Hara Ball Half Tux Review

Hara Ball
Half Tux
Fysisk Format

I first heard this band when i was handed their Sleep Tall LP. And color me impressed. But i never heard much from them after that. Well, this was released in back in June, but hell. I review good music. And this is a continuation of their rough harsh hardcore.

Hailing from the cold winds of Oslo, Norway, these dudes deliver old school, tough, fast as hell hardcore punk. They have two seven inches from 2012; The Rope and Frowns and Downs. Seeing that The Rope's cover is a dude about to hoist up a noose, this is definitely my ilk; angry and fast.

Half Tux (you got me, man) boasts song titles like "Sick of Onions" (again - no idea) and "Off My Meds" and "Drunk at Work". The cynical attitude has me stoked to be pressing play again. And when i do, god damn if this isn't perfection. Production is on target; just let the guys play their songs. Do not fiddle.

The songwriting is comfortably familiar territory while tweaked with nuances to not just be a rehash of their earlier material or other bands'. The opening of "Mallcop Dungeon" is a building ascension wrought with tension and pending energy; it shows the influence of the Circle Jerks and Void. "Drug Tunnel Collapse" is strewn landscape of rhythms, expanding to an epic three and a half minutes.

Most tunes check in between one and two minutes but some songs rock out longer. The title track is under three minutes, but still throws furious, speedy riffs into the forefront. Unbridled energy is relentless on this album; track after track. I picture dudes skating an abandoned concrete pool to this.


FFO: ETA, Vitamin X, Deep Sleep, Sectarian Violence, Cloak/Dagger, Okkultokrati, Iron Reagan

haraball bandcamp
haraball.com

Band members:
Jon Eivind Eriksen – vocal
Vegard Holthe – bass
William Øberg – guitar
Trond Mjøen – guitar
Daniel Wakim – drums