Tuesday 28 April 2020

SERPENT COLUMN

GenresPunk / Hardcore / Metal / Grindcore / Noise / Black Metal / Doom / Experimental
Related artists?.
CountryU.S.A.
Years Active2017-present
Song: "Mirror in Darkness"
Album: "Mirror in Darkness"
Year: 2019
For fans ofTentacles, Deafheaven, Malevich, Noise Trail Immersion, Hope Drone, Genghis Tron, Blue Noise, An Autumn Of Crippled Children, Secondgradknifefight, Cheeseburger Picnic, Deathspell Omega, Portrayal Of Guilt, Nic aka ██████, Thumbscrew, Discordance Axis and Rorcal.
Label(s): Mystískaos / Fallen Empire / Iron Bonehead Productions
This post's artist is from the April 2020 Mix. This is track #4.
You can download: the April 2020 Mix#4 right here or get the new May 2020 Mix#5 here.

I became aware of SERPENT COLUMN after my friend Maya told me to check them out. It took me a bit to figure out how to receive the band's musical input, as this shit is abrasive, jarring and straight-up nightmare-ish. Each album by the band is quite different, but will still knock you off your feet all the same.

Their first venture was 'Ornuthi Thalassa' in 2017. The first three songs are each under six minutes, while the last three are each over six, and it's in the latter half that I find myself most invested in their debut. Don't get me wrong, "Biogony 2" kicks my ass, but "Feldweg" and "Feuersäule" are the real winners here, both of which near the 10-minute mark and deploy more atmosphere amidst the chaos, revealing a much more epic and posty side of the band that we see emerge more on their 2019 LP. Here the Noise Trail Immersion-on-speed approach works well, but it's their later material I crave, as these recordings are more about pummeling the listener and vomit-driven, deeper black-metal vocals.

'Invicta' is a very different beast, as it has only three tracks that clock in at 14:14, 7:19 and 9:01, making it a a pretty long listen, but the songs include many more shifts and manage to slow themselves down to near-nothingness at times. The balance is much more of my taste making it more of an instrumental, atmospheric, post-hardcore and black-metal concoction, but the vocals are rarely present on this release. For example, the demonic shrieks don't show up for nearly seven minutes on the opener "Asphodel" but holy shit they blow the gutteral vocals from the debut out of the water. "Decursio" is my go-to on this album, being the shortest of the three and the most comparable to the following year's groundbreaking LP, as it features a bunch of changes, shrieky vocals and enough melody to coagulate the chaos into something comprehensible.

It was 2019's 'Mirror in Darkness' that I heard first. I almost stopped jamming this after three tracks as it seemed like a cacophony of noise, but I soldiered on through the apocalypse and got myself to five seconds into track four's "Apophenia" my ears perked up and I fell in love. This song has a wonderful, very quick, plucked, guitar progression that leads in and out of the towering black-metal/screamo hybrid with definite nods to grind, and it's fucking sick. At 1:57 the instrumental "Detainment" is a very sick song that employs more intricacy that exists simultaneously with one helluva groove, and also includes a lovely start/stop that precedes the minute mark. It shimmers. It sways. It heaves. But it's the title track "Mirror in Darkness" that is the champion of the band's current discography. Holyyyyyyyy fuck. This is the perfect mixture of ferocious screaming, super crunchy guitars, lightning drumming, breakdowns with a hint of melody. The turnaround/double-time section that hits at 1:03 is otherworldly and helps define this album as an extremely volatile but beautiful piece of art. It would be uncouth of me to not mention "Warlords of the World to Come" for it is sinister personified, with a whirlwind first section, a wonderfully engaging and instrumental midsection followed by a gargantuan close. Goddamn, what an album.

2020's 'Endless Detainment' came out after I already had this set to review, so I haven't jammed it as much as its predecessor. What I know for sure is that the album is way shorter (on discogs.com you'll find 'Invicta' and 'Endless Detainment' are classed as "mini-albums") and relinquishes its hold on melody, opting for blazing speed, short songs and utter annihilation. To be honest it's the interplay of repetition and groove with the band's chaos that really grabs me, and this release is so unrelenting I generally just get barreled over and crushed before I know what's going on, as most songs barely make it to two minutes. Opener "Pantheoclasm" has some seriously punishing bass until the drums whip everything up into a fine paste, "Manure in Pearls" has an awesome title and perhaps goes the hardest, while title track "Endless Detainment" retains the most sense of melody from the previous LP, albeit with a bunch of vocalists. So if you're looking for a challenging and extreme album for 2020 I'd check this the fuck out right now.

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DISCOGRAPHY

2017 - Ornuthi Thalassa cd/12"LP (stream/donate/download here)

2018 - Invicta 12"LP (stream/donate/download here)

2019 - Mirror in Darkness cd/12"LP (stream/donate/download here)

2020 - Endless Detainment 12"LP (stream/donate/download here)

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(2019) SERPENT COLUMN - "Mirror in Darkness" (from 'Mirror in Darkness')

(2019) SERPENT COLUMN - "Apophenia" (from 'Mirror in Darkness')

(2019) SERPENT COLUMN - "Detainment" (from 'Mirror in Darkness')

(2020) SERPENT COLUMN - "Endless Detainment" (from 'Endless Detainment')

(2020) SERPENT COLUMN - "Άράχναιν" (from 'Endless Detainment')

(2020) SERPENT COLUMN - "Each and Every Temple" (from 'Endless Detainment')

(2018) SERPENT COLUMN - "Decursio" (from 'Invicta')

(2017) SERPENT COLUMN - "Feldweg" (from 'Ornuthi Thalassa')

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SERPENT COLUMN additional links
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Sunday 26 April 2020

ARMYWIVES

BandARMYWIVES
GenresPunk / Hardcore / Post-Hardcore / Mathcore / Emo / Screamo / Skramz
Related artistsTo Kill The King, My Aim Is True, I Can Dream, Young English, Sleeping At The End Of The World, I Am The End, Color Blind Light and Just.
CountryNew York/Philadelphia U.S.A.
Years Active2010-present
Song: "Thoughts + Prayers"
Album: "Thoughts + Prayers"
Year: 2019
For fans ofKidcrash, Dowager, Massa Nera, Eyelet, Carrion Spring, Mustaphamond, Crowning, Shirokuma, Pianos Become The Teeth and Off Minor.
Label(s): Self Released / Zegema Beach Records / Missed Out Records
This post's artist is from the April 2020 Mix. This is track #2.
You can download: the April 2020 Mix#4 right here or get the new May 2020 Mix#5 here.


ARMYWIVES are ridiculous. Their early work from 2010 to 2014 was decent, but in 2019 they came back with three excellent singles and a stunning EP in this utter shite year that is 2020. If you like your screamo with jazzy noodles as well as post-hardcore then by golly this New York/Philly band is for you.

The aformentioned '2010-2014 Discography' is a mildly stripped down version of what ARMYWIVES is now. It's kinda Pianos Become The Teeth screamy post-hardcore with "Herald" and "Choke" being the stronger tracks, but closer "Bygones" is my favourite and therefore also closest in sound to their new material. It reminds me most of the 'A Short History of Decay' material and is equally muscular and sensitive with .

"Thoughts + Prayers" was the first song I heard by the band, after they asked if they could play ZBR Fest 2020, to which I replied good god please do. Remember Dowager? No? Well...shit. Kinda Eyelet, kinda Kidcrash, and that's exactly what this song has, but with a noticeable ARMYWIVES spin that has recently had me enamored by their output. "Twenty-four Karat" is another fucking banger, beautifully intertwining the noodles with the heavy, including some excellent screaming and one helluva sick intro. The final single I heard was "Unmarked", and I'm glad I heard it last as it gives me the least feels out of the three, mostly due to the poppier nature of the instrumentals. You're not going to find any clean singing, but the post-hardcore nears pop-punk - and not in a bad way...I just love me some Kidcrash.

Leading up to ZBR Fest 2020 I asked the band if they had new material coming out, to which they replied, "yes, we'll have an EP mastered in a week or two." Very good timing. So I went ahead and released that unbelievable self titled screamo gold on cassettes, with Missed Out Records releasing (and immediately selling out of) 20 lathe 7"s. 'armywives' was first premiered right here on OMSB on April 20th so I'm not really going to go into another track-by-track commentary, although I will say:
- the intro of "est cette vie?" gives me all the Kidcrash feels and the subsequent explosions are epic
- "est-ce la mort?" is the most versatile of the four
- the end of "able" is crushing
- the looping/forever-morphing progression is awesome, and those screams are the best on the EP

I dunno what's next from ARMYWIVES but I expect it to be in my top 10 list regardless of length. This band is the shit.

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DISCOGRAPHY

2014 - 2010-2014 Discography (stream/donate/download here)

2019 - twenty-four karat digital single (stream/buy here)
2019 - unmarked digital single (stream/buy here)
2019 - Thoughts + Prayers digital single (stream/donate/download here)

2020 - armywives cassette/7" lathe (stream/donate/download here) [buy tape from ZBR U.S.A. here or Canada/International here]

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(2020) ARMYWIVES - "able" (from 'armywives')

(2020) ARMYWIVES - "est cette vie?" (from 'armywives')

(2020) ARMYWIVES - "first you must die to be reborn" (from 'armywives')

(2019) ARMYWIVES - "Thoughts + Prayers" (from 'Thoughts + Prayers')

(2019) ARMYWIVES - "Twenty-Four Karat" (from 'Twenty-Four Karat')

(2014) ARMYWIVES - "Bygones" (from '2010-2014 Discography')



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ARMYWIVES additional links
________________________________________

***PODCAST #40 - Durell Smith (Mahria/Obroa-skai)***


Years upon years ago I saw MAHRIA play in Toronto to no more than 15 people and it was an awe-inspiring to say the least (check out videos and such here). Years later OBROA-SKAI formed and I became reacquainted with total sweetheart Durell Smith who has played drums in both incredible Edmonton bands.

OBROA-SKAI

With the quarantine in place and Zegema Beach Records Fest 2020 not happening, I've grown rather lonely in my screamo bubble so I decided to start recording the podcasts over the phone instead of in-person, which has vastly increased the number of people I can interview/chat with. My first thought was to reach out to Durell and see if he was interested in talking about the histories of both bands, and it's perfect timing with OBROA-SKAI releasing two incredible split albums and the upcoming MAHRIA 'Analemma' cassette release.

The MAHRIA tapes will officially be released on Zegema Beach Records May 5th, 2020 and come on the following variants:
100 dark transparent blue
30 metallic purple swirl
30 metallic silver swirl
6 clear
6 transparent yellow
5 test dips
3 super special versions

European friends, copies will available from Polar Summer Records in late May.

Enough talking, there's lots of that on Podcast #40, which is available to stream and/or download for free via this link.

1
NUVOLASCURA - "Apyrexy" (Dave+Durell)

2
FRAIL HANDS - "ephemeral" (Durell)
ARMYWIVES - "est cette vie?" (Dave)
MOSS HARVEST - "Refrained" (Durell)


3
SINE NOMINE - "Everyones Classroom" (Dave)
RESPIRE - "Haunt" (Durell)

~Dave

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PODCAST #40 linked here
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Thursday 23 April 2020

***Vienna live video CROWNING / NIBOOWIN / SWALLOWS NEST / CASSUS***

CROWNING / NIBOOWIN / SWALLOWS NEST / CASSUS
exclusive video premiere

In the summer of 2019 I had the honor of touring Europe with some truly incredible people and had an unforgettable experience. Besides my constantly shifting memory of that tour, I have someone named Dave Cullen who helps make those experiences much easier to remember. After creating an exceptional tour documentary (linked here and embedded below) he took some additional time to immerse us in that July 3rd night in Austria. This was the show following a 13-hour drive through the night in which Crowning and Swallows Nest got almost no sleep but as Matt said, "It was the best I'd felt all day."

(2019) Various "Vienna's Day of Amazing" (from 'CROWNING / SWALLOWS NEST' tour)


ADDITIONAL LINKS & WHATNOT

CROWNING / SWALLOWS NEST tour documentary

Monday 20 April 2020

***ARMYWIVES exlusive EP premiere***

'armywives'
exclusive album premiere
For fans ofKidcrash, Eyelet, Dowager, Mustaphamond, Massa Nera, Old Soul, Carrion Spring, Frail Body and Off Minor

Bandcamp
Facebook

pre-order from Zegema Beach Records:
U.S.A.
Everywhere else

7" lathes coming soon from Missed Out Records

I don't really know what to say about ARMYWIVES...except maybe, why aren't people freaking out about this band? The Brooklyn/Philly band has been playing together for 10 years and their new EP was so good that I immediately asked to release it on Zegema Beach Records. My automatic go-to for reference points are Kidcrash and Eyelet, so you know this shit is jazzy and epic/screamy. The tapes are set to arrive later today, then I gotta dip 50 (and leave the other 20 as transparent pink) so they will start shipping out late April from the Canada store and mid-May from the U.S. store. Missed Out Records is also releasing some 7" lathes so be on the lookout for those!

Enough info, go jam these songs then head over to a bandcamp near you and nab that digital EP stat.

(2020) ARMYWIVES "est cette vie?" (from 'armywives')
Opener "est cette vie?" let's you know what the band is all about in two minutes flat. It opens like your favourite Kidcrash jam, weaving in and out of pretty/jazzy bits and powerful, driving, Loma Prieta-esque screamo.

(2020) ARMYWIVES "est-ce la mort?" (from 'armywives')
Nearing three minutes is "est-ce la mort?" which is more rooted in expansive, dense post-hardcore than jazzy screamo, but the execution is flawless, making the track as strong as any on the EP. Maybe a bit like 'Old Pride' era Pianos Become The Teeth.


(2020) ARMYWIVES "able" (from 'armywives')
I'd probably call this the fire track, as it consumes me like a crispy forest and decimates every time. The song brings to mind Eyelet, Frail Body and Dowager, bands that straddle the epic/jazzy/melodic trifecta, with an ending that fucking slaps.

(2020) ARMYWIVES "first you must die to be reborn" (from 'armywives')
The only song to be released previously (on Caleb's fantastic Captured Howls) is vastly different from the first three, as it relies on a single repetition and is nearly double the length yet it still manages to shoulder the most epic of the EPs weight. The back-and-forth, dual, anguished screams that are slathered over the dreamy soundscapes carry the listener into its climax come 1:35, with a truly exceptional explosion at 1:55 that exponentially becomes unstable until it tears the song apart, reverting it back to the opening repetition.

ADDITIONAL LINKS & WHATNOT

Sunday 19 April 2020

HIROSHIMA | NAGASAKI

GenresPunk / Hardcore / Emo / Screamo / Skramz
Related artists?.
CountryLima PERU
Years Active2018-present
Song: "世界は残酷"
Album: "Demo"
Year: 2019
For fans ofHugs, Orbit Cinta Benjamin, We Watch Clouds, LKTDOV, Istilah, Hue, El Eje Del Mal, In Memories and Te Lloraría un Puto Río.
Label(s): Self Released
This post's artist is from the March 2020 Mix. This is track #3.
You can download: the April 2020 Mix#4 right here or get the new May 2020 Mix#5 here.

HIROSHIMA | NAGASAKI is a five-piece band from Lima, Peru. Their first recording came to light in the form of "The last days of Black Bomb" on a compilation titled 'Movimiento Circular de los Arboles Vol. 2'. It's very reminiscent of the band's 2019 sound, perhaps just a bit bassier. The vocals are top-notch and blur the line between screams and anguish yells. The production is pretty lo-fi and fuzzy, but you can everything so the concoction works quite well.

2019 was when I first heard the band through their 'Demo' EP that was in my honorable mentions list of releases from that year (linked here). The opener is easily one of, if not the strongest track, as "世界は残酷" hits an excellent groove come 25 seconds. Slathering on that deep bass, the song swings into an extremely catchy-yet-sludgy and screamy midsection that reminds me of a cross between Hugs and Istalah. "Culto a Saturno" is next, also hovering just above the two-minute mark, creates a brighter atmosphere before harnessing epic post-hardcore to complete the second-half of the track. "Tradiciones" is another banger that follows a similar trajectory to the opener, as it goes full-tilt, gets its dance on, then hits hard during the close, a formula that is the band's most successful. Closer "De tanto despedirnos, me despedí" is the only track over two minutes in length, and it's pretty decent, but lacks the punch of the other three, although the section that runs through the one-minute mark gets a head-nod for sure, and the singing on the way out are reminiscent of both Hue and Sans Visage from Japan.

They've got a split to record whenever covid ends, so be on the lookout for that side of said split at some point in the distant or maybe not-too distant future.

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DISCOGRAPHY

2018 - Movimiento Circular de los Arboles Vol. 2 compilation (contributed "The last days of Black Bomb") (stream/donate/download here)

2019 - Demo EP (stream/donate/download here)

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(2019) HIROSHIMA | NAGASAKI - "世界は残酷" (from 'Demo')

(2019) HIROSHIMA | NAGASAKI - "Tradiciones" (from 'Demo')

(2018) HIROSHIMA | NAGASAKI - "The last days of Black Bomb" (from 'Movimiento Circular de los Arboles Vol. 2')

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HIROSHIMA | NAGASAKI additional links
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Tuesday 14 April 2020

***NUVOLASCURA exclusive song premiere***

"Apyrexy"
exclusive song premiere
For fans ofMahria, Frail Hands. Rayleigh and Lord Snow


Holy shit, are you fucking ready? I am sweating serotonin whilst bringing you the brand spankin' new track from the upcoming NUVOLASCURA 12"LP 'as we suffer from memory and imagination'!!! With such isolating times, the band wanted to reach out with a new song, as the full album was just recently finished and is being sent to the plant shortly but we obviously expect delays. The 12" will be released on my label Zegema Beach Records (we released the previous S/T 12" on two different runs) alongside European heavyweight Dog Knights Productions (who helped corelease the repress of the S/T), likely being available in late summer/fall, but we will be at the mercy of COVID so no promises. All art by Sean Leary, but the art you see is specifically for the single and not the 12" jacket, with the songs recorded and mastered by Jack Shirley.

(2020) NUVOLASCURA "Apyrexy" (from 'as we suffer from memory and imagination')
First off, I think it's worth noting that when drummer and all-around gorgeous human being Taylor sent me the songs, they mentioned specifically that this track was the best representation of the band and the best song they've ever written. That's a lot of bests, and they ain't wrong in the slightest. "Apyrexy" begins with by far the most accessible NUVOLASCURA section that lasts for a mere 20 seconds before things start to darken. At 50 seconds a piercing guitar lead cuts through everything, and the subsequent breakdown/noodle-fest really lets that incredible drumming shine. The final 15 seconds of the track is reserved for the heaviest, bleakest moment in the song, creating the perfect climax to an astonishing title track.

Lyrics:
i won't trust, not for lack of want
i stay at arm's length. keep your distance 
long for connection, patterns emerge
If I smile you’ll fuck me
wear all black, avoid eye contact. it's for the best
leave me buried in shame. alone, hazy mistakes
sit in ambivalence. is it for the best
unapproachable, is it for the worse


ADDITIONAL LINKS & WHATNOT

Buy 'Nuvolascura' 12"LP repress from:

ZBR U.S.A.

ZBR Canada

DKP Europe

Sunday 12 April 2020

***2020 OMSB mp3 Mix #5 (May)***

(((((OPENmind/SATURATEDbrain)))))
May 2020 mp3 MIX #5
 => ***DOWNLOAD HERE*** <=
https://www91.zippyshare.com/v/lKql3Ygg/file.html
...and updates

***
COVID this and COVID that. COVID kinda fucked things up, but we'll eventually bounce back. Speaking of said 2020 "goddamned rollercoaster thus far", we didn't anticipate COVID, so ZBR Fest 2020 is cancelled.

Some good news on my end is I've decided to go through every Zegema Beach Records release and give a bit of history and info that people might not know. So far I've covered Zampler 1-2 and ZBR001-ZBR007. Just check our facebook or youtube page (for ZBR) to find those, but here's the funnier one in case you want a laugh whilst simultaneously finding out about a sick band.

Here's the tracklisting for OMSB mix#3 that was reviewed in March:

1) WE ARE AMONG STORMS - "My Collection"

2) NYA STÄDER - "II"

3) TEMENIGRU - "Mocking"

4) AMITIÉ - "Mother of Mothers"

5) coming whenever cdbaby ships the damn cd...so fall?

GLASS NOOSE - 'no more dignity' review by Dave Cullen

Much love,

Dave @ (((((OPENmind/SATURATEDbrain)))))

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ZBR Store/Bandcamp

ORPHAN DONOR - 'Old Patterns' cd/cassetteEP

cassette (order here for US / here for everywhere else)
(listen here)


BONEFLOWER 'A(r)mour' LP

ONES AND TWOS 'Compilation' LP
Limbs
This Place Is Actually The Worst
cassette (order here for US / here for everywhere else)
(listen here)


YURODIVY 'Tell Me When the Party's Over' LP

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***Interviews/live shows/premieres coming up this month for sure:
- ARMYWIVES exclusive EP premiere

***Interviews/live shows/premieres posted last month:
- BEST OF 2019:
      ***LPs***
      ***EPs***
- WISHESONAPLANE song premiere
- IN WOLVES CLOTHING song premiere
DET ÄR DÄRFÖR VI BYGGER STÄDER song premiere #1
DET ÄR DÄRFÖR VI BYGGER STÄDER song premiere #2
- VIRGINIA ON DUTY + TDOAFS song premieres

________________________________________________________________________

***The following page have changes:
- nada
________________________________________________________________________

As always, on or around the 1st of every month, I will be posting a ZIP file with songs for the upcoming month with ALL specifics deleted from the tags, so unless you already know the band, there is NO information regarding each track.

During the following month, I will post reviews for those bands and link the tracks to the review so you can associate the two together. This way you can listen to a new song/band and have little-to-no bias. Below, I have re-posted the April mp3 mix that is used for this month's reviews.

OLD MIX
***2020 OMSB mp3 Mix #4 (reviewed in April)***
https://www91.zippyshare.com/v/7Q8j3TY4/file.html
________________________________________________________________________

The new 2020 OMSB mp3 Mix #5 :
*-* a new band from a member of Caught In The Fall, Back When and Eyes Of Verotika!
*-* an incredible band with a very obscure 2011 demo
*-* Norma Jean meets Every Time I Die (I think there are two bands on this mix that fit that description!)

NEW MIX
NEW => ***2020 OMSB mp3 Mix #5 (reviewed in May)*** <= NEW
https://www91.zippyshare.com/v/lKql3Ygg/file.html
________________________________________________________________________

Any bands/labels that are interested in having their stuff reviewed, please email zegemabeachrecords@gmail.com: with "Open Mind Saturated Brain" as the subject. Please keep in mind that I don't review everything, just what jives with the blog. I will, however, listen to everything you send me. I would recommend emailing with an idea for a song/album premiere 2 months prior to that song/album release date for a much stronger chance at being reviewed on this blog. Bands that have already had their discography reviewed can also submit new albums for review if they include song/album premieres.

Friday 10 April 2020

***VIRGINIA ON DUTY + TDOAFS exclusive premiere***

VIRGINIA ON DUTY / TDOAFS
"detainee" & "altered forever"
exclusive song premieres

pre-orders for 12" coming soon!

pre-order tapes/50 from No Funeral here

I've seen this incredible 4-Way 12" split between Kafka., Junior Leagues, The Discord Of A Forgotten Sketch and Virginia On Duty in the works for a few months now, so it's with great enthusiasm that I share a song by two of the bands. You can check out Guillaume's premiere at Le dictionnaire de l'emo of the other two bands (Kafka and Junior Leagues) here. The 12" will be released on both black and transparent green/black smoke via Unlock Yourself Records (RUS), Seitan's Hell Bike Punks (FRA), Polar Summer (RUS), Never Again Records (RUS), Les disques Rabat-joie (CA), Zilpzalp Records (GER), Non Ti Seguo Records (ITA), Hell Vice i Vicious (FRA), et Missed Out Records (US) and tapes on No Funeral Records (Canada). Without further ado, here are new tracks by VIRGINIA ON DUTY and TDOAFS!!!

(2019) VIRGINIA ON DUTY "detainee" (from '4-Way' split)
Good lord, these Malaysian heavyweights never disappoint. I fucking love this band and their two tracks rip. This is the second and longer of the two, laying on the dark, screamy hardcore with a ferocious close. Perhaps my favourite song on the entire split.

(2019) TDOAFS "altered forever" (from '4-Way' split)
This long-running Quebec band dishes out three tunes, this being the first. The yelled vocals remind me of A Day In Black And White, with the instrumentals not being far behind. The mathy/disjointed section that starts at 42 seconds is killer, as is the dreamy, drum-led part that follows. Without a doubt one of the best TDOAFS songs.


ADDITIONAL LINKS & WHATNOT

Wednesday 8 April 2020

AMITIÉ

BandAMITIÉ
GenresPunk / Hardcore / Post-Hardcore / Metal / Emo / Screamo / Skramz / Emo-violence
Related artistsA mola Mola, Agapé, tall ships, terror eyes, Black Phillip and Worst Days.
CountryProvidence, Rhode Island U.S.A.
Years Active2018-present
Song: "Mother of Mothers"
Album: "Don't//Try//Let//Die"
Year: 2019
For fans ofD'Amore, Sweetheart, Eyes Of Verotika, Emma Goldman, People's Temple Project and Worst Days.
Label(s): Illuminate My Heart Records / Zegema Beach Records / Tomb Tree Tapes / No Funeral Records / Larry Records / Dingleberry Records / Shove Records / Moment Of Collapse
This post's artist is from the March 2020 Mix. This is track #4.
You can download: the March 2020 Mix#3 right here or get the new April 2020 Mix#4 here.


AMITIÉ began as TALL SHIPS SET SAIL but changed their name and (for the most part) their sound in 2018. The poppy emo was replaced with much stronger, heavier and more dynamic screamo, and I couldn't more on board with it. Despite being a pretty new band, their unique sound is very distinguishable and difficult to pigeonhole, although comparisons to D'Amore and Sweetheart are probably the best thing I've come up with.

They first released a track called "Overtoun Mink" that eventually became part of the digital 4-way 12" (but not the physical...sad dog) and it's fucking awesome. I'm a picky son of a bitch with clean vocals, but the crooning on this song is by far its best feature. The other two songs from (I would assume) the same session were released on the ChivaláLytic and Piqué split 12" that I helped put out. Opener "The First 21 Years" is straight-up emo and very reminiscent of Tall Ships, but the next one "Perpetual Motion" is much more in Dave-style. This sucker is over four minutes in length, taking the listener through many alleyways and back doors. Things get pretty heavy come 30 seconds, but it's the transition just after 50 seconds that is truly staggering, despite the lack of chugs. There's excellent dual screaming amidst twinkly, driving instrumentals that eventually culminate in an excellent mixture of emo and hardcore.

Just a few months later the band really took things up a notch and released a truly most excellent LP by the title of 'Don't​/​/​Try​/​/​Let​/​/​Die'. "What I Did Wrong" opens with strained, spoken word and calm post-hardcore that gradually becomes more and more volatile until it finally leaps into emo-violence territory come 1:34. "Subtract Capacity" is the first certified fire hazard on this album, as it swells for the first 40 seconds before utilizing a fantastic speed up at 45 and 52 seconds, giving me goosies every time. The best track has to be "Mother of Mothers", as any fan of German screamo/emo-violence will likely get a fucking kick out of the introductory guitar tone as well as the bass, which sounds like the most graceful plummet down a cliffside that I've ever heard. Just before the first minute ends the song shifts into another beautiful sounding screamo build that layers a second guitar at around 1:30 and goes supernova at 1:46. "Nightshade" is another quintessential AMITIÉ tune that is a mishmash of European Italian screamo, bassy noise rock and some excellent dual vocals. Another track of note is "Tilted Houses", which rides a massive, rolling wave that crashes come 1:25 on the shore to reveal luscious treasures. The only thing I think this release suffers from is slight inconsistency, as half the tracks are sweet and the other half are incredible, making it an excellent full length, but had it been a five songs I'd be touting this in the top 5 EPs of 2019. Tomb Tree Tapes just released a second run of 50 cassettes, 20 on swirl, 25 on silver and 5 on very special swirl w/gold injection.

As the band continued to mature, they made a very cool decision to spearhead an incredible 5" split series that they are in the midst of at the time of this review. Thus far they have released the first three lathes alongside Pique, Karloff and Piet Onthel with (I think) two more to come. The 'Pique split' houses "Today's Agenda Is...", a 47-second romp of explosive, metallic hardcore with strong emo-violence tendencies. No noodles or atmospheric sections here, just fire. I had the pleasure of helping release the 'Karloff split' 5" lathe, and that contribution is easily one of my absolute favourite AMITIÉ jams. Matt's bass starts this one off alongside driving drums and spacey guitars, but at 37 seconds the song quadruples in speed. At around 50 seconds I think I'm listening to For Your Health or Binary, and during the epic conclusion there's more metalcore than anything going on. Hot damn! Just last month they dropped their 'Piet Onthel split' 5" where you can find the song "Hyperaggressive". It's brooding, immersive intro explodes after almost 50 seconds with some ridiculous drums, only to give way to a jazzy section before the climax.

I am aware of a sick upcoming 3-way 7" lathe due to my involvement with Zegema Beach Records, as we will be helping release it with some other stellar labels. The only thing I will say about it is "Scam Likely" is one of the two AMITIÉ tracks, and the entire split is fucking awesome.

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DISCOGRAPHY

2019 - amitié digital single (stream/buy here)
2019 - 4-Way split (w/Chivalá, Lytic and Piqué) 12" (stream/buy here) [buy from ZBR here]
2019 - Pique split 5" lathe (stream/buy here)
2019 - Don't​/​/​Try​/​/​Let​/​/​Die cassetteLP (stream/buy here) [buy from ZBR U.S.A. here or Canada/Internationally]

2020 - Karloff split cassette/5" lathe (stream/buy here) [buy tape from ZBR]
2020 - Piet Onthel split 5" lathe (stream/donate/download here)
2020 - Miss The Stars digital compilation (contributed "Scam Likely") (stream/donate/download here)
2020 - upcoming 3-way split 7" lathe

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(2020) AMITIÉ - "Scam Likely" (from 'Miss The Stars' comp, will also appear on upcoming 3-way split)

(2019) AMITIÉ - "Mother of Mothers" (from 'Don't​/​/​Try​/​/​Let​/​/​Die')

(2019) AMITIÉ - "Subtract Capacity" (from 'Don't​/​/​Try​/​/​Let​/​/​Die')

(2019) AMITIÉ - "Nightshade" (from 'Don't​/​/​Try​/​/​Let​/​/​Die')

(2020) AMITIÉ - "Hyperaggressive" (from 'Piet Onthel' split)

(2020) AMITIÉ - "A Love Letter" (from 'Karloff' split)

(2019) AMITIÉ - "Today's Agenda Is..." (from 'Pique' split)

(2019) AMITIÉ - "Perpetual Motion" (from '4-Way' split)

(2019) AMITIÉ - "Overtoun Mink" (from 'amitié')

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AMITIÉ additional links
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Tuesday 7 April 2020

***2019 "Best Of" EPs***

Best of 2019 LPs linked here!

U.S. of DAVE
(Dave Cullen / Crowning)

Top 10 EPs (in no particular order):

1) EYELET - The Howling in the Hall
2) NEW FORMS - I don't want to live my life again
3) TARR - Tape
4) RAYLEIGH - Last Word
5) R. JOSEF - Panoptic
6) LONG DISTANCE RUNNER - No Escape
7) DEALER - Soul Burn
8) DREI AFFEN - Seguimos Ciegxs
9) VANTANA ROW - Wiccan EP
10) TO BE GENTLE - L'autre Côté de la Peur


CANADAVE
(David Norman / Apostles Of Eris + Our Future Is An Absolute Shadow)

Top 10 EPs:

#1) A PARAMOUNT, A LOVE SUPREME
- demo tapeEP + Crisis Meditations tapeEP

#2) FRAIL BODY
A Brief Memorium cassette/12"EP

#3) CADY
Silence Will Not Protect You cassetteEP

#4) DREI AFFEN
Seguimos Ciegxs 12"EP

#5) EYELET
The Howling in the Hall cassetteEP

#6) RAYLEIGH
- Last Word cassetteEP

#7) JAZZBRUNCH
Jazzbrunch 7"EP

#8) LONG DISTANCE RUNNER
No Escape 7"EP

#9) BLEAK RUGIADA
Bleak Rugiada cassetteEP

#10) TO BE GENTLE
L'autre Côté de la Peur cassetteEP


CanaDave's honorable mentions:

AND IT'S NAME WAS EPYON - Visit to a Grave tapeEP
BURIAL DANCE - A Shadow/A Vessel EP
CROSS BRINGER - Supplication/Sacrament single
HIROSHIMA - NAGASAKI - Demo EP
JEROME DREAMS - x cassetteEP
LYTIC - stEP
OBROA-SKAI - Obroa-skai cassetteEP
SECOND GUESSING - Tijd Verdringt 12"EP
R.JOSEF - Panoptic cassetteEP
SUPINE - Deluge of Data cassetteEP


We didn't make a video for these, but here my Top 5 splits of 2019:
1) People's Temple Project / Sleeper Wave 12" split
2) Frail Body / Massa Nera / Infant Island / Dianacrawls 12" split
3) MALISA BAHAT / ZMAR 7" split
4) Shizune / Lytic 7" split
5) For Your Health / Shin Guard - 'Death of Spring' Split cassette/12"LP

Saturday 4 April 2020

***DET ÄR DÄRFÖR VI BYGGER STÄDER exclusive song premiere (the 2nd)***

"Håll dig borta från Söder"
exclusive song premiere
For fans of¡Silencio, Ahora, Silencio!Suis La Lune and I Love Your Lifestyle


Well hot damn, another DET ÄR DÄRFÖR VI BYGGER STÄDER premiere! This one came about as I had asked if I could premiere track 8 from the band's upcoming 'Nya Slussen' 12"LP for their first song premiere (linked here), but the band had already settled on the opener. Why did I ask for track 8 though? Cuz it's fucking fire, my friends. 'Nya Slussen' releasing April 12th, 2020 on Dingleberry (Germany), Left Hand Label (UK/Germany), Missed Out Records (USA), See You Next Summer (Sweden), Ungulates (Japan) and Zilpzalp Records (Germany).

(2020) DET ÄR DÄRFÖR VI BYGGER STÄDER "Håll dig borta från Söder" (from 'Nya Slussen')
In just 1:13 "Håll dig borta från Söder" manages to go off the entire time. Hmmmm...let's see.
00:02 rampant, chaotic introduction
00:11 first stop/start injection
00:23 second stop/start injection
00:29 awesome little grunge transition and a sick drumbeat
00:35 dual vocal shrieking
00:44 swirling guitars part 1
00:54 swirling guitars part 2
01:05 everything plays once and it ends
I just jammed that five times to get everything lol. It's so good imma gunna jam it again. Fuck yeah.