06/11/2025
-LOCAL REVIEW-
BAND: No Closure
SINGLES: FORGETTING IS A KINDNESS TOO
FOREVERMORE
A DARKER SHADE (MUSIC VIDEO)
No Closure
Hailing from the sun drenched urban sprawl of Pretoria, South Africa, NO CLOSURE concoct a heady brew of bludgeoning and impassioned Hardcore that bristles with blistering rhythms, burly riffs and impassioned vocals.
Founded in 2023 and cementing their line up in 2024, NO CLOSURE, although a fledgling act, are undoubtedly seasoned musicians for they deliver their particular brand of vein bursting Hardcore with tightly wound acumen.
Featuring Kyle Robertson on guitar, Estian Smith on vocals, Katlego Molepo on bass and Juan Van Niekerk on drums, this four piece collective conjure forth Hardcore that harkens back to a time in which bands like Vision Of Disorder, Turmoil, Blood For Blood, Buried Alive and Hatebreed were spreading their savage sonic visions with unbridled fervor, sonic visions that are filtered through the modern ferocity of legends such as As Blood Runs Black, Fit For An Autopsy, Emmure and All Shall Perish.
During the course of this review I will unpack my humble perception of a trident of tracks, namely ‘Forgetting Is A Kindness Too’, ‘Forevermore’ and ‘A Darker Shade (Music Video)’.
‘Forgetting Is A Kindness Too’ begins with a staccato rhythm and barrels forward at a ferocious pace with a contrasting rhythmic tapestry that buttresses clean vocals against a tumultuous instrumental backdrop of brutish beatdowns, breakdown oriented bluster and a froth of fiery riffs.
‘Forevermore’ begins with a clean, mournful and melancholic guitar melody, one which is layered with ethereal, emotive and impassioned female vocals. At one minute and twenty seconds into the track one is reminded of the Emo-infused screamo of Thursday as distorted guitars and desperate, screaming vocals propel the track to its conclusion.The contrast between this track and ‘Forgetting Is A Kindness Too’ cannot be understated.
Their debut single ‘A Darker Shade’ which begins with a sample from the Horror masterpiece ‘The VVITCH’ by Robert Eggers is a pummeling piece of propulsive Hardcore heft and swagger. Peppered with chunky riffs, featuring a melancholic chorus and infused with midtempo, chugging riffs and quality breakdowns, ‘A Darker Shade’ which depicts NO CLOSURE performing live and socialising with fans is a flawlessly executed track that is a fine representation of the type of Hardcore-meets Metalcore menace that NO CLOSURE specialise in.
NO CLOSURE are undoubtedly talented and good at what they do, that cannot be disputed. For those that are bound to the type of Hardcore-Metalcore malevolence that is modern, melodious and threaded through with vintage vitriol, NO CLOSURE should be a band that you check out and posthaste.
-Asher Locketz-
France the Planet
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wgcy45DEtXA
