Labels: Level Plane
Review by: Andy Malcolm
I am not quite sure why, but Yage have never quite clicked with me in the way that they have for a lot of other people. They always get great reviews and things, but I have tried 3 times now, and I am finally getting into them. Well, it is on Level Plane, a label that so consistently puts out records I like that it’s scary. So I shouldn’t be surprised.
For those who do not know, Yage are a German hardcore band, they have screamy vocals and they wear their hearts on their sleeves lyrically, singing in German, and providing explanations in English for us heathens who know about 9 words that aren’t English, and those are mostly French cusses. I really like the desperate vocal style, but the first track comes across in a kind of more polished, rockier way than I am into in this style. It fits well with bands like Planes Mistaken For Stars or Standstill. I guess I prefer the rougher stuff of bands like Yaphet Kotto or Torches to Rome to be honest, and that is what you get on the other side. “Des Eigenen Gluckes Schmied” is more explosive and energetic, a touch more chaotic. Also has a neat breakdown thrown in for good measure. They follow it with “Eyes to A Fist” which is more of the same, hitting a classy, relentless groove to it, which is the kind of thing I really like.
Good 7″, I was all ready to be let down again after hearing “Mitglied Im Club”, but the other 2 tracks more than make up for it. I hope this is the shape of things to come for this band. Good job with the packaging too folks.