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Deathwish Inc. is now on Bandcamp!

Great news this week as Deathwish Inc. is on Bandcamp. Although their downloads through their website are fine, and convenient, the ability to get lossless files and keep them in the Bandcamp app is a big plus. Deathwish is one of, if not the, premiere labels in hardcore/aggressive music. Pumped to see all of their catalog available and at reasonable prices. Get your fill here: http://deathwishinc.bandcamp.com/ Now you have no excuse not to listen to the best band in punk you haven't heard, Self Defense Family.

Try Me by Self Defense Family

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TrenchRot - Necronomic Warfare (Review)

Yeah yeah, the old school death metal resurgence is everywhere these days, but so much of it is just a rehash that doesn't really do anything for me. The problem with music that is in an older style is that contemporary bands tend to find the three genre conventions they like, or associate with the genre, and play only those. Snoozefest. Not so with TrenchRot. There's motion in this music, I wouldn't dare say groove (a dirty word in death metal circles) but it moves as well as having an old school feel. And damn does it move, and "gasp" has some melodic lines. I read they recorded this on a shoe-string, but it certainly doesn't sound like it. Get on this! Available on their bandcamp for $7

Necronomic Warfare by TrenchRot

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Beyond - Fatal Power of Death (Review)

Iron Bonehead is becoming a label to watch, their release of Bölzer's Aura earlier this year made waves, and any self-respecting death metal fan needs to add Beyond's Fatal Power of Death to their collection, stat. You know what happens when you write a song with hooks that also pays homage to old school death metal? You have a can't-lose proposition. Just check out 2:17 of Merciless at Heart, seriously. This thing is hook laden, headbanging fun with enough musicality to shun being labeled knuckle dragging. Get. It. 6.66 Euros over at Iron Bonehead's Bandcamp.

Beyond - Fatal Power Of Death by Iron Bonehead Productions

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Wolvserpent - Perigea Antahkarana (Review)

The word wizards over at Last Rites did an excellent blog post on drone today, and so I decided to do a little listening of the oft maligned genre at work. Perhaps it's an inaccessible style of music, but it's also excellent for cranking through reports at the old day job. It's a shame Wolvserpent hasn't gotten more love on 2013 best of lists, because this 80+ minute monster is a ringer. At first you think it's going to go all USBM Cascadian style on you, but then it belts you with superb doom riffs, and drones out. Each song clocks in at a pretty hefty running time, but each throws ropes from their musical towers allowing you to grab on and climb; whether they be in the form of trance-like beats or the almighty riff. $9.99 on bandcamp, but you can also snag an Amazon mp3 version for $4.95 if you're into that kind of thing.

Perigea Antahkarana by Wolvserpent

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Integrity - Systems Overload (Remix) (Review)

Integrity is a band which needs no introduction, and Systems Overload also needs no intro. So, what to review? Well, how about this new remix of the Systems Overload that presents a rawer more stripped down version of the album. Production in the 90's was often enamored of slick digital sounds that just don't sit right with current day ears that want more space between instrumentation and a warmer sound. Although this mix is touted as being rawer, it's also beefier, and for $1 on Holy Terror's bandcamp, how can you go wrong?!

INTEGRITY "Systems Overload" (remixed version) by HOLY TERROR

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Hell Yeah! Colloquial Sound Recordings on Bandcamp

Colloquial Sound Recordings has finally arrived on bandcamp. I'm glad that these purveyors of the avante garde made the jump. Although buying mp3s from their own website isn't too difficult, bandcamp is a better platform. I can't get enough of the stuff these guys are putting out, personal recommends are A Pregnant Light, Dressed in Streams, and one of my fav releases from last year: Aksumite's Prideless Lions. This is going to show up as 3 different posts because bandcamp and tumblr aren't playing super nice right now and my minimal coding skills can't figure out how to embed more than one player into a post.

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Aksumite's Prideless Lions sits on a seemingly impossible perch between 80's hardcore, black metal, punk and heavy metal. It's sufficiently lo fi and presented with blemishes in tact; at one point the guitar line drops out a moment too soon, which is an addition rather than subtraction to the music. Add on the topping of passionate reverby vocals, and it slays.Prideless Lions by AKSUMITE

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Dressed In Streams plays passionate black metal with a real head banging and experimental edge. (Just check 6:19 of No Atonement, I had to stop writing this post to office mosh) With the rise of Deafheaven, hopefully more bands expanding the sound will also be swept up in the current (pun absolutely intended). Dressed in Streams should be one of them.The Search For Blood by DRESSED IN STREAMS

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And, of course, A Pregnant Light who have multiple releases up on CSR's page. As an intro to this lo-fi experimental goth blackened metal (which features a member of Aksumite) go with Live to Tell, which features a disarming cover of the Madonna track. On the other three tracks, reverbed to infinity howls are accompanied by grooving punk/goth/black metal that may answer the question: what if the Cure wrote an experimental metal album. In a style so married to tradition, here is another standout. Live To Tell by A PREGNANT LIGHT

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Nekrofilth/Speedwolf - Shock Troopers (Review)

Split 7" are such a pain in the ass in digital form. itunes/bandcamp/etc. never know how to classify these recordings, making them difficult to find sometimes, particularly complete. This came out in 2012, but since I hadn't heard it, it was as good as new to me. Nekrofilth features the ever prolific Zack Rose (Nunslaughter) making simple and filthy, but catchy tunes in the vein of Venom by way of DRI. The first track references the zombie film of the same name, and truthfully, of the two, you're better off getting the plot of the movie from the song. Speedwolf handles the figurative side b, bringing their dirty motorhead worship in full force. Available in a couple of ways on bandcamp. If you like the Nekrofilth side alone, you can grab that on their page. Otherwise the full release is available over on Doomentia's bandcamp. $3 for the nekrofilth tracks, or 4 Euro for the full release.

Shock Troopers / Breakin' Down by NEKROFILTH / SPEEDWOLF

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Bone Sickness - Alone in the Grave (Review)

A few weeks ago I reviewed Bone Sickness's demo as a precursor to the release of their full length. This LP has been getting plenty of buzz on the internet, (pitchfork?!) but, as was confirmed by the responsive purveyor of the 20 Buck Spin twitter account, buying through bandcamp works out the best for the label and the band. So, for your digital needs, look no further than 20 Buck Spin's bandcamp. As for the album, all of the elements that made the demo such a banger are here, and with improved production values to boot. Bone Sickness's take on punk infused death metal is fast, fun, and kills. Plus, that cover art! It reminds me of the Gore Shriek comics from the 80's, which is an appropriate association. Get yours for $5.

Alone In The Grave by Bone Sickness

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Hell's Headbangers Compilation Vol. 6 (Review)

Back in the day label samplers were given away like candy at your local record shop, or sold super cheap at shows. They were a great way to discover bands you had never heard of, or, conversely, bands you knew you could avoid. With the explosion of online media, it's pretty easy to track down and listen to just about anything you want these days, but there are two key components missing in this formula: 1.) The serendipitous discovery of a band you had never heard of simply through hearing their music and 2.) someone to curate the best of the best into a cohesive whole. Enter the online label sampler. I appreciate that Hell's Headbangers (and other labels, like metalhit) are putting these out. HH didn't do a half assed job with this compilation, either, and it shows. New tracks by Witch Cross and MIdnight, plus the best of HH's roster are a win. This is the metal mixtape you need. FREE Download on Hell's Headbanger's bandcamp.

*FREE* HELLS HEADBANGERS - Compilation Vol. 6 by HELLS HEADBANGERS Records & Distribution

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Bone Sickness - Demo (Review)

With the release of Bone Sickness's proper 12" this week, it's only fitting to review their prior demo release. This thing is raw - if it were a steak, you'd probably send it back, raw - but all of the (ahem) bones are present to show why this band is getting so much hype. Bone Sickness rock some fast, old school death metal, that contains quite a few elements of grind, and dare I say a touch of hardcore punk, which all add up to a demo that slays. Standout track: Strange Obsession really gets my head banging, and it's nice to see a band trade the tech infatuation of death metal for sheer muscle. Available for $2 from Inimical Records bandcamp.

Bone Sickness - Demo by inimicalrecords

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Relentless - Marked For Death (Review)

Sometimes you want to listen to music that just sounds like a HULK Smash. When you're in that mood, Relentless's Marked For Death is your new go to. This fits in nicely alongside All Out War, Figure Four, Merauder, and the like. The biggest hurdle to overcome with this style, though, is that if it's not done right it is as boring as all hell. Relentless circumvents this pitfall with aplomb; they could have also titled this one "For Those About to Mosh" and at 4 songs, it's the perfect length. Available for Free on their Bandcamp page.

Marked For Death by Relentless

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Infiltrator - Infiltrator EP (Review)

If there is any justice in the world, Infiltrator will be one of the biggest names in metal in the next year. Throwback sounds are all the rage these days, old school death, old school black, and old school doom have all had quite a resurgence, and if Darkthrone's latest is any indication, speed metal isn't going to be left out. So, what current act should bear the speed metal torch? I posit that you look no further than Infiltrator (whom I've written about in a prior post). The new EP is fast, gritty, organic and it shreds harder than pretty much anything that has hit these earholes in the past few months. The new EP features 2 re-recorded tracks from the demo, 1 new track Hordes of Hades (Deathbangers) and a balls to the wall cover of Bathory's Sacrifice. Even though 3 of these songs were released in some form or other in the past, the updated recording of the demo tracks, and the new track make this one well worth your time. Available as a Name Your Price download on their bandcamp.

Infiltrator EP by Infiltrator

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Metalhit is now on Bandcamp!

Get in on some awesome metal, just added by metalhit.com on bandcamp! I spy Cryptopsy, Inquisition, Midnight, Speedwolf, Weapon and a ton of others. As far as I've gathered, all albums are $4.95. That's quite a deal on this St. Patrick's day!

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Of Feather and Bone - False Healer (Review)

The best thing about having my own blog is I don't have to be impartial about bands my friends are in. Fortunately, with Of Feather and Bone that doesn't matter, because this shit rips! 6 songs of bleak, brutal, pissed off, crusty hardcore goodness is what you get here. There are a lot of bands out there who are heavy, but forget to go hard. Sure, you'll bob your head to them, but do you want to put a fist through a wall? OFAB is fist through a concrete and brick wall recoiling in horror at your bloody stump and moshing into oblivion anyway, hard. Good dudes & good jams that don't forget to get you riled up. URMOSHIN. Currently this is only streaming on their bandcamp, but you can pre-order the cassette for the grand sum of $3.50 over at Outlast Records. Limited to 100 copies. Get it!

False Healer by Of Feather and Bone