Coma Regalia - Vau Faelgoh

Labels: Convulse Records/I.Corrupt Records/Listen To Aylin Records/Middle-Man Records/Pundonor Records/Zegema Beach Records

Formats: Vinyl/Tape/Digital

Release Date: 03 May 2019

Tracklist:

1. Deimaestus

2. Eaufell

3. Aestheroh

4. Tielasten

5. Hidenskyre

6. Kistleden

7. Indveil

8. Sondaiquai

9. Shulederhau

10. Eivau

11. Daemeron

I think this marks the thirteenth time I've featured a Coma Regalia release on the blog. It's not a big deal really though as CR has something like forty five releases to date. Vau Faelgoh was released back in 2019, having been written and recorded pretty much entirely by Edie. I have no idea how to pronounce the album name nor the song titles, though they could be anything from Latin to Gaelic or even Scandinavian (I don't know). This release was a collaboration between six labels, including Edie's own Middle-Man Records.

I’m just gonna dive straight into this because I don’t know if I’ll get it finished tonight otherwise. Vau Faelgoh starts with ‘Deimaestus’, which is an intensely raw and powerful emo-violence/screamo song. That’s a pretty succinct description but it’s a straight-to-the-point song after all. ‘Eaufell’ is no different from the album’s opener, though it’s interlaced with more straight-up emo instrumentation and atmosphere.

After those initial salvos, ‘Aestheroh’ seems more brooding and stripped-back initially. There’s a heap of off-kilter screamo later on, though it’s slower tempo hits a spot that you didn’t even know needing scratching. It’s glorious. ‘Tielasten’ is one of only two songs on the album that surpasses three minutes. It uses similar song-writing and structure to it’s predecessor but it’s violent beauty is more prevalent also. 

‘Hidenskyre’ takes you back to the breakneck intensity of those first two songs yet there’s a chorus-like feel to this one in parts. It doesn’t last too long but speak volumes anyway. A blisteringly enjoyable number, even if my neighbours don’t agree! ‘Kistleden’ follows with no time to compose any sort of feeling or emotion but in doing so it creates those feelings on it’s own, as it’s melodic vocals and proper emo tones radiate from the speakers.

Naturally the majority of this album is brief in delivery and that’s true of ‘Indveil’. It pulls you into the album’s latter half with an as yet unheard hardcore tone. It’s definitely heavier and comes complete with chunkier riffs. While ‘Indveil’ flew by in it’s own right, ‘Sondaiquai’ is Vau Faelgoh’s most explosive song in terms of length and intensity. Despite that though, Coma Regalia still manage to fill it with plenty of instrumentation and indeed vocal inspiration.

‘Shulederhau’ has a subtle punk vibe at the beginning before the pace grows once again and CR’s emotive screamo takes over. The thing about this recording is just how pure and real it sounds. Proper heart on your sleeve stuff. Penultimate song ‘Eivau’ has a great slow/fast dynamic going on, albeit with barely any space between the slow and fast parts, which makes it even more engrossing as a result.

Closing with ‘Daemeron’, Edie and Coma Regalia give the listener something more. Something that’s pretty damn inspiring. Joined by the additional percussion of Yurik and Bodhi Decker, it rounds out the album with a real sense of warmth. It goes without saying that Coma Regalia’s music has been ever-present and effervescent for many many years now. I know this album has been around for over five years but there’s a reason I’m writing about it (aside from it being part of my ZBR roster review series), which I’ll explain below. 

Edie is currently going through an extremely tough time financially and any help would be very warmly received. If you don't already own this album or other CR/Middle-Man releases, please consider making a purchase below (or even better, by contacting Edie directly to avoid platforms taking a percentage):-

There is also a gofundme campaign that has been set up by Edie, so if you'd rather donate to the cause this way here's the link - https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-edie-in-overcoming-debt-crisis

Coma Regalia - https://www.facebook.com/comaregalia

Convulse Records - https://www.facebook.com/convulserecords

I.Corrupt Records - https://www.facebook.com/icorruptrecs

Listen To Aylin Records - https://www.facebook.com/listentoaylin

Middle-Man Records - https://www.facebook.com/middlemanrecords

Pundonor Records - https://www.facebook.com/pundonorecords

Zegema Beach Records - https://www.facebook.com/zegemabeachrecords

Euth - Euth

Labels: Adorno Records/Convulse Records/Middle-Man Records/React With Protest/Zegema Beach Records

Formats: Vinyl/Tape/Digital

Release Date: 29 Apr 2018

Tracklist:

1. Twin Tombs

2. Land Of The Breathing

3. San Pedro

4. Caustic Skin

5. Peace In The Narrow

6. Bleached White Hell

7. Disposed

8. Anomic Death

I'm still some way off my aim of posting here once a day but then again expectations are a pain. I'm back on the ZBR train once more, where I journey through the label's (now extensive) roster. This evening I'm talking about Wyoming, US screamo/mathcore band Euth. Euth released their first demo in 2015, before a split with Closet Witch a year later and this self-titled album in 2018. They went on an indefinite hiatus in early 2020 with no promise of a return. Their final shows were spent alongside Portrayal Of Guilt and Street Sects amongst others (not a bad way to call time on things).

I love it when an album starts with a huge chunk of feedback and Euth’s opener ‘Twin Tombs’ fills that craving perfectly. The off-kilter, dissonant hardcore mixed with screamo and grind provides a glorious hit of chaotic violence, while gathering together excellent instrumentation. ‘Land Of The Breathing’ gives off some nice metallic hardcore vibes (even though it’s heavy on the panic chords). I’ve been listening to a lot of early metallic hardcore/metalcore recently and I think Euth’s sound Isn’t too far apart from bands like Disembodied and Turmoil, at it’s slower end. 

The combination of both fast grind and sludgier/meatier riffs on ‘San Pedro’ manage to hide the fact that it doesn’t last more than two minutes. It’s good value for that playing time though, especially during it’s second half. I love the two approaches. If you’re after something less immediate then ‘Caustic Skin’ breaks things up a bit. It’s not any less immediate in approach but just longer, giving more bang for the buck.

The second half of Euth continues in the same vein with the slow and brooding ‘Peace In The Narrow’. Grind isn’t far away on this one but it’s tempered with another layer of unnerving atmosphere and tense instrumentation. It shows exactly why Euth were chosen to share the stage with Portrayal Of Guilt! From here on out, you’re left kneeling at the alter of blink-and-you’ll-miss-it grinding madness, beginning with ‘Bleached White Hell’. If ever there was an apt song-title then this would be it.

Following up instantly and cloaked in feedback, ‘Disposed’ is filled with hardcore tempos and shrieking screamo vocals that come from a place more blackened. Ending it all with ‘Anomic Death’, Euth proceed to destroy though noise with a masterclass in distress-inducing hardcore. The dissonance is what makes it what it is. Completely and utterly immersive from start to finish.

I’ve had conversations with colleagues recently about music and why I like heavy music the most. On all occasions I’ve said it’s because I like music that makes me feel something, that’s not mainstream and helps to balance out the negativity of the daily grind. Euth does all of those things and even if this is the last recoding they ever do, it will be enough. 

You can still stream and purchase Euth digitally from the band below:-

Euth - https://www.facebook.com/EUTHWY

Physical copies are still available from the labels below:-

Adorno Records - https://adornorecords.bandcamp.com/album/s-t-8

React With Protest - http://www.reactwithprotest.org/store

Convulse Records - https://www.facebook.com/convulserecords

Middle-Man Records - https://www.facebook.com/middlemanrecords

React With Protest - https://www.facebook.com/reactwithprotestdiy

Zegema Beach Records - https://www.facebook.com/zegemabeachrecords