Japan vs. Australia

Im back to offer unto you all two records that have gotten a lot of time on the stereo here lately.

First up is Japan's Razors Edge and their record Thrashing goes lovely. Believe me when I say that this record is cut from sheer awesomeness of the kind that is only made in Japan. I mean, who else thinks of mixing straight up, fast-as-fuck japaneese thrash with vocal harmonies that reminds you of poppunk and an all-round, very melodic feel? So, you ask, does it work? YES!!! Its fucking fantastic!



















The next record is quite a different treat, but a treat none the less. Those of you familiar with the brilliant Australian death metal band Portal, will be glad to know that Impetuous Ritual is made up of two members of this groundbreaking band. As such, the style is very similar to Portal. Thus, what we are dealing with is fuzzy, distorted, demons-from-beyond-is-coming-to-devour-all-humanity-in-a-very-painful-and-transdimensional-way kind of sounding deathmetal. The record is called Relentless execution of ceremonial excrescence, and its every bit as brainmelting as the name implies.



















Ps. Fun fact: Both theese recordcovers are fucking amazing!

In the interest of all things obscure...

As a true and passionate music nerd, of course I dig almost anything, as long as it is obscure enough. A good example is the Vienna Vegetable Orchestra, performing "electronica" that is perhaps better characterized as "organica" as all the intruments are made of vegetables.

Another very good example is The County Medical Examiners and their album Olidous operettas. Here is the breakdown on this outfit: musically we are dealing with straight up, all out Carcass-worship from beginning to goresoaked end. The twist is in the fact that the members of this band actually are county medical examiners by profession and education. As such, the members are listed with their professional titles; Dr. Morton Fairbanks MD, Dr. Jack Putnam MD, and Dr. Guy Radcliffe, MD., Ph.D. The obscurity continues upon noting that Dr. Guy Radcliffe, is more than 60 years of age and isnt even remotely into grind, goregrind or deathmetal, but just joined the project for fun. As such, the band has never played any live shows.

Being all doctors and loving Carcass (at least Dr. Morton Fairbanks and Dr. Jack Putnam) obviusly, all the songs are lengthy, chants ornated with latin terms about autopsy and the medical treatment of corpses.

To underline the point about the obscurity, the link will not, as usual be a picture of the cover of the record (anyone into Carcass will hardly be surprised if I say that is a collage of real more or less cut up corpses), but a picture of the band, with Dr. Guy Radcliffe in the middle.

I hereby challenge anyone to dig up a band as obscure as this!

The County Medical Examiners:
Dr. Morton Fairbanks, MD. - Vocals, Guitar
Dr. Jack Putnam, MD. - Vocals, Drums
Dr. Guy Radcliffe, MD., Ph.D. - Vocals, Bass

Death metal. HP Lovecraft and Australia

Im back, this time to bring you two records of Australia's finest death metal band; Portal. In my humble opinion this is one of the most original and unique death metal acts that I have ever heard. Portal's music create surreal worlds that holds a quality not unlike that found in such films as Fritz Lang’s M, Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho, Murnau’s Nosferatu, and Salvador Dali’s Un Chien Andalou. Picture a twisted, subterranean, and warped sound of one of Lovecraft's deities with the catacombic power of the earth itself, and the unforgiving rawness of a reality unbound by the laws of this world, and this is just a glimpse of where Portal dwell on a musical level. These guys score easy points in my book by having lyrics that are strongly influenced by the writings of Lovecraft. a clear example of this can be found in th song "Sunken" from the Seepia record:

"Inconceivable evil,
Seeped down from the stars
He is sunken,
Drowned dead and deep
City of antiquity,
Darkly curtained halls
Wealth of Aeons behind them

Magical and obscure
Preparation science

Shall proceed from
The Ocean depths

And with the Aeon-old
Stench of the Sea...
Astound a reeling universe,
Man reduced to mere cattle,
Before the Earth
Is cleared off"

There is a free beer at tomorrows Shitcomet/Livores Of Earth show for anyone who can guess who/what this song is about.

Enjoy, or dont, but beware, this music demands something of the listeners ears and minds alike. It is not your everyday easy-listening old school death metal. Sharpen your ears, your mind, light the ceremonial bonfire, crank up Portal, read the unholy text from the black book, and watch as the total worldwrecking, omnipotent, crawling chaos unfolds!

Portal - Seepia






















Portal - Outre