Narrows - Painted (2012)

Full Length, Deathwish Inc.
February 28th, 2012

Genre: Metalcore/Hardcore
Region: USA/UK

"New Distances" was a great first release from Narrows and being composed of the talented members from Botch, Unbroken, These Arms Are Snakes, Tropics, etc. there's no question as to why. I've been waiting for their next release eagerly and now Painted has appeared. Despite the off-putting cover art the music within is outstanding, a worthy sequel.

Potent and thick rhythms on bass and guitar heaped with twang, dissonance and feedback draped with infuriated, hoarse yells make each track high energy — most last to about the 2-3 minute mark and manage to stay dynamic. One track ("Greenland") is a behemoth 8 minute powerhouse injected with 3 minutes of cycling noise/feedback, bare drums and violent roars, only to collapse into slower (but still loud) chunky procession with a lot of reverb on the lead; not unlike "Gypsy Kids" on New Distances. The writing is as solid as ever, nothing runs too long and the production is sharp. There are some seriously addictive grooves that demand the volume be cranked to let that bass growl shake the foundations, especially on that last track.

Much thanks to The Elementary Revolt for getting on top of this one first. Highly recommended, don't judge from the cover guys. Narrows set out another win in the hardcore arena with Painted. You can pick this up soon from Deathwish Inc. as well as their other releases.


-link removed on request-

Made Out Of Babies - Coward (2006)

Full Length, Neurot Recordings
September 18, 2006

Genre: Sludge/Post-Hardcore
Region: USA

Another band I've been hearing about for a while but neglected to check out, regretfully indeed. This is some sick stuff that straddles the sounds of angular hardcore like Narrows and bizarre doom like Battle of Mice and Neurosis.

What is immediately notable is the vocals of Julie Christmas which are strangely beautiful, piercing and a little disturbing; fitting in excellently amongst the dissonant and devastating guitar leads. I remember disliking her style while she was in Battle of Mice but that has since changed and I guess I just didn't realize she was playing in this band, otherwise I would've been all over this sooner. She keeps it melodic and clean to great effect until suddenly tumbling into a more harsh and creepy style for brief moments. Probably not for everyone.

This (like everything on Neurot) is difficult to place as just hardcore or just sludge so it can be expected that you'll be surprised. And again the sludge moments do remind me of Neurosis and Battle of Mice while the hardcore influence could be compared to Narrows or to a lesser extent Kiss It Goodbye (minus the intense and unbeatable anger) but that's about all I could compare it to — and vaguely at that. Great writing and pacing as well as unique sound. Go to Neurot to get a copy.

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Narrows / Heiress - 7" Split (2010)

Split, Deathwish Inc.
2010



Genre: Metalcore/Hardcore
Region: USA

Two new tracks from both bands, solid shit.

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Haapoja - Hallitsematonta Voimaa (2011)

Demo, Unknown
September 16, 2011

Genre: Hardcore/Blackened Hardcore
Region: Finland

I first saw this up on The Living Doorway in early-November and since those guys clearly know their shit (definitely when it comes to tasty hardcore) I checked out, quite enjoying what I heard. Not long after that I found the band requested us to put it up as well and I've been meaning to do so. Some very nice blackened hardcore to be heard here.

"Haapoja was formed in Oulu, Finland in 2007.Originally the plan was
to play death metal. Since then the style has evolved and influences
have been taken from various styles of heavy music, like Converge-style
hardcore and black metal. There have also been some line-up changes
and some pretty long breaks mostly due to the mandatory military
service in Finland. In summer 2011 Haapoja recorded their first proper
demo, called Hallitsematonta Voimaa."

It's a little difficult to place their style: somewhere between hardcore like Narrows in their faster moments (or maybe even a little KEN Mode) and Deathspell Omega-ish twisted black metal, moving across both very seamlessly but ultimately ending up on the dark hardcore end of things. Despite this sub-genre having grown saturated in the past few years Haapoja have managed to carve out a uniquel sound with a technical style while remaining catchy as all hell. Instead of relying on a cold sludgy/crusty atmosphere this is often fast and shifts pace at various points, never resting too long before breaking into another discordant run. Vicious vocals and truly bouncy, dissonant blackened riffs. It's short and sweet running slightly over 20 minutes.

A very promising young Finish act and I'd certainly recommend giving them a listen if you like dark and angular hardcore. Check out Hallitsematonta Voimaa on their bandcamp page or facebook.

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Vilipend - Love Left To Rot... (2009)

EP, Independent / Self-released
March 2nd, 2009

Genre: Metalcore/Hardcore
Region: Canada

Gotta thank A389 Recordings for making me aware of this group. Vilipend come to you from the great white north known as Canada bringing a seething mass of chaotic and angry metalcore in the form of 5 tracks on Love Left To Rot.

Chaos and general pissed negativity are the focus here with a smattering of bouncy, gritty, sometimes angular, sometimes melodic riffs and bass lines with a few massive slams expertly placed for maximum force; cracking your skull wide open. Mangled frantic vocals are laid over top of this, furious in their lyrical utterance of distaste and bitterness, with precise percussive clattering sitting comfortably behind it all. Rare moments of quiet/clean riffing are careful interspersed between the high energy, scratchy and strident rhythms; sometimes just leaving the bass to rumble along.

Vilipend know how write and slam down riffs with cacophonous impact. For those of you who enjoy Curl Up And Die, Botch, Narrows, Kiss It Goodbye, Deadguy — you know, all that hard hitting chaotic hardcore/metalcore — this is for you. They put this one up for free and they have a new 7" out too which is pretty fucking sweet. I suggest you check it out as well as their live album.

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Narrows - New Distances (2009)

Full Length, Deathwish Inc.
May, 2009



Genre: Metalcore/Hardcore
Region: Various

Excellent stuff. Members of Botch, Unbroken, These Arms Are Snakes, Tropics, etc. working together to make some great metalcore.

1	Chambered		2:18
2	Sea Witch		2:16
3	A Restoration Effort		3:24
4	I Give You Six Months		2:49
5	Changing Clothes		2:49
6	Newly Restored		4:45
7	Gypsy Kids		3:05
8	The Fourragere		6:15
9	Marquis Lights		4:07

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