The 7 Best Albums Of 2014 From Ottawa, Canada by Topon Das (Fuck The Facts, Merdarahta)

I recently asked my friend Topon Das if he would like to put together a "top 6 albums of 2014" list for the blog. Not only did he do me the favor of putting together a "Tops" list, but he added 1 and chose his favorites from his very own hometown of Ottawa, Canada. Enjoy!

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Accursed Spawn - ‘Putrid’

Ottawa has always had a really strong death metal scene. Maybe it's the cold winters or the government jobs, I don't know. But it manages to create some of the best death metal that I think this country has to offer . Accurse Spawn is still somewhat of a young band, but you would never think it if you were to listen to this. They have the old school roots, but are shredding hard without being annoying and distasteful. Some first class riffs with solid song structure make it a bummer that this release is so short.

Accursed Spawn's Bandcamp

Alaskan - 'Despair, Erosion, Loss'

Check it out. You'll love it.

Alaskan's Bandcamp

Ash And Elm - ' S/T'

I listen to a lot of angry, screaming, loud music. Not only because I enjoy it, but also because I have to as part of my job. So it's always fun when I discover something that is the total opposite of that that I actually also really enjoy. Imagine that you're listening to Cannibal Corpse's "Tomb Of The Mutilated" and all of a sudden your mother-in-law shows up. You can put this on quickly and she'll be happy, you'll be happy; everyone wins.

Ash And Elm's Bandcamp

Street Meat - 'Taco Night!'

My 4-yar-old daughter is always asking me to put this album on. I know that it's the album cover that first caught her attention, but the songs are infectious enough that it has kids (and adults) shaking every available body part to the dirty beats. The only things that's better than this album is thir live show.

Street Meat's Bandcamp

Dead Weights - Dead Ends & Closed Doors

I'll admit that I have listened to the song "Fall Down" on repeat numerous times. Extremely well written catchy punk rock that'll have you singing along after just the first listen. I want to say 'great dudes, great album', but even if these guys were assholes I would still want to listen to this.

Dead Weights' Bandcamp

Norilsk - Japetus

Really sweet new doom band in the area. Brings elements of doom, post rock and even old school death metal together into a seamless match. Imagine Russian Circles tuned down and with a death metal vocalist. Chock full of simple melodies that'll have your head moving without you even knowing it.

Norilsk's Bandcamp

Sombre - Demo 2014

These guys come from a band that wanted to be The Dillinger Escape Plan and you can still hear some of that in this, but now it's mainly just raw, angry and pissed off hardcore. One of the gnarliest guitar tones I've heard in awhile and one of the best hardcore vocalists this city has to offer. Keep an eye out for this young band.

Sombre's Bandcamp

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Thank you to Topon Das for putting this list together for the blog!

Bohren & Der Club Of Gore - Piano Nights Review

Bohren & Der Club Of Gore - Piano Nights

Tracklist:
1. Im Rauch
2. Bei Rosarotem Licht
3. Fahr Zur Holle
4. Irrwege
5. Ganz Leise Kommt Die Nacht
6. Segeln Ohne Wind
7. Unrasiert
8. Verloren (Alles)
9. Komm Zuruck  Zu Mir

Bohren & Der Club Of Gore are a 4 piece, ambient jazz group from Germany. With 8 albums under their belt since 1992, they're well versed in creating an ambiance noir.
My first taste of Bohren & Der Club Of Gore was from their 2002 album "Black Earth". Super dark, instrumental, ambient jazz that features piano, percussion, stand up bass, and a sax. This release (Piano Nights), along with the other albums I've heard from them, all have the same vibe and feel to them. However, I'm completely and totally ok with this.
B&DCOG have this eerie air about them. I would describe their music as something that would be playing on a dusty, cob web infested record player in a decaying coffee shop next to a graveyard. It's soothing and unsettling all at the same time. As if you feel something is going to pop out you and kill you, but you've already accepted death.
The instrumentation and composition on this album is masterfully brilliant. You can tell by the way this album was written that they've been at this for years and know exactly what they're doing. Every note laid out beautifully. Every drum beat timed exactly. If you want something different to just vibe out to and chill with a morning coffee and cigarette then this is EXACTLY what you're looking for.

Bandcamp:
Bohren & Der Club Of Gore - Piano Nights

Disabler - Aggressive Negativity Review

Disabler - Aggressive Negativity

1. Bitter & Resentful

2. Tamas

3. Your Opening Act, The Date Rapist

4. Hibernation

5. Leary's Still Dangerous

"Aggressive Negativity". Exactly the way I would describe this EP. There's something in the water in Edmonton apparently. And it turns punks even angrier than normal. Disabler kidnaps you, ties you up, gags you and throws you in a small room for about 13 minutes. Only for a few seconds in "Hibernation" do you get a moment to breathe. And then it's right back to the slammer, but man does it feel good to be back.

These guys take all the best parts of a very dark and heavy strain of hardcore punk and push it to the limit. I sat on this in my emails for quite sometime and goddamn I wish I hadn't. How this bands isn't more well known after sharing the stage with KEN Mode and Full Of Hell is beyond me.

I would honestly put this in a list among the best releases of 2014 for me.

Bandcamp:

Disabler - Aggressive Negativity

Terminal Nation - Demo 2014 Review

Terminal Nation - Demo 2014

Tracklist:

1. Intro
2. How Will You Be Remembered?
3. Preexisting Condition
4. Employee Of The Month
5. Stay In Your Lane

6. Messiuhhhhh/Outro

This isn't your average punk band. From the very first "intro" track you can tell you're for a bit of a twist. Yes it has simple riffs, gang vocals peppered in, old school two-step breakdowns and fast passages, but it also has solos! That was what surprised me the most. These punks not only make good hardcore, but they know how to play their instruments pretty well. This demo was recorded well, but not too well to detach from the raw and organic feel that goes so well with punk/hardcore.

The main vocals have a very jock punk (think Infest. Which is probably where they got their name from.) feel to them. I'm not the biggest fan of this style of vocals, but it does go with the style of hardcore that they play. They do seem to have another back up vocalist in the band with a different vocal approach. This can be heard on "Employee Of The Month" and a completely different style of vocals can be heard on "Messiuhhhhh". These different vocal styles definitely give this band some unique qualities and help them stand out from other modern hardcore acts.
I'd highly recommend this if you like your punk sludgy and raw.

Bandcamp:

Terminal Nation - Demo 2014