Personal Best - The Lovin' EP

90s indie rock/tuneful punk stuff. Kind of that Superchunk/Wrens thing. Been listening to this loads since i saw them a few months back. Really good stuff. Finally available digitally. Well worth your cash.

Flesh World - s/t (La Vida Es Un Mus)

La Vida Es Un Mus now have a bandcamp page.. Expect DIY punk related things.

No back catalogue stuff yet but this new Flesh World mini LP is good. Kind of fuzzy, melodic post punk that's kind of tuneful. Here's the blurb:-

On their debut MLP, San Francisco, CA’s Flesh World plays ice-soaked punk rock led by dark and infectious guitar flourishes and a just-under-the-surface pop sensibility that makes each song an immediate stand out track. Featuring band members who are all veterans of the DIY punk scene — from bands including Limp Wrist, Brilliant Colors, Needles, and more — Flesh World brings influences from a host of punk sub-genres together, calling to mind the tense moodiness of classic British post punk, the sneer of the 1977 school, and just a hint of C86 flourish and feedback. Most importantly, this MLP includes six hopelessly catchy songs that will work their way into your skull like an infection without a cure.

Poison Idea - Kings Of Punk (Southern Lord)

Bona fide classic.

Radioactivity - s/t (Dirtnap)

A couple of members of Marked Men's new thing. It looks like Marked Men, smells like Marked Men and quacks like Marked Men. Tuneful punk rock of the highest order. Real songwriting and that. Just listen to the second song 'Other Life'. If you don't feel like putting it on repeat then you're dead to me. Oh, and 'Get Straight' too.

Los Pecadores - Escape From Uranus (surf)

One for fans of Man Or Astroman?, Satan's Pilgrims, The Huntington Cads, Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet, Estrus Records, Dionysus Records, The Ventures, Dick Dale, Surfaris etc etc.

Total surf worship. Maximum reverb on the guitars and silly sci-fi samples.

The soundtrack to an evening in a tiki bar that's been squatted by punks. Cocktails served in halved coconuts and umbrellas but with Buckfast as the main ingredient.

The LP is limited to a mere 100 copies so be quick.

The Love Triangle - Clever Clever

Messy, scuffy power-pop stuff. The label blurb explains it quite well:-

Heretofore, the Love Triangle's recordings have been marked by a particularly raw, aggressive, and even ugly take on classic power pop. Sure, the choruses were huge, but the recordings were ear-splittingly raw and aggressive. However, they've changed things up a bit for their first long-player, opting for a cleaner recording that assures nothing is lost in the translation to wax. The essential elements are still there--Tim's four-on-the-floor drumming, Josh's meandering walking bass lines, and Louis's thrillingly melodic vocals and guitar--but you can actually hear them all rather than just inferring their presence through a wall of feedback and fuzz. The effect is a full-length that recalls the classic songwriting of Nuggets greats like the Electric Prunes and the Seeds as much as it does the more melodic end of the '77 set like Protex, the Lurkers, and the Boys. An LP so good that we don't even need to tell you this is ex-Shitty Limits to get you to buy it.

There's a genuine bit of songwriting nouse going on here under the jerkiness and fuzz. Good stuff.

Connections - Body Language

Bit of a Guided By Voices thing going on. Just great, slightly rough indie tuneage. I'd recommend trying Late Shift as a taster. Had that on repeat a few times.

For some reason there's no option to buy it. In the unlikely event of any of the vinyl making it's way to the UK I'd probably buy the LP. However, not going to bother getting crappy mp3s from amazon/itunes. Oh well.

Culo - My Life Sucks And I Could Care Less (Deranged)

For some reason I'd written this off as yet another generic d-beat 'noise' punk thing. My mistake. It's more like Career Suicide or something like that. Hardcore with a bit of actual songwriting going on in the riffs.

The intro is doing my head in because I'm sure I recognise it. Sounds like Delia Derbyshire or John Baker or one of those other BBC Radiophonic Workshop people. If they made it themselves then they definitely need to do an album of that kind of stuff.

Man Or Astroman? download card

Went to see the reformed Man Or Astroman? the other night. They were fucking awesome.

On the merch table they had something I hadn't seen before but have long argued bands should have - download cards! A fiver for their new album. Half the price of the CD and a 1/3 of the price of the LP.

The #1s - Sharon Shouldn't

Killer power-pop/fuzzy tuneful punk stuff from Dublin. Think Exploding Hearts/Marked Men/Pointed Sticks etc. Their last 7" was fucking great. This new one is coming out on Sorry State. Can't wait for the whole thing.

Noise Rock - 2013 'scene report'

Noise rock is on fire at the moment. There's a small number of bands putting out absolutely killer stuff at the moment. Pretty much the only thing I'm scrabbling around collecting vinyl of. A lot of it seems to fall through the cracks and not get much attention. That's why I thought I'd bung together a list of the great stuff that's out there in one place.

It's probably worth stating roughly what I'm defining noise rock as to avoid confusion. I'm thinking of the output of labels like Amphetamine Reptile. Bands like Unsane, Helmet, Big Black, Distorted Pony, Glazed Baby, Hammerhead, Fudge Tunnel, 16, Cherubs etc.

It'd include Jesus Lizard but not the millions of post-ATP Lizard wannabe indie bands littering University cities across the world. Nor really the Lightning Bolt/Skin Graft/Load kind of thing (although you definitely need to check out Xaddax). The bands all probably like Swans as well but I'm not talking about hour long brutal doom stuff either.

Hope that makes some kind of sense. Anyway, all the following bands vaguely fit in that description. Also, I fully approve them all as quality noise rock. I can't be bothered finding a load of different ways to say each band is good. Every one of the bands on this list is good. Now go check them out. Oh, and feel free to make any suggestions in the comments. Keeping up with the noise rock tag on this here blog might be a wise idea too

HEBOSAGIL
http://hebosagil.bandcamp.com/
After a killer 7" on Kvlt Of Nihilow the gods of awesome Finnish music, Circle, have released the new LP on their Full Contact label.
A review, another review, another one.
Hebosagil on facebook

THROAT
http://ihatethroat.bandcamp.com/album/manhole
"fans of Unsane, Die 116, Tad, Bastards etc take note and obey." - Collective zine review
Another fantastic noise rock band from Finland. They've been putting out some great releases on Kvlt Of Nihilow, At War With False Noise as well as their own, excellent Kaos Kontrol label

BAXTER STOCKMAN
http://bstockman.bandcamp.com/
"The guitar parts crawl and lurk, reminiscent of the Jesus Lizard or some of the snakier, more aggro moments presented by bands like Crain, Rodan or the Shipping News while anchorage is provided by glutinous lumps of bass gloop that slide and slump ominously in the background" - Collective zine review
Yet more awesome Finnish stuff put out by Kvlt Of Nihilow and Ektro
Baxter Stockman on facebook

LURCH
http://lurchsongs.bandcamp.com/album/demo-april-2013
Think of stuff like Trance Syndicate, Band Of Susans, The God Machine, Foetus, Swans, Old Lady Drivers, Bastro, Steel Pole Bath Tub, Amphetamine Reptile etc. The guitars go from the really noisey end of indie stuff to all out sludge. Vocals go from almost-sung stuff (that's actually comprehensible) to agonised screams.
Lurch on facebook

TILE
http://tilenoise.bandcamp.com/
I've been waiting for this album for quite a while. They put an amazing 7" on Kvlt Of Nihilow but that was back in 2010. Thankfully it doesn't disappoint. It's more top tier noise rock. At times there's Pissed Jeans-esque tunes but generally just thunders the riffs along. Definitely an album I'm picking up on vinyl.
Tile on facebook

DRUNK IN HELL
http://drunkinhell.bandcamp.com/
Best band in the UK by a mile. "Vile noiserock shitstorm" was the description i put on a flyer once. There's been talk of them doing a split with the mighty Kilslug. Fingers crossed for records soon. In the meantime youtube will have to do - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOvOKIm4mdc - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41S2NNUHI-I - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=he4W0DVMgK4
Drunk In Hell on facebook

WOLFBAIT
http://artforblind.bandcamp.com/album/w-lfbait
This is sick. Horrid, slow, relentless, pulverising dirge. Swans. Describe themselves as "kraut violence". Imagine Man Is The Bastard covering a Neu song. But a Neu song written by Chrome at their bad acid addled worst. Like being tarred and feathered and thrown into a cesspit.
Wölfbait on facebook

PINK CITY
http://pinkcity.bandcamp.com/album/virgins
Drum machine noise rock duo that "have found some FX and parts sound a bit like Nirvana drunkenly trying to do My Bloody Valentine stuff" Spoonful of tar
Pink City on facebook

WARBRIDES
http://warbrides.bandcamp.com/
Got a bit of math-y Chicago rock going on amongst the noise rock riffage

HYRROKKIN
http://www.decibelmagazine.com/featured/streaming-hyrrokkins-anacoluthon/
Like a jazzier Dazzling Killmen or a punkier Caspar Brotzmann Massaker. the Decibel thingy mentions Dysrythmia and Sonny Sharrock. a friend mentioned Nels Cline and Sun City Girls' jazzy moments.
Hyrrokkin on facebook

FRIEND COLLECTOR
http://friendcollector.bandcamp.com/album/fcii
the awesome Built On A Weak Spot blog compared them to Swans, Glazed Baby and Drunks With Guns. 'nuff said.
Friend Collector on bandcamp

MURDEREDMAN
http://polar-envy.bandcamp.com/album/murderedman
Murderedman on facebook

FAKING
http://faking.bandcamp.com/
Only a raw 3 track demo so far but hopefully there'll be records soon
Faking on facebook

DROSE
http://droseohio.bandcamp.com/album/a-voice-7
Interview at Destroyed Human, Collective review
Drose on facebook


DIRTDRINKER
http://dirtdrinker.bandcamp.com/album/s-t-lp
If you like stuff like Unsane, Ken Mode, Kowloon Walled City and Coalesce then you're going to be into this. It kind of exists in the grey area between noise rock and the good offkilter end of metallic hardcore (ie Hydrahead, Kiss It Goodbye, Botch, Deadguy etc). In some places the vocals even reach Steve Austin of Today Is The Day levels of intensity.
Dirtdrinker on facebook

PORNOGRAPHY
http://prngrphy.bandcamp.com/
"horrid Swans style noise rock. Repetitive dischords battered out in a most uncomfortable manner." according to me
Destroyed Human review

KOWLOON WALLED CITY
http://kowloonwalledcity.bandcamp.com/album/container-ships
Their first 2 albums, Turk Street and Gambling On The Richter Scale that Feast Of Tentacles put out are totally essential. Pounding rhythmic noise rock stuff. New album veers into a slightly more shoegaze-y sound but is still awesome. UK tour long overdue.
Kowloon Walled City on facebook

TIDE OF IRON
http://shybairnsrecords.bandcamp.com/album/tide-of-iron-sow-ep
http://superfirecords.bandcamp.com/album/split-7-3
Keelhaul/Today Is The Day inspired stuff from Newcastle. Only a split on Super Fi Records so far. In the meantime, this video they made of Bill Cosby dancing to one of their songs is quality - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0BqXqoLgp4

ART OF BURNING WATER
http://artofburningwater.bandcamp.com/album/this-disgrace
"AOBW channel the prime noise-rock of vintage Zeni Geva and Godflesh with the more complex rhythmical riff obsessions of the Melvins, Keelhaul and mid-period Voivod" according to their press release - http://spoonfuloftar.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/art-of-burning-water-this-disgrace-riot.html
Art Of Burning Water on facebook

GODSTOPPER
http://godstopper.bandcamp.com/
"Somewhere between the Thunder-Pop of sparkly heavy-hitters Torche, the aggressive sludge of fellow Floridians Cavity and the awkward stop-start dream-logic quasi-operatic noise rock of Pony Express Record-era Shudder To Think" - Sleeping Shaman
"stop thinking and get deep into a dichotomous band where dream pop meets nightmare metal, with a healthily unusual mixing of chiming major chords and filthy bass stabs together with chanting underpinned by crushing doom" - Collective zine review
Godstopper on facebook

BONE
http://boneband.bandcamp.com/album/for-want-of-feeling
Melbourne, Australia must be a bleak place. This lot have got a sparse, post-punk thing going on. kind of taut basslines with those old goth-y tom-heavy drums. But then there's also hints of 90s touch and go, Bastro, God Machine, Trumans Water and similar things.
Bone on facebook

SINKING SUNS
http://sinkingsuns.bandcamp.com/
The excellent folk over at Shiny Grey Monotone mentioned Killdozer, Steel Pole Bath Tub, Scratch Acid, Tar, Crucifucks, Big'N, Sicbay and Distorted Pony in their review.
Sinking Suns on facebook

Well, there you go. A bunch of awesome noise rock bands. By the way, there's a gig in London waiting for any of these bands plus some help sorting a UK tour.

Spacebag - Magnetic Struggle (ex Rorschach/Kiss It Goodbye)

Prog-tastic instrumental riff fest.

Recommended via Shiny Grey Monotone (definitely one of my favourite music blogs). They mentioned stuff like Rush and Don Caballero. I reckon there's bits of The Fucking Champs in there. Perhaps if Gone jammed Nocturnus riffs? Great stuff.

It's folk from Rorschach, Die 116, Kiss It Goodbye, Playing Enemy etc and you know full well how great those bands are. They couldn't do a shit band if they tried.

Night Birds - Born To Die In Suburbia

OK, I've banged on about how fucking awesome Night Birds are previously - here and here

Obviously my taste in music is impeccable and you take my word as fucking gospel on what bands to check out. Therefore you should already be aware of just how good Night Birds are.

For the slackers sitting at the back of the class you need to get on this right now. Tuneful surf punk stuff. Think Adolescents, Wipers, Dead Kennedys, Agent Orange etc. One of those sounds that everyone from pop punk types to crusties to indie folk can't deny.

I guarantee you'll be whistling this tunes by the end of the week and clamouring for them to come over the UK and tour again.

Obliterations - s/t

Black Flag/Bl'ast! + 70s Rock stuff. They're doing a decent job of filling in the hole left by Annihilation Time. Obviously it isn't quite as good as AT but they set the bar extremely high. This is only Obliterations debut 7" so they've got the potential to become really mindblowing. For the moment the quality of the rocking is more than sufficient to warrant recommending a listen.

Snowblood discography (Super Fi)

Super Fi released 3 albums by this lot over the years. DIY doom stuff from Scotland. Heavy and a bit odd.

Criminally underrated.







oh, and some of them have a new band called OMMADON who are well worth checking out. More bleak doom.

Oblivionation (ex OUT COLD) new songs

The Oblivionation demo was fantastic

Basically it's folk from Out Cold doing a band that sounds pretty much like Out Cold. Early 80s US hardcore stuff played by masters of the sound who were doing it years before it became even remotely acceptable let alone slightly popular.

Red Hare - Nites Of Midnite (Dischord)

ex Swiz band on Dischord. What the hell else do you need to say?

Unfortunately, Dischord are yet another independent label that don't make FLAC available. They do mp3 so at least they've got some idea that it's the 21st Century. However, at the risk of repeating myself, why would I want to pay money for a poor quality reproduction of the music? FLAC is the exact thing that comes out of the studio. Aaaaaarrrrrgggghhhhhh etc etc etc etc.

Anyway, it's really fucking this good album. Fingers crossed they tour the UK.

Neon Piss - Vinyl Rites

Somehow missed that Neon Piss have a new 7" out. We're talking great tuneful punk. Like The Observers (if you're skinny) or like Wipers (if you've got a beergut).

Doom - 25 Years Of Crust

Who'd of thought you'd see the day when Doom released a greatest hits album ;-)

Night Birds - Maimed For The Masses 7" (Fat Wreck)

Loved the last Night Birds LP.

This 7" is more of the same. Tuneful, surf guitar tinged punk rock. Agent Orange, Adolescents, Descendents, Zero Boys and that kind of thing but with an added dose of Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet and Man Or Astroman?

Kind of surprised to see it being released by Fat Wreck. Not quite what you usually associate with them. Hopefully should mean more people get into them. Good for them. Also makes it more likely they'll come back and tour the UK again.

Seriously, Night Birds UK tour soon please.

Apparently there's a new LP out soon too. Can't wait. In the meantime these 4 songs will have to tide me over.