Sunday, May 17, 2009

Kyuss - ...And the Circus Leaves Town

Kyuss
…And the Circus Leaves Town
Elektra




It would probably make more sense to review the Kyuss albums in order of their release, but I’ve never been too crazy about following the rules. Besides, Kyuss wasn’t big on rules either. These legendary inventors of Desert Rock had an arching, unifying sound, but their albums were so different from each other that order doesn’t really matter. Each Kyuss record needs to be analyzed and digested individually.

Kyuss had been considered genre leaders in the (then) growing stoner rock movement; especially after the release of the mighty Blues for the Red Sun. However, with the modern definition of stoner rock being bands like Baroness and Isis, …And the Circus Leaves Town does not fall into this category. Instead, Kyuss used its final LP to rediscover its West Coast roots. Except for passing moments on their first album Wretch, …And the Circus Leaves Town sounds the most SST-like than any other Kyuss material.

In addition to the typical Kyuss hallmarks like John Garcia’s unique vocals and Josh Homme’s psychedelic guitar style, this record has an intense Minutemen vibe about it. My War-era Black Flag is also scattered throughout the album, such as on the song “Gloria Lewis.” Kyuss may forever be linked to stoner music but …And the Circus Leaves Town is proof that Kyuss was birthed from West Coast punk and not Black Sabbath.





Kyuss - …And the Circus Leaves Town





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Savage Republic - Tragic Figures

Savage Republic
Tragic Figures
Mobilization




by Jason from Deadthyme

Released in 1982, Tragic Figures was way ahead of it's time. Savage Republic mixed punk, early industrial, post-punk, and rhythmic tribal drumming. You can still hear bands today who draw influence from this classic record yet, unlike most early influential bands, these guys have remained relatively under most people's radars to this day. So I guess it would be more accurate to say you hear bands today who draw influence from bands who were influenced by Tragic Figures.

The pounding rhythms, experimental instrumentals, and heavy, distorted bass are what make the record great. The sparse vocals range from a gruff, punky bark to more death rock-esque throaty singing; which became more prevalent on later releases. I suppose the closest comparison would be perhaps C.R.A.S.S. mixed with Christian Death or maybe Hunting Lodge. Tragic Figures is pretty original, primal stuff, and worth a listen if you're looking for something different.

Savage Republic is from a time when people made music just for making music and art's sake and not because they thought they'd become the next myspace sensation. Evidently, these guys reformed in a much different line-up a few years ago.






Savage Republic - Tragic Figures




Jason Beck produces and DJs the Deadthyme counter-culture music show. Listen to Deadthyme from 2:30 a.m. to 5 a.m. every Monday morning on KPFT 90.1 fm in Houston (and online).


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Saturday, May 16, 2009

Fucked Up - The Chemistry of Common Life

Fucked Up
The Chemistry of Common Life
Matador





Sorry about the lack of posts lately. I've been too depressed to live. In that spirit, here's some Fucked Up. Also, there will be no Top Five this week since the schedule got thrown off last week. The next Top Five will be posted on Friday.






Fucked Up - The Chemistry of Common Life





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Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Mastodon – Crack the Skye

Mastodon
Crack the Skye
Reprise/Relapse




Crack the Skye is all the proof necessary to show that Mastodon, one of the best American bands currently going, is not content to rest on its laurels. This is the band's third consecutive concept album, with the other two being the Moby Dick-inspired Leviathan and the epic Blood Mountain. Crack the Skye aims even higher by tackling Czarist Russia in a prog-metal context.

The writing and recording of Crack the Skye makes for quite the sordid, little soap opera involving vertigo, the Las Vegas strip, physical therapy, and fighting System of a Down. These events have been covered thoroughly throughout the internet so, please, click here to read all the gory details.

Listeners with a penchant for brutality will likely be disappointed with Crack the Skye, as the album firmly cements Mastodon in the progressive music world. Even the dudes in Dream Theater are down with Mastodon. This in no way means that Mastodon isn’t metal anymore. It simply means that the band is playing a different style of metal; especially for an arena band. On one hand, it’s very easy to throw Mastodon in the group of bands like Porcupine Tree. On the other hand, Mastodon could be seen as the unofficial leaders of the Savannah/SCaD scene that birthed it. In either case, Mastodon is not “a bunch of pussies now.” The Lamb of God crowd may not dig it, but there are thousands of others that do.

Like all Mastodon albums, I bought my copy on LP. Unfortunately, I haven’t done the vinyl/MP3 rip yet (that’s a project for this weekend). I did find a promo copy online but it’s missing the album’s last song “The Last Baron.” I apologize for posting an incomplete album and I’ll repost the corrected link in a timely manner. In the meantime, please enjoy most of Crack the Skye.

Also, while we're sort of on the subject, how about a hand for Mr. Paul Romano and all the awesome artwork he's done over the years; even that Trivium album cover. Click here for art radness.





Mastodon- Crack the Skye





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Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Light Yourself On Fire - Intimacy

Light Yourself on Fire
Intimacy
Seventh Rule




by Jason from Deadthyme

Featuring the singer of now-defunct Forida band Reversal Of Man, Intimacy is Light Yourself On Fire's third release (tho' no full length yet). The band sounds a little like a less thrashy Reversal Of Man with longer songs, but with a strong late 90's/ early 2000's progressive hardcore influence. Think along the lines of Non Compos Mentis, Deadguy, Humans Being, and maybe even Today Is The Day; stuff like that. The guitars chug along at a (mostly) mid-pace, sometimes seemingly going nowhere until they finally break into a new progression. The vocals are harsh but, every once in awhile, he'll throw in a cleanly spoken line just for the hell of it. Samples are plentiful. If you miss that millennial hardcore sound, these guys are bringing it back. When this stuff is done badly, it's really boring and terrible to listen to. However, Light Yourself On Fire do it right. Don't get them confused with I Light My Friends On Fire. Those guys suck ass.






Light Yourself on Fire - Intimacy





Jason Beck produces and DJs the Deadthyme counter-culture music show. Listen to Deadthyme from 2:30 a.m. to 5 a.m. every Monday morning on KPFT 90.1 fm in Houston (and online).


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Monday, May 4, 2009

Devourment – 1.3.8.

Devourment
1.3.8.
Corpse Gristle




Devourment is by far the heaviest band to emerge from the DFW area (sorry Pantera). During Devourment’s existence, which is sort-of still going on, the band made the biggest impact on TXDM. They play brutal death metal in the vein of Suffocation and Deeds of Flesh. I suppose Devourment also sounds like Dying Fetus, but without Dying Fetus’s politics or guitar wizardry. What Devourment brings to the table is brutal death metal mixed with beatdown hardcore; paving the way for today’s deathcore bands.

Originally released while vocalist Rueben Rosas was incarcerated, 1.3.8. is a compilation of Devourment’s early material. What you get is one new song called “Babykiller”, the three-song Impaled demo and the eight-song LP Molesting the Decapitated. Get it? 1.3.8. The vocals on the CD are very cool and the music is exactly what you would expect.

The only thing about 1.3.8. that bugs me is the false snare blast the drummer uses. He does that stupid thing where the drummer slides the stick across the head of the snare. False! This album rules, except for the blastbeat thing.





Devourment – 1.3.8.




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Gummo – Soundtrack

Gummo
Soundtrack
Polygram




Like the film, the Gummo soundtrack is not for everyone but those who “get it” will love it. Also like the film, it’s an amazing feat that a major label released the Gummo soundtrack. To some degree, I believe that Harmony Korine pulled the ultimate fast one on the media corporations. This is based on more than the outrageous amount of black metal on the record. Think about it. Korine put Spazz on a major label movie soundtrack in 1997. Eyehategod is on there too. That’s pretty hip. The movie Gummo is about the weirdo rednecks in Xenia, Ohio following a tornado that devastated the town. Gummo isn’t for everyone, but it is for deranged headbangers and clinically-depressed punk rockers. In short, the movie and the soundtrack were both custom-made for the No Funeral readership.







Gummo – Soundtrack





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Black Ships - Omens

Black Ships
Omens
New Romance for Kids




by Jason from Deadthyme

By simply looking at the cover of this CD, you know it's going to be dark and brooding and that you aren't disappointed. Along side bands like Tragedy, Cursed, and Cobra Noir, these guys play some excellent metallic hardcore seethed in sludgy down-tuned doominess. The vocals are hideous and effects-ridden while the music is bottoms-out heavy,even though they do go pretty fast at times. Sometimes, it's so tuned down and distorted you almost can't hear all the tunefulness that the guitarists actually put into the music; almost. Luckily, you can but that keeps it heavier, I guess. If you like the above mentioned bands, check out Omens. Black Ships won't disappoint.




Black Ships - Omens






Jason Beck produces and DJs the Deadthyme counter-culture music show. Listen to Deadthyme from 2:30 a.m. to 5 a.m. every Monday morning on KPFT 90.1 fm in Houston (and online).


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Friday, May 1, 2009

Wolf City! - 2009 Demo

Wolf City
2009 Demo




Wow! That was fast! A mere half-hour after the interview with Wolf City! was posted, a Mr. Kyle Savage of Reno, Nevada sent an e-mail with the MP3s of the Wolf City! demo. I highly recommend that everyone pick up this record. A demo like this, where you instantly know the band is on to something, doesn't come around very often.

Kyle Savage wants you to know about other xRENOx bands. Kyle Savage wants you to check out She Has a Fashion Vice, Dorcia, and xBarcadiax. Kyle Savage says that xRENOx is pissed and I'm inclined to agree.





Wolf City! - 2009 Demo




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Wolf City! Interview

An Interview with Wolf City!



Late one night in East Texas, No Funeral conspirator El Jefe and I were watching the National Geopraphic Channel's documentary Inside Straight Edge. Reno hardcore band xAFBx was prominently featured in the documentary. Having never heard them before, I went online to get the scoop on xAFBx the very next day. It was at this point when I read on Lambgoat that xAFBx broke up, but a new band named Wolf City! was rising from its ashes.

Wolf City! is an intense, metallic hardcore band with a message. This is very different from being a straightedge scene band. Wolf City! is aware of this difference and this difference is shaping the band's approach. A musically solid band appeals to everyone, edge or not. Wolf City! is here to start the next chapter in the book of Reno Hardcore.

This interview was conducted via e-mail with:
Bryant Sparks (vocals)- BS
Tommy Sage (guitar) - TS



No Funeral: Was Wolf City! chosen as the band name for its symbolic value or is it a reference to something? For me, the name conjures images of both distrust and vigilance at the same time.

BS: Wolf City! was chosen by our drummer Carlos. In Reno, the local college team is the "Nevada Wolf Pack." It's all about having pride in your city. Wolf Pack. Reno = Wolf City. At first, it seemed cheesy but, now, people are really starting to dig it.



No Funeral: The demo posted on the Wolf City! Myspace page sounds like the metallic hardcore I listened to as a kid back in the 90s. I hear bits and pieces of bands like Damnation A.D., Overcast, All Out War and Unbroken; in addition to the legion of Upstate New York bands from back then. Is this influence a conscious decision made as the band develops its sound or is it a natural development; a result of gaining experience and becoming a more accomplished musician?


TS: We all kind of agreed when we started that we wanted to have an older sound. We also play in C standard tuning. We're not dropped down or anything like that. Like I said, the decision was to just have a fast-paced, heavy sound.


No Funeral: Wolf City! counts Earth Crisis and early Throwdown among its influences. In addition to being a fan of both bands, I think both are instrumental in spreading the straightedge philosophy. They toured with more than just other hardcore bands. Hell, both bands played the Ozzfest. My point isn’t the amount of success both bands achieved but, rather, its’ that both bands were willing to reach out beyond the straightedge scene. Is the influence of these bands (and others like them) just a musical influence or does Wolf City! intend to embrace this spirit of cooperation with folks who are not only not straightedge but who have never heard of it?

BS: I think that the influence of these bands is built by the sound and the image. Although we are an all straightedge band we would like to spread the word to anyone who can get into it. We are down to play with anyone, anytime. As long as fans dig it there shouldn't be a problem.

TS: Agreed. Hardcore kids try to shut people out because they appear that they don't belong. This is music for the sake of music. Anyone should be able to be into it just as much as the next kid.



No Funeral: The song “Pound for Pound” sounds like Houston’s late, great Will to Live. How aware are you guys of TXHC and the bands down here? Any plans on touring through Texas this year? Did you ever play here before in your previous band xAFBx? This is the kind of state that’s going to love Wolf City!


BS: We've played Texas many times with xAFBx. Every time we've played there, it's been a great experience. The kids are awesome and the show turnouts are always good. We'd like to head out south as soon as we possibly can once we get the word out.


No Funeral: Speaking of xAFBx, Wolf City! is comprised of four of xAFBx’s former members. The only one not playing in the new band is vocalist Tony Medellin. What were the circumstances surround his departure? On the NatGeo documentary Inside Straight Edge, Medellin came off as abrasive and, at times, self-righteous. Was he not interested in expanding the sound of the band? Was developing the sound of the band not one of his priorities?


BS: Well, first off, it was really hard with xAFBx and Tony because of his egotistical attitude towards everything. Even our own friends and other bands would make comments about the way he treated everyone. That's not really the type of person you want leading a band. I mean, during the high point of xAFBx, we were all good friends but the guy is competing with the sun for the center of the universe.

TS: In January, xAFBx did a little weekend thing in California and, when we returned, Tony told everyone he didn't really want to be around us anymore. We all decided that xAFBx was too stressful and that it wasn't worth all of the drama, but the four of us didn't want to stop playing music for good. That's when we started trying to write and head for a totally different sound. Tony does his own thing now. None of us really talk to him anymore. Plus, writing music for xAFBx was incredibly difficult because we would try to write music that we weren't really into. Our first record came out with a metalcore sound and then after that record, and about 40 line-up changes, we went towards a more mainstream sound that the four of us weren't into.



No Funeral: What are Wolf City!’s plans, as far as releasing any records, in the near future? Are you seeking a label or are you going to self-release it, DIY style? Any plans for any Wolf City! vinyl?

TS: We are going to return to the studio soon to record seven songs and then try to release it as an EP. I wouldn't say we're trying to do it DIY. I mean, if any good opportunities come up for the band then that would be awesome. We talked to our friend Danny at Seventh Dagger (who released all the xAFBx records) and he said that they would release it on vinyl, but we're not sure quite yet.


No Funeral: The NatGeo show mentioned that Bryant (Wolf City! vocalist) went to Reno’s Reed High School. Reed High School reminded me of The Woodlands High School in the Houston suburbs, when I went there. Did any other Wolf City! members attend Reed? If Reed is anything like The Woodlands, it’s a constant tug-of-war between the beer-swilling football jocks, the drug-addicted sloths and the (alleged) weirdoes who exist outside of the typical school dynamic. When I saw that Reed was “cracking down on straightedgers”, I wondered to myself, “Don’t they realize that straightedge, underground music and art, and the entirety of DIY ethic runs counter to everything you do and believe? Don't they see that, in the big picture, they provoked this?” What are your feelings on this subject?

TS: I'm old as shit, man. I didn't go to Reed High but, when I went to high school, straightedge wasn't a big deal at all.


BS: Ha ha. Yeah, I went to Reed a few years back and it was hell. My personal opinion on the whole reed subject is that all these authorities are trying to crack down on a "possible threat to society" but all they are doing is fueling these kids even more. When I went to Reed, before they started cracking down, everyone co-existed fine. I mean, there were fights here and there, but that's high school. Then, the minute they started making a huge deal about all these "punk kids" and "suburban terrorists", other groups of kids would try and challenge our reputation that the cops were making. So kids would start all of these huge feuds and we'd finish them. Of course, [they're] making the authorities think even worse of anyone associated with the movement.



No Funeral: What are your views on downloading and file-sharing? Personally, I don’t see the low-quality, free MP3 as a one-for-one equal of the actual record. Then again, I’m a passionate vinyl collector, so I may be in the minority here. I see downloading as a replacement for rock radio, since Clear Channel now owns all of the radio stations. How do you see this, collectively or individually?


BS: I have no problems at all with downloading bands music. I mean, yeah, if you actually buy the CD it's supporting the band financially but, either way, you're getting the music for the same reason: to listen and enjoy it. So, either way, I think downloading it or buying it kids are spreading the word and supporting us.

TS: BACKED.





Wolf City! - 2009 Demo

(Although no MP3s were available, the entire demo has been posted at the Wolf City! Myspace page. Might as well add them while you're there, you know? If any of you computer psychos can hook up some Wolf City! MP3s, then e-mail me and hook me up so I can post that shit.)




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