Labels: Black Banana – Dismantle
Review by: Alex Deller
Bridgeburner is some reasonably solid stuff. They play fast, grindy, hardcore that reminds me a bit of Excruciating Terror, albeit with some large, nerve-deadening Crossed Out parts. Vocals are generally a sick throaty gargle which can become a bit monotonous, and things are better when other voices join the fray. Unlikely to turn your life upside down, then, but certainly not bad and a lot worthier than most. On paper, AHNA should be right up my alley since their sound is odd as fuck and a bit more ‘out there’. Structures are fairly simplistic – almost with anarcho punk leanings – but the overall vibe is coarse and lumpy, as though hewn from some kind of sludgy, damaged, Toadliquor or Burning Witch-style muck. This is then pulled through an odd production wringer that reminds me of a particularly lo-fi MITB recording or this one Capitalist Casualties song where everything’s mid-paced and the bass stamps all over everything. Sadly the songwriting itself falls a bit short, but I’d definitely be keen to keep tabs on ’em in case this is just a blip or they raise their game to the point where the songs match the sound.