Short Review March Madness 2023
Wreckage
from Connecticut, ladies & gents. These guys throw it hard, hard as fuck.
That opening riff takes me straight to an album like “Age of Quarrel”, and the
track itself does not live far from that sphere. Overall, we have this strong
Hardcore with one or two details more Thrashy, but never falling into the
Crossover haunted existence… 7 tracks in 10 minutes. That is amazing.
Short, straight to the point, and harsh as hell. Love the vocals, melodic and powerful enough to not sound cheesy. The groove given by the guitar is truly awesome, and these guys are speeding like Hell from the first to the last second. “Searching for Soul” is The Track, and as soon as that riff starts… yeah. The last track starts with that same spirit, and it is an excellent closure.
Scheme Hardcore Official Bandcamp
MPAKOBEC
– “Заклинания против расколдованного мира” (Horrible Room, 2023)
The project’s first EP is a tremendous blast of Punkish Black Metal in the vein of Ildjarn. No need to spread the influence area, as Ildjarn is all you need when it comes to this sort of Black Metal, and this mate knows it quite well. We are presented, once more, with a marvelous experience of what Black Metal, the more primitive and visceral side of the genre, should sound like: harsh, aggressive, bloody, cutting. But, unlike the preceding EP, this one sounds a lot cleaner - if the word can be used here. I mean, it is still that rusty blade to the throat… nevertheless, the instruments sound more perceptible, neater. Maybe I am totally distant from reality; truth be told, I have not listened to that EP for a while now.
Overall, it sounds less direct that the EP, less Punk in attitude, like more time was spent getting everything perfect and immaculate. At times it sounds more like Black Metal than the EP. Hard to put it into words, especially when I have no idea what words should be used. It is as tremendous as the EP, and always an homage to the savage Black Metal pioneers in the 1990s, and he is very able to grow his music into a whole Full length, which is amazing. The EP was so “in your face”, that it would be hard to take this one to the same level, let alone top it. But he did it. You have the totally deranged vocals, that add that little thing to it, but again, it all sounds too clean… But do not fear, as it still rips like Hell!
Horrible Room Official Website
BOW - “Infectious Salty Assault” (2022)
Ever hear that saying, “Never judge a book by its cover”? Well, I guess we all did. And I bet we all have, at least once, been metaphorically hit in the face with a brick for believing something would be A, when in fact, it was Z. I got that from these mates from a bit up North from me. The beach vibe, the cool surfer thing, lead me to suppose that their music would be melodic Hardcore Punk, cool to see live at the surf shop in Ericeira. But… that brick was a big one, and it hit hard.
It took me a while to dive - get the nautical joke? - into their music, mostly for lack of time. Nevertheless, fixing that mistake right at once. At first, I was struck by a Don’t Disturb My Circles vibe, and lots of groove (harsh groove, of course). This shit, live, has to be a blasting battle ground. I would not call this Hardcore in the classical sense of the genre but are all aware of how much it has changed since the beginning, so never mind that.
It hits hard, it bricks the hell out of a guy, damn! “Daily Grind” has an almost Rock n’ Roll thing to it, in my opinion. It reminds me of an old Portuguese band that built their concept around cowboys and Satan, but whose name I cannot recall. Moving on. Really digging the slower parts, where everything gets a lot more violent. The samples, the samples. I have been saying this since I was a little boy: “Breakpoint” is a great movie, and it has amazing surf scenes; and it is Patrick Swayze’s only good movie… because of the surfing parts.
The music goes from fast to heavy in a question of seconds, and how the band creates these transitions is where the secret lies. It is not easy to speed it up, and then break. “Worsheep” has one of those moments, and it is immensely good. These song titles, these song titles. The samples make all sense. It ends quite quickly, which is a bummer, but you can always press PLAY again. Want to see these guys rocking it down here in Ericeira, please.
Hereditary
- “Demonstration” (Forever Ending Records, 2022)
From San Diego, California… Hereditary. First, that intro is scary as shit! Heavy and thick! 2nd track kicks in and you get kicked down, immediately. Not going to say that these guys like Biohazard and heavier acts within the Hardcore scene, but I bet they do. I remember listening to Biohazard as a kid and loving the fusion of Hardcore and Rap. that hard hitting groove, the rap vocals, the overall gangster attitude, it got me. Hereditary has some of that flare, some of that class. The riffs are hard and groovy, the attitude is spot-on, and it does not sound like everyone else’s. “No Remorse” has power, and that slower section, ufff… class. “Change” goes back to the Seinfeld vocal style at times, then to a stronger approach, and in the end, it rips! Really short Demo, but the punch was tremendous.
Search
for Purpose - “Unseen / Casting Shadows” (Scheme Hardcore, 2022)
And we sing along, arms raised high into the sky, voices echoing and bodies flying over us on the moshpit. Well, this was interesting. Search for Purpose is a Hardcore outfit from Charlotte, North Carolina, and these 2 tracks are the perfect blend of melody and Old School sound. After their 2018 record “Eternal Emotion”, we have the return, and what a return. Ok, we only have 2 songs, but fuck me if that opening for “Unseen” is not amazing! Love the melody, love that more accessible side to the music. Hardcore does not always need to be aggressive and slaps and kicks; it can be that fraternal sing along and hugs and joy. “Casting Shadows” follows the same line: melody, groove, happy music. Man, I loved it, and after that 2018 record, this is what we need for 2023.
Envision
- “Sacred Heart / Advent” (From Within Records, 2022)
Love the vocals, love the riffs, love the groove. The end. Naaah, this needs more. It hits hard, that is a sure thing. It is not an ultra-fast, nor an ultra-heavy release. It has the exact amount of all of that to make it a really good release, and more people should check it, especially because it gives me this Shelter vibe, although it is not, you know? Maybe it is the cover, maybe… probably just the cover LOL
So much melody and good vibe, mates! It is one of those situations where the music is cool and emanates good feelings and positivity. Going deeper, I just love when that small, almost guitar solo, burst in through the door. Along with the vocals, and the drums… and then it breaks and goes back to the initial riff. Cool thing about it – one of many – is that shy ambiance you get in the background, in the first track. It fills the “room”, gives the song a fuller identity, if it makes any sense.
This is a 3-song release and shows the band in an amazing shape, which is, for us, a very good sign. This sort of melodic Hardcore will always have a save place in my heart, honestly. This sing-along, jump around, hug people and celebrate unity Hardcore, is needed more than ever. Go!
Gavel - “Promo 2023” (Independent, 2023)
Gavel is a 5 piece Hardcore band from Ontario, Canada, and they slay! There have been around for a while, but this 2023 promo slaps hard, brotha! The moment you press PLAY, you can almost see a shoe coming your way, given how violent the pit turns into as soon as he hears the lads raging. Naaaah, and the bass?! That bass, that is almost as heavy as Trainor, geez! The vocals are on spot, and the groove this mate has is immense. I am sitting in my chair, but I can feel my legs want to start raging around the room with the power that is coming out of the speakers! 2nd track has these amazing changes in dynamics that make the track thicker and harder… these two put together, uhm. Naughty perv, you. And that little Drum n’ Bass detail? Damn, it buuuuurns! Serious things now: these mates are able to, with just 2 tracks, get you bouncing like a madman at the verge of the end of the World! Go, just go, and check these guys out!
No
Brainer - “Three Track” (Life Lair Regret Records, 2023)
Australia has been giving me a lot of cool Hardcore acts, and this one just came along quite easy. This is a very simple, precise, and effective Hardcore band, with simple, precise, and effective Hardcore tunes. Hardcore Punk at its best. The vocals remind me of the Beastie Boys, quite honestly, and that is one hell of a compliment! Musically speaking this is, as mentioned before straightforward Hardcore Punk, and I love it. Groovy, melodic, aggressive, powerful, it has all that is needed to be a great release, and it even has a very well-placed guitar solo on “Night Owl”.
Life.Lair.Regret Records Bandcamp - No Brainer - "Three Track"
Nah, this is really energetic, and I just love it when artists decide to keep it raw and basic (the opposite of without quality): clean and sharp. This is just perfect for those mosh-pit ninjas and similar martial arts enthusiasts. That pounding that almost forces you to start moving, jumping, living ahah this is the energy we need to get through all the shit modern society throws at us! Fuck it, we want to break shit up and be free!
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