A Record a Week: Makara - Discography

*I aimed to get back into the recipes this week, but was missing some key ingredients for what I wanted to make. They will return next weekend, along with another record review.












SIDE 1.
BROKEN ARROW TO EVERYTHING
BANE
ASCENSION
UNCHOSEN STRINGS
TO THE UNDENIED HOPES

SIDE 2.
MISSING GREEN
ANEMIC
SHINING VENUS
AMICAL SEPTEMBER
PAPER CUTS
FOREVER HANDS
MY FRIEND, MY UM
FOUR HEARTS IN A CAN HOME

The turn of the millennium seemingly was the perfect time for screamo music, specifically out of California. There was seemingly 1000 bands that consisted of a total of 20 people or so. Whenever you see posters from that era, they all have long brackets underneath ie. (ex-the locust, ex-orchid, ex-etc.)

The music was fun, emotionally-driven, screamy and often dancey. The lyrics were often political in nature, but if you weren't into that, no matter, because you couldn't hear what they were saying most of the time anyhow. This album meet ALL of the criteria. Members went on to/came from/were simultaneously in other screamo bands of note, they were political (heavily gender-politics) and they were emotionally-driven screaming music.

I don't remember ever being particularly attached to this album, though I did recognize some of the songs. I think another distro carried it and the guy who ran it (and played in several bands that several bands I played in played with [see above criteria haha]) recommended it strongly to me. He got way deeper into that scene while I pulled back from it and went in the Arab on Radar/Chinese Stars/Lightning Bolt direction. If you're a fan of Orchid, 1905, Yaphet Kotto, anything like that, definitely check out this record that may have flown under your radar.
 

A Record a Week: City of Caterpillar - City of Caterpillar

SIDE 1.
AND YOU'RE WONDERING HOW A TOP FLOOR COULD REPLACE HEAVEN
A HEART FILLED REACTION TO DISSATISFACTION
MINUTE-HOUR-DAY-WEEK-MONTH-YEAR (THE FAITH'S IN MY CHEST)

SIDE 2.
FUCKING HERO
WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME WE PAINTED OVER THE BLOOD ON THE WALLS
A LITTLE CHANGE COULD GO A LONG WAYS
MAYBE THEY'LL GNAW RIGHT THROUGH YOU

I don't like cursing on here, so I considered blanking that out before I realized that's the name of the song.

City of Caterpillar was a band comprised of members of bands like pg99, Darkest Hour and near the end, Majority Rule. As I was into all of these bands, I thought I'd give them a chance. They took that hardcore and sometime 6/8 screamo sound and added the spacious ambient instrumental riffs. The shorter songs are straight up emo/screamo with great shots and yelling-style vocals. The longer songs are pieces of that mixed in with long melodic, dark guitar parts. It didn't take me long to warm to this record.

Sadly, though, like many bands from that scene, they broke up after far too short of a time playing together. They went on to form Malady, who was also good, but also put out one album then broke up. Also they formed Haram, who may still be around, but I don't think so.

The opening song of this album is one of those songs that just ropes me in. The combination of the energetic quick parts and the long drawn out build up leading to another energetic part. Good stuff right there.