Humanerror/Snakes split tape review

Humanerror/Snakes split tape review

Two bands with their respective brand of heavy, dark hardcore manage to complement one another here, almost a necessity for a split.

Humanerror is a chug-friendly band that also uses powerviolence-y drum beats while sludging away on the guitar and bass, not terribly far off from Eyehategod.  The two tracks they offer are no doubt the better two here, though it’s admittedly difficult to best the band from Texas who has been around for six years.  Still, the two tracks Snakes have are no slouches- they’re dirty and grindy but still possess some clarity.  The Nails-worship HM2 sound is absolutely present, but it doesn’t sound like leftovers, it is a sound unto itself that mixes hardcore and metal in the dirtiest of ways, the way it was meant to be, the way Cleveland bands from the late 80s and New York bands from the early 90s intended it to be.  Homage-paying and still an independent force.  A good blend.

-Aunty Social

Sold Short- 2013 demo review

Sold Short- 2013 demo review

While listening to this demo and simultaneously playing Dynasty Warriors, I had a revelation, a moment of odd enlightenment, if you will.  I was analyzing the music as I knocked away Chinaman after Chinaman, and one thing I noted in the songs was a metalcore breakdown and a youth crew breakdown, mixed of course between pretty stellar new age hardcore.  Upon coming to this realization, it truly hit me how fucking nerdy it was to differentiate between these two extremely similar kinds of breakdowns (the only real difference is the drum tempo, and in some cases, the guitar tone)- in the end, it’s fucking hardcore.  Is it any good?  Yes, it is.  It’s more along the lines of modern mid-tempo hardcore, and for that, it’s pretty stellar.  Well worth it for a demo.

-Aunty Social

Vulgar Display- Under Darkness and Prayer EP review

Vulgar Display- Under Darkness and Prayer EP review

This is bona-fide metalcore:  Metallic hardcore, the kind of sound created by the likes of Integrity, Earth Crisis, and Ringworm.  Usually mid-tempo and sometimes slow in the most wretched of ways, this sound is heavy as fuck, the chords reverberating for seconds after they ring out.  The vocals are not guttural as is usual for the dirtier side of metalcore; it’s much easier to discern the words the vocalist is singing, and he still has a righteous anger in his voice.  The lyrics are pessimistic as ever, lone wolf of justice style- The Punisher would probably approve.  The ninja moshers will love the hell out of this, and so will the proponents of late 80s-early 90s hardcore, for it has a few breakdowns and a lot of old-school vibes, even though it’s a modern creation.  For any and all who raise the banner of “hardcore”.

-Aunty Social