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Beneath the Massacre – Dystopia
November 30th, -0001
Genre: Death Metal/Grindcore
Label: Prosthetic Records
History:
Emerging from north of the Canadian border in Montreal, Quebec. Beneath
the Massacre has been shredding death metal riffs, brain melting
double bass, and cranial shattering vocals since their formation in
2004. Presiding over guitar duties Christopher Bradley and his low end
counterpart Dennis Bradley. The vocal assault led by Elliot Desgagnes
is laid upon the brutal drumming of Justin Rousselle. Upon there
formation and Canadian success the group released Evidence of Inequity
in 2005 a 5 track ep, under Galy Records. Shortly thereafter the band
was signed by Prosthetic Records and released there first full length
Mechanics of Dsyfunction in early 2007 which was nothing less than
brutal. There second Full length studio album Dystopia is set to be
released October 28,2008 and for the third straight album is produced
by Yannick St-Amand is sure to not disappoint die hard fans.
Sound:
Sticking to previous format of Beneath the Massacre albums you are hit
with a barrage of technical brutality. Although this fist full of
sound may seem almost overbearing at first after a few more listens you
come to enjoy there bombardment of sound. They set the stage for the
albums sound with the first track Condemned and don’t let up for but a
brief ten second interlude that is Harvest of Hate. Not only has their
play emerged to be stronger but the production of Yannick St-Amand has
improved which is clearly evident in the track Nevermore which was
originally recorded on Evidence of Inequity, which now sounds very
crisp on Dystopia.
Lyrics and Singing:
Elliot tends to be more of the same on Dystopia not really expanding
into any other direction which is perfectly fine because his voice
fills the role of a death metal vocalist perfectly. He is completely
in sync with the sound of the album that contains the common lyrical
theme of Beneath the Massacre as a band of comments about politics and
society. This is evident in almost every song which have an almost
misanthropic tone to them with Our Common Grave and No Future. Elliot
consistently keeps the in your face sound flowing with his powerful
death metal vocals.
Overview:
Dystopia fits in with Beneath the Massacre perfectly. Although it can
come to be somewhat bland at points for some listeners. They are one
of the best sounding technical death metal bands out there with great
production quality. The six weeks spent to create Dystopia are sure to
not be a waste this album will blow fans away along with any fan of
technical music. These guys are as excited to play the new songs on
the upcoming tour as the fans are craving to hear them. All in all
Dystopia is somewhat just your typical Beneath the Massacre album, but
if your ok with the band having their sound, this album is easily rated
4 out of 5. So if you like brutal music be sure to pick this one up it
will not disappoint.
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A Hero A Fake – Volatile [2008]
November 30th, -0001
Release Date:October 28th, 2008
Record Label: Victory Records
History
A Hero A Fake is fresh out of the studio with producer Jamie King (BTBAM, He Is Legend, Beloved, Secret Lives of the Freemasons) resulting in 43 minutes of both gut wrenching brutality and heartwarming melodies. Volatile aims to push the boundaries of the progressive metal and hardcore genres with complex instrumental compositions complimented with crushing screams and inspiring anthems. With the finished product in hand, AHAF is looking to open new doors and spread the sound of Volatile across the globe.
——————————————————————-
Fresh out of Charlotte, North Carolina the band formed in 2004. After playing gigs and recording demos they were finally signed in early 2008. They hit hard with their first LP “Volatile”. This album is 40 minutes long and it is an amazing 40 minutes. It sucks you in deep and spits you out hard.
They have a very unique way they construct their songs. When it sounds like a breakdown is coming they hit you with a chorus, or even a riff that’s reminiscent of a classical balled (El Gigante). There is also a possibility of a laugh factor in the track F-16, about half way through the song
right before the breakdown the lead singer says “My dad is an F-16 Pilot” after flows a breakdown then a very jazzy-esque bass line.
This is band is very talented, the way they blend alot of different musical styles is amazing. They do it with such grace, you don’t even see it coming. One thing that turned me off about this album is the two interludes. I never really understood the importance of adding interludes to albums. Sure, they are sometimes very beautiful music, but it says to me “We couldn’t write enough full length songs, for this full length album”. They only add about two minutes to the album, but a lot of times bands love to not put (Interlude) in the song names. We all know albums don’t list track times on the back of the case. So its very mis-leading.
I am all for “breakdowns” and this band has enough of them to get any mosh pit they have at their shows very satisfied. If you aren’t of fan of breakdowns, you can appreciate these. Unlike alot of other bands, these breakdowns have at least a little talent behind them instead of the very trendy “chug chug chug” “random scream” “machine like bass drum” then the chorus.
Victory records really found a diamond in the rough with this North Carolina band. I’m expecting great things coming from this band in the future.
This band deserves nothing less than a 3.5/5 Star rating from me. This was definitely a great listen.
~-Written By: Ethan W.-~
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Downstares – Cobras and Matadors
November 30th, -0001
Record Label: T Rex Ate My Face Records
Release Date: September 2nd, 2008
RIYL: Trapt; Evans Blue
Style: Alternative with Metalcore tendencies
——
From day to day, more and more alternative bands find new genres to fuse with this staple genre. Through this
diversification, we’ve seen many new styles emerge, prominently, nu metal. Now, alternative’s wonderchild has gone
on to include it’s own sub genres, with bands trying to diversify even this newer genre. Downstares is one of these
bands. These DIY guys have been releasing albums and touring on their own since 2000. They may not get as much
attention as some of their contemporaries, but it’s definitely not because they don’t work as hard.
Cobras And Matadors is the fifth studio album from the band. With artwork created by Sons Of Nero (In
Flames, 36 Crazyfists), this album hits with a furious punch. Combining elements of nu metal, alternative, and even
sprinkles of metalcore, it makes a definite impact. Each of the tracks kind of follows the same basic plan. They
fully utilize Simeon Hendrix’s melodic vocals, as well as employing sparse but powerful screaming. The guitaring
ranges from melodic to heavier, and the drumming is a constant staple in the tracks. The production is also
surprisingly good for an unsigned release.
The first thing I noticed about Cobras and Matadors was that
there seems to be an inconsistency in the quality from track to track. Some of their songs are powerful, while
others just somehow fail to impress. The most notable instance of this is the single “Speed Dial,” which
unfortunately falters and takes it’s place as one of the less interesting tracks. However, there are more than
enough good tracks to take over for it (and the couple of other uninteresting songs). The album opener “264
Roselawn” and “An Ambulance Called Emergency” are two of the tracks that remain as standouts after multiple
listens.
While this release may not garner much mainstream attention, that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t. It’s
become obvious that the amount of work you put into your music and getting it out there doesn’t exactly have a
positive correlation with how you’re received. If this was the case, Downstares would definitely be one of the most
talked about bands in the scene. I’m not lying when i say that their brand of alternative, nu metal, metalcore, or
whatever you choose to call it has it’s own special flair. They may not have the extreme accessibility as many
mainstream bands, and they may not have as complete or cohesive a sound, but if there’s anyone I’ve ever seen
deserve recognition, it’s Downstares. All I ask is that you give Cobras and Matadors a chance. It won’t be for
everyone, but if any readers appreciate it, then I’ve done my job.
——
Listen to them here.
Written By: Andrew Klatzke
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In:Aviate – 1985
November 30th, -0001
Record Label: Rise Records
Release Date: October 14th, 2008
RIYL: Saosin, Circa Survive (only better)
Style: Post Hardcore oriented Progressive Rock
——
Concept:
According to Smartpunk’s bio for 1985, the idea for the album stemmed from the novel “1984.” The album addresses the idea that one day you could wake up and have everything you believe in be taken away, leaving you to create your own reality and construct your own beliefs.
Execution:
In:Aviate pulls off this album extremely well. When I first heard tracks from their EP after they signed to Rise, I was extremely skeptical. Unfortunately, I wrote them off as “just another scene band” and banished them to the back of my mind. However, after getting a recommendation from a friend and checking out their newly posted song from 1985, my interest was ignited.
I’m not going to fool you, I don’t normally fall for progressive rock albums. In fact, I usually view bands like Circa Survive and My Epic with a wary eye. That being said, 1985 is one of the few prog-rock albums that I can actually sit down and listen to from front to back. They just get everything right. From the fast and furious “Redifining Automation” to the slower and more melodic “Transcedental Weather.” The first hook that really got me into this album is the great vocal melodies. Ryan Randall (vocals) has a great voice and solid range. Unlike most high vocalists, his voice isn’t constantly hovering up in the highest pitches, he brings it down and it really adds a depth to the melodies that would otherwise be missed. The screaming isn’t really a big part of the album, but when they add it in some songs, notably “And the World Will Know” it adds yet another great vocal resource. They should also be noted for their great dual-guitar approach. The guitarists have some serious skill, and they bring a lot of the tracks to life. From the opening riff to “Redifing Automation” to the crushing rythyms in “And the World Will Know” they keep the music moving along.
Another great thing about this album is that there is just about no filler. With ten songs (excluding the interlude and intro), it hits hard, pulls you in, and doesn’t let go. The middle of the album may not be as intense as some of the other tracks, but they keep you listening throughout until you’re once again pummeled by the completely marvelous tracks near the end.
Overall, this album surprised me in a great way. Going in expecting the cookie-cutter scene formula left the opportunity open for me to be completely blown away by 1985‘s energy, concept, and talent. Don’t make the same mistake I did; In:Aviate is not you’re standard “scene band.” If you’re a fan of melodic post hardcore or progressive rock, pick this album up right away — I swear you won’t be disappointed.
——
Listen to them here.
Written By: Andrew Klatzke
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The Ability – Be Still
November 30th, -0001
Mediaskare Records
November 25th, 2008
If You Like: Thrice, You’ll Love: The Ability
Genre: Rock/Progressive/Indie
Mediaskare definitely picked a great band to sign. The band, which hails from Chicago, IL. entered the studio and recorded their new album with Jonathan Clardy (With Dead Hands Rising) in less than a year. This turned out to be a virgorous challenge for the newly signed band. They still managed to record thirteen explosive tracks, for their new album entitled “Be Still.”
This band sounds like they are influenced mostly by Thrice. The first track of this record was definetley an ice breaker. By slowly introducing the listener to the rest of the album making it easier to train my ears to the sounds that were coming from my speakers.
The Ability is one of those bands that upon first listen you might not care for. Such was the case for this reviewer. I gave the album a quick listen through while I was working on other things, and did not care for it. A few days later I decided to give the album another chance, this time giving it my full attention. This time however, I was hooked by the time I reached track thirteen.
The Ability may have written a good record, but is not without some minor flaws. Many of which were minor things, such as the instrument volume or the clarity of the vocals. Some words seemed to be a little slurred or not clear enough to make out. However, it’s these imperfections that make this record different from the other bands in this genre. Make sure you purchase this album on Tuesday, November 25th. You won’t be wasting your money. That much I can promise!
Listen Here: Myspace and Purevolume
Buy It: Smartpunk
Written By: Antonio Vazquez
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Forgive Durden – Razia’s Shadow (A Musical)
November 30th, -0001
Fueled By Ramen
October 28th, 2008
For Fans of: Say Anything, Alladin, Gatsbys American Dream
Indie/Musical
“Our gait will begin
at saunter at the source“
By this point, Razia’s
Shadow needs little introduction. Throughout September, excited hordes
dutifully visited the official website, debating and celebrating the reveal of
each new character and speculating as to what the hell the project actually
was. The viral campaign was a success (so can we stop with them now, FBR?) and Thomas
Dutton’s Razia’s Shadow: A Musical
was announced.
Much of the initial allure of Razia lay in its extensive list of guest vocalists. A lineup
including Max Bemis, Casey Crescenzo and Nic Newsham rightly generated intense
anticipation and each guest delivers, not to mention the masterful narration of
Aaron Weiss. Kris Anaya and John Gourley’s track “Holy the Sea†may go
unappreciated amongst tracks like “Toba the Tora†featuring Chris Conley (and
the ill contrived rhyme “so you’re Ahrima / collusive dream-ahâ€Â) and Shawn
Harris’s memorable portrayal of Doctor Dumaya in “Doctor Doctor,†but it is one
of the strongest on the album.
“Let my unique, deft
hands be known!â€Â
Although every guest is commendable, Dutton deserves the
true praise. His pure creativity and talent challenge the expectations and
output of the generally stagnant music scene. The entire digital orchestra he
arranged and conducted fits so perfectly that it is the short bout of acoustic
guitar on “The End and the Beginning†that seems out of the ordinary. The
instrumentals are lush and complex, and it is painful to imagine the amount of
time put into them. Dutton shines vocally as well as musically; whether set
against frantic strings (“Life is Looking Upâ€Â) or jazzy brass (“The Missing
Pieceâ€Â), he holds his own, especially considering the company he keeps.
The story is compelling enough, and although some of the
lyrics seem a little forced in favor of getting the point across, the “scriptâ€Â
is well written. Remarkably, Razia’s
Shadow lives up to both Dutton’s ambitions and its listeners’ hype. A
project of this magnitude begs comparison to Say Anything’s 2007 In Defense of the Genre, and in the end it
is a viable defense of two genres: the oft-ridiculed musical and the recent drudgery
of the scene itself.
Listen here: Myspace
Buy it: Fueled By Ramen
Written by: Adam Linder
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Adversary- Singularity
November 30th, -0001
Trustkill Records
November 11, 2008
For Fans Of: Forever In Terror
Style: Metal
Hailing from Manassas, Virginia, “Adversary” aims high with their debut
release for Trustkill entitled “Singularity.” Kevin Guitierrez took
hold of the production reigns at Assembly Line Studios in Vienna. The
band started off just being childhood friends and formed in 2003, with
their first full length “Singularity.” They have a mutual hope to not
only burst into the saturated metal scene but rise to the top ranks and
claim their throne amongst the metal heirarchy.
Adversary has an odd sound to them. That is, they sound like
two completely different bands whenever vocalist William Clapp decides
to change from his powerful metal scream to his attempt in being a melodic
singer. But within it all, “Singularity” has ten solid tracks.
Adversary has a sound that meshes well with William screaming
on top of the insanely good guitar work of Kenny Harrison and Brad
Ryder; just listen to the solos in track seven- “Ashes of Faith”. The
album flows smoothly all the way through on the foundation of drums set
by Justin Green with the stellar guitar work intertwined.
The only thing holding this album back is the vocals.
William’s attempt at being melodic and singing doesn’t fit with the
flow of the album. When he screams all is well, but his singing either
needs some work or should be eliminated and leave more room for
instrumental sections, which could have an album of their own. Also,
it seems as if there is a constant reverb on his vocals which can
become annoying, but the phenomenal instrumentals pick up the slack.
My recommendation: check out the myspace tracks if you can look past
his singing voice. The instruments outweigh what his vocals lack.
Enjoy the tracks. Make sure to pick this album up
Buy: Merchnow
Written By: James Terry
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Attack Attack! – Someday Came Suddenly
November 30th, -0001
Record Label: Rise Records
Release Date: November 11th 2008
Sounds Like: Breathe Carolina
Genre: Blended Hardcore/Electronica
Blending metalcore with pop and a dash of electronics, AA has found their niche. Starting out in August 2007 they have quickly made a name for themselves in the music scene. The band recently signed to Rise Records in June of 2008, and shortly after went into Foundation Studios to record their debut full length album with upstart producer Joey Sturgis.
Attack Attack! is six guys from Columbus, Ohio. They formed in 2007 and have already made a name for themselves. They have placed themselves in a quite difficult genre. Electronica and Hardcore. If you are like me, then until last year you would never have put these two genres in the same sentence. They are very different ends of the “spectrum”. Attack Attack! does it well. With their crunchy guitars and high end screaming then it breaks down into a synth chorus with the clean vocals running through what sounds like a vocoder.
The keyboardist (Caleb Shomo) is very diverse in his playing. Mixing minor and major scales and making it sound amazing and blend with the other instruments.
Attack Attack! earned alot of popularity through their cover of the hit pop song by Katy Perry (I Kissed a Girl….) their cover is a completely different take on the song with synth voices and keys. Towards the end they completely break it down with hard guitars and amazing screaming.
With songs like (Catfish Soup) it almost seems like the screaming and the synth piano were meant to be. Others like the track (Party Foul) it has this almost techno-esque beat then it surprises you with headbanging guitars and fast paced drums.
The seventh track (Interlude) almost seems, stereotypical. The Outro and Intro are also. They are just fillers, and the rest of the album isn’t something out of the ordinary for bands. They recorded an EP in 2007 titled Paper Tiger. Four of the songs from the EP have been rerecorded for this full length. Not saying they don’t sound better just seems like they either couldn’t come up with material for a full length or they just wanted to get something out there.
Regardless of that, their new material is definitely worth a listen.
Attack Attack! posted the track Dr. Shavargo PT 2 on their myspace near the beginning of their year and has part three of the same title on the upcoming full length only, its not part three. Its part two re-hashed. Personally, to me its kind of mis-leading. I don’t even know if they ever recorded a part one to the “trilogy”. Other than that this album has to be one of the best albums’ i’ve heard all year.
Attack Attack! has a very unique style, and sound. They’re are a couple things that could be worked on, but no band is perfect.
Listen here: Myspace!
Buy it: SmartPunk
Written By: Ethan Wallace
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Before Their Eyes – The Dawn of My Death
November 30th, -0001
Rise Records
October 28th, 2008
For Fans Of: Akissforjersey
Christian/Post-Hardcore
Before Their Eyes currently consists of Nick Moore (Vocals), Jarrett Hottman (Drums), Brenden Zapp (Guitar), Landan Tewers (Guitar), and Anthony Damschroder (Bass). Before their eyes have been together for almost two years now. They get their name from The New Testament (Romans 3:18): “There is no fear of God before their eyes.†The guys first album (self-titled) was debuted in May and put them on the map for some great Christian post-hardcore music.
In my opinion Nick’s voice has matured over the years, along with the band’s passion for what they do. It feels like they have put more effort into this album then their debut, self-titled album back in 2007. Their production sound is almost perfected. It shouldn’t sound too studio since they might not be able to pull it off live. This album sets the toll for these guys. The guitar rifts in “The Dawn of My Death†are harder and more complex. It’s great to see a band that can go completely crazy on their songs with all their screaming and singing combined into each one.
There are some key tracks on this album I would love to point out to those who really haven’t given Before Their Eyes their listening ears. For the first song, “Life Was All A Dream,†all I can really say is WOW! What a way to draw in some new listeners. With the perfect combination of clean vocals and screaming, it’s perfect for the individual who doesn’t like a lot of screaming and enjoys the nice clean sound. Pretty much the perfect intro track to this CD, if I don’t say so myself.
Another key track to this album is “So In Love.†There is plenty of emotion and feeling throughout this song which truly makes it great. It’s a softer track that not many people would think BTE would make. You would think its more of a Punk/Pop song, but HEY!, who said they couldn’t mix it up and get away with it? Exactly, they did and beautifully done. DAMN, a post-hardcore band did a song without screaming once in the song. Who would have known?
The last key track I think is a highlight of the album is “The Me I Used to Be.†This also happens to be the last track of the album and is just as great as the opening track “Life Was All A Dream.†The song shows how much the guys really connect with each other musically. What a great way to end this amazing album. Before Their Eyes definitely showed everyone what they can do. “The Me I Used to Be†shows a stronger side of both melody and rhythm. A+! Way to go!
I must say this album has impressed the heck out of me. This album is amazing from start to finish. It’s a step up from their debut release in May of 2007. All together the album shows more talent and dedication the band mates have. Before Their Eyes has ended 2008 with a HUGE sophomore release following in the foot steps, but not too far behind, some of the other great releases of the year: like A Static Lullaby, Akissforjersey, Dance Gavin Dance, and A Skylit Drive. I put Before Their Eyes before a few of these bands. Although some have been together longer, it’s the passion they show that can really make you think different.
Listen here: Myspace and PurevolumeBuy: Smartpunk
Written by: Antonio Vazquez
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Outrun the Gun – Rooms
November 30th, -0001
Torque Records
September 30th, 2008
For Fans Of: Agraceful
Christian/Post-Hardcore
Outrun the Gun is a five piece Post-Hardcore/Christian band straight out of Ohio and consists of Micah Amstutz (Guitar/Vocals), Chris Kingsland (Vocals), Lee Martin (Guitar/Vocals), Dave Shepherd (Bass), and Antonio Tillison on drums. The band signed to Torque Records and began to record their debut “Rooms.â€Â
Having three vocalists in a band can either sound very interesting or more of a mistake and not so pleasing to the ears. That’s not the case with Outrun the Gun. Micah, Chris, and Lee are the vocalists in the band. Micah and Lee not only play the guitars but sing the clean vocals as well. Chris Kingsland is the one with the deafening screaming and growls. Not so generic sounding guitar riffs and brutal breakdowns makes the band a little different amongst the Christian-hardcore crowd.
Outrun the Gun is entirely about God and anything having to do with him. Each song has a meaning or reference to God. Creating the right lyrics for these three singers must take a lot of time and careful placement. While Chris screams and Micah and Lee sing the chorus’ and bridges work out perfectly. Some people would think there are a lot of lyrics for three people but there really aren’t that many. Some of the lyrics, if you’re not paying enough attention to the song, stand out, quickly grab you, and then take you in. “A Formal Feeling†does just that. With a great first verse, it’s followed with Micah coming in with, “You’re Hurting No More Then I…†in a high, powerful voice. This happens on many of the tracks; also the chanting isn’t multi-tracked like most bands. Instead, it’s all three of them.
“Rooms†is definitely an album to pick up if you haven’t already. Some of the best music comes from Christian bands. Most Christian-hardcore usually sounds about the same. Bands like Akissforjersey, AGRACEFUL, and The Word Alive are around the same level when it comes to sounding alike. Outrun the Gun on the other hand doesn’t sound like your typical Christian-hardcore band like the rest of these guys. For this being the guys’ first release I give them HUGE credit. They will be a band to look out for in the year coming!
Buy It: Smartpunk
Written By: Antonio Vazquez
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