Mt. Dagger - Nothing Personal. Just Misery.

Labels: Dingleberry Records/Pasidaryk Pats Records/Pike Records

Formats: Vinyl/Digital

Release Date: 08 Jan 2026

Tracklist: 

1. Inertia

2. Hellscape

3. Excision

4. Farce

5. Bloodsport

6. False Prophet

7. Terminal Velocity

8. Medic

9. Suburbia

10. Misanthrope

I have a framed print of the cover art from the album Gravity by Crowns&Thieves hanging on my wall. I asked the artist for it specially when I moved into my own place. I'm mentioning this because one of the band's ex-members plays in Berlin's Mt. Dagger, alongside musicians from countless other bands including Julith Krishun, Throwers and Pleite amongst others. 

Mt. Dagger released a demo back in 2023, containing three songs that would eventually help to make up their debut album, Nothing Personal. Just Misery. It was released on 300 copies of 180g ultra clear/black marble vinyl via Pike Records, Dingleberry Records and Pasidaryk Pats Records in January. 

Last week was hectic work-wise and this week’s shaping up to be just the same. You would think that I’d want to settle down with some easy-listening but you’d be wrong! The crusty, metallic hardcore of Mt. Dagger should be all I need and it’s thanks to Axel of Pike Records that I know of them. Opening Nothing Personal, Just Misery, ‘Inertia’ goes from almost Spaghetti Western-style guitar to graduating darkness before Mt. Dagger’s metallic hardcore takes hold properly. Its tempo is pretty frenetic, yet there are some elements that surprise too. The instrumentation brings to mind Totem Skin, while the vocal delivery leans toward a heavier version of Refused (at least to my ears).

I’m not trying to pigeonhole Mt. Dagger this early but sometimes it is worth laying down a boundary or two. ‘Hellscape’ rages harder with a crustier tone punching through the metallic guitars, as the percussion and bass really pile on the low-end heft. The vocals at times sound blackened. I like the fact that the first trio of songs get shorter and grow with intensity, as ‘Excision’ shows. There’s great chemistry between band members here, as this recording already sounds very complete.

The ringing feedback that kicks off ‘Farce’ tells you that you’re in for something lengthier, but there’s no sludge or doom present here; instead, Mt. Dagger move in a more off-kilter direction, which adds another layer to their already engrossing sound. Reading down the track listing and coming across a song called ‘Bloodsport’, I thought for a second that it could be a cover of the song by Sleep Token, until I realised that here it’s one word as opposed to two. What it actually is, is a song filled with scathing hardcore and classy melody.

The rumbling bass of ‘False Prophet’ takes no prisoners as it bleeds into utter driving heaviness. It’s one of those songs that goes by in a shot, leaving you wondering if you had even listened to it at all! The fact that Mt. Dagger have the sense of humour to call their longest song ‘Terminal Velocity’ isn’t lost on me. That being said though, it doesn’t hang around itself. There are plenty of tempo shifts and percussive transitions to keep you busy throughout.

Things get more urgent on ‘Medic’, as the band’s muscles are truly flexed with their most grooving, hardcore-punk laden song. Don’t let my description fool you though, as this sub two-minute song is still in keeping with the rest of the album. The focus that Mt. Dagger keep throughout this record is amazing to witness as ‘Suburbia’ takes over. The building ambience/atmosphere translates well as the full band hits the high gear. I’m a huge fan of their murkier, dank hardcore if I’m honest. It just hits differently, especially when those sweet cymbal chimes ring out. 

Closing with ‘Misanthrope’, Mt. Dagger go out on a high. One last deep-dive into chaos; exemplified by their precision tempo shifts. Nothing Personal. Just Misery. goes super hard right from the start. Mt. Dagger have laid down an early marker for metallic hardcore in 2026 and honestly, it’s gonna be hard to match. 

You can stream and purchase the album digitally from Mt. Dagger below:-

Mt. Dagger - https://www.instagram.com/mt.dagger/

Physical copies can be purchased from the labels below:-

Pasidaryk Pats Records - https://pasidarykpatsrecords.lt/pasidaryk-pats-records-817/mt-dagger-nothing-personal-just-misery-lp

Pike Records - https://www.pikerecords.com/product/mt-dagger-nothing-personal-just-misery-lp/

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

Pasidaryk Pats Records - https://www.instagram.com/pasidaryk_pats_records/

Pike Records - https://www.facebook.com/pikercrds

Chivàla - Boato

Labels: Fireflies Fall/Friendly Otter/No Funeral Records/Pike Records/Shove Records/Stonehenge Records/Through Love Records/Zilpzalp Records

Formats: Vinyl/CD/Digital

Release Date: 27 Dec 2024

Tracklist:

1. Oggetto di scena

2. Far tremare il corpo

3. Cuore di pietra

4. Non lascia nulla

5. Non diremo

6. Alla Fine della corsa

7. Rumore di passi

Last month I received an e-mail from Axel (who heads up German DIY label Pike Records) asking if I would like to review the newest record from Italian post-hardcore/screamo band Chivàla. Due to being behind on my e-mails I missed Axel's initial message but I thankfully caught the second one and humbly accepted the offer. Little did I know that Axel's offer would include a physical copy of the record. 

Fast-forward a few weeks and it has arrived. Axel sent me a copy on red vinyl, which has come out great! I've been familiar with Chivàla for quite a while now; so much so that I own a copy of their split with Suirami on tape. I've featured them here a few times before and I'm quietly trying to fill their discography gaps in my collection (amongst a myriad of others).

The sun’s shining, I’m surrounded by records and I have no plans for the rest of the day. I make it time to give this lovely piece of Italian screamo a spin. The cover art catches my eye due to it’s abstract nature. Not sure if that’s as hint to what the music will sound like but I’m about to find out. Opener ‘Oggetto di scena’ sounds a lot more laid-back and melodic than expected; especially the instrumentation. The vocals are a mix of spoken-word/shouted vocals in the verses and semi-cleans/screams later on. All lyrics are in Italian and are beautifully woven into the song. 

It’s beauty that flows through Boato, as ‘Far tremare il corpo’ mixes melody with off-kilter percussion and a take on modern post-hardcore that feels like it’s done a complete 180 degree turn, heading back to the sound of the early 00’s. That was a crossover time for me as I was discovering a lot of punk/core bands and moving slightly away from metal. ‘Cuore di pietra’ highlights the intricacies that exist in Chivàla’s music. I guess alongside countrymen like Ojne and Shizune, I’d place them next to La Dispute purely due to the fact that they do the clean guitar/spoken-word verses so well and when they explode, they do so in a short, controlled manner.

The pattern of following a mid-tempo song with an up-tempo one isn’t a new thing but here it works really well, as ‘Non lascia nulla’ immediately hits top gear. The screams are so passionate and they help to make the instrumental/clean sections sound even better. The latter half of Boato is slightly more precise, yet it comes complete with extra layers, especially during ‘Non diremo’. Subtle atmospheric, almost blackened riffs are added into the mix for a brief period. I guess that’s where Chivàla get their post-rock influence from. Whatever the approach, this is still a fantastic song.

‘Alla fine della corsa’ is the album’s penultimate number and even at this late point in the record, Chivàla’s sound is still as inspiring. The blend of soaring guitar melody, epic low-end/percussion and multi-layered vocals might sound complex though in truth it’s anything but. Everything is perfectly intertwined. Ending with ‘Rumore di passi’ and it’s most beautiful musicianship, I’m in complete ecstasy and in awe of just how good Chivàla are as a complete band. It takes time for any band to truly find their sound, especially when they’re competing with so many others. Given that it’s been a little over six years since their debut EP, I think it’s safe to say that Chivàla have found theirs. If you need more persuasion before listening to this record, you’re in the wrong place.

You can stream and purchase Boato digitally via bandcamp below:-

You can also get physical CD/Vinyl copies from Chivàla above.

Chivàla - https://www.facebook.com/chivalaband

Physical copies are also available from the labels below:-

Fireflies Fall - https://firefliesfall.com/product-category/releases/ 

No Funeral Records - https://store.nofuneral.ca/collections/no-funeral-vinyl

Pike Records - https://www.pikerecords.com/releases/

Shove Records - https://shoverec.bandcamp.com/merch

Stonehenge Records - https://www.stonehengerecords.com/?orderby=alphabetical

Through Love Records - https://shop.throughloverec.com/collections/releases

Fireflies Fall - https://www.facebook.com/firefliesfall

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

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

Pike Records - https://www.facebook.com/pikercrds

Shove Records - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100062967532917

Stonehenge Records - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100053696468870

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

Zilpzalp Records - https://www.facebook.com/zilpzalpdiy

Also, I'd really appreciate it if you could take a few short seconds to answer the survey I currently have running here - http://www.thisnoiseisours.com/2025/03/subscription-consultation.html. Thanks in advance.

They Sleep We Live - Escaping The Measures Of Time

Labels: Dingleberry Records/Framecode Records/Kopefen Rec/Pike Records/Samegrey Records/Zegema Beach Records

Formats: Vinyl/Digital

Release Date: 15 Dec 2016

Tracklist:

1. Empty Shells Broken Heart

2. Equilibrium

3. Asunder

4. What Remains

It's nearly May and I haven't written anywhere near as many reviews as last year, but quantity doesn't mean quality so I'm feeling no pressure. I'm kicking off this week with another ZBR roster review, featuring the 2016 single-sided LP from German screamo band They Sleep We Live. Escaping The Measures Of Time was released in December of 2016 by the labels listed above, it was pressed onto 300 copies on coke bottle coloured vinyl and was only the second ever release by the band (according to their bandcamp page). It was sandwiched between splits with Vi Som Alskade Varandra Sa Mycket and Piri Ries, spanning less than twelve months. I call that pretty darn productive for such a short time period.

When writing over the last few years, I’ve had a greater affection for shorter releases. I don’t know why, other than because they’ve always slotted nicely into my weekday routine. I guess you could call me lazy or accuse me of having a short attention span at times, but having a day job that’s somewhat challenging mentally does have that effect on me. Short bursts of screamo/emo really help though and They Sleep We Live’s own take on the sub-genre seems perfect for this sunny evening as the melodic tones of ‘Empty Shells Broken Hearts’ build in volume, threatening to burst forth. The build up is often greater than the explosion though and here it retreats to give way for emo-laden post-hardcore that’s off-kilter and full of impact.

‘Equilibrium’ is pure unadulterated screamo with so much energy and body to it. The mix of harsher screams and emotive clean vocals give it balance, while still allowing They Sleep We Live to spread their message about society and it’s struggle, That message is further brought to life by the instrumentation, in the same way that it is through modern-day crust influenced bands like Morrow and Terra Mater. 

There’s a heavier atmospheric/black metal vibe going on during ‘Asunder’, instrumentally. It’s a vibe that’s fleeting and it gives way to a song that switches between heart wrenching emo and melodic hardcore. It has so much yet it’s totally cohesive and enthralling, showing just how thoughtful and endearing this record, and it’s songwriting is. 

The closing song ‘What Remains’ sounds a little unnerving at first with the musical toy-like sample at it’s beginning. Fear not though, there’s nothing remotely horror-like here, only one final skittish screamo hymn filled with orchestrated movements and European flair. They Sleep We Live will keep you guessing about the direction they’re going to take with each song on this record but that’s no bad thing at all. They all belong together though, creating a short story through music. Absolutely essential. Beautifully packaged.

FFO: La Dispute, Ostraca, Respire, Morrow, Terra Mater

You can stream and purchase Escaping The Measures Of Time via bandcamp below:-

They Sleep We Live - https://www.facebook.com/theysleepwelive

Physical copies can be purchased from the labels below:-

Pike Records - https://www.pikerecords.com/releases/

Zegema Beach Records - USA Store: https://zbrusa.com/collections/zbr-releases/

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

Framecode Records - https://www.facebook.com/framecoderecords

Kopefen Rec - https://www.facebook.com/Koepfen

Pike Records - https://www.facebook.com/pikercrds

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

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

Vi Som Alskade Varandra Sa Mycket/They Sleep We Live - Split 7"

Labels: Blood Of The Young Records/Dingleberry Records & Distribution/(We Built The World And) Miss The Stars Records/Pike Records/Tief In Marcellos Schuld Records/Zegema Beach Records

Formats: Vinyl/Digital

Release Date: 06 Apr 2016

Tracklist: 

1. Vi Som Alskade Varandra Sa Mycket - Alla Vågar Leder Både Bort Och Hem

2. Vi Som Alskade Varandra Sa Mycket - Jag Vet Att Det Gör Ont, Men Varför Gör Det Sa Javla Ont?

3. They Sleep We Live - And The Curtain Falls

Here goes another ZBR roster review. I've hit a little seam of 7" releases, so I'm going to fire them out over the next seven days or so in a bid to catch up (a bit). This one features a split release that includes Sweden's Vi Som Alskade Varandra Sa Mycket and Germany's They Sleep We Live; both of whom may be familiar to you if you've been following this little series. Right now, it's a retrospective look at ZBR's releases. This 7" was released in April 2016 via a whole host of like-minded labels (all listed above) and was pressed on 500 copies of orange wax.

This split comprises of two songs from Vi Som Alskade Varandra Sa Mycket and one from They Sleep We Live. Vi Som.. begins with ‘Alla Vågar Leder Både Bort Och Hem’, which is delivered in their typical melodic yet intense style with guitars that tower over the recording, while the vocals are screamed with such emotive force. The bass and percussion provide direction and authority too, in a song that barely lasts over two minutes. There’s nothing about it that could be considered emoviolence (it probably wasn’t intended to be such) but there’s still so much energy here. Second song ‘Jag Vet Att Det Gör Ont, Men Varför Gör Det Sa Javla Ont?’ Is more majestic thanks to a slightly more mid-paced, stripped down approach during the verses (I guess?), though they’re followed by sections of both grandeur and introspection. Vi Som… certainly craft an atmosphere that’s worth getting lost in.

The other side of the split is kept solely for They Sleep We Live and their song ‘And The Curtain Falls’. It’s a very apt title as organ joins guitar for a very dramatic intro, before the band’s fast screamo takes over. Their ability to write songs that are so engaging never fails to impress, given their lengths and they still remind me of the best genre exports to come from Japan. Germany has always been a country of interest when it comes to screamo/hardcore, in-spite of it’s more commonly known love of cheesy power metal or industrial and They Sleep We Live prove why that is here.

I find that screamo/post-hardcore bands are always really adept at writing and performing songs that seem to outrun their playing time (in the best possible way). The 7” format is one that doesn’t lend itself to longer songs yet both Vi Som… and They Sleep We Live manage to give much more bang for the buck. I’d recommend that you track this release down if it’s still available.

You can stream and purchase the split digitally below:-

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

They Sleep We Live - https://www.facebook.com/theysleepwelive

Physical copies are still available from the labels below:-

Miss The Stars Records - https://missthestars.com/collections/vinyl/products/vi-som-alskade-varandra-sa-mycket-they-sleep-we-live-split-7

Pike Records - https://www.pikerecords.com/releases/

Zegema Beach Records (CAN/INTL) - http://www.zegemabeachrecords.com/zegema-beach-releases/vi-som-alskade-varandra-sa-mycket-they-sleep-we-live-split-7

Zegema Beach Records (USA) - https://zbrusa.com/collections/zbr-releases/products/vi-som-alskade-varandra-sa-mycket-they-sleep-we-live-split-7

Blood Of The Young Records & Press - https://www.facebook.com/BloodOfTheYoungRecordsPress/

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

Miss The Stars Records - https://www.facebook.com/missthestarsrecords

Pike Records - https://www.facebook.com/pikercrds/

Tief In Marcellos Schuld Records - https://www.facebook.com/marcellosschuld/

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

Ojne/Улыбайся Ветру (Smile To The Wind) - Split 7"

Labels: Flood Records/It's A Trap! Records/La Agonia De Vivir/Pike Records/Pure Heart Records/Unlock Yourself Records/Zegema Beach Records

Formats: Vinyl/Digital

Release Date: 15 June 2014

Tracklist:

1. Ojne - Sotto I Tigli

2. Улыбайся Ветру (Smile To The Wind) - Изгнание и царство (Exile And Kingdom)

3. Улыбайся Ветру (Smile To The Wind) - Без снов (No Dreams)

4. Улыбайся Ветру (Smile To The Wind) - Смерть Прометея (The Death Of Prometheus)

5. Улыбайся Ветру (Smile To The Wind) - Триумф тишины (Triumph Of Silence)

I could have sworn that I'd already reviewed this split 7" but on checking, it's not the case (at least it means I won't be duplicating, which has happened before!). This is the latest in my ZBR roster review series and it features the awesome Ojne from Italy and Улыбайся Ветру from Russia. This split was another release from 2014 and features five songs in total. I hope the song order above is correct because some bandcamp pages from the labels above had it switched around. I'd also like to apologise if the translation of band names and songs is way off, as I'm once again at the mercy of Google Translate. 

Italian screamo band Ojne contributes just one song to this split, but ‘Sotto I Tigli’ is great. It follows on from the music they released on Undici/Dodici really well and is full of melody, atmosphere and a realness that’s hard to fault. It nears five-minutes in length, so it’s not over quickly, which is fine because you won’t want it to end anyway.

Smile To The Wind start off with ‘Изгнание и царство (Exile And Kingdom)’ and initially any notion of their music being intense and fast is thrown out of the window, at least for a few bars anyway. They lure you into a falls sense of security before launching into some great emo-violence, which benefits from melodic riffs and stop/start passages. 

 

‘Без снов (No Dreams)’ is an angular beast that doesn’t last long. It stops very abruptly too but given the band’s intensity, that’s no surprise. ‘Смерть Прометея (The Death Of Prometheus)’ is more of a journey with another lengthy instrumental build up leading to post-hardcore that’s larger in sound and delivery. Split closer ‘Триумф тишины (Triumph Of Silence)’ is a misnomer as it’s not silent but it does allow the band’s instrumentation to truly have centre stage. 

This split goes by in a flash of pure screamo goodness. I wish it was longer but then if It was, it wouldn’t have the same impact that it does have. Ojne have always been spot on and Smile To The Wind deserve your attention, even they are quiet musically at the moment. 

You can stream and download the tracks directly from both Ojne and Smile To The Wind's bandcamp pages below:-

Ojne - https://www.facebook.com/ojneband/

Smile To The Wind - https://www.facebook.com/smiletothewind

Physical copies are sold out.

Flood Floorshows/Records - https://www.facebook.com/floodhardcore/

It's A Trap! Records - https://www.facebook.com/ItsATrapRecords/

La Agonia De Vivir - https://www.facebook.com/laagoniadevivir.records/

Pike Records - https://www.facebook.com/pikercrds/

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

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

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