Did you know that South Asia has a vibrant and bubbling Hardcore scene? It seems the cauldron of punk/metal is boiling and overflowing there, and when the Wizard heard of this, he knew he must turn his eye in this direction. Pulling the cover off the old crystal ball, the Wizard scryed the scene and came away with two amazing bands worthy of your attention.
First up, Death by Fungi from Mumbai.
These guys offer four quick, pummeling, and yet melodic blasts on their new EP, Die in Bombay. The whole thing clocks in at under ten minutes, but it’s ten minutes you’ll never forget if you’re a fan of Hardcore. They’ve released three EP’s previously and one split with Indian Sludge band Shepherd. On this new one, with a new singer, they manage to take all their past influences and sounds and combine them into one merciless assault, a brutal brew that reflects current life on the streets of Bombay, where violence is always a threat and the class and religious divide only makes things worse. There’s some Coalesce in here, some Propagandhi, and a bit of Botch. If you’re a fan of any of these bands, you’ll find a nice, happy new home here. These guys really come out of the gate swinging, the d-beat mixing with some more melodic elements to combine into some fantastic, quick songs. In other words, this is really good.
This album will be released independently on August 5, 2019. Watch their Bandcamp page for more info and to buy any of their past releases.
Three Wands out of Five
Another band from Mumbai released a great record just a month ago that should not be overlooked. Pacifist has been around for a minute or two and are a bit more streamlined and polished than Death by Fungi. This is not a criticism or insult, for their sound incorporates more Post-Hardcore influences, so the breakdowns are a little longer and a tiny bit more melodic, making their rage sing out just a tiny bit harsher. They combine the alternative riffing of a band like Helmet and with the move and swagger of vintage Converge, giving this a slightly more metallic feel (slightly—don’t be confused because their hearts burn brightly in the Hardcore underground). It’s more like the same stew with slightly different spices. Again, four songs at less than fifteen minutes total, the band kick the door in, punch you in the face, knee your groin, and are gone before you can catch your breath. The vocals remind The Wizard a bit of Rage Against the Machine and the music is churning, grinding, spinning, nauseating fun. A song like “Pedigreed” with its poppier feel should be a big hit but probably won’t be, which is a shame. The Wizard would love to hear more songs like this Rock Radio. It would be nice to get some raw yet melodic thrashers out to more eager ears. Their sound is layered, a bit more considered, without ever losing the raw grind and edge that makes Hardcore great. Pacifist reflect the world they come from, a great city filled with great suffering. The Wizard liked this one slightly better than Death by Fungi, but only slightly. How you feel depends on your view of Hardcore—if you want something slightly rawer, DbF is your jam, but if you want a bit more nuance and melody, Pacifist will rock your tits off. In any case, both albums are fun and more than worth it.
Four Wands out of Five.
The Wizard has spoken!