ContributorReviews 83Soundoffs 67News Articles 113Band Edits 81Album Edits 96Album Ratings 905Objectivity 88%Last Active 02-12-13 1:01 pmJoined 03-28-07Forum Posts 369Review Comments 8,780
| Writers Block
You'd think that after 50+ reviews I'd be able to write thoughts out
like a motherfucker... nope. List is albums that have been swirling
through the review machine without success. | | 1 |  | State Champs
Apparently, I'm Nothing
Apparently, they're something. The winter time is usually described as one
of the more depressing times of the years. Statistically speaking, the
amount of suicides spikes during this more darker season so it can't be
denied that music tends to follow this trend. Outside of cold indie and
metal albums, the music industry tends to go along with the seasons.
Small, unsigned State Champs breaks this mold by releasing a bouncy,
energetic and upbeat pop-punk album in the dead of winter to help break
the ice. Summer has come early, and while they really do nothing towards
furthering the genre, State Champs have crafted an honest album that is
more than welcome in light of all the lows that winter brings. | | 2 |  | We're Not Afraid
Adventures in Poverty
Barely even known in the states, We're Not Afraid is an extremely young
band but you wouldn't think it at first listen. Channeling the intensity of
Rise Against, with the maturity and casualness of Bad Religion, We're Not
Afraid makes punk rock look almost too easy. Their confidence radiates
throughout every song on 'Adventures in Poverty' that will have even the
most veteran of punkers turning their heads in bewilderment. Again,
nothing incredibly new; hell, it's practically biting off of Jawbreaker and
Social Distortion, but with these being legends of the genre and all, it won't
detract too much from this small time band. | | 3 |  | Mother of Mercy
IV: Symptoms of Existence
While it may be interesting to name their debut album III, Mother of Mercy's
album, IV: Symptoms of Existence, carries all the sounds that is expected
out of a sophomore album. Natural progression from every corner of the
album and featuring one of the better vocalists of the genre, IV carries a
much more darker undertone than was previously felt on III. While it may
be too surprising, Mother of Mercy have built upon all the positive aspects
that made III such a fun listen and have channeled this into making their
newest album. Not nearly enough to change ones opinion on the hardcore
genre, it won't be said that Mother of Mercy aren't slowly but surely making
a name for themselves throughout the scene. | | 4 |  | Banner Pilot
Collapser
Collapers essentially see's punk rock band Banner Pilot growing up and
maturing right before our very ears. They've always had a tendency to lace
melody throughout their blisteringly heavy songs, yet Collapser finally see's
Banner Pilot finally finding the middle ground between 'just enough punk'
and 'just enough pop'. Heavy enough for any Dillinger Four fan and more
than enough bounce for any Sum 41 fan, Collapser is a joyful, entertaining
listen that doesn't necessarily break boundaries as much as it blends them
together, making it almost interchangeable between punk and pop-punk. | | 5 |  | Counterparts
Counterparts / Exalt Split EP
(Massive paragraph about how much metalcore sucks, then about how
much Counterparts is awesome) I don't think I've ever been more excited
for a modern metalcore album since the release of OX. Sure, they ain't your
average Coalesce, but Counterparts brings back life into the metalcore
genre but deliberately biting off of Jhazmynes Lullaby and Of Malice and the
Magnum Heart and essentially marrying it with all, albeit few, of the
positives that modern metalcore offers currently. 'To The Grave' is probably
one of, if not the best, metalcore song, bar none. I don't say this lightly
and it's bound to get a lot of negative reactions at the thought of some
young, 'whipper-snapper', band challenging Converge and Integrity (ooooh,
scary). And to Exalt, the question is this; 'Who the fuck is Exalt anyhow?'
Listen and find out, you won't be let down. | | 6 |  | New Lows
Harvest of the Carcass
Recently singed to Bannon's Deatwish Label, New Lows release their debut
album 'Harvest of the Carcass'. Unfortunately not even a stellar album
cover but Bannon himself can't save this album from becoming boring and
mundane within seconds of the opener 'Stagnant Strides'. Some might
claim it to be influenced by a sludge metal flow, but the fact is that New
Lows essentially sinks hardcore to new lows (no pun intended). | | 7 |  | The Leftovers
On The Move
Imagine a fight between The Beach Boys, Latterman, and Dillinger Four,
with Latterman only surviving because it waited for Dillinger Four to finish
off The Beach Boys first. One of the most catchy punk/pop-punk albums to
be released in recent memory, The Leftovers carry a soul that is reminiscent
to Beach Boy-era pop, complete with the 'oooohs' and 'ahhhhs' and marries
it with the 'cranked to eleven' attitude of modern punk rock. The double
snare hits will surely be having you clapping your hands to the beat just as
much as it did for me. | |
This Life is Genocide
01.28.11 | how's sputnik tonite | Willie
01.28.11 | I understand. I have over 200 reviews and can't even crank out an EP's worth of review right now. | Spec
01.28.11 | Even happens to professionals like me once in a while. | wyankeif1337
01.28.11 | i know the feeling, i haven't reviewed anything for a couple weeks because of it. i started, like, 5 times but whatever spark i had just fizzled out. | Willie
01.28.11 | Just find an old album that you love and a review should come pretty naturally since you've probably been talking the album up for years... that's what I usually do (and will probably have to do this time too). | Spec
01.28.11 | Honestly, just go out and have a good time. It resets your brain back to normal... Or if you party too hard it just resets it. | bloc
01.28.11 | There is a typo in your list title hurr | wyankeif1337
01.28.11 | hurr | This Life is Genocide
01.28.11 | ima durr | Hep Kat
01.28.11 | 3 is so fucking sick. im seeing them with cold world on the fifth | Winsomniac
01.28.11 | It's okay, Dante. I'll do 5 if you can link me to the non-counterparts half of the EP. | SowingSeason
01.28.11 | best thing is to just wait it out instead of forcing out a review. | This Life is Genocide
01.28.11 | it's like trying to fuck your gf who's menstrual... except you can't masterbate. | Winsomniac
01.28.11 | Fuck that shit, you just wait for the bleeding to slow down and go for a quickie. It's really like a race against time. | This Life is Genocide
01.28.11 | that was my last review |
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