A389 2012 sampler

[larvtard]

A389 Records is probably my favorite record label in the business today. They are of course very well-known for their contributions to the budding crusty hardcore scene, but also the powerviolence and beatdown-hardcore scenes too.

Though if this free sampler is any indication, A389 are not comfortable with one niche, and that deserves mad respect. There's a bunch of kick-ass stoner jams on here but also some really weird-ass shit, like gothic deathrock/post-punk shit.

Anyway A389 is offering a 25% discount to anything on their webstore if you post a track-by-track review of the sampler on a message board and blog, and link them to the review, so here goes:

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A389 MMXII DIGITAL MIXTAPE/SAMPLER
^click the fucking link to DL or stream the mixtape


Seven Sisters of Sleep - “Slower Downer”

To generalize for a second: Most of A389's bands are crusty hardcore bands who alternate between fast parts and sludgy parts. This entire song is just a slow, sludgy part. I don't know if their other songs are faster, though. Probably.

Countdown to Oblivion - “Poster Children for Family Values”

The first time I heard this band a couple months ago, I fell in love. I still need to get that discography of theirs! To put a tag on these guys would be so demeaning, because they are one of the most unique hardcore bands I've heard.

Ilsa - “Deadbeat's Ballad”

Like SsoS, this entire song is pretty much a slow, sludgy part. But if I recall correctly, don't Ilsa play death-doom? Eh, whatever, I get doom and sludge confused all the time. Either way, that's irrelavent – this song is great. They kinda sound like Landmine Marathon, too.

Ringworm - “Leviathon”

Love Ringworm! These guys are fucking ESSENTIAL in thrashy hardcore. Anyway, this must be a new song, because I haven't heard it before. Gonna try to see these dudes this summer with Everything Went Black, stoked.

Homewrecker - “Worms and Dirt”

According to my extensive research, Homewrecker was formed in 2006... Jane Doe was released in 2001... as far as I'm concerned these two things are not mere coincidences. Anyway, this song is cool.

Like Rats - “Fire”

Riff is so damn groovy, I love it. Blackened vocals make this even more interesting. The breakdown at 1:51 is menacing... Riff at 2:08 is SICK.
Definite Goatwhore vibe to this sludgy powerviolence song.

Children of God - “Desolate”

Typical crusty grind/hardcore song until the super-sludgy (and incredibly well-done) breakdown at 1:01 (which lasts until 2:47).

The Guilt of.. - “Social Recall Rewind”

Ominous intro until the black metal comes in at :48... but it's extremely lo-fi and excessively drony/experimental. I get a PxDx vibe from the tortured vocals. I haven't really heard electronics being put into black metal before, so this is new to me. Simply terrifying, like an evil presence is looming over me... I wouldn't listen to this again but then again I couldn't watch a horror movie for the life of me...

Anne - “Virginal Plight”

Hey, this is different! I actually really dig this... I love putting genre-tags on music, it helps me feel better about it, but I couldn't put a tag on this because I haven't really listened to anything quite like this... I suppose I hear some My Bloody Valentine with some goth undertones; even kinda reminds me of deathrock. I'm sure this is good music for tripping on DXM.

Pulling Teeth - “Lightning Strikes Twice”

I've listened to some Pulling Teeth in the past... I don't remember what album it was, either Martyr Immortal or Paranoid Delusions, but the first song RIPPED... and then it was either the second or third song that made me turn away in disgust. Yeah, this band is pretty random. “Lightning Strikes Twice” is a typical thrashy metallic hardcore song in the vein of Ringworm, very well done may I add with some blackened undertones, but then there's this riff at :58 that just comes out of NOWHERE...absolutely goddamn amazing.

Young and In the Way - “Death is Eager to Hold You”

No kidding, these guys are actually one of my favorite bands at the moment!! The album that this song is from, I Am Not What I Am, is by far my favorite release from them, a Blackened Crust masterpiece, so get that shit immediately. These guys seriously put out some of the most tortured music available today...

Junior Bruce - “Lt. Fury”

Sounds like pretty macho stoner rock to me, which I am not a huge fan of, so I cannot attest to the quality of this... however, I will say that solo is pretty freakin' sweet.

God's America - “Brain Numb”

Typical powerviolence, very lo-fi... not bad, though; I'd just have to hear it in the context of an album, y'know?

The Love Below - “Buyer's Remorse”

Really cool hardcore song. I think I hear some noise-rock in the first 41 seconds, then suddenly it gets really fast and thrashy, then slow again at :59 (awesome breakdown here). Gotta say the vocals are the favorite part; they are extremely whiny but I love the sense of urgency to them.

Empire of Rats - “Untitled”

Normally I dislike beatdown hardcore, but this band is pretty sludgy and crusty by the sounds of it. Either way, they make it interesting. Absolutely love the main riff, cool breakdown as well.

Shin to Shin - “Don't Lose Your Way”

Pretty generic beatdown hardcore. It's okay; like I said, I'm not a huge fan of this genre. Vocalist sounds llike a wigger, surprise!

Sick Fix - “Boudica”

Sounds like typical powerviolence but that's cool. Wait...is that a chick singing? Oh shit, it is. No sexism implied, I just think it's weird when women are vocalists of heavy music (or hell, music in general...) Doesn't sound right to me, haha.

Kill Life (w/ Mike IX) - “Dead End America (excerpt)”

Another sludgy pv song...

Enforcers - “All I Am”

Oh hey, Terror!

Pleasant Living - “All I Ever Loved”

I can tell this is hardcore, but I swear I've heard this before somewhere...GODDAMMIT I hate when I can't think. I KNOW I've heard this somewhere before. Fuck fuck fuck.

Gravehill - “Death Knell”

Hey, I know Gravehill... Don't really listen to this type of music much anymore but I dig the mid-paced swagger. There's also a fast part which is pretty cool. Very Satanic.

Cynarae - “Prescribed Burn”

This is the first song I find myself unable to put a genre-tag on. Or maybe I've just been listening to this mixtape for too long today... Cynarae are from Tacoma, Washington, which is where Owen Hart (now Earth Control) is from, so I'm gonna make like a lazy journalist and say Cynarae sound like Earth Control.

Triac - “Child Thief”

Triac is a pretty famous powerviolence band, no? Honestly not a huge fan of their style of pv, a little too lo-fi for my tastes I suppose.

Thee High Priestess - “Ekstasis”

Erm... I don't know what the fuck is going on here. Some audio samples over lightly experimental noise? I'm not one to judge other peoples' music tastes but I am sorta bewildered here – do people actually enjoy listening to this? Maybe it's just this song, but there's barely anything even going on...

NOTHING - “Downward Years to Come”

Well, this is weird... The only point of reference I have here is My Bloody Valentine (especially in the vocals) but the band mentions alternative, shoegaze, physchadelica, indie, and slowdive. Can't say I really enjoyed this. I feel too disattached from this, if that makes sense.

Rot In Hell - “Heraclitus”

The fact that this metallic hardcore band recorded an acoustic song doesn't bother me (on the contrary, I LOVE it), but rather what confuses me is why A389 would represent Rot In Hell on their mixtape with a song that doesn't even sound like their other songs. But hey, I'm not complaining...

Unholy Majesty - “Age of Affliction”

First thing I thought of when looking at the name was the Canadian brutal-thrash band Infernal Majesty. The intro of “Age of Affliction” had me confused for a while but as it turns out, Unholy Majesty do play thrashy hardcore, so it all works out!
Also, this is really good. Like, um, really, really good.

Integrity - “Kingdom of Heaven”

Well, of course Integrity needs no introduction; they are a very well-known hxc band. I've actually never really gotten into these guys, though. I couldn't really lay down a particular reason, either - it is what it is.

Gehenna - “Disciple In My Own Image”

Well, these guys don't need an introduction, either; from what I've heard, they are a legendary blackened hardcore band. I've never listened to them before this song, though... and honestly I can't really say I regret doing so. Way too lo-fi for my tastes and seems a little too raw...like, I don't know what the fuck is going on.

Low Places - “Struggle to Exist”

FUCK! These guys have been on my queue of bands to listen to for quite a while now...think I'm gonna have to push these guys up to the top. I am loving what I'm hearing here.

Pharoah - “This House Is Doomed”

Man, this is just over the fucking top... At the core you have doom, but it's noisy, it's blackened, it's sludgy... it's just fuckin' terrifying. Or something. And it goes on for 7 minutes. Yeah... I've never understood why people like music this misanthropic, this anti-music... but I'm not one to judge, we're all fucked-up in our different way

Full of Hell - “The Lonely Path of the Cestoda”

I love Full of Hell!! This band absolutely kills... they sorta fall into the whole “Entombed-core” scene but they're not as Entombed-influenced as their peers, they're just really sludgy, crusty, grindy hardcore with a thick layer of drone and noise....they slay live, too. This must be a new song? It's killer stuff as always!

Vilipend - “Cutting Heartstrings”

OMG I LOVE THIS

Ancient Shores - “Sinking Ships”

These vocals are so in-your-face, I love it. Music's not bad, either. Very chaotic. You know the deal...

Pale Creation - “Day of Destruct”

This is a really cool variation off the typical beatdown hxc song. I'm digging it...

Chapelle Des Mortes - “Blood Stained In White Lace”

I—what?
...okay, listening with an open mind, it's not bad... I still wouldn't listen to it recreationally or anything, but it's certainly interesting...
All I can say is that this is far from the first thing that comes to mind when I think A389...
damn...

Virgin Witch - “Nail of Dicara”

Straight-up doom (even with tortured vocals) is not my bag. Thus, these guys tend to bore me. Sorry I couldn't provide more input here :/

Pick Your Side - “Not A Fan”

It's fine, it's hardcore, it's just nothing I haven't heard before.

Eddie Brock - “Demoralizing Banter”

These guys are a well-known powerviolence band, no? Can't say it really caught my interest, but eh, it is what it is.

Penetration Panthers - “Perpetual 80's”

Yeah, this isn't bad. Brings me back to the 80's (maybe why the song is called as such?) Obvious lo-fi sound, some goth undertones too. Wouldn't listen again, but I'm sure they have their fanbase.

Day of Mourning - “Bitter Taste of Every Murder”

SHIT!! Back to the thrashy, metallic hardcore, I see... but is that black metal I hear?? Hell, man... I just really dig this track.

Withdrawal - “Shapeshifter”

I love Withdrawal! Great live band, too. I have a shirt from these dudes and I wear it proudly. Not gonna describe the sound... just listen and fall in love.

Trapped Under Ice - "Death Clock Ticking"

These guys are pretty fucking rad for a beatdown band. Vocalist doesn't give off too bad of a wigger vibe, he just sounds like a pissed-off suburban teenager with raging hormones. I like the riffs and breakdowns.

In Cold Blood - "Straight Flush"

Started off as a lame beatdown song but that riff that comes in at :15 just made my mouth go agape. Just fucking wow, man. Wow. Fast part kicks in – it's bomb. I should really look into this band.

Mindsnare - "Gather to Decompose"

These vocals are fuckin' tortured – like a thrash singer's balls were being strangled around his throat, or something. But the music's actually really, really good, too. This is some absolutely fucking killer thrash. No kidding - I actually really, really dig this song. Thrash is my fav genre after all, so it's refreshing when I hear some GOOD thrash for once. This hits the spot, and more....

Astronomer - “Mud Witch”

Some rad stoner jams here, bit of a hxc vibe... Good shit. Not really my bag, but that aside I can still easily tell it's good stuff all the same.

Masakari - “Fight Back (Discharge cover)”

Well I don't really like Discharge, but I love Masakari, haha. This is a cool song though.

Wisdom in Chains - “Snakes”

Aren't these guys real popular in the scene today? Not a huge fan of this. It's decent thrashy hardcore but there's too much of a 80's hxc vibe here for me to enjoy it. Not that there's anything wrong with 80's hardcore or anything, I just liked it better in the 80's, haha.

Mighty Sphincter - “Holy Unholy”

um...what? ….da fuck?!
Yeah, I honestly can't say I've heard anything like this before, haha. I looked up their Last.fm profile and here are their top five genres: deathrock, gothic rock, post-punk, goth, 80's.
Well, there ya have it folks – if you like those types of genres, especially in combination with each other, this would probably be up your alley. I know it's not anywhere up mine.

Earthride - “Something Wicked”

Well, this is stoner all right! Definitely heard those vocals before. Probably from another stoner band, lol.
Seems interesting enough, I guess. They have a sick doom part (the chorus) to break up the stoner jamz (the verses) so that's cool.

Hatewaves - “No Friends”

I seriously think this is the first legitimate grind song I've heard on this mixtape! Anyway, I love grind. This is really good grind. No, but seriously – this is actually really good. Trust me. Do it.

Vermapyre - “Return of the Sorcerer”

Pretty fucking lo-fi shit right here! These guys just sound like straight-up punk to me. Yeah, this isn't too bad.

[jd091]

Great thread, man! Wish more people would see this. I need to go through more of these bands; I only know like half of them.

[treghet]

Originally Posted by larvtard

Children of God - “Desolate”

Typical crusty grind/hardcore song until the super-sludgy (and incredibly well-done) breakdown at 1:01 (which lasts until 2:47).

Young and In the Way - “Death is Eager to Hold You”

No kidding, these guys are actually one of my favorite bands at the moment!! The album that this song is from, I Am Not What I Am, is by far my favorite release from them, a Blackened Crust masterpiece, so get that shit immediately. These guys seriously put out some of the most tortured music available today...

Empire of Rats - “Untitled”

Normally I dislike beatdown hardcore, but this band is pretty sludgy and crusty by the sounds of it. Either way, they make it interesting. Absolutely love the main riff, cool breakdown as well.

Pale Creation - “Day of Destruct”

This is a really cool variation off the typical beatdown hxc song. I'm digging it...

Day of Mourning - “Bitter Taste of Every Murder”

SHIT!! Back to the thrashy, metallic hardcore, I see... but is that black metal I hear?? Hell, man... I just really dig this track.

Withdrawal - “Shapeshifter”

I love Withdrawal! Great live band, too. I have a shirt from these dudes and I wear it proudly. Not gonna describe the sound... just listen and fall in love.

In Cold Blood - "Straight Flush"

Started off as a lame beatdown song but that riff that comes in at :15 just made my mouth go agape. Just fucking wow, man. Wow. Fast part kicks in – it's bomb. I should really look into this band.

Mindsnare - "Gather to Decompose"

These vocals are fuckin' tortured – like a thrash singer's balls were being strangled around his throat, or something. But the music's actually really, really good, too. This is some absolutely fucking killer thrash. No kidding - I actually really, really dig this song. Thrash is my fav genre after all, so it's refreshing when I hear some GOOD thrash for once. This hits the spot, and more....

Wisdom in Chains - “Snakes”

Aren't these guys real popular in the scene today? Not a huge fan of this. It's decent thrashy hardcore but there's too much of a 80's hxc vibe here for me to enjoy it. Not that there's anything wrong with 80's hardcore or anything, I just liked it better in the 80's, haha.

Hatewaves - “No Friends”

I seriously think this is the first legitimate grind song I've heard on this mixtape! Anyway, I love grind. This is really good grind. No, but seriously – this is actually really good. Trust me. Do it.

These all sound interesting to me from the descriptions. Some of them I've been meaning to check out for a while actually.

[John The Drummer]

Gravehill, yes! Those guys are awesome.