Nearly Dead is a Canadian noise-rock band from British Columbia, and they have so far released a handful of fine noise rock albums. The latest of these albums is 'Weathered Meat' - an album that they released earlier this year. The first thing that pops to mind when listening to this album, is that the album reminds the Swedish cult raw noise rock band Brainbombs a lot. Even the vocals - though sang by a Canadian - tend to almost sound like English with a Swedish accent. Thus this band sounds interesting right from the start. Especially for someone who thinks Brainbombs is pretty much the best noise rock band of all time.
The album starts off with a track titled 'Proud Cock', and well it packs some no-nonsense repetitive raw noise rock riffage in the vein of Brainbombs from start to finish. A pretty catchy track with some nice fucked up sax bits in the mix too. The following title track 'Weathered Meat' again moves on similar terrain, although the heavy riffage works even better on this one. There is also something Akitsa'esque about this track. But that is to be expected from a Canadian noise rock band right? 'Korsikoff's' is the third track of the album, and again it packs some fine repetitive noise rock riffage, with a slightly psychedelic feel to it as well courtesy to some interesting guitar/sax improvisation. With the previous track reminding Akitsa, this one in turn has something reminiscent of early Flowers Must Die about it. This also makes it one of my favorite tracks on this album overall. The following tracks 'Satan's Back In Town' and 'Morphine Sunrise' also dwell in the same kind of repetitive noise rock riffage meets fucked up guitar/sax impro, with the first track being more avant-garde and the second one being more orthodox in a delicious kraut infused repetitive noise rock sense.
'Help A Neigbhor Out' though seems like a very Canadian kind of title right? You know now the whole British Columbia thing makes sense, since well among bands sounding like Brainbombs there is also Blank Veins - a band from Greece. And what? Greece? If to think about what Greece brings to mind then its probably some guy who is always in debt and struggles to pay it off. Nothing that interesting really. Now Canada however reminds exactly some nice quiet helpful guy from next door, who always seemed kind of nice (except the odd couple of times you saw him rolling around in an improvised bodybag). That is until people discover he was a sick sadistic fuck and a serial killer. ''Isabel Chavelo Gutierrez'' also sounds like someone, who went missing on British Columbia's Highway of Tears (is 137 vinyls some reference?). Thus I think its no wonder that a band like this emerged from British Columbia. Both of these tracks were pretty good by the way. Same goes for 'Namenda'', as it packs some pretty awesome half avant-garde guitar bits on a repetitive forward propelling heavy as fuck riffage section. The last two tracks also pretty much kick ass for anyone who digs the likes of Brainbombs, No Balls, Unsane or whatever cool noise-rock band you can think of.
All in all the album is solid from start to finish and definitely worth checking out for any Brainbombs fans. Its also great to see bands similar to Brainbombs popping up all over the world, since well one could imagine any terrorist wannabes wouldn't have the guts to enter a concert of any of these bands, as they would be promptly taken to a nice drive around Leeds (or Prince Rupert) for some ass fucking murder.
Check Nearly Dead out there:
Bandcamp: https://nearlydead.bandcamp.com/album/weathered-meat
