It all starts up with “Botch Up and Die” and it’s pretty grindcore, kinda of a homage to Botch, with the eccentric guitars over a grind blast beat, its not only amusing but quite groovy, nicely done, “Down” is kinda dance meets noisecore with distorted samples and guitars into the mix, okkk, “Pig Destroyer Destroyer” has some nice drumming building to a slowed down chopped distorted noise filled beat … are we making fun of Pig Destroyer?, is this supposed to be a compliment or a satire, anyway it all builds up to a distorted guitar breakcore fest, mixing real life drumming with beats and distortion….

“Terrible Things” tsss is a kind of atmospheric interlude to build up “Forgive and Forget” going heavy on the guitars and groove breakdown, pretty awesome beats and catchy samples, it all works pretty well, even with the constant distortion and changes of pace (i guess it’s the point…right), it all goes flat at about 2/3 in… letting it die with echoes and guitar feedback, then it goes into “Grainbeast” that just builds on that feedback… working as another interlude to “Saddest RMX” and back to a more pure form of grindcore, great variety of beats and of mixing them up, but yet short simple and to the point, i liked it, “Incarnate” brings us home to … Amen Break land, old school beats and simple samples…. that get worked up and mingled into some form of breakcore thrash metal, pretty good, i like the old school feel… you can even headbang in the end muahahah

“Worse” starts with some drum work to some spaced out samples, well it feels like another intro to “Time” that builds from the last track into a smooth beat guitar work, that is until it goes all out into grindcore planet, what i like about this is that even when something doesn’t sound that good… it doesn’t matter, since nothing stays on loop for long, and the diversity is very well mixed together… then the last track “Grist” again gives a toned down funky beat … joined later with guitars and sampled vocals, still pretty groovy, the track goes on with different mixing of the same samples, giving them more speed or power, but keeping the same rhythm, it’s pretty nice, until it eventually dies down.

One things is for sure, you have to listen to this from start to finish, at first i tried a couple of tracks and i didn’t know what to think of it, now that i’ve listen to it a couple of times, i can say that this is one funky album, its good for the headbanger metal head that likes it hard and fast, and good for the breakcore noisecore crowd, i enjoyed it… so if your into this kind of music or you want to try something with a bit of an aftertaste, than give this album a go ^^

Official Site Drumcorps
MySpace Site Drumc0rps

Drumcorps – Botch Up and Die
Drumcorps – Forgive and Forget

As a side note, this album, in retrospective with his latest releases, sees venetian snares… humm how can i put it … more mellow? well more like giving up on that garage band experimental sound, for a more clean cut pseudo commercial sound, the formula seems to be repetitive, there are almost always 2 distinct (sometimes 3 or 4) tracks normally at least one is playing in a normal or slow pace and the other ones are in hiperdrive mode (mostly cut beats, that only someone like him can do) and when i say hiperdrive is just because if he turns the bpm up a point you will hear a continuous horrible sound, that’s how fast it goes.

The album starts with “Donut”, and it’s a really nice track with a large build up, that goes to one of his mixtures of cut beats, not going overboard, more like a intro so you’ll get used to it, next comes “Swindon” and you start to get the big picture this is all about the beat the rest is there just to make it sound better and to give ambient sound for the continuous deconstructions of the beats, next comes “Pwntendo”, that goes for that classical and comfortable 8bit sound, that Nintendo inprinted on the back of everyone’s mind, well its that, but at stupid speed “OH THIS SHIT IS GREAT” kind of thing, next comes “Xiii’s Dub” that sounds more like a interlude, but a nice one, good after that mind blowing blast from the last track.

Next comes “Vache”, amazing just like the next one “Plunging Hornets” full speed in a sea of apparent randomness all the way, “Twirl” again slows it down, it has a lot in common with “Xiii’s Dub” it gives you a break from all that sonic aggression, next comes “Tache” and its a lot like “Swindon”, but in this case slowing the album down to “P” and this one is… a bit weak, a pure interlude to the last track “Cancel” and it actually sounds like something more experimental and not in tune with the rest of the album, nice, but nothing especial.

I have to say i always like Venetian Snares, sure this album is a bit played down, and i always have that feeling that if he spent a couple of more weeks working with the material that it would have been excellent, I’ll have to say that although most tracks are excellent that the album seems and feels like a patchwork, i have the tendency to listen all the way up to “Plunging Hornets”, and disconnecting on “Twirl”, no point going on or maybe I’m just tired, yeah because this kind of music tends to become tiresome, not only because of the randomness and aggression of the beats but i think most likely because even though it’s a work of art the way that he deconstructs the beats, it all seems to follow the same formula and pattern, and that makes it predictable and therefore lacks that replay value, nevertheless like i said i love his work, and so should you, hehehe.

Venetian Snares – Vache

I would say the first song immediately demonstrates the rythmical intricacy of this album. The Garden starts with some soft legato strings followed by meticulously sequenced mid-paced breaks that quickly mutate into some evil distorted breakcore. After a brief pause, it picks up again with a grumpy bassline accompanied by some cutup distorted percussion. The music then proceeds into a few minutes of breakcore iterations (woohoo!), ending with the sound of cellos, which provides for a pleasent transition into Black Bone Orchid.

This second song begins with a really nice (albeit sad?) intro, performed by the string section, to which is added some slow breaks. After a while, the mood of the music kinda changes as a playful violin enters the party. Then, as always, the song swiftly changes again into jungle/breakcore mode with the addition of a wobbly distorted bass and some seriously mashed-up breaks.

The third “song” is quite amusing actually. Uhm.. I think i would classify Bitter Moon Blossom as a mixture of cut-up metal meets breakcore until halfway through, then proceeds into some creepy ambience and finishes off with some gabber mindfuck action.

This album wraps up with Danse Macabre. This song starts off with some subtle strings followed by a few bars of mid-paced breaks (which kinda remind me of Bogdan Raczynski and Datach’i). Then it takes a turn towards a more rude drum arrangement, as the string instruments increase in tension. The “trademark” of this song are the hyperactive harpsichord/clavichord staccato ramblings, masterfully interweaved with some seriously mashed-up breakcore action.

Abelcain – Bitter Moon Blossom

Well off with their heads, and lets have a look at the music, overall the album seems more focused than their debut album, even thought the feel is the same, “happy bummed” music, some of the tracks borderline self indulgent like “O Green World” and some of the fillers, but when the really good tracks do come, they are surprisingly fresh, seems Damon Albarn was really the man behind the show, tracks like “Dirty Harry”, “Feel Good Inc” or “All Alone” are excellent, and there is even time for some surprises like the old school dance music* from “Dare” or the electro funk* on “White Light”.

This one thought album to talk about, very different stuff happening all over, so can one listen to it on one go? well sure, it beats listening to radio if that’s the point, and quality wise is top notch, i just feel its a bit more of the same, their debut album had that unfinished feeling to it, like it’s a “side project kind of thing”, but with “Demon Days”, its much more balanced, even thought its a bit confusing and mind numbing at times, with all this different music coming from everywhere, in the end it’s ok, yeah i said ok, if your into Gorillaz or you like eclectic albums this one is surely for you, just don’t be fooled by the singles.

(* Note: I Need To Stop Inventing Stuff Up )

Gorillaz – Feel Good Inc

Ok let’s have a look at Start A War, Static-X use a very straight forward formula, simplistic guitar work, very by the numbers drumming, average metal vocals (not very good on the more heavy screaming) and the use of electronics to accentuate the music (since everything else doesn’t really help), there are a couple of palatable tracks, like “Enemy” with its fast pace and actually a catchy chorus, “I Want To Fucking Break It” because it has circus music, “Night Terrors” well it’s classic Static-X stuff (sounds like post “Follow the Leader” Korn, well all of their last album sounded like Korn, or is it the other way around…) and probably “Just in Case” because it’s a bit different, the rest are just filers or “beyond the point of reason” moronic tracks.

Well even thought this is incredibly dumb down music, i tend to sympathise with Static-X since they seem to be doing this on purpose, dumb down music for dumb down people, its supposed to be simplistic catchy music, how are people going to scream the chorus, especially if it’s someone like Behemoth, GRAUUGLLLL doesn’t sound that good…hehehe, is this great music?, hell no, it’s trash, but its the kind of trash that doesn’t offend that much, and that a lot of people seem to like, hey whatever makes everyone happy, if your into pseudo tech metal with bands like Reaktor or Sybreed, then Static-X is for sure the cream of that crop.

Static-X – The Enemy

Much like those bands that still strive in analog times (dismissing the digital “rearranging till it’s perfect”) because it sounds right, and it gives a underlying feel for the music, aphex went that root with this series, going for vintage electronics to create this music, kind of funny since he was one of the first to truly embrace full digital, the fact is the musics on lords seem more constraint and do have that feeling of old school techno, i don’t know if that was, what he was trying to do but, even simple things like fade in fade out, seem irregular and don’t have the same crisp digital feel, it’s very reminiscent and as such is quite enjoyable, it’s unpretentious at best.

So this is one of those albums, that’s difficult to pinpoint, i can say that, its a lot of fun, not so aggressive or over the top aphex twin i do enjoy, but it’s quite funky, sure the tracks don’t feel like an album, but they weren’t suppose to be, they do tend to stay on the same set of sounds, maybe because old hardware doesn’t have never ending archive of samples, but that just adds to the retro sound, well on the album itself, i do like “Fenix Funk 5″, for it’s almost “Aphex Twin” like drum arrangement, and great samples, also “Crying in your Face” its a lot of fun, with those really funky retro acid sounds, there are a lot more gems and all the tracks are fun to ear, if not for the simple arrangements.

Ohhh why oh why, have you forsaken me, well i’m more a “I Care Because You Do“, “Richard D. James Album“, “Windowlicker“, “Come to Daddy“, “Digeridoo” kind of guy, but nevertheless, aphex never lets down, overall quality and production are always of the highest standard, and these are some sweet tunes, not ground breaking, but nevertheless real nice, so give it a try, i did.

Aphex Twin – Fenix Funk 5

Since like almost all punk albums, tracks come short and fast, “1997-2004″ is a big album, with 19 tracks, so instead of going 1 on 1 i’ll just highlight my favorites ^_^ hehehe, well “Crash Pow” is new to me, i don’t have all their catalog, but really good hardcore/punk almost no electronic, then “Pulse” i already know, heheh high drum&bass meets punk, this is the shit, that and the “Blink 182” type catchy lyrics in a japanese pronunciation, ohhh it’s so much funnnn, “Godd Girl” for the rock breakbeats and happy happy lyrics, “Midi Surf” its almost 100% drum&bass/guitar work, very punk in feeling with everyone screaming along.

“Chaos Step” with the house samples and the almost Pitchshifter feeling, rock meets electronic, “Gaga Life” this one just screams Mad Capsule Markets, it has all the things they are good at, Punk Music over Electronic beats and of course catchy chorus (probably my favorite), “Bit Crusherrrr” for it’s ridiculous/funny lyrics with the nu-metal feeling (like they are making fun of the sound…hell they are screaming Bit Crusherrrr some 30 times), “Fly High” is like “Gaga Life” all over again, ohhh so sweet, and that’s about it.

Anyone with a moniker like The Mad Capsule Markets, should be funny, well the musics have a lot of punk, they mix and mash, but the underlying feel and play is punk, the high use of electronic and samples, just enhances their music, and makes it stand apart from the crowd, i’m not much of a punk fan, but i do enjoy the mad capsules, because they do bring something new to the table, and i do love from time to time some nonsense music just because it’s fun, so if you like punk or wanna listen to something a little bit odd, then give this one a try, you won’t regret it.

The Mad Capsule Markets – Fly High

So “To the 5 Boroughs” is here, from the first track “Ch-Check it Out” you get the feel of the rest of the album, this seems like old school all the way, the sound is much more clear than “Hello Nasty” a bit of back to the origins, it is Beastie Boys all right, some funky loop and some fast pacing lyrical spread, the rest of the album is much of the same, i’ve also enjoyed “Time to Build” funky old school feel, gotta chill, hehehe, let me see “Triple Trouble” is up for grabs and maybe the “organastic” “The Brouhaha”, hehehe.

Well first things first, there is no “Intergalactic” here, no “Body Movin’”, and that’s a bit of a bummer, they never seem to exceed and give a couple of tracks to just play in your head, the clean ans pristine production is nice and all, the songs are nice, you can listen this one in one go but the lack of memorable tracks and the lack of innovation is in the end a buzz kill, at least for me and so i can only recommend this to old school rap/hip hop lovers and bitsy boys groupies…hell it’s better than 50′cents and eminems.

Beastie Boys – Ch-Check It Out

So lets have a look and “R. Borlax”, after a full listening from my part, and as with all hardcore bands, there are a lot of bland tracks, but hell, this album does have some funky shit, tracks like “Sevententacles And Eight Flame” with its mario brothers meets funk middle, its quite entertaining, then you get “Cutsman” that goes from full force 8bit meets hardcore, to a more calm “thriller” passage to a great …. 8bit hardcore breakbeat? heheh great stuff, i’m headbanging, it’s great, there are more, like “Bunnies” or the mixed caos/screamo of “Purple”.

So is Horse The Band anything good?, well hardcore is hardcore, there is not enough sugar coating to mask that, but i’m the kind of guy that prefers to see something original or at least a good run at it, and this is how i see this “R. Borlax“, and since i am from the nintendo generation i do love me some 8bit tunes heheeheh, do you love hardcore? then give them a go.

Horse The Band – Cutsman