Short But Sweet, Polite And Respectful #42

United Nations (band) release anti-Trump song, Emoviolence outfit René Descartes called it quits - giving us their three final songs, Singapore based Sifulan can do no wrong and Hundreds of AU from Albany publish fantastic demo tape on Middle-Man Records - four releases, perfectly suitable for part #42 of our review series.

With a brand new song and Thursday’s Geoff Rickly passing the microphone on to a new, yet anonymous vocalist, it’s Brooklyn-based emoviolence outfit, United Nations, reporting back after more than two years of silence. Stairway To Mar-a-Lago follows the band’s Long Player, The Next Four Years, published in 2014 and can be understood as a protest song against Trump’s inauguration a few days ago. The top-notch screamo song, which contains lyrics like „It blows my mind how these Nazis took the stage and pandered to your deepest fears“ or „You all laughed until it fucking happened“ is available as a name-your-price download on bandcamp, whereat all proceeds will be donated to American Civil Liberties Union and Planned Parenthood. Fun fact: Due to several rumors the new singer of United Nations is Daryl Palumbo, vocalist of Glassjaw.

"It blows my mind how these Nazis took the stage and pandered to your deepest fears. Dead and cold, the gripper must be rolling in his grave. Some hoped for light, most chose gold. Lambs to the slaughter dragged by the fringe. You all laughed until it fucking happened. Never again, again and again. Never again is happening again. Persona Non Grata.“

Founded back in 2013 Singapore-based screamo highlight, SiFulan, is still one of the most exciting bands South-East-Asian hardcore has to offer and on Desolate they’re firing off six brand new songs plus Darjat, a well-known track, which was already released one year ago. Again, the foursome - consisting of Shahrin, Sha’ari, Hazwan and Fashhan - can impress with their incredible songwriting, as they draw influence from bands like Refused, Comadre or 1000 Travels Of Jawaharlal, yet following an independent and unique style, whose principal focus lies on heart-felt vocals, carried by ingenious melodies.

After only one demo, short-time queer punk project, René Descartes, called it quits and with one last dying breath, they give us their three final songs, which, of course, are characterized by their typical high pitched vocals. Previously hailing from San Francisco, the emoviolence quartet around the Sgarbossa siblings doesn't release lyrics publicly as of now, but according to the band, the lyrics of the songs are dealing with “gender dysphoria, past trauma that affects your current life and adjusting to life/recognizing that the systems established that you’ve been told serve to benefit society actually don’t“. Make sure to check out Connie Sgarbossa’s label, Structures//Agony Records and Zegema Beach Records for more information about the physical release of René Descartes’ selftitled EP as well as their follow-up project, SeeYouSpaceCowboy.

Albany’s screamo outfit, Hundreds of AU consists of three friends - Terry on bass, Zach on drums and screamo routinier, Tom Schlatter of What of Us - who also used to play in bands like You and I, This Ship Will Sink, Capacities or The Assistant - on guitar. Few days before their Rochester show they give us the first taste of their tremendous sound, flawlessly changing back and forth between atmospheric passages and chaotic violence like in the mighty ’Past Due’. Recorded live by Will Killingsworth (i.a. Ampere, Orchid) at Dead Air Studios, the six-song collection is already a strong contender for all kind of end-of-the-year-lists, as every note seems to be right on point.

"The option to just sit back and witness how this plays out with apathetic constructs that stop before you can start to oppose. We don't all have the luxury to sleep this one out.“