Gimme Metal Program Director Brian Turner delivers the week's top 5 office buzz-worthy tracks.
ZARPA ROCK – Los 4 Jinetes Del Apocalypsis
A great chance to hear this Spanish 1978 proto-everything headbanger once again thanks to the stellar Guerssen reissue label. If you're looking for slick Bob Rock production look elsewhere, this is a basement-full-of-smoke guitar exorcism of the highest order from the first second of the flashing lick here you know yr gonna rock. Heavy, blasted jams, caveman vocals, supposedly the whole damn album was recording in one 90 minute take.
CAVEMAN CULT – Conquistador di Hierro
Precise and primitive, Florida continues to fester under the musical rule of this crew and their new Nuclear War Now track is a relentless tornado of misery. Not enough people seem to know the sheer power of what CC does and it's well about time to soak in their vibe to enhance your day.
COUNT DIRTBAGULOUS – Molten Colosus
Another helping of lo-fi grot from this uber-mysterious, high-BPM entity from the 'Seventy-Second Day' LP. A perfect amalgamation of black metal, speed metal and dungeon synth that seemingly makes no sense together, but the imagery of a miserable soul stuck inside a 4×4 cardboard closet kicking his way out furiously is well documented in these grotesque grooves.
VEXED – Misery
Aggressive and progressive, this UK unit shines its tech leanings up with a heavy dose of ugly brutality that co-mingles with the ethereal vocals of Megan Targett (who also switches channels from siren to Satan at the flick of a switch with unbelievable seamlessness). The LP 'Culling Culture' is out on Napalm May 21st and we're also happy to plug their takeover special on Gimme coming up Wednesday May 19th at 12pm PT/3pm ET/8pm UK time. Don't miss.
BIG|BRAVE – Of This Ilk
Bjork fronting the Swans? Sorry, I'm sure the band is sick of hearing of such a thing, but the soaring emotive quality of Robin Wattie's singing against the plodding, slow moving hurricane of instrumental aggression creates a surreal and unlikely atmosphere that succeeds. Starting in 2012 with gigs opening for the likes of Godspeed You Black Emperor, Big|Brave stake a colossal terrain across a myriad of genres, landing eventually on Southern Lord and a more direct line to a legion of metalheads who like their discoveries to be leftfield. We should also mention Greg Anderson from Southern Lord hosts a label primer 2-hour special coming up on Gimme May 24th.
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