The Sinister Urge – Rob Zombie

I really like Rob Zombie’s music, there is a definite feel about it and he was great when I saw him live at M’era Luna. Could I tell you what is on this album? No. But I can tell you it’s a good album and worth having. You know you are going to like whatever is on here.

This is communication number 1913 and so as with recent tradition here are some things that happened in that year [AD yes, I know that term excludes many around the world]:

  • Tibet declares independence from China.
  • Igor Sikorsky is first person to pilot a four engined aircraft.
  • Stainless steel is invented.
  • The Great Lakes Storm claims more than 250 lives.

The Rap Guide To Religion – Baba Brinkman

For some reason my album reviews have gone out of order and this one should have been before the last few, as they are alphabetical by title. Now, this is a really odd one for you. This is a rap album by a white Canadian where they explain how religion is formed and what the psychological processes are that means humans are pre-disposed to religion. I don’t mind rap music because I like a good beat, and I like learning about religion. So, this album hits the spot. I bought it originally as I like music and I’m happy to buy music directly from the artists or whole albums as it seems a better way to pay for music rather than use a streaming service. I know that I might only end up liking a few songs overall from an album but I think the type of musician I listen to now needs the money. I’m happy to rip off the superstars though.

I really enjoy this album and possibly you will too if you can cope with hip-hop music.

Number 1909 and so here’re some things that happened then:

  • The NAACP is founded.
  • Turks kill 15-30000 Armenians in a single day.
  • The world’s first military airplane is bought.
  • The Indianapolis Speedway track is opened.

The Sickness – Disturbed

OK, now this is a great album. I don’t know the individual songs and I can’t put the correct names to the correct rhythm but I can tell you that this album ROCKS. The signer’s voice really adds to the overall theme and you can tell that if he wasn’t there it would be mediocre. I’d be interested to see this band live and I nearly did but the tickets were too expensive for a trip to Wembley Arena where this band were the support. It would be nice to see them at a festival, when festivals are happening again. Go and get this album, you’ll love it.

This is communication number 1907, so as with my recent trend here are some things that happened in 1907. Clearly, these aren’t the most important things to happen but they are things that stand out to me:

  • The “mud march” takes place in London with women fighting for the right to vote.
  • 19 women are elected to the assembly in Finland.
  • A peace conference happens in the Hague.
  • A mining explosion kills 362 in West Virginia.

The Shadowthrone – Satyricon

I got this album when Satyricon were meant to play Alt-Fest in 2014. I have to say I listened to some bits of some songs and pretty much hated it.

As this is communication 1906 here are some of the things that happened that year [common era]:

  • The pope didn’t like France’s law declaring a separation of church and state, but fuck the pope.
  • A mine explosion in France kills 1060.
  • Women get the vote in Finland.
  • The BCG vaccine is developed.

The Second Annual Report Of Throbbing Gristle – Throbbing Gristle

This album, this debut album is shocking. It’s a collection of noises from the collective called Throbbing Gristle. This album was so influential with artists producing electronic music along with the rest of their back catalogue. When you listen this album you become hypnotised by the noise and curiosity of what is going to happen. The track listing is as follows:

  • Industrial Introduction
  • Slug Bait
  • Slug Bait
  • Slug Bait
  • Maggot Death
  • Maggot Death
  • Maggot Death

There’s an utter fascination that draws over me whenever I listen to this band. I think a part of it is the horror of the sounds. Then there’s the wondering what’s going to come next and finally there’s the intrigue of who and what created these sounds. When you listen to Throbbing Gristle you might not enjoy it [I do] but you end up knowing you have experienced. If you can, it’s worth the listen, but be warned.

This is number 1904 and so here’re a few things that happened in the year 1904 when the year 1 is what some people consider to be when JC was born but it wasn’t and that kinda messes everything up:

  • Roger Casement publishes an account of Belgian atrocities in the Congo.
  • The British defeat Tibetan troops.
  • The SS Norge sinks killing 635.

The Resistance – Muse

I have tried with Muse. I have tried to listen to it and feel good things about the music. But I have failed every time. I can’t stand it. I think it’s the singer voice. I’m not really sure. It just leaves me cold.

So, this is communication 1902. So, what happened in that year of the common era?

  • A snowstorm in Japan kills 199 during a military training exercise.
  • A stampede at the Shiloh Baptist Church in Birmingham Alabama, kills 115.
  • The first Borstal opens in Borstal, Kent, UK.

The Real Thing – Faith No More

I bought this because a big part of me wants to really like Faith No More. But, it doesn’t quite do it for me. I’m not sure why. This is a solid album but not one I would play too often. I’m not even sure if I’ve played past the first two songs, I’m writing this review on reputation alone!

As this is the 1898 communication here’s a few things that happened in 1898:

  • Henry Lindfield is the world’s first automobile fatality on a public highway in Purley.
  • Bava Baccaris massacre.
  • The Curies discover radium.
  • Establishment of the Republic of Negros.

The Razor’s Edge – AC/DC

Blow Up Your Video came along as my awareness of AC/DC grew and I really liked the album. I seem to remember being in Jersey and having it on tape although I mostly bought records, music cassettes were a popular portable method for listening to music. The Razor’s Edge was the second album released by AC/DC after my consciousness was raised. It’s an excellent album and has a number of great songs.

  • Thunderstruck – everyone knows this song. It’s a great song. The video is excellent. A great opener and worth the hype.
  • Fire You Guns – another high speed brilliant song.
  • Moneytalks – It does doesn’t it, but also another single and a great song.
  • The Razor’s Edge – brilliant, well crafted.
  • Mistress For Christmas – a fucking terrible song made for the xmas market but it’s kinda cheeky also and makes me laugh. I suppose you have to be good at song writing to be able to write this stuff.
  • Rock You heart Out – proper high speed rock.
  • Are You Ready – a live classic and classic AC/DC. I’m running out of superlatives.
  • Got You By The Balls – not the best AC/DC song with balls in the title but still a great song.
  • Shot Of Love – not sure about this one.
  • Let’s Make It – AC/DC songs are pretty much all about sex. All of them.
  • Goodbye and Good Riddance to Bad Luck – it’s ok.
  • If You Dare – fantastic riff work.

There’s an awful lot of good on this album and not a lot of shit. It’s well worth owning and playing. Everyone sings along with AC/DC right?

Line Infacted

I think I’m managing quite well with the suitable distribution of my income. A while back I wrote that I had stopped spending money on music streaming services and if I want some songs then I will pay for them properly. We all know that Spotify pay very little out to the artist for each play and it’s only the mega-hits that actually make any money. I’d try and link that communication here but the way I write the names of these communications means I might have zero chance of finding it. Here goes! I found it! The point is for more of my money to go to the artist. The website Bandcamp seems the best way of doing that short of Patreon or Venmo [which I have never used!].

This morning I have updated the music list on the iPhone contents page. Not that it’s easy to find the new stuff, there’s an awful lot of stuff listed. But I’ve recently bought a few albums and so I thought it was time to update it. There’s a definite theme within that music list of heavy metal, thrash metal and then German rock along with EBM and aggrotech. If you search that list enough you might even find some songs that could be considered “embarrassing”. Have a look and let me know if you find one. Anything from Top Gun does not count, obvs.

I’ve been listening to the music projects of two main labels over the last few years. Those labels are Infacted Records and Out Of Line Music. My most recent purchases are:

  • Deathless – Amelia Arsenic
  • Requiem for the Hyperreal – Shiv-r
  • Kill God Ascend – Shiv-r
  • That Annihilated Place – Pete Crane
  • Traumatized – Lights Of Euphoria
  • Dark Passenger – Decoded Feedback
  • Domination – Agrezzior
  • Sittenverfall – Schallfaktor
  • Judas – Lord Of The Lost

There’s quite a bit of a mix there from electronic to bombastic over the top operatic rock but it’s all good. Well worth a listen. If you like that sort of thing. I will say that the bass line from “To Love Is To Destroy” by Amelia Arsenic is DIRTY.

When I eventually finish the album reviews the idea is to go back and review every album I’ve bought in the last eight years or so. I’ve tried to avoid writing about all the EBM and Aggrotech in the reviews and I will eventually get around to writing about them. Oh, I’ve had both vaccination injections and am looking forward to being considered fully vaccinated in two weeks.