22 Dec 2024
Amanaki - EP Review: Immutable
08 Mar 2019 // A review by Paul Goddard
What is it with Hamilton and its ability to create some of the best Hardcore bands in New Zealand?
Maybe like the way all the hotels and shops turn their backs on the mighty Waikato river, the people who form/join bands there turn their noses up at what is going on with the “I wanna get played on the Rock” mentality of some of the more well-known Auckland acts?
I don’t know why but having lived in both cities there is a difference. Something a bit more of a small(er) town mentality. More of a scene, especially when it comes to Hardcore music.
Whatever it is long may it continue as Hamilton/Auckland outfit Amanaki have just produced a brutal collection of songs that are as simple in their complexity as they are brutal in their beauty.
The Immutable EP opens with the heartfelt Everything. An atmospheric opening melts into an almost tribal chant that soon shifts gear into more familiar territory. It is only 2 mins long and the perfect indicator of what is to follow
Return ups the gears as its lyrics are spat into a maelstrom of pummeling drums and intricate guitar. From the opening riff it never lets up. Like someone perfectly summed up on the Amanaki Facebook page “this makes me want to flail like a fish on dry land”
The lyrics on this EP tend to follow a theme of unity with friends/lovers and standing up against the shit that life/people can throw at you. Conflicting emotions of love and hate as always blurred by the day to day of life. It is all fuel for the fire
Pressure is a full on diatribe of pent up anger being released whilst realising that at the end there is always hope and friendship as we all go through the same shit together.
Something that affects far too many people is addressed in Domestics. Given the subject matter it is one of the more melodic tracks but loses none of the venom “your fists don’t show love” Exactly!
Hypocrite is my favourite track. It punches and kicks and then breathes in before unleashing again. It is exhausting. Played live this one is going to be a killer. One of the catchier tracks it shows why Amanaki are way ahead of most of their contemporaries.
Overcast connected with me with its message of you are not alone as I am sitting in the UK writing this today having just found out that Keith Flint took his own life.
Many hardcore bands might have lyrics that get dismissed because of the nature of the music and the way it is delivered but Amanaki have far more to say than most of the shite you will ever hear on the radio.
Roots is an interesting closer. Just 58 seconds long with no lyrics it shows a diversity and willingness to experiment. Just as it builds it abruptly stops leaving a distinct sense of satisfaction with what I have just heard over the past 15 mins.
The production is excellent, the musicianship faultless. One of the best collections of songs I have heard in a long time. I bought the EP.
You should too.
What is it with Hamilton and its ability to create some of the best Hardcore bands in New Zealand?Maybe like the way all the hotels and shops turn their backs on the mighty Waikato river, the people who form/join bands there turn their noses up at what is going on with the “I wanna get played on the Rock” mentality of some of the more well-known Auckland acts?
I don’t know why but having lived in both cities there is a difference. Something a bit more of a small(er) town mentality. More of a scene, especially when it comes to Hardcore music.
Whatever it is long may it continue as Hamilton/Auckland outfit Amanaki have just produced a brutal collection of songs that are as simple in their complexity as they are brutal in their beauty.
The Immutable EP opens with the heartfelt Everything. An atmospheric opening melts into an almost tribal chant that soon shifts gear into more familiar territory. It is only 2 mins long and the perfect indicator of what is to follow
Return ups the gears as its lyrics are spat into a maelstrom of pummeling drums and intricate guitar. From the opening riff it never lets up. Like someone perfectly summed up on the Amanaki Facebook page “this makes me want to flail like a fish on dry land”
The lyrics on this EP tend to follow a theme of unity with friends/lovers and standing up against the shit that life/people can throw at you. Conflicting emotions of love and hate as always blurred by the day to day of life. It is all fuel for the fire
Pressure is a full on diatribe of pent up anger being released whilst realising that at the end there is always hope and friendship as we all go through the same shit together.
Something that affects far too many people is addressed in Domestics. Given the subject matter it is one of the more melodic tracks but loses none of the venom “your fists don’t show love” Exactly!
Hypocrite is my favourite track. It punches and kicks and then breathes in before unleashing again. It is exhausting. Played live this one is going to be a killer. One of the catchier tracks it shows why Amanaki are way ahead of most of their contemporaries.
Overcast connected with me with its message of you are not alone as I am sitting in the UK writing this today having just found out that Keith Flint took his own life.
Many hardcore bands might have lyrics that get dismissed because of the nature of the music and the way it is delivered but Amanaki have far more to say than most of the shite you will ever hear on the radio.
Roots is an interesting closer. Just 58 seconds long with no lyrics it shows a diversity and willingness to experiment. Just as it builds it abruptly stops leaving a distinct sense of satisfaction with what I have just heard over the past 15 mins.
The production is excellent, the musicianship faultless. One of the best collections of songs I have heard in a long time. I bought the EP.
You should too.
Rating:
( 5 / 5 )
About Amanaki
Recently headlining North Supply Co's Roll The Bones 3 as well as supporting Banks Arcade & The Gloom In The Corner (AUS) in Hamilton and No Life in Auckland and Hamilton. Amanaki are also touring around New Zealand later in the year - stay tuned for dates.
Using lockdown, Amanaki have produced multiple releases of music, featuring some of the scene's best vocalists. With two EP's under their belts and 70,000+ streams on Spotify, Amanaki can't wait to release their next art to the world.
Visit the muzic.net.nz Profile for Amanaki
Releases
Other Reviews By Paul Goddard
Cairo Knife Fight - EP Review: Dream Season
19 Jul 2024 // by Paul Goddard
Cairo Knife Fight have been around a while and been through a lot. Spawned in NZ and now based in the U S of A it has been a journey full of highs and lows.
Read More...
The Dirty Tones - Album Review: Sweet Thang
23 May 2024 // by Paul Goddard
For me, Blues music is the real soul music. It has storytelling like Country and folk music and passion like Rock music, but at its core it gives a window into the soul of the people creating it.
Read More...
Sam Cullen - EP Review: Love Again
18 Apr 2024 // by Paul Goddard
When I first heard this brand-new EP from Invercargill native Sam Cullen, I was immediately reminded of another famous Sam who has an equally famous last name (Fender).The four songs on the Love Again EP have a familiarity and similarity with roots going back to Springsteen and the well-trodden stadium rock road but there is also something in the songs on Love Again that could only be grown in New Zealand.
Read More...
Skitch Hiker - Single Review: Slippery Wet Handshake
30 Jun 2023 // by Paul Goddard
Wow.Just when you have given up on music and banging your head against a brick wall wondering why Taylor Swift is more popular than toilet roll during a pandemic something like this comes along.
Read More...
Retro Valley - Single Review: Backseat Lovers
19 May 2023 // by Paul Goddard
Right from the opening bars of Backseat Lovers by Hamilton-based Retro Valley it is clear that this song is pure class.This 3-minute tune is a next-level lesson in how to create, perform and produce a pop/indie classic.
Read More...
Murmur Tooth and Lars Moston - Album Review: No Time To Explain
19 May 2023 // by Paul Goddard
Collaborations can work. Sometimes they do most of the time they don't.
Read More...
Album Review: Sex Dad's Greatest Hits: The Very Best Of Sex Dad
27 Dec 2022 // by Paul Goddard
Feeling bloated and underwhelmed. Listening to mainstream radio in the car as I left my phone at home.
Read More...
Marrow Neck - EP Review: Made Up
23 Nov 2022 // by Paul Goddard
Sitting here in a very wet and cold, rainy UK watching the oldies falling out of the local Wetherspoons where they have been on the piss since 9am (yep the UK is weird it's only the old people who can afford to get pissed all day).I am reflecting on the past as I listen to the latest EP Made Up from Auckland-based Mark Hannington.
Read More...
Most Viewed Artists
Latest Galleries
NZ Top 10 Singles
- APT.
ROSÉ And Bruno Mars - DIE WITH A SMILE
Lady Gaga And Bruno Mars - BIRDS OF A FEATHER
Billie Eilish - TASTE
Sabrina Carpenter - I LOVE YOU, I'M SORRY
Gracie Abrams - ESPRESSO
Sabrina Carpenter - SAILOR SONG
Gigi Perez - LOSE CONTROL
Teddy Swims - A BAR SONG (TIPSY)
Shaboozey - GOOD LUCK, BABE!
Chappell Roan
More Content on muzic.net.nz
Google Site Search
Custom Search
100% New Zealand Music
All content on this website is copyright to muzic.net.nz and other respective rights holders. Redistribution of any material presented here without permission is prohibited.
Report A Problem
