The first thing to point out about this release is the fact that it is totally DIY. Everything about it just looks awesome for a first release by not only a young band but also a screamo band, entirely capturing the 90's screamo feel. From the seemingly dollar store bought blank tapes with printed out stickers on them, to the photocopied lyrics sheet, to the little hand made bags that the jewel case fits nicely into. Its amazing! I'm kinda jealous I hadn't thought of something like this. The artwork for the actual tape is pretty awesome as well. Nice and simplistic with an interesting piece of artwork in black and white. Enough about the packaging let's move onto the music. The music definitely reflects its casing. The recording quality is exactly what you'd expect from this kind of release, especially it being in tape form. Another throw back to early 90's hardcore screamo. It sounds like they recorded this in a basement live off the floor. Everything is lo-fi and mixed to sound like it was destined for a tape release. Yet what you're looking for is still remarkably clear. The guitar tone is pretty true to the style, light distortion, trebly and complimented well by the drums which come out rather clear on this recording. Which I for one was greatful for cause the drums are amazing. Tight as fuck, fast, weird time signatures. If you are a fan of La Quiete, Pg.99, Orchid then you should check these guys out. The vocals really remind me of early Loma Prieta stuff. The tape has 5 pretty fast running tracks on it that speed right through in not much time at all but in case you stepped out of the room or missed something if you flip over the tape you can listen to the whole thing all over again! As I'm pretty sure you'll want to if this kinda shit is your bag like it is mine!
-Gary
Gottesmorder - ST Tape EP
Considering I've taken forever to finally start these reviews and the fact that I just picked up so many goodies while in Europe I decided to start with Something from this pile. Also considering these young lads are about to release their first full length LP very soon I figured this would be as good a time as any to review their EP tape which I grabbed from them while playing a few shows with them across the pond.
The EP regrettably only holds two songs, one per side, but considering the atmosphere and length of the songs it feels like so much more. It also makes you wish you had so much more of their material so you can keep listening! Gottesmorder combine what I feel is a perfect ensemble of post rock atmosphere, black metal brutality and sludge grotesqueness. They really set themselves apart from your usual new wave black metal band. I don't even know if it’s fair to call them a black metal band. While they do have a similar atmosphere to black metal I feel it has almost more of a depressing tone to it, it lacks the inevitable triumphant climax that I've noticed in the few black metal artists I've actually listened to (yes I know it seems a little ridiculous for someone who doesn't really listen to black metal to review what is suppose to be a black metal album), and this is where I get the post rock feel. Mind you they do use classic black metal instrumentation to achieve their beautifully crafted atmospheric setting.
The production on this album is pretty amazing. Everything is made to sound enormous. They've decided to ditch the early black metal 'I just recorded in a small stone room with one microphone that had suffered severe water damage' production and went with a more polished sludge metal style. But not too polished. The drums are tastefully mixed to sound nice a roomy but are still pretty defined. The guitar tone is pretty accurately captured cuts through the album pretty well but where this record really shines in my eyes is the bass tone. It is so pronounced and full sounding, I fucking love it. The only thing I would criticize on this record is the vocals seem to be pretty low and a little lost in the mix. This might be in part on the deep tone of everything including the vocals but regardless the vocals are definitely still there and sound powerful. All in all a great release keep your eyes pealed for this bands LP which should be out soon. You won’t regret it.
-Gary
