Voivod - "Killing Technology"

Why have I never extoled the virtues of Canada's Voivod before? It was an oversight which i will remedy now. This is their 3rd full length album from 1986, entitled "Killing Technology". It is what I like to think of as geek metal: excellent, headbanging riffs,blazing solos, bass and drums bashing along at punk tempos with very distinct timing changes, and lyrics about sci-fi themes. I like to think that I could sit in a basement in 1986, with a nice hesher haircut of some sort, finishing Neuromancer for the 4th time, then putting this record on and playing the old GURPS Cyberpunk rpg with some friends. Why don't you do that now?

We Are Connected

Sigh - "Ghastly Funeral Theatre"

Here is "Ghastly Funeral Theatre", an e.p. released by Japan's SIGH in 1997. This band pushes the boundaries of metal, always sounding to me like a metal band doing a lot of acid, watching a lot of 70's horror and listening to avant garde jazz/funk fusion/prog rock records. This e.p. is more squarely on the metal side of things, and is completely awesome, no filler tracks, just awesome metal. If you have never heard Sigh before, this is the place to start.

Also, what do you all think of the new banner up there?

Who Is Calling My Name?

Curse Of The Magi - 2005 Demo

Here is a demo from unheard local band Curse Of The Magi, which existed briefly during 04-05 and features members who were in bands like Ikkabod and Cheapskate, which is about what this sounds like. If you haven't heard either of those bands, I have posted them elsewhere on this blog. A very odd amalgamation of pop punk and Maiden-esque metal, which definitely sounded different from anything else going on around here at the time. Half of this band joined up with me and formed Deeds Of Midwinter, which also was short-lived but played a bit and do have some recordings which I might post up here someday.

Thunder Brings The Storm

Phantasm - O.S.T by Fred Myrow & Malcolm Seagrave

Here is the soundtrack to one of the most surreal, odd, and downright creepy little horror films you're likely to see, Don Coscarelli's "Phantasm". This was one of the movies that frightened the crap out of me when I first saw it, with its little hooded people and The Tall Man, chillingly portrayed by the excellent Angus Scrimm, walking through the halls of one of the creepiest mausoleums ever, and the damn spheres, going around, drilling for brains. It freaked me out when I was younger, and to this day my mom swears that it's the scariest movie she's ever seen. Don Coscarelli also directed "Beastmaster" and "Bubba-Hotep", and an excellent episode of "Masters Of Horror" called "Incident On And Off A Mountain Road", from a short story by Joe Lansdale, which also features Angus Scrimm (and drilling for brains!), which brings us back to the point, which is that this is the soundtrack to Phantasm, eerie, scary, and just for you.

Here, Boy!

UNFLINCHING EYE

I wanted to take a break from music posts and stuff to give a shout out to one of my favorite blogs out there, the amazing Unflinching Eye. The maker of this fine blog, one Aylmer, is a follower of Scummified and even if he wasn't, I would still follow his blog. It is a horror blog, about horror films, made by a dedicated horror fan. It is consistently well written, very informative, and just flat out awesome. Do yourself a favor and check it out. It is well worth your time if you are a horror hound like I am.

I'll be back with some more posts soon, including some more horror soundtracks that i didn't get a chance to post before Halloween, more punk and more metal and hopefully some more unheard regional music also. Stay Tuned!!

Misfits - "Walk Among Us"

What do you mean you haven't listened to The Misfits yet today? It's Halloween, hell, there's only about two hours left in it, and you haven't broken this out? Shame on you. If you don't have this, why are you even reading this when you should be downloading it?

It's not Halloween until this gets a spin, at least once.

Happy Halloween!

Dawn Of The Dead

Here is the incidental "stock" music to George Romero's 1979 magnum opus Dawn Of The Dead(I was also noticing while watching Dario Argento's "Tenebre" how much of Goblin's score to D.O.T.D. was featured in that film, but I digress...).

Dawn Of The Dead is simply the greatest zombie movie ever, the highest point in a trilogy of high points from Romero. Mere words can not give credit to the love I have for this movie. One day i might wax philosophical about it, but not today. Just enjoy this. One more day 'til Halloween......

When there's no more room in hell....

Day Of The Dead - O.S.T. by John Harrison

Here is the soundtrack to George Romero's 1985 masterpiece Day Of The Dead. Reviled by many when it was originally released, this movie has since gone on to be revered by many who appreciate its totally unsympathetic characters, its very nihilistic and downbeat pace (compared to the more upbeat and comedic Dawn Of The Dead), and its absolutely mind-and chunk-blowing "EFX" work by maestro Tom Savini. In the 80's, I guess saying just "effects" or "fx" couldn't do justice to Savini's work here, so they had to add the "E" before it to signify the extremity of the fx. Also, some of you may not know that the original script was much different than what was filmed, those interested in reading this should do so here. If you don't want to read what could've been and are content with what you have, may i also suggest having this, the score to this fine film? Very dark and dramatic, but with a slightly Caribbean flavor to it, which is odd, but really adds a layer of hope to the otherwise totally bleak and hopeless situation. I would also like to state for the record that I hold Night, Dawn, and Day as the three finest examples of zombie cinema ever, and yeah, I still think Romero's zombie movies are light years better than others being churned out now. In my opinion, he fucking started the genre, and the man can do no wrong.

The Darkest Day Of Horror The World Has Ever Known!

Darkthrone - "Transilvanian Hunger"

I'm not going to say much about this. If you're into black metal or metal at all, you've probably heard this, or parts of it, or at least heard of it, or know of its reputation. I consider it a perfect example of raw, cold, almost hypnotic black metal. Another favorite of The House Of Scummified.

Slottet I Det Fjerne

Goblin - Live 1979

If you've been following this blog for a while, you should know about my love for Italian prog legends Goblin. Simply put, I think they're one of the single most amazing bands ever. Here is a live recording that I know next to nothing about, other than that it was recorded in Italy in 1979, probably features the line-up on the "Suspiria" soundtrack, and contains songs from Profondo Rosso, Suspiria, Roller, and the under-appreciated Il Fantastico Viaggio Del Bagarozza Mark. The recording is good, and I think it's just awesome to hear Goblin at their peak, playing these songs live.

Goblin - Live 1979