Ilon Lapset - Mykkä pimeys

Label: Rämekuukkeli Levyt/Visceral Circuitry

Formats: CD/Digital

Release Date - 10 Aug 2025

 Tracklist:

1. Hukkaan

2. Sotaa

3. Rangaistus

4. Juon Yksin

5. Ei Vastausta

6. Pimeyden Sydän

A few weeks ago I received the newest release from my friend Tuukka (who runs the Finnish label Rämekuukkeli Levyt), a digipack CD of the new album from Tampere sludge quartet Ilon Lapset. Mykkä pimeys was released in August in cooperation with French label Visceral Circuitry Records and is the band's second full-length. Ilon lapset previously released two demos in 2020 and 2022 respectively, before their first full-length Kurjuuden tuijotus in 2023.

It feels like an age since I last featured a Finnish band here (sorry for the endless delays in that department!) and thanks to Tuukka for the patience. The intro to opener ‘Hukkaan’ is deceptively upbeat and Moriondor, its creator, does a great job of throwing you off the scent musically. When the intro fades, you’re greeted with grimy sludge that’s just perfect for this time of year (or any other time!). I think Finnish bands produce sludge that’s similar to those in the UK, albeit with their own personality thrown in for good measure. 

I’ve been turned onto so many bands through Rämekuukkeli Levyt, including Cicutoxin, Slave Hands, Frogskin, Taser and countless others so it’s no surprise that Ilon Lapset clicked with me straight away. ‘Sotaa’ sounds so full and enjoyable with it’s lumbering percussion, thunderously low bass, properly heavy guitar work and vocals that are scarier than a scary film. I’ve run out of ways to describe how each instrument/voice sounds, as you can probably tell!

The one thing that does stand out here is the very brief use of guitar feedback, as is evident at the start of ‘Rangaistus’. Feedback is synonymous with sludge, but Ilon Lapset prefer a more straightforward approach, which is absolutely fine because it doesn’t really suit the tone of the song anyway. It’s more stripped back and  simplistic, in a good way.

Given the sub-genre that Ilon Lapset align to (in loose terms), they make a point of filling their songs with plenty of atmosphere. The spoken-word/ambient sample approach on ‘Juon Yksin’ works a treat and propels their sound to another realm. The return of the vocals after the midway point come as a shock because the earlier instrumental element was so transfixing. 

There’s a marauding/driving feel to penultimate song ‘Ei Vastausta’ to start with, but that’s just a ruse as things take a more sinister, slower turn later on. It’s easy to get lost in tempos and the change here is subtle but very effective. Closing song ‘Pimeyden Sydän’ gives off that dopamine-induced feeling thanks to its drawn out riffs and overall dankness.

It’s not the album’s longest song but it doesn’t need to be. Ilon Lapset are able to fill it with the pure nastiness that comes from a land that in places, falls into a dark winter (known as kaamos) for two months of the year. Ultimately, this album is one that’s drenched in darkness but also one that’s oddly filled with a sense of hope. No matter how dark things get, there’s always light at the end.

You can stream and purchase the album on physical and digital formats from the band below:-

Ilon Lapset don't really use social media but you can follow them on Youtube here - https://www.youtube.com/@ILONLAPSETofficial

Physical CD copies are also available from the labels below:-

Visceral Circuitry Records - https://visceralcircuitryrecs.bandcamp.com/album/mykk-pimeys

Rämekuukkeli Levyt - https://www.discogs.com/label/426384-Rämekuukkeli

Visceral Circuitry Records - https://www.facebook.com/visceralcircuitryrecs

Rämekuukkeli Levyt - https://www.facebook.com/ramekuukkeli/

Shoganai - Shoganai

Labels: Solipsistic/Zegema Beach Records

Formats: Tape/Digital

Release Date: 04 Dec 2024

Tracklist:

1. Lighthouses

2. Names and Dates in Concrete

3. Carving

4. Paradise

5. How I Know You're Gone

Today has been a wild ride for me (in a good way). Nothing has really changed except for hitting a major adulting milestone and the feeling of freedom that comes with it. Hopefully, that freedom will allow me more time to write but I'm not overpromising. I am though going to write about the debut EP from Texan screamo band Shoganai. 

Having first been released digitally by Shoganai themselves in December 2024, it was soon released on tape in January 2025 via US DIY label Solipsistic. Zegema Beach Records then picked it up for their own tape pressing in late July, which is where I heard about the band. It's always cool to hear a new band for the first time but it's also cool to see that they're planning for the future, as their Instagram handle is @shogan.ai, so you know some AI Stan's gonna come along at some point and offer them a fortune for the account (and I don't blame them if they accept it too!).

I’ll be honest; I think I overdid it by trying to force myself to write over the last few months, which led to me writing less. Maybe less is more, but I’m going to carry on regardless. I’m drawn to Shoganai’s debut EP straight away as opener ‘Lighthouses’ begins with atmospheric and majestic instrumentation before stop/start mathy post-hardcore takes hold. It is violent at times but it’s nowhere near being labelled emoviolence.

’Names and Dates in Concrete’ goes further into math territory and honestly, it couldn’t be delivered in a more perfect way. I think it’s that extra experimental approach that sets Shoganai apart from other screamo bands I’ve listened to recently, especially when they quickly move into chunky metalcore sounds later on.

There’s a more immediate feel to ‘Carving’, where Shoganai break out the metalcore influences to greater effect, all while remaining true to the mixture of elements that they’re carving out. So far this EP is excellent and I’m not just saying that for effect. Even with it’s immediacy at times, it doesn’t seem rushed.

The chugging, panic-laden riffs of ‘Paradise’ match both the percussion and vocals perfectly during what is the shortest song on the EP. Even when they break into a full-on mathcore stomp, there’s no faulting how good Shoganai are musically. EP closer ‘How I Know You’re Gone’ hangs around long enough to glisten in the autumn air while being warm enough in tone to cut through it.

It’s Guy Fawkes night here in the UK and with fireworks going off as I write, there’s nowhere I’d rather be than sitting here in cosy surroundings as this EP wraps itself around me like a warm embrace. Excellent and essential.

You can stream and purchase this EP digitally from Shoganai below:-

Shoganai Instagram - @shogan.ai

Tape copies are still available to purchase from Zegema Beach Records below:-

ZBR CAN/INTL - http://www.zegemabeachrecords.com/zegema-beach-releases/shoganai

ZBR USA - https://zbrusa.com/collections/zbr-releases/products/shoganai

Solipsistic Instagram - @xsolipsisticx

Zegema Beach Records - https://bsky.app/profile/zegemabeachrecords.bsky.social

Irk - The Seeing House

Labels: Nefarious Industries

Formats: Vinyl/CD/Digital

Release Date: 26 Sep 2025

Tracklist:

1. Idiot Plot

2. Toothache in Prison

3. Eating All of the Apple

4. The Finer Things in Life

5. Lifetime Achievement Award

6. The Great Wasp of Reluctance

7. Abraxas Casino

8. My Life in Bins

9. Love is a Windsock

10. Wedding, Berlin

A couple of months ago I wrote about the return of Yorkshire's Trudger after nine years. In that write-up I also hinted at the return of another band that have been silent for too long. It just so happens that said band is also from Yorkshire. Math/noise-rock band Irk are from Leeds and almost seven years after their last full-length Recipes From The Bible, they returned in September with their newest album The Seeing House, released via Nefarious Industries.

Irk's trio J.S. Gordon (vocalist), Ed Snell (bassist) and Matthew Deamer (drummer) are joined on this album by guests Jamie Chambers (strings arrangement),  Jenn Chubb (cello/gang vocals), Jack Evans (guitar), Stewart Ramsay and Kerry Ramsay (gang vocals).

There’s a glut of great new mathcore/math-rock bursting through at the moment, most of which is coming from the US; however, the UK has a proud tradition of musical weirdness too and having Irk back on the scene is nothing short of amazing, honestly! Kicking off with ‘Idiot Plot’, Irk’s noisy/sassy math-rock approach gives much more than it’s tempo suggests. The percussion/bass provides a solid base for the vocals that are delivered in a truly British rock/punk style (a cross between belligerence and showbiz). From the slightly laidback tempo of the album opener to the more frenetic and experimental ‘Toothache in Prison’, which allows the instrumentation more room to show through. It’s urgency obvious but tempered by a mid-section where bass is king.

The Seeing House is a mixed bag when it comes to songs and indeed song lengths, as is demonstrated by ‘Eating All of the Apple’. It’s a slow-build with authoritative bass and sinister, almost spoken-word vocals. I’m trying to recall “similar” sounding bands and all I can come with as a comparison (for what it’s worth) are Part Chimp, Idylls and Beecher maybe! Basically, I’m trying to say that I really have no clue. ‘The Finer Things in Life’ is that sweet spot between order and chaos without going over the edge. There’s an element of melody from the vocals here that gives a semblance of order before things get properly heavy, sludgy and weird.

From a song that doesn’t pass three minutes to one that smashes the seven minute mark, ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ is a stark mix of Irk’s math-rock, excellent cello playing from Jenn Chubb and string arrangement by Jamie Chambers. The addition of the strings provide an extra element of unease that’s been missing so far. After such an enjoyably mammoth song, you’re pulled into the album’s second half by ‘The Great Wasp of Reluctance’. As somebody who hates wasps, their reluctance to die plays on my mind constantly and the noise that Irk create here does nothing to ease it despite the addition of gang vocals from Stewart Ramsay, Kerry Ramsay and Jenn Chubb.

Given that the mathcore tag is assigned to Irk, it’s only correct that one or two of their songs don’t surpass two minutes. ‘Abraxas Casino’ is the shortest song on the album and honestly; it’s the closest to the sub-genre they’ll probably ever get. ‘My Life in Bins’ shows how comfortable and loose Irk have become on this album. It’s familiar in sound yet the added guitar from Jack Evans provides a layer that’s conspicuous by it’s absence on the rest of the record.

Penultimate song ‘Love is a Windsock’ is another glorious slab of noise-rock that goes way beyond that sub-genre. It’s a song that’s filled with a driving tempo and instrumental approach. Closing out the album with ‘Wedding, Berlin’, Irk go all out with the math-rock time-signatures and general oddness. It’s a lot more stripped back initially and is filled with unnerving atmosphere before it grows in intensity later on. Alongside the trio’s delivery, the gang vocals of Stewart Ramsey, Kerry Ramsey and Jenn Chubb are employed one final time to help round things out in terrifying style.

If this is Irk’s way of re-announcing themselves as a math/noise-rock force to be reckoned with, then they’ve totally achieved it! Again, it’s a great time to be a fan of the UK’s heavy music community, irrelevant of whether your’’re on the metal or punk side. Here’s hoping though that Irk waits less than seven years before releasing more music.

You can stream and purchase The Seeing House on all formats from Irk below:-

For those in the US, etc; you can order the album from Nefarious Industries here:-

https://www.nefariousindustries.com/collections/irk-the-seeing-house

Irk - https://www.facebook.com/irkband

Nefarious Industries - https://www.facebook.com/NefariousIndustries

Liquid Shit - You Suffer For A Long Time

Labels: Dry Cough Records

Formas: Tape/Digital

Release Date: 09 May 2025

Tracklist:

1. Invidious Stench

2. Deepest Voids

3. Caustic Evocation

4. Punish Myself

5. You Suffer For A Long Time

After what seems like no time at all, when in truth it's been over two years, London's Liquid Shit are back with their newest EP You Suffer For A Long Time. It was officially released digitally back in May before being released on tape in August via Dry Cough Records. I purchased a copy as soon as it was available just as I do with all Dry Cough releases. All I need now is their early Pillars Of Shit demo and my Liquid Shit discography to-date will be complete (honestly not collector scum!).

October’s been another frustratingly quiet month blog-wise and I’m not going to make any promises about greater productivity going forwards. I can’t anymore, as I don’t want to underdeliver. Personal woes aside though, hearing the sludgy tones of Liquid Shit on EP opener ‘Invidious Stench’ makes everything seem insignificant. Their sound is still very much fuelled by both sludge and death metal, but the melody that existed on previous EPs takes more of a centre stage, giving it more of an unnerving and subtly-cosmic sound as well.

Sludge has always been one of the strengths of heavy bands in the UK. I think it’s because of the gloomy state of our weather and our nation as a whole (especially in recent years). ‘Deepest Voids’ exhibits that point perfectly with slow tempos, torturous vocals and instrumentation that’s truly heavy, yet noise-laden too. That noise element adds even more to the band’s progression on this release.

The metallic intro to ‘Caustic Evocation’ radiates with black metal influence and it continues throughout the song, providing yet another layer to Liquid Shit’s already excellent delivery. There’s a lot to pick out here even if it’s not always obvious. What is obvious though is the quality. With more and more bands flooding onto the scene (so to speak), naturally, quality can get watered down. It’s all subjective at the end of the day but what I’m hearing so far is great.

Part of why I enjoy sludge so much (and to an extent powerviolence too) is the bass tones. ‘Punish Myself’ instantly reinvigorates that enjoyment with it’s very bass-forward sound and atmosphere. There’s an element of urgency to it that hasn’t been obvious on this EP before too, which harks back to Liquid Shit’s earlier output in some ways. I love it and it’s probably my favourite track so far.

The title-track closes the EP in enigmatic style. Pulling together all of the elements that have made up these five songs snd condensing them down slightly, providing a noisy, metallically piercing yet stubbornly down-tempo ending. In a time over the last few years where we have seen the depths that heavy bands go to (and I still don’t know if we’ve reached the true nadir), there’s a greater emphasis on atmosphere now and Liquid Shit are quickly mastering it to full affect.

With just over two months of 2025 still to go, I am so far behind on new releases but taking You Suffer For A Long Time in isolation, it’s a glorious release that ploughs the deepest furrow within our psyche. That’s why I keep coming back to sludge.

You can stream and purchase You Suffer For A Long Time digitally below:-

Tape copies are still available to purchased from Dry Cough Records here:-

https://www.drycoughrecords.com/product/liquid-shit-you-suffer-a-lot-cassette-dc83

Liquid Shit Instagram - @liquidshitsludge

Dry Cough Records - https://www.facebook.com/DryCoughRecords

Nuvolascura - How This All Ends

Labels: i.corrupt Records/Longlegslongarms/Zegema Beach Records

Formats: Vinyl/CD/Digital

Release Date: 08 Jul 2025

Tracklist:

1. if portals are linear, you'll die soon enough

2. and in the end, you threw it all away

3. why we never returned to the moon

4. figment of reality

5. if at all

6. cordiform projection

7. ex cryptids

8. last embers of awareness

9. before you disappeared

10. polar destinies

July ushered in the release of How This All Ends from Californian screamo royalty Nuvolascura. It comes five years on from As We Suffer From Memory And Imagination. It really doesn't seem like that long! It was released on two vinyl variants totalling 500 copies and 100 CDs via both i.corrupt Records and ZBR, while Longlegslongarms in Japan also released copies on CD (if anybody can tell me the quantity, I'll update this write-up asap!).

I really hope this isn’t How This All Ends for Nuvolascura (sorry, not sorry). Starting with ‘if portals are linear, you’ll die soon enough’, you’re greeted with a drum n bass style intro before Nuvo launch into something altogether heavier. More metallic than before with equally frenetic vocals, coupled with percussion and bass that adds a lot of depth to the music. This feels very much like an album from a screamo band who are leaving screamo behind. I say that because they still use long song titles like ‘and in the end, you threw it all away’, which continues the intensity delivered by the opener, but with chunkier sounding riffs in parts. That being said, mathcore-like madness isn’t too far away.

‘why we never returned to the moon’ doesn’t deliver an answer to that same question but it does deliver an extremely technical version of the band’s sound, which is absolutely stunning. The fact that they dive headfirst into ‘figment of reality’ without a pause for breath says so much. The momentum is real here and Nuvo give off massive Rolo Tomassi vibes, which is fine by me (and also not the first time I’ve used that comparison recently).

With so much trying to attract your attention musically, all the time; it’s crazy to think that people are content with mundane albums by equally mundane bands when they could be discovering this one for the first time. ‘if at all’ is one of it’s lengthier ones at over three-and-a-half minutes, and it sees Nuvo injecting more melody and expansiveness into the album. It’s a great way to bridge into the latter half, which begins with ‘cordiform projection’. It jumps back to Nuvo’s earlier screamo blueprint but with extra metal influence, as if they had spent months listening to traditional/thrash metal and early albums by NWOAHM bands.

‘ex cryptids’ seems to continue along the same path initially before the math-infused screamo takes over again. For a song that’s over just as it gets going, it hits hard. I’ve mentioned short songs a few times during this review and that’s solely down to the fact that It’s the order of things here. ‘last embers of awareness’ reaches that sweet-point between technical screamo and crust, thanks to the metallic guitar work. Penultimate song ‘before you disappeared’ is also the album’s final short-player, following ‘last embers of awareness’ instantly, pulling absolutely no punches.

It’s left to ‘polar destinies’ to close out How This All Ends and if you like polar opposites, you’re in for a treat. It sounds like it could be a Metallica song before the screams kick in and everything becomes a lot darker. There’s menace flowing through the instrumentation when it’s at it’s fullest, but it’s also joined by Nuvo’s own version of math-laden skramz too. This intensity is overwhelming at times but damn is it worth it. Nuvolascura are singlehandedly creating a new peak for this genre of heavy music and I’m here for it.

You can stream and purchase the album digitally from Nuvolascura below:-

You can also buy the album on both physical formats from the band here:-

https://www.nuvolascura.com

Grab copies from the labels here:-

i.corrupt Records - https://www.icorruptrecords.com/collections/icr-releases

Longlegslongarms - http://longlegslongarms.jp/music/products/list.php?category_id=1&orderby=date

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

i.corrupt Records - https://www.facebook.com/icorruptrecs

Longlegslongarms - https://www.facebook.com/3LAdisc

Zegema Beach Records - https://bsky.app/profile/zegemabeachrecords.bsky.social

Shesmadefromsuede - V Premiere

It seems like I've hit a glitch in the matrix, as tonight I'm premiering a song from a band that's one release and done. Hattiesburg, Mississippi's Shesmadefromsuede release their self-titled EP via Tomb Tree on 20th October (I guess you can call it a posthumous release). The song I'm premiering is 'V' and it's available to stream via Youtube below:-

Sam from Shesmadefromsuede was kind enough to provide some words about the release, but given the band's current status you can forgive them for being brief:-

"All I want to say about the release itself is Hattiesburgworld forever. The band is done entirely and we will not be playing any more shows for the foreseeable future. The bass player and myself (Sam) are forming a new band with more metalcore influences."

‘V’ lives up to the band’s own description of therapyviolence. It’s as stark as you’d imagine emoviolence to be but it also contains all kinds of extra elements, from atmospheric post-hardcore guitar melodies and percussion, to panic-chords and chugging metalcore bass/riffs. The higher-pitched screams over the top pierce through the soundstage created by the instrumentation, showing a vulnerable, slightly darker side as well.

I know that this one song isn't enough, so I've found this live set video from April that's well worth your time too:-

That set was so, so, so, so good! 

There will be 50 tapes coming from Tomb Tree on 20th October, so keep your eyes fixed on the below links if you've enjoyed this song premiere and also that live set:-

CAN/INTL - http://www.zegemabeachrecords.com/tomb-tree-tapes

USA - https://zbrusa.com/collections/tapes

If you want to show your support for Shesmadefromsuede posthumously, you can do so below:-

Instagram - @shesmadefromsuede

Malum - Towards Nothingness

Labels: Hellstain Productions

Formats: CD/Digital

Release Date: 18 Apr 2025

Tracklist:

1. In Gloom I

2. Towards Nothingness

I did not think I would get time to write this evening, but there's always time to write about (and listen to) music, which is the mantra I need to live by again going forwards. My time has been eaten up by other things far too often recently. After putting together a rough review schedule at the beginning of the month, I became acutely aware that I had only covered two of those releases and quite frankly, writing one review a week didn't sit well.

Enter stage left, Norwegian black metal band Malum. They formed in Oslo in 2020 and have been very productive since their 2022 debut EP Ad Mortem, as they have released new music every year since, beginning with their first full-length album In Nauseam in 2023, followed-up by a split release with international black metal band Impia Maleficencia in 2024. Their newest EP Towards Nothingness was released in April of this year via Hellstain Production.

I have no qualms about playing music loud this evening, given how noisy my neighbours have been in recent days (first world problems, sorry!). ‘In Gloom I’ begins without any hesitation, presenting black metal that’s both atmospheric and ice cold. The way the vocals sit deep in the mix as the percussion and guitars take hold, before they rise to a more dominant position later on gives a different perspective on Malum’s sound. The switch from a breathy/earthy sound to something heavier is to be expected with the Norwegian brethren but here it seems to flow in a much more coherent way.

EP title-track ‘Towards Nothingness’ concludes it in majestic fashion (if that were possible in black metal!). The metallic opening really hits the spot and that dynamic continues as Malum deliver their measured take on the sub-genre once again. Straddling the line between exquisitely listenable and raw unlistenable black metal can sometimes be very fine, but Malum sit in the former camp in my opinion. The recording, production, mixing and mastering on this EP stand out a lot more than I had initially expected.

This EP is a great listen and even though it only contains two songs, there is more than enough to reel you in as a listener. Malum’s approach to black metal is one that should be admired. 

You can stream and purchase the EP digitally from Malum's bandcamp page below:-

Malum Instagram - @norwegian_malum

CD copies are available to purchase from Hellstain Productions here:- https://hellstain.eu/collections/hellstain-releases

Hellstain Productions - https://www.facebook.com/HellstainProductions

Beriedir - Liminal Spaces

Labels: Rockshots Records

Formats: CD/Digital

Release Date: 10 Jan 2025

Tracklist:

1. Halo

2. Neon

3. In The Corner Of My Eyes

4. As Tight As Phantoms Hold

5. F.I.V.E.

6. More Than Starlight

7. Burnout

8. Anemoia

9. Massive

10. In The Liminal Space

This may be a little bit outside of my wheelhouse but at least I'm keeping up the support for Italian bands! Progressive metal is the sub-genre of choosing this evening with the newest album from Lombardy quintet Beriedir. Liminal Spaces saw it's release on both cd and digital formats via Rockshots Records way back in January. I have seen them being described as a progressive power metal band on some sites but I've also read that they've been compared to Leprous and Gojira as well. This is my first time hearing them, so let's see.

I did go through a phase of really liking power metal, way before I started the blog. I listened to bands like Hammerfall and Turisas amongst others quite a lot, though I drifted away from the sub-genre when I started discovering heavier styles. I guess I’m not a huge fan of the whole fantasy/theatrical side of metal and at first listen, I’m getting that vibe from Beriedir on album opener ‘Halo’; however, the mix of melodic instrumentation, clean vocals and harsh growls work together really well. Italy is known for it’s unique blend of melody, theater and progression after all. 

Talking of theater, the keyboard work is prominent throughout this album and it’s not overpowering on ’Neon’, which is good. The change of tempos and styles throughout keep things really interesting, while the clean vocals really come into their own when they hit the highest notes. It’s still too early to decide how I feel about this album but upon hearing the opening bars of ‘In The Corner Of My Eyes’ with it’s death metal-like brutality, I’m almost sold. There’s a lot going on here, which can sometimes be overwhelming. The heaviness later on is punctuated by melody, that may come as a relief to some. I want to give a special shoutout to the excellent guitar solo towards the end too.

‘As Tight As Phantoms Hold’ sees Beriedir circling back toward their more melodic roots, but with the addition of what sounds like programmed beats (though they’re probably organic, apologies if so!). The song’s latter half of a heady mix of everything that goes into their music. I’m writing this while being somewhat out of my comfort zone musically, so apologies if I’m talking nonsense. The imaginatively titled ‘F.I.V.E.’ is up next (I say that because it’s the album’s fifth song) and it has a euro-dance feel to it before the hard-hitting percussion and guitars kick in. That feeling stays throughout the song, which is a lot more approachable for those who stay away from anything that’s truly heavy.

There’s a subtle Queen influence flowing through ‘More Than Starlight’, which grows on you as it switches between angelic melody and startling heaviness, and back again later on. The way that Beriedir weave that heaviness into their otherwise symphonic sound is excellent during ‘Burnout’, as nothing sounds out of place or forced, which was a worry of mine when I hit play on this album. In fact, it’s a lot more technically adept than I expected it to be.

I do have a soft spot for piano-led, electronica-infused music (thanks to many hours of listening to Sleep Token), so the opening bars of ‘Anemoia’ hit the spot before Beriedir retreat back into a more familiar space. The remainder of the song is more of the same but that’s not doing it a disservice and it blends nicely into penultimate song ‘Massive”, which is brimming with broody atmosphere and seemingly slower tempo s throughout. Closing with ‘In The Liminal Space’, Beriedir offer up a final slab of really well performed metal that bridges the gap between clean and harsh sounds. 

Despite being slightly outside my wheelhouse (as already mentioned) when it comes to metal, this album has surprised me a lot. I guess I prejudged it and that’s a lesson I need to learn. Beriedir are very proficient musically and they have as few tricks up their sleeve as well. I’m not quite ready to fully embrace power metal again but if it’s as proggy/heavy as this, then who knows!

You can stream and purchase Liminal Spaces digitally, as well on CD below:-

CD copies are also available to purchase from Rockshots Records here:-

https://rockshots.eu/products/beriedir-liminal-spaces-cd

Beriedir - https://www.facebook.com/BeriedirOfficial

Rockshots Records - https://www.facebook.com/rockshotsrecords

Piri Reis - Ritma

Labels: Framecode Records/Long Legs Long Arms/Memori Records/Moment Of Collapse Records/Polar Summer/React With Protest/Shove Records/Slow Down Records/Smoothie Records/Utarid Tapes/Zegema Beach Records

Formats: Vinyl/CD/Tape/Digital

Release Date: 03 Jul 2022

Tracklist:

1. Merentap Sayap Malaikat

2. Burden By Beauty

3. Pusara Atas Langit

4. Heimlich Manoeuvre Tiger Suplex

5. Cigarette For An Actor

6. All Is Well, Mr. Hildebrandt

7. Arsitektur Yang Gagal

8. Curse On Pasumpahan Island

9. Berkelana ke Kelana Jaya

10. Untuk Kimi

I recently did something that's bordering on slightly irresponsible (but not criminally irresponsible, so it's okay!). To be more precise and honest, I've purchased an expensive record. That confession has nothing to do with this review though, so I'll move swiftly on. 

Talking of records though, I do own a copy of Ritma by Malaysian screamo/emoviolence band Piri Reis.  Originally released in 2022 across all formats worldwide, it received further cd and tape pressings from almost all corners of the world in 2023 and 2024. Piri Reis have been consistently pushing boundaries and pushing their music to more screamo fans globally, and while this album is a few years old now, it's still fresh.

September was another month of limited activity purely due to life, work and the universe getting in the way. I had planned for this review to round things out yesterday but what can you do! ‘Merentap Sayap Malaikat’ opens Ritma in surprising fashion, as it’s intro sounds more akin to what you’d hear in a doctor’s waiting room. That boring image is banished soon after though by layers of rabid percussion and bass, melodic/atmospheric guitars and screeching vocals. 

‘Burden By Beauty’ is more laid back and introspective for the most part, as Piri Reis temper their emoviolence with sombre post-hardcore and even some metallic/metalcore-esque touches. Frenzied outbursts of chaos are not far behind though, as the closing bars show. ‘Pusara Atas Langit’ follows with an intro of plane noise and guitars buzzing into life before things hit that high gear again. It’s not all emoviolence and madness though, as Piri Reis again use gentler vocals and instrumentation throughout. Kind of reminds a bit of Rolo Tomassi.

The excellently titled ‘Heimlich Manoeuvre Tiger Suplex’ goers for a straight-up rock/post-hardcore sound instrumentally, which doesn’t build along with the intense vocals until much later on in the song. It’s very real and oddly gut-wrenching all the same. After a few songs that have seemed more expansive, Piri Reis begin to dip back into more explosive surroundings on ‘Cigarette For An Actor’. The way they craft their music, allowing everything to work together and to exist in it’s own space is excellent.

The sampled intro on ‘All Is Well, Mr. Hildebrandt’ is hilarious (though I feel slightly guilty for saying so). It leads to another song of many faces; from post-punk riffs to blasting drums, groovy bass and raging screams. It has everything and has that song-of-the-album feel too. ‘Arsitektur Yang Gagal’ is very much a blink and you’ll miss it piece, as it flies majestically through ninety seconds of stark screamo.

This album’s great and thankfully there are still a few songs to go. ‘Curse on Pasumpahan Island’ gently ushers you in with spoken-word vocals and lightly plucked guitars before it descends into chaos once again. The lyrics are what really leap out at you here. You’ll understand what I mean when you listen to it. Penultimate song ‘Berkelana ke Kelana Jaya’ makes you want to dance (or maybe it’s just me!). The rhythms just have that aura but the rest of the band has other ideas once again, pivoting back in a more familiar direction.

Closing Ritma with ‘Untuk Kimi’, Piri Reis call time on their only full-length to date in gloriously distorted fashion. Just guitars, subtle feedback/white noise and minimalist vocals/samples cleanse the ears, leaving you feeling very uplifted. It’s emotional in the best way. It reminds me that I need to spend more time with the records I own, as the more I inevitably buy (it’s becoming a proper habit), the harder it is to choose one to put on.

Stream and grab the album digitally from Piri Reis below, where tape and cd copies are also still available in limited quantities:-

Piri Reis - https://www.facebook.com/pirireispunx

 

You can also purchase Ritma on various formats below:-

Longlegslongarms - http://longlegslongarms.jp/music/products/

Memori Records - https://memorirecords.bandcamp.com/album/mr-002-piri-reis-ritma

Moment Of Collapse Records - https://shop.momentofcollapse.com/collections/piri-reis

Polar Summer - https://polarxsummer.bandcamp.com/album/ritma

React With Protest - http://www.reactwithprotest.org/store.php

Shove Records - https://shoverec.bandcamp.com/album/ritma

Slow Down Records - https://slowdownrecords.bandcamp.com/album/sdr-31-piri-reis-ritma

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

Framecode Records - https://www.facebook.com/framecoderecords

Longlegslongarms - https://www.facebook.com/3LAdisc

Moment Of Collapse Records - https://www.facebook.com/momentofcollapse

Shove Records - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100062967532917

Slow Down Records - https://www.instagram.com/slow.down.records/?igshid=ZDdkNTZiNTM%3D

Smoothie Records - https://www.instagram.com/smoothie_recs/?hl=en

Utarid Tapes - https://www.facebook.com/utaridtapes

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