Womb - Spiteful Extractions

A little bit Sisters, a little bit Sex Fiend, this is top quality goth, with a smidgin of electronica thrown in for good measure. Very old school which is fitting for a genre that is fixed in time and space, but the quality of the songs and production raise it waaay above some of the keech that passes for music down the batcave these days.

There's some excellent melodic construction on show, and there's no reason why Greg Ferrari can't be a major player in his chosen field. There are definite nods way back in time to the heady days of the Birthday Party and this is far removed from the more metallic crossover of contemporary goth. Recommended.

http://www.geocities.com/womb_hang/
you can order your copy direct by sending a cheque for £10 payable to g ferrari to: womb, c/o greg ferrari, 11 pine crescent, brentwood, essex, cm13 1je, uk.
womb_hang@yahoo.co.uk

IOD: Mundane Existence (Iron Man)

Yeah, yeah, I know we've reviewed this before, but it's been re-released so time for another mench.

Did you like Napalm Death back in their Enslavement days? You did? Right you'll love this then, Ten songs, eighteen minutes long; fuck off. It's Grindcore/ ENT, with a bit of punk chucked in for good measure. You get grunts, screams and blastbeats.

Lyrically, they're taking Blairs Britain and telling him to shove it up his arse. And quite right too. You'll either love it or loathe it, but you sure won't miss it.

http://www.music.mercia.org
enquiries@music.mercia.org

Mellanova - EP

Interesting, very interesting. Like modern day Porcupine Tree crossed with the greater extinct 70s behemoth, tinged with modern day would be troubadours ala Travis and Coldplay. Shouldn't work, but it somehow does.

Psychedelic enough to keep me happy, but song driven rather than mood driven, which should keep trad rock dads happy as well. And just when you think you've got it sussed along come some incredible vocal harmonies. Some of the arrangements are very Meddle era Pink Floyd, but the sound of the noughties runs right through the middle of everything, ensuring that they're not going to be lumped in with the retro bandwagon. There's immense potential here, and you ought to get in at the ground level. If they keep this up, they will be a major force.

http://www.mellonova.com/