Gil Cerrone / Letterbombs – Split EP

Two 21st century overseas screamo-violence legends are as busy as ever. Who would have thought how much they work on their craft?

They are dropping new releases like machines.

Australia’s Gil Cerrone and Finland’s Letterbombs have been planning to release albums in June/July, and this split EP serves as a secret pre-album drop and also serves as a new take on each band’s screamo/emotional sound, so consider it an unplanned coincidence only made possible by Canada’s legendary No Funeral label. Not only that, but it also marks the debut of Letterbombs newcomer, drummer/vocalist Juuso.

Gil Cerrone kicks off their side with frenzied guitars and pulsating drums accompanied by incomprehensible vocals. Maybe incomprehensible is an understatement, because words can’t describe the pain in their inflections. The execution in and of itself is imbued with total melancholy rather than general aggression. It is also totally reminiscent of La Quiete (ala European Screamo) and Touché Amoré (ala bands from the 2010s revival era). It is a perfect combination to complement their side of the split.

Letterbombs’ side emerges as a rollercoaster of emotions and a myriad of influences for about five minutes; blistering blackgaze segments, math rock sequences, occasional Midwest-y clean vocals and raw, anguished screams. Something along the lines of Algernon Cadwallader, Make Me, and The Number Twelve Looks Like You; basically everything this band has to offer. The ever-changing patterns, almost always bordering on mathcore, make this an intensely compelling aspect of the split.

The split itself doesn’t waste any time getting right to the point, clocking in at a mere seven minutes. It serves as an open door for the bands’ new direction, leaving us excited for their new sounds in the coming months. With that said, GET FUCKING STOKED.