Ending 2017 with Massa Nera

Last post of the year, so some pretty cool stuff came around this year. Plenty of fresh new bands in this dying DIY scene and plenty of trash to add on tie side. I've been pretty tired from work and my days off are the days I hang with my GF so I haven't really sat down or even bothered to buy records and shit. So I am back with Massa Nera. What can I say?

This band is from New Jersey that I discovered last year. The band put out a 3 song EP (Which seems more of a compilation than a debut EP since 3 songs were from compilations) called Will it be enough for you to keep going? I really liked this release. There is a second EP in spanish called No estamos separados which refers to "We are not separated" It is another EP which both were released by the now defunct label Parking lot records. Both EP's released last year offer what Massa Nera is all about. This year though the band released a debut vinyl under Middle man records and other lables like my boy David's Zegema beach records. After hearing the LP (About a week ago) I kinda digged it although I felt there was too much post rock guitar ambiance going on which reminded me a little of Thisismenothinkingaboutyou. Other than that it was a excellent release. Massa Nera can't be exactly described as "they sound like..." besides the post rock elements I heard on the LP. This is a band I like to see more for 2018. The record comes with a cool "classic" insert. I am a bit confused with the artwork of the cover but I guess I have to imagine to myself what it is. Nonetheless it is cool to see my peoples do some spanish thrown in screamo out there. To see 5 labels back up this release you know its serious shit and a record to look forward to. If you haven't heard of this band right now its a good time to pick up this LP. Middle man records is selling it for 5.00 right now (as of this posts date) it is worthy of adding to this years collection.
Bandcamp
Will it be enough for you to keep going? EP

No estamos separados EP (Both tape versions)

Los pensamientos de una cara palida

The longer we stray from the light

3rd short review, I found this band specifically interesting because not only Shawn (Coma regalia/Ache Emelie/Middle man records) is in this but also AJ from Adobe homes is in this. Really fucking rad. So this band released their debut self titled tape on MMR (Another favorite release from that label this year) This sounds like what you would imagine. Coma meets Adobe. It is simply pure fucking genius. Shame not many spoke about this release or from what i saw from other peoples aoty list (Or the fact Sophie's floorboard missed out on this beauty) I am just really glad I had got a tour version of this cassette and a shirt under my favorite color that is a dark red/maroon. This is the 3rd tape i would recommend to add to your storenvy list out on MMR. Again, the quality is beautiful like usual and it is just one to have on your collection.

S/T

Ghost Spirit

I've been away for a while due to finals and my job giving me a hassle. I honestly been just really busy overall with life but now that I am back I want to talk about a new band that hit this year with a debut release. Ghost spirit is a band that sounds familiar to The new yorker and Lord snow. Now that i mentioned those 2 it really sounds identical to both. Ghost spirit (A band that is from my area) released a 7 track self titled on 12" and Cassette. It is another cassette made by Middle man records (2nd release from that label that made it to my top) Ghost spirit does not shy out to what it does. If you like screamo in general Ghost spirit is just simply fucking good. Since I have bought a few cassettes from MMR in the past I can say that the quality is excellent and worth your money to invest. MMR has put my faith back in good quality and good price cassettes. It is surely one you want on your collection. I am too fucking lazy for mediafire shit for Terry Green although the bandcamp offers it for free. GS doesn't and while I do have the mp3s to this tape i will simply just put them up here, please do support the band and labels though.

Ghost spirit

Terry Green

Upon running into this band thanks to MMR for giving people the heads up of releasing a EP of theirs I was able to discover this band. After pre ordering the bands tape simply known as "LP" (Kinda odd) I just easily fell in love with this bands style. I wouldn't say it has its own signature. It sounds something straight from a mid 00's screamo/mathy-ish myspace era. Terry Green proved to me that they are also top contenders for 2017 with this Cassette. Middle man records still has copies of those so get down there and buy some. I believe Zegema beach records has the vinyl format. The band also has a debut EP and a split on their bandcamp. While the band has been around since 2014 it looks like they remained silent for about a whole year until this came out in August of this year. If you do not recognize this band it is sure as hell not one to miss out on. Cassette sounds nice overall, it has some great sound quality worth picking up from Middle man records.

LP

Celebration

This release practically sneaked up on everyone, I spoke about Celebration sometime on here with their debut EP tape called Sompting and when they released a split 7" with Under a sky so blue under my favorite dead label. Shook is a EP that was recorded live that sounds a little loud and rough but a slower pace of an early Capsule. II think overall it sounds fantastic. The only downside is the love this release isn't getting due to it being randomly released with little to no advertisement. So here i am bringing this release up. You can download it on their. Here is another release of this year. bandcamp.

Underoath- The changing of times

I wanted to take another quick pause from reviews, I have about 3 more reviews which will be the final 3 posts of this year. I have been going to fingerprints and I was able to get about 5 CD's from there the past 2 weeks... And... This is one of the 5 (I will get to the other 4 next year) Yeah it is Underoath but I honestly like this album the most. It is in fact the only one I can dig from this band. Vocally strong and instrumentally pretty decent. While the band fell into a huge disappointment after this album and ended up sounding really poppy with the other vocalist once Dallas left (Say what you want but we know Underoath now isn't the original Underoath from back then) The changing of times is truly the signature style of what I knew Underoath was all about. I can't throw much out there but I do really dig most songs from this album. I find the liking of this band odd because while this is their 3rd album it is the only I like. I couldn't get into the first 2. Normally I either prefer early or later releases rather than in the middle. I did a fine 320 kbps mp3 rip of the CD for anyone that checks this blog.

The changing of times