Clams Casino - Instrumentals

An instrumental mixtape of the songs produced by upcoming hip-hop producer Clams Casino (he produces for the likes of Lil B) this album is fantastic for your pensive night-time listens - in the same vein as Burial, Clubroot, Massive Attack, etc. There are a few clangers in the later part of the albums, but the first few tracks are just brilliant.

Just incase you missed out (320kb)

The FWB Listening Journey!

Hey guys, wanna try something new? I found an EP from a lesser-known band called Mahumodo (who split up to form slightly-better-known bands *shels and Devil Sold His Soul). I've never listened to Mahumodo before, so if you haven't either, let's give it a try! I'm starting with their 2003 EP, "Waves." readysetgo!!!

CONDAMNS

COWBOY: Can I get three packs of condoms please?
CASHIER: Sure, would you like a paper bag with those sir?
COWBOY: Nah she ain't that ugly

THRASH 4 KILL FRIDAY PT.2/Exoto - Carnival of Souls (1994)

So metal I'm declaring today Friday pt. 2. Exoto were a death/thrash band from Belgium who wrote some infectious riffs and constructed some pretty killer songs. The vocals are very Jeff Walker-esque which is never a bad thing. Overall this is a pretty killer release and if you don't check it out, well, your loss.

EXHUME THE BELOVED

Black Metal vs. Black Metal, Death Metal vs. Death Metal

Kinda thought of a little game here. I'm going to do a bracket, first seed through the sixteenth seed and put some of my favorite black metal and death metal albums up against each other, and I want you guys to vote on it. I know most of us here listen to both genres so it shouldn't be a problem haha. Here we go!

Black metal:

(1) Coldworld - Melancholie vs. (16) Silencer - Death - Pierce Me
(2) Emperor - In the Nightside Eclipse vs. (15) Paysage d'Hiver - Winterkaelte
(3) Ulver - Bergtatt vs. (14) Winterfylleth - The Mercian Sphere
(4) Walknut - Graveforests and Their Shadows vs. (13) Primordial - Spirit the Earth Aflame
(5) Dissection - Storm of the Light's Bane vs. (12) Vinterland - Welcome My Last Chapter
(6) Agalloch - Pale Folklore vs. (11) Myrkgrav - Trollskau, Skrømt og Kølabrenning
(7) Immortal - Sons of Northern Darkness vs. (10) Gorgoroth - Pentagram
(8) Alcest - Ecailles de Lune vs. (9) Wolves in the Throne Room - Diadem of 12 Stars

Death metal:

(1) Death - Individual Thought Patterns vs. (16) Disma - Towards the Megalith
(2) Cryptopsy - None So Vile vs. (15) Brutality - Screams of Anguish
(3) Funebrarum - The Sleep of Morbid Dreams vs. (14) Massacre - From Beyond
(4) Immolation - Close to a World Below vs. (13) Iniquity - Serenadium
(5) Hooded Menace - Fulfill the Curse vs. (12) Portal - Swarth
(6) Autopsy - Mental Funeral vs. (11) Demigod - Slumber of Sullen Eyes
(7) Incantation - Onward to Golgotha vs. (10) Adramelech - Psychostasia
(8) Demilich - Nespithe vs. (9) Arghoslent - Hornets of the Pogrom

Kvlt Kommandos Pt. 1 - Pete Helmkamp

Along with THRASH 4 KILL FRIDAY I'll be doing another feature here on Friends With Benefits called Kvlt Kommandos -- basically I'll just be doing a short biography of some of my favorite metal musicians along with posting what I feel like are essential albums they released. Our first segment is on Pete Helmkamp, who as you will find out, has been spreading the word of Satan for over twenty years through a string of highly influential blackened death metal bands.

Hailing from Kansas City, Missouri young bassist/vocalist Pete Helmkamp first found "fame" in early blackened death metal crew Order From Chaos which formed in 1987. A hugely underrated group, the band only released three full-lengths albums from 1993 to 1998 (although they did release a whole score of demos and EPs as well) but each successive release saw amazing development and firmly put them on the map of the underground extreme metal scene. After Order From Chaos split in 1995 (their last album An Ending In Fire was released in 1998 but actually recorded years earlier) Helmkamp went on to form Angelcorpse, arguably his most well known endeavor. Once again, after three VERY successful albums Angelcorpse splintered in 2000 which led to his joining of established Canadian blackened death veterans Revenge in which he provided bass (live only) and additional backing vocals.

In 2001 Helmkamp formed Terror Organ (which in 2005 changed its name to Feldgrau, an industrial blackened death metal project that released three albums (anyone seeing a pattern here?) before reforming Angelcorpse in 2006 and releasing what would be their final studio album, Of Lucifer and Lightning that same year. In 2009 he formed yet another blackened death metal group Kerasphorus, which once again reaffirmed his status as black/death king with only a pair of EPs, 2010's excellent Cloven Hooves at the Holocaust Dawn and 2011's Necronaut. He has yet to form a project since the demise of Kerasphorus but my guess is that a) it will be a blackened death metal project and b) it will rule fucking hard, much like ALL of his previous work.

ESSENTIAL HELMKAMP ALBUMS

Order From Chaos - Stillbirth Machine Incredible release and a definitive, influential blackened death metal classic.
Order From Chaos - An Ending In Fire The band's most developed release that saw them combine the raw intensity of their debut with more complex compositions.
Angelcorpse - Exterminate Building upon the chaotic and utterly devastating debut Hammer of Gods, Exterminate displayed higher production values and an overall more technical approach; luckily this did little to hinder the speed-blasphemy the band is now known for.
Kerasphorus - Cloven Hooves At The Holocaust Dawn The second coming of Angelcorpse (well kind of); when the band kicked it into overdrive it definitely recalled Helmkamp's past group but Kerashporus offered a bit more variety, adding droning guitars and slower tempos to the mix and showcasing that Helmkamp could still remain a relevant figure in extreme metal despite being around since its humble beginnings.

Mare In The Studio, Still

We probably won't finish tonight, but the mixtape will still be out midnight Friday/Saturday morning. Currently recording Illuminative Thoughts 3, which is a 6-minute verse.

The Weeknd - Echoes of Silence

The Weeknd released his new mixtape last night, and yes, it's amazing. I'd say it's the weakest of the 3, but that doesn't mean anything because it's still incredible. Same Old Song is probably the best track here, but that's just if I had to pick one. Get on this right now!

http://www.mediafire.com/?bp2ps0m9dka960y

Weak Teeth - What A Plague You Are (2011)

Not many people seem to know this but I love the skramz. Between death metal, black metal and screamo it's hard for me to choose a favorite but screamo is often a front-runner, if not for the music, for the lyrical content which I often find myself relating so strongly to. Weak Teeth bring both the message and the music; through relatively short passages of hardcore infected screamo this Rhode Island based crew is at times nothing less than inspirational. Not to get all gay on you guys but yeah, check these guys out.

I'M NOT PERFECT BUT I HAVE A PURPOSE

The Hawk's Nest - Part 4

1. Eminem - The Marshall Mathers LP

Today is a hip-hop day my friends, and there's no better way to start than with my favorite hip-hop album of all time. This just has it all. There's a serious side in songs like Kim and Marshall Mathers and then there's a really funny side in songs like Kill You and The Real Slim Shady. You won't get bored with this at all. God I wish Eminem would go back to this style of rapping.

2. 2Pac - Me Against the World

Although Pac never had an amazing flow, his voice and overall message are things that will never be forgotten. Sadly, his life was taken way too soon and we'll probably never see another artist like 2Pac. The guy was so influential in everything that he did and Me Against the World is his best work.

3. CunninLynguists - Oneirology

CunninLynguists new album, Oneirology, is one of the best (second best in my personal opinion) hip-hop albums to come out this year. This album is all about the study of dreams and you hear that in the production. The beats are smooth and very relaxing, making this extremely easy to listen to. Don't go into this expecting your normal Southern hip-hop sound.

4. Big L - Lifestylez Ov Da Poor and Dangerous

People always talking about Biggie having the best flow in the history of hip-hop, which is true, but if anybody rivaled him and almost beat him out, it was Big L. This album is an absolute classic in every sense of the word and one of the best hip-hop albums ever released. Again, another life that was taken way too soon.

5. Jay-Z - The Blueprint

Another one of my absolute favorites. Jay's flow plus Kanye's production make for pure genius on The Blueprint. This albums features some of Jay's most memorable songs, including my favorite Jay-Z song, Renegade. The whole album is classic and may be my favorite hip-hop album in terms of the beats that are presented.