Magrudergrind - "II" (Album Review)

By: Mike Wilcox

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 12/02/2016

Label: Relapse Records

Now operating out of Brooklyn NY the newly revamped Magrudergrind release “ii” with every bit of intensity that their cult following had dreamed of. Yes the songs are short and painfully sweet. Yes the vocal work is scream-shouted relentlessly. There is still a very large grind element to the music. The first four tracks come across aggressive and violent and the listener is geared up to hit the ground running. As “Relentless Hatred” belts out and goes into “Sacrificial Hire” the style change is more evident. With a focus on the heavy riffs giving foundation for the blazing rhythm/vocal attacks that follow, the listener is able to fall into the groove, even if only for a second, and is then brashly escorted into chaos, a maelstrom of drums, guitar and everything in between.

“II” CD//DD//LP track listing:

01. Imperium In Imperio
02. Divine Dictation
03. The Opportunist
04. Relentless Hatred
05. Sacrificial Hire
06. War For Resources
07. Black Banner
08. Hara-Kiri
09. Stale Affairs
10. Regressive Agenda
11. Incarceration State
12. Unit 731
13. Icaro
14. Husayni / Handschar
15. Pharmacide

The Review:

Magrudergrind – “II” "Expect the unexpected.” Words from Shane Embury on the upcoming Imperial Death March tour with the Melvins and Melt-Banana. I had reflected on these words when I first listened to Magrudergrind’s newest release on the heels of a six year hiatus and line up change. Now operating out of Brooklyn NY the newly revamped Magrudergrind release “II” with every bit of intensity that their cult following had dreamed of.

Kurt Ballou and GodCity Studio certainly had a hand in this (…”Ballou has done it again…” as I read elsewhere), but the true craft and shine of “II” comes from the meticulous intensity of its members. The notable difference in “II” and previous Magrudergrind recordings is that there is no longer the use of samples in the music. In fact, it’s much more of a “Bridge Burner” (Magrudergrind – “self titled”) feel overall. Yes the songs are short and painfully sweet. Yes the vocal work is scream-shouted relentlessly. There is still a very large grind element to the music. The first four tracks come across aggressive and violent and the listener is geared up to hit the ground running. As “Relentless Hatred” belts out and goes into “Sacrificial Hire” the style change is more evident. With a focus on the heavy riffs giving foundation for the blazing rhythm/vocal attacks that follow, the listener is able to fall into the groove, even if only for a second, and is then brashly escorted into chaos, a maelstrom of drums, guitar and everything in between.

The album isn’t about the fast songs in my opinion. With tracks like “Black Banner” and “Unit 731” intermittently throughout “II” the emphasis seems to be much more with the slow groove that is being spread among the faster acts. As I had touched on previously, Pig Destroyer gave us “Mass and Volume”, Agoraphobic Nosebleed is in the heat of a multi EP series featuring a focus on each member, and now Magrudergrind “slow down” with “II”. Slow isn’t the right way to characterize it, however. Structured. Intense. Deliberate. Everything that you hear was put there on purpose.

Magrudergrind’s” II” is an impeccable album in that regard. Time changes everything. Six years has given change to Magrudergrind. Typical to the polarization that comes with a band’s stylistic change, Magrudergrind’s revamped sound is not for everyone. Of course you’ll find purists wherever you go but there really is enjoyment for any fan in “II”. With the rebirth of a band comes tentative new territory, undiscovered styles and dynamics, a newly realized space for even more growth. Magrudergrind is back up and running and despite adopting some slower rhythms, they show absolutely no signs of slowing down.

“II” is available here

Band info: bandcamp || facebook

Seven Sisters of Sleep - "Ezekiel's Hags" (Album Review)

By: TJ Kliebhan

Album Type: Full-Length

Date Released: 05/02/2016

Label: Relapse Records

 “Ezekiel’s Hags” contains a vile amalgamation of death metal, sludge metal, and doom metal influences to create abrasive and noisy instrumentals.  The transitions between styles very much feel carefully crafted and meticulously created and the band constantly keeps your attention as the next phases of songs unfold, creating a record that is grotesque and pummeling. 

“Ezekiel’s Hag” CD//DD//LP track listing:

1). Jones

2). Denounce

3). Gutter

4). Plateau

5). Brother’s River

6). Prey

7). Third Season

8). Sacred Prostitute

9). Ud-Nun

10). War Master

11). Bastard Son (Bonus Track)

The Review:

“Ezekiel’s Hags” is the third record from Seven Sisters of Sleep and their first on legendary metal label Relapse Records. The band promised to be heavier and gnarlier than ever before and on that aspect the record definitely delivers. “Ezekiel’s Hags” contains a vile amalgamation of death metal, sludge metal, and doom metal influences to create abrasive and noisy instrumentals. Seven Sisters of Sleep are very much a multi-faceted band and most of these songs transition between slower doom, heavy sludge, and frenetic death metal paces which give the record a generous amount of diversity. “Ezekiel’s Hags” is not always moving at a breakneck pace but the record can be an exhausting experience because it exercises so many different ideas at once. The transitions between styles very much feel carefully crafted and meticulously created and the band constantly keeps your  attention as the next phases of songs unfold. Seven Sisters of Sleep very much did create a record that is overly grotesque and pummeling, but it is not without showing off some catchy sludge riffs as well. Tracks like “War Master” and “Denounce” feature some well written and pleasurable riffs which offer brief moments of relief amongst all the catharsis.

The most unrelenting and harsh portions of this record come from the vocal performance of Tim McClary. McClary offers a harrowing performance on this album. His vocal inflections are numerous, yet always carry a large amount of weight and exasperation in their delivery. There is a real sense of rage and torture behind his groans and shrieks that give the record an overwhelming feeling of despair and hopelessness. “Ezekiel’s Hags” becomes the nightmare it sets out to be in large part due to McClary’s brilliant and harsh vocals.

“Ezekiel’s Hags” does suffer from a bit of a lack of identity. The different styles and paces are well balanced, but occasionally that works against the record. Tracks such as “Prey” has a great sludge riff, but the band insists on speeding up the tempo only to slow it down again seemingly just to conform to their own identity. It makes Seven Sisters of Sleep harder to classify which can be a good thing, but at times less enjoyable as well. The tempo change goes straight into high gear when something slower would have felt a bit more cohesive and less predictable. By the end of the record the formula Seven Sisters of Sleep have put together is more exposed, but that hardly means that the formula is not effective. Big riffs and speed serve their purpose to create a tense, cramped, and hectic atmosphere. The familiarity of the song structures just remove a bit of the venom this record initially bites with.  

“Ezekiels Hags” is available here

Band info: bandcamp || facebook

Conny Ochs - "Future Fables" (Album Review)

By: Victor Van Ommen

Album Type: Full-Length

Date Released: 26/02/2016

Label: Exile On Mainstream

This record has the potential to speak to many of us heavy rock fans despite its level of sentiment and sparse use of instrumentation. There’s passion and well-placed emotion that resonates through these songs. They’re deliciously fragile because of it. If that’s your thing; if you can appreciate singers baring their soul with nothing more than an acoustic guitar as accompaniment, then this one’s for you.

“Future Fables” CD//DD//LP track listing:

1. Hole

2. Piece Of Heaven

3. Killer

4. Spin

5. Wake Up

6. Empire

7. Golden Future

8. Slide

9. No Easy Way

10. Fools

11. Strange Alchemy

12. Make Some Room

The Review:

On “Future Fables,” we have Conny Ochs and his guitar taking a seat next to us on the couch. That’s how close and personal these twelve tracks feel. He has the capability to hush the crowd and demand attention without needing to stomp on a distortion pedal or rip his vocal chords to ribbons. 

There’s nothing psychedelic here and if it’s heavy you’re looking for then you’ll find it in the mood and not the tones. “Piece of Heaven” plays out to a familiar song structure – interchangeable verses and choruses – and uses a full band to do this. “Fools” does the opposite by employing its verses to set the stage for the chorus, and does this successfully with just two guitars and powerful vocals. Ochs’ best qualities come out in “Killer,” a song with finger snapping, light drumming and a bluesy walk around the guitar. Though the song threatens to break out in the chorus, it never does and that’s one of its strengths. “Spin” uses beautiful vocal harmonies to call the listener to “put your hard rock music on,” which hints at Ochs’ underlying influence.

Despite his hard rock soul, these are gentle songs that are soft to the touch and therefore inviting. It’s only once the listener allows himself to be enveloped by Ochs’ voice, lyrics, and overall presence that the melancholy rises to the surface. This puts Ochs firmly into the category “singer-songwriter” but he’s able to stray from the drek that the mainstream pushes our way and thus avoids sounding like a limp dick resting up against your ear. Instead, Ochs flexes his muscles by using his acoustic guitar to tame the beast that is an emotionally wrought songwriter.

This record has the potential to speak to many of us heavy rock fans despite its level of sentiment and sparse use of instrumentation. There’s passion and well-placed emotion that resonates through these songs. They’re deliciously fragile because of it. If that’s your thing; if you can appreciate singers baring their soul with nothing more than an acoustic guitar as accompaniment, then this one’s for you.

“Future Fables” is available here

Band info: facebook || bandcamp

Rebel Wizard - ‘Invocation of the Miserable Ones' EP (Review)

By: Daniel Jackson

Album Type: EP

Date Released: 11/12/2015

Label: Independent

If you can handle the programmed drums, you’re in for 17 minutes of truly fantastic music. The riffs here are remarkable.  Lead off instrumental “Too Late” is mid tempo heavy metal bliss, perfectly striking a balance between 80s Judas Priest with European-style melody a sound that returns for “On the Unknown Self They Ride”. Elsewhere, we’re treated to a muscular speed metal/power metal hybrid on “A Place to Rest the Dead Inside is Never to Be Found”, complete with locomotive double kick.  The quality here is best of the year list-worthy, if given the kind of production this music truly deserves.

‘Invocation of the Miserable Ones’ DD track listing:

1. Too Late

2. A Place to Rest the Dead Inside is Never to Be Found

3. On the Unknown Self They Ride

4. Invocation of the Miserable Ones

The Review:

This review, much like this EP, will be quick and to the point.

Rebel Wizard’s a one-man operation, and it sounds like it. I don’t mean that in a negative context, either. What I mean is that outside of a handful of exceptions, you’re not going to find too many solitary metal projects that sound like full-fledged bands. The vast majority of musicians aren’t going to be able to play drums, bass, guitar and do vocals all at a high level in a studio setting. So, some concessions end up getting made, and you work with what you can, because there either aren’t suitable band mates in your area, or you just don’t fucking like other people. Whichever the personal case may be when talking about NKSV and Rebel Wizard, the one big concession at work here is drums and drum programming. If you’re able to deal with some pretty barebones, obviously programmed drums, you’re going to love the hell out of this album. If not, it’s going to be a tough sell.

If you can handle the programmed drums, you’re in for 17 minutes of truly fantastic music. The riffs here are remarkable. Lead off instrumental “Too Late” is mid tempo heavy metal bliss, perfectly striking a balance between 80s Judas Priest with European-style melody a sound that returns for “On the Unknown Self They Ride”. Elsewhere, we’re treated to a muscular speed metal/power metal hybrid on “A Place to Rest the Dead Inside is Never to Be Found”, complete with locomotive double kick. The vocals are done in a black metal style with added distortion layer on top for added filth, which gives the EP a sense of old Witchery by way of Anaal Nathrakh.

The larger point is that these are riffs that deserve better than to be discounted because of their sonic surroundings. I would urge you strongly to do your best to accept or look past the mechanical sound of the drums, because these songs are absolutely worth the effort. The quality here is best of the year list-worthy, if given the kind of production this music truly deserves. Still, I understand the circumstances that lead to this kind of recording quality, and it’s usually out of necessity rather than lack of effort.

‘Invocation of the Miserable Ones’ is available here

Band info: Facebook

Bloodiest - "Bloodiest" (Album Review)

By: Charlie Butler

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 15/01/2016

Label: Relapse Records

“Mesmerize” sets the tone for events to come. The band launch straight into a rumbling, menacing riff, like Tool jamming with The Jesus Lizard while Shellac look on approvingly. This track exemplifies what Bloodiest do so well on this LP; relentless repetition of a phrase, letting it slowly transform while building towards a furious climax. They manage to do this in a fluid, hypnotic fashion, avoiding the pitfalls of obvious quiet/loud dynamics.  There is a lot of great, heavy music around today, but it’s rare to hear something as fresh and compelling as this LP. Bloodiest have crafted an incredible piece of work here, challenging without being difficult and crushing without always resorting to amplification-overload.

“Bloodiest” CD//DD//LP track listing:

1). Mesmerize

2). The Widow

3). Condition

4). Broken Teeth

5). Mind Overlaps

6). He Is Disease

7). Separation

8). Suffer

The Review:

“Supergroups” inspire high expectations. In the case of Bloodiest’s new self-titled LP these preconceptions are met and then some. The Chicago band features current and former members of a diverse array of awesome acts such as Yakuza, Russian Circles, Minsk and 90 Day Men. As well as sounding like a perfectly proportioned mix of these other projects, the brilliance of this album eclipses all their previous work.

The record begins with the aptly titled “Mesmerize”, setting the tone for events to come. The band launch straight into a rumbling, menacing riff, like Tool jamming with The Jesus Lizard while Shellac look on approvingly. This track exemplifies what Bloodiest do so well on this LP; relentless repetition of a phrase, letting it slowly transform while building towards a furious climax. They manage to do this in a fluid, hypnotic fashion, avoiding the pitfalls of obvious quiet/loud dynamics.

Tracks like “Broken Teeth” and “He Is Disease” hit a perfect middle ground between weighty, metal attack and jagged, noise-rock angularity. The latter is the heaviest number here, melding huge Melvins riffs to the widescreen ambition of Swans with restless math-rock touches creeping in as time progresses.

The highlight of the album comes when Bloodiest venture furthest from the realms of metal. “The Widow” begins with a minimal bass and drums throb, soon joined by eerie acoustic guitar and piano. The track then slowly unfurls over its 8-minute duration as an epic, brooding slow-burn. Bruce Lamont’s vocals are strong throughout the album but they really come into their own here, his half-spoken croon, heightening the drama. The overall effect is like Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds taking on the gothic darkness of Oxbow’s “Serenade in Red”.

There is a lot of great, heavy music around today, but it’s rare to hear something as fresh and compelling as this LP. Bloodiest have crafted an incredible piece of work here, challenging without being difficult and crushing without always resorting to amplification-overload.

“Bloodiest” is available here

Band info: bandcamp || facebook

Entombed A.D. - "Dead Dawn" (Album Review)

By: Richard Maw

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 26/02/2016

Label: Century Media

“Dead Dawn”, I am pleased to report, rocks harder than the first record. “Midas In Reverse” sees LG Petrov on fine form and the band thrashing away- what a relief! The title track mixes pummelling double bass drums with doomy sections as well as triplet time feel- excellent. There are acoustic intros here, a gnarly guitar sound, live sounding drums and the likes of “Total Death” are short sharp shocks compared to more downbeat material like “As The World Fell”.  There is a heavier vibe and sound to this album than the last release and the band should be commended for building and moving forwards. Of course, if you enjoy Entombed in any or all its forms, this album is a must.

“Dead Dawn” CD//DD//LP track listing:

01. Midas In Reverse (03:55)

02. Dead Dawn (04:07)

03. Down To Mars To Ride (04:50)

04. As The World Fell (05:30)

05. Total Death (02:28)

06. The Winner Has Lost (03:53)

07. Silent Assassin (03:55)

08. Hubris Fall (04:49)

09. Black Survival (03:07)

10. Not What It Seems (03:40)

The Review:

Entombed AD, the continuation/alternative/new version/totally different band-take your pick- of Entombed, return with this sophomore effort. Their debut, whilst good, did not rock quite as hard as I would have liked (that is to say, much harder than “Same Difference” but a country mile away from “Wolverine Blues” and not even on the same continent as “Left Hand Path”).

“Dead Dawn”, I am pleased to report, rocks harder than the first record. “Midas In Reverse” sees LG Petrov on fine form and the band thrashing away- what a relief! The title track mixes pummelling double bass drums with doomy sections as well as triplet time feel- excellent. There are acoustic intros here, a gnarly guitar sound, live sounding drums and the likes of “Total Death” are short sharp shocks compared to more downbeat material like “As The World Fell”. The rolling tanks sound of the mid 90's returns on “The Winner Has Lost” (good lead work too) and it is a reminder that Entombed really did carve their own niche. Sure, contemporaries Dismember and Grave may have rounded out an unholy trinity at the start of all their careers, but in developing the death 'n' roll sound, Entombed moved forwards in a way that other bands did not.

There is more mid tempo stuff and doom style riffage than you might expect as the album progresses- how much you enjoy this may be informed by exactly what you are expecting and what “your” Entombed happens to be. The likes of “Black Survival” put the pedal to the metal, though, and for me it is on this type of material that the band shine brightest. By the time “Not What It Seems” opens up with piano and acoustic guitar, you should be convinced that the band is on form and operating at full whack. Certainly, I prefer this album to “Back to the Front” but I don't rate it as highly as the early 90's classics. There is a heavier vibe and sound to this album than the last release and the band should be commended for building and moving forwards. Of course, if you enjoy Entombed in any or all its forms, this album is a must.

“Dead Dawn” is available now

Band info: facebook

Albinö Rhino - "Uphold The Light: Part II" (Review)

By: Victor Van Ommen

Album Type: Single

Date Released: 09/02/2016

Label: Independent

“Uphold The Light: Part II” DD track listing:

1). Uphold The Light: Part II (20:47)

The Review:

Helsinki trio Albinö Rhino plays a fluid form of heavy psych exploration on their new single “Uphold the Light Part II.” Part I was the 14 minute closer of their 2014 self-titled sophomore outing and rumor has it that Part III will make the scene later this year as the B-Side to Part II.

Albinö Rhino’s sound is wide and colorful like the vast expanse of the ocean on a hot summer day yet strangely fitting for late night smoke outs in the dead of winter. Part II takes off from Part I, and calms the mood down a little by carving out a niche somewhere between the monotony of Death Hawks and the grittiness of Colour Haze. A driving bass line and repetitive drumming is what pulls this song through its twenty minutes, allowing the guitars to lightly jump and skip around this rhythmic foundation. For those looking for a jam to get lost in, be sure to check this mind-bender out.

Their Bandcamp page hosts part I, Part II is out now, and we’ll just have to wait patiently for Part III.

“Uphold The Light: Part II” is available here

Band info: bandcamp || facebook

Primitive Man/Northless - "Primitive Man/Northless" Split LP (Review)

By: Hunter Young

Album Type: Split LP

Date Released: 04/03/2016

Label: Halo of Flies

Dirty like water from a flophouse drain. Like your sludge blackened and charred? Here you go guy. Revel in this muck. Choke on its abrasive grit, and let it close about you head. Let it absorb you.

“Primitive Man/Northless” DD//LP track listing:

1). Primitive Man – “Empty Husk”

2). Northless – “Deleted Heaetstrings”

3). Northless – “The 10,000 Year Wound”

4). Northless – “Wasted Breathe”

The Review

From the moment you hit play, you are now in their territory and Primitive Man opens with the thudding “Empty Husk”, running at 15 minutes, it could be a 7" by itself. It drags an axe behind it, slowly, inexorably chasing you to the ground, as you hear and see the sparks from the concrete shower from the weapon they wield. Bands of this caliber usually thunder, or bludgeon the listener, but PM simply brings a rasp and some time, to wear away, patiently, the walls of your mind. They have one of the most hideously discordant sounds I am aware of, but it just rolls so naturally, like a blanket made of distortion, all the while bloody clowns beat you with the drums. Vocally, it’s just a tormented soul wailing with a throat filled with viscous liquid, telling you everything you've ever done wrong. They have crafted one of the bleakest standalone tracks ever, and it's both wondrous and frightening as to how good it feels....

In more logical words, they play with zero upbeat energy. It is completely scathing, a bleak opus to the missing part inside us all. The guitar tones alone have no give, they simply pull tight as steel cable around your lungs, and pull taught, while the rhythmic portion simply crashes into you, just as hard as if you were standing right in front of the kit. They play very physically on this track, and let their vocalist, for this could never be in the same hemisphere as actual singing, simply put a torch to your expectations. It's literally the same hopeless feeling that you have when you see something crashing at you, unstoppable, and unrelenting. It's a truly crushing track.

Northless give none at all, after the crawl through barbed wire that PM give you, with 3 tracks coming at you faster and just as heavy. A much angrier sound, instead of a forlorn howl, Northless unleash a very punked up sludge sound, with a clearer delivery musically. They simply come at you with a hammer, and a metric ton of energy, giving you a long and deep earful of pure, spiteful aggression. They have that lovely crunch in a typically progressive sound, with tons of bends and chords. It's a delightfully constructive chaos to the ear. It's the jangle of a mob getting ready to break pretty much everything at hand, and getting really excited for it.

Northless are a bit like a slower, methodical Brutal Truth or Napalm Death, and I really like their attack in three parts, “Deleted Heartstrings”, “The 10,000 Year Wound”, and “Wasted Breath”. It comes at you fast, pounding as the uniform steps of a conquering army would; heavy, without pause, and simply heralding the end. Northless will grind you into dust and leave you to smoulder where you fall. 

This split has you choose between the abyss and the spears at your back, and you will love either death you choose first. 

 “Primitive Man/Northless” is available here

Band info: Primtive Man || Northless

Love Sex Machine - "Asexual Anger" (Album Review)

By: Chris Bull

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 04/03/2016

Label: Throatruiner |

Lost Pilgrims Records

The new album 'Asexual Anger' from French heavyweights Love Sex Machine is like a KGB torture programme. Each strum of the strings, each hit of the drums, each vocal has been meticulously thought out and methodically delivered to inflict maximum impact each time. Whatever information it is you have, you'd better confess!  This follow up to 2014's self titled debut, is a stark reminder that LSM are equipped with all the right tools to punish; your eardrums will be very pleased indeed.

“Asexual Anger” CD//DD//LP track listing:

1). Asexual Anger

2). Drone Syndrome

3). Black Mountain

4). Aujeszky

5). Devolution

6). Atrocity

7). Infernal Spiral

8). Silent Duck

The Review

The new album 'Asexual Anger' from French heavyweights Love Sex Machine is like a KGB torture programme. Each strum of the strings, each hit of the drums, each vocal has been meticulously thought out and methodically delivered to inflict maximum impact each time. Whatever information it is you have, you'd better confess!

From the slow and painful bamboo under the fingernails of the opening title track, it's clear that this band is not messing about. The sound is bass heavy and you can hear and feel each string being hammered. The slightly disjointed 'Drone Syndrome' and the slower, suffocating 'Black Mountain' follow up the barrage of torture. The brilliant 'Aujezsky' adds elements of post hardcore to the mix and reminds me a little of Hogslayer's 2015 effort in its riffing and solid drumming. By the end of the track you'll be feeling like a political dissident, starved of food and sunlight. 'Devolution' is where things get serious. Your captors are getting serious. The tools are out and you're about to experience some real pain.

'Atrocity' stabs and kicks with real menace and purpose, you'll be beginning to feel as though death may be your salvation...but your captors will not let you off that easy! Then final tracks 'Infernal Spiral' and 'Silent Duck' draw things to a crushing conclusion; the former, a final violent burst of reckless abandon and the latter the end result; you're no use to society now. You're off to spend your final days medicated to the eyeballs in one of the state's best asylums. You may have information on the government, but no one will believe you now.

“Asexual Anger” is available here

Band info: bandcamp || facebook