ninehertz

A round up of nine recent releases in bitesize review form...

First stop, Leeds... I think... it was recorded there at least. There's not much info to go on with Grim Harvest, but there's something stirring - I only heard of them about a month ago, they had one track out but there was a buzz, trusted references online informing all to keep our ears out for their full release, and then when it does appear, it's out on three labels - including long time ninehertz faves Middle Man Records from Indiana (as well as Right Foot Tapes and A Mountain Far). One listen to Demo 2025 and it is clear why, with its high energy combination of harsh metal sounds and hardcore vigour. At times it can go into the extreme fringes, a less scary but no less intense version of Leeched, and at the other end of their sonic spectrum its in post hardcore realms.

It's worth noting that it was recorded by James Atkinson too (fondly known round these parts for fronting Gentlemans Pistols), who was also at the helm for Trading Hands' I'm Going Out of My Mind, Does Anyone Want Anything?, presumably bringing his Voorhees hardcore pedigree to the studio proceedings. Another band from Leeds - the UK hardcore capital for decades now - Trading Hands are great live and have captured that here, a five track seven minute blast of grinding powerviolence that you just need to gorge on in one go. If pushed, the highlight would be the 48 seconds of Severance, but you know the grind score - take your medicine and consume the whole EP in one earful.

Staying in Yorkshire but to the South, Big Break offer an ode to their (and my) city of Sheffield on Exile on Exchange St (out on Wrong Speed Records) through spikey and excellent punk rock. The titular road name the site of their label and spiritual home Delicious Clam and the videos they have created for these songs showcase a host of locations the band hang - at the punk central Lughole, the nearby skate park and playing pool in Jabberwocky on London Road. This'll mean little to those from elsewhere but its a nice dedication to the vibrant punk underground of the city. The music is superb too, the pick of the bunch Wearing a Wire which is utterly infectious.

Moving North, right out into the Outer Hebrides, we find Holy Scum. Their first album was a collaboration between people of Manchester's Gnod and New York's Dâlek. This time around (on All We Have is Never) there are members of the vastly underrated Ghold joining Gnod on a pilgrimage to the Scottish isles, crafting swirling psychedelic jams studded by noise rock and folded in atmospherics borne from the isolation afforded by its location. From the first listen you feel like you can sense how it has impacted on its creation, making for a fascinating experience. It's out on Rocket Recordings on the 6th.

We remain in Scotland for the next one, but otherwise a world away musically, I was fond of a debut EP by Glaswegians Bullfinch that I came across called Louse, a four track old school sludge demo that may offer very little in terms of invention or new takes, but still has a satisfying New Orleans rumble that holds promise for the future.

Time to leave the northern climbs of the UK and spread our wings. baan are from Busan in South Korea and when I saw their self description of "doom/skramz" I was intrigued (although I would understand that terrifying others) enough to listen to their neumann album. For a little while it almost holds true - the first track Birdperson 새사람 is exciting, even if it is more the bright inclines of the latter than the down slopes of doom, but it does have a bulkiness within, all carried along on an effortless cool and happy vibe. The description might be a distraction, but it is an odd brew of styles, and for the most part it works, often in unusual ways, through post hardcore, Torche pop doom or lush post rock. It's hard not to be impressed, even when it lurches from one sound to another.

Mexico's Ad Chasma similarly bring a subtly novel approach on Desolación, all instrumental, seemingly heading into psychedelic worlds before putting their foot down to become hardcore, but so dark it is stained by the fringes of black metal. Between times, slowed down, these segments are bridged by post-metal infrastructure. It doesn't quite click as much as you are willing it on to, but it is still very good in places.

Heading back to Europe, and penultimately, to France, where we have commented a fair bit over the last year or two of how the best of stoner rock end of heavy psych seems to be generated there. Pelegrin can now be added to that evidence sheet, of a quality up there with the likes of Slift and Karkara. The band released Al-Mahruqa six years ago but the stoner stalwart label Ripple Music are providing a public service and giving it wider attention, which is good of them. It is certainly stoner based, never too clouded in the psychedelic haze yet still maintaining a magical edge, not unlike the masters of Elder.

And finally, in Dublin we rediscover Hubert Selby Jr Infants, and their album Bingo, out on both The Ghost is Clear Records and the ever trusty SuperFi Records, run by Kunal of this very band. This is a huge step up from the promise of their early releases, through the production and song-writing - this is cool and now confident post-hardcore, the vocal delivery working so well. It touches on noise rock and other areas besides, and marks them as a band to really start to follow in earnest (especially if rumours of a UK tour turn out to be true).