All posts by vladkraykulla

Active member of alternative underground scene and culture since early 1990-ies. Underground is a way of life!

(review) SAŠA 21-VD-i2(Dirty Old)

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Legendary Sale Veruda, guitar player and mastermind of legendary Croatian punk band Kud Idijoti is back with the second full length album by his new band Saša 21.

The one wrong thing, in my humble opinion is, that we all look at this band and listen to it, through the eternal prism of Sale`s former band and all of the hits they gave us prior to the untimely death of singer Tusta. Sale always remain in the shadow of bigger part of this life as songwriter and guitar player of Idijoti, so his new band is and always will be compared to his former glory days. It is not right, but I also do it. The songs on this album sound like they came out of Kud Idijoti factory, although Saša 21 plays boogie punkrock like they call it with lyrics in Croatian language. The lyrics are the problem of this album, because they are too few and too meaningless in most of the songs compared to the lyrical geniousness this man can provide. Also, the songs are too similar to one another and there are practically no punkrock anthemic choruses or guitar riffs that remain in memory long after the listening to the record. Do not get me wrong, this is quality punkrock, better played and written than many other bands in the scene, but in all, it is just average. Recommended songs: Jetra, Svi na kontejnere!, Razdvojenost.

https://dirtyoldempire.bandcamp.com/

 

 

(review) Stepping Stone-Escape From the Junkyard

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I remember Croatian hardcore band from back in the nineties, they were from Zagreb, their bass player now plays in mega popular Croatian band Brkovi, so I was surprised to see this Stepping Stone from Canada if I am not mistaken, so I said to myself let us hear what these guys have to offer. Escape From the Junkyard offers intro plus five songs of at times harsh, more metalic influenced hardcore, yet retaining that street punkrock charm and sounding raw, but great with moshing parts mixing to more faster straightforward hardcore punk. Top that with angry vocals that fit perfectly to the music and you get one damn fine record. So, go grab this one, songs like Soul Division or the title song will not leave you indifferent if you love your hardcore.

https://steppingstonehc.bandcamp.com/

(fanzine) Virus is another excellent zine from our scene.

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I was told by my friend Emil that there is another great physical fanzine from our scene worth reading. Virus is a fanzine done by Batko, the drummer for Disbaja, who lives in Zagreb and also organizes gigs there. First thing is how this zine is beautifully done. Really, from front cover across the whole zine, all black, with great layout and easy to read. When I say read, there are tons of material to read in there. I love how Batko mixes personal and political into one undivided whole, with also great dose of sarcasm and black humor thrown in there. There are columns, among them touching column done by Puljko from Namet, about his fight with leukemia and I was so struck when I read that one. Really, health is the most important thing we must hold onto. All other shit that seems hard and fucked up is nothing compared to health and heavy diseases. Also, there are interesting interviews with Aligrindtor, Doomtown Records, Smrt Razuma and Celetoids, also Left To Starve which was most interesting to read. Couple of reviews, soundtrack for the end of the world composed of radio friendly hits. I think which one of those would be mine soundtrack for apocalypse, superb gig reports and also columns about life in quarantine, dealing with it, dealing with state oppression, thoughts about freedom, love, capitalism. Also, an interesting piece done by Ivan, guitarist of Disbaja, about punks having a kid or kids. I read this zine in one afternoon, how great this one is. I havent read something so good since Fejer˙s Mentalna Smrt zines. But, this one left me hungry for more. Can not wait for new issue. Order your copy at:

grindpunx@gmail.com