The Franklin Cover Up
Commercial
Seven Trumpets (2007)
On first glance The Franklin Cover Up's name may appear silly. But upon further investigation - a child prostitution ring involving several former U.S. government officials - everything begins to make sense. The Idaho metalcore outfit yes I said Idaho delivers nine tracks in twenty minutes on their debut full-length, Commercial. These songs are a mixed bag: some great songs … Read more
The Fucking Wrath
Season of Evil
Goodfellow (2007)
I would not know the guys from The Fucking Wrath from Adam if they were walking down the street. Maybe that's the point, three working Joes that crank up the volume when not doing their day jobs. The first time I heard of this band was not long before I heard their debut Season of Evil, which is this loud … Read more
The Geeks
Every Time We Fall
Think Fast! (2007)
The Geeks: Korean straight edge hardcore with a youth crew twist. I know what you're thinking; the first time I heard it I didn't believe it either. After hearing mention of The Geeks, my first inclination was to write them off as a novelty band. But then I heard The Geeks' debut 7" What's Inside and I knew they were … Read more
The Good Life
Help Wanted Nights
Saddle Creek (2007)
Bands evolve and the fans have to deal with it. Their musical palette expands and the records change. This holds true with Cursive frontman Tim Kasher's music catalog. However, one aspect never changes, his bleak outlook on the world. It's always cynical, full of sarcasm, and consistently heartbroken. No matter what musical guise he wears, these sentiments are expressed through … Read more
The Great Deceiver
Life is Wasted on the Living
Deathwish Inc. (2007)
The Great Deceiver is the long running project of Tomas Lindberg, also of Disfear and formerly of At the Gates, The Crown, and others, and Kristian Wahlin of Necrolord. There is a great deal of parallels to Lindberg's past work in At the Gates, with a bit of commonality in the guitar sound but with a bit more simplicity and … Read more
The Handshake Murders
Usurper
Goodfellow (2007)
I feel like right now is an interesting juncture in "hardcore." With its popularity and accessibility, there are a lot of throwback bands that might seem progressive to some. But, really, some things are better left in the hands of either your predecessors or more capable hands. The Handshake Murders, which is an absolutely insipid, meaningless name, are unfortunately a … Read more
The Hidden Hand
The Resurrection of Whiskey Foote
Southern Lord (2007)
Let's be up front with this right off the bat. For all of Wino's - the guitarist and vocalist of the Hidden Hand - history in prominent bands like The Obsessed, St. Vitus, Spirit Caravan, etc, he is a workhorse musician who maintains a level of consistency that most bands and songwriters would kill to have. The Resurrection of Whiskey … Read more
The Hives
The Black and White Album
A&M (2007)
You either like The Hives or you don't. Yes, it's that simple. The whole shtick, the outfits, the ego, be it embellished or not, the band formation at the behest of never-seen oft-mentioned mysterious "Randy Fitzsimmons." And, oh yeah, the music. It's all part and parcel of The Hives experience, which you dig, or you don't. I dig The Hives. … Read more
The Hold Steady
Live at Fingerprints
Vagrant (2007)
The Hold Steady is a rock and roll band. With this title come certain expectations with loud electric guitars topping the list. So what happens when the band opts to go acoustic and trade the sold out concert halls for a handful of people crowded inside an independent record store? The result is the band's latest EP, Live at Fingerprints, … Read more
The Homefront
Sacrifice
Detonate (2007)
Massachusetts-based hardcore outfit The Homefront has quite a pedigree of previous bands: Have Heart, Guns Up!, and Verse. And if you've enjoyed the output of any those bands, you'll be greatly pleased with The Homefront's debut offering, Sacrifice. The Homefront play highly energetic and powerful hardcore with a melodic twist - not unlike With Honor or Modern Life is War. … Read more
The Honorary Title
Scream and Light Up the Sky
Reprise (2007)
Scream and Light Up the Sky has been a long long time coming. Three years have gone by since their last release. This album also has been in my hands for several months (I think I was mailed a copy like six months prior to its actual release). I liked it but let it slide to the wayside as I … Read more
The Huguenots
Discography
Hydra Head (2007)
The Huguenots were a band that existed at some point during the late 1990's, or at least that is what I can conclude based on the limited information available on the band's history and their wardrobe in the select pictures available of the band - no offense. Members of the band have spent time in several popular acts, including Converge, … Read more
The Leftovers
On the Move
Rally (2007)
Before we start, let's go over the checklist: Leather Jackets: Check! Chuck Taylor All Stars: Check! Tapered leg blue jeans: Check! Pomade: Check! Three different power chords: Check! We even have four! Crushes on at least ten different girls: Double check! WE'RE READY TO ROCK! Boys, men, and all you in-betweens, let's take a little time to give thanks to … Read more
The Locust
New Erections
Anti (2007)
The Locust is an extremely polarizing group. On one hand, people take them as a complete joke. On the other, people take them extremely seriously. I fall somewhere in the middle and find them to be wholly entertaining with some substance hiding beneath the cacophony that they unleash on listeners. On this new album, New Erections, we find The Locust … Read more
The Lotus Eaters
Wurmwluv
Troubleman Unlimited (2007)
I love The Lotus Eaters. Not many people know the surprisingly laid back side project of Aaron Turner (Isis, Old Man Gloom, House of Low Culture), Stephen O'Malley (Sunn 0))), Khanate, and a myriad of others), and James Plotkin (Khanate, Phantomsmasher, Khlyst, etc); this may be due to the fact that the group does not release records at the clip … Read more
The Maine
The Way We Talk
Fearless (2007)
I could tell right away from the faux 60's hippie cover art to the band photo wherein three out of four members have the exact same swoop haircut that I was going to crap all over this five song CDEP. Okay, sometimes the swoop is on the left side of their acne scared faces versus the right, but still. Is … Read more
The Midwestern
The Midwestern
Rorschach (2007)
This is what happens when a band has yet to find its style. What we have here is some decent songwriting that comes off as underdeveloped. The track "Molsen Golden" starts as a respectable jam with enough intricacy and tempo changes to call back memories of The Cancer Conspiracy and the forefathers of the style, King Crimson. Halfway through the … Read more
The Mock Heroic
Dignified Exits
SuperFi (2007)
Contrary to popular belief, screamo isn't dead. Granted, it could very well be crippled and unable to be even a shadow of it's former self, but it isn't dead and will probably never die. Aside from a handful of bands in the States playing the genre well, including Cease Upon the Capitol, Kid Crash, Loma Prieta, and to some extent … Read more
