Park+Riot – Wise Words – LP

What a blast! Sometimes less really is more — a lesson learned from the example of Park+Riot from Leipzig.

Samuel and Micha play guitar and drums, and that’s enough here to kick up some serious chaos. Somehow they remind you of mid-’90s chaoscore, with a wild dash of post-rock and the necessary little melodies that make the songs stick in your head. Despite all that, the songs are incredibly dense and coherent — they don’t feel pieced together or disjointed. What unites these songs is definitely a feel for rhythm and melody, which somehow brings even the most chaotic track back on track and almost gives rise to pop moments. For example, on “The End” spoken-word parts meet black-metal-like battering attacks; on “Clouds” driving Swedish-core parts meet post-metal atmospheric tinkling, only to pick up speed again with lots of effect and eventually end in a hefty neck-breaker mosh — great! Here are three bands in one, and the one on top of it all still has something to say. When at “Long Run” the whole place sings the chorus along, even the last person knows they’re part of something really important.

→ All copies come with a download code and a poster!