Bernays Propaganda - 2013 - Zabraneta planeta

Bernays Propaganda is a dance punk band from Macedonia. Zabraneta Planeta is their third LP, released by Moonlee Records. This album reminds me of a more guitar based, early era Metric, the guitars do all the heavy lifting aside from the vocals. The moving baselines make sure everything has a danceable energy that never stops moving.

 When the songs are firing on all cylinders the guitars are firing off angular riffs that are melodic, danceable and just a little punk in the most rhythmic and pulsing sense. I would normally get tired of punk that focuses so much on melody and movement but the guitar also consistently has a fuzz or distortion around it that muddies everything for flavour. If you like punk rock that puts a danceable rhythmic sensibility on top off distortion laden but still melodic guitars then Zabraneta Planeta is for you.

The Discord Of A Forgotten Sketch - Black Love

The Discord Of A Forgotten Sketch is a three piece screamo band from Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Black Love are a post-hardcore band also from Montreal, Quebec, Canada. This split was released by l'Oeil Du Tigre, responsible for such records as Brume Retina's Agresse Guele, and the four way Te Lloraría un Puto Río / Carrion Spring / The Discord of a Forgotten Sketch / Beau Navire split.

Both of these bands aim for the more angular, technical side of screamo. The Discord Of A Forgotten Sketch makes the decision to bury the vocals and shroud their entire sound in a nice haze. It works especially well when Music Cowboys alternates between moments of muffled melody and mosh pit moments of chaos. 

Black Love go for a more post-hardcore vibe that owe's a debt to early 90's emo. There are some elements of stoner metal in the thump of the drums and more than a little midwest emo in the desperate vocals. They cite Kyuss and Afghan Wigs alongside Mineral and Moss Icon as influences. Motorboats and Waterfalls has an excellent energy to it that keeps everything moving forward and the singers voice has the perfect combination of desperation and nostalgia all wrapped in a bundle of fuzz.

Witch Of The Waste - 2013 - All Other Voices

Witch Of The Waste are a five piece technical metalcore band from Vancouver, British Colombia, Canada. All Other Voices is their debut EP and it kicks a tremendous amount of ass. They draw together influences like Converge, Pantera, Dillinger Escape Plan, Botch and Animals As Leaders into a stew that is kinda hard for me to properly categorize. There are equal amounts metalcore, post-hardcore and then some grindcore thrown in for flavour. At the basis is speedy thrash metal, multiple gruff vocals and constant stop start technical punk rock that is also heavy as fuck.

 There are few things I enjoy as much as a thrash metal band with two guitars. There is a bit of the same old. generic,aggressive music aimed at the tight jeans and masacara set but at their best moments these songs transcend that straight jacket. Highlights include: Nothing Cute Ever Scuttles, High-Tech (For Heretics), Taking The Penguin For A Walk and Candlejack. If you like aggressive, technical music that isn't afraid to be progressive then this ep should be right up your alley

Old Gray - 2013 - An Autobiography

Old Gray is a three piece screamo band from Keene and Manchester, NH and Hartford, CT. They have been productive, An Autobiography is their first LP but is is their eighth release and third release of 2013. This LP is what I've come to expect from Old Gray. All the songs have consistent momentum and keep moving forward, shuffling the component pieces around.

With one minor exception, from start to finish this album is solid. Most of these songs reach for the sky in angst and emotional turmoil only to either burn the ground underneath them (I Still Think About Who I Was Last Summer)  or simply collapse into themselves (My Life With You, My Life Without You). The songs that take another route start off at full tilt and never let up, churning the ground beneath you (Wolves, The Graduate)
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The only part of this album I actively dislike is the spoken word chill of Show Me How You Self Destruct. But after those annoying seconds are finished, The Graduate comes screaming at you with fury and passion to spare and  Emilys First Communion raises the bar with violins and female vocals that only add to the epic style songwriting.

If you've ever listened to Old Gray before you know what to expect, some spoken word overtop of ambient guitars, some gang backing vocals and some noodly guitar riffs that evolve into something different. Their songwriting can be a little bit of an acquired taste but once the bug has bitten you I bet you An Autobiography will be on repeat.

KEN Mode - 2013 - Entrench

KEN Mode are a three piece metal band from Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada. Their version of metal is unrelentingly heavy songs played at hardcore speeds with liberal doses of noise. Entrench is their fifth album in ten years, released by New Damage Records and Season of Mist Records.

The beginning is a little rocky, as great and powerful as Counter Culture Complex is, the second track No; I'm In Control just doesn't grab me like it should. But after that minor misstep the rest of the album proceeds to kick major ass. The whole middle of the album displays KEN Mode's ability to move between technical, modern played at hardcore speeds into brooder, nosier stomps and even some magnificent slow burning anger. The middle three songs, The Terror Pulse, The Promises Of God and then Romeo Must Never Know do exactly that progression and it is very satisfying.

Entrench is one that I know I will keep coming back to because not only do I really enjoy quality metal played at hardcore speeds but this band is also so versatile and the other elements only serve to accent the song writing and aggression. I did not expect to like Romeo Must Never Know but it is my favourite song on this album with The Promises Of God and Counter Culture Complex tied for second. Check this out if you like hardcore or heavy metal, there will something great in here for you.

The Flaming Lips & Bon Iver - 2013 - Ashes In The Air

The Flaming Lips are an psychadelic experimental rock band Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and Bon Iver is  a band founded and fronted by singer-songwriter Justin Vernon. You might remember The Flaming Lips as the weirdo rock band who's singer likes to wear all white and walk on audiences in a hamster ball.

Most of the time they are a little too progressive and weird for my taste but I admire them from afar for having a distinct style and staking out their territory. The Flaming Lips have a new album out and what a better idea for promoting that album than making a video for a song from last years album, The Flaming Lips and Heady Fwends, specifically their collaboration with indie folk rock band Bon Iver.

I actually quite enjoy Ashes In The Air as a song more than I expected considering I don't really listen to either of these bands regularly but right from the get go the video is weird that it just overwhelms you. That screencap above probably explains more than I am able to. If you have any idea what this video is about please enlighten us all.

Aleska - Mariesena - Bears Split 2013

Aleska are a four piece from Metz, France, this split is their second album and their third EP The Waiting was also released last year. Mariesena is a four piece from Odessa, Ukraine, this is their sophomore release. Bears is a screamo band from Tasmania and this is their sixth release, they have also released a split with Todos Caeran .

This whole album rips from start to finish. Each band delivers their own brand of screamo and is unique, the album works better as a compilation than a cohesive statement of an album. If you like screamo, hardcore and post-hardcore in even a slight capacity there is a band on this album you will find something to enjoy.

First up is Aleska. They have a little too much post-hardcore in their mix for me to really appreciate them. I quite enjoy ...And We're Not Afraid Of Eternity, especially the gruff backing vocals and the strained shouts but could take or leave Friends And Foes. Next up Is Mariesena who play a roughly melodic brand of skramzy screamo. They have that nice thick guitar tone that I think I keep hearing that I keep quite enjoy. Their songs are chunky and pound away at you and the ground you stand on. About Dying Relations might get stuck in the mud partway through but the anguished shouts save you before the guitars come rushing back in to pound away again.

Bears closes out this 3 way international split with their brand of pummelling, epic screamo. They would fit perfectly on a show with Todos Caeran and Book Of Caverns. If the opening riff to Rust doesn't catch your attention then there may be no hope for you.