This fucking rules.  Noise-grind insanity from Malaysia, SMG, split 7” with Repulsione from Italy, and co-released by Grind Block Records, Audio Lesion Records, NHDIYST Records, Nuclear Alcoholocaust Records, and Jennifer Grind Records.

The SMG (Selfmadegod) side is furious, noise-grind madness.  The Repulsione side delivers manic European grinding powerviolence.  Both of these bands have been active in the underground for over ten years.  With sick cover art and d.i.y. as fuck, this release is highly recommended for noise freaks everywhere.

From Grey……To Black (2013) sounds like Agathocles lost their drummer, got super high, left a drum machine on repeat, and played the same riffs over and over and over again.  This is one of their experimental albums, not really grindcore.  The vocals are still your usual Agathocles sound though.  For fans of bands experimenting and not giving a fuck what you think.

From Grey……To Black comes in grey swirl vinyl and is limited to 315 hand-numbered copies.  It is released by Cold-Coffein-Addict Records and Vulgar Records in Germany.

            Agathocles are a grindcore band from Belgium active since 1985.  They call their music mincecore and have a prolific catalogue of literally hundreds of releases.  Last summer Agathocles toured the U.S. for the first time, performing dates in the north-east.

Nethergrave – Buffalo Death Metal

Buffalo’s newest death metal band, Nethergrave, doesn’t care about egos or trying to fit into a certain sub-genre.  They play the music they want to hear.  Just death metal.  Fast, angry, and relentless as possible.

While not necessarily trying to stick to a brutal, technical, or black metal sound, Nethergrave are more focused on being as extreme as possible.  Influenced by bands like Cannibal Corpse, Decapitated, Dying Fetus, Morbid Angel, and Suffocation, you get the idea.

Favoring a less-is-more approach, there are no nine-minute death ballads here. Nethergrave’s songs are the perfect length, just enough time to beat the listener into submission.

Nethergrave released the three song demo, Out of Skin, last May and have plans to record new material by the end of the year.  You can stream or purchase, Out of Skin, at the Nethergrave Bandcamp and be sure to catch them live this summer at Buffalo Metal Fest.

            Hearing about an Ed Gein release is always a welcome surprise.  This one comes in the form of a double 7”, Smoked (2016).  Five ripping new tracks on two discs from Syracuse, New York grind-hardcore veterans.

Ed Gein have been sporadically active during their 15 year existence, performing mostly in Syracuse and other north-eastern cities.  Revered in the extreme music community, they play a unique blend of hardcore and grindcore delivered with intense urgency.  With song titles like “Build A Wall Around D.C.,” Ed Gein are certainly keeping up with the times on Smoked.

The special d.i.y. packaging is designed and hand-screened by bassist/vocalist, Aaron Jenkins.  Smoked is available via mail order from Hex Records on black or clear vinyl.  Go fast!

Completing my vinyl collection of lesser known Candiria releases this week are Kiss the Lie (2008), Toying with the Insanities Volume II (2009), and Toying with the Insanities Volume III (2010).  I ordered these directly from the band’s label, Rising Pulse Records, run by Candiria’s guitar player, John LaMacchia.

Kiss the Lie is a more laid back album for Candiria and features a lot of singing from vocalist Carley Coma.  Parts of the album sound nu-metal with moments that remind me of Tool.

Toying with the Insanities Volume II and Toying with the Insanities Volume III are remix albums.  They feature experimental remixes of classic Candiria favorites and some new material.  Volume II features more chill electronic, hip-hop, and ambient remixes while Volume III features remixes of Candiria’s heavier material.

            From Brooklyn, Candiria were popular in the New York hardcore scene in the late ‘90s and early ‘00s and fuse hardcore, hip-hop, jazz, and other influences in their music.  They are currently on a very strong comeback with the recent release of While They Were Sleeping (2016) on Metal Blade Records.  With a classic discography of groundbreaking albums, Candiria today remain an influential force in extreme metal and underground music.

Disrepair – Buffalo Hardcore

 

 

Having dropped their two song demo this past September, Disrepair are one of the newest bands in the hardcore/metal scene in Buffalo.  For Buffalo Hardcore, they have a fresh sound.  Groovy riffs and blood curdling screams, it will definitely get the adrenaline in your veins pumping.  What makes Disrepair that much heavier is the unpredictability of what’s coming next.  None of the usual stop everything, predictable guitar chug, followed by the break down.  These are well thought out song arrangements of metallic, heavy hardcore.  Disrepair have been pounding pavement in Buffalo and nearby cities, getting their name out there.

Heavy as fuck and not restricted to the confines of traditional hardcore, Disrepair incorporate other elements into their sound.  Down-tuned, dark chords, metal and crust influenced riffs, breakdowns, and plenty of d-beats.  Their lyrics deal with the wars going on in the world and also in our own lives, the battles we each face every day.

Disrepair have performed in Buffalo, Syracuse, and Niagara Falls and are looking to play in other nearby cities like Erie, Binghamton, Richmond, Cleveland, Detroit, and anywhere nearby that has a good hardcore scene.

It’s clear these guys have a lot of passion for hardcore music and want to share that passion with the audience.  Disrepair’s hardcore is a cathartic release and they want their fans to fuck shit up and have a good time.  It’s great talking with them because they are genuinely enthusiastic about hardcore music.

Disrepair have plans for an upcoming split release with Acolyte from Pittsburgh.  They also hinted about an upcoming 7” release on a label they didn’t want to disclose just yet.  Disrepair are a new Buffalo band definitely worth checking out and their upcoming releases are something hardcore fans can really look forward to.  “Heavy, head banging music that's good for your soul.”

            During Thanksgiving weekend, on Black Friday, my father, a life-long record collector, and I stopped by two local record stores.  With the record revival going on right now, it’s amazing to think we covered less than half of the local record stores in the Buffalo area.  There are at least six record stores in Western New York now that I can think of.

            The Dave Brubeck Quartet – Time Further Out (1961) and Herbie Hancock – Thrust (1974), I found at Spiral Scratch Records.  The Chick Corea Elektric Band – The Chick Corea Elektric Band (1986) and Roger Waters – Radio K.A.O.S. (1987), I found at Revolver Records.

            Chick Corea and Herbie Hancock, like some of the bigger name jazz artists from the ‘60s, went on to experiment with different musical styles and record albums in the ‘70s, ‘80s, and beyond.  I’m a big fan of records like this.  I have a Chick Corea record, Again and Again (1983), one of my favorite records in my collection, which features experimentation with electronic instruments.  The Chick Corea Elektric Band is a great album continuing with his electronic experimentation in the ‘80s.  Herbie Hancock went on to experiment with funk, disco, future jazz, and other different musical styles, and Thrust is some of the most “out there” music of his I’ve heard.  The musicians on this record are totally out of control!  Forget about future jazz.  This is space music.

            Dave Brubeck records are popular among many record collectors.  I now have five Brubeck records, including an original copy of Newport 1958 (1959).  Dave Brubeck definitely has his own unique style in jazz.  He uses a lot of syncopation which I like in music.  Time Further Out was a cool find as it’s a record I’ve come across before in all my Discogs searches.

            You can follow Revolver Records on Facebook where the owner always posts lots of photos of what he has in store that week.  I asked him if he still had the copy of Roger Waters – The Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking (1984) I had seen him post online a few weeks ago.  That had sold, but he dug out this copy of Radio K.A.O.S. for me that he still had.  Roger Waters is one of my all-time favorite song writers and Radio K.A.O.S. is a total classic.

            It was cool to stop by some local record stores with my dad while he was in town.  He got to meet Dave, the owner of Spiral Scratch, who’s really knowledgeable and always great to talk to, and I finally got to see the Revolver Records shop for the first time.  If you’re in the Buffalo area be sure to stop in and check out Revolver Records and Spiral Scratch Records.