How many great bands come from Italy? The 80's of Negazione, Raw Power and Indigesti are long gone but the Italian peninsula has never been ungenerous of great, good and definitely passionate hardcore punk outfits. The song screamed in Italian are not longer the trade mark of all punk things Italian-eshe since many bands seem to feel better communicating using an “universal” language but, quoting Negazione, “the true spirit leaves on”.
Closed this short digression I'm gonna review the new effort, and first full-length, from this quintet hailing from Bari, South Italy.
The band started our in 2007 and have also out one EP (with 3 songs all in Italian language) dated 2008 and a split with X-state Ride dated 2009 (label mates on Indelirium records).
“TO THOSE WHO BELIEVE TO BE LEFT ALONE” is varied mix of hardcore punk of the new century with ample doses of metallic guitars, technical parts, melodies and hooks the are gonna grab you and won't let you go and heavy break-downs.
They're very good at writing songs which kick your ass and then heal your bleeding hears with melodies.
The opening track “Dew On My Wings”, over its 4 minutes, throws in some math-post HC mind-boggling rhythms and really catchy vocal melodies.
“Purity” merges punky breakneck speed and aggression with some emo-esque melodies (and cool an anti-Berlusconi sample opening up).
To get back to the digression above Waiting For Better Days are one of the bands that stick to the Italian sung hardcore punk, even for a few numbers, and feature here two tracks “Mille Riflessi” and “Giorno Per Giorno”. These two have inevitably their own flavour and identity.
All in all a great record that I kept playing and playing on my stereo-system since it dropped into my post-box some months ago (the record is out since last 15TH April through Indelirium records).
Check: www.facebook.com/waiting4betterdays
LEADERS Now We Are Free (CD) NOW WE ARE FREE is the debut album from Hollister, CA's LEADERS and hits you all guns blazing with opening "Conviction". Hardcore with brutal angry vocals and metal tinged guitars.
The Facedown records press-sheet mentions Hatebreed and Living Sacrifice as reference points and I can agree these are definitely some of the bands that have been influential to forging in fire the sound of this five-some.
Some times the vocals remind and some atmospheres remind me of Fear Factory (less the the electro-industrial language). And guitars may remind of Pantera.
The track running time is never too long (normally ranging from 1 and half to 3 minutes) so they don't risk to annoy the listener.
“Te Necesito” is a mellow moment with a prayer feel to it (Leaders are Christian hardcore combo) that breaks the heaviness and aggressive mood of the record. The eponymous track “Leaders” varies between beefy heavy breakdowns and some well-thought guitar progressions.
My favourite is “Alone” which remind in fair measure band like Living Sacrifice and the Belgian H8000 scene.
Check: www.facebook.com/leadersmetal
EMPOWERMENT Gegen.Kult (digital) I start quoting the press-sheet "Empowerment completely avoids coded band infos, name dropping, references and cock comparisons which are none in the end, but only the pathetic attempt to squeeze us into a tray to be labeled. At the beginning of our journey, we have set ourselves two headings, to sound asocial and do it differently".
Woa! That sounds way cool. Doesn't it? I get many bands so like-sounding that a breath of fresh air is more than welcomed. Start the digital promo. Wait, doesn't this guy remind me of Phil "Pantera" Anselmo screaming his lungs off over a mid tempo heavy wall of pounding thrash guitars that at some point speeds up with the double kick drums kicking in.
The track "Demaskierung" sounds very nighties metal with a hardcore backbone and reminds me of Zero Mentality (band on Let It Burn records in past).
Metallic thrash hardcore, sung in German, that mixes the NYC old-school with 90's thrash metal. Solidly good riffs, heaviness and some fitting leads is what you're gonna get here. And perhaps that's what you are looking for.
EMPOWERMENT are outta Stuggart and have another release under their belt entitled"Hard Drive Sounds" and recorded in 2011.
Check: www.deutschpunk.blogspot.de/
A WEEK OF SUNDAYS Set Sail For The Starts (digital EP)
Pop punk is a thing some may have come to hate after years of a dime a dozen bands which have been delivering the same shit, just changing track titles (some didn't even care to do this actually) and assembling riffs and melodies you can go and find in the pop-punk book. Is there something like this available? I don't know, really but the likes of Alkaline Trio, Fall Out Boy, New Found Glory, Blink 182, MXPX, Simple Plan (among the others) set the standards for this genre and all those trying to jump on the bandwagon with destination fame stuck to them as a mountaineer firmly grabs the safety rope while hanging on rocky wall.
Yet to this day there are still many newcomers that start playing pop-punk apparently, but in my view unquestionably, because they like it and have fun delivering a blend of punk energy and radio-friendly sweet melodies.
Wüzburg, Germany based A WEEK OF SUNDAYS (cool name by the way) definitely fit in the latest category of die-hard pop-punk lovers and debut on Acuity music with this 5-track EP entitled “Set Sail For The Stars”.
The opening title track, further to the bands mentioned above, reminds me of the Italic Vanilla Sky and Melody Fall.
This is certified 100% pop punk origin, with the acoustic number in closing, that doesn't step over any lines but yet it's a cool listen, indeed. And considering I passed the hate-pop-punk phase myself I can really say I like this record.
Check: www.facebook.com/aweekofsundays
Burlington, Chicago THE STATIC AGE play an alt-rock tinged with 80's new-wave. Never been much of fan of the genre, actually.
At times their music is soft and paints dreamy atmospheres with the addition of keyboards to the classic rock ensemble instruments. Other moments it has a more of distinct and pulsating rock back beat to it and guitars come out with the distortion knob turned a notch up (the opening “City” with a very 80's feel to it).
A contemporary band I would mention as reference point is Taking Back Sunday but I think it's better highlight that the whole EP breathes emotions from every notes and melody and during the listen it'll be likely you find yourself feel like you're almost floating around weightless.
The band formed in 2001 and “MERCIES” follows-up to 2011's "In the City of Wandering Lights," released on Highwires (US) and Flix Records (Europe).
Soft rock music for romantic open-minded dudes. Fans of Italy's The Jersey Line will love this.
Out now on Uncle-M records.
Check: www.facebook.com/thestaticage.band
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