Dysrhythmia - Test of Submission (2012)

Edgy math rock metal gods Dysrhythmia have done it again with their newest release Test of Submission. Even after the first couple of tracks I've noticed their writing has become even more intense but with smoother transitions between sections rather then their last release Psychic Maps. Sweeping atmospheric melodic guitar melodies wash over a ridiculously tight drum and bass odd time signature blast beat base and Sonically this band has stepped more into their own and come leaps and bounds since this line ups first album Barriers and Passengers. Tasty taste. 

Test Of Submission

Tracklist:

1. In Secrecy

2. Test Of Submission

3. The Line Always Snaps

4. Running Towards The End

5. In The Spirit Of Catastrophe

6. The Madness Of Three

7. Like Chameleons

8. In Consequence

Kayo Dot - Gamma Knife (2012)

Its Been a few years since I've had a good listen to Kayo Dot, so to my surprise I was very happy to have found they released brand spanking earlier this year called Gamma Knife. Lead by Toby Driver, Kayo Dot's albums have gone through many transitions, But I find this album relates more to there early recordings, maybe with a little more shine then the grittiness of Drowsing Anemone With A Copper Tongue in 2006. Abstract, avant garde, Jazzcore is what makes up Kayo Dot, with stems of Grindcore and Black Metal. Its Bitterly twisted but at the same time its opening and closing tracks sound more like a composition by Jeff Buckley.  Play this one at full volume to get the full experience. 

Gamma Knife

Tracklist:

1. Lethe

2. Rite of Goetic Evocation

3. Mirror Water, Lighting Night

4. Ocellated God

5. Gamma Knife

Chelsea Wolfe - Ἀποκάλυψις (2011)

Amazingly dark and brooding recording from NYC artist Chelsea Wolfe. Thick with reverb and folk doom undertones such as Earth, Chelsea Wolfe even has similar characteristics as PJ Harvey or Portishead at times. I wasn't to much of a fan of her first recording The Grime and The Glow but she has come a long way and developed much more of her own sound and leaning away from cliche gothic witch pagan folk music. 

Ἀποκάλυψις

Tracklist:

1. Primal / Carnal

2. Mer

3. Tracks (Tall Bodies)

4. Demons

5. Movie Screen

6. The Wasteland

7. Moses

8. Friedrichshain

9. Pale On Pale

10. To The Forest, Towards The Sea

Max Crumbs - Pieces & Portions Vol 2 (2010)

Melbourne artist Max Kohane (Pivixki, Agents Of Abhorrence) released this free recording a couple of years back which is a total step in the opposite direction for this more commonly known extreme abstract grind drummer. His beats are creative, earthy and textural. Lending inspiration from Prefused 73, Boards of Canada, and DJ Shadow. I find the vocal elements on this recording a little bit distracting but over all his compositions and production is a pleasure to listen to. You can also find Pieces & Portions Vol 1 on his bandcamp.

     

Pieces & Portions vol 2

Tracklist:

1. Speaker Milk

2. Pigeons Kissing

3. Crouching Otter Stance

4. Smiling In Surgery

5. Chest Peak

6. Apple Worm Salad

7. Altered States Of Beast

8. Yellow Acid Stains (featuring Nisa Venorosa)

9. Inkhorn

Black Sleep Of Kali / Union Of Sleep Split (2012)

Hailing from Denver, Colorado this progressive metal/Doom group have supplied me with some solid music especially from their full length Our Slow Decay. but recently they released this split with German band Union Of Sleep. I haven't heard to much of Union of Sleep but judging but the samples of the net im convinced UOS will become a regular listen for me over the next while. Fans of early Baroness/Mastodon will probably really enjoy seeing that so many bands are heading down the road of signing to major labels and suck arse all over the shop. These songs are true and gritty the way it should be. with bone crushing grooves and guttural delivery.  Im pretty sure I'll put my order in for the LP as soon as my next pay check goes in.

 

BLOK

Tracklist:

1. Cosmonaut

2. Eyes of Winter

3. The Witch

4. Call Of The Void

Old Man Gloom - No (2012)

After 8 years. OMG has finally released new album entitled NO. And holy shit! opening track sounds like it couldn't be from anyone else. lo-fi ambient static and electronics which leads into the more common bone crushing post sludgecore sound these guys are legends for. You can hear the trade off between Aaron Turner (ISIS) and Caleb Scofield (Cave In) who seem to come across as the main writers of the collaboration which also includes Nate Newton (converge). With NO clocking in at 59mins its a fairly epic listen that doesn't let off for some time, but I am a little disappointed that towards the end of this recording it does start to run a little thin and recycled. Not the best OMG release but definitely has its moments.  

NO

Tracklist:

1. Grand Inversion

2. Common Species

3. Regain/Rejoin

4. To Carry the Flame

5. The Forking Path

6. Shadowed Hand

7. Rats

8. Crescent

9. Shuddering Earth

Secret Chiefs 3 - Traditionalists, The Western Exile 7" (2012)

Long after Secret Chiefs 3's last full length album, its good to see them releasing 7" rarities and collectables. On this one you will find on the B side Trey Spruance and Mike Patton working together once again to create a superb version of Le Chanson De Jackey. backed by the chiefs Traditionalists to create a swinging western story of epic proportions.  Side A is another version of The Western Exil which was on their Book of Horizons. You can also find their Saptarshi / Radar 7" here 

Traditionalists

Tracklist:

1. The Western Exile

2. Le Chanson De Jackey

Master Musicians of Bukkake - Totem three (2011)

This is one i've had on the back burner while i've been a slack arse and not posting anything for the life of me....SO. Don't let the name put you off. Lets Just say this band is made up of a all star cast featuring members of Sunn O))), Earth, Secret Chiefs 3, Sun City Girls, Grails, OM, and Asva. This collaboration takes its inspiration mostly from eastern music and philosophy and combines it with space rock and lo-fi film score. With artwork by Seldon Hunt who who has done a completely amazing job at describing the music of this band in a technicolor sacrilegious nightmare. 

 

Totem 3

Tracklist:

1. Bardo Sidpa

2. In the Twilight of Kali Yuga

3. Illuminating the Ten Directions/ Mahur

4. Prophecy of the White Camel/ Namoutarre

5. 6000 Years of Darkness

6. Reign of Quanity and the Signs of the Times/ Patriarch of the Iron Age

7. Failed Future

Secret Fun Club - Skull With Antlers (2012)

I had the privilege witnessing these guys last year in the states, then after staying in contact with them I got to play a house party in San Diego California together. A while ago they released their first LP judging by the cover its called "Skull with antlers" through locust front man's record label ThreeOneG. This southern Californian Duo really give something i haven't seen before. Their live show is a full body experience made up of volume and bottom end frequency onslaught, which is pretty hard to produce on a recording, but Secret fun Club give you math rock as if it was being played by John Bonham in outa space. A stella band who have made their music even that little bit more accessible through naming your own price on their Bandcamp site.

Lilacs & Champagne - Lilacs & Champagne (2012)

Lilacs & Champagne is the side project of psychedelic dub rock artists Alex Hall and Emil Amos (Grails). Lilacs & Champagne isn't entirely a new sound for these guys but more of a longevity and exploration of psychedelic soundtrack music of 60's and 70's cinema. This new release is a sample based trip-hop experience with deep reverb occult textures that set sail in the desert plaines of your mind. awesome. 

Lilacs & Champagne

Tracklist:

1. Everywhere, Everyone

2. Lilacs

3. Nice Man

4. Sensations

5. Battling the City

6. Corridors of Power II

7. King Of Kings

8. Laid Fucking Back

9. Moroccan Handjob

10. Midnight Creeper

11. Listener X