So, today I was downtown at a local indie record store, so I could buy the first Jawbox album. I had some money left over, but not enough for a CD, so I browsed through the 7" bin to find something that looked cool. I found Aghast's Desolate Legacy in the "Local Bands" section, and figured that if listening to it might give me a chance to actually go to a show for once, it might be worth spending the $3 for it.

Anyway, I take it home, open up the record sleeve, and read the lyric sheet first. I immediately knew it was a d-beat band, because of the first song:

Continual cycles of repression
Chaos never ending
Regional stability erodes
Chaos never ending
The arms have been proliferated

So, yeah, my expectations dropped a little, but they were still up there. I take it downstairs, put it on the automatic (so not punx) turntable, and listen. It was the most unbearable noise I have ever heard. Incredibly fast, poorly recorded, with feedback that actually hurt my ears, and the screechiest female vocalist I'd ever heard.

Then I put it on at 33 RPM.

Now it was listenable, but still really badly recorded. Even with the lyrics sheet, I still had trouble telling what the lyrics were. This wasn't helped by the fact that the songs pretty much blended together. Basically, this is better than, say, that high school grind band that the principal won't let play at the talent show, but it's significantly worse than anything released by a "major" crust label, like Profane Existence.

All in all, I don't think I would miss not having this. Still, I have to support local music, and I know I couldn't play this well, so I'll give them the benefit of the doubt. If this is Aghast's first release, then hopefully they'll be able to get better recording equipment next time. If this isn't their first release…let's just say I won't be getting their other records.

Oh, and the singer's a guy.