For many years, this political Pittsburgh streetpunk band played shows without regularly releasing music. This CD captures their live sound well. The kick-ass vocals are high enough in the mix for easy understanding of the lyrics, which cover the gamut of issues those of us who refuse to outgrow subculture face. There’s remarkable potency in […]
Reminds me of first wave Revolution Summer emo in the best way! Everything about this points in a circle back to disappointment, and fuck I love it. Some of the lines almost had me in tears. I think the bass should be higher in the mix (if they have a bass player, they’re a three […]
This split 7” is part of the DCxPC Live Series, a limited run of split 7”s recorded live that are idealistically and aesthetically fashioned after the V.M.Live series of the ’90s. Both bands on this volume are from Orlando and pair up nicely. There’s a good mix of straightforward punk, some more melodic skate punk […]
This is one of those albums that hits the mark from the moment the speakers start to unleash the magic held within the grooves of the vinyl. I love the way the music has a sort of freeform jazz style to it, which busies itself, heading in a variety of directions. It’s not quite Minutemen […]
All the song names are in CAPS so you know this band is SERIOUS. It feels like this record came to me half a season too late because it gives me very spooky October vibes. Evil synthesizers—it does sometime sound like the beginning of a Misfits song but before the vocals come in. There is […]
Post-punk that sounds more rooted in the present than in the past, which is pretty rare for this genre. They’re definitely angular, but not in a Gang Of Four way, or even like Wire. The rhythms are bouncy without being annoying. Sort of poppy without being saccharine. They sort of remind me of the Ausmuteants, […]
First off, the cover art of the band’s name is cool as hell! To me, it looks dirty and grimy, which is what the music is as well! This is some DIY black metal and I love it. I haven’t really liked black metal in the past, but this is it for me. The guitar […]
Done describe themselves in the bio on their label website as “both a reaction and a provocation to the ebb and flow of heavy music in Boston.” While I couldn’t figure out what the hell that meant, they name drop His Hero Is Gone, Boston hardcore, and “…a spritz of second wave black metal” as […]
Jangle meets goth? Well, not exactly but the lyrics are certainly dark and occasionally there are some cheery guitar chords played underneath, which makes for an interesting contrast. Lyrically, there are nods to The Jesus And Mary Chain and The Knack, among others. Memorable lyrics are plentiful on this one, but here are a few […]
Down With Rent have been bringing their message to the masses since 2013. I only got into them recently, after I was blown away by their live performance. What’s not to love about catchy hardcore punk with strong socialist political lyrics? Lotus Eater, the band’s second album, captures the full intensity of their live performance […]
Expected some sorta thrash metal, take the name, album title and art, but no. What ye get here is mostly mid-tempo hardcore with occasional hints of noise rock sensibilities coupled with nihilistic lyrics heaping with sarcasm and imagery that’ll likely trigger/offend someone. –Jimmy Alvarado (Thee Elder Gods, theeeldergods.bandcamp.com)
Okay, so this is like... prog rock, I guess? Like King Crimson or Yes or something. I’m not embarrassed to be listening to it, but in certain contexts I certainly would be. Like all prog rock, there is a level of inherent dorkiness to the whole affair. I’m gonna be a bit of a bully, […]