First Exposure - Topon Das (Fuck the Facts, Merdarahta)

A while back, before I was even a writer for OG, Andrew asked me to talk about the albums got me into grindcore (read here). I had a lot of fun writing it, going back in my head and remembering the genesis of my love for fast and extreme music. Stories like that always intrigued me, so I thought I would serve my own interest and ask members of the world wide grindcore scene to talk about the first grindcore album that they heard. Kicking off this new series, called "First Exposure", is my pal, Topon Das, founding member of the excellent Fuck The Facts and Merdarahta. Big thanks to him for being a part of it and delivering a super impressive essay-like answer. 

I'm gonna say the first grindcore album I ever heard (or at least that I can remember hearing first) was Napalm Death's "Utopia Banished". It's either that or Gorgut's "Erosion Of Sanity", but that's probably not considered grindcore. Either way; both albums just sounded like straight up noise to me. This was when both albums had just come out and I was still all about bands like Metallica, Anthrax and a bit of Slayer. 

At Long Last, There Is New Music From Worn Out!

I've hoped, I mean realllllly hoped, that this day would come to be. The Chicago grind band Worn Out, who released one of the best demos I heard last year, are finally back with brand new music! Goddamn, I'm so glad this band isn't a one-demo-wonder. They've returned with seven new tracks of pummling face-meets-concrete grind for a split pro-cassette and 7" with the Australian hardcore band, Shackles. They've got a crisper recording this time around, and have definitely gotten a touch faster, but have kept that excellent, seamless song-to-song flow and song writing that's as tight as a gnats asshole. No word yet one when this split will be released, but in other news, Chicago label, Diseased Audio, is re-releasing their demo on 7", hopefully sooner than later. Very well deserved. Hopefully no more of you will listen to this awesome band. Stream their side of the Shackles split below, and give them a like on Facebook! Full support!!

~VII

Reader/Vinyl Collector of The Week: Doug Brown

I am so fucking stoked that all you fine people take the time to check out this little blog I write for. Your continued support and feedback for what me and all the contributors do on OG is very greatly appreciated. So, I thought it would be neat and nifty to give me a chance to connect with some of you, and give you a chance to share our passion for grind, and physical formats of music. Kick off the series is Doug Brown. Thank you so much for the support and the enthusiastic answers. I'm pretty jealous of some of the records you got in your photos, man!

Afgrund - "The Age Of Dumb" Review

"The Age Of Dumb". Well, I guess grindcore never won any awards for the most thought provoking album titles. This one is almost humorously straightforward, makes me wonder if there is any Thesaurus's anywhere near these fine Swede's. Whatever, punk fucking rock. Afgrund have come back after a 3 year silence with a brand new full length, which is as fierce and free of bullshit as the title they chose. Admittedly, this is the first time I've ever sat down with a full Afgrund album, mostly because I never found them very interesting. Rotten Sound/Nasum-worship grind has never really been an obsession of mine. The usual characteristics are there; super tight drumming, shout-growled vocals, and a fat guitar sound with the mid's cranked to 13. And yeah, there's nothing truly original being presented here. Some parts of this album sound like they were taken straight from "Cycles"-era Rotten Sound (see "The War On Drugs"). Please don't think I'm bad mouthing this album though, Afgrund really do know how to hold there own and make some seriously kick ass grindcore. I thoroughly enjoy this album, and I don't think there's a dud track on here. Every track is very well crafted, there's a good balance between the blazingly fast and the downright groovy, and they pull off some pretty rad stops and starts ("Planet Monsanto". Major props to these guys for talking about the devil spawn that is Monsanto too. Look it up people). Afgrund really made their songs catchy and memorable this time around. Some of the riffs these guys pull out really surprise me, and get me legitimately excited. The who album does really. It's a super solid grindcore album all the way through, and ends with one of the best face breaking grooves I've heard all year. Check it.

Rating: 8.5/10

~VII

Weekend Nachos Preparing For New 7" Single!

Chicago heavy-violence favorites, Weekend Nachos, have just announced on their facebook page that they are getting ready to once again hit the studio to record a brand new 7" single! From what they've said, it looks like it's mainly going to be a special release for the next A389 Fest in January, but it will probably get a wider release later on (but still, if you're going, hmu because I will pay you to get me one!). It will contain two new songs, one of which will be featured on their upcoming 4th full length(!!), and have an exclusive B-side. So yeah, it will only feature two tracks, probably short ones too. But on the flip side, this means that they've been working on new material and a full length is in the works too!! Pretty exciting news if you ask me. I'm sure the new jams will hatefuck our collective faces. More info soon, hopefully!

~VII

Bandcamp Compilation Of The Week: "USA Power Violence Vol. 1"

These week I'd like to bring your attention to this super kick-ass compilation, originating from a currently unknown source (can't find the origin of the comp. at this time). This digital/cassette release features 18 powerviolence/grindcore bands from across the United States, and each one of them contribute some solid jams to this beast. A good chunk of the bands on here have been talked about on OG at some point (False Light, Curmudgeon, Snakes, Suffer On Acid, Stresscase, etc.), so right there you know you have some good jams to listen too. Most of the other bands are ones that I've been meaning to talk about for a while (Bridge, Necklacing). And holy shit, listen to the Beast Plague track on here, goddamn. The cassette is sold out (darn), but you can download it for free on their bandcamp. Help spread the word, and keep your fingers crossed for a Vol. 2!

~VII

Skuff - "Demo 2012" Review

I'm seriously running out of new ways to say good things about Canada. Home of socialized health care, maple syrup, hockey, and more excellent grind and powerviolence bands than you can shake a stick at. A drum/bass powerviolence band from Canada, well that just seems like a flawless combination, does it not? That's where Skuff come in. This B.C. duo has been kicking around for a couple years, and released this 2012 demo tape earlier this summer. Nine tracks of catchy, groovy, lo-fi, gruff and rough violence. It's the type of stuff that I'm just instantly attracted too, and rarely find any faults with, and Skuff are no different. Sure, it's not original, not even a little bit, but who gives a shit? If it's not broken, don't fix it (or try to break it). The recording on the demo is totally lo-fi and blown out. The low-end from the bass just seeps over everything, but it never reaches the point of just being a distorted, unlistenable mess. The riffs are still present, and if the sound was cleaned up a bit, the dudes gnarly bass tone would shine through a bit more. I do wish the snare drum was a bit more present though, it doesn't cut through as much as I like in my powerviolence. Overall, it's a solid demo, and I'm looking forward to everything this band puts out in the future. They have a split tape with Bridgeburner coming out soon, which is also streaming on the bandcamp, and it's awesome stuff.

Rating: 7/10

~VII