After a month packed with stellar releases from Church Tongue, Volatile Ways and God Complex, which will no doubt make it into many end of year lists, we now dive into other releases from February that impressed us.
xSERAPHx – Demo (The Coming Strife)
Fully channeling every core aspect of metalcore revival come xSERARPHx. Raw and raspy vocals are layered in with pummeling kicks and an array of noodly and crunching riffs. The classic old-school breakdown with the cymbal clang on “A Proclamation of Unity” will be a joy to nostalgic ears, and “For Once, And Forever” perfects the more melodic hardcore sound of the late ’00s. For a first step, this is a truly impressive effort, and the next one could see xSERAPHx become stalwarts of the metalcore revival scene.
FFO: Balmora, Since My Beloved & Durendal
Cross Bringer – Healismus Aeternus (Silent Pendulum)
Belgian/Russian aggression merchants Cross Bringer return with another slab of primal black metal, packing the roughly 27-minute runtime to the brim with savage blast beats, whirling dissonance recalling murky Icelandic black metal, and raging hardcore-leaning vocals. The appearance of clean vocals and a dip into Oathbreaker-style post-black metal provide a welcome respite, before promptly giving way to a deranged, dissonant death metal breakdown á la Zhrine or Immolation. Barring this brief excursion, the record does not stray from its foundation of sheer black metal/hardcore fury. Leaving all notions of subtlety behind, the result is a satisfying, strangely cathartic record which refuses to compromise in its dogged pursuit of unrelenting chaos and controlled, pummeling brutality. Lukas M
FFO: Wiegedood, Misþyrming & Der Weg einer Freiheit
Field Note & The Sissy Boys – Split (EP) (Independent)
With both groups having debuted in 2024, West Michigan hardcore outfits Field Notes and The Sissy Boys are looking to keep the engines running into the new year with the release of their four-track Split EP. A rowdy, fist-throwing affair that is just begging for a live setting, its raw, shouty vocals, driving riffs, and pummeling percussive backbeats are sure to get the two-steppers and mic-grabbers in the crowd going.
FFO: NeverEnding Game, D Bloc, Bad Beat
Thin – the overlapping nature of things (EP) (Learning Curve Records)
What Thin have pieced together on the overlapping nature of things makes for a frantic and borderline hellish listening. Throwing mathcore, grindcore and blackened metalcore into a blender creates the chaotic and absurd sound you’d expect, including a palette of screams and vocals that covers everything from gutturals, squeals, and spoken moments. While the response to Thin’s efforts will often be a raised eyebrow, their orchestra of sounds is a beast to behold, and its nature is one the ear will have a fun old time wrangling.
FFO: Gonemage, I’m letting unseen forces take the wheel & TWINK OBLITERATOR
YEARN – FEAR IS FOR OTHERS DEMO ‘25 (EP) (Independent)
The art of stompy, angry and blistering hardcore will never get out of fashion. From the most notable effort of Knocked Loose’s Pop Culture, it’s the perfect sound that will make you want to clatter people in the pits. On their debut, YEARN have mastered their sound, throwing in some gnarly punk vocals, and put forth an EP that would fit onto stages from the UK, US and their own Australian shores.
FFO: Supernova, Hour of Reprisal & Flesh Creep
Told Not To Worry – Hands In The Air! (Mob Records)
There’s a lot to be said for a release that is just simply really well done, which is what Told Not To Worry offer up on their screamo effort Hands In The Air! Muddied production, tight instrumental performances, and some undeniably gnarly vocals make for a listen that will more than satisfy those looking for this raw sound. There’s an energy that is captivating too, emanating from the spine of the record in its noteworthy percussion and magnificent riffs.
FFO: athousandangelsandseven, gun to god’s head & Monterey.
voteforpedro – Demo//1 (Independent)
Manchester emoviolence unit voteforpedro have been making waves in the UK DIY community with a series of relentlessly brutal live shows in the North of England. The band’s demo captures their auditory assault across eight minutes in the typical low-fidelity emo fashion, complete with interwoven samples ranging from coming-of-age movies to Morissey interview clips. Recorded in just under an hour, the band’s DIY spirit is reflected in their bootleg CDs, featuring hand-made collages and a handwritten track listing.
FFO: The Spirit of Versailles, Jerome’s Dream, Lord Snow
Ends In Tragedy – Angel Wings In A Violent Sky (Independent)
A frightening blend of metalcore revival and hardcore is delivered on Ends In Tragegy’s debut Angel Wings In A Violent Sky. Gnarly and gritty vocal performances match some of the best ’00s vocal-stylings out there, accompanied by beefy breakdowns, riffs, and drum kicks that are about as raw and in the rough as possible. This will be an absolute treat of a record for those indulging in the wave of old-school acts.
FFO: Killing Me Softly, concealer. & Long Goodbye
Sulfur & Martin Randal Travel – Split (Tomb Tree Tapes)
Simply titled Split, this fourteen-minute collaboration between Sulfur and Martin Randal Travel, two UK screamo units, showcases some of the harshest and visceral soundscapes of the year. The unforgiving production tones crash against the ear, ensuring each element and chord is heard in its rawest sense. The latter half of the record moves its production into an even muddier space, creating a sound that feels fitting for a cassette in a car stereo, with some gorgeous melodies intertwined on both “Best Friends Forever” and “My Final Message”.
FFO: Bloom Dream, Fly Over States & bulletsbetweentongues