Music reviews:Cock Sparrer, Bash Brothers, Srd

Cock Sparrer-Forever(Piratespress/Randale Records)

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Finally! I talked to my friend a while ago, and we both agreed that this band should put out some new material, because although it is cool to listen to the old legendary songs live at their gigs, it would be cool for them to perform some new songs and here it is! The new album is out and it is an instant streetpunk oi classic! The album has 16 songs and they are all done in old school Cock Sparrer way, as we are used to.

I really cant seem to find any flaw to this album, although 16 songs seem many, the album passes by in joyful listening and it never gets boring and I didnt catch myself yawning during any of the songs. The melodies of the guitar riffs are catchy and easy to enter in your ears. Colins vocals are better than ever, and the anthemic choruses are larger than life. Lyrical themes are the usual for this bands and they range from a bit of politics, to sticking to your friends during times of trouble and all the other merry go round streetpunk themes.

The generations of the kids are passing by during the years, but I am sure that old fans will be pleased with this record and the band will get some new fans for sure. Top songs:”One by One”, “Believe”, Us Against The World”…

8/10

http://www.randaleshop.de/

http://www.piratespressrecords.com/

Bash Brothers-S/T

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Here is the new e.p. from the Swedish melodic hardcore punk band Bash Brothers, hailing from Eksjo, Sweden. This is a debut e.p.containing 4 songs. The lyrics are in English language and as far as I can get it, there are standard topics of friendship, politics, fun used in lyrics. Production is great and I spinned this fucker a couple of times in a row! The melodies are beautiful, the songs are fast and when the full length comes out I am sure that they will be big as their older brothers No Fun At All, Satanic Surfers or Millencolin are. In the 90-ies, when we discovered the Swedish melodic punk hardcore scene, we were delighted with those bands and we still are. This is the band worth of your support, so give it a go! You can get the album on their Bandcamp, and also check out the band FB page!

7/10

https://bashbrotherspunkrock.bandcamp.com/releases

https://www.facebook.com/bashbrotherspunkrock/?fref=ts

Srd-Smrti Sel(On Parole Productions)

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First album by this Slovenian black metal band hailing from the capitol of Prekmurje region called Murska Sobota. Album is opened by an instrumental “Prologue” and it is an ominous sign of things to come. Black metal tour de force starts with “Death Reign 40-45”, song that is midtempo but its riffs and hooks are so wicked and catchy that it enters your ear immediately. This album just pulls you in its wickedness and darkness. The intro to “All into Nothing” is kinda rockish in my opinion but when the tortured vocals and marching rolling drumbeat joined in, I was in trance. I must say that Srd vocalist is one of the better black metal voices that I have heard lately. There is no blast beat on this album whatsoever but the album is so powerful and energetic so it proves that fastness is not always the greatest recipe for a band. The best part of this album is that Srd also does a couple of songs in their native Slovenian language and those songs are the best part of the album. The longest song of the album called “Soči” is one of the most beautiful black metal hymns that I have ever heard in my life. This is a damn fine black metal record and a must for all BM fans out there. Top songs:”Soči”, “Kupa Trpljenja”, “Smrti Sel”

9/10

https://www.facebook.com/SrdOfficial/

https://www.on-parole.com

https://www.facebook.com/On-Parole-Productions-96225856696/

 

 

 

Interview-Ponor:”Promjena na nekoj globalnoj razini je teška ili nemoguća.”

Ponor je zagrebački bend čiji članovi imaju dugogodišnje iskustvo sviranja i aktivizma na hrvatskoj underground sceni. Svojim prvim albumom “Ovo je kraj” i svojom interpretacijom mračnog hardcore punka odmah su mi zapeli za uho. O pripremi novog albuma i mnogim drugim stvarima pročitajte u ovom interviewu.

Dobrodošli u moj webzine. Moje prvo pitanje je možda malo neobično, jeste li vi sretni ljudi?

Još bolje te našli! Na tvoje prvo pitanje ne postoji jednostavan odgovor. Sreća je vrlo individualna stvar. Svako od nas se nosi sa određenim problemima koji u određenim situacijama prevladaju pa ti život čine težim i pretpostavljam da sreća tada manje dolazi do izražaja. Isto tako, ako kritički sagledavaš okolinu u kojoj se nalaziš, shvaćaš da situacija u svijetu nije bajna pa i to zna biti deprimirajuće.Međutim, svi smo relativno zdravi, imamo puno prijatelja, obitelji s kojima smo u dobrim odnosima, nakupilo se i nešto dragocjenog životnog iskustva, pa ako je to mjerilo za sreću, onda na neki način jesmo sretni ljudi.

Temeljem vašeg dugogodišnjeg iskustva u različitim bendovima, smatrate li se hardcore punk supergrupom hehe?

Baš temeljem našeg dugogodišnjeg iskustva u različitim bendovima se nikako ne smatramo hardcore punk supergrupom. :)

Prošlo je dosta vremena od albuma, što je s novim materijalom? Koliko imate novih stvari? Sprema li se novo izdanje?

Novi album je u fazi završavanja. Bit će 8 pjesama. Moramo doraditi još neke vokalne aranžmane, malo uvježbati i sve to snimiti. Planiramo da album bude vani do jeseni.

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Znam da je zbog političke situacije i sveg sranja u zemlji inspiracija za jedan hardcore punk bend nepresušna. Kako to da u 21.stoljeću kod nas još prevladavaju neki primitivni načini razmišljanja, ultradesničarenje, mržnja, netolerancija…može li se kao razlog jedino navesti neobrazovanost koja je podložna populizmu ili ima nečeg bitnijeg? Kada će 2.svjetski rat u Hrvatskoj završiti?

Uh. Na ovakva pitanja ne bi odgovorile ni stotine disertacija a kamoli mali pank bend. :) Na žalost, primitivizma, mržnje i netolerancije je bilo oduvijek i izgleda de će toga biti zauvijek. Nije problem samo u obrazovanju, nego o svim utjecajima sa kojima se u životu susrećemo. Naime, i obrazovani ljudi mogu biti mrzitelji a u drugu ruku, krajnje neobrazovani ljudi mogu biti puni razumijevanja i empatije. Tu je u igri splet raznih okolnosti… Sistem kao takav, mediji, politika, moć, novac… Sve to oblikuje svijet u kojem živimo. Kaže poslovica: “Zavadi pa vladaj.” Tu sam pesimist i ne vidim nekog bliskog kraja tome. Način na koji se nosimo sa time je da ukazujemo na probleme koji u društvu postoje i da u najmanju ruku sudjelujemo u stvaranju neke zdravije okoline za nas i naše bližnje. Promjena na nekoj globalnoj razini je teška ili nemoguća.

Je li hardcore izgubio oštrinu i sebe u ovo moderno doba? Je li se sve svelo samo na konzumerizam i brzo klikanje miša?

Mislim da hardcore nije izgubio oštrinu. Konzumerizma je uvijek bilo, ali i dobrih hardcore bendova sa dobrom porukom i energijom. Danas su informacije puno dostupnije i stalno smo bombardirani sa njima pa je možda teže među probrati ono što istinski valja.

Pošto ste bend kojem je baza u Zagrebu, dal je bendu iz Zagreba lakše uvjetno rečeno „probiti se“ na hrvatskoj sceni? Lakše naći gigove, biti promoviran, odnosno je li jednom bendu iz debele provincije ma kako dobar bio to puno teže. Ovo pitanja postavljam mnogima i zanimljivo je koliko ljudi različiti razmišlja. Bendovi iz Zagreba uglavnom budu nekako u obrambenom gardu na ovo pitanje, dok drugi različito rezoniraju na ovo.

Pa naravno da je u Zagrebu sve to lakše. Četvrtina ukupnog stanovništva Hrvatske je u Zagrebu. Bilo bi u najmanju ruku zanimljivo da se ista količina bendova sa pojavi primjerice u Gospiću kao i u Zagrebu. :) Stvar je čiste matematičke proporcionalnosti.

Kada jednom prekineš vezu, pogotovo dugogodišnju, je li moguće ponovo stupiti u istu, jel moguće ponovo steći povjerenje u nekoga?

Naravno da je moguće. Pitanje kako se pojedina osoba nosi sa takvim stvarima i na kakve ćeš opet osobe naići kasnije. Da citiram jednog genijalca: “Ljudi ima svakakvih, ali najviše različitih.” :)

Na današnjoj sceni često u današnje doba bendovi vole reći mi smo apolitični, politika nas ne zanima i slično…nije li to kukavičluk i skrivanje pred problemima?

Vjerujem da stvarno ima bendova kojima isticanje bilo kakvog političkog stava nije nimalo važno. Možda im je stvarno bitna samo glazba i energija. Međutim mislim da svaka osoba ima bar nekakav stav o situaciji koja se dešava u okruženju u kojem živi. Da citiram stari emo punk bend Embrace: “Life is nothing but politics.” Ako taj stav barem ponekad jasno ne izraziš onda je moguće da je riječ o kukavičluku i skrivanju pred problemima. Ili je ta osoba jednostavno izrazito glupa.

Vjerujete li u oko za oko zub za zub način, ukoliko institucije na koje se toliko vole pozivati zakažu. Ovo pitanje postavljam u svjetlu nedavnih događaja u Hrvatskoj, kada si bogat očito si pred zakonom jednakiji, nego kad si bogec, nije li tako?

Iako je današnji pravni sustav daleko napredovao u odnosu na samo stotinjak godina unazad i dalje ima svojih velikih mana. Dodatni problem je što novac može kupiti sve i svakoga. Teško je ponekad ostati ravnodušan i gledati kako osvjedočeni uništavači ljudskih života slobodno hodaju ulicom jer su si mogli priskrbiti najbolju pravnu zaštitu i savjetovanje dok mali čovjek ostane bez svega što ima jer nema financijska sredstva ni pristup pravim informacijama koje bi mu u takvim situacijama mogle pomoći. Mogu razumjeti ljude koji se odlučuju na drastične poteze kada iscrpe sve druge kanale koji bi im mogli pomoći. Još uvijek postoji jaz između prava i pravednosti.

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Ovo je sve za prvi puta. Hvala na odgovorima. Za kraj, jesmo li već prešli preko ruba i pali u ponor ili ima još nade i vremena za sve nas da poradimo na sebi i svijetu?

Hvala tebi na pažnji i konkretnim pitanjima. Mislim da od početka vremena padamo u ponor bez dna a nada je ta koja nas drži na životu jer ona umire posljednja. ;)

https://www.facebook.com/PonorHC

http://ponor.bandcamp.com/

http://www.pdv.com.hr/

 


 

 

 

 

Music reviews:Auridius, Frank Dux, Blood Raven

Auridius-Unrest

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This is the debut album of an American band. The roots of this band lay in traditional Irish music, folk metal and metalcore. Sounds strange? Sounds interesting and worth listening! Yes, at first it is kinda hard to melt this musical approaches in one band, but it is functioning really excellent and fresh on the album. There are 8 songs here and I can say that they are all interesting. The album starts with intro “The Bards Oath” and ends with the last song “Elation”. Male/femal vocals are really good, there is a healthy mix of growl and clean vocals, and the pipes just add some charm to the whole story. I am in no way metalcore fan, but this is a solid and great band. The only complain that I have, if it could be named complain are the somehow a little monotonous female vocal lines, and the production is a little bit too plastic for my taste. In all, this is a good album. Get it and support the band! Top songs:”Restitution” “Unrest”

6,5/10

https://www.facebook.com/auridius/

Frank Dux-Return to Hespeler Beach

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This is a new output by Canadian skate punks. There are two songs here(“Fukushima Fancy” and “Worlds Apart”). Both songs are fast and with nice melodic riffs and vocal lines. Just the way it is meant to be. I can somehow see that this band got even better than they were with their 2016.two songs demo. As far the lyrics are concerned, there is a fine mix of personal and political. I cant say that this band is something new, special, the next big thing or something revolutionary. But I did not expect it to be. I love skate punk hardcore with energy and melody and this band delivers just that. Both this e.p. and the 2016.demo you can find on the Bandcamp site so support this band if you like such music.

7/10

https://frankduxpunk.bandcamp.com/releases

https://www.facebook.com/FrankDuxPunk/

Blood Raven-Jotunn

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Judging by the band and album name, I would have thought that this is some black metal band with Viking lyric themes. Boy, was I wrong! This band comes from Maryland, USA, featuring Dana Helmuth -guitar and vocals(Scouts Honor, Motherload), Chris Andersen- guitar (Corpse Grinder, Mantooth), Scott Golley- drums (Lifetime) and Gabe Solomon- bass (Chaos Emblem). This band plays dirty but also emotional doom metal with some stoner influences. There are 6 songs on this album and it hooks you up with tortured but energetic vocals, rolling drums and nervous and sometimes melodic guitar riffs. The songs are not too long, because I really hate when the songs get long and boring but this is not the case with this album. All the songs click in and this is a really great soundtrack to the dark and gloomy windy day as it is in my hometown when I am writing and listening to this album. So, if you like your doom metalish and a little stony, get the album from the Bandcamp and check out the band FB page.

6.5/10

https://bloodraven.bandcamp.com/releases

https://www.facebook.com/bloodravenband/?fref=ts

 

 

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