Review Summary: Redwood's Comadre and Germany's Trainwreck dish up respective slices of punk and hardcore in the genre's split of the year.
Punk/screamo outfit Comadre have teamed up with crust punk/hardcore band from Germany, Trainwreck. Before I discuss the split itself, it must be noted how amazing the packaging on the release is. Both the CD and LP versions come as a gatefold, with a single disc/vinyl dedicated to each band. As a DIY release, this is an inspiring effort.
Comadre are considered to be one of the few bands keeping the U.S screamo scene alive at the moment, embracing the DIY attitude that the genre is built on as well as boasting an exhaustive tour schedule. They open the split with much of the same we've heard from them before; discordant guitars, sing-along gang vocals and passionate lyrics. Essentially fast, fun punk that doesn't take itself too seriously, but still maintaining a level of musical and lyrical intelligence. The third track, Teeth Versus Teeth, is instrumentally more relaxed than their other contributions. However, this just serves to make the aural assault that is 60 Grit more powerful. While not being a departure from their last release, the modern classic Burn Your Bones, they have matured and mix it up enough for their modified brand of punk/skramz to not become stale.
Trainwreck are a relatively little-known band from Europe, having released a few splits with local bands and a self-titled LP on prominent Euro label, React With Protest. After hearing the concluding half of this split, you'd be mad not to go out and track down their brief discography. Bared Teeth gives you a taste of what to expect from Trainwreck; epic, heavy hardcore the way it should be played. The three other featured tracks pick up the tempo a little but still maintain the epic qualities of the first track. This isn't hardcore as it is understood to be in the contemporary scene; Trainwreck forgo breakdowns and mosh-part sections for pure conviction. They deal with some heavy subject matter on their half, coping with the death of close relatives and criticism of capitalism among them. Although not new topics, you believe and care about everything the band have to say.
This release is set to be one of the better of the year and i recommend it to anyone even moderately interested in the punk/screamo/hardcore scene as it stands today. The CD version is availbale from Comadre's own Bloodtown Records and the LP from React With Protest. Get Hyphy.
