Equipment are hailing from Toledo, Ohio and this is their new release containing five songs. Music of Equipment can be described as emotional filled melodic pop punk with indie and alternative influences thrown in for good measure. Songs like ‘Talk To Strangers’ I can lyrically totally relate to, although all songs are very personal and kind of dealing with something with most of us are dealing with or have dealt with in the past or will deal with in the future. Vocal lines are melodic but also kind of harsh voice in some songs, I like that very much, with great backing harmonies and sometimes also harsher backing vocals especially in aforementioned song. ‘Finstacore’ is a great song about prejudices and hating the different, this one if one of my favorites on this record. As the band says, this EP is in fact part four of the quadrilogy and I am really glad I discovered this fine band.
Between Bodies are from Germany and this is their new full length album containing 11 songs. After listening to as a whole and when writing this, I must admit that I enjoyed this one through and through. This is a nice record filled with melodic, emotional punk rock with lots of melody, heart and superb songwriting and lyrics. The vocals are beautiful, fitting just perfectly to the songs. Guitar work delivers punk rock melodies, energy and strength but there are also some indie and post punk influences here and there, as well as pop punk. But, rather this band being snotty clone or boring pop punk, Between Bodies have that something what it takes to write great songs and play great music. This is mid tempo, not fast, but strong material nonetheless. My personal favorites are Stronger Than Me, Gallows and Crosses In The Distance.
Trade Wind are releasing their new record with End Hits Records and I listened and reviewed it for our zine.
Trade Wind are band that consists of Jesse Barnett(guitar/vocals, Stick To Your Guns) and Tom Williams(guitar, Stray From The Path), both of them being important figures in the modern hardcore punk scene. Helped by Randy LeBoeuf (Bass) and Andrew McEnaney (drums), the guys play something entirely different than their above mentioned hardcore bands. This album contains 12 songs of emotional, indie alternative post hardcore with punk and pop influences. Trade Wind is the more introspective side of its members showing us the listeners their inner self, their inside, emotions, barring their hearts for our ears and minds. Gentle, but sometimes intense music, backed with emotional vocals and melodic, sometimes even surreal soundscape takes us to some other dimension for the duration of the album. I must also say that I love how piano is cleverly used in the song structures like for example in awesome title track or great I Can´t Believe You´re Gone. When you listen to this music, just close your eyes and pretend you are floating on some invisible sound wave, in the end of this record it will be a catharsis experience for you. Good one!
KRAYKULLA-WEBZINE 