This is a debut opus of international supergroup known as Høstsol. This band was formed in 2020 and after two singles and one split opus, here is the debut full length. Members of this band are well known in black metal scene and extreme music scene being Kalmos (bass – Ajattara, ex Barathrum, Woland), Rainer Tuomikanto (drums – ex Shining, Ajattara, Woland), Cernunnus (guitar – Manes) and none other than Niklas Kvarforth(vocals – Shining, Skitliv). I was eager to hear what this will sound like. There are five longer epics on this opus. The music is black metal, old school black metal of the nineties mixed with depressive black metal and add to that a bit of punky edge. What I love the most about this album is that old school black metal atmosphere and vibe that many bands nowadays lack a lot. Lyrics are in Swedish except for one song, so I don’t understand what is being sung about, but judging by the album title, they are about depression, inner self, demons, battle with life, hopelessness, darkness and similar themes. There are also many atmospheric dark ambient parts to start and end a song, making this opus more heavier with almost touchable darkness. One of my personal favorites is ‘Det som en gång var (det kommer aldrig igen)’ with almost punk conviction and rawness turning later in the song into epic keyboard orchestration backed pure black metal anthem. Kvarforth’s singing is tortured screaming but at the same time pronounced, so it is another plus for this international supergroup. There is also a bit of chanting and clean singing at the begin of awesome ‘Din skördetid är nu kommen’. So, if you are a fan of old school atmospheric black metal with touch of black irony and depression go get this one.
THIEV are coming from New Jersey area and this band is comprised of two friends who wanted to play melodic punk rock and they do it perfectly. This EP contains three songs of old school Californian nineties influenced melodic hardcore with that Jersey pop punk influence, like more melodic hardcore version of Bouncing Souls for example. At least that is what I hear in their music. ‘Noise Machine’ is a pop punk oriented straightforward melodic punk song, while ‘The Paint Will Fade’ is my personal favorite being fast melodic pure hardcore song with nice melodic vocal lines and reminding me of Ignite’s faster songs or Chaser maybe, I love this one, but the EP as a whole is superb. ‘A Break In The Fence’ is also faster song, having that nineties pop punk influence with hardcore riffing. Only three songs, makes you wish for more at once. Great little record.
We recently featured The Scuba Kids on the pages of this webzine. Well, Skadavers is a solo project by Blake Runyon of The Scuba Kids. This one featured six songs of ska punk rock with good dose of melodic punk roots and emotional punk. There are also some reggae parts and brass instruments that only add to the overall feeling that should be happy, but it somehow isn’t. There is sadness and melancholy featured and inner struggle to cope and survive in daily life, also fight with you inner demons, at least that is how I heard this e.p. But, there are also some state of the world political lyrical themes if you read between the lines in some songs. ‘Make A Killing’ has that psycho eerie melody on verse and raw punk part making it great. Also, my personal favorites on this one are ‘This Is Hell’ and ‘Where Did All The Voices Go?’. Good ska punk rock.
KRAYKULLA-WEBZINE 