Dianacrawls/Botfly - Split 7"

Labels: Fresh Outbreak Records/No Funeral Records

Formats: Vinyl/Digital

Release Date: 28 Jan 2022

Tracklist:

1. Dianacrawls - La Philosophie De La Verdure C'est Fini

2. Dianacrawls - Seroquel Is Love

3. Botfly - On Nihilism

With all of the AI generated artwork that's popular now and at risk of sounding like a luddite, the artwork that adorns the Dianacrawls/Botfly split 7" fills me with joy. It's MS Clip-art style is perfect and actually gives very little clue as to its contents. This split features two of Canada's more experimental hardcore/screamo acts. Quebec's Dianacrawls and Nova Scotia's Botfly joined together earlier this year,  with the help of Canada's No Funeral Records and Italy's Fresh Outbreak Records. Limited to 300 copies, 25 of which come with special handmade felt covers. 

I really loved A Glitter Manifesto, the previous Dianacrawls release from 2020. Here they contribute two songs, the first of which being ‘La Philosophie De La Verdure C’est Fini’ and I’m very hesitant to compare it to anything on that aforementioned release. Dianacrawls have always been a forward-thinking emoviolence band and here it’s no different. High-pitched screams, off-kilter instrumentation and loads of funk is what you get. Their second song ‘Seroquel Is Love’ is succinct to say the least, yet it’s musical heady mix of mathcore/post-hardcore is utterly transfixing from beginning to end, and ends it does, far too soon.

Botfly is a name I’ve read a lot about but whose music has eluded this blog until now. Their sole song ‘On Nihilism’ is allowed more time here than both songs by Dianacrawls. Botfly play in a slightly more straightforward fashion, but don’t let that fool you. Their post-hardcore approach is joined by elements of post-rock, shoegaze and even an amalgam of goth/indie. This makes me feel embarrassed about not featuring them here sooner. This is very thoughtful and enjoyable.

This is a split that does a really good job of sticking around long enough to make an impression, while also doing the exact opposite (if you get what I mean). Both Dianacrawls and Botfly provide different perspectives of an extreme sound, that builds on their growing experience that’s come from release after release in recent years. I thoroughly recommend this split and both bands here. You can’t go wrong.

Stream and grab the split digitally as a name-your-price download from both labels below:-

Fresh Outbreak Records - https://freshoutbreak.bandcamp.com/album/dianacrawls-botfly

Dianacrawls - https://www.facebook.com/dianacrawls

Botfly - https://www.facebook.com/botfly902

Physical copies are available below:-

No Funeral Records - https://store.nofuneral.ca/product/dianacrawls-botfly-split-7-vinyl

Fresh Outbreak Records - https://www.facebook.com/freshoutbreak

No Funeral Records - https://www.facebook.com/nofuneral8

Our Future Is An Absolute Shadow/Komarov: Split 7" Release Premiere

Labels: Clever Eagle Records/Fresh Outbreak Records/Witch Elm Records/Zegema Beach Records

Formats: Vinyl/Digital

Release Date: 12 Apr 2021

Tracklist:

1. Our Future Is An Absolute Shadow - The Most Important Lesson That I Learned In School Occurred When My Marketing Professor Broke Down and Wept In the Middle Of Class

2. Our Future Is An Absolute Shadow - The Landfill Equation (simple as fuck)

3. Komarov - A Poison In Print

4. Komarov - Live On In Filth

Today is launch day for this new awesome split release and I’m thrilled to be able to help share it with you! It features four dark, chaotic, heavy screamo songs; two come from UK band Komarov (featuring (ex)-members of Thisismenotthinkingofyou, Cady, Solanas and Yuri) and the other two are from US/Canadian band Our Future Is An Absolute Shadow (made up of (ex)-members from Old Soul, Cloud Rat, Apostles Of Eris, In Wolves Clothing and Swallows Nest).

The split is being released on 7” vinyl by Clever Eagle Records (USA), Fresh Outbreak Records (Italy), Witch Elm Records (UK) and Zegema Beach Records (CAN/USA). 340 copies have been pressed with 315 of those coming on random coloured vinyl with a further 25 exclusive Wax Mage copies coming directly from Zegema Beach Records. Also, as a sweetener for those ordering from ZBR, one random coloured copy will be swapped for a Wax Mage copy in the store, just for a bit of added fun and intrigue!

You can stream/download the full release below:-

Komarov - https://www.facebook.com/komarovband/

Remember to support the labels that are closest to where you're from, by ordering from the links below:-

Clever Eagle Records (USA) - https://clevereaglerecords.limitedrun.com/

Fresh Outbreak Records (ITA/EUR) - https://freshoutbreak.bandcamp.com/merch

Witch Elm Records (UK) - https://witchelmrecords.bigcartel.com/

Zegema Beach Records (CAN/USA) - USA Store - https://zbrusa.com/products/ofiaas-komarov / 

CAN Store - http://www.zegemabeachrecords.com/zegema-beach-releases/ofiaaskomarov

Also, if that's not enough for you, No Funeral Records have also put up 15 tape copies (that will have probably sold out by the time you read this) - https://store.nofuneral.ca/product/our-future-is-an-absolute-shadow-komarov-split-cassettecew

Clever Eagle Records - https://www.facebook.com/clevereaglerecords

Fresh Outbreak Records - https://www.facebook.com/freshoutbreakrecords

Witch Elm Records - https://www.facebook.com/WITCH-ELM-records

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

No Funeral Records - https://store.nofuneral.ca/product/our-future-is-an-absolute-shadow-komarov-split-cassette

Check out the sweet pics of both the random and Wax Mage variants below (Note: the pics state the random copies are out of 300, but I’m assured there will be 315):-

Consumer - Consumer EP

Labels: Boned Factory/Fresh Outbreak Records/Impeto Records/Mothership Records/Nut Records

Formats: CD/Digital

Release Date: 03 Apr 2020

Tracklist: 

1. Pray//Void

2. Witchslayer

3. Solicitous

Despite all that's going on right now in the world around me, I have a strange sense of calm and thanks to that I'm feeling much more compelled to write. This evening I bring you another band that featured on my 10th anniversary compilation and one that also happens to be on my ever growing list of releases to review. Italian blackened-sludge band Consumer started life in 2018, as a project featuring members of Fordomth, BuiOmega, One Day In Fukushima (amongst many others) but it wasn't until April this year that they finally released their self-titled, debut EP. A three-song cd that saw the coming together of five like-minded labels.

I’m in the mood for something heavier this evening and this EP is exactly that. Consumer plays some great bass-heavy sludge that’s grim but also groovy. Opener ‘Pray//Void’ has both lumbering slow percussion and blasting beats that co-exist perfectly, while the vocals are super-low in tone and the guitar work has a death metal slant at times. As you’d expect, the songs on Consumer are not short, so you definitely get your money’s worth.

‘Witchslayer’ is an even bigger and slower song than the one it follows, at least to start with. After the opening couple of minutes, Consumer go hard at it again with more blasting doom/sludge and a subtle sprinkling of psych too. There seems to be a good dose of this type of heavy music coming out of Italy right now and that’s a good thing in my opinion.

Now it’s onto ‘Solicitous’, which is the EP’s final song and the one that appeared on my comp. It’s definitely the fastest song here in terms of tempo and perfectly defines the unflinching sound that Consumer presents. The breakdowns here are ridiculously good and when things are slowed down, the music becomes so claustrophobic it could have been dreamt up by Meth Drinker (RIP).

If you’ve even got the slightest inclination to learn towards for music that’s dark, slow and heavy then Consumer’s brand of blackened sludge is perfect for you. 

You can stream, download and buy Consumer on cd below:-

Consumer - https://www.facebook.com/consumer666/

You can also buy physical copies from the labels below:-

Boned Factory - https://bonedfactory.bigcartel.com/

Fresh Outbreak Records - https://freshoutbreak.bandcamp.com/merch

Impeto Records - https://www.discogs.com/seller/sfasciachitarre/

Boned Factory - https://www.facebook.com/BonedFactory/

Fresh Outbreak Records - https://www.facebook.com/freshoutbreakrecords/

Impeto Records - https://www.facebook.com/impetorecords/

Mothership Records - https://www.facebook.com/mothershiprec/

Bobby Singer - Salvation

Labels: APB Records/Crapoulet Records/En Soiree Je Danse Pas/Fresh Outbreak Records/Wacky Cats

Formats: Vinyl/CD/Digital

Release Date: 26 Jun 2020

Tracklist: 

1. Demain

2. L'apogee De La Mediocrite

3. Pour Avancer

4. Qu'importe Les Autres

5. Nouse Sommes

6. Leurs Regardes

7, Morne

8. Une Indecene Resplendissante

9. En Cedres

This review focuses on another band that featured on my 10th anniversary compilation. Bobby Singer is a French solo hardcore punk project and Salvation is the band's debut full-length, following the release of the EP Casse in 2018. It was released via a whole heap of labels, who're listed above and will be linked below.

Album opener ‘Demain’ was the song that featured on my compilation. While initially it comes across a bit like a Jimmy Eat World song, it suddenly builds into something more akin to the cinematic and energetic post-hardcore of bands like Snapcase and even fellow countrymen Kazan. For a solo project this is remarkably delivered. ‘L’apogee De La Medioctrite’ takes that whole old-school hardcore sound and adds in melodic guitars and high-tempo drumming. The vocals are shouted but also layered so it sounds like there are more than one vocalist on the recording, which is pretty crafty and it works really well.

Bobby Singer does throw some down-tempo songs onto Salvation and ‘Pour Avancer’ is one such number. It’s only down-tempo because of it’s slower pace and low-end melodies but it’s got plenty of bite in the right areas. The album gets darker still as the opening bars of ‘Qu’importe Les Autres’ come into view. The musical ability and the way in which Bobby Singer weaves and builds atmosphere during the lengthy instrumental passages is something to behold. The song is nearly five-minutes in length and it’s not till midway through that the vocals kick in again. Now I know where the Snapcase comparison truly fits in!

Before you know it ‘Nous Sommes’ is dragging you to the second half of Salvation with lumbering and sorrow-filled post-hardcore. When held up alongside the native vocal delivery (as on the rest of the album), it comes to life even more. This is a really enjoyable release, filled with subtle twists and turns so far. As if Bobby Singer knew and indeed felt that it was needed, the album’s second half truly comes alive with ‘Leurs Regards’ thanks to it’s urgent disposition. It’s still dark in places but it doesn’t stay that way for too long.

Despite it’s title, ‘Morne’ isn’t the slab of misery you’d expect. Expertly played bass is prominent in places on here and adds extra groove to the music, while the now familiar sound is as listenable as  it was during the album’s first bars. Added trebly guitar-work helps build drama towards the song’s close as well. From that to a straight-up hardcore-punk rager in the form of ‘Une Indecence Resplendissante’ and it couldn’t be more danceable. Even with things coming to a close, the sudden burst of energy you get from this song is just what the doctor ordered. 

It’s down to album closer ‘En Cendres’ to bring those energy levels back down, at least for a minute before melodic, slightly metallic guitars and authoritative percussion take over. It rounds things out perfectly. Salvation is an impressive album. It’s not too heavy and has enough melody to appeal to both old and new-school fans of the genre. It gives a great first impression if this is the first time you hear Bobby Singer.

You can stream and buy Salvation on all formats below:-

Bobby Singer - https://www.facebook.com/bobbysinger666/

You can also pick copies up from the below labels:-

APB Records - https://apb-records.limitedrun.com/

Crapoulet Records - http://crapoulet.fr/

Fresh Outbreak Records - https://freshoutbreak.bandcamp.com/album/salvation

APB Records - https://www.facebook.com/apbrecords63/

Crapoulet Records - https://www.facebook.com/Crapouletrecords/

Fresh Outbreak Records - https://www.facebook.com/freshoutbreakrecords/