Belgrado... yet more post-Punk from Barcelona, Spain. My first musical obsession for 2020...

Okay, okay, don't get your 'Cronos-from-Venom' leather thong in a twist! I know that in the previous post I had promised to start discussing a little bit more Metal and Rock to break the monotonous Punk bent that I've been on here lately but this is some fire from my mother country (supposedly) that I need to document. Belgrado is my first musical obsession for the year 2020. I have a throbbing, bulbous, veiny ear-ection with their band logo printed all over it (well, most of it, as much as I can fit), one that won't die down until their entire discography to date is delivered to my doorstep where it will be guarded for posterity. That's right, my resistance to vinyl records is now over and Belgrado's work should be arriving shortly at my new residence (don't make me say it, please.) Shout out to Discogs!

I discovered Belgrado while researching their fellow Barcelona band SECT for the last review that I posted. SECT features Belgrado's lead singer, Polish born Patrycja Proniewska on the drums, as in way in the back... as in, where she can't be seen. Fuck that! Belgrado puts Proniewska right where she needs to be, at the forefront! This broad has got it, man, she's a fucking star... absolutely spectacular!

That's not to take away from the rest of the band who play super tight, but Proniewska is a triple threat- she possesses a great spectral voice, she has got an understated but strong stage presence and she has a look that seems as if it were sculpted specifically for this band's sound. I mean just look at her face- she is a dead ringer for Siouxsie Sioux. She's like an odd doll that's equal parts pretty and creepy all at the same time. I haven't been this excited about a frontwoman since Alia O'Brien from Blood Ceremony (another ginormous talent, and smoking hot to boot!)

I won't bother trying to review this crew, rather I'll let their video clip do the talking for them. After all, that's how they hooked me in! However, I will reiterate what I've stated previously in the SECT review; which is that Belgrado are sort of like a female-fronted Bauhaus who carry switchblade knives. The video clip that I've inserted below was my first exposure to them. I was hooked instantly to this infectious song, regardless of the fact that the lyrics are in Polish. I couldn't get the song out of my head (nor Proniewska's powerful glaring eyes) and would find myself revisiting this video repeatedly for days. Their total available output is out there for taste-testing thanks to their Bandcamp page and Youtube, and if this song tickles your fancy then believe me it's only the tip of the iceberg with these cats. The deep cuts are even better than this video single is. 

Now viddy well, little brothers and sisters, viddy well... 

Come on, that was fantastic! The song itself is great, so moody and full of that type of character that makes this genre so appealing to me. The drummer stands out in this track with some cool hi-hat trickery that lends much rhythm to the verse parts. Music aside, the visual presentation of this video is classic, bearing all the quintessential aesthetic trappings that lends this genre part of its 'artsy' air. Their music accompanied by those angular, monochrome camera shots of architectural structures and Roman style columns, interspersed with shots of the band all form a motif -a total package of art with a foreboding yet infectious tone.     

I've also included a link below to another Youtube video, this one from a live performance at the Sao Paolo Cultural Center in Brazil. They played a great set having been able to have gotten a reasonably good sound at that joint, and a stoic Proniewska gave a solid performance even while sustaining herself on a cane to comfort what looked like a sprain or fracture of the right foot. She stood there and delivered the goods like a fucking boss! She's a badass bitch! Anyways, I have bitten the bait and hopefully you will too. See for yourself by hitting the link, you smelly pink... 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=goVYtB89cB4

Belgrado's work, as well as releases by their Greek post-Punk labelmates Chain Cult can be copped from La Vida Es Un Mus Records. Check out the label's page, it seems as if the imprint is pretty prolific... 

SECT : Post-Punk from Barcelona, Spain

note: misanthropaganda is so much more fun when you view it on your desktop or laptop. Your tablet is fine I guess, as is your phone, but for full enjoyment and understanding of the artist's (ha ha) vision, take my suggestion. It gives the posts a look that's a bit more reminiscent of an old 90's fanzine layout, which is the whole point of this bullshit blog...

I was eight years behind the eightball on this LP. This self-titled debut by the Spanish band Sect was originally released in 2012. It was only last year that I discovered this on Youtube, once again thanks to my trusty recommendations that every now and then do me justice. Should I be afraid of that algorithm shit yet?!

Sect is from the city of Barcelona, but they don't sing in Castilian. rather in English. This crew features members of Dromdead (cited as hailing from Venezuela) and another group of Sect's paisanos who call themselves Belgrado who's absolutely phenomenal in their own right (if comparable at all then I'd say a female fronted Bauhaus who carry switchblades and know how to use them. Review coming soon.)

I have not gotten a hold of any lyrics for the jams herein, however from the few words here and there within choruses that I was able to make out, which were cheerful phrases like "Police Repression" and "Death From Above", I surmise a socio-political bent lyrically. Most of the reviews I've read for this release seem to have coincided in labeling this crew as 'anarcho-Punk' (anarchist Punk Rock to the laymen.) That remains to be seen until I get to viddy well that lyric sheet. Still I wouldn't doubt that politically speaking Sect wave the black flag! Barcelona is a huge epicenter for anarcho-communism, at last count having over 200 squatted buildings and at least 40 centers in the city where squatters perform all types of social services for fellow freeloaders. Isn't it ironic that these same anarcho-communists running social centers that subscribe to an anti-work philosophy are in fact going to work everyday at the social center?  

All politics aside, there is a clear tone present, one of protest and indignation that always adds legitimacy to any outfit expressing themselves through the medium of Punk or it's derivatives. I'm drawn to Sect for all the very same reasons that I loved Chain Cult from Greece, down to a tee. I mentioned when I reviewed Chain Cult that I love esoteric imagery; and to me the front cover of this Sect LP is fantastic. It's minimal but evocative, and seems to be steeped in symbolism whether intentional or not. I love the single white line drawing on black, with that "sighted leading the blind" motif. There's a lot more going on in the logo as well. Little elements of it such as the inverted eye incorporated into the letter c, or the letter t which appears similar to the papal cross. (The cross of Salem, also known as 'the eastern cross', is a ritual relic carried by big-baller freemasons.) The band exude an air of mysticism through their subtle use of arcane imagery and I am a sucker for that shit.

Seems like with most contemporary Post-Punk outfits, the main sonic similarity is Joy Division, though I find Sect more energetic and driven as far as tempo is concerned. Just think of the up-tempo Punk vitriol of Joy Division's "Ice Age" but with a female front. The female vocals remind me a bit of Poly Styrene from X-Ray Spex. or maybe even Eve Libertine when she was at the helm of Crass, before becoming a filthy old soomka.

I haven't made the attempt to reach out to these long distant cousins (one thousand times removed) from the mother country. Actually, I don't think we're related at all! Barcelona is in the north eastern coast of Spain, and according to the glob of jizz that I sent over to 23&Me.com, I'm 85% Iberian, 13% Morrocan/North African and the last 2% is a delightful potpourri blend of jew, wop, and limey. Iberia is on the Atlantic peninsula well away from where my DNA could have pooled with these crazy kids. So I guess I won't be invited to Sect's next family reunion...

Just hit the link to their bandcamp page if I've sparked your interest...

Chain Cult. Rocking post-Punk from Athens Greece. New LP Shallow Grave Out Now!

note: misanthropaganda is so much more fun when you view it on your desktop or laptop. Your tablet is fine I guess, as is your phone, but for full enjoyment and understanding of the artist's (ha ha) vision, take my suggestion. It gives the posts a look that's a bit more reminiscent of an old 90's fanzine layout, which is the whole point of this bullshit blog...

Shallow Grave LP

Chain Cult are a three-piece crew from Athens, Greece that I thankfully discovered through the recommended videos on my Youtube app. I have found myself going back to this band's music quite often, as if compelled. They are part of a budding Greek Post-Punk scene, a scene recently revived from it's dormancy since it's salad days in the '80s. According to an article on diyconspiracy.net, there are currently 7 Greek bands that are genre-adjacent, not too shabby a number considering that the whole country is about the size of Florida! Also, take into consideration that currently there are only half as many bands in the style as that nation claimed in the '80s! I was aware of Greece having a strong Black Metal scene centered around a few very high quality bands, but I was oblivious to the fact that the small nation was such a hotbed for Post-Punk. 

Chain Cult's particular take on the genre is refreshing. Blending the driving guitar sound of bands like Joy Division and early The Cure with a more rocking approach, Chain Cult really takes its unique shape from the anthemic, Hardcore-style shouted vocals of their singer. To date they have released a strong demo in 2018, a two song digital EP titled Isolated, and now they have dropped an LP titled Shallow Grave on the UK-based label La Vida Es Un Mus Records (hit up the links, you little pinks.) 

    

demo 2018

I am particularly an admirer of their cover art, which up until now has featured imagery that is reminiscent of esoteric symbolism. To me it looks as if the artwork for all three of their releases were extracted right from freemasonry or O.T.O. books and it really adds a flare of mystery to this band. But imagery aside, Chain Cult can get by on the strength of their work, more specifically the hard work of the rhythm section. The bass lines throughout their work always standout, and not as a result of sound engineering. You can thank singer (just) Jason who gets the MVP for his double duty on bass guitar and vocals. Their music is full of passionate tone and off the top of my head I can't think of any bands that are completely similar in sound. The closest I can think of is maybe Second Empire Justice era Blitz ( you know, once they ditched all of the Skinhead stuff), only Chain Cult are more energetic and pack more of a punch than Blitz in the time period that I referenced. In fact, anything by Chain Cult can kick Blitz Second Empire Justice ass (ironic considering the latter's upstarts as a rugged Oi outfit.) 

Jason, Chain Cult's multi-tasking singer, adds new dimension to what's been previously thought that vocals in bands such as these should sound like. Whereas typically you would get mopey crooning in an anemic baritone droning away mournfully ( like an Ian Curtis or a Peter Murphy, etc.), the lyrics are sung with a spirited and energetic delivery, hence the parallel made earlier to Hardcore vocal stylings (particularly in the vein of "posi" style bands.) All allusions to Joy Division and The Cure aside, If you dug early '90s Emo or D.C.-style bands then this is right in your wheelhouse. Here you go, if you want my coveted quote to print as a pretentious blurb, you got it:

"Passionate and energetic, yet morose, and full of longing!  

There, print that on your front page"

                                                                           Lord Frank. Misanthropaganda blog

Isolated EP

My only complaint is that much like about 99.9% of all bands nowadays, Chain Cult has only released digitally thus far, and if/when they do drop a tactile release, it'll probably be on fucking vinyl, so that's it for me, I'm out! I'd love for them to have my twenty bucks, because I am a fervent believer in paying a musician for his work (especially if it speaks to you); and I certainly hate having to listen to a band that I enjoy by streaming them on Youtube rather than owning a piece of their music and holding it in my hand, but I hate digital downloads and I am just not going to make the switch over to vinyl! What do people have against the CD nowadays? Fucking cassettes are back in style now as well as vinyl and you are going to tell me that the CD is the one that's going obsolete! Fuck Me! These cockamamie labels can't press a couple of CDs along with the fucking vinyl and the cassettes? I'm just saying! I love CDs, they're all I collect. I'm 2000 plus deep at this point, I can't just switch to fucking vinyl at this point! But I digress...

Potential groupies of Chain Cult please take note- these boys are Greek; so be warned that if you are planning on offering yourselves as a sacrifice to one of these mortal gods of music, know that they are going to shoot straight for your dookie-hole! It's a time honored Greek custom, and I think it may be rude to refuse. Be forewarned...