After a month that has seen many album of the year candidates emerge in Graphic Nature, HEREISAROPEGOODLUCK and Respire, we now take a look at some of the LPs and EPs that may have flown under the radar.
concealer – dissonance「all that keeps me away」(Gauntlet Records)
00s horror tinged EP dissonance「all that keeps me away」made for one of the most impressive listens of July. concealer. take on a unique twist of metalcore with its gritty melodies and harshly pained vocals, that look to make for a record that is unsettling in its nature, yet oddly captivating in its horror. This LP will capture the ear of many who cross its path.
FFO: Foreign Hands, Houses We Die In & Seeyouspacecowboy
LIE – L.R.H.C. (Independent)
Debut EP from Houston unit LIE ooze authority and attitude, switching between rapped and harsh vocals while bringing in punchy riffs and turntables to make for a listen that will get the chin up and chest out. Each lyric that is barked amps up the adrenaline for the oncoming breakdown, that makes for sheer fighting music.
FFO: NEWCOMER, SPEED & Juicebox
Diploid – Mantra (Rope or Guillotine)
Trying to piece together how a concoction of grind, black metal, hardcore, sludge and screamo sounds is a task in itself. Diploid create a hellish sound on Mantra that is consistent throughout its runtime, the exchange of growls and screamed vocals, make the violence that Diploid offer up inescapable. For those looking for a soundscape that pushes every element to the extreme, Mantra will be the record that fits that need.
FFO: Blind Girls, Respire & fleshless body
Dulle Greit – Dulle Griet (Independent)
Featuring members of Eternal Lord, Calligram, and Cartomante, Dulle Griet make cutting edge, detailed black metal. Despite being their debut EP, their sound is fully-fledged. “Ravenous” and “Moon Beast” are blistering pieces, and “The Mercurial Night” concludes the EP in epic fashion. The heavy moments of “Heart of Darkness” are underwritten by traipsing synths, feeling folk-y and cool, not stooping into unfortunate “folk metal” tropes. For the classics-nerds, it’s lyrically inspired by a lofty topic: the divine goddess Diana falling for the mortal shepherd Endymion.
FFO: Wake, Furia & Agalloch
Nava Calma – The Full Weight Of Everything (Stellar Frequencies / Modulor)
Nava Calma touch on so many genres, so let’s stick to calling them ‘atmospheric rock’. On first listen you’ll be met with the three lead voices: Hannah Louve Benedum‘s chiming vocals, lead guitars plucked sullenly, and a wash of rhythm guitars. The familiar yet creative songwriting seals the band’s success. Wide dynamic range and a mix that is full of characters make the album a delight. My highlights were “Bed Of Salt“, “Full Of Spite Like The Rain“, and the heavy conclusion “When It Finally Takes Me“, delivering weight through waves of sound and distant harsh vocals.
FFO: The Third And The Mortal, Iress & Graywave
Doubt – Held In Contempt (Get Better Records)
Packed with anguish, rage and a sense of vengeance, Doubt kick down the door with their furious EP Held in Contempt. Neatly paced riffs that allow the vocal hooks to be barked and set in, before breaking out into sheer maddening moments that allow the record to shred away. Abila‘s vocals are venomous in their nature, backed by a grand performance that has hooks that will please the ear.
FFO: God Awful, Firewalker & GASKET
DEAD SLOW – Duress (IN THE HOT TUB PRODUCTIONS)
Birmingham unit DEAD SLOW present a metallic hardcore sound that will draw in listeners with whirling riffs and forceful grooves that are difficult not to tap a toe or nod a head along to. An enticing blend between hardcore punk and metal-leaning moments, Duress is a potent listen that is packed with angst and fury.
FFO: Tripper, Minded Fury & Wither
truck violence – Violence (Mothland)
Truck Violence‘s debut EP, Violence, is a masterful blend of modern Western Canadian hardcore and folk. It weaves through a tapestry of emotions and sounds, from solemn acoustic ballads to fiery electric anthems. Truck Violence deftly navigates fractured rhythms, complex harmonies, and emphatic screams of discontent, interspersed with hopeful, melodic tracks reflecting the steadfastness of small-town community life.
FFO: Chat Pile, Show Me The Body & Mulch
Liminal – Lost With Broken Pieces (Independent)
This North East unit brandish a brutal version of metalcore that will capture the ear of many listeners across both that and the hardcore genre. Pummelling kicks that are matched with a barked vocals that are feral at moments, leadinf to Liminal cooking up something that will be ferocious in a live setting. Off the back of Lost With Broken Pieces, it would be no surprise if Liminal are the next act to break onto many UK line-ups.
FFO: Long Goodbye, Bloodfury & Cauldron