Local Demo Reviews

ANIMAL MAGAZINE s/t demo CD (self-released):

Seven songs of totally fuzzed out, fucked up psych rock. Not punk per se, but sort of accidentally punk, which is much more genuine than a bunch of scene kids trying to play outsider music anyway. This is somewhere between HAWKWIND and HELLA, with some southern rock, acid and even a little bit of the psych-heavy side of early weirdo punk bands like UNITED MUTATION, though more artsy and fun than scary and pissed. The production on this demo is so unconventionally perfect. Everything is fuzzy and the vocals are reverberated, distorted and drugged out. The guitar tones are crazy and layered and the riffs are always on the verge of falling apart but they stay perfectly executed. The songs all hover around the 2 minute mark and none of the riffs drag out, which is so refreshing for a psych band. I honestly listened to this demo about 5 times in a row after I first got it. Recommended for anyone who likes energetic psych rock and/or drugs. Listen here.

INTER ARMA s/t demo CD (self-released):

Solid dudes, backed hard, etc etc. This band has come such a long way in the last couple of years and has emerged as one of the best metal bands in Virginia. This demo CD consists of three songs recorded a year ago with my good friend Tim Kirk but never saw the light of day, combined with an additional live track. Each member of this band plays his instrument with skill and they cover just about every type of metal in epic but cohesive songs. Best song title award goes to track two: Total Negativity. The third track, The Reclamation, is my favorite – a 9 plus minute metal odyssey that is heavily black metal influenced and sports an impressive acoustic-guitar-layered breakdown. I think one of these songs might still get released as a split seven inch, but either way they’ll be recording an LP to be released on Forcefield Records later in the year. The real money’s in the live show, they are absolutely nuts. Check them out.

NO FUTURE s/t demo CD (self-released):

This is a short and sweet demo CD from a brand new Richmond band that combines Memphis/Portland style d-beat, 80s hardcore and modern hardcore. I think they recorded originally as a three piece but added a second guitarist by the time I saw them at LORD BY FIRE’s record release show at the Czar. They sounded pretty full there and that set was a blast. These songs feature some pretty sweet guitar work, especially on the opening track, “Gravedance.” This is a really good demo from a band that has a lot of potential. Try to check them out live in the Richmond area. Best song title award: “Faith Down in Shit.” Sounds like a Crimethinc kid with a lisp. Check it.

Review: SLICES s/t 7" (16oh)

Holy shit! This record is amazing! The A-side starts out with a modest “1-2-3-4” verbal count off before kicking into some blazing hardcore punk that reminds me of Pick Your King era POISON IDEA, which is pretty much the best music ever made. Two mid-paced songs follow on the A-side that don’t drag and are just as intense, but in a more fucked-up, noisy, My War era BLACK FLAG style. Just when I thought it couldn’t get any better, the B-side brings two songs of slower, pounding, drum and bass driven punk with lots of guitar noise and nasty feedback rolling on top. Weirdo vocals and a paranoid vibe carry these ugly songs, which remind me of CONDOMINIUM and PISSED JEANS but noisier and angrier. If you want to get into it, SLICES has members of BRAIN HANDLE and WARZONE WOMYN, but it doesn’t matter. This record is fantastic on its own merit. If this had come out two months ago I would have considered it the best EP of 2008, and if anyone tops this in 2009 it’s going to be a hell of a year.* Nice looking blue vinyl with great overall aesthetics. Available through the promising 16oh label.

*SLICES has another 7" coming out in the next couple of weeks on Home Invasion Records, so that might happen

Review: DIVISIONS s/t 7" (Human Crush)

DIVISIONS just came through Richmond on what is to be their first and only tour and I picked up a copy of what is to be their first and only 7”, so if you weren’t one of the 10 people at Nara that night, well, your loss. The self-titled 7” is an all out rager, with four songs of fast, thrashy, dark punk with seriously blown-out production. The first side consists of two noisy hardcore songs that combine elements of d-beat, raw punk and thrash with higher pitched, evil vocals. The B-side is more of the same but ventures into grind/powerviolence territory and even offers a 5 second black metal tease before kicking back into the thrash. Containing one ex-member of Holy Mountain, this 3-piece from the Tampa area embodies the Floridian style of dark, heavy and fast hardcore. I am pretty sure I hear some bass tones on the 7” but DIVISIONS plays as a drums/guitar/vocals three piece. While the live show was intense, I feel they could have benefited from having a bassist. All in all, though, great set, great band and really nice guys. This record is available from John Fahy’s new Human Crush Recordings label.