Chinesedream. - Chinesedream.

Finally it's here. This is the fucking leak you have been waiting for. The very emo-y Chinesedream. have finished their new recordings and let me in on them. They deliver two reworked tracks with a fuller and more complete sound, as well as three newer songs that are totally fucking wrecked. For some reason this totally comes off as hxcmp3 2002-2005 type of screamo stuff that skramz the fuck out of peoples heads, with a little more oomph though. The recording is way better sounding than their Demo.

Chucks vocals are just to fucking die for. Honestly they come off bratty when not full on screamed, which is amazing, it's totally mimicking the snottiness and brattyness of punk bands. The rest of the time Chuck is screaming painfully or kind of whimpering, and even then the rest of the band adds (I think, unless it's all just Chuck, and if so, congrats on having varied vocal styles) their own singing vocals and grunts which creates a more urgent kind of band than what was heard on their demo. Often times it leaves us with gorgeous shout bouts with the electronic noises zapping around (just like at the very end of frustration, a reworked song with a shorter title that was on their demo) done by drummer Sonny, that sounds like something ripped out of Burn, Piano Island Burn or Hypermagic Mountain, whose drums are full on in these recordings. Totally full on, sound wise and playing wise, I have no other way to describe it. Lance plays amazing too, sometimes the guitars are blackened in a way in that each chord just blends on top of one another that it's kind of discernible in a constant discordant fashion. New member Dave adds to the mix with his own flavor by way of the Bass, grooving to the rest of the bands discordant sound, distributing a more fuller sound that, once again, sounds a bit sad and moody (even when following Lance) as the rest of the band feels like it's on the verge of exploding, awesome.

We open with a reworked version of an introduction to discomfort which would sort of clue you in on what you are in for. What you end up getting is something louder and way more intense sounding. The end of the song is different due to Sonny's addition of electronic sounds which he has managed to incorporate instead of using a hi-hat, and it worked out! So there you go screamos, experimentation works! The next track, eternity, chaos, is more of an intro to the next jam, harmony korine's glasses, and is 4 minutes of sound clips ripped straight from Korine's often disturbing movies. As such, I can guess a ton of people will definitely be annoyed with that, but hey, fuck you. harmony korine's glasses starts off with some noise, and Chuck stating that life is too short, eventually his vocals collapse and he gets a little snotty. Pure awesome. The screaming whelp 44 seconds in reminds me why this band has something I totally dig. Chuck switches it up with a grunt that is sort of like a build up of the moaning snottiness earlier in the song. my fingertips, your fingertips, ours is the Chinesedream. song that is kind of reminiscent of the demo (even more than the two reworked songs), but Lance's guitar playing is so fucking good on this, especially when he plays in a groovy way, that it's like the band has matured no matter how much they still sound like their old selves (which isn't a bad thing). Maybe even the incorporation of Dave's bass playing is what does this. Up next is the anthem of our generation, basically, the fucked up chicken violence (minor note: haha, I came up with that term on last.fm so I could hear bands of a certain style on the chicken violence radio thing that last.fm does, and I was kind of embarrassed for myself when the band knew that). Immediately we descend into the reworked frustration ( which was titled a dramatic display of frustration and questions that wield no answers on their demo). The song is nearly the same as the demo, yet has that wonderful electronic pulse that Sonny adds to the songs. It ends with the same screamy chant (This is where I begin, this is where you end!), yet it sounds cleaner, it sounds fuller. Also, Chuck's spoken word is cut short, and sounds more tired and beat up, er frustrated I suppose. Serious, what a fucking awesome release.

Chinesedream. - Chinesedream.
http://chinesedreamperiod.bandcamp.com/album/chinesedream

LONG POST, so there's bound to be typos. Oh well.

Daido Loori - Laika

Really mindblowing! Not that they exist, because they do, but because they sound the way they do. Someone built a goddamn time machine. Channeling the chaotic and emotive fury of Iowa/South D. (In Loving Memory/SOV/etc), Daido Loori plays this kind of music the way it's supposed to be played. Honestly thought bands stopped doing this sound (aside from certain ones that start up and break up instantly) in exchange for a more boorish B9 hardcore sound. Hopefully Daido Loori keeps a longer life than other bands, because they're pretty fucking awesome. Hopefully this is another preview of shit to come from the screamo scene, it was pretty dull and overproduced for a while (or incredibly lo fi; the two extremes made for bad mix cd's).

Daido Loori - Laika
http://daidoloorinj.bandcamp.com/

Worn Out - Demo 2011

So... this is not a free release, it's $2, but really I'm posting this here to not forget to buy one of their tapes, that I hope they still have. It sounds really amazing. Angry and sometimes frightening grindcore. Those vocals are really killer. I'd definitely like to get to know more about this band, and get one of 'em tapes (soon). You should check them out, literally listening to this is more important than reading this, so go listen, stop reading!

Reading sucks!

Worn Out - Demo 2011
http://wornxout.bandcamp.com/album/demo-2011

Lord Snow - Sovngarde

Just a few minutes ago Lord Snow, on their facebook, announced that they had put up their new EP for download through bandcamp which was a pretty awesome move by them. I suppose they realized that it was going to end up on the internet regardless, and now you can nab it free (or with donation) with a (kind of) clean conscience. Are download blogs killing music? Who can tell? I know I'll do my part to kill just about anything. If you haven't heard Lord Snow before think of modern day screamo stuff with high pitched vocals. This really shouldn't matter, but they have a female singer who also sings for another pretty well known band. Actually, another thing that shouldn't matter, but the band is made up of other fairly well known and well liked bands: Raw Nerve, Suffix, Lautrec, and others. It's some pretty good kitten violence, hehehe, a little bit noisy as well, and not really in that Japanese way, but the guitars are always distorted regardless. It's pretty good, very emo. They also announced that they have new shirts, cds, and tapes, so hit them up on their facebook (link below).

Lord Snow - Sovngarde
http://lordsnow.net/album/sovngarde

ULTRA//NEGATIVE - Finally, I'm At Peace

Stumbled upon this band on bandcamp again, because it's spring break I have time to do this shit. I dunno what to say. I suppose I can start with comparisons and then break away from there. Firstly this sounds like In/Humanity, Luke Skawalker, The End of the Century Party, and other 90's stuff with similar powerviolence music that had those screechy/shouty/oddly weird vocals. I like this a ton. It's a modern day emoviolence thing, but I'm sure the band would hate being called that, so let's just say it's straight up evil Power Violence. I mean, if you know what I mean then you don't have to read the rest of this post. Think of someone screaming high pitched, but to where they've done it so much they couldn't scream as high pitched any longer, so instead of screaming they did this weird shouty thing, kind of the same high pitched sound, but not as high pitched, more crushed, or something, with instruments that address fast paced hardcore music, sloppy and urgent. I don't know.

ULTRA//NEGATIVE - Finally, I'm At Peace
http://ultranegative.bandcamp.com/album/finally-im-at-peace

Various Artists - Dialogues: A Benefit For Chenoa Manor Animal Sanctuary CS

It's always groovy to see a community get together and do something really nice, especially when the community is often misunderstood as being pointlessly angry and very scary. We're all creeps in this world, but some of us still have our hearts in the right place. Each band has a distinct sound, but overall are all punk or whatever. I don't like some of the bands really (more like just one of them, and believe me it isn't Troubled Sleep, they rule), but oh well, and boo hoo. Great work!

DIALOGUES: A Benefit For Chenoa Manor Animal Sanctuary

Cassette / Digital download on Hydrogen Man Records (HMR004)

"Dialogues: A Benefit For Chenoa Manor Animal Sanctuary" is a compilation of songs by bands who promote, encourage, and/or live by a vegan diet. The comp features 13 bands from around the United States that are active in the DIY punk/hardcore community and advocate for animal rights. All proceeds of this release will be donated directly to Chenoa Manor, a non-profit animal sanctuary outside of the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

This compilation is available now as a donation-based download.

Various Artists - Dialogues: A Benefit For Chenoa Manor Animal Sanctuary CS
http://listen.hydrogenmanrecords.com/album/dialogues-a-benefit-for-chenoa-manor-animal-sanctuary-cs

Host - There's Nothing Up There But Heavy Clouds

Host are a really good band, pretty groovy, or not. I don't know what to say anymore, I think I've run out of things to say and should let the music speak for itself, but hey, who cares? Darkened and blackened and all that other cool stuff I've been saying about bands for the past couple of years since I heard Teen Cthulhu. This is kind of like the great Teen Cthulhu (but I feel a lot more chaotic), a little bit at least, crusty and mad as all heck hardcore punk, metallic hardcore, or I don't know - I feel there are a billion ways to describe this kind of unfocused non-kind of melodic, super pissed off emotional hardcore stuff. I don't know anything. I suppose if you want to know something you'd hit up their faceook, and if you wanna buy a neato 7" with these four songs then don't be scared to hit up Cricket Cemetery (particularly here). You can also peep their demo here.

Host - There's Nothing Up There But Heavy Clouds
http://cricketcemetery.bandcamp.com/album/theres-nothing-up-there-but-heavy-clouds

Viduus - Fearfully Awaiting The End

Viduus have successfully made some darkened hardcore songs. Really angry, and uber nihilistic. Formed from members of other bands, and thrown into the blender of hardcore punk that spits out metallic stuff like His Hero is Gone and Tragedy, you know what I mean. Surprisingly, this stuff isn't as relentless, but it is just as good, at least I think so. Properly done and properly angry. The lyrics have some big words in them, so I had to bring out a dictionary to understand some of them, and realized that Naught But Perversion was basically a big fuck you to me and my generation. Well, we deserve it. I'm pretty much anticipating what the band does next. I also ran into a mediafire link with more stuff (essentially the artwork to be thrown on a tape for your listening/viewing pleasure), but you'll have to look that out on your own, or simply message the band/ask nicely on facebook.

Viduus - Fearfully Awaiting The End
http://viduus.bandcamp.com/

Mass Movement of the Moth - Outerspace

Mass Movement of the Moth rules. Some of their stuff is very out there to the point where you want to stay there with 'em, but they made some super accessible stuff too. Outerspace is probably their most accessible output. It's all good, because it's just what the world needed at the time. I never felt scared to put it on when some of my swoopy haired homeboys were over, the only thing that would probably creep them out was the obvious satanic (or whatever) undertones that they fucked around with in the lyrics, at least I think... I've never known their lyrics really, but I recognize their songs by their music, the synths, the guitars, drums, bass... and the way it all incoherently goes so good together. Like a circus side show, Mass Movement of the Moth was an awe inspiring post hardcore band. RIP. Also I realize that I made a post on them a while ago, but I wanted to actually write about them this time. Check out their website, which has cover art, even more download links (it's like they're practically giving it away!) and a goodbye note or something, and then listen to the rest of their stuff which has been made downloadable on bandcamp.

Mass Movement of the Moth - Outerspace
http://massmovementofthemoth.bandcamp.com/album/outerspace

*Reminder, most of these posts have the bandname linked to their facebook page or if not there should be a website somewhere there. Like the bands and say "thx" or something cool.

Witch in her Tomb - Witch in her Tomb

A few things before I continue with my meaningless life; firstly, I've been posting a lot because I'm on Spring Break, secondly, I have been looking for a job and found out that I still have two misdemeanors on my record for stuff that I took care of a while back but recklessly forgot to wipe from my criminal record. Two misdemeanors that I would like to get off my record, because they make me look like a goddamn worthless drug addicted fuck head to every HR person in my state. Two misdemeanors that I need money to annex from my history. I'm kind of screwed. I don't care, I do care. I'm very mad.

Oh wait, a third thing, kind of; Witch in her Tomb are apart of a roster of bands that are kind of mysterious to me, but I dig, you can check out Crippled Sound Recordings itself here (update coming soon!) and more Crippled Sound Recordings stuff (free music) here, and you can even be a cool guy and buy some of their stuff here, be cool you guy.

Witch in her Tomb are destructive black metal. That's not really a genre, "destructive black metal," but that is how they sound like to me. Kind of like WOLD, or so. I'm not a big black metal aficionado, as I have mentioned before, but I do like to listen to it from time to time and get down with some angry stuff that nationalists and poetics alike can get down with. Not to say that I listen to NS black metal, because I don't, unless Witch in her Tomb are NS, which I don't think they are, more than likely they're not, but you should email them just in case.

Witch in her Tomb - Witch in her Tomb
http://music.crippledsound.net/album/witch-in-her-tomb

Locktender - Collected

A band that I had heard nothing of, and almost over looked if I had not noticed that they are ex Men as Trees, which makes me feel like a dumb ass. I feel like this band is going to go places, or has, or will continue, I don't know, but this is honestly some of the best emo to take hold of me. The first and third song are pretty long, but not boring or overall lengthy in a miserable way, all three songs on the bandcamp page have awesome guitar lines which sound really good, nearly perfect, accompanied with gutteral/shouty vocals and competent drums. These guys know what they're doing, the production of each song is awesome. It's not overproduced either like a lot of screamo/hardcore/whatever nowadays, with over the top sounding snare drums and vocals that overtake the rest of the music. It's almost perfect. Poetic lyrics, that they seem to be proud of, if you're into that. Check out their wordpress that has updates and some other stuff. You can preview it on their bandcamp page.

From Jason/Locktender

So Locktender is a conceptual hardcore band from Cleveland, OH with all of the members of Men as Trees. All of our songs are about and inspired by different works of art and our albums will focus on specific artists. This 'Collected' release is three songs that are all being released on vinyl splits this year. A 7" with Cassilis from Philadelphia, a 12" with Brighter Arrows from Chicago (ex-Lautrec, Mans, Phoenix Bodies), and another 12" that is still TBA. Our singer Nick will do the CD release through his label Mopsorden and Utarid Tapes will do one in Malaysia. As with MAT, everything will be free to download so we are just trying to get this out there as much as possible before our Euro tour this July with Sailing On from Germany.

Locktender - Collected
www.mediafire.com?k9iv7my0hlhqpbc

Black Kites - Last Three Songs

I am such a turd, I know in the last post I said that Black Kites weren't honestly my thing, my total 100% thing, but they're still a good band, and aren't awful at all. Their last three song output just proves this and makes me think that I should revisit all of their material and put my foot in my mouth. Tom is a nice dude, makes CMHWAK worth being a site honestly. I love the fact that he provides commentary in the forums (and on his blog). He needs an award for sticking with the hardcore scene for the past 15 or whatever years of his life. These songs are ragers, very aggressive and angsty, noisy at times and screamy at all times. I'm not sure what the purpose of these three songs are other than to say goodbye, but you can hear a transition between Black Kites and capacities (I don't think that was done purposeful though). The tracks are untagged, but in pretty good quality and provided courtesy of Ride the Fury who is also selling this release as a tape (which there are probably some still available of and I need to get, god damn it).

Black Kites - Last Three Songs
http://www.mediafire.com/?xz26rvt4d98sndt
and you can listen to it on their bandcamp
http://blackkites.bandcamp.com/album/the-last-three-songs
or here