Warrior Soul - Last Decade Dead Century

In Junior High, I was obsessed with this album. It reflected my urge to roam, my new found taste for rebellion, and my raging hormones. A friend of mine named Mark who lived in some kind of half-way house for bad teens told me about this album. He told me it was really hard to find, and one of his favorite records. Later, when I found it on cassette, I thought I had struck gold. I loved it intensely. Sure, it is a Rock N Roll album, not much more, but its beautiful, evocative and always fills me with hope and reminds me of those days in Junior High.

I love this album even today, although I have to admit that much of it's appeal most likely lies in nostalgia, but I do think it is a strong album. None of the other records this band released since did a thing for me. Just this one.

Check it out if you haven't, one of my favorite records ever, and oh yeah, by the way, Warrior Soul's singer is Kory Clarke, who now sings for Trouble as well.

Info on the band HERE and download HERE

Here is their one semi-big hit, you may remember this video from such MTV programs as Headbanger's Ball. "We Cry Out" from the album "Last Decade Dead Century."

Skeletal Earth - Eulogy For A Dying Fetus

I was a huge Skeletal Earth fan back in the day. I traded tapes and letters with vocalist Travis Ogletree for years, so in 1991 when their first full length album came out entitled "Eulogy For A Dying Fetus," I was more than excited for it. It shares much with Napalm Death, but also injects some Pungent Stench style humor with catchy melodies and interesting hooks.

Skeletal Earth were the biggest and best of the TN/AL grind/death scene going on at the time that also included bands like Necrospasm, Cannibal Holiday, Mule Skinner, and one of my favorite unknown doom bands, Crematorial Death. The band split up in 1993 around the time I got a letter from Travis stating he had found God and was splitting the band up and selling all his metal.

"Eulogy For A Dying Fetus" proved to be just a stepping stone to much greater music later; my favorite being their 1993 cassette EP "Dreighphuck."

More information HERE and download HERE

See the band live in 1989

Tulip Sweet And Her Trail Of Tears - Touched!

Tulip Sweet and her Trails Of Tears was an odd anomaly in Minneapolis. I accidentally saw this band at The Uptown in Minneapolis in the mate '90s sometime, and I was somewhat flabbergasted. The band came off like a quirky and slightly drunk cabaret performance, complete with singing saw and various odd instrumentation, and the front woman, Tulip Sweet, stole the show. She sang and strutted around the stage like she was a lunatic, a stripper, and your best friend. Her voice achieving a scream as easily as a croon.

I saw her and her band multiple times in Minneapolis in the years I lived there, and these are the only recordings I ever owned, or heard by her. To me, this band was an oasis of originality and life in a music scene I found stale and weak. Their performances made the band seem larger than life, and Tulip owned the stage every night in a way I have rarely seen.

As far as I know they remained a local band for the most part, and did not receive much recognition in our outside of Minneapolis, and as far as I can tell, they are long gone, with little information on the web about them all. This is by far one of my favorite little known gems.

Tulip Sweet website HERE

Download "Touched!" HERE

and check out this funny music video for 'Rising Action!' from the album "Touched!"

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.