Jerkswitch are coming from Montreal, Canada and this is their new E.P. containing 5 songs. I don’t know how to characterize their music but I will try. First song Pushin’ Daisies is pure hardcore punk smash, short and sweet on point. Second song Code Red is basically fast hardcore punk, but has ska core parts and this song shows how much this band is tight musically. There is also melancholic guitar melody in this song. Vocals vary from nice melodic singing to more screaming parts, also backing vocal harmonies are in place all the time and fit perfectly to the song structures. The whole energy has some beautiful yet raw hardcore punk vibe and shows diversity and originality of this band. The third song Fight a Table reminded me of early Suicidal Tendencies turning into more modern hardcore punk with speed, energy and surprising change in style almost jazzy and post punk dancing part. Fourth song RX leads us back into hardcore punk with ska punk song parts and more angry vocals with hardcore breakdown. Lyrics of the band are personal but with a touch of humor and self irony looking the world around us. The last song is Lidocaine(Acoustic version) and ends this little opus perfectly. Nice release, i would love to hear more of this band in the future.
I love Kvar since their debut full length album SSS more than decade ago. I am very glad that they are back after some pause that the scene didn’t hear for them. Kvar are coming from Zagreb, capitol of Croatia and this new E.P. contains 4 songs, 3 in Croatian and 1 in English language. The lyrics are personal but at the same time critical of society that we live in. Music is a mixture of melodic punk, some hardcore punk and ska/reggae and it is a perfect blend. My personal favorites on this one are Iskreno(Sincerely) and Ovaj svijet(This World). This band also rocks live, so if you have an ability to check them out do that! Welcome back Kvar! We are waiting for more new music!
Public Serpents are band based in New Jersey and this is their new album containing 13 songs. This band may be new in the scene, but they are in no way strangers to the scene. Public Serpents are led by singer Skwert known for his playing with Choking Victim and being a pioneer of crack steady and crust ska punk scene. This is his new band and they deliver such energetic and mighty album with this one. From fast hardcore punk oriented songs like ‘Why Can’t I Tell’ to ska core anthems of ‘When Pigs Lie’, ‘Armageddon Stomp’, these guys deliver a storm of melody, rough vocals courtesy of Skwert but fitting perfectly to the song melodies, brass elements, and more rawer and dirtier sound of guitars with catchy hooks and at time street punk riffs and melodies thrown in. ‘Farewell’ is also one of the songs I must mention as being my highlight of the album having such melancholic and sad, yet at the same time uplifting melody. This is a superb ska core album, go listen and grab this one!
KRAYKULLA-WEBZINE 