Heikousen - Parallels

I often question the direction or "theme" for this blog.  At first, I wanted Triple B to be very personal, a place where I could vent about my life.  Not an easy feat.  Very few people have the gift of being a good storyteller, so most end up just being whiny, arrogant pricks (which is what I must sound like right now).  Or worse yet, they bombard you with sentimental pics of their children.  Really man, no one wants to see pictures of your dorky son and we especially don't want to read what his prune-sized brain is thinking about on his very own shitty, non-music related blog.  Or how about those uber-hipster tumblr pages?  I can't believe people think that they're "talented" or "artistic" just because they collect and repost other people's photographs.  Ok, I veered off topic for a bit.  What I'm really wondering about is whether trip B should be more Metal or more Hardcore oriented?  I suppose it doesn't really matter, because you guys seem to be pretty satisfied with both.

So, anyway, Heikousen have bridged my two favorite styles in a very pleasing way.  They've really ramped up the technicality level past their Mathcore/"Post-Everything" contemporaries.  Sure Perth Express, Comity, and Trap Them are competent players, but can they really compare to the musical Kung Fu of Prog Death practitioners?  Not so much. Heikousen can slap, tap, and pinch-harmonize with any Relapse alum any day of the week.  Does that alone make them good?  No, but it does add a tigher, lighter flare to the songs as well as break technical barriers that would hinder your average 'Core musician.

doki doki

When Tigers Fight - Death Songs

Here's a great, refreshing LP from a new group of Hardcore vets.  Supposedly, members have been in Damnation A.D. and The Promise.  It's definitely evident that these aren't pimple-faced 'tweens here, as Death Songs is indeed tightly played and maturely written.  I hear the grit and muscle of No Warning and Damnation A.D. (of course), but I'm hearing more influence of hook-driven Posi bands like Betrayed and Have Heart.  Theses songs are all catchy and memorable as hell.  There's no complaints in the production department either.  The only thing I'm left wanting is a more intense, heavier attack (something I can really dance to).  Otherwise, this is a very enjoyable and accessible Hardcore record that surely deserves repeated listening.

tiger uppercut