Swarrrm : Thee Imitation Messiahs

Well, I suppose an imitation messiah is better than having none at all.

I posted this back on the good ship Lucid before it sank, and though it's easily available elsewhere on the interwebs (and in stores, even: buy it), I'm posting it again. This is album is superlative, love this if you love heavy and original music. Intricate, anarchic and abrasive but methodical and with weird hints of beauty; full-blown madness on a tight leash.

食らえ！

Swarrrm / Mortalized

So. I fell down a flight of stairs, did some terrible things to the tendons in my ankles and won't be able to get to school or earn much money for a couple of weeks. Absolutely miserable.

What is absolutely, beyond question not miserable is this split. I picked this up to get Swarrrm's two songs and was in no way disappointed. Swarrrm make the most (literally) beautiful grind-type music you'll ever hear, pretty, violent and insane all at once. Lovely guitar melodies + blastbeats + the craziest vocals + great musicianship. Anyway, I could heap praise on Swarrrm all day, just dl it, ok? I'm less familiar with Mortalized, who play a ultra fast, high-pitched form of grind that reminds me of Discordance Axis (I think their guitarist is in Hayainodaisuki but am not sure), and contribute 4 approximately 1 minute songs.


SWARRRM / MORTALIZED

Tsukasa Harakawa : God of Growling

I wouldn't claim to be a true fan of br000tal vokillers; I find most pure growlers & grunters somewhat monotonous, and the regurgitative and barnyard schools of vocalization do little for me, but there are a few definite exceptions, and for my money the above pictured Tsukasa Harakawa is the best death-style vocalist around, has been in several exceptional bands.

I like Harakawa so much because of the range in style and expression-especially on later stuff-of his semi-wordless roars, shrieks, occasional croons and howls(there are lyrics in English, but for the most part they only correspond roughly to the sounds produced), and because of his manic intensity, which is really something to see live.

Harakawa has been fairly prolific, performing in several different bands throughout his career but his first significant works came from his time in the superlative Hellchild. A death metal band which slowed down a bit later in their run, combining sludgy groove, technical skill, complex song structure and Harakawa's vocals into something pretty awesome.

Evidence:

Their best release(maybe):

Publish Post

Hellchild : Bareskin　 1999

After Hellchild's breakup Harakawa, with Hellchild's bassist Yasu(rip 2005, replaced by benny of Multiplex fame), and a former Hellchild drummer, formed From Hell (a band which, thanks to a mediocre Johnny Depp adaption of an excellent Alan Moore comic gumming up the interwebs is difficult to find information on in English or Japanese): somewhat less metallic than Hellchild and without the groove/prog/tech tendencies of departed guitarist Suzuki, From Hell are as, if not more brilliant (recently I've been leaning towards more), heavy, intense and so on.

From Hell haven't released anything since this (which makes me wanna cry), but are still active.




From Hell : Empty Words 2004


Next, in a convergence of superiority like Conan the Barbarian and Mad Max joining forces to kill hippies, Harakawa became the new vocalist for Swarrrm:




Swarrm : Black Bong 2007

MORE STUFF:

More vids here.

Harakawa's single (I think) release as vocalist of Atomic Fireball at the redoubtable Cephalochromoscope , where you can also find Harakawa's grind project (w/ members of Hellchild & Multiplex): Force