Acuity records/Let It Burn is pushing these young guys outta Regensburg, Bavaria, one of their latest adding, very much. And I can confirm that musicianship and song crafting level is really top-notch for a newcomer.
VIRTUE CONCEPT started out last summer and by the end of the year they holed themselves up in the studio (with Deadlock guitarist Sebastian Reichl at Slaughter's Palace -who produced also Metal Blade's band Anima- and Kristian Kohlmannslehner at famed Kohlekeller studio) to record this full-length debut entitled “SOURCES”.
But there could be a down note and that is the lack of, let me say, freshness in their proposal; although it seems the five-some tried their best to carve their on way through these sounds "Sources" doesn't unleash anything that you haven't heard in tons of metalcore records out in the recent years -no need to go back when this label wasn't even invented, do we?
Okay, but said this, mainly for those who may expect every each band on this planet to reinvent the wheel, I can also affirm that “Sources” is really a solid debut that I really suggest you to check out.
There's enough variety in all departments. Vocals range from hardcore to death to black and sometimes remind me of HIMSA while the guitar progressions mix the Goteborg sound rendered in the metalcore fashion by Darkest Hour, Unearth and the "true old" Swedish melodic death that made throngs of kids loving it back in the 90's.
“Interlude” is classical clean low-gain guitar ridden number that boast guitarists prowess like it happens over some cool leads they deliver.
At the very first listen the overall sound stood out pretty much (is it the production?) but then over repeated listens I somehow lost that feel.
The record is now out phisically through Monster Artists as well.
So give these guys a chance.
Check: www.facebook.com/virtueconcept
OFF! S/T (LP vinyl)In the recent times (we can say years right?) we saw tons many hardcore punk rock bands reforming just for a show, a festival or full time. There's definitely nostalgia going here but also opportunity for the younger to check out themselves outfits the have heard their older brothers (or even parents) talk about. Some of these bands followed this comeback with the recording of new stuff and some other musicians formed new all stars projects. And that's the case with OFF! whose new self-titled full-length I'm gonna review here -this album follows-up to four 7” now sold-out.
And who the fuck OFF! are? The cover artwork of band's album definitely has a 70's/early 80's hardcore punk feel to it. Is this a clue? Perhaps, but I'm sure if you just go check out your list of early era punk hardcore combos or try and go back on the memory lane to look for any recent years bands named like this you will not find who's actually behind this moniker.
OFF! formed in 2010 in Los Angeles and count the likes of Keith Morris (Black Flag, Circle Jerks), Dimitri Coats (Burning Brides), Steven McDonald (Redd Kross) and Mario Rubalcaba (Hot Snakes/Earthless/Rocket From The Crypt) among their ranks.
I know up to this point I've written more bullshits than about music but in my view that's the saucy bit of the whole thing.
The music? 16 tracks that clocks in under 17 minutes. Fine, harsh, pissed off hardcore punkrock with some genuine critique that could have been recorded by the bands you were meant to go through early on and those you can find riffling through your older brothers/parents vinyl collections.
And the recording, handled by Dimitri Coats at Kingsize Soundlabs in L.A., preserves and kinda resuscitates those low-fi sounds that made history.
The artwork has been graced by a fine ink by Raymond Pettibone (that's why it was so Pettibone-scque!).
These guys highly contributed to write important pages of the music we love's history (no more babbling about so) so I'm sure they deserve respect and have the right to do whatever they like.
And I like listening to it too!
The record is out in Europe through Uncle M music and in the US via Vice records.
Check: offofficial.com
XCURRAHEEX/TRUTH INSIDE/XUNFORCEX One Common Goal In Sight (7” vinyl) Commitment records released this 3-way 7" vinyl split last February. The 3 here is the magic number: 3 bands, three countries, three different cover-artwork and all in one (okay there's one thing the makes each wax unique and is their colouration. The 7” come in three different colours -mine is yellow).
Three youth crew sXe combos: Manchester's xCURRAHEEx, Panama City's TRUTH INSIDE and Lucena City- Philippines xUNFORCEx deliver their blend of hardcore old-school and ONE COMMON GOAL IN SIGHT: share values and ethics to try and make this world we live in a better place to be.
xCurraheex open up on side A with 4 tracks, while Truth Inside and xUnforcex are featured with 2 songs each.
Musically, xUnforcex is the band that impressed me the most here. Two cool youth crew slabs that with “Refusing To Live By Your Lies” remind me the True Spirit EP from Italians The Miracle (this to avoid giving you a name of any international band) while “Taking A Stand And Rise Against” has much of punky punch to it.
Cover-artworks by Javy who have already graced many 7”s with his colourful posi-illustrations.
Check: www.facebook.com/xxcurraheexx www.facebook.com/TruthInside www.facebook.com/pages/xUnforcex/244865343049
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