Earl Grey – "Passing time"
Released 9. X 2015.
Label: KROD Records
Genre: Hardcore/Punk
Review: Tihomir Škara
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Nemački HC pankeri Earl Grey dokazuju da njihova scena nije zasnovana samo sa jedne strane na elektronici, a sa druge na besprekornom treš metalu. Za sebe kažu da su "slacker" pankeri, a izraz se vezuje sa nekoga ko bez i malo muke postiže zavidne rezultate, često za srećnu lenštinu. Ali ovaj put, Nemci dokazuju da nisu ni malo lenji, i potvrđuju da su izuzetno kreativni i radni.
Već na samom početku, pre slušanja albuma, vizuelno me je potpuno očarao disk i omot. Na omotu su fotografije prababe i pradede jednog od članova benda, što je vrlo lep gest prema porodici. Na samo dve stranice su uspeli da uklope svih osam podužih tekstova, što možda i dokazuje njihovu "lenjost" da nameste pravi buklet. Kako god, dali su domaći zadatak mnogim krupnijim bendovima koji zaboravljaju na taj vrlo bitan detalj zvan tekstovi. Sve je vrlo jednostavno, čitljivo i pregledno, i kad se slušalac susretne sa takvim vizuelnim identitetom, i muzika mu postaje mnogo više bliska i draža.
Pesme su u melodičnom hardkor stilu, potpuno jednostavne i ublažene, bez mnogo žestokih i brzih deonica. Ima tu dosta brejkova i promene ritmova, što samo dodatno ukrašava vrlo lep tok numera. Bend se ne bavi politikom, društvom i sličnim mondijalnim stvarima, već su potpuno prizemljeni, pevaju o svojim ličnim problemima, frustracijama, željama i nadama. O svojim izgubljenim bitkama i o onima koje će tek svesno i sa namerom izgubiti. Pevaju o zavičaju u kome su odrasli, a vokal vrlo dobro oslikava sav bol i razočarenje koje se nalazi iza svih tih reči. Kroz osam numera upoznali su nas sa njihovim životima, i nakon slušanja albuma, može se reći da smo ih upoznali, i da su nam postali vrlo bliski prijatelji preko tog albuma. Bend je uspeo da izvede jednu vrlo krupnu stvar, da stvori izuzetnu vezu sa slušaocem, koja je potpuna, zaokružena, koliko zvučna toliko i vizuelna.
Gitare fino zvone, povremeno zaškripe i zagrebu uši, ali su potpuno korektno izbalansirane. Bas sa blažom distorzijom dodaje temperamentan utisak, a bubanj iako na dosta mesta ostaje tanak, ipak ima svoje momente kada vuče priču napred. Tu su povremeni melodično instrumentalni pasaži koji nam daju odmor od skoro neprekidnog pevanja, a note u njima su proste, a nisu dosadne.
Što se mene tiče, ovaj album je već duže vreme na "repeat"-u i više ni ne primećujem kada počinje niti kada se završava, već samo kruži u jednom zdravom i prirodnom toku. Slušalac se sigurno može pronaći i poistovetiti sa nekim tekstom ili njegovim delom, a to ga dalje može navući na razmišljanje o ponovnom odlasku u bitku na čiji je poraz osuđen. Ali toga se ne plaši, već svesno i s osmehom na licu prkosi svom neprijatelju.
* Recenzija objavljena u 5. broju "Principa" >>>
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German Hardcore-punks Earl Grey are proving that their scene is not based just on Electronics, on one side, and the other hand, immaculate Thrash metal. They see themselves as a Slacker-punkers, founded on the expression for those whom achieve perfect results without any hard work, as a lucky laggards. But this Germans are very creative and operative, not lazy at all.
On the very start, before I listened to the album, cover and disc were enchanted me completely. Cover photo with grandgrand-parents of one band's member is the really nice ode to family. On just two pages they clutched all of the quite long lyrics (eight of them), displaying their "indolence" for setting a complete booklet. However, they gave big homework to "big" bands while they've been always forgotting a key-detail: lyrics. Everything is straight simple, readable, and when the listener is looking a visual identity like that, music more attracts him.
Being in very melodic hardcore style, music is very simple and a bit mild, without many of speedy and hard parts. There are lots of breaks and rhythm changes, which nicely decorate an easy flow of songs. Themes which band is elaborating are not based on politics, society and other "mondial" things, but modestly singing about personal issues, frustrations, wishes and hopes. About lost battles and battles they will lose with temper and purpose. They are singing about homeland where they grew up, and vocalist paints every painstake and dissapointment in those words very well. Through eight songs, they introduced themselves to us with their lives, and after listening, they appear as very close friends. The band achieved very important thing, creating an extraordinary connection with listener, which is full, very auditive as visual is.
Guitars are chiming very well, occasionaly they are shredding and ripping ears, but they are absolutely balanced. Bass with mild distortion leaves temperate impression, but battery is thin at some moments, which is just noticable. At some moments, melodic instrumental passages are resting us from constant vocalisation, and they are simple and interesting.
In my opinnion, this album is on heavy "repeat"; I don't know when it starts or finish, it is circling in one healthy and natural flow to me. Listener can certainly find himself in some lyrics or part of it, which is triggering thoughts about battling and wrestling with life, even when defeat is inevitable. With no fear, he consciously smiling at the enemy.
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