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

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.

Drei Affen - Seguimos Ciegxs

Labels: Left Hand Label/Moment Of Collapse Records/Pifia Records/Through Love Records/Zegema Beach Records

Formats: Vinyl/CD/Digital

Release Date: 13 Jun 2019

Tracklist:

1. Seguimos Ciegxs

2. Llama Viva

3. Como Un Mar Violento

4. Gritos Sordos

5. El Último Aliento

6. Heridas

I'm currently trying to work out the number of releases I have reviewed that I actually physically own. Maybe it's in vain but there is a compulsiveness inside me that says "I need to have them". I'm getting there slowly but surely. That leads me into this, the latest in my ZBR roster review series (another thing that I'm slowly but surely progressing with) and it just so happens that I do have a copy of this glorious LP from Spanish screamo band Drei Affen.

After being self-released digitally by the band in mid-June 2019, Seguimos Ciegxs was released on both CD and single-sided vinyl later on in that same month. The vinyl pressing came on three different colours (gold, red and natural white) with a screen-printed b-side. My copy is the gold pressing that came from Left Hand Label.

I took some time earlier this week to get out of my four walls (I’m currently on annual leave, re-decorating) and by doing so, I re-connected with somebody I haven’t seen for over ten years. It was pretty wholesome to be honest, even though it was brief. It got me thinking about my relationship with music too and more importably, the physical music that I’m lucky enough to have in my collection. While our relationships with music and people may be detached, they’re not so far apart in reality.

Drei Affen’s 2019 release Seguimos Ciegxs is an embodiment of art and catharsis. The title-track is a case in point. After an ambient intro featuring both a sample and calm guitar tones, things get somewhat heavier. Instrumentation hits with almost Neo-crust/emoviolence intensity while the dual-vocals leave no room for peace.

‘Llama Viva’ continues where that opener left off, albeit with a more melodic approach. That’s not to say that it’s any easier on the ear though, as it isn’t. It shows prominently how beautiful and stark Drei Affen’s sound can be. ‘Como Un Mar Violento’ instantly blasts into life next. There’s no time for breath at all, as Drei Affen tear through space and time in belligerent fashion.

‘Gritos Sordos’ follows the same structure and delivery that has been present so far on Seguimos Ciegxs. That’s no bad thing, especially when the song is as expansive as it is here. I haven’t spun this release as often as I should have in recent times and doing so again has made me realise what I’ve missed.

It’s now the EP’s latter half and 'El Último Aliento’ is brimming with dark atmosphere created in part by Drei Affen’s great guitar work and just the quality of their musicianship as a whole. The Spanish lyrical delivery makes the harsh vocals sound even more emotive too. Ending with ‘Heridas’, you’re treated to one final superb blast of controlled intensity. 

The crustier end of screamo/post-hardcore doesn’t always grab me but when it hits. it hits hard. Seguimos Ciegxs is perfectly formed. It’s long enough to get lost in but also short enough that it doesn’t burn out.

You can stream and purchase the EP digitally below:-

Drei Affen - https://www.facebook.com/dreiaffenband

You can still pick up physical copies (the remaining CD copies) from the link below:-

Moment Of Collapse Records - https://shop.momentofcollapse.com/products/drei-affen-seguimos-ciegxs-cd

Left Hand Label - https://www.facebook.com/lefthandlabel

Moment Of Collapse Records - https://www.facebook.com/momentofcollapse

Pifia Records - https://www.facebook.com/pifiarecords

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

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

Cages - Second Thoughts

Labels: Long Legs Long Arms/Middle-Man Records/Shove Records/Through Love Records

Formats: Vinyl/Digital

Release Date: 21 Oct 2022

Tracklist:

1. How Quickly We Forget

2. A Sight For Sore Eyes

3. Every Dog Has It's Day

4. Someone Who's Working Really Hard On Being Someone

5. Sleepwalking In Potemkin Cities

In a sort of response to Edie Quinn's comment under the recent Drei Affen/Coma Regalia split review, I'm gonna be dropping some additional reviews over the coming weeks because I need to be less rigid in following my own schedule, but also because there's always so much amazing music that goes by me due to time and constantly catching up. This LP is a fine example of that. Cages are a band from Germany (featuring ex-members of We Had A Deal no less) and their debut EP Second Thoughts was released back in October of last year though some very fine labels, including Edie's own Middle-Man Records. On a completely separate note, this year's Brit Awards completely passed me by (don't ask) but from what I gather I didn't miss much.

With the combined experience and history of the members that make up Cages, Second Thoughts is a special release. ‘How Quickly We Forget’ plays very much on the band’s 90s emo/screamo influences without stepping into more modern-day emoviolence territories, thanks to mid-paced tempos and uplifting guitar work. The vocals do their bit as well, bringing to mind Refused and their historic album The Shape Of Punk To Come (A Chimerical Bombination In 12 Bursts) from the late 90’s.

‘A Sight For Sore Eyes’ is very emotive (an obvious point to make!) without being overly so. It reminds me a bit of when I first heard Russian band Ensslin’s Thumbsucker EP. It’s brilliantly simple from beginning to end, just really enjoyably emocore delivered in a way that comes naturally to European bands in general. That above point is demonstrated by ‘Every Dog Has It’s Day’ with it’s engrossing lead-guitar that stands tall at the forefront of the song, giving a listening experience that’s hard to find amongst many releases of a similar mould currently.

Penultimate song ‘Someone Who’s Working Really Hard On Being Someone’ starts with a sample that’s very apt for the current socio-political climate in which we live. It also mirrors the song as a whole, which seems to gain empowerment as it goes, alongside a great punk/screamo charm and Turnstile-esque positivity. I’m absolutely loving it! The pent up angst of closer ‘Sleepwalking In Potemkin Cities’ provides the closest glimpse of hardcore you’re gonna get on this release and the slightly harsher vocals are perfectly delivered without requiring the instrumentation to deviate from it’s blueprint sound.

The ears of Edie and also of those behind the other labels involved in this release can’t be faulted. If there was to be a shift in the current emo/screamo/post-hardcore community sound-wise, Cages would be leading it without a doubt. Hopefully this is the opening of a totally new rabbit hole.

You can stream and purchase Second Thoughts from the band on both physical, and digital formats below:-

Cages - https://www.instagram.com/cages_band/

Physical copies can also be ordered from the labels below:-

 

Middle-Man Records - https://middlemanrecords.storenvy.com/cages-second-thoughts-12

Shove Records - https://shoverec.bandcamp.com/album/second-thoughts

Through Love Records - https://shop.throughloverec.com/cages-second-thoughts

Long Legs Long Arms - https://www.facebook.com/3LAdisc

Middle-Man Records - https://www.facebook.com/middlemanrecords

Shove Records - https://www.facebook.com/SHOVE-records

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

Det Ar Därför Vi Bygger Stader/Mrtex - Split 7"

Labels: Dingleberry Records/Friendly Otter/Samegrey Records/Through Love Records/Wolf Town DIY/Zegema Beach Records

Foermats: Vinyl/Digital

Release Date: 03 Sep 2017

Tracklist:

1. Det Ar Därför Vi Bygger Stader - Jag Ringer Nog Dig Om Allt Gar At Helvete

2. Det Ar Därför Vi Bygger Stader - Nar Du Kom Tillbaka Sa Var All Disk Ren

3. Det Ar Därför Vi Bygger Stader - Akvarell

4. Mrtex - Slapping The General Populace

4. Mrtex - Inhaling Infants

I recently acquired a physical copy of this split, which brings my Zegema Beach Records discography collection to 51 releases (though that is a rough guesstimate). This 7" was released back in late 2017 featuring songs from Sweden's Det Ar Därför Vi Bygger Stader and US/Canadian band Mrtex. 250 copies were pressed in pretty d.i.y fashion, but that's fine as the aesthetic suits it well.

This split is chock full of piercing emoviolence/screamo and Det Ar Därför’s opener ‘Jag Ringer Nog Dig Om Allt Gar At Helvete’ is a rude awakening if you were expecting something more tuneful. The vocals are super high-pitched screams that almost sound a bit comical, but they’re not, as you’ll realise on ‘Nar Du Kom Tillbaka Sa Var All Disk Ren’. I’m sure I’ve said before that I hear a Japanese influence on Det Ar Därför’s music, but I can still hear it in the atmosphere they weave here. Their final song ‘Akvarell’ is more artsy than I remember any of their earlier music to be and it’s fantastic.

Mrtex follow with two songs that sit on the rawer end of the spectrum, while being lengthier and less violent. ’Slapping The General Populace’ makes use of their instrumental ability (as the instrumentation takes most of the slack), while the vocals are more prevalent at both the beginning and the end-ish. ‘Inhaling Infants’ is like a blistering mass of percussive mite and explosive tension. There’s also plenty of beauty in it too.

Recently when I’ve sat down to write these reviews, I’ve been calm and my head’s been somewhat empty, but this evening’s felt a bit different for whatever reason. What it has done is made really appreciate the raw, cathartic energy that went into the songs that appear on this split. I’m a believer in non-violence and pacifism , but I think I could do with laying off higher-tempo releases like this for a little bit.

You can stream and purchase both sides of the split digitally below:-

 

Det Ar Därför Vi Bygger Stader - https://www.facebook.com/vibyggerstader

Mrtex - https://www.facebook.com/mrtexrebellion

Physical copies are still available from the below labels:-

Friendly Otter - https://friendlyotter.bandcamp.com/album/fo-86-split-7

Through Love Records - https://shop.throughloverec.com/collections/releases/products/det-ar-darfor-vi-bygger-stader-mrtex-split-ep

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

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

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

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

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

Wolf Town DIY - https://www.facebook.com/WolfTownDiy

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

Trachimbrod - Leda

Labels: Damnfinetapes!/Dog Knights Productions/Through Love Records/Tokyo Jupiter Records/Zegema Beach Records

Formats: Vinyl/CD/Tape/Digital

Release Date: 03 Apr 2017

Tracklist:

1. Rum utan fönster

2. Allt är som det alltid var

3. Tärd

4. Begränsad

5. Medskyldighet

6. Ett annat liv

7. Vi två

8. Hjärnspöke

9. Saker de säger

This, while being my latest Zegema Beach Records roster series review, is also rather embarrassingly one of only a few reviews I've written that also features a release from UK/EU label Dog Knights Productions. That's strange in itself because ever since I started this blog, I've been religiously buying everything that Dog Knights and it's imprint Left Hand Label has released. It also comes at a time when DKP has announced an indefinite hiatus from label activity, for the forceable future at least.

Leda by Swedish post-rock/screamo band Trachimbrod (known as Come Across Trachimbrod in their easier days from 2009 - 2012) was released in April 2017 on vinyl by DKP, ZBR and Through Love Records. It was also released on tape via Damnfinetapes! and on cd via Tokyo Jupiter Records that same year. It serves as their last release to date.

This review might get a but sentimental, so apologies in advance. Owning records like Leda and living with it’s music for so long actually makes it’s harder to write about (for me anyway). I don’t know why but it just does. Album opener ‘Rum utan fönster’ is so musically pleasing and lighter than you might imagine given Trachimbrod’s post-rock/screamo leanings. Even when the screams come in over the top of the instrumentation, there’s no reason to be put off. It’s a record by a Scandinavian band that kind of sounds like a record by an Asian band to me, but that’s maybe because I’ve been listening to a hefty amount of Asian screamo lately, away from this blog. Musically it’s fantastic.

‘Allt är som det alltid var’ is beautifully pop-like, in the vein of I Love Your Lifestyle. It’s variation that suits Trachimbrod’s sound one hundred percent. The vocals switch from clean to harsh towards it’s end and when both are together, they work perfectly. As somebody who swings wildly from ludicrously heavy music to catchy and upbeat music now more than ever, ‘Tärd’ is a glorious mix of both. It may read like this is the first time I’ve listened to this record, but if truth be told I haven’t listened to it for a while (a symptom of always buying music I guess). I’ve forgotten how much I love it though!

After the slightly shorter ‘Tärd’, ‘Begränsad’ gives Trachimbrod’s sound a slight art-rock vibe, thanks to the lovely melodic guitar tones and time-signatures used throughout. It’s dreamy and is exactly what’s needed at this midweek point. The bass that concludes ‘Begränsad’ leads you into the quite explosive ‘Medskyldighet’, which is the shortest song of Leda but also the heaviest so far. It brings to mind Via Fondo, Suis La Lune and Shirokuma for me, thanks to it’s honest intensity.

‘Ett annat liv’ mixes the intensity of it’s predecessor with the vocal melody that was heard during ‘Allt är som det alltid var’, yet with a greater leaning towards those screams. Again, it’s so hard to ignore the exquisite musicianship that envelopes it all. The drums sound so organic and lively, while the bass and guitar work is sensitive and easy on the ear. I think it’s for that reason that this whole record sounds so perfect, as ‘Vi två’ rings out of the speakers. 

You reach penultimate song ‘Hjärnspöke’ all too quickly and with it, Trachimbrod’s heavier edge gets the heart racing once again. I’m not really a fan of symphonic/orchestral metal/rock, and I’m in no way comparing Trachimbrod to that, but there’s something dramatic about their sound here that makes me think of an orchestra. I can imagine them on a live stage, all moving individually (seemingly and rhythmically) while playing as one. I’ve seen bands do that before live and it’s a joy to behold when you’re lost in it.

Album closer ‘Saker de säger’ is the final illustration of just how great Trachimbrod’s music is. It brings to life the highs that you feel when listening to this album. Music is to be treasured and I treasure this LP so much, which is why I own two variants still to this day, and I’m not collector scum believe it or not!. This album is great from start to finish. Thanks and admiration goes to Trachimbrod and to all of the labels that were involved in bringing this to so many ears, Also, special thanks to DKP for all of the music that I hold so dear.

For fans of: Blue Friend, Via Fondo, Suis La Lune, Shirokuma, I Love Your Lifestyle and Heaven In Her Arms

You can stream and purchase Leda digitally as a name-your-price download from Trachimbrod's bandcamp page below:-

Trachimbrod - https://www.facebook.com/trachimbrodofsweden

Remaining physical copies can still be purchased from the releasing labels below:-

Dog Knights Productions - UK/EU/ROW - https://dogknightsproductions.com/collections/12-dk/products/dk103-trachimbrod-leda-12-lp 

Dog Knights Productions - USA/CAN - https://dogknightsproductions.com/collections/dog-knights-us/products/us-only-dk103-trachimbrod-leda-12-lp

Tokyo Jupiter Records - https://store.tokyojupiterrecords.com/collections/460391-tokyo-jupiter-records/products/19407580-trachimbrod-leda-cd

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

Dog Knights Productions - https://www.facebook.com/dogknights

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

Tokyo Jupiter Records - https://www.facebook.com/tokyojupiter

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

Nionde Plagan - Frustration

Labels: Dingleberry Records/Epileptic Media/Friendly Otter/Let Them Die Records/Moment Of Collapse Records/Through Love Records/Unlock Yourself Records/Upwind Productions/Zegema Beach Records

Formats: Vinyl/CD/Tape/Digital

Release Date: 30 Oct 2015

Tracklist:-

1. Letargi

2. Oandligt

3. Van, I Forodelsens Stund?

4. Orkeslos

5. [mellanspel]

6. Nar Smafaglar Dor

7. Vida Horisonter

8. Samhorighet

9. Revolt

10. Leva Eller Do

It's been another chunk of time since I wrote one of these ZBR roster reviews. Time if flying and I've been in a state of flux recently, mainly down to work and lockdown fatigue. I'm trying to gee myself up though, so let's see how that goes. 'Frustration', the third full-length release from Swedish post-hardcore band Nionde Plagan was released in October of 2015. It was released on various formats with both Friendly Otter and Dingleberry Records putting it on tape, Moment Of Collapse releasing the cd version and a vinyl pressing coming from a huge collaboration of labels, featuring Dingleberry Records, Epileptic Media, Friendly Otter, Let Them Die Records, Through Love Records, Unlock Yourself Records, Upwind Productions and of course, Zegema Beach Records (info taken from Discogs, please inform me of any inaccuracies). 

As post-hardcore goes, Nionde Plagan’s stands out amongst the heaviest. The screams on opening song ‘Letargi’ are fierce, while the melody of the guitars seem at odds with how heavy and crushing they are. The percussion holds up well deeper in the mix, with cymbal crashes being the overriding layer. The abrupt ending to what is a cinematic intro song really sets the tone here.

‘Oandligt’ expands on NP’s sound, adding more melody and a signature Swedish sense of tone and song-writing, which brings to mind some of the country’s best known modern heavy bands, like Dark Tranquility, in the instrumentation sense anyway. It’s a truly expressive song that becomes hypnotic as it eventually fades out in slow and dramatic fashion.

The cross pollination of screamo and black metal in recent years has been much the same as any other union of sounds, but it seems as though NP might have been early-adopters in a sense. The high/low pitched screams on ‘Van, I Forodelsens Stund?’ certainly prove that. Now I know that name-dropping so many sub-genres can be boring, but there are certain reference points within them that I find comforting when writing. Needless to say, there’s much more to Nionde Plagan’s sound than comparing it to other forms of heavy music.

It’s becoming increasingly common for me to take a couple of days to write a review now. Usually, I can write one and publish it within a couple of hours but sometimes it takes longer. Not because the album in question isn’t grabbing me, but because I don’t feel I can do it justice in one sitting. I think Frustration is one of those albums. ‘Orkeslos’ takes the crown of being the album’s lengthiest song and it epitomises the atmospheric, almost-blackened post-hardcore/metal approach of Nionde Plagan. It is instrumental for a large amount of it’s running time, with melody being used more subtly, in turn making it a lot darker.

‘Orkeslos’ is followed by a calming, sample-led song called ‘[mellanspel]’, which draws a line between the album’s two halves. It’s simple and relaxing. After a very short pause, ‘Nav Smafaglar Dor’ drives out of the speakers with it’s earthy post-rock riffing and more considered percussive rhythms. The screams are still hoarse and powerful. Considering the volume of Swedish bands that ZBR worked with prior to this release, it’s immense how unique they all were. ‘Vida Horisonter’ brings the tone/feel that’s present in Envy’s sound, that feeling of anticipation and the release that grabs your attention. 

There’s such a driving intensity about Frustration that it feels as though all of the songs on it could have just been woven into one long song and they would have still sounded perfectly balanced, and in place. ‘Samhorighet’ hypnotises you with repeating riffs throughout, only changing at points and into other sections. The melody layered over the top provides a great soundscape when sitting alongside the more distant screams of the song’s latter half and it ends abruptly, in startling fashion, giving way to penultimate song ‘Revolt’. ‘Revolt’ feels more frantic with emoviolence-esque urgency. It still captures NP’s formula but in a more intense way.

Final track ‘Leva Eller Do’ feels like a properly fitting conclusion to the album. It doesn’t divert from NP’s overall sound too much. Instead, it builds on it in a way that feels much more climactic and free. Chances are, you’re probably already more than familiar with this release given that it’s now over five years old, so I’m no doubt preaching to the converted. If you’re not though and you like your screamo on the heavier side, Frustration still holds up really well and is worth your time. Track a copy down if you can!

You can stream and download Frustration directly from Nionde Plagan's bandcamp page below:-

Nionde Plagan - https://www.facebook.com/NiondePlagan

Physical copies ares still available from the labels below:-

Friendly Otter - https://friendlyotter.bandcamp.com/

Let Them Die Records - https://letthemdierecords.bigcartel.com/

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

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

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

Epileptic Media - https://www.facebook.com/epilepticmedia

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

Let The Die Records - https://www.facebook.com/letthemdierecords

Moment Of Collapse Records - https://www.facebook.com/momentofcollapse

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

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

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

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

Careless - I Wish You Away

Labels: Couchpunx/Flood Floorshows/La Agonia De Vivir/Tell Wilhelm Records/Through Love Records/Zegema Beach Records

Formats: Vinyl/Digital

Release Date: 14 Feb 2015

Tracklist:

1. Small Hours

2. Mirror

3. Roda Fingrar

4. Pale As China

5. Kintsukuroi

6. Jag Kan Inte Dromma Som Dig

7. Jag Hatar Magnus Ladulåsgatan

8. Sad Statements

9. Sodra Station

10. Falsely Yours

Another Sunday and another ZBR roster review, which excites me more than you know. It's also the final release that formed a Swedish trio, alongside Via Fondo and I Love Your Lifestyle back in late 2014/early 2015. I Wish You Away was the first LP to come from Careless and was pressed on 300 copies, with 200 on black and 100 on mixed grey vinyl. It turned out to be the band's only full-length.

For many, Sweden is the epicentre of Europe’s screamo/post-hard community and it’s hard to argue with that sentiment, when so many bands have emerged from the country in recent years. Careless are (or were) one of those bands and I Wish You Away was their only full-length. Opening with the gentle tones of ‘Small Hours that builds slowly with layers of subtle dissonance, throughout it’s near six-minute length. It’s instrumental for the majority of it’s playing time, but being a screamo song it bursts into life towards the end with cinematic, heavy post-hardcore that gets faster as it goes. It seems strange to say this but it you’re looking for a song that sums up Careless and you’ve never listened to them before, then ’Small Hours’ is for you.

Things become slightly more chaotic from here on in with ‘Mirror’ and it’s uptempo emo that has roots in earlier screamo/emo. The mix of jangly guitar work, harsh screams and cleaner spoken word/shouting makes it harder to pin down yet music-wise it’s jam packed with twists and turns, while never losing it’s melody. Careless is one of those bands that aren’t afraid of mixing Swedish lyric songs, alongside their English songs and the first one of those is ‘Roda Fingrar’. I always love it when bands sing in their native language because it tends to give their music more feeling. Sorry if that comes across as a bit ignorant, I’m English and while I dabble in French a little, I can’t speak any other languages enough to call myself educated.

They have a real knack of making every song sound really expansive on I Wish You Away and dare I say it, there’s a touch of Japanese screamo influence in it as well. That’s what I get from the song-writing and phrasing on ‘Pale As China’ anyway. It’s so great to listen to! I got a terrible night’s sleep and as a result I feel pretty tired today, but the energy of ‘Kintsukuroi’ is helping me to power through this morning. It’s energy comes from the tempos and percussion, which take on many forms throughout the course of the song, before Careless slows it down towards the end via the addition of more cinematic atmosphere and riffs. It signals the progression to the record’s second half in a really nice way.

Being a screamo album, you’re never too far away from long song titles and ‘Jag Kan Inte Dromma Som Dig’ is one of those song titles, though maybe not be design but more due to translation. That’s kind of an irrelevant point though, not really sure why I wrote it but whatever. It’s still an awesome song filled with harsher screamo and even some black metal-like shrieks in places. ‘Jag Hatar Magnus Ladulasgatan’ follows on in much the same vein. It’s another one that’s a bit more mid-paced and fuller in delivery. I think that’s one characteristic that marks this album out. It’s quite long compared to a lot of more recent screamo/post-hardcore albums and there’s no real gravitation to emoviolence either. That’s not a bad thing by any means though, as it just means the album is more consistent as a whole and isn’t as brain-melting. 

The production, mixing and mastering is another element that I haven’t touched upon yet. It’s very true to the sound that Careless wanted to create. It’s clean when it needs to be but also has the right level of rawness as well. For example, during most songs you can audibly hear the bass rumbling within the mix, making it much more three dimensional. ’Sad Statements’ exhibits that well, alongside the emotion it references, which is synonymous with emo/screamo. That just makes it more heartfelt. There’s no loss in momentum either, which can sometimes be a problem on longer albums or for listeners with short attention spans. For example, the album’s penultimate song ‘Sodra Station’ stretches to six minutes and while that may turn some people off, you should do your best not to let it, as you’ll miss out on so much. 

Ending with ‘Falsely Yours’, Careless injects one last dose of emotion and reality into I Wish You Away with a slightly stripped back approach and some piercing feedback, which seems to manifest itself in the form of anger as it rings out. It’s quite disorientating and it leads to a noisy closing section that’s amongst the heaviest this album has seen. This is certainly one album that you’ll need to listen to in a full sitting. Careless made it so that I Wish You Away contains impact even long after the band themselves have gone quiet. It’s subtle impact but it buries itself deep and in it’s own way, cleanses you. We must never let music like this die.

You can stream I Wish You Away in full and purchase it as a name-your-price download directly from Careless below:-

Careless - https://www.facebook.com/careless08

You can still buy physical copies below:-

Through Love Records - https://shop.throughloverec.com/collections/releases/products/careless-i-wish-you-away

Couchpunx - https://www.facebook.com/couchpunxshows/

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

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

Tell Wilhelm Records - https://www.facebook.com/tellwilhelmrecords/

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

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