UNSIGNED AND UNHOLY: THE BANDS WHO ACTUALLY WRITE SONGS EDITION

Writing songs. That long forgotten musical artform that transcends what’s actually being played and consists of memorable hooks. Remember that? Let’s check out a few unsigned bands rocking my speakers lately who write great songs but are no less heavy for it, Wage Slave, Idol and the Whip and Shroud Eater.

• Wage Slave: You know what kind of tech-death I enjoy the most these days? The kind with actual songs, songs with discernible structure: intro, verse, chorus, middle part, etc. They don’t even have to be in the standard order… just some kind of organized structure as opposed to endless weedily-weedily. Not that the other stuff is all bad, as you all know I love my prog; it’s just that sometimes a repeating pattern is, ya know, nice. So I appreciate Wage Slave for not only their killer chops and brutal grooves but for writing short songs that actually have structure. Nice work, dudes!
• Idol and The Whip: Speaking of good songs… the Ann Arbor, MI boys in Idol and The Whip got lots of ’em. I’d say these guys reside neatly in the pocket between Mastodon and Clutch — monsterous, crunchy, heavy stoner riffs with a constant and unrelenting sense of groove and quick, to-the-point songs. I’d imagine their shows are non-stop headbang sessions. Stream their entire record on Bandcamp or buy it for just $1 in a variety of formats.
• Shroud Eater: Roll a big fatty joint, smoke it, and crank these slow, fuzzed out, dirty jamz. “Vesuvius” on their BandCamp page is re-arranging my brain in all sorts of new ways. Stream their entire new album Thundernoise on Bandcamp for free or own the files for three measly bones.

-VN