Capra – Errors
Capra – Errors
Metal Blade Records
Release Date: 06/10/2023
Running Time: 31:00
Review by Rory Bentley
8/10
You know your ass is getting old when things that you swear are still contemporary start making a ‘comeback’. Those of you reading my reviews during the earlier part of the year will recall me living my early to mid-noughties youth with Ville Valo, The Subways and a band that I won’t mention because yuck, the only thing I needed to complete the full set of Young Benters Bingo was some early 2000’s Hardcore, and since the reunited Botch aren’t ready to drop a new record and Dying Wish aren’t releasing their latest New England Metalcore tribute until November, Capra have arrived to save the day and give me the angular two-step jams I so sorely need.
The likes of Ithaca have set a precedent over recent years of making massive sonic leaps after promising early material, which is clearly fantastic for heavy music in general and there wasn’t a better Hardcore album walking god’s green earth than “They Fear Us” last year, but I wasn’t quite ready for Capra to do the same just yet. 2021’s “In Transmission ” was a spiky, panic-chord littered, spin-kicking delight, capped off with a start making charismatic performance on the mic from Crow Lotus. It scratched an itch that few other bands could at the time, and as the record was only thirty-two minutes long, I was perfectly happy to have another helping of that. These young Hardcore bands grow up so fast and I just wanted to spend a little more time with them while they still mainly dealt in d-beat and spite.
Happily, “Errors” is exactly the record that I wanted while still showing enough progression and improvement to hopefully grow the band’s fanbase. ‘Chsf’ has the wiry, chaotic riffing of Every Time I Die (sniff… I miss them) and the stomping mosh sections of peak Unearth, but things feel that little bit crisper and more locked in this time round. It’s still heart-pounding frantic, but the band locks into a groove with more deadly precision than their previous outing. Elsewhere Crow’s defiant, empowering lyrics are just as triumphant, roaring on the caustic ‘Tied Up’, “No! I will not be restructured into perfect lines, I would let it burn down before becoming a sacrifice”. Which is a line I’m gonna try out next time my boss gives me a bollocking at work.
‘Silana’ was a particular highlight for me as the riffing gave me huge Glassjaw vibes, bringing to mind the off-kilter picking and screeching textures of ‘Mu Empire’. As much as I’m a bro for the beatdown, I do miss the wild flailing noodling of that late 90’s / early 2000’s Hardcore sound where the guitars sound like a pterodactyl having a panic attack while the guitarist desperately tries to restrain it. Great stuff! Those wanting more pit-friendly fodder are also catered for alongside wonky Post-Hardcore lovers, particularly in the case of the scintillating ‘Kingslayer’ which is pure chugs and D-beat drumming designed to swing for the solar plexus.
The album closes with the almost Post-Rock brooding intensity of ‘Nora (Last Call)’ which focuses on sweeping textured chords and an impassioned performance from Crowe that feels like a final cathartic release of pain as she and the band moves onto the next phase. Like the debut, things wrap up just over the half hour mark and despite the bleak subject matter, that play button looks pretty damn appetising for another go-around. In the spirit of Crow’s frank no-frills delivery, I’ll close things out on this- at the end of the day this band rules, this album’s better than the last one and I already want the next one.
TRACKLISTING:
01. Chsf
02. Tied Up
03. Silana
04. Trauma Bond
05. Loser
06. Kingslayer
07. Human Commodity
08. Transplant
09. Obligatory Existence
10. Nora (Last Call)
LINE-UP:
Crow Lotus – Vocals
Tyler Harper – Guitar
Jeremy Randazzo – Drums
Trevor Alleman – Bass
LINKS:
Disclaimer: This review is solely the property of Rory Bentley and Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this review, unless you have the strict permission of both parties. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.
