LLEWELYN - Disposable Culture

Labels: Tomb Tree/The Ghost Is Clear Records

Formats: Tape/CD/Digital

Release Date: 10 Nov 2023

Tracklist:

1. Heliophobia

2. Sway

3. Disposable Culture

4. Dorian Gray

5. Ritual

I'm doing that thing again where I write about a band of which I know nothing about. I mean, a lot of people reading this may not know about LLEWELYN as they're a newly formed band. When I saw their music being compared to Transistor Transistor, Chat Pile etc, I took notice. Their debut EP Disposable Culture was released last month on tape through Tomb Tree and on cd through The Ghost Is Clear Records. LLEWELYN features members from US bands Forever Losing Sleep and Moaded to name a few (thanks OPENmind/SATURATEDbrain).

I really don’t want to set foot outside today as it’s -5 degrees, but I have to. Until then though, I’m going to devour something new and LLEWELYN makes for the perfect weekend wake-up call with their melodic yet furious brand of noise-rock. Opener ‘Heliophobia’ is that peculiar mix of sludge/AmRep noise and structured post-hardcore. Blasting drums coupled with raspy screams, while classy guitar work provides melody underneath.

It gets more mathy on the cleverly named ‘Sway’, which is really hard to compare to anything else. It’s off-kilter and sassy but there’s also a menacing heaviness to it. Moments of psych and ringing feedback add to the aural chaos as well. The EP’s title-track ‘Disposable Culture’ comes at you from a punkier direction thanks to the addition of gang-vocals and a higher tempo. 

‘Dorian Gray’ is that kind of excitement-inducing song that usually comes before then end of a release, in that it’s calmer in style and tone to begin with, and while it does get louder/heavier later on, it remains more subdued. I like it’s poppier edge, which draws you into EP closer ‘Ritual’. At this point it’s best just to sit back and appreciate the music here. ‘Ritual’ isn’t a fast song, in fact the slower/noisier approach is better and it’ll keep you coming back to this release.

2023 is still producing some absolute bangers (even though I’m behind on a lot of stuff). The consistency of bands and labels has been insane and it’s not over yet. LLEWELYN have started strong with this EP. Let’s hope they reach more ears because this was great.

You can stream and purchase the EP digitally from bandcamp below, where it's also available to grab on tape from Tomb Tree:-

CD copies can be purchased from The Ghost Is Clear Records below too:-

http://theghostisclearrecords.limitedrun.com/products/llewelyn-disposable-culture-cdep

Tomb Tree - https://www.facebook.com/tombtreetapes

The Ghost Is Clear Records - https://www.facebook.com/TGICRECS

Yotsuya Kaidan - Tired Of Tomorrow's You 7"

Labels: Dingleberry Records/Lifeisafunnything/Parking Lot Records/Rubaiyat Records/Samegrey Records/TRVS Records/Unlock Yourself Records/Upwind Records/Winter Sea Label/Zegema Beach Records

Formats: Vinyl/Tape/Digital

Release Date - 10 Apr 2016

Tracklist:

1. High School Fights For The Ziggurat Falls

2. Feels Like Lucio Fontana's Canvas

3. Tasmanian Tigers

4. Stormo & Goliad

This is likely to be my last review of 2021. I apologise for the lack of activity over the last week. I received an early Christmas present in the form of Vertigo late last week and spent the last few days getting over it/spending the holiday with my parents and brother. There may be one more post between now and the New Year, as I have a couple of reviews from Mikey to post up, as long as the 'V' doesn't strike again.

This is a review I've been looking forward to writing for a little while, as not only is it another of my Zegema Beach Roster reviews, but it's also about a 7" that's part of my personal collection. I first cast ears on Ukraine's Yotsuya Kaidan back in 2017, thanks to the Too Sad To Tell You 7" that was released via Dong Knights Productions and A Fond d'Cale. I picked up a physical copy of this EP from ZBR earlier in the year on yellow vinyl.

According to Discogs and Yotsuya Kaidan’s own bandcamp page, this 7” was their first physical release. It stands up as the first body of work that existed during the band’s extremely productive early period between  2016 and 2017. What’s presented here are four short post-hardcore/screamo songs and EP opener ‘High School Fights For The Ziggurat Falls’ kicks things off with melodic blackened riffs, intense percussion/bass and harsh vocals delivered in the band’s native tongue. Dramatic is the best word I can use to describe this so far.

‘Feels Like Lucio Fontana’s Canvas’ springs into life immediately after a very brief pause, with a multi-vocal attack and a controlled explosion of violent screamo. It’s so hard to describe this, even after the many listens I’ve given it after my copy arrived. It’s one of those EP’s that will certainly have you coming back for more though.

Urgency is definitely a huge part of the sound invoked by Yotsuya Kaidan and penultimate song ‘Tasmanian Tigers’ is the perfect embodiment of that nuance. It’s a song that’s over before you know it, though there are still so many musical layers to take in as well. 

With last song ‘Stormo & Goliad’, Yotsuya Kaidan break out their longest piece and also their most anthemic (if that’s even possible!). The emotional, caustic and enthralling approach to their music is laid out for all to hear this last time, and there’s no escaping how heart-wrenchingly good it is. The band is still very much alive (they released an EP earlier this year), so if you’re still not familiar with them, there’s no time like the present. 

You can stream and purchase the EP digitally below:-

Yotsuya Kaidan - https://www.facebook.com/yotsuyakaidanband

 

As far as I can tell, the only label that still officially has copies of this EP is ZBR. See the link below:-

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

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

Lifeisafunnything - https://www.facebook.com/lifeisafunnything123

Parking Lot Records - https://www.facebook.com/parkinglotrecords

Rubaiyat Records - https://www.facebook.com/rubaiyatrecords

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

TRVS Records - https://www.facebook.com/trvsrecords

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

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

Winter Sea Label - https://www.facebook.com/WinterSealabel

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