Cassette Archives - Northern Sludge

June 12, 2019June 12, 2019

0025-Xerostomia-Demo Cassette Tape

Artist: Xerostomia
Album: 39 Trax Demo
Release Date: January 1^st, 2019
Format: Cassette Tape

This tape is sick.

I could end the review with that, but I won’t. This release is a well thought out concept. The art and layout are exciting. In the name of found art, vintage photos are taped onto the J-card. What a super cool concept! Looking at the Bandcamp each tape was made with a different photo for the cover.

The tracks are pure, blistering fast grindcore. This is the perfect encapsulation of everything I appreciate in the genre. Ridiculous aggression and musical violence pummel the ears from start to end. The tape itself is completely wrapped in “Xerostomia” labeling over a grey smoke colored tape beneath.

I first listened to this tape in my Jeep while back roading after a blizzard, and the blast beats and chugging riffs fit right in with the snow. I found myself headbanging as I was dashing through the snow! Track after track of blasts, shrieks and riffage, a mess of noise really, but in the best way possible. Sonically the guitar sits at a super low range, some of it gets lost in the chaos. Or is that what makes the chaos? The vocals go from guttural grunting to shrieks, guitars chugging then lost in the mess of ridiculous riffage. The drums blasting away keep the assault onward – pure sonic noise. You can hear each piece but it’s so blistering fast, is that a bass drum? A tom? That was def a snare… holy blast beats what is happening.

My favorite part of this tape is that it looks just as sweaty as the music sounds. The longest track is 27 seconds. Once I got on Bandcamp I realized there are 39 tracks. That is a total of 39 tracks in under 10 mins of wreckage. This was the groups “Demo,” and according to the internet – Xerostomia are actively playing shows in the Detroit area. Links below!

Xerostomia Bandcamp

Northern Sludge Music Review — Photos by Nibiinabekwe • Reider School • Lachine, MI

February 26, 2019May 29, 2019

0023 – Reverb Adrenaline – We’ll Sleep When We’re Dead – Cassette Tape Review

Artist: Reverb Adrenaline
Album: We’ll Sleep When We’re Dead
Label: Levitation Records & Tapes
Release Date: Jan 1, 2013
Format: Cassette Tape

This tape was a freebie from Levitation Records & Tapes, thrown in when I ordered the previously reviewed Charcoal Squids Cassette. The cover art features a paisley brown wash design and clean typography. The tape is a copper brown color with paper stick on labels marked “This side” and “That side.” According to the fine print on the cassette label this tape was recorded in “3Deep Space Full Alien Sound.” I’m guessing the interface with the aliens lead to the abundance of reverb jamminess throughout this recording!

The first track, titled “On The Road,” opens with a wash of jangly guitars and vocals. The beat has a super chill and plodding feel, once to the halfway point the guitars really open up, making for some huge and beautiful guitar work. Sonically the riffage just melts in my ears!

Next up is the track “Golden.” The guitars bring forth an almost underwater level of reverb. This song is a bit more straight forward garage rock than the previous.

Next up is the third track, “For Your Love.” Leading in with a rambling guitar line and the vocals shortly thereafter. The song has a plodding repetitive rhythm, repeating the main guitar line for most of the track.

“Tallest Highrise” has a super chill vibe, the drums and guitars are mixed below the vocals, giving this track a different feel. I would say ethereal, ever moving forward, ever moving up, consistently moving higher and further out, ending with a fade among the clouds….

“I’m Gone,” an instrumental, closes out the first side. This song slowly comes into existence with an epic long fade from nothing, reaching full volume at about a minute or more. Once at full volume the guitars shine; featuring powerful, long, chords. The payoff from the long build culminates with crashing symbols, full drum kit, and loud guitars, all done just in time to flip the tape.

Reverb Adrenaline Music Review Cassette on Rock

The second side brings “Head Full,” right out the gate the sound has shifted into a more straight forward rock feel. The song melds into a garage rock frenzy, simple bass and drums with spacey guitars and vocals, an definitive change in sound from the earlier tracks. The song fades out in a satisfying wash of feedback.

“Fall With Me” dives in with a straight forward rock beat. Everything is soaked in reverb. Bass and drums keep the rhythm while everything else washes around the outside. The next track, second to last, titled “There’s No Us,” consists of strummed guitar with tambourine accompaniment for the rhythm. Spaced out guitars slide in and out with various tones and sounds on the peripherals of the mix, meanwhile the vocals sit just over top.

The closing track, titled “Xy,” plods into existence. I would call it a space western sound, leading me to think: maybe this was recorded in a smoky bar on some far off planet. I like the looseness of this track, way more jammy. The looseness is a refreshing finish to this album.

Great production throughout the tape, the songs would be perfect for a long rambling road trip. So, go get lost in the woods with this stuck in the tape deck and let the reverb guide you. The full album is up on YouTube and Spotify, look below for links.

Reverb Adrenaline Spotify

Reverb Adrenaline Youtube

Reverb Adrenaline Facebook

Photos by Nibiinabekwe – The Healy Hardwoods, Montmorency County, Michigan.

November 8, 2018

0021 – Olde Growth – Tour EP 2012 Owl EP

Artist: Olde Growth
Album: Tour EP 2012
Label: Self-Released
Release Date: 2012
Format: Cassette Tape

Olde Growth is a 2-piece bass and drum group from Boston. This tape is the second and final release, and a pre-release to the Vinyl that Hydro-Phonic Records put out officially retitled “Owl EP.” I was lucky enough to pick the tape up from these 2 dudes at a show in Boston. When I was researching for this review I realized that the later released Owl EP was the same tracks as what is contained on this cassette. I snagged the “Owl EP” off Bandcamp and compared. The tape has some audio artifacts from the dubbing and the limitations of tape. The sound of the digital files is much fuller and less distorted. Saying that, I did thoroughly enjoy the character that the tape flavors added to the mix.

This tape is in a clamshell cassette case, with a lightweight paper style cover that wraps around both sides. The cassette itself has a paint-marker embellishment on both sides and has audio duplicated to each side. With the full album on side A and B you don’t have to rewind and flip endlessly!

The sound that is Olde Growth consists of a super heavy, groove-oriented base that flows in and out of classic stoner rock. The drums are tight and carry the songs well, while the bass fits into its own pocket. Even without a guitar lead present, sounds pop in and out. Slow rumbles and combines with more intricate phrasing, melding in with a strong vocal delivery.

The opener track, “Brother of the Moon,” comes in with a simple clean bass line, followed by the drums and then thick bass waves of distortion. Heavy, in all the right ways, finally the song builds into large chords that fully bring the ears into the woods. Finally, to bring the song to full throttle the drums step into a stomp and the bass flips over into more of a lead style delivery. The drums and vocals carry the song from here, while the bass chugs slowly just below.

The transition into track two, “Warrior Child,” is near seamless. The feel and the groove are similar to the previous track. Drums lead the charge, vocals and chugging bass lines right beside. Another great song, fun to tap along to and keep the head bobbing.

The third track is “Tears of Blood.” This brings a departure from the first half of the EP. The riffs are again in the galloping stoner rock feel, but the hook is more prominent. The crashing chords and vocal delivery, at the end, is by far some of the heaviest moments on the tape. One of my favorite parts about this group is the way that the bass transitions from standard rhythm to thick chords. This sound, this style, really lends to the heaviness of Olde Growth.

“Edge of the Sea” has a great hook, the vocals reach a near singalong status. Fun, dark, and full of good imagery, the music underneath helps to transport my mind. I love closing my eyes and taking in the waves. This song is pure fun, full of that classic stoner rock bounce that keeps my head nodding.

I had always meant to pick up this album, never realizing that I already had the album on my tape rack! Hilarious! I still want the vinyl, I imagine it has a much better audio treatment than this tape. I believe Olde Growth is on hiatus, and they will be missed. Click the links below to check out the music for yourself.

Olde Growth Bandcamp

Olde Growth Facebook

Photos by Nibiinabekwe Ocqueoc Michigan Lake Huron — Photos by Nibiinabekwe • Huron Beach • Ocqueoc, MI

October 23, 2018

0020 – Sete Star Sept Bullshit Market Split Cassette

Sete Star Sept Bullshit Market Cassette in Woods

Artist: Bullshit Market / Sete Star Sept
Album: Split
Label: Trashfuck Records
Release Date: May 12th 2016
Format: Cassette Tape

This release is a split cassette from Detroit’s Bullshit Market and Japan’s Sete Star Sept. The tape has a unique two tone black and grey shell, with DIY style stick on labels. The tape dubbing, and overall recording, is on par with what you would expect from a grindcore or noise artist. Lo-fi; but in the right way. A little dirty, a little muddy. Sometimes things are lost with this style of recording, but I feel that this one got its own flavor from that treatment. The actual cover art is super intricate, lots to take in and look at, with chaotic line drawings and liner notes.

The recording of Sete Star Sept is live from a show in Detroit, and overall the sound is a very dense wall of chaos. There are a few spots where the audio seems to have an effect of some sort, I am guessing it’s a post recording glitch effect. The sound is cool and adds to the overall feeling and transition of the track.

The Bullshit Market side of the tape has its own feel and pulse. I can’t quite put my finger on it, however I sure have enjoyed it. It has pace and movement in the chaos. Samples come in and out as the noise weaves through. I always appreciate noise when it knows how to flow appropriately. I found Bullshit Market to be masters in this art.

This was a fun tape to digest. Capturing, and encapsulating, the raw energy that is within this music is not easy. This tape did exactly that, captured and replicated, to my ears, the chaos of these 2 groups.

Bullshit Market Bandcamp

Sete Star Sept Website

Trashfuck Records Bandcamp

Photos by Nibiinabekwe Scenic Rte 1 Atlanta State Forest, Atlanta Michigan. — Photos by Nibiinabekwe • Scenic Rte 1 Atlanta State Forest, Atlanta Michigan. Clear cut forest land to provide raw timber to be burnt for electricity in the village of Hillman, they mix the wood pulp with shredded used tires to provide Northern Michigan’s own form of “green” energy. I find it rather heartbreaking.

June 17, 2018

0014 – Charcoal Squids – Self Titled Cassette

Charcoal Squids Self Titled Cassette Tape

Artist: Charcoal Squids
Album: Self Titled
Label: Levitation Recording & Tapes and Ghost Carrot Records
Release Date: April 19, 2017
Format: Cassette Tape

Previously I had never heard of Levitation Recording & Tapes or of the Charcoal Squids. One of the exciting parts of this blog is reaching out of my known territories and discovering new bands and labels. I take enjoyment exploring DIY small runs of cassettes, with bands I have yet to hear of. This cassette I picked purely off of the write-up on a web store and the cool factor of the artwork, this looked like the dirtiest nastiest of the bunch! Psychedelic surf? Sure why not!

The cassette itself is a sweet magenta color, with paper labels in a clear case, with slick looking J-card. DIY as F in the best way, the text and fonts on the J-card give that underwater feel, preparing the eyes and ears for the oncoming sonic adventure! This tape was put out in a limited release of 100 from both Levitation Recording & Tapes and Ghost Carrot Records from Missoula, MT. Well laid out, recorded, and packaged – the trifecta for DIY tapes.

The sound these guys create is a noisy, psychedelic, surf extravaganza. Listening to this modern take on surf is really refreshing. This is what I imagine you would get if you took a standard dirty, smelly garage band and dropped them overboard to be soaked in ocean fuzz. Fuzzy hooks soaked in reverb, dragging along the ocean floor, occasionally popping out with some explosion of insanity.

The recording of the album is spot on! I could hear all the nuances in the recordings, and all instruments share the space well. I really struggled with breaking the different songs apart and picking favorites. When I listen to the album it all just flows together really well. It plays in a seamless way that makes the entire album listenable as a piece. No one hit wonders here, you must take the whole journey!

That being said the hooks in “Peppermint Spiders” bounce and stick in my brain like a half eaten candy cane sticks to a wrapper. Simple, clean riffs full of fuzz and hazy hooks. This fully encapsulates what is the great uniqueness that is Charcoal Squids and the soundscape that they meld! So, after close examination, I can choose that as my favorite track.

I look forward to delving further into the catalog of these guys! Links below for the music and more!

Charcoal Squids Bandcamp

Charcoal Squids Facebook

Levitation Recording & Tapes

Ghost Carrot Records

Camp 8 Road Atlanta, MI Snow by Nibiinabekwe — Photos by Nibiinabekwe. Camp 8 Road • Atlanta, Michigan.

May 6, 2018May 6, 2018

0012 – Skelotonized – Defleshed Cassette Tape

Artist: Skelotonized
Album: Defleshed
Release Date: October 28, 2017
Format: Cassette Tape

Skelotonized are located in Pittsburgh, PA. They are a 3-piece, featuring former Triangle And Rhino members, Lexso and Rappa, along with fellow Pittsburgh noise native, Farkas. This release comes in a super vibrant blue cassette with silver printing featuring the name of the band, the album, and a simple “Side A” and “Side B.” The J Card features a mountain scene lush with greenery and floral, animals and lady swimmers hunted by Greek statues! The visuals are a perfect representation of the world, and the journey, that Skelotonized is about to immerse your ears in. Once you pop in the tape – you’ll understand. Hit play and you’re instantly dropped off into a prehistoric jungle, birds and primal animals abound, while jazz swells just below.

This tape has a uniqueness that I can’t quite put my finger on, that I almost can’t put words to. I feel like a jungle explorer, traveling down a river in some prehistoric time. The drums, the sax, the noise extravaganza – all create a primal rhythm, that just hits me where I want to be hit.

I can’t quite identify the how or the what all the sounds come from, but I know I hear guitars, bass, drums, keys or synths, maybe even an oscillator…or was it a Tyrannosaurus? Who knows? I do know this – it rules and I am so glad to have snagged a copy.

This tape, from beginning to end, is a nonstop jazz noise freak-out. The music has a swing and a character all its own. The songs don’t live in a freakout, but meld into pieces that have definitive ends and beginnings. This is meant to be heard in one sitting, I believe. I recommend you sit down and go on the entire journey. Sometimes, with Noise Music, the rhythm and the song become lost in the chaos, but not this. There are clear themes and riffs that carry the ears onward.

Skelotonized Facebook

Skelotonized Bandcamp

Photo by Nibiinabekwe Snow Trees — Photos by Nibiinabekwe. Atlanta State Forest Area, Michigan.

April 16, 2018

0010 – Nakay – Chronic Demise Split

Artist: Nakay – Chronic Demise Split
Album: Split
Label: ???
Release Date: ???
Format: Cassette

This cassette is a split of two grind bands, Nakay and Chronic Demise. The J Card is a printed folded paper with the band names and a track listing. The tape itself is plain grey clear color with just simple markings for each bands side. The tape looks to be a DIY job as I would expect from grindcore bands, although the cassette itself may have been pro done, as it sounds consistent. The labeling on the tape looks like it was pro done, even if it is just a stencil of each bands name, so either way, good job guys.

Nakay’s side starts right in and does not relent for the whole side of the tape – blast beasts, guttural vocals, with brief spattering of samples / effects in the transitions. The grinds are fast as fuck, and beyond tight, guitars are thick and the vocals are powerful and present in the mix, just at the right spot.

The Chronic Demise side brings a stark contrast, starting with slow sludge riffs that transition into grinding fast blasting sections. Big fat riffs, big thick cords, nasty grinding parts and shrieking vocals, not as fast as the Nakay but the slow-fast effect makes up for that.

This was another pick out of my racks. I sometimes get these tapes and listen once or twice, and forget. With this project I get to really delve in, take time, and listen to the nuances in the sound each band put forth. As far as I can tell Nakay is still active, while Chronic Demise seems not to be. Links are below to band pages for each.

No labels, no bullshit, just 10 minutes of grind. There is an email address printed below the track listings on the back of the tape, no middlemen here. Just put the tape in and shut up already. I like this part of grindcore. It’s about the music, anti capitalist, anti everything. I can dig that.

Nakay Bandcamp

Chronic Demise Bandcamp

Chronic Demise Facebook

Snow Pine Tree Sunset Panorama — Photos by Nibiinabekwe. County Road 628, Atlanta State Forest.

March 22, 2018April 1, 2018

0008 – The Swill – Thirst For Misery

Artist: The Swill
Album: Thirst For Misery
Label: Self Released
Release Date: Nov 7th, 2013
Format: Cassette

This is the first pressing, limited edition cassette from Lansing, Michigan’s The Swill. The bands self released debut album, titled Thirst For Misery. Cover art is done by Brad Moore and features a gargoyle before a moonscape. The tape was released 3 times, this is the first version that came on black, all releases are sold out on Bandcamp.

This recording, is super well done, the drums carry the songs well, while Matt Preston and Dan McCormick lay down thick riffage with super intricate and melodic passages throughout.

The last song, “The Void and the Vision” has a great galloping beat, the drums really lead you into the song. Then the guitars build in, swelling to a huge solo. Rael Andrews drums really highlight the awesome guitar-work on this track, pushing the driving feeling all the way to the end.

It was fun to pull this tape out, these guys rule. Part of this project is digging out old gems or finding new ones to appreciate. This tape was definitely lost in the shuffle of my collection, mostly forgotten, but not anymore.

The Swill On Bandcamp

The Swill Facebook

Photos by Nibiinabekwe. Point Iroquois Lighthouse, Lake Superior.

February 16, 2018March 12, 2018

0001 – Sekkusu – Fukk On Loud Night

Artist: Sekkusu
Album: Fukk On Loud Night
Label: Dystopian Dogs
Release Date: Sept 21 2016
Format: Cassette Tape

Sekkusu hail from Detroit, Michigan. This particular release was put out by the label Dystopian Dogs, who are also a product of Michigan. Fukk On Loud Night came as a one sided, 10 minute cassette tape, which is now out of stock. You can still find this album on Bandcamp to stream or download. Continue reading “0001 – Sekkusu – Fukk On Loud Night”