April CD Reviews (in alphabetical order)

19 WHEELS
JAWBREAKER
STANDARD RECORDS
While the vocals throughout this album are a bit suspect, 19 Wheels make up for it with very infectious melodic, poppy rock instrumentals. The lyrics on this album are just as good as the actual music, but the effects used for Chris's voice on most of the tracks really detract from the band's potential. Songs like "Really Stupid Girl" show what this band can be capable of when they're running on all cylinders. That song has a harder-edged Weezer feel to it. When the vocals are straightforward, the songs on JAWBREAKER are stellar. While I wasn't a bit fan of the vocal effects, they are kept to a minimum. If you're looking to discover a great rock group, look up 19 Wheels. There aren't enough quality bands like them coming out of Michigan these days.
-Dane Jackson

ADEMA
PLANETS
EARACHE
How the hell did Adema end up on Earache, the home of the heavy? Well, here they are, sans Jonathan Davis' kid brother Marky Chavez, replaced by equally generic Luke Caraccioli, and still following the action movie soundtrack guide to hard rock songwriting. If you still dig music in the nu-metal vein, Adema is still carrying its tattered flag around, and much like its past efforts, isn't really doing anything to illicit any interest by anyone over 16 years old and female. www.earache.com
-Mike SOS

A GUN CALLED TENSION
SELF-TITLED
COLD CRUSH
I could say one thing about this newly-formed band and all of you would rush out to buy it. That good, you ask? No, just that it features a member of Modest Mouse. Yeah, you heard right. Dann Gallucci of Modest Mouse fame is half of the brains behind the hip-hop/electro/indie-rock rawness that is A Gun Called Tension. With the help of members of Murder City Devils, Built to Spill, Blood Brothers, and Pretty Girls Make Graves, how could any indie kid or scenester in their right mind resist? But really, it's not just that-it is THAT GOOD. It's unlike anything you like from all the people you love. It's something completely innovative to tune into, with so much hip-hop meshed with synth, record-spinning, strings, and occasional organic instrumental elements that you don't know what's going on-but you love it all the same. Do it! www.coldcrushrecords.com
-tChow

ALASKA!
RESCUE THROUGH TOMAHAWK
ALTITUDE RECORDS
The sophomore release from this powerful trio of indie vets-Imaad Wasif (of lowercase), Russ Pollard (of Sebadoh), and Lesley Ishino (of Red Aunts)-is just what you'd expect from visionary musicians who've crafted their skills through a multitude of live shows. In 2004, the band flipped its van in a wicked snowstorm and came face to face with mortality. After the accident, the band's shows took on a decidedly more intense feel. That intensity has been captured on this disc, as the band creates a haunting, thrashing sound that screams for release. While the lyrics tend to be a bit melodramatic at times, this band takes itself so seriously that the pretension works. These sonic anthems tell a fierce tale of hope and determination-which will probably suit this band just fine.
-Dug

AMERICAN HERITAGE
BIPOLAR
ESCAPE ARTIST
American Heritage may be the name of that 50-pound dictionary on your bookcase, but it's also the name of a collective of musicians from Chicago whose latest release encompasses all of the band's offerings and incarnations. On the 10-track endeavor, the metallic overtones and weighty rhythms are staggered among rollicking percussion and a warped sense of hardcore grit. Dissonant, aggressive, and abrasive, this constantly shifting array combine Helmet, Unsane, Bloodlet, and Mastodon's aural assault into one bad ass concoction. Be prepared to be pummeled. www.escapeartistrecords.com
-Mike SOS

AND THIS ARMY
DOOM AND SPACE
SELF-RELEASED
I hate to tell lead singer/lyricist Brendan McDermott any bad news, because (according to the content of DOOM AND SPACE) he has already had his heart busted up by some mean girl...but he can't sing, and his band sucks. The music of And This Army is uninspired and has the fire of year-round tundra, and the lyrics come across like sad little jr.-high-boy lament. Branden's vibrato made me cringe more than once. And This Army should gather up all of their equipment and give it away before they damage the instruments' will to live. Mr. McDermott needs to find a nice girl who will inspire him to get on with his life and leave rock music behind for a career far away from the arts.
-H. Barry Zimmerman

APES
BABA'S MOUNTAIN
BIRDMAN RECORDS
Don't worry, it's not "The Hut of Baba Yaga" with Emerson, Lake, and Palmer here; it's more like some insane Black Sabbath cover band with a Darth Vader voicebox trying to write a rock opera. This album, recorded in a cabin in the woods of Pennsylvania, has a little bit of everything: eerie electronic noises, massively distorted vocals, semi-comic voiceovers, heavy drums, big bass, frantic keyboards, and trippy album art. In fact, this album has everything but conventional guitar and songs you could hum along to. Give the band credit for big dreams, but this is the album Hawkwind would have made if the band had better drugs and less talent. Somewhere the guys from Spinal Tap are smiling.
-Dug

A PLOT TO BLOW UP THE EIFFEL TOWER
LOVE IN THE FASCIST BROTHEL
REVELATION
Calling this band spastic is a drastic understatement, as the deliciously monikered noise rock troupe known as A Plot to Blow Up the Eiffel Tower combine jazzy interludes, punk rock bravado, and metalcore might with garage rock efficiency on LOVE IN THE FASCIST BROTHEL. This San Diego group utilizes its wares to the best of their ability, creating hip-shaking hipster rock whose frenzied pace, dangerous velocity, and unabashed spirit undeniably carries the punk rock torch high above any other band's preconceived notions. Abrasive and imminent, this 10-track, 25-minute flash flood will leave you sopping wet with ironic enlightenment, on top of giving your nervous system a good tweaking. www.revelationrecords.com
-Mike SOS

ARMOR FOR SLEEP
WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU ARE DEAD
EQUAL VISION RECORDS
While this album is slightly on the morbid side, it's surprisingly catchy. The band goes through an entire album filled with death and afterlife imagery, but the quality of the songwriting almost makes you forget the undertones being implied with WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU ARE DEAD. While most bands handle the motif of relationships in the same way, the use of death and afterlife on this album as an analogy for relationships is a fresh approach to this tired topic. WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU ARE DEAD is a very solid indie-rock album that Armor for Sleep fans will eat up; and I'm sure it will make the band new fans, as well. It made at least one: me. Some high points of the album include "Awkward Last Words", "Stay on the Ground", and "I Have Been Right All Along".
-Dane Jackson

A STATIC LULLABY
FASO LATIDO
COLUMBIA
The second full-length album from this ultra-popular screamo outfit is probably going to sell faster than a tasty batch of syrup-covered hotcakes. FASO LATIDO will be the band's first release on a major label, a fact that is difficult to overlook. Noticeably more polished, the sound quality of the album is unblemished and arguably overproduced. When comparing this album to the band's first release, it becomes evident that tortured screams and crafty rhythms are no longer the centerpiece of many tracks. Instead, harmonized singing and simplified song composition have become the main ingredients. After AND DON'T FORGET TO BREATHE, A Static Lullaby basically had two options concerning the direction of their music: harder and heavier or more radio-friendly. In short, FASO LATIDO is a more likely soundtrack to a cheerleading routine, as opposed to, say, a drunken bar brawl of some sort.
-Anthony

ATERIAVIA
REGARDING THE MIDWEST SLEEPING
LUJO RECORDS
The first and last tracks are hauntingly beautiful things, but they're not beautiful enough to make up for the rest of the album. Once you listen the second track and the vocals start, you want to CRINGE. The guitars are repetitive and play constant, clichéd pop-punk melodies, while the drummer plays on a set that sounds as if it should have been thrown in the garbage years ago. IF you buy this album, the only thing I recommend you listening to are the opener and closer-the tracks WITHOUT the awful singer screeching out his lame lyrics. Ateriavia, you're a young band-you have time to improve. I suggest you take as much time as possible to improve upon this crap you call music before you try to release another album.
-Mandadexpunk

ATKINS LANE
THE GUAFRD E.P.K.
SELF-PRODUCED
Echoing the remains of clichéd lyrics such as "Sometimes we say things we don't always mean" and "You need me just as much as I need you," Atkins Lane have made themselves the poster children of overused emo lyrics. Sounding like a bland mix of Jimmy Eat World and Sunny Day Real Estate, THE GUAFRD E.P.K. (what language is this?) is nothing more than a six-track nap machine that's sure to put an entire class of emo kids to sleep a mere three minutes into the first track. Had this band tried for a moment to create some sort of original music that wasn't just the recycled Coke cans of Jeremy Enigk's garbage, I would be able to give them some sort of credit; unfortunately, that credit is not to be given today. Better luck next time, guys.
-Zac

BABYLAND
THE FINGER
MATTRESS RECORDS
As a rule, I don't like electronic music because it's dull and repetitive, but Babyland's THE FINGER is at least listenable in small doses. With THE FINGER, Babyland is destroying the conventions of today's music scene, from hardcore punk all the way down to pop music. If you like electronic music and experimental music, you'll probably dig this. I don't, so I don't. I can say that after listening to this, THE FINGER isn't half as bad as most of the genre.
-Dane Jackson

BAIT
ANATOMY OF DISASTER
IN AT THE DEEP END
English metal troupe Bait's hybrid extreme metal assault covers a lot of ground over nine tracks, shifting from industrial strength metal like Prong to barking style hardcore a la Converge to the jaded attack wielded by bands like Jesus Lizard to the groundbreaking metal performed by Carcass. Assaulting and relentless, tracks like "Hangman" take the grooves of Entombed and give it a New England hardcore spin, while the sonic crush of "364 and Counting" has a Deftones vibe joining forces with old school hardcore. Varied and versatile without sacrificing brutality, ANATOMY OF DISASTER is a virtual joyride through metal's extreme genres. www.iatde.com
-Mike SOS

BARS
INTRODUCING...
EQUALVISION
This three-year-old punkcore outfit from the heart of Boston will rip you to shreds. It's a completely fresh offering of old-school hardcore with the perfect amount of punk and rock 'n' roll laced throughout the entire album. The band features ex-members of Give Up the Ghost and The Hope Conspiracy who obviously wanted to revisit the past and bring back punk-inspired core with fury. Wailing guitars, aggressive, pulsing drums, and angry vocals bring legitimacy to this first album from Bars, a band to definitely keep an eye on in the ever-dying scene of hardcore. www.thebarsrock.com
-tChow

BEATS THE HELL OUT OF ME
REVISING HISTORY
SELF-RELEASED
Beats the Hell Out of Me are one of those bands that you always have heard about getting caught up in the dreaded music business red tape, causing the outfit to take a sabbatical before they were even given a chance to grab the brass ring. However, the resilient Arizona quintet has reformed after nearly 10 years with REVISING HISTORY, an 11-track comeback that displays a band whose musical prowess, superior songwriting, and ability to manipulate sound is second to none. Falling somewhere between Tool, Life of Agony, and Dredg, BTHOOM has the uncanny dexterity to create intriguing grooves such as "The Promise" as well as muscular rock anthems like "Questions & Answers" and "Move Along" without sacrificing integrity or exerting force. Atmospheric and laden with tons of prominent hard rock sensibilities, the shame of it all is that these guys fell off the radar for so long, but REVISING HISTORY makes up for the absence as a solid reprise for a band that never should have gone away. www.beatsthehelloutofme.net
-Mike SOS

BEECHER
RESENTION IS A BIG WORD IN A SMALL TOWN
IN AT THE DEEP END RECORDS
Why does it feel like the Europeans are a little behind us in music? Here comes a new record from a British band that sounds as though the members grew up in Orange County listening to 18 Visions, Converge, and Poison the Well. The label brands them as innovative, but I failed to grasp this concept. It seems that anyone who uses some melodic vocals during a metal-core album is now "groundbreaking." Sorry to break it to you, boys, but people have been doing that for years. Aside from the lack of innovation, this is a great album. If you like your metal-core served up hard, fast, but with a little melody, then you should go and buy this album.
-ADF

BEN LEE
AWAKE IS THE NEW SLEEP
NEW WEST
The opening track to Ben Lee's new album coos persuasively, "Just do it / Whatever it is / Whatever it is / Go do it," amidst the folksy plucking of guitar strings. His unassuming, soft voice lures you in and almost causes you to drift away. But stay grounded, if only to remain fully conscious for the rest of the album. He's not kidding, either: this album really does soothe you into an odd state of consciousness that feels strangely like resting. The rocking back and forth of the acoustic tunes are both relaxing and stimulating. Besides, I'm pretty sure this is the guy who used to date Claire Danes. (Heck, they might even still be together.) If that doesn't pique your interest, there's only so much I can do, you know? www.newwestrecords.com
-tChow

BLACK BONED ANGEL
SUPERECLIPSE
20 BUCK SPIN
The instrumental sounds of high-level guitar drone and thunderous drumming is like a gathering storm, a meteorological holocaust sending lightening flashes and ominous sounds over the horizon. This debut release is an intersection of doom and drone in the sludge pit of molten Black Sabbath vinyl. This is the work of Campbell Kneale (a.k.a. Birchville Cat Motel). www.20buckspin.com
-Tom "Tearaway" Schulte

BLACK DAWN
AGE OF REASON
SUICIDAL GROOVE
Pounding the pavement on the NYC music scene for nearly a decade, the veteran metal troupe Black Dawn has retained a simple yet effective approach: keep it heavy. And heavy is what these metal merchants are all about, as the outfit's latest 11-track offering is a power groove machine primed and ready to explode. AGE OF REASON contains a blend of a Sabbath meets Pantera by way of '80s thrash metal, laden with moody vocals not unlike Life of Agony or Alice in Chains. Black Dawn's brand of dark, chunky riffs on tracks like "I Am Who I Am" and "Push" should keep the heads bobbing, while the atmospheric acoustically led "Four Rings of the Moon" showcase a more laid back side to the pummeling quartet. Black Dawn has persevered and has remained intact throughout all of the struggles of keeping a NYC band together, and AGE OF REASON resonates those successes and frustrations with unabashed metallic glory. www.blackdawn.net
-Mike SOS

BLOODBATH
NIGHTMARES MADE FLESH
CENTURY MEDIA
Featuring some of the most prolific behind the scenes members in the worldwide metal scene in the form of Dan Swano (Edge of Sanity) and Peter Tagtgren (Hypocirisy, Pain), the Swedish quintet Bloodbath slams down some a righteous ruckus on NIGHTMARES MADE FLESH. The 12-track splattering is a devious display of pulverizing metal, complete with an ominous guitar tone that rings out throughout songs like "Cancer of the Soul" and "Eaten". Driving grooves like "Year of the Cadaver Race" would remind you of the good old days of Gothenburg, while the grinding pace of "Stillborn Saviour" rivals anything on the scene today on sheer brutality. Diabolical and devilishly delicious, Bloodbath's latest release will satisfy even the most discerning metalhead's cravings for blood, guts, gore, and utter metal glory. www.centurymedia.com
-Mike SOS

BLOOD RED THRONE
ALTERED GENESIS
EARACHE
Norway's Blood Red Throne boasts a brutal death metal attack that relentlessly shakes your brain throughout the 12-track ALTERED GENESIS. Pummeling guitar riffs and dastardly death metal double bass drumming prevail over the entire disc, laying down the powerful grooves found on "Ripsaw Resentment" and "Arterial Lust" with demonic enchantment. Encapsulating the trademark chaotic sounds of both Florida and Sweden's death metal scenes, Blood Red Throne's ode to evil may not be the most groundbreaking release, but you'd be hard pressed to find a band that can properly convey the savagery of both scenes so well. www.earache.com
-Mike SOS

BLOOM.
OSINNER
FIGHTING RECORDS
The fourth full-length release from this Florida-based trio is an explosive slice of neo-Southern rock 'n' roll. With innovative songwriting, classical and jazz backgrounds, and a ferocious indie work ethic, brothers Devin and Brendan Moore and drummer Jeff Lataille have crafted a sound as distinctive as a Gulf Coast hurricane. Devin Moore's vocals sound remarkably like he was brought up in Oxford or Manchester-as opposed to Gainesville. The infectious rock paired with these vocals give the band a late-'70s sound similar to Mott the Hoople or T-Rex. While the music is straight-ahead rock, the lyrics often take a clever turn, such as in songs like "Don't Tell a Dead Man How to Die" or "Only God Can Stop the Drum Machine Now". This is a great-sounding band with talent, energy, and a need to move to L.A. or New York for more exposure.
-Dug

BOTTOM
YOU'RNEXT
SMALL STONE
Three ladies from NYC have made a tumultuous album, complete with ambient stoner rock tendencies and acidic musical passages. The name of the band is Bottom, and YOU'RNEXT is the name of the 13-track release. Laden with atmospheric textures much like a Melvins release, tracks like the avant-garde "Distordo II" and "Requiem" are slow, sludgy, and dirge-like, perfect for the soundtrack to your funeral. Dark and foreboding, Bottom's latest album will rumble the fillings in your mouth and shake your brain silly, even as they throw down a seemingly harmless yet totally left of center blues jam like "Rainy Day Blues". www.smallstone.com
-Mike SOS

BOURBON PRINCESS
DARK OF DAYS
ACCURATE MUSIC RECORDINGS
If Tim Burton were to write a folk/roots-style album, it would probably come out sounding like this. This is very dark, solemn, simple rock that borders on being folk-inspired. The entire record is pretty much slow, dark, and very well put together musically. This is probably one of the most creative records that have come across my desk in quite some time. We are living in dark times right now, and this is a great piece to accompany that.
-ADF

BOYRACER
HAPPENSTANCE
HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME
Experimental rockers rejoice with your new favorite band, Boyracer. Consisting of everything cool about rock music (from the raucous guitars to the frantic drumbeats), HAPPENSTANCE is a treasure for fans of musical innovators Pixies and Sonic Youth. The 23-song album consists of many different musical tastes, from the super poppy "Where to Place Your Trust?" and "A Chipped Tooth and Greasy Fingers" to the mellowness of "Invisible". Boyracer brainchild Stewart Anderson has kept the band's name alive for over 14 years even with an ever-changing lineup. The only flaw I found on the album was that occasionally the vocals seem to get lost in the music-which is a shame, because the band has excellent male/female harmonies. Despite this, Boyracer is a group of incredible musicians, and HAPPENSTANCE is definitely worth checking out.
-Joe Licavoli

BRAHMAN
A FORLORN HOPE
REVELATION RECORDS
One of Japan's biggest "alternative" bands comes to us here in America to release the album that did so well over there. Gee, thanks. Although I swear I heard an English word here and there, most of it is in Japanese. I can't tell what they are whining about, but maybe the music will be so profound and brilliant that it won't matter and I can immerse myself in the melodies. [Insert shrieking laughter here.] Even when I played this really loud, I didn't like it. Even when I did something else and let this be in the background, I didn't like it. It sounds like everything else that slips through the cracks. What's a four letter word for excrement that starts with C?
-Thomas Murray

BRIAN JONES
SERIOUSLY.
MATH LAB
The sophomore album from unheard of the Iowa band Brian Jones might just put them on the map. SERIOUSLY. was recorded with focused intent, a determination that comes clearly across to the listener. Brian Jones offers a formula of post-hardcore/math/indie rock that keeps its listeners on their toes, daring them to stop listening. The tones keep you guessing as to what comes next-and when it hits, it makes perfect sense. It's technical, it's formulaic, it makes you think. www.brianjonesrock.com
-tChow

CAKE CUTTER
ALL DAY SUCKER
D.I.Y.
Looking at this band, you'd expect something horrible and frightening when you put this CD into your player; but it's nothing like that. I don't even know where to begin. Vocalist Phelix has a great, expressive, and-dare I say it-handsome voice. The band plays strange and original music. Some songs remind you of Sublime, others of Slip Knot (only with better vocals). Songs like "Modern Monkey" not only make you laugh but make you realize that this band has what all good bands have (in my opinion): intelligence and a sense of humor about themselves. If you like GOOD music, you'll like these guys. Hell, you might even love them.
-Mandadexpunk

CALLENISH CIRCLE
FORBIDDEN EMPATHY
CANDLELIGHT
This two-disc frightfest is filled with grunts, groans, and screams. If you're into that kind of thing, it's GREAT! Metal at its best, really, is like the devil having a party in my head and EVERYONE is INVITED! This double-album is two hours and 24 minutes of blood-pumping, eardrum-breaking, headbanging metal just waiting for you to go out and listen to it.
-Mandadexpunk

CAMPGROUND EFFECT
THE FLIGHT SEAT EP
THE LOCAL CANNERY
If anything, Campground Effect are honest. The press release describes the threesome as nothing but a "simple" band. The "simple" part includes seven gritty, straightforward tracks on THE FLIGHT SEAT EP that become quite infectious. Banging guitar lines and powerhouse percussion lead the way, giving it a hard rock-meets-garage rock vibe. "Sex Is for Television" and "Sold Us a Marathon" are standout tracks. Overall, the band never leads you on or tries to be something their not. That's simple enough to digest.
-Darren Ratner

CHAOS THEORY
CHAOS THEORY
SELF-RELEASED
Combining forces from two long-running Long Island metal outfits Kindread and Gutter Poet, the five members of Chaos Theory have spent a lot of time on stage and have a multitude of musical experience. So it comes as no surprise that the three songs off of the group's latest release exhibit the vibe of seasoned pros wailing away with pristine precision and heightening hard rock skill. Just check out the intricate guitar and keyboard solos on "Human Nature" for an inkling of what these guys and gals can do. Resonating pure power from top to bottom, Chaos Theory's latest offering has a lot to offer to those starved for a female fronted rock band that executes both sheer force and lush melody equally well. www.chaostheorymusic.com
-Mike SOS

CHEVREUIL
CHATEAUALLON
SICK ROOM RECORDS
Chevreuil is an atmospheric French duo. Guitarist Tony C. isn't utilizing any distortion gadgets but is playing it clean, which gives the music a '70s fusion quality. His guitar work is multilayered and very interesting. Tony C.'s tonal quality is the voice of Chevreuil, while drummer Julien F. is the grounding force. When there is muscle in the music, it is his doing. The music ranges between the super melodic and the avant-garde. CHATEAUALLON is a very cool soundtrack without a movie. On occasion, the rhythms get out of whack, but all in all, CHATEAUALLON is a cool ride definitely worth taking.
-H. Barry Zimmerman

CHUCK SCHULDINER
ZERO TOLERANCE
CANDLELIGHT
The seminal band Death has left an immeasurable impact on the realm of metal music, and ZERO TOLERANCE has been released to not only remember a fallen hero, but to catch a glimpse of what may have been. Led by influential guitarist Chuck Schuldiner, who tragically passed after a bout with cancer in 2001, Schuldiner and his work with Death and Control Denied has acquired an immense fan base and his worldwide legacy continues to spread. This twin disc collection showcases rarities, demos, live tracks, and some unreleased new material in its most raw form, and while the quality of the recordings for the most part is quite poor, the performance of Schuldiner is top notch. And despite this batch of recordings sounding so unprofessional, ZERO TOLERANCE is a tribute to a man's desire and prowess in formulating a new level by which metal music is judged. www.candlelightrecords.co.uk
-Mike SOS

V/A
CIPHER /SYSTEM BY THE NIGHT
LIFEFORCE
What's the difference between this split CD and a million other modern metal bands releases? Well, first off, the singers can scream like a motherfucker. Other than that...not much. Cheesy metal clichés are weaved throughout this whole album by both bands, from non-stop double-pedal action to pumping guitars. If you like cheesy modern metal, then, by all means, go get yourself a copy of CIPHER/SYSTEM.
-Mandadexpunk

COMEBACK KID
WAKE THE DEAD
VICTORY
Comeback Kid, a Canadian outfit formed by members of Figure Four, works hard on its sophomore effort to illuminate the old school hardcore positive mentality and scolding sonic output on WAKE UP THE DEAD. Relentlessly chugging through 11 tracks containing hearty sing along choruses wrapped inside lightning fast tempos and heartfelt guitar riffs, this quintet's throwback style keeps it visceral. Sounding like a cross between Snapcase, Terror, Shutdown, and Blood for Blood, tracks like the pit stomping "Talk is Cheap" and the punishing breakdown found on "Falling Apart" should keep the kids active on the floor, while the straightforward assault of "Bright Lights Keep Shining" would find proper refuge on any Sick of It All album. Bestowing no nonsense, dead-on hardcore for purists, Comeback Kid's latest release is a welcomed reprise. www.victoryrecords.com
-Mike SOS

CRIONICS
ARMAGEDDON'S EVOLUTION
CANDLELIGHT
Polish death metal mongers Crionics have garnished much praise for their merging of the black and death metal genres, and for good reason, as this imperialistically imposing quartet's delivery is one of majestic terror. From the opening minutes of "Arrival of Non Parallel Aeons", which at one point, riffs out a part strikingly similar to Darth Vader's theme in STAR WARS, to the thrashy breakdown found on "Final Inversion", this nine-track disc with two bonus tracks is quite reminiscent of the more successful bands in the field, like Dimmu Borgir and Old Man's Child, complete with scathing vocals and atmospheric keyboard ambiance. And of course, the obligatory corpse paint, a must for any self-respecting black or death metal troupe, is in full regalia. Radiating durable blasts of merciless metal, ARMAGEDDON'S EVOLUTION's surprising catchiness at times blends well with the band's dastardly delivery, making this disc a nice purchase for the evildoer in us all. www.candlelightrecords.co.uk
-Mike SOS

CROWBAR
LIFESBLOOD FOR THE DOWNTRODDEN
CANDLELIGHT
The kings of sludge have returned after a four-year slumber, as the mighty New Orleans troupe Crowbar triumphantly release its latest 11-track endeavor. And this time, after spending most of his time supporting the latest Down project, Kirk Windstein isn't messing around. Enlisting metal all-stars Rex Brown (Pantera) and Craig Nunenmacher (BLS) to the fray of seemingly endless band member rotation, the end result of LIFESBLOOD FOR THE DOWNTRODDEN just may be the most staggeringly crushing outing by the band ever. From the trademarked gloom and doom riffages of opener "New Dawn" to the uncharacteristic ballistic barrage of "Angel's Wings", Crowbar's emergence from the where are they now file is a hearty and bold homecoming for the NOLA purveyors of heavy. Anguished as ever, yet at times, like the cascading six-minute opus "Fall Back to Zero", as pristine at time as Sabbath, Crowbar's monstrous riffs, punishing rhythms, and general mammoth sonic output never sounded as necessary as LIFESBLOOD FOR THE DOWNTRODDEN. The soundtrack for your suffering for 2005 has arrived. www.candlelightrecords.co.uk
-Mike SOS

CRUISERWEIGHT
SWEET WEAPONRY
HEINOUS RECORDS
I love chicks with a microphone. Every time I think I've had enough, a kick-ass female comes along and fronts a band like Cruiserweight. SWEET WEAPONRY is just that sweet and should be up there with some of today's cooler rock/punk albums. Stella Maxwell has this cutsie-wootsie voice that seems to soar. The rest of the band back her up with swift, gnarly chords to make for a poppish punk sound that screams radio play. Oftentimes that's a death sentence, but there are infectious hits in the making here. Highly recommended.
-Darren Ratner

DARK TRANQUILITY
CHARACTER
CENTURY MEDIA
The unmistakable Gothenburg death metal sound pioneered by veteran melodic metallers Dark Tranquility has been raked over the coals in recent years, so it's only fitting that this Swedish sextet reset the pace on CHARACTER, the outfit's seventh release. This 11-track sojourn contains all the things that you love death metal for, but not in an overwrought way. Instead, the boys in DT have equalized the atmospheric keyboards, twisted twin guitar assaults, and garishly guttural vocals, smoothed out the rough edges just so, and have in turn, created a beautifully brutal album by which many in the genre will be measured this year. Blistering riffs like "Through Smudged Lenses" are some of the most furious the band ever wrote and "Lost to Apathy" juxtapose arena metal's fist-pumping festivities with bombastic Swedish savagery while "My Negation" displays that this band breaks the eerie creeping groove down to a science. Dark Tranquility has stood proud on top of the death metal mountain, and CHARACTER further solidifies the band's footing. www.centurymedia.com
-Mike SOS

DIRTY AMERICANS
STRANGE GENERATION
LIQUOR AND POKER
Bust out the bell-bottoms and prepare to rock out retro style, as the debut disc from Detroit's Dirty Americans bleeds gritty rock from the speakers. This 13-track endeavor from the former members of the completely underrated The Workhorse Movement contains the rocking grooves that act as the missing link between Blue Oyster Cult and Grand Funk Railroad, as tracks like "Control" and "Burn It Down" are prime candidates for the '70s Preservation Society's latest soundtrack. But don't let these guys and their love for the good old daze fool you: these songs swing with sweeping imminence and rock hard, almost at times like the punkier little brother to Monster Magnet. Blessed with the ability to lay rock grooves like the Zeppelin-esque "Deep End" and the southern drawl of "Light-headed" down, STRANGE GENERATION is the best '70s release to come out in the 21st century. www.liquorandpokermusic.com
-Mike SOS

DRIVER OF THE YEAR
STATIK
FUTURE APPLETREE RECORDS
The underlying melodies within each song on STATIK are monotonous and tedious. Add the almost-incoherent vocals and excessive instrumentals, and you're looking at a train wreck of an album. At best, Driver of the Year is a jam band in a local college dive bar. Unfortunately, there was nothing worth praising about this album. The vocals are horrible, the melodies and instrumentals grate on your nerves, and you'll find yourself tuning out pretty quickly during the first few tracks.
-Dane Jackson

DUSTY RHODES & THE RIVER BAND
LIVE FROM HOLLYWOOD, CA
SELF-RELEASED
A hard-working band is something that I greatly appreciate. With no label, no manager, and no money, it's difficult to find the heart and strength to keep things going. Fortunately for us, Dusty and crew use all the might they've got to persevere through difficult times and keep their music alive. This kind of attrition would wear down a lot of bands to the point of watering down their sound in hopes for a major-label hand-me-down, but not these dudes. The sound is fresh, a folk-influenced arrangement of classic rock songs ranging on topics from Wichita, KS, to good ol' heartbreak. Fantastic use of both violin melodies and country guitar licks contribute to a group of guys who just want to sing songs together and have you join in, too (if you're so inclined). Support this band!
-Zac

ELEVEN ELEVEN
THE UNLOVABLE EP
SELF-RELEASED
I'm not sure if music is getting worse or if I just used to be a lot nicer, because this review is going to be pretty mean. Eleven Eleven has been plugging away for a while now, nearly a decade. The tightness of their sound on their newest release, THE UNLOVABLE EP, makes this longtime music relationship obvious...yet the EP itself IS completely unlovable. Though tight-knit, the sound is, in a word, unimpressive. And the vocalist makes it even more boring to listen to. The bio on their Website claims similarities to The Cure and The Smiths, and though I guess I could see why they would say that, I definitely don't agree. I hate to say all this, because it's clear that the musicians in Eleven Eleven know what they're doing. Maybe they can make it work in some other band, with some other people, 'cause it's just not flying with their current efforts. (Man, I'm so mean.) www.eleveneleven.com
-tChow

ELKLAND
GOLDEN
COLUMBIA
It's a wonderful feeling when an album makes you wish you were in the final scene of an '80s Brat Pack movie-and Elkland's GOLDEN does just that. The synthesizer work is utterly orgasmic and reminiscent of M83's DEAD CITIES, RED SEAS & LOST GHOSTS, yet with all the fun of The Postal Service. Truly heartwarming and inspiring, the tracks scream of love and peace among the people of the world-and do so in such a manner that is more uplifting than clichéd. It's a delicate thing to throw back one's music to another decade, but Elkland aspires to remind us of a time when music was just fun and when a $200 haircut didn't matter as much as words written straight from the heart. Look for this album in May.
-Zac

EMORTEM
NIHILISTIC CONTENTMENT
EARACHE RECORDS
The lead singer sounds like Goro from the Mortal Kombat movie. In any other genre of music, this would be ridiculous, but in death metal, we have a match made in heaven/hell/whatever. Tracks such as "Flesh Havoc" and "Parasite Paradise" will rip willing fans' ears apart. The title "Human Rape Symphony" might have bothered me a bit, but you take the good with the bad. Double-bass attacks and guitar that will strain your neck muscles from so much damn head-banging make this an album worth your while...if you are into this kind of thing. You probably won't be able to catch these guys on the radio. Metal isn't there yet. This is another one of those black-bottom discs that doesn't play in certain CD players.
-Thomas Murray

ENEMY YOU
STORIES NEVER TOLD
RED SCARE
STORIES NEVER TOLD is as strong a punk disc as I have ever heard. San Francisco's four-man Enemy You take SUFFER-era Bad Religion and mix it with the pop sensibility of Green Day to make tough, highly listenable rock music. What you got here is 14 really well-written songs, not one of which makes it to the three-minute mark and each with hummable hit potential. My pick for the first single is "Your Way" ("No matter what you do or what you say / I'll never go your way"), a real anthem for standing on your own. STORIES NEVER TOLD is full of punk ethos and balls. What more do you possibly want? Enemy You rocks.
-H. Barry Zimmerman

ENTOMBED
UNREAL ESTATE
THREEMAN
Entombed playing Sweden's Royal Opera Hall as a ballet company does interpretive dance sounds like a skit from the mind's of a comedy troupe, yet this really happened, and UNREAL ESTATE is the audible proof. And quite the proof it is, as the pioneers of extreme metal have placed another feather in their caps by putting on this production. While the stark silence between songs gives the disc a sterile quality, Entombed sound on top of their game here, as tracks like "Say it With Slugs", "Something Out of Nothing" and the title track give off sonic reverberations that members of the usually stuffy audience are probably still trying to shake. Powerful, yet with the visuals absent, you don't get the full experience, and that alone is worth the wait for the DVD. Nonetheless, the pristine acoustics do justice to Entombed's slash and burn style and adds a novel quality to the overall disc. www.threeman.net
-Mike SOS

EPOCH OF UNLIGHT
THE CONTINUUM HYPOTHESIS
THE END
Intense melodic metal in the vein of the Gothenburg style would best describe what metal veterans Epoch of Unlight have accomplished here on the outfit's latest 11-track offering. Sounding at times like the second coming of At the Gates on cuts like "Denubrum", while tracks like "Argentum Era Secui Duos" could easily pass for a early recording of In Flames, this Tennessee-based quartet have been at it for 14 years, and show no remorse on tracks like the seething "Highgate". Incorporating the American thrash metal sound with a Euro death metal growl in tow, THE CONTINUUM HYPOTHESIS has implemented the classic Swedish metal sound and feel without sacrificing the band's '80s thrash metal appeal. If you yearn to bang your head, Epoch of Unlight offers the proper soundtrack to act upon. www.theendrecords.com
-Mike SOS

EVEN IN BLACKOUTS
ZEITGEIST'S ECHO
KNOCK KNOCK RECORDS
ZEITGEIST'S ECHO is good album, in that it's one of the first times I could think of folk music gracing a punk album. At least, that's my whacked-out opinion. Even in Blackouts put forth a solid effort on this album. It's fun and lively, and from the all-acoustic intro onward, I can see itty bits of folk music throughout the whole thing. Heck, there's even some country in the cover of "One Fine Day". This will be corny to some, I'm guessing, but the band should certainly grab some respect.
-Darren Ratner

EVERGREEN TERRACE
HOTTER! WETTER! STICKIER! FUNNER!
EULOGY RECORDINGS
I did not need a DVD to show me how boring, monotonous, and shallow Evergreen Terrace are, but I hadn't seen DVD-quality mosh before. The DVD used the spastic movements of the crowd and band members to mirror the headbanging goodness of the music. This was an effective tactic to distract from the horrible music. Shockingly, there is something worse than Evergreen Terrace playing: Evergreen Terrace speaking. Whether mocking random strangers or detailing their meeting at a Yellowcard show, the band was actually less offensive and idiotic behind a microphone. Bitching about the road, endless stage and crowd footage, bowling, and Q&A clips drone on for an hour. After buying this, you'll be able to say: Wow, I actually spent money and endless hours of my life punching the air and listening to people yelp and break down onstage...and all I got was this lousy DVD.
-Erika Owens

EVERYTHING FOR SOME
A THOUGHT REFUSED
IN AT THE DEEP END RECORDS
Finally, a great record that comes to us from our brothers in Britain. The guitar work has a very progressive rhythm (in the vein of Snapcase). The vocals are very much aggressive rap-core-style, though I can't really make out anything he is saying. Though the record does get a little monotonous over time, I still recommend buying it if you're a fan of Snapcase and can deal with a little rap.
-ADF

FAULTLINES
TRAVELOGUE
ACTION HEIGHTS
Well, turns out this Iowa City post-hardcore/indie band (who formed in 2001) has just called it quits after releasing this, their first LP. Anyway, although on TRAVELOGUE (a cleverly theme-based record) Faultlines have their moments (the opening instrumental, "Modern Traveler"; the Knapsack-like "Upon Deaf Ears"; the intense "Line Breaks"; and the moving "Augten"), the album is...okay. These guys have the elements-intricately-woven guitar parts, steady drums, driving bass, and emotive vocals-but it seems they're not always put together as well as they could be, making for some inconsistency. Come to think of it, the biggest qualm I have with this album/now-defunct band is the vocals. Sometimes they sound a bit TOO full of yearning, and so instead of being endearing, they cross that line into irritating (as on "Sirens and Sailors", which grows a little sonically unpleasing with those painful vocal stylings that close out the song).
-Janelle Jones

FEVERDREAM
FREEZE!
COALITION
Minimal and smarmy, Feverdream is a trio which hails from the Netherlands whose five-track EP is stuck in low gear. Maybe the band is doing this intentionally, not giving up the good stuff and basically filling an EP, but FREEZE! seems like an inside joke. From the quasi-innocuous ode to a band member's shlong on "My Johnson" to the primitive guitar lines scattered about "Adapt 'Til You Snap", the 15-minute affair seems more like an experimental collection of ideas rather than something a band would release. If you dig stuff like International Noise Conspiracy without the layers, these guys fit the bill. www.coalition-records.com
-Mike SOS

FUCK YOU UPS
BLACK AND BLACK AND BLACK
FORMULA 13 RECORDS
Fuck You Ups (out of Phoenix) offer up 12 punk anthems in under 20 minutes. Their songs touch on such subjects as beer, drugs, murder, television, and zombies. While some of the songs are just ridiculous, there's no denying the fun you'll have listening to this album. It's almost like a guilty pleasure, because some of it is so bad that it's good. If you like straightforward punk with hints of crust punk, then look out for Fuck You Ups. If you like Motorhead and bands from the hardcore punk days of Black Flag, then definitely seek this band out.
-Dane Jackson

GRAVE DANGER
DEATH CITY
TRUXTON RECORDS
Grave Danger is an Arizona trio that blends dark-humored lyrics with surf, rockabilly, and punk rhythms, which makes DEATH CITY an easy and quite comfortable album to get into. At times, the guitar playing sounds as if it's straight out of a Dick Dale classic; at others, Grave Danger rely on old-school punk riffs or tried-and-true rockabilly rhythms. Standouts are a cover of Shel Silverstein's "You're Always Welcome at Our House" (which has all the feel of a classic Irish drinking song) and the two instrumental tracks, "Tiki" and "Tremble", where the band get a chance to show off their chops. These guys make music that's both fun and funny; however, DEATH CITY is not for the easily offended.
-Jude Ruiz

GUNMETAL GREY
SOLITUDE
SELF-RELEASED
There's nothing quite like clicking on a band's official Website and being redirected to Myspace. Free downloads and sex invites all in one place! This seven-song EP apparently did the trick, and Indianola Records, who is re-releasing this album, picked up the band. Their live show must be captivating, because there's nothing on SOLITUDE that stands out. A little Euro metal influence seeps in between the screeching and throaty singing that overshadows the requisite breakdowns and guitar scaling. There is nothing new here, but they have the captive Myspace audience and newfound label support to spread their sound directly to a hole in the wall near you.
-Erika Owens

GZR
OHMWORK
SANCTUARY
Geezer Butler returns to helm his solo project GZR after a lengthy jaunt with Black Sabbath with OHMWORK, a 10-track release brimming with hard rock sensibilities. Once led by Fear Factory's Burton C. Bell, GZR's lead singer slot is occupied by Clark Brown, whose vast vocal range runs from Layne Staley on the sinister dirge "Pardon My Depression" to Chino Moreno on "Pull the String" without sounding forced. And the band keeps it heavy throughout, as Geezer and company blast out some well mapped out metal warblings with a tad of the nu school flavor on tracks like "Don't You Know" and "Aural Sects". However, tracks like the slipshod Limp Bizkit-esque "Prisoner 103" seem out of place, and the sledgehammered riffs in "Dogs of Whore" scream for Bell despite Brown's stalwart job. Nonetheless, Butler and crew are still cranking out some blasting music and are worth a crank on the home stereo system. www.sanctuaryrecordsgroup.com
-Mike SOS

HARLOTS
THE WOMAN YOU SAW IS THE GREATEST CITY THAT RULES OVER THE KINGS EARTH
FEELING FAINT PRODUCTIONS
The best thing about Harlots' new album is the interesting title. The band are a mixture of noise, hardcore, and metal. The vocals are just constant screams over monotonous guitar lines and raging drumbeats. There is really nothing good to say about Harlots' new album, every song sounds similar and the band lacks creativity and direction. The only song that had an interesting sound was "The Mother of Harlots"-but this is not enough to save the album.
-Joe Licavoli

HELLA
CHURCH GONE WILD/CHIRPIN HARD
SUICIDE SQUEEZE RECORDS
This third release from Sacramento's two-man Hella is a masterpiece of experimentalism and the theory of large cool. In concept, this CD can be compared to Outkast's hip-hop masterwork SPEAKERBOXXX/THE LOVE BELOW, in that each member of Hella has a disc all to himself. Disc 1, CHURCH GONE WILD, is the raw, non-stop, chaotic (think a modern upgrade of Frank Zappa's LUMPY GRAVY) rock of Zach Hill; while CHIRPIN HARD is the new-waveish videogame pop of Spencer Seim. Both discs are mostly instrumental. Zach Hill has included tape loops and wack vocals on a few pieces. Together, these discs make for art/weirdness that cannot and that should not be ignored. Long live the abstract/weirdo ethos.
-H. Barry Zimmerman

HOLLOW GROUND
COLD REALITY
ORGANIZED CRIME
Fans of brutal hardcore, take note: Winnipeg five-piece Hollow Ground have proved their mettle with their debut record, COLD REALITY, a six-song EP drenched in manic and crushing guitar work and tough, barking vocals, all anchored by a truly relentless rhythm section. With their pummeling breakdowns, songs like the pulverizing and propulsive "Cold Reality", "Final Words", and the tremendous finale "On the Line" will surely be propagating pits aplenty in clubs and bedrooms alike.
-Janelle Jones

HOOKERS
CASTING THE RUNES
DEVIL DOLL
The mighty KY based rock band's entire rarities and b-sides have been compiled to assault your ears and piss off the neighbors, hailing Satan and the gods of rock along the way. Of course, it comes from Hookers, the alcohol-fueled, drug-laden, unrelenting punk rock crew whose rowdy riffs and devil may care attitude propelled the group to underground darlings. Now, it's all here, every live track, split disc contribution, and cover song they've got, jammed on a twin disc offering guaranteed to start a party and ultimately wreak severe havoc amongst all in the general vicinity. If you're a die-hard fan, or just want to hear firsthand how the powers of evil can overcome your musical spirit, allow CASTING THE RUNES some airtime in your stereo system and feel the demonic intervention. www.devildollrecords.com
-Mike SOS

HUMANS BOW DOWN
A MIRROR
PHRATRY RECORDS
Hailing from the Cincinnati area, Humans Bow Down flirt with the sort of experimental shoegazing indie-rock that might appeal to fans of The Rum Diary, Kilowatthours, Three Mile Pilot, or Mogwai. A MIRROR is the band's first full-length album, and it's littered with tracks that move from psychedelic grooves to full-blown, unconventional, explosive rock jams-often within the same song. This is not recommended for someone looking for a quick fix, as this one will definitely take some time to get into, but the journey there might just prove worthwhile.
-Jude Ruiz

ICARUS WITCH
ROSES ON WHITE LACE
MAGICK
Icarus Witch harkens back to the days of heavy metal glory, also known as the early '80s, on the quartet's five-track endeavor. Falling somewhere between the epic storytelling of Savatage with the power metal precision of Helloween, tracks like "Curse of the Ice Maiden" follow the classic metal blueprint right down to the last falsetto metal shrill, while "Dragon Ryder" has all of the lyrical power of a Dio song with the musical direction of Hammerfall. Delivering the goods in the vein of Maiden, Priest, and the like, ROSES ON WHITE LACE is a solid metal album laden with the well-known metal tactics that we've all grown to love. www.cleorecs.com
-Mike SOS

INDIRA
WITH A BULLET AND A KISS
NUMBSKULL RECORDINGS
Just look at that title. Now, what images and sounds does that conjure up? Go with it-your gut is completely correct: it's the same old hardcore-lite. Singing weaves in and out of shouting fits, which are supported by hardcore-tinged, but essentially heartless, backing music. You've heard all that before, but what sets Indira apart is the grating, nasal voice that pushes them from merely forgettable to almost unlistenable. Thankfully, you can rarely make out the vocals live, anyway. With a positively mediocre effort and strict adherence to the hardcore-lite recipe, Indira have definitely deserve that crowd-warmer spot.
-Erika Owens

INSIDE HOLLOW
THROUGH THE EYES OF DECEPTION
SELF-RELEASED
Hard rock is often done wrong, as too many times bands that play the style of music fail to carve out their own identity and instead combine two or three band's sounds and form a new hybrid rather than a unique sound. Inside Hollow thankfully isn't one of those bands, as a bevy of influences from Fuel to Anthrax can be heard on the New Yorker's six-track release. From the twin guitar attack smacking you in the face to the well-suited vocals which retain presence without going over the top to the steady yet solid rhythm section working hard when laying down the weighty grooves, these guys have swerved far away enough from the generic rock band motif while still pumping out melodic riffs and memorable hooks like "Falling Down" and "Envy". With the catchiness to hit the radio and the heaviness to satisfy the hard rock crowd, THROUGH THE EYES OF DECEPTION gives modern hard rock music the swift kick in the ass it desperately needs. www.insidehollow.com
-Mike SOS

ISLAND VIEW DRIVE
WHAT WILL IT TAKE
ACUTEST
Sweet nostalgia! Island View Drive is the three-man outfit from Fenton, MI, whose formula of pop/indie/rock with just a tinge of reggae induces waves and waves of sweet memories. It's just the right amount of classic and novelty meshed together so that it hearkens back to the truly underground bands that you adored with all your heart-but you just can't quite place who. The recording quality of WHAT WILL IT TAKE isn't the most remarkable, but you can definitely pick up on the relentless hours of efforts poured into its creation. You can't help but give credit for that much heart and passion. You can't help but like it, either. You also can't help but get glimpses of the future that lies ahead for Island View Drive. www.islandviewdrive.com
-tChow

JARVIS HUMBY
ASSUME THE POSITION IT'S...JARVIS HUMBY
HARDSOUL RECORDS
This album cover proclaims, "garage rock 4 stereo." This is a great promise that a lot of contemporary garage rock bands-along with this British mod revival quartet-can make. Today's excellent recording technology can be used to make potent garage-rock recordings for today's stereo systems. Jarvis Humby does very well in that regard on the scorcher "We Say Yeah!" and the Santana-esque "99 Steps to the Suns". However, the album is littered with jangly paisley pop like "These Eyes". This is good material in and of itself, but it breaks up the mood and movement of the CD, so that it is like finding unpaved residential sections every few miles punctuating the driving of an open freeway in your 1964 Jaguar E Type roadster. www.hardsoulrecords.com
-Tom "Tearaway" Schulte

KAAMOS
LUCIFER RISING
CANDLELIGHT
The Cookie Monster vocals, the evil solos, the song titles like "Inaugurating Evil" can only add up to one thing: another Satanic Swedish metal clan. This time around, the band in question is Kaamos, whose Grave meets Entombed uproar is well versed and oh so demonic. 10-tracks of abrasive, defiant death metal with both punishing lows and memorable melodic parts, tracks like "Theriomorphic Pandaemonium" and "Chthonic" strike hard and leave welts, like any respectable death metal outfit should. If you yearn for the days when death metal was a lot less diluted, check out Kaamos. www.candlelightrecords.co.uk
-Mike SOS

KAEDUS REX
KAEDUS REX
SELF-RELEASED
Queens-based metal outfit Kaedus Rex (translation: The Blood King) have put out a scorching five-track release chock full of metal a la Pantera meets Cryptopsy at a Black Label Society show. From the pulsating opening riff of "A Cleansing" to the overwhelming overpowering of "Blinding Doubt", sit back and enjoy a heavy handed hell-ride through a vicious combination of molten death metal, sustaining stoner rock, and touches of classic thrash metal circa 1987. Armed with the musical firepower and vocal versatility to go the distance, this quartet's latest endeavor displays a metal band with all of the tools necessary to take it to the next level. www.kaedusrex.com
-Mike SOS

KAMELOT
THE BLACK HALO
STEAMHAMMER
I'm not the biggest metal fan in the world, but I really enjoy many parts of this release. Though the vocals are a bit tacky and the lyrics a bit silly, THIS is what Metallica would sound like if they did a compilation with Meatloaf. For you hard-core metal fans, this might be a bit too on the hair-metal side; but for the rest of us, it's good enough! If you miss headbanging and mullets, this album will bring a nostalgic tear to your eye!
-Mandadexpunk

KEVIN K AND THE REAL KOOL KATS
ADDICTION
LOLLIPOP RECORDS
Upon doing some research on Kevin K, his history of sharing the stage with such acts as The Ramones, Dead Boys, and Johnny Thunder explains this album's authentic feel. ADDICTION is full of old-school punk chords, nasty guitar solos, and straightforward lyrics. Some tracks are very upbeat and carefree (like "Happy Days"), while songs such as "Addiction" and "A Real Kool Time" are noticeably heavier with a darker tone. What I really enjoy about this record is the undeniable presence of a traditional punk/rock attitude without the forfeiture of pop sensibility. Whether you are an old-timer who appreciates the classics or a young buck with an itch for something loud, this album will be appealing.
-Anthony

KINGS OF LEON
AHA SHAKE HEARTBREAK
RCA/BMG
First I heard the entire album musically, then I focused on the lyrical content, and the word that comes immediately to mind when trying to describe this album is "disingenuous." I can't help feeling that these boys from Tennessee made a conscious effort to BE Southern rock. They are like a great, giant stereotype of what Southern rockers SHOULD sing about, how they SHOULD sing it, how they SHOULD dress, etc. It's all one giant formula. More than anything, the vocalist sounds like a Rastafarian versus a Southerner, which makes tracks like "Milk" hard to take seriously. Though this is being touted as a more mature and experienced Kings of Leon, their lyrics don't seem to prove that (e.g., "She's 17 but I done went and plum forgot it.") Musically, yeah this is good old fashioned rock, but it goes from being too classic (à la AC/DC) to more modern (à la The Strokes), which leaves you a bit confused as to their intentions. For more info on these Southern robots, visit kingsofleon.com.
-Norberto Gomez, Jr.

KISSINGER
ME AND OTTO
WCI RECORDS
Okay, the guys in this band are named Chopper, o3, Lucky, and Steve Garvey. Even with a famous guy like Lucky on the roster, a band needs to bring some serious music to be successful. Unfortunately, this album consists of 10 grinding, slow, methodical, and formulaic rock songs. To top it off, the band finds some inane reason to sing about the lottery, along with the standard litany of cars and girls. A chorus like "Me and Otto shot it all on the Lotto" is never going anywhere, and fast. The band did win the 2005 Austin Music Foundation Incubator Band contest, which will give the band 18 months of intense training and $15,000 to record another record. Thank God for small miracles. Now, if we can just keep these boys from spending the prize money on Lotto tickets, they might have a chance to get somewhere with the next release.
-Dug

LAST OF THE JUANITAS
IN THE DIRT
WÄNTAGE USA
Mathy, angular noise-metal makes this album a ton of bricks precisely dropped with "Anvil Chorus" precision on clanging sheet metal. Last of the Juanitas combine this surgical ferocity with the intensity and agility with Slayer-esque thunder rhythms and screamo vocals. www.wantageusa.com
-Tom "Tearaway" Schulte

LITTLE KING
VIRUS DIVINE
LITTLE KING PRODUCTIONS
The third full-length release from this thematic El Paso trio is another conceptual step in this band's evolution. VIRUS DIVINE is the story of a man on a crusade to change the world for the better after the Columbine High School massacre. With a beautifully artistic album layout and a batch of eight complicated yet appealing tunes, Little King is pushing up against the boundaries of prog-rock. The music and lyrics sound a lot like Rush (it doesn't hurt that the mixing was done by Terry Brown, who produced 10 Rush albums). This band proves that Coheed and Cambria don't have a monopoly on the hard rock concept album...although Little King does have a much better command of acoustic guitars and the soft side of rock to work along with the bombast. This disc is a harbinger of success for a very talented band.
-Dug

LOFTUS
HUGS +DRUGS
MONARCHY MUSIC
Unlike many of the Southern California acts you hear, the five guys that comprise Loftus play the kind of face-ripping, unrepentant anguished music you'd expect from an East Coast band like Converge or Dillinger Escape Plan. On the 10-track HUGS + DRUGS, pile-driven riffs and unrelenting screams are commonplace, yet when woven inside the heavy melodies found on "Bottoms Up" and "Gimme Greens", unleashed are the lethal forms of aural violence that heavy music fans have grown fond of. Ignore the almost five-minute serene opener "The Condition of Being Forgotten" and wear your earplugs in preparation for an onslaught of epic proportions, courtesy of Loftus. www.monarchymusiccorp.com
-Mike SOS

LOST SOUL
CHAOSTREAM
EARACHE RECORDS
Although this disc will not play in players that don't support burnt discs and those discs whose bottoms are black rather than silver, I was able to rock out to this in my garage on several occasions. Although the sound quality isn't as good in there, I got a complaint from one of my neighbors, and one of my roommates asked what the hell I was listening to. I think he was genuinely baffled at the low, rumbling roar that protruded from the speakers. To the average listener, this is no different than the normal death-metal sound; but to those that know, this stuff is unique. Experimental mixing coupled with traditional thrashing guitar, teeming with misery and anger. Audibly portrayed emotions drag the listener around like a carcass on a meat hook.
-Thomas Murray

MAHAVATAR
GO WITH THE NO!
CRUZ DEL SUR
Female fronted melodic metal with a worldly flare, the Jamaica meets Israel by way of NYC duo known as Mahavatar will turn some heads, and not only because they happen to be attractive. The duo (rounded out by session musicians) have churned out eight intriguing hard rock tunes with hints of Gothic rock and shades of underground metal (especially in the singing, which switches gears from clean to mean quite well on tracks like "Raw"). Walking the line between dirge-esque Sabbath melodies on "Psychos" and the well-orchestrated pseudo power metal documented on "Open Your Minds", GO WITH THE NO! showcases a female-based act whose bark and bite standout head and shoulders above anyone's preconceived notions of what the usual chicks with guitars group sounds like. Succinct and solid, Mahavatar have provided a well- rounded release that heavy rock fans should enjoy. www.cruzdelsurmusic.com
-Mike SOS

MAKEOUT BOYS
TEENAGE THRILLS
JET ZERO RECORDS
Craving some regurgitated rock? Well, Makeout Boys will cure that fix in a hurry. Influenced by the likes of AC/DC and Dead Boys, these San Diego natives offer 30 minutes that contain nothing of interest. After reading up on how Makeout Boys frontman has a sense of humor, a sharp tongue, and amazing talent, I was surprised to hear how none of these things show through in the music. This is bland rock that fails to leave a lasting impression. If these guys are friends of yours, then you're likely to dig this no matter what; but if not, perhaps it's best to just to steer clear from this one altogether.
-Jude Ruiz

MANHANDLERS
MANHANDLERS
CRIMINAL IQ RECORDS
I wouldn't consider myself a feminist by any means, but recently I've opened my mind to the idea of women's suffrage. And with the advent of all-female bands, I can safely say I support their endeavors. In the case of Manhandlers, I think their new album confidently rocks, but I am not completely sold on this type of music. I can appreciate bands like The Donnas, but I struggle to love the music. Punk rock can come in any form and be tolerated for its innovation, but you don't have to love it. I don't love Manhandlers, but I'm positive that they are better musicians than I can ever be.
-Luke Skywalker

MASS SHIVERS
SELF-TITLED
SICKROOM
Mass Shivers' new album shows that the band has tremendous musical talent, but the songs seem to have too much going on, lacking focus and direction. Playing a strange mixture of rock, punk, and classic rock, Mass Shivers tend to be more caught up with playing music then playing as a band. For instance, the song, "What Is Realistic" sounds like something one would hear in a coffeeshop, as the guitar lines repeat for minutes on end. Mass Shivers also fall flat with monotone vocals that come off as very uninteresting. It seems that the members of Mass Shivers are very talented, but as a band there are a couple problems to be fixed.
-Joe Licavoli

MATHEW SHAW
GHOSTS IN THE CONCRETE
BURNING BUILDINGS RECORDINGS
Mathew Shaw is a one-man band. There is a whisper of sensitivity and romance that permeates every song on GHOSTS IN THE CONCRETE. This is a soft, sweet album. My only beef-and it does weigh on me fairly heavy-is that all the songs sound very similar because of Shaw's guitar playing. There are some cool introductions, but then once a song gets going, Shaw is doing the same driving strum on every song. There are several songs, such as "Constant Movement" and "The Argument", that by themselves are really great songs; but the songs of GHOSTS IN THE CONCRETE merge into one boring piece. I suggest that people buy the singles or download an MP3.
-H. Barry Zimmerman.

MEN IN FUR
S/T
HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME RECORDS
Men in Fur is a creepy band that writes creepy songs about cuddly animals. What's even more peculiar is that they are actually quite talented. On MEN IN FUR, their blend of '80s new wave and modern pop proves to be rather inspired. The eccentric melodies tend to inspire continued listening despite the group's moderately annoying gimmickry. As unequivocally geeky as it is, the fact that each song tells the tale of a different animal (each becoming separate portions of the same story) is a surprisingly effective technique. The album's mood of eerie curiosity sustains throughout, and the hints of majesty become apparent fairly early on. This is not something I would listen to all that often, but it's a solid work from an unexpected source.
-Daniel

MENOMENA
I AM THE FUN BLAME MONSTER
FILMGUERRERO
The indie pop on this album is experimental, protean, and piano-based. This is the first release I have ever seen inside a hand-packaged flipbook. Interestingly, most of the songs were composed with "Deeler," a computer program written by the band's Brent Knopf. Says Brent, "It's a loop-based program that facilitates improvisational recording." Step in the stream before the river moves on. www.filmg.com
-Tom "Tearaway" Schulte

MOMMY AND DADDY
FIGHTING STYLE KILLER PANDA
KANINE
This moody little piece of electro-based pop comes to us from the NYC duo Mommy and Daddy. On FIGHTING STYLE KILLER PANDA, husband and wife Edmond Hallas and Vivian Saratt confidently crank out six tracks of libido-driven post-punk, possessing the sinister attraction of groups like The Kills and P.J. Harvey. The rhythmic structures here are largely comprised of oddly-placed synth beats, as Vivian and Edmond trade off vocals, as well as sporadic guitar and bass work. Besides being quite easy on the eyes, Vivian has a wonderfully sharp voice perfectly attuned to the pop persona they seem to aspire towards. However, Edmond's vocals aren't nearly as interesting or adequate, and the synthesized loops are neither varied nor used ambitiously enough to remain enticing throughout. FIGHTING STYLE KILLER PANDA remains an interesting but uneven work.
-Daniel

MONADE
A FEW STEPS MORE
TOO PURE/ BEGGARS GROUP
The sophomore solo release from Monade (Stereolab's Laetitia Sadier) is a more full realization of her personal visions than her debut release, SOCIALISME OU BARBARIE, which was really just a pieced-together collection of her early works, which were never done in a professional studio. This time around, Sadier has enlisted a trio of permanent musicians to complement her own unique work on the Moog, trombone, and tambourine. The collection of odd instruments and interesting melodies she uses on this album work with her distinct vocal styling to give this the feel of some bizarre indie/French cabaret. If you're not a Francophobe and actually enjoy a mellow song full of ethereal music, give this one a try. It is a strangely (emphasis on "strange") beautiful album.
-Dug

MORON PARADE
DARK KNIGHTS: KNIFE CITY
PARADECO RECORDS
19 tracks of indie goodness! Moron Parade are a collection of musicians from Seattle and Northern Colorado who every now and then decide to come together and offer us a group of songs that contain all the best elements of indie rock, yet are more aggressive than the usual airy college-rock offerings. They are not afraid to fuzz out into lo-fi post-punk beauty. For example, track 5 is a guitar-heavy, chugging, classic, Weezer-like work; while a lot of the other tracks go from Pavement to Sonic Youth in literally seconds. If you are at all just a fan of indie rock, then this is basically your ticket. It seems like a compilation of all the before-mentioned great bands in one long-ass album.
-Norberto Gomez, Jr.

MOTORMARK
CHROME TAPE
DIGITAL HARDCORE RECORDINGS
This is a great Scottish synth-punk record. Motormark is one female and one male sharing vocal and musical responsibilities. The fact that the two of them are very talented makes this record very versatile, and it hardly becomes stagnant. If the two keep at it, look for them to cause waves in the music biz. If you're into Atari Teenage Riot, Pulp, and other tech-pop bands, check out Motormark.
-ADF

NEVER ENOUGH
DEAD SET ON DESTRUCTION...
ORGANIZED CRIME
If one thing can be said of Never Enough's latest release, DEAD SET ON DESTRUCTION, it is this: the damn thing is comprehensive! Comprised of six new songs from their upcoming GIVE ME OBLIVION record, the OUR WILL IS DONE EP, a live set from 2004 (during which they play two awesome covers of two awesome bands: Poison Idea's "Just to Get Away" and Agent Orange's "Bloodstains" (among which outspoken vocalist Tony makes some wise remarks onstage on how religion(as well as "dance lights"(have no place in hardcore), and their impressive 2003 demo, this monster adds up to a whopping 27 quick blasts of undeniably brilliant and furious hardcore mayhem. If you're into genuine hardcore sans the trendy bullshit, definitely check this Baltimore band out. Seeing how complete DEAD SET... is, picking up this album would be the premiere way of doing so.
-Janelle Jones

NIGHTBREED
IMMORTALITY THROUGH ASHES
TRAGIC END
A band influenced by both Samhain AND Fugazi?! Sign me up! Cleveland-based three-piece Nightbreed slay with their debut release, IMMORTALITY THROUGH ASHES, a six-song, 14-minute, darkly alluring punk/post-hardcore gem whose haunting instrumentation is complemented wonderfully by the troubled and, well, troubling lyrics. This is a great record, if only for the opening two songs, "Reflection of Image" and the subdued, gloomy, bass-driven "Winterkill". Still, "Poisoned Tongue", a slow, delightfully depressing dirge is right up there, made all the eerier (and cooler) by the inclusion of backwards vocals that come in as the song gains momentum and heaviness. The only composition not quite up to par with the rest of Nightbreed's output is "Symptoms Mounting". I can't exactly say what's lacking with this more energetic song, but I'm just not feeling it. However, this one track can't sway my opinion of this album: it's got too much going for it.
-Janelle Jones

NO-FI SOUL REBELLION
LAMBS TO THE SLAUGHTER-EP
WANTAGE USA
Perhaps it was inevitable that hip-hop would work its sampling way into the alternative music scene. The "band" No-Fi Soul Rebellion is the brainchild of Alaska native Mark Heimer and his wife Andrea. The band's "music" consists of pre-recorded tracks that are mixed together with their vocals and usually played with mp3s through a PA system. Andrea stands before the crowd with a stringless bass (with a built-in MP3 player) and dances, while Mark walks around the venue interacting with the audience. Musically, the five electronics-heavy songs on this EP sound pretty good, even though the percussion loops are fairly primitive. Some creative artists-such as Duchamps, Dali, and Pollock-always have to draw the critics' ire to open new doors. Though this band is not in that artistic league, it is opening new doors. I'm just not sure I want to go through them.
-Dug

NOVEMBER COMING FIRE
BLACK BALLADS
IN AT THE DEEP END
Taking its name from the third Samhain album (but sounding nothing like the band), this British quintet channel its aggressive hardcore assault into six tracks brazen with steamrolling riffs and blood curdling screams much like metallic American hardcore. Clocking in at a lean, mean 18 and a half minutes, and armed with the firepower of bands like Terror and Give Up The Ghost, BLACK BALLADS contains some rough and ready hardcore suitable for unleashing some tension to. www.iatde.com
-Mike SOS

NOVEMBER'S DOOM
THE PALE HAUNT DEPARTURE
THE END
Walloping your eardrums with a furious concoction of growling death metal ethereal Goth rock, Chicago metal veterans November's Doom could very well be America's answer to Opeth. The eight-track offering, produced by Swedish metal man Dan Swano, displays thunderous rhythms, atmospheric musical passages, lush arrangements, and soul crushing might, as tracks like "Autumn Reflection" and "In the Absence of Grace" dually haunt the listener through the use of brute force and eerie melody. Progressive and diverse, THE PALE HAUNT DEPARTURE is a dark and dynamic metallic journey that fans of Paradise Lost, Porcupine Tree, Nevermore, and Fates Warning can all agree on. www.theendrecords.com
-Mike SOS

OATHEAN
FADING AWAY INTO THE GRAVE OF NOTHINGNESS
THE END
Usually not associated with the death/black metal genre, Korea's Oathean is putting the country on the map with its brand of folksy yet scolding metal. Furthering the proof that music is indeed the universal language, this quintet's 11-track offering displays a scathing death metal battering on tracks like "The Origin" that would make Cradle of Filth or Dimmu Borgir fans stand up and take notice. There's also traces of folklore a la bands like Skyclad (especially evident from the keyboard parts) that allows Othean to stand out more than your average black metal crew. If you're looking for an album capable of ripping your head off, but not in the way you've grown accustomed to, then Othean's worldwide debut is a noteworthy release to pick up. www.theendrecords.com
-Mike SOS

OPIATE FOR THE MASSES
THE SPORE
AMERICAN VOODOO
Hailing from Phoenix, AZ, the quartet known as Opiate for the Masses have a lot of momentum behind them at the moment, all culminating up to the releasing of the band's debut THE SPORE. With a Warped Tour and Taste of Chaos jaunt under its belt, the band's 14-track release meanders between lighter scaled industrial rock and radio friendly metal, with hints of harder new wave mixed in. Tracks like the driving "Clean" and the techno-induced "Heaven" contain dramatic usage of samples as well as stabbing guitar lines, while the more subdued "Transparency" has got Reznor written all over it. While the band dabbles in electronic bliss, there are moments of Tool-esque clarity found on "Up to Me" that helps to round out OFM's 21st century rock assault. Effortlessly blending genres while keeping intensity at a fever pitch throughout, THE SPORE is the perfect companion for your Flaw, Ministry, or NIN releases. www.opiateforthemasses.com
-Mike SOS

ORDER OF THE EBON HAND
XV: THE DEVIL
SEASON OF MIST
Greek black metal merchants Order of the Ebon Hand have apparently taken the name of their band from a MAGIC: THE GATHERING reference and have liberally borrowed musical influence from early Emperor, Darkthrone, and other majestic black metal outfits. And while this nine-track endeavor faithfully recreates the eerie aura of the genre, XV: THE DEVIL, even with all of its regal splendor and cinematically ghastly overtones, still sounds a tad second-rate. www.season-of-mist.com
-Mike SOS

OVER IT
SILVERSTRAND
LOBSTER RECORDS
Over It's sophomore effort, SILVERSTRAND, has the feel of mainstream power pop and punk, much like fellow Lobster alums Yellowcard. But unlike Yellowcard and bands of that caliber, Over It seems to actually have a soul. They don't need a gimmick to get their music heard; instead, they put out well-crafted and -produced power-pop songs with a splash of pop-punk thrown in for good measure. The album is filled with melody and great songwriting, both lyrically and musically. While I tend to group bands like Yellowcard, Simple Plan, Midtown, and Over It together, I feel this four-piece has the ability to break from the generic mold of commercial pop-punk and set itself apart because of the quality of SILVERSTRAND. Don't be surprised if this band signs to a major one of these days. Highlights include "Ignore the Noise" and "Never Get Enough".
-Dane Jackson

PETE BRAG
KILLA BEATZ
SELF-RELEASED
Upon the recent explosion of mash-ups comes Pete Brag, a NYC one-man band whose 12-track release lays the 808 down over some hard rock guitars. KILLA BEATZ is the title of the album, and Brag, who does everything here sans scratches, does an admirable job of fusing the bling-bling attitude with some rock 'n' roll flavor, as tracks like the Audioslave-ish "Raise a Fist", the Linkin Park-esque "Running Away" and the scratch-filled hooky "You Got It Good" keeps the head bobbing. The only drawback would be that there's a bit too much anguished rock singing here which dilute the big ass beats being dropped, but with the addition of a rapper to battle Brag's rocking vocals, that could all change. Nevertheless, KILLA BEATZ is a spirited effort taking the flavor of the week and giving it some more shelf life. brag@ix.netcom.com
-Mike SOS

PIERS WHYTE
SELF TITLED
ACHE RECORDS
This isn't music: it's strictly noise. If you mix old Atari game soundtracks with static, random noises from everyday life, and old movie soundtracks, you almost have a feel for what to expect with this album. This is experimental electronic music at its worst. I wish I could have the time back that I wasted listening to this album, because life is too short to waste it on drivel such as this.
-Dane Jackson

PINKIE
SHARON FUSSY
PLANTING SEEDS RECORDS
As desperately as singer/songwriter Alex Sharkey (Pinkie) would like to play the part of the subtle folk rocker full of nuance, on SHARON FUSSY he tends to come off only as a new-age hack. Looking past the fact that the rhythm section is so slight that you barely realize it is there, Pinkie's musings on the world in general tend to come off as asinine, and, well...dull. This is a monumentally boring album-and I'm a guy who listens to Mogwai and Mono!
-Daniel

PYURIA
CALLIPHORA VOMITORIA INTROITUS
CRASH
Sometimes it appears that extreme metal bands own two books: The Satanic Bible and The New England Journal of Medicine. After all, how else can anyone make evil music with song titles like "Subcutaneous Phagocytosis" and name their band after a type of urinary infection? You'd have to ask Pyuria, as these Finnish fans of frenzy wield nine-tracks of hellacious metal which switches gears from chaotic thrash to vicious grind to run of the mill metalcore. Nothing too shocking here if you don't own Cannibal Corpse, Hypocrisy, or any other Scandinavian metal band's discs, but Pyuria do showcase a fine fighting form and should be enjoyed by those that enjoy a bit of random metal insanity every now and then. www.crashmusicinc.com
-Mike SOS

RAZORLIGHT
UP ALL NIGHT
MERCURY RECORDS LIMITED
On the basis of word of mouth (and a few mp3s), Razorlight was deemed buzzworthy by the British press long before a proper release was ever put in motion. On their debut album, UP ALL NIGHT, Razorlight prove they're far from your average garage rock band. Longtime fans of this band will recognize re-recorded versions of early demo singles like "Rock'N Roll Lies", "Rip It Up", and "Leave Me Alone". The real highlights here, however, are the melancholic rock/pop numbers like "Vice", "Stumble and Fall", and "Golden Touch". These songs seem to best suit the band's strengths and seem like a natural direction for them to go in. It's all too common for publications to declare a new band the saviors of rock. This may not yet be the case with Razorlight, but this band seems destined to record some great albums in due time. Pick this one up and see for yourself what all the fuss is about.
-Jude Ruiz

REDFIELD
THE HELLFIRE CLUB
GRAVE NINE RECORDS
Here is a band that takes that whole indie-rock style and genre to a whole new level. Rather than focus on intricate and complicated guitar work, these guys crank their guitars up really high, which adds a whole new dimension to the indie genre. Don't get me wrong: as heavy and profound as the guitars sound, they doesn't overpower their melodic, indie approach, and they don't drown out everything else. As much as one would think the booming guitars wouldn't work within the indie style, Redfield prove that notion to be wrong. In many ways, this is a welcome change, as at least these guys are willing to adjust and transform things and not stick with the formula that most bands are so eager to just follow and soak up the love of a genre that is all the rage right now.
-David Walter

R-H
BLACKASIA VOLUME 1
COMPASS
I wasn't really sure how far I'd get in life before hearing the unification of ancient oriental music with electronica, but I suppose I have now found out. R-H's BLACKASIA VOLUME 1 is a mind-boggling trip through the future orient of the past. That might not make any sense to the clueless passer-by, but upon listening to this record, a greater understanding will be achieved. Furthermore, the album is danceable. The drum 'n' bass rhythm is there to keep your body moving, while the sound of crickets and running fountains balances one's inner spirit. If you're interested in expanding the "club" section of your CD case, this would be a great place to start. Oh, and don't worry: there's bongos, too.
-Zac

RU36
DUMPSTER IN THE SKY
TEN STRIP
Although the duo known as RU36 may at first impression come off as a joke band a la Gwar, DUMPSTER IN THE SKY contains some fluid musicianship and a keen sense of the current musical climate. And they sing about tits, which is always fine song subject fodder. But all kidding aside, these guys have got the crossover punk metal nuances down, and everything from the Andrew WK styled "Wake Up You're Dreaming a Lie" to the Bile-esque "Neo Latha Hatha Datha" to the flamenco guitar inspired title track appears on this 13-track release that wistfully walks the line between clever and stupid with clarity and consistency. www.tenstriprecords.com
-Mike SOS

SEIGE OF HATE
SUBVERSIVE BY NATURE
CANDLELIGHT
Brazilian metallers Seige of Hate have been hacking away at their brand of grinding thrash and blinding metal for nearly a decade, yet SUBVERSIVE BY NATURE is the band's first American go-round. And this pummeling album will no doubt peel the paint off the wall, as the ferocious velocity which songs like "Downfall" and "Say Your Prayers" requires the proper preparation, or else your unsuspecting ass will get trounced. Liberally emulating the masters of grind metal such as Napalm Death, Nailbomb, and Brutal Truth, with splashes of everyone's favorite Brazilian metal export Sepultura in tow, this blistering 20-track collection will pound your carcass into submission. Get set to sweat, bleed, and cry, courtesy of Seige of Hate. www.candlelightrecords.co.uk
-Mike SOS

SETTLEFISH
THE PLURAL OF THE CHOIR
DEEP ELM RECORDS
THE PLURAL OF THE CHOIR is one of those introspective albums that gets personal in both words and instrumentals. There's always some tale being told here in the grand emo/indie rock style we know and love. But what's more appealing is the way the notes and rhythms speak for themselves. They become boisterous and bothersome, careful and cushy. You don't know what's going to happen next. In an attention-grabbling manner, THE PLURAL OF THE CHOIR becomes a great musical page-turner.
-Darren Ratner

SHAME LADY
THE WINTER DAYS WERE NIGHTS
ROTTEN RECORDS
This CD, with the front showing a bleeding moon and the back covered in blood-splattered snowflakes, is interesting, to say the least. The songs on this album are all roman numerals, with only "V. The Winter Days Were Nights" being the exception. What of the music, you ask? Well, have you ever heard screeching, mind-numbing hardcore before, with lyrics you couldn't understand even if you read them along with album and dirty guitars pumping throughout every song? That's it. If you like hardcore that sounds almost scary enough to be metal, you'll love this band. Otherwise, just admire the back of the case.
-Mandadexpunk

SINAI BEACH
IMMERSED
VICTORY
SoCal five-piece Sinai Beach instantly set the mood for their latest record (and first for Victory), IMMERSED, with the heavy instrumental (and aptly-titled) opener "Apocalypse". From there on in, we're treated to some oppressive and devastatingly crushing songs that could very well bring about the end of the world with their mightily meaty and monstrous metal leanings. Keeping in line with the band's penchant for mixing in a dash of melody with the insanity, on some tracks resident growler Courtney Alderson incorporates clean vocals that take on a gloriously resounding, Danzig-like croon (e.g., "The God I Would Be" (which totally could be a title of a Danzig tune); the dynamic, electronic-tinged "Return to Dust"; and the furious finale "Ignoring the Conditional Response"). Overall, Sinai Beach is a great addition to the ever-growing Victory roster, and this record's worth buying if you're into heavier, extreme music.
-Janelle Jones

SINCE THE DAY
EL MENSAJERO NO ES IMPORTANTE
BASTARDIZED
Harsh metalcore is what German quintet Since the Day brings to the table, as the outfit's debut nine-track release is enrobed with crushing guitars, high-pitched metal screams and growls, and a bruising rhythm section. Armed with killer riffs, a good sense of metal melodics, and the ability to keep the overall atmosphere rocking, tracks like "From Day to Day" and "Powder Keg" are perfect for those digging on Atreyu and Eighteen Visions, as well as have respect for Maiden and Priest. EL MENSAJERO NO ES IMPORTANTE isn't all that adventurous, but it is a solid, emotion filled metal rollercoaster ride. www.bastardizedrecordings.com
-Mike SOS

SLAPSHOT
TEAR IT DOWN
THORP
This is hardcore done right. Slapshot has been around for over 20 years, and after listening to the band's current offering, I can see the reason behind the longevity. This album is unabashed straight-edge hardcore. Although I am not anywhere close to being straight-edge, I definitely respect the scene. More anger and rage is crammed into each song than any mainstream "hardcore" band (such as Rage Against the Machine) could ever have put forth. "Relight the Fire" and "Terrorized" are two songs that show the intensity of the band, with commanding vocals over raging guitars and drumbeats. The band expresses its hatred for rap with the comedic song, "Rap Sucks", with lyrics going something like this: "Yo, yo, yo, yo / You're mamma's a ho / Yo yo yo yo/you never go looking for trouble / Rap sucks for sure." TEAR IT DOWN is a great hardcore album and a must-have for any fan of the genre.
-Joe Licavoli

SLOMO RABBIT KICK
HORTATORY EXAMINATIONS
KITTYBOX RECORDS
This five-track indie rock/pop EP is the brainchild of Jay Chilcote (of Revolutionary Hydra). HORTATORY EXAMINATIONS starts off promising enough with the infectious, upbeat, synth-driven, new-wave-inspired tune "Two Timing". Then Slomo Rabitt Kick decides to kick it down a few notches with a mid-tempo pop number, "Smell Camino". By track 3, it begins to become abundantly clear that this disc was poorly assembled, and there's just no denying that everything feels a bit too sparse and uninspired (never more apparent than on the closing track, "Pseudo-Science"). Even with a little help (on drums) from Chris Walla of Death Cab for Cutie, this fails be anything more than mediocre.
-Jude Ruiz

SONS OF OTIS
X
SMALL STONE
Sons of Otis have been pumping out the spacey jams for almost a decade now, hence the album's title, X. Containing seven slabs of cosmic rock that plays like a monster truck seized in a vat of molasses, the low end rumble and hallucinogenic vocals that this trio wield are definitely the prototype for what every bar band on the planet Mars sounds like. Vintage equipment, a boatload of illegal drugs, and pure rock fury all add up to this humungous endeavor, whose musical output will hang in the airspace like clouds of smoke billowing from your favorite smoking device. www.smallstone.com
-Mike SOS

SPITALFIELD
STOP DOING BAD THINGS
VICTORY
The emo banner still flies high, and Chicago's Spitalfield now finds itself at the head of the class with the quartet's sophomore effort, STOP DOING BAD THINGS. The 11-track sojourn comes after over two years on the road for the boys, and it marks the outfit's new found maturity, as tracks like "The Future is Now" and "Texa$ with a Dollar Sign" rock out first with the shades of sensitivity lagging slightly behind. Only problem with this disc is that STOP DOING BAD THINGS is pretty interchangeable with a lot of what's impacting rock radio and college campuses these days, kind of an amalgamation of Jimmy Eats World and Taking Back Sunday with dashes of Fall Out Boy. Nevertheless, this release contains the sound the industry is shoving down the public's throats, and should thrust Spitalfield to the next level. www.victoryrecords.com
-Mike SOS

STRAPPING YOUNG LAD
ALIEN
CENTURY MEDIA
Devin Townsend's warped mind has once again spawned a work of genius, as the uber metal quartet Strapping Young Lad's fourth album ALIEN has landed. The 11-track collection takes extreme metal to new and exciting heights, as Townsend, backed by drum guru Gene Hoglan, bass master Byron Stroud, and guitarist extraordinaire Jed Simon, turns up the intensity to astronomical proportions, blending industrial, death, grind, and groove into their mighty metal cauldron. Speed freaks will rejoice over the frenzied pace of "We Ride" and the volatile velocity of "Shitstorm", but there's a lot more to SYL than speed. The tortured choir-led anthem "Love?" and the moody acoustics of "Two Weeks" which lapses into Opeth-esque dreamscape of "Thalamus" seem out of place, and may have belonged to another one of Townsend's musical projects, yet both manage to make a discernible impact with SYL at the helm. The musicianship here is flawless, and Devin's maniacal vocal delivery and infinite musical visions are wondrous to say the least. ALIEN is experimental, gritty, brutal, and above all, a masterful array of metal that anyone who enjoys the extreme side of the genre should explore. www.centurymedia.com
-Mike SOS

STRATAGEME
RECESSION EP
JUDAH RECORDS
Stratageme's debut EP is one part guitar rock, one part electronics, and an extra serving of good times. This crafty Pasadena, CA, duo (David Vine and Autumn Brannon) have garnered comparisons to Summary and Les Savy Fav and have created an album that is oh-so-contemporary. Whether paying homage to Mellowdrone ("Apologies to Jon Bates") or just belting out catchy pop tunes ("I Just Walk"), RECESSION EP shows plenty of promise for a band that is only getting started.
-Jude Ruiz

SHATTERHAND
RANDOM ACTS OF DEFIANCE
MYTHICAL RECORDS
This album has some of the best insert art that I have ever seen. The lyrics are also top-notch, demonstrating creativity and new-school internal-reflection poetry. They don't try to make it seem like what most songwriters seem to think a song should be like; they just do their thing. That scores huge points. Above all else, this album is real. I don't get the impression that these guys are just trying to force-feed their audience some regurgitated crap that some other assholes were singing last week. Stuart's pipes sound raspy (like the lead singer of The Bosstones), the beats are quick and punky, and the music is not just three chords repeating like a broken record.
-Thomas Murray

STURMGEIST
MEISTER MEPHISTO
SEASON OF MIST
Could Sturmgeist be the Norwegian answer to Andrew WK? Highly unlikely, yet both seem to enjoy partying hard, only Sturmgeist (real name Cornelius Jakhelln) is a bit more on the scholastic side of the fence than his American counterpart. Hell, the guy speaks seven languages fluently and has published three books, ranging from philosophy to metaphysical poetry. And at Strumgeist's party, conducted through the raucously industrial meets black metal offerings displayed on tracks such as "Grimmer Than Ugly" and "Shock & Awe" are akin to a Rammstein or Ministry offering than pseudo metal best served when selling chocolate bars. In fact, the nine-track offering (sung in German to boot) provides an electronically enhanced grim Germanic metal approach with signs of Viking metal's anthemic might which fans of chaotic music across the board will surely hone in on. Weaving the Germanic culture into his industrial metal grind, Sturmgeist's latest release is ambitious yet still manages to crack heads wide open. If you're looking for something out of the ordinary, MEISTER MEPHISTO definitely fits the bill. www.season-of-mist.com
-Mike SOS

SWALLOW THE SUN
THE MORNING NEVER CAME
OLYMPIC
Swallow the Sun is a six-deep Finnish doom metal troupe whose North American debut disc contains eight tracks (plus an unlisted Candlemass cover) of slow, churning, slit your wrists and overdose on pills kind of music. This CD should come with a warning sticker for the depressed to steer clear it's so dark. Stark usage of piano assists the overall gloom and doom mood, while the foreboding guitars and death growling vocals add an eerie mystique to the already murky delivery, as the rhythm section keeps the procession at the proper pace. If you dig Sentenced, Opeth, My Dying Bride, and Type O Negative, then THE MORNING NEVER CAME is an essential pickup for you, as it combines all of the aforementioned band's attributes, creating a staggeringly ominous listening experience. www.olympicrecordings.com
-Mike SOS

TARENTAL
WE MOVE THROUGH WEATHER
TEMPORARY RESIDENCE
Hypnotically charged ambiance is what you'll discover courtesy of the group Tarental, whose eight-track release WE MOVE THROUGH WEATHER creates a landscape inundated with well-textured sound that continuously builds with a vivacious yet dramatic flare. Atmospheric and ethereal, tracks like "Everywhere the Damn Echo" come complete with dissonant feedback and oddly placed noises that help sculpt their meticulous brand of mood music. The lack of vocals only add to the ominous feeling that the music will leave in the recesses of your subconscious, as Tarental seems driven to not only comprise a new galaxy, but also recruit inhabitants as well. www.temporaryresidence.com
-Mike SOS

TEARS FROM THE SKY
POWER SYMBOL
LIFE SENTENCE RECORDS
This is straight-up, aggressive, melodic metal from Quebec. Utilizing all the elements of metal that we've come to expect-double-bass, heavy downbeats, crotch guitar, grizzled man-vocals-Tears from the Sky are a metal geek's kinda band. However, I don't see any originality or distinguishing moments to extend their musical base outside of the realm of geeks-who-will-jerk-off-to-ANYTHING metal. Unless some serious thought is put into what makes them who they are versus the thousands of other similar artists, then they will be nothing more than another metal band. Their music is predictable and their lyrics are weak-again, more elements of metal that we've all come to expect (and more proof that metal still needs to dig itself out of the grave).
-Norberto Gomez, Jr.

TH' LEGENDARY SHACK*SHAKERS
BELIEVE
YEP ROC
This album rocks! BELIEVE by Th' Legendary Shack*Shakers is truly an original album, throwing together many different music styles: rockabilly, psychobilly, blues, goth, bluegrass, rock, and punk. Truly a strange and frantic musical experience, BELIEVE shows the band's dark lyrical content (as on "All My Life to Kill": "Out of Hell's Half Acre from a downtown drunk-tank / It's a white-knuckle ride on the back of a junk train." Frontman Col. J.D. Wilkes is terrifying with his enormous vocal range and attitude. Just from listening to the album, it's obvious this is an incredible live act. Each track on BELIEVE takes the listener through a journey of death and destruction-and what a ride it is! This album is a must-have for fans of punk, rockabilly, and rock. Buy this album now!
-Joe Licavoli

THE A-SIDES
HELLO, HELLO
PRISON JAZZ RECORDS
The debut full-length release from this Philadelphia throwback quartet is a clever and engaging album that echoes the best of '60s pop. "Greetings", the second song on the album, sounds as if it might have been lifted from RUBBER SOUL, with its silky acoustic guitar and dream-like vocals. The band wastes no time playing to its strength, as the third song, "Everybody Knows the Way", sounds as if it came straight from SGT. PEPPER'S LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND. If you're sensing a trend here, you're spot on. This disc could be the lost Beatles album. One thing that separates this from the thousand and one other Fab Four imitators is that the songwriting is good enough to really have come from our favorite Liverpudlians. Don't waste your time or money seeking out the German nightclub sessions or some rehashed Beatles greatest-hits collection: give THE A-SIDES a shot.
-Dug

THE BEST OF KEVIN K
NEW YORK, NEW YORK...
N COLD BLOOD RECORDS
Spanning nearly a decade, Kevin K has churned out some admirable rock songs. Now, with NEW YORK, NEW YORK..., the gist of an entire career is available on one single album! Containing material from seven previous records (along with an unreleased track, "Bon Voyage"), this is a must for any Kevin K fan. Saxophone and violin are also a nice addition to his signature rock sound on a couple tracks. If you are in the mood for an abundance of surly vocals, punk choruses, and soaring guitar solos, then pick this up.
-Anthony

THE BLACK MARIA
LEAD US TO REASON
VICTORY
The Black Maria is a new band comprised of former members of the outfit Zyon alongside ex Grade leader Kyle Bishop, so it's no surprise that much of the band's debut 11-track releases sounds like a more emo version of Canada's most unsung rock heroes. Sprinkling in a bevy of emo's flavor of the month band's sounds like Taking Back Sunday, Brand New, and Jimmy Eat World, inside a slew of heartfelt lyrics, soaring melodies, and cascading guitar lines, LEAD US TO REASON is nowhere near the level of Grade, yet with help from Every Time I Die vocalist Keith Buckley on "Rats in the Prison" and hooks like the ones found on the contagious "The Distance From the Bottom" and "Sirens", The Black Maria is leading the listener down the right path to a more pristine version of a bastardized genre. www.victoryrecords.com
-Mike SOS

THE BOILS
WORLD POISON
THORP
10 years later and still going strong, Philadelphia's The Boils re-release their classic disc featuring nothing but relentless punk rock. Keeping with tradition, the boys come at you with plenty of gang vocals, blisteringly fast beats, and lyrics to start your own personal punk revolution. This record is like a mix of The Unseen, The Casualties, and The Swingin' Utters (my personal favorite). This new issue features added artwork and bonus tracks for the die-hard fans to complete their collection and for the new fans to get all they can for their $12. Keep on rocking, boys.
-Zac

THE BRAVES
LOVE & MERCY
JOHANN'S FACE RECORDS
For over 15 years Johann's Face has been putting out some of the most solid indie rock Illinois has to offer. You see that li'l face on the back corner of the album, and you know you are going to get some expertly composed, well-thought-out rock. But for some reason that artistic ability has never resonated with me. Something is missing. The Braves have everything you could want. Witty lyrics and well-crafted twists and turns fill this sophomore release. It's good. They know what they're doin.
-Erika Owens

THE DEBONAIRES
DEBONAIRES
RIVERCIDAL SYNDICATE
The Debonaires bring the sounds of the Caribbean to your headphones with startling authenticity and strikingly superb musicianship, as this nine-piece band hailing from California's latest CD aptly showcase on DEBONAIRES. Containing 12 jamming tracks displaying the group's love for traditional island music and sprinkled with Hammond organ and an array of horns, songs like "Off and On Lovin'" and "Garcia Y Vega" are the perfect antidote to end a long winter's day, while the soulful delivery of tracks such as "From My Eyes" and "Left With a Broken Heart" evoke the memories of Motown favorites in addition to the rhythms of dub and dancehall. Performing the perfect music to plan a vacation from your mind by, The Debonaires portray the musical embodiment of the best island getaway you could imagine without leaving your stereo. www.thedebonaires.com
-Mike SOS

THE DECEMBERISTS
PICARESQUE
KILL ROCK STARS
Colin Meloy has an imagination that seems to endlessly stretch out and encompass all of The Decemberists' music. Alongside a countless number of instruments (all of which are beautifully arranged and dramatically appropriate for every song), PICARESQUE slides right into place as not only The Decemberists' best release to date, but also one of the best albums of the year so far. Fronting The Decemberists, Meloy has finally captured the essence of his songwriting, as he delivers avant-garde folk rock in which stories are told of barrow boys, military love, and two men fighting to the death in the belly of a whale. Simply more thoughtful than their previous two releases, Meloy and crew put on an entire play for the listener, and each new act surpasses the former. Be sure to pay them a visit on their upcoming tour. Visit www.decemberists.com for dates and info.
-Zac

THE DUCKY BOYS
THREE CHORDS AND THE TRUTH
THORP RECORDS
If you enjoy throwaway pop-punk in the vein of Simple Plan or New Found Glory, then this is quite simply a must. In the six years since their last album, apparently The Ducky Boys haven't learned any new tricks. Most of these songs sound as if they could be one long song due to the lack of tempo changes or variation. The Ducky Boys plow through this album fast, loud, and hard-almost as if they're trying to make it the finish line. Plenty of bands out there have built careers on three-chord melodies (e.g., The Ramones, The Raveonettes). This, however, just isn't working here.
-Jude Ruiz

THE END OF THE WORLD
SELF TITLED
PRETTY ACTIVITY/RISK THE ROOK RECORDS
New York-based quartet The End of the World has existed a mere two years but has already garnered an impressive amount of fanfare, as well as buzz. Their self-titled debut EP is only four tracks long, yet it's an unbelievably effective piece of indie rock. The EP's opener, "This Little Theatre", showcases the band's use of understated elements matched with their melodramatic consistencies and proves to be an ideal introduction to the group. The simplistic dramatics found on THE END OF THE WORLD only add to its overall cohesion and oddly alluring charm. Much like other bands in their illustrious genre, The End of the World tend to focus not so much on their musical diversity as on their keen talent for melodic and lyrical grace. The repetitive chord structures and sometimes monotonous pacing become insignificant in the face of the surprising potency of the finished product.
-Daniel

THE FACTORY INCIDENT
RED TAPE
POSTFACT RECORDS
The Factory Incident release REDTAPE after recording it in 2004, and since the band's debut EP in 2001 (HELMSHORE EP), the music has taken a more rugged approach. There's certainly nothing too smooth or gooey about this album. Songs like "Rail" and "Said and One" have an experimental touch to them, where the guitars and percussion crash together or come apart to make interesting rhythms. It's got charisma.
-Darren Ratner

THE FRAMES
BURN THE MAPS
PLATEAU
The Frames are an Irish rock group whose pristine delivery and heart wrenching disjointed melodies sound a bit like Coldplay, U2, and Radiohead mixed inside a pop music bubble. This 12-track release casts some interesting shadows, such as the melancholic "A Caution to the Birds" and the louder, Weezer meets Wilco "Fake" throughout the course of BURN THE MAPS, making for a pensive listening session for the lovelorn and downtrodden. If you enjoy Brit-pop with airs of calm sadness, this is a band worth exploring. www.theframes.ie
-Mike SOS

THE GIRAFFES
THE GIRAFFES
RAZOR AND TIE
The Giraffes combine the instrumental mastery of classic hard rock and the sleaze of biker-bar rock, producing fresh, ripping, modern, ass-stomping rock for the 20-something generation. It reminds me in sections of Soundgarden, but with double the balls. Guitarist Damien Paris is a god; lead vocalist Aaron Lazar is a smartass, mean mamajama packing some serious pipes; and John Rosenthal (bass) and Andrew Totolos (drums) are driving the machine with bombastic aggression. The Giraffes' songs are arranged like a well thought-out, deadly assault. Nothing but fireworks and accuracy. My pick for the first single would be "Million $ Man", a real roaster. The Giraffes have come to save rock 'n' roll, so let them.
-H. Barry Zimmerman

THE GOODWILL
INSULT, INJURY, ETC.
ABACUS
Before the apparent comparisons can be made to fellow hometown heroes Glassjaw, Taking Back Sunday, and The Movielife, just be aware that this quintet does in fact sound a lot like the aforementioned bands (criminally on vocals), but no more than any other band currently hitting the airwaves or the hearts and minds of teenage America. Don't let their hometown handicap deter you though: these guys do exhibit some solid points, one of which being their brevity, as many of the 11-tracks are under three and a half minutes, giving off an explosive vibe that few bands on the same plane can match. Tracks like the attention grabbing opener "Horseshoes and Hand Grenades" sound like a more hardcore New Found Glory, while the chunky guitars on "Your Friendly Ghost" and "So Sorry" are a welcomed change from the usual Warped Tour guitar tone. Mixing in dollops of post hardcore a la Hot Water Music into infectious chorus-driven anthems such as "The Magic 8 Ball Society" and "The Formula" allow The Goodwill to broaden beyond the Long Island punk rock tag, at least for a little while before the obligatory get out of this town sing along of "To Live and Die in LI" hits you like an errand fist in the pit at the Valley Stream VFW matinee. www.abacusrecordings.com
-Mike SOS

THE GORE-GONS
JUST STARTING TO GET UGLY
APE CALL RECORDS
With this album, you can't help but feel skeptical by just looking at it. An animated Minerva graces the album cover, and the band poses on the back cover in OR scrubs. At the very least, I assumed this music would be cheesy, if not horrible. My conjecture about the cheesiness was pretty accurate, as The Gore-Gons surf-rock songs offer stories of horror and woe. This is not necessarily bad, but it just doesn't seem to be the trend right now. And yet, I can't help but find The Gore-Gons music a little attractive, reminding me of better days, when I listened to The Aquabats and Blaster the Rocketman religiously. It's certainly fun and inspiring music-especially because I recently joined a horror surf-punk band myself. Perhaps this genre will soon become the new trend?
-Luke Skywalker

THE KIDCRASH
NEW RUINS
LUJO RECORDS
This album definitely caught me off guard, as I wasn't aware of the band prior to receiving this album for review. The easy way out here is saying that this band sounds like Engine Down meets Braid or something in that whole early indie genre. They set themselves apart though through the attempt to realize excellence. The Kidcrash combine sweet, melodic vocal hooks with vibrant drum loops and guitars that are really played to perfection. There is a clear, specific attention to detail that is emphasized on the guitar work on this album, and it is displayed on each and every track. The band also gets kudos for the artwork on the album, which is simple yet artistic. Sometimes it's just the little things that make all the difference, and The Kidcrash seem to be firm believers in that.
-David Walter

THE KNOW HOW
NOW IN TECHNICOLOR
STOMP RECORDS
Ska is not dead! At least, that's what most of the remaining ska bands would like you to think. The Know How seem fairly confident that the ska scene is still thriving. While visiting a ska Website, I even came across a banner advertisement for this new album. In terms of the quality of the composition, I would have to give MAD PROPS to these boys. You can't help but make comparisons to The Mighty Mighty Bosstones and The Hippos. So fun and so catchy. But I don't want to hype this album too much. This will not be the famous album that brings a fourth wave of ska to the masses. It's a strong effort, but NOW IN TECHNICOLOR lags in some aspects. Annoyingly, the lyrics are repetitive and rhyme too well, especially in "No One Makes It Out Alive". Still, a strong effort from this band.
-Luke Skywalker

THE MARS VOLTA
FRANCES THE MUTE
STRUMMER/UNIVERSAL
Thank god for The Mars Volta. Without bands like this, rock would be stagnant and dull. Consisting of the vocalist and guitar player from emo/hardcore greats At the Drive-In, the guitars on this album are ferocious on songs such as "Cygnus...Vismund Cygnus", which is broken into four sub-parts: "Sarcopgagi", "Umbilical Syllables", "Facilis Descenus Averni", and "Con Safo". The album is a melting pot of psychedelic rock, punk, keyboard-heavy new wave, hardcore, noises, Spanish rock, jazz, salsa, and blues. Some of the most intense songs I couldn't even understand because they are in Spanish, but they still rock. A standout track, "L' Via L' Viaquez", contains catchy yet destructive guitars layered underneath Cedric's commanding vocals. Anyone who wants to experience something musically innovative while still rocking should check out FRANCES THE MUTE.
-Joe Licavoli

THE MOANERS
DARK SNACK
YEP ROC RECORDS
Yet another rock duo has emerged. These two Southern belles (guitarist/vocalist Melissa Swingle and drummer Laura King) hail from North Carolina and belt out blues-influenced grunge in a way that Hole wishes they could have. DARK SNACK is a focused and assured work that is just coated with layers of intended dirt. Their influences range from Lynyrd Skynyrd to P.J. Harvey, and it all comes together quite well. The muddled, bare-bones production and complacent personality conveyed by Melissa is emphatically potent. Admittedly, the album DOES seem fairly ponderous near the tail end, but The Moaners dabble in redundancy like an artist dabbles in paint. I ask you to stand back and take a look at the whole portrait.
-Daniel

THE NEIN
WRATH OF CIRCUITS
SONIC UNYON
This is a very original, clever, and witty collection of experimental pop. Cohesive yet disjointed, WRATH OF CIRCUITS is like the genius work of offbeat scientists and their wacky robotic creations. Strange loops, noises, or whatever they are complement the underlying traditional pop structure, while the melodies and rhythms do their thing and cause infectious grooves and moves. One of the more interesting and exciting bands of 2005, The Nein are right there in the same league with other already-successful nouveau popsters like Franz Ferdinand and Modest Mouse. For more info, visit thenein.com.
-Norberto Gomez, Jr.

THE NOTHING
COMA POEMS
IN AT THE DEEP END
The Nothing is a UK outfit whose metal and hardcore tendencies blast out of the speakers from the opening barrage of "And the Dogs Hang Themselves with Scissors". Yeah, and there's more curious titles to accompany the blood-curdling screams, menacing rhythms, and aggravated guitar work that this quartet lunges at you with, like "Coffin Sex" and the slow grooving "I'll Be the One in the Cupboard (the one with the tie around my neck)". Taking pages from the current wave of metalcore bands from the West Coast such as Bleeding Through and Avenged Sevenfold with a decidedly riotous hardcore stance like the one found in Himsa and Darkest Hour, The Nothing's savage delivery and pummeling sonic output place this band in fine company and make for a triumphantly violent listening. www.iatde.com
-Mike SOS

THE ONCE OVER TWICE
SPECIAL MOMENTS TO DETONATE THEMSELVES
IN AT THE DEEP END
British quartet The Once Over Twice's debut disc contain spastic spurts of post hardcore brilliance, as the 12-track endeavor often dazzles the ears with muscular bass lines and luminous guitar riffs. Think Lostprophets jamming with Fugazi with a dollop of At the Drive In for a basic cross reference for this outfit who commandeered the hardcore spirit and added a healthy sum of rock 'n' roll to the equation to boot. SPECIAL MOMENTS TO DETONATE THEMSELVES is chock full of punk rock aggression, metallic melodies, and an unabashed free form vibe that few bands dare tread, and will appeal to folks that like their punk rock angular and smart. www.inatthedeependrecords.co.uk
-Mike SOS

THE ONE AM RADIO
ON THE SHORE OF THE WIDE WORLD
LEVEL PLANE
Granted, there are a couple good tracks on The One AM Radio's latest release (which happens to be remixes of songs from A NAME WRIT IN WATER)-namely, the hypnotic and lush tour de force "Under Thunder and Gale" (which has a kind of dark, depressing, moody, and sexy feel) and the dark and atmospheric, somewhat heavier "I Didn't Speak the Language"-but come on: two out of seven?! Nope, not gonna cut it when taking into consideration songs like the electronic doozies "Buried Below", "What You Gave Away", and the FABULOUSLY dance-tastic "Witness". And "Fever Dream", a droning, monotonous, way-too-long-for-its-own-good closer is just unnecessary filler, plain and simple.
-Janelle Jones

THE PHOENIX RISING
LULLABY
ACTION HEIGHTS
This Chicago quartet's debut full length offering is a breath of fresh air of sorts in the pop punk genre, even if they strictly follow the blueprint laid out by Coheed and Cambria down to the letter. Passionate and quirky, with a great depth of soul and conviction (not to mention some kick ass riffs like the ones found in "Awakening" and "Funeral Day Parade"), The Phoenix Rising is a band whose intricate songwriting and cascading melodies help them stand out above the generic ladies jeans wearing contingent. And while their obsession with sounding like Claudio and company can be grating on the nerves at times, they do it without the sci-fi banter and left of center existentialism, replaced with the heartfelt dedication and bursts of creative musicianship that will let them slide just enough until you find yourself on their side. www.actionheights.com
-Mike SOS

THE POLITICIANS
SELF-TITLED
SELF-RELEASED
Remember when punk rock was fun and it was okay if the band was catchy without being a sugar-coated pop-punk band? Well, The Politicians are bringing back those days. Running the punk-rock gamut of musical influences (from Social Distortion to The Cadillac Tramps and most notably phenomenal rockers The Clash), The Politicians combine raucous guitar lines, thundering drumbeats, and upbeat, scruffy vocals. Hailing from the land where many punk-rock bands have emerged, Orange County, CA, The Politicians throw an interesting twist to the punk-rock sound with an element of Irish drinking, sing-along backing vocals. Some of the key tracks from the band's self-released EP are "Happy Valentines Day Lover" and the hilarious, "You're Finally Dead". Check out the band's music, show dates, and get a copy of the CD through thepoliticians.net. You will not be disappointed.
-Joe Licavoli

THE PRESS
NOXIOUS SAUCY BEAST
GOODNIGHT RECORDS
It is rare for an entire band to equally share the duty of providing vocals. This experiment pays off tremendously for The Press. All three members of the band have differing voices and singing styles, and so the result is a very dynamic and varied EP. Rooted in rock, punk, and alternative, NOXIOUS SAUCY BEAST offers memorable moments of melancholy indie rock, as heard in tracks "Trade Blows" and "Fattest Pigeon". But these sections of the EP are only one piece of their multifaceted sound. The opening and concluding tracks are brash, with guitars and drums changing pace often. I'm constantly reminded of the scarcity of albums containing an ideal combination of both originality and catchiness. NOXIOUS SAUCY BEAST is a near perfect blend of both.
-Anthony

THESE ENZYMES
HENRY
DOGHOUSE RECORDS
Erratic, maniacal, chaotic...You know where this is going. Yes, These Enzymes are a CRAZY-ASS hardcore punk band. Their new EP, HENRY, is a jolt of kinetic energy. No, I don't care. Besides being a thrasher of a disc, HENRY is also meandering, predictable, and utterly pointless. There's some interesting guitar work here, in that way that unstructured...structure always tends to be interesting (for a minute.) However, These Enzymes are no Converge and seem to lack identity. They obviously have the catharsis down-now they just need some productivity.
-Daniel

THE UGLY BEATS
BRING ON THE BEATS
GET HIP RECORDINGS
Take a little bit of The B-52's, a touch of The Go-Go's, add a snippet of Devo, and you've got a pretty good idea what Austin's hottest dance-party band sounds like. On its debut CD, The Ugly Beats go to great lengths to recreate an authentic '60s garage-band sound-and do a hell of a job with it. Tracks like "I'll Walk Away", with its overarching keyboard melody, and "I'm the One", with its roiling guitars that sound like they came straight from The Kinks, give this band an infectious groove that can't be resisted. Anybody with more than two beers in them will be shaking their ass by this band's second song at a live show. On the other hand, if '60s dance music drives you crazy, don't come to this disc looking for punk or emo. These songs have the beats that real beatniks dig.
-Dug

THE UPWELLING
SELF TITLED
SELF-PRODUCED
It's a very beautiful thing when a band can have so many different things occurring simultaneously in a song and somehow make it all flow together. The Upwelling achieve this daunting task with ease on this self-produced EP. With swirling atmospheric tones and soulful melodies, The Upwelling create moody landscapes where your emotions are free to roam. Perhaps it's all a bit too appropriate for radio play, but who can blame them? They have talent, and they're choosing to put it into music for us to enjoy-regardless of the fact that the Coldplay influences are not easily hidden. The harmonies are sweet, the guitar tone is drool-worthy, and the songs themselves are just cathartic enough to get you through that fight with your girlfriend. (Don't worry, man, just send her some daisies with a nice card.)
-Zac

THE VACANCY
HEART ATTACK
A-F
Pittsburgh, PA trio The Vacancy put their punk rock wares to the test on HEART ATTACK, the outfit's debut 11-track release. And while the band dabbles in both sunny So Cal punk a la Everclear and Alkaline Trio and dirtier East Coast sounds reminiscent of Hot Water Music, there's touches of Kurt Cobain creeping in and out of songs like "Majorettes" and "Blue Eyes" both vocally and musically. Effortlessly combining grunge rock and punk on tracks like the contagious "Get Up! Get Out!" with the panache of Local H meeting Brand New, The Vacancy manages to exhibit the depth-laden songwriting of bands like Everclear and The Cars without bastardizing the aforementioned outfit's sounds. Being an emo band that rocks more than whines may sound like impossible, but The Vacancy pulls it off convincingly here. www.a-frecords.com
-Mike SOS

THE WEIRDOS
WE GOT THE NEUTRON BOMB: WEIRD WORLD VOLUME TWO 1977-1989
FRONTIER RECORDS
The Weirdos were there in Los Angeles when punk rock was an infant genre. Historically, The Weirdos is one of the West Coast founding fathers. Not as good as X or The Germs, but The Weirdos rocked with snobby middle-finger balls. Track 13, "We Got the Neutron Bomb", is an early punk-rock standard. Some of the lesser-known sides that make this collection worth your dimes are the experimental instrumental "Hey Big Oil", the chaotic freak-out of "Skateboards to Hell", a killer live version of "Barbaric Americans", and a rock solid version of Love's "7 & 7 is". The Weirdos were a band that rocked and seized the moment Hollyweird style, so check it out.
-H. Barry Zimmerman

THE-WIRELESS-STORES
HISTORIC SITE OF SCENIC BEAUTY #1
[UNSURE OF LABEL]
A little bit of everything is what comes to mind with The-Wireless-Stores. I hear rambunctious punk ("Sweet Serendipity"), emo ("Not Going Gone"), and some hints of rockabilly. HISTORIC SITE OF SCENIC BEAUTY #1 is good stuff for the rock fan who doesn't want a group that sticks to one gun. There are many triggers this band is capable of pulling, and we get to hear them all.
-Darren Ratner

THE WONDER STUFF
ESCAPE FROM RUBBISH ISLAND
INDEPENDENT RECORDS
Onetime U.K. favorites The Wonder Stuff return with their first album in 12 years. The album opens with such a promising song (the title track), which has all the feel of an instant Brit-rock classic. Then you're left wondering what the hell happened to the rest of the album. The rest of these songs fail to build into something-and this is coming from a longtime admirer of the Brit-pop genre. The verdict is that if you're already a fan of this band, then you are likely to enjoy this no matter what. For the rest of us, ESCAPE FROM RUBBISH ISLAND just ends up leaving us feeling a little high and dry.
-Jude Ruiz

THE YUPPIE PRICKS
BROKERS BANQUET
ALTERNATIVE TENTACLES
I presume The Yuppie Pricks(SUPPOSED yuppies (according to the bio), DEFINITE pricks(could be written off as just another "gimmick" band, but that would be a hasty mistake, for they play some irrefutably great, catchy punk with absolutely CRAZED, Jello Biafra-sounding vocals. Similarly, behind the (oft tasteless) humor and lyrics, there's some biting satire there, as they take stabs at California's Governator ("Hummer in My Hummer"), the grand yuppie prince George W. Bush ("Damn It Feels Good to Be a Yuppie"), and greed, all while extolling the benefits of living the yuppie lifestyle (i.e., doing coke, getting chicks, etc.). And, well, any band that covers a Damned song (yuppie-izing the classic "New Rose", calling it "New Rolls" (as in the car)) gains an instant place in my heart. It must be mentioned that they finish the album by going in a different musical direction, as they tackle hip-hop on the aforementioned "Damn It Feels Good", but they keep the mood light with the lyrics and a witty rap from the prez himself.
-Janelle Jones

THINKING ALOUD
REMOTE MIND CONTROL
LOW-RENT RECORDS
These guys remind me of a more modern, upbeat, and rocking version of The B-52's. Don't ask me how I came up with that. It's probably the singing/talking style of the lead singer in this outfit. This music makes you want to bounce up and down in the seat of your car as you are sitting in traffic on the freeway; and when you are up and about, it makes you want to jump around. That's not a bad thing, now, is it? I don't think so! Add this album to that giant stack of CDs you have sitting in the corner of your room. You'll thank me for it eventually.
-Mandadexpunk

THUNDERBIRDS ARE NOW!
JUSTAMOUSTACHE
FRENCH KISS
Immediately upon hearing JUSTAMOUSTACHE, the latest from Detroit's own Thunderbirds Are Now!, you'll notice that quite a change in songwriting has taken place since their previous release, DOCTOR, LAWYER, INDIAN CHIEF. Fortunately for us listeners, the change is good, VERY good. JUSTAMOUSTACHE is the coalescing of furious dance-punk and bold post-rock. The tracks are set up in such a manner that the listener's interest is continually renewed among a fury of dancy guitar licks and Nintendo keyboard goodness. Originality points might not be awarded here, but that's beside the point. The bottom line is that this album is fun, and we all need a little bit of that sometimes. Fans of Les Savy Fav and Tom Tom Club should eagerly await these tunes hitting their eardrums and making their booties shake. Must-hear tracks include "198090" and "Enough About Me, Let's Talk About Me". www.frenchkissrecords.com
-Zac

TOAST
ALL IN
PRO MUSIC
Spearheaded by a former guitarist for David Bowie, you can expect some left of center material from the project known as Toast. Containing 12 tracks of very different sounding songs, ALL IN tends to go over the excess level a few times, but the stellar production throughout salvages the overall vibe from spinning out of the realm of comprehension. While these musicians are well-versed and undoubtedly creative and talented, there's almost too much going on in songs like "On the Line" and "Faded" which distracts listeners from honing in on a melody or hook. While the music is stellar and the performances are commendable, ALL IN seems to be a bit inaccessible to the general consensus of music fans. www.toastcd.com
-Mike SOS

TRANSCENDENCE
NOTHING IS COHESIVE
TMG RECORDS
The third CD from this unique and unpredictable Miami-based quintet is an impressive rock masterpiece that bridges the chasm between glam rock and bands like Radiohead and Coldplay. Lead vocalist Ed Hale is an outspoken anti-war activist and an honest-to-God rock singer that has the talent to take this band in any direction he wants. At times, he sounds like Bowie; at others, you'd swear it was Lou Reed, as this very talented band works its way through songs complicated enough to make Queen proud. There are a lot of great synthesizer lines that weave their way through these songs, until Fernando Perdomo's inevitable and inescapable guitar genius brings home the melodies. This is a truly incredible album from an unbelievable band. Yeah, these guys transcend in a big way.
-Dug

TRANSISTOR TRANSISTOR
ERASE ALL NAME AND LIKENESS
LEVEL PLANE
This New Hampshire based quartet, who recorded with underground guru Kurt Ballou for their debut 11-track sojourn, skillfully walk the line between schizo punk rock and nubile screamo hardcore. ERASE ALL NAME AND LIKENESS is a rollicking, chaotic affair churning with dissonance and aggression, as the introductory one-two punch of "Kill the Head" and "And the Body Will Die" emphatically suggests. While melodic passages can be found on tracks like "Songsanstitle" and the epic closing cut "Sinking Ship Full of Optimists", most of the time, these songs are accented with bitter blasts of distortion or anguished screams. Spending time in hardcore bands gives these noise merchants a strong sense of dynamics, yet Transistor Transistor's sonic swagger falls most in line with The Bronx or Bars in terms of unloading a no nonsense rock fury. Everything from Black Flag to Every Time I Die to Amen is featured here, and in such a way that's it's impossible to ignore. www.level-plane.com
-Mike SOS

UMBRELLAS
UMBRELLAS
THE MILITIA GROUP
This is actually a very soothing album to listen to, like Mazzy Star and not quite as sullen as Portishead. This woman's voice is beautiful and intoxicating. The choruses have the occasional "pure moods" feel, which, in my opinion, can be a good thing if the listener needs to chill out and reflect. Although this entire album is reassuring and pleasant, it is not easy listening or lull-you-to-sleep stuff. The songs vary enough that it doesn't get monotonous and it doesn't sound like one of those one-track recordings of waterfalls or whales mating. There is depth and purpose to the lyrics, with the instruments complementing nicely in the background.
-Thomas Murray

UNDERCOVER SLUT
COMMUNISM IS FASCISM
APOKALYPSE RECORDS
Disclaimer: if you hate the French, be prepared for hating them even more after this review. Undercover Slut hails from Paris, the former global center of cultural and artistic activity. The French really missed the bull's eye on this record. This is techno goth rock that had the chance of being cool were this the early 1990s. The group sounds a lot like Static-X, which already makes me take points off of the listentothisband-o-meter. Do me a favor and boycott this terrible French product!
-ADF

UNIVERSAL HALL PASS
MERCURY
SNEAKY
The utter epitome of electronic girl-rock, UNIVERSAL HALL PASS is the main project of singer/songwriter Melissa R. Kaplan. No one on Earth can deny the catchiness of this recording...but I don't think anyone will be speeding over to the record store to grab it, either. Assorted drum samples and the typical beeps and boops of synths fill in the cracks of these tracks, but they're only holding together fragmented pieces of manufactured pop/rock. The disc seems very unsure of itself, like a little girl who still can't decide between being a ballerina or interior decorator (mommy is pushing for the latter). As a result, this little girl grows up prematurely and forgets her dreams, leaving her to fend for herself in a house with five kids. A little more structure, and we may have had something here.
-Zac

USURPER
CRYPTOBEAST
EARACHE
When you first pop this CD in, you hear some great guitar action followed by some very impressive heavy drumming. You can just tell this drummer knows how to work the double-pedal on his set. With chants like "Kill kill kill for metal" on "Kill for Metal", you know what this band is all about: assaulting your ears with their manic melodies. If you're a metal fan, you can't go wrong with a band like Usurper. Who can resist insane drumming accompanied by catchy guitar riffs? I know I can't!
-Mandadexpunk

VREID
KRAFT
CANDLELIGHT
This is metal band is right on the edge of being hardcore. Their music hits you hard and echoes in your head, and the lead vocals scare the shit out of you. Who would have thought a Norwegian metal band could be so frightening? There were some songs on this album I had to listen to twice, not being quite sure if they were in English or not. They're not! How do REAL metal fans listen to metal? They listen to it in a language they don't understand! But "Eldast, Utan å Gro" has a pretty bitchin lead guitar part going throughout the whole song. If you have any taste when it comes to metal, you'll want to pick this up.
-Mandadexpunk

WATERPROOF BLONDE
THE MORNING AFTER THE NIGHT BEFORE
CRASH AVENUE
Waterproof Blonde's debut LP seems to follow the three-act album structure perfectly. It's a simple enough task, and Waterproof Blonde pulls it off expertly. The first four tracks are quirky yet satisfying indie gems; the next two are disarming ballads; and the final four are perfect examples of power-pop, much in the vein of The Donnas. For the most part, THE MORNING AFTER THE NIGHT BEFORE is a bluntly straightforward work. Waterproof Blonde seems to write music that is JUST good enough to be noticed. However, the quartet (led by the lovely Rachel) make some unexpectedly interesting choices, as far as pacing and tonal structure goes, hinting at genuine talent behind the strictly pop mentality. Perhaps on later works that talent will be a made more apparent.
-Daniel

WATERSHED
THE FIFTH OF JULY
IDOL
Watershed's latest album is the perfect merger of disposable pop punk and durable '70s arena rock, as the 11-track hook laden release by these Columbus, OH natives combine the cheekiness of Fountains of Wayne with the timeless melodies of Cheap Trick. Tracks like the secretary rock feel of "Small Doses" are palatable for folks 8-80, while the singable chorus on "My Lucky Day" is reminiscent of bands like Better Than Ezra and Gin Blossoms. Despite THE FIFTH OF JULY being a solid offering, Watershed's meat and potatoes delivery rarely rises above the standard bar band fare, making songs like "Going Through the Motions" a bit more revealing than expected. www.idolrecords.com
-Mike SOS

UFK
STATE OF THE UNION
SELF-RELEASED
The NYC scene has seen trends come and go, but there are a handful of bands that have withstood the tumultuousness and are still cranking out the goods. UFK is one of those groups, and the outfit's new release, the seven-track STATE OF THE UNION, showcases the band's never say die attitude and invigorated spirit, as the boys slam down some fist-pounding, punk-infused hard rock that has as much in common with Biohazard as it does Velvet Revolver. The fist-pumping "Penalty" and the bouncy hook laden "New Beginnings" standout as examples of UFK's genre hopping mentality and crossover appeal, uniting punks, metalheads, and rockers with undoubtedly rowdy results. www.ufkweb.com
-Mike SOS

VARIOUS ARTISTS
ATTICUS...DRAGGING THE LAKE VOLUME 3
SIDE ONE DUMMY RECORDS
Well, here we are with our third compilation from the now-mainstream Atticus clothing line of Mark Hoppus and Tom Delonge of Blink 182. Once again the compilation offers enough variety and enough content (24 songs in total). You can complain that there are too many songs from too many bands that we have already heard. What happened to the days when compilations were filled with unreleased and B-side songs? With the exception of a few rare or unreleased songs on this compilation, you basically get nothing special. To me, this is just a release to make a few bucks from the trendy kids based off the Atticus name. It would make more sense if Atticus took their fame and money and poured it into releasing compilations with more unreleased material. They already make enough money off outrageous prices on T-shirts, anyway.
-David Walter

VARIOUS ARTISTS
GNARLY DUDE 2
VOLTAGE RECORDS
This is a pop-punk compilation (with some variations) consisting of bands from both the U.S.A. and the U.K. This may be one of those pay-to-play compilations, because I have never heard of any of these bands. Half the recordings sound like they were done at a cheap studio-which kind of gives the recording some flavor. There really aren't any standout tracks on this record. Overall, the album is kind of like purgatory: not really good, not really bad. Check it out if you're into punk and its different variations.
-ADF

VARIOUS ARTISTS
HOMEMADE HITS VOL.2
KITTRIDGE RECORDS
Featuring home recorded material from several talented acts, HOMEMADE HITS VOL.2 is a treat for any indie-rock fan. Ranging from dreamy vocals to female angst-ridden chants to folk-style singing, a variety of rock subgenres are representing on this compilation. Acoustic guitar and keyboards are also prominent in several tracks. Something that is striking about this disc is its clarity. The sound quality of virtually every song is superb, considering they were all home recorded. Standout tracks are the dynamic opener, "On the Road" by Golden Gram and the '80s-influenced "Kathy in Her Bedroom" by Bedroom Walls.
-Anthony

VARIOUS ARTISTS
KILLING CALIFORNIA/THE NEEDLES
MAJOR AMERIKAN LABEL
Two virtually unknown punk bands pairing up for a split may seem like a terrible idea in theory, but when two GOOD unknown punk bands team up, you have a winner. While both Killing California and The Needles still have some grounds for improvement, the chops are there. Killing California is akin to bands like Motorhead (who they cover) and contemporary hardcore band Cursed. On the opposite side of the split is The Needles, who sound almost exactly like one of my favorite garage rock bands, New Bomb Turks. The Needles throw in a Deadboys cover, for good measure. The potential for this release to go under the radar may be high, but if these bands play their cards right, a bright future may be in store for both of them.
-Ray Harkins

VARIOUS ARTISTS
NIGHT LETTERS
METEORCITY
The Hidden Hand and Wooly Mammoth have teamed together to provide a potent one-two stoner rock punch to your headphones. Up first is Wino and company, who, to no one's surprise, are found in the finest of forms, barreling through "Five Points" and "Welcome to Sunshine" with the outfit's expected weighty, viscous style in tow. After you wipe the crust from your eyes, it's time for the Kyuss meets Soundgarden stomp of Wooly Mammoth, whose two contributions to the fray, "The Prophet" and "Mastercut + Charisma", reveal the kind of sinewy grooves that should leave you utterly rocked. How's that for a way to spend 20 minutes? www.meteorcity.com
-Mike SOS

WE ARE SCIENTISTS
THE WOLF'S HOUR
SELF-PRODUCED
With a flare for energetic rock and complex rhythms, We Are Scientists have put together an EP showcasing their way of doing things. With clever lyrics like "My body is your body, I won't tell anybody, if you want to use my body, go for it", the band sets out to entertain, as well as to make you shimmy and shake to their danceable indie-rock joyfulness. The best song on the release is "The Great Escape", as its high-hat riding and buzzing guitars are reminiscent of fellow rockers Hot Hot Heat with just a dab of Ted Leo (and his little pharmacists, too). The band is without a label; however, you can get their stuff through their Website: www.wearescientists.com.
-Zac

VARIOUS ARTISTS
TRUSTKILL VIDEO ASSAULT VOL. 1
TRUSTKILL RECORDS
The most awkward wannabe VJ ever narrates these 12 videos in front of the most clichéd dank brick wall. This narration is pretty interesting, with anecdotes like Open Hand's foray into beer advertising, but personal insight and amusing stories cannot overcome the stilted, babbling delivery that strings together this sorry assortment of videos. With a roster and back catalogue as illustrious (or unfortunate) as Trustkill's, it's difficult to understand why a third of the vids come from only two bands. Bonus features include live clips from Hellfest and New England Metal and Hardcore Fest, which showcase more of the Trustkill lineup and the energy of the fans who will undoubtedly eat this up.
-Erika Owens

VARIOUS ARTISTS
VANCOUVER COMPLICATION
SUDDEN DEATH RECORDS
Get in your time machine and go back to the West Coast where Repo Man meets Valley Girls. Released originally in 1979 (on vinyl, of course), VANCOUVER COMPLICATION contains as much keyboards as guitar, and it's all very cool. This is a great listen for old and young alike. Featured are megastars like D.O.A. and The Subhumans, but the more off-the-wall, lesser-known bands are the gems here. U - J3RK5's "U J3RK5 Work for the Police" , Wasted Lives' "Wirehead", and Tim Ray & the A.V.'s "Quarter till Eight" are just a few of the fantastic moments on this 26-cut flashback extrordinaire. It's all good. You will laugh, pogo, flop, and rock out, so get on board with this one. Pure gold.
-H. Barry Zimmerman

VARIOUS ARTISTS
WITH RESISTANCE/TWENTY INCH BURIAL
STATE OF MIND RECORDINGS
I'm not sure if these band think they are hardcore or metal, but I'll tell you one thing they are: scary. I almost pissed my pants when the first song started to play. Only after I calmed myself down I was able to recognize that this was indeed a hardcore compilation. These are the kinds of bands in whose mosh pits you'd get your asses kicked (or maybe even killed). They are hard, they know it, and they can kick your ass. As far as hardcore goes, they aren't half bad. Not only is there screeching and yelling on this album, but there are some pretty nice background vocals and catchy guitar riffs. All in all, if you are hardcore fan-or someone who's just hardcore-curious-you'll like this.
-Mandadexpunk

ZZZZ
PALM READER
POLYVINYL RECORD CO.
In this ensemble led by spastic saxophone, ex-members of Sweep the Leg Johnny, Swing Kids, and Tekulvi join together for a no-wave freak-out that is like playing your old Contortions LPs at 45 rpm. This recording is like gypsy jazz and math rock, like pouring krautrock into a pool of art pop. www.polyvinylrecords.com
-Tom "Tearaway" Schulte

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