-(16)- - Drop Out

‘Drop Out’, recorded and released in 1996 via the obscure Pessimizer label. On ‘Drop Out’ the band sounds closer to bands like EyeHateGod or Grief, while at same time the angular hooks of Helmet or Unsane can be heard as well. Still, what makes 'Drop Out' such a genious record is the combination of the slow, simple riffs, and the gripping one-liner roars of Chris Jehrue (‘Life sucks, leave me alone’ as the ultimate 16 motto). This is a record that should be in every sludge, noise, or stoner rock collection. It is therefore a good thing that it is finally available for all who are interested. 16 newbies start with 'Drop Out' and then explore the rest.


Bastardmaker Loves You

Soundgarden - Louder Than Love

This has always been my favorite Soundgarden record. I am a fan of their later work (especially Superunknown and Badmotorfinger), but this record contains a rawness and vitality that their more polished later stuff lacks. Louder Than Love straddles the two major periods in Soundgarden's career: their earlier, less-metal sounding work (e.g. Ultramega OK and Screaming Life/Fop) and their later more-metal sounding work, epitomized by the aforementioned Superunknown and Badmotorfinger. Louder Than Love contains the elements of both of these periods.

it's the band's most unapologetically heavy disc, with Badmotorfinger a close second (I think that the production on Badmotorfinger helps it sound as heavy as it does). The production on this album is a bit murky, but it completely adds to it's charm as far as I'm concerned. When you hear the double guitars come crashing in at the beginning of "Ugly Truth" you know the 80's are pretty much over forever.

bastardmaker loves you

ZZ TOP - Tres Hombres

Show me someone who doesn't like ZZ Top and Ill show you a cocksucker.

bastardmaker loves you

DMBQ - Essential Sounds From Far East

DMBQ(dynamite Masters Blues Quartet), The most obvious comparison point for the band is a host of mid-’70s rockers (think Hawkwind/Deep Purple on acid... or, uh, more acid than they were already on). While the Dynamite Masters love to kick out the 4/4 jams, they have also adopted a more rugged, psychedelic take on those huge, Bonham-esque stompers. Mirroring the modern Japanese psych/rock scene’s aesthetic abandon, nearly every song on The Essential Sounds From the Far East seems moments away from falling apart completely. The rhythm section is absolutely insane; a far cry from the bombastic stability of most ’70s rock groups, it recklessly scrambles around an otherwise traditional base of psychedelic blues. On the drums, exotic temptress (read: Japanes woman) China breaks into disorienting sixteenth note fills at the drop of a dime, directing the music’s tempo and flow to shaky heights. Perhaps most notable though, is the voice of Shinji Masuko. His guttural yelps are painfully Japanese, even when trying to impersonate his American forefathers. I’m going to go out on a limb here and call his lyrical antics endearing and pretty humorous, too. Masuko only reaffirms a common belief that balls-out rock music is best heard with a grain of salt. And even if being funny isn’t DMBQ’s real intent, every time one of their killer riffs or gravity-defying drum fills blasts through my speakers, I can’t help but grin. This is the band that I feel Monotonix emulates the most.

Bastardmaker Loves You

Akimbo - Elephantine

This is the first album I got from Akimbo, and so it will be the first I share with you. The album is very heavy with stoner doom guitars and slowing tempos. Often compared to early Cave-In and Botch, with influences from the Melvins and Black Sabbath. While not vocally related at all, comparisons to math-y Hot Snakes can also be made. Heavy in guitar riffs and anti-hardcore instrumental breakdowns, expect lightning tempo shifts and dueling single note guitar ditties. Its difficult the pin the band down into a genre completely but you can count on an extreme performance that grooves like rock.

bastardmaker loves you

Dub Trio - Another Sound Is Dying

If you hear the name “Dub Trio” and your first reaction is “not another sublime rip off”, be prepared to be kicked squarely in the teeth. Another Sound Is Dying goes right for the throat from the very beginning, pounding a metal riff into your skull with a pissed off fervor that can only be found in . Yes, Dub Trio have their Jamaican influences, but on Another Sound they are definitely a kick-ass rock band. Each track has moments of ear splitting guitar, gut rumbling bass and, most memorably, innovative drumming that, more than anything, will bring to mind those dirty reggae riffs this band is associated with. Still, despite each player’s obvious strengths on their own instrument (huh huh), it’s the little studio magic moments that will stick with you, like on the pulsing “Funishment”, when some metallic computer noise from hell rears its head from the deep and right into your brain.If you like your music hard, heavy and truly innovative, you’ll enjoy this set.

Mike Patton does guest vocals on the only track with any.

bastardmaker loves you