The Unseen
State of Discontent
Hellcat (2005)
I like punk rock. A lot. I listen to some punk bands that are far from extraordinary, who play contrived music, but make it fun (both for them and the listener). I am no expert on the scene; I've been involved with punk since I was 8, but I've always got more to learn. That being said, this is one … Read more
The White Stripes
Get Behind Me Satan
V2 (2005)
The very First time I heard White Stripes I honest to God thought I was hearing a Led Zeppelin bootleg. I walked into a record store and a minute later was telling a clerk "I'll take it". It wasn't Led Zeppelin. "I'll take it anyway". That was their sophomore album De Stijl, the album I still consider as one of … Read more
The Wives
Erect the Youth Problem
Cold Sweat/Sweet Nothing (2005)
Let's get the formalities and the predictabilities out the way right off the bat. Wives are a straight up rock band from Los Angeles whose main claim to fame is that their singer's car got hit by a reckless driving Backstreet Boy - the blonde one, if memory serves. The money from the resulting settlement allowed him to set up … Read more
These Days
These Days
In Spite (2005)
"Hey, these dudes are seriously pissed." That's probably the initial thought that comes to mind when listening to These Days debut full-length. Yes indeed, the music is highly volatile and the lyrics are quite hostile at points. But don't write this Norcal hardcore outfit off as just another bro-band acting tough, for These Days are more than meets the eyes' … Read more
These Days
These Days
In Spite (2005)
These Days took the time to build a following, and then just after they released their debut full-length, they decided to take a break. This self-titled release is These Days' newest, and their best. These Days is all brand new material, except for one song, "Never Ending," which is re-recorded from their demo. Among the brand new songs is possibly … Read more
This is Hell
This is Hell
State of Mind (2005)
This Is Hell was unavoidable in 2004. Whether it was This Is Hell's demo that quickly sold out, their rabid touring or people uttering, "This is hell..." after President Bush was elected, the band couldn't be ignored. Well boys and girls, This Is Hell will even be harder to ignore in 2005 with the wheels of the touring juggernaut beginning … Read more
This Moment
Finding a Voice in the Dark
Uprising (2005)
Playing music in a genre like metalcore is a difficult thing. You've got to do what you do very well to separate yourself from the rest of the pack. Even then, odds are you will be tagged as such and thrown in with the rest of the pack of 18 Visions', Atreyu's, and Unearth's. Finding a Voice in the Dark, … Read more
Throwdown
Vendetta
Trustkill (2005)
Haymaker is one of the worst albums, hardcore or otherwise, I've ever heard. We're talking 'makes-Hatebreed-look-like-Converge' bad here. I honestly cannot fathom a duller, more cliched, and more mentally aggravating record ever coming out of any music scene (with the possible exception of post-rock). It was a harrowing, monstrous disappointment from a band who has managed to put out a … Read more
Tides
Resurface
Teenage Disco Bloodbath (2005)
Boring. Derivate. Crap. These are all words that I have heard individuals use when referring to the craze of post-rock/instru-metal that is sweeping our nation, not to mention the rest of the world. One could argue, for days or even weeks, and I'm sure many of you do, over topics such as this. And while I do enjoy a good … Read more
Time for Change
Profound
Glory Kid (2005)
There was a time long long ago when Victory Records put out quality hardcore releases by bands like Integrity, The Path of Resistance, and Snapcase as opposed to the rubbish that they've been putting out as of late. In fact, the majority of what they release nowadays isn't even hardcore; it's closer to BSB (Backstreet Boys) than BFB (Blood for … Read more
Time for Living
Demo 2k5
Independent (2005)
Doesn't the Bay Area have enough good hardcore bands? It's like they grow them on trees, or breed them in those large crates on the shipping docks. The truth may never be known, and I'm sure as hell not complaining; it's amazing to see these new bands playing music that strays away from the repetitive shit Trustkill profits off of … Read more
Torche
Torche
Robotic Empire (2005)
Whenever I am having a discussion of music with friends, which happens more often then I'd like to admit, for music is my sole sense of being, the topic of why there aren't more "sludge-metal bands incorporating vocals into their songs always seems to come up. I've always had an answer - I won't divulge it here for fear of … Read more
Transistor Transistor
Erase All Names and Likeness
Level Plane (2005)
It's not very often these days one gets the opportunity to use the phrase "This brings the ROCK" without sounding like some kind of crotch grabbing throwback Darkness fan. If you miss (or totally missed out on) the days when Iggy Pop mocked Hells Angels while boasting about the size of his "Johnson," Dinosaur Jr. consuming more green than Cheech … Read more
Triple Threat
A New Chapter EP
Livewire (2005)
This record is so funny I almost shat my pants. Not ha-ha funny, mind you, but "fuck, this is so fucking old school" funny. Well, maybe not even that. Maybe more like "god, this is so old" funny. If you were hoping for innovative or experimental, you will not get it from A New Chapter. One might say this is … Read more
Turbonegro
Party Animals
Burning Heart (2005)
If there's a band out there that knows how to create a solid record on top of having a damn good time, it's Turbonegro. In the past decade (and then some), this band has released more influential and ground-breaking records than any other Scandinavian band - besides perhaps, uhââ¬Â¦every black metal band. Albums like Ass Cobra and Apocalypse Dudes are … Read more
Twenty Four Hours to Live
We're All Loudmouths
Surprise Attack (2005)
Surprise Attack Records and I have never had a good relationship. There isn't any sort of beef between us or anything, it's just I always get stoked for their releases only to be left disappointed when I get something. Surprise Attack Records hypes the hell out of their bands and they make it sound like they are going to hear … Read more
Twenty Inch Burial
How Long Will We Laugh and Smile?
Immigrant Sun (2005)
Like all of you, when i think of Portugal, I think of three things: the architect Miguel von Hafe P'rez, tungsten mines, and metal. I know what you're thinking - I'm biased. Sure, we're all familiar with bands like Holocausto Canibal, Acromaniacos and Bizarra Locomotiva - all of which are named after famous Portuguese papal candidates. But no, be strong! … Read more
Ulver
Blood Inside
Jester (2005)
Have you heard the myth about prisoners stubbing out cigarettes into a bucket of water in order to create enough poison to use on their fellow inmates? Evidently, someone slipped a copy of the mastertapes to Ulver's latest sonic delivery into that foul brew as well. Opening with the slow-burning near opera of "Dressed in Black," the stage is thoroughly … Read more
