ANDTHECANARYFELL - Alluvium (feat. Gabe Reasoner) Premiere

May 26th (next Monday) will see the release of the new EP As The Ice Melts by Minnesota, US emotional hardcore band ANDTHECANARYFELL. It's being released as a run of 81 tapes via Tomb Tree and this evening It's my pleasure to be able to premiere the song 'Alluvium', which features Gabe Reasoner (of fellow Minnesota band Careful Gaze, if my intense last-minute Googling is correct!). 

You can stream the song on YouTube below:-

ANDTHECANARYFELL were kind enough to provide some insight into the song and the EP as well:-

“ 'Alluvium' is the fourth track off our upcoming EP 'As The Ice Melts'. Each song on the EP can be interpreted as a different perspective of an apocalyptic scenario. One interpretation of 'Alluvium' can be the way flora and fauna succumb to a disaster, but there are many human layers to the lyrics, as well. This is also the first atcf song that musically starts with fierce intensity rather than a crescendoing intro."

I’m not going to give too much away about the full EP, but what I can say is that it’s going to surprise you a lot with it’s atmosphere and downtempo heaviness, while at times sounding resolutely upbeat. ‘Alluvium’ itself as a song has a more blackened-hardcore/emoviolence sound going on, though ANDTHECANARYFELL close it out with more grandiose heaviness.

Keep your eyes peeled for incoming pictures of the tapes from Tomb Tree on Instagram at @_tomb_tree_. 

Also, keep up to date with ANDTHECANARYFELL here - https://linktr.ee/andthecanaryfell.

Physical tape copies will be available on May 26th via ZBR/Tomb Tree's web stores below:-

CAN/INTL - http://www.zegemabeachrecords.com/tomb-tree-tapes

USA - https://zbrusa.com/collections/tapes

Replicant - Hypochondria of the Machine 7"

Labels: Self-Released/Transcending Obscurity Records

Formats: Digital/Vinyl

Release Date: 20 Dec 2019/21 Jan 2025

Tracklist:

1. Hymns of Distress

2. Limbic Thrust

I decided to reach for something a little shorter this evening. I initially thought this two-song EP from US tech-death band Replicant was a fully fledged 2025 release until I dug deeper. It was originally self-released digitally by the band back in late 2019 and Transcending Obscurity Records elected to give it it's first physical release in January. The time and care that's going into re-issuing older material now is great to see. Bands and labels are really upping their game in that regard, with this 7" being no exception.

I fear this release will send me down yet another musical rabbit hole and honestly, I’m here for it! ‘Hymns of Distress’ is brimming with avant-garde yet ferocious modern death metal. It’s blasting percussion and thunderous bass are matched by the guitar, with it’s sometimes metallic/sometimes downtempo riffing. The vocals have an old-school guttural sound (from a time before pig squeals). 

‘Limbic Thrust’ is a couple of minutes shorter than the EP’s opener but that’s fine because Replicant choose to slow down the tempo (albeit subtly), providing a song that’s surprisingly catchy and memorable as a result. I can completely see why Transcending Obscurity chose to give this a vinyl release. It’s a great introduction to Replicant for those unfamiliar.

I’ve read comments by people saying that this EP is too short. I would agree if it wasn’t for that fact that it’s songs are of the highest quality. This is your cue to go and seek out their releases new (and old).

You can stream and purchase this EP digitally from Replicant below:-

Physical 7" copies and various other merch items/bundles can be purchased from Replicant/Transcending Obscurity Records here - https://replicantband.bandcamp.com/album/hypochondria-of-the-machine

Replicant - https://www.facebook.com/replicantnj

Transcending Obscurity Records - https://www.facebook.com/transcendingobscurityrecords

dagerman. - tragedie | VIVERE

Labels: Self-Released/Zegema Beach Records

Formats: Digital/Vinyl

Release Date: 24 Oct 2024

Tracklist:

1. luogo | PROGETTARE

2. inquietudine | SUBLIMARE

3. oggetto | PRODURRE

4. attesa | ESISTERE

5. niente | AVERE

6. direzione | OPPORRE

7. equazione | AMARE

8. domande | FINIRE

Somehow, we're made it to the month of May already. Being in the fifth month of 2025 isn't really that significant except for the fact that new Italian band dagerman. is also the fifth Italian band I have featured here this year. It all started with the exceptional instrumental/progressive guitar work of Federico Favaro, followed by the black/death/doom of both Malauriu and Sinoath, as well as more recently the epic post-hardcore of Chivala. tragedie | VIVERE was digitally released by dagerman. last October and just over a month ago it was given the vinyl treatment by Zegema Beach Records.  

Honestly, I’m going through one of those phases where I want to write/don’t want to write/am feeling overwhelmed by the sheer amount of music there is to write about. I need to get back in the saddle though and what better way to do it than with another fantastic Italian band. If you’re familiar with Zegema Beach Records (and by now you should be!), you’ll know roughly what to expect. dagerman. starts tragedie | VIVERE with ‘luogo | PROGETTARE’ and it’s every bit as dramatic as promised. An emotive mix of striking Italian lyricism and off-kilter post-hardcore that’s much slower in tempo than usual (at least on initial listen).

‘inquietudine | SUBLIMARE” is the perfect coming together of both frenetic screamo/emo-violence and abject beauty. Poetically delivered vocally, as the instrumentation behind crashes, stomps and captivates with dramatic melodies, it embraces you. There’s more obvious urgency as the release progresses and ‘oggetto | PRODURRE’ embodies that urgency with yet more heart-on-the-sleeve passion, coupled with passages of raging intensity. As it ends, it draws out the frustration I’ve felt over the last couple of weeks.

‘attesa | ESISTERE’ starts off with the most unexpected panic-induced riff. It immediately lights a fire in both dagerman. and in myself, as the song flows from off-kilter mathiness to groovy punk and back in the blink of an eye. It’s the aural equivalent of a kick up the arse and it’s brilliant! After that moment of chaos, ‘niente | AVERE’ comes into view like a beacon of calm but don’t let that intro section fool you. It’s not long before dagerman. flip the switch in favour of a solid mix of epic post-hardcore and constantly shifting emo-violence. 

The latter half of tragedie | VIVERE doesn’t change direction as ‘direzione | OPPORRE’ moves through various phases, embracing everything that shapes dagerman.’s sound. The lovely indiemo feel that surrounds you at the start of ‘equazione | AMARE’ is one that should really stick around (it has that La Dispute vibe going on), which isn’t actually that far off as a comparison actually. dagerman. bring the feels here. 

Closing out with ‘domande | FINIRE’, there’s a strange feeling of peace and tranquility amongst the heaviness. Maybe that feeling is subjective because I haven’t been able to properly focus on music recently or because this album cleanses the senses and transcends conscious thought. Either way, it’s a brilliant body of work and another example of how rich Italy’s musical community is.

You can stream and purchase the album as a name-your-price download from dagerman. below:-

Physical copies are available from Zegema Beach Records below:-

CAN/INTL - http://www.zegemabeachrecords.com/zegema-beach-releases/dagerman

USA - https://zbrusa.com/collections/zbr-releases/products/dagerman

dagerman. - https://www.instagram.com/dagerman.band/

Zegema Beach Records - https://bsky.app/profile/zegemabeachrecords.bsky.social

Obsidian Scapes - Obsidian Scapes EP

Labels: Darkness Shall Rise Productions

Formats: Vinyl/Digital

Release Date: 27 Feb 2025

Tracklist:

1. Endless Sea Of Dead Mirrors

2. At My Funeral (Sigh cover)

After a week away, losing track of time and days, I'm feeling truly refreshed. I pretty much ignored all the usual trappings of modern life (where possible), in favour of walking, fresh air and family time. Having a few more days until reality bites again means that I can get back into writing and as it's the 1st of May (well, it was at the time of writing this) there's no better time to do it!

Coming to the end of my current "loose" review schedule means that I get to shine a light on some newer and more obscure bands beginning with German doom/death act Obsidian Scapes. Their debut EP was released back in February via fellow German label Darkness Shall Rise Productions, acting as a precursor to their first full-length album, which is set for release next month. Consisting of an original track called 'Endless Sea Of Dead Mirrors' (that appears on the aforementioned album) and their own take on the song 'At My Funeral', which was originally released by Japanese avant-garde black metal band Sigh.

As cyclical as extreme music is, death metal continues (for now) to take centre stage. Doom in it’s various forms currently dwells in the background, though that may be about to change. Obsidian Scapes are helping to lead the charge for low and slow bands in 2025 and it’s easy to see why. ‘Endless Sea Of Dead Mirrors’ is teeming with downtempo and downtrodden instrumentation, as well as tortured vocals. While slower tempos command a lot of space throughout this song, there’s also a layer of faster musicianship and even some semi-melodic vocals that might remind you of The Blackening-era Machine Head (apologies if my comparison is off here!).

While that original composition from Obsidian Scapes really hits a high bar musically, their cover of ‘At My Funeral’ by Japanese band Sigh was always going to be a tough one to pull off given their English language preference. It works well, especially with the addition of off-kilter tempos and keyboard-like melodies. Honestly, it’s a welcome escape from the constant blasting death metal that’s filling the underground airwaves at the moment.

Obsidian Scapes have set their stall out early and in doing so, they’ve shown how exciting their music is. This is evidence of what’s to come on their debut album. In a time when bands need to differentiate themselves from others, Obsidian Scapes have given themselves an immediate launchpad. Great stuff.

You can stream and purchase the EP digitally via Bandcamp below:-

Obsidian Scapes - https://www.facebook.com/profile

Physical copies can be purchased from Darkness Shall Rise Productions here:- https://darknessshallrise.de/

Darkness Shall Rise Productions - https://www.facebook.com/darknessshallriseproductions

Balefire - Balefire

Labels: Iron Bonehead Productions

Formats: Vinyl/Digital

Release Date: 31 Jan 2025

Tracklist:

1. Black Sun

2. Sands of Gemini

3. Star-born Revolt

4. Barbaric Rebirth

5. Lord of the Red Lands

6. Black Moon

While the finger tries to stay on the pulse, the hand of time does it no favours. That's no ancient proverb, but a way of eluding to the fact that we're already well into April and I'm still trying hopelessly to hang on given the pace of new releases. This debut EP from US death metal band Balefire was released at the end of January via Iron Bonehead Productions, both on vinyl and digital formats. 

Balefire is a duo consisting of bassist Chuck Sherwood (of Incantation, Occumancy, etc) and drummer Xander Bridge (of Eternal, Nuclear Remains and many others). With the EP lasting no longer than fifteen minutes, expect a barrage of intense death, black and thrash metal with plenty of old-school passion.

I’m going on a much needed week away on Friday so this review will be my last for the month (definitely putting quality over quantity!). Brand new barbaric death metal from an equally new US duo as Balefire kick off with ‘Black Sun’, a brooding and artistic intro free from the usual electronic embellishments. It’s incredibly freeing to be able to listen to a band who approach their music with such simplicity. Just drums, vocals and bass (though there may be an additional guitar in there, but I can’t tell for certain). Either way ‘Sands of Gemini’ sounds absolutely fantastic in all it’s satanic death metal glory. 

One thing that’s really refreshing about this release is how precise and short the songs are. ‘Star-born Revolt’ proves exactly that point with a mix of brutal low-end vocals, warp-speed percussive blasts and metallic undertones. Listening to ‘Barbaric Rebirth’ following the Easter Monday passing of the world’s leading (living) religious figure makes complete sense. I’m not religious in the slightest, so knowing that there won’t be a true rebirth is comforting. ‘Barbaric Rebirth’ itself throws you straight into the EP’s latter half with no time for sentiment, as Balefire infuse their death metal with a welcome doom hit.

Talking of doom, the EP’s longest song ‘Lord of the Red Lands’ is filled with it amongst the sewer-laden death metal. Despite the promise of a properly arduous march though, Balefire don’t abandon what they do best and allow their frenetic pace to dominate one final time, as EP closer ‘Black Moon’ leaves you with gut-wrenching vocal effects and unnerving ambience. 

As debut releases go, this is spot on. It contains enough material to get you hooked without being overblown. Just really good death metal filled with black metal intensity and a decent amount of downtempo atmosphere.

You can stream and purchase the EP digitally via Iron Bonehead Productions below:-

This year marks the 30th anniversary of Iron Bonehead Productions, so what better way to celebrate than to pick a physical copy of this EP and/or any of the other exceptional releases from the label via this link - https://shop.ironbonehead.de/

Iron Bonehead Productions - https://www.facebook.com/IronBoneheadProductions

Crossed - Realismo Ausente

Labels: Fireflies Fall/Navalla Discos/Saltamarges/Through Love Records/Zegema Beach Records

Formats: Vinyl/Digital

Release Date: 21 Mar 2025

Tracklist:

1. Ojos Cerrados

2. Vaciar Un Corazón

3. Distrés

4. Monotonia De La Lluvia En La Ventana

5. Cerrojo

6. Carne Atravesada

7. Sentirse Solo

8. Cruz Vertical

9. Cuerpo Distorsionado

10. Realismo Dolor

11. Catedral

I've been in love with Spanish hardcore/metal band Crossed ever since I purchased a copy of their 2022 album Morir from Left Hand Label (which was a co-release with Clever Eagle Records, Pundonor Record and Zegema Beach Records). Following their 2022 split release with Vibora and the 2024 EP Vida Quieta, Crossed return with their newest album Realismo Ausente. For those still unfamiliar, Crossed is made up of members from Boneflower, Descubriendo a Mr Mime and Eros+Massacre.

This album isn’t even a month old yet, so I don’t feel that far behind for once! Self-deprecation aside, Crossed are on an absolute roll. Opener ‘Ojos Cerrados’ fills the speakers (and room) with a screeching, heady mix of twinkly post-hardcore and blackened metal. It acts as an ice-breaker or an initiation if you will as it’s followed by ‘Vaciar Un Corazón’, which is filled with much more intensity and a whole lot of groove too. I for one wasn’t expecting that! The percussion sits a little deeper in the mix, while the bass and guitars ramp up the volume alongside the high-pitched vocals. 

‘Distrés’ opens up yet more sonic avenues on this release, as Crossed manically switch between upbeat punk rhythms and off-kilter signatures that truly blur genre lines. They purposefully ignore the need to write lengthy songs and allow momentum to do it’s thing. ‘Monotonia De La Lluvia En La Ventana’ is another case in point with it’s unnerving feedback and panic-inducing riffs. This song is somewhat different in approach as it relies on spoken-word vocals during the first-half before the band hits top gear once again.

In a time where bands are crossing genres as if they never existed, ‘Cerrojo’ offers no safe haven. Proper core riffs/bass delivered alongside eardrum-bursting screams and upfront drumming amplifies how far Crossed are willing to go for their art. ‘Carne Atravesada’ is filled with the most unnerving noise and screams, it’s easy to forget that this isn’t a noise/ambient black metal release. I mean, it sort of is but not in that sense as it’s got much more to it like the blasting insanity of ’Sentirse Solo’, which comes complete with mathcore-esque panic chords and added post-metal riffs.

The excellent continuation you get on Realismo Ausente doesn’t go unnoticed, The way Crossed uses feedback and natural sounds to bridge gaps between songs works perfectly. ‘Cruz Vertical’ is testament to that as it instantly hits after ’Sentirse Solo’ has seemingly ended, filling the speakers with heavy hardcore and repetition that actually sounds good!. They can do no wrong, as proven by the glorious yet metallic melody that opens ‘Cuerpo Distorsionado’. Those metallic tones make themselves heard throughout the song, while huge stomping riffs and high-pitched shrieks override the senses alongside cymbal-led percussive crashes. 

Penultimate song ‘Realismo Dolor’ both carries on the momentum left by it’s predecessor but also brings the earlier groove back to the forefront of Crossed’s sound, along with the spoken-word/shouted portion of the vocals. Ending with the album’s longest song ‘Catedral’, Crossed treat you to the heaviest piece overall. It contains pretty much everything that this record has to offer sonically, while creating the ultimate soundscape in which to conclude.

Crossed have always been heavy but that term is subjective. Some listeners will consider Morir to be a lot heavier while others will say the same about this album. I’m not looking to draw a proper comparison between the two (though it reads like I am) and I do like to approach records as I find them. Realismo Ausente is a great record filled with so much density. This year is passing by far too quickly, don’t let records like this do the same.

You can stream and purchase the album both digitally and physically from Crossed below:-

Crossed - https://www.facebook.com/crossedxband

You can also buy physical copies from the labels below:-

Fireflies Fall - https://firefliesfall.com/shop/

Navalla Discos - https://navalla.bandcamp.com/merch

Saltamarges - https://saltamarges.bandcamp.com/merch

Through Love Records - https://shop.throughloverec.com/collections/releases

Zegema Beach Records CAN/INTL - http://www.zegemabeachrecords.com/zegema-beach-releases / USA - https://zbrusa.com/collections/all

Fireflies Fall - https://www.facebook.com/firefliesfall

Navalla Discos - https://www.facebook.com/navalladiscos

Saltamarges - https://www.facebook.com/saltamarges

Through Love Records - https://www.facebook.com/ThroughLoveRec

Zegema Beach Records - https://www.facebook.com/zegemabeachrecords

Mutagenic Host - The Diseased Machine

Labels: Dry Cough Records/Gurgling Gore/Memento Mori/Self-Released

Formats: Vinyl/CD/Tape/Digital

Release Date: 03 Jan 2025

Tracklist:

1. Neurological Necrosis

2. Genestealer

3. The Twisted Helix

4. Artificial Harvest of the Obscene

5. Organometallic Assimilation

6. DIRECTIVE:: [kill_on_sight]

7. Incomprehensible Methods of Slaughter

8. S.W.A.R.M (Systematic War Against Restless Machines)

9. Promethean Dusk

10. Rivers Of Grief

As the world was stumbling bleary-eyed into 2025, London death metallers Mutagenic Host unleashed their debut full-length The Diseased Machine. It arrived almost two years on from their first recording The Genotoxic Demo, which was released via Dry Cough Records. Dry Cough worked alongside Gurgling Gore to release this album on both tape and vinyl, while Memento Mori Records committed it to CD and Mutagenic Host self-released it digitally. Little did they know at the time just how crazy the world would get!

Being one of the newest additions to the UK death metal ranks, Mutagenic Host have garnered quite a lot of excitement with their approach to the genre. ‘Neurological Necrosis’ shows why with it’s heavy percussion/bass, core-laden riffs and blood curdling deep bellows. ‘Genestealer’ doffs it’s hat to slam with it’s riffs but fear not, this song is still firmly rooted in the old-school death metal camp. Who says that bands can’t do both, right?

The sinister guitar melodies and tempos that open ‘The Twisted Helix’ soon give way to reveal a careening, thrash-like verse. Soon after, the instrumentation slows back down for the chorus once again, dragging the vocals down too before a brilliant solo seamlessly seeps into the song’s latter half. Ultimately, what’s offered here is extreme song-writing and musical delivery at it’s best. ‘Artificial Harvest of the Obscene’ delivers a number filled with metallic dissonance and perfect momentum. Coupled with another great lead-guitar solo and extra atmospherics (mainly due to ambient sounds and samples), Mutagenic Host lay their marker down early.

‘Organometallic Assimilation’ marks the near-midway point in the album and it’s where the superior drum production comes to the fore. Honestly, it boosts the song over and above what has come before it (to my ears anyway), not that the song’s other components don’t of course. It just hits differently because of the percussion. As is the norm now, interludes are a popular way of building anticipation and atmosphere, and ‘DIRECTIVE:: [kill_on_sight]’ is one of the better examples I’ve heard for a long time.

If this write-up seems slightly disjointed it’s because I racked up 13 hours in my day job on Tuesday, followed by normal 8 hour shifts yesterday and today. I know that’s not a lot in the grand scheme of things but it’s enough to leave me feeling a bit wiped out (especially with a new work I.T. toy to keep my brain stimulated). Maybe it’s slightly ironic that the next song is called ‘Incomprehensible Methods of Slaughter’ then. The glorious intro led by both bass and percussion leads to a doom/death-inspired monolith. Okay, it’s more OSDM than doom/death but it still hits the same.

The drumming throughout The Diseased Machine sounds massive, but it sounds even more so on ’S.W.A.R.M (Systematic War Against Restless Machines)’. Said drumming also makes the rest of the band rise up to the same level too. For a song so late on in the album to still sound so focused and intense is a joy (if that’s the right word!). Penultimate song ‘Promethean Dusk’ draws from the slam influence again, even if subtly. Mutagenic Host do a great job of settling the slam down alongside both traditional and brutal death metal. 

Closing with the album’s longest song ‘Rivers of Grief’, Mutagenic Host inject sampled-screams and haunting ambient/sci-fi sounds into an intro that heralds a full-bodied, instrumental-led death metal track. It’s actually quite a treat to hear their instruments coming to front as they do and as the volume fades, so does the adrenaline. The spacey, ethereal outro is comforting but it doesn’t hide the fact that the record is over.

From demo to debut album, it feels like the step change for Mutagenic Host has been massive. The recording work done by Boulty at Stuck on a Name Studio in Nottingham and Charlie Wilson at Monolith Studios in London (both great independent recording studios), coupled with the mixing and mastering from Ben Jones (who also worked on their demo), really elevated this release. Ash, Jack, Sami, Dan and George have nailed it here and hopefully there’s much more to come.

You can stream The Diseased Machine and purchase it digitally, as well as on tape and CD from Mutagenic Host below:-

Mutagenic Host - https://www.facebook.com/MutagenicHost

You can also buy physical copies from the labels below:-

Dry Cough Records - https://www.drycoughrecords.com/category/dry-cough-releases

Gurgling Gore - https://www.gurglinggore.com/category/our-releases

Memento Mori - http://www.memento-mori.es/store_search.php?text_search=Mutagenic+Host&genre=0&search_home=store_death

Dry Cough Records - https://www.facebook.com/DryCoughRecords

Memento Mori - https://www.facebook.com/memento.mori.label

Chivàla - Boato

Labels: Fireflies Fall/Friendly Otter/No Funeral Records/Pike Records/Shove Records/Stonehenge Records/Through Love Records/Zilpzalp Records

Formats: Vinyl/CD/Digital

Release Date: 27 Dec 2024

Tracklist:

1. Oggetto di scena

2. Far tremare il corpo

3. Cuore di pietra

4. Non lascia nulla

5. Non diremo

6. Alla Fine della corsa

7. Rumore di passi

Last month I received an e-mail from Axel (who heads up German DIY label Pike Records) asking if I would like to review the newest record from Italian post-hardcore/screamo band Chivàla. Due to being behind on my e-mails I missed Axel's initial message but I thankfully caught the second one and humbly accepted the offer. Little did I know that Axel's offer would include a physical copy of the record. 

Fast-forward a few weeks and it has arrived. Axel sent me a copy on red vinyl, which has come out great! I've been familiar with Chivàla for quite a while now; so much so that I own a copy of their split with Suirami on tape. I've featured them here a few times before and I'm quietly trying to fill their discography gaps in my collection (amongst a myriad of others).

The sun’s shining, I’m surrounded by records and I have no plans for the rest of the day. I make it time to give this lovely piece of Italian screamo a spin. The cover art catches my eye due to it’s abstract nature. Not sure if that’s as hint to what the music will sound like but I’m about to find out. Opener ‘Oggetto di scena’ sounds a lot more laid-back and melodic than expected; especially the instrumentation. The vocals are a mix of spoken-word/shouted vocals in the verses and semi-cleans/screams later on. All lyrics are in Italian and are beautifully woven into the song. 

It’s beauty that flows through Boato, as ‘Far tremare il corpo’ mixes melody with off-kilter percussion and a take on modern post-hardcore that feels like it’s done a complete 180 degree turn, heading back to the sound of the early 00’s. That was a crossover time for me as I was discovering a lot of punk/core bands and moving slightly away from metal. ‘Cuore di pietra’ highlights the intricacies that exist in Chivàla’s music. I guess alongside countrymen like Ojne and Shizune, I’d place them next to La Dispute purely due to the fact that they do the clean guitar/spoken-word verses so well and when they explode, they do so in a short, controlled manner.

The pattern of following a mid-tempo song with an up-tempo one isn’t a new thing but here it works really well, as ‘Non lascia nulla’ immediately hits top gear. The screams are so passionate and they help to make the instrumental/clean sections sound even better. The latter half of Boato is slightly more precise, yet it comes complete with extra layers, especially during ‘Non diremo’. Subtle atmospheric, almost blackened riffs are added into the mix for a brief period. I guess that’s where Chivàla get their post-rock influence from. Whatever the approach, this is still a fantastic song.

‘Alla fine della corsa’ is the album’s penultimate number and even at this late point in the record, Chivàla’s sound is still as inspiring. The blend of soaring guitar melody, epic low-end/percussion and multi-layered vocals might sound complex though in truth it’s anything but. Everything is perfectly intertwined. Ending with ‘Rumore di passi’ and it’s most beautiful musicianship, I’m in complete ecstasy and in awe of just how good Chivàla are as a complete band. It takes time for any band to truly find their sound, especially when they’re competing with so many others. Given that it’s been a little over six years since their debut EP, I think it’s safe to say that Chivàla have found theirs. If you need more persuasion before listening to this record, you’re in the wrong place.

You can stream and purchase Boato digitally via bandcamp below:-

You can also get physical CD/Vinyl copies from Chivàla above.

Chivàla - https://www.facebook.com/chivalaband

Physical copies are also available from the labels below:-

Fireflies Fall - https://firefliesfall.com/product-category/releases/ 

No Funeral Records - https://store.nofuneral.ca/collections/no-funeral-vinyl

Pike Records - https://www.pikerecords.com/releases/

Shove Records - https://shoverec.bandcamp.com/merch

Stonehenge Records - https://www.stonehengerecords.com/?orderby=alphabetical

Through Love Records - https://shop.throughloverec.com/collections/releases

Fireflies Fall - https://www.facebook.com/firefliesfall

Friendly Otter - https://www.facebook.com/friendlyotterrex

No Funeral Records - https://www.facebook.com/nofuneral8

Pike Records - https://www.facebook.com/pikercrds

Shove Records - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100062967532917

Stonehenge Records - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100053696468870

Through Love Records - https://www.facebook.com/ThroughLoveRec

Zilpzalp Records - https://www.facebook.com/zilpzalpdiy

Also, I'd really appreciate it if you could take a few short seconds to answer the survey I currently have running here - http://www.thisnoiseisours.com/2025/03/subscription-consultation.html. Thanks in advance.

Dead Hour Noise - Slow Burn

Labels: The Ghost Is Clear Records/Zegema Beach Records

Formats: Vinyl/Digital

Release Date: 07 March 2025

Tracklist:

1. Mourning Doves

2. Pinioned

3. Slow Burn

4. Voices

5. Arson

6. Solstice

7. Closed Sicilian

8. Barren

9. Fools Gold

10. Supersonic

11. The Things We Say

It would be wrong of me to ignore that March was a barren month (post-wise anyway). I felt a shift in my motivation to write, which might sound odd given that last month was actually the strongest month  the blog's had for a long time (viewer-wise). I am slightly dubious about those numbers though, as engagement has been way down but I have a plan of sorts. That plan starts tonight with one of the newest releases to come from US label The Ghost Is Clear Records and US/CAN label Zegema Beach Records. 

Dead House Noise reside in Michigan, USA and Slow Burn is their fourth full-length. They're now into their 12th year as a band and their ZBR connection goes back to the 2020 Tomb Tree tape release of their album Sleeping Dogs, which was followed just over a year later by the tape release of their split with Deeper Graves, also via Tomb Tree.

I’m waiting on several record orders and I’m secretly hoping they all drop at once (that’d be so exciting!). One record has arrived that I’ll be writing about next and which, I’ll be keeping a secret for now. I want to try to kick off April with a bit of a flourish so I’m turning to the newest album from US band Dead Hour Noise. Released via two of the sickest and most prolific North American/Canadian labels in existence today, I don’t want to wait any longer.

DHN mixes everything from emo/powerviolence with hardcore, sludge and everything in between to create a collage of sound that’s quite frankly the auditory equivalent of every vice you can think of. Opening with ‘Mourning Doves’ proves exactly that, as the crushingly fast early bars give way to mathcore laden screamo and groovy sludge n roll (at least that’s what I’m calling it). Imagine Every Time I Die, Refused, Crowbar and Frontierer joining forces and you wouldn’t be too far off.

Comparisons aside, it’s hard to explain how energised I feel listening to this. I’m guilty of sleeping on bands and I always regret it. The insane intensity of ‘Pinioned’ once again conjures that feeling of guilt (or FOMO) as DHN launch into a frantic blast of grinding yet groovy hardcore/metal. I don’t want to label them as one thing or the other and as the heart rate drops with the help of guitar-led ambience, resting is no option.

The album’s title-track ‘Slow Burn’ is anything but. Panic chords and crazed percussion combine with passionate harsh vocals (and floor-splitting breakdowns) to throw you right off the scent. I’d hate to be my neighbours right now as the throat-ruining screams of ‘Voices’ kick in. While there are elements of the sassiness of SeeYouSpaceCowboy in places, DHN really just do their own thing and do it well. It’s crazy when you realise that there’s just the three of them.

‘Arson’ starts with more ominous guitar ambiance that leads to off-kilter, slamming heaviness but with more obvious melody too. DHN know how to write a heavy song that ultimately sounds way more than that. ‘Arson’ is filled with constantly shifting patterns that change your perception of their music, in a good way.  Talking of shifting things, the riffs that open ‘Solstice’ are amongst the wildest on Slow Burn so far. The vocals take on a slight black metal form, while the drums blast like there’s no tomorrow early on. After about ninety-seconds, the pace drops to reveal a slower tempo, dialled-back guitar and prominent bass jabs. 

It may be a ruse but it works as things start to pivot back in a more chaotic direction a few bars later. This is the album’s longest song so DHN are forgiven for changing things up a bit. The latter half of ‘Solstice’’ is mostly calmer and more introspective with swathes of keys swirling around at times. From a sense of near tranquility, ‘Closed Sicilian’ rips through the serenity in belligerent fashion. The instrumental sections are filled with mind-bending time signatures and when the vocals are present, there’s a heavy noise-rock vibe going on. 

Sloth-like, sludgy tones greet you on ‘Barren’, which is most definitely a song of two halves. The former is slower in tempo while the latter is a proper mixed bag, though it does finish as it started. The feedback that closes ‘Barren’ flows straight into ‘Fools Gold’ and it’s stupidly intense percussion, where said intensity is pretty much maintained throughout, even when the pace does slow. It’s a lesson in how a band can sound heavy in all forms.

Being at penultimate song ’Supersonic’ already seems insane. What does not though is the danceable nature of the song and it’s many elements (especially those riffs). There’s mathcore mixed with noise-rock mixed with powerviolence and sludge. A proper mix made in heaven. Closing with ‘The Things We Say’, Dead Hour Noise provide you with one last gasp of air before they cut off what’s left. 

Slow Burn is frenetic and fantastic, from beginning to end. I’m planning on getting a customised iPod with expanded memory in the near future (because I can no longer stand the anti-music stance that Spotify is taking and I miss my old iPod Classic as well). When I do, this album will be the first one I put on it. I’ve slept on Dead Hour Noise for too long. They’re excellent!

You can stream and purchase Slow Burn digitally from Dead Hour Noise below:-

Dead Hour Noise - https://www.facebook.com/deadhournoise/

Physical vinyl copies are available to buy from the labels below:-

The Ghost Is Clear Records - https://theghostisclearrecords.limitedrun.com/products/865169-dead-hour-noise-slow-burn-12

Zegema Beach Records CAN/INTL - http://www.zegemabeachrecords.com/zegema-beach-releases/dhn / USA - https://zbrusa.com/collections/zbr-releases/products/dhn

The Ghost Is Clear Records - https://www.facebook.com/TGICRECS

Zegema Beach Records - https://www.facebook.com/zegemabeachrecords