Killbutton - 2009 - Killbutton EP

Rock

[FOR FREE]

http://killbutton.bandcamp.com/album/killbutton

• 4 songs to download
• For free
• Direct Download
• Listening recommendations: My Karma

Impressions

It's time to look into the future. That's right, readers, let's look to the future, all the way to the year two thousand.... and nine, because that's when Killbutton's eponymous EP dropped (and recently popped up in our scouring of bandcamp oddly enough). Though it's been 5 years since Killbutton got together to make rock music, this four track EP still holds up extremely well today, mainly because it doesn't sound like what passes for 'rock' in a mainstream sense today. If I'm honest, it sounds like a band channeling a 90's alternate rock sound through a 2010's lens; 'My Karma' reminds me a lot musically of Ænima/Undertow-era Tool for instance (just listen to that intro and tell me I'm wrong), and the other tracks come off as female-fronted Foo Fighters with Grohl behind the kit. The the vocals are straight forward and earnest, and in being so come up a sounding a little underpowered fronting the harder hitting music behind them (the drummer really gets his moneys worth from the skins). I was waiting for the slyness that Ms. Paz's voice uses quite effectively to erupt into something with emotional edge, but the build up never really comes. It's the same even keel for most of the songs and a real missed opportunity, here on their debut EP (their most recently released record shows they've worked this kink out to a degree). The drumming and guitar are commendable, and are what make this EP worth listening to, which I suggest every one do. It's not the best hard rock you'll hear this year, but it hits upon a weirdly compelling hard rock sound that keeps drawing me back in. Give Killbutton a shot.

TESA - 2014 - GHOST

   

Punk

[FOR FREE]

http://01110100011001010111001101100001.bandcamp.com

• 5 songs to download
• You name the price (min 0,-)
• You get the link if you register your email address
• Listening recommendations: H

Impressions

If this is what Punk sounds like in Latvia, I need to get myself on the next plane over there, because GHOST is astounding, and not at all what I expected going in. For one thing, there are no truly discernible lyrics (there are muffled screams buried in the feedback and thunder of 'T' for what it's worth). Not that punk requires them mind you, but most punk records I've listened to since joining wasfuersohr have all tended to fall into a small number of categories, and none of them sound even remotely like this. At least, I've never been to a mall food court that would play this, intentionally. It's not about fart and dick jokes or bringing down the man (at least not outwardly). No, this is, in my humble (Ha!) opinion, punk music that is best experienced with a pair of headphones because it will drawn you in and smother you, in the best possible way I can make that sound. I put it on at work, and it was like the outside world ceased at my headphones. I had gotten to 'S' without even realizing it (and yes still got work done) and had adrenaline running through me. It's heavy without being numbing, and atmospheric without being depressing and dreary. It's got a low end you can feel in your chest (YMMV, depending on speakers/headphones, mind). It comes at you hard, and pummels you just long enough to know when to pull back and let things relax – in so far as one may find drone relaxing (I obviously, do). The more astute among you will realize I haven't really described the instrumentation very much. You get a cookie. I wouldn't help G-H-O-S-T by picking things apart too much, this is a record that one will get the most out of by just turning it on and listening to it.