Labels: Hardcore For The Losers/JanML Records/Maya Von Lobeck/MarderschadenDIY/Polar Summer/Tadzio Records
Formats: Vinyl/Digital
Release Date: 09 Mar 2017
Tracklist:
1. Напалм
2. Черный Пес, Темный Лес
3. Привет, Героиня
4. Панк-рок Еще Дышит
5. Пыльная Звезда
6. Шлюха Из Бутово
7. Завтра Было Вчера
8. Метаморфоза
9. Зефир
10. В Радуге Столько Красивых Цветов, А Ты Выбираешь Говно
11. Отпуск В Панаме
It's taken what seems like an age but I'm revisiting my Polar Summer review series again. The Russian label has released (and continues to release) music by many obscure but exciting bands from across Europe and further afield. I'm trying to these reviews in order of release and this evening I've focusing on the label's 11th, which was the self-titled album from Germany's self-proclaimed feminist synthie screamo punks Кальк (Kalk). Their name nor their song-titles are in German and I wouldn't like to guess where they're from. This album came out in March 2017.
I own a copy of Кальк’s 2020 follow-up to this record, which is how I first heard them. Going back to their first album is a treat and opener ‘Напалм’ definitely sits in the punkier/noisier screamo camp, where simple and very effective percussion is joined by low bass/guitar riffs, really pissed off vocals and synths that completely change the tone of their sound, in a really unexpected way. They’re use is upbeat and they really fit with the music.
Кальк’’s songs aren’t long here and ‘Черный Пес, Темный Лес’ flies by in a wall of melody and rabid emoviolence, which in turn is drenched in feedback. I was in need of a midweek pick-me-up and man have I found it. ‘Привет, Героиня’ goes properly hard right from the off. The way everything is layered, especially with the addition of the synths keeps it from sounding disjointed or cheesy. I sometimes wince when I read about or listen to bands that use synths in their music but I can get behind their use here.
My fixation with the “s” word stops now, as ‘Панк-рок Еще Дышит’ starts with some warningly familiar melodic guitar before Кальк up the ante. They may not be spitting razors or blasting their way through this album but sometimes it’s better when a band does their own thing. This is unique. There’s a slight mid-tempo feel to ‘Пыльная Звезда’ yet that’s probably due to the punk vibe that flows through it.
Before what seems like a blink of the eye, it’s onto the album’s second half and the sub one-minute song ‘Шлюха Из Бутово’, which is amongst it’s fastest and heaviest. It leads into ‘Завтра Было Вчера’ pretty much instantly and the mood shifts again, as even with the slightly jovial synths, the undertones are more unnerving.
That said, the digital-esque opening salvo on ‘Метаморфоза’ continues throughout it’s entirety, allowing some light to permeate through the intensity that governs much of this release. ‘Зефир’ pokes hilarious fun at traditional matrimony and even includes some semi-clean vocals! I’m all for digs at society’s conservative/religious populous, so this song made me smile.
Penultimate number ‘В Радуге Столько Красивых Цветов, А Ты Выбираешь Говно’ drags everything back in a more furious direction. The occasionally chunkier riffs work great alongside the stomping tempos/drumming towards the end. Ending with ‘Отпуск В Панаме’, Кальк go from gentle guitar to pure post-hardcore brilliance in a split second and round out their self-titled record in epic form.
People are often too scared to approach a band or a record that’s new to them. While Кальк are not new to me, their debut LP was. I’m here to tell you that you shouldn’t be afraid and that you should embrace that which you have not heard before. This album was released over eight years ago now but it still leaves an indelible mark. All I ask is that you give it a go.
You can stream and purchase the album both digitally, and (still!) on vinyl via Кальк's bandcamp page below:-
Кальк - https://www.facebook.com/kalknoise
Copies can also be purchased from the labels below:-
Hardcore For The Losers - https://hardcoreforthelosers.bandcamp.com/merch
MarderschadenDIY - https://marderschadendiy.tumblr.com/
Hardcore For The Losers - https://www.facebook.com/HardcoreForTheLosers
JanML Records - https://www.facebook.com/JanmlRecords
MarderschadenDIY - https://www.facebook.com/marderschadenDIY
Polar Summer - https://polarxsummer.bandcamp.com
Tadzio Records - https://www.facebook.com/tadziorecords/
