‘A bed time story for the hearted of sleeves’ is the best way I can explain this album in a few words. Obviously by that description a saturation of melody is assumed, but I would like to state for the record that this is not a bad thing.

The instrumentation is soothing and mindful of its surrounding vocal environment. Piano parts produce relaxing couches of psychiatry for listeners to relax and open up to. Vocally speaking this guy possesses plenty of range. Guitar riffs form subtle symphonies from time to time creating an atmosphere where even the most inexperienced listener can follow.

Team Science/ Asbestos

And then of course we have O Pioneers, one of the most prolific bands I’ve ever come across…or should I say the split-tiest? These guys seriously have a split record with everybody. And that’s great because I fucking love these guys. “Punknews is Stoked” hits you hard and “Yo Bones!” starts off sounding jazzy and despite vocalist Eric Solomon’s whiskey soaked howl, it remains sounding very blue’s inspired with a malicious tone. These guys have always blended eclectic influences together to create perfect mix of punk and folk with some of the gruffest vocals I have ever heard in my life. These dudes are seriously talented and funny dudes and you should buy every album they put out. Extra credit for “You Know That Part in Superman III, Where He is All Bad Ass and Stuff? Yeah, I Bet That’s How You Feel Right Now”. Best song title ever.        CS

Prank

This is your run-of-mill gutter thrash-trash. Based on all the over-exposed pictures of war victims and dead brown children I’m guessing that Born/Dead have some cause they are fighting for. I hope it’s a noble one. I’ll never know with all screaming and distortion coupled with bad basement recordings.

(Self-Release)

Lyrics are uncomfortable yet perfectly places pieces of poetry. The percussion really gives life to what they are trying to accomplish here. Drums are very off-kilter and accompany the music. Over-driven beats would really drown out what these guys have coined here. Songs like, “The Sea Breathing” is a fine example of well paced, well written music. Their lyrics agree with what the music is saying. Often bands do it the other way around creating two elements that argue back and forth. My only complaint might be the lack of diversity between songs.

Kiss of Death/ Team Science

The reason I was so excited about this release is the fact that it’s slightly different than anything else out there right now. Besides being abrasive as hell with a tempo that is near hypnotic, it’s also very concise. Everything sounds like you imagine it should even though you have no idea what to expect next. Let’s hit the checklist: bass playing that is driving and intimidating? Check. Guitars that alternately ascend and shred? You know it. Gruff and steady vocals put you in mind of gritty dive bar music? You bet your sweet ass.

Victory

It was about six years ago that an old friend of mine got me turned on to Dead to Fall through their record Everything I Touch Falls to Pieces, and since that time I’ve happily bought up every album they’ve released since then and loved each album slightly more than the last. These guys have managed to continuously amaze me with their technical thrash wizardry every time, even though I’m really not a fan of that style of music.

When I first gazed upon the album cover for Are You Serious? my first thought was ‘are they serious?’ I instantly became worried at the very Journey-esque looking cover and began to wonder if these boys had wandered into the same horrible mock 80’s rock territory like masses of other bands lately. It was refreshing to find out after listening to the disc a few times over, however, that this is the same Dead to Fall I have grown to enjoy and respect.

Once again ladies and gentlemen here’s a bunch of kids that don’t remember the 80’s, but are acting it out on stage, and this isn’t the last we’ll see of this song and dance via tight little pants.

Let’s talk lyrics for a minute here. “Gun powder between my teeth let’s me know that I’ve come clean.” I have to ask: When is there ever gun powder between a person’s teeth? Who the fuck is sucking on bullets out there? This doesn’t even make since to me in the context of some emo metaphorical obsession with death. Anyhow I’m putting way too much thought into this shit. These guys are a better guitarist away from being the band The Darkness, and I’m really not sure how much of a compliment that was. Apparently there are like 6 or 7 guys in the band. What the fuck are the other 4 doing up there? I may just see these guys live for the novelty of the experience.

Good Friends

Fresh off their debut album, How Far Our Bodies Go, the boys of Fake Problems swing back with an album that sounds nothing like their full length. When you zig, they zag, homie. I have listened to this a handful of times already and really can’t quite put my finger on it.

I’m not saying that I dislike it, but it is a definite departure from their previous brand of zany folk/punk material that I was already accustomed to. The intro guitar to “Adam’s Song” struck me a sounding like something that you would find on a Buddy Holly record and sure enough, the rest of the song follows suit as well. Actually, both tracks on the first side of the album sound a great deal like rockabilly with sloppy punk accents and a whole lot of alt-country soul.

Side B’s solitary tune, “Wendy Clear”, is a little more true to Fake Problems form albeit with a little more of the guitar driven country element displayed on the rest of the album. While I still can’t wrap my head around Viking Wizard Eyes… yet, this song makes this musical transition a little easier. I still need a little more time with this, but regardless of the change of pace…this isn’t half bad.

Sabot

This EP starts off strong with the title track, “Senor and the Queen”, which is a great toe tapping song to play for your girlfriend when you want to seem romantic. The second song, “Wherefore Art Thou, Elvis?” is the standout track for me. A soulful tune that both reminisces and ruminates while vocalist Brian Fallon belts some of the most soul baring lyrics that I’ve ever heard, somehow both uplifting and heartbreaking all at once. The rest of the songs on this album are solid bluesy songs that both crash and flow with raw energy and emotion; I wouldn’t say that they are as noteworthy as the previously mentioned songs, but they’re certainly nothing to sneeze at either.

No Idea

Till the Wheels Fall off is a compilation of outtakes, split album songs and cover songs spanning from 1995 onward. The album leads off with five outtakes from their last three releases, which of course I was automatically suspicious about. I’ve always had the opinion that there is no such thing as a bad Hot Water Music album…even their worst music is still better than 96% of the shit in your collection, but I am much more of a fan of their pre-Epitaph albums. Can I just take the time to say that I’m sick of reading how snot-nosed little teenage fucks are talking shit on early HWM albums on fucking Punknews.org? I’ll fucking punch you in the throat. Anyway. Despite that the B-Sides from those albums are pretty enjoyable, especially “So Many Days”, an amazing song that sounds like it could have been on Forever and Counting.

Honestly, if you’re a collector of Hot Water Music’s albums like I am, you already of the majority of these songs, taking in mind that you own the splits with Leatherface and Alkaline Trio. I am a little confused as to why they included the songs from Moonpies for Misfits and Moments Pass but neglected to include an amazing song like “Where We Belong”.

All in all, what makes this collection for me is the cover songs. I’m a big fan of the Government Issue “Jaded Eyes” cover and their spot on cover of “Wild in the Streets” by Circle Jerks. They also crank out some excellent renditions of songs by: Leatherface,  The Clash, Bruce Springsteen and have managed to make a Turbonegro song sound good (“Prince of the Rodeo”).

Prank

The only thing more surprising than this Seattle two piece’s superfluous usage of the double slash mark is just how fucking fast these dudes can play; the snare hits sound off like someone has ripped off your scalp and started beating on your skull with drum sticks…I’d guess 7A’s.

Iron Lung play music that switches from slower paced, grinding hardcore inspired cadences to full on frenzied thrash metal assaults on your noggin. If you’re impressed with bands that can play real fast, you will like this album. If you love bands that play songs that grind and churn and just otherwise sound intimidating, you will also like Sexless// No Sex. If you are a pussy; well you might not like it, but then again you might...for all I know, the guys in Iron Lung like wine tastings and hang out in dog parks on quaint Sunday afternoons and you guys would be great friends. But I doubt it. How about albums that manage to cram twenty songs within twenty one minutes, do you like that? Well then this may be your new favorite album!

At long last an album of the hardcore persuasion that actually moves me. Alright, ‘moves’ is an understatement. This Christian hardcore band, primarily from Indiana, has renewed my strength and faith in the entire genera. My hardcore cup overflows!

Let’s back track here for a minute. I remember when we received their first album “The Crescendo of Sirens” which was much more chaotic and untamed.  I told my friend, and partner in Diatribe crime, Chris how great these guys were. I elaborated on about how awesome, and potentially dangerous they could become someday if they polished it up a bit and created more ‘centergy’ (centered energy). They must have thought the same because these guys came out of the gate with “Armada on Mercury” like a champion horse you’d bet the farm on. These guys have figured out how to make driving music that’s not too repetitive while not to random at the same time. They’ve reinvented melodies that are sweet, but maintain muscle and masculinity thus separating them from unwanted ‘Scream’n Emo’ stereotypes.

Brain Drain

I’m not altogether convinced that Doc Emmett Brown didn’t bring these boys from the mid eighties aboard a De Lorean outfitted with a Flux Capacitor. Lighten Up definitely put me in mind of the great aspects of a band like Minor Threat but without the monotonous downside. This stuff is brash and snotty as fuck and seriously some of the most excellent hardcore punk that has graced my ears in awhile. This album has all the makings of a night filled with living room mosh-pits, maybe a little hedgecore and the chugging of beers (or soda, for you straightedge folks). Whatever you say about this seven inch record, you can’t deny the adrenalin rush you get from it.

Fat Wreck Chords

   The Loved Ones to me are one of the more magnificent new rock n’ roll outfits to present it’s self in the new millennium. They have successfully dodged all music clichés that I love to hate, and fit them selves rather comfortably into musical standards I personally hold into high regard. Most Fat Wreck Chords bands tend to accomplish this.

   A quick synopsis of the band for those whom have not heard them: Lyrically Dave Hause has a simple yet witty way with words that keeps fans in the proverbial loop as well as singing along. His vocal style is gruff, but not “I smoke two packs a day” gruff’; which is to say he has ample vocal range with a slight southern twang that is quite appealing and rather formidable in neo punk rock circles. Guitars clash perfectly creating uplifting harmonies and solid classic rock sounds. Percussion it challenging but sturdy, and I suspect is what really keeps this whole operating running a smoothly as it does.

   So the big question is; how does the new album hold up in comparison to two immaculate conceptions that precede it? When we interviewed Dave (vocalist/guitarist) I asked him this exact question. Before asking this I told him that “Keep Your Heart”, their first CD LP, had not left my car stereo for 6 months after I had bought it. Needles to say I built it up quite a bit. Anyhow, he answered by saying that “Build & Burn” was the album that the band as a whole had always wanted to make. I replied by telling him I though it was a little more tame then the first album, and he agreed and seemed happy with this result.

Thrashed!

I’m going to call it: if this isn’t the only album to be named after a truck stop hooker…it is definitely the best one. You don’t hear of that too often. This is something else you don’t hear too often; well at least not for about twelve or so years anyway- Grunge!

That’s right, Grunge; you weren’t just witnessing a typo that managed to get through the editing process. Well, I’m not going to say this is full blown flannel shirt, bad hair and thermal bottoms Grunge, but it certainly has that feel to it. Moutheater make it a point to add a little metallic screaming occasionally to an otherwise powerful but sometimes sluggish delivery. The vocals are raspy and vicious; so much so that you fear the vocalist is going to lose his voice at any moment and the music is driving.

Altogether, I’d say this is a pretty solid release…Lot Lizard definitely receives an A for effort with me. I have to admit that the songs tend to run together a little, but not to the degree where you feel the band is amidst a mindless creative standstill; they just have their own style and they stick with it. The only negative comment I have for this release is the fact that nobody bothered to mark the album with Side A or Side B, which really is just a minor inconvenience, I just needed to put that out there.

This melodic montage of overused guitar peddle’n fun has left me in a frenzy of uncertainty. Thus, making this album very difficult to peg. Let’s start from the beginning.

Vocally speaking, this is a fucking train wreck. It’s not really singing as much as configuring falsetto notes into undertones of screaming. Which I know is bliss to some of you girls, but to me it equals Advil. Lyrically it’s a shame. I’m much more impressed when I can read or hear something I haven’t personally thought of while waiting in line at the grocery as I glance over tabloids.

The guitarists in this band must be sitting down on chairs at their shows. I don’t really hear a reason for them to stand up as long as they can reach the pedal that pumps out more rainbow. On the upside, the drums are not to be blamed here. They pretty much push the wheelchair that is the rest of the band. I think I heard some trumpets too. That’s neat.

Kiss of Death/ Rat Patrol/ Yo-Yo

New Bruises are a band that I had heard about from time to time but never got a chance to experience until vocalist Bryon sent me a copy of their Transmit! Transmit! about six months ago. I instantly loved it and eagerly looked forward to this split, and I’m glad that this offering was just as exciting enough to not kill the initial musical buzz that the full length created. “Top Shelf Medicine” is a boisterous, upbeat anthemic tune that kind of puts me in mind of Fifteen…if Jeff Ott could sing. Their follow up song “Cheap Bus to Belfast” is raw and hammering, extremely ear grabbing and has all the appeal of an older punk song without the pesky leather jacket and drug addiction. I’m a big fan of this stuff…New Bruises have come to crush your whiny, shoe gazing sound.

Jade Tree/ Kiss of Death

How about instead of writing about the actual music covered on Peace with Nothing, I just spend the whole time talking about how I love New Mexican Disaster Squad’s name, or perhaps how it took me about ten minutes to figure out that the piece of lasagna on the cover art is in fact a cross section of skin? Not a good idea? You’re probably right. So, I’m always up for hearing some super gruff hardcore bands that are more about exciting ideas and less about mindless mosh crew songs with Nike laced jock breakdowns…and these guys definitely fit the bill. These guys put out some great fast paced songs that sound angry and snotty at the same time; great stuff to pump your fists to.

This is the 9th official studio release from one of Fat’s original pioneering bands. “The feel Good Record of the Year” has more steam and appeal than a large yacht. That’s right, these guys have paid there dues through hit or miss albums over the years, but this release really encompasses their last 15 years of music and displays is neatly on a plate with all the garnishments.

The melodic skater-punk style is one that is dead in the hearts of many, but not to this listener. This is inarguably the best album of the last 10 years with the exception of “More Betterness." I’m not sure I’ve heard anything comprable since “Making Friends," released in 1997. After this I think there is no use for another album, and it’s possibly time to end on a good note. But who's to say with this forever-young bunch.?

I don’t feel that it is too necessary to tear apart the music of such revered veterans so we’ll end it on a positive note. I’m not sure how many beers have been drank, or virginities have been taken to the sounds of this band. At any rate, No Use for a Name may just see their way through a few more generations of punk rockers to come, and I sure they will continue to evolve with the demand of the punk rock scene without compromising what they are about. There's lots of time left, and plenty of two-count time signatures to play it in.    PM

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! When did we get so many lions in this punk rock jungle? Aside from my joking on cliché hardcore bands, these guys are pretty solid. Most bands on Solid State tend to be for that matter. An appropriate name then I suppose.

These men have quite a technical guitar and drum duo you typically see in the hardcore genera. However, there’s a lot of stopping and infrequent pausing into breakdowns making “First Came the Law” an unpredictable treat of sorts. I will elaborate of course. What’s special about these guys is there ability to jump back and forth from a very post-hardcore, more worn down sound into a very polished metalcore. It throws you for a loop at first.

Jump Start

I would venture to guess that the young gentlemen in One Win Choice are huge fans of 90’s era skate punk as well as late 80’s hardcore. These guys nail the energetic hardcore nail on the head with a strong, yet melodic hammer. Never Suspend Disbelief is the kind of album that can convey the bands unrest at the situations around them and give you a lesson in social reform while making you want to rock the fuck out at the same time. They say education has more success when infused with a high factor of fun.

Jade Tree

Paint it Black is back with their third full length and they show no signs of slowing down the flow of superior hardcore punk. They also demonstrate that a little experimentation can make for seriously awesome changes in their already stellar musical style. Besides their usual onslaught of furious chords and punishing drums and hard nosed melodicism, Paint it Black have stepped out with some slightly fuzzed out atmospheric textures, most likely brought about by co-producer Oktopus of Dalek fame. It definitely produces a somewhat unstable and offbeat canvas for the band to expand on. Dan Yemin’s vocals are raw and so full of ‘piss and vinegar’ that I got riled up and was ready to join him in whatever battle he was prepared to wage.

One of my favorite moments of the album is ‘Past Tense, Future Perfect’, a fast melodic rager of a song that is a bit of a throwback to the days of Kid Dynamite. Despite all the excellent tracks on this album, this has to be my favorite tune. Also particularly noteworthy is the last song, ‘Shell Game Redux’, and absolutely gut wrenching track with excellent anthemic backup vocals courtesy of Jeff Pezzati of Naked Raygun.

Red Leader

I love this fucking record. I love it because it’s relatable. I love it because it perfectly integrates gruff lead vocals with poppy singing and swings between rough edged to extremely harmonious effortlessly. I love it because it reminds me of stuff like The Casket Lottery and old school Hot Water Music without feeling like a blatant rip-off. The band started making waves with their “The Redder, The Better” EP last year, and is continuing to do so with their full length debut. This is one of the few times where a band lives up to the hype surrounding them.

The album starts off easy with “Eat Dinner, Bury the Dog, Run Away”, proving that not only can the boys in Polar Bear Club craft superb tunes, but can also name the damn things with a stroke of pure genius. My initial exposure to the album was through their MySpace profile where I became hooked on their song “Another Night in the Rock”; a tune full of piss and fire. I loved how the intro came in like somewhat of an electric country song and shortly becomes a mess of eviscerating throaty vocals with some heavy melodic accents, and even heavier guitar crunching. I, of course, had to hear more.

Brain Drain

Seasick are one of those bands that can meld different styles into their songs without sounding like they’re trying too hard. I’d say that their music is rooted in ‘good ol’ fashioned’ hardcore in regards to playing fast and loose and gruff. That alone would be enough for my ears to perk up and take notice, but it’s all the little extras they throw in that really make Awakenings.

My first instinct is to say they sound a bit like Ringworm without being over the top heavy but add tons of Suicidal Tendencies like guitar solos into the mix. Is that something completely fresh and new? No, but its little nuances like those that can really take a somewhat standard song to the next level. Seasick obviously don’t shy away from a little experimentation with their melodies-or the lack thereof in some cases-but their approach is spot on every time.

Self-released

The band’s name is Slingshot Dakota and they have a song titled “Ohio”; are they geography buffs? That I can not say, but what I can tell you is: A) I’m an Ohioan, so I appreciate that song title and B) they have a penchant for writing dynamic and tuneful songs meant to make you get up and get down (y’now what I’m sayin’). Their Dreams are Dead but Ours is the Golden Ghost is the band’s sophomore effort and their first release following the departure of original vocalist/guitarist Jeff Cunningham. This is actually the first I ever heard this band, I just threw that last part in to trick you into thinking I knew something about these guys.

No Sleep

Every so often we get one of these curve balls of a review, and I have to say it’s a real love/hate relationship for me. I must first attack the insert that came with this release labeling these guys an indie rock band. Listen people, creative doesn’t always constitute indie. Post-hardcore experimental is the label I would of peeled off and slapped on these boys. The song “The Flood” has an Appleseed Cast feel to it on a choppier front. This may be where the indie rock misconception was created

The guys bring a bit of everything to the plate. Depressing piano parts breathe life in to songs like “Sick of Substance”. Synthesizers are appropriately placed throughout, and without screaming 1980’s copyright. They even show of a very atypical acoustic song that’s hard to skip over. Expect unpredictable instrumental genius and try to keep up.

Facedown

Wow. This is just straight up rock and roll. Like, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath rock and roll. Essentially Thieves and Liars are doing the full on 70’s rock assault that those tools in The Darkness could never achieve, despite their many and painful attempts.

And I’m not even into this whole style of music. I’m twenty eight so I went from my parent’s music (i.e. Genesis, The Beach Boys, ABBA) straight to punk rock at age fourteen; I didn’t have any older siblings-or know any fratboys- to play this kind of stuff for me. But for some reason, I’m digging this. I couldn’t jam it out any old day of the week but there will be certain times when I’m searching for something new and When Dreams Become Reality will be the album to quench my thirst.  And just so I’m being clear, by certain times I mean when I’m drunk.

No Sleep

This album, despite its various fine points, nearly immediately lost my attention. When I look for bands with a pop influence; I mean stuff like Lifetime or Screeching Weasel, not the drivel that fuels the Hollister wearing MTV crowd. And sadly, I associate The Wonder Years with this archetype. Try as I might…I couldn’t get stoked on it.

It’s not horrible, it’s just something I don’t listen to because, quite frankly, I’m not a nineteen year old hipster with shaggy, dyed hair and girl jeans; and there’s no doubt that this is the bands core fan base. When the band sticks their poppier influences; I really don’t mind it. These guys do have a sharp sense of melody and at various points of the album, they let it shine.  However I’m not a big fan of the pseudo-metalcore screams and their ubiquitous use of keyboards make me want to tear my hair out. I’m going to come off sounding like an asshole here, but, I really can’t stand the whole fashionable vibe I get from the record.