AURA NOIR - DREAMS LIKE DESERTS

Aura Noir is Norway's bad-ass answer to 80's thrash metal. Their first release from '94 came at a time when thrash had become extremely uncool. Against trends, Dreams Like Deserts, delivers 6 fiercely structured, blackened assaults of incredible speed and agility. Side winding riffs, admonishing vocals and an avalanche of drumming catapulted these butchers to the top of the norwegian pile. They've remained there for nineteen + years, rendering corpse meat into primordial sludge. The production on DLD is more typical 90's BM than the band's subsequent releases (not a bad thing). These files are taken from the 2012 remaster. I stuck with the original cover since I'm not including the bonus tracks and I dig their original logo. DLD!

GISM - DETESTATION

There are certain influential records that render all others pale by comparison. If you grew up in Japan in the mid 80's, it's likely you considered GISM's 1984 debut lp, Detestation to be one of them. I first heard it at Fast Forward Records in Providence RI around '92. On recommendation, I got a pile of japanese stuff that day by Death Side, Insane Youth, Disclose, Battle Of Disarm and Gauze, as well as a cd copy of Detestation. Situated somewhere between Discharge, Septic Death and The Misfits, GISM's sound was characterized by fuzzed out guitars, squealing garage metal solos and one of the most distinct vocalist in HC history. With it's pounding energy and broken english anthems, this legendary record paved the way for a generation of subsequent bands. Most of which were content to bite a fraction of it's greatness. Face it, nothing you do in your life will ever be this cool. Pussyfooter!

KROMOSOM - 2010 DEMO

Krömosom is a fuzzed out D-beat assault out of Melbourne Australia featureing members of Pisschrist and Schifosi. Extremely endebted to japcore, they combine the speed and voraciousness of Gauze with the low-fi sonic abandon of Confuse. The differentiating factor being the reverb drenched, aussie vocals. There's nothing particularly new about these guys, but they deliver hard hitting crusty goodness through the glaze of a satisfyingly shitty recording. There are a million bands after this sound. Few can back it up with real playing. Krömosom are the exception. Terror!

AGRESSION - S/T LP

                                                        My Buddy Jeff at Black Gold Records is worth the air he taints after all. I gave him a list of golden oldies that I'd been trying to track down forever. He finally came through with this choice slab of primo 80's HC. For those not in the know, it doesn't get much würse than this! A typical stain on the Mystic Records roster. Aggression combined weirdo, sk8 punk sentiments with sliding, derelict execution. Top heavy drums, rib sticking guitars and perverted, sewer rat vocals made them a perfect fit for Doug Moody's putrid collection. I was introduced to this record during a party my older brother threw in '87. I got drunk for the first time (so did our goldfish), saw real boobs (second time), road a piece of plywood down a flight of stairs and bashed my skull on a cinderblock. Scared more for his life than mine, big bro set me up with two cans of Bud. One to drink and the other to ice my lump with. I did a lot of stupid things back then, but thank the lord I wasn't a... Rich Kid!

RASPBERRY BULBS - LIVE AT 285 KENT

Raspberry Bulbs, the Ildjarn-esque side project of He Who Crushes Teeth (drummer for Bone Awl) plays head bobbing, garagy punk wrapped in a black metal skin. Live, RB's basement four-track aesthetic is served by faithful and discerning players. Among the lineup is Nick Forté of Rorschach and Radio to Saturn. I wasn't present at this show. It was recorded informally by my friend Janusz (thanks). The sound quality is pretty decent. The vocals are a bit quiet compared to their official releases. Regardless, the band sounds great here. Hopefully these guys will record together soon. Until then... Live bursts!

SHITFIT/HUMAN GREED - SPLIT

Along with Immoral Squad, Inertia Kills, Dahmer, General Fools and Seized, Human Greed and Shitfit were heavyweights from Quebec's early 90's scene. I caught Human Greed live in '94 with Ulcer, Dropdead and Immoral Squad. They were incredible! Hovering somewhere between Scum era Napalm Death and early Discharge, they offered a crushing brand of low-tech grindcore delivered with superb desperation. The thirteen songs on their side of this split feature multiple vocals retching amidst raw and driving instrumentation. An onslaught apparently fueled by the band's vegan politics. Sadly, I never got to see Shitfit live. Fronted, by Max Of Tomorrow (hilarious!) who's throaty gargle sounds like a hybrid between Choke (from Slapshot) and a didgeridoo. The band plays mostly heavy, palm muted, crusty HC with a slight NYHC vibe thrown in now and then. Nothing new for the time, but totally awesome. The perfect platform for Max's helicopter yodel. I listened to this fucking thing enough to wear it out. Luckily, I finally found another copy. QCHC!

CRAZY SPIRIT - S/T LP

As if you don't already know, Crazy Spirit are the cream of the crop when it comes to punky HC. Imagine Dick Dale imitating Greg Ginn, backed up by Honor Role and fronted by a miniature Blane Fart... but faster. (I know, shut up!) On their recent S/T Lp, gleefully inventive, Spy Vs. Spy guitar riffs dangle from pepped up punk drums and winding bass like spittle off a small dog's tongue. Congested, ghoulish vocals toss among this memorable mess like a peanut trapped in a bubble bounce. This music is F. U. N! Not an ounce of your daddy's tough-guy shit from '89. More like what grandma listened to back in '81. CS manage to pull it off in a way that seems totally fresh and all their own. Can't stress enough, I absolutely need everything they put out. You do too! Because... CS = fun! :)