Now, this is nice. For the start of 2023 TOO LOUD Records came out with this nice split release. This is a split record by FanKaz from Italy and Brazilian Out in Style. The record featured six songs, three from each band and it is an interesting one because it kind of shows and presents difference between two approaches to melodic punk, or call it melodic hardcore punk, skate punk anyway. FanKaz are more modern hardcore and technical skate punk, played tightly as well oiled machine with many song parts, stop and go, breakdowns and of course fast parts with melodic but also more hardcore screamed oriented vocals. On the other hand, Out in Style play that simple, no philosophy old school version of nineties influenced skate/melodic punk with some pop punk thrown in here and there and they remind me of all those great bands to whose music I grew up to. Lyrics are personal, but also hold some tone of melancholy and hope at least I see it that way. Both bands are great, but Out in Style are more to my taste. But only little. This one is worth your grabbing if you like melodic hardcore punk.
Time for a band from my hometown from the north of Croatia. Revirgin are a bit different than other bands featured here in this webzine, but they are really good in what they do, so it was time for me to review their new record. As the name says, it was recorded live in Serbia, to be more precise Vojvodina, Subotica at Ekoslavija festival and it is a first release of Ekoslavija as a indie label. Revirgin is a duo of two young individuals, Karlo and Paula and they play a mixture of electro pop rock, indie, some goth here and there and also some experimental stuff in some of the song structures. Many people that witnessed their awesome gigs compare them to Talking Heads in some way. This one contains 12 songs, with very little talk between the songs, it is more like let the music do the talking here. Set list is comprised of mainly songs from their debut full length ‘Simulations’ which came out almost a year ago. There are songs in English language and hitters like ‘Luggage’, ‘Coldest City’ or ‘Goth Simulation’ that kick ass, but the live album also contains not yet studio recorded couple of new songs in Croatian language like ‘Rekreativni biciklizam’ or ‘Dobro za građane’ for example. Karlo’s vocals are melodic but also a bit narrative and nervous at the same time which makes a great combination. Synth lines and melodies are superb and also spacy atmospheric parts too. Me personally, feel some coldness and whole vibe of the music for me is kind of ethereal and cold and I love it. If you like music like this, go have a listen, you will not regret it.
Memoriam are from Birmingham, UK and its members have played or are playing in respectable number of bands such as Bolt Thrower, Benediction, English Dogs, Annihilator, Sacrilege to name just a few. According to former Bolt Thrower singer Karl Willetts who resumed vocal duties in this band, Memoriam was formed to tribute late Bolt Thrower drummer Martin Kearns and this is their fifth full length opus and a brand new one containing 8 songs. Memoriam plays old school UK death metal, not unlike Benediction and most certainly Bolt Thrower, with Memoriam also having mainly war and apocalyptic battle lyrics and song themes. This is the case with groove of ‘Never Forget, Never Again(6 Million Dead)’, but also there are faster, almost d-beat songs like excellent ‘Total War’. Karl Willets sings and growls better than many of his younger counterparts and guy’s work ethics are inspiring, but the songwriting is what makes this album superb. Songs like ‘I Am The Enemy’, ‘All Is Lost’ or the title song ‘Rise To Power’ are a lesson in old school British death metal like it was played in glory days and shows that this scene is alive, well and ready for war!
KRAYKULLA-WEBZINE 