LP Review: "No More Conqueror" by Cortez

No More Conqueror

Did you watch the Clerks Cartoon show? In the first episode, after the first flowerpot gag, Randall, my personal hero, threw their ropes over the edge of the building.

"When Cortez arrived in the New World, he burned his boats to inspire his men," Randall Graves.

This album, while using the name of the fabled Conquistador also has an anti-conquietador title, so color me a bit confused by that.

No More Conqueror is a hardcore tour de force that punched me square in the intestinal fortitudes.

This Swiss hardcore/mathcore/not quite so grindcore trio come in with all guns blazing. Imagine if someone was put down in a chair, under a bright white light, and then told, we know what you did. Why don't you make it easy on yourself and tell us everything from the very beginning.

This album is precisely the result of the questioning. The only thing...it seems that Cortez feels justified in everything they did and they'll tell you everything. Just sit back and listen.

Release: 11/09/18 BANDCAMP FACEBOOK

Vinyl Review: "Trust No One" by The Mons

Trust No One

There's nothing better than comfort food, and by food of course I mean beer.

Beer is an acquired taste if we're really honest with ourselves. Anyone who'll tell you that they fell in love with their first sip is probably a damned dirty liar.

Well, don't trust those people.

Most of us have a beer or two that really strikes us when the mood hits. Personally, I love a great Scottish Ale, preferably a Scottish IPA or the odd liquor barrel aged variety, Innis & Gunn, I'm looking at you....and I'm thirsty.

Then there are just times when another flavor, style, whathaveyou isn't really what you're looking for, but it's what's available. That's usually when I drink an American Lager. Nah, who am I kidding? I love a good pisswater lager or seven.

Album Review: "Mass Confusion" by Dust Bolt

In many ways thrash is the subgenre of music which permanently put heavy metal on the map in the United States.  Sunset Strip glam metal was hugely popular and slightly preceded thrash.  However, many argue glam metal is not true metal and it has clearly fallen out of favor.  (I believe glam metal is true metal, it has never fallen out of my favor, and I continue to worship at its altar regularly, but realize it has its detractors).   

The Florida death metal scene was also an American contribution, and has a tremendously devoted fan base, but has failed to produce any genre transcending iconic bands.  

Thrash on the other hand, having hit its peak during the height of  American metal interest in the late 80, produced some of metal music’s few undeniably metal household names, such as Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer and Anthrax.  In addition, thrash has remained a viable genre, with new thrash albums blasting their way into our ears regularly.

Album Review: "The American Dream Died" by Agnostic Front

The American Dream Died

Time for some real talk about yours truly.

Whereas I've checked out a punk record or two and even a punk concert or two, I'm not what I'd consider to be a fan of punk rock.

I also really don't have a handle on what Hardcore is. I do have a pretty good grasp on Crossover....I think....

So, besides all of that, there's 16 year old me at the Metal Edge in July of 1992.

My cousins' friends, Crucible, are playing there opening for a band I'd  never heard of...Agnostic Front.

Hell, at the time I didn't even know what agnostic meant, but days were fuzzier back then.

It's only kind of fitting, since I've reviewed and interviewed a man I saw in concert that same week, that'd I'd be doing that again with another band I saw in concert back then.