Chat Pile

Chat Pile are a four-piece sludge metal/noise rock band from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma that began in 2019. Following two EP's and a split with Portrayal Of Guilt, this band has absolutely blown up with the release of their debut album, God's Country, this week. It's garnered a ton of praise and attention, and I have to say that it is all absolutely deserved. This is an unbelievably innovative record, fusing together a litany of sounds to create a statement that is visceral and impactful, conjuring up the image of an industrial dystopia, a burning earth, and the despondent howls coming from within it. 

The band utilizes the heavy, down-tuned riffs of sludge bands such as Eyehategod, the metallic mechanical rhythms and nihilistic overtones of Big Black and Shellac, along with the angular, off-kilter aspects of a band like Unwound. Vocally, they switch between spoken hopelessly and screamed furiously, with a standout cathartic vocal performance. This isn't to say that Chat Pile just echo the sounds of the past, they just pull aspects from it to create an entirely new statement. It reminded me of listening to You Won't Get What You Want when it first came out, and the manic, painstaking response that it evoked. Not to compare the two, they're just both very dark and heavy records in an emotional sense.

Through the opening chants of "Slaughterhouse", the spine-snapping riffs of "Why", the strangely melodic "Anywhere", the haunting "I Don't Care If I Burn", and the absolute insanity of closer "Grimace_Smoking_Weed.Jpeg", this record completely floored me. Not to mention the stellar production, which the band handled themselves. This is without a doubt one of the highlights of this year, and I cannot recommend it enough. This band has earned all the praise they're getting, and they're just beginning. Enjoy.

This Dungeon Earth (2019)

1. Face

2. Rainbow Meat

3. Rat Boy

4. Crawlspace

Remove Your Skin Please (2019)

1. Dallas Beltway

2. Mask

3. Davis

4. Garbage Man

Portrayal Of Guilt/Chat Pile (2021)

1. Portrayal Of Guilt - Touched By An Angel

2. Chat Pile - Brutal Truth

Send The Pain Below (2022)

2. Roots Bloody Roots (Sepultura cover)

Note: Compilation here

God's Country (2022)

1. Slaughterhouse

2. Why

3. Pamela

4. Wicked Puppet Dance

5. Anywhere

6. Tropical Beaches, Inc.

7. The Mask

8. I Don't Care If I Burn

9. Grimace_Smoking_Weed.Jpeg

Tenkiller / Lake Time (Mr. Rodan) (2022)

1. Tenkiller

2. Lake Time (Mr. Rodan)

Brothers In Christ (2023)

1. Nerver - Kicks In The Sky

2. Nerver - The Nerve

3. Chat Pile - King

4. Chat Pile - Cut

Cool World (2024)

1. I Am Dog Now

2. Shame

3. Frownland

4. Funny Man

5. Camcorder

6. Tape

7. The New World

8. Masc

9. Milk Of Human Kindness

10. No Way Out

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Mind Eraser

Mind Eraser are a hardcore/powerviolence band from Boston, Massachusetts that began in 2003, and I'm not sure if they ever officially broke up, but they haven't been active in years. They play a brutal brand of hardcore, with clear powerviolence influences and even hints of sludge and death metal in the mix. Fans of Hatred Surge and Mammoth Grinder will definitely see the appeal here. They put out 3 fantastic LP's, none of which should be slept on. Enjoy.

Demo 2003 A.D. (2003)

1. Internal Dialogue

2. Thawed Out

3. Burn

4. Subtle Entity

5. Last Words

6. Pro-Life No Mind

7. Amazing Solution

8. Chewed Up, Spit Out

Cave (2004)

1. Neutral Words

2. Thawed Out

3. Internal Dialogue

4. What Did I Do?

5. Finished

6. Subtle Entities

7. Clever Lines

8. Psychotic

9. You Weren't Right

10. Last Words

11. Don't Find Me

12. Human Waste

13. Amazing Solution

14. Chewed Up, Spit Me

Glacial Reign (2006)

1. Abuse Excuse

2. Manhood

3. Coping Methods

4. Equation

5. Full Spectral Dominance

6. Schizophrenic

7. Yesman

8. Wroteoff

9. Shutting Down

10. Deviant Sadistic

11. Time Served (And What You Leave Behind)

12. Juggling Anxieties

Conscious Unconscious (2008)

1. Conscious

2. Unconscious

The Prodigal Son Brings Death (2008)

1. World Unfolds

2. Manipulate

3. Spear

4. Cheap Disguise

5. Baggage

6. Insertion

7. Withdrawal Symptoms

8. Constant Victim

9. Finished

10. The Prodigal Son Brings Death

Legacy Of Brutality (2013)

1. World Unfolds

2. Brought Back To Life

3. FYA

4. Discriminate Me (Agnostic Front)

5. Teenagers (The Meat Puppets)

6. Drugshit (Ripcord)

7. Consciousness

8. Phonophobic

9. Boiling Point (SSD)

10. Can't You See (Crippled Youth)

11. Fortress (Citizen's Arrest)

12. Human Waste (2010)

13. Neutral Worlds (2010)

14. Supremacy-2

15. Crushing In My Dreams

16. Prime (remix)

Dead Like Me

Dead Like Me are a four-piece hardcore band from Pau, France that formed in 2010. The band pulls from some incredible sources of influence, mainly metallic hardcore in the vein of the Relapse Records roster, most notably The Dillinger Escape Plan, in addition to bands like Coalesce and Converge, among others. The technical riffs, off-kilter rhythms, and brutally guttural vocals are all trademarks of this sound. They also incorporate hints of sludge metal to drag listeners through the mud of their bone-chilling chaos. A 6-song LP was released earlier this month, and I can't recommend it enough for fans of older hardcore with a modern edge. Enjoy.

Poussière, c'est tout. [single] (2011)

1. Poussière, c'est tout.

Dead Like Me (2011)

1. Toi et le monde

2. Absolescence

Me And Gerda Are Both Dead Like You (2012)

1. Le fils du pire des prédateurs - Clair

2. Le fils du pire des prédateurs - Obscur

3. Chien de nuit

Note: Split with Gerda, Dead Like Me tracks only

À Terre, Amas De Rêves (2017)

1. Seulement des corps entassés

2. À vomir des doutes et des plaintes

3. Les cerbères d'un temple oublié

4. Refléter le vide et son contraire

5. Nos corps s'épuisent et se déchirent

6. À terre, amas de rêves

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Celeste

Celeste are a four-piece post-hardcore/black metal band from Lyon, France that formed in 2005 by formers members of screamo legends Mihai Edrisch. Since then, they've put out a handful of soul-crushing albums, droning and piercing through assaultive darkness. As of September 2017, they are back with their latest one, another incredible addition to their incredible discography. Sonically, they are rooted in hardcore aggression, but with some heavy black metal influence courtesy of the tremolo-picked guitars and blast beats, in addition to hints of sludge and post-metal influence. Enjoy.

Pessimiste(s) (2006)

1. Afin de tromper l'ennui 

2. Diluons nos souvenirs d'enfance

3. D'abysse en abysse

4. De notre aversion à notre perversion

5. Car quoi qu'il advienne, tout est à chier

Nihiliste(s) (2008)

1. On pendra les femmes et les enfants en premier

2. Au feu le savoir

3. Mais va vendre ton dédain

4. Abandonner tout espoir à vingt ans

5. Pour maintenir encore une fois la distance

6. A jamais dénudée

7. Tu regardes trop fort, tu penses trop fort, tu parles trop fort

8. Mais encore faut-il pouvoir renier tout un programme

9. De sévices en amitiés

10. Comme s'il suffisait de lever le doigt pour refaire

Misanthrope(s) (2009)

1. Que des yeux vides et séchés

2. Comme pour leurrer les regards et cette odeur de cadavre

3. Toucher ce vide béant attise ma fascination

4. La gorge ouverte et décharnée

5. Il y aura des femmes à remercier et de la chair à embrocher

6. Mais quel plaisir de voir cette tête d'enfant rougir et suer

7. Une insomnie avec qui tout le monde voudrait baiser

8. A défaut de te jeter sur ta progéniture

9. ...anesthésié vos membres dans une orgie d'enthousiasme

Morte(s) Nee(s) (2010)

1. Ces belles de rêve aux verres embués

2. Les mains brisées comme leurs souvenirs

3. Il y a biens des porcs que ça ferait bander de t'étouffer

4. En troupeau des louves en trompe l'oeil des agneaux

5. (S)

6. Un miroir pur qui te rend misérable

7. De sorte que plus jamais un instant ne soit magique

Animale(s) (2013)

1. Laissé pour compte comme un bâtard

2. Au pied d'une bicoque peu séduisante

3. Sans crainte de s'avouer un jour naufragée

4. (X)

5. Tes âmes soeurs immaculées

6. Dans ta salive, sur sa peau

7. D'errances en inimitiés

8. Cette silhouette paumée et délabrée qui sanglote et meurt

9. Empreinte d'érotisme

10. (Y)

11. Serrés comme son coeur lacéré

12. Outro

Infidèle(s) (2017)

1. Cette chute brutale

2. Comme des amants en reflet

3. Tes amours noirs illusoires

4. Sombres sont tes déboires

5. À la gloire du néant

6. Sotte, sans devenir

7. (I)

8. Entre deux vagues

9. De l'ivresse au dégoût

10. Sans coeur et sans corps

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His Hero Is Gone

His Hero Is Gone were a five-piece crust punk/sludge metal band from Memphis, Tennessee that were around from 1995 to 1999. These guys are usually heralded as being one of the best and most influential crust bands ever, and for good reason. They consistently pumped out track after track of dark, aggressive hardcore, which featured low-end heavy, sludgy guitars, and some manic, guttural vocals. For their short few years together, they managed to record a ton of material. Almost their entire discography is below here, so if there is anything I'm missing (such as comp tracks, etc.), please send them to me! Oh yeah, and a few of these guys were also in Tragedy. Enjoy.

Medicine Of Thieves (1995)

1. Like Hell

2. View From A Holding Cell

3. Ghosts Of Regret

4. Re-Entry Explosion

5. The Oracle

6. Of Thieves

7. Descent

8. Thanking Your Lover In Sincerity

9. Bombs Away

Note: Demo Cassette

Fifteen Counts Of Arson (1997)

1. Professional Mind Fuckers

2. ...And We Burn

3. Unleash

4. Leash

5. Sterile Fortress

6. Good Samaritan

7. Hand That Feeds

8. Raindance

9. Voluntary

10. Anthem Of The Undesirables

11. Scalor

12. Concrete Cage

13. Abandoned

14. Thieves

15. The Result Of 11 Days In The Mental Hospital

16. Epidemic

17. Headcount

18. T-Minus Zero

19. Unvisited

20. Internally

21. Richter

22. Marry and Reproduce

23. The End Result of 11 Months In Prison

24. Skinfeast

Note: Tracks 1-15 are from the original LP, tracks 16-23 are from the EP The Dead Of Night In Eight Movements, and track 24 is from the compilation Complacency

Monument To Thieves (1997)

1. Like Weeds

2. Monument To Thieves

3. Paranoia Secured

4. Carry On

5. Automation

6. Chavites

7. Chain Of Command

8. Headless / Heartless

9. Hinges

10. Sin & Vice

11. The Mess

12. Disease Of Ease

13. Under Watchful Eyes

14. Stacks

15. The Unwanted Child

His Hero Is Gone/Union Of Uranus (1998)

1. His Hero Is Gone - Friendly Fire

2. His Hero Is Gone - Fool's Gold

3. His Hero Is Gone - Scare Tactic

4. His Hero Is Gone - Sound The Alarm

5. His Hero Is Gone - Becoming Soil

6. His Hero Is Gone - Raise The Curtain

7. Union Of Uranus - Backhand

8. Union Of Uranus - One Eye Strengthens

9. Union Of Uranus - Weight Of Tomorrow

10. Union Of Uranus - Equilibrate

11. Union Of Uranus - Pressure (Negative Approach cover)

The Plot Sickens: Enslavement Redefined (2001)

1. Surrender

2. The Garden

3. What Goes Up

4. Remedy Past Remedies

5. Angry Gods

6. In The Red

7. Outside In

8. Who Benefits

9. The Willing Host

10. Enslavements Redefined

11. Birth

12. Scare Tactic

13. Sound The Alarm

14. Fool's Gold

15. Friendly Fire

16. Becoming Soil

17. Raise The Curtain

18. Novelty

19. Disinformation Age

20. Domesticated Breed

21. Ten Dollars A Day

22. Live February 1998

Note: Tracks 1-11 are from the original LP, tracks 12-17 from the Fool's Gold EP, tracks 18-21 were previously unreleased, and track 22 is a live set from 1998

Suffocate For Fuck Sake

Suffocate For Fuck Sake are a screamo/post-rock band from Sweden that's been around in some capacity since 2004. What they are best known for is their monumental 2008 LP Blazing Fires And Helicopters On The Front Page Of The Newspaper. There's A War Going On And I'm Marching In Heavy Boots.

In my opinion, this is one of the most screamo releases ever. There is so much to explore in this one album. For one, it's a concept album about a woman going through a series of mental breakdowns, and is eventually institutionalized. Instrumentally, the intensity of the narrative is explored through heavy climaxes and long build-ups, making for a truly immersive listening experience. In terms of comparisons, the screamo influence could be compared to bands like Louise Cyphre, City Of Caterpillar, or Envy. On the post-rock/metal aspect of things, bands like Isis, Mogwai, and Godspeed You! Black Emperor come to mind.

Years later, now in 2016, Suffocate For Fuck Sake have released the long-awaited follow-up to their debut opus. In My Blood picks up on a lot of where the band left off, with them continuing to construct these heavy-hitting titans of climaxes, and gorgeously crafted melodic softer parts. Like their first album, I can't recommend it enough. If you're a fan of expansive screamo and incredible musicianship, this band is an absolute essential. Enjoy.

Suffocate For Fuck Sake (2004)

1. Hospital / H / The Social Worker Dragon

2. Promenade

3. Le Gilet Fraternel

4. Lesra

Blazing Fires And Helicopters On The Frontpage Of The Newspaper. There's A War Going On And I'm Marching In Heavy Boots (2008)

1. Blue Lights And Sunshine

2. I Got Worried... I Was So Freaking Scared Of That Window, You Know

3. We Are Driving Through Darkness

4. Twentysix And Full Of Plans

5. A Japanese Flag

6. I Keep My Eyes On The Ground, Afraid Of Meeting Someone I Know

7. Empty

8. They Try To Cheer Me Up By Saying I Did Once Live A Functioning Life

In My Blood (2016)

1. Stina

2. I Am Your God

3. Sentence

4. Through The Gate

5. 33 Years Ago

6. Regrets

7. The Light

8. Carnage

9. Are You Happy With Your Life?

Fyra (2021)

1. From The Window

2. 15 Missed Calls

3. All Our Memories

4. Alone

5. The Surface

6. Hope

7. Cosmopol

8. Behind The Door

9. To Fall Apart

10. Here

11. Small Comments

12. Quiet

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Whores.

Whores. are a three-piece noise rock band from Atlanta, Georgia that started in 2011. They play a very intense style of music, that often incorporates a distorted bass and a sludgy guitar sound that's definitely taken some influence from The Melvins. For a three-piece, they pack a massive punch. This is the kind of music that's just begging to be played through headphones at full blast. They just released their first full-length, which is probably their best work to date along with their EP Clean. They're both chock full of loud, monstrous riffs, so don't slouch on this. Enjoy.

Ruiner (2011)

1. Daddy's Money

2. Fake Life

3. Shower Time

4. Straight Down

5. Tell Me Something Scientific

Clean (2013)

1. Baby Bird

2. Last Looks

3. I Am Not A Goal Orientated Person

4. Cougars, Not Kittens

5. Blue Blood

6. I Am An Amateur At Everything

Whores/Rabbits (2014)

1. Whores. - Jumping Someone Else's Train (The Cure cover)

2. Rabbits - A Reflection (The Cure cover)

3. Rabbits - Give Me It (The Cure cover)

Dope, Guns 'N' Fucking in the Streets #13 (2014)

1. Bloody Like The Day You Were Born

Gold (2016)

1. Playing Poor

2. Baby Teeth

3. Participation Trophy

4. Mental Illness As Mating Ritual

5. Ghost Trash

6. Charlie Chaplin Routine

7. Of Course You Do

8. I See You Are Also Wearing A Black T Shirt

9. Bloody Like The Day You Were Born

10. I Have A Prepared Statement

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Dead In The Dirt

Dead In The Dirt are a three-piece hardcore/grindcore band from Atlanta, Georgia that formed in 2008. After one self-released EP and another one on Southern Lord (both fantastic by the way), they released this phenomenal album titled The Blind Hole in 2013 (also with Southern Lord). And then they just kind of disappeared. Their Facebook is still occassionally active, but they haven't toured or released anything since. It would be tough to top anyway. I think its one of the most aggressive albums to come out in this decade. The songs are blistering, with some real guttural, dual vocals and a tinge of black metal influence in the occasional tremolo-picked guitars. Throw in some sludgy tones and d-beat drum patterns and you've got one hell of an extreme album. It's complete chaos, and the music sucks you in just like the cover art into this dark and dead place with no way out. If the flames of hell had a soundtrack, this would be it. Definitely give this band a listen. Enjoy.

Vold (2010)

1. Grief

2. Slave

3. Wage Labor Blues

4. Watching It Die

5. Few And Far Between

Fear (2011)

1. The Screaming Wind

2. Bastards Of The Bleak

3. Disease

4. Two Flames

5. Burden Of Life

6. Can They Suffer...

7. Biting At The Binds

8. Sever The Tie

9. Skin Graft

10. Fear

The Blind Hole (2013)

1. Suffer

2. The Blaring Eye

3. Swelling

4. Strength Through Restraint

5. Idiot Bliss

6. You Bury Me

7. Skull Binding

8. Mask

9. Cop

10. No Chain

11. Will Is The War

12. Beggar

13. One More Day

14. The Pit Of Me

15. Caged

16. Starve

17. Vein

18. Pitch Black Tomb

19. The Last Nail

20. Two Flames

21. Knife In The Feathers

22. Halo Crown

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