Funeral Rain Press Corps

Genre: Black Metal
Label: Moribund Records

One of the oddest USBM bands, right up there in the strange with Tjolgtjar, Blood Cult are very kvlt. Only a handful of people really have a Blood Cult release, and most of those are splits with other bands, released in a very limited number (I think the ‘largest’ B.C. release so far is 200 copies; I might be wrong), and barely marketed. But now, thank fuck, Moribund are releasing a Blood Cult full-length.
If you’ve never heard Blood Cult before, imagine if Ted Nugent, Jimi Hendrix, and Joey Ramone hung out with the guys in 1987 era Mayhem, and recorded their jams.
Yeah. Like I said, strange.
This is not music for everybody, and even the most intensely grim of grim black metal maniacs might not understand what’s going on on this album. I don’t know if I get it, really. But I know I fucking love it. Classic rock solos over blackened rhythms, with grim vocals? Yeah, that shit is here, and now due to Moribund, it’s not going anywhere but to the hardened hearts of the hardcore.
If you’re into strange experiments in metal, you should find this release interesting at the very least. If you’re fucked up like me, you’ll love it too.
9.5 out of 10.

Blood Cult on MySpace.

Genre: Doom, Drone, Sludge, Stoner
Label: Nomadic Fortress

So fucking wow. Not even done the first SONG and I’m thinking I know what this monster is going to get rated.
Then it gets even better.
Slow and heavy riffs that pay as much homage to Black Sabbath and Sunn O))) as to The Clash or The Sex Pistols (in spirit, not style), this is some seriously wicked awesome doomed out sludge. Something to smoke to, that’s for damn sure, and I think I’m going to try sleeping to it. It’s kind of relaxing in a violent sort of way.
Favorite song is definitely “Contempt”, with “Work Will Make Us Free” and “Hiroshima” following close behind.
After hearing hearing Throned in Blood I feel sorry for other doom and sludge bands. They’re going to have to step up their game to keep up with Amber and Edgar now. And fuck this is going to rule live. Earplugs might actually be an option for me if they make it to Edmonton again. But probably not because hearing aids are cool.
Just remember folks, April 6, 2010 this nuclear bomb of doom will drop on us. Grab it while it’s hot hot hot.
9.5 out of 10

Genres: Doom, Sludge, Stoner Metal
Label: Relapse Records

How does Matt Pike top Blessed Black Wings? With Death Is This Communion.
It’s an even more focused album, even doomier and sludgier than the last. Better songwriting and even better lyrics, still based on H.P. Lovecraft but also the Bible and some other inspiration source that I cannot remember right now. Plus, the cover art even features a cute little Cthulhu.
And, to make me even happier, it’s two songs longer than Blessed…, two of which are instrumentals.
So yeah. It’s fucking awesome.
9.5 out of 10.

Genres: Goth, Post Punk, Rock
Label: Fiction Records, Elektra Records, Rhino Records

This album was released, originally, three years before I was even born. And still, it doesn’t sound dated. Proof positive that The Cure are a truly timeless band, and would be more than relevent today even if they were no longer active.
Longish songs, none under 4:20, most in the five and six minute plus areas, and all have Robert Smith’s distinctive British voice. It’s also, tone, mood, and lyrically, one of The Cure’s darkest albums, especially in comparison to newer releases like 4:13 Dream or the eponymous disc before that.
In other words, it’s the perfect gothic rock album, full of deep bass, dancy drums, and really cool guitar riffs. One of my personal favorites from The Cure, my favorite tracks are “One Hundred Years”, “The Hanging Garden”, and the title track.
9.5 out of 10 from me.

The Cure’s Official Site.
The Cure on MySpace.

As things turn out, it’s looking like the release date of the Guerra Total/Eternal Drak split is going to be pushed back. Apparently a fire at the pressing plant kind of fucked up some shit for everyone involved. So this means that you, the general public, can still take advantage of the Pre-Sale Pricing of only $10 USD. This does include shipping to almost everywhere world wide. Some countries may have to pay up to $14 USD.
And remember folks, all pre-orders get a Funeral Rain Records button with the CD, and FRST members get $1 off ALL orders ALL the time.

PayPal: funeralrainrecords@hotmail.com. And yes, I’m still trying to get the damn PayPal buttons to work.