Pungent Stench - For God Your Soul, For Me Your Flesh

Pungent Stench really only got noterity for their sophomore album, "Been Caught Buttering" and it's filthy grinding mess of death metal, like an Autopsy cover band gone wrong.  However, their first album "For God Your Soul, For Me Your Flesh" is an amazing and unique album as well.  

This band makes me feel dirty, much in the same way that Autopsy does.  The music is crusted with filth, and decay; it's sloppy, somewhat apethetic, but passionate at the same time.  Truly brilliant.

Unfortunately, soon after the medicore success of "Been Caught Buttering," the band got caught up in the pseudo-goth bondage stylings of bands like The Genitorturers and lost all respect, at least in my eyes.  However, their old material is absolutely classic.

Check out info on the band HERE and download the album HERE.

Disharmonic Orchestra - Not To Be Undimensional Concious

I don't want to say much about this band, or this release, so I'll just say this.  The band is from Austria, they are criminally overlooked, and to this day when I hear the name "Disharmonic Orchestra" it brings a smile to my face. 

One more thing, "Not To Be Undimensional Concious" is awesome.  It was released in 1992, and much like Phlegethon, pushed boundaries in metal, and challenged pre-conceived notions.  Download HERE.  

Jam Handy - Hidden Bone And Hidden Gristle

When I was doing my label, this was by far my best selling release, and one of my personal faves.  Jam Handy are a mysterious duo of guys who make Negativland look pedestrian.  Their brand of plunderphonics and cut up found/junk sound scape is the best I have ever heard.

These two guys took a multitude of garage sale cassettes, and goodwill vinyl, and found sounds anywhere they could find them, and created this masterpiece entitled "Hidden Bone And Hidden Gristle."  It is long sold out now, and was limited to 100 copies, so it is probably impossible to find in any mail order or store.

The thing I really like about this release, is even though it is all over the place, themes keep repeating, and ideas keep re-emerging, just like a pop song.  This album is hysterical and disturbing all at once.  Absolutely brilliant.

Even when I was working with these guys they were very mysterious to me.  I never really knew either of their names, never knew much about them except for one went by the name of Wodnerdog on some Internet forums.  This is a must listen.  So download HERE.  

Necropolis - Descent

Attention Agalloch and Sculptured fans.  Don Anderson, guitarist for both bands, had a band in high schoool.  They were thrashy, melodic and probably wore high top sneakers.  Today I have their "Descent" demo, which was recorded at Soundtracks studios with Ronn Chick, as were all Sculptured albums, and most Agalloch albums.  

This is definitely an interesting listen for Sculptured fans especially, as you can hear Don's trademark style shining through, as well as his growls and even a couple Sculptured riffs in their infancy as well as Don's penchant for using samples.  

Also on these recordings are Tom Walling on lead vocals, who also joined Don on the lastest Sculptured record "Embodiment."  So, download this HERE and listen to what Don was doing when he was 14.  Were you this good at 14?  Yeah, I didn't think so.

P.S. The photo above is actually a really old Sculptured photo since I don't have any Necropolis photos.  That's Don in the middle, with Necropolis drummer John Schlegel to his right, all the rest featured in the photo were not in Necropolis.  From the left it is Brian Yaeger (ex-Sculptured), the tall guy is Nick Wusz (ex-VOID, Sculptured) and myself on the far right, and yes we are in an elevator.