Altsounds - Lavotchkin / Crocus

Three tracks a piece then from Laotchkin and Crocus on this 'Split' EP coming out on Small Town Records. If you think Gallows are a bit girlie then this split EP is definitely for you.

Lavotchkin go first starting with a ball-shaking 'You Were Dawn' and pretty much clobbering the shit out of you for the next ten minutes through 'Abandon / Introspection' and into 'Clouds'. They break things down building nicely for the launch in the second song but otherwise the tempo is kept at deaf-con 1.

I swear, I've got no clue how these guys stay so ANGRY the whole time but it makes for killer mosh music and Crocus aren't about to let the(ir) side down. It's hard to listen to such intense music outside of a live environment, sitting alone in your bedroom on a sunny Saturday afternoon. This stuff was made for the night; for sweat stained clubs with broken toilets and cheap cider on tap.

On balance I'd say Crocus have a little more to offer the casual hardcore fan with some interesting start / stops to the back line making for a more varied, less relentless listen. 'Ignorance We Swallow' is the EP high point and worth coming back to but to truly get the most out of these two unhinged bands I'd suggest getting out there and seeing them live. Both bands are currently touring so get to it.

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Lavotchkin [2nd Track from split up!] on MySpace Music - Free Streaming MP3s, Pictures & Music Downloads

CROCUS on MySpace Music - Free Streaming MP3s, Pictures & Music Downloads