STREAMING // (Album) Abstracter – “Cinereous Incarnate”
Pretty Heavy Doom and Gloom // Listen/Download Here – BandCamp
From Sentient Ruin Laboratories
Recorded and Engineered by Greg Wilkinson at Earhammer, Oakland CA.
Drums captured by Ben Hirschfield at NuTone, Pittsburgh CA
Additional soundscapes by Kevin Gan Yuen and Only Now
Mastered by Brad Boatright at Audiosiege, Portland OR
Artwork and layout by Kevin Gan Yuen / viraloptic.com
STREAMING // (Album) C. Scott – “Loose Joints”
Listen/Download Here – BandCamp
New Music – The Death of Ego
From the start of The Internet (Band), there was always this overpowering presence of chemistry that their works begin to deliver upon. The gentle sway, the subtle approaches, and the real inviting nature pops throughout their sound. With the newest record, Hive Mind is a continuation of the beautiful performances that once rattled along the side of Odd Future but without the brash generalization of the brand.
Hive Mind is a step in the right direction from the band that already had more than enough draw and attention with their previously Grammy nominated album, Ego Death. While Ego Death was a collection of personal issues that were transfused through a solid mix of both upbeat productions from the likes of Matt Martians and trailblazer Steve Lacy, to the quick rhythm sections of Patrick Paige II and Christopher Allan Smith. Hive Mind is instead a less direct approach that uses the fine-lines of previous styles, but refines them and becomes more delicate behind a wall of colorful sound.
As each track starts to pass and the record becomes more and more uncovered, the real foundation is built upon these airy, simple, but deeply layered songs that make Hive Mind a conceptual journey as much as it is a cognitive one. While the progression of Hive Mind feels and acts as an endless flowing piece that reaches out for the capacity to bleed and show some sense of companionship between the band. The Internet takes hive mind(defined as a group of “collective consciousness”)quite literally as they show this undeniable ability to act as a single entity of musical potential.
Shown first with “Come Together”, the records opening track that has all the members of The Internet working to sing, create, and drift along this path that includes flute, bouncing percussion, and the famous keyboard production that divides the backbone of The Internet’s standard. Through each release, there is a magic that is somehow captured behind The Internet’s vision. With limited focus on creating a faster, more upbeat album; Hive Mind is a descriptive depiction of emotional warmth and a tenderness that comes from attachment to these vivid, almost idolizations that form behind the music.
With one of the faster displays of “Mood”, The Internet stands as a pillar of the smooth lyricism coming from vocalist Syd Bennett who is well known for both her producing credits and her immaculate vocal performances. Tagged alongside with horns from Moonchild that cracks the surface and has this underpass of almost perfect sound, forming continuous grace of production heavy insulation that is covered by the tight joints of the band. With what was left over after Ego Death, a record that became an instantly recognized piece of modern art that tapped into the early ages of the 1960’s and 70’s funk era; Hive Mind is in a similar playing field.
he consistently moving current that takes The Internet into such a sensible future makes Hive Mind become natural. The emotional attachment that overcomes the listener and the pleasant and ultimately sincere love letter to music comes directly from The Internet with one of the best releases of their career.
Listen To Hive Mind Here!!! – Spotify/Amazon/iTunes
Classic Day – Mr. Player Hater
From Hunter Point, San Francisco; The RBL Posse (Ruthless By Law) was a trifecta of producers and rhymers that were caught up in the Gangsta Music craze that swept the nation with the likes of Public Enemy, NWA, Too $hort, and B-Legit. With their larger group releases, RBL Posse also produced one of their members first solo records, Hitman’s Solo Creep.
With 14-total tracks, Hitman is the main MC throughout Solo Creep that features production entirely from Black C who delivers on some 808 clicks and bass heavy works that resemble that 1995 masterwork. It is an iconic style that manipulates throughout Solo Creep and delivers instantly on movement heavy displays that rely on the harsh lyrics with the funk samples. Solo Creep is a dark and mysterious underground release that did not see as much shine as previous works by RBL Posse, but it still showed that cutting edge in the way that the San Francisco sound was still a presence in the game.
With the opening of “Mr. Player Hater”, Hitman opens with a rugged, standoffish approach that shifts with the listener to form a subtle stance that invokes mystery behind the headlights of Solo Creep’s movement. It is a captain among a wave of opportunity in the way that the group forms around Hitman and can create this overarching grip of power that relies on the lyrics and the production. “Like Red October, smoke a blunt for the hunt for the body bags. Bring it to the ear, all I got is a cot, nigga, and you got mad…But shut that shit up, pop the trunk for the funk if you wanna dump. Not giving a fuck, just popping in caps and blasting, catch these bucks.”
Explained through a barrage of bass and triplets, Hitman is a commander of the microphone that illustrates a sense of prowess behind his sound. The unfortunate murder of Hitman that would finish his career in 2003 was a theme of his music and of RBL Posse as a whole. Two of the Three members would be murdered at some point in their career and left to the darkness of a world of violence. This violence would be reoccurring throughout Solo Creep as death is one of the main foundations of the records. It is chilling, but overall takes pages of the rhymes to a new forefront with skits and instrumentals that mix the action up.
With “You Betta Come Strapped”, the instrumental is bass heavy and clamps along with these creeping piano chords that feels daunting and downright aggressive. As the chorus of “You Betta Come Strapped Nigga, How you gonna bring a knife to a gun fight” continues to reign as Hitman pumps out his verse and slithers along the instrumentation that sounds ripped straight from a Wes Craven Film.
Solo Creep was one of the records from Hitman and the RBL Posse that became a classic instantly. While it did not crush the charts, there was a loveable sense behind the record and it is designed to hit that golden standard of 90’s hip-hop sound that ages well like a fine wine on the San Francisco Bay.
Listen To Solo Creep Here!!! – Youtube (Shout Out Hip Hop Collector)/Amazon/iTunes
Misc. Day – Droning Echœs
Within France there are many main staples that connect the country and the arts, the excellence of creation with the beauty of the homeland. With Chaos Echœs, the band is able to connect their French roots with a metallic overcoat that shines through the ambiance, the punishing instrumental sections, and the truly grabbing production that makes the near hour long journey seem worthwhile in misery.
In the sunken place of overcoming dread, Transient is a substantial release coming from French brutality Chaos Echœs. Rather than attacking in a thrash metal headstrong attack however, Chaos Echœs deliberately decides to take a hammer and anvil approach to the battlefield. As the hammer of the incredibly long, escalating pieces start to push the listener and crush them into submission. The anvil of ambiance and intrigue takes the listener into this almost misunderstood stance. At certain points, Chaos Echœs is entirely just blank noise that floods the frame and molds upon the real bitterness of imagination. As the horrid sounds on “Interzone Iv: Intoxicating Beauty” begin to form and take a shape, Chaos Echœs provide as relying the monster in the dark format to deceive and manipulate the sound.
Most of Transient relies on this subtle manipulation to slight directional change to illustrate a Stockholm Syndrome with the listener. The ultimate emotional drain comes simply from the listener and how the style can be personified into their worst nightmares. As the small instances of instrumentation start to draw light into the room, Chaos Echœs soon strike the torch away.
With “Advent of My Genesis”, the first track that features any sort of vocalization from Kalevi Uibo, Ilmar Uibo, Etienne Testart, and Stefan Thanneur who all provide a display of vocal performance. Both Kalevi and Ilmar handle a large range of instrumental aspects of the record with the guitars, Hammond organ, fiddle, Korg MS420, and the ebow are all delivered by Kalevi. Ilmar who takes the stand on the percussion, including bells, triangle, and the drums. As Testart handles the guitar, ebow, and the Roland RE-201, better known as the space echo which is a reverberation machine reliant on audio analog delay effects. Finally, as Tanneur handles the bass, bow, effects, and vocals; Chaos Echœs is a well balanced machine of terror that strikes efficiently throughout Transient.
When there is some sense of metal or punishment, it comes in the form of “Kyorakushugi”, a near 7-minute track that takes every second to be filled with overpowering sound. With the crushing percussion that pounds along to the waves of incoming guitar and vocalization that is on constant attack. With the reprieve coming in the form of “Interzone Vi: Realization”, “Kyorakushugi” demands an audience and is capturing in the most primal sense.
Then finally, Chaos Echœs has the coffin close in the last silence that comes in the form of darkness. Through the deathly display, Transient is one of the strongest attacks, but also movements of the French dark friars.
Listen To Transient Here!!! – BandCamp/Spotify/Amazon/iTunes
New Music – Boom Bap’s Home
From the Ugly Heroes to his own solo work, Apollo Brown illustrates his booming vocal and production credits to a forefront on his newest split with partner, Locksmith. Member of the group The Frontline, Locksmith is a deliberate partnership that joins with Apollo Brown to form a standing monument with No Question; one of the brighter displays of lyrical ability and instrumental structure.
While boom bap has been around since hip-hop started, the style has been manipulated slightly over the years to arrange into different artist’s own movements. With Brown and Locksmith, the way that the chord-heavy violins and the real grace behind their sound creates this wonderland within the percussion that relies being along side the two musicians throughout the mix. The introductory track, “Just Ask” which is nothing more than a jazz-influenced diamond that slowly draws back the curtain on No Question. The sizzling hi-hat which is paired with the absolute gentle workings of the piano and keyboards that start to reveal the inner peace of the record; it is quickly apparent that Brown and Locksmith are going to form a quick, but substantial offshoot of their careers.
Matching styles on the track, “Advice to My Younger Self” which features Locksmith handling the vocal aspect while Brown molds to create the instrumental backbone. “I hope you don’t put your faith in man, it never helps. Even trust could be a vice, some advice to my younger self” Locksmith explains behind the glossed beauty where the simple, but effective production continues to become a standard for the record. No Question might not attract the listener on the rhyming schemes which is often lyrically heavy and focused on opening a deeper message. There is however a large focus on the production that is shifted like sandcastles by Brown who does excellent job on the vivid musical scene.
Brown creates the first initial impact that draws the listener in as Locksmith can keep them in tight with the descriptive storytelling elements of graphic detail of his earlier life as a young hip-hop artist. He also explains in impressive detail, shown best on “Litmus” his disdain for the current direction for most hip-hop of the modern day. “By and large I try to dodge, the fire’s strong. Arm of opinions that barely follow entire songs. I was wrong, decided to write up higher psalm. Tried to buy us time, was tired and couldn’t find a brawn.” Through the simple, but layered production; Locksmith is able to command the foreground and work as the bigger staple of the album.
The two working together is important however as they provide a different sound in modern hip-hop. Apollo Brown who is well known for his adaptability and Locksmith who is a better wordsmith than anything use No Question to make one of the better underground releases of the year.
Listen To No Question Here!!! – BandCamp/Spotify/Amazon/iTunes
STREAMING // (Video) Fifty Grand X Kellbender – “Daytime Dies”
Listen/Watch Here – Youtube
Written and performed by Fifty Grand
Produced by Kellbender and Fifty Grand
Edited by Kellbender
STREAMING // (Track) Comethazine – “OOWEE”
Prod. TRILLOGY // Listen Here – Soundcloud
STREAMING // (Video) Wiki Feat. Your Old Droog – “Litt 15”
Listen/Watch Here – Youtube
Directed by Ryosuke Tanzawa
Title designed by Arvid Logan
Film developed at Negativland Motion Picture Lab and scanned at Metropolis Post
STREAMING // (Video) BADBADNOTGOOD Feat. Samuel T. Herring “I Don’t Know”
Listen/Watch Here – Youtube
Writer/Director: Will Mayer
Executive Producer: Kosta Elchev
Producer: Brendan Garrett
Actor: Michael Piccirilli
Cinematographer: Ian Rigby
Editor: Nick Rondeau
Colorist: Greg Reese
Production Designer: Carson Giles
1st AC: Allan Chavaria
Gaffer: Derek Robinson
Steadicam: Parker Brooks
Classic Day – One Soul
Using elements of black metal, hardcore, and a splash of atmospheric soundscapes; the final album coming from Swedish metal band Celtic Frost seems relevant even 12-years after the first initial release. Monotheistis an aggressive swan-song that orchestrates a head first dive into one of the ugliest glimpses of a dying star.
As the curtain draws to reveal the introductory crunch of the percussion on “Progeny” that begins the hour-long journey, Celtic Frost is predatory. They strike fast on most of Monotheist with an exception to some of the droning, horrid tracks where the band instead becomes layered between sinister patterns. This style throws a refreshing stance on the extremist overlay that creates the initial anger of the opening.
“Progeny” not only uses some grunting and shouting to form a tone of the track, but there is also this sense of hopelessness within the lyrics as well. With Thomas Gabriel Fischer on the vocals, programming, and guitars, he is able to lead the vocal assault on the forefront of rejections. “I bring no god, no afterworld. I am no more than a life, live your life not for you. I am a throne made of dust… If I am you, no life is sacred in my hands. If I am you, no love will prosper in this world, if I am you, I am the faith to end all faith. If I am you, you shall not live to save yourselves” Fischer says through clenched-teeth and a blood-curdling stance.
With one of the longer tracks that starts to show the droning nature of Celtic Frost, “Os Abysmi Vel Daath” also features some clean vocalization and operatic shrills in the backing. Celtic Frost open up the battlefield for their sound as the harsh, low-tuned guitars are a staple on Monotheist.It is a record that hurts the listener as the consistent onslaught of vocalization, the harsh instrumentation, and the darkness that allures to oblivion. Monotheist takes every solid aspect of metal music and creates this barrier that wraps other genres and movements in it as well.
The instrumentation that is led by Fischer, Martin Eric Ain, Erol Uenala, and Franco Sesa is a powerhouse that shows little to no mercy throughout the entire process. Celtic Frost holds this standard with their ability that still reverberates even after the record is finished. The memorable riffs and progressions are such vital pieces of Monotheist and their overarching noise takes a stance on the unholy. The record is a stage-diving, crowd surfing, mad-dash to the finish in some aspects, but there are also moments where Celtic Frost can cause a reprieve.
The punishment in question comes in form through “Domain of Decay” where the constant resonation elements take the guitar solos, the pulverizing drums, and the screams into the eventual black death. The final half of Monotheist is just as relentless as the opening as “Ain Elohim” starts to flood the frame with blast beats and the snap of bone from the airwaves. The offering that Celtic Frost beckons is just outstanding however as Monotheist is a perfect send off that ended the band after multiple disbands, name changes, and one of the best works of the band’s career.
With a forceful entry, a wallop of instrumentation, and a generally sinister sound; Celtic Frost makes for one of the best releases after a long hiatus. They maneuver to create a sound that follows no trend, but instead stands well enough on its own to make something truly substantial. Something that is bigger than music, a record that truly hurts and brings a harsh new reality to the forefront of hope.
Listen To Monotheist Here!!! – Spotify/Amazon/iTunes
Misc. Day – Southern Lords
The Texans with a disregard for your feelings go by the name Power Trip. They are able to open up a world of Thrashing hurt with their 2017 release, Nightmare Logic. Behind the bruised delivery and the bloodshed of blitzing instrumentation, Power Trip is a continuously explosive device that transfers one of the best records that push pain and misery to the forefront.
In a destructive demise that is led by the hardcore stance of a swift kick to the stomach with “Soul Sacrifice”. An opening track that maneuvers the atmospheric crunch and some synth chords to then blow the hinges off Pandora’s box. With the instantly recognizable riff that feels weighted behind mountains of dirt and grime, the sudden gloss of the guitar wails, tightening faces, and relentless bumps of acceleration that make thrash metal exciting again. From the earliest roots with bands like Death, to the new kings of Power Trip; thrash metal as a genre has never had a better phase as the experimentation and ability for production is at an all-time high.
As Power Trip moves through the crowd like a tiger shark, the band uses each limb of instrumentation to form some sort of attacking ability. Whether the persistence of the guitar from Nick Stewart and Blake Ibanez, the swing of Chris Ulsh on the percussion, the rumbling of Chris Whetzel on the bass, or Riley Gale’s abrasive vocalization; Power Trip has something for just about any angry moshing dream.
With the tension building as Nightmare Logic progresses, Power Trip becomes increasingly more and more focused on creating a stained image of the hardcore atmosphere. As they draw the first kill, Power Trip continues to strike again and again as the hammer comes down with “Waiting Around to Die”. Aggressive from the jump, Power Trip works to form these bridges that connect the band before finally burning them as multiple solos and standouts begin to flood the frame. Each track begins to bleed into the next and starts to crush into one pulverizing mess of anger and passion.
Through an incredibly entertaining display, Power Trip takes Nightmare Logic to new heights where the breakdowns give only mere seconds for the listener to catch their breath. They are thrown into the depths with raging string sections, a vocalist that not only commands the microphone, but is also able to hold a sense of substance behind his voice. There are also the final sections of percussion and sampling that act as the choice cuts on Nightmare Logic.
With their twisted vibration that forms the spine of Power Trip, each piece is so pivotal and necessary in the aid to the desolation. Nightmare Logic is not for the faint of heart and holds one of the ugliest truths around, Power Trip can and will absolutely destroy you.
Listen To Nightmare Logic Here!!! – BandCamp/Spotify/Amazon/iTunes
THIS IS A LIST OF THE MOST RECENT STREAMS...
The complete list of all past streams can be accessed here as well
(Click Here)
MATT'S MUSIC MINE - MERCH FOR SALE
VIDEO REEL 2
LIVE PHOTOGRAPHY – JESUS PIECE AT BABY’S ALL RIGHT, DECEMBER 6TH, 2022
SUNDAY SAMPLER // (Playlist) “12/04/2022″
(Track) Jake Mason Trio – “Rib Eye”
(Video) Lightning Bolt – “Dead Cowboy @ TAICOCLUB 2014”
(Video) The Velvet Underground – “After Hours”
(Video) Mac Miller – “10 Years Of You”
(Video) A$AP Rocky – “Same Problems”
The complete list of all past streams can be accessed here as well
(Click Here)