Slam Spotlight Part 10

The guy not holding the axe is actually a very nice man

Alright guys, now that Slam Spotlight has reached double digits too, we're going all out for this one. It's a celebration, goddammit! Not only is this next band well-known (at least in brutal death circles), but it's kind of hard to even classify them solely as slam. In reality, they're more like slow, sludgy, old school brutal deathgrind, but they play some slams too, so for the purposes of this article we'll just call them slam. It's easier that way. Plus I've really been wanting to write an article about this band for a while now. The band in question is the Yonkers, New York horror-obsessed two-piece Mortician.

Although they've been together for over twenty years now, Mortician has managed to stay firmly rooted in the underground, one of the tr00est of the tr00, and this is most likely because their sound really hasn't changed from Day One. Their whole songwriting process has adhered to the following formula pretty much nonstop: horror movie audio intro, distorted-as-fuck bass riff, guitar comes in and follows riff a couple measures later, constant blasting from the drum machine, incomprehensible demonic growls, end. The lengths of the songs vary, and oftentimes the audio intros end up being longer than the songs themselves, but ninety-nine times out of a hundred this is how the structure is set up. Some people might call this monotonous and boring, whereas I would say if it ain't broke don't fix it. After I kicked them in the balls with my steel-toed boots, of course. Alright, now that you have that amusing visual in your head, sit back and enjoy the title track from the band's 1999 full length Chainsaw Dismemberment (the fifteenth track out of twenty-fucking-eight total, I might add). If you don't want to sit through the audio intro the song itself starts around the one minute mark, but why would you want to do that? The intro's creepy and awesome!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrH0qmiwFtE

Gnarly. Mortician haven't released anything in a few years, but I was lucky enough to see them live at the Hostile City Deathfest in Philly last summer, and they fucking killed it, so I know for a fact they're still active. Chainsaw Dismemberment and the rest of the band's discography is available through Relapse Records (damn they just keep popping up everywhere) and Redrum Records, if you liked what you heard be sure to add the rest to your collection, 'cause it's all pretty much the same thing. Which is AWESOME! Leave your thoughts in the comments.

-BK

Slam Spotlight Part 9

Backwards caps, crossed arms and a Fallen shirt... not a great sales pitch

Alrighty then, I've been saving this next band for a while now, but I believe the time is right. This band is another personal favorite of mine, without whom I would never have gotten into this genre. Ladies and dudes, all the way from Grand Rapids, Michigan, I am proud to present Gutted Out.

This band is very talented all around, but I believe what really sets them apart is their drumming, or more accurately their drum programming. Yes, they do use a drum machine, and it's fairly obvious just from listening to it, but rather than just using it as an overpriced metronome like many other bands, Gutted Out really uses it to further their sound. There are a lot of experimental, syncopated beats and fills that most people wouldn't think to try, and they end up working quite well. This was something I noticed right away when I had the good fortune to see them live a couple years ago, and coincidentally that show also marked my first time seeing Short Bus Pile Up (who made my second Best Albums of 2010 list). That one show piqued my interest in the entire slam genre, and since then I've never looked back. It is my hope that they will do the same for you now, so without further ado, from their incredibly underrated EP Amongst the Rotted, this is "Maggot Ridden Bowels".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpmYStEsbak
 
To my extreme sadness, Gutted Out has since then disbanded, and it's a damn shame because they really had something going. I truly think that if given the opportunity, they really could have made a name for themselves in the slam arena. Their music was well-written and their live show was an absolute blast, but I guess some things are just too good to be true. Well, at least we still have the memories, and we'll always have this one EP, which you should definitely pick up. Hopefully the other members will go on to do something else, then who knows. Ahh, to dream.... Oh well, leave your comments, and stay brutal everyone.

-The Baby Killer

Slam Spotlight Part 7

You know what they say about guys with big hands...

Since this is the next to last post of the week, I figured we should end things with a band that could honestly be featured in both this column and Shit Hardcore Kids Wish They Could Play. If you haven't heard of Manchester, UK gore fiends Ingested, then boy are you in for a treat.

I have heard people accuse Ingested of being trendy, and in turn I accused them of being mentally retarded. Unless of course I missed the memo that being trendy means having insanely fast and precise drumming that I still can't believe isn't played by a drum machine, playing chunky riffs when they're not slamming like pros and writing lyrics like "Regurgitate your own guts, blood and shit from anal cuts" and "Suffocate in anal vomit" (yeah, they like to talk about poop a lot). Yesterday's silly sex education video was trendy. Ingested, good people, is anything but. See for yourself with this song from their 2009 debut full length Surpassing the Boundaries of Human Suffering, entitled "Copremesis" (which is also a poop reference).


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGg7518B_lU

If that's trendy, then I will literally eat my own face. Surpassing the Boundaries of Human Suffering is out now via Siege of Amida and Candlelight Records, and the whole album is this freakin' good. Definitely add it to your library if and when you get the opportunity. If you have any other cool bands that you think are worth fapping over and should be included in Slam Spotlight, let us know in the comments section. Until then, stay brutal amigos.

-The Baby Killer

Slam Spotlight Part 6

You guys remember Cephalotripsy, right? Remember how I said the vocalist and drummer are in another really cool slam band? Well, uhhh... this is that band.

Condemned are everything you would expect from a band that's basically Cephalotripsy with two different guitarists. They have all the slams, puking gutturals and gory imagery of their sister band, but where these guys set themselves apart is they also have legitimate riffs. Cephalotripsy is pretty much all slam all the time, but Condemned's songwriting process actually puts the two guitarists to use. Throughout the album the songs switch sporadically between slow, chugging slams and breakneck speed blast beats and tremolo picking, all with a liberal application of pinch harmonics (for all you gee-tar players out there). This next video is from the band's 2007 full length Desecrate the Vile, and this song is particularly enjoyable because it has guest vocals from three other very talented vocalists, namely Levi Fuselier from Disgorge, Shawn Whitaker from Insidious Decrepancy/Viral Load and Sam Townsley from Parasitic, making for a huge, steaming pile of awesome. This little number is called "Chapter of Defilement".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOHV-aBY_7I

Desecrate the Vile is out now via Unique Leader Records, yet another solid underground death metal label. Condemned are also currently in studio recording their sophomore album in between the occasional gig or two, so be sure to keep an eye out for that in the near future, I'm sure I'll make a big stink about it here when it comes out. That's all for tonight, see you guys and gals tomorrow.

Fare thee well
-The Baby Killer

Slam Spotlight Part 5

Statistical fact: only 25% of the people in this picture actually saw the camera

Now that we've had this series going for a little while, I think it's high time I gave some props to a band that I actually sorta-kinda-somewhat know personally (translation: I saw them at a show in Delaware about a year ago and chatted with them and they're awesome and I stalk them on Facebook because I'm cool like that). Without these guys, I would never have gotten into slam, and I owe them big time for it, so everybody give it up for a band that is very near and dear to me: Fredericksburg, Virginia's own Short Bus Pile Up.

While these guys may not necessarily bring anything game-changing to the genre, they do have a very natural, organic sound, and all of the individual members are locked in with each other perfectly, resulting in insanely catchy riffs/slams and musicianship tighter than a camel's asshole in a sandstorm. Basically, they're nothing new, but they are damn good at what they do. I could drawl on about them until the cows come home, but I'll attempt to retain some of my machismo and just let you all see for yourselves. From their crushing new full length Repulsive Display of Human Upholstery, this is a little number called "Stench of Her Burning Flesh".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ow1-QDOxUY

Although they've been active for the better part of five years now, Short Bus just recently penned a deal with Sevared Records, and for those of you who don't know, this is a very good thing, because they're pretty much the Metal Blade of all things slam and/or brutal death.  These gentlemen should be proud to be on such a prestigious label, and subsequently Sevared should also be proud to have a very solid addition to their already stellar roster. If you liked what you heard here and are in their neck of the woods, Short Bus Pile Up is playing a show with Waking the Cadaver and Dysentery (another very good band that will definitely be featured in this column in the near future) on January 14th. Yeah I know, Waking the Cadaver is boring as hell, but their touring bassist is actually a good buddy of mine, and honestly I can think of way worse bands to open for, so get over there and show them some love. And if you can't make it, at least pick up the CD.

Hail Satan and stuff
-The Baby Killer

Slam Spotlight Part 4

Rejoice friends, for slam is officially no longer underground, thanks to San Diego powerhouse Pathology. This band is particularly noteworthy for two reasons: first, they have two ex-members of prominent death metal bands in their roster (ex-vocalist Matti Way founded Disgorge, and current drummer Dave Astor was Cattle Decapitation's original drummer), and second, they managed to score a deal with Victory Records for their newest album.

Questionable choice of label, yes, seeing as their labelmates include bands like Atreyu, A Day To Remember and Emmure, and when the signing was announced I was naturally worried that this meant they would lighten up and become another mainstream deathcore act. However, this couldn't be further from the truth. Rather than sell out, Pathology realized that with Victory behind them they had the means to devote a lot of time and money to crafting the best album they could, and by golly they did just that. The new album is just as jam packed with punishing slams, pounding drums and snarling gutturals as their last three, but with squeaky clean and crisp production value, and this video is a prime demonstration. From their newest album Legacy of the Ancients, I give you "Code Injection".


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34bd9D8f3XI

Man, money never sounded so good. Unfortunately, Pathology have been going through some tough times as of late, from a van accident cutting short their stint on the Nile tour, to vocalist Matti Way and guitarist Tim Tiszczenko quitting, forcing the band to find fill-ins for said Nile tour. Also, Dave Pastor announced via Facebook recently that the band is now self-managed, so obviously worries of qualms with the label are abound. Luckily, none of this seems to have slowed them down one bit, because Dave also said that a new permanent vocalist and guitarist would be announced within the week, and the band also has a summer 2011 tour booked with Enthroned and Destroyer 666 (see poster below), so don't count Pathology out just yet. Have a good night everyone, see you tomorrow.


-The Baby Killer

Slam Spotlight Part 3

Happy Monday, everyone. I hope you all had a brutal weekend, but on the off chance you didn't your Monday night sure as shit will be, because the next band in this series, as far as this writer is concerned, is the end all be all of slam. They need no introduction, because anybody who knows anything about slam (or death metal in general) has at least heard of the mighty Devourment.

Hailing from Dallas, Texas, these guys are considered to be the reigning kings of slam by fans the world over, and with good reason. They were one of the first bands to start playing the genre as we know it today, and they got it down right from the get-go. Gnarly riffs, crushingly heavy slams, fast and precise drumming (with absolutely no triggers), vocals that sound like a demon on nitrous, and lyrics that will make you feel like a terrible person just for reading them; Devourment have had these down pat since their very first album. They may not have actually been the first slam band, that honor goes to Pyaemia as far as I know, but they were without a doubt the first band to take it to the level it's at now, and I have yet to hear any band that tops their balls-out, effortless brutality.

So now that I've finished stroking their egos (for now), hold on to something as The Baby Killer and Mosh Rebellion give you a slightly lesser-known but still amazing track from their 2005 masterpiece, Butcher the Weak. Sit back and enjoy "Masturbating At the Slab", and while you're at it, tell me the 2:30 mark doesn't make you want to stage dive and attack the nearest living thing. I swear it gets me every single time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCwXXVlF3T8

So can you see now why I really, really like this band? I had the good fortune of seeing them on the Delaware stop of the California Blood Tour with Cattle Decapitation, Knights of the Abyss, Burning the Masses and  Son of Aurelius (as reviewed by King of Those Who Know), and will be seeing them again on Saturday with Vital Remains, Dying Fetus and motherfucking Cannibal Corpse in good old Philadelphia. Be sure to get your tickets to that tour if it's coming anywhere near you, and expect a full review of that show shortly thereafter. Until then stay tuned for new installments of Slam Spotlight, Shit Hardcore Kids Wish They Could Play, and articles from all the other writers.

Eat your veggies!
Baby Killer

Slam Spotlight Part 2

Hola mis amigos, The Baby Killer's back to give you more music that would probably make your grandparents disown you for listening to. Today's band is generally regarded as one of the ultimate modern slam bands, and not just by yours truly. The band in question is San Diego's own Cephalotripsy, and when it comes to slam, these guys deliver in spades.

The thing that sets Cephalotripsy apart from their peers is their attention to detail. They know that there are a multitude of slam bands out there that sound almost exactly the same, and they found a way to stay true to the standards of the genre but still stand out. From frontman Angel Ochoa's instantly recognizable gurgle to songwriting that allows every song to sound just a little bit different than the others, this band stands head and shoulders above the rest, and for good reason. They know what the fans love and expect from them, but at the same time they're clearly not afraid to experiment and fiddle around with different ideas, and it pays off beautifully. Take a look for yourself; from their critically acclaimed (aka Sergeant D.-acclaimed) 2007 full length "Uterovaginal Insertion of Extirpated Anomalies", we humbly present to you "Intracranial Butchery".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FETzddGq8oI

Sadly Cephalotripsy hasn't done much else since this, but not because they've broken up, but rather because all three members are keeping busy with their side projects. If you like what you heard, be sure to check out vocalist Angel Ochoa and drummer Forrest Stedt's side project Condemned (since it's basically Cephalotripsy 2), as well as Forrest's work in Texas gore masters Viral Load. Also guitarist Andres Guzman plays in Gortuary, another very talented slam band that will most likely get some exposure in this series in the future. Take care, and stay tuned for the new installments in this series as well as Shit Hardcore Kids Wish They Could Play very soon.

Sincerely,
The Killer of Babies

Slam Spotlight Part 1

Greetings, friends. We all know that there is a huge gap between hardcore kids and metalheads, but in recent years I have discovered that there is one genre in particular that both sides can somewhat agree on, and it's not deathcore, but rather a little something known as slam. The phrase "simple but effective" is a picture-perfect definition of slam; the music itself is almost always based around a rather simplistic groove, focusing more on the sludgy, catchy beats of the songs than the actual riffs, but at the same time it is unrelentingly heavy, brutal and any other adjective you can think of to describe top notch death metal. Case in point: Moscow, Russia's Abominable Putridity. 

These guys are among the modern slam elite, setting the standard for pretty much the entire genre. Catchy, toe-tapping, head-bobbing beats that both dancers and headbangers can get into? Check. Shamelessly gory lyrics burped out with practically incomprehensible guttural vocals? Got it. I could go on for paragraphs on end talking about how awesome they are, but why don't you just check them out for yourself. From their 2007 release "In the End of Human Existence", The Baby Killer and Mosh Rebellion give you "Blindfold Surgery".


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xeQN1hd7A6k

And there you have it folks, slam in a nutshell. Stay tuned for more videos like this, and for my second installment of "Shit Hardcore Kids Wish They Could Play" sometime soon. Until then, stay brutal, not br00tal, and be good to each other.

Love,
Teh Bby Kllr