punk Archives - Northern Sludge

May 11, 2018May 20, 2018

0013 – The Great Sabatini – Napoleon Sodomite 7″

Vinyl Record Straits of Mackinac North Side

Artist: The Great Sabatini
Album: Napoleon Sodomite
Label: Sludge Hummer
Release Date: April 15th, 2011
Format: 7″ Vinyl Record

I picked this 7″ up at a basement show some years back. My band opened for The Great Sabatini, who were on tour from Montreal. They put on a hell of a show, heavy, noisy, angry, tight, and unrelenting! I snagged a copy of this 7″ along with their full length LP, “Matterhorn.” The full length has made it into heavy rotation for me, but this 7″ I only listened to a handful of times. Then forgot, or lost, in my old organization system, or lack thereof. As mentioned in the previous posts I have new shelving for my vinyl hoard and these lost gems keep popping up in my collection.

Released on, what I believe is the bands own label, Sludge Hummer. The cover features artwork from Wurmzilla, who also pulls guitar duty. The artwork itself consists of line drawings and a unique “band” around the slip cover to hold the 7″ in the case. This is great design work equally using beauty and function! I really love the illustration of the monster and girl on the back cover as well. One of my favorite parts of this project is getting to sit down, feeling 13 again, and really look at all the aspects of the art of the release. Then I put it on my Marantz, loud as F, and just soak it all in. All too often I found myself not really appreciating all the little touches that are put into these beautiful physical objects I hoard. My pretties!! My precious!!!!!!

As stated earlier, I have a previous love for these dudes already, and this release was nothing but a happy little surprise for me. The Great Sabatini are kings of noise rock riffage, with guitar tones that are tight and complex. Napoleon Sodomite is the leading track on the 7″, and the guitars and drums start right in, slamming you in the face. This track showcases that these Canadians have a mastery of all things heavy.

The end of the first side brings a short track titled “Helter Skeletor.” This track feels like the interlude and gives a chance for the ears to breathe in some weird. It comes in at under 2 minutes and features droning guitars alongside a banjo-stomp riff. Kind of hilarious and weird, making for an excellent transition into the second side, and closing track, “Trap Sequence.” Again, the guitars and drums hit you right in the gut. Powerful chords and pounding drums quickly lead into a meandering riff and then drop off bringing the contrast of both quiet and loud into this song.

I have yet to pick up the 2014 release “Dog Years” from these dudes. I did not know it was out until jumping on their Bandcamp for this review. Damn! Now it’s on my list! Click the links below for more info, streams and yadda yadda from these guys.

The Great Sabatini on Bandcamp

The Great Sabatini on Facebook

Nibiinabekwe Straits of Mackinac North Side — Photos by Nibiinabekwe. Straits of Mackinac • St. Ignace, 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.

April 1, 2018April 10, 2018

0009 – Plurals & Black Sparrow Press Split 7″

Artist: The Plurals & Black Sparrow Press
Album: Split
Label: GTG – Something Dancey – Minor 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 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.

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.

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

March 8, 2018March 12, 2018

0002 – Minus9 – Valley Of The Sick & The Stupid

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”