Music Reviews of Hardcore, Crust, Post-Hardcore, Metalcore
Band Spotlight
Chiodos
Perhaps no one can explain the sheer ferocity and timid quietness it is better than when vocalist Craig Owens says “we don’t want to let the kids down” when discussing the group’s intense vocals live at shows. Well they never let a single kid down with their vicious assault on the ears and grip on the jugular...
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03.09.2007 by J-Sin
Music Reviews of Hardcore, Crust, Post-Hardcore, Metalcore
Trophy Scars — Goodnight Alchemy Buy it at Amazon
Most bands when they reach their two year status begin to have those issues that seem to plague all young bands and plenty of them just wind up breaking up. Trophy Scars instead after having extensively toured the US and sold over 2,000 units of their self-released debut EP, are continuing to make a dent in the post-hardcore world and look to stomp their name into the stomachs of all the doubters. Fiercely melodic guitars strain from the left and right speakers as the vocals bounce from screeches to harmonious mutterings that fans of Thursday and Fugazi would love. Brandishing a devilishly clever knack for explosive hardcore pummeling, Trophy Scars are one band that you’ve just got to hear.
- J-Sin
Finch — Say Hello to Sunshine Buy it at Amazon
Adding to the screamo element is something that hardcore fans have been wanting for some time but for whatever reasons most bands that have been labeled with the screamo tag cannot find themselves swaying far from the branded sound. Finch changes all that with elements of jazz, catchy pop, electronic hazy noise, and even twangy country-flecked guitars like on the album middle portion on “A Man Alone”. “Bitemarks and Bloodstains” as the first single has already seen some rotation on MTV’s “Every Thing Rock” and has seen more than its fair share on commercial radio as well but it’s something of a misnomer as the album is consistently more heavy than this melodic catchy chorus-verse-chorus pop fest. Take for instance the caustic and gritty spazzcore of “Casket of Roderic Usher” that promises to make Dillinger Escape Plan fans go berserk. It might be a step in a different direction following their deceptively more catchy previous effort on “What It Is to Burn” but I’d like to think that their fans will welcome this metamorphosis with open arms.
- J-Sin
Onset of Effect — Plane Down Buy it at Amazon
Screamo. Yes it’s alive and doing well and sure it’s quickly becoming formulaic and lame. But Onset of Effect does it right. They’re everything that you hope for if you enjoy your melody filled with a bit of heavy rage. The screamer reminds a bit of Refused while the melodic singing is top of its class talented. Glassjaw fans would rejoice in the simply brutal yet soft touches that “Plane Down” explores throughout their blistering nine tracks. Unlike other bands in this genre, Onset of Effect chooses to load each song with a plethora of riffs, time changes, and breakdowns but without making it sound forced. Catch them if you can.
- J-Sin
Life In Your Way — Ignite and Rebuild Buy it at Amazon
Fortunately there was Shai Hulud to influence a slew of upcoming hardcore acts so that future generation won’t dismiss screamo/hardcore/metalcore as some corporate whore-fest that offers nothing new and dynamic. So when Connecticut’s Life In Your Way emerged in ’03 with their magnificent debut “The Sun Rise and the Sun Sets and Still Our Time Is Endless” on Indianola Records heads snapped into attention. We’ve all been waiting for the follow-up and here it is. After recording again at Zing Studios, which boasts appearances of Norma Jean, Killswitch Engage, and Unearth among others, Life In Your Way shined up expectations with a more definite hard look at hardcore’s pit frenzies and sing-a-longs but packaged with a brilliant knack for mastering divergent attitudes and putting them all to tape. If you’re not excited by this release you have no pulse.
- J-Sin
Biohazard — Means to an End Buy it at Amazon
Oh Biohazard. Way back in ’96 when this magazine started I gave their “Mata Leao” album a listen. And yes I was quite disappointed. But hey that was ten years ago even if it was in the height of when people were actually paying attention to this metal outfit. After 17 years of existence and eight studio albums surely they have something left in the tank right? Well surprisingly enough they do. Sounding more hardcore than they have in their past few releases, Biohazard recall what Sick of It All did and shine it up nicely for something that they can rightfully call their own with big broad smiles while appealing to all those hardcore kids that have grown up and realized that their tattoos won’t land them on Wall Street. One thing no one could ever take from these hardcore bastards is that they worked their asses off every minute of their career and continue to do so; of course Evan Seinfeld had a bit more of his fair share of fame (or infamy depending on your perspective) with his performance on HBO’s “Oz”. Righteous indeed.
- J-Sin
This Is Hell — This Is Hell Buy it at Amazon
I don’t think this is hell at all. Indeed this is a blissful heaven of metal-edged hardcore. The five-piece known as This Is Hell have unleashed a demonic curse upon the hardcore world with their self-titled album. Filled with choppy breakdowns and caustic screams and yells, This Is Hell proves that hardcore isn’t dead and doesn’t have to go veering off into gentrification. To top it off they conclude the album with a cover of 108’s “When Death Closes Your Eyes” and have a guest performance on vocals from Glassjaw’s Daryl Palumbo.
- J-Sin
Brand New Disaster — Hold Fast This Summer Buy it at Amazon
Having relocated to the hometown of my alma mater, Harrisonburg, VA (James Madison University), Brand New Disaster set about to write the material for “Hold Fast This Summer”. After recording the album the band lost two members in guitarist Chris Shephard and drummer Tanner Boyle. Lesser bands would have it quits and abandoned all their hard work and great songs but not Brand New Disaster. They held on and replaced both members with some new blood and are ready to share all the trials and tribulations of putting this punishing visceral post-hardcore anthem together. Vocally it’s melodic and catchy with smart lyrics being uttered and sang with a ferocity usually reserved for screaming bands but Brand New Disaster knows that you can accomplish that while still being pleasant on the old ear drums. The guitarwork is amazing and we’ll all miss Chris’s contributions to their songs. Featuring Jay Littleton (Fairweather) on vocals, “Hold Fast This Summer” is yet another notch on the amazing discography of Tribunal Records who seem to have a death grip on great music lately. Now let’s all hope that they can hold fast to the band and not go through any more lineup shake-ups.
- J-Sin
J. Page — Goodbye Chapel Hill Buy it at Amazon
The Scaries broke up and J. Page formed in their smoldering remains. Featuring a former member of As Friends Rust, they borrow a few bits here and there from the aforementioned band as well as some other post-hardcore emotional indie rock outfits that are currently making the rounds on summer tours. Gruff vocals in the range of Hot Water Music give it that punk rock flavor while the percussion is busy and stays on time with the soaring rhythm guitars. Be sure to handle with caution this sucker’s going to light on fire.
- J-Sin
Blue Monday — Rewritten Buy it at Amazon
Northwestern hardcore has always been bludgeoning and inspiringly straightforward. Vancouver’s Blue Monday is no exception as they pummel you over the cranium with their kick-ass take on the past youth crew movement. Recorded at Atomic Studios with producer Dean Baltalonis whose impressive resume includes work with The Hope Conspiracy as well as American Nightmare, “Rewritten” is a testament to what is great and alive in the hardcore scene.
- J-Sin
Mercury Switch — Time to Shine Buy it at Amazon
Arming themselves with caustic showers of lead, Mercury Switch shine up the metalcore genre with some different and unique. Their ’03 debut “If You Love Me You’d Take Me to the City” was a welcome sign of things to come from this dynamic group and “Time to Shine” raises the bar dramatically higher. You’ve got to love the punch of the bass drum throughout the album, which was tracked at the mighty and legendary Zing Studio where past acts like Norma Jean, Every Time I Die, and Killswitch Engage have made some of their groundbreaking songs. If you’re looking for a perfect thrashing album of metalcore that isn’t like the plethora of other so-called metalcore albums out there, then this is perfect.
- J-Sin
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