LPʼsBrand New – DaisySeptember 22, 2009 | Interscope RecordsThis record came unexpected for me. I’ve been a fan of Brand New for a long time now and for some reason i did not keep my eyes and ears open when they announced that they were hitting the studio, maybe they wanted it to be that way. Either way Brand New is back and they are very pissed, more than in their previous record “The Devil and God are Raging Inside Me”. This record is very strange even from the appearance of the cover. This starts off with a 1920’s/30’s female vocalist playing the piano and then kicks right into one of the heaviest songs Brand New has ever written. I felt like i was listening to old Glassjaw or Cave In. It takes some getting use to but it is a pure adrenaline rush. Don’t listen to this song while driving or you will be sure to see yourself wanting to drive into the person ahead of you. “At the Bottom” was the first song that i heard off this record and i was instantly hooked. Very soothing but yet when the chorus kicks in you feel a sudden burst of electric energy pouring out of the guitars and Jesse’s voice. This song will be stuck in your head for days. The whole record has a very post rock/hardcore vibe. It’s very heavy both musically and lyrically. Heavy Music does not always have to be overly distorted chugging guitar riffs and screaming vocals. The tones and overall sound of this record is what makes it heavy even when the clean guitar is playing. This record is a lot darker than their previous work and im glad they went that route instead of falling back on older sounding material. There are very few records that have nothing but great songs on them. With many records there are several good songs but then there are filler songs just to take up room to reach a certain amount of tracks. With this record i feel that there are no filler songs, Brand New wrote what they wanted to write and recorded it the way that they wanted to and it worked. This record defines a lot of things both musically and lyrically and it crosses many lines that most bands stay behind. There are those few bands that have reached a status to where they can do whatever they want even if its different and new to their sound. They have reached the pinnacle in their career and i hope it sticks with them in the future.

Cave In – Planets of Old2009 | Hydra Head RecordsWhen i found out that Cave In was going to play shows again, i freaked out. And when i heard the news that they were recording a new record, i almost fell out of my chair. Cave In have always been a band that’s surprised me, every record was like a new, musical experience. They were definitely one of the most important bands in the late 90’s/early 2000’s and still to this day have an impact on the hardcore/punk and indie/metal scenes. Most bands get a lot of shit for changing up their sound and Cave In has gotten a lot of that, but the also have gained a lot of success and positive feedback from their previous records. Now after a few years of being on hiatus, Cave In is back with a four song 12″LP. That might not sound like much but Cave In have definitely reached new boundaries with this record. This record has the unique qualities that a Cave In record would normally have but with new elements. Adding a more psychedelic/doom sound, the first track “Cayman’s Tongue” starts the record off with some weird guitar effects that goes right into some stoner metal riffery. The Second track “Retina Sees Rewind” is very short but very melodic and will get stuck in your head for hours after one listen. I feel like this song resembles a lot of what they were doing towards the later part of their career (Jupiter, Antenna, etc…) “The Red Trail” starts off on side b of the record and sounds to me like it was an unreleased song off “Until Your Heart Stops”. The song is very fast and very aggressive much like Cave in was once known for back in the beginning of their run. The production of this record is set a little different than most of the other records they’ve done. Most of the members have gone on to do other projects (such as Zozobra, Clouds, Octave Museum, and Doomriders) and a think a lot of those influences from their other projects have been added in with the sound of this record, which is not at all a bad thing. This record is a great representation of what Cave In is known for and capable of. They can still manage to add new elements to their music while still carrying the sound that they have been known for. This is a great record and im glad to see them back on Hydra Head for another great release. Cave In can do no wrong and this record proves that they are a band that can come back and put together a great record.

REVIEWSREVIEWSREVIEWS

Dinosaur Jr - FarmJune 23, 2009 | Jagjaguwa RecordsThe legendary Dinosaur Jr is back with another great full length. Very rarely do bands come back and write/record a great record, nonetheless TWO great records. Their previous record “Beyond” was the mark of their return back from an almost 10 year break. Dinosaur Jr has always had a unique sound to them, mixing grudge, rock and alternative music and they have always stuck to that formula, even with their latest releases. “Farm” is no different. The sound of this record is very much like any Dino Jr record, dirty, loud, but yet clean and smooth sounding when the time is right. Over 20 years of existence its amazing that the Dino trio is still coming up with great riffs and great songs. I guess when you’ve been doing it for so long you know what you want and you know what to steer away from. When “Beyond” came out i thought it was a great “comeback” record and i had heard before that they had gotten back together and played some reunion shows, but i assumed that it might only last for one record, clearly i was wrong because they are back again with an 11 song double LP. Jagjaguwa did a great job with putting together this record. The artwork goes great with the overall feel of the record, kind of a stoner type vibe which is somewhat normal for these guys. Im sure if you were high while looking at this record you would be freaking out. There’s nothing better than a record that keeps you anticipating and wanting more throughout the first few listens and this record does exactly that. Once you hear any one of the songs off this record it will get stuck in your head and make you want to hear more. The opening track “Pieces” along with “Over It” start of with two very catchy guitar riffs that will never leave your head. With every upbeat song there is one the polar opposite, songs such as “Said the People” and “Plans” which will make you just want to sit back and soak it all in. The Dino trio really know how to write great songs on both ends of the spectrum. This is a classic Dinosaur Jr record, it has everything a fan would want, the sound, the songs, the vocals and the overall feel of a Dino record. I feel like these guys will never write a bad song or a bad record even, and hopefully they keep putting out more great records in the future. This is a band of the past, present and the future. This record is “record of the year” worthy in my book and it has even debuted as #29 in recent billboard charts. I feel like i have said not enough good things about this record, so i will leave it at that

Earth Crisis - To the DeathMay 2009 | Century Media If you had told me six years ago that Earth Crisis were to get back together and record a new album I would have though you were out of your mind. But the time has finally come and I couldn’t be more stoked. EC switched over to century media for the release of this record and that was a smart move on their part. After all victory hasn’t released a good record in a long time, and century media will give them the support they need for coming back to record a new record and play out. This is by far their best sounding recording yet. Although some dislike their previous album “Slither” both albums share some qualities when it comes to the production. The songs sound as if they went back into the fault and reached out some riffs off “Destroy the Machines” and “Gomorrah’s Season Ends” which are two of my favorite EXC full lengths. There is not one bad song on this record, all of it I love and can easily bang my head to when driving to it. I was a little bit nervous when I found out they were going to record an album but i don’t think they could have done it any better. This record is perfect, heavy and the lyric content is like any other EXC album with newer topic of

interest. With lyrics such as “every meth lab burns” and “vegan for life” its safe to say that they have yet to give up on their lifestyle and convictions towards the vegan straight edge. EXC is back and in full force, they are one of the few bands who have kept their word and can still make an impact on younger people and people who already see eye to eye with the message the Earth Crisis brings to the table. Pick up this record and go see them while their on tour!

Iron Age – The Sleeping Eye2009 | Cyclopean Records Lets talk about this record, for starters this band definitely stretched the borders when writing this record. I’ve never really heard a hardcore band get this creative and innovative in a long time, and to me that’s a key aspect of writing music. I consider this band a hardcore band, but this record is a straight up metal record. With influences from the almighty Leeway, to some straight up thrash riffs as if they listened to a lot of Obituary and older Metallica/Megadeth. This record leaked a while before the record came out and I feel bad that it did because if this came out on a label without the masses hearing it, it would have gained a lot more credit than it already has gotten and would have been a huge surprise. Still this record has been the main topic for a long time and people were blown away when downloading it I’m sure. The production of this record is great and sounds very powerful and magnetic. The flow of this record runs very smooth, they keep a lot of noise in between songs which I think makes listening to the record more interesting. Right at the end of the opening track has a singing “OHHHHH” part that sounds like its off a Candlemass record or something. Bottom line, this is a great record from a great hardcore band who is not afraid to cross the line between metal and hardcore.

Lewd Acts – Black Eye Blues2009 | Deathwish Inc.I didnt really know much about this band before this release, so im not really aware of what this band is about but this record gives me some reasoning behind the direction they are going towards. Lewd Acts is a very fast, but yet progressive punk/hardcore band along the vein of early Converge. When i first listened to this record i knew it was a Deathwish release. It just has that deathwish sound, very dark, grimy, and intense, and to make it even more like a deathwish record it was recorded with Kurt Ballou at Godcity Studios. But aside from all of that this is still a unique record and it does stand out from the rest. It has a surprise around every corner it seems like. One moment your listening to a very slow, droned out and distorted chorus (“Who Knew the West Coast Would Be So Cold”) and the next thing you know they are back to fast shredding guitar riffs. My personal favorites off this record would be “Wide Black Eyes”, “Nowhere To Go” along with “Penmanship Sailed” and “Nightcrawlers”. I was overall very pleased with this record, especially because this was my first interaction with the band, perhaps i will go and check out their previous records. This is out now on Deathwish so go and pick it up online. Mother of Mercy – III2009 | Six Feet Under Records This is the bands third release and its one of their strongest releases to date. Previously they did two 7″’s which i thought were amazing, i wasn’t sure how i was going to react when i heard they did a full length, but this ended up to be one of my favorite records of the year so far. They pick up right where they left off on their previous two 7″ but the overall sound and

production of this record is flawless. The vocals are a lot more raspier which fits well with the guitar and drum sounds. I think he has some of the best vocals in hardcore right now, and his stage presence is there also. This band has a lot of influence from legendary 90’s bands, but i wouldn’t say 90’s hardcore bands. They get a lot of their sound from bands like Quicksand and Helmet, and if you add those two together you get another great 90’s band Handsome, which they have a little bit of their sound as well. Think of adding all of those great bands together with some more thrash guitar parts and you get Mother of Mercy. I feel like this band is one of the few bands that are not afraid to get a little creative and think outside of the box, in the middle of the record the song “Cadence” is just a dark piano part that sounds like it was recorded in a large noisy church and you can even hear rain and thunder in the background. Some bands would think thats too weird and not “hardcore” and thats why some bands cant write more than 4 songs. Another good thing with this record is that is goes by quick and doesn’t drag out for too long. When i first listened to it, i got through it and was bummed that i couldn’t hear more, so i just put it on again for another spin and it was even better the second time around. This record has everything it needs, the riffs, the vocals and the overall production is there. Its not to overproduced but solid enough for a great sounding LP. They have a sound that i think no one else is really doing right now and they are not afraid to do it.

Polar Bear Club – Chasing HamburgSeptember 8, 2009 | Bridge 9Probably one of the most anticipated releases of the year, Polar Bear Club is back with their second full length “Chasing Hamburg”. Ive been looking forward to hearing this record for quite some time now, and overall i think this is a great release.This is a PBC record by all means but it ventures into a more pop rock sound which isnt at all a bad thing. It will definitely help them gain popularity with newer and younger fans. All the songs on this record are well under five minutes which is easy for the listeners especially for those who have never listened to PBC. There are a few singles off this such as “Living Saints” and “One Hit Back” but there are also some other hits such as “Boxes”, “Local Eyes”, “Song To Persona” and “Olde Fisher Burial Ground” which opens with what sounds like a steely dan solo. This record has a lot of great songs on it and will keep you coming back to hear more. All of those songs mentioned will stay in your memory for a long time. This had a huge production behind it as well and it shows. Matt Bayles who produced albums by Minus the Bear, Russian Circles, Mastodon, and so on produced this record and it only seemed fitting that he did. PBC have always had a unique sound much like most of the bands Bayles has recorded in the past so it was great to see both forces clash on this record. Polar Bear Club have been known to blend punk, rock, and post hardcore and shape it into their own unique sound for many years now and this record proves that they can do that and more. Personally i feel that they did their best work on “Sometimes Thing Just Disappear” as well as “The Redder The Better” but im sure this record will grow on me as much as the others did and pretty soon i will be calling this one of my favorite PBC records, FUCK IT… they are all good so go and pick this up as well as the rest of them. Rhythm to the Madness – WELTSCHMERZ September 6, 2008 | Powered Records First things first, if you are not into songs being over 3 minutes in length then you probably will not be into this band, but for

those of us who love a little structure this record will blow you away. Straight from Belgium RTTM bring forth a form of hardcore that is structured and keeps building throughout each of their songs. Musically it reminds me a lot of the cro-mags best wishes/alpha omega era meets Motorhead, which seems like its been done before but these guys can pull it off. They add a unique quality to the mix, bringing forth fast speed picking guitar riffs and solos that sound as fast and clean as if A.J. Novello from Leeway recorded it. Songs such as “Time Grown Old”, “Law of Closure”, “Into Tranquility”, and “How Our Pain Endures” attest to how this band writes songs and puts them together and how effective the outcome is. The evil growling vocals over the guitars, bass, and drums make it all even better. I can’t really point my finger on what influenced his style of voice and that is a good thing I think. RTTM uses their influences to fuel their own distinct sound and create great structure and songs that will stick in your head for months after listening. This record came out in September of last year but I felt it needed to be reviewed because im sure there are a few people who have yet to hear about these guys. There are not a lot of bands that come around like this so don’t sleep on this record, pick it up online off the powered records webstore.

Soul Control – CyclesAugust 25, 2009 | Bridge 9Soul Control is back with a twelve song full length. This is their first effort for Bridge 9 records, meshing 90’s influences hardcore with a post hardcore and punk sound. Four of the songs off this record were released a while back onto four separate Ep’s on four different labels, which was kind of new and unique concept. All of those records featured vocalist Rory Vangrol who had been recently added to the band prior to those release. This is now the first major release for Rory and Soul Control. The recorded songs sounded better on the original EP’s but maybe thats just because im use to that sound. Most of the time you can never reproduce the same effect when a band records something, but that doesnt mean the songs are crap.This is a Soul Control record, very fast, noisy, and full of different influences from punk/hardcore and post hardcore/rock bands. The thing about this band that really pulls me in is the guitar work. That dude does a lot of cool stuff with effects and just in general that i think a lot of bands are too afraid to incorporate into hardcore/punk today. This is a very fast paced record, its over before know it and you wouldn’t think so when you look at the track listings. Some of my favorite songs include “Fundamental Forces”, “Playing Coward”, “End Times” and “Cycles”. Soul Control blends a style much like early 90’s bands such as Quicksand, Handsome, and 108.I think a lot of people overlook this band for many reasons, one being that they are sort of against the curve and not really doing what most bands are doing today. This is definitely a unique record and one of SC’s best releases to date.

Trapped Under Ice - Secrets of the WorldAugust 4, 2009 | Reaper RecordsProbably the most anticipated record of the year and maybe even the most talked about record in the past few weeks, TUI is back with an 11 song LP/CD on Reaper Records. This is a very huge record, and by huge i mean the sound and production of this record will make you quiver. The sound isn’t much different than their previous EP, the bass tone however is much stronger now that they have Jared from Down to Nothing. That was a smart move for them i think, the tone is there and the bass parts are very distinct. Their music has always struck me in a different way than most hardcore bands. The writing and

structure of their songs have always been unique and im sure most of you are well aware of that. This record is a step up for sure, the songs have a lot more structure but still stay under the three minute mark. A lot of bands can’t seem to put those two together, but TUI does it well. The artwork was done by D.J. Rose (Halo Tattoos, Path of Resistance) and he did a really good job. Im sure there was a lot of pressure with doing such a big release but the layout and artwork came together really great. This will probably be up there on everyones list of “top 10 albums of the year” and i don’t blame them, it will be up there on mine for sure. The more and more i listen to it the more i get into it and to me that is how a record should be. “Titus”, “Too True”, Believe” and “T.U.I.” are all very powerful songs and bring this record together. “Beleiver” features a quest spot from the singer of STOUT, it will knock you off your feet. All in all , there isn’t much more to say about this record except to go pick it up from reaper records if you haven’t already, this is the record of the year!

Thrice – BeggarsSeptember, 2009 | Vagrant RecordsThrice has always been a band that i feel like people don’t really get anymore, and are not into. But if you get past a few of their earlier records you’d find out that they have a lot of post-hardcore/rock influences but with a unique style. Thrice is back with their 7th studio album and i’d say its one of their best efforts yet. The last concept record they did was actually two records but split into four parts. The concept was really cool i thought and it had a lot of different styles which could appeal to certain people. This record however is very straight forward and precise, much like their early release “Vheissu”, where the band started to come out of their element and become more of a creative force. This record starts off very abrupt with a progressive style drum beat with bass playing and off rhythm beat over top. The rest of the song (”All the World is Mad”) is very bluesy and rhythmic and it all ties together when the chorus kicks in. This song struck my attention the second i started it and to me thats how must records should start. To me this whole record has a blues vibe to it, some of the progressions sound as if B.B. King or Muddy Waters were recording the songs. The second track “The Weight” kicks right in with a soft blues progression that sounds like it might stay in the same context but it transitions into a very catchy melody. My favorite track off this record comes in at track four, “Doublespeak”. Theres no beating around the bush with this song, it comes in right away and is instantly catchy. The piano part is very dark but yet melodic at the same time and the vocal melody over top makes you feel like everything surrounding you is moving at a much faster rate. Most songs you get sick of hearing the chorus three or four times, but not this one. This is probably the most catchy song on the record in my opinion and one of the best songs they’ve ever written. I feel like this band could do whatever it is they want musically. Bands like that are few and far between and most of the time there are a lot of people and fans who don’t support a decision like that but Thrice has had a fairly well following the past few years from what i can gather. I wish people in the hardcore/punk scene who have various other musical interest could get into this band because they have the unique quality to appeal to everyone. Basically what it comes down to is that this record is pretty much tells you the type of band Thrice is. They have so many elements to their music its hard to describe them under one category. This record is proof to how great of a band they have become over the years. They can go from playing really catchy teenager pop punk to writing more post hardcore and indie/rock

influenced songs. Many bands are known for writing the same record over and over, very rarely do you come across a band who has sort of veered off to other directions from record to record. Go and purchase this record off iTunes and be sure to pick it up when it comes out.

Unholy – New Life Behind Closed EyesMay 2009 | Prosthetic Records Unholy is back and with full force. Syracuse has been a melting pot of hardcore and metal for years and unholy definatly has a great combination of both. This is their first release for Prosthetic Records and what a great way to start off on such a renowned metal record label. This record is a step up from their previous effort “Blood of the Medusa” (Lambgoat Records) and now with vocalist Billy Price taking the helm these guys will only keep pushing forward into the metal and hardcore world. The production of this record is top notch. Every aspect from the drums to the vocals will crush you when you listen to this, and when you do play it loud because it will hit you hard and fast. The lead guitar work on this record smoked the previous. This band has been known for some great lead work but Steve Caiello really made his mark on this record. The leads are very dark and eerie just like the overall theme behind the lyrics. The one thing I’ve always liked about unholy is that there is a story behind every record. If you read the lyrics you will know and understand. JD ties together a lot of tragedy and horror with the character and scenarios that he writes about. If you want to know more about what this record is about read the interview with unholy in this issue. The artwork ties in as well with the story JD has created. This record is a step above the previous record, as for cover art is concerned. It really depicts what the story is all about if you really focus and study what is going on. The guitar work and musicianship is on another level. It’s hard for me to compare it to something because unholy really isn’t like any other metal band I’ve listened to in a while. But I know they take great influence from European bands such as Carcass and Entombed. So if your down for real metal bands then you will be down for Unholy. Syracuse was once a stomping ground for hardcore and metal bands, unholy definitely still holds onto what they love and the scene that they helped build.

EPʼsFeed – Human EngineDigital EP | Seafoam RecordingsI don’t know to much info about this record, but I’m pretty sure it was released this past year but i have not found any other information on it other than that. I just recently came across Seafoam Recordings website and on it they had a free download for this record so i jumped on the chance to get these tracks. I’ve been looking for this for a while now and I’m glad i finally came across it. Unfortunately this band has recently called it quites, with this being the last recording that they have done. Feed features (ex-)members of Bitter End, Iron Age, and Lie and Wait so if you haven’t figured it out this band is in fact from Texas. Although this band adheres to a much different sound. With influences from bands such as Only Living Witness and Alice in Chains, they have adapted a sound from the 90’s and brought it into todays modern hardcore/metal scene. Heavy riffs and clean vocals are the two main elements when it comes to describing the overall sound of this band. I don’t think there is one scream or grunt on this record. “Kept in Stone” is by far the hit on this record and it just so happens to be the first track. Starting off with a melodic clean guitar riff, it transitions right into a wall of heavy melodic guitar riffs. As

soon as you hear it you will just know that this is what the song was suppose to sound like. The vocals on this record are not to harsh and fit well with the feel of this record. A lot of times this style i feel can be overdone but this it isn’t. There are very few vocalist that can pull off that style of vocals and Feed does it and they do it very well. This record keeps pushing forward and doesn’t lose touch one bit. Each song has its own vibe to it and i couldn’t imagine myself ever confusing one of their songs with another. This is a great record to just put on when you want to escape from reality and drive through the desert with nothing but a dusty trail behind you. This band is no longer active and i don’t think this record was ever put onto vinyl or cd but i could be wrong about that. The band also did a demo tape last year on Mind Over Matter records, but I’m sure that is a hard idem to find nowadays.“Human Engine” is up for a free download on the Seafoam Recordings website so go and check it out, you wont be disappointed.

Foundation – Hang Your HeadAugust, 2009 | Six Feet Under RecordsThis release is the first release for Foundation on Six Feet Under Records and it has been well anticipated for a while now. This is by far the best record this five piece from Atlanta has put out. They have definitely grown in the past few records they’ve done. “Hang Your Head” has a much heavier sound to it and the overall message is very powerful and straight forward, not too many bands do that nowadays. Foundation has been through some lineup changes since their previous records, adding a new bass player along with a new guitar player and the alteration is noticeable. This band has always had a 90’s sound to them and there is no lacking of that with this record but I feel that there has been some newer influences added to their sound. Bands like Buried Alive, Converge, and Indecision come to mind a lot when listening to this record. The song structure is a lot more intense on this record as well. Starting off with the track “Fireproof”, which has one of the strongest opening riffs on this record. The vocals come in very hard and are backed by powerful gang vocals that sound like The Path of Resistance (“Who Dares Wins” era). After that follows the title track “Hang Your Head” which is the longest song on the record. The chorus is very heavy and kicks in at the end of the song even heavier. My two favorite tracks off this record are the last two “Heartless” followed by “Pray For (Atlanta)”. I can’t really express how heavy both of these songs are, so you really need to just go pick this up. “Heartless” opens up with a riff that sounds like it would be on an early Converge record which i think really adds to the effect of the song. “Pray For (Atlanta)” kicks in right after with a very strong guitar part guided by a sample over everything. I think It goes along great with the lyrics and the actual feel of the song. Once you read the lyrics and hear what is being said everything should start to click, the concept of the song along with sample is very coherent. Along with the record SFU put a digital download card in and on that was a re-recorded song “Evaporate” which is off the first 7″. This recording features a quest spot from Justice of Trapped Under Ice which was a cool thing they did and it came out sounding great. Foundation have always been very proud of where they come from and if you look closely at their lyrics and the layout of this record you will see that very clearly. Not too many bands hold onto their own scene not to mention talk about unity and pride in their lyrics and display it within the artwork and layout. This record is without a doubt their best work yet and im glad they decided to go with such a great label to do this on. Everything from the artwork and layout to the

actual record came out great, this will be a very well recieved release for both Foundation and Six Feet Under Records.

Gypsy – s/t 7″August, 2009 | Six Feet Under RecordsNew band with a new sound and with a strong first release like this one its no surprise that Gypsy will be talked about and well received. Featuring members of Cold World, ex-Blacklisted, and Let Down this four piece has a very different sound than its predecessors. This record reminds me a lot of older 90’s alternative/post hardcore bands such as Handsome, and Braid mixed with a dirtier grunge sound similar to Dinosaur Jr and Hum (minus the space rock sound). Both songs have a different aspect to them, the first track “Me Against the World” has a heavier feel to it and is very upbeat, the riffs and structure remind me a lot of Helmet. The second track “Skeleton Parade” is much slower and more relaxed than the previous song. It reminds me a lot of Dinosaur Jr or something along those lines, especially when the guitar solos kicks in. The vocals are very dynamic but yet not all over the place and that is a very good thing. Especially when the vocals are actual sung, its almost like a Braid/Hum hybrid. They did the right thing with this record, there is not to many songs to keep the listener from wanting it to be over. This record is short and makes you want to hear more. They put their sound out on the table and people will know what to expect from this band with future releases, which i hope they do more. I feel like this formula has happened before, you take members of hardcore bands and you make them play in a rock band (like Quicksand or Renee Heartfelt) which i’ve always been a fan of. These songs are very catchy and can easily be stuck in your head, this is a very strong EP and a band like this has needed to come along for a while now.

Oak & Bone – S/T 7”March 2009 | Hex RecordsThis is the bands first release on Syracuse based label, HEX Records and I have to say that this is a very strong first release. This band has been around for a little over a year and they are already starting to take notice for their hard work and unique sound. This five song 7” is a powerhouse of riffs and weird guitar effects. This band definitely goes beyond the limits of hardcore but yet still manages to stay influenced by hardcore and metal bands. But yet it seems to me they get influence from non hardcore bands, which to me is perfect and can really help capture a unique sound, if thats what a band is going for. A few of these songs remind a lot of Queens of the Stone Age, which is one of my personal favorites. My two favorite tracks on this record are the last two, “Momentum” and “Powercloud”. The end solo riff in “momentum” is very catchy and brings together the whole song. And all I have to say is, listen to “Powercloud” and you will just know how awesome that song is. The delay/reverb guitar in the beginning is really neat sounding and the vocals are very angry and I like how that all overlaps. Bottom line is that this is a great debut record for Oak & Bone and I hope these guys stay together and keep creating awesome music. Go pick this up online at the HEX webstore.

Paint it Black – Amnesia 7”June 12, 2009 | Bridge 9 RecordsI think this is what an EP is suppose to sound like, short and memorable. I’ve always been really into what Paint it Black has done musically with their past records and this is not a disappointment. Now is it a step up from their last record “New Lexicon”? For me its hard to determine because that was a full

length and this is only a five song EP, but i can for sure say that this is a Paint it Black record. There is no bullshit with this record, no filler songs, and no samples by Oktopus (Dälek fame) in between songs (which i happened to be a fan of). This record starts off with some of the best bass tone that i’ve heard in a punk/hardcore band. To add to the bass part is Dan Yemins memorable raspy-like vocals. He has a lot more to be pissed off about on this record it seems than previous, at least in the first song. This record is not anything to out their for PIB, they have developed a unique sound over the past few records, especially with “New Lexicon” but this is what i expected to hear when i first read that they were in the studio writing new music. I think it makes a lot more sense when punk and hardcore bands stick to EP’s. Very rarely does a band come along that can pull off doing a great full length that can keep the listener still listening when the record stops spinning. But Paint it Black can do both, the bottom line is that this is a great EP, it has everything you would want from a PIB record, melodies, pissed off vocals, and a great bass tone.

Paint it Black – Surrender EPAugust 18, 2009 | Fat Wreck Chords“Surrender” is the follow up EP to PIB’s previous effort released earlier this summer, the “Amnesia” EP. This record starts right where they left off and continues to bring forth fast and aggressive melodic Hardcore/Punk sound. When I found out that PIB was going to stick to doing EP’s for a while I was very excited to see how it would turnout. Unlike most bands PIB decided to go with two different labels for these releases, most bands I think wouldn’t do that and its a brave move for them. Both of the records came out great, Fat Wreck Chords and Bridge 9 did a great job as well. This four song EP goes by fast and is one of their most aggressive releases to date. The first song “Scared” is a great transition into the record, i feel like i could listen to the “Amnesia” EP right into this one. Both records were recorded at the same time and by the same producer, so in a sense these EP’s are meant to go together and would go great on an LP, but these records have their own unique qualities to them. This record is a lot more faster and more pissed off in a sense, but yet still melodic. I never thought that i would say melody could be pissed off but this record has proven me wrong. PIB’s previous records have always had tight sounding production to them, and this record is nothing far from that. PIB also has some of the best bass tones in punk/hardcore to date, Ive never been more excited to hear low end all by itself before. Fat Wreck Chords did a small amount of 7″s for the first pressing. 320 of them are on red which have already sold out and another 320 on green that PIB will have on tour. So get this record before its too late because its already starting to sell quick. Both “Surrender” and “Amnesia” are great EP’s from a great band and PIB is defiantly one of the bigger bands to keep an eye out for in the punk/hardcore scene. There has yet to be one release that’s a disappointment in my opinion and they keep getting better with time, one of the best bands out today.

Title Fight – The Last Thing You ForgetJuly 23, 2009 | Run For Cover RecordsWho hasn’t heard this band yet? A part of me has been wanting to be behind because there has been so much talk about these guys that it almost got a bit annoying, but i think that made me want to check them out even more. So finally i picked up the CD recently and im a little upset with myself for not getting it sooner. The 7″ includes three new songs of pure pop punk/hardcore sensation. The CD format includes this 7″ as well as

all of their older material so i suggest you pick that up as well. The reason ive been so hesitant to check this band out is because a lot of the bands that play hardcore influenced pop punk are terrible and overrated (with the exception of a few bands). But these guys do not fall into that category. I feel like if you take Saves the Day and Kid Dynamite and put them together, Title Fight would be the outcome. They are fast, and aggressive but yet also melodic. How many bands have ripped of Kid Dynamite and Saves the Day? Well a lot but, this band puts their own style into the mix. “Symmetry”, “Introvert”, and “No One Stays at the Top Forever” are the three new songs featured on this CD and all of them have their own uniqueness to them. “Introvert” has an awesome slow jam section in the middle of the song leading right into “No One Stays at the Top Forever” which that in itself is a perfect sing a long song. And to add, I dont think they could have written a more catchier song that the opening track “Symmetry”. The reason this band has so much push behind them is because they are in fact a good band, thats why they have been getting the attention they have been. This record proves that they didnt just write a few good songs, they keep getting better and better with time and im looking forward to another EP or possibly and LP. We will see what the future has in stores for Title Fight. Go and pick up the 7″ and the CD if you’re looking to get all of their songs.

Not Sorry - Demo 2009June 2009 | Self Released Cassette TapeNew band from Seattle, WA featuring members of Rochester based hardcore band, How We Are. This demo went up for download on the web a couple of weeks ago and I was glad I downloaded it. This demo was a huge surprise to me, I was expecting good things and greater things came out of it after listening to it. It seems Seattle has this sound that no other hardcore cities can produce, and these guys have that sound. This demo was self released onto a cassette tape and it all came together very nicely. I received one in the mail before reviewing this and im glad it came as soon as it did. The layout is great and the cover goes along greatly with the name and the bands message. The recording is way better than how a demo recording should sound and I think that’s one reason I like this band so much. The lyrics are very passionate and very upfront and I like that in a hardcore band. “Moving On” and “Balance” are great songs musically and lyrically. I’m very excited to see what this band does in the future and I hope they are a band that will stick around for a long time and share their message. Order their demo online now!