Christopher Owens ✒ “Can you hear the war cry/It’s time to enlist/The people speak as one/The cattle, the crowd/Those too afraid to live/Demand a sacrifice/They demand a sacrifice/Of your life.”

Flipper 🐬 Horns up.

In this new column, I will be writing about what I’ve been listening to over that particular month and why you should be listening to it as well. You’ll thank me later.

New Horizons 

Nomadic Rituals – TIDES CD

On the go for nearly ten years, Belfast’s Nomadic Rituals still keep making records that fit within the realm of doom/sludge, but always manage to fuck with the formula in order to keep us coming back. TIDES is no different. Blending elements of psych, post-rock and industrial brings great levity to the crushing moments as well as demonstrating the diverse sound of the band. ‘Tumulus’ is the standout moment, due to its icy atmosphere and the general sense of desolation all around.

The album can be streamed and purchased here.

Low Moder – Low Moder CD

Describing themselves as “an alleged band from Lincoln”, these guys mine a rich heritage of post-punk and alt rock. With elements of NoMeansNo, The Jesus Lizard and Comply or Die in their sound (but without ever sounding derivative), Low Moder have put out a record that combines a dusty, world weary sound with a questioning, almost hectoring style vocal and the contrast between the two creates exciting music. Perfect for journeying to and from work with.

The album can be streamed and purchased here.

Luis Vasquez – A Body of Errors

The Soft Moon main man Vasquez veers away from the guitar driven post-punk/industrial music he’s been making for so many years, embracing the power and ugliness of noise music. The end result is an abrasive, confrontational album that is oddly engaging and demands repeated listening. In these unrelenting times of lockdown, we need music like this to remind us what it feels like to be alive and sentient. Turn this one up to full volume.

The album can be streamed here and can be pre-ordered here.

Children of Technology – Written Destiny

Six years on from their disappointing ‘Future Decay’ LP, these Italian metalpunks have learnt their lesson: bigger riffs and a production that straddles the line between ‘clean’ and ‘dirty’. Songs like the title track and ‘Soundtrack of No Future’ are pure riff feasts, with apocalyptic sounding gang vocals on the choruses. Plenty of Discharge in the riffing as well as the likes of Slayer and Clown Alley. In short, this LP rules.

The album can be streamed and purchased here.

Golden Oldies

GISM – Detestation LP (1984)

Having had it as a bootleg LP for several years, it was nice to see Relapse do the decent thing and give this album the proper reissue treatment. More along the lines of Chaos UK and Disorder (that kind of shambolic sounding hardcore that is incredibly powerful but feels like it could fall apart any second), this slab of Japanese hardcore still sounds the business after nearly 40 years. Also, the use of outlandish heavy metal soloing predates the following release by two months.



English Dogs – To the Ends of the Earth 12’ (1984)

A landmark in the UK underground, this release saw the English Dogs step up from being an enjoyable singalong act with a lunatic for a frontman, into a band that would widen the boundaries of what it meant to be hardcore punk in the UK. Heavily influenced by Slayer and Metallica, but still with hardcore leanings, it is a concise slab of metalpunk that slays. How can you not love that bass rumble that turns into ‘The Chase is On’?



Flux – Uncarved Block LP (1986)

Nowhere near as lauded as it should be, this pioneering release from the band formally known as Flux of Pink Indians saw them team up with dub maestro Adrian Sherwood to produce an anarcho-punk version of African Head Charge. Tribal drumming, bongos, trumpets and dub basslines, combined with a positive lyrical slant, it sounds utterly contemporary in 2021 while predating the likes of The Ex and their world music collaborations.



Dizzee Rascal – Boy in Da Corner LP (2003)

Eighteen years on, this remains a cornerstone of British underground music in the 21st century. Taking the influence of Southern hip hop royalty like Three 6 Mafia as well as the now forgotten 2-Step of So Solid Crew, Dizzee created (arguably) the definitive grime record which would help pave the way for dubstep and the commercial success of the likes of Skepta, Stormzy and slowthai. Oh, and the club staple ‘I Luv You’ still bangs.

  

⏩ Christopher Owens was a reviewer for Metal Ireland and finds time to study the history and inherent contradictions of Ireland. He is currently the TPQ Friday columnist. 

Predominance 1

Christopher Owens ✒ “Can you hear the war cry/It’s time to enlist/The people speak as one/The cattle, the crowd/Those too afraid to live/Demand a sacrifice/They demand a sacrifice/Of your life.”

Flipper 🐬 Horns up.

In this new column, I will be writing about what I’ve been listening to over that particular month and why you should be listening to it as well. You’ll thank me later.

New Horizons 

Nomadic Rituals – TIDES CD

On the go for nearly ten years, Belfast’s Nomadic Rituals still keep making records that fit within the realm of doom/sludge, but always manage to fuck with the formula in order to keep us coming back. TIDES is no different. Blending elements of psych, post-rock and industrial brings great levity to the crushing moments as well as demonstrating the diverse sound of the band. ‘Tumulus’ is the standout moment, due to its icy atmosphere and the general sense of desolation all around.

The album can be streamed and purchased here.

Low Moder – Low Moder CD

Describing themselves as “an alleged band from Lincoln”, these guys mine a rich heritage of post-punk and alt rock. With elements of NoMeansNo, The Jesus Lizard and Comply or Die in their sound (but without ever sounding derivative), Low Moder have put out a record that combines a dusty, world weary sound with a questioning, almost hectoring style vocal and the contrast between the two creates exciting music. Perfect for journeying to and from work with.

The album can be streamed and purchased here.

Luis Vasquez – A Body of Errors

The Soft Moon main man Vasquez veers away from the guitar driven post-punk/industrial music he’s been making for so many years, embracing the power and ugliness of noise music. The end result is an abrasive, confrontational album that is oddly engaging and demands repeated listening. In these unrelenting times of lockdown, we need music like this to remind us what it feels like to be alive and sentient. Turn this one up to full volume.

The album can be streamed here and can be pre-ordered here.

Children of Technology – Written Destiny

Six years on from their disappointing ‘Future Decay’ LP, these Italian metalpunks have learnt their lesson: bigger riffs and a production that straddles the line between ‘clean’ and ‘dirty’. Songs like the title track and ‘Soundtrack of No Future’ are pure riff feasts, with apocalyptic sounding gang vocals on the choruses. Plenty of Discharge in the riffing as well as the likes of Slayer and Clown Alley. In short, this LP rules.

The album can be streamed and purchased here.

Golden Oldies

GISM – Detestation LP (1984)

Having had it as a bootleg LP for several years, it was nice to see Relapse do the decent thing and give this album the proper reissue treatment. More along the lines of Chaos UK and Disorder (that kind of shambolic sounding hardcore that is incredibly powerful but feels like it could fall apart any second), this slab of Japanese hardcore still sounds the business after nearly 40 years. Also, the use of outlandish heavy metal soloing predates the following release by two months.



English Dogs – To the Ends of the Earth 12’ (1984)

A landmark in the UK underground, this release saw the English Dogs step up from being an enjoyable singalong act with a lunatic for a frontman, into a band that would widen the boundaries of what it meant to be hardcore punk in the UK. Heavily influenced by Slayer and Metallica, but still with hardcore leanings, it is a concise slab of metalpunk that slays. How can you not love that bass rumble that turns into ‘The Chase is On’?



Flux – Uncarved Block LP (1986)

Nowhere near as lauded as it should be, this pioneering release from the band formally known as Flux of Pink Indians saw them team up with dub maestro Adrian Sherwood to produce an anarcho-punk version of African Head Charge. Tribal drumming, bongos, trumpets and dub basslines, combined with a positive lyrical slant, it sounds utterly contemporary in 2021 while predating the likes of The Ex and their world music collaborations.



Dizzee Rascal – Boy in Da Corner LP (2003)

Eighteen years on, this remains a cornerstone of British underground music in the 21st century. Taking the influence of Southern hip hop royalty like Three 6 Mafia as well as the now forgotten 2-Step of So Solid Crew, Dizzee created (arguably) the definitive grime record which would help pave the way for dubstep and the commercial success of the likes of Skepta, Stormzy and slowthai. Oh, and the club staple ‘I Luv You’ still bangs.

  

⏩ Christopher Owens was a reviewer for Metal Ireland and finds time to study the history and inherent contradictions of Ireland. He is currently the TPQ Friday columnist. 

6 comments:

  1. Great idea Christopher. This is a promising line. I must ask my teenage son to take a look - he is seriously into his mucic.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If he likes anything on this list, I'll be shocked!

      This is the first time since Metal Ireland that I've been able to write exclusively about music and, because I'm not constrained by an audience demographic (i.e I can freely review stuff that wouldn't have fitted on MI), I think it will grow over time.

      Delete
  2. he is into something called Drill at the minute - it goes through my head morning, noon and night

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Drill is not a million miles away from grime, although English drill music tends to be, lyrically, quite violent and has led to the Met getting YouTube to pull down certain videos.

      Drogheda has a thriving drill scene.

      Delete
    2. He is really into the Drogheda drill scene - his mum doesn't like it for the reasons you point out. He is recording his own stuff at the minute!

      Delete
  3. That'll be interesting to hear. Keep me informed.

    Drogheda also has Okus, crust punks extraordinaire:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAWNQypgeaA

    ReplyDelete