Boasting such an impressive portfolio of artists, there is no real surprise in the notion that the much-loved Thirty Days of Night Records have taken ahold of something truly special with their latest release – a split EP with hardcore heavyweights LAVOTCHKIN and END TO EMPIRES. Flying the flag for British hardcore with unparalleled vigour and striking intensity, both groups combined have converged forces, and by doing so, have created an excessively brutal force; a pinnacle and defining sound of violent, metal-twinged hardcore aggression.
‘Kill This Epidemic’ stands End To Empires in a tremendous position to prove themselves and they do so recklessly, frantically and addictively. Their heavy, metallic sound is intimidating and turbulent, with agitated vocals dominating the mix. ‘Heaven’s Vultures’ is similarly dynamic, showing indisputable signs of rabid future potential from the northern five-piece.
World hating, people-loathing upstarts Lavotchkin are equally as frenzied – terrorizing riffs and cynical lyricism combine to mould a sense of ferocity only matched by merciless, callous forces such as Converge. ‘Ben Garnders Head’ is fast and furious and draws parallels with the much-missed and continually adored British titans Throats while ‘Arkady’ sets off with a much slower pace, proving angrily their fluidity and strength.
Clocking in at just under twelve minutes, quality distinctively overrides quantity here and it’s clear that this split EP is just a taster of beyond-promising material set to come from these two in 2011. Get ready.
OLIVIA JAREMI