Italy has one of the best underground hardcore scenes in Europe and Lacerhate are hailing from Cremona and Bergamo area. This is their brand new album out with Australian 10-54 Records.
What to expect from Lacerhate? These guys play very darkened metallic hardcore, with some even blast beats and d-beat influences like in awesome 15(Inhaled). But, most of all they play this modern version of metal hardcore with both legs more into metal than punk rock although there are some little punkish influences in the song structures here and there. Guitars rip like chainsaws, through groovy and moshing parts but also fast thrash metal influenced parts like one of my favorites called Icky drops. Vocals are brutal, but not that death metal growling style, no, they are hardcore screaming and shouting with couple of spoken words here and there and also a clean part or two if I heard it right hehe. I love the creeepiness of Interlude with eeried piano parts that carry to Gone, one of the best songs on this record. Lacerhate remind me of Fury of Five and Integrity in a way, so this is a great hardcore album if you are fan of such hardcore style bands.
Short Fuse from Rome, Italy are in no way strangers to the pages of this zine, because I reviewed their last release, also featured their single when they signed with New Age Records.
Well, here is the new album. What do we have here? 7 songs of harsh and metallic influenced hardcore, but with also street punk influences and melodies in the guitar work, so it all sounds brutal and at the same time energetic and epic. This is what we called in the nineties new school hardcore haha with all those metallic moshing parts and harsh screaming vocals which fit perfectly to the songs. Lyrics are personal but somehow while I listened to the music and followed the lyrics I find them uplifting and inspirational to continue fighting with all my guns blazing, so to say. My personal favorites on this one are In Me, Still Counting, I’m Coming Back. Good one if you love your hardcore done this way.
Edward in Venice are from Pesaro, Italy and this is their fifth album with a brand new line-up. This one offers ten songs. I remember seeing these guys play Punk Rock Holiday, I think it was back in 2016. The music on this album can be described as a mixture of melodic hardcore and post punk, especially in some guitar work, especially in song called Silver Drops. The lyrics are great, emotional and personal, yet something that you can relate to a lot. Vocals are not mellow, they are rough where needs to be rough yet at the same time retaining what it needs in melody. The continuing line that goes like silver line through this album is melancholy and kind of sadness, yet also hope and lust for making yourself better and pick yourself up when you are down. Other personal favorites that I must mention are Melancholy, Three Years and Gold Skin.
KRAYKULLA-WEBZINE 