Category: noise rock

Skullflower – Ruins (1990)

“Led by guitarist Matthew Bower, the highly prolific Skullflower boasted the largest cult following of the bunch, with a sound based on sludgy, Black Sabbath-style riffs overlaid with feedback, fuzzed-out guitar noise, and throttling rhythms, all played at an ungodly volume. Always an improvisational outfit, their textured noise freak-outs grew increasingly free-form over the course of their career, moving farther and farther away from even loose definitions of “rock.” Skullflower claimed a broad range of influences in addition to the aforementioned Sabbath: heavy psychedelia (Blue Cheer, et al.), Krautrock, classical avant-gardists (John Cage, Steve Reich, Terry Riley), early industrial music (Throbbing Gristle, Einstürzende Neubauten, Whitehouse), and noise rockers from the American indie world (Sonic Youth, Big Black, the Butthole Surfers).”

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Over-Gain Optimal Death – Over-Gain Optimal Death (2008)

“Over-Gain Optimal Death, or OGOD, are a heavy psych power trio from Pasadena, California. Playing blown-out overgaining speed-freak-outs, their sound is enveloped in a total nihilist fuzz atmosphere, mating intoxicating pulsing repetition with hyperactive improvisations and out of body guitar solos. Resurrecting US 60s punk and acid-riffage from the likes of Blue Cheer, the Stooges, MC5 and live Hendrix Experience, OGOD also draws greatly on the in-the-red sound aesthetic and high energy of the Japanese Speed Freak trios of the 80s/90s: High Rise, Mainliner, Musica Transonic. OGOD are quickly rising as one of the heaviest psych bands of the U.S.”

Musica Transonic – Hard Rock Transonic (2002)

“MUSICA TRANSONIC were formed by three ardent, impressing individualities under Japanese psychedelic rock scene – Asahito NANJOH (bass; ex-High Rise), Makoto KAWABATA (guitar; ex-Acid Mothers Temple), and Tatsuya YOSHIDA (drums; ex-Ruins) – as an improvised, free-styled psychedelic progressive rock outfit in 1995. They have very unique style that each player produces heavy, loud, confusing psychedelia based on simple riffs with insistence on musical attitude and with support of the others, simultaneously.”

Jesus With Me – Jesus With Me (2002)

“Somewhere in the late 90’s 4 Russians met in NYC and formed this jam group for the higher spirit, following the road and/or spirits of Amon Düül I, Faust, High Rise, Keiji Haino and Ya Ho Wha 13. And the music indeed has the mad fuzz, bass, noise wall psychedelic extremeness of some Japanese psych (Acid Temple, High Rise, White Heaven, some of Haino’s groups), and some spiritual musical breakthrough with the music focus of YaHoWha 13, some slightly chaotic trippy patterns of Amon Düül I, mixed with an improvisational focus of the more advanced experimental Kraut in general. The guitars are penetrating in its improvising towards the infinite, with fuzz noise that keeps up the trippy effect, while the bass is almost swimming while moving-mountains-wise, with the drum in a freeformed slamming mania.”

The Julie Mittens – The Julie Mittens (2008)

“Primarily inspired by the free improvisation scene of the ’60s, the Julie Mittens are fundamentally a rock power trio with little to no interest in playing rock music. The tracks are live-in-the-studio improvisations named after the date they were recorded and ranging in length from nine-and-a-half to just over 22 minutes. Guitarist Aart-Jan Schakenbos favors extended drones, often exploring all the harmonic possibilities of a single note for several minutes at a time.”

High Rise – Disallow (1996)

“Psychedelic acid rock-band from Japan. High Rise is an explosive power trio comprised of bassist/vocalist asahito nanjo (南条麻人), guitarist Munehiro Narita, and a succession of drummers that has included Yuro Ujiie and Pill in the past and free-improv veteran Shoji Hano at present. High Rise mixes the jazz-influenced improvising of Cream with the brutal amphetamine-inspired rock of Blue Cheer. Narita is one of rock’s unsung guitar players, and his dexterous fingering incites eruptions of pure electric joy in his listeners. The other players are equally stunning in their total commitment to this high energy music that features the freedom of jazz and the power of rock.”

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Gravitar – You Must First Learn to Draw the Real (1999)

“Michigan free-rock band, founded in 1992 and active until 1999, with a brief reunion in 2002 to promote a special 10-year commemorative box set edition of their CD on Enterruption, “Freedom’s just another word for never getting paid.” Messy, abrasive, loose and at their best transcendent, Gravitar forged an improv-driven path between heavy rock touchstones like the Melvins, Sabbath and Unsane with out-jazz, space rock and psychedelic noise.”

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