Category Archives: Music Review

16th Of September 2011

16th Of September 2011 Update of New and Key Restocked Items
at Redscroll Records

LPs & 12″s
______________________
Acrylics    “Lives And Treasure”
Andrew Jackson Jihad    “Knife Man”
Angel    “26000”
Anthrax    “Worship Music”
Asshole Parade / Slight Slappers    “Slight Slappers / Asshole Parade (+ D/L)”
Barr, Mick    “Coiled Malescence”
Bataan, Joe    “Gypsy Woman”
Big Business    “Big Biz Quadruple Singles”
Big Kitty    “Florence (+ D/L)”
Black Kites / Convulsions    “Convulsions / Black Kites “
Caravels    “Floorboards / The Earthling Sessions”
Chamberlain    “The Moon My Saddle”
City And Colour    “Little Hell “
Clem Snide    “The Ghost Of Fashion”
Colon, Willie    “Willie Colon”
Deftones    “Around The Fur (Orange Vinyl)”
Disconcerts    “A. Medic (/300)”
Donoso, Ricardo    “Progress Chance”
Electricity In Our Homes    “We Agree Completely”
Expo 70    “Awakening”
Flower Travelling Band    “Made In Japan (180 Gram)”
Golden Retriever    “Light Cones”
Johnson, Robert    “The Complete Collection”
Kirby, Leyland    “Eager To Tear Apart The Stars”
Ladytron    “Gravity The Seducer (Ltd. Ed. Hand Numbered)”
Landlord    “Beneath The Wheel (+ D/L)”
Le Tetsuo    “Your Elbow” 10″
Los Destellos    “Constelaticion (+ D/L)”
Maria & The Mirrors    “Travel Sex EP”
McGuire, Mark    “Get Lost”
Mirror Mirror    “Interiors (+ D/L With Bonus Remixes)”
Modern Life Is War    “My Love. My Way. (Reissue)”
Naysayer    “Laid To Rest”
New Found Glory, A    “Nothing Gold Can Stay”
Nurses    “Dracula (+ D/L)”
Oblivian, Jack    “Rat City (+ D/L)”
Oiltanker    “The Shadow Of Greed”
Opeth    “Heritage (180 Gram Double LP Set)”
Pere Ubu    “The Modern Dance”
Primal Scream / MC5 (Davis, Kramer, Thompson)    “Music From The Film “Black To Comm””
Project:Komakino    “Project:Komakino”
Radio People    “Hazel (Ltd. Ed. + D/L)”
Ragan, Chuck    “Covering Ground (+ D/L)”
Robedoor    “Too Down To Die”
Saviours    “Death’s Procession (Ltd. Ed.)”
Thundercat    “The Golden Age Of Apocalypse (Ltd. Ed. + D/L)”
Thunders, Johnny & The Heartbreakers    “L.A.M.F. Demos, Outtakes And Alternative Mixes”
Trans Am    “Futureworld”
Trophy Wives    “Old Scratch”
Tuma, Scott    “Not For Nobody”
Vacant State    “Fill The Void”

Electronic LPs & 12″s
______________________
Biome    “Space”
Boman, Axel    “Lucky Tiger EP”
Damu    “Ridin EP”
Dub War    “The Funky Deal / To The Depths”
Fixmer, Terence    “Le Terrible”
Flugel, Roman     “Fatty Folders (2LP)”
Kieran, Phill & Paap, Jochem    “Workshops Vol. 01”
Modeselektor     “Monkeytown (2LP)”
Plastikman    “Arkives 1993-2010 (6 × Vinyl, 12″)”
Runaway    “Indoor Pool”

Hip-Hop 12″s & LPs
___________________
A Tribe Called Quest    “Hits, Rarities, & Remixes”
A Tribe Called Quest    “The Love Movement”

7″s
______________________
Brass Caskets / Cold Snap
Diet Cokeheads “Ocular”
Diet Cokeheads / Neon Blud
FocusedXMinds “Stay Focused”
Hex Disp. “Razor”
Le Tetsuo
Maria & The Mirrors
Modern Life Is War
Skinjobs
Worriers “Past”
X-Ray Eyeballs “Sundae”
Young Offendors “Razor”

CDs
______________________
Atomic Bitchwax “Spit Blood”
Elder “Dead Roots Stirring”
Goatvargr “Black Snow”
Hawkwind “Leave No Star…”
Opeth “Heritage”
Orquesta Del… “Dos”
Project:Komakino “The Struggle For Utopia”
Thrice “Major:Minor”

Cassettes
_____________________
Environmental Youth Crunch “Vicious Fishes”
Living Laser “Ragged Glory”

Magazine
______________________
Wire #332 October 2011

Reviews
______________________

Batillus Furnace LP
(Seventh Rule Recordings)
“Play at high volume.” That’s the command that this Brooklyn doom-metal quartet gives in this album’s liner notes. They manage to nail a monolithic sound with a combo of chugging guitar, earth-shaking bass and punctuated drumming. To keep up the uneasy atmosphere, there’s also an emphasis on noise, with lots of feedback that grinds and sizzles. Still, the experimentation doesn’t reach the point that the album becomes inaccessible: the riffs keep it from straying too far from a tried-and-true metal sound (“Deadweight” is a good example.) In fact, despite the prevalence of suffocating bleakness in many parts of this album, some moments feel strangely uplifting: “What Heart” contains a radiant-sounding synth-line, and the other instruments join by sounding downright triumphant. Still, this album, as a whole, provides a bracing slam.
[Reviewer: Mark]


Diet Cokeheads / Neon Blud 7″

(West Palm Beotch Records)
Neon Blud plays some sweet psychedelic grunge rock, squealing guitars and some fun effects.  Female vocals that are sort of just spoken, but it works for them. The song builds into a fury. The liner notes say this is the 7″ edit of the song, I’d love to hear the full jam. On the other side we’ve got, Diet Cokeheads who I’m sure don’t do coke, if they’re into drugs, they’re way into downers. Layered echoing guitars, slow beats just barely holding it together, towards the end it sounds like haunted house music. I dig it.
[Reviewer: Josh]


Maria & The Mirrors Travel Sex EP 12″

(Parlour Records)
With a name like Maria & The Mirrors you might expect some sweet rock and roll ditties. You’d then probably be completely jarred when you started this record up and you were greeted by wave of noise or maybe you’d expect some sort of artsy intro to go into some more rocking jams or maybe you’d adjust your expectations to await some Sleigh Bells take. You’d then hear some tribal drums and think you were right on the money with that assessment. You’d then hear the chanting and perhaps come to the conclusion that this isn’t going to turn into any yelling hook filled jam. You’d be right. Maybe you wouldn’t think any of that all. Maybe you’d just take in the hypnotic tribal drumming and repetitious phrases (are they even using actual language? I don’t think so). This isn’t meant for Ibiza (as the EP name might imply); this is carnality of a different sort. Primitive, but with modern twists – noise. Layers of noise and interjections of sound pollute both sides in repetitious fashion. Enrapturing primal hypnotics.

9th Of September 2011 Update

9th Of September 2011 Update of New and Key Restocked Items
at Redscroll Records

LPs & 12″s
______________________
†‡† (Ritualz) vs. Fostercare    “†‡† vs. Fostercare (+ D/L)”
Alpinist / Masakari    “Alpinist / Masakari”
Art Abscons    “Der Verborgene Gott (/500)”
Badarou, Wally    “Mambo / Chief Inspector / Novela Das Nove”
Barghest    “Barghest (Untitled)”
Barn Owl    “Lost In The Glare”
Basement    “I Wish I Could Stay Here”
Blitzen Trapper    “American Goldwing (+ D/L)”
Bold    “The Search 1985-1989”
Bosse-De-Nage    “Bosse-De-Nage (II)”
Bulldoze    “The Final Beatdown (/500)”
Bury Your Dead    “Mosh N’ Roll”
CANT    “Dreams Come True”
Ceremony    “Covers EP (Urban Waste, Pixies, Crisis, Eddie & The Subtitles, Vile, Wire)”
Chosen Few, The    “The Joke’s On Us! “
Circle Of Ouroborus    “Eleven Fingers”
Colon, Willie & Ruben Blades    “Siembra”
Comeback Kid    “Turn It Around”
Cumstain    “Hurry Up And Kill Yourself You Scum Bag Trust Me Your Mother Wont Miss U (Hurry Up And Die)”
Dark Ages    “Can America Survive?”
Dark Day    “Window (/500)”
Deacon, Dan    “Silly Hat Vs. Egale Hat (2003 Album First Time On Vinyl + D/L)”
Deacon, Dan    “Meetle Mice (2003 Album First Time On Vinyl + D/L)”
Dear Hunter, The    “The Color Spectrum (Ltd. Ed. Clear Vinyl + D/L)”
Devil Wears Prada, The    “Dead Throne”
Dilloway, Aaron    “Lip Syncing To Verme (/500)”
Dry Spell    “Dry Spell”
DYS    “More Than Fashion: Live From The Gallery East Reunion”
Earth / Flying Hat Band    “Coming Of The Heavy Lords”
FALSE    “False (Untitled)”
Far East Family Band    “Tenkujin (180 Gram)”
Friedberger, Matthew    “Cut It Out”
Gay For Johnny Depp    “What Doesn’t Kill You, Eventually Kills You (+ D/L)”
GDFX    “One Thing”
Ghost     “Opus Eponymous (PIC LP)”
Ghostlimb    “Bearing & Distance”
Girls    “Record 3: Father, Son, Holy Ghost (2LP Black & White Vinyl, Ltd. Ed. Flexidisc + D/L)”
Girls    “Record 3: Father, Son, Holy Ghost (2LP Black & White Vinyl + D/L)”
Grier, Jason & Nite Jewel    “Heart Shaped EP”
Hands    “Give Me Rest (+ D/L)”
Haunted House (Loren Connors)    “Blue Ghost Blues (150 Gram + D/L)”
Hendrix, Jimi    “Hendrix In The West (2LP)”
Husband    “Love Song / Slow Motion EP”
Irisarri, Rafael Anton    “Reverie”
Jones, Glenn    “The Wanting”
Jones, Norah    “Come Away With Me”
Kort    “Invariable Heartache”
Krum Bums    “Cut The Noose (/500 Orange Vinyl)”
KWJAZ    “KWJAZ”
Me First And The Gimme Gimmes    “Sing In Japanese”
Moore, Thurston / Montera, Jean-Marc / Ranaldo, Lee    “Les Anges Du Peche”
Morello, Tom    “The Nightwatchman: Worldwide Rebel Songs (Audiophile 180 Gram)”
Mueran Humanos    “Mueran Humanos (/1000)”
Mugstar    “Lime”
Neon Indian    “Era Extrana (+ D/L)”
Psychic Babble    “My Brother’s Ears / My Sister’s Eyes”
Silk Flowers    “Day Of Arrest (+ D/L)”
Souleyman, Omar    “Haflat Gharbia – The Western Concerts”
Speculator    “Speculator”
St. Vincent    “Strange Mercy (Ltd. Ed. Colored Vinyl + D/L)”
Stearica / Acid Mothers Temple and the Melting Paraiso U.F.O.    “Stearica Invades Acid Mothers Temple And The Melting Paraiso U.F.O. “
Superchunk    “Foolish (Remastered Reissue 180 Gram)”
Throat    “Licked Inch Fur”
Tindersticks    “Tindersticks (I) (180 Gram Reissue)”
Tindersticks    “Tindersticks (II) (180 Gram Reissue)”
Toro Y Moi    “Freaking Out (+ D/L)”
Trainwreck    “If There’s Light It Will Find You”
Tunnels    “The Blackout”
Various Artists    “ISVOLT  (Disaro Witch House Compilation)”
Various Artists    “Love’s A Real Thing: The Fuzzy Sounds Of West Africa – World Psychedelic Classics 3”
Various Artists    “Unfold Presents Tru Thoughts Funk (2LP)”
War Hungry    “War Hungry”
Wild Flag    “Wild Flag (+ D/L)”
Wooden Shjips    “West”
Yage    “Some Time Of A Time (+ D/L)”
You    “Demonstration”

Electronic LPs & 12″s
______________________
Champion     “Lighter EP”
Coleco    “Martyr EP”
Dubkasm    “More Jah Songs”
HTRK    “Work (Work, Work) (Ltd. Ed. Red Vinyl + D/L)”
Hud Mo (Hudson Mohawke)    “Pleasure (Pleasure Principle 001)”
Jamie XX    “Far Nearer / Beat For”
Jayson Brothers    “Monster Box / All My Life”
Lone    “All Those Weird Things”
Lukid    “Spitting Bile”
Lunice    “One Hunned”
Mosca    “Square One (Remixes)”
Motor City Drum Ensemble    “Raw Cuts #3 & #4”
Motor City Drum Ensemble    “L.O.V.E. (DJ-Kicks)”
Mtume    “So You Want To Be A Star”
Mz Bratt    “Selecta Remixes (Bok Bok / Royal T / Original)”
Nguzunguzu    “Timesup EP”
Nochexxx    “Savage Herald / Charro”
O1O AKA Aybee    “Futurespective”
Paper/Upper/Cuts    “Illa Killa Yellow Space”
Pixelord    “Iron And Cream EP”
Ras G      “Down 2 Earth (The Standard Edition)”
Regis    “In A Syrian Tongue”
Solvent    “RDJCS5 EP”
Terrance Dixon    “Population One”
Terror Danjah & Ruby Lee Ryder    “Full Attention”
To Rococo Rot    “Hotel Morgen”
Trim    “I Am  “
Vainqueur    “Ranges”
Various Artists    “KOMPAKT TOTAL 12”
Various Artists    “If This Is House I Want My Money Back: ZWEI EP01”
Various Artists    “Frijsfo Beats Volume 3 (Cardopusher, Kuoyah, Geiom, Submerse)”
XDB    “Apari”

Hip-Hop 12″s & LPs
___________________
Apathy    “Honkey Kong! (+ D/L)”
Astronautalis    “This Is Our Science (+ D/L)”
B. (Blu, Alchemist, Planet Asia, Hezekiah, Madlib, + More)    “Jesus.”
Elzhi And Will Sessions    “Elmatic (Numbered Limited Ed.)”
Sole And The Skyrider Band    “Hello Cruel World “

10″s
______________________
Body Language    “Social Studies”
Griever    “Inferior”

7″s
______________________
Anika “No One’s There / Yang Yang”
Benson, Brandan / Blackwell, Ben
Black Bug “Police Helicopter”
Bleached “Carter”
Cult Of Youth “Devil’s Coals”
D. Watusi “Slave Walls”
DJ Still Life “Try Otra Vez”
Double Negative “HC Conf. 1”
Double Negative “HC Conf. 2”
Eddie Brock
Fantastic Souls, The “Soul To The…”
Gallagher, Noel “Death Of You”
Home Blitz “Perpetual Night”
Ketamines “Line By Line”
Kicked In “In Session”
La Dispute / Touche Amore (White)
Leather “Wretch”
Lowfish “Hello Tinnitus”
Madmen “Suspiria”
Mahonies “Eat ‘Em All”
Neo Cons “Hardcore Elite”
Nervous Assistant “Bastard Blues”
Population
Precious Jules “Pearls Before Swine”
Puffy Areolas “Gentleman’s Grip”
Silent Diane “Capella”
Sqrm “White Saints”
Void Vision “In 20 Years”
Votolato, Rocky & Matt Pond PA “Om Ma”
Xiu Xiu “Daphny”

CDs
______________________
Aborted “Strychnine.213”
Anthrax “Worship Music”
Bury Your Dead “Mosh N’ Roll”
Captain Planet “Cookin’ Gumbo”
Cosmin TRG “Simulat”
Cyclobe “Wounded Gal”
Forced Reality “Unheard”
Girls “Father, Son, Holy Ghost”
Haunted House (Loren Connors)    “Blue Ghost Blues”
Mz.412 “Nordik Battle”
Mz.412 “Burning The…”
Qwazaar & Batsauce “Bat Meets Blaine” (Available 9-13-11)
Wild Flag

Magazine
______________________
Wax Poetics 48 – Nina Simone / Theophilus London

Reviews
______________________

†‡† (Ritualz) vs. Fostercare LP
(Robot Elephant Records)
Trip-Hop. Straight up. Witch-House. Yes, that too. Don’t be afraid of it/ashamed of it. As with anything, much of it won’t be good. This isn’t that. First thing that comes to mind when I listen to Fostercare is Tricky/Massive Attack. It’s leaps beyond much of the Tricky material however (I think everyone can agree that much of his catalog is pretty forgettable). Add elements of occultism, 90s EBM/Industrial and DJ Screw-isms. “Girl, come with me to the bathroom.” And, of course, it won’t be lost on anyone if I were to compare this to Salem – there’s rap and distorted clips over unconventional dance beats so it’s definitely got that in common. For Ritualz (†‡†) it’s more straightforward 80s-90s EBM worship. I hope they tour with Front 242 and NCC (this one is a bit obscure so here’s a link: http://www.discogs.com/artist/NCC). There is singing with fuzzed out call and responses. Some nice square synths over 4/4 sub-loving booms.  Hell, it’s even got some throws to goa like NCC. It’s a little short, but it is a split so it is probably a good thing that I want more.
[Reviewer: Rick]


Bold The Search 1985-1989 LP

(Revelation Records)
I love reissues, and I especially love Revelation Records. I’m a sucker for their early catalog. So when I heard that Bold was getting a discography issued, I knew I was expecting something good. Bold isn’t necessarily my favorite Rev band, not even in my top 5 really. But you can’t ignore the effect they had on the late 80s hardcore scene. Theyre right up there with Youth of Today, Judge, and Underdog. What’s especially impressive is they did everything while they were in high school. They managed to put out 2 full lengths, an ep, and a good amount of touring in such a short amount of time, and at such a young age. This reissue features every song they released, including compilation tracks and an unreleased song. Housed in a gatefold jacket, includes liner notes and an insert complete with lyrics and fliers / photos.
[Reviewer: Sean]


Grier, Jason & Nite Jewel Heart Shaped EP 12″

(Human Ear Music)
David Lynch is recording music. He has been for a little while. It’s actually not bad. Once physical releases are available widely we’ll carry them. This is not a David Lynch album, but is very inspired by his works (and Angelo Badalamenti; Twin Peaks). I could easily believe this music was meant for a soundtrack of his or will be used in a future work. Man, you know that part in Twin Peaks when three of the youngsters are sitting around tracking some song with just vocals and a guitar? Then right after they revel in how great it was. It is great, but not exactly by conventional thinking. It’s pretty awful. This EP is not that either, it’s actually great and doesn’t sound like that little session at all. This sounds like disaffected pop with moody interludes by Jason Grier.
[Reviewer: Rick]


Mad Men 7″

(Slasher Records)
Mad Men is a side project from Jonah of Fucked Up & Career Suicide. They’ve existed for a few years, but tried to keep it obscure through bootleg cassettes, a couple compilation tracks, minimal gigs, and not crediting anyone. I was led to believe this is their final release, but I’m not 100% on that. The record kicks off with a sweet cover of Goblin’s “Suspiria”, song 2, “The Italian Flag” picks right up off that last riff and starts hammering you with some hardcore punk that’s just overflowing with attitude. The closing mosh part is killer. “The Myth” holds down the b-side with a fast jam, but lacks the intensity of the a-side. Limited to 300 copies.
[Reviewer: Josh]

SQRM White Saints 7″

(Abscess Records)
SQRM is from Western Massachusetts. They’ve been around for a while and have an LP, “Rodeo” on Youth Attack Records. plays distorted hardcore punk that has some fast parts but for the most part it makes me feel like I’m sloshing your way through a knee high flood of honey. The a-side has two originals, “White Stain” & “White Socks”.The B-side is a cover of Jefferson Airplane’s “White Rabbit” done up with some weird effects, SQRM-style. I dig it.
[Reviewer: Josh]

Terrors Lagan Qord LP
(Weird Forest Records)
There’s a certain endearing quality to being so non-confrontational. Terrors consists of Elijah Forrester, who, according to the label’s website, is a “bi-coastal vagabond dropping tapes from southern California to Baltimore.” With little more than his voice, electric guitar and sometimes tough-to-describe electronic effects, he crafts poignant, mournful laments that really do sound like a reflection of a harsh life’s reality. The very caustic, decaying guitar of opener “Lying On Heather In The Highlands” shakes the listener up before launching into “Coffin Tongue,” where the mellower guitar chords serve to complement the sorrowful, weathered vocals. Forrester’s passionate cries about “many sleepless nights” make the reverb-thick “Withdrawing” strong, and in a cover of “God Bless The Child,” he focuses more on shaping his own delivery of the words rather than adhering to the original music structure. He captures a fitting “cavernous” sound with deep echoes, sharp drifts of unexpected sound and abstract, varied textures. Since this is a compilation of recordings from various cassettes, there’s a light hiss of white noise with differing intensity throughout (if anything, it enhances the “rustic” sound and adds a strangely soothing quality, like falling rain in the distance.)
[Reviewer: Mark]

2nd Of September 2011 Update

2nd Of September 2011 Update of New and Key Restocked Items
at Redscroll Records

LPs & 12″s
______________________
Active Child    “You Are All I See (+ D/L)”
Alternative TV     “The Image Has Cracked”
Animal Collective    “Danse Manatee (+ D/L)”
Art Ensemble Of Chicago    “Certain Blacks (Reissue)”
Barry, John    “Bruce Lee’s Game Of Death (Original Soundtrack)”
Bikini Kill / Huggy Bear    “Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah / Our Troubled Youth (+ D/L)”
Blacklisted    “We’re Unstoppable”
Bon Iver    “Holocene (+ D/L)”
Deathspell Omega    “Diabolus Absconditus/Mass Grave Aesthetics”
Digitaldubs    #1 (Brazilian Dub W/ Guests + D/L)
Hella    “Tripper”
Icarus Line, The    “Wildlife”
Lewd Acts     “Black Eye Blues”
Man Forever    “Learned Helplessness In Rats – Rock Drummer”
Mariachi El Bronx    “Mariachi El Bronx (II) (3 Color Vinyl + CD)”
Ministry    “Psalm 69: The Way to Succeed & The Way to Suck Eggs (KEAH) (180 Gram)”
Muller, Jurgen    “Science Of The Sea”
Oathbreaker    “Maelstrom”
Portishead    “The Rip (12″ Etched One Side)”
Radiohead    “Give Up The Ghost (Brokenchord RMX) / TKOL (Altrice RMX) / Bloom (Blawan RMX)”
Rapture, The    “In The Grace Of Your Love”
Resurrection    “I Am Not: The Discography”
Samiam    “Trips”
Sir Stephen    “Hang Tough E.P.”
Skull Snaps    “Skull Snaps (Ltd. Ed. /1000 2xLP Remastered Gatefold + Poster + Sticker Sheet)”
Spoon    “Gimme Fiction (+ D/L)”
Suzuki, Damo & Cuzo    “Puedo Ver Tu Mente (Colored Vinyl)”
Thrice    “Major/Minor (Ltd. Ed. Colored Vinyl + D/L)”
TV On The Radio    “World Café Live (+ D/L)”
WU LYF (World Unite Lucifer Youth Foundation)    “Go Tell Fire To The Mountain (+ D/L)”

Electronic LPs & 12″s
______________________
Africa HiTech    “Out In The Streets (VIP)”
Balam Acab    “Wander/Wonder”
Bass Clef    “Zamyatin Tapes Volume 1”
Clams Casino    “Instrumentals”
Claro Intelecto    “Metanarrative (2xLP)”
Dexplicit    “Pull Up Riddim / Pull Up Vocal”
DJ Diamond    “Flight Muzik (+ D/L)”
Falty DL    “Phreqaflex”
Ford Inc.    “Satire / Delirium”
Pendle Coven    “Hex EP”

7″s
______________________
Forced Reality “Give ‘Em The Brass”
Living Eyes “Starve For Agony”
Nucular Aminals “Nobody’s Man”
Punch “Nothing Lasts”
Self Defense Family (End Of A Year) “I’m Going Through Some Sh*t”

CD
______________________
Jay Z & Kanye West “Watch The Throne”

Book
_____________________
Nick Tosches “Save The Last Dance For Satan”

Reviews
______________________

All Pigs Must Die God Is War LP/CD
(Southern Lord)

All Pigs Must Die is a 4 piece nihilistic hardcore band out of Boston. Featuring the voice of Kevin Baker of The Hope Conspiracy and the drumming power of Ben Koller from Converge. They first showed us a Self Titled 5 song EP last year on Nonbeliever Records, which was immediately given a lot of attention. This is their latest effort; an eagerly awaited sophomore album titled “God is War” and released on Southern Lord Records. 
Here’s a video of them playing a house show at SXSW, along with the drummer of Trap Them.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=beSgr2cFuNc&feature=related
[Reviewer: Sean]

Deathspell Omega

Diabolus Absconditus/Mass Grave Aesthetics LP
(Norma Evangelium Diaboli)

This is a new LP (as in recent release), but the tracks on it are from a couple compilations.  Yes, two tracks. 42 minutes and 10 seconds worth of two tracks.  Deathspell Omega is undoubtedly the reigning champion of current black metal.  Intricate mind-boggling riffs and generally outstanding songs that never let you get tired.  I feel like all of this is super obvious to anyone who knows. So, for anyone who doesn’t know and has even a remote interest in black metal, go listen to Deathspell Omega. Start here. Start anywhere.
[Reviewer: Rick]

Punch Nothing Lasts 7″
(Deathwish)

I was having a conversation yesterday about how Deathwish is to hardcore now what Revelation was to hardcore in the late 80’s and early 90’s. In that, they’re always pumping out the finest releases by the most current & relevant bands. This week alone they dropped releases by Living Eyes, Self Defense Family, Oathbreaker, Resurrection, and Punch. Anyone who has ever been involved with putting a record out can attest to how much work, effort and planning goes into the process. Now, imagine getting five releases ready at the same time. My brain would explode. Punch is a hardcore band hailing from San Fransisco, CA. Everyone I talk to about this band seems to be a fan, and with good reason. They play a solid fusion of thrashcore & youth crew. I love that there are only a couple sentences of lyrics for each song. It bums me out when vocalists try to cram too many words into a short song, it makes singing along real wonky. “Nothing Lasts” offers up seven new songs that won’t disappoint fans of their previous two full lengths on Assault Records.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNVjSBQZrb8
[Reviewer: Josh]

Spazz Crush Kill Destroy [Repress] LP
(625 Thrashcore)

In a sea of derivative “hardcore” bands trying to incite thrashing by using the same old methods, Spazz carved out their own niche. Although they didn’t invent the powerviolence genre, they certainly knew how to make it fun while staying true to form. Imagine a thrashier mutation of hardcore punk, clearly influenced by the blisteringly quick-and-to-the-point, rapidly shifting nature of grindcore. The result, in my opinion, channels a more raw degree of emotion that “normal” punk songwriting doesn’t seem to allow. What really made Spazz rise above most others in the genre, though, was their sharp sense of wit and overall unique persona. The lyrics range from bizarre (“Dwarf Goober Militia” is a good example) to straightforward bashing of targets such as wangstas, animal abusers and hardcore poseurs. There’s just something really refreshing about the overall execution of this album – too many bands try to imitate, but these guys did exactly what they wanted, which is sound like themselves.
[Reviewer: Mark]

26th Of August 2011 Update

26th Of August 2011 Update of New and Key Restocked Items
at Redscroll Records

LPs & 12″s
______________________
All Pigs Must Die    “God Is War (180 Gram)”
Barrett, Syd    “The Madcap Laughs (180 Gram)”
Beirut    “The Rip Tide (Special Edition Cloth Cover + D/L)”
Big Eyes    “Hard Life”
Bjork    “The Crystalline Series (Matthew Herbert Mixes; 2 In A Series Of 4)”
Black Lips    “200 Million Thousand”
Black Lips    “Good Bad Not Evil”
Black Lips    “Los Valientes Del Mundo Nuevo”
Blood Orange    “Coastal Grooves (+ D/L)”
CSS    “La Liberacion (+ D/L)”
Cultus Sabbati    “The Garden Of Forking Ways”
Dead Hearts    “Bitter Verses”
Dirty Beaches / Ela Orleans    “Ela Orleans / Dirty Beaches”
DJ Spinna    “The Boogie Back (Post Disco Club Jams)”
Future Shuttle    “Water’s Edge (+ D/L)”
Hercules & Love Affair    “Blue Songs MMXI (U.S. Version + D/L Of LP, 3 Unreleased + 7 Bonus Remixes)”
Innergaze    “Shadow Disco”
Jacuzzi Boys    “Glazin’ (+ D/L)”
Joy Formidable, The    “The Big Roar (+ D/L)”
Limes    “Tarantula! (150 Gram + D/L)”
Liquor Store    “Yeah Buddy (2xLP)”
Low    “Trust (Analog-Analog-Analog)”
Male Bonding    “Endless Now (+ D/L)”
Nig-Heist    “Nig-Heist (+ Free Live CD)”
No Funeral    “6 Song EP”
Octo Octa    “Let Me See”
Pearl Harbor (Puro Instinct)    “Something About Chaparrals (Ltd. Ed. Second Pressing Colored Vinyl + D/L)”
Pentagram    “Last Rites (Ltd. Ed. 180 Gram)”
Racebannon    “Six Sik Sisters: A Story Cloaked In The Black Plague (+ D/L)”
Red Horse    “Red Horse”
Red Mass    “Split Brain Experiment [10″]”
Rotting Out    “Street Prowl”
Sacred Love    “Dividing Lines”
Sutekh Hexen    “Luciform”
Total Control    “Henge Beat”
Williams, Devon    “Euphoria (+ D/L)”
Yacht    “Shangri-La (Deluxe Gatefold)”
You And I    “Saturdays Cab Ride Home: A Twelve Inch Release”
Yussuf Jerusalem    “Blast From The Past”

Electronic LPs & 12″s
______________________
Balam Acab    “Wander/Wonder”
Bass Clef    “Zamyatin Tapes Volume 1”
Clams Casino    “Instrumentals”
Claro Intelecto    “Metanarrative (2xLP)”
Dexplicit    “Pull Up Riddim / Pull Up Vocal”
DJ Diamond    “Flight Muzik (+ D/L)”
Falty DL    “Phreqaflex”
Ford Inc.    “Satire / Delirium”
Pendle Coven    “Hex EP”

Hip-Hop 12″s & LPs
___________________
Madlib    “Madlib Medicine Show #9: Channel 85 Presents Nittyville “
Raekwon    “Shaolin Vs Wu-Tang”
Royce da 5’9″    “Success is Certain”
Slum Village    “Fantastic Vol 2. Intrumentals”

7″s
______________________
Big Troubles “Sad Girls”
Bloodyminded “Phases 3 (Box)”
Cerekloth “Halo Of Syringes”
FocusedXMinds “Stay Focused
Polar Bear Club “The View”
Raw Nerves “Burnt Skin”
Take Offense “Peace In…”

CDs
______________________
All Pigs Must Die “God Is War”
Balam Acab “Wander/Wonder”
Beirut “The Rip Tide (Deluxe Edition)”
Cerekloth “Halo Of Syringes”
Crucified Mortals “Crucified Mortals”
Cultes Des Ghoules “Haxan”
Destroyer 666 “To The Devil His Due”
Esplendor Geometrico “Sheikh”
Flame “March Into The Firelands”
NYC Mayhem Metal & Crossover Days (2xCD)
Ravencult “Morbid Blood”
Yot “Atma”

DVDs
________________________
Boneshop Of The Heart: Outsider Art From The American South
Trimpin: The Sound Of Invention (Featuring The Kronos Quartet)

Reviews
________________________

Balam Acab Wander/Wonder LP/CD
(Tri Angle)
Clams Casino Instrumentals LP
(Type)

Yes, a piggybacked review here. Why? Because, to be honest, if you like one then most likely you’ll like the other. Dubbed/drugged/dragged/morphined/heroined/slowed/sleep-deprived/hallucinatory beats. I recommended the Balam Acab EP last year. Guess what? The LP is more of the same and no less great. All new tracks with pitched up and down vocal tracks over smooth tripped out melodies, waves and thuds. The Clams Casino LP really creeps up on you. Or at least, while I gave it the initial listen I found myself deeper and deeper in it. I was fully immersed when I got hit with a Bjork sample – at which point I probably exclaimed something aloud to whoever was around me. Something like, “This is the album of the century!” with much hyperbole, mind you, but not lacking the sincerity of the sentiment. A couple solid Hip-Hop influenced (Clams Casino is arguably just hip-hop; he does produce beats for a few rappers after all) down-tempo electronic beat releases here. So many solid ones lately (see: last update’s Shlohmo review). I’m enjoying it.
[Reviewer: Rick]

Parasite / Vermapyre 7″
(Holy Terror)

You can add Parasite to the ever-growing list of Japanese bands that I dig. D-beat hardcore punk that will make you want to dance more then just hold a beer and pump your fist. A few riffs sound middle eastern-influenced to me. I love that Japanese bands aren’t afraid to get a little weird with their crust. For fans of G.I.S.M. & Paintbox. Vermapyre is another mysterious outfit. I’m not even sure which country they’re from is it Japan or Belgium? Either way, these dudes kicks it off with an extremely raw black metal track called, “March Of Thee Vermapyrical Legions”. Then you get hit with “Thee Cold Invocation” which is more of a spooky noise track with some female whispers buried in the mix. The last track is, “Return Of The Sorcerer” which sounds more like a rough live Integrity recording. Locked groove? I’m sold. For fans of Bone Awl & weirder Integ jams.
[Reviewer: Josh]

Poison Planet Demo 7″
(Offside Records)

Poison Planet is a straight edge powerviolence band on Offside Records. Kinda reminds me of Dropdead with a couple guitar solos thrown in. Lot’s of politically motivated lyrics. The insert has explanations behind some of the lyrics, which is something I always thought was great. Earth Crisis did it on the “All Out War” 7″ about their use of the word “fetus.” The album ends with an animal noise. I say it sounds like a wolf, Rick thinks it’s a whale. YOU DECIDE.
[Reviewer: Sean]

23rd Of August Update

23rd Of August 2011 Update of New and Key Restocked Items
at Redscroll Records

We didn’t have any reviews on the last update.  Friday’s in-stocks also didn’t get added onto that either. So, today you get a bonus update with a few reviews and the stock that’s come in between Thursday and today.  Bonus!

LPs & 12″s
______________________
Alkaline Trio / One Man Army    “BYO Split Series Volume V”
Bad Sports    “Kings Of The Weekend “
Basement     “I Wish I Could Stay Here”
Black Flag    “Everything Went Black”
Black Flag    “Family Man”
Bridges, Jeff    “Jeff Bridges”
City Of Ships    “Minor World “
CSC Funk Band    “Things Are Getting Too Casual”
DJ Spinna    “The Boogie Back (Post Disco Club Jams)”
Don Caballero    “For Respect”
Fool’s Gold    “Leave No Trace”
Ganglians    “Still Living”
Icarus Line, The    “Black Lives At The Golden Coast”
Knife, The    “We Share Our Mothers’ Health”
Leatherface    “Viva La Arthouse: Live In Melbourne”
Malkmus, Stephen And The Jicks    “Mirror Traffic”
Man Overboard    “The Human Highlight Reel: EP’s, B-Sides, And Other Songs”
NOFX     “White Trash, Two Heebs and a Bean”
P.O.D.     “When Angels & Serpents Dance”
Slowdive     “Just For A Day”
Spraynard    “Funtitled”
Stepkids, The    “Legend . Suburban Dream”
Today Is The Day    “Pain Is A Warning”
Unkind    “Harhakuvat”
War Hungry    “War Hungry”

Hip-Hop 12″s & LPs
___________________
Madlib    “Madlib Medicine Show #9: Channel 85 Presents Nittyville “
Raekwon    “Shaolin Vs Wu-Tang”
Royce da 5’9″    “Success is Certain”
Slum Village    “Fantastic Vol 2. Intrumentals”

7″s
______________________
Black Milk / Jack White
Caves / Sundials
Dead Hearts “A Death In…”
F. Boys
Jonti “Firework Spraying Moon”
Nature “Workout”
Praise “Two Songs”
Seaweed “Service…”
Talk Normal “Lone Gener…”
Trench Rot
Yellow Fever “Bermuda Triangle”

CDs
______________________
Algernon Cadwallader “Parrot”
Apathy “Honkey Kong”
Ceremony “Covers EP”
Icarus Line “Wildlife”
Nebula / Lowrider
Poison Control “Stranger”
Premonition “13”

Reviews
______________________

Botany Feeling Today [EP] 12″
(Western Vinyl)

Botany is an experimental/electronic project from young Texas musician Spencer Stephenson, and this EP, according to Western Vinyl’s website, is “a humble collection of tracks dedicated to his recently deceased mother, pieced together in the house where she raised him.” It provides a very dream-like experience – I get the feeling of flying amidst puffy clouds surrounding a castle in the sky at sundown. A variety of samples, from celestial orchestra swelling to wind chimes, come together to paint an atmosphere that’s thick, otherworldly, and refreshing. The luscious synth lines are the main driving force, though, laying the foundation for the ornate instrumentation. The opening title track is the perfect starter with its uprising far-as-the-eye-can-see melody and airy-yet-resonant vocals. “Benefactress” is another example of uniqueness, with natural-sounding, loosely structured chimes and a fluffy, pounding backbeat. The closing track “Agave” is the “darkest” sounding – it dishes out more abstract instrumentation with both a chandelier of elegant jingling and a buzzing electronic shade. With sounds as beautiful as these on a five-track EP, it will be interesting to see what a full-length album will yield, too.
[Reviewer: Mark]

Shabazz Palaces Black Up LP/CD
(Sub Pop)

I know this is on Sub Pop and it has an ambiguous band name and title.  It’s hip-hop.  It’s smooth and it’s rough.  It’s atmospheric and conscious and full of braggadocio and abrasive. It’s Digable Planets meets Dalek.  It’s really good. 
[Reviewer: Rick]

Shlohmo Bad Vibes LP/CD
(Friends Of Friends)

Seems this guy has been up to some chill vibes (though the title proclaims these are bad I don’t really feel that; perhaps melancholic at times, sure) for a couple years now.  This is my introduction to his work.  It’s down-tempo electronic music which would really easily fit in with the Tri Angle Records roster.  It’s got a level of atmospheric samplings (vocal ooohs and ahhhs) with a level of syncopated string tinged glitch-hop laid under (or over) each track (nevermind production techniques with this sentence – you get the idea). I recently put this on during a train ride and when it ended I found myself mesmerized by the ambient sound of the train and its passengers (not because the latter was all that mesmerizing – it was a residual effect I assure you).  Get mesmerized by the strumming strings oooh ahh blip boom.
[Reviewer: Rick]