HAZZARD'S CURE - Self Titled CD review

HAZZARD'S CURE - Self Titled CD
Lummox Records / Stop Go Destroy Tapes
Genre: Hardcore / Sludge
Rating: 4/5

This San Francisco four piece sounds like a hardcore band who found a box of Mans Ruin records and decided to incorporate those influences into their sound in order to get better paying gigs at bars that don't allow naked bums inside. Good for them because this self titled release of theirs doesn't have a sell by date on it like most stoner sludge which has come out over the past two years. HAZZARD'S CURE actually has a much needed fresh sound (well at least fresher than most) that even touches on the technical edge which is more classic metal than prog. I'm sure someone else will reference a notable Atlanta, Georgia act as an influence but I'm sick of all those acts as well as critics who quickly name drop them for lack of coming up with an original thought. This is just another decent band which proves that no one has a corner on the sludge market. You don't need to live a thirty miles from a swamp to be sludgey.

There are a lot of aspects to this release which I like. The most obvious is that their hardcore influence tears at you like a hundred unclasped safety pins ripping your flesh. When they break into a speedy run you can just imagine the spikey headed nutbags flying around in front of them when they're playing a show. Then comes their slower moments, so the smokers can catch their breath, which hearkens back to the late 90's era of sludge and aggressive non hippie stoner grooves. Once in a while there's some clean guitar solos that stand out more than a bearded tranny trying out for a high school cheerleader squad. Plus there's plenty of twin guitar interplay that hits you square in the forehead like a ballpean hammer. Then again it might be more like being shot with a nailgun but in the knee caps not the face. There's that pounding metal to bone sound which soft flesh would hamper.

All together the basis for HAZZARD'S CURE's style are these filthy sounding riffs (great guitar tones) paired up with neck snapping lead work with mixed song structures and decent speed variations. Toss in a host of alternating vocal styles from aggro punk screams to venomous screeching and even some clean vocal runs. There's seven cuts on here that don't break out on all levels but keep within a vibe that's interesting throughout. I mean this band is pulling a lot of cool sounding stuff from their bag which also goes well with the mixed level production. A band like this was meant to sound dirty. Maybe that's why they ended their opener with the sound of some poor bastard vomiting. Either way I'd keep an eye on these guys because I doubt they'll still be self releasing their stuff anymore in the near future.

Official: http://www.hazzardscure.blogspot.com/

Bandcamp: http://hazzardscure.bandcamp.com/album/hazzards-cure

TYPHONIC AGE - Misanthropic Wrath demo review

TYPHONIC AGE - Misanthropic Wrath demo
Self Released
Genre: Black Metal
Rating: 3/5

Here's a release that you would normally find on one of those download sites, usually originating in Eastern Europe, where the site creator will only post raw demo quality material for the true acolytes of the horned god or something to that effect. Here we have a two piece blackened act out of Asheville, North Carolina. These guys must be the most hated duo in that town full of pottery making hippies. I can just imagine them going up into the woods all corpse painted and blackened up carrying swords and battle axes for a photo shoot then accidentally bumping into a few camped out wide eyed, tie dyed, wannabe Woodstock heads. Yeah that would be fun wouldn't it? Talk about a viral Youtube video that would be.

Like I said TYPHONIC AGE are a duo consisting of Set whose responsible for the harsh screamed vocals, guitar and for writing the lyrics. The other creative half is Zann the drummer and is listed as adding guitars as well. Their release here, Misanthropic Wrath, is a three song demo although the first cut, "Procreating the Archetype" is more like a two minute atmospheric piece that slowly creeps out at you. The rhythm guitar sounds like a downed power line which has made contact with someone and the screaming commences. The second cut, "Therionic Wolfhowl" is where things start falling into place. These guys have aimed for pure second wave black metal rawness and hit bullseye. The opening guitar tone of their third song, "Ahriman Ascendent", sounds similar to Ron Ashton's from the first STOOGES LP. Although it doesn't last that long once the tremolo destruction takes over then you have ten minutes of low fi blackened torture.

I could put this on a cassette and tell someone this originally came out in 1990 from some obscure Ukrainian band with a very good chance the person would believe it as well as offer me twenty bucks for it. Then again they might question the English lyrics I know I would. As Set screams in the third cut "This is fucking black metal!" Yes ladies and gentlemen, and you others, there be Satanists in them there Carolina mountains. Hey who really knows right? Even though this is short release with Radio Shack recording quality I find it a little more interesting then some of the polished computerized material that comes my way created by college radio losers or hippies trying to jump on the black metal bandwagon only after they heard a BURZUM CD that their pimply faced girlfriend, with the horned rimmed glasses with the fake lenses, downloaded from Mediafire. I'd like to invite these guys to town for a show and to kick some hipster ass. Hey if INQUISITION can play a fuckin North Raleigh sports bar then anything is possible. Keep it going guys I see a full length in your future which will be selling at Blackmetal.com.

Bandcamp: http://typhonicage.bandcamp.com

Facebook: http://facebook.com/typhonicage

DEGRADATION - Juggernaut CD review

DEGRADATION - Juggernaut CD
Self Released
Genre: Thrash
Rating: 3/5

DEGRADATION hail from Chicago, Illinois and this debut release of theirs came out last February but I'm getting it now. Too bad though because as far as competent thrash goes these guys hit every mark like it was the mid-eighties. Seriously this is authentic as it gets, no demo quality stuff and certainly no modern polish. I guess the strange note about them is that for a Midwest band they've chosen to be a complete clone of Bay Area greats from the past. I mean with the exception of the CROWN cover on here, "Executioner...Slayer of the Light", these guys pretty much take something from almost everyone in thirty minutes of playing time. Of course every other new thrash act does the same thing. What matters most now is whether or not it can hold your attention long enough. Most of their cuts fly by so fast that it comes across as filler. The best part about listening to Juggernaut is guessing who they borrowed a riff or song structure from. Then again you could simply pop open a beer and then play this for your friends. Get all drunk and hesher-ed out then have a debate on whether or not they sound more like METALLICA or TESTAMENT on certain songs. Five bucks says this band, as well as this particular release, will be on a big label in 2012.

Official: http://www.degradationband.com/

Corpse Vomit live at Caboose 1/23/98

Here's CORPSE VOMIT performing live at the Caboose in Garner NC 1/23/98 opening up for DECEASED.

MAJESTIC DOWNFALL - The Blood Dance CD review

MAJESTIC DOWNFALL - The Blood Dance CD
Chaos Records
Genre: Death / Doom
Rating: 5/5

This release won't be out until January 2012 but I'm marking it now as one of the best releases you will hear as far as death doom acts go. Let me introduce to you MAJESTIC DOWNFALL, a one-man doom metal project from Jacobo Córdova who handles all of the instruments aka: guitar, bass, keyboards, drums (he does have a session drummer as well) and the beastly vocals. This is his second release. He also put out a full length in 2009 titled Temple of Guilt which I have not heard. What makes me so excited about The Blood Dance and it's creator Jacobo is not that he's done anything new for the genre. Any jaded tool could give this a spin and say it's average sounding material. The key word there is "jaded" because I don't care if this has been done before. Frankly what hasn't that's actually good? The true greatness of this release is that it's done so well that anyone who considers themselves a fan of death doom will need this as if it were life sustaining.

The opening title cut starts off with an acoustic guitar and keyboard atmospheric ditty which had me wondering whatafuck was up. Twenty seconds into it the song literally explodes forth with the crushing emotional weight of a behemoth landing on your chest. From there the doomish melodies flow like a mighty river of sorrow across the plain of despair. While listening "From Black to Dead" I couldn't help but think of all those videos showing the tsunami waters rolling across the landscape of Japan. Epic and destructive fits this music so perfectly since everything Jacobo does on here is massive. For name dropping purposes I'd say this comes close to early PARADISE LOST. The songs are long bouts of emotional agony with growls of a mighty monster but never dragging ass like one. The atmosphere put forth is thick and bass heavy but constantly in motion pulling you along.

The Blood Dance is one of the best hour's worth of death doom I've heard in a while that never lapses into boring interludes. It's an audio equivalent to a topographical map with inbeded sequences that pop out which break from the constant stream of trudging riffs. "Army of Salvation" is a good example as the opening is filled with a wall of blackened riffs that subside to atmospheric plucking then return to an onslaught rockish pace with bloody throated vocals vomiting forth. Speaking of which Jacobo's vocals are never monotone but cascade with the riffs. Like I've already said, MAJESTIC DOWNFALL's The Blood Dance is now on my list of one of the best for 2012. Come January you will know why.

Label: http://www.chaos-records.com/label/

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/majesticdownfall

DIES IRAE - Secret Veils of Passion CD review

DIES IRAE - Secret Veils of Passion CD
Chaos Records
Genre: Melodic Death / Dark Metal
Rating: 3/5

Other than this band's fans in their homeland of Mexico (which in all honesty are quite a lot) I don't see how the rest of the world is gonna get excited over this band's return. I mean when I first saw their name in the email package my first thoughts were "that's an old death metal band". My second one was "I bet it's a re-issue". I was right on the first part but that's only because there are many bands with that name so it was a good guess. But just for the record lets see a show of hands to answer this question. How many people out there, not from Mexico of course, have a copy of this band's 1998 LP Etherial? How about their Naive LP from 2001? Yes I thought so. Well for those of you who do remember this band prepare for something different because whatever you thought of them before might change, for the better or worse depending on your tastes. There are flourishes of melodic death metal on Secret Veils of Passion which will coax old listeners into picking this up. Songs like opener "Want", "For" and "Night" clearly show their roots. Before I even go more in depth to their music I probably should explain their song titles. For this release the band used these one word titles that rhyme with a corresponding number. For example "Tree" is three, "Sex" is six, "Hate" is eight and so on. It's a fairly interesting way to showcase their material.

As for their other songs the band meshes various elements of progressive or post rock, gothic sequences, funky jazz and blues especially on "Sex" which could be a radio / video track for easy listeners, even some doom or at least structures that remind me of the present day output by a few legendary English doom outfits who have mellowed out. Obviously this one isn't something I'd crank up at a party but I won't dismiss it outright. DIES IRAE have crafted an interesting release, which won't be out until January 2012, that would appeal to all of you who crave darker themed metal. I have to say that the nine plus minutes of "E7en" really reminded me of something one of the English post doom acts I alluded to earlier would do. If you take Secret Veils of Passion as a whole its more of a varied musical experience for anyone looking for that broad sampling of sounds all in one package. I admit I'm kind of a neanderthal when it comes to eclectic or esoteric sounding bands. I like my variety as long as it's from one CD to another and not all on one. This release did put me in a mood though one in which I wanted to get out of as fast as possible. So you'll excuse me while I drag my knuckles out of here and head for the safe secure realm of some raw black metal.

Label: http://www.chaos-records.com/label/

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/diesiraeonline

No Vids for this one

RESURRECTING JUDAS - Vast Realms of Chaos Incarnate CDEP review

RESURRECTING JUDAS - Vast Realms of Chaos Incarnate CDEP
Sevared Records
Genre: Death Metal
Rating: 3/5

Sevared Records is definitely the place for connoisseurs of brutality so this five song EP was not a surprise. Actually I was kinda disappointed that it wasn't as over the top destructive. RESURRECTING JUDAS, who hail from California (an obvious homestead for many of these brootal bands) sounds like DEICIDE, PANTERA and SLAYER locked in a room beating the crap out of each other while still keeping a semblance of technical ability. Some one will probably say I just described NECROPHAGIST which would be ironic since I kinda hate them. This act doesn't rank much higher either. RESURRECTING JUDAS are average in the brutality department. I've seen bum fights which held more vicious excitement then what I got outta these cuts. “Human Cereal” gets a plus for having a decent enough title and being the standout track on a mediocre release. Wow I can't wait for the full length which will have two out of ten cuts that will be OK. Cookie monster bloody throated vocals, almost programmable beats and a few interesting solo chops don't make for a brootal beating. You'll need to cover the floor with enough blood that will make your socks wet and this only rents a few drops.

Label: http://www.sevared.com/index.htm

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/resurrectingjudas