Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Sewage- Purge

I tried to come up with a witty metaphor that captures the extreme intensity of Purge’s latest five song effort, “Sewage”, but there is no possible way to understand the almost laughable brutality without listening to it first. The breakneck pace, bone-crushing vocals, and unflinchingly aggressive beatdown riffs make this a truly impressive release and one of my favorite powerviolence albums I’ve had the pleasure of listening too. Pleasure might be the wrong word, however, as the negativity that seethes within every song on “Sewage” is palpable and the enjoyment comes mostly from the adrenaline rushes that overwhelm the listener with every explosion of blast beats and half time breakdown.

Purge wastes no time on “Sewage”, delivering crushing riffs and irresistible grooves on the opening track, More Wolf than Thee. The track blazes into my favorite track, Piss on the Marble, leaving absolutely no respite. The furious blast beats and impressive guitar work in the first half of the song hardly prepare the listener for the final 15 seconds. I cannot put into words how heavy this outro riff is, but no matter how many times I listen to it, it always causes involuntary bedroom/car moshing. Just absolutely fucking brutal. The third track, Backyard Wrestling, could not have been more aptly named. Opening again with robotically accurate blast beats, the song follows the same familiar structure of the two opening songs, before devolving again into a breakdown. This does become a little tiresome, considering that the fourth song, Chemo, also follows this pattern, but Purge manages to avoid suffering from this error too much because of the writing quality and impressive drumming. The final track, Leper, is by far the longest song on the EP, and is the only song to break from the blast-beats-into-breakdown formula so successfully wielded on the other for tracks. The guitar only opening riff creates a haunting atmosphere quickly broken by another down-tempo breakdown. Fortunately, the song recovers, building into a more melodic blast beat passage before slowing back down into one of the cooler, and calmer, riffs on the album.

All in all, “Sewage” is an impressive release from a young band. Pittsburgh has become a breeding ground for original and heavy hardcore and Purge is one of the most exciting bands to emerge from the scene thus far. Pick up this EP and their earlier ones and keep an eye out for any shows in your area, because we all know listening to these songs live will cause some casualties.

-Jack

Tracklist
  1. More Wolf than Thee
  2. Piss on the Marble
  3. Backyard Wrestling
  4. Chemo
  5. Leper
Download
 http://www4.zippyshare.com/v/58968605/file.html

Friday, March 27, 2015

Nothing For Us Here- Cult Leader

Cult Leader formed from the remains of legendary sludge/hardcore group Gaza and quickly found their stride with the release of “Nothing For Us Here” in April of 2014. Comprised of 6 tracks, the EP totals a brutal 18 minutes of brooding, dissonant hardcore that sets the mood from the opening track God’s Lonely Children. Anthony Lucero’s goosebump inducing vocals ring out over the sea of harsh feedback and sparse, arrhythmic drumming with chants of “There is nothing for us here, move on”, destroying any remaining sense of hope the listener might cling to within the first minute. The 99 second noise introduction gives way to the furious opening blast beats of Flightless Birds, a song that provides no respite from the grinding fury and gives us our first look at the songwriting prowess of Cult Leader. Discordant but beautifully constructed progressions highlight the technical ability of the band but throughout the EP Cult Leader never becomes reliant on technicality to keep the listeners attention.

The true standout track on this album is the third, Mongrel. Mongrel might be the most instrumentally simple and repetitive, but there’s something so powerful about the way the tension is built and released through a riff only varied through the addition and subtraction of vocals, bass, and a second guitar. The song builds to a furious finale and ends suddenly with only a moment’s rest before the start of The Indoctrinator’s Deathbed, a song that inevitably draws comparisons to Gaza’s roots in sludge metal. The transition into Skin Crawler is so natural and seamless it feels like the same song, although Skin Crawler is significantly groovier than the aggressive sludge of The Indoctrinator’s Deathbed. Both songs are good, but don’t stand out as anything special given the bar set by the EP’s opening three songs.

“Nothing For Us Here” ends on the highest of notes with Driftwood, a six minute long song filled to the brim with haunting, melodic guitar work and earnest lyricism. Again, this song stands out because of Cult Leader’s skillful build and release of tension with the song growing to a massive, powerful climax before slowly fading out, bringing the listener back to reality. This song will make you feel sad, and any song that can so intensely conjure those kinds of emotions is truly well written.

Fortunately for fans of hardcore everywhere, Cult Leader recently finished recording their new album but as of now it does not have a release date. If “Nothing For Us Here” is any indication, it will be one of the top albums of 2015. I’d say that Cult Leader is one of the hottest new bands in hardcore, but given 75% of the band’s experience in Gaza, that seems a bit disingenuous. Nevertheless, you should not sleep on this band because it’s apparent great things are on the way.
-Jack

Tracklist:
1.       God’s Lonely Children
2.       Flightless Birds
3.       Mongrel
4.       The Indoctrinator’s Deathbed
5.       Skin Crawler
6.       Driftwood
Download (320kbps)
http://www78.zippyshare.com/v/12094110/file.html

Thursday, March 26, 2015

True Enemy - Disgrace

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This shit bangs.  The only time that I had ever listened to Disgrace before this was a split that they put out with Harness awhile back and I remember really liking it but for some reason they always slipped my mind and I never went to find anything else by them.  I was on a road trip and probably got three different texts a day telling me to download this and give it a listen so it's the first thing that I did when I got back.  Really sweet metallic guitar tone and it's riff city bitch.  Definitely makes sense that the members play in Twitching Tongues too.  If you're a fan of Twitching Tongues check it out for the riffs, and if you don't like Twitching Tongues because of the singing check it out because it's just a more aggressive version of TT's riffs but without any of the singing.

Tracklist
1. True Enemy
2. No More Fools
3. Slave To The Lead God
4. Uncreation
5. 1000 Voices
6. Conquered
7. The Forgotten Land
8. The Well
9. Segue
10. Bootlicker
11. The Dawn
12. Conclusion

320kbps Download

To Pimp A Butterfly - Kendrick Lamar

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Kendrick Lamar is another rapper that I'm actually into right now so it was cool that this and Earl dropped around the same time.  This is another album that if you're into something that is actually artist and lyrically interesting that you should listen to.  In my opinion it does go a little too far out there sometimes, but overall it's a pretty solid album.  It deserves all of the hype it got and it's good to see that there are still some mainstream artists that don't just put bullshit out to hear it on the radio.  

Tracklist
1. Wesley's Theory
2. For Free? (Interlude)
3. King Kunta
4. Institutionalized
5. These Walls
6. u
7. Alright
8. For Sale? (Interlude)
9. Momma
10. Hood Politics
11. How Much A Dollar Cost
12. Complexion (A Zulu Love)
13. The Blacker The Berry
14. You Ain't Gotta Lie (Momma Said)
15. i
16. Mortal Man

320kbps Download

I Don't Like Shit, I Don't Go Outside - Earl Sweatshirt

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New Earl record.  I'm a fan of rap that is more about lyrics than just stupid hype.  This is a pretty solid record and a nice listen if you're just trying to chill.  I'll always be a fan of a smart rapper that's pissed off and Earl Sweatshirt is one of the few people that's still doing that in my opinion.

Tracklist
1. Huey
2. Mantra
3. Faucet
4. Grief
5. Off Top
6. Grown Ups Ft. Dash
7. AM // Radio Ft. Wiki
8. Inside
9. DNA Ft. Na'kel
10. Wool Ft. Vince Staples

320kbps Download

Kintsugi - Death Cab For Cutie

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I have been crazy busy recently and wasn't by a computer so I'm going to catch up on posts and just do very short descriptions so that the music is out there for people who want it.

Everyone has a soft spot for Death Cab.  They haven't done anything in about 4 years and I haven't had the chance to listen to this since I literally saw that it leaked in 320 about two minutes ago so here it is for all of the soft boiz that want to impress a girl.

Tracklist
1. No Room In Frame
2. Black Sun
3. The Ghosts Of Beverly Drive
4. Little Wanderer
5. You've Haunted Me All My Life
6. Hold No Guns
7. Everything's A Ceiling
8. Good Help (Is So Hard To Find)
9. El Dorado
10. Ingenue
11. Binary Sea

320kbps Download

Thursday, March 12, 2015

Strangers To Ourselves - Modest Mouse

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I'm a little late to the game on this one but at the same time I've never really been into Modest Mouse so I'm impressed with myself for catching it this fast.  I had heard good things about the song Lampshades On Fire from this album so I went and checked it out and it's one of the catchiest damn songs that I've ever heard.  I've listened through the entire album now a few songs and overall it is a pretty good album.  There are definitely a few standout songs and there are a few songs that I'm really not a fan of.  The song Pistol makes me want to kill myself for example.  But overall it's worth listening to even if you're normally not into this type of music.  I know that I have never sat down and listened through a Modest Mouse album until earlier this week but after this one I'm sure that I'll try to keep up to date on them.  

Tracklist
1. Strangers To Ourselves
2. Lampshades On Fire
3. Shit In Your Cut
4. Pistol (A. Cunanan, Miami, FL. 1996)
5. Ansel
6. The Ground Walks, With Time In A Box
7. Coyotes
8. Pups To Dust
9. Sugar Boats
10. Wicked Campaign
11. Be Brave
12. God Is An Indian And You're An Asshole
13. The Tortoise And The Tourist
14. The Best Room
15. Of Course We Know

320kbps Download

Belief In The Truth Or Nothing - Eternal Sleep

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I booked these guys about a year ago and expected very little out of it.  Within about 30 seconds of their set beginning me and everyone else in the room realized that these guys are an unrecognized powerhouse.  There are very few people left in the Oklahoma music scene that don't think Eternal Sleep absolutely rips.  This is their most recent release and it's a great example of what you're going to get when checking them out.  Every song is punishing and exciting.  You can really feel that there is some passion behind their music.  Most likely you have never taken the time to check them out or you've never even heard of them, but I really encourage everyone to.  This is a short EP so it's perfect for someone who is new to the band.

Tracklist
1. Pyramid
2. Mirror
3. Old Friends

320kbps Download

Monday, March 9, 2015

Reckoning EP - Rotting Out

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This is the newest EP from Rotting Out.  I'm not entirely sure why they decided to drop an EP right now, but it's a nice few songs to listen to.  The EP is 3 new songs and then 2 Circle Jerks covers.  The 3 new songs have a pretty groovy feel and sound like they belong on their last LP The Wrong Way.  It's a few more Rotting Out songs filled with the big riffs that you're used to and then some gang chants.  Overall it's nothing overly exciting in my opinion.  It's a few songs that I'll have fun seeing live but it's nothing that I'm going to be dying to go back and listen to a hundred times.  I've got to appreciate that Rotting Out hasn't changed their style.  It doesn't seem like they ever will.  If you're into this go listen to their album Street Prowl and lose your fucking mind.

Tracklist
1. Born
2. Eyes Wide
3. End Of The Road
4. I Don't Care (Circle Jerks Cover)
5. Live Fast Die Young ( Circle Jerks Cover)

Download 256kbps

Friday, March 6, 2015

Rust - Harm's Way


It's been awhile since I've had the time to hop on here and post something but this is a big enough deal for me to hop on quick.  I haven't had a chance to listen to this entire album yet, but I've heard all of the early singles that they posted.  From the singles I can say that Rust sounds like they went in a slightly different direction than their previous efforts, but not in a bad way.  Blinded was the previous release and it is one of the most punishing records that I have ever had the pleasure of listening to.  From my very early first impression of the songs that I have heard it seems like they cut back on the amount of purely punishing riffs to produce something with a little bit more groove.  In my opinion, I think they'll be able to pull it off.  I don't want to say too much about the record before listening through it the whole way but I'm sure everyone is as eager as I am to listen to it so I'm putting it up now.

Tracklist
1. Infestation
2. Law Of The Land
3. Cremation
4. Hope
5. Cancerous Ways
6. Amongst The Rust
7. Disintegrate
8. Docile Bodies
9. Turn To Stone
10. Ease My Mind

320kbps Download