Labels: Fireflies Fall/Friendly Otter/No Funeral Records/Pike Records/Shove Records/Stonehenge Records/Through Love Records/Zilpzalp Records
Formats: Vinyl/CD/Digital
Release Date: 27 Dec 2024
Tracklist:
1. Oggetto di scena
2. Far tremare il corpo
3. Cuore di pietra
4. Non lascia nulla
5. Non diremo
6. Alla Fine della corsa
7. Rumore di passi
Last month I received an e-mail from Axel (who heads up German DIY label Pike Records) asking if I would like to review the newest record from Italian post-hardcore/screamo band Chivàla. Due to being behind on my e-mails I missed Axel's initial message but I thankfully caught the second one and humbly accepted the offer. Little did I know that Axel's offer would include a physical copy of the record.
Fast-forward a few weeks and it has arrived. Axel sent me a copy on red vinyl, which has come out great! I've been familiar with Chivàla for quite a while now; so much so that I own a copy of their split with Suirami on tape. I've featured them here a few times before and I'm quietly trying to fill their discography gaps in my collection (amongst a myriad of others).
The sun’s shining, I’m surrounded by records and I have no plans for the rest of the day. I make it time to give this lovely piece of Italian screamo a spin. The cover art catches my eye due to it’s abstract nature. Not sure if that’s as hint to what the music will sound like but I’m about to find out. Opener ‘Oggetto di scena’ sounds a lot more laid-back and melodic than expected; especially the instrumentation. The vocals are a mix of spoken-word/shouted vocals in the verses and semi-cleans/screams later on. All lyrics are in Italian and are beautifully woven into the song.
It’s beauty that flows through Boato, as ‘Far tremare il corpo’ mixes melody with off-kilter percussion and a take on modern post-hardcore that feels like it’s done a complete 180 degree turn, heading back to the sound of the early 00’s. That was a crossover time for me as I was discovering a lot of punk/core bands and moving slightly away from metal. ‘Cuore di pietra’ highlights the intricacies that exist in Chivàla’s music. I guess alongside countrymen like Ojne and Shizune, I’d place them next to La Dispute purely due to the fact that they do the clean guitar/spoken-word verses so well and when they explode, they do so in a short, controlled manner.
The pattern of following a mid-tempo song with an up-tempo one isn’t a new thing but here it works really well, as ‘Non lascia nulla’ immediately hits top gear. The screams are so passionate and they help to make the instrumental/clean sections sound even better. The latter half of Boato is slightly more precise, yet it comes complete with extra layers, especially during ‘Non diremo’. Subtle atmospheric, almost blackened riffs are added into the mix for a brief period. I guess that’s where Chivàla get their post-rock influence from. Whatever the approach, this is still a fantastic song.
‘Alla fine della corsa’ is the album’s penultimate number and even at this late point in the record, Chivàla’s sound is still as inspiring. The blend of soaring guitar melody, epic low-end/percussion and multi-layered vocals might sound complex though in truth it’s anything but. Everything is perfectly intertwined. Ending with ‘Rumore di passi’ and it’s most beautiful musicianship, I’m in complete ecstasy and in awe of just how good Chivàla are as a complete band. It takes time for any band to truly find their sound, especially when they’re competing with so many others. Given that it’s been a little over six years since their debut EP, I think it’s safe to say that Chivàla have found theirs. If you need more persuasion before listening to this record, you’re in the wrong place.
You can stream and purchase Boato digitally via bandcamp below:-
Chivàla - https://www.facebook.com/chivalaband
Physical copies are also available from the labels below:-
Fireflies Fall - https://firefliesfall.com/product-category/releases/
No Funeral Records - https://store.nofuneral.ca/collections/no-funeral-vinyl
Pike Records - https://www.pikerecords.com/releases/
Shove Records - https://shoverec.bandcamp.com/merch
Stonehenge Records - https://www.stonehengerecords.com/?orderby=alphabetical
Through Love Records - https://shop.throughloverec.com/collections/releases
Fireflies Fall - https://www.facebook.com/firefliesfall
Friendly Otter - https://www.facebook.com/friendlyotterrex
No Funeral Records - https://www.facebook.com/nofuneral8
Pike Records - https://www.facebook.com/pikercrds
Shove Records - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100062967532917
Stonehenge Records - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100053696468870
Through Love Records - https://www.facebook.com/ThroughLoveRec
Zilpzalp Records - https://www.facebook.com/zilpzalpdiy
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