Aborted - Retrogore

Band:  Aborted
Album:  Retrogore
Country of Origin:  Belgium
Genre:  Death Metal
Release Date:  April 22, 2016
Label:  Century Media

Retrogore by the Belgian death metal band Aborted is, by my count, their 9th full length.  Factor in their numerous splits, EPs, and demos, and you have quite an impressive output by these 20+ year veterans of extreme metal.  The album contains 12 tracks, including a short intro track and 11 proper songs.  The album is available in digipack CD format and can be purchased here.   They will be playing live at a number of festivals (mostly in Europe) beginning in July.

Before I get into what the album sounds like, I feel it important to give a brief rundown on my own musical preferences.  The key point is that I am not a fan of death metal.  I find it generally boring and unimaginative.  I tend to not like the vocals or bludgeoning style of the composition.  There is however, a growing list of exceptions.  This band and this album are definitely on that list of exceptions.  I just want my readers to understand what it means for me to speak so highly of this album.

One of the outcomes of not being much of a death metal fan is that I don't have a wealth of comparison points in writing about Retrogore.  I don't have any other bands with whom I can compare the album.  I do have the Aborted albums Necrotic Manifesto and the Termination Redux EP in my collection, both of which are well done (the former especially), but I can't even compare to "classic" Aborted.  I'm left with talking about impressions and trying to describe the sounds I hear.

Retrogore is a relentless album which grabs you by the throat and drags you along full tilt from beginning to end.  The five piece from Belgium never let up in their ferocious attack.  The parts of songs which do slow down a bit are there merely to give you a comparison point so you don't become numb to the violence of the aural attack.  The guitar work is riff after riff of high energy terror with excellently placed and well composed brief solos sprinkled in throughout.  I don't think of death metal as the place for guitar solos and I even think that the genre would be weakened by a ton of noodling.  However, the length, intensity, violence, and sparsity of the solos here are brilliantly conceived.  The drumming is brutal, but never falls into the common death metal trap of repetitiveness.  Bedene has some serious creative and technical chops on the drum kit.  Vocals are another area where death metal often falls short for me, but again Aborted breaks the mold.  The vocals are varied and vicious, generally positively adding to the negative atmosphere being created.  The bass is not prominent in the mix, but enough can be heard to know that van der Wal can keep rhythm and add intensity.  I'm certain there is more going on there, but I think I'd need to watch him play live to really catch it.

Edit:  I found the following quote on Metal Archives:  "The band supports 'Metalheads against Racism' action."  Just one more reason to support them!  

Recommendation:  For any fan of extreme metal, not just death metal fans, this one's a keeper.  Go get it.

Rating:  4/5

Back From the Dead

When I pulled the plug on this endeavor about ten months ago, I was pretty bummed, but I was also pretty sure that I couldn't continue maintaining the radio show, the blog, the Facebook page, and the other activities in which I involved Rage and Frustration.  I think that is still true, but I also learned that I really need some sort of connection to music.  It is just necessary to who I am.  I have kept my fingers in the water by making and enlarging my connections in what is actually a really cool DIY scene where I live.  I'm a little bummed I didn't find it sooner and a big shout out to the members of Dahkma for helping me find my way a bit.  So here's the deal:  I'm back...sort of.  I plan to be as involved as I can be.  I plan to get back on the radio (if Ryno will have me), but not on any set schedule.  When I can prep a show, I'll ask Ryno to find a time to let it run, and then post it as a podcast here as well.  I plan to write album reviews.  Some weeks I might write 5 in a week and then go 3 weeks without any.  I plan to write about shows I attend.  Lots and lots of shows.

I have  also found someone to help me out in this endeavor, at least with review writing.  My buddy Credible has agreed to do some writing again.  I plan to rope him into this as far as I can.  Just don't tell him that...he might run for the hills.  I think there are some pretty exciting things in the works.  I have four album reviews currently formulating and might get some of them written this week.  I have a concert on May 7th (and maybe one this weekend if I can get out).  I'll definitely write about those.  More than anything else, I hope this can turn into a conversation with others who love music.

A Sad Goodbye

Well friends, after over a year of intermittently trying to make this work, I have come to the sad conclusion that my other responsibilities (full time teacher with at risk youth, parent of three) do not allow me to devote the time I need to this radio program.  I'm even late in putting this notice up as there hasn't been a show in three weeks and a real, play listed show in longer than that.  To be honest, I wasn't having fun anymore either.  Listening to music had become a chore.  I found I was listening to music for the show all the time.  While I love much of that music, I have many other musical tastes as well.  Well I was in a mellower mood, I couldn't listen to bluegrass or indie rock, because I was always prepping for the next episode.  I'm so glad I have had this opportunity, and thank you for rocking along with me.  Over my summer break I will attempt to archive the last of my episodes.  Thanks so much to Ryno for letting me try this venture and for his graciousness every time I had to step away from it.  Tune in to his show on Friday nights for some excellent Creative Commons music.  Thanks to Craig Maloney who does the Open Metalcast (can be found on iTunes), who opened my eyes to CC music, who put me in touch with Ryno, and who has always supported the show.  Thanks to all the bands I interviewed and those who worked hard to get an interview together to have it fall through.  Thanks to Mel Arise and the rest of Santa Marta Golden for providing the theme song for the show, for a great interview, and for being true supporters.  Thanks to all of you whom I don't know, but who have diligently listened and supported the show.  Keep supporting your local and underground scenes!

Episode 48 - A Surprise Feature

Tonight, I get to play an unreleased track by Dakhma.  I'm pretty excited.  The track will be released on their new album Raze this Friday March 6th at the Tree House of Horror in Grand Rapids, MI.  Here is their whole tour line-up with Old Soul.  Check them out when they come to your town.  You won't be disappointed.

3/6 - Grand Rapids, MI @ thoh
3/7 - Appleton, WI @ tba 
3/8 - Galesburg, IL@ Glory Day Barbershop
3/9 - Cincinnati, OH @ Cide Central
3/10 - Atlanta, GA @ tba
3/11 - Ft. Myers, FL @ Nice Guy Pizza
3/12 - Tampa, FL @ Cat Quastle
3/13 - Asheville, NC @ Skanktuary
3/14 - ????, TN @ tba
3/15 - Kalamazoo, MI @ Bespin House

Here's a link to the tour:  https://www.facebook.com/events/876120402411318

Here's a link to the Grand Rapids release party:  https://www.facebook.com/events/1408794809415627

And now, on with the show:

1. Yi by Santa Marta Golden from El Fallo Humano CC - BY - NC - SA 0:00 
2. Mental Health Industrial Complex by Recreant from Still Burn CC - BY - NC 2:27 
3. Alright, We Fight! by Louis Lingg and the Bombs from Alphabet of a Revolution Punk CC - BY - NC 5:13 
4. MORIRE SOLDADO 3 by Accidente from Amistad y rebelion CC - BY - NC - ND 7:56 
5. Frith's Blessing by Arroyo Deathmatch from All of Them Witches CC - BY - NC - SA 10:04 
6. Jesteś punk by NO SE from Moralny upadek systemu wartości CC - BY - NC - SA 13:43 
7. The Eyes of the World Are Upon You by Thou from Ceremonies of Humiliation CC - BY 15:49 
8. Rhuma by Kennel from E a vostra immagine e somiglianza Hardcore CC - BY - NC - ND 26:09 
9. Elephant by The Armed from These Are Lights CC - BY - NC - SA 28:47 
10. Man With A Broken Nose by Locktender from Rodin CC - BY - NC 32:11
11. Islands by Autonomadic from Lies, Fear, and Hate CC - BY - NC - SA 44:16 
12. Vengeance by Protestant from In Thy Name CC - BY - NC 45:59 
13. They died because of you by axidance from split w/ abyssal & doomsday & rivers run dry CC - BY - NC - ND 50:11 
14. FLAIL IN THE BLISS by Plebeian Grandstand from Lowgazers CC - BY - NC - SA 54:51 
15. rien by Dakhma from s/t CC - BY - NC - ND 59:33 
16. Scars by Dakhma from Raze CC - BY - NC - ND 1:03:43
17. Kronstadt by Iskra from Bureval CC - BY - NC - ND 1:15:37 
18. The Weakness by Anagnorisis from Overton Trees CC - BY - NC - ND 1:18 42 
19. From the Kettle Onto the Coil by Deafheaven from Adult Swim Singles Program 2014 CC - BY - NC - ND 1:26:25 
20. Ursa by BeneathTheValley from BeneathTheValley CC - BY - NC - ND 1:33:01 
21. II by Ivpiter from Black Metal CC - BY 1:41:20 
22. Erase by Back To R'lyeh from Awakening / Last Fight of the Primordial CC - BY - NC - ND 1:42:51
23. The Pebble and the Stone by Muldjord from The Color of My Soul CC - BY - NC - ND 1:46:37 
24. Binary Fuel by Crowbra from Prologus CC - BY - ND 1:51:35 
25. Becoming the Storm by Obsidian Tongue from Volume I: Subradiant Architecture CC - BY - NC 2:00:27 
26. Ghost Light by Galaktik Cancer Squad from Ghost Light CC - BY - NC 2:09:13 
27. Closure by The Wings of Icarus from The Wings of Icarus CC - BY - NC - SA 2:16:12 
28. Tu N'es Pas Mort, Coquin? by Judicator  from King of Rome  CC - BY - NC - ND 2:21:03 
29. Parasites by LOST WORLD ORDER from Parasites CC - BY - NC - ND 2:26:27 
30. Temple Of The Blazemen by Death Tide from Raze The Halls Of Celmeresfort CC - BY - NC - ND 2:31:59 
31. Ultimas gotas by Kain from Caín (demo'04) CC - BY - NC - ND 2:37:15 
32. El primer dia by Posession from Spiritual Sirius CC - BY - NC - ND 2:40:37 
33. Лжец (Liar) by PLATZDARM from Сквозь стекло (Through The Glass) CC - BY - NC - SA 2:44:09 
34. Mouth Full Of Blood by Forever Wasted  from Skruta / Foible Instinct / Forever Wasted - Split CC - BY - NC - SA 2:50:58 
35. Pandemia by 466/64 from 10" Split with Under Vultures  CC - BY - NC - ND 2:58:36 

Thanks for listening.  If they are coming your way, go check out Dakhma.  They will melt your face live.  Until next time...

Episode 47 - A Boost of Adrenaline

The music this week is all over the place.  There some black, death, doom, crust, and much, much more.  I set the playlist so you get a boost of adrenaline at the end with some crusty, grindy, hardcore punky goodness.  Let me know what you think.

1. Yi by Santa Marta Golden from El Fallo Humano CC - BY - NC - SA 0:00 
2. Latidos by Kain from Génesis 4/16 CC - BY - NC - ND 2:27 
3. Execution Nightmare by Else from Death Strike CC - BY - NC - SA 5:54 
4. No return by Downfall from Downfall CC - BY - NC - ND 10:47 
5. Sea of Fire by Judicator from Sleepy Plessow CC - BY - NC - ND 15:36 
6. distante del mundo by CORTEX from Metal-Libre (Compilation Vol.3) CC - BY - NC - SA 21:01 
7. Héroe by Santa Marta Golden from El Fallo Humano CC - BY - NC - SA 23:37 
8. Redwood Republic by Amattr from Black Dawn CC - BY - NC - SA 28:00 
9. Ocean by Judd Madden from Waterfall CC - BY - NC - ND 34:23 
10. Themes Of Possession by Green Eternity from P.O.S. CC - BY - NC - SA 47:29 
11. Cast into the Shade by Deprived of Light from Coloured Death CC - BY - NC 2:02:30 
12. Parasit by Herlathing from Alva Und Die Nachtgespenster CC - BY - NC 1:08:41 
13. Majesty in Mystery by Dead Hills from Purgatory / Winds of Time CC - BY - NC - ND 1:12:59 
14. L'Abîme du Guide by Verlies from Le Domaine des Hommes CC - BY - NC 1:23:12 
15. The Art Of Warfare (Bonus) by Frostbitten from In The Shadows Of Salvation CC - BY - SA 1:30:16 
16. Balada o snu (pt. II) by MARNOST from Balada o snu (rehearsal demo 2012) CC - BY - NC - SA 1:34:12 
17. Hypnose by Galaktik Cancer Squad from Ghost Light CC - BY - NC 1:42:57 
18. Birth of the Pariah by Anagnorisis from Overton Trees  CC - BY - NC - ND 1:58:02 
19. Desert of Aeons by Steamforged from Fractured Singularity CC - BY - NC - ND 2:02:38 
20. Behind a Life Side by Cryogenic Implosion from Creation of the New World CC - BY - NC - SA 2:06:58 
21. Loneliness Dances in the Gorgon's Stare by Thou from Ceremonies of Humiliation CC - BY 2:11:03 
22. Hate Breeds Hate by Muldjord from Hate Breeds Hate CC - BY - SA 2:19:39 
23. Encircled by The Binary Code from NYC Sucks, Volume 1 CC - BY - NC - ND 2:23:58 
24. Resurrection (Fear Factory Cover) by The Neologist from The Greatest Heavy Metal Cover Album in the Galactic History of the Planetary Solar System  CC - BY 2:28:24 
25. End Of Recording by C/A/T from The Great Crisis CC - BY - NC - ND 2:34:59 
26. Seed  by ObsKure from Demo 2011 CC - BY 2:36:13 
27. Still Burn by Recreant from Still Burn CC - BY - NC 2:40:25 
28. world full of shit by BLUDGEONED from no future for mankind CC - BY - NC - SA 2:42:09 
29. Leviathan by humanhostbody from 4 Song Demo Crust CC - BY - NC - SA 2:45:37 
30. The Missionary by Autonomadic from The Missionary CC - BY - NC - SA 2:50:15 
31. Dragons of Eden by Per Aspera from Per Aspera CC - BY 2:52:07 
32. Mi vida en 30 segundos by Josemaki Grind Orchestra from Del fatalismo al optimismo desbordado (en 20 segundos) CC - BY - NC - SA 2:53:58 
33. Deny Everything [Circle Jerks] by Cursed Altar from The Footsteps We Have Left Behind: Discography [2011 - 2013] CC - BY- NC 2:54:30 
34. In Which The Guitarist Is Savaged By Butterflies by Pentecostal Chip Shop Holocaust from [FW058] ?! - remixed by Katarrhaktes CC - BY - NC - SA 2:55:00 
35. Kansan"edustajat" elää sun rahoillas by Psykoanalyysi from Vitutus EP CC - BY 2:56:22 
36. Will We All Stop Growing? by Wood Spider from Decadence CC - BY - SA 2:57:01 

I hope you enjoyed.  Remember, support your local and underground scenes.  Go to shows.  Buy merch and music.  Together we are the scene.

Episode 46 - The Next 27

A little over a week ago, you heard my best of 2014 list, at least the top 25.  Here are the next 27 from the list.  There is some overlap as I've included the honorable mentions which were played.  I made sure to use a different song.  I ended up with 27 as the number I could fit.  Here you go:

1. Yi by Santa Marta Golden from El Fallo Humano CC - BY - NC - SA 0:00 
2. AIMLESS ROAMING by Plebeian Grandstand from Lowgazers CC - BY - NC - SA 2:27 
3. Desert Devils by Rail Yard Ghosts from Blackgrass CC - BY - ND 8:00 
4. II: Resistance by Cuscuta from A Receding Wild CC - BY - NC - ND 10:28 
5. Excrucio by Hexis from Primitive Man / Hexis Split 10" CC - BY - NC 31:13 
6. Disharmonious Sun by Nelly Olsen from Nelly Olsen CC - BY - SA 39:33 
7. Chaotic Evil Outsider by Magma Dragon from Full Attack Action CC - BY - NC 50:50 
8. Condition humana by Ancst from split w/ Smuteční slavnost CC - BY - NC - SA 55:49 
9. Quebranta by Arida from Cenizas CC - BY - NC - ND 57:54 
10. Part I: ropes in a river by ryvulet from s/t tape CC - BY - NC - SA 1:01:00 
11. Moth Bites by Arroyo Deathmatch from Through the Fear of It CC - BY - NC - SA 1:10:55 
12. Emission Lines by Judd Madden from Everything In Waves CC - BY - NC 1:15:44 
13. Dirty Black Summer by WITCHES' SABBATH from EP OF THE DEAD CC - BY - NC - ND 1:20:36 
14. Desmembrado by El Hambre from Split EP El Hambre CC - BY - NC - ND 1:25:02 
15. Eternally Strong by Gods of Fire from Wrath of the Gods CC - BY - NC - SA 1:26:41 
16. Wrathfully Trodden by Grst from Plague Seed CC - BY 1:32:52 
17. III by Ishmael from Second Perception CC - BY - NC 1:43:02 
18. Elder Giants by Sun Worship from Elder Giants CC - BY - NC - SA 1:54:00 
19. Awaken My Love, Our Journey Ends At Nightfall by Frostbitten from A Spiritual Awakening CC - BY - SA 2:04:30 
20. When Nothingness Comes by Omainen from Shades of Grey CC - BY - NC - SA 2:16:46 
21. Intet Håb, Intet Liv by Parasight from Munden Fuld Af Løgn, Lommen Fuld Af Profit LP CC - BY 2:21:53 
22. DEMO 2014 by amphibious pariah from DEMO 2014 CC - BY - NC - SA 2:25:02 
23. Glorious Genocide by Cara Neir from The Overwatch EP CC - BY - NC - ND 2:43:18 
24. Je Suis La Vérité by Distilling Pain from The Silent Collapse CC - BY - NC - SA 2:44:19 
25. Eyes only by Diswar from The world in flames CC - BY - NC 2:49:15 
26. Dancing in shackles by Iprit from Iprit CC - BY - NC 2:50:27 
27. Al Fresco by KLS from Peimmmm!!! CC - BY - NC - ND 2:53:56 
28. Fallen So Far by Landskap from I CC - BY - NC - ND 2:56:25 

I hope you enjoyed.  Remember to support your local and underground scene.  More next week.

Episode 45 - A Trip Down...Memory Lane?

I wasn't entirely sure what to call this episode, due to the interesting mix of genres I ended up with.  However, after doing a little rearranging, I discovered that I had a long stretch of punk, hardcore, and grindcore.  This is really where I started in heavy music (after moving out of an unfortunate hair metal stage and a brief flirtation with two thrash albums).  So, I guess memory lane is as good of a theme as any.  I hope you enjoy.

Be sure to tune in this coming Saturday, February 7th starting at noon Eastern (USA) for a special Best of 2014 episode.  See who Hayduke likes as the best albums of last year.

And now, on with the show...

1. Yi by Santa Marta Golden from El Fallo Humano CC - BY - NC - SA 0:00 
2. Alphabet of a Revolution Final Exam by Louis Lingg and the Bombs from Alphabet of a Revolution CC - BY - NC 2:27 
3. Horror by Lilidollrage from Clarion Call CC - BY - NC - ND 3:29 
4. Urban Graves for Fetal Sharks by Arroyo Deathmatch from Through the Fear of It CC - BY - NC - SA 5:30 
5. Culture of Cowardice by Iskra from Fucking Scum CC - BY - NC - ND 8:27 
6. Te llamo luego que ahora estoy ocupado by Josemaki Grind Orchestra from Indescifrables gritos de frustración misantrópica CC - BY - NC - SA 12:23 
7. Pushing Daisies by The Armed from Young & Beautiful CC - BY - NC - SA 12:56 
8. Áåç âëàñòè by Индульгенция from Global conflict CC - BY - NC - ND 16:11 
9. Ręce na kratach by NO SE from Ręce na kratach CC - BY - NC - SA 18:20 
10. Talking Time by BLOODRED BACTERIA from Bloodred Bacteria CC - BY - NC - ND 20:40 
11. Un Da De Esos by Metal Slug Band from Metal Slug Band Hardcore CC - BY - NC - ND 21:59 
12. impress the girls by erik ponti  from ep CC - BY - NC 23:49 
13. 101 by Autonomadic from Lies, Fear, and Hate CC - BY - NC - SA 25:17 
14. Utilizing Spirit by Spawn From Deceit from Woven Promises - Unraveled Victims CC - BY - NC - SA 26:43 
15. Strah - Live by Intakt from Bacite Ih Zverima + Live In Club Fest CC - BY - NC - SA 28:02 
16. No Red Helmets by ADRENALIZED from Tales from the last generation CC - BY - NC 29:18 
17. Traitor by Minus9 from non-ignorable kill CC - BY - NC - SA 30:00 
18. Prometheus by MagisteriuM from Children of War CC - BY - NC - SA 31:59 
19. Under my Skin by Veils of Perception from Under my Skin (demo) CC - BY - NC - ND 36:22 
20. Arena by ROMAN CASTEVET from 16H! 7" CC - BY - NC 41:36 
21. I by Ivpiter from IIII CC - BY 44:14 
22. A Hollow Victory (Instrumental) by The Great He-Goat from Demo 2012 CC - BY - NC - ND 46:15 
23. Disgust by BeneathTheValley from BeneathTheValley CC - BY - NC - ND 53:34 
24. Fantasibilder (Nasum cover) by Shade Of Mankind from Songs Thou Shall Worship CC - BY - NC 58:19 
25. Loki by Adveniat Hiems from Loki CC - BY - NC - ND 59:14 
26. Aeon I - The great enemy by axidance from split w/ gattaca CC - BY - NC - ND 1:03:57 
27. Porco Dio by Heretica from Ominia Sunt Communia CC - BY - NC - SA 1:13:47 
28. Further South of Hell by Forgotten Cairns from South of Hell CC - BY - NC - SA 1:14:30 
29. Nothingness by Eternal Eclipse from Compilation CC - BY - NC - SA 1:19:38 
30. HARK THE HERALD by JALDABOATH from Hark the Herald CC - BY - NC - ND 1:24:27 
31. Voyage Of Aodh by Bakken from The First Wave: Irish Metal Compilation CC - BY - NC - ND 1:27:55 
32. Immortal Death by JUDGMENT from DISCOGRAPHY (1988-1992) CC - BY - NC - ND 1:35:39 
33. Inside of You by VainHopes from Inside of you CC - BY - ND 1:40:20 
34. The Sleep of Reason by Vin de Mia Trix from Once Hidden From Sight CC - BY - NC 1:44:16
35. Delta Frame by TREITUM from 1936 CC - BY - NC - ND 1:50:19 
36. Tower of the Winds by Nethermost from Alpha CC - BY - NC 1:57:11 
37. Conquered by Worms by Woodrue from Bones, Bile and Black Blood CC - BY - NC - ND 2:01:43 
38. Mind Games by Palko from Dreamers CC - BY - NC - ND 2:10:48 
39. Golubka (Dove) by Risha from Leto (Summer) CC - BY - NC - SA 2:14:52 
40. Phrase 04 - Structure désordonnée d'une tragédie inégalée jusqu'alors by Psygnosis from Phrases ep CC - BY - NC - SA 2:18:53 
41. On the Ground by Soul of the Machine from AUTOSCHISMATIC CC - BY - NC - SA 2:30:14 
42. Demonation by Warden from Demo 2012 CC - BY - ND 2:36:31 
43. Tardo by Lughum from Galaico's Sign CC - BY - NC - SA 2:40:18 
44. Meridian Zero by Psychocean from Luminescence CC - BY - NC - ND 2:45:03 
45. You could laugh forever but never end up happy. by Cloudkicker from Subsume CC - BY 2:51:24 

Thanks for listening.  I hope you'll tune back in on Saturday starting at noon to see who my favorites are from last year.