Street date: 2009-09-14

The Babel Inside Was Terrible is an album electric and sharp, encompassing more grief and darkness than ever before and proclaimed in an even more clear and powerful sound. We Insist ! again manage to draw influences from a vast ocean of musical styles including Rock, Noise, Free Jazz, Avant-garde, Psychedelic, Math-Rock, Punk and Metal. Being together almost 14 years now, they've found their own path through rock music and have developed their own style, always with the intention to surprise themselves first when song-writing. All this is blended with a overwhelming level of musical craftsmanship which leaves you breathless and questioning how the hell a band could be so tight. However, it doesn’t end here - once you dig deeper into the arrangements you will figure out how well structured yet unfashionable their song-writing is: the usual partnership of bass and drums creating the foundation is broken, giving room for new interpretation. The bass leans and plays against every instrument while each guitar riff, arpeggio, and melodic vocals lines, will become entangled within your ears. Absolutely nothing is laid down without a purpose: when it's not melting into another riff it must and will be broken by rhythmic accents. Complementary layers come one after another to create a pulsating and melodic dizziness for the listener. Sprinkled throughout the album are keyboards from Julien Divisia complementing his range of weird guitar sounds. The treat that is their 5th album, The Babel Inside Was Terrible is the result of just over one years' intense hard work and heavy concentration on song-writing and rehearsals. Since the departure of saxophonist Cyrille in 2008, remaining sax player Francois Wong took up the challenge to work the horn section solo. Playing his sax through a guitar amp using a vast array of effects pedals, he brings yet more extremes to the tones, melodies and rhythms than ever before, adding an overall new approach to incorporating a saxophone in a rock band. After recording 2007's OH ! Things Are So Corruptible, at Black Box Studio with Peter Deimel (Chokebore, The Kills, etc.), this incredibly talented producer was once again enthusiastic to work with We Insist ! on a more involved level. This time around, Deimel recorded, mixed and produced The Babel Inside Was Terrible working with the band from beginning to end.

Street date: 2009-06-01

Celan was conceived of in early 2008 when Ari Benjamin Meyers (of Redux Orchestra and Einstürzende Neubauten ) and Chris Spencer (Unsane, Cutthroats 9) met in a bar in Prenzlauer Berg, Berlin. Initially it was intended as a collaboration between a classically trained composer and someone who had been working and touring in a noise/rock band for years. This album, titled Halo, is pure rock! It's fascinating how Ari Benjamin Meyers' skills stand up to the blistering noise blast created by the rest of the band. But let's talk history first: After the initiation of the band at said Berlin bar, it became obvious that it was more than just a nice idea. The possibility of recording in the ex- Einstürzende Neubauten studio came up, and it seemed that it could indeed become reality. As months went by, the whole thing began to take shape with the addition of Philipp Körner and Xavi Thiem (both of ex- flu.ID -fame) on bass and drums. Chris, Philipp and Xavi met when flu.ID toured with Unsane in late 2007 and stayed in touch, becoming good friends. Chris also met Niko Wenner (Oxbow) during Summer 08, and the line-up was complete. In August 2008 they spent two weeks in the studio writing and recording, pretty much from the get-go. Forcing themselves into a fruitful jam/recording situation they laid a full album to tape in just two weeks. The songs are infused with this spontaneity and one can feel the chemistry between the band members which aided the creative process.

Street date: 2009-02-23

Crushed Neocons is the debut album from Germany's post hardcore group The Antikaroshi, released through Exile On Mainstream. Thea (guitar, vocals, keys), Ntik (bass, keys) and Aroshi travel through emotional landscapes, break out, catch back together, get focused, swim in melodies and crawl through dis-harmonics. Crushed Neocons is one of those rare records which can stay with you forever. It grows and changes in the same way your mind and personal situation changes. These songs are like a good friend, having their own perspective and telling it, but they will be there if you need them.

Street date: 2009-01-26

Enablers began when Pete Simonelli asked guitarist Kevin Thomson to collaborate on a joint spoken word/musical project. Joeseph F. Byrnes accepted the invitation to play the drums and guitarist Joe Goldring joined the band. Their first album, "End Note", (on Neurot Recordings) revealed qualities previously unseen in the spoken word/ rock genre. With the 2009 release of their third album Tundra, Enablers are an unafraid and confident band. Compositional latitude, melody, and rhythmic intricacy are the hallmarks of Tundra. The band's solid gifts for songwriting and poetry come straight from the heart and truly shine.. This album will be issued as a limited edition of 1200 copies for Europe only packed in a handmade & silk- screened wooden box containing some special surprises.

Street date: 2008-06-02

Bulbul's musical approach is a unique blend of the unexpected and the unpredictable, throwing monolithic rhythms down your throat that make you dance. Once your legs start moving, they've already left your body, crossed the motorway, crashed straight into the roadside trees, and started cutting wood or maybe searching for small furry animals. Bulbul incorporate pop music's superficiality as well as the structure beneath - they can annihilate the cheapest rhythm and morph it into the most virtuous and complex arrangement, all within the blink of the eye. As monstrous walls of sound channel into introspective patterns you just stand there, mouth agape while you ask yourself "how the hell this is possible and why does it feel so good?". You'll find yourself searching to categorize Bulbul with familiar band names such as Melvins, Tar, Slint, The Jesus Lizard coming to mind - these names kind of come close, but then refuse to arrive. Welcome to the world of Bulbul.

Street date: 2008-06-02

Originally released for A Whisper In The Noise's 2006 North American tour in support of Arab Strap, this album combines tracks from their critically acclaimed and long out of print debut album Through The Ides Of March, as well as tracks from the bands subsequent release 2D, a collaborative effort with fellow Minnesotans, If Thousands. 2D is also seeing a limited re-release thanks to Exile On Mainstream. Since the original debut album by AWITN is no longer available, and will not be re-released any time in the near future, this compilation is the one and only chance for fans of the band to get their hands on the original recordings. Through The Ides Of March was recorded and engineered by Steve Albini at electrical audio in chicago.

Street date: 2008-06-02

The concept behind 2D reveals itself through the first listen. It's far more advanced from what one would usually expect from a split or collaboration album. Even though both bands recorded their parts on their own it all seems to channel into something very unique and fitting once put together in sequence, and at certain moments it becomes hard to tell which band's effort it is you are hearing. Just like pieces of a puzzle forming a clear image, the musical lines draw together and make up a hand-woven carpet of sheer bliss, with the dark edge we so well adore in other recordings by A Whisper In The Noise and of course, If Thousands.

Street date: 2008-06-02

LP version. Bulbul's musical approach is a unique blend of the unexpected and the unpredictable, throwing monolithic rhythms down your throat that make you dance. Once your legs start moving, they've already left your body, crossed the motorway, crashed straight into the roadside trees, and started cutting wood or maybe searching for small furry animals. Bulbul incorporate pop music's superficiality as well as the structure beneath - they can annihilate the cheapest rhythm and morph it into the most virtuous and complex arrangement, all within the blink of the eye. As monstrous walls of sound channel into introspective patterns you just stand there, mouth agape while you ask yourself "how the hell this is possible and why does it feel so good?". You'll find yourself searching to categorize Bulbul with familiar band names such as Melvins, Tar, Slint, The Jesus Lizard coming to mind - these names kind of come close, but then refuse to arrive. Welcome to the world of Bulbul.

Street date: 2008-05-19

Beehoover's performances on tour with The Hidden Hand and Stinking Lizaveta in 2007 left audiences with mouths gaping and the band overdosing on adrenaline, which they channeled straight into their new album. It's raw and angry, it makes you wanna smash your mothers' favourite china and roll on the floor laughing with mischievous glee. Heavy Zooo doesn't leave much time for taking breath. It's complex, yet it makes you dance. It's four to the floor but it's not disco. It's progressive but still pure rock for the masses. Unconventional circumstances helped in its creation: the album was written at 6am over the course of a couple of weeks, then recorded and produced in a cinema before being mixed at the bands' own studio. The surreal artwork reflects the sound of the album perfectly.

Street date: 2008-05-05

Britannia Triumphant is a work of epic post-rock. It was released as a limited run of CDrs by the band themselves and is now picked up by Exile On Mainstream to be released as an extended version containing two more songs, taken from the band's first demo recording. The five tracks build from delicate drones, looping guitar figures and field recordings, through to crescendos of layered distortion.

Street date: 2008-04-21

Insanity seems to be disorientated as we continue into the new millennium and it is searching for a new home. While it hides within brutality throughout the rest of the world, its musical passion transpires directly into the heads and bodies of Flu.ID. Inspired by the noise and hardcore heroes of the past century, these guys put their musical work into the core of all being from the start. Rhythms get fractured like bones, songs are fragmented, beloved classics of the metal age are pulverised and over the ashes they strew a chorus of expending voices. It is not begging for a new drawer in the musical filing tray, it's convincing by being itself - like a steamed-up version of Dillinger Escape Plan on some really good acid or something - you get the point? Iots contains the songs of Flu.ID's previously released 10 inches on Interstellar Records and Modus Operandi Records - completely remixed, remastered and pimped-up with some electronic interludes and bonus tracks. Iots thus can be seen as the band's official debut album since the two 10 inches are not only completely sold out, but they also never received the blessings of a wide-ranged distribution… until now. So here we are: Flu.ID over the world!

Street date: 2008-02-25

We Insist! are arguably scrutinizing the rock scene with the utmost care. You will find traces in Oh, Things Are So Corruptible of QOTSA, At The Drive-in, Tool, Shellac, Primus, but most importantly, you will travel in a moon-like weird and psychotic landscape, with David Lynch as your guide as you walk through twelve blurry and dazzling tracks. But make no mistake about it, Oh, Things Are So Corruptible is a We Insist! album. All twelve tracks have been around for more than two years, gaining more power, subtlety, cohesion and energy with each live performance. In order to assert its maturity, independence and celebrate a decade of existence, the band has confirmed its strong identity and style through this record. Being mature does not necessarily mean being old, and for those of you who might think otherwise, Oh, Things Are So Corruptible is the definitive answer.

Street date: 2007-12-03

LP version. dŸse (pronounced doo-ze) was formed in 2003 in Amsterdam by Dietrich and Jari after meeting in front of the Dysecatmotel. Both creatively-minded, they were and still are also active in several other bands (Rodeo Queen and VOLT being the most renowned among them). Dozens of shows followed over the next few years providing dŸse's extraterrestrial ability move crowds and drive fully packed venues absolutely MENTAL HELL NUTS CRAZY. Their music crushes boundaries and provokes terror, ironic aggression and hysteric laughter. They only seem to be here to kill all imaginable standards. dŸse do not serve up clichés, but open new horizons while creating an atmosphere where senses define the reception of tones and content. After each shredding live performance and the ever increasing demand for an album, it was time to get in the studio. Now here they are in all their glory, their first full-length release that will make you DANCE!

Street date: 2007-11-05

Exile On Mainstream Records was founded in 1999 by longtime music journalist Andreas Kohl, active for years in the German underground scene and writer for different top-notch magazines. The goal was quite usual, a strong 'I too can do that' attitude and the wish to destroy a few clichés. Exile On Mainstream is not a label easily pigeonholed, yet there's a spirit running through connecting each artist, slow moving rock perhaps? Whatever it is, Exile are purveyors of true underground music with a strong identity. Presented here on Worship The Riff is a selection of Exile's releases, past and present. We've got some old stuff from Ostinato, End Of Level Boss, Hidden Hand, some new stuff from Voodooshock, Spitting Off Tall Buildings, We Insist!, Beyond Vengeance, and some previously unreleased tracks from DŸse and Beehoover.

Street date: 2007-10-08

The self-descibed "orchestral garage rock" band from Hanska, Minnesota, give an extremely humble and personal touch to gorgeous, string-laden rock music. Ever since their inception nearly 6 years ago, A Whisper In The Noise, have been almost completely self reliant. It's exactly this type of hard work and perseverance that has molded the group into the amazing and brilliant artists they are today. In 2007 the band composed their most accomplished album Dry Land, produced by long-time friend Steve Albini. The album, chiming in at 11 tracks and 55 minutes, is a full fledged attack on your senses that will leave you astonished.

Street date: 2007-06-04

Spitting Off Tall Buildings have unearthed a captivating, compelling singer, who manages to balance her new found fame (for her staring role in the edgy German movie 'Alaska De') with her genuine love and affection for underground music. Their influences span across the spectrum taking in Husker Du, Pixies, Black Flag, Fugazi, Mclusky (inspiring the band to employ two bassists on occasion), and Sonic Youth - these bands informing not only their songwriting, but their approach to the ethics of the music industry. 'Good Night And Good Luck' was recorded by the mighty Steve Albini in his Chicago studio, this combination has a compassionate clarity, blessing the listener with everything they might need to warm a broken heart. It's a simple but touching album, full of hooklines and honest lyrical content, wrapped up in a direct sound of driving guitars, pumping bass and straight drumming. All the recordings made at Electrical Audio in Chicago are first or second takes, the whole vocal recordings done in one take - straight through from beginning to the end. If the band happens to play your town, get excited and make some noise!

Street date: 2007-05-21

The beast that is the End of Level Boss is driven by a complete and all-consuming need for riffs. For 'Inside The Difference Engine', their second album with Exile On Mainstream, the band present themselves as a structure stronger than ever, tighter than tight, and burning to lay their noise across the globe; a band that no one inside the global rock world can escape.

Street date: 2007-05-07

dŸse (pronounced doo-ze) was formed in 2003 in Amsterdam by Dietrich and Jari after meeting in front of the Dysecatmotel. Both creatively-minded, they were and still are also active in several other bands (Rodeo Queen and VOLT being the most renowned among them). Dozens of shows followed over the next few years providing dŸse's extraterrestrial ability move crowds and drive fully packed venues absolutely MENTAL HELL NUTS CRAZY. Their music crushes boundaries and provokes terror, ironic aggression and hysteric laughter. They only seem to be here to kill all imaginable standards. dŸse do not serve up clichés, but open new horizons while creating an atmosphere where senses define the reception of tones and content. After each shredding live performance and the ever increasing demand for an album, it was time to get in the studio. Now here they are in all their glory, their first full-length release that will make you DANCE!

Street date: 2007-04-09

'Marie's Sister's Garden' is the second full-length offering from seminal Doom evangelists Voodooshock and their first release for Exile On Mainstream Records. Founded in 1998 by Uwe Groebel, former frontman of Naevus who released one album on Lee Dorrian's (of Cathedral / Napam Death) label Rise Above Records, putting Uwe on the map of current Doom Rock with a bang. Voodooshock further explores his dark side paying respect to great influences like Cathedral, Saint Vitus, The Obsessed, Pentagram and the like. Voodooshock had undergone various line-up changes and several 7 inch releases before Uwe found the company of duo Claus-Peter Hamisch and Ingmar Petersen of DoomJazz outfit Beehoover (who have recently released an outstanding album on Exile On Mainstream). The combined effort of this feast of fiends has given birth to a well woven combination of riffs and soulful vocals culminating to form an emotionally charged journey rooted in Sabbath tradition, it speeds up from time to time to paint a vivid picture of the emotional dealings of the human soul. Its bluesy structures, warm guitar sounds, pounding bass lines and drum patterns are all essentially shaped by feelings of hopelessness and dejection. That's what we call the essence of Doom, and Voodooshock fire it straight to your gut and stir it around with a middle finger. 'Marie's Sister's Garden' unfolds into a heartfelt, inspired and thoughtfully arranged album that sucks you in and never lets go.

Street date: 2007-03-26

LP version. Ostinato's second album, 'Left Too Far Behind', was released in early 2004 on Exile On Mainstream Records to much acclaim. In late 2005 the band recorded the follow-up to this masterpiece, the even more phenomenal 'Chasing The Form'. Its focus remarks a consequent development from the previous album and shows the band at the peak of their expressional stages. Again you can plunge into depths of sound, different levels of intensity and sonic power. Ostinato construct their sound in the same sporadic way the brain functions. Their songs are constructed in the same fashion, capturing the inexplicable exhilaration or devastating anger that it is so often hard to translate. The result is a rich blend of melodic emotive strength. Ambient guitar, swelling drums and a fibrous flow of bass mesh harmoniously to produce a unique ethereal vibe, sounding more like an orchestra rather than just three people. Ostinato, an italian musical term meaning - a recurring melodic fragment, is a well suited name for the band. A far cry from the tired pop tradition, Ostinato creates what has been dubbed by many an enthusiastic listener as epic orchestral rock.

Street date: 2007-02-12

Beehoover have three self-released EPs so far, each one consisting of music worth a full album in length. So it was about time to actually come out with a proper album. Exile On Mainstream jumped on the boat and are very proud to announce 'The Sun Behind The Dustbin' as Beehoover's official debut album. It contains ten soulful anthems and incorporates a great number of styles and influences. There are signs of heavy psychedelia, Americana and a penchant for doom. Think Black Sabbath initially and then journey towards the heavy avant-garde and jazz which Guapo showed us. It's progressive, it requires advanced thinking and the will to dig deeper into its innerstructures. If you are willing to you're going to discover a real beauty and an intriguing live band to match.

Street date: 2006-09-11

On this, their debut full-length, Saxony's premier noiseniks Volt have crafted a brutal, efficient assault in the chugging vein of The Jesus Lizard or Melvins, twisted into something utterly their own, robust, sharp and brutal. 'Rorhat' is a record that reveals a band already devastatingly accomplished in the dark art of bruising noise rock, arriving like a swift boot in the chest and relentlessly pounding the listener into a state of submission. If you like your listening experiences to be both exhilarating and mildly traumatic, this is the record for you.

Street date: 2006-02-06

If you talk of Doom nowadays, even if you talk of Metal legacy in general, if you have true beliefs in the power of the musical underground - then you acknowledge Victor Griffin and make your mantra PLACE OF SKULLS. More dynamic than ever, Place Of Skulls explore a previously undiscovered crypt of melody and ooomph whilst sticking to their trademark sound of solid-heavy and smooth sounding guitar, punching drums and bass rumble. Their influences have now expanded into Soul and Blues without foregoing their classic Prog and Psychedelic Rock history. By reigning in the lyrics to only express his personal feelings and beliefs, Griffin presents himself as a songwriter with real soul and dedication. Victor Griffin's present band includes the mighty Dennis Cornelius of Revelation and features former bass player Lee Abney on three songs. The result is an album that will go down in rock history, as a real testament to the Metal legacy of one of the pioneers of Doom guitar and song writing, who continues to take it to the next level of heaviness, as an inspiration.

Street date: 2005-09-05

This compilation pays tribute to the enigmatic genius of Coltrane by presenting 16 contemporary music artists' novel interpretations of their personal favourite Coltrane songs. The variety of the music featured on Trane Into Extremes really pays testament to the far-reaching respect Coltrane engenders throughout the international music community. Amongst the many who donate tracks to this compilation, some big names stick out as worthy of special mention. Most notably US East Coast riff worshippers Clutch, Japanese death metal superstar Sigh, Chicago math metal heroes Yakuza and Washington DC supergroup Crescent (feat. members of Fugazi, Clutch, Saint Vitus, The Obsessed, Spirit Caravan and The Hidden Hand). Other names of note who participate include musicians from Karate, Dog Eat Dog, Payola, Discharge, Sunn O))) and Goatsnake. This album is essential to music fans of all persuasions, rendered in the same true spirit of reinvention and transformation which made its namesake one of the most widely lauded musicians of all time.

Street date: 2005-09-05

Formed by Hangnail guitarist/vocalist Heck Armstrong after returning from a successful tour of Europe and Japan supporting UK doom-rockers Cathedral, End Of Level Boss are driven by a complete and all consuming need for off-kilter riffs and mis-shapen timings. The End Of Level Boss has now completed the recording of its debut full-length album, which was out through Exile on Mainstream records in the Summer of 2005. This record, entitled 'Prologue', was recorded completely on analogue equipment in London during March 2005, and crams into its every inch the utmost anguish and bloody-minded passion that defines End Of Level Boss as a vital band.

Street date: 2005-09-05

Think Melvins, Jesus Lizard, Surgery to give you some house numbers. Volt are an extremely proficient, tight band with an amazing live performance. They have previously performed under the name Roerhedds. Their live appearances include some biggies such as the With Full Force festival and a full European tour with Noxagt. They recently changed their name after reconsideration, yet still maintain a huge following in East Germany and other European countries on the basis of their previous incarnation. Surprising, this EP will be the band's debut release, the band choosing previously to uphold a pure live band ethic. Exile on Mainstream have finally convinced them to record their music, the first results of which come together for the Romeo K.O. EP.

Street date: 2005-05-01

Ostinato's second album, 'Left Too Far Behind', was released in early 2004 on Exile On Mainstream Records to much acclaim. In late 2005 the band recorded the follow-up to this masterpiece, the even more phenomenal 'Chasing The Form'. Its focus remarks a consequent development from the previous album and shows the band at the peak of their expressional stages. Again you can plunge into depths of sound, different levels of intensity and sonic power. Ostinato construct their sound in the same sporadic way the brain functions. Their songs are constructed in the same fashion, capturing the inexplicable exhilaration or devastating anger that it is so often hard to translate. The result is a rich blend of melodic emotive strength. Ambient guitar, swelling drums and a fibrous flow of bass mesh harmoniously to produce a unique ethereal vibe, sounding more like an orchestra rather than just three people. Ostinato, an italian musical term meaning - a recurring melodic fragment, is a well suited name for the band. A far cry from the tired pop tradition, Ostinato creates what has been dubbed by many an enthusiastic listener as epic orchestral rock.

Street date: 2004-09-20

Following quickly on the back of 2003's acclaimed debut, Divine Propaganda, The Hidden Hand return with the follow up, 'Mother Teacher Destroyer'. After a mere two years together The Hidden Hand are already establishing themselves at the forefront of bands with a strong grasp of both metal and punk ancestry. 'Mother Teacher Destroyer' continues Divine Propaganda's political influence, but this time draws its conclusions on a more personal level, while still retaining the heavy influence of mythology and mysticism. Musically the band continues their exploration of the monster riff and visit influences as diverse as King Crimson and Mogwai. This time around, Wino's warm, expansive guitar tones and the wisdom and depth of his vocals are complimented by fellow singer/songwriter Bruce Falkinburg's titantic bass vortex and the behemoth rhythms of drummer Dave Hennessy. The Hidden Hand build their strength collectively from the three completely different individuals whose excellent pedigree (The Obsessed, St Vitus, Spirit Caravan, Ostinato, The Field Machine, etc) only serves to create a platform from which they can project themselves upwards.

Street date: 2004-09-06

8 tracks, 66 minutes. Bracing both true 70s riffrock and a chasm of dark doom in the same breadth, allows this German band to pack a slow punch. Features Wino + Bohren + der Club Of Gore.

Street date: 2004-06-21

Psycho-Path are no average band. In the north-east of Slovenia Psycho-Path have been developing something special: music that demands your attention, with this their new album. Their third full-length,'Desinvoltura', is a big step forward for the band, taking them into far more rockier and diverse territory than their previous two efforts. Tracks like "Lynch (the) Girl", "Kemper Boyd" or "Tough Cookie" display a new found level of heaviness while maintaining the melodic quality of their earlier material. Front-woman Melee has the chance to prove what an extraordinary singer she is on calmer tracks "Crisp Night Air" and "Weapon of Opportunity" and the guitar-orientated and repetitive "The Hell Out Of Dodge" sees the band exploring a new side to their sound. On "Weapon" you can also hear the American underground hiphop group Dalek, who were so impressed with the album, they decided to do a remix of the song for an upcoming EP. The band are supported by a big range of ideas and references that extend from films such as 'Henry: Portrait Of A Serial Killer' through the hard boiled crime novels by James Ellroy, then on to ethereal philosophy and beyond.

Street date: 2004-06-07

Here it is! The Hidden Hand versus Wooly Mammoth! These "woodies" have become a true gift to fans, with the CD-EPs packed inside exclusive Exile On Mainstream cigar boxes (the size of old style double-CD boxes.) The debut edition was a rock and roll classic from long−standing Exile heroes Payola. Both The Hidden Hand and Wooly Mammoth hail from Washington D.C. and deliver two exclusive songs each on this future classic. These two new tracks mark a huge step forward for The Hidden Hand, with Bruce taking on the vocals on the first track, the second demonstrating the first phase of doom-prog that is already a firm live favourite with fans. Both tracks were produced by the mighty J. Robbins and are exclusive to this release. The flipside of this recording is brought to you by groove-laden blues'n'roll riff-kings Wooly Mammoth. These rock monsters have been around for years and have gathered massive interest in the stoner rock scene.

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34 mins, 8 trks. Resonant atmospherics juxtapose a driving r ain of space rock tremulation. Feat. Dave Henessey on vox + guitar, who is the drummer in Wino's new group Hidden Hand