Testicular Tuesday!

The Dillinger Escape Plan is awesome. They have been awesome since their inception and first EP some 11 years ago. I do prefer their more recent output as compared to their earlier releases with Dmitri on vocals, but it all rules. 2007's "Ire Works" is a brilliant masterpiece, as was it's predecessor "Miss Machine". As the band grows (a similar yet more spastic path than Candiria), they keep their mathcore elements, but infuse stronger song structure and vocal harmonies/dynamics. Plus, they do a killer cover of Justin's "Like I Love You".

New record coming by the end of 2009 and singer Greg Pucciato is now involved with Spylacopa (a side project, turned semi-priority of members of Candiria, Isis and Made Out of Babies). Their stunning debut is available now through their MySpace page and Rising Pulse Records.

Bottom line: Dillinger is fucking amazing. Happy Tuesday.

"Milk Lizard":
"Panasonic Youth":

Blog of Prey

So, um...I just got my copy of the sparkling new Zozobra album "Bird of Prey" and, um, I'm blown away. I mean, I expected it to be crushing, expansive, heavy and all that stuff, but I just wasn't prepaired for what Mr. Caleb Scofield (Cave In/Old Man Gloom) and Aaron Turner (Isis) had in store for my ears (and eyes...simply stunning packaging and embossing...Aaron Tuner has done it again). You know it's some good shit when one of the heaviest things you hear all year is packaged in a pretty purple sleeve. That's what I'm talkin' about right there!

A bit less of the electronic and shoegazer moments on this one. A lot of sheer brutality and hard-driving bass lines, put WAY up front in the mix...The way more records should be. And they did this (production and all) in a shitty little practice room somewhere in LA. Gotta love that.

WHEN you buy this, please listen to "In Jet Streams". Consider your face torn off at that point.

Cave In "Juggarnaut" Live 2004:

Eternal Fucking Awesomeness

The new Cult of Luna is a skullcrusher. An amazing journey of an album, based on the writings in a journal of a mental patient from the 1930's. They actually recorded the new disc, Eternal Kingdom in the abandoned hospital where he once resided and ultimately passed on.

I've talked about the merits of this band endlessly but they have really blown me away with this one. Salvation was unarguably the best album either Isis or Neurosis never made and the follow-up, Somewhere Along The Highway made newer Isis and Mogwai sound like little bitches. What I'm trying to say is that you can't compete with eight Swedes no matter how you slice it. I love me some Isis, but they've clearly been run through.

I'd love to point out some highlights or favorite songs but they all lay motherfuckers to waste in their own unique way, so just buy this thing and find out for yourself. They now have two drummers alongside their three guitarists. It works.

This is an early candidate for Record of the Year. Something is going to have to come along and step out of my stereo and start punching me in the face to top this. New Amon Amarth next month, but I just can't see that even in the same league as this.

Watch this. It would do you no good to not do so. "Eternal Kingdom" Live in Warsaw (2008)
"Owlwood" Live in Warsaw (2008)

You Are Owned By Cult of Luna

You might not know it yet, but Cult Of Luna owns you. Like Isis? How about Burst? Does Neurosis tickle your fancy? Meet Cult of Luna. They range from 6-8 dudes live and clock in a solid 7 on disc. A wall of guitars, Bonham-like drums, and vocals that could make a bear shit himself.

Now 4 records into their career (plus a few 7"s that are now out of print), COL have made quite a name for themselves everywhere except North America (where else?). They have released all 4 albums on Earache Records in the US, but none of them have really received proper promotion or distribution. It's really a shame because they are better than any other band in their genre. Purists will call out Neurosis for that title, but something about them just doesn't do it for me. Isis is another one. An awesome band but sadly getting crappier with each release. They're also a big sleeping pill live. Cult of Luna rarely tour the states and sell very little here (under 10K scanned for 4 releases) but sales don't mean shit when discussing music quality.

Their latest, 2006's "Somewhere Along The Highway" sees the band branching out and incorporating more melody than before, but fear not, the 16+ minute destroyers are still here. In fact, most of the discs' 7 tracks clock in well over 10 minutes. The track "Finland" is pure sludgy bliss. While nothing on this record tops the best cuts of 2004's "Salvation", the album as a whole is far more enjoyable. Unlike other bands in the same circles, COL are getting better with each LP.

Do yourself a favor and check out the video for "Back To Chapel Town" below. It destroys...