Hollow Branches - Anchored In Sleep

Today is the official release date of Hollow Branches debut album, "Anchored In Sleep." It is being released through Strix Records free as a high quality download at either 192KB or 320KB mp3s or at 44.1 16bit .wav files for CD quality.

Hollow Branches is the product of my old friend Robert Hunter, formerly of Conversations About The Light. Helping him with this endeavor is Marius Sjoli and myself on bass guitar. Please also take notice of the DONATE button on the Strix Records site. Here is the official press release:


Thematically inspired by dreams, insomnia, nostalgia and morning, “Anchored in Sleep” finds Hollow Branches expanding their sound with elements of progressive and post rock, as well as glitch.
Many, many thanks go to Bernt Karsten Sannerud for giving the album so much attention in the mixing process.
If you like what you hear and want to donate, we have set up a donate button through Paypal. You can also help us out by letting us know what you think, or just sharing the album with others.

Download HERE

Paraxism - Promo 1997

As promised a while back, here is another installment of the wonderful Paraxism. Perhaps the most under-rated and unrecognized metal band ever, or at least to me and my circle of friends. My collection of Paraxism material differs from the info found at Metal Archives HERE so I will just go by what my tape traded tapes say about these demos and limited releases, like this one, that were not properly released and distributed.

So, as far as I am aware this was just called Promo '97, and as far as I know, was never really released or sent to labels at all. I have never seen a cover for it, and no little about it save what the band told me when it was released.

Enjoy one of the finest bands to EVER emerge from Finland. HERE

Susurrus Inanis - The Shadowless Shining Demo 1997

This is another old demo of mine. The band was formed by myself and Daniel Breyer in 1997. This was right before and somewhat concurrent with the formation of Agalloch as well. We released this one demo in 1997, limited to 200 copies if I remember correctly, and then got signed to Cold Spring Records out of England. It was my first record contract and we were all very excited.

After that, Daniel's life in academics took precedence over music, and Sculptured, Nothing and Agalloch took precedence over Susurrus Inanis for me, and the project collapsed with only the one demo to our name.

Many Agalloch fans fell in love with Breyer's work on "Pale Folklore" and "Of Stone Wind, and Pillor" and have wanted to hear this demo. Few mp3s have surfaced, and no downloads of the entire demo have surfaced as far as I am aware. For those who loved Breyer's work in Agalloch, this demo will be a welcome treat as it further continues and refines that style. Yes, I am on the demo too, but my portions are amateur at best. A lack of ability and equipment at the time made my contributions more of a hindrance than anything.

Enjoy this rare look into the past of Agalloch.

Download HERE

White Noise - An Electric Storm

I was recently introduced to this band by my good old pal, Joseph from Vendlus Records. I had never heard of it, but he proclaimed that it was right up my alley. Upon some research, I found that everyone from The Orb to Secret Chiefs 3 has claimed White Noise as an influence. Listening to the band's debut album "An Electric Storm" released in 1969 reveals a mix of tape manipulation, folk and psychedelic rock as well as ambient electronics.

This album reminds me of the best moments of The Residents, yet it retains a very 60's feel to it. It is the kind of album that almost everyone can find something of value in. Some of it even reminds me of The Monkees.

Download HERE and read more about it HERE.

A Tribute To Robert Crouse

My friend Ken Gorski sent me an Email the other day with this album attached. Ken is one of the masterminds behind the brilliant plunderphonic cut-up nightmare that is Jam Handy. Ken explained to me that in High School he started making cut up tapes with his best friend Robert Crouse. In 2004, Robert died and Ken spent a sleepless night compiling this album of early works with his friend Robert.

This album portrays two youngsters mainly fooling around, finding their voice as artists in it's infancy, and documents a great friendship. I am honored that Ken wanted me to share this with the world.

Download HERE

Gnome - Under The Black Moon

Gnome is the creation of Masanori a.k.a. "Wood." Masanori is a Japanese fellow who runs Cosmic Garden Productions aside from maintaining this one-man black metal wonder. Gnome's roots obviously lay with the Norwegian hordes of Darkthrone and Burzum, but Gnome offer some new spices to the recipe as well.

"Under The Black Moon" is Gnome's second demo and it was released in 1996. In 1999 Gnome released a split LP with Nyarlathotep also from Japan, and since then has disappeared, rumor has it, the one-man project dissolved.

Download HERE and more info HERE

V.B.G. - Compilation

V.B.G. stood for Victimized By Gypsies, and it was my first proper band. We were teenagers in Bozeman, Montana and played shows around the Bozeman area for a few years. We were a grindcore/death metal band that worshiped at the feet of Napalm Death, Obituary, Carcass and Pungent Stench.

We released two demos "Staff Infection" and "Auntie Christ" both in 1992. At the time, and in our area especially, death metal was totally unknown, local kids thought we had invented it. Adam Jelinksi and I shared song writing duties, and we each sang on the songs we had written, later, Joe Ulvi joined us on second guitar, and he then started writing as well.

The line up was:
Jason Walton - Bass/vocals
Adam Jelinski - Guitar/Vocals
Ladd Rutherford - Drums
Joe Ulvi - Guitar

Most of our songs had a bit of humor in them, and many didn't have lyrics at all, just rhythmic growls. Here we have both of our demos, and some live tracks. The photo here is all of us except Joe in an art class. Me, with an Entombed "Clandestine" shirt, Adam with a Ramones shirt, and Ladd with an Entombed "Crawl" shirt.

Download HERE.