“No such thing as spare time, no such thing as free time/No such thing as down time/All you got is life time... go/Cause it's hero time, cause it's time to shine.” - Rollins Band
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| Horns up |
New Horizons
Zenxith – The Curse of the Atom
Based in Newcastle Upon Tyne, Daniel McGee is a prolific artist (his sixth album in three years) highly indebted to the C86/indie pop sounds of yesteryear. While some practitioners in this field tend to overemphasise the shambling, fey sounds of certain acts, McGee is a solid songwriter whose pop sensibilities lift songs like ‘I Only Think of You’ beyond his peers.
The album can be streamed and purchased here.
John Zorn/Dave Lombardo – Memories, Dreams and Reflections
Astonishingly, this is the first recorded collaboration between the former Slayer drummer and the world’s most notorious saxophonist. Completely improvised, it’s what you’d expect in terms of Zorn’s shrieking and squealing sax and double bass drum work from Lombardo. Hardcore fans of both might be disappointed, but the casual fan will enjoy it.
The album can be streamed and purchased here.
Volk Soup – 10p Jazz
The press release describes this debut album from this Leeds six-piece as “…a blistering, brass-infused freefall through post-punk, noise rock, and disjointed rhythm” and that’s accurate. Operating between the controlled humour of Pere Ubu and the structured mayhem of Bilge Pump, songs like ‘Bastard’ grind and ‘Holy Building Tourist’ soar with sneering optimism.
The album can be streamed and purchased here.
mischa and the bear – Even Unto the Next World
A project of bassist/producer Mischa (Danny Rooney) and vocalist Bear (FÃrinne McIntyre), their debut EP is upbeat, yet spacey and melancholic. Songs like ‘All I Wanted/I’ll See You Again’ will soundtrack the transition from summer to autumn while ‘Forever Ago’ is a basement/club dwelling number that is delivered in such an accusatory way that it incriminates the listener.
The EP can be streamed and purchased here.
Golden Oldies
The Chariot | ‘One Wing’
Has there been any other releases in hardcore that samples the final speech at the end of The Great Dictator as well as being utterly pissed off? While nowhere near as experimental as some initially claimed, it does have nice little touches that lift the songs out of the standard punk/hardcore sound such as ‘First’, which has elements of Ennio Morricone’s spaghetti western themes and the piano based ‘Speak.’ All of these are achieved without the feeling that they were forced in for novelty value.
The Stranglers | ‘Giants’
The final LP with drummer Jet Black and keyboardist Dave Greenfield, ‘Giants’ gives us the classic Stranglers sound with hints of 1979’s ‘The Raven’ in the more post punk numbers. Versatility was always a big thing with this band, and songs like ‘Boom Boom’ (country), ‘My Fickle Resolve’ (blue eyed soul) and ‘Adios (Tango)’ make this much more than a bunch of old lads trying to relive past glories.
Pharmakon |‘Abandon’
New Yorker Margaret Chardiet creates noise that is cathartic, eerie and violent. Just the way it should be. There have been one or two comparisons to Diamanda Galás, which is lazy. Chardiet is her own person, as this LP proves. Do yourself a favour: turn your speakers up and play ‘Crawling on Bruised Knees.’ Feel the power, alienation and despair. Feel the discord between real and imagined pain. There is no denying that this is a harsh, bleak and unrelenting album.
Manifesting | ‘Descension Through the Seven Forbidden Seals’
Utter, utter filth from Minnesota that is dredged from that swamp that resides between death and black metal where the two bleed into each other. It’s an exciting combination and never once sounds contrived or forced. We are treated to a punishing set of songs which hint at Immolation, Beherit, and Asphyx. Combined with suitably minimal and mysterious artwork, it’s safe to proclaim that death metal is in rude health with these lads.
⏩ 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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