________________________________________________________________________

Howzit?

First of all I have to say thanks to each and everyone one of you who wrote congratulating me on the birth of my fourth child (no rabbit jokes, please) and expressing concern for my wife and baby's well being. I received literally hundreds of messages from readers of this zine and I was blown away. THANKS. I came very close to losing my wife that night but thanks to some expert medical attention both she and the baby are doing great.

So now I guess the secret is out. Jeb is a boring old family man. I spend more time playing legos and Star Wars with my children than I do diving off stages and moshing it up.

I have gotten several requests for more interviews with punk bands. I am definitely working on it. I promise. But I am also pursuing interviews with great metal and avant garde bands as well. In the near future you will hopefully see interviews with Reno noise punks GOB, blurr maniacs A.C., avant rockers FLANK, progressive metallers BLACKMAIL, melody rockers NEUTRON CAFE, death legends MONSTROSITY, and the avant/progressive AMORPHIS. I also am still planning on interviewing several zine editors both in and out of the Christian underground scene. This edition hopefully you will enjoy the lengthy interview with BENEDICTION, one of the most consistent and diehard death bands on the planet.

I am still looking for people to help with the zine through writing contributions, so if you are interested in doing that get in touch.

News

Artifact E-zine has a new issue out. Tons of reviews on Heavens Gate, Stratovarius, Rage, Scanner, Spaps, Savior Servant, Abhorrent, Grip Inc, X-Japan, and lots lots more! Also included, an exclusive interview with up and coming band Uforia...

Oh yes! All back issue reviews and interviews are also made available with this release...so do check it out!

Artifact Metal Zine

http://www.cyberway.com.sg/~jasongoh

Let the axe grind!

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There are millions of people cruising the internet right now.

Millions of people staring at their monitors with glazed over eyeballs and a blank expression on their face.

Millions of people surfing the 'net in SILENCE!!!!!!

There are millions of people who should be tuning in to Raw Radio.

******** http://wayoutthere.blueroom97.com/raw **************

________________________________________________________________________

Interview: BENEDICTION

When it comes to death metal there are few bands as consistent and talented as England's BENEDICTION. Their painfully heavy sound and furious delivery have elevated them up amongst the elite bands in the scene. I recently took some time to ask vocalist Dave Ingram about the band, their past, their future, and their catalog as well as get some info on the forthcoming "Grind Bastard" CD. Here is what he had to say....

CM: I know you have a new album coming out soon.... Can you bring us up do date on what BENEDICTION has been doing lately?

Dave Ingram: Lately we've been doing very little, due to the fact that our rehearsal room closed down and we need a new one. It's quite vexing, as Benediction actually financed the studio (which was run by our ex-drummer, Paul Brookes) and physically built it with our hands. Now it's going to be all for nothing. Such is life. But, we do already have 7 new songs written for the new LP "Grind Bastard" which we should record in 2 months time. Or less, hopefully

CM: BENEDICTION has experimented with very standard death metal and a fairly technical sound. What is the approach on the forthcoming album?

Dave Ingram: The new stuff has a more of a Punk influence to some of the tracks. We got into Pro-pain's new stuff a lot, and also The Exploited's recent LP which were both big influences on us. Also, Neil Hutton (Drums) gave more of an input on this LP than the previous one, so his influences shine through too. When you hear the new stuff you can tell it's still Benediction though. There is no compromise in the heaviness either!!!!!

CM: Death Metal has been undergoing a major facelift the last three or four years with death bands experimenting with industrial, atmospheric elements, goth, and just about anything else. What has this done for bands like BENEDICTION?...

Dave Ingram: It hasn't affected us, since we don't follow trends (only if we made them ourselves) so their experimentation with new stuff won't affect us musically. We have seen the change coming over the years and even predicted just how some bands would change. Sometimes it would be a good change for them, sometimes not. But some bands do well for changes. It wouldn't suit Benediction, really. None of us would feel comfortable changing the style that we do.

CM: Do you think extreme metal will ever be accepted by the mainstream music listeners?

Dave Ingram: It has already grown so much in the last few years so there is a possibility that it could become yet more popular to mainstream music listeners, unless something else happens. Like another suicide or murder from those crazy scandinavian Black metallers. Stuff like that wouldn't help much. Bands like Pantera, Biohazard, Sepultura, and Fear Factory have opened so many doors for more extreme bands. It can only get better in my eyes.

CM: Does the waning appeal of punk leave room for a metal re-emergence? Do you care if it does or not?

Dave Ingram: Metal never disappeared, it just withdrew back to the underground a little. Which is where it started so that's not a problem. Waning appeal of Punk? Hmm....I think that will just go back underground again itself. Do I care?.....Of course I care!! This type of music is very important to me, as a member of the band. It's good to be part of a wide & varied scene.

CM: How long did it take before you got tired of being "Barney's replacement" in the metal press?

Dave Ingram: I thought that it would go away after the release of "The Grand Leveller" since people would have accepted my permanent position by then. Europe was fine, we went out touring just before "The Grand........" was released and it was all immediate. It was just the UK that didn't accept it then. And still don't. Only 1 magazine here is any good anyway, and that's Terrorizer. I wouldn't wipe me arse on any other UK mags.

CM: Does BENEDICTION still have problems being considered as nothing more than the band that NAPALM DEATH got their vocalist from?

Dave Ingram: Once again, the only problems were experienced here. A certain magazine got me mixed up with Napalm's new drummer (back then) and called me Danny and him Dave in their reviews!!!!!! Goes to show that they do their homework and research the bands, right? I shan't say which magazine it was, though. Oh sod it, yes I will. It was Kerrang! And it's bollocks.

CM: Can you tell me about the Journal from which you got the lyrics for "Down on Whores"? How strong is the evidence that James Maybrick was really "Jack the Ripper"?

Dave Ingram: It was a book called "The Diary of Jack the Ripper" which was found under the floorboards in a house in Liverpool (in an area called Whitechapel, coincidentally) and it was a diary and confession from said gentleman James Maybrick. The evidence was startling! Firstly, only up till a few years ago they believed the Ripper killed 7 but he only killed 5. The other 2 were unrelated murders. Anyone making a forgery of this journal would have not known that at the time. There were many other coincidences, such as items that were once in possession of Maybrick but were found on the dead whore's bodies, and 'trophies' he took, like rings, to gloat over, which were found in his possession after his death. He was a rich man and would have had no need for these brass rings (not when Maybrick would wear gold). It's things like that which make me believe that he was The Ripper. I urge you good people out there to read it, it's quite shocking.

CM: Do you find real life crime and horror interesting? Is it something you study?

Dave Ingram: I do find crime & horror interesting, but I don't study it as a hobby. I just like to read the odd crime/horror book now and again, and maybe write a song or two about them from the literature I read.

CM: Your lyrics have quite a bit of social commentary. Do you see yourself as a social critic?

Dave Ingram: Social critic? Me? Wow, I never thought about it really. Which lyrics do you mean? Are you referring to "Foetus Noose"? and the 'kind of anti-abortion song' contained on the "Dark is the Season" EP? I had quite a lot of letters - all from America, believe it or not - from people supporting me and also condemning me. One woman in a magazine called me a "moron" for writing that song, but to be quite honest with you, I don't give a flying fuck what people think. I wrote the lyrics, and I was happy with them. (I still am!!) and if people don't like it then the simplest thing is to just not listen to it, okay? It's a song....a bunch of words....nothing more.....it's not going to change the world.....so get off your high horses and show some tolerance to other peoples views.

CM: What do you do in your spare time?

Dave Ingram: . Drink copious amounts of beer and eat large mountainous curries. Also, I do all the mail/e-mail for the band, and so I don't get to work and earn a nice wage unlike the rest of them. So I spend a lot of time working in the garden at home, and at my Nan's & Great-Aunt's houses too. I like doing that, very relaxing. But beer & curry is quite important too. Also, I spend quite a lot of time in Denmark as my Fiancee is Danish.

CM: What are some bands or musical styles that you listen to that might surprise some people?

Dave Ingram: Okay, let me see......De La Soul, Jethro Tull, Pulp, Bush, Suede, Jimi Hendrix, Black Sabbath, Gwar, Amebix, Rudimentary Peni. The list could go on but it would be TOO long!

CM: Can you give me your feeling on the following BENEDICTION releases.... "Subconscious Terror"

Dave Ingram: Before me, but I remember buying it before I joined. I wasn't a big Death Metal fan at the time, I was a Crusty-punker and went to see Napalm Death & S.O.B. playing in Birmingham. The support band was Benediction and they were the first D-Metal band I heard. So I bought the LP next day as I was so impressed by them live, then ended up singing for 'em. It's a strange world!

CM: "The Grand Leveller"

Dave Ingram: My first release. I remember getting the vinyl version of it and turning it over & over in my hands, feeling very proud that I'd finally got an LP out with me on it.

CM: "Dark is the Season"

Dave Ingram: Contains "THAT" song which caused a storm in a teacup, and also my fave Benediction cover, "Forged in Fire" by Anvil. I remember being stoned when we mixed it, and the disk-drive at the studio kept making a noise like a duck when it was being used which we all thought was hilarious (at the time) Possibly our favourite cover art, too.

CM: "Transcend The Rubicon"

Dave Ingram: I love this LP, although I made a big mistake just after it's release....I got married again, to a right pain in the arse. But I digress. We wanted to go on tour and play EVERYTHING from this LP as we couldn't decide which we should use live. We toured with Atheist & Cemetary in '93, and had an absolutely killer time.

CM: "The Dreams You Dread"

Dave Ingram: A slight change in the production technique on this. We are all still very proud of this LP, even though it was our least selling to date. Next time we're going to kill the producer if he gives us the same production as this. hah hah.We still like it, though...don't get me wrong! There's some killer metal riffs on there!!!

CM: "Experimental Stage 7inch"

Dave Ingram: This was released as a Limited Edition but it does seem to keep selling!!! We re-recorded the track "Experimental Stage" as there was a slightly different version of it on the first Benediction demo-tape.

CM: "Grotesque/Ashen Epitaph" miniCD

Dave Ingram: This contains my favourite Benediction track "Ashen....." I love to sing that track live. Starts out slow and chunky, then kicks in with a punky bit, then back to the grinding riffs. Plus it has 3 live tracks on there which were done in front of our crew and a few mates. We told everyone to run around in circles to make it sound like there was more people there!!!!!!! :-)

CM: "Bootleg Flexi"

Dave Ingram: This was recorded at the gig that I went to see Benediction for the first time!! I used to have one but gave my copy to Barney, since it was him singing on it.

CM: Does your vocal style hurt your speaking voice? Do you do anything to keep your voice in shape?

Dave Ingram: After a gig I don't speak for a long time, and use TCP (blah!!!) and lozenges etc all the time to help soothe it. Some people don't have problems, but I do. Quite a lot. I can't drink too much beer on tour as it just dehydrates me and my throat is the first to go. Pity really, otherwise I'd be horrendously drunk every night.

CM: Anything else you want to add?

Dave Ingram: Many thanks for this killer, lengthy interview, Jeb. Hi to Trille Bjerregaard (Jeg elsker dig), Mom for love & support (& cash),Joey Severance, Ken Neiman, Johan "Zenial" Bremer for his work on the website, and any & all friends & fans around the world!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! No thanks to: The rest of the band who are a lazy bunch of drunken bastards.

Note: We have T-shirts available for $15 (incl. Postage) which are Blue with "GRIND BASTARD" on the front in BIG black & white letters, a sleeve print, and "BACK TO EVEN THE SCORE" on the back. (To explain, they look like the American Basketball vests!)

For Info, please send IRC (unless ordering shirts) for guaranteed replies and send it to:

Benediction - C/O Dave Ingram P.O.Box 2653, Northfield Birmingham, B32 5NZ, ENGLAND

or email me at : Dirtbird1@aol.com

and feel free to visit our website at:

http://cal011111.student.utwente.nl/lsd/benedict

Many thanks Jeb, I look forward to reading the zine!! Cheers mate

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Zine Reviews

CHRONICLES OF CHAOS

Email zine

A very long and well done email zine covering the heavier side of the metal underground. There are tons of reviews, a trainload of interviews, and highlights of up-and-coming bands. This zine has been around for a long time and that is reflected in the quality and class of the writing. To subscribe send "coc subscribe <your_name_here" in the SUBJECT heading of an email to ginof@interlog.com. ________________________________________________________________________

Music Reviews

MORTALITY
Structure
CD

This disc combines the driving rhythms and relentless aggression of neo-hardcore with the brutality and heaviness of death metal. Not a new combination to be sure, but MORTALITY do more with their music than most bands babbling in this type of crossover. It would be safe to say that on "Structure" we get a sum that is greater than its parts. There is never a moment when the band isn't pulling out all the stops and shoving their grinding guitars and gnarled vocals down your throat. I have a real love of albums that revel in pure aggression and abrasiveness. Consequently I love this one..... (Warhead Records 1B Smith St.Parramatta, NSW 2150, Australia)

Various Artists
East Coast Assault
2xCD

This double disc set contains almost two and a half hours of completely in-your-face hardcore rage Noo Yawk style. 17 bands blasting out 45 uncompromising tunes is enough to shrivel the gray matter of even the most jaded hardcore crewster. Usually with compilations this long you will find a handful of duds, but not on this sucka. Each and every band has been carefully selected for freshness and flavor... just like good produce. The way I figure it, if you buy this CD and the recent "516-Long Island HC" 2xCD compilation on N.O.T.A. Records you will have 4+ hours of devastating hardcore dementia. You may never have to leave the house again! (Too Damn Hype Records POB 1520 Cooper STN, NY, NY 10276-1520)

FACTION ZERO
Liberation
CD

FACTION ZERO's demo, although very good, didn't really cement itself in my mind. Their debut CD will. Although the still rely heavily on the nyhc influences displayed on the demo this time they do more and go further with their music. They incorporate a faster, oldstyle hc sound and borrow liberally from straight up punk rock. The change is definitely a giant leap in the right direction. They in no way distance themselves from their obvious AGNOSTIC FRONT influences but they also don't let that influence limit their approach. This isn't the new school sound it is just pure, unadulterated hardcore rage. Highly recommended. (IJT POB 20300, Tompkins Square Station, NY, NY 10009)

DEAD AND GONE
God Loves Everybody But You
CD

Alternative Tentacles continues to show that the noise punk phenomenon is in no way limited to the AmRep style. DEAD AND GONE are another recent roster addition whose noise infested punk assault both pounds you to your knees with its power while dazzling you with its masterfully complex style. I cannot tell you how good it is to see bands of this caliber and style getting the support they need and deserve from an operation as high profile as A.T. It is punk like this that continually breathes fresh life into the scene. As long as noise like this is being made punk rock will never die, just shed its skin and emerge refreshed and renewed. (Alternative Tentacles POB 419092, SF, CA 94141-9092)

AMORPHIS
My Kantele
CD

Fans of this band certainly know that times have changed for AMORPHIS. Their early years were spent hashing out traditional death metal that was enthusiastic if rather uninspiring. They then mastered doom/death and pushed the envelope of what death fans were used to hearing. Another evolutionary step on their recent LP "Elegy" saw the band abandoning their death sound and exploring a very aggressive and progressive sound influenced by seventies acts like RAINBOW, UFO, and most notably DEEP PURPLE. "My Kantele" is a companion EP for "Elegy". On this five track disc the band do two covers (including HAWKWIND's "Levitation") as well as an acoustic rendition of the title track which originally appeared on the LP. They also do a two song series called "The Brother Slayer" where the band once again explores the historical and mythical cultural foundations of their native FINLAND. No matter what approach AMORPHIS takes they always blow me away with their talent and sincerity. This EP is just another piece of the AMORPHIS puzzle and fans can't do without it. (Relapse POB 251 Millersville, PA 17551)

TED HOLDEN
Graterford Cinema Five
CD

If you like good, solid, rock 'n roll delivered with all the class of Springstein and all the passion of Tom Petty then you want to add TED HOLDEN to your vocabulary. This is bluejeans rock. Smoke filled coffee shop roll. And a guitar strapped on your back blues. This is the real deal. Holden writes great tunes that alternate between pop and morose melencholy. His voice even has the limited range of Springsteen and Petty although he hasn't quite developed an enigmatic way to utilize his voice, it doesn't really hold him back. (Tiki God Music POB 171, Haverford, PA 19041)

BLACKMAIL
Female Impersonator
CD

This is hard edged, progressive metal with both a large dose of attitude and class. BLACKMAIL easily slip from high speed metal fury to virtuostic experimentation to classic riff-a-rama. Bands who retain a classic metal edge and combine it with a fresh, progressive approach are a rarity. Don't let this band escape your attention. Their web site is huge and put together extremely well so if you are interested in the band you can preview their music at http://home2.swipnet.se/~w 20275/blackmail.html. The band seem hellbent on securing an international recording contract and for what it's worth I second their nomination. Some label is going to move a truckload of units with these Swedish gents. (Ransom Ekehojdsgatan 8, S-426 68 V. Frolunda, Sweden)

STIGMATA
Hymns For An Unknown God
CD

This is NYHC with massive doses of monstrous metallic mayhem and madness. STIGMATA take the heaviness of the neo-ny sound to new extremes. You could put these guys on a death metal bill and they might end up as the heaviest band of the night. Which seems fitting because their hero is nyhc legend Harley Flanagan whose CRO-MAGS used to tour with thrash and death metal bands all the time. (Too Damn Hype Records POB 1520 Cooper STN, NY, NY 10276-1520)

PLAN E
E For Your Eyes
3" CD

All right!! This band has broken out the machete and is cutting their own trail through the musical jungle. They cross the well worn paths of metal, punk, psychedelia, new wave, and even gothic but they never turn and follow those pre-cleared routes. Instead they continue diving into the thick underbrush carving their own way. The band is tight, their execution is sharp, and you probably haven't ever heard anything quite like it. Besides 3" discs are extremely cool. Check it out. (E Records Box 50, 90251, Oulu, Finland)

PLAN E
E For Your Ears
3" CD

This is the predecessor disc to the one reviewed above. A companion disc, as it were. Although the approach is the same as the aforementioned "....Eyes" CD the execution is completely different. The band's sound on this disc is more electronic, more experimental and slightly less eclectic. PLAN E are obviously a band that know no boundaries and believe in no limits. I think the band have a couple more releases in the works and I hope they will send them this way. I am real excited about PLAN E and am positive they are going to continue to amaze in the future. (E Records Box 50, 90251, Oulu, Finland)

THE GREAT KAT
Guitar Goddess
MiniCD

When I got KAT's first album oh these many years ago I was convinced she was just some jerk who decided she could make more money playing metal than Vivaldi. I was positive she was mocking the whole scene and just cashing in while it was hot because her violin training allowed her to play faster than anyone on the planet. I am know convinced of her sincerity because nobody is making money playing speed metal anymore, especially someone whose image is as cliche and dorky as KAT's is. With my new respect for her intentions comes a new appreciation of her music. No longer is KAT just playing fast because she can, she is actually writing tunes that are intense and freakish. She is playing faster and heavier than ever. Just check out the "Guitar Goddess" CD for proof. It clocks in at under 8 minutes so don't pay an arm and a leg, but it worth investigating. There is an accompanying video with the scantily clad KAT showing as much flesh as fury but I still can't get into her whole image. She is too talented to ride this cheesy S&M shtick. (Thomas PR 775 Park Ave. Suite 222, Huntington, NY 11743)

SLAUGHTER
Revolution
CD/CD-ROM

Yes, this is that big-haired, whiny, pretty-boy metal band. I saw them open for KISS a few years back and they were awful. Mark has the wimpiest voice in metal; although to his credit he is a very nice guy. This new album finds the band moving into an area that is more bluesy and weighty. Mark's voice has taken on a more twisted edge, a psycho urgency if you will. The end result is a far more listenable product than anything they have tackled before. Fans of 80's style glam-lite who are into power ballads will lick this up. I don't. (CMC International?BMG http://www.cmcinternational.com)

SALMON
Paco... Drop the Chicken
CD

What a great album title! Humor is underappreciated in the underground. Kudos for that alone. As for the music... Imagine taking a hardcore attitude and a hip hop sound and surgically grafting them onto the brains of PRIMUS. The malformed result would be SALMON. Pogo till death I always say... (Red Ant 9720 Wilshie Blvd. Suite 400, Beverly Hills, CA 90212)

RITCHIE BLACKMORE'S RAINBOW
Stranger In Us All
CD

Blackmore picked a bad time (yet again) to leave DEEP PURPLE (yet again). The most recent DP album is their best work since the seventies and with Blackmore it would have been just that much better. But cest la vie ... Of course, on the flip side, this new RAINBOW isn't anything to shake a stick at... It captures the upbeat passion of the more energetic side of metal. Yep it has a bit of boogie. It also has some blues, some good oldstyle metal wanking, and even a track or two that could have been DP tunes, especially heavy ballad "Ariel". RAINBOW has always been about Blackmore's guitar and this album is no exception. Guitar is all over the place. Clean, soaring, thick, bluesy, scratchy, and everything else you would expect from the man. It has a bit of it all. (Fuel 8033 Sunset Blvd. Suite 12 LA, CA 90046)

CHEAP TRICK
Cheap Trick
CD
Review by Patrick Kendall

Cheap Trick stopped by Utah several months before the release of their latest CD to perform a couple of live shows, one at Club DV8, and the other at Wolf Mountain for the Sundance film festival. I was fortunate enough to catch the show at DV8, leaving with a desire to hear the new Cheap Trick material again as soon as possible. Finally, in April , the new CD was on the shelves, and I was probably one of the first two people in Utah to buy it. (Kevin knows who the other person was!) This is the strongest and best material from Cheap Trick for quite some time. A sticker included on the CD package sums it up perfectly: @...crazed, irreverent and sarcastic, but equally... skilled and disciplined, and they rock like a truck full of bricks. Cheap Trick deliver 11 new songs that are all winners, once again pulling heavily from their many influences,. They wear their Beatles influence on their sleeve for the ballad "Shelter", (which was a favorite of mine live), and they rock harder than they ever have on the first tune "Anytime." This is undoubtedly Cheap Trick at their finest. A nice blend of fast moving and hard rocking songs, intertwined with two unusual and well written ballads formulate a great CD for Cheap Trick. Old fans will love it, new fans should buy it and head back for more. (Red Ant 9720 Wilshie Blvd. Suite 400, Beverly Hills, CA 90212)

BEAUTY
s/t
Cassette

Hold on to your fillings boys and girls because this album is going to rattle your head! This one man band of Scott Evan's delivers what is without a doubt one of the most completely developed blasts of in-death-strial crunch ever! Over the course of a mere three tracks Scott takes your mind and emotions on a roller coaster ride through the bowels of hell. From the full throttle grind of "Rewind" to the meandering darkness of "Exit Wound," this tape does it all. There are moments of pure metallic rage juxtaposed against beautiful and haunting passsages of melancholy. There are driving dance beats underscored by disturbing samples from news broadcasts. There are fanciful soundscapes that give way to hardcore driven angst. A full length release is in the works and I fully expect it to redefine the boundaries of the industrial genre. (POB 316, Oakton, VA 2214 or gse@his.com)

DR. RING-DING & THE SENIOR ALLSTARS
Dandimite!
CD

Fans of traditional ska it is time to stand up and be counted... all five of you.... Nah, just kiddin'. But this CD is no joke. This band is one of Germany's premiere new ska bands, but their sound isn't new. It is fresh, but not new. DR. RING-DING wails on the retro-side. You could swear this was long lost, mid-sixties ska straight from Jamaica. Over 60 minutes of music to make you move your unit all over the floor. Get the word.... RING-DING is a rude boy in heat and you're not. (Moon Ska POB 1412 NY, NY 10276)

LARD
Pure Chewing Satisfaction
CD

Hey, after half a decade they are back and madder than hell. LARD is, of course, a marriage of MINISTRY and Jello Biafra. For my money the sum is far greater than the parts! I have been completely underwhelmed by the last couple MINISTRY albums and Jello has done some marginally acceptable recording in the ten years since THE DEAD KENNEDYS called it a career, but this is the finest release from both parties in just about forever. It certainly is the best LARD album and easily the best MINISTRY album since "The Land of Rape and Honey". The metal/industrial bond is fusion fused and fission driven. Jello's humorous, cynical, and snotty vocals are flying high in formation above the noise while his razor sharp wit has been dulled against a grindstone so that it tears the flesh causing greater damage than just his traditional slice and dice delivery. Buy this, turn it up loud and send the money class running for cover. (Alternative Tentacles POB 419092, SF, CA 94141-9092)

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Pick of the Week - Punk

AUNTIE CHRIST
Life Could Be a Dream
CD

Exene Cervenkova has the most legendary female voice in punk rock. As the passion behind the seminal group X, she earned her stripes writing and performing some of the most arty and intelligent punk rock ever written. Whether it be fair or not, Exene is the yardstick by which punk frontwomen will always be measured. AUNTIE CHRIST finds Exene returning to pure and passionate punk music after years of neo-folk experimentations and spoken word excursions. This album has all the beauty and strength of the best X albums. The X reunion a couple of years ago seems to have rekindled the flames burning in her soul and with this new outfit she pours hi-octane gasoline on those flames and seemingly explodes right in front of your ears. AUNTIE CHRIST are the epitome of both class and crass. You have got to experience this. (Lookout POB 11374, Berkeley, CA 94712)

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Pick of the Week - Metal

BEAUTY
s/t
Cassette

Hold on to your fillings boys and girls because this album is going to rattle your head! This one man band of Scott Evan's delivers what is without a doubt one of the most completely developed blasts of in-death-strial crunch ever! Over the course of a mere three tracks Scott takes your mind and emotions on a roller coaster ride through the bowels of hell. From the full throttle grind of "Rewind" to the meandering darkness of "Exit Wound," this tape does it all. There are moments of pure metallic rage juxtaposed against beautiful and haunting passages of melancholy. There are driving dance beats underscored by disturbing samples from news broadcasts. There are fanciful soundscapes that give way to hardcore driven angst. A full length release is in the works and I fully expect it to redefine the boundaries of the industrial genre. (POB 316, Oakton, VA 2214 or gse@his.com)

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Places to buy great Underground Music

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NOTE: If you have an address for this section, please send it to me.
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Links

This is Brent King's Punk page with tons of links and info and other great stuff all related to PUNK! You can also get to his homepage from here which is worth the time!

http://www.bkng.demon.co.uk/punk/punk.html

BENEDICTION's Home page: http://cal011111.student.utwente.nl/lsd/benedict

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___________________________________

© Jeb Branin - All or part of this MAY be reproduced if done so for no profit, the author is given credit (Jeb Branin unless otherwise noted), and The Crass Menagerie is notified at jeb.branin@snow.edu or Route Box 23-3, Ephraim, UT 84627

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