Phoenix Bodies

Subtle>>adjective: So delicate or precise as to be difficult to describe.

That’s for the benefit of Shikari and Phoenix Bodies by the way. Neither band ever seeming to have stumbled across the term before, as they amply demonstrate on this snarling transparent red seven inch disk. But then could we have expected anything else?

Shikari’s two contributions see them thrashing around the floor, spit foaming from their mouths in that wondrous “One Eyed God Prophecy on Crack” fashion that they do so well. “Nieuwe politiek 1” blasts the political status quo in the Netherlands and “Tijd was ons niet zo goed gezind” (or “time wasn’t on our side”) is a requiem for a friend who passed away. Bonus points in the bag for lyrical translations and song explanations. If I was the picky type I could perhaps moan about the quiet mastering level. But I’m not, so I will continue to simply turn up the volume.

Phoenix Bbodies open their side with a Muppet’s sample. More Muppet samples in Hardcore please. Ultimately though, this is just a cunning ruse because there is nothing furry or cuddly about the unholy racket Phoenix Bodies blast out. Without a twinkly break down in site, the two vocalists howl and regurgitate the contents of their black psyche over a shattering wall of guitar noise. The lyrics are excellent. Sarcastic pokes at modern living, “Toxic Shock Value Meal!” for example, featuring the immortal opening line “life is like a tampon commercial...”

This is out through Electric Human Project and as usual the artwork is nicely thought out. Both bands have stronger material, but if you like the sound of people grinding bricks into your ears to make gravel, you’ll enjoy this.

- Collective 'Zine UK

Enkephalin rips through the first six tracks playing mathy screamo with a horde of changes, reminding me lossely of Dillinger Escape Plan. Playing nightmarish, spastic post-hardcore with blast beats and insane energy, Phoenix Bodies are the reason to get this split. Both bands have Midwest roots, and you can hear them. - Punk Planet

This split, between Indiana's Phoenix Bodies and Michigan's Enkephalin on Minnesota's Init Records, is not unlike a freight train. It's loud, it's fast, and when it's done you'd swear it wasn't 21 minutes long. Enkephalin's six songs don't blend together at all, which isn't very common for fast bands like that, or at least that's what I think. Musically, this band has everything you want, GREAT drumming and very awesome guitar mastery. Lyrically, however, they've got t his "a bunch of sentences thrown together into an incoherent paragraph" combination that a ot of bands have been doing lately. I think lyrics are overrated anyhow. Phoenix Bodies' six songs are very good as well. Their lyrics are so good. You can tell that whoever wrote these (they have two singers) put some serious thought into what he was trying to say. PB is awesome musically as well, as their two guitar players are good at what they do. If you're into sporadic time signatures and good, fast-paced guitars, then you'll dig it. - Melting Wing

At first I couldn't tell the bands apart, but after a while I could. Both bands play screany, harsh, and technical hardcore. Enkephalin are more technical, and have eerie keyboard interludes and really intricate sounding guitar solos. It's like Dillinger Escape Plan but more spooky on the quiet parts. Phoenix Bodies play more straight forward harsh noise screamo type stuff. This was a good listen and I'd like to hear more from Enkephalin. - Heartattack