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FRESH FROM THE SKRAMZ OVEN:

44.caliberloveletter - A Hedgehog's Dilemma

I will forever be impressed by how strong the screamo scene has been. It’s been here since the 90s, with none of the bands really surfacing into the mainstream, contrary to what happened with many other punk subgenres. However, screamo to this day remains one of the strongest, most devoted and diverse scenes in music.

A good proof of that is a fairly new band called 44.caliberloveletter (despite their name, don’t expect me to reference Alexisonfire), a chilean-swedish three piece (four, if you count occasional Miku collabs). They have been around since 2018, releasing a pretty promising demo and then playing some shows with other notable bands from the colder parts of Europe like ØØØ, From the Moon, Eldstad etc. In late 2019 they announced a debut, finally releasing it on February 9th on the record label See you next summer!, run by their vocalist.

Named after famous Neon Genesis Evangelion episode's that also refers to this psychological concept, A Hedgehog’s Dilemma is short but sweet. The release opens up with a really memorable riff that pulls you in and then drags you through next eight tracks exploring themes of despair, hatred and even hope. Besides the prevalent lyrical themes commonly seen in screamo, the band also expresses their devotion to antifa and straight edge movement. Which further proves that they’re definitely not afraid to experiment and have fun. That can be also seen with the unorthodox approach on 6th track named XEMOVIOLENCE CREWX that features a beatdown with gun samples. And honestly? It works well with the album, making it a fun and interesting divergence from the rest of the releases in the genre. Also worth mentioning is the beautiful last track, with lyrics from Julio Cortázar's poem, that concludes the record leaving the listener satisfyed but wanting more at the same time.

So? Does it slap?

It definitely does. The release is reminiscent of lo-fi bands like Iwrotehaikusaboutcannibalisminyouryearbook and Lord Snow or bands from Chilean screamo scene like Roboteam or Leidan, while still having it’s own flavour which shows that this is coming from a young and ambitious band who are passionate about their values and the scene they belong to. With that being said, I wish the band all the best and look forward to their upcoming contributions.

You can also catch 44.caliberloveletter performing live at the See You Next Summer Fest – Scandinavian Sadness 2020 which will be happening on 21st and 22nd of February at the Ungdomshuset in Copenhagen, Denmark, as well as at the We Built the World and Miss The Stars Fest happening from the 6th to the 9th of May 2020 in Berlin, Germany.

http://seeyounextsummer.bandcamp.com/album/a-hedgehogs-dilemma

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Screamo picks - April 2019 (Part 2/2)

Click here to read part one.

The band, Kaospilot comes from Oslo, Norway. I've found every screamo from Scandinavia I've listened to highly enjoyable and Kaospilot is no exception. Their sound streches from frenzied blasbeats to quiet melodic parts. Sharp changes of dynamics and some impressive rhythm patterns can also be noticed.They've put two LP's (i highly recommend them both), EP and even a split with Neil Perry.

Raein comes from Italy, and it was actually one of the first screamo bands I've discovered. I immediately fell in love with their atmospheric sound and killer riffs. Sometimes they put in small electronic sections which coincide nicely with the rest of the material. Members are also from La Quiete which is one of the most well known bands.

https://youtu.be/U3hHR9zdAPU

ASIA

Screamo isn't that big in Asia, however there are still some very solid bands that come from there, mostly from Japan. (Envy being one of the extremely well known and essential bands.) Asian screamo is very melodic with some post- elements thrown in every now and there.

Killie play very standard screamo but they execute it well. It has some spoken word tracks on it, so if that's your thing you might enjoy it. They also did a split with Off Minor and band members also play in Heaven In Her Arms.

Gauge Means Nothing were founded in 1997. Their sound is very melodical, with exchanging male and female vocals. It's definitely a distinct sound with some experimenting thrown in to spice things up. People tend to criticize female vocals but I personally find them interesting. The album is definitely a solid listening experience overall. Enjoy!

Unfortunately I only have two bands for the Asian scene because I need to explore it even more. If you have any recommendations, feel free to comment them.

With that being said, I am going to end my blog here. I hope you find something for yourself, even if it's just one album. I'll go and finish my project now.

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Screamo picks - April 2019 (Part 1/2)

I am currently doing a project for my class but I've figured, why the hell not post something on here just to have a solid reason for procrastination.

So I present to you; a small collection of screamo bands which I personally really enjoy.

AMERICA

Basically whole genre has it's roots there. What started as a small branch of emotional hardcore had turned into a genre which is still pretty much underground, but with newer bands bringing the sound back, it's getting recognised more and more.

One of the most influential and first screamo bands is Honeywell. Their album Industry, which came out in 1993 is very noisy and full of chaotic screams. There is actually an anecdote that neighbours had called the cops when the band was having a practice because they thought someone was being tortured. Honeywell also put out 3 EP's and 2 compilations. Overall a great band, and if you are a fan of violent and chaotic punk, you will definitely enjoy this.

Second band I would like to share with you is screamo/post hardcore band Quantice Never Crashed. They come from Staten Island, NY and have put out only one album. It's pretty jammy and very catchy to some extent with very intense vocals (appropriate for the respectable genre.) Many people believe that this is one of the most underrated screamo records.

Song of Zarathustra was formed in 1997 and disbanded in 2003. They play a mix of screamo and emoviolence. I would definitely recommend their albums The Birth of Tragedy and A View From High Tides. Refused's influence can be heard with some black metal melodies that make an appearance every now and then. Also, if it's not obvious enough, the band really likes Nietzsche, which isn't really a surprise. Anyways, enjoy the music.

EUROPE

The screamo wave quickly spread over the pond and with bands such as Ivich and Undone established its sound in Europe. European screamo has a distinct sound with a lot of reverb on the guitars and often without any heavy distortion.

Tristan Tzara are from Germany. Their album Omorina Nad Evropom is very aggressive and passionate. Their riffing really pulls me in and makes me appreciate the record even more. And I hope you will too.

Part 2

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