Hassan I Sabbah - s/t - 7

Labels: Robodog
Review by: Andy Malcolm

OK, this is one of the best screamo 7″ that you’ll hear all year. But. They split up already. Ain’t that the way?

So, why does it stand out in a genre crowded with soundalikes? I’m not quite sure. They just are totally on the ball and have come up with 4 songs on this slab that totally kill. Their style is too play pretty damn fast and with that all too essential hint of chaos, pulverising your ears. But amidst this they drop in the eerie melodicism of a band like You And I or Portrait. One moment everything is hectic and played at an unstoppable blast, then suddenly they surge into a catchy hardcore riff and rock out for a brief moment. Vocals are of course ripped from the throats of angry young boys.

Best track is “Untitled”, which occupies the whole of side b at 33rpm. The insane drumming is out of this world, a beat driven through at uncalculable speeds, before it breaks down into moody emo twinkle, and teary-eyed spoken word. The repetetive guitars wander for a while before they break back into the screams over the churning mid-paced music. This track is seriously depressing. Avoid sharp objects. Everything slides uncontrollably to the ending and the out of breath final words. Kinda neat.

Pick this one up now before it starts going for $15 on Skylab.