Straight-edge hardcore feels like a distinctly American phenomenon, but it has adherents across the globe. Today, a couple of ultra-heavy straight-edge bands from Sweden and Italy have come together on a very cool new split EP called Unstable Elements.
Stockholm’s Blood Sermon are a relatively straightforward heavy hardcore band, but they have a way of sounding wooly and out-of-control, which isn’t something that I often hear from Scandinavian bands. Padua’s 3ND7R — no, I don’t get the name — get weirder with it, playing around with breakbeats and industrial textures. Both bands contribute two songs apiece to the new split, and they come together on the song “Only The Absolute Strongest.” Fun thing about that one: It doesn’t sound like a collaboration between two bands. Instead, we get half a song from one band, a brief and hectic electronic detour, and then another half from the other band. Good shit. Stream the EP below.
Unstable Elements is out now on DAZE/Quality Control HQ.
