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. 

The Cloth - 2013 - Touched

The Cloth are a three piece punk band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.  They play riff focused stoner metal with one foot in punk rock and the other in the garage. These two songs are noisy, catchy and owe equal debt to stoner metal as they do noisy hardcore punk. Good stuff all around.

Brave Bird - 2013 - Maybe You, No One Else Worth It

Brave Bird is an emo band from Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States. Maybe You, No One Else Worth It is their debut LP released by Count Your Lucky Stars Records. Brave Bird is a part of the Ann Arbor Emo Collective along with Gerald Field, Pity Sex and Youth Novel. Brave Bird play a melodic, somewhat twinkly brand of emo that pulls from the midwest vein of things.




There are a bunch of twinkly, emo songs to be enjoyed on this album so long as whiny vocals aren't too much of an issue. Too Late Now comes out of the gate with catchy riff and reaching vocals, Whittle Down The Days is guaranteed to get stuck in your head alongside The Worst Things Happen To Me  while the title track just rips. If you're down for some twinkly, emo that isn't afraid to kick up some dust you won't be disappointed.

Carly Dow - 2013 - Demo

Carly Dow is a folk singer-songwriter from Winninpeg, Manitoba, Canada. She writes acoustic folk songs, filling out the background with lap steel guitar, upright bass, drums and mandolin. Think along the lines of Po' Girl and Julie Doiron and you won't be far off. She's performed twice at the Winnipeg Folk Festival.

All of these songs have a country tinge to them, but Too Much To Go Back is the most focused on that, the lap steel is a nice touch, All Sleep Tonight has a rock solid rhythm that lets Carly's voice stretch out, and the mandolin allows Soil To Dust to dance around like a nimble country song while Carly does her thing beautifully. If you like folk music Carly Dow is one to watch.

Carly Dow "All Sleep Tonight" from Janine Kropla on Vimeo.

June Paik - 2013 - June Paik

June Paik is a screamo band from Germany. This self titled EP is their fifth release, this one being released by React With Protest, Forged In Iron and Parade of Spectres. They have also release splits with  Battle Of Wolf 359 and Titan. On this EP they play a very dark, very heavy brand of screamo. The screamed vocals are almost unintelligible, buried under layers of black metal guitars and a wall of heavy, dark sound.

The whole feel of this album is very heavy, the dark, apocalyptic wall of sound comes rushing out of the speakers and smothers any light or happiness in the immediate surroundings. These are dark, heavy songs played at screamo speed with devastating results.

Capacities - 2013 - There Is No Neutral

Capacities are a four piece screamo band from New Jersey. There Is No Neutral is their third release. Previous members have also played in  Black Kites, Less Life, Birth Screams, The Assistant, This Ship Will Sink, In First Person, You and I, and The Saddest Landscape.  They are associated with Protagonist Music, How Soon Is Now, Middle Man, Melotov and Dog Knights Productions.




When the songs are firing on all cylinders these songs are whirling dervishes of energy, the only song over 2:13 is the awesomely long closer Sons Of A Silent Age. Songs like Personhood In The 21st Century and God To The Flatlanders change quickly and without looking back, compact bursts of emotional rage that come barreling out at top speed. The speedy, somewhat chaotic nature of these songs is underlined by the closer, the best and longest song on the album, the aforementioned Sons Of A Silent Age. The song is a melodic, slow burner that beautifully unfolds across six minutes If you like screamo in any capacity, there's something here for you.

Bocanegra - 2013 - Bocanegra

Bocanegra is a four piece screamo band from Guadalajara, Mexico. This is their debut EP. Members also played in Human Plague and Baby Nelson & The Philistine. Vocalist Alonso Mangosta Esquinca  cites Crass and Converge as influences, as well as a shift in writing style from the political focus of Human Plague to the more personal focus of Bocanegra. The vocals are mixed low giving them a more desperate feel, and everything else is wrapped in a nice layer of distortion, which makes the drums thump harder and the melodic guitar lines stand out.



 The opening track El Nido Arderá comes out of the gates and sets a high standard for the rest of the album. While there's nothing wrong with these songs, this band obviously knows how to churn up an awesome screamo storm, the songs are inconsistent, Cabbalso Ciegos eventually explodes out of it's moodiness into an aggressive punk song but it takes a moment but Serpientes uses an unrelenting drum beat and a powerful breakdown to destroy everything around them and slowly build it up. I can't wait for more.

The Braces - 2013 - Two years

The Braces are  four-piece pop-punk outfit from Thousand Oaks, California. Two Years is their fourth release, released by Paper + Plastik. Citing influences like mid-'90s Fat Wreck, the Dismemberment Plan and early Saves The Day they have crafted an LP that is inconsistent but still chock full of punk pop gems coming across as a less consistent RVIVR. These are solid pop punk songs that unfortunately can get taken down the wrong path, making some generic choices early on, Applause is a good song but is plagued by that generic punk pop rhythm.

 Applause is early favourite but the album doesn't really kick into a high unique gear until Trophies comes alongs with it's stop and start rhythm, if you make it far enough the combo punch of DIY, Siren and Vandal come together into unique, lyrical, almost desperate melodic punk rock mix. If you're willing to dig a little bit into this album then there are melodic pop punk rewards to be had.

Vacanza - 2013 - Cancello

Vacanza are a four piece punk band from Italy. Cancello is their sophomore EP. They play post hardcore influenced brand of screamo with buried vocals and a lofi layer of noise over everything. The vocals soaked in reverb overtop of guitars that go from vaugely mathy post-hardcore walls of sound to more straight ahead screamo riffing. All these songs are completely soaked in their own reverb heavy, lofi tone which is distinctive but has a tendency to blur the songs together. If you're not paying attention the songs can blur together a little bit simply due to sameness in tone.

 That same post hardcore styling that allows them cover everything in a layer of muting noise brings some interesting twists to the songwriting which keep the songs from being too standard. Rombo is a standout with the shouted backing vocals, Foresta is good despite the guitars getting lost creating a wall of sound and Felpa is a feisty little melodic beast. If you enjoy post-hardcore influenced screamo that embraces it's lofi nature then this is for you.

AYS - 2013 - Suburban Haze

AYS are a five piece hardcore punk band from Germany. Suburban Haze is their seventh release. They play a dual guitar heavy brand of hardcore. The double guitars allow for heavy metal styled riffs played at hardcore speeds while the singer uses his raspy shout to great results. These hardcore songs take large influence from the groove metal school,  they find a heavy groove and ride it until it collapse under the hardcore attack

On Orphans the guitar dances dizzying circles around thudding drums while the raspy throated singer screams his lungs out while Blind Faith hangs out on and returns to a chugging riff with a slight detour into a a more melodic bruiser with some sweet backing shouts. If you like heavy hardcore with a gruff drill instructor shout this will be right up your alley

A.M. Overcast - 2013 - Pellow

A.M. Overcast is a math rock band from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Pellow is their sixth release. They play a melodic, poppy, progressive brand of math rock. These are pop songs but have a math rock basis so there are lots of twists and turns, nooks and crannies in these songs. The progressive and mathy nature is what keeps me coming back to these songs. They start as simple math rock or pop songs but the guitar riffs and songwriting immediately take off in different directions and there is a little bit of twee in some of the vocals, it's never overwhelming.


 The guitars are universally melodic, verging into twinkling in some places and the dual male female vocals add to the catchy nature of the songs. Amanlanchier stumbles over itself adorably before finding it's almost too catchy groove, Aquacellar is the same, fitting almost twinkly guitar riffs and catchy vocals overtop of a rambunctious song that eventually settles into a melodic groove. If you like short, melodic, catchy math rock songs with a pop bent that insist on taking left turns then is the album for you.

California X - 2013 - California X

California X is a four piece punk band from Amherst Massachusetts. California X is their debut LP They play a grungy, heavy brand of punk and wear their influences proudly on their sleeves. These songs owe a great debt to bands like Sonic Youth, Jay Reatard and Dinosaur Jr while the singer vocally sounds like Torche. The most redeeming factor of this album is it's heaviness. They combine all those influences into some kind of punk fueled beast that is almost stoner metal in it's heaviness.The main problem I have with this album is the songwriting. The songs are all solid but they roughly all sound the same.

California X have a clearly defined sound, it may be overly reliant on proclaiming their influences but they have clearly found the niche they like. But within that nice there just isn't the variation necessary to truly support a full length LP. Songs like Lemmy's World combine melodic guitars and buried vocals with a wall of noise and an overwhelming sense of heaviness to great effect while songs like Pond Rot just kinda sit there. If you like noisy, grungy punk rock that goes out of it's way to be heavy but still melodic this album will strike gold right off the bat but otherwise you might have to work at it. 

The Saurs- 2013 - Bring Me Fog

The Saurs are a garage punk band from Barcelona, Spain. Bring Me Fog is their debut EP. They play a dirty brand of garage rock bringing in elements of blues that would feel at home in Detroit. These are straight ahead garage rock songs that aren't afraid to wear their influences on their sleeves.

 Ain't No Deal starts off with a guitar solo and the proceeding is no less unhinged, Because Of You has an excellent female singer overtop of some blues influences garage punk, The Spring aims at something darker and heavier, ending up stuck in some mud and Maybe closes things out with a smoldering explosion of a song. These songs are melodic, energetic and verging on shambolic, if you enjoy garage rock there's something here for you.

Kreutzer Sonata - 2013 - Dead Ends EP

The Kreutzer Sonata are a three piece melodic punk rock band from Chicago. Dead Ends E.P is their sophomore album. They play a catchy blend of  street punk, melodic hardcore, more than a little screamo  with lots of gang shouts and backing vocals. The backbone of the all these songs is punk rock with a melodic focus, and The Kreutzer Sonata have so many tricks up their sleeves that their songs jump fluidly around and there is always either a guitar or a voice doing something interesting.

Incendiary - 2013 - Cost Of Living

Incendiary is a hardcore punk band from Long Island, New York, USA. Cost Of Living is their sixth release. They play a heavy brand of hardcore punk. The singer has a great, drill instructor shout that bounces nicely off the guitars pummelling you into submission. The songs are perfect examples of how to do hardcore well in the modern era, they manage to stay out of the quicksand of too much chugging and generic songwriting.

These songs are brief, heavy and incredibly pissed off, very similiar to Benchpress except for the absense of chaotic solos. Snake is a thumping, crawling hardcore anthem revelling in how heavy it is and Deed Before Creed is has a melodic slow burn beatdown feel. At almost a half hour the album does seem a little long but if you're into this kind of heavy hardcore then there's rarely too much.

Vices - 2013 - Between My Mind And The World

Vices are a five piece hardcore punk band from Sydney, Australia. Between My Mind And The World
 is their debut LP. They play a brand of hardcore punk that very much reminds me of Touche Amore with more chug. The singer has a very emotional, desperate shout and the guitars jam out a catchy melodic hardcore base.




Most of these songs are pretty straight forward melodic hardcore songs but every so often one of the songs catches fire, Part.1, with it's slowburn, Home and Destinations are good examples of when the emotionality comes to the forefront, nudging them towards that boundary line between hardcore and screamo. If you like fast, emotional hardcore that isn't afraid to show it's scars then album will be right up your alley

Torche - 2013 - Keep Up

Torche is a four piece heavy metal band from Miami, Florida, USA. They play a very melodic stoner, sludgy brand of heavy metal. They have the heaviness down perfectly, the base is always a thick, heavy stoner metal   sludge fest but then layer over top melodic guitars and catchy vocals. Volcom Entertainment just released their new single Keep Up and it kicks ass. Via the Needle Drop

Benchpress - 2013 - Controlled By Death

Benchpress are a five piece heavy punk band from Lewistown, Pennsylvania, USA. Controlled By Death is their sophomore EP. They play a very heavy version of beat down, tough guy hardcore. The singer has an awesome barking growl and the guitars play thrash metal with great abandon. Metallic guitar tones and
melodic, chaotic solos anchored by a double base come barrelling at you at hardcore speeds, unrelenting for 12 minutes.

Silver Spoon takes a moment to let everything breath but never stops pummelling while Disgusted With The World Ft. Dion Barrella Of Rock Bottom is a whirlwind of brutal and heavy activity and No Place Like Home can't make up it's mind if it wants to be a riff filled thrashy monster or a slow burning, lumbering beast. If you don't like your hardcore punk heavy but still agile, thrashy and pissed the fuck off then there may be no hope for you.

Eros + Massacre - 2013 Behind The Aesthetic Form Lies The Repressed Harmony Of Sensuousness And Reason

Eros + Massacre is a four piece screamo band from Madrid Spain. Behind the aesthetic form lies the repressed harmony of sensuousness and reason is their debut EP. They play a noisy, chaotic and abrasive brand of screamo. Reminds me of Alexander Korda in the potentially pretentious, chaotic hardcore branch of screamo. 

The multiple vocalists are incomprehensible screams and are buried deep in the mix. The guitars churn out pumelling, distorted noise while the drums destroy the ground you're trying to stand on. If you enjoy insular, chaotic hardcore then this will be right up your alley.

Second To Last - Starters - Changing Tides

Second To Last is a pop punk band from Lodi, California. Changing Tides is their sophomore release. They are pop punk but the songs on this album are not afraid of getting their hands dirty. They cite Jawbreaker, Jimmy Eat World and Hot Water Music as influences. Radiation and Drugs are the best songs on this whole album, catchy with enough melancholy grit to make things interesting, after that the acousticness starts and I tune out.

Starters are a four piece pop punk band from Dublin, Ireland. Changing Tides is their sophomore EP. Their brand of pop punk is focused on a less melodic, more urgent street punk end of the spectrum. They cite Title Fight, Balance & Composure as influences, I would throw in comparisons to a less political, more melodic Class War Kids. There are still melodic guitars and vocals reaching for something beyond us all and they aren't afraid to simply let things float away into the ether. Second To Last is aiming down a more melodic path while Starters seems more interested in keeping everything moving forward at breakneck speed.

all sharks - 2013 - all sharks

All Sharks is a two piece post-hardcore band from Spain. All Sharks is their debut LP. They play a very sparse, screamo influenced brand of post-hardcore. They cite June of 44, Shellac and Slint as influences. The songs on this album are content to just stretch out and let the bass do all the heavy lifting with the guitars coming in to add effects while the singer shouts desperately. When everything is firing on all cylinders like on All Traitors, and Sharks, the guitars are riffing away or making some ethereal sound, the bass is throbbing relentlessly and the singer is shouting like there's a demon chasing him down while the drummer keeps everything in lockstep and makes it danceable.

Think early 90's angular, off kilter indie math rock merged with the raw emotion of screamo but being realized as post-hardcore that isn't afraid to just sit on a moving bass line and let that ride for five minutes. If you enjoy sparse post-hardcore this album will be right up your alley,

Things Fall Apart - 2013 - "All Of My Friends Hate Your Band"

Things Fall Apart are a screamo band from Colombus Ohio. They play a very heavy, doom metal influenced brand of screamo. "All Of My Friends Hate Your Band" is their fifth release. The songwriting style is fairly straight ahead screamo except there is a focus on being as heavy as possible. It transforms the songs from the frantic, punk based screamo into an incredibly heavy doom metal beast that is still agile enough to squish you like a bug.

The first two songs, You Didn't Leave Me Any Foot Steps To Follow In pt.2 and You Didn't Leave Me Any Foot Steps To Follow In pt.3 are excellent and set the standard for the rest of the album. If those songs don't drag you into their dark heavy world then this whole thing is a wash but if those two songs hit the spot then this whole album is pure gold.

Altona - Homage - 2013 - Split

Altona are a four piece hardcore punk band from Stouffville, Ontario, Canada. Homage are a five piece melodic hardcore band from Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Altona play a rather straight ahead brand of hardcore punk. The songs are short, hard hitting and get right to the point but aren't afraid of stretching out with some brief moments of calm.

Homage play a solid style of melodic hardcore with a gruff vocalist. The guitars do the heavy lifting in terms of melody, they create a wall of sound that has the potential to be stretched out into some post-rock style instrumentals. Thankfully they keep everything tight and the songs catchy.

Bernays Propaganda - 2013 - Zabraneta planeta

Bernays Propaganda is a dance punk band from Macedonia. Zabraneta Planeta is their third LP, released by Moonlee Records. This album reminds me of a more guitar based, early era Metric, the guitars do all the heavy lifting aside from the vocals. The moving baselines make sure everything has a danceable energy that never stops moving.

 When the songs are firing on all cylinders the guitars are firing off angular riffs that are melodic, danceable and just a little punk in the most rhythmic and pulsing sense. I would normally get tired of punk that focuses so much on melody and movement but the guitar also consistently has a fuzz or distortion around it that muddies everything for flavour. If you like punk rock that puts a danceable rhythmic sensibility on top off distortion laden but still melodic guitars then Zabraneta Planeta is for you.

The Discord Of A Forgotten Sketch - Black Love

The Discord Of A Forgotten Sketch is a three piece screamo band from Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Black Love are a post-hardcore band also from Montreal, Quebec, Canada. This split was released by l'Oeil Du Tigre, responsible for such records as Brume Retina's Agresse Guele, and the four way Te Lloraría un Puto Río / Carrion Spring / The Discord of a Forgotten Sketch / Beau Navire split.

Both of these bands aim for the more angular, technical side of screamo. The Discord Of A Forgotten Sketch makes the decision to bury the vocals and shroud their entire sound in a nice haze. It works especially well when Music Cowboys alternates between moments of muffled melody and mosh pit moments of chaos. 

Black Love go for a more post-hardcore vibe that owe's a debt to early 90's emo. There are some elements of stoner metal in the thump of the drums and more than a little midwest emo in the desperate vocals. They cite Kyuss and Afghan Wigs alongside Mineral and Moss Icon as influences. Motorboats and Waterfalls has an excellent energy to it that keeps everything moving forward and the singers voice has the perfect combination of desperation and nostalgia all wrapped in a bundle of fuzz.

Witch Of The Waste - 2013 - All Other Voices

Witch Of The Waste are a five piece technical metalcore band from Vancouver, British Colombia, Canada. All Other Voices is their debut EP and it kicks a tremendous amount of ass. They draw together influences like Converge, Pantera, Dillinger Escape Plan, Botch and Animals As Leaders into a stew that is kinda hard for me to properly categorize. There are equal amounts metalcore, post-hardcore and then some grindcore thrown in for flavour. At the basis is speedy thrash metal, multiple gruff vocals and constant stop start technical punk rock that is also heavy as fuck.

 There are few things I enjoy as much as a thrash metal band with two guitars. There is a bit of the same old. generic,aggressive music aimed at the tight jeans and masacara set but at their best moments these songs transcend that straight jacket. Highlights include: Nothing Cute Ever Scuttles, High-Tech (For Heretics), Taking The Penguin For A Walk and Candlejack. If you like aggressive, technical music that isn't afraid to be progressive then this ep should be right up your alley

Old Gray - 2013 - An Autobiography

Old Gray is a three piece screamo band from Keene and Manchester, NH and Hartford, CT. They have been productive, An Autobiography is their first LP but is is their eighth release and third release of 2013. This LP is what I've come to expect from Old Gray. All the songs have consistent momentum and keep moving forward, shuffling the component pieces around.

With one minor exception, from start to finish this album is solid. Most of these songs reach for the sky in angst and emotional turmoil only to either burn the ground underneath them (I Still Think About Who I Was Last Summer)  or simply collapse into themselves (My Life With You, My Life Without You). The songs that take another route start off at full tilt and never let up, churning the ground beneath you (Wolves, The Graduate)
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The only part of this album I actively dislike is the spoken word chill of Show Me How You Self Destruct. But after those annoying seconds are finished, The Graduate comes screaming at you with fury and passion to spare and  Emilys First Communion raises the bar with violins and female vocals that only add to the epic style songwriting.

If you've ever listened to Old Gray before you know what to expect, some spoken word overtop of ambient guitars, some gang backing vocals and some noodly guitar riffs that evolve into something different. Their songwriting can be a little bit of an acquired taste but once the bug has bitten you I bet you An Autobiography will be on repeat.

KEN Mode - 2013 - Entrench

KEN Mode are a three piece metal band from Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada. Their version of metal is unrelentingly heavy songs played at hardcore speeds with liberal doses of noise. Entrench is their fifth album in ten years, released by New Damage Records and Season of Mist Records.

The beginning is a little rocky, as great and powerful as Counter Culture Complex is, the second track No; I'm In Control just doesn't grab me like it should. But after that minor misstep the rest of the album proceeds to kick major ass. The whole middle of the album displays KEN Mode's ability to move between technical, modern played at hardcore speeds into brooder, nosier stomps and even some magnificent slow burning anger. The middle three songs, The Terror Pulse, The Promises Of God and then Romeo Must Never Know do exactly that progression and it is very satisfying.

Entrench is one that I know I will keep coming back to because not only do I really enjoy quality metal played at hardcore speeds but this band is also so versatile and the other elements only serve to accent the song writing and aggression. I did not expect to like Romeo Must Never Know but it is my favourite song on this album with The Promises Of God and Counter Culture Complex tied for second. Check this out if you like hardcore or heavy metal, there will something great in here for you.

The Flaming Lips & Bon Iver - 2013 - Ashes In The Air

The Flaming Lips are an psychadelic experimental rock band Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and Bon Iver is  a band founded and fronted by singer-songwriter Justin Vernon. You might remember The Flaming Lips as the weirdo rock band who's singer likes to wear all white and walk on audiences in a hamster ball.

Most of the time they are a little too progressive and weird for my taste but I admire them from afar for having a distinct style and staking out their territory. The Flaming Lips have a new album out and what a better idea for promoting that album than making a video for a song from last years album, The Flaming Lips and Heady Fwends, specifically their collaboration with indie folk rock band Bon Iver.

I actually quite enjoy Ashes In The Air as a song more than I expected considering I don't really listen to either of these bands regularly but right from the get go the video is weird that it just overwhelms you. That screencap above probably explains more than I am able to. If you have any idea what this video is about please enlighten us all.

Aleska - Mariesena - Bears Split 2013

Aleska are a four piece from Metz, France, this split is their second album and their third EP The Waiting was also released last year. Mariesena is a four piece from Odessa, Ukraine, this is their sophomore release. Bears is a screamo band from Tasmania and this is their sixth release, they have also released a split with Todos Caeran .

This whole album rips from start to finish. Each band delivers their own brand of screamo and is unique, the album works better as a compilation than a cohesive statement of an album. If you like screamo, hardcore and post-hardcore in even a slight capacity there is a band on this album you will find something to enjoy.

First up is Aleska. They have a little too much post-hardcore in their mix for me to really appreciate them. I quite enjoy ...And We're Not Afraid Of Eternity, especially the gruff backing vocals and the strained shouts but could take or leave Friends And Foes. Next up Is Mariesena who play a roughly melodic brand of skramzy screamo. They have that nice thick guitar tone that I think I keep hearing that I keep quite enjoy. Their songs are chunky and pound away at you and the ground you stand on. About Dying Relations might get stuck in the mud partway through but the anguished shouts save you before the guitars come rushing back in to pound away again.

Bears closes out this 3 way international split with their brand of pummelling, epic screamo. They would fit perfectly on a show with Todos Caeran and Book Of Caverns. If the opening riff to Rust doesn't catch your attention then there may be no hope for you.

Queens of the Stone Age - My God is the Sun

Queens Of The Steen Age are a 5 piece band from Palm Desert, California, United States. They recently performed at Lollapalooza Brasil and they played a new song. It's called My God Is The Sun and it's quite good. The intro is very indie rock and that's a thread that runs through the whole piece but it most definitely is a Queens Of The Stone Age song. If this is a good example of what awaits on the new album I am excited. (via consequence of sound)

Airs - 2013 - Adore

Airs is a two piece band from San Francisco, California. They play a self described brand of shoegaze that incorporates aspects of screamo to great effect. Adore is their third release and features guest vocals from Bitty Drake (Pity Sex, Procession) and Cat Miyashiro. They describe Adore as "an album about the disintegration of friendships and relationships and the inability to do anything about it." Usually shoegaze isn't my thing, it doesn't grab me the way it does other people but the infusion of punk and screamo into these songs just grabs and doesn't let go. The album is available on cassette tape from Driftwood Records. Get it here and support independant music

Still For A Moment is one of those songs that right from the opening chords you know it's going somewhere and my other favourite song Blue feels like the song starts already in gear and just never lets up. Throughout this whole album the guitars are huge and never stop coming at you. They go from melodic and melancholic to soaring and almost robotic.

On Adore Airs uses the wall of noise to great effect, venturing almost into noise territory with the layers and volume while never forgetting about some semblance of memory. The singer has a great voice, capable of both a melodic croon and a more frustrated shout but isn't afraid of throwing some effects on his voice to flow with the music.

Airs have lots of elements to work with on Adore. They have successfully brought a screamo sensibility into their songs which only serves to accent the nosier and aggressive aspects of shoegaze without abandoning the sense of vulnerability and intimacy shoegaze brings to the table. Watch for this album on best of 2013 lists, it definitely deserves to be there.

Nicknames - 2013 - Lowball

Nicknames are a three piece emo band from Cape May, New Jersey. They inhabit the punkier but still melodic area of emo. Lowball is their sophomore EP and it makes them a band I will watch. Nicknames play  a kind of emo that I've come to quite enjoy, there is just enough twinkle for flavour that adds some nice noodling and melodic moments but not so much that it becomes the overriding focus.

These songs easily shift back and forth between more upbeat moments of pure energy to moments of noodly, twinkling melody to everything dropping away except a tortured voice and back again. The singer has a nice voice that can go from more pleading melodic to a rougher shout all while bearing his heart clearly on his sleeve. If you don't like twinkly emo punk then there won't be much here for you but if you do like that then this is a solid album.

Dragon Boy Suede - 2013 - Douche Minutiae

Dragon Boy Suede is a rapper from Los Angeles California. Dragon Boy Suede is the rap name of Howard Kremer who is also a comedian, songwriter and podcast host. Douche Minutia is Dragon Boy Suede's third LP and Kremer's fourth LP overall. Previous Dragon Boy Suede songs have tackled the curative properties of DBS' wang (I Heal With My Steel), refusing to be gouged for flights home on holidays (I'm Not Paying $500 to Watch Douchebags Eat Turkey) and how you will respect him more when you realize he can summon wildlife. (You Won't Sass Me Like That When I Can Summon Wolves)

 Dragon Boy Suede is the kind of rap that there needs to be more off, not afraid to do entire songs about what tea one has in the morning (Chai Tea Morning) while also bragging he's so good at banging that your legs will be wobbling like a Newborn Baby Colt. Dragon Boy Suede is a rapper impossible to hate, how can you hate on a man who is "eating Shrimp Scampi while amputees fan me"? This while album is back to back bangers. If you're not afraid of some punchlines with your rhymes then Dragon Boy Suede will be right up your alley.

Bonjour Machines - 2013 - Bonjour Machines

Bonjour Machines are a four piece band from Tel Aviv, Israel. They play a noodly, energetic, pop punky brand of emo. This is their debut EP and they mine a very twinkly, punk poppy vein that could quite easily head in a garage rock direction. These five songs don't overstay their welcome, they burst open with lots energy, throw themselves relentlessly around the moshpit and then make way for the next song barrelling down the pike.



These songs are messy and all over the place but that is balanced by this bands ability to take the thinnest most precarious melody and blow it up huge. I have a bit of a problem with the vocalist, he can be a bit mushmoushed and weak at times which suits the music but can take a little getting used. Sometimes the songs don't gel as well as they could which just results in some uninspired noodling. But when everything is firing on all cylinders Bonjour Machine throw together emo, punk pop, with just a hint of twinkle and indie rock guitar licks for flavour and the result is a 5 song EP that will draw you in.

Mock Duck - 2013 - Inner Infinities EP

Mock Duck is a two piece, half from Japan, half from California. They play a unique brand of punk rock. They bring together elements of garage rock, drone metal, just a hint of psychedelia with a shit kicking attitude. The guitar tone is more of a fuzzed out stoner or sludge metal band, along the lines of Fu Manchu, but these songs are more nimble and energetic than most stoner metal.

 A lot of times bands that incorporate drone/sludge/post metal bits into their songs tend to lose me for those portions, thankfully the intro is the only time this band falls into that trap. This album really shows the band's versatility, they manage to cram a variety of sounds into a relatively short EP. Looking forward to more.

Nobody, Ever - 2013 - Everyone Stood By The Side Of The Road

Nobody, Ever are a emo and from Leicester, England. They are a four piece emo band with a throwback style. Everyone Stood By The Side Of The Road is their debut EP and these four songs pack quite a punch. When not done properly I sometimes find this kind of emo a little boring, but these songs are well written and the energy never wavers. This band has a solid handle on the melody and songwriting, I really can't wait to hear what comes next.

new Loma Prieta - 2013

Loma Prieta are a screamo band from San Fransisco, California. They are a legendary four piece who play short, abrasive songs that walk the line between screamo and a hardcore songwriting style that leans towards a more chaotic blast. Their lineup has changed a bit over the years, last years I.V. came out on Deathwish Records.

This song is apparently from Deathwish's new sampler. Unsurprisingly, it rips.

Polina - Bonehouse - Kaddish - Todos Caeran- 2013

Polina are a screamo bad from Newfoundland, Canada. Bonehouse is a five piece punk band from Dundee, UK. Kaddish are a three piece screamo band also from Dundee. And Todos Caeran are a five piece screamo band from Edmonton, Calgary. 

The first half of this album is quite excellent. I am saddened to see on the last.fm page for Polina a post by one of the dude's saying the band is done and this is their last release. If that's true these are two solid songs to go out on, keeping with the sound that Polina grew into.

The second band making their debut outside of demo's is Bonehouse. They fit into the larger aesthetic of this whole album which flows quite well, while still maintaining their own identity. I especially like the breakdowen in Paper Thin Lungs, I am going to dive into this band's discography shortly.

After four great songs by two great bands the album unfortunately takes a bit of a slide. Kaddish is a band that has been around for a while, they put out a split with Wolf 359 in 2008. I can under stand why some people seem to really like Kaddish but for me the ingredients never come together like they should. There's nothing wrong with these songs they just never really click.

Which brings me to Todos Caeran. Todos Caeran are an awesome band. Their brand of screamo is epic and reaching and very rarely fails to just completely sweep me away in the tide of the song they are hammering out. But these songs, for some reason, just fail to ignite for me. These songs may not be my favourite on this album but they deliver the same solid punch I expect.

This is a really solid album, there are no bad tracks and all the bands are firing on all cylinders constantly. But for me the first half is the half that I keep coming back to.

Nazi Dust - 2009 - S/T 7" (Demo)

Nazi Dust are a band from Tampa. Florida. They play a noisy, focused and somewhat arty brand of hardcore. I believe this is their debut demo but I could be mistaken. I don't know much about this band other than their assocation with Youth Attack and having members of Cult Ritual.

I'm quite a fan of the singers voice, his shout is higher pitched than most and can put his screachy voice to great use cutting through the noise everyone else is making. These songs are short, and to the point, there are no wasted movements here. Though they make kick up an immense amount of noise and chug there is always a larger point being driven at. The last half of this ep kicks an immense amount of ass.

a writing blog

A buddy of mine is a good writer. His name is Derek Bartlett and if you're so interested you can check out his blog at Dark Alley Writings. There's not much there right now but I know the man is capable, he's already one post apocalyptic novel with lots of gore, killing and solid female characters. If you like Lovecraft or pulpy fiction or just rants about society at large check him out.

Foxmoulder - 2013 - Lethe

Foxmoulder are a four piece band from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They play a dark, churning brand of screamo. Lethe is their third ep and the sound they have developed has lead them into a claustrophobic world where it sounds like everything is collapsing around you. The main problem I have with this EP is how short it, and Foxmoulder's other releases are. These songs are driven and focused while injecting just a hint of chaos which is one of the thing's that really draws me in. These songs barely reach 2 minutes which seems to be the perfect length for them, I would be very interested in hearing what they would do with a full length

 My only other problem is that the vocals are mixed a little too low. Yes it fits with the whole sound and atmosphere musically but I prefer to be able to hear what the singer is screaming about rather than just the sound of the scream. All in all this is a really solid EP, four dark, paranoid and seething songs that come barrelling right at you.

Braid + Balance + Composure - 2013

Balance And Composure  are a 5 piece band from Doylestown, Pennsylvania, Braid are a 4 piece from Champaign, Illinois. This split is Balance And Composure's 6th album and Braid's 13th.

Balance And Composure are a punk rock band with emo and indie and even some post-hardcore influences. Some people are head over heals for this band, and while the flip hasn't been completely turned on yet, these two songs are solid punk rock songs. They have enough energy to keep everything moving forward but are melancholy enough to have their own sound.

Braid are a seminal punk rock band from the mid 90's. One of the better bands that inhabited the melodic side of the punk emo space. They split up in 1999, reunited for a some tours in 2004 and became active again in 2011. Braid's dominates this split and their songs do not disappoint in any capacity. 

Regents - 2013 - Antietam After Party

Regents are a punk rock band from "DC / Philly and Alabama." The band is a supergroup, past members having played in such seminal bands as Maximillian Colby, Sleepytime Trio, Frodus, Men’s Recovery Project, Battery, Thursday and Combat Wounded Veteran. Antietam After Party is their debut LP on Lovitt Records, though given the past history of the bands membership this should hardly be considered a debut anything.

At it's best this LP hit's all the high marks of that 90's emo sound we know and love and keeping in that punk rock spirit but not being afraid to try something a little bit different and daring. This album doesn't reinvent the wheel by any stretch of the imagination and that's quite the pedigree and back story to live up to which this album does without even trying that hard. When everything is hitting on all cylinders the songs are fired with a necessary punk rock attitude.

One of the things that makes this record so vital is the diversity in sounds Regents produces. My favourite tracks include Cron Job, Night Soil,  Bowfingers and Start To Beginning and aside from a common punk rock starting place none of these songs sound like each other. This may not be the most consistent album ever but with such different sounds there's bound to be at least something for everyone.

You can stream it for free at the Brooklyn Vegan or buy the LP at Lovitt Records.

Secret Smoker - 2013 - Terminal Architecture

Secret Smoker is a punk rock band from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. They are a three piece and Terminal Archictecture is their debut LP. It is chock-full of angry, precise punk rock songs aimed directly at you.  These songs are intricate, each one has a message and it is delivered as clearly as possible while still maintaining a poetic license. Also, the drummer made his own drums.

Mark and Billy started the hungry ghost collective back in 2007 with a bunch of other bands. Terminal Architecture is I believe Secret Smoker's debut LP, their sophomore album after a split with Nothing!Nothing!Nothing! 

Below is one of my favourite songs of theirs. On their bandcamp page Billy explains this song is about watching  people in airports, and also about our culture of fascination with death that we don't like to talk about.

Most of these dudes where in other bands before this. Bands they were in included jenaset, girlscout heroin, sad idea, whimee(why me), the human record, four square, pistols at dawn/code duello, brown leaf vertigo, we are the living and billy the living.

This album is one I keep coming back to. There are really great songs, Volume Diss-Course, Sight In Sound and the title track are quite excellent and the album as whole is very cohesive. Secret Smoker have their own very angular and accurate punk rock sound which works just as well in individual songs as it does making a longer statement.

 You can purchase their LP Terminal Architecture from Protagonist music here