Every Time I Die
Hot Damn!
Ferret (2003)
It's a rare thing when the title of a band's record suits that record perfectly, but Every Time I Die has managed to do this. Once you peel off the slip case to reveal the liners littered with photos of two girls kissing, you very may well be saying "Hot damn!" Picking up where Last Night in Town left off … Read more
Explosions in the Sky
The Earth is Not a Cold Dead Place
Temporary Residence (2003)
If Explosions in the Sky's previous LP, Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Die Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Live Forever, could be called one thing, it would be called "derivative." Not that it wasn't an incredible record crafted by a band on top of their game, but let's be honest: it simply regurgitated ideas that the forerunners of … Read more
Fall Out Boy
Take This to Your Grave
Fueled By Ramen (2003)
Breathing new life into an otherwise stale genre is a difficult task to undertake, but on Fall Out Boy's first proper full length, Take This to Your Grave, they have done just that. For the past few years, pop-punk, while constantly growing in popularity, has been steadily declining in numbers of bands willing to think and play outside the seemingly … Read more
Far From Breaking
The Identity
Youngblood (2003)
Every once in a while, a band comes along that reminds you why you ever got into hardcore music. Far From Breaking, a five piece outfit from San Antonio, TX, plays upbeat youth-crew revival hardcore similar to Floorpunch, Chain of Strength, and Ten Yard Fight. It is an album filled ot the brim with fast-paced punk influenced hardcore. There is … Read more
For the Crown
Blueprint
Give Me Strength (2003)
It's so sad when a great band releases a great album and then breaks up soon after before they even get a chance to showcase their talent to the world. Such a thing happened to For the Crown, a melodic hardcore band hailing from the Bay Area in California. The quartet released on one full length in their short lifespan. … Read more
Garrison
The Model
Iodine (2003)
When I first jump started this baby I was expecting another generic "emo" band. But as the first song winded down, I realized that it wasn't so! The vocals at times remind me of Get Up Kids, but not as high. The music itself is poppy, but still has the rock, and is similar to The Casket Lottery at times. … Read more
Garrison
The Model
Iodine (2003)
This release isn't great. It's not bad either. It's just kind of there. They have this sound that is a tad bit similar to Hot Rod Circuit's latest stuff. A little more complicated. The singer hits notes at times that sound like the singer of The Casket Lottery. Too bad his band isn't as good. I think the final song … Read more
Garrison
The Model
Iodine (2003)
I'm slightly familiar with Garrison's older material, so this release surprised me to a degree. I don't recall Garrison's music being as poppy as it is now, so older fans might be a little bit disappointed. On this record, Garrison seemed to have drifted more towards the Vagrant Records definition of 'emo', which is not a happy thought at first, … Read more
Give Up the Ghost
We're Down Til' We're Underground
Equal Vision (2003)
First of all, I'm going to apologize for only reviewing records that I like a lot. With that being Said, American Nightmare/GUTG has done it again. I've been a fan of American Nightmare since their first 7" came out, and I've loved all of their subsequent releases. This is is no exception to the trend. We're Down Til We're Underground … Read more
Give Up the Ghost
We're Down Til' We're Underground
Equal Vision (2003)
You might be asking yourself, "who the Hell is Give Up the Ghost?" If you are, you missed out on the hardcore scene's answer to the OJ trial, in which some shitty band from Nantucket sued hardcore favorites American Nightmare over the copyright of that band name. AN had no choice but to change their name to Give Up the … Read more
Good Riddance
Bound By Ties of Blood and Affection
Fat Wreck Chords (2003)
Oddly enough, this album doesn't start off with a 30 second sound clip. That being said, the album blasts off immediately with pure hardcore fury. For those not familiar with the band, do not let this description repel you. These guys belt out their hardcore with a fresh dose of pop-punk and melodic, yet abrasive vocals. In fact, their style, … Read more
Grandaddy
Sumday
V2 (2003)
Once again, Grandaddy travel down the familiar road of attaching a human face on technology for the sole purpose of denouncing it. In a shockingly ironic way, Sumday's pleasant, mid-tempo/mid-range vocal melodies and soothing rhythms make it ideal music for programming. With lines like "I'm wondering if I'll ever know/if I'll be better than I was before/when I surface through … Read more
Guff
Engine Trouble
Go Kart (2003)
Sometimes I really wonder about people. I turn on the television and I see rape, murder, and complete apathy towards the billions of human beings living on 40 cents a day. It's time for a change, it's time for a revolution to make everyone on Earth stop in their tracks and think about things in a brand new way, so … Read more
Hatebreed
Rise of Brutality
Universal (2003)
I'm confused how a band can take themselves seriously whatsoever, and have an album called Rise Of Brutality. Although Hatebreed doesn't talk about their large amount of bitches they are keeping in check or forties they are consuming in the club, the whole feel of this music reminds me of gangsta rap, trying so damn hard to act tough and … Read more
Hawnay Troof
Get Up! Resolution: Love
Retard Disco (2003)
Who is the Hawnay Troof, you may ask? The Hawnay Troof is a hip-hop project in the vein of early Beastie Boys headed up by 18-year-old Vice Cooler (aka Chris Touchton of XBXRX, K.I.T). The project has many, many contributors, including 900 Dixxx (Bratmobile), Baby Donut (Bratmobile), Lil Jenny (Erase Errata), and Soft Pink Truth, as well as countless others … Read more
Hella
Bitches Ain't Shit But Good People
Suicide Squeeze (2003)
Hella is less a band that be thought of in terms of "good" and "bad" as they are a band that you either like, or you don't. Their sound is either captivating and enthralling to you, or you think it's just a load of disjointed, self-indulgant noise by two guys who're showcasing their chops. In reality, the truth is actually … Read more
Hella
Total Bugs Bunny On Wild Bass
Narnack (2003)
There are two sides to Hella: the side that plays around with the imagination through the use of conventional instruments and the side that plays around with the imagination through the use of electronics. Although I prefer the former, the latter is pretty good and that's definitely what their new album, Total Bugs Bunny on Wild Bass, is. More specifically, … Read more
Her Space Holiday
The Young Machines
Mush (2003)
Let's get this out of the way first, like always. Her Space Holiday is the name of Marc Bianchi's project. He recently left Tigerstyle in favor of Mush to release this, his third full-length. He played in a band that all you "screamo" kids adore, known as Indian Summer. The best way to describe him would be The Postal Service … Read more
