Top Records of 2010

These records immeditatley stood out as my favorites over the past twelve months:

- Ash Pool, For He Who Plies the Lash CD/LP (Hospital)
- The Bastard Noise, A Culture of Monsters CD/LP (Deep Six)
- The Bastard Noise/The Endless Blockade, The Red List CD/LP (Deep Six/20 Buck Spin)
- Double Negative, DayDreamNation LP (Sorry State)
- Innumerable Forms, Dark Worship 7” (Hell Massacre)
- Pollution, Smut LP (c6 Recordings)
- Slaughter Strike, At Life’s End 12” (Cyclopean)
- Swans, My Father Will Guide Me Up a Rope to the Sky CD/LP (Young God)
- Unearthly Trance/The Endless Blockade – Split 12" (Chrome Peeler)
- Vegas Martyrs, Vancouver’s Missing Women CS (Hospital)

Also Noteworthy:
- Joshua Norton Cabal, Between Two Fires CS (Swim Harder)
- Rotten Sound, Scum CD+DVD/12” (Relapse)
- Slices, Cruisin’ LP (Iron Lung)
- Society Nurse, Society Nurse 7” (Iron Lung)
- Trap Them, Filth Rations 12”/CD/CS (Southern Lord, Quarantine House)
- Unearthly Trance, V (Relapse)
- Weekend Nachos, Bleed 12” EP (Relapse)

I had been looking forward to hearing some of these albums before their release, some hit me by surprise. Among the latter I"d say the Pollution LP (and their Drugs EP before it) was easily one of the best hardcore releases in recent memory.

Though Unearthly Trance (the NY doom outfit which gave birth to Pollution as a side-project) have been on my radar for a number of years already, I only really got into them after hearing their side of the split with The Endless Blockade and enjoyed their fifth full length pretty immensely, (even if it was on Relapse.) Same with the Weekend Nachos 12", though it was much more of a departure from the bands' usual fare (the band shifted from powerviolence influenced hardcore to Grief worship with more finesse than I could have possibly imagined, especially with a name like theirs.)

This fall I snagged a batch of cassettes for my distro from Hospital Productions, all of which were great, but the Vegas Martyrs cassette blew away what little material I'd previously heard from them and stood out as an immediate favorite among the lot. In a similar fashion the Innumerable Forms 7" (Justin/DFJ from Mind Eraser and pretty much every other band ever) was an unexpected rager. I had enjoyed the Deth Warr (Chris from Mind Eraser/Painkiller) demo when it came out, and expected something similar here (an overt hommage to Terrorizer, Repulsion, and early Napalm Death,) but Dark Worship shows more depth than 99% of the metal bands currently helmed by reformed hardcore kids (a FAR cry better than the shallow/uninspired attempts at metal by Nails, Black Breath, etc.) The I.F. 7" offers three tracks of largely Swedish influenced death in the vein of Crematory, Unleashed, Grave, Autsopsy, and Incantation. In a more directly Dismember and Clanestine-focused manner, Slaughter Strike's At Life's End 12" was also excellent beyond expectation, though I was less surprised (and no less impressed) having known the background of their members. Very much looking forward to hearing new material from both in 2011.

It should also be said that Swans' "comeback" album was worlds better than I thought it would be, and Gira & Co. easily pulled off the #1 spot for the best set I saw this year. Though I'm getting out less and less over the years, I also caught sets that still stand out by Moutheater, Druglord, Cough, Double Negative, and Ocean this year.

Even more new shit...

+ MIKE IX WILLIAMS – Southern Nihilism Front: “That's What the Obituary Said” b/w “Ten Suicides” (1st Press; /500 Yellow/Black Splatter) Chrome Peeler $9
+ THE ENDLESS BLOCKADE/UNEARTHLY TRANCE – Split 12” (1st Press; Black) Chrome Peeler $12
+ THE ENDLESS BLOCKADE/UNEARTHLY TRANCE – Split 12” (1st Press; Black) Chrome Peeler $12
+ THE ENDLESS BLOCKADE/UNEARTHLY TRANCE – Split 12” (1st Press; Black) Chrome Peeler $12
+ THE ENDLESS BLOCKADE/UNEARTHLY TRANCE – Split 12” (1st Press; Black) Chrome Peeler $12
+ MERZBOW/THE GUILT OF... - Split 12” (1st Press; Black) Chrome Peeler $11
+ MERZBOW/THE GUILT OF... - Split 12” (1st Press; Black) Chrome Peeler $11

The Mike Williams 7" is an EP featuring one new power-electronics song exclusive to this release and a song only released on CD-R demos in 2005 on yellow/black splattered vinyl. Strictly limited to 500 copies with 11x17" poster and all original Mike Williams (EyeHateGod, Outlaw Order, Arson Anthem, etc.) art.

The Guilt Of... is also the bastard son of Mr. Williams and his noise accomplice Ryan McKern. Layers of noise and intrument abuse building to a droning cacophony. Their split is shared with longtime king of the modern noise/power-electronics scene, Japan's Merzbow and his contribution, "Oh Lucy." Absolutely crushing.

NY's Unearhtly Trance offer up new school doom, countered by Toronto's Endless Blockade and their always interesting take on power-violence by means of near-grindcore drumming, power-electronics interludes and segues, and judgmental/jaded harcore and punk veteran lyrics. Much to the dismay of Ceremony and Mind Eraser fans everywhere, they have also included a cover of Slogun's "I Just Kill." Great fucking record.

Record Shopping

Scored some cool shit in Newport News last week. I went to Fantasy and American Oldies with a new friend, and in the same week got packages from Hear More and Deep Six, as well as some other random stuff. Pretty great week.



Cassette
GODFLESH - Merciless - Columbia/Earache (1994)

CD
AUTOPSY - Dead As Fuck (Live in '91+'93) - Necroharmonic (2004)
BASTARD NOISE/CHRISTIAN RENOU - Brainstorming (2002)
GLAZED BABY - Squeeze the Tail, Suck the Head EP - Allied (1993)
GLAZED BABY - Karmic Debt - Red Decibel (1994)
GLAZED BABY - Ancient Chinese Secret - Atomic Action (1996)
GLAZED BABY - Atomic Communists - Red Decibel (1996)
TWILIGHT - Twilight - Southern Lord (2005)
XASTHUR - Telepathic with the Deceased - Moribund Cult (2004)

7"
THE CANDYLAND CARCRASH/SERAPHIM - "A Rocket Trip to the Moon" Split 7" (Black) Small Craft Advisory
GLAZED BABY - Squeeze the Tail, Suck the Head 7" (Black) Allied
LOW THREAT PROFILE - Product #1 7" (Pre-Order; /100 Red) Deep Six/Draw Blank
PEDRO THE LION - God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen b/w Silent Night 7" (1st Press; /2000 Purple) Suicide Squeeze
PIG HEART TRANSPLANT/JUHYO - Split 7" (1st Press; #173/300 Black)


LP
THE BASTARD NOISE/THE ENDLESS BLOCKADE - "The Red List" Split 12" (Pre-Order; /100 Red) Deep Six/20 Buck Spin DAVID BOWIE - Let's Dance - EMI
THE POLICE - Outlandos d'Amour - A&M
LYLE LOVETT - Lyle Lovett and His Large Band - MCA
THORR'S HAMMER - Dommedagsnatt - Southern Lord
U2 - New Year's Day 12" (US Single) Island


Also grabbed more than a hundred new comics and have records on the way by Innumerable Forms, Middle America, Slices, and Society Nurse. Amped.

DISTRO SALE!

If you order anything from my distro before Midninght TOMORROW (Jan 1st, 2010), It's a buck off every 7" or CD, and $2 of LP's, and $3 off 2xLP's. Shoot me a message on facebook, text, or email (ryanaircraft@hotmail.com) and you've got dibs... If you're not in the Seven Cities I can mail out on Monday.

Order more and I'll knock more off. Shit is NEGOTIABLE here.

7”
ABOUT TO SNAP - s/t (Silk-Screened B-side) Specimen 32 $4
ABOUT TO SNAP - Already Dead (1st Press; Grey) A389 $4
AGAINST ME! - The Disco Before the Breakdown (4th Press; /440 Cherry) No Idea $5
AGAINST ME! - Sink, Florida, Sink/Unsubstantiated Rumors (3rd Press; /1000 Grey) No Idea $5
AGORAPHOBIC NOSEBLEED/THE ENDLESS BLOCKADE – Split 7” (1st Press; /500 Black) Relapse $7
ANNIHILATION TIME - Cosmic Unconsciousness EP (/300 Black w/ Green Silkscreen Cover) Tank Crimes $7
THE ASSAILANT – The Nurse EP (Picture Disc) Init $7
BLACK SHIPS – Low (Black) New Romance for Kids $5
BOOKBURNER - s/t (1st Press; /445 Clear) 16Oh $5
BRACEWAR – Whatever It Takes 7” (1st Press; /700 Black) TWGG $6.00
CRIME DESIRE - In Lucifer’s Grip (1st Press; Black) Life’s a Rape $5
DEATHCYCLE - s/t (1st Press; Black) 17 cm $3
THE DEDICATION - Youth Murder Anthems (1st Press: /848 Clear) Deathwish Inc. $4
DOUBLE NEGATIVE - Raw Energy EP (1st Press; /1500 on Clear/No Labels) Sorry State $5
DRAGNET - s/t (Black) Deadalive $3
EARLY MAN/RAMMER - Speed and Spikes: Vol. III (1st Press; /1000 Gold w/ Green Splatter) Relapse $5
FUCKED UP - Year of the Pig (1st Press; Black) Matador $5
FUCKED UP - Year of the Pig (1st Press; Black) Matador $5
GOOD CLEAN FUN - Who Shares Wins (Black) Phyte $2
GUILT TRIP – s/t (1st Press; Black) Absent
INK & DAGGER/LE SHOK – Split 7” (Initial) $5
INK & DAGGER – Experiments in Nocturnal Sound & Energy (Revelation) $5
HATRED SURGE/INSECT WARFARE – Split 7” (4th Press; /500 Minty Green Clear) RSR $6
HATRED SURGE/INSECT WARFARE – Split 7” (4th Press; /500 Minty Green Clear) RSR $6
INTEGRITY – Walpurgisnacht 7” (Black) A389 $6
THE LOCUST - s/t (5th Press; Clear Red/Black /1000) GSL $5
LOGIC PROBLEM – No Center 7” (Black) Grave Mistake $5
NEWGENICS - Every Girl in the World (Black) Level Plane (ex-In/Humanity/Guyana Punchline, Anakrid) $2
NEWGENICS - Eraser/Symbionistas (Black) Shock Value (ex-In/Humanity/Guyana Punchline, Anakrid) $2
NOTHING PERSONAL - s/t (1st Press; /300 Clear) Nightstick (MAKE AN OFFER)
OBLITERATION – This Is Tomorrow (N.I.T.A.) $5
OBLITERATION – This Is Tomorrow (N.I.T.A.) $5
PELLINORE - Memento Mori (1st Press; /325 Grey) Free Cake $5
POLAR BEAR CLUB – The Summer of George 7” (Bridge 9) $6
Q AND NOT U – Hot and Informed (Black) Dischord $5
RAMBO/CRUCIAL UNIT – “Sea of Steel, Vol. I” Split (Ed Walters) $5
THE RIVAL MOB – “Bitter Rivals” Demo 2007 (1st Press; 440 Black) Triple B/Troubled Mind $5
SEQUIOA - s/t (Black) $3
SPLITTING HEADACHE - s/t (1st Press; /500 Black) Collapse $4
STREETCLEANER - Mother Curse EP (Black) Give Praise $5
THIS FLOOD COVERS THE EARTH - Drawing a Line, Building a Wall (1st Press; /500 Lime/Black) Dood $4
UNBROKEN – Absentee Debate b/w Crushed On You 7” (Black) New Age $5
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? - Brutiful Fearing 6” (1st Press; /1200 on Black) Six Weeks $5
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? - Ahora Mas Que Nunca (1st Press; Black w/ Pop-Up Insert) Lengua Armada $5
WOLF WHISTLE – Demo 2007 (1st Press; /500 Black Ft, Sticker, Patch, & Button) Troubled Mind $7
WOLF WHISTLE – Demo 2007 (1st Press; /500 Black Ft, Sticker, Patch, & Button) Troubled Mind $7
V/A – No Bullshit, Vol. III 7” (Black) No Way $4.00 [ft. Life Trap, Socialcide, Double Negative, Out Cold, Acid Reflux, Chronic Seizure] $4
V/A – No Bullshit, Vol. IV 7” (Black) No Way $4.00 [ft. Citizens Patrol, Anti-You, Born Bad, Civic Progress, Logic Problem, Violent Arrest, Insomnio] $4
V/A - “People Don’t Take Photographs of Things They Want to Forget” (Clear Blue) Broken Press [TRANSISTOR TRANSISTOR, BACKSTABBERS INC, PURITY’S FAILURE, TRAP THEM & KILL THEM, ADVOCATE] $3
V/A – The South Will Rise Again 7” (Black) Cowabunga [ft. Bomber, HRT, Reason of Insanity, The PMRC, Cult Ritual, High Life, Ugly Law, Socialcide, Archaic] $5
V/A – The South Will Rise Again 7” (Black) Cowabunga [ft. Bomber, HRT, Reason of Insanity, The PMRC, Cult Ritual, High Life, Ugly Law, Socialcide, Archaic] $5

10”
GRAY GHOST - s/t (1st Press; /200 Green) Copper Lung $10
OIL – Electric Tongue EP (US Tour Press; #74/77 on Pink) Coalition $8
SEASICK - s/t (1st Press; /250 Yellow/Black Splatter) Brain Drain $10
THANK GOD/TIGERSHARK - Split (1st Press; /495 Black) Perpetual Motion Machine/Mol Sook/Tick Tock


12”
108 - A New Beat from a Dead Heart (2nd Press; Sealed) Deathwish Inc $12
ANTISCHISM - Still Life (Black) Prank $9
BARONESS/UNPERSONS – “A Grey Sigh in a Flower Husk” Split LP (At a Loss; Comes w/ Download Card) $20
BLACK BREATH – Razor to Oblivion (Black) Hot Mass $11
BLACK EYES – Cough (1st Press; Black) Dischord $6
BLANK STARE - s/t (US Press; Black) No Label $11
THE CATALYST - Marianas Trench (1st Press; /350 Blue w/ Silk-Screened B-Side) Perpetual Motion Machine $8
CAVE IN – Planets of Old 12” (Hydra Head) $19
COLISEUM - No Salvation (1st Press; Silver w/ White Splatter) Auxiliary/Relapse $16
DEAD NATION - Passing Phase (1st Press; /650 Black) Six Feet Under $10
DEATHCYCLE - s/t (1st press; /700 Clear) Lifeline/Chainsaw Safety/17cm $10
DFA - Defy False Authority (Black) Deep Six $8
DFA - Destined for Assimilation (Black) Ugly Pop $8
FU MANCHU - Return to Earth ’91-’93 (Sealed) Elastic $15
FUCKED UP – The Chemistry of Common Life 2xLP (1st Press; Sealed, 180g Black) Matador $23
FUCKED UP – Year of the Rat (1st Press; Black) What’s Your Rupture $12
GHOSTLIMB - s/t (1st press; /500 Black w/ B-Side Etching & Silk-Screened Cover) Vendetta/Adagio 830 $9
GHOSTLIMB - Bearing & Distance (1st Press; /800 Red) Adagio 830 $12
GRAF ORLOCK/GREYSKULL - Split (3rd Press; Clear w/ “Metal” Backpack) $10
INSECT WARFARE – One-Sided LP (1st Press; /1100 Black) 625 Thrashcore $12
IRON AGE – The Sleeping Eye 2xLP (Tee Pee) $19
ISIS – Wavering Radiant 2xLP (1st Press; Black) Ipecac $25
LORDS OF LIGHT - Electric Sun 12” (1st Press; Black) Studio Geordie $12
THE MINOR TIMES - Making Enemies (1st Press: /300 White or Red, Sealed) Level Plane $10
PAINT IT BLACK - New Lexicon (1st Press; /1180 White) Jade Tree/Rivalry $10
PANIC - Strength in Solitude (1st Press; /500 Black/Green Swirl) Bridge 9 $10
PIG DESTROYER – Terrifyer 2xLP (1st Press; /600 Black, 180g) Relapse $24
PUNCH – s/t LP (Six Two Five) $13
RAMMER - Suffer (1st Press; /1000 Black) Slasher [Ex-Chokeholdm Union of Uranus]
RUINER - I Heard These Dudes Are Assholes (1st Press; Sealed) Bridge 9 $10
SEASICK - Ouroboros (1st Press; /500 Black w/ Etched B-Side) Soul Rebel
SEX VID – Communal Living (1st Press; Black) Dom America $12
SOCIALCIDE - Unnapproachable (1st Press; Black) Kangaroo/Even Worse $11
SOME GIRLS - All My Friends Are Going Death (1st Press; Colored Vinyl, Sealed) Three One G $20
SOUL CONTROL - Involution (1st Press; /600 Red) Rivalry $10
SPLITTING HEADACHE – Night Terrors (1st Press; /300 Red) Collapse
TEAR IT UP - Just Can’t Stand It (Blue) Deranged $12
TOMBS - s/t (1st Press; /400 Black w/ CD) Level Plane/Black Box $14
TOMBS - Winter Hours (1st Press; /400 Brown) Relapse $17
TRAP THEM - Sleepwell Deconstructor (1st Press; /750 Black 180g) Trash Art $13
V/A - A Tribute to ANTI-CIMEX (1st Press; Black) Dead City / Pelea [ft. DRILLER KILLER, WOLFBRIGADE, DOOM, INEPSY, RATOS DE PORAO, NAILBITER, DISCLOSE, AVSKUM, SINERGIA, LOS REZIOS, WARCOLLAPSE, SCUM NOISE,DISKONTO, AUTONOMIA, BOXED IN, O ANJO EXTERMINADOR, CROSSING CHAOS, DETESTATION, DRASTIKA, VIIMEINEN KOLONNA, STRAIGHT TO HELL (Ex-Dropdead)] $6

CD
BELPHEGOR – Bondage Goat Zombie – Nuclear Blast $2
BEOWOLF - Lost My Head - I Scream $3
THE BLACK HAND – War Monger – Chainsaw Safety $5
COHEN, LEONARD – I’m Your Man (Soundtrack) Verve $3
CHAMPION/BETRAYED - Split - Rivalry $3
DAUGHTERS – Canada Songs – Robotic Empire $6
DAUGHTERS – Hell Songs – Hydra Head $2
DEATHCYCLE - Prelude to Tyranny - Lifeline $5
DOWN TO NOTHING - The Most - Revelation $6
THE ERGS - Hindsight is 20/20, My Friend - Dirtnap $11
FEIST – Let It Die – Polydor $5
FUCKED UP - The Chemistry of Common Life - Matador $12
GO IT ALONE/BLUE MONDAy - Split - Rivalry $3
GO IT ALONE - Histories - Rivalry $3
HOT CROSS - Fair Trades and Farewells - Level Plane $2
LAST LIGHTS – No Past. No Present. No Future. – Think Fast! $5
LIFE LONG TRAGEDY - Runaways - Deathwish Inc $5
MAXAMILLIAN COLBY – Discography – Lovitt $5
MENTAL – Get an Oxygen Tank – Bridge 9 $6
PART CHIMP – I Am Come – Monitor $2
PULLING TEETH – Paranoid Delusions/Paradise Illusions – Deathwish Inc. $8
Q AND NOT U – On Play Patterns – Dischord $2
RAMMING SPEED - Brainwreck - Teenage Disco Bloodbath $10
VERSE - From Anger and Rage - Rivalry $5
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? – Standfast Armageddon Justice Fighter – Sound Pollution $5
WITCHCRAFT BY A PICTURE - CD + Ouija Board (Magic Bullet) $5
YOU AND I - You & I - Alone $2
YOU AND I – The Curtain Falls – Level Plane $5
YOUNG WIDOWS - Old Wounds - Temporary Residence $14

DVD
GRAILS – Acid Rain – Temporary Residence Ltd. $17
SUCH HAWKS, SUCH HOUNDS: Scenes from the American Hard Rock Underground – Long Song Pictures $20 [ft. EARTHLESS, OM, SUNNO))), DEAD MEADOW, PENTAGRAM, THRONES, KYUSS, SLEEP, COMETS ON FIRE, etc.]

Feel free to repost..