Hang – Nothingness LP (Geenger Records)

If you paid close attention to what’s happening on the regional scene, it seems like the metallic hardcore scene has been stagnant in recent years, with not so many bands working and releasing music. Some of the longstanding acts have even disbanded, with remaining members joining other hardcore or non-hardcore bands or even quitting music for good. While this phenomenon doesn’t come lightly, it’s safe to say there are many reasons for those decisions, and no one can blame them after all. Thankfully, some older bands appeared last year by reissuing old or releasing new material, and Hang is certainly one of those legendary Serbian metallic hardcore bands worth mentioning. After a decade-long hiatus, they’re back with “Nothingness,” a new material that will definitely satisfy all those music enthusiasts interested in hardcore, metal, or crust punk sound. With eight new compositions and two re-recorded songs, Hang delivers one of the best works the metalcore scene has witnessed in years. For all those longtime fans who grew up listening to this incredible band, “Nothingness” will serve as a binding element, reminding them why they fell in love with this band in the first place, while the newbies to the genre will experience what metalcore used to be before the overwhelming popularization and commercialization of the genre.

Lyrically, Hang were always at that dark side of the spectrum, delivering honest lyrics about being, living, and failing as a human being, but there’s always a glimpse of hope included along the way. They perfectly explore various sentiments, moods, situations, and circumstances without delivering overly watery, distilled, or diluted lyrics. Instead, the band understands that, before finding the light at the end of the tunnel, the character needs to go through thick and thin, go through living hell, suffer, experience nothingness in its true nihilistic form, and then, eventually, overcome all the obstacles and reach that light at the end of the tunnel. In this day and age, when hardcore bands deliver overly positive, unrealistic, repetitive messages, Hang’s lyrics arrive as a slap of reality, a wake-up call that we must be prepared for any scenario. And of course, there’s always brilliant sonic support to back those messages up, and those are the moments when Hang truly shines. As a band that never delivered a bad release, the scene had high hopes for this one as well, and Hang did it once again, in their recognizable style. If you expected a perfect blend of hardcore, metal, and crust, well, “Nothingness” goes through the roof with all those finest properties borrowed from each genre. Now, it’s difficult to say which style shines the most when Hang blended everything together so perfectly, but once again, they are one of those bands that never disappoints and never ceases to amaze. From scratch to finish, everything sounds so thoughtfully, wisely, carefully, expertly, perfectly blended together that you’ll immediately feel the urge to repeat it all over again.

And “Nothingess” is definitely one of those records that reward repeated listens. As soon as you press play, you’ll realize these folks are not joking around with their music. The vocals exist in that sweet spot between screams and shouts, delivering lyrics with sincerity, passion, soul, and power. They deliver rawness, aggression, suiting guitar works so perfectly. The additional vocal layers, back vocals, bring more anthemic vibes to certain segments, making this material so anthemic when needed. Of course, there’s also a guest appearance by the legendary Dwid Hellion, the lead vocalist of Cleveland heavyweights Integrity, who did a flawless job on his parts. In the meantime, the entire barrage consisting of catchy, memorable, engaging themes, melodies, harmonies, and riffs shapes a perfect backdrop for all the vocals to shine upon. The guitars rage throughout the entire material, bringing even more rawness, abrasiveness, aggression, and power while preserving that melodic edge. Also, this album wouldn’t sound complete without the equally impressive rhythm section. You’ll notice how the warm-sounding, vividly hearable, intricate basslines rumble beneath the guitars, offering more than necessary heaviness, clarity, and depth while serving as a binding element between the mentioned instrumentation and rhyhtmic patterns. The exceptional drumming keeps everything in time while dictating groove and pace with thoughtfully arranged, flawlessly performed, well-accentuated beats, breaks, fills, and other percussive acrobatics. Depending of the song’s mood and ambiance, the drummer brings groove, detail, dynamics, and other qualities to the table without sounding predictable. As you can see and hear, each instrument has its place and purpose here, making “Nothingness” such an incredible album worth repeating over and over again.

Therefore, if you’re looking for an album that will simultaneously force you to question everything and force you to headbang in your room, then “Nothingness” is that perfect, crusty, metallic hardcore album packed with seriously good vocal lines, guitar riffs, intricate basslines, and groovy beats. It’s definitely one of the best works of the Serbian underground scene witnessed last year. Head to Geenger Records and purchase this gem on vinyl.