Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Locktender - 2013 - Kafka

Locktender is a four piece screamo band from Cleveland, Ohio, USA. Kafka is their fifth release under this name. Previously the band was known as Men As Trees. They have put out splits with bands like Oaken, Wounded Knee, Coma Regalia,  Brighter Arrows and Cassilis. Locktender plays screamo but is unafraid of bringing elements of sludge and post-hardcore into their sound. Aphorism #17 starts off as a brutally heavy frontal attack that slows to a glacial crawl before building their hardcore fury again and then infusing melody and some calm. Not being familiar with Franz Kafka I'm not qualified to say if these songs properly represent the The Zürau Aphorisms they are based on but these are amazing songs nonetheless. Locktender's Kafka is highly recommended.