Lead vocalist and guitarist Todd Jones has crafted some heavy sludge riffs that pulsate over the noise and double bass that smothers most of this record. Tracks like “Life is a Death Sentence” and the epic eight minute closer “They Come Crawling Back” (a third of the album’s running time and in part a cover version of the band Dead Black) showcases versatile enjoyable riffs that have been contorted into vehicles of pure aggression and punishment. Tracks like these do well to break up the frantic pace of “You Will Never Be One of Us” that often tries to blow the listener away with speed and precise moments of screeching guitar. Many tracks such as the eponymous lead single and the spitfire “In Pain” display what Nails feel most comfortable doing. This band is better than anyone at creating minute and a half songs of pure terror and anguish due to Jones’ gruff vocals and the band’s disorienting waves of distortion and unrelenting breakneck pace. Jones’ lyrics which often harbor ideas of loneliness, inner turmoil, and nihilism give these tracks an extra punch of bleak unchanneled frustration.

“You Will Never Be One of Us” is as grim and dark a record as they come, and whilst they offer only one shade of black, they happen to do this shade incredibly well.  During the brief excursions Nails choose to experiment, they do so in a very meaningful and effective way, which is testament to their inclusion of Dead Black in the outro of album closer.  The slower sludge metal riffs on the record demonstrate that Nails are capable of melody and enchanting rhythm too, but this record is mostly about one thing, to flat out punish every living thing in existence.

Suffering for this trio, appears to be an inevitable part of life that their newest record embodies in so many different ways. This record’s power can physically obliterate the weak while exhausting all mental reserves of strength. Such exhaustion at the end of a record is now the certified trademark of Nails.

“You Will Never Be One Of Us” is available now

Band info:  official || facebook