Cows - Cunning Stunts

'Cunning Stunts'
Cows
1992

Genre/s: Post Hardcore, Alternative, Noise Rock
For Fans Of: Cherubs, Cosmic Psychos, Karp, Killdozer

Cows were a post hardcore band that towed the line between noise rock, punk and blues - and still managed to sound coherent, somehow. In their 9 years as a band, Cows established their niche sound, throwing melody, dissonance, humour and disregard for conventional style into a blender to create an oddball offshoot of alternative rock. Singer Shannon Selberg's whiny drawl, as well as his bugle (I shit you not) and harmonica playing add to the eclectic nature of the band, and along with the distorted guitar riffs and strange song structures it's almost like this band is trying to alienate you from their music. Cunning Stunts was Cows' third album, and while it does show signs of the band taking on minor 'pop sensibilities', it's still a scuzzy, roughly hewn noise rock album at heart.

TRACKLISTING:
1. Heave Ho
2. Walks Alone
3. Contamination
4. Mr. Cancelled
5. Mine
6. Midnight Cowboy
7. Everybody
8. Two Little Pigs
9. The Woman Inside
10. Terrifique
11. Down Below

12. Ort

Download

Omotai - Terrestrial Grief

'Terrestrial Grief'
Omotai
2012

Genre/s: Metalcore, Sludge, Post Metal, Noise Rock
For Fans Of: KEN Mode, Fight Amp, Cave In, Old Man Gloom

On Terrestrial Grief, Omotai bring a plethora of heavy genres together in unholy matrimony, to create 11 tracks of metallic chaos. Am Rep madness meets the like of Georgian metal (Kylesa, Baronees, Mastodon etc) as the three create and absolutely massive sounding record. The songs vary between lightning fast thrash riffing, dissonant chords and progressive noodling, while drummer Anthony Vallejo and singer/guitarist Sam Waters trade off with their hoarse, gruff vocals. All in all Terrestrial Grief is a well rounded album: the brawnier metal parts blend well with the cold, mechanical technicality of the songwriting along with album's more noisier, discordant sections.

TRACKLISTING:
1. Vela Hotel
2. This is for Zora
3. Spanish Constellation
4. Spidercave
5. Seabitch  
6. Terrestrial Grief  
7. Lurching Away
8. Orison  
9. Life in the Hive  
10. Hollow Innards  
11. Yuri

Download
Bandcamp

Dressed In Wires - Puke Sculptures

'Puke Sculptures'
Dressed In Wires
2002 - 2012

Genre/s: Noise, Dark Ambient, Drone, Experimental

(Band Submission)

From what I could piece together from some rather obtuse bios and descriptions, Dressed In Wires is an experimental solo project that dabbles in the realm of laptop noise. This discography spans every possible genre and sub-genre within the experimental electronic category - with over an hour's worth of material you'll hear everything from bleeps, guitar drones, severely fucked up beats, harsh metallic noise and static walls. It's a very impressive collection of horrible sounds, and the range of textures and noises are mind boggling. Well worth your time, providing that you're willing to submit your ears to a bit of punishment.

TRACKLISTING:
(Presented as one continuous track)

1. This’ll Be Our Little Secret, If You Tell Anyone I’ll Rip Your Mouth Out
2. Dressed Um Wire, He Make Um Fire! Uuh! RUHH! .......nggNnggng! Uhg! UHHG! Um HEAD Um           Fire! NnnnUNG!!
3. Chopped Up In A Bath As Well, Which Is About Fucking Typical
4. Your Body Learns
5. And Every Car Was On Fire, Which Is Most Unlike You
6. Shock & Awe Motherfucker
7. It Brings The Out Yeast In Me
8. Whale Stomach
9. Play Nice
10. Ayalah
11. Captain, Shit!!! We've Hit A Noiseberg! It's A Bit Like An Iceberg, But It's Made Out Of Noise And         The Penguins On It Are Dead Grumpy
12. Paedophile Fence
13. Bodies Of Teenage Girls Cut From Car Wreckage
14. Blood Touching Glass
15. The Dead Swell
16. Zoo Begins Look Into Hearts Of Apes
17. Miscarriage, Where Were You?
18. Drool; Mewl, Too
19. I Will Survive And What Will Be Left Of Me

Download
Buy/Support

Skin Like Iron - Arrival

'Arrival'
Skin Like Iron
2011

Genre/s: Hardcore, Crust
For Fans Of: Cursed, Tragedy, Young And In The Way, Ekkaia

Skin Like Iron are a rather prolific hardcore band, and among their releases is a split with Nails - though this four piece band could not be more different from the beefy metal/hardcore juggernauts.
Skin Like Iron play a melodic style of hardcore, with nods to crust punk, neocrust and d-beat some forays into experimental and post-rock. Led by furious, snarled vocals that tow the line between crust punk and black metal and surprisingly bright guitars, Arrival is certainly a unique album in terms of hardcore.

TRACKLISTING:
1. Arrival
2. Blame
3. Legion
4. Silence Swells
5. Freeze
6. Blame II
7. Consequence
8. Dim Horizon

9. Reason Refrains

Download

Gnaw Thier Tongues - Eschatological Scatology

'Eschatological Scatology'
Gnaw Their Tongues
2009

Genre/s: Black Metal, Blackened Noise, Industrial Metal, Avant Garde Metal
For Fans Of:  Deathspell Omega, The Howling Wind, De Magium Veterum, Portal

Gnaw Their Tongues is one of a few solo projects from Netherlands musician Maurice De Jong. A vile concoction of avant garde and black metal,Eschatological Scatology has a pervasive, foreboding atmosphere of chaos, terror and madness. Maurice De Jong's excellent use of sampling, noise and layers along with regular instrumentation (guitars, drums etc) lends itself to an immense wall of sound; there's just so much going on at any given second that you'll need multiple listens to take it all in. Plus the use of orchestral instruments gives certain parts of this album an almost 'bombastic' feel (think Hans Zimmer meets black metal), which makes for an interesting contrast to the whirling vortex of noise. This is by no means a conventional black metal album, it's way cooler than one, and it is most certainly worth subjecting your ears to.

TRACKLISTING:
1. Eschatological Scatology
2.The Messianic Downfall
3. Deepwood Bodytrap
4. Lash Cultus
5. Master I Am Done
6. A Sinister Lurking Grave
7.The Golden Altar Burns
8.The Atrocious Angel Of Scatology

Download

Eddy Current Suppression Ring - Rush To Relax

'Rush To Relax'
Eddy Current Suppression Ring
2010

Genre/s: Garage Rock, Surf Rock, Punk, Indie
For Fans Of: The Wipers, Wavves, Hot Snakes, The Gories

If you happen to like beaches, Australian accents and single coil guitars, boy have I got the album for you. Eddy Current Suppression Ring are a garage rock foursome from Melbourne, Australia who take minimalism to whole new levels. Recorded in just six hours, this album is raw, genuine and very rough around the edges. Rush To Relax ducks and weaves between frantic punk energy, laid back surf-rock vibes and raucous garage rock jams, while singer Brendan Suppression rants and raves his way over 10 tracks - yet somehow it's still one of the most mellow, laid back albums I've ever listened to. Give it a listen, zone out and just chill.

TRACKLISTING
1. Anxiety
2. I Got A Feeling
3. Tuning Out
4. Gentleman
5. Walking Into A Corner
6. Second Guessing
7. I Can Be A Jerk
8. Burn
9. Isn't It Nice
10. Rush To Relax

Download

Sara Stain - Void Blossoms EP

'Void Blossoms'
Sara Stain
2013

Genre/s: Grindcore
For Fans Of: Jenny Picolo, Mother Brain, Syntax

Sara Stain are a three piece band from Ohio, and with this EP they've put out an absolutely phenomenal selection of grind tunes. I've heard literally nothing about these dudes on the interwebs, which is a real shame given the quality of their material. This is straight up grindcore, with spitfire raspy, throat shredding vocals and absolutely relentless songwriting. Do yourself a favour and check this one out.

TRACKLISTING:

1. Void Blossoms
2. Tiffin Tuff
3. CYAL8TER
4. Hunter St. Blues
5. Teenage
6. Kinda Butthurt
7. Hi-Bar
8. Sick Ooer

Download
Bandcamp

Slug Guts - Playin' In Time With The Deadbeat

'Playin' In Time With The Dead Beat'
Slug Guts
2012

Genre/s: Post-punk, Noise rock
For Fans Of: King Snake Roost, The Birthday Party, Iceage, Bird Blobs

Slug Guts are a post punk outfit from Brisbane, Australia, who have been cranking out some dark, gritty tunes since 2009.  While they have a sound that definitely recalls some of the more dissonant, post punk of the 1980s, the deranged vocals (somewhere between Nick cave, Captain Beefheart and David Yow), the saxophone and innovative guitar keep things fresh and interesting. It's a messy brew of oddball sounds, held together by solid bass lines and some pretty catchy riffs - and it all comes together to from an album that has a distinctly 'Australian' sound.

TRACKLISTING:
1. Scum
2. Old Black Sweats
3. Suckin' Down
4. Moving Heat
5. Order Of Death
6. Adult Living
7. Black Sports
8. Playin' In Time With The Deadbeat
9.  Glory Holes
10. Strangling You Too
11. Blonde Hairs
12. Do You Wanna Hang Right There?

Download

California Love - Reaping The Whirlwind

'Reaping The Whirlwind'
California Love
2007

Genre/s: Powerviolence, Grindcore
For Fans Of: Hellnation, In Disgust, Low Places, Final Draft

You'll be hard pressed to find a more menacing, evil powerviolence record than this one. On this debut LP, California Love play a nasty-ass crusty grindcore/powerviolence hybrid that just lays waste to everything around it. The songs have the classic start/stop, fast/slow dynamic but boy do they do the slow parts well - they're oppressively heavy, miserable and just plain filthy. It's safe to say that California Love would also make a very accomplished sludge band. You don't see as much of these guys on the net as some of their fellow PV peers, but that's not to say it isn't a fan-fucking-tastic listen. Get it below.

TRACKLISTING
1. Inherit The Earth
2. Human Unkind
3. Under The Crosses
5. Aversion Therapy
6. Inflictor
7. Stumble To Failure
8. Approaching Oblivion
9. Of Flesh
10. Legacy
11. Wolf Feast

Download

Swing Kids - Discography

DISCOGRAPHY
Swing Kids
1994 - 1995

Genre/s: Hardcore, Post Hardcore
For Fans Of: Retox, Refused, Some Girls Head Wound City

Swing Kids were an excellent mid 90s hardcore band that left quite an impact - though they also left behind a criminally short discography. One of Justin Pearson's many, many, many bands, Swing Kids played angular, dissonant hardcore with intelligent and irregular song structures. This is a collection of amazing tunes that capture the melting pot of genres that was San Diego's punk scene in the 90s. This discography is 9 songs (including a Joy Division cover), and while it's a very short listen, it's quality stuff. I should also point out that the band put out a self titled EP in 2009 with an updated version of 'Situations On Mars' and a brand new track.

TRACKLISTING:
1. El Camino Car Crash
2. Line #1
3. Blue Note
4. Clean Shade Of Dirty
5. Warsaw (Joy Division cover)
6. Disease
7. Situations On Mars
8. Forty Three Seconds
9. Intro To Photography

Download

Whirr - Distressor

'Distressor'
Whirr
2011

Genre/s: Shoegaze, Dreampop
For Fans Of: Nothing, My Bloody Valentine, Deafheaven, True Widow

Admittedly, I'm fashionably late to this whole 'shoegaze' thing. Its been around for decades, and its  had something of a renaissance with bands like Deafheaven incorporating into their post-black metal and MBV releasing a new album, so it was probably about time I checked it out. I was introduced to Whirr by a friend - and while I was not expecting much, my cold, dark heart was moved by the dreamy, warm sonic vibes this EP here put out. I like my music as abrasive and un-listenable as possible, yet I like this. Whirr are a noisy band, don't get me wrong, but rather than channeling their energy into complete audio terrorism, they mould it into this ethereal monolith of sound, with an ebb and flow that just washes over you like thousands of fluffy bunnies. The vocals (both male and female) fade in and out of the fade, and are almost like another musical instrument, contributing to the many textures that make up this release. I get it if you're willing to pass this up - there are no blastbeats or growls or screaming - BUT, if you want to get into the genre, and you want to embrace your softer, more friendlier musical brethren, this is a good place to start.

TRACKLIST:
1. Preface
2. Leave
3. Blue
4. Ghost
5. Meaningless
6. Child
7. Sandy
8. Leave (Demo Version)
9. Meaningless (Demo Version)

Download

Siberian Hell Sounds - Siberian Hell Sounds

'Siberian Hell Sounds'
Siberian Hell Sounds
2013

(Band Submission)

Genre/s: Dark Hardcore, Metalcore, Sludge, Doom
For Fans Of: Trap Them, Left For Dead, Black Breath, Cursed, Young And In The Way

Taking their name from the infamous 'Well To Hell' hoax, Siberian Hell Sounds are a three piece metallic hardcore band from my hometown, Brisbane, Australia. Embodying the darker elements of hardcore, and borrowing elements of their sounds from the more grim spectrum of genres (black metal, sludge/doom, grindcore etc etc), Siberian Hell Sounds' music should appeal to anyone with an appreciation of heavy music. There's plenty of awesome vocal work courtesy of the band itself and numerous contributors from the local hardcore/metal scene here, top notch riff work that goes from 'kvlt' to 'throwdown worthy' in the bat of an eyelid and a just this cool, dark, menacing aesthetic that I really dig. These guys have plenty of merch up for sale on their bandcamp, as well as a pay-what-you-want digital download of their debut release, go support some awesome talent and snag yourself some brilliant music while you're at it.

TRACKLISTING:
1. Bastard Machine
2. A Cold Presence
3. Infernal Hurricane
4. The Tallest Horn
5. Tension
6. Reign Of The Bastard
7. Streets Of Piss
8. Burning Breath/Exhale Death

Bandcamp

Scholastic Deth - Final Examiner

'Final Examiner' (Discography)
Scholastic Deth
2001 - 2002

Genre/s: Thrashcore, Fastcore
For Fans Of: Laarm, R.A.M.B.O, Infest, Charles Bronson

Scholastic Deth were a short-lived, but nonetheless influential thrashcore outfit on the famous 625 Thrashcore label. The band put out some awesome tunes in their one year lifespan, a delicatessen of short bursts of feedback, blastbeats and whirlwind fast hardcore riffs. Backed up by some pretty humorous lyrics ranging from political to morose, bratty and aggressive vocals - this is one discography your collection needs,

TRACKLISTING:
1. The Revolution Will Not Be Posted On Ebay 
2. Killed By School 
3. WWHD? 
4. UC = Unhindered Capitalism 
5. Spring Fever 
6. Said Said 
7. Literaly Illiterate 
8. Kill The Message Board 
9. Bookstore Bore 
10. Cheetos 
11. Mentally Fumigated 
12. Coffee Cures Everything 
13. Time To Rock 
14. We Think Metal Music Is Awesome But... 
15. Pugnatious Bibliorific Erudism 
16. Drop The Bomb 
17. Book Attack 
18. One Day At A Time 
19. Kill 'Em With Politics 
20. Sham(e) 
21. Old People Are Dumb 
22. Revenge Of The Nerds 
23. Nows The Time 
24. On The Road Of Life... 
25. Bring It Back... 
26. Fuck It, I Quit 
27. Scene Of The Spectacle 
28. PMA 
29. Rock Together 
30. Bookstore Core 
31. Options 
32. Xtreme Equals Mainstream 
33. Shackle Me Not! 
34. Warcore I: Politics Of Total War 
35. Warcore II: War By Timetable
36. Tomorrow 
37. Simplified But Amplified Recommended Reading (Unreleased)
38. Shit Peddlers Aka Wiltpolitik 
39. Trust Fund Aka No Bike Messengers In Russia
40. School's Out 
41. PMA 
42. Literaly Illiterate 
43. Drop The Bomb 
44. Revenge Of The Nerds 
45. Options 
46. Bookstore Core 
47. Killed By School 
48. Nows The Time 
49. WWHD? 
50. Xtreme Equals Mainstream

Download

Noisear - Subvert The Dominant Paradigm

'Subvert The Dominant Paradigm'
Noisear
2011

Genre/s: Grindcore
For Fans Of: Discordance Axis, Cellgraft, Brutal Truth, Gridlink

There are grind records that floor you - and then there are grind records that take a sledgehammer to your cranium and don't let up until all that reminds of your puny little head is a puddle of blood and brain matter on the floor - 'Subvert The Dominant Paradigm' being one of the latter. Taking cues from the technical brilliance of Discordance Axis, injecting some experimentation a la modern Brutal Truth and ramping up the speed and ferocity by about 120%, Noisear steam roll through this album's 46 minute long run time. The shrieks, growls, blasts and pinch harmonics that make up this monstrosity are made even more impressive by the fact that the band had literally 48 hours to write and record it. Granted that technically only twenty-five minutes of this album are actual songs, but that's probably the best part - they finish the album with a lengthy harsh noise track. As if twenty nine songs weren't enough brutal enough! It's a perfect way to end a suitably punishing release.

TRACKLISTING:
1. Breaking Bad at the Mulberry
2. Waiting to Be Born
3. Gestapolis
4. Inevitable Extinction
5. Global Warning
6. Fraudulent
7. Information Highway to Hell
8. Stress Pandemic
9. Inoperative
10. Deformed by Society
11. The Rail
12. The Alternative Is...
13. Blackout
14. Slave
15. Ace Is the King
16. The Last Spark of Resistance
17. Life Consumed You
18. Ignorance Is Bliss
19. Minefield
20. Fighting Addiction
21. Borealis Storm
22. Poisonous Cure
23. Four Walls
24. The Perpetual Downfall Of Man
25. Translucent
26. Almas Por El Infierno
27. Silent Guilt of the Reaper
28. Contaminants of the Earth
29. The Blackened Sea
30. Noisearuption

Download

Gay Witch Abortion - Maverick

'Maverick'
Gay Witch Abortion
2009

Genre/s: Stoner Rock, Psychadelic, Noise Rock, Garage Rock
For Fans Of: Hex Machine, Blue Cheer, Boris, Black Sabbath

Aside from having one of the best names in modern music, Gay Witch Abortion churn out some dangerously fuzzed out, rhythmic, pulsating noise. For a two man group (guitar and drums) the band's output is massive - writhing textures that pound your skull with repetition, psychedelic textures and moments of surprising aggression. 'Maverick' is primarily instrumental - with more structured, riff oriented songs and some full-blown, noise freak-outs.  Bolstered by Jesse Bottemly's weird, floating and powerful vocals and Shawn Walker's tribal drumming, this album comes together superbly. Plug this in, listen to it loudly and zone out.

TRACKLISTING:

1. Down with Giants
2. Stain on the Floor
3. Action Cop
4. Unblinking Sun
5. Third World Limo
6. Your Own Militia
7. Church Buffet
8. Group Think
9. Girl Pop Soda
10. Wavey Graves
11. Curses
12. Scythian Sculls
13. Asleep In The Dirt

Download

So Stressed - Attracted To Open Mouths

'Attracted To Open Mouths'
So Stressed
2012

(Band Submission)

Genre/s: Noise Rock, Punk, Alternative, Experimental
For Fans Of: Broken Prayer, DZ Deathrays, Tera Melos, Pink City

So Stressed are an experimental punk/noise rock band, though that moniker hardly does them justice. On 'Attracted To Open Mouths', the band lay out a veritable feast of genres so varied it boggles the mind. On one hand, So Stessed are an atonal, noisy cacophony reveling in distortion, weirdness and a complete disregard for common musical convention. On the other hand, they're an upbeat alternative rock band, swimming in a sea of fuzz and feelgood vibes. So with these ridiculously diametrically opposed sounds, how does the band keep things coherent? Well they're just so damn good, that's how. Things go from dance-punk to no-wave, to Pixies-esque melancholy to full blown musical nihilism a la Happy Flowers. It's a constantly varying soundscape that'll lure you into a false sense of security and then sucker punch you. I like an album that'll make you scratch your head, and doesn't feel the need to stick to one specific sound, and 'Attracted To Open Mouths' ticks both those boxes.

TRACKLISTING:
1. Adults
2. A Fisherman's Feasts
3. Little TV
4. Secret Breasts
5. Animals Seeking Political Asylum
6. Hairstyles
7. Molly
8. Astronomical Horse

Bandcamp

Full Blown A.I.D.S - Full Blown A.I.D.S

'Full Blown A.I.D.S' 
Full Blown A.I.D.S
2008

Genre/s: Grindcore, Sludgecore
For Fans Of: Anal Cunt, Soilent Green, Eyehategod, Arson Anthem

Seth Putnam (R.I.P you crazy asshole) may have been a despicable human being, but his musical output is some unrelenting, repulsive music. Full Blown A.I.D.S is no exception - a beastly concoction of sludgy hardcore and  ferocious grindcore that's delivers a hefty punch to the testicular region. The down tuned guitars and Putnam's unique, polyp inducing scream are a menacing duo to behold, and this one big-ass chunk of sonic filth just waiting to burrow its way into your brain. This here is a essentially a discography (a total of  two EPs, plus an AC/DC cover), snag it below and inflict some damage upon your hearing.

TRACKLISTING:
1. No-one Cares
2. Track Team
3. It's All Fake
4. Stupid Bitch
5. Trash Picker
6. Alcoholic
7. Leech
8. For Those About To Rock - We Salute You
9. Fact Finder
10. Everything
11. Throwing Cars At People On Coke With Thor

Download

Limits - September Demo

'September Demo'
Limits
2013

(Band Submission)

Genre/s: Hardcore, Dark Hardcore, Powerviolence
For Fans Of: Coke Bust, Left For Dead, California Love, Gehenna

It always makes  my day when I see a band submit their stuff to me, and while I may take my sweet time  (sorry, by the way) getting it up onto this blog, I'm always happy to get some cool new music out there to the masses. ANYWAY, what we have here is some awesome up and coming sonic devastation in the form of Limits, a Straight-Edge hardcore/powerviolence band from Philly. While it's a lo-fi demo, the quality of the material is excellent - 9 punishing tracks of brutality that borrow heavily from powerviolence, sludge (and doom) and classic, meaty hardcore (a la Boston). The raspy vocals are great, the tempo changes from glacial to VERY FUCKING FAST are even greaterer and don't even get me started on the beatdowns they thrown in there.  Here's hoping they release more excellent stuff further down the track.

TRACKLISTING:
1. Bereft
2. Get Out
3. Empty Shell
4. Both Ends
5. Drown
6. Enough Pressure
7. Clearing
8. Void
9. Tourist

Bandcamp

!UPDATE!

HELLO

So, it's been pretty quiet on the F.B.N front (mostly because I'm fucking lazy) but I've got some kick-ass band submissions to throw your way very soon, as well as some more awesome downloads - as soon as I get around to writing up the reviews. In the meantime, go check out my new solo project!

http://autoclavedeath.bandcamp.com/

Tusk - Get Ready

'Get Ready'
Tusk
2002/2005

Genre/s: Grindcore, Mathcore
For Fans Of: Hewhocorrupts, Graf Orlock, Ed Gein, Gaza


Tusk are a sadly defunct band with members who now play in Pelican, though the two bands couldn't be further apart. Tusk trade Pelican's glacial pacing and dense soundscapes for a barrage of blastbeats, savage riffs and shrieked vocals. Keeping the ferocity and brutality of grindcore, injecting it with the complexity and precision of mathcore and giving it a healthy dose of hardcore and metal energy; this release ducks and dives through chugs, tremelos and sudden tempo shifts. This is an utterly pummeling album, though one that does not sacrifice intelligence and variance for the sake of meatier riffs and pointless breakdowns. This band has described their sound as 'Discordance Axis by way of Yes's 'Close To The Edge', and if that doesn't intrigue you, than you cannot be helped.

(Note: This is the 2005 release of the album, so it comes with a few extra live tracks. Neato!)

Tracklist:
1. Dragon Mountain Trick
2. Uptown Nights
3. Make A Mess
4. Get Ready
5. A Animal Has A Nice Day
6.  Green Love
7. Blood
8. Six-Act Descent To The Lower Reaches
9. So Long, Farewell
(Live Tracks)
10. A Animal Has A Nice Day
11. Make A Mess
12. Dragon Mountain Trick
13. Green Love
14. Six-Act Descent Into The Lower Reaches
15. Blood/Uptown Nights

Download