REAL Grindcore

One of my favorite styles of music, grindcore is among the most abrasive musical extremities and often one of the most misunderstood. A hybrid of punk, death metal, thrash metal, hardcore, and often other influences (sometimes depending on subgenres), grindcore music unapologetically shuns traditional and normative song structure and opts for speed, aggression, intensity, and volatility. I am quite sick of certain bands referring to themselves as grindcore bands and even more disgusted by ignorant individuals who misrepresent the genre daily, so I figured I'd offer some assistance. Here are some classic albums that you may want to consider owning and / or checking out from this genre.

1.) Brutal Truth - "Need to Control" (Relapse, 1994)

2.) Napalm Death- "Harmony Corruption" (Earache, 1990)

3.) Carcass- "Symphonies of Sickness" (Earache, 1989)

4.) Bolt Thrower- "Realm of Chaos" (Earache, 1989)

5.) Exit 13- "Ethos Musick" (Relapse, 1994)

6.) Discordance Axis- "The Inalienable Dreamless" (HydraHead, 2000)

7.) Nasum- "Inhale/ Exhale" (Relapse, 1998)

8.) Regurgitate- "Hatefilled Vengeance E.P. (Relapse, 2002)

9.) Rotten Sound- "Murderworks" (Century Media, 2002)

10.) Flesh Parade- "Kill Whitey" (Relapse, 2001)

11.) General Surgery- "Necrology" (Relapse, 1991)

12.) Pig Destroyer- "Explosions in Ward 6" (Clean Plate, 1998)

13.) Phobia- "Means of Existence" (Slap-a-ham, 1998)

14.) Blood Duster- "Cunt" (Relapse, 2001)

15.) Terrorizer-"World Downfall" (Earache, 1989)

16.) Agoraphobic Nosebleed- "Frozen Corpse Stuffed With Dope" (Relapse, 2002)

17.) Retaliation- "The Execution" (Headfucker, 1999)

18.) Arsedestroyer- "Arsedestroyer" (Distortion, 1995)

19.) 324- "Boutokunotaiyo" (HG Fact, 2000)

20.) Sore Throat- "Unhindered by Talent" (Meantime, 1988)

21.) Gut- "Hyper-instestinal Vulva Desecration 7" (Necroharmonic Records, 1994)

22.) Machetazo- "Trundo De Huesos" (Razorback, 2002)

23.) Repulsion- "Horrified" (Necrosis, 1989)

24.) Enemy Soil- "Casualties of Progress" (Relapse, 1995)

25.) Benumb- "Soul of the Martyr" (Relapse, 1998)


- Joe

Coliseum- "House With a Curse" (Temporary Residence, 2010)

Coliseum's latest outing "House With a Curse" is a step in a different (albeit not unfamiliar) musical direction. Known for their blistering brand of rock / metal / punk with thrashing guitars, pounding drums, and an aggressive vocal attack, Coliseum opts for a different (and often darker) mood with their latest release that intends to keep the energy intact and controllable. To control this powerful energy, Coliseum utilizes slower tempos, providing Ryan Patterson with more breathing room vocally and instrumentally. "Skeleton Smile," for example, hypnotizes the listener with a dissonant and expansive guitar riff that compliments a clean and atmospheric vocal delivery. "Cloaked in Red," another song that perfectly demonstrates the band's new experimentation, is a genuinely mid-paced rocker with a powerful rhythm, allowing Patterson's voice to explore its (quite vast) range. While I do yearn for a "No Salvation" / "Goddamage" style rager, I respect the fact that Coliseum is avoiding redundancy by exploring a new approach to their music, and I applaud them for it.                           8 / 10

Coliseum / Cheap Tragedies / Sweet Cobra @ Now That's Class
Wednesday, May 25th (Doors at 9:00 PM - All Ages)


- Joe

PJ Wifey

Staying in the vein of death metal, facial hair, and full sleeves... PJ Harvey! Wait..

I realize this is a 180 from the stuff posted on here and that 99% of the people that go to this blog have no interest, but I don't like or respect any of you anyway. This record was so new and exciting for me that it just about broke my dick right off. Allow me to be a dork for a minute or 20 here..

A friend of mine in LA tried to get me into PJ. She told me NOT to start with this album. That this album she purposefully played instruments she knew close to nothing about. That it was almost unlistenable and not a "good" representation of her as a musician. It was of course the first record of hers I got my ears into. As a musician myself, I know how inspiring it is getting a new instrument, especially an instrument you can't play yet. So hearing her explore the instruments and her own creativity gave me goosebumps on every single track. Lyrically, she left the canvas pretty open for you to carve your own story.

 

Yeah I know, you didn't watch that. You have better things to do. Lady Gaga just barfed up some more shit for you to pop pills and dance to. But hey, if you get a mintute after she dumps in your ears and want to hear something original and creative, why don't you give this record a listen? What's the worst thing that can happen?

-Novak