R.I.P. Derf Scratch

Derf Scratch aka Frederick Milner III, the original bass player of FEAR has passed away. He didn't care about you. Fuck you.

Ruth

Ruth was a strong contender for the title of best thing about the BIPPP comp posted some time back, so I thought my dear readers would enjoy hearing more from this early French synth wave trio of Thierry Muller, Phillipe Doray, and Ruth Ellyeri. Their LP Polaroid/Roman/Photo contains some hook-laden, ultra-cold, future-of-the -80s pop muzik filtered through the French psyche, especially the title track, which may well be one of the greatest songs of the decade. Some questionable bits along the way ("Mabelle") but the album closes with the epic "Tu M'ennuies," and you feel sated.

Here

Elu of the Nine

Elu of the Nine is another blackened doom/drone void abyss from the prolific folks of Woodsmoke productions. I get a lot of emails requesting more from these individuals and I am happy to oblige. These young men from Salem Oregon make some of the most interesting home recordings out these days, but painfully hard for the general public to get a hold of, I am very kvlt and have my ways. Now I pass it on to you.

9

Confuse 1983 Demo

Therefore when you note, fuckface, now you understand the outer space Hearse' love Confuse. Noise central attack of sexual nucleus spazz seems like the thing which has the hydrochloric acid methamphetamine of Japanese porno directly poured to your dickhole. Youth rebellion of the jacket and hair where the tip of Kyushu becomes pointed spike. As for the corrosive demonstration cassette from 1983... there is here... It ended your world!

騒音

Inmitten Des Waldes vs. Mortualia

Not so much a bout but rather a sad-off between two Black Metal bands favoring a more sorrowful and somnambulant style of kvlt and nekro. Already I come into this with a serious bias, Inmitten Des Waldes is the work of N. Schner (Valium, Namelezz Projekt,) who I believe to be one of the more interesting characters in the South American scene. However Mortualia's Shatraug is no slouch. With an impressive resume including Horna, Sargeist, and Behexen (among others), I was eager to hear Mortualia. Inmitten Des Waldes start off with a fluttering melancholic piano intro and then lurch into the track "Supreme Tragedy of All the Times." The band follows a more crawling Burzum approach, not terribly unlike fellow countryman and Hearse favorite, Draugurz. Mortualia also prefer the more lethargic tempos, but while Inmitten are depressed and forlorn, Mortualia is just plain snapped. Weird desperate shreiks over menacing, meandering riffs. This one is almost too close to call, both bands are simply mesmerizing, but I might have to give it to Mortualia for their closing track "Paine Sortie..." which makes me want to cut my wrists in a bath tub full of breast milk.

Here

Stylish God

Tepid and loping rockabilly from 1965 made utterly fascinating by the big booming lesbian voice of sixteen-year-old Isabel Baker, as she sings of blood and hell with as much conviction as Jeff Becerra. She digs God, and can't wait to die so she can meet him. Very little information exists on this pious platter, but it has been repressed as a CD and has appeared on many blogs before. Get some Jesus on you with this weird record.

Jesus!

Crud Wizard

Here's a shameless plug. Ezra, my nine year old son now has his own blog, CRUD WIZARD. I am helping him with the back end layout stuff but the writing and content is 100% his own choosing. You might want to start following it now, it shows promise. Yeah, I know I am biased. Support young writers!!!

Alverna Gunn

Alverna Gunn were one of many hard rocking bunches of Anglo youngsters immersed in the NWOBHM scene. Being from the bullshit town of Lowestoft in Suffolk county, Alverna Gunn didn't enjoy the notoriety of some of their peers, despite being quite a good band. Here I present Alverna Gunn's 1982 demo. The first two tracks are strong typical NWOBHM rockers. The final track, "Once Bitten Twice Shy" is the sort of throwaway AC/DCish bit o' pub band tripe that mars so many otherwise perfect NWOBHM demos and singles. This demo is worth it for "Mad Dog" alone.

Here

Atavistic

Atavistic were a little known UK anarcho-crust band from Kent who released two great 7" EPs and a somewhat forgettable LP before calling it quits in 1991. Here is the second of those EPs titled Equilibrium, it was released in 1988. This is like Amebix taken to its noisiest extreme. Quite pummeling and dark. One of my favorite little records from that nebulous time between hardcore and post-hardcore.

Here

Isolation

For those of you paying attention, Lascowiec is an extremely mysterious and amazingly talented Black Metal band based out of San Francisco. They released two brilliant cassettes through my former label The Funeral Agency. The few copies of Gesamkunstwerk and Gunshots Ring Out Over Vinland Streets were scooped up fast, and were both extremely well-received when they were featured here on The Hearse. This is Lascowiec's third demo, the as of yet unreleased Isolation, and it is perhaps their most compelling work yet. Fuck, I love this band.

Isolate

Mecano

Here's a fantastically maudlin album that you may have missed unless you're Dutch and over 30. Mecano were pretty well known in Holland but the rest of the world would remain wholly ignorant to their dour Post-Punk that is reminiscent of early Cure and Savage Republic. On the band's ambitious debut, Autoportrait, a wide variety of instrumentation and textures were employed, it's quite a piece of work that shouldn't rot in obscurity. Perhaps it was that lame cover, perhaps it is because, despite this album being received well, the band dissolved shortly after it's release. However, Mecano reformed in 1995, and again in 2005 and remains active today. Autoportrait is one of those uncommon records that takes you on a journey and drops you off feeling sated. Recommended.

Here

Mythos

Mythos hailed from Finland, played crushing primitive Death Metal, and in 1993 they vomited forth this repugnant demo titled Moulded in Clay. The band self released 250 copies and caught the attention of Evil Omen records who released a few of these tracks on a four-way split with Expulsion (Sweden,) Mysthical (Spain,) and Unexpected (Holland.) Moulded in Clay is easily one of the best non-Swedish early Death Metal relics. Monstrous. They went on to release a few disappointing records, but I don't mind, this rules.

Moulded

Southern Elite Circle

Like the BMIA, the Black Twilight Circle, and Blazebirth Hall, The Southern Elite Circle is yet another alliance of like-minded Black Metal bands that share members and hail from a particular region, this time Argentina. Oddly enough the bands associated with the SEC promote a nationalist socialist agenda that may offend some of you more sensitive readers. This lengthy compilation showcases the bands with each band delivering two tracks. First up is the extremely harsh Argenraza (who were featured on the Hearse here.) Argentum's acoustic guitar and flute folk metal track "La Tierra Blanco" sounds pretty tame after Argenraza, and their second track "Jose Antonio" is a corny darkwave number with lazy samples of some speech, presumably by canonized Spanish Fascist, Jose Antonio Primo de Rivera. Campo de Mayo's first track is rather bland generic Black Metal, but their second is a more primitive sounding repetitive piece that is far more interesting. Furor's first track is just layers of hypnotic guitars, it works much better than the second track, which is rather base poorly recorded Black Metal. Nachtgeblut are clearly the most proficient band of the group, but this doesn't mean they are the most enjoyable. They turn in a rather plain Black Metal song and a hokey keyboard piece. Permafrost has cool guitar tones and simple robotic riffs, at first the obvious drum machine and generic vocals were a distraction but I found myself liking the band by the end of their two songs. The compilation wraps up with Ulfhethnar who aren't terribly original but their no frills blasting chaotic Black Metal is enjoyable just the same. Argenraza and Permafrost are the real standouts here, but from front to back the Southern Elite Circle compilation is a dynamic and consistently interesting listen, even if the bands aren't spectacular on their own.

Here

Shub-Niggurath

Here's some dark Lovecraftian Zeuhl Prog from Shub-Niggurath. Shub-Niggurath hailed from France and were bong buddies with the seminal Magma. Imagine a jazz band condemned to play for an eternity in some smoky dive in R'lyeh or a Beksinski painting and you get an idea of Shub-Niggurath's immense and heavy trip. Confusing and menacing as their name implies. Essential.

Iä! Shub-Niggurath! Iä!!

Tableau of a Lithotomy

Sort of like Carcass without guitars, drums, bass, or growled vocals. This gatefold 7" was manufactured in the '60s by the Norgine Pharmaceutical Company to promote some sort of bladder medicine that probably later was revealed to cause babies to be born with flippers or something. Brutal.

Here

Arrowz

Holy fuck!!! This has to be one of the greatest obscure bits of early Swedish metal of all time, Arrowz (not to be confused with the other great Swedish metal act Arrows) and their decidedly fucked up Birds of Steel/Help Me single. I mean, fuck, check out the drummer, he looks like a math teacher. So can the music contained within meet the grand promise of their logo and their look? Well, shit howdy, it far surpasses any expectation with it's drunken lo-fi grit, ham-fisted amateurish playing, and desperate vocals belting out ESL lyrics about detrimental partying and metallic birds. The only downside to this record is that it is a scant eight minutes. Arrowz did follow up with a demo that I would gladly fork over my left nut for, even just a batch of shitty sounding mp3s. If you don't absolutely love this record you are probably some kind of nazi baby raper. Just sayin'.

Here

No Mercy

Hey Homes, you ready to knuckle up to another Venice style double-dipped beatdown from some beach bum cycos hell bent on motor-thrash and botom-shelf angel dust? Good, because this bit of chunked up cholo aggression comes ripping from No Mercy, a band of bandana-clad badasses with Suicidal's Mike Muir on vocals. Also appearing on this slab of vato violence is one Ric Clayton, the guy behind much of the Suicidal Tendencies artwork over the years. However the cover art of Widespread Bloodshed Love Runs Red was done by the amazing Eric Gottesman, whose bizarre airbrushings can be seen on albums by Beowulf, Dr. Know, Excel, and of course Suicidal. Put this on, get some loveboat coursin' through the ol' veins, hop on your stick and head out to crush some skulls. Pendejos just don't understand, fuck 'em.

Y Que?

Lost In Shadows

So many great albums featured here on the Hearse with pictures of castles on the sleeve. What is it about an image of a medieval fortified structure that is so appealing? Anyhoo, this obscure gem comes courtesy of Morgul and their castle, located deep in Østfold, Norway and 1997. For me, this is the time when Norwegian Black Metal was at it's creative peak, before Covenant became Kovenant and the scene lost it's direction, and before every ugly teenager had Garageband. Lost In The Shadows Grey may pale in comparison to albums released by Satyricon, Enslaved and Gorgoroth at the same time, but it is still an impressive time stamp of Black Metal with enough atmosphere and great melodic riffing to satisfy.

Lost

BIPPP

This compilation of early French Synth Wave weirdness is absolutely stunning. Outmoded synths and e-drums float some of the most infectious hooks to put a smile on your dour mug. This is Franco-Robot pop music of the highest caliber. Every track is simply delicious but standouts come from Act, Comix, Ruth, Visible, and the fantastic Mary Möör (need more Möör.) Seriously, if you can't get behind this you might as well report to your nearest Sleepshop at once.

Here

Spikehead

We're going to do something different here. Rather than give you some audial treasure I have decided to share a PDF of Spikehead zine issue #4 so generously provided by the awesome RAF666 blog. The zine was painstakingly written, edited, and laid out by two dedicated French fiends, Ben and Sebastien. I'm guessing this was around 1990. This issue features some of The Hearse's favorite early extremists: Dismember, Death, Autopsy, Sabbat, Carcass, Asphyx, and Napalm Death. Essentially morbid reading.

Read!!!

Little Princess

Cute Japanese girls playing power violence? Yeah, it's easy to understand why in the '90s we all went gushy fanboy shitfinger for this band. They later formed the equally adorable Geri Live.

かわいい

Goin' Solar

The term "goin' solar," which appears as the title of this post comes from the excellent mid-'90s San Francisco band Men's Club. It simply means lighting your bong using nothing more than a magnifying glass and the sun's rays. Sounds a little dumb, and very Californian, but I bet you want to try it now, don't you? Now I wonder if way back in 1978 Grobschnitt was hip to this practice of "goin' solar" over their in their town of Hagen, Germany? This fantastic album of sun-worshipping stoner prog was recorded live and it is Grobschnitt's finest moment. The band expands and improvises on their epic song "Solar Music," the result is an angel's flight around the heliosphere where solar storms of THC choked riffage conspire to give your longing earholes a melanoma of catharsis. Fuck, I am high.

Here

Vinter Nebulah

Here's an extremely rare (150 copies) tape release from an obscure Quebecois raw Black Metal band who operated briefly under the name of Vinter Nebulah. The band was made up of Maurbyd and Obfaust (of Chants de Guerre.) While Chants de Guerre have an obvious fixation on National Socialism, Vinter Nebulah were not a political band. They preferred to write about forests, the majesty of the nightsky, and winter's biting cold.

Here

Suono

Early electronic music from a mysterious uncredited bunch of Italian eccentrics calling themselves The Boneschi Electronic Combo. Sounds completely dated and corny by todays standards, but having been recorded in 1973 it is to be expected and really just adds to the charm of this one. Kind of reminds me of music that may be featured in an early '70s expo on advancing technologies like jet packs and capsule food. You just can't go wrong with the future of the '70s.

Here

Abigail Lives

Two hundred and ten years after Count de LaFey pushed the Countess down the stairs, King Diamond performed the bulk of his benchmark album Abigail, a track from Fatal Portrait, and a Mercyful Fate classic ("Come To The Sabbath") in front of a packed house of adoring accolytes. Not the greatest sounding live production and really only part of his back catalog due to contractual obligations, but this is the King at his peak, so it's hard to not love it, right?

Here

Second Coming

The best hardcore band ever to come from San Diego's debut album was released in 1984 on their own Nutron label. I fell in love with this band based on their contribution to the seminal 1982 BYO comp Someone Got Their Head Kicked In. The fact that they had "Mad" Marc Rude on art duty didn't hurt. Fast, catchy hardcore that makes you want to skate, smoke dust, and fight cops. Some of these dudes died, rumor has it they lived as fast as they played. Thankfully they left this behind.

Here

Arizmenda

Another Black Twilight Circle release that will soon be out of print and hard to come by. Arizmenda is sort of the BTC supergroup with two vocalists and members of Kallathon, Ashdautas, Axeman, and Volahn filling out the ranks. Within The Vacuum of Infinity, in my opinion, is the best release to come from this incredibly productive and provocative scene as of yet. I only hope there is more to come from all these bands.

Here

Wild & Untamed

This is one of those brilliantly uncomfortable privately pressed records that hides in garages and thrift stores across the USA. The Rockin' Rollin' Blues Band (seriously that was the best name they could come up with) belt out ten amateurish dive bar anthems, most resembling more popular songs. From what I can tell by the cover, the band was comprised of some gnarly biker dude on guitar, some stoner on bass, and one of their ol' ladies on vocals (presumably that fox in the "Spoiled Rotten" shirt.) The cover shows two different drummers, one male and one a broad. I imagine that label heads in 1973 weren't exactly chomping at the bit to sign the Rockin' Rollin' Blues Band so the band just gave a collective "fuck it," and released Wild & Untamed themselves. Oddly enough, the music of the RRBB wasn't all that wild or untamed, even though the members look like they were well versed in pharmaceutical amphetamines, wife swapping, beating up squares, and generally bad shit. This album might make you feel like you are in a shithole peckerwood bar in some assfuck town and you have stayed too long trying to score drugs, or poontang, or both, but there is nothing here for you, man, just boredom and perhaps a punch in the face if you're lucky.

Here

The Day Man Lost

Carnage's 1989 demo The Day Man Lost tape is one of my favorite pre-'90 Swedish Death Metal demos. Fuzzy, crusty proto-krush that comes off way cooler than Dark Recollections, their only "real" album. The bass breakdown in "Aftermath" is just beautifully fucked up. The Day Man Lost is so crippling and just over four minutes. Listen to it over and over again.

Here

America

Happy Birthday, America. You have your faults and problems, and lord knows you have plenty, but you are still one kick ass nation. The MOST kick ass if you consider how you brought the world Deicide, the idea of frying anything, and denim. Even the shit you didn't invent you perfected, like porn. Sure, at times your'e loud, obese, quick to anger, and frightfully stupid, but at times you are sincere, fun-loving, and affable. It's your fucking birthday and at 234 you are young as countries go. Go apeshit. Drink too much tequila from a sorority girls bellybutton, punch out a lesser nation, piss on some accord or treaty, and forget it all in the morning when you wake up feeling like stepped-on bacon. Let's all listen to the F.U.'s My America album today.

Here

Forest

Here is the self-titled debut from one of the Blazebirth Hall's most important bands (for more on Blazebirth Hall go here) Originally formed in 1994 by Blazebirth bros Ulv Gegner, Dagorath, and Kaldrad, the band didn't release this hypnotic gem until 1996. Soon after, Dagorath left Blazebirth Hall and abandoned their staunch right wing ideals. It has been rumored that he is now dead, perhaps even rubbed out for doing so. Violence and death struck Forest once again in 2005 when Ulv was murdered under mysterious circumstances. Forest carries on as the concern of Kaldrad, the remaining original member. If you have experienced Blazebirth Hall, you know what to expect, everyone else is in for a treat of hypnotic, ethereal, Russian Black Metal. Distant, cold, and otherworldly. This album is colossal.

Пуща

My Mom is a Stupid Bitch

Totally jacked this from the Audio Savant blog. Lunchfuck is Adam Long and the album is called My Mom Is a Stupid Bitch. If you are annoyed by prank phone calls you might want to avoid this. If you aren't, and you take pleasure in the truly uncomfortable, and hate your mother, I cannot urge you enough to get this. Cruel and genius in one handy dandy Lunchfuck. That's all I'm going to say on this one, hear for yourself.

Hello Mom!

Metallic Squadrons

Tan ahora usted sabe del boner Cósmico Hearse para los álbumes regionales obscuros de la compilación no importa cómo es débil es la música real. Éste viene de México. Escuadrón Metálico recoge el ' más venenoso; bangers 80s del sur de la frontera. ¡Sobre todo estas bandas juegan el metal clásico de la velocidad con vocals del falsetto cantado en español, doble del ataque del tambor bajo…METAL!!! Las bandas incluyen Gehenna, Aspid, Z, Khafra, y Ramses.

Aqui