Get Fucked Up

Two of California's most vile team up for a two song split that both melts faces and crushes skulls. This is an absolute win-win situation; Gehenna brings a solid, thrashy number to the table whilst California Love has a two minute power-violence attack. The band's truly compliment each other - both playing a style of negative, misanthropic hardcore with Black/Death Metal influences.

The Infamous Gehenna contribute "Get Fucked Up", a savage track that is probably the band's biggest thrasher. Compared to their most recent tracks - the Blind To Faith split and the 7.17 comp - this is the polar opposite. While the last three tracks have a psychedelic witch-house feel, this would easily fit in on "Negotium Parambulans In Tenebris" LP. Even with the driving, repetitious guitar, "Get Fucked Up" is oddly catchy - not in the sense of bubblegum pop or anything but I've caught myself humming it a couple times at work. It's like I said about their 7.17 track "I'll Always Say Forever": If this is the material on the upcoming LP, it's going to slay.

On the flip-side, California Love gives the world "Feurersturm" (The German word for "Fire Storm"), a two minute epic that sounds like it was recorded in a paper bag. It's long for a C/L but completely fits in with their other material. "Feurersturm" still has that infamous "power-violence" sound yet in this recording, there is an undeniable early Death Metal sound that is refreshing. Lyrically it's the same: humanity is the devil and shall be exterminated. Even when they're at their most simplest, California Love head and shoulders above 97% of hardcore. "Feurersturm" is from the same gnarly session as the "Post Mortem Emanations" - it doesn't feel like a b-side but an act of psy-warfare. That opening is just fucking intense and reminds me of an old Bad Brains track, "The Big Takeover". It builds and builds and builds then just explodes.

A389 released this in 2010 (It seems weird not to say earlier this year) in two different variations: red vinyl - this was limited to the pre-order package that included the excellent "Hope Guzzo Bootleg" - and black vinyl - the common version. The covers and inside pages are plain, something that I like; I compare it to something like the Caulfield LP or Gehenna's "Lands Of Sodom" EP where all the attention is directed to the slab of vinyl instead of a flashy insert or artwork. From what I've gathered, this record took a while to finally see the light. Apparently, Relapse was going to release it but in the end things didn't fall through. Fast-forward a bit and A389 unleashes something vile and heinous.

I was able to score the test press via A389's wallet-destroying 24hr Test Press sale on Halloween. The cover is much more morbid and would seem right at home with the bands' other releases. Truth be told, I prefer it to the regular version.

This is still available from many distros. Do your self a favor and pick it up. One of the best releases in 2010 without a doubt.

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Check out my review of Ironwood's new album "Storm Over Sea" over at Halifax Collect. While you're there, take a glance at the Top Ten lists. Some great tunes involved.

Deathlust

You either love or hate Kickback. There is no middle ground. Hailing from France, the band has been spreading its message of violence, decay, and Marquis De Sade themes since the early nineties and "No Surrender" is their latest full-length. Ignoring Kickback's controversial history for a moment, this effort is what negative hardcore should be: aggressive and out for blood.

Whereas bands like California Love and Gehenna prefer short, misanthropic assaults, Kickback puts out jams that can range past the five minute mark. Musically, this is like a continuation of "Les 150 Passions Meurtrieres", meaning it has a little more of a Black Metal tinge rather than NYHC. I read an interview that explained the change - the new guitarist has a history with BM (To be clear though, BM has always been an influence on the material, at least to my ears). The assaults may be longer, but they still pack the same punch as C/L does. Even with the longer numbers, there isn't that usual repetitious feel; they keep the listener engaged and uncomfortable.

"No Surrender" powers through eleven tracks in thirty-seven minutes but I cannot help but want more. There's a new full length on the horizon - a two year gap is much better than ten for sure. In the mean time, revisit the band's catalog for some serious metallic hardcore with hate and perversion.

I never really checked out the band until I heard the guest vocals on the Blind To Faith split and for a while I couldn't get past them. They were screechy and at first seemed out of place with the rest of the band. After a couple of listens to "Forever War", I was completely swayed and have never looked back.

The new material is going to slay. As a side note, this was - to my knowledge - only released on CD, which is a momentary bummer. GSR still has this in stock along with some gnarly shirts and hoodies. Support a good band.

Stumble To Failure

"Reaping The Whirlwind: is California Love's second 12" but like the Low Profile Threat record, it's short as hell. While the length of time may be a bummer, the content is top notch. The sound can easily be described as a mix of Infest and Gehenna; you get the intensity of the former and the negative, misanthropic black metal tinged latter (This recording doesn't have too much of a black metal influence but C/L's final output "Post Mortem Emanations" does.).

The biggest surprise to me was the simple fact a label like Youth Attack! released this monster; Youth Attack! is respectable and has worked with bands like Ruination and The Repos but this - "RTW" - doesn't fit their usual criteria. In any case, this was also released by the band on their Cali Love label.

Ten to one if I've talked to someone about music, California Love has been mentioned. It's a violent, take-no-prisoners style that many attempt but few excel. A Gehenna quote comes to mind: "Our songs are about real fighting. Fighting is violent, brutal, calculated, and unmerciful. Not just fighting with your fists, or with guns, or with knives, but fighting with every fiber of your existence. These fights are everywhere... On the streets, against yourself, mental, legal, spiritual, or financial, wars. Every living thing is fighting an unending battle." Lyrically, the band doesn't push the boundaries nor are they overtly poetic but they're brutally honest.

Tracks like the closing "Wolf Feast" are just negative assaults on humanity and document the simple fact that life is a war. The usual topics are discussed; misanthropic and apathetic humans, religion, and failure. For example, "Of Flesh": "Mankind surrounds me - can't stand the sight - your voices disgust me - worthless lumps of flesh - always around me - suffocating - feelings violent urge - fuck your life." In under a hundred words, you're painted a bleak outlook that is sure to ruin your day.

I've seen this band described as grindcore, hardcore, power-violence, death metal - pretty much every name under the sun - but to me only one name stands out: Negative Hardcore. Whilst Gehenna's lyrics are more abstract at times, both bands share the same outlook and the same sound, It's no mistake that there is a split between them (A389 still has some in stock), a record I'm positive will appear here.

As I mentioned above, Youth Attack! and Cali Love released "Reaping The Whirlwind" back in 2008. I've been able to track down a handful of variations:

/100 Green Vinyl w/ Silk Screen Cover
/100 Purple Vinyl w/ Silk Screen Cover
/500 Green Vinyl w/ Regular Cover
/500 Purple Vinyl w/ Regular Cover
/? Gray Vinyl w/ Regular Cover (This is a transition color so I have no idea on the pressing info)

While California Love released the flawless "Can't Waste Death" 12", I have to admit that this is my favorite record by them. "Reaping The Whirlwind" is the perfect album for Winter. Take a seat and embrace the hate.