Bought this cassette in March 1986, after reading a rave review in… Hit Parader or RIP, I can’t remember… anyhoo, for those that don’t know, Vinnie Vincent was kicked out of, or quit, Kiss and went on to form this band (which would feature Mark Slaughter and Dana Strum on the next album, who would both go on to form glam metal legend Slaughter).

Now, for those of you offended by the inclusion of a rather perfectly-archetypal glam metal band–

I hate glam metal. Making fun of glam metal (and those who liked it) was my major in high school.

That said, this record (and Cats in Boots’ Kicked and Klawed, but I’ll get to that later) is that rarest of beasts: a glam metal album that fucking ROCKS.

That’s usually the complaint against hair/glam metal, right? It’s too compromised by its obsession with appearance to actually full-out rock.

Vinnie Vincent Invasion’s debut is a full-out, rocking badass rock ‘n’ roll record: there’s riffs a plenty, there’s needlessly-histrionic vocals, there’s cock-of-the-walk suggesting drums, and most of all, there’s ridiculously-shredding lead guitar.

Now, for those of you that know me, you know I usually write about “extreme” doom/sludge metal, grindcore and/or deathgrind, and sometimes jazz. I wouldn’t waste my time or yours by writing about something that wasn’t worth blasting and blasting often.

And this is. This totally is.

Witness: the video for this album, and the first single “Boyz Are Gonna Rock,” actually does rock (ill-advised “Z” for “S” excepted); “No Substitute” is as close as this record gets to a power ballad (and most importantly would not embarrass my inner 15-year-old); “Animal” and “Twisted” rock as hard as, like, anything EVAR, and “Do You Wanna Make Love” is a truly great metal/rock tune and one worth hearing even if you hate the rest of the record….

–Horn

After the first spin I wasn’t sure what to make of this recording. But like most creative things in life, art creatures born worthy of any one’s time must be spent with eyes wide shut. In other words. Free your mind and your ears will follow. Set the controls for that dark place in the back of the mind. No rules. Just authentic original music that seems to be a natural extension of something real. Monsters, demons, angels and lovers. Like I said. I can’t quite put my finger on it. This recording is creatively faultless. It’s not trying to be anything. And just like the drum mix, this project called FULL OF, is slightly tilted to the left.

What caught my attention was the song titles. Inscriptions  like “Eagle” and “Hero of Lovers” or “Monster of Fire”.  What do these song titles mean? Who the hell knows! But they seem to paint the walls of that dark hallway of the mind, that leads us all to mother muse. Just like The Doors did with Crystal Ship. But just to be clear here, KASH doesn’t sound anything like The Doors. It’s the lost thought and experience that’s similar. A crystal ship sailing on the mystic sea through the hurricane of tired blood and found organisms.

Engineer Steve Albini (Scott Weiland, Iggy & the Stooges)  inflicts his legendary learned alchemy, and pushes these recordings masterfully. The recordings were done in a fresh new studio called Oxygen Studios. Just the name of the studio makes me want to get myself a tank full Oxygen Gas, mix in some nitrates and explore the realities of FULL OF, under the blanket of the Canadian nite sky. Now go ahead and  melt the mind in the dark halls of Eagles, Tigers and Lions. I think I hear  a sound – KASH FULL OF….(you fill in the blank!)

- wino chris 

<p><a href=”http://kash-italy.bandcamp.com/album/full-of”>Full Of by Kash</a></p>

On first listen I thought for sure The Ex-Girlfriends Club was from New York City or somewhere in Australia but it turns I was way off. Portland, OR is really far from both locations but this band has studied the records of scuzzy punk of Richard Hell and Cosmic Psychos as well as originators like The Stooges, The Sonics, etc. Their album Boo Hoo Hoo was released this year but if you told me it was some lost garage punk album from 25 years ago I would have believed that, too.

This is some raw garagey shit. Guitars are totally distorted, bass is fuzzed out, the drums sound appropriately trashy and the vocals are horny & nervous. Great stage names, too: Albatross – lead vox; Orion of the Apocalypse – guitars, vox; Karlito Franz – bass; Action Lord – drums, percussion, vox. There are only 9 songs on this disc and they’re all pretty fast, always a good thing in my book. Lyrically, I appreciate the doped up sentiments behind songs like “Your Prescription” and “Coming Off Benzos.” Other immature themes appear on “Lightning Bolt” and “Devil Eyes.” There’s even a cool, deconstructed version of “The Witch” by The Sonics that’s bound to piss off the garage rock police. Those clowns tend to be some of the biggest rock n roll party poopers so that’s another thing to like about The Ex-Girlfriends.

This record won’t change your life, but it will definitely get the party started. And that’s more important anyway. Play loud.

–Woody

Hailing from Belgium, Dehuman strike a unique balance with their debut release of the old and the new.

This group offers up a few tried and true sonic lashings, to turn and bludgeon a listener into the modern realm with their take on the traditional Death sound, without aping to the past.

With stand outs like Spiral of Loss, Down with the World, Harvest the Sun and Cast of Assassination, these fellows bring a fresh change for the better to a genre that has grown boring and tired.

 The songs are well crafted and delivered with a very high level of production that is often overlooked in the Death Metal scene. It’s good to hear that it didn’t sound recorded with a cheap tape player in a garage and won’t shock a listener seeing them perform live. They know what they’ll get and be all the happier for their money spent.

 If the video for Cast of Assassination is any indication of what the rest of a performance of the release offers live, then I’m positive that all in attendance will be well pleased and looking forward to the next release and tour from Dehuman.

OVERALL: B+

Big Dude

get familiar: http://fidlar.bandcamp.com/

and please tune in to Coup D’etat: http://www.moheak.com/

The Getty is already beautiful–now add music at sunset–MIND BLOWING. Saturdays Off the 405 is a summer concert series at The Getty that you need to familiarize yourself with, like yesterday, but you are not too late to get in on the action. Tomorrow, Saturdays Off the 405 return to kick off the summer (we’re in LA so it’s summer, don’t argue with me) with the Dum Dum Girls and our beloved Neil Schield of Origami Vinyl to DJ before and after the Dum Dum Girls’ set! Neil owns your favorite record shop, so you best believe he will be bringing the jams! Come support Neil as he melts your face off with his impeccable music selection while the the sun sets and your brain explodes from all the weird beauty that is LA. Did I mention it’s FREE?! The fun starts at 6pm!

For more details and other upcoming Saturday Off The 405 shows at The Getty Museum go HERE

I love community events, reminds me that Los Angeles is real–anyways before I start to get sentimental–this Saturday May 19 is Echo Park PDA (public displays of art) Art Walk and your favorite community record shop (OV duh) is participating in the fun! There is going to be SO MANY cool things to do/see so make sure to pick up a map and enjoy all the great things about a neighborhood event! Heck, even make an all day party out of it and spend sometime getting to know your local businesses while celebrating all aspects of art! Origami Vinyl will be having an in-store performance by Alexandra and the Starlight Band at 8pm, a delightful and soulful way to end your night (or continue the fun)! Also artwork from Owleyes will be on display inside the shop and maybe even a guest appearance by Mr.Owleyes himself?? We love being part of this community and look forward to tomorrow!

Some more info to get you pumped: Echo Park Art Walk Website
Alexandra and the Starlight Band
Owleyes Website

Now if you’re like us and CRAZY BUSY then you may not be able to make it down here…which is okay…we’ll miss you but we understand. In order to help you out we’re going to be having a virtual listening party right here!! At 7pm, instead of throwing on your clogs and high five hand, tune in right here (here being the OV blog) and you’ll find a fun little widget that will give you a private sneak peak into your favorite hopelandic gangs latest outing.

Valtari!! Valtari Valtari!!