Ampere/ Sinaloa Split 12" (2006)

This is an amazing Split 12" release that has been blowing my mind lately. Ampere are a progression from the amazing and now defunct Amherst, MA hardcore band Orchid (of which they share a member, the guitarist). If you are a fan Orchid then you will be a huge fan of Ampere. Blazing fast chaotic bursts of noise and frantic hellish screaming with unintelligable lyrics that are guaranteed smarter then you would ever be able to tell without reading the liner notes. Small doses of melody and harmony appear only to be wiped away clean by a complete hurricane of noise. Dont doubt it though, there are some incredible and challenging structures embedded under the noise. Grind and thrash fans should easily find this an exciting and lively addition to their collection, and any fan of punk or hardcore would drool to have this in their hands.

Sinaloa, on the flip side, are a much calmer brand of punk and hardcore. They more closely resemble the mid 90's brand of emo pioneered by bands such as Moss Icon and Native Nod. Dont get me wrong, they still inject their own dose of chaos, its just not a full on assault on the ears as much as Ampere is. They use a more tuneful approach, using jazzy signatures and solid rock drumming to make a perfect "Yang" to Amperes "Yin". What does that mean in simple speak? Ampere is fire and Sinaloa is water, and this Split 12" is one of the best pairings of two bands that I have ever heard. This stuff is elemental in the hardcore realm.


All Our Tomorrows End Today, the debut full length from Ampere manages 11 songs in 10 and a half minutes. Now if that doesn't prepare you for the sonic fury they unlease then maybe you should move on. Thank god its only 10 minutes, because a full hour if this could blow all the fuses in your home and set fire to the carpet and your pets.


Sinaloa's debut full length is again more of the same, it portrays this band as being one of quite few who are carrying the torch of mid 90's hardcore and doing a damn good job of it. Both bands should be on your watch list as they seem to be going places.

The Split and Amperes "All Our Tomorrows End Today" can be found on Ebullition Records along with a bunch of other great hardcore in the same vein. Sinaloa records can be found and bought at 29 North Records
.