Funk You

Back in the late 80's, while watching Headbangers Ball, I saw a video from a band called Mordred, which was playing this funked up, metal version of Superfreak. I thought it was pretty cool, and they were actually the opening band for a Sacred Reich or Forbidden show I was going to, so I got the full experience. I will say, Mordred hooked me after seeing them live. You could tell they were all great musicians, combined with the resident DJ Pause, it was something totally new back then. The first Mordred release, Fool's Game, out on Noise International was a nice little gem that mixed some thrash metal with some funk. Not like the dreaded Limp Bisqucik we had to endure, and the rash of followers that were spawned out of it. Mordred put out another disc, In This Life in 1991, which became a little more funkier, a little less thrashy, but all good. The last bit of music I have from Mordred released in 1992 called Vision, which even further explored more funk and less metal, but still good. Mordred reunited in 2001 after splitting up in 1995 to play some selected shows. What they are up to now, is beyond me, but from what I've read it's nothing like the previous version of Mordred, should be interesting.
Check out Downtown from In This Life.
Here is The Artist from Fool's Game.
Buy from Amazon here.

Autopsy Breath

If anyone remembers Autopsy, then I have just described Death Breath to you. Death Breath sound almost exactly like Autopsy, and they do not hide the fact about being influenced by them, or Sacrifice, Venom, Celtic Frost, Possessed, etc.etc.etc....hell they want you to know that. The band is Nicke Anderson (Entombed, Hellacopters) and Robert Pehrsson with whoever wants to join in. I would describe the Death Breath sound as death-sludge metal, dirty-death metal, death-gunk metal, or muddy-death metal. The descriptions give you a visual of something big and massive trying to move through a swamp or bog- that's exactly it, so record the sound it makes and you have Death Breath. Good stuff!! The band's first release is out on Relapse, go buy it!!

Their second release is an EP- Let It Stink, and you can check out some tracks over here

Give 'em a listen, buy their CD or a shirt, and support underground metal!! (Remember that?) Seriously, support the underground and all the bands that are in there because that's where they want to be.

U or V

I'm back- not that I was missed, but I'll get going with a tasty review of one the classic and well respected death metal albums - Consuming Impulse by Pestilence, or Consvming Impvlse as it appears on the cover. Now, when this album came out, it was one that I had been waiting for what seemed like forever. Pestilence hailed from the Netherlands and were looped into the whole death metal craze of the late 80's- always mentioned in the same breath as Death, Morbid Angel, Carcass, Sepultura and Obituary, has respect built in. Pestilence sound was just a tad bit different from the typical death metal set up, they added elements of brutality, technical guitar playing and all around some killer vo-kills. The unique part of Pestilence is that the drumming never really ventured into the blast beat area, which helped to define their sound more than just some noise, but well orchestrated, controlled chaos. Their first album Malleus Maleficarum had some thin production, to me, that took away from the serious brutality that was Pestilence. Then came Consuming Impulse, which answered my prayers. The first time I heard this, it was like, sweet Jesus, this is what death metal is all about. I must have listened to that tape,(yes tape)over and over and over for months. I finally was going to get the chance to see Pestilence in concert, but for some reason they could not get over to the U.S., and alas, I have never seen Pestilence in concert. After the Consuming Impulse tour, the lead singer and bass player, Martin Van Drunen left, and Pestilence took on a more complex, technical, jazz influenced sound. Yes, still good, and here is where the line is drawn among Pestilence fans, it's either the first two or everything after that. Me- I'm with the first two. Tony Choy came into the fold to play bass, the same Tony Choy who was in Cynic and Atheist at the same time.
There are some Pestilence fan sites on Myspace
Consuming Impulse has just been released as the single album on iTunes instead of the Roadrunner Greatest Hits package that included Consuming Impulse and Testimony of the Ancients on the same disc.
Finally, former members of Pestilence, Patrick Mameli and Tony Choy, have teamed up with former Cynic and Death drummer Sean Reinert and Tony Jelencovich to form a new group called C-187. They describe their sound as "difficult to describe the style", which means killer.

Skate Metal

Skate Metal - when I first heard that term, I was like "What, only music you can skate to?" Well, yes and no, from the word I was getting, it was music that people skated to, but nothing exclusive about it. Some friends of mine passed along the tape of Excel, Split Image and I was hooked. Their next release, The Joke's on You is pure fun, sing-along metal that you can really rock out to. I remember the first and only time I saw Excel in concert, it was one of those moments where everyone there was waiting as long or longer than I had to see them. The small number of us all sang along, moshed, stage dove, and had a great time. It will truly be a concert I will never forget. The music, well, as is the norm here I don't give specific examples or comparison, just think of Venice Beach, California in the mid to late 80's. Grab a listen to some of the tunes on their MySpace page
Rotten Records have re-released the first two Excel albums on CD with some extras on each one, so pick them up right from the label
Listen, buy and sing along!!

Warriors of Ice

This band will be forever known as the band that sounds like no one else. VoiVod have been making genre bending, indefinable music for over 20 years, and even after the death of guitarist Piggy, they still put out albums that force everyone to try to pinpoint some other band to compare them to. Don't even try. I started listening to VoiVod back in 1987, and even then it was like, "What is this?" When I am asked what VoiVod sounds like, I just reply "VoiVod", then the blank stares begin. The picture here is of the Nothingface album, which when released, was like taking a breath of pure, magical oxygen that has never been experienced by another human - it was invigorating, new, precious, and a memory that will never be forgotten. Again, don't ask what it sounds like, just run out to your favorite indie store and buy a copy, used copy, go online and buy it, download it (after paying) and breathe in the oxygen for yourself. I don't try to give away any comparisons to the music here, that is for each one of you to decide if, and what anything around here sounds like. Experience the music for yourself, I'm the map to the locations, you have to get climb down off the horse and experience them on your own. VoiVod has quite a few albums to choose from, I suggest starting with Nothingface and work backwards by year released. Now, get off the horse, make sure you have enough water and a sleepingbag, here is your first adventure.
Check out the VoiVod site here
VoiVod fan sites have some MP3's of concerts and demo versions over here

Glorious

Here is the band Junius, may seem like no big deal to you, but on their latest disc, Blood is Bright has one of the most amazing songs I have EVER heard- yes ever. There are many songs that compete for any one persons all time favorites, and this one should be in yours. This disc, or EP however you want to call it deserves to be played for all of us who enjoy music for what it is. A conduit for transporting us to another place, creating a memory, sparking feelings, and leaving a mark for where we were when we heard it. The song, A Word Could Kill Her, is just that song- simply amazing, starts slow, builds up and hits you where it counts. With the right production, this tune can change lives. I cannot post it here for all to enjoy, but check out some of the other songs on the disc.
It's only six bucks from Radiant Records, and well worth your cash, so buy it
I can't say enough about this band, just that they are not a super-heavy thrash attack, but more on the side of some atmospheric atl-metal combo that really works well. If I were to describe them to anyone, I would simply say: they sound like you feel!
Any nice, decent A&R person with a backbone for promoting good music as opposed to a cash machine should go check them out and thank me later.

Goat Frost

Here we go with a nice little band called Goatwhore. Described as black metal, which I agree to, they have quite a good platter out on Metal Blade Records right now called A Haunting Curse. I do have to say first off that describing a band as black metal conjures up images of terrible production, limited pressings and corpse paint. Not here folks, this is one great sounding, high quality, straight up black/death metal. Wonderful drumming (which you can hear all of them, not just the high-hat and snare), excellent vocals, and guitar riffs that are good!!! I suggest you pick this up, really, or even better pick it up and support the band by seeing them in concert or buying a shirt. Goatwhore has members of Soilent Green in the ranks, who have has their fair share of disasters that would make any person just give up on life. After listening to all forms of black and death metal for over 20 years, this comes across as the perfect mix of classic death metal with a mix of the "newer" sounds of death metal. I am not going to give everything away, take a listen for yourself here
If you would like to see them in all their glory, then check them out over here
Buy a shirt from the band here
Why did I call this post Goat Frost? The first 5 seconds of Alchemy of the Black Sun Cult will explain it.

The beginning of the end

I remember walking up the stairs to my friends house when I heard it. I knew exactly what it was, and I was about to experience it for myself. I opened the door and there it was in all it's glory- the sounds of Black Metal by Venom coming out of the speakers. It was the moment where I had finally experienced something I heard so many other people talk about - Venom and the whole world of black metal. Little did I know that day would be the first day, up and including today where music would shape and define my life. That's what this blog is all about. Giving some bands the small amount of exposure I can give them to hopefully remind some of you about times in your life or introduce you to bands who will define your life. I will also expose bands to a world that will grab them and give them a try. It's all about knowing the past and exploring into the future, it all comes together here, at the beginning of the end.