Built on a Weak Spot

Brooklyn’s Pollution probably doesn’t need much of an introduction really after a slew of pretty smoking releases over the past year or so, the n.s. Drugs 7’’ in particular popped up on these pages in December actually. At the time that single had me pretty excited for what these guys were up to and then I managed to hear a live cassette they put out through Vinyl Rites that completely sold me with nine tracks of ripping noisy hardcore (download the entire thing over here). Now out of nowhere they already have a new self-released LP to tout about titled ®SMUT that delivers in the same vein of some of their recorded live material, in that it’s straight up break neck paced dirty hardcore. There just isn’t a way you can listen to this record and not get incredibly pumped up listening to it. Seriously, listening to this thing not long before I decided to jot all this down knocked me out of a Taco Bueno induced coma…so thank you Pollution. But seriously, ®SMUT will no doubt put a smile on the face of those who have been following the band. The riffs are plentiful and the raw production emits a sort of energy that really captures a “live” vibe, and so far that’s the setting in which this band really shines. To have a record like ®SMUT that can harness much of that is quite the accomplishment and most certainly makes for a great record.

Pollution – Signal.Control [MP3]

If you’re interested in picking this up, the band currently has copies for sale through their own label site, c6recordings. I would certainly suggest hitting them up for a copy as distros seem to be going through them fairly quickly. Enjoy!

Despite a pretty active run between the years of 2005 and 2008, Spineless Wonders serves as my introduction to Boston’s The Conversions. An introduction that would have likely came much later or maybe even never had Ride the Snake not put this out. Apparently Spineless Wonders was recorded quite awhile back and had originally been slated for a release on the prominent hardcore/screamo label Level Plane, which was home to the bands first album Prisoners’ Inventions in 2007. Some complications that I am not aware of however halted the release of Spineless Wonders sadly. But, if Ride the Snake has enough faith in this record to put it out long after the band has given their farewell, then that says a lot really.

I originally thought I was being treated to a fairly straight forward hardcore record when the first track began, with some pretty intense female vocals attached to it. And in the end it very well may still be a hardcore record; however what The Conversions have put together here is a sound that takes a lot the attitude and frenetic charge of hardcore and meshes it pretty successfully with the bouncy jagged rhythms of post-punk. Many of the albums tracks twist and bend their way around a minute and a half to two minutes worth of head turning guitar work. The bass is pretty cranked up on this as well, but with that you get a chance to hear some of the strange lines that are tied up in that. And by albums end that’s sort of what I am left with here, is that The Conversions were certainly an oddity and one with plenty of ideas too. Spineless Wonders made good on a lot of those and it’s pretty easy to see why they are being remembered here in the year 2010 with the release of this record.

The Conversions – Passing Through [MP3]

If you’re interested in picking up Spineless Wonders, then just head on over to Ride the Snake. Enjoy!

Really I don’t know how many times I’ve said it or will end up saying it on this blog, but it definitely deserves to be repeated that the state of Texas certainly knows how to throw out some superb noise. Black Congress is yet another fine example of some of the outright surging noise-rock that is continually created in the state, these guys in particular calling Houston their home. Not sure if this is their first release or not, guess it doesn’t really matter as it surely sounds like they’ve been going at this for quite awhile now and come to find out they have as the members have all been in various other bands over the years. This two song 7-inch here is an absolute rager, with the A-side “Davidians” somewhat reminding me of past noise making unit Slug, albeit if they had a bit more of a hardcore slant to their sound. The B-side “London’s Burning” takes those hardcore tendencies a bit further but continues to pound and drown the listener with more grit and distortion. For all of 8 minutes this thing is one very pissed off nasty affair. One of the coolest singles I’ve heard this year probably, and can’t wait to hear more output from these guys.

Black Congress – Davidians [stream]

You can pick this up currently through the Team Science if you enjoy what you hear. Definitely comes recommended.

Really didn’t have a clue that this was coming out, however when I saw it being offered up from Iron Lung there was no other choice but to snatch a copy based on the promise shown across the previous two singles from Slices. I’m pleased to say after getting a chance to hear Cruising, the bands debut full-length, that they’ve very much delivered on said promise. This thing is a beast, ranging from just about every which way you can think of…even some odd and somewhat creepy ambient pieces thrown in there. No matter, Slices have pretty much nailed it here by spinning together a moody set of songs of varying destructive nature. They have no trouble assaulting you with a straight blast of aggression just as much they can undo you by settling into a lurching rumble of distortion and skin crawling atmospherics. The band really does no wrong here on the nine tracks that make up Cruising, setting the bar mighty high for whatever they plan on doing next. Fans of noise-rock in general can’t afford to miss out on this tasty treat.

Slices – Robbie [MP3]

It doesn’t appear that there are many more places carrying this, however you can always check in with Iron Lung or as the moment it appears Sorry State has some copies available. Regardless, grab this if you can. It’s fantastic.

Slavescene are certainly doing more than enough to grab my attention. They made an appearance not too long ago here on the blog as part of the split cassette they did with MLU featuring a ripping live set. This single is one of the bands more recent releases out now on Deranged Records. They also have a new demo that was available on tour; however there is a full download of it over at the excellent I Could Die Tomorrow blog. This single features two new cuts from the band that actually has sees them slowing things down a bit instead of some of the more blistering paced songs that were on the bands other demo Heaven Only Knows. I must say I like this direction, the b-side “Shit Gait” is especially pounding and should alleviate some of the Drunkdriver comparisons that some of the earlier material garnered them. I would gladly take either but these newer songs, both here on this single and the ones found on their most recent demo, hint at what could be some very exciting future material to come from these guys.

Slavescene – Shit Gait [MP3]

For those looking to pick this up, it appears that Deranged is still selling them…so I assume they are still available. 500 on blue, so pick this up while it’s still out there.

Probably should have had this mentioned among my favorite singles this year, however kind forgot that it got the vinyl treatment thanks to Desensitized Records. I keep thinking of it as a cassette, which is what it was originally released on/as. But yeah, let me clear it up now and say that this SHOULD have been listed as well, because this thing rocks. Pollution does some good old fashioned nasty hardcore/noise-rock through five songs on this 45, although for those lucky enough to have the cassette version…it contains a pretty great cover of the Lush song “Downer”. They get points for that choice alone. Things on the A-side get loud and have a bit of an AmRep-ish ugly quality to them and there is not a bad thing to say about a song as head stompingly heavy as “Fuck Hope”. The B-side mixes in a more standard hardcore number with “Reds” followed by an interlude/noise piece of sorts with “Ashes III”. Pollution doesn’t stop there and figures to cover more ground by turning up the metal a bit for the final song “D-IX”, just listen to the riffing. No matter what they choose to do, they seem to be doing it rather well. This shouldn’t be missed.

Pollution – Fuck Hope [MP3]

The band also has a 12” floating about through Feast of Tentacles that if you can get a copy of that, would be much recommended. For the n.s. Drugs 7”, it would appear that both Deranged and Sorry State have copies of these still available in their distros. Get on it while they are still out there.

Apologies for the unannounced absence in which the blog took this past week as I didn’t feel too hot come last Sunday when I normally get around to do doing such things as writing/listening to some stuff. After that work just became a bit busy and vioila…lost week. However I am back and going to do my best to get some stuff done this week despite the holiday.

I really don’t much about either of these bands featured on this recently released split tape on Lower Me Into My Coffin. Slavescene is apparently made up of various people from Cult Ritual, Body Rot, etc. so you kind of know what you’re signing up for if you’ve heard either and that is some very noisy and blistering hardcore.

MLU is a duo from Nashville, TN consisting of just drums and a guitar; however this probably ends up being the noisier side. It comes as no surprise that these guys will be putting out a split LP with The New Flesh here soon hopefully as a joint effort between a number of labels, which seems like an incredibly good pairing after hearing the MLU side of this cassette. Consider me very amped to hear that one when it comes out.

Slavescene side (stream)
MLU side (stream)

Although limited to 250, there are still some available through Parts Unknown and Troubleman. So if you like what what you hear, definitely grab one before they are gone.

Not quite sure, but I think this is the third single from Pittsburgh’s Kim Phuc. I wrote a small bit about their last one awhile back after it completely steamrolled right over me when listening to it. This here single pretty much does the same exact thing by instilling the same tense and fear inducing rhythms that have made them one of my absolute favorite active bands right now. Released on Dear Skull Records just a short while ago, I think many have probably already heard the A-side “Weird Skies” a few times now, however it sounds real good finally getting to hear it getting pumped out of some actual stereo speakers off of a 45. The song does so well in creating a threatening atmosphere while not forcibly making it apparent…it just sort of creeps along until you begin to look over your shoulder a bit. Great stuff. “Suicide Circle” rolls along in the same fashion while featuring some guest female vox from their past drummer adding to the overall vibe and dreariness a bit. Really can’t get enough of what these guys are doing right now and am extremely looking forward to hearing a future full-length.

Kim Phuc – Weird Skies [MP3]

For anyone wishing to pick this up I would suggest hitting up Dear Skull Records or be on the look out in various distros for it.

I’ve mentioned Sideshow at length on the blog awhile back. For a bit more information on the bands background you can view that post here. To quickly recap however, Sideshow was the band fronted by Caulfield Records founder Bernie McGinn and the band was actually pretty much the catalyst for starting the label altogether really. With fellow members Paul Tisdale and Rich Higgins the band released a couple albums, EP’s, and singles during their run through the 90’s. However before they were known as Sideshow the band was called Peer Puppet and their first single and the first for Caulfield was actually pressed as such with that name. However, a name change occurred and thus all the labels needed to be altered, which resulted in black permanent marker crossing out the Peer Puppet name and a freshly stamped Sideshow took its place above it. This single is also quite interesting as it shows the band as a quite different one from what people would come to hear on later singles/albums/etc. These four songs are pretty much straight up hardcore/punk with very little resemblance of what they would go on to do, however the single remains to be a neat glimpse into where everything began. So, for your listening pleasure I bring you Sideshows debut single. Enjoy!

Sideshow – Out of Mind [MP3]
Sideshow – If the Shoe Fits [MP3]
Sideshow – If No One [MP3]
Sideshow – Blame Me [MP3]

Both of Sideshow’s albums are still available through Amazon used here and here, definitely pick them up…although I would listen to the tunes in my previous Sideshow post for a better representation of what they were like. However if you enjoy it, definitely give them a go!

This would be the third single from the St. Paul, Minnesota based Condominium. It finds the band working more with the sound they featured on their previous single with “Pupils”. Kind of blurring the lines between that 90’s T&G noise-rock deal and hardcore. Very cool stuff once again from this band, which in such small doses here and there has me wanting here a lot more from them. Hopefully there is more material in the near future, as the track “Barricade” shows plenty of potential for a killer full-length and I am seriously digging the direction that they are heading in. The b-side “Big Plans” seals the deal with a slower instrumental tune that holds its own. While not as ominous as “Barricade” it definitely paints a dreary picture. Solid stuff all around from the band, give it a listen.

Condominium – Barricade [MP3]

For those interested in picking this single up, then just head on over to Fashionable Idiots.