So I've had my mp3 player on random play for about the last three weeks - just to mix things up a bit - and this week that little grey box of tricks threw up a timely reminder of an absolute corker of an album.

The song in question was "Leisure" from the album "Jesus Christ Bobby". Now anybody who saw my signature during the early parts of this week will know that this record was the first release from Icelandic weirdos Minus. Their second release, "Halldor Laxness", I've not paid too much attention to - somewhat unfairly - largely on the back of their debut being such an immense body of work.

For anybody who doesn't know, "Jesus Christ Bobby" is very hard to categorise as an individual album. There are elements of both metal and hardcore present (in fact Converge - the odd blast beat included - spring to mind sporadically throughout the album) and just when you think your face couldn't take another sandblasting of raw spite, up pops a nice acoustic piece that allows respite before the final onslaught.

Now what makes this record such an indictment of the Iclandic tundra, is it's sheer claustrophobia-inducing wall of sound. The guitars, of course, buzzsaw away like one of Leatherface's perverse sextoys and Krummi's vocals are suitably abrasive, but the feeling of confinement arises purely out of the strange background sound that rears it's head for about three fifths of the album and which can only be described as noise. It doesn't quite overwhelm the production but it is a constant reminder of menace.

For those who haven't already, this album quite simply has to be heard. For those who have, discuss. New developments regarding Minus are also welcome.

__________________

Sounds good! I've never heard of them but from the looks of this I'll definatly be checking them out tonight for the following reason: 1.) The album is called "Jesus Christ Bobby", 2.) They're from Iceland, 3.) Comparable to Converge, 5.) The guitars sound like buzzsaws, and 8.) John MANsley is hot.

__________________

I thought you'd be interested in these guys, Dyldo.

I listened to their second album last night. It's not as rip-your-face-off insane as their debut but it does have it's moments. They ditched the background noise and Krummi's vocals aren't as harsh as they once were (in fact his vocals are clean for most of the album). It's a decent album if you consider it as a standalone work, but it isn't as good when compared to "Jesus Christ Bobby".

__________________

I've looked around a bit on the net, but I can't even find a free sample of their songs. You know any good place to look?

__________________

Scroll down to Minus. The first two ("Electra Complex" and "Frat Rock") are from their debut album while the third ("Romantic Exorcism") is from their follow up.

http://www.rockandmetal.com/hardcore_me_ml.html

__________________

That's all and well. But my computer tells me that all links concerning Minus (yes I managed to discern the icelanders from the yankees) "The system cannot find the file specified." or "The requested URL /index.html was not found on this server."

This is the kind of thing that makes you wish that you lived in the times when it was generally agreed that electricity was a fluid in cables; or didn't exist at all.

__________________

They must've taken the files down. Trying a file sharing program is probably your last chance, I suppose.

__________________

Yes... though I will, just as a small side bet, keep a look-out for one of their albums. Ah, the blessing of full-time work...

__________________

I think it's definitely worth investing in, particularly if you're a fan of Converge.

__________________

Rar. Its been in que for eeeeeevverrr.

__________________

So I finally fucking got the album. I'm on my third or fourth listen and its good, but I wouldn't say its great. I listened to other songs on their myspace and those were both terrible and completely different. They do a few things that I hear in other Icelandic music, which is cool. Verdict will be determined later.

__________________

Sounds like something I'd like.
If anyone is on AIM and doesn't mind sending the album, i'd appreciate it.

__________________

Yeah, you probably stumbled across some songs from Halldor Laxness, which is poles apart stylistically from Jesus Christ Bobby. Incidentally, I thought Jesus Christ Bobby was a really difficult album to get into at first but it grew on my when I returned to it about 3 or 4 months later.

__________________

I'm liking this more as it becomes more angry. I just can't believe these guys are the makers of the new crap - sounds like a totally different band. I'm a sucker for angry music.

EDIT: Yeah, this is definatly good. ANGRY. Its giving me urges to throw children being saved from a burning Orphanage back in while the firefighters aren't looking.

__________________

Totally agree on the new material, though - very disappointing.

__________________

It absolutely blows my mind that someone on a metal forum is actually speaking positively of Mínus. I'm from Iceland and this band's vomited upon by anyone that listens to metal here. Their frontman is the son of a folkpop-singer that constantly dazzles old people.

If you were thinking about checking them out further. Don't.

I guess I should advertise some Icelandic bands then.

http://myspace.com/severedcrotch These guys are the best we have to offer in my opinion.
http://myspace.com/momentumtheband I don't really like the singer but the rest is ok. Many people seem to like them very much.
Then there's Sólstafir and Potentiam - both have realeased something.

News Flash! I don't just listen to death metal all day!

__________________

I don't either but that doesn't change my opinion about plain bad music.

weird, a friend showed me this band the other day. I dig it.

...I keep thinking John is editing every post he makes. Stupid italics.

It does look a little like the editing text, now that you mention it.

__________________