Catherine… what a name. This band left me speechless when I first listened to them. Their album, Rumor Has It: Astaroth Has Stolen Your Eyes, is hands down one of my favorite albums of all times. With riffs akin to Parkway Drive and I Killed the Prom Queen, plus melodic vocals, it’s a must for anyone who calls themselves a metal fan. With the release of their newest album, Inside Out, they’ve switched gears with a heavy hardcore in mind. Also worth mentioning is their album A Call to Entropy which is the prequel for Rumor Has It. I highly recommend you check this band out if you have a taste for Parkway Drive.

Sounds Like: Parkway Drive, I killed the Prom Queen, Stick to your Guns , Unearth

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

by david, posted on June 17, 2009 at 11:31 am in music. permalink. rss feed.

So let’s talk drummers first. Everyone knows a few key drummers and they always appear on the list of great drummers: Neil Pert (Rush), John Bonham (Led Zeppelin), Ginger Baker (Cream). Drums are the largest determining factor in the genre of music being played. Don’t believe me? Pick up a guitar and try to play some hardcore songs, you’ll recognize them but the power isn’t there, you simply can’t get the desired crunch without drums. So what makes a great drummer? Here’s my list of not exactly requirements, but qualifications that make one.

• Excellent sense of place, Ringo Starr of the Beatles played ONE drum solo in the entire Beatles catalogue (in “The End” from Abbey Road). Knowing your role in the band is more important that having great abilities.
• Ability to diversify. You have to be able to throw something new at your audience ALL THE TIME even if it’s the same song change up the beat a little bit every now and then, no one wants to hear something repetative.
• Style. Oh you drummers with your perfect timing and carefully constructed patterns you need to learn that there’s more to life than being something a drum machine could do equally well, it’s the slight misses that make the hits so much more perfect.

And this point about drummers brings me to Four Year Strong. Tired of screaming, whining, and death in your hardcore? Try them out, I’d define them as happy hardcore! They craft unique song structures with stream of conscious lyrics and my favorite drummer.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Four Year Strong

Good times.

by kyle, posted on June 14, 2009 at 7:53 pm in uncategorized. permalink. rss feed.

Talking music with Eric the other day I realized it’s been a loooooong time since I (or anyone! shame shame guys) added anything here. So we’ll talk about the Dead 60s today.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

First song is “Riot Radio” and people are either in love with it in the first 5 seconds or don’t like it at all.

The Dead 60s are an indie band who I came to love sometime last year, it’s mostly upbeat music and it’s got enough energy to actively listen to but not so much that it doesn’t make killer background music. I really don’t know what else to say so here are two more songs so you get the feel better!

This one is “Start a War” from their album Time to Take Sides.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Catchy tune, decent writing, the thing that really stands out to me about this band is the excellent bass work with the amazing trebly guitar counterpoint.

… And finally “Soul Survivor”

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Pretty dense song, lots of layers, a good listen all the way through.

by kyle, posted on May 24, 2009 at 11:23 am in uncategorized. permalink. rss feed.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Coming straight out of Long Island, New York, This is Hell is one of the best examples of a hardcore punk band to date. This is Hell formed in the summer of 2004 and immediately came out with a demo later that year. After getting enough support the band followed on and crafted a full EP which was played around the country over 200 times. Their next album, Sundowning, was released in may of 2006 and was stormed by the public. Sundowning was featured in many well known magazines such as Alternative Press and Metal Hammer. Their fame started to pay off when they were invited to play in the Sounds of the Underground tour which featured many mainstream bands such as As I Lay Dying, Trivium, and many other bands. After the tour was over they continued to play with notable bands such as Parkway Drive and Comeback Kid.

After many changes to their lineup, they released Misfortunes in 2008 which featured more aggressive and raw vocals and riffs then ever heard before.
Take a listen, if you truly want to hear an ideal, pure hardcore group then this is your standard.

Sounds Like: August Burns Red, Endwell

by david, posted on May 4, 2009 at 9:58 pm in music. permalink. rss feed.

It’s always a treat to discover a band that isn’t afraid to mix styles, write concept albums and explore multiple genres. It’s an even bigger treat when that band has a large discography, experience under it’s belt and catchy tunes.

This is a big motherfucking treat, welcome to the chocolate factory.

The Appleseed Cast is an indie/post-rock band out of southern California, but has gone through several line-up changes and is now based in Lawrence, Kansas. It’s really hard to classify this band. Their original sound was comparable to that of Sunny Day Real Estate; raw and explosive at times, but overall mellow and very catchy.

“State N w/K” - 2:38

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

After the albums “The End of the Ring Wars” and “Lost Songs,” the band took a turn towards the more post-rock, ambient side of the spectrum. They received a good reaction, but were criticized for their lengthy, repetitive and overall less catchy songs. I personally think it kicks ass. One of the things I like best about The Appleseed Cast is that they have a song for every mood, and even songs that alter your mood halfway in. Check this out.

“Blind Man’s Arrow” - 3:39

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Cool? Yeah, but by now you may be wondering if this band is all I cracked it up to be in my opening sentences. I’ve still got some time to prove my point. We’re now entering the later works of the band. We’ll start with the album Mare Vitalis, my second favorite release. It gives off a very watery theme with heavily distorted guitars and interesting drums.

“Fishing In The Sky” - 4:01

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Here’s two tracks from one of my favorite albums of all time, Peregrine. First is an opening instrumental that completely defines the album in about 4 minutes. An excellent piece of work.

“Ceremony” - 4:18

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Next we have one of the bands catchiest songs with a crazy drum beat, dark, moody guitars, and a killer bass riff. I get excited every time this song plays in my shuffle.

“Peregrine” - 4:06

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Last, and definitely not least, is disputedly The Appleseed Cast’s most popular song, for a good reason. With extremely catchy, bouncy vocals and an awesome chorus, it’s a hard track to resist. From mostly-lighthearted album “Two Conversations.”

“Innocent, Vigilant, Ordinary” - 3:19

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

by eric, posted on at 8:08 pm in uncategorized. permalink. rss feed.

I think you’ll only understand this if you play guitar, or maybe not, but sometimes a band comes along that’s so unique and incredible that you just have to say, “Wow.”

I’m talking pure skill; Insane balls to the wall guitar riffs, crazy drum fills, and driving bass lines that would make even the best guitarist cream his jeans.

I’ve found it before. I listen to bands like Tera Melos and The Fall of Troy (Some songs) and they just make my jaw drop riff after crazy riff, but there’s something missing. Bands like that, while interesting, can never hold that same place close to my heart that say Spoon, Coldplay, or the Beatles will always have. For a while I thought there was no happy medium between incredible inventive guitar playing and great songwriting. That was all before I got a text from my good friend Ellen saying, “I found the best band ever: ‘This Town Needs Guns‘.” Holy hell, she was not in any way exaggerating.

Oxford, England's This Town Needs Guns

The moment I keyed their name into hypem’s search function and played that first track I was completely immersed in some of the coolest and technically craziest jams I have ever heard. It’s amazing guitar based indie rock that doesn’t in any way revolve around the guitars (okay, that doesn’t make much sense). While absolutely incredible, every riff takes a backseat to the incredible melodies found within almost every song on their latest album Animals. Soothing, John Frusciante-esque (The tone is that good, imagine someone like Justin King jamming out to the Chili Pepper’s Snow… you get the picture) guitar soundscapes could never be any more exciting, and yet the songs are still REALLY GOOD.

I can’t even describe these guys, just listen and enjoy. (I believe my term above was “cream your jeans”) This one is possibly the sexiest song you’ll ever listen too, This Town Needs Guns - Baboon.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

by jordan, posted on April 29, 2009 at 11:25 pm in uncategorized. permalink. rss feed.

I have a confession, I love NPR’s All Music Considered segment. In their coverage for SXSW (South By Southwest for the uninitiated) they featured a band called Dananananaykroyd (Pronounced either Dan-anan-an-aykroyd or Da-Na-Na-Na-Naykroyd) who I really enjoyed listening to. Their first album was released April 6th of this year, and I rushed out and got it. It is completely and utterly breathtaking. There are very few bands I completely gush over (the Beatles are the only one that comes to mind) but after one listen to this album Dananananaykroyd is one of them. So, being the self indulgent person I am I will do a full album review.

First, as always some background on the band. Dananananaykroyd is a 6 piece band from Glasgow, Scotland. Their sound is a really great mix of insane drumming, interesting guitar chords, random yelling, and Celtic influenced leads. They also have the coolest name I’ve run across in a while.

“Hey Everyone!” is their debut album, as a mentioned earlier.

We’re gonna break it down track by track. I’ll put up a couple tracks, but not all of them, sorry guys.

“Hey Everyone!” - 1:33

The opening song is also the title track and literally 15 seconds into this album you’ve already been pummeled by a hard hitting opening and then teased with some of the beautiful guitar work that’s yet to come, but this song is just an intro to the album.

“Watch This!” - 3:33

Crazed crowd chanting in the vein of Pink Floyd’s early work, it’s hard to pull off but works well here.  The guitar theme continues through this song and we’re treated to the first lyrics, whatever they’re singing it’s loud, it’s fast, it’s indecipherable, and I love it! “Watch This!” is a great up-tempo rocker and a prime example of Dananananakyroyds style.

“The Greater Than Symbol and the Hash” - 4:41

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

“Watch This!” gracefully segues into this song and it quickly builds to a crescendo and then takes off at fever pitch! The plane crashes and the song closes in a tangle of yelps, drums, and feedback.

“Black Wax” - 4:03

Arguably the most catchy/poppy song on the album this song instantly catches your attention with a signature guitar line. Try holding still during this song, I dare you. You’ll be singing along by the end of the song guaranteed (rhyming is fun).

“Totally Bone” - 4:01

This song has a really amazing hot and cold guitar sound, with duelling leads.

“Pink Sabbath”  - 3:12

The lead from the intro is picked up again! It still sounds fresh and amazing and the band still manages to take it different places entirely.

“Infinity Milk” - 4:25

Catchy goodness in the intro with an intense breakdown.

“One Chance” - 1:00

Calls to mind “Ace of Spades” with the riff. Lyrics apparently consist of screaming “once chance!” over and over which sounds lame but is totally awesome.

“Some Dresses” - 5:03

The longest song on the album, it’s slightly more laid back than the songs that come before but it winds its way up and down the energy scale. A memorable chord progression and some good singing bring this song around to a beautiful conclusion. Perfect fill work on the guitar, could not have been better.

“1993″ - 4:25

The most beautiful guitar work on the album lies within this song, complimented by a soothing vocal melody this song is tender and wonderful.

“Hey James” - 4:36

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

My personal favorite song it opens with a jaunty melody and then the rhythm behemoth that is Dananananaykroyd takes control and pilots this song into uncharted territory. It closes with the creepy yet awesome whisper of “hey everyone… hey everyone… hey everyone… hey everyone… hey everyone…”.

“Song One Puzzle” - 4:52

This song is a great ending to an amazing album packed with catchy riffs and drum rolls it beautifully segues into the introduction (”Hey Everyone!”) if you leave the album on repeat which is probably the most brilliant touch you can add to any album as it practically requires you to leave it playing over and over and over…

by kyle, posted on at 7:41 pm in uncategorized. permalink. rss feed.

“I just want to say,

Thank you for this day.

Masking my Dismay,

Thank you for this day.”

A Silver Mt. Zion - Stumble Then Rise on Some Awkward Morning

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

And So I Watch You From Afar - Marching Over the Coals

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Au - Shelter

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

This Planet Is A Dream - Kudryavka

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Efterklang - Falling Horses

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Explosions In The Sky - Your Hand in Mine

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Friends In The Mountains - Own Nothing

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Sigur Rós - Suð í eyrum

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

by jordan, posted on April 28, 2009 at 7:07 pm in playlists and tagged instrumental, Post Rock. permalink. rss feed.

I’m in such a strange mood; it’s the mood where I feel like I’m standing still and time is still moving right along, like being in a coma. There’s this deep sadness overcoming me and I don’t know where it’s coming from at all, It’s almost as if I can feel the pain of the whole world and it just hits me like a deep depression. Ironically, parts of me just love this mood because it’s when I get to listen to the best music, so here it is, my first bedroom coma mini mix.

I’m sure that if you’re reading this you’ve heard of highly acclaimed breakcore artist Benn Jordan (The Flashbulb) , if not I don’t know where you’ve been. Aside from various commercial work, his stuff has been thrown all over the internet ever since he started back in 2000. His latest endeavor, Soundtrack to a Vacant Life, deviates from his previous work in some pretty amazing ways, and the title sums it all up perfectly. This is an epic soundtrack, featuring some of the saddest songs you’ll ever hear, and I absolutely love it. It’s a perfect blend of ambiance, soothing piano riffs, beautiful touches of strings here and there, and some beautiful lilting guitar work. Directors need to start looking at his stuff for movies, this next song The First Rain and You specifically.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Another wildly huge band up here, and an amazing one at that. I’m allowed to show you stuff you already know, this is a playlist after all! This has to be one of the best songs ever, the buildup is gorgeous, and the climax gives me the chills everytime I hear it. Grand Unification Part II  by four peice indie rock band Fightstar is the perfect song for a day indoors.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Lastly, we have a beautiful tune from Swedish dreampop band Audrey in the vein of bands like Sigur Rós and well… well whoever else sounds like Sigur Rós. Their entire self-titled 2004 album screams beautiful sunsets and endless grassy fields, and the singer’s voice is soothing enough to put you to sleep. I’m in love with their song We Thought We Were Ghosts, But We Are Feathers. Just give it a listen, you won’t regret it.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

by jordan, posted on April 27, 2009 at 10:40 pm in music and tagged downtempo, dreampop. permalink. rss feed.

I play guitar a lot, and lately I find myself mostly noodling around coming up with ideas for songs and I found an amazing new band one day and in listening to their album I wound up saying “THEY STOLE MY RIFF!” not once but twice. That band was Blitzen Trapper.

One song isn’t enough to capture this bands diverse style so I’m giving you two!

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

This first one is a straight up Beatles-esque rocker. Even in this one song the band cycles through many different styles, all of which are capably handled. When I talk about Blitzen Trapper I almost always compare them to Steve Miller Band or Boston not because they’re similar style-wise but they are all upbeat good-time bands.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

And this one is a beautiful ex-love ballad. “I’m a moonwalkin’ cowboy and I don’t know what’s in store, but in my sleep I’m not your lover anymore”. Talk about art imitating life.

by kyle, posted on at 6:49 pm in uncategorized. permalink. rss feed.