From Whence They Came, I Command Thee

About four or five years ago, when I worked at a trendy shoe store I became friends with a guy that worked in a trendy clothes store. Anyways, he would drop things into my work, always accompanied by a drawing (I did not ask him to do them, he kinda just slipped them into the bag or whatever). I managed to unearth two of these lost masterpieces, which I had lovingly scanned for your viewing. Even though I have never actually smoked crack, in these drawings I was always giving myself up to God and delivering myself from evil by discarding my crack-cocaine. In retrospect, I think these drawings were actually autobiographical, and were more reflective of his life and not mine, but still, he would always have me (sometimes in a dress and rollerskates, see bottom pic) seeking salvation etc. Classic drawings, I am sure you will agree...

Pt. V

Skyward...

Christian Death (USA) Only Theatre Of Pain (1982)



This, I only got a hold of after hearing them feature on Mr. Nagell's excellent mix for Actual Pain earlier in the year. So many great tracks on here, "Spiritual Cramp's" fade into "Romeo's Distress" definitely the pick of the bunch.

1.Cavity - First Communion
2.Figurative Theatre
3.Burnt Offerings
4.Mysterium Iniquitatis
5.Dream For Mother
6.Stairs - Uncertain Journey
7.Spiritual Cramp
8.Romeo's Distress
9.Resurrection - Sixth Communion
10.Prayer

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My Bloody Valentine (Ireland) Tremolo (1991)



I pretty much only posted this for the minute or so long outro's featured on three of the tracks. I think they were originally supposed to be cut as individual tracks but, as and EP cannot have more than six tracks, they had to implement them as 'outro's'. I am kind of obsessed with the outro to "Honey Power", almost too perfect.

1.To Here Knows When
2.Swallow
3.Honey Power
4.Moon Song

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My Bloody Valentine (Ireland) You Made Me Realise (1988)



"Cigarette In Your Bed." Enough said.

1.You Made Me Realise

2.Slow
3.Thorn
4.Cigarette In Your Bed
5.Drive It All Over Me

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Sonic Youth (USA) Made In USA (1986)



Okay, so it wasn't released till 95, BUT, it was RECORDED in 86. Same time as my favourite SY record, Evol. It is basically variations of the instrumental-y bits off that record (this is actually a soundtrack), with a few other tracks/riffs etc thrown in. Some of the tracks seem to come up more than once for sure, with minor differences - slowed down, sped up etc. "Pocketful Of Sen-Sen" could almost be Leadbelly. No idea where that track came from, but its amazing. Die-hard fans of SY need only really check this out.

1.Mackin' For Doober
2.Full Chrome Logic
3.Secret Girls
4.Cork Mountain Incident
5.Moustache Riders
6.Tuck N Dar
7.Moon In The Bathroom
8.Thought Bubbles
9.Rim Thrusters
10.Lincoln's Gout
11.Coughing Up Tweed
12.Pre-Poured Wood
13.Hairpiece Lullaby 1 & 2
14.Pocketful Of Sen-Sen
15.Smoke Blisters 1 & 2
16.Velvet Plug
17.Giggles
18.Tulip Fire 2
19.Dynamics Of Bulbing
20.Smoke Blisters 3 & 4
21.O.J.'s Glove Or What?
22.Webb Of Mud 1, 2 & 3
23.Bachelor's In Fur!

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Sonic Youth (USA) Master-Dik (1988)



This again, is really only for die-die-DIE-hard SY freaks. It is almost a loose jam/demo of parts of Sister. A lot of it is kind of annoying, it is what I would've expected their earliest work to sound like before I had heard it all. There are shades of genius tho, like the "Master-Dik" part of track three. The riff part of track 6 - "Guitar Lick" - is amazing. "Chinese Jam" is insanely cool also. The Ramones cover? You decide... Vinyl rip btw.

1.Master-Dik
2.Beat On The Brat (Ramones cover)
3.Under The Influence Of The Jesus & Mary Chain/Ticket To Ride/Master-Dik/Introducing The Stars
4.Ringo/He's On Fire/Florida Oil Drums
5.Chinese Jam
6.Vibrato/Guitar Lick/Funky Fresh
7.Our Backyard
8.Traffick

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Therapy? (Northern Ireland) Babyteeth (1991)



I know what you're thinking, 'Therapy? That pop-punk band from the mid-ninties???', and yes, you'd be correct. HOWEVER, they used to make great music (like so many bands) earlier in their career. The first EP being the pick of the bunch in my opinion. I am not sure how one would categorize this musically - the riffs are pretty heavy, I guess musically it is metal technically, but the drumming isn't really. It's more 'alt rock/alt metal' or whatever horrible phrase they have for 'unclassifiable' bands. It's kinda grungey also. I don't know, maybe if you like (early) Faith No More check it out? I had this on the Caucasian Psychosis (with Pleasure Death on the other side) tape as a lad. If anyone is looking for Pleasure Death let me know and I will post it in the future.

1.Meat Abstract
2.Skyward
3.Punishment Kiss
4.Animal Bones
5.Loser Cop
6.Innocent X
7.Dancin' With Manson

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Interview with Kenneth of Neseblod Records, Oslo

Neseblod Records is Oslo’s premier metal and punk record store and also the most insane shop I’ve ever been to. Their collection of records and merchandise is crazy; trying to get through it all was pretty much impossible. The store could be five times the size and still be over-stocked. I interviewed Kenneth at Neseblod for Vice a while back, here it is...

You have a seriously large archive – both music and merchandise. Has much of the stock come from your own personal collections?
Kenneth: When we started the shop, we had some of our own collection. We also have a dig about at home sometimes and bring it to the store.

You are the premier record store in Oslo for metal, punk and alternative stuff. Was there anywhere you could buy such music between the closure of Helvete in ‘93 and the opening of your store in 2003?
There had not been any special store for this kind of music, but there were second hand stores that had some stuff every now and then.

Speaking of Helvete, you have many artifacts belonging to Euronymous. Was he a personal friend of yours?
No, not really. I bought a lot of records from him and sold him some of my Mercyful Fate records. We would talk about music and stuff whenever I was at Helvete.

Have you noticed a big change in trend in metal over the last few years? I know metal is supposed to be ‘anti-trend’ or whatever but…
Yes, a lot of the old school thrash metal is extremely popular and is getting more plays than it did back in the 80s.

Norway has had a pretty mercurial touch when it comes to producing great metal bands, since the first wave of black metal bands towards the end of the 80s/early 90s. What is it that makes Norway such a breeding ground for great bands?
Not sure, but it might have something to do with us having a big interest for underground music. And I think we are not afraid to try something different. We also have the long cold winter and the forest – that might influence our minds.

Do you ever get any really odd requests at your store? Musically or otherwise.
Yes, some questions about the t-shirt “DREP DE KRISTENE”. Er, no comment.

On the website it says : “A BIG THANKS TO UB40 FOR THE BADDEST MUSIC IN THE WORLD”. What?!?
HA HA HA. Me and Fenriz were talking about the worst band we could come up with. We came up with UB40. Nothing over, nothing under.