Aborted - The Necrotic Manifesto

Who:  Aborted

What:  Eighth studio album of Belgian slam/gore/death metal on Century Media.

When:  April 2014

Where:  Waregem, BEL

Why:   This band is the middle ground between Carcass and The Acacia Strain.

[The Radness Average (or star rating) is derived from assigning each song a number of stars based on a 1-5 scale, then adding the total number of stars, and then dividing that number of total stars by the number of songs on the record. A Radness Average of 4.0 or higher indicates a good or great record. A Radness Average of 2.0 or less indicates pure crap. Everything else is in the middle somewhere.]

Aborted - The Necrotic Manifesto - Century Media

1.  Six Feet of Foreplay -- ****
2.  The Extripation Agenda -- *****
3.  The Necrotic Manifesto -- *****
4.  An Enumeration of Cadavers -- *****
5.  Your Entitlement Means Nothing -- *****
6.  The Davidian Deceit -- ****
7.  Coffin Upon Coffin -- *****
8.  Chronicles of Detruncation -- *****
9.  Sade & Eibertine Lunacy -- *****
10.  Die Verzweiflung -- *****
11.  Excremental Veracity -- *****
12.  Purity of Perversion -- *****
13.  Of Dead Skin & Decay -- *****
14.  Cenobites -- ****


Radness Average:  4.786


Aborted - The Necrotic Manifesto


Verdict:  More of that Western European mosh/slam/death that you know and love. Beavis & Butthead approved!

For fans of:  Carcass, The Acacia Strain, Devourment, Impaled, Dying Fetus




\m/

The Abandoned Hearts Club - Rarities

Who:  The Abandoned Hearts Club

What:  Collection CD of stray compilation tracks. Released on Robotic Empire.

When:  October 2009

Where:  Toronto, ON

Why:   Obscure recordings from a criminally underrated band. Contains the band's best song, "Experimenting With Maturity."

[The Radness Average (or star rating) is derived from assigning each song a number of stars based on a 1-5 scale, then adding the total number of stars, and then dividing that number of total stars by the number of songs on the record. A Radness Average of 4.0 or higher indicates a good or great record. A Radness Average of 2.0 or less indicates pure crap. Everything else is in the middle somewhere.]

The Abandoned Hearts Club - Rarities - Robotic Empire

1.  Metropolitan Sentences -- ****
2.  The Enthusiast -- *****
3.  Theme Song From The Film Noir Volatility Perversion -- *****
4.  Experimenting With Maturity -- *****


Radness Average:  4.750


The Abandoned Hearts Club - Rarities


Verdict:  Never got to finish the fabled first LP. What could have been...

For fans of:  The Dillinger Escape Plan, Botch, Death From Above 1979, Deadguy, Rorschach

\m/

Terror - One With The Underdogs

Who:  Terror

What:  Second studio album released on Trustkill Records.

When:  July 2004

Where:  Los Angeles, CA

Why:   The record that launched these ex-Buried Alive and ex-Carry On members into the big time.

Back When:  I previously wrote about One With The Underdogs back in April 2009 when the album was a new release. Click here to read the original review.

[The Radness Average (or star rating) is derived from assigning each song a number of stars based on a 1-5 scale, then adding the total number of stars, and then dividing that number of total stars by the number of songs on the record. A Radness Average of 4.0 or higher indicates a good or great record. A Radness Average of 2.0 or less indicates pure crap. Everything else is in the middle somewhere.]

Terror - One With The Underdogs - Trustkill Records

1.  One with the Underdogs -- *****
2.  Keep Your Mouth Shut -- *****
3.  Less Than Zero -- ****
4.  Are We Alive -- *****
5.  Overcome -- *****
6.  Spit My Rage - *****
7.  No One Cares -- ****
8.  Not This Time -- *****
9.  Crushed -- ****
10.  Out of my Face -- *****
11.  All I've Got -- ****
12.  Find My Way -- *****
13.  Enemies in Sight -- *****


Radness Average:  4.692


Terror - One With The Underdogs


Verdict:  I hesitate to use the word "legendary" but this highly-regarded album has aged very well.

For fans of:  Hatebreed, Donnybrook, Grimlock, Ten Yard Fight, Ringworm




\m/

Truckfighters - Universe

Who:  Truckfighters

What:  Fourth studio album released on Fuzzorama Records.

When:  January 2014

Where:  Orebro, SWE

Why:   Swedish stoner/fuzz band sets its sights on North America.

[The Radness Average (or star rating) is derived from assigning each song a number of stars based on a 1-5 scale, then adding the total number of stars, and then dividing that number of total stars by the number of songs on the record. A Radness Average of 4.0 or higher indicates a good or great record. A Radness Average of 2.0 or less indicates pure crap. Everything else is in the middle somewhere.]

Truckfighters - Universe - Fuzzorama Records

1.  Mind Control -- *****
2.  The Chairman -- *****
3.  Convention -- ***
4.  Get Lifted -- ***
5.  Prophet -- ****
6.  Dream Sale -- ****
7. Mastodont -- ****


Radness Average:  4.000


Truckfighters - Universe


Verdict:  Solid and well-received album is not the international breakthrough hoped for by the band.

For fans of:  The Sword, ASG, Fight Amp, American Sharks, Clutch

\m/

Various Artists - Victory Spring Rock Sampler 2014

Who:  Most of the Victory Records lineup.

What:  A compilation CD containing the latest singles from all of these bands.

When:  April 2014

Where:  The label is based out of Chicago, IL.

Why:   I've loved this compilation series since it was originally called Victory Style. That said, not all of these songs are winners.

[The Radness Average (or star rating) is derived from assigning each song a number of stars based on a 1-5 scale, then adding the total number of stars, and then dividing that number of total stars by the number of songs on the record. A Radness Average of 4.0 or higher indicates a good or great record. A Radness Average of 2.0 or less indicates pure crap. Everything else is in the middle somewhere.]

Various Artists - Victory Spring Rock Sampler 2014 - Victory Records

1.  Emmure (Queens, NY) - "Nemesis" -- ****
2.  Comeback Kid (Winnipeg, MB) - "Should Know Better" -- ****
3.  The Bunny The Bear (Buffalo, NY) - "Pale Green Eyes" -- *
4.  Reverend Horton Heat (Dallas, TX) - "Let Me Teach You How To Eat" -- *****
5.  Close Your Eyes (Abilene, TX) - "The End" -- *
6.  Seeker (Dallas, TX) - "When Hope Fails" -- ***
7.  Neurotic November (Miami, FL) - "Nonchalant" -- **
8.  Erimha (Montreal, QC) - "Condemned to Desolation" -- ****
9.  Tear Out the Heart (St. Louis, MO) - "Dead by Dawn" -- **
10.  Islander (Geenville, SC) - "New Colors" -- **
11.  Terror (Los Angeles, CA) - "Hard Lessons" -- *****
12.  Counterparts (Hamilton, ON) - "Compass" -- **
13.  Darkness Divided (San Antonio, TX) - "Remnants" -- **
14.  Ill Nino (Newark, NJ) - "La Epidemia" -- ****
15.  Sister Sin (Gothenburg, SWE) - "Fight Song" -- *
16.  Wretched (Charlotte, NC) - "Karma Accomplished" -- ****
17.  A Day To Remember (Ocala, FL) - "The Downfall of Us All" -- ***


Radness Average:  2.882


Various Artists - Victory Spring Rock Sampler 2014


Verdict:  The same old Victory as always. Half of this is miserable crap. The other half will blow your mind.

For fans of:  Any of the bands on this compilation.

\m/

The Abandoned Hearts Club - Live on CIUT 89.5 FM

Who:  The Abandoned Hearts Club

What:  Short set recorded live at the University of Toronto's CIUT 89.5 FM. Self-released by the band.

When:  2002

Where:  Toronto, ON

Why:   This CD-R was limited to 20 copies and given away by the band in the Toronto area. You have a genuine collectible if you own a physical copy of this.

[The Radness Average (or star rating) is derived from assigning each song a number of stars based on a 1-5 scale, then adding the total number of stars, and then dividing that number of total stars by the number of songs on the record. A Radness Average of 4.0 or higher indicates a good or great record. A Radness Average of 2.0 or less indicates pure crap. Everything else is in the middle somewhere.]

The Abandoned Hearts Club - Live on CIUT 89.5 FM - self-released

1.  Theme Song from the Film Noir Volatility Perversion -- *****
2.  The Abstraction of Form and Function -- *****



Radness Average:  5.000


The Abandoned Hearts Club - Live on CIUT 89.5 FM


Verdict:  Unfortunately, this is a glorified single. Only EP length recordings or longer are eligible for the No Funeral Perfect Album Award.

For fans of:  The Dillinger Escape Plan, Between the Buried and Me, Death From Above 1979, Deadguy, Rorschach

\m/

Turnstile - Step 2 Rhythm

Who:  Turnstile

What:  The second 7" EP by this Trapped Under Ice side project.

When:  February 2013

Where:  Baltimore, MD

Why:   This was supposed to be Turnstile's breakthrough into the mainstream. As of September 2014, that breakthrough has yet to happen.

Back When:  Click here to read the original review of Step 2 Rhythm which was written last year.

[The Radness Average (or star rating) is derived from assigning each song a number of stars based on a 1-5 scale, then adding the total number of stars, and then dividing that number of total stars by the number of songs on the record. A Radness Average of 4.0 or higher indicates a good or great record. A Radness Average of 2.0 or less indicates pure crap. Everything else is in the middle somewhere.]

Turnstile - Step 2 Rhythm - Reaper Records

1.  7 -- *****
2.  Keep It Moving -- *****
3.  Canned Heat -- *****
4.  Pushing Me Away -- *****
5.  Better Way -- *****
6.  Snaked -- *****
7.  Step To Rhythm -- *****


Radness Average:  5.000


Turnstile - Step 2 Rhythm


Verdict:  The songs were there. The album ruled. Let this be a lesson that, even in the best of conditions, major-label-land (or trying to be a part of it) is a crap shoot.

For fans of:  Angel Du$t, Down To Nothing, Die Young, Twitching Tongues

\m/

Skope - The Casino EP

Who:  Skope

What:  New release by this reclusive dupstep artist on Caliber Music.

When:  January 2014

Where:  Somewhere in Great Britain.

Why:   To mix it up. I'm not the biggest EDM fan on the planet but this is pretty good.

[The Radness Average (or star rating) is derived from assigning each song a number of stars based on a 1-5 scale, then adding the total number of stars, and then dividing that number of total stars by the number of songs on the record. A Radness Average of 4.0 or higher indicates a good or great record. A Radness Average of 2.0 or less indicates pure crap. Everything else is in the middle somewhere.]

Skope - The Casino EP - Caliber Music

1.  Roll 'Em -- *****
2.  Neon Gangster -- ****
3.  Hands Up -- ***
4.  G n' T -- **


Radness Average:  3.500


Skope - The Casino EP


Verdict:  The songs get progressively worse but I'm not the best judge of this sort of thing.

For fans of:  Skrillex, Steve Aoki, DJ Keoki, shitty Austin raves

\m/

Uneeda - The Handout demo

Who:  Uneeda

What:  Self-released demo cassette from these trill Newfoundland punks.

When:  February 2012

Where:  St. John, NL

Why:   Thrash metal-influenced pop-punk makes for an interesting listen. Think Metallica meets NoFX.

[The Radness Average (or star rating) is derived from assigning each song a number of stars based on a 1-5 scale, then adding the total number of stars, and then dividing that number of total stars by the number of songs on the record. A Radness Average of 4.0 or higher indicates a good or great record. A Radness Average of 2.0 or less indicates pure crap. Everything else is in the middle somewhere.]

Uneeda - The Handout demo - self-released

1.  Flat Drunk -- ***
2.  Afraid to Fall -- *****
3.  untitled instrumental -- ***
4.  Skulls (The Misfits) -- ***
5.  Dust in the Wind (Kansas) -- ****



Radness Average:  3.600


Uneeda - Handout demo


Verdict:  Hit-and-miss affair but I want to hear more from this band.

For fans of:  NoFX, Lagwagon, Masked Intruder, The Bombpops, Zeke

\m/

The Abandoned Hearts Club - The Initial Confessions of the Abandoned Hearts Club

Who:  The Abandoned Hearts Club

What:  First 7" EP of this Ontario band's brand of noisecore. Released on Init Records.

When:  August 2004

Where:  Toronto, ON

Why:   The debut recording of a criminally underrated band.

[The Radness Average (or star rating) is derived from assigning each song a number of stars based on a 1-5 scale, then adding the total number of stars, and then dividing that number of total stars by the number of songs on the record. A Radness Average of 4.0 or higher indicates a good or great record. A Radness Average of 2.0 or less indicates pure crap. Everything else is in the middle somewhere.]

The Abandoned Hearts Club - The Initial Confessions of the Abandoned Hearts Club - Init Records

1.  Consensus Emptiness and the Never Encore Obsession -- *****
2.  The Failure A Posteriori -- ****
3.  Elvis Presley's Rock and Roll War Effort -- ****
4.  The Abstration of Form and Function -- *****


Radness Average:  4.500


The Abandoned Hearts Club - The Initial Confessions of the Abandoned Hearts Club


Verdict:  I really wish that this band was still around. Reunion?

For fans of:  The Dillinger Escape Plan, Botch, Death From Above 1979, Deadguy, Rorschach

\m/

Various Artists - We Are Triumphant Nu-Metal Cover Sampler

Who:  Various artists from the We Are Triumphant Records lineup.

What:  A compilation of deathcore bands covering nu-metal bands.

When:  May 2014

Where:  The label is based out of Rockland, MA.

Why:   I've got to know what it sounds like when someone covers Saliva. Terrible, it turns out.

[The Radness Average (or star rating) is derived from assigning each song a number of stars based on a 1-5 scale, then adding the total number of stars, and then dividing that number of total stars by the number of songs on the record. A Radness Average of 4.0 or higher indicates a good or great record. A Radness Average of 2.0 or less indicates pure crap. Everything else is in the middle somewhere.]

Various Artists - W.A.T. Nu-Metal Cover Sampler - We Are Triumphant Records

1.  Immoralist (Richmond, VA) - "Psychosocial" (Slipknot) -- ****
2.  Extortionist (Spokane, WA) - "Click-Click Boom!" (Saliva) -- *
3.  Dealey Plaza (Ft. Myers, FL) - "Falling Away from Me" (Korn) -- *
4.  Feign (Houston, TX) - "Dig" (Mudvayne) -- ****


Radness Average:  2.500


Various Artists - We Are Triumphant Nu-Metal Cover Sampler


Verdict:  Two decent songs and two terrible songs make for a sub-par Radness Average.

For fans of:  Within Ruins, The Acacia Strain, Barrier, REX, Emmure

\m/

ABACABB - Survivalist

Who:  ABACABB

What:  Debut (and only) full-length album of this deathcore band from the Virginia side of the DC area.

When:  January 2009

Where:  Sterling, VA

Why:   Because history is forgetting about one of the few quality releases by Sumerian Records.

Back When:  I previously wrote about Survivalist back in March 2009 when the album was a new release. Click here to read the original review.

[The Radness Average (or star rating) is derived from assigning each song a number of stars based on a 1-5 scale, then adding the total number of stars, and then dividing that number of total stars by the number of songs on the record. A Radness Average of 4.0 or higher indicates a good or great record. A Radness Average of 2.0 or less indicates pure crap. Everything else is in the middle somewhere.]

ABACABB - Survivalist - Sumerian Records

1.  Introduction -- ****
2.  Infection -- *****
3.  Addiction -- *****
4.  Regression -- *****
5.  Survivalist -- *****
6.  Destruction - *****
7.  Articulation -- ****
8.  Devastation -- ****
9.  Rejection -- *****
10.  Isolation -- *****


Radness Average:  4.700


ABACABB - Survivalist
ABACABB - Survivalist (ZS)

Verdict:  It may not be the most technical or original record ever made but Survivalist is aging well and doesn't sound miserably dated.

For fans of:  The Acacia Strain, Emmure, Upon A Burning Body, Deadwater Drowning




\m/

White Zombie - Astro-Creep: 2000 -- Songs of Love, Destruction and Other Synthetic Delusions of the Electric Head

Who:  White Zombie

What:  Final LP from the legendary horror/comic book/junk culture/sci-fi metal band.

When:  April 1995

Where:  New York City

Why:   After five years on the Geffen death star, wicked in-fighting spells doom for a band at the height of its fame.

[The Radness Average (or star rating) is derived from assigning each song a number of stars based on a 1-5 scale, then adding the total number of stars, and then dividing that number of total stars by the number of songs on the record. A Radness Average of 4.0 or higher indicates a good or great record. A Radness Average of 2.0 or less indicates pure crap. Everything else is in the middle somewhere.]

White Zombie - Astro-Creep: 2000 - Geffen Records

1.  Electric Head: The Agony (Part 1) -- *****
2.  Super-Charger Heaven -- *****
3.  Real Solution #9 -- *****
4.  Creature of the Wheel -- *****
5.  Electric Head: The Ecstasy (Part 2) -- *****
6.  Grease Paint and Monkey Brains - *****
7.  I, Zombie -- *****
8.  More Human Than Human -- *****
9.  El Phantasmo and the Chicken Run Blast-O-Rama -- *****
10.  Blur the Technicolor -- *****
11.  Blood, Milk, and Sky -- *****

Radness Average:  5.000


White Zombie - Astro-Creep: 2000


Verdict:  Ka-Boom! Blammo!

For fans of:  The little-known, obscure metal band named White Zombie.

\m/

White Zombie - God of Thunder

Who:  White Zombie

What:  First release with riff-master guitarist Jay Yuenger. Released on Caroline.

When:  October 1989

Where:  New York City

Why:   This EP is the first appearance of the White Zombie that we all know and love. The goth and 80s influences are gone. The Metallica-knob got cracked to 11.

[The Radness Average (or star rating) is derived from assigning each song a number of stars based on a 1-5 scale, then adding the total number of stars, and then dividing that number of total stars by the number of songs on the record. A Radness Average of 4.0 or higher indicates a good or great record. A Radness Average of 2.0 or less indicates pure crap. Everything else is in the middle somewhere.]

White Zombie - God of Thunder - Caroline

1.  God of Thunder (Kiss) -- ****
2.  Love Razor -- *****
3.  Disaster Blaster II -- *****



Radness Average:  4.667


White Zombie - God of Thunder


Verdict:  Jay was the missing piece of the puzzle. This band got really awesome once he joined.

For fans of:  White Zombie. Is anyone really unfamiliar with this band?

\m/

Beastplague - Beastplague

Who:  Beastplague

What:  Debut CD of brutal death/grind self-released by these Miami maniacs.

When:  February 2014

Where:  Broward County, FL

Why:   South Florida demonstrated that it has more to offer than just booty-bass rap with the most brutal nine minutes of music that you will hear all year.

[The Radness Average (or star rating) is derived from assigning each song a number of stars based on a 1-5 scale, then adding the total number of stars, and then dividing that number of total stars by the number of songs on the record. A Radness Average of 4.0 or higher indicates a good or great record. A Radness Average of 2.0 or less indicates pure crap. Everything else is in the middle somewhere.]

Beastplague - Beastplague - self-released

1.  Concubina Sordibus -- *****
2.  True Force -- *****
3.  Full Sequence -- *****
4.  Fortis Quadramanus -- *****
5.  Ruined -- *****
6.  Castration - *****
7.  Glorified Rottendom -- *****
8.  No Future, No Past -- *****
9. An Evolution of Violence -- *****
10.  Self-Extinction -- *****


Radness Average:  5.000


Beastplague - Beastplague


Verdict:  One of the very rare perfect albums to be released this year. You have to check this out right now.

For fans of:  Insect Warfare, Shitstorm, Cellgraft, Discordance Axis, Origin

\m/

Xaphan/Primitive Man - Split EP

Who:  Xaphan and Primitive Man

What:  Split 7" EP of blackened doom metal released on Init Records.

When:  2014

Where:  Minneapolis, MN/Denver, CO

Why:   Twin Cities occultists join forces with Denver hate-stoners to make one of the year's best 7" records.

[The Radness Average (or star rating) is derived from assigning each song a number of stars based on a 1-5 scale, then adding the total number of stars, and then dividing that number of total stars by the number of songs on the record. A Radness Average of 4.0 or higher indicates a good or great record. A Radness Average of 2.0 or less indicates pure crap. Everything else is in the middle somewhere.]


Xaphan/Primitive Man - Split 7" EP - Init Records

1.  Cold Surge (Xaphan) -- *****
2.  The Ties That Bind and Sever -- ****


Radness Average:  4.500


Xaphan/Primitive Man - Split 7" EP


Verdict:  Xaphan barely wins the brutality contest over Primitive Man but the real winners here are the listeners.

For fans of: Cursed, Trap Them, Black Anvil, Tragedy, Nails




\m/

Heisenberg - Heisenberg

Who:  Heisenberg

What:  Self-released debut full-length CD of slam/death metal.

When:  2014

Where:  Long Island, NY

Why:   Former members of The Forrest Gump Mile High Marathon carry on the NY slam-death tradition of sick riffs mixed with horror samples.

[The Radness Average (or star rating) is derived from assigning each song a number of stars based on a 1-5 scale, then adding the total number of stars, and then dividing that number of total stars by the number of songs on the record. A Radness Average of 4.0 or higher indicates a good or great record. A Radness Average of 2.0 or less indicates pure crap. Everything else is in the middle somewhere.]

Heisenberg - Heisenberg - self-released

1.  Plecostomus Prime -- *****
2.  Meth Shots -- *****
3.  Explosive Innards -- ****
4.  Glory Hole Confession Session -- *****
5.  The Pantera Factor -- *****
6.  Black Metal Joe - ****
7.  Razorblade Enema -- ****
8.  Fulminated Mercury -- *****


Radness Average:  4.625


Heisenberg - Heisenberg


Verdict:  Explosive debut from a promising new band. Can't wait to hear more.

For fans of:  Dying Fetus, Mortician, Malevolent Creation, Devourment, Embalmer




\m/

Negativland - U2

Who:  Negativland

What:  Controversial 12" EP that proved to be Negativland's final release for SST Records. U2 got Negativland sued by Island Records, U2, and even SST Records.

When:  1991

Where:  Concord, CA

Why:   No one with a soul can resist skewering the most pompous windbags of the 1980s.

[The Radness Average (or star rating) is derived from assigning each song a number of stars based on a 1-5 scale, then adding the total number of stars, and then dividing that number of total stars by the number of songs on the record. A Radness Average of 4.0 or higher indicates a good or great record. A Radness Average of 2.0 or less indicates pure crap. Everything else is in the middle somewhere.]

Negativland - U2 - SST

1.  I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For (1991 A Capella Mix) -- *****
2.  I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For (Special Edit Radio Mix) -- *****


Radness Average:  5.000


Negativland - U2



Verdict: A 5.0 Radness Average is not handed out lightly. Negativland is one of the only bands that can accurately be described as unique.

For fans of:  Culturcide, UltraViolence, Robert Anton Wilson, Clyde Lewis, KMFDM




\m/

Puig Destroyer - Debut EP

Who:  Puig Destroyer

What:  Debut 7" of baseball-themed grindcore released on The Ghost Is Clear Records

When:  2013

Where:  Los Angeles, CA

Why:   This side project of Thrice and Curl Up & Die members started as a love letter to the LA Dodgers but has now taken on a life of its own. Debut LP soon.

[The Radness Average (or star rating) is derived from assigning each song a number of stars based on a 1-5 scale, then adding the total number of stars, and then dividing that number of total stars by the number of songs on the record. A Radness Average of 4.0 or higher indicates a good or great record. A Radness Average of 2.0 or less indicates pure crap. Everything else is in the middle somewhere.]


Puig Destroyer - Debut EP - The Ghost Is Clear Records

1.  One Man, Five Tools -- *****
2.  Dad Hat -- ****
3.  Destroyer of Baseballs -- ****
4.  Nine and Never Apart -- *****
5.  Basebrawl -- *****
6. Stop Fucking Bunting! -- *****


Radness Average:  4.667


Puig Destroyer - Debut EP


Verdict: Stop fucking bunting! (a.k.a. mandatory listening)

For fans of: actual Pig Destroyer, Nasum, Agoraphobic Nosebleed, Discordance Axis, baseball




\m/

Insect Warfare - Single-sided LP

Who:  Insect Warfare

What:  Single-sided LP released by 625 Thrashcore.

When:  2009

Where:  Houston, TX

Why:   The final release from H-Town's greatest grindcore weirdos.

[The Radness Average (or star rating) is derived from assigning each song a number of stars based on a 1-5 scale, then adding the total number of stars, and then dividing that number of total stars by the number of songs on the record. A Radness Average of 4.0 or higher indicates a good or great record. A Radness Average of 2.0 or less indicates pure crap. Everything else is in the middle somewhere.]

Insect Warfare - Single-sided LP - 625 Thrashcore

1. Unititled -- ****

Radness Average:  4.000


* A note about this release:
On its final album, Insect Warfare played a little prank on its fans, critics, and haters alike. Insect Warfare broke up instead of venturing into the world of professional death metal. The band's sound was changing into a more power electronics direction anyway. So, in order to stick it to the man one final time, the single-sided LP is a lone nine-minute-long blast of caustic noise. This record is a final middle finger delivered to those who expected this band to go through the motions for decades on end for little to no reward. I appreciate the sentiment but I gave this record a four instead of a five because of the lack of traditional grind. I get it, fight the power and all that, but don't forget who "brung ya" to the dance.


Insect Warfare - Single-sided LP


Verdict:  Cool but not essential.

For fans of: Anal Cunt, CSSO, Gore Beyond Necropsy, Bastard Noise, Yatagarasu.




\m/

Secret Cutter - Secret Cutter

Who:  Secret Cutter

What:  Debut LP self-released by the band.

When:  2014

Where:  Bethlehem, PA.

Why:   Sludge/doom/grind from a part of the country that has been crushed by the recession. Heavy music for heavy times.

[The Radness Average (or star rating) is derived from assigning each song a number of stars based on a 1-5 scale, then adding the total number of stars, and then dividing that number of total stars by the number of songs on the record. A Radness Average of 4.0 or higher indicates a good or great record. A Radness Average of 2.0 or less indicates pure crap. Everything else is in the middle somewhere.]

Secret Cutter - Secret Cutter - self-released

1.  Mirror Mirror -- *****
2.  Deformed Eye -- *****
3.  17.5 Dead Air -- *****
4.  Craving the Silence -- ****
5.  Vow of Poverty -- *****
6.  Shake the Malevolent -- *****
7.  Midtro -- *****
8.  End of Sylvan -- *****
9.  Headache Ball -- *****
10.  Driftwood -- *****


Radness Average:  4.900


Secret Cutter - Secret Cutter


Verdict: This record will chart high on the No Funeral Best of 2014 list.  This is my favorite album of the year so far.

For Fans of:  Trap Them, Cursed, Crowbar, Xibalba, what Victory Records used to call "evilcore."




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NoComply/XBRAINIAX - split EP

Who:  NoComply and XBRAINIAX

What:  Split 7" EP released by To Live A Lie Records.

When:  2006

Where:  St. Augustine, FL and Clinton Township, MI

Why:   Florida skatecore/powerviolence band joins forces with Michigan fastcore maniacs to ensure maximum casualties.

[The Radness Average (or star rating) is derived from assigning each song a number of stars based on a 1-5 scale, then adding the total number of stars, and then dividing that number of total stars by the number of songs on the record. A Radness Average of 4.0 or higher indicates a good or great record. A Radness Average of 2.0 or less indicates pure crap. Everything else is in the middle somewhere.]

NoComply/XBRAINIAX - Split 7" EP - To Live A Lie

(Tracks 1-6 by NoComply. Tracks 7-16 by XBRAINIAX)

1.  Who We Are -- ****

2.  Ogar Part II -- ****

3.  Still Pole Bashin' -- *****

4.  Song #32 (Stikky) -- *****

5.  Judy's Back in Court -- *****

6.  I'd Rather Wear Speedos -- ****

7.  KOB 2006 -- *****

8.  Snake Culture -- *****

9.  Pwn3d Community -- ****

10.  Fedaykin -- *****

11.  Not in my Circle Pit -- ****

12.  No Surprise -- ****

13.  Reprezent -- *****

14.  Sunken Tomb -- ****

15.  Red Out -- *****

16.  My Life (Lack of Interest) -- *****

Radness Average:  4.563

NoComply/XBRAINIAX - Split 7" EP

Verdict: Bong-rattling skate grind at its finest. Recommended.

For Fans of: Spazz, Charles Bronson, Los Crudos, raw hardcore

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The Abandoned Hearts Club and the new ratings system!

Beinvenidos! Brian No Funeral here with the first new post to this website since February. Sorry about the delay but it's not like I haven't been writing. I've spent most of this year contributing music articles to 99 Miles of Bad Blogs and Super Happy Death Cult while trying to finish the novel that I've been on again/off again writing for four years. Basically, when I'm not here, I'm there. But you knew that already.

Also, during the break, I completed the third No Funeral podtape. Click here to listen.

Going forward, I want to use the No Funeral website strictly for music. I'll leave the philosophizing for the other websites. This is going to come at you hard and quick. It's what Rush Limbaugh refers to as the drive-by media. Let's use today's album as an example of what to expect in the future.

[We're still going to start with the cover art like we always have.]

[Then comes the Five Ws (who, what, where, when, and why)]

Who:    The Abandoned Hearts Club

What:   Unreleased debut LP Aloha Cocksuckers

When:  Recorded in 2004. Leaked onto the internet after the band's sudden split.

Where: Toronto, ON

Why:    The album was shelved by Abacus Recordings in 2004. The band broke up shortly after.

[Then comes what I call the Radness Average or star rating. The average is derived from the number of stars assigned to each song on a scale of 1-5, then added together, and then divided by the number of songs of the record. An IBA of 4.0 or higher indicates a good or great album. An IBA of 2.0 or less indicates pure crap. The 3s and the 2s are the average albums. Here's what the IBA breakdown looks like.]

The Abandoned Hearts Club - Aloha Cocksuckers - Abacus Recordings

1.  Admissions of a Sales Clerk -- ***
2.  When Pawnbrokers Cash In -- *****
3.  Israel -- *****
4.  Metropolitan Sentences -- *****
5.  Neon Delusions -- *****
6.  Folk Music -- ****
7.  Blister Quicksand -- *****

Radness Average = 4.571

Verdict: Unstoppable hate!



The Abandoned Hearts Club - Aloha Cocksuckers 







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