Average Rating: 3.00 Rating Variance: 0.70 Objectivity Score: 96% (Very Balanced)
Sort by: Rating | Release Date | Rating Date | Name5.0 classicAlter Bridge BlackbirdAugust Burns Red ConstellationsAugust Burns Red Found in Far Away PlacesAugust Burns Red Constellations (Remixed)Did the original need it? No. Is it still cool to hear a fresh, modern take from a different producer? Hell yes. Same album, face-lifted sound, still a classic. rPlus, a reprise of "Ocean of Apathy" is included, and each reprise version they've done has shown how truly incredible these guys are at composing and playing their instruments. Even if you aren't interested in hearing the face-lifted *Constellations*, at least listen to that bonus track (and then check out their reprisals of "Majoring in the Minors" and "Coordinates" for more mind-blowing experiences in a similar vein). Enter Shikari Rat RaceLinkin Park MeteoraLinkin Park Hybrid TheoryMatt Skiba and the Sekrets BabylonMatt Skiba and the Sekrets KutsNull (USA) HiraethI'm personally not a black metal guy at all. Like by no means. Call me weak, but whatever. Checked this out on the basis of the review that hit the front page, and the tag line of "dance like a hobbit, riff like a warmaster." Hook line and sinker. I'm pretty selective about my folk metal music too (and have barely scratched the surface of what the genre has to offer), but this blew me away. The melodies found here are absolutely excellent, and the musicianship across the board is top notch (for a 1 man band wtf?!). Still not crazy about the black metal vocals, but the instrumental masterpieces to be found here more than make up for that for me. Its so easy to put this on, kick back, and visualize an entire fantastical world and narrative in my head to every. single. track. Early 2021 AOTY contender. This one-man-band has ~700 monthly Spotify listeners at the time of this posting. Do him, and yourself, a favor and spin this, as this performance deserves it. Periphery Juggernaut: OmegaPeriphery Juggernaut: AlphaPeriphery Juggernaut: Alpha / OmegaThe Gaslight Anthem The '59 SoundThe New Age Think Too Much; Feel Too LittleThe Story So Far What You Don't SeeTremonti All I Was4.5 superbAlkaline Trio Good MourningAlkaline Trio Is This Thing Cursed?Alter Bridge FortressAlter Bridge AB IIIAlter Bridge Live at WembleyAlter Bridge Live from AmsterdamAugust Burns Red MessengersAugust Burns Red Messengers (Remixed)Avenged Sevenfold NightmareAvenged Sevenfold Avenged SevenfoldAvenged Sevenfold City Of EvilAvenged Sevenfold Waking The FallenAvenged Sevenfold Waking The Fallen: ResurrectedAvenged Sevenfold Live In The LBCBeartooth DisgustingBetween the Buried and Me Coma EclipticBlack Veil Brides Wretched and DivineBlessthefall Hollow Bodiesblink-182 Blink-182blink-182 NeighborhoodsBlood Youth Beyond RepairA non-stop thrill ride of tremendous riffs, impressive vocals and crushing breakdowns, *Beyond Repair* slaps like a pissed off love-child between the chaotic hardcore side of Every Time I Die and the metalcore edge of Architects. Additionally, there's more than enough 2000's post-hardcore influence to be found here (see the song-of-the-year contender "Reason to Stay"). This album oozes infectious energy from start to finish and its unwavering consistency makes a strong case for Blood Youth to end up on the year-end best-of lists of any metalhead. Brand New The Devil and God Are Raging Inside MeBring Me The Horizon SempiternalBullet For My Valentine Scream Aim FireBullet For My Valentine The PoisonBullet For My Valentine Scream, Aim, Fire (Deluxe Edition)Bullet For My Valentine The Poison (Deluxe Edition)Caligula's Horse BloomCaligula's Horse The Tide, the Thief and River's EndCold Years ParadiseI've been through Cold Years' string of EPs, and while not bad, they are nowhere near as special as what they came up with for this debut album. I'm not sure if its the producer (Neil Kennedy, of Creeper and Boston Manor fame), or if they simply just found another gear and stepped it up, but *Paradise* is absolutely excellent. The folky melodies on a punk backdrop with Springsteen-esque storytelling makes it easy to tote them as The Gaslight Anthem's British little brother. And while not as aggressive as Gaslight's debut *Sink or Swim,* and not nearly as special as *the 59 Sound*, Cold Years seems to be shooting for the spot firmly between the two on *Paradise*. I'm not particularly saying they could fill the void in many a fan left by the now-separated Gaslight Anthem, but they certainly could scratch a very similar itch. And after seeing Gaslight's career trajectory following their debut, I'm very excited for the potential of Cold Years. Dayshell DayshellDayshell NexusDestroy Rebuild Until God Shows D.R.U.G.S.Enter Shikari The MindsweepEnter Shikari A Flash Flood of ColourEnter Shikari Take to the SkiesEnter Shikari Live From Planet EarthEnter Shikari Live At Alexandra PalaceEvery Time I Die New Junk AestheticEvery Time I Die The Big DirtyEvery Time I Die Low TeensFamous Last Words Two-Faced CharadeGhost (SWE) PrequelleHands Like Houses UnimagineHands Like Houses ReimagineHAWK (USA-PA) Tolerance's ParadoxHollywood Undead Swan SongsHollywood Undead American TragedyHollywood Undead Hollywood Undead EPHollywood Undead Undead/No.5Hundredth RareI See Stars New DemonsI the Mighty ConnectorKingdom of Giants Ground CultureKnocked Loose Upon Loss Singlesletlive. If I'm the Devil...Linkin Park A Thousand SunsLinkin Park Underground 9Linkin Park Underground 7Linkin Park Road to RevolutionLinkin Park ReanimationLinkin Park Hybrid Theory (20th Anniversary Edition)Linkin Park Meteora (20th Anniversary Edition)Neck Deep Life's Not Out To Get YouNew Order Blue MondayNormandie Inguz (Gold Deluxe)Northlane AlienNorthlane Alien (Deluxe)Northlane and In Hearts Wake EquinoxNovelists NoirOur Last Night Oak IslandParkway Drive IreParkway Drive shift gears on "Ire," opting for hook-filled anthems rather than the breakdowns and chugs of previous releases, and the result is absolutely massive. There is still the excellent guitar work, bone-chilling screams, and neck-snapping (see what I did there) breakdowns of old, but each song is complete with a new found catchiness tailor-made for arenas that will surely take Parkway Drive to new heights within modern rock and metal. Parkway Drive Ire (Deluxe Edition)Polaris The Mortal CoilTesseracT PolarisThe Devil Wears Prada ZombieThe New Age PlaceboAn absolutely tremendous group of musicians, The New Age delivers an excellent release three plus ryears in the making with their debut LP, *Placebo.* Though not as heavy and high-energy as their rmetalcore-based EP, *Think Too Much, Feel Too Little* (which is groundbreaking for the genre; an rabsolute metalcore masterpiece), the album maintains the same genre-shattering creativity and runbridled passion that made their EP so special. Blending beautiful piano with intricate guitar rwork and topped off by the otherworldly vocals of Justin Cotton, *Placebo* confirms The New Age rare not simply a one trick pony nor a one hit wonder. This band deserves to go places, they just rneed more people to take notice. Spin this, its excellent. The Plot In You DisposeThe Plot In You Vol. 1The Plot In You Crows - SingleThe Story So Far Under Soil and DirtTremonti DustTrivium The Sin and the SentenceTwenty One Pilots Vessel4.0 excellentAFI The Missing ManAFI Crash LoveAFI Sing the SorrowAFI BurialsAFI AFI (The Blood Album)AFI DecemberundergroundAFI All Hallow's E.P.Alexisonfire Death LetterAlkaline Trio RemainsAlkaline Trio Hell YesAlkaline Trio Agony and IronyAlkaline Trio CrimsonAlkaline Trio From Here to InfirmaryAlkaline Trio DamnesiaAlkaline Trio Past LiveAlkaline Trio Blood, Hair, and EyeballsAlpha Wolf A Quiet Place to DieAlpha Wolf/Holding Absence The Lost & the LongingAlter Bridge One Day RemainsAlter Bridge Live at the O2 Arena + RaritiesAlter Bridge Live at the Royal Albert Hall Ft. Parallax Orch.American Slang Death DriveDon't be fooled by the retro-pop 1975-lookin' artwork, this is bad to the bone, dirty to the core, nasty as hell, southern-rock inspired hardcore/metalcore. It's somewhere in between the best of Maylene & the Sons of Disaster, and Every Time I Die's southern-fried barstormer The Big Dirty. And its fucking good. Anberlin DevotionAnberlin VitalAngels and Airwaves Love - Part IIAngels and Airwaves The Dream WalkerAngels and Airwaves I-EmpireAngels and Airwaves LoveAngels and Airwaves LifeformsSome of the songs here make me wonder what blink-182 would sound like in 2021 if Tom stayed and kept progressing the band following *Neighborhoods*, rather than Mark taking the reigns and resorting to reverting back to the familiar, outdated teenage vibes of the early 00's. *Lifeforms* is a logical step up from *Dream Walker* and the two EPs that followed, and further solidifies Tom as a prolific songwriter. Though a few songs wear their influences proudly on their sleeves (Depeche Mode on "Spellbound" and The Cure's "Friday I'm In Love" on "Automatic"), the album is as cohesive a journey as any Angels & Airwaves record has been yet. Worth the 7-year wait, and the odd release timeline (Rise records wtf? a new single every month leaving only 4 songs unheard). Arcane Known/LearnedArchitects All Our Gods Have Abandoned UsDefinitely a solid record, but what holds the album back is the tendency of several tracks to seemingly run together. While the singles stand apart very well (Match Made in Heaven and Gone With the Wind are superb), quite a few cuts are remarkably similar to those with "filler feel" from their last effort, Lost Forever//Lost Together. To be frank, a combination of the highlights from LF/LT and this album would be metalcore masterpiece, but the filler tracks on both (and the lack of any bit of progression here) is holding Architects back from ruling the metalcore genre. Atreyu Lead Sails Paper AnchorAugust Burns Red LevelerAugust Burns Red Rescue & RestoreAugust Burns Red HomeAugust Burns Red Phantom AnthemAugust Burns Red Phantom Sessions"Midnight" is an awesome full-band track with some of Jake Luhrs' most melodic vocals in the entire discography. The first half is choppy and proggy a la Between the Buried and Me, but it drops out into a smooth solo and an extremely catchy final two minutes reminiscent of Found in Far Away Places. Its cool to see Dustin Davidson's Phantom Anthem bonus track "Laniakea" finally get a proper release, and his Zelda cover is pretty neat, but the other must-listen moment here is the re-imagined version of "Coordinates." Similar to what the band did with "Majoring in the Minors," the song is acoustic-driven with beautifully arranged strings and hauntingly atmospheric gang vocals, complete with a western piano spin on the original song's outro guitar lead. Its a phenomenal piece of music that conveys how truly talented ABR is. Coupled with the aforementioned "Majoring in the Minors" reprise, "Coordinates (Reprise)" has me dying for them to release an entire compilation of re-imagined songs from their discography. This EP is essential for ABR fans, and the casual metalhead will likely enjoy "Midnight," but everyone needs to hear the reprise of "Coordinates." August Burns Red Winter WildernessAs someone who hates Christmas music but loves ABR, I was obligated to listen to it. Honestly, JB, Dustin and Brent shred all over this and keep it entertaining for an anti-Christmas music kinda guy like me, but its not something I'm gonna revisit other than to put it on my family's holiday playlist and watch them look around in confusion when some rad blast beats interrupt dinner. August Burns Red Leveler (Anniversary)August Burns Red Death BelowAvenged Sevenfold All ExcessAvenged Sevenfold The StageAvenged Sevenfold The Stage (Deluxe Edition)Avenged Sevenfold Life Is But A Dream...AVOID The BurnerMILES ahead of their debut LP, this EP blends influences from everywhere (deathcore moments a la Chelsea Grin, southern rock a la ETID, poppy post-hardcore a la Escape the Fate, etc.) and is one of the few bright spots to emerge from the vast landscape of mostly boring music produced by the Warped Tour World in 2020. Bad Omens Bad OmensBad Omens Finding God Before God Finds MeBad Omens The Death of Peace of MindBad Omens Finding God Before God Finds Me (Deluxe)Beartooth SickBetween the Buried and Me ColorsBetween the Buried and Me The Great MisdirectBetween the Buried and Me The Parallax II: Future SequenceBetween the Buried and Me Automata IIBetween the Buried and Me Colors IIBilmuri BananaBlack Tide Post MortemBlack Veil Brides Set the World on Fireblink-182 Enema Of The Stateblink-182 Take Off Your Pants And Jacketblink-182 Greatest Hitsblink-182 Dogs Eating Dogsblink-182 The Mark, Tom and Travis ShowBorn of Osiris Soul SphereBorn of Osiris The Eternal ReignBorn of Osiris The SimulationBorn of Osiris Angel or AlienBoston Manor Welcome to the NeighbourhoodBring Me The Horizon Live at WembleyBring Me The Horizon That's the SpiritBring Me The Horizon Live at the Royal Albert HallFor those who think live albums are pointless cash grabs, you're usually right. However, this show (and the release as a whole) is not a run-of-the-mill live record. The show was performed with a full orchestra accompaniment, adding an entirely new dimension to the tracks that cannot be experienced through their studio albums. Additionally, proceeds are sent directly to Teenage Cancer Trust, so rest assured this record isn't about cash flow. And while Oli's performance is not as spectacular as the orchestra nor the rest of his band, BMTH provide a unique way to experience many of the tracks from *That's the Spirit* and *Sempiternal* for those who couldn't attend this special event at the Royal Albert Hall. Bring Me The Horizon Live From Maida ValeBring Me The Horizon POST HUMAN: SURVIVAL HORRORBullet For My Valentine The Poison: Live at Brixton AcademyBullet For My Valentine Venom (Deluxe)Caligula's Horse In ContactCaligula's Horse Charcoal GraceCapstan Restless Heart, Keep RunningCarousel Kings UnityChevelle Stray Arrows – A Collection of FavoritesChiodos DevilCold Years Goodbye to MiseryFar more Green Day influence than the Gaslight Anthem/Menzingers nods that dominated the previous album, but still impressively catchy and well executed across the board. You'd be hard pressed to find a band doing any sort of pop punk better in 2022, especially with the hollow mainstream revival going on. Cold Years is fucking good. Creeper Eternity, In Your ArmsCurrents The Place I Feel SafestCurrents I Let the Devil InCurrents The Way It EndsCurrents The Death We SeekDead By Sunrise Out of AshesDead Letter Circus AesthesisDead Letter Circus This Is The WarningDeaf Havana RitualsDreamcar DREAMCARdredg Catch Without ArmsEarthside A Dream In StaticEnter Shikari Live in London NW5 2012Enter Shikari Quelle SurpriseEnter Shikari Sorry, You're Not A Winner/OK! Time For Plan B!Enter Shikari Live & Acoustic At Alexandra PalaceEnter Shikari Live At Milton KeynesEnter Shikari Live At Rock CityEnter Shikari Nothing Is True and Everything Is PossibleEnter Shikari Live At Alexandra Palace 2Enter Shikari Take To The Skies: Live In Moscow. May 2017Enter Shikari HoodwinkerERRA ERRAERRA ERRA (Deluxe)Still can't stand re-releasing deluxe versions 6-months after a record, but in the age of streaming I guess its less of a cash grab than it use to be (cough Rise Records cough). At any rate, the new tracks are clearly the B-Sides. All the best content from this record is on the standard edition, but fans of said edition will certainly appreciate the new songs. Its not going to make Erra any new fans, but it'll help to hold over the die-hards until the next album. Escape the Fate There's No Sympathy for the DeadEscape the Fate SituationsEscape the Fate Dying Is Your Latest FashionEve 6 HorrorscopeEvery Time I Die A Colossal Wreck // Desperate PleasuresEvery Time I Die RadicalFalling in Reverse The Drug in Me Is YouFalling in Reverse Coming HomeThis is a positive evolution; for sure a progression. Tracks 4 through 6, however, do not fit well here, and are borderline awful in the context of the record, but nearly everything else is a step [up] into uncharted lands for Ronnie Radke and Falling in Reverse. Dropping the scene/pop-metalcore for alternative rock with a good bit of spacey atmosphere is admittedly something I never expected from Radke (do not be fooled, he is steering the creative process for this band and has been since day one), but damn does it work well. "The Departure," "Coming Home," and "Loser" are fantastic, melancholic yet tremendously atmospheric tracks, while "Superhero" contains a bit of retro-wave influence in the verses and one of Radke's best vocal performances to date. The aforementioned filler, as well as the bonus tracks on the deluxe version could be best described as *Fashionably Late* B-sides, rooted in [very poppy] pop-punk with the *Fashionably Late*-era pretentious lyricism. Removing those songs from the tracklist would result in a much more focused, consistent, and overall excellent effort. But as it stands, *Coming Home* appears more to be the start of a coming of age. More outputs like this could result in the improved reputation of Ronnie Radke, which I'm sure makes tons of readers here cringe immediately. And that's exactly why you should listen to this. Well, tracks 1-3 and 7-11 at least. Falling in Reverse DrugsFamous Last Words Council Of The DeadFort Minor The Rising TiedFort Minor The Rising Tied - Tour EditionGhost (SWE) MelioraGhost (SWE) ImperaGreen Day American IdiotGreta Van Fleet Black Smoke RisingHands Like Houses DissonantsHeartist Nothing You Didn't DeserveHellions Opera ObliviaHollywood Undead Notes From the UndergroundHollywood Undead FiveHollywood Undead New Empire Vol. 1Ice Nine Kills The Predator Becomes the PreyGood, but not great. Its your run-of-the-mill metalcore CD. Granted, it has its moments including several very catchy hooks and surprisingly decent guitar solos. But overall, it doesn't exactly stand out by any means. EDIT: Upped it to a 4. Ages well, riffs, solos and choruses are killer. Trumps *Every Trick* in that vein for sure, and ultimately overall. More consistent outputs like this and *Every Trick* ought to have INK at the top of modern pop metalcore in the near future. Ice Nine Kills Every Trick in the BookThe cool guitar licks and leads are gone, which really holds this back from living up to its predecessor. There are still some fun solos, and the conceptual lyrics and improved vocals ensure this to be an enjoyable listen, but dropping the technicality and superior metalcore musicianship keep this from being INK's best release. Ice Nine Kills The Silver ScreamYes, some bits are outrageous, but bruh you fuckin lying if you don't think this is fun as shit to listen to. Ice Nine Kills The Silver Scream (Final Cut)In Hearts Wake DivinationIn Hearts Wake SkydancerAn impressively better half of the "earthcore" double album, Skydancer presents the perfect mix of heaviness and melody. Tracks such as "Badlands," "Breakaway," and even the title track may be the three best singles across the band's discography and set the stage for a fantastic effort by the Australian metalcore band. The only thing holding back Skydancer, and the band for that matter, is the filler tracks that seem to run together. Like on Earthwalker, there are a few tracks that, at first listen, are hard to tell apart from others. Admittedly, there are fewer on this half of the double album, but perhaps they should've done away with the filler and just made one album of just the better tracks. Issues Black DiamondsJared Dines The LightI don't quite get the hate for Jared (especially here), his YouTube channel is supremely entertaining for any metal-head and he has time and time again shown some insane instrumental skills with his covers, parody videos, and "If ______ band was metal" remixes. The Dark and Light EP's are his first foray into original, serious, solo music. Singing, screaming, writing and performing all the instruments himself, Jared once again shows he's more talented than most musicians who have garnered a following in the "scene" in recent years. The Light EP is considerably more metalcore than the deathcore leaning Dark EP, but makes for an even more enjoyable listen. The guitar work is solid and there are interesting drum fills everywhere, and Jared's clean vocals are surprisingly close to being on par with his impressive screaming ability, which effortlessly reaches all ranges from low growls to screeching highs. "Rebuild" is a highlight, taking influence from Parkway Drive, while the Born of Osiris-esque "Gaze into the Iris" ought to please many a djent fan. Lyrical content is perhaps the only weak point of the release, as it is on the Dark as well. As a whole, however, The Light EP is a great metalcore release by an insanely talented dude, who hopefully intends to create more original music alongside his successful YouTube channel. {Its not the best release of the year, but it is certainly much better than a 1.0}Jeremy Soule The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim SoundtrackJulien-K We're Here with YouJulien-K California Noir - Chapter One: Analog Beaches & DiKingdom of Giants Bleeding StarKnife Party Rage ValleyKnuckle Puck While I Stay SecludedLandon Tewers Dynamiteletlive. The Blackest Beautifulletlive. Fake Historyletlive. Fake History (Re-Release)Like Moths to Flames An Eye for an EyeLike Moths to Flames The Dream Is DeadLinkin Park The Hunting PartyLinkin Park Living ThingsLinkin Park Underground XLinkin Park iTunes Festival: London 2011Linkin Park A Thousand Suns + Live from MadridLinkin Park 8 Track DemoMachine Gun Kelly Tickets to My DownfallMachine Gun Kelly Lace UpMachine Gun Kelly Hotel DiabloActually, genuinely really solid. The last few releases have been incredibly forgettable to the point where it seemed MGK would never achieve the potential for greatness he once displayed. *Hotel Diablo* is easily his most creative and compelling work, and it shows he might not have wasted that potential afterall. The lyrics are fantastic and introspective, and the musicianship is cohesive, making this *feel like an album,* not just a collection of random song ideas (as the last several projects have). MGK is back, and this album is actually good. Machine Gun Kelly Lockdown SessionsMagna Carta Cartel The Dying OptionMallory Knox AsymmetryMetallica Master Of PuppetsMiss Fortune A Spark To BelieveMy Ticket Home Strangers OnlyMyka Relocate Lies to Light the WayNeck Deep Wishful ThinkingNeck Deep DecemberNew Order SubstanceNew Order SinglesNik Mystery WhenClean, 80's-esque synthwave a la The Midnight or Gunship, but often guitar driven similar to the more straightforward pop songs (Girls, Love Me, This Must Be My Dream) of the 1975. Pretty cool to see the immensely talented Spencer Sotelo (Periphery frontman) expanding on his pop sensibilities, although its a bit apparent the project is an attempt to jump on the overly-80's-influenced alternative pop trend. That's not a detriment, however, as the EP is certainly strong enough to stand alone, despite lyrically and instrumentally bringing nothing new to the table. Guitarist Mike Dawes certainly shines as well, with a few sweet solos and more than enough of those tasty wave guitar riffs. Brought together with superbly atmospheric keys and tight production by award-winning Finnish pop producer Jukka Backlund, *When* is absolutely one of the best synthwave/alt-pop releases of 2018. No Pressure No Pressure EPFor longtime The Story So Far fans craving more of the fast, loud, Under Soil and Dirt-era sound that launched their career, this is for you. The band features two members of TSSF, including vocalist Parker Cannon, and said to "expect Dude Ranch (blink-182) vibes." No Pressure No PressureNormandie InguzNormandie White FlagMany of the heavy moments from the debut have been subtracted which is not necessarily a detriment, but results in each song sounding extremely similar. Ten of the twelve tracks here follow a very strict formula with little experimentation, however it results in very well executed, explosive pop rock. Each chorus just pops as Normandie's extremely talented vocalist Philip Strand delivers fantastic melodies on every track. Vocals are the focal point, deservedly and rightfully so based on the focus on the record, and the instrumentation compliments Strand well despite leaving some to be desired. Ultimately not as impressive as *Inguz* across the board, *White Flag* is elite pop rock deserving of radio airplay. For new listeners, this falls somewhere between Hands Like Houses' *Dissonants* and the latest effort from Deaf Havana, *Rituals.* Northlane SingularityNorthlane Analog FutureNorthlane ObsidianNovelists C'est La VieOne Year Later As Long As I'm AliveOne Year Later Life Between The LiesOtherwise Enjoy The PainOur Last Night We Will All EvolveOur Last Night Oak Island AcousticParkway Drive HorizonsParkway Drive AtlasParkway Drive ReverenceHere's my review: https://www.flippenmusic.com/review-parkway-drive-reverence/Pendulum ImmersionPeriphery Periphery II: This Time It's PersonalPeriphery ClearPeriphery Periphery III: Select DifficultyPolaris The Guilt & The GriefPolaris The Death of MeRise Against The Sufferer and the WitnessSaor AuraSleep Token SundowningSleeping With Sirens If You Were a Movie, This Would Be Your SoundtrackSoilwork The Living InfiniteSoilwork OvergivenhetenI dunno what album some of you guys are listening to (and complaining about?) but the first three tracks alone are the most entertained I've been by Soilwork since Living Infinite. State Champs The Finer ThingsState Champs The Acoustic ThingsStick Figure Set In StoneStick to Your Guns True ViewStone Temple Pilots Thank YouStoneside. EP.1 - The WaterSum 41 All The Good ShitTears for Fears Tears Roll Down (Greatest Hits '82-'92)Teenage Wrist Earth Is A Black HoleThe Cult LoveThe Cult Sonic TempleThe Cult Electric Peace*Peace* was the original follow up to Love that was scrapped, and *Electric* came out in its place. *Electric Peace* is the two-CD compilation featuring both albums, with *Peace* being released for the first time thought many of the tracks were reworked and appeared on *Electric.* Admittedly, I was not alive during this era (born in '94), but I was drawn to the Cult like most others, with "She Sells Sanctuary." *Love* was a truly unique sounding record, and a few years later, *Sonic Temple* produced a rather diverse take on hard rock. *Electric* sits in the middle as a kind of bland, AC/DC-derivative, straightforward rock record. Its not bad by any means -- in fact its incredibly consistent. But after hearing *Peace,* I'm puzzled as to why the band disliked it and chose to re-record the album that resulted in *Electric.* Across the board, sonically, *Peace* feels like the much more natural transition bridge between *Love* and *Sonic Temple.* It has the colorful tones and atmosphere of *Love,* with the attitude and similar style of *Sonic Temple.* Its cool to hear more tunes from that era of the Cult, when Ian Astbury's pipes were still top notch and Billy Duffy's guitar work was original and colorful as ever. The Devil Wears Prada Dead ThroneThe Devil Wears Prada SpaceThe Devil Wears Prada ZIIThe Devil Wears Prada Color DecayThe Menzingers Hello ExileThe Panic Division TouchCompletely unfamiliar with this band's past material, it is my understanding this is entirely different sound for the Panic Division when compared to previous releases. Each song has a massive synthwave influence and is dripping in the neon 80's-vibe a la the Midnight, but with upbeat modern pop sensibilities like The 1975 at their most energetic. "Wild Nights" is the highlight, with an irresistible hook. Produced by Taylor Larson (Periphery, The Evening), the album is sonically phenomenal, even if the melodies are not as strong on every track. Likely the best pop album of 2019. The Plot In You Happiness in Self DestructionThe Story So Far Songs OfThe Story So Far The Story So FarThe Story So Far Proper DoseThe White Noise Aren't You GladThe White Noise AM/PMAn intriguing and diverse debut album from the so-cal five piece, but ultimately not as consistent nor memorable as the debut EP. Guitarist Josh Strock is an experienced scene writer (contributing to recent Motionless in White and Crown the Empire albums) and it shows on the many tremendous hooks and melodies found throughout, but the songs simply don't floor the listener like "Bloom" or "Cosmopolitician." "Bite Marks" is a damn fine radio piece, while "Rated R" is the breakdown enthusiast's best friend, and "Montreal" showcases a never before seen mellow side to the band. The highlight, however, may be the summer crossover smash attempt "I Lost My Mind," a late 90's pop-punk sounding banger that rocks like Lit's "My Own Worst Enemy" and features an incredibly catchy guitar solo. The diversity shown throughout is a major plus, and the lyricism is well above average, but the record just seems to lack a bit of the "wow factor" heard on their previous work. Still, *AM/PM* shines of a band with loads of potential; the White Noise ought to be scene frontrunners in the years to come. The Word Alive Life CyclesThe Word Alive DeceiverThornhill The Dark PoolThrice VheissuToo Close to Touch Nerve EndingsTremonti CauterizeHeavier and presumably darker than All I Was, but the melodies have lagged a bit. All I Was contained consistent hook after hook, while Cauterize seemingly gives way to some "filler" tracks in this regard. By splitting the recording session into two ten-track albums (Cauterize and Dust, to follow this fall), perhaps some of the less-impressive songs made each album by default. Thus, it begs the "what-if" question regarding compiling one record of the absolute best tracks from Cauterize and Dust for what could have been the perfect follow-up to the classic that was All I Was. Still, Cauterize is certainly excellent. Mark Tremonti has grown, talent and songwriting- wise, exponentially since his days winning Grammy's in Creed. There's no doubt his latest efforts, both solo and with the outstanding outfit Alter Bridge, are more deserving of the accolades than Creed ever was. Tremonti, the band and the man, both have extremely bright futures in the rock and metal communities.Tremonti A Dying MachineTremonti Marching In TimeFar catchier and more engaging than *A Dying Machine*, this is on par with the best from *Dust* and *Cauterize*. Could end up being my second favorite Tremonti album after a few more listens. Excellent riffs, some of his best choruses, and some wild guitar solos. This album is super fun and FAR better than anything on terrestrial rock radio these days. Trivium In WavesTrivium ShogunTrivium In the Court of the DragonTurnover Peripheral VisionTurnstile Glow OnTwenty One Pilots BlurryfaceTyler Childers Live On Red Barn Radio I & IIVeil of Maya MatriarchVeil of Maya False IdolVeil of Maya [m]otherVolumes No SleepVolumes No Sleep (Remastered)We Came As Romans Present, Future and PastWe Came As Romans Tracing Back RootsWhile She Sleeps BrainwashedWhile She Sleeps You Are WeWilderun Veil of ImaginationWilderun Sleep at the Edge of the EarthWovenwar Wovenwar3.5 greatA Day To Remember What Separates Me from YouA Loss For Words No SanctuaryAether Realm TarotAFI BodiesAgainst Me! White CrossesAlexisonfire Old Crows / Young CardinalsAlexisonfire CrisisAlkaline Trio Broken WingAlkaline Trio This AddictionAlkaline Trio My Shame Is TrueAlkaline Trio Alkaline TrioAlkaline Trio GoddamnitAlkaline Trio I Lied My Face OffAlkaline Trio E.P.Alkaline Trio Halloween at the Metro (DVD)All That Remains The Fall Of IdealsAllegaeon DamnumAllt From the New WorldAlpha Wolf FaultAlter Bridge The Last HeroAlter Bridge Walk The SkyAlter Bridge Pawns and KingsAmorphis Queen of TimeAmorphis HaloAnberlin CitiesAnberlin LowbornAngels and Airwaves We Don't Need to WhisperAngels and Airwaves Chasing ShadowsAngels and Airwaves The Dream Walker DemosAnnisokay ArmsArcane Roots Heaven and EarthArt Of Dying Vices and VirtuesAs I Lay Dying AwakenedAs I Lay Dying An Ocean Between UsAsking Alexandria From Death to DestinyAsking Alexandria Reckless and RelentlessAugust Burns Red GuardiansAugust Burns Red Guardians SessionsSimilar to last cycle's *Phantom Sessions*, this is a collection of B-Sides and unique re-imagined versions of several tracks from 2020's *Guardians.* "Standing in the Storm" is a pretty solid B-Side, with an awesome one-time chorus and interlude that each generate replay-ability. But, altogether, the track never has enough punch to amount to the success of previous ABR tracks with a similar vibe ("The Frost," "Midnight"). "Icarus" is sadly not a Kansas cover, and even more disappointing is the issue that the track itself really goes nowhere. But the EP is redeemed in the super fun, fan-service cover of "Chop Suey," the titanic metal take on the Westworld show theme, and the two re-imagined songs. I've long-championed a future compilation of ABR's re-imaginings, as they often take their songs to entirely new heights (see "Coordinates" and "Majoring in the Minors" of releases past). While the original "Extinct by Instinct" wouldn't exactly have been my choice of track to get the ABR overhaul treatment, it certainly succeeds in showing just how talented these musicians are. "Paramount," on the other hand, would've been my first choice for a *Guardians* re-imangining, and meets all expectations. While the execution of the "Chop Suey" cover is sure to bring in a handful of new fans to ABR based on SOAD association alone, the rest of the EP is mainly to tide over the hardcore ABR follower until the next full length. Avenged Sevenfold Diamonds In The Rough (Remastered)AVOID Cult MentalityBayside CultBayside InterrobangBayside The Walking WoundedBayside The Blue EPBayside The Red EPBayside There Are Worse Things Than Being AliveBeartooth DiseaseBeartooth BelowBeartooth Disease (Deluxe)Beast In Black From Hell With LoveBelmont Bowser's MixtapeBest Case Scenario Staircase WitBetter Lovers God Made Me an AnimalBetween the Buried and Me AlaskaBetween the Buried and Me The Parallax: Hypersleep DialoguesBetween the Buried and Me Automata I**my 1000th album rating wooo** I can't say I've ever failed to enjoy a BtBaM release and this is certainly no different. Feels like a natural follow up to *Coma*, and if the second half is this good, we may be discussing this alongside *Parallax* and *Colors* as their best release (though *Coma* is my personal favorite). Bilmuri BilmuriBilmuri Solid ChubBilmuri Jaguar SharkBlack Peaks All That DividesBlack Veil Brides RebelsBlack Veil Brides The NightBlackbraid Blackbraid IBlackbraid Blackbraid IIBlaqk Audio MaterialBlaqk Audio Beneath the Black Palms (Side A)Bleed from Within FractureBlessthefall AwakeningBlessthefall To Those Left Behindblessthefall re-invented their sound on "Hollow Bodies," a modern-metalcore classic, and build rupon that success with "To Those Left Behind." While not quite the stellar, consistent effort that rwas "Hollow Bodies," blessthefall's latest effort has cemented their status as members of the rcurrent "metalcore elite" for lack of a better term, alongside The Devil Wears Prada, August Burns rRed and others. The album's singles "Up in Flames," "Walk on Water," and "Dead Air" prove to be rhighlights accompanied by the monumental track that is "Oathbreaker," while "Keep What We Want and rBurn the Rest," and "Condition//Comatose" make for a minor, mediocre section on the back-half of rthe album. This is seemingly not the same band behind the scene-breakthrough "Hey Baby;" rblessthefall have grown as songwriters and instrumentalists, producing another interesting yet rfun listen in "To Those Left Behind." They've found their "sweet spot" on their past two albums, rsetting themselves up for an intriguing future on forthcoming LP's. Blessthefall Hard FeelingsWell...its good for what it is. And for a blessthefall record, its a shame. *Hollow Bodies* is a modern metalcore classic, with gnarly riffs and top notch aggression from start to finish. *Hard Feelings* is a significant departure. Sure, it sounds glossy and polished, but every song is the same shell of of an alt-rock-leaning Bring Me the Horizon rip-off. Each song enters with a catchy, punchy riff (some of which are *Hollow Bodies*-era strong), but then drops out into this pseudo-artsy atmospheric verse where Beau whines over a simple drum patterns and shimmery synth before a wall of power chords enter with a typical blessthefall chorus. Rinse and repeat, this happens on nine of the ten tracks (the exception being "Cutthroat"). There's no gnarly verse riffs, there's no shredding, and there's minimal fun to be had, the latter of which being the hallmark of what made blessthefall who they are. At the end of the day, *Hard Feelings* sounds like a band who realized their popularity stagnated (and it did), so they're attempting to take the BMTH *That's the Spirit* alt-rock leap, with 9 songs sounding like "Drown" carbon copies. Whether label-pushed (they're now on Rise) or their own idea, they've executed the sound adequately at best. *Hard Feelings* is a fun listen at times, and surely has its catchy moments, but its a disappointing blessthefall release. Ultimately, time will tell if this accomplishes the lightning-in-a-bottle popularity explosion they're (or their label) hoping for.Blind Guardian Somewhere Far Beyondblink-182 California (Deluxe Edition)blink-182 Nineblink-182 One More Time...Blitz Kids The Good YouthBlood Youth ClosureBlood Youth StarveMUCH heavier on the nu-metal influence that bled through a bit on the debut, but they execute it pretty well. They went heavier across the board here. That snare sounds like a mad man beating on a massive empty oil tank and the bass slaps harder than a couple of divorcing cousins in a rural Alabama trailer park. Lots of fun shit here. One of the only records in the recent nu-metalcore wave that I actually enjoy, this kicks about as hard as My Ticket Home's Strangers Only. Listen and prepare ur anus. Blood Youth Visions Of Another HellBand leaned hard into their nu-metal influence on the last record to mixed results. They put it all together here. Super fun record. Bloody Tyrant The Legacy of Sun-Moon LakeBorealis The OfferingBorn of Osiris Tomorrow We Die AliveBorn of Osiris The DiscoveryBoston Manor GlueBox Car Racer Box Car RacerBoys of Fall Thank You and GoodbyeBrand New Deja EntenduBrand New Your Favorite WeaponBrand New Your Favorite Weapon (Deluxe Edition)Breaking Benjamin Shallow Bay: The Best Of Breaking BenjaminBring Me The Horizon amoBring Me The Horizon POST HUMAN: NeX GEnBroadway Contexture: Gods, Men & The Infinite CosmosBullet For My Valentine FeverBullet For My Valentine Road to NowhereBullet For My Valentine Hand of BloodBullet For My Valentine VenomBullet For My Valentine Bullet for My ValentineWhy do these songs sound like they were recorded in a tunnel with a homeless guy playing an empty bucket for the snare drum? EDIT: First posted this after the initial singles were rolled out. Obviously the entire rest of the album sounds this way. The production is god awful. And if you sat through *Gravity*, its the same exact shit production and mixing. I cannot understand why a group of accomplished metal musicians would listen to this and think yea mate this shit sounds mint put it out....but I digress. Production/mixing aside, most of the songs are very fun here. Some terrible lyrics throughout, but that's to be expected with BFMV. Back to form after the previous snooze fest, at least. Still does not reach anywhere near the highs of the first two (or three depending on your thoughts) albums. Bullet For My Valentine Bullet for My Valentine (Deluxe)Bumpin Uglies Beast From The EastBury Tomorrow Black FlameBury Tomorrow CannibalBury Tomorrow The Seventh SunCaladan Brood Echoes Of BattleCaligula's Horse Rise RadiantCan Bardd Devoured by the OakCapstan In the Wake of Our DiscordCapstan SeparateCarpenter Brut Leather TerrorCelldweller End of an EmpireCelldweller Into the VoidA pretty fun, high-energy, metal focused run of four tracks. Always cool to see Klayton lean hard into his metal influence, and it takes the driver's seat on each song here. The digital release includes a handful of remixes and instrumental versions of the four base songs, so if that's your cup of tea, enjoy. Personally, I didn't bother with them so my rating is entirely based on the four base songs. Chevelle Hats Off to the BullChevelle NIRATIASChief (CAL) ChiefChiodos IlluminaudioCold Years Death ChasersCold Years Northern BlueColdrain FATELESSColdrain The Side EffectsCome the Dawn Light of the WorldConditions Full of WarCounterparts You're Not You AnymoreCounterparts Nothing Left to LoveCreeper Sex, Death and the Infinite VoidCreeper SanguivoreCrown the Empire The FalloutCrown the Empire LimitlessCrownshift CrownshiftCurrents Life // LostDance with the Dead Near DarkDance with the Dead Loved to DeathDarkest Hour Darkest HourDarkness Divided Darkness DividedDave Hause DevourDayseeker SleeptalkSo I like it but I can't help but feeling like I've heard it before? Its the same thing every "maturing" core band does. Atmospheric keys, simple drum beats, quiet verses, loud stadium-sized chorus with power chords, rinse, repeat. Rory sounds phenomenal, but this is exactly what we've gotten from tons of bands lately.If Beau Bokan was singing this, wouldn't it feel like a bunch of blessthefall - Hard Feelings songs?Dayshell Mr. PainDayshell PEGASUSDead Letter Circus Dead Letter CircusDealer (AUS) SaintdEMOTIONAL Scandinavian AftermathsUPER CHEESY LYRICS BUT ALSO QUITE CATCHY. nICE MELODIES THROUGHOUT. Depeche Mode ViolatorDines X Heafy Dines X HeafyDisco Ensemble Back on the MF StreetDisco Ensemble First aid kitDon Broco TechnologyDown & Dirty Heaven SentDownlink TriphektaDownlink Factory/YeahDrab Majesty The DemonstrationDrab Majesty Modern MirrorDuran Duran RioDwarrowdelf The Fallen LeavesDzo-nga Thunder In the MountainsEarthside Let The Truth SpeakElectric Callboy MMXXElectric Callboy TEKKNOElectric Century For The Night To ControlElectric Century Electric CenturyEnisum Arpitanian LandsEnter Shikari Common DreadsERRA DriftERRA AugmentEve 6 Grim ValuePost-punk influenced alt rock pivot a la new AFI, and done pretty well sans the at times frustrating lyrics. If the chorus on "Black Nova" didn't absolutely smack, the "it's getting turbulent" pre-chorus would drop this rating a whole point for me. Glad to see these guys still getting after it. Every Time I Die From Parts UnknownEvery Time I Die Ex LivesExitWounds VisionsFor those bummed about The Plot in You taking a softer direction, this EP is for you. Kinda sounds like if CYWYCB-era Landon fronted Bad Omens. Standard, straightforward metalcore bangers. ExitWounds Split Series #1 - with KingsmenFaith No More The Real ThingFall Out Boy From Under the Cork TreeFalling in Reverse Just Like YouFalling in Reverse Popular MonsterFamous Last Words ARIZONAFit for a King Dark SkiesIts good, sure, but metalcore this derivative is not a 4.5, let alone a 5. Fit for a King The PathFloya YumeFrank Turner England Keep My BonesFrank Turner Tape Deck HeartFrank Turner FTHCFrom First to Last Dead TreesIts painfully obvious that Matt Good is still writing all the tunes for this band, as every song sounds like a b-side from the last project Good was in on, D.R.U.G.S., and its just very average. Spencer Sotelo, however, is clearly well above Craig Owens (or even Sonny Moore for that matter) in terms of vocal ability and proves it here. Tracks like "H8 Meh" just beg the question, "Haven't I heard this before?" Hell, Spencer even sounds like Owens on that track. Its nothing new, its nothing special, and its certainly nothing more than average in what is becoming a very diluted and stale genre.Gallowbraid Ashen EidolonGet Scared DemonsGhost (SWE) Seven Inches Of Satanic PanicGhost (SWE) Opus EponymousGleemer Down ThroughGrayscale Nella VitaPretty well-executed pop-rock here, but for anything in this vein to be 4.0+, every single hook has to be razor sharp. You get that a bit with Baby Blue, Painkiller Weather, and In Violet, but there's several tracks that seem to pass by with little to no effect whatsoever. Band is destined for popularity though. (PS is Baby Blue literally ripping the 1975's She's American riff?)Green Day International SuperhitsGreta Van Fleet From the FiresGreyhaven Empty BlackGunship Dark All DayGunship Unicornheadcave 1Heartist Feeding FictionA good album from a really refreshing new band to hit radio rock. Their debut EP was very good and a clear sign of potential moving forward. The full length drops most of the metalcore influence from the EP, giving them a consistent yet unique radio rock sound. The vocalist, clearly the most talented member of the band, is in the spotlight and rightfully so. Every hook/chorus is very catchy, with a few decent guitar solos and riffs sprinkled in. The only real downside is the lack of variation in sound and song structure. A few tracks seem to blend together, not standing out alone when listening to the album front to back. Still, a very good debut record and one that certainly instills faith in the recovery of rock radio. Roadrunner records may have found a super star in Heartist.Holding Absence Holding AbsenceHolding Absence The Greatest Mistake of My LifeHolding Absence The Noble Art of Self-DestructionHollywood Undead Hollywood UndeadHollywood Undead Day of the DeadAs Hollywood Undead gets older and more mature, it becomes more and more apparent that tracks such as "Party By Myself" and "Guzzle Guzzle" are added to their albums just to appease the group of fans still hanging on their classic debut Swan Songs. The few party-centered tracks here on Day of the Dead are easily the weak points of the album, alongside the unfocused (and downright strange) "Does Everyone in the World Have to Die." However, this album has several notable highlights. The pop infused "Gravity" is one of the catchiest moments on the album, and across the band's entire discography. Lead single and title track "Day of the Dead" is a hard hitting rap rock anthem that oozes retro Linkin Park flair and begs the question: why not focus their material on mostly serious subjects? That's not to say, however, that they have to drop the "I'm a bad-ass" style songs such as "Usual Suspects" and "How We Roll," which is a formidable 1-2 punch to open the record. While past party hits "Comin' in Hot" and "California" may be two of their biggest, most popular songs, its clear that the only thing holding Hollywood Undead back from being one of the faces of modern radio rock and hip-hop infused rock/nu-metal are the laughably cheesy, weak party filler tracks. This album is not an equal of their impressive debut Swan Songs, nor its [arguably better] follow-up American Tragedy, but it certainly is a catchy and overall solid effort. A more mature focus on upcoming albums should result in a new level of success for this band. Hundredth UltrarareHundredth IridescentHurtwave Night Therapy II Am King SolidarityI See Stars Digital RenegadeI See Stars Treehouse"All In" has to be among the worst tracks I've heard in ages. Devin is attempting to be one of rthose trap/rap/hip-hop hype idiots the entire song, and its so painful to listen to. Aside from rthat, its a well composed electronic ROCK album. I just don't get why they [nearly] totally rabandoned the sound that spawned two excellent albums (Digital Renegade and especially New Demons) rand led to a substantial fan base (headlining All-Stars Tour, mainstage Warped Tour, New Demons rdebuting at #28 on the BillBoard 200). There are a few tracks with elements of their previous rsound, but for the most part, I See Stars has been totally reinvented on Treehouse. Time will tell rif that's for the better, but Treehouse is certainly not as interesting a listen as its two rpredecessors. Solid production and interesting drum work contributed by YouTube sensation and the rWorld Alive percussionist Luke Holland add two more positive facets to this release, but rultimately it falls short of the electronic-core/electronic-hardcore masterpiece that was New rDemons. I See Stars Treehouse (Acoustic)I the Mighty Oil In WaterIbaraki RashomonIce Nine Kills Safe Is Just a Shadow (Rerecorded)In Flames Reroute to RemainIn Flames ClaymanIn Flames I, the MaskIn Flames The Jester RaceIn Flames ForegoneIn Hearts Wake IncarnationIron Maiden PowerslaveIron Maiden Brave New WorldIron Maiden Seventh Son Of A Seventh SonIssues IssuesJarrod Alonge Beating a Dead HorseJohnny Booth Firsthand AccountsJohnny Booth Moments ElsewhereJonathan Young Starship VelociraptorHe proved his musical talent through his expansive collection of cover songs on his popular YouTube channel, but Jonathan Young's first original full length proves he can write, too. *Starship Velociraptor* is eleven extremely melodic, infectiously catchy power metal tunes with just the right amount of cheese. Super fun album. Jonathan Young Magic: The Gathering - The Spark Inside SoundtrackJulien-K California Noir - Complete EditionKauan Ice FleetKing Mothership The RitualKingdom of Giants All the Hell You've Got to SpareNot the front-to-back banger that was *Ground Culture,* but a suitable follow-up nonetheless. "Damaged Goods" and "Motif" stand out as perfect bridges to previous material, while "Lost Cause" and "Runaway" show a positive evolution for the band. This doesn't reinvent the beaten-to-death formula that is modern metalcore, but Kingdom of Giants certainly deserve to be recognized as one of the better, more talented artists carrying the genre's torch in 2017. Kingdom of Giants PassengerCool textures, ambiance and vocal melodies, but underneath it all its the same exact drum beats, tempos and structures on every track. The high speed energy from *Ground Culture* is gone completely in favor of a mid-tempo groove with more emphasis on atmosphere. It works in a lot of places, and its certainly easy on the ears for a metalcore fan, but its just not special at all in any way shape or form. And its a far cry from their best work two albums ago. But hey, at least it looks like they have some momentum going and a shot at decent (relative) popularity for the first time in their careers. Knocked Loose A Different Shade of BlueKnocked Loose A Tear in the Fabric of LifeKnocked Loose You Won't Go Before You're Supposed ToKnuckle Puck The Weight That You BuriedLandon Tewers WithdrawalsLeprous PitfallsLeprous AphelionLike Moths to Flames When We Don't ExistLike Moths to Flames Where the Light Refuses to GoLike Moths to Flames When We Don't Exist (Deluxe)Like Moths to Flames No Eternity in GoldLinkin Park Minutes to MidnightLinkin Park Hybrid Theory EPLinkin Park Songs From The UndergroundLinkin Park Live In TexasLinkin Park Underground 4Liquid Stranger Mechanoid MeltdownLorene Drive Out AliveMachine Gun Kelly Lace Up (LP)Machine Gun Kelly Tickets to My Downfall "Sold Out" Deluxe editionStandard edition of the album was pretty great. Deluxe added several completely forgettable, borderline-bad songs and a miserable Paramore cover. If you didn't like the regular album, there's absolutely no reason to try the deluxe version. Magna Carta Cartel Goodmorning RestrainedMagna Carta Cartel The Demon KingMakari HyperrealMakari ContinuumMarrasmieli Martaiden mailtaMatt Skiba & Kevin Seconds SplitMaylene and the Sons of Disaster IIIMemphis May Fire ChallengerMetallica Ride The LightningMetallica ...And Justice For AllMike Shinoda Post Traumatic EPMike Shinoda Post TraumaticMike Shinoda ZigguratsMonuments (UK) In StasisMoon Shot ConfessionMoonlight Sorcery Horned Lord of the Thorned CastleMotionless In White DisguiseAside from the god-awful artwork, this might be the most consistent MIW album yet. Though there are a few skippable numbers ("Headache" is annoyingly repetitive, "Legacy" goes nowhere) and the experimentation + heaviness is toned down considerably here, but the melodies and vocal performances may be the best in the discography (which to some, ain't saying much). Lead single "Brand New Numb" brings a dance-able energy, "Code" is a genuinely solid radio song with a massive hook, and "Thoughts & Prayers" and "Undead Ahead 2" will find themselves in the conversation of MIW's hardest bangers. The Manson + Rob Zombie worship and Ben Burley imitation is toned down considerably in favor of being a widely accessible release, therefore being a good spot to jump in and give MIW a shot. However, if you were not a fan before, this isn't going to change your mind. If you are a fan, and you still use iTunes, grab the alternate artwork so you don't have to suffer looking at whatever that's supposed to be. 3.3/5 Motionless In White Scoring the End of the WorldMy Chemical Romance The Black ParadeMy Chemical Romance Number OneMy Chemical Romance Number ThreeMy Chemical Romance Conventional WeaponsMy Ticket Home UnrealMyka Relocate The Young SoulsPoppier and, at times, catchier than than their debut, but simply not as impressive overall. Neck Deep A History of Bad DecisionsNeck Deep Rain in JulyNeck Deep In Bloom: VersionsNew Order Low-LifeNew Order Power, Corruption and LiesNew Volume EnvyNF PerceptionNight Verses Lift Your ExistenceNight Verses Every Sound Has a Color...: Part INo Devotion PermanenceNo Love for the Middle Child Run For CoverNo Love for the Middle Child FebruaryNormandie NormandieTurns out these guys have always worshipped BMTH. I just discovered this EP on Spotify, and I'm pretty sure the first song is literally "Antivist" with different lyrics. So, prior to the *That's the Spirit* little brother that was *Inguz*, this EP derived quite a bit from *Sempiternal*. On a positive note, Phillip Strand's clean vocals are LEAGUES ahead of Oli Sykes, though his screams are in the same strained and sometimes grating vein. All four tracks are fun as hell though: high energy modern metalcore with some crunchy, made-for-the-Monster-Energy-Stage-at-Warped riffs, cool breakdowns and catchy choruses. Be warned though, this is their only release with even the slightest bit of metalcore influence, as the post-hardcore-tinged pop rock came in full force on their superb debut full length, *Inguz*. Normandie Dark & Beautiful SecretsNorthlane NodeNorthlane DiscoveriesNorthlane MesmerNorthlane Live at the RoundhouseNothing More Nothing MoreNovelists SouvenirsNull (USA) Lore of a Sleeping ForestNull (USA) OriginLast year's Hiraeth single-handedly piqued my interest in blackened folk metal after seeing the review on the front page here. It was THAT good - from a complete outsider to black metal as a whole. This follow-up is certainly solid, albeit less ~uplifting~ when compared to its predecessor. Still, Null is an extremely solid one-man-band, and Origin is certainly good enough to command attention. Oceans Ate Alaska HikariOceans Ate Alaska DisparityOf Mice and Men The Flood (Deluxe Edition)One Year Later The Sound Of A Broken WorldOpeth DamnationOpeth In Cauda VenenumOpeth Ghost ReveriesOrbit Culture The ForgottenOrbit Culture ShamanOtherwise True Love Never DiesOur Last Night Younger DreamsOur Last Night Age Of IgnoranceOur Last Night Summer Of CoversOur Last Night Let Light OvercomePalmist The Walls Between You & IParkway Drive Deep BluePendulum ElementalPeriphery Periphery IV: Hail StanPeriphery Periphery V: Djent Is Not a GenrePolaris FatalismProtest the Hero Pacific MythProtest the Hero VolitionProtest the Hero PalimpsestPuppy The GoatPusha T DAYTONARain City Drive To Better DaysRed (USA) Until We Have FacesRiverside Second Life SyndromeRonnie Radke Fair-Weather FansRuby Haunt Between HeavensSaor GuardiansSaor OriginsScandroid Dreams of Neo-TokyoScar Symmetry The Singularity - Phase I: NeohumanitySearch The City A Fire So Big The Heavens Can See ItSeaway Colour BlindSeaway VacationSECRETS Fragile Figures (Deluxe)Set It Off CinematicsSet It Off Cinematics (Reissue)Settle Your Scores Better Luck TomorrowPretty fun easycore, but ultimately nothing exceptional. Shadow Of Intent ElegyShields Life In ExileShinedown The Sound of MadnessSHVPES Greater ThanSiamese SuperhumanSiamese HomeSilent Planet SuperbloomSilverstein Dead ReflectionSilverstein Redux: The First 10 YearsSimple Minds Once Upon a TimeSkyharbor Guiding LightsSkyharbor Sunshine DustSleep Token OneSleep Token This Place Will Become Your TombSleep Token Take Me Back to EdenSleeping With Sirens FeelSlipknot SlipknotSlipknot IowaSocial Distortion Social DistortionSoen LotusSoen ImperialSoen MemorialSoilwork VerklighetenSoilwork UnderworldSoilwork The Feverish TrinitySomewhere South of Here Leave Me for the CrowsSpanish Love Songs Brave Faces EveryoneSpanish Love Songs No JoyState Champs Around the World and BackState Champs Living ProofAbove average pop punk and a step above *Around the World...* but doesn't quite capture the magic of *The Finer Things.* Perhaps that's because their label, John Feldmann, Mark Hoppus and Alex Gaskarth were pulling them in different directions, but ultimately it still comes together better thab most in the genre. Razor sharp hooks aplenty here, and Derek has one of the best voices in the Warped Tour Scene. If you like pop punk, you'll like this. If you think pop punk needs a shot in the arm, this will not change your mind. State Champs Kings of the New AgeStick Figure Burial GroundStick Figure Smoke StackStick Figure World on FireStick Figure WisdomWell, it is a Stick Figure album. No deviation from the formula that has made them stars in their scene, but also no standouts/highlights like the tremendous singles and deeper cuts that made Set in Stone (Choice is Yours, Fire on the Horizon, Sentenced, Out that Door) such a great release. As a result, its still a great reggae album, but a relatively average Stick Figure album. Stick to Your Guns Better Ash Than DustStone Sour House of Gold and Bones - Part 1Stoneside. EP.2 - The DesertStructures Life Through a WindowSum 41 All Killer No FillerSurvive This! The Life You've ChosenSydonia Reality KicksSylar To Whom It May ConcernSylosis A Sign of Things to ComeSymphony X V: The New Mythology SuiteTears for Fears Songs from the Big ChairTeramaze Esoteric SymbolismTesseracT RegrowthTwo-song EP released to contribute to Ukraine crisis. Serious ONE-vibes, including some great harsh vocals from Dan. Neither track will be a TesseracT classic, but I still appreciate the intent here... From the Bandcamp page: ?These songs have been in the TesseracT domain for a while. We had developed them for album 5, but they just weren't the right fit for where that album has headed. Rather than have them slowly decay on a server somewhere, we felt they could do something good, no matter how small?"The Afterimage EveThe Airborne Toxic Event Hollywood ParkThe Black Queen Fever DaydreamThe Bronx The Bronx VIThe Call ReconciledThe Comfort LoveThe Comfort What It Is to BeThe Cult ElectricThe Cure DisintegrationThe Curse Within HeartlessThe Curse Within EternityThe Damned Things IroniclastThe Damned Things High CrimesThe Dangerous Summer Mother NatureThe Dear Hunter The Color SpectrumThe Dear Hunter Act IV: Rebirth in RepriseThe Dear Hunter Act V: Hymns with the Devil in ConfessionalThe Devil Wears Prada With Roots Above and Branches BelowThe Devil Wears Prada Dead & AliveThe Devil Wears Prada Transit BluesThe Devil Wears Prada Audiotree LiveThe Gaslight Anthem HandwrittenThe Gaslight Anthem Sink or SwimThe Gaslight Anthem Señor and the QueenThe Horrible Crowes ElsieThe Killers Pressure MachineThe Menzingers After the PartyThe Midnight NocturnalThe Midnight Days of ThunderThe Midnight Horror ShowLast years LP Monsters dabbled in some noticeably modern pop production choices which is a respectable experiment, but didn't really deliver in terms of The Midnight aesthetic and ultimately rendered the album rather forgettable. Horror Show is a return to the roots so to speak, featuring the darker, "Lost Boys"-esque synths, the EP fits right in line with the bank of pristine retrowave vibes The Midnight have been cultivating for nearly a decade. The Midnight Echo VoyagerThe Night Flight Orchestra AeromanticThe Plot In You Swan SongThe Red Jumpsuit Apparatus Am I the EnemyThe Word Alive EmpireThe Word Alive Real.The Word Alive Dark MatterThe Word Alive The Word AliveThis or the Apocalypse Dead YearsThis Wild Life CloudedThornhill ButterflyThree Days Grace One-XThrice The Alchemy Index Vol. II: WaterThrice The Alchemy Index Vol. IV: EarthThrice The Artist in the AmbulanceThurnin ÚtisetaTime, The Valuator How Fleeting, How FragileTo the Rats and Wolves Cheap LoveBeing Germans without English as their native tongue, the lyrics hold this back from being a truly excellent electro-rock album. Regardless, there are several exceptionally catchy moments on here. Too Close to Touch Haven't Been MyselfToothgrinder Nocturnal MasqueradeTrash Boat Crown ShynessTrivium AscendancyTrivium What the Dead Men SayTrophy Eyes Chemical MiracleTrophy Eyes The American DreamTrophy Eyes Suicide and SunshineTwenty One Pilots Three SongsTwenty One Pilots The LC LPTyler Childers PurgatoryU2 The Joshua TreeUlver The Assassination of Julius CaesarUntamed Land Like Creatures Seeking Their Own FormsUpon a Burning Body The World Is My Enemy NowVarials Scars for You to RememberVoices from the Fuselage Odyssey: The Founder of DreamsVoid of Vision What I'll Leave BehindVoid of Vision Chronicles I: LustVOLA WitnessVOLA InmazesVoyager Ghost MileVoyager Colours in the SunVoyager Fearless in LoveWage War DeadweightBand is good, album is good, but metalcore this generic and derivative could never be a 4.5 fellas. Its enjoyable stuff though, for sure. Wayfarer American GothicWe Came As Romans Understanding What We've Grown to BeWe Came As Romans Cold Like WarWhite Moth Black Butterfly AtoneWhitechapel KinWilliam Control Skeleton StringsWilliam Control Live in London TownWilliam Control The NeuromancerWilliam Control Revelations: The PaleWill's lyrics and the content thereof are pretty recycled, stale and redundant when compared to the other albums under the Control moniker, but aside from that, it sounds pretty solid. The synth melodies are fantastic and his voice is perhaps the best its been yet. "The Monster" is this record's "I'm Only Human Sometimes," with a huge chorus and sweet synth hook. The other songs are good, but not nearly as memorable. Again, problematic, that each track seems to have another perfectly parallel song that William Control has previously released. Still, its an enjoyable listen for the 80's inspired dark pop lovers out there. And, if you haven't heard, this is the first of four EP's that will make up the "Revelations" album, so there's more to look forward to. William Control Skeleton Strings 2Windfaerer Breaths of Elder DawnsWindwaker EmpireWintersun WintersunWintersun Time IWith Confidence Love and LoathingWovenwar Honor Is DeadWristmeetrazor Replica of a Strange LoveYes Close to the EdgeYoung Guns BonesYoung Lions Mr. SpacemanZombie Hyperdrive HyperionZoume Prophecy3.0 good+44 When Your Heart Stops Beating10 Years Minus the Machine156/Silence NarrativeA Day To Remember HomesickA Day To Remember Homesick (Special Deluxe Edition)A Loss For Words Before It CavesA Loss For Words Returning to Webster LakeAether Realm Redneck Vikings From HellAFI The Art of DrowningAgent Fresco DestrierAiden ConvictionAirbourne Runnin' WildALAZKA PhoenixAlestorm Captain Morgan's RevengeAlkaline Trio Maybe I'll Catch FireAlkaline Trio For Your Lungs OnlyAllegaeon Proponent for SentienceAlpha Wolf Half Living Thingsalt. ABEYANCEAmidst the Grave's Demons Space ZombiesAnberlin Dark Is the Way, Light Is a PlaceAnberlin New SurrenderAnberlin Never Take Friendship PersonalAndy Black The Ghost of OhioSignificantly more consistent and well-written than the first record. There's no massive tracks like "We Don't Have to Dance" here, but its entertaining enough throughout to warrant a few spins if you're into 80's-esque pop rock with a modern sheen. Angel Du$t Pretty BuffAngels and Airwaves Stomping The Phantom Brake PedalAngels and Airwaves We Don't Need to Whisper Acoustic EPArcane Roots Blood and ChemistryArchitects Lost Forever // Lost TogetherArchitects DaybreakerArchitects For Those That Wish to ExistArtifex Pereo Time in PlaceArtifex Pereo PassengersAs I Lay Dying The Powerless RiseAs I Lay Dying Shaped by FireAs I Lay Dying Through Storms AheadAs It Is The Great DepressionAstroid Boys Bacon DreamAtreyu Long LiveAttack Attack! This Means WarAttack Attack! Attack Attack! (Reissue)August Burns Red Sleddin' Hill: A Holiday AlbumAugust Burns Red Lost Messengers: The OuttakesAvenged Sevenfold Hail To The KingAvenged Sevenfold Diamonds In The RoughAvenged Sevenfold Black ReignBadflower OK, I’M SICKbadXchannels WHYDFMLBayside VacancyBeartooth Below (Deluxe)Belore ArtefactsBilmuri TacoBilmuri LettersBilmuri Wet MilkNot bad, but notably less energetic than the last handful of Bilmuri releases. Can't complain with Johnny pumping out enough material for two 7-9 track albums per year, but I can't help but feeling like a single album 12 song collection of the best tracks from the 2017-2019 releases would be a 5 outta 5 (instead of the handful of 3.5/5 releases we've gotten instead). He refuses to do away with the melancholic, low-tempo emo tracks that bore me quite a bit, but the modern-pop-infused-pop-punk/post-hardcore songs are, as always, very solid. Black Forest DreamBlack Tide Light From AboveBlack Veil Brides Black Veil BridesBlack Veil Brides ValeBlack Veil Brides The Phantom TomorrowBlack Veil Brides The MourningBlaqk Audio Only Things We LoveBlaqk Audio Beneath the Black PalmsBlaqk Audio Trop d'amourBleed (USA-TX) Somebody's CloserBleed from Within EraBleed from Within ShrineBlessing A Curse Somewhere in Between it AllBlessing A Curse Satisfaction for the VengefulBlessthefall WitnessBlind Guardian Nightfall In Middle-Earthblink-182 CaliforniaBlood Youth Inside My HeadBloody Tyrant HAGAKURE IIBorealis IllusionsBorn of Osiris The New ReignBoston Manor Be Nothing.Boston Manor Desperate Times, Desperate PleasuresBoston Manor DaturaBoys of Fall Better MomentsNot as hooky or strong as the debut, but consistent throughout. The addition of some The 1975 influenced lead guitar and the subtraction of the overwhelming easycore tendencies make for an intriguing listen and add a much needed unique dimension to Boys of Fall's sound (previously, they weren't much more than an ADTR cover band). And while ultimately not exactly knocking the combination out of the park, they've at least further piqued my interest in their future. Brand New Science FictionBreaking Benjamin We Are Not AloneBreaking Benjamin PhobiaBreaking Benjamin Dear AgonyBreaking Benjamin So ColdBreathe Carolina SavagesBrigades Crocodile TearsBrigades IndefiniteBring Me The Horizon There Is a Hell, Believe Me I've Seen It...Broadside ParadiseBullet For My Valentine Bullet For My Valentine EPBullet For My Valentine Gravity (Deluxe Edition)Bumpin Uglies Freakout Hell BusBury Tomorrow EarthboundCan Bardd The Last RainCane Hill Cane HillCarousel Kings Charm CityCarousel Kings Plus UltraCaskets Ghost Like YouCelldweller End of an Empire - Chapter 01: TimeCelldweller End of an Empire - Chapter 03: DreamsCelldweller End of an Empire - Chapter 04: DeathChase Atlantic Chase AtlanticChevelle Wonder What's NextChevelle This Type of Thinking (Could Do Us In)Chevelle Vena SeraChevelle Sci-Fi CrimesChevelle La GárgolaChevelle The North CorridorCold Years Mile MarkerComatose (USA-MN) A Way BackConfrontational Kingdom of NightConfrontational A Dance of ShadowsConvictions Hope for the BrokenCorey Taylor CMF2Cover Your Tracks Fever DreamCrooks Are We All The Same Distance ApartCrossfaith Ex_MachinaCrown the Empire The Resistance: Rise of the RunawaysCrucible The TrialsCrystal Lake True NorthCurses (USA) Chapter I: IntrospectDance Gavin Dance Mothershipdangerkids collapseDaniel Tompkins Castles"Saved" is an absolute earworm, but the rest was teetering between mildly entertaining and somewhat boring. Darkest Hour Godless Prophets and the Migrant FloraI actually like the self titled record, it was still heavy despite the inclusion of clean vocals. And hell, the cleans were done extremely well; there was some really catchy shit on there and John sounded surprisingly really solid on all the singing bits. This new record is back to the band's beginnings, heavy, fast, and not a shred of clean sung vocals. It begs an interesting question in terms of the band's self titled, their only release on Sumerian Records: did the label steer them in the more commercial friendly direction? Regardless, this is yet another hit by Darkest Hour. This record bangs from start to finish, and Kurt Ballou's production is a perfect fit. Despite the last album being self-titled, *Godless Prophets* is not a continuation of that sound. Dave Hause KickDave Hause Blood HarmonyDayseeker Dark SunDead Girls Academy AlchemyNothing new or special to be found here as the co-writing and production from Ronnie Radke turned a lot of the record into Falling in Reverse worship songs. The vocalist even sounds like Radke on most tracks, from melodies to vocal effects and nuance. "Medicine" and "I''ll Find a Way" would be right at home on *The Drug in Me is You*, while "Far Away" sounds like a *Coming Home* b-side. The first half of the record is entertaining, but the back half drags along with too many watered down radio formula filler songs and is further held back by the atrocious lyrics on "Cannibal." Ultimately, there may be too much of Ronnie Radke's touch on this record to really carve their own path in the genre, but a lot of the songs are pretty fun at the very least. Dead Letter Circus The Endless MileDead Letter Circus Dead Letter Circus (2018)Doesn't hook as hard as Aesthesis or This is the Warning and ends up relatively boring as a result, but its still a DLC album and that alone is better than most of the diluted rock on radio these days. Deaf Havana All These Countless NightsDealer (AUS) Soul BurnDeath Blooms You Are FilthDed Mis-An-ThropeThis is the first nu-metalcore record I can recall enjoying to an extent in recent memory. That said, still not anything spectacular. Its better than obvious comparison Cane Hill, but that's not saying much. There are some really solid, accessible hooks to be found here, and that, coupled with some opening slots on some huge upcoming tours (Korn) should allow this band to really take-off. Nu-metal isn't quite dead yet, and while it really should be, DED is actually making a case for relevance and future success among a pack of very forgettable contemporaries. Destrage A Means to No EndDestroy Rebuild Until God Shows Destroy RebuildDirtyphonics Vantablack (w/ Sullivan King)Downlink IgnitionDownlink EmergencyDownswing Let This Life Devour YouDream On Dreamer It Comes and GoesDreamshade A Pale Blue Dotdredg El CieloDualist Be Here NowDuran Duran Duran Duran (The Wedding Album)Dwarrowdelf EvenstarDwarrowdelf The Sons of FëanorElder Brother Heavy HeadElderwind The Colder The NightElitist ElitistEmarosa Peach ClubEndur American ParasiteEnisum Forgotten MountainsEnter Shikari TribalismEnter Shikari The ZoneEnter Shikari The SparkERRA Moments of ClarityERRA NeonERRA CureEscape From Echo Base Continents ApartEscape the Fate Escape the Fate EPEscape the Fate UngratefulEscape the Fate I Am HumanI didn't think that in 2018, after four extremely forgettable records, I'd be giving Escape the Fate a positive nod. But yet here I am, giving this bad boy a 3.5 at first listen (subject to change). This shit is extremely catchy, and altogether leagues more well rounded than their past few efforts. Since Ronnie left, ETF has been nothing more than a singles band. Seriously, the only tracks worth listening to in the Craig Mabbitt era are the singles from each album. But here, we seem to find consistency front to back. How they did it, I may never know. "Empire" and "Riot" are pretty terrible, and I have no idea why they copied and pasted *Hate Me*'s acoustic closer, "Let Me Be," but aside from that you've got some pretty solid post-hardcore-infused radio rock here. "Broken Heart," "Do You Love Me," and "Digging My Own Grave" are certified bangers. Here's hoping this catches on, and ETF salvage their dying career. (if you didn't think they stagnated hard, you need a reality check. their tour last year was a co-headliner with fucking Nonpoint.)Eve 6 Speak in CodeEvery Time I Die Hot Damn!Every Time I Die Gutter PhenomenonEvery Time I Die SalemEvoking Winds Bald MountainExcision Shambhala 2011ExitWounds Heaven is Empty (Hell is in My Mind)Falkenbach Heralding - The FirebladeFalling in Reverse Fashionably LateFalls of Rauros Key to a Vanishing FutureFamous Last Words Pick Your PoisonFamous Last Words The IncubusFeels like a step back in terms of melody and songwriting from their previous two records, especially the Two Faced Charade which, in my opinion, is one of the best modern post-hardcore/metalcore records out there. There are some bright spots, but the choruses don't catch nearly as hard on any track, guitar tone across the album is quite muddy, and lead guitar is virtually non existent. This band has the tools to put out great songs, just for whatever reason, it feels like they didn't realize that potential on this album. Fearless Vampire Killers Militia of the LostFEVER 333 Strength in Numb333rsFightstar Behind the Devil's BackFive Finger Death Punch War Is The AnswerFive Finger Death Punch American CapitalistFor All Those Sleeping Incomplete MeFort Minor We Major (Mixtape)Frank Carter and the Rattlesnakes Modern RuinFrom First to Last HeroineFrom First to Last From First to LastFrom First to Last Throne to the WolvesFrom Under The Willow Ungrateful • MisguidedFrom Under the Willow take the angst and heavy of contemporaries Like Moths to Flames and have produced a record in Ungrateful//Misguided that hits hard right from the outset. This band has a very bright future in metalcore, and it shines through from start to finish on what is their second release on Lancaster, PA based CI Records (the launching pad for August Burns Red and Texas in July). Quite the improvement from their debut LP, Outlaws, From Under the Willow will surely fill the void (felt by metalcore fans) created by the genre-abandonment of many former scene stand-outs. This band deserves to be the next big thing in metalcore, proving it with Ungrateful//Misguided. Galleons GalleonsGeneration X Kiss Me DeadlyGeorge Ragan The Dead Son The AbyssGet Scared Everyone's Out To Get MeGhost (SWE) If You Have GhostGhost (SWE) PopestarGleemer AnymoreGojira MagmaGojira FortitudeGood Tiger A Head Full of MoonlightGreen Day DookieGregor Barnett Don't Go Throwing Roses in My GraveGreta Van Fleet Anthem of the Peaceful ArmyQuite derivative in parts, as any nostalgia-driven retro rock would be, but original enough to rstand on its own. Obviously the vocalist will never escape the Robert Plant comparisons, but is rmore of that a bad thing? Of course not. Ultimately, Greta Van Fleet have created a cohesive, rconsistent retro rock album with a larger than life sound that's a tremendously fun listen. Stop rwasting time trying to pinpoint where each guitar lick was "stolen" or "ripped" from and just renjoy a piece of rock music that shits on 99% of what gets played on "rock" radio in 2018. Greta Van Fleet The Battle at Garden's GateHail the Sun Divine Inner TensionHaken VectorHEALTH RAT WARSHEALTH Death MagicHeaven Shall Burn WandererHeavens Patent PendingHEAVENSGATE AND ALL I LOVED, I LOVED ALONEHell or Highwater VistaHellions RueHigher Power 27 Miles UnderwaterHollywood Undead Desperate MeasuresHollywood Undead Swan Songs B-SidesHollywood Undead Swan Songs RaritiesHollywood Undead PSALMSA handful of B-Sides from *Five*, so not much substance was to be expected. "Bloody Nose" is a pretty solid radio rock song with one of the heaviest bridges the band has put together in a while (shout out to Jorel for bringing back the screams). "Live Fast Die Young" doesn't exactly deliver like the track name may suggest, resulting in a smooth pop song reminiscent of "Ghost Beach" from *Five*. J-Dog's verse here sounds choppy, lacks flow and seems out of place in general, though Danny keeps the track afloat with an impressive clean vocal performance. "Something to Believe" pulls the EP back in the right direction with the release's best lyricism, but "Another Level," likely the worst track in the band's discography, sticks out like a sore thumb. Its a shame they wasted one of J3T's best verses on this abomination of a song, but such is Hollywood Undead. "Gotta Let Go" wraps this thing up in the vein of fan-favorite "Bullet," but the twinkling acoustic number does not capture the magic that the *American Tragedy* hit shines with. Ultimately, *Psalms* is inconsistent but has its moments, and for a slate of B-Sides its definitely worth a spin for Hollywood Undead fans waiting for album six. But for those who do not follow the band, you'll likely find nothing of value here apart from the Sirius Octane-ready "Bloody Nose." Hollywood Undead Hotel Kalifornia (Deluxe)Unashamed life-long HU fan checking in again to say that many of the deluxe songs added to the album as part of this release are far better than the filler on the standard tracklist. "Salvation" and "First Class Suicide" especially improve the experience here, but not without some detractors: "Evil" is a pretty abhorrent Imagine Dragons-injected tune that gets annoying before the first chorus even ends. They aren't going to make any new fans with HK, but there's certainly a few Octane-bound singles here if they market it right. Hot Water Music Feel the VoidHuey Lewis and the News Fore!Hum InletHundredth Somewhere NowhereI Am King OnehundredI Am King Acoustic - EPI the Mighty SatoriIce Nine Kills The Silver Scream 2: Welcome to HorrorwoodImminence Turn the Light OnIn Flames BattlesI recently revisited this after hearing it once and immediately giving it a 1.5 back around when it came out. Now let me preface, I got into metal well after In Flames rose to the top of melo-death, therefore I don't have the emotional attachment to *Clayman*-era In Flames that many longtime fans have. I have, however, heard all their records, and their trend increasingly farther into the realm of "selling out" is very apparent. That said, this has not been the same band of old for quite some time now, and you simply can't expect a bunch of dudes pushing 50 to be putting out records like their earlier releases anymore. So, in recognizing that In Flames has been shooting for arena-ready "pop metal' since *Reroute to Remain,* *Battles* becomes much more tolerable. While yes, its not interesting instrumentally nor lyrically, it is quite a leap up, as a whole, from *Siren Charms* and *Playground.* Radio rock in 2016-17 is very stale, boring, and not even catchy like it used to be, the latter of which being why *Battles* is actually a decent release. Some of the best hooks in the band's discography lie within this track listing, including the title track, "Through My Eyes," "Drained," and "The End." ...Yes, this band sold out, but that was a long time ago. And like it or not, this is above average for what mainstream rock radio gets these days. You simply cannot expect a band to make 10+ *Clayman*'s in a career. In Flames Come ClarityIn Flames A Sense of PurposeIn Flames The Mirror's TruthIn Flames Meet Your MakerIn Hearts Wake EarthwalkerIncredible' Me est. 2012Invent Animate HeavenerINXS KickIssues Diamond DreamsJared Dines The DarkJason Richardson IJimmy Eat World ClarityJimmy Eat World Chase This LightJimmy Eat World InventedJoy Division CloserJulien-K California Noir Chapter II: Nightlife in NeonKill the Lights The SinnerKnocked Loose Mistakes Like FracturesKnocked Loose Laugh TracksKnuckle Puck CopaceticAfter a few listens, its good, but not as much as prior EP's. Perhaps Knuckle Puck is a band, like many others in pop-punk, that produces better material in shorter, more focused releases. While the past few EP's have been very solid whilst showcasing a great deal of potential, it just feels that Copacetic was perhaps "spread too thin;" failing to live up to the hype generated by past endeavors. This, however, does not mean Copacetic is a bad release by any means, it just does not flash with the same level of consistency that past EP's have. LANDMVRKS FantasyLANDMVRKS Lost in the WavesLandon Tewers Frontal Lobe SubmissionLandon Tewers Ai640 Pt. 2Landon Tewers Ai640 Pt. 3Like Moths to Flames Dark DivineLike Moths to Flames Pure Like PorcelainLike Moths to Flames The Cycles of Trying to CopeLinkin Park LPU XIILinkin Park LPUXIVLinkin Park Underground 6Linkin Park Hybrid Theory Live Around The WorldLorna Shore ...And I Return to NothingnessLostAlone Shapes of ScreamsLOYALS LOYALSAbove average worship of the 1975. Second half of the record is definitely better than the first, but the 1975 do this so much more effectively in nearly all facets. Machine Gun Kelly Half Naked & Almost FamousMachine Gun Kelly Black FlagMachine Gun Kelly General AdmissionSimilar to his first album, MGK releases yet another good borderline great hip-hop album (plays like a 3.3 to me, but obviously I can't rate as such). Its a genre where the mainstream is seemingly devoid of creativity (for the most part, and I'm no hip hop expert), and "General Admission" is a Bad Boy/Interscope release aiming to change that. Much like his debut LP "Lace Up," Machine Gun Kelly combines interesting lyrical content with rapid-fire delivery and a punk-rock edge. Tracks like 'Spotlight,' 'Bad MF,' and 'Merry Go Round' are stand-outs, while "hype" track (and the most popular single thus far, think this album's 'Wild Boy') 'Til I Die' provides nothing that hasn't been done numerous times previously. Bonus tracks 'Make it Happen' and 'Therapy' provide solid additions to the base release, whilst tracks like 'Eddie Cane' and 'World Series' were perhaps better suited on the pre-album B'sides EP, "Fuck It." "General Admission" is a good record, but provides further evidence that MGK needs to focus his lyrical themes to launch himself to the top: an album complete with tracks like 'Spotlight,' 'Stereo,' 'Breaking News,' and 'What it Seems' would cement his status as an artist and a force to be reckoned with. Magna Carta Cartel Valiant Visions DawnMake Them Suffer How to Survive a FuneralMake Them Suffer Make Them SufferMalevolence The Other SideMalevolence Malicious IntentMallory Knox SignalsMallory Knox WiredMandroid Echostar CitadelsMatt Skiba DemosMayday Parade SunnylandMemphis May Fire The HollowMemphis May Fire Remade in MiseryMetallica Kill 'Em AllMichael Oakley IntrospectSome really great tunes on the first half, especially "Control" and "Left Behind." The second half lags a bit, "Now I'm Alive" is a bore, "American Dream" sounds like a bad solo by the lead actor in a high school play, and "Push it to the Limit" is exactly as cheesy as it sounds. But overall, this still is an entertaining synthwave release. Miss Fortune The Double Threat of Danger - SingleMiss Fortune How the Story EndsMiss May I Shadows InsideModern Baseball You’re Gonna Miss It AllMoonlight Sorcery Nightwind: The Conqueror From The StarsMotionless In White ReincarnateMotionless In White Graveyard ShiftMotley Crue Shout At The DevilMouthdata PanicMy Chemical Romance Three Cheers for Sweet RevengeMy Chemical Romance Number FourMyles Kennedy Year of the TigerMyles Kennedy The Ides of MarchMyles Kennedy The Art Of Letting GoNachtterror JudgementNapoleon Newborn MindNeck Deep The Peace And The PanicNeck Deep SerpentsNew Order TechniqueNew Order BrotherhoodNew Order Get ReadyNo Devotion No OblivionNo Love for the Middle Child Happy FacesNo Love for the Middle Child Walk AwayNo Pressure Can't Forgetnothing,nowhere. Reapernothing,nowhere. ruinernothing,nowhere. and Travis Barker BloodlustNovelists Demos (2013–2014)Oceans Ate Alaska Lost IslesOf Mice and Men The FloodOf Mice and Men DefyOf Mice and Men EARTHANDSKYSaid it before and I'll say it again. Band is decent, album is decent (read: fun), but metalcore this generic and derivative could never be a 4.5-5.0 fellas. Its enjoyable stuff though.Of Mice and Men BloomOh, Weatherly Lips Like OxygenDirect derivative of Mayday Parade in nearly every way, but its pretty catchy so they've got that going for them which is nice. Orbit Culture DescentOur Last Night Selective HearingNice to finally get some more original tunes from these guys, and they once again deliver. This EP rproves, however, that the band is much more fit for writing the concentrated EP effort versus the rfull-length LP. *Selective Hearing,* like predecessor *Oak Island,* is a handful of consistency. rOn their previous two LP's, *Younger Dreams* and *Age of Ignorance,* the band seems to throw in rway too much filler between the stand-out singles, offering solid albeit inconsistent listens rfront to back. On *Selective Hearing,* however, its single quality effort track after rtrack. It may not be the best business model, but the EP's certainly showcase the abilities of OLN rand should steer the direction of the band moving forward. It would be nice to get more 6-7 song refforts like this versus the obnoxious amount of covers they've been releasing recently. But the rband is completely independent, and they continue to grow with each release, so its hard to knock rthem for their business moves while they regularly pump out quality content. Our Last Night Overcome the DarknessOur Time Down Here Midnight MassPalaye Royale Boom Boom Room (Side A)Pale Spells Carelessly DesignedPalisades OutcastsPalisades PalisadesPanopticon The Rime of MemoryPanopticon ...And Again into the LightPaul Bartolome GravitySurprisingly under the radar considering the star-studded guest feature list (seriously, Telle Smith of the Word Alive, Craig Mabbitt of Escape the Fate, Phillip Strand of Normandie, JT Tollas of Famous Last Words, Gustav Wood of Young Guns and Dave Escamilla ex-Crown the Empire, to name a few), this is a pretty interesting project. But, ultimately, just a decent conceptual hard rock album (think Sirius Octane stadium metal) with some metalcore influence. Some lyrics and vocal flow are pretty poor though Paul is a pretty solid singer on his own, but the performances of Craig Mabbitt, JT Tollas and Ezekiel Pierson are really great enhancements to their respective songs. Pendulum In SilicoPendulum Hold Your ColourPeriphery PeripheryPeriphery IcarusPeriphery Periphery (Instrumental)Phinehas Dark FlagPicturesque Monstrous ThingsProtest the Hero KeziaProtest the Hero FortressProtest the Hero ScurrilousPVRIS White NoiseQueens of the Stone Age Songs for the DeafReal Friends Put Yourself Back TogetherReflections The Color ClearResolve Between Me and the MachineRise Against Appeal to ReasonRise To Remain City of VulturesRiviere HealRoyal Coda CompassionSaor RootsSaor Forgotten PathsSaosin SaosinSaosin Translating the NameSaosin Along the ShadowSaosin In Search Of Solid GroundSavage Hands Barely AliveSEASONS (UK) ChaptersSECRETS Fragile FiguresSECRETS SecretsFun record, albeit absolutely nothing special to be found here. Much better and fleshed out than the last effort, though not as consistently catchy as *Fragile Figures. *Selfish Things LogosSend Request PerspectivesSenses Fail Still SearchingSenses Fail Let It Enfold YouSenses Fail RenacerSHVPES Pain. Joy. Ecstasy. DespairSilent Planet Everything Was SoundSilent Planet When the End BeganAs a pretty big fan of modern metalcore, I feel like I'm missing something with these guys. As always, its a good record, but nothing clicks for me to make me want to listen to it often. Someone help. Silverstein Misery Made MeSleep Token TwoSleepwave Broken CompassSlipknot Vol. 3: The Subliminal VersesSlipknot We Are Not Your KindSocial Distortion Hard Times and Nursery RhymesSocial Distortion Prison BoundSoilwork The Ride MajesticSoilwork Figure Number FiveSoilwork A Whisp of the AtlanticSojourner PerennialSojourner PremonitionsSojourner Empires of AshState Champs OversleptState Champs Slow BurnStick Figure Burnin' OceanStick to Your Guns DiamondStick to Your Guns DisobedientStone Sour House of Gold and Bones - Part 2Stormkeep Tales of OthertimeStory of the Year WolvesStory Untold WavesStructures None of the AboveSullivan King Vantablack (w/ Dirtyphonics)Sum 41 13 VoicesSunsleep I Hope to See Again With Brand New EyesTalk Talk It's My LifeTears for Fears The Tipping PointTeenage Wrist Chrome Neon JesusTermina Soul ElegyTesseracT Altered StateTesseracT OneTesseracT ErraiTesseracT SonderPretty disappointed in this to be honest. It lacks the epic moments that made Polaris so special for me. TesseracT maintain's their core sound though, and that alone is better than most artists. But at this point, they've taken the ambient djent about as far as it can go. Take those epic influences and evolve into something new rather than taking steps backwards as they did here. TesseracT War of BeingKalkwise's sound-off on this is spot-on, but just to expand a bit... this thing sounds great. As always, their production quality is top notch. But I can't help feeling that we've heard this album before. Its the same solid TesseracT sound, just with a concept layered in to give it some extra depth. And the hooks are just not there. So while everyone's individual talent is on full display for most of the album run-time, the actual songs themselves lack that attention-grabbing re-playability that would push this into being a truly great album. I'm actually amazed this is still sitting at a 3.9 here at the time of this sound-off. I thought everyone else here would be completely bored by this. Texas in July BloodworkThe 1975 I Like It When You Sleep, For You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware of ItThe 1975 SexThe 1975 FacedownThe 1975 Music For CarsThe 1975 The 1975The 1975 The 1975 (Deluxe Edition)The 1975 A Brief Inquiry into Online RelationshipsThe Amity Affliction Chasing GhostsThe Black Queen Infinite GamesThe Blackout The Best in TownThe Brave EpochThe Cult Beyond Good And EvilThe Cult CeremonyThe Cult Brothers Grimm 12" (Death Cult)The Cult Under The Midnight SunThe Curse Within Seeking VengeanceThe Dangerous Summer Reach for the SunThe Dangerous Summer War PaintThe Dangerous Summer The Dangerous SummerThe Dead Rabbitts ShapeshifterThe Dead Rabbitts Edge of RealityThe Dead Rabbitts The EmptinessProbably at least more consistent if not better than the first record, but it makes you wonder if Craig could finally reach his full potential if he wasn't spreading himself too thin between this project and Escape the Fate. If he chose one, doesn't matter which, and focused his best songwriting into one record (and we got an album full of "Dead Again" and "This World is Ours") it would probably be pretty damn good. Unfortunately though, The Dead Rabbitts strays almost totally into the world of generic metalcore and its simply not enough to propel this release beyond anything simply above average. The creativity from the debut EP ("Are You on Drugs?" and "Sleep the Night Away") unfortunately hasn't found its way onto either LP (nor the recent Escape the Fate work). There's a few tracks worth listening to here, but ultimately this won't win its way onto any year-end lists. I guess we're stuck with giving Craig another chance on the upcoming Escape the Fate record. This is about a 3.1-3.2...The Dear Hunter Act III: Life and DeathThe Dear Hunter Act I: The Lake South, the River NorthThe Dear Hunter Act II: The Meaning of, & All Things Regarding Ms. LeadingThe Dear Hunter MigrantThe Devil Wears Prada 8:18The Devil Wears Prada The ActThe Dillinger Escape Plan Miss MachineThe Dillinger Escape Plan Ire WorksThe Gaslight Anthem American SlangThe Gaslight Anthem History BooksThe Ghost Inside Get What You GiveThe Ghost Inside The Ghost InsideOne hell of a story and I'm beyond glad that they're back, but that alone does not mean this record is a 4+. You'd be crazy to just toss AOTY contender status at this, just for that reason alone. Let's be real, its just another TGI record. Same riffs, same lyrical content, same drum fills, same mid-ranged screams and breakdowns. Its TGI and its good, but its not a fuckin 5.0 The Menzingers On the Impossible PastThe Menzingers No Penance/ Cemetery's GardenThe Midnight Endless SummerThe Midnight KidsThe Midnight MonstersThe Neighbourhood I Love You.The Night Flight Orchestra Amber GalacticThe Night Flight Orchestra Sometimes The World Ain't EnoughThe Northern SolsticeThe One Hundred Chaos + BlissThe Ongoing Concept HandmadeThe Ongoing Concept SaloonThe Plot In You Could You Watch Your Children BurnThe Red Jumpsuit Apparatus Don't You Fake ItThe Royal DeathwatchThe Smith Street Band Don't Waste Your AngerThe Smiths The Queen Is DeadThe Story So Far While You Were SleepingThe Story So Far We Walked Through ArboThe Undertaking! Funeral PsalmsThe Used HeartworkThe Wildhearts Renaissance MentheHELL Southern MedicinetheHELL Sauvez Les RequinsThomas Giles Velcro KidThousand Below The Love You Let Too CloseThree Days Grace Lost In You EPThree Days Grace Transit of VenusThrice The Alchemy Index Vols. I & IIThrice The Alchemy Index Vols. III & IVThrice The Alchemy Index Vol. I: FireThrice To Be Everywhere Is to Be Nowherethrown Extended PainTokio Hotel Dream MachineTom Delonge To The Stars... Demos, Odds, and EndsToo Close to Touch I'm Hard to Love, But So Are You, Vol. 1Toothgrinder Phantom AmourTurnover Good NatureTurnstile Time and SpaceTurnstile Turnstile Love ConnectionTwenty One Pilots Regional At BestTwenty One Pilots TOPxMMUlver Sic Transit Gloria MundiUlver Flowers of EvilUlver KveldssangerUnderoath Erase MeUpon a Burning Body Southern HostilityUpon a Burning Body Built From WarUrethane Chasing HorizonsValdrin Throne of the Lunar SoulValhalore Voyage into EternityVarious Artists (Punk) Punk Goes Pop 5Villain of the Story BloodshotVillain of the Story AshesVital Spirit Still as the Night, Cold as the WindVoid of Vision HyperdazeVoid of Vision Chronicles II: HeavenVolbeat Rock The Rebel/Metal The DevilVolbeat The Strength/The Sound/The SongsVolbeat Servant of the MindVolumes Happier?VV (FIN) Neon NoirVVilderness PathWage War BlueprintsWage War ManicWe Are Harlot We Are HarlotWhile She Sleeps This Is the SixWhite Reaper Asking For A RideWhitechapel The ValleyWhitesnake 1987Whitesnake Slip Of The TongueWilderun EpigoneWilliam Control Hate CultureWilliam Control NoirWilliam Control Revelations: The BlackWinterfylleth The Hallowing Of HeirdomWintersun The Forest SeasonsWintersun Time IIWormwood Ghostlands - Wounds From A Bleeding EarthWstr Identity CrisisYou Me At Six Sinners Never SleepYouth In Revolt Love Is A Liar's GameZeal and Ardor Zeal and ArdorZeta (UK) ZetaZoume The Diablo Project2.5 averageA Day To Remember Common CourtesyA Day To Remember For Those Who Have HeartA Day To Remember Common Courtesy (Deluxe Edition)A Day To Remember Bad VibrationsA Lot Like Birds No PlaceA Scent Like Wolves Mystic AurasAfter the Burial EvergreenAfterlife (USA-FL) Breaking PointI don't know why I continue to give these nu-metalcore bands a shot when they pop up on my release radar. Against Me! The Disco Before the BreakdownAgalloch The MantleAiden KnivesAiden Some Kind of HateAiden DisguisesAlexisonfire Dog's BloodAlive Like Me Only ForeverAnberlin SilverlineAndy Black The Shadow SideAngel Du$t Bigger HouseAngels and Airwaves ...Of NightmaresArchitects Hollow CrownArchitects The Here and NowArchitects Holy HellArchitects The Classic Symptoms of a Broken SpiritArt Of Dying Art Of DyingAs It Is Never Happy, Ever AfterAs It Is OkayAs Within, So Without SalvationAtreyu In Our WakeTitle track and "Anger Left Behind" are insanely catchy, but the rest is mailed in radio rock or sports anthem hopefuls. In fact, "Blind Deaf & Dumb" is in the running for worst track of the year. Then, the finale, "Superhero," which actually features Matt Shadows of A7X and Aaron Gillespie of Underoath, comes out of nowhere as this psuedo-prog rock epic only held back by some questionable lyrics. Its one of the most well composed Atreyu tracks ever, and begs the question what an album of creativity and experimentation a la "Superhero" would sound like. Bottom line though, skip tracks 2-10, they're a waste of time. The other three tracks though are quite enjoyable. Attack Attack! Attack Attack!August Burns Red Thrill SeekerAVOID AloneAWOLNATION Megalithic SymphonyBeartooth B-SidesBeartooth The SurfaceBeen following Caleb for 10+ years so I'm stoked the guy is finally happy & living his best life, but the songs from this thing are absolute confirmation of the age-old saying that the "best music comes from heartbreak." Huge stinker. Beast In Black BerserkerBefore I Turn ClaustrophobicBefore Their Eyes Midwest ModestyBeing as an Ocean PROXY: An A.N.I.M.O. StoryBelmont AftermathBilmuri FrameBilmuri Rich SipsBlack Tide Just Another Drug - EPBleachers Strange DesireBleeding Through Love Will Kill Allblink-182 Dude RanchBlood Incantation Timewave ZeroBodysnatcher Bleed-AbideBorn of Osiris A Higher PlaceBoston Manor SaudadeBrand New DaisyBreaking Benjamin EmberBreathe Atlantis SoulmadeBullet For My Valentine GravityBullet For My Valentine Rare CutsBy the Thousands Dead MatterCane Hill Too Far GoneCapstan Seasonal DepressionCapstan nulla.Capture Reign of TerrorCaskets ReflectionsCharlie Scene OutsiderChiodos Bone Palace Ballet - The Grand CodaCity in the Sea Below the NoiseCoda (GER) DeathbloomCold Years A Different LifeColdrain The RevelationColdrain NonnegativeComeback Kid Die KnowingCorey Taylor CMFTCounterparts Tragedy Will Find UsCounterparts Heaven Let Them DieCreeper American NoirCrossfaith New Age WarriorsCrystal Lake HelixCyhra Letters To MyselfCyhra No Halos In HellWhy would Jesper leave In Flames to join a band that uses his talents even less? Dance Gavin Dance Artificial SelectionDarke Complex Point OblivionDarkest Hour Perpetual | TerminalDarkness Divided The End of It AllDave Hause Bury Me In PhillyDayseeker Dreaming Is Sinking /// Waking Is RisingDead Crown (FRA) Nature Is My TempleDead Crown (FRA) Tales From Frozen Lands PT.1Dead Crown (FRA) Tales From Frozen Lands PT.2Dead Letter Circus The Catalyst FireDeadlights The Uncanny ValleyDeaf Havana the present is a foreign landDeath Cab for Cutie Thank You For TodaydEMOTIONAL TarassisdEMOTIONAL DiscoveryDepeche Mode Black CelebrationDon Broco AutomaticDon Broco Automatic (Deluxe)Dragged Under Upright AnimalsDruadan Forest The Lost DimensionEarthshatter 1135Some pretty cool heavy moments, and the light-industrial/nu-metal influence a la Vein is definitely there, but the whiny chorus vocals kinda ruin the vibe. And that's coming from a dude who loves the generic high-pitched post-hardcore choruses. Its certainly a juxtaposition many of their heavy nu-metalcore peers don't offer, but it often takes the wind out of the sails of an otherwise solid heavy song. Ultimately, fun listen, but not a super impressive one. Maybe the choruses will grow on me, but for now this sits at a 2.7-ish for me. Potential for some good shit in the future exists here though. Elderwind The Magic of NatureElectric Callboy RehabElvenscroll Never to Be MournedEmarosa This Is Your Way OutEmarosa VersusEmarosa 131Enter Shikari SlipshodEnter Shikari A Kiss For The Whole WorldEscape the Fate This War Is OursEscape the Fate Hate MeEve 6 Eve 6Eve 6 It's All In Your Head"Think Twice" and "Bring the Night On" are both pretty great, high energy, catchy tunes but the rest is rather boring and totally bogged down by poor lyrics. Its easy to see why this record marked the beginning of their first hiatus, in retrospect. Excision Shambhala 2010Favorite Weapon Sixty SaragossaWhen Hance Alligood left Georgia-based metalcore band Woe, Is Me leaving the remaining members to eventually break up, I was assuming his new "venture" he was teasing was going to be much different then his past work. What we have here is Favorite Weapon, that said new venture. Hance, the only vocalist, performs both cleans and screams on this record, which ultimately doesn't stray far from the later efforts of the Woe, Is Me career. Thus, its a very bland alternative rock record, still pulling from the metalcore and post-hardcore influences that were slightly more prevalent in Woe. Disappointed in the lack of new direction, it doesn't help that not one single track stands far apart from the rest. One minor plus, however, is the pop-punk/easycore infused "Better Days." But at track #9, and being the only song of that nature on the album, it doesn't save the record from overall mediocrity. Perhaps it will take several more listens, but as of now, its just a more heavy than usual, usual alternative rock record.FEVER 333 Made an AmericaFirienholt White Frost and Elder BloodFit for a King Creation | DestructionFit for a King DeathgripFit for a King Slave to NothingFit for a King DescendantsFit for a King The Hell We CreateFive Finger Death Punch The Wrong Side of Heaven and The Righteous Side of Hell, Volume 1Five Finger Death Punch The Wrong Side of Heaven and The Righteous Side of Hell, Volume 2Five Finger Death Punch Pre-Emptive StrikeFor All Those Sleeping OutspokenFor the Fallen Dreams SixFrank Turner Be More KindFrank Turner No Man's LandGet Scared Best Kind of MessGet Scared Built For Blame, Laced With ShameGet Scared Get ScaredGet Scared The Dead DaysGhost (SWE) InfestissumamGhost Atlas Dust of the Human ShapeGood Tiger We Will All be GoneGrandson A Modern Tragedy, Vol. 1Grayscale UmbraGreg Puciato MirrorcellGreywalker Le CachotHandguns AngstHandguns Life LessonsHazing Over PestilenceHe Is Legend White BatHollywood Undead American Tragedy ReduxHollywood Undead Black Dahlia RemixesHollywood Undead Hotel KaliforniaUnashamed life-long Undead fan here chiming in to say this is a pretty standard release by the band. Equal parts New Empire Vol. 1 (harder rock with a metalcore flourish now and then) and American Tragedy (fun, at times cheesy pop production), this surely will not win over anyone on the fence about the band. But it will likely please plenty of longtime fans, even though there's not much innovation to be found. It is certainly a step back onto their path of consistency following the abysmal New Empire Vol. 2, at the very least. As usual, the heavy songs are the highlights (Chaos, Alone at the Top, Reclaim) and the party songs (Ruin My Life) still sound wildly out of place for a group of late-30-somethings. Hundredth FreeI Am King Playing the SaintI Fight Fail Voyages & Vantage PointsFlashes of brilliance and potential, but like their primary influence Angels & Airwaves' early releases, they seem to fall short of putting all the pieces and ideas together into a cohesive, successful product. Still, worth a spin or two for the "space rock" fan, and also worth keeping an eye on for the future. It took AVA a few records to get it together, and perhaps I Fight Fail will soon too. I See Stars Renegades ForeverI See Stars PhasesI the Mighty Where the Mind Wants to Go / Where You Let it GoIce Nine Kills Safe Is Just a ShadowImminence This Is GoodbyeIf you enjoy Bring Me the Horizon's *That's the Spirit,* you'll find something in here to enjoy as well. And then you'll realize there are a lot of things you like about it. And then, you'll get to the point where you say to yourself, "Oh, that bit sounds like _____ from *That's the Spirit*." And then, you'll get to the point where that realization becomes every single track. This is an entire album of "Drown," "Throne" and "Follow You" derivatives. There is not a shred of originality to be found here. That said, if you enjoy that modern electro-tinged rock sound, you'll probably dig this quite a bit, especially if you can get past this band's blatant attempt to make *That's the Spirit* all over again. Jumping on a trend's influence is one thing, totally emulating an artist's sound is another. This is the latter; and for integrity's sake, Imminence needs to hone their own sound.In Flames Soundtrack to Your EscapeIn Hearts Wake ArkIn Hearts Wake Ark PrevailsInvent Animate EverchangerInvent Animate StillworldThese guys listen to a lot of Northlane...rI like Northlane a good bit, but I just don't see what's so special about this. Invent Animate GreyviewIron Maiden A Matter Of Life And DeathIron Maiden The Final FrontierIsles and Glaciers The Hearts of Lonely PeopleIssues HeadspaceJonathan Young Children of NightLike an Adam-era Three Days Grace record if they were listening to a ton of Alestorm in the writing process. Funnily enough its co-written and co-produced by Judge & Jury, AKA two Three Days Grace members. Its a post-grunge, mid-2000's hard rock album with some folky Pirate lead guitar lines here and there. Cool concept, but definitely a bit cheesy whilst not thoroughly catchy enough. Jonathan still has an awesome voice, but something about his original songs still leaves something to be desired.Joy Division Unknown PleasuresKamelot The Shadow TheoryKillswitch Engage Alive or Just BreathingKillswitch Engage Disarm the DescentKingdom of Giants AbominableKingdom of Giants Every Wave of SoundKisses for Kings Forget to RememberKnife Party 100% No Modern TalkingKnuckle Puck Oak StreetLandon Tewers Dead KidLike Moths to Flames Sweet TalkerLike Moths to Flames Dark Divine ReimaginedLike Moths to Flames Basilisk/Inherit the TragedyLinkin Park LPU XIIILinkin Park Linkin Park Underground ElevenLinkin Park Underground 5.0Linkin Park In The End: Live & RareLinkin Park Frat Party At The Pankake FestivalLinkin Park Underground 3Lions Lions To Carve Our NamesLonely the Brave The Hope ListLorene Drive Romantic WealthMachine Gun Kelly EST 4 LifeMachine Head Arrows in Words from the SkyMany Eyes The Light AgeMaylene and the Sons of Disaster IVMeliorist CascadeMemphis May Fire Unconditional (Deluxe)Unlike most Rise re-issues, this isn't a TOTAL blatant cash-grab. The entire original album has been re-mixed/mastered and sounds far and away better than the first release. The guitars are audible, the vocals don't entirely drown out the rest of the band, and there are lead licks present that seemed non-existent on the original version. Though the music sounds better, it doesn't save the album entirely, as the poor lyrics still stick out like a sore thumb in places. This is especially prevalent on "My Generation," one of two new tracks present on this release. Its counterpart, however, "Stay the Course," is certainly a highlight amongst the rest of the album's mediocrity, featuring a sweet dueling guitar solo (an unheard-of trait in modern metalcore) and constant energy. Bottom line: give this a spin if you, like me, found the original unlistenable. While it is not the best Memphis May Fire release by any means, it certainly saves Unconditional from being a completely irrelevant release within their discography. Memphis May Fire This Light I HoldMemphis May Fire Between the LiesMemphis May Fire Memphis May FireMilestones Red LightsMiss Fortune Miss FortuneMiss May I DeathlessModern Maps hope you're happyMotionless In White CreaturesMy Chemical Romance Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous KilljoysMy Chemical Romance Number TwoMy Chemical Romance Number FiveMy Ticket Home To Create a CureNeck Deep The Peace and The B-SidesNight Rider (US) Night RiderNight Verses Every Sound Has a Color...: Part IINo Love for the Middle Child Losing FeelingNormandie DopamineThis is most certainly not bad pop-rock, but its definitely a step down from their first two (as was the previous record, D&BS). Northern Ghost Happy : Sad : Depressed : SuicidalNorthlane Mirror's EdgeNothing More The Stories We Tell OurselvesNovelists Déjà VuNoir and Souvenirs are two of my favorite djenty metalcore records ever, with Noir being one of my top played of all time in any genre. I was skeptical with the vocalist change, and while the replacement is a step back, he's capable of handling this new nu-metal/electro-tinged sound. And there are some decent songs here, just nothing touching the highs of the older records. Still, lead guitarist Flo rips a handful of really sick solos. That said, they put a fucking interlude at track #2 AND at track #4 AND at track #6 - none of which have anything to do with the otherwise nu-metal vibe of the album; they're completely out of place. Lost a whole point on the rating for that bullshit. You can't be tough-guy posturing on your album cover and have three vibey interludes in the first six tracks. EDIT - Taking another half point off for the FIVE fuckin interludes in 12 tracks. They would've sounded at home with the old sound, but with this new pivot, they make zero sense especially given 5 of the 7 actual songs were released as singles months ago. This should've been an EP. Ocean Grove Flip Phone FantasyOceans Red Hold Your BreathOf Mice and Men Restoring ForceOf Mice and Men EchoUnfortunately, I think this single-by-single, little EP-sized chunks at a time release model is here to stay in the age of streaming ruling the music industry. Apart from that ruining the album experience, this collection of songs is just boring and painfully average. There's no doubt the members left in this band are competent writers and performers, but nothing they've put together in several years is worth much fanfare. These guys are really missing the magic they had when Joey Sturgis was writing nearly all their tunes (The Flood). That said, "Pulling Teeth" is a genuinely good song with one of the better hooks in their discography. The rest? Instantly forgettable yet undeniably passable. Ogemaw County Ogemaw CountyOld Wounds GlowOminous Glory The Elven DreamOtherwise Peace at All CostsOur Hollow, Our Home Burn in the FloodOur Last Night The Ghosts Among UsOur Last Night Let Light Overcome The DarknessOut Came The Wolves Strange FateOutlands Grave MindNot bad by any means, but throughout the entire record, all I can think is how many times I've heard this same vein of metalcore before. There are a few impressively catchy choruses, but besides that, this is pretty standard in every aspect of metalcore. Outline In Color MasksOutline In Color Imposter SyndromePalisades I'm Not Dying TodayPalmist Fake SmilesPicturesque Back to BeautifulPierce the Veil Collide with the SkyPierce the Veil MisadventuresPridelands Any Colour You DesireProjected HumanRed (USA) Innocence and InstinctRed (USA) End of SilenceSaint Asonia Flawed DesignSaint Asonia Saint AsoniaSaint Asonia IntrovertSarea Black at HeartTrack one, "Lights" is excellent, with a top notch hook and a stellar driving groove, but the rest of the record is painfully average (borderline boring) metalcore with a melo-death edge. Scandroid ScandroidScandroid MonochromeSenses Fail If There Is Light, It Will Find YouSenses Fail Hell Is in Your HeadSeraphim Shades Of The FutureSet It Off Horrible KidsShinedown Attention AttentionSiamese ElementsSilverstein A Beautiful Place to DrownSincere Engineer Cheap GrillsSkrillex BangarangSleep Signals EtherealSleeper Ship The GatewaySleeping With Sirens Let's Cheers to ThisSlipknot All Hope Is GoneSlipknot .5: The Gray ChapterSpiritbox The Fear of FearStarset HorizonsStatic Dress Rouge Carpet DisasterStick to Your Guns SpectreStoneside. God of the MountainSum 41 Order In DeclineSurroundings Of Bane, Burden & ChangeSylar Help!Tear Out The Heart Dead, EverywhereTermina DysphoriaTexas in July Texas in JulyThe 1975 IV [American edition]The 1975 IVThe 1975 Being Funny In A Foreign LanguageThe Afterimage LumièreThe Amity Affliction Let the Ocean Take MeThe Amity Affliction MiseryThe Bad Chapter Cheers To the Down and OutsThe Band CAMINO The DarkThe Brave AuraThe Browning GeistThe Callous Daoboys Die on MarsThe Cult The CultThe Cult Born Into ThisThe Cult Choice Of WeaponThe Dangerous Summer Coming HomeThe Gaslight Anthem Get HurtThe Killers Hot FussThe Maine You Are OKThe Menzingers Some of it Was TrueThe Midnight HeroesThe Mission Carved in SandThe Oklahoma Kid SolarrayThe Ongoing Concept Arrows Before BulletsThe Ongoing Concept PlacesThe Raven Age ConspiracyThe Red Jumpsuit Apparatus The AwakeningThe Road to Milestone Motion SicknessThe Southern Death Cult The Southern Death CultThe Story So Far I Want to DisappearI dunno what album you guys are listening to. This is so bland and boring compared to all four previous records. Proper Dose was a grower though and maybe this will be too, but as of now, I just keep waiting for this thing to hook me and it never does. The Used Lies for the LiarsThe Veer ManifestationsSome metalcore aspects were added here that I've never heard from this band previously, which make this release slightly more entertaining. A few solid chorus hooks make up for an abhorrent rock rendition of tik-tok track ABCDEFU, but ultimately its still pretty run-of-the-mill radio rock. The Veer Decade II - Rock & AcousticThe Weight of Atlas The Art of Letting Go Pt. 1The Word Alive Violent NoiseThe Word Alive Hard ResetThomas Giles Modern NoiseThomas Giles PulseThornhill HeroineThousand Below Gone in Your WakeThrawsunblat Great Brunswick ForestThrawsunblat MetachthoniaThree Days Grace Life Starts NowThrice The Alchemy Index Vol. III: AirTimes of Grace Songs of Loss and SeparationToo Close to Touch Too Close to TouchToo Close to Touch I'm Hard to Love, But So Are You, Vol. 2Too Close to Touch I'm Hard to Love, But So Are You, Vol. 3Tool UndertowTrash Boat Don't You Feel Amazing?Tremonti The End Will Show Us HowTrivium The CrusadeTrivium Vengeance FallsTurnover AltogetherTyler Carter Leave Your LoveUnearth The Wretched; The RuinousUpon a Burning Body FuryVarious Artists (Punk) Punk Goes 90s Vol. 2Various Artists (Punk) Punk Goes ChristmasVein.fm ErrorzoneVein.fm This World Is Going to Ruin YouVOLA Friend of a PhantomVolumes ViaVolumes Via (Remastered)Volumes Coming CleanWe Came As Romans To Plant a SeedWe Came As Romans DarkbloomWhile She Sleeps So What?While She Sleeps Sleeps Society (Special Edition)Whirr Muta / Blue SugarWhite Moth Black Butterfly One Thousand WingsWilliam Control Silentium AmorisWilliam Control Novus Ordo SeclorumWilliam Control Revelations: The RedWilliam Control Revelations: The WhiteWindwaker Love LanguageWindwaker Enter the WallWindwaker HyperviolenceWith Confidence Better WeatherXXI Inside OutYou Me At Six VIYoung Lions Make a Rainbow and Put It in the SkyZero 9:36 You Will Not Be SavedZero 9:36 ...If You Don't Save Yourself2.0 poor3TEETH MetawarA Skylit Drive Rise: AscensionAdelitas Way Home School ValedictorianAlexisonfire Watch Out!Alexisonfire AlexisonfireAll That Remains Victim Of The New DiseaseAs I Lay Dying DecasAs It Is I WENT TO HELL AND BACKI've come to conclusion these guys can't do anything original. Their early stuff was just the Story So Far/Neck Deep pop punk that was booming from 2011-2015. Then they made a full-blown MCR ripoff down to the makeup and outfits in the Great Depression, as the MCR nostalgia hype was hitting all-time highs. I'm like five songs in, and this sounds like MGK's Tickets to My Downfall, with the trap beat verses and loud power chord choruses. The damn singer is even trying to imitate MGK's vocal style/inflection on the "IDC" song, and its just as blatant on the chorus of the "I'd Rather Die" song. There might be a good song or two on here, but fuck if its not obvious that this band doesn't have an original bone in their bodies. As Lions Selfish AgeAsking Alexandria The BlackAsking Alexandria See What's On the InsideAfter the last few releases, its a foregone conclusion that AA will never again release the sleazy fun metalcore that caused their explosion in the early 2010's. Many bands have been able to make the transition out of that formula and into something bigger and better, whilst keeping the music interesting and genuine. AA has been trying this of late, but severely lacked the last two key ingredients. Though their singles have peaked higher and higher on the active rock charts (no doubt their goal all along), the albums as a whole have been lifeless and boring. This album is a step above the previous two, but ultimately still extremely watered down. There appears to be a heightened passion here, as "Alone Again" is actually a pretty fun Avenged Sevenfold rip, and there's actually a couple decent power ballads (something I haven't been able to say for any rock bands lately), but in the end this isn't going to win over anyone outside the red state rock radio demographic. Asking Alexandria Where Do We Go from Here?Atreyu BaptizeBrandon Saller was always good for a handful of solid hooks per record, but over half of this album seems to be written for sports broadcast "hype" videos (think "Centuries" by Fall Out Boy on every NHL and NFL pre-game show in 2014), egregiously moreso than the previous release, and it gets so god damn boring. And, somehow, as they get older, their lyrics seem to be written by younger and younger people? A few of these songs are sure to get some radio spins but if you're looking for a beacon of musical accomplishment here, you aren't going to find it. Atreyu The Hope Of A SparkAtreyu The Moment You Find Your FlameAttila About That LifeAttila ChaosAvenged Sevenfold Warmness On The SoulBeartooth AggressiveThis album has none of the fun, infectious energy nor sheer catchiness that drove the debut straight into my list of top metalcore albums. The lyrics are even worse than the those that were the low point of the debut, and Caleb Shomo's remarkable talent for writing irresistibly catchy melodies is seemingly non-existent here. This, unfortunately, is a monumental disappointment for a band previously poised to take the metal/hardcore genre by the jugular. Beartooth Aggressive (Remix)Black Veil Brides We Stitch These WoundsBlack Veil Brides Re-Stitch These WoundsBlessthefall His Last Walkblink-182 One More Time, Pt. 2All of part 2 sounded like half-assed tunes that would've fit better on any of Travis' Tik Tok bubble gum punk projects (Jadn is one that comes to mind) than a blink record. Seriously, I'm not sure why someone like Tom would've let some of these bonus tracks get released. But like that other commenter mentioned, in the age of streaming, more is more and the music quality suffers for it. Luckily, the original album is pretty decent. My rating here is solely for the PT2-exclusive songs. Born Through Fire Purify and RefineBreaking Benjamin SaturateBreaking Benjamin Dark Before DawnBreathe Carolina Hell Is What You Make ItBreathe Carolina Hell Is What You Make It: ReloadedBring Me The Horizon Count Your BlessingsBring Me The Horizon Suicide SeasonCapture Live LifeCapture Lost ControlCelldweller Wish Upon A Blackstar (Deluxe Edition)"Eon" is the best track this dude has ever done, but aside from that this is very forgettable. Celldweller Wish Upon a BlackstarChiodos Bone Palace BalletCold Black CirclesCrown the Empire Sudden SkyCry Venom Vanquish the DemonExtremely weak [sometimes cringe-worth] lyrics, poor production, and only a couple decent hooks. Not to mention the extremely forced combination of EDM and power metal, which doesn't work. The enjoyable songs are the ones with less electronic influence. Jacky Vincent can shred, but he should've stayed in Falling in Reverse if he wanted to continue a musical career. I don't see this going anywhere. Deuce Invincible (Original)Deuce NightmareDevice DeviceDrag Me Out Demons AwayA bit odd for D-Stoff's Drag Me Out to pivot back into the sleazy early-2010's-style metalcore after an entire album of bland radio rock songs. While heavy stuff is certainly what these guys do best (see Down & Dirty, same band members as the original lineup), they didn't manage to make this any more entertaining or any less bland than the previous album. This is very "meh." Dreamshade VibrantElectric Callboy CrystalsElectric Callboy The SceneEnter Shikari The Mindsweep : HospitalisedEscape the Fate Acoustic SessionsEscape the Fate Out of the ShadowsExcision Shambhala 2008Five Finger Death Punch The Way Of The FistFive Finger Death Punch Got Your SixFive Finger Death Punch And Justice for NoneFive Finger Death Punch F8From Under The Willow OutlawsGood Charlotte Good Morning RevivalGreen Day ¡UNO!Greta Van Fleet StarcatcherHands Like Houses Ground DwellerHands Like Houses -Anon.Yet another step further from their progressive beginnings, this surprisingly comes across like a weird mix of grunge and pop music with a 2018 sheen. Catchy in parts, but bland as all hell in most areas. The colorful guitars and keys are gone, and what's left is a shell of what this band once was. Hollywood Undead New Empire Vol. 2This is pretty poor, and that's coming from someone who has adored (and 5.0ed this band) for years. Way more electronic & hip-hop leaning than Vol 1, but at the expense at most of the super fun hooks. Some of these tracks are an absolute mess. "Idol" has this odd dubstep chorus that just 8 years too late, and "Monsters" I guess is their attempt at grabbing some of the emo-rap scene but the flows are simply some of the worst in their discography. After one playthrough, it becomes super evident why a remixed version of a track from Vol 1 was the lead single for this release: the tracks here are nowhere near as strong. I See Stars 3DI See Stars Green Light Go!I See Stars Anomaly / DriftIn Flames Sounds of a Playground FadingIn Flames Down, Wicked and No GoodIn Flames Clayman (20th Anniversary Edition)In Hearts Wake KaliyugaInDirections ClockworksJamie's Elsewhere Rebel - ReviveJulien-K Death To AnalogKnife Party Haunted HouseLike Moths to Flames The Dying Things We Live ForLinkin Park Sweet Hamster Like Jewels From America!Linkin Park A Thousand Suns: Puerta De AlcalaLions Lions Changing the DefinitionLions Lions The Path We Take EPMachine Gun Kelly bloomThis is borderline sellout material from Kells, who admittedly was my favorite rapper a few years back. After a handful of solid mixtapes and a decent debut LP, it seems to have all gone downhill from there. The *Lace Up* mixtape, *Lace Up* LP, and *Black Flag* all showcased his "machine-gun" style, lightning fast delivery with impressive lyricism and flow while sprinkling in pop sensibility. Just a few years removed from those releases, and *Bloom* is totally pop-heavy, without much (if any) of the namesake-esque rapping that allowed him to burst onto the scene. The trap tracks are laughable, the pretentious pot smoking anthems are boring, and the poppiest bits just don't hit for MGK as they used to. "The Gunner" and "27" pose the most passable songs, while "Let You Go" and "Rehab" aren't terrible (full-band) pop rock songs, but the majority is instantly skip-worthy. And with the massive success of the Top 40 smash "Bad Things," it doesn't appear we'll see MGK return to his "Chip Off the Block" roots any time soon. Machine Gun Kelly BingeBetter than the inconsistent 'bloom,' but doesn't even hold a candle to his 2011-12 stuff. MGK burst on the scene for having a unique sound, but lately he seems to be more of a follower than an innovator. 'Binge' sounds like most modern hip-hop, but its still leagues ahead of the trash mumble rap dominating radio waves. That said, "Rap Devil" is better than "Killshot," hands down. Machine Gun Kelly Mainstream SelloutDespite what many may say here and elsewhere online, *Tickets to My Downfall* was a legitimately good *pop* record. It deserved the acclaim, though maybe not the "prince of pop punk" title Billboard has since bestowed upon MGK. This, unfortunately, is nowhere near the same level. Most of these tracks feel like awkward, cast out B-sides from the *Tickets* sessions. While *Tickets* certainly had a cringey lyric here and there, this record seems to have them on every track, and the vocal flows just aren't as silky smooth across the board, making some of those awkward moments stand out more. "God Save Me," "Make Up Sex," "Papercuts" and of course "emo girl" all suffer from this. And "Die in California" starts off great, but is borderline ruined by a couple mumble rap verses on the back half. There's a few moments that salvage this from being a complete trainwreck though: "Maybe" is fantastic, but under the surface its just "Misery Business 2.0." "Drug Dealer [Girl]" is also a pretty solid song, but if it sounds all too familiar to the *Tickets* album, that's because it was written for that (and the demo has been floating around the internet since then). "WW4" and "Born With Horns" are two pretty cool yet pretty obvious Barker-blink songs. Maybe its true what they say though, that once you fall in love you can't write good music anymore....? S/o Megan Fox. Memphis May Fire UnconditionalMichael Barr RevengeMiss May I Rise of the LionMy Ticket Home The Opportunity To BeNeck Deep All Distortions Are IntentionalNight Riots HowlNight Verses Into the Vanishing LightNorthlane 5GOcean Grove Up in the Air ForeverOf Mice and Men TimelessOf Mice and Men TetherOrgy CandyassOur Last Night Empires FallPapa Roach Getting Away With MurderPapa Roach The Paramour SessionsPapa Roach MetamorphosisParkway Drive Darker StillPVRIS White Noise (Deluxe Version)Real Friends Maybe This Place Is the Same and We're Just ChangingRise Against EndgameRonnie Radke Watch MeSaint Asonia ExtrovertScarlett O'Hara Welcome Back To The BrodeoSECRETS RenditionsShinedown AmaryllisSkrillex Scary Monsters and Nice SpritesSlash Apocalyptic LoveSleeping With Sirens With Ears to See and Eyes to HearSlipknot The End, So FarSnarl DemoStarset VesselsStone Temple Pilots High RiseSurvive This! RealityTear Out The Heart ViolenceThat's Outrageous! PsychoThat's Outrageous! Teenage ScreamThe 1975 Notes on a Conditional FormThe Amity Affliction Somewhere Beyond the BlueThe Color Morale Know HopeThe Devil Wears Prada PlaguesThe Gaslight Anthem The B-SidesThe Ghost Inside Searching for SolaceThe Red Jumpsuit Apparatus Et Tu, Brute?The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus The Emergency EP"Brace Yourself" and "Don't Buy Into It" are actually two decent songs, the first RJA songs I'd find myself playing more than once since 2011's *Am I the Enemy.* After so much promise on their debut album in 2006, its borderline unbelievable the fall into complete obscurity that this band has taken. It begs the question that perhaps their early work was entirely ghostwritten. Just read the lyrics of "A Long Time Ago in a Galaxy Called LA", my lord its painful. The Used Heartwork (Deluxe Version)The Used Toxic PositivityThe Veer Covers Collection Vol. 1Three Days Grace Three Days GraceThree Days Grace ExplosionsTime Traveller Morla And The Red BalloonTo My Surprise To My SurpriseShoutout to EA Sports MVP Baseball 2004 for the banger that is "Get it to Go," but the rest of this is pretty mediocre. Not quite sure what Rick Rubin saw in this to want to produce it. Transit Young New EnglandTrivium Silence in the SnowUnderoath VoyeuristUpon a Burning Body The World Is OursUpon a Burning Body Straight From the BarrioThey must've had a serious identity crisis on this record: first half is full latin-Attila, second half is The World is My Enemy Now With Clean Singing. Various Artists (Punk) Punk Goes Pop 4Various Artists (Punk) Punk Goes Pop 3Various Artists (Punk) Rock Sound Presents: The Black ParadeVolumes Different AnimalsWage War StigmaWhile She Sleeps The North Stands for NothingWhile She Sleeps Sleeps SocietyYou Me At Six SuckapunchLots of Imagine Dragons ripoffs here. Its clear what their intent is with this, but more of the 80's-pop influence from the last album ("Straight to My Head") would've been welcome and made this more tolerable. Only song I see myself going back to is maybe the title track. "Finish What I Started" is also not too bad. "Adrenaline" may very well have been stolen from Imagine Dragons, as that vocal cadence is right out of the Dan Reynolds book of cheese. You Me At Six Truth Decay1.5 very poorA Day To Remember You're WelcomeA Day To Remember ResentmentA Skylit Drive RiseArt Of Dying Rise UpA lot heavier than V&V, but still pretty run-of-the-mill radio rock. The singer has a much better voice than most trying to break into the mainstream butt rock scene, but the songs just aren't there. Art Of Dying NevermoreAs Lions AftermathAustin Dickinson broke up metalcore standout Rise to Remain to form this band, and the result is a very disappointing radio rock effort. Despite the solid opener and title track, the rest of the EP is very lackluster. "White Flag" has a catchy chorus, but like the rest of the EP, suffers from terrible lyricism and uninteresting musicianship. The production is edgy, giving it a "future"- rock feel, and Dickinson's voice is seemingly better than it was on the Rise to Remain releases, but it alone cannot save this from being a 1-listen-and-done album. Still, perhaps there is hope for future As Lions releases given the talent (and genes) the band possesses. Asking Alexandria Stand Up and ScreamAsking Alexandria Under the InfluenceAsking Alexandria Life Gone WildAsking Alexandria Asking AlexandriaAtreyu The Beautiful Dark of LifeAttack Attack! Someday Came SuddenlyAttila Guilty PleasureAttila VillainCan always count on Attila to come thru every two years with a release to help the objectivity statistic on our profiles. That said, couple fun moments, mostly a heaping pile of the same trash they've been pushing for a decade. "Subhuman" is actually a passable, accessible metalcore tune a la Bad Omens or BMTH so its cool to see them trying something different for fucking once. The rest is your typical Attila. Hard pass. Avenged Sevenfold Sounding The Seventh TrumpetBlack Country, New Road For the first timeBlack Tide Bite the BulletBlack Tide Chasing ShadowsBlack Veil Brides Sex & HollywoodBlack Veil Brides Never Give InBreathe Carolina Hello FascinationBreathe Carolina It's Classy Not ClassicBring Me The Horizon Music to Listen to...Bullet For My Valentine Temper Temper (Deluxe Edition)Cane Hill SmileCelldweller End of an Empire - Chapter 02: LoveDown to Earth is average across the board, but Heart On's unbelievably cringeworthy lyrics can't save it from a decent instrumental. Celldweller OffworldChiodos All's Well That Ends WellCode Orange The Hurt Will Go OnConvictions I Will BecomeCrown the Empire RetrogradeDead by April Worlds CollideDeftones Koi No YokanDrag Me Out PressureWhat we have here is 12 copy-pasted versions of Linkin Park's "What I've Done" run through a 2016 Bring Me the Horizon *That's the Spirit* filter. Literally every song goes like this: intro riff with basic power chords, drop the riff for some ~atmospheric keys~ and a basic drum beat under the vocals in the first verse, bring back that basic ass riff for the chorus, and repeat until you have 45 minutes of boring as fuck rock music. Denis Stoff doesn't even try to write his own shit. His first two bands are Asking Alexandria rip-offs, then he actually got his dream job fronting that band and pissed it away, so now he's making the exact same album they dropped last year. Seriously, whoever wrote "Alone in a Room" for AA also sold that shit to Stoff, because "Hollow" is virtually the same track. I really am not quite sure why I listened to all of this. Dropout Kings AudioDopeSong with Landon Tewers (the Plot in You) is kinda fun, but aside from that this is pretty repulsive. Escape the Fate Escape the FateEscape the Fate Chemical WarfareExcision X RatedFEVER 333 Wrong GenerationProtest songs are usually great, but this is just repetitive and grating and... not... good... like at all. From Ashes To New DownfallLike a bad version of the new Of Mice and Men album (Restoring Force) with a bit more of the hip-hop influence. Not worth checking out to the average metal/metalcore/rock fan, but a die-hard nu-metalhead may find something interesting here. From Ashes To New From Ashes to NewGood Charlotte Generation RxHere's a new one: Legacy pop punk band completely rips the electro-rock trend in attempt to stay relevant. This record is so blatantly an attempt to cash in on the popularity of Bring Me the Horizon's *That's the Spirit* sound, but its executed with poor Three Days Grace lyricism and absolutely nothing that once made Good Charlotte, well, Good Charlotte. Result: a vapid and completely transparent stab at career revival by playing exactly what the kids are into these days in the most boring way possible. Green Day Father of All MotherfuckersI Prevail Heart vs. MindI Prevail LifelinesThere's no denying this band will probably be huge. They're pretty much the love child of ADTR and Cold World OM&M, the choruses are tailor-made for Sirius XM Octane, and they use their social media extremely well to promote their music. That formula alone will get them a spot on Warped's main stage in the next couple years, but there is no depth to their music at all and this record does not live up to the hype. rIf you like hard rock. you'll probably dig the fuck out of this. Hell, if I heard this when I was 16 I'd probably be on my way to the record store to buy it right now. But, I'm 23 now and music like this pretty much does nothing for me anymore. And, if you're browsing Sputnik Music right now, I'd assume it does nothing for you either. I Prevail POST TRAUMATICI Prevail Hurricane (Reimagined)I Prevail TRAUMAI See Stars The End of the World PartyI See Stars New Demons [Remixes]In Flames Siren CharmsKnife Party Abandon ShipInstead of maintaining the catchy, head-bobbing, banger dubstep style from their earlier releases, the former Pendulum members have decided to basically run with the trends of the EDM crowd. Out goes the signature Knife Party dubstep sound, in with the recycled, cut-and-paste progressive house and trap/hip-hop beats. It doesn't work, and makes for a very boring release from start to finish. Lets all go back to jamming Centipede and Rage Valley, and forget this LP even happened.rOr better yet, back to listening to Pendulum. One can only hope Rob and Gareth return to their roots at some point. After the disaster that is Abandoned Ship, hopefully they see it as necessary as I do.Light Up the Sky NightlifeLinkin Park RechargedLinkin Park One More LightI'm not really sure how this took ~2.5-3 years to make. Its all simple keys, pop structures and plain drum beats. Hard to believe this is the same band that created the Hunting Party a few years back. This is almost entirely sell-out material. If they were going to go full soft, it would at least be passable as art had they taken the progressive route like the underrated *A Thousand Suns* or the impressive folky ballad "Castle of Glass" off *Living Things* (a nearly entirely pop-rock record that had its enjoyable moments). There is not a hint of progression or even "rock" music in this release. If you've heard one track, you've heard them all. And then you never have to listen to this again. Here's hoping this flops and we get a decent record (and entirely different sonic direction) in another 3 years. What the fuck, Mike. Liquid Stranger Cryogenic Encountersliveconformdie Circa '94Machine Gun Kelly Fuck ItMotionless In White InfamousNight Riots Love GloomThis band scratches the surface of their potential with the single "Contagious," which has been on alternative radio for over two years by the time this record actually hit the shelves, but the rest of the album is very underwhelming. Many songs suffer from terrible lyricism and boring instrumentation, and lacking effective hooks really brings down the value of the entire product. Expanding on the dark pop (Depeche Mode, New Order) influence would be good for these dudes, they just need to put it all together (and write better hooks) on their next release to avoid slipping into alt. rock obscurity. Of Mice and Men Of Mice and MenPalisades Mind GamesPersonally, I preferred their first record by miles. But that's not to say Mind Games was bad. Outcasts had its fair share of decent riffs, heaviness, several solid guest appearances, and a tolerable mix of EDM and post-hardcore that is rarely done effectively. I really enjoyed Outcasts.rMind Games feels like they dropped a LOT of that post-hardcore/metalcore influence for a more Breathe Carolina-style record. Its poppy-er, dancy-er, and less heavy but still maintains an effective amount of catchy. Another negative is the VERY repetitive song structures which gets boring and makes tracks run together, and the lack of any creative riffs (when they actually do use the two guitarists in the band). That being said, its not a bad album though I do seem to be pretty negative about it. 2.5/5Red (USA) Release the PanicSECRETS The AscentSECRETS Everything That Got Us HereSet It Off DualityAfter listening, its clear Set it Off has dropped a lot of their rock and post-hardcore/pop-punky side to focus more on a run at the mainstream a la Fall out Boy. This is a mostly pop record, and disappointingly relates more to Five Seconds of Summer than their previous album, Cinematics, or any of their recent touring party. That being said, its a decent record, with a few really fun, catchy songs. But as a whole, it lacks the unique, grandios feel from Cinematics that really catches the listener. Set It Off Duality: Stories UnpluggedShinedown Threat to SurvivalSkillet RiseSkillet AwakeSleeping With Sirens MadnessSlipknot AdderallSylar SeasonsTheir first record is pretty solid nu-metal tinged metalcore. The second was a bit watered down, leaning more to the nu-metal. This record went full on what the fuck. The cringey lyricism and uninspired guitar work result in eleven songs of piss poor Meteora worship.The Amity Affliction This Could Be HeartbreakThe Amity Affliction Everyone Loves You... Once You Leave ThemThe Amity Affliction Not Without My GhostsThe Color Morale Hold On Pain EndsThe Dead Rabbitts Break The StaticAn absolute mess. The mix is awful. The lyrics are awful. What the fuck happened to Craig Mabbitt? Talented voice, but the quality of everything he's touched has significantly dropped every release compared to its predecessor. Escape the Fate recently hit an unprecedented low, and this release is just that for his Dead Rabbitts project. The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus The Hell or High WaterThe Word Alive MonomaniaTheory of a Deadman Wake Up Call"Rx" is strangely really catchy for an objectively bad vapid pop song with garbage lyrics, and the "Wicked Game" cover ain't bad (but the vocalist's voice isn't all that fitting for that dark, brooding song), but those are the only two reasons lifting this above a flat-out 1.0 rating. This is hot fucking trash, though honestly Theory has been hovering right around that level anyway for the entirety of their career. Three Days Grace OutsiderTouche Amore Is Survived ByUpon a Burning Body Red. White. Green.Villain of the Story DividedWage War PressureWe Came As Romans We Came As RomansWhile She Sleeps Self HellWoe, Is Me American DreamYou Me At Six Cavalier YouthYou Me At Six Night People1.0 awfulAbandon All Ships InfamousAbandon All Ships GeevingAbandon All Ships Abandon All Ships!Abandon All Ships MalocchioAsking Alexandria Stepped Up and ScratchedAsking Alexandria LP5 DLXAsking Alexandria Like a House on FireBlind Equation Death AwaitsBlood on the Dance Floor HauntedBlood on the Dance Floor Kawaii MonsterBlood on the Dance Floor ScissorsBlood on the Dance Floor BitchcraftBlood on the Dance Floor Bad BloodBlood on the Dance Floor EvolutionBlood on the Dance Floor All the RageBlood on the Dance Floor EmotionalBlood on the Dance Floor RingleaderBlood on the Dance Floor Cruel PornographyBlood on the Dance Floor Anthem of the OutcastBlood on the Dance Floor Clubbed to DeathBlood on the Dance Floor OMFG Sneak PeakBlood on the Dance Floor EPICBlood on the Dance Floor It's Hard to Be a Diamond...Blood on the Dance Floor Let's Start a RiotBlood on the Dance Floor I Scream I ScreamBone Crew Bone CrewBreathe Carolina Blackout: The RemixesBring Me The Horizon Suicide Season Cut Up!BryanStars Follow Your DreamsBuckcherry FuckBullet For My Valentine Temper TemperCapture Til DeathCorey Feldman Angelic 2 The CoreCrown the Empire The Resistance (Deluxe)Yet another blatant cash grab by Rise here, with two tailor-made-for-radio tracks as incentive. I thought the guitarists were the primary songwriters of Crown the Empire? You can barely tell they're playing in the two new songs. Deuce Nine LivesDeuce Call Me Big DeuceDeuce The Two Thousand Eight EPDeuce InvincibleIts no secret the label prevented him from releasing this for years, hence the leaked 2015 version with a much different tracklist. On top of that, they must have forced him to write new songs for this version, as the tracks here that don't appear previously are uninspired atrocities that are borderline painful to sit through. Whether he put those abominations together as a "fuck you" to the label or simply because he was never that great of a songwriter to begin with remains to be seen, but either way its a piss poor career move for a guy who already once derailed his career by burning bridges with Hollywood Undead. Furthermore, as a label exec, how can you possibly sign off on tracks like "World on Fire," "Bitch this is It," or "Here I Come"? For either side, how dense must you be to put your name on those heaping piles of shit? "Its Alright, Its Okay" and "Catch Me if You Can" both survived the cuts from the first version, and are easily the only two passable songs found here, but still fall victim to the pretentious, overly cocky lyricism and ultimately become forgettable just for their association with the rest of the record. This version of the record makes the previous look like an album of the year contender, it makes Hollywood Undead look like generational talents, and it makes Deuce look even more awful than he already appeared to be.Deuce Remixxxed EPDisturbed ImmortalizedDrake ScorpionElectric Callboy We Are the MessEscape the Fate Issues Remix EPEtienne Sin The Art of Stealing HeartsFamily Force 5 Time Stands StillGhost Town The After PartyGift Giver White DevilGreen Day Oh LoveImagine Dragons Night VisionsImagine Dragons ƎVOLVEImagine Dragons Smoke + MirrorsImagine Dragons OriginsIsles and Glaciers The Hearts of Lonely People (Remixes)Korn The Path of TotalityLil Wayne RebirthLil Xan TOTAL XANARCHYMatty Mullins Matty MullinsMatty Mullins UnstoppableMemphis May Fire BrokenI don't know if I can make it through this whole thing on the first spin. This is a 1, not only because of what this band used to be, but because this is bland, uninspired and downright poor rock music. Nine Lashes AscendOceano DepthsOceano AscendantsOceano ContagionOceano IncisionsOf Mice and Men Cold WorldOf Mice and Men Restoring Force (Full Circle Edition)R. Kelly Trapped In The Closet (Chapters 1-12)Set It Off Upside DownThey have completely abandoned everything that made them slightly enjoyable (see Cinematics) and are now like a Hot Chelle Rae/new Fall Out Boy rom-com pop band. Trash. Set It Off MidnightSheck Wes MudboyShinedown "How Did You Love" Remix EPSkrillex Make It Bun Dem After HoursSkrillex RecessSleeping With Sirens GossipStitches For Drug Dealers OnlyStitches No Snitching Is My StatementThirty Seconds to Mars AmericaThree Days Grace HumanEasily the worst effort by Three Days Grace thus far. When Adam Gontier left, he took the backbone of 3DG songwriting with him. The lyrics are poor, the musicianship and production is poor, and new frontman Matt Walst is trying WAY too hard to sound exactly like Gontier. It is very difficult to find something of a silver lining in this overall lousy album. Through Fire BreatheThrough Fire All AnimalTramp Stamps We Got Drunk And Made An EPTrapt Shadow WorkTrippie Redd Neon Shark vs. Pegasus (Deluxe)Upon This Dawning To Keep Us SafeX Ambassadors VHSxSPONGEXCOREx How Tough Are Yah?Yung Yogi The Saiyan Saga
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