Divorce - S/T 7" EP

Divorce - S/T 7" EP
Optimo Music




Divorce are an anything but an average noise-rock group. From Glasgow, I imagine a huge part of their sound, particularly on this album, comes from, well... drugs, drinking, violence, education, and any other callous, depraved forms of excess these young people have found time to expose themselves too.

Although Divorce do not adhere to the rules of any specific genre, I would classify some of their earlier recordings as a mix of 90s bands such as Jesus Lizard, Sonic Youth sort of noise-rock, and no-wave groups like Arab On Radar, Aids Wolf, and Pre. This new self-titled 7", however, is a huge departure for them; the focus seems to be much more on the weird and on the unrelenting filth, grime and torture of existing in a world that never has nor ever will have a place for you.

The first two tracks could be described as hazy at best (hazy like the morning after too many bottles of wine and codeine pills), mixed in a harsh discord of volatile and emotional outbursts and followed by what seems like hours of internalized terrorism. These tracks are the only of the six track EP that last longer than 45 seconds, and the length can wear on you if not properly hydrated and mentally secure.

The next four tracks range from spazzed-out harbingers of bloody ear canals to a more free-form grinding, and sludgy pastel soaked canvas of faeces.

I recommend this album for fans of nihilism. I give this album a rating of "A flaming bag of human shit hurled at that one teacher you always hated in high-school"

DIVORCE - wet bandit from Anna McCarthy on Vimeo.

Bandcamp | Blog | Label | S/T 7"

Eternal Fags - S/T

Eternal Fags - S/T
Winning Sperm Party




Eternal Fags are a three piece from Glasgow. This release at it's heart is in many ways a pop-punk album, if not for the dissentious barrage of squeaking guitars and curdled screeches. It is at times loud (loud with a side of 11) and at times just pure fun... shrill, terrorizing fun.

Released on Winning Sperm Party, Eternal Fags have an extremely raucous, direct and spazzy sound. Although this is a 2010 release I felt it appropriate to include this on the blog, as I feel the record is so good, not even two years could hold it back.

After my first listen I thought of what must be in the water in Glasgow that's causing so many young musicians to be in such a state of chaotic flux; but, as long as they keep producing music of this caliber, I can get behind it.

I would compare them to The B-52s if The B-52s were a good band, but they're not, so that does nobody any good. I also highly recommend you check out Winning Sperm Party; the roster they've built is astonishingly good.

I give this album a rating of "the satisfying feeling of finding three slashed tires on your car, then realizing that one tire is still in tact".





Label | Contact | Free

Suede Dudes - Greatest Hits

Suede Dudes - Greatest Hits
Independent




Just a little F.Y.I., I am sort of reviewing their entire Bandcamp page here. They have three releases in 2011, so I listened to all of them and liked what I heard.

A mix of garage/fuzz and psychedelic, Ft. Lauderdale's Suede Dudes sound to me like a mix of Junior Boys and Mudhoney. The fuzzy thick guitar tones reek of "that classic grunge sound", whatever that is supposed to mean, but it's the at times loud and hollering, but still apathetic vocals that hooked me in.

I like the tracks "Belkarm's River" and "Hot Grenade" the most. Hot grenade specifically has a more fun-with-science feel to it, and an almost experimental aspect — hopefully an indication of future endeavors by these young men.

If you're into aggressive, super technical, or really high energy this might not be the band for you. The band's focus seems to be more on feel, and more on set and setting than the mechanical masturbatory of more tech-based bands. However, if a little jingle-jangle, some muff-like tone, and drawled vocals are your thing, I very much would recommend this group to you.

I give this band a rating of "I gave it a shot; listened, and was quite pleasantly surprised. I suggest you do the same."

BANDCAMP | TUMBLR | FACEBOOK

Dickkicker - 3 Songs EP

Dickkicker - 3 Songs EP
Gaines St. Records




Being a huge fan of Dickkicker's last release, Somniloquent, I was definitely stoked to hear new material from this Floridian trio. Aside from being way too short with only three tracks to take in, the EP does exactly what the band wants it to, which is to kick in your proverbial dick.

These guys are considered stoner rock, and they are that, but to me they are just as much a noise rock band. Every song I've heard by them is punchy as all hell and just wants to burst right out of the speakers and kick some ass. Unlike a lot of other bands going for this sound, these guys also come across like they're having fun, rather than just bemoaning the shitty state of everything. Dickkicker's music not only makes you want to rock the fuck out, it makes you want to party while you're doing it.

Recommended for fans of Big Business, Slabdragger and Animal Skins.

BANDCAMP | FACEBOOK | MYSPACE

S.F.B. - S/T

S.F.B. - S/T
Independent




Shit For Brains (S.F.B.) are an excessively noisy four piece from Vancouver. I was turned on to this record by a Vancouver musician I know; I assume it's one of his 10,000 latest side projects (probably not actually 10,000... probably).

S.F.B.'s self titled debut release is at first listen a fast, fuzzy and clearly pissed off record, pissed off about something I can't deduce from the lyrics; whether that's the case or not is for smarter people than I to decide. Part of me wants to call this hardcore, and I would feel comfortable calling it that if not for the tight play and noisy aspects of this album. Part of me wants to call it noise rock, and I would feel comfortable calling it that if not for the fact that these recordings have been intrinsically steeped in the hardcore leanings of old.

While I would not say S.F.B. categorically sounds like these groups, I would recommend this group for fans of Pissed Jeans, Grids, or Homostupids. Nine songs in approximately ten minutes; this is exactly my kind of album. Get in, slay faces, and get the hell out.

I guess ultimately this is an noisy hardcore album; whatever it is, it's the equivalent of a sonic punch in the ear.

I give this album a rating of "listen or I no longer respect you" (not really, I never respected you in the first place), or, "this album sounds good me." You pick; either way, listen!

Head to their Bandcamp page for a free download!

BANDCAMP | MYSPACE

Torchbearer - The Dirty Swagger

Torchbearer - The Dirty Swagger
All Ears Music




Charging out of New Brunswick, New Jersey, Torchbearer step up to the plate with some incendiary hardcore/noise rock meant to kick in teeth. Made up of members of past hardcore/metalcore outfits like Ensign, Low End Theory, For The Love Of, Hellhole, Nora, and Mother Night, Torchbearer manage to lovingly collide some of the best things 90's hardcore had to offer with some punchy, ear bursting moments of noise rock and metalcore ferocity.


FACEBOOK | BANDCAMP | SOUNDCLOUD