Category Archives: Reviews

Reviews, Various

(record review)BROADSIDE-Empty/King Of Nothing

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Victory Records used to stand for brutal and also metalic sounding hardcore bands when I was a kid growing up in the mid 90-ies. They released records from some really awesome bands that were ahead of their time like Earth Crisis, Snapcase, Strife… Today, Victory continues to carry on their own path, releasing interesting bands from the underground, maybe not all hardcore, but they kept their hardcore roots and expanded to more musically varied style remaining in the underground.

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Broadside are hailing from Richmond, USA and this is their brand new seven inch single containing two songs. The music of these guys could be categorized as pop/punkrock. Empty is a gentle song, just made for daydreaming and carries in itself a haunted melody that somehow stays with you all through the day never leaving your ear. It is pretty atmospheric song. King Of Nothing is a bit harder song, carrying more punkrock and even melodic hardcore elements in the song structure. Back then 20 years ago, I would say, geet ouut and only laughed at this music being ignorant hardcore kid growing up. Now in my 40-ies, I love this one. Well written, well played and it is really a pleasure having listening to this fine record. Get your copy!

7,5/10

Reviews, Various

(record review) AMALIA BLOOM-Maiden Voyage

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Italy never ceases to amaze with the underground hardcore punk scene over there. This time I listened and reviewed for our zine the new Amalia Bloom record.

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These guys are hailing from Vicenza, Italy and are playing melodic hardcore punk with post hardcore and some screamo influences. The new record was a process of two years in writing and recording, but finally here it is and it contains 8 songs. Chiaroscuro is a fine miniature that serves as a kind of intro to the record. The whole album can be categorized as a concept album with the story evolving around one boy and his journey through his consciousness and imagination, thus trying to discover the secrets of life, death, existence and avoid personal demons. The music is sometimes melodic Cali punk style, but soon evolves into noise parts, then succumbing into brutal screaming parts, yet to return again as deeply emotional singing and melodies, that makes it original and great journey for the ears and mind of the listener. I listened to this album on a quiet Saturday sunny morning, being home alone and I just closed my eyes and let the music take me to the other places, becoming in a way that boy from the lyrical side that this record tries to tell with the music and texts. This is a great one, just showing how hardcore can be both diverse and original and that is the beauty of it all.

8/10

https://www.facebook.com/letamaliabloom/

https://letamaliabloom.bandcamp.com/album/maiden-voyage

 

Reviews, Various

(record review)Apostles of Eris/Raining-Split(Zegema Beach Records)

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Zegema Beach Records always delivers fine music in terms of darkened hardcore and screamo with fine diy bands coming our way. This time I listened and reviewed the Apostles of Eris/Raining split record.

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Apostles of Eris are from Usa/Canada and started as a one man project of Jesse Mowery (Majorel, In Wolves Clothing, Altar Of Complaints, etc.). But, now Dave Norman on vocals (Swallows Nest, The World That Summer, мятеж, etc.)  was added to the story, to make it more rich in terms of diy hardcore screamo with a very darkened atmosphere. 5 songs complete each other with screaming vocals, sometimes chaotic song structures and noisy parts, but also sad and beautiful melodies to make one great listening pleasure hehe. What I love about this band is that they use samples on their record and that only adds to the already dark atmosphere. Definitely a band to watch out for and I love this side of the record.

Raining are hailing from New Zealand. This trio plays their vision of emotional apocalyptic hardcore leaning a bit more on emo side of things. Their five songs remind me a bit more of some bands from the 90-ies and early 2000-s, for example of Croatian band Analena, only Raining are a bit more darker and less melodic than said band. What I love about this band are couple of vocals that interplay each other nicely. Also, the atmosphere is great, but I would love a bit more melody and little less chaos in some song structures, but hey that is only me and my personal taste.

This is an awesome record, Apostles of Eris side is a bit more to my taste, but Raining are great too. Go get this one!

8/10

https://zegemabeachrecords.bandcamp.com/album/apostles-of-eris-raining-split