House Of Pain "Truth Crushed To Earth Shall Rise Again" (1996)

 

Concluding our brief dive into the House Of Pain trio of records, Truth Crushed To Earth Shall Rise Again marks a significant shift in tone. Swiftly followed by the announcement of the groups split, it is possible the creative issues apparent on this album may have had something to do with it. Its opening track Fed Up is the only song I remember from years ago. I'm unsure if I ever gave this one much of a try back in the day but one things for sure, its lacks any kind of spark to mark it memorable.

No longer working with DJ Muggs, DJ Leathal's production is lackluster in comparison, missing the distinct flavor that defined their earlier output. These beats are middle of the road for a 90s sound. If anything, I find myself picking up some clear Pete Rock & CL Smooth vibes here. To be fair, little is negative but the temperament is so mild and easy going that when dipping its toes into shadowy, rugged or bombastic leanings, it doesn't manifest to anything substantial. It lacks teeth for the bite.

Bringing on a whole host of guests including the legendary Guru and Brand Nubian, the sound feels better catered for them than Everlast's rough, lived-in voice. He has a bit of friction with a lot of these instrumentals. On Earthquake though, the elements align for one decent track. Writing this now, it seems like a common theme, Everlast's hooks don't play of the beats all that well, yet his guests do excel with their verses.

Among the lack of cohesion and shifted tone there is a reasonable bunch of clever, crafty, witty rhymes to enjoy and brief bursts of fun, potent flows with powerful wordings, mostly from the features. The stars just don't align on this time around. Its left me feeling as if they had a great record in them that never came to be. Either way, its been fun to dig back into these albums with a 90s flair I adore.

Favorite Track: Earthquake

Rating: 4/10

Backxwash "Deviancy" (2019)

Released prior to the stunning God Has Nothing To Do With This, I had to reel in expectations when confronted by this raw rap fest that doesn't harbor such a rich theme and fleshed out vision. Deviancy is more or less a collection of raps and beats. A straightforward twenty minute record that doesn't yield any sign of whats to come yet musters up its share of memorable hooks and lines within its tailored production.

Lyrically, the use of language feels far more direct and open. Her trans sexuality a topic casually brought forth in livened energetic raps without pause. After a string of mischievous tracks, referencing the devil and affirming as the "witch bitch", the trippy, backwards spun interlude Dying Seems Like Fun pivots the record to a heartwarming pitch, a soulful song led by its intimate piano chords and softly spoken vulnerable lyrics of insecurity in self image. Bowing out with timely anthemic vibes, this transition feels parallel to the structure of its successor which took a turn to the light at the end.

Each of these songs have an identity, some true character that gives it distinction. Across its eight tracks you'll probably find a few favorites. Devil In A Mosh Pot has the wording to birth an earworm and its syncopated guitar lick reinforces the melody deviously over its bustling bassline. Foundation chases dreamy club Trap vibes but the title track would be my championing song. Again these busying gritty baselines whirl away setting a tone of chilling doom as its hook radiates with falling sirens.

Its a killer track but almost amateur in execution like much of the record and I mean that in a charming way. These beats require some attention to appreciate, a lot of praise may be handed out for its theming and design yet they don't seem to leap out at me the listener. Maybe it needs a little more polish and oomph? One thing for sure is Backxwash is a talent and Her raps are fantastic on this keen little project. Given the leap forward to come, who knows how far she can go with this unique persona!

Rating: 6/10

Deftones "Ohms" (2020)

How is it that after a handful of spins, these ten new tracks feel like songs you've know for years? With each record Deftones pivot to a new shade of sound, a fresh take on a decades spanning identity. Title track and lead single Ohms flags the new direction as the group lean deep into their Shoegaze era inspirations. Its almost misleading as the most ambitious number to emphasize Steven Carpenter's riffing direction, now utilizing a nine string guitar yet he can't help but drift into classic groove laden chugs on half of these songs. They sway, cushioned below the hazy rising sun of Chino's sleepy voice entangled with ever present light airy synths that permeate the unique atmosphere of this stunning album, the bands ninth in a string of successes.

Opening with Genesis, eerie saw wave synths stir soft tensions as dreamy, sombre acoustics paint reoccurring colors to the canvas. In a moments notice it gives way to the slam of Steven's Djent tonality with the intensity dialed to the forefront. The synth remains, as it does throughout the record, sustaining a soft, warm haze that will in turn blossom many beautiful moments when barraging distortion riffs give way. Its the temperament of Chino's swooning voice that feels crucial to the swaying. Their musical chemistry never needs selling though his soaring cries to softer breathy speaking hits a home run, gluing it all together with a charm that never fades.

 On Urantia his inflections and pitch have an uncanny resemblance to Billy Corgan of The Smashing Pumpkins. With so many shared commonalities and parallels in music its actually remarkable how little of the record conjures thoughts of other artists. And yet still across its ten songs there is much diversity, especially when they deviate from norms as the guitar direction feels intentionally more explorative. When attune experimentation flourishes, the singular, textural synths often shine. Error is simply magical, no thanks to the spellbinding drone of its spooky swirling oscillation.

Its a particularly strong moment as it transitions into the albums best, The Spell Of Mathematics. Initially a sludgy slug fest of low end noise, the creepy synths break for esoteric interludes that eventually culminate with Chino ushering a ravishing warmth from its unsettled, chilling atmosphere. The composition highlights a strange tone Ohms posses. Its a foot a two realms, finding limbo as all that's glossy and gorgeous is in constant friction with an ominous, faceless lurching presence. Dark, chilling yet far from danger or evil it carves a place that feels like a lonely wandering dream.

Working with Terry Date, the production is no doubt a marvel. Crisp, clear instruments with depth, fidelity and character meet on a stage fit for straight forward music capable of blooming into dense walls of magical sound. Abe Cunningham continues to impress as he houses not only the monstrous grooves but the flushes where Deftones step further from their tradition. Early on in the record I feel like we hear far more of his creativity, deeper in its a little routine. The baselines too, often an undercurrent, play a roll, livening up much of the music with its added power in the dense mixture.

The Deftones have a deep authentic chemistry. Taking care and time with each record there is simply no denying their execution. Ohms is inspired, interesting and mesmerizing when your locked in. Its best comes from texture and atmosphere, the heavy persuasion a familiar one that works best when pinned in by the synths, Frank Delgado really gave this record a special edge. The one dimension I all too often miss out on is lyrics. Many of the lines I did catch onto felt artistic and poetic, I'm sure a read of the lyric sheet is worth while. That will be on the "to do" list for now and so will this record as I'll continue to binge for some time, no doubt!

Rating: 9/10

The Crystal Method "Vegas" (1997)

 

Early on this year I had a mini nostalgia trip into the late nineties sound of Big Beat. Led by some good old Fatboy Slim, I decided to pick up a few notable records of the genre and chuck them on my phone to enjoy at a later date. Well once again the power of shuffle and unaware listening had another "whats this?" moment as the music in the background unsuspectingly revealed its secrets. Since then this platinum selling album has been on constant rotation! Vegas is the debut record by this American duo, hailed as being pioneers of the then emerging Big Beat sound.

One thing that really sets itself in stone is the deep club vibes that emerge in its repetitions. A dense arrangements of percussion and electronic futurism sounds oscillate with a perpetual drive one can move too. Its twelve songs motion through indulgence, droning with power as its loud drum grooves fuse a night life journey atmosphere. At around six minutes each, every song feels strangely monotonous yet engaging as the core identity rarely shifts. Instead the many layers of jilted percussion, cyber synths and theme building sampling swap their groupings, never seeming to repeat a string of arrangements. These are well interwoven songs.

Vegas has a small stake in many of the electronic genres, one can hear anything from Industrial to Rave in fractions. It has the hallmarks of the nineteens Dance sounds. Drop outs, ramped back up by fastening snare rolls a notable cliche not overplayed here. The perpetual unraveling of its moog synths give me an unusual familiarity to that of Carbon Based Lifeforms. A possible influence on the duo? A stand out track is the closing Trip Like I Do remix with Industrial Rock outfit Filler. The thick wall of crunchy distortion guitars slip in well to dial up the temperament. Richard Patrick's audible shouts resonate a lot like Trent of Nine Inch Nails.

This record is so succinctly late nineties you could pair it with many cultural artifacts of the time. As a Big Beat record it feels like that's just an aspect of its sound. The drums are ever present, bold and loud with a snappy tightness but don't end up the sole focal point. Its arsenal of buzz saws and oscillated synth tones are nostalgic, many designs of which Ive heard on other records back when the technology was more contained. Its just been one of those albums to slip right into a cozy place. I will no doubt return to it often in the years to come, its vibe is just right for me!

Rating: 7/10

Rich Brian "The Sailor" (2019)

The Sailor is young Indonesian rapper Rich Brian's sophomore effort. His debut record Amen has quite the charm. His deep baritone voice pitched at a steady pace had a strong persuasion over the glossy Trap influenced instrumentals, despite a lack of lyrical substance. With time passed, its youthful immaturity became the spell that kept giving when songs would pop up on shuffle. Fun, carefree with that youthful spirit, I was looking forward to more of the same with The Sailor however this is not just another twelve cuts. Its ambitious, ultimately condemning itself in the process.

Brian has talent, there is no doubt. The RZA even turns up on track two to give the teenager his endorsement. He does however have distance to travel and The Sailor feels wrapped in the idea of personal evolution and maturity that can't escape a lack of it. This manifests not just from personal musing stories in the lyrics but also the Beats. Leaning into classical compositions for a sense of grandiose while borrowing its most stylistic elements from Kendrick Lamar's soulfully sung thematic links, the albums identity lacks originality. Bekon and The Donuts mostly handle production which often sways to the temperament of Blueprint era Jay-Z's upbeat jazzy tone.

There is a few others I could name drop here when similarities arise. Its overall vision draws from a an unoriginal variety that doesn't offer more than its parts. Brian's lyrics often reaching for deep meanings and personal growth seem typically naive lacking in experience and perspective. That being said, hes still a kid and Ive got a few years under my belt so maybe I'm an old fart who doesn't get it? Criticism aside, there is plenty of fun flows and the occasional catchy experiment like Slow Down Turbo's stereo panning speeding up his verse. In all of its short comings this record does have some competence. The instrumentals are broadly on the better side, even if not thematically embellishing his ambitious vision. Its a fair, listenable record but doesn't feel like a move inline with his potential.

Rating: 5/10

Anna Von Hausswolff "All Thoughts Fly" (2020)

 

Her previous ambition, Dead Magic, was a riveting record upon discovery. Since then its been a frequent return, always delivering its beautiful sorrow and engulfing esoteric spookiness. I brought All Thoughts Fly in the blink of an eye, not knowing it was not a typical release. Devoid of her captivating voice, the record is an instrumental piece, recorded entirely on a pipe organ. The initial disappointment soured my first few listens as I yearned for the music to give way to other elements. Having now grown accustom to its dimension, I hear the foundational building blocks of her "normal" music being deeply explored in the various moody temperaments this record offers.

Three to four of these seven songs explore a cold, glum macabreness. Funeral sadness and crushing sorrow permeates the room in the rich bellowing fog of a dense, burdensome organ tone. Its dark, lonely and tearful in its most penetrating moments. Sacro Bosco acts a bridge between halves. Initially mysterious, Anna uses stereo panned low notes over ambiguous fuzzy noise to build the song into a magical realm. Its quite impressive how this was done with just the pipe organ, however one can imagine reverberations, loop pedals and other processing tools may have come into play to forge such a layered and dense sound the music wanders into often.

This magical, esoteric side is better explored in the opening number. Whirling sounds of sparkles flutter by prodding instruments, bursts of notation climbing from rumbling lows to spectral highs in a cyclical nature. Its ambiguous and entrancing, yet its later spells, including the lengthy title track, tend to lull into a drone as its swirling, looping nature becomes jaded in its own shadow. It may move through phases but the unrelenting spiral of notes ends up becoming a heavy wash of background radiation.

There is an impressive quality to this record with knowledge of how all the mysterious, atmospheric and ambiguous sounds that emanate, came from a lone instrument. It sparks my curiosity. How many layers and plugins where used for each song? The depressive church organ songs clearly used less yet in some of the musics build ups there is a lot going on to digest. All Thoughts Fly possess some spellbinding compositions yet in its duration frequently becomes dull and droning in its final stretch. One can clearly hear the foundations of her unique music, the scope of which is greatly elevated by her voice and accompanying instruments. There is of course no reason not to pursue an ambition like this, however it didn't feel like it could yield anything being the normative scope.

Rating: 6/10

Bathory "Requiem" (1994)

 

Having provided immense inspiration for a then blossoming Black Metal scene and moving on to pioneer his own Viking Metal sound, on this seventh outing Bathory pivot to a sound that would of been influential on his own... Thrash Metal! I had to stick with this one for a while because the initial shock of its bare and bestial tone was work for my ears to adjust. A hammered clanking bassline punches through with slabs of low end sound alongside the rattle of a biting drum kit dominated by its vicious snare tone. The distortion guitar may be the one instrument to prevail as Quorthon's throaty snarling shouts wade in a shrill harshness that's rarely persuasive.

Despite its aesthetic obnoxiousness, one does adjust and with that comes an undeniable arsenal of blackened thrash riffs, delivering marching pace and snappy aggression in the spirit of a scene past its prime. With his excellent lead guitar, the songs tend to propel through stomping riffs and battering drum patterns in simple song structures to then be illuminated in blazes of sparkling high end fretwork. Its all paced at a similar intensity, the occasional touch of groove emerges but this is strictly thrash with a darker aesthetic, its solo's delivering a hint of classic Heavy Metal.

 With only nine songs of the shorter variety, its thirty three minutes have led to many a spin but despite its obvious merits I cannot get past its rattle and clank. The guitars have a superb engulfing tone but everything around it is a little frazzled causing to much friction. Released a decade earlier Requiem might of been some relic of Thrash Metal but the reality is once the book is written its hard to rewrite those pages. I've given this one a real try, its got quality in writing but lacks a solid execution.

Rating: 5/10

Napalm Death "Throes Of Joy In The Jaws Of Defeatism" (2020)

Despite relative disappointment with proceeding Apex Predator, I'll always be one excited for a new Napalm Death record! The British Grindcore legends have entered their fifth decade as a band with Throes Of Joy In The Jaws Of Defeatism, their sixteenth full length record, remarkable! The EP Logic Ravaged By Brute Force released earlier this year didn't exactly hint at what was next for the band but I am happy to report the albums kicks off a boot to the stomach and fist to the teeth as its opening plunge into choppy fretwork chaos and pummeling blast beats gives that much needed adrenaline shot to the heart this group deliver on so often. Its pivot to a tense, dark and atmospheric guitar lead with Barney roaring in vitriol "get a looser grip" sets its sights on the records two halves.

The next couple of tracks continue to tear into an unrelenting energy fueled by anger and frustration. Crushing percussion batters away, dizzying riffwork assaults and venomous screams hammer down on the listener for a riotous ride. Contagion acts the link, darkly choral voicing chime in to brood the mood between a collection of stomping riffs loaded with groove and intensity. Jole De Ne Pas Vivre then breaks the intensity for a maddening atmosphere as echoing noises of destruction paint the crunching, clunking baseline that propels the song forward as vocalist Barney wretches his chords for an artful performance. Its a moment in the record to play up the two sides that deliver in various degrees running through the next half of the record explored with plenty of intensity.

This time around Napalm Death have found a balance in ideas that play out with continual excitement. The dark atmospheres conjured are both curious and enticing. They provide relief for the sonic assaults led by Mitch Harris's unending arsenal of riffs and reinforced by the battering sticks of Danny Herrera. The record has a fine production, all elements audible and synchronously smothering. The guitars in particular have texture and fidelity best exposed in noisy Post-Punk riffs that crop up on a couple of tracks. At forty two minutes it does well to hold attention with consistency as songs to not stand out from one another however plenty of individual compositions and "moments" will be sure to grab your attention, for me mostly with the half step drum grooves and plunges into hellish sounds.

With such a large discography and long history, it can't be overstated how fantastic it is to have these musicians still pumping out gold. Plenty of the music here feels akin to their high standards which took a fumble in my opinion last time around. The five years between records has been worth the wait, the gods of Grindcore are at it again! You may also miss out on a fantastic track with Feral Carve-Up somehow only making to the b-side material as a bonus track. Thinking on it further, the other bonus song was remarkable too. Great record! A must listen for fans of intense ear torture.

Rating: 8/10

Ihsahn "Pharos" (2020)

 

Ihsahn, a musician I marvel at for his works with the mighty Emperor! He is back with another five track EP counterpart to Telemark - released earlier this year. It had me prepared for anything and no surprise, Pharos is an equally eclectic experience, swaying with the dark and light before delivering a pair of intriguing covers that have Ihsahn exploring a vulnerable range in his voice I'd not heard before.

Kicking off with Losing Altitude, Specter At The Feast and the title track, all original material, the music brews a moody overcast atmosphere with both hints of hazy melodic color and an uneasy tension brewing just beyond the horizon. Navigated with a pop sensibility, musters of electricity in the rises between the falls, erupt with an engulfing energy that gracefully retains this curious middle ground. Indulgences in jazzy, lounge instruments with soft strings and moonlit piano keys exchange between soars of electric guitar lead, riveting distortion chords and thunderous tom drums. The music breathes life from this shadowy yet safe and expressive place.

With its covers the music shifts gears given the difference in musical style. Its a stage for Ihsahn to show more of himself through the higher pitched voicing. It works well with the dreary Portishead cover, however the following track pushes things a little with its cheesy 80s synth pop vibes. Overall the song is decent but the vocals get pushed into a strange place in a couple of the songs passes. Another interesting EP! The new material was by far the most captivating aspect.

Rating: 5/10

House Of Pain "Same As It Ever Was" (1994)

Following up on the debut Fine Malt Lyrics, my memory of Same As It Ever Was has held true. Its a tighter, leaner, hard hitting record with a boisterous gangster edge. Both the beats and rhymes are upgraded to a meaner form of the Irish funk as House Of Pain channel their fun and quirky charisma into a darker temperament. Front man Everlast trades in his card swapping punch lines for substance driven verses. His rhymes are keen and again well pronouncement, even with a touch more grit in his voice as he emphasizes on gun play and violence. It feels less fun and playful, a fraction threatening but mostly a more entertaining flow of rhymes to jive with.

Behind him DJ Leathal and DJ Muggs of Cypress Hill both shape the beats with big bold baselines played up front and center. Punchy, crisp and smooth with the feeling of a classical double bass instrument, they define a lot of the records tone. Paired with keen yet bare percussive loops, a gloomy shade is painted for a serious hardcore platform that Everlast and his gangster leaning rhymes dominates. Hitting of with a string of the better pairings, pacing suffers through the middle, or potentially the strict styling gets a little tiresome. It picks up at the end with Who's The Man, an interesting take on a sample used timelessly by Dr. Dre on The Chronic. All in all its a strong record but heavily reliant on how much you dig this breed of Hip Hop.

Rating: 6/10

Ulver "Flowers Of Evil" (2020)

 

Thinking back on The Assassination Of Julius Caesar, this latest installment from Norwegian musician Ulver has failed to feel as remarkable and that is probably down to its carbon copy nature. There isn't an inch or a mile of difference between the two records temperaments and so the warm, inviting music of this intellectual artsy rock fused with soft synth and percussive electronic elements, finds itself with the edge dulled for this listener. It is however, much like before, a riveting yet safe experience of melodic crooning, noninvasive music that sways with own particular swoon.

Once again Rygg's voice shines like a beacon. Smooth and powerful he lights up the songs with classy melodies to compliment the drive of blinking electronic instruments that weave together airy piano chords, warm droning baselines and spontaneously adventurous percussion. Together they forge an Ethereal edge to the aesthetic when the vocals are striped back and instruments reverberate with a calming, indulgent intention. Swaying from these states and brief moments of percussive rigidity strip back the curtain of their design, a positive moment many of the songs here possess.

To me it feels like the record sets off in a darker place, the synths tinged with a Synthwave tone illuminate a subtle nightlife vibe. Lyrics carry an anxiety, dystopian topics unravel as Rygg packages his lyrics with a poetic ambiguity. As the music progresses to warmer shores the wording becomes more direct and less of his catchy wordings arise. That however is just my take on an area I tend to gloss over more in music. Ultimately its another eight fantastic songs to fit this current stylistic stride but with a less remarkable impact given how little of the music here offers up something new in the shadow of its predecessor. Good but not quite great.

Rating: 7/10