Notes From A Smooth Talker #1

We’re stoked to introduce, Notes From A Smooth Talker, a brand new review series for proper albums - the pendant of Short But Sweet, Polite And Respectful. Each episode will feature two write-ups, starting right now with the latest albums of emoviolence quartet kishote and Stockholm's Trachimbrod.

Kishote consits of Rancho on guitar, Phil on drums, Flo on bass and Holger doing the vocals. After two years the four-headed emoviolence outfit from Bielefeld are back with a brand new album, following the band’s furious debut full-length, 'bis deine hülle bricht'. With ZUKUNFTSSCHLEIER the ten song collection starts with a banger, setting pace and characteristic of the rest of 'kaleidoskop'. The opening track starts with an absorbing build-up, which gathers intensity after 45 seconds, as a massive guitar wall takes lead, getting ahead of bass and drums. Another 45 seconds later and the raging vocals of Holger finally burst through the wall, adding a further element of chaos and violence to the composition. Each of the following songs keeps up with the tone of the overture, showcasing typical facets of the genre like the rolling baseline during DAS TRUMA, DAS ERBE or pounding blastbeats, which almost draw through the whole album. After fifteen minutes it is AM ENDE NIE GERECHT, closing the record in the most perfect way as it makes for another blistering highlight.

"WARTEN DASS ES FÄLLT. UND DOCH NUR IMMER STOLPERN UND GERADE SO NOCH DIE HÄNDE NACH VORNE BEVOR DU DIR DEIN KNIE AUFSCHLÄGST. ES WAR SCHON DUNKEL. DOCH DIESMAL FÜHLT ES SICH DUNKLER AN. UND ES WAR AUCH SCHON SCHLECHT UND DIESE WELT AUCH NUR ANSATZWEISE GERECHT."

Leda marks the second release on full-length distance of Stockholm based emo / screamo hybrid Trachimbrod. The Swedes recorded a post-rock infused album, whose great potential already could have been foreseen after the premiere of Allt är som det alltid var - a song, shining because of its beautiful simplicity, shaped by constantly recurring melodies and dual vocals. Regardless of some screamed parts on the vocals side of the song, the listener gets spoiled by its ease, as if the created soundscape swallows every little distraction. The song, which could be considered as the centerpiece of Leda, is embraced by a phalanx of strong songs, including the incredible written opener Rum Utan Fönster, Medskyldighet and Vi Två, which appear to be the heaviest songs within the nine-song collection. After 32 minutes of playtime it feels quite easy to switch sides, starting all over, once again diving into one of the most brilliant releases of the current year.