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Keep Our Heads: Eolian Empire's 26-song Portland Comp Cassette

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Portland’s humble DIY label Eolian Empire recently unleashed Keep Our Heads: Heavy Vibes from Portland Oregon. This hefty 99-minute, 26-band compilation will be released as a limited tape run (also available as a digital download).

Featuring artists from their own releases as well as friends in the local scene, this compilation is a direct reflection of the brother- and sisterhood within the Portland heavy underground. These bands are constantly playing shows together and many of them share members. Most importantly, they all put in blood and sweat to make this happen. This was not one of those “send the tracks we will do the rest” kind of compilations; this was each member doing their respective part to make something happen. Their efforts were definitely not in vain as this turned out to be exactly what Eolian Empire community embodies: loud, heavy, honest and fun.

Every band involved is unique in it’s own way. Unlike other comps that collect a handful of the “best bands” that fit within a succinct genre, this comp’s underlying theme is originality and authenticity. No matter where your affinity for heavy music lies, (or music at all for that matter), you will be hard-pressed not to find something you enjoy on this. The sheer number of bands involved is an impressive feat, yet so much care was taken to ensure that each track reflects a different sound. This is not difficult for larger labels, but taking into consideration the DIY values of this label, this was a nice touch expertly executed by Ryan Foster of Foster Mastering.

Order your tape (available in 5 colors!) and koozie, or pay $5 for a digital download.

— Peter Tomis

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Contributing Bands:

1. Acre
2. The Ax
3. Big Black Cloud
4. Crag Dweller
5. Diesto
6. Drunk Dad
7. Fist Fite
8. Gaytheist
9. Gone to Croatoan
10. Honduran
11. Hot Victory
12. Humours
13. IX
14. LKN
15. Lord Dying
16. Nasalrod
17. Norska
18. Order of the Gash
19. Palo Verde
20. Prizehog
21. Rabbits
22. Redneck
23. Sei Hexe
24. Sioux
25. Tiny Knives
26. Towers