Robyn Writes

Shout out – Surprise Attacks in Worcester tomorrow!

Surprise Attacks – Fine purveyors of Punk and Noise to the Big Bad Wu since May 2013 – are pleased to bring you the third of sonic excellence this Thursday, 1st August at the Firefly, Lowesmoor, Worcester… All the details on Facebook.

An epic trio of new bands spanning the length of the Midlands.
LAYERS bring their brand of soulful, emo-influenced rockin’ hardcore down the M5 from Brum, ahead of their debut EP release and on the back of much positive press attention for their energetic live shows. Ay it!
PLANECRASHER bring their Black Flag/Hives meets Albini-influenced riffage over the border from Herefordshire. Wear ear plugs.
EMPIRE (UK) head the other direction up the M5 from Chelters with a wild live show like Faith No More gone hardcore. Tidy!

The usual recession busting £3 entry – and parking’s universally free after 8 too.

Looking further ahead, acts already confirmed include:
Sept 5th – Baby Godzilla (Nottingham) / The Callout (Redditch) / TBC
Sept 25th – Crucial Section (Japan) / Geriatric Unit (Ex Heresy) / King Of Pigs
The Crucial Section gig alone is enough to make any discerning hardcore fan wet themselves with anticipation. Come join us.

J-Pop Sunday – Berryz Kobo

We haven’t had any idol pop in a while. Considering how big a part of the Japanese music scene it is I think it’s time for some more idol nonsense. To be honest I’ve been trying to avoid writing about idol groups; there are only so many times I can say “Look at this horde of cute Japanese girls and their super happy pop!” and I will eventually have to talk about AKB48 at some point if I do too much on idol groups. I’m trying to avoid that. I don’t dislike AKB48 – “Flying Get” is one of my favourite J-Pop songs – I just dread the day when I have to properly research them. A lot of skeletons in that cupboard, you know? Plus the obvious comparisons to NWA and then all their spin-off groups and then-No! I’m not getting into that right now! We’re going to look at Berryz Kobo today! Simple, straightforward, Berryz Kobo!

Love that zebra print.

Quick Guide:
Act Name: Berryz工房 (Berryz Kobo/Berryz Workshop)
Line-up – 7 lovely young female vocalists:
Saki Shimizu (清水 佐紀) (Group Captain)
Momoko Tsugunaga (嗣永 桃子)
Chinami Toknaga (徳永 千奈美)
Maasa Sudo (須藤 茉麻)
Miyabi Natsuyaki (夏焼 雅)
Yurina Kumai (熊井 友理奈)
Risako Sugaya (菅谷 梨沙子)
Years Active: 2004-Present
Genre: Pop
Kaito’s Choice Tracks: Shingisukan (ジンギスカン/Dschingis Khan) (2008), Ryuusei Boi (流星ボーイ/Meteor Boy) (2009) Ajian Serebureishon (アジアン セレブレイション /Asian Celebration) (2013)
Fun Fact: I honestly don’t know which one is which.

Although just a moment ago I was bemoaning the many offshoot groups of AKB48, Berryz Kobo are distantly related to the idol powerhouse that is Morning Musume. The Berryz are another group that operate under the supervision of producer Tsunku and are a part of his “Hello! Project” idol group empire. In 2002 Tsunku set up auditions for new “Hello! Project” talent and in 2004 – after two years of professional training – eight of the girls who auditioned became Berryz Kobo. Unlike many idol groups Berryz Kobo doesn’t have a constantly changing member line-up and has had the same members from the day of its’ foundation – with the exception of Maiha Ishimura who left in 2005 to focus on her studies. Good for her!

The first song we’ll have a look at is the group’s biggest selling single. And the strangest. “Shingisukan” was released in 2008 and is a Japanese cover of Germany’s 1979 Eurovision Song Contest entry “Dschingis Khan”. I’ll let that sink in; a J-Pop cover of a 70’s German Eurovision entry. “Dschingis Khan” was originally performed by the group “Dschingis Khan” – which of course is the German pronunciation of Genghis Khan. Yes, the song is about Mongolian emperor Genghis Khan. It’s a J-Pop cover of a German 70’s Eurovision song about Genghis Khan. And I love it. Although, the Berryz Kobo cover tones down the more explicit lyrics of the German original that referred to war, sexual conquest or the alcohol. Which does beg the question, what could be left?


Somehow, this sold over 37,000 copies in Japan.

Moving away from Mongolian conquerors and slightly closer back towards the realms of sanity – or at least as close we can get in the world of J-Pop – we have “Ryuusei Boi” (Meteor Boy). My favourite Berryz song: The combination of the funky detective vocal, guitar and drum riffs in the backing track – in fact the whole backing track – and naff green-screen effects in the video give it a certain charm.


“Never Give Up! Never Give Up! 1, 2, 3! GO!”

“Asian Celebration” is one of the more recent Berryz Kobo singles. Released back in March “Asian Celebration” is catchy, cheery, upbeat, has random Engrish in the chorus and legs. Your J-Pop Trope Bingo cards should be full by the end of this one. I didn’t actually like this one at first, but it grew on me, although I’m still not too keen on the electronic harmony towards the end.


Love the floor tiles.

More Berryz Kobo:
Official Website: http://www.helloproject.com/berryzkobo/
Official Youtube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/berryzchannel
Official Twitter (Japanese): https://twitter.com/Berryz_kobo

Review: Little Big League – These Are Good People

Harking back to the US indie scene of the 1990’s, Little Big League demonstrate that there is still plenty of potential for creativity and exploration within their respective genre of raw and consistently melodic indie punk. Little Big League are riddled with quirks, manifesting in the effortless interplay between the two rough-hewn guitars- but their biggest quirk is also their most appealing and fascinating, a secret weapon of sorts that elevates the band exponentially. The focal point of Little Big League is undoubtedly Michelle Zauner’s voice – stocked with idiosyncratic tics and diametrically opposed to convention, her words leap across the aural palette to startling effect. Flitting between saccharine hushed tones and almost violent projections, she freely allows her voice to break and oscillate at will- her enchanting versatility knowing no boundary and ultimately, carrying the potential to polarize the band’s listenership. It is undoubtedly attention grasping, with Zauner’s bluesey and anguished vocal histrionics sounding like Brittany Howard of Alabama Shakes fame doing her best Patti Smith impression. For a mannerism that could all too easily eclipse any other aspect of a band’s output, the remaining members of Little Big League are still able to assert themselves against Zauner’s intimidating lung capacity, for the most part avoiding any notion of faceless backing band to her fascinating performance.

In true 90’s fashion, suspended above the rather sublimely orchestrated instrumentation, looms an air of resignation, of defeatism and surrender to oppressing forces that is so common in the psyches of young people whose idealism has been quashed by the brutal and inescapable Western capitalist syndrome. These Are Good People manages to pinpoint the moment of comprehension at the unrealised dreams of adolescence which, sadly, will remain an applicable point of strife for many. Despondent it may be, the gloom is not overwrought, embellished subtly in the minor key arrangements and existing as a lingering periphery that the band bring in to focus in affecting brilliance on tracks such as ‘Settlers’. Elsewhere a foreboding darkness is conjured at the intro to ‘Sportswriting’, looming like a distant wave of depression that is instantly vanished by the arrival of Zauner’s coruscating vocal- cleansing the music any denying darkness an opportunity to take hold.

Not until the closing section of final track ‘Never Have I Walked Away When The Time Was Right’ does the band loosen their well-honed melodic and often spritely fretwork with a thick dose of abrasive distortion that arrives as a slight shock after the lighter, more measured and melodically centred instrumentation.

Little Big League should be more than proud of their debut, a record of unorthodox beauty that despite remaining grounded in the defeatist attitudes and musical practices of their 90’s punk forbearers, contains some thoroughly unique elements: no less Zauner’s much lauded vocal. It’s a genuinely brilliant aural venture encapsulated within an endearingly punk production quality. Despite the lack of outright vitriol, the contempt for social realities is as palpable as any pissed off and downtrodden hardcore band could muster. Instead of a raucous bloody-faced affair, Little Big League subvert the punk penchant for superfluous anger, Zauner’s vocal harbouring an outrage beyond articulation, yet oddly understandable. Coherent in its overall vision and riveting in its execution.

4.5 out of 5 high fives!

Review: The Heights – Drag Race On The Moon

The Heights’ third EP Drag Race On The Moon showcases impressive atmospherics and melodies, while a star is born in Gavin Sutton, a frontman with a pristinely clean, soothing voice, which suit much of the lyrics (dealing with emotions) perfectly. But is this the future of pop-punk? No. At least probably not. The classic rock band setup supports Gavin’s vocals with solid drumming and guitar trying their best to lure listeners in, but they lack any real gritty or edgy quality that rubs up against you and drags you into their lunar drag race.

Opening track ‘Soldier’ has a gradual escalation to the crescendo that is the chorus, yet, like the EP as a whole, it leaves you with the feeling that something fundamental is missing. I can’t help but feel as though it needs to build to an even bigger finish, not just to each repeat of the chorus. For any AFI fans, what I have in mind is something more like ‘This Time Imperfect’, a song which does build up to each rendition of the chorus, but ends with a more powerful finish. On the other end of the scale second track ‘Some Give You Away’ has an upbeat tempo with guitar riffs and a catchy chorus, but it lacks the sort of build-up that made ‘Soldier’ more special.

‘Devil’ appears to be an early fan favourite from the EP, being the most anthemic track with a catchy melody as well as a little guitar solo which gives it an extra dimension, earning it a more dynamic standing than the others. Contrary to perceived wisdom, I would recommend listening to ‘Spinning Webs’ in particular. The track is more slow and powerful than the rest of the EP, bringing a ballad to the front and centre. Explaining the songs inclusion on the EP the band said: “There are not many local bands that have ever included a piano ballad on their releases. There might be a reason why, but I like to think it was a ballsy move on our part, and I’m hoping it pays off.” They’re right, a slow piano ballad is not a common feature of any release claiming to be pop-punk, but forgetting labels and preconceived notions of how a band should sound, there is a lot of heart in this track. Everyone can relate to wishing something had happened differently, wanting to change the past or wondering if things could have gone differently if only you had acted differently. The song opens just with Gavin singing along to a tune on the piano, before shortly after the drums start up with a gentle beat. If you want a song that you can sit down and play or sing along to, look no further.

All things considered, the EP is solid and perhaps I’ve been a little over critical, but it’s only because I believe they are capable of more. None of the songs are bad, but they fail to really hit home and if critical reviews can annoy bands enough to prove the reviewer wrong, let’s hope this works. Watch this space.

2.5 out of 5 high fives!

Ten Hardcore Bands That Do Actually Get It

I posted an article last week about misogyny in hardcore and just the general lack of respect for fellow human beings that’s running rampant throughout the scene at the moment. There’s certainly a lot of that going on. In honesty, my piece refers mostly to the mainstream – the branch of particularly popular hardcore bands that are dominating the magazines and the social networks at the moment. There’s a lot of bands out there that aren’t subscribing to this at all, that are striving for a community again, that are promoting a very healthy attitude at shows and through their music. Loosely based around the hardcore genre, but with a smattering of punk and metalcore, this is just ten of those bands promoting a better future for the scene. There’s a few more mainstream and a few more underground acts here, and these are the people we should be throwing our weight behind.

1) Finish Him!
Our favourite Coventry partycore lot know what’s going down. A Finish Him! show is always a ridiculously fun experience for everyone – everyone gets involved, everyone keeps each other safe. You’re far more likely to end the set in a massive group hug than with a punch in the face (although that’s mostly just to keep yourself standing after some intense moshing!). And many of their song names are references to classic kid’s shows and video games, which is always a bonus.

2) We Came As Romans
Everyone’s new favourite synthy metalcore band, they don’t have a bad word to say about anyone. Their albums are all about positivity, and their recent slot on the Take Action tour in support of the ‘It Gets Better’ campaign couldn’t paint them as any more angelic. If you’re ever feeling down, listen to Understanding What We Came To Be and you’ll instantly feel better about life.

3) Parkway Drive
Okay, ‘Romance Is Dead’ might be about wanting to choke the life out of a former loved one, but we can all say we’ve had those moments at one point or another. Otherwise, Parkway Drive take their anger out on more noble causes, such as our rampant destruction of the Earth. Atlas is all about the potential demise of our planet if we don’t buck up our ideas. Parkway are also massive fans of the circlepit, but only if you treat each other with respect. And we will, Winston and co, we will.

4) iwrestledabearonce
Ever been to an IWABO show? You’re doing yourself a disservice if you haven’t. Me and Kate threw many a pencil sharpener and a few egg and spoons the last time we were in the general vicinity. It’s also super rad to see such an incredible female vocalist in play in both cases – Krysta’s screams were utterly sublime and I figured there’d never be anyone who could replace her, but Courtney has done pretty admirably, bringing just as much flair and insanity to their live presence as Krysta did. It’s pretty hard to make out exactly what they’re saying though sometimes, so pick up a lyrics booklet and appreciate.

5) The Smoking Hearts
Victory! is a great record. It’s a real snapshot of life in the 2010s, but without subscribing to the bullshit. There’s plenty of stuff in there about standing up tall and rising above, but THS aren’t afraid to party on down with the rabble either. Sick guitar solos aside, THS bring it in every way possible in a live format, but while being perfectly pleasant to everyone around them. Top lads.

6) Sick Of It All
Have you ever listened to a Sick Of It All album and thought ‘well, I can see where they’re coming from but I just can’t identify with this in any way, shape or form’? I thought not.

7) DARKO
Skatepunk enthusiasts DARKO blend the Duracell bunny energy of that 90s sound with technical hardcore for an unbeatable thrill ride. From Trust To Conformity has a lot of anger and frustration in it, but it’s pointed in all the right directions, and a lot more poetic than you might first think. Get listening, get excited.

8) Attack! Vipers!
I literally can’t express my love for Attack! Vipers! enough. Completely standup guys with an explosive live show (high risk of human pyramids included) and stupidly talented musicians to boot. Feeling bad about popular hardcore and its shitty attitude? Have a scroll through the Attack! Vipers! Tumblr page and you’ll see posts speaking out against discrimination and injustice, in the scene and wider. Great stuff.

9) Empire
Shedding Skin is a slice of crashing, beautiful melodic hardcore. The desolate landscapes that it describes and the feelings of discontent and fear are ones that are applicable to all of us. Back in the early 2000s, most of the bands doing this kind of thing were writing songs crying about how girls had wronged them. Empire take a far different approach and we love them for it.

10) Not Right
Definitely more punk than hardcore, but it’d feel wrong to write a piece about solidarity and community without including Not Right. Queer riot grrl noise with a focus on trans issues, general activism and, in their own words, “the politic of people before profit”. And well, they definitely play loud and fast enough to fit in on this list.