Asthma Atttaq - Dirty South Apocalypse - split - LP (2005)

Labels: forever escaping boredom
Review by: Andy Malcolm

I had never heard of either of these two bands before I picked this up, but it sounded

intriguing from the description on the Ebullition list so I figured what the heck. My

copy even lurks within a screenprinted cloth cover. Aces!

I’ll deal with Asthma Atttaq first, possibly because I have been stricken with that

breathing disorder (or whatever) for so many years. AA’s side starts off with weird

electronic experimentation, but doesn’t progress that way. Once they’ve dispensed with

that, they jam out screechy screamy emo stuff – always sounding on the verge of

collapsing and falling apart. Lots of rampaging guitar and a pair of guys shrieking and

so forth. The band is actually only a two piece, but they make a ferocious racket in

the process, I guess not so disimilar to how Anton Boardman achieved the same results.

Its all very frantic and chaotic. Good stuff. The last song starts off as really good

emo stuff similar to Die, Emperor! Die! with nice twinkly bits and melodies, before it

goes all haywire and spazzed. Some super pretty twinkles in this, its probably my

favourite song on here.

Dirty South Apocalypse take over after that and play some appropriately dirty hardcore.

It rumbles ominously with harsh vocals and big chunky roars. I am not overly familiar

with this style but DSA sound good enough to my untrained ears. They are pumelling and

unrelenting, never easing off the power, except for the occasional moment between

tracks or when they want to get all doomy and broody. Crunch Crunch Crunch. Although – there is one track that they do totally change pace on, the last one – a slower, more emo effort that totally kicks my arse. Great stuff!

Damn solid DIY hc split. Worth a look if you are into these styles I reckon!