Darkest Hour - Undoing Ruin Record Label: Victory Records Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 3 Holy crap! If you think you knew Darkest Hour through and through, you haven't heard the new record. I don't know if it's the Devin Townsend guidance or what, but this new album is filled with beautiful melodies. It's still as heavy as any previous releases, but the addition of melodies have just catapulted Darkest Hour past 95% of the bands in the genre. The last 2-3 few songs do tend to drone on for a bit but the first 5-6 are classic. This is definitely in my Top 10 of 2005. Glory of This - Adoration Record Label: Indianola Reviewed By: vincent Rating: 1 This sucks. Shitty emo mixed with a few shitty breakdowns and screaming parts. Go do some homework and get a job. I’m sure being dumped wasn’t that traumatic. I'm not even going to waist my time explaining why this sucks so much. Let It Die - Stick to Your Guns Record Label: Spook City Records Reviewed By: vincent Rating: 2 This is straightforward mosh metal. The whole thing is very brutal and all, but unfortunately I’ve heard it all before. I mean, three or four years ago I probably would have eaten this up, but I guess my musical tastes have changed somewhat. My main gripe is that it is so predictable. Every song follows the same template: moshy part, moshy part, “dundundun” mosh intro, super moshtastic breakdown, repeat. I know that this kind of stuff has a place in hardcore and all, but this is just too generic and mosh-by-numbers for my liking. It’s not BAD, I guess, if you absolutely love this kind of stuff. But it isn’t particularly good, either. Paint it Black - Paradise Record Label: Jade Tree Reviewed By: vincent Rating: 4 Well, this album certainly rules. On this album, Paint it Black builds on their furious onslaught by adding a little more melody into the mix, which works really well and just adds another level of excellence to this already excellent band. In twenty-one minutes, they spit out fourteen songs of snarling hardcore punk in a way that nobody else is able to do these days. Vocalist Dan Yemin rages over biting riffs and vicious drumbeats with such venom that I'm surprised he didn't burst a lung during recording. As excellent as the music is, though, the lyrics are what make this record so damn good. Touching on topics as wide-ranging as the war in Iraq to personal despair, each song is like a how-to manual for lyric-writing. Yemin paints tiny and concise yet vivid pictures in his songs; something a lot of PIB's contemporaries seem unable to even attempt. So, yeah, this album is great. Rapider Than Horsepower - Rapider Than The World Record Label: Alone Records Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 1 Pretentiousness kills and it sure killed this record. Best example, this album has two different parts where it's just a single tone playing for several minutes. If that's not enough, the rest of the tracks are filled with random cacophony leading to nowhere. Fear Before the March of Flames - Art Damage Record Label: Equal Vision Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 1 Sure the band is loud. Sure the band is aggressive. But what comes out at the end is just noise. The problem is that somewhere along the line, they forgot to add melodies. You gotta have a little bit to make it listenable. Caliban - The Opposite From Within Record Label: Abacus Recordings Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 2 I think someone might have made a mistake. This doesn't sound like the Caliban I know. "Shadow Hearts", their last full-length, was one of the better metalcore albums of its time. Now, Caliban has moved into the metalcore plus melodic singing arena with this album. This is definitely a step backwards for this band for the singing is borderline terrible. The metalcore parts, which still make up the majority of the album, are pretty good, although it doesn't seem like the band has progressed much since "Shadow Hearts". In the end, fans of Caliban will probably want to check this out. But casual fans of the genre will want to avoid. All Else Failed - This Never Happened Record Label: Abacus Recordings Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 2 All Else Failed's 2001 release "Archetype" was one of my favorites from that year. After a long layoff, they are back with a new full length. First off, for those who are unfamiliar, All Else Failed is high-strung metalcore with cues taken from DEP, Botch and the like. Song structures are sometimes chaotic, even more so than Archetype. The screaming vocals have the same style from Archetype. They're just heavy on top of heavy. But before you jump on board, there is some unfortunate news. About one third of the album is singing with regular indie-rock stylings. They didn't exactly pull a complete Underoath but it's pretty damn close. Some might enjoy the change of pace but I thought the singing parts were borderline terrible. I felt embarrassed to hear the out-of-tune wailings. Whenever I listen to this album now, I just skip past the soft songs. The leftover 8 or 9 tracks make up a really good and heavy album that deserves a rating of 3. But as a whole, a 2 or 2.5 is more like it. Pigmy Love Circus - The Power of Beef Record Label: Go Kart Records Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 2 Pigmy Love Circus features Tool's drummer and an ex-Black Flag among others. All these big names might have you excited and expect something great. But as you can probably tell from their name and album title, this is basically a joke band. They play straight rock with lyrics that make no sense. Some call it "biker rock" and it can be fun for about a minute. Derringer - A Rock and Roll Tragedy Record Label: Zero Velocity Records Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 2 This unrelenting metalcore band sure can play. Their sound is mostly hardcore (Comeback Kid, Stretch Arm Strong type) but there are many parts where it feels like metal. Talent-wise, they're so-so. The instruments are average and do not stand out as you listen to the album. The vocals are good, however. With some minimal distortion, the screams sound raw and genuine. The choruses are enjoyable as well. Recording quality was a little poor I felt. The sound was just "stuffed" throughout. My Revenge! - Less Plot, More Blood Record Label: Thorp Records Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 2 Thorp Records says this is for fans of Terror, Judge, etc. I can see the Judge part but Terror is out of the picture. The album is mostly NYHC-inspired hardcore that is somewhat reminiscent of the old-school. The vocals are loud and bare with that half-singing and half-talking style. The music is fast and simple. But the poor recording quality just kills the sound. Instead of sounding raw and abrasive, it sounds like my next door neighbor is playing it on his tapedeck. Second Shot - Seven Years Bad Luck Record Label: Shove-It Records Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 3 MxPx and the like rip-off. I like MxPx and the like so I guess I like this, too. Catchy tunes and good vocals. Heaven Shall Burn - Antigone Record Label: Abacus Recordings Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 3 Heaven Shall Burn brings good clean Swedish-style metal similar to At the Gates without any of the bullshit many other band carry these days. The sound is sharp and to-the-point. Drums are fast and crisp. Guitars are melodic without being poppy. Best of all, the vocals are just all-out growls/screams without any whining or singing. It's just pure metal enjoyment. The Ghost - This Pen Is A Weapon Record Label: Some Records Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 2 The Ghost mixes aspects of hardcore and emo into a slightly uneven post-rock sound. While the pseudo-intellectuals may find this interesting, I found it boring, disembodied, and even annoying at times. There are some highlights but for the most part, the vocals just seem to ramble on and on without any purpose (or tune for that matter). The guitars and drums serve as simple background to the vocals and add nothing to the album. Dynamite Boy - Dynamite Boy Record Label: Fearless Records Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 3 Decent pop-punk in the same vein as MxPx. The tunes are catchy and the vocals are almost perfect for the genre. There are a couple of tracks featuring a female vocalists, good addition to the mix. Furthermore, Dynamite Boy is raw enough to not give off that commerical stench. Triteness aside, it's an enjoyable record. Kill Verona - Trauma Record Label: Livewire Records Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 2 So-so emo-core on this 5-song EP. Not much melodies to speak of, especially the below-average vocals. Next! Face Tomorrow - The Closer You Get Record Label: Reflections Records Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 2 Typical indie-rock band with some good vocals. Face Tomorrow is from the Netherlands. They have a style that fans of Thursday should enjoy. On some of the tracks, I even feel a bit of A Perfect Circle. The vocalist has one of the most commanding voices in the business. Hawthorne Heights - The Silence in Black and White Record Label: Victory Records Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 3 This album actually broke the best debut week selling records at Victory when it came out. While it doesn't break any new grounds in the melodic-punk/pop-punk genre, it is done really well. The ratio of screaming to singing is just about right, and the melodic singings are natural, too. My favorite track, "Niki FM", is the perfect example. While the album is not catchy as a whole, there are several memorable parts. If you're into Taking Back Sunday and the like, this will be right up your alley. Burnthe8track - The Ocean Record Label: Abacus Recordings Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 2 Burnthe8track plays melodic punk/hardcore and are fairly generic. Their bio says they have been compared to Dag Nasty and Hot Water Music so that gives you some idea. I do like their highly energetic pace and raw vocals (not-so-great singing voice though). There is also enough of a variety in the songs to keep the album interesting. Unfortunately, the lyrics are rather lame and the music is so blend that the album just goes right through your mind. Dissonant - Suffocating in a Dead Scene Record Label: All or Nothing Records Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 2 So-so metal band with your typical music and growls. Not much talent and will be forgotten.... now. Blueprint Car Crash - Rhetoric of a Marionette Record Label: The Militia Group Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 1 Annoying hardcore hacks. Billy Club Sandwich - Chin Music Record Label: Innerstrength Records Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 1 Toughguy hardcore along the same lines as Madball, except much worse. Josiah - Verona Record Label: Indie Vision Music Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 1 You can feel Josiah trying to achieve something innovative. Every song has multiple layers but none of them fuse together very well. It ends up just being a huge mess, each song sounds like 5 different songs. Recording quality wasn't too great either. 100 Demons - 100 Demons Record Label: Deathwish Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 2 Plain metalcore and cliche lyrics make 100 Demons listenable but not very enjoyable. The vocals are probably the best part of the record; the singer has great range. But enraged lyrics such as "FUCK YOU!!!" gets old fast. Brandtson - Send Us A Signal Record Label: Militia Group Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 3 In my book, the best Brandtson record was the "Trying to Figure Each Other Out" EP. "Fallen Star Collection" follows that, and everything else sorta just bunches together. This album (the first full-length not on Deep Elm since Letterbox) falls into that "bunches" category. Its style is similiar to "Dial In Sounds" and "Death & Taxes". Catchy, melodic, gentle, and soothing come to mind when describing it. Track #7 and #8 are probably my favorite. #8 (Blindspot) has that "Trying to Figure Each Other Out"-style attached to it. Overall, the album has many bright spots but it doesn't shine as a classic Brandtson. Anyone remotely interested in the band should enjoy it but for the newbies, there are better places to start. Give Up the Ghost - Year One Record Label: Bridge Nine Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 3 This album is basically two previous EPs put together with some extra stuff. The EPs are long out-of-print so this is a great addition to the band's discography. If you're a fan of the band, you'll definitely want this. And if you're not, this is a great place to hear some good, honest hardcore. A rare find in the hardcore scene. The Hurt Process - Drive By Monologue Record Label: Victory Records Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 2 Don't let the Derek Hess artwork fool you, these guys aren't _that_ good. The Hurt Process is perhaps best described as a mix of Thursday and Boysetsfire; a tiny reminder of Failure shows up here and there. They fit the so-called melodic hardcore genre to a T. If you're a fan of the genre, you'll probably eat this up. But for the others, there are better representatives in the scene. Takaru - There Can Be Only None Record Label: Alone Records Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 3 With ex-members of A Day's Refrain, Funeral Diner, and Ruhaeda, these Bay Area rockers bring a healthy mix of thrash and hardcore. The tracks are short (2 minutes or less) and ferocious. Combined with their political message, the album is a can't miss. Shockwave - The Ultimate Doom Record Label: Triple Crown Records Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 2 Fun and mosh-inducing hardcore is the game when it comes to Shockwave. In addition to the numerous Transformers sound clips and references, Shockwave has solid toughguy hardcore vocals and choruses. Same goes for the guitars and drums. Bottom line: enjoyable but only in small doses; too much is a bore. xLooking Forwardx - What This Means to Me Record Label: Blood and Ink Records Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 3 Classic straight-edge hardcore out of Maryland. Similar to Shutdown, xLooking Forwardx plays posi and extremely fast hardcore. The guitars and bass are fairly standard but the vocals are excellent. Combined with appropriately placed chorus screams, the entire album is sheer enjoyment. Skare Tactic - Remember When Record Label: Thorp Records Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 3 This aptly titled album does make me remember when bands like Sick of It All and Agnostic Front ruled the day. Skare Tactic brings back the music of those days with its rendition of the old-school classic hardcore. While nothing original, the album is well-made and worthy of a listen for fans of the good ol' days. Congress - Resurrection Record Label: Good Life Recording Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 2 Straight forward metalcore from Europe. All the songs are energetic and fast with great coarse vocals. The songs vary enough in melody and mood so it doesn't get boring too fast. But at the end of the day, there's just not enough to warrant any special attention. Saving Throw - Never Race with Time Record Label: Let It Burn Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 2 Melodic hardcore with shades of Shai Hulud. The guitar melodies are good with some refreshing twists. Drums are somewhat soft. The screams are straight with no unwanted singing/whining. However, they do leave a bit to be desired as they lack that punch Hulud brings. As a listener, you want to feel the anger and passion behind the lyrics but the screams fail to convey that emotion. Bayside - Sirens and Condolences Record Label: Victory Records Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 2 Mature pop-punk is how I'd describe Bayside. Similar to Taking Back Sunday on the same label, Bayside plays melodic pop rock. The sound is fresh and clean but it doesn't carry any of that teen punk feel so many other bands have these days. However, in the end, Bayside doesn't offer much in the way of innovation and gets lost fast in the vast scene. Roy - Big City Sin and Small Town Redemption Record Label: Fueled by Ramen Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 3 Roy features an allstar cast, at least in the hardcore scene. Featuring former Botch members, Dave Verellen and Brian Cook (also of These Arms Are Snakes) as well as Harkonen frontman Ben Verellen and bassist Mike Cooper, one (I myself included) will probably be very surprised the first time they hear Roy. What flows out the stereo is not some post-modern metalcore but rather easy-listening indie pop. Combined with clever lyrics, Roy creates clean and simple pop. Most of the songs are mellow without much complex structure. The end result is a relaxing and refreshing experience anyone who appreciates music can enjoy. Deadwater Drowning - Self-Titled Record Label: Blackmarket Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 2 This Self-Titled 5-song EP shows off some potential of Deadwater Drowning. It's got a mix of All Out War and BTBAM. They have killer breakdowns and a diverse range of death metal and metalcore vocals. The songs have a good variety of pacing and mood. With that said, the band is just playing to the veteran formula. Those who are looking for something inventive would be advised to go elsewhere. Backstabbers Incorporated - Bare as Bones Record Label: Blackmarket Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 2 This 36-minute, 24-song album is a compilation of rarities and unreleased material from Backstabbers Incorporated. The band features relentless death-metal-ish vocals combined with the typical metalcore riffs. It's fun and energetic but eventually you'll find that there's nothing special here and get bored. Under a Dying Sun - Supernova Record Label: Substandard Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 1 This "music" makes me ill. I think I've heard better vocals in the first round of American Idol. Sticks and Stones - The Strife and Times Record Label: Chunksaah Records Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 3 Nothing new here from the classic band. Just a 41-song compilation from 1987-1994. Has some previously unreleased tracks among other rarities. Probably a good purchase for the hardcore fans of the band. Negate - Enemy Record Label: Goodlife Recordings Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 2 This Belgian 4-piece is basically European Metal with bits of American metalcore elements mixed in. The guitar melodies and some of the melodic singing are definitely of European descent while the screams are your average American metalcore band. Does a decent job of keeping your attention but eventually fails to break any new ground. Wings of Scarlet - Before The Great Collapse Record Label: Life Sentence Records Reviewed By: Dan Rating: 4 Wings of Scarlet are brutal. This record is amazing. Nothing about it is disappointing. Everything on this EP simply fell into place just like it should. The music is tightly fused straight heavy hardcore that switches from tight and destructive breakdowns to breakneck fast parts. The vocals for the CD seal the deal. Heavy and drenched with passion. Every word tears into you. What an excellent release for this band. I can only hope that they achieve the success that this EP should grant them. The Disease - Dyslexic Experts in Reverse Psychology Record Label: Alone Records Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 3 The Disease is chaotic metalcore with a touch of the keyboards. With some massive distortion in their sound, Disease tries to pull off a mix between Converge and Milemarker. In the end, they pull it off well. Tracks like "These Needles are Magnets" are as good as they come. Strike Anywhere - Exit English Record Label: Jade Tree Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 3 It's been a while since "Change is a Sound" but finally Strike Anywhere has come up with this brand new LP. Strike Anywhere reminds most of the good 'ol days of hardcore with their politically-charged lyrics and energetic pace. The band does have some minor elements of modern-day punk/pop but it's hardcore at heart. Should be a joy to any fans of the genre. Kid Dynamite - Cheap Shots, Youth Anthems Record Label: Jade Tree Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 4 This is a must-have for fans of Kid Dynamite and the like. It has two discs: one has 29 tracks and the other is a DVD. The 29 tracks include classics, covers, demos, sung by Jay, and live radio tracks. To put it simply, it is amazing. The songs perfectly capture the attitude and energy of one of the greatest bands ever. The Assistant - We'll Make the Roads by Walking Record Label: Alone / Nova Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 3 Heavy is the word that describes this Assistant album. Each song is packed with breakdowns that rival the best in the scene. With a huge following, this album is poised to make the best of 2003 lists of many people. However, comparing this release to their self-titled, it is as if the band took a step back in their progressive movement. Songs are very structured and predictable. The few supposedly off-beat moments are cliche and honestly unbearable. On the surface, this is a great album but thinking in terms of the band's history, this is a rather stagnant release. Radiation 4 - Wonderland Record Label: Abacus Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 3 If there was any band who could perfectly meld together elements of metalcore (e.g., some of the newer Zao) and Mr. Bungle (or any other recent Patton project), Radiation 4 would be it. Although not a perfect fusion of the two genres, Radiation 4 pulls off a natural mix. Most of the songs are hard and fast with some Patton-esque melodies and vocals. While it doesn't break any boundaries, the effort is refreshing and welcomed. Flattery Leads to Ruins and Eyes of the Betrayer - Split Record Label: Recorse Records Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 2 Two mediocre metalcore bands meet for one mediocre split. The two bands are both watered-down metal that would bore a baby to sleep. El Centro - !Prohibido! Record Label: Finger Records Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 2 Generic punk rock reminiscent of the Circle Jerks and many others. Nothing too special. Poison the Well - You Come Before You Record Label: Atlantic Records Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 2 Not sure if it's the big label getting to them or what but Poison the Well has been taking steps backwards lately. "The Opposite of December" was great. "Tear from the Red" was alright. This is just a boring rehash of the same stuff in "Tear from the Red". The vocals are now completely growls and the breakdowns are have become more generic than over. There are a couple of highlights where melodic interludes and whatnot breakup the otherwise monotonic sound. Darkest Hour - Hidden Hands of a Sadist Nation Record Label: Victory Records Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 4 For many people, Darkest Hour's "The Mark of the Judas" is a classic and can never be touched. This new album by the quintet is making a run for it and on some levels, it has surpassed "Mark of the Judas". Recorded in Sweden, the album is full of Swedish death metal trademarks. The production is top-notch and the tracks are ferocious. Guest appearances include Tomas Lindberg (At the Gates, The Crown), Anders Bj�rler (At the Gates, The Haunted), Peter Wichers (Soilwork), and Marcus Sunesson (The Crown). The 13-minute epic "Veritas, Aequitas" on track 9 pushes the album into lands most wouldn't dare approach. Nientara vs. A Thousand Fall Skies - Split Record Label: Protocol Recording Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 3 Two bands that sound pretty much the same do a split. Sounds boring but this one is different. The 7 songs on this split include 6 covers of class 80's songs by Ozzy, Bon Jovi, Iron Maiden, and others. Each band brings their own interpretation of the song and pulls it off as one of their own. Except for the classic guitar riffs, it can hard to tell which songs they are covering. Really puts a refreshing spin on these classic works. Esperanto - Play This Anywhere Record Label: Uprising Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 3 Esperanto plays an easy-going and yet energetic pop-punk style. It features two big names in the metal/hardcore scene: Steve Micciche of Every Time I Die and Jesse Muscato of Kid Gorgeous (and also Buried Alive). Not that their metal backgrounds have any influences on this 6-track album but at least you can be sure that the music won't be sloppy. Very generic but the good execution warrants at least a listen. Spitalfield - Remember Right Now Record Label: Victory Records Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 3 The Victory Records of the 21st century seems to be splitting into two directions. First, they have the traditional Victory hardcore stuff with Hoods, A18, etc. Then, they have this new-wave of pop-rock bands such as Taking Back Sunday or The Reunion Show. Spitalfield falls directly into the latter class. With a style similar to Jimmy Eat World and Sensefield, Spitalfield mixes easy-going rock melodies with fairly good vocals. However, the album misses the target in terms of relating to the audience. I never got a sense of the emotions behind the music and often got lost in the music. The Escape Engine - Celebrity Role Model Record Label: Fidelity Records Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 2 This is the New Jersey band's debut full-length. They play the ever-so-popular pop-emo-rock-core, sort of similar to Finch, Taking Back Sunday, or Thursday. Perhaps their greatest selling point is their intensity. With the exeception of a few tracks, the album carries some very passionate singings or screams. Alas, the praises stop there. The guitars and drums are mediocre. The riffs and melodies are average. The band does absolutely nothing to separate itself from the pack and gets boring rather fast. Hoods - Pray for Death Record Label: Victory Records Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 2 I suppose it's only fitting that this generic tough-guy hardcore album is put out by Victory. The album has the requisite crushing guitars and deafening vocals; but at the end of the day, it's all been done to death. Anatomy of a Ghost - Evanesce Record Label: Fearless Records Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 2 Yet another one of these "emocore" bands. The band features all the regular stuff with some fairly nice guitar work and high-pitched vocals that reminds me of Fairweather sometimes. Various Artists - Black on Black: A Tribute to Black Flag Record Label: Initial Records Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 3 It's hard to review these tributes. Of course Black Flag is good; or else there wouldn't be a tribute to them. Of course the bands are good; or else they wouldn't have been asked to be on the tribute. This tribute features American Nothing, Coalesce, Converge, DEP, Planes Mistaken for Stars, and more. It has the first "new" song from Coalesce in over two years and features DEP with their new vocalist Puciato. As for the actual tracks, each band brings their own version of the song rather than adhering strictly to the original. Very enjoyable. Velocity Engine - Version 1 Record Label: The Life Recording Company Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 3 This 5-piece band features some hardcore/metal past including Aaron Dalbec of Bane/Converge. Given that, it was certainly very surprising to hear the melodic pop-punk sound come out of my speakers. Their sound is up-beat and energetic. If you could imagine Bane or any of those-type bands trying to play pop, you'd probably get a pretty good idea of Velocity Engine. The melodies are less commercialized than someone like MxPx or Taking Back Sunday and shine through a different spot. Definitely check out this debut CD. No Turning Back - Revenge is a Right Record Label: Gangstyle Records Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 1 No Turning Back plays old NYHC similar to Madball and such. They certainly have some skills and good vocals, but the terrible production values made it sound like I was playing the album through a pillow. How It Ends - So Shall It Be Record Label: Thorp Records Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 3 Philadelphia's How It Ends combines metal and hardcore to something that fans of Crowbar, Mastadon, and maybe Hatebreed can appreciate. The harsh vocals are top-notch and the riffs are bone-chilling. Combined with the excellent production values, this album is definitely recommended for fans of the genre. Groza - Pushed Too Far Record Label: Fire Forged Records Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 2 This NJ-based band brings aggressive, old-school, and what they termed "fuck-shit-up" hardcore. I found this term amusing yet accurate; Groza does bring a certain amount of attitude with their music. But at the end of the day, Groza is unpolished and repetitive. The vocals seem insincere and the guitar riffs are average. Soul Embraced - For the Incomplete Record Label: Blood & Ink Records Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 3 This is a re-release of the classic album that was originally out on Clenchedfist Records. Dave Quiggle has added some new nice artwork to it. Soul Embraced features ex-members of Living Sacrifice and brings some of the best Death Metal around. The most amazing aspect of the band has to be the occasional guitar solos, and this album has a few of them. Vocals are sometimes overshadowed by the guitars but are still violently haunting. In my opinion, "This is My Blood" is still a better album but this is certainly better than their most recent "Immune" out on Solid State. The sound on this is raw and energetic. "Immune" just sounded too commercialized. Enlow - The Desperate Letters Record Label: Blood & Ink Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 2 Melodic hardcore from Oklahoma. Semi-enjoyable but jaded nonetheless. Narziss - Hope Dies Record Label: Circulation Records Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 2 I never understood why so many European hardcore bands feel its necessary to record their U.S. releases in English while most Japanese pop bands just release their stuff in Japanese. This is a 5-song EP from a German band that does very generic metal. They got the generic metal riffs coupled with screams and the every-so-often talking. In a couple of songs, there were some nice melodic interludes. Trapped in Life - 12 Icons Record Label: Goodlife Recordings Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 2 Trapped in Life is from Paris and they've actually been around for about 6 years. This is their debut full length. It features some speedy Slayer-like music with hardcore vocals. The vocals are a little bit drowned out by the instruments though. Overall, this is unoriginal, brain dead music. Nevertheless, they do a fairly good job of following the mold and I'm sure some people will enjoy them. With Dead Hands Rising - Behind Inquisition Record Label: Life Sentence Records Reviewed By: Dan Rating: 3 Destruction. That is what this album is here to bring. This album is probably the heaviest hardcore album I've heard since Point of Recognition's "Day of Defeat". Deep growls and high pitched screams alternate from the throat of Colin Strandberg and the rest of WDHR destroy you with some very technical, very metal hardcore. In addition to re-recording two tracks from their 3-way split EP on Life Sentence prior to this release, they also unleash a whole batch of new assualts that pummel you straight into the ground. Some of the beats on this album are so heavy you would expect to find them on a Dying Fetus record but on the same album you find many beats that make you want to bust out the lastest two-step you learned to impress your friends. Though there is definately a lot of death metal influence to this band, there is a certain degree of technical playing that leans much more towards the new wave of hardcore bands such as Botch, Forever Is Forgotten, and Norma Jean. I would say that the most likened band to what this record gives us is in the veins of Red Roses For A Blue Lady, or so the general opinion of those I have asked seems to point towards. No matter who they sound similar to, if you enjoy brutal hardcore that reeks of metal, you will love this album. Do yourself a favor and pick it up. Truth Be Known - Stealing Stones To Build Tomorrow Record Label: Blood & Ink Records Reviewed By: Dan Rating: 2 I honestly didn't care a whole lot for this record. I put it in as soon as I got my hands on it and found that I listened to it and started to wander and get bored, looking for mosh parts or sing-a-longs or even songs that were just plain fast. I most definately did not get what I had expected or hoped for from this record. For the most part it made me think of mid-late 90's core. Somewhere in the neighbourhood of Earth Crisis, Unbroken, or Adamantium. However, I like all three of these bands much much more than I care for Truth Be Known. It simply failed to catch my ear. Having said that, I feel that it would not be fair to review the album based solely on my opinion. This is a solid record with well constructed songs that from time to time are simply not engaging. Some approaches I heard on this album were different than what has been done before, which alone should garner some respect for this band. For example, breaking mid-song crunch and chug guitars with growls in favor of acoustic guitars and almost weepy singing is something I've not heard before from this pocket of the great 'hardcore' genre. Lyrically, Truth Be Known attempt to strike out with an intelligent approach. The band has been dubbed "thinking man's hardcore" so if you like a good read just as much as a good listen, check this band out. A solid debut for this band and a steady release from this label. For mp3's check out the bands label www.bloodandinkrecords.com Some Kind of Hate - Self-Titled Record Label: Bridge Nine Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 2 Some Kind of Hate is a traditional Boston hardcore 4-piece playing music close to Cro-Mags, Agnostic Front, etc. This 5-song EP is short but showcases the band's talents. The guitar, bass, and drums are sharp. Vocals are the traditional growl/screams. Good stuff but gets boring fast because it's all been done before. Waterdown - The Files You Have on Me Record Label: Victory Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 2 I think by now everyone who's heard of Waterdown has made up their mind. They either love them or hate them. I am in the latter camp. Waterdown features two singers, one metalcore-ish and the other pop-ish. With the exception of very few bands, this combination has proved to be lethal. Waterdown is no exception. Listening to the album is just awkward. I never felt any of the songs had any continuity, and the singing could be described as wailing at best. Where Eagles Dare - In a Thousand Words or Less Record Label: Endwell Records Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 3 You'd swear this was early Stretch Arm Strong with a bit less melodies... The Plot to Blow Up the Eiffel Tower - Dissertation, Honey Record Label: Happy Couples Never Last Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 3 The Plot to Blow Up the Eiffel Tower is quite the popular band in the post-punk/progressive genre. They feature 7 members with roles such as saxophone, trumpet, and poetry. Personally, I love these types of bands that try something different. The album features elements of jazz, spazz, and traditional hardcore. It's truly great to see some creativity in this seemingly lost crowd. That being said, I must say that this is only a step in the right direction, and there's still a ways to go. Even though The Plot features all these instruments, they're not blended very well. The album bascially alternates between traditional hardcore/punk and pure jazz tracks. Seldom do you hear them together working in unison. Admittedly, it is hard to mix them but not trying at all is just a waste. Closer Than Kin - The Machineries of Breath Record Label: Punktuation Records Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 2 Closer Than Kin offers a mix of hardcore and punk, nothing too original. Musically, the band is polished and brings some really good melodies. Songs vary in speed and emotions. The vocals are two-fold. First, there are the screams and they're excellent. Pretty much what you'd expect. The second vocals, however, makes me want to vomit. It's basically some guy who obviously can't sing trying to sing. I'd like them a lot more without him. Cataract - Great Days of Vengeance Record Label: Life Force Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 2 This Swiss metalcore band is all about metal. They could be described as a mix of All Out War, Buried Alive, and The Haunted. There are no melodic interludes or slow-dance singings. Every songs consists of fast breakdowns and fierce screaming. That being said, Cataract is about unoriginal as you can get without being terrible. But if you're into that sort of stuff, this is probably right up your alley. Where Fear and Weapons Meet - Control Record Label: Eulogy Recordings Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 3 I remember being really into these guys back in highschool and somehow I just lost track after a while. After a 2-year hiatus, the band featuring members of Morning Again, Until the End, Against All Authority, etc. are back with this new 6-track EP. Their sound hasn't changed much over the years. It's still fast, raw, and energetic. The guitars and drums show off why these guys are legendary. Definitely pick this up when you have a chance. Various Artists - Point Break Volume 1 Record Label: Side Cho Records Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 2 Pretty good compilation featuring 18 very big bands such as Zao, Converge, Living Sacrifice, In Flames, Shadows Fall, and more. The promo sheet says the 18 tracks include previously unreleased tracks from Zao, Stretch Arm Strong, and many more. But the tracks from Zao and Stretch Arm Strong are obviously old and from their albums. I dunno who these schmucks at SideCho are trying to fool here, but it's pretty deceiving. I think most everyone would own these albums anyway, so there is no point in purchasing this comp. Project Rocket - New Years Revolution Record Label: Uprising Records Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 2 Another one of these pop-punk bands in the same vein as Weezer or Get Up Kids. Project Rocket features ex-members/current members of Fall Out Boy, 7 Angels 7 Plagues, Knockout, and Spitalfield. It's not surprising that they bring some of the best practiced instrumentals. Then I guess it's also not surprising that they don't bring anything revolutionary to the genre. The Comeback Kid - Turn it Around Record Label: facedown records Reviewed By: solarfox (aka slipknot=bestbandEvEr!) Rating: 4 This just may be one of the best hardcore albums I have ever heard. The style is easy to describe...fast paced hardcore (think Bane) meets Figure Four/ Buried alive type breakdowns. I really love the style of the album, a lot of bands are either all break down or all fast stuff, this is a great mixture of both. The song writing is fantastic. The production is great, all the instruements and vocals are distinct and crisp sounding. The message is overall very postive, except for maybe one song dealing with crews "I don't need a crew to validate myself, you're all the same." I guess that isn't too posi-core but it probably needs to be said. The Comeback Kid appears to be a "christian" band but lyrically they don't touch on either god or spirituality. I can't recomend this album enough for fans of Figure Four, Bane, or even Sick of it All. Pressure - Anthem Record Label: Uprising Records Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 2 4-song EP for fans of Rancid, Dead Kennedys, Reagan Youth, etc. Pretty high-tempo, energetic music with fairly good lyrics. It does a decent job of bring back the mood of the good 'ol days. It also brings terrible production qualities along with it. All I could hear during the music was the ride cymbal. The vocals were simply overshadowed by everything else. The Underwater - Bleed Me Blue Record Label: Tribunal Records Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 2 First thing you notice about The Underwater's press info sheet is that the word Zao is bold everywhere. I guess they really wanted to ride the Zao wave since the band features Jesse Smith and members of Boywunder. Knowing this, it was a huge surprise when the CD started playing. They are nothing like Zao or Boywunder. This is by no means bad. Underwater plays melodic rock similar to Juliana Theory. The music is heavy for the genre but somewhat un-catchy. The 7 songs leave no impressions behind when they're all done. A18 - Foreverafternothing Record Label: Victory Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 2 Finally, a band on Victory that is actually close to the roots of the label. A18 (formerly Amendment 18) features ex-members of Outspoken, Insted, and Chorus of Approval. They combine some of the late 80s hardcore elements with modern metal and such. The music is fast and intense with some pretty good coarse vocals. The downside is that this has already been done before and A18 doesn't really add much of their own niche. Scissorfight - Potential New Agent for Unconventional Warfare Record Label: Tortuga Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 2 If someone asked me to named a white trash stoner rock band that I didn't like, I'd probably name Scissorfight since they're the only I'm really familiar with. This 5-song EP offer a couple of good tunes (some of the guitar work are excellent), but I'm just not a big fan of this genre. Holding On - Question What You Live For Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 3 Fast-paced energetic hardcore punk from Bridge Nine Records. Holding On is from the Midwest and they feature some very "youth crew" type sounds that are aggressive and heavy. The vocals are classic; no bullshit type yells that are clean and to the point. As for the instrumentals, the bass is definitely one of the better ones out there. Ramallah - But a Whimper Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 2 Ramallah features White Trash Bob of Blood for Blood. Not surpising, they sound a lot like Blood for Blood. I couldn't stand Blood for Blood so I guess I don't really have much to say about this. No Warning - Ill Blood Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 2 No Warning is simply put NYHC, in the same vein as Madball and the rest. I was never a big fan of NYHC so I guess I don't really like this either. It's out on Bridge 9 for any interested parties. Slapshot - Greatest Hits, Slashes, and Crosschecks Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 3 I guess Slapshot really needs no introduction. This 22-track album was previously only available in Europe but now is here in the US through magic also known as Bridge 9 Records. The album features all classics re-recorded in addition to two original tracks. Plus there are some live videos included on the enhanced disc. I guess it serves as an appetizer for their new studio album due Spring 2003. It's a must-have for any Slapshot fan or anyone who wants to catch up on their hardcore roots. Waking Kills the Dream - Depending on Tomorrow Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 1 Featuring Kevin Byers of Morning Again and Matt Tackett of 12 Tribes, Waking Kills the Dream mixes hardcore with melodic singing (that's with mostly two vocalists). A formula that I really don't believe in. Only a few bands can pull that off and this is not one of them. The singing or blabbering is painful to listen to and the leftover hardcore is generic at best. Plus their information sheet had grammatical errors everywhere. Sheesh... Go learn some proper English! Reaching Forward - Complete Discography: 1998 - 2000 Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 3 Hrmm...Yet another Martyr Records release. This time it's a 32-song discography from Reaching Forward, another Youth of Today, Conflict, -ish type band. What can I say, I'm a sucker for this type of stuff, especially 32 songs worth! The First Step - Open Hearts and Clear Minds Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 3 Straight-edge hardcore has what some people might call a comeback these days. The First Step riding the waves with a sound similar to Youth of Today, Judge, etc. The end result is energetic and sincere. It definitely brings back some fuzzy memories of that era. This CD is out on Livewire Records if you want to check it out. Endthisday - Sleeping Beneath the Ashes of Creation Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 2 There's only so far fast metal riffs and coarse vocals can take you and Endthisday is about at the end of that rope. I can maybe listen to this every once in a while just to drown out outside noise and sort of get lost in the music. Afterwards, I'd probably wonder why I didn't just listen to the original and better version, aka At The Gates. It offers nothing new and I'd pass. Somehow Hollow - Busted Wings & Rusted Halos Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 2 To say that this band features ex-Grade members is an understatement. All four members of Somehow Hollow have played in Grade one time or another. Brad Casarin (Guitar/Vocals) and Kent Abbott (Guitar/Vocals) were in Grade the longest. Mike Casarin (Vocals/Bass) and Drew Clark (Drums) joined in towards the end. Somehow Hollow has actually been around for a couple of years, concurrently with Grade. They released a self-titled album back in May 2001. Now that Grade is gone, the four members have taken time to record a second full length for Victory. They were signed back in September of 2002. Their sound on the record is nothing like Grade, unfortunately. It's more like all the melodic punk that's been going around on these days (less poppy version of New Found Glory, The Stryder, Midtown, etc.) None of the songs are catchy, and the lyrics are full of cliches. The album would have gotten a better review from me if it didn't have that hideous album cover. It's just semi-good-looking girl with "busted wings" and a "broken halo". How original... Destiny - Diving Into Eternity Reviewed By: xsufferingx@trustkill.net Rating: 3 After taking several listens to this record I have found that it grows on me every time I hear it. It's hard to do the record the justice it deserves but it is very similar to Poison the Well's "Distance Makes the Heart..." EP. The major difference being that this band put out a full length of the same emotionally driven yet melodic material. Ultimately this album, an import from Beniihana Records in Germany, is not only popular with hardcore kids but even those who shy away from anything labeled as such are enjoying this record that appeals without compromising the integrity of the band's hardcore base. If you liked early PTW this album would be a great addition to your collection. Probably only available through distro I picked this up from the guys at Life Sentence and suggest that you do the same. Son of Skam - Sign of the Times Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 1 This is old-school NYHC/hip pop/rapcore with members of Madball and Sub Zero. Never been a fan of this kind of stuff and never will be. Time In Malta - A Second Engine Reviewed By: solarfox Rating: 3 time in malta's style is hard to put my finger on. i guess you could say its just rock with hardcore, emo, and punk influences. this is a good enjoyable album. there are a couple of songs that are fantastic and one or two that is lacking but overall i really like it. Dead to Fall - Everything I Touch Falls to Pieces Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 3 Heavily influenced by the Swedish metal scene, this Chicago quintet plays some wicked metal. Their sound is similar to At The Gates, Carcass, Entombed, etc. The duel guitars are one of the betters ones in the "hardcore" scene, but nothing too special once you enter the true metal arena. The double-bass drum is excellent and the growling vocals are standard. Dead to Fall has been on tour with Caliban, Incantation, Vehemence, and more. Definitely check out this record when it's released on Sept. 10.

Modern Life Is War - Witness Record Label: Deathwish Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 3 I went to see Modern Life Is War not too long ago. Unfortunately, they were using a fill-in guitarist and had to play all old songs. Not to say the old songs were bad in anyway; I was just anxious to hear them play the new ones. And let me tell you, the new ones are every bit as good as before. Without a doubt, I can say Modern Life Is War is one of the top five hardcore bands around these days. Their songs are brutal, heavy, emotional, and honest. I would stress those last two adjectives as they are my favorite qualities about this band. If you're into anything like Bane or Comeback Kid, you will enjoy this. Harlots - The Woman You Saw is the Great City that Rules Over the Kings of the Earth Record Label: Feeling Faint Reviewed By: vincent Rating: 3 This is kind of an old album (with the longest title ever), but what the hell. Harlots play dirty tech-metal that is actually pretty good. This style is kind of played out, but I like this band. One of my yardsticks for judging this kind of the music is what I picture the people in the band to look like. If the music makes me think it was produced by a bunch of skinny dudes with floppy hair and girls’ jeans, it sucks. This, however, made me think of big fat metal guys who haven’t shaved in weeks and love whiskey. In other words, it’s quite good! I can’t really describe the music. I mean, I guess I can: mainly fast and off-kilter with odd time signatures, but with breakdowns thrown in. My description sounds generic, but Harlots do enough to make this stand out from the throngs of homogenous bands playing this sort of stuff. What most impressed me on this were the instrumental tracks, which provide a somewhat mellow, albeit eerily so, balance to the insanity and chaos of the rest of the disc. Look out for their next release, which I think is coming out on Lovelost records. The dude who runs that label is a corrections officer or some shit (I think), so don't download it -- buy it -- or he'll make sure you're arrested and transferred to his facility, where he'll beat on you day and night. Winter Solstice - The Fall of Rome Record Label: Metal Blade Reviewed By: vincent Rating: 2 Great! Another Christian metalcore band! (Or is that Xtian? However the kids like to spell it these days.) God knows we need more of them. Anyway, this isn’t so bad. I mean, you know what it sounds like already. Imagine a textbook metalcore song and that’s pretty much every song on this record. You know the deal: Tweedly melodic part, build-up, breakdown, repeat. It’s not bad, but it’s not good. Well, this is not technically true. The drummer sounds really good, but the vocals are terrible. Like a hoarse dude with Down syndrome being punched in the throat. I guess they cancel out eachother. Slapshot - Tear it Down Record Label: Thorp Reviewed By: vincent Rating: 3 Slapshot have never set out to make friends, and the latest album from these Boston stalwarts is no different. With song titles like "Fuck New York" and "Rap sucks," Choke and co. are still on a mission to piss people off – and they will probably succeed as usual. For those who don't know, Slapshot have been playing fast, in your face hardcore for a couple of decades, now. Tear it Down is pretty much more of the same from a band that has been a consistent source of quality hardcore. Choke is one of my favorite hardcore vocalists -- his raspy voice is instantly recognizable -- and he writes some of the best lyrics ever. They aren't literary masterpieces, but Choke seething "yoyoyo, your momma's a ho," is fucking hilarious. All in all, it's a solid release that any fans of Slapshot, and hardcore in general, should pick up. There's no metal, no frills, and no bullshit on this record. My only complaint is how short the damn thing is (only seven songs). Of course, it has an enhanced CD portion that didn't work for me because my computer sucks. I'm told that the CD-ROM content includes a trailer for the upcoming Slapshot DVD and other, cooler stuff. Complicated Shirt - Strigine Record Label: Independent Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 1 Poor musicmanship, poor vocals, borderline-poor tunes, poor album. These Arms Are Snakes - The Lion Sleeps When Its Antelope Go Home Record Label: Jade Tree Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 2 All the ex-band fame can't save this mediocre tone-deaf album. These Arms Are Snakes feature former members of Botch and Kill Sadie. Armed with that history and a semi-snazzy name, the band seemed destined for greatness. Unfortunately, its final product is no where near what one would expect. Playing a somewhat progress hardcore style, the songs are mostly simple noise on top of some random non-melodic yelling. There are a couple of cliche instrumental parts inserted randomly throughout, but they feel forced. The Snake The Cross The Crown's - Mander Salis Record Label: Equal Vision Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 3 Forget what you know or what you think you know about Equal Vision releases. This album has all the makings to make an indie fan happy. While it doesn't feel very coherent, there are definite highlights with loud melodies and deep voices. The singer's voice sounds just a bit like Radiohead's Yorke, with lots of range and volume. It is the highlight of the album. The songs vary from fast rock tunes to slow acoustic ones. Some of them can be downright boring, but there are enough good ones to lift the album as a whole. Blood for Blood - Serenity Record Label: Thorp Records Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 2 Blood for Blood has been around for a long time. This newest release is distinctly BFB with Rob's usual vocals. The songs are catchy, maybe a little more than usual. Lyrics are the usual with talks on society, the scene, etc. The "Runaway" cover is a nice refreshing addition. This is just a fun record with many sing-along opportunities. But in the end, it's definitely not BFB's greatest. Long time fans will probably get this no matter what I say but the casual fan should skip to better, older releases. With Passion - In the Midst of Bloodied Soil Record Label: Reflections of Ruin Records Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 3 With Passion might be associated with the metalcore scene but their actual music is something you'd find in some of the European goth or death metal scene. This is only a 6-track EP but it showcases much of what the band has to offer. With two guitars and a keyboard, With Passion takes the jaded metalcore sound and fuses it with keyboards. The keyword is "fusion", not just interludes. With above-average (not first class) instruments and typical vocals (screams, growls), this EP should be an enjoyment for anyone. Yesterdays Rising - When We Speak, We Breathe Record Label: Fearless Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 1 Thursday/Boy Sets Fire ripoff without the ability to carry a decent tune. Decent guitars but the "singing" makes me want to vomit. Forever Is Forgotten - Dying Beautiful Record Label: Thorp Records Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 2 6-track MCD from this metalcore. If you mixed a couple of your typical hardcore vocals (one high, one low), regular metalcore guitars and some non-sensible guitars (to get that DEP +1 point), you'd pretty much get this, except maybe better. Gone Without Trace - Self-Titled Record Label: Thorp Records Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 2 Heavy metalcore with fair guitars and good vocals. the growls are throaty and carry some good emotion. Musically, it's just such a chug-fest that the 10 tracks will just roll past your mind and you will recollect basically nothing from them. Spend your time on a more innovative album. Alexisonfire - "Watch Out!" Record Label: Equal Vision Records Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 2 Decent rock band with hardcore elements (mostly in the screamy/growling vocals). Some people might call them screamo but I think they're just simple rock. Parts of the album has the vocalist singing as opposed to scream; this isn't the most melodic singer in the world but it's above average in the hardcore/emo community. He can at least carry a tune. The strongest part of the band is its guitars: crisp and skilled. Overall, a decent experience but nothing too exciting. Time In Malta - Alone With The Alone Record Label: Equal Vision Records Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 2 Time In Malta has been around for a while and its sound has changed throughout the years. This newest incarnation on Equal Vision is a mix of rock and hardcore. Bands like Boy Sets Fire come to mind when trying to categorize the new sound. With that said, the new sound is just so mediocre in every aspect. The tunes are cliche and the vocals/lyrics are blend. Nothing about this album made me want to follow the band anymore. Atreyu - The Curse Record Label: Victory Records Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 2 There seems to be a great disparity between people's opinion of Atreyu. Either they're the greatest hardcore band to come around in years or the worst. If you're in the latter group, consider yourself intelligent. About half of Atreyu is commercial pop-punk and the hardcore half is soft and poppy. The guitars offer some highlights and the vocals are decent (as far as hardcore goes) here and there. But overall, no self-respecting hardcore fan should like this. The Bowels of Judas - We Are Defined by Punctuation Record Label: Winding Wheel Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 2 Intering names and beautiful packaging cannot hide the Converge-like mediocre talent that is Bowels of Judas. Musically, the tracks don't offer much variety. Constant screaming to your typical metalcore riffs gets boring, fast. Razor Crusade - Infinite Water Record Label: Reflections Records Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 1 More indie-rock from the Netherlands. Except this one combines some off-tune singing with the typical music. Avoid. Despistado - The Emergency Response Record Label: Jade Tree Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 1 Wow... How did this crap get released? Some of the worst, off-tune singing I've heard. Folly - Insanity Later Record Label: Triple Crown Records Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 2 While most of this album sounds like your typical hardcore band, there are a couple of twists. First, the vocals vary a lot throughout the album. You'll hear anything from metal growls to hardcore talking/yelling. Second (and here's the kicker), the band mixes ska into hardcore. Personally, I can't stand ska but I do have to laud the band for their efforts. Unfortunately, their mix of the two genres did not fuse well. The ska parts were basically interludes between hardcore songs, which completely misses the point of fusion. From A Second Story Window - Not One Word Has Been Omitted Record Label: Blackmarket Activities Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 2 This 5-song EP shows off this typical metalcore band. The vocals are probably the strongest asset, with a hint of Zao. Musically, the tunes are blend and have no real melodies. Bearable and semi-enjoyable in some parts but nothing to rave about. Psyopus - Ideas of Reference Record Label: Blackmarket Activities Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 3 While not an exact replica of Dillinger Escape Plan, Psyopus comes damn close. Everything from the vocals to the chaotic song structures just scream DEP. Each song is highly technical with hi-octane energy. I'd even argue that they're heavier than the new DEP. The only downside is that each song does tend sound about the same. Some changes of pace to keep the album alive would have been nice. A Faith Called Chaos - Forgive Nothing Record Label: Volcom Entertainment Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 2 Chaos is probably the right word to describe A Faith Called Chaos. They combine musical styles in hardcore, metal, and rock to bring you something that's pretty hard to describe. The vocals are mostly hardcore-style screams/growls. The music is however more rock-oriented. The end result is just a blend combination of genres. Brazil - A Hostage and the Meaning of Life Record Label: Fearless Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 2 Finally, a progressive band (in the emo-pop scene) that actually does real fusion. Brazil has keyboard work in almost every single song and they're blended very nicely into the rest of the music. Cello, sax, and other strings are beautifically integrated as well. The music has that Mars Volta feel to it, especially the vocals (but perhaps less commanding). Unfortunately, the lyrics are fairly boring and cliche. The album might have been much more enjoyable if it had just cut down on the amount of lyrics and made many parts purely instrumental. Overall, the band shows extreme promise. They would sound great with some more innovative song structures. Silent Drive - Love is Worth It Record Label: Equal Vision Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 1 Even ex-members of Bane and Drowningman couldn't save this pathetic attempt at melodic hardcore. Simply... terrible. Once and For All - Where We Belong Record Label: Bystander Jams Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 3 Good clean straight-edge and positive hardcore perfectly describes Once and For All. Sure the lyrics are incredibly cliche and the music is all been done before (see Shutdown, Ten Yard Fight). But there is just something about this old school style that never gets old. Recorded with great raw emotion, the speedy 9 tracks (15 minutes total) is sure to satisfy anyone's hunger for traditional hardcore. Devilinside - Prelude EP Record Label: Abacus Recordings Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 2 Devilinside features the drummer and guitarist of Disembodied. That's a pretty good start but their sound is pretty dissappointing. Very generic metalcore with seemingly random screams. Martyr A.D. - On Earth As It Is In Hell Record Label: Victory Records Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 3 It's been a while since the last Martyr A.D. release. The band has progress much in this album. Although the general style is still similar to "Human Condition In 12 Fractions", the sound this time around is much richer and more dynamic. The vocals are forceful and deliberate. One of the better representatives of the genre. The Distance - Your Closest Enemies Record Label: Bridge Nine Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 2 Six very short tracks cover this MCD. Spanning over 8 minutes in total, The Distance brings a fast youth-crew style sound. While nothing unique, they capture the style and attitude of the youth crew movement perfectly. For this type of music, however, the songs seem a little over-produced. They lack the rough edges and abrasiveness commonly associated with the genre. Probably a band that sounds much better live. Various Artists - Bring You to Your Knees - A Tribute to Guns N' Roses Record Label: Law of Inertia Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 2 Usually, I'm a sucker for tributes, even if I don't much care for the original band. In this case, I was definitely looking forward to this given that it was the almight Guns N' Roses. The band lineup is decent, some big names in Zombie Apocalypse, MPB, DEP, 18V, Unearth, etc. However, the quality of the covers are just downright shitty. Basically, every song is butchered. Maybe it's because I'm so used to Axl's vocals to the tunes or maybe it's because none of the bands have actual talent. Either way, pass on this tribute or just download it. In-Quest - Epileptic Record Label: Good Life Recordings Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 2 In-Quest features Sven Aborted on vocals and I think that's all you need to know about the band. The band makes pretty good death metal. The vocals are the high point. There are a couple of good guitar interludes but for the most part, it's just generic stuff. Burning Bridges - Politics of Dead Friendships Record Label: Thorp Records Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 2 Thorp Records is the home of Madball and the Madball-era classic hardcore. So it's not surprising that Burning Bridges falls in line with the rest of that genre. The vocals and songs are fairly standard with everything you'd expect. But they just never gave off that energetic feel. The vocals felt detached with the instruments and never melded to create that classic hardcore feel. Glass Casket - We Are Gathered Here Today Record Label: Abacus Recordings Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 3 Metalcore band in a same vein as Between the Buried and Me (not surprising as they were both produced by Jamie King). They feature similar chaotic song structures and deep growling vocals. The overall record is perfectly described as heavy and fast. Although they fall a little short on the experimental side that BTBAM achieves so well. This record is perfect for anyone who is looking for an intense experience. Joe Coffee - Bright as the Stars We're Under Record Label: Street Anthem Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 2 Paul Bearer of Sheer Terror is back with Joe Coffee. His singing and lyrical presence are definitely great. The tracks are approachable with catchy tunes and lend themselves well to sing-alongs. However, musically, the album is essentially rock, and not so great rock. After a couple of songs, the album just gets downright boring if not annoying. My Bitter End - A Thin Line Between Heaven and Here Record Label: Innerstrength Records Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 2 Straight metalcore with all the riffs from Bleeding Through to Premonition of War. It's heavy and it's mosh-happy. The sound is raw and matches what I personally like to hear in these types of records. However, at the end of the day, it just doesn't sound that much different from everything else and gets lost in the clutter. Premonitions of War - Left in Kownloon Record Label: Victory Records Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 2 Metalcore at its best mediocrity comes to mind when trying to describe Premonitions of War. Nothing stands out about them. They have the pre-requisite "death" vocals with all the catchy breakdowns that's sure to rise any crowd. However, after a couple of listens, one quickly notices that there's just not much depth to the music. Each song is fairly short and have about the same structure as the next. They easily bore the average experienced listener. So if you want a quick intro to the scene, this would be an excellent start. But for the veterans, there are better. Found Dead Hanging - Dulling Occam's Razor Record Label: Blackmarket Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 3 I'll assume these are some pretty intelligent guys since Occam's Razor is a well-known subject in the field of Machine Learning. Not anyone off the streets knows the significance of it. And if they just ripped it off because it sounded cool, then they're just idiots. With that said, Found Dead Hanging is all out chaotic metal like The Red Chord. No surprise since 2 of the guys in The Red Chord founded Blackmarket. Found Dead Hanging exploits various speeds and song structures in this short 6-song EP. Vocals are so-so with the shouting and whatnot. However, they still lack a good identity to differentiate themselves from the countless other bands who play the same tunes. Orange Island - Orange Island Record Label: Triple Crown Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 2 Yet another one of these emo/pop bands with the cliche riffs and lyrics. The lack of a definite personality makes this album an absolute bore. Snapcase - Bright Flashes Record Label: Victory Records Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 3 After so many albums, one would think a band would stop being innovative. Apparently Snapcase didn't get the office memo, and it's quite fortunate for the rest of us. This album features covers of Devo, Jane's Addiction, Helmet, remixes, and other rarities. It completes the vision that was "End Transmission." A must-have for the fans and a good intro for newcomers. The New Breed - Port City Rebels Record Label: Thorp Records Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 2 Just another Oi! band with all the required elements. Nothing too special. Probably be better to stick with your current favorite Oi band. Foe - Arm Yourself with Clairvoyance Record Label: House of Stairs Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 1 When a band decides to become all instrumental, they better have some damn good instrument players. Some sort of guitar virtuoso or something. Foe, on the other hand, decided to be completely instrumental on the basis of sloppy musicianship and terrible tunes. A garage-band practice can probably sound better. Narcissus - Crave and Collapse Record Label: Abacus Recordings Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 2 Compared to "Newwave Techno Homicide", this new album is quite tame. The signature screeching vocals have been replaced by a mild singing with occasional screaming. The musicianship do their part but nothing special. What comes out is a rather blend mix of cliche lyrics and generic riffs. Spearing Jocosta - The Cassandra Complex Record Label: Life Sentence Records Reviewed By: Dan Rating: 1 Does anyone like From Autumn To Ashes (aka From Awesome To Average)? I personally don't care for them very much. Spearing Jocosta would probably disagree with me. This new EP from them sounds to me a lot like FATA maybe a bit more 'punk' at times but regardless...doesn't keep my attention very long, especially considering all the other quality releases that are coming from Life Sentence. Punishment - Broken but not Dead Record Label: Thorp Records Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 2 Boring, repetitive metalcore sums up this album and band. Each song features the same riffs just in a different order. Avoid unless you like to numb your mind. Ed Gein - It's a Shame... Record Label: Hex Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 3 Ed Gein features some wild & crazy technical metalcore. The album does an excellent job of bottling the band's energy in eight non-stop tracks. However, unless you're an avid fan of the genre, the songs do tend to get a bit repetitive. Plus, the album features some clips of Donnie Darko, a vastly over-rated yet popular with the kids movie. Stop It!! - Self Made Maps Record Label: Robotic Empire Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 2 Stop It!! is a very minimalistic and primitive rock band with somewhat chaotic elements. Most songs are off-balance with yellings. Throw in some long melodic solos and you've pretty much got the entire album. Musically, the band is on par wth most other bands but the vocals are just dead awful. While some people can pull it off as being experimental or progressive, this just comes off as being amateur-ish. Unless you can stand the vocals, this album is a pass, These Arms are Snakes - This Is Meant to Hurt You Record Label: Jade Tree Records Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 3 Featuring members of Botch, Kill Sadie and more, These Arms are Snakes have the dreadful task of living up to their lofty expectations. This five-song EP delivers on most of those expectations. It has a blend of Kill Sadie, Milemarker, and Drive Like Jehu. However, it does seem to miss the epic mood that drove much of Botch. Ultimately, These Arms are Snakes is still working with the same formula and doesn't try to push the boundaries. Nientara - Consequences Record Label: Life Sentence Records Reviewed By: Dan Rating: 3 Nientara was a band that I actually heard a lot about before this album was released. A large number of my friends were telling me that they were liking what they heard. I was very excited to get the chance myself to sit down and listen to this new EP they have put together. You don't really have to even put this album in before knowing that you are going to be listening to metal played as well as possible by hardcore kids. Such is the stable at Life Sentence. Nientara's 5 songs on this EP pack emotion, energy, and even a dose of creativity onto this disc. The music does tend to overlook some of it's finest points at times. They almost do themselves in by catching a good idea but only using it pass on to a better one. If you are digging the modern wave of metal influenced by hardcore, you should pick this up. Fans of pretty much any metal band that runs the hardcore circuit or vice versa should enjoy this album. Broken Bottles - Not Pretty Record Label: Finger Records Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 1 This album is not pretty. Musically, the band is alright. But the vocals and lyrics are just downright horrid. Someone should also tell the vocalist that it's the year 2003 and eyeshadows are not cool anymore. Kid Gorgeous - This Feeling Gets Old Record Label: Uprising Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 2 Featuring members of Every Time I Die and Buried Alive/Despair, Kid Gorgeous churns out the same style of music as those bands. The music is energetic and the vocals are what you would expect. But the album is one giant monotonous track. The band brings nothing new to the already over-crowded scene and quite honestly gets old, fast. Freya - As the Last Light Drains Record Label: Victory Records Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 2 Karl Buechner of the legendary Earth Crisis is back with Freya. For those who are wondering, Freya is more like Slither than the Firestorm and All Out War EPs. Dissappointing news to myself but it should detract from the quality of this album. The 13 tracks on the album range from metal to hardcore to melodic pieces. The variety is nice but I just couldn't get a feel for what the band is about. On top of that, the non-screaming vocals just aren't that great. Fairweather - Lusitania Record Label: Equal Vision Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 3 It's been over two years since Fairweather's last full length and much has changed for the band. They've tossed those Saves the Day-ish pop melodies (especially the vocals) and adopted a mature attitude. Their new sound is more rock-oriented; Sonic Youth anyone? Comparing to their last LP, the melodies here are less catchy and poppy. And the vocals are not as commanding and personal. As a result, I felt less in the moment while listening to it. That is not to say this isn't a good album. I still commend the band on this progression, but perhaps this is just a stepping stone to greater works. Nehemiah - The Process of Asphyxiation Record Label: Uprising Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 3 Nehemiah does their best imitation of At the Gates the state of Florida has ever seen and pulls it off relatively well. The guitar riffs are your typical Swedish death metal style. They're sharp, constant, and fast. The melodies throughout the album are quite on par with the modern-day Swedish bands, too. What sets the band apart from the rest are the dual vocals. First, there is the At the Gates style screeching vocals. Second, there is the Morbid Angel style deep growls. The latter sounds forced sometimes and can be a turnoff for what is otherwise a nice album. Minus - Halld�r Laxness Record Label: Victory Records Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 2 When you go to the store and look for this album, you'll notice a sticker on the front cover that states Minus picks up where Sigur Ros left off. Very interesting statement, especially for a band on Victory. But 10 seconds into the CD, you'll probably want to find the person who thought up that statement and strangle him/her with your bare hands. Minus is nothing like Sigur Ros, not even close. To me, Halld�r Laxness is just a more commercialized version of Jesus Christ Bobby. It's very dissappointing to see a self-proclaimed experimental band produce such generic stuff. With the exception of a few interlude tracks, this sounds exactly like your everyday metalcore band. This Day Forward - In Response Record Label: Equal Vision Records Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 4 First of all, forget everything you knew about This Day Forward. The band has progressed heavily since the Kairos EP. They lost almost all of the screaming vocals and adapted a style that is a mix of hardcore and pop. It's easy to tell where their hardcore roots lie throughout the album, but their new pop-ish melodies make you forget all that and just enjoy the album as is. Mike Shaw's vocals are perfect for this style. It's always in that midway range of screaming and singing, never awkward. The guitars and drums are similar to Kairos, maybe a bit softer. This album showcases the bands' wide range of talents and redefines their position in the genre as one of the leaders and innovators. The Threads - Five Stabs to the Throat Record Label: Phantoms Records Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 3 The SoCal 6-piece band calls themselves "chaotic post-punk". I don't know about the chaotic part but post-punk is certainly correct. The multi-layered guitar work, the subtle yet effective keyboards, and the melodies make this a wonderful 5-song EP. On Broken Wings - Some of Us May Never See the World Record Label: Eulogy Recordings Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 2 On Broken Wings is a 6-piece metal band from Boston. The band features lots of death metal elements with the deep growls and slow grinds. The complete lack of originality compounded with so-so production values (the vocals are drowned out in most parts) make this a below-average release. Shai Hulud - That Within Blood Ill Tempered Record Label: Revelation Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 3 It's hard to follow up to a masterpiece in "Hearts Once Nourished with Hope & Compassion," but Shai Hulud was entrusted with this task. Compounded with all the delays and hype around this album, the task is basically impossible. First, the fact: this album is not as good as Hearts Once Nourished. At first listen, they seem similar. The furious guitar works mixed with all-out vocal assaults. For the most part, the songs carry the intensity that Hulud is known for. The guitar melodies seep through the otherwise metal sound. Classic Shai Hulud, right? Not quite. The downfall of this record lies in its lyrics. Some of the writing (e.g. "And This is What the Children Shall Learn...") are just down-right embarrassing (and quite pretentious). This is more of a knock on the entire genre itself, but my personal expectations (and perhaps some of the band's own attitudes) of this album had lead me to expect better. But I must wonder, had Hearts Once Nourished never been released, where would this album rank in my library? No doubt this would have been a classic. But the fact is it doesn't compare with Hearts and maybe we shouldn't. The album stands tall in the scene on its own merits. It is full of memorable tracks such as "This Song: For The True And Passionte Lovers Of Music" or "Two And Twenty Misfortunes". With the excellent music, it is still one of the best this year. If Hope Dies - Siege Equipment for Spiritual Decline Record Label: Diehard Records Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 3 If Hope Dies is metal with melodic breakdowns for fans of Undying and Bleeding Through. The execution on the album is simply flawless. I don't know what else to say except get this now! Asherah - Boutros Makes the Bed Record Label: Innerstrength Records Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 3 Sweet sweet metal is how I'd describe this, but it's so much more. Asherah has the neck-breaking speeds of so many Swedish death metals and brings mosh parts, melodic breakdowns, and meaningful lyrics. The pure emotional outpouring on every track makes me want to jump up-and-down. It's just too bad that there is only 6 tracks. Scars of Tomorrow - Design Your Fate Record Label: Thorp Records Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 3 After listening to this, I've discovered that there are really two sides to Scars of Tomorrow. First, there is the heavy metal sound. They have the signature bass-heavy drums and haunting deep screams. Second, there is the melodic soft side that tries to shine through the metal. Every once in a while, you'll end up hearing these quite beautiful melodies trying to break through the metal. The blend works out pretty well for most songs. The metal parts do tend to drone after a while. Dismissed - Taking the Good with the Bad Record Label: Indie Vision Music Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 2 Taking Back Sunday and Thrice come to mind when trying to describe Dismissed. The band mixes mostly singing with some hardcore screams to the backdrop of melodic punk. However, compared to the aforementioned two bands, Dismissed are farless catchy and tuned. Some of the songs just end up being awkard. The Butcher - Mass Destruction Manual Record Label: Gangstyle Records Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 2 The Butcher hails from Holland and this is actually their third full-length. Their style is fast hardcore punk reminiscent of the early eighties style. Their sound is raw and energetic with some cool sing-alongs. This album features 20 songs in 37 minutes. Boy Sets Fire - Tomorrow Come Today Record Label: Wind-Up Records Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 3 So this is the first full-lenght of the post-Victory Boy Sets Fire. I was expecting some dramatic changes (for the worse) from After the Eulogy, but to my great surprise, BSF has only improved. To be honest, I never liked After the Eulogy; thought it was generic and annoying at the same time. This time around, the annoying part is gone and perhaps they've gotten a little bit innovative. Production values on this album is top-notch. Guitars are sharp and drums are crisp. For those who are unfamiliar with the band, BSF plays a melodic hard rock with singing vocals. Track 4 ("Bathory's Sainthood") heavily reminded me of Tool, especially the vocals. Overall, the album is very enjoyable and the music is sort of rare in this "scene". The bonus DVD is also a nice addition. P.S. Shouldn't the title be "Tomorrow Comes Today" instead of just Come. Someone needs to freshen up on their grammar. Truth be Known - Stealing Stones to Build Tomorrow Record Label: Blood & Ink Records Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 2 I remember reading somewhere that Truth be Known was very similar to A Thousand Falling Skies. So I took out From Behind the Shadows and compared the two. Sure enough, they sounded pretty much the same. Truth Be Known might have more of a toughguy vocals but everything else is like an exact replica. They have the same speedy guitars, same semi-chaotic schemes, etc. So whatever opinions you have about A Thousand Falling Skies, you can apply to Truth be Known and feel pretty safe about it. E. Town Concrete - The Renaissance Record Label: Razor and Tie Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 3 I found it funny that in the promo sheet, E. Town's lead singer Martini stressed that they're "not rap-core." He says "to me, that whole genre should be renamed rap-corny. ... We're simply a hard rock band who incorporates various musical styles." To me, that's about the dumbest thing a person could say. Dissing a whole genre just because they don't like some of the bands in there. (What's more hilarious, they toured with Biohazard.) Anyway, to their music. It's a blend of hip-pop and rock. Sorta like this rap-core genre that they're not a part of. A less rockier version of Downset if you will. I think the strength of the band is its lyrics. They don't have any of the over-used cliches that so many other bands have nowadays. E.Town actually come with original and intriguing words. They're a definite jewel if you're into this genre. What Lies Within vs. Death Before Disco - Split Record Label: Goodlife Recordings Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 2 A split between two fairly generic but good hardcore bands. What Lies Within is Shai Hulud-ish with some cool melodies. The guitar riffs on My Hell is simply amazing; at least in the hardcore genre. Vocals are the standard screams. As for Death Before Disco, they're even more generic hardcore/rock with annoying vocals. It Dies Today - Forever Scorned Record Label: Life Sentence Records Reviewed By: Dan Rating: 3 Here is a record I truly enjoy. This is a great 6 song EP that rips through metal leads and breakdowns like few other bands dare. Intense, tight, and energetic, It Dies Today brings you not only to edge of the pit, but makes you leap in. Akin to the likes of Bleeding Through without the over the top metal approach and not nearly as dark or to Nehemiah, technical and in your face, making you want to dance as well as sing-a-long from time to time. It Dies Today is definately up and coming with this record. Lyrically ground covered from personal experiences to fables known by all (A Romance By The Wings of Icarus) gives us yet another perspective on the human condition. Check out this album if you haven't already, it rocks your face. Embraced - An Orchestrated Failure Record Label: Theory 8 Reviewed By: Dan Rating: 3 I first heard Embraced on a Facedown Distro comp last year and I liked what I heard. Sharp melodies recorded on raw guitars always allows for a certain sound that is nearly irresistable. This is no exception. Embraced takes this EP to the table in such a way that it blurs the lines between bands like This Day Forward and Sleeping By The Riverside. Fast paced emotion, but not as intense as east coast flavored favorites like Shai Hulud, Stretch Arm Strong, or the afformentioned Sleeping By The Riverside. The band as a whole does well to span the record with some solid musicianship and vocals that really ever tend to disappoint. Following in the footsteps of bands like Hopesfall, there are not many 'mosh' parts to this album and the lyrics are more introspective than anything. Terror - Lowest of the Low Record Label: Bridge Nine Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 3 Terror features Scott Vogel of Buried Alive, one of my favorite bands. So it was only natural that I liked Terror also, who plays a style similar to Buried Alive. Todd Jones of Carry On is also a member. Together, the band brings some devastating old school moshpit tunes with Vogel's signature vocals. This 9-song 16:28 MCD could be described as "terror"-ific! Boy am I good with words... The Theory of Abstract Light - Self-Titled Record Label: Odd Halo Recordings Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 3 This is a side project of 5ive's guitarist Ben Carr. Not surprisingly, it's along the same lines of spatial, abstract music if you want to call it that. The entire 7 tracks consists of simple yet mind-bending sounds produced either by guitar or electronically. The tone and imagery created by the music falls and rises throughout the album. Tense moments are followed by cool releases and vice versa. Definitely a journey not to be missed. xDisciplex A.D. - The Revelation Record Label: Triple Crown Records Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 3 Heaven & Hell was one of my favorite releases so I was definitely looking forward to this new release. On first listen, I was dissappointed at how this was different from Heaven & Hell. Gone are the coarse, low growls. Present are the sort of higher-pitched screams. I was annoyed at this at first but after a couple of listens, I got used to it. After all, the album features some piercing drums, honest lyrics, and great guitar/bass work. Definitely up to the standards of their other releases. Full Blown Chaos - Prophet of Hostility Record Label: Stillborn Records Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 2 Heavy brutal mosh metal comes to mind when listening to this 6-song EP. The productions are raw and bring out the emotions of the band. Not much else to say about this... Various Artists - Atticus ... Dragging the Lake II Record Label: Side One Dummy Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 2 Hard to rate compilations but this one looks very good on paper. Features unreleased tracks from Slick Shoes, Alkaline Trio, Hot Rod Circuit, and more. Other bands involved include Further Seems Forever, Dillinger Four, Bane, Jets to Brazil. The total is 26 which is pretty healthy for comps. Probably a good download if you're a fan of some of the bands showcased. Bury Your Dead - You Had Me at Hello Record Label: Alveran Records Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 3 Not too much to say about this album. It rocks loud and it rocks fast. Reminds me of Buried Alive a lot. The band had broken up earlier this year, but their comeback show is in a couple of days. The new lineup will be different and it'll be interesting to hear the new stuff. Fall Out Boy - Fall Out Boy's Evening Out with Your Girl Record Label: Uprising Records Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 2 More Get Up Kids/Alkaline Trio-ish stuff from Uprising. Fall Out Boy features members of Arma Angelus. The 9-track album features some sharp rock riffs and catchy tunes. But the lack of creativity just drives this melodic punk band right into the crowd. I reckon no one will care about them in about a year... The Last Farewell - Far Cry From Failure Record Label: Framework Records Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 2 The Last Farewell is a generic emo/hardcore band out of Arkansas. A first listen through their records reminded me of Stretch Arm Strong and Haste, especially during the screaming parts. However, when the music gets to the slow singing, it gets pretty unbearable. Musically, the 9 tracks offer a variety of brutal breakdowns and sharp melodies. But overall, it's nothing to get your underwear in a bunch. Everafter - Fading into Bright Record Label: Tribunal Records Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 3 Very impressive emo/pop band from North Carolina. Everafter features a female lead singer in the age of Get Up Kids, Saves the Day, etc. It's a nice change of pace. Her vocals are close to perfect and the guitar/bass aren't too shabby either. The overall sound reminds me of a rockier version of Rocking Horse Winner. What brings the album down is the pure unimaginative nature of it. The lyrics are jaded, and I swear I've heard some of the riffs elsewhere. The K!ll P!ll - Outside These City Walls Record Label: Uprising Records Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 2 I can't stand all these garage rock crap like The Hives, White Stripes, etc. So it's pretty natural that I didn't like The Kill Pill. They have that typical raw sound with the o-so-common vocals in this genre. Thank God it's only a 5-song EP. Rock Kills Kid - Rock Kills Kid Record Label: Fearless Records Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 2 This is the debut, self-titled EP from the California quartet. The band plays a powerpop sound with lots of melodies, backup vocals, etc. The six songs showcase their clean-cut production and soothing vocals. Unfortunately, it also showcases their blend style and jaded lyrics. Heartscarved - Epilogue Record Label: Tribunal Records Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 3 Great record with catchy melodies, fast guitars, and intense screams. This very short 3-song EP was released after their breakup on Tribunal and serves as a parting gift. Production values were that great but they give a raw feel to the sound that's missing in many other records. Definitely check this out. Dreams Forever Drowning - Entire Parts Never to be Left Incomplete Record Label: Too Bad You're Beautiful Recordings Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 2 I'm usually a sucker for any female-fronted bands, but Dreams Forever Drowning is an exception. The band mixes genres like hardcore with Annmarie screaming at the top of her lungs and then pop with her singing melodic tunes. This incoherent mix just left me confused and looking for the stop button on the CD player. Plus, Annmarie is just not much of a singer. She has great screaming vocals but singing wise leaves much to be desired. Harkonen - Shake Harder Boy Record Label: Hydrahead Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 3 Finally, the full-length is out on Hydrahead. Harkonen is what I'd call spatial sludge with some occasional electronics. Reminds me of some old Isis and whatnot. It's good music for just sitting around and getting lost. It does have the problem of feeling like nothing really gets going, as if I have been listening to one gigantic intro. The vocals seem to be attached on at the last second; just some guy yelling to music. But these are only minor irriations to what is overall a great piece. Beyond the Sixth Seal - Earth and Sphere Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 2 So this band's flyer states that they're the new hope on the "Melodic Death Metal" front. They feature current members of prominent bands such as The Red Chord and American Nightmare. But whatever they tried doing just sounded awkward in comparison to the true death metal found overseas. Their concept of melodic death metal is basically stitching together pieces of regular metal with some melodic guitars and piano solo. The mix comes out very unnatural; I suppose it's not entirely surprising due to these guys' backgrounds and just the fact that they're from America. If you're looking for some real death metal, this is not it. But just in case you're interested (the only reason I was is because of the band affiliations), this is out on Lifeforce Records. Breaker Breaker - Out of Service Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 3 Another one of these straight-edge Revelation-esque hardcore bands. Even though Breaker Breaker had already broken up, Martyr Records decided this release this 6-song EP just because they're that damn good. With material that reminds people of Judge or any of those late 80s Revelation bands, Breaker Breaker brings the fast-paced, furious sXe hardcore sound back to the forefront. Running Like Thieves - Same Time Next Year Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 1 Even though this band has some legendary members (ex-Bold, ex-Supertouch), this 6-song EP is pretty crappy. The songs feel very understated and generic. I'd avoid. Until the End - Let the World Burn Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 3 No doubt one of the hottest sXe bands around these days. This album was released a while ago actually, I just never got around to review it. The album features 6 new tracks and 3 live tracks. The new tracks maintain the tradition of ferocious breakdowns and intense vocals. Personally, it was sort of a letdown in terms of a follow-up to "Blood In The Ink". It didn't offer anything new. If anything, they took a step back and merged with the traditional sXe hardcore route. Regardless, I'm still a fan and you should definitely them check them out on Eulogy. Open Hand - The Dream Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 2 This full-length out on Trustkill from Open Hand is basically two previous EPs fused together with one new song added in. Open Hand is another one of the melodic post-hardcore bands. Sort of in the same vein as Thursday. The little sheet from Trustkill said Open Hand is known for their "honest lyrical approach". If by "honest" they meant "cliche" then I totally agree! Musically, the band doesn't feature much variety. The songs are all convoluted with the same riffs and whatnot with the occasional melodic ballad. Each song consists of two stages. First, there are some semi-hard screams or whatever and then comes the high-pitched, womanly (and annoying I might add) singing. The band has potential if they can clean up their lyrics and produce some original music composition. For now, I'd avoid. Proclamation - Let The Truth Be Told Reviewed By: xsufferingx@trustkill.net Rating: 3 This CD is amazing. Fast straight-edge hardcore. Thinking about bands like In My Eyes and Ten Yard Fight or how they wore the moniker "Boston's Fastest, Most Hated SXE". The insert has full info about each time they recorded any group of the 42 or so tracks on this record. The artwork isn't spectacular, but for it to fit this band it shouldn't be. This CD has their full "Taken By Force" full-length from Bridge Nine (tracks 1-16) as well as their "Straight Edge Hardcore" 7" release from Bridge Nine (tracks 17-24) and their "Self-Titled" demo (tracks 25-31) plus the 'non-releases' (tracks 32-41) plus a few surprises in unlabled live tracks. Life Sentence did amazingly well to release this CD. It's a complete collection of a notorious SXE band from Boston that after reading over and listening to, you feel like you were part of it. Enjoy. V/A - Words As Weapons (Volume One) Reviewed By: xsufferingx@trustkill.net Rating: 3 Words As Weapons Vol. One is a three way slpit between Tears Will Drown, Wings of Scarlet, and With Dead Hands Rising released through Life Sentence Records. Opening the album is Wings of Scarlet with three tracks of attacking metal riffs, hard breakdown chugg-chugg pieces, and a vocal style that strikes me very Swedish. Overall the three songs that Wings of Scarlet provide are solid and fun to listen to. Vocals of the high pitch variety as akin to At The Gates, Carcass, Zao...Musically covering the same territory as many of their US contemporaries. Though nothing sticks out that much on their record it doesn't reek of copy/paste syndrome. It doesn't fall into the same patterns and exact same melodies as it predecesors. Up next is three tracks from Tears Will Drown. I usually don't listen to these very much. I don't like them that much on this recording. Very metal. Lots of growling and, of course, high pitched wailing. The drums sound quite aggressive with lots of double bass and the guitars are played either to attack your ears or sneak by them, depending on the players choice. There are occasional moments of melody but I'm just not a big fan of these guys I guess. Closing the CD is With Dead Hands Rising. Four tracks not far from the other two bands. They seem to have the thickest sound of the three bands and definately have the breakdowns that all the kicking and punching kids love. Crossing some melody from part to part with huge breakdowns and a very metal influence makes me like this band a lot. The album overall has three bands churning out heavy metal music that makes you want to move. The artwork is cool and the price for this record is right. Check it out. True Illusion/Morda - Split EP Reviewed By: xsufferingx@trustkill.net Rating: 1 This is a pretty bad record. Released through Euro label Burning Season Records the album probably isn't easy to find except perhaps through random distro. Overall the record has poor production quality and the musicianship of both bands isn't very tight. It's not the worst start but I would hope that they improve a lot before putting out another record. Various Artists - Under the Influence: A Tribute to The Smiths, The Clash & The Cure Reviewed By: propheci Rating: 3 This tribute features some very big named bands such as Saves The Day, Converge, Hot Water Music, Cave In, etc. 11 songs total, 3 for The Clash, 3 for The Cure, and 4 for The Smiths. Each song is well-done. Some are fairly accurate duplicates of the original while others feature the band's own touch. I only wish they had gotten more bands and made it into three separate tributes. Either way, this is out on Too Damn Hype and it's just Too Damn Good to pass up.