Drei Affen - Seguimos Ciegxs

Labels: Left Hand Label/Moment Of Collapse Records/Pifia Records/Through Love Records/Zegema Beach Records

Formats: Vinyl/CD/Digital

Release Date: 13 Jun 2019

Tracklist:

1. Seguimos Ciegxs

2. Llama Viva

3. Como Un Mar Violento

4. Gritos Sordos

5. El Último Aliento

6. Heridas

I'm currently trying to work out the number of releases I have reviewed that I actually physically own. Maybe it's in vain but there is a compulsiveness inside me that says "I need to have them". I'm getting there slowly but surely. That leads me into this, the latest in my ZBR roster review series (another thing that I'm slowly but surely progressing with) and it just so happens that I do have a copy of this glorious LP from Spanish screamo band Drei Affen.

After being self-released digitally by the band in mid-June 2019, Seguimos Ciegxs was released on both CD and single-sided vinyl later on in that same month. The vinyl pressing came on three different colours (gold, red and natural white) with a screen-printed b-side. My copy is the gold pressing that came from Left Hand Label.

I took some time earlier this week to get out of my four walls (I’m currently on annual leave, re-decorating) and by doing so, I re-connected with somebody I haven’t seen for over ten years. It was pretty wholesome to be honest, even though it was brief. It got me thinking about my relationship with music too and more importably, the physical music that I’m lucky enough to have in my collection. While our relationships with music and people may be detached, they’re not so far apart in reality.

Drei Affen’s 2019 release Seguimos Ciegxs is an embodiment of art and catharsis. The title-track is a case in point. After an ambient intro featuring both a sample and calm guitar tones, things get somewhat heavier. Instrumentation hits with almost Neo-crust/emoviolence intensity while the dual-vocals leave no room for peace.

‘Llama Viva’ continues where that opener left off, albeit with a more melodic approach. That’s not to say that it’s any easier on the ear though, as it isn’t. It shows prominently how beautiful and stark Drei Affen’s sound can be. ‘Como Un Mar Violento’ instantly blasts into life next. There’s no time for breath at all, as Drei Affen tear through space and time in belligerent fashion.

‘Gritos Sordos’ follows the same structure and delivery that has been present so far on Seguimos Ciegxs. That’s no bad thing, especially when the song is as expansive as it is here. I haven’t spun this release as often as I should have in recent times and doing so again has made me realise what I’ve missed.

It’s now the EP’s latter half and 'El Último Aliento’ is brimming with dark atmosphere created in part by Drei Affen’s great guitar work and just the quality of their musicianship as a whole. The Spanish lyrical delivery makes the harsh vocals sound even more emotive too. Ending with ‘Heridas’, you’re treated to one final superb blast of controlled intensity. 

The crustier end of screamo/post-hardcore doesn’t always grab me but when it hits. it hits hard. Seguimos Ciegxs is perfectly formed. It’s long enough to get lost in but also short enough that it doesn’t burn out.

You can stream and purchase the EP digitally below:-

Drei Affen - https://www.facebook.com/dreiaffenband

You can still pick up physical copies (the remaining CD copies) from the link below:-

Moment Of Collapse Records - https://shop.momentofcollapse.com/products/drei-affen-seguimos-ciegxs-cd

Left Hand Label - https://www.facebook.com/lefthandlabel

Moment Of Collapse Records - https://www.facebook.com/momentofcollapse

Pifia Records - https://www.facebook.com/pifiarecords

Through Love Records - https://www.facebook.com/@ThroughLoveRec

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

Drei Affen - Drei Affen

Labels: Adorno Records/Arkan Records/Blessed Hands Records/Cactus Tapes/Dingleberry Records/Discos Finu/Don't Care Records/Hydrogen Man Records/Krimskramz/Lifeisafunnything/Middle-Man Records/Monte Calvario/Pifia Records/Pure Heart Records/Rakkerpak Records/Rubaiyat Records/Screamore/Unlock Yourself Records/Voice Of The Unheard/Zegema Beach Records

Formats: Vinyl/Tape/Digital

Release Date: 15 Jun 2016

Tracklist:

1. El Sonido De Tu Llanto

2. El Yugo

3. Miedo

4. Caen Los Suenos

5. Fuego Y Llanto

6. El Comianzo Del Cambio

I hit a major milestone with the blog last week by reaching 900,000 readers. It's a massive achievement and I'm going to push to hit 1,000,000 by the end of 2022, which would be epic! Thank you to everyone for the interest and support so far.

Today I'm on the ZBR trail again and focusing the 2016 self-titled EP by from Spanish post-hardcore/emoviolence band Drei Affen. It was released on vinyl and tape via many labels (see above) and digitally too. In fact, it was Drei Affen's debut. According to social media, Drei Affen are back after a break too, having played live in November just gone.

Drei Affen’s sound has always been explosive and their self-titled EP is where it all started. Melodic post-hardcore, frenzied emo-violence and abrasive neocrust converge on opener ‘El Sonido De Tu Llanto’ to create a massively enjoyably first impression. It’s what could be described as carefully orchestrated chaos.’ El Yugo’ follows on with a symphony of guitar riffs, backed up very tight percussion and vocals that sound like they’re coming from totally shredded vocal chords. There are plenty of off-kilter moments and even time for an atmospheric mid-section.

The slightly slower tempo of ‘Miedo’ is a bit of an illusion, as the guitars make it seem less intense while everything else goes off just as hard. Drei Affen’s music is immediate, leaving no room for any fluffiness and it’s all the better for it. They remind me a lot of Ojne, who also fly the flag for European screamo. This EP ascends to a gloriously crazed peak on ‘Caen Los Suenos’. It’s really hard to adequately describe how much it comes alive in words but there’s just something about the beauty portrayed amongst it’s sub-three minute form. I guess you’re just going to have to listen to it (if you’re not already familiar).

Penultimate song ‘Fuego Y Llanto’ feels like it stretches way beyond it’s playing time thanks to the sheer amount of instrumental layers it has. Harnessing energy that Drei Affen barely keep a lid on, there are both breathless and breathable moments within. The intro bars to EP closer ‘El Comienzo Del Cambio’ feature a spoken-word sample alongside an ace drum-fill, which signals what’s to come as things conclude. With the majority of lyrics in Spanish, the song and indeed the entire record seem to convey such a rawness that leaps out at you. Slow post-metal vibes pull you towards the final passages of emoviolence and then all goes quiet.

At this point I’m a little stuck for words. This record comes and goes pretty quickly, but that’s what makes it so memorable too. I’m not sure how many copies of this still exist for sale, but if you can find one in the wild don’t hesitate to pick it up.

You can stream and purchase the EP digitally below:-

Drei Affen - https://www.facebook.com/dreiaffenband

You can still buy vinyl and tape copies from the below labels:-

Hydrogen Man Records - https://hydrogenman.storenvy.com/

Middle-Man Records - https://middlemanrecords.storenvy.com/  

The labels that were involved in the release are linked below:-

Arkan Records - https://www.facebook.com/arkanrecords/

Blessed Hands Records - https://www.facebook.com/BlessedhandsRecords

Cactus Tapes - https://www.facebook.com/cactustapes

Dingleberry Records - https://www.facebook.com/Dingleberry-records-and-distribution

Discos Finu - https://www.facebook.com/discosfinu

Don't Care Records - https://www.facebook.com/DontCareRecords

Hydrogen Man Records - https://www.facebook.com/hydrogenmanrecords

Krimskramz - https://www.facebook.com/krimskramzstuff

Lifeisafunnything - https://www.facebook.com/lifeisafunnything123

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

Monte Calvario - https://www.facebook.com/montecalvariorecords

Pifia Records - https://www.facebook.com/pifiarecords

Pure Heart Records - https://www.facebook.com/pureheartrecords

Rakkerpak Records - https://www.facebook.com/rakkerpakrecords

Rubaiyat Records - https://www.facebook.com/rubaiyatrecords

Screamore - https://www.facebook.com/takecareofyourself1

Unlock Yourself Records - https://www.facebook.com/unlockyourselfrecords

Voice Of The Unheard - https://www.facebook.com/voturecords

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