It's a nasty piece of work, this second album by these Norwegian upstarts. Well, technically, it's their third full-length, as their 2005 self-financed debut was picked up by and re-released with a different tracklist three years later. For the sake of argument though, let's just go with the second album and state upfront that it's one of the most maniacal releases out there at the minute. Like their debut, "Powers of horror" bases itself on a solid, if rather unconventional, punk foundation with distinct metal overtones, all of which meld together to produce a filthy collection of semi-complex punk metal that stands alone in terms of creativity while remaining firmly embedded in both genres' formative roots. This album sounds a little cleaner than its predecessor, but that's not to say it's a sanitary release by any means. In staying true to the extreme side of the label, Haust doesn't release music; rather they spew forth a barrage of unrelenting vehemence with a total disregard for public safety. It's this approach that encapsulates total musical violence at its most harrowing, with vocalist Vebjørn Guttormsgaard effortlessly tying all the elements together with a brutally savage output. Standout tracks? It's hard to say since -- and this may sound like the old cliché -- every track on here is a contender. Does it better what Haust did on "Ride the relapse"? It depends on what angle you're coming from. Take seminal Dutch deathsters Pestilence as an example. Did you adore the grime of "Consuming impulse" and feel just a little wary of the relative tidiness of "Testimony of the ancients"? Both awesome albums in their own right, but the latter just hinting at what might come a few years down the line. Of course, there's not nearly as much variation in cleanliness on the two Haust albums, but the difference, however slight, is definitely there all the same. It's very unlikely they'll change as much as Pestilence did, though. That aside, the more I listen the more I think that "Ride the relapse" just pips this at the post. Not by much, mind. Regardless, they're two lethal albums! Just buy both and make your own mind up. - John Norby
Filter Magazine is putting together a festival in LA this coming October called "Culture Collide" which will feature a large, international array of artists include early confirmations such as Hello Saferide and Casiokids. More info: http://culturecollide.com/
Susanne Sundfør's "The brothel" was NPR's song of the day on June 28: http://n.pr/ahtSRJ
This is the best song of 2010, hands down. Shame that the rest of the album can't quite match it, but whatever, I fully expect her to win the 2nd $1 million NOK A-ha stipend that she deserves.
Manic videogame metal act Next Life will be releasing a new CDEP called "Resurrection" on July 5 via . If it's anything like their recent split with Haust, I'm sure it'll be killer.
will be releasing a new 7" from Trondheim-based black metal act Legiones this coming fall. Two tracks, both from the band's ultra-limited demo and remastered for vinyl.
Here's the playlist for this week's radio show Sirius XMU:
01. C.Aarmé - M.P.P
02. TALK 1
03. Abcess Exil - Havsluft
04. MF/MB/ - The big machine
05. Magnus Pelander - You have got no friends to turn to
06. TALK 2
07. The Bear Quartet - We're not gonna make it
08. Nidingr - Hymiskvitha
09. Kopfer Kat - Planet noise
10. No Hope for the Kids - Gasangreb
11. TALK 3
12. Jasmine Kara - Try my love again
13. The Goner - Strong interactions
14. Jesper Norda - Gentle and slow with a new sharp edge
15. TALK 4
16. Menfolk - Heart and sling
17. Andreas Söderlund - Hawaii
18. Hebosagil - Big sun
19. TALK 5
Reminder: my show airs every week on Sundays and Mondays at 11pm ET on Sirius XMU. That's channel 26 on Sirius, 43 on XM and 831 for DirecTV subscribers.
Okkultokrati-related act Hombre Malo will be touring Russia and the Baltics later this month -- dates and sample tunes at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/hombremalooslo
Here's the playlist for this week's radio show Sirius XMU:
01. Baby Alice - Piña colada boy
02. TALK 1
03. CEO - Come with me
04. Faster Katt - The girl and the crow
05. EL-SD - Walking sideways
06. Masshysteri - Dom kan inte höra musiken
07. TALK 2
08. Champagne Riot - The champagne anthem
09. Khoma - In it for fighting
10. Dear Euphoria - Rescue
11. Haust - Anti-reproductive
12. TALK 3
13. This Is Head - 0011
14. Familjen - Det var jag
15. Mikkel Meyer - Tunge (feat. Non)
16. TALK 4
17. Rasmus Kellerman - The greatness & me
18. Grande Roses - The astronaut
19. We Live In Trenches - White knuckles
20. The Amazing - And it looks like today
21. TALK 5
Reminder: my show airs every week on Sundays and Mondays at 11pm ET on Sirius XMU. That's channel 26 on Sirius, 43 on XM and 831 for DirecTV subscribers.
01. Hellbillies - Leite etter lykka
02. Knutsen & Ludvigsen - Dum og deilig -beste
03. Karpe Diem - Aldri Solgt En Løgn
04. Susanne Sundfør - The Brothel
05. Steff Nevers - Ain't no bad life
06. Purified In Blood - Under Black Skies
07. Gitarkameratene - Kanon! Gitarkameratenes aller beste
08. Unni Wilhelmsen - 7
09. Lars Vaular - Helt om natten, Helt om dagen
10. Bobbysocks - Let It Swing - The Best of Bobbysocks
11. Venke Knutson - Smiles - The Very Best Of
12. Donkeyboy - Caught in a Life
13. Trond Granlund - Sanger jeg lærte av faren min
14. Thomas Dybdahl - Waiting for that one clear moment
15. Diverse artister - Melodi Grand Prix 2010
16. Steinar Engelbrektson Band - Aller Beste
17. Ingenting - Ingenting live
18. Aleksander With - Still Awake
19. Sigrid Moldestad - Sandkorn
20. Vamp - I full symfoni (med KORK)
Haust