Every other Friday, Waldo the African Grey Parrot, frontbird of thrash-grind immortals Hatebeak, will get you caught up on the week’s latest “extreme” releases.
What’s up, motherpeckers? Got some stuff for you this time; nothing too crazy, as it seems the releases are slowing down a bit, for a couple of weeks anyway.
“You come into my house on the day my daughter is to be married and you ask me to do murder – for money.”
Italian deathsters FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE release Agony on Nuclear Blast. I know a lot of people like these guys, but your fine feathered friend really never got this kind of music. Symphonic death metal seems like a bit of an anachronism. That being said, fans of this band surely will not be disappointed, and everyone can clearly hear the “drummer get wicked.” Not much of a departure from last year’s Mafia EP. Blasting, growling and, of course, symphonic uh… stuff. Really, this is okay, just kind of a beak-scratcher; the death parts are crucial, but when you involve the strings, it just kind of leaves your boy flat. This thing has less teeth than a gum job. The cover sucks, too. 6 Fucking Pecks.
The Man Who Loves to Hurt Himself is back. TODAY IS THE DAY come at you with their 9th release, Pain Is a Warning. This band has seen some ups and downs in their career—the Kiss the Pig and Sadness Will Prevail era is almost unlistenable—but Pain Is a Warning is not. You’ll feel the pain, and it’ll warn you. Easily the most solid release by TITD since In the Eyes of God, typical twisted TITD fuckery mixed with ZZ Top and AC/DC-style rock riffs. More of a return to form for Austin and whatever lineup he has going on currently. This should be titled Pain Is a Weapon, as this thing is pretty mean. Definitely not their best, but solid, very solid. 8 Fucking Pecks.
ANTHRAX’s “The Devil You Know” single has been released, and is staler than week-old bread. Singer Joey Belladonna is back, and a return to the classic Anthrax sound is, too. Really, this sounds like Among the Living-era ‘Thrax, but really is kind of plodding and has less life than Amy Winehouse’s coffin. I’m sure this song delivers live, as does the previous single, but the digital release of this really seems like an older band that’s trying to relive their glory days and just going through the motions. All in all, not too bad, but would really like to hear this played with some sack. The Devil, you know? 6 Fucking Pecks.
My old-school peck this time is REPUDILATION. These NY slamsters really knew how it was done: fuzzed-out guitars, grooves, and super-low vocals. Check it.
