Кальк (Kalk) - Кальк (Kalk)

Labels: Hardcore For The Losers/JanML Records/Maya Von Lobeck/MarderschadenDIY/Polar Summer/Tadzio Records

Formats: Vinyl/Digital

Release Date: 09 Mar 2017

Tracklist:

1. Напалм

2. Черный Пес, Темный Лес

3. Привет, Героиня

4. Панк-рок Еще Дышит

5. Пыльная Звезда

6. Шлюха Из Бутово

7. Завтра Было Вчера

8. Метаморфоза

9. Зефир

10. В Радуге Столько Красивых Цветов, А Ты Выбираешь Говно

11. Отпуск В Панаме

It's taken what seems like an age but I'm revisiting my Polar Summer review series again. The Russian label has released (and continues to release) music by many obscure but exciting bands from across Europe and further afield. I'm trying to these reviews in order of release and this evening I've focusing on the label's 11th, which was the self-titled album from Germany's self-proclaimed feminist synthie screamo punks Кальк (Kalk). Their name nor their song-titles are in German and I wouldn't like to guess where they're from. This album came out in March 2017.

I own a copy of Кальк’s 2020 follow-up to this record, which is how I first heard them. Going back to their first album is a treat and opener ‘Напалм’ definitely sits in the punkier/noisier screamo camp, where simple and very effective percussion is joined by low bass/guitar riffs, really pissed off vocals and synths that completely change the tone of their sound, in a really unexpected way. They’re use is upbeat and they really fit with the music.

Кальк’’s songs aren’t long here and ‘Черный Пес, Темный Лес’ flies by in a wall of melody and rabid emoviolence, which in turn is drenched in feedback. I was in need of a midweek pick-me-up and man have I found it. ‘Привет, Героиня’ goes properly hard right from the off. The way everything is layered, especially with the addition of the synths keeps it from sounding disjointed or cheesy. I sometimes wince when I read about or listen to bands that use synths in their music but I can get behind their use here.

My fixation with the “s” word stops now, as ‘Панк-рок Еще Дышит’ starts with some warningly familiar melodic guitar before Кальк up the ante. They may not be spitting razors or blasting their way through this album but sometimes it’s better when a band does their own thing. This is unique. There’s a slight mid-tempo feel to ‘Пыльная Звезда’ yet that’s probably due to the punk vibe that flows through it. 

Before what seems like a blink of the eye, it’s onto the album’s second half and the sub one-minute song ‘Шлюха Из Бутово’, which is amongst it’s fastest and heaviest. It leads into ‘Завтра Было Вчера’ pretty much instantly and the mood shifts again, as even with the slightly jovial synths, the undertones are more unnerving. 

That said, the digital-esque opening salvo on ‘Метаморфоза’ continues throughout it’s entirety, allowing some light to permeate through the intensity that governs much of this release. ‘Зефир’ pokes hilarious fun at traditional matrimony and even includes some semi-clean vocals! I’m all for digs at society’s conservative/religious populous, so this song made me smile.

Penultimate number ‘В Радуге Столько Красивых Цветов, А Ты Выбираешь Говно’ drags everything back in a more furious direction. The occasionally chunkier riffs work great alongside the stomping tempos/drumming towards the end. Ending with ‘Отпуск В Панаме’, Кальк go from gentle guitar to pure post-hardcore brilliance in a split second and round out their self-titled record in epic form. 

People are often too scared to approach a band or a record that’s new to them. While Кальк are not new to me, their debut LP was. I’m here to tell you that you shouldn’t be afraid and that you should embrace that which you have not heard before. This album was released over eight years ago now but it still leaves an indelible mark. All I ask is that you give it a go.

You can stream and purchase the album both digitally, and (still!) on vinyl via Кальк's bandcamp page below:-

Кальк - https://www.facebook.com/kalknoise

Copies can also be purchased from the labels below:-

Hardcore For The Losers - https://hardcoreforthelosers.bandcamp.com/merch

MarderschadenDIY - https://marderschadendiy.tumblr.com/

Hardcore For The Losers - https://www.facebook.com/HardcoreForTheLosers

JanML Records - https://www.facebook.com/JanmlRecords

MarderschadenDIY - https://www.facebook.com/marderschadenDIY

Polar Summer - https://polarxsummer.bandcamp.com

Tadzio Records - https://www.facebook.com/tadziorecords/

Blue Youth - Defeatist

Labels: Grind Central Records/The Ghost Is Clear Records/Zegema Beach Records

Formats: Vinyl/Digital

Release Date: 15 Apr 2025

Tracklist:

1. Defeatist

2. T.K.Y.I.T.H.Y

3. Patient Patient

4. Lost, Spinning In Time

5. Modern Lover

6. Hell Is Empty

7. Redacted

8. JLB

9. Two Faces

10. These Hands

Canadian noise-rock/post-hardcore/punk band Blue Youth released their newest album Defeatist last month. It comes almost seven years on from their previous album Dead Forever. We're honestly being truly spoiled this year with new releases, including from bands that seemed forever dormant. I could others that I'm excited about but I don't want to draw attention away from this album. I'm hoping that the trio's sound still features the catchy rock/noise-rock sensibilities of previous releases.

I’m writing this in a very sleep-deprived state. My sleep pattern has been all over the place for the past few days and I swear (to whatever non-religious, free-thinking idol) that my neighbours aren’t helping by slamming every door they have at lest twice it seems. I’m just venting though and it’s distracting me from another banger of an album. Seeing both the album/song title ‘Defeatist’ instantly makes me think of Hatebreed, but that’s just weird brain stuff as Blue Youth are a world away sound and attitude-wise. 

Yes, they’re heavy but in a discordant/noisy way, as opposed to a youth crew/tough guy hardcore way (if you get what I mean). ‘Defeatist’ is a slow burner to start, with a mix of semi-clean vox/harsh screams, off-kilter instrumentation and odd melodic/dissonant guitar/bass. I say odd because I don’t really know how else to describe it. As openers go it definitely grabs the attention.

’T.K.Y.I.T.H.Y.’ sees Blue Youth heading in the opposite direction and delivering some excellent and genuine noise-rock that conjures up a whole mix of different bands, whom I’ve probably compared them to in previous reviews. I’m thinking of the likes of The Hives, The Bronx, Refused and also Franz Ferdinand (for their melody not their penchant for indie/post-punk). Comparing bands to other bands isn’t going to win me any awards I know, as it’s all subjective.

There’s a certain guitar sound that really hits the spot during ‘Patient Patient’ and I’m not sure why it does. Maybe it’s because I’ve spent too long in my late teens/early 20’s listening to some of Blue Youth’s compatriots. This song does sound way more rooted in post-hardcore and could even be a slight nod to nu-metal of old, maybe?. Sorry, the nu-metal reference was meant in the best way as this song it genuinely killer!

Damn, I might have to trim this review back a bit as I’m already four paragraphs deep and only three songs in! ‘Lost, Spinning In Time’ is a quick one though, with minimalist guitar, bass and drums meaning that it acts as a kind of instrumental/interlude leading into ‘Modern Lover’, which uses more noise elements alongside it’s danceable rock. If ever there was a song that highlighted Blue Youth’s breadth of song-writing delivery; this is it.

Another instrumental song is ‘Hell Is Empty’, which has a subtle hint of groove and (almost) stoner too it. Again it’s a short one but it’s filled with psych, which spills over into ‘Redacted’. Blue Youth occasionally turn towards weirder riffs on Defeatist and that’s no bad thing at all, especially when standing up alongside their noisier post-hardcore. Everything just fits together perfectly.

‘JLB’ gives off ambient, slightly unnerving vibes as it ushers in the closing section of the album. It’s gentle guitar fades and gives way to ‘Two Faces’ with an instantly more jarring demeanour. Blue Youth once again find their true loud pedal. Exactly on the money at three minutes, it’s a mainstream radio station’s/record label’s dream. Secretly, I hope they don’t get sucked up into that vacuum (though they deserve any and all success that comes their way!).

Album closer ‘These Hands’ sounds like a Brit-rock/pop song at times, but only as it kicks off (and probably only in my head!) as it’s a lot harder and heavier later on. It carries on in that heavier vein for a bit before dropping into a slightly introspective mid-section that then builds in layers again, getting louder right up to the inevitable end. 

As I reflect on listening to this album in it’s entirety, I have no regrets about the eight paragraphs above. Blue Youth have come back with an album that’s beyond excellent and beyond expectation. If that’s not worth talking about then I give up.

You can stream and purchase Defeatist digitally from Blue Youth below:-

The Grind Central Records website doesn't seem to be working properly currently, but you can grab physical copies of the album from the labels below:-

The Ghost Is Clear Records - https://theghostisclearrecords.limitedrun.com/products/866551-blue-youth-defeatist

Zegema Beach Records CAN/INTL - http://www.zegemabeachrecords.com/zegema-beach-releases/defeatist / USA - https://zbrusa.com/collections/zbr-releases/products/defeatist

Blue Youth - https://www.facebook.com/blueyouthsk

Grind Central Records - https://www.facebook.com/grindcentralrecords

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

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

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.

Canary Bones - Demo

Labels: Self-Released

Formats: Digital

Release Date: 03 Jan 2025

Tracklist:

1. I Heard You Die at the End

2. Pearls Before Swine

3. Hard Year

4. Service Delivery Failure

Later this year I'll be able to celebrate fifteen years of writing and building this blog. Even after all that time I still love receiving messages/e-mails from bands who have discovered This Noise Is Ours through other reviews I've written. In January I wrote about the recent 7" release from Australian post-hardcore/screamo band Keratin, which led to David from fellow Australian noise rock/post-hardcore band Canary Bones reaching out about the band's debut demo.

The Naarm (Melbourne, Aus) sextet released their four-track debut demo early last month. Their sound is recommended for fans of everything from the grunge rock of Helmet and Sonic Youth, to the alt/noise of Jesu and Swans, right through to the early punk/post-hardcore of Fugazi and Hüsker Dü, as well as the likes of At The Drive-In, Botch, Coalesce, Deftones and Poison The Well. Those influences are both varied and music (sorry!) to my ears. Let's dive in...

I couldn’t wait to get home from work today. Aside from being able to order the debut tape from a new UK death metal band (featuring members of bands I’ve been a fan of for years), I wanted to also delve into some new music by a band that reminds me of why I started writing in the first place. Enter stage right Canary Bones. Starting with ‘I Heard You Die at the End’, the sextet provides a groovy/danceable take on noise rock. It’s predominantly mid-paced, which is a nice change of pace given what I’ve been listening to of late and is catchy too.

‘Pearls Before Swine’ is much more riff-laden, especially thanks to the melodic/metallic delivery while the overall feel of the song is heavier. That owes a lot to the organic and raw mix on the demo, which nails down the sextet’s sound even though it’s surprisingly brief. We all get to a point in life where every year is considered a ‘Hard Year’ but Canary Bones condense post-pandemic life into less than four minutes of punk-fuelled noise that describes the tiredness both they and we all feel now. Being careful how I word this next sentence; there’s a similarity between the snotty old-school punk of the UK and the sound crafted by Canary Bones here.

The demo ends with the excellent ‘Service Delivery Failure’, which is something we can all relate to here in the UK. The slightly harrowing sample at the beginning leads to lone guitar lead-work and ambient distortion, as things build slowly. This is where the band’s post-punk influence grows and takes center stage. It’s simplistic and almost primitive but at the same time it’s cleansing too, showing the many layers this band has.

Ultimately, any band worth their salt has worked their way up from the bottom. I don’t use the word “bottom” in a derogatory way, just as a term to differentiate those bands from others that were born with silver spoons in their mouths. Canary Bones are just starting their journey and their demo is a snapshot in time, a strong one at that. It’s always hard to tell where a band is headed after just one release, but the only way is up if this is anything to go by.

You can stream and grab a digital download of the Demo from Canary Bones via bandcamp below:-

Canary Bones - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61565754681613

Sutras - Awakening Of The Spirit EP

Labels: Self-Released

Formats: Digital

Release Date: 30 Aug 2024

Tracklist:

1. Deathless

2. A Daily Reprieve

Recently I was contacted by an individual from Washington D.C. of all places. Tristan Welch makes up one half of US punk/shoegaze/post-hardcore band Sutras, alongside Frederick Ashworth. Tristan's a member of drone band Requiem while Frederick also performs in post-dreamgaze band The Escape Artist, as well as experimental band Almas (if my sources are correct!). Awakening Of The Spirit contains two songs. Join me as I dive into their debut EP.

I’ve nailed down a review schedule for the next few weeks and honestly, it’s a proper relief. I still have a long way to go but things are looking a lot better organisation-wise. Kicking off with US duo Sutras feels absolutely perfect, given the breadth of submissions I’ve received lately. Sutras call themselves a punk/shoegaze/post-hardcore band and on hearing ‘Deathless’, it’s hard to argue with their assessment. The duo’s music is both melodic and sludge-like in delivery, growing with emotion throughout it’s four+ minutes.

‘A Daily Reprieve’ hits hard instantly, which isn’t always the case for post-rock/hardcore bands. The overriding sense is that of heavy sludge but there’s something more subtle going on as well. As a duo, Sutras know exactly what they want to achieve musically. Obviously, it’’s early days and given that they cite influences as far ranging as Tragedy, Jesu, Majority Rule and 108 (as well as receiving the mastering treatment from James Plotkin here on less), it won’t be too long before they’re standing next to their musical peers.

You can stream Awakening Of The Spirit via bandcamp below:-

Sutras Instagram - @sutras.music

Tethered - Demo

Labels: Self-Released/strictly no capital letters

Formats: Digital/Tape

Release Date: 19 Aug 2023

Tracklist:

1. torches

2. dust

3. motorhinder

4. shred

5. nostalgia

In spite of all the music from new bands dropping of late, I'm picking up on music by bands (and people) whom I've long admired and featured here many times before. This write-up is a mix of new band/familiar faces, as the UK's Tethered features Andy (previously of Arkless, What Price, Wonderland? etc). Andy very kindly wrote to me recently to let me about Tethered and their debut demo, which was self-released in August last year before strictly no capital letters gave it a tape release in March. 

Writing an opening review sentence and then deleting it again is currently my favourite hobby apparently! Tethered make a noise that’s filled with hardcore-punk energy on opener ‘torches’. I get vibes similar to Amyl And The Sniffers, Sheer Mag and the early hardcore attitude of Black Flag. Rose does such a great job with the vocals on this release, especially as Tethered is the first band she’s fronted.

Listening to ‘dust’ is a joy too, as it’s off-kilter and almost retro sound envelopes you with such warmth. I’m properly nostalgic for the days when MRR was a paper zine, in fact I still have all of the copies from when I used to subscribe. I can picture Tethered being reviewed and featured amongst those hallowed pages now.

‘motorhinder’ has a really old-school emo/post-hardcore sound to it and reminds me of the raw energy of Boysetsfire’s This Crying, This Screaming, My Voice Is Being Born. It grabs you with it’s immediacy but also it’s heartfelt musicianship, which as I’ve already alluded to, almost comes from a different era.

’shred’ has the immediacy of a powerviolence song to begin with before Tethered fall back to the more familiar hardcore-punk that’s filled this EP so far. Rose’s angry yet clean vocals, alongside the instrumentation of Andy, James and Pablo shows that the passion still rises to the top in the UK scene. The recording and mixing job done by Matthew Green at Head Cold Recording manages to harness that passion brilliantly too.

EP closer ‘nostalgia’ is a great one to end on, channelling every last ounce of emotion and bitterness that remains. This is one of those EPs that goes by in an instant, but is also one that leaves quite a mark because of it. I’ve witnessed bands with so much potential fade after one EP. Here’s hoping Tethered won’t be one of those because they have so much more to offer.

You can stream and grab the demo as a name-your-price download below:-

Physical tape copies are available to buy form strictly no capital letters here - https://sncl.collective-zine.co.uk/product/tethered-demo-tape/

strictly no capital letters - https://www.facebook.com/strictlynocapitalletters

Alex B Kurbis - never had a chance, mind. EP

Labels: Self-Released

Formats: Digital

Release Date: 01 Dec 2023

Tracklist:

1. Onion Heart

2. Pedestrian Roulette

3. Something Nice

4. Plancton/Commute

Completely unexpectedly, a new EP was released by Swiss indie/emo/punk band Alex B Kurbis on December 1st. Considering the band's debut full-length Mondays And Tuesdays was only released in June, this shows incredible productivity (or just plenty of songs left over. Who knows!). Alex B Kurbis appeared on my radar earlier this year and I really didn't expect new music so soon. Guess I shouldn't have expectations. then they can always be smashed for the better!

There are just four songs on this EP but then again good things come in small packages. Opener ‘Onion Heart’ beats to the tune of old-school punk once again. The melodic, minimalist type that gets toes tapping and hips shaking. Happy and upbeat. We all need a bit of that.

There’s a tinge of folk on ‘Pedestrian Roulette’, which isn’t out of place during the gentle first half of the song. The second half is louder, complete with added vocal layers, distorted guitars and a great sense of rowdiness.

Nothing needs to last too long and Alex B Kurbis know that. ‘Something Nice’ brims with constant rhythm from the drums that holds everything else together. The rest of the instrumentation and vocals keep pace as if they were hitching a ride by grabbing the rear bumper of a fast moving vehicle. 

EP closer ‘Plancton/Commute’ is the outlier here as it contains more of an art-punk vibe, which isn’t anything new to the band. It works majestically in this song. Helping to expand on what’s already been. As the choir of voices ring out towards the end it reminds me of a family or a group of friends singing together in happy times, even if the feedback at the end tears that vision.

Another really enjoyable release from Alex B Kurbis, who seem to be settling nicely into a sound that’s warming and soothing. There’s a lot of soul here. Embrace it.

You can stream and purchase the EP digitally below:-

Alex B Kurbis - https://www.facebook.com/alexbkurbis

Squelch Chamber - Eater Of Self

 Labels: Self-Released/Bastard Premonition/Owlripper Recordings

Formats: Tape/Digital

Release Date: 12 Jul 2023

Tracklist:

1. Organized Mental Crime

2. Practice What You Leech

3. The Steeple Is Falling

4. Pulled Guts

5. Down In The Deadlands

6. Eater Of Self

The whole blog/life balance thing has gone completely out the window recently. So much so that I'm finally getting round to listening to Squelch Chamber properly. The band has been on my radar for a little while now and seeing latest release Eater Of Self on the Owlripper Recordings bandcamp page finally did it for me. Squelch Chamber resides in Pennsylvania, USA and has been releasing music that combines noise-rock, industrial and punk since 2020. Eater of Self is the fifth full-length (I guess?) to come from the band since initial release Down So Low, in a catalogue that also includes three splits. Productivity is the name of the game here.

Sunday morning’s the perfect time to listen to some extreme noise-rock right? It certainly feels like it as ‘Organized Mental Crime’ goes from sludgy minimalism to bass-rumbling weirdness in unexpected fashion. Melodies aren’t really entertained here, instead you get AmRep/Chat Pile-esque noise with injections of hallucinatory substances and atonal torture.

Lots of other comparisons could be made when listening to Squelch Chamber but I think it’s better just to listen. ‘Practice What You Leech’ is layered with so much that it’s hard to take it all in. The noise elements ratchet up further, while the percussion underneath more than matches it. The vocals flick between pained semi-clean screaming and unhinged growling, while stoner/psych guitar riffs can be heard subtly through it all.

The hypnotic drone of ‘The Steeple Is Falling’ is soothing, especially after the opening two songs. That’s not to say it’s an easy listen; far from it, but it’s just delivered with greater restraint. Talking of drone, ‘Pulled Guts’ begins as a solely instrumental number and continues in the same vein, except for what sound like unnerving whispered vocals that float in and out of the recording. It’s latter half once again descends into maddening noise-rock.

The brief running time of penultimate song ‘Down In The Deadlands’ doesn’t prevent it from being nightmarish yet it does nothing to prepare you for that title-track. ‘Eater Of Self’ runs way beyond seventeen minutes and builds slowly. Ambient sounds are used to add suspense and that feeling doesn’t go away when the vocals, and instrumentation are thrown into the mix, as it feels like Squelch Chamber is gearing up for something big. 

The expectation of a big finale is slightly misplaced as Squelch Chamber continues to grow the song’s volume in layers, instead of hitting you with it all at once. It’s actually a really good way of keeping you hooked throughout and the whole album is meant to be listened to from beginning to end without a pause, which is rewarding. As subjective as music is, it’s also relatable no matter how extreme it is. Squelch Chamber lays down a new marker for noise-rock in extremis.

You can purchase Eater Of Self both digitally and on tape from Squelch Chamber below:-

Tape copies can also be purchased from Bastard Premonition here - https://bastardpremonitiontapes.bigcartel.com/product/squelch-chamber-eater-of-self

Name-your-price downloads are also available via Owlripper Recordings here - https://owlripperrecordings.bandcamp.com/album/on050-eater-of-self

Squelch Chamber - https://www.facebook.com/SquelchChamber

Bastard Premonition - https://www.facebook.com/Bastard-Premonition Tapes

Owlripper Recordings - https://www.facebook.com/owlripperrecordings

Orbit Cinta Benjamin + Flirt - Split Premiere (full stream)

Tomorrow marks the release of the brand new split between Malaysia's Orbit Cinta Benjamin and Germany's Flirt. Tomb Tree will have 50 tapes across 3 different variants, while an LP pressing is being handled by Major Label, SM Musik, Bad Health Records, ZilpZalp Records and Salto Mortale Music.

Thanks to Tomb Tree, you can stream the entire split below:-

Orbit Cinta Benjamin includes former members of Utarid and Ellisebelle Tears. The quintet have been active for quite sometime too, as they released their first demo in 2006, which was followed by a self-titled EP, a split CD with fellow Malaysian post-punk/emo band Killer Calculateaur and a 6-way split LP in 2008 with Arse Moreira, Eucalypt, Amalthea, Dodewaard and Hiro (information was taken from Discogs, so I can't confirm it's correctness).

Flirt released their first demo in 2019 and include members from Tiger Magic. As far as I can tell, this split will be their second release to date (please correct me if I'm wrong).

Both bands contribute four songs to this split and the tracklisting is below:-

Orbit Cinta Benjamin

1. Essence

2. Four Corners

3. Harbinger

4. Chalice

Flirt

1. Amazon Crime

2. Morsch

3. Trist

4. Einfach So

Orbit Cinta Benjamin - https://orbitcintabenjamin.bandcamp.com

Flirt - https://xflirtx.bandcamp.com/album/demo-2019-2022

Keep an eye on Tomb Tree's online store for the tape drop tomorrow - http://www.zegemabeachrecords.com/tomb-tree-tapes

Also, if you want vinyl copies, head to the labels involved in that pressing below:-

Major Label - https://majorlabel.shop

SM Musik - https://www.sm-musik.de/shop/

Bad Health Records - https://badhealthrecords.bandcamp.com/merch

ZilpZalp Records - https://www.discogs.com/label/zilpzalp-records

Salto Mortale Music - https://www.discogs.com/Salto-Mortale-Music

Bad Health Records - https://www.facebook.com/badhealthrecords/

Salto Mortale Music - https://www.facebook.com/diysaltomortalemusic/

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

Blue Youth - Dead Forever

Labels: Grind Central Records/Santapogue Media/Suspended Soul Tapes And Records/Zegema Beach Records

Formats: Vinyl/Tape/Digital

Release Date: 08 Jun 2018

Tracklist:

1. Black Lung

2. Delusional//Unapologetic

3. Water Well

4. So Seizure

5. (The Worst Of It Is) You

6. Pause For Death

7. Succubus

8. Dead Forever

Adulting constantly gets in the way of good things! One such thing is time I'd set aside to relax with some great, heavy noise from Canada's Blue Youth. Bloody household appliances! Calm is restored though and there's still plenty of time for me to dive into the band's 2018 album Dead Forever as part of my ongoing ZBR roster review series. 

Blue Youth aren't active currently and Dead Forever makes up their second only physical release, having been pressed on vinyl by all of the above mentioned labels as well as being pressed on tape by Grind Central Records. 

The time for noisy punk/rock has come and hearing the opening bars of ‘Black Lung’ is the midweek wake-up call I needed. Stylistically, it’s difficult to place Blue Youth with their mix of clean vocals, euphoric screams and up-tempo instrumentation. I guess at a push I’d liken it to Australia’s Jet crossed with Sweden’s The Hives and countrymen Cancer Bats. 

One thing I love doing is reading Bandcamp’s recommended bands at the bottom of the page when listening. Blue Youth’s page recommends Whores, Chat Pile, Twin Drugs amongst others, which is pretty good company especially when you consider how good the bass-heavy ‘Delusional//Unapologetic’ is. There’s a bit of sasscore later on as well, which turns into something heavier towards the song’s close.

‘Water Well’ is an atmospheric short-player that curtails some of the album’s early momentum a little bit. I think these songs do play their part on records but can sometimes be a bit out of place. Here it make sense as it leads brilliantly into ‘So Secure’ and with it, another (maybe poorly placed) comparison. That comparison is Turnstile, purely based on the key of the clean vocals that adorn it. I’m probably way off the mark again but hey ho, it’s great all the same.

The stirring piano that opens up ‘(The Worst Of It Is) You’ belies what is a gloriously (and seemingly) mid-paced take on garage-punk/rock. It’s anthemic all around. How Blue Youth isn’t bigger I’ll never know! You might think that ‘Pause For Death’ is an ominous song title, and I guess it does lend itself to a song that’s equally as dark, but it also draws you in further than you were expecting. 

The devilish ‘Succubus’ is a song of many parts, from raging screamo to off-kilter progression and driving rock. The fact that it ends on a dime with no notice only adds to it’s allure and before you know it you’re being greeted by the album’s title-track ‘Dead Forever’, which rounds things out with Blue Youth diving back into their noisy/rocking best.

Dead Forever is over far too quickly. It completely puts to shame those albums that are twice as long. Blue Youth may be gone (I don’t know) and if so, they’re not forgotten. Their sound is personified in these eight songs and more people should hear them. Enough said.

You can stream and grab Dead Forever as a name-your-price download or pick up a first-run tape from Blue Youth below:-

If you want a vinyl copy, the only place to pick it up from is Zegema Beach Records. There's a single copy left on their Bandcamp page:-

https://zegemabeachrecords.bandcamp.com/album/dead-forever

Copies are also available from the  ZBR CAN/INTL store here - http://www.zegemabeachrecords.com/zegema-beach-releases/blueyouthlp and the US store (both vinyl and tape) here - https://zbrusa.com/collections/zbr-releases/products/blue-youth-dead-forever-12

Blue Youth - https://www.facebook.com/blueyouthsk

Grind Central Records - https://www.facebook.com/grindcentralrecords

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

Suspended Soul Tapes And Records - https://www.facebook.com/SuspendedSoulTapesRecords

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