Sunday, November 01, 2009

Monday, June 22, 2009

Another Crucial Blast..

"Hell yes, I've been looking forward to hearing the new Hex Machine for awhile, it came out earlier this spring but took us awhile to finally get it in stock...I loved their debut album, a crunchy slab of Am Rep worshipping mathy sludge-rock that stomped all over me when I first heard it. I can never get enough of that classic old school noise rock sound that was perfected by bands like Unsane, Cherubs, Hammerhead, early Today Is The Day, etc., and while there has been a huge resurgence in this sound lately, few bands have channeled it and bent it into their own image as well as Richmond's Hex Machine. Omen Mas delivers nine songs of massive lumbering heaviness, super distorted guitars grinding out catchy riffs buried under piles of murky low end and howling feedback, Trevor Thomas yowling over it all with his distorted snarl that kinda sounds like a brattier Chris Spencer from Unsane, the raw production giving this a real vintage sound, and yet there's nothing here to suggest that Hex Machine are merely paying homage to this era of underground rock...they take it and shape it into a seething, slow-building monster, injecting a greasy psychedelic quailty to the guitar leads, the often anthemic riffs building into cathartic high points that bludgeon you at the same time that the hook burrows into yer skull, and throwing around big armfuls of plodding doomy trudge. There are some immensely heavy jams on here, like the short two-minute rager "Pink Whiskey" and the pummeling sludge-rock of "Vivisection", but the band is really on fire when they dig into an extended tension building exercise like the eight minute "Godheads Full Of Candy". There's an angular quality to their riffs that makes this more complex than yer regular Am Rep cult, more metallic too, with hefty levels of ultra-heavy sludginess anchoring most of these tracks to the ground. Bone crushing noise-streaked thuggery that fits right in between the likes of Unsane, Halo Of Flies, Jesus Lizard, Bleach era Nirvana, early Shellac and Hammerhead - if any of these bands turn yer crank, then this is a no-brainer.--Crucial Blast

Saturday, May 30, 2009

Decibel


Hex Machine
Omen Mas

Decibel
Dirtiest rottenest south | MINIMUM UNDERDRIVE

"Who was metal before metal was cool? Sliang Laos, that’s who. Back in the early ’90s, the Richmond, VA outfit achieved obscurity by exploring the not-yet-fashionable region between death metal and punk. Trends have changed, of course. Lamb of God, a band that namedrops Sliang Laos in interviews, entered the Billboard album chart at #2 in March. So, is it any surprise that Hex Machine, a band that features Sliang Laos guitarist Scott Hudgins, sounds of the moment?

Actually, it’s hard to imagine Hudgins’ big chewy chords going out of date. Both he and fellow Richmonder Pen Rollings (of Breadwinner and Loincloth fame) have a preternatural talent for coming up with the perfect combination sputter and swing. Why isn’t the guitar part on “Nurse Me Back to Hell,” the second track on Hex Machine’s debut Omen Mas, the most obvious thing in the world? Why doesn’t everyone play like this? Or at least try? The answer probably lies in what my Richmond pal John calls Hex Machine’s southern rock vision. (This might also explain why drum genius Dave Witte left the band.) Hex Machine have a Virginia swagger that—as much as this ex-Roanoker is OK with it—might be a bit too sleazy for those outside of Dixie. Nothing captures a sticky summer night in Richmond quite like “Black Skeleton,” a humid doom crawl that makes Khanate seem like bespoke-suited cool jazz. Seriously, it ain’t pretty. But if you can’t handle the heat, it’s best to stay away from the former capital of the Confederacy."

—Brent Burton
DECIBEL

Sunday, May 24, 2009

Big Takeover #64


hex machine
omen mas
(Minimum Underdrive)
"Formed in 2004, this Virginia noise-rock band aptly describes themselves as a “sonic math rock quartet full of bombast,” and the music on this debut album is certainly ear-splitting and abrasive. If you put Melvins, Gwar, Flipper, and Big Black/Shellac in a blender, and tossed in bits of death metal and hardcore, you’d likely come up with a close approximation of their sound. It’s characterized by a sludgy, muck-ridden bottom end, clamorous drumming, and lumbering, yet thunderous guitar riffing, topped off with Trevor Thomas’s EQ-on-stun, repeatedly screamed bellow. As one who doesn’t listen to this inhospitable and headache-inducing style of music very often, I will admit that Hex Machine’s bludgeoning maelstrom sure kept me engrossed. It’s music for a post-apocalyptic nightmare, and it packs a hefty wallop." (minimumunderdrive.blogspot.com) (www.myspace.com/hexmachine)

-Mark Suppanz

In issue 64 of the big takeover which can be ordered at bigtakeover.com!!!
and hits newsstands in the coming weeks.

Monday, March 30, 2009

HEX MACHINE, “Omen Mas”
"It’s funny that a band should share the same name as what the ladies call me! *Ahem*, returning to reality, Hex Machine are a long-running project out of Virginia.. noise rock filth of the highest caliber. I know right now there’s a small current of bands that are championing the AmRep sound, and I’m happy about that. Though I think Hex Machine might win the title for hitting it square between the eyes, what with it’s early 90’s feedback-laden, fuzzy recording. The early Today Is the Day screeches and howls, seething vocals and tortured rhythms are most noticeable. The pounding fuzz of old Hammerhead records beat to shit acting as a conduit for Hex machine’s playing, and their daily worship at the alter of Halo Of Flies... it’s all there. They eat Guzzard for breakfast and shit out The Cows at the end of the day. And for all that I applaud them. It’s a bitter, pissed off listen that hurts in a good way. Somewhere Tom Hazelmeyer is shooting off a rifle in their honor." (Minimum Underdrive, minimumunderdrive@gmail.com)
--Hanging like a Hex



"Richmond has so much going for it, but this is possibly the greatest thing after the Museum of the Confederacy (be sure to ask for the NOVA-trainwreck-watcher discount).

Blueprint to Madness

I missed several chances to see this band and I’m regretting it. All these awesome Southerners seem to wuss out and not make it past Brooklyn.

I have no idea what Omen Mas means but is possibly the metalist thing I’ve ever heard. I don’t know much about them except that they’re called “math rock” a lot which is a huge turn-off because I have a restraining order against math and find it pretty sneaky that it would try to invade something so slovenly sounding. You know how you’d always try to explain to the teacher that something didn’t require any math and they’d be all “Yeah it does.” I hated that.

Next week, look for my interview with someone who follows baseball and my pontificating on the loss of the City Weekly. Who wants to pay my Boston Globe bill?"

-- The Guest Informant




"Hex Machine - "Black Skeleton"

"Let not the departure of this band's sorta famous drummer deter you -- Hex Machine brutalize as is. Omen Mas timewarps to an era when grunge and metal were still lounging around in bed post-coitus, the early-90s heyday of Melvins and Today Is the Day and Cows, when Amphetamine Reptile could do no wrong and production clarity was for assholes. Every deranged riff is dipped in electric tempura batter and fried 'til crispy, every one of Trevor T's honest-to-Satan melodies is corroded in feedback. Heavier tracks like "Nurse Me Back to Hell" and "Godheads Full of Candy" crawl in the dirt and puke up mud. The more rockin' numbers drag the filth out into the light -- Hex Machine sound like elephants in tutus on "Black Skeleton" and "Vivisection," their bulging, gritty guitar tone stuffed into awfully well-formed songs.

Hex Machine - "Hook And Eyes"

Hex Machine's metallic allegiances keep 'em punching guts, and their grungey tendencies keep 'em frying eardrums. Like Black Elk, Bellini and other graduates of the 90s noise rock academy, there's chaos nearly bursting out of the grimy pores of Omen Mas. I wonder what the album would have sounded like with a bigger, less-muzzled production. Probably a lot more palatable. Maybe it's a good thing that the sound is so dirty. Who knows what would happen if Hex Machine were unmuzzled? Shit, I wanna find out..."
--Cerebral Metalhead

http://www.cerebralmetalhead.com/2009/03/chainmail-hex-machine-omen-mas-minimum.html

Oiga mas de Omen Mas en la pagina MySpace de Hex Machine

BUY:
www.MinimumUnderdrive.blogspot.com
Very Distro
Stickfigure
Molsookrecords.net
Relapse.com
Amazon
CD Baby
www.allthatisheavy.com
CD Universe
Interpunk.com
CDON.com
Target.com
LAST.FM
iTunes






Hex-a-Gone

"Cut from the same Jesus Lizard-loving cloth, Richmond, Virginia-based Hex Machine and local group The Admirals Club stand together as a testament to the badassery of ugly, scuzzy, heavy rock. Where Hex Machine's squelchy guitars and pulsing rhythm section originate a bit more from left field, The Admirals Club balance the bill with a straight-ahead bar-band version of the same riff-oriented, beat-driven filth. Both bands are supporting recently released records: Hex Machine's Omen Mas is available via frontman Trevor Thomas' own imprint, while The Admirals Club's Blackout Sunday was released by Today Is The Day leader Steve Austin's Supernova Records." --Matt Sullivan (Printed in the Nashville Scene/Pick of the week)


Hex Machine - Omen Mas
"Hex Machine play a particularly angular brand of noise-rock/metal, most reminiscent of Unsane, with a bit of Jesus Lizard thrown in. Opening with a bit of harsh feedback and static, "Nurse Me Back to Hell" features a nice, heavy riff at a bone-crushing tempo, setting the tone for the rest of the album superbly. Vocals are largely distorted screams, sort of like David Yow, or perhaps a more dynamic Chris Spencer. "Lunatic Sun" is a bit more metallic, opening with an almost doomy riff and monotone singing that vaguely recalls ritualistic doomsters Om. My personal favourite track on this album, "Black Skeleton", is a more up-tempo piece, that at one point reminds me of "A Minute" by Shellac. "Pink
Whisky" almost treads on Boris territory, while closing number "Vivisection" channels the best of the likes of Steve Albini without slipping into the sincerest form of flattery. All in all, a fucking excellent release from a fucking excellent band."
--Live4metal // Review by Luke Goaman-Dodson

http://www.dagheisha.com/music_section/cd.asp?idus=3812
A cura di Roberto Michieletto @ 22/03/2009

"Questo è il suono del sangue che scorre nelle vene e solo chi ne possiede il patrimonio genetico storico può interpretarlo e viverlo come se fosse parte integrante della propria epidermide e della propria anima sudicia. Hex Machine nascono nel 2004 per mano del chitarrista e cantante Trevor Thomas e del batterista Dave Witte (successivamente fuoriuscito dal gruppo per dedicarsi ai Municipal Waste, ma di cui ricordiamo i trascorsi con Burnt By The Sun, Discordance Axis, Melt Banana, Human Remains e Atomsmasher) e dopo aver esordito con un 7” per la Relapse hanno rilasciato un 12” prima di arrivare a ‘Omen Mas’, lavoro di debutto esteso. Nove tracce di pesantezza sonora garantita da un quartetto armato di due chitarre, basso e batteria che si applica nella modellazione di forme musicali che, pur incorporando diverse sfumature generiche, mi sento in dover di far rientrare sotto la comune definizione di noise rock. Il legame con quel preciso verbo espressivo, che nei primi anni ‘90 conobbe una diffusione capillare e seppe produrre album straordinari, per suono e strutture, deve quindi essere rimarcato ed evidenziato, poiché è lì che ancora affondano le radici di Hex Machine, laddove regnavano incontrastati Hammerhead, Live Skull, Jesus Lizard, Melvins, Unsane, Godheadsilo, Vertigo, Cherubs, Cows e compagnia furibonda assortita. Ma la formazione di Richmond non è solo (e sarebbe già tanto) quello, poiché è ben consapevole di come sia possibile, oltre che doveroso, andare oltre ed ecco che i riff spigolosi, le linee di basso massicce e pulsanti e un drumming da classificarsi come pachidermico sanno evolvere in continuazione grazie a un sound ricco di dinamiche e stratificazione strumentali variabili per intensità. Ecco che i brani si differenziano in maniera uniforme gli uni dagli altri, dal momento che gli Hex Machine sanno muoversi anche in contesti heavy rock dilatati, metallico/matematici densi, proto grunge e sludge mai troppo impastati. Come dei Today Is The Day in cui la furia iconoclasta viene dominata dalla ragione e persino da un certo appeal amichevole (pur se non troppo amichevole...)! Ottimi."



"This is the sound of blood flowing in the veins, and only those who have
the genetic history can interpret it and live it as if it were
part of your skin and your soul dirty.
Hex Machine born in 2004 at the hands of the guitarist and singer Trevor
Thomas and drummer Dave Witte (later leaked by the
group to pursue Municipal Waste, but that we remember the past
with Burnt By The Sun, Discordance Axis, Melt Banana, Human Remains and
Atomsmasher) and after having started with a 7 "on Relapse have
released a 12 "before reaching a 'Omen Mas', working debut
extended. Nine tracks of heavy sound provided by a quartet armato
two guitars, bass and drums which applies in modeling
musical forms which, while incorporating several nuances general, I
I feel in having to fall under the common definition of noise
rock. The link to that precise expressive word, which in the early 90s
experienced a widespread and was able to produce extraordinary album, for
sound and structure, it must be noted and highlighted, as is
still there that the roots of Hex Machine, where reigned
Hammerhead uncontested, Live Skull, Jesus Lizard, Melvins, Unsane,
Godheadsilo, Vertigo, Cherubs, Cows and furious assortita company. But
the formation of Richmond is not only (and is already so) that, since
is well aware of how it is possible and should, go beyond
and so the angular riffs, bass lines and huge buttons and a
drumming to be classified as pachyderm knows evolve
continued with a sound full of dynamics and stratification
instrumental variables for intensity. Here are the songs that are different in
uniformly from each other, since the Hex Machine
can move even in a heavy rock dilated,
metal / math dense, proto grunge and sludge never too mixed.
As of Today Is The Day when the iconoclastic fury is dominated
by reason and even a certain appeal friendly (although not too
friendly ...)! Excellent."

Friday, December 19, 2008

Let's talk no jive..new record..tour



Listen hear, I said listen hear now web dogs and internet street cowboys...
we took our sweet time, now let it pour like fine wine.. the new album
'OMEN MAS' will be here before we know it and it will set you straight on what we are up to... Initial pressing is on a ready to eat disc and will be available directly from us first and foremost. Distro should kick in before too long and we envision it will be out there by Feb, so check it out!!!

Also on the burner are a couple of vinyl slabs which should serve as just desserts that should arrive in the coming months. You have been warned!

To support these offerings of love to our people of sonic mania and noise, we will embark on a string of dates over January, Feb, and March 2009 en route to SXSW!!!
As we are booking this tour ourselves, we have listed the routing below,
for those peeps (and you know who you are) to poke us and tell us just how
excited you are that we are planning to head your way with a slice of Richmond 2010. It's been a long time
coming, let's make it a good one!!! Be in touch!!!
minimumunderdrive@gmail.com

Upcoming Shows
Jan 17 2009 9:00P
NARA w/ Jucifer Richmond, Virginia
Jan 23 2009 8:00P
TCB Charlotte, North Carolina
Jan 24 2009 8:00P
TCB Raleigh, North Carolina
Feb 6 2009 8:00P
TCB Knoxville, Tennessee
Mar 11 2009 8:00P
TCB Brooklyn, New York
Mar 12 2009 8:00P
TCB Detroit, Michigan
Mar 13 2009 8:00P
TCB Chicago, Illinois
Mar 14 2009 8:00P
TCB Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Mar 15 2009 8:00P
TCB Chicago, Illinois
Mar 16 2009 8:00P
TCB Louisville, Kentucky
Mar 17 2009 8:00P
TCB Nashville, Tennessee
Mar 18 2009 8:00P
TCB Little Rock, Arkansas
Mar 19 2009 8:00P
TCB Austin, Texas
Mar 20 2009 8:00P
TCB Austin, Texas
Mar 21 2009 8:00P
TCB New Orleans, Louisiana
Mar 22 2009 8:00P
TCB Atlanta, Georgia
Apr 4 2009 8:00P
w/ My Disco (Australia) Richmond, Virginia

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

OMEN MAS


The Sound of Music was shaking at its foundations for a few days back in the late summer
as we pummelled "hundred thousand dollar mics" for the capture and reward of what
is provisionally titled "OMEN MAS": the years in the making full length blowout we are
steadily tweaking for a late '08/'09 reveal.
..also in the works are two other slabs of wax which should be available in the not too distant future.

HORIZONTAL HOLDINGS

UPCOMINGS:

29_OCT_ NARA Sushi>Richmond w/ Young Widows, Mouthbreather, Gods and Queens

4 _NOV_ CZAR>Richmond w/ Triclops!, Sour Milk Sea

5 _NOV _Windup Space>Baltimore w/ Triclops!, Dactyl