Nikad

Location: Zagreb, Croatia

Year active: 2000 - 2002

Members: Ivan Jakić, Krešo Žerjav, Neven Kamenski

Related bands: Amok, Clean, Dead Dog Summer, Don't Mess With Texas, Kinoklub, Latest, Ponor, Radio Free Isaac, Senata Fox, Storms

Labels: Firewalk With Me, My Favorite Records, Get Off Records, Black Star Foundation

FFO: Mohinder, Angel Hair, Ivich, Jasemine, early Raein

A mail came to me this Monday morning. I remember it took about 31 days to get here, getting anxious on whether the customs would either accept it or return it to the Discogs seller, forcing me to ask him for a 21 euro refund. I was rightfully relieved when i accepted the package and happily played on my gramophone. It sent me through a trip down to memory lane of how i discovered them in the first place.

Back in 2011, i remember feeling hopeless and alone thinking that there's no way that not one band that plays this particular style can exist in this region. And that is until i accidentally found this band, either on YouTube or last.fm. As i've read the description revealing them being from Croatia, i had to check it out. I could not believe what i've either seen or heard. This cannot be real, i thought, this is some good shit right fucking there. I was both relieved and mind-blown of its very own existence.

Nikad (trans: Never) was formed in Croatia's capital, Zagreb in 2000. All members previously played in SxE Emocore band Clean (or rather Cleanxxx). At the time of this band's existence. They're released a s/t demo EP via My Favorite records, followed by their split release with Children of Fall (GER) titled "Four Symptomatic Poems Of A World Gone Insane", released by Get Off Records and Black Star Foundation. Then finally, Nikad dropped their s/t LP before breaking up in 2002. After that, they moved on to perform in Amok, Dead Dog Summer, Don't Mess With Texas, Kinoklub, Latest, Ponor, Radio Free Isaac, Senata Fox and Storms.

Since i already ordered the LP that came, i feel like this might be the chance to review it anyway.

"Man or Machine?" starts with worrisome quiet guitar playing for 1:10 minutes before drums and guitar kick in, joining in a tornado of shrieking, desperate vocals in the midst of chaos during the last half of a minute, packed with minimalist, confessional lyrics. The desperate vocals lament the effects of depersonalisation. Next in "Farewell", after a few strings pulled we're quickly pulled in to witness the chaos of the unthinkable, as lyrics suggests being suicide. "Last chance to say goodbye, last chance to try again". Then follows the heartfelt quasi-instrumental "This Letter Says..." along with the tearful movie sample about being unable to confess one's own desires. The side A ends with their cover of Rites of Spring's "Hidden Wheel". While it's a great nod to the pioneers of the genre, it sort of falls off the pace.

Side B picks us up again into the emotional rollercoaster of "Ivan The Dancer" which make a turning point in 0:44 where this melancholic guitar turns into the oceans of sorrow throughout the song. "Papermade" goes off thunderous and strikes its storm one last time before quieting down, letting a furious sample of True Lies before calling it off with their instrumental closure "Ran Over By Volvo".

The LP is very reminiscent of 90's cali screamo bands, particularly from San Diego scene such as Gravity records. It has plenty of Mohinder and Angel Hair influences running around, as well as from europe, including Jasemine, Ivich and Raein.

It's definitely one of the most underrated out there and it totally wears its heart on its sleeve. If only this band gets reunited and starts performing soon, i will not hesitate to see them and neither should you.

Check their Bandcamp here!