Awesome Bands You Should Know...PRIMITIVE MAN

PRIMITIVE MAN is a intense, devastatingly heavy band from Denver, Colorado. The group is comprised of current and former members of CLINGING TO THE TREES OF A FOREST FIRE, DEATH OF SELF, WITHERED, & REPROACHER. The group formed in Denver back in  February 2012 with Ethan Lee McCarthy on Vocals and Guitar, Jonathon Campos on Bass, and Bennett Kennedy on Drums. The trio soon set about crafting savage material drawing elements of Doom, Death Metal, Black Metal, Noise, Drone, Sludge, Crust, and more. Their efforts would soon begin to take form and in October 2012, they entered Flatline Audio, in Denver, with egineer/producer Dave Otero. These sessions would yield their debut LP, "Scorn". This nihilistic, oppressively heavy record would initially be released in January/February 2013 by the band themselves, in conjunction with Mordgrimm and Throatruiner Records. The album was released only on Vinyl in a limited pressing, and featured 7 tracks of audio violence, utter devastation, and ominous atmosphere.

The record opens with the title track, "Scorn", which clocks in at a monsterous 11:44, and demonstrates right out the gate that this band is not to be fucked with. Collossal riffs and ear shredding feedback collide with McCarthy's scorched vocals and misanthropic lyrics, and within this massive first tracks the weak shall be weeded out. This is not for the faint of heart. The meek shall inherit nothing. PRIMITIVE MAN are here to trample the weak, hurdle dead, and get fucked up in the process. During this opening onslaught, the band demonstrate they can not only play slow, pulverizing Doom and Blackened Sludge, but that they can also briefly bust out faster tempos that hearken to the Grind of McCarthy's other main group, CLINGING TO THE TREES OF A FOREST FIRE. Its interesting because in some ways, PM is almost like the reverse version of CTTTOAFF, as PM play a Blackened Sludge/Doom with brief elements of Grind and Death Metal, while CTTTOAFF play Grindcore with occasional elements of Sludge and Doom. "Rags" follows and opens with a hellish groove that would make EYEHATEGOD proud, before slowing the pace to a Death/Doom crawl. Next is "I Can't Forget", the first of a couple disturbing, atmospheric, interlude type tracks. Its quite haunting and truly adds to the overall disturbing aura of the record as a whole. The second longest track of the album follows this, in the form of "Antietam" a 9 minute war of attrition that is all hate and power. After the first 2 minutes of slow motion devastation, things pick up and we get some Crust Punk infused bursts. After a bit we return to a crawling pace for several minutes, before hitting a nice groove inflected stomp for a bit, and then ultimately returning to a slow trudge by songs end. "Black Smoke" is another horrifing interlude piece that is difficult to describe but adds to yet another layer of menace to the proceedings. "Stretched Thin" is the shortest track on the record at just under 3 minutes and is easily the fastest and most Grind and Crust/Punk infused of all the tracks. Its not super fast in the grand scheme of things but in the context of the album, it seems like they're fucking flying off the rails. Finally, we come to the closer, "Astral Sleep", which features huge chunks of Blackened Sludge and Death Doom for most of the track but also rallies the troops for one last blast of faster paced action before closing things out in feedback. Shortly after the release of "Scorn", PRIMITIVE MAN would part ways with Bennett Kennedy, and pick up Isidro "Spy" Soto as his replacement on Drums. About a month after the release of "Scorn", the band would offer up an EP for free via digital download, by the title of "P//M".

This EP would feature 3 tracks of more atmospheric, Ambient and electronic material, including a PORTISHEAD cover. Fastforward to June 2013 and PRIMITIVE MAN would get signed to the prestigious extreme music label, Relapse Records, who would re-release "Scorn" on CD, Digital Download, and limited edition Vinyl LP. The re-release Vinyl LP would be see a pressing of 1000 copies, 700 being standard Black with the other 300 being a "Beer" colored LP that is a beautiful golden brown. This Vinyl reissue would have the same tracklisting as the initial release, however the CD and Digital versions of the Relapse version would include 3 extra tracks, "Lifetime", "Innard$" and "I Am Above You". In a very short amount of time, PRIMITiVE MAN have asserted themselves as one of the foremost bands in Extreme Metal. "Scorn" is one of the best albums of 2013, without a doubt, and for fans of extreme Doom this is your new favorite band. 2014 also looks to big a big year for PRIMITIVE MAN as they are starting the year off with a bang by dropping not 1, but 2 new releases.

First, they have a new split 7" with XAPHAN coming out in January, through Init Records that will feature one new song. This 7" is being pressed in a limited edition of 1000 copies. The 2nd release is due out in February through Tartarus Records. This release is a new cassette tape that focuses more on the Noise and Drone side of the band. It will include the materian from the digital P//M release plus a number of new tracks including a CROWBAR cover, for a total of almost 90 mins of brutality. This cassette is being pressed in a limited number of 100.

There are countless Extreme Metal bands these days and an ever growing number of Extreme Doom bands that take Doom more extreme directions like Death/Doom, Blackened Doom, Sludge, Funeral Doom, etc, etc but tuning low, and playing slow doesnt necessarily result in great music, in and of its self. PRIMITIVE MAN have shown they have what it takes to create interesting, and truly powerful music that while rooted in the slow and crushing end of the spectrum, is also quite capable of utilizing other elements such as Noise and Ambient, to create a more lethal end result.

Check out all PM news, go here... http://primitivemandoom.com/
For merch, go here... http://primitivemandoom.bigcartel.com/
To here these jams, go here... http://primitivemandoom.bandcamp.com/

Andy Sweitzer

7" of the Day is FUCKING INVINCIBLE - "Downtown is Dead"

FUCKING INVINCIBLE is a band from Rhode Island, featuring current and former members of DROP DEAD, SOUL CONTROL, DAUGHTERS, SWEET JESUS, etc. The group released a debut EP through Atomic Action Records on 7" vinyl, "Very Negative" on December 31, 2012, as well as 2 tracks on a comp called "You Cant Kill Me I'm Already Dead" featuring other RI bands. "Downtown is Dead" is the groups most recent release. The 7" EP was released by Atomic Action Records May 24, 2013. The effort features 8 new jams, as did the debut EP. "Downtown is Dead" is definitely inline stylistically with what FUCKING INVINCIBLE did on their debut in that they play violent Hardcore with elements of Powerviolence and Grind, but they do bust out enough new bits to add something different on this release.

The record opens with "Await Further Instruction" which starts off with some Doomy riffs and a sample from "Rosemary's Baby" then kicks into a short fast bit, before going into a midpaced, groove oriented section. "Too Much Black" follows and is a fast, ripping jam that tears through its run time in just under a minute. Next, "Ingested and Infested" is another blazing jam that incorporates a bit of Punk rock into its Powerviolence and Hardcore romp. "Coffin Chaser" opens with shrill feedback before exploding into a blasting fast section then resolving in a nice groove, all in less than 30 seconds. "On Paper" follows and opens with some slow, Doom riffs and Lex screaming "What the fuck!", from there we go into a fast blitzkrieg attack, before returning to slow Doom style bit for the close. "The Both of Us are Dying" is next and is the shortest track at only 13 seconds. Its a killer little Punk jam that is one of the most memorable songs Ive ever heard that was less than 15 seconds long. Now we have "A Coma" that alternates between fast Grind/Powerviolence parts and more midpaced grooving parts. The album closes with "Stand Perfectly Still", which opens with another sample, this time from the excellent film "Under The Volcano". The sample is the awesome line, "Hell's my preference. I choose Hell. Hell is my natural habitat. The song is the longest track on the record at about 2 and a half minutes and it brings the album to a fittingly violent end.

If you like fast, noisey, violent Hardcore with elements of Powerviolence, Punk, and occasionally a slower more Doomy bit for a few seconds, then you should get this right now. I would definitely also recommend this record to fans of the members previous bands. I first checked out FUCKING INVINCIBLE because I'm a huge fan of DAUGHTERS and I heard F/I was their vocalist, Alexis Marshall's new band. Now, that said F/I doesnt really sounds a whole lot like DAUGHTERS as its not nearly as weird and spazzy as that, but both groups are excellent. Another big difference is that Lex is not using the "drunken Elvis meets drunken Southern preacher" vocals he used on the last 2 DAUGHTERS albums, "Daughters" and "Hell Songs". Here he employs a much harsher, shrill scream that fits quite well with the jams at hand, and so in that context, its cool to hear Lex screaming his guts out for the first time since DAUGHTERS' first album "Canada Songs". 700 copies were pressed of "Downtown is Dead", with 100 White, 100 Clear, 200 Blue, and 300 Black. The Clear 7"s were only sold on tour and are now sold out, as are the White records. My copy is Blue and I believe there are still Blue and Black available. The 7" is only $5 and comes with a free Digital Download as well. You can also choose to just do the Digital Download for only $3.50. You can listen to the jams and see what you think or complete a purchase here.... http://atomicactionrecords.bandcamp.com/album/downtown-is-dead , and there are also links for the "Very Negative" EP, the Compilation I mentioned, and their Demo.

Andy Sweitzer

7" of the Day -- KATA SARKA & BODDICKER - "The David Lee Gorgoroth EP"

 7" of the Day is the KATA SARKA // BODDICKER split, "The David Lee Gorgoroth EP". This 7" vinyl version was released just this year by Reality is a Cult, a killer little label based out of Bloomington, IN. It was previously available on Cassette, through 18 is 9,  in a limited run of 100 tapes, which are long sold out. This vinyl 7" edition is still available I believe but is also a limited run of only 500 copies, all on Black vinyl. So lets get to the actual jams at hand.

Side A is sees Indianapolis's lords of Crusty Black Metal, KATA SARKA, deliver 2 killer jams. The first track is "Mired In Spleen", as savage romp through Black Metal, Crust, Hardcore Punk, & a bit of D-Beat. Its raw, visceral, and violent. It clocks in at a little under 5 minutes and is pure devastation throughout. This track is also the opening jam on their most recent release the amazing, "Crucible of Misanthropy". "Poaching The Boar" continues the onslaught, and is no less intense. Its about a minute shorter, clocking in around 3:38, and again proves why KATA SARKA are one of the Underground's most promising bands.

These 2 tracks were recorded by Carl Byers in April 2012. Byers continues to get excellent recordings from bands under his Clandestine Arts Recordings banner, when he's not killing it in another of Indy's most devastating bands, COFFINWORM. If you check this out and dig what you hear, definitely check out KS's other releases as they have a few of them now. I would especially recommend the "Existential Oblivion" cassette or the "Crucible of Misanthropy" cd.

Side B of this little monster record comes to us from Indy's  BODDICKER. These guys deliver 4 jams on their half of this split, with the opener being "Every Crime A Trophy". Its fast, raw, and just fucks you up with Crust covered Powerviolence and Grind. For a little over 2 minutes, they absolutely assault you with this aural beatdown. If you dig NAILS, you have to check out this fucking band. "Choice" is up next and is the shortest track on here. Its a 26 second blitzkrieg that melts faces. "Rise of the Downtrodden" follows and is a killer battle between bad ass groove ridden sections, and faster paced blasts. Its the longest track on the BODDICKER side, but still is only about 2 and a half minutes. They close things out with the filth ridden Grind of "They Fix Everything". Aggravated Battery never sounded so goddamn good.

BODDICKER's tracks on here were also recorded by Carl Byers, but in Detroit, with The Clandestine Arts Mobile Studio, in May 2012. If you dig Extreme Metal, particularly Black Metal with a helping dose of Crust, and Crust infused Grind/Powerviolence, then you must check out this split EP. From there you can check out KATA SARKA and BODDICKER's individual efforts.

Andrew Glen Sweitzer

Sex Magician - "Spread Brown Eye Kind Of Night" (Live @ Ole Simrell's sometime in 2008)

Vinyl Album of the Day...ED GEIN - "3 Song Demo + It's A Shame..."

Released in 2006, jointly, by Hex Records and Shock Value Records, this 12" LP combines ED GEIN's 3 song demo from 2002, which was originally put out on CD by Hex Records and Hope To Die Records,  and their debut full length, "It's a Shame a Family Can Be Torn Apart By Something as Simple as a Pack of Wild Dogs", which was originally released on CD in '03 by Hex Records. It was a limited edition release with only 700 pressed on red with brown smoke colored vinyl. Its housed in a beautiful gatefold LP sleeve featuring new artwork and full lyrics printed on the inner sleeves. Side A begins with the tracks from the demo, starting with "Bathed in Orange". The track opens with a sample from the first Friday the 13th film, with Nancy Voorhees saying "KILL HER, Mommy, KILL HER" before ripping into violent Hardcore Punk inflected Grindcore. The sonic attack from the demo continues for roughly the next nine minutes, encompassing the tracks "Score One For Team Bitch" and "Willy Loman". The next track, "You Suck At Life and I'm Not Talking About the Board Game", marks the beginning of the "It's A Shame..." material. It shows ED GEIN getting a bit more technical, expanding on their Grind/Punk sound, and lyrically is just kind of a classic Hardcore style "fuck you" to the naysayers and shit talkers. As I mentioned they used Friday the 13th samples on the demo material, and again used samples from a film on the full length material, but in greater amounts. Samples from "Donnie Darko" appear throughout the debut album, usually at the end of each track. After "You Suck At Life...", we get the furious blasts of "The Marlboro Man Is A Douche Bag" which is a slam on smoking/smokers, as the band are Straight Edge, and "A Way To Kill Old People" to close out Side A. Side B continues the savagery with opener, "Nice Shoes...Wanna Fuck?" with its noise and feedback drenched chaos, its a diatribe against promiscuity and whoring around.  The one, two punch of "I Wish You The Best..." and "....And By Best I Mean Worst" are the next 2 jams which are the 2 shortest songs on here with them clocking in at 1:47 and 0:57, respectively. They are another example of "fuck you, asshole" type jams.  Next we get "Beating A Dead Horse" which is maybe the longest original jam which is about  2:39. "What Is This Monstrosity?" is the final original jam, and on the original cd release its the final listed track before a long bout of silence and the "hidden" song. The silence is cut out for this vinyl release and we go straight into the actual last song which is a cover of NIRVANA's "Very Ape". Its a killer rendition and aside from the screaming vocals and a few other tidbits, they play it pretty straightforward. They don't turn it into a Blastbeat ridden Grind tune, but just give it a bit of a Hardcore kick in the dick.
As I said this record combines ED GEIN's first 2 releases, their 2002 Demo and their 1st full length album, "Its A Shame..." from '03. Their 2nd full length, the amazing "Judas Goats and Diesel Eaters" would be released in '05 through Black Market Activities. The following year, 2006, is when this vinyl compilation of their early stuff was released. After this LP, the band was quiet for 5 years, until finally in 2011 they unleashed their 3rd album, "Bad Luck", on Black Market Activities. If you get a chance, pick up any or all of this shit cause its all killer.

 

Andrew Glen Sweitzer

Sex Magician - "1 Zelda's Running Around In His Little Green Hat, 2 Thats Not Zelda, 3 Yes It Is." (Live @ DirtFest '09 in Birch Run, MI)

Sex Magician - Colt 45 Blues live in Mt. Pleasant, MI 08-22-09

This song gets cut off at the end as the camera died, sadly I dont have any footage of the show from here on as it just got more and more intense and wild, but I guess I have the memories...

Sex Magician - Long Johns With A Robot Suit, That Is So Last Season live in Mt.Pleasant, MI 08-22-09

Sex Magician - If You Overdose On Vitamin C, Your Doctor Will Be A Cactus live in Mt. Pleasant, MI 08-22-09

6th song from set in Mt. Pleasant

Sex Magician - 2 Antenaes Got Married.../Johnny and Susie.../I'm Not Alone In Thinking You Make Ghandi Look Like A Child Pornographer Live In Mt. Pleasant, MI 08-22-09

This is songs 3, 4, & 5 all pretty much rammed together, from out set at this house show

Sex Magician - Hey Kevin, What's My Sex Life Gonna Be Like? Live in Mt. Pleasant, MI 08-22-09

2nd song of our set at house show in Mt. Pleasant, MI

Sex Magician - Dote Dote Dote, Da, Dote Dote Dote, Otay Doe Ahead 08-22-09

Opening song we played at a house show in Mt. Pleasant, MI on 08-22-09. This was the 3rd show we had played in 24 hours and also the best. We played a show at Simerell's in Terre Haute the night before and after that show was over, we left Terre Haute and I drove through the night (nearly killing us all many many times), to make it to Saginaw, MI by the next morning so we could load in and play at SYS Fest at Ojibaway Park in Saginaw with Every Time I Die, Murder By Death and a ton of other bands spead across 6 stages. Us and Hey, Bastard played on a side stage and one of the other bands, Day In Day Out asked us to come up that night after the SYS Fest show another hour or so north into MI to play a house show in Mt. Pleasant. We didnt expect a whole lot but it turned into one of the single best, most fun shows we ever played, I only have footage of about half the set cause the camera died from filming the other shows unfortunately, but what we got was good/ Bethany got her toes broken filming the set, and Jacob puked the the instant we stopped planing. See this old shit makes me want to play right now. As I get the rest of the video converted off the old mini dvds I'll post them along with alot of other shows and footage of Sex Magician and maybe even some really old footage of me playing with Hey,Bastard and some other shit.