ALBUM REVIEW: Errors – Capra
Exploding out of southern Louisiana with their 2021 debut In Transmission, metallic hardcore quartet CAPRA immediately caught the ears of listeners with a smash-and-grab approach to hardcore that embodies the genre’s most chaotic forms. Spasmodic, furious and cathartic, it launched the ferocious foursome onto national stages and international acclaim. Thanks to COVID-enforced delays, its follow-up was already in the works by this time; Errors picks up almost immediately where In Transmission left off, while continuing to refine their songcraft and expand CAPRA’s sonic palettes. It’s just as raucous, and it’s just as pissed off – if not more so than before.
Barrelling out the gates with CHSF, it sounds as if the band captured the energy of striding confidently onstage, ringing chords before the song kicks in. Crow Lotus’ vocals are as acerbic as ever, biting lyricism dealing with mental health, particularly self-image and self-hatred. It’s a frantic opening that draws on d-beat as much as metal – savage and unrelenting. As the band describe it, it’s a direct continuation of In Transmission, with its final song Samuraiah Carey continuing directly into it if played back to back. Either way, it and second song Tied Up are scathing, sounding desperate at times.
Silana features grinding guitar work from Tyler Harper, whose synchronicity with fellow founding drummer Jeremy Randazzo is palpable. Trauma Bond throws the first curveball of sorts, slowing down for a pummelling groove where Lotus’ yell of “I learned sometimes it’s okay to hate” hits like a freight train. Though songs are typically short, there’s plenty of ground covered in each; Trauma Bond is punkier with snarling gang chant melodies while Kingslayer practically sprawls across its four minutes, cascading drum fills leading into menacing chords and a d-beat joyride that takes no prisoners.
Lyrically, Errors is scathing, an open wound exploring mental illness from depression to self-image as well as trauma from abuse. Lotus’ delivery is pure venom; rather than showing vulnerability, there’s a sneering fury, an explosion of emotion and railing against what she’s experienced, like her “I’m not interested in trying to hide” or “hope you don’t procreate” roars in Kingslayer. Human Commodity throws even more sneering derision like a pipe bomb, a guest vocal from the inimitable Candace Kucsulain-Puopolo of WALLS OF JERICHO only upping the ferocity seething from the speakers. In short, Errors is angry as fuck; terrifyingly so, in parts, but it’s nothing short of electrifying.
As one final surprise, final track Nora is a stunning wash of shoegazey textures and guitar, shot through pounding drums and one last cathartic expulsion of words that ventures on being almost vulnerable. It finishes Errors on a truly arresting note, one that takes the carnage of what it follows and offers some solace from the rage and the pain. Arguably, CAPRA were already one of hardcore’s most exciting bands, but Errors has them upping their game yet again; it’s angrier, with an almost savage glee musically despite the lyrical depictions of mental turmoil. Spellbinding from start to finish, Errors is a triumph that should push CAPRA even further.
Rating: 8/10
Errors is set for release on October 6th via Blacklight Media/Metal Blade Records.
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