March saw several sublime releases in the form of Wristmeetrazor‘s return on Degeneration, Boundaries standout record Death Is Little More and Gouge Away‘s excellent Deep Sage. In among all this, several bands staked their claim to be considered alongside records of such quality. NØ MAN dropped the caustic record Glitter and Spit, and Skorn and Lilth’s Demise put themselves forward as some of the up and coming acts within their respective scenes.
NØ MAN – Glitter and Spit (Iodine Recordings)
Washington, D.C. hardcore punk outfit NØ MAN takes a deeply personal look at systemic violence with their third full-length record Glitter and Spit. Frontwoman Maha Shami draws from her experiences as the daughter of Palestinian refugees to give voice to the feelings of grief, anger, and powerlessness that go hand-in-hand with the intergenerational traumas experienced by the Palestinian people. While the record was conceptualized prior to the invasion of Gaza last October, its timely arrival helps emphasize and shed light on the ongoing conflict in the region. From its opening mental spiral in “Eat My Twin”, to the war cry of “Can’t Kill Us All” and the somber atmosphere overlaid with the humming of drones on “Damaar”, Glitter and Spit is a powerful and necessary release in today’s hardcore scene.
FFO: Gouge Away, Hesitation Wounds & Regional Justice Center
Pink Milk – Night on Earth (Black Hair Records)
Drawing inspiration from science fiction literature and apocalyptic fantasies, “Night On Earth” heralds a new era for Pink Milk, embracing a darker musical and stylistic aesthetic. In the studio, the band delves into a more electronic realm, weaving ethereal soul-inflected instrumentation, haunting vocals, blurred chords, and pulsating rhythms into a cosmic sonic tapestry.
FFO: Ruin Of Romantics, The Black Queen & Pastel Ghost
Warren Schoenbright – Sunless (Human Worth)
Noise two piece Warren Schoenbright dropped their first LP in seven years this month. The duo take bass driven krautrock energy from a black hole’s back door and funnel it through their noise boards. It’s clear that Sunless is a full realisation of their suffocating sound that respects what the two piece can conjure in a live setting. It’s also thoroughly vocal, weaving a narrative through the lens of Dante’s Inferno. Being a Human Worth release, a portion of album sales make their way to charity.
FFO: Yellow Swans, White Suns, Throbbing Gristle
Fears – affinity (TULLE)
The record showcases Fears‘ hauntingly beautiful vocals and sparse production style, providing a soothing balm to the wounds of past experiences. Drawing on themes of human connection, intimacy, and urban tranquillity, affinity features 10 self-produced tracks that blend reflective electronics, acoustic samples, and stirring vocals. Recorded across London, New York, and Dublin, the album explores the relationship between Fears‘ physical surroundings and her artistic creations, offering a melancholic yet playful journey through emotive landscapes.
FFO: Many Rooms, Tomberlin & Cinder Well
Divided – Light Will Shine (dunk!records)
Debuting with an album from the European dunk!records scene come Divided. The band take the fundamentals of post rock and metal, working them into structures that are at once progressive, patient, and alternative. They’ve struck a marvellous balance and the resulting album Light Will Shine is highly rewarding. On “Cinder“, it’s a bit like the vocalist having a mental breakdown on your behalf, somehow keeping the performance on par with the madness. Light Will Shine is plenty dynamic, both in terms of sonic elements and mood, as the samples in “Kattestraat” and “The Vicious Loop” imparts a moment of warmth, as well as the lush nature of the clean guitars that cover the album.
FFO: Oh Hiroshima, Cult Of Luna, Mogwai
Corpus Offal – Demo 2024 (EP) (20 Buck Spin)
A reconstitution of the well known Cerebral Rot, Corpus Offal features previous members Ian Schwab (guitar/vocals) and Clyle Lindstrom (guitar), plus drums from Jesse Shreibman (Bell Witch, Autophagy) and bass from Jason Sachs (ex-Demoncy). Demo 2024 is their first release, and is probably only called a “demo” for marketing purposes – it sounds fully realised. Some of the vocal techniques borrow from goregrind, but the whole package sits within the more refined death metal tradition. “Ripened Psychosis” peaks with a nasty anti-solo in the middle, playing with with some sort of harmonic shift pedal, or simply sime tortured choices of pitch.
FFO: Spectral Voice, Mortiferum, Gorguts
Skorn – A Quick Death (EP) (Independent)
Pissed off, heavy and a satisfying set of samples make A Quick Death an immediate staple for anyone looking for a EP that is an absolute rager and will get the adrenaline pumping. Making an immediate impression last year with their Summer Demo, Aussie unit Skorn have refined their sound that puts them as a must listen act alongside their Australian peers.
FFO: Honest Crooks, Trenchknife & Vengeance
Lilth’s Demise – Lilith In Aries (EP) (Independent)
The last couple of years have seen deathcore return to its roots, of absolute guttural carnage that makes listeners want to punch a hole through their door and launch their desk across the room. Making their debut with singles “I’m A Whore” and “Abyss of Torment” last year, Lilth’s Demise further cement as a band that should be considered one of the forefront act in the deathcore revival scene.
FFO: PSYCHO-FRAME, Job For A Cowboy & Tracheotomy
slowchamber – The Delay Of Suffering (Independent)
The debut full-length from slowchamber is nothing short of furious and feral. The Delay Of Suffering delivers a wall of brutality from track to track that is unrelenting in its manner. Featuring members previously of As A Conceit, Despite Exile and Fall Of Minerva, the experience quintet show that their sound will be a force to be reckoned with in 2024.
FFO: Chamber, Gravemind & Erase Them