Charlotte Sartre: My 10 Favorite Spider Species

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Grindcore "All-Stars" Share Their Favorite Albums of 2011!

Vii and I recently asked a few people from some of our favorite bands to make lists of their favorite releases of 2011, here is what we got...

Eric Wood(Bastard Noise):
In no particular order:

• v/a - "Short, Fast + Loud #24 10" Compliation"
• Maruta - "Forward Into Regression"
• Weekend Nachos - "Worthless"
• Merzbow + Balazs Pandi - "Ducks: Live in N.Y.C"
• Despise You/Agoraphobic Nosebleed - "And On And On..."
• Brutal Truth - "End Time"
• Noisear - "Subvert The Dominant Paradigm"
• Retox - "Ugly Animals"
• The Communion/Transient - split 10"
• Low Threat Profile - "s/t"

Paul Sunderland(founder of Give Praise Records):

There have been so many radical releases that have come out this past year -- so many bands from over the pond that are really on the ball! These are 5 that you should make it a point to check out!

• 1: Gaz-66 Intrusion - "Power Without Violence" 7"
• 2: Suffering Mind - "s/t"
• 3: Voetsek/Barbatos/Minikons - "3 Way Split"
• 4. Keitzer - "Descend Into Heresy"
• 5. General Surgery - "Necrology(Re-issue)" 10"

Will Butler(founder of To Live a Lie Records):

• Bastard Noise - "Skulldozer"
• Archagathus - "Canadian Horse"
• Magrudergrind - "Crusher"
• Dead Language - "s/t"
• Vile Intent - "Regression To The Mean"
• Sea of Shit - "s/t"
• Pig Heart Transplant/The Endless Blockade - split
• v/a - "Brutal Supremacy"
• Lost Tribe - "s/t"
• Low Threat Profile - "Product #2"

Dorian Rainwater(Noisear):

• 1: Maruta - "Forward Into Regression"
• 2: Psudoku - "Space Grind"
• 3: Grindlink - "Orphan"
• 4: Wormrot - "Dirge:
• 5: Brutal Truth - "End Time"
• 6: Rotten Sound - "Cursed"
• 7: Dim Mak - "The Emergence of Reptilian Altars"
• 8: The Afternoon Gentlemen - "Pissdography"
• 9: Shit Life - "Shitscography"
• 10: Despise You/Agoraphobic Nosebleed - "And On And On..."

Mike Stitches(Standing on a Floor of Bodies, ex-Thousandswilldie):

• Owen Hart - "Earth Control"
• Crowbar - "Sever The Wicked Hand"
• Thou - "To The Chaos Wizard Youth"
• Noisear - "Subvert The Dominant Paradigm"
• Monarch - "Sortliege"

Topon Das(Fuck the Facts):

• 1: Defeatist - "Tyranny of Decay"
• 2: KEN Mode - "Venerable"
• 3: Ulcerate - "The Destroyers of All"
• 4: Secret Chefs 3 - "Saptarshi/Radar"
• 5: Today is The Day - "Pain Is a Warning"
• 6: Ghost - "Opus Eponymous"
• 7: Alaskan - "Adversary; Woe"
• 8: Collider - "s/t EP"
• 9: Motivator - "s/t EP"
• 10: The Sun Through a Telescope - "Summer Darkyard"

Cody Monceaux(Lt. Dan):

• Paucities - 4 quick minces cassette
• Gowl / Stone Titan split cassette
• Total Hipster Crusher / Shootingspree, Humanity? split cassette
• Scaphe - Forking Paths LP
• Crush Your Canadian Idols comp LP
• Pizzahifive / Powercup split cassette
• Violent Gorge / Agathocles 7"
• Six Brew Bantha / Archagathus
• Pizzahifive / Infernal Stronghold 7"
• Sakatat / Matka Teressa 7"
• Death Toll 80k - Harsh Realities LP
• Archagathus - Coffee Grinder LP
• Archagathus - Canadian Horse LP
• Mesrine / Sakatat 7"

Adam Jennings(Winters In Osaka, Sick/Tired, Paucities):

• 1. Harpoon "Deception Amongst Birds"
• 2. Psudoku "Space Grind"
• 3. Sea of Shit "s/t" 7 ''
• 4. The Endless Blockade-11 minute last tape
• 5. Bastard Noise "Skulldozer"
• 6. Noisear "Subvert the Dominant Paradigm"
• 7. Dead Language "s/t" LP
• 8. Disgust/Joshua Norton Cabal split
• 9. Asshole Parade/Slight Slappers split
• 10. Bongripper "Sex Tape/Snuff Film"

non grind/metal/noise:

• 1. Cut hands-Fact magazine mix (awesome mix from william bennet of whitehouse's new project!)
• 2. Michael Perkins "Mr. 666"
• 3. Hatcha/Benton - november mix, getdarker.com

Arif Rot(Wormrot):

• 1. Trap Them-Darker Handcraft
• 2. Necromorph-Grinding Black Zero
• 3. Psudoku-Space Grind
• 4. Code Orange Kids-Cycles
• 5. The Afternoon Gentlemen-Pissedography
• 6. Dead In The Dirt-Fear
• 7. Feastem-World Delirium
• 8. Priapus-Air Loom
• 9. Punch-Nothing Lasts
• 10.Full of Hell-Roots of Earth Are Consuming My Home

Dustin Johnson(Actuary):

• 1.This Comp Kills Fascists Vol. 2: Lack of Intersest AND Marion Barry.............Superbad, Noisear, the list goes on..........this album OWNS!
• 2. Wake The Machines/Morose-tour split: Because Wake the Machines are bad ass.............
• 3. Bastard Noise-Skulldozer: A heavy as fuck ode to the fucked up state of affairs going on here on the earth mother...........the melodies leave you with an air of hope though......complete with knuckle-dragging "skull" noise and electronics.
• 4.Liver Cancer-Horrible Moment: Straight no chaser.....heavy harsh noise and power electronics with vocals.........a demon conjuring good time.
• 5.Fetus Eaters/Megatron-split: Proper West Coast powerviolence and grindcore.........
• 6.+DOG+-Bliss: Rolling walls of harsh noise.............good for the soul and pleasant to the ear.
• 7.Agoraphobic Nosebleed/Despise You-And On and On...: Love me some Despise You.............and ANb come out of left field with some slow and heavy shit..............both sides are brutal.
• 8.Godstomper/Hotfuckactiontothemaxxx-split cassette: HFATTM makes beautifully layered noise...........Godstomper come out swinging on a dance kick......good stuff, must have.
• 9.Endometrium Cuntplow-Ecoplasty: Noise that goes back and forth between ambient soundscapes and harsh noise walls..............epic.
• 10. Brutal Truth-End Time: Relentless non-stop heavy as fuck grinding..................complete with noise from Winters in Osaka.........yowza.

Thomas Leyh(Water Torture, Inerds, Hoglust, Pacing, etc.)
In no particular order:

• Mellow Harsher: s/t - Graem from SFNs new band. so fucking fast and out of control.
• Scaphe: forking paths lp- duel bass heaviness from minne.
• Madlib: Medicine Show-theres 13 out, ive heard almost all of them. theyre all good.
• Dead Language: s/t lp- I cant listen to this record enough. Probably my favorite of 2011.
• Domo Genesis: Rolling papers lp- Im really losing intrest in odd future, but rolling papers is fucking awesome.
• Column of Heaven: demo- members of endless blockade, cant wait to hear more of this.
• The body: LP- crushing 2 piece, loudest band live. Super heavy and doomy.
• Scapegoat:LP- picks up where crossed out left off. So fast and pissed.

Marc Sabo(Gozer, OG Contributor):
Top Ten Albums of 2011 *the fuck you I cannot listen to grindcore 24/7 edition*

• Baring Teeth-Atrophy: Gorguts-Obscura era weirdness with lots of drone. I think the next album is going to be pretty massive.
• Sulaco-Build And Burn: I hate everyone for not talking about how awesome this record is. Seriously, what is wrong with you people?
• Wormrot-Dirge: Nuff said.
• VYGR-Hypersleep: Space themed sludge metal that is more concerned about cracking skulls than building moods. More please.
• Ghostlimb-Infrastructure: Another one you people are fucking up on. Best melodic hardcore album I’ve heard in ages.
• Gigan-Quasi-Hallucinogenic Sonic Landscapes: One of the strangest death metal albums I have heard in a long time. Up there with Obscura as far as i am concerned *yes i hold Gorguts' Obscura in high esteem. Put on your big boy hat and deal with it*
• Maruta-Forward: Into Regression: This album destroys. Brutal, fast, and memorable. Also one of the casualties of the year. They will be missed.
• Cloud Rat-s/t: I reviewed this in the summer so I will not repeat myself here. Cannot wait for new material.
• Noisear-Subvert The Dominant Paradigm: The riffing on this gives me that same feeling I had the first time I heard Human Remains. Vital stuff.
• Robocop-Robocop II: One word. Vicious. If you have heard anything from the split they are working on then you know they have already topped this in terms of intensity. One to watch in 2012.

This was pretty hard to put together. A lot of amazing releases came out this year and and I do not have enough time or money to keep up with everything.

Justin Abare(No Comply):

(1.) AssholeParade / Slight Slappers split -12".
(2.) Starvation - 6".
(3.) Dead Language s/t 12".
(4.) No Static?
(both of their 7"s on Iron Lung recs + their 12" on Prank).
(5.) Capitalist Casualties - Live in Nagoya 12".
(6.) Bastard Noise - "skulldozer" - 12" + CD w/ bonus tracks!
(7.) Low Threat Profile - "product #2" 12".
(8.) Coke Bust - "deggredation" 7".
(9.) Magrudergrind - "crusher" 10".
(10.) A.N.S. / Agoraphobic Nosebleed "gang green tribute" split 5".
(11.) Despise You / Agoraphobic Nosebleed split 12".
(12.) Worlds - ltd.#200 pro cassette tape.
(packaged in a silk screened cardstock box, w/ patch & sticker inside).
(13.) XBrainiaX - "Deprogrammed" gatefold 12".
(14.) Bastard Squad / Elephant Man - split CD.
(15.) Mind as Prison / Disciples of Christ - split 7".
(16.) Lack of Interest / Capitalist Casualties - split 7" (free w/ Short, Fast & Loud #23 or #24? Zine).
(17.) ACxDC - "the second coming" - 7".
(18.) P.L.F. - "pulverizing lethal force" - CD.
(19.) Vennt s/t - CD.
(20.) Knuckle Scraper - (everything they've ever released... Both full length 7"s = Max isn't the Bastard + R.I.P. ~ plus their comp tracks on - "trapped in a scene" - 12"/CD + the "gulf coast hard core" 12" comp.) I know they didn't release anything in 2011, but they are R.I.P. AND... !!!They were the sickest!!!

Ryan Page's(Robocop/Body Hammer) Favorite Releases of 2011

In keeping with the ubiquitous preamble and qualification before every year end list in 2011, let me to briefly pretend that most Operation Grindcore readers are not intelligent, understanding people and pander to the "I can't believe you left _____ off the list! what the fuck?!" crowd:

This is not any official list, and it is not intended to represent OP's take on the best albums of the year. If you see any glaring admissions, take comfort in the fact that not only do I not care, but the internet exists, and it is begging for numbered lists.

Without further justification for the fact that I was only barely aware of new music this year, I'll thank Andrew for asking me to do this, and get around the arbitrary ordering.

8. Agoraphobic Nosebleed/Despise You: and on and on…

While I am generally more of, for lack of a better word, a traditional ANB fan (my favorite release is still 'Frozen Corpse Stuffed With Dope'), of the recent crop of releases my favorites have been decidedly mid tempo. This l.p. and their split with Insect Warfare display interesting, self contained concepts, and, to a certain extent, a sense of theatricality that becomes more difficult at faster tempos. 'And on and on…' is not particularly different from Agorapocalypse, but, I have to say I was much more interested in this material. Maybe I am simply getting weaker of stomach but Agorapocalypse becomes too much for me to take as a full length (which is not to say I don't respect the album). I also felt that with this split the production became a bit less sterile; there seems to be less compression and processing.

Despise You's career I've followed less closely than that of ANB, but everything I've heard previously has impressed me. With that said, I quite enjoyed the changes to their sound on this release. I actually feel like both bands came a little closer to each other's style, adding consistency to the split. Both of the bands vocalists assert wildly divergent styles that compliment each other well. I especially liked the high pitched vocals occasionally bursting through, it serves as an aural dead ringer for the squealing whammy bar slayerisms of ANB's side.

7. Wadge: Grindcore Luau

Wadge is a great example of humor in extreme music done well. Grindcore Luau is a perfect distillation of this. The album opens with ANB vocalist and (excellent/underrated) Drugs of Faith frontman Richard Johnson tearing through the first of many Napalm Death tributes/parodies. I think part of the reason this album stuck with me is that it seems like a degree of care was taken with the lyrics, art and music, so that the theme was executed in a fairly clever way, with minimal emphasis on the usual misogynist/gore/br00tal stupidity that often substitutes for humor in post carcass/internet extreme music.

6. Weekend Nachos: Worthless

Weekend Nachos have consistently, despite what is perhaps the worst moniker in extreme music (yeah, I know 'look who's talking') have consistently delivered as heirs to Infest. Its the kind of music that gets termed jocky that no jocks would ever listen to. While their previous releases were less contained and much more jagged in tone, this album offers another interesting variation on what is perhaps the greatest concentration of pure mongo anger in hardcore. It doesn't hurt that much of the finger pointing happens to be pointing in the right direction.

5. Gridlink: Orphan

This is a release that I probably should have liked more than I did. The album blends together some of the best elements from Discordance Axis and Hayaino Daisuki and contains the fastest, most articulate performances in grindcore in many years. The dynamics are great, and the album is considerably fuller sounding than 'Amber Grey'.

With that said, I honestly haven't listened to it that much. I hasn't really stuck with me in the way it has for others. For a period, I thought it was simply because of the hype surrounding it (not to mention the general shittiness of GrindToDeathGate), but now I am not quite sure. Regardless of my personal relationship to the album, I felt that it would be foolish not place Orphan somewhere on my list.

4. Autopsy: Macabre Eternal

Someone once told me that compared to Despised Icon and Suicide Silence, Autopsy sounded like lounge jazz. That person was a fucking idiot.

3. Toxic Holocaust: Conjure and Command.

I can see this as somewhat of a controversial choice considering that everyone is back to hating thrash metal. I'm not going to apologize for it, but if it helps, think of it as a d-beat record (if Deathwish/Southern Lord hasn't soured you to that particular genre tag yet).

I've always liked Toxic Holocaust and main man Joel Grind's unassuming nature. I've come to think that the contrast between the exaggerated misanthropy in his lyrics and his affable nature in person makes the self aware absurdity of his lyrics easier to take. I also find that it is apparent when someone is having fun in a genre they care about, rather than using pastiche to deflect insincerity.

All of which would matter very little, except that while ignoring trends for over a decade Grind has consistently improved with every release, peaking with this release or An Overdose of Death. Perhaps the biggest improvement is the use of a full band on the recording (previous albums were almost entirely recorded by Grind). This allowed for a greater range of tempo variation, a trait immediately apparent in the speed of album opener "Judgement Awaits You". The guitars also underwent a major improvement tonally, and in general the record sounds more natural than the occasionally dull sounding "Overdose".

2. Yob: Atma

I only recently picked up (read downloaded) this release, but Yob deserves all of its current (read overdue) acclaim. There are not many metaphors left to describe the album's sound, so I will simply point to the numerous glowing reviews and its high placement on numerous year end lists.



1. Column of Heaven: Ecstatically Embracing All that we Habitually Suppress

One of the difficulties in creating this list was that, as many records as I liked this year, few have drawn me in to repeated listens. There is a sense with many albums that everything that is contained is apparent on the surface. After listening to thousands of grindcore/metal/power violence tracks the form becomes fairly obvious, and far too often the the content becomes a matter of connecting dots.

By contrast (and poorly constructed dichotomy) Column of Heaven's debut e.p. has rewarded numerous listens and revisitations of the themes and concepts. Much like The Endless Blockade (the band from which COH is derived) Column of Heaven utilizes noise and power violence, along with intelligent lyrics and carefully considered artwork to create a gestalt of musical ritual evoking unease and paranoia that fragments into complexity upon close examination.

What was particularly interesting to me, as a musician within similar genre confines, was the massive leap towards the synthesis of influences. No longer do we have what has become (at least partially in the wake of TEB's influence) the nearly cliched organization of "hardcore song, noise track, etc." where the styles merely contrast each other. Instead the entire release blends together, with various elements disappearing or bubbling to the surface throughout the tape's short, but well-suited nine minute running time.

It is perhaps odd that my top album for this year is a band's first release, especially one that is shorter than most of the songs off my number 2 pick, I can only offer that it I personally consider this the first step beyond the confines of power violence that other bands (including my own) have only hinted at.

~Ryan Page

Andrew's Favorite Releases of 2011 So Far(Updated)

Well, my first post I ever did on this blog was about my favorite albums of the year so far, so why am I doing another one? One, there have been a ton more releases that have came out that are great. Two, some of the albums that were originally on my list, haven't held up as much for me and I don't find myself listening to them anymore. Anyways here is my list, feel free to comment about what I forgot, what sucks on my list, etc. Also this is in no specific order!

Robocop-Robocop II

This album is awesome, it's a perfect blend of Powerviolence, Grind, Doom, and Noise! I literally have nothing bad to say about this album! The lyrics are also great, they range from politics to poking fun at Skramz fans. If you haven't downloaded this album yet, I feel sorry for you!

Priapus-Air Loom

Priapus are one of the best bands from NC! They play technical music that isn't technical just for the sake of showing off their chops. Every one of the songs on Air Loom is memorable! They don't disappoint live either!

Dead Language-S/T

Looking at the line up of Dead Language which features members of Iron Lung, No Comment, and a ton of other bands, you already know that this release is going to be killer! This album is just unrelenting powerviolence up until the last track "Misanthropy" where things take a noisier and sludgier turn! I highly suggest that you check this band out if you are a fan of powerviolence!

Noisear-Subvert the Dominant Paradigm

Noisear are another technical grind band that write memorable songs, instead of just showing off their playing skills. One of the things I love about Noisear is the variety of vocal styles that they have. During the 30 songs that are on this album, Noisear show that they have a lot to offer.

Wormrot-Dirge

This album kills! Wormrot did the daunting task of making an album as great as, if not better than Abuse. This album has some sick riffs that will definitely get stuck in your head, and Arif's vocals destroy as usual! Check this album out if you haven't yet, it is free, so you have no excuse not to.

Gripe-The Future Doesn't Need You

By far the angriest release I have heard this year. This EP is a nonstop punch in the face. I have listened to The Future Doesn't Need You about a 100 times and it still hasn't gotten old. Gripe give us a perfect combination of Powerviolence and Grindcore and if you are a fan of pissed off music check this out now!

~Andrew Lipscomb

Some of My Favorite Grind Releases

In Disgust - Reality Choke: In my opinion, probably the best grind EP I've ever heard. west coast grindviolence done absolutely perfectly. 15 tracks in 11 minutes. You absolutely need to hear this. Perfect production, perfect vocals, heavy as shit, just incredible. This band broke up last year after a split release with PLF, which is a damn shame. In Disgust for life! Listen Here!

Pig Destroyer - "Prowler in the Yard": It's no secret I love love LOVE Pig Destroyer, and this album is an absolute classic. Maybe a bit cliche by now to have in a "favorites" list, but believe the hype, this album is a monster. "Prowler in the Yard" is one sick, twisted mofo of an album. The raw, basement quality production (cause it was, durr, recorded in the drummers basement) only adds to the disgusting, dirty feel of this album, telling the story of a disturbed man stalking his ex-lover. Tracks like "Tickets to the Car Crash" still manage to creep me out. Listen Here!

Antigama - Resonance: Antigama are incredible, and definitely a band that doesn't get talked about enough. Totally forward thinking, very intense, and technical without being pure wank. "Resonance" is a fabulous combination of all of those traits. The lounge jazz interlude "Barabapapex" is admittedly a bit weak, but other than that there isn't a dull track on this album. Listen Here!

Standing on a Floor of Bodies - Teaching Pigs to Sing: Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, needs to get wise to SOAFOB right the fuck now. And I'm gonna help you! The solo project of one Mike Stitches(the ex-singer of Thousandswilldie) released one demo in 2010, "Teaching Pigs to Sings", and it packs more kick-assness in it's 4 and a half minutes than most bands full length album. If Agoraphobic Nosebleed had a bastard child with dark ambient music, this is what would come out. My favorite release of last year. Download Here!

Discordance Axis - The Inalienable Dreamless: What else can I say about this album that hasn't already been said? Absolutely mind blowing, incredibly forward thinking, masterpiece. Discordance Axis are one of those bands that looked at grindcore, and threw away the conventions of the genre and did their own thing. I'm floored every time I listen to the track "Jigsaw". Listen Here!

Magrudergrind/Shitstorm - split: Yeah, Magrudergrind's awesome and everything, but the Shitstorm side is where this split really shines. The best 9 minuet block of grind I've ever heard. It's just no holds bars, pure, simple grindcore, it's fantastic! Catchy songs, heavy riffs, with a very obvious hardcore influence to boot. So awesome. Listen Here!

~ VII Caso

The Albums That Got Me Into Grind: Vii Caso(Hiroshima Vacation)

Napalm Death - Scum
How fitting that the first grindcore album I ever heard is the one generally credited for spawning the genre. This album was given to me from a friend of mine on X-mas a long ass time ago. I was into heavy music at that time, but the heaviest thing I was listening to were bands like Slayer and Pantera. So when I first heard this album, I don't think I got passed the first 3 songs before I turned it off. I hated it, I mean I really hated it. To me at that time it was just noise, but gradually as I kept pulling it out and listening to it I gradually started to appreciate it more and more. Until eventually I could listen to it with genuine enjoyment. It's what started my interest in grind; researching it and finding more bands. It opened the flood gates.


Pig Destroyer - Phantom Limb
Why this album and not "Prowler in the Yard"? Well, because this was this first PxDx album I heard, and once I got into it, it stuck to me like napalm, baby. Definitely a more "metal" release than there previous albums, but "Phantom Limb" is still very much a grind record. Chock full of catchy as fuck yet crushingly brutal riffs, great songs, and some of the best lyrics J.R. ever spewed from his mouth. This was the second grind album I really got into, and it's still one of my favorite.


Magrudergrind - S/T
This was the album that solidified me as a serious grindhead. This album made me go, "yeah, this grindcore stuff is the shit!" This album hit me like a sack full of bricks. The first time I heard the song "Excommunicated" on their myspace page, I got chills. It was so intense, so heavy, so fast, it was love at first listen. I still think that's one of the best grind songs ever written. When my band first started up, we were heavily influenced by this album, it was so infectious. It practically changed the way I listen to grind.

~Vii Caso(Hiroshima Vacation)

My Favorite Albums of 2011(so far)

1.KEN Mode-Venerable(Profound Lore)
When I first got this album I wasn't really into it. Then a few days later I picked it up again and gave it another shot and began to love it. This album is definitely a grower and after hearing Venerable I am stoked to hear more from them.






2.Victims-A Dissident(Tankcrimes/Deathwish Inc.)
I hadn't ever heard Victims before this album, but they were always on my "Bands To Check Out" list. So when I saw that they released their album on Tankcrimes/Deathwish Inc. I knew I had to get it. This album is some great Hardcore/Crust and once again this album is a grower.








3.Robocop-Robocop II(Grindcore Karaoke/Name Like His Master)
Man, this album is great. It's sick powerviolence with some awesome sludge/noise parts mixed in. It is a perfect balance of powerviolence/noise, think of The Endless Blockade.








4.Noisear-Subvert the Dominant Paradigm (Relapse) This is another great grindcore album, which features Bryan Fajardo, who also plays drums in Gridlink and Kill the Client. This album sort of reminds me of Discordance Axis and Brutal Truth mixed, which is definitely a good thing! Another great thing about this album is the twenty minute noise track by J. Randall(Agoraphobic Nosebleed) called Noisearuption.



5.Mitochondrion-Parasignosis(Profound Lore)
This is a very good ambient death metal album. Mitochondrion sort of remind me of Portal but a little more straight forward. This album is best experienced while listening to it in headphones. It's one of those albums that just takes you to another place and I can't help but get lost in this album.

~Andrew Lipscomb