Just a mention because we're old

In a way, it hasn't been fair for new music. With the advent of digital music becoming acceptable, it's easy to find almost any recording ever, and listen, if not own, within minutes. So, with every great recording ever standing against, who can be for the untried, and untested new thing?
Well, I  do look for the new, all the time. But, I cannot ignore the old, either. Two recent classics have been given the delux treatment, and I must admit, they have been dominating my time, recently. You already know how I feel about them: Coliseum's first record, and Clutch's Earth Rocker. If you don't already have them, having missed them when new, I'd suggest you rectify that.

Moutheater Passing Key

I've had a little bit of a rough summer. I've had friends, family, and pets die. I've had a moderate depression, and lost friends because of that. I've had car problems, broken stuff in the house, and even a few minor ( or maybe not minor, we don't know, yet)  neurological issues . So, yeah, a bit rough.
However, Andrew Aircraft had a really rough time, at some point, because these are some seriously depressed and self- excoriating lyrics- like, even I am impressed enough to mutter "Dude, you need help" at certain points. So, please understand, despite the ridiculous name, and the type of music, this stuff is serious business.
So, what kind of music do Moutheater make? I think the shorthand would be "Grunge"- but that sells it short. A better descriptor would involve "Led Sabbath" style early 70's hard rock,  "Unsane Lizard" noise rock, with a large amount of Melvins at their most metallic. Soundgarden, this is not.
So, everything I've said so far makes it seem pretty harrowing, right? Why would you want to hear that? Because, as Bauhaus would have it, they "swing the heartache"- they make the anger, depression, and self recrimination ROCK. It's post modern blues- you go through the pain to overcome the pain. At least, that's the function it's serving for me.
So, just to do my usual thing- I'm hearing a fair amount of Gibson on this- probably a Les Paul of some description, but there are bits that sound distinctly sweeter with a more focused gain structure, so possibly something with a mini humbucker. There are bits where the feedback and hum overcome the signal completely, so I don't think we're talking about modern amps- I'm thinking more 1970's Fender, or Ampeg to get what the kids call a "bitcrushed" sound ( really it's just completely saturated on the even harmonics, but why bring sound engineering to a metaphor party?) The bass is your standard  Jazz bass into Ampeg- I don't think there's any doubt on that, and the drums, though close-mic'ed are ye olde trap set- no Neil Peart-isms here. Just hit those toms with clubs...

Bereft- Lost Ages

Hey, while I'm not strictly into Doom or Death or Black Metal- I'm aware of the stuff, and even like a few things on the periphery of those genres. If, however, you're more into blackened Doom, with a small side of Post-Metal, I think you might dig Madison, Wisconsin's Bereft. They have a new one/debut coming out named "Lost Ages" that comes to me highly recommended.  I have to admit, the aesthetics lose me, a bit- but I'm impressed with the sincerity and passion for the form- so, yes, I'd still consider it valid, and worth your time if that's your thing...

Yob- Clearing The Path to Ascend

So, I've heard of YOB before, but I've never heard a full length by them. I heard they signed to Neurot, and got interested a lot more. So I was really happy to see this in the mail. I think I understand what the hype is about. Much like Baroness, Boris, and Neurosis, they play metal devoid of the genre restrictions- and, paradoxically, fulfill the genre requirements. These are 10 minute plus songs, with tempos that rarely get up to a heartbeat, yet there's power, beauty and excitement in them. Bottom line- yes, it meets the hype.