Mrtex/Carl Johnson - Split

Labels: Polar Summer/Zegema Beach Records

Formats: Tape/Digital

Release Date: 27 Feb 2018

Tracklist:

1. Mrtex - That Plant Gets Me On A Deeply Personal Level

2. Mrtex - Human Is Death Process

3. Mrtex - Our Governing Body Is A Toxic, Rotting Corpse So Let's Dump It In The Fucking Sewer

4. Carl Johnson - Second Wind

5. Carl Johnson - Against You!

6. Carl Johnson - Pull The Trigger

7. Carl Johnson - Enemy/Self

8. Carl Johnson - Hot Kila

This review feels like the end of era, as it's the last one I'll get to write about a Mrtex release. This split with Russian screamo/emoviolence band Carl Johnson was released back in early 2018, on tape (limited to 50 copies) via Russian label Polar Summer and Zegema Beach Records. Mrtex have three songs here while Carl Johnson has five. Also, I feel a Polar Summer deep dive coming!

If you’ve been following my ZBR roster review series or even my random review schedule that came before it, you’ll no doubt be familiar with the emoviolence that made Mrtex what they were. Giving it their absolute all on this last release was the only way to go. Their opener ‘That Plant Gets Me On A Deeply Personal Level’ features the noisy, intense craziness of Mrtex for what seems like the briefest of moments before the movie/tv sample takes over. Itself, making perfect sense on top of the buzzing/atmospheric guitar. 

‘Human Is Death Process’ is vintage Mrtex, where sub one-minute songs are still filled with enough music to get the blood pumping. Closing both their side of the split and their final chapter, ‘Our Governing Body Is A Toxic, Rotting Corpse So Let’s Dump It In The Fucking Sewer’ is like the emoviolence version of a rock-opera (I mean that because of it’s playing time). Off-kilter signatures mixed with pogoing percussion lead into an introspective second half that builds in volume and emotion. What a way to sign off!

Talking of signing off (or maybe not), this split also contains the last recorded output from Carl Johnson to date. The screeching feedback that opens ‘Second Wind’ is downright piercing. It leads to a somewhat heavier, more hardcore influenced sound. CJ’s longest song ‘Against You!’ is also their most dramatic, with it’s anxiety inducing guitar melodies and higher-pitched screams. 

Wrenching you back in a faster and heavier direction, ‘Pull The Trigger’ mixes emoviolence with chunkier hardcore. It’s a sound that really catches the ear, especially if you like things slightly heavier. That sound carries on into ‘Enemy/Self’ with it’s bass-laden tones and mathcore-esque explosiveness. It’s latter half is where the grandeur happens, reminding me a bit of the final track from Totem Skin’s Still Waters Run Deep, albeit condensed.

Carl Johnson close things out with the hot mess that is ‘Hot Killa’. All twenty-four seconds of it. The subtlest of subtle melodic riffs join a final burst of technical, noisy screamo/hardcore. For me to sum up this split, I’d say that both bands fell silent too soon. Granted CanaDave has talked at some length about the break up of Mrtex, it’s still a loss given their complete output. Carl Johnson left behind a briefer discography but one that, especially with this split, really left an impression. The feels are strong on this one.

You can stream and download both sides of this split from Mrtex, and Carl Johnson below:-

Mrtex - https://www.facebook.com/mrtexrebellion

Carl Johnson - https://www.facebook.com/carljohnsonforlife

Tapes copies are still available from ZBR's US store here - https://zbrusa.com/collections/tapes/products/мятеж-carl-johnson-split-cassette

Polar Summer - https://polarxsummer.bandcamp.com

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

Det Ar Därför Vi Bygger Stader/Mrtex - Split 7"

Labels: Dingleberry Records/Friendly Otter/Samegrey Records/Through Love Records/Wolf Town DIY/Zegema Beach Records

Foermats: Vinyl/Digital

Release Date: 03 Sep 2017

Tracklist:

1. Det Ar Därför Vi Bygger Stader - Jag Ringer Nog Dig Om Allt Gar At Helvete

2. Det Ar Därför Vi Bygger Stader - Nar Du Kom Tillbaka Sa Var All Disk Ren

3. Det Ar Därför Vi Bygger Stader - Akvarell

4. Mrtex - Slapping The General Populace

4. Mrtex - Inhaling Infants

I recently acquired a physical copy of this split, which brings my Zegema Beach Records discography collection to 51 releases (though that is a rough guesstimate). This 7" was released back in late 2017 featuring songs from Sweden's Det Ar Därför Vi Bygger Stader and US/Canadian band Mrtex. 250 copies were pressed in pretty d.i.y fashion, but that's fine as the aesthetic suits it well.

This split is chock full of piercing emoviolence/screamo and Det Ar Därför’s opener ‘Jag Ringer Nog Dig Om Allt Gar At Helvete’ is a rude awakening if you were expecting something more tuneful. The vocals are super high-pitched screams that almost sound a bit comical, but they’re not, as you’ll realise on ‘Nar Du Kom Tillbaka Sa Var All Disk Ren’. I’m sure I’ve said before that I hear a Japanese influence on Det Ar Därför’s music, but I can still hear it in the atmosphere they weave here. Their final song ‘Akvarell’ is more artsy than I remember any of their earlier music to be and it’s fantastic.

Mrtex follow with two songs that sit on the rawer end of the spectrum, while being lengthier and less violent. ’Slapping The General Populace’ makes use of their instrumental ability (as the instrumentation takes most of the slack), while the vocals are more prevalent at both the beginning and the end-ish. ‘Inhaling Infants’ is like a blistering mass of percussive mite and explosive tension. There’s also plenty of beauty in it too.

Recently when I’ve sat down to write these reviews, I’ve been calm and my head’s been somewhat empty, but this evening’s felt a bit different for whatever reason. What it has done is made really appreciate the raw, cathartic energy that went into the songs that appear on this split. I’m a believer in non-violence and pacifism , but I think I could do with laying off higher-tempo releases like this for a little bit.

You can stream and purchase both sides of the split digitally below:-

 

Det Ar Därför Vi Bygger Stader - https://www.facebook.com/vibyggerstader

Mrtex - https://www.facebook.com/mrtexrebellion

Physical copies are still available from the below labels:-

Friendly Otter - https://friendlyotter.bandcamp.com/album/fo-86-split-7

Through Love Records - https://shop.throughloverec.com/collections/releases/products/det-ar-darfor-vi-bygger-stader-mrtex-split-ep

Zegema Beach Records - CAN/INTL - http://www.zegemabeachrecords.com/zegema-beach-releases/detar-mrtex

Dingleberry Records - https://www.facebook.com/Dingleberry Records

Friendly Otter - https://www.facebook.com/friendlyotterrex

Samegrey Records - https://www.facebook.com/samegrey

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

Wolf Town DIY - https://www.facebook.com/WolfTownDiy

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

Mrtex/Samarra - Split

Labels: Zegema Beach Records

Formats: Tape/Digital

Release Date: 12 Aug 2017

Tracklist:

1. Samarra - Drama In The Walmart Restroom

2. Samarra - It Is Fine, Everything Is Fine

3. Samarra - Impulsive Semantics

4. Mrtex - That Ain't The Friggin' Xmas Star

5. Mrtex - Dolla Bills Dipped In Ice Nine

6. Mrtex - You Are Garbage Made Flesh (not reviewed here)

I'm back with another ZBR roster review tonight, featuring the 2017 split with newly crowned This Noise Is Ours house band Mrtex (please excuse my poor attempt at humour!) and US emoviolence band Samarra. It was limited to 100 tapes and was solely available via Zegema Beach Records. The split featured three songs from each band; however, the third song from Mrtex 'You Are Garbage Made Flesh' isn't available to steam online, so I can't write about it unfortunately. 

I’m starting with the Samarra side here, as that’s the order of things on bandcamp. ‘Drama In The Walmart Restroom’ is an abrasive and chaotic song complete with dual-vocals, and moments of utter beauty too. Anxious feedback sits alongside introspective melodic passages, creating something that stretches beyond it’s actual playing time. ‘It Is Fine, Everything Is Fine’ starts off by lulling you into a false sense of security before Samarra once again lets off an air-raid siren of piercing energy (especially thanks to the higher-pitched screams). There are hardcore riffs present too, but they’re subtle and the whole band seems to cohesively weave them into their sound.

Samarra’s final song could be considered long by comparison to their others. ‘Impulsive Semantics’ is their most brutal addition to the split. Raw intensity pours from the speakers as it goes and the embrace you receive when things slow down is really warming. Mrtex come out of the traps straight away on ‘That Ain’t The Friggin’ Xmas Star’ with machine gun drumming and grinding ferocity. Heck, I only realised today that the band features/featured (delete as applicable) members of Yaphet Kotto and Jenny Piccolo. The more you know!. Anyway, this opener flies by before you know it.

‘Dolla Bills Dipped In Ice Nine’ is equally as unrelenting. It shows Mrtex in a much heavier mood than maybe they have been on earlier releases, but maybe that’s just my ears. The use of melody stands out here and is helped by the slightly longer running time. Here’s where this review ends for me. I don’t know why ‘You Are Garbage Made Flesh’ isn’t online, but there must be a good reason why. That still doesn’t stop this from being a super enjoyably split to listen too. Samarra are really great. I’m not sure if anything else was released by them after this. Mrtex will always be a go to and their material here is top notch once again. 

You can stream all available songs below, where the split's also available to purchase digitally:-

Mrtex - https://www.facebook.com/mrtexrebellion

Samarra - https://samarrava.bandcamp.com

Physical tapes are available from Zegema Beach Records below:-

CAN/INTL - http://www.zegemabeachrecords.com/zegema-beach-releases/mrtex-samarra

USA - https://zbrusa.com/collections/zbr-releases/products/мятеж-samarra-split-cassette

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

Mrtex/Synodus Horrenda - Split

Labels: Zegema Beach Records

Formats: Tape/Digital

Release Date: 08 Jul 2017

Tracklist:

1. Mrtex - Future Refract

2. Mrtex - The Truth About Human Design

3. Synodus Horrenda - The Thrill Of Living Is Gone

4. Synodus Horrenda - When A Bee Stings It Dies

5. Synodus Horrenda - Somewhere Along The Line Something Went Terribly Wrong And Now Mr. Burns Is My Favorite Simpsons Character

6. Synodus Horrenda - We Are The Children Of The Witches You Could Not Drown

7. Synodus Horrenda - Blood In The Jar

I constantly get the feeling that I've reviewed a release before and as I sit down to write this one, that's exactly how I feel. So much so that I've been through every review I've written since July 2017, when this split featuring Mrtex and Synodus Horrenda came out. It was a Zegema Beach Records solo-release, limited to 50 tape with unique wraparound photo covers. As you can tell from the cover art above, it was a proper DIY effort.

I think this is the 84th Zegema Beach Roster review I’ve written since the series started (though some of those reviews were written before it started technically). During that time though, one band has been ever-present and that’s Mrtex. Here the band has two songs, with Synodus Horrenda contributing five of their own. 

Mrtex’s side opens with ‘Future Refract’, which is very atmospheric and slow building. The perfect song to drown out/add to the autumnal feel of today (that reminds me that I may need to help prevent a flood if the rain keeps going like it is!). Given Mrtex’s past releases and the intensity they posses, the first half is very much a calming affair but that’s quickly forgotten as a passage of violent screamo during the latter half rings out.’ The Truth About Human Design’ is the intense emo-violence hit that Mrtex are known for and while it’s heavier and more skittish, it still retains the atmosphere of ‘Future Refract’. I’d call this thinking-mans’s screamo I guess, because it’s definitely more thoughtful.

Synodus Horrenda is another new name to appear on the blog and as far as I can tell, this split features the band’s only recorded output. That output does not hang around ether, as ‘The Thrill Of Living Is Gone’ is a sub one-minute blast of warp-speed emoviolence that verges on grind. ‘When The Bee Stings It Dies’ follows instantly and features some really great art-rock inspired instrumentation. I’m a sucker for a Simpsons reference and ’Somewhere Along The Line Something Went Terribly Wrong And Now Mr. Burns Is My Favorite Simpsons Character’ is an extremely long title for such a short song. It’s all good though as Synodus Horrenda’s jangly guitar work and raw energy ensure that it’s a memorable one.

I’ve always been intrigued by bands who’ve only released one demo or such like. There are hundreds and most of the them will never be on people’s radars. Before I lose my thread totally, there’s still two more songs to go from Synodus Horrenda and ‘We Are The Children Of The Witches You Could Not Burn’ is a cavernously noisy one but there is control to it as well. The percussion seems to lead the way on this one, which maybe adds to it’s nudge towards chaos. Final song ‘Blood In The Jar’ is as brooding and atmospheric as Mrtex’s opener, but in a more sludgy/angular post-metal way. It’s a great way to round out this split. Tape copies of this one are sold out and have been for sometime, but if you find one in the wild, props to you!

You can stream and purchase the split as a name-your-price download below:-

Mrtex - https://www.facebook.com/mrtexrebellion

Synodus Horrenda - https://www.facebook.com/bongsalesman

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

Mrtex/Kelut - Split

Labels: Dead Punx Records/Dead Tank Records/Dingleberry Records/IFB Records/Zegema Beach Records

Formats: Vinyl/Digital

Release Date: 23 July 2017

Tracklist:

1. Mrtex - Intro

2. Mrtex - Van Llewyn & Burke, Carter J. - Welcome to 2017 (you pieces of shit)

3. Mrtex - Interlude

4. Mrtex - The Dark Ages 2.0 (Copyright USA 2017)

5. Mrtex - Straight the Fuck Down

6. Kelut - Riflessioni Opposte Producono Risultati Diversi

7. Kelut - Determining Things Under The Sun When Your Sight Is Blocked Always Deters One From Coming To The Ultimate Conclusion

8. Kelut - Ti Ho Visto In Un Sogno E Ho Capito Che Eri Piu Realistico Rispetto A Quando Ero Sveglio

9. Kelut - Mettere I Piatti In Tavola E Far Finta Che Niente Era Li

10. Kelut - L'ultima Domanda Sara Richiesto Quando la Mancanza Muore E Si Sono Lasciati A Guardare Il Soffitto Di Una Stanza Vuota

Is it me or is the postal system getting worse? Or more accurately, the UK postal system. The wait for parcels to drop right now is almost soul destroying. That's a moan for another time though, as today I'm revisiting another release from US screamo/powerviolence band Mrtex. Said release is their 2017 split LP with countrymen Kelut (the band with probably the longest song titles ever) and an Italian connection too, maybe?. The LP was limited to 300 copies on black vinyl.

I do enjoy split releases where the bands get equal sides, like this one. Mrtex start their side with ‘Intro’, which is full of gentle guitar and is very calming. What follows it is anything but, as ‘Van Llewyn & Burke, Carter J - Welcome to 2017 (you pieces of shit)’ explodes into life with blasting emoviolence and movie samples. It’s a swirling mass of bass-heavy riffs, drums and probably the angriest vocals I’ve heard from Mrtex. The pace slows again on ‘Interlude’, with it’s midwest emo vibes (kind of?). I don’t know if that was what they were going for but it sort of reminds me of The Promise Ring musically and the We Came Out Like Tigers spoken-word approach vocally. 

‘The Dark Ages 2.0 (Copyright USA 2017) definitely has a much more straight-up screamo sound, even with the occasional bursts of violence woven into it. Mrtex’s closer ’Straight The Fuck Down’ takes you on journey for over five minutes. One that again uses strong movie sample influences/references, which have also been a big part of ZBR throughout it’s existence. It’s heavy at times but much more ambient, which certainly adds a dramatic aspect to the end of Mrtex’s side. 

Kelut being their side with ‘Riflessioni Opposte Producono Risultati Diversi’, which is made up of angular, off-kilter screamo with multiple vocalists. The song seems to go from mid-paced to fast and then back to mid-paced again, which I guess is nothing too radical, except when it gets fast it’s exhilarating and mathy.  ‘Determining Things Under The Sun When Your Sight Is Blocked Always Deters One From Coming To The Ultimate Conclusion’ isn’t just a song with a long title, it’s also the screamiest of screamy songs. It’s pretty jazz-like at times too, just without the noodling. So good!

‘Ti Ho Visto In Un Sogno E Ho Capito Che Eri Piu Realistico Rispetto A Quando Ero Sveglio’ follows on straight after with as much visceral anger and screaming. What’s more surprising about this song is just how chunky the riffs are and how awesome the vocals sound (they almost sound Japanese at times, but I’m pretty sure they’re either Italian or indecipherable English). I really like how Kelut’s songs flow into one another, even if they go off in different directions eventually. ‘Mettere I Piatti In Tavola E Far Finta Che Niente Era Li’ has all the atmosphere, before going on an off-kilter march ending in black metal territory (in the vocal department at least).

Kelut closes with ‘L'ultima Domanda Sara Richiesto Quando la Mancanza Muore E Si Sono Lasciati A Guardare Il Soffitto Di Una Stanza Vuota’, which grinds and riffs it’s way through the first sixty seconds, before turning into an introspective beast, filled with slower paced passages, disparate vocals and dramatic instrumentation. Post-metal seems to be at it’s core and it makes for an incredibly majestic end to the split. 

This was a review that I started and stopped because of writer’s block. I think coming back to it a few days later definitely helped me to appreciate it more and be able to talk about it in same way. Mrtex have always been excellent and Kelut have left a huge impression on me too, especially as this split features their only output (that I know of).

You can stream and buy the split as a name-your-price-download below:-

Mrtex - https://www.facebook.com/mrtexrebellion

Kelut - https://www.facebook.com/kelutband

Physical copies are still available from the labels below:-

Dead Tank Records - https://deadtankrecords.com/

Zegema Beach Records - CAN/INTL http://www.zegemabeachrecords.com/

Dead Punx Records - https://www.facebook.com/deadpunxrecords/

Dead Tank Records - https://www.facebook.com/deadtankrecords

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

IFB Records - http://ifbrecords.blogspot.com

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

Vi Som Alskade Varandra Sa Mycket/Mrtex - Split

Labels: Zegema Beach Records

Formats: Tape/Digital

Release Date: 23 Nov 2016

Tracklist: 

1. Vi Som Alskade Varandra Sa Mycket - Skymningstimmen

2. Mrtex - Baby Roles

3. Mrtex - Accidental Coffin Making

4. Mrtex - Gnawing Our Way Out Of The Rat Bin

It's safe to say that I've been a bit shit at writing/posting over the last week. With that being said though, it felt weird posting this up on or around the recent ZBR Mid-West Fest that took place recently. This split between Sweden's Vi Som Alskade Varandra Sa Mycket and the USA's Mrtex was released by ZBR back in late 2016, limited to just seventy copies. It's long sold out now according to Bandcamp and was never meant to be available digitally, at the time of it's release. It contains one song from Vi Som and three songs from Mrtex.

I did not realise that my last post was seven days ago! I keep getting distracted by trivial things, especially when I’ve had full-on days. It’s lovely though to sit down and soak up the epically comforting sounds of Vi Som Alskade Varandra Sa Mycket, who should be more than familiar to you by now. Their sole song on this split ‘Skymningstimmen’ is probably one of the most melodic song’s I’ve heard from them. It’s got a strange Americana-esque guitar tone to it (maybe?). It’s mid-paced, though the vocals are as passionate and stark as always. It’s pretty haunting actually, as Vi Som threaten to allow it to overflow but never quite reach that precipice.

Mrtex continues the melodic vibes on their opener ‘Baby Roles’, which as a song title, leaves no clue as to what’s to come. It’s as laid back as Vi Som’s song instrumentally, with the vocals providing the heaviest element once again. Glorious percussion and guitar work bleeds slowly into noisier passages towards the end. ‘Accidental Coffin Making’ is completely the opposite in terms of form and structure. It’s pure, chaotic screamo/emo-violence. Mrtex’s off-kilter influence is at it’s clearest on their final song ‘Gnawing Our Way Out Of The Rat Bin’. It’s live-sounding production gives it loads energy that will stay with you long after the split is over.

I love both VI Som and Mrtex (I’m sure I’ve said that here many times before!). It’s awesome to be able to take things from every bit of music you listen to, even if only brief. It reminds you that the “noise” around you isn’t really important. Be like Vi Som and Mrtex. Be cool.

For Fans Of: Holy Fawn, Respire, La Luna, Storm(O), Lytic & Nayru.

Stream and pick up this split as a name-your-price download below:-

As mentioned above, this release is long sold-out from ZBR.

Vi Som Alskade Varandra Sy Mycket - https://www.facebook.com/visomalskade

Mrtex - https://www.facebook.com/mrtexrebellion

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

People's Temple Project/Мятеж - Split 7"

Labels: Akashita Corp/Dingleberry Records/Friendly Otter Records/IFB Records/Upwind Productions/Wolf Town DIY/Zegema Beach Records

Formats: Vinyl/Digital

Release Date: 21 Nov 2015

Tracklist:

1. People's Temple Project - 1

2. People's Temple Project - 2

3. People's Temple Project - 3

4. Мятеж - Stunning Advancements In Revolution

5. Мятеж - Awake/End

Everybody's complaining that it's too hot here. As soon as gets over twenty degrees celsius, we start melting. Thankfully, it's not too bad this evening and I've got all the windows open, so my neighbours are gonna love it when I hit play on this glorious split 7". I'm continuing my ZBR review series with the split featuring US band People's Temple Project and joint US/CAN band Мятеж. If you're familiar with ZBR then you'll be familiar with both of these bands. Released on 340 copies of black wax in November 2015, it contains five tracks in total and was jointly released by several labels, all whom I've listed above and will link up below (where possible).

Starting with three songs from NYC screamo, flower violence (their words) band People’s Temple Project, you get something that’s jangly yet chaotic and shouty on opener ‘1”. It only just breaches two minutes in length, yet musically you get sudden blasts of emo-violence stowed away alongside more thoughtful and cinematic passages, where guitars and percussion sound both far apart but also really cohesive, while the vocals are used more sparingly but very effectively, thanks to their power.

‘2’ has such a nice tone to it. A twinkly guitar tone that gets a little swallowed up by the full band at the mid-point and lurches into an instrumental (at least I think it’s instrumental, though there may be subtle humming going on too), that’s really pleasant to listen to and isn’t as heavy as you might think. The heaviness is left for the rawness of ‘3’, with it’s raucous multi-vocal approach and subtle blackened screamo that makes up the first sixty seconds before an interlude of gentle guitar/percussion takes over. The musicality on show from People’s Temple Project in this song alone is worth obsessing over and it rounds out their side of this split in perfect fashion.

Мятеж steps on the loud pedal immediately with their opener ‘Stunning Advancements In Revolution’. There’s an angrier and more intense feeling going on here, with a lot more hardcore/emo-violence too. It’s hard to explain because they also have some great post-hardcore riffs that bring to mind bands like Alexisonfire and Moneen (to me anyway). That comparison is slightly apt maybe due to the Canadian connection. Мятеж’s final song ‘Awake/End’ is a slower number but is still filled with emotion. Emotion that threatens to burst right over the top, but that never does, leaving something quite beautiful in it’s wake. 

It’s really hard not to compare one band to the other on split releases like this, but inevitably it always happens. Both People’s Temple Project and Мятеж have their own takes on the genre/sub-genre here and even though this release is pretty short, it will bring a smile to your face and a warmth to your heart. 

Stream and purchase the split digitally here:-

People's Temple Project - https://www.facebook.com/PeoplesTempleProject

Мятеж - https://www.facebook.com/mrtexrebellion

Physical copies can be purchased via the labels below:-

Zegema Beach Records CAN/INTL - http://www.zegemabeachrecords.com/zegema-beach-releases

Akashita Corp - https://www.facebook.com/AkashitaCorp

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

Friendly Otter Records - https://www.facebook.com/friendlyotterrex

IFB Records - http://ifbrecords.blogspot.com

Upwind Productions - https://www.facebook.com/upwindisdead

Wolf Town DIY - https://www.facebook.com/WolfTownDiy

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

MRTEX - Riot/Mutiny

Labels: Akashita Corp/Larry Records/Zegema Beach Records

Formats: Vinyl/Tape/Digital

Release Date: 15 Apr 2019

Tracklist:

1. June And July, Life Over Die

2. Sectumpsempra

About to head back to the coal-face tomorrow. This two-song EP stands as the final release to come from dreamo duo MRTEX (though there is a comp on the way). From a discography made up of compilation appearances and split's, MRTEX carved themselves a little niche during their relatively short existence. Both members have played and still play in several bands of a similar ilk as well as running a label or two here and there (you probably know who already). "Riot/Mutiny" was release d earlier this year digitally, on tape and via limited 7" lathe-cut vinyl.

As a parting gift to fans, this tape achieves more within its two-songs than most bands do in their entire catalogues. MRTEX’s output has focused on quality over quantity and the intense beginning of June And July, Life Over Die gives way to calming emo instrumentation with screams sitting between it. It’s very moving. The duo’s musical violence is epitomised on Sectumpsempra, but where most emo-violence bands would have ended the song at the fifty-second mark, MRTEX keep going with their serene instrumentation once again. 

I think we take music and bands for granted nowadays. It’s so easy to consume it and the longevity of it is sometimes fleeting, so taking moments to enjoy it is important. You can do that with "Riot/Mutiny" because even though it’s short in length, it still allows you time to switch off from your worries and from real life for a moment. It’s what’s needed. 

You can stream 'Riot/Mutiny" and buy it as a name-your-price download from MRTEX's bandcamp page below:-

MRTEX - https://www.facebook.com/mrtexrebellion/

Physical copies are available from the links below:-

Zegema Beach Records - http://www.zegemabeachrecords.com/zegema-beach-releases/mrtexriotmutiny

Akashita Corporation - https://www.facebook.com/AkashitaCorp/

Larry Records - https://www.facebook.com/larryscrammo/

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