Search results

Reviews by Michael

588 total search results — Page 21 of 30

Fallen from the Sky – Tonight We Radiate

Review — July 9, 2008

Florida's Fallen from the Sky have been on the upward trend since releasing their debut EP, Tune Out the World, in 2005. They were runner-ups in MTV2's Dew Circuit Breakout and this, their debut full-length, was highly anticipated by many publications. In spite of all the praise the band has …

Hostage Calm – Lens

Review — July 14, 2008

Connecticut hardcore, no matter how great it is, always seems to get overshadowed by the nearby bustling Massachusetts (particularly Boston) hardcore scene. In fact, oftentimes people just consider them to be one in the same. This is unfortunate because over the years the state of Connecticut has churned out a …

Until the End – From the Beginning...Until the End

Review — July 29, 2008

Whenever I think of Until the End, I think of the time I crammed five finals into a twenty-four-hour period so I could take a road trip down to Gainesville Fest. The kids there went absolutely bat shit for them - head walking and jumping off each other, huge pile-ons, …

The Wonder Years – Won't Be Pathetic Forever

Review — August 3, 2008

The Wonder Years return with a brand new 7", their follow-up to last year's Get Stoked on it!. The record features four new tracks that are exclusive to this release. The 7" starts off with a building intro before the band gets busy with "Solo & Chewy: Holdin' it …

Offsides – It's a Struggle to Communicate

Review — August 3, 2008

Here's something new for you. Well maybe not new, but something we don't get much of these days. Offsides is a fast-paced melodic hardcore group from Connecticut with a female front-person. It's a Struggle to Communicate is the band's latest offering, a six-song EP. Musically the group draws influence from …

Your Fall – Your Fall

Review — August 3, 2008

I know nothing of the Brazilian hardcore world, nor will I pretend to know anything. In fact, the only things I know about Brazil are they love football (Americans should read that as soccer) and they gave us thrashers Sepultura. Outside of that, I'm just a naïve no-nothing. Your Fall …

Catch Your Breath – Life & Sounds

Review — August 3, 2008

Catch Your Breath is an upstart hardcore group from the greater Los Angeles area. I couldn't find much background info on the band, so I'm assuming this is their first venture as a group. Life & Sounds is eight songs in twelve minutes. Musically the band plays fast-paced hardcore with …

Down to Nothing / 50 Lions – Split

Review — August 3, 2008

Richmond meets Melbourne on this split effort. Down to Nothing follows up last year's The Most while 50 Lions follows up an Australian-released full-length of their own. This split features each band contributing three new tracks. Down to Nothing picks things up right where The Most left off. The band's …

Smoke & Mirrors – Flash Thunder

Review — August 3, 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 …

This Time Next Year – The Longest Way Home

Review — August 4, 2008

So many thoughts come to mind when I think of this California-based pop-punk group. This Time Next Year is a band that not only captured my ear, but also my heart when their demo recording landed in my mailbox. I was so infatuated with their sound that I literally put …

One Day as a Lion – One Day as a Lion

Review — August 7, 2008

The background behind the formation of One Day as a Lion isn't really well, there at all. It pretty much consists of a day when Anti Records made the announcement that they would be releasing this EP. Boasting Zach de la Rocha of Rage Against the Machine/Inside Out and Jon …

Wait in Vain – Seasons

Review — August 18, 2008

When you look at the list of previous ventures from the members of Wait in Vain, it's hard to not get excited. Frontman Timm McIntosh was a founding member of Trial, as well as spending some time with Champion. Bassist (and now guitarist) Roger Kilburn was in Sinking Ships among …

Know the Score – All Guts, Still No Glory

Review — August 20, 2008

We don't care about your labels and your fucking trends / We only care about the music and hanging out with our friends / So stand to the side and don't get in our way / Kids like you drop out of hardcore every single day. This quote from "Pep …

Have Heart – Songs to Scream at the Sun

Review — August 26, 2008

From the get-go Have Heart has had a rabid and devoted following. Beginning with their demo in 2003 and What Counts EP a year later, the band's dynamic mixture of youth-crew and metallic hardcore won over fans around the globe. With their debut full-length, The Things We Carry vocalist Pat …

Braindead – No Consequences

Review — August 27, 2008

Hailing from areas around the city of Philadelphia, Braindead have quickly become one of my favorite current hardcore bands. Formed only a few years ago, the band has already released a demo, a split 7" with Blackbirds, and this, their debut full-length, No Consequences. Over the course of the ten-song …

No Turning Back – Stronger

Review — September 2, 2008

For over a decade No Turning Back has been churning out release after release - CD, vinyl, and cassette - of punishing New York flavored hardcore. And while you would think the band's location were the mean streets of NYC, these boys actually call the beauty of The Netherlands home. …

Grave Maker – Bury Me at Sea

Review — September 7, 2008

Hailing from the Pacific Northwest, Grave Maker quickly made a name for themselves thanks to a promising demo and a commitment to the road. With the band signing to Think Fast! the band gained the exposure they needed to make the jump to the next level. Bury Me at Sea …

Die Young – Through the Valleys in Between

Review — September 14, 2008

I can't exactly recall my first exposure to Die Young, but I do know the band's 90's inspired hardcore punk sound and intense lyrical messages had me hooked from the get-go. Die Young - now Die Young (TX) - has persevered through the years and compiled quite a back catalog, …

Clouds – We are Above You

Review — September 16, 2008

After debuting with last year's Legendary Demo, Boston-based rockers Clouds return with their sophomore full-length. Fronted by former Cave In guitar maestro Adam McGrath, the band has delivered another fine offering here, though they have refined their fuzzed-out punk sound with an even wider sampling of influences. We are Above …

No Harm Done – Escape

Review — September 17, 2008

Sometimes, on paper a band can look really good. But when you get around to listening, it just doesn't add up. No Harm Done is that kind of a band for me. The Florida natives play fast, melodic hardcore with the occasional pop-filler. Escape is the band's latest full-length and …