Day 31: Da Mafia 6ix - 6ix Commandments

This is a great mixtape from a group reformed from the ashes of Three 6 Mafia.  This is an hour long bass filled mix reminiscent of the work they did in the '90's in their former guise.  Considering this is a mixtape, the production is great and could easily be mistaken for a full release if I wasn't aware that it was a mixtape.  If you're easily offended by satanic themes, then this is not an album for you, as the content is woven throughout.  

(Scale-A-Ton Entertainment, 2013)

Day 30: Vallenfyre - Splinters

Vallenfyre are a death metal band from the UK.  If you're an Entombed fan this should be easy to get into and right up your street.  This album is a good collection of incredibly heavy death metal and doom metal tracks, mixing them up enough that the 50 minute run time isn't a chore.

(Century Media, 2014)

Day 29: Zammuto - Zammuto

After his previous band The Book's came to an end, Nick Zammuto got to work on a new project, while still retaining the electronic elements The Books had been known for.  This is an energetic percussion album, with jamming guitars and energetic vocals.  This is just the basis though, as he crams in so many different genres in to this record, from techno to prog rock and back in time to disco.  The spoken word samples The Books had been known for make a nice impression too.  If you want a weird musical journey, take a ride with Zammuto on this self-titled record.

(Temporary Residence Limited, 2012)

Day 28: Capital STEEZ - Amerikkkan Korruption Reloaded

Capital STEEZ was an american rapper, best known for being part of the hip-hop collective known as the PRO ERA.  Unfortunately he took his own life in 2012.  This is a remixed version of his mixtape of the same name.  This is a very well produced rap record using original beats and sampling the greats like MF DOOM.  STEEZ is one of my favourite rappers of the group, only slightly behind Joey Bada$$.  Not that this should be held against STEEZ, as he didn't really leave himself much time to shine and evolve as a rapper.  Maybe under different circumstance he would have come to outshine the rest of the group, he definitely had the potential.  He doesn't have the ego that a lot of rappers suffer from, he's just an entertaining guy saying interesting things in entertaining ways.

(2012)

Day 27: Hallows - Piece Of Mind, Vol. 2

Hallows are a melodic hardcore band from Sydney, Australia.  They are lively and heavy and the perfect soundtrack to end the weekend.  I'm doing this all back to front as I listened to volume 1 without listening to volume 2, but I'll get round to that eventually.  

(2016)

Day 26: Billy Bragg & Wilco - Mermaid Avenue

This record is a collaboration between British singer songwriter Billy Bragg and American rock band Wilco.  This is a collection of songs written and never released by American folk singer Woody Guthrie.  Due to the success of this record they would go on to record another collaborative album of even more unreleased Woody Guthrie songs.  If you're into folk music be sure to check this record out, a great departure from the usual styles of Billy Bragg and Wilco, and a more solid recording than the follow up.

(Elektra, 1998)

Day 25: Reagan Youth - Youth Anthems For The New Order

Reagan Youth are a political hardcore punk band from New York, formed in the 80's.  Don't be put off by the cover of this record and write them off as racists before checking them out as they are quite the opposite.  They are an anti-racist band who would use racial imagery as satire, often using KKK  and Nazi themes.  Their music draws parallels between the young republicans rallying in favour of Ronald Reagan and the Nazi youth of the Third Reich.  The original vocalist's parents being holocaust survivors shows the sincerity of their message.  This is a record I have listened to in the past, but recently dug out again when growing to more appreciate the roots of hardcore in America.  Posted below is their first record Youth Anthems For The New Order.

(R Radical Records, Reagan Youth Records, 1984)