Various Artists
Mass vs. Cali
Heart In Hand (2008)
This 7" compilation partners two Massachusetts bands on one side and two California bands on the other side. Each band contributes one track each; with each band honing in on their own take of hardcore. The Effort leads off the Massachusetts side with "Steps Ahead." Musically they seem to fall between Modern Life is War and Shai Hulud. It's fast … Read more
Various Artists
Parasitic Skies/Losing Skin - Split
Headfirst records (2012)
Splits are a dilemma at times, as they inevitably will either inform you of a new band or have a couple of songs that are clearly overshadowed by their counterpart. I am happy to report that is not the case for this split. With two of the Northwest hardcore scenes' heaviest, this record is a rager from start to finish. … Read more
Various Artists
Radon/Worthwhile Way - split 7"
No Idea/Eager Beaver (2015)
Radon has never really done a lot for me. The melodies are nice but it really never strikes a chord one way or the other. In “Headaches and Bullshit,” it’s 2:29 of their traditional sound, melodic and emotional, delivered via Dave Rohm’s Greg Attonito-styled (Bouncing Souls) vocals over melodic hardcore with an emphasis on the melodic. It does feature a … Read more
Various Artists
Rakta & Deafkids – Forma/Sigilo
Nada Nada Discos (2019)
Brazilian act Rakta were at the forefront of the post-punk revival several years back, and continue to be one of more captivating crews working in what has become a sort of genre-less field. Are they punk? Absolutely. But what punk means today is so much more than what it meant even 10 years ago. I saw them play at Iron … Read more
Various Artists
Say Sue Me / Otoboke Beaver Split 7”
Damnably / Electric Muse (2017)
Though the thought of pairing a shoegazey indie pop band with an anything-goes punk group on a split record may seem odd, in the case of this effort from South Korea's Say Sue Me and Japan's Otoboke Beaver, the results are magical. Say Sue Me's contribution is the sunny “Good For Some Reason,” which finds gorgeously hazy vocals soaring over jangly guitars and … Read more
Various Artists
Spraynard & Sundials - Split
Evil Weevil (2011)
Spraynard hail from Pennsylvania and they play a style of punk that blends the varied melodic subgenres of punk rock (East Bay, beard punk, pop punk) to create their own identity—there’s a familiarity from their influences, but it doesn’t squarely pigeonhole them under a specific label. The band utilizes up-front bass that delivers the melody while the gruff, gruff vocals … Read more
Various Artists
Through Trials & Plead the Fifth - Split
Crossface (2009)
Oh for the love Mike, I need to stop swooping down on these split CDs on the promo list. I am always disappointed. I mean I try to be all for new bands and their new music but Through Trials and the Plead the Fifth are trying to battle out for being the most generic hardcore band of all time. … Read more
Various Artists
Touche Amore/Pianos Become The Teeth - Split
Topshelf (2013)
I’m going to say it outright; I love both of these bands and when I saw hints at this split popping up on message boards I couldn’t have been more excited. Of course with this attachment there is a huge build up of expectations and I can promise you that neither band disappoints, each putting up a song that is … Read more
Various Artists
Toys That Kill/Future Virgins - split
Drunken Sailor (2013)
Pairing Toys That Kill and Future Virgins in a single record, this Drunker Sailor 7” teams up bands that have released some of my favorite records of 2011 (Western Problems) and 2012 (Fambly 42). That’s a lot of quality, an intriguing pair-up and, honestly, a lot to live up to.Does the three song EP live up to expectations? More or … Read more
Various Artists
Underground Hip Hop Essentials Vol. 1
Sassbologna (2006)
It hasn't been until recently, with my discovery of artists like Ghostface Killah, that I started listening to hip hop again. I was excited when I saw this release, and knew I wanted to venture into the world of hip-hop reviews. The Underground Hip Hop Essentials Vol. 1 comp features thirteen tracks from underground rappers from around the country and … Read more
Various Artists
UNFUN/Despite Everything - Split EP
Hahaha Cool! Records (2012)
It's always cool when bands from opposite sides of the world do a split together. It worked great for Thursday and Envy. Here, we have UNFUN from Canada and Despite Everything from Greece. Both have a different brand of dirty punk-rock. In the case of this split though, the Canadians lost. UNFUN's songs have great material to dance and sing-a-long to. … Read more
Various Artists
Wonk Unit/Raging Nathans - split
Drunken Sailor (2016)
This split 7” from a US band and a UK band carries a surprisingly unified sound over its four songs, two from each band. The record starts with Raging Nathans and their whoa-oh pop-punk that sounds like it’s just a hair faster than it’s supposed to be – in a good way. Listening to their two songs brings a number … Read more
Vegas
Sagevisule
Last Anthem (2014)
The ever elusive Vegas has returned. While the band have released a scant few songs in the years since their full-length those songs have shown them maitaining a sense of quality. After a lengty wait a new EP containing four songs arrives, reflecting what Vegas is and where they may be heading.The whole shebang begins with a dark riff sounding like … Read more
Vow
Make Me Yours EP
The Native Sound (2014)
Easily the aural equivalent of the light and fluffy clouds that pepper your daydreams, LA duo Vow's second EP Make Me Yours finds them producing a more definitive sound couched in an ethereal sweetness. Opener "Miles Away" embraces an industrial aesthetic with vocalist Julia Blake's lithe, sugar-sweet singing acting as a curveball amongst the heavy, morose synths. It sounds like … Read more
Voytek
Self Titled
Big Action (2011)
Voytek are a Minneapolis punk band currently taking things to the next level. Whether that level is up or down is in the eye of the beholder, but it will start with reviewing this 2 song 7”—or should I say: this 6 song digital EP? With the bonus material outweighing the physical form, it’s tough to gauge just what type … Read more
Wall Of Water
Promo 2015
Independent (2015)
The deliciously gloomy album art on Wall of Water's two-track Promo 2015 features what seems to be a long-abandoned roller coaster rotting away in the elements, an image that seems to jive with the downbeat but arresting style of music played by band members Cullen Toner (multi-instrumentalist and vocalist) and Shawn Eldridge (drummer). Keyboard adds to the occasionally almost theatrical … Read more
War of Ages
Fire from the Tomb
Facedown (2007)
Erie has a long-standing tradition of hardcore: xDisciplex A.D., Brothers Keeper, Shockwave, and Abnegation. Continuing that tradition is War of Ages, though they definitely mix their hardcore influences with a significant amount of metal riffage. Fire from the Tomb is actually a re-recording of the band's debut effort. Some might question the band's decision to go back and re-do their … Read more
WAR//PLAGUE
Primal
Profane Existence (2013)
WAR//PLAGUE always come a little different each time out. Primal is their fifth release (and the seventh single in the Profane Existence Single Series) and one that shows the Minneapolis quartet stripping away the evolved crust and blackened characteristics of their previous material in favor of a sound that is more, well, primal. Jamming an airtight metal-punk attack into its hasty descent, this EP is a … Read more
