Hello folks! How's it going in your little corner of Worldwide Cataclysm? If one thing this Pandemic has shown, it's just how spiteful, stubborn and selfish a lot of people can be. Not to mention completely hatstand. Imagine what these obstreperous fuckers would be like if it was a proper Post-Apocalyptical breakdown of Society, I don't think Mad Max or Fallout are too far off the mark really. It starts with refusing to wear a mask, ends with bezerking Super Mutants.
Maybe I'm immune, I don't know.
So, Mix #57. It's taken me a little longer to write than I would have liked but it's the first blog in months that's actually out on time. As seems to have become the norm, there's artists from a whole load of Countries featured: France, Spain, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Italy, Germany, Australia etc. There's some peculiar stuff too.
I had a bit of a fanny on trying to sort out the Spotify playlist, there's five tracks I've written about that aren't on Spotify, so there's a quarter of the blog unable to be listened to by you fancy pants streaming types, sorry. I've highlighted which tracks below.
Cheers,
Luke
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Tracklisting
Jon Cougar Concentration Camp - You Either Got It Or You Don't
Butterfly - Climbing A Mountain
PowderKeg - Wait It Out
Ghost:Hello - An Unrealistic Display of Optimism
2 Ton Predator - Ready To Die
Priscilla The Outlaw - The Shirt
Hans Gruber And The Die Hards - Is Today Worth Waking Up For?
Depotek - Blox
Swan Prince - Hidden Love Song
Kombynat Robotron - KRII.I
She Makes War - Weary Bird
Teenage Halloween - Figwit
Lifetaker - Wound Man
Kaizers Orchestra - Kontroll På Kontinentet
Volturian - Between The Sleepers
Grumpynators - Feel The Same
Fret! - Davy
Space Deer - Ghost Magnet
Disgraceland - Harvey
The Konbinis - She's On The Run
Backyard Superheroes - Netflix & Chill
You can listen to the playlist on Spotify HERE
Or via the MP3's HERE if you prefer.
Spotify Adjustments
Jon Cougar Concentration Camp - I've substituted in the title track of the only album of theirs that's on Spotify, which is Too Tough To Die.
Butterfly - They aren't on Spotify at all so I've had to omit this one entirely
Ghost:Hello - I've substituted in the track Fingerstache from their album, The Sound Of Color In Space.
2 Ton Predator - Another band completely absent from Spotify.
Kombynat Robotron - They only have the one album on Spotify, Modul 12. I've included the track I from that. It's 22 minutes long, enjoy!
Jon Cougar Concentration Camp - You Either Got It Or You Don't
Taken from the1998 album Melon
You Either Got It Or You Don't is short, snarky ode to those who try to be cool and fail to do so. The call and response style chorus, however, is, definitely cool. A bit mean, but cool.
PowderKeg is a band name I've seen about all over, quite often hearing about how great they are but I've only fairly recently got around to listening to them. As it happens, they are, in fact, great. 
This trippy Stoner Rock trio from Ohio eschew the usual guitar riffery and instead employ a swirling amalgam of drums, bass and organ that's immersive, groove-laden and none the worse for any lack of axe. They released their debut album last year, the excellent The Sound Of Color In Space, but I've opted instead to include a track from the preceding 2-track single because there's just something about this song that grabs me. The three instruments work so well together on it and, weirdly, it's the drums that add all the flair and flourish to the track, with the organ subtle and interwoven with the fuzzing bass. It's such a cool song, I hope you all like it as much as I do.
I'd not heard this album for quite a while when I dug the CD out of storage and I'd forgotten just how good an album it is. It's pretty standard Swedish Melodic Death Metal but really well executed and produced. Ready To Die is one of my favourites from it. I love the nihilism of the lyrics, that massive chugging riff and the fact that there are no clean vocals but it's still a dead catchy song. Demon Dealer was their third album, they released another following this but I don't what happened to them after that, I presume they split up.
Hans Gruber And The Die Hards - Is Today Worth Waking Up For?
This impressively named five piece from Austin, TX mix Ska, Punk and Hardcore to make an energetic, fun and bratty noise. Is Today Worth Waking Up For? has some cool guitar licks as well as some great back and forth vocals from various band members that are really effective. It's a buoyant, feel-good track that's pretty much an anti-suicide song. It's a highlight of their second album but both that and their debut are worth checking out if you like Is Today Worth Waking Up For?
When I first discovered this EP, I assumed Depotek were Russian, just down to their name and their style of music but they're actually from Minnesota, so I was right out. That style of music is some mechanical, stomping Industrial Rock with heavy synths intertwined with buzzing guitars and growled vocals Blox is about playing with the big boys and getting in way over your head, it has a grooving, synthy riff that would have filled the floor of the rock clubs waaay back in my younger days. There's an odd klanking noise in there that strangely ominous too.
Swan Prince are a skatepunk quartet from the Midlands and Hell On Earth is their debut album. While their music is the fast-paced, energetic Punk you'd expect from this style of music, Rachel's voice is softer and more in line with the Twee Pop and Cuddlecore scenes of the '90s. It's an interesting combination that works well for the most part. Hidden Love Song seems to be about a shy introvert that finally finds love. I really like the repeated vocal/backing vocal chorus line, where they alternate singing "Right here", it's really effective.
I would guess that this track by these German musos is probably something of a... niche listen, as eleven minute long, Krautrock/Post Punk instrumentals aren't going to appeal to a lot of people. I'll freely admit that I, despite my smugly wide range of musical appreciation, struggle a bit with this sort of thing. This track, however, is worth sitting through at least once. Once the initial wall of squall drops away, it develops into a rhythmic, driving soundscape with impressively metronomic drums and some atmospheric guitar pirouetting. If you let it, KRII.I will take you on a gently head nodding, chin-stroking journey towards its eventual rumbling crescendo. It's jolly good.
Describing themselves as Queer Power Pop, this bunch of folks from New Jersey sound like Punk-fueled Indie Rock to me. Their songs often tend to be about mental health and trying to get by in society when you're LGBT+. Luke Hendericks' raspy vocals are often offset by bassist Tricia Marshall's smoother vocals and that juxtaposition is put to work well in Figwit, especially in the chorus, when they're singing "I am starving, for a world without ridicule". It's one of the longer songs on the album, despite being less than three minutes long and though it doesn't seem to fit the song, I wonder if the title is anything to do with the minor but handsome elf in Lord Of The Rings? The more I listen to this song, the more I like it. I've listened to it a lot.
Ompa Til Du Dør is another album that I'd not heard for years when I dug it out again a few months ago. I picked it up in Denmark, in 2002 I think, and really liked it. Other than this album (and the bonus EP that came with it) I haven't heard anything else by them. They were an Alternative Indie Rock band from Norway, they sing in their native language and, if I remember rightly, they employed a Stomp style of percussion live, dustbin lids and all that malarkey.
I'm not sure if this Italian band are a side project or not as they feature a couple of guys from Frozen Crown (who will be cropping up on a future blog at some point) and Federica is also the vocalist of Malefistum, who released their debut also this year too, as well as the former vocalist of Sleeping Romance. They've not really drawn attention to any of that so I think they're wanting Crimson taken on its own merit which is fair enough. It's not particularly groundbreaking and if you like female-fronted Gothic or Symphonic Metal then you know what to expect. What it is though, is a solid collection of well written and performed tunes and I've been listening to it quite a bit. Between The Sleepers edges towards Power Metal in its guitar lines but Federica's strong, clear vocals and the twinkly piano-led verses are pure Symphonia and, as with most of the songs on Crimson, the chorus is massive and emotive.
The oddly-named Grumpynators are a Danish band that meld Hard Rock with Punk and Rockabilly and Still Alive, their third album is a fun and eclectic set of tunes. Feel The Same isn't as hard-edged as some of the other tracks on the album but it has a nice swing to the verses and an infectious chorus. In fact, the song has a weird 'I've heard this before' vibe to it, not in a derivative way, just that it feels like an old classic. It's about not coping well with a breakup and torn between wanting to get back with them and never wanting to see them again.
Space Deer are a Stoner Rock trio from Madrid and, following a couple of quality EPs, they've recently released their debut album, The Forest. There's an almost Hawkwind-like trippiness to the main riff of Ghost Magnet; It flanges in and then drives the song along in a way that's both rocks and soothes. Like a cradle. All three members of the band take a turn at lead vocals and have similar but distinguishable voices that complement each other well.
This French trio are a catchy Skatepunk/ Pop Punk band and It's All Decay is their third album. She's On The Run is a bright, breezy song with a pacy, undulating guitar riff that's pretty cool. I think the song's about a young woman rebelling, presumably against her parents, and living a wild, promiscuous life, rather than an escaped criminal as the title might suggest. Simon and Marion prominently accented vocals work well together and I like this song, and the album, a fair bit. Give it a listen, see what you think.
Butterfly - Climbing A Mountain
Taken from the 2020 album Doorways Of Time
Finding information out about this band was tricky, not only is there a couple of other bands who had the same idea, but I also got to look at a lot of pretty Lepidoptera too, which was nice. ANYWAY. This Butterfly are an Australian Hard Rock/Stoner band from Melbourne and they have an authentic sounding 70's vibe about them, even down to the simple but clear production, Climbing A Mountain has a surprisingly long intro, it's well over a minute before any vocals kick in, the gruffly sung verses contrast nicely with the wailing chorus and I love that guitar tone!
PowderKeg - Wait It Out
Taken from the 2018 single Wait It Out
They're a boisterous Hard Rock band from Glasgow and Wait It Out is the second of three two-track singles they've released so far. It's about becoming a successful band or following your dreams etc and just being patient or not giving up. Listening to this it's easy to why they have such a strong live reputation because even their studio versions sound full of live and energy. Like Butterfly, their sound is rooted in the '70s but more the campy Glam Rock side of it, there's aura of Rocky Horror style sleaze about them too. Jen's energetic vocals are cool as it that little chuggy guitar riff that pops up every now and then.
Ghost:Hello - An Unrealistic Display of Optimism
Taken from the 2019 single Ghost:Hello
2 Ton Predator - Ready To Die
Taken from the 2003 album Demon Dealer
Priscilla The Outlaw - The Shirt
Taken from the 2020 EP EP
I stumbled onto Priscilla via the Creative Commons website, Jamendo and I need to see if she has any other releases because I enjoyed this EP a lot. Treading the line between Americana and commercial Country, The Shirt is all about how it doesn't matter if things are good or bad as long as you live your life and learn from both your achievements and your mistakes. Her husky, world-weary vocals fit the theme perfectly and love that opening guitar twang. This kind of has the feel of a TV Series' theme song, dunno why.
Taken from the album Hans Gruber And The Die Hards 2
Depotek - Blox
Taken from the 2018 EP Line Of Sight
Swan Prince - Hidden Love Song
Taken from the 2020 album Hell On Earth
Kombynat Robotron - KRII.I
Taken from the 2020 album Feldversuchssamlung
She Makes War - Weary Bird
Taken from the 2018 album Brace For Impact
She Makes War, rather than being a band, is the stage name for multi-instrumentalist, Laura Kidd, and she's the second act on this mix who I erroneously misjudged. Prior to hearing her stuff, I just assumed it would be acoustic based, sparkly Indie Folk. While she does sometimes head down that way, tracks like Weary Bird are very plugged in, amped up Alt.Rock/Grunge. There's a lot of similarities, musically if not vocally, to Nirvana in Weary Bird, particularly the stop-start riff in the verses.
Unfortunately, she split up with herself and She Makes War ceased to be in 2019. Thankfully, she has formed a new band, with herself, called Penfriend that are more Indie than Rock but still really good. I would assume that an album is due at some point.
Teenage Halloween - Fitwig
Taken from the 2020 album Teenage Halloween
Lifetaker - Wound Man
Taken from the 2020 album Night Intruder
Lifetaker are from Dortmund in Germany and perform a cacophonous blend of Grindcore, Death Metal, Hardcore and Sludge Metal. Wound Man is taken from their ace debut full length, Night Intruder and it's title is taken from an old medical illustration of unfortunate guy with every conceivable injury. The song is a short, raucous burst of energy with a pummelling riff and blastbeats fed through a wall of static distortion with Konstantin screaming and roaring his way through it. Just over a minute long and it's done before you know it. Great stuff.
Kaizers Orchestra - Kontroll På Kontinentet
Taken from the 2001 album Ompa Til Du Dør
Kontroll På Kontinentet was always one of the standout tracks but though I've always attempted to sing along with it, I've never had any idea what I'm actually singing along to. Now, utilising the intense power of the internet, I've discovered that it's apparently about a gangster boss who discovers a plot to overthrow him so he fakes his own death. Then he finds out it was his sister that usurped him and burns down her house. It's funny the things you mumble along to unawares sometimes.
Volturian - Between The Sleepers
Taken from the 2020 album Crimson
Grumpynators - Feel The Same
Taken from the 2020 album Still Alive
Fret! - Davy
Taken from the 2019 album A Vanity Spawned By Fear
Eddie, a good friend of mine, hosts the alternative music show Attention Please and is a keen champion of local music, local being the North East of England. One of the bands he insists on forcing down people's throats is the Noise Rock/Surf Rock/Shouty Post Punk trio, Fret! To be fair to him, they ARE pretty ace*. They've released a couple of albums and a brace of EPs that are all worth checking out if you like uncomfortable music. Davy rattles along on a tumbling riff and Cath Tyler's furious, barking yelp sits atop it. I'm unsure as to who Davy is, but he's probably best off keeping out of her way.
*He's also the author of the first, and so far only, Guest Post. way back in #06. If you fancy doing one and/or have questions about what's entailed then get in touch via one of the Social Media things.
Space Deer - Ghost Magnet
Taken from the 2020 album The Forest
Disgraceland - Harvey
Taken from the 2020 EP Dose 'Em Up
Disgraceland take the Punked up, greasy Rock n' Roll sleaze of '90s legends, Groop Dogdrill and give it a modern polish. Not a euphanism. Another trio, this time from Devon, they've released three EPs since 2019 and they're all mint, Harvey is taken from their most recent one and is a storming song that sounds like it's about the dirty old rapist, Harvey Weinstein. Although it's quite clearly derogatory about him, it's also quite lighthearted in tone. I don't wanna be all triggerrrred about it but it is a little odd, considering. Still, there's a stupid but brilliant rhyming couplet in the chorus that I'll let you hear for yourself. And then get annoyed because you keep singing it.
The Konbinis - She's On The Run
Taken from the 2020 album It's All Decay
Also, I've had a Google about to try and find out what a Konbini is, purely for my own amusement, but the best I could manage is that it's Japanese for Convenience Store. Are they essentially called The Convenience Stores?
Backyard Superheroes - Netflix & Chill
Taken from the 2018 album Never Give Up, Never Surrender!
Another band I discovered recently while on a Ska Punk fix is these chirpy folk. They're the second band from New Jersey on the blog (Teenage Halloween being the other) and they've released three albums so far, all of which are Name Your Price on Bandcamp. If you're not already a fan of Ska Punk then they're unlikely to change your mind but, if you like a bit of feelgood parpery then they're a lot of fun and worth your time.
Netflix And Chill was a single from their last album, it's about going on a date and, well, having a lovely evening. It's got typical bouncy, skanking verses and a rocked up catchy chorus. I've had both stuck in my head, albeit with completely wrong lyrics, for the last week or so now.
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