Every now and again I find a band or artist that I just am absolutely in love with, only to find upon further research, that they have fallen to obscurity and little to no more material exists to be had. That is very much the case with Taming the Outback. Being a big fan of the post-punk movement as a whole, I was certainly excited to give this disc a spin, but I had no idea what was in store. A 'definitive' collection, culled from the entirety of their 3 year lifespan, '1986-1989' may just be one of the most quintessential post-punk records I've experienced. From the opening notes of 'Fire & Smoke' to the moving, dramatic leads of 'Mistrust' to the final notes of 'American Dream' this cd is a near flawless listen. So many classic influences are channeled throughout this disc, while not a single one of them can quite be used for comparison. The Outback were able to draw from these influences and really put their own stamp on it all. From bass sounds very reminiscent of the Cure's 'Disintegration' album, coupled with certain melodies containing the ghosts of Joy Division's early work to the angst of Killing Joke and hint of the western vibe of Fields of the Nephilim (with whom The Outback shared the stage for a tour) to the tension building vocals of Echo and the Bunnymen and Mission UK'¦ The list just goes on and on, yet I can't stress enough, that at no point does it sound like any of these bands have been recycled in any way. Taming the Outback had something so magical that this world just couldn't accept it, and after just three short years, tensions grew to a head, and the magic was no more. Lucky for us the trio, after 2 decades, decided to release this retrospective of singles originally slated for an abandoned LP, demos, and live tracks. While the quality of some of the live tracks isn't 100% pristine, some of the almost inaudible tape noise, really at its worst just adds a warm, nostalgic feel the latter half of the album. Even the packaging is impressive. A thick, heavy, double gatefold style cardboard sleeve is adorned with the band's infamous crucifixion publicity shot, and comes with a poster, and full 24 page booklet containing lyrics, interviews and reprints of more than a few press clippings about the band; and a second edition limited to just 75 copies (which at last inspection were still available) comes with the same, as well as 4 badges, a mini reprint of 'Alive and Kicking' fanzine from 1987 featuring the band, and an original copy of their only 7' in a picture sleeve. Once again, just a phenomenal record in every way; go out of your way if you must, just make sure you get this one under your belt before you die.

Mental D-struction's 'Extrapolation of Human Perspectives' is a relentless sonic assault on the senses that leaves one both ravaged and thoroughly satisfied, craving more. The album opens to an almost serene soundscape of pads, complex cymbal rhythms and if you listen carefully, samples of children beneath it all, creating a false sense of security, with just a hint of forboding, foreshadowing what's to come. Almost as soon as it comes, that warm fuzzy feeling is stripped from the listener with schizophrenic electronics and odd meters full of distorted rhythms and frantic beats layered with both dialogue samples and beautiful string arrangements. As the disc progresses, so does the destruction; in its wake lay synthetic screaming banshees, growling monsters of beauty, an almost carnevallian disasterpiece and a brutiful epic whose orchestrations channel the likes of Mozart et al; though I'm sure they'd roll in their graves were they to experience the invasive, destructive, harsh beats and distorted vocals just screaming in agony that lay on top of the aforementioned orchestrations. This record is a brutal journey into the depths of the most twisted parts of the human mind, with only quick pauses to catch one's breath before being thrown right back into it all. The only slight relief comes at the very last track, whose tempo is just below that of its predecessors, though she still makes devastatingly good use of every beat per minute. From its beautiful string arrangements, to it's machine gun rhythms; from it's razor-like synths to it's distorted vocals and samples, this offering from Mental D-Struction has not a single dull moment and will shake you to the core. It is a beautiful and hauntingly destructive demonstration that you wont want to pass on, that is of course, if you can keep up...

Achenar's sophomore effort, the aptly titled 'Super Death Explosion Kittens,' is precision aural assault right from the onslaught. The intro 'Arise, Minions' commands you do exactly that. At a mere 44 seconds, you only barely get to immerse yourself in the tune before the rest of the disc comes bashing you over the head with its industrial-death-breakcore brutality. Most of the songs here at 'first glance' seem almost to have little apparent rhyme or reason other than to bruise the eardrums, but listening even the tiniest bit deeper shows exactly how meticulously and painstakingly crafted this release truly is. Every nuance has been carefully planned and executed with perfection. Some of this can be proven by watching sole member Duncan Hemingway's Renoise Video Blog which chronicles certain aspects of the creation of this EP (which was done entirely in Renoise) in detail, describing how he careful orchestrated the 'live but humanly impossible' sound to his drums, how he created melodic noise textures from a fraction of a vocal sample or how he essentially converts his own aural perception into audio effects and many other unorthodox yet intriguing topics. I originally saw these videos when I was learning Renoise myself so I can say with certainty that they are extremely informative and effective.

'Super Death Explosion Kittens' (aside from having quite possibly the BEST title of any CD ever) proves to be a sonic thrill ride throughout. From the intro; to 'Liberation,' the fantasy inspired segue into the second half; to the destructive beauty of 'Born into Steam' this disc doesn't disappoint, not even for a second. It isn't exactly for the faint of heart, but once you've crossed over into the battleground of Achenar, you'll never look back.

This record by R.Y.N. draws the title 'Archaic Techniques of Ecstasy' from the 1951 work of Mircea Eliade which was a comprehensive study on one of the most intriguing sets of beliefs to date. And I think that they really channel some of that energy in this release. If you close your eyes and FEEL the ravaging soundscapes they offer us, you'll begin to feel the pull as you're transported to another dark realm. Spacious and damning the two pieces take up a full side of the LP each, giving the listener ample time to give in to the powers within. These songs are aurally very tense, uneasy and create just the right amount of despair to grip you and not let you go. You'll find yourself very much immersed in an unnerving delve into the psyche of insanity. This album was crafted entirely from manipulated field recordings and the results show that R.Y.N. definitely have a mastery of their trade. Make sure to catch this one at home in the dungeon, alone, in the dark, with your vice of choice close by and let yourself be overtaken by its dreadful beauty.

Blue Sabbath Black Cheer and Nihilist Assault Group's collaborative effort 'Planned Obsolescence' doesn't f**k around. They take their HNW very seriously, and with this release command you do the same.

This is what I imagine it would sound like if you were in the epicenter of a massive explosion and captured just a single nuance of it, then looped it indefinitely. This recording is just a thick, unapologetic wall of destruction. Every second offers no hope or retribution. From the second the walls of noise close in, until the moment they fade away, you're pummeled with the harsh ferocity of a sonic shoe to the groin. Minute sounds and variances pour in and build up throughout to offer just a hint of tonal fluctuation that slowly swirls to a head by the end of the record. Side B seems to show more of these nuances than Side A making sure by the last seconds you're not quite sure what kind of truck just hit you. There's not enough that can be said to attest to the brutality of this collaboration, you must simply experience it for yourself, however, be very aware, that it is not for everybody. While the title may be 'Planned Obsolescence,' this is definitely a stew of timeless carnage that will be just as destructive years from now as it is today.