Corrupt Leaders- Grindmother 5" review

Corrupt Leaders- Grindmother 5” review

This is definitely pure grindcore.  I don’t know if it’s your grandmother’s grindcore, but it sure is loud, abrasive, fast, heavy, and appropriately annoying.  A definite departure from their DOOM/Extreme Noise Terror vibe they gave off on their self-titled 7”.  It’s short enough that it’s no harm done if you’re not into it, cuz the worst thing that happens is two minutes gone.  Best thing that happens is you get 120 seconds of headbanging in.  I’ll bet on the latter being more likely.

-Aunty Social

P.A.W.N.- Summer 2014 tape review

Payload of Atomic Warhead Nightmares- Summer 2014 tape review

Sounds like a d-beat raw punk band with a bit of an evolution in proficiency (in song-writing, sound quality, tone, almost everything).  Aside from the bass being almost inaudible, everything is a step up from the last tape.  Two old songs, three new ones, and a new singer make for an evolved group, though they have many more steps to climb as well.  The sound is improved, but the band would greatly benefit with a more controlled guitar sound, turning up the volume on the bass, and an increase in the sound of the cymbals.  That would do the band justice, no doubt.  The lyrics are some of the usual anti-war/anti-system stuff you’ve come to expect of bands employing exclusively black and white imagery.  Still relevant to our world situation, however.  The name of the band is a friggin’ mouthful, but they still have the potential to go places.  Who’s got the 10 ½?

-Aunty Social

Collapse- Apocalyptic Key EP review

Collapse- Apocalyptic Key EP review

What an EP!  A jarring mixture of genres with unique and fascinating words shouted over top of it, Collapse’s second effort is no doubt both an expansion and an improvement from their previous EP.  The music hits hard, a perfect anthem to capture the anger underlined in the lyrics written by the band.  These words are not only well-written, they are a breath of fresh air (even if you disagree with what they have to say, you will wind up agreeing with this).  Songs about suicide, friendship, the government, and drugs are all interesting at times, but they can also get blasé rather rapidly.  This is something different, and it’s sure as hell worth your time.  They call it hardcoredoompunx, and although this isn’t very snappy or catchy, it’s accurate.  Read the words, jam the songs, and experience something new.

-Aunty Social

Skaven- Discography review

Skaven- Discography review

Crusty west coast sludge dirtier than almost anything of its time, Skaven’s small but sinister discography is a precursor to the American crust bands of the modern era.  Raspy, somewhat discernible vocals, clear but still animalistic in energy, were not a common vocal type, but went on to be used fairly frequently.  The guitars, though dirty and tuned down to emphasize heaviness, still possess enough drive to be “punk”, although this would not succinctly describe Skaven’s sound to any but the most unfamiliar of individuals.  The bass is blended into the overall guitar sound well, but there does remain some distinction between them, the former having a very punchy sound.  The drums, though the driving force of the overall sound, are not set in their speed, speeding up and slowing down all over the songs.  The overall mix is excellent; everything is distinct, clear, well-blended, and alters as is appropriate for the atmosphere of the sound.  This is also a mix of the dirty punk and metal primitivism and the unending artsy and melodic complicated-ness, as hardly any bands had done before this.  The lyrics are much the same- at times primitive, other times artsy, and often mixed together.  Too bad this band only lasted for a couple of years- these songs rip and could have evolved only further.  If nothing else, this reminds me slightly of the evolution of His Hero Is Gone into Tragedy.

-Aunty Social

Payload of Atomic Warhead Nightmares- demo tape review

Payload of Atomic Warhead Nightmares- demo tape review

Feedback-laced, noise-drenched, d-beat drum beat filled punk rock.  Walking the line between homage-paying and creating unique sounds, P.A.W.N.’s sound is akin to the likes of Assrash, State of Fear, Disclose, and Confuse, but doesn’t blatantly rip off the music created by these bands.  The lyrics are what one might expect given the name of this band:  Nuclear holocaust, ruins of the aftermath of said occurrence, the ignorance of politicians and those who put them into office, etc.  You’ve heard this time and again, but it never ceases to be fun and at least somewhat informative.

-Aunty Social

Captive Bolt/Gary Francione split EP review

Captive Bolt/Gary Francione- split EP review

An interesting mix of forces here, done in an atypical way, unlike most splits.  One force is a band, the other a professor with strong opinions and the four songs are a split in an AB-AB format, rather than the usual AA-BB one.  Aside from that, this EP has some vegan teeth, being very opinionated and bordering on angry.  Too, the politics is not an interruption in what one would usually experience listening to an informed argument and a hardcore punk band- the anger, energy, and focused but not hopeless negativity of the band and the organized, logical, professional, and non-dismissive but opinionated attitude of the speaker.  This is highly recommended for punk/hardcore fans, vegans and non-vegans, and those who simply enjoy fast music and wise words.

Captive Bolt’s two songs never relent on energy or opinion, and can start a pit just as much as they can start a conversation.  Gary Francione’s spoken word tracks are very interesting to listen to and dissect, logically speaking.  The argument is sound; there are few, if any, fallacies in the words he says.  Although his assumptions and preconceived notions of “truth” as he sees it are relative and I don’t necessarily agree with all of them, I fully understand his point of view and it makes logical sense, but the presumptions he has that are of pure opinion are not my bag, so to speak.  Still, there’s much to be said for one who doesn’t shame someone else for having a differing opinion, and still manages to make logical sense- much respect on that regard, as it has truly given me something to consider.  Two thumbs up.

-Aunty Social

Collapse- Disarm EP review

Collapse- Disarm EP review

Gritty, soft-spoken, hard-hitting, introspective, meaningful, angry, proactive, hardcore punk.  The lyrics and vocals are enough to put one on edge most of the time, but the driving sounds of the music make that all the time.  The ending part of the song “Fuck You I’m Done” is as edgy and balls-to-the-wall as it fuckin’ gets for hardcore punk.  This song even incorporates some Crucifucks influence:  “I brought in the mail, I did my dishes, I cut up coupons, I watch the neighbors washing their car”- it’s very comparative to the lyrics in the Crucifucks’ song “By The Door”, in that it is bizarre, intriguing, and inspired to bring about a very violent outburst.  The rhythms in “Disarm” are intoxicating, almost droney (there’s a song about droneys, too), like an early Killing Joke, a la their song “The Wait”.  The frothing, furious, vicious, vindictive words of this song drive one to the same anger the singer has about the subject matter (disarming a rapist- can’t say it’s a bad idea, so long as they get an opportunity to speak for themselves in court; vigilante justice by the one wronged is A-OK too).  It’s interesting, if not inspirational.  The rest of the tunes fucking slay just the same- though it’s hard to nail down any one band this group is influenced by, it’s still familiar, in a way.  Loud, heavy, fast, deep hardcore punk with energy bursting at the seams- this is one of the best new-ish Detroit bands I’ve heard in quite some time.  Get these songs- NOW.

-Aunty Social

Opposition Rising- Get Off Your Ass Get Off Your Knees 10” EP review

Opposition Rising- Get Off Your Ass Get Off Your Knees 10” EP review

Unlike the LP and the sound started by the preceding band Mouth Sewn Shut, the first three songs are strictly hard-hitting, heavy, misanthropic hardcore punk.  “Guilty” is about the distrust in one’s fellow man and inverse to the principles of the judicial system (the only realistic approach for a cynic or a pessimist).  “No Way Out” is a discussion of how those involved in the scene, much as they try to get out and live a “normal” life, don’t seem to be able to, and should instead accept one’s existence as a cog in a countercultural machine.  The ‘lifers’ of this social scene, the ones who have really stuck around for an extensive period of time, really ARE in it for life, whether they have the absolute desire to be or not.  “I’m an Infidel”, even though it sounds like an advertisement for a particular type of wine (zinfandel, for those who are wondering), is the angriest, hardest song on the record.  Rather than criticizing one religion, it points the finger at the evangelical/Abrahamic religions, who condemn nonbelievers as so-called ‘infidels’ who must face conversion or destruction.  A very memorable tune.  The B-side is completely different than the A-side; the first song “Get Off Your Ass, Get Off Your Knees” is in the tune of the Mouth Sewn Shut/first album, in that it has the upbeat ska/reggae tone mixed with the anarcho punk undertones in the lyrics and vocals.  It is very danceable and catchy, for all those who enjoy the bubblegum sensation of catchy, danceable song.  The last song is a remix of songs on the first LP into a slower version; a medley, so to speak.  Nothing new, but it’s easier to understand the lyrics, which is good in a way.  Packaging on the record is nice, though I think it could have fit on a 7”.  Nice work.

-Aunty Social

The Kalashnikovs- Dead to Rights CD review

The Kalashnikovs- Dead to Rights CD review

A mix of the blunt left-wing anarcho punk of Crass and Conflict and the skate punk vibe of JFA, Circle Jerks, and the U.S. Bombs, this is political punk rock incarnate.  Though very left-wing in its foundation, it is born more of a pro-union, working class, and less of an academic perspective that a lot of politicized punk rock comes from.  The music is usually pretty decent- the mix is good, the vocals raspy and angry, the guitar plodding away at chords at an accelerated pace, and the bass and drums following with.  A couple of songs do stick out, but most are not great in their flow of words, so they fall on overworked ears and are not too memorable.  However, given that the words are granted greater importance, that is what one ought to pay more attention to.  More of a musical vehicle for a philosophical idea- not bad for such a thing.  Worth the listen, but might be better as a four to six song EP rather than a full-length CD.

-Aunty Social