“Her daddy’s knocking at the bedroom door/Cocked and loaded with a .44/I got one in the hand and two in the bush/I'm in no man’s land and it's a hell of a rush.” - Airbourne
Horns Up
We’re now a quarter of a way through 2021 and now we’re starting to get the big hitters coming out and saving us from mundanity. While they’ll certainly get an airing here in some shape or form, it’s the underground that continues to inspire and bring hope, especially when you consider the state of the UK albums chart.
New Horizons
One of Mike Patton’s most celebrated side-projects (thank to having the likes of John Stainer, Trevor Dunn and Duane Denison backing him), Tomahawk return with a record that is just as accessible as 2013’s ‘Oddfellows’ but, arguably, much more direct (most of the songs average 3 minutes). Similar to Oxbow’s ‘Thin Black Duke’ LP, this is an adventurous modern alternative rock album that balances the flat-out rockers with numbers that PJ Harvey and Nick Cave would be envious of. Expect to see it on “best of 2021” lists at the end of the year.
The album can be streamed and purchased here.
Sad Man – The Man From S.A.D
A month on from 'Music of Dreams and Panic', Andrew Spackman is back with an (arguably) much more streamlined release that still allows for cut up sax samples, driving and funky beats, big synth chords and gorgeous melodies alongside the jazzier and classical segments, formulating into what Spackman describes as “wonky jazz bangers”. For all of the experimental and jarring edges, there is a genuine love of the joy of music on display here and the more leftfield elements merely enhance, rather than undermine, the glee on display. Destined to be a soundtrack to the spring and summer.
The album can be streamed and purchased here.
PAK40 - Bunker
Hailing from York, this bass and drums two piece who deal in stoner and doom music are clearly indebted to the likes of Om and Big Brave. No bad thing at all and when you can write such powerful, all encompassing songs like ‘Sausage Roll’ and ‘Elephant’, then why worry about influences? With a production that embraces and emphasises the scuzzy filth of stoner and doom metal without ever sacrificing on sonic clarity, ‘Bunker’ is an astonishing release that promises great things will come from PAK40 in the future. I need to see them live at some point as well.
The album can be streamed and purchased here.
Acid Age – Semper Pessimus
The third album from Cookstown’s finest, Acid Age move beyond their thrash roots and incorporate everything from death metal vocals, proggy song structures and jazzy breakdowns into this record (hence their use of the term “war jazz” when describing the record). An overwhelming listen at first, arguably not helped by the production being a little on the dry side, subsequent listens reveal an ambitious and forward-thinking metal record akin to Unorthodox’s output. This is one that will require a hell of a lot of listens to ensure all the details are unearthed.
The album can be streamed and purchased here.
Madlib – Sound Ancestors
On this, his eleventh solo record, noted producer Madlib collaborates with Kieran Hebden (Four Tet) in crafting a record that (once again) blurs the boundaries between hip hop, funk and jazz. The record has already garnered press for sampling post-punk act Young Marble Giants, but it’s on tracks like ‘Hopprock’ and ‘The New Normal’ where you can hear Madlib attempting to make sense of the direction hip hop has taken by going back to basics (hence the title) and beginning again. Although it doesn’t, the end results are still exotic and beat driven enough to make it an exciting record.
The album can be streamed and purchased here.
Canyons – Stay Buried
On the go for nearly 15 years, this Kansas City quartet brought out Stay Buried as a digital only release last August. However, Philadelphia label Knife Hits have done the decent thing and released it as a cassette. And for good reason, as it’s a blistering release. Noisy hardcore in the vein of DeadGuy with the bass heavy grooves of Unsane and the “awkward” melodies of the likes of Steel Pole Bath Tub, ‘Stay Buried’ is an invigorating blast of noise rock that has introduced me to Canyons, so I’ll be keeping an eye out for more of their releases (especially if they’re as hard hitting as this).
The album can be streamed and purchased here.
EyeHateGod – A History of Nomadic Behaviour
The notorious NOLA sludge/doom crew are back seven years after their slightly underwhelming self-titled LP. And they mean business. Everything’s been turned up (including Mike IX Williams’ once indecipherable vocals) and the band come running out of the gate to bludgeon the listener into submission. Songs like ‘Current Situation’ and ‘The Trial of Johnny Cancer’ showcase a more hardcore direction for the band, while still retaining the nihilistic sludge/doom feel that made them such a proposition. Immediate, brutal and satisfying, EyeHateGod mean business once again.
The album can be streamed and purchased here.
Begotten – Nothing Worth Remembering
Part of the subgenre known as DSBM (depressive suicidal black metal), Canadians Begotten have been slowly (but noticeably) carving out their place in the scene. Notable for covering Woods of Ypres, as well as the mentions for 2020’s ‘If All You Have Known is Winter’, this release (conceived and created during lockdown) adds a more claustrophobic veneer to the sound, adding pathos to the lyrics about how “my body will hang/Ignored by all/But decay and rot.” Musically, it’s a driving, epic sounding EP which retains the icy, shrill sound that the best black metal has. Highly recommended.
The EP can be streamed and purchased here.
Mainliner – Dual Myths
Even before Japrocksampler, Japan’s psych/noise rock scene was long celebrated. And for good reason, as records like Dual Myths aren’t so much records but actual journeys into another world. With four tracks averaging twenty minutes, this is a record for listening to uninterrupted. Next time you get a bit of sun, head out to the nearest park with this as the soundtrack and allow yourself to go with where the music is taking you. Listen to ‘Hibernators Dream’ as an example: it rocks, it pierces with noise and it’s trippy as hell. All of this in twenty minutes. Can’t be bad to that, can you?
The album can be streamed and purchased here.
Golden Oldies
The recent death of singer/guitarist (and songwriter) Kim Shattuck has led to a Muffs reappraisal, which I heartily approve of as this album is one of the finest pop punk albums of the 90’s. Recorded by Green Day’s long-time producer, Rob Cavallo, Blonder and Blonder is simply a collection of great songs. While some numbers (like ‘Sad Tomorrow’) feel like they could be 90’s alt-rock by numbers in the wrong hands, Kim’s brattish vocals ensure that the listener is in the right hands.
Ramleh – Valediction
Alongside Whitehouse, Ramleh were one of the pioneers of power electronics in the early 80’s. As time went on, they became more in thrall to the droney noise rock that was hitting big in the underground at the time. This album, from 2009, sees them going back to power electronics but adding the texture of droney noise rock. Thus, creating a unique hybrid which sounds out of focus, lost and disturbed. Even the artwork tells a similar story, depicting a decaying household. Although a tough listen at times, Valediction is an exemplary addition to the Ramleh catalogue.
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Meat Puppets – Dusty Notes
Forever associated with Nirvana, the Meat Puppets post reformation period has seen them produce sterling work that gets the bare minimum of attention whereas lesser bands like The Men seem to get lavished with praise for weaker work. Released in 2019, ‘Dusty Notes’ saw the band indulge their country leanings a lot more than usual. With their beautiful knack for melodies and their cover of Don Gibson’s ‘Sea of Heartbreak’, this was the soundtrack to 2019, when the concept of a lockdown was unthinkable. Revisiting it invokes bittersweet memories, just like the best country.
Cross Stitched Eyes - Decomposition
An American take on Rudimentary Peni’s scratchy, howling anarcho punk (while also throwing in Killing Joke and early Christian Death in there for good measure), this release from 2012 has menace, derangement and some excellent riffage. With them breaking their near decade long silence this year in the form of an upcoming 12’, it’s nice to revisit them and discover that their material still stands up after all this time. What makes it even more of a pleasure is realising just how much the band manage to make this particular sound very much their own.
Omni Trio – The Haunted Science
Former Nurse with Wound collaborator Rob Haigh hit gold in the 1990’s thanks to the jungle/drum n bass explosion. Although never as abrasive or as rooted in rave culture as some of his contemporaries, he (alongside the likes of Goldie) helped push the scene beyond just breakbeats, incorporating elements of movie soundtracks, orchestration and soulful vocals into the mix, thus creating a lush, ambient take on the genre. Coming out in 1996, this was his second album and solidified his place in the drum n bass world. It sounds timeless in 2021.
Cocksure – TVMALSV
While Chris Connolly’s solo career remains something of an exciting secret, getting him to go back to his depraved, Revolting Cocks persona over the filthiest, heaviest electro-industrial music not heard since WaxTrax Records heyday was something we should be thanking Jason Novak for forever. While ‘Klustefuck Kulture’ was a brilliant example of what was to come, tracks like ‘Alpha Male Bling’ and ‘Ah Don’ Eat Meat, Bitch’ wipe the floor with all pretenders, including Al Jourgensen’s own version of the Cocks. Released in 2014, it should have been the follow up to ‘Beers, Steers and Queers’.
⏩ 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.
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