Highway Seventeen by The Most Sad (2013)

Kind of Like: Whenskiesaregray, Tigerscout, Les Doux

Genres: Screamo, Hardcore

Preview:

This track is a teaser for The Most Sad's next EP, Subjectivity//Objectivity.  They are from Concord, California, and if you dig the new track, you can download their previous releases for free on their bandcamp.
Listen Here:

Life is Hell, and Hell is Lost by Old Man Winter (2013)

Kind of Like: Converge, Punch, No Omega
Genres: Mathcore, Hardcore
Preview:


It's been awhile since I've been a blog that's beaten everyone to the punch. So, instead of the proven well-documented stuff I have been posting lately, here is a relatively new and unknown band from out of New Hampshire.  They just put their first EP out this past Tuesday and it's heavy.  It shows a lot of potential and they made a great first impression by going in on production instead of a 8 track in somebody's basement.

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One of Us Is the Killer by Dillinger Escape Plan (2013)

Excellent promotion for Tama, right?

Kind of Like: Botch, Every Time I Die, Between the Buried and Me

Genres: Mathcore, Hardcore

Buy: Sumerian Records

Preview:

I have to be honest with you.  After Ire Works, I kind of lost touch with DEP.  I have just settled on Miss Machine being their go-to album for me because that is where I feel they did their best work.  But thanks to their PR guys, I was attacked by an onslaught of media through various websites promoting this new album.  The first thing I saw was that video for "When I Lost My Bet" and it blew me away.  Then a few days later I watched their live set on 2013 Golden Gods and seeing them still going berserk brought all those fond memories back to me.  I am still listening to this and I doubt it will replace Miss Machine for me, but so far it sounds really great.

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Old Friends/Keyholder split (2013)

Kind of Like: No Omega, Bastions, Comadre
Genres: Screamo, Post-hardcore, Hardcore, Punk
Preview:

This split is pretty brutal, in a good way.  The Leyholder side reminds me a lot of No Omega's first little EP.  Speaking of which, I heard their new album just came out.  Maybe look for that in a little bit.  This is my first time checking out Old Friends (I think).  Their side is equally awesome for it's own reasons, it almost sounds like Chris from Snowing screaming in a hardcore band.  Also getting a little Comadre feel in there.  I would like to write more about this split, but the servers for Simcity are finally working. I'm a total nerd and need to get my fix.

Listen Here:

Family Ties/Labors of Love by Les Doux/Citycop (2013)

Kind of Like: Old Gray, Barrow, I really don't know
Genres: Hardcore, Post-hardcore, Screamo, Folk
Buy: Sea of Tranquility, Flannel Gurl Records
Preview: 


Evan from Les Doux is a pretty stand up guy, he wrote me a really nice sincere e-mail and that really goes a long way for me.  I know both of these bands from previous reviews, so I'm sure I would've gotten around to this eventually, but anyways...

If you're looking for something genuinely fresh (I tend to use this term on whim, but these bands really exhibit this to a more extreme degree), then this is the split for you.  If you are tired of what is becoming somewhat generic screamo, then by all means you need to do yourself a favor and listen to this twangy take and see how it makes you feel.  In all honesty, I listened to this maybe a month or so ago and it didn't really move me right off the bat, but I always try to give albums a second go which I did recently. It's visceral, good stuff and I am only listening to it more and more.

Now I need to get some errands done before my day saturated in hockey begins.  Oh, how I've missed it...

Listen Here:

Comadre by Comadre (2013)

Kind of Like: Rites of Spring, Refused, Glasses
Genres: Punk, Hardcore, Screamo
Buy: Vitriol Records
Preview:


It's only January and people are claiming to already have found the first contender for album of the year for 2013.  Rightfully so, Comadre has some teeth on them and so does this album.  There is a whole lot like about this and it is the freshest sounding hardcore/punk album I have heard in awhile.  From hard riffs to blasting horns to curdling vocals, it covers a lot of ground.

Listen Here:

Best of 2012: Screamo/Hardcore

Fun observation: 82% of these album covers are predominantly gray.

11. Slow Revenge by SARG

I first heard of these guys this past summer when I was looking for international bands for the summer sampler.  They are from Germany and this album is a great throwback  It has the tone, speed and rawness from older hardcore bands but it still has some really fresh sounding riffs.

10. Debtors by The Long Haul

Out of all the albums on this list, this is the one that was around for the longest.  I threw it up here way back in January and even thought it would've made the 2011 list if it had come out a month earlier.  The past month, I got turned onto it again while perusing the archives.  Still sounds great to me, if I do say so.

9. Phantom Feelings by Shark Bait

These guys squeaked into the best of 2012; you may notice that their feature is only a couple posts down from here.  I think the initial review was good enough, but in short, Shark Bait has gotten progressively better since they first arrived a couple years ago.  

8.  Clarity by Vales

Another face from the Summer Sampler, this female-fronted band released this album under the name Veils.  Then a shitty band tried legal action against them, so they changed their name to Vales.  Veils or Vales, this album was thinly-veiled awesomeness.

7. Yore Veils by Adaje

Speaking of Veils, there are these dopes.  They stayed at my place for a weekend this past summer while they had some Michigan shows along their full US tour.  They took turns blowing me to get on this list, but they really didn't have to, I was going to put them on here anyways.  Who doesn't want to get blown though?  But seriously, I was pissed when these guys released this album, toured like hell and then promptly broke up.  I recently talked to Zoe and apparently there is a new band in the works, so let's look out for that next year, okay?

6. Metropolis by No Omega

One of the first cool things I put up on this site was this band's self titled EP.  So when I heard they were coming out with a full-length in 2012, I began foaming at the mouth.  Then I got lockjaw and was holed up in the hospital for a little while, but the doctors told me that was unrelated.  Anyways, this album turned out being great.  When it came out, I broke out in a rash.  Then it started hurting when I was peeing.  How the fuck did they do that?  I just know these guys are going to read this and it is not going to translate well at all into Swedish.  Fuck it.

5. Anomie by Animal Faces

Native hasn't been doing shit since Wrestling Moves and Kidcrash is kind of being quiet too.  So when their Canadian counterparts came out with this, it was a welcome gift. They have similar vocals to native but music more along the lines of Kidcrash. Either way, this is some hard, mathy goodness right here. Dip it in the water so it will slide down your gullet more easily.

4. Disembarked by Disembarked

This release has been consistent for me all year.  When it comes time for me to move music off my phone to make room for new stuff, this always is left alone.  I am really excited to hear their album coming out next year which will feature "Bewildered", a song not on this album but one you can find on the summer sampler.

3. You Me and The Violence by Birds in Row

The title track alone made this album worth it for me.  YOU...ME...AND THE VIOLEEEEEEEEENCE!!!

2. What's Left to Let Go by Goodtime Boys

A sort of pseudo-new full length, this album featured half new songs and half old ones from their previous EP.  It made sense because they are just starting to get introduced to the US market so a lot of people haven't even heard their older stuff anyways.  The new songs are great, I fake drum really hard in the car to "Callous".  After the 1:30 mark the drummer just kills it more and more.  Now we just need these guys to come visit the states with Birds in Row or something.

1. All We Love We Leave Behind by Converge

The king is back, and he sounds more organic and original than ever

You, Me & the Violence by Birds in Row (2012)

Kind of Like: No Omega, Caravels, Goodtime Boys
Genres: Hardcore, Screamo, Punk

I know, I said no more signed bands.  I can't help myself with this one.  This album and Goodtime Boys new album are two of my most anticipated for this year.  Birds in Row is from France and recently got signed to Deathwish, and then toured all over for months with Converge and Loma Prieta.  If you didn't get a chance to see them, I wouldn't fret.  With the release of this masterpiece, I can almost guarantee they will be touring the states again in the near future.  This will be making my list of top albums of 2012.  To make myself feel better, I am going to link you guys to one of the many other blogs that have already featured this.

Listen Here:

Slow Revenge EP by SARG (2012)

Kind of Like: Trash Talk, Hellmouth, Trap Them
Genres: Punk, Hardcore
Buy: I.Corrupt Records
Preview:

We featured this German band on our international sampler.  Their 7 inch just came out that features the song we used called "Holy Night".  There is a certain charm to their muddied angsty punk/hardcore.  These guys squeeze 6 shorter songs onto a 7 inch like a true punk band, but they also manage to break shit down really well like in the song "Quiet Limbs" and "Vomit Hope".  I was sent this directly from Ingo of I.Corrupt Records, so I since I have his permission, I don't feel bad posting this on here.  Lots of records to choose from at their site, pick this one up with another one of the I.C. releases..!!

Listen Here:

Loose Control by Git Some (2010)

Hairy is the new hotty

Kind of Like: Bearings, Akimbo, Hot Snakes

Genres: Punk, Hardcore, Stoner Rock, Noise Rock

Preview: Spotify

Been meaning to post these guys after catching them a week or two ago.  They played with Converge, Loma Prieta, and The Armed.  I had no idea who these guys were walking into the show, but after seeing them I am very excited about them.  They put on a great punk set and have a sound that not many people appreciate now of days.  They play some blistering, fast, and heavy rock and roll.  They just put out a 7" with Alternative Tentacles Records, that is nowhere to be found on the interwebs yet as a download.  However, they have plans to put out another full length and you can check out their 2010 effort, Loose Control, below.

Listen Here:

StreamPad: Git Some - "Lick, Lick, Lick"

Ominous Silence by Tharsis They (2012)

Stop!....Hammer Time!

Kind of Like: Converge, Trap Them, Botch
Genres: Chaotic Hardcore, Hardcore, Thrash, Mathcore
Preview:


I got the chance to see these guys open up for The Armed and Capture the Flag in Detroit on Saturday.  It was a free house show at the Bear Cave.  It was my first time at this place, but I was surprised with how nice the neighborhood was.  I know, not all of Detroit is bad, but it was one of the few neighborhoods that not only held onto it's dignity but was a lot nicer than even neighborhoods in the burbs.

These guys put on a killer set.  My only gripe was that they were the opening band and they didn't show up until a couple hours after the show was supposed to start.  I know, I don't know what they had going on, there may have been an emergency or something.  However, when the band after you and the headliner are at the venue an hour before it is even supposed to start and you don't show up for a couple hours after that, it just doesn't look good.  Better late than never though, because they got the show started off really well.  Lots of energy to get people into it.

The Armed were up next, and if they didn't have bad luck they would have no luck at all.  They started off a great set and then right in the middle, the power went out.  I don't know if neighbors called to get the power shut off or what, but these guys kept it classy; they kept going on to finish the song with no power.  I would love to embed the following video, but it is uploaded to facebook, and there isn't an easy way to  put that here.  The power outage got captured on video, and 21 seconds into it, you get to see Randall break his hand.

Now that thing he hit didn't have a dent in it.  Randall is a big dude, so that thing had to be made of something hard.  The lights came back on, and his hand was clearly broken.  There was something protruding from it, and the nurse switch in me turned on.  I took a look at it, and first I thought a bone was sticking out, but it was just a flap of skin sticking out.  The bone may have very well came out when he hit it and gone back in.  He got bandaged up, and they decided to finish their set like bosses.

The bad luck continued though.  In the middle of their last song, a full beer fell onto Chris's pedalboard.  I cringed as I watched them lift up to drain the beer and foam out of it.  Needless to say, that guitar stopped working.  Luckily, it was the last song, and they all just broke their shit.  Kenny ripped his bass strings off with his bare hands.  Fuckin' christ.  I hope they can get more equipment before their show with Converge/Loma Prieta/Git Some in five days.

So yeah, check out this album by Tharsis They, and check out some of our previous posts on the Armed.

Jeromes Dream Interview via For All Masters

The guys at ForAllMasters.com, recently did an interview with Eric from Jeromes Dream.  After listening to it, I thought since we featured them before some people here would be interested in listening to this.

Click here

StreamPad: Jeromes Dream - Double Who?  Double You!

Weak Teeth 7" by Weak Teeth (2010)

Kind of Like: Code Orange Kids, Former Theives,
Genres: Hardcore, Punk, Emo
Buy: Sometimes I Get Drunk Records
Spotify: Not Officially
Preview:


"Too fast, too furious, pissed-as-fuck hardcore from up North. With a slightly angular and technical edge to their musicianship, they offer more than your standard cookie-cutter hardcore band with a fuller, more musically aware sound that stands as a testament to their unflinching dedication."
-The Fest 9 write-up

Emo-damaged hardcore; negative youth crew; fast things, loud things, angry things, burritos, and having fun.  These are all things that could be used to describe this band and this 7" record.  This album starts off making you think you are about to be taken on a ride you've been on many times.  A ride from bands that just want to sound exactly like they came out of American Hardcore.  Instead of being another generic shitty hardcore band, this ride busts off the rails and takes you someplace much better.  These guys are fast, gritty but surprising technical, melodic and intelligent at the same time.  I jumped on the opportunity to help distribute this 7".

Listen Here:

StreamPad: Weak Teeth - You Have Selected "No"

Collected by Birds in Row (2012)

Kind of Like: No Omega, Goodtime Boys, Caravels

Genres: Hardcore, Screamo, Punk

Spotify: Yezzir.

Buy: Vitriol Records

Preview:

Where the fuck did these guys come from?  Well, France, but they have become immediately prominent in the United States.  Here is the blog Curran Reynolds summing up why:

"Vitriol Records - the LA label founded by Justin Smith of Graf Orlock, Ghostlimb, and Dangers - presents Collected, a compilation of all the recordings to date of French hardcore band, Birds In Row. As Birds In Row prepare to record their debut full-length for Deathwish Inc, Collected serves as a complete introduction to this explosive band."

This album is a 7" and EP of theirs put together to form something really special.  Their vibe will get anybody's attention stateside that like bands like Beau Navire and Caravels, but they also have a bunch of other stuff that is great as well.  These guys are just plain fulminant, and are bursting with emotion at every moment.  I think Curran Reynolds put's it best with: "The heart is laid bare but the spine is intact."


It certainly was enough to get Deathwish's attention, they have promptly signed them to release a full length sometime this year.  Pick this up right now and get yourself acquainted.

Listen Here:

StreamPad: Birds in Row - Words in Astaroth

Sleep on It by Ages (2011)

Kind of Like: Code Orange Kids, Backtrack
Genres: Hardcore, Screamo, Punk
Preview: Bandcamp

This album came out way back in July from these Ohio lads, and they actually have a newer album that came out in September, but I haven't listened to it yet.  This one is fast and catchy, mixing the vocals and speed of new york hardcore bands like Backtrack and the chords and melodies of screamo bands that always somehow manage to be dissonant and melodic at the same time.  Each song is a powerful and under 2 minutes long.  Give "Midnight" and "Dreamers" a listen.

Listen Here:

Best of 2011: Hardcore/Screamo

Sorry, I got around to this a little bit later than I wanted.  I got caught up in a game of BS.  I'm sloppy and ready to do this.  Please note, these are albums that were featured on this blog.  If you were wondering: Where is Pianos Become the Teeth/Daniel Striped Tiger/Touche Amore/Etc?  I did listen to and still listen to those albums, but I just want to focus on albums that were on this site.

10.

Adaje/Shark Bait Split

Read the SIGD feature

I remember listening to Shark Bait's stuff when I first started this thing a year ago.  I wasn't too impressed to be honest with you.  Then this came out, and I was pleasantly surprised with their material.  Especially the first of their two songs, "High Horse", I still listen to that song on the regular.  This split was a good deal of progress from their previous work.  This was an introduction to Adaje, their two songs that combined modern screamo with elements and post-rock I found intriguing.  Although they also do the violent stuff too which is exhibited on their split with Lizards Have Personalities.  Oh, hey, that can be bought here.  Overall, I think this split was a good look at a couple bands that probably will have a big year ahead of them in 2012.

9.

Judges- "Lonely Kids in Dead End Homes"

Read the SIGD feature

People were flipping out on Touche Amore's new album, and I thought it was pretty decent, but the only song I still listen to off of that is "Home Away From Here".  If you are looking for more music like that you could check out this band, which I probably listened to a bit more than Touche's latest album.  It was just a little bit more memorable for me, but still in the same niche.  Then there are also songs like "Fleeting Thoughts" that are a little different and really catchy.

8.

Raein- "Sulla Linea D'Orizzonte Tra Questa Mia Vita E Quella Di Tutti"

Read the SIGD feature

La Quiete and italian screamo was how I first really started falling for modern screamo music.  So, anything associated with them is bound to kill.  Raein features members of La Quiete, and sounds pretty similar to them.  This is the new album by them and it is gritty and great.  They actually came out with two albums this year, but the other was mainly a compilation of older/hard to find songs.  Still, it was another great addition to their 10+ year history.

7.

von Wolfe- "Life's A Beach"

Read the SIGD feature

Don't let the plain looking text fool you, this album is intricate and fast as fuck.  I still flip my shit pretending I can play drums while listening to this debut EP.  Another great look at a band that I hope has a great year next year.  Their riffs are catchy and hard as all get out, and hopefully they will be touring soon and releasing more material.  After Everytime I Die turned into shit, it's great to see bands like this in that "Hot Damn" vein still doing it right.

6.

Kerouac/The Long Haul Split

Read the SIGD feature

I got this cutie on gray vinyl.  This is a split that features two of the better mathcore/hardcore bands out of the United Kingdom right now.  They each have three songs and both bands put on extremely strong performances.  After listening to it a bunch of times, it's hard to say which bands half I like more, so I'm just going to say I like both of them equally for different reasons.  Easy way out.

5. 

Ed Gein- "Bad Luck"

Read the SIGD feature

Ed Gein is back and they are still angry as hell.  Kenny introduced me to this band awhile back, and he actually featured this new album by them a few months ago.  These guys are somewhat pioneers in their genre, and they show why on this thrash-fest.  They are a mix of thrash, sludge, metal, grind, and punk.  The result is something that sounds like something that would be racing through the mind of a serial killer.  In a good way.

4.

No Omega- "No Omega"

Read the SIGD feature

Who said the Swedes were pansies?  Besides Don Cherry anyways.  This debut EP by these Stockholm kids is a tour de force.  I reviewed this a good whiles back in the year, and I still love it.  It starts off hectic and fast, but after it's broken down it chugs along in great fashion.  These guys put up a couple new demos on their bandcamp, and I am really excited for whatever album they put out next year.  Fingers crossed for an eventual states invasion.  Seems like all the American bands have the balls to go overseas, come on European bands. What are ya, chicken? Buck-buck-bugaahhhhh.  Reverse psychology.

3.

The Armed- "Young and Beautiful"

Read the SIGD feature

In a scene filled with cliches and regurgitation, the Armed continue to evolve.  Their initial releases were a thrashy blend of mathcore that were still great in their own right, but this new EP released in October showed a change of pace in a great way.  There were still throwbacks to their previous work, but there was also a lot of influence of noise rock and garage rock that melded perfectly with their roots.  Detroit has a ton of shitty hardcore bands, it's nice to see a smart one that still looks to push the envelope instead of dwelling in the been-there-done-thats.

2.

Mahria- "Mahria"

Read the SIGD Feature

Everytime I listen to this self-titled release, I find something else I really enjoy about it.  This female-fronted band from Edmonton was my from-out-of-left-field pleasant surprise this year.  It seems like most of the releases on this list are up and comers, and this is no exception.  But I think that also makes this list a little more interesting, and I hope that you guys welcome these new faces.  It would be nice to see them continue on instead of fizzle out like so many bands do.

1.

Kidcrash- "Naps"

Read the SIGD Feature

Speaking of up and comers, this is not one at all.  These guys have already solidified themselves in the screamo/post-hardcore ranks.  Talk about a magical year for them as well.  After releasing this EP, they started a kickstart thing to raise money for a computer to record their next full-length.  They met their $2500 mark in what?  Less than 48 hours?  They were even getting donations of hundreds of dollars from people asking for nothing in return.  Now that is special.  They are currently just over $4000, so hopefully the full length for them will be out next year.  As far as this EP goes, I am always impressed with their releases each time they come out.  Not only is the music great, and tweaked with each release, the artwork is also really cool in my eyes.  I always love getting their records in the mail and exploring them on the outside as I listen to them.

Darker Half by Backtrack (2011)

Kind of Like: Naysayer, Madball, Agnostic Front
Genres: Hardcore
Buy: Reaper Records
Preview:



Whenever I hear the usage of "NYHC" and "old school hardcore", I am really fucking hesitant.  There are so many really boring, shitty bands that fall under this umbrella and I end up not paying too much attention to it anymore.  Enter Backtrack.  I see the good reviews, and I hadn't reviewed anything in awhile.  So, I jumped in.  Turns out, this band has some hard-ass catchy riffs and intelligent, fairly proactive writing.  Plus, it's nice to have a bit of change of pace.  The only problem I think some people may have with it is how ridiculously long it is.  There are 23 songs, non of which hit the three minute mark.  The album art is pretty tits too.

Listen Here: