Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Dropdead - s/t

Dear Internet;  seriously?  You're this "great source of all information, true or otherwise." You are the gossip column of the world and this great source of new music for people.  Especially punk kids who don't want to pay for music.  There is an awful lot of that stuff out there and yet I find THIS fast/grind/powerviolence/punk/hardcore whatever-the-fuck-it's-called-this-week example of perfection to be totally underrepresented. (seriously scenesters, decide on a name, then kindly fuck off and take a shower.  It's been around since 1985 and it's called grind, I don't care what they are singing about or what Eric Wood feels about it.)

For some reason, I was searching this and noticed that there were a few download links to it, but for the most part, they were like 128kbps.  I have an original Selfish Records version of the CD that I bought from Media Play of all places in 1994 when I was in high school.  Here is a fairly high quality rip of it (200 or higher kbps)  This is another one of those albums that changed my life.  Up there with  Black Sabbath - Master Of Reality, Naked City - Torture Garden, or Obituary - Cause Of Death.  This is the first time I had ever heard anyone being REALLY pissed about vivisection or factory farming.  Bob's vocals are probably the most pissed ever recorded.  Unlike alot of guys, DROPDEAD doesn't make it sound like it's a job, they rage from the heart no matter how fast they are playing (though it is usually fast).  The songs usually have some kind of structure and thought to their assembly rather than much of this stuff that comes out now and somehow, Dropdead are able to keep it kinda catchy too.  When I first heard this, I considered it kin to Terrorizer and I still do.  This is punk played by guys with metal skills and smart-missile precision like only dudes could do in 1992 (i.e. before there was a roadmap on how to play and record this kindof stuff.)  Dropdead helped to distill and refine the definition of pissed for me.  This is also the first CD issue of it, so there is no remastering or studio fuckery going on with the recording, so you will have to turn it up if you are used to listening to corporate embarrassments like Phobia or y'know, Disturbed?

I post this specifically in honor of In Disgust, whose demise I lamented in my most recent post.  I considered them kin as well. Dropdead are still out there killing it on occasion. As a bonus, I've uploaded both the original Selfish records version and the Armageddon version that I happened across at the store the other day.  The Armageddon Records version is a different earlier mix and is separated only by 2 tracks, one being the A side and the other being the B side.  The mix to my ears is absolutely more feral, but it's one of those "Raw Power" kindof arguments.  I know the original flawed mixes and like them better, but that's just me. 

Monday, November 15, 2010

RIP - In Disgust

I really liked this band.  I just read that they broke up and that depresses me.  What a bummer for a first post in several months.  I guess that's what happens with good grind/fast bands.  With rare exception, they burn out quick.  Terrorizer, Discordance Axis, Insect Warfare, Threatener, etc.etc.  Napalm Death got it back together after 8 or 9 years of boring industrial rock or whatever the hell that was.  Their records would rule everything if the production was raw again.  In Disgust was like THEEE band.  Reality Choke completely blew me away.  There is very little advancement that can occur in such a narrow genre.  When it gets too artsy, you get garbage like The Locust.  Google search this band.  They ruled.

I guess I am posting this as a little update to my "followers."  I just happened to look over and notice that there were a few over there.  One of them is my mom.  Isn't that nice?  I haven't found anything really worth blogging about MUSICALLY in a long time, at least nothing that I wasn't a few months behind on anyways.  The most I have found to do is that I got an actual CD rip of the Gutted CD I posted several months ago.  It sounds better for sure.  I keep forgetting to upload it and replace the link.  Most of what I have really gotten into is nothing that can't be found on 80 other blogs anyways.  More on that in another post I guess.

I moved 3 months ago.  My girl and I got a place in a town that is much more sensible for us to live in.  We've been taking our time trying to get our place set up and find enough second hand furniture to sit on and eat off of.  I have cats now too.  My lady cooks wonderful vegan food for me and my waistline has taken a hit.  I work 50+ hours a week some weeks between two jobs and barely have time to deal with the internet, which explains why I have been so behind.  Domestic life is busy... way too busy for me to be concerned with my narcissistic pursuits that no one really cares about.  I have to take the trash out now and clean the kitchen and make coffee and stay home and watch documentaries on my days off.  She scoops the litter box.  Scooping the litter box is not metal.

This blog is not dead, and I think of it often... then I think that there is really nothing for me to write about that would be of any interest to anyone for the time being.  I just haven't worked it back into my life yet.  Hell, I still have to find time to start hitting the gym again.   Soon enough.