RIFF REWIND (24/06/2013): Reproacher - "Nothing To Save"

Reproacher began in late 2009 in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Formed from the remnants of dissolved local bands, Joel joined TJ and Jarret and produced two demos in 2010. Jon joined in late 2010 and the band began writing and touring more seriously. After a handful of shows in March 2011, Reproacher travelled to Salt Lake City to record a self-titled album with Andy Patterson, which was self-released. The band did two west coast tours with defunct Denvergrinders Clinging To The Trees Of A Forest Fire and Death Of Self. Reproacher would later record a Tour Demo in October of 2011 with Patterson once again which was released via Dimlight Records. In the summer of 2012, Reproacher drove coast to coast in a 38-day US tour

“Nothing to Save” their second full length dropped in June 2013 and the band’s misanthropic sophomore release delivered 11 merciless tracks of metallic hardcore mixed with rumbling blasts of low-end vocal snarls. “Nothing to Save” was recorded in 4 days during January 2013 in Salt Lake City by Andy Patterson (Gaza, Call of the Void). 

Fast forward three years and split 7 later, Reproacher would return with their third full length, “Nature’s Bastard” an album where huge, awkward riffs dominate the landscape and their ugly, discordant racket is reminiscent of Converge at their nastiest.”Nature’s Bastard” is a mighty offering, a captivating combination of savage intensity and considered dynamics, but today we’re rewind the clock 4 years to the day and revisiting an album that exposed THE SLUDGELORD to this amazing band, a band you’d be a fool to miss second time around.  So if you missed it the first time, be sure to remedy you error by checking out our review of “Nothing to Save” in full below. Reproacherbreeds hate and disease through sonic decimation. 

By: Richard Powley

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 11/06/2013

Label: Self Released

“Nothing to Save” is a remarkable album, marrying grind, crust, sludge and hardcore, yet never failing to provide anything other than caustic forward momentum. The inclusion of more subdued moments adds wonderfully to the emotional weight of the lyrics whilst also giving the record great replay value. Basically it rules.

“Nothing to Save” DD track listing:

1. Intro
2. Casemate
3. Sophists
4. Averse Arrest
5. Ballast
6. Marginal Being
7. Repose
8. The Champion is Fucked
9. A New Dark Age
10. Crippled Wolves
11. New Skin

The Review:

I’m going to go ahead and admit I had never heard of Cheyenne, WY’s Reproacherbefore receiving “Nothing to Save” to review.

I am now a massive fan of Cheyenne, WY’s Reproacher.

“Nothing to Save” contains 11 crusty, sludge fuelled hardcore tracks, overflowing with bile and rage. The fact that Reproacherwouldn’t sound out of place on a bill with Cursed, Full of Hell, Baptists et al is big praise indeed, but one the band wholeheartedly deserves with this release.

As soon as Intro’s pummelling build up is complete, Reproacher lurch into “Casemate”, complete with Colohan-esque distorted vocals, short grind bursts, dissonant breaks and a propulsive tempo, with the latter three setting the band apart from the many Cursedcopyists formed in their wake. Further across the first part of the album, Reproacherfuse elements of d-beat, sludge, hardcore and Converge style tempo changes and dissonance into a disgustingly cohesive whole.   

With “Ballast”, the band has crafted a perfect centrepiece to the album. Slowing things down ever so slightly and giving more emotional weight to the bleak and desolate lyrical content, the track ends with a plaintive, mournful riff bringing the first half of the album to a suitably grim climax.

“Marginal Being”’sdowntempo, doomy intro belies the tracks surge into furious hardcore, whilst “The Champion is Fucked” tells of the treachery often born of greed and ambition over a furious amalgam of grind and d-beat hardcore. “Nothing to Save”closes with “New Skin”, opening with a slow feedback laden riff that wouldn’t sound out of place coming from Manatees, before settling into a calmer passage that’s ends the record in an unexpectedly thought provoking manner.

“Nothing to Save” is a remarkable album, marrying grind, crust, sludge and hardcore, yet never failing to provide anything other than caustic forward momentum. The inclusion of more subdued moments adds wonderfully to the emotional weight of the lyrics whilst also giving the record great replay value. Basically it rules.

Band info: Bandcamp || Facebook