Neven – U Svakom Srcu Gore Svetla EP

Finally, I can sit down and write a well-deserved review of this band that I’ve been wanting to talk about so badly. I’ve seen their performances numerous times, taken live pics for them, and I also remember being more than excited for this latest release to come out after being teased with their music videos. All of this just makes me completely compelled to give in to this initiative to FINALLY REVIEW IT.

Neven is one of the more recent hardcore punk acts in the Balkans, coming from the heart of Belgrade, Serbia. They self-released their excellent demo in June 2022 and started performing around the country, as well as around the region. I remember seeing them a year ago at AKAB Okretnica, where they opened with a Kirtan performance piece before jumping straight into a tidal wave of moshpits and crowd-surfing (I swear, the kids went absolutely wild). Performances like this are what gained them attention from the local hardcore scene pretty quickly, and then they were later approached by Croatia’s Geenger Records, who signed them to release their latest EP U Svakom Srcu Gore Svetla, which translates in English to “There is a light burning in every heart.”

Their music is best described as a mix of ‘Youth Crew, Beatdown Positive Metalcore, with Khrishna beliefs’ and pulls no absolute punches in their songwriting. Their catchy, abrasive riffs, dynamic, energetic drums, and confrontational vocals, which are a combination of shouting and borderline rapping, pull your attention in this 7-track EP.

Thematically speaking, Neven offers socio-political commentary on life in a societal and systematic decay and calls out to listeners, motivating them to “stay strong and positive regardless of the circumstances.” It’s especially a rarity for a band to emerge in the post-communist region where the amount of far-right societal toxicity, corruption, and governmental oppression completely overwhelms us into hopelessness. With that being said, Neven’s lyrical content gives life to anyone who listens to them.

U Svakom Srcu Gore Svetla is a terrific debut EP that changes the game in the Balkan Hardcore scene. It is highly influential and certainly a must-have for older die-hard fans and newcomers alike. I’m looking forward to hearing new releases in the near future.