ROT IN HELL x INTEGRITY

Every good record has a story attached to it. Whilst the term infamous may better describe the various production delays, the simple truth is Rot In Hell's collaboration with Integrity has finally seen the light. Yes it took a while, but the wait was beyond worth it.

“Erebus” showcases RIH at its most barbaric, lyrically. The violent snarls of death, plague, and survival accompany that patented brand of metallic hardcore that will please both new and old fans alike. An appearance by Chris Colohan really weaves together a bloody tapestry. I'm may be hyperbolic, but this is what I love. And as an aside, I have to show respect for any track named after a dastardly Games-Workshop character. The second track, “Life Becomes A Desert Around You” strips everything away and gets back to basics, much like the split with Horders (Give Up's project). I love the contrast between the two numbers. It's short and to the point without getting tired or repetitious.

Integrity brings two tracks to the table, “VVaiting For The Sun To Burn Out My Eyes” and “Black Heksen Rise.” These appeared on the recent compilation Thee DestroyORR yet it sounds new. The team up between Dwid and Orr has injected a fresh and exciting shot into Integrity's legacy. Amidst blistering solos and chaotic screams, the beast lurks. When combined with the recent LP Detonate VVorld's Plague, I cannot wait to see what else Integrity has up its sleeve.

The second 7” is an acoustic version of Integrity's first number. It immediately brings to mind Roses Never Fade and goes very well with RIH's acoustic piece. The second track is a noisy barrage with haunting vocals. It isn't like Vermapyre's style of abrasive metal, but something that could be in Boyd Rice's back catalog. The final track is an extension of the previous one. The word that comes to mind is ominous. The howling wind and what sounds to be ringing church bells add to the atmosphere. It's experimental and dangerous.

The packaging is top notch; a book is inside the gate fold sleeve, containing brand new artwork from Dwid. The colours are stark and shadowy, giving it a very cool noir feel whilst retaining all the barbarianism and magic.

The Wolves are certainly at the door...

ANNE - DREAM PUNX

I would be a complete liar if I said I could accurately describe Anne's newest record, Dream Punx. At times the listener is treated to poppy – almost catchy – moments not unlike some early 1990s alternative acts. Other moments paint melancholic passages, both haunting and ominous. Gathering together the group's early work – and some unreleased material – Dream Punx is certainly an interesting listen.

When one mentions A389, the mind immediately thinks of the darkest of punk bands and all out metallic hardcore assaults so it was definitely a surprise to hear Anne on the newest sampler. It was a refreshing sound though. The record starts off with “All Your Time”, a solid opener and a precursor to what the album has in store. The vocals have a dream like quality – like a voice in the back of your mind type deal. “Virginal Plight” is the stand-out track for me. It sounds innocent but I can't shake the feeling something darker lays in wait. Overall the record has another nine tracks, taken from demos and previous releases. Whilst I'm not completely blown away, this is a welcomed respite from frantic punk and bludgeoning doom.

Dream Punx is streaming on Brooklyn Vegan, so give it a listen and if you like it, A389 has it in two forms: digital and vinyl.

ENFORCERS - END OF TIME

Enforcers take the best elements of later era Cro-Mags (NYHC in general) and early Integrity to weave together their debut LP, End Of Time. The album starts off slowly, featuring what sounds to be howling wind until the drums kick in. Then the fun begins. The guitar sounds disgustingly good and I get a definite CM vibe when the vocals start up. The lyrics aren't groundbreaking, but their simplicity rings true and honest. “End Of Time” once again starts off slowly but then pummels you. It certainly gets the blood boiling. Riffs and solos run rampant.

“All I Am” immediately grabs the listener and without a hint of respite, beats them with a metallic hardcore assault. At times the song seems to drag but as soon as the solos kicked in, I was reeled back in. It's an enjoyable track, but a tad too long. The only aspect I didn't care for was the noisy outros to seemingly every track. It hurt the album's pace and in spots seems out of place.

“Black Sheep” keeps the pedal to the metal with a very cool Integrity-esque sound. Like “All I Am” I have to question the length except in this case, I would've preferred this track to be longer. Minor gripe aside, this is savage in all the right spots. “Grievance” deals with the usual topics of hate and revenge, but the vocals really stand out. They're clear and pained without sounding whiny or cliched.

The album's closer, “The End Is Here” is an interesting number. In a strange way, I'm reminded of Rollins' Band – perhaps with a little less blues influence. The lyrics are easily digestible and I like the message “I see the world for what it is.” Is it revolutionary? No, but it's well done hardcore with clear nods to what influenced them. And cool solos to boot.

Aside from my dislike of the outros, Enforcers' debut is definitely solid and I'm looking forward to their next release.

PULLING TEETH CALLS IT A DAY

Baltimore's PULLING TEETH have officially announced that their appearance at the upcoming A389 Anniversary Bash will be the band's final performance.

Formed in 2005, PULLING TEETH's prolific career saw several releases and collaborations, followed by countless shows throughout the world.

The band's statement on the matter was brief:
'As a band we have accomplished everything that we have set out to do. Life is short.  It's time to move on and do other things.'

Other things may or may not include affiliated sideprojects such as Hatewaves, Kill Life, Old Lines, Invititational, Pala, Virgin Witch and a rumored member merge with Tupelo, Mississippi's Seraphim.  There are also the record labels A389, Firestarter and Toxic Pop Records, which are all operated by PT members.

Last but not least, the Charm City Art Space.  A D.I.Y. venue in Baltimore, MD founded and operated in part, by PT personnel.

Life does indeed go on.

PULLING TEETH's final performance will be on January 21, 2012 at The Sonar Compound (Baltimore, MD) as part of the A389 VIII Anniversary Bash. 

Also performing will be:
Eyehategod, Integrity, Gehenna, Starkweather, Weekend Nachos, Seven Sisters of Sleep, Pick Your Side (Ex-Haymaker/Fuck The Facts), Junior Bruce (Ex-Bloodlet), Full Of Hell, Low Places, Young And In The Way, Homewrecker, Hatewaves, Triac & Eddie Brock.

Tickets and information can be found at:
www.sonarbaltimore.com

PALE CREATION - TWILIGHT HAUNT

Pale Creation released Twilight Haunt in 1999 on CD, but thanks to A389 these tracks will be on vinyl for the first time. They - being PC - are one of the most important bands that you've never heard of. Whether you're a life long fan or someone who has never heard a single note, sit back and let Twilight Haunt take you for a long, strange ride.

Rather than immediately assaulting the listener, Twilight Haunt starts off slowly, inviting you in with some eerie sound effects. It isn't bothersome or too much yet helps the track build and build until reaching a breaking point as "Bleed The Soil" begins. The mood is switched from haunting to righteous riffs and Nick Fiction's signature snarls. The production is nice and crunchy which just adds to the echoing vocals. And did I mention the riffs? There's plenty of those.

"Nightburned" is another track that takes a while to build. An ominous instrumental section dominates much of the first minute but the brusque approach from "Bleed The Soil" seeps in. Just when you're brain is just about fried, the noise and effects take over and closes out "Nightburned". "Rage Contained" makes me you want to headbang and consume copious amounts of alcohol - at least in my case. I love the driving beat and all the layers. Like Starkweather, this brings a very technical approach without getting too chaotic and busy.

"Desperate Calm" continues down this path; gnarly vocals, haunting guitar sections, and punishing drums. "Trade A Soul" keeps the album moving forward with another solid number that has both fast and slow moments. The title track is one of my favorite PC songs - perhaps because it was the first one I heard. In any case, if you enjoyed the first half of the album, you'll dig the next handful ("Heal" and "Grief" respectively). But the gems on Twilight Haunt are the last two tracks.

"Soundtrack For The Dreamscape" sets a tense scene, sending the listener down a dark road. PC paints a vivid picture with sound just as much as they do with lyrics. While it's on the long side, there are no dull moments. I love this one.

"Procession", the closer, starts off with more effects and sets a very unsettling foundation.. It has a definite Boyd Rice feel, which is always an interesting turn. As much as I love riffs and perfected metal, this is why I love Pale Creation. They aren't afraid to hold back and can create beautiful pieces of music that transcends boundaries and genre tags. They create Art.

Do as I do and accept their gift of Art.

KICKBACK - ET LE DIABLE RIT AVEC NOUS

Sometimes an album comes out that you immediately fall in love with and most recently that for me was Kickback's newest offering, "Et  Le Diable Rit Avec Nous." I won't pretend to be a life long Kickback fan, in fact my first exposure to the band was when Stephen did guest vocals on Blind To Faith's split with the Infamous Gehenna. Never before did I hear vocals like that and it was something that drove me to track down the band's discography. After devouring their back catalog, news trickled in regarding a new album. Enough story telling, let's talk about the actual music.

The record starts with "Sorption", which sends the listener right into the fray without warning. A chaotic sound-scape is created before the signature high pitched screams dominate. Off a simplistic first impression, the production and style definitely brings to mind Kickback's previous album "No Surrender" but this isn't just a companion piece. No, this is a violent, vicious beast out for blood. "Triumph And Disgust" has a great intro and some even better guitar work. These are a group of very talented musicians and for my money they may be one of the best around. To compare them to another group is hard, but the layering, unique vocals, and overt metal influences remind me of Starkweather - although not in the finished product. There's malice in even the simplest of notes, which is so hard to find.

One of the stand out tracks is "Cavalcare La Tigre." The chaotic guitar work is reminiscent of Converge yet distinctly Kickback. The sound is just immense. Around the one minute mark things move at a crawl like pace, just making your blood boil before the intensity reaches an almost undescribable level. "Le Chant Du Diable" starts off with ominous chanting, which continues throughout the track. It's an unsettling effect, one that is used very interstingly. "We Prowl, They Crawl" despite being a great track name continues pushing the sound and ultimately the record forward, leading into "Weltanshauung", an instrumental segue into the two part number titled "Stained."

The pace, violence, and sheer brutality reaches a near breaking point, but we're treated to something special. I love how the track ends. Now, comes the unexpected. Soon after hearing Kickback had a new album in the works, certain parties teased about some cool covers. It wasn't until after the album dropped that I heard there was a Geto Boys cover. Hardcore/metal groups covering hip hop sounds like it would be a bad idea but I think their version of "Mind Of A Lunatic" is just as deranged as the original. Amidst wailing guitars, there's a great beat. To top it off, Mike Apocalypse provides some guest vocals that are fucking gnarly.

"Et  Le Diable Rit Avec Nous" closes with a Brainbombs cover of "It's A Burning Hell." While I'm not too familiar with the original number, I like this track. The vocals have a cool echo to them that isn't like anything else on the album.

While it was an expensive purchase, I cannot wait to give this one a proper spin because without a shadow of a doubt, this fits quite easily into the year's top 5 albums. Let Kickback be the soundtrack to any nefarious and barbaric activites.