Considering the dark aura of these formidable D-beats, BRITNEY FEARS was an interesting choice of name for this great Greek hardcore group. These ten sharp songs are manic and macabre, with echoed vocals ringing out over melodic raw riffs and hard, machine-like drums. It’s a tough sound with a haunting feel and an overall unique presence, perfect for scantily-clad dancing with knives in your hands on Instagram.
Damn, that’s a fast recording. Six minutes, barely a cig break. The big “X” stuck between the two words making out the name of the band gives a relevant indication as to what this Greek band is all about: (very) fast, abrasive hardcore. We’re not far from classic powerviolence country here with those heavy moshable breaks and a couple of blastbeats. I don’t listen to this style much, to be honest, but I can always enjoy it when it is done proper, and that’s definitely the case here. The female vocals sound really angry and the production is just right, not too heavy but still hitting hard the punk way. The lyrics are in Greek—that’s a strong plus—but the tape’s title is in English for some reason. How to Be Normal is apparently DEEP X CUT’s third EP, and the band is connected to a collective based in a squat in Ioannina, so you know where they stand politically. This would undoubtedly appeal a lot to fans of the genre.
If you like furious, absolute rage-fueled hardcore, then you’ve got to check out NEYPA from Greece. Even the instrumental opener of their self-titled cassette sounds pissed-off. This three-piece tears through eight songs with the virtuosity of warriors and an impossibly dense delivery. Warp-speed guitars, intriguing breakdowns, and intense vocals make NEYPA a true hardcore unit. The song “ΦΩΤΙΑ ΣΤΑ ΣΑΛΟΝΙΑ ΣΑΣ” goes crazy and has a cool doom-inspired riff in the middle—seriously, just go check NEYPA out.
