CUT SELF NOT

Location: Belgrade, Serbia

Year active: 2006 - 2010

Members: Miljan Đokic (bass), Uroš Milkić (drums), Andrija Spičanović (guitar, vocals)

Related bands: 36 Daggers

FFO: At The Drive-In, Shellac, Pretty Girls Make Graves, Q & Not U

Cut Self Not (named after a Faraquet song) was a Belgrade-based trio formed in 2006 by members of 36 Daggers. The band released its only promotional demo EP through SuperSizeShe Records in 2007 before quietly disbanding three years later. In 2021, the demo resurfaced digitally on Bandcamp, giving it a well-deserved second life.

Across four tracks, Cut Self Not embraced a tightly wound blend of math-inflected post-hardcore, drawing comparisons to At the Drive-In, Shellac, Pretty Girls Make Graves and Q and Not U. Angular guitar work, shifting rhythms and infectious melodies are constantly pushed forward by bursts of dissonant noise, yet the songs never lose their sense of direction. Despite the technicality, the band prioritises momentum over showmanship, giving the EP an energy that's as danceable as it is unpredictable.

The standout track, "10.000 Watchers in a Day", begins with shimmering tremolo-picked guitar before unfolding into intertwining melodies, restless rhythmic shifts and half-sung, half-shouted vocals. Clocking in at just over five minutes, it demonstrates the band's ability to stretch an idea without sacrificing urgency, making it the EP's most fully realised composition.

Although short-lived, Cut Self Not captured a side of the Belgrade underground that leaned away from metallic hardcore and toward the angular, danceable end of post-hardcore - a direction that remained relatively uncommon in the region at the time.

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Cut Self Not (oduzet sa pesme od Faraqueta) je bio trio iz Beograda, osnovan 2006. godine od članova benda 36 Daggers. Bend je 2007. objavio svoj jedini promotivni demo EP za SuperSizeShe Records, nakon čega se tri godine kasnije tiho razišao. Godine 2021. demo je ponovo objavljen na Bandcampu, dobivši zasluženu drugu priliku da dopre do nove publike.

Kroz četiri pesme, Cut Self Not gradi zategnut spoj math-rockom obojenog post-hardcorea, često prizivajući bendove poput At the Drive-In, Shellac, Pretty Girls Make Graves i Q and Not U. Uglaste gitarske deonice, promenljivi ritmovi i zarazne melodije neprestano se sudaraju sa naletima disonantnog šuma, ali pesme ni u jednom trenutku ne gube osećaj pravca. Uprkos tehnički zahtevnom pristupu, bend uvek daje prednost dinamici i pokretu ispred virtuoznosti, zbog čega EP odiše energijom koja je istovremeno plesna i nepredvidiva.

Posebno se izdvaja pesma „10.000 Watchers in a Day“, koja počinje svetlucavim tremolo gitarskim deonicama pre nego što preraste u isprepletane melodije, nemirne ritmičke promene i vokale koji se smenjuju između pevanja i uzvika. Sa nešto više od pet minuta trajanja, pesma pokazuje sposobnost benda da razvije ideju bez gubitka hitnosti, čineći je najzaokruženijom kompozicijom na izdanju.

Iako kratkog veka, Cut Self Not predstavljao je onu stranu beogradskog undergrounda koja se udaljavala od metalizovanog hardcorea i okretala uglastijem, ritmički razigranijem post-hardcore zvuku - pravcu koji je u to vreme bio prilično neuobičajen na regionalnoj sceni.

MALLARD

Location: Skopje, North Macedonia

Year active: 2023 - Active

Related bands: Гола Планина Collective

FFO: I Love Your Lifestyle, Големата вода, The Promise Ring, Everyone Asked About You, Now Now, Casper Elgin, Ubili su Batlera

(Not to confuse with another Mallard from Philadelphia)

Mallard are part of a new wave of bands actively shaping the underground in Skopje, North Macedonia. Emerging from the Гола Планина Collective, their work ties directly into a broader effort to build a functioning DIY scene through shows, events, and local collaboration.

Active since 2023, the quartet has so far released a two-track single followed by the promo EP Ferid Bajram VS Vasko Karangeleski in 2026, supported by the independent label Mrtov Konj.

Musically, Mallard lean into a bright but fragile strain of midwest emo - melodic, slightly melancholic, but never static. Tracks like “Ferid Bajram VS Vasko Karangeleski” highlight the band’s dynamic range, with falsetto-driven vocals pushing a sense of vulnerability to the front, while “Повторно (повторно)” shifts into something more unstable, introducing harsh vocals and tightly wound, spiraling guitar work.

Rather than staying locked into one emotional register, Mallard move between restraint and release, giving their songs a sense of motion rather than nostalgia. Their material circles around young adulthood, but not in a purely reflective way - it feels immediate, shaped by lived experience rather than distance.

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Mallard su deo nove generacije bendova koji aktivno oblikuju underground scenu u Skoplju, Severna Makedonija. Potekli iz kolektiva Гола Планина, njihov rad je direktno vezan za širi napor izgradnje funkcionalne DIY scene kroz koncerte, događaje i lokalnu saradnju.

Aktivni od 2023. godine, kvartet je do sada objavio singl sa dve pesme, a zatim i promo EP Ferid Bajram VS Vasko Karangeleski 2026. godine, uz podršku nezavisnog lejbla Mrtov Konj.

Muzički, Mallard naginju ka svetlijem, ali krhkom obliku midwest ema - melodičnom, blago melanholičnom, ali nikada statičnom. Pesme poput „Ferid Bajram VS Vasko Karangeleski“ ističu dinamički raspon benda, gde falset vokali iznose ranjivost u prvi plan, dok „Повторно (повторно)“ uvodi nestabilniju energiju kroz oštrije vokale i zategnute, spiralne gitare.

Umesto da ostanu u jednom emotivnom registru, Mallard se kreću između suzdržanosti i eksplozije, dajući pesmama osećaj kretanja umesto nostalgije. Njihov materijal se bavi temama mladog odraslog doba, ali ne iz distance - već neposredno, oblikovano ličnim iskustvom.

UBILI SU BATLERA

Location: Belgrade, Serbia

Year active: 2021 - ?????

Members: Damjan Vitorović, Luka Lazarević, Matija Ilić, Relja Blagojević

Related bands: ????

FFO: Free Throw, Joyce Manor, The World Is A Beautiful Place, Snowing, Casper Elgin

I've following this band for quite some time now and it is about time that they've released an official debut EP for us to hear. Before that, lemme tell you all on how i found out about this Belgrade-based band from the beginning.

Photo by me

Back in 2022, the frontman guitartist/vocalist Luka dropped a two-track EP 'avgust' under the moniker Luch0 on Bandcamp. The tracks in question are instrumental math-rock/post-hardcore demonstration of his skills. At the time adding it to my list, i didn't realize that he was connected to the Butlers until he contacted me via their IG page. He was admittedly surprised and validated to find his stuff on there, given that he completely forgot about the project. That’s how far back this band quietly existed in the background, slowly crafting something more solid.

Anyway, Ubili su Batlera (trans. They killed the butler) was founded in 2021. They shared demos around YT or somewhere else and started performing around 2022. I actually had the luck to see them twice while reporting the gigs on here in between January and February 2024, especially when they released their first track 'Utorkom, ponekad' (trans. Sometimes on Tuesdays), as part of Hali Gali Kompilacija Vol. 2.

That track alone was a standout. A booming bassline leads the way, with swirls of guitar drenched in emotional nuance. The vocals walk the tightrope between anguish and resignation, held together by steady, deliberate drums. The lyrics hover between existential dread and emotional loyalty:

“U svojoj glavi držim eter
a u rukama prazninu,”

“Biću tvoj nezaposleni ortak utorkom
Biću tvoj poslednji pas u trci s vremenom.”

Then the breaking point:

“Ovde nema nikog
Nikog osim nas...”

It’s an anthem for those fighting quiet battles, trying to make presence mean something again.

Now, fast forward to May 2025: the band drops their long-awaited self-titled EP, recorded between February and March at Down There Studio, with cover artwork by Milica Berić.

Its opener 'Novi Svet' gets the listeners hyped up in pure 'Twinkle Daddies' fashion,  only 1:40 long, but it delivers that punchy, glittering introduction. It only continues with 'Smrt i Filozofije Palanke', merging twinkly guitars with pop punk elements and catchy hooks. My favorite being the next track 'Jedan! Dva!! Tri!!!' where the melody gets more infectious and It hits with a stream-of-consciousness urgency, pairing emotional volatility with vivid summer imagery:

“Opet samoća 

I ideje koje stvorilo je avgustovsko sunce”

“Svaka reč će 

na julskom suncu da ispari.”

Even lines like this carry a poetic weight that feels honest and unfiltered:

“I svaki korak koji naprave 

ove ofucane patike

u jednom smeru vode me

Bez cilja, ali iz potrebe”

The last one being the alt-rock-ish 'Ko Nema u Glavi¿'  where things seem to slow down a little, going straight to the alt. rock route. Think Dinosaur Jr. if filtered through a modern emo lens, less about fuzz and more about that 90s brand of youthful burnout. The unexpected trumpet adds a sense of dramatic finality that works way better than expected.

In 2026, they dropped their second EP Idemo dalje (trans. “Let’s Move On”) in mid-March. The release features four new tracks, some of which include guest appearances from Snoudrop and Bo, along with a cover of the cult classic “Samo ponekad” by the legendary Jarboli.

A further evolution of their songwriting is evident here, with arrangements that feel more eclectic than before. Tight, adrenaline-charged instrumentation is paired with half-screamed, high-pitched vocals and infectious melodies that push their sound forward while keeping its emotional urgency intact.

While many bands from this region tend to lean on trendy aesthetics without depth, Ubili su Batlera are a rare exception. Their music isn’t just stylish—it’s deeply lived-in. There’s an authenticity in their writing that makes them feel essential. They're in fact one of the few bands, whose songwritings actually carry justice in an otherwise the quasi 'emo-free' region. 

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Pratim ovaj bend već neko vreme i došao je trenutak da konačno imamo njihov zvanični debi EP pred sobom. Ali hajde prvo da ispričam kako sam ih uopšte otkrio.

Još 2022. godine, frontmen Luka (gitara/vokal) izbacio je dvotrekovni EP avgust pod pseudonimom Luch0 na Bandcampu. Te stvari su bile instrumentalni math-rock/post-hardcore showcase njegovih veština. Kad sam ih dodao na listu, nisam ni kapirao da ima veze sa Batlerima, dok mi se nije javio preko njihovog Instagram naloga. Bio je prijatno iznenađen i pomalo oduševljen što sam iskopao taj materijal, jer je i sam bio zaboravio na njega. To vam govori koliko je ova priča tinjala dugo u pozadini, dok nisu sklopili nešto ozbiljnije.

Ubili su Batlera (prev. They killed the butler) nastali su 2021. godine. Demosi su kružili po YouTube-u i ko zna gde sve, a svirke su krenule 2022. Imao sam sreće da ih vidim dva puta uživo, u januaru i februaru 2024, dok sam izveštavao sa koncerata – taman u trenutku kada su izbacili prvu pesmu Utorkom, ponekad, kao deo Hali Gali Kompilacije Vol. 2.

Ta stvar je odmah iskočila. Bas otvara, ogroman i pulsirajući, oko njega gitare pune emotivnih nijansi, dok vokali balansiraju između rezignacije i očaja, a bubnjevi ih drže čvrsto i promišljeno. Tekstovi lebde negde između egzistencijalnog očaja i odane bliskosti:

“U svojoj glavi držim eter

a u rukama prazninu,”

“Biću tvoj nezaposleni ortak utorkom

Biću tvoj poslednji pas u trci s vremenom.”

Pa onda kulminacija:

“Ovde nema nikog

Nikog osim nas...”

Himna za sve one tihe borce koji pokušavaju da povrate smisao samim svojim postojanjem.

Fast forward – maj 2025. Bend konačno izbacuje istoimeni EP snimljen u februaru i martu u Down There Studio, sa omotom Milice Berić.

Otvara ga Novi svet – čisti “Twinkle Daddies” momenat. Kratko, 1:40, ali direktno u čelo, svetlucavo i energično. Sledeća, Smrt i filozofije palanke, prepliće twinkly gitare sa pop-punk elementima i zaraznim refrenima. Meni lično favorit dolazi odmah posle – Jedan! Dva!! Tri!!!. Melodija tu kulminira, sa stream-of-consciousness urgencijom, ljetnjim slikama i emotivnim haosom:

“Opet samoća

I ideje koje stvorilo je avgustovsko sunce”

“Svaka reč će

na julskom suncu da ispari.”

Čak i jednostavne slike nose težinu:

“I svaki korak koji naprave

ove ofucane patike

u jednom smeru vode me

Bez cilja, ali iz potrebe.”

Poslednja stvar, Ko nema u glavi¿, vuče više na alt-rock, malo usporenija, kao da svesno pravi otklon. Pomišljaš na Dinosaur Jr. kroz savremeni emo filter – manje fuzz-a, više tog ’90s osećaja mladalačkog sagorevanja. Truba u završnici je potpuno neočekivana, ali daje pesmi teatralan kraj koji legne savršeno.

Godine 2026, objavili su svoj drugi EP „Idemo dalje“ sredinom marta. Izdanje sadrži četiri nove numere, od kojih neke uključuju gostovanja Snoudropa i Boa, zajedno sa obradom kultnog klasika „Samo ponekad“ legendarnog Jarbola.

Dalja evolucija njihovog pisanja pesama je ovde očigledna, sa aranžmanima koji deluju eklektičnije nego ranije. Čvrsta, adrenalinom nabijena instrumentacija uparena je sa polu-vrištavim, visokim vokalima i zaraznim melodijama koje guraju njihov zvuk napred, a istovremeno zadržavaju njegovu emocionalnu hitnost netaknutom.

Za razliku od mnogih bendova iz regiona koji često skliznu u estetiku bez suštine, Ubili su Batlera odišu autentičnošću. Njihove pesme nisu samo “stajliš” – one se osećaju proživljeno. Njihov songwriting ima težinu, iskrenost i smisao, nešto što retko ko u ovoj kvazi “emo-free” zoni ume da ponudi.

SHOW THEM SUPPORT!

Theft of October

Location: Kotor, Montenegro

Year active: 2013 - 2016

Members: Denis Balavac, Luka Jovanovic

Related bands: Chandlers Oak, Moa Loni, Snow Creation & Trumpetman, Wow Tea Sticks.

FFO: American Football, Algernon Cadwallader, TWIABP, Modest Mouse, Sunny Day Real Estate

I cannot believe that this is the only band that i've found from Montenegro. It all just makes this archiving task much more nerve wracking and complicated! Which is why i'm lucky to have finally found it.

Not even that, i also managed to track down one of the members, Denis and asked him for more information about Theft of October.

From what i gathered, it used to be a solo project founded by Luka (who also founded the name) and Denis was in college at the time. One day, Denis met Luka and asked if he was doing anything new, Luka decidedly showed him the tracks and he was totally enthused, thus joining the band and they started recording together.

It would all go well, until eventually, Luka decided to part ways with Denis, making him the sole member of Theft of October.

During the active years, he recorded a self-titled demo EP (released in 2013, but discogs stated it was released in 2015 for some reason) and Fears (2016) before finally calling off.

To think that this is not the only project Denis had ever done, as he has experiences in bands/projects such as Chandlers Oak, Moa Loni, Snow Creation & Trumpetman, Wow Tea Sticks.

When i think of Theft of October's music, i think of dreamy, mathy, eclectic and sentimental piece of music one can find. Sweet sounding guitar work, uncommon time signatures and impressive emotional vocal work. It's also worth noting the instrumental works such as this piano laden piece "God In Me" and its guitar laden continuation of some untitled track (no tracklisting was provided anywhere) that are definitely worth listening to. Although the former has some cheap production, it still has a lot of heart and effort put into it.

It is a rarity, particularly for bands like this to be into math rock, as it's one of the most complex subgenres.  Theft of October manages to exceed itself and, of course not step into the twinkle daddies territory. It is just so soothing and inviting to the fullest.

Their bandcamp is unfortunately defunct. You can find them on YouTube here:

Or, download their discography here.