Frail Body/Infant Island/Massa Nera/Dianacrawls - Hymnes aux désarrois de la peau 4-Way Split

Labels: A Fond d’Cale/Blessed Hands Records/Dance Happy Doom Crew/

Dasein Records/Dickcrush Records/Dingleberry Records/I.Corrupt Records/Left Hand Label/Le Blast Records/Listen To Aylin Records/Middle-Man Records/No Funeral/People, Places, Records/Pundonor Records/R.I.P In Peace Records/Santapogue Media/Zegema Beach Records

Formast: Vinyl/Tape/Digital

Release Date: 16 May 2019

Tracklist: 

1. Frail Body - Fixed

2. Infant Island - Death Portrait

3. Massa Nera - Nunca Seremos Lo Mismo

4. Dianacrawls - Melancholia

5. Dianacrawls - Kinky Kills

6. Dianacrawls - Cycle Of The Abused

If you've taken a moment to read the names of the bands that have made up this split, also take a moment to think about what they have achieved since it's 2019 release. All four of them have grown so much and have become synonymous with modern post-hardcore/screamo. Released in collaboration with all of the labels above, Hymnes aux désarrois de la peau heralded a new era. This is where I pick up my ZBR roster review series again.

This beautiful split is a sight to behold. It takes pride of place in my personal collection, alongside many other releases from each band. Starting off hard, Frail Body’s ‘Fixed’ wastes no time thanks to a mix of emoviolence and post-hardcore that they have become known for, especially on recent album Artificial Bouquet. While kicking off with so much intensity, it ends with so much beauty.

Infant Island are up next with ‘Death Portrait’ and there’s a much more brooding atmosphere at play, showing a glimpse into how their blackened screamo has evolved over recent years. The full soundstage is used here to raise the heart rate, while the strings later on provide a warmth that’s sometimes missing from this form of music.

The privilege of having the split’s longest song is left for Massa Nera, as ‘Nunca Seremos Lo Mismo’ stretches past the five-minute mark and almost seems to follow on from Infant Island’s previous song, if only due to the additional use of strings. That aside, it’s a much more pensive song overall, eschewing the use of heaviness and tempo during some passages. It’s expansive delivery is striking,

While the above three bands contributed a song each, Dianacrawls provide three; albeit two are very short. ‘Melancholia’ is a brilliantly off-kilter screamo song with a subtle nod to jazz and the weirdness of Primus. ‘Kinky Kills’ follows in the same vein with some excellent bass/guitar coupled with exasperated screams and raw percussion. Their final song ‘Cycle Of The Abused’ barely hangs around long enough for you to take it in, yet somehow it leaves it’s mark.

This is one of those records that you instantly become engrossed in, but one that also goes by in a blur. A snapshot in time maybe, but one that will stay with you forever.

You can stream and grab this split as a name-your-price download from Zegema Beach Records below:-

Frail Body - https://www.facebook.com/frailbodyil

Infant Island - https://www.facebook.com/infantisland

Massa Nera - https://www.facebook.com/MASSANERANJ

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

Physical copies can be purchased from the labels below:-

Dasein Records - https://sadreact.bandcamp.com/album/hymnes-aux-d-sarrois-de-la-peau

Dingleberry Records - https://www.discogs.com/seller/dingleberryrecords/profile

I.Corrupt Records - https://www.icorruptrecords.com/products/frail-body-infant-island-massa-nera-dianacrawls-split-12-lp

Left Hand Label - https://dogknightsproductions.com/collections/12-lhl

Pundonor Records - http://pundonorrecords.limitedrun.com/categories/pundonor-releases

R.I.P In Peace Records - https://ripinpeacerecords.storenvy.com/

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

Dance Happy Doom Crew - https://www.facebook.com/Dancehappydoomcrew

Sad React Records (previously Dasein Records) - https://www.facebook.com/SadReactRecords

Dickcrush Records - https://www.facebook.com/DICKCRUSHRECORDS/

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

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

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

Le Blast Records - https://www.facebook.com/leblastrecords

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

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

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

People, Places, Records - https://www.facebook.com/peopleplacesrecords

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

R.I.P In Peace Records - https://www.facebook.com/r.i.p.inpeacerecords

Santapogue Media - https://www.facebook.com/santapoguemedia

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

Massa Nera - D//Q//B[2.0]

Labels: Self-Released

Formats: Digital

Release Date: 02 Dec 2023

Tracklist: 

1. An Endless Cycle // I Was More Than The Weight Of My Work (Amy Christine Remix)

2. Hipocrita (Seaphoamm Remix)

3. Lost Faces (Yearswallower Remix)

4. Adrift (Uninerve Remix)

5. Shapeshift (Kuuma Remix)

6. April 7th (Fainting Couch Remix)

7. A Faint Goodbye (Andrew Noseworthy Remix)

8. Tristeza Consume (Lowering The Blinds) (Afk Remix)

9. Eyeless Faces (Clwdrobe remix) (Prod. by Yajirobe & Clwdwlkr)

10. Wanting (Ghosts Haunting Ghosts) (Planning For Burial Remix)

11. You Mean So Much More Than Misery To Me (Phong Tran Remix)

12. Anchored (Manikineter Remix)

A calendar year to the month since the release of their most recent album Derramar | Querer | Borrar, Massa Nera went and released a remix album. An album full of collaborations with artists from different corners of the musical landscape. The last remix album I paid attention to was Linking Park's Reanimation (I think I'm showing my age there a bit). This is a little outside of my wheelhouse in terms of the blog but I do love Massa Nera and this is all in preparation for 2024, which is already promising to be their year.

I literally don’t know where to start with this (musically). Opener ‘An Endless Cycle // I Was More Than The Weight Of My Work’ (remixed by Amy Christine) is shortened compared to the original. It’s also very haunting in parts, much like the computer game Silent Hill was back in the day. The song’s mid-section is filled with noise, eschewing the earlier ambience before that same noise fades later on, allowing for a retreat into calmer pastures albeit briefly.

‘Hipocrita’ sees Massa Nera joined by Seaphoamm, providing a mix of keys and techno/drum n bass that helps to reimagine a screamo song in a very different way. It’s upbeat in a way I hadn’t thought possible and given that I find screamo to be upbeat and cathartic, it hits the spot during it’s short playing time. ‘Lost Faces’ is equally as short but the freakishly harsh take delivered by Yearswallower work’s on many levels, pushing Massa Nera’s vocal approach to greater heights.

Allowing more space and time, Uninerve’s remix of ‘Adrift’ is an instrumental masterpiece coupling both Massa Nera’s guitar work and percussion with subtle beats. So chilled. Here’s hoping this album gets a vinyl pressing in the future. Going from spaced-out chill to the intense dance/break-beat of Kuuma’s ‘Shapeshift’ remix jump starts the heart. Seven+ minutes is a long time to sustain such intensity so the addition of more harsh vocals and rhythmic changes work really well. I’m loving this so far!

Fainting Couch goes a step further with a trap/hip-hop laden take on ‘April 7th’. It’s not your traditional take on trip/hip-hop but it works perfectly when set against Massa Nera’s heavier edge. It’s pretty damn infectious to be honest. ‘A Faint Goodbye’ benefits from a remix curated by Andrew Noseworthy and while you might be expecting a song filled with electronic beats and such, you’re actually greeted with ambience and subtlety, coupled with Massa Nera’s harsh vocals. It’s re-imagined in such a way that it’s impossible lo skip.

Afk’s remix of ’Tristeza Consume (Lowering the Blinds)’ is another drum n bass piece coupled with what could be described as dub-step with techno woven into it. I’ll be honest here and say that my descriptors are probably a little off. Either way, this song is still worth diving in to. I’m not the biggest fan of mumble-rap, which is the vibe I get when listening to ‘Eyeless Faces’ (remixed and produced by clwdrobe, yajirobe and clwdwlkr). With that being said, I do appreciate well-produced music snd this is exactly that. The gentle ambience of ‘Wanting (Ghosts Haunting Ghosts)’ featuring Planning For Burial was not what I expected given the pedigree of both bands but allowing the song to take hold at a higher volume makes it a joy to listen to.

Phong Tran’s electronic remodelling of ‘You Mean So Much More Than Misery To Me’ is at the other end of the spectrum initially before Massa Nera’s heavy screamo takes over. It provides the perfect backdrop to the album’s closer ‘Anchored’, remixed this time by Manikineter, whose electronic/break-beat/hp-hop style works really well alongside Massa Nera’s harsher delivery.

I thought (and already eluded to the fact) that this album would be outside of my wheelhouse before I listened to it, but I’m open enough to say that it surprised me more than I expected. Massa Nera has been more than an inspiration for me of late and their willingness to experiment on this release shows how much they’re willing to push themselves as a band. I know there’s more to come, so keep your eyes and ears peeled.

You can stream and download this album (name-your-price) below:

Massa Nera - https://www.facebook.com/MASSANERANJ

Massa Nera/Thisismenotthinkingofyou/Yo Sbraito/Ef'il - Split

Labels: Adorno Records/Blessed Hands Records/Dead Tank Records/Dingleberry Records/Pundonor Records/Zegema Beach Records

Formats: Vinyl/Digital

Release Date: 26 Jul 2018

Tracklist:

1. Massa Nera - Un Mal Cola De Hadas

2. Massa Nera - Doing Nothing For Other Is The Undoing Of Ourselves

3. Thisismenotthinkingofyou - Sonambulance I

4. Thisismenotthinkingofyou - Sonambulance II

5. Yo Sbraito - Cosa Nostra

6. Yo Sbraito - Condanna

7. Yo Sbraito - Rapina

8. Ef'il - Everyone I Know Is A Broken Heart

9. Ef'il - Stockades

Back in July/August of 2018, this 4-way split featuring Massa Nera (USA), Thisismenotthinkingofyou (UK), Yo Sbraito (Italy) and Ef'il (Malaysia) was released. I was lucky enough to be able to premiere both tracks from Thisismenotthinkingofyou here but when I was sorting out my review schedule the other week, I realised that I hadn't written about it in full (at least to me knowledge anyway). It was a joint release by Adorno Records, Blessed Hands Records, Dead Tank Records, Dingleberry Records, Pundonor Records and Zegema Beach Records.

I’ve been sharing the Massa Nera love a little bit on here recently, so it won’t hurt to throw out some more thanks to their opening tracks on this split. ‘Un Mal Cola De Hadas’ is their first and it was the first newly recorded material to hit wax following Los Pensamientos Do Una Cara Palida was released (I think?). It’s an exhilarating mix of both instrumental emo and intense screamo with their signature Spanish vibe. Their second song ‘Doing Nothing For Others Is The Undoing Of Ourselves’ is one that builds anticipation, once again due to the instrumental build-ups that Massa Nera do so well. This time though, the heaviness that follows is a little more off-kilter, accentuated by the organic rawness of the recording. I hope that I’ve got the track order right here, as it differs online in places.

Next up on the split comes two songs from a band that are now sadly departed from the UK scene. Thisismenotthinkingofyou delivered cathartic screamo during their existence and ‘Sonambulance I’ represents them at their darkest. Drenched in near-black metal atmosphere, the screams deeper in the mix and the instrumentation awash with metallic echoes. ‘Sonambulance II’ follows on as if both songs should have never been separated. More visceral and beautiful than I remember. Gone but not forgotten.

Following Timntoy’s otherworldly calmness, Italy’s Yo Sbraito deliver three songs that are over as quickly as the time taken to write this sentence. ‘Cosa Nostra’ sub one-minute barrage of intense post-hardcore hits a different part of you brain before ‘Cordanna’s mix of fast and slow dynamics keep you guessing as to where they’re going next. Their final song ‘Rapina’ doesn’t keep you guessing for very long as Yo Sbraito’s feedback-drenched hardcore darts from fast to slow, before silence. I’m not sure if these guys are still making music together but it would be criminal if they weren’t.

Closing with Malaysia’s Ef’il, you’re treated to the most violent yet mesmeric music that the country has to offer. ‘Everyone I Know Is A Broken Heart’ is without doubt the heaviest song on this split initially but Ef’il take great care in weaving endearing guitar melody into their music, which is prevalent during the introspective mid-section before things slowly descend into noisier territory. Their second and final song ’Stockades’ is no easy listen either, focusing on more of a noise-rock approach with some shoegaze-like elements too. It’s a real heart-wrenching song musically as so much attention is paid to the quieter sections, which sit perfectly against the band’s chaotic half. I hope Ef’il release new music again, but that hope may be futile.

As I’ve said many times before, split records like this are utterly essential. The four bands showcased here really compliment each other while also being totally unique in their own right. It just goes to show that you shouldn’t let time nor music pass you by. Enjoy what you listen to and embrace those you love.

You can stream and purchase it digitally below:-

Massa Nera - https://www.facebook.com/MASSANERANJ

Thisismenotthinkingofyou - https://www.facebook.com/timntoy

Yo Sbraito - https://www.facebook.com/yosbraito

Ef'il - https://www.facebook.com/efil.mys

You can pick up physical/digital copies from the labels below too:-

Adorno Records - https://adornorecords.bandcamp.com/album/4-way-split

Pundonor Records - https://pundonorrecords.bandcamp.com/album/pun18-massa-nera-timntoy-yo-sbraito-efil-4way-split

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

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

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

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

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

Massa Nera - Los Pensamientos De Una Cara Palida

Labels: Adorno RecordsAncient Injury Records/Dingleberry Records/Le Blast Records/Middle-Man Records/Zegema Beach Records

Formats: Vinyl/Tape/Digital

Release Date: 03 Oct 2017

Tracklist:

1. iWaltz! (La Guerra)

2. Badminton With A Neo-Nazi

3. One.Two.Zero,

4. A History In Rust

5. An Interview With Lester Young

6. Provisional Euphoria (J'ai Une Ame Solitaire)

7 Carrying A Coffin

Not so long ago I reviewed Massa Nera's most recent album Derramar | Querer | Borrar. Then I realised that I hadn't dug deeper into their back catalogue before. Thankfully, their 2017 LP Los Pensamientos De Una Cara Palida was the next release scheduled as part of my ZBR roster review series, so here we are. Before I move on though, I just want to note that I'm not a hundred percent sure if all of the labels mentioned above were involved in both the vinyl, and tape pressing of the album. If they weren't, please let me know and I'll amend accordingly.

I’ve been feeling a little aggravated this evening (due to some non-blog stuff), so I’m hoping this will cheer me up and maybe chill me out. Opener ‘iWaltz! (La Guerra)’ is certainly what the doctor ordered with it’s sensitive instrumentation and controlled heaviness. Massa Nera’s emo/post-hardcore on this album is much more old-school in approach. There must be a meaning behind the song title ‘Badminton With A Neo-Nazi’ and I’d love to know what it is, if anybody knows. It’s a more technical song this time, with different time-signatures and slightly more introspection in the music, which make the louder sections much more dramatic.

I’ve made a resolution that I’m going to listen to more music outside of my blog reviewing schedule this year, as it’s been really easy to settle into a routine of late, but with that being said; ‘One. Two. Zero.’ hits in exactly the right way and makes me feel less pressured about my consumption habits. This album was definitely the right choice for this evening. In fact 2017-era Massa Nera makes me want to break out the metalcore/hardcore albums that I favoured so much in the early 00’s, especially during the first half of ‘A History in Rust’. I’m not saying that their sound resembles metalcore/hardcore in the true sense, but it’s not all that far off here, especially in atmosphere (albeit towards the end, when you’re left with the jangly guitars and ambience).

‘An Interview With Lester Young’ is an interlude that may be an excerpt from an actual interview with the US jazz musician. Then again, it may not be and I could be way off the mark. Either way, it’s suitably dark and leads into ‘Provisional Euphoria (J’ai Une Ame Solitaire)’, which contains more percussive blasts than on previous songs in it’s verses. When Massa Nera aren’t blasting though, they’re filling the song with off-kilter, jazz-like instrumentation that’s pretty apt. The lengthiest song on the album is kept back till the end in the form of ’Carrying A Coffin’. It’s no big departure from the songs that came before it on Los Pensamientos De Una Cara Palida but it does create the best crescendo an album could hope for.

History has shown that’s it’s never too late to discover great records and bands. I really dig this record and have a much greater fondness for Massa Nera. Now, I’m going to order some UK metalcore LPs (yes, there’s a new label over here unearthing some modern bands that appreciate what came before).

You can stream and purchase the album digitally from Massa Nera below:-

Massa Nera - https://www.facebook.com/MASSANERANJ

Physical copies are sold out from all labels.

Ancient Injury Records - https://www.facebook.com/AncientInjuryRecords

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

Le Blast Records - https://www.facebook.com/leblastrecords

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

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

MASSA NERA - Derramar | Querer | Borrar

Labels: Zegema Beach Records

Formats: Vinyl/CD/Tape/Digital

Release Date: 02 Dec 2022

Tracklist:

1. An Endless Cycle // I Was More Than The Weight Of My Work

2. Hipocrita

3. Lost Faces

4. Adrift

5. Shapeshift

6. April 7th

7. A Faint Goodbye

8. Tristeza Consume (Lowering the Blinds)

9. Eyeless Faces

10. Wanting (Ghosts Haunting Ghosts)

11. You Mean So Much More Than Misery To Me

12. Anchored

This evening's post was going to a continuation of my ongoing Zegema Beach Records Roster review series (and I guess it kinda is), as not so long ago US screamo/post-hardcore band MASSA NERA wrote to let me know about their newest record Derramar | Querer | Borrar and asked if I could write about it. It was released a mere four days ago via ZBR and it's already received a huge response, as vinyl and tape copies are quickly selling out. I should have been at a really boring meeting this evening. Thank god I swerved that!

It’s amazing to me that so many bands release new album in December, as the clamour to write end-of-year lists grow too much for bigger publications (because apparently the end of the year starts before the 1st day of the new year!). Thankfully, there are some us who still appreciate those so called latecomers and the brand new album from MASSA NERA is no exception. Album opener ‘An Endless Cycle // I Was More Than The Weight Of My Work’ is a screamo song that leans heavily on instrumentation and progression, with vocals used sparingly throughout it’s seven-and-a-half minute running time. There’s also great use of caustic hardcore towards the end, which really gets things going.

‘Hipocrita’ accentuates MASSA NERA’s musical approach, which here combines post-metal, emo and off-kilter melodics perfectly. It’s early on but there seems to be a real and obvious maturity to the band’s sound. People sometimes mistake maturity for giving up and settling into a formula that works. MASSA NERA are a long way from giving up and if anything, they’re building up to much greater things. ‘Lost Faces’ is an immediate continuation without any pause, which is nice and with that the momentum continues into something that’s altogether heavier and more fraught with dissonance. It’s beautiful.

This isn’t a short album but it needn’t be either. Screamo and emoviolence of late has very much been about shock and awe, but this album could very well be a turning point. ‘Adrift’ is a considered and thoughtful post-hardcore song that plays more on the band’s emotions, translating them into music tells a story and carves a journey. That’s the turning point for me! In fact, things seem to be veering closer and closer to metal as you get further into this record, as demonstrated on ‘Shapeshift’s first ninety-seconds at least, before some chilled electronica hits. Again, another shift (which I guess is the reason for the song-title). I have to say I’m digging it. A bit of drum ’n’ bass/techno/house/whatever (I’m not a dance music expert as you can tell) is good once in a while and it works so well here.

You’re snapped back to reality on ‘April 7th’ with it’s blistering hardcore sensibilities. It may be more familiar given MASSA NERA’a past, but it’s definitely a shock to the system after the previous song. At this point you’ll be past the mid-point in Derramar | Querer | Borrar. ‘A Faint Goodbye’ is an exquisite post-hardcore number filled with truly dramatic crescendos. The latter half of the album is filled with shorter, more urgent songs but that doesn’t stop them from being packed with creativity. ‘Tristeza Consume (Lowering the Blinds) being a case in point.

‘Eyeless Faces’ flows forth straight after with MASSA NERA’s own use of panic chords and mathcore leaning musicianship. This is turning out to be an album of two halves so far but one that’s still a perfect whole. If you like terrifying noise and screamo madness, look no further than this song or ‘Wanting (Ghosts Haunting Ghosts)’ for that matter. It’s percussive tempo is straight-up grinding, while the guitars present a shoegaze-like backdrop underneath the rabid screams. One thing that MASSA NERA has always done well is introspective passages and here they package those passages up alongside black metal influences. 

Penultimate song ‘You Mean So Much More Than Misery To Me’ is hard hitting not just in title but also musically, though the use of strings during it’s mid-section turns it on it’s head a little. So good from beginning to end, it’s atmosphere digs deep into your psyche. Closer ‘Anchored’ is initially so much more laid-back. It’s a song that you can shut your eyes to and allow yourself to be whisked away momentarily. MASSA NERA’s lyrics talk of defeat and failure, which are relatable everyday feelings for many. Stark and harrowing, the album falls into silence.

It’s not often I finish a day at work with a review of this length. Maybe I needed this. I can definitely say that MASSA NERA have created something really special here. Derramar | Querer | Borrar is the soundtrack to 2022. Crushingly heartbreaking yet euphorically deserved. 

Stream the album in full and purchase it on all formats from MASSA NERA below:-

MASSA NERA - https://www.facebook.com/MASSANERANJ

Copies are also available from Zegema Beach Records below (while stocks last):-

Zegema Beach Records CAN/INTL - http://www.zegemabeachrecords.com/zegema-beach-releases/massa2

Zegema Beach Records USA - https://zbrusa.com/products/massa2

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

4-Way Split PremieRing - Thisismenotthinkingofyou

On August 2nd a new 4-way split 12" featuring Massa Nera, Thisismenotthinkingofyou, Yo Sbraito and Ef'il will be released (with vinyl copies coming later in the month. It's being released collaboratively by Dead Tank Records & Distribution, Dingleberry Records, Adorno Records, Zegema Beach Records, Blessed Hands Records & Pundonor Records.

As a one-off, I am lucky enough to be hosting the premiere of the two songs by UK emoviolence band Thisismenotthinkingofyou that will appear on the split. You can stream them via Youtube below:-

Sonambulance I

  Sonambulance II 

Three other blogs will be streaming the songs by Massa Nera, Yo Sbraito and Ef'il, with each blog premiering one band. See below for details:-

1. Ef'il - http://openmindsaturatedbrain.blogspot.com

2. Massa Nera - http://sophiesfloorboard.blogspot.com

3. Yo Sbraito - https://idioteq.com/

Make sure you check out all three!

Pre-orders for the vinyl will be available via the links below:-

Dead Tank Records & Distribution - https://deadtankrecords.com/collections/dead-tank-releases

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

Adorno Records - https://adornorecords.bandcamp.com/merch

Zegema Beach Records - https://zegemabeachrecords.storenvy.com/

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

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

Massa Nera - https://www.facebook.com/MASSANERANJ/

Thisismenotthinkingofyou - https://www.facebook.com/timntoy/

Yo Sbraito - https://www.facebook.com/yosbraito/

Ef'il - https://www.facebook.com/efil.mys/