Dead Fields

Continuing my Suffering Mind postage, here we have the very latest release from the band, the split 7" flexi with the almighty Water Torture. White flexi, 33 RPM, I believe the white is limited to 100.

Water Torture isn't the first band you would normally think of doing a split with Suffering Mind, but I'm certainly not complaining. Without a doubt, two of the most solid bands playing their style of aggressive music that are going right now. This was originally going to be a 5" (so again, one song from each band), which would have been amazing, but this flexi is definitely not a cheap last resort. Everything here looks ver neat and tidy, and the flexi itself sounds great.

Suffering Minds track is fucking great. One of the more crushing tracks I've heard from their splits. There's an incredibly heavy and kinda catchy palm muted chorus, and the snare drums is like a slap in the face with a crowbar. Water Torture went all out doom and gloom on their side, nothing they've ever shied away from. Thomas's vocals sound particularly slow and wretched, more then anything else he's put on wax yet.

Pick this up at Mannequin Reign Productions.

~VII

Suffering Mind Collection

Well, here it is. Y'all know I'm an avid collector of Suffering Mind, and here are all the records (and tape) that I've managed to acquire. I also have the split CD with Scourge Schematic, but I didn't feel like digging it out for the photo, whatever. I'm obviously missing all the lathes, and the "Gates Of Suffering" 5".

*Descending from the top*

• Split 12" w/ H.407 (Maroon vinyl)
• "S/T" 12" (White vinyl)
• Split 12" with Asshammer
• Split 7" w/ Neon Hole (Marble vinyl)
• Split 7" w/ Wojtyla 
• "Destroy Mankind" 7"
• Split 9" w/ Massgrave (Gold Edition /50 with DVD)
• Split 6" w/ Protestant (Transparent Orange vinyl)
• Split flexi 7" w/ Water Torture (White Flexi)
• Split 7" w/ The Afternoon Gentlemen
• Split 7" w/ Lycanthrophy (Marble Vinyl)
• "At War With Mankind" 10" (Clear Vinyl)
• Split 5" w/ Dead Church (Blue Vinyl)
• Split 5" w/ S.A.T.A.N. (Red Vinyl)
• Split 5" w/ Phobia (Black Vinyl edition / 172"
• Split Cassette w/ Massgrave (variant of the 9")

~VII 

I Want Nothing

Suffering Mind have been having an amazing year, continuing their ever increasing productivity with a slew of incredible releases. Their recent 9" split with Massgrave has been one of my favorite thus far, and I've really been enjoying this little unofficial series of split 5"s (and 1 flexi). Here's one of the most recent releases, the split 5" with Dead Church, blue vinyl, 33 RPM.

As usual, only one song per side from each band. So even for a 5", these records are brutally short, but each track is generally a winner. This split if no exception. Dead Church pull of the deathy/hardcore/grindcore style fantastically, going from shredding blasts to powerviolence grooves very naturally. Suffering Mind's side is a solid ripper, as this band can really do no wrong. Great riffing from Kuchar, constantly punchy.

Awesome digipack packaging with a full color gatefold. Every record was pressed on blue vinyl.

~VII

Throbbing Lung Fiber

A few months ago this was up there as a contender for my album of the year. A little beautifully nasty gem of metallic hardcore released by the quality folk over at A389 Records. The 2nd full length album from Full Of Hell - "Rudiments Of Mutilation", 45 RPM, Aqua Vinyl.

I'd probably call this the most evil hardcore record I've heard all year. Full Of Hell's other releases never really stuck with me all that well, but this record really grabbed me. The recording is completely filthy and murky, and the band just sounds like they're coming right at you to eviscerate everything. Particularly on side A, which is definitely my favorite. Side B is pretty much all down tempo, which is cool and all, but FoH really bring their all with the fast stuff in my opinion. Not a perfect record, but a definite highlight of the year. Very experimental band, probably more then people give them credit for.

I absolutely love the art and layout of this record. The collage cover totally fits with the grotesque music, and the way everything is framed and fitted is fantastic. I managed to snag one of the 3 pre-order colors, of which there was 100 of each. I chose aqua.

- VII

Projectile Hatred

Fuck it, my blog, I can post about my own band if I want too! So, long story short, a couple years ago, I got introduced to a wonderful fella named Mike Stitches, aka, the singer for the fantastic chaosgrind band Thousandswilldie. We met over a review I did for his new band, Standing On A Floor of Bodies, and their fantastic demo tape. Eventually, we agreed to share a split with my band, Hiroshima Vacation. Fastforward a few years, multiple recordings, pressing hassles, and here we have our newly released split cassette tape! Limited to 100 copies.

Out of all the songs we recorded in this session, I'd have to say these ones sound the best. Short and sweet side from us, yada yada, but the SOAFOB side is a ripper!!!! 5 tracks of their industrial, bass guitar powered grind mayhem. One track even features a feature by Pete Benümb!!! They threw in a noise/sample piece at the end to keep this from being a 4 minute split. Nice touch!

Pro-pressed tapes, and they look amazing. Full color J-card and and insert AND a download code. Very happy with the presentation.

Buy here, if you want.

~VII

Poverty Map

I got this a while ago. A whiiiile ago, as in Record Store Day. If you all remember, Deathwish Inc. did a couple "RSD exclusive" records to join in on all the fun, this being one of them. This was actually kind of a blind buy, and is the first recordings I own from either of these two bands. Here's the Loma Prieta/Raein split 7", ultra clear vinyl, 45 RPM.

I have always wanted to pick up a Loma Prieta album, but for some reason never got around to it. SO this seeing that this record was coming out seemed as good a time as any to bite the bullet, and I'm glad I did. The 4 songs on here (the last one being a cover of Black Flag's - "Spray Paint"" are a great distorted mess of emoviolence/power screamo/whatever, tons of disonance, and a lot of skramz influence. Very cool and unique sounding riffs too, there's a lot of creativity here. I dig it a lot, very solid stuff. I'm going to try to pick up some more of their stuff soon. Wasn't to hot on the Raein track though, I gotta say. It was pretty and had some shimmery guitar tones, but it built up to practically nothing. Probably would have benefited to have an additional track. Oh well.

Nice, simplistic, very tidy presentation in a glued sleeve. Love it. The ultra clear vinyl is limited to 300 and was the rarest variant in the first press.

~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