HETTA

Band: HETTA
Genres: Punk / Rock / Hardcore / Post-Hardcore / Sasscore / Screamo / Skramz / Math

Related artists: ?.
Country: Montijo PORTUGAL
Years Active: 2021-present
For fans of: A Flower Kollapsed, The Fall Of Troy, JR Ewing, Blood Brothers, Sigh And Explode, These Arms Are Snakes, Fear Before The March Of Flames, Since By Man, and Kill Sadie.

Label(s): Self Released / Tomb Tree

     I don't even remember what facebook group I was stumbling through when I just happened to say to myself, "Fuck it, I don't know what this sounds like, let's give it a whirl." One of the best timed decisions of 2022 for me. I fucking LOVE this EP. It's fantastic. Think about a mixture of Blood Brothers, Fall Of Troy, JR Ewing, and A Flower Kollapsed and you've pretty much gone done'n'nailed it. Super sassy, very screamy, noodley and riffy, these six songs go by in a very entertaining heartbeat.

     Their debut EP 'Headlights' was released digitally and on cassette by the band on May 14th, 2022 and again by Tomb Tree on swirl tapes July 14th of the same year. This top release of 2022 contender begins with "Sugar Glass" and after about four seconds you'll either be very impressed or you need new batteries for your ears. Seriously, how you could you not like this? It's similar in vibe to the kind of shit These Arms Are Snakes were doing on their 'Harkonen split', which is arguably their best material. The hooky/playful riffing, screaming, and general panicked-yet-groovy identity chosen for the opener permeates the entire EP, so if you've found yourself liking this jam be sure to continue your HETTA journey.

     "Most Men" seems to be themed around a few circular riffs that bleed into one another, with a "chorus" that Since By Man would be giving two mad thumbs up to. The noise-rock section following the one-minute mark (especially the repetitive/gnarled vocals) give me a slight Ken Mode vibe but ultimately this just sounds like the non-screaming variation of HETTA which shows up on a couple of tracks, most notably the ominous and  hyperactive "Mystery Meat" and closer "Prizefighter".

     "Angel Bait" is a sassy and most excellent track, falling somewhere between Fear Before The March Of Flames and The Fall Of Troy, as does "Violent Pope" which is another sassy, screamy, chaotic, and downright amazing song that has a sick start/stop chorus and one helluva playful guitar. Again the screaming on this is great and has a very confident, groovy delivery that accentuates the instrumentals perfectly.

     Best EP of 2022? Honestly, yes. Good god yes. So far this is my pick and it's not really even close. And they're recording again for a split that should release late 2022/early 2023.

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DISCOGRAPHY

2022 - Headlights cassetteEP (stream/donate/download here)

            ***buy tapes from ZBR U.S.A. here OR Canada/International here

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(2022) HETTA - "Violent Pope" (from 'Headlights')

https://youtu.be/Si2hLtFib9s

(2022) HETTA - "Angel Bait" (from 'Headlights')

https://youtu.be/X0XSMAHJA5g

(2022) HETTA - "Sugar Glass" (from 'Headlights')

https://youtu.be/CjxQos4aQu8

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HETTA additional links

Bandcamp

Facebook

Instagram

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*** NEW FRIENDS FEST 2022 Day 1 ***

Ahhhhh New Friends Fest. I could rant and rave about how awesome this thing is, but you've heard it from everyone else (including myself in my post for 2019's, linked here) so we'll just skip it and go right to the bands. One thing to note, I tested positive for covid the following morning, hence no more NFF videos from me this year. Gutted I missed Saturday and Sunday. I'll be there again in 2024 hopefully!

NEW FRIENDS FEST 2022 Day 1
July 29th, 2022
Lithuanian House
Toronto, ON

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BASQUE

https://youtu.be/MC8DzKRBUb8

I don't know what happened but I lost the video of their last song. But as I didn't highlight in the Hamilton post (linked here) it's the longer one that starts with Ali finger picking and is just a mesmerizing jam. All three times I saw them play this on tour it got everyone in the crowd involved and was always discussed post-set as being a fucking killer tune. Well done, my friends.

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FERN SULLY

https://youtu.be/OPbiVHiMSXY

 I had seen this name around local fliers and whatnot but hadn't actually heard them. Hearing them (and seeing them) was fucking awesome. The vocal harmonies, the prodigious amount of smiles, and they were all wearing Piper Maru shirts. They kind of remind me of a slightly heavier Scratchy Blanket with tons of talented vocalists. Check them out for sure.

Bandcamp

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HAWAK

https://youtu.be/WtxSk1XUcjY

 The California fellas absolutely tore it up (as per usual, as I've seen them thrice in in almost as many months!). Thom swung that hair around, Jon sweat profusely, and I had a little Josh connection during the set whilst playing where we caught each others' eyes and I made a heart with my fingers. Dawwww. I love ma boys.

Bandcamp

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PIPER MARU

https://youtu.be/OxTn0EXEeBE

 At this point in the show it was very busy, and the upper (and smaller...and hotter) room was filling up with people so off to the side I went. Because of this I couldn't get the vocals recorded properly, but you can hear everything else. Damn they've got great stage presence and had the crowd screaming along. I love each one of these members. Just fantastic people. Snotty, sassy, punk rock from members of Terry Green and Huge Cosmic.

Bandcamp

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AWAKEBUTSTILLINBED

https://youtu.be/tzvv-9157v8

 I'd heard a lot about this band so I was excited to them and was not disappointed. I hadn't checked out much stuff online so I'm unsure if it took me a couple of songs to get it or if it took them a couple songs to get their footing, but either way by the end of the set I was very impressed. I do wish I had taken a video later on, as this was the first or second song (I think). Very vocal driven punk rock with hardcore elements? I'm kind of unsure on this band's comparisons so just check them out for yourselves <3

Bandcamp

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LOCKTENDER

https://youtu.be/dXFST2bnDQE

 The half-Canadian-born LOCKTENDER from Michigan essentially reformed to play this fest and holy moly they did not disappoint. A massive and intimidating wall of noise and controlled volcanic eruptions amidst a few truly serene (and even sing-along!) moments, the three founding members and fill-in vocalist Brock put on one of the best sets of the night.

Bandcamp

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MASSA NERA

https://youtu.be/g41U0fMM_p8

     My good friends were a last minute addition to this fest, and having previously whooped all asses at ZBR Fest 2022 Mid-West I knew what to except and I was not disappointed. These four played their hearts out and played material from their forthcoming full length releasing this December on cd, cassette, and 12". The new stuff is likely inspired by a mixture of Kidcrash and City Of Caterpillar with some Ostraca chaos injected for good measure, but in no way does their material sound like a copy of these bands, but more like an amalgamation of love as heard through the collective ears of MASSA NERA.

Bandcamp

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LIFE IN VACUUM

https://youtu.be/bPBKEwkJ-JM

     What's that? Hot? You're goddamn right it was. That little room was packed full to the brim so I could only handle three songs before needing air. My old buds had a roomful of people singing along to their off-kilter brand of post-punk, noise-rock, sassy, post-hardcore or whatever the hell it's called. It's amazing and I've heard the new album and it's fucking incredible! Kudos, LIFE IN VACUUM.

Bandcamp

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*** SOMA exclusive song premiere ***

SOMA

"Homesick"
exclusive song premiere

For fans of: Letterbombs, Crows-An-Wra, We Had A Deal, Chime Hours, Shikari and Ravachol

     SOMA was kind enough to offer me up this exclusive premiere of the second track from their forthcoming LP 'If You See Me...(Let Me Be)'. It's releasing on September 1st, 2022 on 300 single-sided 12"s with screenprinted b-side (pictured below) via the following awesome labels:

Left Hand Label
Boslevan Records
Clever Eagle Records
Desperate Infant Records
Pike Records
Dingleberry Records and Distribution

This band features members of Crows-An-Wra, Ravachol, We Came Out Like Tigers, and No Omega playing melodic screamo and it's fucking fantastic. The LP houses 8 jams and was recorded remotely in Cornwall and Berlin, and mixed and mastered by Will Killingsworth at Dead Air in the U.S.

(2022) SOMA "Homesick" (from 'If You See Me...(Let Me Be)')

https://youtu.be/aE0l2nKJr90

     First thing noticeable right away is the absolutely gorgeous guitar tone during the opening. Fucking love that shit. Kinda MNWA. Kinda Piri Reis. Definitely awesome. The song then shifts quickly into a full instrumental onslaught emo-violence style and all of a sudden we're hit with some very fresh emo-violence screaming along the lines of Shikari and it's at this point the listener should be aware that this band has it all. That's uhhhhhh 25 seconds in lol. The remainder of the song slows a tad and even injects some gang singing near the 1:21 conclusion. It's a banger and great indicator of the other seven songs that will hit you in the earholes on September 1st.