Mantar – The Modern Art of Setting Ablaze (Review)

MantarThis is the third album from Mantar, a German black metal band.

I’m a latecomer to Mantar’s work, but I can tell you that if you’re looking for filthy, ugly blackened metallic punk that’s still catchy as fuck, then they stand head and shoulders above most of their peers. Continue reading “Mantar – The Modern Art of Setting Ablaze (Review)”

Leeched – You Took the Sun When You Left (Review)

LeechedLeeched Leeched are a hardcore band from the UK and this is their debut album.

Leeched play violent, aggressive hardcore that’s shot-through with punk, crust, grind, and powerviolence influences. Continue reading “Leeched – You Took the Sun When You Left (Review)”

Fredag Den 13:e – Dystopisk Utsikt (Review)

Fredag Den 13 eFredag Den 13:e are from Sweden and this is their fourth album. They play hardcore.

2015’s Domerdager was a solid slab of aggressive d-beat-fuelled hardcore crust, notable for its quality. The band’s latest album consists of 34 minutes of the same breed of enjoyably belligerent material, and it’s sounding better than ever on Dystopisk Utsikt. Continue reading “Fredag Den 13:e – Dystopisk Utsikt (Review)”

Birds in Row – We Already Lost the World (Review)

Birds in RowBirds in Row are a French post-hardcore band and this is their second album.

Birds in Row play a form of post-hardcore that blends abrasive hardcore and punk influences, with angular noise/post-rock and experimental elements to form music that’s highly textured and filled with strong emotions. Continue reading “Birds in Row – We Already Lost the World (Review)”

Violent Life Violent Death – Come, Heavy Breath (Review)

Violent Life Violent DeathViolent Life Violent Death are a US metal/hardcore band from the US and this is their second EP.

Mixing old and new influences from the metalcore and hardcore scenes, this is a savage and heavy collection of songs, despite being enhanced by some more accessible parts here and there. Continue reading “Violent Life Violent Death – Come, Heavy Breath (Review)”

Hostile Array – Hostile Array (Review)

Hostile ArrayHostile Array are a post-hardcore band from the US and this is their debut album.

This album contains 32 minutes of crisp, punchy music. With good songs and a mature presence, this is an album that doesn’t outstay its welcome and makes a very favourable impression. Continue reading “Hostile Array – Hostile Array (Review)”

New Waters – Experience (Review)

New WatersThis is the second album from Finnish hardcore band New Waters.

Experience is suitably titled, leading the listener on an…ahem…experience, lasting 36 minutes. As you travel through the band’s internally-forged landscapes, you get to…ahem…experience their charismatic and aggressive form of hardcore. It’s definitely an…ahem…experience. Continue reading “New Waters – Experience (Review)”

Split Cranium – I’m the Devil and I’m OK (Review)

Split CraniumSplit Cranium are an international hardcore band and this is their second album.

This album features members/ex-members of Isis, Old Man Gloom, Converge, Mamiffer, and Circle, (as well as others). The band play crusty d-beat hardcore punk, with a decidedly more simple and straightforward approach than a lot of the band members’ other projects. Continue reading “Split Cranium – I’m the Devil and I’m OK (Review)”