Interview with Novak

             Get in the head of one of the most handsome writers in the blog, Matt Novak! 

When is the Medicated Robots Album Coming Out?
A great question! God I suck. I have no idea man. It's been done for a while, but then I re-listen to it and re-do a drum part, or revisit the vocal tracks, blah blah. At this point, I'd honestly say Winter of this year. Mainly for the format part of it.


What will be the formats? 
I've done a lot of thinking on this. Way too much actually. I want the music itself to presented the fullest it sounded in the studio, which for this sound is CD. The artwork and idea behind this album is a little bigger physically than what CD sleeves can hold, so I'm going to hand make a few box sets with a booklet of 10x10 prints/artwork. This album took a lot out of me and I would hate to just toss it up on Apple Music with a link on a shitty Instagram post. BUT! I have to understand the reality of what I'm making and how awful I am at promoting it. I'm not going to spend $5,000 to make some big elaborate thing 15 people will buy; hence the hand made approach. Plus, I really like the idea of getting something from an artist that stands out a little. Isn't just a link or a burned CD in a blank sleeve.

What is your new band? 
My new band is called Cerulean! It's a 3 piece that I'm playing guitar and singing in.The idea behind it is to write songs on guitar or bass and have Ty (bass) and Andrew (drums) turn it into something cooler. It might honestly be the most rewarding but challenging band I've ever done. I hate describing your bands sound just as much as the next guy, but I guess most people would throw it in the shoegaze category. Real wide, delayed, fuzzy guitars with sad, usually higher pitched vocals over it all. Adding Ty to the mix was incredible because his pedal board was as big as mine. So I originally thought the bass would sort of stay linear in the mix, but at many points it's just as wide as the guitar, giving the entire band a much bigger, much cooler sound. The vibe when we play is the perfect blend of hard work with easy going personalities. You'll (actually) hear this stuff soon, both live and online!

What is on your playlist right now? 
I've been listening to a lot of old Skinny Puppy. Too Dark Park by them has been listened to all the way through at least once a day for the past few weeks for some reason. Also this band Tobacco. A lot of the stuff that comes from the Rad Cult label is pretty cool. Not typically stuff I'd be into which I think is the appeal.

Do you lay vocal patterns first and lyrics second or the other way around? 
It depends. I obsess over lyrics. That's a huge reason that Robots album isn't out. It's a selfish and delusional thought to think anyone gives a shit at all to listen to them enough for me to care, but yeah. Usually patterns first though. Some songs on that Robots album are just nonsensical sentences but with enough delay and reverb sound like "real" lyrics.

Favorite Megadeth record? 
Ride the Lightning 

Any bands recorded lately at Obese studios? 
Unfortunately nothing in real life. I've been slacking big time with promoting that. We're recording the Cerulean material and my email is always full of plans to work with people, but they usually flake.

Best microphone for live performances? 
Shure-SM58

Favorite Burger Toppings?
Ketchup

Is It Friday Yet?

Megadeth- "Countdown to Extinction"

Megadeth is a band people either really love or people absolutely love. The things who hate this band are less than human scum. Riffs on riffs on riffs. Get Learnt losers.








Burial- "Enlightened With Pain"

In my opinion this is the frontrunner for most underrated death metal album of the early 2000s. Released on Lost Disciple Records in 2000, Burial flew under the radar as far as East Coast death metal goes but their standout European meets East Coast fury is one of the best in the business. The best death metal band from Massachusetts for my money. Listen to this if you dig Broken Hope, Brutality, and not sucking.










Sarcasm- "A Touch of the Burning Red Sunset"

One of the best black / death bands from Sweden, Sarcasm had numerous demos and ep recordings throughout the 90s and if you enjoy Necrophobic, Dissection and the like you will absolutely love this stuff. Highly recommended.








Vince Staples- "Big Fish Theory"

When the sun goes down
When the J goes 'round
In the middle of the night
Bet your girl goes down

The best hip hop album of 2017.

- Joe

Hump Day Doom List

Doom or be Doomed on a Wednesday






Trouble- "The Skull"

Trouble's sophomore effort "The Skull" is a monumental piece of second wave doom metal released in 1985. Although not held in as high of regard as their debut, I think this album shows a bit more sophisticated and more focused songwriting, albeit a bit more reserved.










Pentagram- "Show 'Em How"

The sixth album from Bobby and Co. released in 2004. Far looser and more rock inspired than their earlier albums, "Show 'Em How" reminds me of mid-era Cathedral with Bobby delivering his downright grooviest vocal performance to date. Put this on and float around space for a while. I'm sure Bobby did during 2004.








Saint Vitus- "Mournful Cries"

The fourth Vitus record released in 1988 on SST. There really isn't much you can say about this, essential and responsible for a million carbon copies. Eternal worship.










Count Raven - "Storm Warning"

Swedish doom metal classic. I feel like this band is horrifically underrated. For fans of Pentagram, Saint Vitus, and Candlemass. Essential.

- Joe

Sup nerds its jonathan i dont use periods or commas and im not novak so all this shit im going to post sucks 

This is every annoying sound I've ever heard all in one album. Seriously fucking stupid. 

Oh I'm Novak I tell people I like jazz so they don't think I'm an idiot. Shut the fuck up you fag you don't like this and you don't like jazz.

A whole CD of stupid noises. Bug zappers Telletubbies theme songs ugly instruments bees and other stupid ass shit garbage from start to finish.

If you're reading this fuck you.

-J Ken

Nils Frahm- Felt

    I've been buying a ton of books lately and actually finishing them. Nils is typically minimal enough to almost forget it's there, but interesting enough to keep my brain focused on what I'm working on. I can't get into classical music, so I guess this is as close as I'll get. It's a pretty modest blend of piano and ambience. I also really hate the mindset that listening to this kind of music makes you snobby.

Suck an egg. 

-Novak 

We Have a New Writer!

Great news for people who hate me and also hate reading serious music reviews!    

   OK so before we get to the good news, it's story time. I was telling Jonathan the other day how funny it would be if he wrote for the blog. He of course just blew his cigarette smoke in my face, gave me a super mean look, and said "never in my life will I ever fucking blog. I'm not fucking gay." Sounds like a bummer, right? Well hang on!! 

 (So just to give a little insight on who Jonathan is and what happens when I play music of any kind in front of him; he's a very close friend who hates my non nonsensical jokes, cat, shoes, and especially every single band I like. He describes music in a very aggressive but almost child-like way. Basically, he's the man. If you don't agree with that after a few of these reviews, you should probably go lay in a fire.)

   He did however say I can just essentially copy and paste what he says in my car in person and post it as him online. Going forward, I'll post a video, song, or podcast I was listening to and try to remember word for word what Jonathan says about it. Here some of the most recent Jonathan reviews:

Pierre Henry/Michel Colombier- Métamorphose

 Are you fuckin serious?? This sounds like someone fell into a toy chest. What's with all these stupid ass noises? Jesus christ, turn this shit off! 

Talking Heads- 77 

Get it off! Get this Chuck E Cheese bullshit off!!!!

Can- Tago Mago  

People seriously like this? There's no fucking way.

  David Bowie- No Plan

It's too bad this fag didn't die before he wrote this bullshit. Don't play it again. It sucks.

-J Ken

Monday Playlist

Playlist for a Case of the Mondays








The Cult- "Love"

I absolutely love The Cult and they are one of the finest bands of the 80s. A strong combination of classic rock i.e. The Doors, 70s hard rock, and British gothic rock, you need to listen to this band if you haven't or don't. Fun fact, the song "Rain" is played at the end of "Demons 2."








Pulling Teeth- "Martyr Immortal"

Easily a top five hardcore bands from the last ten years and still one of the best live bands to give it a whirl. Metal, hardcore, punk, sludge, and various other styles do battle in this chaotic marriage. Baltimore fuckers.






Severe Torture- "Feasting on Blood"

One of the best brutal death metal releases from my youth. Hailing from the Netherlands, Severe Torture play unrelenting death metal in the style of Cannibal Corpse, Deranged, Broken Hope, etc. No reinventing the wheel here, just grinding your corpse into oblivion. Feces for Jesus bro, riffs!








Roxette- "Look Sharp"

I don't need to explain myself to you jobbers.

- Joe

MOTOREHEAD TOP 50

ALRIGHT MOTORHEAD NUTS IT'S TIME TO COUNT DOWN THE 50 BEST TRACKS OF THE GREATEST ROCK N' ROLL BAND EVER TO GRACE THE PLANET EARTH. R.I.P. LEMMY. LET'S GET DOWN TO BIZ.


50. Deaf Forever (Orgasmatron)


49. Dr. Rock (Orgasmatron)


48. Lost Woman Blues (Aftershock)


47. Mean Machine (Orgasmatron)


46. I am the Sword (Bastards)


45. Live To Win (Ace of Spades)


44. Metropolis (Overkill)


43. Just Cos' You Got the Power (Rock n' Roll)


42. I'll Be Your Sister (Overkill)


41. Nothing Up My Sleeve (Orgasmatron)


40. Motorhead (Motorhead)


39. Overnight Sensation (Overnight Sensation)

38. Sacrifice (Sacrifice)


37. I'm the Doctor (Iron Fist)


36. City Kids (Motorhead)


35. Shine (Another Perfect Day)


34. Death or Glory (Bastards)


33. Stone Dead Forever (Bomber)


32. Ridin' With the Driver (Orgasmatron)

31. Born to Lose (On Parole)


30. Back at the Funny Farm (Another Perfect Day)


29. Damage Case (Overkill)


28. One More Fucking Time (We Are Motorhead)


27. Stay Clean (Overkill)


26. R.A.M.O.N.E.S. (1916)


25. I Got Mine (Another Perfect Day)

24. America (Iron Fist)


23. Civil War (Overnight Sensation)


22. I'm So Bad Baby I Don't Care (1916)


21. Tear Ya Down (Overkill)


20. Dead Men Tell No Tales (Bomber)


19. Orgasmatron (Orgasmatron)


18. Love For Sale (Snake Bite Love)


17. Capricorn (Overkill)


16. Born to Raise Hell (Bastards)

15. Bomber (Bomber)


14. Overkill (Overkill)


13. Fast and Loose (Ace of Spades)


12. Eat the Rich (Rock n' Roll)


11. Shoot You in the Back (Ace of Spades)


10. Poison (Bomber)


9. (We Are ) The Roadcrew (Ace of Spades)


8. White Line Fever (Motorhead)


7. No Class (Overkill)


6. Iron Fist (Iron Fist)


5. Ace of Spades (Ace of Spades)


4. Killed by Death (No Remorse)


3. Love Me Like a Reptile (Ace of Spades)


2. One Track Mind (Another Perfect Day)


1. Dancing On Your Grave (Another Perfect Day)

- Joe

Non Musical Inspiration

Hour of Goon Podcast 

    So any close friend of mine has been annoyed with this podcast at some point. I can't do anything around the house without my bluetooth speaker playing a podcast, interview, or music of some sort. Unless I'm in my room listening to records, there's a good chance that this podcast is what's going through the speaker as I do dishes or make dinner.

     I realize it sounds pretty tacky, but these guys simplify all the nonsense life can smack you with. These guys are best friends, yet their conversations never really get too deep. That's by no means to discredit their relationship or their intelligence. It's a good lesson for me to make shit easier, simpler. I start conversations sometimes with the biggest bummer ideas that I'm really surprised someone hasn't just shot me out of frustration already. All while these guys talk about their favorite donut shops, what they use to wash their blue jeans, and other generally quite honestly useless banter.

   It's also a great break from the pulsating drones of ambient scores, re-listening and dissecting the same few albums of my own that I'm trying to release, or some long drawn out science/religion lecture. As much as my brain loves to be fully exercised with weird or challenging shit, I think it breathes a sigh of relief when I put this funny, calming podcast on. I know it sounds sort of cheesy, but this podcast is a great palette cleanser for me. A nice reset. Their conversations are light and fun and I take a lot out of this into personal situations and especially studio settings.

   Be nice, do cool shit, and eat lots of cheese. 

-Novak

Workday Review : Grave Miasma, AC/DC & more

Grave Miasma - "Realm of Evoked Doom" : Blackened occult death metal from the UK who at their core they take a lot of what Profanatica or Demoncy were doing and heavily push it through a crushing death metal filter - especially after this EP when they started taking the route of early Immolation.  For fans of Cruciamentum and Dead Congregation.

AC/DC - "Highway to Hell" : Just like Black Sabbath, nothing after Bon Scott's death and departure from the band is worth listening to.  Period.  Every album they did with him is kick you in the fucking teeth rock n roll - and "Highway to Hell" might as well be a best-of album.  Ten songs with five singles and Bon Scott going out on the highest and most vicious note of his career.

Impalers - "Cellar Dweller" : Motör-Charged d-beat insanity from Texas.  Static Shock put it best when they said "they have Sweden in their back pocket, the U S of A dripping down the back of their legs, and use the designs that Anti-Cimex and Discard laid out to mop up the mess."  This is the definitive album of the year, and worth it alone for the title track.

- WOODS

KISS TOP 50

KISS ARMY!!! YOU WANTED THE BEST AND YOU GOT IT!!! HERE IT IS - MY TOP 50 SONGS OF ALL TIME FROM KISS!!!

*Disclaimer* I'm only including STUDIO RECORDINGS so no live versions and NO SOLO ALBUM TRACKS!! Let's do the damn thing, here's my top KISS tracks.

50. Uh! All Night (Asylum)
- A classic 80s KISS anthem that is as fun as it is infectious. When you work all day you gotta uh! all night bruh.




49. Hide Your Heart (Hot in the Shade)
-  Paul's attempt at "Livin' On a Prayer," Hide Your Heart is a story about love and hoodlums. No one knows the mean streets like Paul Stanley....




48. All Hell's Breaking Loose (Lick it Up)
- Hope you guys like Vinnie because he shows up on this list a whole lot. Worship.




47. All The Way (Hotter Than Hell)
- All the Way is an underrated gem on the Hotter...record I love the main riff and it's simple, haunting, and effective.




46. Tears are Falling (Asylum)
- I really hated Asylum growing up but over the years it's crept up my list of favorite KISS albums. Tears are Falling has a great riff and is super duper 80s pop metal.

45. Exciter (Lick It Up)
- In the Year of our Vinnie 1983, this gem was created. He will come back.




44. Forever (Hot in the Shade)
- This is a great Stanley ballad although it reminds me of that ridiculous Folgers coffee commercial he did. Anyway, it's forever bros.




43. Magic Touch (Dynasty)
- I was half tempted to put this song in the top 20 but expect another Dynasty track to be higher than you'd think. It was a toss up between this and "I Was Made for Loving You" but this made the cut because it is a catchy disco-fusion number that manages to still rock unlike the former which just reeks of Paul being way too Paul. Bass line owns your face.




42. A Million to One (Lick It Up)
-  This is a favorite among 80s KISS fans and is a really underrated Paul ballad but another 80s Paul ballad beat this at a higher spot. Anyway this song has a great riff and chorus with Stanley laying down some great soulful vocals.




41. Detroit Rock City (Destroyer)
- I really don't like Destroyer at all. Overproduced Bob Ezrin lame fest responsible for the birth of KISS hate but this song is classic. The movie is also great.




40. Hotter Than Hell (Hotter Than Hell)
- Self explanatory. Song rules




39. Take Me (Rock n' Roll Over)
- Rock n' Roll Over > Destroyer on any planet because of rockin' tracks like Take Me. Song is about bangin'




38. Love Gun (Love Gun)
- Essential 70s KISS, song is about ya dick




37. God Gave Rock n' Roll to You II (Revenge)
- A song for the greatest rock drummer, the Thunder God Eric Carr. R.I.P.




36. King of the Mountain (Asylum)
- The heaviest song on an album with a whole lot of neon and glitter. Rules




35. Crazy, Crazy Nights (Crazy Nights)
- For when you crack open them cold ones with the boys

34. Keep Me Comin' (Creatures of the Night)
- Essential heavy Creatures track about that good pussy




33. Domino (Revenge)
- A great Gene song from Revenge full of attitude. When it comes to songs about nailing underage tail Gene really knows what he's doing.




32. Firehouse (KISS)
- In all honesty I really enjoy the live version of this song better but Firehouse is a classic KISS tune and is a heavy song for 1973.




31. Goin' Blind (Hotter Than Hell)
- "I really hate KISS but Goin' Blind is cool." - Every dorky Melvins fan ever. Anyway, song rules and is a haunting and dark ballad. Great Gene Song.




30. Rocket Ride (Alive II)
- A definitive Ace jam, Rocket Ride is arguably better, albeit less legendary, than Shock Me. It's really no wonder Ace's solo album was miles ahead of everyone else's. Song's about a girl riding your shwantz. Rules.




29. King of the Night Time World (Destroyer)
- One of the best tracks on a ridiculously overrated piece of crap album




28. I've Had Enough (Animalize)
- If you don't like Animalize you lack testicles. Song shreds, album shreds. Period.

27 Strutter (KISS)
- Best album opener in Kisstory




26. Lick It Up (Lick It Up)
- The dark lord Sathanas = Vinnie




25. Creatures of the Night (Creatures of the Night)
- Have you figured it out yet that I like this record a lot?




24. Dance All Over Your Face (Lick It Up)
- No one ever talks about this song, one of my favorite Gene songs about I think beating the shit out of a chick. It was the 80s.




23. Heaven's On Fire (Animalize)
- AMAZING track that is undeniable. A Stanley song that even he couldn't wreck with too much flamboyance




22. Cold Gin (KISS)
- I love Gin, ironically sung by someone who never drank




21. I Want You (Rock n' Roll Over)
- True story, I lost my virginity while this song was on...I didn't last the length of the song




20. Got To Choose (Hotter Than Hell)
- Who doesn't love this track? It's Paul's favorite I believe

19. Shock Me (Love Gun)
- The Spaceman's finest moment. I really wish he would have sung on more 70s tracks.




18. Watchin' You (Hotter Than Hell)
- Largely overlooked due to another track on this album you'll see later but Watchin' You is a great bluesy Gene song.




17. I Just Wanna  (Revenge)
- I got a body built for sin and an appetite for passion, never change Paul

16. Young and Wasted (Lick It Up)
- We haven't even scratched the surface of Vinnie tracks yet kids, hold on tight.




15. I Stole Your Love (Love Gun)
- This should be higher but I'm too lazy to change it now. Arguably a top ten 70s track about everything else they sang about in the 70s.




14. I Still Love You (Creatures of the Night)
- HERE is the greatest 80s Paul ballad kids. Heavy with his BEST vocal performance. Play this after your chick breaks up with you for a Jamaican guy.




13. Dr. Love (Rock n' Roll Over)
- Quintessential Gene. Inspired by a great 3 Stooges short.




12. She (Dressed to Kill)
- Probably the most Zeppelin KISS song and a highlight on Dressed to Kill.




11. God of Thunder (Destroyer)
- Despite the stupid little kid talking and Bob Ezrin trying to ruin it, this is a great and classic Gene song that inspired millions. Paul's version...yikes.






10. Get All You Can Take (Animalize)
- THIS RIFF OWNS YOUR LIFE. Paul is on record saying this is one of his favorite tracks and he is right, the most underrated song they have.




9. Black Diamond (KISS)
- THE DRUMS LEVITATE AT THE END OF THIS SONG LIVE COME ON GUYS




8. Unholy (Revenge)
- 1992, ten years after he's gone and still calling Vinnie when they need a heavy song. Unreal.




7. Rock n' Roll Hell (Creatures of the Night)
- Gene's BEST vocal performance, a gritty Creatures song sung with soul and bravado. Co-written by Bryan Adams.




6. Sure Know Something (Dynasty)
- Here it is, my favorite song on Dynasty and one of my favorite 70s songs period.




5. Strange Ways (Hotter Than Hell)
- Psychedelic and dark, Strange Ways shows Peter giving a great vocal performance as well. A great ending to their best 70s record.




4. Deuce (KISS)
- No words, just awesome




3. Parasite (Hotter Than Hell)
- Everyone's favorite 70s track it seems and who am I to disagree? Balls out classic rock




2. I Love It Loud (Creatures of the Night)
- I swear to god the drums on this song are other-wordly. The anthem from KISS' heaviest offering.




1. War Machine (Creatures of the Night)
- The single greatest riff ever written by anyone in any band on any planet in any universe. Period.

- Joe

Workday Review : Pink Military, Triumvir Foul & more

I've heard some rumblings that a few losers out there disagree with some of the reviews they've read on here.  Hopefully you're one of them.  Enjoy!

Pink Military - "Do Animals Believe in God?" : Great early 80's post punk/new wave from Liverpool after Big in Japan called it quits.  They didn't do much beyond a few Peel Sessions recordings and this LP unfortunately.  Sonically, it's not too unlike Siouxsie and the Banshees with a bit of their own twist.  They didn't do much after this either but change their name to Pink Industry and get accused of ripping off the Cocteau Twins a lot.  Worth a listen if you're into this kind of thing.

Triumvir Foul - "Spiritual Bloodshed" : Without question, my favorite death metal release of 2017.  Perfect mix of Ross Bay Cult insanity with early American death metal thrown through the most dense and suffocating production.  This is their return to form - pure darkened death metal.

Convict - "Barred Life" : I've said it before, and I'll say it again - second only to the Midwest, the Pacific Northwest has the best hardcore/punk in the United States.  Mean as hell hardcore in the vein of Poison Idea, Sheer Terror and the Inmates.  Wish this band put out more material.

Black Sabbath - "Born Again" :  Let me preface this by saying anything released after Ozzy left the band is not Black Sabbath.  That includes the mediocre Dio records a lot of you cool guys want to pretend are better than the Ozzy era.  For an album that is essentially combining two of the original heavy metal masters, this album has no business being as shitty as it is.  Aside from the breathtakingly fucked artwork they settled on, Ian's vocals sound like a budget version of Rob Halford's.  Musically there's almost no trace of the doomy atmospheres they created on prior records, and if there was the production would've surely killed that too.  I guess the one highlight on this album for me is "Zero the Hero" - this song is a certified ripper and if the whole album would've carried on in this vein I think the album would've grown on me.  Instead, it still sucks and sounds even worse than I remembered.

- WOODS

Workday Review : Mortiferum, Autopsy & more

Mortiferum - "Altar of Decay" : Crushing demo released last month that doesn't sound a day older than 1991, Mortiferum is death/doom rooted in the style of old.  For fans of Rippikoulu, Spectral Voice, and Abhorrence.

Autopsy - "Acts of the Unspeakable" : Never understood the hate this Autopsy album got.  "Acts of the Unspeakable" is a culmination of what the band was doing on "Severed Survival" and "Mental Funeral" put through the same spastic filter they had on the (albeit, shitty) "Fiend For Blood EP".  Fast, disgusting, and heavy with Reifert's vocals becoming way harsher than before - creating the most insane atmosphere the band ever captured.

Carnivore - "Retaliation" :  Controversial crossover staple from a pre Type O Negative Peter Steele & crew.  Think "Game Over" if Nuclear Assault ditched their second guitar player, drowned everything in fuzzed out chorus effect madness, and ditched the Mad Max bullshit from the first Carnivore record.  Essential.

- WOODS

Tooseday

These are the Tuesday Jams:

Abhorrence -"Evoking the Abomination"

A wonderful mixture of early Morbid Angel, Vader, and Deicide, "Evoking the Abomination" is quintessential Abhorrence, punishing and unrelenting death metal from Finland. Their food is ass, their metal ain't players.

Agnostic Front- "Live at CBGBS"

The defining live recording of Agnostic Front that best captures the New York hardcore scene in the 1980s. Recorded in 1988 at one of the famous "Hardcore Matinees" at CBGB's in the Lower East Side, listen to AF at their peak and hear landmarks from "Victim in Pain," "Cause for Alarm," "Liberty and Justice For.." and imagine yourself being a part of a special era in hardcore. This album features Craig "Ahead" from Straight Ahead and Rest in Pieces on bass and was the last album recorded before Roger's three year prison stint. Get educated.

Opeth- "My Arms, Your Hearse"

I'm not going to lie, I despised this band for the longest time and considered them watered down gothic metal but let me tell you, early Opeth is a crushing mixture of melodic death metal, black metal, and dark rock that you need to seriously give an honest listen. "My Arms, Your Hearse" has enough solid songs that flow into each other to win over even the harshest skeptics. Try it out.

John Carpenter- "Lost  Themes"

With the passing of horror legend Dario Argento this week, it's fitting I pay homage to another horror legend before it's too late. John Carpenter is not only legendary for his innovative and captivating films but also his unique and haunting compositions that came to define the "horror synth" of the 1980s. These are some unreleased and unused scores and they are amazing. R.I.P. Argento.

- Joe