Abortion - Konvert (2014)

When it comes to old school grind Abortion, from Slovakia, counts as one of the "big names". These guys started releasing grind records in the early nineties and their ability at doing it the right way imposed them as one of the major forces in the excellent eastern european grindcore scene. Konvert, released last year, is their sixth full-length (along with many splits) and it's another concentration of good old school grind, firmly rooted in hardcore punk, with many mid tempo parts with a good groove, good typical grind accelerations and efficient trash-punk riffing. It's as typical grind as it's cover art is but what matters is that it's a really enjoyable grind album. good stuff. They don't disappoint.

Their Bandcamp

Merkabah - Moloch (2014)

Merkabah is a polish quintet (guitar, bass, drums, electronics and saxophone), Moloch is their third album. What they play is a nervous crossing between free jazz, noise rock and progressive rock (King crimson being an admitted and obvious influence, in the melodies, the rhythms, etc,.). the rhythmic section is heavy and also complex at times (just what is needed, they stay simple when it's more about supporting the saxhophone melodies, or just being heavy / noisy. the melodic parts is most of the time done, very well, by the saxophone, the guitar parts being more rhythmic / jazzy. the electronic elements is ery subtle and discreet, contributing to the global sound and atmosphere. the songwriting is great and the songs are really attention grabbing and hypnotic. the album is a grower, the more you listen to it the better it sounds.

highly recommended!

the BC page.

Napalm death - Apex predator - easy meat (2015)

28 years after laying the basis of what would become grindcore Napalm death is still releasing albums, and even surpisingly good albums! When many old bands are content with doing again and again the music that made them famous years ago, Napalm death are among the bands that are trying hard to push the boundaries of their style further and further. They are not just playing with a sound that really live up to the standards of the day (the production of the new album is excellent) but they also are experimentating (without betraying the core of their music).
so what are they trying on Apex predator - easy meat?  They added a dose of noise to their sound and did some indus / noise slower parts or songs (like "Dear slum landlord"). But they are not really back to what they tried in the nineties, this time they're not really slowing the pace, and the result is a lot more convincing, it adds to the overall agressivity, it's a way to experiment but at the same time to sound "harder" than they already were. Also Barney is doing a few clean singing parts (like in the noisy intro or in the excellent "hierarchies"), and it's also working better than his past tries. I liked their previous album,  Utilitarian, but this one is even better, maybe the best thing they did since a long time. You'll have the fast and ferocious songs with the typical Napalm groove, excellent guitar works (good riffs! plus some good noisy parts and background sounds), good drumming, and Barney's vocals are at their top. And on top of that you'll also have some successfull and convincing more experimental elements.
It's at the same time interesting to listen to and also catchy and enjoyable (it's quite addictive in fact and I'm listening to it everyday since I get it!). With this great album they prove that they still are at the top of their grind and among the leaders, the avant-garde, of grindcore music.

their website   

  

Bask- American hollow (2014)

In a highly standardised metal scene it's good when a new band is proposing something different. And this is what Bask, from North Carolina does. Their album, called American hollow and released last summer could be described as an original mix of heavy metal in a vein not very far Baronness / Mastodon, a touch of emo hardcore, and americana rock (say Neil Young). But they don't just rely on originality, they show great songwriting qualities and their mix really works. It can be nicely quiet, with mememorable melodies, and then going into full heavy metal epicness, with a feeling of hardcore urgency. And the good vocals really helps.  A good surprising album filled with good songs. They definitely deserves more recognition.

Their Bandcamp

Thantifaxath - Sacred white noise (2014)

Sacred white noise is the first album by canadian black metallers Thantifaxath. They get some attention after the released of their demo in 2011 and this album, also released by Dark descent records, is a brilliant confirmation of their potential. If your looking for something very raw, brutal or trve pass your way. they belong more to the avant-garde side of black metal (while sticking largely to the basics of the genre, bleak atmosphere, croaked vocals, blast beats, etc..). The production is quite clean and clear and the use of contemporary music / neo classical elements as well as some elements reminding progressive music in a king crimsonian vein, bring a "classy" touch to their sound. They also use some dissonant riffing in a modern black metal vein (think Deathspell omega or Blut aus nord).  Their songwriting push more in the direction of creating melancholic, bizarre or epic atmospheres than on pure darkness or brutality. Sacred white noise is a fascinating album, a successfull step on the path of the broadening of black metal scope, a must listen for those interested in the more progressive / avant side of black metal, but it will also appeal to anyone into dark and atmospheric metal. A truly excellent album!

The bandcamp page.

Jackson firebird - Cock rocking (2014)

Cock rocking is a really cool debut album from this australian garage rock duo called Jackson firebird! they play a good mix of garage rock, hard rock and raw blues, reminding AC / DC, Jon Spencer blues explosion and R.L burnside. This mix providing a good diversity in the album while staying cohesive from the raw blues to the more hard rocking songs. nothing ground breaking here but the songs are really good, with plenty of good riffs, cool vocals, and very good drumming (home made percussion more precisely, but excellent rhythms anyway). Very enjoyable stuff!

their website

The kill - Kill them...all (2015)

Kill them...all by australian grinders The kill is their second album, in the same vein as their first one Make'em suffer but that's not a problem since it was really good (see the review I did HERE). So you'll also have the super fast drumming, the trashy riffing (the nod to Mettalica's Kill'em all don't really suprise even if The kill is way more extreme), and the pissed off screaming vocals. As dense and relentless as grind can get but with a "catchy" touch due to the trash metal guitar playing style. really cool stuff!

the Bandcamp page.

Trash talk - No peace (2014)

Right now Trash talk is really one of the best hardcore band and their album released in 2014 No peace is another ine proof. It was hard to do as good as their previous album 119 (the review I did then) but No peace is really a convincing follow up. maybe it's not better but it can stand the comparison. They alternate crazy fast songs, some slower more beatdown parts, and also a few hip-hop elements (two instrumental tracks produced by the excellent The Alchemist, in a nearly industrial vein, gloomy stuff. and a song featuring the Mcs Wiki and King Krule. good as well). With their fifth album they confirms that they really are above the countless samey hardcore bands.

their website

My favourite releases in 2014

Here's my list of my favourite releases (Albums, EP, splits) of 2014.

note that I already posted a specific list for grindcore (the cream of the grind 2014).

here's the list (if you clik you'll go to the review I did. when it exists you'll find on the side links to the interviews I did) :

Yob - Clearing the path to ascend

Dephosphorus - Ravenous solemnity

Earth - Primitive and deadly

Grand magus - Triumph and power

11Paranoias - Spectral beastiaries

Crowbar - Symmetry in black

Narcosatanicos-st

Serpentine path - Emanations                    Serpentine path interview

Spiral - Our last days on Bellicus prime

Coffinworm - IV-I-VIII                                Coffinworm interview

Kvulthammer - Kvlthammer

Tombs - Savage gold                                 Tombs interview

Anaal natrakh - Desideratum

The Body - I shall die here

Lobster priest - Hallucinatory pagoda

John Zorn's psychomagia

parasight - Munden Fuld Af Løgn, Lommen Fuld Af Profit

Monolord - Empress rising

Circle of Ouroborus - Kuuhun kahlittu

Seun kuti - A long way to the beginning

Human error /psykkoanalysi split

Barabbas - Messe pour un chien

Hail spirit noir - Oi magoi

La dispute - The rooms of the house

Nibiru - Ritual I & Ritual II

Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 - A long way to the beginning (2014)

This one's very different from what is usually featured on Blasting days, but it's not less intense. And A long way to the beginning is one of my favourite albums released in 2014. Seun Kuti is one of the sons of the creator of afro-beat music, Fela Kuti, and Egypt 80 that plays with Seun Kuti was the band of his father. On this one Seun Kuti put a bit aside the more complex song structure and the repetitive elements of afro-beat to focus on the impact and dynamism of the song. And the result is really successfull and the album is very catchy and energising, with some vocals full of righteous anger against the evils of modern society (and lyrics more intelligent than the usual clichés), combined with electrifying funky guitar, brass and rythm parts (afro beat mix african music with jazz and funk). This is a perfect album to discover afro-beat (the new Femi Kuti one, No place for my dream, is also excellent, in a calmer mood, although fuelled as well by revolt).

The website

Weak teeth - so you've ruined your life (2014)

So you've ruined your life is Weak teeth second album, three years after "What a plague you are" (HERE's my review, with an interview with the band we did in 2012) and four years after their exceptionnal demo. It's not better than their previous releases but it's still really good anyway. On this new album they offer the same mix of punk rock with an emo feel and some hardcore aggressivity. Fast songs (but a few are longer than 3 minutes) full of intensity, with great vocals and lyrics. they also tried a bit of experiment with a good instrumental noise rock track near the end of the album.

The Bandcamp page.

The cream of the grind 2014

Like I did the previous year I'm gonna give you the list of my favourite grind releases for the year that is just over.
here are the 8 grind releases that I enjoyed the most :

Coffin birth - Necrotic liquefaction            my review        the interview

Cretin - stranger                                          my review        the interview

Six brew bantha - Intravenously commodified       my review

Gridlink - Longhena                                                 my review

split Detroit  / Thedowngoing                                my review

OSK - Wretched existence : bleak future                  my review

Dead instrument - See through negative(EP)        my review

Vertigo index - Posthuman v1.1(EP)                       my review  the interview


good 2015 in grind!

Barabbas - Messe pour un chien (2014)

Messe pour un chien is the worthy follower of Libérez Barabbas! Barabbas excellent previous album released in 2011 (HERE you will find my review, going with an interview of the band done one year ago). Once again the french band captured perfectly the spirit of traditionnal doom / heavy metal while giving it their own interpretation. The powerfull vocals and the cleverly sarcastic lyrics in french are again very good. The band combine with taste the more rocking / heavy metal parts and the more doomy slow grooves. The songwriting and the melodies (and some subtle keyboards elements helps to build strong atmospheries) are really classy and classical in a good way (and you're never thinking "ok, but this is nearly the riff in this Black sabbath song.."). And have I said it's damn heavy?

They really are more than the best french doom band.

The Bandcamp page