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Interview: ZENCII

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  ZENCII is the musical alias of Abdul Clark based in based in  northeast Alabama. Clark produces his own experimental  rap/hip hop music and  accompanying  social media content.  Interview by Jesse Norris. Jesse Norris:  How long have you been making music? And how long  as  ZENCII if you have used any  previous  monikers? ZENCII:  Freestyling with the boys at middle school lunch tables  definitely started   it  but I realized I had something to say when I was about 17. I had 1000 other names and ideas for  projects  but when I landed on “ZENCII”, that word felt it would fit wherever my sound went. A name like “maya  bandsjalou ” felt like a box on the sound even though I might pull that one back out one day. I still think  it’s   dope . JN:  What are your main influences when you sit down to work on a new track? Your influences  don’t  have to just be musical artists. ZE...

Review: Bebop Mutiny - Demonstrations (EP)

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      I  don’t  have many bands to compare  Bebop   Mutiny  to. That could be my lack of knowledge in the genre or just the fact that  it’s  an extremely unique piece of art. The first thing that caught my attention on the project  was  the recording quality was  pretty good  for a home studio. The second was the vocals. I gotta be honest, I  didn’t  know  Jacob Ragan  had these vocals in him. I mean, if  you’re  reading this, odds are Jacob has drummed for your project at some point in time.  It’s   not quite that  new hardcore scream. They remind me more  of like  an 80’s hardcore scream, which is meant to be a compliment. The first song, “Death” is like something from  Brand New ’s Daisy which uses hardcore influence but transforms it into a new thing with it. This is going to seem crazy when you listen to the record, but I hear the  Green Day  i...

Review: Jonny & The Black Frames - Sin Eaters (LP)

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          Hells yes, they’re back! Hard-hitting punk rawk. Much praise was heaved in the direction of their previous outing, Revolver Junkies. And I was a one of the true-believers doing such. Gotta say, they’ve taken what they did before and launchified it to the next level. Which is crazy, cuz that’s what they did with the last album! Sin Eaters starts with the one-two punch of “Death By Industry” with its cool intro and their signature high energy surf-goth-cowboy PUNK ROCK followed by the uber-relatable sing-a-along “Friends Like These”.  As is often the case with J&TBF, there’s plenty of deathrock to be found here as well. “Mark Of The Wolf” is horrorpunk, catchy choruses and creepy fun lyrics and all. That’s not to mention the killer revival of their classic(k) hit, “If You Really Love Me You’ll Kill Me If I Come Back As A Zombie”. Another classic here is 2020’s politically-charged rowdy single “State Of The Union”. Sadly, more timely than ever. T...

Review: Rabid Venom - Rabid Venom II (LP)

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    "Rabid Venom" is a damn-near spot-on designation for these racket raconteurs. Super abrasive intensity. Every instrument just fucking CRASHES. Ripped-throated vocals, blast beats, nasty guitar screaming at roaring bass. Lo-fi live-in-the-studio. Rocking enough for the cavemen and personal enough for the bedroom artists. Now I gotta go back and check out the first album! Fave tracks: "Cacophony", "Walking Annihilator".  -Harmless Rabid Venom on Spotify!

Review: Property - Breaking And Entering (LP)

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         Hardcore punk outta Hville! Property has been around since the 90's, but I gotta say I personally think they really came into their own recording-wise in the last ten years. This ain’t some local weekend warrior legacy act. The band has tightened and expanded their sound and they were solid and badass to begin with! They probably practice more than my band. Hardcore punk perfect for hardcore punk dancin’, but with plenty more going on. This is one of those bands that you blast on the way to AND from their show!  -Harmless Property on Bandcamp! Property on Spotify!

Review: Latin For Truth - Southern Fantasia (single)

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    Note: This review is taken from GAD! Zine 31 and is for the title track of the recently released Southern Fantasia album. Expect a full review of the full-length VERY soon!!   Dayam! It's great to have these dudes back! I'm excited for the upcoming album. Got the same yell-y and sing-y thing going that they killed at years back. This isn't some nostalgia trip, though. This is modern and thoughtful and bright. This is that kinda music that is just... literate. Everything feels like it has a reason to be. To my ears, the full-length may very well blow away everything they've done before. We could seriously use more socially conscious artists like LFT in this state!                                                                                      ...

Review: Knockabouts - Angry Young Men (LP)

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  I rem ember talking to other punk rockers in like 1997 about how hard it was to find a studio in or around Alabama that could (or would) record punk rock. Much less allow it to sound like a “proper” punk record. So how the fuck did t eenage “Alabama” Donnie Sharp and friends pull it off in 1983?? Legend has it that the Knockabouts were the first hardcore punk band in Alabama. If they weren’t, I’d say they were the most important. Underground bands to in the Huntsville area, to this day, have hints of it in their sound . Whether they know it or not. And this isn’t one of those band s we mention cuz they were just the first ones there. I mean they really kiiiiiiiicked ass! Nuclear blasts of thrashy sped-up punk. Noisy and chaotic and super slam- danceable . Included on this definitive collection are straight-up classics like “Where’s My Vietnam?” and the ir vicious take on Skyn y rd’s “Sweet Home Alabama” .  Lots of fast punkery for sure, but with cool experi...