Get a Life! Records brought together two bands on its roster to release a split recording. The twenty minute split features two tracks from each of the bands who have previously released material - Zatokrev with two full -engths; Vancouver with a split and a full length - on Get A Life! This independent label has also released material from acts such as Equus, Impure Wilhelmina, and Yog. This coupling makes a lot of sense, because both Zatokrev and Vancouver seem to draw from similar influences. Their sounds combine hardcore and post-metal in a very complimentary way.
Zatokrev starts off the split with "Out of Despair," a slow, discordant track that fades to silence. Its opening minute sounds like it could be Pageninetynine, but quickly changes into something more metal influenced. The vocals sometimes remind me of Refused's Dennis Lyxzén, but at other moments they're more guttural. "Pro Co," their second offering, contains a lot of chugging low-end guitar work. The song drops off at 3:53 after an undeniable two-step, and comes back heavier than before. The very end of this song is the most powerful part of Zatokrev's side of the split.
Vancouver's Cult of Luna influence is easily seen on this split. Cult of Luna follows in the footsteps of bands like Neurosis and Isis, combining calm and melodic passages with dense, distorted sections; Vancouver incorporates these aspects into their songs and makes it known that they want to be ranked among these bands. Their first song, "Love Made Automato," breaks into a wandering interlude after two minutes that is easily comparable to their self-proclaimed influences. "Apparatus" also calms down around the two minute mark and proceeds to intensify like the first track.
It's great to hear music from other countries; it expands one's scope while offering a sense of musical internationalism. Zatokrev and Vancouver prove that Switzerland can stand its ground in the hardcore community. These four tracks aren't anything revolutionary, but they're worth a listen if you're into the post-metal kick. Check this release out if you're bored with today's run-of-the-mill hardcore music. These four tracks might just be your remedy.
