Here is the third album by Disbaja, band nominally from Zagreb, Croatia, although I think none of the current line-up originates from there, but that really doesn`t matter, does it?
Recorded again at studio Depth, this record contains 12 songs, two being kind of intro and outro with lyrics in Croatian language. For those who don˙t know, Disbaja plays hardcore punk with thrash and d-beat thrown in for good measure and thus creating one very dark, almost thing you can feel and touch. The lyrics are inner, personal, but having that political balance and touch if you read between the lines of personal. Kinda like watching the current state of Croatia and the world from your inner self. I love faster songs like Bježi si s puta, but slower, sludgy ones are really outstanding gems on this record, songs like Matrica or Propast(Moj je spas) with epic beginning turning into blistering fast d-beat, which shows the true playing strength of this band and how tight they became in musicianship and songwriting during the years. This is definitely Disbaja˙s best work yet.
I must admit that I have never thoroughly listened to The Lawrence Arms. I remember they played Punk Rock Holiday in 2018. but I somehow missed their show due to drink or two that being last day of the festival on Friday as I recall.
For those that don˙t know, The Lawrence Arms are coming from Chicago and are playing excellent melodic punkrock with drive, energy, emotion and conviction. This record melted my face off, broke my heart, made me jumping with joy and delivered catharsis at the same time. Mixture of melodic singing, more harsh melodic screaming and fast punkrock, beautiful choruses and superb melodies made this record one of the best that came out this shitty festival free and gig free year. God damn, I miss gigs and hanging out at gigs singing along to my favorite bands. This record is outstanding with songs like Quiet Storm, Dead Man˙s Coat, Ghostwriter being my favorites on this record, but rest of the material is also fantastic.
Blood For Blood from Boston are such influence for me with their great street hardcore with balls, heartbroken and street life lyrics and great melodies. Blood For Blood are dead, but Rob Lind continued the fight with Ramallah. This new record contains 8 songs of heartbroken, strong and emotional songs. This is maybe not your fast paced straightforward hardcore punk, but it is streetpunk oi hardcore at its finest. While listening to these songs, I had goosebumps on my skin and my bald head. It made me pump my fist in the air, but also made me cry with sorrow, and in the end it brought kinda hardcore catharsis in my blackened heart. I totally saw myself in the lyrics in the songs, in the melody and guitar work, so this record holds such a special place in my heart. Songs like acoustic gentle Bye Bye or the title song, or many Bruisers and Blood For Blood hommages to the lyrics like the rendition of City Boy and fantastic The Times We Had, make me wanna listen all over again and again. This record connects the glorious odes to the past with the future and the persistence in the scene. I am currently at the most difficult time of my life and countless times in last couple of months I thought just to end it all, but this record serves as my therapy, fucked up therapy, but still worth living. Classic!
KRAYKULLA-WEBZINE 