Had never seen the video, just the pictures which in themselves made a powerful statement. I guess people are doing it these days too. Not sure how a guy does that unless you have a pretty intense vision of the afterlife. I've been suicidal but for stupid shit, and I certainly would not have made any statement except that people would have thought I was a selfish bastard. This though is the epitome of an unselfish act.
Was going through my media player on the computer the other day and seeing what kind of stuff I have, about 500 gb worth, and maybe listen to something I hadn't in a while. Found it ironic how I preach about the importance of having physical copies of the stuff and I have so much digital crap...oh well, call it lazy or call it too expensive to pick up for myself. For some reason I was wanting to hear the
Faith/Void split. I have it on vinyl but I couldn't find it among the mountains of mp3s. So sticking with the digital moment, instead of ripping it (or much better listening to it on vinyl), I decided to see if I could track it down from a pirate (am I a pirate?). Very easy find, it's basically all over the place, but I can't stand a blog that just posts links to the music with maybe a scan, without at least giving his two cents. You can get it from
this guy for example, he at least has something to say. Funny how everyone (I did find one who disagreed) likes the Void side better...I do too. It turns out that in my wanderings they, much later, released what is called the Faith/Void/Faith cd, which is the split plus Faith's "Subject to Change" ep. You can find that out there too for download, if that's how you roll, but do the bands a favor and go get it from
Dischord. For now, the best song on either side of the split...
Void - Who are You?
Another one that I was in the mood for was the
Heresy "Never Healed" flexi. One of the finest examples of music ever put to a flexi disc. The poor sound almost lends itself to the vibe of the tunes. Not that rare though, there was 3000 made, but I couldn't find any on ebay and the cheapest one Discogs is $35. Have that record too (maybe I should post it, but I'm sure the links are dead because someone reported them...Earache maybe?), I was on a roll, so WTF. I'll be damned, in my search, there were several blogs that had it posted, but the external links were dead. Had to settle for a last resort...Filestube, to find at least an upload. I hate using that site, so impersonal, but even that place is dying with the collapse and corruption of external file storage sites. There was just one song I wanted to hear anyway...
Looked on utoob and couldn't find the tune there either so I
uploaded it, hahaha.
Was kinda thinking about flexis now, so went on a search for another one of the best flexis ever put out...the Anglican Scrape Attic comp. Another one that's not all that rare, 5000 pressed, but I didn't find any on ebay and at discogs it starts at 20 bucks from England. Pretty sure I got mine when it first came out in '85 through mailorder. I used to get Flipside and Maximum Rock and Roll all the time and would look through the ads and reviews for stuff to pick up. I think this was released by the same guys who released the Heresy flexi, Dig (of Earache) and Kalv (of Heresy) but this was earlier. All the blogs who have posted this have dead external links too, but this time, I figure it's been out of print for almost 30 years, so what the hell, let's give you a chance to give it a listen. There's not a disappointing track on this bad boy and you get quite the variety in styles. They were all previously unreleased tracks except the Hirax one, which is disappointing, even though it's a good tune. They may have been released later, but I didn't research it that far. Tough to pick a fave, they're all classics in their own way. Sacrilege was always my favorite and I played the hell out of this thing (so the sound may suck even more than it did when it was brand new), but listening to it, as I ripped it, I was kinda favoring the Concrete Sox tune. Japan, UK, USA, the big three of mid 80's metallic hardcore (although Germany and Italy may be open to debate) are represented. I have a feeling that the dead links on all the previous uploads of this is for the same reason the Heresy one is mostly dead, so this may be the first thing I've been asked to take down. I honestly could not find that it has been re-released in any way shape or form so give it a listen while you can...
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSIrhTx__ZI]
Another one from Freddy over at his killer Wardance Records, this one more on a metal tip. First thing you notice about any record is the sleeve and this one is cool as all get out. It makes sense on the splits when each band gets a side to personalize their artwork, and both these sides capture the bands in an intensely eye catching way. Freddy's releases that I have been exposed to are all sharp. The description on the Wardance page reads, "Oxido: Legendary 80's Peruvian Metal band, 1st. time on vinyl. Don Juan Matus: Current heavy Psych/Doom project from Peru HC & Metal scene veterans. Split release with Basilica Records, 300 copies pressed." Both bands are out of Peru and both bands could loosely be termed metal but that's where the similarity ends. I don't have a favorite, because these bands are not in the same genre and I'd have to favor one genre over another...and I don't. In 1984, when Oxido was in their heyday, I was listening to hardcore and punk, but I was most decidedly labelled a metalhead stoner. The crowd I hung out with, myself included, smoked weed, had long hair, wore those woven hoodies from Mexico and listened to bands like Black Sabbath, Saint Vitus, Slayer, Venom and Motorhead. Both these bands could have easily been spinning on my turntable back then and they take me back to that glorious time. Freddy writes up a nice history of Oxido and does an informative interview over at his place, Quixotic Dreams, a great read. As far as Oxido, this is my first exposure to the band and probably yours too, but these guys rock in that NWOBHM and proto-thrash/speed kind of style. Hardcore early 80's all the way, and I don't know what it is, but it reminds me a little bit of what I think was going on with metal in Japan at the time (don't ask me why, I have no evidence to back that up). Good chunky riffing with a hook of a chorus, a little bit of noodling and soulful singing. Don Juan Matus on the other hand are that modern stoner doom thing going on that's gotten pretty big these days. Heavy, dirgy and a vocalist that reminds me a little bit of the guy from Sound Garden (and that's a good thing in my book...c'mon the early stuff was good). If I still smoked weed this would go great with a big bong hit of the kind sticky crystaly red haired green (or the compressed seedy stemy dirty brown if you are on a low budget), but mind alteration is most certainly not necessary to enjoy the vibe these guys lay on you. Ever seen the animated flick Heavy Metal (an absolute must if you haven't and I might even call you lame if you didn't)? Both these tunes could easily be on that soundtrack and I absolutely worship that flick so that's a huge compliment. If you are a fan of metal of any kind, do yourself a favor and go out and get thing from HERE. For now I have some minute long samples I ripped for your listening pleasure.
Don Juan Matus-Kadath (sample)
Oxido-El Angel de la Muerte (sample)
A quick interlude before I review some killer releases from the almighty 
