New Music Report – Mar 20, 2020

Posted by admin on Mar 19, 2020 in Featured | 0 comments

With pretty much everybody under some degree of isolation at this point, and naturally the best way to keep from going completely insane is with some new music. There are really only a couple albums of note this week, but they’re both big ones, even though one is less than 9 minutes long. They’re both on very different ends of the metal spectrum but I’d highly recommend checking both of them out.

The Acacia Strain – I feel like I’m repeating myself cause this is the third time I’m saying this about The Acacia Strain since December but HOLY SHIT this incredible. This week we get another surprise EP from The Acacia Strain, E, which is presumably another installment in their series of releases that spell out DEATH and combine to make their new full length. This keeps up the brutality from D, with a deep, grinding groove that carries throughout the two song release. It also features a perfectly placed guest spot from Jess Nyx of Mortality Rate, adding even more dynamics to the tension and dissonance felt throughout not only this release, but D as well. Definitely give this a listen, the final product of these releases is going to be something spectacular.

Heaven Shall Burn – These guys have really been sticking to the formula for ages; they’re still putting out fresh sounding albums that are following the tried and true early-00s melodeath-inspired metalcore formula that was absolutely huge nearly 20 years ago. And it’s really cool to see someone carrying that style into the modern day, but honestly I wasn’t sure if I could sit through a 100+ minute double album of that stuff without getting bored. But man, somehow, they pulled it off. You’re not going to get anything revolutionary with this release, just some very well done old school metalcore/melodeath by tenured experts of the subject. I definitely enjoyed this one.

Alkaline Trio – I honestly love modern era Alkaline Trio. Obviously, I love the classics, but I feel like their last few have objectively been some of their best. It’s a more mature rendering of their sound that everyone has fallen in love with for more than 2 decades now, with a really polished execution of songwriting ability and their signature “sounds happy with really dark lyrics” style. And while this is a short release, it’s always a treat to get new Alkaline Trio. If you like My Shame is True-type Alk3, you’ll love this one.

*Just a note about the Acacia Strain EP, I know these are surprise EPs and neither the band nor any music blogs have been talking about these before their release, I don’t know if there’s some sort of media embargo or anything, but I figured since I’m making this post for like MAYBE 10 people it didn’t matter. If someone happens to know the band and think they would feel otherwise, let me know and I’ll stop talking about them.

New Music Report – Mar 13, 2020

Posted by admin on Mar 17, 2020 in Featured | 0 comments

Time for this week’s new music post! Not too much to talk about honestly, but the two albums I do go over are both very, very impressive releases.

Invent, Animate – And the metalcore heaters continue to roll in for 2020. In the past, I’ve had trouble getting into this band, I’ve listened to their albums a bunch, but nothing could ever stick for me, it was like when you read a page of a book and then realize you didn’t take in a single word that you just read and have to go back and do it again. This album is WAY different, there isn’t a single dull moment, every track is spectacular; it’s all incredibly technical and arranged very well – it reminds me a lot of Erra – and the vocals, previously a low point when compared to the stellar instrumentals, finally stick out in a very strong and meaningful way. This is going on repeat for a long time.

New Music Report – Mar 6, 2020

Posted by admin on Mar 5, 2020 in Featured | 0 comments

I’ll start off by saying, there haven’t really been any releases this week that I was really excited about, which is fine, not every week is going to have a personal AOTY contender. That said, there are definitely albums that are worth talking about that I think others will really enjoy, including a single that I really feel in love with.

Silverstein – There’s a lot to be said for bands that have been at it as long as Silverstein and are still able to crank out consistently good albums. They have been able to build on a progression of a slowly maturing version of their original selves, and their last album was a perfect example of that. This one, however, is a bit off the course. It’s a bit poppier, a bit overproduced, a bit too far off of what I fell in love with Silverstein for. It’s still a pretty good album, I just didn’t enjoy it as much as their last album, and I think this was a softening of their remarkable progression over the years.

Body Count – Ice T’s hardcore band, featuring a few tracks with cool features like Amy Lee and Jamey Jasta. At this point, you probably know if Body Count is your thing or not. Personally, it’s not really mine, but I can still appreciate what’s going on here. Overall, this album goes super hard, and the aforementioned feature tracks are really good.

My Dying Bride – This is classic doom metal right here, which is basically what you expect from MDB, but it’s a bit more accessible than usual, And not to sound like an elitist, but it kind of suffers because of it. Their grand, long songs are a little repetitive, the production is a bit too clean, etc. It’s not bad, just not really remarkable.

Singles

Captives – God, this is so good. I love this band so much, and I really feel like they’re the UK’s best kept secret in post hardcore right now. They put out an incredible EP last year, and hopefully this is the first single from an upcoming full-length, but we’ll see. This is a really great example of modern, progressive post-hardcore, like what Hands Like Houses would sound like if they went the more progressive direction after Ground Dweller. I highly, highly recommend this single to anybody into post hardcore, as well as their EP from last year.

Saosin – This song is actually about 15 years old. I can remember jamming to the demo of this track back in high school and thinking it was just one of the best Saosin songs ever, even though it objectively sounded like shit – minus Anthony Green’s INCREDIBLE, but very raw vocals. Well, they finally re-recorded the instrumentals using the original vocal track and man, I feel like I just got closure on something I’ve been waiting on for half my life. This might be the best Saosin song ever, and they finally did it justice.

New Music Report – Feb 28, 2020

Posted by admin on Mar 5, 2020 in Featured | 0 comments

Now that we’re full swing into the new year, we’re starting to get out of the dead space and see releases starting to ramp up for spring. Which is honestly pretty wild to think about cause during that “dead” time we got incredible albums like the new Polaris, Lorna Shore, Caspian, etc. But anyway, here’s what’s new and exciting this week. We’ve actually got a lot of variety too; last week was very metalcore-heavy, but this week we’ve got a little of everything.

Four Year Strong – I gotta say, this is definitely heavier than I was expecting it to be. I mean, they’re still the kings of easycore, so it’s pretty chill, but it’s definitely bigger and more mature sounding than I was expecting. I really enjoyed this; very fun album. This is my favorite FYS album in years.

The Acacia Strain – So this was a cool surprise. It’s a back to business as usual for TAS after their last sludgy EP (which I happened to LOVE and still listen to all the time). This release is only two tracks, but it’s DUMB heavy, I love it; absolutely brutal EP. We’ll see how they string this together with other releases this year. I’ve heard theories about a series of EPs that spell out DEATH (this is D), but I have no idea.

Beneath the Massacre – I’m not sure how anyone can come out of an 8 year hiatus and put out something this fucking bonkers, but I love it. This album is absolutely filthy, super technical, and doesn’t let up for a single second. While all the albums that I’m highlighting here have been incredible, this is the one I’ve found myself returning to the most. It’s just an absolute onslaught and I can’t get enough of it.

Toundra – Toundra are one of the most consistently tight and impressive post rock bands in the world. This album is pretty neat, it’s basically a reimagined “soundtrack” for the 100 year old silent horror film, “Das Cabinet des Dr. Caligari”. So, it plays like an old school film score, so keep that in mind while listening to it, but it’s brilliant.

Intronaut –These guys are always technically very impressive, and their new drummer is just insane, but that’s what you get with jazz-infused progressive metal. The vocals can be hit or miss (See: prog metal), they’re good they just aren’t to everyone’s tastes. Overall, this is really good though.

New Music Report – Feb 21, 2020

Posted by admin on Mar 5, 2020 in Featured, Uncategorized | 0 comments

I made a goal for myself to make one of these posts every week, and while I’m especially busy today, I missed last week, and I really don’t want to get too far behind. Also, there has been some really incredible music coming out these past few weeks that I feel is absolutely worth talking about. So, excuse the rushed nature of this post, but hopefully this gets everything back up to speed.

Polaris – If this is how things are getting started in 2020, metalcore is going to have a hell of a year. The Mortal Coil was an amazing record, but could, at times, feel a little monotonous. This isn’t like that at all, you can immediately feel a strong progression, with a much more captivating and dynamic sound. It’s a very interesting, well written album, with brutally heavy moments alongside instantly catchy hooks. I’m a huge fan of this album. Polaris really knocked this one out of the park. I’d say it would be hard to beat, but with the albums coming out later this year, who knows.

The Amity Affliction – Ehhhhhhh… I’m not feeling this one. I want to say it’s ok for incredibly uninspired and generic metalcore, but it really isn’t. It’s a boring album that’s simply unfulfilling. I’ve never gotten worse breakdown blue balls than I did listening to this album. Especially juxtaposed alongside the new Polaris, it’s just a forgettable album, unfortunately.

Previous weeks (2/7 & 2/14)

The Wonder Years (Acoustic EP) – Alright let’s face it, it’s The Wonder Years, so it’s good. That said, I think I prefer the first Burst & Decay as a whole package, but there are some brilliant moments on this EP.
Envy – Envy, for those unaware, is the renowned Japanese screamo band that have broken down language barriers by making powerful and emotional music. All their music is in Japanese, so I think it’s fair to assume most of us won’t understand them, but you can still feel them, and man, is there a lot to feel. Furthermore, this album might just be their best yet, I’m incredibly blown away by this one. This is definitely one worth experiencing.
Loathe – This album came out of nowhere but it’s incredible. It’s definitely metalcore but calling it just that is doing the album a major disservice. It’s combined with a lot of ambient elements and more to make it a deeply complex album. It’s kind of what happens when a metalcore band listens to a lot of Deftones; very heavy but still melodic and ethereal. Check this out, definitely.
Sylosis – The lead singer/guitarist has been playing with Architects for the past few years and that’s really the best way to describe it. It’s like that but more calculated and technical, and with fewer bleghs haha. It’s very good, I was really impressed.

Singles
Currents, Silent Planet, Polaris, Invent Animate, Bury Tomorrow, and Alazka all put out singles in the past two weeks. M E T A L C O R E 2 0 2 0.

New Music Report – Jan 31, 2020

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New Music Report – Jan 24, 2020

Posted by admin on Jan 23, 2020 in Featured, News | 0 comments

New Albums

Silent Planet – Guys, this band is incredible. They’re so god damn good. I really cannot say enough good things about Silent Planet. Not only are they one of the most talented, unique, and powerful bands in metalcore right now, they’re also the most wholesome dudes in the world and absolutely deserve everyone’s support. This is a re-recorded version of their absolute masterpiece of a first record, and I honestly thought they couldn’t improve upon that, but here we are. Listen to this album.

Caspian – Caspian is one of the landmark bands of post rock, and this (personally) highly anticipated album is their first since 2015’s Dust & Disquiet, which was really nothing short of a masterpiece. But for those that find it, this is a fantastic album and was absolutely worth the wait. Much like what we’ve come to expect from Caspian, it’s absolutely packed full of emotionally dense, complex, and dynamic songs that take the listen on an incredible journey. It’s been a long five years, but it was certainly worth the wait.

Novelists FR – Not gonna lie, these guys lost me with their latest single, but man, this album is good. Trending more towards a post hardcore sound with this one, they’ve done a really great job of combining melodic, clean vocals with some super technical riffs and heavy breakdowns. Very dynamically diverse, definitely worth a listen.

Singles

Invent, Animate – Objectively, these guys are very good, but I’ve always felt I should enjoy this band more than I do. They’re technically incredible, but for a few reasons they failed to have that special something that makes a band stand out to me. This single hits super hard though, I have hope that this new album can help me change my mind.

Monuments – Insanely talented progressive metalcore band. Great vocals with incredible range and a very catchy chorus; the new vocalist is fitting in nicely. I’m looking forward to more from them, but in the meantime,  this is definitely worth checking out.

The Word Alive – Unfortunately, these guys have gotten a little bit stale. Verses are a bit low effort and too much emphasis is put on the chorus. They’re definitely heading into a more alt-rock/post hardcore direction. Super meh, I miss old TWA.

New Music Report – Jan 10, 2020

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Top 25 Albums of the Decade: 2010-2019

Posted by admin on Dec 17, 2019 in Featured, Uncategorized | 0 comments

Albums of the Decade

I’m not going to write descriptions for each of these albums, and I also can’t really commit to the way I ordered this. This covers so many different styles of music and albums that had such powerful, yet incredibly unique significances to me over a very challenging decade that saw many different versions of myself with many different tastes. And each of those iterations of myself came together with one of these albums at just the right time to create something incredibly important and in a way, both fleeting in its circumstances and eternally lasting in the feelings that they deliver. As such, I really can’t say with any certainty that Rescue & Restore ranks above The Greatest Generation. But that said, I can separate the top 10 out as being the most significant over this period of time. Even still, I felt I needed to make this list 25 albums long to really do justice to my experience over the past decade and the music that meant the most to me.

1. August Burns Red – Rescue & Restore
2. Every Time I Die – Low Teens
3. The Wonder Years – The Greatest Generation
4. Architects – Lost Together // Lost Forever
5. Silent Planet – When the End Began
6. Caspian – Dust & Disquiet
7. Emarosa – Emarosa
8. The Chariot – Long Live
9. We Lost the Sea – Departure Songs
10. Russian Circles – Memorial
11. Mogwai – Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will
12. Cult of Luna & Julie Christmas – Mariner
13. The Dillinger Escape Plan – Dissociation
14. Currents – The Place I Feel Safest
15. Amenra – Mass VI
16. Converge – The Dusk in Us
17. Dance Gavin Dance – Acceptance Speech
18. Deafheaven – Sunbather
19. The Devil Wears Prada – Dead Throne
20. Norma Jean – Wrongdoers
21. Erra – Drift
22. Texas in July – Bloodwork
23. Greyhaven – Empty Black
24. Go Radio – Do Overs & Second Chances
25. If These Trees Could Talk – Bones of a Dying World

Album of the Year 2019: Top 10

Posted by admin on Dec 17, 2019 in Featured, Uncategorized | 0 comments

Top 10 Albums of the Year

1. Counterparts – Nothing Left to Love – It seems silly to expect anything sort of remarkable from Counterparts but man, did this album exceed expectations. I knew it would be good, but honestly, I wasn’t quite expecting this. But of course, it should be no surprise that these guys would go on to continue pushing the boundaries of what we all understand to be hardcore. As the lines between genres of heavy music continue to blur, Counterparts will be leading the charge. And thanks to brilliant and emotional albums like this, I don’t believe anybody will dare to question that. Nothing Left to Love is a brutally honest and personal.
2. Cult of Luna – A Dawn to Fear – You know those albums that you just know are going to be incredible before you even hear the first single? This was one of them. This is an absolute masterclass in post-metal. It’s a huge composition with an incredible dynamic range, fascinating songwriting, and top notch production. In practice, this isn’t anything that’s wildly different than what Cult of Luna have done in the past, nor do I think it’s quite as monumental as their album with Julie Christmas. However, it stands on its own with a moodier and more hypnotic take on their churning, gloomy post-metal, utilizing the vast expanse of time they have to play with on this 75-minute album to really contemplate every detail put into this fantastic record.
3. The Devil Wears Prada – The Act – I’ve been saying for years that the maturation of The Devil Wears Prada from the Roots Above days to now is one of the most incredible progressions in metalcore. Anyone that wrote them off as a MySpacecore band are doing themselves a huge disservice by missing out on this powerful, emotional, and thoughtful songwriting. The Act is an incredibly raw take a sound that they have been marching towards for the better part of a decade. Not as consistently heavy as something like Dead Throne, but just as powerful. It combines several elements from not only metalcore, but post-metal, screamo, and several other genres and the final form of this amalgamation is just breathtaking.
4. Northlane – Alien – This album is a weird one, honestly. It’s incredibly polarizing; a lot of people really don’t like it or don’t get it for whatever reason. All said, it was a huge surprise either way, it was very un-Northlane in a lot of ways, with a lot of electronic elements, and even a few nu-metal cues. Even after the first listen, I wasn’t quite sure I was sold on this one. But something kept pulling me back to the album and soon enough I couldn’t get enough of it. This was a remarkably innovative and surprising album that was brilliantly executed by an incredibly talented band that’s working to push the boundaries of metalcore. Like it or not, this might just be the album that metalcore needs right now.
5. Thornhill – The Dark Pool – I’ll be honest, I didn’t even know who these guys were a couple months ago, but holy shit, what an album. Bands like this are the reason that I spend so much time scouring new releases and refuse to just settle on waiting for new music from the old favorites. I would hate to have missed out on such a relative masterpiece. It combines some of the innovation found on albums like Alien with huge technical prowess and one of the best vocalists in metalcore. Thornhill combines huge., almost ambient soundscapes with creative, progressive riffs and the result is a remarkable take on progressive metalcore.
6. Norma Jean – All Hail – Well, what all really needs to be said about Norma Jean? They’ve been one of the leading names in brutal and chaotic metalcore for decades now, and as usual, the new album didn’t disappoint. There aren’t many bands out there that can say they’re still at the top of their game more than twenty years on, but there’s a reason why Norma Jean has been such a mainstay. In fact, this continues the streak they’ve had from their previous two albums of being some of their best work ever, which I know is rather blasphemous to people that believe NJ peaked with Bless the Martyr, but I highly recommend those folks check out All Hail for a pleasant surprise.
7. The Callous Daoboys – Die on Mars – There has been a massive void in my heart for the past 6 years, ever since The Chariot called it quits. But earlier this year, The Callous Daoboys rolled onto the scene and filled that niche very nicely with a similar breed of charmingly chaotic mathcore that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Not only is this album heavy, brutal, and technically incredible, it’s also genuinely fun. Melding a sense of pure chaos that plays with the conventions of metal and hardcore to the point of self-effacing absurdity. The whole album is just utter nonsense, and I fucking love it for that.
8. Russian Circles – Blood Year – While this may not be a universally renowned masterpiece like Memorial, it offers a different take on the Russian Circles style. Blood Year delivers raw and powerful, yet clean and precise production (thanks to Kurt Ballou) which creates huge, airy soundscapes allowing every instrument and every melody to really utilize its own agency as an important individual piece of a grander puzzle while still creating a hefty, crushing, and driving final product that we know so well from them.
9. Pelican – Nighttime Stories – Pelican really stepped things up on this one. I’ve always considered them to be in a similar league to Russian Circles but never quite being able to match the songwriting ability and raw power captured by their counterparts. This time was different though; with Nighttime Stories they were able to take their sound to all new heights. I was truly impressed with this album and it really made me rethink the entire Pelican discography as a result. It caused something to click on a much broader scale, and any album that has implications beyond its own limits merits celebration.
10. Knocked Loose – A Different Shade of Blue – For quite a while, Knocked Loose has been a treasured, but rather well-kept secret, however with this release they’re quickly being jettisoned onto an absolutely meteoric rise to acclaim in all corners of the heavy music community. Hardcore kids love them, the death metal crowd loves them, metalcore guys love them; Knocked Loose are pummeling their way into the hearts of everyone, and with good reason, A Different Shade of Blue was an absolute landmark hardcore album for the year. I’m sure we’ll be hearing a lot more from these guys, and I’m personally very, very excited about that.

Best EP

Captives – Ghost Like You – Captives is a relatively unknown post hardcore band out of the UK, and who would have known that they would pump out the most impressive debut EP that I’ve heard in some time. It’s a very polished and powerful post hardcore, kind of reminding me of early Hands Like Houses, which is a wonderful comparison to be able to make. I’m hoping for big things from these guys, and maybe a US tour, as well.

Best Single

Killswitch Engage – The Signal Fire – I mean, come on, Killswitch Engage with BOTH Jeese Leach and Howard Jones? This one was obvious. This has been every metalcore fan’s dream for a decade now, whether they knew it or not. And for a song that comes with such lofty expectations attached to it, man, did it live up to the hype. Not only is it a remarkable song, but it brings a great sense of closure to a tumultuous piece of the history of one of the most acclaimed bands in the genre. And I dare you to watch the music video without a smile on your face.