Debuting in 2017 with the full-length Imitation, Ternopil, Ukraine-based punk three-piece (bass, drums, vocals – no guitar) Raw Grip is now set to drop their followup EP entitled Kaleidoscope as a collaboration between No Funeral Records (CA), Dead Red Queen Records (USA), Surrogate Rec. (UA), Bastard Flower (IDN), Fresh Outbreak Records (IT), and Law of Cycles (USA).
With five tracks and a total run time of just six and half minutes, I might have expected this EP to be a vicious straight up assault on the listener, but was pleasantly surprised to be drawn in instead by plenty of crunchy instrumental licks and jagged, mathy rhythms. The absence of a guitarist gives this band a fantastically chunky sort of sound, and screamo-style vocals are the cherry on top of the musical mixture the band produces.
Personally, I find screamo vocals to be hit or miss in many cases with the potential to become somewhat distasteful if they’re overblown. That said, despite the obvious emotional release and anger put forth in the voice parts, the overall audio mix on Kaleidoscope ensured that the vocalist never dominated the proceedings and I found the overall concoction to be pretty interesting to listen to.
Kaleidoscope drops May 28th and can be found on Bandcamp here. Meanwhile, below you’ll find a stream of album track "Survive."
