Reviews

Keep It a Secret

Blank When Zero Stagna EP

BLANK WHEN ZERO’s Stagna EP is a blistering four-song burst from this long-running hardcore trio out of Bingen, Germany. These tracks may be short—most clock in around two minutes—but they pack a sound that’s weirdly massive. The singer’s voice hits with a theatrical clarity that brings to mind the question “what if Michael Kiske’s kid started a punk band?” and it mostly works. Picture the spirit of DRAGONFORCE filtered through a punk lens (with a tiny fraction of the production budget and none of the guitar showboating), rooted firmly in their progressive politics. My favorite track, “Momentaufnahme,” is pure cardio for the drummer. This EP really grew on me after repeated listens. Maybe for fans of HELLOWEEN and PROPAGANDHI.

Custody / Spells split 7″

Denver label Snappy Little Numbers brings you a split 7″ featuring a song apiece from Finnish band CUSTODY and the label owner’s band SPELLS. According to Discogs, the former band features members from NHL 95, CIGARETTE CROSSFIRE, and BAZED, while the latter pulls from MAIL ORDER CHILDREN, DUST HEART, and CHARLIE CONTINENTAL. I’ve never heard of any of those, but they all certainly sound like band names! Anyway, the CUSTODY side starts off promising enough—the first fifteen seconds sound like the band is gearing up to launch into a sick MAN OR ASTRO-MAN? rocker. Then the vocals kick in. Remember back in the mid-to-late ’90s when emo rock bands were trying to make it big by playing music that could slot in nicely next to VERTICAL HORIZON or LIFEHOUSE? No? Well, if you want to get a taste of what that sounded like, give this side a spin. SPELLS deliver on the promise of their name and start their side chanting out “C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-C-E” like the BAY CITY ROLLERS. They then launch into something that sounds an awful lot like early HOT WATER MUSIC trying their hand at posicore. I’m having trouble imagining who this 7″ would appeal to.

Spells Past Our Prime LP

Driving and pounding melodic hardcore, this has a lot going for it. I find male/female harmonies that are done well kind of irresistible. There’s plenty of that on this record. I wouldn’t say that there’s anything terribly unique or groundbreaking about this record, but it’s really well done and easy to listen to. And the title of the record is obviously worth a chuckle. Be serious about what you do, but don’t take yourself too seriously.