RVEVV- MMXI

I bought this tape from give up's webstore its released under his label Sister SSounds. This marks the labels first release on cassette and holy shit was I blown away by the packaging, I got 6/20 on the alternative packaging and their is just a lot here to comment on between the cassette box itself being damn cool although it was near painful to rip the glue to open the box to get the tape, it felt like a criminal act. Included was a poster, booklet, pins, digital download all in a crime scene evidence bag, I don't know if the special edition is still available but if that description alone enticed you pick the tape up here http://giveup.bigcartel.com/product/rvevv-mmxi-tape. The tape is 6 tracks repeats on both sides, starts off pretty ambient and droning with gentle guitar riffs, it gives off one of those closed eyes laying down when you listen kind of vibes. I kind of got annoyed at a point waiting for some harsh noise wall to hit but it seemed to just never come. Minimal use of samples which really wasn't a bad thing, I feel this is my new soundtrack to falling asleep though. Not saying its bad, just saying its slow snail like pace at times and ambiance is soothing. Once again I admit I am fucking terrible at depicting noise tapes, so here listen for yourself and correct me if I irritated you with my babbling, rvevv.bandcamp.com.

Trap Them- Filth Rations

I picked this up I think like a year and a half ago when Trap Them played with Every Time I Die at Peabody's. I remember I got in free which was one of the main reasons I even went because aside from Trap Them show was eh at best. The tape is out of 350 from Dead Accents available still here http://deadaccents.bigcartel.com/product/trap-them-filth-rations-cs 8 bucks might seem like a high price but the custom packaging and everything on the tape construction is really nice. However with the elaborate assembly I expected the tape to be screen with something more than just the label logo. 4 tracks I mean as an EP its cool but its hard to stand up next to Seizures honestly. Even now after darker handcraft I still like Seizures the best. This is still alright, nothing that blew me away though.

Flies- Demo mmxi

It seems like forever ago I bought this at the tape release show. 5 tracks in like 5 minutes. Pretty much matches the live set of Flies which is always a good chaotic time with people either throwing shit, fireworks, pumpkins you know whatever you can find. Favorite track is Haphephobia "DONT FUCKING TOUCHhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif ME DONT FUCKING TOUCH ME" for being recorded live I was pretty impressed sounds really good. This was released by Heavens Gate Records which is long gone now it seems. I forgot what the tape was out of my guess somewhere around the ballpark of 50 with 15 being specific for the show, but don't quote me on that. The tape is pink came in ziplock bag with lyric sheet and poster. The lyric sheet has collage of tower antics on the back and the poster is pretty bad ass with anti-existence writing which is fucking rad. Flies has been pretty quiet as of late, I hope they aren't totally done, but I am sure they will surface sometime soon at a tower show you never know. Im pretty sure the tapes are gone but it never made it on Heavens Gates site for purchase, Flies use to have a blogspot but I couldn't find it. Either way band put it on mediafire before its release so since your prolly screwed on finding a tape check out the tracks here

Low Places- Spiritual Treatment

I bought this off my dude who runs Work in Shadows. I always was sorta into Low Places the demos were pretty cool, I was kinda bummed Spiritual Treatment was basically both demos put onto one recording but that's neither here nor there. This recording is pretty clean for how gritty Low Places sounds usually, which is pretty fucking rad. Distracting myself from the music for a moment the J- Card has some KKK shit on it, for whatever reason, I mean I sorta get it but in reality I don't know why, not a huge fan. I like the "Fuck Life," tag on the inside of the J card. The B side appears to be the entire album in reverse, I guess that's cool, I mean its different but there is no sweet back masking telling me to worship the devil so it's just weird ha. So I mean the B side is kind of a wash honestly unless you are super intrigued to listen to the tape backwards. If you want to pick it up the special edition that I got 34/35 is sold out unless you buy a package deal, but you can still get the regular version of the tape /65 at workinshadows.bigcartel.com and if you want to listen to demo versions of the tracks or these tracks listen up here http://lowplaces.bandcamp.com/ and to buy shit straight from the band look here http://lowplaces.bigcartel.com/ PS I have no idea why the image is stuck that way I tried to fix it/reupload three times but fuck it.

PizzaHiFive- Live At the Funeral Home

I just got this off my friend who runs Adamant Blasts check it out here http://adamantblasts.blogspot.com/ he's got some bad ass things in the works. At first I wasn't sure what to expect PizzaHiFive rips, but I have never really been into live recordings because their natural usually terrible quality. I don't know how he got this recording at the show on 8/25/2011 at The Funeral Home in Buffalo but it actually is pretty fucking rad. The drums are naturally loudest in the mix but the guitars and vocals aren't completely drown out which makes it great. The blasts are relentless and the whole thing is solid, some random banter in between, but mostly straight nine grinding fucking chaotic tracks to beat up your best friend to. The ninth track is a new untitled track for all you nerds looking for a reason to check this out and why its "special". Oh and its the first release on Adamant Blasts and it's limited to 80. I don't know how many the band has/he has so email him and order it $5 bucks alone is worth the privilege of seeing the image on the inside of the J-card anyways. Now your interested? I won't tell, buy it you fucking dunce.

The Love Below- ST

This was a tour tape out of 35 but my persistent nagging I think landed it online for purchase before they left for tour. I snatched it up, considering the fact that I bitched for it haha. It is a partial discography of sorts with all songs from the Reproductive Rights EP, the songs from the split with my dudes in Homewrecker, a song off the new LP out soon on A389 Records, and a cover. The new track is pretty solid better quality as far as production goes compared to older songs. Next is the split with Homewrecker fav track is definitely Uncomfortable. Reproductive Rights songs are still pretty rad still love Some of Us Have Real Problems. Im glad the Doom Generation sample made it on here unlike the 7" that one always cracked me up. The cover is pretty cool I wasn't really expecting that song it kinda just reminded me oh hey Wire was bad ass. Nothing super spectacular to mention about the layout pretty standard J card then insert with tracklisting, tape is flat black with tlvblw written in silver paint pen I think. Overall was worth bitching for.

Thee High Priestess -MMXII Demo

Well I picked this up from the A389 Bash 02/10 somewhat secretly, but I already cracked the case somewhere in between unwrapping the tissue paper wrapped case complete with button, like a schlub. I kinda bought this without listening to it online hoping for the surprise element to be just that. Turns out to be noise which I kinda knew going in but wasn't quite positive. Four tracks two per side all around 3 minutes in length. I don't always know how to judge noise tapes because well obvious reasons. But turns out this was type of noise a dig no harshness really, light harsh and eerie-ness, a mix of horror/sci-fi type of soundtrack. The few samples on here seemed to add to the overall feel rather than distract like a lot of samples tend to do. The tape itself flowed very well overall it was rather intriguing. It didn't drag which is what I feel most noise experiments people have tend to do, and I know that's the point with droning projects but those bore me all too often. If you are interested in hearing the tracks look to here http://highpriestess.bandcamp.com/album/mmxii-demo, the secret bash ones are gone, the first press of 25 are gone but there are intentions of a second press so keep an eye out here http://sheunholy.bigcartel.com/ or maybe I'll distract myself from reviews and post a news update up when I hear that they are on their way.

Queen- Greatest Hits

What do you know it's not all hardcore and powerviolence. Talk shit on Queen if you want to be a bratty fuck but we all got into music different ways mine was listening to Queen in my mom's Topaz thinking they were the greatest fucking band ever, newsflash if we forgot about the nonsense they are doing now without Freddie they still are in my book. I got this tape at the Bazaar, and I was just as stoked listening to the songs now as I was when I was five years old. Not one bad track on this tape, side A is superior to side B as I am not a huge fan of the Flash shit they did. It's a nice break for me a bit nostalgic and I regret not seeing Freddie before he died but that Brian May guitar solo I saw at the Q a few years back was fucking bad ass. Disagree with coolness of Queen, talk shit in comments I am prepared to be an asshole right back. Or if you are a bad ass steal your parents tapes and send them to me I don't care if they are god awful I'll give them a play and write them up.

Hatred Surge- Deconstruct

I got this off some dude on a messageboard for 5 bucks, I was pretty stoked considering Financial Ruin had since been out of it and I was super late per usual with anything outside of Clevo. This is by far my favorite Hatred Surge release. If you need background info on Hatred Surge you suck, but its grind/hc/pv from Texas features members also in Mammoth Grinder and The Impalers and prolly three other bands that I can't remember right now. The contrast between Alex's and Faiza's vocals are really good half the reason I really dig this release. The recording is gritty but still pretty clean compared to other releases I've heard from them in particular the earlier material. I really like the first track with the layered speech from a several different voices. The guest vocals on the B side tracks Lethal Pedigree and I Hate are awesome addition from "gargling urine." The layout of the tape is nothing too special white fold out J card with lyrics pretty clean overall. Considering the fact Financial Ruin website is gone and I already know this tape is out of print good luck trying to find one but if you want the listen to tracks look here hatredsurge.bandcamp.com (only tracks from brutal supremacy release) to buy on either CD or vinyl check out http://hatredsurge.bigcartel.com/ Also I heard from facebook Hatred Surge is recording new LP entitled Human Overdose so hopefully that means they will tour and play the Tower because last time when whatever got fucked up and they didnt play because Alex was stuck in Texas or whatever I was fucking bummed.

Bökanövsky- We Stumble

Got this from Alex who runs Allergic To Fun records & distro as a freebie for buying a slew of things from him I believe when I was at West End 1 Year fest first day. I asked what it was like he said if you like Pg. 99 you'll probably dig it. I gave it a shot he was pretty much on point its not quite as heavy with a lot more melodic sequences. I don't know a lick of french so the fact there is no insert of lyrics doesn't bother me. I do however wish there was song titles here so I could atleast reference it to tell you what tracks are the best. Overall the experience reminds me a bit more of listening to Alpinit albeit Alpinist is crustier it has the same sort of vibe. It was certainly a cool tape with its transitioning between melodic brilliance and the heavier transitions. The one track has this haunting group chant that begins loudly and just diminishes with time, I really like that track probably my favorite on the tape. Also on the following track there are some pretty rad drums, the tone is really warm. I checked this tape is now out of print, but if you are interested in getting other cool releases at really great prices from a solid dude check out Alex's label site here, www.allergictofun.blogspot.com best random recommendation on something I have had in quite some time. Also totally forgot if you want to check out the band/dl this release you can do so here http://bokanovskyband.blogspot.com/ they have links to all there releases and where to buy if avail etc they even have a new demo that sounds pretty damn good up on their soundcloud.

Pit of Spikes 8-song demo

I picked up this tape (15/100) at NTC on the January tour Weekend Nacho's did to the A389 Bash. I honestly already had all the Nacho's releases that they had so I said fuck it, it looked interesting and I think only was like 3 or 4 bucks I also grabbed the Spilled Blood zine, I really dug that hope theres more on the way. Anyways back to Pit of Spikes 3 piece from Chicago comprised of John Hoffman - drums John Finaldi - vox Jason Zdora - guitar. They play a mix of grind and hardcore pv whatever the fuck you feel like calling it, because 5 kids will always debate what sub genre to put shit in. Overall the layout was nice and clean nothing too fancy to note of there, except lyric sheet is all jumble its a minor nuisance but whatever. The vocals on here are bad ass. I really dig Hunger Pains, Wedding Bells, and Violence in Hell. The album has a nice balance of grind and breakdowns not quite unlike Weekend Nacho's which will be the obvious go to comparison that people will make for obvious reasons but theres some definite differences so don't read into it too much. I really like the slow intro's into breakneck speed riffs and blasts. I really like this demo, I hope there is more and I really want to see this live. If your interested in listening to the tracks check here http://pitofspikes.bandcamp.com/ if your interested in buying i tried to be a good samaritan and hook you up with a link but I can't find one and your probably shit out of luck. SENTENCED TO DEATH