Sacriversum-Mozartia
(Metal Mind, 2003)

Call me crazy, but I'm not impressed with this band. They remind me of a less technical version of Nightwish but with gruff male vocals to go along with the clean female vocals. I've always liked Nightwish because of the power metal-esque sound they have and those vocals...damn they are good. Wait though, this isn't a Nightwish review is it? Yea, well I wish it was though because Nightwish is good and these guys simply aren't. Add in a bad production and you have a really stinker on your hands.

Scarlet-Cult Classic
(Ferret, 2004)

Scarlet’s last MCD served as my introduction to this noisy hardcore band, but damn have they ever gone above and beyond their earlier material with this new disc. This is one of the first metalcore albums that truly has an almost scary or haunting vibe about. It’s heavy, but the riffing and melodies they use are dissonant, eerie and extremely effective. This band pays no attention to what the trends are and have created a bulldozing 16 track assault of noise.

If you want Swedish style melody you have come to the wrong place. This band is mainly all about rhythmic and noisy riffing filled with dissonance and pummeling chord progressions. It’s suffocating in it’s heaviness, yet still doesn’t become old before the end of the album. Some riffs could be called a bit more melodic, but they definitely aren’t of the typical variety. Even these parts are more dissonant then anything, but they either just feature a more note filled approach, or a dreary sense of melody. Clean vocals even come into play a few times throughout, but they are also more towards the dreary side of things. This isn’t a happy band, so don’t expect happy melodies.

One thing that surprised me was how well this album flows from beginning to end. It’s almost like it’s more about the entire picture then the sum of it’s parts. Very few albums these days make sense to listen to from beginning to end. It’s more like random pieces of art duct taped together and called an album. This is a fluid piece of art that demands to be listened to from start to finish.

Lyrically and visually this album definitely has a lot of impact. The lyrics are very angry and angry at all of the right people. I’m so sick of lyrics about heartbreak. Hardcore is angry, so stop whining. I’d say that the two top bands in hardcore right now is Every Time I Die and now Scarlet. Visually this actually reminds me a lot of Coverge’s When Forever Comes Crashing. It has a similar color scheme and a reminiscent scattered look. How can you not like that album cover either? I’m not sure why but gasmasks always work for heavy bands.

You know that analogy they just don’t make ‘em like this anymore? Well, it actually works with this album. With the amount of hardcore or metalcore bands right now, very few are doing anything unique and very few seem to have anything significant to say. Scarlet has a lot to say and plays with enough force that you’ll have to take notice. This is the future of hardcore.

Scatter the Ashes-Devout/The Modern Hymn
(Epitaph, 2004)


This is pretty much the exact opposite of what I was expecting. I was expecting hardcore and this is best described as post punk I'd guess, and it's definitely not straightforward. It's possibly a bit along the lines of Cave In mixed with a bit of the Dischord sound. There is a ton of atmosphere, and it stands out like a sore thumb amongst the many trend oriented bands in the scene right now.

If you are expecting verse/chorus/verse, the linear songwriting approach will have your head spinning. The band has memorable riffs and sections, but the songs really don't follow any formulas. It's almost like a Pink Floyd like approach to punk music. It has elements that are somewhat common but they aren't afraid to experiment and the laid back and atmospheric riffs aren't really common in this style of music. Like I mentioned earlier, they have a bit of a Cave In influence happening at times. I'd say the Jupiter album in particular. The second track City in the Sea has reverb and delay drenched guitar lines that are similar to what Cave In was doing at that time. Don't think that these guys are Cave In clones though. They definitely have their own ideas as well.

The production is completely analog sounding. In a time when albums are becoming more and more overproduced it's nice to hear a band keep it rather simple and atmospheric. The guitar sounds especially aren't overbearing. There are a few heavier riffs, but for the most part it's rather mellow and drenched in reverb. The production definitely fits the postpunk nature of the bands sound perfectly.

This definitely isn't exactly what you'd expect from Epitaph. But if you are looking for interesting and emotinal postpunk that follows absolutely no formulas or trends then look no further.

Epitaph Records Website

Serpent Eclipse-The Seven Desires & Wolves’ Blood
(Oaken Shield, 2002)


I really wanted to like this cd, but there is something very amateurish about it. From what I’ve heard from Oaken Shield in the past, this really doesn’t even compare to the other bands. This is boring, unenergetic and uses a drum machine. Possibly if you are into boring black metal with a terrible sounding drum machine you’d be able to get into this. To be blunt, I think it sucks.

Seasick-Bestie Mensch
(?????,????)

I pretty much lost the bio and whatever else came with this promo cd, so I can’t even tell you what label the band was on. I’m pretty sure this is a re-release of an album that came out quite a long time ago. So chances are you’ve never heard of Seasick before, but if you are into crust influenced grindcore you’ll probably be able to get into what this band is doing.

I’m not really sure who I’d compare this to. For some reason it makes me think of a tighter version of Cripple Bastards. It’s fast, has some blasting and it topped off with some throaty vocal roars that really have a unique sound to them. It’s not really anything new, but it’s an interesting albeit not a very tight listen. I could see fans of Agathocles being into this as well. They have nowhere near as much blasting, but there are a lot of similarities.

The production definitely shows it’s age. It’s a fairly decent sounding cd, but it’s also fairly thin and could have used a louder and more powerful guitar tone. The drums have a fairly thick sound to them and are pretty much the best sounding instrument on the recording. I think the vocals are bit too loud and should be a little bit less out front.

I had no idea what to expect from this band, but call me impressed. This band, while not 100% original, was doing something just a bit different on this cd. It would be nice to see some newer material, as this cd is actually quite old.

Shai Hulud-That Within Blood Ill-Tempered
(Revelation, 2003)

I know that 2003 isn’t over yet, but this album is definitely a strong contender for hardcore album of the year. This record is everything an excellent hardcore album should be. It’s emotional, energetic, aggressive, and very easy to get into.

Shai Hulud, in my opinion, is the ideal mix of melody and aggression. They have harsh vocals, very heavy and dissonant guitars at times, yet there is a very prominent melodic thread running throughout this entire album. Heavy riffs give way to very melodic riffs, which gives the band a varied and very interesting approach to hardcore music. It could almost be summed up as hardcore butting heads with Swedish death metal and then adding some emo melody in for good measure. I could see this band appealing to the average hardcore kid as well as the average metal head as well. It has a lot to offer to fans of both genres.

Everything about this album is top notch. The performance and production are excellent and the packaging is amazingly well put together. The booklet has a very cool arty look to it, so you have both a pleasing to listen to album as well as a pleasing to look at record sleeve.

This band probably won’t be for everyone. For those who enjoy hardcore stagnant and unchanged, you probably won’t enjoy this band. But if you enjoy both metal as well as hardcore you should find this album to your liking. It should appeal to as many Hatebreed fans as it would to fans of The Haunted.

Sick of It All-Life on the Ropes
(Fat Wreck Chords, 2003)

Sick of It All are one of those bands that have been around forever and seem like they're never going to stop playing music. Some bands tend to outstay their welcome, but SOIA, while not playing the best music of their career, are still going strong and bringing the rock.

I really wanted to be blown away by this new album. It's definitely a good listen, but after so many albums I'm starting to wonder if they are maybe running out of things to do. Sick of It All have always progressed from album to album, but with the last few it seems like they've pretty much stayed the same. I guess if the formula works you don't try to fix it, but it would have been nice to see them try something a bit different. I'm not sure what they could really do though. I honestly couldn't see them adding elements of emo, or anything like that. I just mainly think that the mid-tempo stuff just starts to sound the same after awhile.

From a production stand point this isn't their best sounding album. It's definitely a bit rawer then I would have expected. Sure, they aren't the cleanest band ever, but they usually have clean powerful recordings. This isn't a bad sounding album, it's just not what I'd expect from a SOIA album.

If you are a fan of Sick of It All there isn't any changes in the formula so you should be able to get into this like an old sweater. That in itself may be a bad thing though. I'm hoping for possibly a few curveballs next time around from these guys.

Silentium-Sufferion-Hamartia of Prudence
(Spikefarm/PHD, 2003)

I'm not sure what to think of this album. From what I can gather it's a concept album, with actors playing out the parts in between songs. It's interesting to hear original samples, yet at the same time, it's a bit too much for just a casual listen. You have to be paying a lot of attention. I have to be honest to, for how much I don't care for the musical style I don't want to pay a lot of attention, or any for that matter. If a doomy gothic concept album sounds appealing to you then by all means check this out. Fans of My Dying Bride may be able to get into this. It's a bit too much for this guy though.

Silverstein-When Broken is Easily Fixed
(Victory, 2003)

Even though I did know what to expect from this cd, I'm still completely blown away. Silverstien suceeds on so many levels that it's almost hard to believe. The band heavy moments are beyond heavy, with harsh vocals, and the melodic side features some of the best clean vocal lines I have heard in a long time. This style has almost become a bit predictable and trendy, but Silverstien will make you believe in what they are saying. You can tell they have gone through hell and back and now want you to listen about it.

I guess if you needed a comparison or a similar band, I'd say they sound like a more under control alexisonfire. They have the same melodic heavy riffing, but have more straight ahead pop/punk sounding sections and a much tighter and polished sound. Silverstein also uses a lot less screaming. Don't think they don't let loose a lot either, they scream quite a bit, but the songs are filled with great melodic sections. The clean vocals are totally what makes this band. Any band can have screaming, but these guys take the time to craft some very catchy, memorable vocal lines. It also doesn't hurt that the singer has a dynamite voice as well.

Another thing that I was really impressed with was the incredible lyrics. From start to finish, every song really says a lot and you'd be hard pressed to find at least one song on here you couldn't relate to. It's the type of stuff that can really hit home if you can relate to it. A lot of bands I listen to I hardly even pay attention to the lyrics, but even with the first listen of this cd I was reading along so I could absorb what they were saying.

This is a very interesting album visually. The album cover and artwork throughtout the entire release is unique and makes the album even more memorable. It's the type of cover that would totally grab your attention if you saw it at the record store. It's pretty different for this style of music as well. Most bands have covers that go all over the place, and this is almost comic book style art.

This one is definitely for fans of bands like Boys Night Out, A Static Lullaby, and Alexisonfire. They don't sound indentical to any of those bands, but I could definitely see fans of those bands being able to get into this album quite easily. This is one of the most honest and memorable albums I have heard in a long time.

Sinai Beach-When Breath Escapes
(Facedown, 2003)

I picked up this bands debut MCD on a whim that it might be good stuff. Well it was, but this is even better. Sinai Beach play breakdown filled hardcore mixed with equal parts metal. It’s almost like a combination of say Poison the Well, Hatebreed and Shai Hulud. They have breakdown riffs and clean vocal sections, faster more chug oriented riffing and some great fast melodic sections full of octave chords and more straight forward chord progressions. It’s definitely all over the place, but the band keeps things together.

I definitely think these guys are an original band though. The bands I listed as comparisons are mainly just reference points. The breakdowns and clean sections don’t really mimic Poison the Well, but it is similar. Same goes for the other bands. It does remind me of them, but it’s not blatant plagiarism at all. The way all of the influences comes together and the seemingly anything goes attitude of the band really helps make them sound unique. They even throw in some Swedish style riffs from time to time, but know when to lay back on them. They definitely don’t overdo it like a lot of bands do.

Breakdowns are a huge part of this bands sound. Each song has quite a few breakdown riffs. Some songs are built almost entirely around them. It could get a bit old with some bands, but the songwriting helps it work here. These guys have a knack for writing riffs full of little nuances that help them stand out. They actually seem to have a fairly technical approach to songwriting. Not in the sense of a band like Dillinger Escape Plan, but more so just due to the fact that the riffs aren’t just simple three note riffs. There is a lot of substance here. Granted, there is the odd vocal melody I didn’t like, but that’s pretty much the it as far as criticisms from me with the songwriting.

I think the production might hold this album back a bit. Actually more so just the drum sound. The snare volume seems to fluctuate quite a bit, and the snare itself just has a fairly flimsy sound to it. The band still remains tight though and I can’t really complain about the guitars, bass or vocals. The mix is a bit noisy at times, but they make it work. I’m curious to hear the band with a stronger production though.

For those of you into hardcore and metal there isn’t much for you to not like here. This band could appeal to such a wide range of people that it’s ridiculous and the fact that it doesn’t seemed forced makes it all the better. It’s varied hardcore played with passion and conviction. Sinai Beach will hopefully be around for a long time to come, and with their next album should become a force to be reckoned with.

Since by Man-We Sing the Body Electric
(Revelation, 2002)

As soon as you find out that Kurt Ballou has produced a band you pretty much know what to expect. Chances are the band is very noisy, chaotic and possibly similar to Kurt’s own band Converge. Since by Man has a few similarities to Converge, but are much more subdued and nowhere near as chaotic.

The band sound is almost like a combination of the Dischord sound and mathcore. It’s heavy at times, yet also very melodic at other times. The band’s songs are well written and very memorable, filled with lots of driving power chord riffs and memorable melodies. The band is never incredibly fast, and never gets too crazy. I can’t really think of any comparisons, because well, I can’t. They do remind me of other bands at times, but I can’t think of who it is.

The production fits the style perfectly and the packaging is well laid out and very artistic. The bands lyrics are quite out there at times, but they fit the music perfectly and I’m sure there is a method behind the madness.

It will probably take you a few spins to really get into this band, but once you get it you’ll be hooked!

Six Feet Under-Bringer of Blood (3 Song Sampler)
(Metal Blade, 2003)

It’s a funny thing in metal when people say they like a band but only the earliest material. With Six Feet Under I’d say that overused statement is pretty true. I still feel like Haunted was the best album they’ve released, and nothing to date has really topped that. This sampler of the new album doesn’t make me think that they’ll top it anytime soon either. It’s midpaced, pretty simple and catchy, but something just isn’t clicking on these new songs. I was fairly surprised by how weak Chris Barnes vocals are actually. He sounds like he’s losing his voice on these tracks. I’m not really into this much at all. If you have been a fan of every album that the band has released I’m sure you’ll be able to get into this. I guess I’m still waiting for Hauned Part 2.

Sixty Stories-Anthem Red
(smallman, 2003)


Sixty Stories are a power pop band from Winnipeg that offer up their full length debut in the form of Anthem Red. It took me awhile to figure out who I could compare this to. It was right on the tip of my tongue, but I couldn't figure it out. Finally, it just dawned on me. It's like a more pop/punk version of Weezer's Pinkerton album. A few songs could have been songs from that album. The bands style is catchy, full of simple riffs, great lyrics and a lot of energy.

This might not be exactly what you'd expect from smallman records, but it's definitely a nice addition to the roster. This band is fronted by a female, and the vocals are definitely one of the factors that draw you to this band. The vocal patterns are interesting as well, and the lyrics are very original for this style of music. One surprising thing about this band is the use of synths and keyboards. It almost gives the band a geek rock flair, which is definitely cool.

The production isn't great, but it's still pretty good. I think they would have benifited from a beefier guitar sound, and possibly just a more powerful sound in general. There's not much else to complain about though, it sounds good and everything is audible.

This band is catchy, powerful and emotional, with it's fair share of weird moments. It might take a few spins for you to get into, but you'll be hooked once you do get into it. Definitely a great album from a great Canadian band.

Small Town Tragedy-Demo
(Self Released, 2003)

This might be the first time that you hear the name Small Town Tragedy, but I’ll almost guarantee that it won’t be the last. These guys play hardcore music that is both hard hitting and extremely dissonant. I guess you could say it’s somewhat similar in style to bands like Converge, or possibly a slower version of The End.

Like I mentioned earlier dissonance is a big part of this bands sound. Even when they are playing in a cleaner tone, they utilize a lot of dissonance. The guitar riffing while distorted in insanely heavy, and features some of the quirkiest riffs I’ve ever heard. They seem to have a knack for being heavy, and dissonant, yet there is still an eerie melodic vibe running throughout the riffs as well. Breakdowns are also a big part of the bands sound as most of the songs are pretty mid paced. For a band in the demo stage these are some extremely well written songs. They have an incredible sense of urgency and really don’t waste any time with filler. They just write one killer riff after another annihilating whatever gets in their way.

These guys definitely have a good grasp on dynamics. They have a few quiet moments that really help give the music room to breath. There is even an almost jazzy sounding clean break in one of the songs that adds even more dynamics to the bands sound. For the most part this band is incredibly heavy, but the songs aren’t one dimensional at all.

This is a demo so the sound quality isn’t the greatest. It’s sufficient enough that you can hear what is going on and you can still totally hear what the band is all about. I’d love to hear them with a powerful production though. There is a lot of potential here, and in the hands of an experienced producer, these guys could sound amazing.

Like I mentioned earlier these guys remind me of Converge or possibly a slower version of The End. If you are into chaotic and dissonant hardcore, Small Town Tragedy are definitely a band to watch out for!

Snapcase-End Transmission
(Victory, 2003)

Snapcase seem to be one of those bands that people either love or hate. I've always found them to be one of the most original and interesting bands in the hardcore scene. Regardless of the current trends in hardcore, they have always remained pretty much the same band stylistically. Sure, they have progressed and they are writing better music then they have in a long time, but the core sound of the band hasn't changed much. You can rest assured that while Snapcase will get better with time, you don't have to worry about them turning into an emo band.

The opening track Coagulate is an amazing example of how effective the bands songwriting is these days. The song features catchy yet discordant riffs, simple structuring, and an amazingly catchy chorus. Snapcase are masters of writing mid-paced catchy and effective hardcore anthems. They have never been about speed, instead they have learned how to make the most out of slower rhythms. A lot of hardcore bands couldn't pull off playing mid-tempo most of the time. I love fast music, but 12 fast songs can get a bit old after awhile. You need something to break up the monotony.

This album is definitely the bands most diverse album to date. They back off on the distortion on a few of the songs, and crank out melodic songs that are possibly some of the most dynamic songs the hardcore genre has ever seen. The slower, more atmospheric songs are still heavy, but they show off a side of the band that has never really been seen before. I find the new found diversity in the bands material allows this to sound more like an album then just a collection of songs. I was a huge fan of the bands last album but I definitely felt that it lacked the cohesion that makes a collection of songs an album over just being a collection of songs.

I definitely like the look and layout of this album. It has an almost space look to it, and it really stands out when compared to other album covers the band has used. It's a lot less obvious and goes along with the bands new found love for atmosphere. It's essential the perfect window dressing for an already amazing listening experience.

Fans of Snapcase will hopefully be able to get into the experimenting the band has done on this record. It still definitely sounds like Snapcase, but they have definitely progressed a lot since their last album was released. It's the perfect amount of experimenting, it still sounds like Snapcase, yet you know they were trying new things. I'd love to see more bands trying to progress, you can only stand hearing the same album so many times.

Soilwork-Figure Number Five
(Nuclear Blast/PHD, 2003)

It seems like Soilwork felt the need to follow up Natural Born Chaos, with the exact same album. The band has constantly evolved with each release, but seem to have found a formula they liked with their last two albums. That formula being heavy riffs with hoarse vocals followed by melodic choruses with clean vocals. It's a style that people seem to be going apeshit over lately, and I'd be lying if I said I didn't find the album very catchy and infectious.

I still miss the speed and extremity of the earlier albums, but the band really has come into their own. You know when you're listening to Soilwork, and it's tough to find many bands in metal these days that are doing something even remotely interesting. It seems like the band has streamlined their sound even more with this new album. A lot of the excessive leads have been toned down and are much more emotional sounding. Even the riffing is more straightforward. It just makes for an even catchier and more memorable listen.

The main complaint I have with the bands new style is that they sometime use the same formula a bit too much. I like the constrasting vocal styles, but they could have broken up the formula a bit more. Not every song needs the clean chorus. It tends to get a bit old before the cd is over.

If you liked where the band was heading on their last album, you'll be able to get into this quite easily I'd say. After all, it does pretty much sound like it could have been recorded back to back with it.

Somehow Hollow-Busted Wings and Rusted Halos
(Victory Records, 2003)

You’ll probably hear a lot of people comparing this band to Grade. I guess it would make sense considering the 4 guys in this band were once replacement members of Grade, but when you listen to the music I really don’t hear much Grade. You hear hints here and there, but Somehow Hollow plays somewhat poppy punk without hardly any screaming craziness.

I was really surprised to find that the band these guys share the most with seems to be Millencollin. I especially hear it in the vocals, which is bare an almost uncanny resemblance to the Swedish pop punk band’s front man. Musically they share a bit with Millencollin, but a little less rock and roll and with a bit more melody. I also hear a lot of skate punk style riffing in a lot of the stuff. Not Suicidal Tendencies, but more towards what you’d expect from a lot of the Nitro/Fat/Epitaph bands. So basically throw together Millencollin, skate punk and throw in a bit of Grade and you have Somehow Hollow. Let me tell you it’s a fucking great combination.

I guess I should find something to bitch about. I guess the album could be a bit more varied, or possibly even a bit catchier at times. Then again the songs not being instantly memorable usually means they put a lot of thought into the songs and it’s usually worth listening multiple times to figure it all out and commit it to your brain.

I have to admit I’m a bit surprised to see this band signed to Victory, but I’m really happy to see the roster expanded to encompass every nock and cranny of the hardcore scene. If you are into Millencollen you’ll be able to get into this, fans of emo or skate should be able to get into this as well. Did I mention these guys are Canucks as well?

Spitafield-Remember Right Now
(Victory, 2003)

My first reactions to this album were definitely positive. At first I thought they sounded a bit too much like Jimmy Eat World, but after awhile you start to forget about the comparison. You realize that they do have their own sound, albeit, a Jimmy Eat World influenced one.

Spitafield are pretty much just a rock band. They don't really have any punk or hardcore to their sound. You won't find any tremendously heavy guitars, or any screaming. Spitafield is a fairly laid back band as far as the ferocity of the music goes. It's basically driving and catchy rock, with a flair for writing memorable songs. Choruses and vocal patterns will stick in your head long after the album has stopped spinning. But it won't stop spinning for long though. Once you get a taste of this band you always come back for more. I must have listened to this album about 10 times the first day I had it. It's one of those albums that just get better everytime you listen to it. You might miss something each listen, or find something new each time. It's a memorable and very enjoyable listen.

After the many times I listened to this before sitting down to write the review, I began to notice that this feels like a very complete and finished album. A lot of albums these days just feel like 10 or 12 songs slapped together in whatever order, but this album flows really well from start to finish. It's almost 40 minutes long but it sweeps you up and feels like it's over in no time at all. It's a very satisfying listen.

This one is definitely for fans of Jimmy Eat World, Gameface, and All American Rejects. I wouldn't be surprised at all if this band totally blows up because of this album. It's the type of rock that really appeals to people right now. It's honest, and extremely catchy, two things that all great rock bands are.

Stampin’ Ground/North Side Kings-Allied Forces
(Thorp, 2003)

I’m not sure if these songs have all appeared on other compilations or possibly tributes but I think the content for this split cd could have been a lot better. Essentially every song on here is a cover song. The bands definitely cover a lot of great bands and hardcore classics, but if someone hasn’t heard either of these bands before why would they want to pick up something that doesn’t feature any original material?

That said, I was definitely impressed with Stampin’ Ground. It’s tough to call these guys hardcore. After all they cover a Vio-lence song and pull it off with flying colors. This band is very, very heavy and supposedly their latest album is amazing. I haven’t heard it yet, but I’d recommend picking that disc up over this split cd if you want to hear what the band is all about. Aside from the Vio-lence cover, they also cover Judge, Cro-Mags, Inside Out, Knuckledust, and Agnostic Front.

The North Side Kings side of the split varies in quality. It opens with a pretty lackluster cover of SOD’s Fuck the Middle East. It’s not even a very good song to begin with, so I’m not even sure why they decided to cover it. It’s followed by what I think is the only original song on this cd. It’s not a bad song of raging hardcore, but the production leaves a lot to be desired. The best two covers they crank out are I’d Rather Be Sleeping by DRI, and I Want More by Suicidal Tendencies. You don’t really see bands cover these bands much, so it’s nice to see two of hardcores best getting some recognition. The North Side Kings side is rounded off with a cover of the A-Team theme and a Cro-Mags cover.

I can’t say that this is a bad cd, it’s definitely not, it just seems like these songs have all been available before. A few unreleased tracks, or some newer tracks from either band would have been a nice touch.

Stretch Armstrong-Engage
(Solid State, 2003)

Despite the fact that I've known about this band for a really long time, this is actually the first time I've had the pleasure of hearing their music. Stretch Armstrong are easily one of the best straight ahead hardcore bands around these days. When I say straight ahead, don't think that I'm talking about tough guy hardcore either. This is fast and furious, with a lot of breakdowns, but it's more similar to something you'd hear on an older NYHC release then something you'd hear on a Slayer album.

Stretch Armstrong have definitely written one hell of an album with Engage. The band has a varied musical approach which makes the album always interesting. They also tend to mix things up tempo wise. Not every song is a barn burner, so when they decide to kick up the tempo it makes it even more intense. The mid-tempo songs remind me quite a bit of Scratch The Surface era Sick of It All. That's definitely a good thing because I still consider that to be among the top two SOIA albums. They mix things up even more by throwing in some clean vocals, and almost pop punk sounding sections. It's just one of the many little things that make Stretch Armstrong an amazing band.

This is possibly the first hardcore release I have heard recorded at Big Blue Meenie studios. I've always been a fan of everything that has been recorded at the studio, it has a fairly unique sound regardless of what producer is behind the board. Just like everything recorded at the studio, this sounds amazing. I think the guitar sound is a bit digital sounding at times, but over all I have no complaints about the sound of the record.

If you are into hardcore, then you should be into Stretch Armstrong. This is one of the best albums that the hardcore scene has brought us in quite sometime. Be sure to check out the surprise at the end of the disc too. N.W.A. fans will be pleasantly surprised.

Strung Out-Live in a Dive
(Fat Wreck Chords, 2003)

I've been a pretty big fan of the Live in a Dive series since it first started. I think it's always a cool thing to get to hear some of your favorite bands in a live setting. Even if you have seen the band in person, it's still a little bit different to hear a live recording of the band. No two shows are the same, and bands don't always play everything exactly the same.

Strung Out are definitely a competent live band. They are tight and powerful, yet still have a youthful energy. They play with reckless abandonment, and plow through their fastest songs even faster then you'd expect to hear them. They lose a bit of tightness because of this, but I wouldn't have it any other way. The drummer is a maniac live. He pounds his kit with no remorse for the skins. Sure these guys are energetic on record, but live is another story entirely.

This live cd was recorded over two nights so you have a pretty wide selection of material. The 21 songs come from pretty much every release of the band, with an Ozzy cover thrown in for good measure. I've always enjoyed their cover of Bark at the Moon, so I was very happy to see that the band does indeed play the song live. The song selection is great, and every fan should find at least one or two of their favorite songs on here.

Sunn0)))-White2
(Southern Lord, 2004)


Hmmm....I didn't like what I heard from this band in the past, and that really hasn't changed with this album. The bands sound are long, drawn out, and to my ears just incredibly boring. I wouldn't say the band sucks or anything childish like that. I think it's more so just the fact that it's not a style that I'm into and possibly just something I don't understand. If you liked them in the past, and you're into the whole drone thing I'm sure you'd enjoy this album.

Southern Lord Records Website

Squirtgun-Fade to Bright
(Honest Don's, 2003)

Do you know those people that are just so happy and upbeat that you can't help but get in a better mood when you are around them? That's how I'd describe the music of Squirtgun. Even if you are having a bad day, put on some Squirtgun and a good mood is inevitable.

Squirtgun reminds me of Nerf Herder quite a bit, just not as geeky and a bit more punky. You can expect a lot of melodic power chord driving riffing and heartfellt singing, all backed by a very energetic and upbeat rhthym section. I'd say that most of the music is fairly mid-tempo, but they do crank up the tempo every now and again. Don't take that the wrong way, this band isn't really about speed, and they are more a rock band then anything. If you want comparisons think The Ramones jamming Nerf Herder songs. I definitely hear a lot of both bands. I could also see fans of The Ataris being able to get into this as well. It has a lot in common with thier earlier stuff.

Lyrically this band sings about typical things but the lyrics aren't typical. Anyone can write a song about a relationship, but with so many songs tackling the subject it's tough to do anything somewhat different. These guys don't really fall into the lyrical traps that usually surround the pop/punk genre. They have intenlligent lyrics that never even come close to being childish. They may play with a youthful exuberance, but these lyrics don't seem like they were written by an 8 year old.

I can definitely see myself listening to this one quite a bit. If you were a fan of Squirtgun in the past you'll be doing yourself a favour by checking out this new cd. If you don't know who Squirtgun is, I think it's about time you found out.

Subhumans-Live in A Dive
(Fat Wreck Chords, 2004)

To say I was surprised to see a live cd from the Subhumans show up in my mailbox would be a bit of an understatement. I had no idea that the band had reformed, but it’s definitely a good day for punk music to have these guys back in action.

I’m assuming this might have been the bands first show back together and it’s not the tightest set I’ve ever heard, but then again this is raucous and energetic punk music. It’s never been about a clean and polished approach to playing. It’s as tight as it needs to be yet still a very energetic performance comes across.

The band plows through 26 songs so chances are there will be many of your favorites on here. From what I’ve heard from these guys in the past I was expecting a lot of fast stuff, but a lot of stuff is surprisingly mid paced and rather poppy. I’ll be honest that I’m not extremely familiar with their entire catalog, but this cd definitely makes me want to check out some more stuff.

If you are a fan of the Subhumans music you’ll definitely want to grab this live cd. The band is supposedly writing new material to release a new album, so the band is definitely back together, and for all of the right reasons it seems. With so many bands getting back together for the wrong reasons, it’s about time an amazing band got back together for the right reasons.

Symphony in Peril-Lost Memoirs and Faded Pictures
(Facedown, 2004)

I’ve always thought to myself that it was a bit strange that Coalesce’s influence has never really shown up anywhere. Until now that is. Symphony in Peril take a bit of the Coalesce dissonant hardcore sound, throw in a bit of melody and streamlined songwriting and come out sounding like Symphony in Peril.

This is one of the few bands that manages to be chaotic and noisy yet really keeps thing together. The riffs are mainly mid-tempo but when they speed up they get pretty damned fast. We’re talking blast beat territory here. Breakdown riffs seem to explode out of nowhere into chaotic blast beats and then back into slower tempos. The songs are all over the map but they stay together and flow. There is even some melodic sections, which aren’t overly common, but they definitely help break up the songs.

I think that the vocals are one of the main reasons why I’m digging this as much as I do. The singer if you hadn’t already heard is the original singer from Zao. So he’s no slouch. I was actually pretty surprised by how much the vocals sounded like the singer from Coalesce. The singer said in an interview I did with him that the singer from Coalesce was one of his main inspirations. The thick growled vocal style really fits the style of music if you ask me. There are also some higher registered screams every now and then. I was pretty happy to not hear any clean vocals. If done well I like it, but it just seems far too overdone these days.

I would also have to say that lyrically a lot of the themes are a bit different. You won’t have to hear the same old tired relationship cliches one more time here. To be honest, you’ll definitely need the lyrics sheet when trying to decipher the vocals. He definitely didn’t make it easy on us!

For a band to come out with a debut album this good is astounding! I can’t wait to hear what the band comes out with next to follow this up with. Symphony in Peril will hopefully be a name you’ll hear about for years to come.

Swarm of the Lotus-When White Becomes Black
(At A Loss, 2003)

I had no idea what to expect from this band, but I am absolutely floored. SOTL play harsh and noisy music that meets somewhere between metal, hardcore and noiscore. It would be easy to compare these guys to Neurosis, but that’s selling them sort as they are actually quite unique for the style of music they play.

From whisper quiet to earth shatteringly heavy Swarm of the Lotus pretty much hit you from every angle possible. For the most part it’s incredibly heavy, with lots of tempo changes and stuttering rhythms. It’s actually quite surprising that they songs slow so well for this style. A lot of bands trying to do this much fall flat on their faces. SOTL somehow manages to keep it all together and the result is one hell of a memorable and musically exciting album.

The band employs a great use of dissonance. Some bands seem to throw it in just for the sake of making the music sound technical, but for these guys it really works into the context of the songs. Some of the riffs have no dissonace, which serves as a nice contrast to the more wild and out of control riffing that usual follows. There are even some excellent groove oriented passages as well. The riffing is still heavy and noisy but they drummer gets the chance to lay down more of a standard beat then usual. It’s a little nice that adds a lot to the music

The production is flat out amazing. It’s very live sounding and also very analog sounding. It’s actually a bit harsh, but it totally conveys the style and emotion of the bands music. For music this apocalyptic and devastating you need a production like this, a digital and precise sound just wouldn’t fit. The guitars are loud and in your face, every last drum beats is heard and the vocal shrieks are easily heard overtop. It’s the ideal production for this great album.

This one is definitely for fans of Meatjack and Neurosis. Possibly even fans of Dillinger Escape Plan would be able to get into this. As far as heavy and interesting music goes, I haven’t heard anything that can quite top this band lately.

Sworn Enemy-As Real As it Gets
(Elektra, 2003)

As far as straight ahead hardcore goes, I've grown a little bit away from it lately. Sure, I still listen to all of my old favorites but there aren't many new bands that keep my interest. Well, Sworn Enemy not only keep my interest but demand it. They have enough energy and conviction to grab you by the throat and they won't let go until you are breathless from the beating.

If you need comparisons, you could say these guys sound like Sick of It All meets Hatebreed, with some Slayer thrown in for good measure. So basically it's New York style hardcore with a lot of metal thrown into the mix. It's a damn fine combination too. The band easily switches between almost thrash sounding riffs to some of the heaviest breakdown riffs I have ever heard. They even have some very Slayer-esque solos, most noticably in the second song "One Way Trip" which shows the most Slayer influence on the entire album.

The tempo never gets to the point of being blistering. Sure, they have their fast moments, but for the most part this is fairly mid-tempo. I usually find myself becoming bored with hardcore bands that don't mainly play fast, but these guys are able to keep things interesting at slower tempos. I think this is where the Hatebreed influence comes in. I've always loved Hatebreed's fast song, but they had interesting slower songs as well.

The singer in this band must have one hell of a sore throat after barking out these tunes live. Hardcore singers have always been known to scream, but this guy takes the acidic throat mangling to new heights. He has a higher voice, and it suits the music perfectly. I'd definitely say that he has a very unique sounding voice as well, which is one of the main things that makes Sworn Enemy stand out in the current hardcore scene.

As far as New York style hardcore goes these days, it doesn't get much better then this. I like the direction hardcore has been going with the multi-genre influences coming into play, but it's nice to hear a band rip through ten songs of the tried and true hardcore formula.