Gunner by Holy Mountain

One of the best local live experiences ever,  Holy Mountain will rock the shit out of you.

Headless Kross - Burning Hammer

From the 2011 album "Bear", which is available as a pay what you want download from the Headless Kross bandcamp.  Yes, Headless Kross are on facebook.

Winning Sperm Party Xmas Downloads

WSP goes from strength to strength - as well as having a recent website overhaul, they've just put out a new batch of releases as a Christmas gift to the public. There are 5 releases by 6 bands, repping the best in underground art-rock from the Glasgow scene, including FUCKNO act Blue Sabbath Black Fiji. Also featured are Triple School, North American War, Phat Trophies, Gropetown and the amazingly named Pro Life. Here they are:



Blue Sabbath Black Fifi "French Cuisine" EP



North American War "Me And MY GI Joes" EP



Pro Life "Pro Life" EP




Triple School "Triple Sick" EP




Gropetown / Phat Trophies split tape

RIP Captain Beefheart

RIP Don Van Vliet aka Captain Beefheart 1941-2010

Goblin live in Glasgow

The Gods of Awesome smile on us for once - it has been announced that the legendary Italian soundtrack band Goblin will be appearing live in Glasgow next February, as part of the Glasgow Film Festival! Some of us have been awaiting this moment for years. Goblin provided the soundtrack to horror classics like Dawn Of The Dead, Suspiria, Phenomena, Tenebre and many more. Here is clip of Goblin performing "Tenebre" a couple of years ago, a song famously sampled by French electro act Justice for their hit "We Suck Massive Donkey Knobs":



This truly is a time to rejoice my friends! More on the Goblin gig here. In other news, there seemes to be a mini-Giallo revival going on at the moment, what with Darren Aronofsky's The Black Swan said to be heavily influenced by Dario Argento, and the film "Amer" being even more of an hommage. Apparently it is like a filmic tone-poem and features no dialogue - I for one am intrigued:

DJ Goatface Killah Presents... "Ave Satanas"

DJ Goatface Killah made a name for himself at the Satanic Toga Party a few months back by supplying the devil-worshipping revellers with a soundtrack of non-stop Dark Lord-themed hits. This being the witching season, we asked him to do a Satanic mix for Shallow Rave, and here it is. It's rather bloody good too, and surprisingly features nothing from the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (no, that's a different Iron Maiden). HAIL SATAN! \m/


01. ANTON SZANDOR LAVEY (USA) / THE SATANIC MASS (EDIT) (1968)
02. ANTONIUS REX (ITALY) / NON FIAT VOLUNTAS TUA (1974)
03. BLACK WIDOW (UK) / IN ANCIENT DAYS (1969)
04. COVEN (USA) / BLACK SABBATH (1969)
05. BULBOUS CREATION (UK) / SATAN (1969)
06. THE RATTLES (GERMANY) / THE WITCH (1968)
07. THE GHOST (UK) / NOW YOU’RE DEAD (1970)
08. THE GUN (UK) / RACE WITH THE DEVIL (1968)
09. THE CRAZY WORLD OF ARTHUR BROWN (UK) / FIRE (1968)
10. ROKY ERICKSON & THE ALIENS (USA) / WHITE FACES (1977)
11. LOLLIPOP SHOPPE (USA) / YOU MUST BE A WITCH (1967)
12. DUFFY (UK) / JUDGEMENT DAY (1971)
13. BEDEMON (USA) / CHILD OF DARKNESS (1973)
14. LUCIFER’S FRIEND (UK / GERMANY) / LUCIFER’S FRIEND (1970)
15. IRON MAIDEN (UK) / GOD OF DARKNESS (1969)
16. AFFINITY (UK) / THREE SISTERS (1970)
17. SAM GOPAL (UK) / THE DARK LORD (1969)
18. BOBBY BEAUSOLEIL (USA) / LUCIFER RISING PART II (1972)

Download "Ave Satanas" from this link.

SIlverclub Minterview

Silverclub are awesome. I have been listening to their debut album a lot lately, and after posting about them before (with a link to some free music) I managed to coax a mini-interview out of main man Duncan Jones:



What was the inspiration for getting Silverclub together?

It kind of happened by accident. I have been friends with Jim Noir for a number of years, and we used to jam a lot when we were hanging out. I had never sung in a band and never intended to but he was insistent
that I could sing, write lyrics, and craft songs, rather than just
doing the electronic stuff. Insistent to the point he eventually gave
me a really nice soundcard and condensor mic and told me I now had 'no
excuse'. I've had to grow into the frontman/singer role pretty quickly
really as I never thought the demos I was initially making would cause
the interest they did.

What are your main musical influences?

Well I started off in bands but around 18 I got into making techno and
house, something I continue to do under the moniker 'DNCN'. When it
comes to other current bands I'm way off the pulse, although there is
some top class stuff going on in Manchester with the likes of Ten
Bears, The Travelling Band and Suzuki Method. Generally I'm more
likely to be listening to Elvis Costello or the Clash or something
like that though.

Where did your name come from?

We were called 'This Year's Model' after the Elvis Costello album, but
found out there was a Swedish band who had pipped us to the post and
put an album out calling themselves the same. After some brainstorming
and a lengthy list of increasingly tragic name suggestions were put
forward we decided to name ourselves after the track 'Indo Silver
Club' from Daft Punk's 'Homework', only to discover they themselves
had released stuff under that name. At that point I'd lost interest in
the whole name thing so we just dropped the 'Indo' and shoved the
other 2 words together, it doesn't mean anything really and isn't a
particularly great band name but we can make it our own I guess.

Silver Apples or Silver Convention?

Sounds to me like inedible fruit or old folk's gathering. In fact I
know Silver Apples are a band but I haven't heard them so for now I'm
saying neither. I'll go for a normal apple if that's on offer? Granny
Smith preferably.

So who's in your live band?

I've got a proper supergroup in my opinion. Drums are by Jim Noir,
I've Got Chris McGrath from Sirconical/Magic Arm/Jim Noir's band on
Bass, Henrietta Smith-Rolla from Sisters of Transistors on Keys and
BV's, and turntable legend G-Kut on cuts/sequenced stuff and
percussion, I'm privileged that they all seem to enjoy working on my
stuff so much.

Any tour plans coming up?

We are on tour at the moment, you can check out the dates at
http://silverclubuk.com where you can also download the 'All in All
EP' for free!

When are your single/album coming out?

The digital version of the EP is out now, we are just about to release
a 12" to accompany it at the start of November, which will be the
first 'hybrid' picture disc to be produced in the UK, basically it's a
picture on one side and full quality vinyl on the other so a bit of a
collectors item I guess. At the moment it's looking like it will sell
out on pre-sales alone so those interested should maybe go here and
place their order ...
http://hmv.com/hmvweb/displayProductDetails.do?sku=208937

Silver Streak or Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer?

That fantastic four film was on TV the other week. It's pretty
terrible, I kind of enjoyed it in a sort of Valium-esque mind melting
way though.

There's been a lot of, um, "mixed feelings" about the current Manchester music scene. What's your take on it?

As I mentioned before there's some great stuff around at the moment
but as far as a 'scene' I'm glad to say I don't really see one.
Manchester's current strength is in it's diversity of music for me.
Sure there's a lot of politics, bullshit and mudslinging goes on and
I'm sure people will have a few choice words about us at some point,
but for me it's a waste of my time and effort to get involved. My
energies are better served just getting on with the music, if someone
else wants to tell us we are part of a scene they are welcome to, they
would be dead wrong though.

Klaus Kinski

The band, not the man. Though from what I hear the band are just as mental. It seems that tonight, the singer's window/stage/pins/drumkit diving antics at this gig upset headliners Purple Rhinestone Eagle so much that they packed up and refused to play. Rock'n'fuckin'Roll \m/
Fans of Ultimate Thrush (and who isn't?) - if you haven't heard them check them out. Click on the pic below to go to their Last FM page where they have full tracks and free downloads.

Divorce Minterview / Tour / Split with Comanechi

If you are in Brighton tonight there really is only one place to be - the show by Divorce and Comanechi. It's gonna be fierce. The two bands have just set off on a joint tour of the UK (dates above) and tomorrow sees the release of their split 10" on Merok Records, which sees both bands combining forces on a cover of "Death Valley '69". Sweet! We sent Divorce drummer Andy Broontoon 10 questions he was nice enough to answer:

How did Divorce come together?

Friends and friends of friends. Chatting at parties about doing music and for once actually following it up.

What are your main influences?

We all like loads of different things, there's no one band or style of music that we were determined to copy. All we wanted to do was make loud music and since it's turned out pretty loud that's mission accomplished.

And anything you are reacting against?

Just because the music is aggressive doesn't mean we're exorcising any personal demons through it, in fact if anything it's just simply a hell of a lot of fun making a big stinking racket. Having a reactionary intent when making music seems to kinda miss the point, it should be enjoyable, not the place to tell the world your mum didn't hug you when you were growing up.

Paul McCartney or Heather Mills?

i could never choose between two such hideous characters. Put them both against the wall, I'm not stopping you.

How did this tour come about?

Our bassist VSO has been good buddies with Akiko from Comanechi for a few years now, both bands like each other's music a lot and we've played a few times together and good on really well. It's nice to play shows with your pals. It's even nicer that we're gonna be on a split single together too - it's just a big old love-in!

What can we expect from the split release?

A lot of volume for one. Comanechi's song on the split, "Let Me Bloom", is just mind-blowing - a huge sludgy bulldozer of a tune, love it love it love it!! On the flip-side both us and Comanechi did a cover of Sonic Youth's "Death Valley 69" together, which logistically wasn't gonna be easy, what with them living 400 miles away. We really had to nail it quick, we didn't have much time at all to get it down, but I'm personally immensely proud of it, it couldn't have gone better. It's faster, louder and longer than the original, and epic wig-out!! So yeah, we rule.

Alec Baldwin or Kim Basinger?

3rd Prize You're Fired vs. Eminem's mum?? Can't make that decision, sorry.

What's the best gig you've ever played?

There's been lots of great shows - first that springs to mind was playing with Foot Village at the CCA in Glasgow - it was with Blue Sabbath Black Fiji and Ultimate Thrush too so the line-up just ruled. People went apeshit when we played, circle-pits and human pyramids - that must be what it feels to be in Gallows or something! God... any gig where the crowd (if there is one) are up for fun, they're the best - if people stand with their arms folded staring at us, or chatting through the whole thing, it can be a bit shit. It's really great that it seems Glasgow shows we play these days in the main are really amazing fun... but it's even better when you get a great reaction out of town.

And the worst?

We've had a few stinkers but we don't let them get us down, if anything it's always funny not again reminding ourselves - 'god, do you remember that night...' etc, you can still get at least a good chuckle out of it after the fact.

Richard Burton or Elizabeth Taylor?

ELIZABETH!! Hands down - If anybody personifies 'DIVORCE' it's her!

Holy Mountain @ Norave Freshers Party

News just in - Holy Mountain have been added to the bill of our NORAVE Art School Freshers Party, happening a week tomorrow. Expect some blistering freeform heavy rock action. If you want to check out what they wound like, they have a free download single up on Winning Sperm Party - at: http://winningspermparty.com/node/223



We've already blogged about the other live guests, but here's a short mix by Dam Mantle so you know what to expect from his DJ set.

Dam Mantle- Canterbury Love mix by Dam Mantle

This night is gonna be mental! You can say you're coming (or not, loser) over on the Facebook event page.

Bolero on Ebow

This video put a smile on my face on this miserable morning.



Some bad news coming soon.

Fatima Mansions

I was doing a bit of nostalgia tripping the other day when I stumbled across some videos by the band Fatima Mansions, and was reminded how totally awesome they were. Fatima Mansions (named after a grotty housing scheme in Dublin) stake a claim as being the best Irish band ever, in my opinion. They were fronted by one Cathal Coughlan (who had previously sung in the equally culty Microdisney in the mid 1980's) and his bitingly sharp lyrics gave them the edge over other bands of the era. Channeling the discontent of an entire generation, he heavily ripped the piss out of the church, the state, politicians, the church, societal conventions, sexual mores and most of all the church. The band were musically diverse, being able to turn their hand to anything from hard rock to techno, and their 1991 cover of REM's Shiny Happy People has to be heard to be believed.









Mr Coughlan is still very musically active, and co-incidentally released his fifth solo album only two weeks ago. I have yet to check this out, but I will definitely give it a listen and see if time has mellowed the man. I seriously doubt it. You can check out Cathal Coughlan's current work at his website and listen to music on his myspace.

It's TAD motherfucker!!!!!

I found this (^) great clip lately of a reformed Soundgarden (minus Chris Cornell) playing in Seattle with Tad Doyle on vocals. However, I was pissed off by the many comments left by total rock noobs along the lines of "Soundgarden ith liek tho awethum! But who's the fat guy?". Bitchez - the fat guy is TAD. IT"S TAD MOTHERFUCKER!!!!!



I may be showing my age here a bit, but in my youth Tad was a rock icon. For those who don't know, TAD (the band, fronted by Tad the man) were at the forefront of the first wave of Seattle bands that came to be known as "grunge". TAD's "God's Balls" and "Salt Lick" releases were hugely influential on the likes of Nirvana, combining as they did the heaviness of Sabbath with a rough punk spirit, all bound up in a beer-stained check shirt. Unfortunately they seemed dogged by bad luck, as none of their records got the proper exposure they deserved, but man do they still stand up! Here's some more TAD goodness:




Stumblin Man: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAMXakcYVLU
Trash Truck: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csmybgZLK8M
High On The Hog: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lE5APzEKsFY



Anyway, there's an amazing documentary on TAD called "Busted Circuits and Ringing Ears" that was made in 2008. It features some very candid commentary on the Seattle scene from the likes of Mark Arm of Mudhoney, Pavitt & Poneman from Sub Pop, Krist Novoselic, and an amazingly youthful looking Chad Channing. Here's the trailer (if you have any interest in alternative music then this film is a must):



Tad Doyle is still making music, now it's some fierce doom-metal as Brothers Of The Sonic Cloth, which you can hear over at his website www.taddoyle.com. You can also buy the DVD there, and some other cool shit. Unfortunately the older TAD records seem to be out of print, but word on the grapevine is that producer Jack Endino has a remixed version of the "God's Balls" album ready to drop, if only Sub Pop records feel there's a demand for the re-release. So send them an email asking for it: info@subpop.com

Countdown to FUCKNO: Part 14 Blood of The Bull

We've blogged about Blood of the Bull once before, and just to recap, Divorce guitarist Hillary Vanscoy makes alt-rock darkness that's so beautiful.

I just came across a review I never got round to publishing previously of her EP Four Small Bodies (Winning Sperm Party) so thought I'd post it as part of the lead up. If you dig, go check the Winning Sperm Party site out and stick around for her contribution to FUCKNO at the end of the month.

Blood of the Bull - Four Small Bodies.

Lofi recordings, mini-albums, seriously dark music. These are all things that have little place within the commercial distribution sphere, and coincidentally, they’re also three of the main characteristics of the Winning Sperm Party ‘net label / music blog‘s releases. In the past, we’ve been given Ultimate Thrush’s 16 minute, ten track album, Weenliz’ home-recorded, circuit-bending noise-core, and Plaaydoh. ‘Nuff Said.

Their latest release, Blood of the Bull’s “Four Small Bodies” is a raw and introspective lost highway into the mind of Divorce guitarist Hillary VanScoy. Basically, it’s everything you‘d expect not to sell; Slow-grinding, alt-rock headfucks combined with a dark lyrical bent, sludgy riffs and serial-killer atmospherics. For those who don’t know Divorce; Ten-tons-heavy NoWave punk, tight as fuck, lyrically brutal, signed to Optimo, lethal live. Blood of the Bull kicks off with Flick, a lofi grinder that combines super fuzzed guitars, vocals tenuously circling melody and a stooges-esque raw drum sound. Repeating this incessantly would get boring, but two more of the same sit comfortably and are potent enough to keep the listener interested.

It’s the final track, Be Mine, that really kicks in though; it’s slow-grinding, minor key, and as dark as it’s precursors. The off-time, spoken word vocals drag the listener in though, slowly recounting a partner waking up and describing his dream. It’s as deep or as meaningless as whatever you choose to invest in it, but the melody and drive make for compelling listening.

It’s not a world-shattering EP, but to contextualise the brutality of Divorce, or simply to give you something to trip to in the dark hours, Four Small Bodies’ well worth the bandwidth.