Time for new from my homeland, Croatian underground scene. Heihaizi are one of the best kept secrets from Zagreb, Croatia, hehehe. This one is a blast of energy, whirlwind of hardcore untamed force just waited to be released upon the world. This one contains 13 songs. Music is old school fast hardcore leaning with both legs in punk roots, reminding me a lot of old school hardcore from USA, namely Circle Jerks, Necros, early Beastie Boys, RKL, early TSOL and similar bands. Songs are short but sweet, full of speed and just driving and thundering on, so the album finishes fast, but just makes you turn around and start it again. If I must compare it to some Croatian band it would be Midnight Climax or Eke Buba, as I understand two guys fom Eke are playing in Heihaizi. This is music from the streets and for the streets, just made for skating and prowling through streets on a warm night. With hard in your face hitters like ‘Let Me In’, ‘Stink’ or ‘Drop’ you just can’t go wrong. I recommend this one to all.
Canada has such a great punk rock scene and Another Joe are part of that scene. After long 23 years they finally released their full length record with People of Punk Rock Records. This is a record containing 8 songs. This is not your all out war fast skate punk/hardcore, no. This is pure punk rock, played tight, harsh and with conviction. Songs are mid tempo, influenced by old school punk bands from England, but more technical and also influence of American school of punk rock can be heard in song structures. There is rawness that many today’s punk bands lack, but there are also subtle or less subtle melodies getting through the guitar riffs and some almost gentle backing vocals like in my personal favorite ‘Freak’. Maybe it is only me, but I can also hear a lots of garage punk energy in there, not only in the mentioned song, but through the album as a whole. Songs that I must also mention as my highlights are ‘Sound Advice’ and ‘T-Bird Tattoo’.
Time for horror punk to grace the pages of this zine again. This time, it is a split release between Houston’s Cemetery Static and ROT from Mexico. Each band is featured with four songs here. It is interesting that there are no one side by one band, then another by other band. This split goes one song by CS, one by ROT and so on. Well, I liked Cemetary Static side a lot because they play rather fast and raw hardcore punk with horror lyrics and shouted vocals, meaning they are not your typical horror punk band, rather hardcore horror punk. ROT from Mexico were already featured in this webzine, meaning also raw and fast hardcore punk with horror filled lyrics, both bands are not your usual Blitzkid/Misfits/Calabrese horror punk style of bands. No, this is raw energy and horror lyrics. I must admit that on this release both bands deliver, but somehow I liked Cemetary Static side of split better. But, that is only my opinion. Now, go, listen, support and long live the horror!
KRAYKULLA-WEBZINE 