Bile Caster - Writhing Between Birth And Death (Road To Masochist/Cursed Monk Records/Eggy Tapes) [Mark Young]
Three songs. 30 minutes. New glasses.Bile Caster, by their own words are a 3-piece negative sludge metal band who start off with a guitar sound that could be the soundtrack of any natural disaster. Vocals are low, I mean really low and there is a ‘barely hanging on’ vibe running through everything. It is simply crushing, an oppressive pall that comes in and covers all within its reach.
Riffs repeat, drums crash and the vocals of Joe Lander just rumble along, providing a soundtrack that would suit sustained bombing in any theatre of war. This is music that is devoid of any joy, its pleasure is to simply squeeze the life out of you.
Abscess is the audio equivalent, a pain inducing journey into the darkest negative zone you can imagine. Riffs are weaponised, and the colour scheme is black. The build is simple, but to say it is a simple song is to sound dismissive. It has a mission, and it succeeds. If you make it through, the feedback squalls of Trapped await.
Abscess is the audio equivalent, a pain inducing journey into the darkest negative zone you can imagine. Riffs are weaponised, and the colour scheme is black. The build is simple, but to say it is a simple song is to sound dismissive. It has a mission, and it succeeds. If you make it through, the feedback squalls of Trapped await.
Taking Abscess as a template, they push the form further, stretching it, providing a punishing soundscape that is broken by that unearthly feedback and a spoken narrative that is shattered as they burst back to life. It closes out at a near canter, aimed at shaking you up and readying you for the final act.
If there is a song title that mirrors its content, then we have it here. Harrowing unfolds on its own schedule. Moving at a pace that is almost glacial, they wrong foot by injecting a little pace to it before settling back to an almost dead stop. Their riffs here are massive but they don’t rely on that, again employing the narrative to reset and redeploy. It is an exercise in endurance for the listener, but for once you have a band that lives up to their tag online.
If there is a song title that mirrors its content, then we have it here. Harrowing unfolds on its own schedule. Moving at a pace that is almost glacial, they wrong foot by injecting a little pace to it before settling back to an almost dead stop. Their riffs here are massive but they don’t rely on that, again employing the narrative to reset and redeploy. It is an exercise in endurance for the listener, but for once you have a band that lives up to their tag online.
This is some of the most extreme sludge one could listen to, it is like they have found the aural version of the blackest black. There are bands who proclaim themselves as being brutal, but when held up against this they will find that they are left wanting. I can’t say that I have ever heard music that is so dense, that is wrung so tightly with no light able to penetrate it.
Despite it’s three songs, it is a colossal album. It is not for those who require a healthy dose of speed or those who like their music with a little light within it. This is sludge taken to extremes, by a band who know exactly what they want to write and how they want to say it. 8/10
Thrasherwolf - Inside The Sickened Mind (Self Released) [Mark Young]
This is one by fans, made for fans of thrash metal. There can be no doubt as to what you are going to get on here, from the throwback cover to the song titles it knows where it wants to hit and more importantly, who it wants to hit. It’s the second release from the London crowd, and I know there has been plenty of buzz surrounding it. So, I guess all that is left is a comment from me:
If you don’t like thrash, there is nothing for you here. The bands they mention as influences such as Hirax, Slayer and Metallica (assuming the first three albums, although happy to be corrected), again if you don’t like them then there is nothing here for you. On the other hand, if you are looking for a jumping (moshing on?) on band who would be more than happy to point you on the (subjective) right path then stick with us because what you will find is high-end, high-octane metal, end of.
So now that we have cleared that up, what do we have? Well as I said there it’s the sort of album that would have been at home during Thrash’s golden period in the mid to late 80’s as it channels that tunnel vision energy to great effect.
Despite it’s three songs, it is a colossal album. It is not for those who require a healthy dose of speed or those who like their music with a little light within it. This is sludge taken to extremes, by a band who know exactly what they want to write and how they want to say it. 8/10
Thrasherwolf - Inside The Sickened Mind (Self Released) [Mark Young]
This is one by fans, made for fans of thrash metal. There can be no doubt as to what you are going to get on here, from the throwback cover to the song titles it knows where it wants to hit and more importantly, who it wants to hit. It’s the second release from the London crowd, and I know there has been plenty of buzz surrounding it. So, I guess all that is left is a comment from me:
If you don’t like thrash, there is nothing for you here. The bands they mention as influences such as Hirax, Slayer and Metallica (assuming the first three albums, although happy to be corrected), again if you don’t like them then there is nothing here for you. On the other hand, if you are looking for a jumping (moshing on?) on band who would be more than happy to point you on the (subjective) right path then stick with us because what you will find is high-end, high-octane metal, end of.
So now that we have cleared that up, what do we have? Well as I said there it’s the sort of album that would have been at home during Thrash’s golden period in the mid to late 80’s as it channels that tunnel vision energy to great effect.
The lead break / lead rhythm in Final Act Of Aggression is just prime material and kicks off the album with some serious BPMs and from the off they have nailed that aggressive vibe that was a hallmark of the scene. You could argue that the vocal delivery is a little flat, but for me it works as we have come for the riffs. Just the riffs Mama.
And the riffs are king here, as well as healthy doses of palm muted downpicking and they switch between them with almost supernatural ease. GBH is a top example of this, the steady verse tempo replaced by that increase in speed with a little punk thrown in for good measure. I loved it when bands seemed to play almost at the limit of their ability and the opening of Hanging House has that feel, like a roller-coaster that is about to derail.
D.A.D - Speed Of Darkness (AFM Records) [Rich Piva]
D.A.D. were one of those bands that played hard rock, were around in the mid to late 1980s, had long hair, and had some catchy as hell songs, so of course they were all caught up in hair band fever back then, even getting a video with some pretty heavy rotation on MTV, Sleeping My Day Away, which was featured on Headbanger’s Ball and even made the top 10 on Dial MTV for a few weeks, which was what could make a band back then.
And the riffs are king here, as well as healthy doses of palm muted downpicking and they switch between them with almost supernatural ease. GBH is a top example of this, the steady verse tempo replaced by that increase in speed with a little punk thrown in for good measure. I loved it when bands seemed to play almost at the limit of their ability and the opening of Hanging House has that feel, like a roller-coaster that is about to derail.
I know that this is their second album but there is a maturity coming through in how they put these songs together, the way they know when to attack. The mosh part at 2.10 that comes in just top class. Comparing this against technical offerings its so simple but which one is more enjoyable to listen to? There is more fun to be had here especially when the solo kicks in, and the ending harmony parts takes me back to 1988.
What they do is take the best about the genre and then run with it, and sometimes they also take some of the excesses too. I think that being a little more ruthless in song lengths would have made this hit harder. Shameless Loser is an example where they probably could have excised a minute or two and made it more of a blast through. There is nothing wrong with it, the leads are top but having that eye for seeing when a song doesn’t need to repeat a verse or have a verse too many will come. Again, its nit picking on my half.
What they do is take the best about the genre and then run with it, and sometimes they also take some of the excesses too. I think that being a little more ruthless in song lengths would have made this hit harder. Shameless Loser is an example where they probably could have excised a minute or two and made it more of a blast through. There is nothing wrong with it, the leads are top but having that eye for seeing when a song doesn’t need to repeat a verse or have a verse too many will come. Again, its nit picking on my half.
Consumed comes in shorter with a restrained attack that shows that they can write quality riffs at any speed. It has that swinging thrash build to it and it reminds me of Slayer, thinking Fictional Reality, at least in its opening structure. There is an art to writing slow thrash material so that it moves with a perceived speed, and they nailed it here.
However, I wasn’t keen on Haunted (sorry lads). It comes across in a similar fashion to Iron Maiden, with a Fear Of The Dark build for the majority of it. It didn’t fit in with the speed of sound, diamond hard songs that precede it. They do pull that back with the title track as Inside The Sickened Mind channels a super tight picking pattern that should be classed as a cardio workout. This is royal and is just the sort of song that would cause spontaneous fist banging mania when played live. Its when the interlude comes in, that the wheels fall off.
However, I wasn’t keen on Haunted (sorry lads). It comes across in a similar fashion to Iron Maiden, with a Fear Of The Dark build for the majority of it. It didn’t fit in with the speed of sound, diamond hard songs that precede it. They do pull that back with the title track as Inside The Sickened Mind channels a super tight picking pattern that should be classed as a cardio workout. This is royal and is just the sort of song that would cause spontaneous fist banging mania when played live. Its when the interlude comes in, that the wheels fall off.
I think that every band aspires to write a Master Of Puppets, a song that serves as veritable tick box of ideas to be included: Heavy propulsive riffing that falls away to allow a melodic/subtle/less metal section before the electrics come back in. Had they stopped it before the melodic section then we would be celebrating this as a true standout track. That quiet part punched a hole in this, and it doesn’t recover, and it is a shame.
Overall, this is a strong release, one that suffers from possibly a stronger hand when considering song lengths. Also, its fine to look to the past, sometimes it provides the way forward but it’s knowing how and when to apply it will make the difference. There is no doubt that Thrasherwolf have the right tools that is apparent. You just have to listen to this to know that. It also shows that UK thrash is in an amazing place right now, and they have that ability to grow and lead from the front. 7/10
D.A.D - Speed Of Darkness (AFM Records) [Rich Piva]
D.A.D. were one of those bands that played hard rock, were around in the mid to late 1980s, had long hair, and had some catchy as hell songs, so of course they were all caught up in hair band fever back then, even getting a video with some pretty heavy rotation on MTV, Sleeping My Day Away, which was featured on Headbanger’s Ball and even made the top 10 on Dial MTV for a few weeks, which was what could make a band back then.
The song made the top rock tracks chart and the record, No Sleep For The Pilgrims, make it all the way to 116 on the Billboard albums chart. But like a lot of bands that either got grouped into the hair band label that did not really belong or ones that were on the hair/glam side but were so much more, D.A.D. were one hit wonders in the US, for reasons mentioned as well as Disney (of course, because they don’t have enough money) sued the band to take the Disneyland out of their name and the changing musically climate. D.A.D. was and is so much more though.
No Fuel was their third record, and the band has continued on after their limited US success, huge in their native Denmark and over parts of Europe, now up to album number 13, Speed Of Darkness, which keeps up the quality material the band has been releasing since 1985, but doesn’t break any new ground, but at this point, as a fan, do you really need them to?
Speed Of Darkness is a fun hard rock record, with some bluesy leanings and the trademarked D.A.D. sound. The opening track, God Prays To Man, is great, and reminds me of tracks by like minded bands from back in the day like Junkyard and The Four Horsemen. The title track is more of the same, a fun rocker that fans of D.A.D. will dig for sure. I also really enjoyed the rocker Live By Fire and moody Crazy Wings.
Speed Of Darkness is a fun hard rock record, with some bluesy leanings and the trademarked D.A.D. sound. The opening track, God Prays To Man, is great, and reminds me of tracks by like minded bands from back in the day like Junkyard and The Four Horsemen. The title track is more of the same, a fun rocker that fans of D.A.D. will dig for sure. I also really enjoyed the rocker Live By Fire and moody Crazy Wings.
The song that could have been their follow up hit out of all of the 14 tracks on Speed Of Darkness is Keep That MF Down, given how catchy and slick it is, in all the good ways that it can be. There are some really good tracks and some that are just there, as 14 songs is a bit long, but when Speed Of Darkness is good it is really good and a lot of fun.
If you are a D.A.D. fan you will dig this. If you like straight ahead hard rock you will dig this too. Nothing groundbreaking here, just solid heavy rock from a band who has been doing it very well for five decades. Speed Of Darkness is a fun record from a band who has never stopped rocking, even after their one glimpse of US fame. 7/10
Texas Hippie Coalition - Gunsmoke (MNRK Heavy) [Rich Piva]
I feel like I should like Texas Hippe Coalition more. I have all of their stuff but never say to myself that I need to pull some of it out to listen to. I am not sure why. They have a lot of qualities I like; big riffs, Texas stoner swagger, things like that. For some reason though I just don’t listen to the band all that much, fair or not. Their new record, Gunsmoke, is not going to do a lot to change this, I am sorry to say.
Gunsmoke is album number eight, so they are doing something right, just not really for me. I enjoy the opener, Deadman, as it has what I want from the band.
If you are a D.A.D. fan you will dig this. If you like straight ahead hard rock you will dig this too. Nothing groundbreaking here, just solid heavy rock from a band who has been doing it very well for five decades. Speed Of Darkness is a fun record from a band who has never stopped rocking, even after their one glimpse of US fame. 7/10
Texas Hippie Coalition - Gunsmoke (MNRK Heavy) [Rich Piva]
I feel like I should like Texas Hippe Coalition more. I have all of their stuff but never say to myself that I need to pull some of it out to listen to. I am not sure why. They have a lot of qualities I like; big riffs, Texas stoner swagger, things like that. For some reason though I just don’t listen to the band all that much, fair or not. Their new record, Gunsmoke, is not going to do a lot to change this, I am sorry to say.
Gunsmoke is album number eight, so they are doing something right, just not really for me. I enjoy the opener, Deadman, as it has what I want from the band.
Same with Baptized In The Mud, and Bonez Jonez. I find the production a bit too slick however, and the songs somewhat formulaic. The band tends to lean way too modern country in parts too, which for me is a deal breaker. I like slower songs and ballads, so this is not about that, but a track like She’s Like A Song seems forced to me and is a weird one, an almost hair metal type ballad, which again is not necessarily a bad thing but is a weird fit here.
Gunsmoke sounds like an effort to get on country radio but with heavier guitars and really doesn’t work for me. Eat Crow is also a bit too modern country leaning for these ears. When the band decides to rock out, they are way more successful to me, like on Million Man Army and Test Positive, even if it is a bit much and way over produced. I do like the acoustic closer, I’m Getting High and it comes across as the most real song on the record. I am not going to make any friends with my opinions on this THC, but Gunsmoke just seems like it was built in a lab and is too slick and modern country for me.
I am sure there are a number of people who will enjoy this, I am just not one of them. 5/10
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