Mixtape 98 - Exhumed

Here is the 98th installment of the Dreams of Consciousness podcast, featuring an interview with Matt Harvey of Exhumed.

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Listen on Stitcher Radio (Android/IOS)

Bandcamp Picks - Misery Index, Noisem, Berkowitz, Thetan

After an underwhelming last outing, Misery Index have returned (sort of) to form. Focusing on their knack for killer hooks (a vestigial remnant of their slam origins), Rituals of Power shows a more mature and musical side to the band - who can still bloody noses when they want to (as on "I Disavow", which was released as a 7" single last year). I miss the old Misery Index, who blew away most of their peers with their effortless blend of speed and musicianship; but this is still a damn enjoyable album. [$9.99]

Six years since their debut, with most of their line-up departing in the interim, Noisem arrive at their third album as a road-hardened trio. With Cease To Exist, the band keep things raucous, rarely pausing to catch a breath as they blitz from one power violence-inflected death metal song to another. Noisem may have lost most of their members, but they have yet to lose their rough edges. [$6.66]



Virginia's Berkowitz take deathgrind back to its filthy roots. On their debut World Gone To Shit, the band pair their straight forward guitar/drums assault with gurgling vocals that have all the sophistication of a backed up drain. Bring a plunger. [$6.66]



Opportunity is the B-side of crisis for Nashville duo Thetan, who chose to remain a bass and drum duo when they lost their guitarist. Abysmal is so abrasive that the extra strings are never missed, creating a racket that is as bleak as it is rumbley. Basses to break faces. [$6.66]

Bandcamp Picks: Skinless, Noisem, Cloud Rat, VHS

I've had a soft spot for Skinless since my college years, when I saw them live a few times promoting their first two albums. Only The Ruthless Remain sees the return of Sherwood Webber's guttural vocals, as well as the first appearance of second guitarist Dave "No Relation" Matthews. The band always had a knack for groove, and the production (by longtime engineer Brett Portzer) gives it free reign. Gone are the tampon lollipops and goofy intros; Skinless have grown up, and only death remains. [$8.99]

It's "second verse, same as the first" for DoC friends Noisem. Their sophomore album Blossoming Decay is the band doing what they do best: Gnarly death/thrash and go-for-broke power violence. This is the sound of pure unbridled fury; if you want to hear them sing some Miley, you'll have to go elsewhere. [$5]



Following the well-received Moksha, Cloud Rat seem poised for bigger things. Qliphoth shows the band isn't willing confine itself to one genre, combining grind with discordant Converge-ish hardcore, screamo and shoegaze. Another solid release from this under-rated band. The album is available as a "name your price" download.



Canadians VHS have an interesting concept, drawing as much inspiration from the direct to video horror movie culture of the Eighties and early Nineties as the death metal of the same period. Rewind or Die! should bring a smile to the face of anyone who spent a week-end bonding with friends over the dubious charms of Troma or Full Moon Features. Even the barebones production is a nice parallel to the limited budgets of classic B-horror. [The album is available for pre-order for $5.55 CAD].

Mixtape 11: Noisem

Mixtape 11: Noisem by Dreams Of Consciousness on Mixcloud

Here is the 11th installment of the Dreams of Consciousness podcast, featuring Noisem. My buddy Lucas is friends with the band, and was responsible for organizing the interview after their set at the Acheron. Our talk took place in the cozy confines of their van, with all the members present, plus Lucas, and members of Jarhead Fertilizer dropping in as well. It was pretty chaotic, to say the least.