Spotlight - October 10, 2008

Unearth, Protest the Hero, The Acacia Strain, Whitechapel, Gwen Stacy

Gothic Theater, Denver, CO

The following is a recap of the show:

We arrived a little past the show start time, but I was a bit surprised that Gwen Stacy had already played. The show was listed as a 7:30 start and apparently it started early or the band only played for ten minutes. Either way, I can’t comment on what we missed, so I guess it’s on to what we did see.

The first band of the night (for us) was Whitechapel. Hailing from Knoxville, the sextet delivered their punishing brand of deathcore with energy, but did little for me. I am not much of a fan of the genre, so it’s hard for me to get into the band. The three guitarist approach certainly gives the band the ability to make things heavy and fast, but the lack of flow to the music is frustrating. It’s like speed bumps on a racetrack.

Next was the Acacia Strain. Vocalist Vincent Bennett is one of the more entertaining front men in metal. His energy is constant and he conveys the passion of the bands music on stage very well. Also impressing me was the band’s sound, despite the fact they tour with only one guitarist (and record with 3). Obviously, some of the depth of songs is sacrificed by this approach, but nevertheless, the band was solid. Their mix of older material and a few songs (“Skynet”, “Dr. Doom”) from their latest release, Continent, was well received.

Protest the Hero is one of those bands that people either love or hate. I, for one, love this band. The depth, technicality, and uniqueness of the band’s sound are something that the metal world needs. The fact that they don’t really care what other people think only helps the effectiveness of the band. Their set flowed well with offerings from Kezia and Fortress. Highlights included “No Stars over Bethlehem” and “Bloodmeat”. Every time I see this band, the more impressed I am with their musical abilities.

The headliner was Unearth. Supporting their recent album, The March, the band is as strong as ever. This was, hands down, the best set of the night. And I would venture to say, one of the best Unearth performances I’ve seen. Especially in the last 3 or 4 years. The band blistered through “Endless” and “This Lying World” before taking so much as a breath. The energy and power conveyed in their set is something that cannot be described, it has to be felt. There are countless reasons that I think this band is the best in the business, but shows like this only further my point. My only complaint was the overuse of the strobe lights, but that was offset by the guitarists taking turns with a beer bong. The band mixed in “My Will Be Done” and “Crow Killer” from the new record, as well as the staples “Giles”, “The Great Dividers”, and “My Desire” before ending with “Black Hearts Now Reign.” It was an excellent end to good show. I feel sorry for anyone who missed their set.

Spotlight—Meet Me in St. Louis

Sunrise and sunset. Alpha and omega. The beginning and the end.

It’s amazing how some things are gone before you get to appreciate them.

The previous posting I made about the “silent war” on creative hard music was inspired by the band Meet Me in St. Louis. Instead of celebrating a newfound discovery, I’m contemplating a menagerie of “what ifs.” Like so many other creative hard bands, Meet Me in St. Louis broke up without realizing their potential. This break-up served as my personal tipping point.

I’m not going to reiterate what I’ve already said. I will, however, highlight the amazing music this group of individuals made.

So consider this a posthumous edition of Spotlight.

Meet Me in St. Louis was an example of how groundbreaking post-hardcore could still be unearthed, like a nugget of musical gold at the base of a muddy river of blandness and mediocrity. I found out about the English band through my flirtations with Secondsmile and the also-defunct Jairus. The three bands are on the British label Big Scary Monsters. Meet Me in St. Louis had a distinct sound—employing complex time signatures with frenetic guitar work and meandering bass lines. Think post-mathcore.

Borrowing a line from an earlier review I did for a Hot Cross album, Meet Me in St. Louis’ music is an academic listen. But the band still managed to create an approachable sound.

I had been planning to write about the group on BST but never got around to it. Unfortunately, my first article about them will probably be my last. Yet, it’s important to appreciate what Meet Me in St. Louis accomplished during their short lifespan. At least the guys chose to end their experiment quickly instead of picking the popular option—bringing in new band members and risking the complete bastardization of their music.

For now, appreciate the work of Meet Me in St. Louis by watching the video below and by clicking here.

Good luck chaps.

Meet Me in St. Louis—All We Need is a Little Bit of Energon and a Lot of Luck

Spotlight - April 8, 2008

So I've been listening to a lot of local bands that I was into during high school, and it got me thinking, why don't I spotlight a few of the more recent projects from members of those past favorites?

Below you will find a trio of bands that contain members of past local bands Pinhead Circus, Qualm, The Facet, and Shogun (to name a few).

Rob's Spotlight for April 8, 2008:

• Only Thunder - Back and Forth
  • Solid, melodic, and just a great listen. These guys are in the studio recording their first full length right now and I for one, can't wait.
    
• Mustangs and Madras - TB TAFY
  • Unique band. The music has great flow and really grabs the listener. There's nothing wrong with the water north of Denver.
    
• Love Me Destroyer - Like White Noise
  • The most established of these bands. I won't call it poppy, but it is definitely catchy (just like Pinhead Circus). These guys are fun to listen to.

Until next time, keep rockin'.

Spotlight - March 5, 2008

Following Eddy's lead, here's some stuff I've been listening to lately. New, old, and everywhere in between.

A new window will open when you click on a song. Look for the title on the playlist, and come back here.

It's purely coincidence that 4 out of 6 start with "D". Funny how things work out like that...

Rob's Spotlight for March 5, 2008:

• Dead Hearts—Fall
  • Melodic hardcore. Very similar to Hope Conspiracy. This whole album is excellent.
• Defiance, Ohio-The Condition
  • Hard to describe this one. Has some similarities to Rumbleseat or maybe Against Me! Acoustic, random instruments, a good change of pace. FYI, you can download every song this band has from their website.
• The Draft—Devil in the Shade
  • Actually, listen to all of the songs, not just one. 3/4's of Hot Water Music. Chris' vocals go down a little easier than Chuck's, which makes their sound a little more melodic than HWM. If HWM never put out another record (they recently released a B-sides in case you don't know), I'd still die happy if these guys are.
• Drop Dead, Gorgeous—It Sounded Like an Accident
  • Local band. All of the songs are a good listen. They aren't re-inventing the wheel or anything, but their songs have decent melody and don't overdue the singing or screaming.
• Lifetime—Airport Monday Morning
  • Who's Lifetime? Get out from under your rock, go buy everything this band has released and get back to me. The new stuff might not be as amazing as Hello Bastards or Jersey's Best Dancers, but it's still catchy and melodic.
• Memphis May Fire-Cowbell's Making a Comeback
  • Alright, it's Trustkill, it's cliche, but it's not that bad. Okay, maybe it is and it's certainly not groundbreaking, but I've heard a lot worse lately. Granted I can see these guys being the next Atreyu or Hawthorne Heights, it might be worth your listen. Too bad it sounds like it was recorded inside the closet, of a basement, next to a highway...

Keep rockin'.

Spotlight—March 2, 2008

Those of you may remember the spotlight mp3s on the old site. Well, this is the new version, entitled Spotlight. The concept's not much different this time around. It's just a little more fleshed out. We're still sharing our favorite music. And with our new format, we can spotlight mp3s, videos, and other media. We'll structure our Spotlight posts however we see fit.

So on with the show.

We have to go with links, since we can't embed the music in this situation. A new window will open when you click on a song. Look for the title on the playlist, and come back here. Play while you peruse.

Eddy Mo's Spotlight for March 2, 2008:

• Above this Fire—Everything at Once
  • Great driving hardcore. If only the singer wasn't so monotone. Still, definitely worth a listen.
• August Burns Red—Composure
  • Amazing technical metalcore. Impressive musicianship and unexpected nuances throughout.
• Damiera—M(US)IC
  • I love this kind of sound. Spine tingling guitars and catchy melodies. An apropos break from the heaviness.
• Mikoto—Tired of Me
  • Featuring ex-Taken frontman Ray Harkins, his latest project doesn't even come close. But hey, it's still good. Listen for the devastating breakdown at the end.
• Secondsmile—Aspen Fears
  • Still can't get over the fact these guys mellowed out. Their talent, however, is unquestionable.
• Shai Hulud—Bear the Brunt of Many Blades
  • New Shai Hulud. Well, sort of (this is a 2006 demo). Apparently, this song will be on the new album. Enough talk, it's Shai Hulud. Go listen.

Here's to good music.

Spotlight: Protest the Hero

bst spotlight band. Need something refreshing? How about something from Canada? How about both? Try Ontario's Protest the Hero. The band is powerful and melodic. Their music is strong and meaningful. Check them out on this year's Warped Tour. For more info about the band, follow the links below. protest the hero official website listen to protest the hero vagrant records

Spotlight: All That Remains

bst spotlight band. Looking for a band that makes your ears bleed but keeps you begging for more? How about Massachusetts' All That Remains? Vocalist Philip Labonte says "I think it is safe to say that All That Remains is a metalcore band." The band's diverse offering of metalcore is best exhibited on their latest album, This Darkened Heart. Blast beats, breakdowns, singing, you name it, it's all here. The band will be heading out over the summer as part of the Sounds of the Underground tour. For more info about the band, follow the links below. all that remains official website listen to all that remains prosthetic records

Spotlight: Alexisonfire

bst spotlight band. Forget Labatt Blue... this is Canada's finest. Alexisonfire bridges the gap between emo and hardcore in way that cannot be described. Their songs are unique and powerful, leaving the listener begging for more. The band's self-titled full length pushed the band into the spotlight. After constant touring, the band's follow-up album, Watch Out will be released in the US on 06/29/2004. If you haven't had the chance to hear this band or see them live, make sure to put that at the top of your to do list. alexisonfire official website listen to alexisonfire equal vision records

Spotlight: Fear Before the March of Flames

bst spotlight band. For those of you who haven't been introduced to Fear Before the March of Flames, you are missing out. The four piece from Denver, CO is quickly making a name for themselves. Recently signing to Equal Vision Records after a short stint with Rise Records, the band has one full length under their belt and are working on their next. Equal Vision will be re-releasing their previous release, Odd How People Shake later this year. The band combines elements of hardcore and screamo and reminds me a lot of Norma Jean. An energetic live show makes the band even more entertaining. To check them out, go here. fear before the march of flames official website listen to fear before the march of flames equal vision records

Spotlight: Across Five Aprils

bst spotlight band. Across Five Aprils? Isn't that the name of a book? Well, congratulations to the literary experts, but this doesn't concern that. Forming in the later part of 2001, Tennessee's Across Five Aprils has burst onto the melodic hardcore scene with authority. With the release of the band's new CD, A Tragedy in Progress, the band has really started to make a name for themselves. Combining elements of hardcore, emo, and even a little metal, the band is quite diverse and yet has some of the most amazing melodies to grace the hardcore scene. The new album captures their energy perfectly. Their songs are full of heartfelt lyrics and emotion. Across Five Aprils has mastered the art of transitioning between genres and gives listener's a roller-coaster effect without compromising melody. The diversity of their music makes the band a desirable listen for fans of many styles of music. To visit the band's website, go here. across five aprils official website listen to across five aprils indianola records

Spotlight: A Static Lullaby

bst spotlight band. A Static Lullaby hails from Orange County, CA. Unlike the majority of the bands coming from that scene, they play melodic, heartfelt hardcore. The sound is similar to Grade, but with aspects of everything from Thursday to Poison the Well. In September of 2002, the band was signed to the east coast hardcore label Ferret Records. The band will be releasing their first full length album, …And Don’t Forget to Breathe, in late January of 2003. Their only previous release, an EP, Withered, contains energetic and creative music that separates the band from most bands in hardcore today. The band has been selected to tour with From Autumn to Ashes, Unearth, and The Hope Conspiracy this winter. a static lullaby official website listen to a static lullaby

Spotlight: My Chemical Romance

bst spotlight band. Having only been around for about a year, My Chemical Romance burst into the punk/emo scene with their first release, I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love, on Eyeball Records. This is the same label that released Thursday’s first album, Waiting. MCR combines fast-paced melodies with heartfelt vocals, creating a distinct sound all their own. Lyrically the band writes somewhat twisted love songs encompassing lyrics such as “These hands stained red, from the times I’ve killed you and then we can wash down this engagement ring with poison and kerosene.” Musically, the band combines everything from simple punk melodies to intricate harmonies and even the occasional sing-along. All in all, the band is nice change of pace from typical emo and hardcore bands and doesn’t bore the listener like a generic punk band. Check them out at: http://www.mychemicalromance.com. my chemical romance official website listen to my chemical romance

Spotlight: The Hope Conspiracy

bst spotlight band. The Hope Conspiracy is five piece hardcore outfit that took the hardcore world by storm when it formed in late 1999. They released a 7” in early 2000 and have taken off since then. Their first full length, Code Blue, was released on Equal Vision Records in October of 2000. The band states that they were “still finding their style” at the time of this recording. About a year later, they released a six song EP called File 03, and began to define their style. Which leads us to today… their second full length, Endnote, is one of the most anticipated releases of the year. Code Blue was a new direction for hardcore, with amazing guitar work, crisp vocals. After hearing the EP, and if anyone has ever seen this band live, you would understand why in less than two years, The Hope Conspiracy has become one of hardcore’s biggest names. They fill the stage with energy that doesn’t stop from start to finish and they entertain the crowd better than half the bands that exist today. For those that haven’t heard this band, you are missing out on a new perspective on hardcore. Check out the band's website and Equal Vision Records for more information and some mp3’s. the hope conspiracy official website