Labels: Self-Released/Zegema Beach Records
Formats: Vinyl/Digital
Release Date: 06 Mar 2026
Tracklist:
1. Abject Disaster
2. Pocket Full Of Poseurs
3. You Feel Like A Dickhead
4. Carrion Phase Springs Eternal
5. Motional
6. The World Is No Longer A Beautiful Place And I'm Afraid To Die
7. I'm Not Fighter
8. Paraquat
9. So Long And Thanks For All The Microfiche
10. Peacemeal
11. Supervisionary
12. Those We've Lost And Continue To Lose
It's been nearly five years since the self-titled full-length from Oregon, USA screamo band Carrion Spring. In between that release and Those We've Lost And Continue To lose, there was an EP that featured three of the songs that made their way onto this album and that made it's way onto tape via ZBR sister label Tomb Tree, albeit in slightly different forms.
This new LP is available on 250 copies on white/green colour-in-colour vinyl with red and black splatter, which looks stunning as you'll see in the promo pic below:-
Final bit of promo before I dive into the album; Carrion Spring will be playing both the pre-show and the main fest of ZBR Fest itself in Vancouver next month. I'll post a ticket link at the end of my review.
The recent four day weekend seems like a distant memory now but I had some great news last Thursday and have managed to order some records I’ve been after for a while, so things are pretty good! I’ve also taken some time to plan my new review schedule for the next few weeks, starting here. This is actually the first time I’ve featured Carrion Spring too (which I didn’t realise until I sat down to write this review). Opening with ‘Abject Disaster’, the quartet’s emotive hardcore sounds very much rooted in the early-mid 2000’s. The instrumentation is a mix of crunching heaviness and lighter melodies, while the vocals are delivered in much the same way. The contrast between harsh screams and semi-clean singing takes me back to when I discovered 36 Crazyfists and From Autumn To Ashes (and it’s not the first time I’ve name checked those bands).
‘Pocket Full Of Poseurs’ sees Carrion Spring employing math-like instrumentation and time signatures alongside more furious percussion to begin with before layering more of their exceptional post-hardcore over the top. As opening salvos go, the first couple of songs have grown in intensity and urgency, as does ‘You Feel Like A Dickhead’. It’s a delight musically. Slightly math-like once again but also aggressive enough to appeal to those who want an instant hit. There are some tongue-in-cheek song titles on this album too, starting with ‘Carrion Phase Springs Eternal’, which may or may not be a respectful nod to US hip-hop/electronic act Wicca Phase Springs Eternal. There’s no hip-hop or electronic music going on here though. Instead, Carrion Spring continue on their emotive hardcore path, channeling their inner Refused/Snapcase influences as they go.
This is turning into one of those reviews that could grow to mammoth proportions if I’m not careful! ‘Motional’ gives off a solid metalcore vibe at times, but that vibe is only fleeting as gentler instrumentation and singing muscles in later on. It’s the album’s longest song actually, so the varying styles are expected and welcomed. The second song with a witty musical reference is ‘The World Is No Longer A Beautiful Place And I’m Afraid To Die’, which is a play on words inspired by a US emo band. I think you’ll be able to guess the one! If you’re expecting it to be more emo then you’re in the wrong place. This is probably as gritty as Carrion Spring’s sound gets, if I’m describing it right.
The album’s latter half kicks off with the raucous blast-a-thon ‘I’m Not Fighter’, where Carrion Spring just go full-on hardcore on us. This will definitely be one that gets people dancing/moshing when it’s played live. According to the band’s bandcamp page, ‘I’m Not Fighter’ and ‘Paraquat’ that follows are both the same length. That really doesn’t mean anything, I just note stuff like that you know? ‘Paraquat’ is less hardcore and more off-kilter, with more focus on gentler progressions.
‘So Long And Thanks For All The Microfiche’ holds a special place in my heart already because in my first full-time job, I had to use a Microfiche machine. Funny how memories come flooding back when listening to music! It strikes me that if Turnstile wrote heavier music (now at least), they might sound a bit like this. Damn, that’s enough name-dropping! There’s a pattern to this album too, as just like the opening three songs, the closing three get shorter starting with ‘Peacemeal’. There are so many retro feels flowing through it yet it’s still so fresh.
The nostalgia is super strong on ’Supervisionary’ as sumptuous post-hardcore and dual harsh/clean vocals sing in unison early on, before things take a more familiar turn once again. Carrion Spring just know how to pull the right leavers musically. Closing with the title-track ’Those We’ve Lost And Continue To Lose’, Carrion Spring let gentle piano take centre stage in an unexpected instrumental number. This is a grand album. An album that shows Carrion Spring at their very best. I can’t heap anymore praise on them as a band than that.
You can stream and purchase the album digitally below, where it's also available on vinyl from Carrion Spring directly (USA only):-
Carrion Spring Instagram - @carrionspring
Copies are also available from Zegema Beach Records below:-
CAN/INTL - http://www.zegemabeachrecords.com/zegema-beach-releases/twlactl
USA - https://zbrusa.com/collections/zbr-releases/products/twlactl
Zegema Beach Records - https://bsky.app/profile/zegemabeachrecords.bsky.social
Also, you can buy tickets to ZBR Fest 2026 here - https://www.zbrfest.com
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