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.

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