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Marybell Katastrophy will be doing a number of international dates in December:
12/02 - Ponyhof, Frankfurt (GER)
12/05 - Cantina Mediterraneo, FrosiNone (ITA)
12/06 - Zuni, Ferrara (ITA)
12/10 - Baciccia, Piacenza (ITA)
12/11 - Officina 49, Cesena (ITA)
12/12 - Veronika Club, Parma (ITA)
MP3: Mögel - Jag är så rädd
Until their new "1978-83" retrospective CD showed up in my inbox earlier this week, I had never heard of Mögel before, or at least I don't remember coming across them. It's an odd thing too because early all-female punk bands were always notable and also because vocalist Ulrika Malmgren was one of the hosts of Sweden's famed "Ny Våg" radio show. Nonetheless, I remain ignorant! It doesn't help that "The Encyclopedia of Swedish Punk" files them as a peripheral band and labels them "new wave". That's a genre label I associate with pop aspirations and keyboards; Mögel has neither, though I must admit that they don't fit the typical late 70s/early 80s punk sound. Can we call it postpunk and be done with it? They've got an early indiepop shamble on a few tunes, but it's the jagged, discordant tracks that appeal to me most. "Jag är så rädd" ("I am so scared") comes from the 1981 self-titled 12" on Slick Records, the group's sole proper vinyl release, and sounds quite befitting of the title -- just listen to the guitar "solo" for some serious bad-trip action and you'll get what I mean. Anyhow, the new disc on Massproduktion compiles that first record along along all of the other band's recordings and various liner note comments from scene luminaries such as Thåström, just in time for the label's 30th anniversary party. Which they happen to be playing! Should you find yourself in Sundsvall tomorrow, that's certainly the place to be.
Mögel - Jag är så rädd
MP3: My God Damn Territory - Used to be
I look at the ever-increasing piles of mediocre CDs crowding my desk and I can't help but feel defeated. There's a few gems in there to be sure, but I'm fully daunted. To say nothing of all the downloads in my incoming directory -- more often than not, I'd much rather listen to all the old-school death metal I've been gathering than some uninspiring no-name wannabees. Like I said though, it's not all bad. Only a few are truly awful, the overwhelming majority are merely forgettable. What's it take to stick? Name recognition helps. My God Damn Territory's bio mentions ex-ex-members from Blithe, Randy and Refused as well as Celestine and, even though I recognize None of the actual personnel names, I figure that at least earns them a cursory listen. Of course I wouldn't be telling you about them if they weren't good, so let me spell it out: My God Damn Territory are a solid band. They've got a ridiculously long roster of musicians who appear on their new self-released album "Between art and failure" and the record's widely varied sound reflects that, though the songwriting remains consistent. They cover a lot of ground from noisy 90s-style indie to postrock and beyond, but you can always tell it's the product of the same mind(s). "Used to be" stands out to me as one of the more driving numbers and the repetitive, overlapping vocal melody is hard to forget, especially with those bendy guitar notes that bookend it. Best of all, it just sounds so different from anything else I've heard as of late. And the whole album is available as a free download. Good enough!
My God Damn Territory - Used to be
Björn & Benny + Hotel Rival = 2nd best to none
Check out the new Björn & Benny (Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson, y'know... from ABBA?) penned single "2nd best to None" as sung by the staff at Stockholm's Hotel Rival: https://www.rival.se/
MP3: Murmansk - Sweet trio
This could almost be a U2 song at the start, but that bass is way too cavernous. And of course the vocals have None of Bono's self-importance; rather they settle into the mix like another instrument. The further you go however, the deeper you get into Murmansk's own heavy shoegaze sound, emphasis on the heavy. This particular track doesn't ever wallop you with a huge chorus though, rather it's all about the tone and the mood, especially seeing as how this is merely the opener for new album "Eleven eyes to shade". Everything that follows builds on what came before and let me tell you, it is truly epic to behold. Play LOUD.
Murmansk - Sweet trio
MP3: Skogar - Secret hymns
Here's one that's been on my to-do list for awhile now, mostly due to the fact that I've had trouble wrapping my head around its abstract expansiveness. Had I actually read the bio text and known that Skogar (aka Johannes Brander) was yet another bedroom artist playing around with a guitar, an arsenal of effect pedals and a 4-track, I probably would've filed this in the "ignore" pile (or the circular file, as it were), but I did not and I am glad for it. As "easy" as it is to make that sort of music, it rarely comes out so well; there is far more to this brand of artistry than a stack of gearboxes. It's even better that I sometimes have trouble recognizing sound sources, though this particular track is very obviously guitar-based. I could actually do without the lead noodlings buried in the mix; it's the backing loops of chirping noise and loping bassnotes that are the most interesting part, along with the subtle shifts in harmony that keep it going. However, the piece really works best in context of the whole -- another reason for my delay in coverage. There are many fine, fleeting moments, but None of them reveal the quality of the complete work. I'm glad I took a chance on this.
A sidenote in the always-interesting "small world" subcategory: Skogar's label Native Parts Records is putting out a split CDr with Malmö act Utom Alla and local-to-me band Flora vs. Fauna. Weirdness.
Skogar - Secret hymns
MP3: The Soundtrack of Our Lives - Thrill me
Despite the new Soundtrack of Our Lives double-album "Communion" being entirely way too long, it does have a couple standouts and "Thrill me" is one of them; a classic rock'n'roll stomper with simple, memorable lyrics, easily modded for a live show highlight. Surprises are Nonexistent, but I haven't expected as such from TSOOL for years, so I'm not disappointed. They've settled into a comfortable middle age, keeping their fans happy by delivering consistently decent music. Very careerist, very predictable. Safe without being tedious. So the new record is padded with filler? So what? I don't expect them to ever blow me away again like when I first heard them, nor should they bother. "Thrill me" isn't so thrilling as much as it is an appeasement. I'll take it.
The Soundtrack of Our Lives - Thrill me
Aversionline on None Would Remain
Aversionline on Finnish melodic hardcore act None Would Remain and their new record "Wake the living": None-would-remain-wake-the-living-cd/" target="_blank">https://www.aversionline.com/blahg/2009/02/24/None-would-remain-wake-the-living-cd/
MP3: Seance - Wasted
Seance is back from the dead after 15 some years and it's almost like they never left. They've still got one of the heaviest rhythm sections in death metal, even without the same brutal monster-truck basstone that characterized 1993's landmark "Saltrubbed eyes". It's all about those little stops and starts and the ridiculous triplet fills that drummer Micke Pettersson employs in his ongoing mission to out-Slayer Dave Lombardo. Seriously, no other band does it better; certainly None of the young upstarts who seem to value technical guitar prowess above all. As always the best death metal is about quality, memorable riffs. Often that means simple and effective; the number of notes is irrelevant. Anyhow, I wasn't expecting much from this reunion record, but these dudes delivered far beyond all expectations. Sure, the new album "Awakening of the Gods" has a few weaker moments here and there (there's one Prong-like groaner, for instance), but "Wasted" is 1000% killer. Seance's jagged rhythms, those super-gruff vokills -- all great. Even when they go into cheesy acoustic breakdown before the solo section, they make it work. No need to push boundaries or over-intellectualize it, stick to the classic formula and do it right -- that's all there is to it. No bullshit, just pure death fucking metal.
Seance - Wasted
MP3: Franke - Skinnad
Aside from being twice as long as it should be, "Skinnad" is proof positive that Franke's return comes with a bang, not a whimper. The swagger and the attitude are of primary importance and thank goodness those qualities have been retained. And there's far less self-conscious brooding. Instead, we get sunglasses and leather jackets. But what I love most has to be the trashy cymbal abuse and the gratuitous reverb. If you're gonna go for that, go whole-hog and oh, they do. But five full minutes? Please. Thankfully None of the other songs on the album make the same mistake.
Franke - Skinnad
MP3: Moto Boy - Ave Maria
This song has been the bane of my existence for nearly as long as I can remember, but I most distinctly remember my middle school teacher music teacher Kirk Wetterholm (who looked/looks? quite a bit like Gov. Blagojevich, come to think of it) singing it to me on the regular. He made puns on many kids' names, but I got the aria. Thanks a lot!
Of course, None of my many music teachers (+ others) over the years can compete with Moto Boy's rendition. His new EP of classically-inspired works ("For Martha") is just that: inspired. In the long run, I rather listen to his original torch songs, but since my wife has had this on steady repeat ever since it showed up a week ago, I'm happy to listen again and again. Despite the annoyance this piece has played in my life, it's strongly recommended.
Moto Boy - Ave Maria