The Names Of Our Friends/Poetry Of Torch - Split

Labels: Zegema Beach Records

Formats: Tape/Digital

Release Date: 24 Jul 2026

Tracklist:

1. The Names Of Our Friends - All For You

2. The Names Of Ours Friends - Just For Us

3. Poetry Of Torch - 泥濘

4. Poetry Of Torch - 呼んでいる

What a difference a couple of days make! Honestly, I was floundering a bit towards the end of last month but after a couple of reviews already this month, I feel the excitement again. July was the month that Zegema Beach Records released this split between US band The Names Of Our Friends and Japan's Poetry Of Torch, on tape and also digitally.

Both bands play post-hardcore/screamo. If you were following the blog back in 2025, you might have read my review of Poetry Of Torch's split with Gil Cerrone. The Names Of Our Friends are once again another new band to me (I must get round to finishing that list of every band featured here!).

Today has been a day to forget work-wise. I’m drained and all I yearn for is some kind of escape. Nothing screams “escape” like screamo and The Names Of Our Friends, who provide such a blistering performance on their first track ‘All For You’. Piercing vocals that almost leap into emoviolence territory, alongside blistering percussion, off-kilter tempos and dramatic guitar work. Obviously, it’s over pretty quickly but it leads into their second track ‘Just For Us’ instantly, which is more introspective, while showing different sides to the band. Melodic vocals, chugging riffs and nods to The Mars Volta are all present. It’s a real treat and a great way to round out their side of this split.

Poetry Of Torch start their side with ‘泥濘’, which is short and sharp. Starting with a mix of warped noise and samples before exploding into the kind of crazed emoviolence that Japanese bands do so well. It’s short, so getting a true feel is hard but it’s not long before their second song ‘呼んでいる’ begins. It’s longer, so might be a better representation of their sound overall, which is fast, quite raw but also post-hardcore leaning. The vocals are shouted, the percussion sits deeper in the mix and the guitars provide a cacophony of different styles. Another example of Japan’s unique and brilliant approach to heavier music.

Even just listening to these four songs has reset my brain and I’m grateful for it. I wish this release had gone on longer though as both The Names Of Our Friends and Poetry Of Torch are fantastic song-writers/performers.

You can stream and purchase this split digitally from ZBR below:-

You can buy physical tape copies from ZBR here - http://www.zegemabeachrecords.com/zegema-beach-releases/tnoofxpot

The Names Of Our Friends Instagram - @the.names.of.our.friends

Poetry Of Torch Instagram - @poetry_of_torch

Zegema Beach Records Instagram - @zegema_beach

Pleb - Grease Trap

Labels: Human Worth

Formats: Tape/Digital

Release Date: 07 Aug 2026

Tracklist:

1. Clods Of Shit And Bone

2. The Bruises Mean It's On The Way Out

3. The Eyes Melt First

4. Put It Back

5. Evolutionary Roadblock

6. The Streets Aren't Reliable In The Slightest

7. You And Me Baby Ain't Nothing But Cannibals

8. Belly Up

I've been well out of sync with the DIY community/scene in Leeds for years now. When I worked in the city it was great to be able to stick around, see bands and then get the last train home. I watched more than I can remember. Recently, thanks to Owen at Human Worth, a band called Pleb was sent my way. Turns out Pleb includes a member who I saw play many times back in the day.

Grease Trap arrived as the duo's first release earlier this month. Featuring the guitar and feedback of D. Fraser, as well as the drums and vocals of S. Myles, Pleb delivers sludge but with a punk mindset. Exactly what Leeds has always been about.

It feels kind of weird to be writing about a release within the same month that it was… released. Well nearly, as it was the same month before I decided to re-write this. It’s a good one though and after reading the bio about the album on Pleb’s bandcamp page, we’re in for a treat. Noisy, feedback-laden sludge fills the air on opener ‘Clods Of Shit And Bone’. Guitar, percussion and vocals that remind me of the diverse richness of the city’s musical underbelly. Subtle hints of the slower end of powerviolence join punk and sludge.

‘The Bruises Mean It’s On The Way Out’ is just filled with layer after layer of chunky riffs and screechy feedback. It’s bloody good, and way noisier than anything a duo should be making! Coming in pretty much equipped (with nastiness), ’The Eyes Melt First’ sees Pleb hitting a dangerous stride. One that completely justifies their recent appearance at ArcTanGent, which unsurprisingly went down a storm from what I’ve read.

‘’Put It Back’ continues with the feedback left by ‘The Eyes Melt First’. As I write this, there is thunder and lighting crashing outside my window but even that isn’t heavier than Pleb at their heaviest.  It’s not only about the slow stuff on Grease Trap as ‘Evolutionary Roadblock’ brings a pacier tempo, which adorns its shortest track. 

Maybe describing the streets of Leeds (or something/somewhere entirely different), ‘The Streets Aren’t Reliable In The Slightest’ is a murky, off-kilter slice of sludgecore that epitomises the grim realness that we face up north. I was going to draw comparison to this next song’s title and Bloodhound Gang, but that was till I watched the video and read the lyrics to ‘You And Me Baby Ain’t Nothing But Cannibals’. It was the lyrics that really did it. Both stark and beautiful up against the instrumentation.

Closing with ‘Belly Up’, Pleb give it everything. From deep, stomping sludge riffs to grinding drums and those vocals, which by now are buried deep in the memory receptors. Pleb sound energised and fresh, while maintaining the grittiness and warmth that’s always been there in Leeds musically. What an ace album Grease Trap is!

You can stream and purchase Grease Trap digitally below, where you can also pre-order tape copies (it's already on it's 2nd pressing!):-

Here's the video for 'You And Me Baby Ain't Nothing But Cannibals' for your viewing pleasure too, courtesy of Human Worth:-

Pleb Instagram - @pleb_slow

Human Worth Instagram - @humanworthmusic 

Depredation Netra - Third Eye Predation

Labels: Iron Bonehead Productions

Formats: Tape/Digital

Release Date: 18 Nov 2025

Tracklist:

1. I, Eye, Ayin (Lifting The Blindfold)

2. Netra Drakonis: Vajra-Ophidian Opening Of The Black Diamond Eye

3. Third Eye Predation Befalls The Foul Pillars Of Formation

I have been writing about a release in the background but honestly, it's felt forced. Not because the band is bad, far from it. I'm just not happy with my writing so I'm going to re-do it. In the meantime though, a kick up the proverbial is much needed and it will duly be given by some black/death metal from India.

Released late last year via Iron Bonehead Productions, Third Eye Predation is the debut demo from the newest member of the Kolkata Inner Order, Depredation Netra. The Kolkata Inner Order is a group of bands (for want of a better phrase) who are spreading their own extremity throughout the underground. Join me and venture into the unknown.

Demo opener ‘I, Eye, Ayin (Lifting The Blindfold)’ is an ambient, cosmic intro that gives very little away about what’s to come from Depredation Netra. That’s a good thing in my opinion, as it keeps that air of intrigue high. It’s too easy to get swept up in expectation sometimes. 

‘Netra Drakonis: Vajra-Ophidian Opening Of The Black Diamond Eye’ is where things become clearer. You might think that’s a misnomer given the rawness of the song, but this is a demo after all and the first murmurings from a new underground trio. I would much prefer something with an honest live-sound, than something that’s overproduced.  

The percussion very much rules over everything else here, while the guitar and bass offer both merciless thrash, and subtle bluesy tones too. The vocals have a blackened rasp to them, though they are used more sparingly than you might expect.

The demo’s closer ‘Third Eye Predation Befalls The Foul Pillars Of Formation’ is another barrage of cold extremity. Its tempos shift throughout, from properly blasting to the unexpectedly brutal (almost slam-like) passage after the two-minute mark. I was about to say this wouldn’t drop to the slowest depths and then it almost did!

That was definitely the kick I needed. Depredation Netra have gained a fan here and yet more appreciation should go to Iron Bonehead Productions for giving such bands a home. Black/death metal is alive and well in Kolkata, and long may it continue!

You can stream and purchase Third Eye Predation digitally from Depredation Netra below:-

Tape copies can be purchased from Iron Bonehead Productions here -https://shop.ironbonehead.de/en/ibp-releases-/33026-depredation-netra-ind-third-eye-predation-tape.html

Depredation Netra - https://www.facebook.com/depredationnetra

Iron Bonehead Productions - https://www.facebook.com/IronBoneheadProductions