Mortician - Zombie Apocalypse (Relapse, 1998)

Just gripped my own copy of this sick gatefold vinyl EP re-issue. Classic brutal death metal that contains just as many horror film audio clips as it does music. You'll hear "Night of the Living Dead", "Hellraiser", "Children of the Corn" and more. This is particularly nerdy cult material that will make you feel young again. Definitely worth eighteen bones, as it comes on blue marbled vinyl and a huge poster of the album cover. Do it!



Get the EP HERE

Systems - Ghost Medicine (Self-released, 2011)

Systems' sound is difficult to peg. One could easily tag them with a dozen different sub-genres when discussing elements and influences. At the very least, they are a technically proficient experimental metal band. Traditionally, the elements combined on this album would be considered disparate. The magic lies in the way these guys manage to intertwine everything, giving it a natural fluidity, and managing to keep the listener's attention throughout.

This is a North Carolina band that emanates the sounds of French post-metal from the last decade, a la Overmars or some incarnation of the infamous Neige (Alcest, Amesoeurs, etc.). Equally present are the tried and true sounds of Neurot, thrash, hardcore, and death metal. The music is all rounded out with a hybrid of black metal growling vocals and baritone singing.

Nothing is contrived here. Nothing is innocuous. Ghost Medicine is a masterfully executed narrative of melancholy, beauty and brutality, an original album with brilliant production.

Buy the LP / digital album HERE

And if you're in Asheville, NC October 30, see them perform live at The Get Down alongside Black Skies, Hull and Mortals.

Winter - Into Darkness (Future Shock, 1990)

Quite disturbing, bleak and creepy, this New York Death / Doom Metal band released this highly influential ep that didn't see much success at the time but went on to make an impact on bands like Sunn O)) and Unearthly Trance. They took their name from an Amebix song and didn't produce much more than another mediocre follow up in '94 but this stands the test of time. Into Darkness is slow and crushing. I dare you to disapprove.

This link contains the ep with bonus tracks

Baptists- S/T (Southern Lord, 2011)

The debut 7″ from this Vancouver, British Columbia hardcore act is brilliant. These days, it is quite rare that I pay attention to, much less enjoy hardcore. However, these veterans of the scene (members of Sports, Ladyhawk and A Textbook Tragedy) formed in 2010 and quickly recorded four impressive songs. The demo was just collecting dust until they received an email from Greg Anderson of Southern Lord. Their reply was half-hearted because they assumed the message was a hoax. Thankfully, it was not.

Casual listening might lead one to think this is just for those stuck on 80′s / 90′s hardcore scenes. Upon further investigation, it is clear that Baptists are not simply dwelling in the past. Beginning with elements of Converge, Cursed and Neurosis, they add layers of grind, death and crust, amidst old school shrieking punk vocals and melodic guitar. All of this is enhanced by the technically gifted chugging guitar/bass riffs, and aided by the drummer’s punishing prowess.

These guys are no amateurs and the intensity and professionalism of this 7″ is exceptional. Baptists remind us of what some may forget here - Hardcore can be raw and aggressive enough to insight youthful primal anger, but it can also be intelligent enough to appeal to those with aged and refined tastes.

The only disappointing aspect of this recording is that, at a mere twelve minutes, it is over too quickly. This is an innovative and promising act with much potential to be tapped into. Once you give it a listen, I’m sure you too will be anticipating the full-length direction their creativity is taking them.

Get It Here

This post originally appeared in an article I wrote for Adequacy.net

Vastum - Carnal Law (20 Buck Spin, 2011)

Two ideas strike me upon first listening to Vastum: the first is that they play genuine old school death metal but with a crusty doom-laden personality of their own. The second is that these fellows are actually cultured. Rarely in metal are we privy to such intelligent and passionate lyrics steeped in literary, psychological and philosophical themes.

Their sound has the visceral nature of classic acts like Grave, Carcass, Death and Autopsy. Carnal Law incinerates everything in its path, hammering away at your cerebral cortex. This record also forgoes the easy route of electronic machine gun drum synthesis, resulting in a methodical performance with an antiquated analog feel. The quintet features members of Infest, Saros, Amber Asylum, and Hammers Of Misfortune. Not surprisingly, three of the five members come from Acephalix, a San Francisco punk / metal band who’s name is derived from Georges Bataille’s Acephale, a splinter group from the surrealist movement of 1930′s Paris. Acephale, which means headless, was a secret society intent on creating a new religion. Many elements of Bataille’s writings are included in Vastum’s themes. They explore his notions of the gift, transgression, excess, eroticism and death. Another intertwining theme presented here is psychoanalyst Jean Laplanche’s writing on psychic disfigurement and his work with Freud’s seduction theory (the idea that hysteria and neurotic obsession are born due to childhood molestation).

As you can tell, this band takes itself seriously; maybe too seriously for some. I, on the other hand, feel it is long overdue that a band like Vastum come along and rescue death metal from the clutches of a scene insistent on juvenile subject matter and horror film samples. Vastum will prove that death metal is not exclusively for angsty, inferior-feeling teenage males with no self-confidence. This is death metal worthy of snobby literary elitists and it is music that could actually make you smarter.


This post originally appeared in an article I wrote for Adequacy.net

Deicide - Serpents of the Light (Roadrunner, 1997)

I always feel that there should be kale in the steamer while listening to this record. Lots of sesame oil to be had, a dash of balsamic. Then chilled, to be served with a medium rare salmon. Serve around 7pm, weather permitting. Should weather steal the moment, make it inside towards the left corner of the restaurant. There's a large pane of glass, that when it rains, streams downward in an almost marbling fashion. This spot is somewhat cool, and a light overcoat for her is recommended. A bottle of pinot grigio will have you smiling at each other in no time. Then this record comes on...

Its the perfect moment. Your eyes meet, glassy and sensitive. Life's little frustrations leave you and everything is exactly where it needs to be. The alcohol swimming in your mind, fearing you might make a wrong move, you nervously pay the bill and then your song comes on. Confidence swells up inside of you. You are no longer blushing, but sturdy in your movements, and she sees it. You both want each other, and this could be love.

It feels so right, so true.

Meant to be.

You sign the bill. On the way to the car, you can see that by the way she is walking she is trying to turn you on. On the ride home she whispers “I really wish you had some of that music that was playing in the restaurant”. You tell her “Well it just so happens....”. You put your song on. She starts to nibble on your earlobe, and you can feel the hairs on your neck stand up. Electric, your legs tense up, and you step on the gas a little more than you should. She gets nervous, and you grab her inner thigh and tell her everything is going to be ok. You can see that her faith is in you.

Need less to say, your night goes well. The guys at work can tell that something happened good. You are in a far better mood than you usually are. You don’t indulge too much information. Some things are best left to the imagination. This is the best Monday you've ever had. And its all thanks to one little record that made the moment that something special...

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Tony Plichta is a microwaveable nutrition enthusiast, has a masters in bullshit, his relationship with his moms aint so great these days, he exhales into his bass drum, and thinks that these banana nut bread scented candles are off the chain!

Portal - Outre (2007, Profound Lore)

I'm very particular about Death Metal. So much, in fact, that I don't like most of what I hear. The Australian outfit Portal, however, Excites me. This is Avant Garde material, undefined by borders or classification. If I wasn't so desensitized by years of listening to deranged music, they might even disturb me.

Down-tuned guitars scrape and riff along like instruments of torture. The buried bass undulates a gloomy path. Deep gutteral growling vocals conjure pain and evil together with and a brand of intricate but experimental drumming that I find hypnotic. Much of it calls to mind early Immolation and Morbid Angel performed with an undeniable musical prowess and a keen insight into true darkness. A distinguishing factor is the open-mindedness to incorporate elements of other styles such as Suicidal Black or Funeral Doom. Genre-bending with a more extreme approach.

In the very divided world of Australian metal underground, everyone hails Portal.

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