Chalmers - Four Songs

01. Utah
02. Biting Lip
03. Settling
04. Map's Lost

Chalmers exists as the twisting, technical, frenetic phoenix that rose from the ashes of Pennsylvania greats We Were Skeletons. While the four songs on this first release could be viewed as a continuation of the "Slint meets Hoover meets screamo" patterns of We Were Skeletons, it would be a disservice to not view Chalmers as it's own beast entirely. The opener 'Utah' is a slow burn, using heavy, discordant guitar hits to carry heartfelt lyrics. The intro riff to 'Biting Lip' is among the catchiest things Justin Pallas has written, and the fraying, tense vocal delivery positioned atop this catchy foundation creates a cool balance. There are echoes of Fugazi here as well, in the ways that Pallas shouts "I'm feeling automatic, like I'm out of control. I'm out of control – I'm listening in". 'Settling' takes a step back, creating a slightly more somber, almost desolate western vibe. All the tension is still very palpable in all these tracks, as is an urgency that propels the release forward. The last lines of closer 'Map's Lost' paint a dreary picture ("Fuck it - abandon ship. All hope is dead and gone"), but this is surely a promising start for Chalmers as they push forward into a full length.

Reviewed by Justin.

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Headroom - Headroom

01. Outside
02. Miss
03. Slung
04. Headroom

Headroom play a cool interpretation of the kind of emo/punk that's really resonating with kids right now. The guitars are huge and crunchy while being atmospheric in all the right moments, and the just barely strained vocals carry intense melodies while conveying a definite sense of earnest sincerity. Basement and Title Fight would be lazy comparisons, but the likeness is definitely there. The nimble yet powerful drums carry these tunes forward in a powerful way, utilizing skillful fills without being so flashy as to divert the energy. While largely this pulls from emo and indie rock, some of the faster parts and palm muted guitar passages bring to mind No Trigger or Crime in Stereo for me right before slowing back down to carry the quieter vocals. I don't want to beat these comparisons to death, but if you're a fan of No Sleep or Run For Cover Records bands, Headroom will be right in your wheelhouse. Pick this up!

Reviewed by Justin.

Manchester alt-rockers Headroom had their growing fanbase in eager anticipation after announcing their second EP 'Carry Me Away' was being released this summer by Dog Knights Productions. And after dropping their impressive debut self-titled 7" last year, the quartet had the challenge of living up to some high expectations, fortunately though they more than out-do themselves this time around. The 4 new songs are well produced, delivering thick guitar riffs, soaring chorus' and angsty lyrics that prove Headroom could be at the start of a path to something great. If you're after some tightly performed emo-influenced rock music then you can't go wrong with this EP! Lets' hope a full-length isn't too far off...

Reviewed by Woody.

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Mini Post #24

Yusuke - Delos Split

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In this mini post you can meet 3 heavy and powerful splits. The first between Yusuke (US) and Delos (Germany), fast-paced screamo stuff, listen to it!
[ listen on bandcamp ] [ listen on bandcamp ]

El Eje Del Mäl​ - ​Inquiry Last Scenery

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The second split by El Eje Del Mäl from Spain and ​Inquiry Last Scenery from Malaysia is a must for fans of spazzy screamo and emo-violence.
[ listen on bandcamp ]

Löri Berensön - Escaleras Split

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Peruvian Löri Berensön's debut is one of my favourite records. Now they have released a split with Escaleras from Argentina. Excellent songs, you've got to hear them!
[ listen on bandcamp ] [ listen on bandcamp ]

Posture & The Grizzly - Calling All Creeps (Or The Passion Pit Of Mel Gibson Jesus Christ And The Adam Sandler Movielife)

01. Sister Charles Marie
02. Eggnog Drunk Off Of Hillary Duff's Piss
03. God's Drugs

This quick little EP from Posture & The Grizzly is a raw and fun listen, seeping into your brain and getting right back out again before getting stale or repetitive. Opener 'Sister Charles Marie' is catchy right out of the gate, putting subtly harmonized group vocals over a lone guitar. When the rest of the band kicks in the quick tempos and fuzzy quality of this recording give it a light seeming attitude, and the whole thing is just fun. These songs remind me of stuff that would have fit in on the first couple 'Hopelessly Devoted To You' compilations that Hopeless Records put out. Punk energy, catchy hooks, and a seemingly light hearted attitude. The quieter picked bridge of 'God's Drugs' is a definite highlight, perched perfectly between heavier, noisier sections.

Reviewed by Justin.

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Cassus - ¡Silencio, Ahora, Silencio! Split

01. Cassus - Trilogy 1: Ostrich Hearts
02. Cassus - Trilogy 2: A Thousand Tiny Explosions Of Glitter
03. Cassus - Trilogy 3: All We'll Ever Need
04. ¡Silencio, Ahora, Silencio! - Ser Humano
05. ¡Silencio, Ahora, Silencio! - Il Est Bien Vengé Aka Miguel
06. ¡Silencio, Ahora, Silencio! - Potentia Absoluta Dei (Unclean Version)
07. ¡Silencio, Ahora, Silencio! - Outro-Pitsa Party

Cassus offer up listeners three ripping songs on their side of this split with ¡Silencio, Ahora, Silencio!. The songs are conveniently titled as a successive trilogy, and in a way it seems like they almost flow into each other. The first two songs, each about 45 seconds in length, fly by so fast that it's possible to think that they are separate movements within the same song. This is a form of screamo/hardcore that pays homage to some of the spastic greats, in some moments bringing to mind the likes of pg. 99 and Orchid. 'Trilogy 3: All We’ll Ever Need' is the longest song on in the batch, and deservedly so. After the initial blasting, the intensity gives way to a gentle riff that weaves for a minute or so before exploding back into thick chaos that slows and intensifies as it goes along until reaching its pained sounding vocal end. Parts of the ¡Silencio, Ahora, Silencio! side of this split almost veer into a powerviolence direction, but before the music becomes too garbled, the instruments lock into a solid mid tempo groove that breathes a little more and leaves room for the dual vocals to shine. The strengths of these songs lie heavily in the dynamic shifts - blasting drums quickly dissolve into grooving open passages and back again with skill. The outro is a playful instrumental that starts out on a danceable groove before crumbling into feedback soaked noise. Overall a really cool split.

Reviewed by Justin.

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Todos Caerán - Town Of Cats

01. Norwegian Wood
02. South Of The Border, West Of The Sun
03. Underground
04. IQ84
05. Kafka On The Shore
06. Sputnik Sweetheart

Todos Caerán is a five piece band from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada who formed in 2010. I've really enjoyed watching this band progress and evolve over the past few years, making them one of the most respected and unique bands in the current post hardcore/screamo scene. Since their inception in 2010, Todos Caerán have released a five song self titled cassette on Bart Records in 2010, a split 10" with Bears in 2011, a four way split with Lizards Have Personalities, ¡Silencio, Ahora, Silencio!, and Book Of Caverns in 2011, a split 7" with Gumilinski in 2011, a five song LP entitled After Dark in 2011, a split 10" with Mahria in 2011, a four way split LP with Polina, Bonehouse, and Kadish in early 2013, and a split LP with Tel Fyr in June Of 2013. Todos Caerán play a killer style of screamo tinged post hardcore influenced by bands such as Portraits Of Past, Funeral Diner, City Of Caterpillar, Fugazi, Daitro, Moss Icon, Suis La Lune, Zann, Native Nod, ...Who Calls So Loud, and Fall Of Efrafa. 'Town Of Cats' is the band's latest six song LP, which is set for release via Dog Knights Productions on December 15th, 2013. This latest LP is Todos Caerán's most ambitious release to date. These six songs are a perfect showcase for the band's continued evolution. The biggest change in the band's sound is that they have included an atmospheric, dark, and dynamic post rock element to their sound, which was only hinted at in their previous releases. The end result is six songs of intensely dark and atmospheric screamo tinged post hardcore. Calling this album phenomenal would only be a starting point in describing how good this album is. All I can say is that it's a good thing I haven't begun compiling my best of year end lists yet. Highly recommended!

Reviewed by Chris.

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Perfect Future - Irrational, Malleable, Inevitable

01. Irrational
02. Malleable
03. Inevitable

This short seven inch from Maryland's Perfect Future serves as a good introduction to the band for new listeners, and the band uses these three songs to outline who they are and the directions they're heading in. Opening track 'Irrational' jumps right into weaving guitar lines and call and response style vocals. Winding riffs give way to chunky guitar chords that carry a group chorus perfectly. Anyone familiar with Perfect Future's brand of "political emo" will be satisfied as the bridge emerges in the form of clean picked single notes and intense lyrics about animal testing. 'Malleable' immediately jumps out of the gate heavier and more screamed that its preceding track. Riffs here are quick and nimble, though I wouldn’t use the word "noodly" in this context, as they seem to come from a different place. As the drums pick up, the guitars remain on single notes to create a cool dynamic that ends this short song. The most immediately somber and downtrodden of these three songs, 'Inevitable' relies heavily on picked out clean guitar and reserved drums. The vocals begin gently sung, though still full of quiet intensity. By the end of the song things have gotten intense again, mixing punctuated drums with shouted vocals and heavier progressions. This is a good sampling of styles from a band doing something interesting and different within emo. Definitely worth checking out.

Reviewed by Justin.

[ download ] [ buy ] [ buy ] [ buy ]

Mine - Disappear

01. Stand Up Straight And Let Me Take A Look At You
02. Penknife
03. Disappear
04. Purple
05. Sleepwalk

While this band might most easily (and lazily) be described as hardcore, there are many different currents churning underneath the surface. Elements of this are most definitely hardcore - the pounding drums, straining screamed vocals, and the big, decimating chord progressions - but every time you think you know where things are going next, Mine throw a curveball. Passages like the opening mid tempo jam of the title track feel like skate rock in terms of tempo, but contain melodic guitar riffs that control the mood of the part. These sections give way to somber clean picked segues that jump right back into melodic riffing and big, open mid tempo drums. The powerful, driving vibe behind this whole record makes it perfect for, well, driving. The drumless instrumental track 'Purple' perfectly paces the record, creating breathing room between walls of riffs and drums. It also perfectly sets up the album's dynamic closer, 'Sleepwalk'. Lone clean guitars start the track, but they are soon joined by drums and shouted vocals, creating a cool dark dynamic. The song switches tempos deftly between driving and plodding, creating a tension that continues to build right up to the last ring out.

Reviewed by Justin.

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Collusion - Fall Of The Parthenon

01. Fall Of The Parthenon
02. Imperfect Perfectionism
03. Deteriorative Cognition
04. Better Living Through Chemistry

Collusion is formed somewhere in 2011 from the ashes of a screamo band called Dramacoma. These Malaysian guys said they play 'heavy-straight-in-your-face-screamo' and yes, Collusion' music is truly intense, dynamic and well-built. This kind of screamo is not my favourite, but 'Fall Of The Parthenon' is higly recommended for fans of heavy, modern screamo and hardcore.

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You'll Live - Lost. Forgotten. Abandoned. Buried.

01. Lost.
02. Forgotten.
03. Abandoned.
04. Buried.

You'll Live is a three piece band from Fort Lauderdale, FL who formed in February of 2011. You'll Live play a tense and discordant style of 90's influenced screamo melded with emo, post hardcore, and post rock. Vocals fall into the strained/ screamed end of the spectrum, which really compliments the band's sound well. Since their inception in 2011, You'll Live have released a five song EP entitled 'Things Would Change If You Heard This' in 2011, a nine song LP entitled 'Above The Weather' in 2012, a song on the 'Epilogue To A Car Crash Orchid Tribute' LP, as well as a four way split with Cheyenne, Peace Be Still, and Two Humans. 'Lost. Forgotten. Abandoned. Buried.' is the band's latest four song 7" released via Dog Knights Productions records on September 16th, 2013. On their latest 7" You'll Live offer up four songs of intense, powerful, and hard to describe music that's sure to please fans of modern screamo, emo, post-hardcore, and post-rock. Seriously, this 7" kicks ass on many different levels. Highly recommended!

Reviewed by Chris.

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My Endless Minutes Compilation III.

01. To The Astronauts - 4MMP
02. Blind Girls - Noose
03. Vulturepeak - Stranded Kings
04. Enta - '78
05. Löri Berensön - Tolerar Ciertas Cosas, Silenciar Otras
06. ATELO/phobia - I Tolerate You
07. Øjne - Naufragio
08. Crossings - I'm No Jude Law
09. Descubriendo A Mr.Mime - El Vacío Es La Forma
10. Small Steps - Self Is...
11. Sjanse - White Rainbows
12. Waterlvngs - Judge
13. Ideas De Fuego - Fragmentos De La Furia
14. American Memories - Lung Capacity
15. The Homeless - Like Father, Like Son
16. Be Still, Cody - It's Called An Idiom, Idiot
17. Kaji - Crutch
18. Aokigahara - #3
19. Nevasca - Bottled Summer
20. Sail This Ship Alone - I Am Emptiness
21. Beatrice Kaleth - Subsidiando El Ocaso
22. Initial - Day In // Day Out
23. Road To Emmaus - Beauty Escapes You
24. Eaten By Foxes - Body & The Stone
25. Nayru - Dissonant
26. Leor Miller - Pinky Swear (Into It. Over It.)
27. Messes - All Of These Teeth
28. Yumi - Lithe Paralogue
29. Some Times - Last Year's Hiding
30. Au Revoir - 11.07.1932
31. SRVVLST - Thoughts

Finally, here is the third compilation with 31 amazing bands from all over the world. I would like to say thank you to all the guys who participated on this stuff and thanks to everyone who help me, follow and promote the blog. These bands deserve your attention, so listen, download and share the comp. (if you like it).

[ bandcamp ] [ compilation I. ] [ compilation II. ]

Mans. - Tape 2013

01. Scratchy
02. This Is My Prime Time

In 2008 there was the Lion Of The North split and then there was silence. However it looks like 5 years later Mans. have reformed through bringing out a new two song tape called simply 'Tape 2013'. This new entry to the Mans. discography has come out of nowhere, I would still be none the wiser of it's existence if it wasn't for my bandcamp subscription to Kid Sister's page which I'll now say I'm very glad I'd signed up for because these two tracks are absolutely class! Packed with catchy melodies with powerful shrieks it's the Mans. we all know and love with a little twist. The first track, 'Scratchy' is exactly what it says on the tin. The start of this perfectly crafted song starts with an almost The Fall Of Troy esque with a weird tinge of Maroon 5 "scratchy" riff which is then marked by Mans. with that full and thick bass tone and a wobbly guitar tone as we've seen used previously by guitarist Mark Perez. This riff suddenly changes into a fast screamo track with yelped vocals and quickly fingered guitar licks, then accompanied by harsh screams. Now if there's something I'm a sucker for it's a crazy vocal line over lo-fi screamo and Mans. totally deliver with that over a super groovy beat from the drums to make a comfortable break from the beautiful assault of passionate screams. I feel like the rest of this song puts me into a weird half trance, but I've always thought that with Mans. so that's the kind of thing that makes me feel like they're back. The next song is called 'This Is My Prime Time' and I really hope that name is a hint that this band want to come back and stronger than before. US screamo has been lacking for me a little at the minute so if they are planning this then I shall be thoroughly please. Anyway! Onto the song, it's packed full of cool, catchy melodies and build ups, that wonderful signature guitar effect and a weird Wavves/Chalk Talk type falsetto part. I can’t wait to see what this band does next. Download the two tracks for $1 from Kid Everything. It's totally worth it.

Reviewed by Steven.

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Youth Funeral - Symptom Of Time

01. Thought Archive
02. Lush
03. A Dream
04. Lovesick
05. New Gospel

At this point in time there are so many bands doing screamo/emo-violence/ skramz that very few poke their heads above the masses and stand out to me. It seems that every basement along the east coast has a band either a) playing faster than they can really handle and screeching unheard through a broken pa system or b) doing their best Pianos Become The Teeth impression over reverb soaked clean guitar lines. With my attitude toward new bands of these styles being so cynical, I was really surprised to find myself really enjoying 'Symptom Of Time'. I think that it was a perfect storm of circumstance - the record is short so as to not overstay its welcome, the production was handled by veteran awesome dude Will Killingsworth, and Youth Funeral used elements of the genre that haven't been beaten into the ground repeatedly. Sure, the somber interlude 'A Dream' mixes a lone guitar and a spoken word vocal delivery, but it actually sounds pained rather than over dramatic. The riff that introduces 'Lovesick' is reminiscent of Killingsworth's Orchid, and the overall tones of this release are warm, gritty and urgent. Overall a great release from an oversaturated genre.

Reviewed by Justin.

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Lord Snow - Solitude

01. Selfish Sleep
02. Dark Cloud
03. She's Clearly Made The Most Of It
04. Stormcloak
05. Yellow Amarillo / Booker Dewitt
06. Corpse Pose
07. Incorrective Unconsciousness
08. Shere Khan
09. Solitude
10. Bb
11. The Background Static Of Perpetual Discontent

'Solitude' is the new album from Chicago's Lord Snow, and if you are already aware of this band, then this record will not disappoint. Fans of the band's earlier work will revel in the noisy, heavy, chaotic songcraft presented on 'Solitude'. Distorted riffs weave and tangle around solid, distorted basslines. The drumming really shines here, plodding through heavy slow parts before careening back into lightning tempos. Most of these songs are short and blow by so quickly that you're repeating the album before you even realize. Screamo is still very much alive and well, and Lord Snow are living proof.

Reviewed by Justin.

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Mini Post #23

Reservoir - I Heard You As I Walked Away

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Justin' band Reservoir from Pennsylvania has released their new record. 'I Heard You As I Walked Away' is one of the best emo albums in this year, I think. Listen to it!
[ listen on bandcamp ]

Forever / Always - Paradise Lost

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Forever / Always is a collab project from Indonesia, 'Paradise Lost' is a nice listen for fans of post-hardcore/ screamo bands like Xerxes or Touché Amoré.
[ listen on bandcamp ]

Voyage In Coma - Further

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Finally, here is the new stuff of Voyage In Coma, which contains six really energetic and passionate screamo/ hardcore songs. Listen to and support them!
[ listen on bandcamp ]

Roanoke - Beautiful People

01. Feeling It Out
02. Skeletons
03. Breaking
04. I'm Trying
05. Settlements
06. Stop (feat. Jeff Leber)
07. Empty Bottles With Fixed Smiles
08. I Can't Do This On My Own
09. Dancing Dead
10. Father

This record pretty deftly mixes the coolest parts of ambient, warm, dirty post-hardcore and screamo to make a pretty interesting and pleasant listen. Arguably there are tons of bands doing a style similar to this one, though the way Roanoke mixes screamo influences with Brand New style rock-meets-post-rock-meets-hardcore instrumentation is what stands out to me upon first listen. The instrumental sections of these songs duck and weave expertly, easily betraying a post-rock influence that is applied tastefully enough to not come off pretentious of overbearing. Once in a while the vocals and a feedback overlap in such a way as to create wonderful chaos immediately before locking right back into a melodic mid-tempo groove. 'Empty Bottles With Fixed Smiles' is a definitely highlight, placing cleaner vocals on top of borderline noodly guitars to create a swirling, spacey texture that serves as a wonderful preamble to the song’s more intense later moments. Roanoke mix their influences well, creating an album that definitely deserves attention from fans of this style.

Reviewed by Justin.

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FlowersxOfxCarnage - FlowersxOfxCarnage Demo

01. Prototype
02. Dead End
03. Fail-Safe
04. Engine
05. Hack/Slash

The bandcamp page for this demo describes this band simply as "far East emo-violence", which is a perfect summation of this first demo. I will say right out of the gate that there is nothing wildly original about this group of songs, but it's a demo, and the potential for this band is definitely here. The style of screamo the group plays definitely pays homage to the big names (Pg. 99 being an obvious influence), but they do it well. These songs are tight, fast, and intense, which is all this style needs to be, really. The songs here are punctuated by frequent samples which break up the songs and create a cool pacing for the demo. This is a cool group of songs, and I look forward to seeing how the band evolves moving forward.

Reviewed by Justin.

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John Cota - III

01. Steve Jobs
02. Housefire
03. Ball Pit

Just who the fuck do John Cota think they are, offering their new 3-song EP (appropriately titled 'III') for $1000 US dollars (or more) on their bandcamp? I'm not under the impression they're messing around; 'III' launches right out of the gate with some intense hardcore-tinged punk with the track 'Steve Jobs', and for the following seven minutes or so, the band refuses to relent. The guitars are dark and insanely huge, the drumming is spot-on, and the vocals are brutally intense, full of vitrol. With so many artists giving their work away, maybe John Cota is on to something; they know what they're creating is of worth, and they've made it available appropriately. 'III' is a grand EP, and it's over too soon; I don't have a grand to drop on seven minutes of barreling, relentless hardcore, but everyone should pay these mad geniuses their due, recession be damned.

Reviewed by Daniel.

This new EP by Oakland California's John Cota is short, don't mistake its brevity for weakness. The three tracks here pack a hell of a punch, using a hardcore template while tweaking it with bits of crust, punk, and screamo to make for an enjoyable listen. Opener 'Steve Jobs' crushes right out of the gate, mixing punctuated drums, super dirty guitar, and mid register screams to create heavy but listenable texture. The songs all continue in this general fashion, with the occasional clean groove giving the listener a break from the intensity. Definitely don’t overlook this record.

Reviewed by Justin.

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Casket - Casket

01. Shiver
02. I Had Dreams
03. Breathe
04. Nothing Left
05. Demolished Towers
06. Grown/Bitter
07. We Were Once

It seems to me there are two schools of emo/skramz these days: the twinkly, guitar-virtuoso types (the midwest seems to be churning out these bands in droves, and at high-quality, too) with discordant vocals and multiple time signatures; on the other end of the spectrum, you find solid four-chord rockers who have studied at the helm of Jade Tree and Deep Elm, keep their vocals melodic and on-key, and know how to write a sing-a-long chorus you can't resist. Casket falls deftly into the latter category (add the word "lottery" to their band name and you're probably looking at a genuine influence), with big hooks and catchy choruses, both guitarists and the drummer share vocal duties on these tracks. This isn't groundbreaking emo work, but Casket has found a way to personally own tried and tested formulas and craft an album that is consistently a joyous listen. Their self-titled album finds Casket growing leaps and bounds in production and prowess from their demo released earlier this year; 'Grown/Bitter' the only track found on both, is a clear testament to this. If this is the amount of progress we can continue to expect from Casket, their next outing is sure to be stunning.

Reviewed by Daniel.

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Infinite Void - Infinite Void

01. Creeping Symmetry
02. These Days
03. Pull Apart
04. Give Up
05. (You're) Still Sour
06. Pay For What It's Worth
07. Still Waiting
08. The Weight
09. Distant Light
10. Something Is Lost
11. What's Left

When I first glanced at the cover of this self titled LP from Infinite Void, I wasn't quite expecting what I got when I pressed play. The bleak looking church conjures up expectations of something maybe a little more metal, a little more atmospheric, or generally something a little more evil. Instead what I got was a record full of mid-tempo post-punk jams, and after a listen, the cover fits well. These songs aren't "evil" per se, but there is definitely a haunting element to them. The guitars pluck slightly discordant melodies, and the mid-tempo shuffling of the drums keep a steady and driving tempo for the reverby vocals that croon and moan over top. I want to say that the tones on this sound dates, but that would do a disservice to the way they were recorded. Rather, they approach a timelessness - they don’t drip of modern technology or over compression or fixing every note digitally. The best part about this record is that it sounds like musicians in the same room playing together. Everything gels in the right ways. The guitars jump between chord structures and jangly leads, but it seems that rather than one instrument taking the forefront, everything works in tandem to produce a cohesive whole. There are elements here that are reminiscent of The Smiths, The Cure, or other post-punk of yesteryear, but the fact that Infinite Void are doing this style so tightly and confidently in 2013 is what makes this release stand out.

Reviewed by Justin.

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