Predominance 22

By AM Friday, October 28, 2022

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Christopher Owens 🎵 with the 22nd in his Predominance series.

“So what, it's your problem to learn to live with/Destroy us, or make us saints. We don't care, it's not our fault/That we were born too late. A screaming headache on the promised age/Killing time is appropriate/To make a mess and fuck all the rest, we say, we say/So what?” -  Ministry

Horns Up

New Horizons 

Diamanda Galas – Broken Gargoyles

Referencing life in the trenches during WWI as well as yellow fever, this album sees Diamanda go back to more sonically experimental terrain (which isn’t surprising as the album was originally composed for an art installation). Because of this, it has a much more apocalyptic feel to it than her solo piano albums and it allows her to use her voice in a way not heard since the Masque of the Red Death trilogy. Terrifying, gripping and one to play during November to remember the horrors of war.

The album can be streamed and purchased here.

OFF! – Free LSD

Gotta be honest, while the underground went doolally over Keith Morris and co, I could never warm to them for some reason. This, their first LP in 8 years, has made me see the light. Better production, better songwriting and the odd dalliance into more garage/psych terrain makes for an invigorating listen, such as the one-two punch of ‘Slice Up the Pie’ and ‘Time Will Come’, while the occasional interludes of ‘L’ ‘S’ and ‘D’ (see what they did there) throw in free jazz/noise elements. Brilliant.

The album can be streamed and purchased here.

mr.phylzzz – Cancel Culture Club

Firstly, I love how the title can be read as “Cancel (the band) Culture Club”. It reminds me of a Venom song where Cronos proclaimed that he was killing Kid Creole! Anyway, these Chicago lads make the sort of noise rock that sounds like the Melvins collaborating with Corrosion of Conformity (‘Pretend Friends’ is the best example of this) and this is a Very Good Thing. Combined with some spot-on song titles and an amazing cover from Tom Hazelmyer, and what we get is genius.

The album can be streamed and purchased here.

Livid – Compiled Hatred

Running at under 16 minutes, this second slab of wax from this two piece is a furious, intense slab of hardcore/powerviolence that never sacrifices a memorable riff or songwriting in favour of sheer force (something quite a few powerviolence bands are guilty of). ‘Choke’ is a great example of this. A mid-paced number that veers into sludge terrain before ‘Ripped Apart’ comes along and hits us with a barrage of beats. Nothing like it. Damn fine cover as well.

The album can be streamed and purchased here.

High Command – Eclipse of the Dual Moons

For their first album in three years, thrash titans High Command have focused on refining their songwriting skills and going for a slightly drier sound, production wise. Notably, this gives the guitars much more crunch and highlights some of the more Dioesque moments in the riffing. Songwriting wise, we are in familiar terrain but there is an increasing ambition on display, especially on the 12 minute closer ‘Spires of Secartha’. Takes a few listens but, once it clicks, you’ll listen to nothing else.

The album can be streamed and purchased here.

BRB>Voicecoil + Omnibadger – Disco

Described as a collaboration between the Newcastle based sound terrorist and the Stoke based noise punks, this is a punishing and pulsating release that HEALTH should be making. ‘Window Wiper’ oozes menace and tribal animosity while ‘Sister’ is a dissonant piece made of cut up vocals, broken beats and underpinned with a noisy synth line. ‘Summer’ takes the mantle of best track due to its calm melodic front being subjected to a barrage of distorted vocals. Neat cover as well.

The album can be streamed and purchased here.

Summer Night Air – 5

With the mission of making “blissed out ambient electronica for long summer evenings”, Summer Night Air mix modern pop production and techniques with that euphoric bliss associated with the chillwave era, this captures that moment during an afternoon of soul searching when you see the sunrays bouncing off the river and you realise that you have your own temporary autonomous zone. ‘Old Fools dominates proceedings due to its throwback synth sounds and looped acoustic guitar.

The album can be streamed and purchased here.

Golden Oldies 

Motorhead – Iron Fist

Although plagued by personal issues (it was the last album to feature the classic Kilmister/Clarke/Taylor line up), we still got a cracking record that is a lot better than it's often given credit for (even if you can tell that the chemistry between the three of them was beginning to weaken). The title track is an obvious classic, but others like 'Go to Hell' and '(Don't Let 'Em) Grind Ya Down' mark this out as an underrated gem. Class cover as well.



GBH – Momentum

Carrying on in the same vein as 2010’s underrated ‘Perfume and Piss’, this is a boisterous and anthemic record that celebrates getting old and their city of Birmingham (among other things). Although some songs could have done with having a more metallic edge to them to bolster the sound, I can't help but smile every time I hear this LP, especially songs like ‘Fifty What’ and ‘Us Against the World.’ Simply put, GBH are masters.



Harley Flanagan – Cro Mags

Ever since his head was shaved by a member of Belfast punks The Outcasts at the Ulster Hall (thus setting the template for the New York skinhead scene), Flanagan has been a stalwart of the hardcore world. When you’re sick of the countless bouncy, beatdown, bands that proclaim themselves to be “hardcore” because they’ve got a baseball cap and a pair of shorts, give this LP a spin. It will grab your lapels, swing you around a small room and then throw you out the window when it’s done.



Mike & The Melvins – Three Men and a Baby

Within two seconds of the opening song ‘Chicken n Dump’, you know this will be a classic Melvins album. Just listen to that guitar tone. It’s gorgeous. And with Mike Kunka from the underrated godheadSilo helping out on vocals and bass, it’s clear his contribution made Buzz and Dale step their game up. The big talking point is the cover of Public Image Ltd’s ‘Annalisa’, and for good reason: it’s a brilliant cover with the twin vocals match John Lydon’s original for utter derangement.



Black Tusk – Pillars of Ash

‘God’s On Vacation’ is a suitably gnarly opener. The mix of hardcore and Sabbath riffs has been done to death, but this is pretty good. The guitar is pushed up in the mix (with that classic fuzzy yet dry sounding tone), the drums are solid and unflashy. Most of the songs fall under the four-minute mark, allowing enough time for dirty riffage without getting bogged down in fat. Trim, concise and with the force of a hammer to the head.



Hey Colossus – The Guillotine

Surprisingly prolific, ‘The Guillotine’ is the thirteenth record from this lot. ‘Back in the Room’ is very Melvinsesque: the four-note riff, throbbing bassline, the hammering drums and vocals halfway between sincere and tongue in cheek. And it carries on building and building for several minutes, adding more guitar into the mix. Gloriously stupid, but still glorious. Easily the best song on here.

While the rest of the songs vary in quality, it’s still worth exploring.

⏩ 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.