Ninetynine are hardcore band from Erfurt, Germany, founded in 2014. I listened and reviewed their brand new record for our zine, the record is out with Dead Serious Recordings.
The record contains 11 songs of modern European hardcore with respectful nod to old school 90-ies influences. The songs are fast enough to be great for skating like S.K.A.T.E., one of the best songs on this record. There are also anti war lyrics in strong messaged Going To War, antinationalist stance and you know that these guys wear their hearts in the right places. The groove of As One tells the hardcore story about unity and friendship and coping in this hard, cold world. I still love the message of hardcore after being on the scene for more than 25 years now. It still makes my heart sing and goosebumps on my skin. The other songs on this record that made an impact strongly on me are This Is My Youth and Statement. Good one!
Karlovac, the town in Croatia, has always been fertile soil for underground scene, having an awesome amount of great bands with names like Kontra, Scud, Flaster of Disaster, NSIB and many others immediately coming to my mind. Me As Well are one of younger bands in that scene, with one e.p. and one full length album out prior to this record. Their great and energetic shows, built them respect and much love in the scene.
This new e.p. contains 5 songs, three in English and two in Croatian language. The music is still that high energetic melodic hardcore with vocalists Maja and Leo forming an impressive melodic soundscape which makes goosebumps on my skin. I love both songs in Croatian(Lajavi Pas and Grad), being fast and melodic anthems with great lyrics and choruses that made me smile, hum and sing along. The title song is in my opinion one of the best songs MAW did until now, with calm beginning and then evolving to fast and melodic heartwarming song. The song called Reaction shows how powerful this band in fact is, both vocally and instrumentally. Echo is a nice miniature of melodic but furious hardcore. This is one of the best releases to come out of Croatia this year!
I must say that I love Biohazard. Their first three records are for me a milestone in hardcore and they helped me form my brain towards the other hardcore bands and the richness of our scene.
Now, with Biohazard being on hold or indefinite hiatus, the mastermind Billy Graziadei formed his solo project, BillyBio, surrounded himself with quality experienced scene musicians, recorded and released this record.
The record contains 13 tracks, 2 being kinda interludes. Music of BillyBio is not unlike his main band, but evolved more into modern version of hardcore with metal and punk and also some industrial influences. Besides classic nyhc, there are rock n roll melodic songs on the record like one of my favorites Generation Z, or brutal metalized, but still enough hardcore Sodality. I can only imagine how this material sounds great and energetic live. I can˙t wait to check this out live! This is a great record, made by the veteran of hardcore scene.
KRAYKULLA-WEBZINE 