The holidays are upon us, so for the third year in a row, I
have a top 10 noise rock albums of the year list. This year I heard a little over 30 noise rock
albums (for some reason I never got around to properly listening to the new
Shellac or Oozing Wound albums though). Again,
this year there was some seriously great releases in the genre and making this
list was pretty difficult, as not every good noise rock album could make the
list (sorry Doomsday Student).
That said, here’s the list:
10) Silent Front-
Trust
A good opening track goes a long way for an album; Trust’s “Mechanical Grip” is a great one
whose only fault is it almost overshadows the rest of the album. The vocals here sound extremely similar to
Zebras’ 2012 self-titled to the point where I have a hard time not writing a
whole review simply drawing comparisons.
Overall, if you are looking for noise rock that has its
roots in metal, this may be right up your alley.
9) Fashoda Crisis-
Almost Everyone is Entirely Average at Almost Everything
Here are the highlights:
Reminds me of Mclusky, good range of sounds, sometimes the lyricism needs work,
but you’ll have that.
What really matters is why this album is on the list. At times I do find moments that are miss in
some of these tracks, but I think tracks like “Postanova” and “A Eulogy of
Sorts” showcase this bands potential.
Also, I can make a pretty similar statement for Mclusky too. Despite this, the songwriting is just really
well done and Futures of the Left should
take notes.
8) The Great Sabatini-
Dog Years
This album is some noise-core that definitely has its roots
in metal. Still, the album rocks. Right from the get-go, The Great Sabatini bring an onslaught of sound. As the album progresses though, they take a
few steps to move their sound out of the traditional metal sound. “Periwinkle War Hammer” is more rhythm focused,
and the acoustic “Aleka” comes most unexpectedly.
You can purchase/ stream it in full Here.
7) Braining- Peel Off
The Coating
Technically an EP, but I loved it, so it’s on the
list. Maybe it’s the vocalist’s range
and style, or maybe it is just that this entire album feels so loud;
regardless, from start to finish the album does a fantastic job of hooking the
listener and reeling them in.
I could take the time to write a longer review, but the
whole album is 10 minutes, so just take the time and listen to it yourself.
6) Bukkake Moms- The
Chronic
If I were to go back and revise my 2013 noise rock list,
Bitch Teeth would be on there.
Unfortunately I did not hear their 2013 effort, Fukkstorm, until early this year.
But, for fans of Arab on Radar, I would recommend that cassette over any
of AoR’s offshoot’s.
Bukkake Moms is Rick Eye’s (of Bitch Teeth) main band and The Chronic is their seventh album. Like many artists in the no-wave/noise rock
scene, Bukkake Mom’s often mix absurdest lyricism with sexual themes, and tend
to pull it off fairly well.
When compared to their previous works, the Chronic currently stands as their magnum opus. The vocalist seems to have mastered his
delivery style, and this album finds a nice balance between no-wave and structured
sounds and occasionally delivering some extremely catchy songs (I’m looking at
you “Crime School”).
Take a listen below to “Crime School” and then pop on over
to their Bandcamp where you can stream the whole album and purchase a CD.
5) Big Black Cloud-
Lessons in Fuck You 2
At the start of this album, I always think of Arab on Radar,
but really, after you get a minute or so in, Big Black Cloud come into their
own sound: loud, angular riffs thrown over a relentlessly pulsing bass
drum. One of the best surprises on this
album is that the group is comfortable with instrumental tracks and has them strewn
in throughout.
Sometimes this band reminds me of a more relaxed Oozing
Wound, and sometimes a more relaxed punk outfit. They are a mix of punk and metal, but the best
of both parts: never too heavy or too loud.
“Disappointment” is probably the best track to listen to if
you want to check the band out, so I have it embedded below.
4) York Factory
Complaint-Lost In the Spectacle
This album definitely caught me by surprise. Harsh static drones,
industrial electronics, overdriven vocals: Lost
in the Spectacle is like bastard child of Wolf Eyes and Sunn O))). If that either sounds off-putting to you, or
you don’t know either of those artists, than this probably is not a release for
you. If that sounds like something up
your alley, however, then this will probably be an album you don’t want to
miss.
Lost in the Spectacle
is quite literally that; a spectacle. By
the time the listener is even halfway through the album, is continual droning
begins to sink in. As “Commodified”
begins, the album slowly switches from attempting to scare you off to
entrancing the listener.
3) Animal Lover-
Guilt
This 12” made it into my top three because it is probably
the best example of ‘noise rock’ that I can think of from the year. I mean every good noise rock buzz word needs
used when describing them: ‘Dissonant’, ‘angular guitar riffs’, ‘sharp/metallic
tone’, well you get the point. When I
begin writing my review of this album I found myself having a hard time
choosing which tracks to point out because this album is consistently good. “Lucky Pastures” showcases some of the best
song writing in noise rock this year and “Neighbors” is a great closer for the
album.
The album is under 20 minutes, and well worth your
time. Stream it below and check out their Bandcamp where you can also purchase a live cassette version.
2) Cowards- World
Champions in Male Chastity
After I wrote up a full review of this album earlier this
year praising how great it was, the band emailed asking how I had found
them. Sadly I imagine that was because
how little love this album got this year.
Well, regardless, I suggest everyone take a moment to check out this
band as they are the best new noise rock act of the year, bar none. The male/female vocal combination works
great, as does the mixing of spoken/sung lyrics over tracks that seem to be
folding in on themselves and collapsing.
I already wrote up a pretty lengthy review Here, but really
I suggest you don’t bother reading it and instead just listen to the album.
1) White Suns- Totem
Sinews was great,
and Totem was the next logical step for
White Suns’ journey into the noise-filled abyss. Totem
starts out attempting to overwhelm the listener with an assault of sound. This seems almost intentional, however, given
that the listener needs to be aware of how abrasive moments will be on the
album. Really, the best moments on this
album are not those previously described, but the moments in between, where
White Suns create a buildup of tension on the listener, who knows that at any
moment the sound may collapse into an absolute chaos.
Even in its most silent moments, Totem is able to carry a heavy weight to its sound. This album is captivating, and the poetic
lyrics, while minimal, become quite poignant.
I think many listeners will agree “My guide’s face is made of mirrors,
my guide’s face looks like my fathers” is a truly memorable moment in this
album, and too few albums today have such a memorable moment.
