Amebix - Monolith

Track List:
1. Monolith
2. Nobody's Driving
3. The Power Remains
4. Time Bomb
5. Last Will And Testament
6. I.C.B.M.
7. Chain Reaction
8. Fallen From Grace
9. Coming Home

Amebix is a band that took quite a while to grow on me. I had known about their importance in the crust and hardcore scenes, and had assumed they were another one of those aggressive Discharge-esque bands. Imagine my surprise, then, when I picked up their excellent Arise! full-length and instead of brutal, chaotic hardcore, my ears were subjected to an unholy mixture of Killing Joke, Motorhead, and Hellhammer/Celtic Frost that focused more on atmosphere than kicking your teeth in with blinding speed. The bleak, atmospheric, apocalyptic sound didn't quite click with me right away, but eventually the album became one of my favorites. After about a year of listening to it religiously, I recently picked up Monolith, their final full-length, and last official release before they disbanded. It basically picks up where the previous album left off, taking their unique musical vision even further.

It begins with a beautiful yet bleak melodic intro, complete with clean guitars, and droning, Killing Joke-esque synthesizers. It eventually bleeds into "Nobody's Driving", which sets the mood for the rest of the album. Most of the songs sound very similar to each other, but that just emphasizes the bleak, apocalyptic mood this album portrays. They manage to make it all work together as an album, from the aforementioned intro to the crushing, heavy, doomy crust of "Coming Home", as perfect an album closer as I've ever heard. They say Godspeed, You Black Emperor! is the soundtrack to "watching a city burn." Well, this is album is the soundtrack to watching the entire world burn to death, as mankind slowly destroys itself.

Musically, this is easily Amebix's most metal-oriented work. The listener is constantly assaulted with simplistic, chugging riffs and the Baron's excellent Lemmy/Cronos-esque vocals. Somehow, they manage to draw much of their influence from metal, while still remaining entirely punk rock in spirit. Occasionally, they'll break it up with clean guitars and synthesizers, which just proves how ahead of their time they were. Nowadays, such things are commonplace for doom metal and crust bands, but can you think of many (if any) other bands that were doing this in 1987? I know I can't.

I absolutely cannot recommend this enough. This is, in my opinion, the absolute best record to come out of the crust movement of the 80s. This album doesn't come recommended solely to crust fans, however. I'm sure most people involved in that scene have this already. Anyone into any sort of dark, apocalyptic music should appreciate this as well. Neurosis and Sepultura have both claimed to have been influenced by these boys, and I'm sure many of today's doom metal bands have taken some cues from them. Whether you're into metal, punk, hardcore, goth, or whatever else you can name, this record is worth checking out. Don't expect to fall in love with it at first, but given time, it just might become one of your favorites.

Download? - Click Here (Amebix - Monolith.zip)

Amebix - Demo '85

No info found on this album... I downloaded it.
2 songs...

01.Largactyl
02.Spoils of Victory

Download? - Click Here (Amebix - Demo 85.zip)

Amebix - Arise!

Track List:
1. The Moor 3:10
2. Axeman 3:33
3. Fear of God 3:13
4. Largactyl 3:47
5. Drink And Be Merry 6:08
6. Spoils of Victory 4:17
7. Arise! 5:23
8. Slave 3:55
9. The Darkest Hour 4:54
Total Playing Time 38:20

The re-released CD version from 2000 has two previously unreleased songs (demo)
from 1987:

10. Right to Ride (06:06)
11. Beyond the Sun (06:09)


Album Reviews:

Rated: 85%

Written by Terrakotta on November 9th, 2007

Arise! is krieg.

Riffs disengage like artillery fire as rhythmic gallops storm the battlefield. This is sonic warfare unleashed at a time when Hardcore climaxed and Speed Metal was on the rise.

Even in moments of irritation, Amebix still managed to shatter their conceptual targets. Lower ranked “Axeman” and “Largactyl” are exactly what they set out to be: numbers to induce neurosis in the listener. What is missing however is a more effective way in accomplishing the same mission as songwriting would have been better off featuring feelings of fear, doubt and paranoia as opposed to being solely annoying for its own sake. Of course, The Baron’s series of cockney slurs in speech certainly did not provide any assistance in that matter…

In retrospect, it is side B that really puts Arise! on the map. Punk ballads “Drink and be Merry” and “The Darkest Hour” bleeds romanticised portraits of nihilism while onslaughts in between shed hope in an otherwise inevitable end by actually offering solutions to the problems at hand in anarchical and revolutionary fashion. Inspiration draws heavily from Killers in the album’s peak, “Arise!”

Vivid poetry in both lyric and music here leaves a permanent mark on history despite its slight inconsistencies, concluding the chapter to Hardcore’s initial flourishing with a then promising future in Crustcore.


Rated: 90%

Written by Doomrock on February 15th, 2006

Amebix remains today a cult favorite, after a career of releasing mostly singles and EPs with a few memorable full lengths to boast as well. Practicing what they preached, Amebix lived like squatters, selling all but their instruments to survive and living in condemned buildings. Thankfully for us, we can still hear the band but not smell them.

An important inspiration on much more successful bands like Neurosis and Sepultura, Amebix's memorable Arise! album is still a work of art. The listener can be dared not to want to nod their head to songs like "Slave" and "Fear of God" or simmer in dirges like "Drink and Be Merry". Labelled more closely as a crust punk band than a metal band, the metal sound is definitely there and the heaviness was ahead of it's time.

The less-than-polished performance and production give the album a very authentic sound, and this album is more than highly reccomended to fans of the early development of metal. The DIY ethos is all the more evident on such an album, which sounds somewhat like Venom's Welcome to Hell, albeit with a more developed style. This album is still exciting over 20 years later, and everyone is invited to slum with the kings of hard living.


Download? - Click Here (Amebix - Arise!.zip)

Antischism - All Their Money Stinks of Death

All Their Money Stinks of Death 7" EP, Manifest Soundworks, 1988

Antischism were an anarchist crust punk band from Columbia, South Carolina. For most of their existence, the band consisted of:

• Scott Cooper (drums, vocals, lyrics)
• Lyz (vocals)
• Kevin Byrd (guitar)
• Matt (bass)

An additional male vocalist named Brent sang on the Still Life LP. Antischism broke up and then reformed in Austin, TX, as Initial State. After Initial State, Kevin went on to play in .fuckingcom (with Lyz) and Guyana Punch Line, he currently performs in Thank God. Scott moved to Savannah, GA, and played in Damad and Karst, and now plays in Chronicle A/D.

Download? - Click Here (Antischism - All Their Money Stinks of Death.rar)

Brutal Truth - The Birth Of Ignorance

Track List:

1.	Birth of Ignorance	03:50
2.	Stench of Prophet	01:40
3.	Antihomophobe	03:15
4.	Consumer Mentality	03:22
Total playing time		13:00

New York City grindcore primitives Brutal Truth formed in 1990, originally comprising singer Kevin Sharp, guitarist Brent "Gurn" McCarthy, bassist Dan Lilker and drummer Scott Lewis. Signing to the Earache label, the group released its debut album Extreme Conditions Demand Extreme Responses in 1992; drummer Rich H replaced Lewis to record the follow-up, 1994's Need to Control. Upon signing to Relapse, Brutal Truth resurfaced two years later with Kill Trend Suicide; Sounds of the Animal Kingdom followed in 1997, while 1999's Goodbye Cruel World compiled two discs of live material and rarities.


Download? - Click Here (Brutal Truth - The Birth Of Ignorance.zip)

A//Political - Punk Is A Ghetto

[other A//Political albums/reviews/info in past blogs]

Download? - Click Here (A Political - Punk Is A Ghetto.zip)

Carol Ann - Unknown Album

This Carol Ann album is pretty sick, I really dig it, I just have no idea what album this.

Download? - Click Here (Carol Ann - Unknown Album.zip)

Anti Product - EPs of AP

Anti-Product was a New York State-based crust punk band, formed in 1995, and disbanded in 2002. Their music featured anarchist and other political themes. Anti-Product played for the first time on March 5, 1995 at the Tazmanian Embassy in Binghamton, NY. There were four line-up changes, additions, and substitutions over the years and five tours in the US. We put out two seven inch EPs: one self-release in 1996 and a second EP on Tribal War Records in 1998. Mind Control Records put out the "Iron Columns" 2xLP compilation in 1999 and included a previously unreleased AP song. Later that year, "The Deafening Silence Of Grinding Gears" LP was released by Tribal War Records while we were out on the Primate Freedom Tour with Aus-Rotten, Mark Bruback, Fly and Sarah O'Donell. The LP was also released in Germany by Skuld Releases. That summer Anti-Product also played the semi-notorious "More Than Music Festival" in Columbus, OH dedicated to DIY feminist politics, with the likes of Kill The Man Who Questions, Red Monkey, Bread & Cuircuts, former members of Alofson and many more.
They began incorporating cello into new material in early 2000 and toured the east coast with Submission Hold that summer. A song was included on a Farm Sanctuary benefit compilation put out by the Mountain Cooperative in 2001. They played very few shows those years while most of the band relocated from upstate NY to Philadelphia. In 2002 "The EP's of AP" CD was released by Tribal War Records and included seven inches, comp tracks and a never released EP.

Download? - Click Here (Anti Product - EPs of AP.zip)

Links:
Live At The Gilman
Interview
MySpace

Amebix - Demo '79

Download? - Click Here (Amebix - Demo '79)

A//Political & Counterpoise (split)

This is a good split between two great anarcho-punk bands.












Download? - Click Here (A Political & Counterpoise (split).zip)

Contravene & Svart Aggression (split)

"Funny thing is that I'm so crazed with Contravene that I didn't realize this was a split. I mean Svart is always Swedish, but it wasn't until I listened to their side and thought - since when did Shelly start singing in Swedish - before I realized this was a split record. Duh! Thing is that it's such a good split - which pairs up two awesome bands who are very similar in sound and style. Contravene - as I said are my favorite of the season! Bringing back the classic anarchopunk style with heavy power but no crust or metal. Her voice is awesome. It's powerful and she can sing! There are also two other voices that add to the power. Musically they've got a light and powerful sound, with guitar melody that makes it super catchy. There are comparisons running through my head, but I can't quite name them. If you like your anarcho-peace punk - this band is where I'm placing all of my hope! Svart Aggression are rad because they also have female vocals - dual male-female actually. They've got a similar style of power and energy mixed with catchy melody. The accents are distinct and the male vocals are pretty gravely and the guitars are slightly heavy and metallic - and a bit more in the ultimate crust style. What an awesome split!!! These two bands rule and I'm loving the anarcho-punk!!!" (-Chris/Slug and Lettuce #66)

Contravene gives one long song of political and catchy anarchopunk with female/male vocals paired with Svart Aggression (ex-members of Operation) who give 2 songs of their style of great anarchopunk/crust with female/male vocals. Record includes a small booklet with lyrics, song explinations, and more!


Download? - Click Here (Contravene & Svart Aggression (split).rar)

Endrophobia - Self Titled

ENDROPHOBIA "4 song EP" N.O.#3 A split release with Sound Device. Powerful raw and melodic female vocals mixed with the perfect blend of classic anarcho guitar and overall sound make this release stand out above most side projects. Awesome breakdowns, and guitar leads! For all fans of members former bands: Lost World, Severed Head Of State, Detestation, Resist, Phalanx. Ben Halliburton, his brother Kelly, and Tati(lost World), A classic side project indeed.

Download? - Click Here (Endrophobia - 4songep.rar)

Zero Hour - Zero Hour

I have no info on this band... but they are really good anarcho.

Links:
MySpace









Download? - Click Here (Zero Hour - Zero Hour.zip)

Severed Head of State - Power Hazard

Severed Head of State return with nine punishing new tracks. Hard driving riffs and angry vocals give this release a real fist pumping intensity. A lot of the songs are more mid tempo in the tradition of mid period Poison Idea and other hardcore punk bands that took some cues from Motorhead. Severed Head of State have been going for ten years now, but are a band with no geographic center and with all members playing in other bands. Guitarist Todd Burdette (Tragdy, His Hero Is Gone, Warcry) delivers some really searing guitar riffs on this LP and the guitar tone is perfect for the style, biting and corrosive like battery acid. Jack Control (World Burns to Death) has always impressed me with his raw and angry vocals and well thought out lyrics. A lot of bands write about the horror of war and man's inhumanity to man just because it's what fits the music. When I read Jack's lyrics I see that he's looking beyond the black and white pictures of war victims in the history books. The atrocities are not the result of one criminal act, but of the recurring process of unrestrained power and authority run amok. The bleak lryics and their focus on oppression and atrocity are a searing reminder that there is much to be done and things will probably get worse before they get any better. I've always though bassist Kelly Halliburton (Masskontroll, Defiance, Clusterbombunit, Resist) had some of the best style in hardcore dropping in some of his crucial Discharoge style "walking" bass fills. Drummer Chris Pfeffer (Signal Lost, Storm the Tower, Scorched Earth Policy) holds it all together with some sick and precise beats. The CD version of this release also contains the Charge Ahead and Fucking Butchery 7"s as bonus tracks.

Download? - Click Here (Severed Head of State - Power Hazard (2cd).zip)

A//Political - Planting The Seeds of Revolution

Tracklist:
1) I Am My Own
2) It’s Not About Politics, It’s About Life
3) Sickness
4) Education is Indoctrination
5) Stop Thinking and Pogo
6) Left or Right
7) Obscene Gestures.
8) Freedom?
9) False Sense of Security.
10) Idealized Attraction
11) Free Trade in Death
12) Everything is a Front
13) When…
14) A.P.F

A//Political was active during the mid to late 90s. Their style is similar to that of many "peace punk" bands from the early 1980s and was heavily influenced by anarcho-punk bands like Crass and Conflict. Members were involved in the Crasshole Collective and the Anarcho-Punk Federation (A.P.F.). Many members were in other local punk bands such as Coexist, Flag Fallen and U.S. War Commission. Stas (vocals) also sang for Boston area anarcho-punk band, Krema-1.

A//Political also started the Anarcho-Punk Federation (A.P.

F.), but was stopped short because of political disagreement on key issues between members. The band, along with the Crasshole Collective, produced several communiques^[1] explaining their ideas on peace and anarchy. The band has also produced several other writings on anarchy and their political beliefs.^[2]

The Crasshole Collective also doubled as a record label. While they were mainly responsible for releasing their first album, "Planting the Seeds of Revolution," on tape and their 7" ep, "Propaganda by Deed" they also produced at least two co

mpilation tapes of various politically minded bands and a tape by Flag Fallen. The musical caliber of the comp tapes varied wildly, due to the fact that recording quality or musical talent were not used as filter criteria. Instead, the message of the bands was the focus. Crasshole was also responsible for distributing various nearly impossible to find discographies of lesser known British anarcho-punk bands from the early 80's such as The Alternative.

Crasshole also produced the little known and poorly rec

orded debut album from the now well known folk-punk band Against Me!. Only a handful of the first run were sold.

Download? - Click Here (A Political - Planting The Seeds of Revolution.zip)

A//Political - Propaganda By Deed

A//Political was an anarcho-punk band from Baltimore, Marylan.


Tracklist:
1) Who Will Build the Roads?
2) Propaganda by Deed
3) Love is the Basis...
4) It’s Not About Politics, It’s About Life
5) You Are What You Consume

Download? - Click Here (A Political - Propaganda By Deed.zip)

Accion Mutante - Ghetto Europa 7"

- GHETTO EUROPA
- WHO THE FUCK YOU THINK YOU ARE
- NO LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS
- DESENSITIZED
- ACT LIKE A GOD
- YOU`RE NOT BETTER

- CONTROL OF MY MIND
- LAST AMEN
- HATE US
- DEAD DREAM
- BOMB IN THE BRAIN
- ... TO AN END


Download? - Click Here (Accion Mutante - Ghetto Europa.zip)

Noothgrush - Failing Early, Failing Often

NOOTHGRUSH - Failing Early, Failing Often

Slap A Ham( 2000 )

"Some of the most tortured sludgecore ever recorded! This collection of
studio sessions from 1995-1997 features 18 slow, painful dirges that
creep at geologic pace, but keep the track lengths pretty short (for this
sort of music, anyways). Released on the now-defunct Slap A Ham, this is a
posthumous collection of early recordings from eight sessions at
Trainwreck Studios, all of which is seminal hellish doom/sludge, less "swinging"
than the likes of Eyehategod or Weedeater, but not as abstract as Khanate
and Corrupted. Comp songs, their Slap A Ham Embraced By The Anti-Self 7",
split tracks, and the legendary Kashyyyk demo. This stuff will damage the
structural integrity of any building it's played in. Absolutely essential
for fans of burning witch and crossed out as well assunn O))) and
unearthly trance...".

REVIEW FROM IN MUSIC WE TRUST: "One way to appreciate music is to
understand the meter, or "time," it is performed in. For example, it might be "2/4
time," or "3/4 time" or "4/4 time." In the case of NOOTHGRUSH the music
is performed in "geological time." That's right, this is the band whose
riffs are so plodding that continental drift, by contrast, appears downright
hasty. Calling this music "slow" is like calling The Beatles "moderately
successful"-it's a definite understatement. "Failing Early, Failing
Often" is a posthumous collection of many (most? all?) of the early recordings
from these seminal and cranium-cracking lords of sludge. It includes songs
from several comps, their Slap A Ham 7", their split with BLACK ARMY JACKET,
and their "Kashyyyk" demo; which to this day remains one of my favorite
slowcore releases ever and is still able to undermine the structural integrity
of any building it is played in. Obviously influenced by bands like Grief,
NOOTHGRUSH, however, remain an unmistakable and vital band whose audio
carnage will be sorely missed (rumor has it the band was forced to
disband by the government who was tired of getting seismic readings in the 6
range every time NOOTHGRUSH played). In addition to all that, they are the
only band I have had a conversation with that included the words "Chewbacca
action-figure-holding bandolier." In the early 1990s the birth of seminal sludgelords Noothgrush laid to waste to the SF Bay Area. This trio spewed forth their molten musical magma over a span of eight years and carved a path of influence that resounds in the
quagmire of modern day slowcore. For the first time ever, their earliest
molasses-paced epics have been assembled on one disc. The collection
compiles material from their debut Slap A Ham seven-inch, as well as
split releases with Dead Bodies Everywhere, Agents Of Satan, and Black Army
Jacket, plus countless compilation tracks and their legendary Kashyyyk
demo!

If you dig the cranium-crushing sounds of Grief, the Melvins, or
Eyehategod, then you're prepared for only a fraction of the heaviness that
Noothgrush is prepared to deliver!

Noothgrush do more than play sludge. They are sludge. Everything about
this band oozes and crawls. Their music is as punishing and it is precise as
it is plodding. Lyrically they take concepts and ideas that in the hands
of lesser artists may seem silly (Star Wars) or overused (hate and
loathing) and they discover existential sociological and philosophical insight.
From one point of view in the extreme underground Noothgrush are hideously
deformed if for no other reason than they travel a route far less
taken; but from another perspective, and certainly one that I share, their
deformity is actually uniqueness and allows for the breeding of distinction. Y'see
there are only a handful of really stellar sludge bands around and Noothgrush
are among the best." -Jeb Branin, The Crass Menagerie"


Download? - Click Here (Noothgrush - Failing Early Failing Often.zip)

Lachrymose - Demo

I have have nothing in all my searches to find any info on this band besides that the drummer from Dystopia is in it and it is the prelude to the band Asunder.

If you have any info please email me or leave a comment or something and I will post it on here.

They are a really good band though... I recommend you download and listen.

Download? - Click Here (Lachrymose - Demo.rar)


Links:
MySpace