Whispers Yom-Ma-Lok

Bangkok, Thailand-based hardcore band Whispers have slowly but steadily been expanding their reach to an international audience ever since their debut release Narok Bon Din in 2021. With the recent signing to US-based label Flatspot Records, and release of Yom-Ma-Lok, their time in the spotlight might be coming soon.

Whispers play a style of metallic hardcore that draws heavily from 90s European acts such as Kickback and later adopters of the sound like Merauder and All Out War. With fast, thrashy riffs and chromatic minor leads, they might share some lineage with rising crossover thrash influenced hardcore bands like Drain or Mindforce, but there’s an emphasis on pure, unadulterated menace on this record. The first track, aptly titled “Bangkok Evilcore,” opens with a dark, atmospheric guitar part before the rest of the band kick into gear, using a groovy riff to build up into the first of many mosh parts. They manage to maintain a consistent, upbeat pace throughout these seven tracks.

The first thing you might notice on Yom-Ma-Lok is how tight the performances are. The drums are on point, with a strong double kick backbone laid out underneath galloping guitar riffs and palm-muted power chords. The vocals are resentful and energetic, enabling them to meld with the faster pace of each song. Each element is perfectly in harmony.

Lead single “Retribution” pummels the listener with sinister galloping grooves into tremolo riffs, with the only reprieve being a brief pause before unleashing one final breakdown. There’s a pretty great guitar solo thrown in over top. The track fades out with a spiritual-sounding sample to further enhance the vibe. 

There’s some fun features here too. New label-mate Speed’s Jem Siow lends his commanding voice on the ending of “A Choice to Survive,” as well as Shaun Alexander from Demonstration of Power on “Wisenheimer (You Were Never One of Us),” which is an amazing track title and song overall. And finally, the controversial Stephen Bessac of Kickback making this feel like a full circle moment as he accompanies the band on the moody title track closer. The song puts atmosphere first, using a mysterious acoustic guitar for a backbone until some black metal inspired instrumentals take over. Kickback haven’t released material since 2011, but Bessac sounds like he never left while howling over marching tremolo riffs. 

The big trend in hardcore today seems to be anything but hardcore: people are hyping up death metal acts with breakdowns, 2000s metalcore, and even a couple actual slam bands, so it’s nice to see a newer act paying homage to such an influential era of the genre’s past. This isn’t a genre-defining masterpiece, but it’s really fun to listen through and picture live. Who knows, maybe it’ll help steer the direction of hardcore away from wherever it’s headed, if just a little bit.

Bottom Line: Whispers’s longest release to date is a perfect continuation of their 90s metallic hardcore brutality. There’s an added sense of atmosphere on Yom-Ma-Lok, but don’t fret because there’s still an abundance of catchy riffs and spin-kick worthy mosh parts. If you like Slayer-esque moments interplayed with ridiculous, venue clearing breakdowns, this one’s for you.