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I've been recording junk metal material with my Tascam. Really love the textures it is able to capture. The basement that was my "studio" had a natural reverb that translated really well onto the device. I'm far more impressed with the results I get now than when I was using contact mics and regular vocal mics.

Question - now when it comes to a live setting, would I be able to emulate the Tascam recordings using a venue's drum/stage mics? I assume capturing cymbals isn't too far off beating and grinding metal fencing. Would prefer to do as much of the metal stuff live as possible instead of just relying on samples...

Hmmm I wonder what the best way to run FX pedals with a mic would be? Through an FX loop on my mixer or out from my preamp?

Just picked up that great Oxen 2xCD “Scalding Feast” - definitely makes a useful format for 160 minutes of harshness that would be impossible to do reasonably as “a vinyls”. I purchased a bunch of CDs this year and it’s quite nice on the wallet.

Very interested in hearing this BOTFLIES + TYHJÄ PÄÄ collab - anyone have any idea who might have copies? Or a band contact?

There's a copy for sale on Discogs, listen here: https://botflies.bandcamp.com/album/botflies-tyhj-p

[Releases:]

Releases:
Tracy Lords Loves Noise - The Ultimate Fantasy
Knelt Rote - Alterity
Striations - Vietnamization
Buck Young - Proud Trash Sound
Concave/Convex -Victory Over Body
Sentenced - Extinguishment
Grunt - Castrate the Illusionist
Basically Anything from any of Josh Peterson's projects
Stoker - Jump Street
Human Agony - Goring Christ
Oozing Meat - Contaminated
Terror Cell Unit - Psalm 137:9 and the accompanying cassingle
Worth - Neanderthal Camera/Blood Possessed/The Steps
Ferro Mortem -Underworld
Disgusting Sanctum - Pathology of Abuse
MK9 - Loss as Loss
BizarreSSMania - II
Celebrity Appreciation Society - Selected Case Studies Volume 3
Nihilist Commando/Neuss - Split
City Hunter - Deep Blood
Vile Gash - Nightmare in A Damaged Brain
Bacillus - Serial Infector
Psycho Ex Girlfriend
AntiChildLeague - Infect Your Gut Infect Your Thoughts
Sissy Spacek - Trash Staging/Ways of Confusion
Basically anything from Punishment Private Release
Striations/Human Agony - Live at Coaxial
Genocide Organ - Mind Control Reissue
Fecallove - Anal Lobotomy
Mania/Deterge - Lay Waste/Future of Pulse
Current 93 - Thunder Perfect Mind reissue
Godcage - Albatross of Faith (probably mostly for my personal connection to the artist and being glad to see his work still being release posthumously)
Vomit Arsonist - Further
Blackwatch - In the Company of Dead Heroes
DJ Speedsick - Death Trip '17
Lille Roger - Undead 1984-1987 Boxset
Agonal Lust - Modern Atrocities
Shredded Nerve - Final Vision
Body Carve - Guts in Red Plastic
Ariana Grande - Sweetener and really just that fucking video for "thank u, next".

Probably many more I've forgotten to add (just looking from my discogs collection by year).

Print:
Peter Sotos - Ingratitude (duh)
Everything from Amphetamine Sulphate, particularly Missing by Josh Peterson
David Fremann - AV Project
Whichever Noise Widow came out this year
Embalming Report #1 (I think that was 2018??)
David Fremann & John Gardner - Fucked by Moonlight (shameless, since I had a large part in this release but was very happy to work on this and how the finished product ultimately turned out)
Anything from New Juche that was released this year

Labels
Bacteria Field - consistently churning out great (and vile) releases
New Forces - Always purchase whatever new releases they have out
Dead Gods - Another I'll purchase anything from
Black Psychosis - Maybe a little biased as he released a tape of mine this year but Si always delivers on incredible artwork and packaging
Finders - Of course another one I have ties to but indisputably has curated an incredible selection of releases time after time with some of my favorite artwork
No Rent Records - Diverse selection of artists and I love the art style and design the label has developed

Shows, Experiences, Ephemera
Cooter, Legless, Sects tour - absolute blast. Each show had a great lineup, no car troubles, totally smooth, ideal tour. Highlights include: seeing Concrete Mascara nearly make my ears bleed at the Hart Bar and hanging with Frank for the few days he was around for the shows, Persecution Dragonness at Hart Bar, the soundguy DJ'ing Stoner Metal through the PA inbetween acts yet putting a limiter on the PA as to "not damage the sound system over a noise show", Jackson Pratt/Kiran Aurora live collab at Hart Bar, Legless and Stroker collab at Heaven's Gate and Sects' Philly Flyers Jersey at Heaven's Gate, literally just seeing Sects and Legless destroy every show we played, Life Appreciation Renewal in Richmond, going to "Cookout" in Richmond which apparently is the spot there and accidentally completely stepping someone's foot and them giving me the dirtiest look, Material Body Dysfunction headbutting me during his set in Cincinnati, Sects trying to give me MRSA in Cincinnati, Alba Cell, Brad Griggs, and Cominform all in Cincinnati, trying Cincinnati Chili for the first time and having some serious stomach issues with it shortly after. Also shoutout to Rachel's deer chili in Philadelphia.

Genocide Organ/Anenzelphia/and the Preshows in Los Angeles - Absolutely incredible weekend. Pedestrian Deposit was incredible at the first pre-show, basically every act at the second pre-show, specifically Deterge and Terror Cell Unit among all the great acts, seeing Genocide Organ obviously was an incredible experience as well as Anenzephalia and Puce Mary the next night. Pitchers of Long Island Ice Tea were definitely a highlight. Some shitty rave we went to after the GO show I guess was a highlight even though it mostly sucked, maybe that was a lowlight. Psychiatry: An Institution of Death Museum was a great experience; if that was not a propaganda exhibit funded by the Church of Scientology I would've thought it was the greatest art installation piece I'd ever have seen. Also going to some shitty strip club called "Dames and Games" that was recommended to us by some sketchy tattoo artist who advertised it as "Dave and Buster's but with topless women" was somewhat of a lowlight because there were literally no games besides strippers playing mind games...so it goes. They did have some great drink, I think it was like an appletini with a less embarrassing name or something but fuck it, it was delicious and I had about six. Basically just meeting a lot of folks I'd communicated with online was great and the weekend ruled.

Brighter Death Now/Pharmakon/Gnawed/Scant: Another fun trip and I enjoy getting out to New York whenever I can. I think my favorite set of the night was Gnawed who played his signature form of absolutely miserable death industrial. Also Roger from BDN kissed me on the lips so that was a plus.

Can't remember the dates but saw Worth a handful of times this year and he never disappoints live. Total harsh madness, everyone is aware of the praise he's received from the recent releases but his live sets hold up just as well. Jeff Plummer of Creeping did a number of fantastic sets that I saw this year as well, I think my favorite was at the Bad Timing Festival in Providence alongside Jason Crumer and FFH who also both performed great sets.

Seeing Marylin Manson and Rob Zombie were fun trips down memory lane for me, particularly Rob Zombie's hilarious "rockstar" on stage antics.

There was another set at Black Lace in Providence that I really enjoyed, I believe the act was called Isabella, not sure where she is from and was totally not a noise set by any means just a long (as in maybe 40 min-60 min) set of high BPM rave style techno. I'm by no means a big techno fan but was still a great performance.

Anyway, I think that's about it for live performances from 2018, was a great year for me.

Also, I really enjoyed season 2 of The Deuce on HBO, definitely worth a watch, and for anyone who cares about stupid internet bullshit, the Shane Dawson documentary on Jake Paul was pretty good.

Lowlights:
My boss being a fucking bitch 24/7.
Friends moving far away etc.

https://walkerphillips.bandcamp.com/

It's a shame there are only two tracks up on the Bandcamp because this has quickly become my favourite album of 2018. An apocalyptic and casually spiritual journey through a neo-occult-psych-folk lens, full of pop hooks and at times Cohen-esque writing. If David Tibet made folk music at the height of the psychedelic 60s it might sound something like this. Or, if this had come from that era Phillips would be ranked among highly-acclaimed lost-and-found outsider artists like D.R. Hooker and Skip Spence, and would have no doubt influenced Tibet equally as much as they did. Took a chance on it based on the incredible single “Son of Death” (and accompanying video) and have been constantly listening to a digital copy ever since, and recently received the LP in the mail. It's absolutely worth taking a chance on.

https://horsecult.bandcamp.com/

Horse Cult - Day Dreams & Night Mares

I'd bookmarked this one and completely forgot about it.  It's a real beauty.  And Tyrsson of Waldteufel, who has an exceptional ear, is at the studio desk to make the sound vibrant and alive.

[Linekraft - Engineering Analysis Of Inner Death]

Linekraft - Engineering Analysis Of Inner Death LP - Hospital - the maybe the most hi-fi Linekraft to date, but also the most subdued, or close to it. and it's not like ProTools Linekraft or anything, just extreme clarity in the mix paired with excellent mastering/cutting of the LP itself. still digging the Zaetraom tape a bit more, but I have played this 6-8 times since I got it last weekend.

Naxal Protocol - Anatomo-Pathology Of An Aborted Civilization CD - OEC - a really nice mix of absolutely nasty synths, minimal metal bashing and the occasional guest vocals. I've heard a little Naxal Protocol before and I really dig the CazzoKraft CD but I did not expect this to be this good. Each track has a unique vibe and sound, but fit together as a whole quite nicely. recommended for those who want their heavy electronics a little meaner.

The Vomit Arsonist - Only Red & Meditations on Giving Up Completely CDs - Malignant - I've got a couple of early Vomit Arsonist releases but I thought it was time to catch up. After listening to Only Red the first time I remembered hearing it a few times on bandcamp when it came out. That one is more vocal heavy, relatively more up front. Giving Up is more atmosphere oriented, and I think I dig it more for that reason. both are albums that benefit from listening to them loudly. I really appreciate that the both feel like unified wholes. makes the grim proceedings go by surprisingly quick. my only complaint is I wish the vocals were more upfront and less effected at times, but I guess that they're distant on purpose. will have to dig deeper into the other more recent releases!

Very interested in hearing this BOTFLIES + TYHJÄ PÄÄ collab - anyone have any idea who might have copies? Or a band contact?

botflies is intense!