BURNING LOVE - SONGS FOR BURNING LOVERS

With October looming its foliage-rotted, bark-covered claws at us, we must once again take shelter in the caves lit only by the screen glow of our computers.  Luckily, before the cold winds brought the hard rain, on September 21st I had the chance to see Nails hop on board a show with Burning Love at The Shop in PGH.  This unexpected lineup was a pleasant surprise, especially since the two were set to play a show in Vermont about a week later.  Though the Nails review will be saved until another post, for now I'm getting in to a tractor trailor of kickass with wild-cards, Burning Love.

From the onset, Toronto-based Burning Love thrust out jack-knifing riffs and pave-pounding beats that reminded me of speeding into a twilight horizon.  This three-year-old, five man powerhouse features the roaring vocals of Chris Coholan, former singer of the now defunct Cursed.  I was definitely impressed by Coholan's stage presence; taking charge and reminding people that live shows are for passion and movement, not silent elitism and self-consciousness.

 
Their first full-length on Deranged Records, SONGS FOR BURNING LOVERS, is like getting into the Duke's General Lee with Lemmy and flipping a coin to see who drops the cinder block on the gas pedal.  Clips of vintage race car collisions flash by as one is sonically tossed side-to-side, cruising through melodies that recall the self-destructive swagger of the Stooges.  The mix is heavy on the vocals and guitars, while drums and cymbals cascade in the background.  In general, it's fast, crunchy, and rich, though it could benefit from bringing up the bass.  If you're a fan of Doomriders and Cursed, then you'll definitely want to check out this album.  As always, if you really dig it, support the band and buy it...don't be cheap.

Whiplashing Good Traxxx:

- Don't Ever Change -

- Gain -

- Miserable Sound -

- High Speed Wired -

- Alien vs. Creditor -

- Morning After Party -

Burning Love

Myspace

Download - MediaFire

I GOT TROUBLE IN MIND,
DREKULA

WORMROT / I ABHOR SPLIT 2010

Thanks to Grind and Punishment's awesome review of Abuse, I was shoved head-first into the madness that is WORMROT.  Hailing from Singapore, and on tour in the USA for the first time, I had the distinct pleasure to catch these grind-warriors at the 31st Street Pub in PGH on September 8th.  Bringing the noise without reserve, these guys were absurdly fast, tight, and ruthless, and really friendly in person... HOTDOG, you can't go wrong!

So, while at the show, I naturally picked up their most recent release which happened to be a split with I Abhor.  To say the least, this is a 2010 grind gem; both bands drop heaping layers of face-shredding intensity that results in 11 minutes of straight brain damage.  For a more detailed review, check out Sunyata's blog, but if you're like me and like to dive in head-first and blind, then download and grind away.  Wormrot is STILL on tour in the US, so if you see they're coming through your town, throw them a goddamn grind-parade!

Myspace

Download - MediaFire

INFERNAL HAILZ,

DREKULA

MOSE GIGANTICUS - GIFT HORSE

Now, you might be saying, "Mose Giganticus?  What the hell is that?", but allow me to convert this band's sound into an image:

Atop a dark-clouded mountain top, Thor is pounding on an enormous synth while shooting vibrating lightning bolts out of his eyes as every word he shouts is accompanied by the shattering of tall obsidian columns that were holding up burning piles of skulls that were Thor's back-up singers.

If you can wrap your mind around this, then you can definitely dig Mose Giganticus's third full-length album Gift Horse, their debut record on Relapse Records.  I had the chance to see these guys on August 27th at the Garfield Artworks, and they delivered with deadly precision.  Their blend of synths and sludgy metal riffs combined with ethereal melodies and pounding drums coalesce and mutate to extend audio-tentacles that make resisting uncontrolled head-banging futile.  Personally I was never particular to synths being used in metal, but this was just too good to pass up. My eyes have been open, and now I must pass on the gospel.

Myspace

[MediaFire link removed - send msg if desired]

Most supreme traxxx for the horse-rider: 

Last Resort

The Left Path

Days of Yore

White Horse

The Seventh Seal

INFERNAL HAILZ,

DREKULA

P.S. Check out their video for The Left Path below... it's eerily realistic of the current plight of live-shows, i.e. lame hipsters.

JESUSCENTRIC 12 INCH

Hailing from Providence, Rhode Island, JESUSCENTRIC combines haunting soundscapes with crushing waves of dissonance.  Though only five tracks long, this EP takes it's punk-rock roots and adds some melody and down-tuned guitars to bring 21 minutes of head-knocking intensity.  I caught them at the Helter Shelter in Lawrenceville, PGH, and was thoroughly impressed.  Now go say twenty Hail Mary's, put on this EP, and roll a fat joint with some Bible paper.  Peace be with you.

Buy this EP and their ILL t-shirt by Brian Butler
from The Upper Hand Art on Tor Johnson Records

Myspace

Download - MediaFire

INFERNAL HAILZ,

DREKULA

PS. They are also good friends with Tinsel Teeth (http://www.myspace.com/tinselteethy), whom you should also check out!  Their live shows are insane, I shit you not.

HEADED FOR DISASTER - Self-Titled (14 TRAXXX)

If there's one thing you need to know, it's this: HEADED FOR DISASTER shreds like an 80's skate-fiend!  I mean, one of their lyrics is "SYSTEMATIC REPTILE TERROR,"... how can you deny that awesomeness?!

I had the pleasure of seeing these Swedish thrash-goblins last week at a house show (264 Plymouth St. in Mt. Washington, PGH) on their first US tour, and let me tell you, these guys know how to get DOWN.  Their live show matches their 14-track debut self-title; intense and fast, yet tight and catchy.  Their songs are upbeat and devastating, something that would make you gnash your teeth with pleasure.  Heavily influenced by 80's era skate-punk and crossover, they blend in elements of hardcore, creating an insane mash of party thrash that makes me want to circle pit until I puke.  Shifting from manic drumming to chaotic back-feed-laden breakdowns to adrenaline soaked riot-vocals, this album packs a fistful of RAD that has not been seen in the USA since the rise of Municipal Waste... yes, I went there.  Take a listen yourself, and dare to disagree!  I have a feeling these guys are going places, and not just because they're touring relentlessly.  If you get a chance to see these guys live, DO IT, and pick up their album while you're at it!  SUPPORT BANDS BY BUYING THEIR WORK!

These are just some of the tracks that pushed me into a frenzy of head-banging and fist-pumping:

Relics of Insanity

Psyche Mystics

Pull the Plug

Work/Slave

Rough Guide to Capitalism

Abundance of Stoke

DOWNLOAD-MEDIA FIRE

CHECK THEM OUT:

Myspace

Facebook

MAD LOVE,
DREKULA

MAGRUDERGRIND 2009 SELF-TITLED

These brutal powerviolence/grind masters hailing from DC have been carving their way through the extreme music scene since 2002 with a ferocity that certainly matches their prowess in the genre. Through extensive touring, and non-stop recording on splits, LPs, and full length records, they've made themselves known for bringing the kind of audio punishment grind-freaks like Pedro Satan and myself have been salivating for.

This 2009 self titled release is one which you should not overlook. With 17 tracks to relentlessly assault you sonically, you'll be immersed in powerviolence style shredding, grinding blastbeats, and circle-stomping thrash-pounding, with guitars that swarm around you like wasps dusted with PCP. The vocals vary from manic shrieks, grindcore growls, and hardcore shouts that all seem to invoke the most hate for all that is social and hypocritical. Several of the tracks have intro and outro samples that compliment the frenzied nihilism and sense of utter dissonance from a comforting reality, but at times they can be pretty hilarious. By far the most disturbing track is the last which seems to sample the last recorded statement of Reverend Jim Jones, advising his followers to drink the juice, while you hear children crying in the background... truly horrifying. But do not let this keep you from listening because there really are gems in this release, in particular "Fools of Contradiction," "Bridge Burner," "The Price of Living by Delinquent Ideals," and "Lyrical Ammunition for Scene Warfare." I definitely intend on buying this cd from Magrudergrind's webstore as soon as I can scrounge up $10... and you should do the same if you dig this shit... it also comes with a free poster! Check out their Myspace and listen to their other traxxx, too.

MAD LOVE,
DREKULA

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