Bad Brains - Bad Brains

I've been a bit busy with the Agalloch album, studio work, the Self Spiller debut album and moving, so this blog has been woefully neglected. I leave next week to move back to Portland, so I am afraid it will be neglected some more in the coming weeks.

Nevertheless, I leave you with a band, and record, I have been listening to a lot in the last month or so. The legendary Bad Brains. This is their debut album from 1982. The version I have posted is a re-release with one bonus track.

And with that, I am sailin' on...

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Corvus Corax - The Atavistic Triad

A mostly unknown Pagan gem from Seattle's Corvus Corax. Released in 2000 on the Dark Symphonies label, the album made a relatively small splash in the scene, but deserves much more attention than it ever received.

If this album was released today it would be touted by critics as "amazing Cascadian Black Metal" or some such, but as it is, it was released long before its time and is largely unknown.

More info HERE and download HERE

Covenant - In Times Before the Light

Covenant used to be good. No really, they did. Before they changed their name to The Kovenant and went all electro on us, they released "In Times Before The Light," their debut album. This was in 1996 and at the time Nagash's more known project Dimmu Borgir was still relevant, and black metal from Norway was still more good than bad. This album featured just two members, Nagash of Dimmu Borgir, and another dude from Troll.

After this album they got some more members, like some guy named Hellhammer, some chick named Sarah Jezebel Deva, and some piano tinkler named Sverd, and made a supergroup of sorts and released "Nexus Polaris." I will admit that I liked that album quite a bit, but it has never been the same since this first album.

Of course after their sophomore record, they changed their name, went electro goth, and started to be completely horrible. Then, they did the unthinkable and and remixed and re-recorded "In Times Before The Light" to match their new style. Utterly gross and unnecessary. Why sully your previous work? ugh...

Anyway, here is their debut album, a lost gem.

More info HERE and download HERE

Lawnmower Deth / Metal Duck - Mower Liberation Front / Quack 'Em All

You may not believe it possible, but Lawnmower Deth is one of my favorite bands. Yes, it is true. I love their unique humor, and obsession with lawnmowers, and of course their awesome riffs and hooks.

This is a supremely rare split, Lawnmower Deth and Metal Duck that I found in a used record store in Minneapolis on Lake Street. It is not their best material, but I am posting it as it is very rare and mostly unknown.

Here's to the flying killer cobs!

More info HERE and download HERE

I.S.S. - Forget About The Girl

I.S.S. or Ideal Social Situation has only released this one album, published in 2002. The band is lead by Estradasphere bassist Tim Smolens, it is his nod to Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys, as well as the whole boy band phenomenon.

For those familiar with Estradasphere, perhaps you are also familiar with the songs where Tim comes out front and croons, if you are, this is for you.

It is rather hard to describe this music, as it is so well constructed and executed, that calling it a joke or a parody seems to fall short of what is actually delivered. I am sure that some is tongue in cheek, but you can also tell that Tim has a deep love for the music, but can also poke fun at it.

Definite must listen for Estradasphere fans or those who love The Beach Boys.

More info HERE and download HERE

Schloss Tegal - Black Static Transmission

This is one of my absolute favorite experimental/electronic/ambient noise whatever you want to call it albums. When this was released in 1999, I used to take my lunch breaks at work, lay down on a couch in the break room with my headphones on, close my eyes and be terrified.

This, along with projects like Contagious Orgasm, are the ones I refer to when people claim noise or experimental electronics has no organization, and has no craft involved. When done right, music like this is more difficult to compose well than any metal band. There is no framework, no structure, no blue print to guide you.

If you are a fan of industrial/noise/ambient, and you do not have this, do yourself a favor. If you never cared for the aforementioned genres, do yourself a favor and try this album. It may change your mind.

More info HERE and download HERE

Forced Entry - As Above, So Below

I am not the biggest thrash metal fan. Sure, I like most of the classics, but for me, Thrash Metal was merely a stepping stone to Death Metal. But Forced Entry's 1991 album "As Above, So Below" is a groundbreaking and mostly unrecognized classic with thrash.

This has the usual humor and good time feelings that is inherent in most thrash, but it is also wholly unique in the fact that it sounds like no other band. This band was fairly short lived, had only two full length albums, this one being their last. Check this out if you are not familiar, it is undoubtedly worth it.

More info HERE and download HERE