All You Can Eat

All You Can Eat were a mainstay of Bay Area punk in the '90s. The band was somewhat reminiscent of Fugazi and SNFU. Besides being a great band with one of the most energetic and engaging frontmen of all time, they were tireless and determined and some of the greatest friends I have ever had. This is their very first EP from 1991, and I love it still.

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Winter, Alcohol, Benflogin

Here's some extremely raw and primitive improvisational Black Metal from Brazil's unfortunately named, Namelezz Projekt. This is the collaborative effort of Newton and J. who also operate in numerous lo-fi entities such as Hyperborean, Inmitten Des Waldes, Forest Poetry, Ecce Hommo, Valium and many others. Seems these two gentlemen act as the whole Black Metal scene in their town of Ponta Grossa. In 2005 alone Namelezz Projekt released six very fucked up demos, the last of them being titled Winter, Alcohol, Benflogin. This curious title seems to be the recipe for the Namelezz Projekt's clumsy approach to slapdash nekro hell. Some of you may remember Newton as the proprietor of the extremely awesome Gungnir label who released great stuff but many times failed to send it to you in a reasonable time frame. No hard feelings though, eventually it came and it was always worth the wait. This is still one of my most prized cassettes. Oh, and Benflogin is a Brazilian analgesic that if taken in large quantities can produce an LSD like effect, probably best not to mix it with alcohol, or winter .

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Crusades

SubArachnoid Space are the best and longest running instrumental cinematic post-rock/prog band you have never heard of. Besides having a history that dates back to 1995 and a staggering number of fantastic albums and even more line-up changes, the band's lynchpin Melynda Jackson has the distinction of being one of my all time favorite people. She was kind enough to share this extremely limited, self-released CDR called Crusades with the dear readers of Cosmic Hearse. If you were one of the many people that got all bonered up by the record by Gift Horse I posted some time back, you'd do wise to get this and all things SubArachnoid. The band now resides in Portland, Oregon but this was recorded back in 2006 when they still called San Francisco home. I think after fifteen years it's time this band got their due.

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R.I.P. Tommy Atkins

Sometimes you wake up and the sky is blue and the sun is shining, birds chirp and life seems good. Sometimes you wake up and find out that a friend of yours far away has died. Tommy Atkins was the brilliant bassist behind the bands Yeti and more recently, The Great Tyrant. He was always kind, gentle, thoughtful, and more so, he turned me on to many  great albums that I will always associate with him (All The Pretty Little Horses for one.). I will miss him. This absolutely sucks. 

Cryptic Cremation

Here's the sole release of Quebecois Death Metal duders, Cryptic Cremation. Some fairly average stuff with a few standout moments. Released in 1996 Profanation sort of straddles the line between the old and new school approach to Death Metal. Seriously nothing that will change your life or even your mind if you aren't interested in this sort of thing, but definitely not something that should be condemned to obscurity, and check out that cover, it's like Dan Seagrave's less talented little brother drew it.

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...Until The Bitter End

I first heard the Neurotic Arseholes way back in '83 on Bob Slade's crucial Off The Beaten Path show on WLRN in Miami. I would tape the episodes and then edit those tapes down to the best stuff and then dub those tapes for friends. So as far as I could tell, The Neurotic Arseholes were Germany's best punk band of the '80s ...Bis Zum Bitteren Ende was the band's first album, it was released by the Aggressive Rockproduktionen label in 1983. Fast melodic hardcore with forrays into ska and new wave, and the trademark voice of Dierk "zombie" Pastowski defined the Arseholes sound. The lyrics (mostly in German) were fiercely political decrying war and poverty and the myriad of social ills befalling Germany in the '80s. I think these guys have sadly been forgotten in the annals of international hardcore lore, but I think they had a hand in influencing the great Articles of Faith, and later KPF and, of course, a band called Hickey. Seriously, this is mandatory, or as they say in Germany: "Wenn Sie don' t so haben Sie ein dog' s-Ohr und Ihre Mamma ist ein bayerischer Bierhallen-Dirnebeutel."

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5 Revolutions

Before the completists get all uppity, I know that this download is NOT the entire album. However, this is just too fun to keep to myself, maybe you can track down a complete version of it. 5 Revolutions were yet another delicious pop-psych group from Zambia. Recently I learned that many of these great Zambian recordings we have been loving here were made possible through the tireless work of Mr. Edward Khuzwayo, a Zambian promoter and music entrepeneur. Sadly Khuzwayo passed away recently. His very informative obituary can be read here. R.I.P Mr. Khuzwayo, here's the 5 Revolutions.

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Victorious is the Ice

I have been loving this, the first CD by Thuringian Black Metal weirdos, Wald Geist Winter titled Seigreich Ist Das Eis (Victorious is the Ice). Sure it looks very plain and generic and sure, the band's name and the album title are about as necro-trite as they come, but WGW's appeal is in their almost happy approach to kvlt grimness. It's rather enjoyable. This band has a distinctly German sound, a bit like a more jubilant Nargaroth. Black Metal ist Nett!

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Black Devil

This cocaine freakout of an album came up back when I posted Venus Gang's Galactic Soul album. This is perhaps my favorite drug-induced French space disco album, it makes all other drug-induced French space disco albums obsolete. Black Devil was the collaboration between two of France's leading names in French space disco, Bernard Fevre and Jacky Giordano. Of course Bernard Fevre has tried and tried again to capitalize on the minimal success that was Black Devil's Disco Club record, but nothing can trump the cough syrup Gallic funk of the original wax. Way fucked up.

Devil!

Twisted

Most thrash records fail to interest me. However once I accepted that not all thrash bands were going to be as badass as Kreator, I was able to enjoy this more polished Bay Area style of thrash with the hokey singing, tight pants, and puffy shoes. Forbidden's Twisted Into Form is an exceptional album. It's vibrant, focused, and perfectly executed. Rather fun once in a while, especially on a road trip or a party, but still I can't help but feel that this type of thrash was just an awkward evolutionary step between Slayer and Morbid Angel.

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Jealousy

Really the only official Chavo-fronted Black Flag release. Many hold Mr. Ron Reyes as the best Black Flag frontman of all time. Well, I don't know about that, but this was my first exposure to the band that would ultimately have the most impact on me. Surely everyone has this already, but this post is more about the sentimental value to me. Maybe it's a been a while since you listened to it...whatever.

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Cult!

Cult of Daath is the unholy work of two blasphemous brothers from Chicago who were conceived through black mass rape. Wargoat and Culggath are Satanic siblings with an unabashed occult obsession. Slit Throats and Ritual Nights (2005) is the duo's second album, and it is fucking excellent. Cult of Daath seem to have been raised on the old school black metal of early Bathory and Beherit, but this album has a crust punk aftertaste that that sets this above of the retro hordes of spike-wearing satanicunts. This is a serious "drink the blood from the skull" kind of affair, and if you had any doubts, there is a song called "drink the blood from the skull." Fuck yeah!

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Copy Cats

The polyrhythms and hypnotic drones of various standard office copy machines explored and manipulated for your enjoyment and fair-use sampling needs. This was made by the brilliant Plunderphonics folks, hence the name "Xerophonics."

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Filth Hounds

A long time ago I found myself dating this girl outside of my tribe. She was a square. She was nice enough, and she was having sex with me so, even though I knew it was futile, I stayed in longer than I should have. She would have dinner parties, and I hated them. I hated her friends, I hated the food they ate, I hated the music they listened to, and I hated the shit they talked about. At one of these parties I had too much to drink, and found myself talking with a smug marina douchewand named Connor or Mason. I can't recall what the discussion was about, but before I knew it, I had bitch-slapped him hard. The look on his face was priceless, but when I saw the expression on my date I knew it was over whether I wanted it to be or not. With a rush of adrenaline, I grabbed a bottle of Glenfiddich, stuffed it into my bag, and headed out the door, never seeing her again. I got home and told my housemates what had happened. I pulled out the bottle and we drank it while playing dominoes and listening to Tank's Filth Hound of Hades. I had somewhat of an epiphany at that moment. I knew that I was exactly where I belonged. This album is the workaday everyman, the young joskin with a poorly rendered Grim Reaper tattoo who finds himself up against the stodgy status quo, buttondown dickbag squares and guys named Connor or Mason at a fucking dinner party. Why was I at a fucking dinner party?

Wakey Wakey!!!

Downtown Noise Punker

Here's a raucous international compilation of noise junkie punk bands who worship in the temple of the Kyushu gods Gai and Confuse and rummage in the dumpster of Britain's Disorder. Pure distorted fun from Chaos Destroy (US), The Wankys (UK), Dead Noise (US), Merciless Game (US), Geranium (Japan), Kamikaze Noise (US), Rukkus (US), and Wank Channel (UK) make this violent party a fucking go.

Noise!

Another Great Blog Post

It's Valentine's Day, so the second Ludicra album, Another Great Love Song, seemed appropriate. This was recorded in 2004 by Billy Anderson. Hope you like it, we worked very hard to make it. Oh, and our new album The Tenant will be for sale through Profound Lore in about a week, and we will be touring North America in April. See what I did there? 

Love

BLOG POST

Remember when I posted It's Casual's New Los Angeles album, and I mentioned that among it's many merits, it conveyed perfectly the zeitgeist of L.A.? I think Flipper's Generic album does the same for San Francisco. It evokes rainy days of Mission District art-punk heroin poverty, and the grey ennui and existential doubt that come with it. Flipper was San Francisco's most iconic and iconoclastic punk band, and their influence has been felt far and wide. They were real and they were without fear, they were dark and they were funny. No other band has made me think more than Flipper, but I imagine that you probably feel the same way.

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Signvm Martis

Here is the sonic mission statement of the BMIA, a compilation CD titled Signvm Martis. The BMIA (Black Metal Invitta Armata) is an elite union of Italy's finest Black Metal bands. The official statement of the BMIA states, "This movement unites and represents the Italian groups that shall endeavor in common artistic efforts aimed at the celebration of their origins." The organization goes on to stress that it is not a political group, but rather "an association of people attracted by (Italy's) historical tradition (but also meta), mystery, and even aesthetics," which aims to "celebrate the traditional Roman and Italy "through music production, and" documents and appointments in-depth." All very heady and mysterious but what about the music, can the BMIA's artistic output justify their rhetoric? Let's see, shall we? The proceedings kick off with the BMIA's best known band, Spite Extreme Wing. The band used to play a more "norsecore" style of Black Metal, but now favor a Destroyer 666 approach. Their track "Somnvs Leonis" is a great start. Janvs is next with the track "Pietas I" which is well-performed Black Metal with some excellent melodic guitar playing ala Dissection, not bad at all. Black Flame follow with a more thrashy Black/Death thingy. Black Flame are definitely proficient enough players but this track fails to really hold my interest for its duration. Heims are next. The Heims track, "Averno" is a towering monolith of trodding slow kvlt Black Metal, excellent track. Tronvs Abyss are the least traditional of the group with their distant and sinister industrial sounding Black Metal. Frangar are at the head of the BMIA along with Spite Extreme Wing. They are similar to Spite Extreme Wing in their style as well. Frangar's track "La Grande Orma" is a crusher, violent and pummeling mid-paced Black hostility. Gladio are the oddballs of the group. Their song is a confusing and totally endearing mindfuck, and they do benefit from a completely fucked up vocal performance. The guy sounds really drunk. Hirpus play well-enough but they're a bit generic, especially after Gladio. The whole thing closes with a throwaway ambient track that goes on for far too long by an entity called Galaverna. Overall a decent compilation mainly due to strong showings from Spite Extreme Wing, Heims, and Frangar. An excellent look at the finest Black Metal happenings in Italy at the moment.

GENIVS

Psychocandy

I am sixteen and I am laying on my bed listening to this on my headphones. I hate the world and I want to get the fuck out of this bullshit town. Until I can, I have this towering catharsis of a record, and I couldn't give a fuck about the jocks and the squares. They don't know about this album, feedback, or honey. Fuck 'em.

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Brainstorm

What an amazing thing this 7" from 1995 is. Brainstorm were a little known Death Metal band from The Ukraine. What sets Brainstorm apart from the gazillions of other bands at the time was an artful knowledge and appreciation for non-metal things like krautrock and psychedelia. These three songs were recorded live at a festival where I am certain people were completely confused by the band. My mere words could never do this justice, I'll shut up now. Just get this.

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Meat Puppets

I never really cared for most of their stuff, but the debut album by The Meat Puppets is a keeper. It seemed a fitting gap between the Minutemen and Black Flag. All the angular skronk of classic SST with the addition of a sun-baked LSD vibe. Classic.

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Necromantia vs. Varathron

Two of the most important and influential Greek cults do battle for Hellenic Black Metal supremacy. Who will prevail in this occult olympiad? I can't call a winner for this one, I love both bands too much.

Black Metal is Greek!

Oh, and for an in depth primer on the strange world of Greek underground Metal go check out Helm's guest post and compilation on Illogical Contraption

Life Is a Problem

This excellent compilation reminds us that Christians aren't always stodgy, bloated, white people that hate fun. Sometimes they are rocking black folk that love a great song as much as they love their Jesus. Even when they're decrying the evils of the Devil's rock music it rocks. Life Is a Problem collects some of the greatest, strangest primitive gospel music the world has ever heard.

Praise Jesus!!!

Life Is Beautiful

One of the most interesting things about this early Southern California punk comp is that extremely strange (even for him) Pettibon cover depicting some burnt out hippy couple getting ready for a Jonestown styled Kool-Aid and LSD-lased sugar cube and watermelon party. The addition of a particularly moronic Jim Morrison quote drives the point home that hippies were, as a whole, out of touch assholes that deserve the derision and scorn form punkers everywhere. The bands include some better known acts like The Germs, MIA, The Bags, and The Minutemen, and some that have been obscured by history such as B People, China White, Ill Will and Zurich 1916. Life is beautiful, and so is this record. Groovy.

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Keen of the Crow

Keen of the Crow was a very short-lived band that rose from the ashes of epic Southern California doom metal band, Morgion. KotC favored a more user-friendly Opeth approach, but this demo is great anyways. Eventually they recorded and album for Grau records, that in my opinion, wasn't as memorable as this demo. They broke up soon after, with the members forming and reforming various bands and projects soon after. Ludicra had the extreme pleasure of doing a short run of gigs with these guys around 2005, and we have remained friends since. Great dudes.

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Only Ildjarn Is Real

Where are my manners? Many times on this blog I have professed my love for the raw and minimal side of Black Metal, but yet I never posted anything by the originator of such harsh, ear-scraping necrohell, the influential Ildjarn. Well that changes now. Ildjarn is not a band, but rather the alter-ego of Vidar Vaaer, former Thou Shalt Suffer/Emperor member. Ildjarn's discography is massive and somewhat confusing, so let's just start with this, the first full length simply titled Ildjarn.

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Abemal

Here's another lost demo from the extremely fertile Swedish Death Metal scene of the early '90s. Abemal hailed from the town of Atvidaberg, which seems to be a boring town best known for its football team and its calculator factory. But perhaps it is the crushing ennui of these tiny Swedish towns that inspired so much brilliant metal. Abemal's 1994 demo is exactly what you might expect, reliable, down-tuned guttural teenage Death Metal. A couple of these dudes went on to form the more melodic Black/Death band Algaion, who never really caught my interest.

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Azarashi

You'd be hard pressed to find a cooler looking band than Azarashi. I am also quite fond of their angular, spastic, ADD post-punk visual kei yakuza glam thrash. I think this band is somehow related to the seminal Japanese Punk band, The Stalin. I could be wrong, wouldn't be the first time.

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