Loud, fast, noisy bands that sound like Lightning Bolt
December 11, 2009 4:41 AM Subscribe
I saw Lightning Bolt play live last night and they were stupidly awesome. Recommendations for similar bands would be greatly appreciated.
So after being a fan of their stuff on CD for a few years now I finally got the chance to see Lightning Bolt play live, and what an experience it was. (See here for a little taster of what they sound like if you don't know them already).
So basically I'm looking for recommendations for similar bands, by which I mean: very fast, very noisy, very extreme bands, that have a live element to the sound (I don't mean they have to play gigs necessarily, just that it doesn't sound too sequenced or sampled).
For reference, I already dig breakcore like Kid 606, and extreme metal like The Berzerker, and although I'm always up for new recommendations in those genres, I guess I'm looking for things that aren't too obviously sampled (I know the Berzerker stuff is guitar based, but it's still my understanding that it's essentially sampled riffs).
So after being a fan of their stuff on CD for a few years now I finally got the chance to see Lightning Bolt play live, and what an experience it was. (See here for a little taster of what they sound like if you don't know them already).
So basically I'm looking for recommendations for similar bands, by which I mean: very fast, very noisy, very extreme bands, that have a live element to the sound (I don't mean they have to play gigs necessarily, just that it doesn't sound too sequenced or sampled).
For reference, I already dig breakcore like Kid 606, and extreme metal like The Berzerker, and although I'm always up for new recommendations in those genres, I guess I'm looking for things that aren't too obviously sampled (I know the Berzerker stuff is guitar based, but it's still my understanding that it's essentially sampled riffs).
Pissed Jeans.
posted by blackcatcuriouser at 4:58 AM on December 11, 2009
posted by blackcatcuriouser at 4:58 AM on December 11, 2009
There's this French guy called Duracell who takes a lot of inspiration from Lightning Bolt. He mostly plays video game tunes, but he plays them in a crazy frenetic Lightning Bolt style. I've never found any of his music on record, but I have seen a bunch of great videos of him playing around the internet.
posted by orville sash at 5:10 AM on December 11, 2009
posted by orville sash at 5:10 AM on December 11, 2009
Death from above 1979 would do it I think. Try this to start.
posted by multivalent at 5:10 AM on December 11, 2009
posted by multivalent at 5:10 AM on December 11, 2009
there is only one answer to this question.
it is Boredoms
posted by mr. remy at 5:11 AM on December 11, 2009 [2 favorites]
it is Boredoms
posted by mr. remy at 5:11 AM on December 11, 2009 [2 favorites]
The Melvins. Wouldn't necessarily think it to listen to them off their albums (and apparently their live shows vary wildly) but when I saw them two weeks ago, they played a completely mental set. Two drummers with the volume through the roof. Absolutely inspired and amazing. I know they don't necessarily qualify for 'very fast' most of the time, but the pure talent makes up for it. Must see live.
posted by slimepuppy at 5:11 AM on December 11, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by slimepuppy at 5:11 AM on December 11, 2009 [1 favorite]
you might also like the music of the Japanese PSF label and satellites thereof:
Keiji Haino / Tatsuya Yoshida (founding member of Ruins) - New Rap
Mainliner - Mellow Out
Musica Transonic - all
High Rise - High Rise II
Fushitsusha - Double Live and The Caution Appears
posted by porn in the woods at 5:20 AM on December 11, 2009
Keiji Haino / Tatsuya Yoshida (founding member of Ruins) - New Rap
Mainliner - Mellow Out
Musica Transonic - all
High Rise - High Rise II
Fushitsusha - Double Live and The Caution Appears
posted by porn in the woods at 5:20 AM on December 11, 2009
Agreed on Duracell. Makes an appearance on the Adaadat label's Trade and Distribution Almanac vol. 3 compilation.
Try The Locust and Hella.
For sampled stuff, though, if you don't know it, definitely find some of Aaron Spectre's Drumcorps alias.
posted by galaksit at 5:52 AM on December 11, 2009
Try The Locust and Hella.
For sampled stuff, though, if you don't know it, definitely find some of Aaron Spectre's Drumcorps alias.
posted by galaksit at 5:52 AM on December 11, 2009
Boredoms and Ruins are correct. Also, Hella and all related Zach Hill bands.
posted by molecicco at 5:53 AM on December 11, 2009
posted by molecicco at 5:53 AM on December 11, 2009
Oh, and how about Boris? Some of their stuff more than others; Pink would be a good album to check out.
posted by mr_roboto at 6:13 AM on December 11, 2009
posted by mr_roboto at 6:13 AM on December 11, 2009
Hella, absolutely.
posted by You Should See the Other Guy at 6:32 AM on December 11, 2009
posted by You Should See the Other Guy at 6:32 AM on December 11, 2009
ass baboons of venus?
almost anything on bulb records (at least early bulb).
any of the bands on this compilation.
posted by msconduct at 6:34 AM on December 11, 2009
almost anything on bulb records (at least early bulb).
any of the bands on this compilation.
posted by msconduct at 6:34 AM on December 11, 2009
400 Blows
And I'm thrilled to hear Lightning Bolt is still around - I saw them blow Sonic Youth off the stage a number of years ago, one of my favorite shows ever.
posted by swngnmonk at 7:05 AM on December 11, 2009
And I'm thrilled to hear Lightning Bolt is still around - I saw them blow Sonic Youth off the stage a number of years ago, one of my favorite shows ever.
posted by swngnmonk at 7:05 AM on December 11, 2009
Lovvers, AIDS Wolf, An Albatross, Hella, The Magnetic Fields, Chinese Stars, Wolf Eyes, Boris, and you might like some of the Melvins, that was a good recommendation.
posted by bradbane at 7:11 AM on December 11, 2009
posted by bradbane at 7:11 AM on December 11, 2009
I think even more than the Melvins you need to check out the Cows, especially some mid-90s live footage.
posted by The Straightener at 7:17 AM on December 11, 2009
posted by The Straightener at 7:17 AM on December 11, 2009
I think even more than the Melvins you need to check out the Cows, especially some mid-90s live footage.
AmRep nostalgia... tingling
Halo of Flies - "Death of a Fly" single (a blueprint for crazed, speedy rock)
Gear Jammer - "Two Tons of Chrome" single
early Hammerhead might also be right up your alley
Unsane - Singles 1989-1992 might also scratch that itch, especially "Vandal-X"
there are also a few cuts from New Zealand's Dead C. you would dig - "Mighty," "Sky," and "Bad Politics"
posted by porn in the woods at 7:24 AM on December 11, 2009
AmRep nostalgia... tingling
Halo of Flies - "Death of a Fly" single (a blueprint for crazed, speedy rock)
Gear Jammer - "Two Tons of Chrome" single
early Hammerhead might also be right up your alley
Unsane - Singles 1989-1992 might also scratch that itch, especially "Vandal-X"
there are also a few cuts from New Zealand's Dead C. you would dig - "Mighty," "Sky," and "Bad Politics"
posted by porn in the woods at 7:24 AM on December 11, 2009
Hehe, after seeing the Jesus Lizard a couple weeks ago I have been drowning myself in AmRep/Touch and Go nostalgia.
Hammerheaders have a newer band called Vaz that fits this bill pretty nicely, also.
posted by The Straightener at 7:26 AM on December 11, 2009
Hammerheaders have a newer band called Vaz that fits this bill pretty nicely, also.
posted by The Straightener at 7:26 AM on December 11, 2009
Jesus Lizard's "Boilermaker" and the Chrome 7" single (a medley of tunes from Helios Creed/Damon Edge's amazing scifi band of the same name) are both in the same ballpark as Lightning Bolt.
And go see the reunited JL live - I saw them twice in 1992/93 and Yow is the best frontman ever.
posted by porn in the woods at 7:33 AM on December 11, 2009
And go see the reunited JL live - I saw them twice in 1992/93 and Yow is the best frontman ever.
posted by porn in the woods at 7:33 AM on December 11, 2009
It's also worth checking out some instrumental bands like Don Caballero and Dysrythmia. Some of the more hectic metalcore stuff like Converge's Jane Doe, Botch's We are the Romans and Dillinger Escape Plan's Calculating Infinity might also suit you.
posted by The Straightener at 8:00 AM on December 11, 2009
posted by The Straightener at 8:00 AM on December 11, 2009
Hammerhead were awesome! Also Cows, who were on AmRep too. Pissed Jeans.
posted by citron at 8:33 AM on December 11, 2009
posted by citron at 8:33 AM on December 11, 2009
immediately thought of The Locust
posted by saul wright at 9:32 AM on December 11, 2009
posted by saul wright at 9:32 AM on December 11, 2009
I've seen Lightning Bolt TOO many times. One of those bands I liked in high school and still like almost 6 years later. Anyways, you can go two directions from here: more rock or more noise. Check out some other bands on Load Records. The most logical group to check out next is probably the USA is a Monster. Depending on where in their discography you hit, it ranges from noisy and fast to more prog-rock and complicated, but Lightning Bolt have been more and more proggy lately too. Lightning Bolt also have some very satisfying side projects--Wizardzz and Black Pus are my favorites, also check out Mindflayer. It's also worth it to check out the Providence noise-rock scene that all this was birthed from, most notably the legendary Fort Thunder. (Gotta plug the legendary What Cheer Brigade here. Not musically related, but a similarly ecstatic live show...and they do covers of Lightning Bolt!)
posted by supernaturelle at 9:55 AM on December 11, 2009
posted by supernaturelle at 9:55 AM on December 11, 2009
USA is a Monster
Laddio Bolocko
The Psychic Paramount (ex Laddio Bolocko)
Austerity Program
Boris
Aquarius Records is the best record store on the planet for all things heavy -- if you search their record archive for lightning bolt there's 150 or so reviews that come up for bands they compare to LB.
posted by hamsterdam at 10:14 AM on December 11, 2009
Laddio Bolocko
The Psychic Paramount (ex Laddio Bolocko)
Austerity Program
Boris
Aquarius Records is the best record store on the planet for all things heavy -- if you search their record archive for lightning bolt there's 150 or so reviews that come up for bands they compare to LB.
posted by hamsterdam at 10:14 AM on December 11, 2009
Second searching through the Bulb Records and Load Records bands. I saw a great show with Lightning Bolt, Noxagt (most noise I've ever heard a viola produce!), USAISAMONSTER, and... Neptune, I think at a MassArt iron pour years ago; any one of those bands would be worth checking out. There's straight noise stuff - the Sightnings, Excepter, etc. - that you might like as well. Parts and Labor, Mindflayer, Pink and Brown, Burmese, Force Field, Friends Forever... Wolf Eyes is great (noise rock) but not very fast; Boris and the Melvins are also great, and more on the guitar side, but again, mostly heavy rather than fast. You might be interested in some of the noisier psych-influenced stuff - Burning Star Core, D Yellow Swans - or some of the guitar freakout stuff by Comets on Fire or Acid Mothers Temple. (There's a lot of modern psych that's great, but a lot of it is more measured in tempo than Lightning Bolt, apart from some freakout guitar bits - if you're interested in it, I can give you many suggestions.)
Also, holy shit, the What Cheer Brigade does Lightning Bolt covers? I need to hear these. Now.
posted by ubersturm at 10:20 AM on December 11, 2009
Also, holy shit, the What Cheer Brigade does Lightning Bolt covers? I need to hear these. Now.
posted by ubersturm at 10:20 AM on December 11, 2009
Response by poster: Wow, I've listened to a few things from upthread and there have been some great suggestions so far, thanks everyone. I'm not going to mark best answers, because I'd probably end up marking all of them. So far I'm digging Ruins, Japanather, The Locust, Melvins, White Mice, in fact virtually everything you guys have suggested.
there is only one answer to this question.
it is Boredoms
posted by mr. remy at 5:11 AM on December 11
I was really into Boredoms back when Chocolate Synthesizer came out but lost touch with what they were doing after that, so this is a good prompt for me to check out some newer stuff.
Thanks to the couple of people who suggested Wolf Eyes, I do love Wolf Eyes as it goes, definitely a band to see live, and while I love the awesome rhythmic noise rock they make, it doesn't quite capture the utter mania of Lightning Bolt.
posted by iivix at 11:43 AM on December 11, 2009
there is only one answer to this question.
it is Boredoms
posted by mr. remy at 5:11 AM on December 11
I was really into Boredoms back when Chocolate Synthesizer came out but lost touch with what they were doing after that, so this is a good prompt for me to check out some newer stuff.
Thanks to the couple of people who suggested Wolf Eyes, I do love Wolf Eyes as it goes, definitely a band to see live, and while I love the awesome rhythmic noise rock they make, it doesn't quite capture the utter mania of Lightning Bolt.
posted by iivix at 11:43 AM on December 11, 2009
they've grown up & their music is more rock & less ... whatever it was before ... but xbxrx's love songs for the blind is a damn fine disc.
posted by msconduct at 12:34 PM on December 11, 2009
posted by msconduct at 12:34 PM on December 11, 2009
Black Dice - everything they did before Beaches and Canyons
posted by porn in the woods at 12:38 PM on December 11, 2009
posted by porn in the woods at 12:38 PM on December 11, 2009
Harry Pussy.
posted by brevator at 1:57 PM on December 11, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by brevator at 1:57 PM on December 11, 2009 [1 favorite]
And, if I may be so bold, you may enjoy some of these tracks from my old band: DNA, Reverse Vampires Under Negative Rainbows, It's a Secret to Everyone.
posted by brevator at 5:50 AM on December 12, 2009
posted by brevator at 5:50 AM on December 12, 2009
And just to save you the exhaustion of having to google them on your own- Harry Pussy.
posted by brevator at 6:27 AM on December 12, 2009
posted by brevator at 6:27 AM on December 12, 2009
Harry Pussy were absolutely incredible - the Youth Problem 12" EP on Siltbreeze (1994) is some of the craziest, most free improv of all time. It sounds like Rudolph Grey and Sun City Girls in a knife fight. It's on HP's What Was Music? CD.
Chris Corsano, star drummer for many many outfits (everyone from Bjork to Six Organs of Admittance) says that HP's Adris Hoyos is his favorite drummer of all time.
posted by porn in the woods at 9:53 AM on December 12, 2009
Chris Corsano, star drummer for many many outfits (everyone from Bjork to Six Organs of Admittance) says that HP's Adris Hoyos is his favorite drummer of all time.
posted by porn in the woods at 9:53 AM on December 12, 2009
The Flying Luttenbachers - or anything else that Weasel Walter's been involved with (XBXRX and Arab On Radar immediately come to mind).
posted by macdara at 3:17 PM on December 12, 2009
posted by macdara at 3:17 PM on December 12, 2009
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- pink and brown - Lightning Bolt, but with guitar instead of bass.
- gospel - "Their sound mixes the atmosphere of psychedelia, structural sensibilities and instrumentation of Genesis-esque progressive-rock, and primal aggression/desperation of hardcore/screamo."
- necronomitron - another providence/load records band, but based more in metal where lightning bolt might deviate to something funky.
- japanther - totally different sound (though also just drums and bass)... Much poppier, but the live show was similar to the feel at lightning bolt.
As a side note: I got to see Lightning Bolt play in fall 2003 and it was a blast, though easily one of the loudest bands I've ever seen, given the space (other biggies: tragedy and examination of the...). Despite the fact that it scared me that I literally couldn't hear afterward, total blast.
posted by yeoldefortran at 4:56 AM on December 11, 2009 [2 favorites]