Cyclical In Nature

I've missed out on almost every single tape that Sea of Shit have put out. Granted I have managed to get everything on vinyl. The collector in me does get irked every time I miss getting one of the limited cassette editions though. Sometimes it just hurts to not have things. The Chicago powerviolence scum lords are prepped to have 3 releases come out this year alone; A split 12" with fellow Illinoisians Sick/Tired, a split flexi with Su19b, and a stand alone 7" on Nerve Altar. The later had a limited cassette release on Legitimate Business tapes in a run of 50, and I luckily managed to score a leftover form the Diseased Audio store.

Sea Of Shit are usually always a band I can count on to give me some solid, enjoyable filthviolence. This new EP is thankfully no exception. Their 3rd "self titled" release stays true to their sound but comes off just a bit stronger, catchier and more well written. It reminds me a lot of their first 7" (not the demo) in a lot of ways. Since this is more or less just a promotional item, I am keeping my final thoughts on the EP until I hear the proper recording in full. This dubbing, while acceptable, is definitely not a final product and should not be critiqued as such. I will say that the boy's have given us another banger for sure. Probably one of my favorite recording's they've done. With a fresher, new line-up too! Grooves, and slow parts are used in spades, and they are powerful earworm material. The typical slow/repetitive song at the end wasn't a great way to end it, but I'm just sick of that cliche by now.

NYC grind label Nerve Altar Records will be handling the future vinyl release of this bad boy. They will obviously do a stellar job with that record. For you tape collectors out there, this is now OOP, so you better start your online digging for a copy.

~VII

Left To Rot

Upon shopping for a birthday present for a good friend of mine online, I stumbled upon this, and promptly bought it up for myself. Yeah yeah, buying things for yourself when shopping for others is a little lame, but I've been wanting this for a minute and the Socially Retarded guys never sent me the copy I ordered from them, so it was now or never. Here's the Sea Of Shit/Socially Retarded split 7", black vinyl, 33 RPM.

This completes my SoS 7" collection, and I have to say that this might be my favorite recording of theirs. The band is absolutely crushing on their side; 3 songs of their familiar gutter sludge-bass heavy-powerviolence. It's just sickening. Their self-titled is still probably their most disgusting sounding release, but these are definitely my favorite songs. It's really curious how the dudes vocals change on literally every release. Socially Retarded play powerviolence, and they're recordings are basically on the same filth level as SoS's on here. Their stuff is faster, and pretty good, but nothing great. They're a good pairing though, awesome split.

Brilliant packaging with this one. The cover is thick cardstock, and all the art is screen printed. I absolutely love the art and the grotesque aesthetic. It also comes with the SoS patch, and a double sided cardstock insert with lyrics. Pretty impressive for a used copy!

Grimy.

Here's everything is came with. Black dust sleeve, of course.

I never see this around anywhere, so good luck.

~VII

Resignation

This is the best EP I've heard all year, dead ass serious. Sea of Shit's self-titled 7" released on PRGNT Records/Idoneum Bello, black vinyl, 45 RPM.

I've only got their 7" demo before this, which I like, but it's far from mind-blowing. But this, this my friends is a masterpiece of filthy, disgusting powerviolence! Everything is distorted, the production is fantastically raw and LOUD, and the songs are non-stop blasters that I find super enjoyable. 

8 songs this time around, all fast, minimal slow parts. Even the 3 1/2 minute end track is fast; going from a twisted groove, to blasting, to ending in noise, and all songs seamlessly transition into each other. 

I'm a super big fan of this packaging too, it totally fits the ugly, filthy sound of the recording. Stark black and white images/text throughout with a black dust sleeve to boot. Dope.

I ordered their split 7" with Socially Retarded yesterday, when that arrives I'll do a post on that too! Sea of Shit 2011!! Purchase it here.

~VII