Chunk! No, Captain Chunk! – Pardon My French – Review

It has become normal procedure to drop an infinite number of heavy insults on bands that choose to subject listeners to awful and obscure band names. And being such a unique example, Chunk! No Captain Chunk! would normally be included in our daily critical word stoning.  On the other hand, it isn’t everyday that you meet a French pop-punk band with such flair and musical variety making such a splash here in the states. After the growing success from the release of this Goonies-loving band’s self-titled EP and the eventual self-produced full-length “Something For Nothing” the band had already toured around the US and caught the attention of Fearless Records for their new record. Choosing the legendary producer, Joey Sturgis (The Devil Wears Prada, Attila, We Came As Romans), the group’s sophomore release “Pardon My French” is aimed to take the scene by storm with a focus on both melody and hardcore elements. read more

Fallstar – Backdraft – Review

Starting in 2007 with Fallstar‘s inception, the band learned early on how to fend for themselves. After the self-release of their EP “ Your Eyes Don’t Lie” and their full-length “Reconciler. Refiner. Igniter.,” two things became very clear. It seems the Portland, OR post-hardcore five-piece both love touring in a tiny van, and they love the touring company of bands from labels like Tooth & Nail, Solid State, and ANGR. It was no surprise to me then that FS, and their affinity for jesus well animated lyric videos (and for working with engineers and producers that have works albums for bands like Underoath, The Devil Wears Prada, and A Home For Hope), were suddenly signed to Hardcore’s holier than tho label, Facedown Records. With this first record deal, Fallstar has teamed up with renowned post-hardcore engineer/producer Kris Crummett (Alesana, Dance Gavin Dance, Sleeping With Sirens) to release their new full-length “Backdraft.“  read more

Bring Me The Horizon – Sempiternal – Review

The last time we checked in with the Sheffield, UK metalcore five-piece, Bring Me The Horizon, it was when we were discussing the band’s love of laughably long album titles, as well as their increasingly progressive direction with keys and effects in their efforts. With “There Is A Hell, Believe Me I’ve Seen It. There Is A Heaven, Let’s Keep It A Secret,” the band brought us waves of heightened technicality and crashing riffs to contrast the sampled orchestrals, as they solidified their peer status with groups like The Devil Wears Prada, Suicide Silence, and even Underoath. Three years later, Oli and company has progressed both in sound and message, using their new record “Sempiternal” as a christening of the band tapping into several new veins of inspiration and influence. The most noticeable of which is a more subdued sound on the whole, and a much more direct target at certain subjects. read more

Old Man Markley – Down Side Up – Review

While BOMR was never formally introduced to Old Man Markley when their 2011 album “Gut’s N Teeth” was released, we did take special notice of the seven-piece bluegrass/punk ensemble when their single “For Better For Worse” was chosen as the opening track of Fat Wreck Chords‘ “Fat Music Vol. 7.” Since then, this optimistic group of guitar, autoharp, fiddle, and washboard players have been touring their dixie-loving hearts out, with little time to spare. With the little time they did have, they recorded their sophomore record “Down Side Up.” The band did this with the help of Fat Mike himself, claiming that this record was written and recorded with expressive creative freedom exclusively in mind. read more

Dreamshade – The Gift Of Life – Review

It seems as though there has been a noticeable lack of easy-to-digest melodic death metal for my ears as of late. While every listener in the hardcore spectrum is on their hands and knees praising the latest releases from hardcore pioneers Hatebreed and Converge, (both of which are as properly masterful as they are intimidating), it has become harder and harder to distinguish new death metal talent from the hording masses of clashing garbage. What we have here then is the radar-avoidant, Swiss, five-piece,  Dreamshade. Not really known for energetic death metal, Switzerland proves to be a  peculiar beginning point for this act, but after a previous successful full-length released in 2011 and an EP (2008) before that, the bands latest record “The Gift Of Life” has had those with keen ears, ready to jump on them as one of the more eclectic and talented musicians out, despite all appearances.
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Masked Intruder – Masked Intruder – Review

To the uninitiated it might of seemed as though the Adult Swim show Delocated has sprouted legs and started a band in Wisconsin. Thankfully that is not the case because that show is a bore. Thankfully in this case, this four-piece is very invigorating. Masked Intruder‘s debut self-titled record first had me wondering “Annie, are you ok?” But as I listened to the quirky punk and thoughtfully smooth vocals, it began to grow on me like a thick snow fall in a cold WI winter. So when our resident punk stalwarts at Fat Wreck Chords (who actually release music for the sake of quality and not “how many records sold”) chose to re-release MI’s new album only a few months after it was originally put on store shelves, I was elated that these colorful pranksters were getting the attention and distribution that they deserved. read more

Hatebreed – The Purpose Of Divinity – Review

A lot can be said about Hatebreed front-man Jamey Jasta. The first thing that comes to mind surrounds his hilariously tepid performances on MTV’s Headbanger’s Ball, but most listener’s first thoughts would of course involve him leading the reigns of one of the most consistent and no-compromise hardcore acts still in existence (I’m partial to Converge, but who’s counting). So while the last time Hatebreed had really stepped out and grabbed my attention was during the band’s early “Perseverance” days, it was exhilarating to see that the CT hardcore/metalcore five-piece hadn’t lost a step, and may have gained a few with the release of their all new full-length “The Purpose Of Divinity.” read more

Mine – Mine EP – Mini Review

So I realize I am super late on this and its mainly my time mismanagement, but here goes nothing.  I came across Mine and was given one of their tapes of their self titled album that came out late October of last year.  The album is four tracks and about 15 minutes long.  I knew it featured ex members of Hang the Bastard so honestly i expected something slightly different but i was pleasantly surprised.  It is a really solid mix of genres that remind me of like an Explosions in the Sky a lot of melody and ambiance mixed together with a great ebb and flow.  I kinda wish that their was a tad more diversity in the overall sound but the recording quality is great and the arrangements are pretty solid.  I’m not the biggest fan of the more screamo like vocals but it kinda works with melodic and arty brand of hardcore coming out of the stereo.  My favorite song is Back Seats.  I really enjoyed the debut I just wish their was a little more variance in tempos and tones because it took me quite a few listens to really tell songs apart.  I hope Mine puts out some more tunes and grows even more because this is a really great start. [James Terry]

Score: 3.75 (out of 5)

Release Date: September 2nd, 2012
Record Label: Holy Roar Records
Genre: Experimental Hardcore
RIYL: Explosions In The Sky, Mars Volta, Hang The Bastard

Track Listing:
1. Crossed Out
2. What Kind Of Bird Are You?
3. Hidden In Drawers
4. Back Seats

Less Than Jake – Greetings And Salutations – Review

Less Than Jake has been making a habit of releasing one-off EPs for pretty much their entire musical career, most recently the two releases, “Greetings from Less Than Jake,” and the follow-up, “Seasons Greetings from Less Than Jake.” Apparently the group has now fallen into the category of bands that release full-length albums made entirely of songs from prior EPs; namely the two mentioned above. But seeing as the songs that are featured on “Greetings And Salutations From Less Than Jake” were written in 1996 and kept in a secretive LTJ time-capsule until their were recently rerecorded, I guess we can cut them some slack; especially since they haven’t put out a traditional quality full-length since 1996′s “Losing Streak.” Ok ok, so their semi-recent 2006 release “In With The Out Crowd” was pretty good, but don’t let anyone hear we said that. We could lose our 90′s punk rock credentials. read more

Woe, Is Me – Genesi[s] – Review

As we close the book on another productive metalcore year, we take in a late entry from the Atlanta, GA six-piece metalcore band Woe, Is Me. After the bands successful fan base growth, due to an extensive array of touring and the release of their debut album “Number[s]” in 2010, the band fell upon some rocky times with the exodus and replacing of several key members (ie. clean singer: Tyler Carter -> Hance Alligood, and unclean vocals: Michael Bohn -> Doriano Magliano) as well as most of their guitarists. The difference then for their 2012 full-length, aptly titled “Genesi[s],” would be immediately noticeable and come as a sweeping change in sound since only their drummer Austin Thornton and rhythm guitarist Kevin Hanson remained from the founding group. read more