http://www.merckrecords.com/v1/

http://www.merckrecords.com/v2/

Here is a preview of a slight remix of V2 by lassi/brothomstates, unfortunately he never finished tweaking.

So here is the original artwork that Jimmy created in March of 2003.

The 2 new versions by Magicpatch in May of 2003 (you can click on em to see em bigger).

Shame that art never got used, and the music was never heard. Its nice to be beyond all these kinds of headaches now, back to listening, and not releasing. More artwork and maybe some more drama to come in future posts, but thats enough for now from “Gabe of the Mountain” (nickname Jimmy always called me, I don’t remember why though!).

This album has it all, elements of Tool, Isis, Slayer, Oxes, and even some lighter Indie rock nods (and no vocals, thank god). The variety of styles doesnt come off as pandering though, it comes off as that they know thoroughly, a variety of styles of music, and understand how to combine them effectively. By that I mean when things need to get hard, they do, math rock nods, they do, when they start off soft and move you in the proper emotional direction, they do. Its quite amazingly done really, especially compared to the normal rhythm + chorus, rinse repeat, of todays modern rock. There are enough excellent riffs on this album to write 10 good pop albums, which brings up the other related point that this album may be a bit more poppy for Pelican as opposed to their earlier stuff. Really, who cares. Honestly, whilst listening to it now I’m out of words to talk about it anymore, I’m just gonna go sit on the couch and soak it up. Summary: if you like music with guitars, and aren’t on some soft skinny jeans shit, check this album out.

Discogs Album Link

Amazon purchase link ($8 for digital!!)

The most common sound I’ve heard in my life thus far has easily been the human vocal range. So when I sit down to listen to new and interesting sounds, quite frankly, the human vocal range is the last priority on my list. Not to mention people have such low standards when it comes to ‘acceptable’ writing quality for content conveyed by the human voice layered over music nowadays.

Here is an important lesson I learned in about the second year of Merck. Take any music, layer vocals over it, ANY vocals. It will sell 2-3 times as well as the version without vocals. That being said, I have to give out a little respect to individuals who have gone the instrumental route and ‘kept it real’ for many years, and are now adding vocals to reach a larger market (so they say). Cause people gotta eat. But please, release an instrumental version (and maybe even add some extra flare to those versions for my sake), cause there are people out there who will appreciate it. In my view, just like the guitar has faded from much edgey music nowadays… so has, or will at least, the voice eventually. That being said, my next post is going to be a review of a superb instrumental guitar masterpiece of an album, by Pelican.

I had to make an animated one.

On the left my friend Jay (rip) and his cat. On the right the famous mp3 communist.

Laetitia Casta FTW.

One of the alternate logos originally designed by Brothomstates.

Based off one of the early versions of the m3rck website.

I really have no explanation for this.

One of my personal favorites, mostly because Esa completely hated it.