Cryptids – “Something Cryptis This Way Comes ep (2010)
This is Kam Lee’s (Massacre, Denial Fiend, very early Death) new project, and not at all what I expected. It’s pretty typical horror punk with a little Cramps-esque psychobilly touch thrown in for good measure. What makes it a little different is Kam’s much rougher than usual vocals for this stuff (most horror punk bands try to rip off the Misfits more melodic vocalizations). The first 2 songs are more in the Cramps surfy style, the third song is very Misfits influenced, and the last song is pretty thrashy. I’ve never liked surf/ psychobilly stuff much, but this ep is just short enough to be appealing without wearing out its welcome. And the second half (harder songs) is pretty good horror punk (which is hard to do well).
Culo – “Military Trend” 7”ep (2010)
Very raw hardcore with a slightly blown-out production (kinda like some of those ultra-distorted Japanese bands, but not as bad). The music isn’t that radical- kind of old school hardcore punk (think early Black Flag- Damaged and before, mixed with a little Negative Approach) but the raw production makes it seem heavier than it is. I like this stuff, frentic at times but with good progressions and a lot of changes. The first song is awesome.
Born Against – “Born Against” 7”ep (1990)
The 90’s had some pretty unique sounds creep into punk, with bands like Rorschach and these guys playing some very angst-ridden discordant but still tuneful hardcore. Rorschach had a lot more metal influence, and these guys a bit more offbeat punk rock (kinda early Black Flag singles on crack) influence. A lot of bands have taken this sound and ran with it in the years since (Born Against themselves refined it and made it more quirky and harder over the years), but there weren’t many bands doing stuff like this in 1990.
Cancer Spreading/ Cruel Storm split 7”ep (2010)
Each of these bands throws out 2 songs of crusty hardcore. Cancer Spreading are a little heavier and more metal, with a fuzzed out guitar sound and guttural vocals that sound about like most guttural crust vocals, but I still love. Cruel Storm are a little faster, and both songs have a good driving pace and bass line, with more raw vocals. I like them a little better (but both bands are good).
The Crucifucks - “The Crucifucks” (1984)
This album kicks ass. Side a is some of the the snottiest, punkest songs you’ll ever hear (and I’m not joking about that- it’s the definition of punk). The vocalist’s annoying-on-purpose vocals and the awesome drumming (by Steve Shelley, who went on to Sonic Youth) and bass playing (the bass really drives the songs) sticks out. Side b has a completely different feel- it’s still the same band and production, but it mixes in an art-damaged quirky feel and playing to the songs, perhaps a slight Minutemen influence. I like side a better, but both sides are great.
The Men That Will Be Blamed For Nothing – “A Very Steampunk Christmas” ep (2010)
There’s 4 songs on this- 2 are kind of Irish drinking song sounding, one is punk/ oi!, and one is kind of metal. Hard to describe- I think they’re more of a comedy act than serious. I don’t see the steampunk connection. The best is the oi! Song (which is a cover of “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen”- all the songs except one are Christmas ones). Features the drummer from Lords Of The New Church.
Sacrifice/ Propagandhi split 7” (2010)
This is kind of an odd coupling- both bands are from Canada, but Sacrifice (doing a Rush cover here) play thrash metal, and Propagandhi (doing a Corrosion Of Conformity cover) are pretty much pop punk (tho not the most overproduced/ bubblegum of the pack- they’re actually more on the punk side of pop punk with some bite. Better than most). The Sacrifice song is kind of boring, really. Not much to it. The Propagandhi song is a bit better, pretty fast (but with all the crossover of the original song washed out) and hardcore.
Two Witches – “Crucified” ep (2010)
This starts off with a fairly typical old school goth song- the bass line and reverb laden guitars, dramatic vocals. Then there is an interesting cover of Army Of Lovers song “Crucified”, a dark acoustic version of one of their older songs (with a bit of a cabaret feel), and 2 live songs. These guys aren’t quite as dark as a lot of the old school goth bands (not even as dark as they used to be- they’ve lightened up a bit, and I think this is a different vocalist). Not as good as their old stuff, but I guess times are hard for traditional goth bands. Gotta change it up a bit.
Fratricide/ Mission Of Christ split 7”ep (1987)
I always liked Fratricide quite a bit, after hearing their awesome song “Going Under” on an old Pusmort compilation. They’re a little more crossover here, not quiet as fast, but still good. Kind of along the lines of Corrosion Of Conformity’s Animosity with Roger Miret circa Liberty and Justice For… on vocals (very exaggerated). They have their own sound, tho- they aren’t a total rip off or anything. Good crossover, a bit more on the hardcore side.
Mission Of Christ, on the other hand, are a bit more on the metal side of crossover. More thrashy riffs and guitar stuff (tho not too much- it’s still good) and mosh parts. Both bands are great.
This is Kam Lee’s (Massacre, Denial Fiend, very early Death) new project, and not at all what I expected. It’s pretty typical horror punk with a little Cramps-esque psychobilly touch thrown in for good measure. What makes it a little different is Kam’s much rougher than usual vocals for this stuff (most horror punk bands try to rip off the Misfits more melodic vocalizations). The first 2 songs are more in the Cramps surfy style, the third song is very Misfits influenced, and the last song is pretty thrashy. I’ve never liked surf/ psychobilly stuff much, but this ep is just short enough to be appealing without wearing out its welcome. And the second half (harder songs) is pretty good horror punk (which is hard to do well).
Culo – “Military Trend” 7”ep (2010)
Very raw hardcore with a slightly blown-out production (kinda like some of those ultra-distorted Japanese bands, but not as bad). The music isn’t that radical- kind of old school hardcore punk (think early Black Flag- Damaged and before, mixed with a little Negative Approach) but the raw production makes it seem heavier than it is. I like this stuff, frentic at times but with good progressions and a lot of changes. The first song is awesome.
Born Against – “Born Against” 7”ep (1990)
The 90’s had some pretty unique sounds creep into punk, with bands like Rorschach and these guys playing some very angst-ridden discordant but still tuneful hardcore. Rorschach had a lot more metal influence, and these guys a bit more offbeat punk rock (kinda early Black Flag singles on crack) influence. A lot of bands have taken this sound and ran with it in the years since (Born Against themselves refined it and made it more quirky and harder over the years), but there weren’t many bands doing stuff like this in 1990.
Cancer Spreading/ Cruel Storm split 7”ep (2010)
Each of these bands throws out 2 songs of crusty hardcore. Cancer Spreading are a little heavier and more metal, with a fuzzed out guitar sound and guttural vocals that sound about like most guttural crust vocals, but I still love. Cruel Storm are a little faster, and both songs have a good driving pace and bass line, with more raw vocals. I like them a little better (but both bands are good).
The Crucifucks - “The Crucifucks” (1984)
This album kicks ass. Side a is some of the the snottiest, punkest songs you’ll ever hear (and I’m not joking about that- it’s the definition of punk). The vocalist’s annoying-on-purpose vocals and the awesome drumming (by Steve Shelley, who went on to Sonic Youth) and bass playing (the bass really drives the songs) sticks out. Side b has a completely different feel- it’s still the same band and production, but it mixes in an art-damaged quirky feel and playing to the songs, perhaps a slight Minutemen influence. I like side a better, but both sides are great.
The Men That Will Be Blamed For Nothing – “A Very Steampunk Christmas” ep (2010)
There’s 4 songs on this- 2 are kind of Irish drinking song sounding, one is punk/ oi!, and one is kind of metal. Hard to describe- I think they’re more of a comedy act than serious. I don’t see the steampunk connection. The best is the oi! Song (which is a cover of “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen”- all the songs except one are Christmas ones). Features the drummer from Lords Of The New Church.
Sacrifice/ Propagandhi split 7” (2010)
This is kind of an odd coupling- both bands are from Canada, but Sacrifice (doing a Rush cover here) play thrash metal, and Propagandhi (doing a Corrosion Of Conformity cover) are pretty much pop punk (tho not the most overproduced/ bubblegum of the pack- they’re actually more on the punk side of pop punk with some bite. Better than most). The Sacrifice song is kind of boring, really. Not much to it. The Propagandhi song is a bit better, pretty fast (but with all the crossover of the original song washed out) and hardcore.
Two Witches – “Crucified” ep (2010)
This starts off with a fairly typical old school goth song- the bass line and reverb laden guitars, dramatic vocals. Then there is an interesting cover of Army Of Lovers song “Crucified”, a dark acoustic version of one of their older songs (with a bit of a cabaret feel), and 2 live songs. These guys aren’t quite as dark as a lot of the old school goth bands (not even as dark as they used to be- they’ve lightened up a bit, and I think this is a different vocalist). Not as good as their old stuff, but I guess times are hard for traditional goth bands. Gotta change it up a bit.
Fratricide/ Mission Of Christ split 7”ep (1987)
I always liked Fratricide quite a bit, after hearing their awesome song “Going Under” on an old Pusmort compilation. They’re a little more crossover here, not quiet as fast, but still good. Kind of along the lines of Corrosion Of Conformity’s Animosity with Roger Miret circa Liberty and Justice For… on vocals (very exaggerated). They have their own sound, tho- they aren’t a total rip off or anything. Good crossover, a bit more on the hardcore side.
Mission Of Christ, on the other hand, are a bit more on the metal side of crossover. More thrashy riffs and guitar stuff (tho not too much- it’s still good) and mosh parts. Both bands are great.
