Tormentor #2

Tormentor #2 is out!!!! This issue is 40 pages and 8 chapters of unrelenting insanity! Tales of revenge, love of hate, and desolation adorn these black and white 8.5x5.5" hand folded and stapled pages!!

If you live in the Chicago area you can pick up this issue and #1 at Quimby's and Chicago Comics. If you are interested in a copy you can email me at atriedes.chris@gmail.com

More from Tormentor #1

Tormentor comics #1 is a true modernist comic. 3 stories told through an uncertain discontinuous way reminiscent of stories such as "Night Thoughts of a Classical Physicist" by Russell McCormmach and "The Trial" by Franz Kafka. Truly a unique comic that will blow your mind and change your idea of what the medium can do. Below are some more pictures from Tormentor #1!

Email me your address at atriedes.chris@gmail.com to get a free physical copy!!

Tormentor Comics!

Tormentor comics #1 is here! 20 pages 3 stories, handmade, hand drawn, black and white! This is the lo-fi diy sci-fi mini comic you need! Tired of whiny indie art nerd bullshit? Get tormented!!! Email atriedes.chris@gmail to get one for FREE!!!

Blood Freak Rules

How unfortunate it is that “Blood Freak” is not more popular. They should be much more loved with their 4 albums since 2003. 4 albums of momentous gore and horror are all gems. They are signed to Willowtip records, which truly has their shit together, and played Maryland Deathfest last year to a very friendly and appreciative crowd. Their newest album “Mindscraper” is a fantastic example of a great horror death metal album. Chugging away death metal riffs, lots of growls and gurgles, and the surprising thrashing solo makes this album pretty fucking sweet.  

Just look at the fucking cover!

...and just listen to this

You are welcome.

FUN #5

           

While traveling along the great network of tubes that is the internet I came across a wonderfully sick magazine called “FUN”. From the cover I knew that this magazine would indeed be fun. The price for said magazine was simply the shipping, how fucking awesome is that?!?!

            FUN is a magazine loaded with knowledge that should not be known. It contains the secrets of the underground, the unknown, the strange and the weird. The articles vary from “Interesting”, “That’s a good point”, “Are they fucking with me?”, and “The fuck is this shit?” There really is a terrific variety of stories. Also the illustrations that accompany the stories as well as the magazine as a whole, work well to create an atmosphere of insanity. To give you a better idea of what the hell is going in this magazine; here are some of the article titles:

“Roid Rage: The top 10 steroid-induced murders of all time”

“Human Leopard Societies”

“Sieg Hi-De-Heil!”

“Ritual Abuse”

“230,000 Lost Souls”

“FUN Magazine vs Islamo Fascism”

“10 Reasons Why… Falsely accused date-rapists don’t deserve your sympathy”

            Yeah, it’s basically the most interesting thing I’ve discovered from the small press/self-published world. The first four issues are all sold out and it wouldn’t surprise me if this one did soon. A must read for those who crave knowledge of the bizarre. 

Evil Army - Evil Army (2006)

           

            There is a lot of thrash in today’s metal scene and a lot of it sucks. So much of it is paying homage the 80’s instead of breaking new ground for the genre. I don’t want to put down any bands or albums in particular, if you enjoy thrash you know what I mean. However, there are some bands which have released some truly stellar thrash. Now here comes the part where I tell you how fucking awesome Evil Army is.

            I first heard the songs “Wrong Approach” and “Evil Army” off of a compilation CD from Hell’s Headbangers. They were so infectious and really the best tracks off of the CD. I eventually picked up their self-titled album and for a year now it is still one of my favorite and most played albums. 13 no mercy head banging tracks and the album is basically the best 25 minutes of your miserable existence.

            For having such a great unique sound and fantastic cohesion for all 13 tracks, it does not feel repetitive or boring at all. It feels like running across no man’s land hopped up on amphetamines with a bayonet in your teeth and violence in your heart. The guitar style has really been inspired by the best aspects thrash; a little bit of early Metallica, Exodus, and a sack of glass shards swinging at your face. The drums are perfect war style thrash. Wicked good speed and snare hits keep you marching towards your certain death. The bass is fast and blends well with the guitar. Lastly, the vocals are perfect.

            Bad or even mediocre vocals can really keep me from fully enjoying an album, but Rob Evil has a style that is terrific. His voice works great in both lightning fast and more slow delivery; great shouts, and snarls, almost punk like.

            As of this posting, there is only one review on Metal Archives for this album. I find that shocking. This is definitely in the top 5 best thrash albums of the 00-10 period. I just hope these guys don’t have to wait for the next generation before they gain recognition from the metal community. 

Closed Caption Comics #9

             

             I’m a simple man; I like my music loud and my comics awesome. I was a little hesitant about “Closed Caption Comics #9”; it seemed like an anthology that would be too sophisticated for me, too much abstract expressionism not enough tits. However it was advertised as “192 page wad. Note: Packed to the brim with comics, not a single page wasted. NO BULLSHIT!” So I bought it.

            It really is a zero bullshit book loaded with comics, comics, and comics. The styles and stories vary a great deal from each creator. I wouldn’t say that there is a central theme to this collection other than great comics. Each creator spins a tale that is unique and memorable. I’m pretty sure most of these guys are contributors to the Closed Caption Comics blog (so if you want to follow them, there’s a starting point). I don’t want to discuss the individual stories too much as I don’t want to reveal too much, but I will say there are a few horror/mystery/scifi stories. Luckily there are no autobiography stories. If there is one thing that makes me want to puke blood it is an autobiographical comics about some wannabe art school dropout eating his own shit about going to see fucking indie band that is too cool to be known by more than six people.

            So basically “Closed Caption Comics #9” is one sweet showcase of different artists from around Baltimore. 23 bucks, no bullshit, and it comes with a slip case and a poster, both very nice touches. 

That poster is pretty sweet and looks great on a refrigerator.