Reviews

Bellicose

Buio Omega I Wanna Crash My Car (On Purpose) / Highway Star cassette

This is some rockin’ hardcore here out of Minneapolis, Minnesota. My first thought was a slightly more punk version of ANNIHILATION TIME. The first song gives me that vibe, along with reminding me of SCREAMER from England. When the second and final song came on, I was surprised since it is a cover of DEEP PURPLE’s “Highway Star.” I figured there was no way this band was going to be able to pull off that guitar solo, but they really did a fine job; I was legitimately excited by how well they did it. Nice job! Two songs, they are both fun to listen to and I can’t wait to hear more.

Exaltrist Demonstration of Violence ’22 cassette

Great four-song cassette from a trampler of a band. EXALTARIST is a combined effort from members from other Jacksonville obliterators UNREGISTERED WEAPON and MANIFEST IN FILTH. Lots of black metal-crusted feedback. These tracks all have enough vitriol to keep the lights on in each of the blistering tracks on the cassette. Washed-out cymbals and just murky enough belches throughout each track that burn into each other. Really diggin’ the song “No Gun Ri,” can we ever get more of this?

N.E.O.N. The Time Changes The Problems Don’t cassette

Third cassette release by this Jacksonville, Florida-based solo project. N.E.O.N (NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF NASCAR) is some sort of goofball amalgamation of harsh noise and synth punk that is incredibly heavy on the industrial music interludes. It actually starts out with a pretty straightforward SCREAMERS-type song that has an industrial drum beat behind it, but devolves into complete madness before the song even ends. The cassette kind of continues getting more confusing and unhinged as it proceeds from there.  As a bit of an outsider to the whole industrial world, this project comes across rather perplexing to me. Most of the songs on this N.E.O.N cassette feel like an unfinished, less memorable version of NINE INCH NAILS, who I have never fully understood to begin with.

V/A Uncivil Disobedience, Vol. 1 cassette

A cassette compilation from Bellicose Records, Uncivil Disobedience brings a who’s-who of crazy Florida hardcore bands together in support of the Atlanta Solidarity Fund. Proceeds will help to oppose a current proposal that would tear down a bunch of forest land in order to build a massive new police training facility in Atlanta. And it’s a ripper, packed with gems like ARMOR’s pummeling ANTI-CIMEX cover, a new tune from the formidable SQUEEZE USA, and a searing medley from Jacksonville-based sonic terrorists SOURPUSS. In addition to its worthwhile purpose, this tape provides a good overview of current scenes in the sunshine state and a happy slap on the ass for anyone who likes hard punk.