From MRR #342 – Nov 2011

NUX VOMICA – “Embrace the Cycles / The Two” 7″

So I’ve seen NUX VOMICA live, and own a 7″ and their split with THE MAKAI, so I thought that I had this band pretty much figured out but they hit me with kind of a sucker punch with this record.  There are only two songs, but they offer a departure from the offbeat crust I’ve heard this band do in the past, especially the song on the first side.  It builds from a drone into some kind of atmospheric crusty black metallish thing that I wasn’t expecting.  It’s a little weird in a good way.  Kind of an abrasive-to-listen-to good way if you know what I mean.  The other song is more like what I remember with a little more death metal guitar leads added.  There are also viola parts in both songs as well, for that classical crust feel that the kids seem to like these days.  I’m not really a fan but it doesn’t hurt this recording.  This one caught me flat footed.  I guess I’m going to have to pay more attention to this band in the future. (BL) (Aborted Society / Active Rebellion)

ORDER OF THE VULTURE – “Martyr for Nothing” EP

I hadn’t heard anything recently from OOTV so was excited to listen to this and hear where the band has gone.  Turns out these are older tracks (recorded in 2004) that never saw the light of day until now.  This Portland, OR band does blackened crust thrash well.  I also enjoy these older tracks a bit more than their more recent stuff, because the tracks are more to the point.  Fewer drawn out intros and samples.  Just raw buzzing guitars, basic mid-paced drumming and black metal style vocals all of which would make HELLHAMMER proud.  The crust influence is minimal and the lyrics are vague enough to read more like death metal lyrics than pro-Satan / anti-Christian. (MH) (Aborted Society)

http://www.cvltnation.com/eater-of-worlds-countdown-to-armageddonreview/

It’s hard to have a peaceful state of mind when you are living in constant mental and physical warfare. Ever since I was a kid, music has always been that thing that has brought peace into my life while at the same time waking me up to whats going on around and beyond my world. I would not trade my teenage years as a peace punk for anything in the world, and I have said it before, in 1984 the lines between Positive Punk, Death Rock, Peace Punk and Post Punk almost did not exist. That’s why when I hear a band like Countdown to Armageddon, I get so fucking excited. This Seattle band released a super killer album in 2010 called Eater of Worlds, via Aborted Society Records, that combines the best of the aforementioned genres. Honestly, there is not one weak or insincere moment on this album. The audio and lyrical messages that this band creates on this album are fucking inspirational. The kind of music that this band creates gives me the energy to face anything negative that might come my way, plus it magnifies the positivity that is happening around me. With Eater of Worlds, Countdown to Armageddon made an album that has layer after layer of righteous emotion built into it, so that this record will age with you and never become dated. When I hear their songs, I get this intense feeling of doom from the dirgey bass lines and sound effects moving in and out of their songs. Then within the vocals of this band, you can hear how the vocalists are screaming for change, and in their anguish you can hear this vibe of hope. Countdown to Armageddon’s guitar work on this album is a voice unto itself, and on every song the notes that are being played draw you into the band’s minds eye. They have truly found a way to bridge the gap between anarcho-punk, crust and post punk, but on the real once your hear this record it goes far beyond any sort of label or barrier! Countdown to Armageddon are also killer song writers that know how to build planets of angst around a sun filled with lava hot melody. I know when you hear the intro to their tune “Eater of Worlds,” you will realize that the countdown is on!

FUTURE RUINS October European Tour 2011

7 U-Shop in Bremen, Germany
8 Rocas in Luxemburg, Luxemburg
9 Netherlands – NEED HELP!
10 Sub071 in Leiden, Netherlands
11 AZ in Köln, Germany
12 Gerber 3 in Weimar, Germany
13 Köpi in Berlin, Germany
14 Germany – NEED HELP!
15 Liwi in Leipzig, Germany
16 Senffabrik in Flensburg, Germany