Pelican

this instrumental quartet hails from Chicago, IL with a aggressively mixed melodies and an intensity outdone by few. Pelican refused to be limited to genre classification (hence the biggest decision to stay away from vocals) and have changed up playing styles progressively since they started touring. don't get me wrong, all of their stuff's good, their approach just became more direct so that there could more energy on stage... smart idea? I'd believe so.

I've got their self-titled EP here, which I've been listening to for quite some time now and loving every second of it. this has 4 tracks, the first two are roughly four or five minutes with the last two being about 7.5 minutes and  13 minutes long.

Pelican myspace
Pelican official website
S/T EP

1011

Rosetta

Rosetta is a seriously sick & heavy band with a large dose of hardcore metal. listening to this band is like being in orbit. I can't really say much more than- check them out, you more than likely won't be disappointed. these guys call themselves "metal for astronauts", which fits that all the members have some fascination with astrology and in fact all of their music does too (to some extent or another), as does they're name which is the Latin name of a nebula in Monoceros, the name of a satellite and an orbit pattern.

their first release, The Galilean Satellites, has 2 discs; one disc has songs and the other has ambient noise. the track lengths for corresponding tracks (track 1 disc 1, track 1 disc 2; etc) were the same for each pair, showing that both are meant to be played together.

Rosetta myspace
rosettaband.com
lp: The Galilean Satellites (includes disc1+2)

no!se.03

I want to watch the city from the top of my hill. I want to imagine a fire along the horizon. I want to feel the cool chill against my face. I want to justify my lack of interest. I want to burn away the past. I want to know what it is to be more alive than I've ever felt.

I want to be.

I want to exist.

I just want to listen to music.
all the time.

but not music, no, especially not under the popular definition.

I want to listen to distorted visions of emotion.
I want to blare noise.

Zombie Zex

this Swedish band up-holds some classic Deathrock/Goth Rock, and I thank them for being old school in the day that most people have forgotten what Goth is. the only material I have from them is from they're live recording at the Black Sheep.

when I first listened to ZZ, Vincent's vocals made me addicted, then I started paying attention to everything else and fell even more in love with the band. they're raw, gritty, and most of all dark

and punk.

Zombie Zex myspace
Zombie Zex website
LIVE at Black Sheep

Psyopus

Psyopus is a cluster-fuck of.... yes. that's seriously the first thing that runs through my mind every time I listen to them. sure,t heir sound is an extremely acquired taste, but most people dig 'em anyway because they're very different. with sporadic grind, changing time signatures, and even mildly melodic instrumental tracks, Psyopus is setting your mind on a personal music trip. seeing these guys live is a necessity if you really like their music, you'll appreciate their art that much more.

I've got their sophomore album, which is the first album I heard from them and is still my favourite, and I've got the demo which was originally released under another name.

psyopus website
psyopus myspace
demo: 3003
lp: Our Puzzling Encounters Considered

The Upholsterers

Jack White (of The White Stripes, The Racontuers, and now The Dead Weather) and Brian Muldoon (of The Muldoons) back in 2000 when White was an upholstery apprentice under Muldoon. the two formed a due garage/punk band with a bluesy undertone- The Upholsterers (originally Two Part Resin). "Apple of My Eye" is the only original song on the demo. this is a good listen for eclectic music fans and an amazing gift for White fans who haven't heard an early Jack White destroying common guitar playing.

demo: Makers of High Grade Suites

no!se.02

have you ever known what it is to compare the feeling of pure ecstasy to something inanimate? have you ever wanted to say that something intangible was alive? you're allowed to, no one can stop you. go ahead and call that show you saw at a small, crowded local venue "alive"; it at least felt like it was, didn't it? you know you felt a fucking heartbeat during the entire set and that you lost yourself in a wake of noise and motion along with the crowd and the band (who played the floor instead of the stage). every bit of that heartfelt 45 minutes was full of life and passion, it was beautiful and you wish it could have lasted forever... go for it, check the merch booth for a CD or a shirt. one of the bands is selling their shirts for $5? they do all the designs and graphics themselves? maybe you'll stick around for them......

now that's music.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

this is some rowdy "brutal deathcore". ALS was an old project of mine; we played our high school's battle of the bands and some benefit show. it was all pretty cool while it lasted... we had a small revival streak, but that fell apart too. anyway, here's our not very well mastered demo stuff. if you'd like to know, the lyrics for chapters 1 & 2 are about a guy who eats fetuses straight out of live pregnant women... yeah... there was a third chapter that never got finalized for recording.

enjoy... or don't

ALS myspace

demo

June Paik

June Paik is a band from the Donauwörth & München areas of Germany. their sound, as my friend described it when I let him listen to them was this-"...dark melodies and gripping hooks..." and it's safe to say, he' right. they have a darker sound than most of the emotive hardcore/screamo out there, and they do carry some black metal influence. these guys are definitely worth checking out on that cold day you get stuck inside with nothing to do but stare out the window and watch the weather... or skateboard to them at night, either one works.

JunePaik myspace
JunePaik website
S/T Vinyl

I'm Dead

I'm Dead is a Goth/Punk, band from the UK. they had some releases back in the day, and by that I mean the 80's. I have a copy of their 1982 self-titled cassette release and a bonus track "Dreaming In The House Of Shadows". if anyone can find anymore of their stuff, it would be greatly appreciated.

this band is definitely for the music listener who's not afraid to venture into the odd world of aesthetically gothic punk.., or Deathrock... Goth Rock.. Batcave... whatever coined term you decide to use.

S/T cassette+ bonus track