The Eradicator
Forever The Eradicator
Stonewalled (2022)
The life cycle is strange sometimes. Kids in the Hall is back, but The Eradicator is going away. One is an indirect result of the other, yet it seems they cannot coexist at the same time. And if that already confused the hell out of you, just wait until you dive into this band. The Eradicator is a project themed … Read more
The Eradicator
Peak Eradicator
Say-10 (2019)
Hoo boy! What am I really supposed to say to introduce The Eradicator. The concept is based on a Kids in the Hall sketch, and it definitely draws some inspiration. But it’s also hard to picture the small stature, screeching Bruce McCulloch character being into this style of hardcore. He seems more like an Iron Maiden kind of guy to … Read more
The Ergs!
Jersey's Best Prancers
Don Giovanni (2006)
Anyone who's been paying attention can see the writing on the wall: like Cock Sparrer in 1982, pop punk's coming back. Of course, it never really left; it's just seen a variety of mutations since the halcyon days of "Locket Love": The Descendents' heartsick catharsis, The Lillingtons' television city dreaming, and the thrift store angst of Saves the Day are … Read more
The Ergs!
That's It...Bye
Don Giovanni (2009)
Bands break up all the time. Sometimes they blow up on stage, storm off from a tour, grow apart, and on occasion they cordially agree that it's time to move on. In any case, they almost always leave fans wanting more. The Ergs! decided to hand one to their fans, announcing their decision ahead of time and releasing a 12" … Read more
The Ergs!
The Time And The Season EP
Dirtnap (2022)
If you’ve been waiting years to hear Mikey Erg ask, “Who’s your daddy,” well, you’re in luck. The band is back with their first new material since 2016 – having only released a 2016 EP since their initial 2008 breakup. This time it’s a four song EP titled Time and the Season, named after their cover of The Zombies’ hit … Read more
The Ergs!
Upstairs/Downstairs
Dirtnap (2007)
The Ergs are self-proclaimed dorks. The great thing is that they are dorks that can write some great hooks. Upstairs/Downstairs is simply The Ergs latest example to demonstrate their ability to write infectious songs about girls and other pop-punk staple subjects. Upstairs/Downstairs delivers where their debut full length, dorkrockcockrod, set the stage for and where last year's EP, Jersey's Best … Read more
The Ergs! / Grabass Charlestons
Split
No Idea (2007)
The Ergs have suddenly become everyone’s favorite pop-punk and with good reason. They contribute two songs of fun catchy songs about girls that will no doubtingly be stuck in your head for weeks on end. Grabass Charlestons come to me as a bit of a surprise. I was expecting either some cowpunk or Hot Water Music inspired rock, but instead … Read more
The Ergs! / Lemuria
Split
Art of the Underground (2007)
More of The Ergs for you. More pop-punk. More songs about girls and this time a rather decent cover of the 90's rock staple "Hey Jealousy." Lemuria are on the poppy side but a tad inclined to the indie rock thing with male and female vocals. Both bands give that "Aw shucks" feeling when you listen to them and that's … Read more
The Esoteric
Subverter
Prosthetic (2006)
Call it a sickness. Call it sheer stupidity. I have to admit that I have a soft spot I my heart for The Esoteric; I have ever since I saw them open for Coalesce a few years back. I remember remarking to my brother and friends that they reminded me of Coalesce (this was also the tour that Cory White … Read more
The Estranged
Self Titled LP
Sabotage (2014)
Despite having been formed in 2006 and having released 3 LPs since, the Portland originated post punk band The Estranged have mostly fallen under the radar and out of public awareness. I myself had never heard of the three man act until the release of their self titled LP this month. Since then, I feel I need to make up … Read more
The Estranged
Static Thoughts
Dirtnap (2008)
With Static Thoughts, The Estranged attempt to combine the volatile combination of post-punk and punk with positive results on the whole. The album could have been a disaster on the scale of the Hindenburg, but instead is a balanced combination of contemporary post-punk songs that rely on traditional punk rock's finer cornerstones - two to three minute numbers that are … Read more
The Explosion
Bury Me Standing
Chunksaah (2012)
Man, I loved the Explosion, still do actually; and it is quite nice to finally see Bury Me Standing (their third album) finally see a release to the general public on a physical format (the record leaked way back, but we will get into that later) so that people get to hear some of these awesome latter day tunes from … Read more
The Explosion
Steal This EP
Revelation (2000)
This EP was my introduction to the world of music business and contracts while also reiterating how wild the weirdo rumor mill that really can drive punk and hardcore (to an extant) can be, but more on that later because the aptly named Steal This was also my introduction to The Explosion albeit it brief; and while the record was … Read more
The Eye Of Time
Acoustic
Denovali (2014)
Marc Euvrie is certainly a unique specimen when it comes to musicianship. When the previous, self-titled, album of The Eye of Time came out, it was just an unbelievable record to handle. The sheer weight of the album, its experimental scope and its extreme outbreaks, definitely left their mark. But today, Euvrie returns with quite different concept in mind, and … Read more
The Eye Of Time
Self Titled
Denovali (2012)
The first thing that hits you is how beautiful the album looks. You haven't even begun to listen to it and already you're fawning over the beautiful cover art. It only gets more enthralling as you open it up and revel in the stunning beauty of Thomas Hack's artwork. As you take your time flipping through the massive booklet of … Read more
The Eye The Ear and The Arm
Paths
Portia (2008)
Remember when music had regional traits? You know - Chicago Blues, East Coast Swing, Seattle Grunge? Yeah, me neither. No one reading Internet music criticism does. But you can imagine, yes? It's kind of cute. Exciting, for the sort of person who loves over-precise analysis of pop-culture artifacts. Which I totally am not. In any case, I've got some good … Read more
The Faint
Doom Abuse
SQE Music (2014)
It came as a surprise to everyone. The Faint sprung up from the ground out of nowhere after being gone for a few years. They came out of the dark to celebrate Danse Macabre's 10-year anniversary. What people didn't expect was for them to accompany the tour with new music. At their merch booth, fans had the chance to purchase … Read more
The Falcon
Gather Up the Chaps
Red Scare Industries (2016)
The Falcon are a curious band: a collection of rogue Chicagoans (now with Dave Hause as well), lead vocalist Brendan Kelly (The Lawrence Arms) seems to get the most attention but teammates Dan Andriano (Alkaline Trio), Neil Hennessy (also The Lawrence Arms), and now Hause carry some impressive resumes on their own. It’s a loaded band, one that rips out … Read more
