
Taiwan Balek are in no way strangers to the pages of this zine. These guys are coming from Toulon, France and are playing punk rock. This is their new release, an e.p. containing 6 songs. This is the band´s second e.p and the music is beautiful melodic punk bordering at times with hardcore influences.
I love the opener Godzilla vomited on n.a. being upbeat punk rock song with beautiful melody, short but sweet. Hardcore punk influences can be heard in Because I know, a song that somehow reminded me of Croatian band called Fast Response that I love so much. Nice mixture of more shouted and angrier vocals, cleaner leading vocals and speed with more groovier chorus. Love how the energy flows through the song. Red option starts as s more mid tempo punk song, evolving into such beautiful verse melody with harmonies on backing vocals and some stop and go in the song structures, reminds me why I love all the nineties skate punk bands that I grew up on in the last almost thirty years of me listening to this music and being in the scene. Some harsher noisier hardcore influences in this one too. State of mind is another faster straightforward melodic hardcore punk song, being one of my personal favorites on this record. I surrender is also one of my personal favorites, because I love more faster material and how this band plays it is amazing, and how much energy they deliver with their music. This one has awesome gang backing vocals, just made for singing along at the gigs. Hmmm, now I remember there are almost no gigs. Shit, depression is a nasty thing. The title song reminds me that we are still here and will not go anywhere. So, the struggle continues. Listen to this awesome record and make it easier for you in these troubled times.