"idem"
Year: 2021
Country: France
City: Paris
Label: Inhuman Homicide
Format: CD
Tracks: 15
Time: 20 min.
Genre: rock
Style: Grindcore
8.25.2021
8.23.2021
MESHUGGAH
"contradictions collapse"
Year: 1991
Country: Sweden
City: Umeå
Label: Nuclear Blast
Format: CD, LP
Tracks: 8
Time: 55 min.
Genre: rock
Style: Groove Metal
Meshuggah is a avant-garde metal band formed in Umeå in 1987. The band's current lineup consists of lead vocalist Jens Kidman, lead guitarist Fredrik Thordendal, drummer Tomas Haake, rhythm guitarist Mårten Hagström and bassist Dick Lövgren. Since its formation, the band has released eight studio albums, six EPs and eight music videos. Their latest studio album, The Violent Sleep of Reason, was released on 7 October 2016.
Meshuggah has become known for their innovative musical style and their complex, polymetered song structures and polyrhythms. They rose to fame as a significant act in extreme underground music, became an influence for modern metal bands, and gained a cult following. The band was labelled as one of the ten most important hard rock and heavy metal bands by Rolling Stone and as the most important band in metal by Alternative Press. In the late 2000s, the band was an inspiration for the djent subgenre.
In 2006 and 2009, Meshuggah was nominated for two Swedish Grammis Awards for their albums Catch Thirtythree and obZen, respectively. In 2018, the band was nominated for a Grammy Award for their song "Clockworks" under the "Best Metal Performance" category. The band has performed in various international festivals, including Ozzfest and Download, and embarked on the obZen world tour from 2008 to 2010, and also the "Ophidian Trek" .
"destroy erase improve"
Year: 1995
Label: Nuclear Blast
Format: CD, LP
Tracks: 12
Time: 45 min.
Genre: rock
Style: Groove Metal
"chaosphere"
Year: 1998
Label: Nuclear Blast
Format: CD, LP
Tracks: 8
Time: 40 min.
Genre: rock
Style: Groove Metal
"immutable"
Year: 2022
Label: Atomic Fire
Format: CD, LP
Tracks: 13
Time: 50 min.
Genre: rock
Style: Groove Metal
8.22.2021
BETTER THAN A THOUSAND
"just one"
Year: 1997
Country: US
City: Washington, D.C.
Label: End Hits
Format: CD
Tracks: 12
Time: 20 min.
Genre: rock
Style: Hardcore
"value driven"
Year: 1998
Label: End Hits
Format: CD, LP
Tracks: 12
Time: 20 min.
Genre: rock
Style: Hardcore
8.13.2021
ECOSTRIKE
"a truth we still believe"
Year: 2021
Country: US
City: Florida
Label: Triple-B
Format: CD, LP
Tracks: 9
Time: 21 min.
Genre: rock
Style: Hardcore
Let’s get something out of the way, I’m fucking straight edge. I feel it is important to lead with this pertinent information when it comes to reviewing this record. If you also identify with the lifestyle or perhaps you don’t and simply enjoy bands that have that classic Judge/Strife sound, I implore you, keep reading, we have a great record to talk about. Before A Truth We Still Believe came out, I was having a conversation with some friends about the state of straight edge music in 2020. One aspect we were ruminating on was the fact that bands of the subgenre just didn’t speak plainly anymore.
Many tracks that have come out in my recent memory seem to lean more on veiled messages, that for the uninitiated would be hard to discern. I’ve always thought the most effective lyrics in regards to straight edge were the ones that spoke directly. Think songs like “In My Eyes”, “Clear”, “Smash It," etc. With all this being said, South Florida's Ecostrike is veiling nothing in regards to their convictions on their sophomore performance and I am very about it.
I’ve always thought Ecostrike was pretty good. Previously, I was more into their vibe and message rather than their sound. I like Strife and I know since Ecostrike started they’ve been posited as a modern Strife incarnation, but on this new record I feel they have really come into their own. They find a cross point of sounding like Strife still, but incorporating some elements of Judge and making it sound distinctly from modern as opposed to something that could have been plucked from the New Age catalog back in the day. It sounds clean, tastefully metallic, and solid all around. My favorite song on the record is “Another Promise” because lyrically it hits so close to home.
Other standouts are “Count Me Out” and “A Truth We Still Believe," The latter of these two has an anthemic vibe that I’m sure will evoke the biggest of pile ons at the first show they are able to play off this record (Hell, I might go to said show myself just so I can join in). The tremolo harmonic work on “Letting Go” simply rocks and adds a cool guitar element to the track.
“A Better Way” reminds you that Ecostrike is also convicted in regards to animal’s lives, speaking plainly about veganism and empathy towards fellow sentient beings. When it comes to commitment, this record hits a lot of points.
A lot of the hardcore I first got introduced to was about unity, friendship, straight edge, and sticking to one’s word, this record brings me back to how I felt about those early records in my journey into the subculture. It’s like seeing an old friend’s child and seeing some much of their parent in their features, but the child being distinctly their own person as opposed to a copy. Having a sophomore LP best your debut LP is not an easy feat and Ecostrike has done it. I recommend everyone listen to this record at their earliest convenience and show anyone new to the genre looking for hardcore that has something real and sincere to say (*Review by Ace Stallings )
"voice of strength"
Year: 2018
Label: Trible-B
Format: CD, LP
Tracks: 7
Time: 17 min.
Genre: rock
Style: Hardcore
8.05.2021
7.30.2021
7.26.2021
GADGET
"the great destroyer"
Year: 2016
Country: Sweden
City: Stockholm
Label: Relapse
Format: CD, LP
Tracks: 17
Time: 24 min.
Genre: rock
Style: Grindcore
Though the band has generally flown under the radar, Gavle, Sweden's GADGET has roots that trace back to 1997. The band have always included influences from every genre they've been fond of, like doom, sludge, hardcore, punk, death metal and more, never letting genre boundaries stand in their way. GADGET have proven themselves to be a relentless force live as well as on record.
"the funeral march"
Year: 2006
Label: Relapse
Format: CD
Tracks: 17
Time: 25 min.
Genre: rock
Style: Grindcore
"remote"
Year: 2003
Label: Relapse
Format: CD
Tracks: 21
Time: 28 min.
Genre: rock
Style: Grindcore
7.21.2021
HAEMORRHAGE
"the forensic files"
Year: 2020
Label: Bizarre Leprous
Format: CD
Tracks: 22
Time: 46 min.
Genre: rock
Style: Grindcore
"we are the gore"
Year: 2017
Country: Spain
City: Madrid
Label: Relapse
Format: CD, LP
Tracks: 15
Time: 38 min.
Genre: rock
Style: Grindcore
Iconic and timeless, Spanish gore grind heroes Heamorrhage are back with a new, long-anticipated full-length. The title, “We are the Gore,” might automatically put some listeners in mind of the iconic Trailer Park Boys line, “I am the liquor,” uttered by Mr. Lahey during one of his binges. But it’s a fitting title, considering the fact that Haemmorhage have lived and breathed the same theme during the entire span of their career.
Throughout the album, it appears that the band is relying on the same tropes they always did with previous records. Although the sound is blistering and raw, definitely straightforward grind, their is a clear sense of melody throughout, not surprisingly. Ana Lopez is quite the proficient guitarist, and not shy about working playful riffs and melody into their otherwise-brutal songs. And with titles like “Gore Gormet,” “Bathed in Bile” and “Organ Trader,” you can count on the same old classic themes throughout.
Although adoring fans will no-doubt love hearing familiar material recreated on this recording, it seems a little underdeveloped for a 2017 release and reboot. It would have been nice to hear a bit more experimentation, or a slightly more updated sound, from the gore grind legends. However, they are legends, and as such, can do what they want, and still have a rabid and dedicated fan base. If you’ve enjoyed past Haemorrhage records, you’ll enjoy adding this one to your bloody collection (*Review by Addison Herron-Wheeler).
"hospital carnage"
Year: 2011
Label: Relapse
Format: CD, LP
Tracks: 16
Time: 38
Genre: rock
Style: Grindcore
Hmmm… all right, writing something about new adventures in hospital is always nice. So I take my lab coat, stethoscope and wad of prescriptions (of course with NO “refundacja leku do decyzji NFZ” stamp), and start my hard work…
Yes, five long years have passed, but it doesn’t mean that Haemorrhage was bathing in luxury and prosperity after releasing “Apology In Pathology”. No yachts, no private aeroplanes, no plastic surgeries… Being deeply rooted in metal underground they released some split, live and demo performances. Comparing to the previous album, the only change was a deal with Relapse Records, and I think it is very good move, maybe it is a chance to conquer America. So the first thing I would like to notice is production. Maybe it hasn’t such a merciless and smashing feeling like predecessor, but drums have new life here, they sound superbly, even they are audible during bestial surgical blasts. In general realization of sound is very clear yet it has no modern sterility. Before writing about musical content I have to distinguish the front cover made by Luisma himself, it refers perfectly to the band’s image. The line-up is still the same, so what about the music (or de-compositions)??? Here I’d like to assure everybody: no fuckin’ surprises!!!
“Hospital Carnage” is opened by the slowest “Open Heart Butchery”, a real mid tempo track, but do not consider this as a ballad, the fast parts are present also. With the first words of Lugubrious (maligna vox) “Rushed into butchery…” I have an impression that this opener is like a calm before the storm. And the next “Traumageddon” is a storm of gore grind indeed. Some birdcalls on the beginning may lead you into error. After few seconds a real ‘surgerygeddon’ became effective crusher of your mind. This decomposition is completely in the vein of Haemorrhage style: furious blasts and some slowdowns in the chorus. I think it will be the next highlight on the live shows. But what is interesting, I can write such words about many songs from the album. As compared with “Apology For Pathology”, the band shows incredible catchy guitar works, of course in gore grind meaning. Many songs are easily recognized by the first meeting (the first two songs, “Fomite Fetish”, “911”, Hospital Thieves”, Ingreso Cadaver” with lyrics written in Spanish, “Necronatology”…). The next thing, Ana took a lead guitar and decorated songs with quite melodic solos, just take a listen to “Flesh-devouring Pandemia”, “Hospital Thieves”, “Hypochondriac” and “Necronatology”. And to be honest, “Necronatology” seems to be the best decomposition in this deranged hospital. It is also the longest one (4:46), but do not expect doom undertones here. The first part of this track is maintained in mid-paced tempo, with Lugubrious words “… born on the mortuary slab” my brain cells are attacked by really great group of riffs. The second part is a real hurricane: pure gore grind with melodic (???) solo lead on the end. The last track: “Intravenous Molestation Of Obstructionist Arteries (O-Pus VI)” is in turn the shortest song lasting almost one minute. And here I have to raise an objection: it rather disturbs the overall atmosphere, the similar situation is in the perception of “Morgue Sweet Home”, so better is to put this track in the middle of the album. All right, the last words belong to the ‘singer’ called Lugubrious and his beautiful maligna vox. To be honest with myself I have to declare: forget about any surprises. His vocal cords are just classic in the genre, his is still on the vocal top, just listen and stay in full admiration…
Haemorrhage, over twenty years on the metal stage, still in the same savage medical gore grind… Respect? Yes, it is good word here to describe from my point of view the ‘career’ of these musical surgeons. Maybe this record didn’t beat “Anatomical Inferno”, but belongs for sure to one of the best performances of the Spaniards. Once again there are gore hymns which will be dissected on live shows. Once again they bring into my world metal fury and devastating energy, lyrics concerning medical themes and fascinating guitar riffs (sometimes really catchy…). One thing is also important: these sick musicians do not use long (read: needless) intros/outros to lengthen the running time, simply it is well-thought-out, just like all the music sounds. I hope that waiting on the next album won’t be so long, the band has a new (better, I think) deal, so the future looks very fruitfully for them and supporters. Listening to “Hospital Carnage” is like a drip with nutritious stuff, so check this immediately out. You will be cured... (*Review by Tlacaxipehualiztli ).
"apology for pathology"
Year: 2006
Label: Morbid
Format: CD
Tracks: 15
Time: 32 min.
Genre: rock
Style: Grindcore
"morgue sweet home"
Year: 2002
Label: Morbid
Format: CD, LP
Tracks: 14
Time: 36 min.
Genre: rock
Style: Grindcore
"grume"
Year: 1997
Label: Morbid
Format: CD
Tracks: 15
Time: 32 min.
Genre: rock
Style: Grindcore
"emetic cult"
Year: 1995
Label: Morbid
Format: CD
Tracks: 14
Time: 32 min.
Genre: rock
Style: Grindcore
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