by marcs77
It took like some 10 years to have a brand new record out for Orange County, CA crew known to the punk-hardcore world with the moniker IGNITE. But if you're a bit accustomed with what the band is all about, and its work ethics, this pretty huge lapse of time between the former album, the highly praised “Our Darkest Days” out in 2006, and this new opus titled “A War Against You” (out worldwide on January 8th 2016 on Century Media records) cannot come much as real surprise, though I myself must admit I had almost lost my hopes that the foursome fronted by Zoltan “Zoli” Téglás was to release any new full-length albums in the near future or any future.
Was it worth the long wait? Well, if you've been cool enough to go and listen to their first single “Nothing Can Stop Me” up on youtube I guess you would definitely agree with me and shout a big huge loud YES! -and as I did write somewhere on the socials this single isn't even the best tune of the album...
Quality vs the risky routine of releasing new stuff just for the sake of having something out to tour on.
“A War Against You” is 14-track job to be taken in in its entirety and a flawless collection of songs that wouldn't disappoint you at all -especially whether you're into this band.
One thing you grab since the very first listen is that the follow-up to "Our Darkest Days” is way less dark sounding and more positive. It can be just my assumption but the main colours making up the cover arts of the two works give out hints on the mood of the music included in the discs.
Ignite kicks off (or better say ignites) this new round of dances with the poignantly titled “Begin Again”. As they sing a cappella “This is your chance to begin again, a brand new start...and now is all on you” -these guys kicked some Backstreet Boys arses here. Then the over three-minutes-long tune delivers Californians signature blend of powerful O.C. melodic hardcore punk fire-branded by the high, beautiful, passionate, penetrating voice of singer Zoli. “Begin Again” is such a bombastic song I would debate why it didn't make it to be the first single off the record.
Well, perhaps, because “Nothing Can Stop Me” is a solid tune where hardcore urgency mixes with melody and it isn't like betting on a dead horse thinking you'll find yourself singing along top your voice to the chorus “Nothing Can Stop Me” after the very first listen and in the pit at next Ignite's show you'll be attending.
“This Is A War”, track no# 3, a fast paced hardcore number in the vein of more recent Good Riddance which is opened by an heavy rock riffing of 90's flavour (that kinda reminds me of Stone Temple Pilots, yeah, you read it right!).
“Oh, No Not Again” is something like Ignite meets Bon Jovi if that's anything you can imagine. Try out... A tune with a damn 80's hair-rock feel to it, thanks to the vocal harmonies and happy vibe going, yet be sure the track doesn't lack of hardcore punk grit and punch. A power "ballad" for the punks.
“Work” the stripped down slow-paced folkish closing track is patched together to a version of the song “Where I'm From” sung here by the lead singer in Hungarian; a tribute to his roots, origins and the country his parents emigrated from after the WWII.
IGNITE are very good at expressing and channelling the angst of hardcore punk with a perfectly balanced mix of energy, pounding fast heavy rhythms and soulful melody and harmonies coming from bleeding hearts.
Their meaningful lyrics, dealing with heavy topics related to today's society and current state of the world, offer a lot for everyone to think to over and over.
One of the best album of 2016? Well, considering I've got to listen to it this year “A War Against You” counts to me as some of the best music I heard in 2015.
Check: www.facebook.com/igniteband
HUMAN TOUCH Mental Chill (12” LP)
by marcs77
HUMAN TOUCH plays that blend of punk hardcore I go easily ape with and they are bloody good at it indeed.
This Karlsruhe, DE native five-some follows up to last year's 4-track work “True Justice” with a record that tops hands-down its predecessor and it's packed to the brim of angst filled thrashy punk hardcore that takes clues from the NYHC sound as well as what came out from USA's West Coast in places like Frisco and Venice Beach.
In the review of their debut I had already mentioned the guys seemed to be going for a crossover thing and that it's possibly ten times clearer with this new effort. Yeah, here there's definitely that crossover style going back in the mid-eighties early 90's and the lead vocals by Andy together with the backup ones, besides that thrash metal school meets punk riffing and fast lead guitar licks, have really a big role in giving out about where the roots of these Germans are.
Songs like “Feel The Heat”, “The Wrong Way Out” (one of my fav of the lot), “Trust No 1” and the album title track are very representative of this.
For some reason listening to their stuff reminds me of an “old-new song” if that can make any sense. Like they’re putting a new twist on an older-style of song that I really love.
These dudes can really play and this record is displaying their talent. I’d be happy to see this band going from a local band to one that will be creeping up in the hardcore world and this record proves they deserve it.
Perhaps you know that earlier this year LA's Rotting Out sadly disbanded, well,Human Touch could easily fill in the gap the American left whether “Mental Chill” will be supported through some intense touring and you support the band as well.
HUMAN TOUCH Mental Chill (12” LP)
by marcs77
HUMAN TOUCH plays that blend of punk hardcore I go easily ape with and they are bloody good at it indeed.
This Karlsruhe, DE native five-some follows up to last year's 4-track work “True Justice” with a record that tops hands-down its predecessor and it's packed to the brim of angst filled thrashy punk hardcore that takes clues from the NYHC sound as well as what came out from USA's West Coast in places like Frisco and Venice Beach.
In the review of their debut I had already mentioned the guys seemed to be going for a crossover thing and that it's possibly ten times clearer with this new effort. Yeah, here there's definitely that crossover style going back in the mid-eighties early 90's and the lead vocals by Andy together with the backup ones, besides that thrash metal school meets punk riffing and fast lead guitar licks, have really a big role in giving out about where the roots of these Germans are.
Songs like “Feel The Heat”, “The Wrong Way Out” (one of my fav of the lot), “Trust No 1” and the album title track are very representative of this.
For some reason listening to their stuff reminds me of an “old-new song” if that can make any sense. Like they’re putting a new twist on an older-style of song that I really love.
These dudes can really play and this record is displaying their talent. I’d be happy to see this band going from a local band to one that will be creeping up in the hardcore world and this record proves they deserve it.
Perhaps you know that earlier this year LA's Rotting Out sadly disbanded, well,Human Touch could easily fill in the gap the American left whether “Mental Chill” will be supported through some intense touring and you support the band as well.
Fans of the likes of Rotting Out, Backtrack, Trash Talk, Piece By Piece, Take Offense and the Italian Slander will very likely dig “Mental Chill”.
The album is out through Let It Burn records on Nov. the 27th 2015.
Check: www.facebook.com/humantouchhc
EARL GREY Passing Time (CD/digital)
by marcs77
Named after a fine famed blend of black Tea, that contains oil of Bergamot (the press-info states that this is the tea vocalist Malte ‘Pedro’ Unnasch would devour whilst tracking vocals on the band’s debut E.P. 2015’s “Ready To Leave”), Germany, Mönchengladbach resident EARL GREY is hardcore pop punk quintet releases the second record this year entitled “Passing Time” and out both physically through Krod records and digitally on Acuity Music.
This a record that hooked me up from the very first listen, I think, because of vibrating livid hardcore punch that mixes so well with the pop punk influences they have in their delivery.
While the music is the one to deliver the hooky melodic flavours the vocals are harsh and throaty the right deal to channel the urgency and fire that, you really feel, burns in the hearts of these young guys.
And the recording, despite being the result of modern technologies, sounds more like the stuff you were used to hear in the 90's and it isn't so damn polished and slick as it is the case with many punk recording coming out these days.
4 tracks that blows up in less than 10 minutes and they are done but it's that kind of record you would keep playing on repeat mode and never have enough.
Earl Grey did shoot a music video for the song “Haven”, which closes up the record, and definitely comes as the anthem here and a sure staple during live shows.
Check: www.facebook.com/thisisearlgrey
NEW REAL DISASTER The Truth, The Lie, The Compromise (CD)
by marcs77
I very recently heard of this punk rockers from Lucca, Italy though the female-fronted-foursome has been around since 2006 and has already put out an EP in 2007, a full-length album titled “Start” in 2010 and another six-track EP last year.
They've now got a deal with Indelirium records that dropped their new 6-track outing entitled "The Truth, The Lie, The Compromise" last month.
Their take to punk rock music is as simple, passionate and no frills as it should be but a sure thing is all who of you into the likes of Dropkick Murphys, Rancid, Street Dogs, The Briggs, Anti-Flag, The Real McKenzies (less the bagpipes), The Old Firm Casuals, The Distillers, Civet, Voice Of A Generation, Saints And Sinners (CZ), to name but few without going on with an endless list, should definitely check NEW REAL DISASTER and welcome this record among their jam-packed collections.
“Call It Hope” is street folk punk number that cannot remind of Dropkick Murphys and alternates parts where the basic instruments of rock music are accompanied by traditional sounds of accordion, acoustic guitars, fiddle and the likes and bits that gives room to the energy driven gritty raging guitars and slamming drums.
“RFTA” (Rights For The Animals) is punch-throwing bouncing punk rock that in the chorus makes me think of Anti-Flag.
“Punk Rock Scene” closes the record with its Irish-celtic-Pogues-esque flavours and rowdy punky rock rhythms.
This record sounds honest and enjoyable enough to me. And this band comes from Italy not USA, Germany or Sweden.
Check: www.facebook.com/New-Real-Disaster-119470934788038
SOMETHING HIGHER - Hard To The Soul (CD compilation)
by marcs77
Release no#20 for Italy's longtime running Youth Crew records and no#3 for the more recently born Beyond This World records (Greek label also publisher of the blogzine named “Nothing But Contempt Hardcore”).
“SOMETHING HIGHER - Hard To The Soul” -and I'd add Hardcore music for the soul- is a 11-band compilation (19-track plus two bonus) featuring bands from different countries like Italy SAFE and TRACES OF YOU), USA LIFELINE, FOOSE and SEVEN DAGGERS, The Netherlands ECHOES, Greece THROUGH JADED EYES, Spain CONSTRICT, Argentina LAS PALABRAS QUEMAN.
All acts included here play blends of positive old-school hardcore, more melodic for some (bands like Shelter influenced's Lifeline or Safe and Echoes) or more rawer and raging for others (Constrict, Traces Of You, Seven Daggers and Foose) and proudly wear their badges of awareness, integrity and strength on their sleeves.
Some of the members in these bands aren't really newby to the worldwide HC scene and have lived the hardcore practicing Krishna consciousness (some of them) and standing for righteousness, straightedge values and drug free lifestyle.
I must admit that I didn't know most of these bands besides Italy's Safe (their song "Moving Away" was not included in their 2014's EP "Ride A New Season") and Traces Of You but I'm happy Dhrmavit Das handed me a copy of the comp for review.
Among the new names I liked a lot Constrict, Seven Daggers, Foose, Through Jaded Eyes and the Spanish sung youth crew HC Las Palabras Queman play.
The two bonus tracks are pasted together in the track no#19 and see Fumbles In Life and Birds Of A Feather covering respectively Shelter's “Appreciation” and “Freewill”; both songs were recorded 5 years ago for a compilation tribute to Shelter that never saw the light of the day.
Fans into the genre who aren't afraid to confront themselves with positive and thought provoking lyrics should definitely hit up the labels to grab their own copy (as far as I know there wouldn't be much left now).
Check: www.facebook.com/Youth-Crew-Records-149001785115123 www.facebook.com/beyondthisworldrecords
HOLLOW SONS Famine And Thirst (CD)
by marcs77
Euro hardcore all-star HOLLOW SONS's “Famine And Thirst” delivers some pitch-black tinged metallic heavy threatening hardcore-punk that well depicts the void many human beings feel to be inescapably stuck in and magnetically drawn to.
The new work that follows up to their 2013's debut EP, the guys recorded a few weeks into being a band, is entitled “Thirst” and surely won't disappoint those who heard their first stuff -actually all 5 tracks included in the EP are featured here as well including the disturbing mind-numbing hypnotic electro-dark-ambient number titled “Dominance”.
Thanks to personal past experiences of each and every member, and the friendship bond built up during the years passed sharing the same stages, the band play really tight and the production quality compete without any dreads with the USA productions.
There's really really no risks “Famine and Thirst” will bore anyone since all the songs are short bursts that goes straight to the point and listener guts without taking trivial roads.
Songs like “Swallowing Souls” and “Odd Culture” have a 90's feel to them because of the more heavy breakdown, groovy rhythms and singing in the second half of the track -“Swallowing Souls” boasts a Dimebag-esque solo too.
The closing track “Orphan” would likely make some songs by Terror a complete tit.
The lyrics are very interesting definitely cause thoughts. I like particularly the ones of “Odd Culture” which speak volumes of truth our numbed pairs sadly won't ever look for trusting only the shit spread by mass-media and the power that be.
I've really no idea how much these guys can dedicate themselves to this project but surely it's one really worth of; a band the European scene can be proud of. Mark this name down HOLLOW SONS.
The record is out via Let It Burn records.
Check: www.facebook.com/hollowsons
HARM DONE Abuse / Abused (LP/CD)
by marcs77
Release number #20 from Nantes, France based DIY Straight & Alert records, a label and fanzine that, over the years since its inception in 2009, has been showing to the hardcore punk scene to be very attentive on what's going on, as far as straight edge and old school HC goes, in countries like USA (lotta stuff they have out comes from there), Portugal, Germany, The Netherlands and needless to say their home turf.
HARM DONE, a band that started out in the last quarter of 2013, sees its line-up made up by members of France's bands Raw Justice, Direwolves and Regarde Les Hommes Tomber, and put out thus far a self-titled 7" in 2014 and a tape titled “Hammer” in 2015, the latter including three song that went on to make up the debut full-length “Abuse/Abused” and a cover of “Boiling Point” by Boston's straight edge legends SSD.
Comparing the s/t 7" EP with this full-length it's quite obvious the guys worked hard to blacken their sound and make their music delivery more oppressing with the result that the new dirty low-end buzz-saw guitar distortion seems like something tracked in early 90's at the famed Sunlight studio where Swedish death metal icons like Entombed, Dismember, Grave, Carnage, Tiamat (to name but a few) recorded their landmark albums.
It also sounds pretty apparent to me they kinda drew a line between their early self and what Harm Done has become today. With this “Abuse / Abused” LP the four-piece moved away from the NYHC and old-school rhythms and stomping vocals, you could hear in songs off the EP like “Hammer Stomp”, or the Judge meets powerviolence “Harm Done”, and musically headed towards a way more straight-forward uncompromising, crushing and noxious blend of hardcore meets grindcore meets death metal meets d-beat meets powerviolence.
I must take note Alexxx's vocals just fittingly suit the overall sound change with ease being taken here a full notch up in terms of sheer aggression and primal intensity.
From riff one Harm Done hit you square in your guts with an explosion of raw hostility and blast-beat driven speed only broken down by sludgy slow crawl and heavier bits.
You know there's just something about this record. I can't quite describe it. HARM DONE have managed to craft 17 pieces of music, each in a lot of respects very similar to each other, but still manage to be captivating for the entirety of the album.
Check: www.facebook.com/harmdonehc
KYLESA Exhausting Fire (CD)
by marcs77
After the very first listen of the song KYLESA shared on the socialnets I've a feel this new stuff had in it a more 90's indie rock, grungy, vibe to it that made me think to lotta of those bands with female vocalists, the likes of Sonic Youth, L7 or Bikini Kill (for lack of more obscure references...), or “Trompe Le Monde” Pixies, Dinosaur Jr and Meat Puppets but when I got the full promo and gave some repeated spin I kind lost that initial feel found myself being comfortably dragged ahead and beyond by the dual-drum parts doomy-sludgy, tribal and spacey psychedelia the Savannah, Georgia's band (whose vibrant core members are vocalist/ guitarist Phillip Cope, vocalist/guitarist Laura Pleasants and drummer/percussionist Carl McGinley) is known for (sadly, not as much as they would in countries like Italy).
Off their seemingly ever expanding colour palette the guys picked out all the elements they felt apt to write music that crushes and pushes boundaries yet managing to sound Kylesa's.
“Exhausting Fire” will definitely make their fans happy, and perhaps, thanks to some more pop sensibility which surfaces here and there, their new music will appeal to broader crowds and help them win more fans. I know it isn't an easy task when you play songs averagely clocking in over the 4 minutes (though they have tracks like “Inward Debate” and “Moving Day”, the latter has been clad into some sensual New Wave-ish undertones, which do their job within the two and a half mark) but this new effort does its best to synthesize in one authentic heartfelt opus what this band is all about.
“Blood Moon”, probably the faster song of the lot (if you don't count its intro-outro measures), has an odd 90's Scandinavian black metal feel to it where the out-of-space effect-layered, sightly distorted vocals by Pleasants get counterpointed by Cope's more rawer delivery.
To me one of the 2015's best records for those who're into experimental multifaceted heavy rock metal anchored to profound DIY roots.
The record is out through Season Of Mist, who signed the band in 2010 to release the album “Spiral Shadow” in October that year, a rarities compilation album titled “From the Vaults, Vol. 1” also out later in 2010 and their sixth album, “Ultraviolet”, in May 2013.
Check: www.facebook.com/KYLESAmusic
ATTALUS Into The Sea (CD)
by marcs77
Bouncing heavy vibrating modern rock with Post-punk-hardcore-rock influences and shades that hits as hard as it manages to be dreamy, deeply intimate and emotional over the course of action.
“Into The Sea” is the debut full-length album on Facedown records for ATTALUS, a three-piece on the scenes since 2010, whose hometown is Raleigh, NC.
Though the band had out the song “Sirens” (a really groovy solid number indeed) as single to cause a bit of buzz before the album actual release on June the 2nd “Into The Sea” is a thick 16-track concept effort you better listen to on repeat to get the multiple facets and twists it comes about with. For sure “Sirens” comes just a tiny, petite assaggio of what this fascinating versatile album and talented band are all about.
“This Ship Is Sinking Down”, the song that kicks in after the short intro of ship's crackling ropes, sounds off the sea and some uplifting Mediterranean music, it's a pretty heavy post rock number that opens with guitars, bass and drums engaging into quite a high paced rhythm to be slowed down when the singing starts. Over the 5+ minutes they deliver energy driven ass kicking rock and more intimate and mellow parts mixing the whole with gusto and proficiency.
The record is graced by a beautiful piece of art courtesy of FD's own Dave Quiggle (well, that's something like of a trademark at Facedown camp).
When I'm down for more rockish, tasty and tripping music, where beafy distorted sounds and sheer aggression is not all I'm going for, then dipping “Into The Sea” wouldn't really be a bad choice.
Check: www.facebook.com/AttalusMusic
VOID 00 Void (12” vinyl)
by marcs77
There's an album from no-pace-heavy-doomy-sludgish-drone merchants Sun O))) entitled “ØØ Void” (often typed as 00 Void for simplicity) and I have no idea whether this Italian four-some drew any inspirations from that title for the moniker they use to represent their music project and visions to underground hardcore and metal world.
Void 00, whose members dwell in Ancona/Jesi, burst out of the middle of a country like Italy, extraordinarily highly rich and worldwide renowned for its obscure yet fascinating mysteries and for being a magnetic cradle of Western esoterism that profoundly pervaded some of its art, literature, music, philosophy, pseudoscience and rural popular culture over the centuries.
This 5-track LP, titled “Void”, marks the very first outing for this band, formed in 2008, and delivers for your hearing pleasure a pretty varied, that at times takes jolly unexpected turns and twists, mix of blackened post-hardcore sounds made titanically oppressive by doom, sludge, drone and black metal influences and rhythms.
I think the lengthy tracks (none of them clocks in under the 8min) collected in this record succeed in cultivating atmospheres of dread, sufferance and oppression the guys were shooting for.
Check: www.facebook.com/Void00
THE DISSONANT CHOIR VOL#4 (digital compilation)
by marcs77
Released on 31st December via South Africa's Death Of A Modernist this free digital 50-track-50-band (yeah you read right, 50!) compilation packs everything noisy, chaotic, angular and DISSONANT.
Most of the bands here are obscure to me, being the only names I'm accustomed with those of LA MANTIDE and CARNERO (both bands had an album out last year and I'd strongly suggest you to write these two name down).
But if you are into this music I'm sure you'll find stuff of interest and if you happen to have never heard any experimental noise music, well this could be a good start to then go and check out the bands profiles/bios to get an understanding of what of their musical influences could be.
So as said it comes for free. Head to Death Of A Modernist bandcamp and download.
A good gift and soundtrack to start the new year with and don't forget to thank the guys behind DOAM for this.
Check: www.facebook.com/humantouchhc
EARL GREY Passing Time (CD/digital)
by marcs77
Named after a fine famed blend of black Tea, that contains oil of Bergamot (the press-info states that this is the tea vocalist Malte ‘Pedro’ Unnasch would devour whilst tracking vocals on the band’s debut E.P. 2015’s “Ready To Leave”), Germany, Mönchengladbach resident EARL GREY is hardcore pop punk quintet releases the second record this year entitled “Passing Time” and out both physically through Krod records and digitally on Acuity Music.
This a record that hooked me up from the very first listen, I think, because of vibrating livid hardcore punch that mixes so well with the pop punk influences they have in their delivery.
While the music is the one to deliver the hooky melodic flavours the vocals are harsh and throaty the right deal to channel the urgency and fire that, you really feel, burns in the hearts of these young guys.
And the recording, despite being the result of modern technologies, sounds more like the stuff you were used to hear in the 90's and it isn't so damn polished and slick as it is the case with many punk recording coming out these days.
4 tracks that blows up in less than 10 minutes and they are done but it's that kind of record you would keep playing on repeat mode and never have enough.
Earl Grey did shoot a music video for the song “Haven”, which closes up the record, and definitely comes as the anthem here and a sure staple during live shows.
Check: www.facebook.com/thisisearlgrey
NEW REAL DISASTER The Truth, The Lie, The Compromise (CD)by marcs77
I very recently heard of this punk rockers from Lucca, Italy though the female-fronted-foursome has been around since 2006 and has already put out an EP in 2007, a full-length album titled “Start” in 2010 and another six-track EP last year.
They've now got a deal with Indelirium records that dropped their new 6-track outing entitled "The Truth, The Lie, The Compromise" last month.
Their take to punk rock music is as simple, passionate and no frills as it should be but a sure thing is all who of you into the likes of Dropkick Murphys, Rancid, Street Dogs, The Briggs, Anti-Flag, The Real McKenzies (less the bagpipes), The Old Firm Casuals, The Distillers, Civet, Voice Of A Generation, Saints And Sinners (CZ), to name but few without going on with an endless list, should definitely check NEW REAL DISASTER and welcome this record among their jam-packed collections.
“Call It Hope” is street folk punk number that cannot remind of Dropkick Murphys and alternates parts where the basic instruments of rock music are accompanied by traditional sounds of accordion, acoustic guitars, fiddle and the likes and bits that gives room to the energy driven gritty raging guitars and slamming drums.
“RFTA” (Rights For The Animals) is punch-throwing bouncing punk rock that in the chorus makes me think of Anti-Flag.
“Punk Rock Scene” closes the record with its Irish-celtic-Pogues-esque flavours and rowdy punky rock rhythms.
This record sounds honest and enjoyable enough to me. And this band comes from Italy not USA, Germany or Sweden.
Check: www.facebook.com/New-Real-Disaster-119470934788038
SOMETHING HIGHER - Hard To The Soul (CD compilation)by marcs77
Release no#20 for Italy's longtime running Youth Crew records and no#3 for the more recently born Beyond This World records (Greek label also publisher of the blogzine named “Nothing But Contempt Hardcore”).
“SOMETHING HIGHER - Hard To The Soul” -and I'd add Hardcore music for the soul- is a 11-band compilation (19-track plus two bonus) featuring bands from different countries like Italy SAFE and TRACES OF YOU), USA LIFELINE, FOOSE and SEVEN DAGGERS, The Netherlands ECHOES, Greece THROUGH JADED EYES, Spain CONSTRICT, Argentina LAS PALABRAS QUEMAN.
All acts included here play blends of positive old-school hardcore, more melodic for some (bands like Shelter influenced's Lifeline or Safe and Echoes) or more rawer and raging for others (Constrict, Traces Of You, Seven Daggers and Foose) and proudly wear their badges of awareness, integrity and strength on their sleeves.
Some of the members in these bands aren't really newby to the worldwide HC scene and have lived the hardcore practicing Krishna consciousness (some of them) and standing for righteousness, straightedge values and drug free lifestyle.
I must admit that I didn't know most of these bands besides Italy's Safe (their song "Moving Away" was not included in their 2014's EP "Ride A New Season") and Traces Of You but I'm happy Dhrmavit Das handed me a copy of the comp for review.
Among the new names I liked a lot Constrict, Seven Daggers, Foose, Through Jaded Eyes and the Spanish sung youth crew HC Las Palabras Queman play.
The two bonus tracks are pasted together in the track no#19 and see Fumbles In Life and Birds Of A Feather covering respectively Shelter's “Appreciation” and “Freewill”; both songs were recorded 5 years ago for a compilation tribute to Shelter that never saw the light of the day.
Fans into the genre who aren't afraid to confront themselves with positive and thought provoking lyrics should definitely hit up the labels to grab their own copy (as far as I know there wouldn't be much left now).
Check: www.facebook.com/Youth-Crew-Records-149001785115123 www.facebook.com/beyondthisworldrecords
HOLLOW SONS Famine And Thirst (CD)by marcs77
Euro hardcore all-star HOLLOW SONS's “Famine And Thirst” delivers some pitch-black tinged metallic heavy threatening hardcore-punk that well depicts the void many human beings feel to be inescapably stuck in and magnetically drawn to.
The new work that follows up to their 2013's debut EP, the guys recorded a few weeks into being a band, is entitled “Thirst” and surely won't disappoint those who heard their first stuff -actually all 5 tracks included in the EP are featured here as well including the disturbing mind-numbing hypnotic electro-dark-ambient number titled “Dominance”.
Thanks to personal past experiences of each and every member, and the friendship bond built up during the years passed sharing the same stages, the band play really tight and the production quality compete without any dreads with the USA productions.
There's really really no risks “Famine and Thirst” will bore anyone since all the songs are short bursts that goes straight to the point and listener guts without taking trivial roads.
Songs like “Swallowing Souls” and “Odd Culture” have a 90's feel to them because of the more heavy breakdown, groovy rhythms and singing in the second half of the track -“Swallowing Souls” boasts a Dimebag-esque solo too.
The closing track “Orphan” would likely make some songs by Terror a complete tit.
The lyrics are very interesting definitely cause thoughts. I like particularly the ones of “Odd Culture” which speak volumes of truth our numbed pairs sadly won't ever look for trusting only the shit spread by mass-media and the power that be.
I've really no idea how much these guys can dedicate themselves to this project but surely it's one really worth of; a band the European scene can be proud of. Mark this name down HOLLOW SONS.
The record is out via Let It Burn records.
Check: www.facebook.com/hollowsons
HARM DONE Abuse / Abused (LP/CD)by marcs77
Release number #20 from Nantes, France based DIY Straight & Alert records, a label and fanzine that, over the years since its inception in 2009, has been showing to the hardcore punk scene to be very attentive on what's going on, as far as straight edge and old school HC goes, in countries like USA (lotta stuff they have out comes from there), Portugal, Germany, The Netherlands and needless to say their home turf.
HARM DONE, a band that started out in the last quarter of 2013, sees its line-up made up by members of France's bands Raw Justice, Direwolves and Regarde Les Hommes Tomber, and put out thus far a self-titled 7" in 2014 and a tape titled “Hammer” in 2015, the latter including three song that went on to make up the debut full-length “Abuse/Abused” and a cover of “Boiling Point” by Boston's straight edge legends SSD.
Comparing the s/t 7" EP with this full-length it's quite obvious the guys worked hard to blacken their sound and make their music delivery more oppressing with the result that the new dirty low-end buzz-saw guitar distortion seems like something tracked in early 90's at the famed Sunlight studio where Swedish death metal icons like Entombed, Dismember, Grave, Carnage, Tiamat (to name but a few) recorded their landmark albums.
It also sounds pretty apparent to me they kinda drew a line between their early self and what Harm Done has become today. With this “Abuse / Abused” LP the four-piece moved away from the NYHC and old-school rhythms and stomping vocals, you could hear in songs off the EP like “Hammer Stomp”, or the Judge meets powerviolence “Harm Done”, and musically headed towards a way more straight-forward uncompromising, crushing and noxious blend of hardcore meets grindcore meets death metal meets d-beat meets powerviolence.
I must take note Alexxx's vocals just fittingly suit the overall sound change with ease being taken here a full notch up in terms of sheer aggression and primal intensity.
From riff one Harm Done hit you square in your guts with an explosion of raw hostility and blast-beat driven speed only broken down by sludgy slow crawl and heavier bits.
You know there's just something about this record. I can't quite describe it. HARM DONE have managed to craft 17 pieces of music, each in a lot of respects very similar to each other, but still manage to be captivating for the entirety of the album.
Check: www.facebook.com/harmdonehc
KYLESA Exhausting Fire (CD)by marcs77
After the very first listen of the song KYLESA shared on the socialnets I've a feel this new stuff had in it a more 90's indie rock, grungy, vibe to it that made me think to lotta of those bands with female vocalists, the likes of Sonic Youth, L7 or Bikini Kill (for lack of more obscure references...), or “Trompe Le Monde” Pixies, Dinosaur Jr and Meat Puppets but when I got the full promo and gave some repeated spin I kind lost that initial feel found myself being comfortably dragged ahead and beyond by the dual-drum parts doomy-sludgy, tribal and spacey psychedelia the Savannah, Georgia's band (whose vibrant core members are vocalist/ guitarist Phillip Cope, vocalist/guitarist Laura Pleasants and drummer/percussionist Carl McGinley) is known for (sadly, not as much as they would in countries like Italy).
Off their seemingly ever expanding colour palette the guys picked out all the elements they felt apt to write music that crushes and pushes boundaries yet managing to sound Kylesa's.
“Exhausting Fire” will definitely make their fans happy, and perhaps, thanks to some more pop sensibility which surfaces here and there, their new music will appeal to broader crowds and help them win more fans. I know it isn't an easy task when you play songs averagely clocking in over the 4 minutes (though they have tracks like “Inward Debate” and “Moving Day”, the latter has been clad into some sensual New Wave-ish undertones, which do their job within the two and a half mark) but this new effort does its best to synthesize in one authentic heartfelt opus what this band is all about.
“Blood Moon”, probably the faster song of the lot (if you don't count its intro-outro measures), has an odd 90's Scandinavian black metal feel to it where the out-of-space effect-layered, sightly distorted vocals by Pleasants get counterpointed by Cope's more rawer delivery.
To me one of the 2015's best records for those who're into experimental multifaceted heavy rock metal anchored to profound DIY roots.
The record is out through Season Of Mist, who signed the band in 2010 to release the album “Spiral Shadow” in October that year, a rarities compilation album titled “From the Vaults, Vol. 1” also out later in 2010 and their sixth album, “Ultraviolet”, in May 2013.
Check: www.facebook.com/KYLESAmusic
by marcs77
Bouncing heavy vibrating modern rock with Post-punk-hardcore-rock influences and shades that hits as hard as it manages to be dreamy, deeply intimate and emotional over the course of action.
“Into The Sea” is the debut full-length album on Facedown records for ATTALUS, a three-piece on the scenes since 2010, whose hometown is Raleigh, NC.
Though the band had out the song “Sirens” (a really groovy solid number indeed) as single to cause a bit of buzz before the album actual release on June the 2nd “Into The Sea” is a thick 16-track concept effort you better listen to on repeat to get the multiple facets and twists it comes about with. For sure “Sirens” comes just a tiny, petite assaggio of what this fascinating versatile album and talented band are all about.
“This Ship Is Sinking Down”, the song that kicks in after the short intro of ship's crackling ropes, sounds off the sea and some uplifting Mediterranean music, it's a pretty heavy post rock number that opens with guitars, bass and drums engaging into quite a high paced rhythm to be slowed down when the singing starts. Over the 5+ minutes they deliver energy driven ass kicking rock and more intimate and mellow parts mixing the whole with gusto and proficiency.
The record is graced by a beautiful piece of art courtesy of FD's own Dave Quiggle (well, that's something like of a trademark at Facedown camp).
When I'm down for more rockish, tasty and tripping music, where beafy distorted sounds and sheer aggression is not all I'm going for, then dipping “Into The Sea” wouldn't really be a bad choice.
Check: www.facebook.com/AttalusMusic
VOID 00 Void (12” vinyl)by marcs77
There's an album from no-pace-heavy-doomy-sludgish-drone merchants Sun O))) entitled “ØØ Void” (often typed as 00 Void for simplicity) and I have no idea whether this Italian four-some drew any inspirations from that title for the moniker they use to represent their music project and visions to underground hardcore and metal world.
Void 00, whose members dwell in Ancona/Jesi, burst out of the middle of a country like Italy, extraordinarily highly rich and worldwide renowned for its obscure yet fascinating mysteries and for being a magnetic cradle of Western esoterism that profoundly pervaded some of its art, literature, music, philosophy, pseudoscience and rural popular culture over the centuries.
This 5-track LP, titled “Void”, marks the very first outing for this band, formed in 2008, and delivers for your hearing pleasure a pretty varied, that at times takes jolly unexpected turns and twists, mix of blackened post-hardcore sounds made titanically oppressive by doom, sludge, drone and black metal influences and rhythms.
I think the lengthy tracks (none of them clocks in under the 8min) collected in this record succeed in cultivating atmospheres of dread, sufferance and oppression the guys were shooting for.
Check: www.facebook.com/Void00
THE DISSONANT CHOIR VOL#4 (digital compilation)by marcs77
Released on 31st December via South Africa's Death Of A Modernist this free digital 50-track-50-band (yeah you read right, 50!) compilation packs everything noisy, chaotic, angular and DISSONANT.
Most of the bands here are obscure to me, being the only names I'm accustomed with those of LA MANTIDE and CARNERO (both bands had an album out last year and I'd strongly suggest you to write these two name down).
But if you are into this music I'm sure you'll find stuff of interest and if you happen to have never heard any experimental noise music, well this could be a good start to then go and check out the bands profiles/bios to get an understanding of what of their musical influences could be.
So as said it comes for free. Head to Death Of A Modernist bandcamp and download.
A good gift and soundtrack to start the new year with and don't forget to thank the guys behind DOAM for this.
Check: http://thedeathofamodernist.bandcamp.com/album/the-dissonant-choir-vol-4
PHEDORA The House Of Ink (CD)
by marcs77
PHEDORA The House Of Ink (CD)by marcs77
If I just took clues off the gothic-ish metal artwork and the line “similar artists” in the promo press (these including Bring Me The Horizon and Linking Park) I'd skip this release without ado -yeah, this happened to me from time to time. Well, I would have been pretty much wrong and miss this five-piece from Lublin, Poland.
Why did I find this release more interesting the your average metalcore act that mixes brutish, concrete-heavy break downs and disco-synths? Perhaps, because they don't stick with a very much abused formula and and blend their take to modern heavy yet melodic and catchy rock influenced by metalcore and sounds from the end of 90's like nu-metal, alternative and crossover.
Their debut album, which follows-up to last year single “Lost Prophet” (I read from the press info a song themed on the pedophilia case that saw involved former LP's singer Ian Watkins), feature 12 songs that will be likely enjoyed by those who want their modern rock to be energetic, complex, emotional and fueled with big choruses and powerful rhythms.
Luckily for PHEDORA they haven't had to choose to go for an inconceivable (surely to me) sound metamorphosis like it happened to one of the bands they're referenced to (Bring Me The Horizon -how the hell did they come up with a track like Happy Song”) and the result with this “The House Of Ink” is they hit all the right notes with passion and proficiency.
I do sound really impressed for a guy who's not 100% really into these sounds, right?
Check: www.facebook.com/phedoraband
Why did I find this release more interesting the your average metalcore act that mixes brutish, concrete-heavy break downs and disco-synths? Perhaps, because they don't stick with a very much abused formula and and blend their take to modern heavy yet melodic and catchy rock influenced by metalcore and sounds from the end of 90's like nu-metal, alternative and crossover.
Their debut album, which follows-up to last year single “Lost Prophet” (I read from the press info a song themed on the pedophilia case that saw involved former LP's singer Ian Watkins), feature 12 songs that will be likely enjoyed by those who want their modern rock to be energetic, complex, emotional and fueled with big choruses and powerful rhythms.
Luckily for PHEDORA they haven't had to choose to go for an inconceivable (surely to me) sound metamorphosis like it happened to one of the bands they're referenced to (Bring Me The Horizon -how the hell did they come up with a track like Happy Song”) and the result with this “The House Of Ink” is they hit all the right notes with passion and proficiency.
I do sound really impressed for a guy who's not 100% really into these sounds, right?
Check: www.facebook.com/phedoraband
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