The Belgrade scene has been thriving in recent years, with many new bands and acts emerging with incredible recordings that are not only worth the praise but should also become a staple on your playlists and record collections. “Sparrows Chirping At Witching Hour” is unquestionably one of those records that demand your utmost attention if you’re looking for a comprehensive collection of modern hardcore tracks packed with unfiltered anger, power, aggression, and meaningfulness. It comes as no surprise why this album resonates with tremendous quality, considering that 3 A.M. consists of veteran musicians known for their work in renowned local bands such as Doghouse, Austerity, Stonewall, On The Run, Hitman, Violent Chapter, Rain Delay, Awaiting Fear, and Void Inn, to name a few. Packed with ten marvelous compositions, “Sparrows Chirping At Witching Hour” shines with everything you ever needed from a modern hardcore album, yet don’t be surprised if you stumble upon generous servings of crossover, hardcore punk, and punk rock, because this material carries something for everyone. Besides dominantly resonating with all those qualities that meet trends on the contemporary hardcore scene, you’ll also notice a subtle touch of nostalgia, paying homage to the nineties and noughties hardcore music. Therefore, “Sparrows Chirping At Witching Hour” will appeal to even those picky hardcore music enthusiasts looking for cleverly assembled and flawlessly performed music.
This material shines with quality in all possible aspects. These folks left no stone unturned while writing, composing, arranging, recording, and producing this material, making “Sparrows Chirping At Witching Hour” a worthy contribution to the regional hardcore scene worth repeating over and over again. With standout tracks like “Giant Egos,” “Spider’s Web,” “No Masters No Slaves,” “QuickShot II,” “Jeopardy Of Sins,” “Sober Sequence,” and “Last Goodbye,” it’s one of those albums that immediately grabs you by the collar and refuses to let go long after it ends. Of course, you should pay close attention while listening to the entire material, because the remainder of the songs sound equally impressive. Each composition arrives with a perfect structure, fully stacked with many profoundly detailed segments where each instrumentation bursts with complexity. From the onset till the very end, 3 A.M. prove they’re one of the finest local hardcore bands who poured years of experience, knowledge, skills, and talent into every section of each song. It’s hardcore music performed with heart and soul with an in-your-face approach that leaves no one indifferent. Each vocal, sonic, and rhythm section has its place and purpose in this sonic equation, and it sounds so passionate and meaningful from scratch to finish. You’ll immediately notice these folks play these tracks with conviction, straight from the heart.
The guitars absolutely reign supreme here. With an entire amalgam of raw, abrasive, gritty, powerful riffs included along the way, “Sparrows Chirping At Witching Hour” will appeal not only to hardcore fans but also to die-hard metalheads interested in the crossover thrash genre. Whether fully unleashed or palm-muted, these guitar works define the backdrop that immensely supports all vocal arrangements. You’ll also stumble upon those catchy, memorable, engaging themes, melodies, harmonies, licks, accentuations, and other sonic maneuvers, decorating the aforementioned riffs. Aref has put a lot of effort into this guitar work, resulting in marvelous instrumentations that will appeal to even the pickiest hardcore fans. Vocals play a significant role in this sonic equation. Miloš’s soulful, passionate, sincere, confident, powerful screams and shouts elevate everything to new heights, command attention, and guide the listening apparatus from scratch to finish. His excellent vocal performance seamlessly glides all over those low, mid, and high notes, emphasizing everything the remainder of the band intended to achieve with this material. Besides decorating all those segments and instrumentations, Marko also contributes emotional depth and complexity to already intricate song structures. Of course, there are additional vocal layers, back vocals, and singalongs, a traditional staple of every hardcore album that gives such anthemic vibes that invite listeners to join in shouting the lyrics alongside the band.
“Sparrows Chirping At Witching Hour” wouldn’t sound this powerful without an equally impressive rhythm section. Janko delivers all those intricate, vividly hearable, warm-sounding basslines, providing more than necessary heaviness, clarity, and depth while acting like a glue between guitars and rhythmic patterns. These low-ends are rich, dense, deep, and heavy, arriving like a colossal wall of sound that contributes more power, groove, and detail to these tracks. In the meantime, Marko demonstrates fascinating drumming performance, built upon expertly assembled, flawlessly performed, well-accentuated, dynamic beats, breaks, fills, and other percussive acrobatics. These rhythmic sequences keep the remainder of the band in line while dictating groove and pace with immense precision. You’ll notice how every hit of the snare, kick on the bass drum, and splash over the cymbal penetrates the ambiance, offering even more complexity and detail to this material. 3 A.M. thought about everything while writing, composing, arranging, recording, and producing “Sparrows Chirping At Witching Hour.” These experienced musicians have poured heart and soul into this material, and their effort resulted in a magnificent display of hardcore power that only Belgrade bands can deliver. Adorned with the illustration by Nikola Pegan, this material sounds and looks marvelous, so you should immediately add it to your music radar because 3 A.M. unquestionably deserves your love and attention. “Sparrows Chirping At Witching Hour” is available on all streaming platforms. Don’t miss it!
Thoughts Words Action 