Holy Trinity of Heaviness-dome: Swans vs Neurosis vs Godflesh

rsmurphy

Re: Holy Trinity of Heaviness-dome: Swans vs Neurosis vs Godflesh

21 by rsmurphy

OrthodoxEaster wrote: Mon Oct 10, 2022 6:36 pm Filth, Cop, and the Raping a Slave EP by Swans. By far. Three of my favorite records ever made.

The other two bands aren't even close in terms of leaden oppressiveness. That weird double rhythm section on Filth alone just wallops everything. Plus, Swans got there a good deal earlier (formed in 1981, found their voice by late 1982). Neurosis and Godflesh wouldn't sound the way they sound w/o Swans' influence. Plus, I appreciate Swans' art-damaged no-wave roots far more than Neurosis's metal/hardcore ones and Godflesh's UK industrial ones. Gira is a much more charismatic yet cerebral frontman than Broadrick or the Neurosis guy, as well.

Though I've never sat down with Neurosis for any extended amount of time I agree with this sentiment. After a certain period in life I desired a different type of heaviness, and to my astonishment Filth was there all the while. I like Godflesh just fine, but those early Swans records are primitive and punishing in a way that defies reasoning.

Justice for Dexter Wade and Nakari Campbell

boilermaker

Re: Holy Trinity of Heaviness-dome: Swans vs Neurosis vs Godflesh

22 by boilermaker

Never understood why Through Silver in Blood is considered Neurosis' best album, when Enemy of the Sun is so much better.

Sorry for my shitty English

A_Man_Who_Tries

Re: Holy Trinity of Heaviness-dome: Swans vs Neurosis vs Godflesh

23 by A_Man_Who_Tries

You know how we've sometimes gone over who would have completed a thrash metal 'Big Five'?

Well, who would be your pick for a fourth band here?

at war with bellends

boilermaker

Re: Holy Trinity of Heaviness-dome: Swans vs Neurosis vs Godflesh

24 by boilermaker

A_Man_Who_Tries wrote: Tue Oct 11, 2022 12:29 pm You know how we've sometimes gone over who would have completed a thrash metal 'Big Five'?

Well, who would be your pick for a fourth band here?

Sunn O)))? Big Black? Melvins? EyeHateGod?

Sorry for my shitty English

jfv

Re: Holy Trinity of Heaviness-dome: Swans vs Neurosis vs Godflesh

25 by jfv

boilermaker wrote: Tue Oct 11, 2022 1:41 pm
A_Man_Who_Tries wrote: Tue Oct 11, 2022 12:29 pm You know how we've sometimes gone over who would have completed a thrash metal 'Big Five'?

Well, who would be your pick for a fourth band here?
Sunn O)))? Big Black? Melvins? EyeHateGod?

I don't think Big Black belongs on this list. They strike me as noisier than heavy. Also they can be lighter and quite funny, though usually in a sick, twisted way.

jason (he/him/his) from volo (illinois)

A_Man_Who_Tries

Re: Holy Trinity of Heaviness-dome: Swans vs Neurosis vs Godflesh

26 by A_Man_Who_Tries

boilermaker wrote: Tue Oct 11, 2022 1:41 pm Sunn O)))? Big Black? Melvins? EyeHateGod?

It's a tough one. I'd have all of those bands a solid league beneath though.

I'd probably choose Corrupted, but I have a feeling I'll smack my head at a painfully obvious choice I've overlooked.

at war with bellends

zorg

Re: Holy Trinity of Heaviness-dome: Swans vs Neurosis vs Godflesh

27 by zorg

A_Man_Who_Tries wrote: Tue Oct 11, 2022 12:29 pm You know how we've sometimes gone over who would have completed a thrash metal 'Big Five'?

Well, who would be your pick for a fourth band here?

It's a pretty good selection. I'm not sure what else belongs here....I would nominate Earth 2, but that's kind of a singular statement, and less a consistent band.

Glenn Branca deserves a special mention probably for laying the groundwork. The Ascension sounds really relevant and is pretty much packaged the whole thing we're talking about, here.

Bernardo

Re: Holy Trinity of Heaviness-dome: Swans vs Neurosis vs Godflesh

28 by Bernardo

The other bands would be Earth and The Melvins.

The Melvins don't enjoy a very good rep on this board, but their influence is wide and undeniable, and they were consistent in their approach (the opposite of nominating, say, Black Flag for side B of My War).

Most of what I've played on
Most of what I've worked on

kicker_of_elves

Re: Holy Trinity of Heaviness-dome: Swans vs Neurosis vs Godflesh

29 by kicker_of_elves

boilermaker wrote: Tue Oct 11, 2022 1:41 pm
A_Man_Who_Tries wrote: Tue Oct 11, 2022 12:29 pm You know how we've sometimes gone over who would have completed a thrash metal 'Big Five'?

Well, who would be your pick for a fourth band here?
Sunn O)))? Big Black? Melvins? EyeHateGod?

Butthole Surfers?

OrthodoxEaster

Re: Holy Trinity of Heaviness-dome: Swans vs Neurosis vs Godflesh

30 by OrthodoxEaster

Some of these are a little more obscure, but:

Gore.
Caspar Brötzmann Massaker.
Melvins.
Khanate.
maybe Sleep.

Branca is some of my favorite music ever, but he was too abstract and brainy to be heavy in a "rock" way. Plus his drummers just tended to thump eighth notes on the kick drum and tumble around on the toms w/o dragging the beat or creating much conventional heft. Huge influence on Swans, though.

Flipper and Drunks w/Guns kinda sorta fit the bill but are perhaps a wee bit too punk and too comical.