Tuesday, March 31, 2020

Book Review: "Planet of the Lawn Gnomes" by Devin Joseph Meaney

Planet of the Lawn Gnomes (Goosebumps Most Wanted #1)
Author: R. L. Stine
Publisher: Scholastic Paperbacks, October 1, 2012
Ah, that fresh Goosebumps smell. The other night I wanted to do some reading, but I did not want to invest myself in a really long book. After some consideration, I decided that I wanted to read ''Planet of the Lawn Gnomes'' by R. L. Stine. Aside from reading a few to my daughter, I have not picked up a Goosebumps book to read since I was a kid. But as soon as I opened the book, the smell of nostalgia quickly flooded my nose and I was transported to a time when all was well and forever would be.
This particular book is book one in the Most Wanted collection. I am only really familiar with the ones I grew up with, but it is good to see that ole' R. L. has gotten so far with this series. There are also ads for a “Horrorland” series and a “Hall of Horrors” series, so if I ever happen to see one I will pick it up for the sake of nostalgia... oh, who the hell am I kidding. I'm a huge kid. I LOVE this kind of stuff!
Pulled from the back of the book: “Jay Gardener can't seem to stay out of trouble. Even after a fresh start in a new neighborhood, he keeps finding himself in bad situations. But it's not his fault! Jay wants to be a good kid, he really does, it's just these strange things keep happening to him. What kind of place did his family move to? And why does every house have so many lawn gnomes in their yard? Jay better learn quickly that there are things a lot scarier than his parents…”
I don't want to ruin too much for anyone, but this book has buzzard hawks, gnomes, biting fish with legs, and enough twists and turns to fully envelop the mind of any young reader. Although the writing is very simple, even as an adult I found this to be highly enjoyable, and I would not be surprised if I read it again down the road.
R. L. Stine has always been one of my favorite authors and biggest inspirations as a writer, and everything he puts his hand to is pure gold. This book is no exception.
I am not 100% up to date with R. L. and I'm not even sure how long ago this book was released while writing this. Either way, I really hope Mr. Stine is continuing to push out works, as I am sure there are many young minds (and adult ones to) that would seriously enjoy his genuinely interesting and unique creations.
I am 100% inspired now to dig out any old Goosebumps books that may be lying around the house. I know we have at least a dozen or so. Over the next little while I may indulge in this nostalgia-laden series. Make that I KNOW I will.
Thanks R.L., as a fan, you are something special. –Devin Joseph Meaney

Wednesday, March 25, 2020

Article: "I Fucking Love Goregrind" by Devin Joseph Meaney

I Fucking Love Goregrind
Article by Devin Joseph Meaney

Goregrind music. It is stated on Wikipedia that ''Goregrind is a fusion genre of grindcore and deathmetal. British band Carcass are commonly credited for the emergence of the genre. Goregrind is recognized for its heavily edited, "watery"-sounding vocals and abrasive musicianship rooted in grindcore.'' Either way, it is something that I know and love, and have for a very long time.
The gurgling gargling vocals, pitched to the point of no return. The abrasive and down-tuned guitars aiding in the creation of a flurry of noise, set alongside vicious pummeling drums and an overall chaotic atmosphere. Stomach churning lyrics and imagery that would make the little old ladies at the church bake sale cringe and catch a slight to moderate case of the vapors. It is not for everyone, but for a small community online and around the globe, it is a much loved hobby... and sometimes, a lifestyle.
Back when I was a pre-teen, I loved the sound of anything heavy. At around the age of 11, my cousin Mike gave me a grocery bag filled with thrash metal tapes. Metallica, Sabbat, Metal Church, Testament, Wrathchild America, and Meliah Rage were a few of the bands that were included. Needless to say, to my young brain, this was monumental when it comes to the formation of my personal taste of music... even as an adult.
Later, at around the age of 13, a friend introduced me to the band ''Dying Fetus.'' I had been listening to extreme metal for a while now, but nothing like this. With my first few listens, the hair stood on end on my arms and a deep chill ran down my spine. At this point, this was a new level of heavy for me, and again, my taste in music was darkened and perverted furthermore. I thought this was the end of this rabbit hole. But after about another year, I once again found something to top my current listening choices. This is when I found goregrind.
I was perusing the internet half way through the age of 14. I was looking for deathmetal, as I had exhausted my current-at-that-time playlist. I don't remember which site linked me there, but at some point I came to the homepage for Braindead Webzine. It spoke of things such as goregrind and grindcore, which I had never heard of before. I did not realize at this point, but it was this website that had the most effect on me as both a music fan and a musician. Goregrind and grindcore (leaning more to gore) are my two favorite types of music, with black metal coming in just behind. It was all because of this website, and to Pierre (the guy who runs Braindead) I thank you for sending me on this journey.
I found bands such as Last Days of Humanity and Dead Infection. I also found Gut, Regurgitate, Gruesome Stuff Relish, Haemorrhage, Blue Holocaust, Impetigo, and many other grindcore and goregrind bands, some really extreme ''brutal'' deathmetal, and one man projects. This is when I really started vibeing with drum machines as well, as a lot of the projects and bands I found did not have a live drummer. I had already been playing in garage bands at this point. But it was very clear to me that I wanted to do this. I really fucking wanted to grind.
My first attempts at making grind were only somewhat successful. Not many people heard them, but they laid the foundation for the style of music I would chase for the rest of my life. I recorded a demo under the name ''Scissorfuck Commando'' with my cousin Mike. We had like three short songs and printed out like 10 copies. The whole demo was recorded in my Aunt's living room. Shortly after, I started my one man project ''Coathanger Abortion.'' Again, one demo was made, and the project was kind of left for a while. Due to finding out there were like 3 bands already called Coathanger Abortion, The name was changed to ''Proctophobic.'' There were a few other projects, but honestly, I forget the names of both the projects and the songs.
At this point I had just entered highschool and I was making new friends. One day in the hallway I ran into a weird looking guy with really long hair and a black t shirt. His name was Neal. He also had a love of the heavy and the obscure, so I invited him over to jam some tunes. This lead to our first two releases together as Proctophobic, ''Cannibalistic Roadside Massacre'' and ''Revel in The Gore.'' These releases were rough, and locally, not many people got it. But thanks to the internet, we amassed a small following on Myspace and other places on the interwebs.
Our first two demos together vocally were entirely pitch shifter oriented, and the guitar was simple chugs and rhythms set alongside a drum machine. Gory as hell, but it was kind of cliché. We started messing around with our sound a bit, and Neal's black metal influences really started taking a hold on the music. This is when one of us (I forget who) coined the term blackened goregrind. (Or somewhere along these lines. My memory is hazy). During this period we recorded ''The Smell of Detritis'' and shortly after ''Solipsism,'' two short Ep's that would really chisel out our own brand of music. Again, local response was minimal, but the internet was kind. Not long after we recorded a session in a friend's basement, which was later released on a split with Zombie Raiders, and then again later on down the road with Sapraemia. Things were starting to amp up for Proctophobic. It was now that we started playing live and releasing on small time record labels. We were kind of legit now. Again, locals hated us, mostly, but we did gain a few fans and friends. Around this point I started my solo project ''Meaney,'' but it was short lived and never had a proper demo release.
During this period Proctophobic played a slew of bar shows and house parties. We had no live drummer, but the lineup (usually) consisted of Charlie Gnomington (the gnome that programmed our drum machine), myself on guitar, Neal on vocals, and Seagull Stoddard on backup vocals. We sometimes played live with Sean Macintyre of Nightfall and Thaumiel (at that time he was in Moxham Castle) and were known to summon the horned god Cernunnous from the depths of the underworld, who would then ravage the stage (or kitchen) with black metal and black magic.
Honestly, we were a better project than a live band, but we had a lot of fun. During this period we released ''8 Tears in Time and Space Left Unmended,'' ''The Meat Forest,'' ''The Kingdom of Perversity,'' ''Castrate the Sky,'' and ''The Wriggling Crown.'' We also re-released The Smell Of Detritis as a split with Shit Fucking Shit in Italy on Distrozione and No Tomorrow Records. (I forget in what order exactly). Locals still hated us, but by now the internet loved us. We were backed by a handful of small time labels such as SBT Records, Tornflesh Records, and many others, and were getting downloads in the multiple thousands. I never made a penny. But I felt like a real grinder now. It was also during this period Neal and I met up online with a guy named Moe to release a splatter goregrind demo. The project was short lived, but we did release one demo under the moniker Casket Sludge. Our first demo was ''The Contents Within Permeate With Necrotic Reek,'' and it was our only demo ever.
The next phase was re-releasing old material, which I continued to do up until a few years ago. A few splits were made. Many compilations, too! In fact, last time I tried to count up everything we were a part of, if I include compilation albums, it is ''more than 20.'' We did write a handful of new songs, but they were lost to the void and were never released properly. Which is a shame... they were pretty good! This is the time Neal started talking of moving to Halifax. We played one final show, but by this time I had developed severe anxiety. I had to turn my back to the crowd (like 15 people) because I was too overwhelmed to play otherwise. I did not know it then, but this was pretty much the end of Proctophobic. I compiled the majority of our material to a ''Greatest Hits'' Cd, released it on a few labels, and that was it. Proctophobic was done. Neal moved to Halifax, formed a few bands up there, and I went on my own way. I produced one gorenoise demo under the moniker ''Acute Onset Psychosis,'' and aside from a few un-released recordings with friends, this was my last musical output for a few years. My mental health at this point was not the best, so a few years of recovery was needed to return me to my desired state. This is when I really found my love for writing, but this is not about writing. This is about goregrinding, so I will leave that story for another time.
Eventually, I came back to my goregrinding in full swing in 2018. I teamed up with Jeremy Kirchner of Arabian Death Mask to put out a demo under the name ''The Nosebleed Section.'' We wrote four short songs, posted them online, made a Youtube video, and a small run of hand made cassettes. As always, local response was not the best, but there were a handful of people around the globe who digged it. This demo was eventually re-released in 2020 on the ''Gorenoise Sucks'' compilation, which can be found on the Gorenoise Sucks Bandcamp page. We have yet to release new material for this project, but it is not completely out of the question. If Jeremy wants to do up some Nosebleed, I would be more than happy to apply myself to that.
Now that we are in 2020, I am teaming up with my friend Henry Peachey from New Zealand to bring you some new tracks. We will keep the name of the project to ourselves as it is still in the creation phase, but it is going to be gory as ole' fuck. We have a handful of songs in our current roster, but they are not complete. They need to be honed. They need to be great. Still, this is something I am looking forward to being a part of, and I hope the people that listen to it will feel the same way. Also, one of my older Acute Onset Psychosis tracks is going to be re-released on a compilation in South Korea for Ulcerated Flesh Records! Things are really picking up, and I really want to know how things turn out from here. (Especially now that we are currently dealing with the spread of Covid-19).
Either way, goregrind is something that I hold close to my heart, and it has been there for me at times where I felt like all was lost. Like a loud, splattery, security blanket, it has comforted me. This writing does not function as an essay on the history of goregrind... or its uprising. It is more me explaining my history with it, and how and why I love this sub-genre of music so fucking much. The classics are great, and the new up-and-coming artists are just as good. For some, goregrind is a tongue in cheek joke. For me, it is love. That's right. Goregrind is love. Goregrind is life.
Devin out.

Saturday, March 21, 2020

Single Review: Ghastly Shadows "Envy/Siren" (Independent) by Dave Wolff

Band: Ghastly Shadows
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Country: USA
Genre: Minimal darkwave
Single: Envy/Siren
Format: Digital
Label: Independent
Release date: April 5, 2019
“Envy/Siren” is the second official release from this Boston-based one man project fronted by John McLaren, following the debut single “Alone” which was released digitally in June 2018. Ghastly Shadows is a fairly new project of a couple years, and its Facebook, Youtube, Spotify and Bandcamp profiles offer little information on how McLaren got started or what he wants to achieve with it, so I’m basically doing this review from scratch. The first time I heard “Envy/Siren” I thought he was primarily doing a retro new wave project. That influence features prominently here, but after a few more listens the darker aspects of McLaren’s work are beginning to grow on me. To a certain point, “Envy/Siren” sounds like The Doors reborn as goth/darkwave, mostly because the keyboards introducing “Envy” somewhat re-interpret the keyboard intro to “Strange Days”. From there we hear a fair amount of build-up to a variety of electronic and atmospheric sounds with lyrical concepts of being trapped in a nightmare of solitude and emptiness accompanied by a deep desire to escape. The lyrics are what gripped me the most about this song, as they describe being locked inside a tomb of doubt while sleeping at night, and praying for death to come and grant release from slithering shadows and screaming voices from beyond. The lethargic tone in which McLaren puts these images across, reiterating them time and again, are even colder and darker than the music he composed for them. “Siren” takes a different tone, boasting images of unholy incantations and vows of revenge from the grave, presumably from a witch who lived many centuries ago whose soul is trapped in an endless abyss. Although it’s uncertain how this siren of the night departed from this mortal coil, we feel her longing to return as strongly as “Envy” conveyed a desire to escape to the other side. This song has a similar variety of sounds with driving percussion comparable to Sisters Of Mercy’s “Floodland” album. Strangely these two songs complement one another as if this single is about two souls who long to meet in this existence or the next. –Dave Wolff

Lineup
John McLaren: Vocals, all instruments

Track list
1. Envy
2. Siren





Interview with UK Music Producer Neil Hudson by Kelly Tee

Interview with Neil Hudson, UK Music Producer

We metalheads are inclined to throw our headphones on, turn the volume up and bang our heads as much as we can. And being the over thinker I was born to be, this dissonant, dark and violently wonderful sound flooding my ears and smashing my sensory system often pushes other thoughts upon me. Thoughts such as, what went into pulling all this savagery together? The writing process, how their compositions were created, what drove their aggression and the time, sweat and effort they put into continually give us brutal listening pleasure.
I was speaking with Neil Hudson, the vocalist & guitarist for the UK based extreme metal band Krysthla, who also happens to be a production engineer. It got me thinking (because that’s what I do), who are these men and women working in the background mixing and mastering the metal injection for our souls? How important are they to the bands, the metal scene and the metal industry in general?
This prompted me to have a more in-depth conversation with Neil, who is also the founder and owner of Initiate Audio and Media about his role as a production engineer, the challenges he faces overseeing and managing the recording and production for various bands, and the personal reward he feels with his roles and responsibilities throughout the production process.

Hi Neil, Thank you for your time. What was the driving force that took you on a path toward music production?
You're very welcome! It's nice to get to chat about this stuff... I can talk for hours, so be warned.
I've always been interested in how music differed from band to band or genre to genre. My Father loved big band swing and Nat King Cole while my Mother loved Barry Manilow. Very different sounding due to the recording techniques and technologies of their time, but very vibe driven and centered around great songwriting and arrangement which is key for any music fundamentally. My sisters listened to 80's pop; a lot of Michael Jackson, A-HA, Duran Duran etc. I loved all their music choices but realized early on they all sounded different. It wasn't until a new next door neighbour moved in and woke me with loud guitars one Saturday morning that my world was truly rocked, however! This was back in the early '90s. After sitting watching him play for an hour or so I convinced my Mother I NEEDED a guitar. One trip to the car boot sale and £5 later and I was the proud owner of my first acoustic guitar! It was then I started delving into recording myself to write material. I'd record myself into the pinhole mic on an old tape recorder, play the tape back through my slightly bigger stereo (much louder) and record onto another tape jamming over the top! It sounded awful but I had so much fun creating something from nothing. It was the biggest spark I'd ever experienced in my life and made me determined to figure out how to record properly. A few years later I started a new band called Violation and the other guitarist had a Yamaha four-track tape recorder. That was the moment I'd been waiting for. I learned how to mix, use loops, add layers and mix down so I could add more layers. Then in 2005/2006, I had my first laptop with real music software and the rest is history! A whirlwind learning curve that's still happening 26 years later. I still own my first acoustic guitar.

In addition to owning Initiate Audio and Media, you are the vocalist and guitarist in the extreme metal band Krysthla. Has your experience as a Music Producer helped you grow and improve as a musician? And vice versa? And if so, how?
Very much so. You have to be efficient with your playing, learning to record on tape. No editing or undo buttons. It's made me a much tighter player which makes recording much quicker and more enjoyable. I try and push everyone I work with to get it right at the source. So much more character in the takes which has a huge cumulative effect on the record as a whole. If everyone is crushing their takes the energy is undeniable. Not everyone is a great player (always comes to light when recording, unfortunately). But over the years of learning about recording techniques, you pick up a few tricks to help things along if it's not all going to plan, let's say.

Go back to the start and tell me when and how you started Initiate Audio Media? And how has your growth as a Music Producer evolved from then to now?
I quit my job back in 2013 to go full time with the music. It was a real leap of faith, which started when a friend recorded his band's EP with a local engineer at the time and they weren't happy with the results. He asked me out of the blue if I could remix it as he knew I did my stuff but it wasn't recorded too well so we did it from scratch. I'd only recorded my stuff before that so I was straight in at the deep end working with new people who were expecting instant results! Luckily it turned out pretty good. Immediately after that, the studio where the engineer worked was looking to get someone new in, so I met them and started renting the studio space at the local rehearsal rooms and recorded a bunch of bands over the next year or so. I moved out and relocated to Krysthla HQ where I'm still based today. The rehearsal rooms weren't the best place to have a studio, unfortunately. The main thing I learned from then until now is how to manage the relationships between each member and me. A five-piece band plus I are thirty different relationships interacting during the whole recording process. Some people are funny, some are quiet, and some have all the talent but sit at the back saying nothing while the gobby asshole tries to steamroll everything but contributes nothing! Figuring out how to manage all those personalities harmoniously while keeping the schedule moving is probably the hardest part. It only takes one person to start struggling with a section and you see their real personality VERY quickly (smile). Vst's, eq, compression. Anyone can do that stuff. Again, no undo button when guys start yelling at each other.

Aside from managing the sound recording and the production of a band's performance music, what else might Music Producers become involved in that we might not be aware of? Co-writing? Coaching? Etc.
I try not to get my paws too grubby with the music if I can help it. I hear about a lot of guys trying to rewrite stuff when it doesn't need it, or even deleting sections when everyone has gone home for the night. I let the band do their thing mostly. Unless there's a section which REALLY sucks of course, then I'll grab the guitar. In cases like that the band is normally already aware that section needs work and are open to a fresh idea or two. I do try to push the players to the limits of their tightness so occasionally I'll suggest a change of style or to try a different pick/stick for a section here and there. You learn a lot about your playing when you're under scrutiny, that's for sure. To be honest my main role is Chief Councillor!! Haha. When the days start to drag and everyone starts getting reflective you hear all sorts of life stories. Some funny, some sad. There are some moments where members open up about things. We stick the kettle on and talk it out. Settles some guy’s nerves. They come in the next day and smash it out of the park!! I need to add a life coach to my business card.......

What is your production process? From Sound recording, mixing and audio mastering? Walk us through it.
This can change from band to band. I work with some super prepared guys! They have MIDI drums ready and scratch track guide guitar so anyone can go first! But as a rule, it's drums first, then record drum samples. Rhythm guitars next then the bass. Clean guitar and lead after bass. Give the lead guys a chance to warm up and make sure they know their stuff while the bass is being tracked. Then vocals last. Occasionally I'll track one bass track then do a vocal, and repeat for the rest of the record. Some vocalists are good for a couple of hours max before they hit the wall so breaking up the session between bass and vox gives them a breather. I kinda mix as I go most of the time. You can hear what needs to go whereas it's going down and you can get the vibe of the band that way. I much prefer that. If I mix at home, occasionally I'll find myself down the rabbit hole. Too many eq moves a bit more of this and that. Maybe one more nudge there. And you can easily find yourself miles away from what the original vibe was on the day. It gets a little surgical too. Less organic sounding. I always have a reference track in the session so I can keep checking my levels and the extreme low/high end of things. Your ears get tired without you noticing. After 8/10 hours sat in the chair you can make some TRULY awful decisions, haha! Mastering I like to do a few days after mixing. Give the ears a rest and double-check everything with a fresh outlook. I try not to get too carried away with the loudness war with mastering, although it's less of a thing than it was a few years ago. Some stuff works well slammed to hell and some with more dynamics.

How far do your production capabilities stretch? I.e. do you dive deeper into the entrepreneur role and manage the band's budgets, schedules, hiring studio engineers, etc?
Once the dates are booked that's pretty much it. I'm the sole engineer and I set the schedule so it's pretty straightforward, most of the time (smile).

The Music Producer can often wear many hats as a competent arranger, composer, programmer, musician or songwriter who can bring fresh ideas to a project. Have there been projects where you have had to wear all those hats? And how was this for you?
Yes. Many! Even though, as I said earlier, I don't like to get my paws too grubby with the riffs unless it's necessary. There are times where the guys are so stuck on a riff, and we've wasted way too much time on it already so I'll just rip it out in a couple of takes and we can move on. It's a last resort scenario, but if the schedule is taking a battering it's my job to keep us on track. I do enjoy thinking a few steps ahead while we're tracking through. Hearing ways of lifting choruses or giving more menace to a vocal as they're going down can add new life to a track, making it bigger than the band originally imagined it? Again, I don't do it all the time, just tastefully. It's awesome when it clicks though and everyone is like "Yeahhhhh that's fucking sick mate". Kinda reminds me how I used to feel tracking my first guitar on the crappy tape recorder and I thought I did something wicked!! haha

What do you look for in a band and their music when you are considering working with them? And what deters you from working with certain bands?
To be honest, I'll work with pretty much anybody. I'd be gutted if I thought someone didn't want to work with me, for whatever reason. Music is something we all love and take pride in. Even if you know you're not very good you still enjoy making music, and it's my job to find a way to make your music come to life and to make it something you're proud of! As long as you're passionate about your music, so am I.

How important are Music Producers to the metal industry?
I think with so many subgenres in metal these days it's easy to lose sight of a good song (totally subjective of course). Super technical bands blasting at 300bpm are awesome, and so are doomy bands holding a chord for six minutes, but the crazier it gets the smaller your audience becomes maybe? There will always be fans of mega extreme music which is great, but as a producer, I want everyone I work with to be as successful as possible. If I hear a little 'something' that could turn a super brutal track into a freak radio hit? I'll suggest looking at making it work. As I said, I don't go crazy with suggestions but it's a producer's job to make the songs as good as possible.

In your opinion, who are some of the most influential music producers in history? And what makes them so influential?
I don't follow many producers as such. I'm too busy concentrating on my work haha. Andy Wallace, though, without a doubt. He's done some unbelievable work with a huge range of clients from Jeff Buckley to Sepultura, etc. Colin Richardson, Russ Russell, and Andy Sneap too. All masters of modern metal!

Tell me about multitrack recording and how this changed the way for music production?
Being able to EQ and manipulate the sound of each input/track opened up a huge opportunity to improve the quality of recordings. Especially then moving up to digital format with no loss of quality with each bounced mix. Total game changer. For me, it introduced a much easier way to build ideas without having to have the whole piece written or even need an entire band! In my early days just learning how to balance frequencies was so much easier being able to solo instruments.

Given that some forms of metal thrive for an under-produced sound and mystery to their music through rough distortion, do you find you are approached by a specific genre of metal more than others? And why do you think this is?
I mostly work with death/groove/thrash metal. Everyone expects a certain standard with those genres of music so I'm kept pretty busy there. I'd LOVE to work with more black metal bands as there aren't that many in my area, unfortunately. I did an album with an electronic black metal band called Denigrata a few years ago. THAT was a challenge but one of my favourite records I've ever worked on. Lots of atmospheres, electronic blast/breakbeats with soprano and wailing screaming vocals!

Technology aside, how have you seen the music production industry evolve over the years? Is it evolving in the right direction?
It's certainly made recording easier, that's for sure! But it's definitely taking a lot of the human element out of the process. A lot of bands don't even bother recording real drums anymore which is bad news for studios and producers in general. The only saving grace is the best producers/engineers will rise to the top and the best bands will want their talents for arrangements and songwriting etc. The main downside, unfortunately, is everything being streamed for free means bands don't have the budget anymore that they can recoup through sales of CDs, etc. It's a vicious circle.

To bands who are considering engaging a music producer, what advice would you give them? What should bands gravitate toward and avoid when finding a good music producer?
Word of mouth is key. Talk to other bands who have worked with the studio/engineer you're interested in. A quick Facebook message will do. If they had a good time there and only have good things to say that's worth its weight in gold! Reputation is earned by being good at what you do and not being an asshole! Also, check out their work online. You can check real quickly if their sound is what you're after, and even if it's not quite your vibe you can still go for a chat and a cup of tea! Take a bunch of CDs with you and see if (after you've pointed out the finer details) it's something achievable at that studio! You never know, you might end up best mates (smile)!!

Lastly, please tell us about your Music Production business Initiate Audio and Media. Where can people find you, social media? Website? etc.
You can find me on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/initiateaudioandmedia, and to check out a little about me and my work go to the official website, https://www.initiateaudioandmedia.com/.
Feel free to drop me a message for any mixing or mastering enquiries. Be great to hear from you guys!
Lastly, I'd like to wish everyone in Australia all the love and luck in the world. Can't begin to imagine what you're all going through right now. Stay safe.

-Kelly Tee

Friday, March 20, 2020

Fiction: "After the Bomb" by M Teresa Clayton

After the Bomb
Fiction by M Teresa Clayton

The city looked like a trash heap for as far as the eye could see. Buildings no longer stood tall and proud, announcing the names of businesses and what had once been representative of the many people who gave the better part of their lives to the success of those companies. No windows to reflect the time of day as the sun made its way from east to west and no doors to welcome customers and clients when they came to call. Bones. Just bones of city life. There were no cries for help, no screams of terror, not a sound came from this landscape.

Where were the birds, the squirrels in the park in the center of this district and, as I stood there taking it all in, what district is this? There was no delineation between townships, there was no way to tell one neighborhood from the others. Bodies lie among the heap of stones but were burned beyond recognition. I couldn’t tell a child from an adult, a black man from a white man, an office worker from the tradesman. There were no fire engines, no ambulances, a few police cars that were barely recognized from the devastation, except for a blue or red light that survived the tumult and demolition.

I stood with two other men, wearing our protective suits and masks. The only sound made was the inhale and exhale of our own breathing through these masks. Three men. We were given our orders to go in and find survivors. We would soon be reporting to our superiors that no one survived. There simply wasn’t anything left of the city. We stood at ground zero and our equipment was resounding with rapid beeps, warning that the environment here was not safe. I wondered where we could go that would be safe?

We had no idea who was responsible for this attack. We had no idea if there was more to come. Where could we go to be safe? 

Each of us began to enter the debris, searching for anything that suggested life existed here. Joe went off to my right and Mike was further away to my left. I was center and in command of this recognizance mission. I heard my superior ask for a report. I tapped my microphone to respond and simply could not find the words. I needed to find the right metaphors for what simply could not be described in ordinary words. There was nothing ordinary here.

“Sir. This is Andrew Suskin reporting, Sir. I am standing approximately a mile within the city limits as I recall them. It’s difficult to explain what I am seeing here, Sir.”

“Can you see if any of the buildings are still standing?” “No, Sir, nothing remains here. I am looking at a boneyard of bricks and mortar and not one person is recognizable, burned, Sir. Burned beyond… I’m sorry, Sir, I cannot find the words. Death is everywhere, and our equipment is screaming at us. The radiation must be incredibly strong here. Do not enter zone three, Sir. I repeat, Do Not Enter Zone Three! I am calling my men back and we will report to base and decontamination. I pray the radiation has not reached us inside of our suits. I have never seen readings like this.

I looked down at my arm. It was shaking nervously, and the suit was black with soot and possibly something else. It seemed to be spreading up my arm, as if it had a mind of its own as if it were alive. “Joe, Mike, return point. We are getting the hell out of here.” I could feel something on my right leg moving. It felt a bit like water, but it was running up my leg at a steady pace.

“Andy, this is Mike here. Joe is down, I am looking at him right now and…” I could hear him gagging and possibly throwing up. “Mike, report what you see.” “Andy, his face is black, he is unconscious and not responding to any stimulation at all. His eyes, Sir…” Again, he choked.

“I’m sorry Sir, his eyes are no longer there. Just holes where they once were and his face is slowly being distorted.” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing but I could still see the black substance moving slowly up the arm of my suit, possibly looking for a way inside. Something was certainly inside my suit where my right leg is.
“Meet me at the point. Now”

“Do we just leave him here, Sir?” “If you think you can drag him with you, then let’s get him back to base. If not, leave him and get yourself back to point before this spreads.

“Sir? Before it spreads?”

“Report back immediately, soldier.”

I ran back to our point of entry, to what once was a bustling city, filled with shoppers, workers, children in the park… now surrounded by a gray mist over everything and a deafening silence inside. Mike came running toward me. I could see the black substance on the front side of is suit.

“Let’s get out of here, get cleansed and try to get this out of our minds.”

“Sir, your arm…”

“I am aware. You have it on the torso of your suit. Let’s get going now. I don’t want to find out what it is. Let the scientists figure it out.” We jumped into our jeep and began our return to base, using the same route we followed on the way in.

I tapped my mic, “Sir, we are about five minutes out and minus one. Joe… well, something attacked Joe and we were unable to remove him from the area.” No one spoke back.

“Sir, Andrew Suskin reporting Sir. Entering the perimeter of base. Come back?” No one responded.

We made it back to base and every man and woman was covered in this tar-like substance that seemed to be burning or consuming them. Some were worse than others, in different phases of decay.

“Mike, let’s get ourselves into decontamination and get out of these suits. I don’t know what is going on here, but we need to get to a safe place.”

Mike nodded in agreement.

We made our way to the decontamination area and hosed off before removing our suits. I took the chemical decontamination and sprayed my arm and leg, as well as Mike’s torso. Whatever this is, it was intelligent enough to find a way in.

“They nuked us. What else was in that bomb?” Mike asked nervously.

I looked at him and hesitated. Truthfully, I had no idea what was happening or how.

“The nuke would have flattened everything for miles and there would be a radiation cloud to be concerned about. This… this is something I’ve never seen or heard about. Perhaps it is a byproduct of the nuke. But, no organism could survive that.”

“Cockroaches”

I had to laugh. But after a short moment of levity, I had to think. What would be able to survive? Or, did the nuke release something? Did the radiation create a new organism that wasn’t expected?

The chemical shower felt good and seemed to stop the movement of the tarry black substance in its tracks. Both Mike and I got dressed in our uniforms and proceeded to assess the situation here at the post. No one had survived. We searched everywhere and everywhere we looked was covered in that living tar.

“Come on, soldier, we are getting out of here. Let’s head for Fort Leonard Wood and give report.”

I put my gun in my holster and put a rifle in my lap. In the back of the jeep, we added an arsenal of weapons in case of attack. Two soldiers would need enough firepower to possibly fight a much larger number of enemy forces.

Mike looked like he was going in front of a firing squad. The fear was shared by this soldier as well. I didn’t know what we would find in central Missouri. The city and outlining townships were no longer recognizable, they were gone, wiped off the map, and there was a new threat… a bi-product that could think and kill.

As we drove past the outlying areas that supported farms with cows and pigs that were empty. The ground was black, there were small black mounds lying everywhere. The thought that it had made its way this far from the drop site was disconcerting at best. Neither of us said anything despite the obvious visual observations being made. We made it to the post. A soldier at the gate screamed at us

“Turn around, get back, keep on driving and don’t turn around!”

I stepped out of the jeep and approached the soldier. “Is it here? How many men have survived? We will go in and get them out. It was at that moment that I became aware of the substance in his mouth. As he yelled out to us, black oily goo was spilling out. I ran back to the jeep. “Turn this jeep around.”

“Where do we go?”

“I don’t know. We’ll just keep driving until we find a place that has not been affected by this.”

“Sir. Your arm. I looked down and saw that the black tar was back. I quickly pulled my pant leg up and it was there as well.

“Mike, stop the jeep.” Mike pulled over and put the jeep in neutral.

“Sir?”

“Pull up your shirt.” Mike was near hysterical seeing the tarry substance on his torso. “What is it going to do to us?”

“I have no idea. I’m going to give something a try and hope it succeeds.” I got out and took the extra can of gas from the back of the jeep. “I’m going to pour some gas on my leg. I need you to light it up.”

“O my god, Sir. Are you sure about this?”

“It’s an order, Mike.”

I poured just enough gas to cover the mass and Mike struck the flint, lighting the liquid. I didn’t feel any burn, but the black tar did. It made a sound like a scream as it burned beneath the gasoline. As soon as I could feel the flame hitting skin, I threw myself on the ground and rolled to put out the fire. We both looked at my leg and there was no evidence of the tar. We did the same to my arm and then, Mike’s torso. There were small areas of burn but for the most part, we were unscathed, and the tar was gone.

“This is the only thing that will work. We have to go back to ground zero and set it on fire and then set everything under tar we see as we move across the country.”

Mike said nothing. He jumped into the driver’s seat and we turned to return to what once was the city of St. Louis.

We stopped at every gas station and rigged the pumps to let the gas flow freely into the streets and surrounding areas. Once out of harm’s way, we threw a few grenades into the mix and watched it explode into flames. It didn’t take long to leave a burning path behind us as we drove from town to town. It seemed we were the only survivors. The flames burned hot and high into the sky. The smoke was blocking out the light of the sun. Having driven for a day and a half, we found ourselves somewhere near the gulf.

I was shocked by what I saw there. Where water should have flowed in waves, a solid layer of black tar lay on top and the blackness went on to the horizon.

“Mike, we haven’t seen anyone alive between St. Louis and here. I imagine the same could be said for every city in every direction and, whatever that is out there, will have covered every waterway, all wildlife, and to kill it, we will have to burn down the rest.”

“What are you suggesting, Sir?” he asked.

“Sooner or later, we will be covered in this substance. If we try to survive, there is no water and no food. We could try the grocery stores for food and water, but I believe we will find those places covered in black, just as we have seen kitchens and restaurants lifeless beneath this alien substance.”

“Are you suggesting…” Mike stopped and looked at me with real fear. I already knew. It had been covering me for hours and had made it up to my neck and lower jaw.

“Are you prepared to die, Mike?” I asked.

Mike pulled his shirt up and looked down in horror. He immediately removed the shirt and saw that his arms were covered, and it was moving, expanding.

“Sir, it doesn’t hurt. I don’t know what it is doing to us, but it is not causing pain. Do you think it will take what it needs and then leave us? Perhaps there are survivors back there. Maybe this will go away, and all those people and animals will be okay. Do you think that is possible?”

I reached down to my belt and unclipped my last grenade. I made sure to do this without Mike’s knowledge. He was hoping for something that I knew could not be.

The tar substance had consumed its victims and everything in its path. There were no bodies to resurrect. There was no plant life to recover and now the water was completely covered in this substance. It was alive. I had no idea how long it could survive after it consumes everything on this planet. I just wanted to put us down humanely and I would try to do this without Mike’s knowledge, saving him any more fear. I pulled the pin and held the grenade in my hand.

“No matter what happens here, Mike, I’m sure that where we are going will be a much better place.” I lifted one arm to hug him close to me as I placed the other hand with the grenade between us. I released the lever.

Earth was no longer a beautiful blue and green orb sitting in the sky. It was now known as the “Black Planet” and no other life form would come near its gravitational pull. Did other life-forms know what had destroyed the planet? Did they know what the black tarry substance was?

The story told in other galaxies was that man and his killing machines had created their own destruction. Other stories told of something hitting the Earth from space and the black substance was an alien life form. No one really knew for sure. No one would ever come close enough to find the answer.

The Galactic Counsels agreed that blowing the planet up could release the substance and put other planets in jeopardy. They considered burning it, but without understanding how the blackness worked and survived, they feared the gases released could be fatal or the ashes would somehow enter the outer areas and again, pose a deadly threat.

So, the Black planet was watched as it stood as a reminder of just how vulnerable life on any planet really is.

Wednesday, March 18, 2020

Split Review: Born Backwards/Shrivel Up "Born Backwards / Shrivel Up - split" (Independent) by Devin Joseph Meaney

Location: Chicago, Illinois
Country: USA
Genre: Goregrind
Band: Shrivel Up
Location: Illinois
Country: USA
Genre: Goregrind
Split: Born Backwards / Shrivel Up - split
Format: Digital (physical format release info TBA)
Label: Independent
Release date: February 23, 2020
I originally wanted to review some black metal, but when I logged on to Youtube, this release popped up in my suggested feed. A split between Born Backwards and Shrivel Up. Before today I never heard of either of these bands, but the whole split is under ten minutes and it is listed as grindcore. Being the genuine grind warrior that I am, I decided that the black metal could be put off until later. I guess it was time to grind? Here we go!
From Born Backwards I guess I was expecting straight grindcore, but this is without question leaning in the goregrind direction. There are deep pitched gutturals alongside ''clean'' screams and gargles. The drums have that glorious ping snare sound that we all know and love, and overall, I really dig this first portion of the split.
When Shrivel Up took over, I was taken back. These recordings are much more punishing and harsh than the Born Backwards tracks. I did enjoy the first portion of the split, but the second half is much more abrasive. The recording quality is messier and less refined, but either way, these tracks were quite enjoyable.
Both of these bands deserve mad respect. So give these tracks a spin, post them to your Facebook, send them to your friends, and do your part to get this split out there. I know I will be doing just that! –Devin Joseph Meaney

Lineup:

Born Backwards
Sean: Guitars, vocals
Max: Drums, vomit

Shrivel Up
Tony: Vocals
Ryan: Guitar, vocals
Dylan: Drums

Track list:
[Born Backwards]
1. Tony Smith Doesn't Like The Smiths
2. Chips and Smegma
3. Hacked for Fun
4. Pestilent Razrez Burzum
5. Angry Amputation
6. Rock n Roll Shitcago
[Shrivel Up]
1. Resin Skeleton
2. An Ode To Big Doinks In Amish
3. Walking Under The Social Ladder & Living To Tell The Tale
4. Life On Halt
5. Progressive Thinkers Do Ethical Bumps


Full Length Review: Azure Emote "The Third Perspective" (Selfmadegod Records) by Dave Wolff

Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Country: USA
Genre: Avant garde death metal
Full length: The Third Perspective
Format: Slipcase CD, digital
Release date: March 6, 2020
It’s been seven years since we last heard new material from the US death metallers Azure Emote, as its members are involved in a legion of other bands. Their third and latest full length “The Third Perspective” shows how colossal, epic music results from years of experience and planning. Is it groundbreaking enough to redefine extreme metal? It’s too early to answer yet, but since it’s been made available to the public it’s been described as “a sonic masterpiece”, “an invigorating acid trip” and “an abstract picture of existential nihilism”. What’s certain is Azure Emote is a band that defies any and every expectation of what a death metal album should sound like. If the progressive ideas of Celtic Frost, Amorphis, Cephalic Carnage and Arcturus challenged your ideas of broad-minded, cutting edge music, Azure Emote will take you to the next level. With guest musicians from Death, Fear Factory, Therion, Deicide, Hate Eternal and others assisting in the recording process, this album achieves sophistication and refinement you may or may not have imagined possible, depending on who you usually listen to. The first track “Loss” makes it clear from the outset that Azure Emote doesn’t specialize in hashing, rehashing and re-rehashing muddled noise and inarticulate vocals. The term “evil has no boundaries” applies as “The Third Perspective” not only thinks outside the box but throws it out the window. Here you get experienced, elaborate death metal enhanced by black metal, prog metal, symphonic metal and more untried ideas than would be expected from an album exhibiting brutality and dexterity with cold, atmospheric, surreal, operatic and futuristic themes. While the guitars and bass are not downtuned as many death metal albums are, the heaviness and depth of this album come from its abundance of different sounds, especially the strings and electronics added in the most inopportune of places. I should add the lyrics are phrased fluently and comprehensibly for all their guttural thunder, and the clean singing meant to complement the gutturals paints a larger picture of what death metal can continue to broaden if a band has the proper vision to broaden it. –Dave Wolff

Lineup:
Mike Hrubovcak: Vocals, flute, maracas, straw, harmonica, keyboards, samples, electronics, drum programming
Ryan Moll: Guitars, bass
Mike Heller: Drums

Track list:
1. Loss
2. Curse Of Life
3. Dark Realms
4. Negative Polarity
5. Three Six Nine
6. Solitary Striving


Sunday, March 15, 2020

Demo Review: Dionysian Rites "Kriegsanleihe" (Nihilistic Noise Propaganda) by Devin Joseph Meaney

Band: Dionysian Rites
Country: US/Australia
Genre: Black/death/doom metal
Demo: Kriegsanleihe
Format: Cassette (limited to 60 copies), digital
Label: Nihilistic Noise Propaganda
Release date: February 19, 2020
I have been reviewing a steady stream of grindcore, gorenoise, and goregrind, but I honestly have been straying away from other genres recently. Due to this, I got it in my head that I wanted to listen to some black metal or something similar. I did not have time to listen to an hour-long full-length, so after some searching, I settled on a demo from the doom metal/war metal band Dionysian Rites. Not exactly what I was searching for, but hell... this demo is twelve minutes long, so it is worth checking out, right?
This demo is titled “Kriegsanleihe” and appears to be quite the volatile (in a good way) blast of doom-laden revelry. Doom metal and “war metal” are not genres that I frequent, so I am at a loss as to what I could compare these tracks to. One band that I notice a similarity with is the band Gravewards, a doom metal band that features my friend Henry Peachey. Either way, the tracks, although slow in comparison to what I am used to, manage to keep my interest peaked throughout the entire listening experience.
All tracks on this seem to be of the top tier variety, but my favorite would need to be the third track “Slaves of Divinity.” This song is a tad more upbeat than the previous two tracks, and speed-wise it is more up my alley. The first vocals on the first track also need mentioning though, as they really suck you into this gruesome release.
This band is from Australia/USA and this is their debut demo. Now that I know this is a debut, I will for sure take the time to check out more of their material as it becomes available. Released on February 2020 (limited cassette format) by Nihilistic Noise Propaganda. This release was great (although out of the ballpark for me personally) and I suggest that fans of this kind of thing give these tracks a spin. –Devin Joseph Meaney

Lineup:
Vardlokker: Vocals
Krigsgaldr: Guitars, bass, drums

Track list:
1. Cerebral Poison
2. War on Angels
3. Slaves of Divinity


Saturday, March 14, 2020

Split Review: Spewtum/Serotonin Leakage "Spewtum / Serotonin Leakage - split" (Independent) by Devin Joseph Meaney

Band: Spewtum
Location: Vermont
Country: USA
Genre: Goregrind
Location: Pennsylvania
Country: USA
Genre: Goregrind
EP: Spewtum / Serotonin Leakage - split
Format: Digital
Label: Independent
Release date: January 20, 2020
CD version to be released on Fuck Your Life Records
I was just waking up and realized I had little to nothing to do for the day. After becoming fully alert, making my bed, and logging on to my computer, I decided I would start the day off with a music review. I quickly loaded up Youtube and within a few minutes, I found my way to a split between Spewtum and Serotonin Leakage. Here we go!
The Spewtum portion of this split seems to be quite a tight little offering of gore. After two listens, I decided that I did, in fact, find Spewtum to be highly enjoyable. The guitar work (I think there is bass too?) is played well, is catchy, on time, and overall goes well with the rest of this portion of the release. The vocals are leaning on gargling/gurgling perfection and the drums (I'm pretty sure it is a machine) are programmed with ferocious intensity. So far, this side of the split is great.
As for Serotonin Leakage, the same amount of intensity that was found with Spewtum is also within the second portion of this release. The musicianship is slightly ''messier'' but this adds to the overall feeling of this split. The vocals are pitched to the depths of hell, and also have that ''watery'' vibe at times that is common amidst other bands in this genre. Again, this split seems to be a winner and I would encourage anyone to give these guys a listen.
As listed in the bio on Youtube, Spewtum is ''by Steve (also in Fentanyl Surprise & Decomposed Birth) From Vermont, since 2017.'' As for Serotonin Leakage, this project is ''Dr. Dank (also in Human Pancake) from Pennsylvania, since the mid-10s.''
Give these tracks a spin! –Devin Joseph Meaney

Lineup:
Spewtum
Steve: Vocals, guitar, bass, drum programming
Serotonin Leakage
Dr. Dank: Vocals, all instruments

Track list:
Spewtum
1. Desiccated Human Head
2. Wandering Spleen
3. Accidental Ingestion of Roundworm Eggs
4. I'm a Gastroenterologist
5. Strangled Then Eaten
6. Unpleasant Hospital
Serotonin Leakage
1. Fentanyl Citrate Rejection I-III


Friday, March 13, 2020

Flash fiction: "The Air That We Breathe" by Devin Joseph Meaney

THE AIR THAT WE BREATHE
Flash fiction by Devin Joseph Meaney

The forests of Tawar provide the air that we breathe. In return, the elvish folk who call this beautiful area home risk their lives to protect the trees, viewing all woodland growths as a sacred gift from the gods.
The mighty oak. The glorious pines. The common yet beloved birch. You give us life and ask nothing in return. What did we do to deserve you?
Aidyn thought hard about this, but the forest offered no response. No voice came upon the wind. There was nothing but silence and the low chirping of crickets in the distance.
I love you, spruce. I adore you, cedar. You are all so perfect! My life and soul are yours to have and to hold. Without you there would be no hope!
Aidyn breathed deeply. As her lungs filled with air, she realized her contemplations had been heard. She could only think of two words in reply.
Thank you!

Thursday, March 12, 2020

EP Review: Pure Wrath "The Forlorn Soldier" (Debemur Morti Productions) by Dave Wolff

Band: Pure Wrath
Location: West Java
Country: Indonesia
Genre: Melancholic black metal
Format: Limited edition 10" vinyl, limited digipack MCD, special edition limited vinyl, digital
Label: Debemur Morti Productions
Release date: March 6, 2020
Cover painting by Aghy Purakusuma
Pure Wrath is a project fronted by the Indonesian songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Januaryo Hardy who has much experience from working with Bloodriven, Cadavoracity, Insolence, Lament, Perverted Dexterity, Urged, Excruciation, and Wept. Since starting Pure Wrath in 2014, he saw it grow from primitive black metal to something far more expressive, meaningful and engrossing.
Hardy’s last two albums “Ascetic Eventide” (2017) and “Sempiternal Wisdom” (2018) and the material he composed for his split with France’s Onirism, “Endless Journey” (2017), in the traditional spirit of black metal, are based on concepts relating to his home country’s cultural history. His new EP “The Forlorn Soldier”, a prelude of sorts to his next album, is his most musically and thematically ambitious work to date. Anyone who takes the time to listen to this EP and its message will come away with much to think about.
Hardy writes and arranges all of Pure Wrath’s material, and while listening you can’t help but distinguish how intensely his conviction shows. He can only express this conviction in the most unclouded way by handling those duties independently. As for how he pulls it off, you’ll find it almost impossible to believe Pure Wrath is a solo project since “The Forlorn Soldier” sounds like it was recorded by a ten-man band and several session musicians. Actually, only two session musicians are working with him, drummer Yurii Kononov and pianist Dice Midyanti. The wall of sound they create is loaded with subtle nuances designed to add fire to the coldness it evokes.
The concept of “The Forlorn Soldier” is based on a series of events that took place in Indonesia from 1965 to 1966, referred to as the Indonesian Communist Purge or Indonesian Politicide. These events were not as publicized as the Vietnam conflict, but nonetheless would have as significant an impact on the Cold War for years. One listener who appreciated this effort recommended watching the documentaries "The Act Of Killing" (2012) and "The Look Of Silence" (2014) to learn more about what happened during that time. As an aside, those documentaries were directed by filmmaker Joshua Oppenheimer whose grandfather escaped the Holocaust.
The three songs on “The Forlorn Soldier” sound like they were written to articulate the pain of the political purges, imprisonments, and massacres of that period, as well as the impact felt in the rest of the world. As a result, they are extremely similar to Norwegian black metal’s depiction of the religious purges in Scandinavia. This EP has the grandiose soundscapes, full-hearted vocals and emotive songwriting it needs to make the realism of those events clear. Adding anguished, grief-stricken piano and guitar interludes makes it a poignant EP that will provoke thought about the inhumanity of those events and the darker side of human nature in general. –Dave Wolff

Lineup:
Januaryo Hardy: Guitars, bass, vocals
Yurii Kononov: Drums
Dice Midyanti: Piano on "When A Great Man Dies"

Track list:
1. When a Great Man Dies
2. Children of the Homeland
3. With Their Names Engraved


Monday, March 9, 2020

Full Length Review: Today Is The Day “No Good to Anyone” (BMG/The End Records) by Dave Wolff

Location: Orland, Maine
Country: USA
Genre: Noise rock, avant-garde metal
Full Length: No Good to Anyone
Format: Digipack CD, vinyl album
Label: BMG/The End Records
Release date: February 29, 2020
Cover art by Jef Whitehead
Since Steve Austin founded Today Is The Day in 1992, he has shattered every rule applicable to underground metal. Over thirty years, eleven albums and many lineup changes, his project has grown from obscurity to a distinctive voice in extreme music, as he has created a synthesis of avant-garde metal, grindcore, noise, alternative, post-hardcore, and psychedelia, flavored with dissonance, presented with developmental production methods. Granted it’s from where psychosis, derangement, and lunacy thrive, but this disconsolate world where people have fallen or been pushed is unveiled via skill and imagination, exhibited as an art form all its own.
As I write this I suddenly recall a lyric from Emperor’s “Cosmic Keys to My Creations and Times”: “What kind of beings are existing at the deeps of my lakes? They surely must be of an evil race, for no friendly thing can live in such depressive waters.” While writing the lyrics, they must have had a glimpse of where Austin was during a six-year period, in a state perhaps best described as “hell on earth,” where only darkness exists and any light that enters is promptly swallowed. Writing was extremely difficult, but music ultimately helped him crawl out, exorcise those demons and lay bare what he experienced in those days of solitude and utter despondency.
If a movie was based on these experiences endured by Austin and many others, it wouldn’t find an audience next to movies full of the blurring computer effects and light-heartedness most people pay to see. There’s little inspirational about this tale, just a sensation of meeting the devil face to face and living to tell of it. “No Good to Anyone” is replete with drastic changes in atmosphere and mood; the feelings of schizophrenia and despair are all that remain constant. At times it’s reflective, at times menacing, at times empty, at times mournful, at times purely insane and reeking of crushing hopelessness. “Not for the faint of heart” really does apply here.
The range in sounds on “No Good to Anyone” is perhaps the most versatile of all the band’s releases. It goes from primal to somber and introspective to mysterious to hypnotic to abrasive to manic. This is what holds your rapt attention all the way through, as you’re unaware where this journey will take you. With songwriting as unorthodox as dissident and heretical as the method by which it was recorded reiterates why Today Is The Day is considered one of metal’s most influential and groundbreaking bands.
With so many emotions emanating from the darker side of human nature, “No Good to Anyone” might be misinterpreted as an exercise in dwelling on traumatic experiences, purposeful stagnation or the “stay pissed off” mindset. “With the way the world is right now,” said Austin, “the first obvious choice was to make most hateful, crazy album possible: 100% full-throttle hate, violence, madness up the ass.” But when all is said and done, he maintains it personifies the struggle between accepting defeat and finding reasons not to. The album personifies mistrust and abhorrence of society’s judgment of one’s private conflict. But this stems from our pursuit of truth, and its true message is to find love within or without or both, no matter how subtly the point is made. –Dave Wolff

Track list:
1. No Good To Anyone
2. Attacked By An Angel
3. Of Man
4. Burn In Hell
5. You’re All Gonna Die
6. Orland
7. Cocobolo
8. Agate
9. Callie
10. OJ Kush
11. Mercy
12. Born In Blood
13. Mexico
14. Rockets And Dreams


Sunday, March 8, 2020

Article: "Changing with the times?" by M Teresa Clayton

Changing with the times?
Article by M Teresa Clayton

Yesterday, Yesteryear, Yester-generation

Remember the days of old; consider the generations long past. Ask your father and he will tell you, your elders, and they will explain to you. - Deuteronomy 32:7

I often think back to more innocent times, the days and years of my childhood. Things were so much simpler then and, in comparison to today, there seemed to be a ‘forever’ in our future.

I look at my children and my grandchildren and wonder what happened. It was less apparent with my children however this world today is frightening, and I worry for my grandchildren.

WAIT! STOP THE PRESSES!

Are things so different?

I’m not talking about technologies and discoveries making things different for kids today. I am talking about our reaction to these new technologies and discoveries.

Okay, stay with me.

I started this article thinking that this generation will never know how simple and innocent life used to be. What I did not expect was hearing the voice of my Grandmother coming out of my mouth.

Oh, how I remember her shaking her finger at me when I entered my teens. The birth-control pill was making a debut and all hell was breaking loose with morals. Or were they?

I did a little research and found that morals were different in this way – no one admitted to having sex, especially the women! Women were the moral compass of the ages. We held innocence in our … hands? Yes, metaphorically speaking. Were men always immoral?

I remember being a child and leaving my house early in the morning, hooking up with friends, running the streets and coming home for meals or when the street-lamp came on.

According to my grandparents, they did chores in the morning, played with their siblings, did more chores, and never spoke to an adult unless spoken to. Were their childhoods better?

I can’t answer that. I can compare some things about those three generations – Grandma and Grandpa, Mom and Dad, and mine.

There were wars to be fought during each generation. Each one had atrocities. WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam.

There were things families did not talk about: abuses, beatings, rape, unwanted pregnancies. Lies were the truths of their day as they are now – in politics, religion, history, science, etc.

Schools haven’t changed much. Elementary schools still teach a fraction of the truth in most subjects. We still teach our children that the Native Americans loved the white man and then became heathens who must be destroyed, and the white man almost succeeded. There is no mention of Tesla. Math is still annoyingly difficult.

I digress.

Let’s look at morals again. Girls still had premarital sex and got pregnant which led to a shot-gun marriage and later, a divorce. Some girls were shipped off and their babies were given up for adoption. Some never were adopted.

There was a raucous nightlife filled with Flappers, Machine Guns, Bank robberies, Alcohol, and drugs, just to name a few rather questionable aspects of my grandparent’s generation.

My parents? Well, there was still premarital sex and the marrying off of those daughters. There were drinks and drugs, risqué nightlife, two-piece bathing suits, calf-high skirt and dress hems, young men drafted to war, and on and on.

Our fathers were having affairs and sometimes our moms and dads partied together with the neighbors at something they called “key-parties” or “swinging”. Hell, we didn’t know, we were happy to be ignored.

My childhood? No one bothered to find out where we went so long as our valium taking and day-drinking mothers were not burdened and our skirt-chasing fathers didn’t concern themselves with.

Yep, my childhood was wonderful! Then we began to grow up and while our parents were getting high, playing drinking games and having sex with the neighbors, we were getting high, drinking Boones Farm and Mad Dog 20/20, and having sex with our boyfriend.

If we got pregnant, we didn’t get married – we had abortions. (Yes, women had abortions in my Grandparent’s day and our Parent’s day, but few survived to tell).

Yes, my generation of boys were drafted. But for the first time, we protested and moved across our northern border to keep from dying in a "military action".

Back to those Elementary School days – does anyone my age remember "drop and cover"? Yep. The bomb. The threat was real. What wasn’t real was the expectation that dropping and covering would save our lives. The radio-active crap that would kill us quickly from the skies, ended up being put into our drinking-water so we would die a slower death.

What about today? Our kids and grandkids drink and have sex, but they can buy protection themselves or we will buy it for them. That IS different. Better?

Our kids and grandkids know how to cook up their own drugs and marijuana is stronger (thank god it stinks, so they don’t smoke as much).

Are there threats to their lives? Well, yes there are. Russia, disease, pollution, anarchy, phobias, gun violence in our streets and in our homes, children being sold for sex, men who buy them (my generation).

Schools are not prepared to teach to their generation and teachers cannot control their students (parents can’t either), our climate is changing at a very fast rate and I am now thinking our grandchildren and their children have no future. (There is my Grandmother’s voice again)

Could it be that we judge the world from our childhood age of cognizance forward, without being able to look at the past before us? It seems that way.

Yes, the world is difficult and scary today. It was also scary for our Grandparents, then our parents, then us and I suspect our children are now approaching an age where life in the future looks bleak. (Could they be headed for an automated brain, and will that make things better?)

I have a sixteen-year-old granddaughter. I wonder how she sees the world today and what she worries about for the future.

Let’s all hope that each generation can navigate their own realities and troubles and create a better world much the way these generations before them did (subjective). So long as mankind is in the mix, it could go either way.

Thursday, March 5, 2020

Full Length Review: Goretrade "Regressive Entities" (Green Revolution Prods) by Jorge A. Trejos

Band: Goretrade
Country: Colombia
Genre: Brutal death metal
Full length: Regressive Entities
Format: CD, limited edition digipack, vinyl album
Release date: July 1, 2019
I've always had a special feeling for GORETRADE, I've been tracking them since their early days of incubation when they were practically a duet integrated by César V. in the string ax and by Grindersson M. over the anti-aircraft batteries. You're not asking me, but I felt like I always knew them. I attended the same high school, I was a neighbor of Andersson (real name of the first drummer), back then, we used to exchange cassettes, I bootleg from him some copies for albums like "Patrons of The Dark" of PARALYSIS or KILLING ADDICTION's Omega Factor. Worthy candidates to keep within my fav albums to spin on a regular basis. The same happened with that record released about seventeen years ago. An unquestionable classic of the Brutal Death Metal underground called Ritual of Flesh (2003), the first full length of GORETRADE; Amazing album, which I play very often because it's so unique in many ways. By the way, I do not know if anybody else has already thought it, but ROF it is clearly a product derived from the lack of opportunities in a country like Colombia. Still, so indifferently mean to the metallic scene and with many other things related to the Rock culture. I say this because GORETRADE (Grindersson and César) dreamed of taking things to another level and emigrating to the north, it was seen as the best way to achieve it. For that reason, they followed in the footsteps of their mentors, the band INTERNAL SUFFERING, who at that time had been devastating the big apple and surrounding areas with their subhuman and occult-Lovecraftian Brutal Death Metal.
GORETRADE once installed and re-grouped in New York, starts to record and edit all the stuff for their seminal debut during September and October. ROF finally hit the streets in late November 2003, under From Beyond Prod's wing (sublabel of the Dutch Displeased Recs). The iconic photo of the band in the New York Metro, printed on the back cover of the CD, announced that the Colombians were destined to provoke a gore tsunami all over the world capital of Slam. And they did it, in their own way. They left a solid and pestilent monolith that is still standing in front of other classic albums of that style like Foretold... Foreseen (1998) by PROPHECY, Prophecies Foretold (1998) by DEHUMANIZED or Molesting The Decapitated (1999) by DEVOURMENT, which is perhaps the most notable aural influence on ROF; who shut down with two re-recorded songs extracted from previous splits with CORPSE FUCKING ART and CARNAL (a band from Armenia/Colombia that subsequently pursued the American dream) where this prodigious and polyrhythmic anthem called "Laceration", a track that deserves a separate chapter, and I do not exaggerate, check those frantic rhythm changes, with syncopes that threaten to smash your spinal cord. Look for those blasting beats a la Grindersson, crushed and grouped into triplets that would make Flo Mounier blush, what a way to finish an album, it's like being shot with a 44 magnum that flashes out of one of the speakers, just to blow you brain on a coup de grace.
In fact, bringing back ROF, serves us as a start to dimension the huge evolution that GORETRADE has had in its two decades of gore traffic. The comparisons, hateful and everything must be made because nowadays, Goretrade's ferocity, rawness, and brutality, exposed in their first releases, lies 6 feet underground. However, over time, some of that same feeling prevails coupled with something called maturity which emerges exclusively from the endurance of being there, giving it all despite the adversities of life, as did Cesar, the only original member present in all different incarnations of the band. I figure losing Grindersson, was hard, but the show never stops because of the soldiers, especially when there are still necks to slaughter and manes to pluck. Cesar has not only been GORETRADE's lead vocalist, guitarist, main composer; he has also served as manager and more recently as producer and boss of the knobs in his own studio Density Soundlab, where he recorded, edited and mixed the entire Regressive Entities album by himself. An album not as crushing or slam as ROF, but still within the brutal territories, only with a more refined approach to sound, more melodic in compositions and more technical in execution.
There is so much to grab since there are fourteen cuts (perhaps a little long) to exhume in about 46 minutes with 33 secs, suitable time to get deaf due to the intensity of the shrapnel. Check out cuts like "Surrounded by Demons" (of which there is a video) or the insane Breakdowns and slam rhythms in cuts like "The Sounds of Mourning", "Archons Domains" and "Falling Down Again". The melodic and unusual solos in “There’s no Heaven” kickass and the mega speed and performance in the last four songs of the album, where drummer Mauro M. reaches the rhythm of a mini-uzi and the intensity of a pneumatic hammer. Another highlight in "Regressive Entities", is the production by Green Revolution Prods (who have been supporting the Colombian metal scene strongly, releasing new or veteran bands and also re-channeling nostalgic records of the Colombians metal discography, through fairly careful editions by the way) on luxury digipack CD, adorned by Carlos Jácome, a cover artist who has been very active in recent times. You know what? I do not want you to continue reading this, better go once and for all for your copy and witness the sound history that synthesizes 20 years of artistic and musical maturity. I strongly recommended this record for fans of DECAPITATED, BEHEMOTH, ORIGIN or DYING FETUS, and of course to all the metal junkies who rejoice about the Southern American cult. –Jorge A. Trejos

Lineup:
César Vera: Guitars, vocals
Julian Gil: Guitars
Jairo Gamboa: Bass
Mauro Mazuera: Drums

Track list:
1. The Origin
2. Surrounded by Demons
3. The Sounds of Mourning
4. While You Pray
5. The Archon's Domain
6. Irreverent Salvation
7. There's No Heaven
8. Only the Blood
9. Falling Down Again
10. Synchronized with Fear
11. Kill Withour Blink
12. Serenity Is Not Included
13. Something Haunt Us
14. The Awareness of Predator