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Underground > Radio & Music >

Rock-Ist?

  
 
The Falcon
13:58 / 08.10.03
Hey - I'd like a hand.

I'm getting right back into my avant-garde metal type stuff, or gear that's close enough - like Touch & Go Records.

I'm looking for stuff in the vein of Tomahawk, Tool, Shudder to Think, Girls Against Boys (pre-'freak*on*ica', thanks.)

Suggestions, chums?
 
 
tesseract
16:20 / 08.10.03
The Melvins.

You can begin with Ozma/Gluey Porch Treatments, Stoner Witch, or Hostile Ambient Takeover.

They are a big influence on some of your mentioned bands for good reason. There are some crossover elements also; Member of Tomahawk from Melvins, Member of Patton's Fantomas(also recommended) from Melvins, Tool repeatedly plays with Melvins.

They have an everchanging, hard, layered, and complex quality that improves with listenings.

:rct
 
 
rizla mission
19:21 / 08.10.03
Shout out to the rockist massive!

When I think "proper hard rocking tunes!", I'm inclined to go more for the garage-punk or stoner rock end of the market, but in terms of the avant garde metal / generally loud, nasty, dark, challenging stuff, here are some suggestions:

Assuming your not put off by yer actual no holds barred METAL-metal, I can highly recommend getting a copy of a bargain price double CD Relapsed Records sampler called 'Contaminated 5.0' - a fantastic selection of various kinds of extremely heavy-ass music, some of it pretty forward thinking and crazy, some of it rather, um, not so. For the equivalent of about £5 in British money.
Dillinger Escape Plan, Mastodon, Nile, High on Fire, Agoraphobic Nosebleed, Bongzilla, Employer/Employee and Dysrhythmia are but a few of the highlights.

I've also got to plug Melt Banana's new one "Cellscape", which I think currently stands unchallenged as the absolute defining headfuck genius mentalist pop dancing noise explosion of 2003.

what else..hmm..

I don't think there's a better example of 'avant garde' metal around than Nile. They just kick ass on all fronts - thunderous, headbanging death metal goodness that's also seriously atmospheric and scary and unconventional. All their songs are inspired by the darker regions of ancient Egyptian / Assyrian history and lots of their lyrics are adapted directly from ancient magical texts and so on. It takes a pretty remarkable band to carry that off without coming across as pompous or comedic or over the top, especially considering the way they manage to make genuinely strange and powerful music at the same time as being a real rockin' death metal band..

You have heard At The Drive-In's "Relationship of Command", right?
Cos (imho) it's gotta rank among the classic rock records of all time, and it fits your description quite nicely..

How about Converge? Just unbelievably intense, crushing hate-fueled "metal-core". I copied an album by them and I've only played it once or twice.. it's like having an angry bald man jump out of your speakers and start beating your head in with a cello.. in a good way.

Or hey, what about the Blood Brothers? They're pretty good.. they sound like what might have happened if ATDI were really into Prince.. jerky stop-start superfast hardcore and high-pitched dueling funk/soul vocals.. it's just utterly obscene-sounding..
 
 
I'm Rick Jones, bitch
19:28 / 08.10.03
Relationship of Command is some hot stuff.

You also want "Mono" By the Icarus Line. Buy this yesterday.

"Million Dead" are pretty good too.

Might be worth your time tracking down "Aurora Avenue" by Solanoid, a great alt/pop/angst/grunge tunefest.
 
 
rizla mission
20:21 / 08.10.03
You also want "Mono" By the Icarus Line. Buy this yesterday.

Hell yeah! They're bloody brilliant!
 
 
Seth
20:53 / 08.10.03
Ditto the recommendations for Melt Banana, Blood Brothers and ATDI.

I'd seriously advise you find a copy of The Shape of Punk to Come by Refused. It fucking rocks, has loads of ideas. If you've heard about the International Noise Conspiracy connection you needn't worry - these guys the the shit, they're totally different and a far better band in every respect. Much shouty hardcore goodness, with some brilliantly stylised riffing.

Here's a shoutout to Drowningman, too. Much missed. Rock and Roll Killing Machine is the one to get.
 
 
Murray Hamhandler
21:44 / 08.10.03
Go to the Skin Graft website. They have at least one mp3 up for every artist on their label. They "rock" and they are "out there" and their music is, overall, "the most fun you can have w/o touching yourself". Arab On Radar, U.S. Maple (the first two albums), Th' Flying Luttenbachers, Lake of Dracula, etc. How can you go wrong?

Answer: You can't.
 
 
Math is for suckers!
22:15 / 08.10.03
The Locust. Without a doubt the most spastic blend of synths, insane guitar gymnastics, and blinding blast beats ever put on vinyl and cd. Also Racebannon are fantastic if youre into Capt. Beefheart on steroids. If youre into bizarre psychadelic black metal from Japan Sigh are the way to go. Alchemist are a pretty cool psychadelic heavy metal band from Australia, kind like Pink Floyd meets High on Fire. Yakuza are a pretty badass jazz fueled metal core with a lead singer/saxaphone player.
 
 
Char Aina
23:17 / 08.10.03
definitely get the refused album.

DEFINITELELYDEFINITELELYDEFINITELELYDEFINITELELY.

and try not to get their other stuff by accident, its kinda lame.
 
 
STOATIE LIEKS CHOCOLATE MILK
01:01 / 09.10.03
I'm assuming that since you mentioned Tool, you've checked out both A Perfect Circle albums. Contemplative, for the most part, but when they rock, boy do they rock.

When I want my rock fix, I turn to Monster Magnet. They rock with their big hairy balls out.
 
 
STOATIE LIEKS CHOCOLATE MILK
01:02 / 09.10.03
Oh, and Nile, in a more black metally kind of way. Nile're cool.
 
 
De Selby
01:26 / 09.10.03
Ok, go out and buy

Kyuss - Blues for the Red Sun

then come back when your ears have stopped bleeding

(In fact, you've inspired me. I'm gonna go listen to that now!)
 
 
The Falcon
04:23 / 09.10.03
'S funny, my mate recommended The Locust to me just yesterday; checked out 'Inbred America'. Yes.

Have heard a lot of the recommendations here, and am probably going to see the Ruins next week. Nile and Yakuza sound like something good, for sure.

Have to say, Radiator, the At The Drive-In album is pretty sparky, but ultimately too much of a collage of Fugazi/RATM for my tastes.
 
 
Cop Killer
05:33 / 09.10.03
The Jesus Lizard and Big Black, my two favorite Chicago bands right now. Both just fucking rule and hit hard, sonically speaking. Awesomeness on all fronts, both on Touch & Go, so you probably are familiar with both, but still, they're both awesome and hard as nails.
 
 
I'm Rick Jones, bitch
09:46 / 09.10.03
Oh man, I just think you killed ATD-I for me, dude. Can't stand Rage these days...

Avoid Sparta. At least try The Mars Volta's album. I like what I have heard of CKY lots too.

Hear lots of good things about SHAT, althought I havent heard them personaly.

Buddyhead.com are selling off the last batch of "Red and Black Attack" by The Icarus Line, their first EP. It's OK, although Joe's vocals have come on a long way since. Roll on "Penance Soiree"!
 
 
Sexy Legendary
10:55 / 09.10.03
Further to Cop Killer's recommendations, you should (if of course you haven't already) check out:

Shellac's album "At Action Park" (their others are good, but that one's the best by miles).

Albini's delightfully named Rapeman (despite their name, they are one of the best metal/punk outfits ever IMHO).

All things what say "Killdozer" on the cover.

You might also wanna try "At Crystal Palace" by San Fran noise-bitches Erase Errata. they don't do melodies, but they rock like fuck!
 
 
lord nuneaton savage
11:05 / 09.10.03
Check out anything by Noxagt, who are a Norwegian band consisting of drums, bass & violin, their gig at the ICI with Oxbow (also well worth a listen) was one of the best I've seen in a long time.
 
 
rizla mission
13:08 / 09.10.03
When I want my rock fix, I turn to Monster Magnet. They rock with their big hairy balls out.

This might be an appropriate moment at which to mention that I'm absolutely obsessed with Monster Magnet at the moment.

'Dopes to Infinity' and their debut EP are just the most unbelievably brilliant things ever and I can't believe I only bothered to get them three months ago..

Some of the most fantastically ridiculous tripped out lyrics ever - I love it. What's that song on 'God Says No' that goes something like "You will swim in the sweat of a thousand orgies / you will cook in the burning fires of hell!" Quality. I think I may have to write a kind of 'The Wisdom of Monster Magnet' self-help pamphlet.

If we're gonna talk stoner-rock though, that opens up the floodgates to loads of fantastic rocking bands.. for my money Nebula have to be the leaders of the pack though.. they are just the Ultimate Rock Band.. new album 'Atomic Ritual' out soon and I can hardly wait!! "Gee-ar!"

You might also wanna try "At Crystal Palace" by San Fran noise-bitches Erase Errata. they don't do melodies, but they rock like fuck!

Yeah, I got my copy of that last week. Still one of my favouritest bands of the minute.. it's even better than 'Other Animals'.. less frantic and noisy and lo-fi maybe, but more considered and dance-able and still really weird.. definite shades of The Fall, but not in a 'rip off' way.. 'Owls' is a classic in the making.. oh, and some of the most amazing cover art I've seen in ages..

Oh, and two words - LIGHTNING BOLT! Just strips rock music down to it's most basic elements: drums, customised bass and a variety of insanely loud experimental amps... super-intense, high speed hypnotic jams.. somehow they mix techno-like minimalist and repitition with just the most brain-destroying, hypnotic, psyched-out, heavy velocity rock madness.. like 'classic rock' boiled down to almost nothing and the resultant sludge re-assembled via a particle accelerator. Oh, and their latest album 'Wonderful Rainbow' also features absolutely insane vocals - it sounds like a scary leprechaun bellowing feedback directly from his lungs.. freaky.

(I can provide Cd compilations of all this crazy stuff I'm going on about if anyone wants one btw..)
 
 
rizla mission
13:11 / 09.10.03
"Gee-ar" is the above post was of course supposed to be "Gee-tar", but I think I prefer "Gee-ar!" Like a street-talkin' pirate saying "gear!"
 
 
The Return Of Rothkoid
13:11 / 09.10.03
Oxbow (also well worth a listen)

Sir, you underestimate.
 
 
The Return Of Rothkoid
13:14 / 09.10.03
Rizla: surely you mean like Ringo unwrapping a Bouvier portrait?
 
 
rizla mission
14:21 / 09.10.03
A recent repeat of that particular Simpsons episode - along with a general reverence of Ringo - has led directly to the introduction of "gear" to my regular vocabulary.

I gather it's something Americans think British people said in the 60s.
 
 
Saveloy
16:09 / 09.10.03
I'll third Cop Killer's suggestions, and add that, if you're into Jesus Lizard and Big Black, you may well cream your pants (moosh) when you hear Bastro. They only did one album, as far as I know: Diablo Guapo, which came out at the end of the 80s, (ah, the Golden Age of post-hardcore, pre-grunge rock!)

From the same era, check out the Bitch Magnet LP 'Umber'. Almost as powerful as Bastro, more melodic. Also: Cows (massively distorted noise but still melodic) and Bastards.

Slightly more recently (late 90s, early 00s), look out for Monorchid (jerky, punky shit with butch bass) Skull Kontrol (less jerky, punkier shit) and maybe Hot Snakes.
 
 
The Return Of Rothkoid
22:56 / 09.10.03
has led directly to the introduction of "gear" to my regular vocabulary.

Arise, Sir Rizla.
 
 
Locust No longer
00:48 / 10.10.03
Alright, definitely check out NOXAGT (who someone else recommended). I just saw them a few days ago and they rocked really hard. I would also recommend NEON HUNK(just keyboards and drums, but oh so good). PINK AND BROWN is great and LIGHTNING BOLT is really worth the time, as Rizla pointed out. THE FLYING LUTTENBACHERS are awesome, as are ORCHID, especially the last album on Ebullition. ORCHID are a danceable, situationist inspired, revolution obsessed, avant garde influenced, thrash band. Members are in the PANTHERS, who rock hard, as well.

Probably my biggest recommendation is BURMESE from San Fransisco. They released a couple albums on my favorite record label Tumult:

http://www.tumult.net/index2.html

BURMESE are a two bass attack that have almost unhealthy attachment to Whitehouse (actually they just released an album on some other label that's a tribute them) and they are the most wonderfuly heavy, rumbling, monstrosity around. Really, I love them. They're certainly avant garde, and their live shows are legendary (unfortunately, I've yet to see them).

Last minute recommendations: SKULLFLOWER (Droney, instrumental, skree filled, guitar atmospherics). BIRCHVILLE CAT MOTEL (if you can find this stuff it'll change your life. Droning amazement, lush, noisy, and beautiful. All stuff on Celebrate Psi Phenomenom from NZ is simply god-like. They release it on cdrs but you can sometimes order the stuff.)

Oh yeah, If you want some experimental, non corny, epic black metal check out WEAKLING, also on Tumult.

OH, and how can I forget? KEIJI HAINO!!!! Everything by this guy is amazing, and he's in a group with the RUINS called KNEAD. It's as though the RUINS were in a group with a demonic improv guru who shrieks and sends aural shrapnel from his guitar to burst your eardrums. Awesome. And as long as I'm recommending Japanese stuff check out PSF records for the best in heavy, psychedelic, experiemental, madness. Ok, that's enough, bye.
 
 
rizla mission
12:59 / 10.10.03
I think I'm gonna be off to Soulseek to sample a bunch of that stuff.. it sounds good.

Also I think I'll throw in a mention of a band called Sightings, who are just.. an utter headfuck. I don't actually own anything by them, by I heard a track from their first album a while ago and ..AAGH.. apparently the whole thing was recorded on a $5 tape recorder and it's just really brutal hardcore played at such high volume with such lo-fi equipment that it's just.. stupid. It sounds like they're playing inside a jet engine - just the most mentally overdriven, feedback covered, headache inducing rock music I've ever heard.. you actually have to listen hard to hear the band at all underneath all the distortion.
Tracks I've heard from their second record seem to actually cross the line into all-out abstract experimental noise..
Definitely worth investigating if you think that kind of thing sounds like fun.
 
 
The Return Of Rothkoid
13:40 / 10.10.03
KEIJI HAINO!

Is he the one who did the percussion/voice disc on Tzadik a couple of years ago? Has a kind of blurred, black-and-white photo on the front? I love that disc...
 
 
The Falcon
15:57 / 10.10.03
Is it true the guy from Oxbow has challenged Fred Durst to get in the ring in an Ultimate Fight of sorts?

Wouldn't last long.
 
 
Char Aina
16:11 / 10.10.03
oh good god, i really hope so...
 
 
Cop Killer
20:28 / 10.10.03
I've noticed, that when I know I'll have little time for the week in which I'll be able to listen to my kinda music, that all I really need is to hear "War Ensemble" by Slayer once, and it does me good for the whole week, at least on rocking (sonically, aesthetically and personally, I naturally rock all week long), because that's how much it rocks. If I have a little more time I'll listen to the Reign In Blood album, which is basically War Ensemble, the Album, and then I'm good for a couple of weeks or so.
 
 
Red Cross Iodized Salt
23:13 / 10.10.03
And if you like The Jesus Lizard, Big Black, Rapeman and Bastro you could do worse than to check out Scratch Acid (Davids Sims and Yow's pre-Rapeman / Jesus Lizard band).

Then follow that up with Drive Like Jehu (various members of Pitchfork, Hot Snakes and Rocket from the Crypt), Nation of Ulysses (basically the Make-Up plus Tim Green), Circus Lupus ( Chris Hamley's pre-Monorchid band) and godheadSilo (who just rock).
 
 
Seth
08:26 / 11.10.03
Proper back-up to whoever mentioned Ruins. Mandala 2000 is as apeshit as records get. Brilliant album.
 
  
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