I met the guys from KRANG at Punk Rock Holiday when we did an interview for this webzine and also reviewed their last record which was fantastic. This band is coming from Czech Republic and play hardcore punk, leaning enough in hardcore to be loved by hardcore kids and also they are enough melodic to be loved by fans of more melodic skatepunk side of things. I witnessed their gig at the same festival and it was an energy bomb. So, this record is finally out and I love it. There are 12 songs on this one just a little above twenty minutes time. I dare say this is the best bunch of songs provided by this band so far. Lyrics are serious, deal with injustice, situation in the world, but somehow from personal side of things to which anyone can relate to. What I also love about this band is that they grew up on same movies as I did and every one of their records has a song of couple about that. On this one is my personal favorite Marion Cobretti hehe. Besides that song, my personal highlights are Time Is Ticking, title song, Melt All The Guns and Homeless Man. Vocals are great, neither too harsh nor too snotty or mellow, just the way they should be. So, go grab this one, besides new Chaser, this is the best punk rock record this year.
No one can take away The Offspring´s influence on punk rock music with their classic trilogy of Smash, Ixnay and Americana albums. But, they released more albums than those three, each of them had decent bunch of songs, but also each of them never was great album in its entirety. This is long awaited new album and new music. What to say? There are 14 songs on this one. The story repeats itself. There are some good ones, like This Is Not Utopia, The Opioid Diaries or Hassan Chop. But, there are couple of horrible songs like the title track, I am sorry but I just can´t stand this one or We Never Have Sex Anymore. Was this one trying to play similar to Mad Caddies or what? Also there are couple of fillers on this one, like totally unnecessary In The Hall Of The Mountain King. Rendition of Gone Away is a great pop ballad, but not fitting to punk rock album. Unfortunately, this record has more bad than good songs.
Wratheon is an entity hailing from USA and this is the first e.p. containing five songs. Now this is what I call fine e.p. that just made my day and made smile return to my face and my old metal heart beating faster. Music of Wratheon is fast mixture of blackened thrash with almost some hardcore punk song parts thrown in here and there or is it only me. I was blown immediately away with superb melody and aggressiveness of In Seance but all got even better song by song. A Fire Burns is also fast song made to pump your fist in the air and ride to battle with, but having also almost sad and anguished melody behind all of the darkness and flame with clever use of keyboards in some song parts. Vocals are black metal like but you can understand almost all what is being sung, so it is another plus. With Crimson Eyes is an all out thrash metal attack with blackened vibe and double bass destroying everything in its path and blast beats bringing black metal in the forefront of aural assault yet also having wicked melody in guitar work. Life is an instrumental with lots of changes in tempo and showing more guitar oriented side of the band. Unescapable Null is for me somehow the darkest song on this e.p. ending in me wanting more and eagerly awaiting for the full length.
KRAYKULLA-WEBZINE 