#passing key

So, as has become tradition - we've asked a few friends to contribute Year In Review type lists, and have compiled a pretty cool selection of both what was cool (and what was shitty) in 2014, as well as some other odds and ends to illustrate what a handful of our friends and peers have been into over these past twelve months. Obviously, by nature, a "Best of" list is sort of self-important and narcissistic, but I've caught enough great bands by giving a listen to something recommended by friends whom I respect than any other source, so here's hoping a few people give these a read and decide to check out some of the acts and albums they aren't familiar with already.  If you're not doing that - well, I mean, kind of fuck off, right? Why are you reading other people's self-important lists about inconsequential opinions anyway of you're not going to at least have an open mind about it. So, since last year I realized in March I had never posted my own list, I'll take the first slot. Expect to see some entries by friends in Moutheater, Acid Deathtrip, Burning Love, HHL, Radiation Blackbody and more between New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.

Best records of 2014, as selected by Ryan Aircraft

10) Radiation Blackbody, Falling To Death Through Time and Space 12” (Ultraviolet Catastrophe)

Chaos tamed. Joshua Scott and Joel Stallings composed the rhythm sections to Anodyne and Defeatist, and with the demise of the latter established Radiation Blackbody – which seems to be the obvious next step in their endeavors at this point. Parts grind and powerviolence, but always under the guise of complicated song structures and more than a decade of these two learning how to play off of each other. Masterful in the truest sense.

9) Blood Sun Circle, Bloodiest / Sunniest LP (Hex)

I hadn’t heard of Blood Sun Circle until Moutheater played with them this summer. The band came back singing their praise, and recommending their new album to me. As soon as Moutheater albums were in, I traded a stack for copies of “Bloodiest / Sunniest” and almost immediately sold out of them. Excellent, minimal post-hardcore by way of demure noise-rock. I’ll say it – this is the album I wish Young Widows wrote every time I hear one of their records.

8) Nyodene D, Mouths That Reap The Harvest 12” (Urashima)

First off, I am not the most educated listener to noise and powerelectronics. I try to keep up with the handful of artists and labels I genuinely enjoy. This year I thoroughly enjoyed new albums from Puce Mary, Pig Heart Transplant, and Pharmakon as well – but this album, and frankly, the material on the split with Wolves of Heaven Aaron piques my interest the most. Aaron's been putting out consistently solid material for years, but I’d say this LP edges out last year’s “Atop Masada” as my favorite thus far. One of the most exciting acts in American power electronics, at arguably his best form yet. Dynamic and intelligent industrial with a spirit that I’d like to see more out of punk and hardcore bands, much less the noise scene.

7) Old Man Gloom, Ape of God LP (Profound Lore / SIGE) and Old Man Gloom, Ape of God LP (Profound Lore / SIGE)

I wasn’t as into “No” as their earlier work, but “Ape of God” (all versions) sees the band in top form both in their songwriting and in fucking with their listeners. As usual, their best moments are when they get weirdest, and “Ape of God” sees Old Man Gloom obviously enjoying themselves and trying the kind of shit bands talk about doing in the studio and don’t follow through on. One of the best in the game.

6) The Body (and Haxan Cloak), I Shall Die Here 12” (RVNG)

I’ve enjoyed everything the Body has done. No exceptions. But one of the reasons I love this record so much is because it’s both a focused version of what they’ve offered on their two most recent LPs, and at the same time a more esoteric and noisy than what they traditionally bring to the table on their splits and EPs. The collaboration with Thou (Released from Love) was pretty solid too, but this one spent more time on my turntable.

5) Pharaoh, Negative Everything LP (A389 Recordings)

New Jersey’s Pharaoh released two underrated 7”s on A389 a few years ago, and were periodically playing shows in the mid-Atlantic region, but were largely overlooked by both the metal and hardcore communities. With this album, it seems they’ve finally shown up on the greater collective radar of the “cool kids,” and in good timing – “Negative Everything” brings a greater depth and nuance to the band’s songwriting, and shows the band pushing their creative limits further than anything they’ve done thusfar. It’s awesome to see a band grow into what they’ve hinted at for years, and to see others recognize it as well.

4) Mysticum, Planet Satan LP (Peaceville)

This fucker snuck up on me. I didn’t know what to expect and was wildly impressed when I finally heard it – so I won’t do you the disservice of talking about what you should expect outside of their brand of intense, psychedelic black metal. My favorite “dumb” album of the year.

3) Raspberry Bulbs, Privacy LP (Blackest Ever Black)

With this step further from the constraints from black metal, R.B. have begun to incorporate even more post-punk and noise elements into their craft - all to their benefit. The best anarcho-punk inspired album this year, and people are trying to rationalize as a metal album.

2) Moutheater, Passing Key LP (Anthems of The Undesirable)

Putting your own record on your “Best Of” list is admittedly corndick.. Doesn’t mater though – any moron that ventures to start putting out records in the financial minefield that is running a label in 2014 should be able to tell you that they love the records they’re releasing. Since Thrashed! Records dropped the ball on Moutheater’s “Ornament” LP in 2009, I’d been idly pondering how I might help put an album of theirs out. When the band started writing “Passing Key” in 2012 I knew it would be good, but it was when I started talking to Andrew and Tim about their plans for the actual recording process that it became evident this album would really be something special. Inspired by the production on albums like “Siamese Dream” and “Rated R,” and (like always) sonically framed by the likes of Nirvana, Tad, Melvins, Helmet, most fans of Am-Rep noise rock and grunge would pick up on these obvious influences. But where “Passing Key” truly surpasses any previous Moutheater work is in the minutiae: hints of psychedelia, layers and layers of guitar with different setups and sounds on each track, and a surprisingly accessible back half of the album. I couldn’t be more proud of being involved in this record - and even if I didn’t know the band, I can confidently say it would have been among the best albums of the year.

1) Gas Chamber, Hemorrhaging Light LP + Flexi (Iron Lung)

A lot has been said about this record already, and I’ve heard people liken it to some things I don’t quite hear myself, but its one of those albums where I listen and am both compelled to listen to everything else the band has done, and at the same time find myself wondering why anyone would bother with their other material – simply because it very clearly was always leading to this. (In fairness though, you absolutely SHOULD listen to all of the other Gas Chamber records, especially “Modern Vision of The Erect Nightmare.”) From the first listen, I knew this was something special – and where these days everyone’s happy to start screaming album of the year in March (cough, *Morbus Chrone” cough), at the close of the year there’s still nothing that’s come close to topping “Hemorrhaging Light.

I also thoroughly enjoyed new albums by Thantifaxath, Disciples of Christ, Puce Mary, Pig Heart Transplant, Teitanblood, Dead Congregation, Satan’s Satyrs, PC Worship, Brutal Blues, and Water Torture this year. I would recommend purchasing any of these at your earliest convenience.

Some of the best EPs of the year: Die, Vexed 7” (Sonic Terror Discs) Simple hardcore that doesn’t neglect quality songwriting and hooks, but is still pissed. Absolutely my favorite straightforward hardcore act in recent memory.

Puce Mary, The Great Panic CS (Freak Animal) My introduction to Puce Mary, whom I successfully missed twice this year. Better luck in 2015, I hope.

Sewer Election & Puce Mary, Masks Are Aids CS (Total Black) Arguably better than “The Great Panic?” How cool is it when a great artist puts out several quality releases in one year, right? Surely one of the most high quality artists to be so prolific.

Column of Heaven, Precipice CS (Survivalist) Perpetual favorites. Tour-only cassette featuring songs that should appear on a split with Suffering Luna sometime in 2015. And a Ride for Revenge cover and two Wolves of Heaven tracks. Christmas in April. But, you know, heathen.

Permanent Ruin, San Jose 7” (Not Normal Tapes) Didn’t hear this band until the week of NDY. I fucked up, because this shit rules. Excellent drumming, in puchy, crazy-tight hardcore.

Breakout, Razor Wire 7” (On High) and True Crime 7” (Grave Mistake) Again – two great EPs in one year. I prefer the more ’78 punk vibe to Razor Wire but the new EP is growing on me more and more as well. Glad to see Kyle and his gang making waves with this project - well deserved.

Davidians, Davidians 7” (Deranged) and North Carolina Single Series, Vol. 1 (Sorry State) I for one was very sorry to see Double Negative fall apart. ¾ of the original lineup are together hear playing noisier, more experimental punk less in line with say, Poison Idea and more akin to Honor Role or mid-period Die Krueuzen? I just got the Single Series 7” in the mail and look forward to hearing a lot more from these NC weirdos.

Iron Lung, Savagery 7” (Iron Lung) I enoyed this more than anything they’ve done since “Sexless/No Sex,” and I rather liked WGT, so hopefully that says something. The Pig Heart Transplant full length is a nice companion piece to this if you want more strange too.

Annnnnnnd, this year I caught some pretty awesome shows. These were the best of them.

Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds at DAR Constitution Hall (DC) Always better live than anyone else. The greatest entertainer alive.

Full of Hell, Colum of Heaven, Nyodene D, Disciples of Christ in DC A glorified house show, packed to the gills with killer bands and a largely positive and excited crowd. Protip: Don’t be the drunk plain dude at a show. Ever. Also, don’t bring your drunk plain friends to shows. D.O.C. made me a believer that night, I finally got to see Nyodene D live (at least in the context of a solo set), and Column of Heaven were excellent, but that’s no surprise.

Gas Chamber, Disciples of Christ, Unsacred at Cedar House (Richmond, VA) Gas Chamber played a frantic set of “Hemorrhaging Light” material and a few newer songs to a house full of sweaty, drunk punks and I have to wonder how many of them didn’t fucking get it versus how many of them came to see these Buffalo weirdos drift into space for twenty minutes while they’re at the top of their game.

Iron Lung and Column of Heaven at Sneaky Dee’s Forward and DiE at Hard Luck Permanent Ruin at Hard Luck (Not Dead Yet - Toronto) Sometimes I feel like I spend all year waiting for NDY. That's lame, but true. This year was as much fun as ever, but I went to fewer shows - partly because of my annual tradition of somehow missing the pre-fest show (this year due to seven feet of snow around Buffalo as we were driving into town - and a twelve hour detour getting into Toronto), and partly because of the shows I wanted to see running concurrently. Regretably I missed Big Zit, Puce Mary, Ooze, Demonbrother, Deconstruction Unit, and a few other acts I'd hoped to catch - but I saw some great sets, had killer vegan food, caught up with friends from all over, and even sold some records. Now I just have to make it until next November so we can do it all again. 

Integrity (“Systems Overload” lineup + ORR), Infest, In Cold Blood, Ringworm, Pharaoh, Pick Your Side, Haymaker, etc. – A389 Bash (Baltimore, MD) A fun weekend in one of my favorite East Coast cities with some good friends. Oh, and seeing Ringworm play to a hundred people didn’t hurt. Stellar sets by Integrity, Ringworm, Pharaoh, In Cold Blood, and actually Noisem too – who surprised the shit out of me by completely freaking out and ruling the Baltimore Soundstage. Not surprisingly, I also cleaned up at Celebrated Summer and Black Mess records. Totally killer time.

Caverns, Pharaoh, Moutheater, and Foehammer at The Cellar Door (Annandale, VA) First night of Moutheater’s tour. Drove up from VB, labeling “Passing Key” cassettes the whole way. Foehammer were a sleeper surprise, and Moutheater and Pharaoh killed. Caverns were wild and crazy tight. Because their Jersey show fell through I ended up driving home at three a.m. and stopping in Fredericksburg to sleep in a Hotel parking lot. Because I am an adult. One of the best Friday nights in recent memory.

08.31.14 - Moutheater, Druglord, Wandcarver, and Pain In The Yeahs at The Parlor on Granby (Norfolk, VA) Easily the best show I’ve booked in years. The Parlor was at capacity, and all four bands played totally different stuff and were totally captivating. I’ve seen Druglord about a dozen times and this was the most energetic set I’ve seen out of them in at least a year, and out of all of the times I’ve caught Moutheater this was absolutely the best set I’ve ever seen by them. Watching two hundred people headbanging to “Sexual Sadness” made all of the toil over Passing Key worth it and then some.

Summer Always Summer Tour with Clay Rendering, Lussuria, Dual Action, and Severance Replay at The Beauty Parlor (Norfolk, VA) Shit like this never happens in Norfolk. I was damn glad to see it, and unspeakably excited to catch a few acts I never thought I’d see live in Virginia play to a room full of other excited weirdos. Also, while Severance Replay was closing out the night a drunk dude plowed into three cars in front of the venue and flipped his car. When everyone ran outside to see what the fuck was happening I thought Terry had cleared the room.

Planning For Burial, Pain In The Yeahs, Severance Replay at The Iguana (Norfolk, VA) Norfolk got real gloomy for a night and I was into it. Thom was excellent and covered a lot of ground, Severance Replay played their harshest set yet, and PITY had a strong debut.