The Names Of Our Friends/Poetry Of Torch - Split

Labels: Zegema Beach Records

Formats: Tape/Digital

Release Date: 24 Jul 2026

Tracklist:

1. The Names Of Our Friends - All For You

2. The Names Of Ours Friends - Just For Us

3. Poetry Of Torch - 泥濘

4. Poetry Of Torch - 呼んでいる

What a difference a couple of days make! Honestly, I was floundering a bit towards the end of last month but after a couple of reviews already this month, I feel the excitement again. July was the month that Zegema Beach Records released this split between US band The Names Of Our Friends and Japan's Poetry Of Torch, on tape and also digitally.

Both bands play post-hardcore/screamo. If you were following the blog back in 2025, you might have read my review of Poetry Of Torch's split with Gil Cerrone. The Names Of Our Friends are once again another new band to me (I must get round to finishing that list of every band featured here!).

Today has been a day to forget work-wise. I’m drained and all I yearn for is some kind of escape. Nothing screams “escape” like screamo and The Names Of Our Friends, who provide such a blistering performance on their first track ‘All For You’. Piercing vocals that almost leap into emoviolence territory, alongside blistering percussion, off-kilter tempos and dramatic guitar work. Obviously, it’s over pretty quickly but it leads into their second track ‘Just For Us’ instantly, which is more introspective, while showing different sides to the band. Melodic vocals, chugging riffs and nods to The Mars Volta are all present. It’s a real treat and a great way to round out their side of this split.

Poetry Of Torch start their side with ‘泥濘’, which is short and sharp. Starting with a mix of warped noise and samples before exploding into the kind of crazed emoviolence that Japanese bands do so well. It’s short, so getting a true feel is hard but it’s not long before their second song ‘呼んでいる’ begins. It’s longer, so might be a better representation of their sound overall, which is fast, quite raw but also post-hardcore leaning. The vocals are shouted, the percussion sits deeper in the mix and the guitars provide a cacophony of different styles. Another example of Japan’s unique and brilliant approach to heavier music.

Even just listening to these four songs has reset my brain and I’m grateful for it. I wish this release had gone on longer though as both The Names Of Our Friends and Poetry Of Torch are fantastic song-writers/performers.

You can stream and purchase this split digitally from ZBR below:-

You can buy physical tape copies from ZBR here - http://www.zegemabeachrecords.com/zegema-beach-releases/tnoofxpot

The Names Of Our Friends Instagram - @the.names.of.our.friends

Poetry Of Torch Instagram - @poetry_of_torch

Zegema Beach Records Instagram - @zegema_beach

Poetry Of Torch/Gil Cerrone - Split

Labels: Zegema Beach Records

Formats: CD/Digital

Release Date: 16 Jun 2025

Tracklist:

1. Poetry Of Torch - 業 (Karma)

2. Poetry Of Torch - 一本花 (Lone Flower)

3. Gil Cerrone - Boardroom

4. Gil Cerrone - Chuck Steak

Zegema Beach Records continues the campaign for cd releases shocker! If I was only interested in posting clickbait, that would be the headline; however, I'm not and cd sales are actually increasing again. They take up less space than vinyl (wish I had figured that out before I got in too deep!).

This split features two tracks from Japanese emoviolence band Poetry Of Torch and two from Australian genre mates Gil Cerrone. Poetry Of Torch previously released a split with Agak via ZBR, while Gil Cerrone have an affinity with Tomb Tree, which is where the union between two of the newest additions to this generation of emoviolence was (possibly) formed.

After writing two intro sentences and then deleting them, I’m just going to focus on what’s in front of me. Poetry Of Torch start with ‘業 (Karma)’, which is an explosively raw yet endearing version of emoviolence with added Japanese flair and enthusiasm. I have always been in awe of Japanese bands and their philosophy when it comes to writing, and performing music. Their second song ‘一本花 (Lone Flower)’ is one filled with much more immediate violence. The screams are filled with more rage even though the instrumentation still has groove and subtle melody. Emotion is genuinely what you feel as these two songs come to a close.

Gil Cerrone hit hard almost instantly with ‘Boardroom’ and their much more aggresive take on the genre. Save for the odd occasion where they elope into a more introspective passage, their sound is ultimately more aggressive and attention-grabbing. Their second song ‘Chuck Steak’ makes me think of American hicks for some reason but that thought is quickly (and thankfully) banished by Gil Cerrone’s almost-blackened post-hardcore approach. It’s impossible to overlook how much it moves you and I can attest to that, especially after the day (or week) I’ve had.

Two fantastic bands coming together like this, releasing a split this good must be lauded. Obviously, releasing it with Zegema Beach Records helps a little bit too (or maybe a lot!). The Far East and the Southern Hemisphere are both coming to the forefront of emoviolence/screamo right now. It’s not a new thing but it’s still great to see and hear. Grab this split while you can.

You can stream and purchase the split digitally from both bands, below:-

 

 

CD copies are also available from Gil Cerrone's bandcamp page above, while also being available directly from Zegema Beach Records here:-

ZBR CAN/INTL - http://www.zegemabeachrecords.com/zegema-beach-releases/gilpot

ZBR USA - https://zbrusa.com/collections/zbr-releases/products/gilpot

Poetry Of Torch - https://www.facebook.com/poetryoftorch

Gil Cerrone - https://www.facebook.com/gilcerrone

Zegema Beach Records - https://bsky.app/profile/zegemabeachrecords.bsky.social