Endgame
Distracted
Get Outta Town (2008)
Endgame is the latest band to emerge from the New Jersey hardcore scene. The four-piece outfit has returned after a split CD with Movement that was released last year. Distracted is a five song EP of upbeat melodic hardcore. Musically, Endgame have concocted a very catchy mix of fast-paced hardcore and melodic hardcore that draws similarities to Crime in Stereo, … Read more
Ensemble Pearl
Self Titled
Drag City (2013)
There's soundtracks to the apocalypse and then there's soundtracks to everything afterward. Ensemble Pearl provides the latter. The din and drone as your mind takes in the ruins of its surroundings, the dissonant fear of realization and finally the despair of acceptance. Stephen O'Malley has provided many a piss shiver in his work with Sunn O))) - a deliberate, almost … Read more
Entertainment
Gender
aDistant/Stickfigure (2008)
Dark, moody, atmospheric rock from this Athens, GA four piece. Sounds like outtakes from The Cure's Pornography but if Simon Gallup was on ludes instead of acid. "Patroness" tries hard to capture the spirit of Joy Division, but somehow ends up reminding me of a Gary Numan tune. There's enough musical ability to rise above the fray, but next time … Read more
Epic Problem
Lines
Rebellion / Longshot / Rebelsound (2014)
You’ve heard it before a hundred times. You’ve thought it yourself.Punk rock is a safe genre.While I generally hate on talk like this, promoting genre classification over substance and artistic focus, there is a certain argument that can be made (and has been, oh, let’s say a hundred times). When you hear of a “punk record” there are expectations when … Read more
Everyone Everywhere
A Lot of Weird People Standing Around
Evil Weevil (2009)
Everyone Everywhere is a relatively new group from Philadelphia that loves to wear their influences plainly on their sleeve. Sounding somewhere between Nothing Feels Good-era Promise Ring and the bouncy guitars of Braid, they bring us four tracks of this 90's style that I don't hear very often anymore. This seven-inch turns out to be an interesting exploration of a … Read more
Everything Falls Apart
Escape
Independent (2006)
Everything Falls Apart gets big ups and putting this seven-inch out all on their own. Six songs of semi-melodic 80's styled punk/hardcore with snotty vocals. No chugga-chugga breakdowns, no useless slogans, no emo meanderings, just straight up fast hardcore that may be played a bit sloppy but most assuredly played with all heart. Read more
Explode and Make Up
Some Kind of Diplomat
Underground Communiqué (2009)
Any band that names themselves after a Sugar song automatically wins major points with me. And it doesn't hurt the band's cause when you hear names like Dag Nasty and 7 Seconds batted around in reviews either. Explode and Make up features the singer of 88 Fingers Louie as well as members from The Bomb and The Suicide Machines. And … Read more
Eyes Averted
Eyes Averted
Independent (2009)
Eyes Averted return with a four-song EP that the band is once again self-releasing, something they're used to after self-releasing their debut album back in 2006. These four songs continue the band's display of technical abilities but with a slightly different approach than what was displayed on their debut. The four songs still boast a technical hardcore sound akin to … Read more
Face Reality
Positive Change
Dead End (2009)
It's nice to see in 2009 that's there is still youth crew hardcore bands out there. Face Reality is from Michigan and play fast hardcore with plenty of fun breakdowns. The vocals remind me of Ray Cappo with a cold. Musically it's a cross between Ten Yard Fight and The First Step. The lyrics are positive and on the straight-end … Read more
Failing Myself
Every Day
Rally Point (2007)
A cassette tape release? This is the third one I've received in the mail recently. I don't even know where you get these pressed anymore. Regardless, Every Day is a cool trip down memory lane to a time when Myspace didn't exist and band's relied on word of mouth to promote themselves. Failing Myself is a one-man musical project from … Read more
Fake Problems / Ninja Gun
Split
Sabot Productions (2009)
This split 7" from Sabot teams up two punk sensations for one exclusive track each. Fake Problems offer up "The Manliest Man of All Men," which is very much in tune with their preceding full-length, It's Great to be Alive. The band builds on their quirky punk sound with a hint of bluesy rock and roll and indie rock flavoring; … Read more
Fall of Serenity
Bloodred Salvation
Lifeforce (2006)
There seems to be an unhealthy amount of metalcore originating from the usually respectable country of Germany. And they all seem to be on Lifeforce. Out of these bands, Fall of Serenity is one of the better ones, or at least one of the least annoying of the bunch. The worldwide metalcore herd needs some serious thinning out, but Fall … Read more
Farewell Continental
EP #2
Paper + Plastick (2011)
Motion City Soundtrack fans rejoice this EP simply titled #2 from Farewell Continental, is a side project of lead singer Justin Pierre’s. This is actually their second EP and contains six tracks of tunes available in two media choices, vinyl or digital download. This is one of the bands still pushing the vinyl media choice, their first EP was a … Read more
Farmers Market
Surfin U.S.S.R.
Ipecac (2008)
Those familiar with Ipecac Recordings know that regardless of the release, whether the listener likes it or not, it will, above all else, be different. Farmers Market is a Norwegian band specializing in Bulgarian folk music presented at an even faster tempo, with a smattering of just about everything else you can think of. The result can most assuredly be … Read more
Fatal Birth
Self Titled
Twelve Gauge (2012)
Fatal Birth are a relatively new band. This being their first major release one could assume any number of things from the bands' artwork alone. Presented in a simple black and white sleeve With a dark picture of a hallways and a hanger lying on an otherwise empty floor the band gives off an idea of something sinister. The record … Read more
Feral King
Self Titled
Last Anthem (2012)
Feral Kings' self-titled EP comes from a couple of guys that know how to do what they're doing and do it pretty damn well, and it is not necessarily anything new. If you're familiar with the band members’ previous efforts what they do on this record should come as little shock. Containing members of Spitfire and The Takeover (among others), … Read more
Fight Pretty
Rewiring the Human Body
Dwell (2007)
How do you review an album plastered with a tagline from a review you wrote? We're both about to find out. Rewiring the Human Body is Fight Pretty's first full-length release following a slew of other recordings that were compiled on a discography release. The first thing that catches my attention about Rewiring the Human Body is the more focused … Read more
Final Verdict
Reaching for Something Better
Independent (2007)
Typical mid-tempo to fast metal-core that thankfully takes its queues from early 90's metallic hardcore than it does from the fashion inspired Sweden riff infested crap of the earlier part of this decade. The first track, "Cry Havok," is best of the seven songs on here with its sludgy yet melodic onslaught to the ears. It's heavy sounding, yeah no … Read more
