Non-Strings Roundup #3: The Unknown

Every once in a while I upload a few things that don't have string instruments. This batch is of bands that I've stumbled upon and really enjoy, but, as far as I can tell, are not very well known (judging by listeners on Last.fm; not necessary a good metric but oh well).

Pay For Progress - Demo (2013)

Epic crust with dual male/female vocals from Russia. Both of the vocalists have really unique voices that I can't get enough of. This is going to be a longer-than-usual write-up as I don't think that I can hype this band enough. Their 3 song demo was released on Bandcamp, but they also have various other demo recordings floating around the internet, and, if they are indicative of what's to come, I have no doubt that their next release is going to be phenomenal.

I've included both a link to the demo and a download of the various other recordings that I've found online. Make sure to download the VK rips and listen to all of them as they are pretty varied (but are all fantastic). Also note that the "Репетиция (Decline)" track is not the full song, but you can see a live video of the full track on the band's VK.

Similar to: Axidance

listen | download the demo (Bandcamp) | download the vk rips (MP3 320, VK)
bandcamp | vk

Psykos - Hospitalsgården (2010)

Post-rock/crust from Sweden. This is a band that I can find almost zero information about, but they are one of the very, very few that I've found that try to mix post-rock and crust. Stumbled across it on Bandcamp a while back and have been enjoying it ever since.

listen | download (Bandcamp) | bandcamp | myspace

Flagelo - Demo (2012)

One-man melodic crust/neocrust band from Brazil. I don't have much information about this band either, and, unfortunately, the tracks are streaming-only, but I hope to hear more from this guy, as these two demo tracks are really, really great.

listen | download (MP3 128, Bandcamp stream rip) | bandcamp

Hvøsch - Demo 'Repetition I Happy Lobster' (2013)

Epic crust from Russia. If you like Owsla-era Fall of Efrafa, you will (probably) enjoy Hvøsch, as this is about as close to Fall of Efrafa worship as I've ever heard. Lucky for me, that is right up my alley.

Update: Since their initial demo, Hvøsch have tweaked their sound in a more black metal direction and dropped the crust. I've uploaded the original demo here if anyone is interested.

Similar to: Fall of Efrafa, Vestiges

listen | download (Bandcamp) | bandcamp | vk

Non-Strings Roundup #2: Not Quite Strings

Every once in a while I upload a few things that don't have string instruments. This batch is of bands/albums with unique/unusual instruments that aren't bowed string instruments. If you know of any other crust bands that fit this theme, let me know.

State Of Minefields - Demo (2011) [accordion]

Female-fronted crust with accordion from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. This download only includes the tracks from their demo that are available on Bandcamp, I'm pretty sure the actual demo has more tracks but I haven't been able to track them down.
Update: A blog reader provided a link to the full demo; updated the download link below.
Update #2: All the tracks from the demo have been put on State Of Minefields' Bandcamp

listen | download (MP3 320) | bandcamp | myspace | facebook

They Eat Their Own God - Demonstration (2011) [theremin]

Blackened crust/anarcho/neocrust with a theremin from Columbia, South Carolina, USA. The theremin tends to sound a bit like whale calls.

listen | download (MP3 V0, Bandcamp) | bandcamp | facebook

Axidance - Split with Gattaca (2012) [synthesizer]

Blackened/epic neocrust from Russia with dual male/female vocals; the synth on this album sounds extremely similar to a string instrument. Axidance is one of my favorite bands and their whole discography is well worth checking out. You can download all of their music for free from their Bandcamp.

listen | download (MP3 V0, Bandcamp) | bandcamp | facebook | youtube | myspace

Al-Thawra - Edifice (2010) [traditional middle-eastern instruments]

Experimental crust/anarcho-punk/taqwacore from Chicago with various traditional Middle-Eastern instruments like the derbake and buzuq. Al-Thawra's previous album, Who Benefits From War?, was posted on the blog a while ago as it includes violin in addition to the Middle-Eastern instruments.

listen | download (MP3 192, Unknown) | facebook | blogspot | tumblr | twitter | youtube | myspace

Non-Strings Roundup #1

First, a bit of an update about what's been going on. I haven't been updating the blog nearly as much as I'd like. Hopefully I'll be able to make more regular updates from now on. I have accrued a pretty sizable list of screamo bands with strings, so don't be surprised if there is a long string of screamo posts in the near future.

Also, I recieved a strike on my Mediafire account from, of all things, the Aus-Spotten/Fractura split. I never would have expected a strike from a split between two bands that no longer exist, which was released by record labels that no longer exist. Don't know how or why that happened, but hopefully it doesn't happen again. However, I'm only going to re-upload the Aus-Spotten split once I have a chance to get a copy of it and rip it myself. Update: re-uploaded

Now, about this post: I thought every once in a while I'd upload a few things that I've been enjoying, but that don't have string instruments. Here's the first batch:

La Ligne Maginot - Self-Titled 2xLP (2010)

Austrian female-fronted epic crust/sludge/etc with two drummers.

listen | download (MP3 V0, Vinyl) | website

Red Herring - Discography (2006-2008)

Portland folk punk band with banjo/tuba/drums; fronted by Dyanne from the crust band Harum-Scarum. One in the very short list of folk punk bands I like, and they somehow seem not to be well known at all

Included: Faster Moving Forward, Interacting Cautiously, Warning / Building Blocks

listen | download (MP3 V0, Vinyl) | last.fm

Sin & Spinewrench - No Rest For The Wicked Split (1992)

A very interesting split; both bands are industrial projects of crust bands, with Sin being made up of members of Nausea and Spinewrench being made up of members of Deviated Instinct. I personally like the Spinewrench side better (especially the song "Three More Nails"), but the whole thing is definitely worth checking out

listen | download (MP3 256, Unknown)

Boneblack - Self-Titled (2011)

Female-fronted crust from Canada that broke up in 2011. Two members (including the vocalist) are now in the anarcho-punk band War Measures, although I can't find very much info about them at all

listen | download (MP3 V0, Vinyl) | website

Collapse - Discography (2011-2012)

Female-fronted neocrust from Florida. I was very sad to hear that they were breaking up, as their music just kept getting better and better

Update: Members of Collapse are now in the band Landbridge. They play a similar style of crust and are well worth checking out.

Included: Visualize, Scripps, Witch

listen | download (MP3 V0, Bandcamp) | bandcamp

BØREDØM - Discography (as of 2012)

Austrian crust. New album out soon, can't wait

Included: NØMEN EST ØMEN Demo, World Bores To Death, 2 splits

listen | download (MP3 V0, Bandcamp) | website | bandcamp

Khan - The Plague (2012)

Dual female/male fronted crust from Quebec, Canada.

listen | download (MP3 V0, Bandcamp) | buy | facebook | bandcamp

Updated Mar. 12, 2013: Added link to new band with members of Collapse: Landbridge