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Genre: Progressive, Psychedelic, Acid Rock
Label: Independent 

Man, having a baby really fucks up your schedule! I’ve been sitting on this review for so long, that Masonic Weird has changed their name to Martyred Whitmans since asking me to review their demo, Manic And Self Medicated! Apologies all around.

As soon as this demo started up, I was reminded of a band that I review waaaaaay back with E-Metal Reviews called To The Bones. I went a little overboard with praise on that review since it was my first real experience with the progressive/psychedelic sub-genres and to this day, it still creates a massive erection in my trousers whenever I’m allowed to review anything from said genres. And now that you can’t unknow that, I’m please to say that Masonic Weird’s demo is a “boner”-fied piece of doom-y progression! If you’re not familiar with To The Bones, then maybe the comparison of The Sword (sans the poser tag) meets Earth might raise an eyebrow or two (I know it did for me as I wrote that).

Now, I’ve read some reviews about this band in the past that didn’t paint them in the best of lights, so I’ll be honest and say that I wasn’t really looking forward to it… how quickly we remember not to believe everything we hear/read/see on T.V.! Seriously, I’d like to know who those guys were listening to when they wrote those reviews? Because I’m positive that it wasn’t Masonic Weird! There’s nothing “hipster” about this music! Sure, pot helps… it helps with EVERYTHING! And who the fuck isn’t gonna toke up when they’re listening to doom or prog?!

Braking down the instrumentation, the riffing is exceptional! You’re not really sure where you’re going to be lead next, but that don’t matter since it’s constantly exciting more than what you were expecting. The bass in Manic And Self Medicated is perfect. Perfect. The mixture or doom and progressive styles pretty much just left the bass roam free. The freest I’ve ever heard a bass be, in fact. In my opinion, this is some of the best use of bass I’ve ever heard! (Kudos to Yehuda McKay) Drums? Yeah, they’re there and awesome. But, prog drums are always awesome, so I’m glad to see that the trend continues here. The only other thing that feels standard are the vocals. They aren’t anything ground breaking, but I wasn’t looking for groundbreaking so it all works out fine there.

There’s not much to say about this demo that I haven’t already touched on or that you couldn’t already gather. It came completely out of left field and rocked my socks off. But if you really want me to gripe about something, I’ll give you this: I was expecting something a bit more “weird”. But that’s not an official gripe.

Overall: Every riff is a combination of thick and catchy. Every lyric is dripping with THC and acid. Every bash of the brass is one that will stay with you after the demo stops playing.   Everything about this offering is genius! Plain and simple. If you like bands that stick to their guns and play shit that isn’t exactly what people think that it should be, then Masonic Weird/Martyred Whitmans is just for you!

10/10

Masonic Weird On Facebook
Martyred Whitmans On Facebook 

Genre: Thrash, Groove

Label: Independent

I have to brag about this one little detail really quick: I was asked specifically to review this four song demo! How cool is that?

Anyhow, Seeds Of Corruption is a four piece thrash/groove troupe from Portland, Oregon that has managed to stay cloaked under my radar for far too long. Seeds Of Corruption play with an energy that’s common in younger bands that haven’t yet had the weight of the world come crashing down on top of them and pin them down to the reality that they will be working at a McDonalds for the rest of their twenties… wait… that’s just plain depressing.

Take Two: Seed Of Corruption plays with a ruthless aggression that dwarfs the likes of bands that have been around twice as long! Vocalist Blake Underhill spouts off about poignant social commentaries with vocals that are sure as fuck loud, but are pretty unrefined and frankly, just sounds bad at times. I don’t know if they’re supposed to sound like that or not but either way, I’m not a fan. Everything else about this demo plays out perfectly though! Guitarist Josh Tappan tosses out innovative licks ‘n’ riffs like a malfunctioning T-800, modled after blueprints based on Darrell Abbott. Meanwhile, drummer Fred Beebe sounds like he’s having waaaaay too much fun on his kit. Speedy? Sometimes. Entertaining? Always!

Overall: Plant The Seeds is win sunflower that ejects sunflower win seeds! No, four tracks ins’t nearly enough from these guys, but if we’re patient, I’m sure that something new will sprout up in the near future…

8/10

Seeds Of Corruption On Facebook

Genre: Black Metal
Label: Independent

It would seem that Matthew P. Davis has created something relatively new in black metal. And I’m liking it.
Picture a little bit of early Cradle of Filth, some Morgul, and some Moloch put into a blender with a flaming Bible and two shots of Jack Daniel’s. Add a dash of Emperor’s Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk, and Labyrintheory is a winner.
A nice demo of five songs, In Memoriam is an impressive first start for this band.
7.5 out of 10.

Labyrintheory on MySpace.

NOTE: This is an old review, moved here from the Funeral Rain Zine MySpace.

Genre: Stoner Rock, Punk
Label: Independent

Ok… So… Honest question: When you hear the name “Pinkzilla”, what are you supposed to expect? Brutal Queercore? Progressive Kaiju Metal? Super Stonery Sludge-Core? …wait, that last one was right? Sweet! Works for me!

Pinkzilla hail from the coastal town of Seaside, Oregon… odd place for completely awesome band such as this to spring from (seriously, one moderately sized arcade, about a million hotels that are insanely expensive, a dull as shit beach and over priced restaurants! I mean, I know it’s a “resort” town, but you’ve got to give people more than faux-quaintness before they’ll cough up fifteen dollars for bowl of clam chowder!).

This demo pulls influence from everything from Black Sabbath to Orange Goblin to Cephalic Carnage. And it all works out great! The vocals jump from smokers cough yelling to limp sing-song speak occasionally, which is fine since the balance swings greater to the yelling side.

Instrumentally though, holy shit! The riffing is chunky as hell in some areas, then as rapid as an eighty-nine year old man’s heart beat while watching BDSM porn! The drumming to fucking sweet too! Changing it up without warning and flipping the groove with extreme prejudice! Much ca also be gushed about with the bassist as well! Funk-ay! Crazy bass lines are tossed out left and right with seemingly little to no effort. It all feels as natural as streaking through the quad.

Overall: An up and coming band that doesn’t care if you give them any attention. But I do! Check these guys out! Spark one up and let Pinkzilla wrap their giant hand around your throat and show you what’s what!

9/10

Pinkzilla On MySpace

Genre: Heavy Metal, Sludge, Rock ‘n’ Roll
Label: Independent

And here I was thinking I’ve heard/heard of all of the bands around the Portland Vancouver area… so I guess it’s no surprise that these guys came swinging out of left field with this heavy metal, sludgefest that bangs off some hard rock and roll vibes. Very nice indeed.

Immediately, I can hear something that is going to divide the lovers from the haters: the vocalist. He’s kind of got this gravely Scott Weiland thing going on that you’re either going to love or hate. Personally, I dig it. It bodes very well with the grooves and works especially well when he drops down a bit during tough guy song D.O.A.

Without doling out any disrespect to any of the other band members, guitarist Erik Fountaine makes this demo as awesome as it is! Interestingly, inventive and even intuitive riffs flood the demo and drown any doubt that these guys are in it for any other reason than kicking your ass!

Overall: A valiant outing from this budding metal ‘n’ rollin’ band with excellent production! Let’s hope we hear more in the future… maybe I’ll even tell them so when I see them on the 24th at the Oak Grove Bar & Grill… *shameless plug*

8/10

Titarius On MySpace

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