It's only February and the worst album cover of 2011 is already here

1996 called.

They want their fonts back, their color scheme back, their skeletons back, their shading back, and their lack of imagination back.

In regards to the music contained within said album cover, the dump called. They want more dump.

Songs That Get My Juices Flowing #104

(mp3) Audioslave - Seven nation army (White Stripes cover)
Live at the Hultsfred Festival (2003)

(mp3) Metallica - Fight fire with fire
Available on Ride The Lightning (1984)

(mp3) Black Sabbath - Juniors eyes
Available on Never Say Die (1978)

(mp3) Crust - Basura
Available on Food Eater (1997)

(mp3) Anaal Nathrakh - Oil upon the sores of lepers
Available on In The Constellation Of The Black Widow (2009)

The Friday MP3 Shuffle #103

Hello. I brought twelve of my friends, they want to spice up your weekend with brutal fucking metal.

And the Academy Awards are this Sunday. I don't wish for a particular movie/actor/writer/costume designer/sound editor/whatever to win because award shows don't matter anyway, but let's just say that if Inception, Black Swan and True Grit win stuff, I won't mind.

But both you and I know that Exit Through The Gift Shop was by far the best movie of 2010. Right? Whether it really belongs in the documentary category or not is anyone's guess, but either way it pwned hard.

(zip) MP3 Shuffle #103 (61 mb)

1. 1349 - Sculptor of flesh (2005)
2. Bloodbath - Mock the cross (2008)
3. Napalm Death - On the brink of extinction (2009)
4. Dismember - The hills have eyes (2008)
5. Crucifyre - Born against satanist (2010)
6. Slayer - Dittohead (1994)
7. Entombed - Contempt (1993)
8. Bolt Thrower - Spearhead (1993)
9. Magrudergrind - Bridge burner (2009)
10. Car Bomb - Cellophane stilleto (2007)
11. Driller Killer - When the innocent die (2005)
12. Black Breath - Wewhocannotbenamed (2010)

Pay for your music, raggarsvin.

Speaking of Exit Through The Gift Shop, here's a nice video of Mr Brainwash himself (?) being interviewed by some bored hipster chick who'd much rather be flashing her minge in an American Apparel advert than talking to a hairy Frenchman:

Andrew W.K. > you

Andrew W.K. is officially the raddest dude on the planet.

Over the last decade he's given us the ultimate party album (I Get Wet), one really good album (The Wolf), one masterpiece (Close Calls With Brick Walls), two fun Japanese albums (Gundam Rock, The Japan Covers) and a really confusing one (55 Cadillac).

Then there's the Andy Kaufman-ish antics regarding who the fucking guy really is. Is he Andrew W.K.? Is he Steev Mike? Is he neither? Is he just a product of a cynical record label? Or is he a total badass who just likes to fuck with your head?

I'd totally do him.

(mp3) Andrew W.K. - Girls own love
Available on I Get Wet (2001)

(mp3) Andrew W.K. - Never let down
Available on The Wolf (2003)

(mp3) Andrew W.K. - I came for you
Available on Close Calls With Brick Walls (2006)

(mp3) Andrew W.K. - Runner (Bakufu-Slump cover)
Available on The Japan Covers (2008)

(mp3) Andrew W.K. - Star children
Available on Gundam Rock (2009)

(mp3) Andrew W.K. - Car nightmare
Available on 55 Cadillac (2009)

Songs That Get My Juices Flowing #103

(mp3) Monster Magnet - Murder
Available on S/t (ep, 1990)

(mp3) Pelican - GW
Available on Australasia (2003)

(mp3) Accept - Midnight highway
Available on Breaker (1981)

(mp3) Beaten Back To Pure - Syphilis
Available on Last Refuge Of The Sons Of Bitches (2002)

(mp3) Social Distortion - King of fools
Available on Somewhere Between Heaven And Hell (1992)

The Friday MP3 Shuffle #102

On this week's mix we welcome Ryan Adams, Rentokiller, Trapdoor Fucking Exit and Big'n to the Metal Bastard fold. It's the first time they're appearing on a Friday mix, so be nice. They're excited and very nervous.

And now a bedtime story:

Once upon a time there was a band called Damad. After they broke up around the turn of the millennium they split into two new bands - one was called Kylesa and the other one was called Karst. One ascended to stardom in sludge heaven, the other was destined for a life of perpetual obscurity.

The moral of the story is: life is unfair so don't hope for too much.

The end.

Not the best story in the world, but I never claimed to be James Joyce, did I? I tried to squeeze a Damad track into this mix, but I couldn't make it fit. They were featured on Friday mix #86 though, so go check that out. They were a great band.

Meatjack also has Kylesa connections. FYI.

(zip) MP3 Shuffle #102 (62 mb)

1. Kylesa - To walk alone (2009)
2. Ryan Adams - Defenders of the galaxy (2010)
3. Slut Sister - Teenage pussy (2007)
4. Rentokiller - Stop beating around the bush (2004)
5. Meatjack - Sleep (2003)
6. Trapdoor Fucking Exit - Gratitude to gravity (2006)
7. Shellac - Steady as she goes (2007)
8. Big'n - Cuss (1996)
9. His Hero Is Gone - Headless/heartless (1997)
10. Fucked Up - Colour removal (2006)
11. Karst - Selfstruck (2003)
12. Botch - Man the ramparts (2000)

Pay for your music.

Today Is The Day galore (part 1 of 2)

There was a time when I thought God Bullies was the scariest and most deranged band in the world. Then I discovered Today Is The Day.

I'd heard many a metal band sing about serial killers, but when I heard Today Is The Day's self-titled 3rd album from 1996, it felt like I was hearing metal music made by actual serial killers. This is the kind of music Henry and Ottis would write.

Whether they do the AmRep style noise rock of Supernova (1993) or Willpower (1994), the techy math-metalish melee of In The Eyes Of God (1999), the aptly titled Sadness Will Prevail (2002), the near grindcore of Kiss The Pig (2004), or their slower, weirder psychedelic stuff they have always sounded instantly recognisable. One of few bands to truly have a sound of their own.

Members of Mastodon, Crisis, Hate Eternal, Anal Cunt etc have all collaborated with the band over the years and while they've all made their mark in different ways, in the end the psychotic mind of singer, guitarist, frontman, main songwriter and only permanent member Steve Austin always wins. Everything is filtered through his disturbing brain and what comes out the other end is never pretty.

Pointless side note: Christian singer Lincoln Brewster has an album called Today Is The Day. I find that amusing.

But anyway.

You know that line from Tenacious D: The Pick of Destiny? The one about the band being ready to "cum in your ear-pussies"? Listening to Today Is The Day is a bit like that, like being fucked in the head. Literally. Right after they've drilled a hole in your cranium.

You can try all day to convince me that Mr Austin doesn't have a jar of vaginas in his kitchen or has never recorded his albums wearing a jumpsuit made of his grandmother's skin, but I'd never believe you.

Music to dissect roadkill and watch rape porn to.

(zip) Today Is The Day Mix #1 (71 mb)

1. Kai piranha (1996)
2. In the eyes of god (live, 1999)
3. Argali (1999)
4. Total restistance (2007)
5. Rise (1993)
6. Bee's wax and star wars (2004)
7. Face after the shot (2002)
8. Himself (1999)
9. I love my woman (1996)
10. Blindspot (acoustic version, 1999)
11. Dot matrix (1996)
12. The nailing (2002)
13. Many happy returns (1994)
14. My life with you (1997)
15. Honor (1999)
16. Invincible (2002)

Buy all things Today Is The Day, chulo.

Foo Fighters release their best songs in 16 years

Thanks, guys. It was about fucking time, I was starting to lose all faith in you.

Bonus points for the video's classy VHS look.



Further reading on the matter.

Another new Haunted track

Another track from The Haunted's upcoming album Unseen has surfaced - Disappear was played on an Australian radio show yesterday.



It sounds very little like The Haunted we know and I like it a whole better than that other song. Sounds like they've stepped away from the thrash once and for all.

Good riddance. It's the most boring metal subgenre imaginable and has only spawned about five good bands, and that's being generous. Fuck thrash.

Some samples from Unseen here.

Songs That Get My Juices Flowing #102

(mp3) Lungfish - Indivisible
Available on Indivisible (1997)

(mp3) Black Flag - The bars
Available on Slip It In (1984)

(mp3) Witchfinder General - Burning a sinner
Available on Death Penalty (1982)

(mp3) Entombed - Morbid devourment
Available on Left Hand Path (1990)

(mp3) Nine Inch Nails - The great below
Available on The Fragile (1999)

Shit I enjoyed last year (Part 7)

I just realised I hadn't finished my series of the best 2010 had to offer, so here's another batch. All great, but I'd especially recommend The Gaslight Anthem, Coliseum, Tid and Catacombe. World class stuff.

The previous installments (minus part 4 which Blogger deleted) can be found here:

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 5
Part 6

(mp3) Ättestupa - Den sista tiden
Available on Begraven Mot Norr

(mp3) Agalloch - The watcher's monolith
Available on Marrow Of The Spirit

(mp3) Catacombe - Anna-Liisa
Available on Kinetic

(mp3) Terzij De Horde - The roots of doomsday anxiety
Available on A Rage Of Rapture Against The Dying Of The Light

(mp3) The Gaslight Anthem - Bring it on
Available on American Slang

(mp3) Coliseum - Punk/Money
Available on House With A Curse

(mp3) Tid - Lucid sanndröm
Available on Giv Akt

(mp3) Ludicra - Clean white void
Available on The Tenant

(mp3) Motorpsycho - W.B.A.T.
Available on Heavy Metal Fruit

(mp3) Sailors With Wax Wings - God fashioned the ship of the world carefully
Available on S/t

The Friday MP3 Shuffle #101

This mix I started working on almost a month ago, and I've been fine tuning it ever since. Changing tracks, moving things around.

And now it is perfect.

Perfect.

(mp3) MP3 Shuffle #101 (62 mb)

1. Sonic Ritual - Early graves (2010)
2. Breach - Path of conscience (1999)
3. Cosmic Psychos - The man who drank too much (1995)
4. City - Angry patrol (2010)
5. Misfits - Some kinda hate (1978)
6. Queens of the Stone Age - Skin on skin (2005)
7. Butthole Surfers - Dancing fool (1993)
8. Motörhead - Waiting for the snake (2010)
9. Kyuss - The odyssey (1994)
10. The Dwarves - Insect whore (1990)
11. Ratos De Porão - Spräckta snutskallar (Shitlickers cover, 1995)
12. Poison Idea - Black stab gospel (1990)
13. Haust - I don't know Jack (2010)
14. Entombed - The day, the earth (1998)
15. Astroqueen - Lua vermelha (2001)

Pay for your music, knallhat.

Audioslave - "S/t" (2002)

I bought this album back in 2002, on the same day I thought I had a deadly heart condition. Long and boring story, every week I think I have some deadly illness.

For example, right now I'm pretty sure my liver is on its last legs. This might be the last you ever hear from me. Or maybe it's my appendix that's aching? Wait, they're not on the same side of the stomach, are they? If so, they might be working as a team. Say a prayer for me.

It's probably the liver, as I've been drinking since noon. Not enough drunken posting on this blog these days. Kiss me, Mr Bacardi. You animal.

So then, Audioslave. You sort of expected to hear Rage Against The Machine with Chris Cornell singing on top of it, and you were right. The result sounded alarmingly like Led Zeppelin. Minus the blues of course, Tom Morello couldn't play the blues if his dusty broom depended on it. See what I did there?

Cochise, Set It Off and Gasoline aren't bad, but hardly interesting as they rely a bit too heavily on the old Rage Against The Machine template with chunky Zeppelin-ish riffs and Tom Morello's retarded bleepy & bloppy R2-D2 solos. It just feels like they could've thought of something more original, is all.

Where the album really shines is where they step away from the RATM template and create something of their own, like the funky verses of Exploder, the aptly titled Hypnotize, or any of the softer pieces that wouldn't sound out of place on Soundgarden's Down On The Upside.

But at the time I can't help but fucking love songs like Show Me How To Live and Bring 'Em Back Alive, which also sound like little more than RATM songs with Cornell wailing on top of 'em.

Gah! So conflicted!

I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that The Last Remaining Light is as good as anything Cornell has ever recorded. It's right up there with Euphoria Morning, Badmotorfinger and the Temple Of The Dog record.

They almost make me forget Audioslave's shockingly dull and toothless follow up album Out Of Exile (which contained exactly one good song) and their dire swan song Revelations (which of course contained no good songs).

They cannot however quite make me forget the cringe-worthy experience of seeing and hearing Cornell struggle his way through Rage Against The Machine numbers like Killing In The Name or that Timbaland thing (what the hell was that?).

But they're at least good enough to make me forgive him for it. Almost.

As much flack as Audioslave has gotten, a fair share of it came from yours truly, I can't deny that this is overall a great record. It may have three or four songs too many and it may have been the only worthwhile thing they ever released, but it's a damn fine piece of classic rock.

(mp3) Audioslave - Bring 'em back alive
(mp3) Audioslave - Getaway car
(mp3) Audioslave - The last remaining light (recommended!)

Buy it @ Amazon.com

I hate kids but I want to adopt this one

Amazing.

Songs That Get My Juices Flowing #101

(mp3) Sleep - Sonic titan (live)
Available on Dopesmoker (2003)

(mp3) Soulfly - Son song (feat. Sean Lennon)
Available on Primitive (2000)

(mp3) At The Drive-In - Lopsided
Available on In/Casino/Out (1998)

(mp3) Shining - 21st century schizoid man (King Crimson cover)
Available on Blackjazz (2010)

(mp3) Andrew W.K. - The moving room
Available on Close Calls With Brick Walls (2006)

The Friday MP3 Shuffle #100

Alright, fuckers, raise your glasses.

Here's to another hundred. Cheers!

(zip) MP3 Shuffle #100 (42 mb)

1. Annihilation Time - Thanks anyway (2005)
2. D.S.-13 - Degenerated generation (1997)
3. Pachinko - Johnson dropped the hash (1994)
4. Arson Anthem - Year of the fork (2008)
5. Saturnalia Temple - Mount Meru is tall (2008)
6. Sonic Ritual - (Don't wanna) feel alright (2009)
7. Black Flag - Best one yet (1986)
8. Dead Kennedys - When ya get drafted (1981)
9. Young Wasteners - Ecuador (2002)
10. The Thrown Ups - Eat my dump (1988)
11. Discharge - Ain't no feeble bastard (1981)
12. Spazm 151 - Frozen world (2001)

Pay for your music, klantarsel.

Farts. He just farts.

Another classic gem from XFM's The Ricky Gervais Show

Karl Pilkington recalls a horrifying experience in the men's room of the Sony Awards 2003, which soon transitions into the lack of farting in his family.

Stunning.

By the way, you're watching the second season of The Ricky Gervais Show on HBO and the first season if An Idiot Abroad on Discovery Science, aren't you?

(mp3) RSK - Toiletry issues
Original air date May 10th 2003.

Cobolt - "Eleven Storey Soul Departure" (1997)

Now how's this for an obscure, overlooked gem?

Cobolt was formed in Umeå, Sweden in 1996 and featured several members of the sprawling northcore scene, including Refused bassist Magnus Björklund, here as singer, guitarist and main songwriter.

There were also some members from Blithe, another band lost in the hazy shadows of time, never to be found again. They had a cool song called I Guess Yes, check it out.

Eleven Storey Soul Departure was their debut album, one they were never able to top, although 1998's Spirit On Parole came really close. I've seen Cobolt being described as both "sadcore" and "slowcore", but with music this sad and slow you gotta wonder why you'd even bother with the "core" part.

They had a sound not a million miles away from fellow northeners Fireside's calmer moments. Perhaps a bit of Slint, Chokebore and Red House Painters in there as well? Yeah, maybe a little. And somehow I can't help but hear a certain kinship with current Swedish bands, such as Khoma and Logh. Maybe even Kent. Emotional without turning into emo, melancholic without getting depressing.

Songs moving at a glacier pace with only the occasional outburst of distortion, and often performed in such a restrained manner you'd almost think they were recording it at home and didn't want to bother the neighbours.

Vocals so hushed you'd think Björklund recorded them in the middle of the night, terrified of waking anyone up. But with lyrics like "I want to dive into your ocean", perhaps it was not such a bad idea to keep them low in the mix. Although the song with that particular corny line is a cover, so I can't fault them for that.

I used to have this on repeat for years back in high school. Found it in a dusty old box the other week and to my suprise it still held up. Most certainly a forgotten masterpiece.

If you're ever in the mood for feeling sorry for yourself and going for a long walk in the rain, make sure this is in your headphones.

(mp3) Cobolt - Symbols and signs (recommended)
(mp3) Cobolt - Here comes the rain again
(mp3) Cobolt - Words into nothing

Buy it.

The video for Symbols And Signs: