Aqua-Eroticum - Burnt Carpet Stained Sheets

Burnt Carpet Stained Sheets

Aqua-Eroticum

2019

(Artist Submission)

Review by Joey

Genre/s: Industrial, Power Electronics, Noise

For Fans Of: The Sodality, Genocide Organ,  The Grey Wolves, Brighter Death Now

Releases like this remind me why the genre is called power electronics. No, not because it's powerful electronic music har har, but because it explores power and its effects/consequences/etc in a truly disturbing, yet poignant manner. This is the kind of power electronics release I hope to hear when someone submits to FBN, yet rarely do.

Burnt Carpet Stained Sheets was recorded in 2015 before Aqua-Eroticum took a hiatus (which they have recently announced is over), but wasn't released until 2019 by noise's shining boy Joe Frataxin's label Uninvited. The release runs the gamut of different sounds in the style, from harsh piercing screeches of 80s UK artists such as Un-Kommuniti and Ramleh, to low rumbling pulsing of 80s-90s German and Swedish artists such as G/O and BDN, and everything in between, all accompanied by frantic, manic vocals that send a chill down my spine. The subject matters are appalling, as is to be expected, but not done in such a way that brings to mind juvenile antics. One thing that sent this over the top for me was the cover of The Sodality, an artist who I feel are often criminally overlooked by many industrial fans, but are absolutely crucial as far as I'm concerned -- and yes, they nail the cover. The collaboration with Interracial Sex, another bright light of contemporary power electronics, is also fantastic, and a perfect way to close out this absolutely brutal exercise in pain tolerance. 

This release is essential listening for anyone invested in contemporary power electronics, and I can't wait to hear what Aqua-Eroticum has in store in the future. Listen or don't. 

Tracklist:

1. Crack Rocks & Colt 45

2. Dead Or In Jail

3. Instant Release

4. Hot Rails!

5. Burnt Carpet Stained Sheets

6. Another Compulsion 

7. An Obvious Disease

8. Saturday Night Special

9. Catch The Whore (The Sodality)

10. Blisters (Feat. Interracial Sex)

LISTEN / DOWNLOAD

FRATAXIN

Frataxin
Frataxin
2019

(Artist Submission)

Review by Joey

Genre/s: Industrial, Power Electronics
For Fans Of: Deathpile, Grunt, Con-Dom, The Sodality

Power electronics has always been a minefield of boring edgelords, cryptofascist dickheads, pretentious art nerds, and forgettable amateurs, all surrounding the few brilliant lights who bring something interesting to the table, have something worth saying, and which are deserving of merit. New Jersey's self-proclaimed "cripple power electronics" unit Frataxin is part of the latter, and in the past couple of years has really begun to come into their own. This latest tape, released on No Rent Records, is some of the most ferocious material from the project to date, and serves as a sign that things are only getting better (or worse, depending on your point of view) from here on out.

From the first awkward few seconds of plug sounds through the final shutoff, this tape drags the listener helplessly along a desperate, hellish path. Each harsh tone cuts like a knife, forcing anyone within earshot to suffer. Lyrically, the project focuses heavily on disability, but does so from a place of experience, rather than as a conceptual exploration. Musical prowess aside, that fact is a big part of why I think Frataxin should be held in the highest regards -- it's not just some tryhard dork yelling about turn of the century individuals with deformities (or Boyd Rice talking about how he wants to kill those with disabilities), it's a genuine and poignant look at the pain and alienation which able-bodied/neurotypical people not only can't, but also don't even try to grasp. This is truly powerful shit, overflowing with seething hatred and spite, and only the most casual listeners can sit through it and remain unmoved.

The tape is now sold out, but you can still listen to it. Honestly, not much has caught my ear this year, but this is definitely worth a listen.

Tracklisting:
1. Piss Dimple
2. Body Temperature
3. Credo
4. Morning Wound

LISTEN / DOWNLOAD

ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION UNIT

Erectile Dysfunction Unit
Erectile Dysfunction Unit
2019

Review by Joey

Genre/s: Noisegrind, Noisecore, Grindcore, Power Electronics, Industrial, Noise
For Fans Of: Fear Of God, Mental Abortion, Traci Lords Loves Noise, Scab Addict

Uninvited Records puts out some fantastic releases (and I'm not just saying that because Joe did a reissue of the first Bloated Subhumans tape), and this tape by Swedish noisecore project, Erectile Dysfunction Unit, is no exception. Clocking in a little under 9 minutes, this 68 track glimpse into sexual dysfunction straight from hell kicked my ass, and it'll kick yours too.

When I saw this release on Uninvited's bandcamp page, my first thought was "With a name that good, they better not fuck it up," and fortunately they did not. Like most good noisecore, the material on this release feels like one long track, with each part continuing where the last left off in an abrupt and abrasive pattern of sloppy stop/starts, feedback, drum stick counting, flurries blasts beats, and indecipherable riffs in a seemingly endless progression until it all falls apart and the tape is over. So, obviously, it's a winner.

This is one of my favorite things I've heard this year so far. I got a copy in a trade (for some things from my label Estranged Communications), and I highly recommend grabbing a copy quickly since it's a run of 50.

Tracklist:
1. 68 Tracks

LISTEN / DOWNLOAD

GRIM - PRIMARY PULSE

Primary Pulse
Grim
2018

Review by Joey

Genre/s: Industrial, Power Electronics, Death Industrial, Noise
For Fans Of:  Factrix, Gilles Des Rais, (early) Clair Obscur, Haus Arafna

This was (not surprisingly) my most anticipated release this year. And (also not surprisingly) it's fucking phenomenal. Konagaya Jun is truly an unstoppable force when it comes to well-crafted industrial, and even after over three decades, he has yet to put out a single dud under the Grim moniker, or with any other project (White Hospital, his solo work, etc).

What sets Primary Pulse apart from most of Grim's more recent releases is that it's somewhat of a return to form which calls back to the harsher synth/electronics driven material on the earlier releases such as Folk Music, Amaterasu, and Vital 1983-86. Sure, the project's core sound has stayed the same throughout the years, but with time there has been some movement away from the primarily harsh, primitive synth and electronics driven compositions which were prevalent throughout his 80s output. Each track on this tape is an overwhelming nightmare of bleak soundscapes, obscured samples, terrifying screams and howls, abrasive arcs of screeching noise, and pulsing repetition. And, of course, all of this is juxtaposed with uncomfortably serene melodies which are just as (if not arguably more) haunting than the crushing cacophonies which they sit in between. Like all of Grim's work, the uncomfortable silence following the final track hangs heavy in the air around the listener, and that moment is as beautiful as it is unnerving, which is the very essence of Grim.

Do not sleep on this, it is some of the most sublime and wretched noise you'll hear this year.
Trapdoor Tapes still has copies left, so get a copy while you still can!

Tracklist:
1. Hermit
2. Volcano Flower
3. Assassin's Room
4. Melting Man
5. G.T.R.

DOWNLOAD

BALCANES - DIRECTO #1

Directo #1
Balcanes
2018

Artist Submission

Review by Joey

Genre/s: Noise Rock, Post-Punk, Industrial
For Fans Of: Skullflower, Will To Live, The Ex, Swans

I've been vocal about my love for Balcanes since their first 7" in 2014, and everything I love about them is amplified on their newest release which happens to be a live recording. In anything noise related, live documentations are crucial because of the unpredictable nature of performance, and a studio recording can never accurately capture the energy and intensity of an artist's performance.

Those who know Balcanes already are in for a treat (as are those who don't). They are a heavy and filthy band, and those aspects of their music is only highlighted by their performance on this tape. The whole thing just sounds like a dilapidated machine lurching forward through a post-industrial wasteland, struggling to keep itself together, fixing one piece at a time not able to keep up with its imminent collapse. This is accomplished with nasty and wretched tones, death howls, and a mastery of build and release. The bands mentioned up top should give you a pretty good idea, so if that's what you're about, you gotta get on this screaming metal death trap.

As far as the setlist, Balcanes plays through everything they've put out, which clocks in around 40mins (much longer than any of their studio releases). Get ready to get steamrolled.

Tracklist:

1. Pánico / Combustible / Rójo Máquina

2. Decrépita

3. Masada

4. Desorden

5. Decadencia / Plataforma / Autopista 2

LISTEN / DOWNLOAD (Bandcamp)

DATSUSTORA - OF FINAL

Of Final
Datsustora
1986

Review by Joey

Genre/s: Deathrock, Industrial, Post-Punk, Power Electronics, Death Industrial, Goth, Noise
For Fans Of: Mannequin Neurose, Grim, The Dead Relatives, Clair Obscur

Okay, so you're probably thinking "holy shit, that's a lot of genres, what could this even sound like?" so just sit tight and I'll do my best to explain. There are four tracks, two of them are industrial/noise tracks; and they are sandwiched in the middle of two deathrock tracks, which act as bookends of a sort. Each track is absolutely punishing, twisted, and truly dark in a different way, yet all four still form a whole.

Datsustora was the project of Elle (a.k.a. Achy) from LSD, the legendary Japanese hardcore punk band of ADK Records fame, and the less well known industrial project Criminal Party. This project, however, does not have nearly the level of notoriety of LSD, but I'd argue it's much better (and certainly much weirder and multifaceted). The rest of the lineup remains a mystery as far as I can tell -- aside from a brief run with Yoshimura Hideki, also of LSD fame, on guitar -- and was most likely a revolving door, quite possibly as multifarious as the music itself. Musically, this flexi is as I described (half deathrock, half industrial), but the varied nature of each track -- starting with bouncy dark punk, transitioning into two tracks of unsettling ambient, heavy electronics, and rhythmic industrial, and then closing with a track which feels like the joyful embracing of despondency through post-punk -- really adds to how strange this thing is. It's one of my favorites and there's a good reason for that.

This is a wild ride from start to finish, and I feel it should be essential listening for both industrial and post-punk fuckers. Highly, highly recommended.

Tracklisting:
1. Untitled (apparently there is a title, but it's in characters nobody can read)
2. Datsustora
3. Of Final
4. 幻夢円舞曲

DOWNLOAD

P.S. If anyone has a link to the split with Criminal Party and/or the Kyo-On compilation 7", please get in contact because I've been dying to hear those for a long time. And while I'm asking, if anyone has the Criminal Party split with Grim, please please get in contact with me.

MASTER/SLAVE RELATIONSHIP - BLUE FACED LUST

Blue Faced Lust
Master/Slave Relationship
1985

Review by Joey

Genre/s: Industrial, Power Electronics, Noise
For Fans Of: Negativland, Justine & Juliette, Nervous Gender, Hunting Lodge

I was asked for this specifically, but it's also something I've wanted to review for a while anyway. Master/Slave Relationship is one of my favorite industrial projects, and Blue Faced Lust in particular is my favorite thing put out under that moniker, as well as one of my favorite industrial releases in general. So here we go.

One thing you'll notice about M/SR is the heavy BDSM influence (shocker) which shows up in different ways, namely the heavy and imposing sexual motifs. Power electronics has always been about explorations of power, and M/SR does so through the lens of a domme (i.e. an inversion of the dynamic inherent in heteronormative sex*) to a great effect. The vocals mock you, taunt you, tease you, and hang over your head. The electronics work in tandem, presenting uncomfortable soundscapes which mirror the lyrics; M/SR beautifully -- and brutally -- juxtaposes soft and hard, ambient and harsh, rhythmic and chaotic, soothing and jarring sounds in a tumultuous fashion, which makes for a turbulent and frightening listen.

Go get'em, tiger.

Tracklist:
1. Nothing To Love
2. The Dream
3. Some Dry Hopeless Mess
4. People Where They Ought To Be
5. Wait
6. Avoidance
7. Take Over
8. Blue Faced Lust
9. Nothing Happens In This World
10. Inconclusive Thoughts

YOU WANT IT...HAVE IT

*Even in BDSM, role reversal does not completely erase the structural and institutional dynamics of power, blah blah there's way too much to get into that I don't have the time/energy for, and so much has been written on this topic that you can just look it up.

I changed my mind, so here you go: THE 2017 FBN YEAR-END ROUNDUP MEGAPOST

I was going to do a handful of smaller posts, but I felt that would be tedious (and also, I've been super busy with a lot of shit), and I like the dramatic flair of putting up something like this on the actual end of the year (fuck the nerds who publish lists in November when there's a whole month left). I cut  back a little from last year so as to only include releases I revisited a lot (ie there's more I liked, but these were my absolute favorites) and because I don't want to overthink it. So, it'll be 15 total instead of 15 per category (also no categories because like no rules, dude); but the drill is the same as before --  all releases have download links and are in no particular order blah blah blah -- so let's skip all that needless exposition and get right the fuck to it. Off the top of my head, here's what I liked this year.

Brainbombs Inferno
Obviously this is at the top (even though in general, these are in no particular order). Instead of writing a whole new review, however, the link leads to the one I already wrote when it came out. Short version: Brainbombs are always at the top of the food chain, and in the tradition of each of their releases having a distinct flair, this one relies on buildups rather than the spontaneous combustion which people usually (wrongly) associate with them. Have fun with your paranoia.

FFO: The Stooges, Chrome

Grim Discharge Mountain
I also reviewed this previously, so the link will go to that; but short version: it's fucking perfect industrial. Grim always manages to bring so many layers together and blend them into the most frightening pieces. It's funny, my two most anticipated releases this year were both from old pros showing everyone how it's fucking done.

FFO: Nails Øv Christ, Test Dept.

No Faith Forced Subservience
So-called contemporary "power violence" is, for the most part, a boring cesspool of wannabes playing formulaic tough guy garbage through through HM-2 pedals. Enter No Faith: another perfect example of old pros showing us all how to do something right. All you really need to know is that Dave Witte of Discordance Axis, Black Army Jacket, Exit-13, Burnt By The Sun, Human Remains, etc drums on this, and he sounds like his old self. Add layers of power electronics, an element of true unpredictability, and some unrelenting rage, and you've got a winner.

FFO: Man Is The Bastard/Noise (yes, really), Crossed Out

Blank Spell Miasma
Look, Blank Spell is one of the best bands on the planet, period. Their manic, brooding approach which combines nods to frantic 80s italian hardcore punk with elements of deathrock (and a slew of other things) is unmatched -- they really are the perfect punk band. I wrote a whole thing about it on Cvlt Nation (which you can read here) so I won't go wild in this post, but I will say that if you sleep on this band, you're a total fool and a tasteless ass.

FFO: Bedboys, Declino

Devil Master Inhabit The Corpse
And while I'm on the subject of top tier dark punk bands (who use a lot of purple and also happen to share members), Devil Master's new tape also kicks ass which should come as no surprise. I reviewed this over at Cvlt Nation (here), but short version: if you like thrashing metalpunk influenced by some of the classics from Japan, and with a true devotion to the spooky, you're gonna eat this shit up.

FFO:  集団自殺 (Syudan Jisatsu), Sex Messiah

Gasp Ghost In Scow Out
Okay, but do you know how excited I was when I found out Gasp is back? In so many words, I flipped the fuck out. Gasp is one of those bands who I've always felt deserved so much more attention and credit for how genuinely weird and intense their music is, but people who are "so into powerviolence, bro" don't even know who they are. Well, this new material sounds like Gasp -- it's the trippy spaced out psych noise violence I've always loved, but the grindy elements take more of a backseat this time. I interviewed them this year which was an incredibly fun experience (read it here), and I'm so excited to see what they've got coming next.

FFO: Suffering Luna, Dome

Plastic Plastic
Not all of these are releases I previously reviewed, I promise, but I did definitely do this one when it came out, too. Short version: Plastic is such an incredible band, and play with synthpunk in a way nobody else really is -- the industrial influence certainly puts them above most, and the overall execution is genuinely unnerving in a way no "mutant freak weirdo" bullshit ever can. This tape is just a miserable, bleak trudge through a synthy wasteland, and it's fantastic.

FFO: Nervous Gender, Flipper

Drunk In Hell Drunk In Hell
I've been waiting for this one for a while, and sweet christ it does not disappoint. Drunk In Hell are a band who perfectly represent the smut, filth, and degeneracy we've all come to expect from this style of noise rock; and this LP is a disgusting and beautiful display of depravity. Fantastic riff after fantastic riff (but only one per song, obviously), the band drudges on through the musical mire they've dumped onto the world, leaving the listener to wade along in their nauseous wake. This LP doesn't get old, and I would say it should be considered a modern classic of the style.

FFO: Rusted Shut, Drunks With Guns

Roht Roht
I love when bands who I meet perfect bands through FBN. Roht submitted their demo in 2016 and I absolutely loved it (even if I forgot to post a review of it), and I was so excited to see that they were going to have a 7" on Iron Lung Records (aka the dream label). The 7" -- which was released last year digitally, but taken down shortly after it was put up because it was picked up by ILR -- slams harder than the already amazing demo. Roht's dark, winding riffs are blanketed in harsh electronics; the band stomps forward relentlessly like a tank rolling over a mountain of skulls.. And what part of that doesn't sound awesome?

FFO: Rudimentary Peni, Skullflower

Triumvir Foul Spiritual Bloodshed
There's been a lot of cavedweller death metal in the past few years, and I gotta say the field is getting pretty crowded. Not every band can be as good as Impetuous Ritual or Antediluvian (most aren't). Triumvir Foul (along with other Vrasubatlat projects) take a different approach to the style than most of their contemporaries -- an approach which involves the inclusion of power electronics as an additional element to the already crushing and tormented sounds which come along with the cavernous death metal package. And yes, there are sickass divebombs.

FFO: Dagger Lust, Order From Chaos

Bad Breeding Divide
The integration of industrial/electronics into just about everything has made a big surge (or resurgence, really) in the past couple years. The bands who do it well do it incredibly well (and those who don't are so bad that I wouldn't bother with them anyway), and Bad Breeding is among those who deliver the goods. Divide is an LP which had me hooked instantly and doesn't get dull for a single second; Bad Breeding wears their influences pretty clearly on their sleeves, but they combine those influences with a finesse and weirdness which makes them a truly exciting band. Words won't do it justice, so take a listen for yourself.

FFO: Icons Of Filth, SPK

Full Of Hell Trumpeting Ecstasy
This is probably on just about every year-end list (as it should be) so it's not too hard to find or whatever, but I still needed to include it because of how killer it is, and because of the way it feels like the LP Full Of Hell have always been moving towards -- something they brought up in the interview I did with them this year (here). Trumpeting Ecstasy is deliberate and unrelenting -- as punk/noise/metal should be. The attention to detail and thought put into crafting it really shows in the final product, and as always, Full Of Hell leaves me excited for material to come. Plus, that industrial track fucking slams.

FFO: Discordance Axis, Multiplex

Balcanes Decrépita / Decadencia
Well, this is another (and the last on this list) I reviewed already reviewed (here), but short version: Balcanes delivers two more tracks of steamrollingly heavy post-punk on this new 7" which pick up right where last year's Carne Nueva LP left off. Waves of feedback screech over lurching dirges which pound the listener over the head repeatedly as they swell until they fall apart and end. Another winner for contemporary noise rock.

FFO: Will To Live, The Ex

Disciples Of Christ Parched Dredge
One of the greatest contemporary grind bands returned with two releases this year: a split 7" with Gas Chamber, and this 7" on ILR; both are fantastic (obviously), but this was the stronger of the two for me. DOC's brand of noise damaged grind is instantly recognizable, and just gets more vicious with each new release they unleash upon us. Parched Dredge features tracks which were on the 2015 Demo tape (now with titles) along with some brand new ones which are just as relentless and disgusting as I've come to expect from this band. DOC's breakneck bursts of dilapidated thrashing destruction will never be not exciting.

FFO: Ulcerous Phlegm, Excruciating Terror

Bone Awl The Lowest Road
Fucking finally, the Bone Awl release we were promised by NWN a year or two ago is seeing the light of day. But, until that does finally happen. Bone Awl has given us a little preview of what's to come. And well...it's Bone Awl, alright. The repetitive and tortuous riffs played through a trashcan they're famous for are dished out one after another on this tape, and (as always), they're all rippers. Do I really need to say anything else about this?

FFO: Ildjarn, Seviss

Mutant Video Vanity Of Life
Unfortunately, the horror movie soundtrack via industrial outfit known as Mutant Video is done, but they did manage to release one final LP of their dying gasp. I looked forward to this all year, and when it dropped I was all over it. Vanity Of Life differs somewhat from their previous efforts, however -- the Cronenberg elements take more of a backseat to more of an old school death industrial and industrial punk sound --  it's heavier, harsher, and more overtly aggressive than what people have come to expect from Mutant Video; but don't worry, it's still rife with the paranoia inducing subtlety that they have excelled at in the past.

FFO: Minimal Man, IRM

Gowl On Our Feet Or On Our Knees
Promo copies of this were released in 2016, but nobody ripped it so it went mostly unheard until the band put it up on their bandcamp a month ago. Gowl is another one of the top tier contemporary grind bands (even if they don't receive the same notoriety as DOC, Full Of Hell, Triac, Sete Star Sept, et al), and this release is so ruthless and ferocious that I needed to listen to it a handful of times for it to really sink in -- it's a fucking monster. From the pounding industrial at the onset of this assault to the final cut out at its end, there is not a single moment of reprieve from the punishing intensity via a flurry of riffs, hyperspeed blasts, unpredictable changes, and raw, blown out fury. This was probably left off a lot of lists because of dipshits who publish year-end lists in fucking November (with a whole month left in the year), but if you sleep on this you're missing out big time.

FFO: Suppression, Warsore



As I said at the start, there was a lot more that I liked in 2017, but a certain brevity felt fitting for this. I've got some posts which I'm part way through writing, so I'll drop those soon. 2017 was definitely a rut kind of year for me -- even if I did drop two tapes (one was an overdue dub of Execution 2 the other was a new recording of a set I played this year in Richmond, VA released as Execution 3) and was contacted by a label to release an LP -- but 2018 looks promising and exciting (and not just because I have a 12" coming out). Anyway, sorry again about the absence.

All music is bad.

GRIM - DISCHARGE MOUNTAIN

Discharge Mountain
Grim
2017

Review by Joey

Genre/s: Industrial, Power Electronics, Death Industrial, Noise
For Fans Of: White Hospital, Nails Øv Christ, Current 93, Test Dept.

New release from Grim? You know I'm fucking there. When this was announced over the summer, it instantly took a place at the top of my most anticipated releases of the year (I'm talking spot #1 or #2 here). And of course, it didn't disappoint; it's easily one of my favorite things that's come out this year -- no surprise there.

For those who already know Grim's unique brand of industrial, this new material is exactly what you want to hear. And for those who don't, this release (and all of Grim's discography in general) is a thing of both beauty and horror at the same time. There's something truly disquieting about Jun Konagaya's ability to combine uncomfortably serene melodies and atmospheres with devastatingly crushing heavy, harsh electronics and industrial sounds which really puts him in his own league -- nothing and nobody can ever seem to touch him. On Discharge Mountain, Grim brings it all to the table: pulsating rhythms, traditional folk elements, drudging percussion, and veritable tempests of harsh electronics being hurled without mercy; and all of these sounds are held within perfectly crafted threnodies of ritualistic sonic torment.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: everything Grim has put out is incredible and should be held among the best and most essential industrial ever made. This release is just one more piece of evidence to add to the pile that is an already flawless discography.

Tracklist:
1. Discharge Mountain
2. Summons
3. Goddess Moth
4. Nine

DOWNLOAD

P.S. I'm still working on some stuff, so be ready.

MINIMAL MAN - THE SHROUD OF

The Shroud Of
Minimal Man
1981

Review by Joey (back from the dead, maybe)

Genre/s: Industrial, Post-Punk, Power Electronics, Noise Rock, Art Punk, Noise
For Fans Of: Factrix, SPK, Flipper, Monte Cazazza

I was so happy when this finally got reissued last year with the original mix (as opposed to that tinny garbage on the 2004 "remastered" CD version) through Spain's BFE Records. The Shroud Of is Minimal Man's first LP, and also the weirdest  -- within the grooves of this 12" lies a lethal mixture of sounds which draw from across the post-punk and industrial spectrum; and somehow, it is all cohesive. It shouldn't be hard to see why this might be (read: is) one of my favorite LPs of all time. And if you aren't already in the know, soon you will be.

Minimal Man was masterminded by Patrick Miller; the project had a revolving door lineup, which often featured collaborators from other San Francisco weirdo art bands such as Factrix and Tuxedomoon. Much like their fellow (and more famous) San Franciscan peers in Flipper, Minimal Man did not make any attempt to portray disillusionment / despondency / detachment / etc as romanticized or quirky; and instead, they unleashed an honest sonic representation of what all of that turmoil really feels like, accompanied by what can be seen as a sardonic attack on those who do take the romanticized or quirky approach. However, while Flipper focused on a more brooding and antagonistic approach, Minimal Man's method was more somber and unnerving, relying more on subtle (and overt) ominous soundscapes.

From the opening sample of the emotionally vacant Ronald Reagan, all the way through the climactic ending and ensuing fade out, The Shroud Of takes the listener on a frightening journey through the dark recesses of a damaged mind. The cacophonous arrangements of synth, electronics, bass, and hollow vocals on this LP  are constantly at ends with -- yet complimentary of -- each other to a haunting effect; and each track is a an overwhelming push/pull of invasive thoughts, emotions, and urges which scramble the mind and plunge it deeper into nothingness. This is not fun music, even though at parts it may seem to be. The chilling moods created by Minimal Man do not disappear when the music ends, rather they saturate the air and stick to the listener's raised hairs like an elusive nervousness.

And now that you've gotten past the boring review part, here's what you came here for:

Tracklist
1. Loneliness
2. Two People
3. High Why
4. Hospital
5. Blue Step
6. Hatemonger
7. The Shroud
8. Now I Want It All
9. The Hex Of Sex
10. You Are
11. I Don't Resist
12. Jungle Song
13. She Was A Visitor

I HURT ALL OVER INSIDE...

P.S. I think I'm finally back and ready to bring the pain from my ears into yours (for real this time).

PLASTIC

Plastic
Plastic
2017

Review by Joey

(Band Submission)

Genre/s: Synthpunk, Industrial, Post-Punk, Power Electronics, Dark Ambient, Art Punk, Noise Rock
For Fans Of: Nervous Gender, Clair Obscur, Trop Tard, Flipper

Plastic's 2.0 tape was, in my opinion, one of the best synthpunk releases to come out since Nervous Gender's Music From Hell LP; and also one of the few which I feel actually can be compared to Nervous Gender, based on their use of synth-based electronic noise (not to mention a healthy dose of influence from The Residents). Hell, I'd go as far as to say that Plastic is one of the best synthpunk bands since Nervous Gender, period.

On this newest offering from Chicago's weirdest, their heavier use of industrial/electronics, paired with a descent into much darker post-punk territory, results in a level of bleakness which is as suffocating as the band's music is irresistible. While its predecessor is ostensibly more aggressive musically, the crushing dirges and almost stark soundscaping on Plastic effectively conveys despair and disillusionment so overwhelming that it becomes mesmerizing, and absolutely conducive to disassociation. These songs bear a striking resemblance to those performed by Flipper, not just in the crawling pace, the use of chilling, ironic laughter, and snide, painful delivery, but also in the way that they sound the way depression feels -- although obviously the addition of synth creates a good deal of dissimilarity. The ability to fully capture that state of being, in my experience, is elusive to say the least. If I had to make a visualization of the sounds contained on this release, it would closely resemble the ominous, harsh background of a Dali painting. Needless to say, this release floored me, and I'm hoping they tour around my way again this year; and if they come anywhere near you, I highly recommend going to see them.

Download this, turn your lights off, and get bummed the fuck out. Nothing here is real.

Tracklist:
1. At The Gates
2. A Good Laugh
3. Mannequins
4. Untitled (Mark II)
5. A Call For Help
6. 731
7. The Garden

DOWNLOAD (Bandcamp)

MOTH SLASHER

Moth Slasher
Moth Slasher
2016

Review by Joey

Genre/s: Noise Rock, Post-Punk, Industrial
For Fans Of: Slices, Locust (before the The), Happy Flowers, Walls

Dude, I gotta say...I love when friends' bands are good. That seems like such an obvious statement, but one of the worst feelings in the world is when a friend sends you their band (or worse asks you in person how you felt after just watching a set) and you don't like it, and gotta figure out if you should dance around things or just flat out tell them the hard truth. Well, in the case of Moth Slasher, the hard truth is that they are fucking disgustingly great.

Moth Slasher is kinda hard to pigeonhole, which is something that's always refreshing. My first impression was that they reminded me of The Locust's earliest recordings (splits with Jenny Piccolo and Man Is The Bastard/Noise) sans blast beats, but keeping the industrial/electronics, mixed with Slices. So basically it's totally blown out, filthy, crushingly heavy, and unpredictable; but dirging and rhythmic. But wait, there's more. Moth Slasher manages to make nods to one of my all time favorites, Happy Flowers. There are parts which just completely fall apart -- seemingly forgoing all structure, and embracing pure musical decomposition -- while still relying on traditional punk instruments as the means for producing sonic mayhem. And what glorious mayhem it is.

So hold onto your hat and watch the valuables...it's going to be a bumpy ride.*

Tracklisting:
1. I Don't Know Him
2. Flowers Dead
3. Mecha Parasite Brain
4. Zero Return
5. Watch You Die
6. Free Wi-Fi

DOWNLOAD

*read in Mark Hamill's Joker voice

Intensive Care or: Andrew Nolan is fucking at it again

'Pay Pig'
Intensive Care
2016

Review by Joey

Genre/s: Noise Rock, Industrial, Power Electronics
For Fans Of: Dissecting Table, Skullflower, UFO Or Die, Unsane

Oh my fucking god. A friend told me that Andrew Nolan had a new band that was even more fucked than Column Of Heaven, and knowing his past musical output (Ebola, Death Agonies, The Endless Blockade, Slaughter Strike...just to name a few) I totally believed it. That was over 6 months ago, probably more like 8 or 9. I've been impatiently waiting to hear this project for all that time; and then the other day, when Iron Lung Records had their most recent update, they included an Intensive Care track and I flipped out -- it was incredible. I had no idea what to expect, which I think is part of why this band knocked me on my ass so hard, but I also know that even if I had known ahead of time, it wouldn't have really prepared me. But now, I'm finally able to listen to an entire release; and holy shit, this project is even better than I could have hoped for.

Okay, I know, enough backstory. I guess I should actually talk about the music itself. It took a minute for what Intensive Care is doing to fully sink in due to how overwhelming their music is, but once it did I knew exactly how to talk about it. The bands I compared it to should give you a good idea, but it's not so much that they sound like any of those bands individually, it's more that they sound like the Eraserhead baby of all of those bands. The power electronics/noise rock hybrid is not something new by any means, but it's something that I feel really captures what's amazing about both types of noise (which would explain why it's what I do in Bloated Subhumans). Rather than feeling contrived or detracting from one or the other, power electronics and noise rock compliment each other when combined, each pushing the other to new heights of depravity and intensity. When it's done well, anyway. And, Intensive Care does it well. Obviously, hybrid bands like Skullflower and Cosmonauts Hail Satan get nods here, but Intensive Care expands on those ideas in a way only those involved can do, and makes them their own. Rather than sticking to The Stooges formula (single riff repeated over and over, championed by Flipper, Brainbombs, etc), Intensive Care goes for the Unsane/Stretchheads approach, which is much more chaotic than the former, but just as filthy. Oh, and they use the late 80s/early 90s grind pitch shifted vocals at points which only adds to the overall menacing atmosphere. This shit is gross.

I got kinda carried away, so here's the short version: big scary noise rock with power electronics like if Dissecting Table, Stretchheads, and Hammerhead were smashed together. So in other words, essential.

Tracklisting:
1. Tithe
2. Entertainment
3. Transaction
4. Productivity
5. Surplus Value

DOWNLOAD THIS FUCKER, YOU FUCKER

Billy Bao - Communisation

'Communisation'
Billy Bao
2015

(Band Submission)

Review by Joey

Genre/s: Noise Rock, Industrial, Power Electronics, Noise
For Fans Of: Cosmonauts Hail Satan, Premature Ejactulation, Twin Stumps, Skullflower

Everyone at FBN is a huge Billy Bao fan, I'm talking geek status; so when I saw Mattin sent us an email, giving us a heads up about the new 12" (which I actually knew about, as it was one of my most anticipated and favorite releases of 2015), I practically jumped out of my chair. I actually wanted to post this when it came out in December, but couldn't, because it wasn't up for free download -- but now we've gotten the green light, so here we go.

Those of you who know Billy Bao should have an idea of what to expect; on Communisation, they are doing what they do best. Those who don't, you're in for a ride. Billy Bao is notorious for their ability to create some of the most jarring and uncomfortable noise and noise rock, by not only combining the most abrasive elements of both instrumental and electronic noise; but also by turning those combinations into horrifying sound collages though the use of musique concrète techniques to play around with their mixes. Communisation sees them utilizing this style over the course of two tracks. The first is somewhat in the vein of their May 08 LP; it's 10 minutes of noise rock interspersed with power electronics and occasionally random instrumentation, field recordings, piercing tones, and sounds that make you think maybe something is wrong with your speakers (or headphones or whatever). The second reminds me of their Urban Disease LP; the track is a 20 minute sound collage which focuses on field recordings, tape loops, power electronics, and occasional instrumentation (mostly percussion). Trust me, it doesn't get boring at all, it's fucking terrifying and it's fucking awesome. This LP is a great addition to their already fantastic discography (which I obviously highly recommend).

Here's the short version: if you want noise -- and I mean more than just power electronics or monotonous repetition, I mean shit that is genuinely challenging and out there -- then Billy Bao should be your first stop. Smash that download button and get fucked up.

Tracklisting:
1. Debt: The Crisis To Come
2. Communisation: The Revolution Of Our Times

DOWNLOAD

On a related note, Mattin also sent the Lagos Sessions 2xLP which I'll be reviewing for Cvlt Nation since they don't want the recordings out just yet. So keep a lookout for that.

IT'S FINALLY HERE + I CAN FINALLY PUT THIS UP (DOUBLE POST): COLUMN OF HEAVEN / SUFFERING LUNA - SPLIT LP + COLUMN OF HEAVEN / WOLVES OF HEAVEN - PRECIPICE CS

'Column Of Heaven / Suffering Luna'
Column Of Heaven / Suffering Luna
2016

Review by Joey

Genre/s: Grindcore, Deathgrind, Blackened Death Metal, Sludge, Doom, Industrial Power Electronics, Death Industrial, Noise Rock, Noise
For Fans Of: Gasp, Knelt Rote, Dead Body Love, Man Is The Bastard/Noise

I have been waiting close to two years for this split to come out. While I wish it had come out earlier, it was so worth the wait. Holy fucking shit. I'd heard the demo version of Column Of Heaven's material on the Precipice tape (which I'm including in this post since Andrew Nolan said to hold off on putting it up here until the final split came out) and of course it was amazing on that version, and is still amazing in its revised form. Suffering Luna's material is all new to me, and I am so blown away by it, even more than I expected to be.

I don't want to just rehash my review of Precipice for Column Of Heaven's side, because it definitely is not the same. For example, the opening track, Nothing, has been changed from a 10 second burst of grind to a 35 second burst of pulsing power electronics that sounds like something you'd hear from Anenzaphalia. Another big difference is that the mix is much cleaner (not necessarily a bad thing, although it took a bit to adjust to, since I was used to the Precipice mix) and so everything that's going on is out in the open, actually giving this an ominous, overwhelming feeling equal to what they accomplished on the Mission From God LP (and really everything they've put out). And, since that LP, Column Of Heaven have been integrating black/death influences into their music; and its usage has gone from tinges to being the core of what they are doing here. The material on the Demonology tape (later on the split 7" with Radioactive Vomit) had heavy black/death leanings, but this material pushes it even further to the point that I'd risk saying they are primarily playing black/death. They are totally bestial here, and their bludgeoning assault isn't stopped by their integration of terrifying, intense power electronics tracks; it's made even more punishing. I'm so sad that this band is no more, they were truly one of the best and I seriously consider myself ridiculously lucky to have gotten to see them. I've heard that Andrew Nolan's new band is even filthier and possibly better than Column Of Heaven (how does he keep doing it?), but I have yet to hear it for myself. So here's to hoping a demo surfaces soon.

But don't forget this is a split LP. When I heard that there was going to be a split between Column Of Heaven and Suffering Luna, I was in disbelief. Two absolutely incredible, powerhouse, out-there as fuck bands on the same record? Sign me the fuck up. Suffering Luna's side holds its own against Column Of Heaven's, which should come as no surprise to anyone familiar with them. Their split with Dystopia is legendary, even though most people (wrongly) tend to only pay attention to Dystopia's side; their split with Gasp is truly deranged and weird in a way that hip glove wearing punks can only dream of touching (then again, I think listening to grind and noise isn't cool for them anymore). On this split, Suffering Luna goes all out (as they are wont to do), entwining filthy riffs with power electronics and samples, somewhat reminiscent of later era Man Is The Bastard (see: Thoughtless) but with less prog riffing and more jamming and their trademark heavy reliance on samples. Oh, and I guess I should mention that their side is only one track, and that the track is over 17 minutes long. Some people might be deterred by that, but trust me, this track is paced perfectly and when it's over you'll probably wish it wasn't (that's how I feel every time I hear it, anyway). This shit is totally fucked in the way that only a band like Suffering Luna could hope to achieve. Now hopefully they'll tour someday.

For those of you who saw this review and thought "tl;dr" here's a more concise version: fucking download this and listen to it because I can guarantee that it is without a doubt one of the best things 2016 has to offer. Official seal of approval from me, the internet's #1 punk bully and hater of fun. Also, I split the tracks since Nerve Altar's bandcamp has all of Column Of Heaven's side as a single track. Okay, I'm done, have at it.

Tracklisting:
1. Column Of Heaven - Nothing
2. Column Of Heaven - Hopeless
3. Column Of Heaven - Joyless
4. Column Of Heaven - Loveless
5. Column Of Heaven - Worthless
6. Column Of Heaven - Faithless
7. Column Of Heaven - Everything Is Fine
8. Suffering Luna - Near Death (Can't Put Down The Pipe)

DOWNLOAD

                                                                                                                                           

'Precipice'
Column Of Heaven / Wolves Of Heaven
2014

Review (mostly rehashed) by Joey

Genre/s: Grindcore, Deathgrind, Blackened Death Metal, Industrial, Power Electronics, Death Industrial
For Fans Of: Knelt Rote, Blood, Skin Crime, Skullflower

Andrew Nolan made me take this down (not really, he actually asked very nicely) until the final versions of these tracks were released on the split with Suffering Luna. So, since nobody has uploaded another rip anywhere (to my knowledge), I am again taking matters into my own hands. I managed to get a copy of this tape when I saw Column Of Heaven with Full Of Hell (fucking finally, I had wanted to see Column Of Heaven for quite some time and they did not disappoint; plus Full Of Hell are always great and it's nice to see them), but from what I've heard it sold out pretty quickly.  I assume one of the big reasons that there aren't any rips of this out there (besides the band not wanting it out) is because the tracks all bleed together, making it harder to split them (this does have split tracks, don't worry).

Precipice was meant to be a promo for Column Of Heaven's split with Suffering Luna, which (I think) was supposed to come out in June of 2014. And, after almost two years, it's out. However, this tape has a B-side with material which is exclusive; Column Of Heaven covers black/death band Ride For Revenge, and Wolves Of Heaven deliver two horrifying tracks, one of which is reminiscent of bands like Skullflower, who combine instrumentals with power electronics; and the other being horrifying ambient, similar to something you might hear from Cicciolina Holocaust. So what about the A-side? It's basically a rough demo of the material on the Suffering Luna split LP. There are a few differences, in both production and content, so you can decide for yourselves which version of the material you like more. I can assure you, however, that both are fantastic and worth listening to.

This tape -- like everything else the people behind this band have put out -- will knock you on your ass. You should have already expected that, though.

Tracklisting:
01. Column Of Heaven -- Nothing
02. Column Of Heaven -- Hopeless
03. Column Of Heaven -- Joyless
04. Column Of Heaven -- Loveless
05. Column Of Heaven -- Worthless
06. Column Of Heaven -- Faithless
07. Column Of Heaven -- Everything Is Fine
08. Column Of Heaven -- Eternal Woman (Hell Of Your Love) [Ride For Revenge]
09. Wolves Of Heaven -- Love Is A God From Hell
10. Wolves Of Heaven -- Hell Is A Love From God

DOWNLOAD

Current 93 with Thomas Ligotti - In A Foreign Town, In A Foreign Land

'In A Foreign Town, In A Foreign Land'
Current 93 with Thomas Ligotti
1997

Review by Brayden Bagnall

Genre/s: Dark Ambient, Industrial, Spoken Word
For Fans Of: Lustmord, Boyd Rice, David Lynch, Edgar Allen Poe, seething bouts of paranoia

Hey there folks, day going well so far? Currently free of any niggling doubts, lurking worries or creeping anxieties? Yeah? Then please, by all means, read on...
What we have here is a collab between Industrial/Neo-Folk artist Current 93 (you should know them by now gosh) and horror writer Thomas Ligotti (famous recently for allegedly being plagiarized by True Detective writer Nic Pizzolatto). On In A Foreign Town... Current 93 provides haunting soundscapes and intermittent narration of Ligotti's short story of the same name in easily one of the most sinister recordings I've ever had the pleasure of listening to.
Dense drones, eerie chimes and other miscellaneous samples and sound effects pulse and seether underneath David Tibet's ethereal narration, delivered of course in Tibet's singsong English accent.
The track's progress in a dreamlike fashion, albeit a slow burning, nightmarish dream that's goes from quietly terrifying to soul crushing abandon throughout its duration. This release belongs firmly in the Stalaggh/Penderecki/Mariah Carey category of sonically/emotionally disturbing.
I've probably talked up this release enough - so it goes without saying that I think you should click that there download button below and see what I'm gabbing about. This is seriously top tier dark ambient, and I'm just itching to ruin your good mood with it.

TRACKLISTING:
1. His Shadow Will Rise To A Higher Place
2. The Bells Shall Sound Forever
3. A Soft Voice Whispers Nothing
4. When You Hear The Singing, You Will Know it is Time

Download

and hey you know what, have a PDF of the short story too - be sure to read it while listening to the album in a dreary, candlelit hotel room.

Spooky times ahead friendo

Prurient - DOUBLE POST

'Unmasking The Insect/Cocaine Daughter'
Prurient
2015

Review by Brayden Bagnall

Genre/s: Harsh Noise, Industrial, Power Electronics
For Fans Of: Prurient doing minimal power electronics/Prurient doing straight up harsh noise

Prurient has given us three releases this year, and this post contains the two that aren't Frozen Niagra Falls. Both releases here show considerable departures from his current style, so if you've come here via FNF you may be in for a bit of a surprise.
Let's start with Unmasking The Insect. Probably the personal favourite of the two for me, these five tracks see Prurient dabbling in minimal, washed out power electronics and droning industrial soundscapes. It recalls some of the disturbing, clinical qualities of Atrax Morgue's output with the lo-fi textures and atmospheres that Posh Iso/Chondritic Sound have been peddling. Really great stuff, and always a pleasure to hear Prurient's more minimal and structured output.
Cocaine Daughter on the other hand is just one big ole slab of dense, metallic noise. Harsh walls of synth, feedback manipulations and swathes of white noise are the name of the game here. Cocaine Daughter isn't too far off from Exploring Jezebel levels of texture and grit, and is utterly uncompromising throughout its run time - which happens to be 80 minutes. Oooft.
Both releases, in nice separate download folders no less, are waiting for you to get yer grubby mitts all over them. I doth implore you to listen to both.

Unmasking The Insect
1. Prosecution Scepter
2. Medicine Crawl
3. Raped By The Dragon (Granite Columns)
4. Private Tombs (Estate Liquidation)
5. Like Reeds In The Wind (Corpus)
Download

Cocaine Daughter
1. BTK Machine Sugar
2. Dayglow Bandage
3. Nylon Fluorescent Insect Bound
5. World Nail
6. Quartz Blood Lens
7. Appearing Townsman
8. Transparent Child
9. White Phosphorus Baths
Download

B R A I N B O M B S (updated, new links!)

(Almost Complete) Studio Discography
Brainbombs
1986-2013*

Review by Joey

Genre/s: Noise Rock, Garage Rock, Psych, Industrial, Noise
For Fans Of: The Stooges, Drunks With Guns, Rusted Shut, Strangulated Beatoffs

So, Brayden already did a review for the previous Brainbombs discography post, but I'm going to do another one. Where do I even start with this band? They've been around since 1985 and have released a slow, but steady stream of music since then, along with continuing to play live. In that time, they've managed to be consistent, churning out incredible yet stupid riff after incredible yet stupid riff (but only one per song), and memorable, yet highly problematic lyrics -- the problematic element is definitely what makes them so memorable.

I'm not going to even try to justify their lyrics depicting all sorts of horrific acts, most of which deal with torture, rape, murder, and other terrible things. I could say that Brainbombs' music is intended to express desensitization and work as a commentary and expression of detachment through the use of monotonous, hypnotic repetition and lyrical obscenity; but at the end of the day, regardless of their intentions, you're listening to a band with sick riffs and a guy casually talking in a heavy Swedish accent about murdering someone after they've given him a blowjob. It absolutely contributes to a culture of violence against women by seemingly making light of it, so it's understandable that many people wouldn't want to listen to this.

But most of you don't care about that. What you do care about is stupid riffs played over and over for 6 minutes and going nowhere, sloppy songs that fall apart, apathetic and nihilistic vocals, and of course the fucking trumpet. Basically, if you ever wanted to hear a Swedish version of The Stooges who wanted to emulate Whitehouse, Brainbombs is the perfect band for you. Despite the fact that they've been a band for 30 years at this point, they have lost none of their edge (in both senses) and are still as filthy, disguising, and heavy as ever -- something which unfortunately can't be said for The Stooges.

Okay, so what do I mean by (almost complete) studio discography? It means that I'm not including live recordings, bootlegs, compilations they've been featured on, or collections; all of the EPs are here as they were originally released, except for the 1992 Burning Hell 7" which has an alternate mix of Burning Hell not featured on any other releases (not the live version that I've seen passed off as it). If anyone has that, please let me know, I'm dying to hear it and I'd love to add it to this post.

You probably just skipped all of that to get here, so here's what you get:

• Jack the Ripper Lover (1989)
• Anne Frank (1990)
• Burning Hell (1992)
• Genius And Brutality – Taste And Power (1994)
• Brainbombs / Anal Babes split (1995)
• Obey (1995)
• Macht (1998)
• Urge To Kill (1999)
• Cheap (2001)
• Stigma Of The Ripper (2003)
• The Grinder (2004)
• I Need Speed (2006)
• Stinking Memory (2007)
• Fucking Mess (2008)
• Disposal Of A Dead Body (2013)

It's all in two rar files, so download and have fun accidentally singing along in public.

FOR FIFTY BUCKS...

...YOUR RAR IS MINE

E.G.KAIDAN

'E.G.Kaidan'
Esplendor Geométrico + Hijokaidan
2015

Review by Joey

Genre/s: Industrial, Power Electronics, Noise
For Fans Of: SPK, Grim, Le Syndicat, The Haters

Okay, so this blog hasn't been living up to its name lately, and it's time to change that. What better way than with a collaboration between two of the most important noise bands of all time? You definitely read correctly, this recording features both Hijokaidan and Esplendor Geométrico; they're both doing what they do best, but at the same time complimenting each other's styles. This thing is going to wreck you.

For those of you who don't know, Hijokaidan (非常階段) is essential first wave noise from Japan. You've probably seen the pictures of them performing/destroying. Musically, Hijokaidan is incredibly abstract, unpredictable, and above all, harsh. They utilize a variety of ways to make their noise, ranging from traditional rock instruments to pedal based power electronics to bloodcurdling screams to random objects to breaking everything. And then we have Esplendor Geométrico. While lesser known than Hijokaidan, Esplendor Geométrico are probably just as important to industrial/noise music. They hail from Spain and create rhythmic, pulsing soundscapes, many times accompanied by samples, distorted vocals, and power electronics. Think SPK but more hypnotic. Honestly, Esplendor Geométrico are everything I love about first wave industrial/noise perfectly packaged together in one band.

With those things in mind, imagine mashing the two together. Structured rhythms collide with pure chaos, resulting in some truly horrifying and perfectly executed industrial.  Despite the fact that these bands have both been around for over 30 years, this material doesn't feel stale or dated; they've managed to keep things on the edge. You can clearly hear them playing with old sounds, but it doesn't feel as though they're just rehashing. Plus, this is a live recording, so both bands are at their most volatile, delivering totally caustic, hostile blasts of noise annihilation. Brace yourself.

Tracklisting:
1. E.G.Kaidan 01
2. E.G.Kaidan 02
3. E.G.Kaidan 03
4. E.G.Kaidan 04
5. E.G.Kaidan 05
6. E.G.Kaidan 06
7. E.G.Kaidan 07
8. E.G.Kaidan 08

DOWNLOAD

Happy Flowers - Discography

'Discography*'
Happy Flowers
1985-1990

Review by Joey

Genre/s: Noise Rock, Industrial, Noise
For Fans Of: UFO Or Die, The Gerogerigegege, sounds of children in pain, Cosmonauts Hail Satan, Throbbing Gristle

Believe it or not, aside from Ramones, my first exposures to punk were a video of T.S.O.L. playing "Code Blue"and the subject of this post, Happy Flowers. The story behind my introduction to Happy Flowers will take you on a trip back to the early 2000s. The year is 2003, the Iraq war has been going for a few months, and everyone has just found out about the abuses in Abu Ghraib prison. One of the US soldiers' main methods of torture was playing loud music, and apparently Happy Flowers was used. So, I first heard the track "I Said I Wanna Watch Cartoons" at age 12 or 13. I fucking loved it, although more so for comedic reasons than for musical ones. I'd revisit it every once in a while and eventually started finding other tracks; and when I finally started downloading music, I remembered this band and sought them out. And here I am today.

But I'm sure you don't care about my story, so let me talk about what Happy Flowers sound like. The two members, Mr. Anus and Mr. Horribly Charred Infant, bring you childhood nightmares and traumas, accompanied by an assortment of instrumentations which include (but are not limited to) wailing feedback, caveman drums, atonal guitar noise, the occasional actual riff made of notes, rare melodies, the sounds of banging on a piano, and droning bass. The lyrics, as you may have guessed by the part about "childhood nightmares and traumas,"  are all from the point of view of children. They throw tantrums, they cry, they fight, they bully each other, they try to apologize for simple mistakes like accidentally killing a pet or burning the house down, they ask absurd questions, and sometimes practical ones too (why can't we eat the baby like the pet gerbils did?). This is truly horrifying shit, and it's amazing.

Honestly, I feel this band is one of the best and most underrated noise rock bands who ever existed. They should be up there with Flipper, Brainbombs, No Trend, Drunks With Guns, etc as a classic band and as pioneers of the genre. So download this, sit back, and enjoy. Or don't enjoy it. Either way, you're in for an experience of sorts.

Here's what you're getting:

• Songs For Children (1985)
• Now We Are Six (1986)
• My Skin Covers My Body (1987)
• They Cleaned My Cut Out With A Wire Brush (1988)
• I Crush Bozo (1988)
• Oof (1989)
• BB Gun (1989)
• Call Me Pudge (1990)
• Lasterday I Was Been Bad (1990)

DOWNLOAD

*Does not include comp tracks, compilations/combined releases, or the Peel session