(((((OPENmind/SATURATEDbrain))))): STORM{O}

Monday, 30 June 2014

STORM{O}

Band: STORM{O}

Genres: Punk / Noise Rock / Grind / Mathcore / Emo-Violence / Crust / Hardcore / Post-Hardcore / Metalcore / Screamo / Noise / Experimental / Thrash
Related artists: I don't know.
Country: Feltre, ITALY
Years Active: 2005-present
Song: "Supernova"
Album: "Sospesi Nel Vuoto Bruceremo In Un Attimo E Il Cerchio Sara Chiuso"
Year: 2014
Label(s): Self Released / Friendly Otter / Desordre Ordonne / Cynic Lab / Shove Records / Here And Now Records / Fallo Dischi / Dischi Bervisti / Epileptic Media / Left Hand / SM Musik / Storm Records
This post's artist is from the June 2014 Mix. This is track #15.
You can download the June 2014 Mix#6 right here or get the new July Mix#7 here.
For fans of: Virginia On Duty, Seventeen Again, Alpinist, Ravin, Jungbluth, The Expectorated Sequence, Rayleigh, The Power And The Glory, Envy, Tetola93, La Parade, Converge, Locktender, Cassilis, Dolcim, June Paik, Zann, Trainwreck, La Quiete, Enkephalin, Psyopus, Crrust and Rosetta.

Ever wondered what Converge would sound like with screamed vocals, the melodic grasp of La Parade (with zero clean singing), the unrelenting heaviness of The Power And The Glory mixed with the urgency of Jungbluth? How's about another question, how fast can a person drum without spontaneously combusting? The answer to both questions...STORM{O}.

STORM{O} has apparently been around for awhile (since 2005, apparently), but I only just heard them after picking up a copy of their breathtaking new gatefold LP entitled 'Sospesi Nel Vuoto Bruceremo In Un Attimo E Il Cerchio Sara Chiuso'. The first thing I said was, "This is a 4-piece? No fuckin' way." Yes way. They may only have 4 members but these Italians will beat you into submission with their bass-heavy, chaotic and venomous style of hardcore that incorporates elements of crust, black-metal, grind and maybe even a bit of metallic screamo.

Songs like "Supernova", "Fuga", "D'istanti" and "L'accecante Guida" are full-blown bangers. Do not expect niceties with these tracks as well as the remaining 11 that make up one of the angriest sounding records I've heard in quite some time. "Supernova" was the song that I included on the June 2014 Mix #6 because it's got everything I love about the band, pummeling drums, breakneck breakdowns, post-hardcore dreamy riffing, screaming and Italian shouting. This is also probably the best song on the record. "Fuga" is a perfect example of STORM{O}'s dark and violent side, which permeates the album and is the defining sound of the band, at least in my opinion. "D'istanti" injects some ambient/spacey elements into the mix, with the most interesting section of the song being after 1:40 when the band includes a very cool/trippy riff that works as the perfect instrumental interlude. "L'accecante Guida" expires before the 90-second mark because it's fucking intense. The wailing licks and spoken word lead way to an awesome bass-heavy breakdown that is more than just a simple chug dealy.

STORM{O} does experiment with different sounds, as "Delle Nostre Vite Appese" is a much lighter sounding song with elements of bands like Pastel and Vi Som Alskade Varandra Sa Mycket while "Meditazione Sulle Eterne Massime- Parte I - Le Cose Peggiori" could easily be likened to The Power And The Glory as well as Converge's spacier moments on 'No Heroes' and 'Axe To Fall'. "Respiro" is primarily an acoustic number with bass and drums coupled with partially spoken/strained/screamed vocals. On the opposite end of the spectrum, the 40-second "Aspettandone Uno Vivo" is by far the wildest and most intense song on this recording. The album doesn't have any let downs and is as consistent as I'd want from any band. I absolutely love the aggression and anger on this album, which really shines through and their chaotic bursts remind me of Europe's Zann and Trainwreck, as well as Japan's Tetola93.

The band's first self titled EP is okay. The band was still maturing, and the members were certainly interested in making the music faster and more complex than their later material, which is obvious in their more simplistic approach of Psyopus meets Jungbluth with a hint of Enkephalin. It's decent but doesn't hold a candle to the band's new material - although those looking for speed and craziness will find it here. Oh, and vocals that sound what I would expect a bat crossed with a pterodactyl to sound like.

The 2009 split (with whom? I have no idea) is the stepping stone from the first to the latest record as the vocals are on par, but the instrumentals still dabble in the extremely mathy, almost Psyopus meets Botch territory. I love those bands, but it doesn't suit STORM{O} as much as the subdued, dark and heavy hardcore that they have since perfected.

To sum up the band's sound, STORM{O} have expertly harnessed dark, crusty, grinding, complex and unrelenting hardcore. With unbridled enthusiasm and aggression, the band mixes the serene with the explosive. The instrumentals come across like slabs of concrete with intricate and beautiful designs etched into their indestructible foundation. That's a pretty complex sum-up. My bad. But I posted about STORM{O}, so my good. Even Steven.

________________________________________

DISCOGRAPHY

2007 - Storm{O} cassette/12"LP (donate/download here)

2009 - Split with ? (I don't know!) 7" (donate/download here)

2014 - Sospesi Nel Vuoto Bruceremo In Un Attimo E Il Cerchio Sara Chiuso cassette/12"LP (donate/download here)

________________________________________

(2014) STORM{O} - "Supernova" (from ''Sospesi Nel Vuoto Bruceremo In Un Attimo E Il Cerchio Sara Chiuso'')

(2014) STORM{O} - "D'istanti" (from ''Sospesi Nel Vuoto Bruceremo In Un Attimo E Il Cerchio Sara Chiuso'')

(2014) STORM{O} - "Meditazione Sulle Eterne Massime - Parte III - L'accecante Guida" (from ''Sospesi Nel Vuoto Bruceremo In Un Attimo E Il Cerchio Sara Chiuso'')