Tag Archives: melodic hardcore

(review) Kriva Istina – Mural Kolapsa (I.poglavlje)

Hey, time for another Croatian band from my home scene to grace the pages of this zine. Kriva Istina are band originally from Slavonski Brod, but are based in Zagreb. Their last album from couple of years ago is one of the best albums this scene had to offer in last twenty years as long as I remember. I was eager to wait what will they do next. There were couple of line-up changes, they got new bass player and added another second guitar to the line-up which made the band even more powerful. This new e.p. is conceived as first chapter which describes situation in our country and world and will eventually be added to full length album at least that is how I understood the plan. There are four songs on this one. What I love about this band is that they sing in Croatian language and lyrics are so smartly and great written, that it is a pleasure to read them along with the music. Kriva Istina play melodic hardcore punk with lyrics themed in some of the wrongs that are happening right now, and themes in our country are neverending with so much injustice, thievery, primitivism being at front of media and people right now. The songs themselves are kind of continuation where the last album left off, with Pitanje being my personal favorite but all of the songs I listened to over and over again. Hod u propast is also superb song and I love every single minute of this e.p. I saw them play live couple of years ago in Slovenia at Tepih na paleti festival and would love to see soon how the new line-up sounds and how these new songs sound live, I am sure they are awesome. This is a strong release by this great band.

Bandcamp

(review) Deadends – Rebel Songs In Minor Key

Austria´s Deadends are in no way strangers to this zine, since I saw their set in my neighbouring town of Varaždin, later on in Slovenia at Petroleum Beat Festival, I immediately fell in love with their music and also they are such nice and friendly crew, I hung out together with Tom at Punk Rock Holiday when his other band Ants! played their final show. Anyway, this is Deadends new full length album and it is a continuation of their awesome mixture of emotional melodic hardcore and punk rock with harsh yet melodic vocals, backing vocal harmonies, great lyrics and songs that remain long in your ears and head after listening and making you listen to them over and over again. I must mention some songs that remained keeping warmth in my heart like Good Intentions, Better Excuses with such great lyrics and melody that I can relate to. I love how Deadends make everyday themes and fantastic songs that make you smile, your eyes moist and your skin crawl with goosebumps. Lyrics deal with depression, anxiety, love, loss, hope, life and coping in today´s world. Some other songs that I mention as highlights for me are the title song, also Ghosts & Demons, Habit To Endure. But, I just can´t get enough of this album. I am so happy this one came out.

Bandcamp

(review) Ignite – Ignite (Century Media)

When long time singer Zoli Teglas announced that he is leaving Ignite, I thought there is no future for this band. Although Zoli wasn´t original singer, his stint in Ignite marked the band with greatest success in the scene marking them as legends of melodic hardcore punk with one of the best singers out there. But, the band started to bring up posts with mysterious new voice and there it is. After a seven inch, Eli Santana was coronated as new king, new voice and singer of this Orange County band, leaving bassist Brett Rasmussen last original Ignite member.

Jump to present, new album is out with ten songs. Besides already known Anti Complicity Anthem, The River, On The Ropes that were singles from this album prior to release, there are seven more songs with This Day sounding more like old school Call On My Brothers era Ignite, whole vibe and songwriting is return to more hardcore punk waters retaining melody but not somewhat indie and more commercial vibe of band´s last two albums. Eli Santana is not trying to sound like Zoli, but keeping his own style and he sounds fantastic, songs like written for his throat and I await eagerly to catch them live in Europe in this line-up. I watched Ignite five times, yet am eager to hear Eli live. Lyrics still deal with political situation, coping with life, sounding somewhat melancholic like phenomenal On The Ropes and I can safely say that Ignite sounds strong, reborn and hardcore, hence the simple name of the album, being somehow reborn once again like phoenix from the ashes of old. Call Of The Dogs, Enemy or The House Is Burning are sure to become your favorites. The Butcher In Me sounds more similar to songs from recent albums and I think it for me least likeable song on this album, although the album as a whole has no fillers, all of the ten songs are just great.

So, welcome back Ignite! May you release more superb albums!