KALEIDO

Location: Zagreb, Croatia   

Year active: 2021 - present

Members: Mirna Čupić (vocals, guitar), Janet Beriša (vocals, guitar), Duga Bavoljak (vocals, trumpet), Andro Žamboki (bass), Martin Palčić (drums)

Related bands: Bongorodica, Gungula, panakota

FFO: Everyone Asked About You, Gregory & The Hawk, Modest Mouse, The Microphones

kaleido are an indie rock / midwest jazz-inflected quintet from Zagreb, Croatia. They dropped their first single “Snivaš” in 2021, followed by the 2022 debut EP Ja umirem ovdje (trans. I’m dying here), which drew considerable attention within the Croatian indie scene. A few years later, the band self-recorded and self-released their debut full-length Čiji je ovo pas? (trans. Whose dog is this?), with mixing by Anja Tkalec and Duga Bavoljak, and mastering by Uroš Mikić of Down There Studios.

While Ja umirem ovdje hinted at Kaleido’s direction, Čiji je ovo pas? is where their vision fully takes shape. Across eight tracks, the band sharpens their songwriting and gathers their ideas around a loose but persistent image - the dog - a subtle metaphor for inner tension, quiet exhaustion, and the feeling of constantly watching oneself from the outside.

Blending indie rock with touches of midwest emo, restrained post-punk dynamics, and understated jazz textures, the album unfolds patiently. It favors mood over immediacy and reflection over declaration, slowly building emotional weight rather than forcing catharsis.

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kaleido je indie rock kvintet iz Zagreba, sa izraženim uticajima midwest emo i jazz senzibiliteta. Prvi singl „Snivaš“ objavili su 2021. godine, nakon čega je usledio debitantski EP Ja umirem ovdje (2022), koji je privukao značajnu pažnju unutar hrvatske indie scene. Nekoliko godina kasnije, bend je samostalno snimio i objavio svoj prvi dugosvirajući album Čiji je ovo pas?, uz miks Anje Tkalec i Duge Bavoljak, te mastering Uroša Mikića iz Down There Studiosa.

Dok je Ja umirem ovdje samo nagoveštavao pravac u kom se Kaleido kreće, Čiji je ovo pas? predstavlja potpuno zaokruženu viziju benda. Kroz osam pesama, Kaleido izoštrava svoj autorski izraz i okuplja ideje oko labave, ali uporne slike - psa - kao suptilne metafore unutrašnje tenzije, tihe iscrpljenosti i osećaja stalnog posmatranja samog sebe sa distance.

Spajajući indie rock sa primesama midwest ema, suzdržane post-punk dinamike i nenametljivih jazz tekstura, album se razvija strpljivo. Prednost daje atmosferi nad neposrednošću i introspekciji nad deklaracijom, postepeno gradeći emotivnu težinu umesto da forsira katarzu.

BANDCAMP

NORTH OF ME

Location: Zagreb, Croatia

Year active: 2025

Members: Dino Kezo

Related bands: ???

FFO: Lunar, Man Zero, Moving Mountains, Toundra

North of Me is a Zagreb-based project that is run by Dino Kezo. He plays a somber instrumental post-rock that somehow borders on the Emo Revival, while also nodding two familiar croatian post-rock bands such as Lunar and Man Zero, as well as some from abroad like Moving Mountains and Toundra.

He dropped a two-track EP 'Second Chapter' this spring. Although it was made under the demo production, it also gives us a hint of what this newly formed project would be. If that's the case, i am really looking forward new, full fleshed sounds from this project.

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North of Me je zagrebački projekat iza kojeg stoji Dino Kezo. Njegova muzika naginje ka sumornom, instrumentalnom post-roku koji povremeno skrene u Emo Revival estetiku, dok istovremeno vuče paralele s domaćim post-rock imenima poput Lunara i Man Zero, ali i sa stranim bendovima tipa Moving Mountains i Toundra.

Ovog proleća izbacio je dvopesmični EP Second Chapter. Produkcija je i dalje demo, ali dovoljno jasna da pokaže u kom se pravcu projekat razvija. Ako je ovaj EP ikakav nagoveštaj onoga što dolazi, realno — ima tu prostora za nešto vrlo lepo i zaokruženo.

LATEST

Location: Zagreb, Croatia

Year active: 1999 - 2000

Members: Davor Bolant (guitar), Krešo Žerjav (bass), Marko (drums), Ozren Mlinarić (vocals)

Related bands: Clean, Counterfit, Don't Mess With Texas, Lunar, Minimum System Requirements, Nikad, Radio Free Isaac, Razlog za, Senata Fox

FFO: Farside, Quicksand, Shift, Shutter To Think

Latest was a short-lived post-hardcore band from Zagreb, Croatia, active between 1999 and 2000. Featuring members of key local acts like Clean, Nikad, and Don’t Mess With Texas, the project was a brief but deliberate homage to the mid-'90s wave of emotive post-hardcore, echoing the sounds of Dischord Records, Quicksand, and Farside, with a touch of alt-rock melody.

After playing a handful of shows, they released their sole EP Platform Shoes, initially as a promotional CD, and later on cassette through Čakovec’s DIY label Lifeline Records.

To be blunt: it’s solid, it flows well, but it’s not exactly game-changing. It sounds like what it is, friends from other bands trying something new before disappearing into other projects. The production is clean, the songs are listenable, and while nothing really jumps out, it’s the kind of EP you put on during a slow afternoon when you’re tired of everything else.

It's not legendary, it’s not forgotten, it’s just there. And sometimes, that’s fine.

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Latest je bio kratkotrajni post-hardcore bend iz Zagreba, Hrvatska, aktivan između 1999. i 2000. godine. U sastavu su bili članovi ključnih lokalnih bendova poput Clean, Nikad i Don’t Mess With Texas, a projekat je predstavljao kratak, ali promišljen omaž talasu emotivnog post-hardcora sredinom devedesetih, uz zvučne odjeke izdavačke kuće Dischord Records, bendova Quicksand i Farside, te sa dozom alt-rock melodije.

Nakon nekoliko odsviranih koncerata, izdali su svoj jedini EP Platform Shoes, prvo kao promotivni CD, a kasnije i na kaseti preko čakovečkog DIY labela Lifeline Records.

Da budemo direktni: solidno je, teče glatko, ali nije ništa revolucionarno. Zvuči tačno onako kako jeste — prijatelji iz drugih bendova koji su htjeli isprobati nešto novo prije nego što su se razišli u druge projekte. Produkcija je čista, pjesme se lako slušaju, a iako se ništa posebno ne izdvaja, to je onaj tip EP-ja koji pustiš tokom sporog poslijepodneva, kad ti je svega drugog preko glave.

Nije legendarno, nije ni zaboravljeno — jednostavno postoji. I ponekad, to je sasvim dovoljno.

PROMOTIONAL CD

LIFELINE'S TAPE VERSION

Thanks for Igor of GuranjeSLitice for uploading the full EP.

APATHY APARTMENT

Location: Ljubljanja, Slovenia / Zagreb, Croatia.

Year active: 2015 - ????

Members: Andi Koglot (guitar, programming, synths, samples), Damjan Blažun (vocals, bass, programming)

Label: Self-released

Related bands: ????

FFO: The Postal Service, pospano, Bowery Electric, Nine Inch Nails

Whenever i think of what else Slovenia has, Apathy Apartment comes to mind. Not every band has to be 100% screamo all the time, there are some things that can be soft, eclectic and relaxing, which AA did offer at the time.

AA was an electronic duo formed in Ljubljanja and in Zagreb, respectively. The duo gathered around in 2015, teased their first single and then dropped their only self-titled EP, played one or two shows before calling it quits... and it lasted less than a year.

Consisting only three tracks (with the exception of 'dank' memes and Jake Gylenhall references in the titles), the EP serves some of the distinctive emo/synthwave bops i have ever heard. The Nine Inch Nails/Bowery Electric is definitely prominent throughout these tracks, yet their own flair keeps them to the ground on their own uniqueness, with an addition of Kaja Skrbinšek's ethereal vocals on the third track which gives an immense amount of charm of this sweet little EP. 

What could've been an adventurous journey for the duo has diminished way too soon. Apathy Apartment's music is eclectic, atmospheric and charming to the point of making a name for themselves in Slovenia's otherwise small DIY scene.

BANDCAMP

pospano

Location: Zagreb, Croatia

Year active: 2018 - active

Members: Juraj Rebernjak (vocals, guitar, piano, programming, bass,)

Related bands: ???

Labels: Self-released

FFO: Paramore (post-Farro era), The Postal Service, problemi

Who knows what a young musician from the capital of Croatia can create such a wonderful experience of an album? If you ask a fellow Yugoslav, they will tell you exactly what they're thinking about.

pospano is Juraj Rebernjak's new solo project based in Zagreb back in 2018. He's released his debut album 'try again' in 2023. His bandcamp states that it took him 6 years to write, compose, sing, mix and master the album on his own. Meanwhile, he went to the capital's music academy where he not only learned to play piano, guitar and saxophone, but also learn about production, mixing and mastering. Given his learning experiences there, you can basically tell this guy knows his shit.

This 11-track album 'try again' is such an eclectic piece of music. It contains a myriad of influences drawing from bedroom pop, emo pop, hyperpop and indietronica. The entire album is sung in English, with the exception of 'nisam' being the only song in Croatian and 'metro' being the only instrumental interlude. Dancey tracks such as 'bird song' and 'lobby couch' give us strong post-Farro Paramore vibes, even more so with After Laughter, although with a bit of Hyperpop touch, while slower, guitar ridden songs like 'unbothered', 'hours in the dark' and 'less is more' allows the album more room to breathe into its pace. 

My favourite track of the album is a 7 minute 'angels' featuring some of the deepest lyrics. Lamenting from 'needing an angel' for a guidance but ends up not fully committing or 'not being able to stay', which then commences a change of tempo on 3:20 to a much slower tempo and the repetitive lament of 'getting tired' and that 'nothing ever happens cause i wanted it to', finally setting off to fully change and embrace life, stressing that he's 'paralysed only by existing/I'm terrified of it disappearing/I'm getting tired of how I'm feeling/I’ve grown to like you but now I’m leaving' before dissolving into a tidal wave of catharsis. If you actually sit down and listen to it, you have to be really prepared to get drowned on it, because it is so deep.

pospano's unique and mysterious aura surrounding its debut is what made me love this project. I am definitely looking forward for the next release, hopefully to be even better in the near future.

PLEASE SUPPORT THIS ARTIST VIA BANDCAMP.

Clean

Location: Zagreb, Croatia

Year active: 1998 - 2000

Members: Ivan Jakić, Krešo Žerjav, Neven Kamenski, Srđan Jelić, Željko Marušić

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

Labels: Choose Life, My Favorite Records

FFO: Closure,  Azure, Embassy, Life At These Speeds

Sorry for the radio silence! I was supposed to publish a post on this one, but my work had me busy, so let's just say i took a break for nearly a month. Now i'm taking the time to publish it.

Clean (or Cleanxxx) is one of the early bands from Zagreb, Croatia, formed in 1998. They played Ebulition/Stonehedge styled 90's emocore with XStraightxEdgeX ethics on their sleeve. They released a very small discography, one having an EP released in 1999 and later released a discography tape containing new songs recorded in 2000 before finally calling quits. Afterwards, the members went on to play Amok, Dead Dog Summer, Don't Mess With Texas, Kinoklub, Latest, Nikad, Ponor, Radio Free Isaac, Senata Fox and Storms.

Their music is slow but steady, melancholic and cathartic with soft-loud dynamics. Part spoken word, part shouting and part raw, out of tune singing just spurs of an emotional moment. It's been hard for me to pick any song from them since the entire discography is already good. Let's just say these two songs right here can speak for themselves.

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!

Spring Break

 Location: Zagreb, Croatia

Year active: 2023 - Ongoing

Members: ???

Related bands: ???

FFO: Not really lmfao

Conflicted. That's the first word i would like to describe the feeling i had when hearing this project from Croatia's capital. I can't even put words whether i'm amazed or fucking offended at this piece of shit. I don't know whether i should cringe or laugh. Honestly, it doesn't fucking matter at this point. Imma review it anyway.

So this one person project, being "Spring Break" is a poorly mixed up mess of at times out of tune twinkle daddies, with vocals that borders on goregrind abominations that i can't mention here. The vocals here completely overtake the poor mix and it's honestly really, migraine-inducingly terrible and laughably over-the-top at the same time. Not to mention the bandcamp tags such as dsbm, hate and noise pop just adds to the shitz n giggles absurdities.

Any hxc punk/emo perfectionist who gets to hear it will cringe to death and warn others not to listen to it. I, on the other hand, am glad that this thing exist. Honestly, this whole thing is played like a big joke and i'm having a good laugh at it. This whole thing makes The Shaggs (unironically, my personal favorite) sound like a proper band lmfao.

Stream at your own risk.