Review: Calico System - The Duplicated Memory

artist: calico system album: the duplicated memory label: eulogy recordings released: 2003 by: rob tatum The whole concept of throwing genres into a blender can definitely produce some interesting sounding bands. Calico System certainly fits that scenario. At times the band sounds like a poppy, radio-friendly monster and then tears into a heavy, melodic assault. The band exhibits some similarities to a heavier Boys Night Out, or older Keepsake, but Calico System is a much better listen then both of those. The first time I listened to The Duplicated Memory, I wasn’t sure what to think. Vocalist Mark Owens exhibits a vast range of both singing and screaming. I initially thought that the band must have two singers, but that is not the case. Musically the band creates power and melody, but doesn’t over emphasize anything. The musicianship is amazing. The drumming and bass-playing, which at times are overlooked, make a huge impact on this album. The guitar work is very solid, especially changing from the poppy parts to the heavy ones. Mark’s lyrics are very heartfelt and focus primarily on love gone wrong. At first, I would have called The Duplicated Memory just average, but with each listen I have realized how amazing this album really is. Calico System has created a very enjoyable release and I encourage anyone who is a fan of melodic hardcore to give this a listen (at least a couple of times). It may not be genre defining, but it shows that a band can successfully interweave genres without sounding manufactured or overproduced. favorite song: "girl named vegas" rating: 89%/100% listen to calico system

Review: Thursday - War All The Time

artist: thursday album: war all the time label: island records released: 9/16/03 by: eduardo moutinho To say that I eagerly anticipated Thursday’s new album, War All the Time, would be a gross understatement. I’ve been salivating over this release like a famished coyote needing to eat to survive. The two teaser tracks, along with a live track I heard Thursday play at their last show in Boulder, fueled my hunger even more. So when the stores opened on Tuesday, September 16th, 2003, I ran and snatched a copy of the record for myself. My coyote spirit found a carcass to indulge upon. I don’t mean to go out on a limb here, but let me just say, this may be the best album I have ever heard. Period. Yes, I speak blasphemous words against hopesfall and the lot, but I stand by the words firmly. This album is fucking wicked. And yes, I also realize that I just compromised my journalistic integrity by (gasp) writing out an expletive in a piece of writing. Eh, Rolling Stone editors aren’t the only ones allowed to do it. Why is this album so good you ask? Well, I’ll tell you. Firstly, this is one of those albums I have talked about earlier, where every single track is spectacular. You can play this record from start to finish without ever having to skip around. Each track tells its own story, with exceptional lyrics and equally fantastic musicality. You will come away with at least eight or nine “favorite songs” having trouble picking out what is truly best. In the end, it hits you like a bag of lead: the whole damn thing is incredible. Like Poison the Well, Glassjaw, and Thrice, this is Thursday’s debut release on a major record label. While this may not sit well with many folks, there is absolutely no reason to fret. The sound that Thursday shaped into one of the most emulated new forms of rock is present and elevated to infinitely new levels of sonic mastery and majesty in War All the Time. The charmingly raw sound is still the foundation, and the band builds upon their layered melodies and vocal structures throughout the record. Some tracks are complex and engaging, while others stripped-down and simple. In the end, everything comes together into a beautiful compilation. The instrumentation on this record is amazing. The guitars, bass, and drums are simply sensational. Songs like “Asleep in the Chapel,” “Marches and Maneuvers,” “Signals over the Air,” “Between Rupture and Rapture,” and “Steps Ascending” have wondrous melodies, one layered on top of the other, forming organized chaos. I found myself listening to these tracks repeatedly, sometimes listening to the same track many times over. They’re so impressive. The guitarists are making a statement, with their constant breaks, changes, and use of different sounds and techniques. I’ve never heard such effective, albeit subtle, usage of harmonics. The bass is integral in the transitions, which really shows how tight these guys are. Drums are exceptional, as they have always been. I’m amazed, just plain amazed. Vocals are really well done, and extremely emotional, which is expected from Thursday. As I said before, the lyrics are wonderful. The writing is so clever and profound. Just listening to “For the Workforce Drowning” is enough proof of how clever Geoff Rickly really is. I think his vocals round out the rawness of the music perfectly. He sings as if he’s pouring his soul out to the listener. And if you’ve seen him live, you know that is exactly what he is doing. The backup vocals done by the members are even more evident than they were in Full Collapse. Each individual scream is distinctive and gives even more character to the music. There really is no need to further elaborate on the vocals here, as their proficiency is a given. I’ve mentioned some tracks already, yet I’ve left a few out. This album is indeed a complete work. Thursday tried to make this release more intimate, and it shows with tracks like “This Song Brought to You by a Falling Bomb,” which is a somber piano and voice number. The title track, “War All the Time” is pure emotion. There are slower, more vulnerable-sounding, tracks here, and it’s a welcomed addition as it adds balance and variety to the songs altogether. I guess you can say that this is a sign of maturity on the part of Thursday. I’m not going to end this review by writing a huge conclusion commanding you to buy this release and to devote the next few months of your life to it. I think what I have written so far speaks for itself. What I will say though, is that this release is special. I was hoping for something comparable to Full Collapse, and what I got completely surpassed it. This band is untouchable. favorite song: "steps ascending" and "between rupture and rapture" (tie) rating: 100%/100% listen to thursday

Review: The Kinison - Self-Titled EP

artist: the kinison album: self-titled EP label: fearless records released: 2003 by: rob tatum Up and coming bands are always a fun listen for someone that gets tired of listening to the same music over and over. Combining elements of post hardcore, screamo, and even pop, The Kinison dabs a little from a variety of genres. Certain aspects of the music remind me a lot of another Fearless band, At the Drive-In, but unfortunately for The Kinison, there’s only one At the Drive-In. As I mentioned above, there are aspects of the music that are striking similar to other bands, but at the same time, the band does manage to establish a solid sound. Each of the five songs has its own feel which keeps the EP from running together. A number of the songs are quite poppy and the screaming seems a little out of place, but at other times, it fits perfectly. I can tell from this EP that once this band can find itself a niche, they should be something to reckon with. The vocals are at times eerily reminiscent of Cedric (ATDI), but the screams do enough to offset it. My only complaint is that the singing/screaming combo is starting to become overdone, and it seems like every day that there is a new post hardcore band attempting the same thing. That of course is no fault of The Kinison, but by the time the band really begins to establish themselves, their sound may have been overplayed. However, for the time being, this EP is a good start for the band. favorite song: "the way i used to be" rating: 78%/100% listen to the kinison

Review: Crestfallen - Self-Titled EP

artist: crestfallen album: self-titled EP label: robotic empire released: 2003 by: rob tatum I can honestly say that there are better ways to cram eight songs into under fifteen minutes, but never the less, Crestfallen’s new EP can help redefine fast-paced hardcore. Taking heavy influences from grind and punk, this new EP is far less melodic than their prior material. They haven’t strayed entirely away from melody, but there is much less emphasis on it. Crestfallen is known for fast hardcore with some melody, but with this new release, they have begun to break down any labels. There are a ton of blast beats and what seem like hurried songs. I really hope this isn’t the direction the band continues to take. The Minor Threat and Cramps covers really don’t do anything to add to the album. Vocally, their lead singer spends no time trying to sing, and spends the majority of the songs screaming incoherently. The lyrics are rather pathetic and really don’t do anything for me. This is EP is flat out disappointing. The band’s previous full length was absolutely amazing, but this EP struggles to entertain me. The musicianship and ability to make quality songs is still there, but the band clearly hasn’t reached their potential. favorite song: "rogue rodeo" rating: 72%/100% listen to crestfallen

Review: Radiation 4 - Wonderland

artist: radiation 4 album: wonderland label: abacus recordings released: 2003 by: rob tatum When a band sets out to “break the molds” or “set new standards” they typically fall short of their goal. When Radiation 4 formed, they wanted to take hardcore and metal and get away from convention. After giving Wonderland a listen, I can say that they definitely got away from convention, but I can’t really say that they have set new standards. Radiation 4 combines fast beats with occasional melodies into a chaotic barrage comparable to Botch, older Cave In, or Dillenger Escape Plan. The screaming takes a little getting used to because it is higher pitched than most hardcore and metal singers. The singing parts are a little out of the ordinary and the backing vocals are more along the lines of old school hardcore, and at times resemble Slayer styled growls. The guitar work definitely stands out. There are some creative overlays and melodies, even in the faster parts of the songs. The drumming is solid, but there are a lot of fast parts that don’t allow for much creativity. One aspect of the album that stands out to me is the use of electronically generated sounds. I don’t think I have ever said this, but they fit the music well. At first I wasn’t really sure what to make of them, but they add more to the music than they take away. The effects help shape the melodies into much more elaborate parts of the songs. Ordinarily I don’t really get into the fast paced, metal-orientated hardcore, but Radiation 4 does more than get away from convention. They manage to set themselves apart. Like I mentioned before, I wouldn’t call it setting new standards, but they do “break the mold” and have created something that is really an enjoyable listen. favorite song: "the prize" rating: 83%/100% listen to radiation 4

Review: Stop It! - Self Made Maps

artist: stop it! album: self made maps label: robotic empire released: 2003 by: rob tatum For a while there, I was beginning to wonder if I would ever hear another band that played melodic punk similar to Small Brown Bike, then comes Stop It! and quickly dispels that fear from my mind. Driving guitars, fast beats, and solid melodies fill Self Made Maps from start to finish. To totally stray away from music, I have to mention the packaging and liner notes to this CD. A multi-colored cardboard sleeve accompanies the CD rather than a typical case. The liner notes look like a collage of various pictures and papers, and the lyrics are slammed into the middle. It really has nothing to do with the music on this album, but it is a nice side-step from the conventional album artwork and packaging. Okay, back to the music. If you took away the vocals, the band could easily pass off as Small Brown Bike, or maybe older Hot Water Music playing an instrumental. It’s nothing fancy, but it sounds terrific. The downside to that is that the band is going to have a hard time avoiding constant comparisons. The vocals sound nearly identical to Small Brown Bike, and so do many of the songs. Lyrically, Stop It! tackles a variety of subjects, but manages to keep the lyrics pretty generic. I am a huge fan of Small Brown Bike, so I enjoyed this release, but at the same time, I really hate to see carbon-copy bands. Stop It! is solid in almost every aspect, but the resemblance really hurts their standing from my perspective. Self Made Maps is a good listen, but I’ll bet that I’m not the only one who can’t stop making the constant comparisons. favorite song: "name + number" rating: 84%/100% listen to stop it!

Review: The Bled - Pass the Flask

artist: the bled album: pass the flask label: fiddler records released: by: rob tatum The most difficult thing for a hardcore band nowadays is to establish themselves as something out of the ordinary and worth listening to. Tucson, AZ’s The Bled definitely does so with their first full length, Pass the Flask. The band has created ten songs of energetic and melodic beauty. The album has enough power to pummel its listeners during the breakdowns and yet still has that soothing edge of melody to balance everything out. Musically, The Bled falls along the lines of a heavier Poison the Well. The songs contain intense melodies with some solid guitar work. The breakdowns are just as heavy as any band in hardcore, but it’s the melodies that make this release so enjoyable. Most of the songs are hard-hitting, but the band’s ability to tie together each part of the song with intriguing transitions really creates a solid flow. Vocalist James Munoz exhibits a very powerful voice, adding to the prowess of each song. Comparable to a raspier version of Keith from Every Time I Die or Dan from Zao, his voice fits The Bled perfectly. One aspect of this album that I really enjoyed was the lyrics. Although they may appear to resemble some other bands in the same genre, they are much deeper than most metalcore releases. The songs touch a range of subjects, but focus on primarily on love, or love gone bad. My favorite quote comes from the song “Nothing We Say Leaves This Room” and reads, “how we reach for each other only to die alone. how we reach for the stars only to swim through the dead. how we strive to connect only to fall apart.” I really love this album's ability to grab the listener and begs for you to sing along. The Bled as asserted themselves as a force to reckon with in hardcore. As countless bands are formed everyday and many genres are getting overcrowded and tired, The Bled reassures this listener that there is hope out there. Pass the Flask is absolutely amazing. This is hands down the best thing to ever come from Arizona and is definitely one of the best releases of this year. favorite song: "spitshine sonata" rating: 93%/100% listen to the bled

Review: Mara'kate - Self-Titled MCD

artist: mara'akate album: self-titled mcd label: one day savior recordings released: by: rob tatum Short and erratic. Probably the best summary I can come up with to explain the songs on this very interesting release from Mara’akate. Sounding something like a choppy version of the Refused with little or no melody at all, Mara’akate touches base with a handful of genres all at once. There is some quality musicianship exhibited on this release, especially the drumming, but nothing stands out because the songs do a lot of stopping and starting. I had to listen to each song a couple of times to get a real feel for what was going on. The vocals are pretty difficult to understand, but at the same time, they seem to tie the chaotic riffs together. Lyrically, the six songs are nothing extraordinary, but are still interesting nonetheless. I would probably say this is one of those “change of pace” releases. I’m not usually into bands like Mara’akate, but I think that this MCD is a nice way to break up some of the monotony in the various genres this falls into. favorite song: "diet usurp?" rating: 73%/100% listen to mara'akate

Review: Mindfield - Be-low

artist: mindfield album: be-low label: lifeforce records released: by: rob tatum If I was writing a recipe to create the band Mindfield it would read as follows: take two parts In Flames and mix with one part Skid Row, blend, serve with an open mind. Immediately after inserting this CD I knew it was Swedish style metal ala In Flames, but what really got me was the Sebastian Bach styled vocals that showed up 45 seconds into the first song. I couldn’t help but to laugh, as bad as that might sound. To give Mindfield some credit, they are amazing musicians. The guitar work is excellent. Metal riff after metal riff tears up the listener’s ears. The vocals aren’t always the high-pitched wails, but don’t expect the hardcore style that accompanies bands like In Flames. There are some melodic sing alongs from time to time, as odd as that may seem. The lyrics, and song titles for that matter, are almost comical at times, but how can you complain when the second track is called "Destination 666”? Dark, demonic, and cheesy are the best words to reflect the lyrics. This album brings back all those memories of 80’s hair metal and yet attempts to bring with it some flashbacks of older Slayer as well. I’m not sure exactly where this album falls in. It’s a little too 80’s for the metal heads and a little too metal for the pop or rock fans. Honestly, the music is awesome and there are a handful of songs that you can’t help but sing along with, but I’m not really sure where it falls in my music collection. Basically if you are into metal in any way I would check this out, as it combines many of the subgenres into this one release. A very solid release for what it’s worth. favorite song: "desperate (death parade)" rating: 79%/100% listen to mindfield

Review: Fear Before the March of Flames - Odd How People Shake

artist: fear before the march of flames album: odd how people shake label: rise records released: 2003 by: devin braden This is the first LP from a young band (none of whom were over the age of 20 at the time of the recording) that hadn't even been around in their current form for even an entire year. Knowing this background information, one would expect this LP to sound unrefined and immature, and yet these five guys somehow have succeeded in creating one of the most intense and peculiar albums to come out this year. The album begins with the frenetic opener "Fashion Tips Baby" that seems to simultaneously recall The Blood Brothers, Norma Jean, Hopesfall, and numerous other established and equally diverse-sounding bands. This quirky blend of styles doesn't end with the first track and proves to be one of the most charming and rewarding qualities of this release. One minute they are playing in the strangely dissonant guitar style of Botch, and the next minute they are tearing the walls down with a mid-tempo jam like Norma Jean. The playing on the album is superb and the recording quality is fantastic - the label seems to have really done a great job in funding this recording. The guitar sounds are clear and precise, and the vocals are multi-layered and capture entirely the intensity and diversity of both Adam's voice and Dave's voice. The rerecorded songs from their demo ("Given To Dreams," "On the Brightside, She Could Choke") show a marked improvement and the new tracks define a clear path as to where Fear is headed in the future. This album has few downsides, but if I were forced to pick one, I would say that the sometimes-subtle-while-othertimes-overwhelming 'emo' qualities of this release might have a tendency to make this particular band sound more run-of-the-mill than they actually are. This is a great first full-length from a band that hopefully has a strong future ahead. favorite song: "the 20th century was entirely mine" rating: 91%/100% listen to fear before the march of flames