The Scuba Kids are from Los Angeles and they have been in the scene long, but I must admit that this is their first release I have listened. This one contains five songs of melodic punk rock mixed with ska and brass music, so the band which comes somehow to mind while listening to The Scuba Kids is Less Than Jake, although The Scuba Kids retain more of a rawer punk energy through all reggae and ska parts. Do not get me wrong this is still melodic punk rock with great vocal lines and melodies, but singer has some more shouting and screaming parts and there is as I can hear synth in ‘I Think It’s Me’ song that somehow sounds dreamy in that reggae ska parts. Lyrics are personal and as you might have imagined from the record title deal with all the bullshit that befell us in last two years due to well known pandemic circumstances. My personal favorites on this one are: ‘UR Dead’ and ‘Vaxenema’. This release is name your price on Bandcamp, so show some love to the band, I am sure they will appreciate it much.
Bar Tape are from Dublin, Ireland and this is their new release. What do we have here? These guys play a mixture of Californian fast skate punk with nineties influences and emotional punk in the vein of The Menzingers or Off With Their Heads, with rougher vocals, I would even say this rough yet melodic voice adds more to the drama and intense of the songs themselves. Like I said there are some faster songs like One Way East or St. Peter’s College Drop-out for example, but the real jewels on this one are mid tempo emotional hitters like Hindsight 20:20 which is one of my favorite songs on this album. Also, Subscription Glasses is one of my highlights on this one. Like you probably guessed from the provided song titles lyrics are personal with a dose of humor and irony thrown in for good measure. Great album, I am happy having discovered this band.
Ablaze My Sorrow from Sweden were one of the first melodic Swedish death metal bands that I have listened to in the nineties with their opus ‘If Emotions Still Burn’. I was very happy to see that they are still active and releasing opuses, last two full lengths being in 2016 and 2021. This is brand new e.p. out with Black Lion Records. This one contains 4 songs and band now continues where it left off last couple of years. ‘Transfiguration(The Way Of The Strong)’ starts with fantastic clean vocals and atmospheric parts only to turn into full blooded melodic death metal like we are used to from these legends. ‘Boundless’ starts with synth intro and turns into my favorite song on this e.p. having such genial and memorable guitar main melody theme, not being too fast song, but hits you in the eye with its power nonetheless. I love how this band manages to mix almost sad and lonely dark vibe with all known aggression of death metal making me remember why I love Swedish death metal more than American school of death metal. Lyrics deal with inner battles, depression, suicide and misery, being something I can relate to last couple of years definitely. I must also mention ‘Rotten To The Core’, fastest and harshest song on this record, reminding me a lot of At The Gates in many parts, not being a clone, but as an influence. ‘Enclosed In The Crystals Of Ice’ ends this one like it should, icy, dark and melodic. Nice one, indeed!
KRAYKULLA-WEBZINE 