SHZine: Germany

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Uncreation - Burning Blood

Uncreation - Burning Blood
Independent

Metal, metal, metal, how I love your glorious and anthemic ways. German purveyors of melodic death metal, Uncreation have arrived with their latest release. For people lamenting the "nu metalfication" of past melodic death greats like In Flames and Kalmah, Uncreation will satisfy that hole in your goat-horned soul and they will do it in spades.

Burning Blood comes after you with charging speed, intricate and memorable riffs, and beautiful melodies, reminding you how good this stuff used to be, and can be again. Best of all, no clean pussy vocals going on here, this is the real deal, taking me back to the glory days of At the Gates and Arch Enemy; man, what happened to this brand of metal? I know certain bands have worked hard to maintain quality (eg. Insomnium, Wintersun, Scar Symmetry) but so many once great bands dropped the ball. Soilwork, In Flames, I'm looking in your direction.

No matter, put this album on and sip from the stein of metal mastery.

FACEBOOK | MYSPACE

Friday, November 25, 2011

Planks/Narsaak - Split EP

Planks/Narsaak - Split EP
Decoy Industry

Here's a new split from Planks, whose previous full length, The Darkest of Grays, I was a big fan of, and Narsaak who I was previously unaware of. Unfortunately this release has only one track from Planks, who play an aggressive and miserable brand of sludge by way of hardcore punk. Planks was one of the bleakest sludge bands I heard last year, and that's saying something. Fans of groups like Starve and Haarp, and older classics like Grief, Iron Monkey and Noothgrush would do well to listen to these guys.

Also coming from Germany, Narsaak play a slightly more straight forward barrage of crusty hardcore and deliver it quickly and roughly over three tracks here. Narsaak are competent at what they are doing but a whole lot less interesting to me than Planks, so I'm not sure if I would wholeheartedly recommend this release. Definitely seek out The Darkest of Grays by Planks, though, if you're a fan of depressing, angsty sludge. Apparently Planks also has a new album out entitled Solicit to Fall.

PLANKS BANDCAMP | PLANKS FACEBOOK | PLANKS MYSPACE | NARSAAK MYSPACE

About

Started in 2000, Scandalized Human Zine is a Fraser Valley, BC based music webzine with the intention of covering a range of music that fits the personal tastes and intrigue of the contributors. Considering the vagueness and unpredictability of what we deem fit to print, we would like to give exposure mostly to lesser known, quality artists that pass our way -or to even whatever miracle of music we may surprisingly stumble upon out in the world. We also give props to our local friends, because they kick ass so much.

SHZine's subtitle used to make reference to such genres as mathrock, postrock and avant garde; but behold! This was only a lure to those who may deem themselves as wise in their ways. It's true, we do enjoy the more challenging styles that defy description so we can make up our own genres and become historical figures in the documentation of rock and roll, but it's also hard to ignore the more genuine inventions of spirited composers that easily fall into the categories of simply amazing, relevant or moving.

It's also true that 'we' means myself and the very gratefully appreciated contributors; and we run everything to do with SHZine from editing, design, html, reviews and correspondences in our spare time as a hobby.

I currently live in Abbotsford and am working with my good friends who run Champion Jack's Emporium, a choice vintage and record shop in Historic Downtown. Also, Daryl has a show on UFV's 101.7 FM CIVL Radio called Disposable Existence. Feel free to check out our other friends, contemporaries, and colleagues in the links section.

Thanks to our readers, writers, friends and most of all the artists.

-Stu