CLOSETALKERS – Path to Peace 7″EP

Neon Taste brings us the debut vinyl from this three-piece hardcore band from Calgary, Canada. While the label describes Closetalkers as d-beat, I don’t hear much Discharge in their sound, except in the roaring maximalism of the production and the sense of menace that pervades these six tracks, which also makes me think of creepy mid-80s Japanese bands. The riffs are catchy (just on the verge of melodic, in fact), relying primarily on furious downstrokes that make me think of S.H.I.T. or Blazing Eye. Closetalkers’ secret weapon, though, is their drummer. The guitarist’s furious downstrokes hold down the driving rhythm, freeing the drummer to pack these songs full of inventive rhythms, creative fills, and unexpected accents. Closetalkers are ripping enough to grab you within a few seconds, but as these songs sink in, you’ll realize there’s a lot more going on than you might notice at first.