ALBUM REVIEW: Coliguns, "Millennials"

By: Charlie Butler

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 23/03/2018

Label: Hummus Records

“Millennials” is a whirlwind of chaos interspersed with periods of hypnotic heaviness. Coilguns have crafted a killer record played with a hunger and venom that leaves all competitors eating their dust.

“Millennials” CD//DD//LP track listing:

1). Anchorite
2).  Deletionism
3).  Millennials
4).  Spectrogram
5).  Music Circus Clown Care
6).  Ménière’s
7).  Wind Machines For Company
8).  Self Employment Scheme
9).  Blackboxing
10).  The Screening

The Review:

Fans of the chaotic heaviness of classic Hydra Head bands like Keelhaul and Knutneed Coilgunsnew LP “Millennials” in their lives. The unpredictable Swiss quartet have taken that powerful early 2000s sound, imbued it with their distinct brand of mayhem and dragged it screaming into the present.

“Anchorite” opens proceedings with a slowly unfurling locked groove that sounds like Mastodon’s “Remission” being dragged into a pit of sludge. The uncomfortable, dark atmosphere cast by this track persists throughout this mesmerising record that flits between simmering controlled carnage as demonstrated on “Self Employment Scheme” and brief bursts of head-scratching math-metal like “Music Circus Clown Care”.

The title track demonstrates Coilguns ability to temper their complexity with raw, paint-stripping punk rock intensity. Few bands can deliver this kind of raging adrenaline rush, hurtling into oblivion like their sadly missed Swiss comrades Krugeron a collision course with the sun. A looming doom riff appears to signal a snail-paced climax before the drums thunder back in at full speed to maintain the rapid velocity.

This is just one example that highlights the importance of Luc Hess’ drumming. More often than not, the drumming on these tracks will pursue an unexpected path for a band of this style to great effect. “Spectrogram” is based on an ominous, tom-heavy pattern that has more in common with post-punk than metal or hardcore. Its ominous repetition provides the perfect backdrop for the bands lumbering riffs and slowly building wall of sound. The restrained menace and eerie twinkly keyboard sounds conjure up a claustrophobic mood that brings to mind the underrated Breach. When the band lock into a punishing, Shellacstyle riff on “Deletionism”, the drums shuffle in and around the riff instead of providing the expected punishing groove. This makes it all the more powerful when the beat returns to more traditional heavy territory.

“Millennials” is a whirlwind of chaos interspersed with periods of hypnotic heaviness. Coilguns have crafted a killer record played with a hunger and venom that leaves all competitors eating their dust.

“Millennial” is available here

Band info: bandcamp || facebook

ALBUM REVIEW: Helpless - "Debt"

By: Charlie Butler

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 08/09/2017

Label: Holy Roar Records

Every track on “Debt” is imbued with a captivating air of spontaneity and weirdness, delivered with a terrifying level of intensity.

“Debt’ CD//DD//LP track listing:

1) Worth
2) Out Of Commission
3) Grief Vultures
4) Moral Bankruptcy
5) Sertraline
6) Weightless Prayers
7) Ceremony Of Innocence
8) Sinkhole
9) Manufactured Consent
10) Denied Sale

The Review:

Plymouth trio Helpless look set to let a fire under the UKunderground with blistering debut LP “Debt”.

A number of familiar influences on Helpless’ sound can be detected throughout “Debt”. The furious grind-infused crust of Trap Them, the metallic hardcore experimentation of Converge and the mind-melting math-metal constructions of Botch and Coalesce all make their presence felt. While there are a few current bands mining similar seams for inspiration (excellent Holy Roarlabel mates Employed To Serve for example), the way Helpless execute this combination of elements is something else. Every track on “Debt” is imbued with a captivating air of spontaneity and weirdness, delivered with a terrifying level of intensity.

The majority of the tracks here barely make it past the two minute mark but each one is packed with intricate detail. Furious ragers like “Worth” and “Grief Vultures” sit alongside mini-epics like “Weightless Prayers” where the band manage to navigate slower paced territory without letting up on heaviness.

After a nine tracks of breakneck, relentless attack, Helpless take a slight breath to allow album closer “Denied Sale” to unfurl over five minutes. It begins with their spikiest guitar line scraping over the ominous rumble of the rhythm section and builds to a crushing finale where the band unleash an arsenal of lumbering riffs.

“Debt” is an incredible statement from Helpless. There are few bands out there who can achieve such a perfect balance of spite and creativity.

“Debt” is available here

Band info: bandcamp || facebook

REVIEW: Human Future - "Flat Earth Blues" (EP)

By: Charlie Butler

Album Type: EP

Date Released: 08/06/2017

Label: Truthseeker Music

This is another thrilling blend of jarring styles that Human Future bring together in seamless fashion.  Although it is a shame to lose such a distinctive voice in the UKheavy underground, the band can be proud that they went out with a bang.

“Flat Earth Blues” CD//DD track listing:

1). IV

2). Swine

3). Axiom

4). None Shall Survive Through The Churn

5). V

The Review:

Human Future’s new EP “Flat Earth Blues” is a bitter-sweet affair due to the band’s announcement of their untimely demise shortly after its release. The UKquintet’s swansong is an ambitious and exhilarating listen tinged with sadness that the potential displayed on this brief but beguiling release will go unfulfilled.

Bookended by two atmospheric keyboard soundscapes, “Flat Earth Blues” is a captivating journey through wild shifts in mood and genre. “Swine” begins in dark post-hardcore territory, an urgent razor-edged groove that comes across like a heavier Self Defense Family. The volume and intensity increases until the music drops away to an ambient cloud of hypnotic repetition and slow-burning psychedelic lead guitar. This soon erupts into a searing solo as the band strike into an epic finale that feels like the perfect meeting point between post-rock and prog.

The other main attraction here is nine-minute behemoth “None Shall Survive Through The Churn”. This is another thrilling blend of potentially jarring styles that Human Future bring together in seamless fashion. The first half of the track shifts between blissed-out choral passages and huge slabs of widescreen slide-guitar assisted heaviness that come across like a combination of Envy and Earth. The second half sees proceedings collapse into glorious controlled chaos, fuelled by some impressive drumming that teeters on the edge between mathcore complexity and all-out grindcore fury

“Flat Earth Blues” is a fine parting gesture from Human Future. Although it is a shame to lose such a distinctive voice in the UKheavy underground, the band can be proud that they went out with a bang.

“Flat Earth Blues” is available here

Band info: bandcamp|| facebook

FOR THOSE ABOOT TO ROCK: Riffs of Canada with Jean Mustard (British Columbia)

By: Mark Tremblay

Album Type: EP

Date Released: 29/04/2017

Label: Independent

“Sonic Jam” DD track listing:

1). Stinkbomb

2). Under The Oceans Maybe I Know

3). A Version  Of Black Pigeon

4). Yo Dude

5). There Was A Rhino

6). B

7). Afro Lavine.....to Be Continued

The Review:

Jean Mustardis the sonic equivalent of an anxiety attack and “Sonic Jam” sounds like the band took everything they listen to, and tossed into a blender to see what came out. If you enjoy any combination of sludge metal, noise rock, indie rock, and jazz, this record is right up your alley.

The EP opens with a dizzying track “Under The Oceans Maybe I Know”; picture The Dillinger Escape Plan with beat poetry vocals. Traditional song structures are thrown completely out the window with this EP, as each of these songs have moments pasted together that make no sense, and yet they work. The drumming plays a myriad of jazz beats. These beats pair perfectly with the cacophony of sound, and helps transition all of the hairpin tempo changes on “Sonic Jam”.

 “Yo Dude” acts as a palette cleanser for the listener before being pummelled into the ground with the albums heaviest of riffs. The EP ends with its heaviest track, “Afro Lavine...To be Continued”, which consists of one extremely heavy slow riff. Overall, the EP is a breath of fresh air into the sludge metal genre. If you enjoy bands like Mare and Faith no More,this is for you.

“Sonic Jam”is available here

Band info: bandcamp || facebook

ALBUM REVIEW: Yurodivy - "Aphos"

By: Charlie Butler

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 02/02/2017

Label:Itawak Records

Strasbourg’s Yurodivy have created an intriguing debut album in the form of “Aphos”, an epic suite of furious chaotic hardcore with dark melodic undertones. Yurodivy take some familiar sounds and meld them into enthralling new forms on “Aphos”. It is a captivating debut statement brimming with potential for future releases.

“Aphos” DD//LP track listing:

A1 - Six Feet Under Water

A2 - The Way Of The Light

A3 - Ascension

A4 - 40 Days

A5 - Now You Can Feed The Monster Part I

B1 - Now You Can Feed The Monster Part II

B2 - Children Of The Sun

B3 - In The Violence Of The Ashes

B4 - War Drums

B5 - Necessary

B6 - Genesis 1.6

The Review:

Strasbourg’s Yurodivy have created an intriguing debut album in the form of “Aphos”, an epicsuite of furious chaotic hardcore with dark melodic undertones.

The opening trio of “Six Feet Under Water”, “The Way Of The Light” and “Ascension” provide an exhilarating start; schizophrenic blasts of raging punk rock, angular Botchstyle riffage and ominous spacious doom chords. The band negotiate the changes in style with fluid ease resulting in taut tracks of tension and release.

The next two tracks see an abrupt shift into tone that works to great effect. “40 Days” is an absorbing nine minute monster that moves between periods of ominous calm and clanging full-band heaviness. The vocals during the quiet sections are particularly eerie, a spooked, distant muttering riddled with desperation. A menacing piano and feedback laden drone consumes the din and casts a hypnotic spell that is soon shattered by the crushing finale.

  

“Now You Can Feed The Monster Parts 1 & 2” continues this mood, beginning with hushed picked guitars that recall the powerful screamo grandeur of City of Caterpillar. The track slowly builds in intensity and eventually gives way to a barrage of off-kilter riffage. This acts as the perfect lead-in to the face-melting triple threat of “Children Of The Sun”, “In The Violence Of The Ashes” and “War Drums”. These three short bursts see Yurodivy throw away all restraint to unleash feral doses of raging blast-beat riddled mayhem.

The final act of “Necessary” and “Genesis” find Yurodivytaking a slightly calmer approach to end the record. The former is a restrained effects-laden piece that brings the previously hinted at At The Drive-Inand Mars Volta influences to the fore, particularly on the vocal front. “Genesis” continues the work established by “Necessary” and reintroduces some of the earlier harshness to bring all of the threads of the album together in satisfactory fashion.

Yurodivy take some familiar sounds and meld them into enthralling new forms on “Aphos”. It is a captivating debut statement brimming with potential for future releases.

“Aphos”is available here

Band info: bandcamp|| facebook

ALBUM REVIEW: Palmer - "Surrounding The Void"

By: Charlie Butler

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 24/02/2017

Label: Czar of Bullets

Over the course of an hour, the band chart an ever-shifting course through crushing riffs, head-scratching math metal, serene post-rock and immense soundscapes. It’s an exhilarating journey that makes me wonder how a band of this quality have stayed under the radar for so long.  It’s definitely time for Palmer to emerge from the shadows to gain the respect they deserve.

“Surrounding The Void” CD//DD//LP track listing:

1. Home Is Where I Lead You
2. Misery 

3. Divergent

4. Artein
5. Digital Individual
6. Fate_Hope
7. Import Unity
8. Rising
9. Implosion

The Review:

Swiss post-metal powerhouse, Palmer, celebrate their sixteenth year of existence with a monstrous new LP, “Surrounding The Void”.Over the course of an hour, the band chart an ever-shifting course through crushing riffs, head-scratching math metal, serene post-rock and immense soundscapes. It’s an exhilarating journey that makes me wonder how a band of this quality have stayed under the radar for so long.

“Home Is Where I Lead You” is a bold opening statement, an epic construction of whirlwind riffs and swings in mood that recalls much-missed compatriots Kruger and Knut. There are also hints of the mammoth compositions of Zatokrev, whose Frederyk Rotter released “Surrounding The Void” via his Czar of Bullets label. “Misery” and “Digital Individual” inflict similar damage while “Divergent” and “Rising” find Palmer sprawling into the outer limits. These two behemoths push the ten minute mark, with the former embracing droned-out cosmic sounds, while the latter culminates in an almost-anthemic, melodic climax.

“Artein” shows Palmer are equally effective when exercising restraint. An understated instrumental that subtly twists and turns, the band show they can be captivating without having to resort to cheap quiet/loud post-rock tricks. Subdued closer “Implosion” exists in the same realm, building layers of hypnotic guitar into a tower of ambient sound, charred around the edges by smouldering distortion.

“Import Unity” is the only slight mis-step here, an attempt at a more concise straight-ahead metal track that doesn’t quite come off. The virtuoso shredding at the end of the track is particularly jarring and at odds with the rest of the LP. 

“Surrounding The Void” is a complex beast that covers a wide sonic spectrum from dense heaviness to spectral calm. It’s definitely time for Palmer to emerge from the shadows to gain the respect they deserve.

“Surrounding The Void” is available here

Band info: official|| facebook

ALBUM REVIEW: Let It Die - "The Liar & The Saint"

By: Chris Wilson

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 17/11/2016

Label: Independent

“The Liar & the Saint” can be summed as follows; if you have any kind of interest in grindcore / extreme metal / death metal / hardcore whatever you want to call it, you cannot afford to miss out on this. Don't even debate investing in this. Just get it. This is a Future classic.

 

“The Liar & The Saint” DD//LP track listing:

1). Release

2). One Hundred Days

3). Punish

4). Take All The Heads of The People, And Hang Them Up Before The Lord Against The Sun

5). Dysphoria

6). Oderint Dum Metuant

7). Pathetic

8). Soul Deceiver

9). Choke

10). The Last Monument

11). Heaven And The Eternity Of Tears (Part I)

12). Heaven And The Eternity Of Tears (Part II)

The Review:

So I recently went to see Wormrot. Having been impressed with their recorded output I was looking forward to it, but not expecting much. In the event they handed my ass to me. I now fully understand and appreciate this magnificent force of brutalising destruction and consequently went back to their albums with a newfound appreciation.

It had been a while since I encountered an act which came close to the first time I saw Nasum, or heard Pig Destroyer. It would be unreasonable to expect to see such acts every few years. Two days later I saw Let It Die who pretty much stood up to Wormrot. That I had encountered another act with that same sense of reckless aggression, that understands the need to go all out with no consideration for melody, but instead the focus on pure adrenaline. That an act can be almost mindlessly and needlessly brutal to give you hope for the genre. So I thought it would be advisable to purchase their latest album, “The Liar & The Saint”.

This particular form of grind is interspersed with groove orientated riffs, giving it some much needed variety. Speed and noise is all well and good, but mixing it up proves more effective as displayed to great effect in the appropriately named “Punish”, which features Weekend Nachos John Hoffman, as if further endorsement were needed.

Highlights include “Soul Deceiver” and “Oderint Dum Metuant” which starts with a nice doomy sludge intro before flying off into discordant crust and then a stomping Nasum/ Nailshybrid section. The ending is simply aural destruction. Elsewhere there is plenty of dischordant tremolo picking, blast beats, all out noise and general riotousness.

In places it comes across like a death metal inflected Rotten Sound with slight hints of acts such as Nails. The dynamics shift nicely between speeds so it never gets repetitive and the more chunky sections give an oppressive sense of disgust and sludgy nihilism when needed.

“The Liar & the Saint”can be summed as follows; if you have any kind of interest in grindcore / extreme metal / death metal / hardcore whatever you want to call it, you cannot afford to miss out on this. Don't even debate investing in this. Just get it. This is a Future classic.

“The Liar & The Saint”is available here

Band info: bandcamp|| facebook

ALBUM REVIEW: Ides - "Born To Run in Place"

By: Rick Ahmed

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 18/12/2016

Label: Serenity Now Tapes

 

“Born To Run in Place” CS//DD track listing:

1). Rt.3 Treadmill Blues

2). Motormouth

3). Surfwax Britannica

4). NPC

5). Tumor

6). Born To Run in Place

7). Refuse Refused

8). Party Martyrs

9). Pound of Flesh

10). Vacation from Nothing

11). Accelerated Decrepitude

12). Grief Cycle

13). Sorry, Nothing

The Review:

“Born To Run in Place”is New Jersey's Ides6th release, with the first pressing of tapes out via Serenity Now Records. 13 songs that each have a distinct personality of their own, where you'll find new things with every listen. The album title is an obvious homage to fellow New Jersey rocker Bruce Springsteen. It's clever and a very succinct way to sum up what seems to be the overall theme of the album; working your ass off to exist with little or no reward.

In their most basic form Ides are metallic hardcore with a strong thrash influence. They have a way of throwing in chaotic parts and dynamic time changes to keep their songs interesting.  “Motormouth” starts thrashy, gets almost post hardcore in the middle before getting hard ass then abruptly ending. “NPC” starts with a classic tough guy hardcore feeling before the song picks up the pace and becomes frantic. The drum sound on this album is awesome, the best example of this is a short drum break in the end of the titular track. Have I mentioned how no two songs really sound alike? Even the minute long speedy bangers stand out from one another. The last track “Sorry, Nothing” starts with whale call sounding feedback, before a melancholy indie rock sounding intro with some introspective lyrics. 2 minutes in, the song becomes completely chaotic. It's enjoyable and nice feeling.

The vocals are feral. The mind's eye pictures starving animals fighting over scraps of food. The emphasis isn't on sounding brutal or tying to be melodic though, there's no posing here. Singer Jill sells every single word on this thing with emotion. The lyrics are well written, which is refreshing in a time when a lot of singers are pretty fucking lazy about their words. In conclusion this album rules and is streaming off of their bandcamp, so check it out.

“Born To Run in Place”is available here

Band info: bandcamp || facebook

ALBUM REVIEW & FULL ALBUM PREMIERE: Hyenas - "Deadweights"

By: Charlie Butler

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 10/03/2017

Label: Pelagic Records

Deadweights” is an exciting opening salvo from Hyenas, it is an exhilarating hit of chaotic hardcore, metal fury and punk’n’roll that takes me back to the early to mid-2000s

“Deadweights” CD//DD//LP track listing:

1. Noise
2. Crooked Tongue
3. Ambiself
4. Crossbearer
5. Self-Adjusting
6. Homeostasis
7. Verminious
8. Smooth Talkers
9. Displaced
10. Live // Live
11. Nothing

The Review:

Hyenas debut LP fills me with a warm nostalgia for the recent past. “Deadweights” is an exhilarating hit of chaotic hardcore, metal fury and punk’n’roll that takes me back to the early to mid-2000s. Bands like Minus, Beecher and Norma Jean released killer albums that had an indelible effect on my heavy tastes and Hyenas bring this sound kicking and screaming into 2017.

“Noise”eases the listener in gently with a minute of ominous calm before the Nuremburg quartet lurch into the noise rock rumble of “Crooked Tongue”. From here the band launch into a series of high octane hell-raisers like “Crossbearer”where complex noisecore riffs and straight-ahead heavy punk rock combine to powerful effect.

“Verminious”takes up the clean guitar figure introduced in “Noise” and expands it into a moody, post-metal indebted burner. This provides a refreshing change of pace at the album’s mid-point and demonstrates Hyenas skill in tackling different elements without compromising on intensity. “Displaced” sees the band unexpectedly tackling a pared down ballad. Using only a clean guitar and vocals, the track is surprisingly effective and manages to avoid being jarring and cloying in contrast to the surrounding carnage. It also provides a welcome breather before the raging parting combo of “Live // Live” and “Nothing”.The former is one last reminder of Hyenas at their feral best which segues into the latter, a menacing slow-motion riff that slowly unravels into glorious chaos.

“Deadweights”is an exciting opening salvo from Hyenas, a brief burst of caustic racket that bodes well for a noisy future.

“Deadweights”is available to preorder/buy here

Band info: bandcamp|| facebook

FFO: The Chariot, Norma Jean, Converge, The Dillinger Escape Plan

REVIEW: Ilenkus - "Hunger" (EP)

By: Charlie Butler

Album Type: EP
Date Released:  19/10/2016
Label: Independent

 

 

Ilenkus deliver a whirlwind blur of off-kilter riffage, pummelling blast beats and finger-mangling fretboard gymnastics.  Once the dust settles you will feel battered and bruised, but with a nagging urge to subject yourself to the pain all over again. 

 

“Hunger” DD track listing

 

1). Hunny Bunny

2). Pretty Secret

3). Exhume

4). The Romantic

 

The Review:

 

Galway quintet Ilenkusdeliver an impressive riffs-per-minute ratio on new EP “Hunger”. The band tears through four tracks of breathless mathematical mayhem in just under fifteen minutes. Once the dust settles you will feel battered and bruised with a nagging urge to subject yourself to the pain all over again.

 

“Hunny Bunny” starts proceedings with a whirlwind blur of off-kilter riffage, pummelling blast beats and finger-mangling fretboard gymnastics. The effect is like a more ragged Dillinger Escape Plan with their clinical precision blunted by ugly sludged-up fury. “Exhume” is a similarly intense affair opening with a wild collision of blown out post-rock and grindcore worthy of Cult Leader. From there things take a progressive turn into weirder, spacier territory without relenting on the vitriol.

 

Even when Ilenkusslow the tempo, there is no let-up in heaviness and complexity. “Pretty Secret” opens with a crushing needle-skip chug before exploring quieter sections of restless math-rock. This builds to a lumbering, doom finale that provides the EP’s most punishing moment. “The Romantic” sees the band dabble in churning noise rock groove, shards of serrated guitar providing an odd respite before the track once again plunges into a cauldron of molten rage.

 

“Hunger” is an exhilarating ride that takes in more twists and turns than most bands squeeze into a career. Hopefully it won’t be too long before Ilenkus return with an album of glorious chaos.

 

“Hunger” will be available here

 

Band info: FACEBOOK|| TWITTER|| INSTAGRAM|| BANDCAMP|| SOUNDCLOUD