The blog was simply coined aversionline.com and had thousands of loyal readers who I can only imagine visited the site just as often as I did. Andrew's endeavours were hugely influential in me starting Halifax Collect. "Since 'quitting' in early-2012, I've found that it's more fun/enjoyable to just listen to music without worrying about how to discuss it," says Andrew, and this is something I believe that a lot of music writers struggle with. I know this feeling all too well. "I do miss being able to introduce people to new music, though. That's what I really enjoy." And here we are. It's been nearly two years.
What you are about to read is based on existing ideas out there - more like a tapestry of well worn fun ideas - channeled through and expanded by Aversionline's and Halifax Collect's chief nerds. So without further ado, I give you the Halifax Collect / Aversionline Mystery Grab Bag!
Rules and workings:
Andrew and Birkir send choice cuts to one another via untitled mp3 files eschewing any information. They are not to know what they are listening to, give each song a few listens and then, pass judgement. Said judgements then get sent to each scribe and then, they'll reveal to one another what they just listened to. The Mystery Grab Bag is the result.
AVERSIONLINE’S TRACKS:
Track 1
Birkir: A Moog? Synth? Keyboard? I’m sold on the mysterious sounding atmospherics here. They sound kind. I’m always willing for something like that. Breathy vocals with quick reverb on ‘em and I’m getting that ‘80s vibe but the prettiness of this sonic melancholia is bitter sweet. "I was thinking about killing myself. Don’t you mind." Very relatable. Brings to mind Killing Joke and Jesu at their most tender. But this song guys, it’s got air and lightness too. I’m being swept away here. Very pretty. Whatever this is, I need much more of it. Edit: So taken was I by this number, I played it twice in a row.
Artist: The 1975
Title: Me
Album: Music for Cars (2013)
Hear It (direct link)
Andrew: I was watching Conan O'Brien awhile back and The 1975 was the musical guest. I had never heard of ‘em, but I totally flipped out. I immediately went online to buy their debut full-length, but it wasn’t out yet. Months later I finally ordered the 2xCD expanded version as soon as it was released, which includes their first four EP’s as well. This song is from their third EP, Music for Cars, and it’s becoming my favorite of their recordings to date. You latched onto the exact same lyric as I did. I don’t identify with the bulk of the lyrical content here, but that line hit me for some reason. This one’s got a really bleak, cinematic atmosphere to it that creates an emotional connection. I could totally envision this being the soundtrack to the most beautifully depressing short film ever. So, so good.
Track 2
Birkir: Guitars sound thin as baking paper. It’s demo o’clock! Holy jumpin'... The drumming is not good on this. Brings back memories of mid to late 90s "evil core." Every song would have tremolo picking, a drummer that had too much on his plate, a dramatic mid-section... That’s what this sounds like; like the "most metal" of the H8000, those odd Florida metalcore bands, Per Koro and Endless Fight records etc. Old In Flames all up in this without these guys having the process to pull it off. But some of the song writing in here isn’t half bad. I bet this is the "Birkir has got to know who this is" track Andrew dusted off for me. That puts a lot of pressure on me to drop knowledge and old-guy anecdotes. So many parts in this song. This kinda stuff wasn’t built to last.
Artist: Disinterment
Title: Godless Symphony
Album: Endless (1997)
Hear It (direct link)
Andrew: Disinterment was local to my area, and I would guess the band is at least somewhat “known” now for having featured Kris Norris and Ryan Parrish before they eventually landed in Darkest Hour (and numerous other bands). The production is absolutely rough but I suppose I barely notice since I’ve been listening to this band since I was in high school. I think the riffs and songwriting on this album are great. And I love the drumming, too! Man, what’s wrong with you!? Ha! It’s somewhat erratic but just crazy hyper. You should at least look up a few other tunes on YouTube. I always thought this band was ahead of the pack, and still think the album deserves more attention
Track 3
Birkir: Huge drums! Ah, the late ‘90s and early ’00s, that’s what this sounds like. I know this band! It’s killing me not having the name for you. Out of sheer respect of this thing I will not cheat and have the internet help me. If Helmet and Handsome had a baby, this would be it. I dig this, certainly, but with all the music that went down in similar vein, this song in particular needs that extra something to cut through the haze (first person to comment on this blog and tell me where I stole that last line from, gets a kiss).
Artist: Daylight
Title: Outside of Me
Album: Jar (2013)
Hear It (direct link)
Andrew: Dude! It’s from this year! Can you believe it!? I just discovered Daylight a few weeks ago through a random tweet from the 100 Words or Less podcast. This was the first song I heard and I just lost my shit. I acquired practically their entire discography within 48 hours (they even have some of the stuff up for free download on Bandcamp). Their earlier material is a little more pop-punk oriented, but on “Jar” they broke out the massive production and grungier songwriting style, and I’m all over it. I guess it’s not the most original thing on the planet, but if it ain’t broke don’t fix it. Songwriting-wise this is a flawless track. Amazing chorus, nice vocal harmonies… I’m sold.
Track 4
Birkir: More 90s! This is my jam. I have no shame when it comes to this style of emotive metallic hardcore. In hindsight, Jesus in my balls, some of the music was such an obnoxious cringe inducing cheesefest. The guitarist here probably fell on his knees a lot at shows. This rules. 108 meets Boy Sets Fire but with more conspicuous metal riffs. I never had the album this is off. Andrew should have sent me A.D., that way I would look super knowledgable. Yeah, you never heard them. No fucking way!
Artist: Sum of All Fears
Title: Enduring the Test of Time
Album: From This Day Forward... (1996)
Hear It (direct Spotify link)
Andrew: I had to include this track because 10 or so years ago I found an old mix tape from my college days and there was only one song on the entire cassette that I could not identify. This was that song. I ended up ripping an mp3 from the cassette and posting it online, where thankfully some kind soul was able to inform me that it was Sum of All Fears. Problem solved! And I still love it. Iffy recording, but pretty much everything about this song really does perfectly exemplify a certain niche of the 90’s hardcore aesthetic that I sorely miss.
Track 5
Birkir: Synth! Slap-bass! First reaction was a big, hearty laugh. Such a crazy contrast to the drama and "expression" that went on before it. Wow. My girlfriend overheard this and said it "sounds like late ‘80s electro pop from the US. This is probably the band that Chromeo got informed by. "I put you out of my mind giiiiiiirl... But I just can’t stay away!" This song is free of slang used in today’s pop, so this has got to be bit old. Proper club banger. Maybe it’s because I’m so excited by this instalment, but I’ve grown fond of this song. I want to hug it. The guy in the song has gotta get over this chick. He’s not himself anymore. Christ!
Artist: Martel
Title: Ricochet
Album: N/A (2012)
Hear It (direct link)
Andrew: Not that old! Last year! This guy is a fucking genius, man. I’m telling you. I don’t listen to much of this kind of stuff at all, but I’ve been following Marty James since the early-2000’s, and I’ve gotta be one of his biggest fans. For no apparent reason whatsoever I was watching Much Music in, probably, 2001 and saw the video for a song called “Aisle 10 (Hello Allison)” by Scapegoat Wax. I liked it just enough to buy the CD for a buck in a used bin, and that was all it took. Scapegoat Wax, One Block Radius, and now his solo stuff as Martel… I’ve got it all, and I absolutely love it. “Ricochet” is my favorite song he’s ever done, and I think the dude should be a god damn millionaire as far as songwriting/producing goes. If I had any kind of influence or pull in the “music industry”, it would be one of my life’s missions to secure this guy the level of massive success he deserves. This is one of the most-played songs in my iTunes library. No joke.
HALIFAX COLLECT'S TRACKS
Track 1
Andrew: Nice, thick drums. Quick buildup. Hmmm, the way the right channel abruptly drops out before the track fully kicks in almost sounds like an error. That drives me a little nuts, but the song starts to kick ass after that. This reminds me quite a bit of Turmoil. Straight up yelling vocals over surging rhythms and discordant riffing that's frantic and chaotic without venturing into grating territory. Powerful and to the point, with just a smidge of chugging hardcore buried in there. Definitely a fan of the production here. Did Kurt Ballou have a hand in this?
Artist: Axis
Title: Eradicate
Album: Split with Self Defense Family (2013)
Hear it (direct link)
Birkir: Axis is probably one of the best bands in the latest 90s metallic hardcore rival. They don’t sound like clowns, they work hard, are a proper band and sing about stuff that matters. Far from being a one trick pony, they teamed up with Self Defense Family for a split release this song is of off. It’s an odd pairing and I like that but knowing what I know about Self Defense Family, I can see why this makes sense for everyone involved. I knew you would be able to sink your teeth into this, put it into the “correct” context without knowing what he was listening to. When you likened them to Turmoil, I knew I’d bet on the right track.
Track 2
Andrew: I'm a huge thrash fan, but to be totally honest with you a lot of the newer stuff just doesn't do much for me. (I'm assuming this is at least relatively "new".) They pepper it with some variety, at least. Portions probably lean more towards a death metal angle. Atypical vocals, too. Higher-pitched than average. I don't know. Decent energy. It's adequate, but not something I would particularly choose to listen to. The bass tone is fuckin' awesome, though. Oddly enough on the first listen the vocals annoyed me, but now I'm starting to think they might be my favorite part. There's an unhinged quality there that could potentially be amazing if the music was a little more direct and intense.
Artist: King Parrot
Title: Bozo
Album: Bite Your Head Off (2013)
Hear it (direct link)
Birkir: I don't get much of a thrash metal feel from this if that's what you are referring to, but it's got plenty of that bulldozing propelling energy and power thrash metal had. King Parrot is one of this year’s discoveries for me. I had no idea who these guys were, but when this album landed in my lap it was like a grenade had gone off. It’s a wild album. So aggressive is this album it feels like my stereos are sweating bullets. The vocals have character and egg me on like few others right now. Like if VOD'S Tim Williams had truly lost his mind. Rarely do new bands have visceral effect on me, but these guys do. That is why I like them. Music to cause damage to. Say you don't like 'em Andrew, you'll at least know a band that has its own sound.
Track 3
Andrew: This one starts out sparse. I guess you could say "post-punk"? Brings to mind Joy Division and Spizzenergi on some level, but then the German (I think?) vocals kick in and the ride begins. I feel like this is either something totally off-the-wall obscure, or something that I should very obviously be familiar with and I'll feel stupid for not having a clue. Whoa. Horns. Unless we're talking Glenn Frey's "You Belong to the City" or Gerry Rafferty's "Baker Street", horns are usually a very bad sign for me, but they actually kinda work here. What a weird, weird song! I love the way it totally changes pace about three minutes in, with melodic references to the first half but under more somber circumstances. Again, probably not something I would reach for by choice, but I definitely have an appreciation for this. Peculiarly cool. I'm really curious to know what the lyrics are about. Whoever the hell this is I will absolutely Google 'em and check out some other tracks based on intrigue alone.
Artist: Grísalappalísa
Title: Kraut í G
Album: Ali (2013)
Hear it (direct link)
Birkir: Grísalappalísa is a much talked about local band. A supergroup of sorts, but then again, when is a new Icelandic band, with seasoned members of anything, not a supergroup? This album evokes mixed emotions in people, including me. The instinct is there for one to berate them for sounding too close to Iceland’s first gen of proper punk and new wave. But that’s just one of the elements. As a whole, there’s more going on than that, especially the unconventional song structures, grinding repetitions and such, which is something your track clearly demonstrates. This worked similarly to what I anticipated; You took all sorts of things from this listen. This band seems to have happened overnight and this album is very recent. Lyrics in Icelandic
Track 4
Andrew: Okay, this is interesting. This is a bit of a head-scratcher. Yeah, you need to tell me who the fuck this is! It's got a Neurosis via Cult of Luna type of plodding heaviness to it, but something about the tonality has a vague black metal aesthetic, too. The vocals are pretty damn harsh, and there's a light dusting of biting distortion hovering over the mix. I can pick out little bits and pieces of the lyrics ("What the hell am I?", it sounds like?) and I get the feeling I'd be a fan. This is one of those bands that takes a lot of familiar elements and somehow manages to blend them up in a way that still feels unique. The track almost starts flirting with some "post-rock" textures midway through, which got me a little worried, but thankfully it veers off into a sparse clean passage instead - eventually blowing back up into the heaviness. The middle segment feels a little underwhelming/unnecessary, and the track kind of meanders afterwards, but it's still solid. The first three-and-a-half minutes are top-shelf incredible, though. I'm certainly interested in hearing more from this group.
Artist: Zatokrev
Title: Goddamn Lights
Album: The Bat, The Wheel and a Long Road to Nowhere (2012)
Hear it (direct link)
Birkir: Switzerland's Zatrokrev, I feel, is a very current sounding band, if I'm are allowed to put it like that. As Andrew would go on to point out, it has that likeable “post metal” (a style/sub-genre Andrew watched closely during its formation), feel to it one can trace to Neurosis and Isis but to me they blow all imitators out of the water by sounding more immense, darker and meaner all the while being truly tuneful. Great band. I knew you'd would dig it. “Goddamn Lights” is off the band’s most recent release.
Track 5
Andrew: You seem to have a thing for bands with slightly unusual, high-pitched vocalists, ha. I really like these vocals. Perhaps over the top, but super intense and effective. Musically I'm generally disinterested in these approaches that almost border on being wild and crazy just for the sake of it, but this is the kind of act that wins me over with fucked up riffs that possess just the right amount of melody and tangible groove. And the writing is compositionally explosive enough that four minutes feels more like two minutes, which is always a plus. Not unlike the last selection: Stylistically familiar, but you can't categorize it. I mean, what the hell is this!? You can't just call it "metal", but it doesn't really have any "-core"-ishness either. Interesting tune. My only complaint here is that the production is too thin, but I'm looking forward to learning what band this is as well.
Artist: In The Company Of Men
Title: Lost In Black
Album: In The Company Of Men (2013)
Hear it (direct link)
Birkir: In The Company Of Men is a local (Iceland) band that I’ve been hesitant to review thoroughly for a cowardly reason; I really like these guys personally and their hard work and enthusiasm and their love for the game is something this country hasn’t seen in years. But the “styles” they meddle in is something I’ve come grow tired of. I have a hard time enjoying it and not get groggy. Groggy to the point I feel like I’m old and jaded and slightly pathetic. But this song I picked for you is the best they have out and their guitarist, Finnbogi, agrees with me. With me liking them so much, I didn’t want to cramp their style, so to speak, by writing a long winded boring-man review of their debut album. So I gave this to you, for you don’t have any personal investment in these guys. “Lost In Black” is off this year’s debut (self titled) by ITCOM.
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