YORK FACTORY COMPLAINT

I received a formidable package from Nostilevo a while back, and this was one of the more trying cassettes it contained. Equal parts morose and harsh, YORK FACTORY COMPLAINT lurch their way through a half hour of mangled industrial beats and oppressive distorted electronics. Initially, the vocals on the first track are an afterthought, hollow and sinister missives shouted at uncomfortable intervals in the late '80s tradition, but far more painful....and eventually far more essential, as those same vocals begin to hold my attention as much as the increasingly chaotic musical accompaniment. The second track is a wall of tortured madness, and the descent starting at about the 8:00 mark is nothing short of brilliant. This shit is dark and uncomfortable.

THE GRIEVING PROCESS

OBLIVIONATION

The intro riff is a killer, and then comes the guitar break and you know you are in for some serious shit.  OBLIVIONATION deliver on the promise they made with those first two riffs, and maintain a level of intensity for the entirety of this criminally short demo. Two of these dudes were in OUT COLD (among the most under appreciated US hardcore acts ever), and after the 2010 death of OUT COLD vocalist Mark Sheehan I wondered if Evicci would keep making music...thankfully he did. This is every bit as forceful as the finest OUT COLD material, and even more desperate. Only three songs here, but I can only imagine what we are in for in the future. At least those of us who care.

OBLIVIONATION

Sold out from the band, but thankfully reissued by Bleeding Edges. Don't settle for mp3s, just use them to get you through until you can hold it in your hands and sit back with the lyrics sheet on the first listen, then you flip the tape and mosh the shit out of your house. Trust me, it works.

KOSZMAR

Relentless and chaotic, Vancouver's KOSZMAR come off like a white noise treated DBeat assault cranked up to 78rpm. Forceful high end vocals (from a voice touched with a slight dusting of the Japanese yeowl) pierce through the wail of manic cymbals and tinny guitars doing battle in the upper registers. But there are songs, and they are damn good - addictive riffs and a frantic pace are uncomfortably tempered by the harsh recording with very aurally pleasing results. Lyrics all in Polish, and there's a MOSKWA cover for those interested in such things...somehow their version sounds like DISCHARGE taking speed and writing more complicated riffs, which is difficult to explain but easy to enjoy.

KOSZMAR

ROZZLYN RANGERS

Unknown outside of nerd circles until Dischord released their 3xCD anniversary comp ten years ago, DC's ROZZLYN RANGERS were a project featuring members of MINOR THREAT, TEEN IDLES, GOVERNMENT ISSUE, IRON CROSS and so on. Ian plays piano on the theme song that was featured on the Dischord reissue, but the other two songs here are legit burners (correction in the comments section - apparently the "other two songs" are not ROZZLYN RAGERS and apparently I need to brush up on my Dischord). These tracks made the tape trading circles in the '80s, and now I'm helping them make the new millennial version. I like to help.

ROZZLYN RANGERS

BAPHOMET

When the tape comes with no cover and looks like this, you know you are in for a treat. Active from '87-'93, Buffalo's BAPHOMET (who changed their name to BANISHED to avoid being confused with other metal bands with generic names...but still they chose BANISHED, which is weird) cranked out a healthy slew of demos (this tape is unmarked, but I believe this is a chunk of 1990's self titled promo) before dropping a full length on legions of rabid fans. Maybe there weren't quite legions, but I like to think there were. Guttural, primitive death metal.

BAPHOMET

STEEL TRAP

While I expect very few people to download this compilation, I can assure that the contents are of the highest quality. 18 bands spanning three cassettes and almost as many hours of your life...prepare to be intrigued, enthralled and occasionally disturbed. This one requires a substantial commitment, but the payoff is well worth it.

STEEL TRAP

Released by Chondritic Sound in an edition of 300 in 2010.

REASON TO RESIST

Rampaging Malaysian thrash in three brutal movements. The melody here has more in common with Gothenburg than with Portland, and there are shameless moments of power metal hiding beneath the crunch on this 2011 banger. Let us thrash.

EXISTENCE OF A BASTARDS