July is a month I really enjoy. It is too hot to really do that much, which makes it a good time for reflecting on the past half year. Our year so far lists are a good point for me to look at what I missed. This is also a good time to look back at all the releases I wanted to review, but never got around to it. There was too much good stuff coming out and I had too little time to review them all. 2022 is a strong year so far, so you can imagine it is quite a backlog. Luckily for me (and for you) I get to write this column and can talk all about at least some of those releases with you here. Are you ready? Are you ready for this?
Screaming into the void
Screamo started pretty strong this year. At the end of January Montreal's Yearning dropped MMXXII. At first I thought the title was a bit wonky. Yeah, you can write the year in Roman numerals, good on you. I gave it a shot as I saw Miss The Stars Facebook-account being all excited about it online. After the first two songs I completely understood why they were all revved up about it. This is some violent stuff. It is a short album, only nine minutes give or take. In those nine minutes a lot happens. There is a kind of icy atmosphere with some melancholy peaking through the curtains as well. Very harsh, very addictive.
In july, after a demo and several split EP’s Piri Reis’ debut full length album was released upon an unsuspecting mankind. Piri Reis screamo is less frantic than Yearnings, but not that much. On Ritma we hear a band that recognizes a good melody when they hear one and knows how to incorporate that melody into their music. The driving force on all their releases so far are the hard hitting vocals. That is still the case on Ritma. I feel I should also mention the production as it is very clear and makes this record sound very strong. And I really dig the artwork on it; just wow!
Our next release takes us to both Finland and the more emo/indie rock side of screamo territory. And another debut full length album. End of June saw the release of Uusi Vuosi by Alas. As a good underground band they have released a demo and a few splits and then considered themselves ready for a full length album. I think they were right. Their interpretation of that sweet Suis La Lune or Trachimbrod sound hits home for me. There is a lot of diversity between the individual songs, which makes this an even more interesting release.
We need to talk about metalcore
When we talk about metalcore I immediately think of all those bands that merged swedeath riffs with breakdowns and had both a harsher vocals and a sugar coated voice for the choruses. I own a couple of records in that genre, but not that many as the style grew stale very quickly for me. What I usually don’t think about is the very harsh hardcore style that incorporates metal influences. Sometimes almost tipping over into screamo territory. Crossed from Madrid is one such band. Their release Morir is a hand grenade in sound form. I am warning you, if you try this, don’t let the first seconds of this album put you off. It might sound like a cacophony of sorts. It is pure aggression and chaos oozing from your speakers. Later on everything starts to make more sense, but it starts out extremely destructive. In only twenty minutes the band moves from that initial explosion through hardcore, crust, black metal and some more experimental, alternative movements. My description may make it sound like it is mish mash of randomly thrown together styles, but the band has crafted all these styles into one very coherent sounding album. I am curious to see if this singer will ever release any music ever again, as in around twenty minutes he must have completely sacrificed his vocal chords. This is a really extreme performance.
It’s time to move on though, there is more to discuss. France's Anna Sage also have something to say with their self titled album. Their take on the genre incorporates a boat load of mathcore influences. They take things a bit slower and seemingly more controlled than Crossed, but the difference isn’t that big. The way this band toys with its influences (Converge, but I also hear some Botch) left me impressed, making me wax poetic on the album's single “Hostile Cage” in our song of the day feature on Facebook. This is one of those albums where I feel the drummer should get the spotlight if/when we discuss individual performances. The drumming on this album really ties the sometimes nervous riffs together into something more than its individual parts.
Enough with the violence
Before you think I have only listened to the violent section of the music world, let me correct that. I have also been attracted to the melodic and sometimes even anthemic side of punk. An example of this is the farewell EP by Dutchies Call It Off, aptly titled Fare Well. This EP came as a surprise to me, as I hadn’t heard a single peep from this band since their last EP Liars from 2014. Basically I figured this was done after only two EP’s. I enjoy the strong Green Day influences this band proudly wears on its sleeves as they manage to channel those into strong and catchy tunes. Tunes you will hum for days on. Highlight of this EP is “Bury The Dead”, if you are looking for a place to start and discover what this band has to offer.
Let’s move to Letland where we meet Have No Heroes. A name I did not know before this year. It all changed when I first heard their sophomore album Letters To Nowhere. This is one of those albums that makes everything sound so easy. You spin this record a couple of times and think to yourself: how hard can it be, this band wrote no less than twelve complete bangers (and an intro). As I don’t know too many bands to manage to do just that it can’t be as easy as this band make it seem. Have No Heroes sound reminds me a bit of Atlas Losing Grip. You might now know that this means this is pretty anthemic sounding. You have to be a really good singer in this genre, and their singer is probably the strongest selling point this band has to offer (next to their sick songwriting skills).
Talking about Atlas Losing Grip, you remember they toyed around with metal sounding riffs? That brings me to the next band I want to introduce to you this table talk session: Another Chance. Last May saw their second release Resurgir. I was doubting: is this an EP or a full length (and if it is really that important to know that?)? With seven songs clocking in around twenty five minutes it could go both ways. I mean, we have already talked about full lengths that are shorter than this. On their Facebook I see the band calls it an EP, so I will just go with that flow. So, on this EP, these Argentinians bring us high energy, high octane punk and hardcore with some very melodic lead guitars that carry that metal edge a few punk releases had. Atlas Losing Grip was one of those bands that sported a sound like this, but if I remember correctly Lagwagon's Hang was also one of those albums. Then again, the quick melodies on “Mandy” also remind me a bit of something that Protest The Hero could include in one of their albums. There are a lot of twists and turns included in these tunes, without the band ever losing sight of where the song is going.
Some cooling down
Another band that writes songs with loads of twists and turns I picked up this year is Blood Command from Norway. They released their new album Praise Armageddonism recently, their fourth album. Still, this band was new to me. I can’t figure out how this band flew under my radar for so long, this type of music is something that is right in my alley. Blood Command plays something they labeled death pop. I would describe it as a mixture of post-hardcore, punk and pop. The vocals range from full out screaming to very catchy poppy and everything in between. I am amazed one person can do all of this. I learned about this band when they teased us with a couple of tunes from their new album. It was an instant buy for me. In fact, I added their entire discography to my Bandcamp collection at once. Having spent some time with those releases I am still very much in love with their sound, although I had hoped for something a wee bit better. Praise Armageddonism is a blast, but not better than previous album Cult Drugs. And don’t we all hope bands will produce something even better. Cult Drugs had a bit more experiments on it, which made it a slightly better album in my opinion. Still, it is hard not to dance like a maniac when you listen to tracks like “A Villain’s Monologue”. A quick question here: am I the only one that can not get that scene from The Expendables II out of his head upon hearing or reading the word “villain”? You know, that scene where Stallone screams JCVD characters name?
It appears to me that I usually discuss mellower music when I am nearing the end of my column here. And today is no different. Let’s calm things down gradually and discuss one more post-hardcore release. This time a band from Spain that mixes their post-hardcore with a healthy dose of post-rock, creating a sort of laid-back version of the genre. I am talking about Celestines, the second album from Cuneo. Cuneo’s style is slightly different from Regarde, whose album The Blue And You ended up being my favorite album of 2020, but it scratches that same itch. This album is all about songs and the emotions they can evoke. It helps that the production of the album is superb. From all the albums we have discussed so far, this is the one that makes me be quiet. When I play this, I just lean back and enjoy the ride.
The darker side of pop to really wind down to
Lera Lynn made a name for herself by her performance in True Detective. I have to be honest here: I only know this because I read this in basically every review of her albums I have read. I enjoyed her last four albums (The Avenues, Resistor, Plays Well With Others and On My Own) very much and this new album, Something More Than Love is no different. It is a slow laid back album with a brooding edge hidden in it. It is also a very warm sounding album where roots and pop are beautifully combined; the rocky vibe that was present at some earlier albums is now almost completely gone. And that is not necessarily a bad thing. I get very relaxed listening to this album.
Ok, just one more, ok? We need to talk about Preacher’s Daughter, Ethel Cain’s debut album, because I enjoy this type of dark poppy americana so much that I just need to vent about it. With 76 minutes it is a long ride, but please trust me when I tell you it is worth your time. On this album Ethel Cain deals with demons from her youth. It must have been a tough one, as there appear to be a lot of demons that need exorcising. After a broody intro we are properly introduced to the album with “American Teenager”. Although this is a catchy track with a slight pop-rock edge I feel it puts us listeners on the wrong foot. The strongest songs on Preacher’s Daughter are the slower, darker tracks, the tracks with an almost gothic feel to it. It is in these tracks this album reminds me a bit of Noah Gundersen’s first two albums (Ledges, but especially Carry The Ghost). “A House In Nebraska” is a good example of one such song. It is in those tracks that her emotions are best conveyed. Some songs could use some trimming, but despite this this album works very well. Oh, did I mention her voice is absolutely stunning? Because it is.
Looking back at what we talked about, we have basically traveled around the world at least once. I hope you enjoyed our little trip as much as I did. See you next time!
