Categories
New Album Review

LYSOL’s “Down the Street” EP

More epic garage punk descended from the heavens and blessed our ears with LYSOL’s newest release, “Down the Street”. LYSOL hails from the outer reaches of the United States in the infamous punk breeding ground of Seattle, WA. 

This short, four-track EP, was released on March 24, 2024 and has a total run time of about five minutes. LYSOL seems to be most known for their live performances as noted on the EP page on Bandcamp. The members include: Anthony Gaviria, Xtine Lundberg, Chad Ringo Bucklew, and Noah Earl Fowler. It’s a compact band playing short, heavy and fast. 

In “Down the Street”, I’ve found “Grease Paint” to be my favorite hitting track so far. With the off-beat rhymes and in-the-mud lyrics, the undeniable punk nature screams out for attention, but dashes from the limelight and will “put my grease paint on\ act like it’s all ok” (lyrics from “Grease Paint”).

In “15MG”, it’s way more rock based guitar like Wipers, but again in typical punk fashion the song is too damn short. I want more. More! 

Also, we can’t forget the epic drums and explosive introduction to tis EP from “Sonic Thrill”. The band knows want we want. Maybe they want it too, a sonic thrill. Something that will get them going. Some noise that will start up our blood. Activate our desire to rage and change and bump the body next to us a little too hard.

I cannot wait to see more from LYSOL. That’s how I feel about most young bands these days. I don’t ever want anyone to stop making music. I want to see the scenes grow and evolve. The next new hit genre is probably already here in our ears, but I cannot wait to be a part of the masses when it comes to fruition and the spotlight. LYSOL will be one of the bands up there or at least orchestrating the whole damn show. 

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Miscellaneous

Review: WKNC Shack-a-thon Back Wall Topster

From March 24th to 29th, there was the Shack. On the Shack, there was a Topster. The Shack is now gone, but the Topster lives on in my heart. Today, I will attempt to assess the quality of this Shack Topster, despite having only heard like half of them.

Categories
Miscellaneous

“Lair of the White Worm”: Movie Review

Who doesn’t love phallic, campy, vampire flicks? I thought I’d seen the best and the worst of the vampire film genre, but it looks like the caverns of lore and art are endless because “Lair of the White Worm” is an absolute treat to view. 

This horror-comedy from Britain’s Ken Russell stars Hugh Grant, Amanda Donohoe, Catherine Oxenberg and Peter Capaldi. All of these actors are fantastic in their over-zealous enactments of their characters. You can see a sneak peak of their performances in the trailer on YouTube

Hugh Grant’s portrayal of a young rich inheritor is classic and always goes down well. It seems he found his niche of playing rich a**holes really early on in his career. Donohoe’s pagan worship is hilarious and gross at the same time with the phallic instruments that are attached to her character’s pelvis. Also, you can never go wrong with multiple blonde heroines needing to be saved by a strapping Scottish lad portrayed by Peter Capaldi. 

This being a British flick, there were probably a ton of humorous ins I missed being a silly American, but it didn’t matter. The best parts of the film were the strange horror bits that Russell included. 

The bizarre hellscapes stemming from hallucinatory fever dreams, the constant phallic and gore imagery, and the wonderfully foreboding atmospheric music all combined and created a true vampiric masterpiece. It rises from the backlogs of film watchlists again and again, never to grow old or die. This film will be loved in some fashion by those fantasizing about Hugh Grant, or those in love with strange spurts of viscous green liquid on the faces of this cast. Gore fans have their moments of pleasure, as do comedy fans. 

“The Lair of the White Worm” encapsulates the campy horror-comedy genre perfectly. I cannot wait to watch this film again in a few years with a renewed appreciation for it. If you can, check this film out. I’m sure it’s to die for.

Categories
Music Education

The Metal Minute: Death Metal

Do you hear it? Just over the horizon, clanging and rattling like a thousand empty soup cans?

It’s the Metal Minute. Last time, we discussed doom metal, a slow and more articulate version of metal. For this installment, things are getting grotesque and growly as we explore the world’s most brutal musical genre: death metal.

What is it?

Death metal can trace its roots to the 80’s, with major stylistic influences derived from early black metal bands like Venom and thrash bands like Slayer and Hellhammer.

Cover for “Realm of Chaos” by Bolt Thrower

Early death metal bands were inspired by these sounds, but wanted to create something harsher — more deathlike — and began to experiment with heavier instrumentation, more abrasive vocals and increasingly grotesque subject matter (see: “Frantic Disembowelment” by Cannibal Corpse).

What’s it Sound Like?

According to Chris Krovatin of Kerrang! magazine, “When a non-metal person describes metal by making a growling noise, they’re thinking of death metal.”

Cover for “The Enduring Spirit” by Tomb Mold

The genre features fast-paced tempos, overdriven guitar, blast beats on double-bass drums and abrupt changes to tempo and time signature. The resulting sound is heavy, distorted and aggressive. Combined with guttural, often inhuman-sounding vocals, the genre presents an intense and expansive listening experience.

Subgenres Within Subgenres

Like many other subgenres, death metal has several sub-subgenres. They include:

  • Brutal death metal

Pretty self-explanatory, brutal death metal favors faster, heavier and more brutal playing styles. The death metal nesting doll continues, as a sub-sub-subgenre called slam death metal has emerged from brutal death metal, infusing hardcore punk and even hip-hop elements into its sound.

  • Deathcore

The “deathification” of metalcore. I.e., the collision of hardcore punk, metal, and death metal. Like metalcore, deathcore is a label often rejected by metal dudebros who see the subgenre as “inauthentic.”

  • Death doom

The marriage of doom metal with death metal. Slower tempos and a more broody atmosphere with the growls and blast beats of death metal.

  • Melodic death metal

Pioneered in Sweden, leaning closer towards mainstream metal with a more melodic style.

  • Technical death metal

Also known as tech-death or prog-death, presents progressive metal with a death metal slant. Time signatures, rhythms and instrumentation becomes more complex — or, some would say, progressive — within this sub-sub-genre.

Who Makes it?

The death metal scene is robust. Here are several genre heavy-hitters:

Categories
Weekly Charts

Top Charts 4/2/24

Top Charts

#ArtistRecordLabel
1MANNEQUIN PUSSYI Got HeavenEpitaph
2MYRA KEYESFlower In The BrickSelf-Released
3GOTTS STREET PARKOn The InsideBlue Flowers/PIAS
4TEENS IN TROUBLEWhat’s MineAsian Man
5RATBOYSThe WindowTopshelf
6TRUTH CLUBRunning From The ChaseDouble Double Whammy
7YUNGATITAShoelace & A KnotSelf-Released
8DANNY BROWNQuarantaWarp
9HIDING PLACES“After Image” [Single]Self-Released
10HOTLINE TNTCartwheelThird Man
11BABEBEEA PROPHECY [EP]Epitaph
12CHUCK STRANGERSA Forsaken Lover’s PleaLex
13GLASS BEACHPlastic DeathRun For Cover
14GLITTERERRationaleAnti-
15GOAT GIRL“Ride Around” [Single]Rough Trade
16HORSE JUMPER OF LOVEHeartbreak RulesRun For Cover
17METEOR POLICENew Type DestroyerSelf-Released
18PARIS TEXASMid AirParis Texas/The Orchard
19PEARL EARLIt’s DreadGreen Witch
20SLEATER-KINNEYLittle RopeLoma Vista/Concord
21SOFTCULT“Haunt You Still” [Single]Easy Life
22SPIRIT OF THE BEEHIVEi’m so lucky [EP]Saddle Creek
23SPRINTSLetter To SelfCity Slang
24SWEET PILLStarchild [EP]Hopeless
25OFFICE DOGSpielNew West/Flying Nun
26STALEFISHStalefish Does AmericaHappen Twice
27TOUSSAINT MORRISONThe Very Best Of Ricky & JaneUrban Home Companion
28SEAFOOD SAM“Saylo” [Single]drink sum wtr
29MICK JENKINSThe PatienceBMG
30SIGUR ROSÁTTABMG

Top Adds

#ArtistRecordLabel
1ADRIANNE LENKERBright Future4AD
2ROSALIBite DownMerge
3NON LALike BeforeMint
4EELS“Goldy” [Single]E Works/PIAS
5TEENS IN TROUBLEWhat’s MineAsian Man
6NO MANGlitter And SpitIodine
7PORIJ“My Only Love” [Single]Play It Again Sam
8POWERWASHEREveryone LaughsStrange View
9ST VINCENT“Flea” [Single]Total Pleasure
10CRUMB“AMAMA” [Single]Self-Released
Categories
Weekly Charts

Underground Charts 4/2/24

Underground Charts

#ArtistRecordLabel
1CHUCK STRANGERSA Forsaken Lover’s PleaLex
2ERICK THE ARCHITECTI’ve Never Been Here BeforeIDOL
3EVERLIVEN SOUND AND SLIMELINE MUTHAEcho ChamberSelf-Released
4CAKES DA KILLABlack SheepYoung Art
5CLAN SPRMThe Great American EclipseHumblux
6WHO SHOT SCOTTBRAIN (SIDE A) [EP]Tenfold
7TOUSSAINT MORRISONThe Very Best Of Ricky & JaneUrban Home Companion
8WAHIDfeast, by ravenInnovative Leisure/Praises Due
9CZARFACECzartificial IntelligenceSilver Age/Virgin
10STOVE GOD COOKS X STOUPE“Carbone” [Single]Mankind/Babygrande

Underground Adds

#ArtistRecordLabel
1WAHIDfeast, by ravenInnovative Leisure/Praises Due
2SCOTT Y LOS PELMAZOSAnalog Machine Presents – Scott Y Los PelmazosAnalog Machine
3JAY HOLLYWOOD“the eulogy” [Single]Self-Released
4POTATOHEAD PEOPLE“Keepin’ It Kool” feat. Kendra Dias [Single]Bastard Jazz
5PROZACK TURNER“Misunderstood” [Single]Hungerstrike
Categories
Weekly Charts

Jazz Charts 4/2/24

Jazz Charts

#ArtistRecordLabel
1NUBYA GARCIA“Fortify” [Single]Concord Jazz
2JAMES ZOLLARThe Ways InJZAZ
3BUTCHER BROWNSolar MusicConcord Jazz/Concord
4DANA AND ALDENQuiet Music For Young PeopleSauna Boys
5ALFA MISTVariablesAnti-
6TONY JONES AND JESSICA JONESHear Into The FutureReva
7JOSHUA REDMAN FEATURING GABRIELLE CAVASSAWhere Are WeBlue Note
8MATANA ROBERTSCoin Coin Chapter Five: In The Garden…Constellation
9THE FLYING BIG HORSE BANDA Message from the Flying Horse Big BandSelf-Released
10VIN VENEZIAThe VenetianInnervision

Jazz Adds

#ArtistRecordLabel
1WILLY RODRIGUEZSeeing SoundsOutside in
2KELLY GREENSeemsGreen Soul
3ACCORDING TO THE SOUNDPitchLosen
4GHOST-NOTEMustard n’OnionsArtistry
5HENDRIK MEURKENSThe Jazz MeurkengersCellar
Categories
Weekly Charts

Chainsaw Charts 4/2/24

Chaisaw Charts

#ArtistRecordLabel
1ABORTEDVault Of HorrorsNuclear Blast
2BRATSocial GraceProsthetic
3FREYAFight As OneUpstate
4MOUTHBREATHERSelf-TapeGood Fight
5ABHORIADepthsProsthetic
6AMIENSUS“Vermillion Fog Of War” [Single]M-Theory
7AUSTRIAN DEATH MACHINEQuad BrutalNapalm
8BOUNDARIESDeath Is Little More3DOT
9ESHTADUR“Fire Above Mountain Below” [Single]Self-Released
10HORNDALHead Hammer ManProsthetic

Chainsaw Adds

#ArtistRecordLabel
1MY DYING BRIDEA Mortal BindingNuclear Blast
2GATECREEPER“The Black Curtain” [Single]Nuclear Blast
3WYRMHAVEN“Midnight Altar” [Single]Self-Released
4STRYCHNOSArmageddon PatronageDark Descent
Categories
Weekly Charts

Afterhours Charts 4/2/24

Afterhours Charts

#ArtistRecordLabel
1CLUB ANGELSoundbwoy’s Destiny [EP]Astral People/PIAS
2TATYANAIt’s OverSinderlyn
3JULIA HOLTERSomething In The Room She MovesDomino
4INTERNET SURVIVORSVARIOUS ARTISTSAngels Gun Club
5BOLIS PUPULLetter To YuDEEWEE/Because
6BLU DETIGERAll I Ever Want Is EverythingCapitol
7COR.ECE AND BAD COLOURSBeen Here BeforeBastard Jazz
82AT X SUKUBRATZ“Tu Perrito VIP” [Single]Angels Gun Club
9PORIJ“Unpredictable” [Single]Play It Again Sam
10BAD TUNER“maybe so” [Single]Foreign Family Collective/Ninja Tune

Afterhours Adds

#ArtistRecordLabel
1CLUB ANGELSoundbwoy’s Destiny [EP]Astral People/PIAS
2BLU DETIGERAll I Ever Want Is EverythingCapitol
3COR.ECE AND BAD COLOURSBeen Here BeforeBastard Jazz
4BAD TUNER“maybe so” [Single]Foreign Family Collective/Ninja Tune
5SAM GIRLING AND THEO BLANK“Always Pretty” [Single]Southern Fried
Categories
Concert Review

Kyoto Punk Quartet Otoboke Beaver Rocks Cat’s Cradle

Japanese garage punk band Otoboke Beaver melted faces and absolutely blew my mind at their March 26 performance at Cat’s Cradle.

If you’re unfamiliar with Otoboke Beaver, I cover them in this recent post. Here’s the rundown of their show:

The Openers

The first act of the night was NC-based riot grrrl band Babe Haven. Fueled by “rage ‘n’ Slim Jims,” this all-girl queer quartet threatened to blow the roof off the place with their vicious musical energy.

Cover for “Uppercut” by Babe Haven

Playing tracks from their most recent album, “Uppercut,” lead vocalist Lillie riveted the audience with her aggressively gritty screams and contagious vigor. Partway through the set, she passed the mic to guitarist Naomi for “Kung Pow,” a rallying cry against orientalism and fetishization that got everyone in the room thrashing.

For more info about Babe Haven’s “Uppercut,” check out “Babe Haven: NC Queer Punk” by Ben.

Following Babe Haven was the Drinking Boys and Girls Choir, a three-piece punk group hailing from Daegu, South Korea. The band’s name comes from its earliest members, who bonded over their shared love of drinking and singing.

Cover for “Linda Linda” by Drinking Boys and Girls Choir

Drinking Boys and Girls Choir presents an upbeat, summery take on punk, with airy beats and an absolutely sublime guitar. The band’s sound moves seamlessly along a spectrum from gritty skate punk to harmonic indie rock.

I’ve never heard anything like it. Myeong-jin Kim’s expert drumwork and Megan Nisbet’s entrancing guitar solos made my skin erupt in gooseflesh.

Otoboke Beaver

Otoboke Beaver’s performance was everything I’d hoped for. With an aces setlist, commanding stage presence and dazzling visual effects, Otoboke Beaver delivered one of the best concert experiences I’ve ever had.

Drawing both from their 2022 album “Super Champon” and the iconic 2019 “Itekoma Hits,” the group had everyone in the room at their command.

Cover for “Super Champon” by Otoboke Beaver

When lead vocalist Accorinrin — clad in a 60’s-style pink dress and matching eyeliner — raised a silencing hand, everyone clammed up immediately (except for one man whose incessant “whooping” earned him a scolding “shut the f–k up, man!” from a peeved concertgoer). Later, the audience erupted with delight as she brandished us a manicured middle finger.

Conversely, guitarist Yoyoyoshie’s ebullient orange pallette and cartoonishly cheery demeanor whipped the audience into a frenzy, her high-pitched screams and seemingly elastic facial expressions paired with an aggressive rapid-fire guitar.

Otoboke Beaver at The Crocodile in Seattle – Posted by David Lee, licensed CC BY 2.0 DEED.

Her penchant for audience engagement — compelling us to clap in time with the beat for “Don’t Call Me Mojo” — blurred the hard-set line between stage and audience. This effect reached its ultimate climax when she dove into the audience at the end of the set, crowdsurfing on a giant beaver-themed pool floatie.

Final Thoughts

Sometimes shows with multiple openers can drag, especially when they differ stylistically. However, Babe Haven and Drinking Boys and Girls Choir presented such powerful energy that watching their performances felt like shows in and of themselves rather than a preface to the “main event.”

Ultimately, the night was a showcase of several different faces of female-fronted punk music, and it was absolutely riotous in all the best ways.