Interview with Michael Toney of Black Matter Device

Mathcore Index correspondent Carson Pace interviews Michael Toney of Black Matter Device.

Originally aired on Mathcast episode 30.

EXCLUSIVE PREMIERE: Freighter - “Psychic Reading ‘94”

My heart jumps a little each time I discover a new chaotic, technical, or progressive act coming out of California, especially when it's coming out of the Bay Area. Although Freighter were originally conceived in Wisconsin in 2006, the band has since relocated to San Francisco, and today we have the pleasure of bringing you their first single in 11 years, "Psychic Reading '94." The band plays a blend of progressive metal and mathcore akin to SikTh, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Protest the Hero, and Cleric, with stop on dime changes, unhinged rhythms, and angular riffage, so y'all should eat this shit up.

"The Den" drops this spring via Bandcamp.

Interview with James Spence of Rolo Tomassi

Mathcore Index interviews James Spence of Rolo Tomassi on their run of US dates with The Number Twelve Looks Like You.  

Originally aired on Mathcast episode 28.

Interview with Pedram Valiani of Frontierer

 Mathcore Index correspondent Kay Davies interviews Pedram Valiani of Frontierer and Sectioned.

Car Bomb - live @ Mathcore Index Fest 2018

Car Bomb's full 50 minute headlining set from Mathcore Index Fest 2018, their only performance of 2018.

Dead Empires - live at Mathcore Index Fest 2018

New York based progressive metalcore act Dead Empires' full set from Mathcore Index Fest 2018.

Mathcast Episode 23: 7/29/18

This is the 23rd episode of Mathcast, in which we discuss Taken By the Tide, The Lord's Winning Team, Coarse, The Capgras Delusion, Needle Play, Things Amazing, Lower Automation, Koenji Hyakkei, Beast Jesus, and interview both MouthBreather and members of Detach the Islands following their performances at Mathcore Index Fest 2018 (featuring a small cameo from Edward B Gieda III of An Albatross fame).

Cryptodira - live at Mathcore Index Fest 2018

Long Island based progressive metal / mathcore band Cryptodira's full live set from Mathcore Index Fest 2018.

Juan Bond - live at Mathcore Index Fest 2018

The first of many professionally filmed sets from Mathcore Index Fed 2018, Brooklyn based mathcore band, Juan Bond - July 14th at Saint Vitus Bar, Brooklyn, NY.

EXCLUSIVE PREMIERE: Juan Bond - "Porky"

Mathcore Index Presents: Juan Bond - "Porky"

EXCLUSIVE PREMIERE: The Vilification - "Through Iron Sights"

Ontario's The Vilification are back with their first new material in over 2 years, and today we have the pleasure of bringing you a track from their new EP, "The World Owes You Nothing." Unlike their previous instrumental efforts, the band have returned with the addition of a vocalist and seem to have shed the majority of their "djent" or progressive metal elements in favor of a more raw and aggressive hardcore sound. "Through Iron Sights" showcases the band's new direction and will be sure to please fans of heaviness and gross guitar harmonies a la The Tony Danza Tapdance Extravaganza, Frontierer, and Fall In Archaea. 

*The Vilification are to release their new EP "The World Owes You Nothing" in March of 2018.

Mathcast Episode 14: 10/28/17

This is the 14th episode of Mathcast, in which we discuss A Blackbird En Route, Orphan, Cadence Fox, Violence of Action, Alotliketurd, Mouthbreather, "one man piece " (quoth Levi) Pannaural, and smoke all the pot.

EXCLUSIVE PREMIERE: II II II - "Recline and Fall"

It's been nearly 5 years since the release of "A Conundrum on the Coffee Table," the debut EP from Leeds mathcore / progressive metal act, II II II. The band made their triumphant return about 3 weeks ago with a series of short teasers and today we have the pleasure of bringing you "Recline and Fall," the groovy second track from their new album, "Frequency Illusion." The band is well known for their technical, yet catchy approach, which could be compared to Patton-era Dillinger Escape Plan, or the likes of their contemporary U.K tech-metallers in SikTh and Mr. Bungle acolytes, Down I Go, and this song is certainly no exception. II II II skillfully navigates their way through a number of shifting time signitures, while still bringing you something to which you can bob your head, and it does not relent. The band understands the fine line between introducing accessibility while still retaining what I would call a musician's appeal, and consistently bring you roughly 2 minute tracks of mid-tempo grooves and stop-on-a-dime time changes.

*II II II are to release "Frequency Illusion" September 22nd via their Bandcamp.

Mathcast Episode 8: 4/28/17

This is the 8th episode of our podcast, in which we discuss Black Nail, Mary Todd, Noinu, PlasticBag FaceMask, The Emblem Faction, Puncture, The Heads are Zeros, and Mathcore Index: Volume 3.

Mathcore Index: Volume 3

We are proud to present to you our third compilation, Mathcore Index: Volume 3, featuring 28 of the finest bands in underground music. Artwork by Karl Frandsen, layout by Tamás Bakó, and original logo by Keith Carlson. Special thank you to SKiN GRAFT Records and Throatruiner Records.

Format: Digital (free download)

Release date: 4/28/17

Track listing:

Bisbâyé - "Sur l'Isolement et la Désolation"

car made of glass - "delayed content dump"*

Conflux Collective - "The Keeper of Light"

Cronauta - "Harangue"

CZAR - "Too Many Yetis"

DEAD KIWIS - "Chuck Norris"

DriveTime Commute - "Chum Fists"

FERO LUX - "Hearse Song"
HYENAS - "Self-Adjusting"

Jardín de la Croix - "Seventeen Years to Hatch an Invasion"

Jesus Horse - "At Least Buy Me Dinner"

Jitters - "My Big Red Knife"

Juan Bond - "Tragedy in the Marquee"

Kangarilla - "Styrofoam Swingset"

KIM - "Pyongyang Nights"

Masiro - "Technocologist Unknown"

MICHEL ANOIA - "Celestial Labacide"

PLEBEIAN GRANDSTAND - "Eros Culture"

Retail Monkey - "Pass Me the Yogurt Chips Before I Cremate Myself, Emilio"

SCIO - "Good Boy"

SeeYouSpaceCowboy - "Soap Opera Stardom Is a Single Teardrop Away"*

secondgradeknifefight - "chemistry 211 (stay away from ryan, he scratches)"

Snooze - "SnooPING AS Usual I see"

Steaksauce Mustache - "You Don't Piss On Hospitality"

Vaulting - "Allmutter"

Wolcott Falls - "Walmart"*

Yowie - "The Reason Your House Is Haunted Can Be Found On This Microfiche"

Zygoma - "Red Curtain Falls"

* = exclusive premiere

EXCLUSIVE PREMIERE: Slagduster - "Profane Puppet"

Canada's Slagduster are back with their first new material in over 6 years, and they are groovier than ever. Heaviness and stop on a dime time changes a la Meshuggah, SikTh, and Car Bomb are frequently employed by the band, with the vocals maintaining a Mike DiSalvo-like lower mid-range punch. Their new album, "Deadweight," is slated for a May 5th release, and today we have the privilege of premiering a new song from the album, "Profane Puppet," which is 4 and a half minutes of obnoxiously bouncy riffage garnished with plenty of artificial harmonics, and that's...well, that's just great.

Mathcast Episode 7: 3/30/17

This is the 7th episode of Mathcast, in which we discuss Date Stuff, Moths, KRZTA, Behold the Conqueror, Sloth Herder, and premiere a new song from American Standards.

Best of 2016

Mathcore Index's Best of 2016

Christian:

I hate ranking things I love (especially when it comes to music), and because this year was so exceptionally challenging, I decided to organize my lists based upon pure volume of listens. I also took the time to make a list for unsigned/underground acts, another for signed/major acts (bands that are well known within our scene), and finally 2 smaller lists for EPs and honorable mentions, respectively. Lastly, most of these bands appear on our compilations, so hopefully that doesn't come as a surprise. Allons-i.

Unsigned/underground:

10) Cyprus - "The Librettist"

Australia continues to illustrate they are better at music than you.

9) Jitters - "You're In Therapy"

Instrumental math-rock wizardry.

8) Église - "Église"

The perfect blend of Botch and Converge.

7) Unyielding Love - "The Sweat of Augury"

Feedback, blast beats, and tortured screams, these are a few of my favorite things.

6) Spurn - "Comfort In Nothing"

Sonic filth.

5) Noise Trail Immersion - "Womb"

Heavy, dissonant mathcore. Sleeper hit of the year.

4) The Central - "Discovery of A Rat"

Outstanding musicianship, new favorite two piece.

\

3) Forests - "Sun Eat Moon Grave Party"

Prepare for all the feels, because this Singaporean band does American-style emo / math-rock better than America.

2) Mothman - "Answers to No One"

Spiritual successor to bands like His Hero Is Gone and Ed Gein, meanest record with serious replay value.

1) Arms - "Blackout"

Paul Hundeby (also of City of Ifa and City Pro Recordings), the mastermind behind this once one-man project, wrote and recorded all instruments as well handling all engineering and production duties on this powerhouse of a record. I love this record because each song holds truly memorable passages, and I find myself absentmindedly humming the riffs a lot. Arms shared the stage with many notable national touring acts in 2016, and this year they are making their first European appearance along with our friends in Frontierer at Complexity Fest 2017, which is sponsored by Mathcore Index.

Signed/major acts:

10) Every Time I Die - "Low Teens"

I've said this many times, but it bears repeating: this band cannot make a bad record.

9) Nails - "You Will Never Be One of Us"

Say what you will, but it's mean and it makes me wanna mosh.

8) Plebeian Grandstand - "False Highs, True Lows"

Another near perfect effort.

7) Wormrot - "Voices"

Grindcore AOTY, Singapore is strong on our charts this year.

6) Coma Cluster Void - "Mind Cemeteries"

One of the most underrated and interesting bands in modern death metal.

5) Vermin Womb - "Decline"

This is what perfect deathgrind sounds like.

4) American Football - "American Football LP2"

All the Kinsella charm is still there.

3) Ion Dissonance - "To Cast the First Stone"

"To Cast the First Stone" recalls the chaos of "Solace" while still retaining the heaviness of "Minus the Herd," and, simply put, is a banger. Many thanks to Good Fight Music for allowing them to appear on our second compilation, Mathcore Index: Volume 2.

2) The Dillinger Escape Plan - "Dissociation"

The perfect band, and a perfect end (allegedly) to their career. I would say music is better now, them having existed, and there is no band more influential in our scene. 

1) Car Bomb - "Meta"

Here I have included my Bandcamp review for "Meta," as it still seems the most effective description:

"Absolutely outstanding and incredibly innovative, Car Bomb are one of the most compelling bands in extreme music, and they have truly outdone themselves (again) with "Meta." I could continue heaping praise or add comparisons to other bands, but the fact is: there is no comparison to Car Bomb."



Top 5 EPs:

Wolf King - "Into the Infinite"
Sundrainer - "I Hope This Breaks Your Spirit"
Infernal Coil - "Infinite Prayer of Burning Hatred"
Worry - "Burden EP"
Gif From God - "2016 Winter Tour Tape"

Honorable Mentions*:

Telos - "Telos"
Cognizant - "Cognizant"
Brazen Bull - "Soiree"
Munt - "The Mind Is a Cage"
undō - "Deep Down"
Prissy Whip - "RIP AF"
Panthallasa - "Temper"
Cronauta - "The Bullring"
Jesus Horse - "Arguably More Productive Than Being Dead"
SeeYouSpaceCowboy - demo
Autocatalytica - "Vicissitudes"
Minerva Superduty - "Ground Zero"
Drivetime Commute - "Bag of Snakes"
The Guts - "Birth"
The Divorcée - "All My Heroes Are Dead and They Are Never Coming Back"
Car Made Of Glass - demo
Steaksauce Mustache - "Eat What We Kill For You"

*yes, a few of these were totally added last minute. -Christian

~

Simon:

In no particular order...

Plebeian Grandstand - "False Highs, True Lows"

Coma Cluster Void - "Mind Cemeteries"

Deathspell Omega - "The Synarchy of Molten Bones"

Ulcerate - "Shrines of Paralysis"

Teramobil - "Magnitude of Thoughts"

Gendo Ikari - "Unit 1" (ep)

Meshuggah - "The Violent Sleep of Reason"

The Apex - "Underbelly" (ep)

Behold... the Arctopus - "Cognitive Emancipation"

Car Bomb - "Meta"

Mathcast: Episode 4 1/1/17

 This is the 4th episode of "Mathcast," in which we discuss SeeYouSpaceCowboy, Scumacide, Autocatalytica, The God Awful Truth, müłçh, and reveal our Best of 2016 lists.

Also available on iTunes.

Mathcore Index: Volume 2

We are proud to present to you our second compilation, Mathcore Index: Volume 2, featuring nearly 30 unique underground artists from around the globe. Artwork by the supremely talented Karl Frandsen, layout by Tamás Bakó, and original logo by Keith Carlson. 

Format: digital, free 

Release date: 11/16/16 

Track listing: 

The Apex - "Underbelly"

Artemisia Absinthium - "Pi"

Brazen Bull - "Stagger"

Car Bomb - "Lights Out"

The Central - "Aku Law"

Cognizant - "Dichotomy"

Cyprus - "Media Analingus"

Down I Go - "An Outlaw Killed"

Forests - "Tamago"

Gas Up Yr Hearse‼ - "Sisyphus In Heat"

Gendo Ikari - "The Protocol"

Gif From God - "No Dude, He Likes to Spray"

Goodthink - "where did it go?"

Hadean - "Noise Reduction Impulse"

Infernal Coil - "True Nature"
Ion Dissonance - "To Lift the Dead Hand of the Past"

MoRkObOt - "KoLoGoRa"

Mothman - "Fiery Faith"

Munt - "Starving" (feat. Davie Campbell of Canpipe)

name - "...By Jaw & Fang"

Noise Trail Immersion - "In Somnis"

Panthallasa - "Blowtorch Mavens"

Prissy Whip - "Dog Food"

Spurn - "News Feed"

Sundrainer - "Blackened Veins"
Teramobil - "Magnitude of Thoughts"

undō - "Deep Down"

Unyielding Love - "Abandon the Body"

Upsilon Acrux - "Pitch Mountain: Maps"