Dags! — Flaws & Gestures (2018)

Band: Dags!
Album: Flaws & Gestures
Release Date: 6.22.2018
Listen and Purchase here: Bandcamp
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I'm a little rusty when it comes to writing this sort of thing, so bear with me.

Dags! is a band I had no awareness of an hour ago, so whatever their history may or may not be, I haven't got a fucking clue. But this album gripped me immediately: a concise collection of earnest, emotive, and confident songs that blend elements of UK Maths (e.g. TTNG, Enemies, etc...) with those of some of my favorite "post-Indie" American groups of the past decade (shit like Hawks & Oxen and Piles & Piles).

Production is crisp and clear, with a great live air that suggests this was a well-practiced band ripping through their tunes in a small room together. The vocals are tuneful and tasteful, captured raw and on the verge of cracking, as they navigate a labyrinth of anxiety and curses. Instrumentation is dense but never burdened by virtuosity, focused more on rhythmic interplay and texture, rather than the discursive knots of guitar found in many of their forebears.

THIS IS THAT GOOD SHIT.

By the looks of things, they operate out of Italy (presumably they're Italian?) and are about to start a tour, so if you like what you hear make sure to hit up a show.

Zeus! - Opera (2013)

The wait is over.

This has been on my anticipated list for awhile now and I must say "worth it" all the way. 

For those that are not familiar Zeus! is an Italian two piece that follows no guiding star. Math rock rhythms snuggle up to industrial hardcore sized riffs and screaming. But it'd be too easy to end it there but there are a lot of progressive rock elements scattered about as well. Some brutal stuff to be sure and maybe not everyones tea. Give it a shot there are some wonderful moments in this full length. Two pieces usually scare me off but these guys have locked it down so hard you can not deny their power.

opera (2013)

Rosolina Mar - Before and After Dinner (2006)

Italian 3 piece instrumental rock outfit. Its nice to hear a group cribbing more from classic rock and injecting it with an amazing amount of riff creativity for the style. Whats great about these guys is that the guitarists are not afraid to incorporate solo like riffs into a song either and everything flows from one point to another without question. You'll even catch yourself getting parts locked into your skull. Truthfully there is a little bit of something for everyone in here. Do it for yourself.










Rosolina Mar - Before and After Dinner bandcamp