UPDATE: I AM NOT DEAD

Given some of the things I've posted on here over the past couple of years, I feel obligated to pop in and assure you that I did not kill myself, OD, or walk off into the woods to live out the rest of my days in a hole on the side of a hill.

I've been going to a lot of shows, working on new music, pumping iron, staying clean, reconnecting with old friends. Probably the biggest factors in my not posting here are 1) not a lot of free time, and 2) I'm much less inclined to go searching for every record in existence that is at all relevant to my tastes, and more inclined to just listen to albums that I do like on repeat.

Posting may or may not resume soon.

Love and gratitude now and forever,

Tim/DEAR_SPIRIT

Oak - Oak (2009)

Disgusting, dissonant, raw sludge-drone-death from Baltimore. True sounds of despair and malevolence from the B-more underground. Oak started out with two members of my old band Wake Up On Fire --  drummer Kevin (R.I.P) and vocalist Joe -- but I believe Kevin was only in the band for a few months and is not featured on this album.

Track listing:

1. Saline

2. Inside the Circle

3. Owl Eyes

4. Gates Are Open

Dead bodies fill the shore

Piled up for the taking

One face after another

Friends of:

Inure - Inure (Rough Mixes) (2003)

Moonshine - Moonshine (2005)

Optimum Wound Profile - Lowest Common Dominator (1992)

UK industrial metal/hardcore. Thrash-y punk riffs, gated drums, distorted vocals, sample-heavy industrial atmosphere.

Track listing:

1. Drain

2. Tranqhead

3. Ego Crotch

4. Downmouth

5. You're Weak

6. Blindfold

7. Incision

8. Responsibility

9. Skin

10. Melt

11. Damage

12. Crave

13. Core Melt

I said: I'm not gonna hurt you. I'm just gonna bash your brains in. I'm gonna bash 'em right the fuck in.

You should also listen to:

Counterblast - Balance of Pain (1996)

Lard - Pure Chewing Satisfaction (1997)