HYDROPHOBIA.

We all know that the Japanese People are inherently cooler than the rest of us, & while these fellas from the oldest city in Japan may not have invented anything new in the grind/gore/death/grind department(s), they cull all the riffs, grind, pummel, blast, & shred from bands we all know & love (like Carcass / Brutal Truth / Cannibal Corpse, etc).

That's a formula that you can't go wrong with.

(To be completely honest, I found out about these guys by connecting w/ the bass player of this band on Instagram. He "liked" some of my photos, so I checked his out & his stream was interspersed w/ grind-metal madness & fluffy little puppies, etc. I'm all like, "WTF?", etc. I look a little closer at his profile & it says, "I play bass guitar in Hydrophobia.")
BAM!!!

There is still hope for the internet sometimes.

Hydrophobia - Human Shredder

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GAMMACIDE.

PURE FUCKIN' THRASH RIGHT HERE, SON…

712m.p.h. riffs blowing past your earholes all the way from Shitlicker, Texas, these fellas tore it up pretty fucking good back in the day - they even threw in some blast beats!

Blast beats in Thrash? That's what I said…

To these ears, I'd file this away next to some other stellar acts / albums by the likes of Sacred Reich or Dark Angel, and - for some strange reason - I get the same kind of feeling when I listen to "Cause For Alarm" from Agnostic Front.

You results may vary, but there is NO denying the power of the riff(s) on this one.
Truly a classic Thrash Metal album that hasn't gotten the love it should.

Gammacide - Victims of Science

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RAMMER.

Sorry for the lack of updates - while February is the shortest month of the year, it is also a busy time for me, what with THIS going on as of late. That translates to lots of long bar shifts, lots of late nights, lots of GREAT beer, lots of liver punishment, and raging hangovers.

Speaking of raging, one sorely-missed thrash unit that fucking killed it was Rammer. Like their local T.O. comrades CURSED, they came & went too soon. The good times just weren't meant to last, it seems…

Rammer - 01.18.2004 CIUT / Toronto, Canada

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SARCOFAGO.

This record was recorded on Satan's Wax-Cylinder Dictophone itself...
1987?
Brazil?
FUCK YES!

The guitars / bass / drums played on this recording were complete enemies - there is no "in unison attack here".
Said / alleged instruments attacked the fuck out of each other at all times, unreleting in their pursuit of domination!

Vocals that barely range out of the "I just got punched hard & repeatedly in the throat" area, but when it does venture up from the decrepit cesspool, they go for the outer orbits & hit that "angel screaming/dying in slow-and-painful agony" zone.

At times, this record almost sounds as though it is playing at the wrong speed - but man - it is SO fucking RIGHT…

NECROPHAGIA.

Leave it to a bunch of creepy fuckers from small-town Ohio way back in the early Eighties to create this first-generation thrashy-death metal masterpiece!

Horror lyrics, hints of gore, plenty of speed, a smattering of doom, buckets of brutal/creepy riffage, topped with layer upon layer of raspy "cretin-esque" vocalage - this is one of the very first death metal album that sounded like this, kids…



Necrophagia - Season of the Dead

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VOIVOD.

Everyone who visits here has a favorite era of Voivod (I'm assuming, of course).

I myself was weaned on those first three records in their discography, and it is hard for me to say those aren't my favorite, but when it comes down to it, I pretty much celebrate their entire recorded output.

I have a bunch of muddy-sounding live tapes from The Eighties that will always be some of my favorite musical things to listen to, and while Angel Rat is a record I don't pull out often, the demos for that recording have been quite compelling to these ears as of late. Gone from this one is the icy-screech of bitter cold Canadian thrash; in its place we find a spaced-out & discordant Die Kreuzen-meets-King Crimson vibe.

To put it in layman's terms,it kinda feels like you're riding out an opium high while floating along in arctic waters on a slab of sheered-off glacial ice, per se'…



Voivod - Angel Rat (The Demos).

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VENOM.

Okay, so it's been awhile since the last post - nothing new about that - but I've been in Detroit & Mid-Michigan revisiting the family / old friends / new friends / dive bars old & new.


During a moment of clarity between the beer runs & bar runs, I split from my Mom's farm & headed in to "the city" for some free Wi-Fi action at the Wirt Public Library in Bay City & I posted up a little classic-something for you - enjoy!

"Lay down your souls to the gods rock 'n roll!

Metal ten fold through the deadly black hole,

Riding hell's stallions bareback and free.

Taking our chances with raw energy"...

Venom - Black Metal (Deluxe Expanded Edition)

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ERODED.

I've been sitting on this one for a while now; it's so fucking good that I have had a hard time trying to figure out just how to describe this…

Japan has been home to some of the most brutal (and beautiful) bands on the planet - this band is a precursor to 324 - one of my favorite grind bands of any era.

While the grind rears it's underappreciated head in small doses on this here release, what you get most of the time is some solid thrashy/heavy/death-infused metal - all with a crazed, Japanese neanderthal screaming some beautiful guttural-speak over the top. It goes from heavy one minute, to stony as fuck the next. A great fucking record that to these ears would seem to be an inspiration to other Japanese bands like Swarrrm, 324, Taiho, Greenmachine, etc.

Fits great next to those expensive & out-of-print Hellchild records neither you or I own…



Eroded - In

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SHITALLICA.

While this is a band I lost interest in eons ago, and this is also a record that was far from my favorite, it did have it's moments - unfortunately, their weren't many due to the lack of bottom end, etc.

We all know and love Cliff Burton, but Jason Newsted had a brass set of huevos for walking away from a bunch of egomaniacal limp-dicks who whined & pissed & moaned over trivial problems that people like you and me have to deal with on a daily basis.

For that alone, I back the dude, & can honestly say that Lars & James can eat a big fat bag of cancerous dicks. Learn how to play the fucking drums, and see if you can remember how to write a sick riff - never mind…
Anyways, there are rumors that this was done by a fan who boosted the bass levels to bring Jason up in the mix where he belongs, while others say the bass tracks were lifted from Guitar Hero or somethin' like that.

Either way, it is an interesting little collector's item.



Metallica - …And Justice for Jason

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(It'll be interesting to see how long this link stays up)…

RAGING FURY.

Not a lot I can tell you about these guys other than the fact that they've been around since 1982, and play an aggressive rockin' version of Thrash.
This may sound weird, but their singer totally reminds me of a whisky-and-Marlboros-hoarsed-out Matt Pike at times - yes, I realized these guys precede High On Fire by like, um 15 years or something - but maybe 'Ol Frost Hammer is a fan of these guys? Who knows?

What I do know is that this is a hard-as-fuck CD to find, and these guys fly way under the radar.
If you love Japanese metal / HC, you should be diggin' this little gem as well.
More unique flavor from the Far East, bro.



Raging Fury - Raging Fury

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HELLCHILD.

One of my all-time favorite bands, this should not come as a surprise to many of you - it's most likely one of your favorites as well, no?

Hellchild bridged the gap between hardcore & thrash/death/grind with a sense of intelligence - even their burliest/heaviest/grindy-est moments came off with a painstakingly-heartfelt precision.
There was a lot of soul running deep in the work they put out there, and Harakawa is the fucking BEST when it comes to gutturals in my opinion.
His pipes bellow the most beautiful of all pain, desolation, madness, sadness & anguish I have ever known.

If you didn't already, you certainly won't now - this is for the rest of US.



Hellchild - Circulating Contradiction

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LIVING SACRIFICE.

Seein' as it's Sunday and all, let's get a taste of some straight-up rippin' thrash from these Little Rock, Arkansas metal "warriors for that God guy"…

Whether you are believer in that kind of stuff or not, there is no denying that this is a sick record. I'd say this is the Christian metal world's equivalent of Slayer's "Reign in Blood". There are many similarities, but it still has something all it's own. Nice old school rhythmic thrash riffs, better solos than Kerry King on most days, and lyrically they aren't bellowing in my ear to join them on their walk with Christ, so it's all good with me…



Living Sacrifice - Living Sacrifice

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Sorry for the lack of updates lately - my life has been consumed by THIS for the last month. I've been doing nothing but logging hours at work shipping, co-ordinating, lifting, packing & all the other logistics behind it. If you're into skateboarding, definitely check it out, it is fucking killer, and we're all proud of it.

Thanks for sticking around - all four of you, ha ha.

SLAYER.

* Today's post is a special one for me in that it marks THE 500TH. POST here at Lo-Res Viscera *

Not much needs to be said when it comes to Slayer - for me (as for many others, I'm sure) - they were a "gateway" band to the genre of music that I still enjoy the most on a daily basis.
Many folks call bullshit on Thrash/Death/Crossover these days, but honestly? They're just listening to the WRONG bands.

While I may not entirely celebrate very much of their catalog beyond 1990, they are indeed one of the true greats of the more "mainstream/successful" death/thrash metal heavyweights. Kudos to Tom, Jeff, Kerry, & Dave for going on 29 years of doing what they do best - I'd also like to personally thank shred-lord Jeff Hanneman for giving me "a noticeable ring" in my right ear that dates back to a November of 1998 gig at Harpo's in Detroit featuring Overkill (ugh!) opening for Slayer, with Motörhead to follow - that was EASILY one of the greatest shows I have ever seen - no regrets!

The show posted here is from early on in their career - 1984 - and is definitely a show I wish I had attended - much of my favorite material gets played, Araya is quick with the banter, the guitars sound like banshees from hell, the screams are high & curdling, Lombardo gets his rumble on, etc. In one word - RAW!!!

Enjoy, and thanks (as always) for stopping by & sharing your stories/comments/info/links/memories, etc. with me...



Slayer - 01.30.1984 Wolfgang's, San Francisco, CA "Fuck the Slayer"

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NUCLEAR ASSAULT.

Not the strongest / heaviest set by these (baked) NYC thrash merchants, but nonetheless, this is a somewhat rare release, so I thought I'd share.

The mix ain't so hot (but it ain't that bad) - our boy Lilker is buried in there somewhere, but JC's pipes are spot-on, as is the drumming. The twin-guitar attack is pretty sweet, and - oh yeah - Lilker's backup vocals are pretty choice - and there might be a blown riff here or there, but these guys are legends in their own right. Definitely worth a listen now & then.

You can check them out - holy shit - in Oslo, Norway Jan. 29th. 2K11 @ the Metal Merchants festival…



Nuclear Assault - Live at Hammersmith Odeon

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EXODUS.

The only Exodus vocalist that matters for me was Paul Baloff.

While the rest of the band has continued on and made great music, what is missing for me is that frayed edge, the unknowing - that feeling you get the moment before unforeseen tragedy strikes.

That's what Paul Baloff brought to the fold.

While he may not have been the prettiest, or best singer in the Bay Area Thrash Scene of the Eighties, Baloff was "the cold, hard & grim reality" screaming maniacally in your face.

To me, he was perfect for what a real thrash band was about.

Sadly, he ain't with us any more, but this here is a choice collection of material spanning the infamous "Studio 54 gig", some early demos, & a few live cuts featuring (the future / other guitar player from Metallica - the one who ISN'T gay), Kirk Hammett.

A nice addition for any TRUE "Poser Killer" like yourself.



Exodus - Bonded by Baloff

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BANISHED.

Truly a fine example of some classically-American Death Metal stylings as performed by these legendary Buffalo, NY rock crushers formerly known as Baphomet.

They didn't get a lot of attention back in the day, and Peaceville fucked 'em as well - we've heard that story elsewhere, haven't we? - Vocalist Tom Frost bellows a gravel-gurgle that I find quite soothing, and the guitarwork of one Dave Craiglow is quite tasteful - not a lot of tech-fare, just serious meat-and-potatoes heaviness.
Why these guys never got big is mind boggling to me, but now you can judge for yourself. I wonder what these guys are up to these days?



Banished - Deliver Me Unto Pain

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DESTROYER.

Okay, just so you know: I'm NOT a fan of the retro/rehash contemporary thrash revival we've been seeing the last few years - I prefer the classics. That said, I'm pretty hyped on this 2010 release from a rager of a band from Colombia called Destroyer!

While they've been around since 2001, this is their first full-length, and damned if they don't conjure up some choice blackened/thrashy elements of early Destruction, Venom - even a dash of Absu all up in this piece!

Nice short-and-to-the-point songs w/ crazy-psychotic vocals & manic-twisted riffage makes for a fun listen. Nothing really new here, but there has always been something original & GENUINE in the approach of the South American thrash scene, so check it out...



Destroyer - Prepared for Discharge

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CORONER.

The Swiss thrash technicians known collectively as Coroner have always held a special place in my dented tin-can-of-a-heart w/ their take on the thrash/death realms - I can honestly say I enjoy each and every album they have ever made.
Maybe not every song, but as their sound changed over the years, I still enjoyed their noise immensely. Voivod falls into this category for me as well - not as consistently in the latter years, but both bands conjure the same feeling to me when I listen to them - you may get different results, of course.

R.I.P. is solid, "classic" mid-paced thrash. Not lots of tricks or over-the-top "evilness", just real meat-and-potatoes heaviness. Nice tones, great guitar playing, and some tasty interludes. Take a bite...



Coroner - R.I.P.

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HEY!

This is my first post trying out a newer file-hosting service called ADrive. Let me know what you all think, okay?
I'm growing tired of the Rapidshare changes, but I do tend to D/L a lot myself, so it is worth it to pay for their service each month, but ADrive seems like they could take on the big boys real quick-like.

I'm interested in hearing about your D/L experience - both good and bad - thanks.

HUMAN REMAINS.

A masterful cutting-edge meshing of grindcore, hardcore, death, and thrash from the early Nineties - straight outta Jerzzz!!!

The pedigree of bands that were spawned from what these guys laid down is unreal - YOU can keep your Dillinger records, dude, I'm NOT interested - but that's no big surprise when everybody's favorite drum-smasher-dude Dave Witte is in the mix.

The shit gets heavy - technical at times - with off-beat time signatures everywhere, ripping guitar licks traded back & forth, and some tasty inhuman vocals bringing it all together - two-discs deep, son…



Where Were You When

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REPUGNANT.

I love it when I'm at work and I throw the 'ol iPod on shuffle and the tiny shiny beast rewards with something I forgot I had - like these ghouls from Stockholm known as Repugnant.
They may have been overlooked by the masses by some of the more famous names in the scene back then, but you'd be hard-pressed to say these guys don't belong up there when mentioning bands like Grave or Nihilist.

Awesomely chunky riffing, nice, swingy-thrash drumming at times, cold-throated lyrical delivery, audible bass runs, & sweet solos when you need them - you'll find it here...



Repugnant - Epitome of Darkness

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