Warren Franklin & The Founding Fathers - 2013 -Every Letter And Souvenir

Warren Franklin & The Founding Fathers is a five piece emo band from Rockford, Illinois. Every Letter And Souvenir is their fifth release, being put out by Count Your Lucky Stars Records. Warren Franklin & The Founding Fathers play a brand of rock and roll that owes a huge debt to the midwest emo feel. These songs are big and melodic but never leave behind the base of emo, they describe their own sound as campfire emo. If you like good songwriting, catchy songs, earnest up front emotion and solidly played instruments Every Letter And Souvenir will solidly scratch that itch and get stuck in your head for weeks while doing it.

Le1f - 2013 - Fly Zone

Le1f aka Khalif Diouf is rapper and producer from New York City.  Fly Zone  is his new LP. Features guest spots from Spank Rock, Haleek Maul, Kitty Pryde, Don Jones, SAFE and Rahel. Highlights include Spa Day produced by HarryB, Cloud So Loud produced by DJ Blood Everywhere,  Tha Whip ft. Haleek Maul produced by Shy Guy, and Autopilot Ft. SAFE produced by Strict Face. Le1f is an idiosyncratic rapper but for the most part these are mainstream beats that turn into something unique when he applies his vocals to them.

The Saddest Landscape - 2013 - Exit Wounded

The Saddest Landscape are a four piece screamo band from the North Eastern United States of America. Exit Wounded is their new EP. They play a straight forward brand of screamo that delivers an emotional punch without needing hardcore heaviness or chaotic bursts of energy. These songs are desperate, tense and powerful while still maintaining a sense of balance and control. They have done splits with bands like Trophy Scars, The Pine, Pianos Become The Teeth, If Footmen Tire You, What Will Horses Do?, We Were Skeletons, You Blew It and Funeral Diner. If you know The Saddest Landscape you know what to expect, if not sit down and enjoy.

Stone Gossard - 2013 - Beyond Measure

Stone Gossard is a musician from Seattle, Washington, USA. Moonlander is his second solo album. Beyond Measure is the track just released onto soundcloud, hopefully a good example of what the album entails.

Mars Argo - 2013 - Live At Bedrock Studios

Mars Argo are a five piece indie rock band Los Angelese, California, USA. Live At Bedrock is their latest release. Their song Don't Call Me went viral, you might recognize the sample they use. Their songs are straight ahead melodic indie rock with a consistent taste for electronic samples. On songs like You Gave Away they remind me of a poppier, brighter Black Angels. Overall these songs are indie rock vein with a predilection for synthesiszed sound as well as a clear poppy melodic voice.

This Is Hell - 2013 - The Enforcer

This Is Hell is a five piece hardcore punk band from Long Island, New York City USA. The Enforcer is their 11th release and it's more of a thrash metal record than anything else. There is no straight hardcore on this album, at most these songs are crossover thrash but for the most part they are straight ahead 80's thrash metal worship, culminating in a cover of  Metallica's classic Whiplash.
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This is an album you're going to either love or hate. If you like 80's thrash metal then you're going to enjoy this record but if you like your hardcore pure, free from any crossover or thrash influences then there's not much here for you. The Enforcer is my favourite here, the cover of Whiplash being the only other song I keep coming back to. I enjoy Walking Abominations quite a bit but at over four minutes long it's a haul at times before the closing guitar solo. If you're down for some thrash metal worship The Enforcer will be right up your alley

Kremlin - 2013 - Drunk In The Gulag

Kremlin is a three piece hardcore punk band from Toronto, Ontario Canada. Drunk In The Gulag is their second release and their debut LP. They play a straight ahead, old school style of hardcore punk that would not be afraid of taking things to the street. This album is definitely back loaded, No Hope For You is an early stand out but the real meat comes towards the end. At their best on songs like the aforementioned No Hope For You, Steel Case, Why Should I Kremlin cranks out catchy hardcore songs with a lofi sheen. Kremlin bring the old school hardcore punk and aren't afraid to wear their influences on their sleeves.

The Reptilian - 2013 - Low Health

The Reptilian are a three piece indie rock band from Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA. Low Health is their debut LP and seventh release overall. They play a brand of indie rock that borrows liberally from the emo/screamo songbook. Lots of tapping and shouting overtop of melodic, quirky melodies that dart around. Always highly recommended.

Check out the stream here http://www.purevolume.com/_iframe/audio_playlist_player.php?albumId=99850884

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la parade - 2013 - diez mil rostros

La Parade are a four piece post-hardcore band from Granada. Diez Mil Rostros is their debut EP.  These songs borrow equally from emo, indie and post-hardcore resulting in  songs that might take awhile to get where they're going, but it's the journey that counts after all.

Lori Berenson - 2013 - Es Nuestra Propia Injusticia La Que Se Revela Contra Nosotros Mismos

Löri Berensön is a three piece screamo band from Lima, Peru. Es Nuestra Propia Injusticia La Que Se Revela Contra Nosotros Mismos is their debut ep. Features members of Procrastinación 1 Yo 0 and Angkor Wat. Sometimes these songs take a moment to allow a breath before the chaos and screams come in but mostly these songs are constant blasts of noise and emotion at a furious pace.

Cakes Da Killa

Cakes Da Killa is a rapper from New York City. He spits fire and is staking out his own space in hip hop.

To The Wind - 2013 - Empty Eyes

To The Wind are a five piece metalcore band from Seattle, Washington, USA. Empty Eyes is their debut LP and their release overall. They play a melodic brand of metalcore bringing aspects of melodic hardcore as well to temper things even more. If you enjoy metalcore and don't mind some infusion from the melodic hardcore school of songwriting this album's for you

When everything is firing on all cylinders like on Without Warning, Halfhearted and Hollow these are well crafted songs that hurtle themselves directly into the moshpit with no regards for their own personal safety. While Counterfeit and Truth & Consequence are pummeling and heavy, Downpour is almost uplifting with it's melodic guitars contrasting the rough vocals. Personally I enjoy the metalcore aspects of this more than the melodic hardcore influenced parts but it's not a totally unwelcome addition. If you like metalcore in any capacity this is recommended.

Unru - 2013 - Demo MMXIII

Unru is a metal band from Biesel, Germany. Demo MMXIII is their debut EP. They throw some d-beat into some atmospheric blackened metal and then cover everything in a layer of crust. There are tortured screams and ice cold guitars galore. These songs are animalistic and aggressive.



Highlights like Es schiebt sich zwischen uns, wie Schatten fly out of the gate at full speed and barely lets up while the rhythm section destroys the very ground you stand on during Zwischen Ungeheuern und dem Möglichen. This album will satisfy your craving for some crusty blackened metal.

Prayer Chain - 203 - Demo

Prayer Chain are a four piece band from Florida, USA. Demo is their debut release. They play a feedback drenched, reverb heavy brand of emo. These are straight ahead, riff focused songs that stick to their catchy, lofi plan. The vocals are mixed not low but back and drenched in reverb.

Songs like Hospital contrast the melodic lead guitar with occasional squawks of distortion, while Moment propelling, catchy riff and some angry vocal delivery. If you don't mind lofi and demo production quality you'll find some good songs here.

Corporeal - 2013 - Balance

Corporeal is a four piece screamo band from Tampico, Tamaulipas, Mexico. Balance is their sophomore EP. They play a post-hardcore influenced brand of screamo, these songs aren't afraid to stretch out a little bit and let themselves breathe. These songs tend smoulder for a while before exploding and the singer has a great voice with a nice gravely shout.

The guitars bring a sense of melody that allows the songs to either focus in and stretch out or constantly change in search of some wisdom in a slowburn. The title track Balance is an awesome slab of pummeling screamo while 24 is awesome if you're down for shouts overtop of electric picking. Represarme is a great song and then the call and response vocals start, and Fragante finds a groove and explores it, getting lost in itself. If you like screamo with some post-hardcore, Balance will scratch that itch. 

Missionary - 2013 - Demo

Missionary is a hardcore punk band from New York City. Demo is their debut release. They feature  (ex) members of Social Circkle, Green Beret, Nomos, Hank Wood & the Hammerheads, Goosebumps, Shoxx, Dipers and more. They play a limber, ramshackle brand of punk with songs that seem heading off the rails at times.

Wasted Again has a chaotic vibe to it, feeling like it's going to fall apart in any moment especially in contrast to the raging opener Too Late. Scab is a focused hardcore attack that is still somewhat shaggy, and the closer Zionist finds a focus on a slamming rhythm and even a guitar solo. If you're down for some street ready hardcore punk Missionary can provide that.

Colère - 2013 - I Want To Be In The Ground

Colère is a three piece hardcore band from Connecticut. I Want To Be In The Ground is their debut EP. They play fast, abrasive hardcore, the song come and god incredibly quickly. These songs pull equally from thumping, pounding hardcore and the more abrasive, frantic screamo side of things for a frantic, energetic 6 songs in under 6 minutes. This is how noisy, chaotic hardcore should be done.

Mykki Blanco - 2013 - Betty Rubble: The Initation

Mykki Blanco is the stage name of Michael Quattlebaum Jr. A rapper, poet and performance artist from the United States of America. Betty Rubble: The Initation is his third release, continuing to bend the borders not only of gender but hip hop as well. Mykki Blanko's flow is incredbily adaptive and the beats are always unique and put him into a n arena of his own.

Mykki goes from the extremes feminine weakness and seductiveness one moment and and a stone cold thug threatening violence in another. If you like hip hop that knows no borders and boundries Mykki Blanco will be a new favourite.

Future Binds - 2013 - Demo

Future Binds is a four piece hardcore band from Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. Demo is their debut release. The band features (ex) members of Pure Scum, Mad Dog and Abuse. They play a blistering, limber brand of hardcore punk that isn't afraid of a hint of melody. Lucas has a desperate bark he puts to great work while Ace, Aaron and Anthony do their damndest to smash your brains in

These songs hurtle themselves forward at breakneck speed, and pummel anything in their way to absolute bits. Notion comes barrelling out of the gate and Future Binds never let up the whole through. The guitar attack in One Less benefits from the hint of melody in the guitars underneath the bark of the vocalist. This is how hardcore should be played, pissed off and as fast as possible while still destroying everything in the immediate surroundings.

Clyde Webb - 2013 - into it (I'm Growing Up)

Clyde Webb is a punk rock singer-songwriter from Boise, Idaho, USA. Into It (I'm Growing Up is his fifth release. He plays an upbeat brand of pop punk and even when the songs are about something sad there's so much energy it sounds like he's having a great time. His songwriting is direct and to the point, each song has a  clear point of view and at their best they jam themselves into your head and never let go.

Being a pop punk album filled with fast short songs this album's not particularly consistent though most of these songs don't break two minutes which can be a double edged sword. The album is well balanced with stand out tracks without Suicide Pact, Negative Numbers, Home and GR8D to name just a few. I don't listen to a lot of punk pop, it takes a good songwriter to hook me in and Clyde Webb has that in spades, Into It (I'm Growing Up) is a great record.

Hospice - 2013 - Demo

Hospice are a hardcore punk band from Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Demo is their debut release. They play a brand of hardcore punk that is not averse to a wailing solo. The singer has a suitably throat shredding shout that could just as easily be summoning devils to do his dirty work while the rest of the band plays a churning, unrelenting hardcore attack. If you like hardcore and don't mind suffering through the production vagaries of a demo there's good stuff to be found here.

church whip - 2013 - psychedelic nightmare

Church Whip are a hardcore punk band from Tampa, Floriday, USA. Psychedelic Nightmare is their fourth release. They feature (ex) members Merchandise, Cult Ritual, Divisions, Neon Blud and Horrid Cross. Church Whip plays a brand of hardcore punk influenced by black metal. These are straight ahead punk rock songs but with heavy, methodical black metal riffs. The singer has a suitably cold desperate scream that highlights the chaos of these songs. Highlights like Nightmare Jackals Advance and Looming bring in epic, flailing melodic guitar solos that add to the chaotic, dark atmosphere. Fans of hardcore punk that aren't afraid of some boundary pushing will be rewarded here.

Sin Motivo - 2013 - Demo MMXIII

Sin Motivo are a hardcore punk band from Denton/Forth Worth, Texas, USA. Demo MMXIII is their debut release. Featuring (ex) members of Visual Aids, Completely Fucked, Man Is Mostly Water, Night Crimes and Hoop Dreamz. They play a fast chaotic brand of hardcore that barely sits still. This is music designed for the express purpose of getting people moving against each other in a mosh pit.

These songs are chaotic and unrelenting. The constant changes make the songs feel relatively short but some of them stretch out to over five minutes and even some shorters songs just plod along. Sin Motivo isn't afraid of frantically throwing anything and everything into a speedy, punk rock blender that persists in thumping around for a moment before exploding into a hardcore nail bomb. If you like your hardcore chaotic and turbulent, you're in for a hell of a ride.

Children Of God - 2013 - We Set Fire To The Sky

Children Of God are a five piece punk band from Orange County, California, USA. We Set Fire The Sky is their fifth release. They combine elements of grindcore, powerviolence and the heavy atmosphere of doom and black metal, citing Converge, Trap Them and Neurosis as guide posts and featuring ex members of Graf Orlock and Seven Generations These songs are chaotic, brutal and heavy as can be. This is an album in a constant state of flux. One moment everything is pounding and screaming and the world is ending and then another moment there's an actual melody and then the world caves in and everything goes up in flames.

Never satisfied with whatever corner of extreme music they occupy at whatever given moment, Children of God constantly jump from one touchstone to another. This album is unpredictable, heavy in a post-metal way and as pissed off as grindcore can get. We Set Fire To The Sky is a visceral unrelenting attack that constantly throws curveballs at you, Awaken can't seem to decide if it want's to be a brooding post-metal song or a desperate, explosive hardcore blast and Unknown tempers it's attack with something approaching melody. If you like heavy hardcore that isn't afraid to make unique choices, this is the album for you.

Daylight - 2013 - Jar

Daylight are a four piece rock band from Doylestown, Pennsylvania, USA. Jar is their fourth LP. They play a brand of punk rock that would not be out of place in the early to mid 90's, drawing heavily on some grunge and indie rock but transmuting it through a modern attitude with a focus on catchy hooks.

These are excellent songs, Daylight has obviously spent a lot of time on their songwriting to craft songs that pull most efficiently from their strongest references and turn them into catchy songs.. If you're down for some rock solid grungy hard rock songs that also have a foot in the modern emo world, there's lots to be found on this album.