Reviews

This Charming Man

Hysterese Hysterese LP

Marking a decade since their first release, HYSTERESE hits us with their fourth self-titled album (an homage to ZEPPELIN by going self-titled and using the Hindenburg disaster photo on their second album? I just don’t know). But I digress; we’re here to talk about this 2021 release wherein Helen Runge takes us by force with the elegant power of her vocals. Of course they implement their signature use of rounds, which is what first struck me about this band—Runge’s floating melodies countered with screaming lines over a sort of glammed-up post-punk soundscape, best heard here on “Lock & Key.” Another fine piece of German engineering, and I hope they keep at it.

Kaptain Kaizen Für 3 Minuten 11 LP

On their third album Für 3 Minuten 11, Mannheim, Germany’s KAPTAIN KAIZEN rip through ten tracks of melodic punk rock with emo and indie influences, all played with a fired-up intensity that keeps the whole thing moving forward. The title tips its hat to the pop song attention span, and most of these tunes land right in that neighborhood. The musicianship and vocals are solid, though they mostly ride in the same lane the whole time. The songs feel fun, urgent, and sincere—sometimes like a less aggressive, later-period LA QUIETE. I don’t speak German, but the album’s Bandcamp page says they’re singing about political fakery, media spin, and colonial messes, which gives the whole thing some real weight under all that catchy energy.

UltraNothing UltraNothing 10″

Not quite sure how to categorize these guys (punk, post-punk, HC, all of the above maybe), but they rocked regardless. Great use of building tension; loved when they got more noise/chaos-oriented, too. “Animosity” was one of my favorite tracks as it was at a much faster tempo and more classically punk, but their other tracks were each strong in their own way. I loved how they transitioned between a cleaner post-punk sound to a much more distorted and crazier hardcore vibe as well.