RIFF REWIND (08/06/2012): Generation Of Vipers - 'Howl And Filth'

Hailing from the Appalachian mountains of East Tennessee, GENERATION OF VIPERS are a band that has always operated outside the normal trappings of "extreme" or "heavy" music. Following the release of 2011's "Howl and Filth", which gained the band a sizable cult following, they their fourth opus and latest release “Coffin Wisdom” an honest and unique collection of songs that furthered the bands own legacy of creating boundary-pushing music that comes from a truly genuine and vulnerable place. Fans of bands such as Unsane, Thou, Yob and other forward thinking artists of that ilk will be pleasantly surprised. Josh Holt and Billy Graves also feature as members of Neurot Recording artists U.S. Christmas, A Storm of Light and Mustard Gas and Roses.

Today we’re rewinding back 5 years to the day, with our original review of a review of GENERATION OF VIPERS phenomenal debut “"Howl and Filth"”. So join us, as we continue on our quest to trawl through THE SLUDGELORD archives to present the best albums you may have missed.  So if you overlooked this band/album, be sure to remedy your error by checking out our review and the record is streaming in full below. 

By: Aaron Pickford

Album Type: Full Length

Release Date: 5/06/2012

Label: Translation Loss,

Red Witch Recordings

Howl and Filth is one of parasitism, a relationship that is mutually beneficial to one and destructive to the other, meaning that Generation of Vipers co-exist in a symbiotic relationship in which they are the parasite feeding on you, the listener (the host), causing you unspeakable harm in the process.

‘Howl & Filth’ CD//DD//LP track listing

1). Ritual (7:52)

2). Silent Shroud (6:32)

3). All Of This Is Mine (2:55)

4). Eternal (4:08)

5). Slow Burn (7:57)

6). The Misery Coil (9:09)

The Review:

So to start this review, a little history lesson for you.  Jesus, yes Jesus, used the expression "offspring (or generation) of vipers" in reference to the religious leaders of his day. Jesus was simply using this characteristic of a snake to help his listeners understand that they needed to use caution and discernment when preaching, since there were many enemies of the good news at that time.  Anyway, you may asking yourself, do I really care?  The reason I mention it, is because, before you start the record, I have to advise you, to use caution and your own judgement when you approach this record, and those people with a nervous disposition, stop reading now, because ‘Howl and Filth’ engenders a feeling of foreboding or dread within you, a feeling of impending evil or fearful expectation or anticipation.     

Let us be clear, the first time I listened to this album, I was in my car, on the motorway/highway, and I have to say I was blown away, gob smacked or godsmacked.  This record is some of the tightest, heaviest and most powerful metal you’re likely to hear this year.  Yes! I have probably said this before, however the main difference is the drumming.  It is a central feature and the foundation of the record, a watershed in heavy metal.  B.J. Graves on the drums is at the forefront of everything that is good on this album and that is a rare thing.  If there was a man of the match award for performances, he’d be the recipient.  He is a fuckin’ beast of a drummer. 

Kicking off the album with a passage of tribal drumming reminiscent to that of Neurosis and building to an ungodly crescendo, the tone and mood of the record is set from the very first minute of the record.  What we have is tons of atmosphere and spine chilling ambience, on top of heavyweight guitars, low end bass and guttural, menacing vocals.   The album envelops you with its holistic approach, emphasising an organic feel to the record and the functional relationship between the band members as individuals and their undoubted talents, but also meaning that when they come together, Generation of Vipers are a truly terrifying proposition.  ‘Howl and Filth’ emphasises the band’s interdependence, or symbiosis, meaning that when they unleash the full force of their sound, you are literally knocked on your arse, making this an album of true power and muscle. Howl and Filth is one of parasitism, a relationship that is mutually beneficial to one and destructive to the other, meaning that Generation of Vipers co-exist in a symbiotic relationship in which they are the parasite feeding on you, the listener (the host), causing you unspeakable harm in the process. 

Howl and Filth is a juggernaut, a crushing force that destroys and demands your complete self sacrifice.  The payoff is that if you do, you are rewarded in spades!!  This is a stellar record, which demands your complete and full attention.  A definite 10 out of 10 for me. I love this record and I am confident you will too.  Buy it now!

‘Howl and Filth’ is available here. 

Band info: Bandcamp ||  Facebook

Generation of Vipers - Coffin Wisdom (Album Review)

Album Type: Full-length

Date Released: 27/10/2014

Label: Translation Loss Records

‘Coffin Wisdom’ CD//DD track listing:

01. Damaged Awake

02. Coffin Wisdom

03. Dark Matter

04. You Deserve This

05. Haunted

06. Stolen Voices

07. Crawling on the Ceiling

Generation of Vipers is:

Joshua Holt | Guitar, Vocals, Percussion

Travis Kammeyer | Bass

B.J. Graves | Drums, Percussion

Review:

Earlier this year I wrote a review for Trap Them regarding their latest album ‘Blissfucker’ in which I recommended that in order to set themselves apart from all of the other d-beat influenced hardcore bands, and in specific, those working in some Stockholm-style death metal influences as well, they might want to focus instead on their more engaging, slower material and make efforts toward finding a new trail separate from the one they’ve already helped blaze. Well, now I’m not sure what the hell they need to do because Generation Of Vipers is pretty damned close to what I had in mind. There isn’t a thrash, blast or d-beat to be found anywhere on this album and it works very strongly in their favor.

What Generation Of Vipers has done on ‘Coffin Wisdom’, their fourth full-length album, is apparently something they’ve been doing for some time now. I feel awful that I’ve only learned about this band with this release as what they’re doing is something that feels new, even if it does borrow from some well-known influences (Neurosis most notably). They definitely still sound like a hardcore band at heart, but they also use enough unique rhythms and guitar ideas that the lines are blurred, and rigid genre tags are confounded in the process.

One of the areas where Generation of Vipers put so many of their peers to shame is in the rhythm section. They feel like a single unit more because the bass often takes its cues from the drums rather than the guitar which it strangely not the case with the majority of metal bands. In an interview with Metal Wani, the reason Generation of Vipers is so strong from a groove standpoint is made clear: they’ve all played drums in this band or another. Every one of them has a strong background in rhythm and percussion.

That rhythm is their sharpest musical weapon is self-evident, but to cite a specific example; all you need to do is listen to the first minute or so of “Stolen Voices” to get the general idea. Bassist Travis Kammeyer and drummer B.J. Graves are so tight they feel like a single entity. While their unshakable groove stomps and decimates, guitarist/vocalist Joshua Holt lets an octaved guitar melody float over the top of it, so as to not get in the footpath of the beast. However, its separation is short-lived and the guitar is quickly assimilated, like Captain Picard into The Borg.

All of this is to say that Generation of Vipers is a band whose name should be on everyone’s lips, assuming you’re a fan of post metal/hardcore/sludge and so on. We’re at a point in heavy metal history where it’s becoming harder and harder to find bands that aren’t easily pigeonholed or labeled as a nostalgia act. Orthodox bands and bands writing love letters to the past have an important role to play; acting as a sort of comfort food for our ears. But, and this is stating the obvious, bands that push things forward, either through genuinely original ideas or through coming up with interesting new style concoctions, are even more vital to heavy music’s continued strength and virility. I’d certainly count Generation of Vipers as being a part of the second group rather than the first, which is nice to be able to say about a band in this genre when you consider that even “post” metal is starting to suffer from a lack of innovation.

Words by: Daniel Jackson

You can pick up a digital copy here and a CD copy here. 

For more information:

Facebook

Bandcamp (Previous Releases)

Heikousen - 'Parallels' (Album Review)

By:  Aaron Pickford

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 5/06/2012

Label: Translation Loss

The record has some of the most awe inspiring, truly breathtaking guitar work and is every shred heads fantasy. The musicianship is immense, think Botch meets Burst meets The Dillinger Escape Plan, then you’re getting halfway close to the superior quality of this record.

‘Parallels CD//DD track Listing

1). Like Whiskey at 11 am... (3:55)
2). Shit is the Business We're In (1:53)
3). Tax Fraud(3:01)
4). Untitled 1 (0:43)
5). Savant of Scum 2:28)
6). Devil is Double is Deuce (2:26)
7). Simulated Encounters with God (2:46)
8). Untitled 2 1:27)
9). On Accidental Purpose(3:16)
10). The Gravel in Our Guts (4:43)

Heikousen is:

Dave Grossman | Vocals
Josh Mahesh | Guitars
Steve Dever | Bass
Dan Dalton | Drums

The Review:

Sometimes with specific record labels, we know as music fans that we are in safe hands when it comes to the quality of bands and releases from them.  Having reviewed the stunning album by Generation of Vipers, I was excited to get my grubby mitts on the next release from the brilliant Translation Loss label. 

Despite having a release date of June 5th, it has taken me up until now to review this debut album from Heikousen.  Was it worth the wait?  Absolutely!!  Heikousen have quite possibly released the quintessential tech / progressive metal album of the year!  The record has some of the most awe inspiring, truly breathtaking guitar work and is every shred heads fantasy. The musicianship is immense, think Botch meets Burst meets The Dillinger Escape Plan, then you’re getting halfway close to the superior quality of this record.  Something which is parallel may relate to something having the property of being analogous to something else, however let us be clear Heikousen have produced something which is genuinely unique and unparalleled, radically distinctive and without equal.    How's that for starters? 

‘Parallels’ is full of Botch esque, discordant noise, with violent roars and a lashing of intricate guitar fills reminding me of much missed band The Fall of Troy at times.  Everything on the record is tight, intricate and aggressive.  Vocally, Dave Grossman (Rosetta) is a powerful front man, however for me the guitar fireworks from Josh Mahesh, is what defines this record.  He is every inch the guitar hero, hell if Eddie Van Halen played in a progressive hardcore band, they'd probably sound like this.  The musicianship is just exemplary and is played at such a blistering pace.  Hell you're gonna need whiskey at 11am to cope with this aural battering.

Having wiped away the whiskey residue from your lips, shit hits the fan, Heikousen continue to bombard you with the mother load of dissonant destruction, and this record is the Hunter S Thompson of metal.  Completely gonzo, with its bizarre; unconventional guitar histrionics, the rhythm section tearing it up with the syncopated guitar, bass and drum lines into a stunning slapped bass solo.  This is progressive hardcore metal with a side order of Primus.  We're subjected to the dominating flurry of bass and drums, immeasurable guitar trickery and the unadulterated fury of the vocals. There is nothing deceptive about this record, everything is played with virtuosic ability, stunning guitar flurries, blast beats, you name it, and this record delivers in spades.  What's more, the guitar solos appears to have elements of neo-classical influences of say, just about every Shrapnel Records guitar hero of the late 80's and 90's. 

The three instrumental tracks, "Untitled", "Untitled 2" & "Simulated Encounters with God" are the perfect segue between the wanton destruction of the math core synaptic assault.    Ambient passages and acoustic strings demonstrate that these guys are not just a band that have one trick up their sleeves and further exemplifies what a talented band they really are.  This juxtaposition is also typified by the stunning vocal work by Dave Grossman on the track On Accidental Purpose which adds further depth and texture to the album.

‘Parallels’ is unashamedly heavy and a technically brilliant record.  This record will bitch slap that Djent smile from your face.  These guys are no imitators, but trend setters, hopefully for many albums to come.  I for one cannot wait to see what they offer up next!  Stunning work guys. 

Band info: Facebook | Bandcamp