The Short List is a weekly dive into EPs, Splits, Reissues, Comps, Live Records, etc
Live:
Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats Slaughter on First Avenue Rise Above Records
July 28 2023
Today unveils a distinctive and treacherous live recording from the cinematic and thunderous Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats. Led by the enigmatic Kevin Starrs and his illustrative lyrics of other worlds and harrowing tales, Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats adapts their stage show to relay a tapestry of tension, fright, and horror. Tales from the stellar records in Uncle Acid’s canon such as Mind Control, Bloodlust, The Night Creeper, and Wasteland, all provide fodder for a combination of trudging drums and rhythms, fuzz-drenched riffs, and whirling psychedelic atmospheres.
I will let the man explain:
“I think one of our strengths is that most of what we do live is the exact opposite of what’s expected at a rock show,” says Kevin Starrs. “There’s no warm chit-chat, no rehearsed anecdotes, no pleasantries, no running around. It’s so dark you can’t see our faces, and sometimes we play with our backs turned. It shouldn’t work, but it does. We just lock into the music and feed off the crowd. Some people still want all that old-time stage banter stuff and want to feel loved, which is fine, but I think a cold relentless hammer attack on the senses works better for a band like us.”
Slaughter on First Avenue is comprised of performances taken from two shows, one from 2019; the second, 2022. The common ground is that they were both at First Avenue in Minneapolis. An expansive 86-minute dual disc endeavor delves deep into the band’s four albums. 14 tracks of hypnotizing, sinister doom metal span these two LPs, four sides. A foreboding graphic on gatefold embraces the double-vinyl, flaunting punishing five, seven, and even 12-minute tracks. Production is fantastic, encapsulating the finest of Uncle Acid’s highlights.
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Order at Rise Above.
Clear Double Vinyl Diehard LP, 100
Mandarin Orange Double Vinyl Diehard LP, 200
Black Vinyl Double LP, 500
Mandarin Orange & Black Splatter Double Vinyl LP, 1000
Gold Double Vinyl LP, 1000
Transparent Black Double Vinyl LP, 1000
Purple Double Vinyl LP, 1000
Retrospective Comp:
Black Army Jacket Open Casket: Complete Discography State Of Mind Recordings / Brainscan Records
Out Now
Black Army Jacket were a crushing powerviolence band who released records from 1996 to 1999. They have a demo, an album, six EPs under their belt. Five of those were spits with luminaries such as Hemlock, Corrupted, Spazz, Noothgrush, and Agathocles. Comprising this vicious band of dark and chaotic music are legends in the scene: Dave Witte (a thousand bands which include grindcore perfectionists Discordance Axis and of course, Municipal Waste), Carlos Ramirez (Hope Collapse, Deny The Cross—also with Witte; also now documents our scene on nocho.net), Andrew Orlando (ex-Milhouse), Rob Lawi.
Shout out to former members since this is a complete discography: Chris Russo (Celebrity Murders), Dan Crowell (Celebrity Murders and bunch more), John Adubato (Hey, what do you know? He played with Witte in another revered band, Burnt By The Sun). The purpose of all this bullet point nostalgia is to ensure you that this is powerviolence leviathan represented with skill, experience, and ferocity.
State Of Mind and Brainscan Records have collaborated to package every tracks released and unreleased tracks from the splits, compilation appearances, EPs, and the full length 222. Black Army Jacket’s tracks have been resurrected from stalwart labels such as Slap-A-Ham, Deep Six, Chainsaw Safety, Pessimiser, Now Or Never among others. Open Casket: Complete Discography projects off the needle commanding respect and living room moshing. Witte’ drums propel the first 11 tracks.
Obviously, being the initial recordings of Black Army Jacket, the production is raw. Dan Crowell carries the torch flawlessly with his drumming. The vocals by Lawi screech and bellow as Orlando’s spastic riffs bombard the speakers. Ramirez’ bass rips through with volcanic rage. Line-up, recording credits, tons of photos all accompany lyrics typed out for 59 songs.
New and stunning black and white photography adorns this gatefold and foldout insert lyric sheet. In 2022, Brainscan released a remastered version of 222. Here all tracks were mastered for vinyl by Will Killingsworth at Dead Air Studios. One of NYC’s greatest underground bands deserves this dedicated endeavor, presented with a meticulous veneration.
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Preorder at State Of Mind.
Double LP Discography in Gatefold Sleeve With Poster Insert
100 Clear Vinyl
400 Black Vinyl
10 Band Test Presses
25 Rejected Test Presses
DOUBLE LP ON CLEAR VINYL and 222 LP on Blue Vinyl.
DOUBLE LP ON CLEAR VINYL and 222 LP on Red Vinyl
