Siamese Twins

This one was nicked from the brilliant I Could Die Tomorrow blog, my favorite source for keeping up on what the kids are listening to. Every so often they drop something so perfect I just have to pass on the wisdom. Most recently I stumbled across this gorgeous demo from a Boston-based dream pop/post punk/whatever band called Siamese Twins. Over the six beautiful and dour tunes on their debut tape, the Siamese Twins offer enough wispy atmosphere, delicious guitar hooks, and charmfully (I made that word up) sweet singing to immediately win you over. Simply stunning, I hope there is more to come.

Here

Naevaer

This very evocative release comes from Naervaer, Norway's greatest neo-folk outfit. The band was formed by In The Woods members, and you can definitely hear similarities between the two entities. This self-titled EP was released in 1997, the same year In The Woods released their colossal second album Omnio. This almost works as a companion piece to that recording. Naervaer's debut is absolutely gorgeous, maudlin, impassioned, and wholly perfect. This should not be passed over.

Here

Heavy Drunken Doom

Suppose Danzig was drunk and fronted an Italian Doom band.

Here

Alda

Alda are an excellent young Black Metal band from Washington state. They use a variety of devices, tempos, feels, within these five songs, but don't stray away from the conventions. The result is quite compelling and reminds me of what drew me to Black Metal in the first place. Alda are doing it right, focusing on songs and atmosphere without being overly concerned with being weird, arty, satanic, post-whatever, or any of the other sub sub sub genres that cloud the waters. I really appreciate this, hopefully there is more to come.

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Blue & Sentimental

Ike Quebec was already pretty obsolete by the time he signed to Blue Note in 1959. It was widely known that Albert Lion was such a huge Quebec fan that he signed the 41 year old sax player out of sheer love of his previous work, even know he was fully aware that there was almost no demand for new material from the seasoned vet. But damn it all if these Quebec Blue Note dates didn't yield some fucking great records, such as Blue & Sentimental. Albert was sentimental but not a fucking fool. And sentimental it is, this record brims with a nostalgic sadness, it IS blue, it IS sentimental. Sadly Quebec died of lung cancer in 1963 , in the midst of this amazing comeback. Quebec was a disciple of the Coleman Hawkins/Lester Young school of swoon, and he is at his best when blowing out a smoky ballad, which there are a few of here. Ike is joined on this date by a great band made up of Grant Green, Paul Chambers, and Philly Joe Jones.

Here

Apocryphon

I may be a bit biased on Apocryphon, Peter and Shelby are amazingly friendly, funny people but they probably don't want that to be known. Not to mention that Shelby does one of the best blogs on the Interweb. But I think Apocryphon's extremely aggressive demo debut stands on its own merit. Already the band show an adeptness and skill that could easily put them toe to toe with some of the giants of the genre. Apocryphon sort of meld the earlier works of Immolation with a very Dave Vincent circa Domination vocal approach. If this is the demo I shudder to think what the album will be like. Another fantastic new Death Metal band to watch for.

Here

Illusions

One of the most perplexing album covers in Bay Area thrash metal history, and one of the more interesting releases to come from that fertile scene. Sadus hailed from Antioch, a bullshit town about a half hour's drive north of the bullshit town I call home. Antioch was a gold rush town, settled in 1850, it is one of the oldest cities in California. As well as Sadus, the town can boast notable natives like The Mitchell Brothers, and a bunch of stupid football players that I could' t give a rat's ass about. Anyways, the four disenfranchised bangers of Sadus combatted the dusty ennui of Antioch life with lots and lots of weed, sci-fi novels, horror movies, and the proto-death metal thrash of Possessed, Kreator, Slayer, and Death. Darren, Rob, Steve, and Jon, formed Sadus and took their time honing their sound and chops with a few demos, but waiting almost four years after their inception to cut a proper album. Their patience and commitment paid off, Illusions is an astonishing achievement of breakneck tempos, precision playing, and unhinged mania. On their first album Sadus were already faster, tighter, and more inspired than any of their peers or influences. Why Illusions isn't hailed as a classic, a milestone, and a thrashterpiece of unparalleled aggression is completely unbeknownst to me. The cover art perhaps?

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Savage Killer

Here's another rare as hen's teeth NWOBHM EP for you. The band Burner hailed from the bullshit town of Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire, a town known mainly for leather (cool) and hula hoops (not cool.) Fortunately this little one off record negates the hula hoop thing a bit. The a-side is typically fun NWOBHM rocker about a killer who is savage in his killing. And thankfully Burner doesn't puss out with a ballad on the b-side. Rather the band issues forth another clunky charmer (very similar to the a-side) called "Lay Down Your Arms." Yeah nothing mind-bending here, it's not really hard to understand why Burner couldn't contend with the Maidens and Leppards of the day really, but this still is not without its merits. Cool.

Here

Eosforos

Here's a hunk o' Hellenic Heathenism in the form of Thous Art Lord's 1994 classic Eosforos. Over Thou Art Lords illustrious eighteen year career of evil they have shared members with such luminaries as Rotting Christ, Necromantia, and Septic Flesh, so you should know what to expect. Despite the band's lengthy run, they only released a handful of albums (of varying quality.) Eosforos is a masterpiece of relentless, yet somewhat elegant Black Metal. If you love the Greek occult metal of old than you probably already know this one, but anyone who is uninitiated in this arcane world would do wise to start here.

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Babs

Babs Gonzales was born Lee Brown in 1919. He was Errol Flynn's chauffer, which was probably a fairly assy gig if you think about it. Anyways, eventually his propensity for the Jazz Vocalese style landed him some gigs singing with luminaries like Charlie Barnet and Lionel Hampton. In 1947 Babs formed his own band and recorded a slew of singles for Blue Note between '47 and '49. These sessions yielded a minor hit for Gonzales in "Oop-Pop-a-Da," a song made even more famous when it was added to the regular repetoire of some guy named Dizzie Gillespie. These sessions featured some top notch players (check the names on the cover) including Sonny Rollins doing some of his first studio work. These Chronological Classics editions are great primers, or catch-all type affairs, and this collection of Babs Gonzales' work is no different. Pop a Doo this shit and get wild with it.

Pop-A-Dow!!!

False Confession

One of my favorite of the batch of Nardcore releases put out by the shady Mystic Records in the 1980s. False Confession bore many of the trappings of the other bands in the scene but these Oxnerds had a more goth image and on occasion a bit of the ol' Death Rock crept into their hardcore. Shame these guys recorded output doesn't amount to much more than this excellent 7" and a few appearances on Mystic's numerous comps.

Here

Nuclear Winter Gloom

One of Cosmic Hearse's favorite revisionist punk/crust/grind/whatever bands Nuclear Frost managed to get out a proper album in 2011 and it cooks. Nuclear Winter Gloom outshines the awesome demo D-Beat War '83. Young Brazilian kids totally gorked out on G.I.S.M., Scandinavian Hardcore, '80s thrash, proto-Black Metal, neanderthal Grind, and all the other good things in life.

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Bruxers

Okay, so after losing eight years worth of files, and seriously considering ending the blog, I have decided to forge on. Things may be a bit rickety here for a while, but I want to stress that doing this doesn't get me laid, doesn't get me paid, and often is a headache. Anyways, here's Bruxers' demo. Bruxers are a fairly new band from Oakland. On their first demo they display a fondness and a skill for playing Crusty Death Metally Grindcore. You download it, you listen to it, you leave a nice comment, and when they have something out, you buy it.

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Broken

Having major issues (again) with my machine. Hope to get things running again next week. Until then the blog won't be updated, maybe use this time to go back and get the things you may have missed before the links expire or Nuclear Blast or Dischord records has them removed.

R.I.P. David Gold

Very saddened to hear about the sudden passing of Woods of Ypres' David Gold. David was always a very kind and thoughtful individual, and an immense talent. Peace be with his friends and family.

Discipline

Some manly fucking late '70s Cleveland style Punk Rawk courtesy of No Talk, a band from who are not from the '70s or Cleveland. These guys are circa fucking now and calling the humid stink pit of Houston Texas home. This LP is some bare-knuckle shit that woke me from my apathy towards the ol' punk.

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Intercourse & Lust

Here's the first album from the self proclaimed "Most evil band in Japan." Intercourse and Lust was released by the sketchy Modern Invasion label in 1997. Abigail's Black Metal is rooted in thrash and punk, the lyrics are brilliant Engrish soliloquies paying homage to things like nymphomaniacal witches, nefarious wizards, and the Yakuza, among other things. "Thrash til Die/To Glory of Attack/Attack with Spell/In my Attack," howls main man Yasuyuki on the track "Attack With Spell." Intercourse and Lust, I almost hate to say it, is a fun album, a record to spin with beer, lots and lots of beer and your bestest bros, and beer.

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Vacant

Generally most garage psych records bore me, too much of the same thing, useless cover songs, and most fall just shy of being truly heavy, or truly strange. However, The Jacks' Vacant World is just too enticing to be overlooked. Vacant World carries a darkness and a desperation that pushes it far beyond much of the typically saccharine psych-pop of the time. Some wild vocalizing and absolutely stunning guitar work keep the album interesting. The Jacks gets into gear with "Marriane," with it's strange crashy cymbals and almost free-jazz bass lines, wild styles indeed. "Stop the Clock" is a delicate glockenspielly track. The title track is another dour ballad that almost reminds me a bit of Leonard Cohen, if Mr. Cohen was Japanese that is. "In the Broken Mirror" has some of the greatest sounding fuzz guitar committed to tape, but "Gloomy Flower" is the standout track with Yoshio Hayakawa's pained crooning, the man sounds at his wit's end and although I have no idea what he is on about, I am assured that he fucking means it. "Love Generation" may be the most average track here, but still packs plenty of hooks. "Bari-Manji" is a bluesy lope with more Hayakawa wailing. "Where" is a laid back strut that sounds like it came from a Suzuki gangster picture. "Love" is a gorgeous ballad, and then the Vacant World comes to an end with "500 Miles from the Sky," a strange organ/vocal piece with spoken word. All in all, Vacant World is a trip, and a very satisfying one at that.

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Dekoder

Another cassette treasure nicked from Terminal Escape. I couldn't resist, this little demo is just so fucking delicious. Dekoder hail from Montreal and play the kind of dark and desperate post-punk that you so crave. Drums and bass pound out a stiff backbeat while the maudlin female voice and brooding guitars convey a wealth of unflappable, infectious melodies. My only problem with this demo is it leaves me wanting more. Dekoder, if you are reading this, please please please make an album or twenty. I love you.

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After Dark

You need some NWOBHM right about now, I can sense it. Your bird ain't right, your boss is a fucking cunt, and even the berks down at your local boozer got you a bit mithered. Fear not, you bloody minge bags, After Dark is here to make everything pukka once again, with their one and lonely little record, a real roister doister of a disc for your bloody saft earholes.

Crikey!

Midnight

Kenny Dorham's career trajectory was spotty due to the master trumpeter's ever-failing health, thankfully before his death in 1972 Dorham put out some great and versatile albums. As much as I love his entire body of work, my favorite Dorham moment is this 1956 club date committed to tape and titled 'Round About Midnight at the Cafe Bohemia. First let's take a gander at the cover: Dorham in a hideous blazer grips an old mic, superimposed behind him is a landscape of urban rooftops at dawn. The whole package perfectly captures the smoky, seedy city vibe of the recording. Dorham's band, comprised of names like J.R. Monterose, Bobby Timmons, Kenny Burrell, Sam Jones, and Arthur Edgehill, slide and slunk through the Monk classic from which the albums title comes, as well as a number of standards and a few Dorham originals. The perfect late night, ice clinking in a stiff drink type of record.

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Walpurgis

The Shiver were Switzerland's answer to the Krautrock boom of the late 60s and early 70s. They played weirdo, organ-heavy, psych, hung out with Geiger (who provided them with cover art) and released one pretty stellar album before the members went on to pursue other interests. Walpurgis, released in 1969, is a great album that suffers from spotty sequencing and a useless cover version of "Please Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood," but the strength of the opener, "Repent Walpurgis" and "Hey Mr. Holy Man" redeem The Shiver. If you are one of the handful of people that went all fucky over that Paternoster album posted here sometime ago, I recommend checking into Walpurgis.

Repent!

Bell Witch

So the top ten lists are rolling in, and some of you may have noticed an obscure CDR demo being mentioned, a demo by a little known Seattle doom band called Bell Witch. The gracious dudes from the band were kind enough to send me a copy. Admittedly I slept on it a bit, for this I am foolish. Bell Witch have ex-members of Samothrace, so right there I should have clamored to listen. This isn't terribly unlike Samothrace, perhaps a bit more menacing and less delicate in parts than the former band. Bell Witch also can boast some pretty compelling vocal work on this release. A truly special band that will go on to do great things. Someone give them money to make an album. This is gorgeous.

Here

Haus Music

As far as all these new fangled bands looking to Siouxsie and The Banshees, Bauhaus, and Joy Division, please consider The Vanishing. The San Francisco/Berlin band churned out creepy cantos of Deathrock's dusty past over a decade ago, and I think they were one of the best at it. In the Bathaus was the band's follow up to their strong debut titled Songs for Psychotic Children, and while I love that album, this EP feels deeper and darker. Absolutely mandatory.

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Another World

One of my favorite Death Metal demos of all time, Finland's Necropsy were such a stellar band that really never got out of the demo barn. Someone may have had the good sense to release all this rare bloody gold into one abhorrent anthology but I am not certain. I do know is that Necropsy were a skilled group of youngsters that packed a certain clinical crispness to their bludgeon. Another World contains four absolutely mandatory tracks.

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See You In December

I am taking a break from The Hearse in order to focus on the recording of a new Worm Ouroboros album (to be released Spring '12 on Profound Lore) and then a quick jaunt over to Tel Aviv for a one off engagement with Agalloch. Cosmic Hearse will resume its activities some time in December.

The New Beginning

Here's another lost Sunshine State Hardcore artifact, Blemish on Society's sole vinyl release, The New Beginning. These Tampa terrors were a bit late to the party issuing this bit of adolescent fury in 1988. Like recent Florida-based Hearse honorees FWA, these guys just wanted to play Hardcore, and they fucking did.

Here

Sin and Mass

Eugene, Oregon isn't exactly a place you would equate with epic Heavy Metal. You might think of drum circles, smelly Anarchists, and Ken Kesey, but probably not the mustached metalions known as Lazarus Sin. Shame really because Intracranial Mass, the band's one and only release is a veritable treasure trove of steely, melodic, metal that deserves more attention. Perhaps the location or the Christian lyrics kept these guys out of the spotlight, who knows?

Here

Takin' Off

Some of you may only know Herbie Hancock as the composer behind the immensely successful and influential proto-hip hop hit "Rockit." Long before the '80s, Hancock was already one of the most respected and beloved Jazz pianists and composers of the 1960s. Hancock's airy playing and elegant yet strange arrangements made him an instant favorite amongst Alfred Lion and Frank Wolff, and for this legendary date, they put him in the studio with the ubiquitous ryhthm section of Warren and Higgens, along with Freddie Hubbard, and the elusive Dexter Gordon. The results were stellar, but only hinted at the greatness to come. If this piques your interest in Hancock, I highly recommend spending some quality time with Empyrean Isles or Maiden Voyage.

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Subject

Brace yourself for some caustic grindcore from Hungary and a band who operated in the early '90s under the mundane moniker of Subject. Diaphanous Writhes of a Soul was the band's second demo and was later pressed into an EP. Subject had a steady six year run that yielded a few demos, two full-lengths, and a four-way split with fellow Hungarian heavies Set Off, Mindcrime, and Loser's Lair. Admittedly I haven't heard any other Subject material but this demo is just so fucking great I am not sure I need to.

GRIND!

The Day Z-Trip Met Radar

In the '90s the ambitious Future Primitive Sound organization set out to pair DJs of note with one another for live performances that would eventually be pressed into limited number CDs. There were only two sessions documented: one matching Cut Chemist with Shortkut and this one that combines the turntable treachery of Z-Trip and Radar. Sad that this brilliant concept yielded just two discs, but damn they are fine listening. And while Cut Chemist and Shortkut are by far superior in skill, Z-Trip and Radar's session is infinitely more enjoyable. The two skilled DJs cut, mix, and match a number of classic records, some of which may surprise and titillate your tired ears.

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Not Working

Experiencing some major machine hassles here at the Hearse. Hope to have shit up and running in a few days.

Bridge of Sighs

You know if I had the means to upload a joint of killer '70s brown weed, I would.

But instead...

FWA

I have to thank my old Florida homie Justin Cudney for getting this hen's tooth off my wishlist and up in my earholes. So FWA maybe weren't the best hardcore band to come out of the flaccid dick-shaped state that I spent my first 18 years in, but they were an integral part of the scene playing many hectic shows and opening for whatever punk legends were ballsy enough to take the extra travel day down to Miami, only to have their tires slashed, and their merch guy pummeled by subtarded, sun-drenched skinheads. FWA managed to crank out this one EP in the midst of all the heat and chaos. The cover shows a typically South Florida landscape of big ominous skies and rows of buzzing power lines. It may not mean much to you, but to my eyes it is all the loneliness and ennui of my adolescence in one single image. So let's talk about the tunes, shall we? FWA were amateurish, that is for sure, but in that simplistic, rickety untalent was a charm that may even remind you of your own teen angst. Hardcore with little outside influence, no experimentation, no metal, no emo. Mohawks and skateboards, flannels and boots. Thank you so much, Justin and FWA wherever you may be.

FWA!

Voodoo Jive

This album should be in everyone's collection, even if that collection is mp3s on a hard drive.

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Dennis Dread's Halloween Mix Tape

Well it would seem that Cosmic Hearse now officially has a time-honored holiday tradition; The Dennis Dread Halloween Mixtape. I always look forward to his eclectically spooky grab bag of razor-infused apples and cianide-laced candy corny gems of obscure sonic fright. For those of you who don't know the man, or dare to doubt his creepy credentials, Dread is the man behind the great Battle for Art blog, Destroying Angels Magazine, and most notably the twisted artist behind all great album covers for Darkthrone, Autopsy and a few other notable noisys. So sit back and let Dennis Dread haunt your dreams.

Children's Black Mass ~ Quintessence

Quintessence was comprised of the entire Mazzei family: Michael, Edith, Francine, Terese and Loretta. The gang’s all here. Who are they? I have no idea. To the best of my very questionable knowledge, this score for John Russo’s 1982 “thriller” Midnight is the only thing they ever recorded. Our All Hallows Mass has begun, brothers and sisters....

One/Werewolves On Wheels ~ Don Gere

Meandering hippy evil from the best genre-bending satanic/werewolf/biker flick ever made. Recorded in 1971 and recently re-issued by the fine audiophiles at Finder’s Keepers. “Hey, we all know how we’re gonna die, baby! We’re gonna crash and burn!”

Sinister Purpose ~ Credence Clearwater Revival

Put me in coach. I’m ready to play. Today. Look at me. I can be. Centerfield.

God of Darkness ~ Bum

Bum was formed in 1964 in Essex, England and released this occult rocker in 1967 shortly before changing their name to Iron Maiden in 1968. Relax, their other jams are mostly longwinded and not nearly as menacing as this wild invocation would suggest. An altogether different bunch of limeys would go on to have much better luck with the name Iron Maiden. Catchy isn’t it?

Voyage Of Darkness ~ Jagged Edge

Street metal from Cleveland, Ohio circa 1982 that will kick your ass and make sweet love to your woman in the Chinese take-out parking lot. Punk upstarts like Minor Threat are often celebrated for hand gluing their records and booking their own shows but there was a whole microcosm of “privately pressed” hard rock that doesn’t get enough credit for keeping the D.I.Y. spirit alive during the 70’s and early 80’s.

Prince Of Darkness ~ Omen

Omen did everything right on Battle Cry. This is a perfect heavy metal record from the fucking awesome album cover art to the hyperactive ode to nocturnal emissions ‘Be My Wench’. If you’re in a band that professes to play “heavy metal” and don’t listen to Battle Cry on a regular basis you should probably reconsider your genre. And reason for living.

Werewolves On The Hunt ~ Stormwitch

Thanks to the musical genius and sheer determination of Steve Harris and Dave Murray, nerdy longhairs can waste the rest of their lives on youtube turning over obscure stones of NWOBHM and watching bands like Stormwitch clamber into the light. This is the lycanthropic power anthem from their 1984 debut LP.

Dead Of The Night ~ Demon Flight

You don’t see many Demon Flight patches sewn onto metal vests. That’s probably because their entire catalog consisted of three songs, including this shrill castle stomper featured on the very first Metal Massacre comp in 1982 that gets in and gets out without wasting our fucking time with moody intros, meditations on trees or general progression. Play this in a room full of black metal symposium types and watch ‘em squirm…

I Am The Skull ~ Danava

Danava has come a long way since their humble formation as a Goblin cover band back in 2003 and emerge from the theatrical basement prism as one of the most potent bands in the Northwest. Their new album Hemisphere of Shadows is one of the best records of the year. Ignore all the inevitable “hipster” and “faux retro” bullshit and enjoy some righteous banging.

Satan’s World ~ Crysys

More exceptional heavy rockin’ from Portland, Oregon! The mostly unknown and unfortunately spelled Crysys self-released one LP called Hard As Rock on the mysterious Long Street Records and it’s a smoker. I’d love to find the boulders along the Sandy River where they painted CRYSYS ROCKS and raise a few Budweisers from an inflatable raft in their honor.

Witches ~ Doomed

From the 1992 Doomed To Death 7” but widely heard for the first time this year thanks to Aphelion’s green vinyl comp, Doomed was an Autopsy side project featuring Chris Reifert, Danny Corrales and Petri Toivonen of Funeral. Corrales is one of the most underrated guitarists in any genre (and one of the nicest dudes you’re likely to meet) and if Reifert didn’t actually invent death metal he certainly twisted it to its greatest, goriest heights. Essential!

Buried Alive ~ Deathrash

Here’s a fun ripper from New Jersey’s Deathrash circa 1986 featuring Tony “Whiplash” Scaglione on drums! These dudes are actually back together and my talented pal Rich Rethorn did the cover drawing for their 2010 compilation Thrash Beyond Death which features a hapless mosher who is banging so enthusiastically that his grinning skull has exited his face. If this sounds too happy for a Halloween mix tape, go read some Edgar Allan Poe and fuck off.

Satan Theme ~ The Nightriders

The classy title theme to Al Adamson’s 1969 biker classic Satan’s Sadists, a “wild new movie all about the wave of revolution and anarchy sweeping the U.S. today.” Composed and conducted by Harley Hatcher and performed by The Nightriders. I just looked up Satan’s Sadists on IMDB and the Plot Keywords are: “Biker, Stabbed In The Throat, Female Nudity, Russian Roulette, Gore.” What else do you need to know?

Ballet ~ Michel Polnareff

If your ears feel as though they’re being molested by this creepy little synth number, it might be due to the fact that it’s the score to a creepy little 1976 film about a serial rapist. Side two is a queasy concept composition that plays like a bummer meth binge titled, fittingly, ‘The Rapist’. Fortunately overlooked by miserly record collector types due to the incongruous cover art, this one can still be salvaged from Goodwill bins.

The Hungry Moon ~ Xander Harris

Justin Sweatt is the enigma behind Xander Harris, one dude with a laptop, synthesizer and taxidermied raven who gets Italian horror soundtrack disco right! I scored this Contamination cassette a few months ago at a Portland gig in support of his Urban Gothic LP and was thrilled when he turned out to be a totally nice guy who can carry a conversation. I admittedly expected some greasy Klonopin addict with a Flock of Seagulls haircut and pointy shoes.

Halloween ~ The Coffinshakers

Tonight the graves are opening up! The beautiful baritone of Swedish Johnny Cash/Lon Chaney disciple Rob Coffinshaker beckons the bad moon rising and summons the children of the night. For fuck’s sake, can someone please tell Mr. Coffinshaker to drop me a line? I really want to draw a cover for this guy.

Little Black Bag ~ Gene Moss and the Monsters

1964 was indeed the “year of the monster” and this little ditty summarizes the ghoulish zeitgeist pretty well. There were tons of novelty records like this but Dracula’s Greatest Hits is distinguished by outstanding artwork by none other than Jack “EC” Davis! My copy still has the monster fan cards insert and, predictably, the drawings are far better than the actual music.

I'll Cut You Down ~ Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats

They have a dumb name and recently signed to Rise Above records so I can already sense a Ghost-like backlash on the horizon but this catchy dirge perfectly invokes the urban malaise of Whitechapel circa 1888. Enjoy it while you can.

Spell Thrust ~ Cult of Daath

Cult of Daath don’t seem terribly active and didn’t bother responding to my adoring e-mail last year informing them that this tune from their 2010 Doomed By The Witch cassette is an instant classic. In fact, it’s one of the best metal songs of the past decade. “Ring the astral bell!”

Golem ~ Protector

In Jewish folklore the Golem was a hulking creature made of mud, sorta like Frankenstein with a kippah and an overbearing mother, so I figured I could slip this German thrash homage into my Halloween mix without stretching the parameters too much. “Myth? Truth? Who knows?”

Excrement Exorcist ~ Cross

I imagine these dudes living together in some filthy Seattle punk house that smells like moldy bong water. As weird as it sounds, I hear influences as disparate as Hellhammer and Integrity on their 2010 Never Ending Death demo and I actually mean that as a compliment. One of these guys was in Wormwood who played at my house back in 1999 and I remember them sounding vaguely like mid-era Neurosis but that’s mostly gone on this three track offering.

Halloween Queen ~ Acid

Some fans consider this third/final album the band’s weakest link and it certainly lacks the cool cover art of their preceding LP’s and Black Car EP, but it’s still a total rager. The Halloween Queen married Satan when she was 17! Is that even legal? For those who don’t already know, Acid was a Belgium rock band which boasted musicians named “T-Bone”, “Anvill”, “Demon”, “Dizzy Lizzy” and of course the beautiful Kate De Lombaert. Class act!

Ballad Of The Hip Death Goddess ~ Ultimate Spinach

To my untrained ears this groovy epic perfectly echoes the CCR tune we opened with and merits the 8+ minutes it has usurped here. These mild mannered New England “heads” recorded a few albums of mostly lite rock back in the late 60’s but somehow managed to nail this sexy psychedelic death ballad in the process. Great Von-esque intro too!

Munster Mosh ~ Virus

Yup, the third-tier UK thrash band with some of the most poorly executed artwork to ever disgrace 12 square inches doing their uncredited 1988 rendition of the Munsters theme song. It’s not like I could put this on my Thanksgiving mix tape. Happy Halloween!

BOO!

Sacred Alien

Here's a rare NWOBHM single that is sweet as diabetes and hotter than a poop. Sacred Alien hailed from the bullshit town of Manchester. A town known mostly for football hooligans and Joy Division. Both songs on this single are worthwhile rockers made better by the charismatic voice of a jerk named Sean Canning. This is one of those rare instances where both sides leave me wanting more. Shame these lads didn't make a full length.

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Indeed!

With Jazz the prevailing notion was that a player needed experience to truly excel at his chosen instrument, but when Clifford Brown was tragically killed in a car accident after a gig, it was a young Lee Morgan that filled his ginormous shoes, and caused people to question if experience was requisite to great playing. Lee Morgan was so impressive and prolific a musician it is impossible to think about Blue Note or Bop trumpet playing without Morgan immediately coming to mind. He was an integral part of Art Blakey's best and most noted Jazz Messenger's line up, as well as leading twenty-five sessions as a leader for Blue Note. Morgan's drug use was also the stuff of legend, and in 1961 it led to his dismissal from The Messengers. Morgan cleaned up and in 1963 struck pay dirt with his most successful album The Sidewinder. Over the next decade, Lee was unstoppable as a leader and a sought after sideman. Like Morgan's life itself, his death was dramatic, tragic, and completely unexpected. On February 19th 1972 Morgan's common-law wife, Helen, shot him in the chest on stage, killing him instantly. She served six years for the crime. The bulk of Lee Morgan's massive discography is brilliantly executed standard hard bop, though Morgan was not opposed to more avant styles (Search For New Land). It was incredibly challenging to find a single album to share here so I opt to go with Lee Morgan Indeed, his first session as a leader for Blue Note. Why not start at the beginning, right? The album features a great band: Horace Silver (piano), Clarence Sharpe (alto sax), Wilbur Ware (bass), and Philly Joe Jones (drums). The album kicks off with the vaguely sinister, oddly latin number "Roccus" penned for the session by Silver. Note how the whole rhythm shifts to a fast paced shuffle for Silver's adept solo then returns back to its original creep and lope. "Reggie of Chester" is a classic Benny Golson tune, it was these lilty metropolitan boppers that Morgan excelled at, immediately after the opening riff, he's off hot dogging the valves and showing the haters who the fuck he is. For me, the album's crescendo is the ballad "The Lady." Here Morgan and Sharpe's notes billow and coil around one another like trails from a lonely cigarette in a shitty dive, but then around the 2:13 mark, something (though I am not sure what) happens to the lady. It is a story told through brass and wood, and in a sense, isn't that is what a great Jazz ballad should be? "Little T" is another uptown scorcher this time written by Donald Byrd (that guy had riffs). Philly Joe Jones does a pretty spot on Blakey impersonation on the opening of "Gaza Strip," and Sharpe delivers some of his best soloing on the album. "Stand By" is another peppy Golson arrangement that showcases the talents of Morgan and Silver both. Indeed is a magnificent, but somewhat typical hard bop affair, it is also a great jumping off point to examine the career trajectory of one of Jazz's most beloved and skilled trumpetizers.

Indeed!

Wijlen Wij

Cosmic Hearse supporter and friend, Dirk "Dino" Noben is a stand up motherfucker, and hands down my favorite Belgian on the planet (my apologies to Jean-Claude Van Damme and Plastic Bertrand). Over the years Dirk has turned me on to more than a few cool bands (and beers) from his country. The lastest was this masterpiece that so perfectly sated my recent thirst for devastatingly fucked up Funeral Dooooooooooooom. Wijlen Wij (I have no idea how it is pronounced) unleashed this hulking shoggoth of an album in 2007. Spiritually and sonically akin to Esoteric's colossal Epistemological Despondency. My sincerest thanks go out to Dirk and Wijlen Wij for sharing this behemoth.

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Contradiction

Sluggo were a Hardcore band from Cincinnati Ohio in the '80s. They were kind of like a sloppier (these guys were really young) Minor Threat with a lazier vocalist. Contradiction was their only release and it does everything an '80s HC 7" is supposed to. Apparently these guys got older, and went in a more metallic direction, recordings were made but never released? Anyone want to share those?

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Swallow, Swoum, Dissect

Dissect were yet another overlooked Dutch Death Metal band. After a couple of promising demos, Dissect signed to Cyber Music to release their debut (and what would be their only) album, Swallow Swouming Mass. For the record, there is no such word as "Swouming." Dissect were not innovators, or risk takers by any stretch of the imagination. The fare here is just no-frills, old school DM pummel, and that is exactly what makes this album a favorite for me. Swallow this.

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Myth & Ritual

I don't know a whole lot about Life Cycle or their EP Myth and Ritual. I do know they were from Wales, they were associated with the UK anarco-crust scene, and they loved Celtic Frost. This fucking rules.

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Papa Charlie

Born in 1885, Papa Charlie Jackson eked out a modest living playing his Banjo/Ukelele hybrid and singing his ribald songs at medicine shows and on the streets of Chicago. In the 20s, several recordings were made. In 1972 an LP compiling these dusty delights from a bygone era was released by the brilliant Yazoo label. Most of these recordings were made with an audio horn rather than a microphone, and the technology of pressing records was still very new at the time, so almost needless to say, their is layers of hiss that often eclipse the music, but for me, this adds to the experience,and lends a ghostly, otherworldy feel to the whole thing.

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The Dark Misanthropic Woods

Aeshma was the infernal collaboration between two Brazilian fiends, Impuro and Nocturnus Tepesh. Both have operated in several other devout Black Metal bands around their area. The Dark Misanthropic Woods is Aeshma's sole release, it was released in 2003. As you might have guessed, the production is terrible, the playing is sloppy, but the vibe is there. Some guitar overdubs and spooky keyboards seemingly added to a boombox practice room tape, not sure if there is bass, not sure it matters in these woods.

Darkness

Kick Me

This self=released single by an obscure Heavy Metal band might be just the thing to cure your blues. There isn't a whole lot of information about Satin Steel coursing through the tubes of the ol' interweb, but my searching did yield this: "The only website dedicated to the '80s rock band from Erie, PA....Satin Steel." The site has plenty of information regarding the history of the band, some great photos, and even a track that didn't appear on this single, the only official Satin Steel release. The a side "Kick Me Where It Hurts" is a slunky, hooky rocker. The b side kicks it up a notch with the oddly titled "Let's Not Die." Despite releasing a great little record that got some airplay and critical acclaim, and a move to Hollywood, Satin Steel never cracked the big leagues. Seriously, bro/sis, I know shit has been getting to you lately, just sit back, pop open a brew, and let Satin Steel make it okay.

KICK ME

Brutal Aggression

Here's some mega-fucking-evil death/thrash from Spain and 1989. There were about a million metal bands in the '80s calling themselves Aggressor, most were pretty aggressive as I imagine, but for my money you can't do better than these venomous Valencians. They only managed to eke out one demo, Brutal Aggression, before they aggressed no more, but damn, what a demo it is. You get some Kreator style thrashing, proto-Death Metal vocals from some guys named Captor, Animal, Pelufo, and Chapa. Also want to add that this Aggressor has perhaps one of the coolest logos of all time.

Brutality

The Blues and the Abstract Truth

Before we delve any deeper into this Jazz classic, let's get a gander at the cast of characters, the pantheon of absolute bop deities that "star" rather than simply play. Yes, this was the pinnacle of super group and all under the guidance and leadership of Oliver Nelson. So is it as good as one would expect? Absolutely, maybe even better.

Truth

Certain Death

Killing Children, were they children that killed, or is the name a verb? Not sure, and not sure it matters. These uncelebrated punkers hailed from Indiana, but this could have come from Southern California circa '81. Killing Children would've fit right in on one of those Posh Boy comps. You know, one of those bands that sits between punk rock and hardcore. When Tim Yo reviewed this little record in 1983 he so eloquently stated, "I really like this" I am inclined to agree.

KILL!

Torsten

Fuck yeah Torsten. By now you should know the deal. Torsten, a hopeful young Swedish Heavy Metal band from the bullshit town of Loddekopinge, releases one great single, and then fades into obscurity. The singer sounds kind of punk as he sings about how he is "the best" on the a side "King of the Nest." The b side, "Are You Ready" is a balls-out rocking call to arms. The two tunes here are excellent, spirited, and just plain cool rocking Heavy Metal numbers. Like most of these one-off FWOSHM singles, this is more fun than you should probably be allowed.

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Lycus

The Bay Area scene is interesting. It seems that every so often a whole crop of great new bands spring up but then a year later, maybe only one or two still exist. Lately we have been lucky enough to see the formation of such bands as Owl, Hell Ship, Badr Vogu, Pale Chalice, Lady of the Lake, Pins of Light, and one of my personal favorites, Lycus from Oakland. Lycus plays expansive doom with melodic flourishes. There is enough quality material to make this a regular listen. I imagine that Lycus, if they managed to stick it out, could potentially make an album that dominates and eclipses all other bands doing this sort of doom. Watch for them. And you can secure a copy of this tape here.

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