Potence - DEMO

Potence - Demo (2015)

Some more killer stuff from the other side of the world.. this time from France!

Potence are a new screamo band from Besançon, France featuring Aurelien Verdant of the incredibly influential '00's band, Daïtro! Verdant returns to his throat-destroying warpath on this 4-song demo that will sure to bring you back if, like me, you were a fan of his work in his previous endeavor. If you are not familiar with Daïtro, however, don't fret; Potence is still a bit different. Here, Potence are much more gritty with a third of the band coming from some sort of crust-induced music project.

The other members' crusty projects include Geranium, Human Compost, and Black Code.



Potence = Gallows

Facebook
Bandcamp
Last.fm

Monday 102

MXNDXY XXXXXXXXXXII

Free To Think - Demo (2014)

Free To Think are a hardcore band from my third home, Bangor, Maine. Much like my buds Never Relaxed, they are keeping this whole hardcore scene in Maine alive and well. They also happen to be wrestling fans like myself, so I can't not talk about them. This here is their '014 demo which includes a real American outro that can't be missed:


Facebook
Last.fm


Margy Pepper - Deep Water Dark Water (2013)

Dark and dreary pop punk rock from Olympia. A three piece possibly possessed by ghosts or some sort of modern-day witch (if that's PC). Margy Pepper are very reminiscent of another band from Olympia that I have talked about before and that band would be RAGANA. This is no coincidence either as they are best buds and do tour together.


Margy Pepper did happen to make it to Mayo Street in Portland a few months sans RAGANA.

Last.fm

Windmill of Corpses - Thin Walls (2014)

Windmill of Corpses are a three-piece crust metal band out of Arizona. With punchy drums and demonic howls, these guys are a guaranteed slap right smack in your little baby face. Get on this if you want to live with your beautiful baby face no more.


Great live!

Facebook
Last.fm

Yautja - Songs of Descent

Yautja - Songs of Descent (2014)

From NFT's Song and Match of the Day:

Yautji are a mix of all sorts of pissed off sludgy hardcore and metal noise all tangled up in a big sharp clump and ready for you to step on it late at night as you quietly-as-possible walk to the bathroom. Your foot will bleed and you will be shouting, waking your girlfriend up and her drunk roommate. In this short yet excruciatingly painful moment you will confess your hatred for your shitty job and your mundane life. The next day you will buy a motorcycle and drive it far, far away. Eventually, you will ride it into the sun and mesh your skin and bones with the motorcycle's shiny metal and leather, becoming apart of it as much as it will be apart of you and you will ride the solar system from there on out as a mecha-humanoid motorcycle bounty hunter.

Never to return.

Highlights: "Denihilist", "Tar and Blindness", "Faith Resigned", "A Crawl", and "Of Decent".

Similar acts/sounds: Coliseum, Legion, Nameless Cults, Gnarwhal, Mutoid Man, Harm's Way, Mammoth Grinder, Nails, Black Breath, and eating dessert first... and last... and for all the other meals.

Bandcamp
Last.fm

Host - Death Will Claim These Tired Bones

Host - Death will claim these tired bones (2014)

Here's something pretty unexpected: It's the late New Hampshire hardcore band, Host's last album which almost never saw the light of day. Death will claim these tired bones was recorded just before the band announced they were ceased to exist. Thankfully, the album was not lost forever, and is out now on the internet for everyone to hear!

Normally I wouldn't bug anyone to buy music that I'm plugging, but I really ask that if you enjoy this kind of stuff to buy this album. Not only do they deserve it because they were a band in a hard working genre, but the money also goes to a cause that is close to them. All proceeds from this release go to the band's friend/the vocalist Matt's Fiance, Ana's medical costs of her pancreatic liver failure treatment.

I know I will be putting some money towards this album when I get my tax refund money soon. 

Facebook

Last.fm

NFT's Interesting Albums of 2013

Some things sound the same... these aren't those things.

Clipping - Midcity (2013)

Clipping is hip-hop laced in harsh noise featuring members from True Neutral Crew. I thought I would like Midcity a lot more than a I did; not because I don't like the noise/anti-beats - that's actually what kept me listening - I just can't get passed the stereotypical rap lyrics. Still, it's a very interesting listen:

Last.fm

Hill/Cameron/Weiss - Drumgasm (2013)

Simply put, Drumgasm  is a 39 minute drum solo by Janet Weiss (Quasi, Wild Flag, Sleater-Kinney), Matt Cameron (Soundgarden, Pearl Jam), and Zach Hall (a thousand other things). It's not an album for everyone, especially for anyone who doesn't like drumming, but it certainly deserves a spot on my most interesting albums of 2013 list. Drumgasm is also now a nice treat for myself since Zach Hill is so busy with Death Grips that he is not appearing in all sorts of supergroups and experimental tag team projects that he used to. Plus, this album is only drumming... so, we the listeners get to hear Hill's gloriously spastic drumming in full color.

Matt Cameron and Janet Weiss are great drummers in their own right, but let's be honest: if Zach Hill wasn't on this drum expose, there probably wouldn't be much to talk about.

Last.fm

Jungbluth - Part Ache (2013)

Politically fueled by the ghost of German communist and antifascist, Karl Jungbluth, this post-hiatus Alpinist side project is a crusty hardcore battle cry. I'm not a big follower of politics by any sense but I have noticed how powerful of a tool it can be when it comes to making art and music... and noise. 

All proceeds to Part Ache go to Anarchist Black Cross: Belarus - a group that supports anarchists and antiauthoritorian people (and other words I remember hearing in Amnesty club) that are imprisoned for their political beliefs and public activities.  

Last.fm

Kal Marks - Life Is Murder (2013)

Boston freak indie rock fueled by the ghost of Karl Marx.

Seriously though, Kal Marks is a classic last minute find from the always impressive record label, Exploding in Sound. No time like the present to get addicted to this stuff:



Did I mention the vocals are hauntingly freaky?

Last.fm

Botanist - IV: Mandragora (2013)

Probably my most interesting find this year has to be Botanist.

Botanist is plant-inspired black metal using only drums and a dulcimer. It's a one person effort by a man named Otrebor who plays this green metal of sorts from the perspective of The Botanist. The Botanist's mission in life is to return Earth back to its natural form before humanity moved in and destroyed everything. At first it sounds like a guy with an electrical voice box banging on metal and a marching snare drum, but it gets enjoyable in a weird way once you listen to it a few more times.

It's definitely something.

Last.fm

Monday LXXXXIII

Busted eardrums will thank you.

Special Explosion - Special Explosion (2013)

Special Explosion are the newest members of the Topshelf Records family. This release is a combination of  pretty much all the material that Special Explosion have released in the past all rolled up into one great little record debut of sorts.



Nice indie rock/pop punk.

Last.fm

Cara Neir - Portals to a Better, Dead World (2013)

Want to bring a little darkness to your holidays? How about some crusty two-piece blackened metal?

Cara Neir's got you covered.


I was pretty surprised to see these guys make Spin's 20 Best Metal Albums as well as Stereogum's however many albums they want to put below Sunbather metal list this year. Hell, Cara Neir even made it onto a College Humor list and labeled as "...great for everyone who would prefer to be dead". I would not go as far as to say that this album would make you want to off yourself, but Portals to a Better, Dead World would definitely make it into my favorite metal things list this year if I had one (even though I wouldn't consider them straight-up metal).

Last.fm

Captain Hollow - Mares Got Strangled (2013)

From what it seems, Mares Got Strangled might be Captain Hollow's "final transmission for a while". As someone who has been following this Bangor/Portland band for a bit now, I'm surprised they haven't broken up yet. Then again, I probably say that every time they return to make one last album.



Mares Got Strangled is without question Captain Hollow's most experimental release. If you get passed the fact that this album is not serious at all, you can really start to enjoy its all-over-the-place-ness.

I also really appreciate the Pooty Tang reference (track 5). The world needs more Pooty Tang references.

Last.fm

Monday XXXXXXXI

RIP Jason Molina

Black Mask. - Black Mask. (2012)

Finger licking good hardcore that falls right off the bones! From Pennsylvania.

At first I though this was another Black "something" band but then I saw the period.



Get mad.

Bandcamp
Last.fm

Scavenger - Cynical (2013)

Scavenger are a hardcore troupe from northern Maine that are quite reminiscent of early hardcore punk that requires a cassette player and big giant 80's speakers. Not bad, not bad.



Last.fm (#7)

Songs: Ohia - The Lioness (2000)

While clearly not as recognized as Magnolia Electric Co. or as truthfully and down right sad as Axxess & Ace (one of my favorite albums to play when I'm sad), The Lioness definitely has its moments of both sadness and glory that makes it stand out in my top three Jason Molina albums list.

Highlights include: "Lioness", "Being in Love", "Coxcomb Red", and "Nervous Bride"

Bonus:

Joe Beats's remix of "Coxcomb Red":

Last.fm

Monday XXXXXXIX

Spring Breakout Edition.

Welkin Dusk - Born Into a Dying World (2011)

Furious blackened crust/trash metal from Chicago.



Last.fm

Trust Fall - My Thoughts Exactly (2012)

Twinkly/nood emo with a dark side...

They think they are kvlt.



Last.fm

Nasty Negligee - Level 3 (2012)

Trashy garage rock 'n' roll conducted by Portland's Sterling Black.



Last.fm

Monday 69

Hah.

RAGANA - All's Lost (2012)

This is Olympia, Washington RAGANA's first release, entitled, All's Lost. It features the same intense witchy black metal that their new album, Unbecoming has. Personally though, I just listen to both albums, starting with this one, back to back. Nonstop. Every night.



Last.fm

Billy Carr - Family Planning? (2013)

No album artwork yet!

Billy Carr is the solo project of William B. Carr formerly of The Waldos.

Billy sings and plays guitar in a very different way; a different but cool and refreshingly new way. I recently saw Billy play some of these songs at The Butcher Boy/Speaker for the Dead show at Mayo Street Arts in Portland with Peter McLaughlin accompanying him on drums, and while it seemed a bit overwhelming in the electric setting they were performing at, I really do enjoy these songs the way they are recorded here just with acoustic guitar and vocals. No offence to Peter (who also provides phenomenal percussion on Lady Lamb The Beekeeper's new album, Ripley Pine) what so ever, I just think that these songs make sense acoustically. At least for the time being...



I do wish there was some artwork, though.

Ooh, and I almost forgot: Billy Carr also has a doubling session with Matt Houston (formerly of Red Medicine) which is available both for streaming and downloading. It also comes with artwork! Check it out!

Last.fm

Host - There's nothing up there but heavy clouds (2012)

I'm pretty pumped to announce that Host, the dark and dreary hardcore outfit from New Hampshire who, I might add, released a very fine split with KYOTY last year will be playing in Portland this coming Sunday - which I can go to since it will kick off my spring break.

The show is being put on by the hard-working folks of Dirigimus Cooperative, which means that this show is probably in a semi-secret location somewhere or behind the train tracks somewhere. It's also being put on around 3 o'clock in the afternoon so you will still have time to make it to church!



Because fuck the police.

Last.fm

Split Cranium

Split Cranium - Split Cranium (2012)

Split Cranium will do as their name suggests; split your cranium open and pour melting hot Finnish stoner rock mixed with American crust punk down into where your brain should be located.

And personally, I'm fine with that.

Split Cranium features Aaron Turner formerly of Isis (along with Old Man Gloom, Lotus Eater, Mamiffer, etc.), Jukka Kröger, Samae Koskinen of Steel Mammoth, and Jussi Lehtisalo of Steel Mammoth, Circle and Pharaoh Overlord. This self title is one of the last releases by Hydra Head Records, founded by Aaron Turner, after the label called it quits on new releases back in September. Hydra Head Records is not officially dead yet and are still selling all of the material and merchandise they have to pay of debts and such.

It's really a shame to see such an influential and all around important record label have to close its doors... :....(

Highlights: "Little Brother", "Blossoms for Boils", "Spectres to Rust", "Black Binding Plague", and "Yellow Mountain".



Also: Check out Split Cranium's official sky mask. Perfect for this cold cold weather we've been having!

I hate it when my left eye is cold, too.

They should make official hard hats while they're at it.

Get it?

Hydra Head Records
Bandcamp
Last.fm

5th Day of NFT Christmas

Day 5.

Wrestling miscellaneous:

In 1995, "Million Dollar Man" Ted Dibiase once again proved to everyone that he was the biggest heel with the biggest wallet after attacking Savio Vega with his latest purchase, Santa's brother! Ladies and gentleman, I present to you, hailing from the South Pole: Xanta Klaus

That's right! Xanta Klaus! The reverse Santa Clause who would wear black and red instead or white and red, lived in the South Pole instead of the North Pole, and, of course, stole presents instead of gave them!

At least this Claus brother is better than Vince Vaughn (Fred Claus).

Xanta Klaus only appeared a few times on screen in the WWF during the later parts of 1995; I'm guessing he had to go back to the South Pole to re-hydrate his evil powers or something and then his visa expired. He did however have one match while in that short time after appearing for the Christmas themed PPV, In Your House 5: Seasons Beatings, and it was on Raw against Scott Taylor AKA Scotty 2 Hotty! 

                      

Xanta Klaus by Wrestlegameshow

Truth be told, Xanta Klaus actually went east after the end of 1995 and took up a more hardcore wrestling approach as Balls Mahoney in ECW! Looking back on Balls' match as Mr. Klaus, we can see that the chair wielding manic actually knew how to wrestle! Yep, even with that silly costume on.

Monday XXXXXX

Figured I'd do a regular Monday post before you receive your 4th day of NFT Christmas present.

Spoiled brats.



Apart - Gray Light (2012)

Apart is a group of hip looking kids with nice haircuts. They don't look that angry but they sure sound it... What's up with that?



Last.fm

Leaves Leaves - Tuna Boots (2012)

So good they named themselves twice.

Seriously though, this is another fresh face to the local music world of Portland, Maine. It seems just as one door closes on some of our favorite local acts (RIP: Red Medicine, Huak, and The Waldos soon), another one opens (hello: Conjjjecture, An Anderson, Leaves Leaves).

I guess I can't complaining...

Anyways, Leaves Leaves play lo-fi punk-noise-rock-pop, or as they have cleverly labeled it as on Bandcamp, 'slouch rock'. I kind of actually like the sound of that. I might even use that again sometime.

This debut whatever, entitled, 'Tuna Boots' was mastered by Mike Cunnane at 131 Washington Ave. in Portland, Maine.



No contact/sites yet.

The Taxpayers - "God, Forgive These Bastards" Songs From The Forgotten Life of Henry Turner (2012)

This morning I was just browsing around the scary parts of the internet when I came across a discussion about the new Taxpayers album and why no one added it to their best of 2012 lists yet. Most people just responded with, "oops, I forgot about this album" and, well, I did too honestly. It's too late to take it back, though. Whether I was going to put this on my best of list this year or not, I still feel this album needs some more goddamned listeners! So listen!

Now!



Where a 'Rhythm in the Cages' was a crusty/folky punk mess and 'To Risk So Much for One Damn Meal' sounded just like a Jeff Rosenstock side project with horns gone right, "God, Forgive These Bastard" has some sort of no wave infused folk sound that is overwhelmingly addictive.

All of The Taxpayers' albums are different. Different in a good way of course. However, the forgotten '"God, Forgive These Bastards" Songs From The Forgotten Life of Henry Turner' is clearly becoming my favorite.

Bandcamp
Last.fm

HOST / KYOTY - Split

I meant to post this a little earlier, but the times got ahead of me. Anyhow, here is both sides of the Host/KYOTY split starting with KYOTY.

KYOTY's side

Man oh man, if you haven't read any of my previous rants about KYOTY yet, you best start doing so now! KYOTY (Keep Your Opinions To Yourself) are a post metal juggernaut from New Hampshire. They play some of the heaviest and just flat-out intense shows around (if you live in the New England area)! Wall after wall of sound and shear man-power, right here.

This split only has one track by KYOTY but it is one of their best; and one of their newest. No matter how loud you play this song, it will never capture the sound and intensity of hearing and witnessing it live.

The track is called, "Taking the Red Blood for Granted... Oh, How We Walk On Green Grass".

To further prove KYOTY's awesomeness, these guys played a show last month at Castle in the Clouds in New Hampshire. I'm not sure how the show went, but they played in the courtyard of a castle on top of a mountain during a car show! If that's not metal as fucking metal itself... then I don't know what is.

Facebook
Bandcamp
Official site
Last.fm

Host's side

Host is also from New Hampshire. They also play some dark and intense music, but in the form of hardcore. I have yet to see Host play their music in front of my face, but I'm guessing it would be pretty hardcore.

Host bring 3 tracks to this split. They are titled, I, II, and III on Hydrogen Man Records's bandcamp, but are listed as "I Tarry", "Keep Your Opinions To Yourself", and "On Drowning", on their bandcamp.

They're pretty hardcore.

Facebook
Bandcamp
Official site
Last.fm

P.S. KYOTY will be playing at Genos in Portland, Maine this weekend. I'll be home from school and in the Portland area, but unfortunately am not 21 yet... Shit happens. Go to this if you are 21+. You lucky bastards. I mean it! DO IT!

Efff Now Denial

Now Denial - Fuck Now Denial (2010)

Ungodly good hardcore from Mass. Not to be confused with The Now-Denial of German hardcore fame.

They deserve more attention for being ten years old. Give it up.

Especially for this release.

PS: Did I mention they received this pretty punk award (below) from the Boston Phoenix this summer....?

Congrats

Official site
Last.fm

Monday XXXXIII

Home Alone and not doing anything about it.

Birds In Row - Collected (2012)

French crusty hardcore. Something about the French... They always have a way of making such a used up genre sound just that much interesting again. America buddy, take note.

Bandcamp
Last.fm

This Town Needs Guns - Adventure, Stamina & Anger (2011)

UK's number one poppy math rock act, This Town Needs Guns' little teaser from last year. It is probably also the last TTNG record/EP/single featuring the signature singing of Stuart Smith as he has since left the band to further focus on his family and become a dad. Henry Tremain of another "math pop" act, Pennines is now on vocal duties as well as bass duties after the departure of Jamie Cooper. The line-up may now be a little different but I am still very much looking forward to hearing what these guys have got for us ahead recording/album wise. Just as long as they keep that noodly, upbeat math rock sound going, unlike many other math rock acts who have decided to tone down their technical sounding skills, *cough*Maps & Atlases/Tera Melos/Minus The Bear/screw Minus The Bear*cough*, I will still be a big fan and listener. 


Bandcamp
Last.fm

Cower - Land Before Time (2010)

Heavy and powerful rock from Portland, Oregon. I have this weird feeling I've posting these guys before but I haven't... It's important I do though because I also forget about them until I go back to Duck. Little Brother, Duck!'s bandcamp and look at their recommandations. That being said, this is a really awesome recommandation on those guys' part and I'm pretty pumped to see 'em again tomorrow night!

I just can't help myself when it comes to shameless plugs for other bands while trying to persuade  people to listen to the real band in question. Guess it's okay when both bands are totally gnarly, though... right?

Last.fm

Monday XXXXI

No Apologies.

I forgot I had a real job last week.

I'm back this week though.

Mörse - S/T (2012)

French punk/hardcore that's all crusty and French. On tour with Loma Prieta right now!

Last.fm (not much there for this "Mörse")
Facebook

Deathspell Omega - Drought (2012)

French black metal since 1998.

While I'm not necessarily in the black metal mood, I have been in an ongoing metal and all around heavy music mood for quite some time now and Deathspell Omega has both of those things going for it. Plus, DO don't just blast beat for 20 minutes on end and I really appreciate that. Thanks guys, keep making interesting-to-listen-to black metal.

Oh, and that album artwork is spectacular! C'est tres magnifique!

Last.fm

father figure - 死の手 (2012)

Despite the Japanese album title, meaning 'Hand of Death', Father Figure are Americans from Texas with members from American rock bands innards and Two Knights. If you have ever heard the likes of Two Knight (posted months ago here), this is like the more screamo side of them. That is in part, due to the innards (posted way back) membership if you've ever heard them. So yeah, this absolutely sounds like innards + Two Knights all chopped up and thrown in a DIY mash-up/blender machine. Solid stuff.

This release, released a mere two months after their first demo, is a quickie. No song reaches the 3 minute mark, and I'm okay with that. It also has some samples from Knocked Up. I'm okay with that too.

I think I might like their first demo better but that shouldn't stop you (or me for that matter) from listening in to this release. Iz all good in the hood.

Last.fm

Monday XXXVI

Instagramed for more likes.

Hold Tight! - Call The Zoo (2011)

Lego pop punk from Richmond, Virginia. Every song is under a minute and stuff.

Death To False Records
Last.fm

Rainbow Tornado - Fancy Cookies (2007)

Twinkly emo with goofy lyrics/vox. They were originally called Oh My God Elephant but switched to Rainbow Tornado, released Fancy Cookies, and then called it quits. Members went on to form Clarissa Explains It All (the awesome band not the awesome show), tussin, Hawkward, and do dnt spk. If you like this, you'll absolutely like (or love, if that's what you're into) Clarissa Explains It All and/or vice-versa.

Are You For Spiritual?
Last.fm

Weekend Nachos - Worthless (2011)

There's not a lot I can say about this one that other blogs haven't already said.... so I won't. I remember giving these guys a listen a while back before the release of Worthless last year and I distinctively remember them being quite the grindcore outfit. The more I listen to them now though, I can also hear the hardcore and 'powerviolent' sounds that their music displays. Worthless however, is much more on the hardcore driven side of things (not that grindcore isn't a good direction) and even has people saying that it was not only the best hardcore album of the year but also "the most vitriolic hardcore album of the new millenium". I don't know about that, or even what that means, but I would have to admit that it is pretty damn good. Balls-busting good.

Bandcamp
Last.fm

Hop Along - Get Disowned (2012)

Hop Along, formerly 'Hop Along, Queen Ansleis' (the side project of singer/songwriter, Frances Quinlan), just released their first full-fledged album a couple weeks ago after two years of recording and jamming in a warehouse in Philadelphia. I don't want to scare you away by saying it's not as good as 'freshman year' but that was a masterpiece in my eyes (and ears). Get Disowned is still a super sweet treat and has all the tasty bits we heard from Frances Quinlan and her super additive and catchy vocals when it was just her but now it's not just her. AKA it has more instruments playing in the background and occasional back-up vocals, but other than that it is everything I could have asked for, no doubt. Give it a try for yourself though, please!

My favorite track as of right now would have to be, "Tibetan Pop Stars".

I would sure love to see these outstanding musicians come up to my neck of the woods to play sometime...

(sorry no DL)

Last.fm