Brainbombs - Cold Case Lp (Skrammel) (15 euro)
Notorious noise rock gods release their 9th album. These Swedes have been driving riffs into the ground since the late 1980's. Since Souvenirs Brainbombs traded their brutal riffing in for a less direct approach, causing the listener disorientation by making zealous use of the wah-wah-pedal. Another unsettling record. Nice and sober artwork and on red vinyl to boot.
Hear it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Cold Meat - Hot and Flustered Lp (Static Shock) (12,50 euro)
After an unsung Ep and split with fellow Aussies Ubik, Perth's Cold Meat return with their first album. I heard the band's previous material, but didn't take the time to let their music settle in until Hot and Flustered - it took me until the Next Phase 12" to really appreciate Ubik too. Hot and Flustered delivers 10 tracks of angular punk rock with strong vocals. The lyrics are really good. It's a thin line between being a judgemental cynic or someone with an eye for inconsistencies and hypocrisy in his/her surroundings. Ashley fits in the latter category partly because her criticism is not just aimed at the world around her, but also at herself. Noircir et se noircir, remember? I love the artwork on this one, the thing looks great. Amazing record.
Hear it here: https://staticshockrecords.
Hear it here: https://staticshockrecords.
The Comes - No Side 12" (La Vida Es Un Mus) (15 euro)
Official reissue of this Japanese classic that dates back to 1983. There was a bootleg of No Side floating around a couple of years ago, which is better than paying a fortune for the original. However a proper rerelease is of course preferred. I've never been much of an enthusiast of Japanese hardcore because of the heavy metal leanings, but this Lp hit me upon first hear. Desperate vocals, thin guitar and spot on snare sound. The artwork and original insert are all reproduced nicely for this reissue. A classic done justice.
Hear it here: https://lavidaesunmus.
Es - Less of Everything Lp (Upset the Rhythm) (12,50 euro)
London's Es appeared on the scene with a 4 song 12" on La Vida Es Un Mus, an odd format for that, but why not? Although I enjoyed Object Relations, a reference to psychotherapist Ronald Fairnbairn, it was a rather brief listen. In retrospect one can think of it as an appetizer for Less of Everything, their new album. This is a great record. The aggressive bass playing works wonders with the wandering key melodies. There's a slightly psychotic quality to Es' sound, listening to this record feels like looking through the eyes of someone dissociating and I mean that in the best way.
Hear it here: https://esband.bandcamp.com/
FOC - La Fera Ferotge Lp (La Vida Es Un Mus) (12,50 euro)
Debut by this hardcore band from Barcelona. The pace on this one is high. The drumming and guitar work are impressive. La Fera Ferotge delivers fast, disjointed and chaotic hardcore punk that's catchy, bringing to mind 1980's Italian greats and GBR. The latter is not a surpise now I think about it, because FOC has a link with Absurdo and that band was heavily influenced by GBR. I wouldn't be surprised if it's the same guy on six string. Although not necessarily a fan of the satyr artwork, it has its charm.
Hear it here: https://lavidaesunmus.
Fried E/M - Modern World Lp (La Vida Es Un Mus) (12,50 euro)
Certain bands have me hooked in a matter of seconds. Fried E/M are such a band. Sloppy punk rock with snotty vocals. You can sing along before the song is over, because the lyrics are simple yet on point, kinda Ramonesy actually in the way that Cülo was Ramonesy. Blunt and loud drumming, catchy guitars, but to me the main appeal of Fried E/M is their vocalist and his words. It ain't easy to write something dumb, ya know. Several hits on this one, a real crowd pleaser.
Hear it here: https://lavidaesunmus.
Handle - In Threes Lp (Upset the Rhythm) (12,50 euro)
New and exciting art-punk band from London. The opening track has a crazy off-kilter rhythm bringing to mind some of the later the Ex material I've been investigating recently. At the heart of every Handle song is an odd and shambolic rhythm over which a bouncy bass line is delivered, creating the main melody. The Ex is not a bad reference for Handle overall although Handle seems more of an art than an anarchist collective. On some songs Handle's sound is also vaguely reminiscent of Kitchen's Floor. Background music this is not, but In Threes is a captivating listen from start to finish.
Hear it here: https://maternalvoice.
Irreal - Fi Del Mon Lp (La Vida Es Un Mus) (12,50 euro)
More hardcore punk from Barcelona. Most songs on Fi Del Mon open with a nice amount of feedback after which songs consisting of burling bass lines, galloping drums and guitar riffs with reverb and hoarse, also reverbed, vocals make themselves heard. Not every track on this record is fast, which keeps it dynamic. This is the type of hardcore I primarily associate with La Vida Es Un Mus, a sound previously mined by bands such as Destino Final, Glam and Una Bestiá Incontrolable, some of which Irreal shares members with. Not my bag per se, but good for what it is.
Hear it here: https://lavidaesunmus.
Isotope Soap - An Artifact of Insects Lp (Push my Buttons) (13 euro)
An Artifact of Insects is the first proper album by this Swedish outfit, but the band released a good number of records on a bunch of small labels already.
Being named after a Geza X song might give you a clue of what you're in for. If not, let me fill you in. This is art-punk with synths or artful synthpunk done well, really well. The band has a futuristic vibe existing somewhere between being silly and dead serious, meaning you can do your robot dance to these tunes, but not without feeling a slight sense of discomfort. I like how Isotope Soap employs a consistent aesthetic. Performing in lab coats and wearing mouth caps on stage has a different connotation since the COVID-19 crisis and is further proof these guys are visionaries.
Kaleidoscope - After the Futures Lp (La Vida Es Un Mus) (12,50 euro)
Restocks of this 2019 full album by New York's Kaleidoscope, which has Shiva Adanki of Deformity, Ivy and JJ Doll on guitar and vocals. I keep track of what Shiva is doing, because it's often good and always original. Kaleidoscope have long been experimenting and looking for a style and sound that fit them. They hit upon something on their 2017 Ep on D4MT. On After the futures Kaleidoscope delve that nerve further, fully coming into their own and creating one of my favorite releases of last year. The story it tells is dystopian. Think Discharge seen through the eyes of Philip K. Dick. It's almost intimidating how rich with ideas this record is both musically and lyrically, something that also comes through in the artwork. A booklet with lyrics and art done by Shiva is included. You can tell a lot of work went into this Lp and I'm still far from processing it all. I restock few releases, but it'd have been a crime to not get more copies of this one. Grab one if you haven't yet.
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Kohti Tuhoa - Ihmisen Kasvot Lp (La Vida Es Un Mus) (12,50 euro)
Raw and urgent hardcore from Finland. Apparently this is the band's third album. I had no idea. Here's the thing with Finnish hardcore; I often love the music. It's raw, so raw. However I dislike the way the bands present themselves. Too many skulls, bullet belts, nuclear explosions. Furthermore their names are fucking impossible to keep apart for me, because Finnish isn't relatable to Dutch in the least so I haven't got a clue what they mean. Yes, I am shallow. Ihmisen Kasvot is a total hardcore banger from start to finish though. It's got riffs for days, awesome drumming and a vocalist with heart and intensity. I'm gonna have to investigate their previous material now.
Hear it here: https://lavidaesunmus.
Krig I Hudik - III Lp (Skrammel) (15 euro)
Krig I Hudik's 7" Ep's released in 2009 and 2010 caused quite a stir at the time. The group is named after a Missbrukarna song and has Rolf Revolt, former member of said group, on guitar and vocals next to Poffen of Totalitär, which already makes quite the lineup. Old guys playing classic hardcore punk that's raw and catchy. Don't mistake this for dad rock. These are guys who always stayed involved in underground music and are more punk than all the fashionable haircuts and studded leather jackets of you and your crew combined. Those into classic Swedish hardcore punk will not be disappointed by this one.
Hear one track here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Muro/Orden Mundial - Sonido De La Negación Lp (La Vida Es Un Mus) (12,50 euro)
This split 12" teams up Colombia's Muro with Mallorca's Orden Mundial, both excellent hardcore bands in their own right. There are a lot of similarities. Both bands are in your face, sing in Spanish, have a buzz saw guitar sound and desperate vocals. Muro's drummer is a monster playing drum rolls in abundance, which gives the music an almost militaristic quality in places. Muro's side of the split encapsules total chaos, uncontrolled and direct. Orden Mundial sounds bigger and grinds to a slower pace than Muro on two of the tracks on their side. Unlike Muro, Orden Mundial is not on the verge of collapse. They're aiming for a more calculated mode of destruction. It makes for an interesting contrast between the two sides. No reason to pick one over the other, both bands deliver. Sebastiano Rosillo's artwork is cool as always. The extensive booklet that's included with this release looks awesome. It's a shame I can't read a single word of it, because it's in Spanish.
Permission - Organised People Suffer Lp (La Vida Es Un Mus) (12,50 euro)
Permission - Organised People Suffer Lp (La Vida Es Un Mus) (12,50 euro)
Organised People Suffer is Permission's third 12". The band came from the ashes of No and sounds similar. High density hardcore. The drumming is intense, the riffs jagged. The steady drums give the guitars carte blanche, which they gratefully use. The vocals are almost barked. Lyrically everything is rather abstract, but it's safe to say they're not coming from a happy place. In some ways these songs remind me of Gag and Hoax, but Permission seems to bring more to the table somehow. I can see their music appeal to those appreciating Perspex Flesh. Ten condensed hardcore ragers with an overall claustrophobic vibe. The artwork is great and brings Nick Blinko to mind a bit. The record comes with a poster in the same style.
Primo! - Amici Lp (Upset the Rhythm) (12,50 euro)
Restocks of the debut record by this girl group from Melbourne. Primo! plays stripped down pop music combining simple but effective guitar chords with beautiful at times hypnotizing vocal harmonies and the occasional synthesizer. Comparison to bands like the Shop Assistants and Dolly Mixture would be both accurate as well as obvious and therefore cheap. These 10 tracks are all very laidback and sweet though not in a bubblegum or sugarcoated way. They have a dreamlike quality. I like how the songs sorta wander both musically and lyrically. Someone described Primo's music as 'gentle', which is well put.
Primo! - Sogni Lp (Upset the Rhythm) (12,50 euro)
Hear it here: https://primocassetto.
Second Lp by this Melbourne outfit, which through the addition of Amy Hill is now officially a four-piece, consisting of one half of Terry. Sogni opens with a rather static and dramatic track called 'Things to do'. The rest of the record is more in line with what was heard on Amici. Although Sogni is still a dreamy pop record, it is more composed, more focused than the band's debut, a sign of growth one could argue. At heart Primo! remains the same gentle band however. These 12 tracks will appeal to those who've already fallen in love with these ladies as well as those whose heart skips a beat when hearing a good pop tune but are yet unfamiliar with Primo!
Rat Cage - Screams from the Cage Lp (La Vida Es Un Mus) (12,50 euro)
One-man-project of guitar player James Fidler who's based in Sheffield, UK. Rat Cage plays traditional hardcore punk that's fast and derives most of its power from the riffing. The drumming is relentless and the riffs have got drive. There's room for some guitar solo action here and there without things getting wanky. The singer's voice is hoarse and strained, which fits the style, but falls a bit flat after a handful of songs. The delivery is too monotonous for my tastes. The lyrics however are sharp and come from a working class perspective favoring the poor over the rich. Anger and despair run as constant themes throughout these 12 songs. Some spot-on observations about today's society are made, such as the following about the current media: 'surrounded by opinions that aren't making sense/coming from the mouths of those sitting on the fence', a sentiment anybody still watching television should be familiar with. I like the sloppy yellow on black artwork. If this group ever makes it to your town, go see them and buy them a drink. The insert makes no secret of James and his crew enjoying their beer.
Slender - Time on Earth Lp (La Vida Es Un Mus) (12,50 euro)
Soakie - 12" (La Vida Es Un Mus) (12,50 euro)
Skiftande Enheter - Snubblar Genom Drommär Lp (Appetite) (13 euro)
Latest release by this Swedish garage rock outfit. What separates Skiftande Enheter from the multitudes of bands crowding the genre for one is they sing in their native tongue. The organ furthermore gives the songs an extra layer most garage bands miss. Snubblar Genom Drommär seems more reserved than the band's previous output. The songs are very relaxed, making this record a great soundtrack to your first cup of coffee in your boxer briefs. The vibe is pensive, introspective almost. There's a sense of melancholia.
My knowledge of Swedish is limited to say the least, so maybe I'm way off the mark, but it's the impression I get.
Gotta trust your instincts when you've got nothing else, no?
The guitar work on the flip has me think of the Hunches in places.
The collage artwork on this record looks great. I wish there was more info about the band and the songs included, but I guess a certain sense of mystery keeps one involved.
Slender - Time on Earth Lp (La Vida Es Un Mus) (12,50 euro)
Weirdo punk coming from the remains of the drug damaged brain of Keegan Dakkar. Slender's personnel played in some of my favorite hardcore bands about a decade ago, but this band is something completely different. The 9 tracks on this record are total downers. The songs have an amateur appeal like that of Kitchen's Floor and the most minimal and broken songs by Jim Shepard. They sound like home recordings done on a crappy boombox in a vermin infested New York apartment.
The melodies are fragile and mainly come from an acoustic guitar. Although I wouldn't describe the songs as catchy, they're very captivating. Slender is comfortable with its own weirdness and doesn't mind wallowing in misery for the listener's enjoyment. Definitely a grower, but there's something going on here that's worth your time.
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Hear it here: https://lavidaesunmus.
Soakie - 12" (La Vida Es Un Mus) (12,50 euro)
New hardcore outfit that's half from the land down under, half from New York. Soakie delivers 7 mid-paced stompers on their vinyl debut. This 12" sounds urgent most of all because of Summer's vocals. She moves from girly singing to odd squealing to gnarly screaming over the duration of single songs with what seems like no effort. It's common in hardcore to pick a vocal style and stick to it. Not necessarily a bad thing, but I really appreciate how Soakie has a different approach. The lyrics are hostile to square and straight society. The outsider is celebrated. Subject matters include hating the rich, the over representation of men in punk, gender politics, which are labeled as 'boring rationality' in 'What's your gender'. I especially like the line: 'I think I have every right to walk myself alone at night'. How could one disagree? Soakie's aim is confrontation and shaking the listener's ideas in a way not unlike Special Interest. The artwork illustrates this nicely with its references to bondage and (animal) roleplaying.
Hear it here: https://lavidaesunmus.
