Lie Still

'Demo'
Lie Still
2011

Review by Joey

Genre/s: Powerviolence
For Fans Of: Crossed Out, Mindless, Despise You, Suffer

This band was one of the best modern powerviolence bands, and sadly -- in part due to their short lifespan -- they were also one of the most overlooked and underrated. I mentioned them in my review of the Triac / Sacridose split as being "west coast powerviolence saviors," and they really were. In the sea of cheap imitators and wannabes (or should I say the Sea Of Shit...), Lie Still managed to keep things fresh and dangerous. And I guess it certainly didn't hurt that members had previously played in the legendary bands Benümb and Lack Of Interest.

Lie Still's music wasn't a huge break from the classic powerviolence formula, but they still stood out among their primarily mediocre peers. Their success (musically) stems from their ability to channel uncontrollable intensity into a focused blast. Most contemporary powerviolence bands fall flat because they can't reproduce the pure aggression of the old WCPV bands (plus they steal Crossed Out riffs and have ill fitting production and do the goofy football coach vocals and can't seem to write compelling music). Lie Still had no problem with this (or any of those other things I mentioned in the previous parenthetical). Their riffs were in that sweet spot between powerviolence and grind, where it's got a heavy edge but is undeniably punk as fuck, the vocals unreasonably angry, the drumming tight and driving. Unfortunately, they burned out too soon and left us with only 11 songs in 7 minutes. I was lucky enough to catch them on what I believe was their only east coast tour; it was with Triac -- what a fucking combo.

If you want some of the most badass, truly fucked up powerviolence that's come out in recent years, this is a must. Listen and destroy.

Tracklisting:
1. Persuaded By Comfort
2. Aborted Resources
3. Manipulation Of Waring Factions
4. Path Of Conviction
5. Retention Of Molecular Balance
6. Interupting Simple Functions
7. Enslaved And Left To Die
8. Corrosive
9. Value Of Limitations
10. Desperation Of Approval
11. Compelled

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Lana Degales - Discography

DISCOGRAPHY
Lana Degales
1999, 2002, 2004

Review by Brayden Bagnall

Genre/s: Powerviolence
For Fans Of: Suffering Luna, Peter Mangalore, Godstomper, Man Is The Bastard, Scaphe

There is a disturbing lack of information regarding Lana Degales on the internet - a line on Last.fm, a few reviews and one whole YouTube video - despite appearing on one of the legendary Reality Comps AND sharing a split with the mighty Iron Lung. Disgraceful.
Lana Degales are a two piece drum and bass powerviolence band from Oakland, CA (One half of the band happens to be Greg Wilkinson, who you may know from the likes of Brainoil, Laudanum and Pig Heart Transplant). Opting for the more strung out, erratic version of powerviolence, Lana Degales jam blisteringly fast fretwork and drum blasts together sludgy dirges together with the occasional trip into weird, Suffering Luna-esque psychedelia. It may sound like the usual slow/fast, fast then maybe one whole slow song formula you've grown accustomed to, but these guys do it with much more finesse, creativity and ferocity than most modern 'powerviolence' bands put together.
It could very well be the weird/fast/heavy combination you've been so desperately lacking all this time, or - failing that, it's the only download link you're gonna find for these guys on the net - so it's a win/win situation for everybody.

INCLUDED IN THIS DISCOGRAPHY:
(Lana Degales tracks only for each release)

Self Titled (1999)
1. Pocket Change Feeding Millions
2. Rebirth Of Abuse
3. Generation X Passed Down Cost
4. For Your God
5. Pushing For Something
6. Mother Nature's Conversing

Reality Part #4 (2002)
1. Metamorphosis
2. Conjecture
3. Extending Capitalist Ladder, The Great Division

Split w/ Iron Lung (2004)
1. Lana Dagales
2. Skepticism
3. A Note To All Commentaries
4. Multiply
5. Shelter's Web
6. Imprints Of Our New Leader
7. One Foot In The Grave
8. Covered Pain
9. There's Plenty To Accept Me
10. Life's Deal
11. Under The Queen Bee
12. Accomplishments?

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!FUCKED BY NOISE'S NOT ANOTHER BEST OF 2014 BUT INSTEAD ITS SOMETHING DIFFERENT! - Jerry's 10 Bands To Watch Out For In 2015

Prologue: No one likes a backstory but basically during the month of December when I was suppose to finish off this article my life took a sharp detour and then in January I was on tour with my bands (including the one that me and fellow writer Brayden is in) so things went silly and though its probably obsolete to publish this now it's pretty much done so might as well. 

I came to the conclusion that doing a Top 10 album list here would be pointless for a number of reasons, including my inability to keep up with new music (besides locally) for 3/4 of the year because I was stuck without a working computer and the fact that other writers here are already doing the same thing and my tastes in music wouldn't be that radically different so I'm going to do something different, and by that I mean rip off Blunt Magazine and do my own list of Bands To Watch Out For In 2015. Keep in mind that all these bands are local and interstate bands in Australia and most of them are not exactly new bands but are only just starting to gain traction with only one or two or maybe even zero releases and are, in my opinion, worthy of all their hype. So without further ado....

Canine
'Demo 2013'

Genre/s: Hardcore, Crust, Sludge, Stoner Rock
For fans of: No Statik, Dotfuckingcom, Witch Hunt, Melvins, Thorax

It's not everyday I come across a band that mixes so many different styles of angry music together in a seamless and non-gimmicky fashion but today is no everyday, its an early sunday morning drinking spiced rum and i'm not sure where I was going with this but Canine are one of the handful of Sydney hardcore bands that aren't shit or even ho-hum, they are kicking it. It took a while to figure out their hype but it dawned on me eventually why they are worthy of any praise they get. Canine mixes ferocious d-beat infused hardcore punk with powerviolence and fuzzy sludge and stoner rock segments complete with flangers and wailing wahs and it all works superbly like a perfect slice of layered cake. They got the energy pact down, all the songs are menacing but it goes above and beyond four chord punk with almost every moment is chock full of catchy licks which makes listening to their demo and their 7" split with Diploid (their side is only available on the record for the time being) all the more memorable.

Bandcamp

Gentlemen
'S/T'

Genre/s: Noise Rock, Hardcore, 
For fans of:  Brainbombs, Raspberry Bulbs, Cuntz, Homostupids, Thee Nodes 

This band really needs to get an LP going and maybe play some more gigs because it wasn't enough to just catch them during the Thee Nodes national tour here. Where do they get off releasing two 7" EPs in a space of two years and not getting every online hipster music publication to ride them like they are the next big garage punk band or whatever froth those sites manage to spit onto a web browser (not unlike our more "refined" and "trve" music blog here). Okay maybe its a good thing that this band is relatively unknown so you can still claim cool scene points but this is a plea Gentlemen, we are fucking jonesin', please, do it for the kids.

Bandcamp



H A N N A H B A N D
'Retirement'

Genre/s: Emo, Garage Punk, Post Punk
For fans of: Mineral, Against Me!, Indian Summer, Cloud Nothings, Drive Like Jehu

Hannahband are a real loud two piece garage emo post-punk band from Sydney. Forgive the overuse of genre terms but there are truly a unique beast that cannot be pinned down by mere descriptions. They can go through so many motions flawlessly and maintain a perfected niche of quaint melodies and encroaching aggression all of which bleeds through a pleasant lo-fi aesthetic. The "less is more" ideals thrive here, armed with nothing more than a ragged baritone guitar, snappy drums and the classic guy/girl tag team vocal attack they managed to belt out some infectious tunes that ride across vast roads that go rocky and then smooth over the horizon. Most tracks can out angst any hardcore band without breaking a sweat (or a tear) but when moments of somber and downbeats come by then not even [your favorite emo band]  could be nearly as heart wrenching. This is sad music for angry people and angry music for sad people and yes I know that emo is a dirty word here at Fucked By Noise but as their fourth song goes on their sophomore album "Retirement", I will let you down. BRB rearranging my album of the year list. 

Bandcamp

Hurricane Death
'Demo 2015'

Genre/s: Death Metal, Hardcore, Crust
For fans of: Mammoth Grinder, Homewrecker, Innumerable Forms, Black Jesus, Nails

This demo was recorded in October but only a teaser was released a few days after a new year....ah well fuck it. Most of you may have heard of a band called Puke, a powerviolence band from Brisbane that was mostly made up of youngsters making some really tight and crushing music but sadly broke up as soon as they blew up. Out of the remains of Puke was a couple of different bands, one of them being Hurricane Death who are more death metal orientated than their previous endeavor. For now we only have two songs up on bandcamp for an upcoming tape release to hear them but from witnessing them live as well I do believe that their punishing display of anger and vitriol that they spew (pun intended) upon anyone that listens to their style of hardcore driven death metal will make them an act to watch out for. 

Bandcamp

Hygiene
'Void'

Genre/s: Powerviolence, Hardcore
For fans of: Vaccine, Human Junk, Vile Intent, Life Of Refusal, Chetwrecker

I assume Canberra is one of those places where its more quality over quantity in regards to bands that come out of there because even though I am only familiar with a few bands, its those few that are making quite a name for themselves and perhaps the best band to have come out of there now is none other than the menacing  trio Hygiene. They may have been around for a couple of years riding on a demo and a CD EP but now after dropping their smashing slab of fast and heavy powerviolence through 9 tracks that clocks in around roughly 8 minutes right on a 7" EP  called "Void",  they have firmly reinstated their status as a force to be reckoned with.

Bandcamp


Masses
'Horde Mentality'

Genre/s: Post-punk, Darkwave, Anarcho Punk
For fans of: The Mob,  Arctic Flowers, Spectres, Moral Hex, Rule Of Thirds

Masses hail from (probably not too surprising) Melbourne and with only one single 7" EP release they have prickled alot of ears and now have the potential to be quite well known. Cherry picking the best of jangly post punk with classic anarcho punk and then throwing in some chorus pedals, synths and lots of reverb into the proverbial cherry pie they have cooked up a fresh take on the darkwave/post-punk style that is destined to not only taste great to anyone that is a veteran or a newcomer to the genre but will also set a standard that goes well above their contemporaries.

Bandcamp





Roland Major

Genre/s: Shoegaze, Alternative
For fans of: Whirr, Nothing, Slowdive, White Walls, Pity Sex, Roku Music

I've actually known these fellas back way when they were known as Rara Avis and were more of the classic persuasion of a shoegaze band with only one release which was a split CD with Crouching 80's Hidden Acronym whom are now better known as Ted Danson With Wolves (the guitarist of said band plays drums here so it was an incestuous split). Even after the name change they still performed the same songs with a rotating lineup with the frontman and drummer being the only consistent members and then this year they decided to start fresh. Gone are the keyboards and bass, bring in one lone guitarist from emo punk outfit Oslow and what we got is some of the most exciting music to come across this side of Western Sydney. Beautiful and crushing at the same time with monstrous guitars howling out some sublime melodies which weave with the voices, rhythms and an ocean of feedback. Roland Major are really making some big waves, not just in the live setting with huge sound waves caressing and smashing every ear it flows through, but also around the music community for simply being nothing less than amazing. 

Roland Major does have an EP in the works so for now there is a live video available to watch below at my home away from home, otherwise known as Beatdisc Records. You can see me bobbing my head in approval at the back counter to the right while i also scope what new records they have up on the wall and also no I wasn't paid for that incidental advertisment so shutup.

Soma Coma
'Demo '13'

Genre/s: Hardcore, Garage Punk
For fans of: Lotus Fucker, Straightjacket Nation, Crazy Spirit, Cult Ritual

Sydney certainly has some of the most creative hardcore bands running around but its Melbourne that wins in being home to some of the most noisy, abrasive and down and out hardcore punk music that can only appeases the appetite of unhinged madmen. There is little to fault here, all the short bursts of punishment here are all smashers, guaranteed to make you throw your bed lamp out the window and we wouldn't have it any other way here.

Bandcamp

Whitney Houston's Crypt
'Chair Page Dotcom'

Genre/s: Post-Punk, No Wave, Noise Rock
For fans of: Teenage Jesus and The Jerks, Tinsel Teeth, The Birthday Party, Arab On Radar

I'm  going to go more in depth for the Fucked By Newcastle series i'm still doing but I couldn't in good faith pass on this so just really quickly I'm going to tell you that this is some of the best weird out post punk to come out in a while. Its raw, its maddening, the riffs are wholly intent on making you uncomfortable and the vocals go from wild to vicious at any given turn (Witch's Cyst is a prime example). This is the musical equivalent of wearing your birthday suit to your job and not giving a fuck.

Bandcamp

Wounded Pig
'MT4X'

Genre/s: Grindcore, Crust, Metal
For fans of: Captain Cleanoff, Agoraphobic Nosebleed, Fuck I'm Dead, Human Error, Apartment 213

Up until now there are only two good thing to come out of Mt. Gambier in South Australia, the big lobster and Captain Cleanoff. Now we can add a third thing -  Wounded Pig. What more could you want out of a crusty grind band? Brutal and furious guitarwork right through the collection of devastating songs that come and go leaving not a single moment of rest to pass, vocals with enough vitriol to blow up a police station and the programmed drums are some of the most well crafted and human I have certainly heard in a while. To call these guys a "cybergrind" band would entangle a lot of wrong assumptions because this isn't your dudebro's bedroom warrior project that was made with Fruity Loop samples one afternoon in a bout of procrastination. No sir this is the real deal. Catch them while you can because I wouldn't be surprised if they end up becoming quite big.

Bandcamp

Honorable Mentions
Kiri
Meter Men
Cum
Dispolar
Oslow
Hacked To Chunks
Nervous Habit
Grey Places
Shitgrinder
MSV BCP (Massive Bicep)
Alf Stewart
Burlap
Putkah
Shirtlifters
Jxckxlz
Fat Guy Wears Mystic Wolf Shirt
Blight Worms
Terminator 2
Coffin Birth

Gas Chamber - Hemorrhaging Light

'Hemorrhaging Light'
Gas Chamber
2014

Review by Brayden Bagnall

Genre: Powerviolence, Hardcore
For Fans Of: Gasp, Column Of Heaven, Iron Lung, Suffering Luna, The Endless Blockade, Pink Floyd, Cyclops

Hailing from Buffalo, New York,  Gas Chamber are a band I've seen more than a few people call one of the most unique hardcore/powerviolence bands around currently. Hemorrhaging Light is such a dizzying mish-mash of styles and genres, of wildly varying kinds it's really hard to try and pin a label on them or make a valid comparison.
Much like Man Is The Bastard, Suffering Luna or Gasp, Gas Chamber combine aggressive hardcore with noisy interludes, ambience whilst including nods to prog-rock, classic rock, jazz and experimental music. The sudden transitions from blastbeats to melodic, proggy basslines and grandiose guitar solos are often jarring and unexpected, but executed fantastically and in a way that never interrupts the flow of the album. It's almost as if a group of classically trained musicians decided to fuse their musical chops with the members of a hardcore band. It shouldn't work - but it does.
If, like me, you've grown very weary of anything labelled 'powerviolence' and need something to rekindle your love and restore your hope for the genre - I strongly suggest listening to this.

TRACKLISTING:
1. Gypsy
2. Stacked Logs
3. Time Lapse
4. My Warsaw
5. V
6. True Abolition
7. White
8. 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000
9. Quality Of Death
10. VII
11. Pigeon

Bandcamp
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!FUCKED BY NOISE'S BEST OF 2014! - Joe's Picks (Part 2: EPs)

I finally was able to narrow down my list of favorite EPs from this year, it's a Christmas miracle! As I said in part 1 of my favorite releases of 2014, this year has been way too good, thus making these lists so difficult. I'm not going to write a big preamble, so let's just get to it.

Part 2: EPs

'Ficcion Corporativa'

Rapturous Grief

This was probably my most listened to grind release this year and it's a total rager.  Rapturous Grief really seems to have come into their own here, plowing through 10 songs of relentless, stripped down grindcore in under 7 minutes.  This makes GridLink's final LP look like an overly polished corny power metal album (which it pretty much is) and the only 2014 grind release which I liked more than this one was the Full Of Hell & Merzbow collaboration.  

'Looking For Love'

Total Abuse 

Texas's kings of Whitehouse influenced hardcore punk have returned after a couple years of inactivity to bring us yet another adventure into the world of the perverse. While 2011's 'Prison Sweat' LP dealt with very personal issues, 'Looking For Love' brings the band back to songs about S&M and other related topics. The title track feels like something you'd hear on a Brainbombs release, but the other two display the dirty, gritty hardcore punk this band is famous for.

'Always Faithful' split

Jarhead Fertilizer/Purge

Jarhead Fertilizer (members of Full Of Hell, [this is not for you.]), start this split off with an absolutely gut-wrenching grindcore assault that doesn't let up until both their and Purge's songs are finished. The former feels like Discordance Axis if they were 10x heavier and the latter is just plain brutal.  8 songs, 6 minutes, no survivors.  

'Gentlemen'

Gentlemen  

Australia has been killing it lately and their noise rock game is no exception.  If you like nasty and disgusting repetitive noise rock, then Gentlemen's s/t EP is definitely for you. I liked this release much more than their 'Sex Tape' demo, which was still pretty amazing.  

'Decomposition Fantasy'

Disciples Of Christ 

After their split 12" with Triac, DoC left me craving more of their totally blown out, noise drenched, abrasive grindcore, and this one-sided 12" has only made my hunger grow even stronger (makes me sound like Galactus, hell yea). The first 5 songs clock in at just under 5 minutes, and the sixth song is a cover of Wire's 'Pink Flag' which is pulled off flawlessly. I need more.  

'EGM'

NASA Space Universe 

I was under the impression that this came out on a tape in 2013, but the 12" I got when I saw NSU said it came out this year, so I'm going to count it as a 2014 release. If you already know NSU, you know what to expect; although if you don't, get ready for a wild ride of weird, spacey hardcore punk with some of the fiercest vocals and ridiculous riffs around. This band gets better with every release. 

'Wait For The End'

Pleasure Cross 

I heard Pleasure Cross's ripping deathgrind massacre of a demo tape last year and loved it and was thrilled to find out they'd be putting out a 12" on Iron Lung Records this year. Well, this 12" is just as pummeling as the demo. Turns out, this band is the new project of August Alston of Walls, although you'd never know just by listening to it. Brace yourself. 

'Mise En Abyme'

Cottaging 

Blah blah members of Cult Ritual blah blah. This sounds nothing like Cult Ritual at all, instead of raw, horrifying hardcore punk, Cottaging has gone the route of spaced out noise rock. Of the two EPs they released this year, I liked this one more; the other felt as if the band had moved too far into post-punk revival territory, whereas this one rests at that perfect point between post-punk and noise rock. 

'Razorheads'

Razorheads

You want d-beat/raw punk? You got it. Razorheads features members of a bunch of other bands -- most notably Bible Thumper -- and dishes out four ripping tracks on this killer EP. It's got the fast parts and the stomp parts and the riffs and the delayed vocals and everything you want from a d-beat/raw punk release. 

'Plataforma/Autopsia'

Balcanes 

I really wish there were more than two tracks on this EP, but I'll just have to wait until Balcanes releases more material.  These two songs are heavy, dirging, and repetitive with delayed vocals and the overly simplistic instrumentation we've all come to expect from noise rock. While not pushing many boundaries, Balcanes really deliver with their take on the classic noise rock formula; the songs are perfectly executed.  

Honorable Mentions:

-Warthog “Prison” (stompy hardcore punk)

-The Coltranes “The Cat Of Nine Tails” (noise rock)
-UltraMantis Black “UltraMantis Black” (hardcore/fastcore, members of The Ultimate Warriors with a real wrestler)
-Blazing Eye “Blazing Eye” (hardcore punk)
-Iron Lung “Savagery” (powerviolence)
-Big Zit “Electric Zit Vol. 1” (freaky hardcore punk with vocals like H.R. from Bad Brains)
-Qualm “Passive” (blown out hardcore punk)
-Gnaw Their Tongues “Wir Essen Seelen In Dir Nacht” (death industrial/black metal)
-Gowl “Blurrr” (grindcore)
-Coffin Birth “Necrotic Liquefaction” (deathgrind)

!FUCKEDBYNOISE'S BEST OF 2014! - Brayden's Picks (Part 1: Demos and EPs)

Welp, it's December meaning only one thing: you're going to be pelted with AOTY lists - much like the way I was pelted with awesome releases this year. Like last year's list, I'm opting for a top 10 system, but unlike last year I've realised I've got waaaay too many demos, EPs and singles to boil down to 10, so demos have their own list. As well as that, I've linked each entry up to a youtube video or bandcamp page in case you've got some catching up to do.

So without further ado here's part one of my Best of 2014 list!

DEMOS

R.I.P FUCKER - Bangers & Fuzz 

Simultaneously earning heaps of praise from me for their brilliant name AND their music, Melbourne band RIP Fucker's demo is all you could want from a D-Beat/Noise Punk band. Blown out walls of guitars, pummeling drums and weird, strained vocals with heeeeeaps of delay. One of many great Australian punk releases from this year. 

Unpeople - Demo

Dystopian rock and roll brought to you by Brisbane band Unpeople. Straightforward punk tunes played at dangerously loud levels with plenty of noise and dissonance injected into the fold to give it some extra grunt. If you're down with down picked power chords and feedback, you'll most likely dig this one.

Burlap - Demo

I told myself I wouldn't do definite favourites, but this here is definitely my favourite demo of 2014. Noise rock with a fair bit of drone and shoegaze influence, with a bit of post hardcore to top it off. I've reviewed them previously here, but I'm more than happy to keep showering them with praise. LISTEN TO THEM NOW

Shitgrinder - Demo

I really only have to say that this band features members of Idylls and Shackles to justify its place in this list, but I guess I'll expand on this by saying SWEET MOTHER OF GRIND. Three Brisbane dudes making super erratic, punk-y grindcore that does not let up. 15 tracks, 9 minutes and one very hard to explain erection.

Cum - Fuck Cops

I'm largely biased on this one thanks to the Beastie Boys cover on it, but Adelaide punks Cum really do pack on hell of a punch on this demo. Think a much more metallic, meaner Gag and you'll have a pretty good idea of what's in store. Keen to hear more from this band.

1/4 Dead - Demo

1/4 Dead play noisy hardcore that's comprised of wonky guitar riffs crazed vocals and plenty of negativity. Definitely one of my favourite demos from the states this year, and possibly my favouite hardcore demo. Also their singer Joe writes for this blog, so there's that too.

Oxygen Destroyer - 2014 Demo

Ferocious, blown out tunes that marries Japanese and US hardcore in the sloppiest, most deranged way possible. This demo's made even better by the goofy Godzilla samples in between songs, most likely as a tribute to their namesake. The band has zero internet presence but thankfully Terminal Escape has a rip and some information here

NAAMAHK - Demo

NAAMAHK are a Canadian blackened punk band who unleashed this killer demo earlier this year. They've combined the stompy, aggressive punk usually found within the genre with a much more weirder, angular noise rock approach. Off kilter, lo-fi and totally essential.

L.O.T.I.O.N - Second Audio Document

I recently reviewed L.O.T.I.O.N's first demo on this blog and I really can't get enough of them. It's old school industrial meets fucked up EBM, harsh noise and hardcore spawned from the same minds that gave you Dawn Of Humans, Survival and Nomad. Seriously killer stuff.

Gath Šmânê - Transmuted Marrow

So I'm not massively keen on death metal, but there's the ocassional band that makes me sit up and pay attention - Gath Šmânê being one of them. The three piece play absolutely massive sounding tunes of this two track demo that's dominated by gnarly tremolo riffs and disgusting guttural vocals.

EPs

Danny Whitten's Veins - Self Titled

This five track tape was most definitely the scuzziest thing to surface from the Australian punk scene this year, and boy am I happy it did. Danny Whitten's Vein's are a bunch of Adelaide misfits playing dirge-y noise punk in the vein of Flipper and Venom P. Stinger, but with a slightly more brutal and nosier slant to it. 

Multiple Man - Persuasion

Equal parts Gary Numan and Primitive Calculators, Brisbane synth-punks Multiple Man have been inching towards a decidedly more pop and dance oriented sound and hey, it still rules. Seriously, Persuasion has one of the coolest synth bass lines ever recorded - and the music video rules too.

Iron Lung - Savagery 

Like I have to fucking explain this one??

Cottaging - The Amyl Banshee EP

Featuring ex members of CULT RITUAL (!!), Cottaging actually put out two EPs this year, both as good as each other. Amyl Banshee in particular has an incredibly accurate title, given the psychadelic, drugged out noise rock emanating from within. Seriously good stuff. 

Qualm - Passive

As far as hardcore goes, it doesn't get much more primitive and ugly than Qualm. The Amsterdam band play mean, ugly tunes with deranged vocals and more stomp mosh parts than you can shake your fist and grunt at. UGH

DiE - Vexed

UKHC actually had a preeeetty good year - Perspex Flesh, The Lowest Form, Mob Rule and these guys, all releasing some killer stuff. DiE in particular play what's essentially super sped up, aggressive oi coupled with unhinged hardcore, but with less nationalism and lower middle class romanticism. For fans of speedy 1-2 beats and punching things 

UltraMantis Black - Self Titled

So members of Pissed Jeans teamed up with an actual pro-wrestler essentially forming a more genuine version of The Ultimate Warriors. Except this time it's gnarly, weird grindy-fastcore with lyrics about environmentalism and Native American rights. What's not to love really?

Dead Boomers - Privilege&Obscenity

Two members of True Radical Miracle doing a very nicely potent take on harsh noise, industrial and power electronics. The Melbourne duo incorporate percussion and structure into their music to recreate incredibly dense and enveloping dirges. Definitely Australia's best noise act. Apart from Justice Yeldham, of course.

Coffin Birth - Necrotic Liquefaction 

Insect Warfare lives on through a Brisbane three piece grindcore band. Seriously concise, walloping stuff with delicious guttural vocals and unrelenting riffs. Awesome on record and even better live.

Ornamental Headpiece - Mask Of Ash

Not gonna lie, CSR totally dropped the ball on the latest A Pregnant Light album - but, in its place here's a much more fierce and ugly EP. Ornamental Headpiece are a blackened hardcore band featuring members from various CSR projects. Moody black metal riffs, galloping drums with occasional forays into post punk. Not bad at all. 

Honorable Mentions (Of many, many others)
Funeral Parlor - Axis Flowers

Frame 313 - Split with Wrong

DeadShred - Thousand Yard Staring Competition
Warthog - Prison

Una Bestia Incontrolable - Nou Mon

Gentlemen - S/T EP

Gag - Locker Room

Pleasure Cross - Wait For The End

Puke - S/T EP

Volahn/Blue Hummingbird On The Left Split

Velvet Whip - Bronze Medallion

Cottaging - Mis En Abyme

Oily Boys - Majesty

Sperm - Yahweh Bring Us To This Hell

Reality Compilation....Compilation

'Reality, Reality #2, #3 and #4'
Various Artists
1996 - 2002

Review by Brayden Bagnall

Genre/s: Powerviolence, Grindcore, Hardcore, Fastcore, Doom, Sludge, Noise Rock
For Fans Of Comps Such As: Bllleeeeaaauuurrrrgghhh!, Possessed To Skate, This Comp Kills Fascists, Cry Now Cry Later

We've all seen it before: some kid's finally put the mosh shorts and Terror shirts to rest, and has begun poking around the darker, danker fringes of hardcore and punk only to arrive at this vital question 'can anyone recommend me any PV bands?'. Cue the barrage of suggestions that include ACxDC, Weekend Nachos and Ceremony's first few albums and you have all the ingredients for internet-music-nerd-rage and what I  can only assume would be a a broken heart - if I had one. Merely the thought of this brings a tear to my eye, so in a fit of manic uploading and cataloging I've sought to address this problem for anyone dipping their toes into the gnarly world of 90s powerviolence, and its various other offshoots.
Here we have four compilations put out by Deep Six, starting in the mid 90s. The Reality comps brought together some of the biggest names in powerviolence, grindcore, sludge and hardcore that were doing the rounds in LA at the time, as well as some forgotten and rarely mentioned gems (looking at you Unruh and Peter Mangalore). Part 3 sees the roster expanding to Chicago (Los Crudos) and San Diego (The Locust) and Part 4 even includes non US acts such as 324, Dudman and uh, Haymaker. I guess.
All in all, you're unlikely to find a better collection of classic PV bands in one place - an ideal starting point for you newbs out there or a excellent addition to any self respecting fan of the genre. All four comps - that's three 12"s and a 7" are here for your listening pleasure.

TRACKLISTING:

Reality (1996)
1. Excruciating Terror - In Control
2. Lack Of Interest - Impeached
3. Despise You - Copied Demise
4. Spazz - Gnome Servant
5. Crom - Hungry?
6. Man Is The Bastard - Tomb Ride
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Reality #2 (1997)
1. Asshole Parade - Soldiers
2. Excruciating Terror - Without Mercy
3. Dystopia - Backstabber
4. Infest - Cold Inside
5. Despise You - Memories Of Tomorrow
6. Lack Of Interest - No Sweat
7. Gasp - Planet Of The Apes
8. Suppression - Gangland Bodystak'em (C.I.A./Mafia Murder Conspiracy) / Human Fear
9. Noothgrush - Encasing
10. No Comply - The Empire Kids
11. Spazz  - Animal Liberation Now
12. Purgatoria - Infamous Deception
13. Man Is The Bastard - Untitled
14. Capitalist Casualties - Sentenced
15. Stapled Shut - Chavala
16. Enemy Soil - Common Ground
17. Evolved To Obliteration - Fucked Up Asshole
18. Bad Acid Trip - Plate Of Shrimp
19. C:###  - Skidmark
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Reality #3 (1999)
1. Crudos  - Sin Titulo
2. The Locust - Dog Without A Collar
3. Su19b - Bullshit Propaganda
4. Infest - Dead At Birth
5. Ruido - You're Not Human
6. Jenny Piccolo - Heavy Metal Weekend / Suicide Cliche
7. Halo Epidemic - Bench Warmer
8. MK Ultra - 52 Fluid Ounces
9. Black Army Jacket - 222 Part II 1998
10. Visual Discrimination - Solutions
11. Charles Bronson - Rich Crusties Shall Pay
12. Peter Mangalore - Gerwalk
13. Dropdead - Us And Them
14. Corrupted - Reference
15. Phobia - Stink Head / State And Enemy
16. Benumb - Liberation
17. Hellnation - Fight With No Fear
18. Bred On Deception - Slave To Convenience
Download

Reality #4 (2002)
1. 324 - Garden
2. Haymaker - Stressed Out
3. Hawgjaw - Embrace The Absence
4. Low Threat Profile - Untitled
5. In Spite - Back Fat Removed With Pickax
6. Manchurian Candidates - In Good Faith
7. Progeria - Either Way / Neglected / Empty Words
8. Toshiro Mifune - Throw Me The Idol, I'll Throw You The Whip.
9. Overpowering - El Feo / Enemigo De Mis Sueños
10. Overpowering - El Que Acecha Desde La Esquina
11. Ruido  - Soledad Cortada / Snuffed Soul
12. Unruh - Fear And Loathing Among The Working Class
13. I Found God - Running Out Of Time
14. Lack Of Interest - Untitled
15. Su19b - Shortage Of Oxygen
16. Damad - Mindmatic
18. Sepsism - Festering Within
19. Stress - The System
20. Self Inflicted- Beware Of The Water
21. Pretty Little Flower- Victorious Insurgence
22. Dudman - Fight Or Flight
23. Lana Dagales - Metamorphosis / Conjuncture
24. Lana Dagales - Extending Capitalist Ladder/The Great Division
25. Bred On Deception - The Gingrich Who Stole Congress
26. H.Pylori - Cycle / In Deep
27. Haloepidemic - 40 Hour Decent
Download

!FUCKED BY NOISE MID-YEAR ROUND-UP! -Berns' Picks.

This year has been full of excellent release and new bands alike. I have discovered some cool noisy tunes all year and well, we're at the halfway point on 2014 so I have made  list of my favourite releases thus far.

1. Lamplighter – Lycanthropy

Genre/s: Hardcore, Powerviolence, Grindcore.

Anchorage, Alaska! This blew me away and my review of this prompted some new freindships. Coolest band, coolest guys and their music will blow you away. It’s filthy, fast and sure it’s hardcore, but it has a lot of grindcore elements, which makes it kinda powerviolency. Lycanthropy by Lamplighter is definitely amongst my top releases.




2. Lack Of Interest/ Bastard Noise - Split

Genre/s: Powerviolence, Hardcore

Old Mates, Bastard Noise and Lack of Interest are at it again and they don’t disappoint to bring you a solid split. Who doesn’t love having their heads kicked in by some powerviolence and experimental stuff every now and then? The Bastard Noise side of things is pretty experimental, which is pretty refreshing especially with some electronics here and there.
 Lack of Interest deliver the tried and trusted Powerviolence noise that we all love and know. They've been in the game long enough, and still they deliver some crushing noise.

3. Teitanblood – Death

Genre/s: Black/Death Metal

Spanish black/death tyrants Teitanblood are at it again and it’s faster, heavier and filthier than ever, but its not all about playing fast or don’t and they got the memo. Sometimes slowing it down, tuning low and playing slow adds atmosphere. Death is a masterpiece by all accounts.






4. BAT – Primitive Age

Genre/s: Speed Metal, Punk, NWOBHM

Defending the underground is something that should never be overlooked and Richmond, Virginia based speed/thrash/punk outfit BAT understand this more than anyone. Primitive Age is a barrage of underground heavy metal done in a gritty kinda way.It’s buzzy and fucking noisy and it has hints of NWOBH in there somewhere. Noisy speed metal punk is definitely a threat again.

5. Cripple Bastards - Nero In Metastasi

Genre/s: Grindcore

The veteran Italian grind mutants are at it again with yet another grindcore release you can really sink your teeth into. Nero In Metastasi is just another way of proving that these bastards are far from done and they haven’t fallen off at all. I really dug this release and it truly encapsulate their sound and mission for all to grind their dicks off to.






6. CagedGrave –  Gutless

Genre/s: Powerviolence, Hardcore.

How is that Australia are at the bleeding edge of noisy, angry and fast music? Who cares, please never stop. Caged Grave is one of the standout bands from Aus and they’ve recently released Gutless and it’s an absolute fucking gem from start to the rather abrupt finish.

7. Cave State -  S/T

Genre/s: Powerviolence, Hardcore.

As far as having a hard-on for start stop style of Crossed Out, these guys execute it to a tee and definitely add their own sound to the style of Powerviolence. The 7-inch to out do all 7-inches this year? Probably. Their self-titled release ripped me a new one and I still bump it at least once a week.

8. Super Fun Happy Slide – Drop your pants and Grind

 Genre/s: Grindcore, Goregrind.

Melbourne based grindcore maniacs Super Fun Happy Slide are at it again with their second full-length titled "Drop your pants and Grind". Super raw old-school grindcore with just a hint of goregrind to keep thing interesting, what more is there to say? Sometimes you just need to drop your pants and GRIND!

9. Anti-SoundxAnti-Life – Demo

Genre/s: Powerviolence, Noise, Hardcore.

Blast as fuck grindviolence from Pennsylvania! Anti-Sound x Anti-Life stay true to their name and just blows you to shit with a seemingly endless barrage of noise from start to finish. Their 4track demo will leave you with bleeding ears. Top stuff









10. Trap Them - Blissfucker

Genre/s: Sludge Metal, Hardcore.

Everything too happy and too poppy around you? The lads from Trap Them will fix that! It's not as fast as the previous releases, but man does it crush. Riff upon riff, upon riff of sludgy hardcore goodness, with the malice you'd expect from Trap Them.