Labels: 213 – L’Hiver Vient… – Ruin Your Fun
Review by: Oli Saunders
New split here containing songs from Meth & Goats, from the US, and Meny Hellkin, a French band containing an ex member or more of Hyacinth and whom I have never heard of, despite now finding out they’ve got a fair few releases. Meth & Goats kick things off, playing their brand of slightly weird mathrock / post hardcore. It is the type of thing that would have fit in well with some of the bands on Level Plane a few years ago: Mannequin, The Fiction, Transistor Transistor and Bright Calm Blue, for example. All these bands did something a bit different with hardcore and whilst it generally wasn’t spectacular it was certainly solid. This is also the case for Meth & Goats and they now seem to flying the flag pretty much by themselves unless there are bands of similar ilk that I am not finding out about (tell me!). They have previously released a really good LP and split with Ten Grand – the songs on here sound a little different but not along dissimilar lines. Wandering instruments give a nice backdrop for shouted vocals. If you like their previous releases you should like this.
Meny Hellkin play two songs on the second side. This definitely fits in well with the Meth & Goats side, also having a rather experimental post hardcore like vibe. It sounds like something I wouldn’t normally like if I didn’t give it a chance. But after a few listens I’ve decided it is pretty damn good. There are a mix of shouted and sung vocals, but both sound good. They don’t actually sound French at all it should be noted. Bizarrely, it reminds me a bit of 80s or maybe 90s pop music at times during the first track with the sung vocals, as if someone has taken that as a template and then injected some hardcore. I’m definitely gonna go check out the band’s other output now that I’ve heard this.
Overall, two sides that are refreshingly original in their sounds, as far as I know anyway. It is unlikely to blow you away but I am pleased that both bands exist. 400 copies on thick black vinyl, neatly packaged together by the labels.
23rd November 2009