Only Constant

GEL

After hearing (and loving) that MSPAINT record, the band's label Convulse Records was on my radar. That's how I came across GEL. Now I thought I was a fan of straight-up hardcore punk, but this record has me double guessing. Everything is sound by hardcore standards, however for me, it might be a little too meat and potatoes. I don't think the riffs are all that catchy or novel, nor do I particularly enjoy Sami Kaiser's tone of voice. To me it sounds really tense, almost like it's difficult to perform. Not to mention that it is also quite monotonous. The drumming I found to be a little sloppy, especially in the faster sections. The timing is off between the kicks and the snares on the d-beats, and with the way they are mixed, you just hear these clumsy flams. These are really just small, nit-picky things as I keep in mind that this is hardcore punk we're talking about, although, I think the real misstep is the interlude track Calling Card. Instrumentally, it's this attempt at ambient, moody, hip-hop that you would typically hear on Lofi Girl radio, and we have these snippets of spoken word that don't really say much of anything, just annoying grievances. The album is only seventeen minutes long, there's no time to waste. If you're a true hardcore punk fan, then there's absolutely no reason for you to dig this. I guess I'm more interested in something that is trying to break the mold.