Robyn Writes

Halloween Mixtape by ninthandash and Ripper

In tribute to our favourite holiday, we’ve stuck 13 songs in our cauldron and mixed them up for your delight. Stick this on when Halloween comes calling and you won’t be disappointed.

Links to the songs can be found at the bottom of the page.

The Misfits — ‘Halloween.’

Ripper: We’ve decided to open our Halloween mixtape with the most iconic horrorpunk track of all time. It’s true that the Misfits weren’t the same when Danzig left, and this is just one reason why he is the definitive Misfits frontman. From lyrics about hanging cats on poles to the eerie calls of ‘Halloween!’ by Danzig himself, this is just one creepy song.

ninthandash: This has got to be the first song that comes to mind when someone asks me to make a Halloween mix. The atmosphere the song creates is fantastic, and the lyrics work really well even though they’re quite simple. Halloween is a must at any Halloween party; easy to dance to and still with that edge of horror punk that the Misfits are known for.

A.F.I. — ‘The Nephilim.’

Ripper: Where would a Halloween list be without AFI? Professed lovers of all things dark and eerie, AFI usually have at least one song on their albums with something to do with the night. The Nephilim is the story of a man who compares himself to a fallen angel. References to Lucifer (the devil, if you were wondering), anyone? The opening bass riff sends shivers down my spine too.

ninthandash: The Art of Drowning featured a darker horror punk sound than A.F.I.’s earlier releases, and The Nephilim embodies that. The song always seems much shorter than it actually is, due to the fast pace and heavy drums, but altogether it adds up to over two minutes of Havok’s powerful singing. “Like an angel with broken wings, reach to the sky again,” is the strongest message here, and Halloween for me would not be the same without The Nephilim blasting from the stereo.

Resurex — ‘Dia de los Muertos.’

Ripper: Even the title is spooky. There’s just something about Spanish and Halloween that seems to click. Add some slow psychobilly with a pretty apparent echo effect and then a dirty riff kicking in after about a minute and you’ve got yourself an instant wrecking pit. Even Daniel DeLeon’s blood is running cold.

ninthandash: I think Dia de los Muertos has one of the most amazing intros. Laid back while heavy and atmospheric, the build up is tense and a perfect lead up into the more fast paced and energetic verses. The low-toned vocals fit the song perfectly, and don’t detract from the effect at all, rather adding to it. The abrupt change in tempo from slow to fast catches the attention of the listener quickly, and the unique sound means that I’m always captive from beginning to end.

Tiger Army — ‘Power of Moonlite.’
ninthandash: The guitars in this song are definitely a key part. They take the listener on a rollercoaster ride through the song, with Nick 13’s frenzied vocals adding another level to an already strong song. Psychobilly isn’t one of my favourite genres, but Tiger Army always do it so well that I can’t help enjoying this almost haunting song.

Ripper: Psychobilly is certainly my music of choice for Halloween, so we’ve chosen a track from one of the most well known psychobilly acts of our time. Tiger Army often offer up relatively spooky tracks, but the title track from their second album is one of the creepiest. Is Nick 13 a secret werewolf? We’ll never know.

Madness — ‘House of Fun.’
Ripper: Okay, so this is a bit of an odd one, I’ll admit. The chorus key change certainly sounds a bit horrific though. A classic tale of how coming of age isn’t usually all it’s cracked up to be, combined with some pretty awesome trumpets.

ninthandash: I love this song. When I was younger, I used to hear this song and something about it always struck a chord with me. It scared me even then, the upbeat melody having a tinge of horror hidden beneath it — reminding me always of funfairs, with the brightly coloured rides and clowns seeming to hide something darker. Even though it at first seems like nothing more than a fun, catchy song, this song is definitely one of the creepiest for me.

I Am Ghost — ‘Dark Carnival of the Immaculate.’
Ripper: Another song with allusions to the funfair, this opens with a really haunting carnival theme. Pure and simple, this song is about vampires, the classic Halloween bad guys. Juliano’s screams and wails create the perfect atmosphere and Kerith Telestai’s violins set it off just right.

ninthandash: Like Ripper said, the funfair theme is very strong in this, and something about the carnival theme always sends a chill down my spine. The song opens up a new world, one that not many people would be happy to inhabit, and I find the imagery very strong in this. It always definitely gets me thinking about Halloween night, and all the chaos that comes along with it.

Sufjan Stevens — ‘John Wayne Gacy Jr.’

ninthandash: For me, this is one of those songs that I enjoy, but wouldn’t want to think about too much. The lyrics aren’t explicit and perhaps even all the more effective for being so; Stevens hints at the real truth of it while hiding it well enough that on first listen, the song comes across like any other quiet instrumental melody.

Ripper: It’s a song about a serial killer who dressed up like a clown. Enough said.

Alkaline Trio — ‘Back To Hell.’
Ripper: They’re members of the Church of Satan, they write songs about murder and they’re some of our favourite little hellraisers. That’s right, it’s the Trio. They’ve tasted heaven and don’t want any more in Back To Hell, a fast and furious tribute to the devil.

ninthandash: Strong, loud and yet melodic in that distinctive way that only the Trio seem able to constantly do, and do well. Fast build ups make way for slower verses in a way that keeps you guessing as to what exactly is going to come next, reflecting the nature of Halloween perfectly. The chorus is catchy and fun and Trio songs very rarely manage to disappoint — this among them. Always worth a listen.

Protest The Hero — ‘Bloodmeat.’
Ripper: Everything about this song is scary. The dissonant opening riff, the shrieking vocals and those lyrics about cold hearted slaughter… and rape. Don’t forget those raped virgins.

ninthandash: I absolutely adore Protest The Hero and this song has got to be one of my favourite by them. They never fail to blow my mind, and showcase their skills to the max. Different and innovative, the song creates an amazing presence and the band always manage to deliver. Bloodmeat is a Halloween song like no other; cold, brutal and so fucking hardcore.

Social Distortion — ‘Mommy’s Little Monster.’
Ripper: This song is every parent’s worst nightmare, showing us the pitfalls of the rebellious teenager. It’s not scary in a Halloween sense of the word, and the typical Californian punk melodies set you at ease. Maybe that’s what’s really scary.

ninthandash: Just like a punk song should be; fast, epic and loud!

The Fall of Troy — ‘The Dark Trail.’
ninthandash: Sometimes Fall of Troy can be a little ridiculous, trying too hard to be something new, but with The Dark Trail they manage to stay on the right side of the line between enjoyable and too much. The only negative side of this is that perhaps at over four minutes, it overstays its welcome at parts. However, it’s still a dark, creepy song and one that is definitely not out of place on Halloween night.

Ripper: The Fall Of Troy always produce relatively unsettling songs. Whether it’s the unnerving falsetto, the cookie monster screams or the dischord of the guitars, something’s not right about The Fall Of Troy. The Dark Trail is no exception. Teenage rebellion gone to the extreme, with more than a hint of recreational drug use meets mind blowing riffs and terrifying vocals in this one.

Rancid — ‘Maxwell Murder.’
Ripper: Maxwell might not be Jack The Ripper, but he’s certainly a bad lad, and Rancid know it. It’s simply beautiful punk rock, with more than a casual sneer attached. Not to mention, Matt Freeman’s bass solo is just fantastic.

ninthandash: Telling the story of Maxwell, Rancid do it fast and do it well. No time to get bored, the song just carries you away, spitting lyrics and abuse at you in equal measure. Fast, heavy and like a punch to the gut, Maxwell Murder leaves no doubt about the felon himself and just what he’s capable of.

Send More Paramedics — ‘Blood Fever.’
Ripper: And to end our Halloween mix, we’ve got some ZOMBIEXCORE! Every horror movie fan’s favourite, SMP’s song about turning into a zombie just set us off. It’s hardcore at its most bone crushingly awesome, and is guaranteed to get every ghoul throwing down on the dance floor. Plus, this features some of the best gang vocals I’ve ever heard.

ninthandash: I wish Send More Paramedics were still around because this song shows just how refreshing and different they were, while still retaining the elements of hardcore and, at that, zombiecore that they were so well known for. One of my favourite songs on this mix, and definitely a good one to end it with.

Honourable mention goes to…
Those Panic At The Disco boys with their charming ode to the dark night, It’s Almost Halloween. This video is so adorable it just plain fails to scare. Enjoy!



Find these songs here…

Misfits – Halloween
AFI – The Nephilim
Rezurex – Dia De Los Muertos
Tiger Army – Power Of Moonlite
Madness – House Of Fun
I Am Ghost – Dark Carnival Of The Immaculate
Sufjan Stevens – John Wayne Gacy Jr
Alkaline Trio – Back To Hell
Protest The Hero – Bloodmeat
Social Distortion – Mommy’s Little Monster
The Fall Of Troy – The Dark Trail
Rancid – Maxwell Murder
Send More Paramedics – Blood Fever

Sexism And Music by ninthandash

Originally posted by ninthandash in 2009

I’m not very articulate about certain issues. I get certain feelings and I have problems expressing them. Personal issues, I’ve never had a problem with, it’s been almost therapeutic for me to write them out. But ideas about right and wrong in terms of general bandom issues — feminism, sexuality, etc. — I find harder. Which is why I like reading other people’s so much — I sit there going yes, yes, that’s exactly how I feel but I’ve never been personally able to express it.

Anyway, that’s my explanation to why this article might be a little awkward. I have a problem with something I’ve seen but I’m not entirely sure how to express it. So instead of a well-formed opinion, this is more an informal article of a teenager attempting to work through the issues that she finds herself confronted with. I find at this age, more than anything, there are so many things that you feel you should have an opinion on, but the information just isn’t within your grasp. Combine this with the ever-present media telling you constantly what you should think and feel, and it’s difficult to form your own opinion. Sometimes, things just don’t sit well, but you don’t know why and there’s just no one around you to discuss it with and allow you to fully realise your thoughts on the matter.

So I was over on a music website today — this was pretty much the first forum I ever joined, and the first time I became a part of an internet community; I’m not so involved these days but I still visit it regularly and feel loyalty towards it and the people there — and I was clicking around and I came across the thread entitled ‘The Hottest People In Music’. I don’t usually contribute to those threads — my thoughts are usually people who may not be recognised as talented musicians, but who I find good looking — and these sometimes don’t go down so well on a site like this one, and I’ve worked hard on there to avoid the stereotype of the teenage fangirl.

But I was looking through it anyway — because, hey, who am I to deny myself some hot people in music — and all was well. But then I saw this post and I was like, “wait – what?”

Basically, it had three photos of a girl in music, I’m not sure who, and ended with the line ‘I thought I’d make it fair and put live/pro photos. She should just quit the band and model I think…’

She should just quit the band and model I think.

Something about this just didn’t seem right to me. Some inherent belief ingrained in that just hit a nerve, and I found it offensive. You know, I’m probably overreacting to this but I kind of couldn’t believe it. First off, if someone was saying that about me? I’d be kind of really pissed off. I can understand enjoying someone’s looks more than the music they make and it’s probably inevitable that it’s going to happen sometime. Sometimes good looking people made bad sounding music, I get that. Seriously, I find people hot and probably can’t stand their music at all.

But I don’t think that person should stop doing something that they enjoy in order to, what? Model?

I have issues with modeling, personally. I’m not going to pretend that my opinions apply to everyone — they don’t. As with most things, my opinion is what I personally feel. And modeling is something I could never do. Forget about the lack of self-confidence in the way I look, that’s not even my biggest problem. What it comes down to is that you are, essentially, making money from the way you look. It’s a shallow business, all about aesthetic perfection, and I’m not into that.

Also in modeling, if your face gets damaged, if you have any kind of disability or imperfection, it’s near on impossible to make it. I want to make it in an industry where it doesn’t matter what I look like because it’s about a talent that isn’t to do with my appearance. That’s a personal thing. I realise I’m probably projecting a lot of issues onto this person that they didn’t originally mean. I’m using their post as a starting point, and I realise that.

It just seems like such a stupid statement to make. I think X is hot, therefore X should stop what they’re doing in order to please me. In these situations I like to think about what would happen if the genders were switched, if a girl said ‘hey, X is so hot, they should be a model,’ and I can’t imagine it. Maybe it’s because of my own opinions or maybe it’s because I’m used to the girls in bandom who are, in my opinion, usually more mature and intelligent than a lot of the fans you get outside of the internet or in different places.

I’m comparing this situation in a context I understand and that could be the problem. I initially tried to imagine someone saying, ‘Hey, Frank Iero is so hot, he should stop playing music and model.’ And I can’t imagine that. I tried to work out why that was and I think it’s because everyone knows how much Frank Iero enjoys music and everyone that knows what he’s like on that stage can’t imagine him without that. But maybe that’s the difference, maybe this poster barely knows this girl. In bandom I do realise we are more involved with the musicians than perhaps we might normally be.

But in the same way, I can’t imagine showing a photo of, say, Frank Iero (MCR, Leathermouth) — using him as an example here — to anyone and them going, ‘Wow, he should be a model.’ But I can imagine that more if I showed them a photo of, say, Vicky-T (Cobra Starship). ‘She should be a model.’ But — and here’s where it gets complicated — I think, if it was a girl, it would definitely be meant in a different way. (I realise I’m stereotyping here and there are a lot of boys who would also mean this in the same way, I’m just generalising in order to explain this to myself.)

If a girl said, ‘Wow, she should be a model,’ it would be meant as a compliment. Maybe more along the lines of ‘She could be a model’, just, she’s really pretty. Whereas if a boy said ‘she should be a model’ they would mean it a lot more literally. Also, it’s less assumed that boys are models. When someone says ‘gorgeous model’ or even just ‘a model’, the person that springs to mind is usually female.

None of this is particularly important though, because the poster didn’t say she should be a model, they said she should quit the band and be a model and that’s what gets me the most. “She should quit the band.” Why is it his place to say that? It’s based on absolutely nothing except for the way she looks. If he had something to back it up, I don’t know, if he thought she wasn’t talented or the band wasn’t particularly good then I could understand it a lot more. It wouldn’t necessarily justify it to me but it would make more sense.

In conclusion, I would hope that my music would be taken seriously enough for people to concentrate more on that than my looks, and that they wouldn’t want me to give it up to concentrate on something else. I feel that if we let these kind of statements slip by without comment, we’re just reinforcing the patriarchal society that we live in, and it makes it OK for guys to say these kinds of things. The way we speak can, arguably, affect the world around us, and I don’t want my world to be determined by someone else’s opinion of what I should or shouldn’t do.

Interview with Tom Conrad (Empires) by ninthandash

In this interview, ninthandash asks Tom Conrad, guitarist for Empires, about his thoughts on the current music scene, the internet fanbase and how Empires are different to virtually every other band out there.

There’s been a lot of discussion over the past few years about the impact that the internet has had on the music industry, and the general consensus seems to be very negative. Especially with MySpace, it’s now so easy to be heard or to find new music that a lot of people aren’t bothering, and new bands are either generic, one hit wonders or people are just choosing to listen to whatever popular music is in the charts.

However, Empires have a very strong internet fanbase. Do you feel that the internet has had a positive impact on the music industry, and you as a band, or do you think that it’s still mostly a bad thing?

I would not say it’s negative, it’s just different than what we have known in the past. It is important for life to evolve and I believe the general state of music is in a transition period. Everything is so quickly and easily accessible because of the internet, so you really need to offer something different to stand out.

Also, the internet fanbase; it’s unusual for a band to build up such a strong community so quickly. The fans all seem very close-knit, and have taken gifts to shows to give you, or made lists of fans from all over the country to give you. Do you think your fans are different to a more mainstream band’s due to the fact you can still talk to them personally, and that one-on-one dynamic is important?

The five of us have been very lucky thus far. We try very hard to have direct contact with the people that care about Empires as much as we do. I wouldn’t want it any other way. This is about sharing and hopefully sparking some sort of feeling in each other at the end of the day.

Putting ‘Howl’ on your website available for free download was a move almost like Radiohead’s release of In Rainbows. Coming back to the impact of the internet on the music industry issue, was this a response to that? Were you worried that no one would buy the hard copy of the album if you did this, or were you just happy to get your music out there, and this ensured that possibly more people would listen to it?

We released “Howl” online for free for several reasons. First, we did so because we could and not many artists can. The album was ours and will always be ours. Since the record was completely constructed by the band, we could do whatever we wanted with it. Second, it was important to us get our music out as fast and as easy as possible. We knew this way anyone in the world could grab it and we could know exactly where from. Third, we loved the idea of this being our
introduction to everyone. Knowing we initiated our relationship with you by giving away something we spent a lot of time and energy on is a great feeling. Now, we hopefully started a strong bond with the listener. “Howl” is the starting point for Empires and to me, feels like when the band truly kicked off.

Some of our readers have been asking about “Hayley”, and whether there’s a story behind it. Could you clarify this?

Sean writes all the lyrics for Empires. The story is true as far as I know.

Do you feel that being unsigned allows you a greater level of control? A lot of the reasons so many fans feel so strongly about you is that they feel a connection, due to the free download of Howl, and due to the way you can personally interact with them. Would you ever consider signing to a label, especially a major one, or do you feel that it wouldn’t be worth it for you in the long run?

The best thing about being unsigned is that our path is unwritten and unseen. Anything could happen. The downside to not having a home for Empires is that it does make things much harder for us and can be a cause for distractions while trying to achieve the main goal. I’m not opposed to signing with an indie or a major at this point but obviously whatever is in the best intention for Empires, we’ll decide to do. Max, Sean, Ryan, Alfred and myself do everything we can to make Empires as self-sufficient as possible and I don’t think that will change. It’s very important for us to be “hands on” with anything we do together. The more we can do on our own, the more accurate of representation it will be.

Your music is very different to most bands around these days and definitely stands out, especially the way all your songs have a different sound to them. Do you think this is important? What do you think about a lot of the bands that seem to have made it big these days, as some artists have labeled them as talentless and generic?

I think it’s important to be yourself and pursue what makes you happy, which is what “Howl” is to us. It’s not my place to judge or to call someone else’s work generic. Though I have been finding myself digging deeper through more experienced and educated artists to find inspiration lately. You need to have something valid to say to get my attention.

The Top Four Reasons Why Black Flag Are So Awesome (by ninthandash)

Originally by ninthandash, posted on 8/9/2009

Black Flag, a name known by every punk rock kid worth their salt. In the hardcore genre, Black Flag are named as being one of the three most important and influential bands, according to the documentary film American Hardcore. And Michael Azerrad, author of the book This Band Will Change Your Life, calls Black Flag the ‘godfathers’ of the genre. There’s no doubt about the fact that Black Flag are certainly a hardcore band to be reckoned with, one of the most popular and well-known. But why are they so unarguably awesome?

Reason #1: The Ethics.

Black Flag were formed in 1977 by Greg Ginn; the guitarist, songwriter and — unusually — the only continuous member of the band through their many member changes. Black Flag are important not only for their music, but also for the ethics surrounding them. They were one of the first bands to tirelessly promote a very strong DIY ethic; Black Flag were all about what you can do yourself, without relying on anyone else, particularly the major corporate record labels. This is emphasised by the way Black Flag released the majority of their material through SST Records, which is Ginn’s own independent label.

Black Flag started a revolution. There’s absolutely no arguing with that. They started the whole idea of doing it yourself, of booking your own tours, releasing your own music, and many bands followed their lead. They were all about the word-of-mouth network, utilising hardcore and the punk scene as a community. Black Flag toured relentlessly, barely stopping, so dedicated to making this work. Before you even listen to the music, Black Flag demand your respect.

Due to their strong work ethic, many members quit in the early days. Ginn was the guitarist and songwriter and Keith Morris was the original singer, but they had a hard time finding a bassist. I’m trying not to turn this article into a history lesson, believe me, but there’s so much more to Black Flag than just the music. Black Flag are, at the risk of sounding overdramatic, about the lifestyle. They’re more than just a band; they’re a subculture, an ethic, a revolution. When they started, there were barely any places for punk rock bands to perform — because as well as pioneering hardcore, Black Flag were part of the first wave of American Coast punk rock.

They would perform at picnics, house parties, schools, anywhere that was available. Imagine growing up in ’70s California and having Black Flag perform at a picnic. The kids who were there for those first few shows were a part of history, and it must certainly have been an enviable experience. Morris was still the singer at this time, and he is without a doubt my personal favourite of the singers that Black Flag have had. The original line-up; Greg Ginn on guitar, Morris singing, Brian Migdol on drums and Chuck Dukowski on bass, was undeniably amazing.

Reason #2: The Members.

Keith Morris is, without a doubt, an amazing frontman. His stage presence is one of the most energetic seen in punk rock; throwing himself about the stage with a boundless and manic energy. He helped the band gain a reputation in LA, commanding the audience and demanding all their attention. Dukowski was also key. Although Ginn formed the band and wrote the lyrics, Dukowski was usually the spokesman to the press. Very intelligent and a fast talker, even after he left the band as bassist he stayed with them as tour manager and his contribution should not be overlooked.

Migdol was replaced as drummer by Roberto Valverde, known as ROBO. ROBO was such an awesome drummer, and he had a new sound due to the metallic bracelets he always used to wear. They’d clink as he played the songs and this soon became a part of his unique sound. After Morris left, Ron Reyes was singer, and after him came Dez Cadena, who was originally a fan of the band. He was much more reliable and the band started to become much more commercial and popular, although he’d had no formal training as a singer and soon had to leave.

Then, came Rollins. Henry Rollins was Black Flag’s longest lasting singer, and attracted a lot of attention from critics. Sub Pop critic Calvin Johnson wrote: “Henry was incredible. Pacing back and forth, lunging, lurching, growling; it was all real, the most intense emotional experiences I have ever seen.” Even after a lot of the members have left Black Flag, they are still important parts of the music and punk rock scene. Keith Morris now fronts Circle Jerks, and Rollins is well known for his spoken word, as well as campaigning for human rights in the United States.

Reason #3: The Music.

This, is a difficult one. Black Flag’s music is absolutely fantastic, but I’m bound to be entirely biased as they are one of my all-time favourite bands. They were one of the first punk bands (a phrase I’m sure you’re sick of hearing but, as I said, Black Flag were completely revolutionary and therefore one of the first punk bands to do a lot of things) who incorporated heavy metal melodies into their music. Not just that, but Black Flag also used a lot of different elements from different genres, such as free jazz, breakbeat, and contemporary classical. Black Flag’s discography sounds so much more varied than pretty much any other punk band’s due to this.

Black Flag have a lot of albums and EPs, so I’m obviously not going to talk about them all here in detail. My personal favourite has got to be the Nervous Breakdown EP. Released in October ’78 while Morris was vocalist (he never sang on any of the band’s studio albums), Nervous Breakdown is probably the band’s most well-known song, and according to Dukowski was used as a ‘badge of legitimacy’ and led to them getting a lot more gigs in the LA area. It was also the first release on Ginn’s SST records.

Nervous Breakdown is an absolutely classic song. Morris’ raw energy is audible through the sound, and the band sound both rough and together at the same time. For me, Nervous Breakdown as a song sums up Black Flag as a band — raw, loud, and slightly out of control. If you only ever listen to one Black Flag song, it should be this one.

Damaged is, arguably, the band’s best studio album. Damaged was incredibly controversial and many thought it would single-handedly corrupt America’s youth. Not so. But Damaged could even be called one of the best albums to come from the ’80s California hardcore punk scene. Rollins gave Black Flag the edge they needed to attract attention; his guttural roar energised the songs and pulled them together, providing the missing link.

Although My War has been called “a pretentious mess of a record” by critics, there is no denying the influence it’s had on many other bands, who cite it as influential for the departure it showed from the standard punk rock model. Although side two was not the great music expected from Black Flag, it wasn’t bad, just not up to their standards. If any other band had released side two of My War, it would’ve been awesome, but for Black Flag it was distinctly lacking. But that’s not to say that the album was worthless. The title track is formidable, with Rollins ‘howling like a caged animal’, and it is definitely worth checking out.

Reason #4: The Legacy.

This section is going to be a little less formal, a little more flailing. Black Flag have basically left a mark on musical history. Their experiences have become legendary, apparently blacklisted by the LAPD and clubs in the LA area, mainly due to the violent nature of their shows. So many bands have covered their songs, become influenced by them, so many bands have simply just formed because of Black Flag. They are a band who everyone into punk or hardcore has an opinion on. They are a talking point, a revolution, an inspiration.

Black Flag are what got me into hardcore, and I have never looked back since. I heard their song playing on a jukebox at some shitty run-down venue and found out who it was, and what song it was (unsurprisingly, Nervous Breakdown). I went home and I found out everything I could about this band. Black Flag led me to Bad Brains, Minor Thread, the Bouncing Souls. They were so unlike anything I had heard before — and they still are.

In conclusion? If you haven’t listened to Black Flag yet… why not? Go. Listen. And be inspired.