Review: Paint Over Pictures- Like Hell EP (2012)

Band: Paint Over Pictures

Release: Like Hell EP

Genre: Southern Hardcore

Label: None

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PaintOverPictures

Tracklist:

1. Swell

2. Birth, Grief, and Ashes

3. Like Hell

4. Tough Guy

5. The Frailty Of Everything

Review: 10/10

I’m so blown away at the new EP by Paint Over Pictures entitled Like Hell. It’s like they took southern hardcore a’la Every Time I Die and infused just the slightest bit of grunge to create a powerhouse release. This is how legends start out in the music industry today.

Quite comparable to Every Time I Die’s first EP The Burial Plot Bidding War in terms of song writing and progression, “Swell” also shows Bryan and his uniquely gruff clean singing style that is a refreshing CPR breath into a genre that is slowly becoming overpopulated. It’s a brutal and heavy song that is the shining example of the old saying “less is more.” Most bands try to be super technical to give that wow factor that grows stale over time, but Paint Over Pictures has that instantly catchy melody that can really stick to the listener over time.

Another fun fact of most bands that deem themselves southern hardcore really don’t know the meaning of that word. “Like Hell” has that perfect amount of heavy twang throughout the song that provides an excellent beer drinking, shit kicking song that should be in every country bar today. The initial notes that are played really draws the listener’s attention and Bryan’s vocals make you stay. Although they are not related by genre, Sacramento has had a recent downfall in bands that make excellent shit kicking music like Elysia that has (in my opinion) really brought down the overall music scene as they give way to copy and paste pussy post-hardcore bands, so when these guys roll through, better brace yourselves.

Going for a more straight hardcore feel like Havenside, “Tough Guy” is self explanatory. Give these EP a listen and download it FOR FUCKING FREE HERE!!! Labels, you need to open your eyes and take note on these guys.

Review: Wolf Bronski- The Legend Of Wolf Bronski EP (2011)

Band: Wolf Bronski

Release: The Legend Of Wolf Bronski EP

Genre: Southern Hardcore

Members: Monty, Peter, Steven, Lee, Ricky

Label: Unsigned

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Wolf-Bronski/132247846840720

Tracklist:

1. The Legend Of Wolf Bronski

2. Goin' Down And Creeped Out!

3. Mind Over Matter (If She Doesn't Mind, Then He Doesn't Matter)

4. I Got This Number From A Bathroom Stall

5. Nihilist Fashionista

Review: 9.4/10

Wolf Bronski I heard about because I am a huge fan of The Antioch Synopsis, so when I heard the vocalist has a new project, naturally I jumped at the chance to review their new album. I thought it was another deathcore project, but I was wrong. This is brutal southern flavored hardcore that really brings the asskickery (yeah I made that up. Deal with it.)

“The Legend Of Wolf Bronski” starts off with twanging guitars that you know will bring forth mayhem. It isn’t really fast, more like really heavy and slow. Cowbell? Check. It’s unique to hear an established deathcore vocalist like Monte doing southern hardcore though. They pull it off quite nicely. The guitars aren’t too flashy, but that keeps the focus on the bass and vocals. Like I’ve pointed out in reviews before, I’m a sucker for actually hearing the bass.

“Mind Over Matter (If She Don’t Mind, Then He Don’t Matter)” is a badass track, though I must admit that the beginning starts off a little generically. But I suppose when you decide to go into southern hardcore, you will eventually play something that sounds familiar at one point or another. I know that this song in a live setting would be killer! It has the potential to move the floor in a good way.

I don’t want to give away too much of the EP, so I will stop here at 2 songs. It’s a solid, well put together EP and I hope to hear a full length soon. Maybe even see them live, even though I don’t live in Sacramento anymore.