I don’t mean to be reductive, but it’s refreshing to hear the ghost of ORCHID still haunts New England. ‘Heavenward, by New Hampshire’s YOUTH FUNERAL, immediately assaults your senses from the second you press play with a wall of what seems like chaotic, dissonant noise. All screams and blastbeats. If you’re wondering why I think that’s refreshing, well, some of us wasted our teen years in the late 90’s throwing our money at everything Level Plane put out. So the eleven songs (totaling around twenty minutes) of ‘Heavenward’ are like a portal to a better, more innocent time (minus the too-small shirts and Spock haircuts.) Back before ‘screamo’ became guys in mascara playing nu-metal songs about killing their girlfriends. Back when $5 or a can of Goya beans could get you into a show. But lest you think YOUTH FUNERAL are simply a nostalgia act (or that I’m a million years old, pining for the days when my body didn’t always hurt), they surprise you with dynamics out the ass. They aren’t playing noise for noise’s sake. There’s melody in those screamy hills. The pummeling of “Unthought” gives way to the calmness of “Bloom.” Then they start kicking you in the face all over again with “Amors.” But YOUTH FUNERAL also aren’t some new jack indie band pretending to be a metal or hardcore band (you know who you are! You can’t hide behind a DARKTHRONE shirt forever!!!). They know their ORCHID, PG.99, HEROIN, INDIAN SUMMER, etc., etc. better than most. So if that’s what gets your blood pumping, you just found your new favorite band.

Their limited edition vinyl (available from Skeletal Lightning/Dog Knights Productions) is sold out. As is their cassette tape. However, these things usually have a way of turning up at shows, so get your ass to the their record release show on January 7th at The Democracy Center in Cambridge. It’s a Planned Parenthood benefit show featuring ASCEND / DESCEND, HUNDREDS OF AU, and more. I’ll see you there (look for the geriatric in the white belt. Free Mumia!)