M:40 are from Sweden and they released new record with Suicide Records. This band plays their apocalyptic vision of hardcore punk with crust and d-beat thrown in the song structures and it is a powerhouse. This album contains 12 songs of fast and crushing hardcore punk crust with dual screamed and shouted vocals, fast drumming with some doom and sludge parts of the songs emphasizing the overall gloomy atmosphere. This is not your happy merry go round skatepunk of love, this is doomsday music for the endtimes which are getting closer. What is the best there are super melodic catchy riffs balancing underneath all the brutality and that makes this record even more precious. The lyrics are in Swedish, but as I read the explanations in the sheet list the record title means original sin and the lyrics are about fascism, egoism, pollution and all other beautiful things we leave to our kids and future generations. It is important that such bands have something to say. Great record.
Melodic punk legends from California Lagwagon are back with brand new full length album. Five years has passed since Hang and here are 12 new songs. I fell in love with this band like 20 something years ago when I first heard their Duh and Trashed albums. Throughout the years the guys perfected their metalic skatepunk played with technical perfection and precision along with Joey Cape´s distinct awesome voice to top it off. What I love also about this band is how they can create drama and atmosphere with their music, whether darker mood, sadness, melancholy or laughter. Stealing Light and especially Surviving California pick up where the band left off with the last album. Great a bit metalised riffs, catchy melody and fantastic guitar solo on the latter song make me smile and I know Lagwagon is back. Jini is a fast skatepunk song, reminding me of early bands and first three albums with its catchy and energetic melody. Parable is for me one of the best songs on this album with atmospheric intro and guest vocals by Joey´s daughter Violet and the acoustic ending with a lot of heartfelt drama and melody in the song itself. Bubble was chosen as first single and it is absolutely one of the highlights of the album with nostalgic lyrics and travel back in time song structure. Love this one, never enough of listening to this song. The Suffering is THE song of the album, I still get goosebumps only remembering the melody and Joey˙s voice and everything after that light intro. Dark Matter just rules with its darkened melody and harmonies, making me kinda sad while listening. Fan Fiction has a great lyric theme and sound a bit more mid tempo and rockish, but piano intro marks the start of another killer song called Pray For Them, fast song with gentle lyrics and this one literally brought tears to my eye remembering recent loss that we had endure. This album is by far for me the best Lagwagon album in the last 15 years or so.
Drei Affen are coming from Spain and they play an interesting mixture of screamo, punk and hardcore. There are 6 songs on this record out with Zegema Beach Records. The overall atmosphere on the record is darkened, with melancholic, sad melodic overtones in the guitars, nervous riffs, blast fast drumming parts and superb screaming vocals which add to the damnation effect of this record. The songs lyrics are in Spanish language so I really can not understand what are they about, but the music speaks for itself. If you are into some apocalyptic darkened screaming emotional hardcore, this one is the right one for you. Recommended songs: Como Un Mar Violento, El Ultimo Aliento.
KRAYKULLA-WEBZINE 