hardcore

Yeah, Sick! – Set To Devour Us All

Yeah, Sick! – Set To Devour Us All
Self-Released
Release Date: 26/06/2022
Running Time: 35:00
Review by Rory Bentley
7/10

I’m not sure why I keep getting so many comedic bands to review, probably some kind of karmic justice for being such a miserable prick and being mean to our Rob Sutton (the hyperactive little bugger deserves it for his crimes – Dark Juan) for doing a humorous band he enjoys rather than a Prog band that nobody cares about like me. But either way here stands before me a band with comedy song titles and a band name that screams ‘we’re not taking ourselves too seriously’. Fortunately Aussie duo Yeah, Sick! Have a pretty unique take on Punk/Hardcore/Metal, based entirely on bass and drums and there are more hits than misses with the more humorous songs.

‘Tinfoil Wizard’ is an amusing ode to that twat you know that’s watched a few YouTube videos and now thinks they’re qualified to disregard the rules of science and nature, ending with a rousing gang vocals of ‘NOTHING BUT A TIN FOIL FREAK!’ The bass and drums lock into a crossover Trash groove and a Nu-Metal bounce which sounds surprisingly substantial thanks to a boat load of distortion and the fact that the smooth transitions between sections is much clearer thanks to their stripped-down approach.

Versatility is incredibly important when the bass is the only melodic instrument at the band’s disposal, and the Grindcore approach of ‘Spill Your Guts’ into the D-Beat attack of ‘Serve It Cold’ is just one of many examples where YS draw from a wide pool of influences to keep things interesting. Despite the often light-hearted lyrics the musicianship and composition here is no joke.

We even get a little taste of Doom in ‘Machine Man’ with some crushing riffs and monotone melodic singing adding more flavour to the mix. The song, like most of them on here, eventually gets tired of sitting on its hands and goes mental for the latter part, but still it shows the band are capable of restraint even for a little while.

Not everything hit the mark for me on “Set to Devour us All”. Although it’s an effective tool for creating hooks, shouting the song title for every other outro does lose its impact after a while and feels a bit route one. I also found ‘The Little Book of Calm’ a tad tedious with its repeated switching between a soothing voice reading zen quotes into chaotic Metal. It’s a joke that wears thin very quickly into the song’s three minute runtime and if they absolutely had to put this little knee-slapped on the record, it would have been better served at half the length.

Any ill will my curmudgeonly brain has towards the more on the nose comedic misfires of the album is largely washed away by final track ‘The Trickster’ which is just a straight up banger. Stripped of the comedic aspects, it is a lengthier song that begins with a melodic intro higher up the neck of the bass before essentially turning into an Earth Crisis song. It’s a bit of a jarring transition from the rest of the album but I’m very glad it’s on here.

The key thing that sells the album is the overarching feeling that it’s just two mates having fun making a racket. At it’s best it recalls the cut and thrust of noisy Brit rockers Winnebago Deal (ask your older friends, kids) and at its worst it’s just a few gimmicks that don’t land with a grumpy prick in his late thirties. Overall this is a fun listen and contains enough musical chops and tongue in cheek vibes to kick back and enjoy with a cold beverage and your brain on ice.

‘Living Hamburger’ Official Video

TRACKLISTING:
01. Tin Foil Freak
02. Spill Your Guts
03. Serve It Cold
04. Machine Man
05. John Wick’s Dog
06. Living Hamburger
07. The Little Book of Calm
08. Vegan Butcher
09. The Trickster

LINE-UP:
Liam (Frosty) Frost-Camilleri – Bass/Vocals
Benito Martino – Drums

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.

Made of Teeth – Sociopathogen

Made of Teeth – Sociopathogen
APF Records
Release Date: 24/06/22
Running Time: 30:00
Review by Paul Hutchings
9/10

Holy shit! THE album to strip wallpaper has arrived. Literally. Welsh trio Made of Teeth roll back into town to take all the spoils with this filthy combination of Hardcore and Metal all rolled up in one nasty, noisy cacophony that crushes from start to finish.

For those unaware, Made of Teeth comprise members or ex- members of Lacertilia, Spider Kitten and Taint. Formed in 2017, which seems aeons ago, the band provide a formidable force both live and in the studio.

“Scoiopathogen” sees Made of Teeth in imperious form. There are riffs for days. And days. It’s heaviness on a par with a herd of elephants. The compositions are gnarly, ugly, and totally compelling. The driving power is relentless, a crushing feeling that is overwhelming to the point where resistance is ultimately futile.

Whether it is the punishing sludge of opening track ‘Four’ or the suffocating feel of ‘Never Heard of Them,’ this is an album that simply bristles with energy and ferocity. The songs are short, fast, and furious, and all guaranteed to get the head nodding along in time with the aural onslaught that Made of Teeth unleash.

There are Sludgy passages, Hardcore elements and even some dirty Grind in the shape of ‘What’s the Time’. Basically, this is an album that transcends genres. The Mastodon-esque assault on ‘Four’ is the start of thirty minutes of high tempo, bludgeoning Metal. You can’t help but nod along to ‘Strutter Bubble’ which gallops at speed, thick riffs and shouting vocals adding to the overall messages contained within their music.

“Sociopathogen” is unrelenting in its savagery and technical know how. There is the crushing slowness of ‘Low on Water’ with its sudden increase into a Punk-fused vibe and the horror driven ‘J.T.W’ which is musical brutality. The vocals range, all guttural, snarly and angry, whilst the guitar work is probably one of my favourite parts of the album.

By the time you get to the finale of ‘Pearly Whites’ there can be no denying what you’ve experienced. Hard, fast and with an edge that Is both reliable and yet completely unpredictable. It’s a musical oxymoron but one that reaps the benefits. If you worship at the Lord of the Riff, then Made of Teeth’s new release should be one for you to check out.

‘What’s The Time’ Official Video

TRACKLISTING:
01. Four
02. Three4a1er
03. Stutter Bubble
04. Low on Water
05. J.T.W.
06. Small Operation
07. Pick a Pocket
08. Shotgun Steve
09. Never Heard of Them
10. What’s the Time
11. Pearly Whites

LINE-UP:
Steve-O Jones – Drums And Vocals
Tom Cole – Bass And Vocals
Chris West – Guitar And Vocals

LINKS:

Disclaimer: This review is solely the property of Paul Hutchings 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.

Straight Opposition – Path of Separation

Straight Opposition – Path of Separation
Time To Kill Records
Release Date: 21/03/2022
Running Time: 30:00
Review by Rory Bentley
7.5/10

If I had a penny for every time a press release says that a band has produced their most diverse album to date that includes all their influences, I probably wouldn’t be typing this review in secret at my crappy day job. Inevitably, 9 times out of 10 I put the record on and roll my eyes that what they mean is that they’ve put some samples in a few bits or had a go at doing a bit of singing. Italian Hardcore crew Straight Opposition make this very claim, yet there is far more of case made on their latest full length “Path of Separation”.

Not everything here sticks the landing, but I’d never accuse them of not having a proper go. Things get underway in relatively straightforward fashion with two absolute ragers in ‘Outsider by Choice’ and ‘July 019’. Both bring all the atonal chords, d-beat drums and scuzzy guitar tone you could wish for, sounding like an early 90’s Roadrunner release and delivering short blasts of righteous intensity. Then things get very interesting.

‘Workstation- Dead Box’ brings ominous guitars, filthy Sepultura grooves and eerie melodic backing vocals to the mix. This theme is continued to even greater effect in ‘The Next Revolution’ which has more creepy sung passages, delivered this time over bouncy grooves and wonky melodic passages that cram a whole lot into its short runtime. The vocals then shift to a gravelly pentatonic croon on ‘Delusion of Omnipotence’ where vocalist Ivan channels his inner Phil Anselmo (in a non-racist way) over the main hook before going full throated Max Cavalera for the verses. Somehow, he manages to squeeze in another vocal icon, adopting a powerful Mina Caputo tone for the final section.

This would all be impressive enough at this point but ‘Path of Separation’ goes full on Goth vibes as unsettling drums and atmospherics leave you wincing for a punch that never comes. ‘Persona’ and the two tracks that follow deliver that killer blow and clearly show that these guys worship Napalm Death. As they bloody well should. By the time you get through the Death Metal nod of ‘From Cradle to Grave’ and the closing mantra-like ‘No Father’s Flag’, you’ve been through a lot.

Although Straight Opposition stay within the Hardcore / Extreme wheelhouse, they accomplish a great deal within these often sub two-minute songs, providing a tapas menu of all things crusty and mean. Ivan doesn’t always pull off everything he’s going for with technical prowess, but the effort is evident throughout and his rawness and passion lends authenticity to everything he does even if the death metal vocals verge on parody at times.

In a genre that can be very one-note, here is a band throwing everything they have at you and really trying to push themselves. A little more refinement on the next one and we could have something really special on our hands. You miss every shot that you don’t take and Straight Opposition are trigger-happy and proud.

‘Workstation DeadBox’ Official Video

TRACKLISTING:
01. Outsider By Choice
02. July 019
03. Workstation- Dead Box
04. The Next Revolution
05. Delusion of Omnipotence
06. (She’s Still) Pro Choice
07. Path Of Separation
08. Persona
09. The Secrets Of Your Militance
10. It’s Killing Time
11. From the Cradle to the Grave
12. No Age To Xclaim!
13. No Father’s Flag

LINE-UP:
Ivan – Vocals
Luca – Drums
Flavio – Bass
Nicola – Guitar

LINKS:

BillyBio – Leaders And Liars

BillyBio – Leaders And Liars
AFM Records
Release Date: 25/03/2022
Running Time: 42:38
Review by Rory Bentley
8/10

I need a vest, chain and a bandana stat! BillyBio has dropped a new album and I’ll be damned if I’m spin-kicking in this stupid Ensiferum shirt I’m wearing!

You know the drill by now, I love Hardcore, I especially love NY Hardcore and beat downs and gang chants are my shit. I also obviously love Biohazard, so Billy Graziadei’s excellent decision to go solo in lieu of Biohazard getting their shit together made me very happy in 2018, with that iconic bark and jackhammer right hand guaranteeing a concrete ass kicking New York style which is exactly what we get on “Leader and Liars”.

If that sounds like it’s not for you I’d suggest you skip this one but if that makes you feel like you want to headbutt the nearest wall and destroy your place of work, then this will see you right. You want songs about wanting to snap people like a twig after you’ve been patient with them? ‘Blackout’ has got you covered with a rousing chorus and macho rapping over a searing crossover riff. You want somebody to be angry with an authority figure over a head-snapping punk attack? ‘Leaders and Liars’ will stick it hard to whatever corrupt douchebag you’d like to give a haymaker to. How about if you need a pep talk to pick you up out of the mud from an angry tattooed lad shouting in your face? ‘Turn The Wounds’ will see you right my downtrodden friend.

There’s nothing wrong with doing what it says on the tin if the tin is full of rousing metallic Hardcore that has all the menace and nostalgic joy of the early 90’s with a modern gut-punch of a production job. The riffs are front and centre, the drums slap you round the chops and Billy sounds as commanding as ever. He has a great way of introducing a melodic sing along hook to a song without ever dropping the intensity, possessing an alpha male grit that never sacrifices clarity or feels like forced machismo. Although this is the core makeup of the record, Billy’s not afraid to throw a few surprises that distinguish his solo career from his day job.

There are some very well-placed Alice In Chains style eerie harmonies in ‘Fallen Empires’ and ‘Leaders and Liars’ that add an extra sense of menace to the melodic sections that work beautifully with sludgy riff work that Jerry Cantrell would be proud of. On the more upbeat end of the scale the posi-vibes of ‘Generation Kill’ and ‘Our Scene’ provide the answer to the question “what would The Offspring sound like if they had gang signs tattooed on their knuckles?” These upbeat and almost poppy excursions are once again prevented from sounding soft by the band playing them at a million miles an hour and Billy still singing like he’s passing a kidney stone.

The pacing of the album is excellent throughout as interludes ‘Sheep Dog’, ‘Just in The Sun’ and ‘Remission’ (the latter two featuring stirring female vocals), break up the record nicely and stop the faster numbers blurring together and tiring the listener. By the time you get to final fist pumping strains of ‘Cyanide’ you’ll wonder where the time went.

Essentially this record has the potential to keep everyone happy, serving up enough familiar fun to satisfy Biohazard diehards without the pressure that the legendary name brings. If Billy’s plan is to keep churning out songs and releasing albums of this quality whenever he needs to express himself, I’m more than happy for Biohazard to take all the time they need to get on the same page. This is good, dirty fun and I’ll take another of these pick me ups in two years’ time please Billy!

‘Black Out’ Official Music Video

TRACKLISTING:
01. Blackout
02. Fallen Empires
03. Leaders and Liars
04. Lost Horizon
05. Turn the Wounds
06. Sheepdog
07. Deception
08. Generation Kill
09. Looking Up
10. One Life to Live
11. Our Scene
12. Just the Sun
13. Enough
14. Remission
15. Cyanide

LINE-UP:
Billy Graziadei – Vocals, Guitars
Fred Aching Rios – Drums
Ra Diaz, Dan Manca – Bass
Dan Palmer, Robbie Davidson – Leads

LINKS:

Beyond The Styx – Sentence

Beyond The Styx – Sentence
WTF Records
Release Date: 04/02/2022
Running Time: 30:10
Review by Rory Bentley
6/10

The term ‘one trick pony’ is often used in music criticism in a disparaging way to outline an artist’s lack of versatility and sonic diversity. A derisive snort from a snobby writer pouring scorn on a band for not reinventing the wheel every time they pick up their instrument, as if this is the be all and end all of musical achievement. While there is certainly merit in innovation and being blown away by something you’ve never heard before, not every record needs to rip up the rulebook to hit the spot. For example I don’t want AC/DC to take me on a jazz odyssey that stretches the fabric of my mind – I want four minute songs with big simple riffs that fire me up, make me want to chin pints and pump my fist like a dishevelled uncle at a wedding reception.

Hardcore is a genre where this approach definitely has its place. The no-nonsense slug to the gut of a Madball song is often just what I need to scratch an itch when I’m having a rough day and I need an endorphin rush to drag me through to five o’clock. But other times I crave the angular, unpredictable catharsis of Converge to take me to another exhilarating realm far away from the tedious reality of modern life. There’s value to both ends of this spectrum and these two examples demonstrate why Hardcore is so exciting and why so many people gravitate to this raw, painfully human style of heavy music.

French quintet Beyond The Styx are firmly in the former camp with their confrontational metallic Thrash crossover approach. In fact it was their scabrous first single ‘Overload’ that made me want to review “Sentence”, evoking the kind of beat down heavy, tempo shifting attack that gets my pulse racing and makes me want to start a one man circle pit in my living room.

The album certainly lives up to the promise of the single and the gnarly album art, something abundantly clear on scorching opener ‘DC’, its title and sound a nod to the Washington scene that spawned so many legendary acts. Every chug, snare hit and passionate roar is performed with the precision and urgency of a unit that has cut its teeth through gruelling tours in sweat-drenched venues, doing the hard miles between gigs and leaving everything out on the stage.

As the frenetic momentum carried through to ‘New World Disorder’ I was struck by the excellent production job that captures the kinetic feel of a noisy rehearsal space without compromising the clarity needed to make each down tuned groove leap out of the speakers with optimum potency. I went back to earlier BTSTX releases for comparison and while there is a ramshackle charm to their previous recording, the benefits of this more polished execution are evident and allow everyone to shine from the scraping guitars to the thumping rhythm section.

One thing that is certainly undimmed by the upgrade in recording is the unhinged, glass-throated vocals that carry a feral intensity that sells every single lyrical attack on social injustice with bitter sincerity. Even if mosh calls like ‘Listen up you ain’t shit’ do verge on Biohazard levels of macho pastiche. The bruising concrete jungle mentality of Biohazard is further evoked by the news-report style samples littered through the album that gave me a warm, nostalgic feeling for the early 90’s and tick off another genre touchstone.

By the midway point of the album it became clear that BTSTYX weren’t in any hurry to deviate from the crossover formula and while I was still having a good time fluctuating between being slowly stomped and vigorously pummelled, I did start to pine for a little more variety to my aural mugging. ‘Scorch AD’ and ‘Cyclops’ do introduce the welcome addition of some guest vocalists to stave off monotony, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that songs were blending into one another and the lack of memorable hooks was becoming a problem. Thankfully at 30:10 the album narrowly avoids outstaying its welcome and it left me bruised but not completely broken, however I did have the lingering feeling that “Sentenced” could have delivered a little more in terms of memorability and variety.

The band clearly have the fundamentals nailed and their forceful demand for social justice is a worthy one, but there is very little to separate them from the pack. They may perform this style to a much higher standard than most and I’d happily do further damage to my ailing neck if I was at the front row of one of their shows, but as an album this has been little more than an enjoyable way to spend half an hour. If you’re down with the ‘core I can’t see you having a bad time with “Sentence”, it’s as caustic and belligerent as one could hope for, but I can’t in good conscience call it an essential listen.

As I stated in the beginning, sometimes being a ‘one trick pony’ can be a strength if it’s a really great trick, but when there’s bands that have already been doing it before you maybe it’s time to learn some new tricks? Gripes aside though, this is a bloody-fisted bouncy effort that gets in, spin kicks you in the chops and gets out. My only hope is next time BTSTYX give me a good kicking they hit me with a few more surprises. I should probably clarify that I’m speaking entirely figuratively here lads. Please don’t beat me up.

‘Overload’ Official Music Video

TRACKLISTING:
1. DC
2. Collateral
3. New World Disorder [feat. Luis Ifer / Teething]
4. ESC XIX
5. Self Hatred
6. Chain of life
7. Overload
8. Scorch AD [feat. Guillaume / Final Shodown]
9. Machination
10. Cyclops [feat. Vincent / The Butcher’s Rodeo]

LINE-UP:
Emile Duputie – Vocals
Arnaud Morfoisse – Guitar / Vocals)
David Govindin – Guitar / Vocals)
Yoann Cesar – Bass / Vocals
Adrien Joulin – Drums

LINKS:

Gloves Off – Life … And Everything After

Life... And Everything After Album Cover Art

Gloves Off – Life … And Everything After
Upstate Records
Release Date: 28/01/2022
Running Time: 32:00
Review by Rory Bentley
8/10

There are some styles of music that make me act like a fussy toddler if the balance isn’t just right for my ears. Too much cheese and helium screeching on a Power Metal song and I spit my dummy out; excessive Euro-pop synths on a Symphonic Metal cut and no amount of airplane noises is gonna make me swallow it down. Then there are some genres where I’ll greedily clear my plate before I’ve even been strapped into my highchair, which is kind of where I am with Hardcore.

Putting aside this bizarre man-baby analogy for a moment, the point I’m making is that if you play metallic Hardcore with an Entombed-style guitar tone, my objectivity goes out the window a little. This stuff is catnip for me and my default setting of snooty cynicism is somewhat nullified; replaced by a two-stepping guy in a bandanna that shouts ‘FAMILY!’ a lot.

Gloves Off tick a lot of my boxes from the get-go: violent band name, angry faces on press photos and cool song titles like ‘My Death Was a Banquet’. I’m also pleased to say that the execution matches the imagery and throws in enough sonic curveballs to make them stand out from the crowd.

Hailing from Pennsylvania, a rich hotbed of Hardcore, Gloves Off deal out a savage brand of down-tuned depravity and abrasive noise that recalls the crushing chugs and harmonic screeches of their fellow natives Code Orange at their most feral. Aided by a production job that blends surgical clarity with a delightfully grimy overtone, the sonic palette here strikes the exact balance between extremity and accessibility that I gravitate towards. Essentially it doesn’t sound like it’s been recorded in a shoe but it’s also filthy enough to avoid any unfavourable Warped Tour Metalcore comparisons.

The album opens with tar-black hanging power chords booming ominously before accelerating into a crossover Thrash riff that could conjure a thousand circle pits. I was immediately struck by the unconventional but very welcome use of blast beats that punctuate the beat down sections here, adding a flavour of Death Metal while still retaining the streetwise feel of a Hardcore banger.

By second cut ‘Death Awaits’ it is quickly apparent that Gloves Off are adept at switching up tempos frequently in a way that adds variety to their relentless barrage without disrupting the overall song structures, bringing cohesion to chaos. ‘In Reflection’ switches up the formula slightly and if you’re a Gojira fan (and why the hell wouldn’t you be?), then you’ll be lapping up the immensely satisfying pick scrapes and screeching natural harmonics that litter the scorching riff-work as the track segues into the eerie octave chords of the album’s catchiest chorus so far. Not for the first time, it’s worth acknowledging the savage beat down section at the end, which is just straight ignorant and makes me want to spin kick until my ligaments snap!

This would be a good time to give some shine to vocalist Cody Clark, who has an unhinged razor blade ferocity to his scowling bark that may not be good for his vocal cords but is great for selling the existential rage contained within the weighty lyrics of ‘Life… And Everything After’. He tackles the agony of existence with a philosophical approach while retaining the scowling demeanour of a street-brawler. This more literary approach to prose essentially allows me to have my cake and eat it – I feel like I can shout the mosh calls with permanent screw-face without the sensation that I’m descending into the world of macho parody that the name Gloves Off might infer.

If I had to pick a standout track then that honour would go to ‘Conqueror Worm’, which blends all the elements of the album that have had me salivating and closes with a gargantuan breakdown that I fear one day will put me in hospital, before frantically escalating in speed to an anxiety-inducing sprint to the finish line. Like the album itself the song offers a delightful buffet of the best bits about modern Hardcore, collated into a satisfying feast of Converge-worshipping malevolence.

Taking my over-sized baseball cap off and donning my critical hat, there are areas for improvement. Predominantly I would love the band to explore a little further beyond the self-imposed borders of the genre; as there’s plenty of evidence they’re more than capable of this. Like nearly every band from the scene since Code Orange dropped their seminal 2017 opus ‘Forever’, there are samples and ambient moments stitching the record together that hint at roads yet to be travelled.

The outstanding closer ‘Between Greetings and Goodbyes’ sees the band employing dissonant arpeggios and moments of pure black metal destruction that recall Bleeding Through in their blackened Hardcore pomp, showing that there’s plenty more tools left to play with should the band veer from the palm-muted beaten track. More of this please!

‘Life…And Everything After’ is modern Hardcore done to a very high standard with the green chutes of future growth and innovation excitingly peppered through its perfectly pitched 32-minute runtime. Far from just being a thuggish haymaker to the gut, this is a sophisticated lesson in violence performed with proficiency and panache. If Edgar Allen Poe owned a pair of brass knucks he’d probably love this album.

‘In Reflection’ Official Video

TRACKLISTING:
01. Pinnacle In Timelines
02. Death Awaits
03. In Reflection
04. By A Thread
05. Decay
06. Conqueror Worm
07. My Death Was a Banquet
08. Winter Solstice
09. Between Greetings and Goodbyes

LINE-UP:
Cody – Vocals
Ethan – Guitar
Sean – Guitar
Brian – Bass
Phil – Drums

LINKS:

Interview with BROWBEAT

Interview with BROWBEAT
Interviewed by Beth Jones

Italian Hardcore band Browbeat were a new name on me when their about to be released EP dropped in my inbox. I do like a bit of Hardcore, and their bio sounded like they would be right up my street! I reviewed the EP, and decided that we all needed to know a little more about these guys. Luckily, I managed to grab a quick email interview with them, so we can all get a bit more of a flavour for what makes this band tick. Enjoy…

Hi guys, it’s nice to talk to you. Firstly, can you tell us a bit about the band? What style of music do you play, how long have you been playing together, and how did you start out as a band?

Hello to everybody! It’s nice for us too! When we formed in 1998. We had a common idea which was to create music in the most intense way possible by combining anguish, heaviness and lyrics that would highlight the problems of society. At that time, we were in the middle of the 90’s Hardcore / Crossover/New Metal scene, and it still gave us a great inspiration to play our music. In the band you can hear everything. Our sound ranges from old school Hardcore to more modern, from 80s Thrash to Death Metal and the most extreme Grindcore. Let’s say we don’t have a favourite band or genre, we like to listen to good music and take inspiration from that. We have been doing shows since 1998, then we broke up in 2007 and reformed in 2017. From the original line-up there is only our singer M.V. The current line-up has been together since 2018.

Your new EP, “The Showdown” is about to drop – tell us a little about that – what inspired the songs, and how long have you been working on it?

The Showdown was born naturally in a few months, trying not to follow trends but playing simply what we liked. After the pre-production phase, we found ourselves in the practice room testing out the songs and fixing the last details. Right from the start we had an excellent feeling about the total performance of the songs. Listening to a lot of different music, and what we feel every day in our life, are the main factors for writing songs.

Musically, who have been your greatest influences?

Hatebreed, Merauder, Madball, Rage Against the Machine, Earth Crisis, Lionheart, The Acacia Strain, the first Machine Head and Biohazard are the bands that have influenced us most. We are very related to the 90’s scene, but we also appreciate more modern bands, such as Nasty, Knocked Loose, Antagonist AD, etc …

Obviously, the world’s been in a weird place for the last couple of years. How have you managed to keep your music going, and have you been able to get back to live shows yet?

During the pandemic, we took the opportunity to write new songs and record pre-productions. We did a few shows but not like we used to do before Covid.

What have you got planned for 2022 (covid permitting)?

We love the stage and the contact with the fans, so we simply hope in 2022 to do all the shows that can be done in our country and abroad, also because we will have to promote our new EP.

You guys have been around for a pretty long time now, and you’re all very experienced musicians. What advice would you give to young bands just starting out on their journey?

Definitely study music and practice every day. Believe in what you do, have patience and perseverance, and try not to throw money to incompetent and unreliable managers. But especially, always try to have fun.

How do you approach songwriting – is it a collaborative thing between you, and what comes first, the lyrics or the riffs?

Luca Cocconi is the main composer of the band. He takes care of the music, by writing the guitar, bass, and drums sessions. After the pre-production phase, we meet in the rehearsal room to rehearse the songs and fix the final details. Later when the musical part is complete, MV, the singer, writes the lyrics.

You’ve already played gigs with some of the greats of the genre, but if you could organise a dream gig, which bands would you want alongside you on the line-up?

The list would be very long but if I were to organize the concert of my dreams, personally I would call the Rollins Band as headliner, then Biohazard, Downset, Inside Out, Gorilla Biscuits, Public Enemy, House of Pain, Earth Crisis, Hatebreed and Browbeat as openers of course … ha … ha …!!!

The EP contains a cover of ‘Slave New World’ by Sepultura – why did you choose that song to cover?

Because for us, Sepultura represent one of the best bands of the 90s Metal scene, in their powerful and innovative sound, and for the lyrical concepts.

“CHAOS AD” and “ARISE” are two absolute masterpieces. Even though almost 30 years have passed, the lyrics of ‘SLAVE NEW WORLD’ are still very relevant, especially for the period we are living.

Thanks for your time guys, it’s been great to talk to you. To finish off, can you give us one sentence to describe what Browbeat, and this new EP, will bring to the listener.

Thanks Ever Metal for giving us this opportunity. 22^nd January 2022 our new EP “THE SHOWDOWN” will be out, and will surely bring to the listener so much brutality, impact, power and energy! Stay tuned!! Stay angry!! Stay HC!!

LINKS:

Disclaimer: This interview is solely the property of Beth Jones 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.

Exit_International – Black Junk 10th Anniversary Re-release

Exit_International – Black Junk 10th Anniversary Re-release
Say Something Records
Release Date: 17/09/21
Running Time: 41:02
Review by Steven Hooke
8/10

There existed a time in the UK alternative scene where our sad, decrepit little rock produced some of the world’s finest music. From 2008-2013, the likes of Hawk Eyes, The Defiled, Exit Ten, Feed the Rhino, and loads more took genres struggling to maintain relevance, and intrigue in audiences, and gave them a much-needed kick up the arse. Tucked away in the rolling fields of Wales, in the cruel shadows of Bullet for My Valentine, Funeral for a Friend, and Skindred, laid the angry, snarling, face-shredding, bass guitar-hailing trio known as Exit_International.

A dual-bass guitar-fronted act, incorporating Post-Punk, Hardcore and Noise in one handy little motif later to be known as “Noise Pop”, Exit_International are celebrating the 10th anniversary of their debut, “Black Junk”, with a vinyl re-release and remaster. Fans of the original release will no doubt be unsurprised to hear that the album sounds right at home in today’s setting. With artists such as Code Orange, Jamie Lenman, Haggard Cat, Turnstile, and Melted Bodies pushing the boundaries of Punk and Noise already, E_I feels right home with said company, with their shrieks of “why so cynical?” and “she’s got a chainsaw”.

Remasters tend to be a relatively divisive medium, especially for music made in the modern age. But what it does to “Black Junk” is make the sound so much fuller, breathing new life into songs such as the previously muddied, ‘My Mouth is Your Mouth’, which now sounds fantastic, and the realisation of a ‘Jump in the Fire’-esque riff on ‘Sex W/ Strangers’. The staple track ‘Chainsaw Song’ continues to sound absolutely incredible, but now with extra emphasis on the muted sliding riff on the second half of verses, and some underrated drum work from Adam Thomas. The repeating vocal hooks of ‘Shake Your Bad Ass’, ‘Body Joyrider’, ‘Voices’ and the like still sound and feel like they could tear open a 200-cap room with no hesitation.

The previously-13 track album brings along with it some semi-new material from the group, with never before released tracks, ‘Lay to Waste’, ‘Hex Lover’, and ‘Black Junk’. ‘Lay to Waste’ starts with a suitably treacle-thick bass riff, with an accompanying drum roll that slowly turns into a bastard son of Helmet and Pulled Apart by Horses, complete with a discordant piano interlude. ‘Hex Lover’ has big Melvins energy, with a huge, fuzzy, sludge riff as the centrepiece of the track, with some gorgeous bass tones sprinkled about as well. Finally, the unappointed title track, a Reuben-tinged bounty of rolling riffs, lo-fi vocal trade-offs, and a drop desperately calling out for a sea of flailing limbs. All three tracks are incredible and could easily have found their way on the initial release.

Like many of the forgotten turn of the decade generation, Exit_International have split up and gone their separate ways, returning only for this cruel (yet very hospitable) reminder of what we missed out on. Fortunately, it is never too late to discover a hidden gem, and a “Black Junk” with a fresh, bigger sound, some brilliant bonus tracks, and the same energy as snorting a sherbet Dib-Dab, is more than deserving of your time.

TRACKLISTING:
01. Glory Horn
02. Sex W/ Strangers
03. Voices
04. Shake Your Bad Ass
05. Bowie’s Ghost
06. Body Joyrider
07. Sherman Fang
08. Chainsaw Song
09. My Mouth is Your Mouth
10. Lights Out
11. King of the Junkies
12. Blindfolds
13. Hey Disciple
14. Lay to Waste
15. Hex Lover
16. Black Junk

LINE-UP:
Scott Lee Andrews – Vocals, Bass
Fudge Wilson – Vocals, Bass
Adam Thomas – Drums, Percussion

LINKS:

Disclaimer: This review is solely the property of Steven Hooke 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.

EMQ’s with PRIMAL AGE

EMQ’s with PRIMAL AGE

Hi everyone! Welcome to our new EMQ’s interview with Normandy, France based Metal/Hardcore band, Primal Age. Huge thanks to them for taking part.

What is your name, what do you play, and can you tell us a little bit about the history of the band?

Of course, we are PRIMAL AGE, and we play a mix of metal and hardcore since ‘93. PxA is about 800 shows in three countries on three continents. We’ve played with almost all the more famous bands of metal or hardcore.

How did you come up with your band name?

Animal rights and defence of Mother Earth have always been at the centre of our albums, so the name is a kind of reference of a former period in history when the air was more pure and the sea less polluted.

What Country/Region are you from and what is the Metal/Rock scene like there?

We come from Normandy, France, there are of course many bands but it’s hard to exist for most of them.

What is your latest release? (Album, EP, Single, Video)

We just put out our last album called “Masked Enemy” and you can watch two video clips for the tracks: ‘The Devil Is Hidden In Shadow’ and ‘The Two Heads Monster’.

‘The Devil Is Hidden In Shadow’ (Official Video)

‘The Two Heads Monster’ (Official Video)

Who have been your greatest influences?

We like metal and hardcore, so on the one hand you can find Slayer, Sepultura, Napalm Death, Dew-Scented; S.O.D….and on the other hand Earth Crisis, Minor Threat, Madball, Hatebreed…

What first got you into music?

I was 17 and my best friend got his first guitar, so I had the idea to be on the bass and singing. We were listening to punk music so we tried to play like this, without any drums. It was fun.

If you could collaborate with a current band or musician who would it be?

A European tour with Napalm Death could be cool 😊

If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?

I’ll choose one we have never played. It could be the Dynamo or the Wacken in Germany. These places seem to be great with so many famous bands and a huge audience.

What’s the weirdest gift you have ever received from a fan?

In Japan, one girl gave me a thing made by her grandmother to give me luck. It was a very kind attention and it’s always attached on my bag when we are on the road, cause it’s a great feeling when I remember this area I had dreamed to play in for a long time.

If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?

We hope to see you soon on the road. It has been a long time without shows because of the shitty times, so we hope to see you as soon as possible to share the passion we have in common.

If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?

Lemmy Kilmister, he is so iconic and when I was 10, Motörhead was the first band I listened to.

What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?

We are a non-professional band, so we have the chance to be very free without any pressure from a label or something. We have the opportunity to travel worldwide, that’s the coolest thing for me. What I dislike is when fashion becomes bigger than passion and you see guys or bands changing to follow the trend.

If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?

Quantity vs quality. We have that chance to be independent and we don’t feel the need to produce a lot. Many bands, when they make an album have just 2 or 3 good singles and the other tracks are filler.

Name one of your all-time favourite albums?

I’ll give you two, “Aris” by Sepultura and “Master of Puppets” by Metallica, two revelations for me.

What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CD’s or Downloads?

It depends on the context. At home when I want to hear some music, I prefer vinyls, CD’s when I do other things and MP3’s when I’m driving. Cassettes are only for my collection of old demos.

What’s the best gig that you have played to date?

I think the BloodAxe fest in Tokyo will stay in my memory for all my life cause it was a dream to play in Japan, and I couldn’t imagine to see that thing happen when I started to play!

If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?

Music is a passion but I live with another passion which is sport. I began French boxing 30 years ago and I teach it and still practice every week. My life as a fighter is behind me but it’s always a part of my life, I need it for a good balance.

Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?

Jesus, Yavé, Hahommet (Muhammad), Boudha and…Odin, cause I have needed to have some explanations for a long time, cause so many things aren’t very clear but make people so angry.

What’s next for the band?

The promotion of our new album is on its way and we are now more than ready to make shows. We hope to play in many areas with great bands.

What Social Media/Website links do you use to get your music out to people?

We are on Facebook, even if I don’t really like it, but it seems to be practical to stay in touch with our public.
www.facebook.com/PRIMALAGE
www.instagram.com/primal_age/

Jaffa Cakes! Are they a cake or a biscuit?

Biscuit.

Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add?

Thanxxx for the support.

Disclaimer: This interview is solely the property of Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this interview, unless you have the strict permission of said party. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.

EMQ’s with LURE IN

EMQ’s with LURE IN

Hi everyone! Welcome to our new EMQ’s interview with Manchester, England based Chaotic Metalcore/Hardcore band, Lure In. Huge thanks to vocalist, Cameron, for taking part.

What is your name, what do you play and can you tell us a little bit about the history of the band?

Hi, my name is Cameron & I’m the vocalist of the band Lure In, Lure in are a chaotic metalcore/hardcore band from Manchester which was started by myself & our bassist Jonny. We wanted to make music together so we recorded an EP in my room which ended up being our first Release “Derive” &, after that, James (guitarist), Jake (guitarist) & Sammy (drummer) joined for the creative & live side of the band.

How did you come up with your band name?

The band name came as I was doing a lot of cult themes lyrically, as well as, no other band or project, to my knowledge, was called Lure In so we went with it.

What country are you from and what is the metal scene like there?

We’re based in the United Kingdom & the Metal & Rock scene is very good at the moment, extremely healthy, all you’d need to do is look at the Download Pilot line up & see how good the UK’s music scene is at the moment.

What is your latest release (Album, EP, Single, Video)

So, we did a split record with our friends in Worm Hero, we had 4 songs on that record, all 4 being completely different, as we pride ourselves on not just sticking to one thing or one style of music, but not in the way where it sounds like a completely other band if you get what I mean.

‘Blue’ (Official Audio) Contains Flashing Images

‘Agnostic’(Official Audio) Contains Flashing Images

Who have been your greatest influences?

Most likely The Dillinger Escape Plan, Daughters, Vein, and pretty much every 00’s Metalcore band as well as a lot of modern pop, hip hop & pretty much anything we are listening too currently, as that really shapes the sound of the records we make.

What first got you into music?

I guess for me, personally, it’s a lot of 90’s & 00’s alt/indie rock, my step dad in particular was massively into bands like Nirvana, Foo Fighters, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, pretty much everything that’s currently on Radio X here in the UK, & because of him, a lot of that rubbed off on me.

If you could collaborate with a current band or musician, who would it be?

Either Dylan Brady or AG Cook, both of them are my favourite producers at the moment and I feel especially as they both have very over the top & hyper realistic productions. It would be super sick to hear what we would sound like with that vibe.

If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?

Arctangent festival for me, our bassist would say Glastonbury but for me definitely Arctangent. Me & James went in 2019 and a lot of the acts that were on just inspired me or I was already inspired by them so being a part of that would be next level.

If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?

Just thanks for supporting us, we aren’t exactly your usual metal or rock band so to see people enjoy our songs, it’s just appreciated.

If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?

Not a rockstar (but they could be if you look at it a certain way), if I was able to, then 100% Sophie. They were a music producer that collaborated with Charli XCX, Kim Petras & also made their own music & are one of my biggest influences as a musician & music producer.

What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?

Creative freedom & having an outlet to do things is probably the best part about being a musician. The worst thing, because I know it’s coming up eventually, is venues with stairs cause I already feel the agony of getting a 12u flight rack up some stairs.

If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?

I guess the scene politics, I mean we’re okay & we’ve never really had to deal with anything like that as a band but you see it with other bands & whatever and it’s just not really it.

Name one of your all-time favourite albums?

“Calculating Infinity” by the Dillinger Escape Plan.

What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CD’s or Downloads?

Downloads, give me all the flac files.

What’s the best gig that you have played to date?

Probably our show in Liverpool with MTXS, crazy small room, packed out, we were the first band on & everyone was up for it, perfect storm of a show honestly.

If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?

Probably something in the creative worlds, I studied game development as a kid so maybe that but especially, as of late, I’ve really wanted to get into acting.

Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?

We were asked this question a while back & it’s gonna be the same answer, I can’t think of 5 but 1 person in particular I would love to pick the mind of is Kanye West, super good producer & beatmaker & I’d just love to see how his mind works.

What’s next for the band?

New Music, A return to live shows, we’re currently in the studio with 0 idea when anything is gonna be finished, so I guess we’ll find out together.

What Social Media/Website links do you use to get your music out to people?

We normally use Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, the whole shebang, as well as most DSP’s but we use our socials to get those DSP’s some traffic, all our socials are @lureinband.
www.facebook.com/LureInBand
www.instagram.com/lureinband/
www.twitter.com/lureinband
www.lureinband.bandcamp.com/
www.open.spotify.com/artist/2PMx4Yf2QzHvRbVMZFvolq
www.youtube.com/channel/UCdHkask-y43TlmVhP8s2ENw

Jaffa Cakes? Are they a cake or a biscuit?

I had this debate in the band chat & because of the fear of possibly causing world war 3 we have decided that it’s both.

Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add?

Thanks for the interview, our split with worm hero is out everywhere now, we’re working hard to get new music out & hopefully we’ll see everyone at a show as soon as we can get back at it.

Lure In Promo Pic (Credit Alex Dixon @BlackboxPhotoCo) — Photo by Alex Dixon @BlackboxPhotoCo