VS Self's Closet Witch Future...Ed

January 08, 2024 by David Norman

Okay lotsa stuff going on in January, here’s the schedule for the next week:
Monday = Closet Witch music video
Tuesday = Our Future Is An Absolute Shadow music video
Wednesday = Carrion Spring tape promo pics
Thursday = Our Future Is An Absolute Shadow cover/tracklist
Friday = ZBR Fest 2024 Wave #3
Saturday = Tristan Tzara ‘Discography’ digital release
Monday = Our Future Is An Absolute Shadow ‘LP’ 12” release
Tuesday = Edhochuli single

This past Saturday we released the VS Self tapes with the Canada/International store and Bandcamp pages being gutted almost immediately. The US store still has a fair amount of copies so snag some from there! All links are available through our Bandcamp page embedded below.

There was another Closet Witch music video, this new one features a bunch of live footage over the song “Constantly Problematic”. It’s less than a minute of your time and ‘Chiaroscuro’ was on almost every grind/screamo list that we saw, so feel free to pick up a copy below.

Not Just A Phase helped us out again with the Spotify playlist, so check it out below if you want the heftiest dose of ZBR on the internet. Click on this text or the pic above to go to the playlist.

No Heirloom got some much deserved love on Stereogum. We’re running low on these beauties /50 so hop on it! Click on this text or the pic above for the review, jam it below.

Operation X-Ray did an amazing job with their Best Of Screamo/Skramz 2023 and features a ton of artists, including a hefty handfull of our own. Jam it below (noise rock stuff is first, screamo is a little past halfway thru).

Blind Girls ‘Residue’ is on the heels of a repress from No Funeral (we got some copies too) on the This Noise Is Ours Zegema Beach Roster Review series. We still have some copies of the follow-up ‘The Weight is Everything’. Click on this text or the pic above to go to the review, jam it below!

Othiel’s debut 12”LP ‘We Will Be Our Home’ keeps getting love and moving out of our store. I wouldn’t expect us to have any copies left when they play ZBR Fest 2024. Woot! Click on this text or the pic above for the review. Jam/buy below.

Johnny’s Reco-mmendations: THIN = Incredible mathcore/grindcore/screamo for those who want it totally nuts.

2024 - 01 - 05 /// VS Self podcast & tapes tomorrow!

January 05, 2024 by David Norman

Our 2-week break is almost done, with the U.S. store getting the last of the Blind Girls repress 12” and Gifts From Enola boxset by early next week. Speaking of next week, you’ll find the newest Closet Witch music video on Monday, Our Future Is An Absolute Shadow cover/tracklist reveal + music video, Carrion Spring cassette pictures, and ZBR Fest 2023 Wave #3. As well as all that ridiculousness, we’ve got the VS Self tapes going up for sale tomorrow, that’s Saturday January 6th at 9am PST / 11am CST / 12pm EST. Speaking of VS Self, the podcast that CanaDave did with Kyle of the band and Self Versed Records just went live, so check it out here in full or above via embed.

Inosuke gave an in-depth interview and track-by-track explanation via the always awesome Idioteq.com. The 12”s should ship to us early next week so we’ll post some pics once they arrive! Click on the pic above or this text to read the full article.

Carrion Spring also got a nice write-up along with additional information about each song on the EP. The tapes are done and ship to the US store today so we’ll put them up for sale on January 17th at 9am PST / 11am CST / 12pm EST. Click on this text or the pic above to access the full read.

Tanner (guitar) from In Loving Memory went on the Everything Remade podcast and gave some very interesting information regarding the band and it’s past. Listen above or jam their new EP below (we still have a few non-swirled tapes left in stock!)

There’s a massive Top EPs 2023 list by Borderline Fuckup that captures an excellent snapshot of emo/screamo/hardcore this past year. Lots of ZBR and Tomb Tree artists on there! Check it out by clicking on the pic above or this text.

Rolling Stone nailed two ZBR releases in their top 10. Rick Carp for president, that guy nails this every year.

Nhomme also appeared on the Heavy Pop EP list, check the full list out by clicking on the pic or this text. Jam that ridiculous music video below.

The Screamo Awards 2023 is still live! Make your voice heard!!! Click below to vote!

Johnny’s Reco-mmendations: DJ 54KURA = This is an electronic/breakbeat EP from Dov (Terrifying Girl’s High School, Diva Plavalaguna) was created entirely on the Sega Dreamcast. Dope + dope + dope = Dov.

2024 - 01 - 01 /// Welcome to 2024

January 01, 2024 by David Norman

This is the last post during our “break”, and we’ll be coming back full force on January 6th with the VS Self tape (pictured below). Until then you can snag some ZBR Fest tickets here, check out CanaDave’s podcast with Ryan of Dreamwell here, or just live your life cuz 2024 is gonna be a rollercoaster. Much love from the Daves.

Zampler #22 ‘86 Percent Combat Effective’ is out and kicking serious ass. 29 jams including 6 previously unreleased by Edhochuli, Terry Green, Gossip, Burial Etiquette, and Our Future Is An Absolute Shadow. Art by Yuri of Bok Suna!

Opheliac + For You, Always For You split cassette just released on CanaDave’s Softseed Music label. Opheliac features Taylor of Burial Etiquette doing some of the most beautiful stuff I’ve ever heard (think Grouper’s more accessible material, but condensed) and Lillyn who you will find hanging out at nearly every screamo fest around doing her best experimental noise/shoegaze/screamo hybrid. If you wanna buy a copy from this store to ship with your ZBR stuff you can find a few copies in the Softseed Section, linked here.

CanaDave has been posting how-to-dip videos on TikTok so if you aren’t following us there you probably should! Starting on Jan 6th you’ll be getting hit with videos about 4-5x per week!

You can also click on this pic to go to our TikTok page!

Edie (Coma Regalia/Middle Man Records) and Seth (Funeral Diner/Repeater Records) had a Best of 2023 chat and holy smokes did our name come up a lot. Lotsa love to you two, and the episode was awesome!!!

And don’t forget that we released the No Heirloom self-titled 7” lathe a few days back! The clears went very quickly and now we’re down to just black, and we’ve got less than 20 left.

Operation X-Ray was at it again, this time giving our Inosuke some love. I’ve been told the Best of 2023 is next so I’m hella stoked for that episode!

Click here to jam/buy that much discussed Closet Witch record!!!

We had some releases show up on a few Best of 2023 lists including Closet Witch on Riff Cult, Closet Witch again on Archyde, and Zmar on Anarchist Federation.

Johnny’s Reco-mmendations: THE SCREAMO AWARDS = Instead of listening to something new, take a few minutes to fill out this Best of 2023 survey!!! Click on the pic below or this text to put in your two cents!

2023 - 12 - 22 /// Gifts From Enola + ZBR Fest Wave 2!

December 22, 2023 by David Norman

Wave 2 is here! Holy crap! Direct ticket link:

https://www.ticketweb.com/event/zbr-fest-2024-two-day-subterranean-tickets/13336913?pl=beatkitchen

Gifts From Enola released yesterday and we immediately sold all of the test dips and swirls, as well as over half of the opaque/transparent versions. Check out this incredible band on the 10th anniversary of their hiatus.

After our two-week break the VS Self ‘Collection 19-23’ cassette releases (that’s Saturday January 6th). Above are the promo pics for each variant, starting with the primary bird/branch/flower swirl (the most abundant) all the way to the test dips (the rarest). Every one looks badass and will probably fly out the door.

Obroa-skai is still getting love, this time from Everything Is Noise focusing on the unique and experimental side of the band. The Canada store should be restocked next week, in the meantime sneak over to the US store to snag a copy. Click on this text or the pic above to go there, or jam/buy below!

Brooklyn Vegan dropped their 10 Best Screamo albums and we’ve got a couple on there! Check out the article to find out who made it!!! Click on the pic above or this text to go there.

Invisible Oranges gave their best grindcore albums from the latter half of 2023 and obviously Closet Witch is on there. Check the list by clicking on this text and jam/buy ‘Chiaroscuro’ below.

Out Past the Rings #180 is the Malisa Bahat and Zmar split 7”…and we’re down to one last copy! Also be sure to see Zmar at ZBR Fest 2024 and pick up their new 12”LP ‘Naporad’ which is linked via this text.

Johnny’s Reco-mmendations: было подло = This five-track demo from Russia shows hella promise. Stoked on future recordings!

These go live at 9am PST / 11am CST / 12pm EST!!!

2023 - 12 - 09 /// Onewaymirror 12"s in one hour, Inosuke in 48 hours

December 09, 2023 by David Norman

Onewaymirror 12”s go up for sale in just one hour, 9am PST / 11am CST / 12pm EST with BSDJ’s copies going up later today. There are only 200 copies so be sure to snag one immediately…we only have around 40! The vinyl links will become active at the bottom of the bandcamp page embedded below.

Inosuke’s debut 12” LP releases on Monday! We’ll have the digitals out as well as a rare vinyl pre-order. The tests were approved back in mid-November so we should have them in January. There’s 125 Galaxy and 125 3-Color Smash. We don’t like doing mock-ups so just go with your heart. Jam a track below!

Behold, the nebula and random ‘The Weight of Everything’ 12”LP second press by Australia’s incredible Blind Girls. This is a co-release with No Funeral and Life Lair Regret Records. These go live on December 13th a little later than usual, 1pm PST / 3pm CST / 4pm EST. Mage pictures next!

Riversleem released their first ever music video through (((((OPENmind/SATURATEDbrain))))) for “Eating Teeth”. It’s a fucking wicked video and a helluva jam to boot. Click on the pic above or this text to get Sleemed, eh?

Carrion Spring got some much deserved love from Stereogum for their new/incredible EP ‘how it all falls away petal by petal’. Be sure to check out the review by clicking on this text or the pic above, and jam that amazing stuff below!

Operation X-Ray did another excellent radio show, this time starting off the screamo/skramz section with our very own Othiel and Carrion Spring!

Johnny’s Reco-mmendations: LIVE LONGER BURN EVERYTHING = Awesome screamo/metallic hardcore hybrid that could have come out 20 years and been runnin’ the show!