Frail Body/Infant Island/Massa Nera/Dianacrawls - Hymnes aux désarrois de la peau 4-Way Split

Labels: A Fond d’Cale/Blessed Hands Records/Dance Happy Doom Crew/

Dasein Records/Dickcrush Records/Dingleberry Records/I.Corrupt Records/Left Hand Label/Le Blast Records/Listen To Aylin Records/Middle-Man Records/No Funeral/People, Places, Records/Pundonor Records/R.I.P In Peace Records/Santapogue Media/Zegema Beach Records

Formast: Vinyl/Tape/Digital

Release Date: 16 May 2019

Tracklist: 

1. Frail Body - Fixed

2. Infant Island - Death Portrait

3. Massa Nera - Nunca Seremos Lo Mismo

4. Dianacrawls - Melancholia

5. Dianacrawls - Kinky Kills

6. Dianacrawls - Cycle Of The Abused

If you've taken a moment to read the names of the bands that have made up this split, also take a moment to think about what they have achieved since it's 2019 release. All four of them have grown so much and have become synonymous with modern post-hardcore/screamo. Released in collaboration with all of the labels above, Hymnes aux désarrois de la peau heralded a new era. This is where I pick up my ZBR roster review series again.

This beautiful split is a sight to behold. It takes pride of place in my personal collection, alongside many other releases from each band. Starting off hard, Frail Body’s ‘Fixed’ wastes no time thanks to a mix of emoviolence and post-hardcore that they have become known for, especially on recent album Artificial Bouquet. While kicking off with so much intensity, it ends with so much beauty.

Infant Island are up next with ‘Death Portrait’ and there’s a much more brooding atmosphere at play, showing a glimpse into how their blackened screamo has evolved over recent years. The full soundstage is used here to raise the heart rate, while the strings later on provide a warmth that’s sometimes missing from this form of music.

The privilege of having the split’s longest song is left for Massa Nera, as ‘Nunca Seremos Lo Mismo’ stretches past the five-minute mark and almost seems to follow on from Infant Island’s previous song, if only due to the additional use of strings. That aside, it’s a much more pensive song overall, eschewing the use of heaviness and tempo during some passages. It’s expansive delivery is striking,

While the above three bands contributed a song each, Dianacrawls provide three; albeit two are very short. ‘Melancholia’ is a brilliantly off-kilter screamo song with a subtle nod to jazz and the weirdness of Primus. ‘Kinky Kills’ follows in the same vein with some excellent bass/guitar coupled with exasperated screams and raw percussion. Their final song ‘Cycle Of The Abused’ barely hangs around long enough for you to take it in, yet somehow it leaves it’s mark.

This is one of those records that you instantly become engrossed in, but one that also goes by in a blur. A snapshot in time maybe, but one that will stay with you forever.

You can stream and grab this split as a name-your-price download from Zegema Beach Records below:-

Frail Body - https://www.facebook.com/frailbodyil

Infant Island - https://www.facebook.com/infantisland

Massa Nera - https://www.facebook.com/MASSANERANJ

Dianacrawls - https://www.facebook.com/dianacrawls

Physical copies can be purchased from the labels below:-

Dasein Records - https://sadreact.bandcamp.com/album/hymnes-aux-d-sarrois-de-la-peau

Dingleberry Records - https://www.discogs.com/seller/dingleberryrecords/profile

I.Corrupt Records - https://www.icorruptrecords.com/products/frail-body-infant-island-massa-nera-dianacrawls-split-12-lp

Left Hand Label - https://dogknightsproductions.com/collections/12-lhl

Pundonor Records - http://pundonorrecords.limitedrun.com/categories/pundonor-releases

R.I.P In Peace Records - https://ripinpeacerecords.storenvy.com/

Blessed Hands Records - https://www.facebook.com/BlessedhandsRecords

Dance Happy Doom Crew - https://www.facebook.com/Dancehappydoomcrew

Sad React Records (previously Dasein Records) - https://www.facebook.com/SadReactRecords

Dickcrush Records - https://www.facebook.com/DICKCRUSHRECORDS/

Dingleberry Records - https://www.facebook.com/DingleberryRecordsandDistribution

I.Corrupt Records - https://www.facebook.com/icorruptrecs

Left Hand Label - https://www.facebook.com/lefthandlabel

Le Blast Records - https://www.facebook.com/leblastrecords

Listen To Aylin Records - https://www.facebook.com/listentoaylin

Middle-Man Records - https://www.facebook.com/middlemanrecords

No Funeral Records - https://www.facebook.com/nofuneral8

People, Places, Records - https://www.facebook.com/peopleplacesrecords

Pundonor Records - https://www.facebook.com/pundonorecords

R.I.P In Peace Records - https://www.facebook.com/r.i.p.inpeacerecords

Santapogue Media - https://www.facebook.com/santapoguemedia

Zegema Beach Records - https://www.facebook.com/zegemabeachrecords

Reia Cibele - Reia Cibele

Labels: Self-Released/Tomb Tree

Formats: Digital/Tape

Release Date: 10 May 2024

Tracklist:

1. Solaris

2. Ego/Cristal

3. Lótus

4. Não é, nunca foi, nunca será!

5. 31039 ORI

New Portuguese screamo/mathcore quartet Reia Cibele released their debut EP on digital platforms in May. Last month it saw a tape release via Tomb Tree, consisting of 31 copies with 20 swirl, 6 white and 5 test-dips with matching swirl cases. As of this post, only a few copies are still available. The EP was recorded by a member of fellow Portuguese band Hetta. Reia Cibele have recently played alongside Hexis and Tenue, to name a few.

It’s crazy that there’s now less than four months till 2025 rolls around. I’ve lost count of how many bands have been added to my ‘to listen to’ list and are still on it. Portugal’s Reia Cibele are one such band, having been sent my way by Tomb Tree last month, when they released this debut self-titled EP on tape. Reia Cibele plays some crazed mathcore with noise-rock elements and emoviolence. Opener ‘Solaris’ is fast and chaotic to being with, before turning groovier later on. 

‘Ego/Cristal’ starts with jarring feedback, putting you slightly on edge before Reia Cibele deliver a super heavy slice of post-hardcore with sludge-like tempos for about two-minutes. The second half is much calmer, building slowly with quiet guitar and percussion, increasing in volume as it goes, leading to dramatic treble-filled conclusion. Off-kilter, panic-laden mathcore violence at it’s best.

The next two songs on the EP are very much shorter, starting with ‘Lótus’. It magnifies the intense emoviolence that Reia Cibele inject into their debut. It’s over long before it should be and it gives way to ‘Não é, nunca foi, nunca será!’, which is even more intense. There’s a proper rawness to it at the beginning that soon gets enveloped by yet more madness.

Closer ‘31039 ORI’ pretty much ends the EP in the same way that ‘Solaris’ opened it; with a mix of sassy math-rock, gentle progressive guitar and enjoyable groove. It’s safe to say that Reia Cibele are greater than the sum of their parts. This EP sums up why it’s so important to strike while the iron is hot (when it comes to new bands). In recent years Portugal has become known for black metal (Black Cilice et al), but now there’s another musical reason to look toward South-West Europe.

You can stream and purchase the EP digitally from Reia Cibele below:-

Reia Cibele - https://www.facebook.com/profile

Tape copies are (still) available from the online stores below:-

Tomb Tree - https://tombtreetapes.bandcamp.com/album/reia-cibele

ZBR USA - https://zbrusa.com/collections/tapes/products/tt123 / CAN/INTL - http://www.zegemabeachrecords.com/tomb-tree-tapes/tt123

Tomb Tree - https://www.facebook.com/tombtreetapes

Impending Annihilation - Idiopathic Osteonecrosis Of The Femoral Head EP

Labels: Gore House Productions

Formats: CD/Digital

Release Date: 19 Apr 2024

Tracklist:

1. Rapidly Destructive Coxarthropathy

2.  Idiopathic Osteonecrosis Of The Femoral Head

Death metal has taken influence from a whole host of pathological/morbid subjects ever since it's inception. From the early days of Carcass when death and grind mixed to the guttural technicality of Cannibal Corpse, the gory side of the sub-genre has always been pushing forward. There are many reasons for that thanks to labels like New Standard Elite, Pathologically Explicit Records and of course, Gore House Productions.

Gore House released the newest two-song EP from Japanese tech/brutal death metal duo Impending Annihilation in April, after what was a seven year hiatus for the band. Starting out in 2015, they self-released a demo, an EP and an album before their sudden halt. With their second album on the way, this release acts as a mere sliver of what's to come.

Reading about Impending Annihilation before writing this review got me all excited. I love old-school death metal and won’t turn my nose up at slam/brutal death metal either; however, I’ve grown to really love technical music over the last few years and this ticks all the boxes. The EP’s first song ‘Rapidly Destructive Coxarthropathy’, while ostensibly being a brutal song, is chock full of excellently played virtuoso guitar/bass work. The percussion is utterly smashing while the vocals are pretty much as you’d expect, gnarly and thankfully on the right side of becoming pig-squeals.

The title-track ‘Idiopathic Osteonecrosis Of The Femoral Head’ is an even briefer affair at one-and-a-half minutes. Despite it’s short length, it’s chock full of technical riff-wizardry and general extreme intensity. Before you even have time to settle in, the EP is over. Impending Annihilation definitely know how to tease the listener as these two tracks really don’t seem like enough. Clever ploy though and one that does work. 

Chances are (and correct me if I’m wrong), you’ll be unfamiliar with Impending Annihilation. With a brand new album on the horizon it’s a perfect time to discover them, especially if you like your death metal fast and technically tight. It only take four minutes to realise what you’ve been missing.

You can stream and purchase the EP as a digital download from Gore House Productions below:-

Impending Annihilation - https://www.facebook.com/impending.annihilation

CD copies are available from Gore House here - https://store.gorehouseproductions.com/collections/cd/products/impending-annihilation-idiopathic-osteonecrosis-of-the-femoral-head

Gore House Productions - https://www.facebook.com/GoreHouseProductionsOfficial

olth - Every Day Is Someone's Special Day

Labels: Larry Records/Mob Records/Partymouse Records/Vamonos Tapes/Zegema Beach Records

Formats: Vinyl/CD/Tape/Digital

Release Date: 02 Jun 2023

Tracklist:

1. Thinking Of You...

2. Oh My God I Hate This Feeling, My Heart Won't Stop Beating

3. Somebody Tell Me, Am I Alone

4. Memories Last Forever, So Do Scars

5. >_<

6. Looking Through The Hole In My Head

7. Song For Jordan

8. Screamo Sucks

9. The Last Song

I'm in the midst of another music buying spree. Maybe it's because the cold nights are starting to draw in again and I'm not already surrounded by enough records! Who knows how long it's going to last. In between catching up on what I have picked up and waiting for what's to come, I'm starting this month off with some good old NYC screamo in the form of olth and their 2023 album Every Day Is Someone's Special Day. 

Originally released digitally by the band, as well as on tape/LP via Larry Records/Zegema Beach Records and on cdr through Partymouse Records in 2023, it has very recently been released on vinyl by Larry and ZBR, while seeing tape and cd represses via Mob Records and Vamonos Tape respectively. Bandcamp recommends olth for fans of Portrayal Of Guilt, G.L.O.S.S., Respire and Chat Pile (to name a few), which is a pretty diverse pool to draw from. 

I must start by apologising for not using the same random capital letters as olth do in their album and song titles. I’m trying to be as efficient with my time as I can be. It’s not often that a screamo album kicks off with a properly lengthy song and the same is true here, as ‘Thinking Of You…’ launches at you with shrieking vocals, manic riffs and an intense low end of bass/percussion. At times it seems to venture into chugging hardcore/sludge realms but that’s fine with me!

The album as a whole is more emoviolence than powerviolence though, as ‘Oh My God I Hate This Feeling, My Heart Won't Stop Beating’ delivers upbeat punk vibes that quickly transition into something that could have be dreamt up by From A Second Story Window and The Body (if they were ever left alone in a room together). 

The two-minute flat ‘Somebody Tell Me, Am I Alone’ hits the spot without going gung-ho. It’s more tempered back, relying on atmosphere, which is actually pretty cool set against olth’s more chaotic songs. ‘Memories Last Forever, So Do Scars’ picks up the pace yet it goes hard on the groovy/danceable tempos before settling back down again. Evidence that olth’s song-writing is already superior, even on their debut!

Right at the album’s midway point, ‘>_<‘ delivers the most expansive auditory experience so far. It’s gentle to build and while olth’s yearning to explode does overspill, the so-called explosion is a controlled one. It’s a glorious way to shine light on the latter half of the album. 

That latter half begins with the vivid yet imaginatively named ‘Looking Through The Hole In My Head’, which after an amusing sample opens out into an unflinchingly great mathcore song. It’s over far too quickly but it leaves a mark for sure. Surprisingly, after such a heavy track, the gentle guitar and spoken word of ‘Song For Jordan’ is perfectly placed. It again gives way to heaviness later on but heralds yet more brilliant song-writing also.

Before you know it you’ve reached the penultimate and (maybe?) tongue-in-cheek ‘Screamo Sucks’, that literally banishes any such notion within seconds thanks to it’s top notch screamo. After sixty-seconds or so it retreats into subtle ambient noise and soft piano, leaving you guessing as album closer ‘The Last Song’ takes over. It’s start/stop, loud/quiet dynamic is employed seemingly at random yet in perfect order too.

Just when you think you’ve heard every possible iteration of a particular musical style (or styles), there’s always another one waiting just around the corner. This evening olth was waiting around that corner and I’m so glad they were. If you missed this album last year, then now is a good time to right that wrong. It’s excellent!

You can stream and grab the album digitally from olth below (there were some super limited leftover tapes but they're sold out):-

Physical copies can be still be purchased from ZBR below:-

Zegema Beach Records - CAN/INTL - http://www.zegemabeachrecords.com/zegema-beach-releases / USA - https://zbrusa.com/collections/zbr-releases

Additional links:-

Larry Records - https://www.facebook.com/larryscrammo

Mob Records - https://www.instagram.com/mobeightrecords/

Partymouse Records - https://partymouse.bigcartel.com

Vamonos Tapes - https://vamonostapes.bandcamp.com

Zegema Beach Records - https://www.facebook.com/zegemabeachrecords

Louse - Small Pleasures EP

Labels: Makeshift Swahili

Formats: Vinyl/Digital

Release Date: TBA

Tracklist:

1. Small Pleasures

2. Little Jimmy

3. Christian Rat Attack

I nearly got clouted by a giant tree branch on Friday, courtesy of Storm Lilian. Would not recommend. At least I wasn't at Leeds Fest though! Instead, I've been slowly making my way through various new record purchases (from And So I Watch You From Afar, Blind Girls, Blind Monarch, I Haxa, Massa Nera & Quiet Fear, Norna, Piri Reis & Wharflurch) while also trying to keep on top of inbox arrivals, which I'm woefully behind on. One of those arrivals is the brand new EP from Newcastle-Upon-Tyne's Louse.

They were brought to my attention by Fionn who used to run the excellent emo/screamo label Rubaiyat Records and now runs Makeshift Swahili, focusing on DIY punk/hardcore/noise-rock. Small Pleasures is a new release containing three songs, while vinyl copies also include Louse's tracks from their 2023 split with The Shits on the b-side.

This is some dirty, punk-fuelled noise at it’s belligerent best. The EP title-track ‘Small Pleasures’ almost has no order whatsoever, except for the groove-laden guitars. Imagine Bloc Party, Throat and Meth Drinker forming a band together. To my ears, this is what it would sound like. 

‘Little Jimmy’ flits between sleazy grunge and intense noise. Slow in tempo but exhilarating in volume. When you ask somebody if they like punk/heavy music and they say “yes I like Blink-182 and Foo Fighters”, this is what you should play them. 

EP closer ‘Christian Rat Attack’ is made up of the reverb and distortion that filled the hallowed pages of Maximum Rock n Roll (if you can imagine such a thing). It’s also the harshest song here vocally, including some epic guitar work and percussion too. 

Ultimately, this EP isn’t going to be for everyone. Louse performs music that’s both dirty and groovy at the same time. They exist on their own plain and that’s absolutely fine.

You can listen to the EP title-track digitally below:-

Louse - https://lousescum.bandcamp.com

Physical copies will soon be available from Makeshift Swahili here - https://makeshiftswahili.bigcartel.com/product/mss007-louse-small-pleasures

Makeshift Swahili - https://makeshiftswahili.bigcartel.com/category/makeshift-swahili

Tenue - Arcos, Bóvedas, Pórticos

Labels: Chaina Records/Cintas Juan/Last Time You'll See Me/LongLegsLongArms Records/Pifia Records/Tormentas Records/Zegema Beach Records

Formats: Vinyl/CD/Tape/Digital

Release Date: 01 Aug 2024

Tracklist:

1. Inquietude

2. Letargo

3. Distracción

4. Enfoque

5. Unión

Spanish post hardcore/emo/crust quartet Tenue recently released their newest album Arcos, Bóvedas, Pórticos via the above labels. It follows their 2018 debut Anábasis and their 2021 album Territorios. Tenue have been mentioned in the same breath as bands like Respire, Birds In Row and Infant Island. This should be a great listen!

Bringing a unique flair to their record with the classy trumpet work of Gabriel Saito, Tenue’s opener ‘Inquietude’ on Arcos, Bóvedas, Pórticos starts off in surprisingly bright fashion. That’s not to say that what follows isn’t bright, but you all know about the harshness that’s invoked when anything screamo/hardcore-adjacent takes over. That said though, the melodic and almost anthemic delivery of Tenue’s crust-laden music leaves plenty of reasons to stick with it (as if you needed any anyway!). 

Being over nine-minutes in length, ‘Inquietude’ is not only a fantastically engrossing opening song, but it’s also an impressive intro for anybody who is new to Tenue as a band. It’s fast and slow sections call out other influences from post to black metal, but ultimately sub-genres don’t matter when the music is this good.

‘Letargo’ is much more frenetic right from the off with mathcore-like panic chords and time signatures gracing the song’s first sixty seconds, before Tenue retreats to a more laid-back emo base. It’s performed really well and sounds super uplifting. Even when things get heavier during it’s mid-section and beyond, things don’t stray to far from Tenue’s melodic blueprint. 

‘Distracción’ is where things hit full black/crust on this record, especially in the vocal department. The instrumentation does lean that way too but again, it’s delivered in a more melodic and punk-like fashion. The breadth at which Tenue performs their music is unbelievable really. Even during the song’s first three minutes, there’s more music than most bands can fit on lengthier albums. 

Penultimate song ‘Enfoque’ has a lovely ambient tone nestling in the background as it’s gentle percussion and guitar work builds. Cinematic post-metal envelopes you as Tenue shifts from that gentle intro towards a heavier approach, albeit subtly. When the tempo switches up, so does the heart rate. Naming similar bands at this point is a completely futile exercise, as Tenue forge their own path. 

’Unión’ closes out the album in breathtaking style, switching between so many different sub-genres almost interchangeably. Once again, the pace is insane yet the music itself is controlled and extremely well played. Honestly, I don’t know what else to say about this record. Maybe the gap between this an my last review has given me a clearer head but whatever, listening to this album has been so much fun. Tenue make astounding music that should be heard by a much wider audience for sure.

You can stream and purchase this release vinyl and digital formats below:-

Tenue - https://www.facebook.com/tenuepunx

Physical copies can also be purchased from the labels below:-

LongLegsLongArms Records - http://longlegslongarms.jp/music/index.php

Zegema Beach Records - CAN/INTL - http://www.zegemabeachrecords.com/zegema-beach-releases/tenue / USA - https://zbrusa.com/collections/zbr-releases/products/tenue-1

Chaina Records - https://www.facebook.com/ChainaRecords

LongLegsLongArms Records - https://www.facebook.com/3LAdisc

Pifia Records - https://www.facebook.com/pifia.rcs

Tormentas Records - https://www.facebook.com/tormentasrecords

Zegema Beach Records - https://www.facebook.com/zegemabeachrecords

Kurokuma - Of Amber And Sand

Labels: Self-Released

Formats: Vinyl/CD/Digital

Release Date: 09 Aug 2024

Tracklist:

1. I Am Forever

2. Sandglass

3. Death No More

4. Clepsydra

5. Fenjaan

6. Bell Tower

7. Neneh

8, Timekeeper

9. Crux Ansata

10. Awakening

11. Chronoclasm

Reading that a member of a heavy band considers their music to be 'too avant garde to get coverage amongst any blogs or printed magazines' left me quite sad. That sadness was short-lived though as Kurokuma's newest album Of Amber And Sand has recently garnered well-deserved coverage from both Decibel and Kerrang, alongside other platforms dedicated to good music. 

For those who might be stumbling across Kurokuma for the first time; they're a psych/sludge/stoner band from Sheffield (UK) who have released a demo, three EPs, two splits and two full-lengths since their inception in 2014, not to mention a standalone Kraftwerk cover (according to Metal Archives). 

I’m still getting used to having more time in the evenings. I don’t think I’m any more productive because of it but it’s still early days. One thing I do know is that I’m not forever, which may be an odd thing to say but Kurokuma’s music should (and will hopefully) be immortal, as album opener ‘I Am Forever’ proves. It contains probably the heaviest intro I’ve heard from the trio, let alone their most psych-laden/intense musical and vocal delivery. It’s an utterly brilliant first song, containing element of death (and even black) metal as well as an excellent Baglama solo from Babak Sharifimajd, providing a loverly and warm Middle Eastern tone.

The album is made up of six songs or “meditations’ as they’re described by Kurokuma and they’re separated by five interludes that are performed by Empyrean Silence (a mysterious entity that also resides in the Steel City). ‘Sandglass’ is the first interlude and it continues along the Middle Eastern path, leading to ‘Death No More’. By now, you may well notice a theme flowing through this album; one which definitely plays true to the avant garde description. ‘Death No More’ is off-kilter and it majors on the instrumental strengths of the band. It’s mid-paced at first before moving through many different tempos and transitions. The vocals add to the exhilaration even more so.

Following the album’s second longest song with the haunting interlude of ‘Clepsydra’ is a genius move as it briefly settles the mood in time for the groove-laden ‘Fenjaan’, which feature one of the most infectious bass/guitar riff combos I’ve ever heard from Jake and Zakk, whose dual vocals once again shine bright alongside Joe’s epic and controlled drumming. Kurokuma have really matured over recent years and it really feels like this album could truly be their coming of age.

I’m not one for multi-tasking but I am keeping one eye on the football scores this evening. Thankfully, my attention is drawn straight back to this album by atmospheric interlude ‘Bell Tower’, which flows effortlessly into ’Neneh’. It’s an uncharacteristically short song compared to the rest here but it cuts a nice groove once again, pulling you into the album’s second half in solid fashion. 

’Timekeeper’ drifts quietly into ‘Crux Ansata’, which begins oddly in almost mainstream fashion before dispelling any such falsehood thanks to sheer heaviness. It’s a side of Kurokuma that properly hits the spot, especially if you surround yourself with heaviness. Add in the bridge-riff from guest musician Bing snd you can’t really go wrong. At this point I have to mention the ace recording/mixing/mastering of Ian Boult (at Stuck On A Name, Nottingham), as it helps to elevate this record.

Final interlude and penultimate track ‘Awakening’ is brief yet startling, leading into album closer ‘Chronoclasm’, which is the album’s longest song. It harnesses everything that’s great about Kurokuma’s psychedelic sound thanks to the instrumentation and it’s quality. Nearly four minutes pass by before the vocals kick in and when they do, they add an even greater layer to the song, as does the breakdown that was written specially by Thomas Wesley Pentz.

The thing I love above all else about the music and bands I’m lucky enough to cover here is that they’re always looking to push themselves, and their boundaries. The UK music community (away from what’s considered to be mainstream) is a shining example and Kurokuma deserve to be at it’s forefront with Of Amber And Sand.

You can stream and purchase Of Amber And Sand digitally below, where it's also available on cd and vinyl formats:-

Kurokuma - https://www.facebook.com/kurokumauk

Orme - No Serpents, No Saviours EP

Labels: Self-Released

Formats: CD/Digital

Release Date: 23 Aug 2024

Tracklist:

1. No Serpents, No Saviours

There's a hell of a lot of discourse and misinformation doing the rounds right now, especially here in the UK. I'm all for peaceful protest but when it becomes violent, I switch off because said violence dilutes and illegitimises any such "legitimate" cause. Obviously, my small rant means absolutely nothing in the grand scheme of things but given what's going on across the globe right now, being aware is important. 

I'm kicking off my latest review schedule with drone/doom band Orme and their newest release single track EP (due for official release on August 23rd) called No Serpents, No Saviours, that stretches beyond twenty-four minutes. With their roots in the county that I called home for the first four years of my life, Hertfordshire (I lived in Bishop's Stortford), Orme released their debut self-titled EP in April 2023. They've since followed it up with this new EP and a split release with Wreaths (released earlier this year via Inverted Grim-Mill Recordings and the sadly departed Trepanation Recordings).

It isn’t often that I review single tracks, mainly because I feel that they don’t last long enough for me to formulate any sort of reasonable commentary. This release from Orme is different due to it’s sheer length. No Serpents, No Saviours spans just over twenty-four minutes and is made up of some of the finest drone/doom the UK has produced in a long time. When I think of similar bands; Ommadon and Bismuth spring to mind. Sadly Ommadon are no longer active, but Orme fill the void left brilliantly. 

This is just the perfect combination of epic percussion, rumbling bass, sloth-like riffs and deathly vocals. Psych influences manage to slide their way in at times, but ultimately there’s nothing bright about the sound produced here. That’s fine though because it should only herald darkness. In the case of the latter-half; beautiful yet crushing calmness, stark spoken-word samples and soaring musicianship take over. The lead-guitar work/solos encapsulate what I was just trying to convey in a much better way.

A couple of paragraphs don’t do Orme and their music justice. Merely giving a verbal taste of what’s on offer is enough for me. This is a blisteringly good EP. If you like heavy and/or really well written and performed music in general, you won’t go wrong here.

The EP isn't available to stream yet for obvious reasons but you can pre-order it both on CD or digital formats here - https://ormedroneuk.bandcamp.com/album/no-serpents-no-saviours.

Orme - https://www.facebook.com/ormedroneuk

Sutras - Awakening Of The Spirit EP

Labels: Self-Released

Formats: Digital

Release Date: 30 Aug 2024

Tracklist:

1. Deathless

2. A Daily Reprieve

Recently I was contacted by an individual from Washington D.C. of all places. Tristan Welch makes up one half of US punk/shoegaze/post-hardcore band Sutras, alongside Frederick Ashworth. Tristan's a member of drone band Requiem while Frederick also performs in post-dreamgaze band The Escape Artist, as well as experimental band Almas (if my sources are correct!). Awakening Of The Spirit contains two songs. Join me as I dive into their debut EP.

I’ve nailed down a review schedule for the next few weeks and honestly, it’s a proper relief. I still have a long way to go but things are looking a lot better organisation-wise. Kicking off with US duo Sutras feels absolutely perfect, given the breadth of submissions I’ve received lately. Sutras call themselves a punk/shoegaze/post-hardcore band and on hearing ‘Deathless’, it’s hard to argue with their assessment. The duo’s music is both melodic and sludge-like in delivery, growing with emotion throughout it’s four+ minutes.

‘A Daily Reprieve’ hits hard instantly, which isn’t always the case for post-rock/hardcore bands. The overriding sense is that of heavy sludge but there’s something more subtle going on as well. As a duo, Sutras know exactly what they want to achieve musically. Obviously, it’’s early days and given that they cite influences as far ranging as Tragedy, Jesu, Majority Rule and 108 (as well as receiving the mastering treatment from James Plotkin here on less), it won’t be too long before they’re standing next to their musical peers.

You can stream Awakening Of The Spirit via bandcamp below:-

Sutras Instagram - @sutras.music

IEatHeartAttacks - Please Just Dance Death + Hello Cole Porter

Labels: Zegema Beach Records

Formats: Tape/Digital

Release Date: 20 Mar 2019

Tracklist:

1. Liar

2. The Six

3. Refuge Tropicana

4. M.I.A.

5. Two-Step

6. Drowning Is My New Favorite Thing

7. Please Just Dance Death

8. You Will Try To Escape

9. Black Hearts

10. Desperation

11. Deadpool

12. Hello Cole Porter

Jumping back into the ZBR Roster review series before I try to nail down the (as always loose) schedule for August. Things are very much coming together in my day job, which should hopefully mean a more organised approach to all things This Noise Is Ours. Tonight, I'm focusing on IEatHeartAttacks from Norway, who were (and maybe still are?) associated with Norwegian label Fysisk Format, whom turned me onto some very awesome bands including Arabrot, Haust, Kollwitz and Okkultokrati, amongst many others. 

This comp tape gathers their 2017 album Please Just Dance Death (originally released via Fysisk Format) alongside their 2015 EP Hello Cole Porter. Given that it's been seven years since any new music from IEatHeartAttacks, this tape (which is still available to purchase by the way!) stands as their most recent physical release, thanks to Zegema Beach Records.

This tape features twelve songs that go by in just over twenty four minutes. Please Just Dance Death makes up the first three-quarters, starting with ‘Liar’, which is a violent take of screamo and post-hardcore with a solid punk edge. Blasting drums, hardcore vocals and catchy riffs contribute to a rip-roaring opener.’ The Six’ rages in a very similar vein, with a tempo that switches from fast to mid-paced and back round again before you can blink an eye. It’s chaotic but controlled. I can see why Fysisk Format took them in with open arms back in the day. 

‘Refuge Tropicana’ shows off the band’s classy guitar playing alongside their heavier musical delivery. It reminds me of Refused, Kvelertak and The Hives is they became one interchanging artistic mass. I’m well aware that two of those bands are from Sweden, so don’t worry. IEatHeartAttacks could well be describing their own recent silence with ‘M.I.A’, but silent it’s not. A heaving yet precise post-hardcore song delivered in the best way (including their take on panic chords!).

Everybody loves a bit of two-step and the song that bares the same name is, dare I say, a lot more off-kilter. ’Two-Step’ features off-tempo rhythms and atmospheric passages, marking it out as the album’s longest song in the process. Maybe not the easiest to mosh or dance to but don’t let that put you off. From those good vibes to the starkly titled ‘Drowning Is My New Favourite Thing’. Okay so the title doesn’t give way to anything depressive or such like, as it keeps the momentum high and the riffs loose. 

Title track ‘Please Just Dance Death’ once again highlights the off-kilter/math tendencies that IEatHeartAttacks employ throughout their music. Honestly, it’s a banger of a song that’s catchy in absolutely the right way, before giving way to the equally infectious You Will Try To Escape. Itself a mix of rock ’n’ roll fuelled hardcore and atmospheric screamo.

‘Black Hearts’ brings the Please Just Dance Death portion of this release to an end in raucous fashion, sounding a bit like a collage of Cancer Bats and Gallows sound-wise. I’m not complaining! At the end of the comp’s latter half is the Hello Cole Porter EP, which shows off some of the band’s earlier songs. ‘Desperation’ is raw and more visceral. It’s not too far away from the sound on Please Just Dance Death, just a bit less polished (if that’s even accurate!).

‘Deadpool’ may be named after the Ryan Reynolds movie character and if it is, that’s a lucky guess (because the reason why is not obvious to me) but what is obvious is how powerful and too-the-point it is. Ending with ‘Hello Cole Porter’, you’re greeted with a stupendous take on sassy noise-rock that derseves to go on and on.

I’m not sure if any new music will come from IEatHeartAttacks in the future and this tape stands as their latest (and now very very limited) physical release. Whichever way you consume music, go and give this band plenty of love.

You can stream/purchase both Please Just Dance Death and Hello Cole Porter digitally from IEatHeartAttacks below:-

IEatHeartAttacks - https://www.facebook.com/ieatheartattack

If you prefer physical releases, a very limited amount of tape copies are still available from Zegema Beach Records below:-

Zegema Beach Records - CAN/INTL - http://www.zegemabeachrecords.com/zegema-beach-releases/ieha / USA - https://zbrusa.com/collections/zbr-releases/products/ieatheartattacks-please-just-dance-death-hello-cole-porter-cassette-1

Zegema Beach Records - https://www.facebook.com/zegemabeachrecords