Enola Grey
Cabal
Feeling Faint (2005)
Beginning a band is no easy task, there are many pressures involved with the entire process. Those pressures intensify when you're coming from a previous band that was considered to be fairly popular; it's a double-edged sword. You're pretty much ensured free exposure and publicity based on the fact that the new project gets the "ex-members of..." tagline. But with … Read more
Every Time I Die
Gutter Phenomenon
Ferret (2005)
So you know how a band will take something that they wrote that does really well with the fans and expand on it? The Offspring, for example, found out that by writing a "witty" punk rock song they could sell lots of albums. On Every Time I Die's last album Hot Damn!, that song was, "I've Been Gone a Long … Read more
Exit the King
Exit the King
Independent (2005)
While most publications seem to avoid reviewing independent releases, I actually enjoy covering bands that aren't joined to a label. It refreshing to hear from passionate artists - it says a lot about a band to not only take the time to release an album on their own, but also to send it off to be reviewed by the "elitist … Read more
Exodus
Shovel Headed Kill Machine
Nuclear Blast (2005)
We've all heard the stories. Someone leaves your favorite band and the remaining members have two choices.... carry on or pack it in. It doesn't mean shit to a tree why the member left - whether they were kicked out, quit, or had a bus roll over on them, the point is they're gone, and as popular as the band … Read more
Fall Out Boy
From Under the Cork Tree
Island (2005)
Selling out. Trying something new. Maturing. Call it what you will, but a substantial number of underground artists have become fairly well-known after changing up the musical scene they are involved with. First there was Ian MacKaye leaving behind Minor Threat for Fugazi, and eventually The Evens. Others followed suit. Gorilla Biscuits guitarist Walter Schreifels went from playing in one … Read more
Fall River
Lights Out
Thorp (2005)
I have come to the realization that if any band has Sean Ingram sing on their record, it will make that band sound stronger than they do normally. That is not a cut on those bands. It is simply a testament to the unique and powerful vocals of Ingram. Unfortunately for Fall River (or fortunately, depending on how one looks … Read more
Fallen from the Sky
Tune Out the World
JMB (2005)
Fallen from the Sky are a five piece band from Boca Raton, Florida. The band plays a style of melodic punk/hardcore with an aggressive edge reminiscent of Friends, Lies, and the End of the World-era Reach the Sky or The Movielife's Forty Hour Train Back to Penn. At one time or another, those bands had defined a heavier sound in … Read more
Fantômas
Suspended Animation
Ipecac (2005)
As a youth, my Saturday mornings were characterized by two things: tuning in to watch the newest episode of my favorite cartoons and eating as many bowls of sugar-infused cereals like Boo Berry and Lucky Charms. More often than not, I found myself finishing my third bowl before the first hour of shows was finished; needless to say this resulted … Read more
Feersum Ennjin
Feersum Ennjin
Silent Uproar (2005)
Feersum Ennjin is the work of essentially one man with the assistance of a few close friends. All the songs were written by former Tool bassist Paul D'Amour, who has been floating around from project to project since his departure in late 1995. But before you Tool fans get too excited, it is my duty to inform you that the … Read more
Fight Like Hell
Demo
Independent (2005)
Let me just give all of you a big fat heads up: Blood Money Records sold out of this demo, so if you were thinking it wasn't hot shit, or that because you aren't from Denver and haven't heard of Fight Like Hell, you are very mistaken. Turns out, anybody with good taste in music already owns this demo. Probably … Read more
Final Fight
Under Attack
Straight On (2005)
Lack of sleep, Influenza A virus and a spike through your chest, among other things, cause people to get sick. When you get sick usually taking medicine is the cure. Lately I've been getting sick of "amazing-core". It's essentially hardcore pop: vague lyrics that every hardcore kid and hot topic consumers can connect to paved atop over-the-top polished "HXC jamz." … Read more
Fingers Cut, Megamachine
Fingers Cut, Megamachine
Thick (2005)
Osker was well known as being the most hated band on Epitaph in their brief stint as a band. Being roughly around the age of 18 when their final album, Idle Will Kill came out, they managed to release a pop-punk masterpiece having hardly entered adulthood. Now Devon Williams, lead singer/songwriter of Osker, is back in the spotlight some odd … Read more
Fischerspooner
Odyssey
Capitol (2005)
#1 was such a fantastic, yet ultimately superficial, electro-pop album. Brimming with hits and infectious dance beats, it certainly helped to solidify the iconic duo of Warren Fischer and Casey Spooner as the leaders of this new-found "electroclash" genre. I've never understood what exactly was "clashing," but that is a moot point." Built up by scenesters, musicians, Capitol Records and, … Read more
Foetus
Love
Birdman (2005)
Fire extinguishing foam, cortisone and physostigmine. All highly relevant in today's society and all created by one man, a man you've never heard of. Clint Ruin, Baby Zizanie, Manorexia, Steroid Maximus, Scraping Foetus off the Wheel, Foetus Inc., The Foetus All-Nude Review and all derivations of Foetus' music are also the creations of another man you've probably never heard of,. … Read more
Folsom
If You're a Viper
Spook City (2005)
Last year Folsom released their debut full-length through Westcoast Worldwide Records, a label that I would describe as a "word of mouth label." The larger hardcore labels are able to promote their releases in prominent music magazines and have their records distributed by larger entertainment chains such as Best Buy, FYE, etc. Westcoast Worldwide, instead, must rely on the closely … Read more
Foo Fighters
In Your Honor
RCA (2005)
"When someone comes up to you and asks which Led Zeppelin album they should buy, you should say 'Physical Graffiti'. And in 20 years, when your kid comes up to you and asks which Foo Fighters album he or she should buy, I want you to say 'In Your Honor'." - Dave Grohl, 2005 Strong words, Mr. Grohl. Particularly since … Read more
Fordirelifesake
A Daydream Disaster
Thorp (2005)
Kids aren't born cool. For the droves of kids that are growing up in small towns watching third rate metalcore at their local VFW Hall, it couldn't be harder to come across cool music, let alone music that is pushing boundaries. Fordirelifesake, although not pushing the boundaries of what the CD label described as 'melodic-metallic-hardcore,' seem to be the kind … Read more
Forensics
Hogback Mountain Sessions Vol. 1
Magic Bullet (2005)
Let me be frank. Picking up records based off of the information given on the record sleeve is usually (99.9% of the time) a tenuous proposition. More than likely, the record will not come through on its boastings. I normally make it a point to never believe a damn thing that those stickers announce ( i.e. "the best band in … Read more
