Wolf Shaped Clouds - Demo (2011)

It’s been a while since I managed to get a submission review on my writing schedule, mostly since I was so focused on working on the “Ghone” showcase and trying to hunt down some names for future interviews. The latter bit is going relatively slow at the moment, but some of the planned interviewees I’ll be extremely proud to host on here. Just have to stay patient and time will tell!

Wolf Shaped Clouds (bandcamp page)

Wolf Shaped Clouds was a 4-piece screamo band from Budapest, Hungary, active from early 2011. up until 2013. These years might not be the most accurate, since bandcamp states 2011. as the year of their conception, while their discography tape lists 2009. as their beginning. In any case, they had a fruitful run in those few years, chugging out a nice selection of works including this demo and a rehearsal room recording, two splits (one with “Black Hourglass” and another with “Oaken”, respectively) and they were also featured on the “Swollen Lungs” 7’’ compilation, which is a selection of artists featuring songs less than 30 seconds. Short, but sweet.

This release was not a blog submission per se, but instead an actual gift from Tomi, the band’s vocalist. Back in 2011 I was staying at a friend’s apartment in Budapest (hi Botond, hope you’re still out there!), a place where Tomi was also living at the time. We didn’t really hang out all that much, but after some music talk the name of his band popped up, which I thought sounded super cool. Turns out it was screamo which made it a complete hit with me, obviously. Long story short, I walked away from that conversation with a neatly packed CD pictured above and I was extremely excited to take a listen.

Apparently, only 50 physical copies of this demo were made, judging by the handwritten number at the back of the case. Aside of the wonderful little black and white booklet with lyrics, the audio contents of this CD are everything you would ever want to hear from a screamo band's demo, a raw, passionate, perfectly imperfect collection of debut songs that just hit hard and ask questions later. Its five songs are fused in such a way that they simply call out to be listened in one sitting, with one breath. It’s a whirlwind sweeping you off your feet with the very first song and carrying you all the way to the end, relentlessly. And it is only when the final song ends that you get a chance to catch your breath and contemplate on what you just heard. I think that is why my favorite song on the demo would probably be the first track, “Rotting Sea”, simply because it sucks you in and sets the tone so well. 

The overall sound of the band is a strongly compressed amalgam of aggressive “Loma Prieta” outbursts, melodic “Raein” strings and at times the pounding beats of chaotic German influences from bands like “Danse Macabre”. Add to the whole mix some very bleak, almost crust-like lyrics performed with an exceptionally haunting wailing scream and you got yourself a package which you shouldn’t avoid.

What I always associated with this band was that pure passionate energy which always seemed to radiate from their releases. You could listen to them regardless of your mood and they would always manage to get your blood flowing. In all honesty, this is something that I severely miss with some of the bands today and that’s why I guess that bands like “Wolf Shaped Clouds” need to be cherished. They popped out of nowhere and brought something great to the table. It saddens me that they didn’t have a longer run at this project, it would have been an absolute pleasure to watch them grow and evolve. 

At the end of the day, this is a great little release and a definitive invitation to listen to the rest of the band’s discography. You can find them in their entirety on the above linked bandcamp page. Hope you give them a listen, they deserve it!

Masakari & Tempest (2012)

Replenish Records bandcamp

This review was supposed to appear a few days ago, but I sadly got sidetracked by listening to some random music on youtube. Quite shameful yes, especially since this release is a really important one and should be payed much attention. 

The split about which you will read below has been floating around the internet for a couple of days now, thus most of you are probably familiar with it. Although people are massively downloading it, I noticed that not everyone is aware of the whole story and the actual cause of the split, so this really needs to be corrected, especially since that is the thing that immediately made a wish in me to have the release posted on my blog. The fact of the matter is that this record is the only material in more than a year's time that I handpicked to post, a release which was not previously requested by a band to be reviewed, so I guess that that alone is enough to say how much I was thrilled with this.

Back in December 2011 I did an interview with "Masakari", which you can read here in case you missed it, and one particular question was addressing the band's love for dogs and pit bulls in particular. This record comes as a further explanation and materialization of their, and that of the band "Tempest", infatuation with these wonderful creatures, the split being a benefit for two organizations fighting for and supporting a truly noble cause. All of the money, a complete 100%, collected through this split will be donated to "HugAbull Advocacy & Rescue Society" from Vancouver, BC and "Wiggle Butts Bully Rescue" of Cleveland, Ohio. The wish of both the bands and the record label is to not only support the people associated with these organizations, but to also increase awareness about breed specific legislation and general awareness regarding animal cruelty and ways of how we, as humans, should treat our non-human friends. This is the kind of action through music that definitely deserves full attention and admiration, thus I would appreciate if my readers would check out this split and help the cause if they can. Even if you are not fond of these bands and this label, pay heed to what they are trying to do, since it is truly applause worthy. Also, please visit the websites of the above mentioned organizations for any further information or ways to get involved and help. You can do so on the following addresses:

- "HugAbull Advocacy & Rescue Society"

- "Wiggle Butts Bully Rescue"

Concerning some technical information about the split, it comes in the form of a 7'' EP and is limited to 500 copies with a double-sided fold-over jacket. You can grab it on the website of "Replenish Records" found here or you can just take a listen and download it for free on the above posted bandcamp page.

First in line on the split is "Masakari", the band deciding to contribute with a song called "X. Pain Conceived As A Tool". Press play and get pulverized in an instant, the Ohio quintet opening with full aggression and no remorse for your ears. The song lasts less than two minutes, but it is absolutely enough to set you in the mood perfectly and blow your mind away in the process, continuing with the speed and energy for which this band is well-known for. Ripping out a perfect mixture of hardcore and d-beat/crust, this song definitely heats up the excitement about the upcoming "Masakari" summer tour in Europe. This split also shows what kind of mayhem and chaos one can expect at their show, since the two tracks on their side are actually the same song, one as an "unreleased" and the other as a "live" version. So the live version, track two, comes with a very neat explanation of the song and what this split is about basically. Add to that the fact that the band literally slayed with the way they performed the song and the overall excellent quality of the recording and you get a real time-bomb of a record side.

"Tempest" holds the second half of this split and they hold it firmly. To be honest, I have never listened to this band before, since they are hanging out on my rather long "to-listen" list due to the fact that I'll see them live a couple of times this summer. I saw that people are really saying amazing things about the band on the internet and this split showed me why. Formed in 2007 in British Columbia, Canada, this five piece band charges and tramples over you with a superb combination of dark hardcore and screamo, reminding me of an amalgam consisting of "June Paik", "Danse Macabre" and "Zann". So far I have just listened to this split, thus I don't know what their previous material sounds like, but I can definitely hear a lot of tones influenced by the famous German wave of chaotic screamo. The song on this split, called "Death Rattle", is a purely excellent piece, being overtly aggressive while bearing an amazing atmospheric trait. It paints a rather complex image in the head of the listener with a lot of various shifts in melody, interesting bridges and an omnipresent wave of massive sound crashing on you. Similarly to "Masakari", "Tempest" brought two versions of a single song on this split, one being a remaster and one a live recording. And again they have devastated the audience with the second track much in the same fashion as their split mates. A clean recording where the bass playing really comes as being fantastic, a tidbit I found quite amusing. 

Overall, this is a fantastic split, both because of the bands and their performance, but also because of the action they took with the label to help the lives of others who can't fight for their rights. I myself will definitely be buying this release and I respect anyone else who will do the same, be it for the love of the bands or for the love of our furry (or otherwise) friends. Check it out and thank you.

¡Silencio, Ahora, Silencio! & Descubriendo A Mr. Mime - Split (2011)

http://silencioahorasilencio.bandcamp.com/

http://descubriendoamrmime.bandcamp.com/

I woke up this morning, which is like 10 minutes ago, and immediately jumped toward my computer with a goal to start writing this review. It is sad to say this to my readers, but your host is still leading a very much not envious life and it is seriously sabotaging me from doing loads of things. I have been putting efforts and the majority of my energy into some things so that my situation can get better, in turn leaving me with not so much inspiration for writing. Needless to say, it really pains me to see this blog  dead, so this morning and this review are definitely a wake up call!

This seven inch split is pretty much old news by now and I presume that most of you already know about both these bands and their mutual collaboration present here. I have to admit that I delayed listening to this release quite a lot due to some unknown reasons even to me. Luckily, good internet friend Luisan, who happens to be a member of "¡Silencio, Ahora, Silencio!" and an awesome dude interested in "Natures With No Plagues", was kind enough to send me the split for reviewing and pretty much pushed me into listening. The nudge was quite welcome, since I seriously fell in love with both bands almost instantly.

"¡Silencio, Ahora, Silencio!", translated into "Silence, Now, Silence!", is a quartet project hailing from Madrid, Spain. These four guys push forward into our ears some genuine screamo, bearing that amazing 90's and early 2000's feel, which is really admirable since it is quite difficult to stumble upon such bands nowadays. The four songs on this record managed to strike a particular nostalgic chord in me, reminding me of bands such as "La Quiete", some early "Raein" and most notably of several Australian acts like "Eucalypt", for example. Also, as the band alone stated once, one of their influences was a local band, the well known chaotic screamo "Enoch Ardon". What you can realize on this record, is that the band took all these inspirations and influences and mixed up a unique sound of their own, standing on the verge of chaotic and gentle, extremely fast and sluggish. The four tracks themselves are a progress from rushing riffs and spasm-like melodies toward a really slow and dragging end. My favorite track is definitely the opening one, named "Eso Que No Hay Será Si Nosotros Lo Hacemos Ser ", which just instantly throws you on a roller coaster. Fast tempo, rending riffs, splashed with calming intersections leading into more explosive outbursts of sound and ending in a calm, serene drifting away. Simply put, a great composition and pretty much the main trigger of the already mentioned nostalgic mood I had while listening. Not to relax you and just putting you on a chair with needles, the second song comes as a 33 second little menace bearing chaos. First half of the song you listen to the calmness which oozed from the first song and then it just snaps and pounds you with chaotic melodies, comparable to numerous German screamo bands. The following song, "...Y cuando crees saberlo todo AKA Maletín", continues in the same fashion bearing chaos, although with a repetitive melody, which also extends to the last song. As I said earlier, their side of the split is a progress to a slower ending, so the final tunes you get to hear are really slow when compared to the opening and overall that gives a nice touch to the recording as a whole.

Moving along to side B of the split and meeting "Descubriendo a Mr​.​Mime", or in other words "Finding Mr. Mime", yet another Spanish band. If my researching skills are still working well, this is a quintet we are talking about, if not, my apologies. In any case, much like their split partners, this band makes me extremely proud and happy for having this record in my collection. What we get to hear on this side is also 90's/early 2000's screamo, though a much darker and grimmer edition, standing close to bands like "Das Plague", "Ekkaia" from their screamo period, at times also reminding me of "Optimus Prime" and, again, "Enoch Ardon". So as you can see by the comparisons, quite depressive influences, but the amazing thing is that this band manages to use that inspiration extremely well when it comes to creating their own tunes. Their songs are somewhat dual, in terms of having a relatively equal amount of slower, mood setting sections and those more aggressive, chaotic fits. What I really enjoyed are those former parts which are quite atmospheric and they succeed in creating a specific feeling in the listener. The violent parts are definitely not lacking, since those instances lash out at you like a thunderstorm. A perfect example is the opening song "Leibniz", which has a superb bass line as a centerpiece, a composition style which you don't see quite often. There is this perfect melancholic sensation just thrown at you and then you are washed by a wall of rending riffs and explosions near the end. Although short, only one minute and eleven seconds, this song manages to really hit you hard and immediately cast you into what this band is about. The above mentioned duality is present on all songs, but it is interesting to hear their entire side of the split, simply because they keep expanding . Opposed to the one minute first song, the last third song is a four minute piece and a really epic ending.

In the end, some technical details about this release. 250 copies on transparent red vinyl have been pressed, as a collaboration between three labels, those being "Dog Knights Production", "Bear Records" and "Ghosts and Demons", all of which you can find here, here and here. Each label and band grabbed 50 copies, so you can also get in touch with the bands if you desire a copy.

All in all, I'd like to thank Luisan again for sending me a copy of the split, accompanied by an amazing "Magic:the Gathering" card, and for basically introducing me to these two excellent bands. Both projects are still young, but there is an enormous amount of potential here and I can only hope that they will continue to make music. Their bandcamp pages feature some more of their material, aside of this split, so be sure to check them out, I guarantee you will enjoy!

Fuck, Wolves! - Und zwischen all unseren Trümmern und Traumgebilden (2011)

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Wow, it has been a while since I wrote anything here and I bet you all thought that this little thing is dead by now. Well, yours truly is pretty much alive, though for the past few weeks only barely. My thesis writing, which is done by the way, consumed most of my time, so that coupled with some additional horrible happenings in my life managed to really drag me from doing anything, least of all writing here. I will try to muster some strength and willpower to write more often from now on, especially since in the second half of February I will be attending some extremely cool gigs, so show reviews will be abundant.

But enough about me, lets talk about "Fuck, Wolves!", a band really loved by your host. The four piece screamo band from Germany grabbed a hold of my liking ever since I heard their demo back in 2008. Additionally, the band really holds a special place in my heart, since they are involved in the first interview done for this blog, if you remember the dual interview I did after reviewing their split with "Chaos is...". In case you missed those, since they were done a long time ago, the interviews are found here and here, while the split review is found here.

To be honest, quite some time has passed since I last listened to this band, but coming back to them now instantly refreshes my thoughts on why I loved them so much back in the day of the demo. They were raw, aggressive and chaotic, going so far to extremes as to sounding like each member is playing without the notion of others, yet they somehow managed to fit in perfectly with one another. The sound was so crunchy and raspy that the shifts in melody came completely unexpected and much more impacting the listener. It took a bit of time to get used to the record quality, but once you get there you really fall in love with their music.

Needless to say, things have changed since then, albeit the band remained to be extremely pleasurable. A definite bridge between this release and the demo was the above mentioned "Chaos is..." split, since they took a bit of a style change and they stick with it even today. "Und zwischen all unseren Trümmern und Traumgebilden" brings us four new songs, one of which is a cover of another band from Germany called "Fargo". The opening song, "Kontraktionsphase", starts with a slow buildup which really succeeds in setting up a certain mood for the rest of the record. The tension builds up a bit after a vocal sample, with a sort of pinnacle of chaos being released past the first minute and a half. Curiously enough, the song goes up and down constantly with aggressive parts being intercepted with slower, more atmospheric melodies. The most interesting thing was that I could hear all sorts of influences the band could potentially have in that one song, ranging from the eerie tones that we can hear from "June Paik" to some early "Danse Macabre" and even "Louise Cyphre". After the, nearly experimental, first track comes "But Habbit Is A Great Deadener" which is a more classic "Fuck, Wolves!", an in your face, chaotic and rending song. The song just rushes past you with its insanely good buzzing sound which really managed to throw me back so close to the days of their first recordings.
The "Fargo" cover, more precisely "Leben macht Hungrig" from their "Zug Um Zug" release in 2009, is excellent. "Fuck, Wolves!" managed to keep the heaviness and the massive, beating riffs, yet they successfully molded the song in their own style. The grand finale comes in the form of "Heute ist auch nur Gestern 2.0", an excellent way to end this 7'', the track being on par with the opening song, with that atmosperic mood-setter which "Fuck, Wolves!" implement so well. This is definitely my favorite song from the release, since it bears something really specific which draws you time and time again to it. The growing tension, bridges and the crescendo of the song have an excellent composition, which at certain moments reminds me of several 90's screamo bands. While the melody keeps waving up and down, the listener is simply being drowned in a certain melancholic atmosphere. The band seems to excel very well at delivering a specific emotion through the speakers, a trait that not many bands can call their own.

As a whole, this release sounds like what "June Paik" would be prior to their demo from 2004. This might not make any sense to the readers, but it is logical in my crazy head. Needless to say, this is by no means a flaw or negative critic, but on the contrary quite a positive thing. "Fuck, Wolves!" continue to grow and after each release they evolve and mature, acquiring a darker and more ambiental trait along the way, which definitely serves them good. I'd like to thank Jens for sending me several copies of this great seven inch for the distro, which has been released by "Moment of Collapse" records in 2011, featuring some pretty rad artwork and design. Definitely check this band out, I guarantee you won't regret!

Via Fondo - Tar (2011)

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Oh wow, it has been a while. Recently, I haven't been checking the blog at all, like I explained in the previous post, but things are going really slow with my thesis. It is an extremely bittersweet thing, since it is interesting to research and write about the subject, but it manages to drain all my will and inspiration to write something other than that. For days now I have been waking up with an enormous wish to post here, so I think that today I finally gave in. Hopefully people managed to be patient and stick around to even notice this.

Either way, I am very happy to begin the year with a passionately loved band by yours truly. Some of you might remember my, rather short and lame, review of the self titled release by "Via Fondo", written way back in the Summer of 2010. You can check it out here, in case you missed it, and see how much my amazement with the band was almost instant and this record just goes to prove that the love was permanent. "Tar" is by no means a recent album, since it came out in 2011, but my paws got it in vinyl format recently and the inspiration to write about it and share it with all of you just exploded. Furthermore, I noticed that the release didn't grab much attention from the audience and that the band in general remained quite underrated, which is a big no no.

The descendants of "Anemone", "Via Fondo", bring us this 7'' release which carries two new songs. In the very same moment when I played the first song, "Hals Over Huvud", the tunes coming from the speakers managed to throw me back to the day when I discovered this band. They still radiate with the thing that succeeded to take my breath away back then, the sheer amount of raw emotions imbued in their music and the tunes themselves sounding passionately. That first track begins with a cold, melancholic soundscape, having a very depressive, yet lively rhythm. It takes time to build up with intensity, keeping you on the edge with rising and falling constantly, until it gets to the middle, where you are met with a peak of their sound. The rushing melody, composed of rending riffs and superb drumming, takes you so fast toward the ending and leaving you stunned. After you are left shivering, the track "Bortvandhet" comes to pick you up with a happier tone, at the beginning at least. This is where I noticed a really interesting feature of this record, a sort of duality which both songs carry. Where the first song was a depressive one turned aggressive, the second track is jolly at first, but morphs into something that one could expect coming from a band like "Raein". Like the first track, "Bortvandhet" just snaps at the middle and takes a whole different course. The joyous intro of the song really lifts you up with its fast tones and singing, but you are remorselessly dropped to the ground on the first corner. The drumming and bass playing are suddenly lowered down, making way for an amazing guitar riff which manages to sculpt a completely new type of sound lasting until the end, dying out in chaos.

I would also like to take a few moments and lines to talk about the artwork and packaging. The lyrics, and thus the majority of the text inside, are written in Swedish and this made me sad. Just kidding, but aside of that, there are song meanings in English, to which I really managed to correlate, so this made me happy. The artwork found inside is really wonderful and it is done by Karl from the band by the way, like on the self titled release I believe. Speaking of his artwork, he also animated a video for one of their songs and you should check it out on their blog, found here, since it is beyond cool.

Thus far, aside of the two records reviewed here, "Via Fondo" is featured on a four way split with "Halal/Hadhari", "Sensor!Sensor!" and "Echo Echo Landscape!" and on a compilation done by "Tokyo Jupiter". It makes my heart fill with joy seeing this band being active and alive after almost two years of work. I honestly hope that nothing will stand in their way when it comes to future recordings and that this review manages to attract more listeners, since they really deserve the attention. Definitely check them out, you will surely enjoy.

Battle of Britain Memorial - The Aftermath Of Your Bright Beings (2011)

http://battleofbritainmemorial.bandcamp.com/

Just a quick note before the actual review, since I forgot to mention it in one of the previous posts. All you boys and girls from bands which have, in the past months, sent me a request for being posted here will be written about, even without the previously mentioned physical consent. I don't want to bother you people now with that and will carry the responsibility if some troubles occur. But, bands which in the meantime have already sent me something via mail, like this band and "The Canyon Observer", will go up front a bit, just not to make them wait. Worry not, no one will be neglected and I am really thankful to everyone interested in being on this blog.

"Battle of Britain Memorial" is a four piece act hailing from Toulouse, France. Initially a trio which came together in April 2009, the band expanded its ranks with one more member in the following October and it became their final setup. The band first appeared to the crowd in May 2010 and their recordings saw the light of day one year later, when in May 2011 they released "The Aftermath Of Your Bright Beings". And yes, once again French music manages to highly impress.
This album is truly a beast which succeeded to trample over me upon the very first listen, lashing out a combination of post rock, post metal and screamo. Packed up with six songs and almost forty minutes of music, the tracks are truly massive and composed in such a way that they completely consume your attention. The thing that really intrigued me at first was the fact that every band member has equal amounts of time under the spotlight and everything seems balanced. When I say this I don't just mean the ability of the listener to hear and enjoy every tone when the entire band plays together, but rather instances when a particular instrument steps up and becomes dominant. The perfect example is the opening track, "Welcome to Rapture", which begins with some eerie and atmospheric guitar playing. Later, when the song progresses a bit, one gets the feeling that the drums become the leading instrument, while at the end you get to hear the bass being alone and carrying the song toward the end. This exhibition of certain aspects of the band is present throughout the album and is perfectly executed, since it doesn't sound forced upon, but rather ultimately flowing. Of course, the same goes for the vocal performance which sometimes literally drags the tunes with a forceful command. Swinging between singing so gentle that it seems more like humming at times and a raspy, violent scream, the pinnacles of the verbal sections are quite powerful. I must admit that I really enjoyed the vocals, since the voice is somehow filled with a lot of tension and emotion, the listener having the feeling like it is about to crack any second. Additionally an interesting thing is the use of audio samples which definitely play an important role in this release, because at times they are pushed so much up front that it seems like they are the fifth member of the band.
"The Aftermath Of Your Bright Beings" is a concept album in its core and the flow of the idea is quite good. There is a certain trait of metamorphosis while you listen, since the overall feel of the album changes from aggressive at the beginning and leaning to a more gentle side toward the end. It is not an actual change of style, but much rather a mood swing. Thanks to this, a specific experimental aspect can be sensed in the music and "Battle of Britain Memorial" makes good use of it. Constant tempo changes, the already mentioned tone domination, shifts in mood and the application of samples really paved the way for a high dose of variation when it comes to song composition. Furthermore, this is all enveloped with some excellent production and sound quality thanks to Jérémie Mazan, guitarist of "Nephalokia".
In the end, what to say other than "check this band out". If you are into some music similar to "Rosetta", "Envy", "Time To Burn" and "Arroyo", but crafted in a style contributed solely to "Battle of Britain Memorial", you will not be disappointed. I'd like to thank Jérémy from "Blue Wave Production", the label/booking/promotion from France, for contacting me and for sending the lovely cd, which sadly suffered some damage thanks to a careless postman. You can get in touch with "BWP" via the label's myspace page here and also visit the band's official website found here, where you can download this release. Enjoy!

Alenah - Mitt Waterloo (2011)

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It has been an extremely long, tiring day and I'm finally at home, surrounded by my cats and ready to relax myself with putting some words online. Usually, I post stuff on the blog in the morning hours while drinking coffee, but this one seems like a good night snack.

You should all be well introduced to "Alenah" by now, since this is a band that has been featured on this blog quite a long time ago, actually during its early days when I wasn't acting all smart and writing a wall of text per every post. Yes, this Swedish quintet is still going strong and when Oscar from the band wrote to me about posting this single I immediately went back to check out my review of their previous release, "Sotiga Liljor I Seine". And damn, was that a shitty "review"...yet the dudes enjoyed it, so big hugs for the shown thankfulness. Usually I'd say "yay go back and check it out", but this time you might as well skip it. But what the heck, you might just check it out for the band's sake, so head along and read it here.
Anyways as I mentioned above, "Alenah" prepared for us a single which came out this April. Consisting of two songs, this release really reminded me how good and underrated this band really is. Prior to taking a listen to the single now, I re-listened to their first recording and it once again managed to spark that certain amazement from yours truly. The release was fast, aggressive and rushing past you in a crazy whirlwind of sound, making you want to either break something due to the adrenalin surge or just scream along to the songs. It had a superbly clean sound which the members used to show us just how technical they can be, even amid total chaos. As for "Mitt Waterloo", the quality, uniqueness and the technical aspect were transferred from their predecessor. The thing that is somewhat different is the introduction of the slightly different style of composition. While the second song on the release, "Ett Dödsdatum Satt", provides the well known speedy melody and rushing riffs of "Alenah", the first song bears new traits. Named after the release itself, "Mitt Waterloo" starts out with a slow muted guitar and sounds which you can hardly make out, going between a distant scream and scratchy distortion. Soon it all goes nuts and explodes with insanely catchy riffs and that amazing vocal performance which I enjoy so much. The song goes fast and furious with everything from pounding melodies and pack screaming, until it reaches the middle when tone drops and the vocal is left alone. Explosion again. Vocal alone again. Explosion again and after that, the same melody returns back, but this time somehow stretched and slower, in the end going so far as to becoming completely sluggish and acquires a really melancholic tone while the vocal remains aggressive.
Maybe it's just me thinking way too much about the music I listen to, but this seems like a bit of an experimentation moment on the band's side. Which I fully approve, since it sounds great, especially because it caught me completely off guard due to the fact that they left an impression in my head of a "fast" band with their previous release, the song "Vindspel" being a sort of signature track for me. Of course, they had slower sections, but I guess that they were overshadowed with the other more "in your face" tones or samples and didn't have enough space to leave an impact. "Mitt Waterloo" really managed to mark its presence with a certain emotion and mood, at the same time continuing what the band was known for and somewhat providing a bit of an evolution in the process.
I haven't heard from the dudes since April (NOTE: because you didn't reply to them, idiot), but as much as good old Last.fm says they had a gig recently, meaning they are still very much alive and kicking. The guys in the band are still young and the band itself is quite fresh, thus it would be amazing to see their future work and see what more they can throw at us. In the meantime, check them out and enjoy!

Means To An End - Winter Demo (2011)

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Woke up early in the morning today only to realize that all of my plans for the day got cancelled by other people. So the unexpected free time should be put to good use and to try and deplete my inbox which is boiling with submissions.

For several months now I have been on an extremely addictive dose of some older screamo projects from the end of the 90's and the first quarter of 2000's, more specifically bands like "Mihai Edrisch", "Orchid" and "Jeromes Dream". Listening to them, one really realizes how those bands had a certain something that sets them miles apart from today's screamo. Here and there you get to hear a brief glimpse of influence from those legendary names, but usually it doesn't get further than that. Well, "Means To An End" is one of these bands that has a strong potential of resurrecting some of that old spirit.
The five piece chaotic screamo from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania recorded this demo in the early months of 2011 and thus far this is their first released material. This project features members of "Masochrist" and "Old Accusers", which I am yet to take a listen to so I will skip talking much about that. But speaking of the above mentioned old spirit, "Means To An End" harbors a very strong taste and influence from "Orchid", at least in my ears. Amid the overall chaos, vocal and instrumental whirlwind, at times I managed to grasp something that managed to awake a certain feel of nostalgia which I connect to some already mentioned bands. I won't write much about this tidbit, since it is in fact just an "influence", so in the meantime just listen for yourself and I will mention what I have on this regard in the closing words.
Getting a bit more technical with the actual music, the "Winter Demo" brings us four tracks with somewhere around eighteen minutes of tunes. In that time, quite a lot of stuff is thrown into your lap and I personally found enjoyment in every second of it. The opening track, "The Day We've Been Dreading For So Long Is Finally Upon Us", specifically took my breath away and I actually ended up playing just that song several times in a row. We are greeted with a chaotic start, buzzing guitars distorting and crashing around the place, the bass following with its deep growl in the same pace, the drums pounding their way through all the craziness and the vocal, of course, being in the form of a raspy, stretched out scream nearly melding with the other instruments. It's all fun and games until you reach the middle of the song which really made me go "wow". Tempo suddenly drops and everything takes on a new dimension, slowly building up toward yet another explosion. This slower mid part really flung me back into the beginning of the 2000 when it comes to screamo. The guitar acquired a clear and gentle, yet somewhat saddening tone, while the bass is heard here and there, like it is hiding behind the guitar, while the drums perform a droning background melody. Tension builds up a bit more as the distorted strings hit again, still slow, with the clean tones crawling through at times. And at last it all explodes again, this time with multiple screams, all leading into an amazing end.
As you can see, quite a more detailed description for just one song, but honestly, "Means To An End" really made me ponder a bit more about their songs then usual. And like I said, they throw at you a lot of things and one just keeps discovering more aspects of their tunes with each listen. I just noticed, for instance, how this pack screaming in the second song is damn amazing. All in all, for a demo this is really great and it definitely sparks interest about their future work, especially since it will probably carry a lot better sound quality and cleaner sound. These recordings aren't bad, mind you, but you can actually sense that this is a demo, if you know what I mean. In the course of listening this release, I also noticed how the band is still experimenting with their sound, since for example you have two songs that are longer than your usual song (longer than four minutes), while the other two are quite short (less then 2 minutes or a few seconds above that) and are actually "untitled". Not only that, but the latter songs also have a different playing style, grabbing some mathy traits, having some riffs that reminded me of bands such as "Merchant Ships", though far less...twinkly. (NOTE: no, I don't call such bands "twinkle daddies", thank you very much, just that word seems quite descriptive for certain riffs) Additionally, those two songs don't have that specific melancholic or slightly depressed/angry mood like the first two tracks, so there is a big style gap in the middle of the demo.
With everything being written thus far, "Means To An End" is a very interesting band. I have nothing but praise to say about the fact that they managed to invoke the nostalgic feel in my chest, especially since those words are rare on this blog, despite me always trying to shine a light on whatever it is a certain band does best. The older screamo style is just an influence on this project apparently, but the potential they glimpsed at us is truly great and my sincere recommendations are that the band should definitely fully embrace this. They also showed potential for a completely different branch of this genre, standing shoulder to shoulder with the previously recommended one. All in all, whichever way they decide to go, their metamorphosis will absolutely be intriguing to behold. Until then, check them out for yourselves and get in touch with them on their blog found here or facebook page found here. Enjoy!

Circle Takes The Square - Decompositions - Vol I. Chapter 1. Rites of Initiation (2011)

http://ctts.bandcamp.com/

Just a quick update on this nigh cataclysmic event, in case someone missed the news. After seven years of waiting, of rumors, of people losing hope that they will ever hear something from this band again, of some (undeserved) internet hate, the new material from "Circle Takes The Square" has finally grasped the light of day. Four new, incredible songs are being streamed on the band's bandcamp page, while the physical release will be out  in November. Until the entire release is out I will hold my thoughts for myself, but the important thing is that I consider this a release worthy of its predecessor. No words for now, just listen.

Innards - Tracing (2010)

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I don't know what is the situation with the weather in your hometown, but here it is unbearably hot. I've been stuck at home for a couple of days, brain completely fried and without the slightest wish to go outside. The warmth totally kills the inspiration to do anything and it really took all my strength to write down this review. Luckily for my tormented grey cells, this band is already well known to the readers, or at least it should be, so I won't be writing a huge wall of text, since by now we all know how much this band kicks ass.

Yes boys and girls, "Innards" are back to shake you up from the monotony of daily life. I already wrote about this band and their previous release and you should definitely read that writeup here if you missed it by any chance. In case you couldn't care less about reading some old stuff, quick introduction for the band follows. Four amazing dudes playing some double amazing screamo, simple as that. The "four guys crying from Texas", as they are referred to on Last.fm, are again hitting me through the speakers and totally managing to solidify all the things I wrote previously about them. "Tracing" was just the perfect medicine for rising me up from the zombie like state I found myself in due to the weather and even succeeding in exceeding my expectations. The thing that initially grasped my adoration for them was the amount of different sounds, moods and techniques present in their tunes. Due to the fact that this release is longer than the previous one and the fact that they continued with the audio diversity, this ride is extremely thrilling and simply adventurous, the listener thrown into a whirlwind of sound. We are faced with some Australian screamo rending riffs, yet mixed up with some French epic spice a la "Daitro". The general feel of the music is constantly changing as we hear aggression to mellow mood swings akin to melodies we get to experience in songs from "William Bonney" and "Midwest Pen Pals", but with a unique twist. There is also an omnipresent clash of indie like guitar playing with some math start stop techniques and even some subtle post rockish buildups, the tone just bouncing from chaotic to gentle and back again.
Having so much various things on display for the listener can be a bad thing at times due to the fact that the release as a whole could sound not so coexistent, like the songs are just randomly thrown together into a package. "Innards" however have an uncanny ability to tame that wild beast so well and sculpt a damn fine release. All nine songs on "Tracing" fit perfectly together and flow very nicely. This was the thing that I was very intrigued to hear, whether or not the band will succeed in doing the thing they so masterfully did with the previous recording. And as I already said, not only did they shine again with the same light as before, but managed to take it on a new level of sorts and it provided much happiness and enjoyment for yours truly. There are certain melodies that really hit the spot and just completely melt me away, for instance the entire song "Clean Cut, Rough Trade" is literally a work of art composed of a fine number of the styles and traits this band is known for, "Hard To Swallow" with it's amazing ending sequence and so on. With so much going on you are bound to come back to this release numerous times, but enjoying it always.
I've been contacted about this release back in March (yes, shame on me for being so late with posting band submissions), "Tracing" in fact released the previous December, and luckily the band remains to be alive and kicking even today. They recently released a split with "мища", which you can take a listen to on their bandcamp page here, and as much as I saw on their facebook page, found here, there are some talks about a split being recorded with "Adobe Homes", which gave my brain a boner to say the least. All in all, if you haven't figured out by now, you should absolutely, most definitely check out "Innards" and keep a close eye on them. This is just one of those bands that is most likely never going to cease surprising and it would be a shame to miss out on them.

City Cop - The Hope In Forgiving & Giving Up Hope (2011)

http://citycop.bandcamp.com/

Summer quietly crawled and is already here with it's heat for some time now, but it seems that it is getting more vicious with each passing day. I can barely think amidst this barely breathable air, but cold drinks and a great record just may succeed in providing a sanctuary from the outside.

"City Cop" is a four piece screamo act hailing from Ashtabula, Ohio. This little jewel of a release has been around from the beginning of January and once I took a listen to it I was really surprised that the band has a low number of listeners, according to Last.fm at least. A dear friend of mine told me that this is a strong contender for screamo album of the year, a definite top three material and I honestly have to completely agree with him.
The whole "City Cop" story begins at an unknown time, since either my investigation skills suck or the band didn't put that information online, when two friends started writing some acoustic tunes. Some time later they were joined by two more dudes, in the process adding more and more layers of different sounds and coming with this amazing final product. What we got in the end is screamo imbued with acoustics and sometimes indie, sometimes mathy melodies. Seeing as how screamo is obviously one of my favorite genres and additionally adding to that my profound love for acoustic tunes due to the work of my own band, this type of fusion really hit a certain soft spot for me. Aside of my vulnerability for these sounds, this release by itself is quite capable of entangling you into its grip in a very subtle manner. The album begins with "X", a chaotic and rending melody screeching toward you from the speakers accompanied by clean and somewhat gentle screaming. One could say a seemingly typical skramz opening, but masterfully done nevertheless and it is in fact what is coming after that which is even more grasping. The violent sounds drop and transform into an almost background like music, while the vocal also suffers mutation and turns into a mellow talking voice, bearing a likeness to that of "Koji", "La Dispute" and even "Thursday". Those few seconds of gentle sounds are again broken by the chaos from the beginning and this up and down shifts in pace and aggression continue throughout the song. Initially I thought that "X" could prove as a perfect example of what "City Cop" is able to perform, but I was grievously mistaken. In fact, the whole album provides you with various angles and maneuvers as you delve through it, as if you are reading a story and "X" was just an introduction. For instance, "Ode to Bula/Flight Lessons" gives you a more melancholic and bittersweet twist in tunes and words, as well as a bit more epicness, since it is the longest song. In contrast, the "Free Bird Part II" shines with a more driving and optimistic energy, ending in an extremely passionate way, while after that you are get to hear track four, "Humanity Is Sinking", a very pissed off and angry song showing some misanthropy in it's wake.
Once you listen to the whole record and the entire story unravels, you feel a strong need to take a listen to it again simply because the initial listen can't provide much understanding about it due to the fact that the album is quite vast in both length and detail. On first glance it does seem long because it features ten songs, but once you start listening the journey seems doubled. This is thanks to two things, one being the amount of different melodies and playing styles incorporated inside, the other being the vocal and lyrics which really provide a storytelling trait to "City Cop". The lyrics are quite amusing and written in a great fashion, but the audio manifestation of the words is just amazing. Be it screaming or talking or singing, whichever the form, the vocal performance flames up your interest as much as the instruments do. Many are instances when you completely focus on either the vocal or the instruments, since both parts of the band shine exceptionally well and it is a shame to give this band just a shallow listen. This is one of those projects to which you come back to time and time again, every time discovering something new.
As I said at the beginning of this review, I definitely agree with my friend that this is one of the best releases this year thus far. And once again, I am really surprised with the low listener count and honestly hope that this writeup will somehow aid the band and attract more people to it. In any case I highly recommend to all of you to give this band a try, you are bound to like it and all I can say in the end is that I really hope we see more of "City Cop" in the future. Enjoy!

Raein - Sulla Linea D’orizzonte Rizzonte Tra Questa Mia Vita E Quella Di Tutti (2011)

http://www.raein.eu/

No need for any introductions, just head over to their official site and download. I didn't want to upload the album myself, simply because there is a little donate button on the "Raein" site and judging by my first impressions of the album, they definitely deserve something back for offering this amazing album for free. Enjoy Italy's finest!

Todos Caerán & Bears - Split 10'' (2011)

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This post was initially planned to be a gig review for "Birds in Row", but I masterfully failed to go to that show, so it's back to the drawing board for now. However expect a gig writeup soon, since I will be going to both "Nux Vomica" and "Jeniferever" shows, really looking forward to attend those and write about them. Until then, brace yourself for an amazing ten inch.

The split I'm gonna write about is old by now and you all probably know about it already. Despite that I really want to write some words for it, since James from "Todos" asked me to do so and I also have a wish to try and attract more people to this record. That being said, you can realize that I really fell in love with this release. I have heard of "Todos Caeran" before and I wrote about their EP already (if you missed it, it is found here), expecting this to be equally good, but it completely struck me with my guard down. Ok, got carried away now, lets take it step by step.

"Bears" are first in line on this split, opening up with the song "A Boy in Paris". To be completely honest, I have bumped into their name a lot of times in the past, but I never really got to the point where I would sit down and listen. The very moment their song started pouring through my speakers I realized how much of a mistake I made for not giving them a chance earlier. They manage to create a certain mood in the listener with their tunes, which I really can't define quite yet. It keeps swinging me between some completely depressive and dark state to...I don't know, somewhat hopeful. That probably sounds stupid, but their music does put you into a specific place and I love it when you just can't put your finger on it. Also, the cool thing here is that "Bears" somehow bend time so to speak, since their three something minute songs actually sounds more epic and you feel like they last something like five or six minutes.
Ok, I think most of you stopped reading this by now, so those of you who have the energy to stick around until the end I'll try to sound more reasonable. Describing the very sound of "Bears" is a tough job, but I would try and say that you should imagine a mix of "Wolves" and "Captain, Your Ship Is Sinking!". Yes, two quite amazing bands and "Bears" seem to hold their own. Influenced by them or not, they really have a unique sound and excellent playing skills. Composition is superb, with quite a lot of interesting melody shifts, tempo changes and peculiar play stiles. I'm really glad to hear a band of this caliber come out of Australia, since at times the "down under" screamo gets bashed by people saying their bands sound way too copy/paste between one another. Complete nonsense if you ask me, so I would really like to see someone have something to say about this being a "typical" band. The only thing that I consider to be a small flaw is the vocal. The vocal performance is great, don't get me wrong, it is that I would just like to hear its volume increase more. Maybe the band wanted to blend the vocals more with the rest of the instruments, but I think that it should be a bit more above the rest, like on the "Todos" side of the split.

Speaking of which, "Todos Caeran" open their side of the split with "Aspirations". As I wrote above, I love this band ever since I heard their EP last year, but this just blew me away. I was expecting some improvements or whatever, but I really couldn't imagine that they advanced so much. First of all, their music is much more aggressive and a lot heavier on the listener than the EP. The very recording is a lot more better than on their previous release and that really puts their music on a whole new level. It is much louder and the sound is clear, so despite all the chaos bashing around, you get to hear everything. I literally spent more than half an hour repeating their two songs just to focus on every instrument present. Their style of composition really changed as well and I love how they gave all members of the band a certain part of a song where only that one member comes in the spotlight. For instance, you have a moment in "Aspirations" where the guitar literally steps up and performs some quite epic playing. Also, I remember that the first thing that drew me toward "Todos Caeran" was the vocal. Luckily, it didn't deteriorate in quality, the amazing raspy screaming even evolved a bit to be much better. As I mentioned already, it sounds a bit above the rest of the band and it just splashes a lot of chaos into their music.

Not really satisfied with what I wrote about this split, probably because I got my brain all twisted with how good the split is. In any case, like this review or not, you should absolutely check out this release and keep an eye on these two bands. You can check out and get in touch with Bears via their myspace here, though I am not sure how often they update their page, and with Todos Caeran also via myspace here. Enjoy!

Panthalassa - Demo (2011)

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When more than a week passes between posts, then one can suspect something strange going on. Luckily the hellish exam has passed with success, but I was so fatigued by it that I could barely sit down, listen and write about new tunes. I got my time to recover and it is time to get back on track and this is the perfect band for the occasion!

"Panthalassa" is a screamo band coming from Seattle, Washington formed in 2010, writing and recording this little beast of a demo during winter time. This band is technically a three piece with vocals, guitar and drums, but there is also a guest star fourth member on bass, none other than Andrew from "Lizards Have Personalities". When Sean initially wrote to me about their demo he didn't mention whether this kind of band composition is a one time thing or not, but I honestly hope it isn't, since they sound excellent this way. Also on the technical aspect, Simon from "Bears" helped out with mixing and all that jazz, though you can read about all that stuff in the "About us and thank yous" file in the download link.

Moving on to talk about how this all sounds like, it took me more than usual to think up bands which sound similar to "Panthalassa". I'd definitely say that this is a merit, since it is obvious that they don't follow a norm when it comes to writing music. What I did manage to scrap from my brain is a combination of "Lion of the North" meets "Broken Chords Can Sing A Little" minus the raw chaos and plus jazzy guitar...something like that. It is hard to describe since I think the band itself is still experimenting with what they want, due to the fact that in the course of the seven minutes present in the demo you have a lot of variation and experimentation with sound. You get to hear fast, flowing, mathy tunes which a song later change into slow, choked, spasm like rhythms. The cool thing is that despite the sound mutation and the shortness of the release, the demo seems quite consistent in the sense that you can actually get into the music and have an opinion about it. There were numerous projects that offered some test sounds through quite short demos and it took me some time to listen and re-listen to actually say that I like it or not. With "Panthalassa" it seems just straightforward, the release jumps in your face and you like it. The songs are catchy and backed up by great lyrics (also found in the download link), so they just get stuck in your head and you can play them over and over again.

Reading what I wrote thus far, it seems I kinda lost touch with properly writing down my thoughts about music, which usually happens when I don't write for a long time. Either way, if I failed to seize your attention about this release, then I will do it the old fashion way:GO AND DOWNLOAD THIS. I really find the demo enjoyable and hopefully the band will stick together and whip out some more material, since this really shows that they have talent and can make something cool and interesting. Check them out and get in touch via their facebook page found here. Enjoy!

Heart On My Sleeve - Blood Is Not Thicker Than Wine (2010)

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To be completely honest I didn't think that I would be writing here today, since I have some other projects that I am currently involved with. But when I saw that this band was next in line to be posted I just had to find time and squeeze in this writeup. What can I say, Swedish screamo is my weak spot.

Most of you probably know about this release by now, since they recorded this demo a month ago and I already came across it on numerous blogs. Despite already having coverage, "Heart On My Sleeve" is definitely worth talking about. As I already mentioned, this newly formed quintet hails from Sweden, more specifically Stockholm. This country is absolutely well known for a score of interesting projects, standing shoulder to shoulder with France and Germany when it comes to screamo and this band managed nothing less than to strengthen that position. But before I go any further with talking about things on a global scale, lets just keep our focus on this release.

I remember when Kalle from "Heart On My Sleeve" wrote to me, he also mentioned that his band contains members of "Followed by 37 Seconds Of Happiness" and "The Hope And The Failure". This little information was completely enough for me to know that this is going to be beyond amazing and I was completely right. While I'm writing this I am listening to their music for the first time and the simple fact that I needed no special preparation or trail period listening speaks for itself. The two ex-bands are very much loved by yours truly, each with its own special something. Not only can the legacy of these projects be sensed within this new band, but they managed to fly above their previous achievements, thoroughly twist them and make a sound more stunning by a tenfold.

There are four songs on "Blood Is Not Thicker Than Water" with eleven minutes of pure, fast screamo. It is an extremely speedy release and you literally have no time to stop and think about it. Several slower sections are present, but the very second you get used to it another outburst of sound picks you up and makes you running again. It is a similar feeling to the one when listening to the band "Marat". You have a handful of songs which completely preoccupy your mind with just an insane number of tones coming out of your speakers and while you are trying to register everything going on around you the release is over. And what else to do then just play the whole thing again.

By now you very well see that I won't be talking about the actual music, instead focusing more on the feelings which it invokes. This is simply because I was extremely infatuated with what I heard and this band really falls into the basket with those that you just need to experience for yourself, rather than me just randomly describing what it all sounds like. Especially if you know their previous bands and in case you don't I strongly suggest you check them out first. I have "The Hope And The Failure" here, but I never actually uploaded "Followed by 37 Seconds Of Happiness" anywhere because I apparently suck.

In the end, this is a definite recommendation. I am really stunned by the quality of both the music and the recording that it really leaves me wanting for more. Hopefully "Heart On My Sleeve" will have a bright future ahead of them, since this alone is forth the notion that they can absolutely make something which I consider beautiful. If you want to check them out on bandcamp you can do so on their page here or get in touch via myspace here.

Ghost Dance - Ghost Dance (2011)

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Due to various factors and commitments I have really increased downtime between posts. I will definitely try to post more frequently, because this slow blog motion is getting on my nerves. Hopefully this band will shake me enough to get me back on track and to be honest it has quite a lot of potential to do so.

"Ghost Dance" is a duo coming from Lancaster, USA. If you are a longtime follower of my blog, then you already came into contact with Chris and Tyler through their other project, namely "Broken Chords Can Sing A Little". Last September I wrote a review for the "Broken Chords..." discography (which you can read here) and I was moved quite much by their music. It was very exciting to hear that they guys have a side project and the fact that they were a two piece made things even more interesting for me.

So, what we have here is some well sculpted screamo in a twenty six minute release. A legacy of "Broken Chords..." can be heard here in the form of quite chaotic, raw and screechy sound, at times even reminding me of the first release by the band "Fuck, Wolves!". But despite the obvious similarity to their primary band, the duo managed to successfully twist their self-imposed influences and add something more to their sound. As Chris told me, they started playing with an idea to be a math/instrumental band, but eventually vocals were added into the mix. Thanks to that initial plan, there is quite an interesting layer to their tunes, so it is not all just screamo. You can find a lot of changes in their melodies, sometimes with those mathy sections jumping at you or even more hardcore driven playing which kicks you to the ground with breakdowns and heavy riffs. Also, unlike "Broken Chords" there is a significant amount of experimentation with guitar effects, so certain songs have a vastly different tone and mood when compared to the rest of the tracks on this release.

The very structure and composition of the songs is quite diverse. Tracks bounce from slow, mid and fast tempo, though they never really reach a too fast, aggressive note for which a lot of chaotic bands are well known for. The songs do get to a certain point when they sound angry and frustrated, but not quite violent, which I personally find to be quite a trait. This is most likely due to the lyrics and the very type of vocal performance, which despite the constant screaming adds a level of calamity. It is kinda hard to explain, since you have to take a listen and get what I am saying.

In the end, I really enjoyed this release, thanks to my love for two piece projects and the type of chaos present here. I'd definitely like to hear some more material from this project, since there is a lot of potential here. Some of you probably won't enjoy the type of recording, which I personally don't mind, but maybe further evolution of this band will bring advancement in that area. Either way I highly recommend you check out their tunes!

You can get in touch with "Ghost Dance" on their myspace page here or on their Facebook page here.

Boats Against The Current

http://boatsagainstthecurrent.bandcamp.com

Thinking about this band makes me want to whack my head against the wall until either cracks first. Not because the band is hideous or anything (quite the contrary), but simply because of the fact that only today did I realize that Jake from the band ever contacted me in the first place...a month ago. So yeah, apparently I suck hard with managing my e-mail inbox, I hate it so much when I don't reply to a band submission. Anyways, moving on from my shame....

"Boats Against The Current" are nothing other than a duo from Orlando, USA playing some sweet mathy, jazzy, screamo! One might conclude that a sentence ended with an exclamation mark would stand for amazement and excitement, which is absolutely correct. For some reason I am extremely attracted to bands which have something unorthodox, be it a weird number of members or some crazy instrument amongst themselves. Obviously, what surprised me here is the "duo" thing. There was one such similar band before, "The Sea Swallowed Us Whole", which I love so damn much, basically I can't describe it with words. It is well enough to say that I instantly fell in love with it, because it had a special something that attracted me. Either way, like with the mentioned band, the same happened to me with "Boats Against The Current". You would think that a duo consisting of drums and a guitar would be way to simple when it comes to making sound, but it is quite the opposite. Of course, you can sense a difference due to the lack of a bass or second guitar, yet the great thing is that you don't feel that as being a flaw. When you are on the task of creating music with only two elements then it seems that the very passion and creativity that drives you becomes a member of the band. This may sound stupid, but trust me when I say that this band has more passion floating around their tunes than a lot other bands full of members. The melodies that "Boats Against The Current" create are constantly changing, as well as the general mood the songs invoke in you. This fluctuation of emotions is quite masterfully achieved and it ranges from quite sad tones to mellow, joyful and somehow hopeful.

On the technical side, the combination of a guitar and drums really lets you just sit back and enjoy. Most of the times when I write a review or just analyze some band's music, I really have to make an effort to pick just one instrument and focus on it which some times just can't even happen. Here of course, it is extremely easy and it is great when you can just relax, let the music wash over you and be able to touch and hear every bit of it.

While I am on the technical side of things, it is worth pointing out that there are three "releases" on their bandcamp page and they are all different when compared to each other. While the "Ta ta tera" thingy was probably a funny pastime, the "unfinished tracks" and the demo are definitely a bright star of this band. "Unfinished tracks" hail from August 2010 and this is an all instrumental release, obviously not finished to the point of adding vocals. And this is quite amazing. Imagine "The Sea Swallowed Us Whole", "Lion of the North" and "Me and Goliath" having a dance and you get "Boats Against The Current". These tracks were the focus of this writeup and as I wrote above, this is probably the most passionate, heartfelt music I heard in a while. However, despite the fact that this was the focus of my writing it doesn't mean that the demo is bad. The only problem with the demo is that it was recorded live, most likely from a gig the band did (unintentional rhyme) judging by the sound. The recording is way to crunchy and chaotic to be enjoyable as much as the other tracks, but it is definitely worth checking out because of the vocals. Yes, the vocals are present here and damn I like them! I could only imagine the vocal being added to the unfinished tracks, makes me get goosebumps! There are two more exclamation marks, so go figure.

All in all, this was an extremely great surprise. I am very pleased with this band and would love to hear their final release, since these tunes just blew me away. Honestly, I really hope that these guys are still playing music together, it would be a real shame that this project dies when it has so much potential. "Boats Against The Current" are definitely worth your time, so I urge all of you to give them a try.

Theme Of Laura - Demo (2010)

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Before I even knew it, my inbox on gmail became really cramped with a lot of submissions and I'm due to do a lot of promised reviews and posts. And I will actually, not a single band will go unnoticed, since every submission was great. This release arrived to me yesterday and it's the newest one in, but I just had to post it right away. So sorry for all the others waiting, but this really blew my brains away.

So, what do we have here? A trio playing screamo (non-intentional rhyme) in the vain of the legendary "1000 Travels of Jawaharlal" and the newer wonder the "12XU", carrying the sound under a name inspired by a Silent Hill reference...and they are French. I just have to take a moment and praise glorious France, there isn't a single bad screamo/emo band which came from that country. Not only are the bands not bad, they are incredible and I have an extremely soft spot (edit:addiction) for French screamo. The country exceptionally keeps the European screamo scene firm and strong, basically making that into a tradition rather than an effort.

To try and be a bit more serious now, "Theme Of Laura" justifies well the successful line of French bands. As mentioned above, the band brings forth sounds which are on the border of screamo, emo and punk. The first track instantly greets you with exploding and rending guitar riffs, heart-pounding drumming and an excellent ambient like filler in the form of bass. It is a fast and rushing song, but what is most interesting is that it has a certain something that Akira Yamaoka implemented into the Silent Hill soundtracks. It is very hard to explain, but if you took a listen to the soundtrack you will know what I mean. Basically on every turn of this song you expect something from SH to jump at you, sound wise. The track has some mid pace elements, but those just explode and beat your chest into a pulp near the end. Fast song tempo really dominates on this release, but considering that you have five songs and around 18 minutes of music, you are in for some long yet fast songs.

So there we come to a trait this band has that really astounds me. Several bands which I heard before that had the "long fast songs" composition are rather dull and repetitive. Here it's different for 180 degrees. Their songs literally flow due to the speed, but there are constant changes in sound, the smallest shifts of pace which really stand out and an ever present unpredictability of melodies. It is almost a whirlwind like experience, you are carried high with the very speed of the demo, but are further tumbled around by all the unexpected elements which hit you constantly.

As for the instruments and vocal performance, I'm without complaints. Guitar bears minimum of alterations and effects, so you have a really pure and natural sound with a very light and high tone. Drumming is perfect, a bit raw in contrast to the guitar, but very melodic and greatly adds to the unpredictability trait. Bass also carries a standard sound, but the style of playing is quite rad, since it plays an amazing part as the mood-setter for the songs. As far as vocals go, they are in the form of constant raspy screams, sometimes followed by pack screaming.

Is you haven't figured it out yet, I really liked this project. French screamo is yet to fail me and these guys are really making that task harder. This is a pretty young band and this demo is due to be released soon on 100 cd-r with screenprinted cover art. It is worth mentioning that they are part of the "Dreams Come True" association and are friends with "Emotionally Unstable Records", labels which were already introduced to us by a much respected person by this blog, Ianik from Chaos Is... . You can get in touch with the band on myspace here or bandcamp here. Enjoy!

In the end I would like to thank Stephane from "Theme Of Laura" for contacting me about his band and for having to say some very nice words about the blog. Hope this band flourishes in the future!

Kid Sister Everything

Here is a special something for today, a bit of promotion for "Kid Sister Everything", a label from Chicago. I have been contacted by Harrison, the dude running the label, so today you'll be introduced to two of his releases. Quite fine ones I might add, so sit back and enjoy.

Antilles - My Empathy EP (2010)

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First up, Antilles, a screamo band based in Norwalk, Ohio. This quartet has quite a bit of releases under their belt, among which are 2 EPs, an upcoming LP and numerous splits, one even with the band which I am due to write about further in the text. Despite all these releases, I must admit that I haven't heard of this band before, so I can't really compare this EP with their previous work. But all of you who are like me and don't know about this project, trust me on my word when I say that this release definitely makes you want to search for more music under the name of Antilles.

"My Empathy" brings us two songs with a total of eight something minutes. It starts of with the song "Propensity", welcoming you with a very quiet guitar sound. VERY quiet, but don't be a fool like I was and think that it is a bad recording, the volume increases dramatically after 19 seconds. The song continues to have a repetitive mid tempo riff being played until it drops at one point, but complete silence is broken with a faster, more rending playing. The middle part of the song offers the speedup playing and tune shifts, while the last third of the song is again a repetitive sequence with less speed, but with extremely built tension. The song ends with yet unheard chaos which sort of oozes onto the second song, "The Shame". This songs was a bit more to my liking (not that there was something bad with the first one). The chaos from the first track continued here with even more aggression, but what is interesting is that it lasts until literally half the song, when it converts into an absolutely amazing slow tempo melody which just gently pleases your ears. It builds up in sound a bit toward the end, but once you think that it will explode and go crazy again it just starts fading away. Magnificent.

With all this said, how to describe their sound? Imagine a mix of Australian screamo, but with a lot more tension, a slight touch of grimness and brooding tones of some 90's screamo and a bit of a mathy trait screamo seems to get nowadays. At least to me it sounds like it, though if someone described a band this way to me I'd be confused. I need to check out the rest of their stuff to have a firm statement about this project, but so far this release really drives you into a positive direction. Definitely take a listen to this, you won't regret it!

Mountain Asleep - Smile Medicine 7'' (2010)

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Moving onto the second release by "Kid Sister Everything", we are greeted with Mountain Asleep, a hardcore/screamo band from Louisville. Heh, when I first saw the name of the band and of the release, I thought that I will hear some mellow, slow tunes. Oh how I was wrong. The hardcore bit really comes up front row, so you are in for some very fast and loud songs.

This quintet recorded six albums/demos/splits with "Smile Medicine" being their newest addition. It features four songs with around seven minutes of tunes. As you can see and as I already said, this is a very fast-paced release. From the very beginning in the form of the song "Sleep Simplicity" you realize what will happen in the next seven minutes, since you are swiped off your feet with extremely enjoyable, melodic chaos. Everything is tossed at you from pack singing and an amazing raspy main vocal to constant melody shifts. Exploding crescendos, rushing punk melodies, rending riffs, start stop sequences... To even further the speed of the record, all songs continue onto each other and really overflow one another, with only the last song "Strangers" being a bit cut off with a fading out guitar screeching from the previous track. You literally have no time to grasp and analyze a particular song section, because you are overwhelmed by the next one. I really love the way these guys write songs, this really requires excellent hearing and a sense of tone. I'm not gonna analyze the songs in detail since it is almost impossible. Take a listen and figure it out for yourself, it will be seven minutes perfectly spent. My sheer amazement and the time it took me to lift my jaw off the floor, really makes me look for some more releases by this band. And it made one fact really hard to accept. "Mountain Asleep" will play their last show on December 18th. It is always sad when a great band breaks up, but it's even tougher when you just recently discovered it. At least, they left us with some breathtaking material. Definitely download this.

In the end, some technical information about the releases.

Antilles is released on 200 opaque red and a 100 on black.

Mountain Asleep on 200 yellow and a 100 on black.

And some links for you to get in contact with everyone mentioned here:

Kid Sister Everything

Antilles

Mountain Asleep