Justin Smith (Vitriol Records / Graf Orlock / Dangers Ghostlimb)
What are your top five albums that were released in 2011? (in order 1-5)
- Griever "Inferior" EP
- Obits "Moody, Standard, and Poor"
- Graveyard "Hisingen Blues"
- Owen Hart "Earth Control"
- Leatherface "Viva La Arthouse"
What band did you discover in 2011 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?
Griever, from San Diego. Some old friends making heavy music in a really different and articulate way than a lot of bands out there right now. It has a strange focus on melody and song writing you don't see around too often, thus making me stoked to hear what they have coming next. Solid instrumentation and a real unique mood about it.
How will you remember 2011 (in terms of music)?
I feel like a lot of scenes and "fringe music" may still be stuck in d-beat uniformity or painful afterglow of fifteenth wave screamo. I haven't figured out if that is better than the cognitively functionless tough-guy take over of five years ago. Aside from that, it is nice to see a lot of supportive d.i.y. stuff alive and kicking all over, and bands/labels functioning in a cooperative way.
What can we look forward to from you in 2012?
A lot of releases coming out soon: the French band Birds in Row has a collection LP, a new Earth Control (nee, Owen Hart) 7", Graf Orlock represses, the Canadian band Tempest with a new 7", a new Ghostlimb 7" and LP, as well as a few books in the works for Vitriol Literary. Aside from that, lots of tours, Dangers and Gorlock in Japan in Spring, Gorlock on the East coast in Spring, and Europe in July. Keeping it busy and an affront to positive sensibilities.
What records are you looking forward to most in 2012?
I am awaiting a new Propagandhi record, which I hear is supposed to be out sometime soon - only a few things I am truly fanboy about, and that is one of them.
What did you expect to be huge in 2011 which never made it?
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