Recent Reviews
Be Well // The Weight And The Cost
Equal Vision Records
2Fold // 2019 Promo
Independent
Raw Brigade // Kicking Your Face
Sixfeet Under Records
Spirits // Unrest
State Of Mind Recordings
Equal Vision Records
Independent
Sixfeet Under Records
State Of Mind Recordings
Label // Equal Vision Records
A brutally honest album full of self reflection and self doubt. An odd way to introduce an album review on a site focused on music with a positive message. On one hand the lyrics through out this album are drenched in sadness and regret, on the other hand the lyrics plead for and point to something better. Overcoming the looming darkness of depression with hope, love, and a desire for changed. The song "Strength For Breath" captures this contrast beautifully. The honest reflection of letting loved ones down laid over a hyper-tempo, melodic, and near dissonant soundtrack.
Confessional
"I can still breathe, but I have to be reminded That my heart is still beating and this feeling will pass It can feel defeating, but it never lasts And through a different lens the glass is half full in fact, I got it"
In total the album offers a variety of sounds. From the jagged guitar parts and whirlwind circle pit tempo of "Morning Light" to rigid post-hard core rocksteady feels found on the track "Magic", to an ample and tasteful sampling of breakdowns found all over this album. It is an independent band functioning at a very professional level. This level of quality should be no surprise considering the MVP cast of hardcore veterans who's pedigree can be traced back to bands like Bane, Darkest Hour, Battery, and Fairweather. For more information click here.
"Magic"
Listen & Buy it here
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Label // Independant
Life has a way of putting a wrench in your plans. Singapore hardcore band 2Fold is no stranger to this. After a 4 year hiatus the band is rested up and striking back with a vengence.
The 5 piece band have just released a 2 song preview to their upcoming 2020 album. I have to say after hearing it I'd really love to catch the next plane to Singapore and see the inevitable mosh pit this band must generate. Especially for a song like "City of Accomplices". It has the perfect combination for all your two-stepping, circle pitting, floor punching and spin kick style mosh needs.
From the sounds of it the hardcore ethos is strong in Singapore. Speakig with the band it sounds like there is a very strong tight knit DIY community. Lyrics in songs such as "City of Accomplices" also carry the hardcore message by speaking out against socio-econimical issues where the upper class continues to prosper via increasing the cost of living, the lower class gets by with subsidies and the middle class foots the bill
With only 2 songs on this release 2Fold flex their musical dexterity. The song "Intricate" has an of old school Madball feel that I simply love.
This band is worth your support on their bandcamp site as well as worth your attention in 2020.
"City of Accomplices"
Listen & Buy it here
Label // Six Feet Under Records
From just north of the equator Raw Brigade's sound lives up to it's name. Raw, fast, and loud. These four gents hold nothing back.
There are certain albums that don't quite stick until 2 or 3 passes through the album. Upon immediately hearing Raw Brigade's "Kicking Your Face" EP it is clear this is not one of those. Almost immediately you are brought in by the extremely punctual vocals. To my North American ears the Columbian accent adds to the rawness of the sound. Since the lyrics are written in English there are phrases that are consructed in a manner that you would not imagine (from a North American's persective at least). Personally I love that aspect of the band. It adds an aspect of sincerity. The musicianship is professional, strong, along with textbook execution. The lyrical content on this album addresses topics from frustration with apathy, violence, terrorism, and is capped of with a quick hitter about straight edge. While not overly complex lyrically, it is the manner in which they are delivered that makes this album special. Their 2016 Demo is definately worth a listen. I think the lyrical content on their 2016 Demo release; specifically "Bring it Back" and "Drugs" are some of their best lyrics to date.
"Nothing"
Buy it here
Label // Red Letter Recordings
This EP has fueled many a mountain bike rides for me. This review has been waiting in the wings for a few months now. However with Summer comes mountain biking, motorcycles, & family time. Those items have kept me from completing, until now. Over half the enjoyment from running this humble site is discovering new music. I received an email from a PR team tipping me off to a new project featuring previous members of the band "Confide". Since the dissolution of Confide a few of the members had crossed paths (as retold here)Revive the Masses" was ready to roll over anyone not paying attention.
With in seconds of the opening track "Yours Alone" I was fully bought into this band. Time is of the essence on this short 5 song EP and these 3 gents waste no time launching the first track with blistering energy and a no holds barred introduction to what this band is about.
Who says you can't write worship songs at 180 BPM? Not these fellas. Across 5 songs there are common themes of pain, struggling with a loss of hope, the sense of being lost. Amidst all that Lifelong is able to carry a torch through the darkness. Singing songs to God about His faithfulness and power.
Even If theological hardcore isn't your preferred flavor of hardcore the well crafted musician ship, airtight production, and honest song writing is deserving of your attention. Also, waking up to this on blast @ 5:30AM daily is bound to get you out of bed and ready to take on whatever your day may bring.
"This life, a beautiful mess. An ugly story but the endings the best"
"Found a Way"
"Yours Alone"
Buy it here
Label // Nuclear Blast
Outsider is Comeback Kid's 7th album. The band has an impressive 14 year tenure which gives way to an impressive hardcore pedigree.
Their latest release on Nuclear Blast records is a fine addition to that lineage. The first track is what you would expect from a CBK album. Opening with a sonic wave of sound and energy. There are guitar parts on this album that harken back to to old Buried Alive riffs, which is an absolute plus.
Diving into the message section of the review, this album feels a bit light on an explicit message, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. Ambiguous lyrics often are easier to identify with than explicit ones. However I found myself having a hard time connecting with the content. With that in mind I still very much enjoyed this album. It has 20 + end to end plays so far. This is a high energy, high quality album both musically and production wise.
"Moment in Time"
Buy it here
Label // Bridge 9 Records
The 7th and self proclaimed final ablum by New York PMA Hardcore legends would have you believe H2O is riding into the sunset on a high note. As one of the best efforts of the band to date this album certainly leaves you hoping there are more albums to follow.
Produced by Chad Gilbert of New Found Glory fame the production on this album is spot on. Thick guitars, clear drums, and enough gang vocals to turn your living room or car into a one person mosh pit.
Lyrics cover a fair amount of ground on this album ranging from, animal rights, racism, sexism, povertey and skateboarding. Tracks like "Black Sheep" reflect on being an adolescent punk rock outcast (while at the same time throwing out an nod to old school hard core heros Minor Threat). The only downfall here is that H2O has stated that this album will be their last album. At a time where the world could use more positive music this is unfortunate. Thankfully the band continues with a healthy tour schedule.
"Black Sheep" & "Still Dreaming"
Buy it here
Label // React! Records
Out of Baltimore comes a straight edge band that based on sound and lyrics wouldn't tip you off as a typical straight edge band.
You don't have to get too far into this album to realize the musician ship on this album is the cumulitive outcome of hardcore and punk vetrans. You can check out their other bands (Mindset, Angel Du$t, & Turnstile) From the first note this album demands your attention. Bright guitar tones (reminiscent of 90's post-hardcore on Equal Vision "Shift" , tasteful guitar & bass lines, along with a a mix up of spoken word/ singing vocal work by Andy Norton proves to be great medicine fgor the soul. This quick 7 song album efficiently packs in up beat 2-step (Crash into My Life) tracks punk conisours would come to expect, along with slower melodic tracks like "Walk to the Edge"
Lyrical focus in general tie into the themes of time either spent in vain, or time that passed by too quickly. Interesting interplay of the complancenty of staying in place with the tension of battling regret for not moving forward. Praise have managed to fit a wide range out sound and interesting lyrical themes into a short amount of songs. This album is definitely worth your time.
"Crash Into My Life"
Buy it here
Label // Epitaph Records
Historically Converge have been the king and the mold of which metal core bands have been cut from for 25 plus years. One thing they have not fallen into was the genre of positive hardcore. While the first song on this album (A Single Tear) alone would have found a welcomed home on this site there is a repeating theme of hope, survival, patience. Songs like Arkhipov Calm dispose well aged wisdom that seldom hardcore bands have the seasons to draw from.
Stored away in my library of favorite hardcore songs live the few that are truly moving. The initial track ("A Single Tear") has earned it's way among the top of those songs. In what I would say is one of Bannon's more vulnerable songs he addressess a new found purpose for existence through becoming a father as well as an opportunity to be something completely new. It is refreshing to see a band with such an aggressive asthetic not only recognize selfishness, but push it away in light of new life. This song is about as catchy of a song as I have heard Converge compose. Check out the lyrics for "A Single Tear" here
The bands sound and song strucures are an ever changing experiment, for that I am thankful. Converge has been pushing the envelope for over two decades now and I hope they do not stop.
"A Single Tear"
Buy it here
Label // Facedown Records
If you take an initial glance at the track list you will notice so many cameo's you quickly realize this is either a hip hop album, or a hardcore band that is going out on top and inviting as many friends as they can to join in the send off. And so it goes, 11 years and 5 albums later the band is giving up the ghost. The Sleeping Giant crew didn't phone this one in. "I Am" pulls in a 5 out of 5 high fives as they go out on top.
There are bands with Christian members in it that you could listen to the lyrics and never realize it. Sleeping Giant is not one of those bands. From opening track to the last note this album is filled with Biblical references and themes. It makes it to the top of the PMA list for it's onslaught of positive emphasis on love, concern for the well being for fellow man , action through faith, and hope beyond the current circumstances.
The production and musicianship is air tight on this album. The music is what you would expect from Sleeping Giant, aggressive, double bass & blast beat laden. As Meshugga-esque grooves have almost become the norm in heavy music Sleeping Giant pulls these off in a tasteful manner without being over the top. For a band that continuously pushes against over formalized religion I have always wondered if Tom Green's almost monastic clean vocal points are meant to be ironic. Either way I have always been a fan and that Sleeping Giant niche is even further fine tuned on this album.
If you are looking for an album with a sound that cuts through, stands on it's own, and provides motivating message that will serve double duty and refine you at the same time. Look no further than this album.
"Second Chance Kids"
Buy it here
Label // State of Mind Recordings
The album "Unrest" by Boston 4 piece straight edge band is a breakneck journey of a societal editorial delivered via staple 2-step punk rhythms and abrupt tempo changes. Delivered via air tight musicianship are messages addressing animal rights, a state of the world address on current events, calling out the perils and costs of our modern conveniences and their effect on planet Earth among others. What I really appreciate about the lyrics is the honest assessment of the state of things. On it's own is very depressing, however sprinkled through out this album is a message of hope and strength. In order to drive change their must be hope. Spirits have delivered that through this album.
The initial track "Human Credential" comes in fast with force addressing the Brussels airport attack on Moarch 22, 2016. As a side note this track is also eerily similar to the first track of Comeback Kid's False Idols Fall track off their "Wake the Dead" album".
My favorite track from this album is "OSU". From what I can gather the subject matter of this is mental health. Musically the song teases you with a melodic lift that never fully delievers. It feels as if this song is still waiting for the hook that is the icing on the cake. However near the end of this track lies a pretty epic PMA verse:
"But we push on to find a better day moving along, don't waste time on feelings from yesterday I've watched you struggle I've watched you fall each time a new lesson on the strength it takes to overcome it all"
Buy it here
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