Tag Archives: grindcore

Byo Noise Generator – Neuromechanica

by Dæv Tremblay

The Music

The Words

Russia’s Byo Noise Generator—stylized as ByoNoiseGenerator—just released their sophomore release: Neuromechanica. The band claims to merge brutal death metal, grindcore, and jazz into a coherent whole, which is an impressive feat if it’s true. But there are a few amendments to make to it.

First of all, the music here on display is indeed brutal and grinding, and the composition, interpretation, and production of it is quite stunning. One thing that sets Byo Noise Generator apart from other similar bands is their permanent use of a saxophonist. Alas, sax does not jazz make, … Read more

Five Pound Pocket Universe –
Brain Bubble Party

by Dæv Tremblay

The Music

The Words

Jazzgrind is one of my all-time favourite musical genres. It’s often very wild, barely tamed, so it goes into whichever direction it wants to go, and changes decision every thirty seconds or so. Swiss trio Five Pound Pocket Universe excels at this, and their debut album Brain Bubble Party is the proof of it.

Not only do they interweave metal, jazz, and grindcore in many aspects of their compositions, they seem to have a certain musical fetish for Japanese music, which also appears out of the blue on some occasions, sprinkled here and there throughout the … Read more

EXCLUSIVE STREAM: Kurushimi Feigns Ignorance on What Is Chaos?

by Dæv Tremblay

Sydney’s improvisation grind-jazz ensemble Kurushimi—or 苦しみ—is a strong musical statement since their self-titled debut in 2016, which I pretty much adored. Whether you call it directed improvisation or a musical game, they fear nothing and owe nothing to anyone.

With What Is Chaos?, the act sees Andrew Mortensen at the helm, and a revolving (and impressive) set of improvisers on their respective instrument. In over an hour of new music, they make hints to many respected and beloved (and sometimes obscure) musicians; from John Zorn to the Kilimanjaro Darkjazz Ensemble to even … Read more

Palm – To Live Is to Die, to Die Is to Live

by Dæv Tremblay

The Music

The Words

Japanese grinding hardcore outfit Palm—not to be confused with their New York counterparts, will soon release To Live Is to Die, to Die Is to Live, a relentless album that’s there to remind you that punk is not dead.

In fact, it’s even more lively than ever, despite its drastic transfiguration. The hardcore and grindcore elements fuse perfectly together, as do the death metal influences here and there too. The result of this is an incredible album that’s here to kick you in the teeth for a little less than forty minutes. Honestly, … Read more

Facegrinder – Kugelblitz

by Dæv Tremblay

The Music

The Words

If the name itself of the band—Facegrinder, Face. Grinder. GRINDER OF FACES—doesn’t invoke visceral sentiments, or if the album’s title, Kugelblitz—a black hole made of pure energy—, doesn’t resonate with higher orbital levels, then let the music speak for itself. The Perthbound deathgrind trio just released one of the big titles for today’s grinding repertoire.

The band’s sound is harsh, raw-sounding; thanks, in part, to the absence of a bass guitar to the mix, giving the wall of sound a razor sharp quality that often is a hallmark of grindcore as a genre. … Read more