August CD Reviews (in alphabetical order)

ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE
ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE
SURPRISE ATTACK
Named after a Misfits song, plays brutal death metal infused hardcore…Sound familiar? Well, they don't hail from Connecticut (try Florida), but All Hell Breaks Loose do decisively pummel you with the barrage of crushing riffs, throaty growls, and intense breakdowns. Their take-no-shit style combined with the frantic pace found on tracks like "Amsterdam" are the perfect ingredients for wreaking massive amounts of havoc. www.surpriseattackrecords.com
-Mike SOS

AMBER PACIFIC
THE POSSIBILITY AND THE PROMISE
HOPELESS RECORDS
The debut full-length album from Amber Pacific is just a the start of what this Seattle quintet is capable of. THE POSSIBILITY AND THE PROMISE is the follow-up to their May 2004 EP release with Hopeless Records. With no expectations to cloud their talents, these guys have been called upon to do what they do best, make music. The Amber Pacific sound is distinctive and unique, thanks in part to lead singer Will. In the hardcore/screamo genre, vocalists tend to search for the same sound. Overall, THE POSSIBILITY AND THE PROMISE is for fans of Brand New, Audiopilot Off, and Fall Out Boy. Be sure to check out Amber Pacific this summer on the Warped Tour and on other tours this fall.
-Courtney Strain

ANDI CAMP
MAGNETIC
GRAFTON
Packaged in a neat little magnetic case, it appears that Andi Camp's album's title is both figurative and literal, as she sings, "Try as I might, I can't resist you / It's magnetic when we kiss." Certainly not the most original metaphor in the history of music, but on guilty pop like this, it seems to work. Andi may be closer to Vanessa Carlton than to Jenny Lewis. That works for some people, and there's nothing wrong with that. One of these tracks is sure to wind up in the next Brittany Murphy movie, and Andi can date Freddie Prinze Jr. or something. Things will work out just fine for her, I promise.
-Ringo

APRIL SIXTH
IN MEMORY
COLUMBIA RECORDS
The debut CD from this Riverside, CA, quintet is as hard-rocking a major-label disc you'll ever hear from a Christian band. It's not the greatest album ever, but it's pretty damn cool. I can count the Christian bands signed by Columbia Records on one hand. Wait—maybe I can count them on one finger. These guys have the Foo Fighters sound, the energy of youth, and a fan base that would make most band members spend the rest of their lives answering e-mails from foxy female fans. Just check out the band's numerous Websites to see the buzz. But in the end, it's the music that sells the band—and these guys have the tunes down. The band doesn't miss a trick on this debut, with anthems, hard-edged rock tunes with kick-ass chorus lines, and the occasional power ballad to mix things up. It's rock, not emo.
-Dug

AXIS
SELF-TITLED
SELF-RELEASED
I ran into Axis at the Warped Tour in Long Beach this year, and I'm glad that I did. This self-titled disc, though short, is very good. Imagine Incubus and Hoobastank having a child - that child would be Axis. The one thing that constantly pops into my head when trying to describe this disc would be melodic, every aspect of their music is melodic. From the lead and back-up vocals to the guitars and bass lines. Check out Axis for yourself at www.myspace.com/axismusic.
-Manda-Dex-Punk

BACON & EGG
BACON & EGG ARE FANDUBO
MOTRON
I'll admit that I was a bit confused upon listening to this record. It features songs that range from rock instrumentals to pseudo-rap metal singles. I don't have much to compare this album to, as it's slightly out of my area of expertise, but I would say it pulls some influence from the nu-metal bands of today like Static-X, but with plenty of rap vocals to take over the playing field. I suppose fans of rap metal would be down with Bacon & Egg, but the music just doesn't hit my soft spot. www.baconandegg.net/mediapage.html
-Ringo

BALBOA
MANIFESTE CANNIBALE
FORGEDAGAINRECORDS
Good god, man! This is some disturbing stuff. These Philly boys certainly accomplished what they were striving for—according to their insert, an homage to those who live their lives "on the underside of its seething belly, in the shadow of its footprint." I hesitate to encourage this seemingly anti-American propaganda, because I believe you can leave if you don't like it; however, this album is hard and raw and original enough to deserve a listen; and certainly it deserves your own conclusion.
-Thomas Murray

BLIVIT
UNHAND THE WORLD
CRIMSON FIRE PRODUCTIONS
Blivit is a rare specimen of the power-pop species. Nearly all the common traits seem readily apparent: traditional verse/chorus/verse song structure, competent and sometimes outstanding musicianship (particularly from keyboardist and singer/songwriter Jeremy Dyen)...and yet, no guitar. Granted, Dyen's distorted and sometimes frantic and inspired keyboard melodies capture your attention, but the lack of guitar reeks more of gimmickry than of a confident foray into creative reinterpretation of rock dogma. Furthermore, it can hardly make up for some serious lyrical missteps (like the mangled set of images in the song "Rockin' the Boat" (a cliché in itself): "Like a rose, sharp as a thorn in my side, putting holes in the boat"). It's difficult to apologize for such hackneyed images as roses, thorns, and sinking boats—especially when they seem haphazardly grafted together (like a science-fiction monster) with as superficial a gimmick as keyboard supremacy.
-Matt Wallace

BLUE MONDAY
REWRITTEN
BRIDGE 9 RECORDS
Hardcore straight out of Vancouver, BC, Blue Monday waste no time. Within their first year as a group, they released a eight-song demo, did a West Coast tour, and worked on new material for an EP release. Short, sweet, and to the point. That's exactly how REWRITTEN is presented and played. Too bad they skipped the part about trying something new. This album, although not all that bad, lacks variety. Every song sounds like the last; and I have no idea what's being said or yelled. Hardcore monotony for the hard-core hardcore fan.
-Courtney Strain

BORN FROM PAIN
IN LOVE WITH THE END
METAL BLADE
Make no mistake: there's NOTHING subtle about Born from Pain. From the band's moniker to their devastating, aggressive metallic hardcore sound to the very bold and brutally honest lyrics, these Dutch hell-raisers are menacing, indeed. The lyrics—which touch upon such happy subjects as Armageddon ("Hour of the Wolf"), apathy, pain, the downfall of humanity ("Suicide Nations", "The New Hate"), and fighting daunting uphill battles to no avail ("Dead Code")—complement the unremittingly heavy music wonderfully. But for all the bleakness, there are some positive instances, including the amazing "Raging Heart", which features some more melody during the totally life-affirming, keep-on-trying themed chorus of "No one's born to lose / Not with a will and a chance to choose / Focus clear, push it hard / Live life for your truth"; and the never-say-die "Renewal". Inundated with oppressive, meaty riffs; angry, shouted vocals; absolutely sick drumming; and propulsive bass, IN LOVE WITH THE END adeptly proves Born from Pain have the entire package.
-Janelle Jones

BRAND NEW SIN
RECIPE FOR DISASTER
CENTURY MEDIA
Returning with a vengeance, Brand New Sin's latest hard-rock excursion, RECIPE FOR DISASTER, continues the quintet's quest for championing the hard-rock scene with the band's Southern rock grit meets swampy blues style. Falling somewhere between Lynyrd Skynyrd and Black Label Society with a pinch of Pantera, this coarse 13-track endeavor combines pounding guitar riffs with hooks that could easily satisfy stadiums—all performed with a blue-collar work ethic and a hearty helping of blood, sweat, and tears. They don't make bands like Brand New Sin anymore, as songs like crushing '80s rock revival "Black and Blue", the ominous groove of "Vicious Cycles", and the sitting-on-the-porch vibe of "Running Alone" are reminiscent of times before MTV's bastardization changed the face of rock. If you're looking for an album to kick back and raise hell to, RECIPE FOR DISASTER is that triple shot of rock that fits nicely between your Sabbath and AC/DC discs. www.centurymedia.com
-Mike SOS

BUSINESS DEAL
TOP 40 OF 2005
BUSINESS DEAL RECORDS
This is the dumbest CD I ever wasted time on. You might as well stick a funnel in your ear to hear the poorly recorded tracks that lend nothing but more shit for the music world's toilet. This album made me feel as if I was babysitting for some annoying kid who wouldn't stop poking my arm and sniffling. If I liked fading voices, amateur vocals, and bands named Fart Face, I would be in my own music utopia. Unfortunately, this is not the Twilight Zone.
-Aimee Curran

CENTURY
CENTURY
SELF-RELEASED
Former guitarist for ArmsBendBack Carson Slovak started what he called the "Century project" as a studio project and has built it into a full-on performing band. With the help of Grant McFarland, Mike Guiliano, and a guy only known as Huggie, Century went from simply a studio project to a self-produced, self-released band with torque. Lyrically, the album is based on the journal entries of Slovak, leaving it intense and straight from the depths of the human emotions. Musically, it is innovative, creative, and something that integrates hardcore, rock, acoustic, and melodic rock. An album that leaves you wanting more without knowing what to expect.
-Courtney Strain

CHASER
IN CONTROL
SELF RELEASED
Chaser are four hard working boys (Nate Warner on guitar, Josh Milican on drums, AJ Latteri on bass and Mike Ledonne as lead vocalist) trying to mesh together Guttermouth, Pennywise and Bad Religion all into one album - their own, IN CONTROL. With a few more years of playing under their belts who knows, maybe they could go beyond this goal or perhaps come up with a new sound all their own and not try to compound the sounds of already existing bands. But if you like those bands and would like to get an idea of how exactly Chaser is combining those influences check them out on the web www.chaserpunk.com.
-Manda-Dex-Punk

COEXIST
COEXIST
FINGER RECORDS
The debut full-length from Coexist is a rocker's necessity. The melodies are similar to AFI (pre-SING THE SORROW), with the intense energy of Rise Against. The band was picked up on the 2004 Warped Tour in their hometown of Austin and discovered by Finger Records on the California leg. This new album has great lyrics to go along with intoxicatingly addictive musical content. This album has so much power behind it that it'll make you feel like you're front and center for a show. Don't believe me? Go check them out this month as they tour the greater Southwest.
-Courtney Strain

CONTINENTAL
WHAT WAS GAINED…
U-DOT MUSIC
The third full-length release from San Francisco prog-mood band Continental is a bittersweet affair best described as background music. While the band has been compared to other instrumentalists like Mogwai, the music on this disc is more like something you'd hear on a meditation disc or a relaxation tape. The songs are pleasant, soft, and would be the perfect backing for a party if you have friends who talk a lot. If your friends are naturally quiet people, most of them will probably end up sleeping on the couch while listening to this disc. Without defined guitar hooks or vocals, most of these tunes just merge together into one long, slow, introspective mood piece. Sadly, one of the founding members of the band, bassist Brent Kimble, passed away in March of 2005. While not commercially appealing, this album is a soulful tribute for a friend who has crossed over.
-Dug

DAM
PURITY
CANDLELIGHT
English death-metal troupe Dam have studied their Death and Carcass discs ad nauseam, and it shows on the 12-track PURITY. Combining the technical prowess of the more progressive members of the death-metal genre with sledgehammer-heavy antics, tracks like "City of Envy" and "Fury" kick it old school à la Entombed and Malevolent Creation, complete with a heartfelt intensity not heard in many of today's death-metal offerings. www.candlelightrecords.co.uk
-Mike SOS

DAPHNE LOVES DERBY
ON THE STRENGTH OF ALL CONVINCED
OUTLOOK MUSIC COMPANY
After having some reasonable online success via Purevolume.com, Daphne Loves Derby has decided to take a shot at putting out a real record. The style is typical pop/rock brought to us very emo-infused. There's nothing new here. The album is very similar to a group by the name of Copeland. The most talented piece in this band is the vocalist. He has a very smooth voice that carries through each song beautifully. Now, if only the music could be a little more original, this group could have a big future ahead of them.
-ADF

DAYS AWAY
MAPPING AN INVISIBLE WORLD
FUELED BY RAMEN
Melodic emo and beautifully flowing harmonies are what make up the debut full-length from Days Away. The quintet was originally based out of Philadelphia and moved to California (like many people do), vowing to either "make better music or quit altogether." With the help of Ken Vasoli of The Starting Line, Days Away hooked up with Neil Avron (producer for Yellowcard and New Found Glory) to produce MAPPING AN INVISIBLE WORLD. Heartfelt, genuine, amazing, and addictive. The band claims on their Website that this album will become an obsession. Damn, were they right! Soft-core emo for the romantic in all of us.
-Courtney Strain

DEATH BEFORE DISHONOR
FRIENDS FAMILY FOREVER
BRIDGE NINE
After giving this seven-track album a listen, you are left skeptical about Death Before Dishonor. Sure, they're tough-guy hardcore from Boston with many breakdowns and a few "fucks" here and there, but are they the real deal? Perhaps a live show is more convincing, but FRIENDS FAMILY FOREVER is not proof of this band. Much of the album is overproduced, exhausting the use of gang vocals. Even with something that is supposed to be exciting and inspiring like shout-alongs, you grow bored listening. "By My Side" sounds cool and I can imagine the fun of hearing it live, but the line "You are my only savior / My only peace of mind" is repeated so many times that it's distracting. Basically, choose the live show over the recorded version.
-Luke Skywalker

DEMON CITY WRECKERS
INNER DEMONS
HAIRBALL 8 RECORDS
Before even listening to one second of music on this album, I was already fond of it. Just before the opening track breaks into loud and abusive punk rock, a clip is heard from one of my favorite motion pictures, THE BIG LEBOWSKI. This album is raw and difficult to label. INNER DEMONS is a juxtaposition of punk, hardcore, and psychobilly. The lyrical content is similar to that of many other psychobilly acts, with most lines referring to horror movies or the undead. Standout tracks are "The Artist" and "Thirty-Ninth and Norton".
-Anthony

DISBELIEF
66SICK
NUCLEAR BLAST
Disbelief's latest, 12-track offering sounds like the merger of Obituary, Bloodlet, and In Flames, as the quintet have compacted the Swedish metal tones inside of Florida's old-school grind-and-churn delivery. Tracks like the syrupy death-rock groove of "Floating on High" twist the knife slowly inside your skull, while the majestic yet maniacal march of "Continue from This Point" sinks the slow-and-low motif to new depths. If you're looking for a band to literally kill you softly with their mammoth mid-tempo metal, look no further than Disbelief. www.nuclearblastusa.com
-Mike SOS

EBEN BROOKS
JUST ME AND MY GUITAR
INDEPENDENT
It's interesting when someone chooses to record a record completely on their own. The album's title, JUST ME AND MY GUITAR, is also a description of the album's sound. There is never a whole lot going on here, and the redundancy begins to detract from the album's strengths. Intimacy can be nice for a singer/songwriter's arsenal, but not when used in such excess. The melodies virtually all blend together, and the lack of diverse instrumentation creates a dull edge that the album rests on. I can't say that I'd recommend this album, as even the last track, a cover of David Bowie's "A Space Oddity", does no justice to the original. This album will not have much of an impact in today's musical world.
-Ringo

EDIE SEDGWICK
HER LOVE IS REAL…
DESOTO
A little electric rock beat caught my attention, but it was the bland vocals that sucked me into this strange CD whose song titles are nothing but names of A-list and ex-A-list celebrities. I found myself drowning out the lyrics, and HER LOVE IS REAL became non-abrasive background noise that glided me through a dizzy spin of modest beats. Good to listen to if working on a mundane project.
-Aimee Curran

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

EVERY NEW DAY
THE SHADOWS CAST
HAND OF HOPE RECORDS
There are really no redeeming qualities to launch my reaction to this album. I think this is just a young band that is ambitious and experimental. There is potential for something here, as far as creativity goes, but they simply have not found their sound yet. There are moments where it almost comes together, but some time on the road grinding out gigs to a wall of hatefully unappreciative faces will mold this band into something more impressive. A guy listening to the album with me said, "The drummer is good." I laughed at first, but I then saw that he was serious, so I listened a bit closer, and I can't argue with that.
-Thomas Murray

FACING NEW YORK
FACING NEW YORK
FIVE ONE, INC
The long-anticipated debut album from Facing New York is finally here. Even before cuing up the first track, I was impressed with the fact that this album was recorded entirely live in the studio. The band also took up the grueling task of producing the album. Sometimes taking chances like these can produce great results...and this album is no exception! Its progressive rock with an indie rock twist comes off crisp and vibrant. I absolutely love the use of keyboards in the song "Full Turn". The lyrics of the first track, "We Are", hit home with tons of emotion that puts you into the shoes of a band that struggles day to day reaching for their dreams of a musical euphoria. This album has a certain flow that is consistent throughout the entire album and subtle but not held back. This is a definite buy!
-Matt Edmund

FEDERATION X
RALLY DAY
ESTRUS! RECORDS
Bill X, the singer for Federation X, has a vocal tone similar to Ted Nugent's animalistic, raw power. Of course, it can't be deciphered here if Bill X is also an avid hunter and a staunch conservative, too. Yet there are other moments where he conjures up an Ozzy Osbourne-like sinister sneer. His singing sounds either like music or machinery badly in need of repair; one can never be entirely certain. But it is abundantly clear that this act creates messy, noisy, and sometimes cynical rock 'n' roll. Its cynicism is especially apparent during "Hydrogen Nitrogen & Bullshit", which breaks the stuff of life down into its odoriferous essentials. Unlike grunge, in which the listener can at least detect some kind of a groove burbling beneath the guitar and bass assault, Federation X creates something far more methodical and is best described as sludge.
-Dan MacIntosh

FU MANCHU
START THE MACHINE
DRT ENTERTAINMENT
Orange County, CA's Fu Manchu rock a fuzzed-out and wah-freaked Sabbath-meets-Bad Wizard brand o f hard rock. As a unit, Fu Manchu are brutal. START THE MACHINE is one of the best albums of the year, a perfect disc in lots of ways: no bad seconds, no bad ideas, no bad executions. The disc begins with a big-stick, mid-tempo thunder rumble joined by slow roving feedback working its way up the beat—and then, boom, the evil main lick of "Written in Stone". Powerful. The big surprise is "Out to Sea" , a groovy, trippy instrumental. Fu Manchu are one of America's great hard-rock acts. START THE MACHINE is a must-have disc. Big, evil guitars rule.
-H. Barry Zimmerman

GALAS PENDULUM
VITE
HATEWORKS
Galas Pendulum's progressive metal leanings coupled with their slight gothic undertones make VITE an album that fans of Paradise Lost, Moonspell, and Lacuna Coil should be able to latch on to. This 12-track, 70+-minute offering contains all of the atmospheric twists and turns that those on the upper echelon of this particular style employ, but the stellar guitar work heard on tracks like the dynamic "Vlad Tepes" helps this disc stand out. As they're no strangers to creating lush musical landscapes, allow the solid work done by Galas Pendulum to whisk you away. www.hateworks.net
-Mike SOS

HATE ETERNAL
I, MONARCH
EARACHE
Erik Rutan is a busy man, having a hand in producing some of the most ferocious metal heard today; but he's found some time to reconvene his death-metal trio Hate Eternal for another round (the band's third) of abrasive aggression. The title of the scathing new 10-track collection (recorded and mixed by Rutan) is I, MONARCH, and it finds the band in typical pummeling form. Vicious tracks like "The Plague of Humanity" and blistering opener "Two Demons" doesn't stray from the extremity that Hate Eternal has pleased its legions of fans with. Chalk up another dose of savagery from this group, who continue to push the envelope of extreme metal. www.earache.com
-Mike SOS

HYPNOGAJA
BELOW SUNSET
UNION STATE
Hypnogaja is a quintet whose melodic metal meanderings sound very similar to a cross pollination of Staind, Flaw, and Onesidezero. The outfit's 13-track collection is big on sweeping choruses, dynamic changes, and angst-ridden lyrics, as tracks like "Nothing Left to Give" and "Normal on the Outside" fall somewhere between nu-metal's rage and alternative metal's artsy side. Armed with dollops of disenchantment and a powerful musical delivery that employs churning guitars, shimmering piano, and hearty vocals, Hypnogaja take mope metal out of the outer reaches of darkness and give it a much-needed energy boost. www.hypnogaja.com
-Mike SOS

INDOFIN
INDOFIN
SELF-RELEASED
The press pack confesses, "Most kiddos will write [Indofin] off as Sublime sound alikes." The unnaturally nonchalant lulling, the lyrics that illustrate the scoring and smoking of specific substances, those tepid tempos (plow-paced, plodding, tedious at times), and the stinging strokes of sharp guitar do indeed suggest a Sublime semblance. Indofin's few frail efforts to sever themselves from Bradley and his boys—redundant record samples/scratches and the sometimes sputtering, unrhythmic rhymes—seem as salt on an already red, red rugburn. Certainly, some good grooves occasionally occur. Surrounded by songs that obsess on drugs, drinks, and sexy strippers, "Bleed" supplies a slower, sticky solace; and "Run" propels itself pleasantly, slowing slightly at an echo-soaked scaffold. Still, these songs are strummed and sung so that Sublime-ital associations seem suitable, even inevitable. If Indofin turned their talent towards something unique, this stereotype that haunts them would wither away.
-Dane

ISLE OF VIEW
GENTLE FIREFLY RADIO
UNDECIDED
Sometimes I even amaze myself. Case in point: listening to Isle of View's debut LP, GENTLE FIREFLY RADIO (yes, friends, that's the title). Somehow, SOMEHOW, I managed to call upon my vast stores of willpower to persevere through this entire record of squeaky-clean, safe, sterile, toothless, unthreatening, paint-by-numbers, generic pop-punk replete with dorky handclaps; "fun," upbeat melodies; a couple "tender" and "touching" mid-tempo numbers ("Ransom", "One Too Many"); lines like "Tears and tears for you I cried / All the way across the sky / Take your angel wings and fly into my heart forever"; and the requisite acoustic ballad ("Train Tracks"). And what am I left with after all my hard work? Well, I don't think I have to answer that.
-Janelle Jones

JAKS
HERE LIES THE BODY OF JAKS
THREE ONE G RECORDS
Jaks is a mystery that some people are just not going to get. HERE LIES THE BODY OF JAKS is a collection of all the early work. This disc is super abstract, weird, full of disturbing tones, and as great as any hardcore/rock disc that I ever heard. Led by vocalist Katrina Ford (who comes on like a femme David Yow (Scratch Acid, Jesus Lizard)), her vocals are psychotic. She is all over the place—just like the music. HERE LIES THE BODY OF JAKS is steeped in high-raging art. Some of the highlights in a sea of highlights are "Bomb Pop", "Damn Bloodsuckers", and "Spider". HERE LIES THE BODY OF JAKS is a classic weirdo rock disc. If you bend that way, run at lightning speed and get this disc immediately.
-H. Barry Zimmerman

JOE CALDERONE
IT TOOK A WHILE
BANGMOOR MUSIC
Here we have a decent classic-rock album. The overall songwriting style reminds me of Joe Jackson, while the instrumentals have hints of Elvis Costello and Kansas. Self-produced albums always seem a bit more intimate, and such is the case for IT TOOK A WHILE. While this music may seem a bit too "old" for readers of this magazine, the feelings behind the songs can be understood by any generation. Sure, the Nordstrom's-inspired piano playing may get a bit tedious a few tracks in, but it never really steals from the wholehearted effort put into creating this album. If you don't mind a little bit of adult contemporary, look out for Joe Calderone.
-Ringo

KABANG
EQUILIBRIUM
TRIBO RECORDS
The thing that sucks about music is the people who think they're good and put out an album like Kabang's EQUILIBRIUM. Talk about a serious assault on your ears. Clearly they want to be a White Zombie, Motorhead, Megadeth, or [insert any other credible metal band here], but they don't have a chance. Their guitar riffs are too heavy, the vocals are contrived, and anyone listening to this could probably make out with a dead fish and be more excited. It's music to no one's ears.
-Aimee Curran

KAI BROWN
BETTER NOW
HOW NOW BROWN COW RECORDS
The debut solo release from San Diego-based Kai Brown is a slick commercial knockout. After playing for years in bands in his native Australia, Brown made the big leap in 2004 to begin a solo career in America. His debut was recorded in Dallas with the help of the bands Vertical Horizon and The Bo Deans. BETTER NOW is loaded with memorable upbeat tunes, tasty guitar riffs, and a studio mix that sounds better each time you listen to it. The tunes on this disc are timeless rock tunes in the tradition of Tom Petty or Oasis. This is the type of album you leave in your car stereo and forget about. After you've listened to it about 20 times you realize that you'd better pull the disc out before you get obsessed. This isn't a perfect rock album, but it's pretty damn close.
-Dug

KATY MAE
THE LIGHTNING AND THE SUN
MAGGADEE RECORDS
One part country, one part alternative, and two parts rock. What do you get? A great-sounding band from New York City called Katy Mae. If you listen to bands like Counting Crows or Gin Blossoms, then Katy Mae will be a group you'll fall in love with. Great musicianship, talented vocals, and catchy song structures make this one of the most listener-friendly records I've heard in a while. Go check 'em out!
-ADF

KAURA
KAURA
KAUM RECORDS
Kaura (pronounced key-aura) (when bands choose names that need to be explained, my siren starts ringing either "stupid" or "pretentious" (Kaura are the latter) are a Linkin Park wannabe with a twist: Kaura play ancient instruments. (Are anyone else's sirens screaming?) This band is the vision of two Cali musicians, Malcolm Guess (who also produced, engineered, and mixed this self-titled, five-song EP) and Benjamin Jones. I hate copycat acts as a rule, no matter what new angle the band members have come up with to make the second-hand ideas. Kaura are a solid group, and they could be bound for glory (MTV doesn't care about originality). But as for me, I will curse them to the end as posers and rip-off artists.
-H. Barry Zimmerman

KIEV
SELF-TITLED
SELF-RELEASED
I love this band, there's no other way of saying it. This CD rocks my body, heart and soul. Every single song on this CD will have you singing along with its catchy tunes and very well done vocals. You'll find yourself swaying with the piano parts and tapping your foot to the amazing percussion. This is progressive-indie rock at its very best. Even if progressive-indie rock isn't exactly your thing, you'll still find yourself loving this CD. Check out Kiev at www.myspace.com/kiev.
-Manda-Dex-Punk

LA PESTILENCIA
BALISTICA
BUITRE SONG
Colombian quartet La Pestilencia's rabid 13-track release displays a love for the punkier side of the metal spectrum (e.g., Sepultura) on BALISTICA. Despite everything being sung in Spanish, the forthright conviction with which the lyrics are screamed denotes a sense of hardcore's immediacy, while the sharp riffs and swift rhythms on tracks like "Pestilente Asesino" and "Carne Molida" emit politically-charged sentiments reminiscent of the days when punk rock was unfashionably ugly and had substance to scream about. elbuitresong@starmedia.com
-Mike SOS

LETHAL REJECTION
2,1,2,2
DAY 51
The sludgy production quality of 2,1,2,2 only adds to this band's appeal. Truly, this rather messy sound enhances the abrasiveness of Lethal Rejection's raw, fast, and heavy hardcore punk reminiscent of bands like DFL, Strychnine, and Boston greats SSD. Among the 11 quick, short blasts presented in a mere 16 minutes are the hyper "Social Refugee", which features a cool mid-song freak-out of sorts with a tough breakdown overlapped and muddled by a really loud, kinda psychedelic guitar lead; and the COMPLETELY absurd penultimate track, "That Red Headed Woman", which sees the narrator divulging his obsession with/fear of "that red-headed woman from RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD." What makes it so great (aside from the subject matter, which rules) is that it's one of the hardest songs on the album—but the whole theme is so ridiculous. A grown man afraid of this character and put to such aggressive music? Magnifique! Anyway, also included is a nice rendition of one of The Stooges' greatest, "Search and Destroy" (which, at two-and-a-half minutes, is practically epic for these guys).
-Janelle Jones

MAHI MAHI
(RE)MOVE YOUR BODY
ORLEONE
Mahi Mahi is primarily V. von Ricci's words and vocals over beautifully retro-rock funk grooves. During its best moments, (RE)MOVE YOUR BODY brings to mind the staccato dance beats of Gang of Four, as well as Gary Numan's detached electronic rock vibe. More bluntly, this is the kind of R&B (most) white people make. Not that that's a bad thing, mind you; it's just that this approach is a little quirkier and less fluid than your typical club stuff. Lyrically, it is mostly made up of von Ricci's observations. Unlike most contemporary club music, von Ricci isn't trying to get under some girlie's skirt; instead, he's complaining about such universal problems as miscommunication. Even though this CD contains plenty of beats, it seems as if von Ricci wants his listeners to temporarily remove their bodies and react to his music strictly with their minds.
-Dan MacIntosh

MASACRE
BARBARIE Y SANGRE EN MEMORIA DE CRISTO
HATEWORKS
Masacre is a Colombian death-metal tribe who have decided to re-release this 1993 release for the first time on CD to satisfy fans that had a hard time finding the vinyl version. Sounding like a cross between Obituary and Sepultura, this nine-track offering (complete with videos and live tracks) is sung completely in garbled Spanish and packs the kind of old-school death-metal wallop that some of today's bands could learn a thing or two from. Grab your translating dictionary and mosh on! www.hateworks.net
-Mike SOS

MENEGUAR
I WAS BORN AT NIGHT
MAGIC BULLET
Meneguar is a hard-working band. This is always something I've admired. Certain bands must make legitimate sacrifices in order to make their music happen, while others just await their mommy and daddy's allowance money to buy a cute new delay pedal. I WAS BORN AT NIGHT has that blend of hardcore's spirit with the technique of modern rock. This is a high-energy release, reminiscent of Jawbreaker and Samiam. They make excellent use of gang vocals and jagged melodies. This is the kind of post-punk album that bands try to make but fall short of amidst unfocused ideas.
-Ringo

MICHALE GRAVES
PUNK ROCK IS DEAD
HORROR HIGH
Despite the title of this album, punk rock is not dead. Every single song on this disc makes me want to go watch a black and white B rate horror movie, then again so do most horror-punk outfits’ music. But come on! With song titles like "Earth Vs. Spider", "Dawn of the Dead" and "Godzilla" you can understand my craving for a good old fashioned monster movie marathon. This album is decent, nothing original (which is something most of us expect from Michael Graves anyway) music wise and Michale Graves voice isn't especially great. But if you're a fan of horror-punk or the new Misfits, enjoy!
-Manda-Dex-Punk

MINMAE
I'D BE SCARED, WERE YOU STILL BURNING
GREYDAY
Minmae (who take their name from the classic '80s cartoon ROBOTECH) have managed to consistently write rock songs that just don't suck. Playing like a hi-fi Guided by Voices, Minmae develop interesting songs with intriguing lyrics. Example: "Think with me otherwise / You're cuter than I realize." They always seems to have more going on in the vocal department than anywhere else, providing only a small layer of guitar for the heavy vocal work to rest on. This can sometimes be strenuous on a rhythm section that appears to be buckling under the pressure from time to time. Regardless, this is a decently strong release and shouldn't go unnoticed.
-Ringo

NEW DEAD RADIO
AVALON BRIDGE WILL BURN
MEDIA SKARE
Somewhere between Refused and Amen comes the Los Angeles-based New Dead Radio, a scathing hardcore punk quintet that aims for the head and knocks it clean off the shoulders of nearly all of the so-called angry bands on the scene. Seething vocals, menacing rhythms, and caustic guitars yield this 15-track ode to pain and punishment, as tracks like "Live the Lie" and "Revolution Blues" have all of the vitriol to incite the kind of riots the City of Angels is infamous for. Artfully angst-ridden and creatively chaotic, AVALON BRIDGE WILL BURN is the soundtrack of the revolution of 2005. www.mediaskare.com
-Mike SOS

NEW ELECTRIC
SELF-TITLED
THE PERPETUAL MOTION MACHINE
I'm not sure who told these guys that releasing a four-song instrumental noise/lo-fi EP was a good idea. Whoever it was should be fired right away. Unless you're B.B. King or Robert freaking Plant, don't put out an instrumental record. I can't stand mediocre indie-rock musicians who put out instrumental albums and expect people to shell out 10 bucks for them (that's a shout out to you, Tristeza!). I have a feeling that unless you're friends with the members of this band, you won't be buying this album. It's almost as though the group took old Mineral guitar tabs and decided to put out a record minus the vocals.
-ADF

NO USE FOR A NAME
KEEP THEM CONFUSED
FAT WRECK CHORDS
These guys have been around forever, embodying the idea of "stick with what works." This is their fifth project with independent label Fat Wreck Chords. You gotta like that they keep it low key like that. All that aside, this album does seem a bit whinier than their normally energetic and harder sound; but more melody is just part of the game these days, and maybe the guys just have more positivity and success in their lives and that it reflects in the music. This is in no way a let down for NUFAN fans, and maybe it's even a good place to start for those who have never heard of them.
-Thomas Murray

OCS
3 AND 4
NARNACK
John Dwyer is the force behind OCS (as well as his side project, Pink and Brown). He creates strange, lo-fi ambient/acoustic tracks here on 3 AND 4. Something about this music is unbelievably soothing. It's almost like the songs are so soft that you have to lean in closer just to hear them. This is certainly not the most exciting and captivating album to be released this year, but it serves as the perfect background music for your 3 a.m. bout with insomnia. I hesitate to even call this album psychedelic, as its swirling guitars and carefully-placed bird noises provide for a trippy experience. Though not for everyone, the open-minded music fan will find the splendor of simplicity in this two-disc album. Fans of The Microphones and HIGHWAY STRIP-era Magnetic Fields might find this to be a diamond in the rough.
-Ringo

PAMA INTERNATIONAL
FLOAT LIKE A BUTTERFLY
ASIAN MAN RECORDS
Two-tone, rock-steady ska is back...at least on the debut U.S. release from England ska legends Pama International. With members of The Specials, Madness, Paul Weller Band, and Special Beat, this band is an all-star collection of ska's early heroes. The music is reminiscent of the heyday of two-tone music, back when Madness and The Specials were setting the world on fire. England has always kept the ska movement alive, and this disc is a case in point. With 12 bouncy new tracks, this disc takes the listener back to the early '80s and showcases the sound that captured a generation. The best song on the disc, "Man Bites Dog", is every bit as good as any of the early classics and deserves to be included in any ska classics disc. If you ever loved ska, don't miss this classic disc.
-Dug

PAUL MICHEL
THESE ARE ALL BEAUTIFUL THINGS
MAGIC BULLET
Paul Michel hates boys wearing mascara. He also hates boys wearing girls' pants. He insists that this is about the music, folks, not the style. On his wonderful debut, THESE ARE ALL BEAUTIFUL THINGS, Michel offers up interesting indie rock full of synthetic beats and fabulous harmonies. Washington D.C. has been home to many great acts (such as Fugazi and The Dismemberment Plan), and it seems as though Michel himself could be among the next wave of successful D.C. bands. Songs like "Lonely Dirges" and "It Must Have Been Love" are the kind that the youth of today should be listening to instead of "Since U Been Gone" and "Toxic". This is REAL rock music, not over-produced bubblegum pop. If you're into Sleeping at Last, Pedro the Lion, or Denali, get into Paul Michel.
-Ringo

PRIDEBOWL
DRIPPINGS OF THE PAST
BAD TASTE RECORDS
Originally formed in 1993 in Sweden, Pridebowl brings us DRIPPINGS OF THE PAST. This is a re-release from '96, which also includes their '95 EP LONG DISTANCE as bonus tracks. This album features Aaron, the only American in the band, on vocals, while the rest of the band (Stefan and Henrik on guitar, Oskar on bass, and Martin on drums) are natives of Sweden. What you will find on this album is a collection of mainly fast-paced punk-rock tracks. Influences range from Millencolin to Iron Madden. The percussion is the driving force through most of this album, with guitars screaming out hard and heavy metal riffs. I found Aaron's vocals to be one-dimensional, monotone throughout the majority of the songs. In all, the musicianship on this album is impressive, but nothing out of this world. www.badtasterecords.se
-Matt Edmund

PURCHASE NEW YORK
IN VITRO VERITAS
INDIERECT RECORDS
Eerily tender at moments (like an unexpected show of affection from a war criminal) and pulsing with unadulterated gloom elsewhere, this debut LP by Purchase New York can be easily compared to similarly-minded acts like the bombastically apocalyptic Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Explosions in the Sky, Elliott, or Mogwai. Unlike the more demanding but more rewarding post-rock acts like Godspeed, however, Purchase New York opt to compromise between a pop sensibility and sweeping, funereal orchestration, with lead singer Stephen Khoury's voice at the forefront not merely as an agent of lyric delivery but as an instrument in itself (not unlike Sigur Ros or even Radiohead). Purchase New York walks a swaying tightrope between accessible pop and more challenging material—and despite a few tedious missteps, they largely succeed.
-Matt Wallace

REEVEOLIVER
REEVEOLIVER
THE MILITIA GROUP
This is the kind of album that could help you get over your tragic ex-girlfriend/-boyfriend residue pain—you know, the sort of regret that tightens your stomach at the thought of it. The sound is a bit gentler and more indie-rock than I am used to, but when it's good, it's good...and this is unmistakably good. This album boasts solidly provocative lyrics that even pass the test of standing on their own as poetry. The sound quality on this disc is noteworthy, as is the cover design (which is cute (can I say that?)). It is a visual ode to the reel-to-reel (which probably has something to do with the odd band name).
-Thomas Murray

RUSSELL ALLEN
ATOMIC SOUL
INSIDE OUT MUSIC
The debut solo release from the lead singer of prog-rock veterans Symphony X is a throwback rock album in the classic sense. Fans of Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow, Led Zeppelin, and Black Sabbath will probably drool over this one (but they were probably already drooling, anyway). Allen has the perfect blues-rock voice: strong, screamy, and ripe with anthemic howls. There's a lot of muscle on this disc. For those folks who can still ride around in a Galaxie 500 with a racing stripe, this album fucking rocks; but for anyone who has listened to music in the new millennium, this will sound like something from a pharaoh's tomb. This disc should have been released as "a re-release of a forgotten band from the early '70s." At least then it would have sounded fresh. But like I said, if you've still got a rat tail, this album fucking rocks.
-Dug

SAM CHAMPION
SLOW REWIND
RAZOR & TIE
The debut full-length release from New York City slow and intelligent rockers SAM CHAMPION might never leave your disc carousel. With some clever lyrics and a sound similar to early Neil Young, Wilco, and Golden Smog, this band has all the style and hooks necessary to become a cult standout. While most of the tracks on this album sound like tunes you'd hear on a college indie station, there is a tough, underlying substance that separates this band from a million other indie darlings. Just listen to the vocalist Noah Chernin brag about how he's "aggressively lazy" on the title track or how he "can't play guitar or harmonica, ahh shit" on the tune "Company Dance", and you're bound to love these underdogs. Speaking of "aggressively lazy," this band was formed in 2002, and this is their debut. Damn these indie slackers!
-Dug

SATORI
SAVOR EVERY MOMENT
ASIAN MAN RECORDS
Satori is a Bay Area project featuring members of RX Bandits, The Exit, and Chris Murray. They are a reggae/ska/bluebeat group. The music is simple and in the groove. The message is ultra positive, based on the theory of stopping and smelling the roses. Sometimes the lyrics are like an enormous candy cane: a little too much sugar, but I can dig it. Their version of Roberta Flack's classic "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" is excellent with its sweet gang vocal. "Karen's Dub" and "Move!" are both cool-as-hell instrumentals. Overall, SAVOR EVERY MOMENT is a cool and sincere disc with fantastic backing vocals, authentic instrumentation, and heart.
-H. Barry Zimmerman

SCOUT NIBLETT
KIDNAPPED BY NEPTUNE
TOO PURE/BEGGARS GROUP
The third full-length release from minimalist Scout Niblett is what you'd expect if Bjork had a really bad acid trip. While Niblett's eerie vocals are a dead ringer for Bjork, you won't find any commercial hooks on this disc. Most of the songs consist of vocals over a lone drum or bass line. Niblett plays both drums and guitar on this disc, bringing in a couple of musicians to help out. For the life of me, I couldn't figure out where those musicians were. The bass and drum lines are so simple that it seemed like Niblett could play the drums and guitar at the same time while crooning out her ethereal vocal stylings. This is a dark and atmospheric album that will probably appeal to those in black turtlenecks who don't want anybody else to own the same eclectic CDs that they own.
-Dug

SHELBY
THE LUXURY OF TIME
GIGANTIC MUSIC
Let me start out by saying I have never really liked U2. They're mediocre adult-contemporary rock from Ireland. (Let the hatemail come pouring in.) So why bring up my distaste for Bono and the boys here in this review of LUXURY OF TIME by New York band Shelby? For one, the sounds heard on this album are a total rip-off of bands like U2 and Radiohead. The beat structures for a majority of the songs are simple and repetitive. The vocal stylings of Kenny Cummings are almost a dead-on match to those of Bono. The feeling I got when listening to LUXURY OF TIME was like I was listening to musical version of a mime, just waiting for it to break out of its imaginary box and have a personality. My suggestion: pass this up, unless you enjoy bland and boring contemporary rock. This one is a dud!
-Matt Edmund

SHERWOOD
SING, BUT KEEP GOING
SIDECHO RECORDS
The debut full-length release from this San Luis Obispo, CA-based quintet is a catchy, pop-filled disc of great music and incredible artwork. The sophisticated photo layout and packaging of this CD serves notice that these guys are serious. The band has played on the 2004 Warped Tour and is dedicated to non-stop touring to build up its fan base. One of the best songs on this disc is the semi-autobiographical tune "Traveling Alone", which tells the lonely story of life on the road. There's a lot of loneliness, empty streets, and longing for home on this disc. The recurring theme of somebody or something (like innocence) left behind on this album is sure to make these guys heartthrobs for young girls at gigs. But like a self-fulfilling prophecy, this music is good enough to keep these guys on the road and longing for home for a very long time.
-Dug

SHOTPOINTBLANK
HEART OF A DISBELIEVER
SURPRISE ATTACK RECORDS
It is always a joy to discover great new band, and I wish to convey the pleasure I received upon hearing SHOTPOINTBLANK. With a good blend of aggressive hardcore and metal, this quartet could convert the most stubborn punk. I became enamored with this group upon discovering explanations for each song included in the liner notes. It's not too often you see authenticity in a band. Most impressive with this album is the drumming by Luke "Webdog" Weber. This man can do it all, especially on breakdowns. These boys are from Australia, so you can sleep soundly knowing that the scene is active in the southern hemisphere. Steve Irwin is hardcore.
-Luke Skywalker

SICK BEES
THE MARINA ALBUM
UP RECORDS
The album's title, which evokes a maritime motif familiar to fans of such arrestingly frenzied acts as The Fiery Furnaces (to whom Sick Bees certainly owe a debt), ought to vouchsafe some sense of the album's gleeful, schizophrenic absurdity. 13 songs in 17 minutes encompass such topics as female facial hair, an amorous cat, and the equation for density (mass divided by volume—remember?). Most songs employ manic bursts of noise manufactured primarily by two musicians, Starla and Julio, who employ instrumentation as varied as trashcan lids, unusual samples, and…did I hear a rubber duck in there somewhere? This recording seems to amply (but not wholly) capture Sick Bees' spastic delight. Fans of oddball pop groups like The Fiery Furnaces, The Brunettes, and Architecture in Helsinki will either want to start dancing or just get the hell out of the club.
-Matt Wallace

TEENAGE BOTTLEROCKET
TOTAL
RED SCARE
Featuring the frontman from Lookout's The Lillingtons, this foursome from cowboy country is nothing necessarily new or original. This 30-minute mouthful features the post-haste paces, conventional chord progressions (which drip with distortion), and catchy choruses prevalent in the "pop-punk" paradigm. Though this systematic, simplified punk-rock release sounds similar to others in this endangered genre, Teenage Bottlerocket's barrage of four-chord cannonballs hits hard those hearts that wield stained sweatshirts, stolen skateboards, and a sincere passion for punk rock. Two of TOTAL's standout tracks ("So Cool", an innocent announcement of affection; and "So Far Away", which is sung with such an unusual yet striking amount of emotion) are also somewhat sentimental. Likewise, lines like "If you're cold, I'll let you wear my Ramones sweatshirt" paint perfectly a picture of punk-rock puppy love. Cute! When one accepts Teenage Bottlerocket as some simpler, sweeter sound and not a vain, innovative venture, some smiling should ensue.
-Dane!

TERI FALINI
SUN UNDER ME
RADIOSTAR
Teri Falini reminds me of Gina Gershon in a strange way. It's that kind of chick-rock mentality that is both angry and sexy at the same time. Unfortunately, this type of style begins to get very old. Nearly every song sounds like the one before it, and hardly any melodies or refrains are distinguishable from previous ones. I suppose the high point of the album is track 8, "Bended Knee", which offers up the most catchy devices of any song featured on SUN UNDER ME. Fans of Juliette and the Licks might be into this type of thing, but fans of real rock 'n' roll are going to want to search elsewhere for their high-octane fuel for headbanging.
-Ringo

THE FOXYMORONS
HESITATION EYES
HEATSTROKE RECORDS
Listening to HESITATION EYES, it's hard to divine precisely where The Foxymorons begin and their influences end. Redolent of the grim undertow of Wilco's SUMMERTEETH but lacking Jeff Tweedy's melancholy passion, they combine acoustic and electric guitars, piano, percussion, and rhythm into a catchy mixtape of alt-country and shoegazer indie pop. Several tracks—all quite good—sound alarmingly (though pleasantly) similar to the sadcore Nebraskans Neva Dinova (e.g., "Pistol at Your Side" and "Terror on the Tarmac"); but a few tracks, like the excellent "Lazy Librarian's Son" and the acoustic "Are You Tired?", capture some of the ardor of their influences without sounding derivative.
-Matt Wallace

THE FINALE
THINGS CAN GET BETTER
BLACKOUT RECORDS
The debut full-length release from this quartet of Pennsylvania youngsters is addictive ear candy. The 11 sticky sweet pop/rock songs on this disc tell the timeless story of young love. Nearly every tune is about looking off into the sunset or the stars and dreaming about that better half just over the horizon. There are some excellent guitar hooks here, a few great choruses, and a lot of desperate vocals crying out the name of an absent love. In short, this album has everything a red-blooded American high-school girl could want. These boys may not get to play any arena shows; rather, look for the band to headline a lot of small venues packed with screaming females. And for four teenagers from Montoursville, PA, what could be better?
-Dug

THE MAE SHI
HEARTBEEPS
FANATIC PROMOTIONS
The Mae Shi are a four-piece, Los Angeles-based band. The music here is a new genre that, like punk, will take 15 years for America to embrace. The music is minimalist, in that the songwriting structure is replaced by a rambling, deep focus of minimal instruments. HEARTBEEPS is a mix of computerized beeps and one-lick guitar attacks topped with an anti-singing. The vocals are screams and moaned testimony. There are vocal parts that combine into a bizarre chaotic harmony. HEARTBEEPS is a fantastic disc of 10 songs lasting 15 minutes. There are no singles here, because the collective is the thing. At the heart of this modern leap is a rebellion against MTV and the phony rockstar. That attitude makes this movement the new punk. The Mai Shi rule.
-H. Barry Zimmerman

THE MUGGS
SELF-TITLED
TIMES BEACH RECORDS
Providing the type of rock 'n' roll of before my birth, this trio from Detroit is undeniably talented. The only problem is that they are a few decades late. Despite this, I have to praise the excellent classic rock guitar that will command any listener's attention. Anyone inquiring about this band should first listen to the best track off of THE MUGGS, "Monster". Self-proclaimed the ugliest band in the world, The Muggs are brutally of honest and not shy. Luckily for them, they aren't competing in a beauty contest. Led Zeppelin enthusiasts should drop whatever they are doing and drive recklessly to the nearest record store that has this album in stock.
-Anthony

THE PHILISTINES
ON SOMETHING
MAJESTIC RECORDINGS
I expected so much more from an album that, on the very front of the album, brags about having Glen Matlock (of The Sex Pistols) on the album. I don’t know why; The Sex Pistols were always more fashion than substance anyway. I could sum this album up for you in one word - BORING! The music is calm and steady, the vocals are rather crappy, and the lyrics are mind-numbing. I really don’t see how anyone could enjoy this album, unless you need something to put you to sleep, I don’t recommend this.
-Manda-Dex-Punk

THE RATCHETS
HEART OF TOWN
HELL BENT RECORDS
Four-man group The Ratchets (from Asbury Park, NJ) hope like hell that you might have missed a little band from the U.K. called The Clash. This six-song EP sounds almost like missing tracks from Joe Strummer and company. The Ratchets should just learn a collection of songs by The Clash (I am sure they can play some covers) and call themselves The Guns of Brixton. There is lots of money in tribute. I can't stomach it when a band is trying to pull a fast one on the world. Makes me think that they think I'm stupid. Save your money and go buy some of The Clash discs that you may not already have. I suggest the self-titled debut or the classic LONDON CALLING. Shame on The Ratchets for thinking we wouldn't notice.
-H. Barry Zimmerman

THE ROCKETZ
RISE OF THE DEAD
HAIRBALL 8 RECORDS
Hailing from Los Angeles, this trio offers the music world some quality sing-along psychobilly. "Rise of the Undead" is an impressive opener with an insanely catchy chorus. The sinister tone of "Die Zombie Die" will satisfy the lustful desires of any zombie hunter. Upright bass is prominent throughout all the tracks, complementing the drums and electric guitar beautifully. While I would definitely classify this as psychobilly, there is an undeniable punk attitude in virtually every song. Admirers of Tiger Army and Reverend Horton Heat will surely enjoy this album.
-Anthony

THE SATELLITERS
HASHISH
DIONYSUS RECORDS
This German surf-rock quintet could quite possibly be from the past. Their debut full-length is heavily influenced by great rock bands of our past like The Kinks, The Fuzztones, and The Mummies. Using classic guitar riffs, pick-ups, and song set-ups while infusing their own brand of modern rock creates a crazy, intoxicatingly addictive album. Blending together great '60s American surf-rock and '80s punk is simply ingenious. A band worth checking out.
-Courtney Strain

THE YELLOW BELTS
THE YELLOW BELTS
EUGENE RECORDS
The self-titled EP from The Yellow Belts is definitely an old-school punk-rock flashback. Hard-rock energy, heavy guitar riffs, and raspy, pissed-off lyrics deem this album a necessity for those few old-schoolers left. This quintet from Lexington, KY, know what rock is and how to rock well. The last time I heard music like this I was spinning The Sex Pistols, The Dead Kennedys, and the like.
-Courtney Strain

THOR
THOR AGAINST THE WORLD
SMOG VEIL RECORDS
Just as you must suspend disbelief prior to buying into a film like THE FANTASTIC FOUR, it's a prerequisite that you put your brain in comic-book neutral before approaching a unique artist like Thor. Thor is a real-life bodybuilder and has been performing rock for what seems like an eternity. He's pictured on this CD's cover dressed to the hilt in warrior garb, and the songs he sings come off a lot like tribal war chants. The sound of these tracks can best be compared to what heavy metal was like before punk, thrash, and screamo entered the modern musical vocabulary. Thor is like a rock Fred Flintstone (albeit without his trusty sidekick Barney). He just has a primitive charm. So when Thor grunts out, "Thor against the world" here, it is strongly advised that you put yourself on his side of the battle line.
-Dan MacIntosh

THY ENDLESS WRATH
NEXT TO THE THRONE OF CHAOS
HATEWORKS
When thunder is the first sound that you hear on an album, chances are you should brace yourself for a vicious onslaught. Such is the case here. On the outfit's 10-track, keyboard-laden maelstrom of metal, the band does its best Cradle of Filth recreation, with traces of Dimmu Borgir and Emperor strewn in for good measure. And the cover, which features a chiseled demon-like character appearing to be summoning the listeners to join in the mayhem, is one of the most metal images seen in a long time. How's that for enticing the impressionable to step to the dark side? If you enjoy black metal with a flare for drama, NEXT TO THE THRONE OF CHAOS delivers. www.hateworks.net
-Mike SOS

TINY HAWKS
FINGERS BECOME BRIDGES
CORLEONE RECORDS
This duo from Providence, RI, are sure to do more than impress you with their musical abilities, and they are almost guaranteed to amaze you with their ability to put together songs of such quality. "High energy, spastic, innovative hardcore" (as they describe themselves) could not be more perfect to describe this album. It's unlike anything out there. They shy away from monotony, creating one-of-a-kind songs seeping with honesty. They wear their emotions on their sleeves and tell the tragedies of life as they are, regardless of emotional scars and "societal tact." No subject is off limits. For fans of Hot Water Music, Fugazi, and Rites of Passage.
-Courtney Strain

UMBRELLAS
SELF-TITLED
MILITIA GROUP
I have to be honest: I have no idea what this band is going for. At first, it seemed like the digital copycat of a LOVELESS-loving horde of My Bloody Valentine fans who picked up guitars, but that notion quickly dissolved into what seemed like an Evanescence-on-valium acid trip. Basically, every refrain on this album is identical, with their big, clean guitars and keyboards. The main problem is that this album's consistency is its weakness. As every song builds to its own personal climax, it sounds just like the track before it. There's little to distinguish between tracks here, and the heavy delay and reverb on the guitars ends up as the listener's future headache. Stay away from this one and go buy MBV's ISN'T ANYTHING instead.
-Ringo

UNCLE FUCKER
USURPERS OF THE TRADITION
SELF-RELEASED
Mixing meticulous metal riffs, rowdy punk-rock paces, and masses of Marshall stacks with a ramblin' banjo and a few flaming fiddles, these New York yankees leave blood on the bluegrass. Though this iffy fusion of punk-rock precipitancy and sexy Southern sensibility seems absurd, Uncle Fucker is, in fact, a phenomenon. Featuring "The Fuckerettes"—a shameless, scantily-clad clan of showgirls who grind against stick-horses, swing loose lassos, and line-dance seductively—this foursome's senselessly spectacular-looking live set is implied, in part, on USUPERERS OF THE TRADITION. Some songs, like "Long Black Veil" (a Cash cover), are bleak ballads, slogging slowly, haunted by bereft howls and harmonies; while "Wheel Hoss" and "Y'all Come" careen in a careful craze as a fervent fiddle's shrill shrieks slide above a banjo's jubilant belly laugh. Unfortunately, Uncle Fucker's complex composite of punk 'n' country may remain, in many naive minds, an inane novelty and not the burlesque-like, label-bending lunacy that it is.
-Dane!

UNION JACK
YOU DON'T REALLY KNOW WHO I AM
BEER RECORDS
Several artists are rearranging ska's stylistic standards since its spiral out of the spotlight in 1999 and are sending the genre into dizzying and differing directions. Luckily, Union Jack also accept such stylistic liberties. This pack of Parisians play scathing punk-ska, combining coarse slices of stinging guitar, simple saxophone licks, and vicious vocals that are as harsh as a rusty wire brush. As an additive, a DJ scratches at selective sections, creating clever rhythms where riffs would usually rule. With said scratches, a simple song such as "Bad Brain" becomes compelling and complex. Comprised of spun, scraped samples, "Feel the Blood" is a beautiful, fascinating foreword. Some songs, such as "Sabotage" and "Sunday's Crime", incorporate poetic piano parts and assorted organs (sordid and suspicious) as additional appealing appendages. If it isn't Union Jack's aggressive, abrasive style of sprinter-paced punk-ska, it's their audacious desire to de-define their music that makes them worthwhile.
-Dane!

UPTOWN CREEPERS
WHAT THEY WANT
HAIRBALL 8 RECORDS
Ska is back on this seven-song EP from San Antonio's Uptown Creepers. With an unapologetic punk/ska mix, this quintet brings the emotion and fire of third wave ska back to the stage in what could either be a new ska uprising or an homage to days gone by. While the band was formed as recently as 2004, this quintet refused to touch anything pop or emo and chose to play music from the heart. The resulting live shows have brimmed over with aggression and excitement and have built the band a solid following in Texas. It remains to be seen on the band's upcoming national tour whether the country is ready to break out the checkered sneakers and pork-pie hats.
-Dug

VARIOUS ARTIST
ASS CHOMP N' STOMP VOL. 4
ESTRUS RECORDS
Comprised of 19 different bands, this compilation displays a variety of musical styles. Ranging form folk to classic rock to pop/rock, this sampler has something for everyone. I enjoy the '60s feel of "Smash Up" by The Diplomats and the high energy of "Get Down on the Midnight" by Midnight Evils. Most of the tracks on ASS CHOMP N' STOMP VOL. 4 can be safely characterized under the umbrella of rock 'n' roll, but a few bands do attempt to take a peak and embrace any falling rain. The twirling guitars of "New Arsenal" by Fatal Flying Guilloteen provide for most of the experimental rock found on the disc.
-Anthony

VARIOUS ARTISTS
BLOOD & INK RECORDS SPLIT SERIES VOL. 1
BLOOD & INK RECORDS
Recently signed to Blood & Ink Records, Stars Are Falling and Skylines brings both U.S. coasts' hardcore scenes together in this amazing split album. Stars Are Falling (hailing from Sacramento) bring post-hardcore intensity; while Skylines, a metalcore band from Richmond, VA, bring a deeper, darker side to the album. This is definitely an album that could cause random outbreaks of slam pits all across the country. But before you start a slam pit in Grandma's kitchen because of the heavy riffs and electrifying vocals, check out both bands on separate—but no doubt equally enjoyable—tours this summer and fall.
-Courtney Strain

VARIOUS ARTIST
KICKED OUTTA PURGATORY
HAIRBALL 8 RECORDS
There is enough hard-slapping stand-up bass, punk guitar, and howling vocals here to satisfy even the most avid psychobilly fan. With almost 80 minutes of material, KICKED OUTTA PURGATORY is surely worth the money. I find myself re-listening to "Nekronauts" by Nekromantix and "Julia" by the very talented Horrorpops. I visualize myself riding a horse and galloping over a legion of undead zombies when listening to some songs on this compilation. It must be noted that the recording of this entire collection of songs is superb. All 29 tracks sound clean while remaining raw and chaotic.
-Anthony

VARIOUS ARTISTS
LOCKED + LOADED 2
SELF-RELEASED
A rad little sampler, LOCKED + LOADED 2 is jam-packed with hardcore goodness. Sandwiched between Hoods' "Westcoast Worldwide" and Final Word's "Something to Prove" are 23 tracks from bands on well-respected labels Martyr, Young Blood, Old Guard, Perfect Victim, and Walk All Night. I don't know how much this comp costs, but if you dig bands like Madball, Modern Life Is War, and Desperate Measures, it's a pretty cool buy, as there are some awesome tracks featured here, including (but not limited to) cuts from the maniacal Dead in Hollywood and equally insane Find Him and Kill Him, Worn Thin, Modern Life Is War, Desperate Measures, Lights Out, One Up, S.O.S., and Drug Test. True, all these bands may not be household names, but based on their work here, they can play some devastating, solid hardcore. The one anomaly (which in this case is a bad thing, as the song's pretty horrid) is Rattle Battle's rock 'n' roll-infused "Push Up".
-Janelle Jones

VARIOUS ARTISTS
THE NEW CRAZY: LABEL SAMPLER NO. 6
DEEP ELM RECORDS
Deep Elm serves up a colorful sampler that is sure to be served at a hot summer evening house party. From a label lending a hand to awesome acts such as Secondhand Stories and Slowride, THE NEW CRAZY is a well-blended mix of rock, indie, and a dash of punk goodness. Standout tracks are Brandtson's "The Rookie Year" (now on The Militia Group Label) and Benton Falls' "Hold Out". Good stuff.
-Aimee Curran

VARIOUS ARTISTS
PROBLEM SOLVER REVOLVER/SHOTPOINTBLANK
SURPRISE ATTACK RECORDS
An inspiring reminder for the angry and confused. There is brotherhood out there for you who want it. This disc is a little confusing, as two bands alternate songs for six tracks. You don't know who's who unless you follow along in the insert or quickly develop a distinguishing ear. Both bands are terribly mean and impressive. PSR uses anthem-like chanting from the background in an attempt to further rally their listeners and draw them into their hardcore sound. A bit more aggressive, Shotpointblank just lowers its head and comes right at you. They sound a bit like Hatebreed—which is rarely a bad thing.
-Thomas Murray

VARIOUS ARTISTS
PUNK GOES 80’S
FEARLESS RECORDS
Don’t be fooled by the title people; PUNK GOES 80’S is not filled with punk bands, but rather pop punk bands. What’s the difference? Well, if you like punk you’d know, if you’re into pop punk I guess it really makes no difference. Although I don’t like any of the bands on this album (Halifax, Rufio, Motion City Soundtrack, etc.) I love these songs. And the best part of all is that the bands don’t really fuck them up, although you’d never find me listening to any Hidden in Plain View album I love their version of “I Ran” and A Thorn For Every Heart does an incredible job of covering “Dead Man’s Party” which was one of my favorite songs when I was like … five. All in all, this is a decent cover album.
-Manda-Dex-Punk

VARIOUS ARTISTS
PSYCHO WARD
SPLIT 7 MEDIA
Split 7 Media has put together 25 swingin' psychobilly bands for this rockin' collection. Some of the standout tracks are Big John Bales's "Knockin' Bones", Coffin Draggers' "Why Don't U Make It End", Blazing Haley's "Train to Nowhere", The Rocketz' "I Want You Dead", and Scary Boom's "The 1st in Space" (which I create the genre Devobilly to describe). PSYCHO WARD is a great disc for fanatics, as well as the curious. This is a top-of-the-line introduction to all that's fun and exciting in modern psychobilly. Turn it up and drive fast.
-H. Barry Zimmerman

VARIOUS ARTISTS
UNKNOWN VOL. 1
DOUBLE BLIND MUSIC
A new hardcore/screamo/emo/rock compilation worth taking a look at hit stores June 28th of this year. It features both veterans and newcomers to the scene. With bands like Dead Poetic, Hopesfall, Boys Night Out, Halifax, Bleed the Dream, He Is Legend, and Greeley Estates, there seems to be potential for this first-generation release from Double Blind Music. On top of the awesome lineup, all of the tracks are rare or previously unreleased. That's right: every one of them. The variety of sub-genres makes this compilation perfect for those days when your in the mood for hardcore variety.
-Courtney Strain

WHISKEY DICK DARRYLS
IT'S MY LIFE
SELF-RELEASED
Covering the classic Plasmatics masterpiece "It's My Life", Whiskey Dick Darryls dispense impolite piles of sloppily-performed punk rock. Though flailing and filthy throughout, this two-track single spotlights Miss Eva Von Slut, singer/fetishist from San Francisco, who growls Wendy O. Williams's words with the grit, grain, and girth of a freight-line locomotive. Disorderly drumming that often falters and falls off balance hammers behind bar-brawl back-ups and some slovenly slabs of soggy guitar. This thicker, vigorous version would work well in some beer-soaked basement or at a suburban battle of the bands, but, plainly, The Plasmatics performance is preferable. The berserker B-side "Ticket to Nowhere" is 87 seconds of scrambling, screaming speeds and reckless rhythmic muddle, making this—the single's sole original—an unimpressive, imprecise punk song. Sometime, somewhere, Whiskey Dick Darryls will wow some leather-clad crowd that craves their loose, loud, liquor-induced disorder.
-Dane!

WORLD WAR IX
PANIC ATTACK
ELIS EIL RECORDS
If there's one thing World War IX has made clear with their debut album PANIC ATTACK, it's that simplicity is a good thing. This 11-track disc is filled with good ol' three-chord East Coast punk rock. No need for flashy sound effects and extravagant guitar solos. The catchy vocals from Max Strum and bouncy guitar riffs from guitarist Justin Melkmann make for an upbeat feeling that has your foot tapping though out the duration of the album. They also threw in a surprise by covering GG Allin's "New York Tonight". PANIC ATTACK has the feeling of a classic punk album. It's raw sound makes for a real treat for anyone who enjoys no-thrills, no-frills East Coast punk rock. Surf on by their Website for more info on this four-piece band from NYC. www.worldwarix.com
-Matt Edmund

WRECKING CREW
1987-1991
BRIDGE NINE
What can be said about Wrecking Crew that hasn't been said before? If you're not familiar with the hardcore quartet, a complete history of the original five members is available in the liner notes or at www.bridge9.com (where you can get a full understanding of this band's impact). Upon inserting this album into my car stereo, I presumed I was just listening to a new band that played some good old-school hardcore. I quickly realized who I was listening to. I won't bother to dissect the 26-song album because we all have our favorites, but be forewarned: be careful when you Google Wrecking Crew, as you're sure to find some bands that are the antithesis of punk.
-Luke Skywalker

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