Circle of Death by Homewrecker

Circle Of Death by Homewrecker

Forced Under

Circle Of Death

Born To Suffer

Illusions of Peace

Authority of the Mind

Skin The Pig

Punish the Ignorance

Silence the Weak

Unconscious

Ohio Doom-Hardcore band, Homewrecker, recently released the nine track full length album, Circle Of Death. Circle of Death is a step up from their previous release in 2012, Worms And Dirt, in both production and musical ability. Each song is fast, to the point, and crushing. The instrumentation is unforgiving; dropped tuning and quick drums help show that speed isn’t leaving hardcore, something that many could worry about with some of the newer releases from other big name bands. Vocals are deep, guttural growls that convey hatred and emotion. And what is hardcore music, or any music for that matter, if it holds no emotion? Hardcore music is all about emotion and anger, something that Homewrecker did not forget as they strove to become a more well known band. 

Production is very well managed with this newest release, something that is usually not taken too much into consideration with bands of the genre. The mix is well done, and each part is heard clear. Something that I really am enjoying about the mixing of the instrumentation is how loud the bass is heard over everything else. With the instruments tuned down, the bass leaves only a dull clanking sound, but with the fast paced strumming and strong bass lines, the instrument leaves little guess work as to what is going on. Drums consist of D-beats and blast beats, simple punk-hardcore drumming, nothing that stands out and I will remember. As for guitars, the rhythm is fast and throughout the release the lead takes quick guitar solos that, as a guitarist, give me shivers. 

I’d like to digress, and say that I’ve had the pleasure of seeing Homewrecker live, when they came through my area with similar bands, Backtrack and Harms Way. They put on a great show, and me seeing them live is the reason i’ve decided to take a look at this new release. What really stood out to me when seeing Homewrecker would be that each member of the band does vocals aside from the lead vocalist. While all vocal styles are similar in the band, it’s an exciting thing when all four members break off into either gang vocals or chaotic-like sections of songs. 

The thing about almost every new age hardcore band, is that it’s so easy to sound like every other band that’s out there. It was a problem back in the 80’s when hardcore-punk founding fathers such as Minor Threat, Youth of Today, and Circle Jerks were around, but that was punk music, and no one cared about instrumentation or production, everything was recorded in one take with an 8-track, and it was cool just to get your music out to be heard. Now days, with the amount of music that is heard daily, and with the internet to spread songs around, it’s not rare that you hear one band playing an almost identical guitar riff that another band you’ve heard plays. In all honesty maybe that’s why hardcore music these days is fading into a crossover with Metalcore music, as seen in Code Orange’s newest release, I Am King.  However, when it comes to ohio outfit, Homewrecker, the music is something that, while heard before, revamps my need to go out and listen to old fast hardcore music, to even listen to old metal bands such as Slayer, and Megadeath. If you’re a fan of the genre, and you’re looking for one of the best hardcore releases of 2014, Circle of Death, by Homewrecker, is the album for you.

Favorite Song: Silence the Weak

THE MOVNT VESVVIVS DEMO by DΛRK LΛVΛ

//THE MOVNT VESVVIVS DEMO||DΛRK LΛVΛ\\

1. INTRO//HELL BENEVTH

2. CVVSTIC VOMIT

3. THEIF ((THE LVVV)

CVVSTIC VOMIT 

THE MOVNT VESVVIVS DEMO 

DARK LAVA

U got some sludge in u shoegaze 

Cvvstic Vomit, off of Known Pleasure Records. 

Take shoegaze and mix it would some great sludge hardcore music, and that's what you get when you listen to this band. The release is short enough, so it leaves you wanting more and more. Vocals are set back and bass is brought forward, giving out the deepest, darkest sounds you can get. You've got your normal instrumentation, drums, geetar, b(ass) and all of the good stuff. D-beats gallore and that cool rhythm that makes you hardcore mosh into your friend so that he gets really mad and gives you a stern talking to about why you should check before you two step.  There's some audio tracks in all of the songs, but the most apparent ones are in the second and third songs. I don't usually pay attention to these, because too much of these things can be annoying as hell (Free Throw), but the one on the second track fits perfectly, making me cringe just at the sound of it, and the following song makes me want to explode and explode damn well good.
This release is something that makes you frown and furrow your eyebrows while you think about all of those that have wronged you, and what you would do in the pit if you saw these guys live. They're low-down tempo or whatever, but that's sludge music for ya, like it or move on I guess. I'd check this out if you're a fan of heavier music.

Bandcamp

Known Pleasure Records

Sheol by Sabertooth

Sheol|Sabertooth

1. Dimensions

2. Gluttony

3. Necro

4. Trumpet

5. Spiders

6. Bones

7. Sheol

8. Brother

Hey qt's, do you like music that sounds like it came straight from hell? Well search no farther, I present to you Sheol by Sabertooth. I got to play with these guys a while ago and I've never been so scared for my hearing. So loud. Sabertooth plays some of the darkest chaotic hardcore I've ever heard. While a lot of music on Sheol is just noisy noise sounding, over the screeching vocals, the musical abilities of these guys is obvious. A more slow, tuned down stop/start kind of hardcore, this is the kind of band you hate mosh to. 

"I know I'm a lack of a better man."

Vocal wise, the vocals are harsh and raspy. Perfectly complimentary to the music. Don't show your mom. They make me want to vomit, but in a really good way, if that makes sense. 

Bass wise, as this is a band with only three instruments, you can for sure hear the bass. It's so sludgy and distorted though, it's crazy. I remember that live it sounded like the bassist was playing through blown speakers covered in lasagna. I know this sounds horrible but god damn, it fits. 

Guitar wise, when it isn't doing feedback, it's hard hitting and heavy. Nothing stood out to me too much, but it would sound weird with a different guitarist. 

The last song is long and spacey, but ties up the 8 song release perfectly. I can't wait to hear more from these guys. 

Overall, reading this review probably makes Sabertooth sound bad, but I've been listening to these guys since I bought their tape, and I love their sound so much. Check them out. A must listen to for any chaotic hardcore/devilcore-esq music lover. 

Favorite track: "Dimensions"

Bandcamp

Feed Into Your Mind by Bad Investments

Feed Into Your Mind by Bad Investments

Tracks:

Informalites 

Swollen Pigments

Feed Into Your Mind

Trophy Wife

Side B

Loud, loud, loud, loud, loud, loud, loud, loud, loud, loud, loud. This band is loud. Bad Investments is a loud band from Columbia, MO that just got off of tour with Grammer, about a month a go (odd tour combo, but whatever). Feed Into Your Mind starts off violently and distorts the mind as the static and white noise convulse into wicked guitar riffs and shouty-vocals. It actually reminds me a lot of Mr.Bungles "Everybody I Went To Highschool With Is Dead" off of Disco Volante but 5 songs oppose to one.

Bass is very apparent in the mix, which is unusual, but cool. The riff towards the end of "Informalites" reminds me of The Sword, and the drum part towards the end of "Swollen Pigments" sounds like it would be awesome, but the clear-as-mud production of the track makes it where you can only hear the hit-hat, the ride and the snare drum (faintly).  Nothing about this release makes me think of The Chariot (that's a lie, the whole thing makes me think of The Chariot) especially the songwriting.

Fav Track: Side B

Bandcamp