Axegrinder - The Rise Of The Serpent Men [1989] and a couple of demos

Seeing as we've all been saying (okay, I've been saying) for a while that this blog sorely lacks some classic crust, I thought I'd mark my return home (and thus more frequent posts for a while) with some of it. Axegrinder is one of the classic British crust bands, and as was the trademark of that time period, there's no d-beat to be found here. Instead, there's a sound that's described much better by this post at the Terminal Sound Nuisance blog than I could ever do (incidentally, it's a fucking solid blog, you should check it out if you have the chance and are into punk music). But I'll just lazily paraphrase the post - the demos are more like Antisect while the full-length is more like Amebix. The demos included in the file (I'm not uploading separately because I'm lazy, so if you already have the full length and have a poor connection it might be best to find the demos elsewhere) are the Grind the Enemy and Live in Wimbledon demos from 1987. Sorry about the poor quality of the latter.

96 kbps (LiW); 128 kbps (GtE); 192 kbps (TRotSM)

Mediafire

Hopelorn - Tuonen Musta Joki Virtaa Sydämessäni [2012]

Back to more blackened crust. Hopelorn are a Finnish band who have a mainly 'black' version of the style. Their riffing is simple enough to be classified as fairly punky, but in itself is most certainly black metal. However, the battery is mostly given over to a typical d-beat with some blasts thrown in, and the structures, despite this being five tracks and 29 minutes, are fairly 'crusty'. But what about the content itself? Well, it's very decent. There's been a fuckton of the style around over the past few years, but Hopelorn are one of the better practitioners, as shown particularly on the track 'Mänskligt Avskräde', although every song here is a winner in reality. What's more, it's available as a free download through their bandcamp page, so you don't really have any excuse at all to not go and listen.

Bandcamp

Spotlight: Fifteen Dead

Okay, quick story for you all. Fifteen Dead are fucking awesome. Story complete. I did say quick. In case you weren't aware, I've loved the recent emergence of dozens of incredible blackened crust bands, and Fifteen Dead are one of the best (along with Ramlord). They've only been around since 2010, but they've already created a discography of impressive size and quality. I still haven't heard the split with Chronocide (I really should - Chronocide are great too, much more of a blackened death sound than Fifteen Dead though), or the live demo, but the rest of the stuff is catchy, angry, and moderately atmospheric. What's more, it's all available on Bandcamp, mostly for free. So seeing as I can't upload, I'm going to treat you all in this manner.

Bandcamp
Facebook
Buy shit

Atomski Rat - Iluzije Stvarnosti [2012]

I haven't even heard this shit yet, but I was so excited when it popped up on the Degen Erik (excellent blog) RSS that I just had to post it. Seriously, Atomski Rat's debut EP (I think it was up here but it's still a Megaupload link - I'll sort that out in the next few days) was some seriously good noisy, crusty hardcore shit and essentially got me into the awesome Serbian music scene (also check out Dishumanity in particular). For a short while earlier in the year, it was looking like the band was never going to release more material but now they have - and it's a full-length (although I'm as of yet unsure of its actual length I'm guessing it'll be around 25-30 minutes long). The track I've heard from Youtube is very solid too, and there are some other samples on there in case my fanboyism wasn't enough to convince you. I never normally do this but I'm nicking a link from Degen Erik (dear other blogs, if you use a link at least acknowledge the source):

Mediafire

Re-upload: Doom - Police Bastard EP [1989]

Although it's but a few minutes long, this is my favourite release of Doom's - and considering how most of their releases are considered seminal in the crust genre, that is saying something. The title is very much linked to the police brutality that took place in the UK in the late 90s - peaceful protestors were beaten up and hassled purely for arguing a cause.

Re-upload notes: Best Doom material, this EP is among my 10 favourite records ever. If you haven't heard it, listen to it.

256 kbps

Mediafire
Zippyshare

Re-upload: Doom - War Crimes: Inhuman Beings [1988]

This highly politicised record is one of the key records of the entire crust punk sound, which would in the future influence bands from an entirely different background (Darkthrone being a good example). 37 minutes of pure punk energy.

Re-upload notes: This is, along with the Police Bastard EP, the best crust record in my opinion. Unparalleled in simplistic, but great compositional capabilites, although some of Doom's later stuff would pale in comparison (World Of Shit is rather mediocre), this has stood the test of time.

320 kbps

Mediafire
Zippyshare

Re-upload: Amebix - Arise! [1985]

The dawn of crust, literally. Probably just about perfected it too in the same album. Many other influential bands (for instance, Doom, Napalm Death, etc.) drew influence themselves from this. Unerringly creepy.

Re-upload notes: I really can't be bothered to write much more at this point but the above seemed so uninformative I should add to it by saying that most of the other Amebix stuff is great too (including Sonic Mass) - I just can't bring myself to like the demos and struggle a little with the Who's Your Enemy? EP. 

128 kbps

Mediafire
Zippyshare

Dispair - The Progress Of Human Extinction demo [2012]

I just heard this whilst surfing the blogosphere, and I was so impressed I decided to post it here immediately. Dispair is a Finnish crust band with heavy reliance on d-beats, but the music is great - think a base of Why-era Discharge with a nice sprinkling of Anarkist Attack era Anti-Cimex. So basically the sounds of two d-beat legends combined in 2012. This sort of music is so rarely made nowadays that anyone making it is actually doing something quite original despite the style having been around 30-odd years. Dispair are going to be great in the future. Watch this space.

Bandcamp link, so variety of bitrates

Bandcamp

Anti-Cimex - Anarkist Attack EP [1982]

Anti Cimex are, quite simply, legendary. They are THE band of Swedish crust punk, and considering the strength of the Swedish crust scene over the years, with the likes of Shitlickers, Driller Killer and Bombanfall, that is saying quite a lot! This is their first EP to my knowledge - although information on them is not too clear - and although the crust element here isn't too developed, largely due to the date of release, it remains a very solid piece of hardcore punk - some records are worshipped more for their legacy than their actual quality (cough cough Master Of Puppets cough cough), but this is the real deal. The brevity of the EP only adds to the sheer ferocity of it - each of the four tracks on offer here has something uniquely Swedish, nay, uniquely Anti-Cimexian about it, and yet manages to still fit squarely within the hardcore punk genre. Classic.

128 kbps

Mediafire
Zippyshare
Glumbouploads (new hoster which seems decent - only downside is lack of parallel downloads)
Depositfiles
iFolder

Dishumanity - Radijacija [2010]

Anyone who's been reading this blog for a while probably knows that the second I saw the words 'Serbian' and 'd-beat/crust' associated with this release, I was salivating everywhere. And it doesn't disappoint; if this is your sort of thing, get it. Now.

Re-upload notes: The fact that I was salivating is insignificant as I do that all the time.

128 kbps

Mediafire
Rapidshare
Zippyshare
DepositFiles
iFolder (not currently uploading)

Absolutist - Ave [2012]

There seems to be some question as to whether this band is from the UK or Ireland - my interpretation is that some members live in EIRE, some in Northern Ireland and they practise and record in EIRE. Anyway, this is an awesome dark hardcore record that will probably go unfortunately unnoticed amid the mire of shitty music which is produced nowadays. The use of famous political/religious samples (including the legendary Bertrand Russell quote about the importance of intellectual integrity when considering religion) blend into the ensuing chaos well, and are particularly poignant when one considers the social and religious background of their country. This could be the best debut album this year.

320 kbps

Mediafire
Rapidshare
iFolder (if you don't know how to use iFolder and don't use a download manager, I don't recommend this link)
Buy the LP

Fukpig - 3 [2012]

Starkly adorned by a reflection of the band's onstage masks, Fukpig's 3rd album, simply titled 3, is a continuation of the band's sound that has been allowed to develop since their inception, and particularly since the release of their first full-length album Spewings From A Selfish Nation in 2009. Does it absolutely rip? Bet your bottom dollar it does. Although this seems to utilise blastbeats a little less than its predecessor, it still has the relentless wall of horror and aggression feeling that is synonymous with the name Fukpig. More of a commentary of recent events than other releases (opener proper 'Alcohol And Necropunk' is about the Tottenham riots, whilst 'Hack' is about the News Of The World's phone hacking), this vicious piece loosely (key word) reflects the thoughts of many in the nation both sonically and lyrically. This could quite easily be album of 2012 - even though it's only just turned February!

320 kbps

FileFactory
Depositfiles
Mediafire

Fukpig - The Depths Of Humanity demo [2001]

Fukpig, like, totally roolz doodz. But seriously, any Fukpig material that one hasn't heard should be a wildly exciting proposition, such is the propensity for their sheer ferocity to tear the listener a new one each and every time their music is listened to (excuse the awkward grammar, I'm tired). So whilst this is nowhere near as good as any of the full-lengths (including this year's excellent, and simply-titled 3), it is still better than the vast majority of all musical output. What's more, the band has sanctioned this release to be downloaded (see the archives of their Facebook page around early to mid January if you don't believe me).

192 kbps

Depositfiles
Filefactory
Mediafire

Atomski Rat - Atomski Rat EP [2010]

This is a band that I stumbled across over at the Damaging Noise blog, and it's some of the most ferocious music that I've come across in a long time. This Serbian crust band's debut EP was one of my favourite releases of last year. Features covers of Shitlickers, Sodom, Herpes Distress and Mob 47.

320 kbps

Megaupload

REPOST INFO: They have a new release coming out later this year.

Discharge - Hear Nothing See Nothing Say Nothing [1982]

Disfear. Dishammer. Disclose. Napalm Death. All bands heavily inspired by Discharge, and in particular by this album. Hardcore punk was redefined the moment this was released - although it had existed before, particularly through the media of the Dead Kennedys and Black Flag, this revolutionized it. It even has early traces of the desolate feeling of crust in it. This is the 'Reign In Blood', the 'De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas', the 'Altars Of Madness' of hardcore. It's abso-fucking-lutely essential.

N.B. This is the 2003 Castle Records reissue, with fucktons of bonus tracks.

192 kbps

Link taken down. Comment to see a reupload!

ミドリ(Midori) - First(Heart) [2005]

Getting pretty tired of posting Metal, so I thought I would change things up and post something that not a lot of people are familiar with.

ミドリ(Translating to Midori) was a very strange, very intense Jazz/Crust Punk/Noise Rock/J-Pop band from Osaka Japan that released a handful of kick ass albums over a short lifespan. In truth, I have never heard anything quite like Midori before and never have since.

The piano takes the place of the electric guitar as the lead instrument in the band, and for a good portion of the songs there is no electric guitar at all. The piano and drums are completely insane: fast, furious and aggressive, they perfectly blend Punk attitude with Jazz precision and technicality. The bass work is low and heavy, and often replaces the guitar altogether in some songs.

The vocals of the diminutive Mariko Goto will make or break this album for most. Mariko shifts from toneless, off-key singing, yelping, squeaking, moaning and vicious Grindcore growls dozens of times in some songs, and while I adore Markio and her vocal talents, some will be turned off. She basically has no vocal talent, but her emotional depth and range more than make up for her vocal range. This is one pissed off, creepy sounding 90 pound Japanese girl in a school girl outfit.

And that is one of my favorite things about ミドリ: their sense of humor. They openly mock Japanese culture and its many contradictions, particularly the Japanese fascination with underage girls.

First(Heart) is a solid intro to the band, although Second(Heart) is by far the bands strongest release(I will post it tomorrow).

Fans of strange, unique music and Punk Rock should give ミドリ a chance. I am still glad that I did.

Mediafire(re-uped with all tracks)

.Nema - Bring Our Curses Home [1998]

A piece of crust that has all the desolation and hatred that crust should have; this is a classic within the genre, and rightfully so. Even those who aren't particularly fond of punk at all should check this out, such is the suffocatingly emotional feeling which surrounds it all.

320 kbps

Megaupload

His Hero Is Gone - Fifteen Counts of Arson [1996]

Sorry to be gone so long. Life has been... hectic. Aside from a few forum posts here and there, I have been spending most of my time working and fighting with The Government over my fathers disability eligibility (3 amputations is not enough for a person to be legally disabled it seems).

Anyway, enough of my shit that you don't give any fucks about. On to the music, and in this post I have for you one of the single greatest slabs of Powerviolence ever created, Fifteen Counts of Arson. To me, His Hero Is Gone are the single best Powerviolence band of all time, and this record completely and utterly proves it. Between the excellent vocals, the thundering bass production and the sheer intensity and brutality of the songs(like a mix of early Napalm Death, Infest and EyeHateGod) Fifteen Counts just flat out dominates. This is music for taking on The Man, which is the exact kind of music I need right now.

Hand me the gasoline so I can burn this mother fucker down.

192 kbps

Multiupload

Terror Of Dynamite Attack - Behind The Exploitation Of Their Richness Nature [2010]

Having gotten that little diatribe out of the way, it's nice to return to some music. Terror Of Dynamite Attack are an Indonesian grindcore band who combine raw aggression with some hilarious, endearing Engrish ('Movie And Cinema All Shit', 'Fight For Woman Rights').

Similar artists: Wormrot, Flagitious Idiosyncrasy In The Dilapidation, ACxDC

256 kbps

Megaupload

Disfear - Live The Storm [2008]

Disfear are yet another excellent Swedish hardcore band - their own style is a mixture of crust and d-beat (and it certainly owes a lot to the gods Discharge). Probably in the middle of the spectrum in terms of hardcore aggression (i.e. somewhere between the Dead Kennedys and Napalm Death).

Similar artists: Discharge, Dishammer, Atomski Rat

160 kbps

Megaupload