#grunge2

SO WHAT THE HECK WAS THIS #GRUNGE2 & DIYHAUNTS STUFF ANYWAY?

Two things Deathbomb was associated with this year that step a bit into the goofy territory were #Grunge2 and DIY Haunts. As I've mentioned in interviews this year, I've started to see Deathbomb as an Artists Label rather than a Record Label. Records will always be a big part of Deathbomb, but the real goal is help spread the word about artists we love, even when putting out records isn't the best way to do so. #Grunge2 and DIY Haunts are examples of this idea in action.

#Grunge2 Honestly, I think microgenres get a bad name. Certainly they are so trend based that it reeks of shallowness, and they typically aren't actually genres at all, more just a way of giving a common entry point for artists to communicate about something together. But it's that later part which excites me the most. The idea of semi-defined constraints in order to pratice one's art in a way you might not have otherwise. Of course, that is probably not how most people think of micro-genres, but it is how I do. I thought it was cool back in the 90s when Dogme 95 was kicking around. Sometimes limiting oneself is the best way to actually grow and find new challenges.

This all said, #Grunge2 grew out of a half-joke. A silly post on the Foot Village facebook page. I figured there must be other musicians out there that loved both streamlined rock and crazy noise. "Foot Village is Grunge2, who else is in Grunge2 bands?" No explanation, but ended up being a popular post with tons of replies from musicians saying they were too. Shortly afterward, Spin posted a review of the new Foot Village album that also talked about how lots of noise acts from the 00s were returning with a streamlined sense of rocking. For me, that sealed the deal. So now there is grunge2.com (thanks to Northern Spy for helping with that) that shares contemporary music embodying essentially just the newest ways of doing noiserock. It's not a genre, just a convenient way of looking at where a part of music is at right now. Bands like Wolf Eyes (Noise Music is Over), Black Pus, Guerilla Toss, and tons more. How long will it last? Who knows. Definitely designed to capture the moment with no concern of the future. In any case, it is a site for anyone and everyone to keep up with rock sounds that push the boundaries.

DIY HAUNTS Besides music, the other thing I love is homemade haunted house/mazes. I've been talking about them for years and even made a short film about one. This year I made a database of homemade haunts around the LA area. I consider these to be an unsung folkart. But some of them literally get thousands of people visiting every October. People from all walks of life. And they don't do it for a profit. It is incredible to me. The highlight of doing all this was definitely getting to talk with NPR about it!

Okay, hope that helps explain some of the stranger aspects of the Deathbomb world this year. The short explanation is: We're just having fun. Hope you are too! We'll back tomorrow and Friday with the last two installments of our year end wrap up.

PART 1/5: Our 2013 Favorites. PART 2/5: The Year In Deathbomb.

Black Pus Zero Ultimate Beat Off.

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Robedoor have shared yet another gorgeous track from their forthcoming album 'Primal Sphere'. Much as with the new Wolf Eyes album that just came out, Robedoor are taking some 70s no-wave cues this time around, harnessing their unique deep noise sound into something more song oriented. Grunge2 indeed. Can't wait for this album to come out, sounding so good! (via Impose)

Btw, Robedoor will also be contributing to our digital singles series this year.