T-Pain covers Black Sabbath's War Pigs.

Yep - most famously known for being that auto-tune guy.
Genuinely great rendition!

Cogumelo Records 40th Anniversary (DVD+Booklet)

For the extreme metal fan, this is quite the treat. I had my eye on this as I really wanted the little booklet, which I will still do eventually, but due to cultural institutions funding this release in Brazil, it's also been released for free digitally. To make sure all is not lost, I've uploaded the PDF booklet here, so it's always available. But wow! Talk about history. The booket is also dual language, I've not had a chance to soak it all up quite yet, but it's pretty clear to me how awesome this is.

2024 Edit: Delighted to have this physically - print quality is great! 

Orbiter - Hollow World

So in all fairness, I'm a miserable git on this blog - lots of bands send me awesome stuff, but if it isn't destined to be in my favourite records of the year, it pretty much gets swerved. But guess what, I got sent one of my favourite records of the year! I do try to listen to most things I'm sent, especially when it's a genre of interest. The first thing I heard when listening to Orbiter was how much the tone reminded me of one of my other favourite finnish bands, Tombstoned. I like Tombstoned a lot and their 'Searching / Let Go' 7" (if you have one to sell me, e-mail!) is quite genuinely one of my favourite Doom metal releases ever. I literally went immediately to check if they shared members actually.

Whilst there are some definite grunge and alternative rock influences here, as well as other female fronted Doom metal bands, frankly, it's negligent to even mention them. This band is doing something unique and vocalist Carolin Koss has a distinct voice, which still comes with a Albert Witchfinder twang, which makes me love them even more. Lots of half time drum beats which I also just really enjoy. The songs and execution are just great. The production on this thing is perfection, this thing sounds AMAZING.

Bandcamp: https://orbiterconnection.bandcamp.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/orbiterband
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/orbiterconnection

Now just a little moment for Sabbath acquisitions:

Turn up the night Picture Disc 7" from 1982.
&
Hard Road Purple 7" from 1978.
B-side on this is Symptom of the Universe (!!) and to my knowledge, which involved scouring discogs, this is the first colour vinyl on any Sabbath single. So a nice little collectors piece. 

Church of Misery - Born Under a Mad Sign (Review)

Cornflower Blue Sparkle vinyl diehard: 200 copies + embroidered (blue trim) patch + A2 poster

and Yellow Sherbet: 200 copies Crash Records Store Exclusive pressing.

M**********r. This is Church of Misery. 

Quickly summarized – this release is for sure their most mature and outright consistent so far. This makes ‘Born Under’ stand out as a Church career highlight and therefore consequently a bit of a classic for any true Doom Metal enthusiast immediately.

Generally, the novelty of being from Japan tends to work for the benefit of most bands in the West. However, Tatsu Mikami’s tunnel vision dedication to serial killers and the heavy sounds of rock 'n' roll has meant that for some reason or another, Church of Misery have remained in the underground realm for decades. This guy is a LIFER. In the year I turned 17 (17 years ago, by coincidence), I bore witness to a Church of Misery show on Halloween Night. Tatsu had his bass low enough it a necessity to reflect the vital, thick low-end groove it produced. On vocals was Hideki Fukasawa, CoM’s longest serving vocalist who came out barefoot and dressed like John Lennon during his bed-in for peace era. Yes, strangers of the internet, I was a pig in shit.

There is a reason why Tatsu indulged himself with a Motorhead homage project with the Exumer frontman, Mem. Like Lemmy he gets it – when you imbue your sound with rock ’n’ roll, it’s just comes harder, groovier, with riff and an urgency only hardcore and thrash comes close to matching. You think this is bullshit? go listen to Elvis’s version of Milkcow Blues Boogie, an acoustic song that has all the urgency of the aforementioned. But despite all this talk of rock’n’roll, don’t misunderstand me, Tatsu continues to stand by his infamous proclamation from the Master of Brutality record. This is Doom, make no qualms about it. You will have plenty of opportunities to headbang.

After the most recent Sonic Flower album, I was hoping, wishin’ the new guitarist who absolutely kills it on that record (Fumiya Hattori) would be the axe-man on this release. Instead, we get something even more special and echoing another great additional to the Doom Metal canon, Place of Skulls ‘With Vision’ album, when Wino joined original Pentagram guitarist Victor Griffin’s project. Tatsu here teams up with fellow Japanese Doom Metal lifer Yukito Okazaki of Eternal Elysium.

The sound continues in the traditional vein of Church of Misery. Sludgey, doomy, rock ’n’ roll boogie centred around serial killers. But the execution this time around is just more confident and self-assured. The band are on top form and somehow, it’s manifested even its presentation. We get a Blue Note inspired cover and an album title that clearly plays on Albert King’s legendary ‘Born Under a Bad Sign’ record. The songs are maybe the best overall since Second Coming. Across the album you’ll find Sabbathian plods, bluesy licks and absurdly heavy grooves. My biggest complaint is the album ends somewhat abruptly.

For the purposes of this review, I’ve gone back and spent time with all studio album releases to more realistically determine where this sits for me in their catalogue. I believe that some particular songs off ‘Houses of the Unholy’ (Born to Raise Hell/Badlands) and Thy Kingdom Scum (Brother Bishop) undeniably trump any single song on this album. However, this album is so consistently strong, it really doesn’t matter and whilst ‘Master of Brutality’ and ‘The Second Coming’ remain canon this record can stand up as arguably their best since 2004.

Arigato for the all the grooves, riffs and whiplash Mr Tatsu.

Recent acquisitions.

 

Just a first Brazilian pressing of Sepultura's Schizophrenia album (with typo!)

and some special Ratos de Porao bits.

A first press Sabby, near mint with poster and swirl inner.

I've protected box/sleeve with DC Deflector and can definitely recommend.

Beyond grateful this found it's way to me. Thank you.

with it? Night Crawler, the underground metal comic by daggersintoflesh.

Spirit Caravan - Live in London (01/12/2000)

This is actually an official bootleg purchased directly from the band in CD-r format.

I've just upped the ante with some more effort in the presentation. Decent little set!

    1. Spirit Caravan - Black Flower (5:18)

    2. Spirit Caravan - Healing Tongue (2:29)

    3. Spirit Caravan - Courage (4:04)

    4. Spirit Caravan - Retroman, Part 1 (2:22)

    5. Spirit Caravan - Retroman, Part 2 (3:25)

    6. Spirit Caravan - Cosmic Artifact (6:00)

    7. Spirit Caravan - Dreamwheel (6:05)

    8. Spirit Caravan - Elusive Truth (4:41)

    9. Spirit Caravan - Powertime (3:34)

    10. Spirit Caravan - Streetside (The Obsessed) (3:28)

DOWNLOAD HERE.