Mourn Recif/A Recorded Dawn - Split

Labels: Zegema Beach Records

Formats: CD/Digital

Release Date: 22 Sep 2025

Tracklist:

1. Mourn Recif - Our Kids are Orchids

2. Mourn Recif - Twelves

3. Mourn Recif - Pyramids as a Weapon

4. A Recorded Dawn - An Entire Life For A Single Cause

5. A Recorded Dawn - Forgotten At Last

Setting brand new 2026 releases to the side for a moment, I want to dive back into the 2025 cohort from Zegema Beach Records. I'm only six releases away from saying that I've covered every one they've been part of in 2025 (except for comps). This was the second to come from Canadian screamo/emo-violence band Mourn Recif, while it was the fourth (and I think the first physical release) to come from fellow Canadian screamo band A Recorded Dawn. Oh and both bands share a musician.

According to figures relating to UK music sales in 2025, CDs and tapes are making a greater comeback. They’re cheaper to produce than vinyl and I’m guessing turnaround times are quicker too. ZBR have been releasing more music on CD over recent years and one of their latest is this split between Mourn Recif and A Recorded Dawn. 

Mourn Recif’s side contains three songs, starting with ‘Our Kids are Orchids’, which is an excellent title. It’s possibly a nod to couples who prefer to nurture plants over human children, but it’s probably about something else entirely. Whatever its subject matter, there’s a glorious guitar tone at the beginning that brings to mind classic nu-metal before the emoviolence kicks in, which is where Mourn Recif are most comfortable.

’Twelves’ is approached very differently, with a more off-kilter tempo and vocals that sit deeper in the mix. In fact, the drums are more prevalent here, which is a reversal from the norm I guess. Semantics aside, this is the longest song on Mourn Recif’s side of this split, so you should expect some differentiation here and there. Closing their side with ‘Pyramids as a Weapon’, Mourn Recif pull absolutely no punches in a song that doesn’t even make it to fifty seconds. It’s emoviolence at its most violent, though there isn’t a violent bone in the body of any member.

A Recorded Dawn present a very different picture on their side. One that’s more laid back at first on ‘An Entire Life For A Single Cause’, before they themsevles launch into a much heavier sound. Their’s is more aligned to hardcore with some post-hardcore passages thrown in as well. There’s a different kind of aggression here, compared to Mourn Recif’s side.

Their second and final song ‘Forgotten, At Last’ is one of those screamo songs that doesn’t lurch too far in any direction. It’s angular riffs-wise, mid-paced in both the percussion and vocals, and has a loud/quiet dynamic that epitomises the genre. Sticking to a known formula works well here though, as A Recorded Dawn don’t overcomplicate things.

It almost seems stupid to say that this is a split of two halves, because of course it is, but that’s kind of the point. You’ve got the fast intensity of Mourn Recif on one side and the slightly more measured heaviness of A Recorded Dawn on the other. Both bands compliment each other extremely well and make this split super enjoyable.

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

CD copies can be purchased from ZBR via the following links:-

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

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

Mourn Recif - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558260430705 / https://www.instagram.com/mourn.recif/

A Recorded Dawn - https://www.instagram.com/a.recorded.dawn/

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