Review: nhomme - 一種の過音 (EP)
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| Label: Zegema Beach Records |
Little is known about NHOMME. They're a trio from Tokyo, Japan and released their first 3-song-EP way back in 2017. Its opener can be found on their Bandcamp. They followed up with a new song in 2019, taking part in a 4-way-split. Another two and a half years later they recorded their third track, released digitally just a few weeks ago. Yeah, they seem to go quite slow. So don't entertain the illusion of them putting out an album or some shit like that in the near future...
...but, big BUT, they came around to finish this 3-song-EP here. And somehow Zegema Beach Records got a hold of them and helped to release 40 of the handmade tapes in the western hemisphere. When I mean "handmade" I truly mean it this time around. Go check out the video for "i", where they show the creation process of the artwork.
Loosely, NHOMME can be put into the category of math-y Screamo. Their first EP kinda reminds me of HOT CROSS and they did a really good job with it. However, they seem to have evolved in the last couple of years, as their newer stuff is even more creative, playful, and versatile. This gives me serious "Jokes"-vibes, and that record changed my idea of how far Screamo can go. Essentially, NHOMME sound like KIDCRASH, OFF MINOR & SHELLAC met and decided to go crazy. Yep, even more crazy as this combo might suggest...
The screamo part never was their focus, but they even toned it down with these new songs. Opener "i" is the most traditional track in that regard, with the melancholic lead melody, the screaming near the end and the short climax. "ii" is more math-y, with cool poly-rhythms and a relentless vibe that puts even KIDCRASH to shame. It's sick how the melody always comes through, despite all the rhythmic emphasis by all three instruments (yes, even the guitar sometimes). The vocals don't get much space, but that makes them more effective. And -even when my words are unrelated as fuck- the drummer is quite the beast!
The highlight is the closing "iii". Here NHOMME display their more noisy site with "disturbing" string picking that sounds like a morse code on high volume aaaaand high speed. They fantastically slide into a bad ass, chopped up rhythm part, that gets more nested by the second before dishing out an Emo-part with whiny vocals. Did I mention that their drummer loves to play on his rim? They find an awesome conclusion with "iii", creating a tight crescendo, before freaking out one more time at the end... and fittingly the track and the EP comes to an end with the beeping "morse code". Your ringing ears will thank you a ton, when it's over. But they will essentially long for more.
What a record!
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