G&P Review: Burning Ghats

Burning Ghats
Fool’s Gold
Self Released
The burning ghats of Varanasi are sacred sites for Indian Hindus. The crematory steps along the holy banks of the Ganges are the final farewell for your immolated loved ones.
The Burning Ghats of Vancouver is a quartet coming correct with a four song EP of be-Siege-d hardcore and chug-a-lug eddies colliding with desperate yelps that fall just short of articulate.
With longer songs than many of their peers, often in the three minute range, Burning Ghats take the time to completely develop their ideas musically while being mindful of not overstaying their welcome. With songs like “Ceremoniously Fuck You,” the band shows its often most comfortable working a mid-gear crush while “Speaking+’s” rangey reach lopes from hardcore rush through stomps and drones. If Chile had deployed “Missing Person’s” subterranean burrow sooner, they probably could have pulled those trapped miners back up to the sunlight a few weeks earlier.
It's here for your “pay what you want” consideration courtesy of Bandcamp, which means you have no excuse for not giving it a listen and, if the mood strikes you, throwing a couple of bucks at a promising young band.

Grindcore Bracketology: Quarterfinals 1

Some of you may have jumped the gun on voting, but that just shows you’re eager to get with it, which is a good thing. I happen to know that one of the more prominent musicians featured here happens to be lurking and enjoying the conversations (include your guess as to who in the comments for bonus awesome points), so bring your A game as things start getting serious. Here’s your next round of matchups. Have at it. You’ve got until Saturday.

North America
Pig Destroyer (1) v. Brutal Truth (4)
From a pure songwriting perspective, these two bands pretty much embody the pinnacle of contemporary grind songsmithery. But who does it better? Do you give the nod to Pig Destroyer’s acid art nightmares or Brutal Truth’s resurrection of one of the strongest legacies in grind (keeping in mind we’re only talking the current incarnation here).

Asia and Australia
Wormrot (1) v. The Kill (5)
Two explosive, violent bands with their sound set to (*ahem*) kill that both exploded out of the East. I had to build a special brace to hold up my jaw last year after Wormrot dropped it to the floor. Can The Kill’s likewise likeminded assault stave off Singapore’s finest?

Scandinavia
Rotten Sound (1) v. Gadget (4)
I have no clue who will win this matchup, but I do know the winner will be a master blaster. Both Rotten Sound and Gadget have a need for speed (though Gadget are also that exceptional grind band that can also master down tempo dirges). I’m pretty sure William Blackmun is at least partially robot. And Rotten Sound seem to be genetically engineering inhuman drummers on a secret farm somewhere in Lapland.

Continental Europe and the United Kingdom
Napalm Death (1) v. Attack of the Mad Axeman (6)
Napalm Death’s post-Earache era has been a revelation and reinvigoration of the band’s sound and legacy, reaching backwards to embrace many of the aspects that made the earlier incarnations legendary progenitors of grind while keeping them forward looking and modern. Will that revitalization stand up against a bunch of Germans in fuzzy animal costumes who grind like motherfuckers?

Demo-lition Derby: Super Mutant

Super Mutant
Demo
Grab your Gatling laser and mow down some deathclaws and mirelurks, there’s a Super Mutant in the vicinity. Unfortunately for them, right now their hardcore noise is rather Average Mutant. The songs are a blur of yelps and mediocre drumming, overwhelming the guitar and bass and making their songs faceless. It’s hard to tell how good the tunes might be when you can’t really hear the riffs.
But on the positive side, Super Mutant show flashes of knowing what they’re about. “Gallows” busts out an unexpected ’70s style arena rock solo and “Your America” nicks from Hendrix’s version of “The Star Spangled Banner.” Super Mutant also nail that creepy, reverbed vibe that eeried up the Bad Brains on a cover of “Banned in D.C.”But the death grunts are at odds with the overall punk vibe of the tune.
Super Mutant have that punk enthusiasm in spades; now they just need to set that to tape (or bytes) in a way that’s audible rather than muddled. This is one that could use another run through the studio and a few more hours being honed in the rehearsal space. Decide for yourself here.

Grindcore Bracketolgy: The 4-5 Winners, Quarterfinals Preview

*Just a quick clarification: voting is not yet open on the next matchups. This was just a quick update to let you know where things stand now that round 1 is over. Sorry if I didn't make that clear. Voting kicks off for realz next week. Don't worry. I'll make sure you know when to go.*

Mark it down. Round one is in the books and here’s what you had to say about the 4-5 faceoffs. I don’t envy you guys having to pick between some of these.

North America
Total Fucking Destruction? More like totally fucking blown out. In a Hoak on Hoak matchup, Brutal Truth’s legacy and evolutionary revolution powered them to decimating 12-1 whuppin’.

Asia and Australia
With plenty of abstentions, The Kill strangulated Agents of Abhorrence to claim the Land of Oz crown by 5-3.

Scandinavia
With Crowpath’s status as tr00 grind called into question, Gadget ground the competition under foot. Their sleek take on the traditional Scandinavian sound claimed a 10-3 triumph.

Continental Europe and the United Kingdom
I don’t envy you having to vote on this one at all. Of all the matchups, this is the one I would have had the hardest time calling. In a narrow decision, conquistadors Nashgul lorded it over countrymen Looking for an Answer 7-5.

So after reseeding the survivors, here’s how the next bout of matchups will stack up. Thanks to your thoughtful participation, we’re looking forward to some real headscratchers. As always, you can view the brackets here.

North America
Pig Destroyer (1) v. Brutal Truth (4)
GridLink(2) v. Kill the Client (3)

Asia and Australia
Wormrot (1) v. The Kill (5)
324 (2) v. Magnicide (3)

Scandinavia
Rotten Sound (1) v. Gadget (4)
Sayyadina (2) v. Afgrund (3)

Continental Europe and the United Kingdom
Napalm Death (1) v. Attack of the Mad Axeman (6)
Blood I Bleed (2) v. Nashgul (5)

G&P Review: Rehumanize

Rehumanize
Grindocalypse
Self Released
Grindocalypse, Rehumanize’s final revelation (those of you fluent in ancient Greek should find that hysterical) is unfortunately a bit of a mixed bag for a farewell platter. Not as consistent as Resident Apostasy, some of the 20 songs could have benefited for a few more hours of woodshedding. Some songs like “Extreme Prophetic Nightmare” or the 20 second, one dimensional “End!” are more like armatures of songs that have yet to be fleshed out, at times rickety skeletons of blasts and yelps that have yet to coalesce into something more memorable.
But when the duo clicks, things are familiarly crushing, seeding their grind with just enough death to add some piquancy to their performance. The three minute opener “Not Even One” is probably the best of the lot with a nice parfait of blasting adrenaline and shifting, mercurial tension. “Obligated to Suffer” also has a nice locomotive propulsion behind its groove.
There are fewer samples this outing, which may make it easier for heathens to give Rehumanize’s Christianity a go. In fact, the band spends as much time dealing with mental health as they do the spiritual sort. Adding an interesting element to their expected evangelism, Grindocalypse delves the depths of depression and mental illness. Not in metal’s typical “I’m so crazy and dangerous” kind of baloney, but rather in a realistic, confessional manner that exudes the honest mental anguish that can come from psychological trauma. Turns out Hell is not just a place; it’s also a state of mind.
The band is giving the album away here.

Grindcore Bracketology: The 3-6 Winners

The first round is coming to a close with the final victors to be announced Thursday. Meanwhile, here’s who you thought ruled the 3-6 bracket. Finally, you guys delivered an upset. Who’s hitting the showers early? Read on to find out.

North America
Kill the Client may wanna consider changing their moniker to Kill Graf Orlock. The cine-grinders got blown out by a score of 19-2. Kill the Client will get a chance to escalate the hostility in round two.

Asia and Australia
There’s something festering in the water in Singapore. Magnicide’s 324 worship cut across Unholy Grave’s black wings by a vote of 8-5.

Scandinavia
In probably the most fiercely argued matchup of the round, Afgrund partisans narrowly won a rear guard action against up and comers The Arson Project by 7-5.

Continental Europe and the United Kingdom
Finally an upset! Sixth ranked Attack of the Mad Axeman's animal magnetism won out over Poles Suffering Mind’s traditional grindcore by 8-5.


The 4-5 winners will come on Thursday and the reseeded matchups for round two will kick off again Monday. As always, the updated bracket can be perused here.

Demo-lition Derby: Colombian Necktie

Columbian Necktie
Demo
Thrashy power violence outfit, Colombian Necktie by their own admission on “Black Ash” have “empty pockets and a worn out concept of hope.” They also have a pretty tidy three song EP of “negative metal” that swings enough fat bottom to spring Sir Mix-a-lot’s anaconda. Working the well-worn groove hollowed out by Trap Them and, at times, Converge with a few thrashy inflections, Colombian Necktie are a band I could see growing into something more well rounded given time and a budget.
The aforementioned “Black Ash” crosses Séance Prime with hints of Petitioning the Empty Sky, riding a triumphant riff through its second half that cribs from a young Kurt Ballou. “In Your Absence’s” yowling vocals give way to a coruscated flash of guitar soloing that slinkees its way through the song. “Moris Code” [sic] is a by the numbers speed freak to close out.
For now Colombian Necktie’s influences are a tad obvious, but they do their thing well enough. Check it out here.