April CD Reviews (in alphabetical order)

7K
THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD
SELF-RELEASED
In its press material, 7K brags about its airplay on egghead KCRW, although it's tough to see where this band might fit on that station. They look like professional musicians, pictured here with all of their expensive musical equipment, but their sound is a muddy mixture of hard and progressive rock. This self-released CD was tightly produced by guitarist David Neil Black, and it's a pretty slick effort for such a homemade project. Though these vocals are passionate, the disc's extremely tight arrangements mostly drain the life out of these songs. A clue that this music is on the pretentious side is a song title like "Ministry of Pretense". What happened to songs about girls and cars, anyhow? -Dan MacIntosh

86 MENTALITY
GOIN NOWHERE FAST
GRAVE MISTAKE RECORDS
In agreement with 86 Mentality's record label, this album was a GRAVE MISTAKE. To give these guys credit, they stay true to their hardcore punk roots, but I can't help but question this effort. Lyrically, vocally, and musically, 86 Mentality falls short of all my expectations of a good record, let alone including anything original. Most of the record is a combination of generic punk and clichéd shouting. But hey, maybe I'm judging too harshly. GOIN NOWHERE FAST includes two live tracks, so they have that GOIN for them. -Luke Skywalker

BAD RELIGION
BAD RELIGION LIVE AT THE PALLADIUM DVD
EPITAPH RECORDS
It's been close to two-and-a-half years since I caught Bad Religion live at the Hollywood Palladium that cold November evening; but now, with this brand-new DVD, I can truly relive that unforgettable show. With over two hours of concert footage, as well as some ultra rare footage from 1980 and '82, this DVD captures the epic history of Bad Religion. Unlike past Bad Religion DVD releases, this one is shot superbly from many angles covering the huge Palladium. It also includes interviews with the band, as well as some key questions asked to Bad Religion's faithful following. Hands down the best DVD featuring Bad Religion live, and quite possibly one of the greatest music DVDs EVER! -Matt Edmund

CJ SLEEZ
BACK FROM THE BRINK
SPINERAZOR
Groomed as a cross between Courtney Love and Biff Naked, BACK FROM THE BRINK finds Canadian CJ Sleez going the "rock 'n' roll rebel" route. Emblazoned with the proper doses of attitude, fury, and defiance, songs like the unapologetic hard rock of "In the City" and the screech-a-thon "Shallow Dive" are primed for the Sunset Strip scene. With the "girls gone wild" image intact and the low-brow hard-rock in full effect on cuts like "Dirty Girl", CJ Sleez could be appearing at a strip club or go-go bar near you, as the band's Kix-meets-The Runaways sound is perfect for a night of debauchery. www.spinerazor.com -Mike SOS

CLEVIS
LAST STOP
GRIFFDOG RECORDS
If you're a fan of classic rock, the probability that you will enjoy the latest release from Huntington Beach, CA, natives Clevis is likely. With hints of punk and heaps of head-banging metal, the band roars through each track, emphasizing rough guitar riffs, prominent percussion, and strong, blazing vocals. A notable track, "Last Stop", consists of a genuine richness of chords and composition, along with outstanding vocal strength carried out by lead vocalist Craig Hale. The album is consistently similar to most metal/rock compilations to date; but what sets LAST STOP apart is the exceptional quality of the sound and the professionalism put into the production. If you need to let out some aggression, turn on the latest release from Clevis, and let the moshing begin. -Amy June

CLOSET MONSTER
WE REBUILT THIS CITY
UNDERGROUND OPERATIONS
All I have to say is that the members of Closet Monster are lucky that I listen to an entire album when I'm reviewing it, because I just might be able to save their careers. Hidden in this EP of loud, annoying songs that sound like Sum 41 with background singers barking along is one minute and 20 seconds of brilliance. "The Empire Strikes Iraq" is a moving acoustic ballad that shows true heart and a band that could make it if they dropped the guitar-and-screaming attack and turned their focus to tracks that sound more like Against Me and Justin Sane. What this act needs to understand is that the loudest voice isn't always the one heard the most. -Jeff Srack

COBRA NOIR
ABODE OF THE DEAD
CYCLOP MEDIA
Although I don't have much respect for Canada, they have recently been the home to many good hardcore bands. With the recent release of ABODE OF THE DEAD, I have to include Cobra Noir as one of them. This quintet of Canucks truly know their hardcore. In songs like "Road to Ruins" and "Herald of Disaster", they stay true to simple hardcore punk, yet include ferocious screaming. On the last track, "This Is the Death of Man", Cobra Noir leave you with an authentic metal ballad lasting an epic seven minutes, proving their worth and closing this respectable debut album. -Luke Skywalker

CRAFT
FUCK THE UNIVERSE
SOUTHERN LORD
Swedish black-metal clan Craft get their message across quite bluntly on the 11-track FUCK THE UNIVERSE. The band have vowed that this is their last release, and they've succeeded in laying down an intentionally raw collection of tracks as a resonant parting blow. From the gargled vocals and mid-paced monster riff of "Demonspeed", the traditional rapid-fire guitars and drums that open "Xenophobia" (coupled by the gurgled vocal "I hate you all"), and the dastardly energetic title cut, the unit dug deep into their collective experience and influences, resulting in a black-metal album bursting with evil yet catchy tunes appealing to the darker side. By summoning up all the nastiness they could muster, Craft's swan song stands proud as an offering chock full of misanthropic metallic bliss. www.southernlord.com -Mike SOS

DAYLIGHT DIES
DISMANTLING DEVOTION
CANDLELIGHT
Doom-metal act Daylight Dies get their gloom on with DISMANTLING DEVOTION, the band's latest, eight-track endeavor, which is well-measured yet merciless. "A Life Less Lived" runs eight minutes and never gets dull, as the band's mid-tempo mauling is accentuated by meticulous fretwork; while the hypnotic trance that "Solitary Refinement" lulls into is enriched by dreamy vocals and prog-rock flare—all while keeping the beat as melancholic as humanly possible. Ushering a deliberately somber tone that borders on the foreboding nature reserved for bands like Opeth, tracks like the pristinely depressing "All We Had" and the title track (an instrumental with an astonishing guitar tone) should come equipped with a warning label and a few Prozac. Making mope metal intriguing is where this North Carolina troupe ultimately succeeds, placing themselves amongst Paradise Lost, Katatonia, and Anathema as torchbearers of the downtrodden metal contingent. www.candlelightrecordsusa.com -Mike SOS

DEAD SOUL TRIBE
THE DEAD WORD
INSIDE OUT MUSIC
Initially, I felt like I was listening to Tool or Perfect Circle—and this feeling continued throughout the listening experience. Dead Soul Tribe doesn't seem to have enough power hiding behind its rantings of abstract poetry. I guess that's why more of us probably know more about Tool than we do Dead Soul Tribe—even though this is DST's fourth album. However, this disc is respectable in many ways, with a sound sometimes like a bunch of metal guys confused at a drum circle; and sometimes it's just some decent music you might like to perk your ear up to and take in. DST is well worth a hard listen. -Thomas Murray

DECAPITATED
ORGANIC HALLUCINOSIS
EARACHE
Polish death-metal troupe Decapitated return with yet another blistering, progressive collection. This seven-track disc is stocked with tumultuous time-signature changes that intertwine brutal machine-gun guitars, pummeling drums, and intriguing songwriting intricacies (the most notable trait of this quartet). With a style that falls somewhere between the anthemic metallic bite of Machine Head and the technical savvy of Meshuggah, tracks like "Post (?) Organic" grind and groove, leaving the listener wanting more. Ultra-heavy, incessantly in your face, and above all commanding a strong sense of evil, this disc is one of the finest death-metal servings you can help yourself to and is recommended for those who enjoy groove-laden, no-holds-barred death-metal goodness. www.earache.com -Mike SOS

DERITA SISTERS
GET OFF MY PROPERTY
TRASH 2001 RECORDS
With GET OFF MY PROPERTY, Derita Sisters reveal their Southern California roots from the very start. This CD opens with an instrumental track called "The Angle of the Dark", which is a fast, tight tune that brings Bad Religion to mind. The CD's title song preaches ethnocentrism, as its lyric complains about a neighbor that is a little too white trash for the neighborhood's tastes. The CD cover pictures an animated redneck-looking fellow with a corncob pipe, a shotgun, and a strong bottle of hooch. It leads one to believe that the title number is actually an example of white trash on white-trash anger. The selection "Girls Gone Wild" bemoans the whole amateur titty-video trend. I guess there are a few punk rockers aren't pornheads, after all. -Dan MacIntosh

DERITA SISTERS
PLANET OF THE ISLE APES/GET OFF THE DOLE: SOUVENIR OF WASTED 2005 LIMITED EDITION OF 77
KOTUMBA RECORDS
This limited-edition CD is illustrated by an ape clubbing Margaret Thatcher, a British flag included in the background. Derita Sisters, however, aren't from merry old England; they are an L.A. band. Lyrically, these players couldn't be further from the classic punk-rock era. Whereas many of the first British punk bands complained about the government and the lack of jobs, Derita Sisters tell slackers to "Get off the Dole" and get a job. They're hardly conservatives, however, as "Fascist Dictator" takes jolting jabs at George W. Bush. This CD includes live tracks, as well as too much talking between songs. Even though the group quotes Spinal Tap at one point, a little more music and a lot less chatter would have been far better. -Dan MacIntosh

DOOM KOUNTY ELECTRIC CHAIR
CUBAN HEALED KILLERS
PERSUASION/INDEPENDENTS ANONYMOUS
No one EVER covers anything from The Damned's much-maligned but totally awesome second album, MUSIC FOR PLEASURE, but Doom Kounty Electric Chair whip out none other than "Stretchercase Baby" on CUBAN HEALED KILLERS—and thus garner my deepest respect. These guys raucously celebrate their wonderful roots on this track, as well as on some tracks from the HOMICIDE EP, the second disc included in this cool release, which features covers of 999 (from whence the EP gets its name), Misfits, and Tom Petty, as well as two DKEC standbys. As for the CUBAN HEALED KILLERS LP (a reissue from 2002), it's pretty bad-ass. These guys definitely know how to write high-caliber tough, dark, meaty, rock 'n' roll-drenched punk in the Damnation/New Bomb Turks mold. Highlights include "Low", "Kill", and "Misery". -Janelle Jones

DOZER
THROUGH THE EYES OF HEATHENS
SMALL STONE
The earthshaking tones of Sweden's Dozer are back with full force on the quartet's most recent release, the 10-track THROUGH THE EYES OF HEATHENS. Fleshing out their Hessian blend of stoner rock with a plethora of hard-rock histrionics and desert-rock debauchery, songs like "Blood Undone" and the groove-laden "Man of Fire" contain grungy nuances and garage rock's fuzziness, which further accentuate the band's already mammoth sound; while "Days of Future Past" knocks you on your ass with a loud/soft dynamic that evokes Soundgarden or Alice in Chains at their grittiest. Versatile enough to execute brooding slow-burners like "Until Man Exists No More" with the same expertise as they do the chunky riffs on "Drawing Dead", this disc is an essential purchase for the hard-rock fan whose eclectic palate enjoys fare way beyond Godsmack. www.smallstone.com -Mike SOS

DPI
DRUNKIN PUNKIN IDIOTS
SELF-RELEASED
The name pretty much sums up what you are going to find on this disc: super sloppy punk rock with silly, juvenile lyrics. The music sounds like it's been inspired lyrically by GG Allin, while musically it sounds a little bit like Black Flag or Dead Kennedys. I will have to admit that in the right situations this music may be appealing, but I can't see myself listening to this album more than two times. It's as if they attempted too hard to be "punk" by singing so off-key and at obnoxious volumes. I question how serious these guys are about making music. Possibly this album was only meant to be passed around a circle of friends. If that's the case, how the hell did SKRATCH get this? -Matt Edmund

EASTERN YOUTH
365-STEP BLUES
FIVE ONE
Proving that music is truly the universal language, Japanese power-punk trio Eastern Youth's latest, 12-track endeavor finds the outfit embracing the traits of bands like Jimmy Eat World, Nirvana, and Fugazi (who this band is often compared to in the Land of the Rising Sun). Tracks like the exemplary loud/soft movements found on "A Moonlit Lamb", the driving "One-Way Ticket Song", and the angst-ridden yet harmonic "Summer Shine" sound huge despite having only three musicians at the helm. And disregard the fact that the lyrics are sung entirely in Japanese, because emotional involvement is easily communicated between audience and singer Hisashi Yoshino, thanks to his passionate vocal delivery and Western phrasings. If you're down for an indie-rock adventure with a twist, Eastern Youth has got quite a body of work ready for you to sink your teeth into. www.fiveoneinc.com -Mike SOS

ELIJAHFELL
SKYLINE
SELF-RELEASED
SKYLINE had the most straightforward rock of all the albums I received this month. That's not a bad thing. After being surrounded by some seriously artsy bands, it's sometimes nice to come back to simple rock 'n' roll. SKYLINE had great vocals and instrumentation that helped flesh out the emotional rock of this young Orange County band. The sound on this release could easily be compared to Further Seems Forever or (probably even more so) Switchfoot. Considering how well both of those bands have done, that's not bad company. –Josh

ENLOW
THE RECOVERY
BLOOD & INK
Nine tracks of well-measured, positive hardcore is what this Oklahoma quintet deliver on THE RECOVERY. Falling somewhere between Thursday, Boysetsfire, and Killswitch Engage, tracks like "Calling Out the Oppression" combine elements of chest-beating screamo, new American metal chug, and bruising hardcore vocals. With this along with a keen ear for melody, tracks like "Confronting the Malice Tongue" and "Stand Up and Face Your Fears" allow both sing-alongs and fancy mosh-pit dance moves, making happy campers out of all the scenesters. www.bloodandinkrecords.com -Mike SOS

EXENE CERVENKA & THE ORIGINAL SINNERS
SEV7EN
NITRO RECORDS
Founding member of old-school punk band X, Exene Cervenka teams up here with St. Louis, MO's The 7 Shot Screamers to record a second Original Sinners disc. Fans of X and The Knitters (a folkish X offshoot originally formed in the '80s) will definitely enjoy the fast-paced roots rock on this disc. I really liked the cover of The Gun Club's "Ghost on the Highway" (although it's not as hauntingly sad as the original). And the slide guitar on "Down Where It's Down" was excellent and put me a little bit in mind of Duane Allman. The acoustic "Lonesome War" also immediately grabbed me, with its dark, spare melody and poetic lyrics. But the latter is hardly surprising, given that Cervenka has published several books of poetry over the years; and the songs she wrote for X always had evocative, striking lyrics. -tekolote

FOURTH ROTOR
PLAIN
UNDERGROUND COMMUNIQUE RECORDS
After giving PLAIN the required run-through, I came to the conclusion that this record is just PLAIN annoying. Any listener will come to this same conclusion by track 2, "Price of Buying", where the lyrics are nonsensical claptrap. With the exception of a few fun punk songs (like the last track, "New Time"), Fourth Rotor is just a run-of-the-mill punk band with redundant music. To their credit, they do show some intuitiveness both musically and vocally with different arrangements; yet, despite the band's uniqueness, this is nothing to be sought out. -Luke Skywalker

GADFLY
FORGOT TO STAND
INVISIBLE MASS RECORDS
White guys playing ska-influenced rock in California are bound to be forever compared to Sublime—whether that comparison is valid or not. Gadfly won't escape it, as the trio uses ska and dub influences to compile the party anthems comprising FORGOT TO STAND. Not being from California, I don't have a clue how the ska scene is doing there these days, but a decade ago, Gadfly may have had some national success. That said, I bet they do a lot of bar shows. FORGOT TO STAND is nothing more than a good soundtrack to a fun, relaxed time. Beyond that, Gadfly doesn't do anything particularly refreshing. -David Barker

GALLUCCI
SOCA PUNK!
DIEPUNKDEATH
Confusion about Gallucci will eternally reign after listening and researching this band. You're left asking yourself, "Is this a joke? Are you serious?" Musically, this band is absolute chaos, as they create a mixture of grindcore and rock, trying to come across as art. Professionally, Gallucci is a trainwreck. On their disastrous Website, the band claims, "We recorded this album purely because we wanted to find band members." So why am I wasting my time? Well, it's my job as a SKRATCH writer to look at all material objectively...but this has to be the biggest piece of wasted plastic to ever enter my mailbox. Avoid this band. -Luke Skywalker

GREEN CARNATION
ACOUSTIC VERSES
THE END RECORDS
What do you get when you pull the plug on a death-metal band? Well, ACOUSTIC VERSES by Green Carnation may hold a few of the clues. This disc finds vocalist Kjetil Nordhus singing longingly, oftentimes with empathetic backing choruses. Instead of screaming guitar lines, quiet acoustic guitars are the most common instrumental element here. Added to these are violin and viola, which give these tunes a classical feel. One also hears mellotron and theremin, which spices things up even more. For instance, theremin makes "Maybe?" come off especially spooky. The overall emotion here is one of sadness. They may have taken a hard-rock road to get here, but these musicians are in Nick Drake territory in this instance. -Dan MacIntosh

GREGOR SAMSA
55:12
THE KORA RECORDS
A tranquil wave ascends over cleverly-plucked guitar strings throughout Gregor Samsa's much-anticipated full-length release, 55:12. The foursome gracefully mesh guitar, violin, drums, and vocals, causing each unique sound to come across as one beautiful creation. In "Even Numbers", one can imagine walking in a valley then breaking through the finish line with a running pace as the distinctive beat slows, then speeds. An almost mechanical quality is heard under the simplistic, raw notes, creating a feeling of edginess and rebellion. An airy tone along and mellow mindset combine with creative lyrics in "Young and Old", as the listener is asked to reminisce over time passed. After two past stellar releases, Gregor Samsa lives up to high expectations. -Amy June

HIRETSUKAN
END STATES
G7 WELCOMING COMMITTEE
Hiretsukan is authentic New York hardcore, but they veer away from what typical hardcore sounds like. END STATES embodies this unique sound. This veteran group makes chaotic hardcore sound sensible and melodic. Lyrically, it is understatement to say the group is politically-charged. Whatever your political affiliations, you can't help but sympathize with whatever Hiretsukan sings, as lyrics are poetically screamed. Propaganda? Brainwashing? All I know is that I'd jump off the bridge if they told me to. It's just that good. -Luke Skywalker

HONEYHANDER
WOOLLY MANNERISMS
SAF RECORDS
On the first track of this CD, the music really drew me in right away. It had a driving synth-based rhythm that was very catchy and interesting at the same time. The problem is, when the vocals came in, they instantly reminded me of some kind of mix between Marilyn Manson and Metric. They were shrouded in effects, mostly incoherent, and actually took away from the overall feeling of the album. Listen to this CD for the dreamy pop music, not the vocals. Maybe Honeyhander should consider becoming an instrumental band. -Josh

HONG KONG SIX
HONG KONG SIX
ARES RECORDS
Hong Kong Six has created a pure rock album. With much skepticism, I ended up really enjoying this 10-song debut by six Orange County natives. From the beginning to the very end, any listener will be enthralled by this perplexing mix of music styles. Indie rock blended with melodic pop, this sextet offers variety, always with surprising positive results. The vocals are equally engaging, as a duality of male and female vocals come into play. At times, the harsh male vocals create chaos, while the singing sirens bring you back to the songs' beauty—always with agreeable results. This album is a necessity for any indie-rock enthusiast. -Luke Skywalker

HOSTAGE LIFE
SING FOR THE ENEMY
UNDERGROUND OPERATIONS
While this EP is two years old, it is being reviewed at the right time, because the band's new album is tentatively scheduled to be released on April 18th; and if this six-song set is any preview of what's to come, then buy that album immediately. While this political street-punk act isn't going to set the world on fire with their originality, they will get punk fans pumping their fists and jumping into the nearest mosh pit. There is a good chance that we will look back at 2006 and remember it as the year Hostage Life became one of the great punk bands. I know I will have my eye on them. -Jeff Srack

HUMAN TELEVISION
ALL SONGS WRITTEN BY: HUMAN TELEVISION
GIGANTIC
Human Television seemingly remembers when pop music was a less-intricate animal on this Florida outfit's seven-track disc. Here we find four guys with an '80s-college-rock fetish going for it full throttle sans a net. Songs like the fast-paced slickness of "Automobile" and the jangly "Saw You Walking By" sound like the two hit singles from the next John Cusack flick. If you've worn out your early REM records and need something new to gnaw on, this EP should hold you over until the quartet's new album drops. www.giganticmusic.com -Mike SOS

KABANG
DEGENERATION
TRIBRO RECORDS
Based out of Orlando, Kabang releases its second album to follow up 2003's EQUILIBRIUM. This isn't a terribly heavy album, but more along the lines of some low-key Godsmack. The most powerful song is the last, "7 Reasons". The fact that it is acoustic confirms my earlier suspicions that this band is better when not metal. Their metal isn't mean enough to carry their message, vibe, whatever. Their sound seems excessively slow and without the crunch and attitude that gives great heavy music its power. This band seems lost and confused (but some listeners like that). -Thomas Murray

KIMYA DAWSON
REMEMBER THAT I LOVE YOU
K RECORDS
Barely-there instruments and simple lyrics help define REMEMBER THAT I LOVE YOU with a very folksy sound that is reminiscent of Daniel Johnston at times. In some cases, the vocal melodies are so simple that they're hardly noticeable, making some of the songs sound almost spoken-word. It does take a bit of getting used to. I started getting into it about halfway through and especially enjoyed the song "Underground". That said, this is a fun album with a slew of quirky and cute songs that made me smile—which, according to Kimya's one-sheet, is her only real objective. I guess it worked. -Josh

LAKE OF FALCONS
LAKE OF FALCONS
BEEP REPAIRED
Northwestern trio Lake of Falcons play the kind of music Fugazi would if they had gone shoegazing, as this 13-track collection straddles the line between mopey indie rock and slightly anguished post-hardcore. "Another Mutated Doll" acts as a prime example of how this unit's dream sequencer goes awry, as the initial lush arrangement gives way to a thunderously swirling middle section before calming back into the trippy groove. Channeling as much Pearl Jam as Paw and summoning the ghosts of both Quicksand and Hum, songs like the bouncy "Black and Beige" and the caustic "Big Sam" sounds as if two entirely different bands contributed to this disc—and this versatile clan wouldn't want it any other way. If you yearn for a potpourri of punk with chunks of indie rock, check this disc out. www.beeprepaired.com -Mike SOS

LINE OF FIRE
LINE OF FIRE
TRIBUNAL RECORDS
North Carolina's Line of Fire can really play their instruments and lead singer Shawn Pelala can sing, but it's more about what Line of Fire is singing and playing. This band could tour the world playing songs from Journey, Point Blank, etc. LINE OF FIRE would have done okay in the era of earliest MTV, but today that boat has sailed. So, Line of Fire, learn the Loverboy catalog, and lots of luck. -H. Barry Zimmerman

LINEA 77
AVAILABLE FOR PROPAGANDA
EARACHE
With a name like Linea 77, seems we're in for some streetpunk, right? On the contrary: this long-running Italian band's latest is some hit-or-miss rock-infused melodic hardcore. The 12-song album actually starts out pretty strong, as the first song, "Fist", is quite impressive and hard-hitting; but from here on in, it's a rather uneven listen. There are some others that hit the mark—the powerful "Charon", the frenetic "Sleepless", "Squeal", and "Lost in a Videogame" with its stomping choruses and sorta nu-metal vibe—but then there are a bunch of mediocre tracks, like "ADHD" and "Rotten mouth and Broken Arm". -Janelle Jones

MEMBRANE
UTILITY OF USELESS THINGS
BASEMENT APES INDUSTRIES
A bunch of French guys called Membrane play this really heavy, noisy brand of rock recalling Neurosis, Botch, and Dillinger Escape Plan. The six tracks on UTILITY OF USELESS THINGS are a testament to heavy music, with lots of breakdowns; searing, chugging guitar work; and guttural vocals. As a non-metalhead, I can't really give any more details than that. My experience with metal fans has shown me that it's not so much whether a band is distinguishable or not, it's that the music is performed well. Membrane fits that ethos. While a lot of these kinds of bands sound the same to me, I can tell that these guys definitely know what they're doing. -David Barker

NEBULA
APOLLO
LIQUOR AND POKER
"If it ain't broke, don't fix it," the old adage declares, and no one knows this better than space-cadet rock troupe Nebula, whose fourth full-length release continues the mission to meld spacey blues jams into your consciousness. Containing 14 tracks of well-done hard rock, tracks like the acidic one-two combo of "Fever Frey" and "Lightbringer" showcase why this trio is lauded as the galaxy's reigning dirty-boogie champions and why stoner rock fans everywhere rejoice over instrumental gold such as "Trapezium Procession" and fawn over the fuzzy fretboard magic on "The Eagle Has Landed". Procuring the art of the tasteful jam while providing contagious riffs like the ones in "Ghost Ride" and "Fruit of My Soul", Nebula's latest offers few surprises, yet yields massive results for anyone that wants to join the tune in and burn-out brigade. www.liquorandpokermusic.com -Mike SOS

NEW ESTATE
CONSIDERING...
KITTRIDGE RECORDS
Aussie four-piece New Estate is making some interesting, odd, and beautiful indie-rock music. Guitarists/songwriters Mia and Marc have penned some top-of-the-line songs. In the songwriting and tones, I hear the influence of Pavement, The Flaming Lips, and The Velvet Underground. I dig that weirdo jive, so I dig New Estate. Some of the standout sides include "Free Sherry", "Learning Zone", and "Dream Planner". CONSIDERING... could be the beginning of something big. New Estate have the chops to be big in the underground rock scene. -H. Barry Zimmerman

NIGHTMARE
THE DOMINION GATE
CANDLELIGHT
Flying under the American radar for nearly two decades, French metalmongers Nightmare have come with sword in hand, ready to overtake your power-metal collection with full force. Sharing the musical prowess of bands like Blind Guardian, Kamelot, and Helloween, this 13-track metal tour de force has all of the nuances that a proper traditional metal album should, such as humungous-sounding drums, interlocking guitars and keyboards, and a high-pitched vocal wail that evokes the likes of Dio and Dickinson. Additionally, tracks such as "Messenger of Faith" and "Taste of Armageddon" feature a guest vocal by angelic Floor Jansen from After Forever. Chances are that if you're heavy into the guitar gallop and hanker for the heavy-metal histrionics associated with power metal, this offering is something you need to get your hands on. www.candlelightrecordsusa.com -Mike SOS

NO TRIGGER
CANYONEER
NITRO RECORDS
CANYONEER is the second full-length release from this New England-based quintet, which has managed to become popular in both Japan and the U.S. simultaneously. I'm not sure what aspect of the music particularly touches the Japanese soul. Maybe the ecological themes? The band plays straightforward, radio-friendly, punkish hardcore with lyrics that actually include the word "centigrade," bringing back to me unpleasant memories of junior-high science class. I can forgive them for that easily enough, but maybe not for being so middle of the road musically. No Trigger is Tom Rheault—vocals and acoustic guitar; Mike Ciprari—drums and tambourines; Tom Ciesluk—bass; Mike Przygoda—guitar and keyboard; and John Strader—guitar. -tekolote

OBJECT
THE MIRROR WORLD
VELCRO KITTY
NYC tandem Object may get the obvious comparisons to White Stripes, but aside from the one guy singing and strumming and one girl bashing the kit, this dynamic duo's five-track disc emits a lot more than the obligatory. Demonstrating Jeff Buckley's soul, Kurt Cobain's scream, and Billy Corgan's twisted melodies, tracks like "Fooled" and "Walk Away" have got the '90s alt-rock rage tightly packaged and compressed into memorable nuggets that pop into your head at the most random times. The sleigh-bell effect and fancy fretwork that open up "Open Sores" help this track ring out the loudest. Object has done the most with the least on THE MIRROR WORLD, making a compelling release along the way that rockingly resonates with the ghosts of rock radio's not-so-distant past. www.objectband.com -Mike SOS

ODIORNE
HEAVY WISH
FILE THIRTEEN RECORDS
If Odiorne reminds you of Mercury Rev, it's for good reason: Jimy Chambers began this act as a side project before leaving Mercury Rev in 1998. In addition to his musical credentials, this CD also sports members of Mercury Rev and Longwave. Like Mercury Rev, this is highly orchestrated rock music. Along with the expected guitar, bass, and drums, there is plenty of keyboard and horns. Chambers has a light and airy voice, but songs such as "The Diver" still manage to work up a head of passionate steam. There's also a touch of Radiohead running through this music, especially with what sounds like radio static during "Webs Without Maps". Fans of Mercury Rev or The Flaming Lips might find Odiorne good fit. -Dan MacIntosh

OF GRAVES AND GODS
SLIT THROAT ANDROMEDA
CANDLELIGHT
New Mexico is known for its picturesque, serene desert landscapes lined with cactus and mountains, but this quartet aim to change this perception with this corrosive, 11-track endeavor. From the brazen Machine Head-like title track that opens the disc, the listener is propelled into a furious metalcore spin that pounds through your cranium without a shred of remorse. While much of what these guys do is a bit overdone these days, the guitar browbeatings, roaring bestial growls, and incessant jackhammering rhythms showcase a vicious streak not unlike Himsa or Hatebreed at their most metallic. A bit contrived in the songwriting department but genuinely crushing, this disc fits in smack dab in the middle of the second stage of Ozzfest. www.candlelightrecordsusa.com -Mike SOS

ONE DEAD THREE WOUNDED
PAINT THE TOWN
1X1
Philadelphia's One Dead Three Wounded's scalding metalcore attack is flavored chunks of Southern-fried metal, helping the quintet to sound a lot like the bastard child Every Time I Die and Pantera. On this 12-track, skull-crushing serving, you can hear the bones breaking in the pit from the breakdown on "Thank God for Painkillers", but there's also a discernibly melodic side found on tracks like the fist-pumping, gang-chorused, chug-a-thon of "Regret" that yields comparisons to both Hatebreed and Killswitch Engage. Intertwining hardcore's rage with metal's fretboard finesse, "Eight Dollar Prom Dress" sound s like the band studied its Darkest Hour discs to death, yielding the finest moment on the disc. A metallic, genre-bending affair, PAINT THE TOWN will have you running amuck in the pit, ready to throw down with anyone who gets in your path. www.1x1music.com -Mike SOS

PARTISAN
THE GOTHIC AND THE GOSPEL
REASON Y RECORDS
Not only is the idea of seven bandmates a unique concept, the meshing of a variation of musical genres and sounds aid in the extensive range of the debut album from Atlanta's Partisan. The root of THE GOTHIC AND THE GOSPEL centers on a screamo-rock atmosphere, with branches reaching into raspy indie downbeats. The album slightly taps into a jazz-laced melody in "The Method", a surprising contrast to the strong vocals (which at times overpower the underappreciated Latin/Afro instrumental blends throughout each track). Listen for the distinct sax and harp additions in "The Partisan", a rare combination mixed to near perfection. Open your ears to the innovative sound of THE GOTHIC AND THE GOSPEL, a distinctive album worthy of a listen—or maybe two. -Amy June

RHAPSODY
LIVE IN CANADA 2005-THE DARK SECRET
MAGIC CIRCLE
Live albums always seem a bit too overindulgent or issued just to fulfill contract obligations, but somehow Rhapsody's live offering transcends this. Perhaps it works in part due to the Canadian audience's insane reaction to the overtly-cinematic Italian metal troupe's appearance, or maybe it's just the group's over-the-top performance. Whatever the case, this 11-track disc does the job. With an unapologetically theatrical musical direction (half Broadway, half metal show) and a plethora of lush orchestration, choral chants, and clichéd metal devices (the best being the lead singer's banter from the stage—in French, no less), Rhapsody may sound like somewhat of a joke to those who don't understand this particular genre of metal or who take Spinal Tap to heart...but at least Canada gets it, eh? www.magiccirclemusic.com -Mike SOS

RYAN'S HOPE
APOCALYPSE IN INCREMENTS
PUNKNEWS RECORDS
Chicago-based trio Ryan's Hope mixes hardcore, metal, and punk for a sound that is similar to some of the radio-friendly hardcore bands you've no doubt heard, BUT minus the typical hardcore screaming vocals. This is the group's second full-length release since starting up in 2002. Band members are Terry Morrow on guitar and vocals, Nick McLenighan on bass, and Greg Alltop on drums. I liked "My Motivation: Your Demise" for its poppy hooks and the metal guitar on "The Carpathian" and "Majority". Morrow's vocals are assured and strong throughout, and the rest of the band's playing is tight and energetic. –tekolote

SATARIEL
HYDRA
CANDLELIGHT
Yes, Satariel is yet another Swedish black-/death-metal troupe whose latest collection is the first formal glimpse America gets of the quintet. These 10 tracks utilize a number of different devices, such as acoustic guitars and female vocals on "Claw the Clouds", some Opeth-esque ethereal projections on "Vengeance Is Hers", and machine-gun guitarwork on "The Freedom Fall", creating an enriching atmosphere not unlike Nevermore when ultra-heavy or Paradise Lost when more melodic. Intertwining well-structured goth, blistering thrash, and a mysterious aura into a cavalcade of pristine metal, Satariel's latest will please those looking for something between Nightwish and Arch Enemy. www.candlelightrecordsusa.com -Mike SOS

SHOPLIFTING
BODY STORIES
KILL ROCK STARS
Yes, for those of us keeping track, Kill Rock Stars has released albums for Elliott Smith. Don't let that knowledge skew your perception of what Shoplifting's BODY STORIES might sound like. Rather than channeling the ghost of Mr. BALLAD OF BIG NOTHING himself, Shoplifting steer more in the direction of such bands as The Yeah Yeah Yeahs or Erase Errata. BODY STORIES is a jagged, disjointed jaunt through new wave and punk stylings with lyrics that address such issues as sexual violence and politics of all sorts. This release isn't really my cup of tea, but I'd probably be all over it if I were into any of the aforementioned bands. -Josh

SINCE THE DAY
EL ENSAJERO NO ES IMPORTANTE
TRIBUNAL RECORDS
Right from the get-go, this band is heavy and thick with psychotic-sounding screams. The guitars ring with feedback buzz that occasionally resets itself with the crunch of a few power chords. Once you get used to their strategically aggressive sound, your mind may start to wander. This band can introduce you to some strange energy hidden within their chords and chanting choruses. There are some definite death-metal influences combined nicely with more modern hardcore sounds. I got to thinking about the older kids who used to be mean to me and how I'd hurt myself on purpose and pretend that it was them. I also refused to go out in public for at least six hours. I was too confused to face anyone. There is some disturbing provocation waiting patiently here, if you want it. -Thomas Murray

STREET BRATS
SEE YOU AT THE BOTTOM….
FULL BREACH KICKS
I was under the impression that Street Brats were more along the lines of streetpunk acts like Blanks 77. So imagine my surprise upon hearing more of a pop-punk (yet still tough) Screeching Weasel vibe in this Chicago-based band's sound. Yeah, Street Brats prove a tight, melody-driven band on SEE YOU AT THE BOTTOM…. One great feature found throughout the 10-song album is the wonderful vocal harmonies that elicit visions of the Brats playing a packed, sweaty dive with stage-rushing kids grabbing hold of the mic. Anyway, though the album is quite impressive (check out the Generation X "English Dream"-sounding "I Remember" (Eerily, both songs come at the seventh track on their respective albums)), none of the songs can rival the opening out-of-control blast "Seventy-Seven Fallen Angels", which is just PHENOMENAL. -Janelle Jones

STRUCKDOWN
REVOLUTION
INDIANOLA
I've got to call bullshit on these guys. Please don't waste my time with boasts that claim you want people to reevaluate themselves and their surroundings with your five lines of lackluster lyrics that fail to scratch the surface of society's woes. We're talking broad strokes here, like when a 10-year-old writes a letter to the White House. Sonically, this type of old-school hardcore is just as adolescent, with each song being nothing more than a minor variation of the last. Most disappointing is the rhythm-section mix. The kicker sounds like it's beating a plastic trashcan, and the bass suffers from a nasty death rattle. For next time, I suggest rationing less money for packaging and more for a decent producer. -Chris Hrobak

SUZUKI SMITH
WIFE BEATER
SELF-RELEASED
Who says you need to be on a record label to make your mark on music? WIFE BEATER is a perfect example of good ole three-chord punk rock put out by a group of guys who obviously love making music. The lyrics are quite funny in some of the tracks, like "Get Out! Get Out! (Jonny's Song)" and "Hindu in America", yet they remain intelligent. I really liked listening to this album due to its rawness, something not found in a majority of new music today. You can check out more from Suzuki Smith at www.suzukismith.net or www.myspace.com/suzukismith. -Matt Edmund

SWEARING AT MOTORISTS
LAST NIGHT BECOMES THIS MORNING
SECRETLY CANADIAN
If the newly-released indie-rock compilation LAST NIGHT BECOMES THIS MORNING does one thing, it speaks the truth. As the solid vocals hauntingly drift over the rise and fall of the melody in "Waterloo Crescent", the listener is able to grasp each word, appreciating the phenomenal lyrics. The sense of ambition and drive seethe out of the powerful sound penetrating each beat of an album that can be valued by people of all ages. In "Timing Is Everything", horns, percussion, and guitar blend evenly to create an instrumental swim up the current of music-making at its finest. Swearing at Motorists is the band that should have already made it and the band that you will hear once and never forget. -Amy June

SWORN ENEMY
THE BEGINNING OF THE END
ABACUS
Sworn Enemy return with a metallic vengeance on this pummeling 11-track excursion to the place where NYHC and metal crossover. From the guitar acrobatics of "Forgotten" to the skull-rattling "Scared of the Unknown", this quintet pull no punches, laying down a scolding concoction of serpentine vocals, chunky guitars, and rhythms that can turn any mosh pit into a war zone. Producer Tim Lambesis (from As I Lay Dying) gets the band to demonstrate their thrash-metal roots and love for Slayer on tracks like "Save Your Breath" and "All I Have". But don't fret, hardcore peeps: Sworn Enemy still have a lot of Madball's fury and Agnostic Front's angst blanketed by face-ripping double-bass drumming and fierce guitar solos that any Swedish metal band would kill for. This is crossover in the truest sense. Get ready to be blown away. www.abacusrecords.com -Mike SOS

TERMINUS VICTOR
UNDER SURVEILLANCE
INNOCENT WORDS RECORDS
Scott Kimble (bass, vocals, drum programming) and Don King's (guitar, technical support) sound is a little bit Big Black, a little Lightening Bolt, some Helmet, and a lot of hard-rocking riffs and red-hot denseness. UNDER SURVEILLANCE is aggressive, and Scott Kimble's vocal is outstanding, with a real cool, biting tone. UNDER SURVEILLANCE is one for your short list. -H. Barry Zimmerman

THE 88
OVER AND OVER
MOOTRON RECORDS
Are you one of those people filled with regret that you did not live during glitter rock's brief moment in the sun? Do you worship T-Rex? If yes, you'll love The 88. The group plays sweet, smooth pop tunes that have earned its music spots on THE JIMMY KIMMEL SHOW, THE OC, ONE TREE HILL, JAG, and the film SURVIVING CHRISTMAS (and The 88 is one of only two unsigned bands with tracks featured on THE OC MIX VOLUME 1). The Los Angeles-based quintet released its first record, KIND OF LIGHT, in 2003. Members are lead vocalist/guitarist Keith Slettedahl, keyboardist Adam Merrin, guitarist Brandon Jay, bassist Carlos Torres, and drummer Anthony Zimmitti (who was added after this disc was recorded). Rush out and buy OVER AND OVER, or you will be forever doomed to watching THE VELVET GOLDMINE over and over to get your fix. -tekolote

THE AUTUMN OFFERING
REVELATIONS OF THE UNSUNG
VICTORY
THE AUTUMN OFFERING just might be the ticket to shutting the mouths of critics of Victory's recent kinder, gentler big sellers, if only temporarily. This album is undeniably brutal, while flourished with guitar squeals that assuredly put a smile on Dimebag's spectral face. The breakdown is used generously (probably too generously for most), but the mix is kept interesting with the occasional clean, ethereal elegy tossed here and there. If good, honest metal preformed by individuals who are more concerned with writing songs that keep your head banging than wasting time on how to appear more photogenic is what you seek, then look no further. -Chris Hrobak

THE BLACK HALOS
ALIVE WITHOUT CONTROL
LIQUOR AND POKER MUSIC
Hailing from north of the border, The Black Halos bring to the table 13 tracks filled with driving guitars in all their glam-rock glory. Lead vocalist Billy Hopeless has a voice that could drive a vocal snob absolutely insane, but its raspiness is a perfect match with the music. Unlike a lot of modern-day post-punk glam rock, these guys have it together not only musically but also lyrically. I sense a lack of egotistical attitude with this band, something that keeps the music from being the clichéd, recycled crap I hear so very often. If you are in the mood for some hard rock minus the lame lyrics, give ALIVE WITHOUT CONTROL a shot. -Matt Edmund

THIS CHARMING MAN
EVERY LITTLE SECRET
XOXO
This Charming Man (now known as The Gaslight Anthem) play the kind of heartfelt rock that bands like Grade, Rival Schools, and Gratitude were known for (and even Goo Goo Dolls mustered before they pandered to soccer moms and movie soundtracks). On this six-track offering, this quintet play with a driving punk-rock flavor on the opener "Bleeder", then switch gears to go all Weezer on "Sometimes You Eat the Bar", demonstrating the band's wide array of musical tastes. Versatile sounds amplified by stellar songwriting, well-narrated lyrics, and a raspy vocal delivery that entices throughout are staples of EVERY LITTLE SECRET, an album brimming with catchy hooks, passionate performance, and Warped Tour potential. www.xoxorecords.com -Mike SOS

THE CLIENTELE
STRANGE GEOMETRY
MERGE RECORDS
A friend of mine was said that Belle & Sebastian could beat these guys up. As far machismo, that would carry a negative connotation; but it's got nothing to do with making music. STRANGE GEOMETRY, the trio's second full-length, is the perfect melding of experimental psychedelic pop music, using the haziness of Nick Drake's voice and applying it to a Zombies-meets-Galaxie 500 backdrop. These Londoners venture into this trippy world wielding string arrangements, dreamy vocals, and occasionally sleigh bells and a bouzouki (whatever the hell that is). All in all, this was one of the best releases by Merge Records in 2004 from a band that won't be soon forgotten. -David Barker

THE COFFIN LIDS
'ROUND MIDNIGHT
BOMP!
The Coffin Lids have a band name that sounds like the moniker for a psychobilly outfit—but 'ROUND MIDNIGHT is garage rock. This music combines the speed of The Ramones with the rock-dance grooves of The Cramps. Vocalist Skinny "Coffin" Mike sings like a man set on squeezing as many hopping rockers in before his time runs out. There's one track called "I'm Going to Have My Way", which not only name drops The 5, 6, 7 8's, it's a song about that group. This is fun music, not serious music. This approach is exemplified by "Creepy Crawl", which comes off like a haunted-house/beach-party anthem. Seemingly nothing, not even coffin lids, can keep these good men down. -Dan MacIntosh

THE DAY AFTER
COUNTING ALL THE UPSETS
SELF-RELEASED
Musically, The Day After has a sound driven by strong bass lines and rhythmic guitars set to a straight-ahead rock beat. The vocals of Jenine Cali are enjoyable, although I did get a feeling like she didn't give it her all on this release. The rest of the band shines as a well-tuned musical machine. There's a ton of possibilities with this band, but their sound is held back. I dug this album for what it is: a very safe-sounding album lacking attempts to break out of a clichéd sound. Check them out for yourselves at www.myspace.com/tda. -Matt Edmund

THE FIRE STILL BURNS
KEEPING HOPE ALIVE
BLACKOUT RECORDS
KEEPING HOPE ALIVE surprisingly displays some real talent from the boys of The Fire Still Burns. This six-track EP includes some pretty technical instrumental interludes that will have you genuinely interested in their music. If only the vocals were on par with the music, I would view this as a great effort. Sadly, the vocals are so bland that it nearly lulled me to sleep. "November Days" is a prime example, as "whoa" is repeated over and over again. Is this just another pop hardcore band? -Luke Skywalker

THE FLAKES
BACK TO SCHOOL
DOLLAR RECORD RECORDS
The Flakes sound like a '60s garage band. For the first 30 seconds of BACK TO SCHOOL, I was trying to think of a group to name for a comparison, and the first one that came to mind was The Count Five. Lo and behold, "That's All" kicked in with a harmonica—just as The Count Five's only real hit, "Psychotic Reaction", does. Chuck Berry riffs abound (as do mop haircuts in the promo pictures). The first Stooges album is a possible influence, too. The whole album is like a trip back in time, and The Flakes could be convincing as a band that existed 40 years ago. But retro rock or not, BACK TO SCHOOL is an ass-kicker. -David Barker

THE HYPSTRZ
LIVE AT THE LONGHORN
BOMP!
This Hypstrz CD begins with a version of Wilson Pickett's "In the Midnight Hour" on speed, and never even hints at slowing down after that. These songs are primarily covers, but they're all played with sincere love for the material. There's more variety than you might expect, too. This band covers James Brown's "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag", as well as Mose Allison's "I'm Not Talking". But for the most part, garage-rock classics make up this collection. Such mash-rock standards include "96 Tears" and "7&7 Is". This live CD includes a whopping 37 songs! In order to cram that many tunes into just one show, these songs must be played fast, with few guitar solos and little talk in between tunes. -Dan MacIntosh

THE INVISIBLE EYES
LAUGH IN THE DARK
BOMP!
The Invisible Eyes may have hidden peepers, but this band certainly aren't difficult to hear. LAUGH IN THE DARK is packed with dirty-water garage rock with pounding beats, desperate vocals, and just a little guitar feedback thrown in for good measure. Some music just never loses its cool, and garage rock is one rock-solid member of this eternally hip stylistic club. This music is great when played live, and it comes off as just plain good, messy fun. In other words, The Invisible Eyes are not always tight, but you get the impression that this music is meant to be played sloppily. In the same way alcohol is intended to get people loose, The Invisible Eyes break down walls of inhibition with this music. -Dan MacIntosh

THE LAWRENCE ARMS
OH! CALCUTTA!
FAT WRECK CHORDS
I caught these guys live in Santa Cruz, CA, about five years ago at an Asian Man Records show and totally loved them. Unfortunately, I never bought one of their albums, until I picked up this, their new one on Fat Wreck. You have to enjoy the raspy vocals that give this band their signature sound. Their music is upbeat, with bouncy hooks and riffs that should have everyone bobbing their head (or at the least tapping their feet). "Recovering the Opposite Thumb" starts like an Elvis Costello song, but then comes back to The Lawrence Arms' style. This album is catchy and well played, totally proving that The Lawrence Arms are one of the finest acts on the Fat label. www.thelawrencearms.net -Matt Edmund

THE PROJECT HATE
ARMAGEDDON MARCH ETERNAL
CANDLELIGHT
The Project Hate is an all-star Swedish outfit whose electronically-charged, aggressive assault is a bit jarring to those who may expect these seasoned veterans to sound like some of their former and current other bands (such as Grave, Defleshed, and Vicious Art). Instead, ARMAGEDDON MARCH ETERNAL combines the same kind of raging flare usually attached to each member's Swedish metal act and accentuates it with lush orchestration, ambient female vocals, and a noticeable emphasis on programming—the last being that which sets songs like "I See Nothing But Flesh" stick out among those of the band's peers. Meshing tidbits of darkwave, a black-metal backbone, and dollops of loathing, The Project Hate's left-of-center approach and unorthodox style may just be for the fan who yearns to hear the genre stretched and contorted into unexplored areas. www.candlelightrecordsusa.com -Mike SOS

THE PULSE
COME PARTY WITH THE PULSE!
DUFFMEISTER RECORDS
Edgy rock meets thunderous vocals on the debut October release from Flint, MI-based foursome The Pulse. Upbeat drums belt out toe-tapping beats alongside superior guitar solos in "Cut the Chatter". A fast tempo coincides with tight lyrics throughout most of the album, yet "American Odyssey" dares to slow down midway, asking the listener to stop and notice. The album ends with the slow ballad "Periwinkle", a youth-driven outcry concerning the ticking clock called growing older. Buy this album for a quick pick-me-up or a simple reminder of how good it feels to be young and venturing full force into all that life has to offer. -Amy June

THE REBEL SPELL
DAYS OF RAGE
CLANDESTINE COLLECTIVE
When writing reviews, there is always that fear that you will write about a new great band and no one will read it, leaving them in obscurity. If this happens to The Rebel Spell, then I'm sorry, because this is an album that demands a listen. With their rowdy, political punk, Vancouver's The Rebel Spell have an album with 10 sing-along anthems that on first listen will cause you to call all your friends to inform them of your new find. When I hear music like this, it makes me proud to be a punk and causes me to get off my ass and try to change the world. DAYS OF RAGE is a must-own. Here's to hoping that others will read this and help spread the word. -Jeff Srack

THE ROSEBUDS
BIRDS MAKE GOOD NEIGHBORS
MERGE RECORDS
The husband-and-wife duo of The Rosebuds is yet another band helping to make Merge Records the envy of all other independent labels in the United States. BIRDS MAKE GOOD NEIGHBORS is an 11-track serving of dark, tender indie rock that succeeds (for the most part) in being catchy and endearing. While not as accessible or friendly as the band's first album, THE ROSEBUDS MAKE OUT, it proves that they aren't content to make the same record again. It isn't the best The Rosebuds have to offer, and it certainly pales in comparison with much of the more recent Merge Records releases, but BIRDS MAKE GOOD NEIGHBORS is enjoyable and worth checking out. -David Barker
THE SHARKING
THE SHARKING
202 LIONS RECORDS
These Bostonians play some decent power-pop but certainly don't recall The Apples in Stereo or Sugar (as their press sticker says they do). Vocally and stylistically, The Sharking can pass as a simplistic version of Elvis Costello. This debut EP is average, at best, but there's something in it foreshadowing a moderately successful career if the band can write more songs like "Silver Lining", which shows a lot of promise. The majority of the other five tracks are dull and uninspired. More harmonies would be ideal; and if the lead vocals were more distinct, The Sharking would be on to something. Still, not bad for the first time—and next time should be a good deal stronger. -David Barker

THE SLACKERS
PECULIAR
HELLCAT
They've been around a LONG time, but with PECULIAR, there's no doubt ska kings The Slackers still have it, as the NYC band sound as tight and focused as ever on their sixth album. Our boys may have created it differently (recording live in Holland and later overdubbing vocals and horns in a New Jersey studio), but they don't forsake their (primarily) soulful rocksteady- and reggae-infused ska that always goes down smooth. Whether it be the mellow grooves of "Rider", "Propaganda", and "Capo" or the more upbeat skank-alongs "Peculiar" and the outstanding "Crazy", this record is just plain COOL. And with all five songs from The Slackers' last record, the INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMINAL EP, present, there's a definite political edge to a good portion of the album's lyrics. -Janelle Jones

THE TRANSIT WAR
AH DISCORDIA!
ORANGE PEAL RECORDS
Most easily described as a melodic rock band in the vein of Taking Back Sunday (but not as annoying), The Transit War's eight-song album AH DISCORDIA! is a solid effort, though it is not anything groundbreaking or original. This is a run-of-the-mill Warped Tour band—not necessarily a bad thing, but there are just too many bands doing something similar. If you think you're a little too tough for Fall Out Boy, then maybe The Transit War is the right band for you—but I couldn't pick this band out from a million others. Then again, being original has no effect on success, and there are enough high-school kids out there to keep this band afloat. -David Barker

THE YOUNG PLAYTHINGS
PICK UP WITH…THE YOUNG PLAYTHINGS
DIONYSUS
This band's two girls, Wendi Jones and Lura Jones, are pictured here with enough tattoos to make a sailor jealous...but when the music starts, these rocking women don't sound unlike many of the other girl rockers that came before them. They wrote all these songs (with the exception of "Sweet Pea", which was written by and a hit for Tommy Roe). Their sound is garage rock powered by guitars and plenty of organ. Even though they praise materialism during "Gimme Everything", you're still left with the impression that these gals long more for true love. They may look hard, but one supposes there are soft hearts beating somewhere beneath that inked skin. I would advise you not to play around with these playthings' hearts. -Dan MacIntosh

THEO EASTWIND
THE O
SELECT BANDS
Theo Eastwind is playing adult contemporary rock music. A comparison to Dave Mathews could be made. I hear solo Sting textures in the music and in some of Theo's voicing. There are some really cool songs on THE O, which is acoustic-based with visiting electric sections. My pick for the radio would be opener "Set-up", a very sweet song with catchy chorus hooks. THE O is a solid, focused disc. -H. Barry Zimmerman

THIRTEEN BLACK
HOME TOWN TERRORISTS
SELF-RELEASED
Yet another self-released album by another band whose passion for making music is clear. Arizona's Thirteen Black hits hard with this album. HOME TOWN TERRORISTS borders on a hardcore sound but sans the nonstop screaming. This album took a few listens before I really got to like what was featured. At times, I didn't care too much for the vocals, as they remain monotone throughout a few early selections. After the second listen, I got a clear vision of what this band is good at, something exemplified in "Get in Let's Go", a hard-hitting display of pounding drums and slick guitar work. It's worth checking out for all you thrashers out there. www.thirteenblack.net -Matt Edmund

THYRFING
FARSOTSTIDER
CANDLELIGHT
The album's title translates from Swedish as "times of plague", and the eight-track offering by this traditional Swedish metal troupe plays with the same foreboding feel. Sung entirely in Swedish, Thyrfing's Viking-esque style and implementations of folk and synths shape the unit's uncooked black-metal presentation into a smorgasbord of evil. Tracks like "Host" get the mid-tempo guttural growl down pat, while "Elddagjamning" provides that slow-burning, demonic black-metal pace that so many bands try hard to nail but often fail. Thyrfing's ambitious endeavor holds up as one of the more well-textured, gloomy albums on the scene today and is right alongside November's Doom and Old Man's Child in the race for Best Portrayal of Unadulterated Black Metal with Old-World Influence. www.candlelightrecordsusa.com -Mike SOS

VARIOUS ARTISTS
STUBBS THE ZOMBIE: THE SOUNDTRACK
SHOUT! FACTORY
Most of the time when listening to a compilation of bands doing classic rock songs, the bands forgo doing the song in its original style and drag it into their own band's particular style. The bands on STUBBS THE ZOMBIE (a turbo video game) have done a beautiful job with these mostly 1950s classics. Ben Kweller takes first swing with a poppy sweet version of "Lollipop". Some of the standout and more interesting cuts include The Flaming Lips' "If I Only Had a Brain", The Dandy Warhols' "All I Have to Do Is Dream", Cake's "Strangers in the Night", Death Cab for Cutie's "Earth Angel", and The Raveonettes' "My Boyfriend's Back". It's a party disc for the ages. -H. Barry Zimmerman

VARIOUS ARTISTS
TAKE ACTION VOL. 5
HOPELESS/SUB CITY
It's difficult to find fault here. There's certainly plenty of content at a reasonable price, and the proceeds go to a worthy cause—though the steady commercialization of the series cannot be ignored, as cannot the fact that disc 2 (usually the pop-punk/indie disc) is all but a throwaway. This year the tide has changed, leaving disc 1 a pop-riddled mess and disc 2 the one of chief interest. Hardcore has all but lost its once-coveted place in the mix, with the exception of a few worthy bands (most notably The Number 12 Looks Like You). Overall, TAKE ACTION VOL. 5 continues the tradition of showcasing what's currently "in" while supporting a good cause. -Chris Hrobak

VARIOUS ARTISTS
THE KILLER IN YOU: A TRIBUTE TO SMASHING PUMPKINS
REIGNITION
Tackling a song by a band that for many defined an era is a daunting task. But that's exactly what Reignition Records asked of some of today's biggest underground bands (such as Poison the Well, Vaux, and A Static Lullaby). Yes, Smashing Pumpkins (along with some other "alternative" acts like Nirvana, Soundgarden, Stone Temple Pilots, and Pearl Jam) represent the '90s themselves. Though this is a cool disc for those into the aforementioned bands and the Pumpkins, I find no need for tribute albums. Sure it's nice that labels and bands are honoring a band that has been highly influential, but truthfully, if I want to hear "Today" or "Zero", I'll put in one of the Pumpkins' albums, not listen to a contemporary band's version of the original. But that's just my biased view. -Janelle Jones

VARIOUS ARTISTS
THE MACC LADS—COVERED BY CRAP: A TRIBUTE
KOTUMBA RECORDS
The best way to tell the validity of a tribute album is by the acts that are paying tribute, and this collection's line-up tells it all. With such "artists" as Anal Beard, Dogshit Sandwich, Drunk Cunts, and everybody's favorite, Bladder Bladder Bladder, it is easy to see that The Macc Lads influenced a who's who of terrible punk bands with funny names. While I'm trying to figure out how an awful punk band from England's second wave whose lyrics are filled with sexism and homophobia even GOT a tribute album, you can spend your time listening to something worthwhile, like The Artic Monkeys. -Jeff Srack

VARIOUS ARTISTS
TO THE BITTER END VOL. 2
VINEHELL RECORDS
In listening to this international punk compilation, I have learned two incredible things: that shitty punk sounds equally horrible in German, Japanese, and Polish; and that there is punk rock from Uruguay (which is probably the last place I would expect to find it). In addition, while 95% of the acts on this comp are god-awful, I have a solution: punk-rock missionaries. Just like the Mormons, we will send the finest punks to far-off lands to convert them and help our foreign friends create tolerable music. Imagine Fat Mike in Sweden, Mike Ness in Italy, and Davey Havok in Peru. Perhaps this could create a world where it is safe for international comps. Until then, this album and concept should be avoided at all costs. -Jeff Srack

V/A
{UN}KNOWN VOLUME II
DOUBLE BLIND MUSIC
A fresh idea of pairing known and unknown artists on a balanced compilation is the basis of this October 2005 release. With a power-packed punch, the album pulsates with an upbeat atmosphere and a solid mix of rock, punk, and emo-laced tracks. The selection of recognized artists includes Anberlin, Terminal, and features "Suggestive Humans", a rare track from Codeseven. The real gems of the collection are the six previously-unreleased tracks from up-and-coming bands such as 32 Leaves, Fair to Midland, and Opus Dai. The unexpected "Picture" from Ringer is a track not to miss, along with the acoustic "Light Up Ahead" from Further Seems Forever. Enjoy this diet of emo-rock delight with uninhibited musical taste, as the diverse blend of tracks calls for it. -Amy June

VEDA
THE WEIGHT OF AN EMPTY ROOM
SECOND-NATURE RECORDS
Very rarely do female-fronted groups make an impact in indie music, let alone the punk scene. Yet, on pure talent and moxie, music has seen the likes of Sleater-Kinney and No Doubt rise to stardom. The band formerly known as Veda (now going by Vedera) made a branding last year as they opened for Thrice and Underoath. Kristen May leads this foursome with her resonating vocals and beautiful ballads. This Midwestern group play a simple type of rock but make an impression through May's voice. Her talent is best exemplified in "Song for a Friend", when her voice booms through speakers. This will not be the last you hear of Vedera—or at least of Kristen May. -Luke Skywalker

WISDOM IN CHAINS
DIE YOUNG
SPOOK CITY
In this day and age, practically all ties to punk in "hardcore punk" have been cut, spawning a beast all its own and dwells in the garden of infinite breakdowns. An intrepid few still recognize the appeal of mashing the hell out of three chords to the backdrop of a steady kick-snare gallop like Wisdom in Chains, a group of roughnecks who make no bones about being a product of the streets. Formulating a sound that melds Agnostic Front and Sick of It All and Dropkick Murphys-style anthems, Wisdom in Chains incorporates a healthy amount of jaded lyrics on top of gritty guitars. The final product is an album that has just as much relevance is it does street credibility. -Chris Hrobak

XBISHOPX
SUICIDE PARTY
FERRET
Straight-edge hardcore bands usually come with excessive baggage, and xBishopx is no exception. 14 tracks of seething anger is what this Florida five-piece give you here, from the SOD-inspired "Go Fuck Yourself" to the Bury Your Dead-meets-Sick of It All moshfest on "Eat Shit" and "Suicide Party". Chances are that this band isn't going to win any awards for employing the best vernacular, as a majority of the lyrics contain scathing expletives not suitable for the dinner table; but when it comes to producing furious slabs of straight-edge hardcore, these guys bring it. Even though the message behind xBishopx's music becomes wearisome after a while, the band's passions for their lifestyle and for dropping sonically brutal hardcore are undeniable. www.ferretstyle.com -Mike SOS

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