Demo: Norrksen - "Hokus Pokus"

While I'm at it I might as well post this one too. See my below post. (Um, and go ahead and have a good laugh at the cheesy/terrible artwork for this one... I promise the demo itself is awesome. "Rest in Space": holy hell.)

1. Beware

2. Rest in Space

3. Hokus Pokus

4. Devastating

DL: "Hokus Pokus"

Single: Norrksen - "Armageddon / Little Lady" + bonus tracks

Members of this short lived project went on to form Witchcraft, Graveyard, Asteroid and Dead Man. Norrksen only released some demos, compilation tracks and this single in their short lived time as a group and so along with their "Armageddon / Little Lady" single I added on their compilation tracks - covers of "Pilot" by Blue Cheer and "Psalm 9" by Trouble. (Seriously, how did they know my favorite Blue Cheer and Trouble tracks? And how did they add flutes to Psalm 9 and make it sound okay?) I highly recommend this as it's really well done and you can hear little hints of what's to come in all these tracks which is cool if you're a fan of any of the groups Norrksen went on to form. Groove out.

1. Armageddon

2. Little Lady

3. Pilot

4. Psalm 9

DL: "Norrksen Single"

News: Crowbar - Cemetary Angels and new album

Sorry for my incredibly long abscence. To (not) make up for it, here's a new Crowbar track for the holidays! Get stoked. I'll try and come back in 2011. Hail Santa.

Feature: Psych Trail Mix Zine

So I'd like to take a minute to talk to you about my friend Brent's music zine called Psych Trail Mix. Some might already recognize this zine and/or Brent's Helios Creed fan site, but if you haven't I urge you to check both of them out.

Psych Trail Mix is one of the most dedicated zines I've seen in a while, and it focuses on exactly what you would expect it to (it covers everything from the God Bullies to the Beatles) with some unexpected and fun extras like the laugh inducing rant on things that should just stop at the end of the most recent issue. Issue #5 was just released and it's downloadable in PDF format so you can read it that way, or he encourages you to print it yourself to get the full experience.

Get more information about this project and read all the issues of Psych Trail Mix here and show your support so zines like this can thrive and continue! I also encourage you to shoot Brent an e-mail at psychtrailmix@yahoo.com with your love and feedback (and tell him I sent you!)

Radio: The Chocolate Bicycle Experience Christmas Special

Some of you might remember me and ipecac's weekly radio show called The Chocolate Bicycle Experience. Well... for the past little while he has been keeping this show going every Monday while I've been slacking off and, while I sincerely hope you have been listening every week, today's show was extra special since my lazy ass made a contribution for once. I mean, ipecac, if you're reading this.... every show is extra special.... its just... I meant to say... um... hey, why doesn't everyone listen to this?

King Diamond - No Presents For Christmas
CKY - Santa's Coming
Blue Meanies - Ace Of Spades (Live Motorhead Cover)
Deep Purple - Space Truckin'
The Blood Brothers - Under Pressure (Queen Cover)
Dio - Holy Diver
Chambers Brothers - Time Has Come Today (Extended Version)
The Austerity Program - Song 27
Icky Joey - King Of Pinch And Roll
Dead Kennedys - I Kill Children
Big Chief - Locked Out
Yes - Starship Trooper
Blood Circus - Part Of The Crowd
Anal Cunt - Radio Hit
Indian - Lust
Burnt By The Sun - Forlani
Meshuggah - Neurotica
Deadbird - Feral Flame
Earthride - Black
Zao - Lies Of Serpents,A River Of Tears
Scrotum Grinder - You Are My Favorite Line In The Worst Song Ever Written
Electric Wizard - Black Mass
Burning Witch - Communion
Chemical Marriage - Teasing Daddy
Yakuza - Chicago Typewriter
Naked City - Osaka Bondage
The String Quartet - South Of Heaven (Slayer Cover)

DL: the Chocolate Bicycle Experience

Single: Sub Pop Edition #25 Tad - "Loser / Cooking With Gas"

A dreary Monday calls for more Tad singles. Get out your flannel and your chainsaw.

1. Loser

2. Cooking With Gas

DL: "Loser/Cooking With Gas Single"

Single: Sub Pop Edition #24 Tad - "Daisy / Ritual Device"

I think it's about time this one came up to the surface... The infamous Tad - "Daisy/Ritual Device" 7" that was released on Sub Pop in '88. In true messy, Tad style, 964 of these were released and there is no picture sleeve. Some of the most brutal Tad material in existance.

1. Daisy

2. Ritual Device

DL: "Daisy/Ritual Device Single"

Album: Witchcraft - "Firewood"

This used to be one of my favorite things to listen to and now I'm rediscovering it.

Witchcraft are as mournful and hopeless as a doom band but have the chops of a 70's heavy rock band, and their album "Firewood" could easily be mistaken as a hidden gem from the era if you didn't know this was released in 2005. There are so many reasons to love what Witchcraft is doing here - the throwback to 70's heavy rock (which is one of my favorite things to see in modern bands when it's done well) and blantant Pentagram influence being the main ones in my books; in fact, they do a wicked cover of "When the Screams Come" on this album that will make your blood boil. They somehow even incorporate flutes and acoustic guitars on this release and manage to make it sound ethereal, not cheesy. The raw emotion and occult imagery of this album make it a gem. (...and those riffs, aye!)

1. Chylde of Fire
2. If Wishes were Horses
3. Mr Haze
4. Wooden Cross (I Can't Wake the Dead)
5. Queen of Bees
6. Merlin's Daughter
7. I See a Man
8. Sorrow Evoker
9. You Suffer
10. Attention!
11. When The Screams Come (Pentagram)
12. If Crimson Was Your Colour
13. I Know You Killed Someone...

DL: "Firewood"

Album: The Walkabouts - "Satisfied Mind"

"This is a collection of other people's songs. Some were found stacked in the back of the closet, and others were found lying in the middle of the floor. All of them shared a powerful pull.
On this album, lots of different types of instruments (many of them acoustic) were used. Some of these were played by the band, and others were played by musicians we greatly admire. It was a privilege to work with them.

It has never made sense to us that songs should be tied down to one specific voice or place or piece of product. Sometimes songs like to travel. Hopefully, we've given these songs that chance.

- Chris Eckman, Sept. 29, 1993"

"Satisfied Mind" by The Walkabouts - what can I say? You would be doing yourself an injustice by not listening to this. As a pretty visual person when it comes to music, I feel like this album would make an excellent soundtrack to walking along a dusty highway or through a desolate field. (See the cover art of this album which fits this grouping of songs perfectly). Just some nice, easy listening for a Sunday afternoon like today. This was released in 1993 on Sub Pop and I also included the original songwriters on the tracklisting to reference.

1. Satisfied Mind (by Rhodes & Hayes)
2. Loom of the Land (by Nick Cave)
3. The River People (by Robert Forster)
4. Polly (by Gene Clark)
5. Buffalo Ballet (by John Cale)
6. Lover's Crime (by Pewee Maddux)
7. Shelter for an Evening (by Gary Heffern)
8. Dear Darling (by Mary Margaret O'Hara)
9. Poor Side of the Town (by Johnny Rivers)
10. Free Money (by Patti Smith & Lenny Kaye)
11. The Storms are on the Ocean (by The Carter Family)
12. Feel Like Going Home (by Charlie Rich)
13. Will You Miss Me When I'm Gone (Traditional)

DL: "Satisfied Mind"

EP: Earthride - "Earthride"

Here's the first, oddly obscure self titled EP by Earthride. This is definitely a more traditional take on the heavy, southern sludge drenched Earthride sound we know and love (aka. more Motorhead, less Crowbar) and this EP is probably the most satisfying listen i've heard from anything in this vein in quite sometime. Not many bands can achieve this level of grit and misery in a release while still having it resemble something fun. Whiskey soaked biker-doom. Get into it.

1. Earthride

2. Black

3. Enter Zacfreyalz

4. Weak End

DL: "Earthride EP"

(Note: link borrowed from DoomGrinder, thanks! I'm a terrible person.)

Single: Flop - Scene 1 Act 1

not many folks know of this band (well...most folks that i know)

i was first turned onto the band waaaaaaay back in the early 90s via the radio (believe it or not...they actually played music that somewhat decent back in the day...and i used to have a crapload of cassettes filled with it...yeah...i was one of those people)

if you've ever seen the movie HYPE!...flop was the band being recorded in a garage by kurt bloch (one of the guitarists from the band the fastbacks) during the middle part of the movie (their vocalist was wearing a gas huffer hat)

and if you've never seen HYPE!...well...this is the place where'd i'd usually go off on a rant...but i'm not gonna waste the words...you know what you did...

so what you get here is 7" of "pop punk" (but not of the blink 182 persuasion or their ilk...maaan...i feel shitty for even mentioning them here) that comes in the form of an original song and 2 covers (devo/the jam)

DL: scene 1 act 1

Album - Eleven - Awake In A Dream

seeing as how the posting of some of the band's albums (here and there) seemed to go over pretty good...i now give you the band's debut album

but it comes with a warning: most folks would call this "sub par" compared to their later albums...and i'm inclined to agree...this has a more pop oriented sound (while still not sounding like anything else pop oriented)

and apparently the makers of the film FREEJACK deemed it good enough to include their song "break the spell" on the soundtrack (which is about the only good thing about the movie...the inclusion of the song...not the soundtrack...just wanted to clear that up...though there are a few decent songs on it)

so unless you want the FREEJACK folks to be better than you...i suggest you snag this up

also...you should seek out vocalist alain johannes' new (also his first) solo album SPARK which was released back in october of this year (unless you want me to be better than you)

DL: awake in a dream

Live Recording: Green River - 10.24.87 - Scream Club - Los Angeles,CA

seeing as how you're all patrons of the ritual room...i'd like to think that you know what the grunge is all about

it's rumored that mark arm gave it the moniker "grunge"

and mark arm fronted green river

see how everything just came together?

the band also spawned a few other bands: mother love bone/mudhoney/pearl jam/temple of the dog

the band was on a 5 day tour of west coast when this turned out to be the their "last show" because they were fighting amongst themselves (and bassist jeff ament filling the band's guest list with music industry folks rather than friends of the band didn't seem to help matters much)

and i put the words "last" and "show" in parentheses because the band has since gotten back together and played a few one off shows since then and are also possibly releasing a new album and touring

but enough with the words...

1 - forever means
2 - rehab doll
3 - queen bitch (1)
4 - together we'll never
5 - by her own hand
6 - this town
7 - smilin' and dyin'
8 - swallow my pride
9 - the needle and the damage done (2)/aint' nothin' to do (3)

1=david bowie cover
2=neil young cover
3=dead boys cover

DL: green river@scream club

Live Recording: Screaming Trees - Olympia, Washington 03/21/97

Ladies and gentleman, I now present you with a really cool/high quality recording of the Screaming Trees playing in Olympia in 1997. I'm not sure who to credit since this has been floating around various places for a while, but anyways, enjoy! (I would post this.) But seriously, I have a ton of Mark Lanegan/Screaming Trees recordings so if you have any requests, request away and I'll do my best to make it happen.

1. Intro
2. Halo Of Ashes
3. Winter Song
4. Butterfly
5. All I Know
6. Witness
7. Sworn & Broken
8. Dying Day
9. Nearly Lost You
10. Gospel Plow
11. Julie Paradise
12. Bed Of Roses
13. What Goes On
14. Memory Of A Free Festival

DL: "Screaming Trees Live in Olympia '97"

News: Kyuss (Lives!) Reunion Tour

A little while ago I posted about the "Garcia Plays Kyuss" tour, and now another tour has been announced under the name "Kyuss Lives!" which is essentially Kyuss minus Josh Homme. (umm, maybe just mentally omit Josh from the above photo). Right now only the Australian leg of the tour is announced, but some European dates will also take place in March/April. Very cool news!

May 04 - Gold Coast - Coolangatta Hotel
May 06 - Brisbane - The Tivoli
May 07 - Sydney - Metro Theatre
May 08 - Melbourne - Billboard
May 10 - Adelaide - Fowlers
May 11 - Perth - Capitol

Tickets go on sale today at 9:00 a.m. which was actually quite a few hours ago Aus. time. (It's 9 a.m. here in Canada, does that count?)

Feature: Soundgarden 7"

on the 26th of this month (this month being november)...soundgarden will be releasing a 7" consisting of 2 previously unreleased songs:

"the telephantasm" and a live version of "gun"

and hopefully with "the telephantasm"...we'll get to hear the story of the wolf on the cover...i mean...just go and look at it...doesn't it look as if it has a story to tell?...maybe it'll tell us the story about THAT DAMNED PUZZLE ON THE SOUNDGARDEN WEBSITE...um..sorry...i didn't mean to raise my voice...BUT THAT DAMN PUZ...sorry

moving on

so be on the look out for 7" of soundgarden

i need to go and scream into a pillow and possibly slap around my incredible hulk punching bag

DAMN YOU TELEPHANTASM WOLF!

Album: Guzzard - The Alien Index Survey

you're going to download this

"why should i?"

well...because guzzard are/were awesome...they were on amphetamine reptile...because you like a good bottom end sound (no...not that..well...maybe)...

but most importantly of all...because i'm telling you to

would i ever steer you in the wrong direction?

yeah yeah..i know...i told you that wearing short shorts with a neon pink tank top to that petting zoo was an awesome idea...but you know...

DL: the alien index survey

Album: Quest For Fire - "Lights From Paradise"

I'm missing this band play tonight and am staying in and listening to this album instead, so i'm deeming it appropriate to post. (Does it mean you're getting old when you miss good shows due to cold weather and being grumpy and overworked?). Reguardless of my own setbacks, I absolutely adore Quest For Fire and their style of chill psych rock. Sometimes meditative, sometimes rocking, their latest release titled "Lights From Paradise" is just an enjoyable and easy listen that will grab and keep your interest with entrancing twists and turns... think something along the lines of Dead Meadow breeding with Nebula to create an incredible lovechild. This is a beautiful album and I guess the fact that Quest For Fire are Canadian and signed to Tee Pee are just gravy. Vibe out.

1. The Greatest Hits By God
2. Set Out Alone
3. Strange Vacation
4. Confusion's Home
5. In The Place Of A Storm
6. Psychic Seasons
7. Hinterland Who's Who
8. Sessions Of Light

DL: "Lights From Paradise"

Album: Big Chief - "Platinum Jive"

Oh man. I finally get to post this one. Here is an album I've been meaning to post since I started this blog - "Platinum Jive" by Big Chief. I absolutely love this band and this is my favorite thing they released in their too-short existence as a group (well... aside from "Face". I think it's a tie). It's still catchy as hell but with a bit more grit and less funk (but still a copious amount) than their previously released work. It's a great mix of fun and grime and actually, in thinking about it further, I think a major part of the reason I'm so in love with this unique work is the track "John's Scared" which I'm basically addicted to. And "Locked Out". Ugh. Ok. Maybe it's just the entire album.

1. Lion's Mouth

2. Takeover Baby

3. John's Scared

4. M.D. 20/20

5. Map of Your Failure

6. Bona Fide

7. Armed Love

8. Philly Nocturne

9. Locked Out

10. All Downhill From Here

11. The Liquor Talkin'

12. Sick To My Pants

13. Your Days Are Numbered

14. Clown Pimp

15. Simply Barry

16. Lot Lizard

DL: "Platinum Jive"

Album: Minsk - "Out of A Centre Which Is Neither Dead Nor Alive"

I ignored this bands existance for years for no real reason, until about 6 months ago when curiosity overcame me and I decided to give them a listen. I was immediately blown away and began kicking myself for all the time I had wasted. Upon first listen, you're bound to recognize the obvious Neurosis influence, but Minsk are much more than another band mimicking the Gods. Pounding tribal rythms, powerful riffing, really passionate vocals, and much more all come together in a thick layer of blissful psychedelia, resulting in one of the more creative and inspired records in this genre that I can think of. This resonates really deeply with me, musically and lyrically and I'm still kind of obsessing over it. Highly, highly reccomended if you're like me and skipped over this.

(It feels so good to blog again. Sorry!)

1. Waging War on the Forevers

2. Narcotics and Dissecting Knives

3. Holy Flower of the North Star

4. Three Hours

5. Bloodletting and Forgetting
6. Wisp of Tow

DL: "Out Of A Centre Which Is Neither Alive Nor Dead"

Album: Red Red Meat - "Bunny Gets Paid"

Here's an album by a 90's band from Chicago that sounds like they really should have been from Seattle. That's right, this is "Bunny Gets Paid" from Red Red Meat - an album that is widely considered to be some of RRM's best material and I can see why. You get a messy and sleepy sound combined with ripping, bluesy alt rock and Cobain-esque vocals, as well as some really chilled out, slow tracks which are truly the cherry on top of an already fantastic album. The genuine emotion behind the catchy alternative sound of this album has resulted in me having a huge soft spot towards it and believe me, you will too (if you don't already). Oh and, since I like you so much, I included the bonus tracks from the reissued deluxe version. (The first release was in '95). Enjoy.

1. Carpet of Horses
2. Chain Chain Chain
3. Rosewood, Wax, Voltz + Glitter
4. Buttered
5. Gauze

6. Idiot Son
7. Variations on Nadia's Theme
8. Oxtail
9. Sad Cadillac
10. Taxidermy Blues in Reverse
11. There's Always Tomorrow
12. Chain Chain Chain (4-track demo)
13. Idiot Son (single version)
14. Words
15. Mouse-ish (dub mix)
16. Carpet of Horses (Cleversly version)

17. St. Anthony's Jawbone
18. Wishing (If I Had a Photograph of You)

DL: "Bunny Gets Paid"

Album: Revelation - "Salvation's Answer"

How I'm only getting into this band now is beyond me. This is Revelation's album "Salvation's Answer" and this... well... this is a doom metal album. Let's just say you decided to take a bit of Orodruin, a bit of Reverend Bizarre, sprinkled in a couple of the couple of the few good things that there are about Cathedral... then you would have a sound something like this. Pure, skilled 90's doom metal at it's best.

So if it's the riff you crave, the riff is what you are going to get. Happy late Halloween.

1. Lost Innocence

2. Salvation's Answer

3. Infinite Nothingness

4. Paradox

5. Images of Darkness

6. Long After Midnight

7. Poets and Paupers

8. Waiting For the End

DL: "Salvation's Answer"

Album: Mule - If I Don't Six

i've heard this band described as a hillbilly jesus lizard

and i've used the same description as well

now...this may be a little different for some of you folks...as it's neither sludgy or could really be considered primal

but what this album could very well do is drive you to drink (and yes...this would be the best album to drink and drive to)

you could very well listen to this and picture david yow as the blind singer/guitar player for the house band in the movie ROAD HOUSE (come on now...we've all seen it)

joe cocker doing his best bob seger fronting lynyrd skynyrd meets the jesus lizard behind chicken wire

and you know you want some of that action

quit kidding yourself

DL: if i don't six

Album: Absum - "Purgatoire 2007 - 2009"

I had some thoughts about not posting this, but fuck it.

Picture the raw, buzzing, hypnotic quality of lo-fi black metal. Now, instead of playing it on the peaks of a frostbitten mountain, take it down far below sea-level, buried deep within a forgotten cavern. Let the sound echo through the void. It would sound something like this tape. Really raw and captivating blackened funeral doom that radiates an IMMENSE amount of power. HIGHLY, highly reccomended but certainly not for everyone. (not my rip.)

Download: "Absum - Purgatoire"

Feature: Kingdom of Magic / Sod Hauler Split

When Adrian of Locust Tree Records sent this record over he described it as a "rifftastic masterpiece" and I really can't say that I disagree. This is a split from (Denver band) Kingdom of Magic and (Seattle band) Sod Hauler and since this is actually a pretty amazing split and also something that would be difficult to come across without a bit of friendly promotion, allow me to proudly uptalk this in the remainder of this post.

So yeah - here are two hard rocking bands that are really on their way to making their mark on the face of heavy music; Kingdom of Magic starts the split off with a raging couple of tracks with a noise rock touch and lots of mind bending, catchy riffs, then Sod Hauler turns the rock up even harder with some low end, doom-tinged heavy rock tracks. All in all the high levels of awesome riff-age and unexpected twists and turns in this split make it a really fun listen. Below I included a track listing and a download of "They Say She's Evil" by Sod Hauler. Listen, enjoy, and buy the 12" (go to the label's myspace page here... it's kind of worth purchasing for the album art alone in my mind) if you like what you hear.

Kingdom of Magic
1)Order of the Purple Rhinestone Eagle
2)Elephant Men

Sod Hauler
3)Men Of Oak
4)They Say She's Evil (DL: They Say She's Evil)
5)Horseless Head

Album: Mugison - "Mugiboogie"

I've been thinking about blogging "Mugiboogie" by Mugison for a while now but have always kind of been at a loss for a good description. (Actually, I'm still at a loss for a good description, but fuck it.) I discovered Mugison while he was opening for Queens of the Stone age a couple years back and it was honestly a perfect fit (and not just because they're label mates). So what can you expect? Well... Mugison produces some really fun, experimental, catchy and rocking tunes that are all over the place in the best way possible and you'll hear everything you want and didn't expect to hear. Really, I could dissect every track and go on for paragraphs but you should probably just listen for yourself. This album is great and fun for many reasons. (One of the more obvious reasons being that Mugison himself is bearded and Icelandic).

1. Mugiboogie
2. The Pathetic Anthem
3. To The Bone
4. Jesus Is A Good Name To Moan
5. George Harrison
6. Deep Breathing
7. I'm Alright
8. The Animal
9. Two Thumb Sucking Son Of A Boyo
10. The Great Unrest
11. My Love I Love
12. Sweetest Melody

DL: "Mugiboogie"

EP: Corrupted - Vasana + An Island Insane

This pair of EP's was released in 2007 in limited quantities, so here they both are in one conveniant place. These mark Corrupted's newest output to date, and I'm excited to see what eventually happens next. Anyways, if you're familiar with the band, you know what to expect: powerful, dark sludge metal, at times meditative ambience, coming together in a glorious celebration of sound that will leave you devastated by the end. Vasana is definitely the uglier of the bunch, with An Island Insane finishing with a nice droney(ugh) piece. These both prove that Corrupted are just as effective these days on the 7" format as they are with a monumental-sized full-length. With the cold weather setting in, now is the time to miserably curl up inside, and listen to these... Enjoy.

DL: "Vasana + An Island Insane"

Single: Screaming Trees - "Something About Today"

Here's the Screaming Trees "Something About Today" single which includes 2 previously unreleased tracks (both of which also have the theme of days, imagine that). This was released in their major label/Uncle Anesthesia days and yadda yadda yadda... really, what else can be said that hasn't been said already?

(Man, blogging sure is easy when you only write a two sentence review.)

1. Something About Today
2. This Perfect Day
3. New Day Yesterday

DL: "Something About Today Single"

Single: Sub Pop Edition #23 Mono Men - Skin And Bones/Comanche

oh look...another one of them sub pop singles

this one was released in 1992

so if you're like the rest of us...and like garage-y grunge (come on now..i mean...they are from seattle after all)...this be for you

DL: mono men sub pop single

Single: Sub Pop Edition #22 Rapeman - Inki's Butt Crack/Song Number One

this little slice o' steve albini 7" goodness was released back in 1989...and it was the band's final release

and seeing as how you folks around here seem to enjoy sub pop singles...you can add this to your list as well

DL: rapeman sub pop single

Live Recording: Mad Season - 4.22.95 - Crocodile Cafe - Seattle,WA

seeing as how mad season's ABOVE album is getting a re-release on vinyl...i figured i'd provide you all with some live mad season action

1 - wake up
2 - above
3 - long gone day
4 - i don't know anything
5 - lifeless dead
6 - river of deceit
7 - november hotel

DL: mad season@crocodile cafe

EP: Dark Castle - Flight Of Pegasus

one man
one woman

sludgy
doomy
deathy

and a led zeppelin cover

ya dig?

DL: flight of pegasus

Live Recording: Mudhoney - On Tour Now

"throughout the spring and summer months...i predict flannel giving away to more tropical designs" -mark arm

this was a promo cd that was given out to radio folks back in 1993

it was recorded during a stop in seattle,wa on 2.10.93

1 - suck you dry
2 - make it now
3 - fashion forecast
4 - dead love
5 - no end in sight
6 - you git it
7 - stupid asshole (1)
8 - the money will roll right in (2)

1=angry samoans cover
2=fang cover

DL: mudhoney on tour now

Single: Sub Pop Edition #21 Skin Yard - "Start At The Top / Watch"

For a blog that's named after a Skin Yard track and specializes in posting Sub Pop singles, some might say that it's kind of a failure on my part that I'm only posting this Skin Yard/Sub Pop single here now.

Always better late than never, this is the fantastic "Start at the Top / Watch" single that was released in the late 80's and easily contains of my 2 favorite Skin Yard tracks. The first track is rippingly catchy and heavy with the strange vibes and rocking psychedelia that embody what I love so much about this band. The second track, "Watch", is eerier than the first but I promise you, just as raging. To summarize: this single will take you on a trip. Let it.

1. Start at the Top

2. Watch

Rock n' Rollers Don't Bathe

News: Bringing in the new year with NEUROSIS

Breaking my silence to quickly post some awesome news. It just got announced that NEUROSIS will be playing two shows in Seattle on Thursday Dec. 30, and Friday Dec. 31st. It doesn't really get much better than this. After missing them a few different times for bullshit reasons, I'm beyond stoked. Check it:

Thurs. Dec. 30th
@Neumos All Ages/Bar W/ID-Infinite Productions presents:
NEUROSIS, Wolves In The Throne Room and Black Breath.
$25.00 adv. @ www.etix.com, Moe Bar, Zions Gate, Singles Going Steady and all Sonic Boom locations.
Tickets are on sale Sat. October 16th at 10:00 a.m.
Doors: 8:00 p.m. Show: 9:00 p.m. Curfew: 1:00 a.m.

New Years Eve Fri. Dec. 31st
@Neumos 21+ only-Infinite Productions presents:
NEUROSIS, Ludicra, YOB and Brothers Of The Sonic Cloth.
$25.00 adv. @ www.etix.com, Moe Bar, Zions Gate, Singles Going Steady and all Sonic Boom locations.
Tickets are on sale Sat. October 16th at 10:00 a.m.
Doors: 8:00 p.m. Show: 9:00 p.m. Curfew: 1:30 a.m.

Single: Big Chief - "Strange Notes"

After a completely hectic few weeks things are finally calming down and I'm back in full force with a mashing one-sided Big Chief single, in which they conjure up a gritty, funk-tinged cover of the Germs song "Strange Notes". I really love this band and the brand of funk rock they dream up since it's hard to come by this stuff when it's well done. (Ahem, RHCP, maybe it's time to stop).

1. Strange Notes

DL: "Strange Notes Single"

News: Mad Season - "Above" Vinyl Reissue

I'm going to keep this one short and sweet since it's pretty straightforward, but I just thought I'd do a quick post to inform you all that the legendary "Above" album by Mad Season is being reissued on vinyl and is available to pre-order here. I'm pretty sure a good amount of people have been dreaming of this reissue for a while so here's your chance.

Demo: Mark Lanegan - "Whiskey For The Holy Ghost" Acoustic Demos

So I swear I don't consciously post this much Mark Lanegan material - it always just kind of "happens" since there's so much cool stuff like this out there and I'm always digging for it. (Plus, well, its just so damn good.) These are some acoustic demos from the "Whiskey For The Holy Ghost" album which kind of speak for themselves but if you're a Lanegan fan you will obviously enjoy these, and it's interesting to hear different/acoustic versions of these songs. (And hey, remember that story about how Mark Lanegan wanted to throw the masters from this album in a pond?).

1. Sunrise
2. Following The Rain
3. Judas Touch I
4. Shooting Gallery (instrumental)
5. Carnival
6. Wheels
7. Day and Night
8. Beggar's Blues
9. Riding the Nightingale
10 Judas Touch II

DL: "Whiskey Acoustic Demos"

Album: Eleven - Self-Titled

by popular demand...

this was the album that got me turned onto the band

essential jams:
"towers" (which smells like teen spirit)
"hieronymus"
"heavy"

in my opinion...for the time they existed...there really wasn't another band out there quite like them...and they more than likely went over the heads of those that weren't already familiar with them...they were/are kind of like a hidden gem that once you find it...you're automatically taken in by something you're not quite able to put your finger on...well...that's how it was for me

so...if you folks out there dig this album...there are others that i can post as well

DL: eleven

Demo: Diamond Lie - 1987 Demo

look at that picture up there

take a long hard look at it

now...you wouldn't think a band that looks like that would write such songs as "man in the box" or "hate to feel" or "god am"...would you?

but they did

in case you hadn't already put it together...that's alice in chains

before they became the sludge factory they were known as...they were a glam/funk metal band known as diamond lie...then alice 'n chains

i don't know exactly happened to the band in the 3 years between this and the FACELIFT album (i'm thinking someone switched their cocaine with heroin)...but i'm glad it did because i prefer my alice in chains with less funk and less cowbell and less synth

and am i the only one that hears early motley crue all over this?

DL: 1987 demo

A Word on the New Alice in Chains + Madison Square Garden Review

I confess that I have been guilty of talking a lot of shit about the new Alice in Chains.

Rave reviews from stonerrock.com? Ignored. Rave reviews from friends? Ignored. When I saw they were playing Madison Square Garden on the 24th I went back and forth about buying a ticket for weeks thinking that it would be a beyond mediocre show. Still, I ended up buying a ticket a couple hours before it started since I never actually gave them a fair chance and just needed to know.

Now... I am the most cynical of cynics when it comes to this type of thing, but as soon as they started playing "Them Bones" I was grinning. When they got to their second track "Dam That River" I was standing (and still grinning like an idiot). We all know there are issues when replacing a vocalist in a band, but when Duvall was harmonizing with Cantrell it sounded great. (Obviously not the same, but great). The angsty and awkward 15 year old in me that used to hole up in my room listening to "Dirt" was pleased, too - this band was my soundtrack and their songs are still really important to me. As for their new material, I think I was ignoring the fact that Jerry Cantrell still has a part in writing these songs and am now planning on picking up "Black Gives Way to the Blue" finally.

In saying all this, I really can't decide if it's tragic or a fitting tribute that they're taking songs Layne Staley wrote about his heroin addiction before dying of an overdose and filling stadiums by playing them, but I'm leaning towards the latter since, after all, they have to move on at some point and Jerry Cantrell is (arguably) a more important part of the group, anyways. I have to give them longevity points, too. I mean, here is a band that moved from being one of the most important bands of the 90's to having their lead singer die (and didn't Mike Inez get arrested as some point, too?), and now they're making a huge comeback which is cool. Seeing all the different age groups that came out to this show was also cool.

Seriously... I really wanted to hate on this but now I can hate no more. So call me a reformed cynic, and give this a fair shot and see them if you get a chance.

Now... when is Nirvana getting a new vocalist? (...Kidding.)

***picture stolen from Brooklyn Vegan***

Album: Supercontinent - "Vaalbara"

Do you sometimes find yourself wondering what would have happened if Isis just kept re-writing The Red Sea and Celestial? Do you wish Pelican riffed harder and didn't get so boring? Do you get tired of finding bands with long build-ups that are good in theory, but don't actually go anywhere?

If you answered yes to any of the above questions, give this a listen. It's certainly nothing groundbreaking, but theres just so much energy and it's so well done that I can't help but enjoy this record. Basically every song has a plethora of huge riffs to get lost in while still retaining a good atmosphere. The production is satisfyingly thick, vocals are sparse but well-placed, and the song-writing is very smooth and well-done. At this point, I can't really ask for much more from a band like this. Definitely for fans of older Isis and Cult of Luna. Give it a shot, there's nothing to lose.

1. Nebula
2. Earthrise
3. Lakes of Iron
4. Cataclysms
5. Rain Gives Rise
6. In Rust
7. The Monolith
8. Impact Winter
9. Epoch

DL: Vaalbara

Demo: 600 School - 1981 Demo

this was one of the bands ben shepherd was in before soundgarden (though he does vocals here)

future nirvana drummer chad channing was also in the band

music-wise...it's your run of the mill thrashy punk rock

and you know you want some run of the mill thrashy punk rock

DL: 1981 demo

Album: Eleven - Thunk

some of you out there may be unfamiliar with this band...and that's a little sad

i had randomly picked up their 1993 SELF-TITLED album after reading a small review in some magazine...i had never heard of them before that...but after buying the album...i hunted down everything i possibly could from the band (which turned out to be only one other album...and i had to special order that from the local music store...this isn't something you'd usually just see on the shelves...which is also sad)

the band is from los angeles...but had their fingers in that whole grunge thing (but really...who didn't back then?)...drummer jack irons left the red hot chili peppers (and i'm not calling them grunge) back in 1988 because of guitarist hillel slovak's heroin overdose...and then joined eleven in 1990...who then quit the band to play in pearl jam in 1995 (he laid down some drum tracks on this album before leaving...soundgarden's matt cameron fills in on 4 songs)...and then somewhere down the line members alain johannes (vocals/guitar) and natasha shneider (vocals/bass/keyboards) backed up chris cornell on his first solo album EUPHORIA MORNING (but if you ask me...his first solo album was DOWN ON THE UPSIDE...that's right...i said it)

alain johannes and natasha shneider later went on to become members of queens of the stone age (though mostly for touring...alain appears on their SONGS FOR THE DEAF/LULLABIES TO PARALYZE/ERA VULGARIS albums...natasha only appears on SONGS FOR THE DEAF)...they also pop up on some DESERT SESSIONS material

but...all of this came to an end on july 2nd,2008 after natasha shneider passed away from cancer...at the eerie time of 11:11am (true story)

that's a good story,grampa

do yourself an awesome favor by downloading this...you won't regret it (and if you do...i'm sure there's plenty of crap for you to listen to on the radio)...and seeing as how i'm a giver...i've also thrown in some b-sides from this album

so...if after listening to this...you become more interested in the band...perhaps i'll post some other albums

DL: thunk

Live: Gruntruck - Live In Bob's Garage

this was a set the band played on a radio show (mentioned above) on KZOK (out of seattle) back in 1992

this is also the only place you can find the song "bullets"

and you should (as a frequenter of this blog) already know who gruntruck are/were...so i'm not going to go into that

1 - tribe
2 - crazy love
3 - bullets

DL: gruntruck@bob's garage

Single: Sub Pop Edition #20 Helios Creed - "Nothing Wrong / The Sky"

I got a request begging me to post this one and didn't have it so I dropped a line to the fantastic Brent (who runs the Helios Creed tribute page) and he (unsurprisingly) had mp3s of this single and was kind enough to share them. (I also got a request for the Das Damien single which I don't have either... anyone?) So what can you expect from this single? Well, like all Helios Creed, expect a lot of mind bending psychedelia, inspiringly wierd guitar sounds and a lot of innovation.

Check out Brent's Helios Creed tribute site here for more information and also get some free PDFs of his amazing psych zine here.

1. Nothing Wrong

2. The Sky

DL: "Nothing Wrong / The Sky Single"

Covers: The Rising of Yog-Sothoth - A Tribute To Thergothon

For those who don't know, Thergothon were a band from Finland who formed in 1990. In their short time as a band, they released a demo (Fhtagn-nagh Yog-Sothoth) and a post-humous full-length (Stream From The Heavens). That was enough to make their mark though. Along with Skepticism, Thergothon are one of the first bands to pioneer metal this slow, this mournful, this mysterious. And despite the absolutely terrible quality of their recorded output, it's impossible to deny the majesty of these songs. There is some other-worldly shit going on.

That's where this compilation comes in. It features bands that were heavily influenced by the gods, each covering one track. As Thergothon didn't have many songs to choose from, there are some double-ups which can be kind of fun in choosing your favorite version. The reason I like this so much is because it's nice to hear these songs have a recording quality with an actual backbone and crunch like they were supposed to. My favorite covers here are done by Asunder, Krohm, Evoken and Mournful Congregation. Check it out.

CD1
1. Asunder – Who Rides the Astral Wings
2. Officium Triste – Crying Blood and Crimson Snow
3. Evoken – Yet the Watchers Guard
4. Imindain – Everlasting
5. Colosseum – The Unknown Kadath in the Cold Waste
6. Mournful Congregation – Elemental
7. Worship – Evoken
8. Umbra Nihil – The Twilight Fade
9. Persistence In Mourning – Dancing In The Realm Of Shades

CD2
1. Nojda – Evoken
2. Otzepenevshiye – The Unknown Kadath in the Cold Waste
3. Krohm – Everlasting
4. Inter Arbores – Who Rides the Astral Wings
5. Astral Sleep – Yet the Watchers Guard
6. Aarni – Verivaikerrus – Hurmehanki
7. Axis Of Advance – Elemental
8. Singultus – The Twilight Fade

DL: The Rising of Yog-Sothoth

Compilation: Sub Pop 5

Someone was giving me crap about not posting this one when I posted the Sub Pop 100, 200 & 300 comps a while back, so here it is - the very first musical release by Sub Pop. This is the legendary Sub Pop 5 cassette which was the first release of theirs not to just be a zine and was also their 5th release... Imagine that. (And before you start asking where the Sub Pop 7 cassette is, I'm posting that one next so don't even worry your pretty little heads about it.)

So listen and enjoy the street cred this may or may not give you when you mention it at parties. (Okay... not parties... dinner with your parents.) (Okay... not dinner with your parents... the AOL chat room.)

1. Just For Money - Visible Targets
2. What's Important - Beakers
3. Reagan Speaks For Himself - Doug Kahn
4. Digital Alarm - Steve Fisk
5. Diary Of You - Cool Rays
6. Debbie - Bruce Pavitt
7. Spy Vs Spy - Pell Mell
8. Job Club - Jungle Nausea
9. Dirty White Lies - Neo Boys
10. It Hurts Me To Remember - Product One
11. Rubber Heads - Nurses
12. It Saw Me - Jad Fair
13. Switzer Boy - The Bohemians
14. Sofa Or A Chair - Vague-leys
15. Sing, Mary, Sing - Sports Of Kinds
16. Men At Work - The Men
17. Get Out Of The Bathroom - Oil Tasters
18. Slaughterhouse - All Night Movies
19. Eat, Sleep A-Go-Go - Get Smart
20. Lifespan - Embarrassment
21. Tronada - Ray Milland + Church Of The Subgenius - Excerpts

DL: "Sub Pop 5"