Happy Bandcamp Friday yet again! For those who are new to this, Bandcamp Friday is the first Friday of every month, when Bandcamp waives their normal fees so that more money goes directly to the artists. That means it’s the best day of the month for you to support independent artists. Here’s just a small sampling of some of the musicians you can support today when your money goes even farther.
Civilian Thrower and Proudhon
Civilian Thrower and Proudhon are a pair of crustgrind bands from Lyon, France and Besançon, France, respectively.
This pair of grind acts recently put together a split. It’s available digitally on the two bands’ Bandcamp pages and can be ordered on cassette on Proudhon’s Bandcamp page.
First on the Civilian Thrower side, we get five tracks that barely make it over the one minute mark. Opening track “Civilian Bazaar” is a short burst of noise with contrasting high-pitched shrieks and low-pitched grumbles. It pretty much keeps up that way throughout all five tracks, with “Dust Crops” ending the album a touch slower than the other four tracks but with no less a visceral sonic attack.
Then on the Proudhon side, there’s a similar contrast between shrieking and grumbling, but their first track, “Far Beyond,” is a little more spread out without just compressed noise in short bursts. Still, there’s a lot of similarities between the two artists, and it’s hardly surprising that they teamed up. “From Demolition to Building” revolves around a prettier simple chord-based riff that’s surprisingly fun. “Third Class” is more based around rapid-fire drums. “Raijin” is steeped in some classic hardcore punk fun mixed with a touch of deathgrind.
Make sure you follow Proudhon on Facebook to keep up with future updates.
The Last Second Save
The Last Second Save are a pop-punk/emo band/mostly solo project from Jesse Procaccini of Maryland.
This project just released a two-song single called “Baltimore” on Negative Progression Records. It’s currently streaming on the label’s Bandcamp page.
First the A-side title track kicks off with some Something Corporate-style piano before converting to some classic pop-punk guitar. The lyrics have that classic emo yearning that you look for from a song like this. Then the B-side “Next Best Thing” has almost a country twang in its primary riff that compliments the pop-punk style that is again augmented by piano.
You’ll definitely want to follow this artist on Facebook and Instagram for future updates.
IRESS
Iress are a doomgaze act from Los Angeles, California who have been described as the “Adele of Doom.”
They recently put out a new single called “Ricochet” on Dune Altar Records. The single is available on their Bandcamp page.
It starts off with those beautiful femme vocals that build up with no distortion in the music until the heavy guitars come crashing in like waves against the rocks. It’s a song that thrashes hard but still comes back to some really powerful vocals, like a less radio-friendly Evanescence.
Make sure to follow this artist on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for future updates.
Dispyt and Death Crusade
Dispyt and Death Crusade are a pair of crust/black metal bands from Finland and Poland, respectively.
These two artists recently put out a split seven-inch called Crust Across Borders. The seven-inch is said to be released by a collaboration between five different labels, but it’s currently streaming on the Elitbolaget Bandcamp page.
First, Dispyt’s side starts things off with “Deras Mörker,” which opens on some soft ambient noise like something out of an old sci-fi film before the guitar come ripping through the silence and the vocals come on like a rabid animal. “Vanvett” is then even more unrelenting as the drums and guitars melt into one long, constant m, singular noise.
Then on Death Crusade’s side with “Chciwe Plemie,” there’s a strange audio clip to start things off before moving into some pulsing and grinding guitars. The vocals seem similarly animalistic across both bands. Then “Wojna” seems to blend hardcore punk and black metal pretty well. The drum beat is especially more hardcore than black metal while the vocals remain more metal than punk.
Make sure to follow Dispyt on Facebook and Instagram and Death Crusade on Facebook for future updates.
There are plenty more band to check out and support this Bandcamp Friday. Please do your part to support independent artists like these!
