Album: Reverend Bizarre - "In the Rectory of the Bizarre Reverend"

This was recently posted over on my friend's blog, COUNTS OF ARSON.

"After thinking about it for quite a while, and then having my opinion confirmed by some friends, I still don't want to give up. Give up on what, you ask? Give up on finding the most devastating, punishingly heavy album out there... that is heavier than BURIED AT SEA'S MIGRATION.

I'm talking sheer sonic weight, absolutely fucking miserable, monolithic, bigger than a tectonic plate, no-fun, just devastating shit. And it has to sell me from the first fucking note, like Buried At Sea does.

To the best of my knowledge, it is fact that nothing is heavier.
Please, prove me wrong. I await your replies."

Since I am never one to deny a worthy challenge I will probably make a few attempts at this even though it seems pretty bleak. When initially faced with this question, my sight was basically only set on sludge albums and I somehow overlooked one of the most crushing, down-tuned doom bands of all time... Reverend Bizarre! Their debut album "In the Rectory of the Bizarre Reverend" is an absolute behemoth and, clean vocals aside, this is one of the most crushing things I have ever heard. So... going through the list: Devastating? Check! Punishingly heavy? Check! Absolutely fucking miserable? God yes! Sold from the first note? Well, not really. This album is more of a sneak attack of heavy; the first track "Burn in Hell" is doomy for sure, but the painstaking heaviness doesn't really kick in until you get to the second track, "In the Rectory". Can I really call a traditional style doom album the heaviest album ever? I'm not sure yet, but even fans of bands like YOB and Saint Vitus might wince at the miserably slow, mammoth heaviness served up by this album. That being said, even as I type this I'm a bit doubtful that it's weighty enough to measure up with Buried at Sea but it is definitely a worthy opponent... that is, the most worthy opponent I have come up with so far. Questions like these kill me. Feel free to put in your two cents as well, I'm sure we would all sleep better at night.

1. Burn in Hell
2. In the Rectory
3. The Hour of Death
4. Sodoma Sunrise
5. Doomsower
6. Cirith Ungol

DL: "In the Rectory of the Bizarre Reverend"

Split: Reverend Bizarre / Mannhai - "Under the Sign of the Wolf"

Here's a split from Reverend Bizarre and Mannhai titled "Under the Sign of the Wolf", in which each band covers a Pentagram song. There's nothing much else to say about this one other than this is two crushing bands doing awesome covers from an absolutely legendary and great band. All in all I feel that this is pretty much self explanatory. (Also, apparantly I'm not big with the words tonight since I can't bring myself to go off on a tangent as usual.) So... there you have it. DOOM!

1. Broken Vows (Reverend Bizarre)

2. Forever My Queen (Mannhai)

DL: "Under the Sign of the Wolf Split"

News: Soundgarden To Play Lollapalooza 2010

That's right, you heard it here first.

....Okay, maybe not, but it was literally just confirmed that Soundgarden will be one of the headliners for Lollapalooza 2010. It looks like this reunion will involve playing some shows after all! So don't hesitate if you're going to buy tickets, they're still being coy about announcing it on the Lollapalooza website.

Not only that, I noticed that some cool merch is for sale on the Soundgarden World website. I will probably hit it up just for old time's sake since I never did manage to get ahold of any decent shirts in my days of being obsessed with this band.

Links of interest:

http://www.soundgardenworld.com/

http://www.lollapalooza.com/

Album: Teeth of Lions Rule the Divine - "Rampton"

What do you get when you put Stephen O'Malley and Greg Anderson in a band together? Well, about a thousand different titles come to mind. What do you get when you throw Lee Dorrian and Justin Greaves in the mix? You get Teeth of Lions Rule the Divine. The title is a reference to an Earth track, and this is their first and only release titled "Rampton".

Now... before you expect a bunch of feedback from Sunn amps with Lee Dorrian howling 400 pitches per second over it, let me just say that (thank god) that is not the case. Not only is this tastefully done, drenched in misery and filled with an unholy atmosphere and painfully slow riffs, but Lee Dorrian's vocals are actually tolerable... no, enjoyable, here! Also, this has to be one of the coolest things I've heard from O'Malley and it's not even recorded in an abandoned cathedral and the characters "0)))" are nowhere to be seen. This album even contains a goddamn Killdozer cover! This was, of course, released on Rise Above and Southern Lord and is just a really cool release (without desperately trying to be cool... take note, O'Malley and Dorrian. I hate because I care).

1. He Who Accepts All That is Offered (Feel Bad Hit of the Winter)

2. New Pants and Shirt

3. The Smiler

DL: "Rampton"

Album: Upsidedown Cross - "Upsidedown Cross"

It might be Easter Sunday, but how about taking a little time out for Satan?

Upsidedown Cross is a band containing ex members of Kilslug, and their 1991 self-titled release is an evil, sludge-ridden fiasco of noise and greasy filth. Track titles like "Kill For Satan", "Hanging Witches" and "Mass of Blood" prepare you for what you're in for with this album, and Upsidedown Cross has to be one of the most "metal" noise rock projects ever. J Mascis even makes an appearance on this album playing drums, although this is a far cry from Dinosaur Jr and even Witch, with a way messier, angrier vibe than anything he's ever taken part in.

1. Upsidedown Cross

2. Kill For Satan

3. Redrum

4. Hanging Witches

5. Batallion of Rats

6. Bloodmobile

7. Mass in Blood

8. The Cup

DL: "Upsidedown Cross"

Megapost: Snakepit Discography

Okay, so this post isn't really that "mega" since this discography consists of 5 songs... and before you start thinking that I'm posting a Slash project, let me introduce Snakepit as yet another one of those inbred Seattle groups that didn't last very long. This was a project of Joe Preston and Mike Johnson before they graced Dinosaur Jr or the Melvins and obviously is intriguing for that reason alone - it's worth a listen for anyone who's into the whole late 80's early 90's Seattle scene, but don't expect it to blow you away. My advice is... give it a listen, take it for what it is, then put on a Melvins album.

This was sent over by the guy who seems to be my source on elusive Seattle projects, Steven. Gotta give a big thanks to him for this and all the other singles he's sent over!

1. Wait
2. Susanville
3. Disease

DL: "Wait Single"

1. Waste
2. Million

DL: "Waste Single"

Compilation: "Sucking the 70s II: Back in the Saddle Again"

As promised, here's the second edition of "Sucking the 70s". See my below post on the first one for further information... not that's it's really necessary. This speaks for itself. Enjoy.

CD1:
1. Sasquatch - Are You Ready

2. Puny Human - Crazy Horses
3. Clutch & Five Horse Johnson - Red Hot Mama
4. Dixie Witch - Rock Candy
5. The Brought Low - Don't Lie To Me
6. Novadriver - Sin City
7. Colour Haze - One Way Or Another
8. Alabama Thunderpussy - Man On The Silver Mountain
9. Dozer - Mongoloid
10. Acid King - The Stake
11. Halfway To Gone - Honky Cat
12. Antler - Those Shoes
13. Brad Davis - Outlaw Man
14. Gideon Smith & The Dixie Damned - Season Of The Witch
15. Whitey Morgan and The Waycross Georgia Farmboys - Running With The Devil

CD2:
1. Throttlerod - I Just Wanna Make Love To You
2. Red Giant - Saturday Night Special
3. A Thousand Knives Of Fire - Bonie Maronie
4. The Glasspack - Rock n Roll Singer
5. Roadsaw - When The Levee Breaks
6. Greatdayforup - Super Stupid
7. Fireball Ministry - Turn to Stone
8. Los Natas - Born To Be Wild
9. Scott Reeder - Two Of Us
10. Orange Goblin - New Rose
11. Mos Generator - Garden Road
12. Honky - Snortin' Whiskey
13. The Muggs - I Don't Need No Doctor
14. Amplified Heat - Neighbor, Neighbor
15. RPG - Parchment Farm
16. Valis - Dreamweaver

DL: "Sucking the 70s - Back In The Saddle Again"