AT THE DRIVE-IN - RELATIONSHIP OF COMMAND

I listened to this gem of poppy, spaced-out post-hardcore for the first time in about five years today and it has not aged as poorly as I assumed it would have. The guitar playing still sounds like beacons from distant satellites, the melodies still worm into your brain like robotic-insects intent on harvesting your sanity, and the rhythm section still drives the songs but the heaviness of the drums and bass was lost on my younger self... Oh yeah, the vocals are FUCKING PERFECT! I don't know how to accurately describe them but for this type of music, it's exactly what I want. 'One-Armed Scissor' is still the jam

HERE

MAHRIA - S/T

Ffffftttt- and a low whistle... Another flare shot into the gaping webby void...

Well heya folks. Thanks to the invitation (and grooming) of Sensei Cam, I'm here to toss my borrowed cents at the feet of all you bloggist taste-makers / recommendation-takers. Nice to meet you.

Let's kick it off with something current: Edmonton's MAHRIA. I seriously can't get enough of this record. A punishing, tortured, female-fronted work sitting at that perfect intersection of emo and post-hardcore. Soul-crushing primal yelps, wickedly melodic guitar interplay, and some of the hugest production I've heard in a long time. The track "Justification of an Old Man" is particularly devastating. Available for free on Bandcamp.

HERE

Oh yeah, and I just found out that THEY PLAYED IN VANCOUVER YESTERDAY AND I HAD NO IDEA. FML. If you went to that show, post here and tell me how awesome it was so I can feel shittier about myself.

CRAIN- SPEED

Post-hardcore from Kentucky in the early 90's. Nothing more, nothing less. If you like Shellac then you'll dig it. Fierce drumming

HERE

DRIVE LIKE JEHU- YANK CRIME

It just occurred to me that I have not listened to this album in at least three years and that I have not seen this on any of the blogs I frequent... so here it is for you!

Drive Like Jehu were a band from San Diego. If you've ever been there, you know it's boring as shit but somehow manages stay that way despite being so close to one of America's more culturally significant areas. Yet in the early 90's it was a fertile place for music with the scene surrounding Gravity records and powerviolence happening all around socal, so I guess it isn't too surprising that the area spawned this band... but seriously, if you're ever there just try and imagine being inspired...

Jehu featured the guitar talents of John Reis and Rick Froberg and oh boy their list of credentials is impressive (Hot Snakes, The Night Marchers, The Sultans, Obits, Pitchfork and Rocket From the Crypt)... this was their first band following the breakup of Pitchfork and this music is just a more-focused and, frankly, better version of that band. Lots of extended jamming that never gets boring or needless, incredible riffs, amazing vocals and such a strange sense of melody. Definitely falls into the post-hardcore category but still a record that stands out from the rest of that genre. Definitely a guitar record

HERE