It’s a shit-hot month for releases, so let’s dive right in.
New Horizons
Tempter – s/t EP
Emerging from the Richmond scene, Tempter play crossover thrash in the style of Sacrilege and Power Trip, but with some GISM and S.O.B thrown in for good measure. This means massive, sweeping guitar lines, evil vocals laced with reverb and big drum sounds. ‘Night Terror’ is the stand-out track due to the intensity of the riffing and the liberal use of the whammy bar. Great artwork as well, which is reminiscent of epic crust acts like Instinct of Survival.
The EP can be streamed and purchased here.
Demons – Privation
The second album from these noisy bastards, this ups the ante in terms of blending post-hardcore intensity with noise-rock riffing and straight up punk rock melody. Because of this, it feels like a spiritual sibling to Comply or Die’s 2011 album ‘Depths’ (no bad thing, of course), but tracks like ‘Hosanna’ (which feels like Einsturzende Neubauten collaborating with Unsane) keep the listener on edge with the metallic percussion and choral effect run through the keyboards.
The album can be streamed and purchased here.
Virgins – Vows single
From Belfast, Virgins have been on the go since June this year. Tapping into the current psyche, as well as offering an escape from it, via the sonic landscapes of shoegazing and filtered through the sensibilities of nu-gaze, you can definitely hear influences from Nothing, Slowdive and Deafheaven. The vocals could do with being a little less prominent in the mix, but this is a stellar single that will serve as a soundtrack for the changing over from summer to autumn.
The single can be streamed and purchased here.
New Optimism – The International Debt
More noise rock goodness, this time from this Brighton based act. A much more angular proposition than some of the aforementioned acts on this list, you can still feel the howls of anguish and despair in the big releases. There’s a really thick air of menace in slower songs like ‘Breakfast in Berlin’, which feels like an interrogation where you’re being shouted at by two cops, while ‘The Private Joke’ twists psychedelia into deranged post-punk.
The EP can be streamed and purchased here.
Zero Gap - Ryosuke Kiyasu + Watts
An unexpected collaboration between the legendary Sete Star Sept drummer and the frontman for Geordie sludge band Lump Hammer, it’s as deranged as you would expect. Plenty of off-kilter drumming and percussion mixed with low pitched growls, inhuman noises and loud growling. One for a certain frame of mind, but also one that hangs together remarkably well as a 30-minute jam. Punishing, but also invigorating.
The cassette can be streamed and purchased here.
Wasted Death – Ugly as Hell II
The second release from this d-beat supergroup this year, we get better songs (try listening to ‘Tomorrow's Children Will Eat Algae’ without headbanging), a slightly scuzzier production (really highlighting the dirt under the collective fingernails) and a whopper of a cover. Highlight is ‘Nothing I Want Less’, which just exudes menace and intensity. Can’t wait to catch these guys live, preferably on a bill with Inhuman Nature.
The EP can be streamed and purchased here.
Cronies – s/t
From New York, Cronies describe themselves as “the creative offspring of Covid and isolation.” Made up of members from other New York bands like Stugots, Drink Brothers and Filthy Gorgeous, Cronies have a more metal approach to their music than some of the other bands discussed this month: ‘Poindexter’ cheekily abuses the riff for Black Sabbath’s ‘Iron Man’ but reimagines it as an uptempo riffer, while ‘Slush Fund’ throws in some grind via the bass. Highly contagious.
The album can be streamed and purchased here.
Golden Oldies
Deviated Instinct – Guttural Breath
This 1990 release saw the crust punk pioneers go in a heavier, much more metal, direction (almost death metal in places like Rob Middleton’s vocals). Although not a total success due to the damp production hindering the heaviness in the riffs department and the leaving the drums sounding thin in places, songs like ‘Molten Tears’, ‘Void’ and ‘Domino Syndrome’ are still kick arse slabs of metallic crust punk. Killer cover as well.
Chaos UK/Extreme Noise Terror – Earslaughter
One of THE classic split LP’s, this 1986 release signalled a changing of the guard in the cider punk world. Although Bristol’s Chaos UK were still the abrasive noisy crusties they’d always been (just with a better production), Ipswich’s Extreme Noise Terror wipe the floor with their mentors by upping the ante in the vocal department to more guttural levels and living up to their name, musically speaking. The world has never been the same since. An essential listen.
Cryptic Slaughter – Speak Your Peace
The final album from these hardcore legends, not many will mark this 1990 release as their favourite CS record due to the sound being more akin to generic crossover thrash (as opposed to the speedy hardcore) and the lack of blast beats. I still find myself returning to it often enough as, sometimes, the lesser cited albums can have little moments of their own. Certainly the case here as I love songs like ‘Insanity by the Numbers’, ‘Co-Exist’ and the title track.
Throbbing Gristle – Part Two: The Endless Now
By the time of release in 2007, the Throbbing Gristle reunion had begun to fracture and nowhere was this more evident than Part Two, due to four of the numbers being individual members efforts. Although we’re in familiar terrain, tracks like ‘Vow of Silence’ still retain the traditional TG approach to sound via a collage of vocals and a relentless rhythm and ‘Almost a Kiss’ is a gorgeous but deranged take on exotica. Although not on par with DOA, it still hits the spot.
Fela Kuti & Africa 70– Yellow Fever
A respectful attack on the process of African women lightening their skin in order to appear whiter, this 1976 LP from the legendary Afrobeat pioneer may not be held in as high regard as the following year’s ‘Zombie’ but it still grooves like a motherfucker, with the call and response vocals being utterly sublime. B side ‘Na Poi 75’ (the original was banned by Nigeria’s equivalent of BBC Radio 1) is a slinkier and more seductive number.
⏩ 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.
Christopher - this is a well established monthly feature on TPQ. You put a lot of work into it. Really glad to have it. I marvel at your in depth knowledge of this scene. And when you are on the beer with us I love listening to your tales of the gigs.
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