Fluff16 Interview Series Pt. I

Here we go. Fluff Fest 2016 is over and everybody went back to everyday life. To fight your post-fluff blues we have a little something for you. During the three days of the festival we interviewed 24 folks, including attendees, musicians and other creative minds. Today we’d like to present you the first eight of our this year’s Fluff interview series, riddled with great projects resp. bands like Dawn Ray'd, Potence, ØJNE, Femtrail, Miss The Stars Fest, Nous Étions, Tempeh Family & Shirokuma.

Masada - Masada

Masada are located in Erlangen and for me they are probably one of the three best screamo bands in Germany right now. This estimation is based on their first six demo songs, available since almost two years now. Every time I had the pleasure to see them at one of their shows, I hoped to snatch a seven inch or at least a cassette of their demo, but there was none. Since they have never released a physical copy of their demo, I and everyone else had to make do with the digital version of the songs. Each of those songs is great; though I have to emphasize how much I love indifference and defeat. Both songs are utterly beautiful, two flawless screamo hymns, making my flesh creep every single time I hear them. The latter of those songs also appears on Masada recently published selftitled album, which will be released via I.Corrupt.Records, Ruined Smile Records, Don’t Care Records, Dingleberry Records, Rubaiyat Records and Upwind Productions. Self-evidently I preordered the LP, instantly gave it a listen and yeah, what should I say?

„There will be a point I won’t go beyond and I will be scared but with time I’ll be gone. Structure quite hollow now filled with echo. Guess it’s size as if I knew“

This record turned out to be perfect. And in this particular case perfect is not just a phrase. I really mean it because for me listening to this album is pure joy. The four boys from my neighborhood accomplished to transport the charm of their demo to their first full-length, taking their sound to a whole new level, as every song seems extremely well thought-out. The emotiveness is endorsed on the listener, who is carried away by furious drumming and roaring guitar walls. Both on point, combined with vibrant screaming and Julian’s clean vocals. To highlight his charming voice, the band’s instruments perfectly slow down, creating melodious parts with catchy riffs - perfectly shown in uneindeutigkeiten, fragments or the closing repeat.

„What has been done to justify these fragments I am throwing up. I’ll try to run, I’ll try to hide but it seems that I am out of luck. It grows and grows and multiplies.“

With nach aukha the band from Erlangen came off with another gem. Melodious and driving as ever, Masada perfectly combines post-hardcore, neo-crust and screamo during this one without making use of clean vox. There’s absolutely no doubt, that ten of those eleven songs are on top of the screamo game.

Only t-s, which was written by the band’s friend Aukha, steps out of line, as it’s a Trent Reznoresque electronic interlude in the vein of Ghosts by NIN or Reznor’s other project, How To Destroy Angels. It’s definitely not the type of song you expect in the middle of a punk record, but I don’t want to rant, as the song is well made and provides an element of surprise.

„And my questions were answered before they arose and no matter what medium and how subtle the dose this ground has a meaning. Expectations are held and those not responding are quickly expelled.“

Lukas, Clemens, Hanni and Julian did an incredible job, as listening to their debut full-length feels like a unique listening experience, full of heartfelt emotions and pure joy. We don’t do ratings but this record is a 10 / 10.

Short But Sweet, Polite And Respectful #33

Actually, this Extended Play was already released back in 2005, the year of the band’s breakup, just two years upon their formation. After their reunion at Miss The Stars Festival in Berlin several weeks ago, the band from Stockholm put it on bandcamp. Reason enough for us to talk it over. Getting better with every song, the EP reaches its highlight within the closing song called Embrace. It’s epochal, full of passion and features premium vocals, with Ina carrying her heart on her sleeve. The EP is a sleeping colossus, as it’s probably never got as much attention as it deserved. It should be noticed as a European screamo classic and I hope their reunion is just the first step in a process to reach this recognition. There might be some upcoming content, which involves this great band. Keep your eyes peeled.

‘I think it's time we blow this scene, get everybody and the stuff together... Okay, three, two, one, let's jam!’ For this collaboration, two of the most exciting European screamo bands teamed up. Released by the usual labels, the split unfortunately just includes two songs in total but what you can hear is incredibly good. For me, it didn’t take long to fall in love with the new gem of the Ukrainian band, which opens the split in a furious way. Right away from the start you are taken in by their terrific guitar-work, while the song steadily builds up to its climax. The song by the Swedes absolutely doesn’t lag behind and sums up for an absolute quality record. A++

“Я потерял тебя В странную летнюю ночь Которая перетекла в пасмурное утро Сейчас ты далеко В твоих глазах отражаются улицы Парижа.”

Let’s continue SBS #33 with another split. Recommended by Mathcore Index, the Ontarian liaison between Terry Green and Huge Cosmic contains two tracks each band. While Huge Cosmic’s style could be described as a blend of indie-shoegaze and MLIW inspired post-hardcore, Terry Green from Mississauga are playing excellently mathy screamo. The sound created by Adrian, Matt, Louis and Adam is full of energy and could be a perfect fit for your summer soundtrack – not least because of the strong amount of melodious parts. The split is available on cassette via Canadian based label, Zegema Beach Records.

“I’m ripping off my skin, the skin that I don’t fit in. Just for you to see and show just were I’ve been. Seeing you is always torture. It's something I admit but what I won’t admit Is I’m sorry.”

Kepler are an amazing new emo punk outfit from Mühlheim, Germany, and their selftitled demo is really well made. They are playing an exciting mixture somewhere between emo, screamo and post-hardcore. Since, three of the four songs contain strong hit potential, I kinda loved the EP from the first listen on. The songs are catchy and full of diverse sound structures. No matter if screamed or clean, the vocals are almost always on point and perfectly harmonize with the instrumental background. Kepler is Andy, Leon, Micha and Tomekk and I can’t wait to hear more of them.

"...we are friends / we are lovers / we are indefinable / we are clammy firework / ready to surprise / we are selfish / we are selfless / we are nothing in between / we are beautiful mess / and this is what it means to be invisible to the rest of the world."

Short But Sweet, Polite And Respectful #32

Vivre Sa Vie is a Swedish emoviolence outfit, consisting of Wiljami, Johan, Tobias and Jacob. Their approach of punk music is passionate and very personal, transporting a strong and sincere message about ‘living and coming out as a transgender person…’ and their ‘personal angst that comes from not living by norms.’ The fourpiece from Stockholm absolutely convinces with heartfelt lyrics and their intense compositions. Time will tell if they could become something like a screamo version of Against Me. However, and this might be the most important thing, their music is going to help gender-non-conforming people within the punk community through their struggles in everyday life.

“I've got nothing left from the war. I stand infront of the mirror. She stares me right in the eyes. War against yourself. A battlefield. On your torso. Gunmen down your neck.”

A few months back we introduced you Drei Affen from Torrelavega, Spain. Following their demo, the emoviolence threepiece recently released their debut EP. This highly recommendable release contains six energetic tracks and other than Elsa and Eloy’s other project OsoLuna, the band pursues a more chaotic and skramzier approach for those tracks. Compared to the demo, you now get a well-produced Extended Play with decent sound quality and beautiful cover artwork. After its digital release, the selftitled EP will also be available on tape via Middleman Records as well as on vinyl. Limited to 500 copies the 12 inch record will be published by a potpourri of fantastic labels, indluding Dingleberry Records, Krimskramz, Pure Hearth Records, Rubaiyat Records and Zegema Beach.

“Intento atravesar los muros con la rabia de un tornado, por los que sufren sin voz grito, lloro, sufro, amo.”

One song each band, this is one of those splits which will hardly find its way on my turntable. I feel like, it is way too tedious to turn the record over and over again, though it’s nice to have it on my record shelf. The song contributed by Stockholm’s Det är därför vi bygger städer contains a strong amount of clean vocals, switching from mellow to angry - where the song hits its climax - and the other way around. An Apology by Coma Regalia, which can be found on the other side of the split, also includes clean vocals and convinces with a nice melody. Grab the record from Middle Man Records, Ödebygd Records, Through Love Records, Miss The Stars Records, Friendly Otter, Zegema Beach Records, Time As A Colour or Samegrey Records.

Let's end this episode with an appropriate release: High-pitched vocals, roaring guitars and a fair doze of chaos - Икар from Minsk, Belarus created a six song collection, which easily could be termed as close to perfection. Combining all makings of a fantastic screamo record, the EP starts with the furious Рождение трагедий (The birth of tragedy). An eclectic, well composed song, full of finesse and one of the most brilliant song endings I’ve heard in a while. Definitely a must listen for everyone who’s into screamo music.

“Как опадает сухая листва, устилаясь холмами повсюду, так опадем когда-то и мы, наблюдая за смертью друг друга.”