CARVED UP

Band: CARVED UP

Genres: Punk / Rock / Post-Rock / Post-Hardcore / Post-Metal / Alternative / Ambient / Instru-metal
Related artists: ?.
Country: Philadelphia, Pennsylvannia USA
Years Active: 2010-present
Song: "Mystic Riffer"
Album: "Matador"
Year: 2015
For fans of: Gifts From Enola, Sparta, Russian Circles, Pelican, Arcana Cain, Town Portal, Hum, Lume, Botch, Cave In, Guiltmaker, Moving Mountains, Finger Of God, Mogwai, Thrice, Coheed And Cambria, Switchblade, The Sword, Isis, Maserati, Creepozoidz, Arbogast, Ornaments, Tomydeepestego, Omega Massif and Frodus.

Label(s): Self Released / Crowquill Records
This post's artist is from the March 2016 Mix. This is track #6.

You can download: the May Mix#5 right here or get the new June 2016 Mix#6 here.

CARVED UP are truly an eclectic beast. The combination of rock, alternative, post-hardcore and post-metal are arranged in a manner that the band never really falls into only one genre and are still cohesive as hell. Generally speaking, the band plays instru-metal (Town Portal, Pelican and Russian Circles come to mind right away) with an occasional leaning to either alternative/post-rock with singing or post-hardcore with screaming (Frodus, Moving Mountains and Thrice). The only reason I know about the band is because they sent me their material, and I will forever be grateful because they have some seriously killer songs.

Looking back at their discography is very interesting. In 2010 they released the 'Lights Out' EP which is a spacey, instrumental gathering of post-hardcore songs with no vocals. This is a very good start, with "Dracaena" being my choice track. Their sophomore release in 2011 was called 'Brothers' and is home to a lot of vocals, none of which are found on the band's debut. To be honest this record initially looks like a step back because the vocals detract from the sound, in my opinion. In the long run, however, this evolution by the band paid off. In 2013 CARVED UP released two EPs which showed exceptional growth across the board. The 'Tiffani Amber Threesome' EP houses three very good tracks, including the Thrice-sounding "Liberty Hell" with some incredibly catchy vocals, the massive and spacey "Es Jei" which brings to mind Moving Mountains, and the pretty decent "Big Gym", which is reminescent of early Sparta and does boast an exceptional riff at 1:40 that tears at the space-time continuum. Also released in 2013 was the two-song swing into Frodus territory (aka yelly/screamy post-hardcore) titled 'Oksana My Mule' with the pounding rhythms and shredding screams of "Reticence is a Gift" as well as the nicely balanced "Cavil Be Honored" and its explosive close.

In 2015 shit got super real. CARVED UP released their first full length and it is fucking awesome. The first thing that caught me was the art. Having never heard the band at the time, I expected some kind of Spanish influenced instrumental jazz - an excessive stretch, I know. Second came the song titles. Four songs on this record are based around the word "riff" and movie titles, which are "We Built Riff City", "Riffer Phoenix", "The Riffer Wild" and "Mystic Riffer". This further added to my confusion of what the band was going to sound like, but also gave me a hearty chuckle. What does it sound like? It sounds like CARVED UP moved on from their Thrice and Moving Mountains influences to much harder and more aggressive inspirations that may or may not include Botch, Russian Circles, Pelican, Converge and Every Time I Die. The complete adoption of this visceral and violent approach to songwriting is displayed openly in the opening track following a movie sample, as "Death Remains the Same" is an all out venture into war. Shedding all rock sensibilities CARVED UP opt for screamy, metallic hardcore with Every Time I Die riffs (23 seconds), Botch math (57 seconds), Converge guitar wailing (1:26), Cave In metal (1:52) and an instrumental, Russian Circles closing.

"Mystic Riffer" is stupid good and sounds like early Russian Circles during their phenomenal 'Enter'-era, and more specifically the track "Death Rides a Horse", which happens to be my favourite Russian Circles song. At 6:01, this song encapsulates everything that is great about CARVED UP, save for the vocals because there are none on this particular song, as well as the other three "riff" songs. The opening builds on atmospheric rock and at one minute a hook the size of the Titanic's anchor will blow out your speaker, and hot damn that palm muting in conjunction with that riff is prodigious. The song then meanders around in a playful, twinkly and dreamy state until 3:25 when the gouging solos lead the listener down a dark and winding path that eventually strangles the listener at 4:40 with wave after wave of crushing palm mutes. "The Riffer Wild" follows a similar path, clocking in at 6:21 chock full of bass-driven chugs and riffy-ass breakdowns. 2:34 and onward in "Riffer Phoenix" is massive and is dark enough to be likened to the almighty Omega Massif from Germany and "The Arrangement" is another noteworthy instrumental jam comparable to Town Portal.

The six years of releases by CARVED UP have been varied, progressive and I must say that the production is always excellent, without the band sounding cheesy. 'Matador' has some incredible songs on it, so I'm hella pumped to see if the next release can make another leap into new genres whilst honing their current hardcore/post-metal sound.

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DISCOGRAPHY

2010 - Lights Out digitalEP (stream/download here)

2011 - Brothers digitalEP (stream/donate/download here)

2013 - Oksana My Mule digitalEP (stream/donate/download here)
2013 - Tiffani Amber Threesome digitalEP (stream/donate/download here)

2015 - Matador 12"LP (stream/buy here)

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(2015) CARVED UP - "Pray Attention" live Pirate Session video

(2015) CARVED UP - "Mystic Riffer" (from 'Matador')

(2015) CARVED UP - "Death Remains the Same" (from 'Matador')

(2015) CARVED UP - "Riffer Phoenix" (from 'Matador')

(2013) CARVED UP - "Reticence is a Gift" (from 'Oksana My Mule')

(2013) CARVED UP - "Liberty Hell" (from 'Tiffani Amber Threesome')

(2013) CARVED UP - "Es Jei" (from 'Tiffani Amber Threesome')

(2011) CARVED UP - "What are the Magic Words?" (from 'Brothers')

(2010) CARVED UP - "Dracaena" (from 'Lights Out')

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CARVED UP additional links

Bandcamp

Facebook

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TONNN

Band: TONNN

Genres: Punk / Hardcore / Post-Hardcore / Emo / Screamo / Emo-violence / Skramz
Related artists: Worst Gift, I Spoke and Bandera.
Country: Toronto, Ontario CANADA
Years Active: 2007-2009
Song: "Darryl Sucks"
Album: "National Wizards of the Century"
Year: 2009
For fans of: I Spoke, Eyelet, To Dream Of Autumn, Saligia, Birthday Boyz, Matsuri, The Holy Shroud, North Of America, O'God The White Whale, Dream Caste, Dispensing Of False Halos, Polina, Logs, Wild Guess, Forget Me Not, Van Johnson and OsoLuna aka PROPER SCREAMO.

Label(s): Itchy Roof Records
This post's artist is from the March 2016 Mix. This is track #6.

You can download: the May Mix#5 right here or get the new June 2016 Mix#6 here.

TONNN was a screamy and jammy Toronto hardcore band with slight jazz and emo-violence leanings. They released a superior EP called 'National Wizards of the Century' in 2008 as well as a progressive 'split 12"LP with Lice'. The former is a rollicking good time with more emphasis on the dual screaming as well as more screamo and hardcore instrumentals.

On 'National Wizards of the Century', the insanely good "Dick Wizard" takes over after the "Intro" track with a bottomless, walking suitcase full of wizardry, riffing and jammy ass tunes not unlike Birthday Boyz. The deep, rolling transition at 42 seconds gets me every time, and leads directly to stop-start North Of America-esque and at 1:45 shit gets ridiculous again with playful riffing that reminds me of Logs and more fantastic screaming. "Darryl Sucks" is another amazing song that trades back and forth screaming right off the bat and even includes a jazzy, trumpet-filled outro. The closer "MODG Key" is very little like the band's other material, or at least it seems that way to me because of the beautifully sung vocals by Suz coupled with the dissonant yet poppy instrumentals. These three songs in particular make the EP more than worth your time.

The final recordings from the band show a wider approach to songwriting with a stronger focus on cohesive songs and a post-hardcore sound with elements of screamo, instead of the other way around. "Dick Wizard II - Dick Journey" is an excellent song and opener, but does pale in comparison to the unreal original "Dick Wizard" from their EP. Regardless, this sequel hits full force after 40 seconds of a muffled movie clip with multiple screams that really remind me of To Dream Of Autumn mixed with The Holy Shroud, I shit you not. At 1:43 there's a sick jazzy section that is reminscent of obscure screamo greats Birthday Boyz would be proud of, followed by the complete disintegration of melody and the song collapses in on itself over the final minute.

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DISCOGRAPHY
Click )==>here<==( to download the band's complete discography in mp3 form.

2008 - National Wizards of the Century EP (stream here)

2009 - Lice split 12"LP (stream here and buy 12" here)

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(2008) TONNN - "Dick Wizard" (from 'National Wizards of the Century')

(2008) TONNN - "Darryl Sucks" (from 'National Wizards of the Century')

(2008) TONNN - "MODG Key" (from 'National Wizards of the Century')

(2009) TONNN - "Dick Wizard II - Dick Journey" (from 'Lice' split)

(2009) TONNN - "The Done" (from 'Lice' split)

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TONNN out of print mp3 discography download / additional links

(download here)

Bandcamp

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RESPIRE

Band: RESPIRE

Genres: Punk / Post-Rock / Post-Hardcore / Emo / Screamo / Black Metal / Post-Metal / Ambient / Experimental
Related artists: Foxmoulder, Dela Trudos and Stuck Out Here.
Country: Toronto, Ontario CANADA
Years Active: 2014-present
Song: "Ascent"
Album: "Gravity and Grace"
Year: 2016
For fans of: Locktender, Old Soul, Nous Étions, Rosetta, Nine Eleven, Alaskan, Ephemera, Godspeed, You! Black Emperor, Angel Eyes, Mogwai, Isis, Monuments Collapse, Hum, Envy, 124C41+, Sinking Steps...Rising Eyes, Fall Of Efrafa, Light Bearer, Lentic Waters and The Pax Cecilia aka PROPER SCREAMO.

Label(s): Zegema Beach Records / Narshardaa Records / Ozona Records / Dingleberry Records
This post's artist is from the March 2016 Mix. This is track #2.

You can download: the May Mix#5 right here or get the new June 2016 Mix#6 here.

Sharing 75% of Foxmoulder (the bassist Darren is on guitar, the guitarist Rohan does the same, as does the drummer Travis), Toronto's RESPIRE will be a contender for Album Of The Year on many a list. Really? A debut LP making the top spot? Yep. The absolute cohesion of screaming, frantic drumming, three guitars and a bass and trumpet to tie it all together is uncanny. The unique sound of post-everything, screamo, black metal and orchestral music is so engaging and wonderful that even after, what - perhaps 40 listens in two months, my wife and I agreed that we simply can't get sick of 'Gravity and Grace', RESPIRE debut and (dare I say it) masterpiece. The band always jokes about it taking them forever to complete something. Well guess what? When you write music this incredible you can take all the time you want and you won't hear me complaining!!!

I'll go through each song on the phenomenal 'Gravity and Grace' first, followed by the 'Zampler' track and the 'Demonstration' digital EP relatively quickly. I repeat, relatively.

The opener "Pitter Patter" is a somber, calming, atmospheric and instrumental opener with the sound of rain. One of my favourite songs on the record follows as "Ascent" is a perfect example of how a trumpet can take a great post-hardcore/post-metal song and make it phenomenal. There's even a porn part at 1:46 that is ridiculously good. Seriously that trumpet is insane and makes everything epic as fuck. Track three is "Eternal Light" that twinkles in before moving like the tectonic plates of the Earth at 40 seconds which sounds like a massive rock opera, complete with strings, trumpet and palm mute breakdowns. "Waltz" is a dizzying romp through black metal, post-hardcore and screamo and is the heaviest song on the record. The stop at 40 seconds with that beautiful pinging guitar leads into, simply put, insane drumming, especially at the end during which Emmett's trumpet swirls around in a climactic end to a stunning song. The title track "Gravity and Grace" is the instrumental interlude for the middle of the record. Perhaps interlude is the wrong word, as the trumpets, bass, drums and three guitars weave some beautiful melodies that gracefully sweep through the air as if their was no gravity. Ha, gracefully. Ha, gravity.

"Eternal Nothing" is nothing short of a masterpiece. Seriously, this 9:24 re-imagining of the song "Nihil" from their 'Demonstration' EP is one of the best songs I've ever heard. The first minute builds with expansive, ambient guitars and an effortless trumpet which culminates at 1:55 with their entire dark arsenal. At 2:20 the trumpet absolutely silences all else with the best and catchiest notes this side of ska, which, thankfully, are included later on. At 3:30 the song shifts into atmospheric mode with one guitar and some minor squealing that continuously build and accumulate strength whilst mixing with more instrumentation. The nearly Mexican-standoff sound explodes like a supernova at 5:27 with a repetitious guitar riff and gang vocals of, "There is only one truth, we all die alone. There is only one lie, this has all meant nothing," that loops for about a minute before the climactic and insanely good outro begins with the massive, pumping palm mutes on all three guitars that truly anchor a prodigious and superior wall of music. The shifts at 7:32 when the black metal element is once again infused and the drums drive the song for a short bit with all the rage and indifference of a speed-freak flooring a race car that eventually leads back into that fist-pumping outro. Holeeeeeeeey shit that's an amazing song.

"Evening. Melancholy I" opens with the cleanest and most accessible vocals of the record and is some ways bears little resemblance to the rest of the record, and resembles Hum more than any hardcore band. At 1:40 the song shifts into mildly heavier territory with a few members screaming their lungs out over the slow, seeping sounds that emanate from the instrumentals. "Evening. Melancholy II" insane drums and anguished screams are at the forefront of this track from the get-go, but at 25 seconds those sweet, sweet trumpets chime in and carry the song away. This is almost always the bands closing song live as they continue to belt out the last line of, "forever and always" after the song ends live, but cut that short on the record. The closer "Evening. Melancholy III" is a very short song, clocking in at 1:47 and nicely wrapping up the LP, although because I've seen them live so many times I almost feel as if "Evening. Melancholy II" would have been a more apt denouement.

On the first day of 2015 I released 'Zampler #4' on Zegema Beach Records with, what I thought at the time, was a demo version of one of the LP songs. After hearing the final full length I came to the realization that the song "Anthems for Falling Stars" is now exclusive to the Zampler as it never showed up on the LP. The song is very good, but after hearing 'Gravity and Grace' I can see why the didn't re-record it, because those songs are just so damn good. At nearly 9 minutes it varies more than perhaps any other song the band has recorded, as the serene parts are nice and tranquil but the monsters definitely come out, take the entire two sections from three to four minutes as a prime example, and is quite reminiscent of Locktender, if I may say so myself.

Back in early 2014 RESPIRE dropped a trailer and then the 'Demonstration' digital EP. The four tracks are a great starting point and show a lot of maturity on a debut recording. The early version of "Eternal Nothing" is titled "Nihil" on this demo, but it still kicks major ass. An excellent track that is exclusive to this release is "Nox", which starts out heavy as fuck but scales it back after the first 30 seconds with droning, ambient tension that snaps like a twig at the two-minute mark and multiple screaming, piercing guitar notes, and devastating drums take over until the song fades out at 4:33.

I assume that most readers of this blog are already well aware of RESPIRE (here's a song premiere post, here's a show post w/Gillian Carter, here's a show post w/Lentic Waters, here's a show post w/Locktender and here's a show post from the ZBR mini-fest) but in the off chance that you are not, you're in for a stunning journey.

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DISCOGRAPHY

2014 - Demonstration digitalEP (stream/donate/download here)

2015 - Zampler #4 - Flip Six Three Hole compilation cdrLP (contributed "Anthems for Falling Stars") (stream/donate/download here)

2016 - Gravity and Grace 12"LP (stream/buy here) [buy 12" 1st pressing here]

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(2016) RESPIRE - "Eternal Nothing" (from 'Gravity and Grace')

(2016) RESPIRE - "Ascent" (from 'Gravity and Grace')

(2016) RESPIRE - "Eternal Light" (from 'Gravity and Grace')

(2016) RESPIRE - "Evening: Melancholy II" (from 'Gravity and Grace')

(2015) RESPIRE - "Anthems for Falling Stars" (from 'Zampler #4')

(2014) RESPIRE - "Nox" (from 'Demonstration')

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RESPIRE additional links

Bandcamp

Facebook

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