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
Modern Life Is War — Witness Buy it at Amazon
After 2003 saw the release of their debut “My Love, My Way”, hardcore kids were excitingly awaiting the new release. Ironically entitled “Witness”, perhaps after the Harrison Ford movie, the album is about the struggles of life in rural America. That’s not often a subject theme for hardcore that traditionally talks more of struggles in the urban community. But farm kids know how to rock it too. Set to a blistering pace, “Witness” catapults through traditional hardcore and does so with a venomous look at the many trends that have diluted the talent pool in the genre but never wavers from their own unique take on the sound, which is precisely why the hardcore elites have paid so much attention to this dynamic group.
- J-Sin
Blessing the Hogs — The Twelve Gauge Solution Buy it at Amazon
A lot of detractors would laugh at the title as some sort of fake tough guy thing. But Blessing the Hogs is much more than that. Perhaps their biggest story lies in Billy Anderson, a band member who has been behind the board (he also recorded this album for good measure) for such luminaries as Neurosis, Sick of It All, Melvins, Mr. Bungle, Brutal Truth, Fantomas, Kiss It Goodbye, Unsane, and so much more. But underneath all that is one truly sick and brutal metal band. Their sound is a pummeling breed of heavy metal that redefines what everyone thought they knew about the more metallic edges of hardcore’s metal branding. Included on this enhanced CD are two rad covers of Quicksand’s “Fazer” and the Melvins’ “Hogleg”, which offer a glimpse into the unique influences of the band. Check ‘em out.
- J-Sin
This Moment — Finding a Voice In the Dark Buy it at Amazon
I’m really getting tired of metalcore. Whether or not it’s the bands talent isn’t the issue. What I’m tired of are all the “core” kids who feel it entirely necessary to rip on the genre and dub it “mallcore”, “fashioncore”, or some other ridiculous thing; after all, kids who have enough time to spend dissing bands probably don’t do much else with their insecure lives. But back to This Moment. They employ your standard breaky metalcore stuff with melodic parts and heavy beatdown riffs that twist and climb forth. Produced by Paul Miner of Atreyu, Thrice, and Death by Stereo fame, “Finding a Voice in the Dark” is an attempt by a band to try to find a handhold in an already bloated genre. If I was in this band I’d suggest that they stick with the screamy parts more as the melodic singing just hits off notes all too often.
- J-Sin
Cipher — Children of God's Fire Buy it at Amazon
Recorded by Matt Walbroehl (Boys Night Out, Skycamefalling) at Sound Zone Studios, “Children of God’s Fire” is a mathematically precise chaotic metal album. Starting off the album oddly anti-climatic with a sermon showcasing the band’s socio-political bent, “Children of God’s Fire” is prepared badgering of skulls and broken bottles set to the tune of chaotic hardcore/metal/rapcore. I’ve loved this band since I first heard them and they just keep getting better. Stirring in a mixture of Candiria, 25 ta Life, Bad Brains, and Meshuggah, Cipher promises to be one of those bands that sticks in your mind hours after their show. Featured in the documentary “Afropunk”, which is about blacks in punk and hardcore, Cipher also enlists the help of MF Doom to spit some lyrics on “Verse vs. The Virus”. Grab this up now.
- J-Sin
Adria — Concealer Buy it at Amazon
Ack. Vocals sneer throughout the album traversing everywhere but the key that the song is being played in. “Concealer” is a raucous display of the sort of post-hardcore emotional indie rock that has been the facet of seemingly everything heavy and melodic these days. While their songs are quite strong, their vocalist is not and that just absolutely kills this band. It’s a shame because they’ve really got some great riffs and catchy hooks to back everything up with but when the vocalist attempts to sing it is a total nasal show stopper.
- J-Sin
Fire When Ready — As the Sky Stared Down with Angry Clouds!!! Buy it at Amazon
Art Injection Records should be proud that Fire When Ready’s album will be the label’s debut. It’s a strong post-hardcore album that seemingly is a concept album about the many facets of life and its struggles, hardships, and glorious rewards. Aggressive guitars and bass thrash about while the vocalist moans melodically with a jarring thunderous backdrop of percussion to propel it all to the forefront of your speakers. Produced by Michael Birnbaum and Chris Bittner (Codeseven, Bad Brains, Straylight Run, and Coheed and Cambria), the album is a head first dive into a pool of melody and harmony with interesting steps one way or the other that might not be what you’d expect from this quality live band. Check them out live but even more importantly pick up this album and stand by this great start-up label.
- J-Sin
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
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