Smile To The Wind - Illusions

Labels: Dead Tank Records/Trace In Maze/Unlock Yourself Records/Upwind Productions/Zegema Beach Records

Formats: Vinyl/Digital

Release Date: 21 Mar 2018

Tracklist:

1. Whisper Of The Forests

2. Wormwood Grass

3. Shroud

4. Homecoming

5. Towards The Time

6. Grave Of Kings pt.I

7. Grave Of Kings pt.II

8. Grave Of Kings pt.III

9. Resin

10. Unbearably Cold And Silent

11. Where Do Ships Go To Die?

I'm moving onto the new review schedule today, after finalising it earlier this morning. Being more focused is good. In this review I'm talking about now-defunct Russian screamo band Smile To The Wind and their final release Illusions. It was released both on vinyl and digital formats back in March 2018. I last featured Smile To The Wind here when I wrote about their split with Ojne, which both Unlock Yourself Records and ZBR also helped to release.

Smile To The Wind were always a band that made their point musically without overrunning. Illusions makes that point exactly with short, succinct numbers. Album opener ‘Whisper Of The Forests’ presents their music in a melodic light, with a dramatic build up, as if it was meant to be an intro of sorts. During the closing seconds, they burst into life with fast post-hardcore/screamo that flows into ‘Wormwood Grass’. There’s a slight pause between the songs (which to me is a bit pointless) but it does no harm, as it’s over very quickly anyway, leading to a sing that’s over equally as fast.

‘Shroud’ exhibits the band’s musical abandon and their penchant for emo-violence that’s not quite emo-violence, if you know what I mean?!. The sheer pace of this album might catch you off guard slightly, as you’re flung into ‘Homecoming’ and it’s subtle stop/start passages. Smile To The Wind are more expansive on ‘Towards The Time’, which leans further towards post-metal/rock, albeit briefly.

The second half of the album starts with a trilogy. ‘Grave Of Kings pt.I’ is a technical, harsh screamo song that immediately gives way to ‘Grave Of Kings pt.II’. As with ‘pt’I’ it’s over before you can truly settle into it’s dissonant tones. ‘Grave Of Kings pt.III’ rounds out the trilogy with a retreat into a musical dynamic that’s somewhat calmer. It breaks things up but also shows how instrumentally majestic Smile To The Wind are.

‘Resin’ is a shock to the system afterwards, with it’s fast emo-violence coupled with a heart-on-your-sleeve screamo blueprint that leads instantly into penultimate song ‘Unbearably Cold And Silent’. Who would have thought that a song with a title like that would be so apt for the current climate in which we live. I say that as somebody who lives in the UK, where the government’s energy policy has been flawed for nigh on fifteen plus years and a nation that is facing possible blackouts (though that’s a worst case scenario).

The album’s final song ‘Where Do Ships Go To Die?’ is a poignant one and could quite easily reflect our personal lives in one way or another. It’s the longest song on Illusions and while it can’t be considered grandiose, it’s still rousing right up until it falls silent. Eleven songs lasting less than ten minutes or so have never sounded so good. Dare I say that Smile To The Wind went too soon. There’s still a place for them.

You can still stream and purchase Illusions directly from Smile To The Wind below:-

Smile To The Wind - https://www.facebook.com/smiletothewind

You can still get physical copies from the below labels:-

Dead Tank Records - https://deadtankrecords.com/products/smile-to-the-wind

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

Dead Tank Records - https://www.facebook.com/deadtankrecords

Trace In Maze - https://www.facebook.com/traceinmaze

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

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

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

Ravin - II

Labels: Sad Panda Records/Unlock Yourself Records/Winter Sea Records/Zegema Beach Records

Formats: CD/Digital

Release Date: 13 Apr 2015

Tracklist:

1. Ruines

2. Des Visages

3. Dansons

4. Stigmates

5. Colline

6. Engrais

7. MCMXLV

8. (Des) Cendres

Things are slowly returning to normal here, just in time for the warmer weather. I had this review penned in for the weekend just gone but that didn't happen, obviously. This is the latest in my Zegema Beach Roster review series (of which I'm still behind on) and it features the second, and maybe last, release to have come from French screamo band Ravin. II was released on cd via UK label Sad Panda Records, CAN/US label Zegema Beach Records (if you're unfamiliar), and the Russian duo of Unlock Yourself Records and Winter Sea Records in 2015. It follows their debut album that was released a year earlier. Ravin has been compared to so many incredible screamo bands, there are just too many to mention.

The eight songs on II are not long ones, so this is isn’t going to be massively drawn out review. Album opener ‘Ruines’ projects a sound that’s unmistakably French, while borrowing from other European cousins too. It’s melodic, up-tempo and the multi-vocal approach is great. So far Ravin reminds me of bands like Who Needs Maps?, Child Meadow and probably some others too (if my brain could remember stuff!).

I have to say that this release isn’t as chaotic as I thought it would be, I was expecting breakneck emoviolence and instead Ravin’s take on screamo is more measured. ‘Des Visages’ is a testament to this with instrumentation that switches between both fast/heavy and more introspective. It’s also much better with the volume turned way up! Off-kilter hardcore has always been something that French bands do well and it’s no different here on ‘Dansons’, with that very approach mixing with metallic riffs, natural percussion and truly emotive screams that manage to grab your heart, retaining a vice-like grip for the rest of the release.

‘Stigmates’ returns to a pacier norm following the (I guess you could say) expansive ‘Dansons’. It’s over before you realise it yet even a mere sixty-five seconds of playing time can’t stop it from sounding full and alive.  The second half of II starts with ‘Colline’, which is a sub-thirty second blast of jarring feedback and cool as hell punk-laden screamo. It manages to encompass everything that’s great about the band’s music with impressive to-the-point precision. There’s something to ponder! 

There’s no time for that though, as ‘Engrais’ shatters the relative calm shortly afterwards and in doing so, goes for the jugular with tortured realism. That same realism is nestled within the atmospheric instrumentation of penultimate song ‘MCMXLV’ and at this point Ravin’s sound reminds me a lot more Japanese screamo. It’s the first time that thought has occurred to me, but it’s funny how the mind works right? The off-kilter chaos of album closer ‘(Des) Cendres’ is a fantastic way to end II and yet another reason to appreciate the music that Ravin has created. 

Hearing how a musical genre like this has grown and been re-imagined over the years, highlights the talent that exists underneath the surface. Ravin are another band that went too soon, yet left there own legacy.

You can stream and purchase the album digitally from Ravin's bandcamp page below:-

Ravin - https://www.facebook.com/ravinband

Physical copies can still be purchased from the links below:-

Ravin - https://ravin.bigcartel.com/

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

Winter Sea Records - https://wintersearecords.bandcamp.com/

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

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

I Love Your Lifestyle - I Was A Loser In School 7"

Labels: Good Post Day Records/Through Love Records/Unlock Yourself Records/Zegema Beach Records

Formats: Digital/Vinyl

Release Date: 06 Feb 2015

Tracklist:

1. Prank

2. Zitch Dog

3. I Was A Loser In School

I promised another ZBR roster review before the end of the week and here it is! Staying with the pop/easier listening that seems to have taken over today, I'm covering this 7" from my favourite Swede's I Love Your Lifestyle. In fact, this 7" and the debut self-titled album are the only releases I don't own of their's yet. This three-track EP was released in early 2015 via the band digitally (with different cover art) and via Good Post Day Records, Through Love Records, Unlock Yourself Records and ZBR on vinyl. 

(cover art from ILYL's bandcamp page)

I’m sure some of you will already be familiar with ILYL by now. Their music is always upbeat, mixing punk with post-hardcore and indie too. The first song on this EP ‘Prank’ is filled with soaring vocal harmonies, ear-friendly guitar melody/percussion and a rawness that pokes through to add just a bit a bite. So good!

Sandwiched in between this EP’s longer songs is ‘Zitch Dog’, all sixty-seconds of it. It sounds like their usual hook-filled punk but sped-up five fold. They still manage to cram it with lovely music. The title track ‘I Was A Loser In School’ could well have been my soundtrack to secondary school, if it had been released 10 years earlier. I hated school in my teenage years but I can sit back and laugh about it now.

Feelings of angst and fighting back come through this song, but there’s also a feeling of togetherness thanks to the gang-like vocals later on. It all helps to shape something powerful and resonating. ILYL can do no wrong for me and revisiting their early releases has been a pleasure. Thanks to the band and to the labels involved for brining this music into the world.

You can stream and download it (name-your-price) below:-

Physical copies are still available from ZBR below (sold out everywhere else):-

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

Good Post Day Records - https://www.facebook.com/goodpostdayrecords/

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

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

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

Ojne/Улыбайся Ветру (Smile To The Wind) - Split 7"

Labels: Flood Records/It's A Trap! Records/La Agonia De Vivir/Pike Records/Pure Heart Records/Unlock Yourself Records/Zegema Beach Records

Formats: Vinyl/Digital

Release Date: 15 June 2014

Tracklist:

1. Ojne - Sotto I Tigli

2. Улыбайся Ветру (Smile To The Wind) - Изгнание и царство (Exile And Kingdom)

3. Улыбайся Ветру (Smile To The Wind) - Без снов (No Dreams)

4. Улыбайся Ветру (Smile To The Wind) - Смерть Прометея (The Death Of Prometheus)

5. Улыбайся Ветру (Smile To The Wind) - Триумф тишины (Triumph Of Silence)

I could have sworn that I'd already reviewed this split 7" but on checking, it's not the case (at least it means I won't be duplicating, which has happened before!). This is the latest in my ZBR roster review series and it features the awesome Ojne from Italy and Улыбайся Ветру from Russia. This split was another release from 2014 and features five songs in total. I hope the song order above is correct because some bandcamp pages from the labels above had it switched around. I'd also like to apologise if the translation of band names and songs is way off, as I'm once again at the mercy of Google Translate. 

Italian screamo band Ojne contributes just one song to this split, but ‘Sotto I Tigli’ is great. It follows on from the music they released on Undici/Dodici really well and is full of melody, atmosphere and a realness that’s hard to fault. It nears five-minutes in length, so it’s not over quickly, which is fine because you won’t want it to end anyway.

Smile To The Wind start off with ‘Изгнание и царство (Exile And Kingdom)’ and initially any notion of their music being intense and fast is thrown out of the window, at least for a few bars anyway. They lure you into a falls sense of security before launching into some great emo-violence, which benefits from melodic riffs and stop/start passages. 

 

‘Без снов (No Dreams)’ is an angular beast that doesn’t last long. It stops very abruptly too but given the band’s intensity, that’s no surprise. ‘Смерть Прометея (The Death Of Prometheus)’ is more of a journey with another lengthy instrumental build up leading to post-hardcore that’s larger in sound and delivery. Split closer ‘Триумф тишины (Triumph Of Silence)’ is a misnomer as it’s not silent but it does allow the band’s instrumentation to truly have centre stage. 

This split goes by in a flash of pure screamo goodness. I wish it was longer but then if It was, it wouldn’t have the same impact that it does have. Ojne have always been spot on and Smile To The Wind deserve your attention, even they are quiet musically at the moment. 

You can stream and download the tracks directly from both Ojne and Smile To The Wind's bandcamp pages below:-

Ojne - https://www.facebook.com/ojneband/

Smile To The Wind - https://www.facebook.com/smiletothewind

Physical copies are sold out.

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

It's A Trap! Records - https://www.facebook.com/ItsATrapRecords/

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

Pike Records - https://www.facebook.com/pikercrds/

Pure Heart Records - https://www.facebook.com/pureheartrecords/

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

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

I Love Your Lifestyle - I Love Your Lifestyle EP

Labels: Good Post Day Records/Through Love Records/Unlock Yourself Records/Zegema Beach Records

Formats: Vinyl/Digital

Release Date: 11 Apr 2014 (LP)/07 Aug 2013 (Digital)

Tracklist: 

1. Spider Monkey

2. Christoffer Robin

3. Poetry Issues

4. Dynamites & Catfights

5. Happy Lacuna

6. Long Time No Bruce

I first became aware of Swedish emo band I Love Your Lifestyle when Dog Knights Productions released their first album We Go Way Back in early 2016, which I subsequently ordered (if you've kept up with my posts over the years, you'll know that I've stayed loyal to that label for several years now and will never stop being so). Anyway, I'm now going right back to start of ILYL's career and the EP that they released in 2014 via a killer quartet of labels including Zegema Beach Records. It was released as an LP (because LPs are sometimes cheaper to produce than 7"s) and it contained a bonus track on the wax version. It still baffles me why bands release bonus tracks that aren't available across all formats, but that's just me I guess. I'm going to be reviewing the six-song digital version without the bonus song.

I Love Your Lifestyle are one of the first bands I’ve featured in this series that are actually still making music. They’re also one of the few bands that hold clean singing in high regard. EP opener ‘Spider Monkey’ is a gloriously melodic song with jangly, catchy guitar work, punchy drums and vocals that cross the line between hook-laden singing and harsher screams. It brings to mind UK band Hidden In Plain View at times, thanks to the multi-vocal approach.

On this clear spring evening, there’s something about ‘Christoffer Robin’ that just seems so perfect. Yes times are hard, but if you can find an ounce of enjoyment right now then you need to hold onto it. This song is that enjoyment for me and I’m not gonna let it go. I’m a sucker for melodic indie/emo and the Swedes seem to do it so well. ‘Poetry Issues’ is way too catchy and poppy to be chalked up as just another emo song and ILYL are way better musicians than many indie bands I’ve heard since forever (I mean, whoever thought The Strokes were any good!). Sue me.

‘Dynamites & Catfights’ is an acoustic song that’s short and so incredibly charming. It shows ILYL’s personality so early on in their career, as if they’re not afraid to be who they are as opposed to who they’re expected to be. That’s the beauty of DIY/underground music. They’re back at their full band best on ‘Happy Lacuna’. It’s raw and emotive without being lo-fi, just like the rest of the record. It’s also over far too quickly, which is a pity because it’s excellent.

The bizarrely titled final song ‘Long Time No Bruce’ (I’m sure there’s a story behind that) is the sort of lovechild that’s born of punk, emo and indie. It’s fantastic and rounds out this debut perfectly. So much so that I’m going to have to dig out all of my ILYL records/EP’s and jam them before the light fades, so I can cling onto whatever brightness is left of the day. 

This release has left me feeling so happy and contented. I Love Your Lifestyle are simply brilliant and if you’ve not paid close enough attention to them yet, now would be a good time to do so. 

You can stream and purchase the digital version of the record below:-

I Love Your Lifestyle - https://www.facebook.com/ILoveYourLifestyle/

Physical copies are still available from the labels below:-

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

Good Past Day Records - https://www.facebook.com/goodpostdayrecords/

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

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

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