ALBUM REVIEW: Marriage + Cancer - "Marriage + Cancer"

By: Charlie Butler

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 09/02/2018

Label:  Self Sabotage Records

Jagged shards of searing guitar coupled with pleasantly deranged vocals, makes for an album full of obnoxious noise and simmering potential.

“Marriage + Cancer” DD//LP track listing:

01. Command + Comply

02. God is Tan

03. Honor, On Our Knees

04. Headache

05. Six Feet + a Box

06. Flora + Fauna

07. Gound

08. Thirteen Stairs

09. View From a Cross

The Review:

Right from the opening seconds of Marriage + Cancer’s debut LP it seems that the band are no strangers to the Jesus Lizard’s back catalogue. While the Portland quartet may not be breaking any musical boundaries their distinct take on the noise rock giants of the past is a compelling racket.

“Command And Comply” begins with the bands rock-solid rhythm section laying down the kind of insistent rumble that invites carnage to follow. Jagged shards of searing guitar soon join the fray along with pleasantly deranged vocals riddled with an off-kilter queasiness. Marriage + Cancer’s sound is classic noise rock infused with the breathless post-hardcore of Drive Like Jehu but delivered in a sludgy, nasty style all of their own. “Headache” finds the band at their heaviest and most pummelling while “Gound” is like a twisted fusion of Hot Snakes and Sonic Youth.

The highlight of the album comes when Marriage + Cancer move away from driving punk rock territory and explore slower tempos. “God Is Tan” begins as a sickly, drunken lurch that steadily builds in spite and intensity into a furious cacophony of serrated guitar squall. The second half of album closer “View from a Cross” also benefits from a similar shift in volume and dynamics when it drops down to taut, spacious chords before launching into a raging climax. These passages of brooding menace heighten the impact of the glorious mayhem that surrounds them and it would be interesting to see the band develop this aspect of their sound on future releases.

Marriage + Cancer’s self-titled debut captures the raw power of a band in its formative stages, full of obnoxious noise and simmering potential.  

“Marriage + Cancer” is available here

Band info: bandcamp || facebook

11 IS ONE LOUDER: Chad Widner of Georgia’s heavy noise trio Iron Whip picks his Top 5 noise rock records

Georgia’s heavy noise trio Iron Whip, deal in the kind of caustic disturbance that fans of Helmet, KEN mode and Melvins will lap up, their new EP “Absence of White” was released on October 21 2016 to raved reviews, taking elements of noise rock, heavy metal, sludge and hard rock Iron Whip blend these elements into a unified yet scathing riff offensive.  Abrasive, heavy, and noisy, today we’ve invited Iron Whip to talk us through their Top 5 noise rock records.

So prepare to worship at the altar of the riff, as we take our weekly trip into the extreme and turn the volume all the way up to 11, because 11 is one louder.   

Melvins – “Stoner Witch”

I'd been into Melvins for awhile at this point. “Houdini” and “Gooey Porch Treatments” had blown my mind. I saw them for the first time opening for Gwar. They were getting booed and they turned their backs to everyone while holding one note for the rest of their set. Everyone were throwing shit and yelling at them. I couldn't stop smiling. I bought “Stoner Witch” after that show. It's perfect to me. There is no better band in my book.

Helmet – “Meantime”

I'd never heard a drummer hit so hard. Never heard a rhythm section so tight. The guitars were so percussive and pummelling. This record changed the way I listen to music.

 

 



Jesus Lizard – “Goat”

 

The best middle finger ever given to music. My favorite non singing singer to ever grace a mic. Proof there is an audience for everyone.

 

 

Unsane- “Visqueen”

I think this is their best recording. This album cover inspired the body scene in our video "Kicking a hornet’s nest". Always admired Chris Spencer. His vision for what he wants the band to be, look like, and sound like has always suited them perfectly to me. 

 

Barkmarket – “L Ron” 

Unfortunately I never got to see them live. The tone on this record is so good. Mean bass and drums with guitar and vocals sitting perfectly in the mix. A band with a sound all their own is really unique. If you've never heard them and want something heavy and different I highly recommend it. I've probably listened to this album the most on this list. Fuck your favorite band, this is better.

Band info: bandcamp || facebook



Lower Automation - "Maps" EP (Review)

By: Charlie Butler

Album Type: EP
Date Released: 01/04/2016
Label: Independent

“Ring” kicks off with the sound of the Jesus Lizard being attacked by a malfunctioning robot. The middle section of “Decorated” sees the band crunch slowly to the edge of the abyss, as screeching psychedelic guitars wail into the ether, bringing to mind Cave In at their cosmic peak. “Scissor Lapses” ends the EP in style, a killer track that devolves into 3 minutes of searing, pedal abuse that leaves you wanting to listen to the whole thing again before the ringing in your ears dies down.

“Maps” CD//DD track listing

1).Ring

2). Decorated

3). Break Room Curators

4). The Cartographer

5). Scissor Lapses

The Review:

The promise of new music from At The Drive In in 2016 has been met with feverish anticipation. Should the studio return of the El Paso-based post-hardcore heavyweights result in crushing disappointment, fans can console themselves with the new EP from Chicago’s Lower Automation.

“Maps” marks the trio’s debut, with just over fifteen minutes of exhilarating punk-rock mayhem. The band take the angular guitars, impassioned vocals and melodic flourishes of “Relationship of Command” and crank them up to breakneck speed. This is no slavish tribute though, Lower Automation inject plenty of their own character into the mix as well as drawing on other influences to keep things interesting.

“Ring” kicks off with the sound of the Jesus Lizard being attacked by a malfunctioning robot before the band settle into their familiar rhythm. The middle section of “Decorated” sees the band crunch slowly to the edge of the abyss, as screeching psychedelic guitars wail into the ether, bringing to mind Cave In at their cosmic peak. “Scissor Lapses” ends the EP in style, a killer track that devolves into 3 minutes of searing, pedal abuse that leaves you wanting to listen to the whole thing again before the ringing in your ears dies down.

“Maps” is an addictive blast of joyous noise that doesn’t put a foot wrong during its short duration.  There are enough hints here that Lower Automation has plenty of ideas up their sleeve to explore when they come to making a full-length too.

“Maps” is available here

Band info: bandcamp || facebook

Lords of Bastard - 'I'm Fun' EP (Review)

By: Chris Bull

Album Type: 10” EP

Date Released: 16/06/2015

Label: Bang Mountain Records

We get some thick, bass heavy fuzzy grooves to kick things off on 'Feel The Whoosh'. It's definitely an act of Sabbath worship but the buck certainly doesn't stop there.  A brilliant EP from this Edinburgh (Deadinburgh) based band, maybe a little too out there for me personally but I'll be sure to recommend them to friends.

‘I’m Fun’ DD//10”Vinyl track listing:

1.Feel The Whoosh (04:18)

2.Enter The Woo-Tang (06:23)

3.The Old "Reflection In The Bathroom Mirror" Trick (Y2K Remix) (04:07)

4.Fucking Hell (Twirly Mix) (03:04)

The Review:

I'll admit to not knowing about Lords of Bastard before hearing this. I'd heard the name but never actually listened to the band. I was pleasantly surprised by the 4 songs on 'I'm Fun'.

We get some thick, bass heavy fuzzy grooves to kick things off on 'Feel The Whoosh'. It's definitely an act of Sabbath worship but the buck certainly doesn't stop there. There is slight time signature changes to keep it from becoming too run of the mill. An organ solo plays out the last of the main riff before a final blast of a 70's freak out. 'Enter The Woo-Tang' is a brilliant song title and has plenty more moments of jazzy/prog rhythm shifts and guitar noodlings. The vocalist may not be the best singer on the planet but his voice carries the songs and reminds me a little of Bruce Lamont of Yakuza. '

The Old "Reflection In The Bathroom Mirror Trick" (Y2K remix)' is up next, another great title and another great song, it goes from smooth jazz intro straight to stoner groove and onward to some Witchfinder General esque NWOBHM and a short black metal flourish before settling back in to the stoner groove again. The organ twiddling away in the mix definitely has my attention. 'Fucking Hell (The Twirly Mix)' is the final song and is the most out there of all the songs. I physically cannot put this song into coherent words; you'll just have to take my word for it!

A brilliant EP from this Edinburgh (Deadinburgh) based band, maybe a little too out there for me personally but I'll be sure to recommend them to friends.

‘I’m Fun’ is available here

FFO: Melvins, The Jesus Lizard,

Band info: Facebook | Band Camp