Dead On The Floor 30 Seconds Into The First Band

So every Insect Warfare collector knows that there's that one little teeny weeny annoying release they have that drives you crazy. The split cassette with The Kill. Well, RSR, the reissue saviors, re-released it on a nice red flexi, 45 RPM.

Even though the release is more widely available, and on an arguably prettier format, this still isn't a very satisfying IW record. Their track is actually taking from the split 5" with Agoraphobic Nosebleed, so if you have that too (which I do), I guess oh well on that. The Kill track is good, just a solid metallic ripper as they do, and do well. None of them are bad songs, but the brevity is brutal.

Extended artwork cover.

~VII

Hellbreaker

This record right here, I've been calling it my favorite release of 2013. I still stand by that, and will use it as an answer without pause. A monumental split 12" release between two excellent bands, Triac and Disciples of Christ (D.O.C.), released on RSR, clear vinyl, 45 RPM.

I can't say enough good things about this record. Both sides are equally perfect, in every way. D.O.C.'s side is caked in distortion and filthy lo-fi production, but still manages to be tough as hell, and even a little catchy. It's disgustingly great.I had the pleasure of seeing them at MDF a couple weeks ago, and they're as intense live as on record. Triac's side is an absolutely face shredder. The sounds are a bit more modern-grind sounding, but are completely pummeling and as pretty as a rusty saw blade to the face. Essential grindcore.

Best looking packaging I've seen from RSR too. Beautiful matte sleeve covered in fantastic artwork, with a double sided insert. Quality stuff. Love the Psychic TV homage aesthetic too. The clear vinyl is limited to 100 copies too! I somehow managed to get one from TLAL. Not complaining.

Buy or cry, this thing will destroy you.

~VII

Coma

Big ups to the dude from RSR for actually commenting on this blog and telling me that they still had copies of the Extortion - "Get Fucked" 5" for sale. Silly me, I had thought that they sold out a loooooong time ago. But low and behold, I made the order and a couple weeks later, I get this seeminly-illusive little record.

Two tracks on here, both are outtakes from the "Sick" recording session. One regular, fast Extortion song, and a slow moving instrumental. I probably won't listen to this very much, the songs aren't the best, but it's a vital part to my Extortion collection. Very happy to have it.

Pretty cool art, particularly in the center labels. The cover art is just "meh". 

I'll be getting the demo soon, then I'm complete!

~VII

Cut In Half

Fuck yes, the Extortion/Cold World split 12" is mine! I'm super fucking excited about this, because not only is it new Extortion, but this is the first record of there's that I pre-ordered directly from the band. and everything went great! It arrived a lot quicker than I had anticipated, and in great condition, except for some small tears on the top of the sleeve from it being shipped with the record inside. The band was selling the white vinyl variant, limited to 100, 45 RPM.

I'm very pleased to say that this is an excellent split. I was not impressed with their last two, and I can't really remember a whole lot about the "Loose Screws" 10", so I was really hoping this thing would kick ass. 11 rippers from Extortion, that waste no time and keep things fast and visceral. It really reminds me of their "Degenerate" era. Particularly in the vocals, Rohan hasn't sounded this intense in a while. Cold World is pretty great too. This is the first time I'm hearing them and they're a good pairing for Extortion. Fast fast hardcore, not very original, but definitely entertaining.

Pretty interesting artwork from Rohan this time around. Still trying to put my finger on the concept of this one. It's kinda Blade Runner/Terminator-y.

Two sided, glossy insert with lyrics from both bands.

Extortion are all sold out of white, and RSR is probably all out of their red variant, but I'm not positive. These will be in tons of distros soon!

~VII

Out Of Your Mind

I got this a while ago, and I finally got around to spinning yesterday. This particular records is a split from Extortion that has always seemed to avoid me. Thankfully, RSR was kind enough to reissue it for people like me. Joy. Here's the Extortion/Jed Whitey split 7", black vinyl, 45 RPM.

I really like the Extortion side of this. Go figure, right? Very fast stuff from them, and it's over in the blink of an eye. 5 songs in what seems like less than 3 minutes. Including a cover of the Black Flag song - "Fix Me". 

Jed Whitey did nothing for me, unfortunately. Old-school sounding hardcore punk rock that sounds almost like bubble gum, sugary pop compared to Extortion. It's a curious pairing, and I'm not fond of it. Come to think of it, the only band Extortion has shared a split with that I think is great is Agents of Abhorrence. Hopefully the upcoming splits will have good material from both bands featured. 

Pretty standard packaging, noting fancy at all. Double-sided sleeve with a pretty uninteresting looking inside. Why is there only a picture of there drummer?

You can pick this up in tons of distros now. I got mine from Rotten To The Core records. 

~VII

Sister Gomorrah

I got to know of Thousandswilldie through the excellent live music video site Kill That Cat a while ago, and I was instantly drawn to their chaotic, and at first listen uncontrollable take on grindcore. So when I stumbled upon their "A Carcass Is Only Dead Once" 7" in the Hells Headbangers distro a couple years ago, I instantly snagged it. Black vinyl, 45 RPM(if I remember correctly).

25 songs on here, and they go by in the blink of an eye. Not a whole lot of breathing room, it's just a suffocating onslaught of blasting hyper-speed grindcore. Truthfully, this is a pretty difficult release to get into, even for well seasoned grindcore fans. There is very little to grasp onto, you pretty much have to just listen and take in the whole thing, and hopefully your head will still be intact when it's over.

Thousandswilldie's output was very small, and they sadly broke up in 2010. However, singer Mike Stitches has moved on with his new, stupidly awesome project Standing On A Floor Of Bodies who you should all get wise too right now. As for this 7", I see it every now and again in various distros. I'd suggest getting their split 7" with Kill The Client first, it's a much more palatable introduction.

~VII

Human Conditioning

This record's been in my collection for a while, but I've been playing it a lot as of late. I think I like it more now than I did back then, super super grim and rough powerviolence! Mindless - "Human Conditioning" 7" on black vinyl, 45 RPM.

As far as I know, Fazia from Hatred Surge started Mindless after she left the former band. While the HS influence did tag along with Mindless, they definitely have done their own thing. For one, this band is not as inspired by the old school sound as their name might suggest(people who don't know, get a clue). Down-tuned riffs and soupy, up-front bass production gives it a more sludgy, dystopian, grimy feel to it. Brutal stuff. 

I think this is the only RSR release I have that has matte paper.

Word has it that a follow-up EP is in the works, and will be released on To Live a Lie. Yeah, you can all change your pants now. 

~VII