I am, to be honest, not that much ‘into’ Hardcore / Punk / D-Beat. Okay, I can appreciate it, but I am not exactly a ‘fan’. However, the Belgian (or in extension: the whole Benelux) scene might be underestimated on international scale, but there is a very vivid and strong upcoming scene going on. Actually, that’s the case since decades, yet lately the scene exponentially sort of explodes.
After The Abyss Stares Back # 1, The Abyss Stares Back # 2, The Abyss Stares Back # 3, and, indeed, The Abyss Stares Back # 4, we can now welcome The Abyss Stares Back # 5, the final instalment of this vinyl series. Under the collaborative flag of Absent In Body, this time too, The Abyss Stares Back stands for a co-operation by some of our world’s most unique, prominent and authoritarian (smiley…) artists.
Sometimes it’s quite strange, but more than once I seem to receive material that is not really my ‘dada’. It is not a problem, for I try to be open-minded, and if the band or label deserves some additional promotion, I am always glad to be of help.
Belgian auto-didactic musician / multi-instrumentalist / composer Mathieu Vandekerckhove is known from his activities in acts like AmenRa, Caan, Sembler Deah or Kingdom, but since ten years, he acts as a solo-artist under the moniker of Syndrome as well. In 2011, for example, he did release the surprising full length Floating Veins (on CD and LP, via ConSouling Sounds).
