Stenchcore: What is that genre, and can it be in Metal Academy?

I can help expand the stenchcore collection in MA by suggesting releases to add in The Pit requests thread. Stay tuned for my requests...

Finally!  I get to represent a punk genre that isn't forced under another metal tag like crossover thrash!  Also, I don't think I'll be joining the revolution for my fourth clan when I get the right to a fourth one.

So my deep dive into the Stenchcore genre begun yesterday. Here's some thoughts on the first record I investigated:

Amebix - "Arise!" (1985)

This debut album is currently tagged as both Crust Punk & Stenchcore at RYM & I think I can differentiate which tracks fall into each category pretty comfortably. What we have here is a filthy combination of hardcore, metal & post-punk with, from what I can gather, tracks like "Largactyl" & "Slave" falling into the Crust Punk category in that they're influenced by metal & show a few common traits without really ever feeling like metal & the thrashier tracks like "Axeman", "Fear Of God", "Spoils Of Victory" & the title track falling into the Stenchcore category in that they cross the line into genuine metal territory while still maintaining the hardcore aesthetic. Based on this experience alone Stenchcore seems to be intense hardcore music that borrows the riffs & vocals from the dirtier & more extreme early 80's metal bands (Venom, Motorhead, Hellhammer, Bathory, etc.) & presents them with an obviously hardcore-driven production & tone. In this case the Venom influence is the most prominent, especially in the vocals which are the spitting image of Cronos. Is there enough metal here to warrant inclusion at Metal Academy? Well I'd suggest that four of the nine tracks fall into the Stenchcore category & that's just enough to have me reaching for my metal pass. What clan would it belong to? Well despite the Venom & Motorhead links, I'd suggest that members of The Pit would be the most likely to enjoy a record like this one as it simply feels too dirty & punky for The Guardians with absolutely zero in the way of polish or precision & a healthy dose of Discharge which never goes astray in the thrash community. Perhaps that's why I've found myself enjoying it given that I'm a loyal member of The Pit. There are a couple of duds on the A side but there's enough quality to keep me interested with the more ambitious tracks being particularly enjoyable. 

For fans of Axegrinder, Sacrilege & Hellbastard.

3.5/5

I'd suggest that this is probably the best example of the Stenchcore sound on the album for those that are interested:

Many subgenres are created out of different experimentation, and crust punk/stenchcore is no exception, thanks to a band wanting to take a more unorthodox path. Amebix was the kind of band who wanted to craft music without any limitations. This band moved fresh out of the 70s punk scene and took their roots to the metal scene rising in the UK in the 80s, taking on a new sound of eclectic consistence. After a few demos and EPs, the band become more than just "experimental". They were a band that made some of the heaviest, most aggressive fusions of punk and thrash, a style known as stenchcore! As much as they've made a great impact to the punk and metal scenes at that time, the actual material of debut album Arise! is worth looking out for. These guys can actually play their instruments, unlike some punk bands. They perform simple riffs then mix them up with atmospheric keyboards. I've never really heard much of stenchcore before finding this album and requesting its addition to the site as part of helping the genre expand in the site, but I already have a great feeling about it... Here there are thrashy/punky anthems along with a couple longer prog-ish tracks, and you're right about "Spoils of Victory", Daniel, that track is the best example of stenchcore! All in all, Amebix's debut is perhaps the first release to seal the stenchcore deal and probably the best this genre had to offer, adding relevance to the lyrics and intricate music to touch your punky soul. It's mostly a well-defined part of the style that quickly started a kick-A evolution. Amebix is a pioneering force of a genre they were piecing together in their earlier EPs. I don't really intend to continue on with their next album, Monolith, but for those who wanna hear thrash crossing over into crust punk.... Arise!

4.5/5

Did you really just suggest that "Arise!" is the best the genre has to offer after stating in the very same paragraph that it's the first stenchcore release you've ever heard Andi? You crack me up sometimes. I think Sacrilege might have a thing or two to say about who put out the first major stenchcore release too.

Not to sound parental, but if it's a small genre, you should at least listen to the highest rated albums in the genre (minimum saaaay 10?) before that level of certainty can be justified.