FREE MUSIC MONDAY - IN HEARTS WAKE

Despite what you think of this band, whether you enjoy their style of vocals or not, etc... this is a cause worth being supported. Byron Bay, Australia's leading post-hardcore band just released a brand new single entitled “Skydancer” with lyrics about deforestation and the way humans around the world are destroying the Earth around them. People have been leaving their roots and culture behind to embrace a sterile and repetitive life in these “steel towers of death”.

In Hearts Wake decided to release it with a "name your price" download on Bandcamp and give all the profits to three non-profit organizations devoted to help indigenous communities around the world. The music is free, but it's encouraged to show support if you believe in the cause. Read their statement below, check out the new lyric video, and support the cause!

- MATTIA
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Hey Guys,

We are incredibly excited to unveil the Skydancer Project today. 'Skydancer' is our new single and we are happy to announce that not only will we be giving it away on a 'pay what you wish' platform.. but also that all funds raised in donations for the single will be split between three non-profit organisations that each deal with supporting indigenous communities across the globe. We've chosen three grassroots groups to work with on this amazing campaign, Red Dust, Seventh Generation Fund for Indigenous Peoples & Hardcore Help Foundation. We couldn't be happier to release new music to you guys as well as spreading awareness about these important issues on a global scale. Please check out the Skydancer website for all the information.
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Links: Facebook // Official Website // Skydancer Project

WIN A MEET AND GREET WITH THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA FOR YOU AND UP TO 3 FRIENDS

The Devil Wears Prada and Rockstar Energy have teamed up to offer a chance for fans to win an exclusive meet and greet opportunity where they get to hang out with the guys from The Devil Wears Prada while they are on “The 8:18 Tour.”

Visit the link below to fill out the entry form. A winner will be selected for every date and will be contacted at least 48 hours before the show.

**MEET AND GREET DOES NOT INCLUDE A GENERAL ADMISSION TICKET**

Enter to win a Meet & Greet with the band now right here. 

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The 8:18 Tour dates:

11/12/13 - Winnipeg, Canada @ The Garrick
11/14/13 - Calgary, Canada @ MacEwan Ballroom
11/16/13 - Edmonton, Canada @ The Starlite Room
11/19/13 - Seattle, WA @ El Corazon
11/21/13 - San Francisco, CA @ Regency Ballroom
11/23/13 - Salt Lake City, UT @ In The Venue
11/24/13 - Denver, CO @ Exdo Event Center
11/25/13 - Albuquerque, NM @ Sunshine Theater
11/26/13 - Tempe, AZ @ Marquee Theatre
11/27/13 - Las Vegas, NV @ Hard Rock Cafe - The Strip
11/29/13 - San Diego, CA @ Soma
11/30/13 - Los Angeles, CA @ Club Nokia
12/1/13 - Santa Ana, CA @ The Observatory
12/4/13 - Dallas, TX @ HOB Dallas
12/5/13 - San Antonio, TX @ Backstage Live
12/6/13 - Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live
12/7/13 - New Orleans, LA @ HOB New Orleans
12/8/13 - Tampa, FL @ The Ritz Ybor
12/10/13 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL @ Revolution
12/11/13 - Orlando, FL @ HOB Orlando
12/12/13 - Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade
12/14/13 - Philadelphia, PA @ Trocadero
12/15/13 - Sayreville, NJ @ Starland Ballroom
12/17/13 - New York, NY @ Best Buy Theatre
12/18/13 - Worcester, MA @ The Palladium
12/19/13 - Montreal, Canada @ Club Soda
12/20/13 - Toronto, Canada @ Phoenix Concert Theatre
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- \m/eyer

Links: Facebook // Official Website // iTunes

IN HEARTS WAKE “SKYDANCER” PROJECT

Despite what you think of this band, whether you enjoy their style vocals or not, etc... this is a cause worth being supported. Byron Bay, Australia's leading post-hardcore band just released a brand new single entitled “Skydancer” with lyrics about deforestation and the way humans around the world are destroying the Earth around them. People have been leaving their roots and culture behind to embrace a sterile and repetitive life in these “steel towers of death”.

In Hearts Wake decided to release it with a "name your price" download and give all the profits to three non-profit organizations devoted to help indigenous communities around the world. Read their statement below, check out the new lyric video, and support the cause!

- MATTIA
__________________________________________________________________________________

Hey Guys,

We are incredibly excited to unveil the Skydancer Project today. 'Skydancer' is our new single and we are happy to announce that not only will we be giving it away on a 'pay what you wish' platform.. but also that all funds raised in donations for the single will be split between three non-profit organisations that each deal with supporting indigenous communities across the globe. We've chosen three grassroots groups to work with on this amazing campaign, Red Dust, Seventh Generation Fund for Indigenous Peoples & Hardcore Help Foundation. We couldn't be happier to release new music to you guys as well as spreading awareness about these important issues on a global scale. Please check out the Skydancer website for all the information.
__________________________________________________________________________________ 

Links: Facebook // Official Website // Skydancer Project

THROWBACK THURSDAY - UNDEROATH (1999-2002)

I believe it was around this time last year that Underoath announced that they would be disbanding. If so then this would be an appropriate time to write up a little throwback piece highlighting their early material. When I refer to early material I am not referring to albums such as "They're Only Chasing Safety" or "Define the Great Line". As good as those albums are, and even though they may be viewed as classics to some, they are still relatively recent albums compared to the entire discography of Underoath.  No, the albums truly worthy of the title of being classic are their first three: "Act of Depression", "Cries of the Past", and "The Changing of Times". These three albums featured stylistic sounds that were vastly different from the rest of Underoath's discography, and are a testament to how numerous line-up changes can drastically alter the sound of a band.

For those of you who don't know, these albums featured Dallas Taylor (Maylene and the Sons of Disaster) on vocals instead of Spencer Chamberlain.  What Dallas brought to the band was a vocal style similar to that used in a lot of grindcore music, a strong emphasis on short high pitched screams, and intermixed with spoken word sections that almost boarder on reciting poetry (listen to "Alone in December").  His lyrics were very dark and emotional, with themes ranging from experiencing chronic depression to dealing with the death of loved ones.  Guitarists Corey Steger and Octavio Fernandez had a significant impact on the style of these albums as well.  In particular, "Act of Depression" and "Cries of the Past" had a strong death metal influence in the riffs.  It was noticeable to a degree in "The Changing of Times", but as soon as Octavio left, all traces of death metal soon disappeared.

Their first album "Act of Depression" was more or less a cross between grindcore and death metal.  The sound was fairly under-produced, raw, and chaotic in nature.  Unlike most grindcore though, the songs ranged from about 5 to 10 minutes in length.  Blast-beats were also used less frequently, but when used were appropriately placed within the songs and always added an extra layer of aggressiveness.

Their second album, "Cries of the Past", saw a change in the sound with the introduction of Chris Dudley on keyboards.  Chris used keys in a way that added a level of dark atmosphere to each song, propelling this album into symphonic death metal territory.  Both of these albums were originally released on Takehold Records making it difficult to find copies; but recently they were re-released through Solid State Records and are now easily accessible for purchase.

Their third album and debut on Solid State Records was "The Changing of Times".  I typically refer to this album as the "changing of sounds" because it demonstrated the biggest stylistic shift in their career.  For this album, Underoath adopted more pop elements such as shorter song lengths and catchy keyboard/synthesizer moments. "The Changing of Times" also showcased drummer Aaron Gillespie's influential clean vocals for the first time. After Steger was replaced by Tim McTague, many of the death metal riffs were cast aside in favor of a more punk oriented riffing style.

With these sensible changes, it was only natural to see Underoath break into the mainstream after this release, and this fate was solidified by their first music video for the song "When the Sun Sleeps".  Underoath went on to be a popular and very influential band in the metal and hard rock scene, and stayed strong until their official disbandment in 2013.

Links: Facebook // Twitter // iTunes  

ALASKA “IN SEARCH OF LOST TIME” SINGLE

Alaska is a five-piece progressive metalcore band hailing from Paris, France... yes, another one. These guys just released a brand new video, uploaded through BehadingTheTraitor's amazing YouTube channel. The song is a groovy and heavy metalcore track pushed by original vocals and a really cool lyric video.

For those of you who never heard of them, they released an EP in 2012 called “Into The Sea” featuring a good melodic approach on progressive metalcore as well. Check the new track below along with some of their older stuff. And if you like what you hear, show them some love on their official Facebook page!

-MATTIA

Links: Facebook // Youtube // Merch

THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA “8:18” ALBUM REVIEW

The last time I trashed my living room to the entirety of a Synthcore record was when I had just become old enough to vote. Having delved into a whole new kind of heavy music not long after, I took a hiatus from anything that remotely coupled autotuned cleans with half-assed growls and endless binary riffage. But needless to say, having just checked out a live clip of the track “Vengeance” from a previous album of theirs, I couldn’t resist giving The Devil Wears Prada's latest full-length “8:18” a thorough listen.

First things first, I feel no shame in coming clean about the fact that it’s been a good amount of time since I followed the TDWP camp seriously. When I started listening to the record I wasn’t even sure if they had the same line-up or otherwise. That being said, I find it reasonable enough to suggest that  this is some of the strongest Post-Hardcore material I have come across so far. Let alone this year, where the only worthy competitions against “8:18”, in my opinion, would be Bring Me The Horizon’s  “Sempiternal” and Feed Her To The Shark’s “Savage Seas”.

“Gloom” kick starts business in typical fashion for TDWP. Ominous buzzing audio samples pave the way for a dual assault from good ol’ Mike Hranica’s hoarse growls and Chris Dubey’s power-packed riffing. Based on first impressions, jack of all trades, producer Adam D’s hand in the overall sound is quite obvious. There is a certain amount of rawness in Hranica’s growls, which- as far as I remember- dominates the mix more than it did in the first two records. TDWP has also adopted a more detailed approach to their songwriting, it seems. This is because, the slow, measure delivery that they exercise on their songs such as “First Sight”, the 1st single off the album and 4th track “War”, as opposed to their compositions which are known for their breakneck tempos,and mosh-friendly progressions. No disrespect towards former keyboardist James Baney, who was quite the indispensable member, both live and in the studio, but the band, seems to have quite the knack for composing some interesting dark and atmospheric keyboard samples that somehow fare as more mature than those in the previous works. Tracks such as the likes of the title number and the track “Care More” are a testimonial to this new emerging nuance.  Rhythm guitarist/Backing vocalist Jeremy Depoyster further shines with his clean vocal melodies, on most tracks, if not “Care More” where he takes charge of the vocal-work all by himself. However, it would definitely suck to not see Baney play with the band live again. Welp, there had to be one complaint.

The 5th track “Sailors Prayer” is another addition that stands out from the rest. There seems to be an unmistakable  TimLambesis-ian (“Awakened” era of course) flavour to Hranica’s low growls. Being an AILD fan for the better part of my life as a Metalhead, this can only act as a catalyst towards the band’s dynamics which I have piqued my interest again. Now, I’d be remiss if I said the entire songwriting approach TDWP have taken is formulaic and predictable, but I give them the benefit of doubt since it is something that has to do more with the genre itself than the band in particular. Therefore, do not be surprised if the album sounds a tad bit monotonous and sparingly uninspiring in parts.

A case of rustled jimmies notwithstanding, there is nothing ground-breaking or genre-redefining on this album other than the fact that by now TDWP are masters in their trade and they execute it well. So, it would be a bit of an overkill to bitch about the lack of solos or anything virtuoso-like on the album. “8:18” is more about celebrating the coming of age of a band that every Hatebreed fan’s younger sibling listens to and is a good record as any for anyone looking to get into the genre deeper.

“8:18” is a sum parts of the gradient of improvement in the band-members’ individual prowess; a must have record for all Post-Hardcore fans out there. Serious/no-nonsense Metal fans should be more than happy if they treat it as something to soothe their nerves between the gargantuan releases that the year has seen so far, and the ones that are yet to be witnessed. Regardless of who dons the headphones, “8:18” is a good, solid record in its own right.

-Aurko

Links: Facebook // Twitter // Merch

THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA RELEASES A NEW SONG "FIRST SIGHT"

With the release of their fifth studio album within sight, The Devil Wears Prada leaks another new single that tears back the curtain of surprise just a tab bit further by offering a new peak into the chromatic chaos of "8:18."

This track opens up with a eerie wave of feedback followed with a shifting uproar in dynamic that leads up to very catchy guitar riff with some emotionally packed vocals jam packed with high intensity.
From heavy pounding verses to a softer sung chorus this song has a dense range that does not appear flat at any point. As The Devil Wears Prada's third track release from "8:18," I have to say that I enjoy this one the best.

Visit their store to pick up your pre-order bundle for "8:18" which will be released on September 17th.

As a bonus The Devil Wears Prada will reward thirteen random fans who pre-order "8:18" with a one of a kind handwritten lyric sheet of one of the album's thirteen tracks.

-\m/eyer

Links: Facebook // Official Website // Twitter // Merch

THE DEVILS WEARS PRADA TO TOUR WITH THE GHOST INSIDE, VOLUMES, AND TEXAS IN JULY

Mark your calendars ladies and gents because starting in November the headliners, TDWP, will hit the road and storm stages with the seductive sounds from hardcore heavy hitters The Ghost Inside, Volumes, and Texas In July on the 8:18 North American Tour. From all across the states to the Canadians in the far north this 33 stop tour will be within reach of millions of thrill seeking fans looking for a memorable experience with their hXc family.
Expect chaos, nothing more and nothing less, when the cult following that travels with the Devil Wears Prada invades a town near you for a night filled with colossal breakdowns overflowing with high intensity that is so forceful, that it could knock the Incredible Hulk on his heels.

Ticket are available and on sale now here.

-\M/eyer

Links: The Devil Wears Prada Facebook // Official Website // Merch

AUGUST BURNS RED ANNOUNCES UNITED STATES TOUR WITH BLESSTHEFALL, DEFEATER, AND BEARTOOTH

That's right people, the title says it all and now You can all sleep a little more soundly knowing that kicking off on November 1st, in Philadelphia, the hardcore/metal quintet known as August Burns Red will be headlining a nationwide tour from coast to coast thrashing American ears along the way.

With the accompaniment of Blessthefall, Defeater, and Beartooth, this show will no doubt attract fans of different genres all throughout the extreme music scene. From metal to post-hardcore and punk-hardcore to just plain loud in-your-face music, this will be a tour that you won’t want to miss!

Anybody who is anybody will be at this show and to guarantee your spot in the cool kids club, visit Show Stubs to purchase your ticket to a night that is guaranteed to leave no desires unfed.

While overlooking the purchasing process, you will soon realize that there are several different options available that offer more than just an entry ticket. There are a total of five bundles available. They are as follows:
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    Bundle #1: -General Admission Ticket

    Bundle #2: -General Admission Ticket
           -Limited edition 18x24 screen printed poster

    Bundle #3: - General Admission Ticket
           - Limited edition 18x24 screen printed poster
           - Exclusive t-shirt
  
    Bundle #4: - General Admission Ticket
           - Limited edition 18x24 screen printed poster
           - Exclusive t-shirt
           - Limited edition dog tags

    Bundle #5: - General Admission Ticket
           - Limited edition 18x24 screen printed poster
           - Exclusive t-shirt
           - Limited edition dog tags
           - Limited edition 5 panel hat
           - Limited edition flexi-disc post card
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All prices are on display at Show Stubs and tickets can also be accessed at each of the band's Facebook pages.

Do yourself a favor and purchase your ticket to the August Burns Red U.S. Tour right now and prepare yourself for evening full of great music, furious head banging, and moshing. For those of you about to rock, we salute you with our metal horns raised high \m/.

-\M/eyer

Links: Facebook // Twitter // iTunes

NEW MUSIC TUESDAY - AUGUST 13TH

Today is Tuesday, time for you to take time out of your day to listen to metal.

Blackened Death Metal 20 year veterans Panzerchrist are releasing their appropriately titled 7th album, “The 7th Offensive” today. Though this war obsessed band of Danish metallers has gone through about two military squads worth of band members, and seen their ranks decimated before, the guys in Panzerchrist have, as acknowledgment of their 20 year anniversary, been able to create an album that captures the combined essence of all the different styles previously explored by the band. Expect blackened fury, death metal riffage, melodic soloing, and demon possessed low vocals. And it’s streaming fully at Terrorizer. Go, now.

Links: Facebook // Merch // Album Stream

Today I’ve decided to be nice. Maybe some of our viewers are into radio metal ala Black Label Society, Five Finger Death Punch and other southern hard rock bands who wish they could be Pantera but aren’t. I’ve often heard fans of this type of music complain about finding new bands, due to the lack of exposure given to upcoming bands of this genre. This is because the radio doesn’t care about them yet, and most of us who are into underground music don’t care either and don’t spread them around like we do other metal genres. Well today I’m doing my part. I present to you Black Water Rising, an unheard of southern hard rock/metal band. I hope I’ve made someone’s day with this.

Links: Facebook // Official Website // Twitter

Last I have Serianna for you. Their new album “Define Me” drops today. The band plays that scenie brand of hooky, metal-less metalcore, post-hardcore type sound. The band’s newest single and music video is pretty generic and definitely not my thing, but I’m sure fans of the genre will be interested in checking this out. I also saw a very respectful, reasonable, not aggressive at all, comment, on the attached youtube clip, from one of the band members that was replying to a fan complaining about the change in musical direction of the band. The member explained the reason for the change in a couple sentences and said he hoped that the fan could enjoy the new stuff too, all with a little smilie at the end, classy. So yeah that comment was the best part for me but check it out anyway.

Links: Facebook // Youtube // Merch

-Trisolino

LIKE MOTHS TO FLAMES "AN EYE FOR AN EYE” ALBUM REVIEW

Columbus, Ohio is at it again making its well-deserved mark in the metalcore scene with their latest full-length CD release from fan favorite: Like Moths to Flames. After receiving mediocre popularity from their debut album, “When We Don't Exist” (2011), LMTF is holding nothing back in hopes of achieving a better response from music junkies all across the metal scene. With guest vocals on two different tracks from a couple big names in the music industry, Ahren Stringer (The Amity Affliction) and Shane Told (Silverstein), LMTF is catering to a larger crowd of listeners in attempts to create a cultic following for themselves.  With their chest-caving breakdowns and their catchy melodic instrumentals, LMTF’s sophomore album has become one of the most anticipated releases of 2013. This 12 track heart pounding CD no doubt is guaranteed to make your head bang and body flail to the beats of their pristine breakdowns.

 
The CD sets the bar high by opening up with a high intensity piece titled, “You’ll Burn” which creates momentary excitement, but falls short of expectations by sounding all too familiar to a track that has been heard from them before. Following the ear blasting into and first verse, the listener is propelled into a section of moderate tempo that calls for a subtle headbang while listening to the transition from screaming to a bland attempt at singing. Throughout the CD this behavior continues as front man Chris Roetter shows off his limited vocal range which I am sad to say is less than appealing. Although the overall vocal talent has improved from previous material, it would take the function of a magnifying glass to notice on paper the slight change. Aside from the monotonic vocals, the lyrics express heart-felt topics that call the listener to craft out a meaning and ultimately come to the conclusion that LMTF’s writing ability is deep and demands respect.

As far as the bands musical contributions, they are good. Any improvement that must take place in LMTF’s music for them to reach a new level of greatness is not hindered by their musicality. From a drop-tuned deep feeling to mid-range riffs the band expresses talent on all ends. The most appealing aspect has to be the percussion which effortlessly transitions tempo and dynamics over and over again while maintaining an above average difficulty in the drum line. Hearing the common section of a melodic riff, to silent drop, to all out heaviness, LMTF will make you jump out of your seat and throw up your metal horns with nearly every track.

 
Production quality is another aspect that meets the criteria of a well-managed CD. “An Eye For An Eye” has a certain fluidity to it that allows the audience to comfortably listen to the tracks nonstop without losing much interest. The clarity on each aspect of the band is well-balanced to a place where the listeners can properly assess each note played by the guitarist while being able to clearly understand the vocals with limited strain on the ears.

Overall, “An Eye For An Eye” is LMTF’s best release to date and it becomes more and more appealing after every repeated track. The boys from LMTF’s have poured their emotions into their work on this album and they deserve esteemed attention. Be on the lookout for them on in Europe on “The Vans Off The Wall Music Night Tour” with Parkway Drive, We Came As Romans, and Memphis May Fire. Don’t forget to pick up LMTF’s latest release from Rise Records: “An Eye For An Eye.”

-Mayhem Marc
 

Links: Facebook // Twitter // Merch

LETLIVE. “THE BLACKEST BEAUTIFUL” ALBUM REVIEW / STREAM!

Energy. Intense energy from every note and every single beat. Letlive is a band that knows how to be hardcore and catchy at the same time, bringing tunes that could get stuck in your head for months without being banal.

This band strays from the ordinary concept of music, and there's honestly no band I'm able to compare them too. They're really unique and with this new album “The Blackest Beautiful” they managed to build something extremely rough with some even mainstream potential, despite being really high quality music.

The opening track and first single “Banshee (Ghost Frame)” is the perfect example of what I'm talking about! It packs irresistible energy dispersed in every single moment of the song and a chorus that you just can't refuse to love. It may sound a bit strange at a first listen if you're not used to the band, but through an open-minded approach you'll probably start to listen to it again and again and again. And that's the best part of it. Letlive's energy is damn addictive! At first you think it's nice and strange, but as you slowly start to listen to it more and more you'll soon realize you need it!

I personally kinda underrated this band so far, but this album definitely conquered me. It's able to satisfy a lot of tastes. From the lovers of post-hardcore to the most TRVE metalheads, from the punk audience to the most exacting experimental rock and metal experts that can't deny the quality, the originality of Letlive's musical research. You'll find rough hardcore attacks in songs like “Empty Evils” or the final track “27 Club” and songs with more of a punk attitude like “That Fear Fever” and “The Priest and Used Cars”. But there are also songs blending melody and power like “White America's Beautiful Black Market” or “Younger”. Expect more introspective and gentle, yet intense moments in tracks like “Virgin Dirt” or “Pheromone Cvlt” (especially the second one features a more traditional rock approach).

All the musicians in this band did an amazing job, bringing their creativity to the full work. A special mention is needed for the guitar team made up of Jean Francisco Nascimento and Jeff Sahyoun. But I think the highest recognition is deserved by the vocalist Jason Aalon Butler. His original and dynamic vocal lines made this album really hard to forget, significantly empowering its energy, and packing one of the best singing performance 2013 so far.

Letlive's “The Blackest Beautiful” has really been a striking surprise for me. I really think this is one of the best releases to come out of Epitaph records in the recent years. It's dirty, saucy and wild! Regardless of what you're used to listening to, this is really something you should check out! Full Album Stream is available here.

Links: Facebook // Official Website // iTunes

LETLIVE. "BANSHEE (GHOST FAME)" MUSIC VIDEO

Letlive. is a damn energetic band who has been making waves across the hardcore scene of late. To further emphasize this, they just dropped a brand new music video / digital single for the single "Banshee (Ghost Fame)". This was done in support of their forthcoming record "The Blackest Beautiful" due out July 9th on Epitaph Records. Should be rowdy.

Links: Facebook // Official Website // iTunes

NEW MUSIC TUESDAY - MAY 21ST

Another Tuesday, another batch of releases in the music world.

A Pale Horse Named Death release their second album, titled “Lay My Soul To Waste.” The sludgy, grungey metal project of two former Type O Negative drummers is beginning to make some waves in the metal community with the two songs they’ve released so far, "The Needle in You" and "Shallow Grave”. “Lay My Soul To Waste” is available via Steamhammer/SPV. Pick it up if you’re interested in what you hear below, this should be a good album.

Links: Facebook // Official Website // Amazon

Metalcore / post-hardcore band Death of an Era release their EP “The Great Commonwealth". The band, a 5 piece group from Columbus, is looking to escape “a wasteland of the same tired breakdowns and unoriginal riffing” with this release. I’m not sure if they’ve accomplished their goal but the EP is worth a listen if you are a fan of post-hardcore or metalcore. Check out their single "Shapeshifter" below.

Links: Facebook // Tumblr // Merch 

Upcoming band “NK” or North Korea, featuring members of “Envy on the Coast” and “The Dillinger Escape Plan” are releasing their debut record “Nothing to be Gained Here” today. The music is anything but typical, featuring the rhythmic drumming of “Dillinger Escape Plan” drummer Billy Rymer (Two releases in two weeks. Not bad Billy. Not bad). “NK” is an odd band, kinda punkish. I dunno. Check it out if you wanna keep up with Rymer and his musical activity. Stream their new record here.

Links: Facebook // Merch // Stream

-Trisolino

TOWN PORTAL "CHRONOPOLY" ALBUM REVIEW

From Copenhagen, Denmark is the instrumental prog-rock / post-hardcore triad Town Portal, whose last album “Chronopoly” was released in waaaaay back in 2012 but so what? I wanna talk about it right meow.

“Chronopoly” is quite the tasty treat for those looking for a new prog-rock snack. The bass and guitar’s cavernous tone serve up hefty helpings of groove rhythms, direct in delivery yet subtle in their method. Town Portal has a way of shifting unnoticeably through passages of patterns, subduing the complexity behind their compositions. Easy it is to become swallowed in the sludgy riffs.

“Samoan Maneuver” carries a trapping characteristic despite a light ambient fade out into “Entropia,” one of my favorite tracks, as well as one of the most melodic on “Chronopoly.” “Cool Face Doom Service” enters with a jangly guitar over bass and it sounds a bit like Rush’s more recent work. At least that is what I’m reminded of. Bass guitar is imperative, with a tone both dark and smooth…like molasses…or Queen Latifah.

Town Portal’s drumming is…constant. Whatever the approach may be; accenting, driving, tempo and mood altering, the drums are constantly just doing that. By never honing on a single attribute “Chronopoly” conveys an untraditional heaviness with clever structure and undertones of mathy progressions. The final two songs on “Chronopoly,” “Uncle Genie” and “Coordinated Universal Time Stretch,” make for a spectacular departure. It is songs like these where I appreciate not being distracted by vocals.

 Town Portal has been somewhat in-active recently but according to their Facebook this is only temporary and plans have been made to continue writing as well as perform. “Chronopoly” is sure to get your head moving so drop the needle on Town Portal’s Bandcamp.

- Tyler Dermitt

Links: Facebook // Bandcamp

MY CITY MY SECRET TO RELEASE NEW SINGLE

As a supporter of my local scene, Buffalo, NY has a ton of untapped, rising talent (and a few misses). Hardcore local band My City My Secret is one of those rising talents.

The band will be releasing their newest single "Xenophobia" off their upcoming EP "A.I." this Friday through iTunes. While they're not signed, My City My Secret is managed by Shawn Spann of Creation Management and metal band I, The Breather. That's a huge accomplishment for any local band. 

My City My Secret has been through rough times through the years. Their Facebook page was hacked when they hit around 6,000 likes. The band had to start from scratch but with the release of their EP "Dream Beings" last year and the countless support of the fans, they are now over 8,000 likes.

"Xenophobia" is only a taste of the evolution that My City My Secret has gone through within a year. Vocalist Adam Fabozzi and screamer Keith Kuzara have both improved vocally. Their voices/screams are stronger and even better live. The Caleb Shomo (Beartooth/Attack Attack) produced track is filled with electronic accents and contains heavier material than most of their other songs. Plus, My City My Secret's inspiring messages encompassed in their lyrics continue in "Xenophobia."

Go take a listen to some of My City My Secret's songs and make sure to go purchase "Xenophobia" on iTunes when it releases on Friday.

-Fe

Links: Facebook // Twitter // Youtube // iTunes

SET TO REFLECT SIGNS WITH STANDBY RECORDS

After recording three demos with The Plot In You's Landon Tewers, Ohio hardcore newcomers Set To Reflect wanted to put their name out there and attract the attention of a record label. That attention finally arrived on Thursday when Set To Reflect announced they would be signing with Standby Records.

It's easy to find the influence of Tewers on tracks such as "Creation in the Making" - one of the band's demos. Vocalist Tony McVaney's powerful screams grip at your soul and pull you into their music. I kept wanting to find more material from the group. Their touches of ambiance mixed with metal riffs, clean vocals, and screams captivated my ears and I wondered why it even took so long for them to find a record deal. They're marketable with their sound as well as their youthful appearance.

While Standby Records doesn't seem like the first label you'd put Set To Reflect on (Dot Dot Curve and Davey Suicide....), I'm excited to see what they'll bring to the indie label.

Set To Reflect will be releasing their first EP "A New Path To Walk On" through their label on April 2 of this year. Congratulations guys!

-Fe

Links: Facebook // Twitter // Youtube // Standby Records

THIS DEAFENING WHISPER "DUODECIM" ALBUM REVIEW

The past two years have been pretty solid for French post hardcore group This Deafening Whisper. Their first full length album "Duodecim" dropped this past week after their first EP "A Matter of Knife and Depth" set a buzz for the newcomers. With only being a band for two years, my expectations were not set too high for this album. After listening to the first three tracks, I realized the talent that these gentlemen can harness. 

This Deafening Whisper takes elements of various musical styles such as hardcore/metal and infuses occasional electro beats with piano notes. When a post hardcore band switches things up from the typical chug chug chug insert breakdown here approach, it gives them a larger appeal. Uniqueness in this industry is tough to find, especially here in the United States.

"Awakening To The Sight," the opening instrumental track, sets the calm before the storm of this whirlwind album. While this tactic is commonly used, This Deafening Whisper made the track seem natural as it flowed into the heart pounding song "The Curse." The transition between these two tracks reflect the band's name perfectly. They know the appropriate times to whisper and when to make the music so loud, it makes your elderly neighbors complain.

Speaking of embodying the band's name, they continue the trend with their lyrics. There is the obligatory "I hate everything, let's get angry" lyrics that is a staple for any metal band but also metaphorical lyrics that contain actual meaning. "Deadly Antagonism" and "Siren's Strain" are two clear examples of this lyrical value regardless of the screaming vocals. 

"The final hit exploded it/ shattering you to pieces leaving me here next to a wall/ opaque and mute/ You were the one the scale of all evils were tipped on but 6 feet underground/ both our legacies fade and rust," vocalist Alban screams on "Deadly Antagonism." The balance of meaning and passion is perfect and needs to be more inclusive in other upcoming bands.

However, the album has some misses. "Aesir to Mankind" is a forced transition unlike "Awakening To The Sight." It acts as a droning one minute filler that could have been replaced with something else or omitted all together. It does not make the ending of this album cohesive. "Datura" also seems slow to me. I felt bored and pondering switching to a different track before it concluded. 

Overall, "Duodecim" is a consistent album that should put The Deafening Whisper into the international eye. I look forward to hearing more from the band soon and perhaps they could venture across the pond to the United States someday. Bonne chance pour l'avenir (good luck in the future)  The Deafening Whisper.

-Fe

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SAPPHIRES "CARRIERS" STREAM / LYRIC VIDEO (FREE MUSIC!)

This is one we needed to bring by popular demand. One day I opened up The Circle Pit's e-mail to find 20-30 messages saying we NEED to listen to this band Sapphires. They are an international Metalcore / Post-Hardcore collaboration drawing together musicians from several countries (Russia, Germany, and Belarus to name a few). So why the hell not? I watched the band's lyric video for their brand new single, "Carriers", which I ended up enjoying. The video was awesome and well constructed to compliment the driving heaviness of the song. You can watch it right here. And rumor had it there were a few more songs out by theses guys.

And the rumors were true. Sapphires just dropped a four song mini-EP "Carriers" not too long ago. All in all, it's a solid offering. Musically, they don't give into many cliches of a staling scene. They drop in and out of heaviness and melody with purpose and direction, yet leave you guessing at what may come next. You can stream the entire release down below. Better yet, you can download all songs for the price of your choice on the official Sapphires Bandcamp!

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