Well, it's been a busy year cracking skulls and for music. Regular posting has been few and far between due to life raining down what it will both good and bad. With that said, The Cracked Skull has found many releases this year to yield quite the sonic load. No top ten or twenty list will be presented here, but rather a collection of releases that seem to find their way into constant rotation whilst bashing skulls. 2012 is looking up if for no other reason than Neurosis is recording a new album. In no particular order:
Oranssi Pazuzu--Kosmonument
Aelter II--Follow You Beloved
The Tropic of Cancer--The Sorrow of the Blooms
The Haxan Cloak--The Haxan Cloak
Ga'an--Black Equus
Mournful Congregation--The Book of Kings
Chelsea Wolfe--Apokalypsis
Barghest--Barghest
False--untitled
Bosse de Nage--II
Flourishing--The Sum of All Fossils
Craft--Void
Implodes--Black Earth
Atriarch--Forever the End
The Body & Braveyoung--Nothing Passes
Hell--II
Blut Aus Nord--777 Sects
Blut Aus Nord--Desanctification
Wolves in the Throne Room--Celestial Lineage
Cianide--Gods of Death
Disma--Towards the Megalith
Ash Borer--Ash Borer
L'Acephale--Stalhartes Gehause
Northless--Clandestine Abuse
Krallice--Diotima
Altar of Plagues--Mammal
Yob--Atma
Tombs--Path of Totality
Loss--Despond
Batillus--Furnace
Alaric--Alaric
The Men--Leave Home
Earth--Angels of Darkness Demons of Light
Wolvhammer--The Obsidian Plains
Rwake--Rest
Horseback--The Gorgon Tongue
Grails--Deep Politics
Morne--Asylum
Dark Castle--Surrender to All Life Beyond Form
Indian--Guiltless
Pyramids/Horesback--A Throne Without a King
Sortilegia--Pestilent Black Sorcery
Young Widows--In and Out of Lightness
Clinging To the Trees of Forest Fire/Nesseria--split release
Alpinist/Masakari--split release
Leviathan--True Traitor, True Whore
Crooked Necks--Alright Is Exactly What It Isn't
Young and In the Way--V Eternal Depression
Burial Hex--In Psychic Defense
Na'kay/Kata Sarka--split release
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
A sad day...
Indianapolis has lost a devoted, hard working, talented, and all around friendly member of the music scene. Jared Southwick (The Dream Is Dead, Harakiri, Whiskeytits, and Legion) passed away last night due to complications stemming from a liver and kidney condition. The Cracked Skull sends its condolences to Jared's family and friends. He will be missed, but remembered for his contributions as a musician and as a person that lived life on his terms. The Cracked Skull will raise a glass in his honor. Let the hammer come crashing down one last time on July 28 (7 p.m. at the Hoosier Dome for Dudefest) as The Dream Is Dead plays its last show ever in remembrance of their fallen comrade. R.I.P Jared Southwick.
The Dream Is Dead
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1u1MUbHvIo&feature=related
Whiskeytits
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dk3zIAgMhBc
The Dream Is Dead
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1u1MUbHvIo&feature=related
Whiskeytits
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dk3zIAgMhBc
Saturday, April 16, 2011
A snapshot: Midwestern Decline...
Midwestern Decline is a small DYI record label based out of Ft. Wanye Indiana. The label is participating member of the Black Heart Mountain Culture Collective. With a range of releases available either physically or digitally, it would seem the label is focused and committed to cultivating the collective craft of the bands associated with the label and other like minded artist within the collective. Offering music from a wide array of bands from Indiana and surrounding states (Michigan and Illinois to name a couple), there is a solid assortment of styles to choose from. Whether it's the thundering hardcore of Karloff, the churning grind of Cloud Rat, or the blackened atmospheres of Coffin Maker; Midwestern Decline provides a platform for its bands to develop and hone their chosen art. They are a home grown Indiana label to follow and support.
The following links are where you can find more information about Midwestern Decline, Black Heart Mountain Culture Collective, and the works of the artists and bands associated with them.
Midwestern Decline:
http://midwesterndecline.blogspot.com/
Black Heart Mountain Culture Collective:
http://blackheartmountain.com/
in heavy rotation... Coffin Maker's Invocation. Possession. Exorcism.
http://coffinmaker.bandcamp.com/album/invocation-possesion-excorcism
The following links are where you can find more information about Midwestern Decline, Black Heart Mountain Culture Collective, and the works of the artists and bands associated with them.
Midwestern Decline:
http://midwesterndecline.blogspot.com/
Black Heart Mountain Culture Collective:
http://blackheartmountain.com/
in heavy rotation... Coffin Maker's Invocation. Possession. Exorcism.
http://coffinmaker.bandcamp.com/album/invocation-possesion-excorcism
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Blood from the Void: Coffinworm...
There is a continual rumbling din ushered forth from the void whenever Indianapolis' Coffinworm gather to make their pulverizing blackened, death infused doom. The weight and heft in their brand of aural hopelessness is significant and powerful. Their music is a dark art form channeling the desperation in a failing and crumbling society. A bleak modern world view is all that is needed to act as a catalyst for inspiration. Detuned, feedback ridden, clamoring, aggressive, and harsh—the shifting and plying tones and movements Coffinworm generate are sonically corrosive.
The band received many accolades in 2010 for their debut release, When All Became None released on CD by Profound Lore Records and on vinyl by Seventh Rule Records. The Cracked Skull thought very highly of the record placing it as the third best release of last year. And when the band performed live the recorded power was immediately transferred into raw and surging misanthropic energy.
Last year was also a time of transition for the band as one of their original guitarists departed the band. Coffinworm was a four piece, only for a short time, as then drummer Carl Byers moved to guitar while World Eater’s drummer, Josh Schrontz, took command of drumming duties. Vocalist Dave Britts, guitarist Garrett O’Sha, and bassist Todd Manning continued in their original roles with the band. As with any functioning band, the newly revamped line up mastered current songs and began work on new material.
2011 is primed to be a good year for Coffinworm. With the new configuration working well and new material being written, the prospects of sustained devastation from the band are promising. The Cracked Skull caught up with Garrett O’Sha to discuss the process of transition within the band, the writing of new material, what the future holds, and what he listened to most last year.
What's happening in the Coffinworm dungeon of late? How's the shift in personnel coming along?
We are working on songs for our next album and more immediately, a split 7" with Unearthly Trance. We are also preparing to emerge from the catacombs for some live activity soon.
How are the new songs working out, and what can the world expect in terms of sound, tone, inspiration for the new material, and overall destructive qualities?
New incantations are steadily emerging from the void. Naturally, we are trying to create the most hellish and destructive music possible, so don't expect any ballads or sassy dance numbers. There is definitely more of an aggressive death metal attack to some of the new material. As for inspiration, life in our modern world provides more than enough hopelessness to go around.
How has Carl's move to guitar and new drummer, Josh, affected the new songs and the song writing process?
I think the changes have only made us more powerful. Carl and I have played guitar together in other bands, so that chemistry was present already. As for Chubbz (Josh), he and Dave have been raging together in World Eater for years. He fits right in on a personal level and is not only a beast behind the kit, but a stellar guitarist as well and has been making some major riff contributions. He's on fire with that shit right now.
Are you surprised at how well received When All Became None was last year? It made it all the way up to the third spot The Cracked Skull's year end list and many other lists. Not that means all that much in terms of art, but it is great record on many levels. Has there been any pressure to finish up the writing for a new record while in a transitional period of sorts for the band? Are you planning on working with Sanford Parker again on the next release? Any studio experimentation planned?
Thank you. The attention the album received was definitely flattering and we are indeed grateful for the tremendous support we have been shown. The only real pressure for finishing up a new album is that which we've placed on ourselves. If given the choice we will most certainly be recording with Sanford again.
When is the new album due out? I would imagine it's coming out on Profound Lore. Are you planning on working with Seventh Rule again for the vinyl release of the new album? Are there any copies of When All Became None left, or if not are you all thinking about repressing it?
We still have a lot more writing to do, so no release date any time soon. We're shooting to have the album written by the end of this year though. We haven't discussed anything with Seventh Rule yet, but they did a killer job with the vinyl and we would love to work with them again, Goat willing. Profound Lore still has copies of the CD available, but Seventh Rule is all out of the vinyl. Those things went fast! We still have a handful left that we will be selling at upcoming shows. The vinyl will not be repressed.
Feel like dropping any hints on the title of the new album or coming out with it? Maybe some hints on what the cover art will look like?
No album title yet. That's usually one of the last things to be decided on, but it looks like Dusty Neal (http://dustyneal.blogspot.com ) is going to be doing the album art. We're all pretty excited about that.
What's your upcoming show schedule like for 2011? Someone should get a Profound Lore fest going here in Indy with Coffinworm and Apostle of Solitude as a start.
Well, we should be playing here in town with Apostle of Solitude really soon. They have Bob Fouts in their band now. He used to play drums in The Gates of Slumber, so it'll be a very Profound Lore related event. If anybody from Portal or Hooded Menace is reading this, you're welcome to jump on the show. We're playing a few select local shows this spring as well as Bloomington, and we're doing Dudefest again this summer. There might be some road action too, but nothing I can speak about just yet. These are the shows coming up in our immediate future.
March 6th (Indianapolis) @ The Dojo with THOU and OVERPOWER
April 16th (Bloomington) @ The Bishop with Slam Dunk and probably somebody else
June 1st (Indianapolis) @ The Melody Inn with Anhedonist (We're all really digging that band right now.)
What five records from last year really stand out to you? What new releases are you looking forward to this year? Maybe Craft will hit us with a nasty slab of long overdue hate.
Man, honestly, I spent the majority of last year listening to Black Sabbath, but Last Sunrise by Apostle of Solitude was definitely album of the year for me. The new Deathspell Omega, Unearthly Trance and Killing Joke albums all totally kicked my ass too. I am still playing them on the regular and probably will be for a long, long time. Let's see... The Drear by Anhedonist is killer, can't wait to see that band live. And I am absolutely looking forward to new albums from Craft and Rwake.
The band received many accolades in 2010 for their debut release, When All Became None released on CD by Profound Lore Records and on vinyl by Seventh Rule Records. The Cracked Skull thought very highly of the record placing it as the third best release of last year. And when the band performed live the recorded power was immediately transferred into raw and surging misanthropic energy.
Last year was also a time of transition for the band as one of their original guitarists departed the band. Coffinworm was a four piece, only for a short time, as then drummer Carl Byers moved to guitar while World Eater’s drummer, Josh Schrontz, took command of drumming duties. Vocalist Dave Britts, guitarist Garrett O’Sha, and bassist Todd Manning continued in their original roles with the band. As with any functioning band, the newly revamped line up mastered current songs and began work on new material.
2011 is primed to be a good year for Coffinworm. With the new configuration working well and new material being written, the prospects of sustained devastation from the band are promising. The Cracked Skull caught up with Garrett O’Sha to discuss the process of transition within the band, the writing of new material, what the future holds, and what he listened to most last year.
What's happening in the Coffinworm dungeon of late? How's the shift in personnel coming along?
We are working on songs for our next album and more immediately, a split 7" with Unearthly Trance. We are also preparing to emerge from the catacombs for some live activity soon.
How are the new songs working out, and what can the world expect in terms of sound, tone, inspiration for the new material, and overall destructive qualities?
New incantations are steadily emerging from the void. Naturally, we are trying to create the most hellish and destructive music possible, so don't expect any ballads or sassy dance numbers. There is definitely more of an aggressive death metal attack to some of the new material. As for inspiration, life in our modern world provides more than enough hopelessness to go around.
How has Carl's move to guitar and new drummer, Josh, affected the new songs and the song writing process?
I think the changes have only made us more powerful. Carl and I have played guitar together in other bands, so that chemistry was present already. As for Chubbz (Josh), he and Dave have been raging together in World Eater for years. He fits right in on a personal level and is not only a beast behind the kit, but a stellar guitarist as well and has been making some major riff contributions. He's on fire with that shit right now.
Are you surprised at how well received When All Became None was last year? It made it all the way up to the third spot The Cracked Skull's year end list and many other lists. Not that means all that much in terms of art, but it is great record on many levels. Has there been any pressure to finish up the writing for a new record while in a transitional period of sorts for the band? Are you planning on working with Sanford Parker again on the next release? Any studio experimentation planned?
Thank you. The attention the album received was definitely flattering and we are indeed grateful for the tremendous support we have been shown. The only real pressure for finishing up a new album is that which we've placed on ourselves. If given the choice we will most certainly be recording with Sanford again.
When is the new album due out? I would imagine it's coming out on Profound Lore. Are you planning on working with Seventh Rule again for the vinyl release of the new album? Are there any copies of When All Became None left, or if not are you all thinking about repressing it?
We still have a lot more writing to do, so no release date any time soon. We're shooting to have the album written by the end of this year though. We haven't discussed anything with Seventh Rule yet, but they did a killer job with the vinyl and we would love to work with them again, Goat willing. Profound Lore still has copies of the CD available, but Seventh Rule is all out of the vinyl. Those things went fast! We still have a handful left that we will be selling at upcoming shows. The vinyl will not be repressed.
Feel like dropping any hints on the title of the new album or coming out with it? Maybe some hints on what the cover art will look like?
No album title yet. That's usually one of the last things to be decided on, but it looks like Dusty Neal (http://dustyneal.blogspot.com ) is going to be doing the album art. We're all pretty excited about that.
What's your upcoming show schedule like for 2011? Someone should get a Profound Lore fest going here in Indy with Coffinworm and Apostle of Solitude as a start.
Well, we should be playing here in town with Apostle of Solitude really soon. They have Bob Fouts in their band now. He used to play drums in The Gates of Slumber, so it'll be a very Profound Lore related event. If anybody from Portal or Hooded Menace is reading this, you're welcome to jump on the show. We're playing a few select local shows this spring as well as Bloomington, and we're doing Dudefest again this summer. There might be some road action too, but nothing I can speak about just yet. These are the shows coming up in our immediate future.
March 6th (Indianapolis) @ The Dojo with THOU and OVERPOWER
April 16th (Bloomington) @ The Bishop with Slam Dunk and probably somebody else
June 1st (Indianapolis) @ The Melody Inn with Anhedonist (We're all really digging that band right now.)
What five records from last year really stand out to you? What new releases are you looking forward to this year? Maybe Craft will hit us with a nasty slab of long overdue hate.
Man, honestly, I spent the majority of last year listening to Black Sabbath, but Last Sunrise by Apostle of Solitude was definitely album of the year for me. The new Deathspell Omega, Unearthly Trance and Killing Joke albums all totally kicked my ass too. I am still playing them on the regular and probably will be for a long, long time. Let's see... The Drear by Anhedonist is killer, can't wait to see that band live. And I am absolutely looking forward to new albums from Craft and Rwake.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
A Mid-winter's Face Melt...
What makes the snow and cold of January more enjoyable? How about the ripping hardcore of Chaotic Neutral? This Indianapolis band is everything enjoyable in a hardcore band: no pretense, fast, angry, deliberate, and aggressive. There is enough hate and self-loathing infused in their music to load anyone with the revved up fury and energy of a possessed badger. Having seen them live, The Cracked Skull can vouched for the energy and emotional exchange the band exhibits in a live setting. They give the energy out freely like warm blood flowing from noses and facial lacerations after a hardy boot stomp. Care to hate them, it probably won't end in a pretty manner. Their two song demo courtesy of their Bandcamp site, showcases the band's speed and venom. Strangers is an immediate dousing of fire, syncapated and fast, with gnashing vocals. According To Plan opens up with a distorted bass as the gnarled vocals and drums soon enter the fray only to give way to the guitar assault at the twenty second mark. According To Plan (aptly titled) follows a similar song structure as Strangers and continues to demonstrate Chaotic Neutral's flame-thrower--all guns blazing style. Chaotic Neutral is not rewriting the hardcore song book, but they produce a racket that is true to riding a knife's edge down a toboggan run and not giving fuck while sliding painfully down.
http://chaoticneutral.bandcamp.com/
Chaotic Neutral's upcoming shows:
1/21 @ Ghost House in Bloomington with In The Face of War, Full Rainbow, Vernal Pike
2/6 @ The Dojo with Cloudrat, Disconnected, Rat Storm
2/17 @ Rock Lobster with Downtown Struts and Brothers Gross
2/26 @ The Vollrath with The Dockers, Radiation Sickness, Kata Sarka
http://chaoticneutral.bandcamp.com/
Chaotic Neutral's upcoming shows:
1/21 @ Ghost House in Bloomington with In The Face of War, Full Rainbow, Vernal Pike
2/6 @ The Dojo with Cloudrat, Disconnected, Rat Storm
2/17 @ Rock Lobster with Downtown Struts and Brothers Gross
2/26 @ The Vollrath with The Dockers, Radiation Sickness, Kata Sarka
Friday, January 7, 2011
A Promising Find...
Hailing from Ft. Wayne Indiana, Coffin Maker deliver a very cold and bleak reverb drenched blizzard of black metal. And in true fashion, their very limited EP is only available with the first fifty copies of Esoterica by Dusty Neal released on Sistine Press. The book's sole focus is a black and white photographic exploration of the occult, religion, and esotericism. The song, Possession, is the perfect backdrop and soundtrack for a snow filled day while exploring the power captured in the images of Neal's work. Possession is the lone instrumental track made available on the Coffin Maker's Bandcamp site, and the three minutes of music are expansive, droning, and swimming in ether. Hopefully, Coffin Maker will decide to continue releasing further material outside of this highly limited EP. As it stands, Possession is quite promising, and it is always a positive thing to see like minded artists collaborating in different mediums.
Coffin Maker:
http://coffinmaker.bandcamp.com/
Esoterica (Sistine Press) by Dusty Neal:
http://sistinepress2.bigcartel.com/product/esoterica-no-love-could-exist-here
Coffin Maker:
http://coffinmaker.bandcamp.com/
Esoterica (Sistine Press) by Dusty Neal:
http://sistinepress2.bigcartel.com/product/esoterica-no-love-could-exist-here
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