At full tilt, it’s stratospheric, melodic modern hardcore from Italy, along the fitful, beautiful lines of Poland’s El Banda and France’s La Fraction. When it slows down, instead of getting metally or chonka-chonka, veers into Human League-style new wave with slippery eel synthesizers and languid horns. That’s a tough transition and Kalashnikov seem equally comfortable in both modes. The accompanying thirty-six page booklet is more like a book, the vinyl is gorgeous, and the sound is impeccable. For those who aren’t afraid of bands without genre blinders on, I highly recommend seeking this out.
–todd (Self-released, kalashni.net)