Buff Roshi (Michael Muhlfriedel, with guitarist and soundsmith G.E Stinson, singer-songwriter Rene Wilson, and trumpeter John Fumo) play a mix of downbeat and avant-garde/experimental. Airy vocals, spoken-word samples, synthesizers, drum machines, and guitar heavy on the effects.
RIYL: Massive Attack, Meat Beat Manifesto. FCC Clean
Combination of dark, atmospheric electronica and synth-driven industrial-pop reminiscent of Devo.
RIYL: Joy Division, Devo. FCC Clean
The Body - All The Waters Of The Earth Turn To Blood
Release Date: 2010Jul27 (US)
Label: At A Loss Recordings
Rating: 3.5/5
The following is how I imagine a conversation between members of The Body and their producers/friends/label people while recording All The Waters Of The Earth Turn To Blood:
TB: So we want to start off our new album of experimental doom with the Assembly of Light vocal choir. How long is too long?
P/F/LP: Well that’s hard to say; we’ve all heard things both interesting and trying from the avant-garde world over the years. You probably shouldn’t do more than two to three minutes, just for establishment.
TB: Well screw the establishment… double—no TRIPLE––that! We won’t get heavy for seven minutes!
P/F/LP: Um, that’s not really how we meant… eh, do what you want.
Honestly, we need artists to feel unconfined. This Providence, RI duo has a couple of sweet beards, an artillery stockpile, and true rebel spirit. With these weapons at their disposal, The Body takes aim at familiar norms and systematically blasts them away.
Noctiferia – DeathCulture
Release Date: 2010Jul13 (US)
Label: Listenable Records
Rating: 3.5/5
For all its ferocity, modern industrial metal is a delicate beast; and by that, I mean it ought to be intricately wrought. A mechanical execution and cynical sociopolitical lyrics come with the territory, but how people distinguish themselves amongst the apocalyptic fallout is where the challenge lies. This Slovenian quintet sounds as though they actually emerged from a Fear Factory. Peter Tagtren returns to produce, and you can bet he invoked that inner Pain, rather than Hypocrisy.
Pin-Up Went Down – 342
Release Date: 2010Jun28
Label: Ascendance Records
Rating: 4.5/5
I honestly do not recall how Carnival In Coal crossed my path some years back; all I know for certain is how happy I am that they did. What could you call them? “Avant-garde death disco” for starters? Or maybe play it safe, and say they are another branch of whatever “extreme metal” has become? I was sorry to hear they broke up back in 2007, but thankfully, their spirit endures through Pin-Up Went Down. There are even direct CiC connections: vocalist Asphodel lent her voice to their Buggles cover of “Living in the Plastic Age” from Collection Prestige, and multi-instrumentalist Alexis Damien was their former live drummer. Once a duo, his brother Nicolas Damien has recently joined the fold as pianist and additional songwriter on this, their second album.
When listening to 342, the best advice I can impart was once given to the White Rabbit by The King of Hearts: “Begin at the beginning and go on till you come to the end: then stop.” It is exhausting yet exhilarating art, passion without pretense. (more…)
Istapp – Blekinge
Release Date: June 8, 2010
Label: Metal Blade
Rating: 4/5
Their first demo release was in ’05, so Istapp is somewhat of a newer band. In fact, Blekinge is their first full-length release. At first look at their strange black and white album cover and with the knowledge that “istapp” means “icicle” in Swedish, I though, “oh great, another Black Metal band that sings about winter.” However, at closer inspection, there’s a creative mythology behind their music, which, as a musician who also approaches lyrics from a similar angle, is something I can appreciate.
Grave – Burial Ground
Release Date: 2010Jun14 (US)
Label: Regain Records
Rating: 4/5
Grave are nothing if not consistent. Not only have they helped write the book on Swedish death metal, they are in the same longship as groups like Unleashed, who have persevered well through the decades. Both bands kick expectation square in the nuts, retaining familiarity but not breeding contempt within the listener. (more…)
Misery Index – Heirs To Thievery
Release Date: 2010May11 (US)
Label: Relapse Records
Rating: 4/5
I was first exposed to Misery Index via an interview with the group in an issue of the late, great Punk Planetmagazine. The intelligence and sincerity of the group impressed me so much that I went out and bought a copy of their record Retaliate; I’ve been hooked ever since. I have thoroughly enjoyed all of their records, but they reach a new level on Heirs to Thievery.
Fleshwrought – Dementia/Dyslexia
Release Date: 2010Aug03
Label: Metal Blade
Rating: 4.5/5
A trend of technical showmanship has crept its way out of the shadows and into the mainstream metal scene. The days of Lars Ulrich clanging away on the crash and snare clumsily have passed. Nowadays, everyone who is anyone must have absurdly tight and fast drums, wildly complex and dissonant solos, and funky bass work. Bands like Necrophagist have paved the way for this movement to escape the dirty, grimy, thrashy death metal (which I really miss, to be honest) toward a modern metallic renaissance.
One of the most recent addtions to the Technical Death Metal pool is Fleshwrought: the brain child of Animosity/Animals As Leaders drummer, Navene Kopperweis. Now that Animosity has come and gone, Kopperweis finally had the time to focus on his solo project and recruit Job For A Cowboy‘s resident growler, Johnny Davy. The product of these two individuals is phenomenal.
The most recent release from !!! is titled Strange Weather, Isn’t It. The album has a fun, high energy vibe. A mix of Electro Rock laced with Funk and Disco gives it a fresh, lively sound. Perfect for your next party.
Tracks: 2,3,6