Infected - Breathe

Infected Mushroom (not the trance duo) was formed in a small Israeli town called Nahariya, released an album called Don't Panic in 1993 and broke up. Pretty soon after some of them moved to London and started Infected.
If you want to check that first incarnation you can get the album's re-released CD version (shorter than the original cassette) in this awesome dead blog (please come back).. personally I always had a mixed feeling about that one, it's a weird one, even for me. Avantgarde goth/post punk/funk metal idk, Bauhaus-Primus-Cardiacs, they didn't stop there, pretty diverse. Sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't.

Shachaf Barkai, Amir Shoat, Jon Acker at Bull & Gate , 1994
Photo by Mick Mercer*

Anyways, we're here to talk about the London trio, which I have much more sympathy towrads. Amir Shoat (vocals) and Jon Acker (bass, synths and drum programming) were both the founders of the original group, they were joined by Shachaf Barkai (guitar) who also participated as a guest on Don't Panic. The three were a bit more focused this time, and embraced the goth-industrial influences to the end (I don't mean they've gone straight up Skinny Puppy by saying that). It's still weird, still very unusual, and great all the way doing their own thing.
They were active mostly around Camden Town, especially The Bull & Gate club, between 1993-'96, and recorded a couple of tracks which were compiled to their sole release, Breathe. I think it was released on tape in 1996, but I only have a CD version which says 1999, so I ain't really sure.

I need to get a new scanner..

1. Shake [1993]
2. Breathe [1993]
3. Happy [1993]
4. Grey [1994/95]
5. Toxic [1993]
X. Winelight [bonus track I added, taken from Fuckin' Hardfloor Volumes 1+2 Compilation, 1995]

"Breathe" (Lossless rip)

*That awesome pictures up there by Mercer was stolen from the Bull & Gate facebook group page, where, if you bother to search, you'll find many more by him and some flyers. Mercer actually published a photo book of them.

Brutal - Bullshit, Attitude, And EXPERIENCE

This blog looks even uglier without a scanner

Four guys from Grangemouth/Falkirk (perhaps ?):
F.B. Coltrane (Brian Guthrie I think, Robin's brother and head of the label to release this- Anoise Annoys), Dogbite, Cheg and Bebop.
"Special thanks to Bigwar on track 2 and Russell McEwan on track 6. Sample sources, with thanks all round includes "The Cowboys", "Star Trek", "The Trial of The Chicago Eight", "The Day Today", "L.A. Law", "The Commancheros", "The Searchers" plus odd moments of David Essex, Sammy Davis JNR and Phil Harris".
Industrial rock, breakbeat with some Stretchheads angry energy. If you like Meat Beat Manifesto and such. Good stuff here.

'NEVER GIVE UP NEVER GIVE IN DON'T BELIEVE YOUR GOD DON'T BELIEVE YOU'RE GOD' (lossless rip)

More info ?

MONE¥I$GOD

So.. I kinda forgot to scan the cover
I'll get it done someday

2006 - MW (lossless)

The first one is just pure sonic blast mostly. Ultra-raw and heavy, sludge-noise metal.
Primitive Neurosis with Skullflower noise level and Killing Joke backbone.
The obvious better one among the two, don't miss it.

1. I Don't Kill You
2. For David
3. The Calling Out Of Soldier's Mind
4. Sencitive (My Soul)
5. Who's Next
6. The Deadly Friends (R.I.P)

2010 - M.A.R.K.Z (lossless)

Is much weirder. The line-up changed completely except for Kan (vox), and although the first track is written by Hyo Kagawa (who was the guitar player on the first album, and wrote all of it's tracks), the music is drastically different.
This is like a pub band is jamming that same sludge-noise metal (oh yes, it's still heavy), feeling liberated to go where ever they want (Ska beats, East Bay Ray surf punk guitar, you name it), especially the bass player (the best thing on this album) with his in your face bass lines after bass lines. Great remix by Balata at the end.
Could have been better with some guidance at the recording probably.

1. Cancer
2. Murasaki
3. Black Rainbow
4. Waltz
5. Hate Song
6. Black Rainbow (Monke¥ Wa$ Dubbed Remix)

Thanks to Zager for lending me his copies.

Ragewar - Backlash

In case someone is looking for this, there it is. Otherwise I wouldn't bother.
Very generic industrial techno with some typical zeitgeist vocals.
Very.. Mortal Kombat theme song 'inspired'.

1. Reality
2. Silent Majority
3. Dare To Care
4. Equality
5. A Word From Dave
6. Thought Crime
7. Here's Ragewar
8. Hardcore Overload
9. Urban Forest Odyssey

Kano doesn't approve

Casual Approach - Acid Rock Noise Cowboys... Just Playing The Blues

Pittsburgh quintet of some local scenesters, the better known among them is Joseph Roemer of Macronympha. Formed around 2008 and this is their sole release, long album full of lo-fi psychedelic noise blues jams, yeah pretty much like the album title suggests.

1. Dead Man's Lament
2. Funky Monkey Dance
3. Sludge - Live At Howlers
4. Surf's Up Dudes... Live @ Rock Room (Sharks In The Water!)
5. Sinister Highway
6. The Spanish Cafe
7. Her Beauty's Like Glass - Live @ Belvederes
8. Billy's Bonghit Odyssey
9. Crooked Creek Blues
10. Swamp Whiskey Roundup - Live @ Nick's Underground Cafe Show
11. Space Ace
12. It Takes A Village (Excerpt) - Live @ Jason's Party
13. Showdown In The Hot Surrealistic Sun
14. "You Talkin' To Me?"
15. Dragon Rider
16. Half An Inch
17. Sayonara, Good Friends

Taste the acid