This Tuesday, get Downtuned!

DOWNTUNE IN!

Zozobra - Savage Masters (2013)

Zozobra is Caleb Scoffield's (Cave In, Old Man Gloom) latest project. While I was nowhere near drawn to them judging by their weird-sounding name as well as by their first two releases (2007's Harmonic Tremors and 2008's Bird of Prey) which both moved in an area that I find boring to say the least, their latest release Savage Masters that came out just a couple of months ago forced me to give them my full attention.

6 songs, 15 minutes. While this fact alone doesn't say much, let's see what you'll say after listening to this unstoppable stream of crusty and sludgy post-hardcore. This is the first release of 2013 that has excited me so much and it will most likely stay among the first places of the relative list at the end of the year. Feel free to check this incredible EP out, and then grab a vinyl copy from Brutal Panda Records, while it is still in stock.

Vain Herätys, perkele!

I came across Herätys just a tad before they announced their split in February 2012. They were started as a side project of members of Skitkids and Unkind, two of today's hardcore/d-beat heroes from Sweden and Finland respectively. Based on Malmö and Uppsala, they are considered swedish, but all their lyrics are in finnish. Since 2008, they have put out three vinyl releases (two 7"'s and one 12") while they have given destructive live shows all over northern Europe. According to the band, last December's Näen Punaista 7" was their last ever release, although I do pray they could at some point decide to get back together, even temporarily.
Herätys are a case of worship or hate. Their absolutely direct way of delivering their kerosene-infused material leaves no room for misinterpretation; this is raw and naked punk, inherited as is from the d-beat kings Discharge and taken several steps further, with the razor-sharp lyrics being the topping. If raw feeling and unleashed hardcore sound is your game then you'll definitely feel at home. And the best thing you can do is check out and then hunt down their short (only 35 minutes in total) but demolishing discography.

Oblivians - Desperation (2013)

Eric Friedl, Greg Cartwright and Jack Yarber had called it quits 16 years ago to go into other projects (personal or not); including South Filthy, Jack Oblivian & the Cigarillos, Knaughty Knights, Tennessee Tearjerkers, Greg Oblivian & the Tip-Tops, Reigning Sound and Bad Times, among others. Scepticism is something given here, as in every case of a "lengendary" get-together after such a long time. And this happens because, in many cases, the only motive is none other than to recreate past glories and cash on them today as much as possible. Thankfully, this is not the case here. Apart from the occasional reunion shows the last years, Oblivians are back with a new record bearing the old familiar feeling, yet with a slightly new approach. The "dirt" has been somewhat tuned down (as opposed to epics like Soul Food and Popular Favorites, that is) but the Oblivians edge is still definitely present, now in a more mature and substantial form. Enjoyable foot-tapping garage rock drenched in bluesy and country humidity is what you get; and make no mistake about it. We're already almost in the middle of the year, so it's not too soon to talk about a possible best rock n'roll record of 2013. So be sure to check Desperation out sometime soon and, while you're at it, kill a punk for rock n'roll.

HOAX

I'm a faggot, you told me so.
I'm a faggot, you let me know.
And when I die, you'll know why.

Yes, I'm nothing. I'm dirt. I'm one with the bottom. But you are too. Our only difference is you fail to realize it. And your blind intolerance, your mindless fundamentalism, your political correctness do a shit job at replacing that realization.

Hoax emerged three years ago in Western Massachusetts and do they look destined for great things! After a demo tape in 2010, they have released three self-titled 7" vinyl EPs, all of which are compiled in one single 12" LP (s/t as well) which was just released. It's just amazing how a new band moving in the same old "hardcore punk" genre can give freshness and new edge to the sound. Hoax carry a heavy-as-fuck dirt in their sound while they have achieved a huge notoriety about their violently energetic live shows, where a mad microphone-bearing bald man keeps hitting his head with it until it bleeds while he grabs every chance of bringing it on with the audience. Definitely a fresh touch to the scene, seeing them live somehow is the next thing I want to do.