Noise

Lifes – Treading Water Review

By Kenstrosity on June 29, 2019 in 2019, American Metal, Grind, Hardcore, Here and Now! Records, Knochen Tapes, Middleman Records, Noise, Powerviolence, Reviews, Triple Eye Industries, Grind, Hardcore, Noise, Powerviolence, 14 comments

“Instead of focusing on a general trend of social injustice and political bullshittery that all too many grind bands pursue, Lifes are all about stumbling throughout the various lives in which we involve ourselves on a daily basis, failing at most of it, and doing whatever we can to keep our shit together. According to their bandcamp bio, “Music can’t save us, but it can help us cope.” I’ve heard music described this way countless times before, but for whatever reason in this instance it resonated.” Life is a grind.

Those Darn Gnomes – Calling Whitetails to a Tuned Bow Review

By Huck N Roll on June 26, 2019 in 2019, American Metal, Avante Garde, Death Metal, Nefarious Industries, Noise, Non-Metal Metal Things, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Avante Garde, Death Metal, Noise, Non-metal Metal Things, Progressive Metal, 20 comments

“Imagine being at a party with your musician pals. They’re all very accomplished. Suddenly, they decide to put on an impromptu jam. Everybody joins in–like, a dozen people. They decide they’re going to play, oh, I don’t know, some weird number, like from Harry Partch or something. Only they all play a different Partch composition at the same time, and add some slam poetry, pound on some homemade instruments, and one guy starts growling death metal vocals. Now comes the choose your own adventure part: do you sit there mesmerized, in awe of the spectacle unfolding, or do you stand up and leave due to your churning stomach, unable to handle the confluence of disparate styles, rhythms, and sounds? Welcome to Those Darn Gnomes.” Chaos is a ladder.

K.F.R. – Démonologue Review

By Master of Muppets on May 31, 2019 in 2019, Ambient Metal, Avante Garde, French Metal, Noise, Purity Through Fire, Reviews, Ambient Metal, Avante Garde, Noise, 62 comments

“As I stare into the night sky, casting wishes and cigarette smoke to a lonely moon, a faint tapping sound breaks the silence and the grip of my reverie. I peer into the surrounding dark, curious as to who or what might be sharing this moment with me, but the hushed scenery offers no evidence of an intrusion. I shrug off this immaterial disruption and redirect my gaze towards my lunar companion, when something catches my eye; there, at the skirt of the moonlit lake that I’ve come to sit and think beside, stands a ghost. Before the icy grip of panic can steer my body into a flight of terror, I realize that this spectre is but a reflection in the water—and I am no less relieved.” Keep your sock puppets inside the ride at all times.

Full of Hell – Weeping Choir Review

By Cherd on May 18, 2019 in 2019, American Metal, Death Metal, Grind, Hardcore, Noise, Powerviolence, Relapse, Reviews, Sludge, Death Metal, Grind, Noise, Powerviolence, Sludge, 30 comments

“Trumpeting Ecstasy’s untempered viciousness and surprising experimentation was a breath of putrid air amongst the usual Cherd-bait of 2017. Had I been employed by this hallowed site at the time, I would have seriously considered slapping a 4.5 on it and endured the cries of ‘Overrating bastard!’ hurled at me from my superiors. So when I saw follow-up Weeping Choir pop into our promo bin, I jumped on it faster than Game of Thrones’ quality tanked once it outstripped the books.” Hallowed grind.

Nibiru – Salbrox Review

By Cherd on May 9, 2019 in 2019, Avante Garde, Doom Metal, Drone, Italian Metal, Noise, Ritual Productions, Doom Metal, Drone, Noise, 17 comments

“I’m naturally drawn to tags that promise something slow and heavy, so when I saw “blackened doom” next to the name Nibiru, you’d forgive me if visions of another Indian danced in my head. In reality, Salbrox, the sixth full length by these Italians, would be better described as spoken word noise/drone metal. This curve ball may have knocked some reviewers off balance, but bitch, I went to art school.” School is way out.

Kollaps – Mechanical Christ Review

By Huck N Roll on May 2, 2019 in 2019, Australian Metal, Cold Spring Records, Experimental Metal, Industrial Metal, Noise, Reviews, Experimental Metal, Industrial Metal, Noise, 35 comments

“After a brief foray into familiar waters courtesy Shotgun Sawyer’s Led Zeppelin riffing, I’m taking a turn in murkier environs once again by visiting Australian industrial mavens Kollaps. If Kollaps are interested in imitating any band, it’s Author & Punisher. Many of their instruments -er, implements- are primitive handmade devices: scrap metal, springs, and other industrial waste.” Waste management.

Deafkids – Metaprogramação Review

By Huck N Roll on March 14, 2019 in 2019, Brazilian Metal, Experimental Metal, Industrial Metal, Neurot Records, Noise, Non-Metal Metal Things, Punk, Reviews, Experimental Metal, Industrial Metal, Noise, Non-metal Metal Things, Punk, 46 comments

“As one of the resident “I like weird music” suckers in the AMG offices, it fell to me this month to take on the latest from Brazilian noisemakers Deafkids: their third album, the copy-and-paste titled Metaprogramação. These fellows create a bizarre fusion of noise rock, punk, and Brazilian polyrhythms, leaving us with something that is both disturbing and hypnotizing at the same time. Newly signed to the Neurosis label Neurot Recordings, and actually supporting (along with Bell Witch) Neurosis for their upcoming brief North American summer tour, all signs are pointing up for Deafkids. Now, how to go about reviewing something that Steve Von Till describes as “sonic Ayahuasca?”” Kids today.

Their Throats Are Open Tombs – Of Psalms and Snakes Review

By Grymm on March 13, 2019 in 2019, Grind, International Metal, Noise, Reviews, The Fear and the Void Recordings, Noise, 81 comments

“Ahh, religion. Bane of metal’s existence, religion has been the genre’s punching bag since its dawn. Many songs wove stories of people killing, raping, and pillaging for God, with some of their own followers (past or current) calling them out as well. It’s all with good reason, of course; you do good deeds just for the sake of helping someone or something out, not to look good in the eyes of others. Don’t even get me started on the excessive hoarding of expensive gifts or getting away with dubious activities in the name of God. That’s where international noise outfit, Their Throats Are Open Tombs, comes in with their second full-length helping of electronic grindcore.” Repent less.

To End It All – Scourge of Woman Review

By Lokasenna on October 5, 2018 in 2018, American Metal, Avante Garde, Noise, Non-Metal Metal Things, Reviews, Scry Recordings, Noise, Non-metal Metal Things, 87 comments

“To End It All’s debut, Scourge of Woman, is a monument to noise, anguish and righteous, burning rage; abrasive and chaotic, yet subtle and restrained, defiantly refusing to coddle the listener.” Noise and art.

KEN mode – Loved Review

By Mark Z. on August 30, 2018 in 2018, Canadian Metal, Hardcore, Noise, Reviews, Rock, Season of Mist, Sludge, Hardcore, Noise, Rock, Sludge, 44 comments

“What the fuck is that? A demented shadow person? A medieval executioner? The nightmarish specter of your father asking you why you haven’t eaten your Brussels sprouts? These are the questions you’ll ask yourself as you try in vain to fall asleep tonight, knowing full well that leering figure is definitely not standing right at the foot of your bed. In a way it’s fitting, because KEN mode’s music is equally likely to leave an impression.” Sludge monsters.