Hacktivist "Outside The Box" (2016)

The letter H has been carved in the corner of my mind according to the narrated mission statement on the opening track of this groups debut full length. Hacktivist are an English experimental group fusing together the bipolar styles of Djent and Grime with a flavor more accessible to fans of Metal than London's form of urban Hip Hop. I remember when the group formed three years ago, there was a wave of hype and despite quite a wait for this record the band have delivered on there promise. The name "Hacktivist" is a relevant and recognized term in this internet era society, a fusion of hacking and activism to represent independent online activism. With this the band take on a revolutionary persona of social and systematic consciousness to spread a message of anti capitalist, anti commercial action and awareness but as A.C. once said, "Music ain't the revolution, its only the soundtrack".

Starting off with "Our Time" Hacktivist set a strong tone for the record which never falters from its path of conscientious lyrics and stating their presence in the music scene. Rappers Hurley and Marvin come loaded with fast and sturdy flows, hitting their lines and rhymes over the top of crunchy, rhythmic Djent riffs. Its effortless on the listeners end, their tones and delivery works well with chunky grooves rattling away and waves of colorful shimmering guitars in between their raps. Marvin crosses from rap into shouted screams and guitarist Beazley drops in the harmonious clean vocals to offer three vocal dimensions that keep things fresh and varied across the forty minutes. On occasions the clean style sounds familiar to Enter Shikari, however these lads are from Hertfordshire too and the one song that sticks out actually features Rou Reynolds himself, which explains a lot.

With the versatility to sway from slamming Djent riffs into reverb heavy acoustics the instrumentals keep a lightness about them with subtle Post-Metal leads creeping into the background creating a spacious atmosphere for everything to fit together within. As with the vocals this dynamic expansion flows through the record to give each track its purpose and identity. There are moments where the raps are not present and other where the instrumentals take on a subdued approach to let the Grime raps shine. They are blunt and bold, no creative wordplay but more so straightforward expression and to the point message making that asks little of the listener. My only qualm may be with Hurley's breath control, leaving huge inhaling gulps in between each line, at the same time it adds an authenticity in favor of its removal through studio edits.

Outside the box is a solid debut, no weak moments or lulls, forty minutes of music that's not demanding. Fantastic production value with a great cohesion between the vocal and instrumental elements that could easily find themselves on different wavelengths but Hacktivist get all aspects right and are set to have a promising future if they develop as musicians. Entertaining record!

Rating: 7/10

BABYMETAL "Babymetal" (2014)

Back in 2014 Babymetal's debut didn't make much of an impression on me due to its apparent and unapologetic gimmick, however "Metal Resistance" won me over! Gimmicks aside its the music that counts and Babymetal's fusion of Metal and J-Pop, fronted by a trio of girls, is fresh and exciting. I'm glad I didn't listen to this one until now as I'm sure my perceived flaws with this project would of become an inflated critique in the face of fun music that shouldn't be taken to seriously. Unlike their sophomore record Babymetal is far more varied, experimental and a little garish with its electronic aspects. Starting with production it is once again a compression fest of forceful, volume oriented modern aesthetics which on occasions can be daunting in its intensity, the kick is especially crisp, clicky and heavy in the mix. Much the same can be said of all instruments in the mix and in moment's it gets a little crowded yet remains clear. Some of the trance synths used in tracks can also be overwhelming. My experience is that this once surprisingly doesn't suit high volumes.

Aesthetics aside we have a collection of wildly energetic and varied tracks that continually mix and mash styles with a ruthless "anything goes" attitude. Between the records more typical metal tracks all sorts of musical sounds and genres can be heard. Mostly its entertaining, fun and vibrant but its rigid and choppy composition between styles leaves food for thought on what is reminiscent of IGORRR's "internet age" of music where any styles and genres can be mashed up given the widespread availability of online music and information at the touch of your fingers. For me it was the main talking point of this record.

It starts with "Inie!" introducing glitzy fast paced trance synths culminating in dance tunes with pumping bass kicks and coin arcade sounds. It switches up into some form of Rap with what I can only describe as a cheesy "bling bling" Hip Hop beat. Of course it then drops into howling death with demonic screams and evil, shrill guitars. "Doki Doki" picks it back up by mashing slamming Nu Metal grooves with chirpy upbeat sunshine pop and glittery synths. "Onedari Daisakusen" sounds to me like it could of come out of the Limp Bizkit catalog, minus the quirks of Babymetal's aesthetics, this has all the makings of Freds little catchy raps and Wes Borlands dynamic grooves complete with build to a breakdown moment where things get heavy. No to mention it also includes a sample of Fred from "My Generation"... now that I think about it, its got a nearly identical build up to the sample. "Song 4" brings some laid back, beachy Reggae dub sounds and "Uki Uki" goes full Skrillex with base wobbles and a noise eccentric breakdown. I'm not criticizing any of it, I enjoy it greatly but its interchanging rigidity and entertainment value leaves little in the way of emotionally charged or moving music. This record does however have much more versatility and I'm hoping in the future they can utilize that with a little more inspiration and emotion.

Favorite Track: Babymetal Death, Gimme Chocolate!!

Rating: 6/10

Inlayer "Sequence" (2015)

Its exciting to hear when Metal reaches new parts of the world and Inlayer are the first band from South Korea Ive heard off. Whats even more exciting is the music, their single "MINDJACK" for a presumed forthcoming album blew me away, possibly one of the best songs I'll hear all year along with Babymetal's "The One". Sequence is a four track EP and the only other music I could find by the Korean band. Released last year it is a step down in production value from the new single which appears to be on a major K-Pop label.

The four piece perform as an instrumental force, playing technical, fast tempo Djent grooves and polyrhythmic signatures with a side lavishing of illustrious reverb laden acoustics, much to the trend of the international scene. Inlayer don't have a lot to distinguish themselves with and can often sound like Animals As Leaders and other Prog Metal bands, however what they do have is quality and a singular trick that seems to find itself in the songs best moments. The hammer on! At many points a hammered on lead will rattle away glorious waves of sweeping colors through fast electric melodies over the rhythmic Djent grooves. Not the most original technique but there is something captivating when they do it.

The first three tracks jam out a fest of color and groove while the final track gets a little experimental with some Post-Metal sounds and steady guitar solos to lead the EP into its climactic groove. It all sounds exciting and energetic but some of this is lost the rawer mix. Where the drums would clearly aid from fidelity it falls a little flat in the recording. All the kicks, snare and cymbals sound flat and as if in a different dimension to the rest of the instruments. Its a shame as the drums themselves are energizing and full of life however this flat recording tone sucks some of that away. Very solid debut but "MINDJACK" has set the bar high for their next release which I am eagerly awaiting.

Favorite Track: Unfine

Rating: 5/10

Desire "Infinity... A Timeless Journey Through An Emotional Dream" (1996)

Chasing down one of many rabbit holes the world wide web offers I somehow found my way to this obscure, niche and unheard of Portuguese band. Sucked in by the vivid and lonesome crimson red cover I heard a sound that reminded me fondly of two records close to my heart that I am yet to talk about on the blog. Doom Metal is probably my most neglected sub genre of Metal considering I adore Black Sabbath and have never heard anything to turn me of the style. This record, Desire's debut, really highlighted the qualities in these other records of which Id never linked to Doom before. If your familiar with the genre you wont be surprised to hear that "Infinity..." is a sorrowful record of mourning, heartache and sadness that flirts with the endless depths of the infinite. That may sound rather unpleasant but its a spiritual, emotional look into the hurt and longing one can feel.

The records moves with a brooding, gargantuan weight that slows many riffs, leads and melodies to a crawl, including the bellowing low growls of vocalist "Tear" who has an astonishingly textured growl that he can draw out with a touch of class. It gravitates deeply to a heavy and menacing side which isn't reflected in the instrumentals that have an almost eerie, nearly gothic vibe with thin synthetic strings peaking from between the bleeding power chords and crashing drums which thunder between spaciously timed tempo keeping hi hats. With drawn out movements and longing melodies the gloom and despair washes over for moments of subtle uplifts where the songs can break for a chunkier groove or colorful synths. Accompanying the main growl, shriller howls and growl come soaked in reverb and on occasions mysterious female vocals drop in the back ground feeling illusive and mournful, despite being rather sublime and tender.

Given the long nature of the albums core songs, up to sixteen minutes, Desire do wonders keeping the mood and atmosphere relevant and moving forward in a slow and reluctant setting that will draw out sections for many minutes. They do however grow and evolve even if at a snails pace and what it greatly benefits from is how suited slow and gradual is for such weighty themes of human sorrow. In the records short tracks we have acoustic, symphonic interludes that feel of the same realm but come across with a scenic, fantasy drive, less human and emotional. "Forever Dreaming" the albums last Metal song is one to remember with a deep nostalgic vibes seeping through the synths and soft effeminate vocals. We grace into another slow crushing movement that's climaxed by an unpolished flute lead that gives a deep sense of mystery and conclusion at the same time. The way these instruments are presented just open dimensions in the mind and as the song draws to a close we are again treated by spell bounding keys that dance lightly.

There was a singular moment which always makes me chuckle where a whispering voice proclaims "Dance with me... infinity". I can never take it seriously, something about the Portuguese accent and whispered delivery tickles me. Other than that I feel this album would of been perfect for me ten years ago, however even as I write and understand this record it still has me at its mercy with its sorrowful mystic and nostalgic atmosphere. The records production is a touch raw and rough in places but in its lower value it finds a sweet charm to let the magic work its ways.

Favorite Tracks: (Leaving) This Land Of The Eternal Desires, Forever Dreaming... (Shadow Dance)

Rating: 8/10

Death Grips "Bottomless Pit" (2016)

Experimental trio Death Grips from Sacramento California will always be on my radar given their mind blowing album "The Money Store" from 2012, although their recent records haven't been nearly as exciting. "Bottomless Pit" is their third release in a "disbanded" state with the band continuing to tour and make music despite announcing they had split in mid 2014. Its all part of their rebellious attitude and mysterious image, something which didn't cross over into the music this time. Even if it wasn't to my liking the band kept moving forward and taking their ideas to new reaches however this release is a pleasant and welcome return to the "No Love Deep Web" era, best heard through MC Rides delivery style and many, many electronic instruments, sounds, tones and noises straight from their 2012 releases.

The record opens up with a frenetic, abrasive track making use of swiftly looped distortion guitars and blasting drum kits rolling out rapidly with typically unusual hooks. It sets the tone for a new chapter of the bands sound, equipped with violent guitars and unfaltering tempo but by the second track the band swing into their old ways and the characteristics of their 2012 sound become very apparent both in tone and composition. From this point out any of the songs could easily be slipped into the previous records, its that remarkably similar and what fans of that era, like myself, have been dying for.

This is no complaint, just the biggest talking point of the record for me. Diving into the tracks we find refinement in the rhythmic aspects with a much tighter sense of groove being prevalent. The bands aesthetic assault of noisy, gritty synths and pressing production hit a little sharper and harder, the timing between nonsensical synth timing and drum patterns feel warped and elasticated to perfection with an almost polyrhythmic groove emerging on the relevant tracks. With tight shuffling hi hats and solid kick snare grooves the group feel far more structured with many grooves and audio assaults falling into that nod along territory fit for head banging. Its got more sensibility about its madness and perhaps that holds it back from anything unexpected or truly remarkable taking place.

The albums flows fantastically and ends with the self titled track which like the opening number shows signs of making new territory with big, dense, fuzzing guitar distortions bleeding into the surrounding instruments. Being so familiar with the band now its easy to forget how paranoid, dark and dystopian the group can sound, MC Ride reinforcing this with another round of twisted lyrics and hooks like "Ill Fuck You In Half" and "Eh" a song dedicated to apathy and disengagement. A few words jump of the page but nothing like "The Money Store", however that record has the edge of being first and completely unexpected to my ears.

It is a relatively "safe" record for such an experimental group and although I wasn't fully into their post 2012 directions I think its important for the group to not loose sight of that unpredictability as that's where their genius came from and to be fair there isn't a lot of it here, just retreading the waters and doing it exceptionally well with a tight and full on production value. Very enjoyable for an old fan but as it ages I believe not all the tracks will hold up the same way, however the others I just can't get enough of right now.

Favorite Tracks: Warping, Houdini, Bp Poison, Bottomless Pit

Rating: 8/10

A$AP Ferg "Always Strive And Prosper" (2016)

NYC based rapper Ferg of the A$AP Mob opens up with a record that gives us a glimpse into the life of the man behind the music. His debut "Trap Lord" was a marvel of trendy beats and trap influenced production that has grown on me with time but lacked any lyrical substance to chew on. Three years later Ferg puts story and emotion to the mic with a collection of beats that don't feel rigid and type cast as the previous record. Its loaded with trendy bangers stepping up the game and between them an unusual sense of variety that lets 90s Dancehall, jazzy beats and Pop numbers into the flow.

The record starts strong with Skrillex producing a hard hitting banger, "Hungry Ham", full of tension building for the beat drop, sure to get stuck in your head. It paints a picture of a tough neighborhood and crazy characters, including Ferg's uncle a violent man who fights for money. A feature from Schoolboy Q has these heart felt stories crossing over into the banger territory, which gives it much more substance. A few solid tracks in the vibe turns back to the roots with the A$AP Mob flaunting their braggadocios raps loaded with nonsense, it continues through a few more menacing beats and switches up the mood bluntly with "Beautiful People", sampling something very reminiscent of the string sections in Marvin Gaye's "Whats Going On". "Let You Go" flows with the positive vibes on an introspective number that has Ferg reasoning his promiscuous behavior, playing the sympathy card, his narrative seems rather self indulged and unapologetic, a sterling beat but I'm not quite sold on Ferg's musings. After a strong set of beats "I Love You" throws the pop single into the mix just to throw you off the scent.

I'm left feeling "Always Strive And Prosper" is halfway there, a record between two ideas that pushes and pulls in different directions. The production is clearly varied but also solid, each track feels fully realized, developed and its the lyrical content lets the album down where it drifts from the open, introspective, story led narrative Ferg sets us up for in the beginning. Individually each song is pretty rad but flowing from one to the other a lot of problems arise in its vision but that's just about how i want to hear this record.

Favorite Tracks: Hungry Ham, Pyscho, Let It Bang, Beautiful People, Let You Go

Rating: 5/10

Carbon Based Lifeforms "Interloper" (2010)

Carbon Based Lifeforms, or CBL, are a Swedish ambient music duo from Gothenburg who I was entirely unaware of until a recent recommendation. Sometimes ambient music can be a term for musical approach, performance or philosophy more so than a style or genre. CBL could be different based on your interpretation but what I heard was the cosmic jam of space ambience, the sounds of stars and constellations. This particular waveform of ambience was right on my level and with just one listen I was swept up above the hemisphere, understanding the purpose of this record and the journey it would take me on.

Reminiscent of Tangerine Dream's swirling, unraveling synthesizer drones, CBL takes on an organic form of electronic evolution where the most passive of short melodies can be gloriously engrossing in the subconscious as contracting passageways steadily shrink and expand in turn with easy paced, down tempo beats. Layers of soft electronic sounds decorate the soothing atmospheres with an ever changing design of minimal details to drench the tracks in an authentic depth that can almost go unnoticed. These 6-8 minute compositions are crafted with a care to let the power of an idea sink in deep with just one melody leading the way. There is no climax, or glory but an ever changing state around a single melody that holds together an emotion, idea or whatever it is you find in the music.

For me the visions these soundscape conjured were of futuristic flashing lights swirling in the cosmic abyss, the comforts of a science fiction fantasy realm where technology meets the limits of existence and you are the observer. Fantastic music for driving at night, seeing the stars in the sky and the passing lights of cars, cities and road lights. Its calming, soothing and chilled out and its great to hear it in such a package that lets the seventy one minutes breeze by without a thought. Its my go to ambient record right now.

Favorite Songs: Central Plain, Supersede, Euphoric

Rating: 8/10

Intronaut "The Direction Of Last Things" (2015)

Recommended by a friend, Intronaut's fifth record and my introduction to the band has been on my mind and infecting my ears for some time now. This four piece band from Los Angeles have been at it for over a decade now and have somehow alluded me in the Progressive Metal scene. "The Direction Of Last Things" is my cup of tea, a deep and dense album that's got a lot to offer however in my many, many dives into this record I have found it difficult to dissect and fathom its inner workings. Instead I find myself drifting between the conscious and subconscious, held in a continual state of suspense, at the mercy of its direction. With every listen I feel as if i know this moment but not where it lies within the record itself, as if my own familiarity is being shrouded by the fog of its genius.

It hits on two levels. In its immediacy a wave of creative metallic riffing grabs your attention with tinges of Djent and Groove Metal reassembled into tight polyrhythmic prog riffs, even echos of sludge in one discordant groove. On its other level a persuasive wave of organic melodies lull the listener it a state of calm as jazzy instrumentals wash over in a breeze of atmospheric relaxation. Under them a big, warm, gorgous bass guitar often struts its way around the fret board, you can feel its vibrations with every note through its density. With it light acoustics hum through reverbs with very light synth lines creating sunny atmospheres drenched in a Post-Metal vibe when making use of light distortions. Every atmospheric break has its nuances and details but for the post part they lean to the Post-Metal etching making use of distant tremolos and the crowding of colorful reverb sounds.

Although hailed as a Progressive Metal record, these songs blur lines and boundaries with organic compositions that flow and swirl in the direction of inspiration. The song structures feel inconsequential as every moment seems to be within itself, never waiting or building to another one. It sets itself free of conformity and traditional structure, not something unusual in this era of music but rarely executed in a way that feels as genuine and organic as this. Its a very strong record with little to fault and one that I feel will grown on me with every passing listen.

Rating: 7/10

Emperor "Emperor" (1993)

Its been a long time since I listened to Emperor's fantastic four track debut EP with its iconic record art, once again using Gustave Dore's dark and unholy engravings from the 19th century. These songs are taken from the same studio sessions as "As The Shadows Rise" and somehow feels vastly different. This is probably due to the familiarity of two songs from "In The Nightside Eclipse" and the subduing of the bands more abrasive and demonic vocal style. It is in fact very similar in an analytical sense. The guitars have the same distinct thin and fuzzy distortion, however in its vibe and atmosphere it offers more immersion thanks to the song writing.

The records only weak point might be "Wrath Of The Tyrant" which conjures a minimal atmosphere from the distant underlying synth and occasional wolf howl. Its a touch thin and light on notation with just a couple of bare riffs holding it together. Feels as if there is a missing place for a lead guitar or complimenting section to occupy and between the songs main two phases there is little chemistry or relation. On the other hand "Night Of The Graveless Souls" serves as a exciting fast paced classic which the band would play live at shows through the years. Blitzing blast beats and moshable guitar riffs collide with a catchy melody on the synths that stab there way around the songs key Thrash Metal riff as the song chops and changes hastily through its compositions.

With the other two songs from their debut full length we get a taste of synths still taking hold in the bands chemistry and sound, although practically identical the tone and mixing of the synths strips back the atmosphere to a raw and striking pose that again illuminates the immersive aesthetic of their debut. Very fun and enjoyable EP. Its a shame they didn't record a few more songs in this session!

Favorite Song: Night Of The Graveless Souls

Rating: 5/10

Black Moon "Enta Da Stage" (1993)

Brooklyn based Hip Hop trio Black Moon may of beat Wu-Tang's "36 Chambers" claim to the first low-fi, gritty Hip Hop record even if only by a couple of months. Of course there are always precursors to such ideas emerging and Wu-Tang's demo tape date back to 91 but on occasions where their classic debut is discussed this record may get a mention, which is how I found my way to it. Unfortunately its not aged well, it didn't sell at the time and the groups trajectory declined with exception to 99s "War Zone" having some moderate success. Although the groups debut "Enta Da Stage" may not be well remembered it is definitely a must listen for any fan of east coast 90s Hip Hop.

Although a trio it is mainly rapper Buckshot Shorty who dominates the audio waves with a predominantly braggadocio rhyme style and easy to follow flow. There's plenty of gun play and street talk with little socially conscious substance but Buckshot is the sort of rapper who draws you in with his flow and entertains with violence, slang and lifestyle provado world play. Behind him an array of grimy beats with hard grooving drum loops, deep sub baselines and string arrangements coming together to conjure an urban atmosphere of danger. At times they have a slightly Jazz vibe with horn and flute samples but never for a relaxing or soothing moment, the record is always on edge, no thanks to Buckshot's aggressive delivery.

There's not a bad beat on the record but its not without its flaws. There was a time I couldn't put down this album, however over time the lack of insightful lyrical substance and rigid nature of the loops made it tire somewhat. Although the beats are tight there is little variation through the course of a song, with a couple of samples dropping in or out the songs they mostly remain the same for the duration of, which gets tiring after many listens.

This isn't true of every song though, a couple numbers are just timeless and credit to the sample selections, the chemistry is on point, its the composition and variation that lets it down. The mixing style is fantastic too, much of the gritty urban atmospheres comes from the narrow ranges the samples are squeezes into, filling much of the low and mid section. There is also some fantastic hooks from the group who throw together catchy group shouts in the choruses. "Enta Da Stage" has its place in history however for me It falls a little short in places of preference but not to focus on the negatives its a fantastic record well and truly worth your time.

Favorite Songs: Who Got Da Props, Buck Em Down, Make Munne

Rating: 8/10

Wu-Tang Clan "Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)" (1993)

Wu-Tang's 36 Chambers is the type of classic that demands to be listened to every once in a while and now with this music blog I am obliged to share with you one of the finest Hip Hop records there is. For its artistic merit, gritty beats and lyrical creativity the Wu-Tang Clan from Staten Island New York changed the game with their iconic 93 debut. I found this record in my young teens thanks to my mother who brought me this obscure looking record with its masked members representing an unusual theme, oriental martial arts. I don't have much memory of my initial impressions however I never stopped listening to it and over time its strengths illuminated with timeless beats and free lyrics that offered a wealth of flair and variety. Its status in Hip Hop's legacy is indisputable and RZA's production style created a massive influence still felt today. It has also been praised for its lower fidelity and gritty production style which it is actually not the first to achieve. Black Moon's "Enta Da Stage" beat them too it by a few months and we will talk about that record tomorrow.

So who are the Wu-Tang Clan? They are a group of nine rappers with a set of unique styles who came from the under represented area of New York, Hip Hops home. Putting Staten Island on the map, the Wu-Tang burst out of nowhere with the single "Protect Your Neck" that went against the grain, featuring a verse from each rapper consecutively without a chorus and barely a break for respite. It was the perfect showcase of the group unique chemistry. RZA's mastermind beats utilizing soft piano samples between dingy string samples over foggy baselines while eight of the nine dropped classic verses with wildly fresh and innovative rap styles.

With the talents of Raekwon the chef, Ghostface Killer and Method Man the group had an array of distinct voices and styles that brought about the "free association" rap technique. In a non linear delivery many strings of rhymes can be heard in an associative manor, focusing on wordplay and creative rhyming to forge a scene or concept in contrast to walking the listener through a narrative. It can be heard sporadically though the record and would be further elaborated on by Raekwon who really masters the style in his solo records. Even in traditional verses the Wu-Tang rock it with an endless arsenal of classic lines that will have you memorizing it all, just take the opening track "Check it, my method on the microphones banging, Wu-Tang slang will leave your headpiece hanging"... and that's just the opening number with its four mighty verses. Classic stuff, the group have mesmerizing and in moments ludicrous flows, these verses are intoxicating and even littered with cryptic lyricism. "We usually take all niggaz garments"... W.U.T.A.N.G!

Another classic aspect of the record is the theme and sampling from 70s and 80s Chinese martial arts flicks which the group were obsessed with, their name taken from the "Shaolin and Wu-Tang" movie. There's tones of fantastic samples, from clashing blades in sword fights, the ughs and arghs of fist fights and plenty of Wu-Tang vs Shaolin narration that gives it a timeless charm, one Ive never heard anyone try to imitate, the Clan truly own it like no one else could. It plays so well into RZA's production style which extends beyond this record alone, helping his clan launch their solo careers producing many of their debuts if not all. RZA steered away from clean production and explored the charm of lower fidelity which can conjure a different range of moods and atmospheres. Deep muddy baselines, rugged drum beats and oriental instruments create an air of mystery around the rawkus rap energy. More conventionally the sampling of soft pianos and classic strings would become an inspiration for many future producers.

There's barely a flaw, literally nothing to nitpick on this record, the only thing I could ask for is more. Another aspect I adore is the drifting moods that occur as it plays through, from rough, rugged aggressiveness the album can get playful and grooving while finding a few sorrowful spots with "Can It Be All So Simple", "C.R.E.A.M." and "Tearz". Although drenched in its mythic martial arts it has a real grounded connection to the lives of the artists and servers as another fantastic story of rags to riches through their art. Wu-Tang could never top this, I think that much is inevitable from day one and this record will be celebrated for as long as Hip Hop lives on.

Favorite Songs: Bring Da Ruckus, Da Mystery Of Chessboxing, Wu-Tang Aint Nuthin Ta Fuck Wit, Protect Ya Neck

Rating: 10/10

Caliban "Gravity" (2016)

Once the heart and soul of Germany's Metalcore scene, veterans Caliban sound so distant from their roots which I am familiar with. Its no surprise that time has brought change but their is little of the once ferocious groove oriented Metalcore outfit I last listened to over ten years ago. Back then they stood out from the crowd with Andreas Dorner's distinct throaty screams and relentless apatite for heavy chugging guitar assaults. Now their heaviness reflects the modern aspects of Metal, heavy polished production and Djent friendly riffing that takes advantage of the mammoth tones that can be achieved. Caliban have also become a lot more melodic, something that started back in the early 00s when Denis Schmidt joined the band to add the clean vocal dimension.

Now their melodic and colorful afflictions would be reminiscent of BMTH's "That's The Spirit" with far more harmonious and pop sensibilities in their compositions best heard on "Broken". However this is in polarization with a hunger for aggression that arrives in slamming, simplistic, chugging, rhythmic grooves utilizing the lush production. Most of the songs go through the motions, some with more aggressive leanings and others throwing in the "whoa-oh-oh" group shouts as they steer towards the pop hooks. There is also a feature from Agnete Kjolsrud of Djerv who's unique voice is a welcome suprise. I last heard her on Dimmu Borgir's "Abrahadabra" where she was utilized in a similar way to her feature on this record.

There isn't a lot to criticize about this record, its very much a case of what your in the mood for and being Caliban's 10th record so there's no doubting their ability to write a decent record. However it doesn't surpass being solid. The heavy chug fest is entertaining enough but where it needs a more emotional side its poppy leanings don't charm or dazzle me. It leaves a bit of a shallow taste, decent entertainment but lacking a deeper connection. Good fun but not something I will return to often.

Favorite Songs: Mein Schwarzes Herz, Walk Alone, No Dream Without A Sacrifice

Rating: 5/10

Killing Joke "Outside The Gate" (1988)

Continuing our journey through the fifteen full length Killing Joke albums we arrive at their seventh and undoubtedly their worst received record by both critics and their fan base. The group made a stylistic shift towards the once trending Synthpop sound without any form of subtlety. Having wrapped my head around it I see the negativity as a reaction to what was probably perceived as trend hoping, however being from the distant and mysterious future there is little offense I can take as its no longer relevant. That doesn't let it off the hook though, their are some jarring, rigid and unfortunate moments where it doesn't work, equally some great moments too. The opening track "America" is a fantastic example of good pop song writing, with a hook and catchy chorus. Its cynical lyrics and unsettling, gleaming synths reinforcing underlining the dark, observational message.

The rhythmic identity and tonal guitars are all but absent on this record and its a key part of what defines them, or once did. Equally singer Jaz Coleman steps further outside his normality and flexes his vocals, showing his ability, range and the charm his softer side has, similar to on "Love Like Blood". It sound stunning on the second track when accompanied by lush chorus pedal guitar strumming and can sound equally fluky on "Stay One Jump Ahead" where they play out Synthpop cliches. The records problem is in the rigidity between their natural instincts and the Synthpop characteristics they emulate. There is a couple moments where its awful, mostly mediocre but between them they always drift towards the moody, brooding atmospheres which having a rich set of synths and decent production value sound glorious in their moments, however theirs only a few tracks that hit that mark.

For me that's the record in a nutshell. Its best moments come from the bands leanings to their unique sound and the worst from pop cliches and "moments" in songs you've heard other bands do. It does however not deserve the flack it received in my opinion, the chirpier synth added a welcome dimension when executed with inspiration and it yielded a couple of fantastic songs. Whats interesting is this shift came years after the scenes apparent decline. I'm doubtful the motivation was to scene hop, maybe just to explore an interest in a sound than played out alongside their best years.

Favorite Songs: America, My Love Of This Land, Unto The Ends Of The Earth

Rating: 5/10

Tombs "All Empires Fall" (2016)

New York based experimental Metal outfit Tombs are back in 2016 with a short twenty-three minute EP. Impressed by their last fall length I picked this one up and at first failed to recognize the band I had heard before. What was interesting about "Savage Gold" was a seemingly normal Metal approach yielding an uncanny nuance that defied understanding on inspection. It had its way of feeling different and after many listens to "All Empires Fall" I think we are hearing the subtleties being ripped apart in different directions. The opening track throws together an atypical Thrash Metal groove that I could swear I've heard many times before. Its then overlapped with a dark Post-Metal guitar lead, tremolo picking itself through an epic reverb. In then comes crashing into a spacious synth laden slow down, building up the anticipation of the first full track.

"Obsidian" is that song, and it dispels the atmosphere with its hard and gritty Black Metal grind, pummeling through shifting, alternating blasts and evil riffage. The vocals crash in with a harsh penetrating tone that feels shrill and piercing, as if peaking the volume. Its not particularly enjoyable but the ears adjust as the song draws on. In this song the band slice in thrashier grooving riffs that highlight the aforementioned directions, where subtlety once guided the chemistry there is now a noticeable shift, however its not a negative aspect of the song, more of an observation in change.

"Deciever" is considerably more along the lines of what I expected with Thrash grooves slowed down into a temperate environment, lighter growls and accenting lead guitars craft a big mood in a steady setting, gradually elevating with increasing lead guitar focus. "V" finds a balance between the two styles and progresses its way through a rather epic passage of riffs.

I didn't feel much cohesion on this record, the last two songs made more sense together than the others however my favorite track was the non Metal track "Last Days Of Sunlight" for its brooding atmosphere and sense of impending dread. A great listen with good songs but it didn't flow well or amount to something grander than the sum of its parts.

Favorite Songs: Last Days Of Sunlight, Deceiver

Rating: 4/10

Emperor "As The Shadows Rise" (1994)

For the longest time Emperor have been one of my favorite bands and given my recent revisits to "In The Nightside Eclipse" and "Anthems To The Welkin At Dusk", two sublime records, I thought it would be nice to go through their discography again and familiarize myself with some of the obscurer releases like this three track EP. I always thought this record was a bootleg released by "Nocturnal Art" half a year after their debut but recent investigation indicates the recordings are legitimate, from the same studio session in 1992 as their self titled EP released in 1993.

Before the band incorporated symphonic elements they were raw and primitive with power chord led progression and stark, monstrous echoing vocals. It lacked craft but made up for it with a fierce dark aggression that could warrant merit in extreme music given the time. This recording session captures the band in the midst of their transition between two styles. Only on "Lord Of The Storms" do the vocals go for "over the top" theatrics with beastly pitch dropped screams accompanying the normal scream high up in the mix, would of been much better if not mixed so loud, they do however sound menacing and demonic. The regular scream style shows the tone and texture that would be commonplace on their debut, however their is an element of the shrill scream that can be a little ear piercing in its execution.

Mostly on "The Ancient Queen" do we hear the synth lines tone back the rawness with the dingy, fuzzy distortion guitars softening into the wall of sound. The song develops a lot of atmosphere with guitar riffs that steer away from being purely chord driven and with a bright and gothic organ the song propels itself forward with steady blast beats. "Witches Sabbath" goes for a similar atmosphere but feels thin in places with single note guitar leads dropping dark and sparse melodies in without a rhythm guitar. It too makes some great breaks and shifts utilizing changes in synth tone, something we would see a lot of on "Nightside".

Its an interesting listen for a die hard fan, however its a leftover. The best tracks got onto the self titled EP but hearing Emperor in such a transitional state is a curiosity satisfied. It also made me appreciate just how much the production style of their debut did for the music. Many similar traits are present here musically however the subtleties of craft and presentation production can offer is priceless.

Favorite Song: The Ancient Queen

Rating: 4/10