Kurokuma - Advorsus EP

Tracklist:-

1. Lust

2. Dark Triad

3. Kali

Another Friday evening has rolled around and it's about time! I'm nearing the end of my current batch of planned reviews and going forward I want to spend a bit of time covering all things death metal, as well a handful of weird and progressive releases. Before all of that though, the latest EP from Sheffield's doom/drone/psych overlords Kurokuma is calling. After reviewing their demo a while ago and finally having the pleasure of seeing them live, they released this three-track EP via Medusa Crush Recordings (Canada) earlier this month.

The steel-city trio seem to soaked a whole load of groove for this release. EP opener Lust is a mix of upbeat psych and strange hardcore. The low-growled vocals seem to intertwine with the noisy effects and even the trusty cowbell is allowed it’s moment in the limelight. The tribal drums of Dark Triad are as menacing as the song-title suggests and bring to mind images of savages roasting their victims over open fires. Thankfully you can listen to it in the safety of your own homes and it’s not long before things get back to normal (?). Dark Triad is slower than it’s predecessor and the bass-heavy tones really do rattle your teeth. I wasn’t ready for the riff that kicks off Kali. Off-kilter doom is what Kurokuma kicks up here and it’s the perfect ending. Utterly heavy…no more needs saying. They’ve managed to craft themselves an EP with an original sound and one that’s infectious right to the last note. You should listen to this immediately and get a copy of the tape in your life!

You can stream Advorsus and grab it digitally below:-

Tape copies can be purchased from Medusa Crush Recordings here - https://medusacrushrecordings.bandcamp.com/merch

Kurokuma Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/kurokumauk
Medusa Crush Recordings Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/medusacrushrecordings

Hexis - MMXIV. A. D. XII. KAL. DEC. Flexi Disc

Tracklist:-

1. Odium (Live)

2. Timor/Abalam (Live)

Hexis has long been a favourite of mine, especially because of their amazing live-shows. More recently they've been distilling the essence of those live-shows into flexi disc form and this is the second one that's been released, following the 2015 "MMXIV. A. D. IV. KAL. IVN." flexi that featured songs recorded at Roskilde Festival in 2014. This time the tracks are taken from a 2014 set at Morgana in Tokyo (Japan). It's been pressed onto 500 two-sided white flexi discs.

Odium featured on their split 7” with This Gift Is A Curse and here it is shortened. It’s great to hear every strand of feedback and outright energy that Hexis produces in a live environment. You still get a real sense of their blackened heaviness and the menacing melody that’s created by the guitars. The bleak intensity of the Timor/Abalam duo on the b-side is pretty astounding and makes you wish the strobe-lights were going off around your house! The final sixty second burst of Abalam hits hard and reminds you exactly why Hexis is a band with a pretty die-hard following around the world. Heaviness personified and one of the most cleansing live experiences you’re ever likely to witness. 

Stream the flexi disc here:-

You can grab a physical copy from Hexis and the labels below:-

Hexis - http://hexis.bigcartel.com
Time As A Color Records - http://timeasacolor.com/shop/product/hexis-mmxiv-a-d-xii-kal-dec-flexi-disc/
Wargame Records - http://wargame-records.blogspot.co.uk/
HC For The Losers - http://hc4lzs.blogspot.co.uk

Hexis Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Hexisband/
The Path Less Traveled Records Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TPLTR/
Desordre Ordonne Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/DesordreOrdonne/
Time As A Color Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/timeasacolor
Wargame Records Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/wargamerecords/
HC For The Losers Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/HardcoreForTheLosers

Nadra - Allir Vegir til Glötunar

Tracklist:-

1. Fjallið

2. Sál

3. Falið

4. Sár

5. Fallið

The rise of Icelandic black metal in recent times has seemingly come out of nowhere. I realise that "rise" is a strong word but it does seem as though the small but passionate wave of bands hitting people's consciousness are more than serious about their craft and their country's traditions. One name that's been garnering attention is that of Nadra. A cohesive entity since 2008, Nadra only released their first full demo/ep in 2014 via homeland label Vánagandr, a partnership that has remained constant ever since. The turn of the year saw the release of debut full-length "Allir Vegir til Glötunar" on multiple formats via Vánagandr, Signal Rex and Fallen Empire Records respectively, as well as an even more recent EP. By the time you read this, they'll have completed a hometown show alongside American band Mutilation Rites. 

Straight from the off Nadra’s take on black metal sounds truly unique. The screaming lead-guitar that lights up opener Fjallið is amazing and their blasting swathes of noise are punctuated with an icy ambience. The vocals are suitably hellish too but not in a satanic way. There’s clearly a great deal of extremely talented musicianship at play here. Sál is subtly mid-paced compared to the ravaging opener. It sounds more traditional in the melody department yet retains plenty of dissonance and abject beauty. At fourteen+ minutes long, you’d think that Falið would be a slow-burning doom/death track, but it’s not. It’s predecessors pale in comparison. Keeping the momentum going is tough for many bands, but Nadra seems to do it with aplomb. There are times where Falið does indeed slow down but that does nothing to temper the atmosphere created. The melody that sits deep in the mix towards the end of the song is one of the most rewarding aspects of this album, from a listener’s point of view and it’s a testament to how good a band Nadra is. Sár traditional intro shines more light onto Nadra’s homeland, even if it’s only fleeting. What follows is far removed from the folk-movement of the country, not that it could ever be described as easy-listening! Album closer Fallið takes Nadra’s music and returns it back to it’s cold, uninhabitable beginnings. It’s truly terrifying and the screams that are bellowed one last time in their native tongue are equally so. The mid-section is peppered with choral chants and subtle strings that briefly provides some respite. The lead work that opened up “Allir Vegir Til Glötunar” returns for one last. lengthy hurrah and provides the perfect ending to a record that takes the breath away. 

You can stream and purchase a download below:-

The album is available to pre-order/order in various formats from the below labels:-

Vánagandr (Pro tape pre-orders coming soon) - http://algleymi.blogspot.co.uk/p/distro.html
Fallen Empire Records (LP) - http://store.fallenempirerecords.com
Signal Rex (cd) - http://www.signalrex.com/product-category/signal/page/2/

Nadra Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/nadraisl
Vánagandr Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ulfsmessa
Fallen Empire Records Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/FallenEmpireRecords
Signal Rex Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/signalrec

Northless - Cold Migration

Tracklist:-

1. The Curse Of Being

2. Col Migration

3. Conduit

I can't believe it's been four years since I last wrote about Northless! The last releases I wrote about were their split with Light Bearer and their last EP "Valley Of Lead". Time flies and since then they've given the world a full-length, a split with Primitive Man and this EP, that saw the light of day in March via Triple Eye Industries. It's due out on tape shortly too via Hand Of Death Records. Northless is definitely one of those bands that while keeping a relatively low-profile (outside of Wisconsin), manages to always pull you in with their sludge-heavy persona. 

If you’re looking for dank and claustrophobic atmosphere fraught with crushing low-end, then you’re in the right place here. Relatively short (in Northless terms) opener The Curse Of Being drives metallic guitar headfirst into piercing cymbals and rage-fuelled roars. Urgency is prevalent in the song while fear is the feeling is provokes. The title-track contains the thick and sludgy riffs that you’ve come to expect from them (and previous split fellows Primitive Man for that matter), though here Northless use clean-vocals to change the mood and take things in more of a noise/grunge-rock direction. The balance they create between the vocals and the metallic riffs makes for something both surprising and inspiring. Northless get slower as EP closer Conduit begins, but not before they’ve injected it with hints of heavy metaland even classic rock. They are subtle hints, but you can definitely here them within the melody. The music that Northless creates here takes many different forms but it’s layers come together to make something both thoughtful and memorable. It’s not often you can say that about a record with an eleven-minute plus song! 

You can stream "Cold Migration" and purchase a download below:-

You can pick up vinyl copies (on various colours) via Triple Eye Industries here - https://tripleeye.bandcamp.com/merch

Keep an eye out for the tape copies due out on September 30th via Hand Of Death Records - https://www.facebook.com/handofdeathrecords/

Northless Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/northlessmke
Triple Eye Industries Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/tripleeyeindustries

War Curse - Final Days EP

Tracklist:-

1. Dawn Patrol

2. Blue Line Of Injustice

3. Severed Crosses

4. Final Days

5. New Chemical Warfare

6. Drudge

Congratulations, you've survived Monday! What better way to get psyched up for the rest of the week than with some war-inspired US thrash metal. "Final Days" is the debut EP from Ohio's War Curse. It was originally released by the band last August (both on tape and digitally), before subsequently being released by Static Tension Records (who released it on multiple formats, including cd). Their love of heavy metal has also seen them supporting the might Metal Church over the weekend, so they have wider appeal and aren't afraid to carpet bomb any audience!

In typical thrash metal fashion, EP opener Dawn Patrol begins with the wailing sound of an air-raid siren. It’s certainly rousing and prepares you pretty well for their battery. There’s a fair amount of old-school influence in their sound, especially with the ripping solo. Hints of Death Angel and Exodus only add to the fun! I’ve often found that a lot of thrash metal be quite atonal and same-y. I don’t get that sense as War Curse rip through Blue Line Of Injustice. I don’t think the recording does them justice though, as more volume in the mix might bring them closer to their live sound, but that’s only a minor quibble from me and I’m no expert in that area! One thing that is obvious though is how catchy the songs are on “Final Days”. Severed Crosses is chock full of groove and enough full-blooded tempo to make your neck snap. The guitars that open up the title-track have a really warm and organic sound too them and as the vocals kick in, War Curse takes on the form of two of the big-four. After a brief pause, New Chemical Warfare picks up where the previous song left off. Again, the solo is brilliantly executed and they prove that they can keep a five-minute plus thrash song fresh. Punk seems to read it’s head subtly on EP closer Drudge, especially in the riffs yet as they disappear and the lead work takes over, War Curse seem even more dramatic. The double-bass is bludgeoning yet the audible vocals don’t allow them to get carried away. Thrash and heavy metal will always be the bedrock of the metal genre and no matter what you say, they’re still very much alive. War Curse prove that on “Final Days” and I’m sure there’s more to come.

Stream "Final Days" and grab it on multiple formats below:-

War Curse Website - http://www.warcursemetal.com
War Curse Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/warcursemetal
Static Tension Recordings Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/StaticTensionRecordings

Massacres - Brutus EP

Tracklist:-

1. One Of The Boys

2. Death Knell

3. Everything I Want To Do Is Illegal

4. To The Victor, The Spoils

I'm planning another shot at PR, as I want to use my creative writing skills and further my support for the music and bands that I love. I'm hoping to kick things off shortly and I'll put updates on here as and when things start to happen. In the meantime though, it's business as usual. 

London based hardcore/punk band Massacres reached out to me a little while ago and shared their debut EP "Brutus". This four-piece only formed last year and their first single Everything I Want To Do Is Illegal caught the attention of radio folk and press alike in October. "Brutus" was released in February and subsequently led to an appearance on Metal Hammer's "New Noise" cover mount CD as well as live dates in the capital.

As  soon as EP opener One Of The Boys kicks in, Massacres sound festival ready. I can easily see them on stage at Download or Leeds/Reading. Their sound is loud but danceable and catchy, with elements of rock n roll and hardcore nestled together. Their chosen approach is popular at the moment with the printed music press and that attention is actually fully deserved here. Death Knell has good old British swagger going on, despite the obvious comparisons to bands like Cancer Bats and The Bronx.  Original single Everything I Want To Do Is Illegal is the heaviest song on “Brutus”. It also highlights the song-writing skills of four-peice, as they're all about songs that are to-the-point. EP closer To The Victor, The Spoils mixes melody with stoner-like groove and even metal. The variation is very effective and it brings the punchy production to life even more. “Brutus” is huge and if Massacres can get themselves in front of more faces around the UK, I can see them growing at a fast rate. Brilliant stuff indeed.

You can stream "Brutus" and purchase it digitally below (as well as from all the usual outlets):-Ma

Massacres Website - http://www.massacresband.com
Massacres Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/massacresband/

Beastmaker - You Must Sin EP

Tracklist:-

1. Clouds In The Sky

2. You Must Sin

3. Heathens

4. Eyes Are Watching

5. Astral Corpse

We all know that Sweden and the UK does a good job when it comes to producing retro-sounding doom and stoner bands, but the US is catching up and Beastmaker are here to prove that exact point. This Californian trio has been kicking out the riffs since 2014. They released two demos a year later and came to the attention of the venerable Rise Above Records, with whom they released their second demo "You Must Sin" as a full EP and thus opening them up to a whole new audience. They've released their debut album this year, but I'm starting at the beginning. They've also been touring around the US recently, so if you've seen them then lucky you, I'm jealous.

The spirit of many a stoner/doom great lives on in Beastmaker. Clouds In The Sky sounds as though somebody cryogenically froze Kyuss and John Garcia and brought them back to live for the making of this EP. Plenty of desert rock and menacing gloom thanks to the low riffs. The title-track is pretty trippy thanks to a great delivery. The main riffs is repeated throughout the song and the vocal effects prove why they’ve been tagged as psychedelic. The guitar harmonies and solo during Heathens break up the hypnotic verses. Beastmaker seems to have hit the right formula with their song-writing as they’re long enough to be memorable but not too much. Eyes Are Watching will draw inevitable comparisons but it stands on it’s own and snakes it’s way through just over four-and-a-half minutes of glorious groove. Closing song Astral Corpse proves beyond all doubt why Lee Dorian and Rise Above Records signed Beastmaker. They do what they love and don’t try to hide it. Their first steps into wider consciousness are good ones and with the backing of a label with pedigree, they’ll only get stronger. 

You can stream "You Must Sin" below:-

It looks as though the 7" version of the EP is sold out via Rise Above Records now (feel free to correct me if you can find it on sale through them).

Beastmaker Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Beastmaker/
Rise Above Records Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/riseaboverecords

Guardian - Revolution

Tracklist:-

1. Resolution

2. Revolution

3. Politics

4. Innovate

5. Capitalism

6. Deliverance

7. Catharsis

8. Propaganda

9. Hope

10. Nomadic

11. Ambivalence

12. Restoration

Northumberland isn't the sort of place you'd expect an up-and-coming modern metal band to reside, but Guardian dispel that idea right away. After releasing their debut EP in 2014 and appearing on Rock Sound Magazine's cover mount CD, they toured Europe with Mexican metallers Frozen Remains. They put that live experience to good use when they returned to write their debut full-length, which was self-released earlier this year.

I think modern British metal has lost it’s way slightly recently, due to the proliferation of melodic hardcore bands and the like. I’m not saying that I don’t like those bands but a bit more variation amongst young bands is a good thing. After rousing instrumental intro Resolution, Guardian explodes into the title-track which is a mix of metalcore and thrash. They seem to take influences from a number of bands and they’ve created a heavy sound as a result, with some electronic effects here and there. Thankfully it’s not full of Meshuggah-isms and the vocals are very strong. Politics is like and old-school death metal song and while it’s been touched up with modern production, it still means business. Their songs are clearly written for maximum impact and Innovate is huge. The percussion and the guitars create the perfect brutal backdrop for those blood-curdling roars. It’s all about maximum attack with Guardian!. If you shut your eyes for a minute, Guardian could be the epitome of modern Swe-death on Capitalism, but with added hardcore. They don’t rest in between songs either and as soon as Capitalism ends, Deliverance rips your a new one. Even when they throw in an atmospheric mid-section, it does nothing to temper their energy and momentum. Catharsis seems to be the definition (of the word) in musical form, as it’s breakdowns smash you repeatedly. They switch back to a more straight-forward metal blueprint on Propaganda and to be honest, this is when they are at their best in my opinion. Hope starts off with the simplest but best lead riffs and then replaces them with atonal bludgeoning. Thankfully as the songs kicks in properly, the lead melody is back and so is Guardian’s signature sound. They still remind me of Soilwork in parts, which is no bad comparison. Those pesky electronic effects are back during Nomadic, but they’re only used sparingly. The song itself is off-kilter and it sounds totally alive! When modern bands play with this level of assurance, they’re a joy to listen to. They are anything but ambivalent on Ambivalence (sorry!). They just do what they know and that’s what’s so refreshing about Revolution as a debut album. Guardian aren’t trying to re-invent the wheel, they know their strengths and they write bloody good metal to boot. Ending it all with gang-chants and high-octane thrash on Restoration means that this record will be deeply embedded in your brain for weeks to come. Not quite saviours of British metal yet, but they will be in the future. Top stuff!

You can stream the album and purchase it digitally below:-

Keep an eye out for future news and live dates via their Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/GuardianUKNEMC/

Big Machine - Bigger Machine

Tracklist:-

1. Fangdy

2. Love Will Find A Way

3. Introwidows

4. Mutual

5. Steve Brooks

6. Wcolt

7. Quiet!

Goddamn! I've been sifting through my inbox today trying to get a bit more organised and I am pretty taken aback by the sheer amount of awesomeness I still have to catch up on. The plan between now and the end of the year is to try and put the hammer down. To get me through both that (and the endless neck ache I seem to have), I'll be consuming more coffee. This seemingly random start to today's proceedings is actually quite apt when you see that I'm writing about Big Machine's new record. 

Just released as a pay-what-you-want/free download (physical copies to follow) and hot of the heels of their 2015 self-titled 7" and recent split with Endamori, the loud Manchester duo of Nick and Sacha are doing what they do best. They're playing some gigs with Pijn (ex-Old Skin) next week and are still looking to fill a couple of dates.

Days of rest are meant to be spent listening to music, no matter how loud it is. Big Machine gathers together the energy of noisy hardcore and snotty punk in blink-and-you’ll-miss-it fashion on album opener Fangdy. Love Will Find A Way takes from their previous bands and is equal parts heavy and danceable. Alongside the likes of Sky:Lark! and many other bands on SuperFi Records, they occupy the weirder and more inventive side of UK noisy punk. Introwidows carries a snarling sludgy undertone while challenging the norms. The clean vocals on Mutual are a surprise but completely awesome as well, bringing a sense of accessibility to the album. I’m not sure who Steve Brooks is but he’s inspired a song anyway and it bounces all over the place. There’s also a chorus/mid-section that sounds a bit Deftones-y. Wcolt is named after the much missed Liverpudlian screamo band that became Dawn Ray’d (possibly?) and it’s the heaviest song on here. Ending the record with a song titled Quiet! is a bit of an oxymoron for Big Machine. It’s slower paced and the low-end fights with the soaring clean singing, before harsh roars replace them. It's pretty much everything Big Machine does rolled into one and you don’t know where it’s going next. It’s a bit like the album really. Bigger Machine will see a physical release soon and not before time. It’s over all too quickly but is worth playing over and over again. 

Stream and download it here:-

Keep an eye out for news of CDs (and perhaps LPs) via Big Machine's Facebook page -
https://www.facebook.com/bigmacband

Mare Cognitum - Luminiferous Aether

Tracklist:-

1. Heliacal Rising

2. The First Point Of Aries

3. Constellation Hipparchia

4. Occultated Temporal Dimensions

5. Aether Wind

Black metal's close relationship with cosmic subject matter and anti-human sentiment has been widely written about over the years. It bares less resemblance to the satanic school and the bands that focus on it are more content with isolation and personal freedom. That is definitely the case with solo US band Mare Cognitum. Luminiferous Aether is Mare Cognitum's fourth full-length in five years and it sees the light of day via I, Voidhanger Records on September 16. Over the next few week I'll be on a voyage to discover all manner of weird and wonderful extremities but for now, I'll try my best to  adequately write about this record. 

Chilling wind-like noise and majestic swathes of guitar melody introduces Luminiferous Aether perfectly. Opener Heliacal Rising is dominated more by it’s instrumentation that it’s vocals, which are enveloped by layers of percussion and guitars. Mare Cognitum favours progression and control, not willing to compromise on quality by ignoring the tried and the tested. It’s a noble vision brought to life in aural and physical form. After what might seem like a restrained opener, The First Point Of Aries is a lot heavier with plenty of blasts and driving guitars. It’s a bit of a wake up and it does take time to tune into it’s many subtleties and layers. I’ve not heard a solo band like this with such engaging and warm lead work before. The band’s orchestral brilliance returns on Constellation Hipparchia, which really does conjure up images of the black vastness of our universe beyond the stars. A mixture of that melodic orchestration and the ravaging percussion paints a very stark image. If you’ve listened to Mare Cognitum’s music before, you’ll know that the songs are never short players. The longer song lengths allow the music to breathe. Ambient soundscapes are prevalent throughout the record as well. Occultated Temporal Dimensions certainly has an otherworldly feel to it as the riffs kick in. It’s the second song to break the ten-minute mark and it once again highlights Mare Cognitum’s progressive tendencies. The wall of noise is intentionally mind-blowing and the song is really catchy. There’s no harm in showing ambition is there?. Luminiferous Aether ends in majestic fashion with Aether Wind. Hints of modern metal creep into the sound and the off-kilter moments threaten to throw you off course, as the rhythms are hard to pick out at times. What is consistent about it though is the urgency and pace of the percussion. There seems to be an awful lot going on within the song and it rounds out a hugely imaginative and inspiring album. This could well be the black metal record of the year and the one that (perhaps) thrusts Mare Cognitum out of obscurity. 

You can stream Luminiferous Aether via Mare Cognitum's bandcamp page below (where it's also available for purchase digitally) :-

CD pre-orders are available now via I, Voidhanger Records - http://i-voidhanger.com/product/mare-cognitum-luminiferous-aether-cd/. A vinyl version will be released later on via Fallen Empire Records too.

Mare Cognitum Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/MareCognitumMusic/
I, Voidhanger Records Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/i.voidhanger.records/
Fallen Empire Records Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/FallenEmpireRecords

Trembling Hands/Duct Hearts/Careless/Coma Regalia/Human Hands - Divided By Water 2x7"

Tracklist:-

1 Trembling Hands - Rewind And Repeat

2. Duct Hearts - I'm A Cat Person

3. Careless - Evidence For Recent Flows

4. Coma Regalia - I Am Not A Boat and You Are No Captain

5. Human Hands - Moon

German label Time As A Color has a habit of putting out some great multi-band vinyl. You only have to look back to the label's "Leave Nothing But Footprints, Take Nothing But Photographs" 7" series from 2013. Daniel has always been imaginative and has shown a real desire to be different with his releases. This latest double 7" is no different. Featuring five bands, pressed on black wax and housed in a glorious card sleeve and obi-like strip, "Divided By Water" brings together screamo/hardcore bands from Sweden (Trembling Hands, Careless),  Germany (Duct Hearts), USA (Coma Regalia) and the United Kingdom (Human Hands). It was released earlier this year, limited to 423 copies on black and 109 dark blue/light blue marble copies (of which 69 copies were made available through the label). 

This is a great little package and having one song per band across both 7”s makes it feel a bit like comp, so even if you haven’t heard all of the bands you’ll discover something else you like. Trembling Hands are a new band for me (illustrating my last point) and their song Rewind And Repeat provides a great balance of melody and controlled violence. They definitely sound more hardcore than I was expecting, but when they settle down their music is pretty spectacular (not that their louder stuff isn’t!). Duct Hearts follow on with an equally heavy hitting effort. I’m A Cat Person has a really cool grunge-vibe going on initially and the clean singing works great with driving guitars. Like Trembling Hands before them, Duct Hearts also make use of introspective passages to accentuate their song-writing and performance. Careless (the second band on the split that is new to me) comes at it from an off-kilter angle on Evidence For Recent Flows, with hints of emo-violence and a whole heap of semi-spoken screamo. Damn this is good! US duo Coma Regalia defies anyone who says that two-piece bands can’t throw out enough volume. I Am Not A Boat And You Are No Captain is wickedly catchy in the riff-department and is real heart-on-your-sleeve stuff. The song is more urgent and shorter but that only grabs you more. Human Hands close out with Moon, which is surprisingly restrained when put up against the previous tracks on here. Some may find it as a welcome relief while others may be willing it to explode. It doesn’t but it’s the perfect way to finish the split. It may be short and sweet but when it has this much impact, who really cares. You won’t just find one band you like here, you’ll find five. Best split/comp this year. 

You can stream "Divided By Water" here:-

Physical copies are available via Time As A Color here - http://timeasacolor.com/shop/product/divided-by-water-2x7

Time As A Color Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/timeasacolor
Trembling Hands Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/trmblnghnds
Duct Hearts Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ducthearts
Careless Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/careless08
Coma Regalia Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/comaregalia
Human Hands Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Human-Hands

Eight Days - More To Life EP

Tracklist:-

1. Was It All Worth It

2. Unclear

3. Counterweight

4. Walls

Following on from Liars Cult last night, I wanted to check out a band from this side of the Atlantic. Kent/London based hardcore trio Eight Days release their new EP (and third in as many years) "More To Life" in October. They're not wasting any time either, as they've already got an EP release tour sorted for directly after the release and the buzz is building. Melodic hardcore with influences as far flung as Norman Jean and Black Peaks (works for me). 

There’s more punk to Eight Days than meets the eye (or ear). Was It All Worth It begins with melodic guitar and riffs that aren’t abrasive. The vocals though are screamed out with real passion and that’s where their hardcore tag comes to life. They exhibit more of an angular/off-kilter angle towards the end of the song and continue with it during Unclear They are certainly one of the better melodic hardcore bands that the UK has produced recently. Plenty of emotion and thought-provoking lyrics make this more than just mere lip-service. Counterweight comes across as a cross between Alkaline Trio and Cancer Bats during the intro riffs, but Eight Days are all the more fraught with their delivery and banish any such thoughts of laying off the gas pedal. EP closer Walls is the perfect ending to the EP. Plenty of controlled aggression and catchy (but not cheesy) riffs. They’ve certainly gained real experience and song-writing skills since writing their first two EPs and playing in a live setting. Infectious and incredibly listenable. That’s all you can ask for really.

"More To Life" is out on October 14. In the meantime you can listen to their previous EPs below:-

Eight Days Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/EightDaysUK

Liars Cult - Book Of Lies EP

Tracklist:-

1. Book Of Lies

2. Curtain Call

3. Har Megiddo

There's been a bit of an influx of US hardcore bands springing up recently out of the ashes of older metalcore bands, which is no bad thing in my opinion. Liars Cult is a new name to me but features members that did time in the likes of Bleeding Through, Mean Season, Locked Up AD and Lose None, so they have some pedigree. "Book Of Lies" is the quintet's debut EP and has been released via US label Blasphemour Records. They're looking to get more active on the live circuit too so keep an eye (and ear) out for live dates.

Liars Cult is typically old-school, as you’d expect. Book Of Lies (and indeed the band) takes cues from the likes of Shadows Fall and Agnostic Front while retaining it’s own sense of melody and brutality. Their brand of hardcore is not all about breakdowns or crowd-kill and they inject it with a lot of metal influence. Curtain Call is laden with thrash and the urgency gets the heart racing, yet it does’t feel underdone or half-assed. The guitar work during Har Megiddo is really tight and the music overall is controlled yet aggressive. Three songs really ain’t enough but hopefully we’ll hear more from these guys soon. 

Stream "Book Of Lies" and grab it as a name-your-price download below:-

Tapes versions of the EP and the four-way split 7" they're featured on can be purchased below:-

http://blasphemourrecords.com/shop/

Liars Cult Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/LIARSCVLT
Blasphemour Records Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/blasphemour

1968 - 1968 EP

Tracklist:-

1. Marauder

2. Green Sails

3. HMS Conan

It's not just Yorkshire that has a growing stoner/sludge/doom scene, as there's just as much rumbling coming from the other side of the Pennines in Lancashire and Cheshire. 1968 are the latest homegrown riff-lords to rise from the undergrowth and their self-titled EP was released in January, with the help of Black Bow Records and Conan's Chris Fielding. They're off on a two-date jaunt with PIST and BongCauldron next weekend, taking in London and Manchester. Anyway, I better get this review written before I fall asleep. 

1968 approach things from a Kyuss/hard-rock angle and their groovy riffs do nothing to change that during EP opener Marauder. Jimi Ray Lazarus (if that is his real name) has a great set of pipes on him, while the rest of the band; Sam Orr (guitar), Bear (bass) and Tom Drury (drums) provide a great backdrop of psychedelic hard-rock. They’re following in the trails of some of the UK’s latest crop of trad/heavy metal worshipping bands and they’ve found a great support stable in Black Bow Records. Green Sails is full of urgency and grit. The drumming at the start of HMS Conan wouldn’t be out of place on a snotty punk record, but like the band the song is named after (or the warship), it’s not one of those blink-and-you’ll-miss-it numbers. It’s got all of 1968’s swagger and verve yet a heaviness that reminds you that there’s still something dangerous nestling within their music. This is an EP for music lovers and fans of good old hip-shaking rock. 

You can stream and purchase the EP digitally below:-

1968 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/1968Band
Black Bow Records Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Black-Bow-Records

Iron Witch - A Harrowed Dawn

Tracklist:-

1. Beauty And Rot

2. Salvation Through Nothing

3. Machinery Of Violence

4. Under The Pyre

5. Belly Full Of Rats

6. Solitude And Decay

Iron Witch has been featured a few times here in the past and they're one of reasons I do this. I first got into them via long-gone local label Thirty Days Of Night Records and their "Post Vegas Blues" 7". Since then I've had the pleasure of seeing them live on more than a few occasions, getting lost in their Eyehategod-worshipping riffs. They now return with a newish line-up and their first full-length records. From the evidence exhibited during their recent set at the Ritual Fest all-dayer in Leeds, they're not gonna be taking any prisoners. "A Harrowed Dawn" was recently released via Secret Law Records on cd, vinyl and digitally following the unceremonious leaking of the record earlier in the year. 

A Harrowed Dawn starts with the sound of brooding guitar before it gets swallowed up by Iron Witch’s heavy doom on Beauty And Rot. Bass-ridden feedback and crashing cymbals add mighty heft while the vocals are made up of deep gut-wrenching roars. I remember witnessing this live and it’s every bit as devastating on record. You can definitely here the Siege Mentality influence seeping through too, as both bands share members. The lack of a pause between the opener and Salvation Through Nothing is perfect and while the latter is quite minimalistic to begin with, it doesn’t stay that way for long. A sound steeped in the Mersey’s early morning mist and the late-night whisky haze greets you when they hit full flow. The atmosphere during Machinery Of Violence is alarmingly calming (I’m not sure what that says about me!). It’s metallic riffs and psych-laden melody really hits the spot. The groove later on is sure to get you involuntarily head-banging, even if you’re in your house and on your own! As A Harrowed Dawn goes on, it’s songs get longer and obviously slower. Under The Pyre certainly starts off that way yet more groove shakes things up. Again, I recall the live rendition of this (in my booze-addled state) being great fun and hurting my neck because I couldn’t help but get sucked into it’s vibe. I once saw a movie where two guys put a rat on a blokes stomach, then put a bucket on top of it only for it to burrow inside (because that’s apparently what they do when they’re scared). Belly Full Of Rats is the aural equivalent of that movie scene and may well be inspired by it. Needless to say it’s the heaviest song on the record, so you know what you’re getting into. LP closer Solitude And Decay (another one from their Ritual set) is both catchy and endearing for those who settle in for it’s near thirteen-minute playing time. It’s almost drone-like in places and is beautifully chaotic in others. As it goes on you’ll find yourself paying more attention to it and it’s trance-inducing nature. Iron Witch’s period of silence and indeed the changes that the band has endured seem to have done it the power of good. On record, everyone sounds together and the music itself is performed in such a way that it breathes new life into the band. A stunning first LP and hopefully there will be more to come.

You can grab cd/LP copies from Secret Law Records here - https://secret-law-records.myshopify.com or from Iron Witch directly (along with other merch) at shows. It's also streaming digitally at all of the usual outlets. You can see the full list via their Facebook page below:-

Iron Witch Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ironwitch1977

Secret Law Records Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/secretlawrecords

Delayed Departure - Consequences

Tracklist:-

1. Opus

2. Ocean (feat. Russ Merry)

3. Let's Catch Fire

4. Captive

5. Synopsis

6. Choices

Bridging the gap between indie/alternative rock and heavier music has always been something that UK bands are very good at, just look at recent breakthrough act Mallory Knox and more recently Faces of Eve (who are still very much carving their niche). Farnborough's Delayed Departure is the next name aiming to do just that. "Consequences" is their latest EP, coming just over eighteen months after debut "Crafted". They've certainly got the right attitude with their own merch and a live profile that's building with every gig. This EP was released in January and I'm still catching up.

Consequences starts with Opus, which tugs on all the right strings (no pun intended). It’s full of melodic guitar, clean singing that’s backed up by gang-like chants, It’s quite a rousing entrance for the band and use that momentum well on Ocean. Catchy songs are the bedrock of modern alternative rock and Delayed Departure seem to know what they’re doing in that department. There’s a big nod towards You Me At Six during Let’s Catch Fire and they manage to keep up the intensity with driving instrumentation that borrows from elements of post-hardcore. They temper things a little during Captive, with it’s slower pace and balladry. It does threaten to overspill at times, but Delayed Departure refrains. After the calming nature of the previous song, Synopsis grabs you by the throat. It’s their heaviest and most raucous song on Consequences and it features clever hooks and intelligent song-writing. They let things come to a close in noisy fashion with Choices. Delayed Departure seems to be closing in on their sound and their live experience has helped them to craft an EP that will surely push them to greater heights and new listeners. They can only get stronger.

You can stream and download Consequences below:-

Delayed Departure Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/OfficialDelayedDeparture/

Teething/Feastem - Split 7"

Tracklist:-

1. Teething - Dear Marta

2. Teething - You Live A Life You Don't Like

3. Teething - Shittiest Generation

4. Feastem - New Ethics

5. Feastem - Parasite Zero

6. Feastem - Stitches

It's grinding 7" fury time! Okay so I'm struggling a little this morning after with the dreaded "bangover". In an attempt to wake myself up and feel alive enough to play football later on, I'm sticking this beaut on. Released earlier this year by EveryDayHate in collaboration with Tu Pa Tu Tu Pa Records and L'inphantile Collective (as well as on tape via Grindfather Productions), this split brings together Spain's Teething and Finland's Feastem for a quickfire round of punk-fuelled aural violence. 

There’s no point in running and hiding when you press play in this beast, as it’ll find you and batter you wherever you are. Teething open up with Dear Marta that lurches and writhes to the sound of down-tuned guitars, manic drumming and angry hardcore-driven vocals. You Live A Life You Don’t Like is a sub-one minute hit of pure intensity that’s over before you know it. Shittiest Generation really does gather the pain that we feel in the modern world, moulding it into metallic, grinding hardcore. Feastem are a lot rawer as New Ethics kicks off. The music they perform is no less chaotic though. Raging walls of guitar-led noise battle it out with furious percussive blasts and piercing screams. They hit full flow during Parasite Zero, which features some really menacing riffs and a hint of metal too. They close out the split in exquisite fashion on Stitches (exquisite by grindcore standards anyway!) The wall of noise seems to ratchet of the volume and anger levels to maximum. The result of this split is painful neck ache and a worldview that will never be the same again. My only gripe is that it’s too short.

You can stream the full split below:-

You can pick up digital or physical copies from the below links:-

Teething Bandcamp - https://teething.bandcamp.com/music
Feastem Bandcamp - https://feastem.bandcamp.com/merch
EveryDayHate - http://www.everydayhate.com/category/edh-releases
Tu Pa Tu Tu Pa Records - http://tupatutupa.com/categoria-producto/formatos/7/
L'inphantile Collective - http://www.neonarcis.com/vydano
Grindfather Productions - http://www.grindfatherprod.com/p/7-vinyl-records.html

Teething Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/teethingband
Feastem Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Feastem/
EveryDayHate Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/everydayhate
Tu Pa Tu Tu Pa Records Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/tupatutupa
L'inphantile Collective Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/neonarcis/
Grindfather Productions Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/GRINDFATHER-PRODUCTIONS

Also, please take the time to answer my short survey regarding the blog - http://www.thisnoiseisours.com/help-shape-future-of-this-noise-is-ours.html. Thanks.

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Mont-Dore - Fractures

Tracklist:-

1. Before We Go

2. Don't Go Wasting Your Devotion

3. Let's Not Slam Doors Anymore

4. Of Course You Are

5. The Longest Silence Ever Heard

6. Show Me Where Is Hurts

7. What You Gave Me Is Not A Gift

Belgium is one of my favourite countries. Obviously the beer is good but also the people are friendly, more laid back than some of their European cousins and the country has a habit of producing some decent bands as well. Mont-Dore are a new band to me and it's thanks to Black Basset Records that I get the chance to hear them. They've been a band since 2012 and have been crafting their own take on post-hardcore/screamo ever since. They released their debut EP "Escalades" in August 2013 and then "Fractures" in April of this year. They've recently returned from a triumphant weekend playing Fluff Fest and Faetzig Camp, where they were able to spread their message of friendship and tolerance. You can't get better ambassadors for Belgium than that!

Fractures begins with the most beautiful melodic guitar build-up on opener Before We Go. Mont-Dore allows their post-hardcore to take hold later on in the song with the help of drums and clean/screamed chant-like vocals. Their screamo influence hits full stride during Don’t Go Wasting Your Devotion, which highlights a raw and sometime frail side to the band. That rawness shows that they’re a band that plays from their heart. The blasts later on in the song almost hit emoviolence levels. There’s no pausing between songs as Let’s Not Slam Doors Anymore tugs at your emotions. It’s a cathartic experience listening to Fractures but it’s one that’s cleansing too. The guitar that fills Of Course You Are makes for a majestic listen. It seems to dominate the song but with the vocals sitting mid-mix it takes on a whole different feel. At time angular, angry and belligerent. Instrumental interlude The Longest Silence Ever Heard reminds me of an old folk ditty (the sort that villages might play around a communal camp fire), except this one gets louder before leading into Show Me Where It Hurts, which immediately hits top gear. Everything about it is meant to assault your senses and get your attention before Mont-Dore settles down and puts a comforting arm around you. As the song fades into closer What You Gave Me Is Not A Gift, I wonder if this is how We Came Out Like Tigers might have sounded like if they hadn’t discovered black metal and carried onwards on their screamo path. That’s just my silly opinion though as Mont-Dore are definitely a band of their own making and are worthy of praise and wider attention. Fractures is a cracking record. Elegantly listenable and painfully thought-provoking. Good work indeed.

You can stream Fractures below:-

There's also digital, tape and cd versions available above as well as other merch.

You can get limited vinyl copies from Black Basset Records here - https://blackbassetrecords.bandcamp.com/merch and direct from Mont-Dore here too - https://montdore.bandcamp.com/merch

Mont-Dore Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/montdoremusic
Black Basset Records Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/BlackBassetRecords