Insect Warfare - Evolved Into Obliteration

Here's a new vinyl release adapted from their Demo CD that ran out of circulation shortly before the release of 'World Extermination'. Apparently some people like this more than the actual album...but that's probably because people get so damned sick of listening to the actual album (for instance: Grey, Nirvana, Black Flag). There's not a whole lot of difference I can hear between the demo and the final record, besides from the mix sounding a little dirtier (and the drums sounding a fuckload better). Nonetheless--a cool thing to have:

Insect Warfare - Evolved Into Obliteration 12"

--fred

Reality Part #2 Comp.

Every single band you've ever really liked is on this compilation...and you know what else?


They're all broken up now.

(NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!)

Asshole Parade - Soldiers
Excrutiating Terror - Without Mercy
Dystopia - Backstabber
Infest - Cold Inside
Despise You - Memories of Tomorrow
Lack of Interest - No Sweat
Gasp - Planet Of The Apes
Suppression - Gangland Bodystak'em
Noothgrush - Encasing
NoComply - The Empire Kids
Spazz - Animal Liberation Now
Purgatoria - Infamous Deception
Man Is The Bastard - Untitled
Capitalist Casualties - Sentenced
Stapled Shut - Chavala
Enemy Soil - Common Ground
Evolved to Obliteration - Fucked up Asshole
Bad Acid Trip - Plate of Shrimp
C:### - Skidmark

Reality Part #2 Comp.

--fred

Magrudergrind - Self Titled

Magrudergrind is thrashviolence/grindcore/'whatever genre tag you want to regurgitate' from the Baltimore/District of Columbia area. Here's a vinyl rip of Magrudergrind's self-titled EP, released sometime in late May/early June. I've been avoiding uploading this for a month or so now, but I think the band has more vested interest in people digging their album than making profit.

...Nonetheless

Buy it here

Download here



--fred

KARP - Self Titled

{This was originally posted by myself on [shiny grey monotone]. I thought it was funny and deserved a re-post}

Year: 1997

[T]his is KARP's final, and my favorite, of all their releases. KARP has been remarked (very stupidly in my opinion) as a 'metal band that even indie rockers can love'. Fuck that. KARP was not metal. They were a noisy cacophonous bundle of confusion, humility, and pure-fucking-exuberance. Song after song is an orgy of cochleatic-grinding that continues to pummel you across your skull long after the record ends. 'KARP' is an ear-raping experience you will never forget, nor never WANT to forget. You will cherish the moment you had with the band...reminisce fondly on Scott Jernigan (drums) breathing heavily over you as Jared Warren (bass, vox) holds you down by the midsection and Chris Smith (gits, vox) penetrates balls deep into your cerebral cortex. Your wounds have healed...but the emotional trauma has stamped itself upon your soul.

KARP is really good! Heavily influenced by the Melvins! It's like a grungy Big Business or somethin!

KARP - Self Titled

Dystopia - Self Titled

This is Dystopia's final album, released mid last year in 2008. This album represents a different time in the band, as opposed to '98's "Aftermath" and '94's "Human = Garbage". Some might believe that something was lost in the the creation of this album, whether it be the angst, hatred, anger, energy, or even the level of creativity--but I am one to believe that all of these things just manifested a bit differently on this record.

The band has matured over the past 10 years since we've last seen them, with this album having a different but still overt relationship with their previous albums. Dino's (drums, vox) vocals are worn from years of screeching, and Parillo (guitars, vox) has slipped into an exasperated throaty death call that contrasts his more youthful growls from 'Human'. The songs are generally slower and burgeoning, excluding 'Illusion to Love', which harkens back to their blastbeat days of yore. All the hatred and misanthropy of years past still exists here, muddled in between deep guitar tones and a strong, yet lassitudinous, Dino preaching testaments of our world gone to shit, hopeless human beings wandering aimlessly, and the lies and broken promises we all realize in our later lifetimes. Nothing at all has been lost, just matured and fermented. This is not a record of 'loose ends' from the conclusion of their career, but rather a final grim reflection on our world, finally scribing the final chapter on Dystopia.

I can't envision a greater way of going out:

Dystopia - Self Titled

--fred

NoMeansNo - Why Do They Call Me Mr. Happy? (1993)

By the time I got to the last song in Why Do They Call Me Mr. Happy, "Cats, Sex and Nazis" I was already about to declare NoMeansNo the best band I should have heard years ago. Alas, my music tastes have never until this point taken me towards music like this. And it's a damn shame, because NoMeansNo makes bands like Black Flag look like a bunch of amateurs.

The answer to the question posed in the title is indeed eventually found by the listener. Actually, it's answered several (all contradictory) times by the end of the record. Hell, what's a better way to describe this demented band?

I couldn't put my finger on what their lead singer reminded me of. So I settled on an amalgamation of Gerald Casale, David Yow and the Moviefone guy.

The opening three tracks are all post-punk with their loopy, winding bass lines, interspersed keyboards and textural guitar work. Not textural like Isis, think more squeaks and squawks every now and then. The third track, "Machine," slowly builds from this post-punk tempo to an uproarious and dark rock track.

Then comes "Madness and Death," and there goes your face.

The centrifugal force caused by my spinning head was enough to kill a squirrel happily chewing nuts on the bench next to me.

Part Jazz, Punk, Stoner Rock (Hey, Kyuss was doing it in 91!), and New Wave make up this track and the following "Kill Everyone Now." Suddenly the snaky bass and keyboards bow out to some crazy finger-tapping guitar and fierce vocals. Yes, Finger-fucking-tapping.

"Cats, Sex and Nazis" is definitely the deal-closer. If you had any doubts as to how awesome this band is by this point, they will melt away. Sandwiched between a homage to Faith No More's "We Care A Lot" and Deep Purple's "Smoke on the Water" is, in my opinion, the best track on the album. The tongue-in-cheek humor is on full-blast, the weirdo jazz-punk is also so finely churned out you'll think of Amish butter.

Most bands would kill to have such an awesome repertoire of songs that they could afford to put such a great song at the very end of the album. De-loused in the Comatorium comes to mind (Yeah, the Mars Volta is a good band deal with it).

Anyway, I'm not good at closing out so listen to this already and impress your friends with knowledge!

NoMeansNo - Why Do They Call Me Mr. Happy?

DEATHAMMER 2008 Demo and Set at WMUC

In case you didn't listen in or attend their show at WMUC last week, and ALSO missed the chance to download the Third Rail archive for the week--here's the chance for you to redeem yourself. Included are Deathammer's 2008 Demo and their full set (plus interview) here at WMUC. Pure Baltimore Thrash:

[2008] Demo
Live @ WMUC

--fred

Napalm Death - Scum, Obliteration (Enslavement)

It's been a little while without a real update around here...we're both kind of swamped intermittently with school work and projects and I'm still attempting to rebuild my music library. We've also been busting our asses to get this Third Rail thing into gear (WHICH YOU SHOULD COME TO). Anyway--

These are Napalm Death's first two albums:
Scum
From Enslavement To Obliteration

Some of grindcore at it's earliest and finest...there's tons of worthless trivial details based around this band that I won't go into, but I will state these things:
-They DEFINED grindcore.
-They formed in the early 80s and were influenced by anarcho-punk and post-punk bands, most noted were Rudimentary Peni, Crass, SWANS, and Amebix.
-Bill Steer WAS in the band, but only for two years (keep in mind they had already existed for half a decade at that point), then promptly left to turn his full attention to CARCASS.

If you like this, you might want to check out Hasan's post on grindcore "supergroup" Venomous Concept, which features members from the Melvins, Brutal Truth, and Napalm Death over at Death By Hanger.

Did I mention the show tonight is FREE??
6PM-9PM (3 Hours before the Magrudergrind show in DC), FREE, two awesome bands--Black Skies from NC, DEATHAMMER from Baltimore, FREE, and so on.

Have trouble getting to the University of Maryland's Campus or not know how to?

Whether you're coming from the north or south, you'll want to be on 95. You want to take the 495 exit headed towards Silver Spring/Bethesda/US-1/College Park. After that, you'll take an exit on the left towards US-1/College Park/Weight Station/Carpool, and then take the exit (most likely on the right) towards US-1/College Park. From there merge onto 495 east, then take the Baltimore Avenue/US-1 exit. So, you're going to turn a slight right onto Route 1 and follow the road 'til you get to paint branch/campus drive, which you'll take a right on, and enter the campus.

From there, follow this map I've made:

Have problems? Call WMUC @ (301)314-8800 and ask for Fred or Scotty.

See you there

--fred

DEICIDE - Serpents of the Light

An album by that loser who burned an inverted cross into his forehead (and has been touching it up with make-up ever since).

(Chest-Heavy Crunchy Death Metal)

DEICIDE - Serpents of the Light

The drums on Slaves to the Cross are awesome.

--fred

P.S. There's some stupid random file in there from when I was fucking around with one of the tracks...just delete/ignore it.

Blood Red Throne

NOR-WEE-GEN-MET-AL. Death metal, that is. Good face rippin' shit. Blood Red Throne - Altered Genesis

Spazz - Sweatin' 3: Skatin', Satan, and Katon

This is Spazz's "Sweatin 3" album, which boasts a hearty helping of 67 tracks of pure powerviolence, including a Dead Kennedys and LARM cover:

Spazz - Sweatin' 3: Skatin', Satan, and Katon

Now take a look at this:


What the fuck.

--fred

Keelhaul Discography

I was cruisin' the web one day and saw an entry on Metal-Archives for "Progressive/math/sludge" and I came all over my self. After a fresh change of underwear I scoured the world for all I could find of this "Keelhaul" band who were apparently slow AND math-y...

What follows will completely blow your fucking mind. (All of Keelhaul's main LPs)

Keelhaul - Keelhaul (1998)

Keelhaul - II (2001)

Keelhaul - Subject to Change Without Notice (2003)

THRASH Super-Post

This post is a collection of some of my favorite Thrash Metal bands, some which I haven't listened to in awhile and I'm sort of catching up with again. Everyone SHOULD know who these bands are; but if you don't....

Megadeth
This is the Dave Mustaine super-band. It took me awhile to really get into Megadeth, but it's pretty rewarding once you do. Megadeth was started shortly after Mustaine was kicked out of Metallica for being an belligerent drunk. Their first release was the album "Killing Is My Business...and Business is Good!", where Mustaine attempted to regain his integrity and "street cred" by showing everyone his awful (and original) version of "The Four Horsemen".

MEGADETH - Countdown To Extinction
Other Albums To Get:
Peace Sells...But Who's Buying
Rust In Peace



ANTHRAX
A great band that didn't take themselves too seriously--they had songs about super-cops and comic books. These guys fucking ripped--every album with Belladonna was gold. Hopefully you caught them on their 2006 reunion tour. If you didn't--you're shit outta luck.
Anthrax - Among the Living
Other Albums to Get:
Fistful of Metal
Spreading the Disease
State of Euphoria
Persistance of Time
The Greater of Two Evils


Metallica
This band is the centerpiece of "thrash metal". They had an awesome 5 album run before devolving into has-beens and trend followers. Who knows though, maybe the new album won't be totally fucking awful.

Metallica - Master of Puppets Part 1 -- Part 2
Other Albums To Get:
Kill 'Em All
Ride The Lightning
...And Justice For All


Slayer
This is one of the few bands of the genre who I actually like, or rather, can tolerate as human beings. Living Legends and not extremely full of themselves. Also one of the few of these bands that I STILL like (in terms of new material).

Slayer - South of Heaven
Other Albums To Get:
Reign in Blood
Seasons in the Abyss
Hell Awaits
Divine Intervention
Show Mercy
(All of Slayer's Discography is fine, the only album I dislike is Diabolus in Musica)


EvilDead
I wrote a post on these guys awhile ago--there's not much to add upon my previous description. These guys popped up in CA sometime in the late 90s when Thrash was out of vogue, but were still pretty fucking good. Unfortunately, they were ignored and dissolved shortly after their second album.

EvilDead - Annihilation of Civilization


Sepultura
Brazilian Thrash. Band got stupid when Max Cavalera left the band. They also got pretty Nu-Metal.

Sepultura - Beneath The Remains
Other Albums To Get:
Schizophrenia
Arise
Chaos A.D.
Roots


S.O.D. and M.O.D.
I hate Billy Milano. S.O.D. features Scott Ian (rhythm guitar), Dan Lilker, and Joey Benante from Anthrax, which adds up to an awesome line-up, and keeps Milano from influencing and tainting the music with too much of his fat-douchebaggery. M.O.D. is Milano's other band, titled M.O.D. because he was too stupid and uncreative to come up with a band name that wasn't ripping off the name of his other band.

S.O.D. - Speak English Or Die
M.O.D. - U.S.A. For M.O.D.


Exodus
This is the band that Kirk Hammett was in before he joined Metallica and replaced Dave Mustaine on lead guitar. Tons of hits on their first album, including Pirahna (PIRAHNAAAAH) and Strike Of the Beast. I don't really care for their albums beyond this one.

Exodus - Bonded By Blood

Beyond Thrash:




Cannibal Corpse - Eaten Back to Life
Cannibal Corpse's Thrashiest (and first!) album. A must have, and one of my favorites





GWAR - Scumdogs of the Universe
A band wrapped in satire that has a pretty interesting musical-scape, from old-school hardcore to thrash.





RAMMER - Cancer
Death meets thrash. This is a relatively new band...but they went and broke up. Great album. Download it. (and buy it!)





System of a Down - Self Titled
First album by a great band I used to listen to a lot in high school.

IMPALED

(dis)'Member that Carcass tribute I posted a little while ago? Well, I've got this pretty killer IMPALED album that features B-Sides, Unreleased songs, and demos by the band--so if you enjoyed the Impaled tracks on that tribute album, you'll probably enjoy this too.

Plus, they do an Impetigo cover: ILLEGALLY DOWNLOAD THIS.

Jaked off Shorts and Loaded Heads

Hey there all you MINDGRINDER fans and album freeloaders, I got a little summat for both of you. I know Fred takes care of the majority of the posts around here which is cool because I'm lazy as hell and don't know HTML. Anywho, for the MINDGRINDER's fanbase, we're winding down for the semester (one more show on the 19th) and we're getting in to the summer. Stay tuned for our individual summer shows (names and time-slots to be announced). Also, and I'll have to discuss with Fred, I'd like to do the show with him again in the Fall and if we do that we'll have a much expanded repertoire of music so when that happens definitely let us know what kind of stuff you want to keep or start hearing from us

Now, for you free-loading, mother-humping sons-of-bitches, I've got this great album that you can download for free, and it's not even illegal! They're called Jaked Off Shorts and Loaded Heads and if the name isn't enough for you, the music will more than satisfy. Fans of avant-garde black metal (Ulver, Arcturus, Sigh) will be pleased as will fans of other Weird Rock like Mike Pattons more schizophrenic projects or Tub Ring. The music itself is all over the place, but it's definitely got hooks and some great electronic effects for texture. Check this shit out already.

Track Picks:
02 Cricket Poison Even Kills Vultures
04 Worst Episode Ever
10 Level Neurotica

Jaked Off Shorts and Loaded Heads - Feeding the Future

IRON LUNG (again!)

This CD is a compilation of songs they released (on 7"s, splits, whatever) before releasing Life. Iron Lung. Death. Some of my favorite songs are on this CD...and it's readily available for purchase, along with their other records, on Interpunk.com (They have a new album out!) If you like fast angry music--Iron Lung is your stuff.

Iron Lung - Cold Storage

and now for your viewing pleasure (just when you thought you forgot about it):

GORED - Human

German Carcass Worship (the band, not the corpse) with gutteral goregrind vocals, chunky dual bass assault (on the album at least), and relentless drumming. Plus they've got cardboard anatomy cutouts! What the hell more would you want!?: d/l

(I'm going to chop up and post Nocnitsa's performance from last Sunday sometime soon)

FREE METAL SHOW: Nocnitsa and Ol' Scratch

Live on Third Rail: Nocnitsa; Black Metal from Baltimore, and Ol' Scratch; Doom Metal from the good land of Virginia.

May 4th: 6pm-9pm @ WMUC Studios (above the 3130 South Campus Dining Hall). This event is open the the public. Come support local metal! (You can also stream the show live during it's broadcast on WMUC's Website.)

Nocnitsa 2008 Live Tracks: Thanks to Jeff Mewbourn for taping this!
Ol' Scratch Live in 2008: Thanks to our brothers at Sludge Swamp!

Helios Creed - Kiss to the Brain

As appreciation for the wonderful blogger who posted the first Helios Creed album on Lucidmedia (lucidmedia.blogspot.com), here is Kiss to the Brain by the aforementioned. I only own this one album by him, but what an album this is...


Imagine listening to The Residents, at half the RPM, on LSD. The opening track, XL-35 and Throw Away the Rind (which we played on the show) are my favorites.

You're doing yourself a huge favor

A LEGACY OF BRUTALITY

Every once in a grymn moon one band breaches from the underground and shakes the Earth to it's core. This band is no exception. ABBA formed in the early 70s and made their way to becoming progenitors of Swedish Brutal-Black Death Metal. Offering a blend of twisted and maniacal lyrics (One more look and I forget everything, w-o-o-o-oh *death growl*), and devastating face melting keyboard melodies, ABBA will make you wish you were never born. Classic Metal hits, such as "Ripped From the Womb", "I Wanna Fuck Your Wounds (premature emasculation)", and "Trapped in a Room (with a chainsaw)", have been recently remastered and set for release on DiabolicalDeth Records in 2009--however WE have the exclusive.

ABBA - Woundfucker (EP)

Lick it up.