Darko from UK are back with their conceptual ride in new effort called Canvas. These guys have always been purveyors of fresh melodic hardcore combined with skatepunk and melodic punk influences but with all ferocity and groove of harsh riffs topped with superb harmonies and great vocal lines. New one is like that, seven songs of high energy bomb. Album starts with post punk calmness in Grey Havens but continues with bomb after bomb. There is also a combination of harsh growls and screaming vocals in Hectic which adds to variety of material on this album. My personal favorites are more melodic driven hardcore punk songs like finisher AUX III and Dared To Dream but I must also refer to title track which is one of the standouts on this album. I haven’t seen these guys play live for some time now, but I am sure that the new material from this record fits perfectly to the energy that this band always delivers from stage. Great album for lovers of more technical side of melodic skatepunk and hardcore. 9/10
Jerkswitch are coming from Montreal, Canada and this is their new E.P. containing 5 songs. I don’t know how to characterize their music but I will try. First song Pushin’ Daisies is pure hardcore punk smash, short and sweet on point. Second song Code Red is basically fast hardcore punk, but has ska core parts and this song shows how much this band is tight musically. There is also melancholic guitar melody in this song. Vocals vary from nice melodic singing to more screaming parts, also backing vocal harmonies are in place all the time and fit perfectly to the song structures. The whole energy has some beautiful yet raw hardcore punk vibe and shows diversity and originality of this band. The third song Fight a Table reminded me of early Suicidal Tendencies turning into more modern hardcore punk with speed, energy and surprising change in style almost jazzy and post punk dancing part. Fourth song RX leads us back into hardcore punk with ska punk song parts and more angry vocals with hardcore breakdown. Lyrics of the band are personal but with a touch of humor and self irony looking the world around us. The last song is Lidocaine(Acoustic version) and ends this little opus perfectly. Nice release, i would love to hear more of this band in the future.
Wow! That’s what I can say after listening to the debut full length by Brutala, hardcore band from Croatia’s capital Zagreb. Although this is a new band in the scene, its members are veterans from other bands, carrying at least 15 years of experience in the scene. The title of the album means Head Up in Croatian and the album brings uplifting hardcore punk energy to the listener and takes me back to my beginnings over 30 years ago when I discovered hardcore and why it is so dear to me and why I live the way I live through hardcore lifestyle. All of the album’s lyrics are in Croatian and they are personal but also bring that old spirit and flame to hardcore hearts. Music is a mix of street Euro hardcore with punk influences, some more metalic breakdowns and modern parts, with excellent vocalist whose voice fits perfectly to the song structures. My personal favorites are Prvi Kad Je Najteže featuring guest vocals by none other than Alen Rakić of Šank?!, also my favorites are Nemam Vremena, Do Pobjede and Za ekipu, all instant hardcore hits and anthems. Can’t wait to witness this band live, I am sure that live shows are fantastic. My reccomendation. Probably one of the best Croatian releases so far this year.
KRAYKULLA-WEBZINE 