Who Uses Amps?

Who Uses Amps? A couple of music nerds fanboying hardcore. We write reviews.

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CHECK THIS NEW BECK TUNE:

Mr. Beck has graced us with "Blue Moon," the first track from his highly-anticipated new album Morning Phase. Let me tell you, this song is really good. Like, really good. I haven't stopped listening to it since I saw Pitchfork's link an hour and a half ago. It sounds like he took all the best parts of Sea Change, Guero and Modern Guilt and wrapped them up in this beautiful little 4-minute package, and I really really hope that it's indicative of the quality of the rest of the album - his first since 2008 - because it's SO GOOD. 

Morning Phase comes out February 25th on Capitol Records Preorder it here or here.

- J

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New Music from RUINE (mem. Magrudergrind, Mutilation Rites)

Yesterday, Noisey premiered the first song from the brand new sludge project Ruine. We don't know a lot about Ruine yet, except that it's members include Magrudergrind frontman Avi Kulawey and Mutilation Rites' drummer Justin Ennis. Other than that, we know that the band will have an album out sometime this year.

Now I've never been big on Magrudergrind (or grind in general, for that matter) and Mutilation Rites is one of those bands that I know I'm supposed to like but haven't gotten around to hearing. That said, it should come as no surprise that I do like good sludge. A lot. With that in mind, this tune is everything I could hope for from a new band. The riffs are just exceedingly heavy and the song as a whole is downright filthy (which, if you couldn't tell from the name of the genre, is a good thing in sludge). So click that ol' play button and give the song a spin.

- J

Via Noisey

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HEYO HEYYY CHECK THIS NEW DISCLOSURE CLIP

If you're not already familiar with Disclosure, then you should be (because you're missing out on one of 2013's best electronic records as well as some really wonderful house and garage tunes). Their debut Settle came out last summer and took me by storm. Anyhow, today they released a new video for one of the album's standout tracks, "Grab Her." It's bizarre and wonderful and you should watch it now.

- J

Via Thump | Buy Settle

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First Glance - Periphery - "Clear" --FULL ALBUM REVIEW--

So if you are not fucking freaking out about this go ahead and snort a few lines of coke then come back. As of today (1/14/14) Periphery is streaming all of their new project "Clear" The thing about this album is that is has the potential to re-write how albums are made in the future. The basic idea is that the first song is a collaboration, while the others are pretty much whatever that member wanted to write. Because each member periphery can basically write, record, and mix their own track, that is a somewhat recap of what they are doing. BUT ONTO THE REVIEW. Overture - this song is the opening track and the multicollab that they band put togeather. Its very dream theater sounding, which doesn't matter because i fucking love DT. My guess is the boys have been spending alot of time with uncle Jon. (Jake and Jon are nephew/uncle) Short and to the point, because we are all here for the later tracks, so this is just to tease you all. The Summer Jam - This is jake's song. It again is very dream theater-esq, but in no way a rip off. Personally i think this song is going to be amazing live, much like how jetpack is currently. The main thing that stands out is the vocals for me, the quality is just amazing. Feed the ground - This is matt's song. Now i'm a drummer, so i want matt's dick (who doesn't?) I love the bass mix in the beginning, not overpowering but not so weak you can't hear it. As soon as the full band kicks in you get a taste of periphery doing what they do best. The song seems to have a maze effect, with alot of unexpected twists and turns as it goes along, keeping you sucked into the listening experience.  Oh and don't even fucking get me started on when the "group" vocals near the end. This is going to be simply amazing live.  I don't think i need to review the end to that song, ask the little friend in your pants what he thinks. Zero - Misha's song. The intro riff gets you hooked right away with a classic periphery sound. This is the first song off the album that i feel you can truly appreciate the 3 different guitars. As with any song Misha is the main writer for, you can tell what each instrument is doing by themselves, without one taking more attention then another. As the song goes on, you get a nice transition from the heavier riff work into more traditional prog elements with a modern twist. With the lack of vocals, the guitars really do most of the story telling, and it is done VERY well in my opinion. The parade of ashes - This be sponce yo. This honestly was the song i was most looking forward to hear, and i was NOT let down. The intro gives off a NIN vibe, and who the fuck doesn't love that. This song honestly sucks you in right away and shows who the fuck spencer is. If you have seen him live you know how amazing his vocals are, with Periphery: II the big song for him was Ragnarok, when he hits that high note a manly tear is shed. This song takes that amazing vocal range and puts it to the test. Spencer really does take the reigns of the song and yet not of the riff work is lost with it. Then when the solo comes in it shows that, hey, periphery actually can play their guitars people. With the subtle hints of the piano and electronic work in the mix just to bring it to that next level. Then the song ends just as strong as it starts. Warning: you will find yourself unable to stop dancing around to this track. Extraneous - Fucking Nolly. This song is the closest thing you will get to periphery playing meshuggah. And there is nothing wrong with that at all. the rhythm section keeps playing this crazy parts that just start to pump you up, and then the guitars just bring it to the next level. Honestly this song is going to just be called the djent shugshug rip-off. but who gives a fuck, it is awesome and to the point. A bit short, but what you do get is perfect. Pale Aura - MarkMarkMark. The intro is amazing, just like every other song. Another great song showing off spencers vocal ability. This song reminds me of a good mix between Periphery: II but with the new things the band is adding with the rest of Clear.  Oh, and when that blast and scream come in. You will need new pants. Really the transition from such a heavy scream and the drums going off like you've never heard matt play before. right into the subtle melody, and then the chorus just brings you right back into the action. This song is the perfect closing track to the album, and its just as good as the rest. Overall, this album is amazing. it was everything i was hoping for and then some. I'm a fanboy but who gives a shit, check this thing out and realize why this band is as big as the are. Each song is so different and yet so similar. There isn't enough good things I can say.  Clear comes out January 28th. Buy it as many times as you can.

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Lyrics to Altar of Plagues' Teethed Glory and Injury Now Available!

guys GUYS guys:

The lyrics to Altar of Plagues' stellar Teethed Glory and Injury (my #2 album of 2013) have been released! This comes as a great surprise to me, as James Kelly made it pretty clear in what he called the final Q/A session on  Altar of Plagues that he had no interest or intention of releasing the lyrics to the public. 

Nonetheless, the lyrics appeared today on Profound Lore's website. It's not completely clear whether or not this was Kelly's decision or a decision made by the label, but what's important is that they are available. 

In my brief write-up of the album, I touched upon what lyrical content was intelligible to the unaided ear, and while I still believe that the fact that so little of it could be understood was vastly important to the listening experience - allowing for increased focus upon the music and composition, as well as setting the tone for the album - this will permit significantly increased understanding of the themes Kelly was trying to communicate. Sure, one could have previously appreciated the complexity of the music (and there is quite a bit to appreciate), but having the access to the lyrics is absolutely huge.

So go check them out here. Teethed Glory and Injury can be streamed here, purchased from Profound Lore here, or purchased from Altar of Plagues here.

- J

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London's Lvcifyre have a new album coming out this month and the album is streaming now. This is the first time I've heard of Lvcifyre (although they've been around since 2007) so I took it upon myself to learn a little bit about the band as I listened. Here's what I could garner from their facebook page:

Their sole influence is Satan

Their two original members "T.Kaos" and "T.Slutsodomizer" were "both involved in the death-breath erection of Adorior."

Their band interests are "darkness" and "ancient dragon."

I don't know about y'all, but I can get behind all of that. All jokes aside, this is some top-notch blackened-death that Lvcifyre have provided. I've always been a bit of a sucker for blackened-death (Behemoth was my introduction to both black and death metal, after all) so I may be a bit biased, but I don't think that's the case - this is just really good music. As of writing this, I'm 8 tracks through the 9 track album and so far, Lvcifyre is giving me a lot of confidence in metal in 2014. 

Via CVLT Nation. Svn Eater comes out on 21 January 2014 on Dark Descent. Check it out here.

- J

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YO Del the Funky Homosapien (if u dont kno him u probably actuly do u just dont relize it he did this one gorillaz song u may have heard) just dropped an album on us last week and I completely missed it and am embarassed. I'm only 3 tracks in but I'm really digging it so far. 

This is a new FREE LP that is futuristic and fun- but still on some Hiphop shit. Lyrically ill but fun to listen to, nothing super heavy. I did the production on it as well. Hope yall enjoy it, peace.

Oh yeah also the album is free on his soundcloud so that's a thing. This is also the first new music that I've heard in 2014, which is also a cool thing.

-- J

Via Cvlt Nation

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At approximately 8 AM US CST this morning, St. Vincent posted a new track off her self-titled album to her facebook page. The name of this song is "Digital Witness" and it is sexy and groovy and all that is good in the world.

Pre-order the new album St. Vincent here and check out tour dates for spring 2014 here.

- J

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Top 5 of 2013

KoRn - The paradigm shift. Head returns to show that metal is out and computers screaming at each other trying to connect to dial-up while a fat man fucks the exhaust fan-I mean dem wubs yo. The perfect album from the perfect band nammed after a veggie. 

ZANDRIA - From Death To Destiny.  They will play that opener on your bill, They will ruin the show for you, and their fav Foosball team is Ghost. Doesn't matter cuz u h8rz can just fuck off. 

Black Sabbath - One Three. No Bill Ward? Bands too old to move on stage? Still can't understand Ozzy? THE PERFECT SABBATH LINE-UP! Back to the 80's everybody. I'll bring the coke.

Megadeth - Super Collider. FUCK METALLICA AND THAT FAKE PUSSY SHIT. HOLYWARS FOREVER. DAVE IS THE BEST, THOSE RED LOCKS OF LOVE AND FIRE.  *FLUSHES JAMES BUTTFIELD DOWN TOILET* HOLY WARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRSSSSSSS!@!!@!@!@! \M/ \M/

Attila - About that life. If you can't handle the pit. Git out.

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J's Top 15 of 2013

All ranking methods are purely arbitrary

15. David Bowie - The Next Day (rock)

Beyoncé wasn't the only one to pull a Death Grips this year. Bowie's first album in 10 years combined a refined sound with his trademark irreverence in his best album since 1977 and I'll be damned if I didn't love every minute of it.

Favorite tracks: The Stars (Are Out Tonight), Love Is Lost, I'd Rather Be High, Heat

14. Norma Jean - Wrongdoers (metalcore)

If I'd never heard of  All That Remains or Asking Alexandria and you told me that there was this newfangled sub-genre called metalcore, this is what I'd hope it would sound like. Norma Jean's sixth album is extremely well put together and the riffs are catchy as shit. Above all else, the album sounds genuine - something modern metal (and metalcore in particular) is severely lacking.

Favorite tracks: If You Got It at Five, You Got It at Fifty, Wrongdoers, Sword in Mouth, Fire Eyes, The Lash Whistled Like a Singing Wind, Triffids

13. Danny Brown - Old (alt. hip-hop)

There are (at least) two sides to Danny Brown, and both are exceptional. Have you accepted Danny B as your lord and savior?

Favorite tracks: Lonely, Clean Up, Red 2 Go, Dubstep, Dip, Float On

12. Inter Arma - Sky Burial (black/sludge/doom metal)

Inter Arma's unique blend of black, sludge and doom metal is heavy as shit. So yeah.

Favorite tracks: The Survival Fires, The Long Road Home, 'sblood

11. Gold Panda - Half of Where You Live (glitch/idm/downtempo)

British producer Gold Panda's followup to 2010's spectacular Lucky Shiner may not be as catchy of a listen, but is certainly just as rewarding. The album is darker sounding than his previous work and sometimes borders on clubbiness, but maintains his ambient qualities and DIY charm.

Favorite tracks: Junk City II, Brazil, We Work Nights, The Most Liveable City

10. Nails - Abandon All Life (powerviolence/grindcore)

Nails is fucking pissed and you should be too. (WARNING: contains the heaviest riff of all time. Not for the faint of heart [see track 10 at own risk]).

Favorite tracks: God's Cold Hands, Wide Open Wound, Cry Wolf, Suum Cuique

9. The Dillinger Escape Plan - One of Us Is the Killer (mathcore)

Top-notch, no bullshit DEP, complete with riffs that make you go "um hey wait heah what"

Favorite tracks: Prancer, When I Lost My Bet, One of Us Is the Killer, Hero of the Soviet Union

8. Childish Gambino - because the internet (alt. hip-hop)

My love for this album may just be the result of short-term infatuation (given that it only came out a few weeks ago) but I really don't think so. Donny G is a gat damn poet with a great ear for melody, and because the internet delivers.

Favorite tracks: WORLDSTAR, Telegraph Ave., Shadows, Sweatpants, 3005, Flight of the Navigator, Zealots of Stockholm [Free Information]

7. Deafheaven - Sunbather (black metal/shoegaze)

If u dont like this album then ur a fuqin melon

Favorite tracks: Dream House, Irresistible, Vertigo, The Pecan Tree, the whole thing

6. Baths - Obsidian (idm/glitch)

Bath's Obsidian is metal as fuqq without being metal at all. It's a dark, brooding piece covering topics like death, suicide, and failed relationships under the guise of popping electronica and sweet falsetto. 

Favorite tracks: Miasma Sky, Ironworks, Phaedra, No Past Lives, Earth Death

TOP 5 LEGGO

5. Poney - Rorschach (psychedelic hardcore)

So these fucks from Madison played my friend's house a couple times this fall/winter and decided that they could just drop one of the best albums of the year on me out of fucking nowhere. The five-piece's blend of melodic hardcore and psychedelia is oddly enticing, and at a concise 37 minutes, Rorschach is just long enough to convey its ideas and short enough to leave you wanting for more. If you live in the midwest and these guys come through your city, do yourself a favor and see them.

Favorite tracks: Octavius, Cat City, Melt Trip

4. Local Natives - Hummingbird (indie rock)

I don't know why I like this band as much as I do, but I do. What I do know is that I was absolutely floored when I first heard "Heavy Feet", which is arguably one of the best tracks. On Hummingbird, Local Natives blend chiming guitars reminiscent of U2 in 1981 with moodiness reminiscent of Radiohead in 2001 and by jingo does it work. 

Favorite tracks: You and I, Heavy Feet, Ceilings, Breakers, Black Balloons

3. The National - Trouble Will Find Me (indie rock)

When I found out that The National would be putting out a new album in 2013, I couldn't imagine it not being at the top of my list for the year. However, that it is only number 3 is not a jab at the album's quality, but rather an indicator of the quality of numbers 1 and 2. As it happens, Trouble Will Find Me far exceeded my expectations, providing some of the greatest moments in The National's career. I wrote a review of the album here.

Favorite tracks: This Is the Last Time, Don't Swallow the Cap, Sea of Love, Humiliation, Pink Rabbits

2. Altar of Plagues - Teethed Glory and Injury (atmospheric black metal)

Altar of Plagues' swansong is a goddamn masterpiece. I mean it. Since it's inception as a style of music, black metal has had one guiding light: to sound fucking evil. While some bands have succeeded, many more have failed. On Teethed Glory and Injury, AoP have both reached that goal and exceeded it. Not only is it evil, this album is downright unsettling. Lyricist and composer James Kelly has refused to release the lyrics for the album, which, when combined with a vocal style that is particularly hard to understand - even for black metal - makes it difficult to know exactly what the album is about. The lyrics that are intelligible, however, are pretty damn terrifying. If hearing a man shriek "I watched my son die, buried" and "God danced around the coffin!" (both from standout track "Burnt Year") doesn't send a chill through your bones then nothing will. Extremely dark lyrics paired with churning rhythms and an affinity for industrial and noise soundscapes, as well as masterful use of negative space, makes Teethed Glory and Injury a truly visceral listening experience and one of the finest pieces of music black metal has ever seen.

Favorite tracks: A Body Shrouded, Burnt Year, Twelve Was Ruin, Scald Scar of Water, Found, Oval and Final

1. KEN mode - Entrench

KEN mode's Entrench is the best album of 2013.

Favorite tracks: No; I'm in Control, Your Heartwarming Story Makes Me Sick, The Terror Pulse, The Promises of God, Romeo Must Never Know, Figure Your Life Out, Why Don't You Just Quit?

- J

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Jon's Best of 2013 - Honorable Mentions

These are my favorite albums of 2013 that didn't quite make the top cut. Some of them were really great albums that didn't quite blow me away, while others I simply haven't been able to live with enough to rank fairly. The list is organized alphabetically.

Disclaimer: there are still a ton of albums that I haven't even gotten to listening to yet because of life

Reminder: Steven and I keep a master list of releases that we've enjoyed right here.

Bonobo - The North Borders Chimaira - Crown of Phantoms CHVRCHES - The Bones of What You Believe  Cloudkicker - Subsume Coheed and Cambria - The Afterman: Ascension Daughter - If You Leave Dead Letter Circus - The Catalyst Fire death&themaiden - death&themaiden Deerhunter - Monomania Disclosure - Settle Drake - Nothing Was the Same The Flaming Lips - The Terror Haim - Days Are Gone How to Destroy Angels - Welcome Oblivion Inquisition - Obscure Verses for the Multiverse Intronaut - Habitual Levitations (Instilling Words with Tones) Jon Hopkins - Immunity Killswitch Engage - Disarm the Descent King Krule - 6 Feet Beneath the Moon Lumbar - The First and Last Days of Unwelcome Maeth - Oceans Into Ashes Malthusian - MMXIII (Demo) Nero di Marte - Nero di Marte NERVES - NERVES Northless - World Keeps Sinking The Ocean - Pelagial Palehound - Bent Nail EP Revocation - Revocation Scale the Summit - The Migration Skeletonwitch - Serpents Unleashed The World Is a Beautiful Place and I Am No Longer Afraid to Die - Whenever, If Ever Weekend Nachos - Still

- J

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Year-end lists, incoming

First up my  honorable mentions, and then my top 15

- J

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Childish Gambino - 3005

The answer is no, I do not know why I love this video so much, but I do. What's important is this song is really awesome and so is this album.

-- J

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What is a sober?

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High And Vibin' #2 Amanaz - Africa

This is a band you have never heard of.

Amanaz is 1975 Sludgy Cream-esq Rock. And I am simply in love with this album.  Hipsters i'm sorry for sharing this, but for fuck sakes i don't even have to review this, just go listen to it right fucking now

Send this to your favorite stoner if you don't want to see him/her for 3 days.

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hey. heeeeeeyyyyyyy

Cool people that follow us. We really appreciate it. You are cool. Continue to be cool and read our stuff. Whoo.

I have a personal blag now that will be significantly more tumblr-y than this one, complete with reblagging. Wow! So if you like me and are nice you should go follow it here.

Stay sexy, bitches.

- J

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New St. Vincent Song, yo

Check this ish out. St. Vincent has released "Birth in Reverse," the first song from her new self-titled album coming out February 24/25. There's not a lot more to say about the song, save for pointing out its goodness, so this is me doing that. It's good.

Check out the song, download it for free, and get tour dates for this spring here.

- J