Six Sick Sisters!

Thumbs Up: The furious storm of sound known as Racebannon visited our fair city Sunday night, smashing all present with a smattering of Acid or Blood and their forthcoming Six Sick Sisters‘ records. As usual, this Indiana quartet melted brains in the audience with an extremely high dose of pummel, punch and riffs. Unlike many active heavy bands, Racebannon shoot for the jugular with precision and force – rather than speed and flash. It was enough to leave me reeling in delight, happy just to see one more show from these unlikely Hoosiers. Buy the new record, out now on Southern Records.

Our World is Gonna Change for Nothing

Queso & Will Sheff

Thumbs Up: Okkervil River’s latest, the Stand Ins. As a consummate fan of the Locust and all things fiery, one may find my affinity for Okkervil a bit odd. Truth is, I’m a lover of genuine art and the genius behind it. Will Sheff is a one-of-a-kind among a pantheon of wannabes. If you can’t enjoy the Stand Ins for it’s lyrical wit, melodic teasing or dramatic resilience, then, well…screw you.

Bonus: the cool YouTube channel devoted to the Stand Ins.

Drumized!

DJ Scotch Egg and Chadly con Queso

Thumbs UP: Drumized, the full length from 8-bit/Gameboy guru, DJ Scotch Egg. If you haven’t heard this happy hardcore, DIY punk rock, yr missing out. It will sizzle yr skizzle. Out now on the ever classy Load Records.

Reign in Blood!

Michael Chamy of Zanzibar Snails

Thumbs Up: Slayer’s seminal and classic album, 1983’s Reign in Blood. As you may be aware, I continue to mine the music of my past that I somehow missed. Slayer are absolutely incredible, as I’d suspected, but never taken the time to find out. Every track on this record speak to this band’s important stamp it leaves on music culture. Produced by the rightfully revered Rick Rubin, it is heavy, “evil,” and relentless in blistering riffage. Standouts “Piece by Piece,” “Jesus Saves” and “Raining Blood” anchor it down with perfectly executed musicianship, attitude and enormous punch.