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

Okay, so I'm caving and posting part of my list early. What that means is that this list is subject to change, although I'm sure the top 10 will remain the same. 2014 has been ridiculously good and I'm so happy with the amount of amazing releases that were put out this year.  Because of the sheer number of things I loved this year, there will be honorable mentions listed at the end because choosing just 10 is impossible. 

Part 1: Demos

Anti-Zen 'Anti-Zen'
This band bridges the gap between anarcho-punk, deathrock, and hardcore punk through utilizing sinister, hypnotic riffs and minimalist, yet powerful drumming. I have a rip of this that I've been meaning to post for a while, so I'll put that up soon.














Gath Šmânê 'Transmuted Marrow'
What we have here is some truly fucked up death metal with heavy influence from bands like Nirvana 2002 and Nihilist (so basically late 80s/early 90s Swedish death metal) but with subtle atmospheric and black metal leanings and plenty of pinch harmonics.

Blank Spell 'Demo'
Blank Spell has members of Cape Of Bats, Haldol, and other Philadelphia based dark punk bands; they play off kilter deathrock infused hardcore punk which is aggressive and chaotic without losing its bleak atmosphere. This is music for trespassing in cemeteries at night.

Slave House 'Demo'
I think I described this band to somebody as "the black metal Gag." Brace yourself for blown out, stomping madness with evil riffs galore. The only raw black metal/punk bands I can think of that surpasse this level of mosh potential are Sewer Drainer or maybe Sesso Violento.

Chlorine 'Demo 2014'
This demo is twisted in the best possible way. Everything about it makes me want to break shit. It's got riffs, it's got breaks, it's got mosh parts, it's got fast parts, it's got noisy parts, it's got weird parts. It came out late in the year, so I'm sure a lot of people will miss it, but this is a band I will be keping my eye on.

Skáphe 'Skáphe'
I'm not entirely sure how to describe this demo.  It's really spaced out, atmospheric black metal like Xothist except it's a little cleaner and possibly a little scarier and it has a subtle hint of death metal thrown in the mix. This is some true nightmare horror black metal madness.













Rash '2014 Demo'
This demo is pretty simple. It's stompy, hyper aggressive hardcore punk.  This is the demo to go to if you want killer punk riffs and way too much mosh. I don't have a lot more to say about this but it's good so listen to it.














Nerium Oleander 'Declination'
Here's another weird demo.  Nerium Oleander plays what can only be described as a mix of atmospheric raw black metal/punk and industrial/noise.  Listening to it kind of reminds me of watching a David Lynch film, or maybe even what it would feel like to be a character in one.













Q "DEMQ" 
This is another straightforward hardcore punk demo.  Every part of it is mosh inducing, from the stompy caveman parts to the stompy d-beat parts. If you like to break things and/or fight dads, this demo is definitely for you.

Naamahk 'Demo 2014'

Although last on this list, this might be my favorite demo to come out this year.  Naamahk combines raw black metal/punk with freaky noise rock to create one of the coolest, most refreshing sounds I heard this year. If SQRM played black metal (yes I already know about Vucub Cane which is just the singer), this is probably what it would sound like. 

Honorable Mentions:
-Haldol 'Demo 2014' (deathrock/hardcore punk)
-Ritual Chamber 'The Pits Of Tentacled Screams' (blackened death metal)
-Disinterest 'Demo' (late 90s/early 00s screamo influenced hardcore punk)
-Shitgrinder 'Life Is Corrupted' (grindcore)
-Choose Death 'Choose Death' (stompy hardcore punk)
-Dilate 'Dilate Demo 2014' (blown out d-beat/raw punk)

Anything you think I missed? Let's fight it out in the comments section.

Xothist - Simulacrum (with split tracks!)

'Simulacrum'
Xothist
2014

Review by Joey

Genre/s: Ambient Black Metal, Atmospheric Black Metal, Raw Black Metal, Black Fucking Metal
For Fans Of: Darkspace, Ashdautas, Paysage D'Hiver, Skáphe

I was shocked that, when this LP dropped, nobody was really talking about it, considering the fact that everyone seemed very excited about the repress of their demo.  Well, if you liked the demo, you'll love this, because it takes everything about the demo that was awesome, and makes it a million times better.

For those of you not already familiar with the Denver, CO project known as Xothist, it is spaced the fuck out, raw, nasty, and almost Lovecraftian black metal which integrates ambient elements much like Darkspace. Except Xothist is much more horrifying than Darkspace (and they haven't let me down). The atmosphere Xothist creates is much more than the fuzz on the recording, it comes more from spacey, dissonant riffs similar to what one might hear coming from CA's Black Twilight Circle (Arizmenda, Volahn, Ashdautas, Tukaaria, etc). This -- to be clear in case some black metal nerd thinks I'm saying otherwise -- is not a Black Twilight project, and to my knowledge, Xothist has no affiliation with them.

Splitting the tracks wasn't too hard, but it took some time, especially since there are two tracks which are not listed anywhere. I highly recommend this, it's one of the best black metal releases of the year.

Tracklisting:
1. Intro
2. Assembly
3. A Dull Integration
4. Grief
5. Blossom
6. A Binding
7. Outro

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Sewer Drainer - Sewer Drainer

'Sewer Drainer'
Sewer Drainer
2012

Review by Brayden Bagnall

Genre/s: Blackened Punk, Hardcore, Raw Black Metal
For Fans Of: Bone Awl, Sexdrome, Sesso Violento, Redflesh, Euthanizer

Released in 2012 by masters of the esoteric, Ascetic House, this self titled tape from Sewer Drainer sounds like someone broke the window to a particularly noisy window to hell.
Embracing both the mysterious guy hardcore AND the mysterious black metal aesthetic, Sewer Drainer deliver four untitled tracks of stompy black punk bliss in the foulest, ugliest way possible.
Furthermore, the vocals on this thing are just the most ridiculously unhinged and gnarly barks I've heard on a blackened punk/hardcore release. I mean, the only words I could discern on this entire thing were 'die', over and over again - which speaks for itself really.
Frustratingly enough, this is the only thing Sewer Drainer have done and despite the quality of the tunes encased within IT JUST ISN'T ENOUGH. Rest assured these guys are probably in a hundred other different bands, making some other neat music, but maaaaaaaaaaan I'd kill for another release. Anywhoo, snag this one below and prepare to punch a small child. For satan.

TRACKLISTING:
1. Untitled
2. Untitled
3. Untitled
4. Untitled

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Bone Awl - Discography

'Discography'
Bone Awl
2002-2011

Review by Joey

Genre/s: Raw Black Metal, Blackened Punk
For Fans Of: Ildjarn, Rudimentary Peni, Garrotte, Black Boot

You’ve probably heard the name Bone Awl or at least seen some of their artwork floating around the internet.  Let’s face it, their artwork is pretty cool. But their music is just as awesome.  

He Who Gnashes Teeth (guitars/vocals) and He Who Crushes Teeth (drums) are the masterminds behind this raw black metal punk assault. They started in 2002 and take heavy influence from bands such as Ildjarn and Rudimentary Peni so you can guess what they sound like.  If you’d like a proper description, their sound is drenched in fuzz and feedback, underneath which can be found simplistic, dark riffing and driving, primitive drumming. These guys helped pave the way for modern raw black metal/punk bands such as Black Boot, Sewer Drainer, and Garrotte.  

Both members have gone on to form new projects. He Who Gnashes Teeth put out a tape as Galloping Shadow; He Who Crushes Teeth sings for Raspberry Bulbs.  I’m not entirely sure if Bone Awl is officially over, but to my knowledge they’ve been inactive for a couple years at this point.  

So, onto what you’re getting (because that’s what you’re here for, right?).  The link below contains a download for Bone Awl’s entire studio discography. It does not include instrumental/rehearsal recordings or compilations of their recordings; these are all the original releases. 

Here we go:

• Magnetism Of War (2002)
• Night Is Indifferent (2003)
• Bog Bodies (2003)
• By Ropes Through Dirt (2003)
• Up To Something (2004)
• Volkurah / Bone Awl / Hammer / Vordr (2005)
• Not For Our Feet (2005)
• …So I Must Take From The Earth And Make It My Own (2006)
• Furdidurke / Bone Awl (2006)
• The Rita / Bone Awl (2006)
• At The Eclipse’s Arc (2006)
• Meaningless Leaning Mess (2007)
• Undying Glare (2007)
• Almost Dead Man (2007)
• Night’s Middle (2009)
• Bowing Heads (2010)
• Ashdautas / Bone Awl (2011)
  

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Ash Pool - Genital Tomb

'Genital Tomb'
Ash Pool
2006

Genre/s: Raw Black Metal, Dark Hardcore
For Fans Of: Prurient, Bone Awl, Devil's Dung, Leviathan, Furdidurke, Craft

To just get this out of the way, Ash Pool is better known as "that black metal band with that guy from Prurient in it" but he's ("he" being Dominick Fernow) pretty much left behind the crispy, ethereal synths that characterized some of his work with Prurient, and traded them in for the grainy as hell, feedback oriented aspects that he messed with a bit in Prurient as well. Ash Pool is a strange mixture of black metal and hardcore. I mean that because on some of the tracks the instrumentation sounds just like classic 80s hardcore at times (aside from the vocals) and other tracks switch into more melody-based black metal pieces. This is some pretty bare bones stuff though despite the melodic parts, it sounds like it was recorded on a cell phone camera and then converted into just audio later on, keeping with the "raw" traditions of, erm, raw black metal. Fernow also hung onto his affinity for the sexual but in a bit more (consistently) perverse way as demonstrated by the album cover and the title of the third track which definitely made for an interesting listen if nothing else.

Tracklisting:

1. Lascivious Tyranny
2. Demolishing Obsession
3. First Rape
4. Dragged Down the Cobblestones

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Devil's Dung - Self Titled

'Devil's Dung'
Devil's Dung
2010

Review by Brayden Bagnall

Genre/s: Black Metal, Raw Black Metal
For Fans Of: Haxan, Roman Cross, Vucub Cane, Bone Awl

Dom Fernow and Mark McCoy.
Black metal.
Nuff said.
As much as I want to leave it at that, I suppose I should probably say a bit more. Yes, this is a collaboration between that guy from Charles Bronson and the dude from Prurient, yes it's a Youth Attack release and yes it's pretty darn good.
If you like you're black metal raw, bestial and very sinister, chances are this will be up your alley. While it's lo fi as fuck, you'll be able to discern the drums and guitars easily enough, and boy are you in for a treat there - ferocious, galloping blasts accompanied by grim, tremolos and mid paced dirges. The vocals are more on the mid range,  treated nicely with reverb so they float in and out of the mix like some sort of hellish demon swooping at you.
This is the only release by the duo, but at least both of them have plenty of other projects to keep you going. Still, it'd be cool to see them team up again, they are two of the best purveyors of  underground  punk and noise music in the USA after all.

TRACKLISTING:
1. Griezzell Greedigut Is The Name Of My Inmp
2. Daemonolatreiae
3. Nightshade, Uguent Of The Beldame
4. Vomiting Black Hair And Splinters Of Sheep Bone
5. Monk's Hood

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Bone Awl/The Rita - Split

'Bone Awl/The Rita'

Bone Awl/The Rita

2006

Review by Brayden Bagnall

Genre/s: Blackened Noise, Raw Black Metal, Harsh Noise, Harsh Noise Wall

For Fans Of: Sump, Raspberry Bulbs, Sexdrome, Vomir, Werewolf Jerusalem

HNW meets deliciously blown out raw black metal in this collaboration of sorts. As most of you are aware, Bone Awl are a two man  band who've been terrorizing ear drums with their raw noise-punk tinged black metal since the early 2000s and The Rita is the one man HNW project of Canadian noisemonger, Sam McKinlay (who's been going at it since 1996).
Unlike most splits, that confine each artist to a separate side, this cassette has The Rita and Bone Awl taking turns, which actually leads to some really nifty tie-ins and transitions between each track. The Rita's contribution to this split are slightly more dynamic than some of his other works, with subtle changes and peaks that help distinguish tracks from one another, but make no mistake, it's the same rumble-y, crunchy dense walls of sound you know and love. Bone Awl have taken a similar bass heavy approach with their tracks, and pretty much thrown any notion of distinguishable instrumentation  or songwriting out the window, leaving you instead with the noisiest possible interpretation of black metal where only the occasional vocals and pulverizing, Neanderthal like drums are clearly audible.
The way this split comes together is a big reason why I enjoy it, the flow between each artist is so natural that at times I have a hard time figuring out exactly who is playing. The thick walls of bass and static have this walloping ebb and flow feel to them, and it kinda just wafts in and out of your head, all while beating your poor ears bloody and blue. Gnarly split, gnarly bands and just gnarly in general. Geddonit.

TRACKLISTING:
1. The Rita - Untitled
2. Bone Awl - I Feel Tension
3. The Rita - Untitled
4. Bone Awl - Black Beasts
5. The Rita - Untitled
6. Bone Awl - With My Hands
7. The Rita - Untitled
8. Bone Awl - You're Getting More
9. The Rita - Untitled
10. Bone Awl - What Are You Waiting For?
11. The Rita - Untitled

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NAAMAHK - Demo

'Demo'
NAAMAHK
2014

(Band Submission)

Review by Brayden Bagnall

Genre/s: Blackened Punk, Black Metal
For Fans Of: Sump, Bone Awl, Raspberry Bulbs, Marching Church

NAAMAHK (I think its meant to be in caps) are a rowdy blackened punk band out of Canada, with members of Snake Charmer and Burn Victim within their ranks. Now every man and their beat up drum kit and shitty guitar are starting blacked punk bands, which isn't actually a bad thing at all - there's just a somewhat limited and dare I say homogenized sound that's become the genre's staple.
NAAMAHK's debut genre however has taken upon the trademark sound of blackened punk and kicked it in the teeth, yanked out some hair and given it a fair smack on the rump. It's aggressive, but at the same time a lot more abstract than your average raw black metal release. The guitar seems to have wandered in from a noise rock or post punk band gig, and while it seems to pick up the pace every now and then, it seems pretty content to hammer out some weird twangs and attonal screeches every now and then. The vocals are coated in a glossy sheen of reverb (of course) but they reach some manic, demented highs you don't generally get with these sorts of releases.
All in all it's a solid 12:37 of weirdo punk influenced black metal, and it's super cool seeing more and more noise rock/post punk etc etc influences creeping into a genre that's dominated by tremolo picking and blast beats. Suss out the demo below.

TRACKLISTING:
1. NEC HODIE MORIR
2. C.I.I.H
3. PRODUCT OF SIN
4. SADOMASOCHIST
5. UNTITLED

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Garrotte - I/Count The Almonds

 'I / Count The Almonds'
Garrotte
2009/2010

Review By Brayden Bagnall

Genre/s: Raw Black Metal Blackened Punk, Garage Punk
For Fans Of: Bone Awl, Jackman, Redflesh, Sexdrome, Sejr

Unless you've been living under a rock for the past two years or so, you've probably heard about the amazing punk scene that's popped up in Copenhagen, giving us bands such as Iceage, Var and Lust For Youth. On the rawer side of things are Garrotte, one of the first few black metal bands to pop up, featuring at least one member of Sexdrome (founder of the Posh Isolation record label, Loke Rohbek). Essentially a garage punk band with black metal vocals, Garrotte is about as raw as you can get while still remaining listenable. This here is a collection of their only two releases (excluding their track from the Gra Fraktion comp, which you should totally listen to by the way), with I being the faster, uglier release and Count The Almonds a more dirgier, laid back affair. Absolutely killer stuff from one of the most exciting music scenes today - expect to see more stuff from Posh Iso on here in the near future.

TRACKLISTING:

I
1. Hand
2. Head
3. Men Genitals
4. Women Genitals

Count The Almonds
1. No One
2. Count The Almonds
3. Once

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A Pregnant Light - The Feast Of Clipped Wings

'The Feast Of Clipped Wings'
A Pregnant Light
2012

Genre/s: Raw Black Metal, Hardcore, Post Black Metal, Blackened Punk
For Fans Of: Sump, Bone Awl, Integrity, Raspberry Bulbs

A Pregnant Light is something of an anomaly in the world of black metal. The one man band (led by a fellow who goes by the name 'Deathless Maranatha') does not abide by any of the usual genre constraints - the band sports a strong purple aesthetic, there's no strong Anti-Christian agenda and musically it's all over the place. APL's disregard for genre norms means you'll get 90s metalcore riffs, layered with black metal howls drenched in a layer of reverb or lush guitar tremolos a la Deafheaven. If you want an interesting, lo-fi black metal listen, I strongly recommend looking into this.


TRACKLISTING:
1. Liturgical Invocation
2. Under Consult Of The Dragon
3. Temple Prostitute
4. Odorless Smoke/Heaven's Burnt Horns
5. Impurity Flowing Upwards
6. The Scroll Unfurled Further Still...

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Vvlad - Demo

'Demo'
Vvlad
2013

Genre/s: Raw Black Metal, Blackened Blues, Atmospheric Black Metal, Blackened Noise
For Fans Of: ????

According to their facebook, Vvlad are a 'One man cigarboxguitar black blues metal' band, and that seems to be a fairly fitting moniker. While they do dabble in blues (there is an amazing cover of 'Where Did You Sleep Last Night?'), Vvlad taverse the realms of blackened noise, atmospheric black metal and dark ambient. The lo-fi recording, coupled with the unique choice of instrumentation lend itself to a really dark, murky atmosphere that just sort of wafts in and out of your head with the greatest of ease. This demo, among heaps of other weird, cigarbox black metal curiosities are available for free on the Negromancy bandcamp.

TRACKLISTING:
1. Side A
2. Side B

Bandcamp

House Of Apparition - Spectre Tape

'Spectre Tape'
House Of Apparition
2012

'An ungodly miasma of noise'

I'm fairly new to this whole Black Metal thing, and while I'm still trying make sense of the vast catalogue  of BM releases out there, I've found some pretty neat stuff.
Enter House Of Apparition's 'Spectre Tape'.
This bad boy was limited to 100 copies (according to Discogs) and is a fine example on how to make 'listenable' raw black metal. These guys play USBM with slight punk leanings that is both primitive and gloomy. House Of Apparition don't spend a great amount of time creating intricate soundscapes or atmospheres, rather they let the horrendous cacophony of their instruments produce a hazy, distortion ridden racket. If you're new to black metal, like me, I'd give this a listen as it's a good introduction to the rawer side of the genre. If not, I'd recommend it anyway, the band really do live up to their name in terms of the ghostly, dark music they create.

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