A THEORY OF JUSTICE A Theory Of Justice (CD)
by marcs77
This new EP from Lodi resident A THEORY OF JUSTICE is out, as you perhaps have noticed, since last December (I've actually been at the release party they played at Clam) and it was really about time to make some deserved justice to the sophomore effort these guys worked hard on.
Their first DIY released recording “Athena” crossed the thin lines laying between new school hardcore and metalcore while, coming as a clear surprise for some, the new work shows up a sharp change in direction toward a sound that at very first listen reminded me of two of the most exciting bands in the damn forward-moving roster of Trustkill records; I am talking about that metallic angular (post)hardcore played by the likes of Nora and Poison The Well.
But after a few listens you feel here there are some influences being drawn from other experimental post-math-hardcore like Dillinger Escape Plan, Norma Jean, The Chariot et familia either.
Okay, I spilled a few of the reference points for those who cannot live without this however, you really must go and listen yourselves to this self-titled EP since there's really lotta of things going on and it's played by a genuine underground band that wanna cut their own sound as an outlet to express themselves and what turns around their small-provincial-city reality at its best.
Roberto (vocals) in an interview I read mentioned that the song titles have been based on phobia in different disturbing and, I would add perhaps, fictional forms (song titles are “Kakorrharphiophobia”, “Kleptophobia” and “Demonphobia” to name but a few) and I find this really fitting with chaotic darkened and extreme mood unleashed by this record and even more poignant to the times we are living where phobia and fear is shoved into our heads and down our throats on daily basis by politics and mass media.
I'm really curious to see how their music will possibly evolve in the future. Meanwhile these 20 minutes can fill the wait.
The CD is out through Memorial records and 5 Feet Under records.
The new outing from Los Angeles's punk hardcore gang ROTTING OUT was something I were really looking forward to listening to this year.
Starting in January Pure Noise records have been hard at work building up the good amount of anticipation a new release like this just deserves, there I get the promo download and then, out of the blue, on FB and other socials the news the band called it quits pops out. It is really nothing of an official press statement (yeah, we're punks who fuckin cares of such bullshit!) but singer Walter “Wally” Delgado through his tumblr profile posted this «ROTTING OUT broke up last Sunday. Thanks to anyone whoever cared. It was a great ride and a privilege. Don’t ask why. Thank you everyone».
Rottin Out is not really a band likely to be taking the piss out of their loyal fans but I still can believe how it all went down.
As many said “Better to burn out bright than fade away” but Rotting Out had still lotta to say and this record together with 2 full-lengths and 2 other EP is really not enough.
The new EP features 5 tracks (three originals and two covers “Don't Care” and “Live Fast Die Young” by Circle Jerks) and the whole running time doesn't exceed 10 minutes.
A brilliant and damn focused burst of straight pissed punk hardcore that talks volume about the place and the scene these guys come from and have been growing up in.
“Reckoning” is prime stuff that turns from something greatly enjoyable played at full blast at home or while driving your car, riding your bicycle or grinding your skateboard to mosh-mayhem inciting material when delivered from a stage to an adrenaline charged sweat-soaked pit.
My favourite here is “End Of The Road” made just memorable and a stick-to-your-skull-one-since-listen-one thanks to a huge throbbing 80's punk bass line and the fierce nutty vocals by Delgado backed up some gang vocals that shout out load “There's a city that I love and hate, it stays with me every goddamn day”.
Tell me Rotting Out did not really disband and that that post was just a joke.
Check: www.facebook.com/RottingOutLA
COUNTERPUNCH Bruises (CD)by marcs77
This punk rock band hailing from Chicago, IL opens this album up with a standard two-chord intro and double-chicking drums beating a pretty fast paced rhythm that builds background to a, perhaps unexpected, harmonized lead guitar in the very first bars of the track "Guardrails" to then go ahead on a melodic hardcore punk fashion characterized by the vocals that reminds pretty much of Propagandhi, A Wilhelm Scream and Much The Same. That's a good start for a new album or a fine way of introduction whether you, like me, had never heard of this four-some before.
Second up, the title track, which stands in the realm of pop punk mixing New Found Glory and A Wilhelm scream (again the vocals are what draw the comparison to AWS). Some good bouncing rhythms and catchy sing-along prompting melodies.
There's the throw-punching “Heartstrings” which has been sunbathed in the 90's So-Cal skatepunk sounds.
“No Man's Land” has a vein of Lag Wagon No Use For A Name to it – a really solid tune.
I early mentioned more recent bands like No Found Glory and AWS but overally "Bruises" sounds so 90's Epitaph / Fat Wreck Chords Cali punk inspired.
Over the recent times there's really been a renaissance of melodic punk and pop punk and all over the world you hear really good outfits that, without reinventing a wheel no needed to be reinvented, keep bringing the genre to the new kids on the scene with enough credibility and definitely the right amount of passion.
COUNTERPUNCH are just one of these bands and this sounds varied and energy packed record is here to prove above statement.
The band has played at this year edition of Groezrock festival (May 1st / May 2nd) for what looks like the only European date they've lined up thus far. A good chance to check how good they are on stage if you were there. Isn't so?
Check: www.facebook.com/counterpunchrok
GOOD RIDDANCE Peace In Our Time (CD/LP)
by marcs77
Punk rock icons GOOD RIDDANCE are back after calling it a day in 2007 and there would be really too much to say about how the Californian have been missed by all their die-hard fans and concert goers alike -who at the bottom of their hearts were actually expecting the breaking-news reporting their return to pop out any time in the hopefully near future. Yes, Good Riddance is one that kind of band that has managed to gather different generations of punk hardcore aficionados making a name among a competitive and ever evolving scene leaving a bigger than predictable, at their very beginning sometime in the 90's, void when they disbanded.
The fine cover-artwork, the poignant title of this new effort, their eight, and the record label that is releasing it make clear, whether it was really necessary, that Good Riddance are still in their place and utterly true to themselves despite of the years passing by, the changes and highs and lows even a bunch of never-to-grow-up punk went through in life.
Has the meaning of the word PEACE changed over the years? The title of the record would suggest so and everybody who has enough ball to look outside their fence and behind the media propaganda we're subjected to, thanks every day changing technological outlets as well as that more traditional mass media that is the TV, will agree that wars in sheep's clothings don't have a fuck to do with peace -go read the lyrics which are as important as the music included in “Peace In Our Time”.
Musically, the band draws influences from the punk of the 80's to that the helped to shape in the 90's with the vocals from Russ being at times Good Riddance-esque and other times more Only Crime's (Russ Rankin side project).
The album kicks off with the fast-forward “Disputatio”, a burner of tune. But I would mention tracks like “Teachable Moments” with a Ramones-sque-The-Queers-Screeching-Weasel feel to it still maintaining a hardcore punk punch, or “Our better Natures” a So-Cal punk hardcore anthem with a Minor Threat riff-reference that's sure to cause some hell in the pit of future gigs, and the so Bad Religion flavoured "Half Measures".
Just a three tracks picked up off a really solid record that will not disappoint fans of punk rock and melodic hardcore punk made in California.
What a best way to celebrate 20 years since their debut outing “For God And Country”?
There's the throw-punching “Heartstrings” which has been sunbathed in the 90's So-Cal skatepunk sounds.
“No Man's Land” has a vein of Lag Wagon No Use For A Name to it – a really solid tune.
I early mentioned more recent bands like No Found Glory and AWS but overally "Bruises" sounds so 90's Epitaph / Fat Wreck Chords Cali punk inspired.
Over the recent times there's really been a renaissance of melodic punk and pop punk and all over the world you hear really good outfits that, without reinventing a wheel no needed to be reinvented, keep bringing the genre to the new kids on the scene with enough credibility and definitely the right amount of passion.
COUNTERPUNCH are just one of these bands and this sounds varied and energy packed record is here to prove above statement.
The band has played at this year edition of Groezrock festival (May 1st / May 2nd) for what looks like the only European date they've lined up thus far. A good chance to check how good they are on stage if you were there. Isn't so?
Check: www.facebook.com/counterpunchrok
GOOD RIDDANCE Peace In Our Time (CD/LP)
by marcs77
Punk rock icons GOOD RIDDANCE are back after calling it a day in 2007 and there would be really too much to say about how the Californian have been missed by all their die-hard fans and concert goers alike -who at the bottom of their hearts were actually expecting the breaking-news reporting their return to pop out any time in the hopefully near future. Yes, Good Riddance is one that kind of band that has managed to gather different generations of punk hardcore aficionados making a name among a competitive and ever evolving scene leaving a bigger than predictable, at their very beginning sometime in the 90's, void when they disbanded.
The fine cover-artwork, the poignant title of this new effort, their eight, and the record label that is releasing it make clear, whether it was really necessary, that Good Riddance are still in their place and utterly true to themselves despite of the years passing by, the changes and highs and lows even a bunch of never-to-grow-up punk went through in life.
Has the meaning of the word PEACE changed over the years? The title of the record would suggest so and everybody who has enough ball to look outside their fence and behind the media propaganda we're subjected to, thanks every day changing technological outlets as well as that more traditional mass media that is the TV, will agree that wars in sheep's clothings don't have a fuck to do with peace -go read the lyrics which are as important as the music included in “Peace In Our Time”.
Musically, the band draws influences from the punk of the 80's to that the helped to shape in the 90's with the vocals from Russ being at times Good Riddance-esque and other times more Only Crime's (Russ Rankin side project).
The album kicks off with the fast-forward “Disputatio”, a burner of tune. But I would mention tracks like “Teachable Moments” with a Ramones-sque-The-Queers-Screeching-Weasel feel to it still maintaining a hardcore punk punch, or “Our better Natures” a So-Cal punk hardcore anthem with a Minor Threat riff-reference that's sure to cause some hell in the pit of future gigs, and the so Bad Religion flavoured "Half Measures".
Just a three tracks picked up off a really solid record that will not disappoint fans of punk rock and melodic hardcore punk made in California.
What a best way to celebrate 20 years since their debut outing “For God And Country”?
Check: www.facebook.com/goodriddance
NO BRAIN, NO SHAME split (12” vinyl)
by marcs77
I've recently written the show report about the Milan stop of the “No Brain, No Shame” tour featuring four cool Italian punk rock bands namely Malemute Kid, Low Dérive, Dear Dust and Onoda.
The name of that tour comes from title of a split that sees these four acts sharing the grooves of a 12” vinyl, printed on a limited run of 250 copies and out via two recently born labels: Lonely Raven Records and Let’s Goat Records.
“No Brain, No Shame” is a title that speaks punk and I feel this is also a lot poignant when we think to some current politicians where “thanks” to their little or no brain that can shove people with the worst populist slogans and feel no shame at all.
Well, going back to music the vinyl features on side A four originals and on side B four cover rendering of tunes from the likes of Osker (recorded by Onoda), Heat Tape (Low Dérive), Misfits (Dear Dust) and CIV (Malemute Kid).
Torino's Malemute Kid open up the side A, with the song “Filler”, which would never be a filler in any punk rock records with balls. Bouncing punk rock bathed in enough catchy-ness to stick to your mind at the very first listen. Their sound takes cues from 90's punk rock with that emoish feel to it, thanks to strained heartfelt vocals by Marto that reminds quite a bit of Jawbreaker, and modern acts like Title Fight, The Story So Far, Gnarwolves. Definitely an awesome track to start a record with.
Up next Roma's Dear Dust a combo devoted to some fast punk rock tinged in black that swaps more melodic emopunk vocals with a more blackened take of Jim Morrison meets Glen Danzig. Not bad, guys!
Low Dèrive, from San Donato, is really a solid band able to play a blend of punk rock meets alternative-lo-fi-rock meets emo with their “Monday, 8TH September”. Live they're just badass. The slower track of the record but surely it doesn't lack in terms of intensity.
Onoda (with members coming from Bologna, Palermo and Cesena) offer a track of troubled punk hardcore where, again, the rough in your face vocals by Cant mark the sound of this band (and I can agree to those who find them similar to those of Leftöver Crack).
Each of the covers chosen by the bands fit with their original sound and are really well rendered, but I woldn't expect Malemute Kid to cover CIV's “Choices Made”.
Support the Italian punk scene and support these bands!
Check: www.facebook.com/malemutekid www.facebook.com/DearDustBand www.facebook.com/LowDerive www.facebook.com/onodapunk
ADOLESCENTS / SVETLANAS Hot War (7” vinyl)
by marcs77
Time seems like to have frozen at the end of 70's early 80's and this 7” split, featuring Orange County, CA punk hardcore legends ADOLESCENTS and banned from Russia female fronted punk rock troublemakers SVETLANAS, who formed at some point in 1977 to return in the '00s, (so reported a perhaps not so accurate and facts proven biography I got to read a few years ago), could have possibly been recorded in the hey days of punk hardcore and been kept dusting into a forgotten box over these years to see the light of the day early this year thanks to dudes at Altercation records.
2 tracks from each band with Adolescents opening up the side A with the furious environment ecologist conscious hardcore number entitled “Fukushima Lemon Twist”; The lines “As our greed comes home to roost, now we get what we gave, when we put our necks in a nuclear noose” just get the point straight behind the risks those in the power chosen to put the whole humanity and our planet earth to satisfy their greed.
Follow up next Svetlanas with “Tales From The Alpha Brigate” 3 minutes of fierce irreverent caustic punk with some UK '82 hardcore tinges. The sick vocals by Olga are as venomous as somehow sing along inducing and get damn catchy when they turn into a storytelling lure matching the mayhem causing mid tempo delivered by her buddies.
Svetlanas takes the honour to open the side B with Minor Threat-esque old school hardcore punk “Step Back” while Adolescents closes delivering a So-California punk hardcore number titled “Forever Summer” blessed with a catchy melodic chorus and surf rock vibe.
The 7” wax is wrapped into a cool Stallone's Rocky IV inspired sleeve artwork.
No problem recommending to grab a copy of this 7” EP waiting for the new upcoming Svetlanas release “Naked Horse Rider” (Altercation Records – June 9th).
NO BRAIN, NO SHAME split (12” vinyl)by marcs77
I've recently written the show report about the Milan stop of the “No Brain, No Shame” tour featuring four cool Italian punk rock bands namely Malemute Kid, Low Dérive, Dear Dust and Onoda.
The name of that tour comes from title of a split that sees these four acts sharing the grooves of a 12” vinyl, printed on a limited run of 250 copies and out via two recently born labels: Lonely Raven Records and Let’s Goat Records.
“No Brain, No Shame” is a title that speaks punk and I feel this is also a lot poignant when we think to some current politicians where “thanks” to their little or no brain that can shove people with the worst populist slogans and feel no shame at all.
Well, going back to music the vinyl features on side A four originals and on side B four cover rendering of tunes from the likes of Osker (recorded by Onoda), Heat Tape (Low Dérive), Misfits (Dear Dust) and CIV (Malemute Kid).
Torino's Malemute Kid open up the side A, with the song “Filler”, which would never be a filler in any punk rock records with balls. Bouncing punk rock bathed in enough catchy-ness to stick to your mind at the very first listen. Their sound takes cues from 90's punk rock with that emoish feel to it, thanks to strained heartfelt vocals by Marto that reminds quite a bit of Jawbreaker, and modern acts like Title Fight, The Story So Far, Gnarwolves. Definitely an awesome track to start a record with.
Up next Roma's Dear Dust a combo devoted to some fast punk rock tinged in black that swaps more melodic emopunk vocals with a more blackened take of Jim Morrison meets Glen Danzig. Not bad, guys!
Low Dèrive, from San Donato, is really a solid band able to play a blend of punk rock meets alternative-lo-fi-rock meets emo with their “Monday, 8TH September”. Live they're just badass. The slower track of the record but surely it doesn't lack in terms of intensity.
Onoda (with members coming from Bologna, Palermo and Cesena) offer a track of troubled punk hardcore where, again, the rough in your face vocals by Cant mark the sound of this band (and I can agree to those who find them similar to those of Leftöver Crack).
Each of the covers chosen by the bands fit with their original sound and are really well rendered, but I woldn't expect Malemute Kid to cover CIV's “Choices Made”.
Support the Italian punk scene and support these bands!
Check: www.facebook.com/malemutekid www.facebook.com/DearDustBand www.facebook.com/LowDerive www.facebook.com/onodapunk
ADOLESCENTS / SVETLANAS Hot War (7” vinyl)by marcs77
Time seems like to have frozen at the end of 70's early 80's and this 7” split, featuring Orange County, CA punk hardcore legends ADOLESCENTS and banned from Russia female fronted punk rock troublemakers SVETLANAS, who formed at some point in 1977 to return in the '00s, (so reported a perhaps not so accurate and facts proven biography I got to read a few years ago), could have possibly been recorded in the hey days of punk hardcore and been kept dusting into a forgotten box over these years to see the light of the day early this year thanks to dudes at Altercation records.
2 tracks from each band with Adolescents opening up the side A with the furious environment ecologist conscious hardcore number entitled “Fukushima Lemon Twist”; The lines “As our greed comes home to roost, now we get what we gave, when we put our necks in a nuclear noose” just get the point straight behind the risks those in the power chosen to put the whole humanity and our planet earth to satisfy their greed.
Follow up next Svetlanas with “Tales From The Alpha Brigate” 3 minutes of fierce irreverent caustic punk with some UK '82 hardcore tinges. The sick vocals by Olga are as venomous as somehow sing along inducing and get damn catchy when they turn into a storytelling lure matching the mayhem causing mid tempo delivered by her buddies.
Svetlanas takes the honour to open the side B with Minor Threat-esque old school hardcore punk “Step Back” while Adolescents closes delivering a So-California punk hardcore number titled “Forever Summer” blessed with a catchy melodic chorus and surf rock vibe.
The 7” wax is wrapped into a cool Stallone's Rocky IV inspired sleeve artwork.
No problem recommending to grab a copy of this 7” EP waiting for the new upcoming Svetlanas release “Naked Horse Rider” (Altercation Records – June 9th).
Check: www.facebook.com/pages/The-Adolescents/125845010769253 www.facebook.com/svetlanas77
M.O.R.A. Halveksunnan Aika (MCD)by marcs77
I reviewed the self-titled debut work from this band but thanks to the shitty policy of fb as far as news displaying of page you like go I must admit I missed what the guys have been up to since coming back from work I found an envelop coming from Finland and including this latest EP from a double-attack-female-fronted hardcore-punk band hailing resident in Helsinki.
And sure you can bet the band went through more than a few things including, I think a life-changing one, like having two of the band members (Piia vocals and Katja bass) giving birth to babies.
M.O.R.A., thanks to the true commitment and endless passion of the soon-to-be-mothers, managed to complete, fitting their timetable, the recording of the 6 tracks that make up the last release featuring this line-up.
Was it all worth it? Again you can bet, yes, it really was.
“Halveksunnan Aika” (despising the time) unleashes a bunch of solid, tight and heavy as concrete metallic hardcore-punk numbers that embody the sheer urgency of hardcore and channel all turmoil that pushed the five-piece to beat hard on their instruments and pen thought provoking lyrics that hope to wake up their peers on the harm related to drinking and drug addition (Tyhjan Paalla), the personal constant quest for the spotlight, and public visibility, in this social-network controlled world and subsequent loss of privacy and its values (Nykyajan Narrit) and modern slavery (Jaksaa Jaksaa).
All song are really good but if I had to pick just one I would pick the track “Jaksaa Jaksaa” that I dig a lot. The song builds up on some fine Slayer-esque riffing and obliterates the listener with their trademark straightforward vocal assault.
I just wanna thank M.O.R.A. for keeping me posted on their developments and giving me the chance to put my hands on this record.
Check: www.facebook.com/mora09hc
NAPALM DEATH Apex Predator – Easy Meat (CD)
by marcs77
How many records has NAPALM DEATH out? You guess! Well, counting only the full-lengths their impressive discography features 16 outing. And for sure these mind-challenging extreme sonic terrorists don't need to collect praises or bad words for their music, and more specifically about their newborn, from a scribbler like me; not that I would write shit about this “Apex Predator – Easy Meat”.
Around since mid 80's the pioneers of a genre music writers named grindcore Napalm Death are really a well established act among the metal underground scene and perhaps whether you never heard of them you could easily be too much into punk rock and hardcore, too young or just too inattentive. But if you really are new to this band I would suggest you to check out the second track of this album, titled “Smash A Single Digit”, where over less than 1 and half minutes your hears we'll get Napalm Death surgery treatment; they'll be abused by some sonic turmoil that mixes the more mindless pounding grindcore blast-beats and the more slower not less punishing death metal rhythms and guitar signature riffage.
Another fine grind death metal number is the short and damn devastating “One-eyed”.
“Apex Predator – Easy Meat” is good mix of what Napalm Death is all about, stands for has done over the past 30 years or so.
Lyrically, there's plenty for any mind and if you're a bit accustomed with Birmingham quartet incisive delivery that's what you expect -Mark “Barney” Greeway explains what the lyrics for “Cesspit” are about ...It is perhaps one of the ultimate indignities and one of those things that a blind eye is often turned to. The subject matter called for a very savage delivery, and although there are quite a few musical facets to this song, it doesn't stop letting rip.
The only personal criticism I can move against this album is about the sick obliterating “experimental-ism” of the opening and title track. There some obvious influences from heavy industrial tribal-mantra-esque sonorities here (is Shane behind this stuff?) but I would have left this track to close the album so one can just skip it whether, like is my case, it's really too much to bear.
As they state in their website “The world is fucked and we need Napalm Death more than never”.
Check: www.facebook.com/officialnapalmdeath
FINAL PRAYER XY (CD)
by marcs77
Berlin's own FINAL PRAYER celebrated 10 years as a band in 2014 and for many bands this milestone stands as far out as they possibly would wish when they start rehearsing and getting their thing steam.
I personally got to know this act back at the times of their GSR Music debut entitled “Filling The Void” and kept an eye on Final Prayer next moves, also interviewing them a couple of time.
Their latest work, “I Am Not Afraid” was a beast of a metallic hardcore job that leveled everything on its path with thrashy monolithic guitars, heavy pounding drums and destroying break-downs that took a fair bit from the likes of Hatebreed.
Did anything change? Well, the guys in the press-sheet explain that, together the video they packed for documenting their history and memories off these first 10 years, they wished to released 4 brand new tracks best representing where they stand in terms of sound and be sure they got the point.
Final Prayer's sound is still rooted into heavy metallic hardcore, which takes clues from the USA and European school, but with new bursts they possibly got more heavier and dirtier.
The crushing first two tracks “Departed” and “Nothing In Return” mixes in the blend influences coming from stuff a la Down or some Southern-sludgy metal with thrashy Slayer reminiscing metal.
While “Bonded By Passion” (when typing I was writing Bonded By Blood but here Exodus has nothing to do) mixes the hardcore heavy punch with more melody to leave room to, let me use the term, romanticism down the memory lane. And that's fine being a heartfelt song featuring lyrics about their 10 years together, their feelings and renowned commitment never to give up and fight hard to keep the spirit alive.
Sure many of you already got his/her hands on this EP, out since last 12 December on Let It Burn records and Acuity music. But if you were waiting for a lazy reviewer to give you the hint go and get it now. Okay?
Check: www.facebook.com/finalprayer
And sure you can bet the band went through more than a few things including, I think a life-changing one, like having two of the band members (Piia vocals and Katja bass) giving birth to babies.
M.O.R.A., thanks to the true commitment and endless passion of the soon-to-be-mothers, managed to complete, fitting their timetable, the recording of the 6 tracks that make up the last release featuring this line-up.
Was it all worth it? Again you can bet, yes, it really was.
“Halveksunnan Aika” (despising the time) unleashes a bunch of solid, tight and heavy as concrete metallic hardcore-punk numbers that embody the sheer urgency of hardcore and channel all turmoil that pushed the five-piece to beat hard on their instruments and pen thought provoking lyrics that hope to wake up their peers on the harm related to drinking and drug addition (Tyhjan Paalla), the personal constant quest for the spotlight, and public visibility, in this social-network controlled world and subsequent loss of privacy and its values (Nykyajan Narrit) and modern slavery (Jaksaa Jaksaa).
All song are really good but if I had to pick just one I would pick the track “Jaksaa Jaksaa” that I dig a lot. The song builds up on some fine Slayer-esque riffing and obliterates the listener with their trademark straightforward vocal assault.
I just wanna thank M.O.R.A. for keeping me posted on their developments and giving me the chance to put my hands on this record.
Check: www.facebook.com/mora09hc
NAPALM DEATH Apex Predator – Easy Meat (CD)by marcs77
How many records has NAPALM DEATH out? You guess! Well, counting only the full-lengths their impressive discography features 16 outing. And for sure these mind-challenging extreme sonic terrorists don't need to collect praises or bad words for their music, and more specifically about their newborn, from a scribbler like me; not that I would write shit about this “Apex Predator – Easy Meat”.
Around since mid 80's the pioneers of a genre music writers named grindcore Napalm Death are really a well established act among the metal underground scene and perhaps whether you never heard of them you could easily be too much into punk rock and hardcore, too young or just too inattentive. But if you really are new to this band I would suggest you to check out the second track of this album, titled “Smash A Single Digit”, where over less than 1 and half minutes your hears we'll get Napalm Death surgery treatment; they'll be abused by some sonic turmoil that mixes the more mindless pounding grindcore blast-beats and the more slower not less punishing death metal rhythms and guitar signature riffage.
Another fine grind death metal number is the short and damn devastating “One-eyed”.
“Apex Predator – Easy Meat” is good mix of what Napalm Death is all about, stands for has done over the past 30 years or so.
Lyrically, there's plenty for any mind and if you're a bit accustomed with Birmingham quartet incisive delivery that's what you expect -Mark “Barney” Greeway explains what the lyrics for “Cesspit” are about ...It is perhaps one of the ultimate indignities and one of those things that a blind eye is often turned to. The subject matter called for a very savage delivery, and although there are quite a few musical facets to this song, it doesn't stop letting rip.
The only personal criticism I can move against this album is about the sick obliterating “experimental-ism” of the opening and title track. There some obvious influences from heavy industrial tribal-mantra-esque sonorities here (is Shane behind this stuff?) but I would have left this track to close the album so one can just skip it whether, like is my case, it's really too much to bear.
As they state in their website “The world is fucked and we need Napalm Death more than never”.
Check: www.facebook.com/officialnapalmdeath
FINAL PRAYER XY (CD)by marcs77
Berlin's own FINAL PRAYER celebrated 10 years as a band in 2014 and for many bands this milestone stands as far out as they possibly would wish when they start rehearsing and getting their thing steam.
I personally got to know this act back at the times of their GSR Music debut entitled “Filling The Void” and kept an eye on Final Prayer next moves, also interviewing them a couple of time.
Their latest work, “I Am Not Afraid” was a beast of a metallic hardcore job that leveled everything on its path with thrashy monolithic guitars, heavy pounding drums and destroying break-downs that took a fair bit from the likes of Hatebreed.
Did anything change? Well, the guys in the press-sheet explain that, together the video they packed for documenting their history and memories off these first 10 years, they wished to released 4 brand new tracks best representing where they stand in terms of sound and be sure they got the point.
Final Prayer's sound is still rooted into heavy metallic hardcore, which takes clues from the USA and European school, but with new bursts they possibly got more heavier and dirtier.
The crushing first two tracks “Departed” and “Nothing In Return” mixes in the blend influences coming from stuff a la Down or some Southern-sludgy metal with thrashy Slayer reminiscing metal.
While “Bonded By Passion” (when typing I was writing Bonded By Blood but here Exodus has nothing to do) mixes the hardcore heavy punch with more melody to leave room to, let me use the term, romanticism down the memory lane. And that's fine being a heartfelt song featuring lyrics about their 10 years together, their feelings and renowned commitment never to give up and fight hard to keep the spirit alive.
Sure many of you already got his/her hands on this EP, out since last 12 December on Let It Burn records and Acuity music. But if you were waiting for a lazy reviewer to give you the hint go and get it now. Okay?
Check: www.facebook.com/finalprayer
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