Yarostan/Aleska - Split 2xLP

Labels: Bad Mood Asso/Bike Punk Salamanca/Bus Stop Press/Crapoulet Records/Longrail Records/Seaside Suicide Records/Self-Released/Smart & Confused/Zegema Beach Records

Formats: Vinyl/CDr/Tape/Digital

Release Date: 04 Apr 2019

Tracklist:

1. Yarostan - Des parkings pour admirer

2. Yarostan - Nous contre nous

3. Yarostan - Effondrement

4. Yarostan - L'inertie du mouvement

5. Yarostan - Commencement

6. Aleska - (Re)commencement

7. Aleska - Indispensables

8. Aleska - Vanite Illusoire

9. Aleska - La Derniere Lueur

10. Aleska - Construire

11. Aleska - Un Enternel Recommencement

12. Aleska - Detruire

14. Aleska - Quand La Lumiere Disparait

For the first time this year I'm jumping back into my ZBR roster review series, due to focusing my attention on 2025 releases where I can. This particular split is a special one, as it combines two albums (Yarostan's Self-Titled debut and Aleska's 2nd album Construire ou detruire). ZBR made a limited run of tapes in April 2019 for this comp, while many of the labels mentioned above helped make vinyl, cdr and additional tape runs for Yarostan's album while Aleska self-released their record on LP and cdr. I'm going to write this review as if I was writing about both albums separately, to try and make things slightly easier.

Yarostan are first with their self-titled album, opening with ‘Des parkings pour admirer’. Ringing feedback leads to semi-melodic post-hardcore that’s rooted in the sound of the early 00’s, to my ears. The instrumentation is lovingly performed and the mix of both harsh, and clean vocals make it more accessible than at first it might appear. Having already reviewed the 2022 album II, as well as being the proud owner of a copy of Cinq (the 2020 five-way split), I’m familiar with the band’s newer recordings but not so much their earlier ones.

‘Nous contre nous’ is a glorious piece that builds with an extended instrumental that takes up almost the entirety of it’s first half before Yarostan’s heaviness takes over for a short while. What’s great about this song is that the heaviness doesn’t detract from it’s atmosphere (it actually adds to it) and the mathcore-esque ending gets the heart rate going.

Sometimes, sitting and just listening to music without trying to dissect it for review purposes is lovely and I’m trying to do it more this year but so far February’s been a slow month for various reasons. Listening to ‘Effondrement’ nearly brings a tear to my eye because it itself sounds so emotive. I’m also reminded that being shackled to a computer all day and then again most evenings doesn’t help either.

Yarostan’s penultimate song ‘L’inertie du mouvement’ brims with both noisy punk attitude and emotion-filled post-hardcore. It’s a song that makes use of their heavier side early on before the second half sees a retreat. Gentler instrumentation from the band is joined by additional brass tones as it reaches it’s conclusion with ambience and French spoken-word.

The grandest song of all on Yarostan’s self-titled album and indeed this split is ‘Commencement’; all twelve+ minutes of it. Aa you’d expect, it’s a slow build but one that’s filled with anticipation. It’s instrumental, moving through different passages of gentler melodic guitar and percussion, to heavier sludge-like riffs and off-kilter time-signatures later on. Again, they use spoken-word elements to dramatic effect. It finishes as it began before segueing into cinematic, yet distorted guitar noise.

The second side belongs to Aleska’s album Construire ou detruire and as if it was meant to be, it opens with ‘(re)commencement’, which acts as an intro and leads into ‘Indispensables’. It’s here that I understand why ZBR chose to put Aleska alongside Yarostan on this split. Their take on post-hardcore is very similar musically but with the addition of much more caustic screams. It’s great. There’s a slightly unnerving edge to ‘Vanite Illusoire’ thanks to it’s earthy heaviness, though that uneasy feeling is soon banished by more excellent musicianship and song-writing craft. It kind of reminds me of the twinkly emo/screamo of UK band Healing Powers.

From what seemed like an urgent demeanour from Aleska, ‘La Derniere Lueur’ changes things with a slower tempo and airwaves filled with precise drumming/guitar work that deserves your full attention. Those harsh vocals take hold later on alongside their more familiar passion and poise. ’Construire’ is as long as the song it follows, just with more of an At The Drive-In influence in places. It’s more mathy than others on the album too. Basically the culmination of this song is just top-tier post-hardcore/metal delivered in a way that sounds pretty retro, which is always fine with me.

Aleska’s urgency is back in spades on ‘Un Eternel Recommencement’, though only for a short time and for greater impact as a result, because as soon as they’ve started they too retreat slightly into a lighter mid-section that’s followed by more off-kilter trickery. Their majestic long-player comes in the form of ‘Detruire’. True to form and just like Yarostan did, Aleska provide a lovely track filled with cinematic melodies all of their own. I’m imagining at this point what it would be like if both bands just did a proper collaborative album together. It would certainly be a spectacle.

After such a journey, album closer ‘Quand la lumiere disparait’ sounds very lo-fi to the ear initially before there’s one last gasp for air from the lungs of Aleska. Joined by subtle blues/jazz tones, it still has a lot of personality as it drags you through a violent end. 

Trying to reflect on both albums individually and in terms of this split release without repeating anything I've already said is tough. There's a real affinity between both bands and it shows, especially when both albums sit so well alongside each other. Having spent all my time so far this year listening to new 2025 releases, going back in time a bit doesn't hurt, especially when the music is a flawless as it is here.

You can stream and buy the individual albums on all formats from both bands here:-

 

Note: Aleska has one copy of the ZBR split tape still available via their bandcamp page.

ZBR also has one other copy available here - https://zegemabeachrecords.bandcamp.com/album/yarostan-aleska-split-2xlp

Yarostan - https://www.facebook.com/yarostanband

Aleska - https://www.facebook.com/Aleskaband

Bad Mood Asso - https://www.facebook.com/assobadmood

Bike Punk Salamanca - https://www.facebook.com/seitanshellbikepunks

Bus Stop Press - http://busstoppress.weebly.com

Crapoulet Records - https://www.facebook.com/Crapouletrecords

Longrail Records - https://www.facebook.com/longrailrecords

Seaside Suicide Records - https://www.facebook.com/seasidesuiciderecords

Smart & Confused - https://www.facebook.com/smartandconfused666

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

Nionde Plagan - Reflektion

Labels: Damnfinetapes!/Moment Of Collapse Records/Zegema Beach Records

Formats: Vinyl/CD/Tape/Digital

Release Date: 22 Feb 2019

Tracklist:

1. Bekannelser

2. Rex

3. Prestationer

4. Trots Allt!

5. Premisser

6. Maskinerna

7. Alienation

8. Diskrepans

It's mad to think that Swedish post-rock/screamo merchants Nionde Plagan have been making music for over a decade now. Reflektion was released in early 2019, though physical versions seemed to come earlier in 2018. It followed their 2017 split with The World That Summer and proceeded their latest full-length Transformation, which was released a year ago. Tape copies that accompanied Nionde Plagan on tour were provided by Damnfinetapes!, while the vinyl pressing was handled by Moment Of Collapse (who also masterminded the CD release) and Zegema Beach Records, though ZBR aren't credited on Discogs for some reason.

Storm Babet is currently making it’s way across the UK and people have been advised to hunker down. I’m keeping warm and dry with a glass of red and the friendly tones of Nionde Plagan’s 2019 full-length Reflektion. Album opener ‘Bekannelser’ is a song that best demonstrates just how beautiful Swedish screamo can be. Composed and delivered with great sensitivity. ‘Rex’ moves and shakes like all great modern day indie-rock songs, while the vocals lay to rest any notion of the band easing off, thanks to the pure emotion they convey.

The slightly muddier sound of ‘Prestationer’ only comes about because of distortion in the guitars. It adds a rawness to the music that’s not been prevalent so far. There’s more urgency and drive throughout the song, with abundant melody keeping pace as well. The songs so far have hovered around the four+ minute mark but there’s always room for something more expansive. Enter ‘Trots Allt!’, which is the first of two songs that break the ten minute barrier, demonstrating NP’s post-metal side. When I talk to people (who only know mainstream chart music) about lengthier songs like this, I tend to get the same response. One of confusion and sometimes fear. I’m not a gatekeeper by any means, I just appreciate thought provoking music such as this. 

‘Premisser’ signals the second half of Reflektion and it’s more immediate. Tempo-wise, it’s not any faster but I guess the shorter length makes it seem that way. I kind of wish it was longer though. The way ‘Premisser’ flows straight into ‘Maskinerna’ without a pause, reveals superbly precise drumming and big riffs. The vocals sit slightly deeper in the mix here, though probably not be design. They’re just a tad buried by the sheer heft of the musicianship, which is absolutely epic.

Again, what is it with the extremely catchy rock influence that takes over penultimate song ‘Alienation’! It’s so infectious and masks NP’s screamo in such a way that it could even fool casual rock fans, as least that is until the song’s latter half when it takes a much heavier turn. Final song ‘Diskrepans’ goes long just as ’Trots Allt!’ did earlier. Even sitting here with the volume turned up I can still here the faint the sound of the wind outside, which only adds to the atmosphere that Nionde Plagan weaves. Undeniably brilliant from start to finish. Note to self: don’t take an extended break halfway through writing a review. 

You can stream Reflektion below, where it's also available to purchase digitally or on one of the five remaining CD copies (you should definitely purchase one) via Nionde Plagan's bandcamp page:-

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

Physical copies are also still available from the label stores below:-

Moment Of Collapse Records - https://shop.momentofcollapse.com/

Zegema Beach Records - https://zbrusa.com/

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

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

Rutka Laskier - Protiklady

Labels: Ffud Rec/Happy Mutant/Stoned To Death/Pure Heart Records/Zegema Beach Records

Formats: Vinyl/Tape/Digital

Release Date: 26 Apr 2018

Tracklist:

1. Klaun

2. Vycpávač Ptáků

3. Jupiter

4. Jestřáb

5. Na Cestách

6. Schodištěm

7. Padena

8. Vltava

It feels so refreshing to have had this week off. I spent the early part of it working out me review schedule for the next few weeks and I was positive that I could smash through some of it over the last seven days, but I ended up taking some downtime instead. What seems like an age ago now, I committed to writing a series of reviews focusing on the ever growing roster of CAN/USA label Zegema Beach Records and even though I’ve seemingly bitten off more than I can chew, I’m not giving up and this is the latest review in that series.

Rutka Laskier (from Czechia) is a name I’ve heard of and read about more recently, and even though Protiklady was released over five years ago now, there’s still plenty of reason to spin it. Rutka Laskier’s sound on opener ‘Klaun’ is very much rooted in post-hardcore and off-kilter screamo without being too harsh (at least until the closing thirty seconds anyway). ‘Vycpávač Ptáků’ is more pensive and introspective. Spoken word lyrics sit atop of the instrumentation, which is tempered back to begin with. Even when it increases in volume and tempo, it’s still controlled. I think that’s the right way to describe Rutka Laskier’s music as their post-metal/rock side really shows through on ‘Jupiter’, with it’s stirring guitar work and multi-vocal approach. 

From the gentler tones of ‘Jupiter’ comes the extra intensity of ‘Jestřáb’. It’s an intensity that isn’t realised until about a quarter of the way through the song and isn’t overused either, as Rutka Laskier doesn’t just go for the jugular. Their song-writing and musical performance on this record is more intelligent. ‘Na Cestách’ kicks off a trio of shorter song’s on Protiklady’s second half. You might be expecting something akin to emoviolence here and you’d be partly right if you thought that; however, it remains just on the right side of chaotic, with guitar melody playing an important role. 

I’ve got to be honest here, I’ve hit play and stop on this album multiple times this week, due to my inability to concentrate. I’ve got a lot going through my head and focusing has been a struggle, though duo of ‘Schodištěm’ and ‘Padena’ were able to hold my focus. They seemed to be very in tune with each other, almost as if they were meant to be one song. Album closer ‘Vltava’ takes Rutka Laskier’s sound back in a slightly heavier direction one last time. It forms Protiklady’s longest song with introspective musicianship adding to a sense of closure and inner peace. 

After going back and playing through Protiklady again in full after writing this review, it felt really fresh and inspiring. Hopefully some of that inspiration will stay with me for the next few days so I can actually write some more. Thanks Rutka Laskier!

You can stream and purchase Protiklady digitally below:-

Rutka Laskier - https://www.facebook.com/rutkalaskierband

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

Stoned To Death - https://stoned-to-death.bandcamp.com/merch/rutka-laskier-protiklady

Zegema Beach Records CAN/INTL - http://www.zegemabeachrecords.com/zegema-beach-releases/rutkalaskier / USA - https://zbrusa.com/collections/zbr-releases/products/rutka-laskier-protiklady-12lp

Happy Mutant - https://www.facebook.com/happymutant/

Stoned To Death - https://www.facebook.com/StonedToDeathRecords

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

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

['selvə] - Doma

Labels: A Fond d'Cale/Cave Canem D.I.Y/General Soreness/Hardcore For The Losers/Hesitation/Nothing Left/Overdrive Records/Piu Amici Meno Storie Records/Shove Records/Tatano Records/Zegema Beach Records

Formats: Vinyl/CD/Tape/Digital

Release Date: 14 Feb 2018

Tracklist:

1. Silen

2. Joy

Time's properly flying right now. I have this week off from the day job but it mostly consists of DIY (urgh!), which I'm ambitious but rubbish at. Thankfully the evenings allow time for me to write, while also running in my new hi-fi. I'm back on the Zegema Beach Records roster trail tonight, focusing on the 2018 release Doma by Italian post-black metal/emo band ['selvə]. This two song record was released on vinyl, cd and tape (as well as digitally) via a whole host of labels, including ZBR who pressed a run of tapes for Canada/North America, as well as further afield of course. 

['selvə] (or Selva) performs post-black/hardcore in such a sensitive and exciting way. Doma opener ‘Silen’ starts with a slow, atmospheric build-up that leads into blasting blackened screamo after about four minutes. Beyond that point, it doesn’t let up in it’s intensity. Even when things seem to settle down for a period of time, there’s still an underlying sense of unease, despite Selva’s beautiful musicianship and genuine vocal delivery.

Second song ‘Joy’ is immediately frenetic and bathed in a rawness that’s very endearing. Granted, it’s also very heavy, almost mesmerically so at times with the repeated riffs that sit atop the recording. It’s amazing how a band can produce a release that’s so involving in the space of just two songs. Selva was part of a three-way split CD last October, so hopefully there’s more to come from them this year or in the future.

Italy as a country provides surprise after musical surprise. From the often theatrical, to instrumental progressiveness and also it’s emotive metal/screamo community, it has it all if you’re willing to put the time in. Selva is a fantastic band. Nothing more needs to be said.

You can stream and buy Doma on vinyl, CD and digital formats directly from Selva below:-

Selva - https://www.facebook.com/selvapbs

Physical copies of Doma are still available from a couple of the OG releasing labels below:-

General Soreness - https://www.discogs.com/seller/General_Soreness/

Hardcore For The Losers - https://hardcoreforthelosers.bandcamp.com/album/selv-doma-lp

Cave Canem D.I.Y - https://www.facebook.com/CaveCanemDIY

General Soreness - https://www.facebook.com/generalsorenessrecords

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

Hesitation - https://www.facebook.com/hesitationdiy

Nothing Left Records - https://www.facebook.com/NothingLeftRecords

Overdrive Records - https://www.facebook.com/overdrivesrl/

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

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

Lora/The Ultimate Screamo Band - Split 7"

Labels: A Fond d'Cale/Desordre Ordonne/Dingleberry Records/Friendly Otter/GBS Records/KeepHope Productions/Polar Summer/Pure Heart Records/Ultimo Violence/Zegema Beach Records

Formats: Vinyl/Digital

Release Date: 21 Feb 2017

Tracklist:

1. Lora - Сны

2. Lora - Пески

3. Lora - Смута

4. The Ultimate Screamo Band - Élevé Au Porc

5. The Ultimate Screamo Band - Hypertonie

6. The Ultimate Screamo Band - Lettre Violente

7. The Ultimate Screamo Band - L'ingénierie Sociale Vs L'ingéniosité

8. The Ultimate Screamo Band - Singularité Instrumentale

9. The Ultimate Screamo Band - À Mon Père

I've got a free day today so trying be productive early doors (that's a British saying for those that don't understand it, which relates to getting somewhere earlier than normal and I think it refers more to our drinking culture!). Anyway, as I was saying, I wanted to be productive today so I'm starting with a review of this split from 2017, that featured Russian screamo/hardcore band Lora and also Canadian screamo/emoviolence solo project The Ultimate Screamo Band. There were 325 copies of the split pressed with three different covers. It was a collaborative release by ten labels.

This split was Lora’s last release, according to their bandcamp page. During their relatively short tenure, they also released an EP in May 2015. I’ve always found Russian bands to have a raw yet melodic approach and Lora are certainly no different here. ‘Сны’ is a fierce opener from them, featuring intense emoviolence. ‘Пески’ leaves no time to regain breath as it instantly takes over from the opener. It’s grinding, off-kilter approach is joined by chaotic guitar and swirling, anguished screams. It’s really good, despite the fairly short running time. Their final song ‘Смута’ is menacing at first, before Lora launches into their final tome of blistering screamo madness. These three songs really hit hard.

The Ultimate Screamo Band follow Lora with six songs, though two-thirds of those don’t pass the minute mark. ‘Élevé Au Porc’ opens TUSB’s side in slightly bizarre fashion, with an intro that kind of sounds like it belongs in a poorly dubbed Japanese martial arts movie. What follows is a barrage of everything that makes screamo so good. I guess that’s what the band set out to do in the end! ‘Hypertonie’ provides a truly dramatic soundscape during it’s brief playing time, with very short moments of introspection before ‘Lettre Violente’ comes into view. It starts off gently, before a stop/start layer flows into music that gets faster and faster, before silence.

During a brief pause in the music at this point, I thought it would be great idea to scratch my forehead (literally) but because I’m a Brit and because we’re not used to the sun being out ever, I remember that my face is sun burnt. What follows is a seemingly lingering burning sensation. That previous bit of verbal diarrhoea has absolutely nothing to do with ‘L’ingénierie Sociale Vs L'ingéniosité’ though, which is pretty much over before you know it. Bloody solid though. ‘Singularité Instrumentale’ sees a shift in TSUB’s sound, with an instrumental song that has more of a calm atmosphere, albeit for a short while as split closer ‘À Mon Père’ puts pay to any sort of relaxing finish as one final blast of screamo/emoviolence bursts through the speakers.

The split 7” format does is again! Bringing together two bands from different corners of the world, drawing in new listeners and offering an enthralling listen. Neither band is active now (as far I know) but this is still a very worthy body of work, if you can track one down!

For Fans Of: Loma Prieta, Systral, Tenure, Portrayal Of Guilt & Infant Island

You can stream both sides for the split via Lora's and TUSB's respective bandcamp pages below, where both sides are also available to grab as a name-your-price downloads:-

Most of the releasing labels have either sold out of 7"s or closed; however, a small amount of remaining copies can be purchased from Friendly Otter below:-

Friendly Otter - https://friendlyotter.bandcamp.com/album/fo-85-split-7

A Fond d'Cale - https://www.facebook.com/afonddcaleprod

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

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

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

KeepHope Productions - https://www.facebook.com/KeepHopeProductions

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

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

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

Nionde Plagan/The World That Summer - Split 10"

Labels: Dead Punx Records/Dingleberry Records/Laserlife Records/Longrail Records/Pundonor Records/Stack Your Roster/Suspended Soul Tapes And Records/Through Love Records/Zegema Beach Records

Formats: Vinyl/Digital

Release Date: 08 Feb 2017

Tracklist:

1. Nionde Plagan - Föreställningsvärldar

2. Nionde Plagan - Inget Att Förstå

3. The World That Summer - What Is Dead May Never Die

4. The World That Summer - Heat Death Parties Are The Bomb, Man

5. The World That Summer - Moth Volcano

By now both of these bands will (I'm sure) be familiar to you. If not, go and remedy that immediately! Sweden's Nionde Plagan joined forces with Canada's The World That Summer in February of 2017, to release a split on a very underused vinyl format (in my opinion anyway), the 10".  It was a joint release via a whole host of DIY, screamo loving labels. 

As this is the newest review from my ZBR roster review series, I need to acknowledge that my order of reviews goes in tandem with the order of ZBR's releases on bandcamp, from bottom to top and from right to left, going on the basis that the bottom right release is the earliest (obviously, that logic isn't always correct given that this split saw the light of day before the Eight Feet Under Comp, which was my previous review in the series). Either way. with my weird OCD aside, let's go.

Writing and publishing this review means that I’ve personally written more this May than I did last May. A small and personal mental boost, nothing more. Nionde Plagan has two tracks here compared to the three of The World That Summer, purely down to their song lengths. Their screamo/black metal fusion is joyous on opener ‘Föreställningsvärldar’. Spacious and cinematic guitars provide the bulk of the song’s atmosphere alongside the vocals, while the bass and percussion keep everything on an even keel, forever moving forwards. 

Their second and last song ‘Inget Att Förstå’ is more upbeat with punk-like tempos and groove-laden rhythms, if that’s an adequate way of describing it!. The vocals are still harsh, with the Swedish vocals providing something more authoritative. This 10” was their second to last release (at least if Discogs is to be believed) and it underlines how good they were/are. Next up it’s The World That Summer, whose side consists of the aforementioned three songs. ‘What Is Dead May Never Die’ is as atmospheric as Nionde Plagan’s opener at first before it morphs into an angrier, raw screamo song. That being said, it still brings out all the feels for sure.

‘Heat Death Parties Are The Bomb, Man’ is straight up sasscore/mathcore-inspired screamo, kind of in the vein of the obvious comparisons such as Seeyouspacecowboy and maybe even Euclid C Finder! sort of. It’s epic and it changes the mood of the split effortlessly. The World That Summer end on ‘Moth Volcano’, which aside from being a brilliant title, is also a great song that shows just how easy it is for a band to make three songs sound completely different, without being different (if you know what I mean?). 

Whatever my ramblings above represent, this split is ace. It contains the final songs committed to record by The World That Summer (again I’m relying on Discogs for this info, so it may not be accurate) and as mentioned above, was (caveat above) the penultimate release from Nionde Plagan. A very much underrated split on an underrated vinyl format. If you can still find a copy of this, buy buy buy!

For Fans Of: Old Man Gloom, Rinoa, Euclid C Finder!, Oak, Respire and Sadness

Stream and download it below:- 

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

The World That Summer - https://www.facebook.com/theworldthatsummerband

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

Laserlife Records - http://www.laserliferecords.org/product-category/records/10-records/

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

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

Dead Punx Records - https://www.facebook.com/deadpunxrecords

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

Laserlife Records - https://www.facebook.com/laserliferecords

Longrail Records - https://www.facebook.com/longrailrecords

Pundonor Records - https://www.facebook.com/pundonorecords

Stack Your Roster - https://www.facebook.com/StackYourRoster

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

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

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

V/A - Eight Feet Under Vol.1

Labels: Don't Live Like Me Records/IFB Records/Shove Records/Through Love Records/Zegema Beach Records

Formats: Vinyl/Digital

Release Date: 01 Jun 2017

Tracklist:

1. Vi Som Alskade Varandra Sa Myket - Du

2. Vi Som Alskade Varandra Sa Myket - Kaktergalen Och Rosen

3. Via Fondo - Hurts Just A Little Bit

4. Via Fondo - Out Of Silence...A Sough

5. Nous Etions - Le Jour Ou La Chevalerie Est Morte

6. Nous Etions - La Dernière Voltige

7. Nous Etions - Heretique

8. The World That Summer - The Standard Gravity Of Impending Doom

9. The World That Summer - Interlude

10. The World That Summer - No Hugs For Lucas

11. Sleeper Wave - Endless Elegies

12. Sleeper Wave - Glacial

13. Sleeper Wave - Counter-Friction

14. Sleeper Wave - Welcome To My Life, This Is Me

15. Youth Novel - VII

16. Youth Novel - VIII

17. Youth Novel - IX

18. Youth Novel - X

19. Lamantide - In Absentia I

20. Lamantide - In Absentia II

21. Pastel - Woodpecker

22. Pastel - Tucano

I'm a little bit out of sync but I knew this review was gonna be a big one so I'm not too worried. As compilations go Eight Feet Under Vol.1 is pretty special, not just as a moment in time but also due to the sheer amount of work that went into it. Twenty two new/unreleased songs from eight bands, from four countries across two LPs; Vi Som Alskade Varandra Sa Mycket and Via Fondo (Sweden), Nous Etions and The World That Summer (Canada), Sleeper Wave and Youth Novel (USA), Lamantide and Pastel (Italy). Five labels collaborated to release it on five hundred copies of double black vinyl back in 2017. To me this is a snapshot in time of where ZBR was and where it was heading as a label (yes this is a ZBR roster review).

I think the writing of this review is going to be spread across a few nights. I’m not used to writing about this many songs in one sitting, but lets see how it goes. By now, all of these bands should be familiar to you if you’ve been keeping track of my Zegema Beach Record roster review series or indeed of ZBR’s releases in general. 

Starting with an old faithful in the form of Vi Som Alskade Varandra Sa Mycket and their duo of ‘Du’ and ‘Naktergalen Och Rosen’. ‘Du’ is as dramatic as screamo gets. The instrumentation is at first slightly deeper in the mix with the vocals on top. After the midway-point, the roles reverse and the instumentation takes the lead with the vocals relinquishing their position, as Vi Som’s majesty is opened up. ‘Naktergalen Och Rosen’ is a loverly off-kilter/semi-experimental piece of raw and emotive screamo, coupled with lovely melody. It’s a style that Sweden does really well and Vi Som are probably the main proponents of it.

Next up are two songs from fellow Swedes Via Fondo. Their sound is a lot heavier and ‘Out Of Silence…A Sough’ contains a great deal more urgency. The percussion and guitars initially create a huge soundscape before settling down and allowing the semi-spoken/shouted vocals to take their place. Definitely more emo-centred yet still retaining a sense of anxiousness and aggression. Their second song ‘Hurts Just A Little Bit’ is equally as intense, heralding a more blackened sound in places, while being more succinct. I’m blown away so far.

Because this is a double LP release, some bands contribute more songs than others due to their playing time. Canadians Nous Etions have three and true to form, they’re a bit more to the point. ‘Le Jour Ou La Chevalerie Est Morte’ isn’t the emoviolence blast you might have expected. Instead it’s much more introspective and cinematic. ‘Le Derniere Voltige’ follows on in a slightly more violent form, due to its shorter playing time. Still, Nous Etions do well to keep it musical as opposed to just chaotic. Their final song ‘Heretique’ is probably their most beautiful piece on Eight Feet Under. Don’t think anything else needs to be said about it.

The second Canadian band on this comp is The World That Summer. Given the band’s affiliation with ZBR, they’re an obvious choice. They contribute three songs to it starting with ‘The Standard Gravity Of Impeding Doom’, which begins in almost reserved fashion before exploding into something much more visceral. Heavy screamo with elements of emoviolence and multi-vocals for good measure. ‘Interlude’ is kind of exactly that. Spoken word samples sitting on top of a lowly single guitar melody. It’s quite unnerving actually. Their final song ‘No Hugs For Lucas’ is a gorgeously played melodic/post-hardcore number. As with all of the songs on this comp, it’s a snapshot in time but goddamn it’s a good one.

II I haven’t already mentioned it; this is gonna be a long one! It’s now time for some American screamo in the form of Sleeper Wave and Youth Novel, who between them fit the most songs onto their portion of the split. Sleeper Wave’s up first with ‘Endless Elegies’ and it’s wonderfully arty take on the genre. I only call it arty because of those twinkly, off-kilter riffs. The rest ain’t bad either. The feedback that ends ‘Endless Elegies’ leads you into ‘Glacial’, which is slightly more straightforward song (maybe?). ‘Counter-Friction’  is fantastic in it’s delivery. Abrasive yet melodic and wholesome stuff for sure. It leads into their closing song ‘Welcome To My Life, This Is Me’, which is also their shortest. I’m still completely in love with Sleeper Wave’s guitar work and this is a fine way for them to end their contribution.

Things get a bit crazy when Youth Novel take over, but did you expect anything less? Their four songs are the most emoviolent here. ‘VII’ starts off gently but after a pause it changes into a fast and chaotic best, with an added layer of intensity spread across both the vocals and the music itself. ‘VIII’ is their fastest song but aside from that pace, it’s also got plenty of post-hardcore tendencies including some really heartfelt singing. A real standout for me. There’s a level of complexity to Youth Novel’s music and not in a technical sense, but in an emotional one (if that makes sense) on ‘IX’. Maybe it’s just the feeling I get but it’s feels different somehow. Their closer ‘X’ is a much lengthier player. It leans more towards the instrumental end of the spectrum and with the added rock n roll flair injected by the lead guitar work, it’s a bit of a surprise. 

It’s back to Europe again for the comp’s final quarter. Italy’s Lamantide and Pastel get the honour of closing it out. Lamantide’s two song are adjacent in title with ‘In Absentia I’ being very broody and slow to start, building to a thicker post-metal/hardcore sound that’s pretty dark. The riffs are the main focal point and the sound is more blackened, leaning much more towards metal to these ears. ‘In Absentia II’ has the same grim ambience as it’s predecessor did at the beginning and it follows on in the same vein throughout. Lamantide’s sound is very infectious yet authoritative. 

Fellow Italians Pastel are known for their instrumental and experimental music, and they show it off to great lengths on ‘Woodpecker’. It’s not all instrumental though as they do add some gang-like vocals into it, but the band’s skill is clear for all to hear. Comp closer ‘Tucano’ is the perfect finisher. Relaxing compared to what came before Pastel, but that’s not taking anything away from the others at all. It just whisks you off to a dreamier place for a little while, at least.

To summarise this release should be simple, but it’s not. Hats off to all of the labels involved in it though, it must have been a hell of a task to put it all together. All eight bands brought their own spark and sound to it and that’s what makes it special.

For Fans of: Vi Som Alskade Varandra Sa Mycket, Via Fondo, Nous Etions, The World That Summer, Sleeper Wave, Youth Novel, Lamantide and Pastel

You can stream and purchase it digitally here:-

Vi Som Alskade Varandra Sa Mycket - https://www.facebook.com/visomalskade

Vio Fondo - https://www.facebook.com/viafondo

Nouse Etions - https://www.facebook.com/nousetions

The World That Summer - https://www.facebook.com/theworldthatsummerband

Sleeper Wave - https://www.facebook.com/sleeperwave

Youth Novel - https://youthnovel.bandcamp.com/album/youth-novel

Lamantide - https://www.facebook.com/lamantidehc

Pastel - https://www.facebook.com/pastelbanda

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

Shove Records - https://shoverec.bandcamp.com/album/8-feet-under-vol-1

Through Love Records - https://shop.throughloverec.com/collections/releases/products/va-eight-feet-under-12-dlp

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

Don't Live Like Me Records - https://www.facebook.com/dontlivelikeme

IFB Records - http://www.ifbrecords.com

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

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

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