Review: 100 Demons - Self-Titled

artist: 100 demons album: self-titled label: deathwish inc. released: by: rob tatum I had never actually heard 100 Demons prior to popping this CD into my player. I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised. The second full length from this Connecticut hardcore band is full of energy and passion. This isn’t the typical band that I would enjoy, but I can’t help but sing along to the songs on this album. The best way I can describe 100 Demon’s music is to compare them to a more hardcore oriented Killswitch Engage. There is more emphasis on breakdowns and sing alongs than a KsE release, but the talent is still here. The occasional metal riff will ring in from time to time, but not often enough to be considered a metalcore release. The absence of clichéd melodic breakdowns from this album really makes it a more complete album. This is straight up, energetic hardcore. Vocalist Pete Morcey carries a deep voice that bellows from within. His voice fits the style of music very well. As I mentioned before, you really can’t help but sing along. The album is filled with angry, passionate lyrics ranging from personal angst to fiery attacks. Some of the songs hit close to home and that may be why I enjoyed this album as much as I did. This is rock solid hardcore album. I wish I had gotten into 100 Demons before now because this album is a great listen. I look forward to what this band will offer up on its next release and hopefully they can match the intensity of this album. favorite song: "his father's son" rating: 86%/100% listen to 100 demons

Review: Burnthe8Track - The Ocean

artist: burnthe8track album: the ocean label: abacus recordings released: may 2004 by: rob tatum One of the most refreshing things in music today is when bands stray away from just one genre and play whatever they feel. The best way to describe Burnthe8track’s sound may be to not describe it at all. The Ocean carries elements from emo, punk, rock, and everything in between. It’s almost impossible to pin-point the band’s sound and that really helped win this listener over. I wouldn’t necessarily say that Burnthe8track has broken down barriers or anything that drastic, but they have dipped a little from a variety of genres to pull together a very definitive sound. At times I hear Jawbreaker, then I hear Small Brown Bike, then maybe some Brand New, and finally topped off with some Thursday. It’s really a roller coaster of sounds that makes The Ocean a fun listen. If I had to generalize the band’s sound, I would say it’s poppy, but not in that watered down, irritating way that most bands are. The musicianship on this album is much more dynamic than anything ever released by a pop band. The band doesn’t lull you to sleep like and emo band and they don’t bore you with repetitive beats like a punk band. Derek Kun’s vocals are equally as hard to describe. His voice is much scratchier than any pop or emo singer, but his voice is much higher than any hardcore or punk singer. It’s a nice combination with the style of music that Burnthe8track plays. The melodic riffs pounding from guitarist Jason Kun and bassist Mike Goreski make for a great flow to this album. The backing vocals from Jason and drummer Sam Oslund create some interesting vocal overlays. This album rocks. It takes the listener on a journey through many genres and never gets boring. Fans of almost anything can find something good in this album. It’s a great debut and I can only hope for more from this band. favorite song: "buried beneath us" rating: 90%/100% listen to burnthe8track

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

Review: Glass Casket - We Are Gathered Here Today...

artist: glass casket album: we are gathered here today... label: abacus recordings released: february 2004 by: rob tatum I don’t think that I have really heard many technical metalcore bands that I can tolerate outside of Botch and the Dillinger Escape Plan, but I have to say that Glass Casket is breath of fresh air on the genre. We are gathered here today… is a decent effort from this up and coming North Carolina band and should definitely draw some attention to the band. For those of you who are into this genre, this is something you need to check out, and if you have never gotten into this sort of music, this is a good way to start out. From the onset, this album punishes your ear drums with blistering riffs and blast beats. Normally that is something that turns me away, but Glass Casket pulls it off really well and the songs are tied together nicely. The problem I usually have with this genre of music is that the songs are too chaotic and hard to follow, but that’s not the case with this album. If it’s possible for songs from this genre to flow, then it happens on this record. Aside form the fast-paced parts of the album, the band exhibits quality musicianship and a great deal of energy in their music. Vocalist Adam Cody’s voice reminds me a lot of Tommy from Between the Buried and Me, but maybe with a little more emphasis on the hardcore vocals and less on the death metal stuff. The songs are fairly well organized and easier to follow than most bands playing this style of music. To be honest, I didn’t mind listening to this record. That’s saying a lot because I normally would toss albums from this genre to the side. It’s consistent from start to finish and although it runs together at times, it keeps the listener entertained. If Glass Casket can continue to put together efforts such as this, there should only be good things in store for them. favorite song: "chew your fingers" rating: 83%/100% listen to glass casket

Review: Skare Tactic - Remember When

artist: skare tactic album: remember when label: thorp records released: by: rob tatum There really are a lot of bands out there that play generic old school hardcore. Skare Tactic is exactly one of those bands. It’s not necessarily a bad thing, but there’s really nothing special about this album. It’s got energy, passionate lyrics, and breakdowns, but then again, so does every other album from this genre. I don’t want to pick on Skare Tactic because the band pulls off what they wanted with this album. Remember When is fast-paced from start to finish. Keith Boyle shouts out angry, heartfelt lyrics. The band backs him up with typical breakdowns and blastbeats. The problem is that there is nothing new brought to the table. The album runs together and bores the hell out of me. I’m sure I have mentioned before that this isn’t my genre, and I don’t mean to attack the bands that play this style of music, but I really have trouble giving them a lot of praise. I know that they work hard just like any other band out there, but the lack of innovation pulls them down. Not to mention, the fact that this album is 11 songs long, but there are 27 tracks and 15 of them are just four seconds of silence is enough to really irritate me. favorite song: "collapse" rating: 70%/100% listen to skare tactic

Review: Secondsmile - I Am Not Romeo; You Are Not Juliet

artist: secondsmile album: i am not romeo; you are not juliet label: big scary monsters released: 4/10/04 (europe) by: eduardo moutinho Seriously, I have become disillusioned with the overwhelming presence of the MTV/Fuse-fueled dilution machine in our underground music scene. It seems that every band that’s coming out and joining a well-known independent label has some sort of agenda. Plus, great bands are changing their sound to join in on the money cock sucking. Yeah, you read that correctly. Most bands don’t seem to be making music for fun anymore. Rather, the more and more I listen to new bands that are coming out, I can see the music playing in the background of an episode of Real World/Road Rules Challenge. Shoot me in the head, please… The passion is fading away from our scene. More importantly, the music is losing its identity. For every Jairus that emerges, a dozen Hawthorne Heightses seem to follow. I felt such a rant was appropriate as a segue into this review. Good music is still out there. Yet, with exception to The Fall of Troy, the best band I have listened to since Jairus happens to also be from the United Kingdom, not the United States. This band is known as Secondsmile, and they are incredible. Interestingly enough, Secondsmile has a close relationship with Jairus; both bands are touring England this summer. Not only do they share a strong camaraderie, they seem to feed off of each other in a sonic sense as well. Secondsmile is all about driving post-hardcore. I Am Not Romeo; You Are Not Juliet is the band’s debut EP on Big Scary Monsters, one of the UK’s up-and-coming independent labels. The music on the album has wonderful ever-changing tempos made up of intricate guitar work, choppy high-pitched vocals, and a rare sense of raw passion. The songs are unpredictable and fulfilling. The best song on the album, Poets Unite in Hate (Their Gift for Love), starts out with a deliciously frenetic pace, yet it ends with an almost old-school hopesfall melodic breakdown. Fantastic. The instruments are wonderful. In addition to the aforementioned guitar mastery, the drums and bass are also quite good. Two other songs, “My Tribute to Those Eyes that Can Sink Ships” and “Easy Girls Are Always One Fuck Away,” have little nuances here and there that are plainly and simply cool. There are pretty little string interludes, single-guitar led “mini-bridges” to hard-hitting verses, effectively executed drum fills, and so forth. I even believe that there are certain portions on the EP played in odd times, which is always appreciated. Vocals share a lot in common with Jairus; the singer loves the high-pitched wailing. It’s appropriate, and there is some good singing thrown into the mix as well. The only other song on the EP, “This is Your Hometown and it’s Cutting You,” is one of those slow-paced atmospheric songs. Granted, it doesn’t follow melodicore conventions by having hollow ghost-like singing in the background; the song does seem like an added bonus, nothing more. It’s not bad though. Overall, this is an awesome collage of tracks, and I am excited to see what this band has to offer in the future. Since they are from the UK, where the mass media conglomerate still has its money cannons aimed at pop princes and princesses (look up Busted if you dare), the small rock bands still seem to be playing music out of pure joy. Hell, Secondsmile is unknown to most of the British… Unfortunately, while it’s great to hear awesome music coming from other countries (Amanda Woodward is another great up-and-coming band, from France), it seems like the good sound is thriving on other shores. Hopefully, I’ll be able to review a great record from a new domestic band soon enough. Well, I did mention The Fall of Troy. I guess they count… I’ll write about them shortly. favorite song: “poets unite in hate (their gift for love)" rating: 94%/100% listen to secondsmile

Review: Jairus - The Need to Change the Mapmaker

artist: jairus album: the need to change the mapmaker label: skipworth records released: 3/22/2004 (europe) by: eduardo moutinho The once fertile and promising fields of melodic hardcore have gone through tough times in recent months, with hopesfall presenting a damaged, nearly unrecognizable harvest via A Types and Taken providing its final luscious bounty, Between Two Unseens, in the summer of 2004. Yet, one crop is green and vibrant, nourished by a glorious and revolutionary sound. And that crop is marked "Jairus." Metaphors aside, Jairus (jy-russ) is the band that everyone needs to listen to right now. The Britsh band's debut album, The Need to Change the Mapmaker, is stunning, and it has given me hope for the future of melodicore. Every song is unique and beautiful. It is impossible for me not to think of hopesfall in its prime when I listen to this record. The guitars are moody and atmospheric, yet they are aggressive and driving. Percussion is technical and precisely arranged. The vocalist expertly exudes high-pitched, full-sounding, wails with spoken word and singing thrown sporadically throughout the tracks. Every song is solid, highlights being the dark and drawn-out "Ara Pacis," schizophrenically-paced "And Caligula Blushed," and fantastic "Cut the Six Minute Caller." When talking to my friend about the band, I told him, "Jairus is more of a true band than anybody that's out there." What I mean is that all the instruments feed off of each in a natural symbiodic relationship. Everything sounds appropriate and well-positioned. The songs come across as epic. In a way, it's aural poetry. While the songs don't display completely organic structures, they manage to break the barrier of traditional rock music. The breakdowns are melodic and stylized. In simple terms, these guys like to play music, and they do it incredibly well. What Jairus is creating is the future of hard music. I just hope they don't stray away from this sound in the future. favorite song: "ara pacis" rating: 97%/100% listen to jairus

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

Review: A Thousand Falling Skies - From Behind the Shadows (EP)

artist: a thousand falling skies album: from behind the shadows label: released: 2001 by: joe thomasson Holy motha. Driving, slicing, pounding, furious, metalcore. This is the kind of music that moves you -- or at least it moves me. A Thousand Falling Skies is a melodic metal band hailing form the town of Naugatuck, Connecticut. Formed in April of 2000, they have two guitarists (as many metal sub genre bands seem to) along with a single screamer. The song Paint Me a Pretty Picture hooked me instantly. It was a melodic to brutal slashing mixture that was almost perfect. The screaming is near the top of the food chain. At times, it sounds like the lead singer will make you dinner. Later on in the CD, Casting Shadows seems to be another near perfect mix of melody/hard hitting metallic rifts. Random breakdowns throughout make for great dancing. This is what I listen to music for. As with any great EP, I am left wanting sooo much more. Emo kids beware -- this is not the CD for you. This wins a prize of an A- from me. Why the minus? Only because I want more and think they could go a little further with their music if they added additional backing screams. As for another screamer, I seem to be out of luck. However, there is hope. The band is currently working on a full length CD that I, for one, am anxiously awaiting. favorite song: "paint me a pretty picture" rating: 90%/100% listen to a thousand falling skies

Review: Stretch Arm Strong - Engage

artist: stretch arm strong album: engage label: solid state records released: 2003 by: rob tatum Perhaps the most difficult thing for a band is to continually put out decent records and avoid having every album sound the same. Stretch Arm Strong’s fourth album, Engage, manages to prevent this from happening, and even surprised me a little here and there. My biggest fear for this album was that it would be too poppy and they would stray away from their hardcore roots (especially since their tour with A New Found Glory didn’t exactly help their reputation). After a couple of listens, my worries were put to rest. For those of you who aren’t familiar with Stretch Arm Strong, first, stop reading this and go buy their album Rituals of Life, which I consider one of the “must own” hardcore albums. Now that you have done that, you know that this five piece plays fast-paced, yet melodic hardcore. The majority of their songs focus on looking for the positive aspects of life and revolting against the negatives, and that’s still true on Engage. Songs such as We Bleed, Raise your Fist (which has a kick ass breakdown), and Defect encompass strong messages of not giving up on life and standing tall. These types of lyrics are the cornerstone of Stretch Arm Strong. This album is a little more poppy than their previous releases, but by all means, this is still a hardcore band. The first two songs on the album assure you of this right away. Blistering guitars and heavy beats fuel great sing alongs and remind you of what hardcore really is about. Vocalist Chris McLane reiterates his case as one of the best vocalists in hardcore. Joined by guitarist David Sease, they create some awesome vocal overlays on Engage that really enhance the flow of the album. The entire album isn’t as heavy as the first two songs and that’s actually a good thing. The songs Miles Apart and The Calling really break this album up nicely and make it a great listen. My only complaint is the cover of NWA’s Express Yourself which I find to be terrible. Normally the band does excellent cover songs (once again, listen to Rituals of Life), but this could have been left off the album and no one would have cared. Overall, I think album is excellent (minus the cover song). Time leads to change, and Engage is the type of change (progression) that bands strive for. This album may open some doors for Stretch Arm Strong because it doesn’t have to be limited to the hardcore genre. This is a must for any Stretch Arm Strong fan and a good start for anyone who hasn’t heard them before. favorite song: "defect" rating: 92%/100%