Lich/Resurrectionists split

Dreadguard by Lich

In den Abgrund by Resurrectionists

Raunchy and swamping/grinding hardcore music done right, by two of the style’s leading bands on a single split record. They both have female vocals, and Resurrectionists (blog) mix it up with an extra vocalist for a male/female combo of voice abuse done the right way. As quickly as that band’s vocalists scream back and forth, such is how sudden the pace of this record changes from metal-influenced punk and grind to sludgy, almost droning, hardcore downtempo music. Lich (myspace) usually sticks with hella heavy powerchords, while the other band occasionally takes refuge to melodic tremolo picking that reminds both of raw black metal, as well as dark screamo music from those crazy German’s respective regions. Both bands their finest work to date, combined into one release. This is exactly what you have been waiting for. Go for it.
Last fm tags as  crust, screamo, hardcore, punk,  screamo, emo violence, hardcore, power violence, emoviolence

click the image above to go to React With Protest's store, to find this record among other things.

Ampere – Like Shadows

 listen to Flightless by Ampere, from this album

They’re back. And how. This long-awaited release, by American pioneers Ampere (their blog), shows no compromise in their sound. This is still the crushing lighntning-speed chaos of emotional despair, socio-political angst and anxious melodies. This is unrelenting punk drums, facemelting melodic guitars that cry out on top of the endproduct and that frenzied raspy voice, into a mix of complexely organized and fast-paced screamo music. In its level of melancholy contrasting with its devastating sound, this band still remains to oversee the branch of hardcore music it represents, from their point of sheer supremacy.
Last fm tags as screamo, emo violence, hardcore, real screamo, emo

click the image above to buy Ampere stuff from No Idea Records

Beau Navire - Hours

 listen to It's Not an Art, It's a Myth by Beau Navire, with Punch guest vocals

Beau Navire (blog) get me excited, by doing what I love in bands like Orchid, Louise Cyphre, Shikari, Jerome's Dream, Usurp Synapse, Palatka, ... you get it. bands that haven't been around in a long ass time. that hyperfast screamo music with the hysterical vocals and layer upon layer of guitar-feedback. the revelation I felt by listening to their music, coincided with seeing them go berserk, throwing their equipment around the room while screaming like maniacs. and if that doesn't get you excited, I don't know what will.
Last fm tags as screamo, emo violence, hardcore, punk, real screamo

buy their record from the React With Protest records store

Grinding Halt - Sprookjeshof

 listen to Neem Het Weg by Grinding Halt

Sprookjeshof is what Grinding Halt released before their split with Drainland. it's packed with hits, usually comprised of facemelting sludge and grinding hardcore, both very heartfelt and tormented. this band (and this record in particular) is the culmination of all the dark hardcore / metal bands with their signature raw mix of screamo, hardcore, grindcore and sludge.

Last fm tags as screamo, emo violence, hardcore, dutch,emoviolence 

click the image above to order a copy from Robotic Empire (was the only copy I could find online).

Zann – Earsick: more adventures with Zann

If you know Zann (myspace), you already know exactly what this album sounds like. Acme and Akephal -influenced  metallic hardcore with the intensity of early screamo music. Dissonant mid-tempo riffs, slowing down to catch a breath to equally discordant alternate picking. Songs about animal liberation and God free youth uttered in a sheer intensity, that convince you the vocalist takes these subjects to heart. As you should too. 

Last fm tags as  screamo, hardcore, emo violence, german, real screamo

click the image above to buy their stuff from a distro managed by (a) member(s) from the band

Serene - Inward Flowering

 listen to The Immortal Emo-Kids by Serene

This is Children Of Gaia before they were called so. Melody-driven hardcore and screamo punk music from a decade ago. A swedish band with one of the the most recognisable sounds out of most European emocore bands. From down to up tempo and everything in between structures, the melodies are always stirring and the mood continuously wholehearted.

Last fm tags as screamo, hardcore, emo violence, punk, indie  

I found this site had this album for sale. Genet records is more of a distro now, so...

Das Plague - Self Titled

 listen to La segunda regla by Das Plague

so we've established that screamo with crust makes for a really raw emotional mix. spanish band Das Plague (Myspace) throws the same punches, but from a whole other angle. they include the post rock ambience in the mix to add to the passion buried underneath the crusty turmoil. a combination of both could easily clash, unless carried out with this kind of subtle incorporation of basic and rough elements. this band had members from the bands Blünt and Ekkaia, which could give you an idea of what influences to expect.
Last fm tags as: screamo, neocrust, hardcore, spanish, emo violence

Shikari - discography tape 1999-2004

 listen to Nieuwe Politiek 2 by Shikari, as a preview

this is a post  of Shikari's Discography Tape. other than the discography CD, this tape also includes songs from their split with Louise Cyphre and Ação Direta. which include my favorite songs by this band. 

Shikari (Website) is a band from Holland, from which members went on to form Grinding Halt (click for an older post with one of that band's releases). This band put a mark on how people look back on ye olde screamo/hardcore 'scene', while I dispute wether they had such an impact during the time they were active. I couldn't know. I was not there. needless to say, they deserve it all and more. the combo of lightspeed-fast music and overabundance of passion/emotion makes for the hardest hitting heartbreak music, like suicidal black metal songs sped up into under 2 minutes synopsises. the lyrics really make you think, check that out on their website as well!

they went on a hiatus, from somewhere in 2004 until they reunited a few years ago. 

I think it was for Cry Me A River Fest 2009 or something.

Last fm tags as  screamo, emo violence, real screamo,hardcore, emoviolence

click the above picture to see what little merch Shikari has got left.

Grinding Halt/Drainland split

 listen to Schreeuw by Grinding Halt as a preview to this album

Grinding Halt (Myspace) is a dutch band, that was put on the pedestal of "THE BAND BY EX-SHIKARI AND ILL11 AND LAST MILE MEMBERS" (whatever, right?) since they first plugged in instruments at their first rehearsal. Switching back and forth between ultra fast and ultra slow pitch black dark hardcore, their former bands' influence is felt in the same emotional intensity which makes for a total mindfuck.

Drainland is an Irish band (Myspace) that I first made contact with through this split, and still needs sinking in for me. They display a likeminded combination between passion and raw anger with even more of a rough edge.

Last fm tags as screamo, emo violence, hardcore, dutch,emoviolence

click above picture to be redirected to your opportunity to buy this record!