December 2004 CD Reviews (in alphabetical order)

4FT FINGERS
A CAUSE FOR CONCERN
GO-KART RECORDS
Finally, a breath of fresh air from Go-Kart Records. The U.K.-based 4ft Fingers play a modern mix of melodic rock, metal, and punk. The group is more in the vein of something you would find on Fat Wreck Chords. If you've ever listened to old No Use for a Name records, then you might find many similarities. The vocals, guitar work, and drums sound a lot like what NUFAN did on its old albums. File this under melodic metal punk.
-ADF

10 FOLD B-LOW
LOW TUNED OUTPUT
LOCOMOTIVE MUSIC
A more honest and direct album title this year shan't be found. LOW TUNED OUTPUT is just that: extremely low-tuned and "big gauge" guitar strings, heavily distorted, providing for crunching anthems, such as "Break Your Neck" (the band's personal motto) and the forceful "Bow Down 2 No 1". Take one part Candiria, one part Killswitch Engage, and one part Drowningpool, and you're off to a good start for this Locomotive Music band. There's no denying that the band is as intense as it is heavy, but repetition isn't completely avoided here. Some of the songs appear to follow similar formulas with similar guitar riffs?as a lot of nu-metal songs these days do?so the excitement begins to dull as the record plays on. Fans of straight heavy metal will enjoy. Check out samples at .
-Zac

14 YEAR OLD GIRLS
STRATEGY GUIDE
RETARD DISCS
Easily one of the funniest and most interesting bands I've ever heard, 14 Year Old Girls have brought us STRATEGY GUIDE, a collection of 26 songs commenting on and praising all of our favorite videogames in the past 20 years. While only one of them is a girl and none of them are 14, these kids sing songs ranging in topics from Final Fantasy VII to Super Mario World. The songs are fast-paced, electronically-driven, and never longer than about a minute-and-a-half (while some are as short as 13 seconds). Who would have thought that punk music and videogames would blend so perfectly together? Who would have thought it would actually be worth listening to? The band describes their music as something to listen to while driving to work and thinking about stabbing your boss before you go home and ditch your girlfriend to play Halo. If that doesn't make you want to buy it, I don't know what will.
-Zac

ACHILLES
THIS AUTUMN BURNS
SELF-RELEASED
Achilles is aping the emotionally-tormented stars of TRL. THIS AUTUMN BURNS is such a dramatic and weepy title. The music is made up of distorted guitars that are played in that unoriginal way which seems to be working for all the baby-faced kids. The vocals of Sean Bandawat and Mike Allison (who are the guitar players) are sweet, and it sounds like they must be nice guys?so won't somebody love them? If you dig the new pussy rock or sensitive lad rock (whatever you want to call it), Achilles is another one for the books.
-H. Barry Zimmerman

ALICE COOPER
THE EYES OF ALICE COOPER
EAGLE RECORDS
For THE EYES OF ALICE COOPER, the master of shock rock, Alice Cooper, has returned to his roots with fast-paced songs of black humor and teenage angst. But wait a minute, Alice: teenage angst? Isn't your 58th birthday coming up in February? Well, it may not be the mid-life crisis we all love to see stars of music and film go through, as the tunes Alice and his band kick out aren't half bad. Cooper has always managed to keep things catchy and humorous with lyrics like "No one wants me hangin' around, unless it's from a tree in the middle of town." Sad, indeed, but the WAYNE'S WORLD idol's delivery is light enough to keep his (extremely loyal) fans smiling and banging their heads. The standout track has to be "Spirits Rebellious", with its dark and authentic Cooper sound that we all remember from back in 1987. It's admirable that one of rock's legends can still keep it up. Be sure to catch Alice on tour when school's out for summer. Seriously. Tour starts in July?check for details.
-Zac

ALL HOURS
BOX OFFICE STUD
HYBRID RECORDINGS
The subconscious is a bitch. Everything you do is capable of having all sorts of underlying connotations that exhibit themselves to others but only seem natural to you. In the case of All Hours, the underlying connotation appears to be a fixation on sophistication. It's evident in the cocky swagger of the band's members and their oh-so-safe music. Every guitar chord and drum fill feels like its been tirelessly debated to the point where any edge it might have had is nil. This three-track EP is a little tease for the full-length coming out on Sony's Hybrid Recordings. Should go nicely with your Wallflowers and Train records.
-Casey Clague

ALOKE
AOLKE
SELF ≠RELEASED
The opening track on the trio Aloke?s eponymous five-track release, the jagged ?You Did It?Again? evokes the angular stance of post hardcore, yet the rest of the disc sounds like as it could?ve been lifted from the Nirvana box set. Driving guitar riffs lead the drawn back melodies of songs like ?Eggordream? and ?Brainstem?, radiating the grand days when flannel wasn?t for Northwestern lumberjacks and hypnotic refrains were ubiquitous. For a stroll down Seattle?s claim to fame, allow Aloke to guide the way.
-Mike SOS

ALTER BRIDGE
ONE DAY REMAINS
WIND UP
Whatever happened to Creed, you wonder? Well, the band, minus the overzealously pious singer Scott Stapp have resurfaced as Alter Bridge, with ex-Mayfield Four frontman Myles Kennedy manning the vocal slot. The result is basically what you?d expect, with a few unfortunate Creed rip-off moments like the heard it all before swagger of ?Open Your Eyes? and the overly sappy ?In Loving Memory?, saved only by the soulful crooning of Kennedy, a Cornell-esque vocal presence that kicks the band in the ass like Stapp could never even dream of doing. The trademark Mark Tremonti guitar rippings have also reappeared, heard on such tracks as the ferociously crushing ?Metalingus? and the Black Label Society inspired stomping of ?Watch Your Words? and felt by guitar players across the universe. Thankfully, the religious glop that plagued Creed is very underscored, if appearing at all here, replaced with the feeling of elation of making hook laden heavy music with depth, breadth, and soul. You know the colossal feeling you felt when you first heard Audioslave? Alter Bridge comes close, but still has a little way to go before shedding the entire baggage of its past.
-Mike SOS

ARTHRITIC FOOT SOLDIERS
TEXAS IDIOT
GARDEN GATE RECORDS
" The band is about having fun, not comforming to what a bunch of late 30 somethings should be and generally sticking two fingers up at society in general." That is a quote from the site of A.F.S. If that doesn't already tell you enough, then okay, I will force myself to bash them for your pleasure. Two tracks, "Texas Idiot" and "God Squad", are obviously aimed at President George W. Bush and American conservatism. Yet another work of anti-Americanism from European nobodies, only this time they happen to be a few 30-something who think they're still in high school, as evidenced by the other two tracks "Anorexic Princess of Pop" and "Skate to Live". It's great to know these guys aren't (as they put it)"comforming." I like the very anarcho punk bands that these guys are influenced by, but these songs are just pathetic. I wrote better songs when I was just as immature (I was 14). Long live credulous naivet?! If you enjoyed this review, visit .
-Norberto Gomez, Jr.

APOCALYPSE WOW!
SELF-TITLED
NO LABEL RECORDS
When punk came to mean spoiled, suburban kids complaining about their dads, the "real" punks compensated by becoming faster, louder, more brash, and more cynical. The more the two factions careen toward opposite ends of the spectrum, the more evident it becomes that both are neglecting a key point. The good-natured humor of bands like FYP and Screeching Weasel took some of the load off when the government was getting you down. When I first saw the cover for Apocalyse Wow!'s record, with a cartoon sun smiling down on a rioting mob, I thought "This is it: funny punk!" Disappointingly, it's not whimsical or goofy?but it's better than Simple Plan. (They're terrible.)
-Casey Clague

ARCH ENEMY
DEAD EYES SEE NO FUTURE
CENTURY MEDIA
A holdover release of sorts, Arch Enemy?s latest EP groups together three covers, some live tracks, and the band?s latest single for all those clamoring for more of Angela Gossow and crew?s Swedish metal surprise. Running through songs by Megadeth, Carcass (Michael Amott?s former clan), and Manowar, in addition to pristine, stunning live renditions of ?We Will Rise?, ?Burning Angel?, and ?Heart of Darkness? that rival the original studio recordings, you simply can?t get more metal on an EP than Arch Enemy managed to on DEAD EYES SEE NO FUTURE. Hopefully, this carryover release can satisfy the fans enough until a new studio album is unleashed. If you?re curious about the fuss or an ardent fan, this is a must have.
-Mike SOS

A SMALL VICTORY
EL CAMINO
LOBSTER
EL CAMINO marks pop-punk/emo quintet A Small Victory's second release. (Their first, a six-song EP, came last year.) Upon first listen, I was convinced ASV were just another generic band playing melodic and catchy "punk"...and, unfortunately, following a couple more go-rounds, this initial impression stuck. The feeling that I've already heard what's presented on this record keeps coming back while listening to a majority of the songs, including the bland, neutral "Blindman's Holiday" and "Amy Never Misses". I must admit, however, there were a couple pretty good offerings amongst the 10 tracks?namely, edgy, energetic opener "Limousines and Cheap Cigars" and the subsequent "Hell-Bent on Heaven's Smile", which has an inherent sense of longing and melancholy present; but these fleeting moments are noticeably too few and far between to salvage the Georgia band's debut full-length.
-Janelle Jones

A TASTE FOR MURDER
ITALIAN GIRLS (BEST IN THE WORLD)
HIGH FIDELITY RECORDS
I went to Italy, and aside from a stripper who ended up conning me out of like 300 bucks, I didn't experience any Italian women. I am far too shy and self-conscious to know about ATFM's claim. I can say that I would enthusiastically agree with anyone who says that this album rocks. Chunky like constipation and peanut butter, loud like pretend rough sex in stereo. I can't get enough of these guys. The lyrics are something like you might find scrawled in the notebook of one who takes frequent solo acid trips. Once you give a listen, patterns develop and things make sense, and you enjoy it and keep listening.
-Thomas Murray

AQUI
THE FIRST TRIP OUT
ACE FU RECORDS
Never before has a disc so fervently made me ask, "What the hell is this?!" Yeah, yeah, you are so different, I know, I get it. Wait?maybe they really ARE ahead of their time; maybe there is something to this. It is definitely weird, but it works. I cannot imagine what a live show would be like, but I damn well want to find out, if only for the curiosity factor. Vocalist Stephonik emits a lot of echoing screechiness, but it works with the techno-like beats and the occasional metallic guitar riff. I found it to be rather hypnotic. If you are tired of the same old crap that seems to digest itself only to be crapped back out in your ear and CD player, give this a gander, because it's different.
-Thomas Murray

BANG SUGAR BANG
THWAK THWAK GO CRAZY!!
WAR ROOM RECORDS
For longtime fans of Bang Sugar Bang, their much-anticipated sophomore album is finally here?and you won't be the least bit disappointed. For those who have yet to check out the most boisterously fun rock combo in all of L.A., prepare to be impressed! Produced by the legendary Geza X, this record perfectly captures the rambunctious energy of BSB's live show, while highlighting the band's musicianship (and neither task is a small one, I assure you). More than half the songs on the album stand out as potential singles, but, if nothing else, everyone should AT LEAST have a copy of "The Machine Gun Song" in their musical library. A solid rock 'n' roll album from a solid fucking band.
-Jeff Penalty

BEAR CLAW
FIND THE SUN
SICKROOM RECORDS
This is a very garage-rock, introspective type of album. The sound is reminiscent of some of the very lo-fi material released by The Pixies. The song structures are very loose and random. It's almost as though they are a bunch of interwoven catchy riffs bonded together by musical bridges. If you're into the old Jazz June records, then Bear Claw is for you.
-ADF

BEERZONE
AGAINST THE FLOW
BEER CITY RECORDS
Beerzone flows through 15 tracks of generic punk rock with AGAINST THE FLOW. While these Brits have great songs talking about everything from Michael Jackson to society in general, the three-chord punk formula makes this album sound like one long song. If you like anthemic punk rock with choruses like "Don't give a fuck about, don't give a fuck about, don't give a fuck about you," then you're in for quite a treat. Grab your leather jacket, get ready to pogo, and enjoy Beerzone's interpretation of classic melodic punk-rock music. I, on the other hand, would just listen to the classics.
-Dane Jackson

BODHI
BODHI
SELF-RELEASED
Bodhi is a NYC based outfit whose two-song sampler showcases the hipster stance these guys take, as the sounds of The Strokes and Interpol are merged into one homogenous mix. For lovers of the trendy, Bodhi deliver the goods as well as anything currently pushed down your throat courtesy of corporate rock radio.
-Mike SOS

BRAND VIOLET
RETROVISION COMA U.S.A.
RIVERSIDE RECORDS
Any sexy frontwoman like Sally-Anne Marsh of Brand Violet has potential to draw in many listeners or drooling men (and women) to their band, but would you believe that not only does Brand Violet have the sexy female, but great musicians to back it up? The hit single "Alien Hive Theme" is a little bubblegum pop mixed with a frenetic new-wave styling. Like old No Doubt and Sahara Hot Nights combined, the band uses many dark, rocked-out styles to achieve their own brand (no pun intended) of musical weirdness. The fuzzed synth of "Voodoo" is like a Garbage song for the soundtrack an old horror/sci-fi flick with prevalent theremin shrieks. More than anything, Brand Violet is a mutant surf-rock band with a looker for a singer. Can it get any better than that? For more info (and pictures of the hot singer), visit .
-Norberto Gomez, Jr.

BREATHER RESIST
CHARMER
JADE TREE
Breather Resist falls into the category of bands that are hard to classify right off the bat. Are they a hardcore act yearning to be progressive or a metal band searching for unique avenues unexplored by the bands of yesteryear? Well, they?re a bit of both, and a whole lot more. One thing that is absolutely true about this Kentucky group is that the music constructed by this quartet is frenetic, chaotic, and jaggedly unconventional. Tracks like the ?Long Nights, Short Fuses? succeed in meshing the ferocity of metal, the sonic crush of hardcore, and the multi layering of art rock into an under three minute joyride. Intense, organic, and above all, laden with signature changes galore, CHARMER is an album that is hard to digest, but will most definitely leave an undeliable impression.
-Mike SOS

BURY YOUR DEAD
COVER YOUR TRACKS
VICTORY
Bury Your Dead may have dressed like dapper gentlemen for the pictures for COVER YOUR TRACKS, yet the outfit?s sonic metal buzz falls nothing short of blistering. On the 12-track release (from which each song is curiously named for a Tom Cruise film), the guttural vocals and piledriving dropped down guitar riffs found on tracks like ?Magnolia? and ?Risky Business? are bountiful, sounding like a dressed down version of Slipknot and Fear Factory with hints of Earth Crisis-esque metalcore mixed in. While Bury Your Dead?s straight path to devastation comes without much variation, there?s no doubt that at the album?s fiercest moments, COVER YOUR TRACKS is the perfect soundtrack to destroy everything around you to.
-Mike SOS

CHARACTER
WE ALSO CREATE FALSE PROMISES
FICTITIOUS
As the year draws to a close, critics for many rock magazines will be releasing their annual "top 10" lists, and don't be surprised if you see WE ALSO CREATE FALSE PROMISES?the second full-length from Character, Nashville's latest cult collection of indie-rockers?on the lists of the more-informed and trusted writers. An all-instrumental band that claims to be "changing the form of instrumental songwriting," Character contains members of several barely interesting bands (e.g., Lambchop) but who have created an album combining the lazy passion of Mogwai's sonic assault with a truly American interest in obscure instrumentation (Moogs, etc.). At times, FALSE PROMISES writhes with the torment of black metal, at others it stumbles like Lullaby for the Working Class holding hands with Maher Shalel Hash Baz. Either way, FALSE PROMISES is one of the best releases of the year.
-jck

CHEVELLE
THIS TYPE OF THINKING (COULD DO US IN)
EPIC
The band of brothers from Chicago known as Chevelle return with a righteous 11-track release that picks up where the multi-platinum debut WONDER WHAT?S NEXT left off. While many people merely write off this trio as Tool Light or a poppier Deftones, what can?t be denied is that the Loeffler clan plays with an intensity that may sound familiar on the surface, but has never been in such a compact yet satisfying package before. Take songs like ?Tug-O-War? as example: an evil chugging riff that pushes and pulls your ears in all directions before clubbing your conscious with an uplifting refrain, only to drag you back into a sinewy groove. That?s what Chevelle does best: kick out grinding new school metal with hook-laden melody sans the overblown monotony from where they?ve derived.
-Mike SOS

COCKED N? LOADED
COCKED N? LOADED
SELF-RELEASED
This sweaty rock outfit plays the kind of three-chord power rock that sounds like a less informed Henry Rollins fronting an AC/DC cover band. Wielding this kind of firepower, the Massachusetts-based quintet Cocked N? Loaded throw abandon out the window and stick to its hard rock artillery, playing three tracks of dirty blues and smarmy rawk with the imminence of a bad boy band playing the Sunset Strip circuit. Infectious choruses and no nonsense riffs with the attitude to match, Cocked N? Loaded have come to play music, cause chaos, and drink heavily, and not in that order.
-Mike SOS

CODACHROME
SOME PEOPLE
SELF-RELEASED
Codachrome is a NYC-based rock band whose heavy British rock influence provides the band a groovy sound with a spacey edge. The six-track offering meshes electronics and organic instruments convincingly, without heavily relying on either, giving the release the intimate appeal of Pink Floyd, a Dan the Automator project and some of the Beatles trippier works rolled into one. ?Some People? is a perfect example of a groove-laden, well-constructed walk through time, yet still manages to sound as current as the recent wave of hipster rock. Codachrome?s catalog of sounds is endless, and is properly exploited through the rich craftsmanship showcased on SOME PEOPLE.
-Mike SOS

CODESEVEN
DANCING ECHOES/ DEAD SOUNDS
EQUAL VISION
Codeseven is not the same band you might have heard of before. Long gone are the explosive bursts of screaming hardcore, thanks to one of the two singer?s the band employed hitting the bricks. What replaces the outfit?s once crushing aura is a lush, almost soul-soothing electronic rock smattering. Nary you?ll hear a scream at all on DANCING ECHOES/ DEAD SOUNDS, as it seems like this North Carolina quintet have traded in all of its aggressive glories to become a band with spacious deliveries and posh melodies like Pink Floyd, Dredg, and Radiohead. While the sudden change in direction isn?t a failure by any means, those looking for the muscular sound the band once commanded are in for a rude, yet mature awakening, as songs like the electronically manipulated grooves of ?Pathetic Justice? and ?Alt. Wav? are what dominates the musical scope this time around.
-Mike SOS

COLLECTIONS OF COLONIES OF BEES
CUSTOMER
POLYVINYL
The fourth release from Chicago instrumental outfit Collections of Colonies of Bees (formerly known as Pele) offers 10 tracks of neo-minimalist mumblings, a sole acoustic guitar playfully plucked and strummed over a placid, dusky atmosphere of synthesizer washes and computer glitches. Each song is titled "Fun", and each is an extrapolation of the previous track (manipulated by computer technology), except for the last track, "Funeral", a seven-minute opus of minimalist theory and neo-indie electronic balderdash. CUSTOMER sounds like outtakes from old Windsor for the Derby recording sessions, or, more precisely, it sounds exactly like the first album by The Birdwatcher, a WFTD side project that everyone laughed at me for listening to in 2001. I'm sure that no one will tease you for listening to it now, especially if you live in a college town or frequent the Knitting Factory.
-jck.

COMPLICATED SHIRT
STRINGINE
SELF-RELEASED
Maybe this band should take a listen to its own album before poking fun at an established artist such as The Strokes. Complicated Shirt have taken it upon themselves to claim the title of "real garage band." If these guys are so real, maybe they should just stay in the garage where they came from and not subject innocent music reviewers to this horrible sound. The album sounds like The Strokes on crack?bad crack, I guess. Bye bye.
-ADF

DADDY-X
ORGANIC SOUL
SUBURBAN NOIZE
Honestly, I'm the wrong person to review this CD. When I noticed it in my package of review discs, I nearly shit my pants. Daddy-X is the lead singer of Kottonmouth Kings, a band that I've always despised for their pro-pothead stance and musical flirtations with the likes of Insane Clown Posse and other such vultures of wasted youth. ORGANIC SOUL is a collection of 19 songs mixing rap, reggae, and enough rock to make the album slightly respectable, all bundled up and tagged with a pro-pot/pro-DIY banner. Most of the lyrics are dominated by references to smokin' and Daddy's love for his daughter, but thankfully the bulk of the tracks are reasonably short in length and X's large cast of musicians resist the temptation of ridiculous jam band posturing. Obviously, if you like the KKs, you'll want to buy this one.
-jck.

DARLINGTON
EUTHANIZE ME
DISASTER
Since 1995, the trio in Darlington have been rocking the punk-rock circuit and producing hits like "Marcia Brady", which charted on L.A.'s own KROQ radio. On this, their seventh release, Darlington have again released an album fueled by four-chord progressions and punk-rock angst. The thing is, eight years ago I would have been all over this disc. I would have avidly screamed "Fuck you up!" with the back-up vocals on "F-'Em", the first track of the disc. The sound Darlington produces does not appeal to me, because I have heard it so many times before. However, with songs like "F-'Em", "Destroy All Lines", and "Skate Tough or Go Home", Darlington will have no problem acquiring a fresh batch of rebellious teens from all suburban walks of life.
-Brent Sheen

DE'SOLE'
MELODIES IN TRANSIT
BLUE LIGHT AUDIO MEDIA
Brimming with positivity and lightly distorted guitars, De'Sole' bring us four songs of screamo goodness. Blending the generalities of The Beautiful Mistake and The Used, these boys might have missed their ride on the "We sing songs about girls, but we scream in them, so we're still tough" boat. Don't get me wrong, though: the songs are well written and cleanly played, and the production is especially nice for a band that's just getting their feet moist in the scene. If the sounds of Mae, Anberlin, and Thursday turn you on, then picking up this record might be your best next move. for more info.
-Zac

DESTRUCTO SWARMBOTS
THE MOUNTAIN EP
PUBLIC GUILT
The three songs by the noise-mongering duo known as Destructo Swarmbots are unsettling at best, as this outfit strings a chain of ambient sounds together rather than create standardized songs with structure. The final result may have you confounded, frustrated, and probably all together befuddled, but coarse dissonance is ultimately achieved, something this dynamic duo anticipated all along.
-Mike SOS

DRY KILL LOGIC
THE DEAD AND DREAMING
REPOSESSION
The tumultuous career of Dry Kill Logic is back on an upswing, thanks mainly to the long awaited release of THE DEAD AND DREAMING. The New York based quartet?s 11-track return is a proper revisit for the once maligned outfit, sidelined by lineup and music industry changes. Now, the group stands strong under the power of such savage tracks as the enraged opener ?Lost? and the incessantly punishing ?Buckles?, showcasing the unbreakable spirit and volatile methods that not only kept the band together, but helps them prosper. While the style that DKL play directly derives from the harder side of nu-metal, the razor sharp vocal delivery and captivating songwriting twists and turns are what sets songs like ?Neither Here Nor Missed? and ?200 Years? apart from the rest of the aggressive pack. The band?s innate ability to capture the elements of metal?s heavy hitters without losing its distinct identity is DKL?s biggest asset, and with the help of devastating tracks like ?Paper Tiger? and ?Living Witness?, THE DEAD AND DREAMING puts the band back into the big leagues.
-Mike SOS

FEAR BEFORE THE MARCH OF FLAMES
ART DAMAGE
EQUAL VISION
Unsettling, uncompromising, and unconventional are the best ways to describe this manic hardcore quartet. Hailing from Colorado, Fear Before The March of Flames is still barely of legal drinking age, but with the seething anger and vast musical repertoire showcased on ART DAMAGE, you?d never guess these guys are all in their early 20?s. Angular riffs collide with jagged guitar riffs while flailing drum lines and an anguished, abrasive lead throat make situations like the ones created on ?The Story of the Curious Oysters? and ?Law of Averages? that much more uncomfortable. 11-tracks of disheveled aggression are dished out here by these artsy new school merchants, who successfully juxtapose hardcore heaviness and metallic math rock into one compact blast.
-Mike SOS

FELL FAR BEHIND
CHASING THE DREAM
SUBURBAN
Good lord, it's not more than three seconds into this EP that Fell Far Behind bust out the Maiden riffs. And, as if metalcore with Maiden riffs wasn't bad enough, imagine sap-sucking pop-punk with Maiden riffs. Thankfully, there are only four songs here to contend with, all of which sound like the poo brew of some kid who accidentally re-filed all of his NOFX records into his older brother's Judas Priest sleeves, then, upon trying to learn tablature to "Don't Call Me White" the next week, ended up playing along to "You Got Another Thing Comin'". Putrid. Couple that with a poppy, distorted bass tone that sounds like a bag of potatoes to the side of the head, and this is nothing but trouble.
-Jason Schreurs

FEUER
WHERE WE ARE
SELF-RELEASED CD
California?s Feuer capitalizes on the 2004 Presidential election with an anti-Bush hymn that combines Dave Mustaine-esque snarling vocals with a Sum 41 musical backdrop. While one four and a half minute track is far from an indication of what a band is like, from the socio-political rant that the three members of Feuer stir up here, it?s a safe bet that these guys are pretty bummed out these days of Bush Mach II. Maybe in four years they can come back and write another condemnation battle march full of punk rock swagger, but for now, we?ll settle for ?Where We Are?.
-Mike SOS

FLOOD THE SKY
SELF-TITLED
SURROUNDED RECORDS
Heavy-handed nu-rock by guys with tattoos of suns and tribal squiglies. As a writer, I try to find something other to say than "typical," but if it looks like a duck and walks like a duck?.
-Casey Clague

GARY WILSON
MARY HAD BROWN HAIR
STONES THROW RECORDS
Cult Rock 101: In 1977, Gary Wilson made a name for himself playing gigs covered in flour and surrounded by mannequins. He also recorded the album YOU THINK YOU KNOW ME armed with some futuristic new-wave funk grooves, which would later be released in 2002 in extremely limited release (500 copies). Not long after, a documentary followed (Michael Wolk's YOU THINK YOU KNOW ME: THE GARY WILSON STORY), and a revival was underway, including sold-out shows in NY and L.A. Now, Gary reemerges with MARY HAD BROWN HAIR, his first recording since the late '70s, and he comes off sounding like Talking Heads and Har Mar Superstar filtered through Alvin & the Chipmunks. Fans will find Gary's still writing naive lyrics about obsessing over girls named Linda, Mary, and Debbie?whether real or imagined we may never know. (Speaking of fans, check Beck name-dropping Gary on his funkalicious "Where It's At".)
-Jude Ruiz

GIANT DRAG
LEMONA
WICHITA RECORDINGS
Female-fronted indie rock bands are made or broken by the vocals. Many times the vocals just don't cut it, and the diversity with the female voice just isn't there. In this case, Giant Drag's vocalist, Annie Hardly, not only stands out, but she helps deliver a great release. Her vocals are extremely melodic and sweet; and when placed against the indie rock sound layered with lightly distorted guitars and synthesizer, the music is complete. Her vocals are a perfect match for the music Annie almost seems like she is effortlessly singing, yet it comes across both powerful and mellow. Giant Drag has a sound that closely resembles a lighter-sounding The Breeders, Mazzy Star, and even a little bit of PJ Harvey. If there were ever a band to keep your eyes on, it would have to be Annie Hardly and Giant Drag.
-David Walter

GOD AMONG INSECTS
WORLD WIDE DEATH
CANDLELIGHT
Sounding like Hell incarnate, the death metal supergroup God Among Insects haul out its nine-track sojourn with the might and prestige that only seasoned veterans of the genre could muster. Sprinkle a slew of splattercore, a dash of death-metal rattlings, and a flurry of furious rhythms and growled vocal madness, and you?ve just emulated tracks like ?Headless Nun Whore? and ?Severe Facial Reconstruction? right down to the intense hatred that these tracks are played with. Be prepared for the onslaught.
-Mike SOS

HATEPLOW
MOSHPIT MURDER
ARCTIC
Old school death metal mongers Hateplow?s latest release is a collection of a live show from Detroit and the outfit?s first demo that features classics like ?$20 Blow Job?. While the death metal genre has evolved quite a bit since 1994, Hateplow?s assault on your eardrums was one of the first of its kind, and when coupled with the outfit?s liking for obscene and lascivious content, it made this overall package a morbidly fun edge to the carnage.
-Mike SOS

HEADWOUND
GINMILL
HAUNTED TOWN
Headwound have an uncanny ability to convey poetry through music. Their lush guitars weave in and out of string sections that could easily be found in the work of a classical composer. Just kidding. They're called Headwound. They have songs called "3 Cheers for Beer" and "Sloppy Seconds".
-Casey Clague

HELL ON HEELS
S/T
BOMP!
Oh, fuck yeah: Four women playing bad-ass, tough, sleazy rock 'n' roll that brings to mind the inimitable Texas Terri. This album of 10 originals plus one Jeff Dahl cover ("Ain't So Cool"?which just so happens to be the weakest song here, as it lacks that edge inherent in the rest of the compositions) OOZES cool. The opener, "My Kind of Trouble"is a threatening, sexy, dark, tough-as-(acrylic)-nails gem that's a perfect way to kick off a tremendous record. Other standouts are the exceptional "Hell on Heels" and "He's Alright". Hell on Heels stay pretty much on target throughout the album, sticking to their trashy rock 'n' roll aesthetic (though they do travel the jangly garage-rock route via the short instrumental interlude halfway through "Got What You Need"). I simply adore how they trade off vocals and incorporate wonderful group harmonies on basically every song. Like a stiletto to the head, this record will leave you speechless.
-Janelle Jones

HERMOSA DRIVE
ANOMALY
GRAVE 9 RECORDS
Hermosa Drive is selling themselves as five troubled youths (so Oprah). I think that "ANOMALY" is a pretentious album title. And lead singer Andrew Pringle is not doing anything original. His vocal style is demon voice, then pretty as the boy next door. But Hermosa Drive's music is so tight and creative that you cannot help but like ANOMALY. Guitarists Mike Clombo and Joe Boning are young axe gods in the making. These two are worth the price of admission. Track 1, "Curse the Midnight Sky", is a slow, dramatic piece that is so well-arranged and interesting: cool time changes, nice piano work, dark modes, and shredder axe work deluxe. This song is full of all the elements that make Hermosa Drive a standout band. ANOMALY is a great debut effort.
-H. Barry Zimmerman

HOPPED UP!
GET GONE
RHYTHM BOMB RECORDS
Hopped Up! is an honest-to-God rockabilly band. Guitarists Justin Barr and Ralph Rodriguez are so authentically and emotionally nailing the original Sun Records rockabilly sound that I would have believed that Scotty Moore himself was cracking these licks. But the cherry in the pie is lead singer and cool chick Scotty Shanks-Bruemmer. Her squealing and growling are infectious. Some of the highlight sides include "Bop House", "Don't Make Me Holler", and the final track, "Hot Car Girls", which is a breakneck highway rocker for the books. GET GONE is a swingin' disc that'll make you dance and smile. This is rock 'n' roll.
-H. Barry Zimmerman

ISIS
PANOPTICON
IPEACAC
PANOPTICON is an intense yet ethereal metal masterpiece, showcasing the veteran Boston-based sextet Isis to be the foremost expansive explorers of the riff. From the sonic flurry of ?So Did We? to the sprawling ?Grinning Mouths? this album sets a precedent, displaying the band?s penchant to be hypnotic, hyper, and hostile, usually through the duration of one track. For a dramatic excursion bursting with rich musical textures that run the gamut from eerie to enlightening, look no further than this subtle collection of brilliance.
-Mike SOS

JAPANISCHE KAMPFHOERSPIELE
HARDCORE AUS DER ERSTEN WELT
BASTARDIZED
Just in time for Christmas, the German psychos are back, this time with a full-length of their demento grindpunk. HARDCORE? treads the middle ground between raging death metal and punked-out hardcore, perfected by six very, very disturbed individuals. It's like taking a rollercoaster ride through the funhouse, twists and turns leading to fantastical, nightmarish freak shows. One minute you're heading up the steep incline, the next your head is spinning with visions of things you'd rather not see. Two vocalists exchange the high screech/low growl, but in a tradeoff that brings to mind old-school crossover hardcore rather than current death metal. Technically proficient up the ying-yang but able to embrace their reckless abandon, Jaka (as they're called for brevity's sake) provide one hell of a wild ride.
-Jason Schreurs

JEFF KAISER OCKTODECTET/THE KAISER/DIAZ-INFANTE SEXTET
THE ALCHEMICAL MASS W/SUITE SOLUTIO
PFMENTUM
The title of this album has devoured a significant portion of my strictly-enforced word limit, so here's the bare facts with little garnish: Kaiser, a trumpeter of great acclaim (who is featured on the opening of the HBO series DEADWOOD), accompanied by 15 other musicians, offers a jazz interpretation of a centuries-old religious text inspired by the ancient (now new-age) practice of alchemy, a medieval philosophy concerned with the prolongation of life. The music is atonal, inspired (at least in some way) by the works of once-radical composers such as John Cage, as well as various other pioneers. If you appreciate the "experimental" works of John Zorn, trumpeter Dave Douglas, or violinist Eyvind Kang, or if you're just looking to expand your musical horizons, check out this disc.
-jck.

JOEY?S LOSS
UNWELCOME TRAVELERS AND OTHER BRAVE MEN
INDIE VISION
Joey?s Loss is a Knoxville, TN based quintet whose emo meets power pop punk seems on the surface to be as easily digestible as it is disposable. Yet, this 11-track release has a greater depth than a Sugarcult album, maybe due in part to this band?s combination of sheer DIY practice and devout Christian belief. Sounding like a cross between Jimmy Eat World, Far, and Simple Plan, Joey?s Loss has the chops to write a bouncy song with teeth, such as the grand mid-tempo guitar stomp of ?Thought on Indian Removal? and the attention-grabbing whirlwind of ?Our Restoration?. The best part about UNWELCOME TRAVELERS AND OTHER BRAVE MEN is that it never becomes overly preachy or incessantly whiny: instead, it maintains a passionate and positive outlook without forcible sermons or annoying vocals.
-Mike SOS

LEFTOVER CRACK
ROCK THE 40 OZ.
BANKSHOT
With their highly publicized split with Hellcat Records and subsequent signing to the more political Alternative Tentacles, I suppose it was time for a CD re-release of Leftover Crack's debut 7", ROCK THE 40 OZ. with some extra tracks tacked on. Really, though, I'm left wondering what all the fuss is about with this band. Sure, the messages they deliver are fairly extreme and uncompromising, and the punk rock they spew out is pretty intense (when they're not lost in the ska bullshit), but I find the whole package just sort of a mess. Thought-provoking in-between-song samples are fun to listen to once, but that's about all. The scathing production sounds way too tinny, and different ideas are thrown into the mix with reckless abandon. This CD is making me dizzy.
-Jason Schreurs

LIFEND
INNERSCARS
CRUZ DEL SUR
Lifend mix the beauty of Lacuna Coil with the brutality of Dimmu Borgir, creating a virtual metal melting pot on the outfit?s debut INNER SCARS. Descending from the Swedish metal contingent, this Italian quintet boast female fronted vocals, thunderous death metal riffs, powerful keyboard overlays, and even stretch the metal genre by implementing a curveball in the form of a saxophone. Experimenting within the extreme metal genre, Lifend?s influences range everywhere from Opeth to Cradle of Filth, giving its brand of operatic death metal a broader scope that other bands can only be envious of. Nine tracks of pristine acoustics and programmed beats intertwined with bellicose death metal bellowings, INNERSCARS is the amalgamation of all of your favorite European metal acts rolled into one.
-Mike SOS

MALADY
MALADY
LEVEL-PLANE
Malady?s unique musical offering sounds like a college rock band gone heavy, only to be pulled back by ?80s new wave and intellectual post punk. The eight-track self-titled debut by this outfit comprised of former members of Pg. 99 and City of Caterpillar play with the acumen of seasoned pros that know how to maximize the power of a riff and the dynamics of tempo shift. Lush undercurrents of cascading melody pervade ?Well Again?, while dissonant guitars and herky-jerky rhythms propel ?Said Simone?. Malady isn?t an entirely overpowering band: they?re not loud or overly violent but songs like ?The World is a A Tomb? remains intense, building up crests and waves a la Fugazi and Jawbreaker. When all cylinders are running, like on the disjointed anthem ?Let?s Face It?, the overwhelming sensation will sweep you away.
-Mike SOS

MALEVOLENT CREATION
CONQUERING SOUTH AMERICA
ARCTIC
Florida?s Malevolent Creation is the long-running death metal troupe whose latest release is a live album recorded in Brazil. CONQUERING SOUTH AMERICA showcases that this quintet, after 14 years and 10 albums, still kick major ass, as songs like ?Multiple Stab Wounds? and ?Rebirth of Terror? retain their brutality after all these years. The only problem with this disc is the lack of crowd interaction and the clich?d diatribes between songs, but if you can get through every song introduction being growled to a dead crowd, CONQUERING SOUTH AMERICA is a triumphant release from an extreme metal pioneer.
-Mike SOS

MARK B
THINGS MARKB
AGENT RECORDS
This album is a blend of acoustic rock and pop-punk, and for the most part the effort is pulled off very nicely. Mark B definitely has the look and feel of the next big MTV pop/rock star who will have teenage girls going wild. Behind all that, though, is a very talented musician who knows how to make a song super catchy without overdoing it. He can really play the guitar, and he knows when to implement it heavily?and when not to. He can also sing, and his vocals shy away from the typical whiny pop-punk vocals, as he focuses more on hitting the high and low notes correctly. His lyrics are very childlike and will appeal to a teenage crowd; and sometimes they take away from his music structure. The recording also sounds rushed at times, which also takes away from any rhythm the music has. I wouldn't be surprised to see Mark B as an MTV poster child very soon.
-David Walter

MARK LANEGAN BAND
BUBBLEGUM
BEGGARS BANQUET
The subdued sounds of melancholic rock never sounded as bleak as when Mark Lanegan takes to the microphone, and the somber songwriter?s latest, the 15-track BUBBLEGUM is no exception. On the erstwhile Screaming Trees singer?s latest solo effort, (dubbed the Mark Lanegan Band), some of Lanegan?s noteworthy friends and Desert Session collaborators join in, such as PJ Harvey, Queens of the Stone Age, Duff McKagan and Izzy Stradlin, Burning Brides, and more, to lay down some sorrow. From the sad cowboy blues of ?Wedding Dress? to ?Sideways in Reverse?, the album?s only real upbeat, rocking endeavor, Lanegan and company have created a rollicking, riveting album that those on the edge shouldn?t go near.
-Mike SOS

MISS TK AND THE REVENGE
XOXO
GERN BLANDSTEN
For one reason or another, Miss TK felt she should put together an album blending punk rock with Cyndi Lauper-like lyrics. I kept listening to this disc thinking the punchy pop sound would eventually settle in my ears and enjoyment would ensue, but this most hopeful of events never took place. Instead, I dealt with lyrics such as "Fake Italians Ain't No Stallions". Why, thank you, Miss TK: I was previously unaware of this startling fact, but due to your informative methods of songwriting, I have finally grasped the truth for the debate on whether or not fake Italians were, in fact, Stallions. The album is weak, leaving you waiting for a hook, and before the hooks are found, the songs are over and your $14.00 is gone. Save your time and purchase a worthwhile alternative such as Siouxsie and the Banshees.
-Zac

MS. LED
THESE THINGS WE SAY
FISH THE CAT
Soaked with lyrics preaching feminism and equal rights, Ms. Led is a quartet playing some lighter punk-rock music. Imagine a less-talented Sleater-Kinney with a bit more punk and more political lyrics. The choruses are very easy to sing along with, but unless you're a student at Sarah-Lawrence Academy, you probably won't want to. But while their similarities to The Raincoats and Bikini Kill may be exactly the kind of repellent one would slather on to keep a guy like me away, they do find time to participate in some very legitimate causes, like fighting racism and hunger. The messages are strong, but the music lacks. This will probably be in next month's bargain bin, so if you're particularly interested, I suggest picking it up then.
-Zac

NEON MANIACS
NEON MANIACS
PUKE AND VOMIT RECORDS
Six songs to tickle old fancies for classic punk and leave a desire for more. Man, this album is kinda creepy, like the shit Rob Zombie gets handed when he's out late slumming it and people who share his affinity for B-movie horror decide to share their side projects. While listening to this I was constantly reminded of The Misfits, the old stuff with Glenn Danzig at the helm. This is a good thing for many people who can't get enough of that. I guess you can't always invent your own sound, though.
-Thomas Murray

OCTOBER FILE
A LONG WALK ON A SHORT PIER
ABSTRACT
October File, like Refused, Rage Against the Machine, Snapcase, Helmet, and a handful of others, approach heavy music with a discernibly different viewpoint than the bands they got lumped in with. Soaring melodies and deliciously disjointed guitars aside, the four men that comprise October File are smart, seasoned musicians who aren?t afraid to write a negative song about the United States, aptly titled ?God Bless America?, nor shy away from making melodic riffs like ?Survival Song? match up with heavy handed lyrics. Genre bending and musically stimulating, A LONG WALK ON A SHORT PIER is a post-hardcore gem that joins seething aggression and attention grabbing compositions with unmistakable grace.
-Mike SOS

ORANGE COUNTYASSAULT
SELF-TITLED
Wow! A punk band from O.C. that actually has "Orange County" in the band name. Okay, enough slagging on the name. OCA is a straight-up punk band that delivers the goods old-school style. I have no doubt that bands like OCA are a dime a dozen in their area, but that doesn't change the fact that these boys know what they are doing. For a first-time outing, OCA's self-titled and altogether DIY debut is a decent stepping stone for the band. Over time, OCA will refine their sound and break out of Orange County with fists in air!
-Brent Sheen

POLTERCHRIST
ENGULFED BY THE SWARM
SEASON OF MIST
Philadelphia based metal merchants Polterchrist play a hybrid style of extreme metal, blending hyper death metal with suffocating black metal, eliciting maximum results. The band?s latest nine track endeavor yields an ominous passageway between break neck rhythms, relentless percussive madness, and on ?Terminal?, a masterful two-minute metal instrumental opening that screams with the intensity than most classic Bay Area thrashers couldn?t muster. With firm grasps on both what?s going on in Sweden and in the underground of America, Polterchrist puts its definitive stomp on ENGULFED BY THE SWARM with an unabashed and unbridled metal assault.
-Mike SOS

QUANTICE NEVER CRASHED
QUANTICE NEVER CRASHED
THE DEATH SCENE
Quantice Never Crashed?s self-titled 10-track debut starts out with an auspicious instrumental, but quickly shifts gears into standardized screamocore that you?ve heard before, and better recorded at that. Yet, there?s a quirky charm about this Brooklyn and Staten Island based outfit of friends (all between the ages of 16 to 2, by the way) that?s hard to deny. Whether it is from the screams of condemnation in ?Lighthouses? or the emotional chugging heard on ?Good to the Last Drop?, these guys show the drive and heart of hardcore heroes. Falling somewhere between the musicianship of Coheed and Cambria and the malice of Every Time I Die, Quantice Never Crashed?s spirited efforts and impressive agility carry this release and should help the quest for success.
-Mike SOS

RED AS MONKEY
FOUR BRAKE FAST
FOND OF LIFE RECORDS
Red as Monkey's debut disc on German-based Fond of Life Records, FOUR BRAKE FAST, is a big rock experience in a very modern style. The music is very tight and moving at breakneck speed. Drummer Mathias is a beast who keeps everything super energetic. Red as Monkey is a fantastic band. Lead vox Michael is very melodic while maintaining a great rock attitude. Some of the best of the good songs are "Pigassmofo" (love the title), "Globocop", and "My Best Enemy". FOUR BRAKE FAST is an album that is better every time that you listen to it. Great job, fellahs.
-H. Barry Zimmerman

RED EYED LEGENDS
MUTUAL INSIGNIFICANCE
FILE 13
Chris Thomson has made a name for himself with his array of fabulous releases on Dischord Records (including Skull Kontrol and Circus Lupus), but it's only now that I feel his true passion and energy as channeled through his work with Red Eyed Legends. The band's name is a reference to a Germs' song, and that influence are definitely obvious, especially vocally. This is noise-rock at its finest, folks, and the comparisons to Rye Coalition and The Fall have been aplenty considering the fun use of keyboards behind distorted guitars with spastic drumming. The D.C. sound that we've grown to love shines through from time to time on the EP, and those who listen are sure to be pleased. Look for them on tour this year with Hot Snakes.
-Zac

RED LIGHTS FLASH
FREE
A-F RECORDS
Red Lights Flash may sound like your typical Middle America skate punks, but, surprisingly, they are from Austria. The songs are quick, shouty, and have a slight metal tinge (the only thing to shows any European roots). "Last Come, First Served" is classic political punk crying for revolution and (with a synonym bonanza) explaining all the ways to quit but cautioning that such a resignation "[leads] us to further errors." They pull from notorious bands like Hot Water Music, Bad Religion, and Boy Sets Fire (in terms of their confrontational style). Red Lights Flash are no rip-off cover band, though: they have the energy and thought for their cries to resonate, even across the Pond.
-Erika Owens

SARIAH BISHOP
MUTE MALEVOLENCE
SIN ICON RECORDS
Sariah Bishop is a club-music Kerouac. Well, that's a little too narrow of a category. When she is in spoken-word mode, she is smart and weird and street-wise. When she sings, she has a beautiful, rich tone and a warmth that is intimate. The music is well-constructed emotionalism played on mechanical toys. The music is not cyber-cold; there is a pulse. But mainly there is Sariah Bishop being great. MUTE MALEVOLENCE begins with a knockout piece called "Rebel". Cool disoriented talk of growing up on the streets of Hollywood, followed with a Mary Jane Girls-type chorus sang sexy. It's all decadent and hot grooving. MUTE MALEVOLENCE is a fantastic disc that will up your I.Q. and your chances. A real cool time.
-H. Barry Zimmerman

SCURVY DOGS
IT?S ALL GONNA END
RODENT POPSICLE
Clocking 13 songs under 25 minutes might sound a bit on the lean side, but when you possess the punk venom of San Francisco?s Scurvy Dogs, it?s the perfect length for an album chock full of aggression. Falling somewhere between Dead Kennedys and Slapshot, this powerful quartet crank the volume and let the fists fly with the nihilistic attitude that other bands can only dream of mustering up. If you want a jolt of angry punk rock, this is the disc to obtain.
-Mike SOS

SHADOWS FALL
THE WAR WITHIN
CENTURY MEDIA
Arguably one of the leading bands in the New American Metal charge, the Massachusetts-based clan Shadows Fall has returned ? after spending what seemed like an eternity on the road ? with the 10-track THE WAR WITHIN. The endeavor is a blistering indication that these guys are a force to be reckoned with, as all of the metal devices necessary to drive a band to the top of its game are show up here in one form or another. From the guiding anthemic choruses of ?What Drives the Weak? and ?The Power of I and I? to the tour-de-force drumming and jaw-dropping guitar work heard throughout the entire album, Shadows Fall firmly makes one thing clear: metal is not only alive and well, but thriving, thanks to bands like themselves who meld the intensity of today?s sounds with the intricacies of virtuosos. The only complaint about THE WAR WITHIN would be the relentless assault rendered by the band, not leaving the listener a moment?s rest throughout the entire 42-minute affair. The future of metal is here, and Shadows Fall is at the head of the class.
-Mike SOS

SHOWBREAD
NO SIR, NIHILISM IS NOT PRACTICAL
TOOTH AND NAIL
Seven God-fearing souls from Savannah, GA have set out to conquer the Christian rock communities with its unusual (for a God-rock band) array of hip swaying rhythms and indie rock swagger. The band goes by the name Showbread, and the outfit?s 13-track release hits with the impact of Refused, Amen, and The Used, especially on the pulsating ?Welcome to Plainfield Tobe Hooper?, a whiplashed scream-a-thon with rock anthem potential. Finding a niche between the current wave of screamo and intelligent punk rock, the self-titled ?raw rock? moniker the band calls its music is pretty much on the mark, sans a few clunker ballads and misplaced interludes. If you can forget about the band?s beliefs and become immersed in deep grooves like the ones found in ?The Bell Jar? and ?Dead By Dawn?, you?ll be in pretty good shape.
-Mike SOS

SILENT FORCE
WORLDS APART
NOISE
Are you ready for sweepingly majestic modern metal? The quintet known as Silent Force hopes so, as the outfit?s third release contains 12 tracks of the keyboard enhanced, guitar driven, falsetto-screamed power metal that every metal fan has a soft spot in their hearts for. One listen of the fist-pumping chorus on ?No One Lives Forever? or the Judas Priest walloping riffaging heard on ?Heart Attack? and you?ll be thrashing about in no time. Sounding relevant to today?s stream of metal acts with a dollop of classic power metal influence creeping in every now and then, WORLDS APART is an epic tour de force fans of Dream Theater, Deep Purple, and Iced Earth will enjoy.
-Mike SOS

SIXGUN RADIO
PLEASE PRESS ME
BANKSHOT
Punk rock is a term thrown around so much these days that it has lost much of its relevance. A NYC-based quartet named Sixgun Radio is helping the term regain some prestige, as the act's 14-track adrenaline-rushed offering dually contains the awkward charm of NOFX and the boiled-over aggression of Sick of it All, creating the right concoction of East Coast and West Coast styles. Featuring members of F-Minus and Leftover Crack, these folks are no strangers to the sacrifice and skill it takes to make honest, underivative punk with bite. Songs like "Bitterend", "Fire Inside", and "Redlight" are explosively tight, while a lighter side of Sixgun Radio can be seen on its tongue-in-cheek version of Billy Joel's "You May Be Right" and on the surprisingly sensitive acoustic number "Kings and Queens". Diverse enough to allow themselves leeway to broaden its horizons, yet confident enough to provide dynamic surges of punk energy on tracks like "Lights Out", Sixgun Radio will erase that bad taste mall punk leaves in your mouth from the moment "Welcome to the Big Time" hits your CD player. www.bankshotrecords.com
-Mike SOS

SKEEMING NOGOODS
S/T
IDOL RECORDS
In true Motor City fashion, this self-described "twenty-seven minutes & twenty-nine seconds of foot up your ass" is a rockin' and rollin' Detroit trio kicking through some tried-and-true formulas. This disc plays out like one long track that never really changes tempos. If you're looking for something new, you've come to the wrong place; however if you're looking for a soundtrack to stay up late and get smashed to, this amped-up punkish blues rock might just be what you're looking for.
-Jude Ruiz

SLUGNUT
ALL THE SPLENDOR AND ROT
SELF-RELEASED
North Carolina trio Slugnut play the kind of crossover metal that was big in the early ?90s, only with a more discernible nod to the death metal circuit. On the band?s 14-track sojourn into extreme heaviness, the breakneck pace of tracks like ?Placenta Diablo? give off the impressions of Superjoint Ritual butting heads with Obituary, while the thrash metal riffing found on ?Stranger Image? sounds like early COC clashing with Children of Bodom. If you?re looking for music that turns the energy of punk on its ear with a walloping, evil metal slant, and get into the sick grooves ALL THE SPLENDOR AND ROT unfurls.
-Mike SOS

SLUNT
S/T EP
Some of you may recognize frontwoman Abby Gennet from her MTV V.J. stint, others may have seen her STUFF MAGAZINE spread; but until you've heard this Slunt sing, you ain't seen nothing yet. On this five-track debut, this NYC quartet take you through a raunchy hard-rock assault with plenty of overtly sexual overtones. Gennet's greatest asset is her ability to sound both sweet and nasty in the same breath, and Slunt even deliver a dead-on cover of the classic '80s Romeo Void tune "Never Say Never".
-Jude Ruiz

STINKING LIZAVETA
CAUGHT BETWEEN WORLDS
AT A LOSS
Stinking Lizaveta is an avant-garde trio that blends noise rock, doom metal, jazz, and progressive rock sans vocals. Armed with an upright bass, an electric guitar, and a drum kit, this band of left of center musicians throw in every possible influence they can obtain, truly stretching the boundaries of musical convention. Jam-friendly and at times downright entrancing, Stinking Lizaveta?s molten mixture of all that?s heavy (and some that?s not) showcases an outfit whose musical audacity is second to none.
-Mike SOS

TEN WORDS FOR SNOW
SPIT ON ELECTRICS
BOYARM RECORDS
Ten Words for Snow (now, there's a challenging trivia question?I can't think of two words for snow, much less 10) are a Detroit quartet whose influences range from XTC, The Police, The Jam, to Blue Oyster Cult. For this debut EP, TWFS crank out some lo-fi late '70s/early '80s rock that goes down with ease. Quite simply, this is pop music that rocks, and I'm gonna go on record here and say that I wouldn't be surprised to hear some great full-length releases in this band's future. (Note to readers: should this band fail to release anything noteworthy, reviewer assumes no responsibility.)
-Jude Ruiz

STRAYLIGHT RUN
STRAYLIGHT RUN
VICTORY
Splitting from the rabidly popular Taking Back Sunday may seem like a bad move, but Shaun Cooper and John Nolan knew that it was their only option. Armed with only a concept, the two recruited Nolan?s sister Michelle and drummer Will Noon and whipped up Straylight Run, a lush keyboard/ piano based endeavor. While the familiar song structures of Nolan/ Cooper?s past band seep through here from time to time, the overall result is an atmospheric collection of 11-tracks that sound like the cross-pollination of Ben Folds Five, Dashboard Confessional and Mazzy Star, with a touch of electronica found on ?Tool Sheds and Hot Tubs?. The mid tempo balladry heard on ?Existentialism on Prom Night? and ?Mistakes We Knew We Were Making? are usually reserved for older, more mature artists, but it looks like no one told Straylight Run, who?ve created an album laden with heartaching melancholy, pensive melodies, and well-textured musical hues that truly encapsulate the term emo. If you enjoyed the lighter side of TBS, you?ll clamor for Straylight Run.
-Mike SOS

THE AEFFECT
SECRETS & LIES
HITCHHIKER RECORDS
It's a great feeling when a band's music is a lot better than their album cover. So is the case with SECRETS & LIES by The Aeffect. These boys have created a series of songs that are extremely dark and yet dancey?think Joy Division meets Depeche Mode. The beauty of this sound is that it's genuine, not pre-arranged garbage like some of the bands nowadays that try to pull off the '80s electronic sound. Rather than imitating, singer/songwriter Steve Kramer chose to pay homage to his favorite bands by glorifying their sound in his own way. This move is executed perfectly, and the product is exactly what it should be: well-written dance songs with enough depth to keep you interested and enough synthesizer work to keep you on the dance floor.
-Zac

THE ATARI STAR
PRAYER + PRETEND
JOHANN'S FACE RECORD
This is Johann's own record. The guys who run the well-respected indie outfit are also two-thirds of The Atari Star's members. Their direct involvement in the scene through the label is buoyed by respect for their abilities as musicians. The Atari Star produce a very deliberate, atmospheric sound. It is obvious that they know what they are doing and have the confidence to do it. Through clever lyrics and smart, diverse musical moves?from folk to pop to more dreary fare?The Atari Star adeptly create a sonic escape.
-Erika Owens

THE BLONDE ALIBI
JUST TELL ME WHO IT WAS
SELF-RELEASED
The Blonde Alibi have put together an impressive post hardcore endeavor, as JUST TELL ME WHO IT IS contains five tracks which combine emotional outpouring sans today?s whine with slabs of good old foot stomping punk rock. But the most impressive thing about this disc is the package that it arrived in; a hand stitched patch embroidered with the track listings and artwork. How?s that for painstaking detail? Luckily, the music delivered by this quintet is made just as thoroughly, with impassioned vocals, swirling guitars, and high-wire dynamics leading the charge.
-Mike SOS

THE CONFEDERATS
RUNNIN' FROM THE COPS
PIGGYBACK RECORDS
The name "The Confederats" sounds like an appropriate name for a band that spills racial slurs, but this is not the case here. Worthless punks out there who like their punk old-school and straightforward might find some solace in RUNNIN' FROM THE COPS. The Confederats add a little humor and politics into their fast and furious vocals and some psychobilly style drummin' to keep this sounding fresh. If I had to take a wild guess, I would say that one of these guys is banging someone at MTV, as their music has been featured in MTV shows like PIMP MY RIDE, DATE MY MOM, and FLAB TO FAB. If this band fails to gain a following, might I suggest a name change?
-Jude Ruiz

THE CRIBS
SELF-TITLED
WICHITA RECORDINGS
The Cribs are really unique and rare, in the sense that the band is made up of three brothers from a small town in England. Their music definitely embodies a sense of family and togetherness, which is neatly displayed with their musicianship. The instrumentation is right on, and they never miss a beat, as all three brothers are on the same page musically. It must be in the genes. Their music has that English indie-rock sound with a very heavy pop influence dashed into the mix. The songs on their self-titled effort are very catchy and very simplistic. There isn't much variety within the guitar hooks, but that is offset by the vocals, which are shared by two of the brothers. The vocals have more of an American feel behind them, which really help separate these guys from the typical English rock-band vocals. The Cribs have definitely achieved a high mark with their self-titled album.
-David Walter

THE EDDIE HASKELLS
DUMPSTER DIVIN'
SUPER SPEEDWAY
Take note, all you young punks: school's in session, and The Eddie Haskells are teaching. The boys from Oakland have definitely refined their sound on the newest release. The Eddie Haskells bring the classic punk sound of yesteryear to the present day for a new generation to enjoy. Lead singer Cutty relentlessly belts out lyrics in snotty East Bay fashion. Beginning to end, The Eddie Haskells have triumphed, proving that punk, in its truest form, isn't going anywhere.
-Brent Sheen

THE FIGHT
NOTHING NEW SINCE ROCK 'N' ROLL
REPOSSESSION RECORDS
The Fight may just be the best up-and-coming British punk band around these days. This foursome is filled with rebellion, great songs, and enthusiasm?plus, they add a modern spin to the older British punk song. With The Fight, you'll get melodic punk rock and wonderful use of guitar (especially on "Karaoke Star"). Unfortunately, some of the lyrics on the disc seem to be a tad juvenile, but I'm sure that has to do with how young these kids are. I'm sure with time that the band's songwriting will mature to the level of excellence reached by their music. Regardless of the immaturity, the album is just plain fun. It was well produced and easy to sing along with. This will be the next big band to come out of England. Highlights include "Sid and Nancy", "Stage Skool Kidz", and "Forgotten Generation".
-Dane Jackson

THE FIREBIRD BAND
CITY AT NIGHT
BIFOCAL MEDIA/ LUCID RECORDS
What a difference three years makes. The Firebird Band's 2001 release SETTING SUN & IT'S SATELLITES was nowhere near this cohesive. After lineup changes, the band has been pared down to a duo, and they've created a seamless indie-rock/electro album that's reminiscent of something The Faint might do. This near-masterpiece only takes one ill-advised turn ("Wake Up"), where they get a little too Beastie Boys for their own good. The high points of CITY AT NIGHT come on pulsating floor-shakers like "Obsessive Compulsive", "Satellite Delay", and "Dangerous". They even get acoustic on "Art", which features the line: "You live like shit and suffer for your art?is that what you call it?" This experimentation of live instrumentation and sequenced effects is the first of a trilogy of albums. One can only hope the others will be half as good (but hey, hope is for suckers).
-Jude Ruiz

THE GET-OUTS
GET THE MESSAGE
AVEBURY RECORDS
The Get-Outs is a fantastic power-pop trio from Bristol, U.K. GET THE MESSAGE is the bands debut full-length disc, and it is full to the rim with glam style and punk muscle. All 13 tracks are well-crafted songs that could all be hits. GET THE MESSAGE is a great, maybe monumental release. The Get-Outs have got "it" in spades. Lead singer/axeman David Edgar is a total pop-star package: mega-persona vocals and sweet melodic guitar hooks and rhythm parts. And Keith Bowers (bass and backing vocals) and Mathew Colley (drums and backing vocals) make The Get-Outs a total band for rock's future. Their backing vocals are so cool. Cool is the bottom line. GET THE MESSAGE is a super cool disc. Run and get it right now.
-H. Barry Zimmerman

THE HOLY GOATS
THE HOLY GOATS
FRONTAL GROOVITY
If you close your eyes and listen to The Holy Goats eponymous release really close, you?d swear The Black Crowes were reunited. Alas, this is not the case, but what is true is that this New Jersey-based quintet brings back that hard driving blues-rock sound in a big way. The 12-tracks that adorn this disc boast thick slabs of smoky, rootsy romp and stomp rock ?n? roll, as tracks like ?Satisfied? and ?Clear? are bursting with tasty guitar licks, rollicking bass lines, and throaty vocals. Encompassing retro rock to the hilt, The Holy Goats bring the bell-bottom blues of Humble Pie, Big Brother and the Holding Company, and The Faces back to the forefront.
-Mike SOS

THE HOSTAGE HEART
THE HOSTAGE HEART
FIVE POINT
The Hostage Heart is a Massachusetts-based metalcore troupe whose bludgeoning six-track release has all of the skull-crushing nuances of fellow statesmen Unearth and Shadows Fall. From the chunky chugging that prevails in ?Dead Front Tooth? to the odd -signature death metal meets galloping classic metal groove of ?The First Signs of Worldly Cancer?, The Hostage Heart divvy up the heavy and come through as a searing entity capable of massive damage.
-Mike SOS

THE JE NE SAIS QUOI
WE MAKE BEGINNINGS
COALITION RECORDS
I never got into the whole European explosion of bands like The Hives. To me, the music is boring and filled with noise. Well, The Je Ne Sais Quoi is the next band in the whole European explosion. These Swedish imports force the listener through 10 tracks (as well as some hidden tracks) of obnoxious garage rock. While I'm all for eclectic music, the music The Je Ne Sais Quoi border on being pointless, redundant, repetitive, and boring. I never got into this scene?and if bands from this genre keep sounding like this, I probably never will.
-Dane Jackson

THE KALLIKAK FAMILY
THE VINELAND SOCIAL MATURITY SCALE
ON PURPOSE RECORDS
Rather than lyrics and "thank you"s, this CD insert is the Vineland Social Maturity Scale, as the title suggests. This is the final installment of a trilogy by The Kallikak Family about the manual and The Training School that produced it. Usually such a strange backstory would be a red flag that the band is trying to compensate for crappy tunes, but that is not the case here. The warbling of Andrew, Kallikak, May 23rd?whomever?is captivating. He skillfully toys with words, and those words guide a perplexing assortment of folk, acoustic rock, harmonica, and electro dancey beats. "Martin Kallikak, Sr." is rump-shaking goodness that helps close out an absolutely mystifying but wholly enjoyable romp.
-Erika Owens

THE MISSING 23RD
THE END OF AN ERROR
BLACKBIRD MUSIC
M23 unleash wonderful old-school-sounding socio-political hardcore punk full of youthful vigor (though they HAVE been around, in one form or another, since '95). With vocals reminiscent of those found in True North and bludgeoning, spirited instrumentation, they tear shit up on THE END OF AN ERROR, especially on the intensely fast, blazingly hardcore "Moral Majority". Other fine offerings are the defiant diatribe "Everything Must Go"; "Struggle", which brings to mind slow, depressing classics from D.I. like "Venus De Milo"; "My Escape", with it's infectious gang vocals and totally sick little bass solo; and the track that bookends the rest of the 12 songs: the agitated, frantic "Till It's Gone" (the first offering, which in a different form closes out the record). Even if you're not into the politics apparent on many tracks, get this record, if only for the insanely fucking good punk in which they are enveloped.
-Janelle Jones

THE NERVOUS RETURN
WAKE UP DEAD
LA SALLE
This is an explosive, eclectic album driven by the catchy hooks of "Siberian Queer", the playful lyrics and changy post-punk guitar of "Red Camaro", and the vintage, punk-driven styling of "Wake Up Dead" (a sure-fire hit), with its driving bass and snarling vocals. And to top it all off, there are some hints of post-hardcore glory (‡ la ATDI) throughout. There's enough creativity here to warrant a serious listen. For more info, visit .
-Norberto Gomez, Jr.

THE OCEAN BLUE
WATERWORKS
BMI RECORDS
If The Ocean Blue seem like old pros at crafting perfect pop melodies, well, it's because they are. After over a decade, this Hershey, PA quartet have been making songs with great melodies, great hooks, great lyrics, which result in...well, great records. This six-track EP breezes along without many hang-ups, and you can sense the influence of bands like The Smiths, R.E.M., and Echo & the Bunnymen. The only mystery remains is how this band has gone largely unnoticed since they began making records in the late '80s. Fans of Death Cab or Trashcan Sinatras should give this a listen.
-Jude Ruiz

THE POISON ARROWS
TRAILER PARK EP
FILE THIRTEEN RECORDS
The Poison Arrows is Justin Sinkovich (Atombombpocketknife, Thumbnail) messing about with electronic gadgets for fun and for our listening pleasure. TRAILER PARK EP is a highly interesting and most creative four-song taste of brilliance. There is a darkness and low-energy droning meditation that takes your blood pressure down and allows you to be a non-identity left only with Justin's voice and odd very musical ideas. TRAILER PARK EP is ultimately self-indulgent and beautiful, in a modern nightmare kind of way. I can't wait to hear a bigger project, a full-length disc from The Poison Arrows...but this will do for now.
-H. Barry Zimmerman

THE QUIRKS
AMNESIA IS A DRAG
SELF-RELEASED
At first, I didn't like this band, but by the time "Miss Angeles" rolled around, I was hooked. That track is a hook-laden commentary on Los Angeles. From then on, AMNESIA IS A DRAG just got better. Next was the Weezeresque "What You Wanted", which is an amusing song about breaking up. Essentially, The Quirks are a power trio who infuse humor and entertainment with rock, power pop, punk, and garage rock. If you're up for something a little off the beaten path, check out The Quirks. This is an album that just gets better as it goes along.
-Dane Jackson

THE RANDIES
AT THE FRIENDSHIP MOTOR INN
ELICIT MUSIC
The four people who make up Los Angeles's The Randies are great musicians. The guitar work is nearly flawless, the vocal harmonies are used very successfully, and the production value is some of the best I've heard this year. Unfortunately, while the music is great, it's also kind of boring. Essentially, with The Randies you get some pop-punk with varied influences (such as Blondie, The Pretenders, The Ramones, and even The Beach Boys). The music is great, and I can tell this band has talent. I just wish AT THE FRIENDSHIP MOTOR INN was a bit more ambitious and less monotonous. Oh, well, there's always next time.
-Dane Jackson

THE SNAKE THE CROSS THE CROWN
MANDER SALIS
EQUAL VISION
Equally entrenched in the progressive rock of Radiohead as they are the folksy delivery of Wilco, The Snake the Cross the Crown?s debut full-length release sounds like the perfect amalgamation of lonesome cowboy blues and elegant Brit rock. A shimmering 10-track endeavor, MANDER SALIS is a breathtaking display of master song craftsmanship, as an impenetrable wall of sound is created in the midst of melancholy acoustic melodies. The Snake the Cross the Crown?s latest album is not only esoterically captivating, but it is a must have disc for those that crave lush, spacious rock.
-Mike SOS

THE SPITS
19 MILLION A.C.
DIRTNAP
Take all the shit, piss, puke, vomit, cum, bile, sweat, spit, snot, and blood that punk rock has spewed all over the world in the past 30 years, put it in a discarded beer can full of cigarette butts, and drink it down: this is the experience of listening to The Spits. Offering 18 wild and obnoxious tracks of futuristic retro-punk that sound as though they were recorded in Johnny Ramone's toilet after a burrito and Budweiser party with Buckethead, The Mentors, and Frank Zappa, 19 MILLION A.C. (the expanded version of their debut EP of the same name) might do more than offend your mother: it might offend you. Buy it to save your mind, body, and soul, maggot.
-jck.

THE WARRIORS
WAR IS HELL
EULOGY
The Warriors are a young hardcore band from the sticks of California who?ve benefited by learning the ways of hardcore by listening to incendiary outfits like Cro-Mags, Earth Crisis, and Sick of It All, while throwing in some more mainstream aggro rock into its mix for extra flavor. The result is the 10-track WAR IS HELL, an angry yet anthemic collection of staccato rhythms, chugging guitars, and some of the most over the top screaming vocals heard in hardcore in a long time. If Snapcase met Terror at a Rage Against the Machine show, you?d get songs like ?Ripped to Bone? and ?Transistor?, tracks ripe with hardcore scorn and ridden with metallic contempt. A righteous debut, The Warriors are still learning its wares in the game, yet WAR IS HELL finds the band creating its unique niche amongst the pack, a trait that young bands seldom do these days, and a point which may prolong the career of this up and coming troupe.
-Mike SOS

THESE ENZYMES
THE HENRY EP
DOGHOUSE RECORDS
What truly bizarre and distracting cover and CD art. The theme is some down-and-out rabbits taking control and rampaging over a group of more organized birds with a better selection of weapons, but the rabbits have wits. I'm sorry to say that I found the art more interesting than the music. It struck me as a bad joke, or a bad idea. It's just bad.
-Thomas Murray

THINGS FALL APART
S/T
CRUSTACEAN
On this self-titled seven-song EP, Madison, WI's Things Fall Apart showcase raw, youthful, chaotic, and cerebral melodic hardcore, though some welcome tinges of metal also show up every now and again, as great metal guitar leads and double-bass surface, like in the opener "Shed" and "Where Were You When?". Lyrically, Things Fall Apart give their opinions on important issues. For instance, "Bound by Myth" decries (through tortured vocals) "how our culture is destroying it's habitat" and "we are nearing ecological collapse" as a result of the way we are living. The socio-political commentary resumes in the following song, "Maquiladoras", which discusses exploitation in export assembly plants near the United States-Mexico border. Meanwhile, the melancholy, slow, and exceedingly powerful "Where Were You When?" deals with the unjust war this country has waged.
-Janelle Jones

THIS IS INDIE ROCK
THE BEST BANDS YOU'VE NEVER HEARD VOL. 1
DEEP ELM RECORDS
Is there really anything that Deep Elm releases that is not remarkable? Their newest compilation falls nothing short of greatness. Deep Elm have scattered their recruiting scouts around the nation to bring you "the best bands you've never heard." Each of the artists on the compilation is unique in their own way, delivering tunes of all genres. The mix of pop, punk, emo, metal, and hardcore gives the disc something for everyone. Chances are that any number of the bands on the disc will perk your ears for further investigation. Of course, this is Deep Elms plan all along?which is why this compilation, and the many that will follow, must be heard and bought by all.
-Brent Sheen

THROW RAG
LIVE AT THE HOUSE OF BLUES
KUNG FU FILMS
THE SHOW MUST GO OFF series has come a long way since the original Vandals DVD. Throw Rag's DVD is the 15th installment to this series, and in my opinion it's the best-looking of the bunch. Before this DVD, I had no idea who Throw Rag was. Now I want some of the band's albums, as well as a chance to see them live. The show was beautifully shot, the band was full of energy, and the crowd seemed to be completely into the entire experience. What made these guys stand out was their washboard player. I've never seen or heard a punk band with a guy using spoons to play a washboard. Hell, this dude even crowd-surfed while playing the trumpet. Talk about showmanship! The special features include a quirky commentary featuring lead singer Captain Sean-Doe and washboard player Jacko Jackman, as well as a documentary featurette. While it was a bit disturbing to watch these two progressively get closer to getting naked while the show progressed, overall, Throw Rag put o n a great show. This is a must for Throw Rag fans, but it can also be enjoyed by people unfamiliar with the band.
-Dane Jackson

TRESPASSERS WILLIAM
DIFFERENT STARS
NETTWERK
The overall mood of this album is very sad and gloomy from the very beginning to the very end. Within the sadness, there is a lot of emotion and despair that is poured into the music. The music is powered by an acoustic country/pop sound that is very tranquil and calm. Tender piano chords and steel guitar help set the mood of melancholy, along with the light and airy percussion and timid bass. The vocals of Anna-Lynne Williams are very somber and sorrowful and really tie together the feeling of sadness and loneliness. When Williams is singing songs about lost love, you can't help but feel for her, because her voice is so convincing. Each song is like a tragic love story all on its own, and you can't help but get wrapped up in the songs and the passion behind them. Sadness never sounded so wonderful.
-David Walter

TUB RING
ZOO HYPOTHESIS
UNDERGROUND INC.
Mike Patton fans will be drooling like Pavlov's dogs when they get a whiff of Chicago's Tub Ring. Mr. Bungle/late-era Faith No More guitarist Trey Spruance is at the production helm, as this bizarre band alternates between herky-jerk funhouse chants and noise freak-outs. Singer Kevin Gibson has more than a passing resemblance to Patton, as he effortlessly switches between disco croon and spastic bellowing. The cool thing here is this is not some metalcore band poised to incorporate all that is Patton. Nope: this is a group running a parallel existence to the demented genius who spawned Faith No More, Mr. Bungle, and Fantomas. The songs are fully developed, catchy, mind-boggling, and ultimately memorable. Silly me?I had gone and given up hope.
-Jason Schreurs

TWISTED SISTER
STILL HUNGRY
SPITFIRE
Still hungry for?cash? Apparently so, as the seminal metal outfit that empowered the masses with anthems like ?I Wanna Rock? and ?We?re Not Gonna Take It? return, but not with a brand new studio release. Instead, coupled with extra tracks and rarities, the band has re-recorded its classic STAY HUNGRY. Citing thin sound quality and record industry pressure at the time as reason to do the whole album over, Twisted Sister are on a mission to convince the public that the new versions are how the songs should?ve sounded back in 1984. The verdict? The sound of a desperate band that has managed to fix something that just wasn?t broke in the first place. If you?re a diehard, this is essential, but if you?re merely catching up on your metal thanks to VH-1 specials, do the legwork and seek the original recording.
-Mike SOS

UNTIL THE END
THE BLIND LEADING THE LOST
EULOGY
Until the End is a punishing hardcore outfit hailing from Florida whose explosive 10-track offering leaves welts on your back and ringing in your ears. With the guttural growls and the choppy chunk guitars of Hatebreed firmly in tow, scathing tracks like ?Traitor? and ?My Own American Dream? make for resounding music to start a revolution to. Accompanied by clever yet satirical album artwork denouncing America?s current powers that be, THE BLIND LEADING THE LOST effectively hits you over the head with both political rhetoric and abrasive hardcore.
-Mike SOS

VALIS
HEAD FULL OF PILLS
SMALL STONE
Valis is a Northwestern rock group whose 11-tracks of psychedelic stoner groove is the next logical progression from these grunge rock veterans. Having spent time in Screaming Trees and Tad, the members of Valis are no strangers to the art of rocking out, and they truly let loose from the get go on HEAD FULL OF PILLS, as the familiar stomp of fellow rocksters QOTSA can be heard all over ?Welcome to Homeschool?. The continuous flow of solid rock ?n? roll is commendable here: ?Motorbike? contains the grit of AC/DC meets Fu Manchu, while ?Across the Sky? is a well-textured, theremin-induced trip. While Valis may not be the most original band on the scene, the organic riffs and rich instrumental layering found on the title track and ?Perpetual Motion Machine? more than compensate for the band?s approach.
-Mike SOS

VALUME NOB
THE MOST HIGH
CRASH
Valume Nob is a quartet from New Orleans whose old school metal stomp harkens back to the days of DRI, SOD, and late ?80s hardcore punk rock. Flanked by Kirk Windstein of Crowbar/ Down notoriety, this crossover outfit, much like fellow neighbors Superjoint Ritual, takes no prisoners and lash out some abrasive, in your face metal. For a solid jab of heavy, check out the muscular and meaty metal of this NOLA crew.
-Mike SOS

VARIOUS ARTISTS
HOW SOON IS NOW?
SOREPOINT RECORDS
Everyone likes a good cover-song album, right? Unfortunately, this cover album of songs by The Smiths falls a bit short. I've never been a huge fan of The Smiths, so this compilation didn't really interest me at all. It also didn't help that the bands on this compilation butchered these songs, for the most part. Fortunately, there are only 12 covers on the album. This may have been more enjoyable if Sorepoint picked out bands that were from different genres. Having similar bands on a release like this is just boring. The only bands worth mentioning are Cursive and The Beautiful Mistake. If you like that kind of stuff, you'll probably dig this compilation. I just couldn't get into this, no matter how hard I tried.
-Dane Jackson

VARIOUS ARTISTS
MASS DESTRUCTION
BANKSHOT RECORDS
This is just another punk-rock compilation with no real creative direction except to showcase bands that are currently in the scene. Kudos go to Osker, Union 13, The Lawrence Arms, and Death on Wednesday for having some of the standout tracks on this album. If you'd like a sample of what is going on in the punk-rock scene, then maybe you should pick this up.
-ADF

VAUX
PLAGUE MUSIC
EQUAL VISION
Art rock meets punk hardcore in the world of Vaux, a determined Denver sextet who properly put the DIY ethic to the test by overseeing every aspect of its creative output, from lighting at the shows to day-to-day management. On the band?s latest five-track EP, the frenetic PLAGUE MUSIC, find the band?s sound shifting from jagged riffaging to melodic screamo to airtight rhythmic structures. Non-stop touring, immense dedication, and vast stage experience has helped Vaux come across as a hybrid of My Chemical Romance, The Used, and Refused, creating some of the most intriguing post hardcore on the circuit today.
-Mike SOS

VICTORY AT SEA
MEMORIES FADE
GERN BLANDSTEN
Wildly emotional and simply dripping with passion, Mona Elliott and Victory at Sea have produced one of the most well-written records of the year with MEMORIES FADE. Despite the whole band being there, you can't help but feel loneliness as Mona howls lyrics like, "Just one more cigarette before I go to bed / You said you'd never leave, you were lying through your teeth." The musicianship is top-notch, thanks to stunningly smooth violin work from band member Tano Hatanaka and gorgeously vibrant keyboard work by Mel Lederman. The standout track for me is "Logan Way", a sad tale of two lovers who went their separate ways. Listening to this album can help you learn more about yourself through its strong pathos. Visit for more.
-Zac

WAY OFF THE HORSE
DAS DISAPPOINTMENT
CRUSTACEAN RECORDS
There is a lot of humor and blatant testosterone thrown around throughout this album. The strange delivery of vocalist Kondor Koi is strikingly similar to that of Henry Rollins's almost spoken anger?the only difference being that here there's more of an emphasis on being lyrically stupid (e.g., "Living large on a liquid diet / Living large on a liquid diet / Of a liquid diet of steroids / Motherfucker"). The music is a very basic thrash-metal style, with nothing at all surprising. DAS DISAPPOINTMENT is just that, a disappointment...although that presupposes that I had a hope for it to begin with?which I didn't. Anyway, for more info, visit .
-Norberto Gomez, Jr.

WOLFMOTHER
SELF-TITLED
MODULAR PEOPLE
Australians have been doing pretty well for themselves by assuming the styles of prominent bands. The Vines were a lot better under their original moniker, Nirvana. Everyone knows where Jet got that guitar riff, and now Wolfmother think they can come along and take Sabbath's place in the stoner-rock canon. Well, maybe they don't, and they're not trying to unseat anyone. Wolfmother only wants to have some lysergic fun with huge, sludgy guitar riffs and cavernous drums. This self-recorded EP does the band more justice than any overpriced studio recording could. The four songs are sweaty and brash, like rock 'n' roll should be. They might not be Sabbath or Zep, but everyone's gotta get their kicks...and if they want to take some acid while they're doing it, it doesn't seem to be doing any harm.
-Casey Clague

ZOLOF THE ROCK & ROLL DESTROYER
THE POPSICLE EP
EYEBALL RECORDS
Some bands need ridiculous names for people to give them the time of day or to remember them. That isn't the case with Philadelphia's Zolof. Mostly, the band offers up sweet-sounding synth pop that is complemented well by lead singer Rachel Minton's melodic voice. The music is poppy, catchy, and the synthesizers add a very interesting dynamic. Also, the EP features guest appearances by Kenny Vasoli (of The Starting Line fame) and Anthony Green (who used to be in both Zolof and Saosin). The lyrics and song structures are quirky, but that just adds to the overall charm of Zolof. This is a fun little EP that you should enjoy on both a superficial and more involved level.
-Dane Jackson

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