Sirhan Sirhan
Blood
Anodyne (2008)
Sirhan Sirhan plays groovy hardcore punk with a bit of a noise rock bent and maybe even some of that vintage rock 'n' roll vibe from The Bronx's early work, but with a much heftier guitar sound and harsher vocals. This album doesn't really have a whole lot in common with what would traditionally be considered hardcore except for being … Read more
Six Of Swords
Polar Vortex EP
Sorrow Carrier Records (2015)
Modern death metal often suffers under the weight of trying to emulate old school heroes while not doing very much of interest at all, so it’s a nice surprise when a newer project manages to pay homage to the old days while still bringing a nice modern flavour to proceedings. Six of Swords, who hail from Toronto, play death metal … Read more
Skeletons with Flesh on Them
The Fish Don't Mind
Independent (2007)
Some bands just have cool names. Skeletons with Flesh on Them, an indie rock band from Seattle, are one of them. This four-piece indie/rock group show obvious signs of influence from the pioneering and currently established bands of their neck of the woods - Modest Mouse, Built to Spill, Roy, etc. - on their debut EP, The Fish Don't Mind. … Read more
Skeletonwitch
Beyond the Permafrost
Prosthetic (2007)
Skeletonwitch is the latest band from Ohio to make it to the big-time. These five dudes sport some silly names - Nate "N8 Feet Under" Garnette and Derrick "Mullet Chad" Nau for example - but the jokes end when they pick up their instruments. Beyond the Permafrost is twelve tracks of metal that'll give even the most experienced Hessian a … Read more
Skyscraper Frontier
Moonlit Behavior
Coming Home (2006)
If I told you that Skyscraper Frontier was another band out of L.A. playing an 'eclectic' mixture of songs, you'd probably get that glazed look in your eyes and change the subject. You've heard it all before. But what if I told you that this six-track EP really was eclectic? Beginning with "I Just Need You," we get ambient 80's … Read more
Slap the Culture
Slap the Culture
Cock Suck (2008)
Fast pissed off old school hardcore from Japan. Sounds straight from the American Hardcore soundtrack with a better production. It's speedy, furious, and somewhat entertaining. For some reason this is what I expect when I hear people talking about Japanese hardcore. This stems from the fact the only two Japanese hardcore bands I've heard (That was before Michael sent me … Read more
Sleep Terror
Probing Tranquility
Feeling Faint (2006)
Luke Jaeger is a one-man metal making machine; Sleep Terror is his solo project and musical outlet. Fifteen staggeringly technical tracks make up Probing Tranquility, but the album barely surpasses half an hour. I'm no metal aficionado, but I am an avid guitar player; however, it hardly takes a musician to sense the complexity of this release. Blast beats mesh … Read more
Sleepies
Join the Shark
Doom Song (2008)
Cranky, off kilter rock from this Brooklyn power trio. Best lyrics on this EP (I guess it is an EP; it's seven songs clocking in at under sixteen minutes) are "Body cast but you ain't speaking / Drunk and grinding on your gun / That's how you ruined Surfer Rosa" (from "You're Still An Owl.)" Best song title - "Napolean … Read more
Sleigher
Worst Songs
Sassbologna (2006)
As their name would make you believe, Sleigher slays, and they do so as a totally improvised, two person unit. Self-recording the music at their house with a guitar, drums, and piano, the results are surprisingly good. This isn't God-awful "Who Line Is It Anyway" improv that leaves you without the ability to laugh for a few hours, this is … Read more
Small Sails
Similar Anniversaries
Other Electricites (2007)
Hailing from Portland, Oregon, Small Sails are here to put you in a seriously great mood. Formerly known as Adelaide, this once cinematic instrumental band decided to add some vocals as an instrument and completely leave words out of the equation. "Ooohs" and "Ahhhhs" litter the album as the band traverses through ten tracks and sees them play everything from … Read more
Smartbomb
Chaos and Lawlessness
Think Fast! (2008)
Members of No Trigger and Shock Nagasaki playing melodic hardcore in the vein of Kid Dynamite, Descendents, and 7 Seconds? Sign me the hell up! Heck, it really doesn't matter what bands these guys also play in when you write songs like these. Chaos and Lawlessness is Smartbomb's debut EP, an eight-song effort that tracks in at just over twelve … Read more
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
Smoking Popes
Stay Down
Appeal (2008)
Can't say that I was too familiar with this band's music. But after seeing them at a recent intimate club show, I walked away convinced. A break-up of many years has done nothing to dull their songwriting chops. This record is brimming with catchy songs right from the first note. "Welcome to Janesville" kicks things off with a power pop … Read more
Snake Eyes
Snake Eyes
1917 (2007)
Snake Eyes is just another one of those side project bands that doesn't get a lot of love outside of their home stomping grounds of California due the fact they don't get to play out much and never tour. Snake Eyes features members of Betrayed, Terror, Donnybrook, and Internal Affairs. Only Internal Affairs comes anywhere close to the violent intensity … Read more
Son Lux
At War with Walls and Mazes
Anticon (2008)
Son Lux is the working project of one man, Ryan Lott, a multi-talented musician and artist. At War with Walls and Mazes is his debut full-length and over the course of it he dabbles in various worlds of experimental music. At War with Walls and Mazes can be described in simplest forms as experimental as throughout the album, Lott pursues … Read more
Son Of Man
Burn The Witch EP
King Of Monsters (2014)
The possible hermits of Son Of Man have returned after their all too brief burner of a debut the band has reconvened for something even more nasty and dark. With the release of a new EP on a new label they have managed to up the ante overall. While the most basic of core values remain the band have inserted … Read more
Son Of Man
Self Titled EP
Good Times (2011)
Son Of Man are a new band from California. They exemplify the new school of what gets referred to as Holy Terror style hardcore. While i refuse that genre suggestion this is merely a very strong metallic hardcore EP. There is very little to be known about the band but they play heavy and hard. The Guitars screech and squeal … Read more
Soul Control
Soul Control
Rivalry (2007)
Hardcore likes to recycle and reinvent itself about every decade, so yup, 90's hardcore is back. Soul Control sounds like every great 108 riff jammed into every wonderful Quicksand back beat. You know I just love this. Heavy melodic groove orientated hardcore done masterfully. The best thing is when hardcore bands like Soul Control decide to redo the past they … Read more
