Recommended by us on 28th October 2011
...according to our Mike on Fri 28 Oct, 2011.
Eeeaaaaaargh! This seven is a split release between Holy Roar and Thirty Days Of Night, and sounds exactly like something you would imagine both those labels to go nuts over. It's the debut release of Wales's Crossbreaker. These youngsters have constructed a fine four-song EP of bleak and furious rock with elements of hardcore and metal and most importantly a well-stocked fridge full of fresh riffs. Stylistically the influences are all over the place, from East coast beatdown hardcore to European post-metal and screamo and even stoner rock. They bluster through these four songs at pace but it's never just a blast of noise, they're pretty groovy cuts too in their own forceful way, with bouncy drums and understated bass underpinning the distorted guitar attack and full-throated vocals. I look forward to hearing something longer from this band in the future, and hopefully catching them live.
Following on from two, self released cassette/digital download demos, UK 5 piece CROSSBREAKER can now finally announce the release of their outstanding debut EP, ‘Lows’, on October 10th through Holy Roar & Thirty Days Of Night Records. 'Lows' is the bands first "proper" release, a brilliant, loud and forward thinking, hardcore 4 track (a limited 7" single/Digital EP), that was recorded at Lightship95 studio in London with Ben Phillips (Rolo Tomassi, Throats, Holy State, November Coming Fire). The tracks build and explode, pummel and groove, stomp fiercely and take their time, fusing hardcore with stoner, metal, grunge, even moments of (whisper it) progression. CROSSBREAKER, who have been a July 2011 NME Magazine Radar band (as picked by Lee Spielman from Trash Talk), have recorded something very special in ‘Lows’, a step forward into the future of UK HC.
Formed in the early part of summer 2009, CROSSBREAKER’s first ever, ever, ever show was in August 2009 supporting Trash Talk. At the show, the band had prepared a self-recorded demo cassette to sell (and then self-release) that quickly caught people's attention. In true DIY style, as vocalist Joshua Smith explains; ‘We spent a day before the show, recording the tracks onto the cassette’s ourselves with our bassist, Lee’s, tape deck’. It especially seemed to catch the eye of the soon to be former Gallows front man, Frank Carter, who then personally asked the band to open up the Newport date of the Gallows/Trash Talk/Sharks tour a month later.
The band then released a split single 7" on Thirty Days of Night Records in the fall 2010, and headed off to slay the UK with TWO headline, self funded UK tours. In amongst all of that, the band also played and toured with the likes of Gallows, Trash Talk, Rolo Tomassi, EYEHATEGOD, Torche, November Coming Fire and Dead Swans. They have also played this years sold-out Ghostfest at Leeds University and will be heading to Hevy festival and then Meythr Rock Festival this summer. As Joshua continues to explain, plans are beginning to fall into place for the band; “We’ve never limited ourselves to the type of shows we play like so many bands of similar styling do. We’ve had a busy few months working on Lows and we’re keen to get the record out. With Hevy Festival, and a few other festival slots, along with tours in the works for the rest of 2011, we want to keep touring, playing, writing and doing what we enjoy.”
Be the first to review this record. Best reviewer each month gets £10 off their next order!