2011

Here's my favorites of the year in alphabetical order. There were so many great releases that I could have easily done a top 30 but I've narrowed it down to the 10 I listened to the most. All of them have been on heavy rotation throughout the year and I cannot recommend them enough. Bands and labels are all links so click away if you'd like to find out more.

Albums

Corrupted - Garten Der Unbewusstheit (Nostalgia Blackrain)
Deathcharge - Love Was Born An Early Death (Unseen Forces)
J Mascis - Several Shades Of Why (Sub Pop)
Kromosom - 8 Tracks (Hardcore Victim, Havoc, Freedom Fighter, D-Tact & Rapunk)
Loss - Despond (Profound Lore)
Morne - Asylum (Alerta Antifascista, Armageddon, Profound Lore)
True Widow - A.H.A.T.H.H.A.F.T.C.T.T.C.O.T.E. (Kemado)
Wolves In The Throne Room - Celestial Lineage (Southern Lord)
Yob - Atma (20 Buck Spin, Profound Lore)
Zola Jesus - Conatus (Sacred Bones, Souterrain Transmissions)

EPs, Splits & Demos

Crime Desire - Alone In A Dream 12" (Gravity, Life's A Rape)
D-Clone / Nerveskade - Split 7" (Hardcore Survives)
Get Destroyed - Shut In 7"(625 Thrashcore, Give Praise, To Live A Lie, RSR)
Hatred Surge / Mammoth Grinder - Split 12" (Cyclopean)
Iron Age - The Saga Demos (BSVIV, Cyclopean)
Ruinebell - Demise In Disgrace (Doomentia)
The Bellicose Minds - S/T 7"
Thou - The Archer & The Owle 12" (Robotic Empire)
True Widow - I.N.O. 12" (Kemado)
Warthreat - Demo

2012 is looking like another good year for music with rumors there may be new records from Get Destroyed, Framtid, Neurosis, Slices, Swallowed, Tragedy, Walls and Worship! Bring it on.

Helta Skelta - LP

Some might remember these guys dropping a great demo tape over a year and a half ago and then mysteriously disappearing. Well thankfully Perth's Helta Skelta have returned with a new self released LP. The fact that they've covered both SSD and now 70s Perth band The Victims shows the mix of influences going on here. Definitely one of the better Australian releases to come out this year. Only 250 copies were pressed up by Pirates Press with the first 20 coming with a cassette too. Grab one here for only $16 plus postage, that's gotta be the cheapest 12" in Australia! Keeping it affordable for the punx.

  I AM SHIVA, GOD OF DEATH by skeltahelta

Pig Heart Transplant / The Endless Blockade - Split 7"

Here we have the final release from The Endless Blockade and one of probably many more from the prolific Pig Heart Transplant. A great pairing of noise meets power violence and a rare case of a split having two decent sides. Limited to 545 copies courtesy of SuperFi Records. Comes in an amazing 6 panel screened sleeve with artwork by Feeding.

Bastard Noise - Skulldozer

Skulldozer follows on from last years "A Culture of Monsters" with more of the same bass and drums assault. This time dropping a member as well as "The" from their name and recruiting Aimee Artz on vocals/electronics. A welcome new addition in my opinion and such an incredibly brutal vocalist. This is the pre-order edition on marble vinyl limited to 100 copies. Available now from Deep Six Records.

Extortion Collection

Collecting Extortion records turned out to be a bad habit. Here's a complete collection of their releases so far. Rumor is that there's a new LP in the works as well as splits with Cold World (Austria), Hatred Surge, Low Threat Profile and Agoraphobic Nosebleed.

J Mascis - Circle 7"

Following on from his excellent solo album released earlier this year, J Mascis has dropped this 2 song 7" upon us. The A side is a cover Edie Brickell's "Circle" which I'd heard before from the Daytrotter Sessions and absolutely loved. Such a perfect song for him to cover you would think it was one of his own. Lyrically it just suits his depressive personality to a T. On the B side is "I've Been Thinking", a track leftover from the Several Shades of Why sessions. You can get this sludgy coloured vinyl now from Sub Pop.

  J Mascis - I've Been Thinking by subpop

Deathcharge - Love Was Born To An Early Death

Deathcharge from Portland started out in the late 90s worshipping Discharge as you can tell by the name but have since developed into more of a Deathrock band. For those unfamiliar with the genre it's basically a punk/goth hybrid sound pioneered by bands like Christian Death, 45 Grave and T.S.O.L. Now apart from the aforementioned bands there are very few decent Deathrock records out there and especially not modern ones. Here's an exception! This is a seriously addictive record that seems to be melted to my turntable at the moment. Goth music you can bang to! I'm pretty sure members of Hellshock and Lebenden Toten play in this band too. Released this year by Unseen Forces on 180gram 45rpm vinyl. 1st press sold out and second press probably getting close. Available from Unseen Forces, Distort Reality and a few other distros.

Corrupted / Black Army Jacket - Split 7"

Here's one of Corrupted's earlier records from 1997. The sleeve is printed on newspaper paper and I have no idea what any of the text means as I can't read Spanish, though I am intrigued. These guys have a fuckload of vinyl out there but unfortunately their last few full lengths, including this year's "Garten Der Unbewusstheit", have not made it onto the format. This of course is mainly due to excessive song length. The restrictions of the 7" format have lead them to write some pretty crushing sludge songs like the one on this release. 

Corrupted / Cripple Bastards - Split 7"

There's a really great Corrupted track on this 7" but like most splits I could do without the Cripple Bastards side and their terrible artwork. Hopefully one day Corrupted will release a collection of all their split tracks together. This came out in 2002 on H.G. Fact Records.

Shit Weather - Demo

Here's one of the better demos to come out of Australia this year. Melbourne's Shit Weather play feedback drenched sludgy power violence. If that's your thing then I recommend giving this a listen. Get Gone Records made 100 tapes which are now sold out but it's up on their bandcamp for free download.

Amebix - Sonic Mass

Amebix are back with a new album, the first since 1987s Monolith. That's a hell of a long time between recordings so of course it doesn't sound like their earlier material but after giving it many repeat listens it's  starting to grow on me. Sounding more like an industrial rock band than their crusty past. It's getting a lot of comparisons to later era Killing Joke and I can even hear a hint of Ministry but there's still the distinctive Amebix sound intact. This change in direction will probably divide their fans but I suggest you give it a few spins to digest before deciding. 1st press is on red vinyl, available now at Easy Action Records. 

Zola Jesus - Conatus

I've been spinning the latest LP from Zola Jesus non stop since it's arrival. Following the same direction as last years Stridulum II with a less noise more pop sound which I don't mind one bit. I don't delve into much electronic music but for me this record is all about the vocals. What an amazing voice. That being said there's nothing wrong with the sounds Nika sings over it's just her voice is that great I could listen to her sing over anything. I'm even hearing some Nine Inch Nails influence here, especially on the first single "Vessel".  Watch the video below. This was put out by Sacred Bones in the US which is where I got this clear version from but it's also been released in Europe by Souterrain Transmissions on 180 gram vinyl. I would suggest forking out the extra for the 180 gram edition as mine is so thin it's almost a flexi! I'll probably buy one too as it looks like this is going to get worn out pretty quick the rate I'm playing it.

Zola Jesus - Vessel from Souterrain Transmissions on Vimeo.

Ruinebell - Demise In Disgrace 7"

Ruinebell is a new project from Lasse (Hooded Menace) and Dopi (Dishammer). Being a huge fan of both those bands, I could not wait to hear this. I was not disappointed. This is some great dark crust in the tradition of Amebix and Axegrinder. Only 2 songs which I'm hoping is just a taster of things to come. Bring on an LP! Doomentia Records made 500 of these on clear vinyl housed in the heaviest gatefold sleeve I've ever seen for a 7". You can get one here.

Filth Of Mankind - Czas Konca Wieku 7"

This is the first 7" from Polish crusties Filth Of Mankind. Released in 1999 by Scream Records. I bought this off Discogs which I've never tried before. It ended up being a positive experience as the seller turned out to be Pawel the guitarist. I can't imagine there'd be many of these left so buy one here if you're keen. 

Worship - Dooom

Fucked Up Mad Max did leave behind some unfinished recordings with fellow band member The Doommonger. These were years later resurrected and added to, the result was this epic double LP released by Painiac Records. This is even better than the first LP in my opinion and well worth tracking down. The new Worship line up are currently working on a 3rd Lp which I'm pretty keen to hear.

Worship - Last Vinyl Before Doomsday

Worship are a heavily depressing funeral doom band out of Germany. One of the members actually jumped off a bridge to his death not long after this was recorded giving true meaning to the term funeral doom. This is a reissue of their first LP courtesy of Doom-Mantra Records in an edition of 666 copies.

Filth Of Mankind - The Final Chapter

Filth Of Mankind are a Polish crust band. Named after a Misery song, there's certainly an influence here as well as Amebix of course. Milosz from Morne used to play in this band before he moved to the US which is what prompted me to check this record out. This is some really great dark metallic crust, all lyrics are sang in Polish which I think makes it sound even better. Originally released in 2000 on tape and CD and then pressed to vinyl by Black Water Records in 2006. I managed to score one of the limited copies with neolithic printed cover and maroon/black vinyl out of 200. It's out of print now but worth tracking down if you can find it. Highly recommended!