Tuesday 31 July 2018

EMA CAMELIA

BandEMA CAMELIA
GenresPunk / Hardcore / Post-Hardcore / Post-Metal / Screamo / Skramz / Noise / Black Metal / Doom / Experimental / Synthcore
Related artists?.
Country: Kopřivnice CZECHIA
Years Active2006-2009
Song: "Jsou Hra"
Album: "Ema Camelia"
Year: 2006
For fans ofThe Flying Worker, June Paik, Iscariote, Lara Korona, Examination Of The..., Closure, Funeral Diner, Aporia, Envy, Tel Fyr, Neurosis, Suffocate For Fuck SakeLakmé, Isis, Amber and Cease Upon The Capitol aka PROPER SCREAMO.
Label(s): Self Released / Untrust Records
This post's artist is from the July 2018 Mix. This is track #8.
You can download: the July 2018 Mix#7 right here or get the new August 2018 Mix#8 here.

I came across EMA CAMELIA on The Poet You Never Were blog...cuz I raided that thing a few years back (as should you) and found this absolutely beautiful, dark, synthy, screamy hardcore with black-metal, sludge, industrial and goth elements from Czechia. The first time I heard "Jsou hra" I was convinced I was listening to The Flying Worker's new band that played the same music for thrice the length. Alas, I was mistaken. But it sure as shit sounds like it.

The band's first release (and in my opinion their crowning achievement) was their 2006 self titled full length 'Ema Camelia'. It opens with the incredible "Jsou hra" which is very The Flying Worker but longer, drawn-out and more epic. The song eclipses the six-minute mark and does so with a very awkward and prominent death scene audio clip, followed by feedback and subtle, floating guitars. The drums then kick everything off just after 1:30 with a wall of synths, guitars and bass. By two minutes the song takes a step back and utilizes a phenomenal guitar progression that really brings June PaikThe Flying Worker and early Funeral Diner to mind in the most complimentary fashion. "Záře" follows a similar path to the opener, but is much more relentless in its assault, opting to dump the synths and roll the bass through the song's entirety, giving it an eerie, subterranean and unstable foundation. Simply put, "Glasgow coma score" is fucking sick. Why? Because it's so fucking The Flying Worker. Yep. Synthy. Black-metaly. Guitary toney. The Flying Workery. It's got it all, although one could probably argue that the keyboards get a little grating at times, much like my excessive use of the letter "y" in the previous few sentences. "Strach" is pretty long, clocking in at 6:37 and it's slower and moodier than the other tracks, making excellent use of piano and subtle notes to build a massive storm that explodes at 2:30. "Bez křídel" is an instrumental interlude, or so it seems to be for the first three of its four-and-a-half minutes, with a conclusion resembling early Funeral Diner, Closure and ...Who Calls So Loud, aka glorious. The final song is called "Pláče" and it does the least for me on the record, as it goes a little too hard on the synths, for my taste at least. It isn't without its strong points, though, as the shrieks here in particular are so deep and gutteral - I need more vocals like this in my life.

After three years EMA CAMELIA released 'Krakatoa', and very quickly it is obvious that The Flying Worker influence has nearly completely dissipated and been replaced by something else. Whether or not it actually is Lara Korona is beyond me, but the similarity in sound is definitely there. I am unsure why, but the album leads off with my least favourite track by the band, "Na cestě" which truly seems like a different beast, and I'm not into it so much. It's darker, looser and less powerful, but "Veřejný přítel" is completely different and much more in line with what I expected from EMA CAMELIA. The intro instrumentals tap into ambient, atmospheric post-hardcore/post-metal that lead the listener into the throes of swelling riffs and towering yells, not unlike late Examination Of The..., Tel Fyr and Neurosis. Once the synths meet up with the rest of the band it takes on a bit of late Isis feel until its 8:00 close. "Dítě Krakatoy" is an absolute banger, with an opening fit for the likes of Envy and Daïtro, that builds and erupts into its second half around three minutes in. I think Suffocate For Fuck Sake is a pretty good comparison for the second half, cuz that shit is absolutely huge, eerie and crushing. Second to last is "Ovoce vlastní zahrady", a head-bobbin' good time with both vocalists trading gutteral growls and piercing screams back and forth. Closer "Jáma" is a peaceful and haunting trek through post-hardcore/post-metal/screamo ala Envy, Aporia, Lakmé and Viva Belgrado. That close with the dual screaming and prodigious instrumentals that climaxes at 5:35 is incredible.

So in the end EMA CAMELIA disbanded officially in 2014 after more than 10 years together, leaving behind one hell of a debut self titled as well as a well-crafted and complete final LP.

________________________________________

DISCOGRAPHY

2006 - Ema Camelia cdLP (stream/download here)

2009 - Krakatoa cdLP (stream/download here)

________________________________________

(2006) EMA CAMELIA - "Záře" (from 'Ema Camelia')

(2006) EMA CAMELIA - "Jsou hra" (from 'Ema Camelia')

(2006) EMA CAMELIA - "Glasgow coma score" (from 'Ema Camelia')

(2009) EMA CAMELIA - "Jáma" (from 'Krakatoa')

(2009) EMA CAMELIA - "Dítě Krakatoy" (from 'Krakatoa')

(2009) EMA CAMELIA - "Veřejný přítel" (from 'Krakatoa')

________________________________________

EMA CAMELIA additional links
________________________________________

Monday 30 July 2018

FIESTA BIZARRA

BandFIESTA BIZARRA
GenresPunk / Rock / Hardcore / Emo / Screamo / Skramz / Alternative / Experimental
Related artists?.
Country: Trujillo PERU
Years Active2013-present
Song: ":3"
Album: "Sadness Sorrow Imathgination"
Year: 2015
For fans ofRaein, La Quiete, I Hate Sex, The Rabbit Theory, Boneflower, Innards, Lautrec, Trachimbrod, Hue, Ahleuchatistas and Frail Hands aka PROPER SCREAMO.
Label(s): LaFlor Records / Dingleberry Records / Cósmica! / Chloromethane Records / Tief in Marcellos Schuld Records / Dead Bir Records / Awante Independiente Records
This post's artist is from the July 2018 Mix. This is track #2.
You can download: the July 2018 Mix#7 right here or get the new August 2018 Mix#8 here.

A more fitting name for this band could not have been chosen, for FIESTA BIZARRA is just that, a bizarre festival of screamy hardcore and mathy, playful rock music. To try and say that this Peruvian five-piece sound like another band is downright laughable, for they do their own thing, it's amazing and it sure as hell doesn't sound like any other band I know.

In the year of their inception (2013) the band released the self titled 'Fiesta Bizarra' two-song debut. It opens with "Hoy Es Mi Cumpleaños", deceiving the listener immediately with a synthy, pop instrumental intro before the screaming erupts and the song moves into Raein territory, if I must liken this to something. It's much lighter and more playful while being less driving and epic than the aforementioned Italian band. The screaming is furious and high-pitched, reaching more of a shrieking pitch. The guitars are pretty goddamn mathy and intricate, making them a joy to focus on because there's so much happening almost all the time. The song "Fiesta Bizarra" is next/last and has more of a jangly, I Hate Sex meets Innards feel to it, so readers of this blog will likely be smitten. Seriously, it's only two songs but it's one killer start for FIESTA BIZARRA.

The following year the band took part in two releases, a three-song cassette EP titled 'Estar A Favor O Estar En Contra, Qué Más Da' and the 4-way split with Chuck Bass, Uragano and Urughai titled 'Making Waves' on which they contributed one exclusive track. The EP spits out "Yoki!" in just a minute and four seconds, complete with searing screams and a groovy-ass bass riff. The break and transition just before 30 seconds in "Child's Memories" is fucking awesome and reminiscent of the greatest Italian screamo band, La Quiete. The finale is the title track "Estar A Favor O Estar En Contra, Qué Más Da" and it is longer than the first two songs combined. It blazes through the opening and then settles into a nice groove leading into the one-minute mark, only to blast forward again in frantic-yet-restrained screamo. The song bounces back and forth, never leaving us a dull moment. The 4-way split contains "Estar A Favor O Estar En Contra, Qué Más Da" from the EP of the same name but also houses "Kabuki", a minute six of unreal, perfectly constructed, chaotic screamo with heaps of melodic undertones and ridiculous shit popping off at every turn.

I was first introduced to FIESTA BIZARRA by way of cd from Dingleberry Records, as I traded for one copy of 'Sadness Sorrow Imathgination' just to see if I liked it. Needless to say, I kept that sucker and it is forever in my personal collection. This is without a doubt their most varied release with a ton of different genres becoming present, but never for long enough to pigeonhole a song. The album opens with the acoustic opener with angelic singing titled "アン", followed by the almost cheesy and definitely groovy ".RAR". Track has the transition 20 seconds into ":3" that reminds me of Hue, while the mathy mayhem that erupts at 20 seconds into "Arequipa" is mindboggling. "Doom" is only 1:50 but seems to have an endless number of parts, all of which rule. "Manzanas" is a very different but amazing (and nearly instrumental) jam with a section from 34 seconds to 1:03 that, for some strange reason, brings the mental image of Goonies to mind, or maybe just 80s movies in general. "Melifluo" brings on those synths again but instead the instrumental rock is played for the tracks' 1:41 duration and sounds like something Reggie And The Full Effect may have dabbled with. "Robert" is 44 seconds of spacious and atmospheric guitars, "OP" sounds like a screamo game show, "132" Tortugas weave some nice male and female vocals together and "Oh Summer Summer!" was made into a music video (linked here) that ends with more great mixing of singing and screaming. "¿Ya No Existes Mas?" is perhaps the most playful of all of the songs and was also made into a much more serious music video (linked here) that utilizes more female vocals to bring the song to a wonderfully complete conclusion. Closer "天使の花" is much like the opener as it is a bare acoustic guitar and the last of those effortless, sweeping, soaring vocals.

Just last year the band dropped a new two-song cd EP that furthers the experimentation found on the 2015 full length. "Reencuentro" is first, busting out the singing chops first and foremost, making this nothing close to screamo song. It's a driving, obtuse, indie-pop tune that throws in a tad of screaming in the final 40 seconds or so. "Bug de Sueños" is another alternate take on a FIESTA BIZARRA song but it falls much more in the screamy and frantic hardcore realm, relying primarily on insane drums, sick shrieking, prominent riff-diddlin' and some well-placed singing and gang vocals.

I heard that they broke up but also saw a recent picture so we'll see. I sure as hell hope they continue, for they truly are something special.

________________________________________

DISCOGRAPHY

2013 - Fiesta Bizarra cdEP (stream/buy here)

2014 - Estar A Favor O Estar En Contra, Qué Más Da cassetteEP (stream/buy here)
2014 - Making Waves 4-way split (w/Chuck Bass, Uragano & Urughai) cassetteLP (stream/buy here)

2015 - Sadness Sorrow Imathgination cdLP (stream/buy here)
2015 - Cambiar / Tony Danza / La Tole Tole split cdrLP (tracks are on SSI)

2017 - Reencuentro / Bug de Sueños cdEP (stream/buy here)

________________________________________

(2017) FIESTA BIZARRA - "Bug de Sueños" (from 'Reencuentro / Bug de Sueños')

(2015) FIESTA BIZARRA - "Arequipa" (from 'Sadness Sorrow Imathgination')

(2015) FIESTA BIZARRA - "Oh Summer Summer!" (from 'Sadness Sorrow Imathgination') official music video

(2015) FIESTA BIZARRA - ":3" (from 'Sadness Sorrow Imathgination')

(2014) FIESTA BIZARRA - "Kabuki" (from 'Making Waves' split)

(2014) FIESTA BIZARRA - "Estar A Favor O Estar En Contra, Qué Más Da" (from 'Estar A Favor O Estar En Contra, Qué Más Da')

(2014) FIESTA BIZARRA - "Child's Memories" (from 'Estar A Favor O Estar En Contra, Qué Más Da')

(2013) FIESTA BIZARRA - "Hoy Es Mi Cumpleaños" (from 'Fiesta Bizarra')

________________________________________

FIESTA BIZARRA additional links
________________________________________

Sunday 29 July 2018

LUCAS KANE

BandLUCAS KANE
GenresPunk / Post-Rock / Post-Hardcore / Screamo / Skramz / Ambient / Experimental
Related artists?.
CountryTula RUSSIA
Years Active2016-present
Song: "Побег"
Album: "Занавес"
Year: 2018
For fans ofVi Som Älskade Varandra Så Mycket, Shizune, Rutka Laskier, Careless, Amanda Woodward, 124C41+, ...Who Calls So Loud, La Ciencia, Desidia, LKTDOV, Respire, Infant Island, Aporia, KŸHL, Young Mountain, We Never Learned To Live, , Chalk Hands and Причал aka PROPER SCREAMO.
Label(s): ?
This post's artist is from the July 2018 Mix. This is track #3.
You can download: the July 2018 Mix#7 right here or get the new August 2018 Mix#8 here.

LUCAS KANE are a Russian band likely highly influenced by other Europeans post-hardcore/screamo bands, most likely Swedish
Vi Som Älskade Varandra Så Mycket (in both epicness and vocal delivery) and Shizune (instrumentally and the vocal tone). They released a single of "Сновидение" in 2016 that was re-recorded and released on the 2018 LP, but this demo version includes much deeper vocals, giving it an Amanda Woodward, early Aussitôt Mort and Le Pré Où Je Suis Mort vibe that might even make it superior to the new one.

Said 2018 full length is titled 'Занавес' and begins with "Побег", an amazing, short intro track that utilizes a nice, dreamy build that pops at 45 seconds like any good Young Mountain song. There's even the inclusion of a beautiful guitar swing at 1:09 that makes me melt, oooowwweee. The aforementioned "Сновидение" is so good the band had to re-record it and include it here with slightly higher and sadder screams, making it is so fucking Vi Som Älskade Varandra Så Mycket that it almost feels like a new song. "Смерть дилижанса" is led by some very driving guitar riffs that hurtle through space like a flurry of shooting stars and is the third banger in a row. Then the album kinda drops off  as "Картины лета" dabbles more in post-hardcore than anything else and almost feels a bit too happy. As if that's a bad thing, David, you pessimistic son of a gun. Anyhoos, it's good but those early tracks are fucking awesome. "365 октября" picks up a bit and the closer "Бесконечная" is definitely a strong song with vocals screamed to their absolute max, making it a nice, driving, melodic hardcore meets screamo jam.

I am very curious to see what the band does next because there is some serious potential here.

________________________________________

DISCOGRAPHY

2016 - Сновидение single (stream/donate/download here)

2018 - Занавес LP (stream/donate/download here)

________________________________________

(2016) LUCAS KANE - "Сновидение (demo version)" (from 'Сновидение')

(2018) LUCAS KANE - "Побег" (from 'Занавес')

(2018) LUCAS KANE - "Смерть дилижанса" (from 'Занавес')

(2018) LUCAS KANE - "Бесконечная" (from 'Занавес')

________________________________________

LUCAS KANE additional links

________________________________________

Friday 27 July 2018

CHALMERS

BandCHALMERS
GenresPunk / Hardcore / Post-Hardcore / Emo / Screamo / Skramz
Related artistsWe Were Skeletons.
CountryLancaster, Pennsylvania U.S.A.
Years Active2013-present
Song: "Bomag"
Album: "Death Practice"
Year: 2018
For fans ofWe Were Skeletons, Off Minor, Native, Massa Nera, The Reptilian, Birthday Boyz, Wolverines, Twelve Hour Turn, Secret Smoker, Animal Faces, Fugazi, Logs, Adaje, Greyscale, Kidcrash, Elle, The Exploration, Adolina, Daniel Striped Tiger, The Fiction, Fraera, Apostles Of Eris and The Usual aka PROPER SCREAMO.
Label(s): Self Released / Chumpire / Known Pleasure Records
This post's artist is from the July 2018 Mix. This is track #4.
You can download: the July 2018 Mix#7 right here or get the new August 2018 Mix#8 here.

I pretty much think of three things instantly and simultaneously when I hear CHALMERS. First and foremost, this is pretty sweet. Second, it kinda sounds like Off Minor. Third, this obviously has ex-members of We Were Skeletons. If either of the second two whet your appetite I think you'll dig this pretty hard. As the band is still active, the most recent endeavor even has some Birthday Boyz moments, a comparison I don't throw around lightly.

Their songs are quite intricate, juxtaposing chaos and melody with a primary and secondary yeller/screamer. I love the methodical grooves present in every song, usually many, all strung together with excellent craftsmanship. CHALMERS began when We Were Skeletons disbanded in 2013 and quickly released 'Four Songs' and 'four (twenty) songs'. I consider the former a proper release, housing four songs all about four to five minutes in length, while the latter is just the same instrumental "jam" four times in a row. On 'Four Songs' the design and approach to a generic CHALMERS song is obvious and continues to this date. Opener "Utah" opens like an Animal Faces track before settling down into a chill, Secret Smoker meets Fugazi vibe, while "Biting Lip" hits a very dancey groove from about 1:30 onward. "Settling" plays with a interesting dichotomy as it wavers back and forth between near-lounge music and driving screams, and has some sick double screaming during its final 30 seconds, and closer "Map's Lost" also incorporates more dual vocals and comes off sounding more like Wolverines than anything else.

In 2014 CHALMERS released two songs as digital singles, although I guess both were really just demo tracks from their 2015 LP put on two compilations. "This is a Highway Psalm" appeared on a sick tape comp called 'United States and Japan: Underground Alliance' and it is one of my favourite of theirs. It is pretty lo-fi in its recording but the wielding of its power and control over the tempo shifts makes it as or more engaging than any other CHALMERS jam. The other song is titled "Boxing with a Ghost" and is a pretty typical CHALMERS song, riding the wave of some dreamy and twinkly guitars, making it perhaps more of a post-hardcore song than screamo, appearing on 'Seems Like There's a Show Every Night' comp.

Only a year later they dropped 10 new jams on the 'All the Songs Sung Wrong' LP. It opens with the incredible "20 Years", boasting the best vocals the band has ever recorded (and this continues the entire album). More playful guitars and the groove sections really make this track something special. "Success Story" has a highly infectious, subtle and jazzy opening riff that is so Off Minor that I'm goddamned smitten, especially when it is revisited with dual vocals about a minute in. "Boxing with a Ghost" and "This is a Highway Psalm" show up again here (and they're still great), the screams (at 1:05 in particular) and jarring nature of "Pushpin Constellation" make it a fantastic tune, "Negate Your Wish" has an extra layer or ingredient or something that gives it a shining aura unlike the other songs and is easily one of my faves. I should probably mention the similarities at times between this record and a lot of earlier The Reptilian material, as the vocals are almost mirror in sound and the extremely well done guitar mimics the twinkly tapping of Russ.

I only began listening to CHALMERS in 2018 when I nabbed the digital EP 'Death Practice' and became enamored by the instrumental close in "Bomag" that really nails that playful, mathy and catchy as fuck Birthday Boyz sound. The other songs are also excellent, as "Blossom Hell", "No Money" and "Exile Party" all manage to push the pedal even further down, as they all have additional oomph, are thicker, harder and somehow more intricate. Although it likely won't make my top 20 EPs list please note that it won't be far off, and it's without a doubt the best thing they've ever done

Keep it up CHALMERS, even if it takes another three years.

________________________________________

DISCOGRAPHY

2013 - Four Songs cdr/cassetteEP (stream/download here)
2013 - four (twenty) songs digitalEP (stream/download here)

2014 - Seems Like There's A Show Every Night compilation (contributed "Boxing With a Ghost") (stream/download here)
2014 - This is a Highway Psalm  (contributed "Boxing With a Ghost") (stream/download here)

2015 - All The Songs Sung Wrong 12"LP (stream/buy/download here)

2018 - Death Practice digitalEP (stream/donate/download here)

________________________________________

(2018) CHALMERS - "Bomag" (from 'Death Practice')

(2018) CHALMERS - "No Money" (from 'Death Practice')

(2015) CHALMERS - "20 Years" (from 'All the Songs Sung Wrong')

(2015) CHALMERS - "Success Story" (from 'All the Songs Sung Wrong')

(2015) CHALMERS - "Negate Your Wish" (from 'All the Songs Sung Wrong')

(2014) CHALMERS - "This is a Highway Psalm" (from 'Underground Alliance' comp)

(2014) CHALMERS - "Boxing with a Ghost" (from 'Seems Like There's a Show Every Night')


(2013) CHALMERS - "Biting Lip" (from 'Four Songs')

(2013) CHALMERS - "Settling" (from 'Four Songs')

________________________________________

CHALMERS additional links
________________________________________

Wednesday 25 July 2018

'XX' by: MINARET

MINARET's 'XX'
Year: 2018
This post's artist is from the July 2018 Mix. This is track #6.
You can download: the July 2018 Mix#7 right here or get the new August 2018 Mix#8 here.

Review by Thomas Schlatter:

We've gone 3 years without any new material from MINARET. When I heard 'XX' was available I was very excited. They still retain their late 90's/early 00's style chaos, but on this record it's intermingled with tracks of ambient noise overlayed by samples and fuzz. It creates an ineresting juxtaposition to the bands all out heavy attack. You'll also notice some strategically placed fuzz and noises within specific parts of songs to make the chaos that much more over the top.

MINARET are from the corner of the screamo world that reminds me of bands like Rats Into Robots, Textbook Traitors, Ostraca and Majority Rule. It's heavy, it's frantic and it's melodic in a very dark way. To call this "metal influenced" doesn't quite fully describe the totality of what's happening but it gives a good idea.

"Death of the Antiquated Tsarstvie" gives us baby steps into what the band has planned. It's dazzling, dangling guitar gives a nice mid tempo lead up before breaking quickly and launching us into discordant chaos. It's technical and headspinning in a way that is also comprehensible. We get an audio exercise in the bands musicianship before calming down for a moment and setting up for a well crafted d-beat take off.

"Kronstadt" begins with a pretty even metal influenced intro before taking the drums into light speed. Dropping into a drum lead interlude, the atmospheric noise helps provide the transition some space. The band proceeds to tear things apart from this point forward, allowing sneak peaks of groove for just a moment before delivering some impressive chops.

I didn't realize how thick and metallic the guitar tone on this record was until the opening of "The Cold of January 24th". The over saturation is so present. I would usually not be a fan of such a tone, but MINARET is pulling this off perfectly. The song slows the band down for a spell. The dynamic nature of the riff sets the stage for a nice groove that the drums can really shine.  Unlike the other offerings on this record, this number has some repeating parts that almost qualify for a verse/chorus format.

"Judgement" puts us back in the saddle, showing us more of the fast, technical and relentless style the band is known for. I love the guitar melody that drives the song at the halfway point, giving it a foundation to finish up with.

They close up shop with "March the Left" which is a really great culmination of all the band's characteristics. The song is definitely the most meticulously planned of the record, combining what could probably be 2 or 3 songs into one complete package. You get roughly 3 and a half minutes of chaos, groove and dark melody that eventually fades out into a soothing ambience.

________________________________________

(2018) MINARET - "The Death of the Antiquated Tsarstvie" (from 'XX')

(2018) MINARET - "Kronstadt" (from 'XX')

(2018) MINARET - "Judgement" (from 'XX')

________________________________________
________________________________________

Monday 23 July 2018

***Holy Shit #3 - .GIF FROM GOD / ZBR t-shirts***

Alrighty, first and foremost, we are putting up some exclusive Zegema Beach Records "SCREAMO / SKRAMZ / WHATEVER" made-to-order t-shirts in all sizes. This is a one-time order so if you're interested pick one up now, the sale closes August 31st, 2018. If you are a U.S. resident and want one just pay the Canadian shipping now and by the time we have them to ship out, our U.S. store will be open so you'll get a refund of the difference after they ship. Thank you to anyone that has ever checked out any ZBR release and supported the screamo scene...errr skramz scene....whatever. Wanna shirt? They are linked here!!!







Now for the primary reason for this post. I'm quite enjoying finding all this stuff I thought was gone, so welcome to the Holy Shit, Look What I Found #3. In the previous two offerings we've unearthed early/rare/oop presses from Respire (linked here) and SeeYouSpaceCowboy (linked here). This week focuses on .GIF FROM GOD, as apparently I had about 35 copies of their split 7" sitting at my parents place in Barrie, Ontario from when I moved to New Zealand almost a year ago. We recently sold out the Vein split, so it's exciting to put this up for one last time, as you may have guessed that this will never be repressed no not in a million years no way not a chance in hell. Nab one while you still can right here. Out of 500 copies these are definitely some of the last (if not the very last) copies of the 7" which you can buy from Zegema Beach here or as part of the new ZBR Metalcore pack along with WristMeetRazor's 2x7", the split 7" between SeeYouSpaceCowboy and Secondgradeknifefight as well as the Crowning/Swallows Nest split 7". That's five 7"s for only $25! Pick one up right here! We also have a few shirts available which are linked up below...or here.

And in more awesome .GIF FROM GOD news, yesterday we placed the order for 125 new 'defragmented...reformatted' cassettes. This will be the third tape repress (the second with ZBR) and pre-orders are up now (linked right here) with the three different variants shipping early September 2018. Art and info are as follows:

Listen here:


To recap the .GIF FROM GOD merch:






Sunday 22 July 2018

ACME

BandACME
GenresPunk / Hardcore / Screamo / Skramz / Powerviolence / Grindcore
Related artistsSystral, Mörser and Carol.
CountryBremen GERMANY
Years Active1991-1995
Song: "Blind"
Album: "...To Reduce the Choir to One Solist"
Year: 1996
For fans ofCarol, Union Of Uranus, Drift, Jonah, One Eyed God ProphecySystral, Mörser, His Hero Is Gone, Makara, RuhaedaRorschach, Converge, Knut and Never Better aka PROPER SCREAMO.
Label(s): Self Released / Machination Records / Edison Recordings
This post's artist is from the July 2018 Mix. This is track #9.
You can download: the July 2018 Mix#7 right here or get the new August 2018 Mix#8 here.

ACME were an incredibly important Bremen band that released a compilation cd/12" posthumously in 1996 following a tape (1993) and 7" (1994) after being a band from 1991-1995. As someone who heard all of the bands they influenced before hearing them, I would describe their sound as one of a much rawer and darker Converge with more metallic hardcore and some subtle screamo nuances. The members went on to form other notable and highly influential bands such as SystralMörser and Carol, with their sound being the foundation for Bremen hardcore, considering the timestamp. This band also falls in line both sound-wise and historically with Canadian bands Union Of Uranus, One Eyed God Prophecy and Drift.

Seriously, these songs are vicious, hard-hitting and unrelenting. "Blind" begins like an unwanted war trench advance and shifts into utter ridiculousness just 20 seconds in. Seriously you can't hit much harder than this, especially when they slow it down a tad and incorporate very subtle stops to make the riff a breakdown. The song continues to pound the listener into submission, with the drums doing a large part of the damage...especially the kick pedal. An inclusion of a completely unnecessary but fucking awesome stop is devilishly embedded at about 1:45 and is the highlight of the song for me, expect maybe those towering verses. "Attempt" isn't too different from the first, but definitely fires on all cylinders right away and tends to wade through slower, sludgier riffs amidst the absolute destruction. "Ordinary" begins with a short, sinister riff before reverting into typical (aka amazing) ACME metallic hardcore. It culminates just after 1:30 with multiple destroyed vocals and a prodigious wall of crunchy, epic instruments. Another track I always take note of is "Repress", a sheer ripper of a song that lays down some apocalyptic vocal work and very early Converge-esque moments.

The band has also kept a more than decent continued history through their facebook page, which I'd recommend following as things are still being unearthed and posted.

________________________________________

DISCOGRAPHY

1993 - Menschenmaschine cassetteEP

1994 - The Demo 7"EP

1996 - ...To Reduce the Choir to One Soloist cd/12"LP (download here)

________________________________________

(1996) ACME - "Blind" (from '...To Reduce the Choir to One Soloist')

(1996) ACME - "Ordinary" (from '...To Reduce the Choir to One Soloist')

(1996) ACME - "Attempt" (from '...To Reduce the Choir to One Soloist')

(1994) ACME - live video Full Set in Holland

________________________________________

ACME out of print mp3 discography download / additional links

________________________________________

Thursday 19 July 2018

BLUE YOUTH

BandBLUE YOUTH
GenresPunk / Rock / Post-Punk / Indie Rock / Sass Rock / Noise Rock / Alternative / Post-Hardcore
Related artistsBermuda LoveSurf Dads, Bright Black, Geronimo and The Dagan Harding Band.
CountryRegina, Saskatchewan CANADA
Years Active2017-present
Song: "Dead Forever"
Album: "Dead Forever"
Year: 2018
For fans ofLife In Vacuum, METZ, The Holy Shroud, North Of America, No KnifeAim Of Conrad, Campbell Trio, Death From Above 1979, At The Drive In, Drive Like Jehu, Q And Not U, The Mark Inside, Despistado, Encrypt Manuscript, Big Dick, For The Mathematics, Frodus, Decahedron, Creepozoidz, Dream Caste, Christiansen, Stresser and Riddle Of Steel.
Label(s): Zegema Beach Records / Grind Central Records / Santapogue Media / Suspended Soul Tapes and Records
This post's artist is from the July 2018 Mix. This is track #1.
You can download: the July 2018 Mix#7 right here or get the new August 2018 Mix#8 here.

BLUE YOUTH. Goddamn. Why are you so good? Maybe I should backtrack a bit.

In the early to mid 2000s I was a Level Plane Records nut. Like, I bought almost everything that came out on that label. Therefore, I most definitely got hard into North Of America and The Holy Shroud, which were two phenomenal, Canadian, math-rock, noise rock and post hardcore all mixed together. Shortly after I discovered Riddle Of Steel, a much more melodic and clean band but not all that far from the previous two I mentioned. Then nothing happened for what seemed like an eternity (for the most part anyway; Dream Caste came out in 2013/2014 and I got pretty stoked but then the band ended). I was waiting for something in that sassy, indie, noise-rock vein and nothing really hit home.

And then, in late 2017 my friend Chris Morris (who helps run Dead Air At The Pulpit) posted this review and cited in his post in the forum that it was for fans of North Of America. Naturally I got very excited and jammed the self titled 'Blue Youth' EP. I was fucking floored. Seriously, even almost a year later I jam this a couple of times a week. It starts with a fucking phenomenal track called "The Power", in which the band pulls out some fantastic singing, screaming and "woo ooo" backups during the chorus. The songs ends with the chorus unraveling as the vocals morph from singing to shrieking. Seriously this is some sick shit right here, taking sassy noise-rock to a new level, and it's the first track off their demo, essentially. Following this gem is "The Screw", the lengthiest BLUE YOUTH song recorded to date, and it's only 4:17. It opens strong and throws in some fantastically driving guitar 25 seconds in and again at a minute. This transitions with screaming and crooning to the hefty, instrumental midsection that is so Riddle Of Steel it's bananas, as the bass and drums drive the song forward, mingling with distant and wavering guitars. The song eventually comes full circle back to the chorus at 4:04 to drive the song home. And what a song! One with which they close with live sometimes, I've been told. "The Enemy" is next, beginning with quirky guitar effects and some dancey ass bass but by 45 seconds we've got Gage screaming "I am not the enemy. Please set me free!". This song in particular I find reminiscent of The Mark Inside and Life In Vacuum. "The Past" is another banger that rides a powerful instrumental wave using perfectly balanced and catchy-ass vocals from guitarist Gage McGuire. The vocals dip at 50 seconds while the guitars replace it with squealing and once the minute mark is cracked that sugary sweet chorus kicks in to put you in a dance trance. Wrapping up this debut EP is "The End", the shortest song here at 2:42 and the most diverse of the five, focusing on discordant riffs, angular rhythms and screaming. Zegema Beach will be making 50 copies of the tape this winter for a late 2018 release.

I contacted the band after hearing the EP and asked if I could help release their next endeavor, to which the band said they'd get back to me. The 'Blue Youth' release ended up in my top five EPs of 2017 (linked here) and I was left salivating until the early months of 2018 when I was sent the new album by bassist Jon, on whom I've since developed an internet crush. I listened to it once, and I really liked it. I asked if they were doing physicals, he said yes, some tapes. I listened to it again. I liked it even more. Then I listened again, and again, and again...and now it's been almost four months and I don't go a day without hearing at least one song from 'Dead Forever'. I became so obsessed with it so quickly that I basically demanded that the band do 12" vinyl, so I used my label Zegema Beach Records to scour North America for two great labels (Santapogue Media and Suspended Soul) willing to help invest in 200 copies so we could release this sensational work of art properly. Currently the 12" is up for pre-order at ZBR (linked here) but the 12"s are complete and shipping from the plant to me tomorrow for an early August release.

Oh yeah...the songs. Here goes. Side A of 'Dead Forever' is fantastic. It opens with perhaps the penultimate BLUE YOUTH track "Black Lung". Melting the exact right proportions of pop sensibilities whilst keeping things powerful, driving and at times screamy, imagine if Drive Like Jehu and Q And Not U had a baby that resembled METZ and Life In Vacuum and you've got the right idea. Up next is the very polarizing "Delusional//Unapologetic" that sounds like two songs mashed together in the middle. It opens with a steady, driving bass riff which collides with the rest of the instrumentals led by some utterly ridiculous vocals at 23 seconds. The listener then hurtles through the noise-rock space-time continuum (goddamn that's a mouthful) until 47 seconds when the song turns an abrupt corner and takes the punk route for a brief moment before returning to their previous post-hardcore/noise-rock sections. The song shifts gears again at 1:23, incorporating my favourite vocal pattern with the lyrics, "Give this life one last resuscitation. Free my world from this incarceration. Give this love another shot of adaptation. Give this love another shot of amalgamation." Jesus fucking Christ that might be the best part on the entire record. At 1:48 the song downshifts to bass and bare instrumentals with repeated mumbling and eventual chanting of, "I'm unapologetic and may seem a little pathetic, but I'm not afraid to say that I want you. It may come as a surprise when I see the look in your eyes and it's unfortunate that they are so telling." As track two fades out and track three starts up we are whisked into the deep, haunting, cavernous tunnels of the instrumental interlude "Water Well". Last up on the A side is another abrasive and aggressive noise-rock song called "So Seizure". This track utilizes a rapid-fire and repetitive chorus of, "So so so so so seizure (da na na na nah!)" to hook the listener with its harpoon and reel us in only to care and nurture us with an incredible straddling of heavy rock and punk/hardcore. Oh, and again, the way Gage lands those vocals at 26 seconds and again at 60 is uncanny and gives me a very warm, tingly feeling. At 1:31 the song seems to exhaust itself, only to swing around 180 and lay a catchy-as-fuck close from 1:54 to 3:15, complete with an unbridled, Live In Vacuum-esque guitar solo and a bunch o' yellin'. My good lord, what a phenomenal first half.

And then Side B hits...and you'll be like..."Coheed?", as "(The Worst Of It Is) You" opens with piano tinkling that's incredibly similar to the aforementioned band. It's very pretty but dark and leads nicely into perhaps the most complete song from a rating perspective. The band lays right into it instrumentally, going for some rock riffs that could shake a stadium from 40 seconds to 1:09 before settling into a rolicking good groove that slides beautifully into an eerie guitar progression that loops back to the groovin' part. After this second verse the songs shifts into its only vocal chorus that will get stuck in your head for months, in my case at least. There's also a sassy close with more stuff that reminds me of the almighty Life In Vacuum, and I've never said that about any other band so that's something. That gorgeous song is followed by "Pause For Death", another interlude of sorts, with a bit more from the band including some weird vocals and reversed recordings. After the mist clears, "Succubus" goes right for the jugular as the band's heaviest, shortest and perhaps hardest-hitting track. At 2:24 it boasts a righteous guitar riff that reminds me of Akimbo, with vocals that aren't too far behind, just sassier and at times higher in scream department. The midsection slowdown that begins at 40 seconds is superb, as the members build off of each other and eventually the fuse burns down to the dynamite and everything detonates at 1:17. Does that sound like Helmet? Fuck I dunno but that shit is most definitely the bomb. The finale of this so so so so good record is the title track "Dead Forever". If there was to be a single to break them into a more mainstream audience it'd be this little ditty. It's 3:01 in length and somehow manages to juxtapose, transition through and mix a myriad of styles, influences and sounds. It opens with a minor drum solo before everything swirls around the listener in a flurry. As the intro settles, the song floats around like dispersing fireflies amidst awkward, intermittent and feedback soaked guitars before the vocals repeat "This is the sound of doubt in your head!" and those rolling drums crash into the intro riff which is also the chorus, bringing to mind METZ, No Knife and Death From Above 1979. I expected a lot from this album, but I didn't expect it to most likely top my album of the year list this 2018.

Holy shit that's a lot of words for 13 songs. But when they're this good I've gotta do what I do...gush excessively. To recap, BLUE YOUTH is fucking amazing and without a doubt my favourite active band. I don't see this getting unseated as my album of the year. You can order 12" now from Zegema Beach (linked here) which, coincidentally enough, I was contacted about this afternoon as beinig complete and will be shipping to me tomorrow, so they'll be shipping out in early August!!! So pumped. The 'Blue Youth' cassette EP will be coming winter 2018 on Zegema Beach. Oh, and if you can see them live I'll be jealous of you forever.

Dave loves BLUE YOUTH, his new favourite band. 💞

________________________________________

DISCOGRAPHY

2017 - Blue Youth cassetteEP (stream/download/donate here)

2018 - Dead Forever cassette/12"LP (stream/download/donate here) [order 12" from ZBR here]

________________________________________

(2018) BLUE YOUTH - "Dead Forever" (from 'Dead Forever')

(2018) BLUE YOUTH - "(The Worst Of It Is) You" (from 'Dead Forever')

(2018) BLUE YOUTH - "Black Lung" (from 'Dead Forever')

(2017) BLUE YOUTH - "The Power" (from 'Blue Youth')

(2017) BLUE YOUTH - "The Past" (from 'Blue Youth')

(2017) BLUE YOUTH - "The Screw" (from 'Blue Youth')



________________________________________

BLUE YOUTH additional links
________________________________________