Sunday 18 December 2016

WHATEVERS – 'Totally Buggin'' cassette review


WHATEVERS – 'Totally Buggin'' cassette review


Well, at seven tracks in probably as many minutes, this is one of the shortest tapes I own, but that doesn't make it any less great. WHATEVERS are a female two-piece (drums and guitars with dual vocals) who play very lo-fi pop-punk with funny lyrics and vocal melodies. It's pretty darn catchy with a bit of a 90s vibe, and you definitely won't forget songs like 'I Hope Not Sporadically', 'I Do Not Wear Polyester Hair' and 'Cher and Dionne' any time soon (those song-titles alone should give you a pretty good indication as to the tone of this stuff). A really fun little listen with cool artwork that also comes on a pink shell cassette; ace!


xox

Wednesday 14 December 2016

NACHTHEXEN self-titled 7" review



NACHTHEXEN self-titled 7" review

NACHTHEXEN are bloody amazing. Their first release, a cassette called 'The Other' was one of my favourite releases of recent years, and this new EP is no less brilliant. Four tracks of angry, energetic, synth-fuelled punk-rock from four women from Sheffield, with some tight drum and bass work, and keyboard sounds that still remind me of old horror movie scores. Despite there being a kind of dark, gothy vibe to this, there are a lot of moments on it that will make you laugh, as well as loads of gang shouts, and some ace lyrics about anxiety, intoxicated males and the spaces they claim, diet culture, and there's also a re-recording of their classic 'Cheer Up Luv'. Definitely worth checking if you fancy some shouty-synthy-gothy punk-rock with politically strong lyrics. It also has cool artwork and comes on lovely piss-yellow wax. Ace!

*They also have a track on our latest comp cassette*

xox

Tuesday 13 December 2016

NASDAQ / MOTHERTRUCKER split 12” (DAQTRUCK) review



NASDAQ / MOTHERTRUCKER split 12” (DAQTRUCK) review


Well how's this for a monumental line-up for a split record? Manchester-based NASDAQ's EP 'AGM / Fourth Quarter Slump' blew me (and pretty much anyone else that listened to it) away when it got released a few years back, and Stourbridge-based MOTHERTRUCKER have been consistently putting out colossal stuff for as long as I can remember. So NASDAQ only have one track on here but it's about fifteen minutes worth of instrumental magic that drifts in and out of huge riffs, sweeping highs, technical funky beats, and ambient interludes. They're very very good at building momentum, playing a similar rhythm for a good few minutes at a time, but working in subtle intricacies on each instrument, giving you plenty of time to get into the groove of each section before it falls away into new territory. Nestled in amongst the longer parts of this tune, there's an absolutely killer riff at about 8:50 in, which is made all the more special for its short length, and is worth replaying the whole song back for. I'm always amazed at the dynamism and contrast in highs and lows that they manage to create with just one guitar. Awesome stuff. MOTHERTRUCKER are another great band for dynamics, but focussing a little more on the heavier side of things, with the kind of cathartic riffs that only a band that has been going for over ten years can forge. Both of their songs on this half of the split are dark, sludgey, post-metal affairs, that contrast the heavy textures of metallic riffing with delayed, stoner leads, which break into atmospheric, spacey interludes, before caving back into some more monumental riffs and sweeping melodies; a contrast that's emphasised by some careful and effective song structuring, and some really killer drumming that's all at once solid and pounding, and tight and technical. An atmospheric yet crushing listen. Definitely a split to pick up for fans of amazing prog / stoner / post-metal heaviness.

This split is coming out next year I believe, so the best way to keep up to date with its release would be to follow the guys on the ol' Facebook:

xox

Monday 12 December 2016

THE HUNX self-titled CD review



THE HUNX self-titled CD review

So I know Jay from THE HUNX because he used to put on ace gigs of skatepunk bands in Birmingham when he was at Uni down here (I discovered some great bands through shows he put on); it therefore makes sense that he would play in an ace skatepunk band himself, and here they are. THE HUNX have that sound that reminds me of stuff that used to come out on HOUSEHOLD NAME RECORDS like HOSTAGE LIFE, crossed with anything that comes out on FAT WRECK CHORDS, and UK skate punk bands like NO CONTEST and fellow Scousers DOWN AND OUTS. It's pretty much all played in double time so it has a load of energy, some wicked guitar work, ace sing-a-longs and choruses (as well as some funny bits of spoken word), and lyrics that range from the humorous 'Pizza Song', to the more politically driven 'House of Frauds'. If you're after fast, melodic skatepunk done right, you can't go wrong with this cracking five track EP, and Mark Bell illustrated the cover so it looks as ace as it sounds.


xox

Saturday 10 December 2016

THE POTENTIALS – 'We Are the Potentials' CD review


THE POTENTIALS – 'We Are the Potentials' CD review


THE POTENTIALS are class; they play 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' themed fuzzy pop-punk (yes, seriously) that's lo-fi, catchy, and full of energy, with some really funny lyrics and absolutely loads of three-part vocal harmonies. That's actually one of the best things about this EP; pretty much constant vocals of mostly singing but with a bit of shouting too. Lyrically and musically, it predictably (being themed on a show of that era) has a pretty 90s vibe, but generally reminds me of bands like FABULOUS DISASTER. My two fave tunes on here are the irresistibly catchy opener 'The Potentials Theme', which is a perfect introduction to the band (and I believe has a video now), and 'Hail Moloch' which is probs one of the most memorable and fun tunes on here, but this is an entirely enjoyable listen, whether you're into Buffy or not. It has awesome artwork by Jack Fallows too!


xox

Monday 21 November 2016

ANDREW CREAM – 'Self Portrait' review



ANDREW CREAM – 'Self Portrait' review


I'd never heard of ANDREW CREAM before this, but his stuff is really pretty wonderful; kind of full band acoustic / folky pop-punk stuff that's really bright and energetic with really catchy vocal melodies and choruses. I had to check that this wasn't the vocalist from the amazing ABOVE THEM because his tone of voice is quite similar, and actually I guess it's not too far off musically either (apart from the acoustic-ness of course), which is never a bad thing. There are some really posi lyrics on here too about finding yourself, becoming who you want to be, and other lovely bits of personal politics, which makes it a really fun and uplifting listen. I've had this on in the car quite frequently for a while now, but I could pretty much listen to it at any time, whether I felt up or down, and that's a pretty rare thing. So yeah, really glad I got asked to review this, and you should totally check it out if you need a lift, or you just like some folky pop-punk!


xox

Monday 14 November 2016

TEGAN AND SARA – 'Love You To Death' review


TEGAN AND SARA – 'Love You To Death' review


Who doesn't love TEGAN AND SARA? They continually change and develop their sound, and consistently write incredible music regardless of what genre their music might fall under. This new album bears more similarity to their last album 'Heartthrob' than anything before that, swapping dark, subtle melodies and emotion of albums like 'The Con' for massive, bright pop songs, and as much as I miss the sound of said album, I really can't complain because this is brilliant. The choruses to some of these songs are so catchy it's just ridiculous; 'Faint of Heart', 'Dying to Know', and 'Stop Desire' will stick to you very quickly, and when they do slow the pace and pull back for the ballad '100x' (one of my faves for sure) it's just beautiful, and shows off their perpetual capacity for writing sensitive, touching songs. I can't really work out what's so great about the sound they have now; it's almost like it combines the best of 80s, 90s, and contemporary pop with their own, irresistible, distinct writing style, but whatever it is, it's phenomenal. If you liked 'Heartthrob', this maybe doesn't quite reach the heights of that masterpiece, but it comes very bloody close, so you should love it. If you don't really know TEGAN AND SARA I urge you to check them out ASAP, especially their newer stuff if you dig stuff like ROBYN, FOXES, and METRIC, but also check out albums like 'The Con' for something darker. Another stunning piece of work.


xox

Thursday 10 November 2016

DOE – 'Some Things Last Longer Than You' review


DOE – 'Some Things Last Longer Than You' review


Before I saw them at Deadpunk in Bristol earlier this year, I liked DOE. After I saw them at Deadpunk in Bristol earlier this year, I Loved DOE. And not just because they did a truly spectacular cover of THE SPICE GIRLS' '2 Become 1' (although that definitely helped). They're a three-piece from London (dual guitar, no bass) who play really awesome garage pop-punk, with ace male-female dual vocal harmonising, plenty of angst, some chuckle-inducing lyrics, and some bloody huge choruses. There are also some great riffs on here ('Respite' has a notably good 'un), and there's a pretty strong 90s vibe coming through (think SONIC YOUTH, THE PIXIES and THE BREEDERS, and also the way TANCRED's stuff has been going lately). There are some great tunes on side A like the opener 'No. 1' and I like 'Monopoly', but I absolutely love side B, which is full of bangers: 'Anywhere' has the energy and intensity of CAVES, 'Last Ditch' gives us one of their most memorable choruses, 'Before Her' is magic from start to finish (those vocal harmonies in the chorus, oh my days!), and the intensity of 'Corin' is fantastic, reminding me of THE YEAH YEAH YEAHS' harder stuff: Nicola's shouting in it gives me goosebumps. A really incredible album by one of the best British bands around at the moment; pick it up now!


xox

Sunday 28 August 2016

SIA - 'This Is Acting' review


SIA - 'This Is Acting' review


SIA is awesome. Like I said when I reviewed her last album '1000 Forms of Fear', she's one of the few writers / artists whose stuff appears in charts that I will actually listen to albums of. If you can get past the acrobatic-ness of her voice and the RIHANNA-esque vocal stylings (she writes for her and pretty much created that style for her), then you'll find her stuff has leanings to ROBYN, THE KNIFE and TEGAN AND SARA, which ain't a bad thing at all in my ears. Amongst these twelve tracks, we have the piano-driven ballads like 'One Million Bullets'; full on dance tunes like 'Sweet Design' and the awesome, addictively genius 'Move Your Body; purely perfect pop songs rendered in her unique style like 'House on Fire' and the awesome power number 'Unstoppable'; and of course the huge belter, in this album's case 'Alive', which features one of the biggest and most euphoric choruses I've ever heard (at least equalling that of 'Chandelier') and of which her vocal take during the musically minimal bridge is just astounding. SIA's songs have an awesome, unique sense of melody and thought-provoking lyrics that will lift, crush, comfort, puzzle, encourage, and blow you away, all in the space of a few tracks, and this album is a perfect example of that. Check out the unbelievable 'Alive' (goosebumps at the ready), the irresistible 'Move Your Body', and I especially love the haunting and beautiful 'Broken Glass', which features not only one, but two upward key changes in the final chorus (now she's just showing off). Consistently brilliant throughout, consider this if you like pop with depth. Awesome.


xox

Friday 26 August 2016

MILLENCOLIN - 'True Brew' review



MILLENCOLIN - 'True Brew' review


So yeah, MILLENCOLIN are another of my fave 'growing-up' bands that have come back with another album recently, and those that, like myself, have missed the sound of their stellar, earlier, faster efforts, will be pleased to know that this is great stuff, and a welcome return to form. There's a perpetual urgency and energy throughout 'True Brew's 13 songs (that come in at just under 35 mins) of melodic punk / skate-punk that's been largely missing since the masterpiece that was 'Pennybridge Pioneers', and it consequently sounds surprisingly fresh, as though they've dug up a fresh dose of passion: something that is always impressive for a band on their eighth full length (ninth including 'The Melancholy Collection'), having been going for 24 years now with the same lineup. It's another lyrically interesting one too, touching on racism, relationship dynamics, and discovering what's important in life, and is vocally brilliant in both tone and melody, with some of the best verses and choruses that I've heard from Nikola for a while. I think most impressive for me on here is the consistency; albums like 'Machine 15' and 'Kingwood' had their moments, but were a little hit or miss, whereas this is fantastic from start to finish, from the super-catchy 'Chameleon' and 'Bring Me Home', through angrier tunes like 'Sense and Sensibility', and to vulnerable and emotion-driven songs like 'Wall of Doubt' and the brilliant 'Something I Would Die For'. Super pleased with these guys for this release that bears the maturity of later albums and injects the fun, energy, and passion of 'Life on a Plate', 'For Monkeys' and 'Pennybridge...'; and for those that that means nothing to, get this if you're into FACE TO FACE, NO FUN AT ALL, SATANIC SURFERS, or THE OFFSPRING.


xox

Friday 12 August 2016

FACE TO FACE - 'Protection' review


FACE TO FACE - 'Protection' review


When I got into melodic punk-rock as a teen, FACE TO FACE were one of the first bands that I properly got into, and, despite not loving stuff since the album 'How to Ruin Everything', they've remained one of my favourites. Subsequent to that album, they've released one that I didn't like at all, one that was a little better, and have arrived at this, which, thankfully, is probably the best thing they've done in about ten / fifteen years. For those that aren't familiar with FACE TO FACE, they play melodic punk rock that sits well alongside bands like BAD RELIGION, DESCENDENTS, and THE OFFSPRING's faster stuff, but still has it's own sound, especially in Trever's distinct vocal delivery and arrangements. If ever there was an album to show how crucial Scott is to this band too, then this is it; his basslines on here are absolutely sublime (and are given a lot of moments to shine in the more guitar-bare sections), and Danny's drumming is on point too, especially when they play at speed (they have this particular, awesome speed that they only use once or twice per album, and on here it's on 'I Won't Say I'm Sorry'). As usual, lyrically this is more personal than political, and there are some pretty memorable choruses on here. Even if this isn't quite what they used to be capable of, there are some good songs on here, stylistically falling somewhere between the classics of their self-titled album and 'Reactionary', and their album prior to this, 'Three Chords and a Half Truth', and it's definitely worth checking out if you like that 90s melodic punk sound. A decent effort; I'd recommend the songs 'Double Crossed', 'Say What You Want', and 'Fourteen Fifty-Nine' for something a bit different, but I'd also like to stress how great their previous albums 'Don't Turn Away', their self-titled one, 'Ignorance is Bliss' and 'Reactionary' are, so they're worth checking out too.


xox

Sunday 7 August 2016

CATHERINE ELMS - 'So Far From Whole' CD review


CATHERINE ELMS - 'So Far From Whole' CD review


You may know Catherine from one of a number of places; for her involvement in zines (and her blog SPILL THE ZINES), her work for the Swansea Feminist Network, or even for this, her solo musical project. I know, busy lady, right? Anyway, this four track EP is her latest (and I believe third?) release, and is a bit of a cracker. There'll be obvious comparisons to make to TORI AMOS, KATE BUSH and PJ HARVEY, but Catherine, who contributes piano / keyboards, bass, and vocals to her tracks, with guitars and drums coming from a selection of family and friends, brings a fantastic rock / grunge vibe to the table, making for a really full, powerful, and dark yet emotional listening experience, with a strong feminist backbone, including lyrics about a woman's right to be on stage instead of in the crowd. Personally my two faves on here are the last two; 'Not Enough' for that brilliant, chant-like chorus, and the closing title track for the wonderful piano melody, but a great EP all round.


xox

Friday 15 July 2016

BASEMENT - 'Promise Everything' review


BASEMENT - 'Promise Everything' review


So after a short hiatus, BASEMENT are back with another ten tracks of their heavily 90s-influenced grunge / emo sound, and to be fair, I'm pretty glad they reformed because this is as good as anything that I've heard them do before. It's thick on the guitars with some great, emotive chordwork (that's brighter than what I recall of 'Colour Me in Kindness'), straight and heavy on the bass and drums, and as well as having some really good vocal melodies, the vocalist still plays on that dynamic between his slow, soft, and droney voice, his bigger, fuller singing voice, and that almost-shouting that he does, which gives this a lot of depth and helps to pace the songs and create some pretty big moments. There's something really cool about the simplicity of BASEMENT's stuff; it eschews any technical flare in favour of quite basic playing styles and arrangements, so it's easy to get into and will stick to you really quickly. If you liked their previous stuff (I really liked 'Colour...', and this is a great, if a little brighter, follow up) then you should have no problem getting into this, but if you're not already a fan but you like MILK TEETH, TIGERS JAW, or grunge / emo from the 90s, then this is as good of a place to start as any. My favourite tunes on here are the opener 'Brother's Keeper', the catchiest number 'Aquasun', and the closer 'Halo' which is simple but wonderful, so they might be a good place to start.

https://www.facebook.com/Basementuk/

xox

Monday 11 July 2016

ALMEIDA - 'Social Media Circus' CD review


ALMEIDA - 'Social Media Circus' CD review


Anyone that picked up these guys' debut 'Fantastic Massacre', or has seen them live or even heard them before will know that they're mental. Utter loonatics, no doubt about it. They play a highly technical and thrashy punk / metal amalgamation (that even breaks for a short reggae rhythm in the second song and has a circus-y bit of keys in the fourth) that is relentlessly lightning fast on the drums in blasts and skate punk rhythms, both riffy and mathcore-twiddly on the guitars, bass heavy, and vocalled with a combination of deep, demonic growls, and soaring, power-metal melodies that at times reach ridiculous heights. Comparisons will always be drawn to bands like PROTEST THE HERO, but ALMEIDA definitely have their own sound and style (it's more skatepunk than metal really; think a heavier PROPAGANDHI), and if you're not daunted by very technical and proggy song structures, they're an awesome listen, and somehow fantastically tight live. The whole thing is musically sublime as always, but credit to Tom because lyrically this is class (I don't know how on earth he writes to this stuff), and he has some real stand-out moments on here... but I'll let you find them for yourself. So yeah, an ace follow up to 'FM', and they've made a video to the shortest song on here, 'Payday', so that would be a great place to start if you like metal / thrash / prog / tech / skatepunk crossovers...


xox

Wednesday 8 June 2016

UNHINGED - 'Nostalgia' CD review



UNHINGED - 'Nostalgia' CD review


By the time this zine comes out, Stourbridge-based four piece UNHINGED will already have a second EP done, despite only having released this, their first EP back in December. 'Nostalgia' features four tracks of pacey, angry punk rock that has its hardcore influences firmly rooted in the old-school 80s and 90s, with elements of IGNITE and GORILLA BISCUITS coming through the more contemporary sound of bands like THE BRONX and CANCER BATS, and produced locally with a pretty DIY, lo-fi recording. Pacey drumwork, rock-infused hardcore riffs, and a combination of angry shouts and don't-give-a-shit attitude style singing that makes for some pretty catchy moments, all meld to make for an impressive debut EP. Check out 'Homesick' and its accompanying video for something to go on, and then go check out their new EP.


xox

Sunday 5 June 2016

SVALBARD - 'One Day All This Will End' cassette review



SVALBARD - 'One Day All This Will End' cassette review


Oh man, SVALBARD are good; another band I feel hugely lucky to have shared the stage (well, floor) with, they play an astounding and melodically unique style of post-hardcore that is all at once heavy and melodic, epic and emotional, and on here, from what I recall, I bit faster than their previous releases, utilising a bit more double time and blasting, giving it a bit more of a hardcore punk / black metal vibe. Fans of anything from LIGHT THIS CITY, to CIRCLE TAKES THE SQUARE, to old DARKEST HOUR should absolutely love this. The male / female dual vocal works as brilliantly as ever, the two different tones interspersing considerately and intelligently, and occasionally joining to epic effect; the beautiful single string lead guitar melodies pierce the shroud of thick bass and heavy guitars perfectly; and the aforementioned drumming is really something to behold, tearing technically through these eight stylistically varied and well structured tunes (as well as a cool cover of VICTIMS' 'This is the End'). A solid album, well worth a look if you like your stuff dark, heavy, fast and melodic. Also available on record I believe, but the cassette (with chrome shell) is a beaut.


xox

Friday 27 May 2016

BRATAKUS - 'Gigantopithecus' CD review



BRATAKUS - 'Gigantopithecus' CD review


So yeah, BRATAKUS have finally dropped their debut EP / three-track demo, and, as expected, it's awesome. For those that missed our interview with them in the last issue, they're a two-piece of sisters from up in Scotland who play riot-grrrl punk with influences like BIKINI KILL and THE DISTILLERS, with even a bit of an old-school MINOR THREAT vibe in the vocals and lo-fi production. The lyrics are actually really cool for such a young band; they're pretty angsty, with vegan and feminist subject matter, and it's so fast vocally, I have no idea how Breagha fits some of these lines in! The vocal harmonies work well, the bass and guitar riffs and progressions are really catchy, the drum machine programming sounds cool, and the whole EP is fast (the first song lasts about 70 seconds), energetic, and a really fun listen. There are some SIMPSONS quotes (I think) between songs which made me chuckle, and the very DIY packaging / artwork is class, especially the collaging of random newspaper and magazine headlines. An awesome little release from a band that are doing punk-rock how it should be done, and that hints at ace things to come. Go and check out 'I Know Nothing' on Youtube for something to go on. Nice one!


xox

Thursday 26 May 2016

NACHTHEXEN - 'The Other' cassette review



NACHTHEXEN - 'The Other' cassette review


This is awesome stuff. Punk rock without any guitar; just solid, riffy bass, tight, almost mechanical drumming, shouted female vocals, and a keyboard that sound somewhere between KRAFTWERK and low-budget 70s / 80s horror film soundtracks (think CREEPOZOIDS or anything directed by LUCIO FULCI i.e 'Zombie' or 'House by the Cemetery'). It's rare to find stuff these days that sounds genuinely different, but this really is; the synth sound is somewhat creepy and isn't something that I've heard much in this style, and the way it marries with the highly strung, desperate but angry vocals is something you need to hear to appreciate. Every song on this four track is really catchy, both vocally (with great lyrics) and musically, and has some great vocal hooks that, owing to being based around repetition, will inseminate your mind like few things can. This is especially so in the final two tracks 'Girls' and 'Cheer Up Luv', and the respective, unforgettable lines "it's not a competition; we're not the opposition" and "cheer up luv, it might never happen". Brilliant stuff with a unique quality, the greatness of which is tough to describe.


xox

Monday 23 May 2016

IDESTROY interview


 IDESTROY interview

We interviewed indie-rock / Riot-Grrrl punks IDestroy for issue nine of 'The Screever'; here's what they had to say to a few questions we threw at them towards the end of their 'Vanity Loves Me' EP tour.

Heya guys, please introduce yourself/ves, tell us what you play, and who makes up the rest of IDestroy.

IDestroy are Bec (guitar/vocals), Becky (bass/Bvox) and Jenn (Drums).



So you're currently on a UK tour; how has it been? Have there been any stand out shows?

Tour has been a lot of fun. One of our favourite shows was our recent return to London, playing at The Gunners pub. The quality of the venue really surprised us (knowing that its main focus is on football), the sound was great and there were a large number of people there to see us - we recognised a good number of the people there from our last London show, so we were very pleased that we have started gaining a following in another city!



How long have you been a band for now? How did you three meet?

We all met whilst studying in Bristol and became good friends before forming the band. We’ve been together around a year and a half now.
Your music seems to have a number of influences, including rock, punk, blues, and indie; who would you say are your biggest influences?

This is always a tough question as we enjoy so many different types of music. The band has definitely been influenced by riot grrrl bands such as Bikini Kill and Sleater Kinney. We hope you will also hear the older punk influences such as Iggy Pop and The Runaways. 


So you released your first EP called 'Vanity Loves Me' this year; how has it been received? Are you all pleased with what you created?

We’ve had some really great reviews from the likes of Classic Rock, Punktastic and Fred Perry Subculture as well as being enjoyed by the independent bloggers on the DIY circuit. We are so happy that it has had this wide appeal to all rock n rollers, and we hope its reach will keep growing. We are proud of this release, but we are certain that the next one will only get better!



Did you enjoy making the video for the title-track from that CD? Where was it filmed?

It was good fun, although a long day and very hard work. Being a short song, you get to hear it a lot of times when filming for it over a 10 hour day! The silliness at the end of the video was a new experience for all of us. As perhaps you can tell, we’re not all that interested in make up and other ‘girly’ things, so it was cool to experiment and see what came out! We filmed it at Farm Studios in Bristol with Nick Pitt.




Can you give us a brief run-down of what the songs on the EP are about lyrically?

I try to avoid the “what is this song about” question, mainly because I’d rather the listener think for themselves. When I hear great lyrics, take Kurt Cobain for example, I personally don’t want to know what he was singing about. Why would I? When I can pretend he’s singing about everything I feel right in that moment.
Having said that, this EP is very much based on my observations of modern day life. I’d like to think it’s a pretty relatable listen.



What else do you guys do outside of IDestroy? Are any of you in any other bands or anything?

Bec plays guitar and song writes for art rockers ‘The Blue Aeroplanes’ and Becky plays bass in metal band Triaxis.

Ph: Jake Matthews


So what do you have planned for the rest of this year? Any more touring or recording in the pipeline?

We have a few more ‘Vanity Loves Me’ tour dates left (Southampton, Minehead, Stalybridge and Birmingham). After these shows we will spending some time songwriting and preparing to record the next release. We have a couple of festival appearances and other gigs this summer, but now the ‘Vanity Loves Me’ tour is over, our main focus is on the new material.



Cheers for answering these! Any last words, links, shout-outs, or anything?

No problem! 

You can stream our EP “Vanity Loves Me” for free here: https://soundcloud.com/idestroy/sets/idestroy-vanity-loves-me-ep

Or buy hardcopies on our merchandise store:


Sunday 22 May 2016

New Daria / Jane Lane totes...



New Daria / Jane Lane totes...


So yeah, ecstatic to say that we'll have these totes with us to sell at Northwest Zinefest next month. Lee's been a massive Daria fan for yonks, and this quote of Jane's is pretty appropriate for what we're about here at 'The Screever'. They were screenprinted by the lovely Lou at 13 O'Clock (go and give her Facebook page a like!) and any that we have left over will go up online afterwards. Ace!
xox

Saturday 21 May 2016

FOLGORE - 'Per Sempre Tempesta' cassette review



FOLGORE - 'Per Sempre Tempesta' cassette review


As soon as the first track from this six song tape from Italy's (I think) FOLGORE dropped in, I thought of LOMA PRIETA. So yeah, they play pretty awesome melodic screamo / post-hardcore that is aggressively and distortedly vocalled throughout (save for some ENVY-esque spoken word), and crashes through abrasive fuzzy riffs and the odd bit of finger tapping, backed by chaotic drumming, and interspersed with pretty, picked, melodic sections. I especially dig the second track 'Likho', but this has a consistently similar song throughout (save for the more brooding, largely slower penultimate track 'Mediocrita'), so if you like stuff like LOMA, RAIEN, or LA QUIETE, then this should be worth a listen.


xox

Thursday 19 May 2016

CADY - 'Zodiacal Dust' cassette review


CADY - 'Zodiacal Dust' cassette review


CADY (named after Lindsay Lohan's character in 'Mean Girls' of course) features former members of FOR THIS WORLD IS HOLLOW..., and follows on from the intensity of that band, playing awesome blast-beat infused proper-screamo with some really heavy bass, abrasive chordwork in the guitars, accompanied by some ace underlying melody and delay-effect leads, and some seriously chaotic drumming that's as tight as anything. There are parts that make me think of KAOSPILOT, others of TRISTAN TSARA, and others of SAETIA, so hopefully that gives you something to go on. The packaging on this is ace too, with hand constructed, monochromatic cardboard sleeves, and with a little, albeit tough to read, lyric sheet inside. Physical copies may have sold out by now, but go and check this out on their Bandcamp if you like your proper screamo, and listen to opener 'Goodnight Clark Adams' for something to go on. Great stuff.


xox

Tuesday 17 May 2016

LOVE CANS - s/t 7" review

LOVE CANS - s/t 7" review


This 7" contains two tracks of what I can best describe as psychedelic surf-rock that is a bit 70s and reminds me a bit of bands like FRET and YOUVES and maybe THE MURDER OF ROSA LUXEMBURG in places. Both songs have a really funky, catchy lead riff, on bass in 'Scary Eyes', and on guitar in 'Graveyard', helped along by some tight and pounding drums that marry rhythmically with said riffs. There are also some cool, heavily reverbed yet reserved (and suitably spooky with regards 'Graveyard') vocals on both tracks that compliment the music by way of adding extra texture to the rather awesome musicianship rather than being a focal point, which I really liked about it. A great little two-track record if you like garage-y surf rock with a psych vibe.


xox

Sunday 15 May 2016

RASH DECISION - 'Headstrung' 12" review



RASH DECISION - 'Headstrung' 12" review


Bloody hell yes, this is pretty much exactly the kind of thing that I hope will drop into my inbox to review. Fast, no messin' about, thrashy hardcore with immense drumming that flicks between blasts, double time, and lightspeed fills, that complement the awesome, tight guitar and bass riffs perfectly, and multiple vocalists, all with very different but equally pissed-off sounding tones. Every song on here is brilliantly structured (that's what 9 years of experience will do for you), from the 66 seconds of 'Dogsbody' (one of my personal favourites, and featuring one of the best thrash-inspired riffs on here) to the slower but no less furious 'Cunt of the Litter', and the rather odd, somewhat amusing, yet still awesome 'Blinded by Leaves'. If you like your hardcore how it should be played i.e. fast, heavy, and abrasive, well-produced and with no nonsense, and that reminds you of stuff that used to come out on DEAD AND GONE RECORDS (FIFTY ON RED, BREAK IT UP, etc.), then this will please you a lot. This 12" also comes with their last album 'Seaside Resort to Violence' on the other side. Ace.


xox

Tuesday 3 May 2016

'The Screever' zine issue 9


'The Screever' zine issue 9


Ta-da! Issue nine of 'The Screever' is done! 56 A6 black and white pages of awesome-ness, featuring interviews with Bristol indie-rock / RiotGrrrl punks IDestroy, comic writer Dan Barnes of Dead Bride Comics, Jamie Brewer of skate collective GNARGORE, fantasy zine illustrator BODIE H., and Stourbridge hardcore kids Unhinged. Plus a bunch of reviews, a couple of recipes, puzzles, stencils, and a guide to making a pinhole camera; what more could you want for a quid?!
And if you didn't pick up the tape and patch deal last time, you can still order that and just let us know that you'd like issue 9 instead of 8.
And don't forget to follow us on Instagram @thescreeverzine
Thanks a tonne you lovely lot! 
grin emotico
xox

Friday 4 March 2016

THINGS FALL APART - s/t 7" review


THINGS FALL APART - s/t 7" review


"This is good stuff; bright melodic screamo with with really strong, shredding vocals, great song structures with a multitude of pace and rhythm changes that flick in and out of each other with speed, all driven by some awesome chording and catchy guitar melodies. Like a lot of bands doing this sound these days, there are a lot of clean, melodic parts / songs to break up the intensity, at which point they sound a bit like a harsher LA DISPUTE (especially with spoken word sections about his Dad), with a bit of OLD GREY thrown in, but when they go all out, you'll find plenty of noise and energy to get your pulse racing. A cool little release if you like your screamo clean, with a polished recording, and more on the melodic hardcore side of things."


xox

Tuesday 1 March 2016

SHIZUNE - 'Le Voyageur Imprudent' 12" review


SHIZUNE - 'Le Voyageur Imprudent' 12" review


"There's too much great stuff coming out of Italy at the moment, and SHIZUNE are part of that, playing hugely consistent melodic hardcore / screamo that despite favouring melodic and relatively clean chording, still retains the intensity of old emo-violence bands thanks to some seriously immense chaotic drumming, and monotonous but abrasive and emotional screamed vocals, all packed into largely short songs. The ten tracks here make up a truly intense experience that, owing to its ultimate briefness, is perfectly lengthed to leave you wanting more or to simply listen all over again. A great piece of work with beautiful cover art. Check out the tune 'Immortel et Imperissable' for something to go on."


xox

Sunday 28 February 2016

FRET - 'Attune / Cowboy' 7" review



FRET - 'Attune / Cowboy' 7" review


FRET are a three piece that play largely instrumental (the second track entirely, while the first features some minimal female vocals) fuzzy prog-rock songs that build around a central repeated rhythm or riff. It's pretty moody with a certain dark and sinister groove to it, and plays heavily on dynamic contrast, drawing you in with quiet palm mutes and picking, before attacking with a noisier, more driven form of the main riff, accentuated by some really solid and dramatic drum-work. Feels like there's a bit of a 70s influence to me too, especially on the vocals. An awesome little two-track if you dig fuzzy rock riffs, and an auspicious indicator of what's to come. (They also have a new 12" EP out now which you can check out on their Bandcamp...)


xox

Thursday 25 February 2016

PASTEL - 'L'acchiappa Nuvole' 12" review


PASTEL - 'L'acchiappa Nuvole' 12" review


PASTEL are an awesome two-piece from Italy who play with a real fusion of styles, from emo, screamo, and punk rock, to post-hardcore, with some great riffing and chords combined with a brilliant sense of underlying melody, and some seriously intense drumming that thrashes between grinding blasts, double time, and technical tom and cymbal-work at such a pace as to make your head swim. All of this is broken up by interludes of cleaner and delayed guitar work, fuzzy soundscapes, and even some rather beautiful piano. The high-pitched shouted vocals are minimal, and the cool thing about this album is that as well as the full-band ten tracks, this also contains the entire thing without any vocals, for those that prefer or are in the mood for an instrumental version. The artwork is awesome too and the lyrics are printed in both English and Italian which is nice. A cracking, musically awesome album that has a very wide appeal for the genre ground that it covers. Great stuff. Check out 'Il Lancio Karman' on our tape, and also the end of 'La Scatola, il Crocevia' for one of the greatest riffs ever.


xox

Monday 22 February 2016

FLOWERS TAPED TO PENS / BREAD CLUB / BEDS / SKULL KID split 7" review


FLOWERS TAPED TO PENS / BREAD CLUB / BEDS / SKULL KID split 7" review


That's right, four bands on one seven inch, featuring one track each per band. I like pretty much all of the stuff I've heard before by FLOWERS TAPED TO PENS, who play lo-fi, highly emotional screamo, and this tune, with screeching vocals over clean, pretty guitars, features all of the intensity you would expect. It also has some squealing which is still a real challenge for me to enjoy, but a cool track none-the-less. BREAD CLUB are a soft, easy going emo band, and this mid-paced tune rolls along with some lovely chord-work that marries nicely with the calm yet catchy vocal melodies and emo lyricism. A nice little tune. BEDS, putting forward possibly my favourite track of the split, play super catchy, super soft emo, with fantastic instrumentation, and great, vocally high-pitched verse and chorus sections that will stick in your head long after listening, thanks to a clever use of repetition. SKULL KID close the split with an interesting, unpredictable tune that combines a bit of screaming with both soft and breathy, and high-pitched singing, in a fuzzy garage emo sound that's varied in pace and intensity, from smooth verses, to screamed interludes, and a slower, post-hardcore outro. A nice little split if you like your new emo and screamo on the soft side.


xox