Forging multilingual hardcore fury into a weapon against oppression and channelling global resistance through raw, uncompromising hardcore the debut album from Zanjeer is a frenzied attack on the world.
ZANJEER (زنجیر)
Hardcore activists Zanjeer (their name meaning Chains in Urdu) formed in Bremen in 2020 out of growing discontent with a world they see as deeply corrupted. Now rooted in Berlin the group comprises a number of seasoned musicians involved in projects such as Inferno Personale, Ex-Dom, Cataphiles, to name just handful. Their 2022 EP Parcham Buland Ast (The Flag Is Raised) quickly drew attention for its unflinching hardcore punk. The band perform in Urdu to connect with marginalised communities worldwide using a language that is shared across Pakistan and India.
Their work feels especially vital in an era shaped by political turbulence, warmongering leaders and growing social and economic division to such an extent that people are being duped into creating division rather than harmony. The line-up is multinational featuring vocalist Dozakhi, Ludwig on guitars, bassist Giacomo and drummer Steve, all of whom have their hands in other acts such as Multinational Corporations, Beast As God and Dead Bhuttos in addition to those I have already mentioned creating wide ranging experience.
SEHER-E-MAQHOOR (DAWN OF THE OPPRESSED)
Zanjeer’s music is violent, nihilistic and caustic blasts of hardcore that tackle topics such as delivering neo-colonialism, Islamist extremism, exploitation and more. The cover art is inspired by the 1857 Indian Rebellion visually captures the band’s anti-colonial ethos. Zanjeer’s music recalled the fractured 1980s hardcore landscape with anarcho punk, crust, d-beat, crossover, skatecore being fused into the ten-track barrage of the album that is cohesive and purposeful. Sung in Urdu, Farsi and Punjabi the lyrics haven’t been presented with the promo but the delivery makes their angst and intent unmistakably ferocious. With band members from different nationalities they channel a mix of perspectives that elevate the music beyond its individual parts, but at its core is pure raging hardcore
BEGINNING
If the online translation tools I used to verify are correct then opener Aaghaz means Beginning; a sludge soaked track built on ominous bass, spoken narration and escalating dissonant guitar work that flows neatly into Majboor (Compelled). Here, the switch to crust like riffing and chaotic yet precise drumming create an anarchic surge of energy. Parcham Jalao! (Burn The Flag) shifts the tone completely, swaying into thrash like with its savaging riff and echo-laden vocals that heighten the overall terror.
February’s single Fuck Berlin, Free Falasteen (Palestine) is a sinister assault while addressing the ongoing suffering of Palestinians and criticising German alignment with US policy, underscored by lines like “You wave the flag of America, You dance to the sound of bomb”. The album’s abrasive 80s tinged sound remains rampant, with delayed vocals adding to the menace and embittered tone as A.T.M. supplies a fiery catchy riff that erupts into thrashcore driven by the acerbic guitar work and intensely hostile vocals.
REIMAGININGS
Anti-Deutsch reworks Reagan Youth’s The KGB mocking the German punk scene’s pro-US, guilt-driven Anti-Deutsch movement resulting in a chaotic punk-driven attack. Bharosa (Trust), previously released as Nadaran (Northern), has been re-recorded with the Persian sections replaced with Urdu as its opening caustic riff and relentless pace evoke Italy’s Raw Power. Closer Hafla-e-Ikhitaam (Closing or concluding) mirrors the opener with distorted spoken vocals, intensifying riffs and raw stripped-back instrumentation driven by consistently vitriolic vocal nihilism.
If you were to curate a definitive playlist for the fight against tyranny and the pursuit of equality, then this 16 minutes of utter bedlam would undoubtedly be its soundtrack as you can catch the band live at Noise Annoys Fest 2026 at the Lughole, Sheffield in May.
Zanjeer: Bandcamp