Colossal Spin

Mysterious songs from a band that may no longer exist.

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3 out of 5 CSpin fans say this was the most kickass version of Circle ever created. Also the most punkiest, radicalest and feedbackiest. Science does not lie, bitches.

And once again making an appearance: that goddamn mixing bowl. AND that Sano amp. (We think, but we really can't remember--we were too hopped up on Zimas at the time).

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Yeah, you heard right: this song is called Cannibal Dreams. It's not what you think. Or maybe it is. Eh, whatever.

This tune comes from that lousy-quality demo tape from 1994. But the kids liked it, so here it is.

That wonderfully rich Sano accordion amp makes a solo appearance the beginning (that's the tremolo sound you hear). Also of interest: a metal mixing bowl is used as a drum. That bowl got the crap beat out of it. 

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One of the best piano outro solos EVER played... is on this song (we think). 

Another "WTF" moment from our post-metal Duelling Suzis phase that totally helps to destroy our industrial street cred. But whatever. It's a great little tune we think: full of nice lo-fi acoustic guitars, ethereal pianos and minimal construction. And let's not forget a chorus that goes "Naaaa, na, na." Seriously? Hells yes!

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It doesn't get any more vintage than this! "Believe" is one of the first songs Zurich wrote. Ever. It was way back in 92 or 3 in his parent's basement in Lancaster County, PA.

His approach would set his style lyrically and thematically, as well as shape his vocal approach to come--that deep Peter Murphy rasp started in an earlier version of this track. The song definitely has an 80's/Goth vibe to it, especially the two-minute "Lost Boys"-esque intro. Sure, it sounds long now, but listen and get lost in the ambience: it's totally worth it. Colossal Spin would eventually add this song to their live set for a few shows where it became a fan favorite.

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A moody, dark song about the weight of existence. Good times, eh? This track was the antithesis of the boppy, upbeat song that followed on the Duelling Suzis album: "Call My Name".

Some lovely female vocals complement Zurich's lamenting at the end of the track. Overall, this was one our most complex and minimal tracks, weaving a lovely piano base through lightly-complex rhythms and a moody bass line. And, yes, that's an upright bass you hear. Not the typical Colossal Spin fare by any means.

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So raw and unpolished, and so delicious! This one just screams electropunk.

Sink your teeth into one of the original versions of "Stone". More industrial than the "official" version from the v2.1.7 release, yet oddly more musical and melodic. This was recorded on a cassette 8-track back in 1994 and has held up well thanks to a mixdown onto Digital Audio Tape.

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[Fresh new remix:] This intense industrial dance floor remix will cause you to scream in ecstasy, cut yourself, pump your fists and move like hell. Killing your Jezebel soul has never been harder. She will make you FEEL, boys and girls. Jezebel rises again in the 21st century. 

[colossalspin]

Another haunting synth composition, this fan favorite is from the Duelling Suzis album. This was one of the last CSpin tunes created on the old ASR-10 (rack-mount) (still used by hip-hop artists around the planet). The overall soundscape was punched up by none other than a cheap PC sound card midi synth from 1995. It just goes to show: it's not the tools, it how you use them.

[colossalspin]

Another sub-woofer-shredding deep-drums remix for you, straight from the pits of hell! One of our fan favorites from the 90's gets the 00's remix treatment just in time for Y2K.

That screaming squelch from Reptile is back, this time riding on top of some pounding, in-your-face drums that threaten to tear your arms off. And then that boom-bass boom comes in to destroy the room. In the middle of all this is some pretty sinister-sounding yet strangely-laid-back vocals. "Slither in your hole..." What? Woah.

From the 2000 Duelling Suzis album.

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This song screams industrial metal totally tweaked out on high-speed crank. We throw it all at you on this one--grinding 303 bass, crunchy Marshall stacks, echo pianos, falsetto dream vocals, sped-up breakbeats, power drums, reverbs as big as the universe.

From the 2000 Dueling Suzis album, we now find it funny that this track was first released on Mp3.com in the heady days of Napster, considering that one of its main lyric refrains is "You just want something, something free". Ah yes, we all certainly do, don't we?

[colossalspin]

Love your Blog:)

Awesome. That's one fan and counting. Even we hate our blog, but the music is ok.

Tell your peeps they can download our music for free, we'll be uploading "new" music every week to:  http://soundcloud.com/colossalspin

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› New Remix › › This is sonic richness--a 2011 ambience-and-drum-charged remix of our 1996 song, Vein. Slip on the headphones and chill. Steve Roach would be proud.

[colossalspin]

Hey, now here's a song with a message and IT FUCKING ROCKS. This kick-ass thick groove was a favorite in the live set for the obvious head-banging reasons. And there's a piano.

This version was pulled off of a cassette tape, so sorry for the bad quality. It's all we had left after the studio we recorded this at went under and jettisoned our source tapes before the song could be properly mixed. But at least we had this rough mix on cassette floating around. Bummer.

"A message?" you say. Why yes, it does. Figure it out. Or not. This was another rapid write--not quite as fast as Ultraviolet, but close. Zurich crafted the basics in an afternoon.

On this particular track is the killer drum stylings of Bobby Rae Mayhem. Hey Bobby, if you're out there give us a call. We want our groove back.

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This odd little track was recorded in 2000 but never released. So we guess it's NEW MATERIAL! Originally slated for the Duelling Suzis album, this song was among five or six that were cut because they didn't fit thematically with the album. Ha! Like albums matter any more. Man were we stupid...

Still, the tone of this track was quite different from anything we had released before, and we really weren't quite sure what to do with it. A bit of David Bowie-style vocals, a bit of -gasp!- pop influence, a bit of rock, a bit of screaming guitars... what the hell is this thing? So, after a decade of sitting on a hard drive in obscurity, now we share this with you. 

Lyrically, this song it pretty damn interesting. Take a listen and see if you can untangle the madness. 

Let us know what you think about this one: weird, cool, stupid, all-of-the-above?

[colossalspin]

Stone, from 1996. This can only be described as a monster metal wall of sound. This song started out a joke for some university buddies back in '93 or '94, but by the time this version was recorded in 1996, the lyrics and music got together and made an all self-important baby that was probably one of the most "take-yourself-too-seriously" of all the Colossal Spin songs. 

Ironically, it makes very little sense to those outside the twisted head of Zurich. The object (both gender and nature) of the song changes several times throughout the lyrics, but one thing is clear: some people treat others badly and it sucks, but don't let it get you down. 

We love the in-your-face Marshall stacks cranked up to 11 on this one. And Zurich's vocals are in real fine form here. Classic Colossal Spin.

[colossalspin]

More vintage CSpin material coming this wknd. We have tons for u. For now check out the stuff on our site: www.colossalspin.com

[colossalspin]

And now for something completely different... a symphonic, ambient composition worthy of the 90's.

This track was a "bonus" on the 1996 v2.1.7 EP. We use "quotation marks" mainly because we always wondered at how this song found it's way on to an otherwise rocking collection of tunes.

Well... enjoy it, if that's your thing.