Lamiral – Self-Titled EP Review

Belgian hardcore monsters Lamiral have a stated aim of making rock and roll great again, and whilst their six-track EP may not quite achieve such a lofty goal, it makes up for its lack of commercial appeal with sheer bloody minded brutality. Heavily influenced by the likes of Botch, Converge and Dillinger Escape Plan, Lamiral brutalise the listener from the off with frantic screams and heavily disjointed riffing, making for uncomfortable, albeit exhilarating listening.

First track behind the mask of Ananke is a frantic call to arms. The band are operating in familiar sonic territory here, the blistering riffs and off-kilter screams rendered with ear-searing bite. Somewhat treble-heavy in the mix, the EP starts to make more sense as the band flail into the hardcore groove of wolves, a track that packs serious bite and which benefits from a slightly more concise approach. With an opening riff that does little to prepare the listener for the intense three minutes of heck that is Words I say, the EP continues to frazzle the synapses with its unrelenting energy although, make it through the surface scree of noise and you’ll find a seriously weighty groove waiting to snap your neck in a dozen places. Hints of melody creep into the hyper-speed guitar white-out of I won’t be here long, although these are offset by the increasingly feral roars that arc across the track. A sinister look keeps the pace frenetic, but, without anything in the way of a pause for breath, starts to suffer from the lack of dynamic, before the hyperactive this song has no name and it’s alright brings the EP to a close.

 

Lamiral are very good at what they do and their EP is a pretty fair approximation of how I imagine their live set to be – fast, frantic and delivered with an aura of threat that is vaguely unsettling. However, by steadfastly refusing to slow the pace, the band do themselves a disservice and it all starts to blur into one by the time the EP reaches its dizzying conclusion. A touch of light and shade would really help to add to the sense of impact, and that is something to consider on a full-length offering. However, for those looking for a sinus-clearing dose of hardcore at its most unhinged, Lamiral’s self-titled effort certainly ticks all the boxes. Expect no quarter, for this is one brutal release. 8