A Wilhelm Scream-Ruiner
(Nitro Records, 2005)

This is hands down the best album Nitro has ever released, and possibly one of the best melodic punk albums ever written. Cross Propaghandi with Hot Water Music, with a dash of Slayer and an incredible amount of energy and you have A Wilhelm Scream. There is literally thousands of notes flying at you, yet they manage to stay incredibly memorable, and despite the flurries of notes they really manage to stay memorable. Also of note is the band’s incredibly lyrical style that is both original and heartfelt. It takes a bit more digging to realize what the band is talking about and that is never a bad thing. Fast, and furious, yet melodic, this is an album that needs to be heard, and by as many people as humanly possible.

Darkest Hour-Undoing Ruin
(Victory Records, 2005)

This is easily the best album yet from Darkest Hour, and should be the album that really propels them to the top of the heap when it comes to Swedish influenced hardcore. They were one of the first to do it, so it is perfectly fitting for them to be one of the best. The album takes a step back from the incredibly metal last album, and is quite melodic, even introducing the odd clean vocal section. It still carries the fast and furious style the band is known for though, but the structuring and writing is much better on this album then it has ever been. This album renews my interest in metalcore, well at least to the point that I’m excited to see what these guys do next. The rest of the genre still needs a kick in the ass creatively if you ask me.

Black My Heart-Before the Devil
(Eulogy Recordings, 2005)

Black My Heart plays extremely heavy hardcore that is fairly similar to a band like Bury Your Dead. I would say these guys have a bit more tempo changes and in general there is more going on within the songs then just fast sections and breakdowns. This is very metallic sounding, but the recording is raw and the guitar tone is quite different then the usual heavy hardcore sound. It has a muddy, yet gritty sound that at times sounds a bit rough, but there is definitely a lot of energy behind the playing. This might not take the genre in any new directions, but it’s still an enjoyable and easy to recommend album.

Hoods-The King is Dead
(Eulogy Recordings, 2005)

Hoods are back once again, armed with an album full of the heavy and vicious hardcore you have come to expect from the band. The King is Dead is a heavy album, yet it is definitely a slower album then Pray for Death was. The trademark rapid fire guitars are here, but there are a lot of parts that bring to mind vintage NYHC and even some parts that almost sound like doom metal. The production is a bit weird sounding, especially vocally. This might actually be more of what people expect from Hoods as this album is more similar to the material before Pray for Death. Add another album to the list of classic albums from this band.

Fuck the Facts-Legacy of Hopelessness
(Ghetto Blaster, 2005)

Despite being known for blistering grindcore, this latest EP from Fuck the Facts opens with a tune that could be best described as noisy, apocalyptic doom metal. The second song however begins the bands usual onslaught of technical mind boggling grindcore. Technical guitar runs, and harsh vocals are often met with simplistic drumbeats which serve as a nice counterpoint. The band covers a lot of ground, and honestly some of this stuff will leave you scratching your head. But you’ll love every second of it. Imagine Dillinger Escape Plan mixed with Mr. Bungle playing Napalm Death covers.