Peace, love and death metal

The Grand Opening @ Myspace 

It’s always a bit weird when a band re-record a song which original version means more than life to you. Or which original version represent a particular time in life, like a set of memories that come up with audio stamp switch. To me, The Grand Opening’s “Don’t Drop Off” was the soundtrack of the summer 2005. Somehow it just grew inside of me, comforting and encouraging. Now, TGO have uploaded a new seven inch (released by Tapete) version of the song on their Myspace. It took me three seconds to recognize it wasn’t the same recording, it wasn’t the same vibe, the same sound. Even if it quite much is. Only the weeping guitar at the end is missing.

Anyway, “Don’t Drop Off” could be the best song released in 2006 as well, so do yourself a favour. There are also the b-side “So be it” available for streaming. I’ve an itch that TGO’s debut album will be some sort of an event for me. Kind of like Logh’s debut were - only that I knew to expect this one.

Psychopathic Terror - “Bring Me The Head Of The Prosecutor” mp3
Psychopathic Terror - “This Society Is Full Of Shit” mp3

Taken from Finnish Psychopatic Terror first full-lenght album Fucker, released by Serpent’s Eye. Recorded in 2003, and judging by these two mp3s this music never goes out of style: the band takes its energy from the timeless hate against all life, hope and light. It also have (at least) two sides: “Bring Me The Head…” is old school, filthy proto-thrash attack whereas “This Society…” is darker, industrial march of torment.

I kinda like this.

C.Aarmé - “Golden Retriever” mp3

C.Aarmé are twisted brilliance. “If it goes like this I will stick a fork into me right eye and shut my left and slit my throat off - life off - suicide”. Now, please sing along.

Deathbreath - “Dragged Through The Mud” stream
Deathbreath - “Coffins of the Unembalmed Dead” mp3 clip

Nicke Hellacopter’s old school death metal project Deathbreath have posted a new sample on their myspace. Even if the song itself is less filthy than the previous sample, it have the stench of death metal - and the vocals, they are the best. Another sample clip can be found on their new website. “Coffins of the Unembalmed Dead” gives death metal a more uptempo and autopsian stab on the back.

SLAYER frontman Tom Araya has told George Stroumboulopoulous of CBC’s “The Hour” that the title of the band’s forthcoming album will be “The Final Six”.

From slayerized.com’s board.

Slayer - “Cult” stream

You can now listen to full version of “Cult” on slayer.net. This is Slayer pre-1994 with speed, velocity and spirit! There are of course some slower elements from their 1998 -2001 material, but altogether this sounds way more tight and dynamic Thrash Metal than I could’ve ever hope for.

I think I should listen to Diabolus In Musica and God Hates Us All. I remember going nuts over GHUA around the time it was released, but I don’t remember listening to it for years. Damn, I love this excitement. This is better than World Cup - new Slayer albums come around only once every five years.

Slayer will tour Finland in November. Two shows on 12th and 13rd, first at Helsinki and then at Tampere. Now excuse me I’ll go change my underwear.

*back* There are some other bands in the bill as well, but all I see is Slayer. Slayer. Slayerslayer. Yes. *gone again*

It’s National Day of Slayer - and not only because it’s six-six-o-six but also because today Slayer have released first new studio recording (of their own material) since 2001’s God Hates Us All. I don’t know am I going to be able to get hold of Eternal Pyre EP, I don’t know what’s all this “Hot Topic only” shit (I don’t know what Hot Topic is or what its reputation is), but still, Eternal Pyre is a sign that they’re coming back.
I can’t celebrate National Day of Slayer by blasting Slayer on full volume all the day (I’m an adult, kind of), so I decided to make a tribute post of all Slayer cover versions I could find. Some are cool, some are boring, the best are blasphemous, some I didn’t find like Logh’s great version of “War Ensemble”. (EDIT: Avi is always the right man in a right place.)
Anyway, please enjoy. If you know other links to Slayer covers, send them in!

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The Chasm - “Metalstorm / Face The Slayer” mp3

Even if I’ve never really been a friend of The Chasm’s music (I’ve tried, believe me), I’ve always appreciated their career and their concept. Metal of Death! That conviction is audible on their version of this duet song from Slayer’s debut. They add nothing new, just bring it home safely. There’s also a strong version of Kreator’s “Take Their Lives” (mp3) available.

Hatesex - “Black Magic” stream

Okey, then. This version at least isn’t trying to copy the original. Industrial feeling. Some hardly recognizable parts. German lyrics. Go figure. This version include Martin Ain of Celtic Frost on vocals and Erol Unala (also Celtic Frost) performing the guitar solo.

Dokaka - “Angel Of Death” mp3

I’ve posted this at least twice earlier, everyone have heard this a million times, but still - no Slayer tribute post would be complete without this.

In This Moment - “Postmortem” mp3

They keep the beat up, but add nothing new. Maria’s vocals are really metalcore which takes away yet another level of power. I’ve never heard such a powerful Slayer version sung by woman, though.

Hate - “Postmortem” mp3

I don’t hate this… It’s pretty much like the original, only with rougher guitar sound and the growls. Actually, Seance did this song in a similar way, but much better on Slatanic Slaughter I. And yes, an incomplete file - it cuts just when the fun begins. We don’t get to hear does Hate shout “Do you wanna die” with an exclamation mark or with a question mark.

Transformer Di Roboter - “Raining Blood” mp3 - mp3

This version sounds like a mobile phone gone mad. Nothing to add - with respect.

Vader - “Raining Blood (Live)” mp3

How many times you’ve heard “Raining Blood” covered by some band? And I mean in a real live situation. I’ve seen Deathchain doing it, I’ve seen Vader doing it. At least. It’s like “Every Breath You Take” of thrash metal. Actually, literally, it is. Here’s Vader’s version of the song, really powerful. Vader’s mp3 archives are great, by the way. Few more covers (Possessed, Morbid Angel, Depeche Mode) and lots of mp3s from their releases.

Wckr Spgt - “South Of Heaven (live)” mp3
Wckr Spgt - “Spill The Blood (live)” mp3

Recorded live at Hell in the Mouth of Satan New Year show December 31st 1990 these two dadaist Slayer renditions could be seen as blasphemy, but I rather don’t. They’re just different. At least you get the laughs, I hope. These could also be filed under the category “guess what song this is”.

The String Quartet - “Expendable Youth” mp3

Another different take on a Slayer classic. In the long run these versions get a bit tiresome, but for example in some movie or such these versions would fit in perfectly.If you look at the wikipedia link above you can see that the Slayer string tribute is not that one of a kind deal. It looks like any band older that six months have got their music tributed by Todd Mark Rubenstein.

Somnus - “Seasons In The Abyss” mp3

Slack and weak version with some unbearable gothic black metal synths and spoken female vocals. Fuck, go imagine. Fact that the mp3 file is slightly incomplete doesn’t bother if you ever get that far.

The Code International - “Yekermo Sew (Mulatu Astatke cover)” mp3

I for one love the Broken Flowers soundtrack. via Undomondo

Agoraphobic Nosebleed/ Isis - “Boris (Melvins cover)” mp3

Melvins cover as performed by ANb and Isis, taken from We Reach: The Music of Melvins tribute album on Fractured Transmitter Records.

General Surgery - “Slithering Maceration of Ulcerous Facial Tissue” mp3
General Surgery - “Ambulance Chaser” mp3

Swedish Carcass influenced goregrind band General Surgery is offering their early recordings for downloading: Erosive Offals demo I - 90, Pestiferous Antropophagia demo II -90 and Necrology CD 1993 (seven tracks clocking in some 15 minutes) / 7″ EP (five tracks) 1991. This is vintage goregrind with vintage Sunlight sound. For fans of early Carcass and early Xysma. Check out “Slithering Maceration of Ulcerous Facial Tissue” if you don’t believe me.

After reforming slowly after 2000, General Surgery have just released their first album Left Hand Pathology on Listenable Records. There are quite few more recent mp3s available as well, for example the energetic “Ambulance Chaser” which is a demo version of the song also on the album.

Peeping Tom - Peeping Tom cd stream

Mike Patton’s latest project Peeping Tom have the album available for streaming at myspace. Including guest appearances by Norah Jones, Massive Attack and others.

Sonic Youth - Rather Stripped cd stream

New Sonic Youth album available for streaming at their site. via Volyymi

Rock Am Ring Live Stream

She Wants Revenge, Opeth, Turbonegro, Placebo (live), Depeche Mode (live) and many other bands can be viewed from the Rock Am Ring live video stream broadcast. You can see the timetable at the site.

Last night Metallica performed Master Of Puppets album entirely to celebrate its 20th anniversary. “Disposable Heroes”, “Leper Messiah”, “Orion” and “Damage Inc.” end to end were really a rare occasion. And they had rehearsed, it wasn’t all too sloppy.

Slayer - “Cult” sample

Another sample of “Cult”, this time from what appears to be a Polish mp3 store.

I have a Slayer fever and it won’t help until July 25th when the album is released. Actually, had I learned anything from the previous years, the fever will really start when I get the album. Then it’s yet again all Slayer-this-Slayer-that.

“Religion is hate/ religion is fear/ relegion is war/ religion is rape/ religion’s obscene/ religions are whore.” I’m not 100% did I hear it right, but anyway, that sounds like new Slayer sing-a-long lyrics. And wait for the punchline: “I’ve made my choice/ six six six”. I’m happy that Slayer is officially above all criticism and I can concentrate fully in thrashing metal mad with this new killer.

Remember that Simpsons episode (“The Frying Game”) with Carmen Electra? Where Homer is staring at her breast at the end and she says: “Homer, my face is up here”. And Homer replies: “I’ve made my choice”.

Now with the new Slayer lyrics I think I can say “I’ve made my choices“.

Necrophobic - “Ridden With Disease (Autopsy cover)” mp3

Hah. I’ve been listening to death metal for more than a decade yet I’m still rather unfamiliar with Autopsy. I’m not ashamed, I’m glad; there’s at least one great band yet to be fully discovered.

But if you’re interested in the recent Dark Crusades DVD, don’t get your hopes high. It’s rather customer unfriendly.

And this version here is preformed by Swedish Necrophobic, recorded back in 1997.

Magyar Posse - “Sudden Death” mp3

Second mp3 from the new Magyar Posse album Random Avenger. Fact that they give these full mp3 songs for downloading is extremely great.

I’ve now listened through the album three times and I’ve got nothing much to say about it. Whereas previous Kings Of Time was more than music to start with, now after few years of listening to several other postrock bands the effect Magyar Posse have just isn’t that impressive. It’s easy. I don’t know. It’s not bad, so I’ll just keep listening to it and wait for the moment it hits me.

Magyar Posse - “Robots 4 Life (Mr. Velcro Fastener cover)” mp3 

I don’t know Mr. Velcro Fastener. Anyway, Magyar Posse have launched a myspace site with tracks from the last two albums and this cover version of “Robots 4 Life”. Very sweet.

Mar - “Sigga” mp3

Is it appropriate to describe something utterly comforting and calm music by saying it’s “killer shit”? Propably not, but still - check out Mar. “Americans recording music in Iceland”. A band founded in 2004 by Kyle Reidy have just released their debut album The Silence on Ring Road Records (that name must be taken from the “ring road” that goes around Iceland). Facts that it was recorded in Reykjavik, Iceland and it features members from The Album Leaf and Múm should give some sort of reference on its quality. More shoegazing than postrocking; among the obvious influences I can’t pin down right now, it also reminds me oddly of Viola’s debut album and the b-side of Tiamat’s Wildhoney album. via Relative Theory Records

SCID - “Fucked Up Beyond All Recognition” mp3

Title track from German death/grind act SCID’s two-EPs-put-together-is-one-album release Fucked Beyond Recognition. Recommended for the fans of Aborted and Carcass.

A Silver Mt. Zion - Le 4 Sans, Bourdeaux, France May 25th 2006
A Silver Mt. Zion - Le Comfort Moderne, Poitiers, France May 27th 2006

Live bootlegs from Archive.org. There few more bootlegs from the recent tour available as well.

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - Woxy.com in-studio session mp3

Four tracks studio live and an interview by CYHSY. Other artists from Woxy.com’s studio live performances’ archive are Architecture From Helsinki, Benzos, Audible, Editors, Gomez, Low, Rogue Wave, The Fiery Furnaces, We Are Scientists and many others.

http://www.myspace.com/thewhitestboyalive

Stare in the distance with German The Whitest Boy Alive’s “Burning” in the background. It’s a perfect match. They’ve got that fragile beat that is always appreciated here. Sad that they have only a myspace site and no proper bandsite (yet?). I wouldn’t mind downloading these songs. EDIT: Pstt - fans of The Grand Opening, The Whitest Boy Alive is meant for you.