Category Archives: Reviews

(review) The Order Of The Fly – Into This Abyss

a3910356648_10

The Order Of The Fly is a proof of versatility and richness of horror punk scene. This band is celebrating their 20th anniversary of mischief and what better way to celebrate it than with the new album.

This band from San Bernardino led by Ralphie Repulsive on bass and vocals, always was one of my favorite horror punk bands. Why? Because they mix horror punk, hardcore, metal, industrial, gothic and even EBM in their songwriting creating dark and thickened atmosphere, almost you can feel it and touch it while listening. Yet, they retained a lot of melodies at the same time still holding on to their punk and hardcore roots thus delivering the best from both worlds.

This new album contains 15 songs carrying the story, couple of them being kind of interludes, making and creating atmosphere for the continuation of the main storyline in lyrics. Ralphie is screaming, whispering, singing and his vocals are soo fantastic, I love how they fit perfectly to the different songs and their atmosphere. Dual synth work is superb, guitar riffs catchy, metallic and thick, backing vocal harmonies awesome like they should be in this kind of bands. Double bass on drums, fast parts, slower rolling songs are totally fit for the album and this band will just never disappoint. Favorite songs: Pull You Under, The Persistence Of Vermin, Ashes.

https://theorderofthefly.bandcamp.com/album/into-this-abyss

(review) Touche Amore – Lament

a2343181796_10

Touche Amore are Los Angeles based hardcore punk band. Their approach to songwriting and exploring some new territories outside the box brought them great respect and love in the hardcore punk community.

The music of Touche Amore is emotional and melodic hardcore in its base, also punk rock from which it all evolved, yet the band is not afraid to explore the territories of screamo, noise, post punk and even pop and play with them, thus creating a sonic landscape that just makes you sink in the songs and let them take you to some other place, where there is no pain, no depression and no sadness, place where you can face the Sun with the honest smile on your face and raise your hand, point the middle finger to the world and all the ghosts that haunt you in your black heart.

This new record contains 11 songs and I think that is the best to listen to this album as a whole because it carries the story in a way. It is not a concept album per se, but I understood it that way. The fast hardcore punk parts in some songs like awesome Feign shows the band´s roots and punk rock upbringings. But, atmospheric parts are what enriches the songs and makes them real jewels in the hardcore punk crown. Lyrics are poetic, but understandable and when I read the lyrics I am reminded why I love hardcore so much all these almost thirty years. Jeremy Bolm´s vocals are just fantastic, from screaming parts to cleanly sung melodic parts are impressive how fast they can transform. It is soo hard to take some songs which I can consider as favorites above rest because the record is fantastic, but I will try: Feign, Reminders, A Broadcast.

https://toucheamore.bandcamp.com/album/lament

(review) Love Equals Death/The Static Age – Split

Cover_TSA_LED_Split

After years of hiatus Love Equals Death are back with a new split e.p. together with The Static Age.

This is a split e.p., so both bands are represented with two songs on each side. I personally didn´t listen to any of them, so it was a revelation. The Static Age side are two songs of post punk with even pop influences and nice synth undertones melodies in Recover, nice emotional melodic song. But, of those two I find The Fan and the Bellows more straightforward, upbeat song, although I like both of them, so ethereal, so otherworldy and beautiful.

Love Equals Death side with Dust and Flight of the Banshee I liked more, being fast straightforward and melodic punk just the way I like it. Flight of the Banshee starts with a scream of the banshee and it is more of a horror punk song and this is for me the best song on this record of them all.

Nice effort from both bands.

https://www.facebook.com/say10records/

https://www.facebook.com/SBAMrecords/