Tag Archives: hardcore

VENUES release new single & video ‘Radiate Me’

German post-hardcore experience Venues have just released their brand new single ‘Radiate Me’, following their critically acclaimed album Solace (2021) and previous singles ‘Reflections‘, ‘Cravings‘, ‘Haunted House‘ & ‘Oblivion‘.

‘Radiate Me’ is an introspective track exploring the journey of overcoming personal challenges and striving for self-improvement. The song’s powerful lyrics depict a battle with inner demons, using vivid imagery like a ‘pest plant’ to symbolize life’s negative influences. ‘Radiate Me’ stands as an anthem for those struggling with their inner selves, emphasizing the beauty of a life beyond personal turmoil.

Vocalist Robin comments on the track: “The last year was quite tough for me, as my mother was diagnosed with two types of cancer. She immediately took up the fight and underwent chemotherapy, which was extremely hard on her. I drove her to various hospitals time and again, took care of the household, and cared for her as a person. But primarily, I saw her suffer and what the poison of this treatment did to her. The chemotherapy almost killed her. ‘Radiate Me’ is all of that in one song. As it stands now, she is doing well and we all hope that it stays that way. Fuck cancer!

For their most recent album Venues went into the studio with producer Christoph Wieczorek (Annisokay) to record Solace, who coated their massive sound with a metallic alloy of remarkable precision.

“We wanted to be more metal,” Robin comments.“There were some pop sensibilities of Aspire we wanted to replace with rather the opposite.”

Melody and punch-drunk heaviness, metal and alternative rock, zeitgeist and authenticity, barbed choruses and unleashed creativity: with their soaring sophomore release, Venues fulfill every single promise they gave on Aspire.

2020 showed all of us how much the band is helping us keep our sanity,” vocalist Robin muses. “Almost the whole band went through minor or medium crises since the release of our debut. Relationships went sour, things were ended and begun. In times like these, our second album was the light at the end of the tunnel. Something we all could look forward to. Our music held our heads above water.”

It’s a big leap, going from Aspire to Solace, and it’s a logical one, too. Ten songs, ten exorcisms of negative energy, ten lifesavers.

Catch Venues live:

10.02.24 Raptor Festival, Königsbrunn DE

20.04.24 Brickmosch Festival, Twistringen DE

04.05.24 Horror Con, Freiburg DE

29.06.24 Moos & Meadow Festival, Feuchtwangen DE

13.07.24 Free For All Festival, Weener DE

19.07.24 Nexo Nerd Expo, Leipzig DE

Venues are:

Lela | clean vocals

Robin | shouts

Valentin | guitar

Dennis | drums

More info:

www.facebook.com/venuesofficial

www.instagram.com/venuesofficial

https://venues.bigcartel.com/

(review) As Friends Rust – ‘Any Joy’ (End Hits Records)

Legendary As Friends Rust are back with new release containing seven songs. What to expect here? Seven songs of excellent melodic hardcore punk like we are used to from this phenomenal band. There are some mid tempo emotional punk rock songs like awesome ‘Final Form’ but it is not everything in speed isn’t it? The said song has such nice melodic vocal lines, harsh when needed and melodic when needed, so sweet! ‘Positive Mental Platitude’ continues where the previous song left off being even better with fine written smart lyrics over fine tuned melody and energetic punk rock, melodic hardcore. ‘See Us Now’ is a clever mixture of rock and hardcore in one song, with gentle chorus and more harsher verses being thrown at you and adding some groove with melody. One of my favorites on this record is ‘Great Filter’ being a perfect combination of melody, aggression and punk sensibility. ‘The Walking Debt’ has harshest verse on the album evolving into beautiful chorus to make goosebumps upon your skin. Fastest straightforward hardcore punk song on this record is definitely ‘Origin Stories’, old school hardcore anthem, angry and energetic. One of my personal highlights is ‘No Gods, Some Masters’ which closes the album being perfect song. For sure, one of the best releases this year.

Swim or Drown: Dutch metallic hardcore group unveil ‘Trapped’ 7” + Music Video; out now via WTF Records

Dutch metal-fueled hardcore quintet Swim or Drown returns with a new 7”, Trapped, out today (13 December 2023) via WTF Records on vinyl and digital formats.

Trapped features two of the heaviest hardcore numbers Swim or Drown ever produced to date. The title track tells the story of frontman Jan’s struggle with his inner demons, a theme that was previously explored in the title track of Torment, the band’s last EP. The cover art for Trapped depicts a skull behind bars with chains around its mouth, representing the story. The other track, “Human Scum,” expresses the band’s frustration and anger towards humans for greedily destroying nature, animals, and other human beings.

The tracks were recorded, mixed, and mastered by Sander Oldersma at 3181 Recording Studio.

Stream/Download ‘Trapped’ on your preferred media AT THIS LOCATION.

Swim or Drown’s Upcoming Shows:
15 Dec — Heerlen, Netherlands @Cafe Bluff
16 Dec —Brussels, Belgium @Kirikou et le President
17 Dec — Heerenveen, Netherlands @Cafe De Skoffel

Emerged in 2008, Heerenveen-based Swim or Drown conjures pure metallic hardcore adrenaline. The Dutch quintet has brought absolute hell for 15 years with the same lineup, which they would like to continue the same way. They have already stored a couple of EPs full of abrasive, high-energy tracks in their arsenal and played plenty of shows, including sharing the stage Poison Idea, Biohazard, Merauder, Sinister, and Stillbirth.

Lineup:
Jan de Groot – Vocals
Roy Sloothaak – Guitars
Hylke Wijnstra – Guitars
Rienk Jonkman – Bass
Jack de Leeuw – Drums

Swim or Drown:
https://www.facebook.com/SWIMorDROWN
https://www.instagram.com/swimordrownhc

WTF Records:
https://wtfrecords.eu
https://www.facebook.com/wtfrecordsdistro
https://www.instagram.com/wtfrecordsdistro
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnluZjgcIA1baR-aI5_OHTA