MarsKid
Mitch Worden
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Last Active 01-01-70 12:00 am
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Build-an-Album R3: Swine Surprise

Another day, another round for this insanity. It was another tight race in both directions and tough calls had to be made. Who came out on top and who went home? Let's check.
1Slint
Spiderland

The genre was POST-ROCK, the theme was TRUE BLISS, and users had to submit 5-track albums with one 10+ minute song included. No bands could be used if they were from North America or China, as a dumb rule. Last round I was forgiving towards genre-bending and people straying from the theme... how did things fall this time?
2Exquirla
Para Quienes Aún Viven

Neek's Album: Industrial was a close round for you, and it was no different here--in fact, it was worse. After leading with such a strong intro, everything feel apart with repetitive, definitely-not-blissful songs. I mean, you included a track called "Ugly and Vengeful" my man. The last track was cool and all, but the few merits of individual songs aren't going to save you. This missed the mark by a sizable margin. VERDICT: 2.5
3Skullflower
Xaman

Nero's Album: Here again is an album that turned out to be boring and off-target. The finale was more in line with what I wanted to hear this round as opposed to things like tracks 3 thru 4, which added essentially nothing of note to the experience. While most people are able to get me with their opener, this one was actually rather ineffective; the excessive feedback didn't help. VERDICT: 2.8
4Tycho
Dive

goblin's Album: It was hard to write about this because, once again, it did not hit the thematic requirements of the round. Regardless of how good a given song may be--I'm a fan of There Will Be Fireworks, for sure--if it doesn't follow the rules, then that's that. Otherwise, I'd be giving a lot of free passes and the theme would be useless. A lot of these sounded more regretful and sad than blissful; keep your eyes on the road my friend, you veered off-course here. Luckily, some key moments assisted you. VERDICT: 2.9
5Exquirla
Para Quienes Aún Viven

Zombie's Album: Just like the previous round, Zombie kept things close to the various stipulations tacked on. There was a great flow that began right from the start, with a pleasant intro and strong transitions from then on. Track 2's guitar tone was great, but it was track 3 that was the highlight; the piano-string interplay was perfect. On some occasions I felt this faltered and didn't quite accomplish its goals for one reason or another (closer came on a bit strong/out-of-place, for instance), but this was solid. VERDICT: 3.9
6Dirty Three
Cinder

butch's Album: After an okay showing in Industrial, butch seemed more comfortable handling post-rock and made something really pleasant overall. The run from track 1 to 3 ebbs and flows naturally, and there are a few pinches of psychedelic rock n' rollickin' to be found. As a whole, I think this album could have been stronger, but it was an enjoyable listen from beginning to end. It was just well-composed. VERDICT: 4.0
7pg.lost
Key

Uzumaki's Album: The piano-driven opener snagged me from the get-go, and the ensuing grace brought forth by track 2 was very welcome. There was a prevailing sense of bliss and happiness intermingled through here, punctuated by gentle arrangements and striking climaxes. Certain parts were weaker than others, but they didn't really damage the end result much; it was a strong effort. VERDICT: 4.1
865daysofstatic
The Fall of Math

Sint's Album: Sint knows how to make an album flow pretty damn well, and this was no exception; the transitions here are on-point., from one entry to the next. Track 4 in particular was an ideal depiction of what I expected/wanted from this round, complimented to great effect by the vocal performance. The atmosphere established on this run was memorable and made for an excellent listen. VERDICT: 4.25
9pg.lost
It's Not Me, It's You!

Storm's Album: There was certainly a blissful ambiance that prevailed in this record. The introduction display such rich, beautiful textures, coupled with an effective-but-unexpected vocal addition. Consistency was incredible and each song contained its own purpose to elevate the album--track 3 was more math-oriented and felt more spacey, while the concluding track featured a delicious synth. This undoubtedly brought a smile to my face and a warm sensation on the whole. Well done, my friend. VERDICT: 4.3
10Echotide
Into The Half Light

kalk's Album: The initial tunes to this album were surely fantastic and blissful journeys--the opener's instrumental climax was amazing (especially the drumming) and track 2's presentation felt very bombastic (in a positive sense). I felt like tracks 3 and 4 were good, but lacking in a way that's hard to describe; the atmosphere could have been better, perhaps the vocals of track 3 could have been dropped, make things less repetitive, etc. Other instances (the static/abrasive feedback of the closer) made this falter slightly, but the pros outweighed the cons. VERDICT: 3.8
11Anna Meredith
Varmints

Papa's Album: This introduction was just garbage, dude. Inevitably, the album that I heard suffered from problems discussed prior wherein the theme is thrown out of the window in favor of passing by on track highlights, but there were few, if any highlights to speak of here. Track 2's crescendo was nice, but beforehand it felt so scattered and had no sense of self. The last two entries here just totally missed, no other way to say it. VERDICT: 2.4
12Sigur Ros
( )

bg's Album: What intrigued me most about bg's submission was that he aimed for something completely ambient and atmospheric to achieve the theme. The album's crown achievement is the build-up to track 3, the first two tunes laying the groundwork with peaceful instrumental arrangements, culminating in one of my favorite yndi halda jams. The last two tracks seemed to fall out of step with your objective here--don't go too hard in the paint, my man. But the experience didn't lose too many points for these missteps, although it is important to note them. VERDICT: 4.0
13Godspeed You! Black Emperor
Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven

Berry's Album: The ambient intro felt like drifting off in such a calming manner that ended up leading well into the large expanse of the second track. The closing tracks were jams, but they were able to toe the line between too heavy and blissful masterfully, ending up assisting the album in this case rather than hurting it. The surprising climax of the final song really cemented this as a wonderful experience, and one that was able to stick to the theme very well. VERDICT: 4.2
14Mahumodo
Waves

Steak's Album: While this ended up not completely going off-track compared to other albums, it came close; many of these entries featured were dangerously reaching away from the intended thematic atmosphere and hit too hard to really be considered blissful. There was nothing wrong necessarily with your intentions, but I think something like track 4 was more of what you were going for--combining heaviness and harsh displays with a sense of calm. These moments bailed you out on more than one occasion... best be cautious going forward. VERDICT: 3.4
15Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra
Fuck Off Get Free We Pour Light on Everything

Phero's Album: Evaluating this particular album gave me a sense that it was a pass--the average mark, getting it by the numbers. Sounds harsh, but it's not meant to be necessarily; every track here felt deliberate, contributed to the theme, and kept the album moving. They just weren't very powerful, leaving a product that possessed merit but not enough to push it to the next level. The instrumental explosion that closes off the final track was masterful and I loved it, making me wish the rest of the entries aspired to this sort of accomplishment. Good work, for sure, but could be better. VERDICT: 3.7
16Slint
Spiderland

Off to the results we go! Post-rock ended up being a toughie.
FIRST PLACE: Storm (4.3)
SECOND PLACE: Sinternet (4.25)
THIRD PLACE: Berry (4.2)
I had to debate with myself for a while making the final decisions here--I'm talking serious introspection. There were many impressive moments, but also quite a few that were below par. As such, someone's gonna be packing up their things.
Papa (2.4) is ELIMINATED. Wasn't an easy call to make, but a call had to be made. Thank you for joining, and don't forget to keep watching!
17Macho Man Randy Savage
Be A Man

I'm not gonna give you a hint every time, so this round's genre was kept a secret. This was also due to the fact that I didn't have a clue what it was either until just now when I spun the magic wheel of genres. Where did we land this time and what are you gonna have to put up with (read: suffer through) this time?
18Pig Destroyer
Terrifyer

After letting loose a nice spin, it turns out that y'all are headed towards GRIND. Whatever you decide to do, it's gonna need to fly under that delightful genre banner. Time to kill some pigs I suppose.
19Macho Man Randy Savage
Be A Man

The theme is going to be Freight Train. Self-explanatory, my people: give me some heavy as fuck albums. Through any method (under grind) that you find suitable, construct a big fuckin' train and send it my way. I want to feel like I'm being pleasantly run over. No just heavy for the sake of heavy--make it GOOD heavy. There is a difference.
20Macho Man Randy Savage
Be A Man

In the spirit of the musical category, there will be no track limit imposed this time around. However, all entries submitted are going to have to be 30 minutes or less. If you want to be cheeky and hit 30:00 on the dot, go for it. But as soon as you tip so much as a nanosecond over the edge, you're in serious trouble. Big doo-doo as the kids say.
21Macho Man Randy Savage
Be A Man

The dumb rule for this round is more of a fun run. Out of the songs you choose, one must actually be different from grind. And I mean a noticeable opposite, a clear division--lather me in Britpop I guess. The catch? It's going to have to feel natural and flow within the album's context. Seem difficult? Well maybe. But that sounds more like a you problem and not a me problem.
22Macho Man Randy Savage
Be A Man

SUMMARY:
Genre = Grind
Theme = Freight Train
Requirement = No track limit; album is 30min. or less
"Dumb Rule" = must include a track opposite of the round's genre
23Macho Man Randy Savage
Be A Man

Contestants:
ZombieToyDuck | Storm | NeroCorleone80 | Pheromone | Uzumaki | Sinternet | bgellesp | butherboy | goblinilbog | BerryGarlicia | SteakByrnes | neekafat | kalkwiese
24Suffering Quota
Life In Disgust

bg:
1. Suffering Quota- Agnosia
2. Axis Of Despair- Demons and Angels
3. Rotten Sound- Sell Your Soul
4. Insect Warfare- Decontamination
5. Wormrot- Fallen Into Disuse
6. Napalm Death- You Suffer
7. Xploding Plastix- Sports, Not Heavy Crime
8. Agoraphobic Nosebleed- Hung From The Rising Sun
9. Chepang- Sojho Lato Pasu
10. Magrudergrind- Conditioned Minds
11. Extreme Noise Terror- One Truth, One Hate
12. Nails- You Will Never Be One Of Us
25GosT
Possessor

goblin:
1. GosT - Garruth
2. Frontierer - Bunsen
3. Sectioned - Annihilated
4. Frontierer - Gower St.
5. Sectioned - Beautiful Struggle
6. The Tony Danza Tapdance Extravaganza - Rudy x3
7. Ion Dissonance - Bud Dwyer Effect
8. Ion Dissonance - Kneel
9. Knocked Loose - Counting Worms
10. Nails - Unsilent Death
26Pig Destroyer
Prowler in the Yard

Berry:
1. Pig Destroyer - Starbelly
2. Melatika - The Unforgiven II
3. Carcass - Maggot Colony
4. Napalm Death - On the Brink of Extinction
5. Repulsion - Slaughter of the Innocent
6. Kataplexis - Bottom Feeder
7. Terrorizer - Poison Gas Tsunami
8. Discordance Axis - The Inalienable Dreamless
9. Pantera - Suicide Note Pt. II
10. Kataplexis - Necrotic Wasteland
27Melt-Banana
Fetch

Zombie:
1. Melt-Banana- A Dreamer Who Is Too Weak To Face Up
2. The Locust-Practiced Hatred
3. Agoraphobic Nosebleed-Timelord One
4. Converge-Axe to Fall
5. BEA5T- Watch Yourself Instead
6. Nails-Parasite
7. Igorrr- Probleme d'emotion
8. The Number Twelve Looks Like You- Don't Get Blood on My Prada Shoes
9. See You Next Tuesday- Let's Go Halvsies On a Bastard
10. Cattle Decapitation- The Carbon Stampede
11. Hirs- Friends Lovers Favorites
12. Full of Hell- Crawling Back to God
13. Wormrot- Hollow Roots
14. Trap Them- Damage Prose
28SeeYouSpaceCowboy...
Fashion Statements of the Socially Aware

Steak:
1. SeeYouSpaceCowboy... - An Introduction For People Who Hate Introductions
2. SeeYouSpaceCowboy... - Jimmy Buffett Doesn't Even Surf
3. .gif from god - self pwnage for a narcissistic nutjub
4. Mouthbreather - Tourniquet
5. Daughters - A Room Full of Hard-Ons and Nowhere to Sit Down
6. The Locust - Live From The Russian Compound
7. Ed Gein - The Marlboro Man Is A Douche Bag
8. Me and Him Call It Us - There Is No Question Mark Button On This Computer
9. An Isle Ate Her - Das Ekel
10. Genghis Tron - Chapel
11. The Ongoing Concept - Trophy
12. The Number Twelve Looks Like You - To Catch A Tiger
29The Haxan Cloak
Excavation

Sint:
1. The Haxan Cloak - Mara
2. Nails - God's Cold Hands
3. Rotten Sound - Ritual
4. Nails - Violence is Forever
5. Trap Them - Saintpeelers
6. Pig Destroyer - Carrion Fairy
7. Akira Yamaoka - For All (Silent Hill OST)
8. Genghis Tron - Things Don't Look Good
30Phobia
Grind Your Fucking Head In

Nero:
1. Phobia - Selfish Minds
2. Dropdead - Unjustified Murder
3. Phobia - Drunken Spree of Violence
4. Phobia - Your Turn Next
5. Disrupt - A Life's a Life
6. Assuck - Corners
7. Terrorizer - Condemned System
8. Repulsion - Slaughter of the Innocent
9. Pig Destroyer - Trojan Whore
10. Insect Warfare - Enslaved by Machinery
11. DJ Scud - Ruled by the Mob
12. Brutal Truth - Choice of a New Generation
31IDYLLS
Prayer for Terrene

Storm:
1. Idylls - Animal Test
2. Gridlink - Winward
3. Terrorizer - Turbulence
4. Success Will Write Apocalypse Across The Sky - 10.000 Sermons. One Solution
5. Cult Leader - I Am Healed
6. United Nations - Resolution 9
7. System Of A Down - X
8. Beaten to Death - Eternal Punished Septic
9. Dying Fetus - Subjected To A Beating
10. Ritual of Flesh - Last Days of Humanity
32Pig Destroyer
Terrifyer

Uzumaki:
1. rj Eleven - Happy Tree Friends Theme Song
2. Discordance Axis - Pattern Blue
3. Agoraphobic Nosebleed - Die And Get The Fuck Out Of The Way
4. Repulsion - Eaten Alive
5. Napalm Death - Instinct Of Survival
6. Terrorizer - Ripped To Shreds
7. Carcass - Maggot Colony
8. Agoraphobic Nosebleed - House of Feasting
9. Discordance Axis - Jigsaw
10. Pig Destroyer - Pretty In Casts
11. Wormrot - Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Grind
12. Pig Destroyer - Snuff Film At Eleven
13. Nasum - Inhale/Exhale
33Cave State
Cave State

butch:
1. Cave State - Self-Extinct
2. Human Cull - Grey Planet
3. Augurs - Pretermit
4. Bandit - False Friends
5. Meredith Monk - Traces
6. Leucrota - Empty Skin
7. Jarhead Fertilizer - Xanax Parasite
8. Brain Drill - Forcefed Human Shit
9. Vivisection - Cadaver Fuck
10. Meat Slicer - Freezerburnt Fetus
11. Misanthropic Noise - Who Cares?
34Napalm Death
Scum

neek:
1. Napalm Death - "You Suffer"
2. Carcass - "Genital Grinder"
3. Terrorizer - "Fear of Napalm"
4. Discordance Axis - "Fear of Napalm"
5. Cattle Decapitation - "Forced Gender Reassignment"
6. Pig Destroyer - "Junkyard God"
7. Repulsion - "Black Breath"
8. Bon Iver - "10 d E A T h b R E a s T"
9. Napalm Death - "Discordance"
10. Brutal Truth - "Stench of Profit"
35today is the day
Temple of the Morning Star

Phero:
1. Today is The Day - Crutch
2. Napalm Death - Unchallenged Hate
3. Nasum - Inhale / Exhale
4. Tiger Trap - Puzzle Pieces
5. Dropdead - Superior
6. Dropdead - BitterFruit
7. Carcass - Swarming Vulgar Mass of Infected Virulency
8. Pig Destroyer - Thumbsucker
9. Today is the Day - Kill Yourself
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