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