Lessener - Lessener

Labels: Ancient Injury Records/Dingleberry Records/(We Built The World And) Miss The Stars Records/Zegema Beach Records

Formats: Vinyl/Digital

Release Date: 31 Dec 2016

Tracklist:

1. Shape Of Heart, Shape Of Human

2. We've Lost Beauty

3. Our Form Of Closure

4. Gravesend

5. Sycamore

Damn things are starting to get busier in life outside of the blog. Also, proper bummed that I missed out on snagging a copy of the vinyl repress of Form & Structure, Storm & Fracture from Coins As Portraits (released via Heathen Hand Records) earlier, but hey ho. This post though is all about the next review in my Zegema Beach Roster Review series, which features Boston, Massachusetts (USA) screamo band Lessener and their 2016 self-titled album. They released it digitally in late 2016 before it was pressed to vinyl by ZBR and the familiar bunch of collaborators mentioned above. 

It’s amazing what a few really positive days can do to you mentally. Lessener’s hearty screamo is exactly what I need to carry that positivity on as album opener ‘Shape Of Heart, Shape Of Human’ bristles with emotion-filled harsh vocals, jangly yet dissonant guitars and ever present percussive energy. ’We’ve Lost Beauty’ is a song that belies it’s title, as Lessener are able to inject and extract beauty in equal measure through both sensitive, and chaotic song-writing/delivery.

After those initial short bursts, things become slightly more introspective on ‘Our Form Of Closure’, which takes the form of a dramatic instrumental for it’s first ninety-seconds before bursting into life with a great mix of screamo and chuggy post-hardcore riffs. One thing that’s ever present though is Lessener’s eye for melody and their ability to diffuse angst with brightness.

What’s also really good is how their songs follow on from each other, as ‘Our Form Of Closure’ flows into penultimate song ‘Gravesend’. In doing so, a vivid picture is painted through the various loud/quiet passages that it contains. For me, emo always drew me in with it’s loud-quiet dynamics and while this is heavier, it still has that same feel.

Closing song ‘Sycamore’ has the most spacial and atmospheric intro build-up on the record before Lessener explode one final time. The flow between the instrumental passages and more crazed full-band/vocal sections are perfectly accented, making for a dramatic end. 

Lessener produces screamo that’s crosses over to hardcore via it’s sheer emotion and anger. It has the right layers and textures in the right places. If like me, you missed this when it was originally released, there’s no time like the present to go and enjoy it.

You can stream the record in full below, where it's also available to buy on digitally and (remarkably still) on vinyl:-

Lessener - https://www.facebook.com/Lessener

You can also buy it from the labels below:-

Zegema Beach Records USA Store - https://zbrusa.com/collections/zbr-releases/products/lessener-self-titled-12

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

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

(We Built The World And) Miss The Stars Records - https://www.facebook.com/missthestarsrecords

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

Ken Burns - Ken Burns 7"

Labels: Don't Live Like Me Records/(We Built The World And) Miss The Stars Records/Zegema Beach Records

Formats: Vinyl/Digital

Release Date: 01 Dec 2015

Tracklist: 

1. Saudade

2. The Death Of An Aspiring Icon Pt. II

3. Hemma

I was sat down the other day pondering things and I suddenly released that I'm well behind on a certain little review series. It's futile to think that I'm ever going to catch up, but stranger things have happened. That being said though, while I'm slowly losing my marbles (due to a combination of lockdown, climate, routine and such like), it only seems right to delve into some more awesome post-hardcore/emoviolence/screamo/call it whatever you want. This is the self-titled 7" EP from Massachusetts (USA) band Ken Burns. It was released on two vinyl variants (50 on clear w/blue and yellow splatter and 250 on black) in late 2015 by Don't Live Like Me Records, (We Built The World And) Miss The Stars Records and of course, Zegema Beach Records.

I double checked my ‘previously reviewed’ list and this EP definitely wasn’t on there, so that’s a relief (I’ve only ever double-dipped once before without realising it until it was too late!). With that minor bit of embarrassment aside, I’m instantly overwhelmed by how good opening song ‘Saudade’ is. It’s a mix of jangly, melodic emo guitar work, ripping percussion and violent yet emotive screams. Ken Burns seemingly knew how to craft great songs during their short period as a living band (I’m pretty sure they’re resting now). This song is equal parts dramatic post-hardcore grandeur and heart-on-your-sleeve, violent sensitivity, if that makes sense.

From the ashes of the lengthy opener comes the instrumental beauty of ‘The Death Of An Aspiring Icon Pt. II’ and an urgency that overrides that beauty until it overflows when the vocals kick in. Crushing yet intelligent hardcore lays side by side with introspective passages of melody and harmony (the latter being in the sense of self as opposed to the musical sense). EP closer ‘Hemma’ underlines just how good Ken Burns was during the band’s short life, especially when they transition their aggressive post-hardcore into a slower, musical second-half, complete with spoken word samples. Having previously released a tape EP a couple of years before this one, it wasn’t until 2020 when all of the band’s songs were gathered together by Larry Records in the form of an LP discography release. 

As a standalone release though, this 7” ticks all of the boxes in terms of genuinely heartfelt musicianship. It’s short in length but that only makes the yearning for more grow ever stronger. So many bands seem to have come and gone with all but a couple of releases, but I guess that’s the nature of the genre that Ken Burns called home. It’s better to remember something at it was when it was alive, than be haunted by it after death. 

You can stream and download all three songs (name-your-price) below:-

You can still pick up vinyl copies from the link below:-

(We Built The World And) Miss The Stars Records - https://missthestars.com/en/

Don't Live Like Me Records - https://www.facebook.com/dontlivelikeme

(We Built The World And) Miss The Stars Records - https://www.facebook.com/missthestarsrecords

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