Thulsa Mood

Gyibaaw

2010-07-31T13:53:00.004-06:00

I drove up to Saskatoon a few days ago to see the mighty Inquisition play. Before Inquisition destroyed the handful of prairie shitheads that bothered to show up, we were pre-destroyed by Gyibaaw. Hailing from Prince George, B.C. and playing "Tsimshian War Metal" (their term), these guys play a vicious form of black metal with most lyrics in "S'malygax", a traditional language of the Tsimshian people. There's killer atmospheric bits peppered throughout this recording using traditional instruments, and live, the dude busted out an awesome wooden flute.
You can pick up their debut Ancestral War Hymns at shows, obviously, as well as from Ross Bay Cult, The Basar N.A., and various other distros. But for the hesitant, have a listen:

HERE

Balls to the Wall

2010-07-18T08:36:00.003-06:00

I read or heard somewhere recently that the song "Balls to the Wall" is actually about glory holes in gay clubs. It seems so obvious now! Not too sure if that's true or not, but none the less a classic metal release. I'm sure that everyone that would want to hear this already has, but whatever. Balls to the wall.

click

Prince of the Poverty Line

2010-07-13T18:06:00.003-06:00

Before folk metal was all accordions, flutes, trolls and doughy white guys in medieval armour, there was Skyclad. Think more along the lines of British thrash with fiddles rather than the jaunty black metal-lite that's all the rage. Former Sabbat (UK) vocalist Martin Walkyier delivers surprisingly literate lyrics in a snarly, yet lispy manner that suits the whole package somehow. 1994's Prince of the Poverty Line is considered by most to be one of their best. I also included a bonus disc that contained a measley three songs that came with my copy because y'know, why not? Aaaand here it is:

click

An Ode to Sin

2010-07-01T11:06:00.003-06:00

Hey hey, it's Canada Day and I'm legally required to post some cancon. Don't worry, no Bryan Adams or Barenaked Ladies or Nickleback or Anne Murray.
Edmonton's Rites of thy Degringolade (no idea what that means) played a chaotic style of death/black metal similar to stuff like Conqueror, Axis of Advance, and maybe a pinch of Blasphemy. Really fucking good though, one of the best example of the style. The drumming is stellar and captivating and some interesting riffing make this album much more than the typical blast-o-thon put out by the average "war metal" band nowadays. This is 2005's An Ode to Sin, the last album they released before breaking up.

click me!

Katapult

2010-06-14T10:44:00.004-06:00

Trying to think of what to write about this album makes my head hurt. Circle play their usual kraut rock-ish stuff but add a trippy, slightly pseudo-metal/black metal aesthetic. I also hear bits of Goblin/John Carpenter-like synths leaking through at times. I can see metalhead nerds into The Meads Of Asphodel or Sigh's middle albums getting into this. With song titles such as "Black Black Never Never Land", "Fish Reflection", and "Skeletor Highway" (which the lyrics tell us is a "bus driver's nightmare") one might think that this album is a little jokey or mocking... But shit, even if it is, it's still one of my favourite Circle albums and one of the strangest things that I've heard in the last few years.

here you go

Goat Semen

2010-05-29T09:54:00.005-06:00

Furious, violent South American filth on this 2002 demo from the awesomely-monikered Goat Semen. I'm not sure if these guys have even recorded a proper full-length yet, but this is more solid than many of the other "bestial" bands' best efforts. There's a genuine menace, intensity, and goddamn earnestness on this recording that warms my heart. It's pretty much high-speed death/thrash with demonic falsettos that will make even the most jaded fuck tear up and raise a fist. Get yourself goat-jizzed right:

here

Driller Killer

2010-05-22T12:13:00.004-06:00

Because of their name, for a long while I wrongly assumed that these guys were a second-rate gore grind/death/whatever band. But they're actually vicious Swedish crust punk! It was a nice surprise. Here's Driller Killer's first full-length Brutalize from 1994.

here

Dio

2010-05-17T15:31:00.006-06:00

Well, shit. I was out of town visiting family all day yesterday and came home to read that a legend has passed. His is probably the most upsetting celebrity/musician death that I've experienced and I don't quite know what to do or feel. I've been kinda shook up all day. After I found out last night, I cracked a beer (one of my fancy ones hiding in the back of the fridge) even though I didn't really want one, went to my back yard, raised my drink to the sky, took a sip then poured a little on my lawn. Seems like a silly thing to do now that I've typed it out, but... Then I went inside, put on some Dio-Sabbath and finished my beer.
I'm so glad that I was able to see him with Heaven and Hell two or three years back. I was right in front of one of the big speakers that he'd climb atop during some songs. I swear that he tried to smile at and make eye contact with everyone in the building. My horn-trowing hand was sore that night.
Everyone should be listening to some Dio today. Over and over and over. Last in Line is, of course, classic, classy, immortal Dio. Have a listen and enjoy, those who don't already have it. And R.I.P. Ronnie.

click

Sanguis Imperem

2010-04-22T09:03:00.003-06:00

Here's a spiffy demo of militant, Bolt Thrower-style death metal from California. Sanguis Imperem's debut MCD The Stagnation of Centuries can be found in several distros across the internet for cheap. Cheap like borscht. And it's even better and more polished than this. But this is free! They also have a split album with their buddies in Nocturnal Blood due out sometime this year. Check out their 2007 demo:

right here

Destruktor

2010-04-14T15:33:00.005-06:00

Today we have a an MCD release of some quality Australian blackthrash from Destruktor. These guys haven't put out a hell of a lot in the 15 years or so that they've been together, but they know what they're doing. Not too far off from the type of stuff that Aussie metalheads have been doing for the last couple of decades; extra-deathy/thrashy, eeevil, and just the right amount of blackened snarl. Here's 2004's Nuclear Storm.

here

Please Show Me Your Pussy

2010-04-07T20:37:00.003-06:00

Pleeeeeease? Cut Throat is an 80's-worshipping thrash metal side-project of sorts comprised of Mirai and Shinichi of Sigh and Yasuyuki and Youhei of Abigail. Imploring you to "show me your pussy, please" because they "want to see your beautiful pussy", this single is tons o' fun and pretty decent thrash-wise. The B-side is a cover of Tankard's "Zombie Attack".

here

Hey you!

2010-04-07T20:24:00.002-06:00

Check out my recent guest post/mixtape thingy that I did for the sexy Illogical Contraption blog.

Peeled Carcass

2010-04-04T16:01:00.004-06:00

Haha! See what I did there? Here's Carcass in fine form circa 1989 recording a few tracks for John Peel. Solid.

right here

Into the Infernal Regions of the Ancient Cult

2010-03-29T11:25:00.007-06:00

You know how the aliens talk in the 1996 movie Mars Attacks!? Imagine that voice speaking english over some black metal and you're halfway to Inquisition. Starting out as a humble thrash band in Columbia (now based in Washington), they've brought a certain 'not-to-be-fucked-with'-ness to the melodic black metal sound that they've maintained throughout all of their full-lengths. Really good musically, but really strange vocals. Kind of a nasally croak. If you can get past that you're in for a treat.

click

Bulldozer

2010-03-20T18:09:00.002-06:00

Check out AC Wild. He cares not for your pitiful exploding planet. With IX these Italian sleazeballs deliver what is probably one of my favourite thrash metal albums from the late 80's. Featuring an ode to masturbation that explains how it's much easier and cheaper than having a girlfriend. True dat.

click

Netjajev Society System

2010-03-11T18:38:00.003-06:00

Here's some killer Swedish punk mixed with some fucking wonky sci-fi synths/organs from Netjajev SS. Really good stuff, they'll be halfway into some weird spacey/surfy stuff before launching into some of the most catchy and intense hardcore that I've heard in a while. Internet-rumour has it that the main (only?) dude for these guys is also responsible for the excellent Syphilitic Vaginas. So check out their self-titled EP from 2007 riiiiight

HERE

The Eastern Force of Evil

2010-02-20T09:59:00.003-06:00

An "official bootleg" I guess, I was pretty stoked to get this in a trade a few years ago. Back in the 90's Sigh played about 75% Venom covers when they played live and this album is about the same (and there's a couple of Death covers as well). Taken from from a few different shows in their native Japan, the sound quality ranges from listenable to kinda awful. Still, it's a cool document of a stripped-down Sigh playing mostly covers to half-interested audiences.
Also, check out the killer re-issue label The Crypt for deluxe extra-fancy vinyl editions of some of Sigh's albums coming later this year. Infidel Art and Ghastly Funeral Theatre have already come and gone from the label, but you might be able to track them down elsewhere.

clicky

L'appel du néant

2010-02-07T10:10:00.004-06:00

Malveillance is a Quebecois punky, d-beat-ish black metal (one-man) band. Not too far off from stuff like Akitsa or Bone Awl. This 2006 demo opens up with seven (!) Ramones covers, then follows up with ten tracks of particularly hateful and primitive blackmetalpunk.

click

Top 10 of 2009

2010-01-30T11:39:00.022-06:00

Sorry, no download links today. Just words and pictures. I still haven't heard the new albums from YOB, The Spits, Zombi, and Peste Noire and surely I'll come across some other '09 releases in the years to come. But these things are always kinda fun to do, so what the hell:

1. Slough Feg - Ape Uprising!

Slough Feg can do no wrong.

2. Teitanblood - Seven Chalices

I was expecting something along the lines of their fellow countrymen Proclamation, but this is absolutely immense and so much better. The best booklet art of the year as well. Should've held out for the vinyl...

3. Beherit - Engram

Their first metal album in 16 years and they nailed it. Fuck the nay-sayers.

4. Villains - Lifecode of Decadence

Criminally underrated, filthy, sleazy street thrash/punk band. I enjoyed this quite a bit more than 2007's Drenched in the Poisons. Awesome drumming and the vocalist is insane, channeling Cronos, Quorthon, King Diamond, and Nocturno Culto all at roughly the same time.

5. Deströyer 666 - Defiance

Deströyer 666's weakest album is still pretty damn good. I finally got to see them live this year in Calgary and they were flawless.

6. Argus - Argus

A very well-executed debut album of classic doom metal mixed with the heavier aspects of the NWOBHM era. Lovecraft metal!

7. Neko Case - Middle Cyclone

I'm a sucker for this lady's voice. The last track is a half hour of frogs/insects/swamp sounds. Neat.

8. Katharsis - Fourth Reich

This one grows on me every time that I listen to it. Maybe not quite as good as VVorld VVithout End, but close.

9. Black Pyramid - Black Pyramid

Nothing terribly original, but nonetheless a very solid doom metal album chock full of deadly solos and grooves.

10. Immortal - All Shall Fall

Ah, good old reliable Immortal. Never putting out a bad album, only good ones of varying degrees of awesomeness. I daresay this is better than the last couple.

Honorable mentions, EPs, compilations, and re-issues (AKA most of the rest of the stuff I picked up last year):

Reverend Bizarre - Death Is Glory... Now - If I was counting compilations of old material this might be number 1. This is 2 CDs of their previously out-of-print tracks from various splits, covers from tribute albums and other rarities. Not a single track is a throwaway and it's great to have all of these crucial songs in one set.
Ignivomous - Death Transmutation - Australians playing American death metal in the vein of Immolation and Incantation very well.
Citizens Arrest - Collosus - Nice 2LP discography of this late 80's/early 90's New York hardcore band.
Weapon - Drakonian Paradigm - I wanted to like this more, but it's still pretty good.
Cobalt - Gin - See above. A good album, but not AS good as a lot of reviews would have you believe.
Fucked Up - Year of the Rat/First Born - A couple of decent tracks on this single. Picked this up when I saw them in April last year. Good show.
Maserati/Zombi - split - The Maserati tracks are cool, but Zombi is where it's at.
Bone Awl - Night's Middle - Damned good EP.
Them Crooked Vultures - Them Crooked Vultures - Enjoyable for a bit.
Abigail/Syphilitic Vaginas - split - The Abigail tracks are alright, but Syphilitic Vaginas are seriously fantastic. They sound like Motörhead, Japanese hardcore, and 80's black metal all at once. Great stuff.
Bleak House - Suspended Animation - Super-sweet collection of this NWOBHM band's two EPs from '80 and '82 with some well-recorded live tracks on the B-side.
Diocletian - Doom Cult - Kiwis playing some very solid Blasphemy-worship with a bit more lower-end and variation than the other thousand band playing this style.
Proclamation - Execration of Cruel Bestiality - More blatant Blasphemy-worship from these Spaniards, but still a thrillingly violent-sounding album.
Speedwolf/Hookers - split - A cool split 7" of upbeat drinkin' metal/punk.
Nirvana 2002 - Recordings 89-91 - Awesome. All of the recorded output from one of the best bands from the Swedish death metal scene.
Heaven & Hell - The Devil You Know - Dio-Sabbath still knows what's up.
Lady Gaga - The Fame Monster - Yes, I'm fucking serious. Shut up.
Children of Technology - Chaosmutant Hordes - Three Italian crusties playing apocalypse-themed speed metal/thrash/punk. This EP is the first thing that I've heard from them and it's quite good.
Abigail - Sweet Baby Metal Slut - Nothing that great, but definitely some of the best song titles of the year; "Teenage Metal Fuck", "Wild Fire Metal Bitch", "Metal Bitch Inferno", "Satanic Hell Slut", "Metal Evil Metal". Yeah!

Sturmpercht

2010-01-05T15:56:00.003-06:00

Most of the Neofolk/Martial/whatever that I've encountered has been pretty hit-or-miss, but this shit (Sturpercht's Geister im Waldgebirg) is definitely a big hit. These Austrians call their music "Alpine Folk" and it's perfect for a cold night. There's some rousing, catchy hymns and some mellow wistful ballads and they all make you want to drink mead. There's a solid hour plus of music here for you to enjoy, but track down a physical copy if you can, as they self-release most of their stuff.

here

Mocking the Philanthropist

2009-12-17T13:03:00.005-06:00

Grand Belial's Key are probably my favourite American black metal band. Now, because all of their album covers are defaced Bible storybook pictures and they hail from Virginia you might think that they play some kind of redneck retardo sloppy basement-recorded black metal (not that there's anything wrong with that in and of itself...). But make no mistake, these guys churn out some ballsy, melodic, groovy stuff. There's some seriously godly (ungodly?) riffs here that any fan of Heavy Metal could appreciate. Definitely have their own sound and have never just aped what their contemporaries were doing overseas. Here's their debut full-length from '97.

yoink

Grotesque

2009-10-31T10:33:00.003-06:00

Here's some spooooky classic Swedish death metal for Halloween. In the Embrace of Evil compiles Grotesque's Incantation EP from 1990 and some earlier demo tracks. There's elements of early black and thrash metal present rather than the straight-up chunky riffing of their countrymen (there's some of that too). Tomas Lindburg went on to front At the Gates, but this is more primal, potent stuff.

bleeargh

Slice of Doom

2009-10-26T12:16:00.002-06:00

Dig that tribute to Blue Cheer in the cover art. One of my favs, Finland's Reverend Bizarre played (they split a year or two ago) Doom Metal in the style of the slow n' low heavyweights of the 80's without sounding like an insincere "retro" cash-in. Fantastic vocals, solos, and RIFFS goddammit. This is the re-release of their demo with bonus tracks from the couple of different versions of the original release, and it starts out with a killer cover of the theme song from Doctor Who. I mean, c'mon.
And if anyone out there is thinking of starting a Rev Biz collection, Svart Records has just started to release super-sexy vinyl editions of their main releases starting with Harbinger of Metal. Mine should be here within the week.

click

A Fallen Unicorn

2009-10-07T12:38:00.002-06:00

Fuck yeah, unicorns! Here's a cool little EP from Greece's Nocternity with tracks that were recorded at the same time as 2003's Onyx. I cant help be reminded of Graveland with their medieval armour and the way they use synthesizers to add atmosphere rather than over-the-top pomposity. The riffs, overall, sound more like the nordic black metal bands rather than the typical "Greek black metal sound". There's a fantastically successful cover of Bjork's "Pagan Poetry" to close out the EP proper. This is the 05' reissue with the tracks from the splits with Akitsa and Kawir as bonus tracks.

clicky

Take as Needed for Pain

2009-09-19T12:05:00.004-06:00

Keeping with the "music that I like to listen to in warm weather" theme of the last few posts, here's a sludge classic from Eyehategod (before the warm weather is replaced by 6 or 7 months of cold). This shit's bleak, maaaan. Powerfully heavy, Sabbath-worshipping, pill popping, bottle-smashing doom-sludge. BUT, there's enough head-nodding grooviness to keep you from slitting your wrists and the nihilistic lyrics are actually pretty interesting.

"enjoy"

Vulcano

2009-07-20T14:36:00.005-06:00

Ah summertime, the perfect time for 80's Brazilian death thrash. Bloody Vengeance is the first album by one of the first South American bands to play this kind of music. Chaotic and ugly, but still classy, Possessed and Venom are good reference points. Whenever I look at the back of the CD I read the first track "Dominios of Death" as "Dominos of Death". That is all.

click

Jalamanta

2009-07-17T20:04:00.003-06:00

I went to the beach today for the first time in ages and I listened to this on the way up. It's Brant Bjork's (former drummer for Fu Manchu, Kyuss and others) first solo album of laid-back desert rock from waaaaay back in 1999. "Let's Get Chinese Eyes" indeed. Maybe later.

click

The Archives of Rotten Blues

2009-07-14T11:41:00.004-06:00

Greenmachine's last album before breaking up has next to no blues on it, besides maybe a couple of solos that have a blues-rock feel to them. They play doomy sludge with a hardcore punky gallop. The vocals are hoarse, somewhat guteral, and delivered with a very Japanese accent. They got lumped in with "stoner rock" because of their first couple of album's being released on the Man's Ruin label (and probably due to them naming themselves after a Kyuss song), but there's a broader appeal to people into punk/hardcore and thrash metal. Whatever, it's catchy and it's good driving music. Enjoy.

linky

Brocas Helm

2009-07-07T20:02:00.003-06:00

Here's something a little more upbeat and a little less grim than my last couple of posts. Brocas Helm have been around since the early 80's but this is only their third full-length album, released in 2004. They put out a couple of records in the mid-80's then only a small handful of demo tapes and singles until this album. Most of the material from those rare, barely-heard releases were re-recorded for this album, which they released themselves. And it's all fucking AWESOME. The two 80's records are solid slabs of classic metal, but this is definitely my favorite of theirs. They've always had a frantic punky vibe and they don't take themselves quite as seriously as some of the other bands playing "epic" metal. Here's a sampling of the lyrics from "Drink and Drive";

"I drink and drive,
drink and drive,
got mothers against me,
but I'm still alive!"

And when "Skullfucker" comes on in the car, I just gotta yell along with the chorus. I'll let you hear that one for yourself. Reccommended for fans of Slough Feg, Thin Lizzy, Manilla Road, ect., as well as any male human with testicles intact.

Skullfuckerrrrrrrrrrrr!

The Devil and the Whore

2009-07-01T20:28:00.003-06:00

You'd think that Satan wouldn't have to pay for sex. Here's the first full-length album from Megiddo, one of Canada's best black metal bands. Happy Canada Day, by the way. This shit is killer. Sounds like early Bathory together with all sorts of 80's metal/black metal goodness. Enjoy with a beer.

linky

Weapon

2009-06-27T12:21:00.005-06:00

This 7" (Weapon - Para Bhakti... Salvation) arrived in the mail this week and I've been enjoying it immensely, so I thought that I'd share. I don't know how to describe this other than really great black metal with balls and depth (balls-deep black metal?). This only came out last year, but if it's not sold out already it's damn close and they have a new album that just came out through The Ajna Offensive label. And check out this amazing logo:

The main dude moved to Canada from Bangladesh and they're now based in Edmonton, Alberta. The drummer and the bassist have played in bands such as Revenge, Axis of Adavnce, and Rites Of Thy Degringolade, so you get the best aspects of Canadian black metal together with a certain je ne sais quoi. Aren't I a fancy-pants? Here you go:

clicky

Thy Mighty Contracy

2009-06-07T13:15:00.002-06:00

Thy Mighty Contract is the very good debut album from Greece's most known black metal band Rotting Christ. I picked this up on a whim years ago and for whatever reason it took a while for it to click with me. I was probably comparing it to the Scandinavian stuff that I was listening to a lot of at the time. The riffs were more warm and melodic instead of shrill and frosty. The vocals more gruff and less shrieky. There's tasteful keyboards used sparingly and I think that they used a drum machine on this release, but it's not too obvious. Good stuff, have a listen.

click

Nuns Have No Fun

2009-06-03T11:31:00.003-06:00

Sometimes known as either A Corpse Without Soul or Nuns Have No Fun, this is Mercyful Fate's self-titled debut EP from '82. If King Diamond's vocals annoy the fuck out of you, like they do to many, you might find them more palatable here, being more raw and Halford-esque. It opens with a ridiculously awesome solo and only gets progressively more awesome. Awesome to the max. I'd almost take this over Don't Break The Oath.

face like a dead

Black Thrash Attack

2009-05-27T20:14:00.003-06:00

An apt title for Aura Noir's first full-length album. This was another sweet used bin find that I was pretty sure that I'd like based solely on the album title. I guess that you could call them a "supergroup" of sorts, being made up of current/former members of Mayhem, Satyricon, Ulver, Immortal, Ved Buens Ende, yadda yadda. You can probably guess what you're going to get with this. It's good.

Black Thrash!

Protected by the Ejaculation of Wolves

2009-05-23T09:04:00.002-06:00

This is a 2005 split release between England's Moss and Wolfmangler. Moss starts up the album with some really bleak, ugly doom metal played live in Holland in '04. Then a noisy remix of the track from the split they did with Nadja. Lots of feedback, lots of stressful heaviness.
Wolfmangler sound like some kinda funeral doom played with stand-up bass, guitar, a couple of electric basses and violin. There's a shuffling, creepy, demented folky vibe to the whole thing, and a strange cover of a Hank Williams Jr. song to boot.

Have a relaxing weekend!

Winterhawk - Revival

2009-05-19T11:36:00.002-06:00

Here's some 70's rock-sounding rock from 1982. Hailing from Chicago, I can imagine these guys playing a lot of bar shows and not getting the recognition that they should have. A few years too late, perhaps. Features some ridiculously awesome guitar-work from Jordan Macarus and some great wailing vocals. And the winged centaur on the cover rounds out the package nicely. Enjoy.

CLICK

Violent Restitution

2009-05-17T11:40:00.006-06:00

Razor are Canadian thrash metal of the highest order. They're fast, heavy and pulverizing, yet still extremely catchy and "upbeat". Definitely some Crossover appeal, especially in the drumming and vocals. Sound-wise, this falls somewhere in-between the American and German thrash bands.

1988

Immortal

2009-05-13T19:37:00.002-06:00

How about Immortal's self-titled first 7"? Yeah? Sounds good? Of course it does! It's Immortal! What we have here is an intro and alternate versions of two of the better songs from Diabolical Fullmoon Mysticism. It has a great echo-y sound like old Burzum and a galloping epicness that reminds me of Bathory. A good way to spend 9 minutes.

9 minutes

Purgatory Afterglow

2009-05-11T16:13:00.003-06:00

Several years ago my lady really dug this album for a while. She didn't give a shit about most of the stuff I listened to, but this struck a chord for some reason.
So gents, if you want to get your girlfriend into Swedish death metal, this is the place to start. Pretty melodic and accessible as far as this style goes, but there's still plenty of those crunchy/chunky toe-tappin' riffs.

clack

In God We Trust, Inc.

2009-05-08T20:13:00.005-06:00

Yeah, it's kinda an obvious post that anyone remotely into any kind of punk/hardcore has probably already heard, but whatever. This left quite an impression on my 12 year-old brain. Harsh and speedy and furious.

I thought this was pretty damn cool at the time as well:

click

Church of Misery

2009-05-06T12:35:00.003-06:00

Here's some serial killer-obsessed Japanese dudes playing some bluesy, Sabbath-y doom metal. Not much else to say... Track 5 is a Blue Öyster Cult cover. The album's called Master of Brutality and was released in 2001.

here you go

Xibalba

2009-05-01T23:12:00.007-06:00

I'm not sure what the "poop" in the album's title Ah Dzam Poop Ek means. The lyrics center around ancient Mayan culure and demonology, so it probably translates to something cool in some dead language.
So. Black metal from Mexico that sounds like what some of the Norwegian bands, namely Darkthrone, were doing at the time ('94) in terms of riffs/drums/guitar tone/production. But Xibalba had a different sense of melody that incorporated, I dunno, Mexican folky-ness into their riffs that makes for an interesting listen.

poop

Assaulter

2009-04-28T18:19:00.004-06:00

Definitely one of the best of the current crop of Aussie metal bands, Assaulter are helping to tide me over until the release of Deströyer 666's new album (which can't come soon enough). They also boast Simon Berserker who played bass and contributed vocals for D666 at the turn of the century. For Assaulter he handles the guitar, bass and vocals, so there's a bit of similarity in sound between the two bands at times, but they stand out on their own. Reccommended to any fan of Austrailian metal in general, or just those who appreciate sweet, sweet speed metal riffs.

Omnipotent demo (2006)

Ironsword

2009-04-26T23:48:00.004-06:00

Portugal's answer to Manilla Road, but not quite as good. Don't get me wrong; you can be not as good as Manilla Road and still be a pretty sweet band. Here's some good, epic catchy metal in the style of olde. Quoth the Ironsword,

"Fighting for Metal
Till' the last brrreath"

enjoy

Late for an Early Grave

2009-04-24T20:33:00.001-06:00

Here's a collection of demos from Victor Griffin, guitarist for Pentagram circa the early-mid eighties, then again in the mid-nineties. Also currently the main dude of Place of Skulls. A pretty cool group of songs, some of which ended up on Pentagram's Be Forewarned album. Nothing mind-blowing, but definitely worth hearing. Hard-rocking doom.

Lank

Cult!

2009-04-23T11:33:00.000-06:00

Several years ago I found this (promo) CD used, laying loose without a case among the other CDs in the store. I could tell by the print on the disc that it was some kind of metal, but I couldn't read the logo. The logo was printed on the disc reversed (mirror-image), and it was 'horned' and 'pentagramed' in the typical fashion. It amazingly wasn't scratched, so I took a chance and bought it and did not regret it. It's Impaled Nazarene's 1996 album Latex Cult, by the way.
Maybe it's because it's the first album of theirs that I listened to, but the few other of their releases that I've picked up since don't measure up to this. Ugly black metal mixed with ugly, frantic hardcore punk. Lyrical themes include goats, nuclear war, piss, puke and violence. Track 5 is called "Motorpenis". Can't go wrong.

IMPNAZ

Bolt Thrower

2009-04-21T21:30:00.000-06:00

Grindy/crusty death metal out of Coventry, England. Their second album, released in 1989. The cover kinda makes me want to start playing Warhammer 30K. But not really, cause I don't have the time for that shit.
Gritty, mean-sounding and grin-inducing.

Link