AUGUST 2003 CD reviews

STRAPT
STRAPT
SELF-RELEASED CD
Strapt is a seven-piece rap-metal band from Los Angeles that employs three MCs and a slew of tricks from the grab bag that so many bands have dipped into in the last five years. The difference between Strapt and every other rap-metal band is desperation. These guys aren't up on stage creating a dance move or celebrating about how great life can be; instead, Strapt lays down some Suicidal Tendencies-like jams and unleash the MCs to do their thing. Judging by these guys' rap accounts of life, they seem to have been there, lived it, and don't mind spitting rhymes about the hard times. At ease with a NYHC-inspired jam ("Punk Rock Gangsta Boogie") as much as a funked-up bass line (on "Sell Out"), this band shows that it's got both the realism and the chops to take its music to the top. Web site
-Mike SOS

VARIOUS ARTISTS
52 LESSON ON LIFE
REINFORCEMENT RECORDS
This double-CD compilation of previously-released music covers practically all of the sounds and styles that characterize contemporary punk. Some of the 52 bands featured here are fairly established, like The Queers, Samiam, and Teen Idols; while many more are undersung and new. Almost all of the album's tracks, however, are excellent. Standouts include Youth Gone Mad's "Horror Hospital" (an electronic nightmare featuring Dee Dee Ramone on vocals) and "Werewolf Weather" by A Radio With Guts. The album's kickingest track, a song called "Letting Go", belongs to Divit, maybe the best band to come from the East Bay since Operation Ivy.
-Stephen B. Armstrong

GO KART GO
FLYING
HOUSE CAT RECORDS
Charging out of San Francisco, Go Kart Go displays pure quality. With help from producer Kevin Army (Green Day, Operation Ivy, Samiam), FLYING sounds extremely professional and structured. Eric Anderson sings from his soul, projecting strong and prominent vocals. This album is lyrically well-rounded and musically well-formed. With sweet ballads and soft-rock sounds, Go Kart Go is similar to Goo Goo Dolls and Matchbox Twenty. The good thing about the album is that there are plenty of songs that are good enough to sing along with. Clear, poppy, and fresh, this band has the potential to reach the top.
-Annette Ovanessian

BURN YOUR BRIDGES
SELF-TITLED
DEEP SIX RECORDS
Over 20 chunky thrash-punk classics that bring to mind MDC in its heyday. Short, bombastic explosions of aggro-punk with enough insight to make it a hearty dose reality. No songs about girls, school, or hanging out at the mall in your punk duds here. At times BYB reminds me of the Venice band Scaredycat. If you hanker for aggression and long for angst, this is the disc to snatch.
-Larry Lugz

THE VANISHING
SONGS FOR PSYCHOTIC CHILDREN
GOLD STANDARD
The Vanishing play the kind of lo-fi, keyboard-driven, melodic goth rock with over-the-top female vocals that would have fit in a John Hughes movie. The problem is that it's not 1985 anymore, and the redundant drum-machine loops and incessant atmospheric keyboard play could be so much more enhanced these days. If you enjoy the early days of goth, you may dig this; but if you're looking for something more intimidating and updated, look elsewhere. Web site
-Mike SOS

THE SIXTH CHAMBER
MOLDED TRUTHS
NOVOKKANE NOISE
According to this experimental L.A. trio's press release, "The Sixth Chamber is a library in hell where humanity's dirty little secrets are kept in volumes neatly arranged on shelves." Charged with turning this information into music, songwriter Rahne Pistor narrows in on some of the human condition's ugliest aspects. Augmenting the lyrics' grotesqueness, the band's music writhes and shudders like an injured animal. These guys are too young—and too innocent—to pull off the Nick Cave/Cramps/Misfits routine successfully, however. Their aesthetic ambitions, we might say, transcend their range. And though it's possible that in a few years these disciples of the Crimson Ghost may sound as sharp as their role models, on MOLDED TRUTHS they're hitting (and fronting) like butter knives.
-Stephen B. Armstrong

STAR ONE
LIVE ON EARTH
INSIDE OUT
" File under: Space Metal." That's what the back of the album actually says on this live double-disc from Star One...and it's an apt description for this massive display of musicianship. The man behind it all is Arjen Anthony Lucassen (Ayreon), and he brings grandiose rock that is part opera, part rock concert, and part sci-fi convention to life. With the concept being space movies that influenced him, Lucassen allowed his artistic flare and grand cinematic experiences to steer this project into the monster that it is. However, this visionary has help from some of the most notable names in Swedish metal, like Dan Swano and even wrangled space-metal legend Dave Brock (Hawkwind). Ambitious and bursting with music (as most prog rock is), Star One provides a glimpse into one man's unique vision via a blistering rock opera. Any fan of progressive metal should own this lush display of sci-fi metal, which is sure to please anyone pining for a new Dream Theater release. Web site
-Mike SOS

MANDO DIAO
BRING 'EM IN
MUTE NORTH AMERICA
Mando Diao are the best band in the world! They really and truly understands rock 'n' roll for what it is! Rock 'n' roll is the band's religion. They hates their hometown, hate factories. They're from Sweden. I don't know what the equivalent of a Swedish redneck is, but they was daily beaten up by the band members! Awesome! I can relate, in an American way, because those are the exact same reasons I love rock 'n' roll. Buy this album and smash some guitars, and you'll understand what it means to have fun.
-chad

VARIOUS ARTISTS
PENNSYLVANIA, USA VOLUME TWO
KICKSTART AUDIO
PENNSYLVANIA, USA VOLUME TWO is a compilation of 24 untitled tracks from 24 bands that hail from the Keystone State. Featuring new and previously-unreleased material, the collection runs the range from emo and hardcore to death metal and acid jazz. There's little about this sampler, though, that separates it from any of the others that roll into record stores every week. Many of the bands don't sound particularly original or fresh. A lot of them, in fact, sound like they're self-consciously aping established acts like A.F.I., Jon Spencer, and Bad Religion. A couple of great cuts do appear, however. The track attributed to The Cougars, for instance, mixes heavy metal chops with a folky harmonica to great effect; and an instrumental piece performed by Sound of Reverse thuds along like Zeppelin on crank.
-Stephen B. Armstrong

MYSTIFIER
PROFANUS
CRASH
The epic roar of Iron Maiden meets the dissonance of death metal on Mystifier's latest release. The Brazilian quintet's 12 tracks of extreme metal are a tad hackneyed, as many bands in the genre seem to have a better handle in both music and presentation; yet Mystifier's old-school metal charm does account for much of the group's accolades (the band even takes a page from the King Diamond handbook on "Superstitious Predictions of Misfortune"). Besides the imagery, there's nothing really shocking or of much substance here—unless you're a big fan of old-school thrash that falls somewhere in between Venom and Obituary. Web site
-Mike SOS

TWISTED METHOD
ESCAPE FROM CAPE COMA
MCA
On its big-label debut, Twisted Method has tried hard to mimic Limp Bizkit's psycho-gangsta pose, pounding out a bunch of dance-friendly techno-metal songs. It takes a degree of genius to make screams, profanities, and relentless guitars compelling, however—and I'm afraid these guys don't have it. As a matter of fact, while it's clear that singer Tripp Tribbett wants to sound angry, violent, and scary, more often than not he resembles a shrieking monkey. Completely lacking in melody, these overly percussive songs demand more patience and tolerance than they're worth.
-Stephen B. Armstrong

LANGHORNS
MISSION EXOTICA
BAD TASTE RECORDS
This Swedish instrumental rock group has roots back in the early-'80s Swedish rock scene. The group is experienced in playing garage rock and surf, running the whole vintage spectrum from spy themes ("Spybeat") to Eastern-flavored exotica ("Vera Cruise"). The echo-y twang on this album is for mellow cruises along the beach back from the classic midnight movies. Additional musicians on horns, keys, and more add variety and depth to the material.
-Tom "Tearaway" Schulte

THE COMMERCIALS
IT'S NOT WHAT YOU SAY...IT'S HOW YOU SAY IT
BLACKOUT
One of the hardest-working bands on the Northeast indie scene is the Pennsylvania quartet known as The Commercials, a power-punk band who sound a lot more mature than your average heartache-of-the-week outfit. In fact, the 10 tracks that comprise IT'S NOT WHAT YOU SAY... are light-years ahead of the competition, as this group's muscular approach to the sounds is coupled with heartfelt, insightful lyrics that emanate experience and fortitude. Benefiting from the budget of a bigger label, previously-released songs like "Six Weeks of April" sound fuller and richer, yet still manage to wallop you over the head as much as the earlier, rawer demo version. But don't be fooled: The Commercials do have a total geek-rock vibe going on that occasionally leans on the Dashboard Confessional side of things; yet, unlike many of their peers, they manage to shape that Weezer mold into a stronger, smarter, more sincere, and heart-tugging journey. Web site
-Mike SOS

ACCEPTANCE
BLACK LINES TO BATTLEFIELDS
THE MILITIA GROUP
A breath of fresh air is sweeping down from Seattle. As hard as that may be to believe, Acceptance is the living proof. Mixing pop, punk, and emotion, they have crafted a sound that is refreshing and likable. With songs like "Seeing Is Believing" and "Permanent", this EP is a great addition to your collection. And besides the great tunes, the disc has some great extras, including live tracks and videos. Web site
-tChow

POINT LINE PLANE
S/T
SINCERE BRUTALITY
This sucks! This is terrible! My cat actually left the room when I played this. I wish I could have, too. This is one of the most horrible things I have ever been subjected to. All the lyrics are one-syllable words sung like they're being thrown, each one leaving an open wound to eventually fill with pus. I can't believe someone actually took time to record this. This is the kind of thing that gives our generation a bad name, the kind of music that makes adults wonder why we listen to such crap. Don't give in. If you come across this album, shoot it in the face.
-Franny

THE RED SCARE
EIGHT PIECES OF SUMMER
TEENAGE RAMPAGE RECORDS
The sophomore release from this Vancouver trio is an urgent piece of alternative rock that never lets you catch your breath. With a pumped-up drum beat driving these tunes at a breakneck pace, the band loses itself in its own urgency. Unfortunately, many of the tunes tend to start sounding the same. The music sounds incredibly good for having been recorded in the band's own studio, but the band will have to provide some catchier hooks and vary the pace a bit in order to appeal to a larger audience. They have their own Website: Web site.
-DUG

GRAVE DIGGER
RHEINGOLD
NUCLEAR BLAST
German metal veterans Grave Digger are back with another lesson in power metal with its 10-track offering, RHEINGOLD. Reinvigorated and a bit darker than on previous recordings, Grave Digger and its Teutonic metal style continues to rock stadiums worldwide, thanks to the killer riffs (like the one which opens "Liar") and majestic smatterings throughout the album. Basing this disc on Wagner's THE RING OF NIBELVNGS (that's a classical music piece, for those scoring at home) and armed with as much metallic power as the law allows, Grave Digger's RHIENGOLD is a genuine crowd-pleaser for the Priest and Maiden fan contingent. Web site
-tChow

DEREK SHERINIAN
BLACK UTOPIA
INSIDE OUT
Derek Sherinian is by no means a household name, yet chances are that if you're an astute fan of metal, you know the man and his work, as he's played keyboards for everyone from Alice Cooper to Dream Theater. This time, however, the man usually situated away from the limelight takes center stage with his self-proclaimed metal-fusion gem, BLACK UTOPIA. Well, kind of. By assembling an all-star line-up (which includes Yngwie Malmsteen, Zakk Wylde, Steve Lukather, and Al DiMeola) for the nine-track affair, this release, dubbed as a guitar-lover's wet dream, is just that. As you might expect, from sheerly a musical standpoint this disc blows away anything heard this year thus far. Considering the fact that some of the top guitarists in the world are here on this all-instrumental collection, it's already a must-have for shred-heads everywhere, right? But when you factor in Sherinian's dramatic compositional skills and his atmospheric keyboard performance, BLACK UTOPIA quickly becomes a top choice to purchase on your next visit to the record shop. Web site
-Mike SOS

.THEDECEMBER DRIVE
HANDSLIKEGUNSANDCRASHINGSOUNDS
AMERICAN JEALOUSY
I don't remember SKRATCH ever sending me something that sounds so pretty. This is sincerely beautiful music. I guess it's emo, but I don't even want to call it that, lest it be tagged for the "sucks because it shows emotions without screaming much" bin. The December Drive is a little reminiscent of Cursive's new album, but slower and with less biting anger and more accepted hopelessness. That can be a good thing, though! I can picture kids everywhere listening to this in the background as they get back together with their ex-boyfriends or girlfriends and decide to have make-up sex.
-Franny

DIVISION OF LAURA LEE
97-99
LOVITT RECORDS
Before they were one of Scandinavia's leading musical export, Vanersborg-based firebrand Division of Laura Lee honed their craft in dingy basements and grubby dive bars. While it's not always pretty (or in tune), 97-99 provides listeners some insight into DOLL's formative years. They began their career as skuzzy, bar-chord crushing ruffians before ditching the hardcore-kid shtick and slipping into some leather trousers for a decidedly more en vogue Joy Division-meets-Primal Scream shift. Though nothing on display here hits with the force of their later material, the disc is an important chronicle of the evolution of one of Sweden's least pretentious and most consistently engaging rock 'n' roll bands.
-Jason Jett

VIRGIN BLACK
SOMBRE ROMANTIC
THE END
Virgin Black's SOMBRE ROMANTIC is composed much like a composer would put together a symphony, as the Australian gothic-metal troupe takes great care in creating and maximizing the drama and dynamics during the course of this 10-track release. Melding black metal with touches of opera and medieval music, Virgin Black's inspirations go way beyond your average extreme-metal band's love for Cradle of Filth. There are vocal moments on this disc that will send chills down your spine, yet those instances are balanced out with some galloping guitar runs that would give Dimmu Borgir a run for its mascara money. In short, Virgin Black succeeds where other bands can't even compete. By giving the extreme-metal listener something truly extreme rather than rehashed heaviness or third-rate operatics, we get a work of art that many gothic-rock fans will shed quite a few tears to. Web site
-Mike SOS

AMAZOMBIES
BITCHES & STITCHES
GO-KART RECORDS
This power trio has got ladies Kim Kelly (guitar) and Noriko Kaji (bass) backed by Josh Kramer on drums. All three share vocal duties (though Kim and Noriko do most of the singing). Kim is the lead singer, and she's reminiscent of Joan Jett (especially of The Runaways). The band has a vintage punk sound with a strong rock 'n' roll backbeat that wins over American audiences. This West Coast group preceded the release of this album with shows/tours with GBH, Circle Jerks, Toxic Narcotic, and more.
- Tom "Tearaway" Schulte

KREATOR
LIVE KREATION
SPV
The veteran German metal quartet Kreator has endured nearly 16 years of headbanging, commemorating the run with LIVE KREATION, a double-disc live album that contains a slew of goodies in addition to Kreator's metallic crunch. 24 songs deep this one goes, and it's so metal that a spiked wristband should come free with purchase. The best parts of the disc is the interplay between the band and the crowd, where Kreator gets as cliched as possible, and the crowd eats it up. Ah, the power of metal. Web site
-Mike SOS

LAST DAY PARADE
DRIVING AT 90 MPH
SUNSET ALLIANCE RECORDS
I had a barbecue at my house the other night, so I went down to my local grocery store to pick up all the essentials for a successful BBQ. So as I'm walking up the counter to pay for a shopping cart full of steaks, the store manager accuses me of stealing. STEALING? MEAT? ARE YOU SERIOUS?! Anyways, being the punk rocker that I am, I made a total scene. I was so mad afterwards that it put a damper on the rest of my night. Seriously, who the fuck tries to steal steak?! Anyways, this CD is awful. Even if you stole it, I'd say you got ripped off.
-Carlos Cuesta

EVOLOTTO
6IXERS
SIN KLUB
Evolotto play its rock dirty, heavy, and raw—the way it was meant to be played—on 6IXERS, the band's latest, 13-track endeavor. This trio (which hails from the farmlands of Ohio) has figured out how to transplant the '90s NYC grungecore groove made famous by Unsane and Helmet to the rest of the world without losing any of its bite. In fact, when accentuated with some stoner-rock nuances and some left-of-center rock sensibilities (à la Clutch), Evolotto has created a rumbling brand of rock that will shake your brain and leave you wanting more. It's way smarter than your average heavy band and way more interesting than what the radio considers aggressive these days, as Evolotto mixes the best of the heavier ends of the underground spectrum like a master bartender makes a martini: right to your liking. Web site
-Mike SOS

OIL
ELECTRIC TONGUE EP
LEVEL PLANE
This five-song EP from Amsterdam's Oil is pretty good. I mean, I like it—I'm just not floored. ELECTRIC TONGUE is a guitar-driven, mid-tempo rock disc with some cool guitar work and solid vocals. The songs are very similar and are just not that exciting. I can see how Oil might be a good live act, but I'm just not feeling it.
-H. Barry Zimmerman

SLAUGHTER AND THE DOGS
DOG DAY AFTERNOON
TKO
The U.K.'s Slaughter and the Dogs have been captured in their full splendor on this 15-track live disc. It's hard to believe that the veteran punk act's inaugural United States appearance happened only a year ago, yet the boys had enough wherewithal to record these shows and release it to the masses. With the old-school punk-rock sneer in full effect and a couple of cover tunes of the likes of Johnny Thunders and Lou Reed, the quartet heartily bring the three-chord stomp and '77 attitude into the limelight. Web site
-Mike SOS

TURBONEGRO
SCANDINAVIAN LEATHER
BURNING HEART/EPITAPH
All the rock and all the cock that this Scandinavian bad-ass combo can muster up. Huge, over-the-top riffs that kick you in the balls and keep you longing for more of the beating. Never taking itself too seriously, Turbo constructs a new-world anthem in the gem of a song "Turbonegro Must Be Destroyed". Loaded with tons of negative imagery and pure shock wit, the song rocks like no other before. If we sent this band to Iraq, I think the conflict would end. The Iraqis would shit their pants, and all resistance would stop. But wait a second: then Turbonegro would be in charge, and that would put them one foothold closer to world domination, thus ending our puny existence on this worthless planet. "Get your paws off me, you damn dirty ape."
-Larry Lugz

CANTERBURY EFFECT
EVERY PIECE OF ME
PLUTO RECORDS
The first thing I noticed about the CD is the inside booklet. It's a really clever design. I don't think I've ever seen anything quite like it, and it actually make sense vis-à-vis the title of the album. Basically, it's folded, so there are three overlapping parts, and each part has one third of a band member's face on it—top, bottom, and middle. So, three separate parts blend together to form one hybrid band member. If I could make a hybrid band member out of the Canterbury Effect, first I'd make sure the new band member's voice doesn't sound ANYTHING like the singer's. I mean, that shit is awful.
-Carlos Cuesta

CACTI WIDDERS
TAKE A RIDE WITH…
FALLEN ANGEL RECORDS
Pomps + songs about martini's and hot rods + upright bass + cowboy shirts = rockabilly band.
-ADF

TOKYO SEX DESTRUCTION
LE RED SOUL COMMUNITTE (10 POINTS PROGRAM)
DIM MAK RECORDS
A gaggle of Sinclair-surnamed Spaniards sporting matching pipe-cleaner trews and surly attitudes, Tokyo Sex Destruction have arrived to inject some much-needed life into the listless world of politically-tinged garage rock. More to the point than (International) Noise Conspiracy's A NEW MORNING (CHANGING WEATHER), less pompous than Make-Up's IN MASS MIND, and nearly as vituperative as Manic Street Preachers' GENERATION TERRORISTS, LE RED SOUL COMMUNITTE (10 POINTS PROGRAM)'s breakneck brew of gutter-punk guitars, smutty soul bomp, and shattering lyrical tirades screams by in less than 30 minutes—nakedly brazen and absolutely fucking ruthless in its forthright brevity.
-Jason Jett

ANTISEEN
DRASTIC/EP ROYALTY
TKO
TKO Records continues its ongoing quest to bring the baddest band to hail from North Carolina to you, as the Antiseen vaults are once again pried open for everyone's enjoyment. This time around, we're treated to a split CD featuring two of the band's earlier works from the mid '80s. Taking the middle-class firepower and coating it with a blistering punk rock, Antiseen's anthems like "Whitetrashbitch" and "Destructo Rock" are to Southern punk what Skynyrd is to Southern rock. Thanks to the kind folks at TKO Records, we get to relive the madness all over again. Web site
-Mike SOS

BRONWYN
THROUGH THE FOG, THROUGH THE PINES
GREYDAY PRODUCTIONS
Bronwyn are fantastic! They're from Portland, and the influence is definitely there, but mixed with a bit of Helium, a bit of Cat Power, and a bit of The Raincoats. With dreamy melodies and female harmonies, they can make you dance or they can make you cry—so watch out!
-chad

CARDIA
CARDIA
SILVERTHREE
Cardia's line-up reads like a who's who of the underground rock scene on the East Coast, as this quartet boasts former members of The Verve Pipe, Rival Schools, Shudder to Think, and 2 Skinnee J's; yet the music they play doesn't sound like any of those bands. In fact, Cardia's brand of rock is refined (much like Radiohead or Coldplay), yet remains a bit on the jagged side of things (much like Jeff Buckley or later Soundgarden). The 12 tracks that comprise the eponymous debut shimmer with harmony and are laden with strong melodic sensibilities that at times could be mistaken for artsy '70s rock like Roxy Music and Steely Dan. Thanks to the band's vast experience, Cardia's rich arrangements and progressive overtones don't come off as self-righteous or contrite; rather, when listening to Cardia, you get the feeling of getting music done right by professionals who know how to pour mood, tone, and feeling into every note they make. Web site
-Mike SOS

IDLE
POST MODERN HOPE
BRAINSHOCKER MUSIC
Idle (not to be confused with idol) is the next phase of the rock/rap/heavy metal combination. POST MODERN HOPE distributes quite a mixture of genres. Like in hip-hop, it is popular to use snares and samples to add a little change of flavor, but in rock 'n' roll changing the drum beat several times in one song creates a slight problem, that problem being that you could mistake them for being several different songs in one. There's a similar problem in the vocals, which before you know it can change from singing to rap. They are a really good band—they just need to grow a little.
-Annette Ovanessian

NO REGARD
S/T
SELF-RELEASED
No Regard is okay, but nothing too special. The music is the same mix of hardcore, heavy metal, and rap lyrics that has been used by bands for what seems like centuries to me. For the fan of that, of course, this is one more CD to add to the collection. No Regard doesn't suck—quite the contrary in fact—but they certainly are boring. If you've heard E-Town Concrete and NOFX, you're exempt from listening to this. It's the same thing, only No Regard pulls it together.
-Franny

WEHRWOLFE
GODLESS WE STAND
CLEOPATRA
Wehrwolfe take its aggressive brand of metal back to the days of Bolt Thrower, Dark Angel, and other early '90s death and thrash metal on the outfit's 11-track GODLESS WE STAND. With an epic quality that surpasses many of the other bands in the scene, this group (comprised of three-fourths of Darkmoon) successfully channels the spirit of classic metal such as Maiden and Priest. But Wehrwolfe gets extreme and adds in a plethora of devices from the metal underground, like blast-beat drums and riffs that sound as if they were composed in Hell, to round out its diabolical assault on your ears. With songs about war and the world's demise sprinkled with samples of battlefield sounds like gunfire and agony, Wehrwolfe's latest disc paints a brutal yet accurate depiction of the horrors of humanity backed up with some of the most engaging metal heard in a long time. Web site
-Mike SOS

MIRAD YOMTOV ZEITLYN/GINGER BROOKS TAKAHASHI & FRIENDS
SONGS FROM THE BLACK MOUNTAIN MUSIC PROJECT
K RECORDS
I spent the entire time typing out the band's name and album title.
-Carlos Cuesta

ROCK CITY CRIMEWAVE
SEALED WITH A CURSE
PIG PILE RECORDS
Rock City Crimewave packs a punch with its punk/rockabilly formula. Vocalist EEE has a voice similar to that of the singer of Tiger Army, but make no mistake: RCC has an aggressive sound that is very different than Tiger Army's. The band is rock more than anything else, like the type of band that you would enjoy having a few beers listening to. With song titles like "The Sirens", "Jersey Devil", and "Burn Rock City", how could you go wrong? If you like the neo-rockabilly movement and want to listen to a solid rock band, then Rock City Crimewave is for you.
-ADF

WITH RESISTANCE
WITH RESISTANCE
IMMIGRANT SUN
New Jersey hardcore outfit With Resistance tends to sound like your typical New Jersey hardcore outfit, which can be tricky to describe. Think about all of the bands that've come out of New Jersey—especially in the underground (Dillinger Escape Plan coming to mind first)—and about whatever comes out on Trustkill. Much like its fellow statesmen, this quintet seems to have a penchant for heavy-handed, slightly jaded guitar riffs that chug away in a jerky rhythm. With Resistance also likes to scream a lot, and while there's not a lot of melodic vocal passages for the crowd to scream along to on the group's 10-track debut, these guys instead concentrate on preparing blistering guitars, dynamic interludes, and an overall shield of ferocity to win the hearts of metalcore fans. Web site
-Mike SOS

SUNDOWNRADIO
" THIRTY-SEVEN"
DOUBLEOPROJECT RECORDS
Sundownradio: the very definition of pop-punk music. This band is about as poppy as Good Charlotte and Sum 41. Being that this is a three-song EP, there is not much material to work with here. All three songs are identical in style, representing your typical rock sound and whiny lyrics. Not daring to be different, Sundownradio sticks with the basics. The songs are not bad at all, just lacking in variety. Originally from Minnesota, Sundownradio should start to develop a personal style, because everybody in California wants to be just a "punk band."
-Annette Ovanessian

THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER
UNHALLOWED
METAL BLADE RECORDS
If you like Carcass, Cannibal Corpse, or Pig Destroyer, you are going to love this brutal Detroit metal quartet, The Black Dahlia Murder. This is a really great band with all kinds of potential. I do hate their name—it's just been done. That being said, UNHALLOWED is a vicious, assaulting disc that's ready to freak out your friends and family. Go get this one. Satan will love you for it.
-H. Barry Zimmerman

FALL OUT BOY
TAKE THIS TO YOUR GRAVE
FUELED BY RAMEN
Midwest power-pop punksters Fall Out Boy's 12-track release picks up right where all of those "it" bands like Taking Back Sunday and The Movielife have left off. TAKE THIS TO YOUR GRAVE is cheeky, witty, spry, heavy (at times)—and, above all, catchy as hell, making Fall Out Boy's version of infectious punk rock hard not to bob your head in affirmation to. The only complaint I have about this disc is that right now there's such an inundation of these kind of bands that it makes it hard for Fall Out Boy to make a splash; but there are probably enough people under the legal drinking age with their hearts on their sleeves to dig into this quartet's righteous punk-rock rumble. Web site
-Mike SOS

HELICOPTER HELICOPTER
WILD DOGS WITH THE X-RAY EYES
INITIAL RECORDS
Helicopter Helicopter hails from Boston and takes pride in associating itself with the city that was also home to such legendary bands as The Pixies and The Modern Lovers. Unfortunately, it also takes pride in having a unique sound that isn't similar to The Pixies or The Modern Lovers. It has shared male/female vocals and serious symptoms of having watched far too many hours of MTV. It wouldn't be a stretch of the imagination to expect the band to do the soundtrack for the next big MTV summer smash comedy about the coeds who engage in hilarious situations in which sex takes precedence over education.
-chad

KAOSPILOT
S/T
LEVEL PLANE
Hey, I like this. It reminds me of Bane, only with MORE hardcore. In fact, I really like this. It's not one of those hardcore rip-offs who just scream and let guitars play meaningless, aluminum-foil riffs in the background. I tend to admire that. These instruments are singing just as much as the singer—and showing just as much emotion. From the first song it's clear that the band members must be almost as close as soulmates to make such clear-cutting, beautiful hardcore. Buy this CD. Put it on top of your stack.
-Franny

LARVAL
OBEDIENCE
CUNEIFORM RECORDS
Bill Brovold's Larval continues to be the voice for intelligent and challenging sounds with a hard rock sound out of Detroit. This CD sees Brovold relying less on wall-of-sound guitar dirges to offer more complex arrangements featuring strings and horns. This post-threnody Larval is menacing and ominous. Dark clouds gather here on this most moody and reflective of Larval albums.
-Tom "Tearaway" Schulte

SEVENTH STAR
DEAD END
FACEDOWN
DEAD END starts with a sample from a film soaked in machine gun fire, and the onslaught continues, as Seventh Star's brand of hardcore has arrived like a smack to the teeth. This Florida quintet have got a lot of metal riffs purging out of those guitars, a la Hatebreed and the ilk, yet there's a strong tough guy hardcore vibe just like old school Madball here as well. It's that one-two combo that carries the 11-track album and makes Seventh Star a nice up and coming act to coincide with the likes of Sworn Enemy, Poison the Well, and Full Blown Chaos. Web site
-Mike SOS

THE DRAGONS
SIN SALVATION
GEARHEAD RECORDS
Once again, The Dragons churn out a new batch of punk rock 'n' roll. The songs are a bit more polished this time out, but the Johnny Thunders-like lead assault stays intact (as evident in the title song). Chock full of rawk riffs and some more-than-pleasing vocal snarlings, this is more than adequate for happy-hour banter at your neighborhood cocktail lounge. For those not in the know, The Dragons play rock music that lies somewhere between The Deadboys and Candy Snatchers. Bar rock from hell would be a good catch-phrase. Hellacious, indeed.
-Larry Lugz

THE SWORDS PROJECT
ENTERTAINMENT IS OVER IF YOU WANT IT
ARENA ROCK RECORDING CO.
This is the first album from an ad hoc project that grew up from regular jam sessions held between the groups The Icebreak and Slower Than. This is a multi-layered, experimental pop project that recalls the noise-pop experiments of the Seattle/Vancouver scene like Sky Cries Mary and Mecca Normal. This also leans toward the shoegazer arena, in a detached, floating, neo-psychedelic way.
-Tom "Tearaway" Schulte

LUCERIN BLUE
TALES OF THE KNIFE
TOOTH AND NAIL
Canadian quartet Lucerin Blue claims to be multifaceted. Judging by the group's 11-track release, that statement is firmly on the mark, as the band (which compares itself to Foo Fighters and Linkin Park) do display a plethora of musical resourcefulness. Such diversity allows TALES OF THE KNIFE's mood to shift from POD-inspired anthems such as "Find Me" to hardcore-tinged rockers like "Superstar" and "Off the Mark"—an ability that this young band of upstarts should find handy in the ever-changing rock music climate. This band also has no hang-ups when showcasing its faith, yet doesn't inundate the music with the message, making Lucerin Blue one of the few of God's rock soldiers that thankfully isn't as lame as Creed when it comes to religious huckstering. Modern hard rock for the whole family, Lucerin Blue's wholesome image and captivating hard-rock chops make for an enthralling listen. Web site
-Mike SOS

THE ASPHALT
REGARDING THE RECENT UNPLEASANTRIES
EXIT 9 RECORDS
The Asphalt sound exactly like the band on the radio that'll automatically make you want to change the channel, turning back to it only if you fail to find anything better on any other station and then waiting for the next song to come on. And if the next song is by Chevelle, you might not notice the difference. You'd be better off having a cassette player in your car, because if this was on the radio, you might purposely crash your car and hope to die.
-chad

A NORTHERN CHORUS
SPIRIT FLAGS
SONIC UNYON
Call this Southern Ontario group "chamber pop" or "orch pop", as this group adds flute, violin, viola, and additional instrumentation to its indie pop, which varies from the delicate, ethereal arrangement of "A Fragile Day" to the a restrained wall of sound on "Song & I". The group uses the many facets of its instrumentation to provide shifting layers of sound in this dense collage of a tranquil and reflective beauty.
- Tom "Tearaway" Schulte

JOHN SID
FOR LOVING YOU
SELF-RELEASED CD
John Sid is a NYC-based solo artist who, with the help of a drum machine, becomes a metal band. His latest batch of 22 songs ranges from '80s metal ballads ("Where Are All Your Friends") to ballsy, groove-laden tunes that invite comparisons to Soundgarden and King's X ("You Can't Lead Me Down", "How Many Times"), showcasing rock tunes that contain both bark and bite. Sid has a strong sense of how to write a good song, as he exhibits a good ear for hooks. Even when he decides to crunch the guitars up a bit, there's a memorable chorus waiting right around the corner. His weakness lies in the fact that he wears too many hats on this disc, as he is the only musician on the entire album except for two tracks. Mixing the best of the metal spectrum, John Sid's music is sturdy and durable, but there is no doubt it would benefit byemploying his talent in a band or receiving more input from other talented musicians. Web site
-Mike SOS

BARNACLED
6
CORLEONE
" Barnacled" suggests the hull of a ship or the support beams of a pier crusted and made rough by multitudes of clinging crustaceans. This ensemble takes the jazz idiom and adds a rugged texture through loose playing and the bristling sounds of electronics and accordion. However, this can ebb away to reveal a gently rolling, moonlit marine melody (such as on "Sea Hag"). Members of Eyesores, V. Majestic, Flowergang, and Nicotina perform in this instrumental jazz ensemble.
-Tom "Tearaway" Schulte

SWEET JAPANESE AMERICAN PRINCESS
VIRGIN VIBE
BIG NECK RECORDS
Hailing from the Land of the of the Rising Sun, Japan, Sweet JAP play that old-school punk sound that is sure to be a pleaser to your so-schooled ears. In fact, the style is reminiscent of early-'80s SoCal punk (or the current Huntington Beach sound) ethos. I know comparisons are always expected in a review, so I would link this band to the likes of Smogtown and '80s-era Black Jax. Fast-paced punk, raw guitars, and snotty vocals—everything one would need to ensure a memorable and noteworthy release. I'd hunt this down if I were you.
-Larry Lugz

NORTH OF AMERICA
BROTHERS, SISTERS.
LEVEL-PLANE
There are two ways to describe this band: full of themselves and absolutely incredible. They have an insolent and arrogant attitude, but with the brilliant instrumentation that this album demonstrates and the clever balance between indie rock and professionalism, North of America is totally permitted to boast. In addition to the catchy tunes on BROTHERS, SISTERS., each song is cleverly- and satirically-titled, with blatant cynicism evident throughout the lyrics. Hailing from Canada, they cleverly and pretentiously call themselves North of America. Americans deserve to be put in their place—and there is no better band than North of America to do the dirty job. Web site
-tChow

MINUS
HALLDOR LAXNESS
VICTORY RECORDS
This album takes you on one big fucking ride. For the most part, the guitars are metallic and chunky, but you hear definite nods to At the Drive-In and Deftones. The songs on the album seem to be created for the sake of music, because you'll be hard-pressed to find any hidden meaning in them. What makes this album even better is that the songs show how talented each guy in the band is. Each song has its own distinct style, from the fast and catchy opening track "Boys of Winter" to the slow, hypnotic, and eerie "Last Leaf Upon a Tree", it's all here. This is definitely a CD for those who have an open mind about music, because Minus doesn't fit any mold.
-Dane Jackson

THE BRIAN JONESTOWN MASSACRE
SPACEGIRL & OTHER FAVORITES
THE COMMITTEE TO KEEP MUSIC EVIL
In the earliest days of The Brian Jonestown Massacre, Antone Newcombe had the opportunity to use a studio—namely, the Compound—from midnight to 10 a.m. each night for personal recording. This was originally a 1993 vinyl release of 500 copies. This CD reissue has five bonus tracks from the same fertile period. The liner notes suggest Newcombe recorded all parts of these songs himself as rough demos for BJM and Imaginary Friends, making this only nominally a BJM album. Indeed, versions of some of the songs are very different as recorded by BJM (e.g., "Spacegirl").The songs are sung in a personal and intimate manner, as is perhaps best suited to working alone and without an audience (somewhat like Pete Hamm's solo studio output). Taken as a whole, this is an excellent CD of melodic post-psychedelic, song-oriented space rock.
-Tom "Tearaway" Schulte

THIS DAY FORWARD
IN RESPONSE
EQUAL VISION
This Day Forward is a band on the cusp of big things, as this Pennsylvania quintet's latest full-length release, IN RESPONSE, finds the band lurking in between the emo and rock genres, without bowing down to either. Instead, TDF plays heartfelt, intelligence-driven, aggressive music that automatically places the band on the top of its own heap. Mood and dynamics intertwine to form a sound that may remind one of bands like Deftones and Converge, yet maintains This Day Forward's own sense of identity. Sometimes as riveting as Thursday, at others as pensive and atmospheric as latter-day Snapcase, This Day Forward's IN RESPONSE exhibits a five-man musical force that both tugs at the heartstrings and stimulates the gray matter. Web site
-Mike SOS

GRANDADDY
SUMDAY
V2
The newest release from Grandaddy (a truly prolific band) continues to bear witness to the singularity and talent of the band. Hailing from Modesto, CA, the band produces a unique but simple sound. In a time where brilliancy is often associated with complexity, Grandaddy has been able to produce their own sense of brilliancy through simplicity. The sound is altogether likable and non-offensive. Not only is this album packed with great music, but the CD also provides the lucky owner with special bonuses, including an exclusive Weblink with select downloads and artistic videos. If you buy anything today, make sure it's this album. Web site
-tChow

RUFIO
1985
NITRO RECORDS
Rufio has changed a lot since its days with Militia Group. With 1985, the band shows just how much they've grown and matured. Gone are the lame songs about lost love and teenage drama, instead replaced with rock-influenced pop-punk with soul. The songs touch on everything from not amounting to anything in life to giving support to friends. While the songs and music have matured greatly, I'm not too keen on the lead singer's voice on some songs, especially on "Countdown". If you can look past the vocals when they get raspy, then you'll love this CD; if not, it's STILL worth a few listens.
-Dane Jackson

VITAL REMAINS
DECHRISTIANIZE
OLYMPIC
Glen Benton plus metal equals blasphemy. That's a no-brainer, as the very vocal vocalist of Deicide makes no bones about his disdain for Christianity and all its teachings. So what can we expect when Mr. Benton joins forces with the long-running death-metal outfit Vital Remains? Well, it sure isn't music fit for Sunday services—unless ritualistic killings and black masses are how you spend the sabbath. Nine tracks of Christ-bashing, religion-hating death metal (with, as the press release aptly states, "no shortage of satanic verses") is what these guys churn out. If you can have that much hate in your heart, Vital Remains may be your newest band. Web site
-Mike SOS

FLAMETHROWER
S/T
DEAD TEENAGER RECORDS
Flamethrower sounds like a faster and more aggressive version of Good Riddance. That's both good and bad—good because I really like Good Riddance, but bad because it seems like Flamethrower sacrifices originality, depth, and variety to be fast and aggressive. Expect pounding drums, expect screaming vocals, and expect distortion. While the music is good, I'd like to hear a bit more variety. I did enjoy "I Want It All", though—arguably the best track on this disc. I'm afraid this CD may not have much replay value for casual fans, though.
-Dane Jackson

THE EBB & FLOW
THE MURMURS EP
BLUEORANGE RECORDS
The name of this band suggests the sea's gentle embracing and letting go of coastal land; and the title of the EP suggests quiet nighttime talk that may occur at seaside. This mood echoes in the music via salient timbres of Moog and Farfisa organs. Those instruments gently roll like oceanic waves through music that is a cross between early prog and synth pop. Variety is supplied by female (Sara Cassetti) and male (Sam Tsitrin) vocals. Also adding to the music are several guest musicians, especially horn players Jeff Mondowarsh (Drift, trumpet) and Ralph Carney (Tom Waits, baritone sax).
-Tom "Tearaway" Schulte

SLITHERYN
SLITHERYN
SELF-RELEASED CD
Slitheryn prides itself on being the youngest nu metal band in the world, and with the median age between the five lads being a mere 13, there's no argument here. As for the music this adolescent pack of metallers makes, well, it's better than Hanson, and the monstrous production of these blistering three tracks show signs of potential, but there's still a lot of room for growth, both pubically and musically for Slitheryn. Maybe by sophomore year these kids will be ready for the big time, but for now, there's still room on the Kittie tour for an opener. Web site
-Mike SOS

HOT CROSS
CRYONICS
LEVEL PLANE
The biggest impression I get from this is that I'm listening to two bands at the same time...and they're not in sync with one another. What's really going on, though, is that parts of these songs are Metallica-inspired rock, and the other parts are Shai Hulud-inspired hardcore. Needless to say, it doesn't mix very well. In fact, it's rather confusing, sounding like the members couldn't decide what kind of band they wanted to be in—and so chose the most mediocre of both worlds.
-Franny

PLAN A PROJECT
S/T
GO-KART RECORDS
With the band's second release on Go-Kart Records, the best street punks in New Jersey show they haven't lost a step. The songs on the album reek of older Rancid and '80s thrash-punk bands. The guitars are great—heavy when they need to be and thrashy when they need to be. The drumming is exceptional. While it doesn't over power the other instruments, you can hear that it plays an integral part to the band's rhythm. If you're looking for a great street-punk album this year that's heavy on the political side, then get this one—especially for tracks like "Danger", "Jim Crow", and "Play It Fucking Loud".
-Dane Jackson

JUGULUR
PLANET DEAD
SELF-RELEASED CD
Jugulur is a California-based metal quartet whose six-track disc showcases a melodic nu-metal attack with some dark nuances (à la Disturbed and Godsmack). The music this group bangs out is pretty accessible and radio-friendly, displaying a thread of Hollywood Boulevard-style metal (especially on the flanger-led "Pain 4 Sale", a track that could've been written by Crue in its heyday). While there's not a lot of technicality here, the rocking goes on and on, at times stomping with a punk-rock intensity. Jugulur's best asset is its ability to be hard, heavy, and memorable thanks to the band's heavy hooks and focus on melody—and chances are these guys are going to be heard from in a bigger way next time you read about them. Web site
-Mike SOS

VARIOUS ARTISTS
RADIO DISASTER VOLUME 3
BASEMENT RECORDS
The RADIO DISASTER compilations have become very popular since their inception in 2002, and that's mainly because of how many great bands the label gets to contribute tracks. VOLUME 3 is no different. The bands on the comp cover every aspect of independent music—from punk to post punk to indie and ska, it's all here. Ska gets the least representation here, with only a track from VooDoo Glowskulls, but still this is a decent comp. It can't compare to the Fat Wreck Chords comps, though (but, in my opinion, nothing can). Still, if you've got some spare cash and want to pick this up, it's worth it (or you can just pick up VOLUME 5, because it just came out, as well).
-Dane Jackson

POULAIN
FOR PASSENGERS EP
FIDDLER RECORDS
To be completely honest, I was expecting this CD to be absolutely terrible. However, I was surprised at how good it was when I actually gave it a listen. The band, who takes their name from French film character Amelie Poulain, proves to be just as intriguing as she is. Poulain's mellow, acoustic-guitar-driven rock is comparable to that of bands like Belle and Sebastian. It's difficult to say what the shelf life of music like Poulain's is these days, but if the band continues to improve upon their already-proven songwriting abilities, you could be hearing a lot more from Poulain in the future.
-Carlos Cuesta

SLOW COMING DAY
FAREWELL TO THE FAMILIAR
TOOTH AND NAIL
Indie rockers Slow Coming Day hail from California, yet the band's debut, 12-track release doesn't have one hint of that current California sound making waves. The band actually recorded FAREWELL TO THE FAMILIAR in Kansas, of all places. Why? Perhaps to distance itself from the pressures of being a new band making its debut record—or maybe to just live out the album title fully, thus creating an album based on this new experience. Regardless, this quartet explores the entire range of human emotion on the band's slickly-produced, hauntingly visceral release, mixing ambient noises into emotionally-tinged rock songs that would have Jimmy Eat World and The Juliana Theory grabbing a hanky. While tracks like "A Midsummer's Nightmare" may seem a bit overwrought, the sincerity of Slow Coming Day makes the outfit's heart-on-its-sleeve delivery seem not the least bit contrived. Web site
-Mike SOS

OZONO
OZONO
OZONO
Ozono is a popular rock band from Italy that have come to live in Los Angeles to achieve the recognition they need to blow up in the pop world. I'm sure they have wonderful hits in Italy, but I couldn't pick one out from the four songs on their untitled, burned copy of their new CD. There are some catchy hooks and good form in each song, but this is geared to a much older generation of music fans. We don't want to be reminded of The Backstreet Boys era anymore! Remember that band Savage Garden? Well, a flower in that garden belongs to Ozono, and it is blooming slowly. I'm still trying to figure out what "Ozono" means. It's not in the dictionary, so it must be an Italian thing.
-Annette Ovanessian

THIRTY CALLED ARSON
YOU'RE ONLY A REBEL FROM THE WAIST DOWNWARD
PLUTO RECORDS
Okay, someone fucked up at the office and sent me this shitty hardcore band. First off, I hate hardcore, so this band automatically receives a thumbs down. Secondly, someone in the band failed English because it's "waist DOWN," not "waist downward." I don't mean to be nitpicky, but seriously....
-Carlos Cuesta

THYRANE
HYPNOTIC
CENTURY MEDIA
Thyrane is a Finnish metal troupe that takes a very electronic approach to its metal sound. When making their latest, 10-track collection, this quartet mixed the basics of black and industrial metal with melody, creating a sound that isn't as heavy as that of other like bands, yet stands its ground in a very old-school-metal way. If it weren't for the electronic influence, Thyrane would be neck and neck alongside Venom and Accept in terms of straight-ahead metal attack, but adding that dimension not only updates the sound but also shoots them into another realm (somewhere in between Swedish metal and Rammstein's muscularity). Web site.
-DUG

FORDIRELIFESAKE
BREATHING IS ONLY HALF THE FUNCTION
FORGE AGAIN
I never thought the day would come when I would hear so much hardcore that it might make me sleepy. This isn't bad, but it's not good, either. It has more heart that a lot of other hardcore bands, but the CD sounds like one song on a continuous loop. The music seems afraid to change or to show originality—which is the kiss of death. All in all, this is just another band that sounds like everything else.
-Franny

OTIS TAYLOR
TRUTH IS NOT FICTION
TELARC RECORDS
If you don't know blues from big-band music, Otis Taylor would be a good place to start. With chilling images, stark acoustic melodies, and haunting vocals, Taylor has cemented his place in music history as the premier performer of psychedelic-tinged trance blues. He incorporates banjo, tribal drumming, blues guitar, cellos, and violins on his new album to create a unique blues sound that bristles with intensity. This is his fifth release. Taylor has turned to a much harder-edged sound on this new disc, with songs such as "Be My Frankenstein" (about a friend of his who had a bovine heart implant) driving along with a hard-rock rhythm. Find out more about this very important American artist at Web site.
-DUG

MIASIS
IN AND OUT WEEKS
UNDECIDED
Miasis is a Chicago-based outfit whose hardcore leanings can be on the technical side. The catch is that the band doesn't employ a set singer, instead opting to recruit those they admire to handle the task, making Miasis a boundless entity of sorts. This lack of a solid identity may bite them in the ass one day—but not on this three-song sojourn, as the band enlisted the services of Coalesce's Sean Ingram to handle the chaos, which he does smashingly. The kicker of it all, though, is that the most engrossing track on the disc is an instrumental featuring deep bass grooves and acoustic guitar overlays. Go figure. Web site
-Mike SOS

VAL EMMICH
SLOW DOWN KID
CHILDLIKE RECORDS
The debut solo full-length release from this 23-year-old New Jersey songwriter is like a big, tasty snowcone full of razor blades. With a style similar to Pete Yorn and Rhett Miller, Emmich has sugar-coated his angst-ridden lyrics with soft and inviting melodies. He covers the spectrum of human suffering with songs like "A Voice" (dealing with the death of a friend), "Black It Out" (drug addiction), and "Panic Attack" (nervous breakdowns), Emmich captures the existential essence of despair. Not many artists can pull off a song for a friend with a chorus like, "I could punch your fucking face," but he makes such lines work. For some reason, every neo-country folk singer includes a hidden bonus track at the end of their album, and Emmich loads a beauty onto the end of his album. This is a great album by a very talented artist, don't miss it. Web site
-DUG

TABULA RASA
THE ROLE OF SMITH
A-F RECORDS
The first full-length from barely three-year-old four-piece Tabula Rasa starts off rather weakly. The first track, "Dead Air", is overly generic, and the mediocre vocals are lost amidst heavy distortion. And unfortunately, these qualities are apparent throughout the entire record. The instrumentation and melodies are decent, but the terrible sound mix ruins it. Although this first album is far from recommendable, everyone should keep their eyes on Tabula Rasa, as they do show considerable potential. Web site
-tChow

INDUSTRIAL PLAYGROUND
OUR DOWNFALL WILL BE TELEVISED
VASH
Industrial Playground is a gothic industrial trio from California whose latest, 13-track release isn't anything we haven't heard before. It's all here, from the Manson-esque vocal style to the redunant drum patterns to the machine-like sounding guitars. Derivative of the stuff you'd hear at any given goth club's dance floor, Industrial Playground's scary vibe has been watered down considerably due to the lack of originality. But if you own some black velvet garments and a ton of Skinny Puppy paraphernalia, you'll probably dig this disc. Web site
-Mike SOS

THE ESCAPED
ESCAPED GENERATION EP
RODENT POPSICLE RECORDS
Brutally aggressive and fun as fuck! This Oregon-based punk unit plays straightforward streetpunk mixed with some high-energy gutterpunk. Think Discharge drinking with The Business and starting a jam session based on drinking shenanigans. There also happens to be a special video segment on this disc capturing a stellar performance from a rowdy show back in November. I highly recommend this bad boy. It will fill that empty space in your pathetic little life.
-Larry Lugz

SOUND TRANSMISSION
FUTURE MAPPING
SELF-RELEASED
The sophomore full-length release from this Kansas City prog-rock quartet is an ambitious and far-reaching work of art that has something for nearly everybody. The seven songs that make up the album vary from soft, melodic harmonies to blistering rock. With a high and distinct vocal range, vocalist Jeff Teel manages to sound a lot like Jon Anderson of Yes without pushing it to the limits of a castrated choirboy (like Geddy Lee of Rush). Comparisons with Sunny Day Real Estate are inevitable, but this band generates a lot more power in its epic build-ups to climaxes. The band was founded in 1996, but its progress has been slowed by Teel's participation in two other bands. With talent this good and music this complex, it's up to Teel to make a decision on what type of music he wants to create. I think it's high time to ditch the indie bands and concentrate on this one—lightning rarely strikes the same spot twice. The band does claim to have a Website (Web site), but it is still under construction and really doesn't work.
-DUG

ASTRID OTO
DISCOGRAPHY
NO IDEA
Although I do not see the disc labeled "DISCOGRAPHY" plainly anywhere, the No Idea site assures me that is its title. It is an apt title, because this 18-song CD compiles the tracks of five vinyl singles released on No Idea, Broken, and Meconium (as well as independently) over the last few years. Aaron decries the corruption and failure of punk on "D.I.Y." and "Torch Song". However, the band are not punk purists by any stretch. The group stretches out the punk-rock formula with tight, hard-rock arrangements and heavy metal/hardcore interludes, as well as with unexpected sonic surprises (usually of an electronic nature). At first listen, the style parade makes the collection of songs seem uneven and not cohesive, but ultimately the variety makes the album worth listening to repeatedly and always seems to bring a surprise or two.
- Tom "Tearaway" Schulte

MEMENTO
BEGINNINGS
COLUMBIA
Memento is an Aussie band (plus one Californian) who took the L.A. club scene by storm, getting them signed in less than a year and taking part in this year's Ozzfest, among other things. Containing two former members of the ambient rock outfit VAST, Memento's music combines the avant-garde nature of Tool and the darkness of Alice of Chains inside a big rock sound (à la Disturbed). The end result, however, seems choppy and forced, almost like the band is trying too hard to be ominous and foreboding. There are pockets of musical brilliance (like the piano opening of "Reflections" and the lush and lengthy "Figure 8"), but on the whole it seems like Memento is tapping into a vein that is all but dried up, as the Memento's dark, nu-metal attack has been covered by many of its influences. Web site
-Mike SOS

AMANDA ROGERS
THE PLACES YOU DWELL
IMMIGRANT SUN
Amanda Rogers, a singer/songwriter/pianist from New York, has played with such acts as Thursday, Saves the Day, New Found Glory, and Dashboard Confessional. No Vanessa Carlton here, just pure talent and beauty. Her second album, THE PLACES YOU DWELL, opens with a sweetly haunting tune. Each track on this album screams of innocence lost, of youth that has been stained with disappointment and the struggles of life. Amanda's voice is unique and lovely. If she hasn't already won you over at one of the many shows she's played with household indie/emo/pop punk names, it'd probably do you some good to give this album a listen. Web site
-tChow

MT. EGYPT
BATTENING THE HATCHES
RECORD COLLECTION MUSIC
The first full-length album from Travis Graves (a.k.a. Mt. Egypt) is a slow, methodical journey through the mind of an artist. With song titles like "Song of Desperation", "Strange Sad Air", and "Haunting", the tone of this album should be abundantly clear. There is a stark, acoustic beauty to these tunes. Though Graves does have fellow musicians that add the occasional drums, keyboards, bass, and backing vocals, this album is pretty much a one-man show. At times the tunes sound like vintage Neil Young from the TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT era—i.e., rough, raw, and emotional. Mt. Egypt spends most of its time playing clubs in the Los Angeles area, though the band is scheduled to go on tour with The Flaming Lips this summer. This band does have one of the most original, bohemian Websites around. Be sure to check it out at Web site, if just for tips on how to make a good site.
-DUG

DEFTONES
DEFTONES
MAVERICK
Don't know why it took Chino and friends four albums to title one eponymously, but it has most definitely arrived, and it's armed with the healthiest balance between jagged firepower and shimmering mope rock that the band has displayed since AROUND THE FUR. The 11-track collection is decisively heavier than the experimental WHITE PONY and finally showcases Stephen Carpenter's guitar as the righteous riff machine it's always meant to sound like (especially on the uber-dynamic "Battle-Axe"). Besides a heavier approach musically, once again Deftones prove why they're the band to emulate, as the song structures are meticulously metallic and equally melodic, far surpassing any of the nu-metal contingent (save System of a Down). Intriguing rhythmic patterns, Chino going off into another vocal stratosphere, and "Minerva" (a sweepingly epic number) are among the 7,000 reasons why this self-titled release by a quintet from Sacramento may just be the band's best work to date...and a strong contender for album of the year. Web site
-Mike SOS

THE APERS
THE BUZZ ELECTRIC
STARDUMB RECORDS
This Dutch band gives us a dozen power-pop tunes of amped-up confection. This sophomore release recalls some later work of The Adolescents, as it is overflowing with guitar and sung in a slightly snotty way. This is one of those bands known for constant gigging, and it shows in the music. Each song is electric with joyous emotion. THE BUZZ ELECTRIC is meant to get the crowd jumping with each and every song.
-Tom "Tearaway" Schulte

SUNTAN
SEND YOU HOME
KIMCHEE RECORDS
The debut full-length release from this Boston-based, psychedelic jam quartet is a big, sleepy snore of an album. The band encourages an altered consciousness to appreciate this music, but the only altered consciousness I could muster was the lack of consciousness. Imagine Tool on an overdose of reds and cheap wine. Each song plods along at the beginning, picks up steam after about four minutes, and ends at around seven minutes with a decent but disorganized sonic jam session. I appreciate what this band is trying to do, but I just couldn't keep myself awake long enough to appreciate it very much. These guys need to go back to music school and take a course in Pink Floyd 101. Without a catchy melody or chorus, these songs just appear rather boring. You kind find out more about these somnambulists at Web site.
-DUG

THE DATSUNS
THE DATSUNS
V2
The Datsuns have got the retro-rock form down perfectly, and they primp it powerfully on the band's debut release. Without any blatant plagiarism or false sense of self-importance, these guys put the pedal to the floor and go like it's 1976 all over again. Unsanitized for this politically-correct world we call home, The Datsuns self-titled, 10-track affair has collectively channeled the spirits of Phil Lynott, Bon Scott, and Tommy Bolin, rolling them into one giant rock 'n' roll party that kicks ass from end to end. Forget about The Hives and screw The Vines, The Datsuns have got all of the "the" bands beat because they concentrate on what's the most important—and that's the music, man. If you dig old-school hard rock with a garage-esque edge, these guys are what you need. Web site
-Mike SOS

NOAM CHOMSKY
THE NEW WAR ON TERRORISM : FACT AND FICTION
ALTERNATIVE TENTACLES
Noam Chomsky doesn't speak in an entertaining style. He is not funny. What he is is a great mind and a man who is not afraid to spell out the naked truth. He is not arrogant or mean-spirited—Noam Chomsky is just right. The main subject of this spoken-word disc is the United States and terrorism. Noam Chomsky paints the picture in the simplest terms. Don't be afraid to learn the truth—and this is it.
-H. Barry Zimmerman

BROOKVILLE
WONDERFULLY NOTHING
UNFILTERED RECORDS
This beautiful side project from Andy Chase of Ivy is a lush, atmospheric bit of pseudo-lounge music. There will be no moshing, no screaming, and no ear-splitting solos associated with this release; instead, the listener can look forward to soft, spring-like melodies, mellotrons, Chase's mellow vocals, and some intoxicating strings. This would be a great album to wake up to if you knew you had a shitty day ahead. It's as close as a musician can get to inflicting meditation on an audience. Of course, this would never work live, unless the whole audience was camped out on a grassy hill and each had their own sleeping bag. There are some very catchy songs on this disc, but not the type of music you'll hear on a playlist; instead, they're like the closing song that plays over the credits at the end of an indie film. If you need a break from a stressed-out, psychotic world full of megalomaniacs, I can't think of a better soundtrack.
-DUG

VELLS
VELLS
LUCKYHORSE INDUSTRIES
This gentle, dream-pop band features members from Modest Mouse, Red Stars Theory, Blessed Light, and Stagger Lee. The multi-track vocals from keyboardist Tristan Marcum add the easygoing summertime feel to this vibrant confection of indie pop that hearkens back to the '80s and earlier decades. Gentle and charming but with enough darkness to keep it from being bubblegum, this self-titled, six-song debut EP is a sugarcoated spell of pop hooks and bright rhythms.
- Tom "Tearaway" Schulte

VARIOUS ARTISTS
SWAMI SOUND SYSTEM VOL. 1: 2003 SALES CONFERENCE
SWAMI RECORDS
Owned and operated by Rocket from the Crypt frontman John "Speedo" Reis, San Diego imprint Swami has, until recently, been used primarily as a clearinghouse for all things Reis: reissues by the likes of Drive Like Jehu, Pitchfork, and RFTC, as well as offerings from his side-gigs The Sultans and Beehive and the Barracudas. Chock full of dapper rock thrills, SWAMI SOUND SYSTEM VOL. 1 allows listeners a glimpse of the state of the Swami union—namely, full-throttle garage-rock thrills shot through with a '50s greaser aesthetic and frequent stabs of white-hot intensity. New-breed rock pigs The Husbands and Mannequin Piss crank out straight-up gutter soul imbued with heaping helpings of virulent lyrical sniping and gnarly 50cc guitars. Once you toss in a pair of exclusive tracks from RFTC and Hot Snakes, SWAMI SOUND SYSTEM VOL. 1 is bloody essential stuff, be you a slummed-up motorhead or a casual garage maven.
-Jason Jett

BLUE EPIC
LOVE & HATE EP
EMPATHIC RECORDINGS
I fell deeply in love with Blue Epic from the moment I heard the first song on this album, and each one that followed delivered an even greater impact. The five songs on the LOVE & HATE EP are undeniably honest, pure, and beautifully-composed. The vocalist has the most striking and sexy voice, singing in a mysterious and mystic tone. Just imagine Sade, Portishead, and The Isley Brothers in the background while you're getting freaky. I could immediately tell that this band works hard at perfecting each track on the musical tip, as the music is in perfect harmony with the vocalist. Having successfully created a perfect name for themselves, they have undeniably made a true fan out of me.
-Annette Ovanessian

DIRTY WATER
DIRTY WATER
STREET ANTHEM RECORDS
This punk-rock band takes a unique approach to delivering lyrics: the singer enunciates clearly. This Boston band has hard-rock influences, especially in guitar style; and there is even an Anglo/Gaelic folk flavor to some of the songs, such as "Second Son" and "Doin' Time". This is somewhat like The Pogues and Boston and The Ramones.
-Tom "Tearaway" Schulte

THE LOVETONES
BE WHAT YOU WANT
YEP RECORDS
The intimate, sweet sounds of The Lovetones are healing and graceful. I love bands that have meaningful lyrics and soft melodies that can be placed under the category of easy listening. Although you probably won't hear this band on 94.7 "the Wave," you can comfortably listen to them in your home or in your car. The band is originally from Australia. BE WHAT YOU WANT is definitely worth your dollars and sense. Emoting catchy love ballads with realistic lyrics, the music is hard to resist. With very professional and promising songs, I can only wish to one day hear them on the radio. Having a good album to relate to means having the right lyrics to hear. Telling us that they realize that every fresh relationship "could be the start of something good" is the promise of hope; and making sure we love and value ourselves by "finding it in your heart" really deserves note. The Lovetones truly have an honest name.
-Annette Ovanessian

ATOM ORR
NOIR
POPULUXE RECORDS
Atom Orr is basically the elevator music on your elevator ride to Hell—because the perfect preparation for a life of eternal damnation would be listening to this album while stuck in a metal box.
-chad

BILLY TALENT
FOUR-SONG SAMPLER CD
ATLANTIC RECORDS
Taking its name from the Billy Tallent character in HARD CORE LOGO, this group offers a nasal neo-punk sound that is just an emasculated hard rock, safe for jocks. The group gets credit for putting together socially-aware lyrics (e.g., "Try Honesty", "Living in the Shadow"); but when the vehicle is thin, commercialized indie rock, it all sounds so contrived.
-Tom "Tearaway" Schulte

AUTOMATIC ANIMAL
AUTOMATIC ANIMAL
AUTOMATIC ANIMAL
Automatic Animal's bio says they are the "new-metal angst or emo-laden torture prevalent in contemporary alternative rock." From that confusing description comes my interpretation that Automatic Animal are metal-fusion, garage-rock, angry '80s rock 'n' rollers—far from alternative, but much closer to the days of Whitesnake and early Aerosmith. This self-titled CD resembles the Melrose Ave. grunge metal and belongs in the centerfold of a METAL EDGE MAGAZINE. The bio also states that they are similar in style to Rush and Tool, but that is wrong. There is one song in which you might hear a resemblance to Tool, but they hardly create the purity of each track to make that comparison. Also, the singer of Rush has a much higher-pitched voice. Even though I wasn't into the songs or the lyrics, I think they hold enough credibility to garner a regular following.
-Annette Ovanessian

THE SHOCKER
UP YOUR ASS TRAY
OGLIO
Named after a particularly delicate part of the foreplay process, The Shocker's publicity seems to be mostly focused on sex. Two out of seven songs on this CD have the word "head" in their titles. Other than that, I can't find anything else wrong with this band. The songs are clever enough. One is titled "my life as a plumber"—and it's really about being a plumber. The Shocker reminds me a little bit of The Slits, but only on some songs. The sound alternates between something you might hear on a '60s rock weekend on your favorite oldies station and older, girlier punk.
-Franny

DUST TO DUST
SICK
THE MUSIC CARTEL
Dust to Dust has had its share of ups and downs, yet Rob Traynor (who does everything on this album besides drums) has rolled with the punches and makes these personal triumphs and pitfalls subjects of the 12-track SICK. Most of the time Dust to Dust's sound can be described as hard and angry, yet—much like Sevendust and Stereomud—it can be refined at times. Thanks to the computerized programming sprinkled throughout the disc (especially on the melodically driving "This Way") and Traynor's love of big hooks and choruses (of which there is no shortage here), Dust to Dust transcends metal and steps outside the box—much like Jerry Cantrell did when he went solo. Dust to Dust also boasts the talents of fellow Brooklynite Kenny Hickey (of Type O Negative), who lends his six-string sting to a few of the album's finer guitar rockers (like the tongue-in-cheek "Supadupamachoman"). Add all of these factors together, and Dust to Dust comes up with a diverse and satisfying album that retains a sense of intimacy while still kicking ass. Web site
-Mike SOS

GIVE UP THE GHOST
BACKGROUND MUSIC
EQUAL VISION
Remember when it was American Nightmare? But what's in a name? This is still quite lovely. For those of you who've never heard of them (hard for me to believe, as they are played in regular circulation here), this sounds sort of like a lot of the bands on Victory Records, but with talent (ha ha!). In a way, the vocals bring to mind comparisons to Madball: the same throwing-knife kind of voice, the same delivery. Even if you don't like Madball or you think that Victory bands have no talent, give this band a try.
-Franny

JUMBO'S KILLCRANE
CARNAVAL DE CARNE
CRUCIAL BLAST
Like The Jesus Lizard meets Einstürzende Neubauten, Jumbo's Killcrane is an ominous doom-rock attack that is trenchant and terrible. This is early Sonic Youth amplified to overmodulating levels crossed with that amazing heavy stuff that was coming from Amphetamine Reptile and Touch & Go in the late '80s/early '90s like Melvins and Killdozer. Jumbo's Killcrane plays a sophisticated, progressive post-grunge sludge rock that wants to be played at maximum volume.
-Tom "Tearaway" Schulte

COMETS ON FIRE
COMETS ON FIRE
ALTERNATIVE TENTACLES
Comets On Fire is an acid-rock outfit from Santa Cruz, CA, with lots of raw power. These cats got mucho nuts to spare. Great fuzzed-up, crazy axe work leading the wall of chaos attack. Wedged somewhere between Blue Cheer and the MC5, Comets On Fire might melt your speakers down to a heap of smoking ruble. COMETS ON FIRE is a great, great, rocking disc. There is a defining element in every beat of this one hour and 20 seconds of rock. Comets On Fire, I will follow you anywhere.
-H. Barry Zimmerman

AGENT 51
THE RED AND THE BLACK
SURFDOG RECORDS
Breaking out of the box of the "punk-rock style" and adding the flavor of the days where punk was not played out comes Agent 51. Calling out to the forces of nature and cheering on a new breed of fans, they gather a different type of following, one that is knowledgeable about the history of punk-rock music and can easily recognize this band as a link to the past. Labeling themselves as the "American rock 'n' roll" and promising to take us to "paradise city," they must have something good to offer. Challenging evil around them and locking themselves into a sound of protest, the songs are "fucking loaded" with energy and form. Although I didn't enjoy all 13 tracks, I could tell that this band is professional from day one. For good times, visit Web site.
-Annette Ovanessian

HEWHOCORRUPTS
MASTERS OF PROFITS
FORGE AGAIN RECORDS
The cover of MASTER OF PROFITS looks like Metallica's MASTER OF PUPPETS, except that in place of the crosses there are dollar signs. Hewhocorrupts is trying their level damnedest to get on the "People that Lars hates (and might sue) hit list." The concept of Metallica as a sellout is followed through all the way. There are song titles like "Sell 'Em All", "One...Million Dollars", and "Ride the Limo". Plus, the music is a super attempt at Metallica-like rock. Hewhocorrupts is The Rutles of metal. This is a very fun listen. Lars, take a chill pill and try not to combust.
-H. Barry Zimmerman

SEVERED SAVIOR
BRUTALITY IS LAW
UNIQUE LEADER
Severed Savior is a Bay Area-based death-metal band that features ex-members of Deeds of Flesh. These guys play in the vein of Cannibal Corpse and Dying Fetus, so you know right from the get-go to brace yourself for the carnage. BRUTALITY IS LAW is not only a clever catch phrase, it is also the title to this metal outfit's album, a collection containing 10 meaty tracks of guitars that sound like swarms of bees near a hive and a rhythm section that puts most construction sites to shame when it comes to noise levels. This quartet pounds out some heavy stuff, folks. And for those that like death metal for the speed, you're in luck: everything's fast as hell and hearty enough to bang your head to. So, if you like your death metal heavy and fast with a slew of growls and guttural utterances that sound like Cookie Monster on crack, allow Severed Savior to attack your senses for a while. Web site
-Mike SOS

MAN
MACHINE
TIMES BEACH RECORDS
Man is a (yes) man who plays a bass drum and a hot-wired bass guitar for all that it is worth. MACHINE sounds like a trimmed-down Black Flag with Mike Muir's little brother singing lead. Man rocks. With titles like "Fuck the Team", Butcher's Holiday", and "Fired" ("And you think you deserve a raise / You're fired"), this is a total punk-rock experience. Man, I love that Man. This is a must-have.
H. Barry Zimmerman

THE GATHERING
SOUVENIRS
THE END RECORDS
Trip-rock, orchestral, and eccentric, The Gathering lays each track down flat. Shining from Holland and signaling a fan base here in the U.S., the band has produced great material to present to its new audience. The band definitely reaches out to listeners who appreciate female vocalists who have a mysterious and gothic sound. This female has a great voice—and without any trace of an accent! The lyrics are deep and personal lyrics, her calm voice singing about love and its obstacles. The album is filled with different instruments, providing eerie climaxes and unique individuality. With the release of SOUVENIRS, I believe The Gathering try to be the outcasts, wanting to be separate themselves from the common "girl rock band" categorization. The album has been released worldwide, and the band plans to visit the U.S. for a tour in September. They have labeled this their "best album ever," and I agree. It is a fine collection of "emotional music." Check out the Website at Web site
-Mike SOS

ROSCO
THE CAPITAL STAR EP
HOLIER THAN THOU RECORDS
For as punk and rebellious the band's press info makes it sound, Rosco's music is bland and poppy, at best. Luckily, this EP is only three tracks long, so I was able to take it out of my CD player rather quickly. The music is uninspired and generic, and lead singer Erica sounds like a second-rate Deborah Harry...at best. If this is the best the British "punk" scene has to offer, I'd hate to see its worst. Avoid at all costs (unless you like hearing vocals that will instantly get under your skin).
-Dane Jackson

VERBENA
LA MUSICA NEGRA
CAPITOL RECORDS
Verbena is the average rock band from your local bar, but not nearly as exciting as your favorite rock band that's playing at a bar far away. Having a great vocalist helps the band get extra points, but in the end I am left with no permanent reactions. These men are SO emo. Each song eventually peaks, but then falls right back down into the strange ballad it started out as—and I couldn't grasp the band's motives. The songs are well formed and professionally produced (this is Capitol Records, after all), but I still can't seem to find a suitable description of the band. I went to the Capitol Records Website and read Verbena's extremely horrible bio, and it said nothing of the bands history or performance. (Oh, but I think I figured out that they're from Birmingham.) Anyways, the songs are decent and fine, but I probably won't listen to them again.
-Annette Ovanessian

THE BIXBIES
THE BIXBIES
SELF-RELEASED CD
The Bixbies are an Ohio-based rock outfit whose accessible delivery and laid-back style makes the band's recent four-song sampler a perfect background soundtrack for a lazy Saturday afternoon barbecue. Totally radio-friendly melodies reminiscent of Marvelous Three or Vertical Horizon sweep through your ears like a cool breeze off the lake, as this quartet combine elements of pop, rock, and jazz to create a light-hearted musical entity akin to a refreshing glass of lemonade on a hot July day.
Web site-Mike SOS

LAST CHANCE
I WANTED TO BE AN ASTRONAUT
LEFT OVER RECORDS
You have to give Anthony Bridenbaugh props for this CD. He played every single instrument and laid down all the vocal tracks—plus, he did all the producing, engineering, and mixing. In general, the music is fine; however, the vocals are absolutely terrible. They aren't terrible because Anthony sucks, they're terrible because of how they're mixed. The man has a good voice—it's just too bad the guitars drown him out and that he sounds slightly metallic. It's hard to give this a straightforward review because of how rough the mix is, but I definitely would love to hear something from Last Chance once Anthony gets a band together. (Speaking of that, if you are interested in starting a band, contact him at tonyb@ucla.edu.)
-Dane Jackson

THROW RAG
DESERT SHORES
BYO RECORDS
With the smell of crystal meth in the air and a rusted-out trailer as a headquarters, Throw Rag manages to do the impossible: create an original and kick-ass rock record., chock full of wit, whiskey wisdom, and tons of attitude. Stylistically, the mix is a blend of '70s arena rock, Long Beach punk (circa '82), and a lil' bit voodoo swamp boogie. Taking cues from no one, Throw Rag belts out anthems of life on the edge, tales of misguided adult shenanigans, and hoot-hollering good times. The crème de la crème comes with the classic Motorhead/Girlschool classic "Please Don't Touch". To put it simply, Throw Rag keeps rock primal and mean. Everything else is just icing on the cake.
-Larry Lugz

MINUS
HALLDOR LAXNESS
VICTORY
Remember the first time you heard Refused and how jarring the experience was? Well, get ready for another epiphany, as Iceland's answer to the Swedish sensation has returned with the follow-up to its debut, JESUS CHRIST BOBBY. Armed with 12 tracks of ambient hardcore, HALLDOR LAXNESS is an album that defies convention and most musical logic, as its crash-and-burn style and devil-may-care attitude conflates early Fugazi, Hanoi Rocks, The MC5, and Sex Pistols into a vital musical beast that has the ability to creep into your subconscious and shake your entire foundation. Calling Minus hardcore is a misnomer of sorts, as the band prides itself in taking a rock 'n' roll swagger and projecting it against a hardcore screen. While this sounds nearly impossible, this quintet makes it sound effortless, sharing all of its intricacies and spilling its innards for the sake of expression. Web site
-Mike SOS

ON TRIAL
BLINDED BY THE SUN
TEE PEE RECORDS
This Danish group revels in authentic vintage equipment and the sounds of psychedelic rock. The vocals do not match the instrumental sound very well, being too pristine and clean-sounding. Still, this is good example of throwback jam rock, with a nice organ sound in the mix. Not overly impressive, this On Trial album will go over good with none-too-picky fans of Spacemen 3 and The Brian Jonestown Massacre for the most of it, while heavier songs like "Downer" are in between Jethro Tull and the modern stoner-rock sound.
-Tom "Tearaway" Schulte

BLIND DOG
CAPTAIN DOG RIDES AGAIN
METEOR CITY
Swedish rock 'n' rollers Blind Dog have returned with their sophomore, high-octane, kick-in-the-ass release, as the 10 tracks that comprise CAPTAIN DOG RIDES AGAIN will take you on a ride that combines stoner grooves (such as the laconic "Follow the Fools"), fuzzed-out and frenetic rhythms (such as on "Iron Cage"), and a memorable trip into some honest, gritty rock. This power trio hits hard and strikes often, exploding into jams that come out of nowhere at the drop of a hat—and never fail to rip your face off. Blind Dog not only challenges the eardrums, but also persuades the brain to be left on and (God forbid) think about the world and the things going on all around—all as swirling guitars, monstrous drums, thunderous bass lines, and vocals as deep as the ocean invade your listening space. If you dig Sabbath, Entombed, Blue Cheer, Fu Manchu, and, hell, all those crazy stoner-rock bands, one listen of Blind Dog's latest will make you a rabid fan. Web site
-Mike SOS

THE REAL MCKENZIES
OOT & ABOOT
HONEST DON'S
Punk rock with bagpipes! That is The Real Mckenzies, Scottish punkers with the flair of The Picts, a street-punk attitude, and rousing, anthemic choruses that well season this album. The emotion of the group's songs still are not really all that angry, instead more triumphant and enthusiastic of punk and Scottish heritage. Even the mocking "Get Lost", spite in the face of those that would belittle the effort put forth by The Real Mckenzies, is a rousing party theme.
-Tom "Tearaway" Schulte

THE HEAVILS
THE HEAVILS
METAL BLADE
The Heavils are not an average band by any stretch of the imagination, as this Illinois-based quartet use a strange array of homemade guitars to create their buzzsaw sound. On the outfit's self-produced, eponymous debut, these instruments—made out of anything from wood to PVC pipe fittings—are the anchor of the band's unique sound, which ranges from left-of-center groove rock (à la The Melvins) to straight-up metal (like Propain). The 15 tracks that comprise the disc are grating, dissonant rockers that share commonalities with bands like Tool and Primus, yet need their very own classification because of the strange guitar noises heard throughout. With an ingenious inclination fueling the band's undeniable hard-rock soul, The Heavils make for quite the interesting listen. Web site
-Mike SOS

ALL GIRL SUMMER FUN BAND
2
K RECORDS
The second album from this Portland quartet is poppier than a soda machine. With a sound reminiscent of '60s girl groups and the upbeat punch of a band like The Donnas, this girly band blasts through 14 two-minute songs with the enthusiasm of a Hare Krishna at the airport. The tunes are infectious, immature, and addicting. It could be the lamest name of any band in the last 20 years, but the name describes these precocious 20-somethings perfectly. Though the band hails from the great Pacific Northwest, there's no snarly grrrl rock here. It seems as if they've got their tongues out, arms akimbo, and are screaming into the vintage mic, "Go ahead and stop smiling! I fucking dare you!" No matter how hard you resist, the relentless happiness of the AGSFB eventually eats through your frontal lobe and leaves your cerebral cortex a jumble of snickerdoodles and soy milk. We shouldn't have to torture terrorists to find out their secrets—just play them this album in an endless loop until they confess everything.
-DUG

JOHN ARCH
A TWIST OF FATE
METAL BLADE
John Arch is the former frontman for the progressive rock outfit Fates Warning, and this release is Arch's first in over 15 years. Even though it's billed as an EP, the two-track release clocks in at nearly 30 minutes—something most prog rock fans will be enthralled with. With a slew of guest help (such as heavyweights Joey Vera, Mike Portnoy, and Jim Matheos), the end result is basically what you'd expect from a prog-rock supergroup: lengthy, over-the-top, musical metal that is at times lucid, at others something that takes you to that faraway place like only a true progressive metal solo can do. With a line-up like this, John Arch's comeback proves to be a long-overdue yet heartily welcomed one. Web site
-Mike SOS

BLEU
REDHEAD
AWARE RECORDS
William James McAuley III (a.k.a. Bleu) uses his musical abilities to create a swift, blended work of what I call eclectic, moody rock. No other voice can project the substance of these songs better than Bleu's. This man knows how to mix smooth, flowing melodies and catchy guitar tunes to develop a tasteful, intuitive album. The songs on REDHEAD are simple yet intelligent and far from shallow or bland. An outstanding song is "Somebody Else". Bleu's rhythmic transitions and keen ability to reach hit melodic notes contribute to the high level of emotion in this song, all the way down to the powerful, angst-filled final notes. This debut contains diverse instrumentation and vocals that are not to be overlooked. Worth picking up during your next visit to the record store.
-Kathleen

ANGRY AMPUTEES
SLUT BOMB
DEAD TEENAGER MUSIC
I don't think a band would call themselves "amputees" if they really weren't—and in this band, bassist Dalty has no fingers and no legs. Now, that's pretty interesting and extremely rare (and they probably attract a lot of extra attention whenever they play). In the case of these Angry Amputees, the female vocalist lets us all know her frustrations about a particular guy who dicked her over many times. SLUT BOMB is perfect for biker chicks and sensitive rock dudes. Although she has a good voice, it's kind of similar to a deep-sounding Chipmunk crossed higher-pitched Courtney Love. The band is also very similar to Hole, in that the vocalist portrays herself as a chick that doesn't give a fuck about what anybody might think of her. The songs are mediocre, but not horrible. If this band doesn't work out for her, she has a great voice for the next big ska band waiting to be heard.
-Annette Ovanessian

TRAGIC FIGURE
TRAGIC FIGURE
SELF-RELEASED CD
Long Island-based hardcore outfit Tragic Figure's three-song sampler showcases a band that has a ton of crossover potential, displaying the sonic richness of Glassjaw with the pit-savviness of metalcore—complete with riff-heavy breakdowns and tortured screams from the depths of hell. Having a real New England metalcore sound, Tragic Figure manages to get down and dirty like the best of the tough-guy hardcore bands, all while retaining a sense of headbanger's delight with its fist-pumping crunch and guitar runs. If you enjoy the sounds of the underground hardcore scene, add Tragic Figure to the list of bands to check out if you find yourself at a hardcore show at a VFW or a CBGB Sunday matinee. Web site
-Mike SOS

ELGIN JAMES
FOR CAROL…
LONESOME RECORDINGS
With a checkered past that included fronting bands such as Wrecking Crew and The Jaded Salingers to stealing cars to spending time in the correctional system and founding a violent Boston street gang, James has put his current nervous energy into a solo debut album that focuses on the quest for redemption in the form of his idealized woman. The music ranges from acoustic ballads to grinding, country-tinged rock on this tour de force. Most of the songs are stark autobiographical tunes such as "Dead at Fifteen", "My Way Down", and "Down at the Bar", and James manages to pull the listener into his personal journey of escape and resurrection. Artistic creativity is definitely this guy's anti-drug. Hopefully he didn't have to write the software program for his label's Website at Web site.
-DU

THE RIFFS
DEATH OR GLORY
TKO RECORDS
Each album from The Riffs is a ticket back to a time when punk rock could be melodic, catchy, and simple. Each song on this album recalls New York Dolls, The Ramones, Generation X, and other American pioneers of punk rock. This third studio album from the group offers anthemic material for drunken punks to sing along to in beer-swilling caterwauling. It is probably the group's constant touring (and thus contact with its audience) that makes the band such an effective producer of new street-punk classics.
-Tom "Tearaway" Schulte

MUCH THE SAME
QUITTERS NEVER WIN
A-F RECORDS
Billed by its label as one of Chicago's "best pop-laced, high octane punk rock bands," Much the Same combines the noise of NOFX with the sentimentality of Creed to create material that is both appealing and nauseating. Though "Gunner," the group's singer, has a voice that jumps out of the speakers kicking, his lyrics sound like something a self-absorbed high school student might write: "You ask me why I put myself through this, to You I say / If you've ever chased a dream you'd know I can have it no other way." Can someone hand me a tissue, please? Punk rock and self-help jabber—like bacon and ice cream—just don't mix.
-Stephen B. Armstrong

THE NEW CHRISTS
WE GOT THIS!
SMOG VEIL RECORDS
Led by former Radio Birdman vocalist Rob Younger, testosterone-fueled quintet The New Christs harken back to the glory days of garage rock, an era when nobody outside your circle of friends knew your name, your leather jacket was tattered because you couldn't afford a new one, and whole bands lived in cramped two-bedroom apartments and subsisted on Top Ramen and cheap beer. As explosive as a crate of C-4 and twice as deadly, WE GOT THIS! blasts along on Younger's Beowulf-with-his-nuts-caught-in-a-trap howl and diamond-studded riffing. In an era when pretenders to the throne are the talk of the town, The New Christs deserve to be the talk of the whole fucking world.
-Jason Jett

CONVERTIBLE JENNIFERS
CONVERTIBLE JENNIFERS
RIDING MOWER
NYC-based indie-rock trio Convertible Jennifers take the laid-back '70s rock grooves of Roxy Music and Steely Dan and incorporate them into the band's relaxed, finger-snapping atmosphere. The result makes for some clever songwriting that has all the elements of dinner music with a sarcastic twist, giving us two songs that many of the mature rock audience wouldn't mind sipping a cocktail to at an after-work happy hour hot spot. Web site
-Mike SOS

THE MIRRORMEN
BREAKING CLASS
MALT SODA RECORDINGS
It took a bit for this EP to get started, but once the actual songs started playing, I really enjoyed it. The Mirrormen is a band that mixes thrashy punk rock with Motorhead-inspired rock. This results in some pretty intense tracks with serious political and social undertones. The music on this disc is typical three-chord punk with pounding drums. The bass isn't prominent, but when you can hear it, it's very brutal (and I mean that in a good way). All in all this should satisfy the palate for all of you who are into more of a thrashy, Minor Threat-style of punk rock. "Karma" and "No Right" are my favorite tracks on the EP.
-Dane Jackson

TENNIS
LAUNDROMAT
WATERMARK RECORDS
The debut album from this Brooklyn trio is a lightweight, pop crossover somewhere between The Cars and Weezer. While the band's press release says it has built a formidable and loyal NYC following, I can only imagine a bunch of people pogoing in parachute pants and tank tops. Some of the tracks are backed with vintage '80s keyboard riffs that give the music an intentionally dated feel. There are bands that can pull off the cute and clever lyrics (such as Weezer), but those bands are few and far between. Somehow this band comes off sounding like a SNL skit.
-DUG

LUCERIN BLUE
TALES OF THE KNIFE
TOOTH & NAIL RECORDS
Maybe it's because Lucerin Blue's style is not particularly appealing to me, but this album seemed much too boring. It seems as though Lucerin Blue unwittingly attempts to fit into the recent mainstream nu-metal/rap category. If you put Disturbed and Papa Roach together with a little Linkin Park on the side, you'd have Lucerin Blue. Their lyrics do have more depth than the aforementioned bands', though. "Find Me" seems like an encouraging song, with lyrics such as: "You gave us a voice and we've got words / It's time to rise up against the tides of words that kill." Lucerin Blue have developed good songwriting skills, but they would probably be better off if the lyrics weren't projected with exorcist-like voices and angry shouts.
-Kathleen

THE GEMINUS SECT
GEMINATION
SIN KLUB
Even though a lot of electronica sounds like it was produced straight out of some lonely soul's basement, The Geminus Sect seems to have been able to peek its head out of the window long enough to display influences besides suicide, its own warped delusions, and mopey, "woe is me" goth rock. This duo's 12-track offering contains an industrial edge with beefy guitars and garden-variety vocals that linger between RevCo and Filter. While GEMINATION contains some sounds that would best be introduced by the Mike Meyer's "Sprockets" character, on the whole the disc is both danceable and heavy. Taking the harder side of the goth/industrial scene and mixing in some metallic influence à la KMFDM and Rammstein, The Geminus Sect's release elicits as much fun as you can have without the latex pants and matching jacket. Web site
-Mike SOS

THOSE PEABODYS
UNITE TONIGHT
TIGER STYLE RECORDS
Fresh off their tour with Trail of Dead, Those Peabodys display a brand of rock that is very gritty and in your face. Not to be outdone by the current garage trend, Tiger Style has signed its answer to the so-called rock revolution. If you like your rock down and dirty with a massive classic garage feel, then this is your band.
-ADF

VERY APE
KOSHER BOOGIE
ALIVE RECORDS
Very Ape is an energetic, potent rock band that amps up the '70s-rock sound like the diehard legacy of Kiss crossed with the visceral, throwback rock attitude of Turbonegro. This is the first full-length album from this Stockholm group, and fittingly it is released on Alive Records, where the sound of rock is alive and continually reinvented. The spirit of this post-hard rock approach is encapsulated in the rocking "Don't Search My Records": "I am clean and sober now / And that's more than I used to be." Just as jazz left America to grow better in Europe, so have the Europeans co-opted and improved on the '70s hard-rock style. For those who still rock out to Savoy Brown and MC5 albums and find little to equal them in today's "modern rock," Very Ape has some new tunes worthy of hearing.
-Tom "Tearaway" Schulte

LABRAT
RUINING IT FOR EVERYONE
CENTURY MEDIA
Labrat is one of those bands that you back away from very carefully in fear that they may explode at anytime. Judging by the quartet's latest batch of tunes (nine, to be exact), there's a lot to be worried about. Experimental as much as extreme, Labrat's sonic assault on your senses is bound to leave you drained, as the band's blend of metal incorporates grind, punk, death, and thrash. Evoking the power of bands like Napalm Death, Lamb of God, and The Haunted, this London-based outfit is indeed ruining it for everyone. Some bands claim to be extreme; Labrat takes it up a notch by running with the metal torch and setting everything in its path ablaze. Web site
-Mike SOS

E CHIODOS BROS.
THE HEARTLESS CONTROL EVERYTHING
SEARCH AND RESCUE RECORDS
I haven't been this impressed with an album in quite a long time. Influenced by hardcore, punk, and indie, The Chiodos Bros. have managed to construct a beautifully melodic yet sonically aggressive album that will have you singing along in no time. Even with the current influx of innovative hardcore/punk bands, this one has managed to put forth a style all their own. Craig Owen's ability to project a powerful voice amidst the screaming and keyboard tracks make the listener keep wanting more. Keep an eye out for The Chiodos Bros. in the near future.
-ADF

CURSE OF THE GOLDEN VAMPIRE
MASS DESTRUCTION
IPECAC
Curse of the Golden Vampire is the brainchild of pioneers of noise Justin Broadrick and Kevin Martin, two fellows that could teach you a thing or two about crushing sonic output. Coming from the seminal bands Napalm Death, Godflesh, and God, this dynamic duo of dub have created some of the most pounding, gut-wrenching, and thoroughly disturbing "music" with the advent of this bastardized concoction that mixes techno, punk, dub, thrash, grind, and whatever else left-of-center form of music you can think of. Not for the weak of heart or thought, MASS DESTRUCTION is a 15-track hellride into a whole new level of noise. Nihilistic and pulverizing, make sure you are prepared for the carnage that Curse of the Golden Vampire will leave, as it's bound to be one big, ugly mess. Web site
-Mike SOS

JACKSON
E.P.
MAGNIFICENT RECORDS
This band isn't horrible, but, I mean, they're not particularly great; they're just kind of…well, I don't know. This CD makes me not want to do reviews anymore. They're good enough that I can't really say anything bad about them, but bad enough that I can't say anything good about them. This CD reminds me of how I was at my friend's house the other day, and his mom had a crocheted pillow that said, "If you don't have anything nice to say, come sit next to me." I had a good laugh after I saw that. I'm going to start collecting that mom/boutique crap and put it all over my house. I don't think people will say anything...until they realize I live by myself.
-Carlos Cuesta

AGAINST ME!
THE DISCO BEFORE THE BREAKDOWN
NO IDEA RECORDS
From the label that brought us Hot Water Music and the infamous Jud Jud comes another up-and-coming Gainesville, FL, band. This three-song sampler leaves me wanting to hear more. The vocals remind me a lot of the gritty Hot Water Music singing, but the music is a different story: it's an offbeat type of rock, featuring some acoustic and some grungy, distorted guitar. If you're a fan of the HWM/Florida style of grungy rock, then you should check out Against Me!
-ADF

GHOST ORGY
GHOST ORGY
BLACK PUMPKIN
Ghost Orgy is a gothic metal band whose seductively ominous sound can be attributed to both the outfit's ghastly grooves and the frontwoman's gloomy-yet-sexy delivery. This New Jersey quartet's evil stomp and haunting melodies are definitely geared for the leather-and-latex contingent, as its music could undoubtedly provide the background music for conjuring souls or something just as wicked. If you like your metal dark with a real eerie tone, Ghost Orgy's CD is for you. Web site
-Mike SOS

TORA! TORA! TORRANCE!
A CYNIC'S NIGHTMARE
THE MILITIA GROUP
This hard-edged indie-rock group with the snotty vocals opens its album with rousing call for "a little monogamy." The band's sound is an interesting blend of '70s hard rock (check out the cowbell) with a post-punk attitude and delivery. This Minnesota group has an album worth hearing, and it should be played loud.
-Tom "Tearaway" Schulte

JEALOUS SOUND
KILL THEM WITH KINDNESS
BETTER LOOKING RECORDS
Los Angeles based band Jealous Sound have survived it's bumpy roads with record labels and drummer changes. Although lacking in song diversity, it's more about clever and close-to-home lyrics and good songwriting that differentiates them from the typical indie/emo rockers out there today. On "For Once in Your life", lead vocalist Blair sings vividly, "Everyone is fixed, from columns to the sky, from 2am to 6, a candy-coated high" with that utmost sweet and tenderness he has mastered . In fact, he puts the P in passion... lunging out about love, loss for love, and everything in between. KILL THEM WITH KINDNESS is filled to the brim with sincerity and infectious songs and surely adored by J Sound loyalists. Knapsack fans may just take it to heart too.
-Tomas Espri

» BACK TO TOP