Poland’s MØLD sounds like a golem-crushing destructive machine. Most may pigeonhole them as a powerviolence or grindcore band, but there’s a unique texture in the recording, reminiscent of Peru’s DIOS HASTIO from years back. Rather clean and technical-sounding, but definitely on the hardcore punk edge of things rather than metal.
Crusty hardcore from Malaysia, with furious vocals and clean production. Survival features a dozen grandiose compositions that bring to mind TRAGEDY, the HOLY MOUNTAIN, and COP ON FIRE, as tracks ooze toward a more stenchcore sound. Anthemic passages from dual vocals; all-in-all a full sound from this three piece. Side B opens with some surprisingly upbeat riffs amidst slow gloomy hardcore, similar to GUILLOTINE TERROR or MOONSCAPE. A moody intro-as-intermission midway through the LP, then some more Motörcharged rhythms. With several styles of extreme punk going on, OSMANTIKOS have a lot to offer.
On their third full-length, these Italian D-beaters do just enough to keep things fresh. While they’ve drilled down on the typical MOTÖRHEAD-worship style of many other bullet-belted punks—in case the -CHARGE suffix didn’t clue you in—they do it competently with a few tweaks to the formula to keep things interesting. This band doesn’t require close analysis, though. It is the kind of music you throw on your leather and swig several tall cans for. Turn off that thinky bit in your skull and just go all in, because it’s fun as hell even if it earns few points for originality. Tracks like “Lords of Hysteria” even resemble the later crusty period of DARKTHRONE, which is always a good thing. This trio is going to keep doing what they’re doing and you can bang thy head or not, but you’ll have a better party if thou doth.
First recording from this Warsaw-based hardcore foursome. TRÄUME (or “trauma”) and Obłęd (“madness”) give the English-speaking sap like me a context for the rage within these four songs, which are over within seven heated minutes. The band rips—pick slides and chugging guitars galore with straightforward tom-pummeling drums. Vocals remind me of the way BAD BRAINS shout, howl, and emphasize end lines by swinging up an octave. Not a clue what they’re singing about, but I’m all in!
