Men At Work...

No Anchor - The Golden Bridge (2012)

The kings of DIY are finally back with a full length studio album and I could honestly not be anymore excited, seriously, feel these nipples!...
It's been a whole 18 months since the Aussie trio unleashed the biblically crushing Real Pain Supernova on us, but to their credit they never forgot about us. Back in march they raised the cash to put together their first 7", Rope/Pussyfootin' then in September they some how managed to find the time (between driving over 5500km and playing 20 shows in 30 days!) to knock together their first cassette The John Dominance Tapes. But that does kind of beg the question, where the hell did they find the time to get back in the studio!? Nonetheless, we should just be thankful that they did because The Golden Bridge is nothing short of utterly blinding. If you've yet to discover No Anchor but love your post metal a little on the unorthodox side then this will tick all the boxes. But do expect something a little different from the previous LP. Where Real Pain Supernova was as focused and chaotic as a 'fundamentalist with a coat full of semtex' The Golden Bridge is slightly more naked psychopath with a head full of bath salts. Both have the same brutal result, but the latter is just that little bit weirder and unnerving... It's almost defies explanation really. It's heavy, its fuzzy, it's methodical and in some parts it reminds me of Joy Division... But I'm not entirely sure if that can be attributed to the whiskey I've been downing for the last 3 hours.
It's rare that I urge, nay, beg you to go buy an album but when it comes to these guys you're severely fucking up if you don't. The chaps work their absolute nuts off and their love for the music shines through every aspect of their writing, recording, playing live and creation of the hand made merch more evidently than any band I've ever encountered. Their are few more worthy of your hard earned bucks then this bunch.
The deluxe version of the vinyl sold out in the blink of an eye you can however still pick up a good ol' black one or lovely bone/red mix... Lovely stuff!
~ Jay

For Fans Of; Isis, Boris, Jodis, Torche, House Of Low Culture

Website • Facebook • Myspace • Last FM • Bandcamp

Under The Influence...

Art As Catharsis Records - Drone From The Underside Of The Earth (2012)

Once again I'm out the country at the moment so I've cheated a little and sorted this little compilation for y'all. Bit of a cop out I know but you will love it, trust me.
All tracks from the best Aussie stoner, prog, psych, doom and hardcore bands around today. What more could you possibly want?

For Fans Of; No Anchor, Mother Mars, Shellfin, In Trenches, Moth

Website • Facebook • Bandcamp

Drone From The Underside Of The Earth (320kbps)

Return To Aus...

No Anchor - Rope/Pussyfootin' EP (2012)

As you know we here at the blog love this little Aussie trio. Last year they they gave us an absolutely blinding record in the form of Real Pain Supernova, that went straight into out top choices and remained there for the rest of the year. So not being ones to rest on their laurels they've hit the studio once again and returned with yet more brand new material to wet your taste buds until the next full length album rears its head. Once again the guys are also kind enough to chuck it up on their Bandcamp page for a price that you choose (God, they're good to us) and once again they've also scraped the cash together and got the thing pressed on two limited 7 inches!
True to form the chaps have once again produced some top notch progressive-post-metal-doom. Granted in its entirety it barely sneaks past the 4:30 minute mark (the download version at least). But dammit man its about quality not quantity, and fortunately enough they're more than aware of this. As what it may lack in run time it more than makes up for in its content and most notably its presentation. When it comes to getting off your arse and DIY projects No Anchor are really second to none. Just like the pressing of Real Pain Supernova, where the covers were screen printed, hand cut and individually numbered. The deluxe version (which I am still biblically gutted that I missed out on) even came with an additional limited cover print. New new 7" goes that little bit further, once again hand numbered but with two differing covers and a really cool opaque printed wrap... You really cant say Alex, Donnie and Ian dont put the effort in.

Label - DIY
Pressing Info - 250 copies. 150 Black, 100 Blue
Price - £5/$8

For Fans Of; Isis, Torche, Boris, Sunn O))), House Of Low Culture

Website • Facebook • Myspace • Bandcamp • Last FM

Rope/Pussyfootin' EP (320kbps)

Doom Down Under...

No Anchor - Real Pain Supernova (2011)

I first happened upon No Anchor a while back when I picked up their 2009 release Steam - a dark brooding, occasionally screaming 5 track EP. So it wasn't too much of a surprise to me that ild have a bit of a strange one on my hands here... I'll tell you now, if you can imagine a The Melvins getting together with The End and playing a mix of Isis and Black Pyramid you'd be astonishingly close to to what Real Pain Supernova sounds like. The mind truly boggles at how varied and diverse this album is.

Mastered by Mell Dettmer who's worked with the likes of Sunn O))) and Boris, its the 4th release by the Aussie post rock-doom-sludge monger trio and it really is a belter! 

From the beginning of the first track its difficult to gather just what you're in for - Slow bass and an unusually complimentary up beat drum line are met with with vocals that echo that of Black Francis (The Pixies) before taking a dark and screaming turn more in the style of Norma Jean. The pace ducks and dives through the whole of the record with huge fuzzy riff heavy build ups before plummeting back to earth with down tempo moody soundscapes and ambience. You could never be accused of pigeon holing these guys, there's just way to much going on. Like many sludge bands over the years that element of punk is certainly there with No Anchor, but unlike any other sludge band I can think of its fused with a touch of post rock mellowness and the occasional ferocity of hardcore. I tried to describe the album to a friend recently. The best I could come up with was 'If The Pixies had all been schizophrenic, hooked on PCP and challenged to get signed to Southern Lord they would have probably sounded like this.' So if that hasn't sold it to you nothing will. In short this is definitely one of the most unique albums I've heard over the last couple of years. Its slightly different to what I would usually put up, but its something a bit special and well worth getting your hands on. Plus it doesn't hurt that the guys can still crank out some damn catchy riffs too. 

Go have a browse of the band's pages and download this awesome little piece for a price of your choice! Or like me, go one step further and have a search for it up on super limited vinyl - Lovely!

~ Jay 

For Fans Of; Isis, The End, The Pixies, Torche, Sun Of Nothing

Website • Myspace • Facebook • Bandcamp 


Real Pain Supernova (320kbps/FLAC)