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One Day as a Lion

One Day as a Lion
Anti (2008)

The background behind the formation of One Day as a Lion isn't really well, there at all. It pretty much consists of a day when Anti Records made the announcement that they would be releasing this EP. Boasting Zach de la Rocha of Rage Against the Machine/Inside Out and Jon Theodore of The Mars Volta, there is obviously going to … Read more

The Epochs

The Epochs
Rebel Group (2008)

Family love really seems to pull through for a lot of musicians as of late (i.e. Burbis, Teenage Millionaire). There must be some odd bio-chemical phenomena going on because the Holladay brothers of D.C. based pop-rock opera, The Epochs, have demonstrated a congratulating first step with their debut self-titled release. The core of The Epochs family is based in D.C. … Read more

The Melvins

Nude With Boots
Ipecac (2008)

Rogers and Hammerstein, Salieri and Mozart, DeNiro and Scorcese. What makes a great partnership? Is it differences in opinion that compliment the end result as a whole? Is it a common interest in achieving the same goal? Is it true artistic collaboration and respect of each others' ideas and vision? The partnership between The Melvins and Ipecac Recordings would seem … Read more

You May Die in the Desert / Gifts from Enola

Harmonic Motion: Volume 1
Differential (2008)

Harmonic Motion: Volume 1 is the start of a Differential Records series aiming to bring together like-sounding instrumental groups. The record starts off with "The Sound of Titans," a twelve minute atmospheric piece with several ups and downs in sound levels. For the most part, the song is more of the soundscape structure with picking, hypnotic guitars but, in its … Read more

Trash Talk

Trash Talk
Trash Talk Collective (2008)

Trash Talk, the hype band come hardcore mainstays through relentless touring, have a lot of eyes and ears on them with the release of their self-titled album. Adhering to the D.I.Y. ethics that are the backbone of punk, the Sacramento band opted to release their newest album themselves, leaving behind Deathwish Inc., one of the largest labels in hardcore. If … Read more

Razzle Dazzle

Strictly Saucers
Lockin Out (2008)

Detroit, Michigan's Razzle Dazzle (or Rzl Dzl for the vowely impaired) is two dudes named Will and Haroun who basically just want you and everyone to rage. They aren't asking for Molotov cocktail type carnage as you try and smash the "man" in an anarchist state of complete disobedience. Nope, I think Razzle Dazzle's drink of choice is probably whatever … Read more

This Time Next Year

The Longest Way Home
Run for Cover (2008)

So many thoughts come to mind when I think of this California-based pop-punk group. This Time Next Year is a band that not only captured my ear, but also my heart when their demo recording landed in my mailbox. I was so infatuated with their sound that I literally put my money where my mouth was when I released A … Read more

Lafcadio

Kibosh
Joyful Noise (2008)

I truly don't know what to make of this band. Some reviewers might like to scope out the band before claiming the promo (Yes, that's how it works. Sorry to pull back the curtain kids.) But others, like myself, tend to claim a CD with only a rudimentary understanding of what they sound like - usually according to their PR … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Annihilation Time

III: Tales of the Ancient Age
Tee Pee (2008)

With fuzzy riffs, elongated solos and twin guitar leads ala Maiden, this is a Hessian's dream. On III: Tales of the Ancient Age, Annihilation Time leaves the D.R.I. thrash influence in a cloud of bong smoke to focus on their shredding. That is, when they aren't ingesting chemicals, breaking bottles, or diving into the broken glass. Nearly every song on … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Smoke & Mirrors

Flash Thunder
Independent (2008)

Erie hardcore. Ninety-nine out of a hundred of you instantly thought of either Brother's Keeper or xDisciplex AD. While these two groups have since fallen by the wayside, there is still life in the ol' Lake Effect scene. Groups like Jesus Wept, War of Ages, Hank Jones, and Taste the Steel have all made names for themselves and their city … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Down to Nothing / 50 Lions

Split
6131 (2008)

Richmond meets Melbourne on this split effort. Down to Nothing follows up last year's The Most while 50 Lions follows up an Australian-released full-length of their own. This split features each band contributing three new tracks. Down to Nothing picks things up right where The Most left off. The band's sound has gotten significantly less punk-oriented and more straightforward and … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Catch Your Breath

Life & Sounds
Dismantle (2008)

Catch Your Breath is an upstart hardcore group from the greater Los Angeles area. I couldn't find much background info on the band, so I'm assuming this is their first venture as a group. Life & Sounds is eight songs in twelve minutes. Musically the band plays fast-paced hardcore with a dash of the rock and roll similar to The … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Your Fall

Your Fall
Hurry Up! (2008)

I know nothing of the Brazilian hardcore world, nor will I pretend to know anything. In fact, the only things I know about Brazil are they love football (Americans should read that as soccer) and they gave us thrashers Sepultura. Outside of that, I'm just a naïve no-nothing. Your Fall is from Curitiba, which, from what I can gather, is … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Offsides

It's a Struggle to Communicate
Get Outta Town (2008)

Here's something new for you. Well maybe not new, but something we don't get much of these days. Offsides is a fast-paced melodic hardcore group from Connecticut with a female front-person. It's a Struggle to Communicate is the band's latest offering, a six-song EP. Musically the group draws influence from legendary groups like 7 Seconds and Gorilla Biscuits. The music … Read more

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