Attempting to recreate the moods of early 80s goth/new wave/dark post punk is a bold move, and hoping to nail the sound as perfectly as THE BELLICOSE MINDS would be nothing short of foolish..unless of course you happen to be THE BELLICOSE MINDS. This 5 song demo was recorded last year and they so seamlessly bridge the gap between my youth and the resurgence of seemingly everything that existed culturally in the time of my youth that I find myself with no words to describe the demo. The bass sounds like early CURE, but without the flanger, the guitar is layered perfectly and simultaneously reminds me of the 80s and modern bands trying to ape the 80s (which, honestly, is exactly what these folks are), but the vocals have a lost mournful yearning that takes everything over the top. But what makes this, is that somehow you can tell that they are
punk. I'm not sure how I can tell (perhaps the fact that I bought this at a punk show is a significant contributing factor - but the ripping 1:25 "Hammer of Ice" certainly drives it home), but it gives these songs something more than just a bunch of folks with a goth obsession and some keyboards can manufacture....I know that there are only going to be more bands cropping up like this, but let me assure you that THE BELLICOSE MINDS are head and shoulders above the minions.
The start of the first track "Oppression Depression" is cut off...that's how my tape came, so that's how you hear it (see, I told you they were punks). Also, check out the lyrics to "Bloody Hands," fucking vicious. This rules.
13 comments:
This is cool and all, I love the bellicose minds more than anything... But I figured that as soon as they would start getting reviewed this is exactly what would happen: the reviewers' biggest focus would be whether they are punk affiliated or not. I love bellicose minds for exactly what they are, but I feel like so many "punks" who like them would feel differently about them if they were playing shows with a different crowd. This review is overall a good one, and the band obviously deserve all the praise in the world... but who cares what they qualify as ??
To be fair, I think that my biggest focus was simply on this demo being awesome. I have no clue if the members themselves are punk, and could care less how they identify, my assertion was that their approach to the music they are playing seems to have some of the angst and fury that makes me love punk while they are playing a style that frequently comes off rather lazy (especially in the context of newer bands trying to emulate great early goth bands). And all this is indeed what makes BELLICOSE MINDS "exactly what they are" as you mentioned, and that is precisely why I love this demo as well, regardless of how the band qualifies themselves or what "scene" they may or may not exist in.
Thanks for the comment nonetheless...
i know them, they are punk as FUCK
Even better!
(but the demo rules either way)
Good to hear your response "The Wizard". Please know I wasn't criticizing your review. Great stuff here.
Listening to the tape right now........ Killer and REALLY damn impressive.
Not many new bands can carry off this sound without being complete clones and wearing their influences on their sleeves.
lo fi drum machine. all the same beatz? how do you dance to the new wave when the style is all dark and moody? like the bloody anti-church lyrics
Hi I have a request for you do you have anything by Moral Hex?
hey -- thanks for posting this -- my copy of this tape just got eaten by my tape player!
You've gotta see this...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ip73wuL34Fc
it's so good.
Would it be possible to post the lyrics to these songs? or maybe scan the lyrics sheet and post it somewhere here?
This link is dead, sadly.
re-upped
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