Reviews

In My Heart Empire

Accidente Caníbal LP

Tight, melodic, high-energy release from Madrid, Spain, with vocals reminiscent of Agent M from the early TSUNAMI BOMB 7″ singles that were released by Checkmate Records in the late ’90s. That label was run by Hunter Burgan who plays bass for AFI, and we can argue if his band sold out well before the Black Sails in the Sunset album, but the tight guitar/bass interplay with thunderous drumming reminds me of those early albums. Recorded in Madrid, the album was mastered by Mass Giorgini (COMMON RIDER, SQUIRTGUN) at his Sonic Iguana Studios in Lafayette, Indiana…so maybe that’s where all this ’90s/’00s stuff is coming from. Translating the lyrics from Spanish, the songs take a strong rebellious stance, putting the common in the center and fighting back the corporate cannibals. I have a feeling this is the kind of band that will pack out the infamous Wurlitzer Ballroom in Madrid to sweaty spastic crowds after the pandemic is over.

Carry Out Time to Learn, Time to Die… Your Life is Gone Now!!! LP

It took a bit of digging to find out much about this one. From what I gather, CARRY OUT was prominent in the ’90s Barcelona hardcore scene, releasing two demos that are collected here along with a slew of previously unreleased material encompassing 32 tracks in total. CARRY OUT was very much a product of the time in which they existed, which is to say that they have a distinctive ’90s sound and delivery. They stab out in many directions, but the core of their identity is anchored in fast, somewhat crusty, dual-vocal hardcore punk. They don’t shy away from their influences, which are underlined by some of covers that show up by LOS CRUDOS, HIATUS, and NEGATIVE APPROACH. While those bands have stood the test of time, the same can’t really be said about CARRY OUT—I mean that as less of a jab than it may read. This record sent me on a nostalgia trip thinking of all the similar bands from when I was putting glue in my hair and stealing 40s from the grocery store as a misguided ’90s teenager. I just don’t see this resonating too far beyond the crowd that could’ve caught it the first time around.

Doctrina Alimentar Su Final LP

Mid-tempo punk out of Seville, Spain that tensely keeps the right amount of lyrical and musical attitude through the eight quick tracks. This could have been something the JAM recorded in the short time between their first two albums, if only Paul Weller sang in Spanish.

Peripetija Zar Nisi Besan LP

Fairly standard politically-minded straightedge hardcore from Serbia’s PERIPETIJA. Everything here is done well enough, and there’s a clear penchant for Boston HC in particular, as evidenced by the NO TOLERANCE cover. From what I understand, this is four tracks from a demo, six new ones, and that cover. Not bad, but not particularly life-changing.