Hardcore

Unkind – Pelon Juuret Review

Unkind – Pelon Juuret Review

By Alex Franquelli on July 7, 2013 in 2013, 4.0, Finnish Metal, Hardcore, Relapse, Reviews, Sludge, Hardcore, Sludge, 2 comments

“It’s good. No, really, it’s very good. There is everything you are entitled to expect from a hardcore album. And possibly something more. Unkind’s Pelon Juuret is, according to their label, “as if Mogwai made a record of Tragedy covers or From Ashes Rise were influenced by Explosions In The Sky”. Too far from the truth? Not at all. If its predecessor, Harhakuvat, was a discordant symphony reminiscent of early Neurosis and Wolfbrigade, Unkind’s latest effort is proudly not too far from that somehow controversial album. Crust, kängapunk (ok: Swedish hardcore) and sludge all contribute to making Pelon Juuret (literally: ‘the roots of fear’) yet another small gem of beautifully crafted northern violence.” Alex discusses hardcore, jasmine tea and Finnish squats. Yeah, I don’t know what’s going on either.

Shining – One One One Review

Shining – One One One Review

By Noctus on June 2, 2013 in 2013, 3.5, Avante Garde, Black Metal, Grind, Norwegian Metal, Reviews, Hardcore, 4 comments

“Shining are a black metal band from Sweden with a very dystopian, hateful and depressive tinge to their music and a long history of albums and exploits to their name – such as violent live shows and staging the death of their vocalist. Hell, the vocalist even has a book to his name with the title “When Prozac No Longer Helps”, which speaks volumes of what to expect in the pages. So when you look at the title and album art of this album you might consider One One One somewhat of a surprise or a departure.” Noctus likes avant-garde stuff, so when Shining came along with a new album of jazzy weirdness, he was clearly the man for the job.

Centuries – Broken Hymns Review

Centuries – Broken Hymns Review

By Natalie Zed on April 22, 2013 in 2013, 3.0, American Metal, Reviews, Southern Lord, Hardcore, 1 comment

“Recently signed to Southern Lord, Florida-based hardcore act Centuries combine the frenzy of hardcore with emotive metalcore, hardcore punk ferocity and even some d-beat heaviness. After participating in SXSW, the band are currently holed up in Greensboro, North Carolina to record their next record (and full-length debut) for the venerable American label, Southern Lord. In advance of that all new release, indie label Halo of Flies is releasing Broken Hymns, a collection of all of their available work to date. The record includes material from their Creation/Extinction 7”, a split EP with Patsy O’Hara (from which the titular track of this record comes) and another split with Homestretch, as well as four original songs.” Natalie Zed is here to tell us about some hardcore punk, which we don’t normally deal with. Be diverse and read it!

Nails – Obscene Humanity 7″ Review

Nails – Obscene Humanity 7″ Review

By Natalie Zed on January 31, 2013 in 2013, 3.0, Hardcore, Reviews, Southern Lord, Hardcore, 0 comments

Nails are known for being an excellent, abrasive metallic hardcore with defiant punk elements. Based in Southern California, Nails are currently on deep-South, boozehound, sludge-loving label Southern Lord. The Obscene Humanity 7” comes to whet their audience’s appetite, filling in a gap between their recent split with Skin Like Iron and their forthcoming full-length, to be titled Abandon All Life, which will also be released on Southern Lord later in 2013.

Things You Might Have Missed 2012: Converge – All We Love We Leave Behind

Things You Might Have Missed 2012: Converge – All We Love We Leave Behind

By Steel Druhm on January 20, 2013 in 2012, American Metal, Hardcore, Reviews, Things You Might Have Missed 2012, Hardcore, 7 comments

Wow. This thing sure as hell kicked my ass. Converge, veterans in the hardcore scene for over 20 years now, are flourishing in their most experimental period yet. All We Love We Leave Behind showcases a seriously deadly and potent mix of sludge, post-hardcore and punk, and its a contender for album of 2012 for sure.

Xibalba – Hasta La Muerte Review

Xibalba – Hasta La Muerte Review

By Alex Franquelli on August 9, 2012 in 2.5, 2012, American Metal, Hardcore, Reviews, Southern Lord, Hardcore, 1 comment

Xibalbá is the name of the Mayan underworld: not exactly a nice place, it must be said. A cave next to Alta Verapaz, somewhere in central Guatemala, is the entry to this domain whose hottest places, to quote none other than Dante Alighieri, “are reserved for those who, in times of great moral crisis, maintain their neutrality.” If there’s a circle which refuses to stay neutral in favour of a purely negative stance, it’s a band from Southern California whose name, doom and gloom take us straight to the Mayan idea of hell.