Sometimes you discover the band and music in this our underground scene that brings joy to your black heart and Bloody Hammers from North Carolina are just that. Although this is their sixth studio opus, to me is the first and I freakin love it. There are nine songs on this opus and one better than the other. There are only two members in this band, two entities called Anders Manga and Devallia. Music is basically horror punk with lots of melody and superbly energetic songs, but there is also lots of melodic metal, almost power true metal in the songwriting, especially in And Soon The Darkness, punk rock is more on the surface in Black Sunday. Vocals by Anders Manga are one of the best vocals I have heard in this genre in last couple of years. This voice is so melodic, yet so powerful. Keyboards fit perfectly in the songs wherever they are applied creating atmosphere of melancholy and sadness, but first they create darkness but such darkness you wish for it to engulf you. Two more songs that I must mention as personal highlights are Last Rites Of Lucifer and Don’t Be Afraid Of The Dark. Excellent, excellent album and my heartily recommendation.
Here is nice little split e.p. release with four songs. Lifecrusher are coming from Switzerland and their two songs represented here are similar to what we called new school hardcore back in the nineties, meaning metallic guitar riffs and moshing parts, plus some punk rock influence thrown in here and there. Their two songs ‘The Price’ and ‘The Plague’ – I love this one more, because it is faster but that is only my taste, reminded me a bit of Earth Crisis. Maybe it is only me. Singer Rami has really powerful screaming energetic voice. Nice having discovered this band. Frantic State are from UK and their two songs ‘The Cost’ and ‘Mantra’ are brutal hardcore, with lots of metallic street core style, in your face hardcore not unlike Walls Of Jericho, Terror, Jesus Piece and some other UK bands like Knuckledust for example. Vocals are screamed at the top of the lungs with some nice backing gang vocals just made for singing along at gigs. My personal taste likes Lifecrusher a bit more, but this is a decent split e.p. so go get yours.
Fairvale’s bastard-style of hardcore punk (ratcore) is heavily rooted in both punk and hard rock with influences stemming from LA and NYC. The band is comprised of current and past members of SoCal staples Ten Foot Pole and supergroup IMPLANTS as well as Dead Lazlo’s Place, Hardstride, The Autopsies, The Gritty End, Y.A.P.O. and more.
Fairvale is Brandon Solis (vocals), Chris Del Rio (guitar, bass), and Jessie Quinonez (drums). Their debut album Ratcore will be released via Cyber Tracks
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