@juxton.eth
Meanwhile - A Conflict of Memory
In conjunction with their appearance at the Kick Rock Festival in France earlier this summer, Kick Rock Records brings us the first new Meanwhile record in 18 years, and boy-oh-boy is it worth the wait! Usmanāwhose detailed knowledge of this vein of hardcore is something to beholdātells me the sound on this new record resembles Meanwhileās 2005 EP Ghostface Democracy (one of his favorites in their discography), but the main reference point that comes to my mind is Hear Nothing See Nothing Say Nothing. For all the hundreds of bands whose music is firmly grounded in Discharge, relatively few explore HNSNSNās layered sound, and fewer still capture anything like that albumās power. A Conflict of Memory, though, gives me a very similar feeling, that distinctive reverb, the multitracked guitars, and the wandering, heavily chromatic lead playing coalescing to make me feel like Iām in the middle of a swirling, violent tornado of sound. As with many bands who follow Dischargeās template so closely, thereās an element of collage to Meanwhileās composing process that might turn people off, and there are several points on A Conflict of Memory when anyone with a well-worn set of Discharge vinyl will be tempted to shout Dischargeās lyrics rather than Meanwhileās. However, Iāll assume that if youāve gotten this far into reading this, you acknowledge the value of contemporary bands elaborating on and iterating Dischargeās work. And, indeed, if youāre one of those maniacs who can never get enough Discharge-style hardcore, just know the new Meanwhile EP rips and you definitely need it. - Sorry State Records