#6

Deergear/Boyfriends/Hey Hachi/Lost in Bazaar – USA vs Europe c30

I snagged a copy of this split 4 way on a whim. Didn't recognize the bands and I'm not particularly an aficionado of the genres they play, but I liked the idea of one place's bands vs an others. It ended up that my whim paid off, as this is a fairly enjoyable split. First up on the USA side is Deergear, who play post-hardcore that switches back & forth between frenzied and laid back. Meh, not my deal. Boyfriends follow with some stuff that was pretty rad, but hard to put a label on. Mellow post-rock, maybe? My pick for the USA side. Hey Hachi, from England, start off the Europe side with their brand of spacy indie with some math rock undertones. They're really sparse with the vocals on one track, and the other was entirely instrumental, which I liked. My favorite for both the Europe side and the tape. Finally, there's Lost in Bazaar from Turkey, who I was mixed on. The first track is some straight up lame screamo bullshit, but the 2nd track sounded more like powerviolence with experimental breakdowns, which I enjoyed. Overall, I liked the tape, even if it's not the style of stuff I normally listen too.

Eat A Book Records


Stapesaw Zine #1

This is what it's about; a good old paper zine covering the world of powerviolence, noise, grind, experimental, and the like. In this issue there's a handful of detailed album reviews, a couple of interviews with noisemakers, and some literary odds & ends. Especially cool is that Stapesaw taps into a lot of UK acts that many of us in America and other parts might be overlooking. This issue appears to be sold out, but keep an eye in the next month or so for issue #2.

Stapesaw Records!


Switchblade Cheetah – The Mellow Sounds of Switchblade Cheetah c60

How have these dudes been around since 2004 and I'm just now finding out about them? So, this a collection of Switchblade Cheetah's 'softer' songs and they tear ass thru such a diverse mix of sounds that it's unbelievable. I can't wait to get their other albums to hear the harder stuff. I'm not even going to try and peg Switchblade Cheetah's sound, aside from “fucking awesome”. Due to the ridiculously limited nature of this release, you might not be able to snag a copy, but that shouldn't stop you from checking out something else from their discography. FUCKING DO IT.

Workerbee Records


uRAn 0/Astarium – Katuar cd-r

A re-release of a re-release of the original Katuar, there's a plethora of bonus tracks from different periods in each band's existence and it sounds more like a four way split. For the initial three tracks, uRAn 0 plays noisy, electronic, industrial stuff before switching over to black metal with ambient overtones. Astarium follows with a few tracks of orchestral black metal and then concludes the album with a techno-baroque, harsh black metal piece. It's not that the music is shitty or anything, it's just a little confusing to hear both bands suddenly change their style. If you're a connoisseur of more eclectic black metal, you should definitely check this out. If you're taste is elite & kvlt only, pass it up.

Smell The Stench


V.A. - no. pt 1 cdr

You've gotta dig a comp like this, with a little bit of something for everyone. The bands showcased on here cover just about the entire spectrum of underground genres, from weird jazz to fastcore to spacey electronic stuff. My personal favorites included the ambient work of -x, a haunting, bell driven piece by Ira Rat, tech grind from xNERDS÷, and the sax & piano blues/white noise mashup from Velma and the Happy Campers. Like I said, whatever you're into, there will be something here for you; plus their might be some new stuff you'll get into.

Workerbee Records


Wether + Unicorn – Split c62

A single track from each of these bands, Wether kicks off the tape by filling their side with contact mics and electronic sounds. It took me a while to get into them, as they're a little harsher and chaotic than what I usually enjoy, but by the end of their side I'd gained an appreciation for some of their more rhythmic aspects. On the flip is Unicorn and they blew me away. It's a tidal wave of samples, synths, and sounds galore, all layered together forming an impossible and amazing composure. Worth checking out for Unicorn side alone, although Wether's track isn't without it's charms.

905 Tapes

#5

Black Roller Crop Rotation - Music For Cutters c62

These dudes are pumping out some epically dark, gritty stuff here. Mixing ritualistic drone and black metal, Black Roller Crop Rotation is the soundtrack to a dying world. Why don't you have this already?

905 Tapes


KZ9/The Helmut Bernecker Noise Gore Experience – Josef A Go-Go c90

This is just one huge mess. From what I can piece together from the fucked up j-card, KZ9 blast through a couple of sick noisecore tracks before dissolving into lame audio cut ups. It makes me wonder if this is a recycled tape and that last part is from what was on the tape previously. On top of that the insert claims KZ9 have tracks on BOTH the A & B side. THBNGE, or at least what I think might be them, do some completely uninspired vocal-only noisecore, then audio cut ups, then more pointless vocal stuff, then harsh noise, and so on. Fuck this.

Underground Pollution Records


Sea of Shit/Socially Retarded – Split ep

Are we in the 2nd or 3rd wave of powerviolence? Anyhow, Sea Of Shit is my pick for winner on this split, as there's some grind and sludge elements mixed in. Socially Retarded have a by the numbers powerviolence sound, but play it well. If you dig the scene, check it.

Diseased Audio


Sy.nT – Empty cd-r

Slowly, Empty will begin to drift into the background. The industrial drone will provide a mechanized soundtrack to whatever you're doing for about 20 minutes. And, then it happens; loud, abrasive percussion. Suddenly you're aware you'd put music on and were listening to it before you let it fade into atmospheric sound. But then that ambiance flares up and just as you're about to space out again, there are those jarring drums. The next time you listen to Empty, you'll make it a point to give the album your full attention and some questions will arise. Is this album a critique of drone, dark ambient, & soundscape music? Is this just a drone album with some awkwardly placed drums? Are you completely over analyzing this and seeing things that aren't there? Honestly, I don't know, but I sure will be keeping an eye on Sy.nT.

Smell the Stench


The Men From...BEYOND! - The baddest one-chick hit squad that ever rolled into town! c13

Yeah! What we've got here is a sweet one-man garage band by Devin of Felt Cat Records. There's a little bit of a surf influence and a love of 70's exploitation films. Limited to 25, so you best get on it, jive turkey.

Felt Cat Records


Thunder Bunny – This Hateful Thing c62

Thunder Bunny play that style of dreamy, semi-psychedelic pop which is so popular with the kids these days, but with a little lo-fi edge to it. This particular release is actually a combination of two EPs, ...there is a gate and The Other Children of This Quickly Passing Winter which have a noticeable difference in sound. The gate side is far more psychedelic and raw, while the Other Children sound is far more pop oriented. Enjoyable enough if it's what you dig. I certainly liked it well enuff.

Felt Cat Records


Totem Mold Growth – Mountain Dewds c20

Raise the chalice to you lips and drink deeply from it's unholy mixture of Tussionex and Peach flavored Mad Dog. Now, steady your quivering hand and initiate the “play” function on your cassette device, releasing Totem Mold Growth upon the audio spectrum. YES! As the waves of rumbling noise battle against a humming synthesizer, you begin to comprehend the full magnitude of what is taking place. And, this is only the A side; what follows is a glimpse into madness itself. HA HA HA! And in a mere 20 minutes, the ritual is complete...

905 Tapes