0026-Cavalcade-Sonic Euthanasia Vinyl Record Review

Vinyl Record in the Grass Music Review

Artist: Cavalcade                             
Album: Sonic Euthanasia
Label: Bermuda Mohawk / GTG
Release Date: May 3, 2019
Format: Vinyl Record

This is the newest release from Cavalcade, and I was lucky enough to snag a copy of it at a recent show in Traverse City. As I would expect from Cavalcade, this release is a mix of heavy and weird. The sounds themselves are slabbed onto a chunk of standard black vinyl stuffed within a full color sleeve. A reptilian eyeball covers the entire front of the album, wrapping fully around to the backside. As a bonus addition to the package, tucked inside was a CD version and the ubiquitous free download. Almost every format…but where’s the cassette guys???  I noticed an interesting detail within the album layout. On the insert, written in Braille, was a hidden message which translated to “Rather Be Dead.” I always appreciate anything that makes me stop and really look at the design or layout while I’m doing my listening. This detail took a minute to figure out, and then translate. A nice touch!

Metal Review Back Side Vinyl Record

Sonically, Calvacade fits in the realm of metal. Weird metal, noise metal, noisy metal? Who names these things anyways? They are heavy as hell with lots of sonic texture. Riffs come right alongside a plethora of other wave-forms, creating a unique soundscape, that, to me, is instantly identifiable as the one and only Cavalcade.

Delving into the opening track my ears are instantly soaked in every bit of that weirdness. Leading in with a super thick guitar riff and samples underneath, the track evolves into a noodle guitar soundscape. With the Cavalcade standby gravely vocal delivery, the song bounces from weird to stomping guitars back and forth to a satisfying effect. A great opener for those who are new, and for my ears. I found it to be a very congealed form of Cavalcade, grown up, fleshed out, and ready for business.  

The opening of the second track, “Aspirate on Aspirations,” is noisy as all get out, slowly building into a noise wall of guitars and drums and screaming. Layered guitars and effects make for a thick texture. There is so much going on, creating an almost symphonic sound.

Music Review Blog Record in the Rain

The third track, “Here and Now,” again brings the juxtaposition of thick driving guitars with haunting melodic guitars mixed beneath beside and below. The drum work on this track is great. The minimalist beats in the haunting sections that build into crashing accents to the explosions for the heavy parts. Closing out the track it sounds as if a theremin was brought into the noise wall, and this just adds to the texture!

Fourth up brings the giant riffage right out of the gate, deconstructing into a noise scape that scrapes slowly along, this time balancing the noise to thick riffage and back again. Cavalcade has once again created another great noise rock song. The vocal delivery at the close of this track is sick, one of my favorite sections of vocals on this album.

“Noose Tie” opens with a much more open guitar sound, not as heavy, and verging into an airier and more spaced out sound. The vocals stay in gravely death metal vein, but the music itself molds into a more epic sound. The vocals verging into an almost hook type of delivery, which really changes up the usual delivery for this track.

Cavalcade Record in the rain Review

“Freezing in Fire” begins inside a world of twittering and tweeting noises, mixing with chords, slowly building forward. Noisy and heavy, but not in a “metal” way. It’s more of a dark and brooding slough, slowing the album to a crawl just in time to flip to the second side and see what lies beneath.

Side B opens up with a stomper called “Dead Idles.” The drums lead the attack, mixed low, with guitars and vocals sitting just over-top. The drums carry the frenzy of the song, feedback and guitar texture are again highlighted for the Cavalcade arsenal here. Keys (or accordion?) are an addition in the wall of noise, swelling the already ridiculous wall of guitar licks. We are fully in the chaos of the Cavalcade carnival now, I’m expecting my ears to bleed soon.

Next up is “Tragedy’s Sick Sense of Timing,” bringing more of a punk feel with almost airy guitars. Drums are still frenzied and vocals stay in the death gravel realm, but there are moments of an almost chorus sing-along-style sound. So much texture floats in, and around. At one point there is a saxophone flirting around in the riffs. The drums are nailing it here, hard accents and pounding rhythms make for very tight work!

“Prospective Prospectors” begins with a vocal sample that leads into a meandering guitar riff. The riff is a huge one and slowly builds bigger and thicker, bringing the song forward. This is the Cavalcade of yore that I remember, thick riffs, solid drums heavy as all get out, meandering along with the death vocals right on top.

Nearing the end brings up “We Dig Our Own Graves,” another stomper, firmly back into the metal vein here. I think this is the thickest heaviest spot on the album so far. Not soaked in weirdness, but sticking hard to the riffs and laying them down with a sneer. The guitar work is great, again, so much going on so many textures and the lead-work is sick as well.

“Lost Thoughts” is a reprieve from the heaviness of previous tracks. It has a feeling more like a Zappa track than standard Cavalcade, full of various percussion sounds and multiple voiceings. This track is absurdly hilarious, and, nearing the end of the LP it fits perfectly.

Metal Review Cavalcade Record

The closing track titled “Blackout Radius” is the longest track, coming in at over 5 minutes. Heavy, but in a more reserved way. I feel like this track captivates the weirdness, dual guitar riffage, and vocal delivery of the previous tracks all in one. The song sounds huge and feels like it just keeps opening up, bringing the album to its inevitable close.

Cavalcade rules and no one sounds like them. These dudes are always out playing shows so click the links below for the music and more info. Also check out our previous review of their 7″ here.

Cavalcade on Facebook

Cavalcade Bandcamp

Cavalcade Instagram

Cavalcade Sonic Euthanasia
Photos by Nibiinabekwe – Healy Hardwoods – Millersburg, MI

0022 – Forget The Times – Soul Music Vinyl Record

Music Review Blog Forget The Times Cover

Artist: Forget The TimesForget The Times Vinyl Record Pond
Album: Soul Music
Label: Already Dead Tapes
Release Date: Feb 21, 2012
Format: Vinyl Record

Forget The Times are a noise rock band from Kalamazoo, Michigan. This release came out in 2012 on “Already Dead Tapes.” The treatment of this record features a simple fold over style heavy weight paper cover and standard black vinyl. The graphics on the cover art are a line drawing featuring 2 men playing a game looks sort of like checkers, maybe. Additionally the center logo on the record itself is a nice touch. Great layout and design all the way around!

Soul Music Review Vinyl on PondThere is a sound that is contained within this record, I would best sum it up as a frenzied jazzy wall of noise. At moments, part jam band and the next moment jazz ensemble.

The intro song, “Romans in Storage,” has what sounds to be a zombie chorus. Short and noisy it’s over as quickly as it begins. Up next, “Marion Morrison” has a sparse sound that I found really enjoyable. The drums are plodding an almost rudimentary beat, while the guitars jangle back and forth across the stereo field. The song has a looseness and effortlessness that is refreshing, overall just real chill and enjoyable.

The longest track is “From The Basement To The Grave” which again brings sparse guitar noise and accents as the mainstay, while small hints of jangly percussion clank alongside, but not really with. The song has the feel of a total jam, unplanned chaos and noise rule throughout. At 6 minutes in I find myself wondering where is this going, what am I doing here, who am I.Soul Music Review Vinyl Record Under Tree

The track name and sonic landscape that comes next is “Alarm Clock Celebration” and it works to cleanse the ear pallet from the 8 minute jam that preceded. This track is short and brief. I like it!

“Dead Slint” is as much of a normal song as can be had on this album. The drums are formulating a more standard beat and the bass carries a rhythm alongside. The guitars stay in the realm of twinkly stereo noisescape.

The second to last track clocks in at just over seven minutes and consists of a return to the free form style jam. This song seems to have a beginning and an end – but the in between is a mess of guitar noise and ramble jamble drums.

“Pillows And Blankets” is the closer, with a more structured back bone at the outset. The bass carries a rhythm as guitars swell alongside in a slow drone. This is a nice change in the pacing of the chaotic mess that had been so prominent in previous tracks. Simpler, bordering on drone, this track has some of my favorite moments on the album. The sparse openness that is achieved allows everything to breathe, and lets the tone of the drone shine.

Forget the Times are unconstrained and with that not everything is a hit. However,  when it is, it’s very memorable. The recording is spot on, the artwork is stellar, and the music contained is unique and interesting I look forward to delving into the catalog further with this group. Click the links below to check out more about these guys and the label.

Forget The Times On BandcampMusic Review Blog Vinyl Record Landscape

Forget The Times On Facebook

Already Dead Tapes

Music Review Blog Photos by Nibiinabekwe Hawks Michigan
Photos by Nibiinabekwe – Co Rd. 634, Hawks, Michigan.

0017 – Hordes – Self Titled – Digi-Pack CD

Hordes CD on an Icy Trail

Artist: HordesHordes Cover of CD on Icy Trail
Album: Self Titled
Release Date: March 3, 2015
Format: Compact Disc

For what I have known of the Hordes history this is the departure from the Hordes that was and the more structured Hordes that exists now. The newer iterations feature more in your face riffing and less of the meandering drones and avant free formness. Recorded in the winter of 2013, and released in 2015 this disk is 3 years old now. Hordes not only have left this drummer behind but have now moved through to having Todd, from The Jackpine Snag, as their current drummer.  Here are my ramblings on this 3 year old disc.Hordes Back of CD on Ice

The CD was released in 2015 on a digipack, featuring a variety of line drawings in a grey black wash. Some look to be anatomical drawings, while others are, for sure, Guitarist Alex Hudson’s work. Recorded at Troudoudor Studios in Lansing, the sound is thick and well mixed. Right in your face from the get!Hordes Digi-Pack Inside in Snow

The first track “Cold War Echo” is the perfect example of what this album is all about – riffage and pounding drums with raspy throated screams. The thick chords stomp and build, hints of noise are always creeping out the seams and the corners. At about 2.5 minutes in the track reaches, what I feel is, classic Hordes status. The riff slows to a crawl and the bass keeps the rhythm in line while the drums plod behind. This doesn’t last long before that riffage jumps right back in, bringing the close of this track.

Hordes CD Cover in Pine TreeThe second song features a slow building stomper titled “Eyes Dulled Blind.” The riff leads the song, a half crawl stomp fest, with vocals distant in the mix. At 6 minutes this is the longest track on the album, revolving around a fast and a slow riff. To close the track down Hordes slowed the temp to a half crawl. This is where the real guitar work shines. I love the textures that feel so prominent here. Once the riff slows the bass and drums lock in, and this gives room for the guitar to space out. A perfect wrap for that song.

By far my favorite riff from this album is the opener from “Summer”. Again, the spaced out guitar work brings the track to an open. The drums and bass jump to life not long after, and then the song is rolling. The guitar work throughout this track is super satisfying. This is the Hordes that I love.

I know I was just writing about how my favorite riff was in the last song, but the first true head banger on this disc is “Life Chaser.” When the riff really comes who can help but give that subtle head bang? Even as I write this I caught Nibiinabekwe banging her head in just that ever slow nod, reaffirming my thoughts. This is the heaviest moments of the album.

Hordes Cover of CD on IceThe closer track, “Fall,” again brings to the forefront the anger that is so present in this iteration of Hordes. The riffs stomp, the vocals holler, it’s heavy as shit. I dig it! The end of this track, and the close of the album, again slows the tempo to a crawl and gives the guitars room to build that classic wall of Hordes texture.

It has been interesting watching the journey that Hordes has taken, and this album is just one blip on the timeline. At the time of this writing it looks like they had just released a new 7″ split on Silver Maple Kill Records, I look forward to getting a copy of that!

Hordes on FacebookHordes in a Pine Tree

Hordes on Bandcamp

 

 

 

 

 

Photos by Nibiinabekwe
Photos by Nibiinabekwe • Atlanta State Forest Area • Michigan

0015 – Lucius Fox – Cement Sun – Compact Disc

Artist: Lucius FoxLucius Fox CD in Field
Album: Cement Sun
Label: Self
Release Date: May 26, 2017
Format: CD

Lucius Fox is a 2 piece math rock band from Lansing / Kalamazoo, MI.  Titled “Cement Sun,” this CD came in a slick sleeve style case. The artwork features a starry landscape with the cement sun as a focal point. Simple and clean the CD top had the cover artwork printed on it as well.

Lucius Fox CD Field BarnThis album is largely an instrumental, featuring tight riffs and intricate drums. Lots of rhythms and runs on the guitar. I feel like I’m always moving forward when rocking this album. The recording is well done, full of super clean guitars throughout. My only complaint is that on certain songs I feel like the drums could have came up slightly in the mix, I listened on various systems and kept wanting a little more thump only on some songs. Overall i loved the production of the whole album and the sound that was captured.

The ending riff on the second track, “Caged Bird” is a pure stomp fest, I love it. The song builds up so a gigantic power riff that drops into a even more gigantic ending, powerful and heavy throughout. The next song is “Shapeshifter”  and it has this finger tap section that I really like. The melody is nice, and still has this heaviness underlying. Intricate guitar work and well placed drumming.Lucius Fox Cement Sun CD

“Keith Green” is the fifth track off the disc, and it brings the first vocals. Simple and effective, the vocals are a nice addition to the math rock wreckage that is being laid down. For me, the best track on the album comes with the title track “Cement Sun.” Again, the super tight riffs and spot on drumming shine hard here. The riffs come and go, popping back and forth between the main components really making a seamless feel. When the breakdown comes with the spaced out chords it makes for a satisfying reprieve. Spaced out simple reverb soaked cords and simple drumming help with the dynamics in this song. The ending is epic as shit and again brings the stomping riff and quickly goes back to the math. Super dynamic and tight, not much else to say!

This album ruled, and as I was writing this and doing the research on the band I noted they had just released a new album! This is the second time this has happened while doing the review process! I get on the site and Bam well look there a new album out! So let’s be clear – this is the older album, Lucius Fox has  a brand new one out, I have yet to hear it, hit the links below and you can check it out for yourself!

Lucius Fox on Facebook

Lucius Fox on Bandcamp

Photos by Nibiinabekwe Anchor Creek
Photos by Nibiinabekwe • Anchor Creek • Michigan

0009 – Plurals & Black Sparrow Press Split 7″

Artist: The Plurals & Black Sparrow PressThe Plurals Black Sparrow Press Split 7" Vinyl Record
Album: Split
Label: GTGSomething DanceyMinor Bird Records
Release Date: April 1, 2014
Format: 7″ Vinyl Record

This release is another treasure that I acquired some time ago. A split from Lansing, Michigan’s The Plurals and San Pedro, California’s Black Sparrow Press. The cover of this split features printed line drawing with colored pencil “coloring.” The effect makes the cover super vibrant and fun to look at, a different take for sure. The actual record is a black 7″ labeled as “P” and “B” respectively.The Plurals Lansing Michigan Vinyl 7 inch

The first song from The Plurals, “How About The Weather?” brings shredding guitars and punk rock insanity all encapsulated in one track. Melodies flow in and out while the drums and guitars pound out the punk rock fun. The second Plurals track, “Clouds,” brings a more traditional punk sound. The breakdown in the middle gives the song the touch of awesome that I have come to know from the Plurals.

The Plurals 45 RPM disc

Black Sparrow Press open right up with a mid paced pop punk song titled “Adult Braces.” This song exemplifies everything I would expect from a pop punk band, upbeat guitars and punk rock choruses . The second track “Lady, I Love You” is by far my favorite from them, the guitars for me are reminiscent of The Wipers. Black Sparrow Press really show the west coast sound here.Black Sparrow Press record

For me pop punk has never been my favorite genre of music, and I would classify The Plurals as more punk than just pop punk. I love the sound they create, punk rock with melody and nasty driving guitars. Smash the Beach Boys with the Minutemen and you might get close. The flip side brings Black Sparrow Press which is much more of a traditional pop punk sound, well recorded and performed. Opening my ears allowed me to find a way to appreciate pop punk in a different way.

The Plurals Facebook

The Plurals Bandcamp

Black Sparrow Press Facebook

Black Sparrow Press Bandcamp

Photos by Nibiinabekwe. Alpena County Michigan.

Thoughts on the photo shoot, I feel the need to address.

This project is about getting out of my comfort zone, finding music, exploring the world around us, and putting the media in a memorable place. Also attempting to capture my feelings about the music in written form.

Nibiinabekwe and I hesitated on doing the shots at this spot but we went ahead with it.

Personally as an Anishinaabe, I found this to be somewhat disturbing, but also felt a need to document this in our project. The road where this was shot is on our way to town. I pass this regularly, no one is ever “home” and I think this is a hunting cabin. But he is always there, looking at me.

Alcoholism, and the evils it is associated with, has hit close to my family for generations, not only in my personal bubble, but my fathers, his fathers and beyond…

So, here sits a “red man” with his booze and his gun. And this is all in good humor right? I cant even put into words all the emotions this brings up. But here it is, everyday in my life.

Hate is alive and real today. Just good fun right? Or is it hate? I have my feelings and opinions.

– Binesi

0007 – The God Eaters – Fading Horizons

Artist: The God Eaters
Album: Fading Horizons
Label: Invertebrata Records
Release Date: Feb 15th 2018
Format: Vinyl 10” Smoke Colored

I ordered this album from The God Eaters off Bandcamp, released in a limited edition 10” smoke colored vinyl. The cover is a heavy weight black stock paper  with a black screen-print of what I am guessing is Lake Superior. The back of the cover features a letter pressed foil stamped track listing. The care put into the physical production of this record is incredible. Art and design was done by Nick Erickson who also pulls drummer duty! As an added bonus for me, the band signed my liner notes. Thanks guys!

The God Eaters consists of 2 brothers, Dylan Trost on guitar and vocals and Devyn Trost playing the bass. This is along with the, as mentioned earlier, Nick on drums. There is something unique that is created when 2 brothers are in a group together, and the God Eaters are no exception. The riffs are thick, fast, with lots of intricate parts twisting together. The liquidity, with the way the riffs come across, is so well executed and cohesive, you can tell the brothers have that special connection. Nick’s drumming is just as impactful and well executed, hes all over the kit keeping the beat interesting and fun. Fast punk rock with great drums and sweaty fast guitars – whats not to love?

The longest track, and my favorite on the album, is “Carcharodon Carcharias” and at 6 minutes,  I feel this totally encapsulates all the best aspects of The God Eaters. It starts out with a jangling punk section devolving into a total jazz freak out, flowing into a punk rock dinosaur stomp fest. Fun rock and roll with a punk grunge vibe, the whole disc is incredibly tight and a blast to put on.

The recording was done at Electrical Audio in Chicago, and it sounds great as you would expect from a studio of that caliber. The mix is spot on, everything sounds like it has its own place and presence in the “room.” Coupled with a bad ass recording and the super cool layout and design of the record itself, this makes for one hell of a release. I cant wait to see what future releases will these guys will bring.

The God Eaters Bandcamp

The God Eaters Facebook

Invertebrata Records

 

 

Photos by Nibiinabekwe. Pendills Bay, Lake Superior Hiawatha National Forest.

 

0002 – Minus9 – Valley Of The Sick & The Stupid

 Photo by Nibiinabekwe 45.053233, -84.078636.

Artist: Minus9
Album: Valley Of The Sick & The Stupid
Label: Flying Blood Records
Release Date: May 31, 2015
Format: CD Digi-Pack

 

Valley Of The Sick & The Stupid, by Minus9 came in a limited edition DigiPak from Flying Blood Records.  The Digi-Pack is white with black lettering, featuring a juice box, cell phone wielding illustration of a overweight man’s belly line on a field that is reminiscent of an American flag. ‘Murica. Continue reading “0002 – Minus9 – Valley Of The Sick & The Stupid”