Small labels are the best labels. Master Kontrol Audio is the brainchild of James Bauman, guitarist and noise extraordinaire perhaps best known for his years with the crazed hardcore punk outfit Racebannon, and his current punk 'n' roll band, Wenches. But those are far from his only projects. He’s now issuing limited releases from his archives with the kind of care and detail you don’t get from larger labels.
First up for the Louisville-based label is an unreleased live track from the sludge-punk trio Torturess (listen here). Consisting of two bass guitars, one played by Bauman while the other is held down by Jerel, and drums by Kyle (no last names provided), the trio stir up a riotous noise.
Their full-length, Kiss the Whip, is an exhilarating mash up of EyeHateGod, Black Flag, and Melvins with a whole lot of evil-vibe special sauce drizzled on top.
This latest single-sided seven-inch is a live recording of the previously unavailable tune “Whispers in the Church." It is every bit as good as the material on the album but captures the sweaty charm of the live environment. The packaging is something special as well. Each copy was individually lathe-cut rather than pressed in a factory which means the physical product is extremely limited.
Next up is both the debut and final release of Ashbath, a black metal duo consisting of VRVLVM and Kiasuth (listen here). The mysterious VRVLVM has previously released haunting blackened noise journeys in the form of a self-titled cassette and also the soundtrack to the short film, Ether Riders of the Narthrak.
On this 5-inch, Ashbath makes the black metal more forward-facing yet retains a distinctly psychedelic edge. The b-side is the same song backwards, transforming the black metal back into noise, the result even more unsettling and ritualistic. In addition to the odd size, the record is again lathe cut rather than produced by hydraulically pressed. The sticker on the cover assures us, “This is a double sided 5” record not a compact disc, you fvcker."
Everything about these releases screams attention to detail while simultaneously eschewing any possibility of popular consumption. These are products for the truly passionate metalhead, yet their format and approach subvert the idea that these objects are products at all. Embrace true art!
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