Searching The Shores For My Jackie, Oh - You'll Despise Yourself

Labels: Polar Summer

Formats: Tape/Digital

Release Date: 30 May 2017

Tracklist:

1. Untitled

2. I Hate Your Lifestyle

3. More Than One Hour

4. Possession

5. Two-Tone Snakeskin Boots With Rolled Sleeves

6. Crush On You

7. I'll Ask Her

8. I Listen To A Park Jefferson Song And Go To Bed

9. Even Then You're Weak

Back again with another (and long-awaited, by me at least!) Polar Summer roster review. I sometimes  obsess over specific labels and having collected some of Polar Summer's releases already, I chose to delve into their catalogue. I'm still looking to build up and maybe complete the collection one day but for now digital streams will do.

Searching The Shores For My Jackie, Oh are (or were) an interesting band. From Kazan in Russia, they played emoviolence and had two releases in 2017 that were three months apart, if that!. The first was their self-titled album in January, which was released via Canadian label Le Blast Records and the second was this album in March, which featured some of the tracks from that S/T album and was released on tape by Polar Summer from Russia. That's all the info I have on them!

It’s very warm here this evening. We’re not used to it in the UK, as I’m sure I’ve said before. As I write this review, I’m melting and I like the heat! The emoviolence of Russian band Searching The Shores For My Jackie, Oh isn’t going to help me cool down so I might as well dive right in. ‘Untitled’ opens the album in a gentle fashion. It’s instrumentation is calming, though there’s a subtle rawness to it as well. It’s a hint at what’s to come maybe. ‘I Hate Your Lifestyle’ is where the band explodes. My first reaction was that the song-titled was a jab at Swedish emo band I Love Your Lifestyle, but I can’t conceive a reason why that would be.

What I can conceive though is just how raw and emotive things get on ‘I Hate Your Lifestyle’. It barely lasts over fifty seconds yet it’s authentic rawness and it’s caustic vocals show exactly what Searching The Shores For My Jackie, Oh are/were about. From here on in I’m going to refer to them as Jackie, Oh for ease. I think people who love acts like The Body will really like this album, especially thanks to the high-pitched vocals. ‘More Than One Hour’ proves exactly why, while also delivering percussion and guitar work that sounds engrossing and uplifting even.

Just like ‘I Hate Your Lifestyle’, ‘Possession’ is another sub one-minute blast of intensity. The vocals are buried further in the mix here as the instrumentation towers over them somewhat, but in doing so it takes away some of the caustic feel. ’Two-Tone Snakeskin Boots With Rolled Sleeves’ explodes after a brief period of slow guitar, only to fall away again thirty-seconds later as Jackie, Oh drop into more of an emo stance with gentler instrumentation and grungier shouts towards the end. Proving that feedback is a key staple of every emoviolence song, Jacki, Oh go a bit more artsy during’ Crush On You’. There’s something about it that comes across differently. I think it’s the tempos they use 

Rolling instantly into ‘I’ll Ask Her’, that artsy flair comes out even more in the riffs along with the switch in pace and mood mid-way through. The way the cleaner guitars and drumming sit alongside the piercing vocals shouldn’t work but does. ‘I Listen To A Park Jefferson Song And Go Back To Bed’ leans more towards hardcore and is very much darker in tone. It’s probably my favourite song on You’ll Despise Yourself. Jackie, Oh close out with ‘Even Then You’re Weak’ and they channel the inner emo band once again, punctuating the violence and creating the best of both worlds.

In a music community where short-lived bands are the norm, I can’t think of many whose life was as brief as Searching The Shores For My Jackie, Oh’s was. Two releases in three months was impressive output though and with them still being available to listen too, what is there to loose. Now, what do I have to do to get my hands on tape copies!

As I mentioned above, their S/T release and this one are still available to stream and purchase as name-your-price downloads via their bandcamp page below:-

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

Othiel - World's Fastest Car

Labels: Zegema Beach Records

Formats: CD/Digital

Release Date: 26 May 2025

Tracklist:

1. Never

2. Stones You Throw

3. Walk Through Walls

4. Narration Sickness

5. Luke

6. Canaries

7. World's Fastest Car

Californian screamo band Othiel returned earlier this year with their 2nd full-length release, World's Fastest Car. The story of their connection to Zegema Beach Records began in 2023 (though it was probably much earlier) when they released their first full-length LP We Will Be Our Home in 2023, swiftly followed by the 2024 split tape with Palefade, through sister label Tomb Tree. World's Fastest Car was released towards the end of May on 200 digipak CD's.

This last week has been the most frustrating of all weeks. I have been on annual leave and I had planned my time around the blog; however, whenever I make plans, they usually go to shit! I couldn’t let today slip away without getting something written. The newest release by Othiel was released on CD (remember those?) earlier this year and all copies have been sold. Maybe there will be a repress?!

Kicking off with ‘Never’, Othiel’s musical quality is noticeable. Grandiose melodies and atmosphere join harsh vocals, which themselves lean more towards hardcore. The spoken-word sample used mid-way through is a big nod towards American post-hardcore of the early 2000’s, as is the more expansive overall feel throughout the song. Things get a lot more urgent and angular on ‘Stones You Throw’, as Othiel add panic-chords and off-kilter time signatures into the mix. These ingredients don’t necessarily make the songs go faster but merely give off that impression. There’s still a lofty amount of mid-tempo feel here in places.

Chunkier riffs are a thing on ‘Walk Through Walls’, adding to what is a much more intense song. It has so many different musical elements; combining meatier hardcore riffs with their off-kilter post hardcore and changing tempos, Othiel show that they’re very adept at writing shorter songs without losing any of the feel. The ringing feedback that closes out ‘Walk Through Walls’ flows into ‘Narration Sickness’, which makes greater use of punk rhythms alongside dynamics that can’t be placed as easily. There’s definitely some production/mixing wizardry at play. 

‘Luke’ shows that there is a pattern to the album, as it opens once again with more ferocious post-hardcore, which gives way to more complex layers later on. It’s a pattern that creates a well-rounded song and indeed a well-rounded album. Honestly, it’s the perfect escape from what ails you thanks to Othiel’s love of emo and their exquisite musicianship. Penultimate song ‘Canaries’ sounds like it’s being controlled by a click-track early on but fear not as it’s just their precise drumming, which backs up even classier guitar/bass work and great vocals that add so much body to this release.

Closing out with the title-track ‘World’s Fastest Car’, Othiel give themselves space one again to allow their epic and expansive side to shine through, as if it wasn’t bright enough already! This album provides the perfect excuse to shut out the noise around you. Othiel are mature well beyond their years as a band, showing that they’re destined for the highest echelons of the current screamo rostrum.

As this release is sold out on CD format, the only way you can hear it right now is by streaming and/or purchasing it as a digital download via the ZBR bandcamp page below:-

Othiel Instagram - @othiel_ca

Zegema Beach Records - @zegemabeachrecords.bsky.social

Clay Birds - a separation from vanity

Labels: Zegema Beach Records

Formats: Tape/Digital

Release Date: 10 May 2025

Tracklist:

1. an intuition of morality

2. to my dearly departed

3. to sell our fire would be the ultimate defeat

4. infinite regress

5. everything, everything

California's coming in hot when it comes to screamo at the moment and trust Zegema Beach Records to have their fingers on the pulse. In May they released the newest EP a separation from vanity by Cali quartet Clay Birds on 100 tapes. Clay Birds have only been releasing music for a relatively short time, having released a demo, a split and a single in 2023, before following them in 2024 with their debut album Bled Out and Painted Blue. Also, if you're wondering why the EP title above reads differently to the title on ZBR's site; it was taken from the band's bandcamp/discogs pages and I can't confirm the correct title.

This EP sees Clay Birds making gorgeous emo/post-hardcore in the nostalgic way on opener ‘an intuition of morality’. There’s raw emotion, glorious clean singing, explosive heaviness and twinkling melodies flowing right the way through it. Opposite ends of the musical palette colliding in unison. The beautiful musicianship grows in majesty on ‘to my dearly departed’, where it’s joined again by clean singing that’s a cross between slow-core/indiemo, before bursts of both deep and higher-pitched screams add a sense of unease. 

From what seems like a fairly lengthy song, Clay Birds deliver something more visceral and urgent on ‘to sell our fire would be the ultimate defeat’. Driving and down-beat elements of screamo/hardcore are interwoven with the quartet’s beguiling melodic layers. ’Infinite regress’ is another shorter number and it reminds of music by bands like American Football and The World Is A Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid To Die at first. Slightly off-kilter yet gentle emo leads you into a false-sense of security (kind of) before a raucous mid-section comes in, fades and leaves you with a crescendo-like ending.

It’s the perfect way to usher in EP closer ‘everything, everything’, with punky rhythms that pep up the mood and self-introspection aplenty. It’s by far the artiest song on a separation from vanity too. Though I’ve tried my best to describe this release in words, I don’t think mere words can do it justice. You can only really take it in by listening and appreciating.

You can stream and purchase the EP digitally from Clay Birds here:-

ZBR tapes copies have sold out.

Clay Birds Instagram - @claybirdsband

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

Emma Goldman - all you are is we

Labels: Zegema Beach Records

Formats: Vinyl/Digital

Release Date: 28 Apr 2025

Tracklist:

1. an introduction to real estate-induced psychosis

2. at rock bottom I was a piss girl

3. I seem to be an adjective

4. I don't think much at all

5. diss track

6. this is your brain on minimum wage

7. it rubs the boycott ketchup on its brand new slacks

8. whispers catastrophe

9. that is the land of lost content

10. we're corporatizing polyamory

11. canned response

12. bellinis at the blockade

My first introduction to Emma Goldman was on their 4-way Meditations In Affinity: Solicitude split 7" with BIGHAND//BIGKNIFE, Almanac Man and Abandoncy, which was released via The Ghost Is Clear Records and Zegema Beach Records in 2020. These crazy Canadians returned to Zegema Beach Records earlier this year to release their first album all you are is we. 

They play a combination of sassy-hardcore/screamo and all that adjacent good-stuff, alongside the occasional hit of breakcore and dub-step (remember that?). If you have an aversion to bright lights and the colour yellow, you'd better stay away from their bandcamp page too!.

It feels like an absolute age since I originally sat down to write this review. Life and work things inevitably took over for a little while, but I couldn’t leave this one hanging any longer. Opening with ‘an introduction to real estate-induced psychosis’, Emma Goldman’s vocalists audibly gasp for air as they hurriedly deliver their spoken-word intro nestled amongst machine-like guitar feedback. Though for all I know, it could also be a sampled intro.

What follows is nothing short of pure audio terrorism as frenetic percussion, shattering bass, fast math-like riffs and piercing shrieks make up ‘at rock bottom I was piss girl’ .The opening barrage reminds me of the Japanese techno/electronic-infused noise of Mad Capsule Markets (also one of my faves to namedrop apparently), though further comparisons escape me at the moment, which is probably a good thing!.

The way Emma Goldman switch between that brutality and the slightly more structured emotive hardcore sound is noticeable too, purely down to the ease of it. ‘I seem to be an adjective’ has a clean yet unnerving guitar tone to it as the quartet layers up to yet another blastathon. It’s a good thing these songs are short because I don’t think any member could sustain anything longer given the sheer energy they use crafting them.

‘I don’t think much at all’ isn’t long, clocking in at a blink over three minutes and still sitting well within the wheel tracks of the band’s chaotic and impulsive compositions. Strangely though, during the mid-section I’m getting peak nu-metal vibes, as if somebody sped up the heavy parts of ‘Back To School (mini maggit)’ by Deftones. Again, what I hear and what everybody else hear’s will probably be way different.

The first time we properly hear Emma Goldman’s breakcore/dub-step is on ‘diss track’, which is a collage of samples and upbeat dance, breaking things up with aplomb before things get back to normal!? on ‘this is your brain on minimum wage’. It could well be a commentary about how real-term wages are going down across the world or it could just be another amusingly though-up title. Whatever’s correct, it’s another show of just how blistering this album is.

The album’s latter half starts off with the obscurely titled ‘it rubs the boycott ketchup on its brand new slacks’, which at nearly five minutes in length, is a bit of a departure for the album (not that I’m obsessed with song lengths or anything!). The pensive build-up makes way for probably the most post-hardcore song on all you are is we. It’s expansive, heartfelt and filled with so many different musical elements; clean singing, whispers set to grinding drums, extended instrumental passages and memorable guitar hooks. Memorable is certainly the right word here.

Following immediately on through the fading guitar is ‘whispers catastrophe’, which is a short ambient piece complete with whispered vocals and the sound of gentle lapping waves. It’s relaxing though brief and soon ‘that is the land of lost content’ is resplendent in spoken-word poetry and gentle guitar. Again, as is Emma Goldmans’s MO now, it builds in layers and volume to reveal a heavy post-hardcore song that La Dispute would have dreamed they had written. 

‘we’re corporatizing polyamory’ goes in a more frantic direction once again. It’s both maddening and chug-like at points. I think by this point, my brain has been battered beyond comprehension and being descriptive is hard. ‘canned response’ is another upbeat dance interlude that will have you raving wherever you are. The beats sound like a ticking metronome and the samples are bizarre as per usual. It’s rad and I bet it sounds great live.

Closing with ‘bellinis at the blockade’, Emma Goldman rock out in the same way they started. I use the term “rock out” because this sounds somewhat groovy at times, in between the sheer heaviness. Taking a moment to collect my thoughts as the album ends, I’m in awe. The broad spectrum that makes up screamo always seems to throw up bands that rip up the rulebook (if any such book exists). Emma Goldman might just be the heaviest/craziest band to join the party. Props to them and to ZBR for giving them a bigger platform.

If you've managed to get through my essay on how good this album is and you still haven't heard it yet, then head to Emma Goldman's bandcamp page to right that wrong and also grab it as a name-your-price download:-

Emma Goldman Instagram - @emmagoldmanband

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

Physical vinyl copies are available via Zegema Beach Records here:- 

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

U.S.A. - https://zbrusa.com/collections/zbr-releases/products/emma

máu - Anthesis

Labels: Zegema Beach Records

Formats: Vinyl/Digital

Release Date: 15 Nov 2024

Tracklist:

1. Sunder

2. Disheartening

3. Internalized

4. Restrain

New Californian screamo quartet máu released their debut EP Anthesis last November and it was released pressed on 10" vinyl through Zegema Beach Records. This physical release was so eagerly anticipated that it's already sold out! The band spent loads of time honing their sound live, playing with the likes of Loma Prieta, State Faults (and many others) before even releasing any music online. In July, they're supporting Beau Navire! Is it too hyperbolic to call this the new golden age of screamo?

máu don’t just play typical screamo, as their sound is an amalgamation of emoviolence, metallic hardcore and even subtle blackened tones on EP opener ‘Sunder’. The vocals are frenetic, as is the percussion. The guitars are where the majority of their melody comes from and they’re absolutely spot on, without being too melodic or clean sounding.

By now, we’re used to either pensive/atmospheric or furious openers and to be honest ‘Sunder’ sits in between. ‘Disheartening’’; however, is a lot more violent in it’s delivery early on, before máu treats us to some more post-hardcore/almost metalcore layers, which slow the tempo down somewhat. 

We’re currently at the back end of a heatwave, which is still pretty rare for the UK, so it’s very humid. The intensity of Anthesis does nothing to clear the air as ‘Internalized’ leads into the EP’s latter half in superfluous fashion. The layered instrumentation really hits the spot, as the vocals are used sparingly but powerfully at the same time.

The feedback that closes out ‘Internalized’ leads straight into the final track ‘Restrain’. At the same time, the sky around me goes really dark (as if it’s in tune with what I’m listening too!). I said earlier on in this review that I think we’re in another golden age of screamo and I stand by that as máu take us from abject heaviness to gentle emo and slowly back again.

Four epic songs delivered in just over ten minutes from a band that’s full of talent. I’ll admit that sleeping on the physical 10” release hurts (but it was my own fault). máu leave an instant impression musically with this EP. Keep your eyes peeled for more, hopefully…

You can stream and purchase Anthesis digitally from máu below:-

máu Instagram - @mau_band

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

Sinema - After The Flatline

Labels: Ds//fp records/Ephyra Recordings/Home To Heart/Self Versed Records/Zegema Beach Records

Formats: Vinyl/CDr/Tape/Digital

Release Date: 29 Nov 2023

Tracklist:

1. Stutter

2. ...and You Already Forgot

3. Hard To Get By

4. Speak Your Mind

5. I Can't See Through The Mirror

So there's a whole wave of bands coming through, being championed by labels that include Silverback Gorilla Records, Wax Vessel, ds//fp, Zegema Beach Records and a whole bunch I'm forgetting. The latter two have both had a hand in releasing After The Flatline by Texan emocore band Sinema. Following it's initial digital release in late 2023 via Ephyra Recordings, a 2024 tape pressing followed via Self Versed Records (alongside a repress earlier this year), as well as a super limited CDr release via both Ds//fp records and Home To Heart. 

ZBR has now swooped in with a vinyl pressing of the band's debut EP, which is crazy considering Sinema's members are still in school but then again not that surprising given that they recently appeared at ZBR Fest in Chicago. If you're struggling to keep up with the amount of stellar releases in 2025 so far, look away now.

Self-control is both a wonderful thing but also a brutal mistress. As I alluded to above, there are so many incredible bodies of music being released this year that it’s hard to keep up with and hard to resist hitting that order button on. I know because last month I received twelve releases I had ordered and I’m still awaiting another twelve. Enough of the trumpet blowing though and on with the show. Hearing Sinema for the first time takes me right back to first hearing bands like Underoath, Funeral For A Friend and Silverstein on opener ‘Stutter’.

It’s so full of energy and emotion. Music filled with both introspection and belligerent heaviness, while nostalgic clean singing rubs shoulders with piercing post-hardcore/emo-violence screams. ‘… and You Already Forgot’ features beautifully played guitar, that’s sensitive to Sinema’s calm approach before they switch things up again. It really feels like we’re going full-circle and though I might be rocking up late to the party, it’s welcomed.

I was so mesmerised by what I was hearing that I didn’t even realise it had progressed into ‘Hard To Get By’. Sinema’s flair for art/math-rock additions alongside their already amazing post-hardcore is hard to ignore in truth. Sometimes, we all need to just take some time away from reality, to unload and even compartmentalise what’s going on around us. This song and this realise helps us do that.

‘Speak Your Mind’ is a reminder that freedom of expression is vital and needed. I’ve not always been the best at speaking mine when it counts, but I’m getting older and bolder now. That may or may not have anything to do with this actual song though, which is filled with a mix of genuine rage and heart-on-the-sleeve honesty. Closing with ‘I Can’t See Through The Mirror’, Sinema push forth their most urgent and honest performance on this EP. Everything before was just as heartfelt but the shorter song length gives it a bit more of an edge.

Before hitting play on this, I was thinking it was going more abrasive and instant. Don’t know why I thought that. Sinema has shown that the emocore era isn’t dead and is in fact growing new roots with new bands. This is nothing short of excellent. Please don’t assume, just listen. 

You can stream and download the EP via ZBR below:-

At this point I need to mention that Sinema recently changed their name to I Promised The World, for reasons outside of their control. You can find them on Instagram at - @ipromisedtheworld.

digital and physical copies are available from the links below:-

Ephyra Recordings - https://4ephyra.bandcamp.com/album/4e022-after-the-flatline

Home To Heart - https://www.hometoheartrecords.com/product/sinema-after-the-flatline-cd

Ds//fp records - https://www.facebook.com/dsfprecords

Ephyra Recordings Instagram - @4ephyra

Home To Heart Instagram - @hometoheartrecords

Self Versed Records Instagram - @self_versed_records

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

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/

dagerman. - tragedie | VIVERE

Labels: Self-Released/Zegema Beach Records

Formats: Digital/Vinyl

Release Date: 24 Oct 2024

Tracklist:

1. luogo | PROGETTARE

2. inquietudine | SUBLIMARE

3. oggetto | PRODURRE

4. attesa | ESISTERE

5. niente | AVERE

6. direzione | OPPORRE

7. equazione | AMARE

8. domande | FINIRE

Somehow, we're made it to the month of May already. Being in the fifth month of 2025 isn't really that significant except for the fact that new Italian band dagerman. is also the fifth Italian band I have featured here this year. It all started with the exceptional instrumental/progressive guitar work of Federico Favaro, followed by the black/death/doom of both Malauriu and Sinoath, as well as more recently the epic post-hardcore of Chivala. tragedie | VIVERE was digitally released by dagerman. last October and just over a month ago it was given the vinyl treatment by Zegema Beach Records.  

Honestly, I’m going through one of those phases where I want to write/don’t want to write/am feeling overwhelmed by the sheer amount of music there is to write about. I need to get back in the saddle though and what better way to do it than with another fantastic Italian band. If you’re familiar with Zegema Beach Records (and by now you should be!), you’ll know roughly what to expect. dagerman. starts tragedie | VIVERE with ‘luogo | PROGETTARE’ and it’s every bit as dramatic as promised. An emotive mix of striking Italian lyricism and off-kilter post-hardcore that’s much slower in tempo than usual (at least on initial listen).

‘inquietudine | SUBLIMARE” is the perfect coming together of both frenetic screamo/emo-violence and abject beauty. Poetically delivered vocally, as the instrumentation behind crashes, stomps and captivates with dramatic melodies, it embraces you. There’s more obvious urgency as the release progresses and ‘oggetto | PRODURRE’ embodies that urgency with yet more heart-on-the-sleeve passion, coupled with passages of raging intensity. As it ends, it draws out the frustration I’ve felt over the last couple of weeks.

‘attesa | ESISTERE’ starts off with the most unexpected panic-induced riff. It immediately lights a fire in both dagerman. and in myself, as the song flows from off-kilter mathiness to groovy punk and back in the blink of an eye. It’s the aural equivalent of a kick up the arse and it’s brilliant! After that moment of chaos, ‘niente | AVERE’ comes into view like a beacon of calm but don’t let that intro section fool you. It’s not long before dagerman. flip the switch in favour of a solid mix of epic post-hardcore and constantly shifting emo-violence. 

The latter half of tragedie | VIVERE doesn’t change direction as ‘direzione | OPPORRE’ moves through various phases, embracing everything that shapes dagerman.’s sound. The lovely indiemo feel that surrounds you at the start of ‘equazione | AMARE’ is one that should really stick around (it has that La Dispute vibe going on), which isn’t actually that far off as a comparison actually. dagerman. bring the feels here. 

Closing out with ‘domande | FINIRE’, there’s a strange feeling of peace and tranquility amongst the heaviness. Maybe that feeling is subjective because I haven’t been able to properly focus on music recently or because this album cleanses the senses and transcends conscious thought. Either way, it’s a brilliant body of work and another example of how rich Italy’s musical community is.

You can stream and purchase the album as a name-your-price download from dagerman. below:-

Physical copies are available from Zegema Beach Records below:-

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

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

dagerman. - https://www.instagram.com/dagerman.band/

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

Crossed - Realismo Ausente

Labels: Fireflies Fall/Navalla Discos/Saltamarges/Through Love Records/Zegema Beach Records

Formats: Vinyl/Digital

Release Date: 21 Mar 2025

Tracklist:

1. Ojos Cerrados

2. Vaciar Un Corazón

3. Distrés

4. Monotonia De La Lluvia En La Ventana

5. Cerrojo

6. Carne Atravesada

7. Sentirse Solo

8. Cruz Vertical

9. Cuerpo Distorsionado

10. Realismo Dolor

11. Catedral

I've been in love with Spanish hardcore/metal band Crossed ever since I purchased a copy of their 2022 album Morir from Left Hand Label (which was a co-release with Clever Eagle Records, Pundonor Record and Zegema Beach Records). Following their 2022 split release with Vibora and the 2024 EP Vida Quieta, Crossed return with their newest album Realismo Ausente. For those still unfamiliar, Crossed is made up of members from Boneflower, Descubriendo a Mr Mime and Eros+Massacre.

This album isn’t even a month old yet, so I don’t feel that far behind for once! Self-deprecation aside, Crossed are on an absolute roll. Opener ‘Ojos Cerrados’ fills the speakers (and room) with a screeching, heady mix of twinkly post-hardcore and blackened metal. It acts as an ice-breaker or an initiation if you will as it’s followed by ‘Vaciar Un Corazón’, which is filled with much more intensity and a whole lot of groove too. I for one wasn’t expecting that! The percussion sits a little deeper in the mix, while the bass and guitars ramp up the volume alongside the high-pitched vocals. 

‘Distrés’ opens up yet more sonic avenues on this release, as Crossed manically switch between upbeat punk rhythms and off-kilter signatures that truly blur genre lines. They purposefully ignore the need to write lengthy songs and allow momentum to do it’s thing. ‘Monotonia De La Lluvia En La Ventana’ is another case in point with it’s unnerving feedback and panic-inducing riffs. This song is somewhat different in approach as it relies on spoken-word vocals during the first-half before the band hits top gear once again.

In a time where bands are crossing genres as if they never existed, ‘Cerrojo’ offers no safe haven. Proper core riffs/bass delivered alongside eardrum-bursting screams and upfront drumming amplifies how far Crossed are willing to go for their art. ‘Carne Atravesada’ is filled with the most unnerving noise and screams, it’s easy to forget that this isn’t a noise/ambient black metal release. I mean, it sort of is but not in that sense as it’s got much more to it like the blasting insanity of ’Sentirse Solo’, which comes complete with mathcore-esque panic chords and added post-metal riffs.

The excellent continuation you get on Realismo Ausente doesn’t go unnoticed, The way Crossed uses feedback and natural sounds to bridge gaps between songs works perfectly. ‘Cruz Vertical’ is testament to that as it instantly hits after ’Sentirse Solo’ has seemingly ended, filling the speakers with heavy hardcore and repetition that actually sounds good!. They can do no wrong, as proven by the glorious yet metallic melody that opens ‘Cuerpo Distorsionado’. Those metallic tones make themselves heard throughout the song, while huge stomping riffs and high-pitched shrieks override the senses alongside cymbal-led percussive crashes. 

Penultimate song ‘Realismo Dolor’ both carries on the momentum left by it’s predecessor but also brings the earlier groove back to the forefront of Crossed’s sound, along with the spoken-word/shouted portion of the vocals. Ending with the album’s longest song ‘Catedral’, Crossed treat you to the heaviest piece overall. It contains pretty much everything that this record has to offer sonically, while creating the ultimate soundscape in which to conclude.

Crossed have always been heavy but that term is subjective. Some listeners will consider Morir to be a lot heavier while others will say the same about this album. I’m not looking to draw a proper comparison between the two (though it reads like I am) and I do like to approach records as I find them. Realismo Ausente is a great record filled with so much density. This year is passing by far too quickly, don’t let records like this do the same.

You can stream and purchase the album both digitally and physically from Crossed below:-

Crossed - https://www.facebook.com/crossedxband

You can also buy physical copies from the labels below:-

Fireflies Fall - https://firefliesfall.com/shop/

Navalla Discos - https://navalla.bandcamp.com/merch

Saltamarges - https://saltamarges.bandcamp.com/merch

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

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

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

Navalla Discos - https://www.facebook.com/navalladiscos

Saltamarges - https://www.facebook.com/saltamarges

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

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