Welcome to our first monthly recap, where we look back LPs and EPs that were released during April. This month’s round-up ranges from fist-throwing breakdowns in Granite State, to the melancholic tones of ALL HANDS_MAKE LIGHT and reverbed bliss of cruush.
Initiate – Cerebral Circus (Triple B Records)
Intiate’s latest record, Cerebal Circus, takes listeners on a journey sonically and emotionally in its short 20-minute span. It contains hardcore ragers in the form of “Alone At The Bottom” and “Fire Starter” that draw from traditional Cali hardcore to moments of thrash. Initiate explore thoughts of grief on “Amend“, as vocalist Pak provides potent delivery of lines such as “I know it’s selfish but it’s safe to say I’m scared, that you leave without knowing how much I truly cared“. Cerebal Circus closes out with “Transparency“, wiht its gorgeous plucked guitars that later burst into a guitar solo. Pak lyrics bring introspection and reflection, blending it all together for a moment of beauty. There is no doubt that Intiate’s latest record is one of the strongest to be release in April, and there will be a case come end of 2023 for it to be one of the strongest of the year.
FFO: Have Heart, Touche Amore & Incendiary
SOUR S.M.I.L.E – SOUR S.M.I.L.E (Delayed Gratification Records)
Ohio hardcore has teamed up to release what might be one of the hardest split EPs of 2023. As “Wants & Needs (It’s a Bomb)” hits from the SOUR side of the split with “do as you’re told” yelled, it’s an EP that’s up for a scrap. This continues across “Wishing Well” and “Model” that make for a grand opening half, before the torch is passed onto S.M.I.L.E.. The pace is cranked up from the moment “Big Dog, Small Yard” begins, and the humorous but hard-hitting track “Dumb” carries this on. There are split EPs aplenty in 2023 already, but this is one that shouldn’t be overlooked.
FFO: Anklebiter, Primitive Blast & Spy
HANDCUFF – HANDCUFF (Church Road Records)
Earlier this year in January, London unit HANDCUFF launched with track “Holiday“, which sang about navigating the January blues. Placing HANDCUFF within traditional genre terms presents somewhat of a challenge, as they shift between influences of noise rock, hardcore, punk and even at times indie. With with their quick burst of reverbed riffs on that can be found on “The Judge” and vocal hooks aplenty, there is plenty to be enjoyed on the self-titled EP, despite the length being just shy of eight minutes.
FFO: Other Half, Shit Present & Squid Pisser
Bandit – Siege of Self (Independent)
On Siege of Self, Bandit offer up 22 minutes of unrelenting grindcore with an intensity that is unmatched in recent memory. With disgustingly fast riffs and a terror-inducing kick, there is a violence and force to Siege of Self that will likely see its truest form in a live setting. A high point is the two track combo of “Body Horror“, an absolute sprint in unrelenting fury, followed by “United in Torment” which doesn’t let up, either. The quality presented across Siege of Self should see Bandit become a staple of grindcore, along with the likes of Escuela Grind, and horizons beyond the confines of their genre.
FFO: Escuela Grind, Jesus Piece & Wormrot
Recoil – Out For Blood (The Coming Strife)
Recoil are the latest addition to one of the most exciting rosters in the UK, if not globally, on The Coming Strife. Pulling on a 90s metallically hardcore influences, the three tracks across their debut record are hardhitting as it comes. The likes of “Reality Hurts” and “Out for Blood” will see rooms two-stepping and throwing hands to the exciting prospect that is Recoil. Running out from the South East of England, those who frequent London and Brighton hardcore shows will no doubt be seeing plenty of Recoil in the future.
FFO: Wise Up, Going Off & Sentience
papercut – Papercut 2 (Ephyra)
The return of papercut has been a highlight of 2023, with “Somber Literature” flexing their best material to date. The single offered a window into the 00s-inspired sound that was set to be unleashed on papercut 2. Across the record is production and mixing that is dripping with character, matched by sublime vocals and top notch sampling throughout. Given that the sound and genre they are looking to pull off here is deceptively challenging, papercut have done one hell of a job with their latest effort.
FFO: Vatican, Balmora & Vamachara
Granite State – Cut Off From The Sun (Independent)
Perfecting a breakdown has become somewhat of an art in recent years, the precision of creating vein-bursting breakdown without it descending into the meme-void. Across Cut Off From The Sun it would seem that Granite State have struck that precise chord. The last 30 second of “Cycles” are disgustingly heavy and will have listeners yearning to do both a mic grab and lay out the person next to them. This continues across the title track and “Sidetalk“, with Granite State kindly putting interludes between each song to allow for a breather. If there ever was fighting music, this is it.
FFO: Kublai Kan TX, Distinguisher & Sleepsculptor
cruush – Wishful Thinker (Heist or Hit)
On Wishful Thinker, cruush present a joyful blend of shoegaze, indie-rock and even a slightly sensibility of late 00s indie. As guitars fill the space on tracks “Stick in the Mud“, these are accompanied by ethereal vocals from Amber Warren. There is an oozing sweetness to the record that captures the heart, with “Features” being the pinnacle of this. As each track passes, it is difficult not to get lost in the soul and heart of Wishful Thinker, and the thought that cruush are ones to keep tabs on seems more pertinent than ever with their latest release.
FFO: Wolf Alice, Slow Crush & Bleach Lab
ALL HANDS_MAKE LIGHT – Darling The Dawn (Constellation)
Darling The Dawn is a Canadian yocal-synthesizer-soundscape album, an uncommon, but not unheard of, collaboration. It’s (sort of) Constellation’s answer to Thom Yorke’s ANIMA, though its two writers see it within a folk tradition rather than being a modern trend. Ariel Engle (Broken Social Scene) is the main vocal, forming one woman choir that sings softly over scintillating pads and glittering reverb. I was drawn to this project upon hearing that Efrim Manuel Menuck took part, best known as a pioneering member of Godspeed You! Black Emperor. If you’ve delved beneath that project’s surface, you’ll also find Menuck has been busy as a solo artist throughout the 2010s, and heard his voice throughout A Silver Mount Zion’s many powerful records. He’s constantly demonstrated an ability to craft beauty from pure radio static, an ability clearly at play to make a beautiful analogue reverie of Darling The Dawn. He also occasionally provides his own voice, perfectly imperfect and heartfelt as usual. There’s drum rhythms and violins at the particularly peachy moments of the record, where things become atmospherically cathartic. This one really cracks a specific vibe that needs to be sampled.
FFO: Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Broken Social Scene & Sigur Ros