DBSD07 - SMEAR - "BREAKNECK" (2000)

TRACKLISTING:

~i)Diagnosis~

1 - Sludge Factor 10 (5.07)

2 - Paper Heart, Iron Lung (2.06)

3 - Massive Head Trauma (3.02)

4 - I Deserve All I Get (6.46)

5 - Lunge (2.33)
~ii)Exploratory Surgery~

6 - Amputee (3.57)

7 - Gang-Rape (2.22)

8 - Title Track (3.34)

9 - Drip-Feed (6.58)

10 - Smears Last Song (4.32)
~iii)Medicinal Waste~

11- Gunstroke (Suffering From) (12.11)

Total Running Time - 53.13

 

Format: CD

Released: Summer 2000

Availability: Deleted

DBSD05 - SMEAR - "SUBATOMIC" (1998)

TRACKLISTING:

1 - Subatomic (3.04)

2 - Headshot (2.15)

3 - Amputee (3.21)

4 - Cripple (5.49)

(plus bonus hidden track Short Song)

Total Running Time - 14.30

Format: CD single

Released: Spring 1998

Availability: Deleted

REVIEWS:

"Just when I thought the project had stalled totally, I was sent the latest single with news that personal problems had created a previous three year hiatus. Nevertheless, things start with what I asume to be a natural follow-on from Almost Human, a cracking track with a drum 'n' bass rhythm doing the business perfectly...
'Headshot' is typically off-the-wall, with catchy indie song structure being mutilated, inverted and coming out better than you'd ever imagine. 'Amputee' is more of a slow number, and while suited to the nihilistic lyrics peddled by Conquest (no doubt inspired by his creative drought), the pace just isn't right. Finally, 'Cripple' is more to the point, with an ECG sample woven into the rhythm of the track at one point, twisted metal with a very futuristic feel that dies before coming back for a minute of false hope.

The upcoming full-length should fnally turn many more heads (it's criminal Smear are still self-releasing their stuff and losing money in the process).

Nick Moberly, The Dead Sea fanzine

DBSD03 - SMEAR - "ALMOST HUMAN" (1995)

TRACKLISTING:

1 - Melanin (2.42)

2 - Slit Wrist (Suicide) (9.44)

3 - Prozac (4.47)

4 - Bed of Nails (4.16)

5 - Sickened (5.44)

6 - Stripped of Skin (5.58)

7 - Autism (2.15)

8 - Blister (4.34)

9 - Down (1.58)

10 - Last Rights (10.53)

Total Running Time - 52.00

 

Format: CD

Released 1995

Availability: Deleted

 

REVIEWS:

"Fuck Fear Factory, forget Nine Inch Nails, and don't even think about mentioning Atrocity, 'Almost Human', a self-financed release from Bristol-based Smear, shits on them all from an impressive height. And yes, that is my honest opinion, no joke. The two man project draws influences from many genres, but still manage to appeal overwhelmingly to me, essentially a Death/Black Metal listener. No single aspect is overdone, samples are used mostly only between tracks, and are not repeated ad nauseum, for instance. This is Metal and there are guitar solos performed mind you, without indulgence. The vocals are only distorted in the odd track, and even then they do not vex me as some bands ones do. And yes, there is a drum machine, but it is programmed with maturity, as if a drummer were behind the kit and not a set of printed circuits.

Smear have a very futuristic sound nonetheless, with penetrating guitar lines and intelligent basswork through the course of the almost hour long duration, although each song has a distinctive consistency and feel. Opener 'Melanin' combines Industrial riffing with technical passages, whilst by contrast 'Slit Wrist (Suicide)' is more Metal-orientated with rhythmic breaks a-plenty. One of my favourite tracks on the album 'Prozac' begins insidiously before progressing with aggressive riffing and excellent 'walking' bass over cascading guitar melodies and other effects. 'Blister' too shows off the class of Loz's (bass and guitars) compositional skills and musicianship with a collection of mean guitar riffs. There are the frentic female shouts on 'Stripped of Skin', the swiftly-paced 'Autism' and the drama-filled 'Last Rights' to cap everything off.
I could go on and on about how the other tracks introduce new rhythmic ideas, moods, and plentiful hooks, but that would partially prevent you finding out for yourselves how good Smear are at what they do. I don't think there will be a band who will manage to hybridise the essense of so many styles and create such a successful end result for a long time. 'Almost Human' is angry but refined, diverse and refreshing. One of the suprises of the year for me, it only astounds me how full of ideas the pair are. With sections remeniscent of bands like Napalm Death, Master's Hammer and Necropsy, this could appeal to a vast amount of people. It's such a shame that the self-financing of the album will not reach them."
Nick Moberly, The Dead Sea fanzine # 2, 1997.

DBSD02 - SMEAR - "ISOLATION" (1994)

TRACK LISTING:

1 - Isolation (6.34)

2 - Gushing (1.58)

3 - Ugly Girls Make Pretty Corpses (8.25)

Total Running Time - 16.58

Format: Cassette Single

Released: Winter 1994

Availability: Deleted

REVIEWS:

"You may remember the review of this Bristol duo's demo 'Gushing' back in issue 9. Since then the band have recorded a full-length album called 'Almost Human'. This is basically a cassette single of 'Isolation', a cut that didn't make it onto the album. It is backed with two cuts that hark back to the days before 'Gushing' came out. Instrumentalist Lawrence Conquest says that they are pretty poor but were added to enable a quick release of the single. These two cuts are weaker in both structure and production but I don't think that they are quite the deadloss that Lawrence makes them out to be in his letter. I didn't get to hear the 'Gushing' demo but am fairly impressed with the 'Isolation' cut. The band play a mix of death metal and industrial music with the vocals of Richard Jones coming over very much like a lot of other vocalists in the genre. Lawrence's instrumental prowess cannot be faulted either as he turns his hand to guitar, bass and drums all with more than a degree of success. Where the band fall down though is the structure of the song, as it's a bit disjointed at times. All in all this is pretty promising and the band hope to undertake some live shows as a three-piece pretty soon so that should be interesting."

Chris Gambold, Terrorizer Magazine # 23, September 1995

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"Death-core with a bit of style, which makes a refreshing change from the usual grunts and 2-chord guitars, not that all the lyrics scan brilliantly! Also a frontman who stands up for what he believes in considering the anti-vivisecionist stance on the inlays."

Bob Smith (reviewing Gushing & Isolation), Chaotic Order fanzine # 6

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"Initially involved with the macabre animal experimentation detail of the tape cover (including the infamous Harlow experiment on isolating rhesus monkeys at birth in the 1950's), I soon enjoyed the newer title track of Isolation, with it's indie-riff-gone-death-metal-industial approach, very similar to on the subsequent full-length, with lots of buzzing off-the-wall ideas and useful riffs. The other two tracks were recorded two year previously, with studio drums, and lack the quality. One is more of an industrial nightmare composition with the other being a more spacious, repetetive loosely industrial song."

Nick Moberly, The Dead Sea fanzine #1, 1996

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"Having head Smears previous release (Gushing), and been totally blown away by it, I was looking forward to hearing this. Was I let down - was I fuck. The multi-talented Loz provides the musical armageddon while the vocals of Rich are as grisly as ever. I'll stick my neck out and say Smear are Britains answer to Meathook Seed. Check these guys out - you won't be disappointed..."

Paul, Ninth Circle fanzine, 1994

DBSD01 - SMEAR - "GUSHING" (1994)

TRACK LISTING:

1 - Childeater

2 - Jesus Loves You... (But I Don't)

3 - Smother

4 - Swallowing Razors

Format: Cassette EP

Released Summer 1994

Availability: Deleted

REVIEWS:

"Smear are the multi talented duo of Lawrence Conquest (instruments) and Richard Jones (voices), and their promo incorporates elements of death, industrial and the other genres you'd expect to find covered in this mag. This demo proves it can be done with two, instead of five or six, as their demo changes so much during each song.
It's impossible to pigeon-hole, on songs such as 'Childeater', and 'Jesus Loves You - But I Don't' (Thankfully not The Almighty's version!), 'Smother' and 'Swallowing Razors'. Lawrence reckons their most original aspect "is Richards vocals". Well, I wouldnt say that, becasue both Martin Van Drunen of Submission and Tomas Lindberg of At The Gates use that style.
I'd say it was their ability to change musical styles so quickly. But there you go, each to his own...
Smear certainly leave an indelible mark on your conscience."
5 out of 5
Phil Sunderland, Terrorizer Magazine # 9, June 1994.

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"The Gushing tape has four tracks, and is all done in the same drum-machine mediated manner as the Almost Human album. While not living up to that album in terms of songwriting, there are great moments in the totally death metal 'Childeater', and the utter suicidal pessimism of the stream-of-consciousness lyrics. Both these releases do have the occasional guitar solo...but Loz is a decent player, and they work well in this context. There are plenty of sampled bits and pieces here too."
Nick Moberly, The Dead Sea fanzine

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"Now this is what I like to see; four tracks of musical excellence and pure agression. Recently I reviewed Smear's latest offering which only managed the three mark but on hearing that I was desperate to hear more. 'Gushing' is one of the best demo's that I have had the pleasure to hear in a long time.
It is mainly a death demo but, taking inspiration from other music like industrial and thrash has expanded them and dragged them out of the stagnant pool that so many bands wallow in nowadays. Smear is two people, Loz Conquest on ALL instruments and Rich Jones on vocals.
Both do an excellent job and this has some brilliantly inspired instrumental parts.
4 out of 5
Gravespade fanzine, 1994

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"If you like your death with an industrial kinda vibe I suggest you get a copy of 'Gushing'...it kills."
Paul, Ninth Circle fanzine, 1994.