Sister Sin  "On Parole"   (Victory )

I have to be honest with you... When I first put this in my CD player I was completely surprised. It's like 1980's heavy metal & hard rock never went anywhere. If I had heard this when I was 13, it would've fit in with a lot of what I was listening to at the time. Female vocalist, Liv, leads Sister Sin in a Motley Crue meets Manowar style heavy metal style four-piece that has tour with the likes of Cradle Of Filth and W.A.S.P. They've been putting out this old school brand of metal since 2002, and now they're going worldwide with their first Victory Records release, "Switchblade Serenades". It's kind of cool to see that some people can still play this style of music and make it catchy and sound good. (Dana White) MP3: http://myspace.com/sistersin Band Website: http://sistersin.com Label Website: http://victoryrecords.com

Fight Amp  "Hungry For Nothing"   (Translation Loss)

This is definitely good. It's almost like I'm hearing hidden tracks of off Unsane's Occupational Hazard record, not to mention the entire AmRep sound. New Jersey's Fight Amp (previously known as Fight Amputation) has a sound like the sound of someone pounding on your door in the middle of the night - alarming and deep. Couple that with noisy, churning hardcore punk and you have arrived. The cover artwork definitely gives you an idea that the lyrics are mostly about death and depression, in some way or another, which a lot are. It won't stop you from enjoying it; it might help you. (Dana White) MP3: http://myspace.com/fightamp Band Website: http://fightamputation.com Label Website: http://translationloss.com

Rosematter  "Rosematter"   (Torque)

Rosematter is one of the catchiest, pop-punk bands I've heard in a long time. The female vocals actually make it so much better and so much catchier too. I really want to see a Rosematter show, which is odd for me to want to see a pop-punk show at all these days. This band will be absolutely huge very soon. Touring with bands like Yellowcard, Paramore, and School Boy Humor will just make it easier for them to do it too. (Dana White) MP3: http://myspace.com/rosematter

The Bombs  "Black Butterfly"   (Independently released)

The Bombs are a two-piece rock outfit from Los Angeles, CA. They're not bad, but nothing really makes them stick out from the crowd to me. The lyrics are kind of average simply because some make no sense and they aren't really fun. On its own, the music is pretty solid, but if I heard it a year from now on a commercial I probably wouldn't realize that I've heard it before. It just doesn't stand out. I have to give anyone from LA credit for trying to do more than just be an LA band though. That town is a black hole for bands and most never make it out. (Matt Williams) MP3: http://myspace.com/thebombsmusic

Caterpillar Tracks  "Scrape The Summer EP"   (Phratry )

This is another one of those left field releases that come out of nowhere and really surprised me. Though lacking intensity this band bring a very good blend of driving sounds reminiscent of Hot Snakes, Murder City Devils, and These Arms are Snakes. I don’t think this band is at the level of those bands but I think that this music would translate well live. My biggest complaint with this EP is that it’s five songs and the last track is six and a half minutes of noise. To me that seems like a bad idea for an EP. You only come off wasting space and you look lazy. (Nick Jarrell) MP3: http://myspace.com/caterpillartracks Band Website: http://caterpillartracks.org Label Website: http://phratryrecords.com

Nightwish  "Dark Passon Play"   (Roadrunner)

Let it be known that in the past I’ve loved me some Nightwish. This is Nighwish’s newest release with new front woman, Anette Olzon. This album opens with an epic 13:55, multi-movement song called "The Poet And the Pendulum" - typical Nightwish fire, really. I liked it each and every minute. Overall, the new singer has met my expectations, thus far. When someone has a favorite band and the band gets a new singer, there are misgivings about what the band's next album will sound like, myself included. I wondered if they’d ever find a vocalist with the kind of voice like their old singer's again. Anette does a really good job. Her style is different but I guess that’s to be expected. All in all, I still listen to this album on and off so it’s a pretty good one. It's a good mix of new and old Nightwish styles. There are a few tunes on this album that even dabble in a more folk oriented song structure. While I enjoy their more heavy metal oriented tunes, it's my opinion that on this record, those songs that are slowed down and have a more classical or folk feeling to them are the highlights. "The Islander", "Last Of The Wilds" and "Meadow Of Heaven" are my top 3. (Shawn Thumm) MP3: http://myspace.com/nightwish Band Website: http://nightwish.com Label Website: http://roadrun.com

Born/Dead  "The Final Collapse"   (Prank)

Political punks Born/Dead are back with a 9 song attack on the world. This is one of the best punk bands I've heard in years. The lyrics get a little tiresome because they're beating the listener to death with their political opinions and ideas. Of course, a lot of them are correct but it wouldn't hurt to have songs about something else occasionally. But even if that bugs me at times, I still can't put this down. There are 7 new songs, a songs from one of their 7" records, and a Cress cover. Definitely one of the best records I've heard so far this year. (Matt Williams) MP3: http://myspace.com/borndeadpunx Label Website: http://prankrecords.com

Arson Anthem  "Arson Anthem"   (Housecore)

When I put Arson Anthem's debut, self-titled, EP in my CD player, I was stoked. It was just like early 80's hardcore punk but it was a new band. It was so good to hear a new band playing classic style punk but I couldn't believe that it was a new band. It all made sense once I realized that the members were all a bit older than expected. What shocked me was when I read who makes up Arson Anthem; Phil Anselmo (Pantera, Down, Superjoint Ritual), Hank III (Assjack, Superjoint Ritual), Mike Williams (EyeHategod, Outlaw Order), and Collin Yeo. You just have to hear this if you like punk, hardcore, metal, crust, or anything that's raw and intense sounding. The recording is stripped down to basics and so is the music. Now if they would just tour... (Dana White) MP3: http://myspace.com/arsonanthem Label Website: http://myspace.com/housecorerecords

Tarja Turunen  "My Winter Storm"   (Universal)

Two things before I go into this review, 1) I’m a sucker for operatic singing over metal instrumentation. 2) I’ve adored Tarja Turunen ever since I first saw her in the first Nightwish booklet CD I ever bought. I’ll try to keep my bias at bay for this review. When I heard Tarja and Nightwish had parted ways I wondered if they’d ever find a vocalist with the kind of voice like her's again and I wondered if Tarja would put out a solo project. When I heard she was going to I frothed at the mouth in anticipation. Well, I've failed haven’t I? There’s that bias. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I ordered this album though. After the first listen the only thing that I could say was "WOAH!!!!" It's nothing like what I thought. It was better, in many ways, and yet quite different. The musicianship is top notch. What I liked about the album overall is while showcasing Tarja vocals, (of course, its her name on the front), the musicians backing her were very adept at their instruments. Very cool sound atmospheres, and Tarja’s classically trained voice soars throughout this album.. There are symphonic and piano arrangements with classical guitars accompanying that sound just wonderful. To call this beautiful would be doing it an injustice. Also worthy of mentioning, there's a really cool rendition of Alice Cooper’s "Poison", retooled for Tarja’s vocal range with a slightly different ryhthm than the original. It's very difficult for me to pick just a few favorites but for the sake of this review I will pick my top 5: "I Walk Alone", "The Reign", "Boy And The Ghost", "Minor Heaven", and "Ciarans Well". (Shawn Thumm) Band Website: http://tarjaturunen.com Label Website: http://universalmusic.com

Bleed Someone Dry  "The World Is Falling Tragedy"   (UKDivision)

Ok, um, where do I start? These guys seriously sound like they’re trying their damndest to sound like Pissing Razors. I liked Pissing Razors back in the day. It’s been a while though since I was into them so hearing these guys made me try to remember what I did with my old PR albums. Musically, I'm sure there are people that would like this album. There’s something about it that doesn’t agree with my ear though. It might be how there are pieces in every song that sound so much like songs written by local bands I listened to growing up in high school and college. This one will blend in with the rest of my reviewed albums as just one more metal band. Nothing remarkable but not that bad either. (Shawn Thumm) MP3: http://myspace.com/bleedsomeonedry Band Website: http://bleedsomeonedry.com Label Website: http://ukdivision-records.com

Iron Lung  "Sexless//No Sex"   (Prank)

There are only 2 songs on this disc that clock in above 2 minutes long. Most are under a minute long. Iron Lung's style of music is called "power violence" for a reason. Every song on Iron Lung's Sexless//No Sex goes from fast to slow and back again in the blink of an eye. Every song wastes no time grabbing you by the shirt and getting to the point. This is auditory destruction in a hardcore and punk rock package. Lyrically they cover situations that would send you into a hollow depression, ranging mostly from disease, being hooked to life support, and death. Do you want to know one of the best parts? All of this explosive sound comes from only 2 guys: A drummer and a guitar player, both of which sing. I've listened to this over and over, and I like it more every time. I'm not exaggerating one bit. (Dana White) MP3: http://myspace.com/lifeironlungdeath Label Website: http://prankrecords.com

Now You Have Audio  "Every Time We Close Our Eyes"   (Independent release)

The first thing I thought of when I heard this was how much it reminded me of Punchline. The guitar pop style mixed with dual-harmonized vocals really puts one in that mindset. I can't really call myself a fan of this band, but they definitely play catchy music that will undoubtedly stick in your head. Sadly, the cover artwork was really, really cheesy and turned me off a lot, but listening to them made me realize that at least they do what they do pretty well. (Matt Williams) MP3: http://myspace.com/nowyouhaveaudio Band Website: http://nowyouhaveaudio.com

Dead Swans  "Architects/Dead Swans Split EP"   (Thirty Days of Night)

All I can say about this Split is WOW. It is a release of two bands from the UK. When I listened to it the first time I was amazed at how intense and raw both bands were. This is a really heavy record. The first two tracks of this record is from a band called "Architects". This band is super heavy. They remind me of a mix of Comeback Kid meets The Dillinger Escape Plan. They are fast and intense and then use really technical guitar work. The vocals in this band are really solid. There are a few parts in one of the songs where he sings. Usually I hate singing in heavy bands, like, absolutely hate it, but with this band it works. The other band on the split is "Dead Swans". This band is a straight up hardcore band. They don't really do anything technical, but they are intense. They have killer hardcore riffs and don't use breakdowns which is a relief in the genre today. There is serious talent in both of these bands and this is a killer release for both. The only drag with this release is that the vocalist's in both bands can sound somewhat the same. I haven't bought a record in almost 5 years, but after hearing this I ordered the 7" online. Unfortunately it maybe hard to get a hard copy of this release. It was limited to 400 copies in the UK (I got one! SNAP!). You can also download it exclusively on iTunes. Both of these bands have other releases that I will review soon. GET INTO THESE TWO BANDS! (Robert Midkiff) MP3: http://myspace.com/thedeadswans Label Website: http://myspace.com/thirtydaysofnightrecords

Leiana  "No Going Back"   (Page)

Leiana plays upbeat rock music that you might hear in a party scene in a teen movie. It's tight and it's decent, but nothing about it sets it apart from most other bands. Leiana herself has a good voice, but the music backing her doesn't have any emotion to it. It just sounds like studio musicians who were told to 'play fast rock music'. It's just boring and forgettable. (Matt Williams) MP3: http://myspace.com/leiana Band Website: http://leiana.com Label Website: http://myspace.com/pagerecords

Architects  "Architects/Dead Swans Split EP"   (Thirty Days of Night Records)

All I can say about this Split is WOW. It is a release of two bands from the UK. When I listened to it the first time I was amazed at how intense and raw both bands were. This is a really heavy record. The first two tracks of this record is from a band called "Architects". This band is super heavy. They remind me of a mix of Comeback Kid meets The Dillinger Escape Plan. They are fast and intense and then use really technical guitar work. The vocals in this band are really solid. There are a few parts in one of the songs where he sings. Usually I hate singing in heavy bands, like, absolutely hate it, but with this band it works. The other band on the split is "Dead Swans". This band is a straight up hardcore band. They don't really do anything technical, but they are intense. They have killer hardcore riffs and don't use breakdowns which is a relief in the genre today. There is serious talent in both of these bands and this is a killer release for both. The only drag with this release is that the vocalist's in both bands can sound somewhat the same. I haven't bought a record in almost 5 years, but after hearing this I ordered the 7" online. Unfortunately it maybe hard to get a hard copy of this release. It was limited to 400 copies in the UK (I got one! SNAP!). You can also download it exclusively on iTunes. Both of these bands have other releases that I will review soon. GET INTO THESE TWO BANDS! (Robert Midkiff) MP3: http://www.myspace.com/architectsuk Label Website: http://www.myspace.com/thirtydaysofnightrecords

Meshuggah  "obZen"   (Nuclear Blast)

Meshuggah is BACK. Yes, that’s right; They are back. This is the 12th offering from Swedens gods of thunder. It makes me take everything back I said about Nothing and Catch 33, and dismiss those albums as just a phase. Meshuggah still has the chops and this album is the first to really show them since Destroy Erase Improve. This takes everything I’ve loved over the years about Meshuggah, packages it into one nice neat collection, and feeds my desires for heaviest of the heavy. It’s hard to pick favorites as I like them all so much! The 3 that stand out at the moment are "Combustion", "Bleed" and the title track, "obZen". If you like the idea of sitting at home or in your car, turning your stereo up and just laying back, letting the music obliterate your auditory nerves and sending you into a state of brutality induced bliss, this album will, without a doubt, please you until you are numb with glee. (Shawn Thumm) MP3: http://myspace.com/meshuggah Band Website: http://meshuggah.net Label Website: http://nuclearblastusa.com

Bury Your Dead  "Bury Your Dead"   (Victory)

Bury Your Dead are traveling a different path than we've seen them on before. Along with the addition of Myke Terry on vocals, they have added some melody to their music that we never saw on previous Bury Your Dead recordings. After I listened for a while I started to realize that there are dramatic similarities, sound wise, between Bury Your Dead's new, self-titled record and Fear Factory's Obsolete. While Bury Your Dead only has a few parts that sound like they are using a synthesizer, Myke's voice sounds a lot like Burton Bell's voice when they both straight up sing. Myke also sounds similar to Burton Bell when yelling as well, and therein lies the comparison. Even though I draw this comparison, I wouldn't say that it stacks up to Fear Factory. While a lot of people are already complaining about Bury Your Dead's new sound, quite a few others are enjoying it. The people that enjoyed Beauty And The Breakdown will most likely enjoy this record, as it seems like these would be the next steps in the direction they've been going in the last few years. On the other side of the coin, those who are only fans of You Had Me At Hello might not be so happy to hear this new release. It's still heavy, even during the melodic parts, and it's definitely very choppy. I still like the early Bury Your Dead more, and even though I'm not into it the new stuff is pretty solid only in an entirely different way. (Dana White) MP3: http://myspace.com/buryyourdead Band Website: http://WeAreBuryYourDead.com Label Website: http://victoryrecords.com

Between The Buried And Me  "Colors"   (Victory)

Ok to be fair, I've only listened to BTBAM for a few weeks now. What was my problem you may ask? Well, I have no excuse. I guess, when I first heard them back when Silent Circus came out I heard nothing remarkable. I don’t know what my problem was. The first track on this album grabbed my attention immediately. "Foam Born" sounds Porcupine Tree like, which in my books gets instant respect. When the main groove hits there's a happy feel to it that I can't quite wrap my mind around but I know I like it... I like it a lot. "The Decade Of Statues" punished me for my indiscretions against BTBAM and when it was over. I liked them that much more. The next attention grabber for me was the epic "Ants Of The Sky". That opening riff was just skiddly, skiddly, skiddly weeeeee it made me smile ear to ear. Then, after a 20 second non distorted guitar melody, a groove kicks in that again brought me to a smile that I hadn’t experienced before. Then for next 11 minutes, I soaked it all in. I’ve listened to this album about 20 times in the last week and hear something new every single time. I love albums like that. (Shawn Thumm) MP3: http://myspace.com/betweentheburiedandmeband Band Website: http://betweentheburiedandme.com Label Website: http://victoryrecords.com

Red I Flight  "The Years"   (Victory)

I just can't say that I've been impressed with a lot of metal releases lately. As tight and talented as Red I Flight is, there's nothing that really makes this album memorable. They're great musicians and it sounds kind of like Unearth with parts that are kind of like As I Lay Dying, but overall, it's not blowing me away. (Dana White) MP3: http://myspace.com/rediflight Label Website: http://victoryrecords.com

Dyslextasy  "Live. Die. Repeat."   (Urban Cheese)

Dyslextasy is one of the most boring bands I've ever heard. Their lyrics are really, really repetitive and barely make any sense. I'm picturing a bar with 20 or 30 people in it, all above the age of 35, all dressed like they dressed when they were 17, all rocking out. Good for them. Oh, and apparently Dyslextasy are all alcoholics, according to their lyrics. Maybe that's why the music and lyrics are so bad. (Dana White) MP3: http://myspace.com/dyslextasy Band Website: http://dyslextasy.com Label Website: http://urbancheese.com

Secret Lives Of The Freemasons  "Weekend Warriors"   (Victory)

Party dudes, Secret Lives Of The Freemasons, bring the follow-up to This Was Built To Make You Dance and actually top their last record. Weekend Warriors is fun, dance-pop rock that you will have stuck in your head for days. I know this from first hand experience. Have fun with your music! I highly recommend all of their albums. (Dana White) MP3: http://myspace.com/secretlivesofthefreemasons Label Website: http://victoryrecords.com

Rosetta  "Wake/Lift"   (Translation Loss)

If I had to describe this CD in one word it would be MOODY. I walked away after my customary 2 listens of the whole album and didn’t know what to think. There were very cool moments and there were moments that left me, well, cold. Was that what they were going for? There were some beautiful melodies in the songs but when there was a vocal over them similar to Coalesce’s Sean Ingram, I didn’t know what to think. Guess I was expecting or wanting something else. I decided to give the CD another chance. Yeah, after trying to give a fair shake I just couldn’t find a groove that I could groove to with out being bombarded by overdriven twanged out guitars. This album has its cool parts, yes. Infact, very cool. It creates an atmosphere for the listener but it was an environment that left me wanting. Good musicianship just not my cup-o-tea. (Shawn Thumm) MP3: http://myspace.com/rosetta Band Website: http://rosettaband.com Label Website: http://translationloss.com

Sons of Azrael  "The Conjuration of Vengeance"   (Metal Blade)

Let me first say that when I opened the package that had arrived in the mail and this fell out, my first impression was not one of excitement. It was “Oh no, here’s another in a long series of disappointing metal/hardcore bands.” Man I couldn’t have been further off base. These guys have CHOPS! The guitarists play with a ferocity I haven’t heard in a while, not so much shredding, although there are some shredder moments, but a lock step with the rhythm section that guys like me just eat up. The tone isn’t all muddy either which is really nice and the guitars can be heard even with the amount of distortion they play with. The drummer...man...I wish there were more like him. Switched rhythms on a dime VERY cool. The only thing bringing this album down is the vocals. Not saying they’re bad or even mediocre. Hell, they fit the music perfectly... It's just that I've heard A LOT of bands recently with these vocal styling’s (screeched growls and guttural growls) and I like ’em. It may be I’m just over exposed. Favorite Tracks: "Trail of Flesh", "Sweet Blasphemy", and "End of The Rope". For fans of The Acacia Strain and Vehemence. (Shawn Thumm) MP3: http://myspace.com/sonsofazrael Band Website: http://sonsofazrael.com Label Website: http://metalblade.com

Dead To Fall  "Are You Serious?"   (Victory)

Sadly, Dead To Fall has never really piqued my interest. The guys that I've met are nice, but they fit into the mix of a lot of metal bands out there a little too well. Are You Serious? is a solid record but doesn't stand out from anything else I've heard in the metal world in the last 2 or 3 years. In fact, the song "Major Rager" sounds like "Chum Fiesta" from their own The Phoenix Throne album. Lyrically speaking, Dead To Fall goes from comedy to sci-fi on this record, making the album's title seem appropriate. If you've liked their previous releases or would like to check out some hilarious songs, I would definitely check it out. While not every song is intended to be funny, those are the stand out tracks. (Dana White) MP3: http://myspace.com/deadtofall Label Website: http://victoryrecords.com

The Feds  "A Touch Of Panic"   (Tribunal)

As soon as I put this CD in I couldn't believe how much The Feds sound like America's answer to Billy Talent. I really would think that this is Billy Talent's third album had I not seen the disc and inlay. Don't take that as a bad thing. I have no idea if The Feds have even heard Billy Talent, but if they haven't that makes this even more interesting. The Feds play some solid rock music fronted by a vocalist whose style you don't hear very often. You really have to hear him to understand what I'm saying. This sounds like something that you would catch on Fuse in the middle of the day, and I wouldn't doubt it if they end up that big. This is definitely the new wave of rock music. (Dana White) MP3: http://myspace.com/thefeds Band Website: http://thefedsrock.com Label Website: http://tribunalrecords.net

The Canaries  "Poke The Machine"   (Tamur)

This is a very unique indie rock CD. Let's start with the layout, shall we? The CD case is a normal cardboard sleeve made out of recycled materials, but it's been entirely painted white. I'm not sure if the white was silk screened or painted, but then the album art is silk screened on top of that in black, and it all looks great as well as interesting. So now we come to the band and music. The individuals are all highly unlikely candidates to play in a band like The Canaries. Between the 4 of them, we have an upright jazz bass player on drums, a huge fan of early soul and motown on bass, an occasional rapper singing and playing guitar, and another guitar player whose other band is described in their bio as "hick-punk". Their diverse backgrounds most likely are a big part of what makes it so easy for them to play together in this band. It's as if Longwave and Franz Ferdinand started a side project. There are a lot of songs with more upbeat, pop and punk elements, but then there are a few downbeat, ambient songs. "Poke The Machine" is something you like from the beginning but there's something that you're not sure about at first. After a couple more songs you've become comfortable with them and start to really enjoy yourself. That was my experience, to say the least. (Dana White) MP3: http://myspace.com/canariez Band Website: http://pokethemachine.blogspot.com Label Website: http://tamurrecords.org

Various Artists  "Change!"   (Hot Topic/Hopeless/Sub City)

Compilations and samplers are hard to make in the sense that they usually only have 2 or 3 good bands on them and no one buys them/keeps them. I couldn't tell you the last time I got one that I was thoroughly impressed by. Honestly, even when I got the Change! CD/DVD compilation combo, I looked at the track listing and really thought that I wasn't going to be terribly impressed by it. A lot of new metal and new "hardcore" isn't very original in my opinion, so my skepticism was off the charts the first time I put this in my CD player. The Change! compilation is a CD/DVD combination full a few up-and-coming as well as few veterans of the the new metal, new progressive scene and hardcore scenes. Some of the standout tracks on the CD are from Every Time I Die, The Chariot, As I Lay Dying (whom I've really not been a fan of previously), Silverstein, August Burns Red, and Converge. The standout videos on the DVD start with Silverstein's "If You Could See Me Now" showing a bank heist gone awry. Boys Night Out have the hands down best video on the DVD for "Up With Me" showing the members of the band being followed by their "mistakes" in the form of skeletons accompanying them throughout their day to day lives. Every Time I Die always makes hilarious videos. The video for "We're Wolf" is a mashup video tribute to a bunch of popular '80s movies. The Chariot's video for "They Faced Each Other" is a series of around 4,000 photos pieced together to look like a video but there was no actual video shot. As I Lay Dying's video for "Nothing Left" is a killer 'future apocolyptic' view that shows an almost scary one world government in control. Even though I'm not really into the song, The Human Abstract did a video for "Veta, Together We Await The Storm" that plays like a silent, black and white horror film. Keep in mind that the CD and DVD aren't all the same songs by the same bands. Also, a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Hot Topic Foundation which aims to support programs for youth in music, creative writing, filmmaking and more. That sounds like a pretty decent deal for $10, right? (Dana White) CD TRACK LISTING: 1 Chiodos / Teeth The Size Of Piano Keys 2 Silverstein / If You Could See Into My Soul 3 Saosin / Collapse 4 Alesana / Ambrosia 5 Every Time I Die / We're Wolf 6 The Chariot / They Faced Each Other 7 The Human Abstract / Nocturne 8 As I Lay Dying / Nothing Left 9 The Devil Wears Prada / Don't Dink And Drance 10 Parkway Drive / Boneyards 11 August Burns Red / Composure 12 Job For A Cowboy / Embedded 13 See You Next Tuesday / Here, Take This Pill 14 Converge / No Heroes 15 Poison The Well / Letter Thing 16 Memphis May Fire / Cowbell's Making A Comeback 17 HORSE The Band / Murder 18 Gallows / Orchestra of Wolves 19 Aiden / We Sleep Forever 20 Pierce The Veil / I'd Rather Die Than Be Famous 21 The Fall of Troy / Cut Down All The Trees And Name The Streets After Them DVD VIDEO LISTING: 1 Chiodos / The Words Best Friend Become Redefined 2 Silverstein / If You Could See Into My Soul 3 Boys Night Out / Up With Me 4 Alesana / Ambrosia 5 Escape The Fate / Situations 6 Every Time I Die / We're Wolf 7 The Chariot / They Faced Each Other 8 As I Lay Dying / Nothing Left 9 The Human Abstract / Vela, Together We Await The Storm 10 August Burns Red / Composure 11 Converge / No Heroes 12 Job For A Cowboy / Embedded 13 Maylene And The Sons Of Disaster / Dry The River 14 HORSE / The Band Murder 15 Gallows / In The Belly Of A Shark 16 Aiden / We Sleep Forever 17 Kaddisfly / Empire

Obituary  "Xecutioner's Return"   (Candlelight)

For almost 25 years Obituary has been one of the world's best death metal bands and, to this day, they show no signs of letting up. "Xecutioner's Return" is still just as solid and just as heavy as "Back From The Dead" was 10 years ago and even is today. John Tardy is hands down my favorite death metal vocalist, and stands way up in the rankings of vocalists in general. No one can pull off a voice that sounds that way. Death and grind fans really need to take it back to bands like Obituary and Napalm Death and realize where extreme music got it's start. (Dana White) MP3: http://myspace.com/obituary Band Website: http://obituary.cc Label Website: http://candlelightrecordsusa.com

Belay My Last  "The Downfall"   (Mediaskare)

As tight and as talented as this band is, they basically sound like The Red Chord. I really like The Red Chord, but I'm not as excited about this release due to it's lack of originality. Sadly, this is the case with a lot of grindcore today. (Matt Williams) MP3: http://myspace.com/belaymylast Label Website: http://mediaskare.com

United Waste  "Middle Class EP"   (Independent release)

United Waste are an up and coming WV punk/hardcore band that I stumbled upon recently. I was given this ep and as with most things I’ve heard recently expected to be completely bored to tears... Well, I wasn’t. These guys are an awesome blend of punk, hardcore, and thrash with some nice metal guitar work thrown in for good measures. Only band I would say would be similar sounding would be NOFX and that would hardly due this band justice. They have a very original sound that has the potential to work out very well in a live environment. Not very many demos sound as good as this and still sound punk, so the production in general is about perfect. Look for these guys in a town near you and expect something new. (Nick Jarrell) MP3: http://myspace.com/theunitedwaste

Damnation A.D.  "In This Life Or The Next"   (Victory)

Rising from the ashes of a damn near decade hiatus comes Damnation A.D. Damnation A.D. were a great band an still are. At first listen I had a tough time getting used to these songs. When this band first surfaced their sound was just brutal beyond belief but in today’s age of studio engineered metal core breakdowns this band didn’t live up to my memories of heaviness. Once I wiped the slate clean these songs sounded like a breath of fresh air. Once and always a hard band to pigeonhole all I can say that this is a great blend of Metal, Hardcore, and Melodic Hardcore. Great stuff that demands respect and attention. (Nick Jarrell) MP3: http://myspace.com/damnationad Band Website: http://damnationad.com Label Website: http://victoryrecords.com

Lex Vegas  "Death Of A Gentleman"   (Independent release)

When you hear this band, moreover, when you see this band, you will have no idea why they aren't on a label yet. At this point I'm sure it's only a matter of time. What Lex Vegas offers isn't everything you've been hearing out of massively popular heavy bands these days. It isn't a perfectly polished sound with manicured nails and $60 hair cuts. It's creative, fun, energetic music played by some of the most friendly and hard working people you'll ever meet. It's no secret that I've been friends with Lex Vegas for a few years now. Don't doubt that everything I'm about to say is fact, not favoritism. You see, the beauty of a band like this is that the first time you hear them you will definitely know that it's not something you hear every day, but it's something you would most likely love to hear more of. The seemless mixture of metal, hardcore, punk, and even bluegrass is surprising and entertaining from start to finish. It's catchy and enjoyable, but not predictable. It's not overproduced. It is thick, fast, and a good time. These songs are about the things that we all do and the people that we all are. They're about home, friends and partying. Get in the van and drive hard. This machine isn't stopping until everyone in the world has gotten a hug and rocked out solid. (Dana White) MP3: http://myspace.com/lexvegas Band Website: http://lexvegas.com

Bloodhorse  "EP"   (Translation Lost)

Hailing from Boston, MA and featuring ex-members of popular bands such as Shelter, The Red Chord, Saves The Day, American Nightmare, ect. This band shares nothing in common with the aforementioned groups. Bloodhorse are a straight up stoner rock/metal band. The first track starts out with about a half minute of drums and sloooooowwwlllyyy builds to it’s full blown stonery groove. Bands such as Cable, The Sword, and WV’s own Cobra come to mind in reference to style. This is very good digestible stoner rock/metal and I would totally recommend this record. (Nick Jarrell) MP3: http://myspace.com/bloodhorse Band Website: http://wearebloodhorse.com Label Website: http://translationloss.com

The Autumn Offering  "Fear Will Cast No Shadow"   (Victory)

This is pretty much prototypical emocore crap though it does have some seriously brutal breakdowns here and there. Some of the clean vocals are pretty cool in a 1990 hair metal kind of way. Basically if you like to hang out at Hot Topic and obsessively adjust your lip ring this is the band for you. (Nick Jarrell) MP3: http://myspace.com/theautumnoffering Band Website: http://theautumnoffering.com Label Website: http://victoryrecords.com

Arise And Ruin  "The Final Dawn"   (Victory)

This Victory Records band is actually taking a chance and trying not to be Emo, but they are taking the other shortcut which is to be entirely way too moshy. It just bugs the crap out of me when these Swedish styled thrash bands have to have all of these breakdowns. At least the dude doesn’t start whining like a girl. Overall this record is quite crushing but just falls short somewhere in the act. (Nick Jarrell) MP3: http://myspace.com/ariseandruin Band Website: http://ariseandruin.com Label Website: http://victoryrecords.com

Cobra  "Feels Like Freedom"   (Independent release)

Reviewing a record for a band that you're friends with can always be kind of awkward. There is always a chance that you don't like it but you don't want to give your friend's band a bad review, even though your journalistic integrity tells you that you need to be honest. On the other side of the coin, if you really love their band you don't want to sound over the top as if you're just really trying to hook your friends up. So, here I am with a copy of Cobra's "Feels Like Freedom". I've known most of the members of Cobra since they were playing in Killed At Camp and Horns To The Matador. I got to know them better when they formed The Minus Tide, which was quite a bit different than their previous, more indie-rock and traditional screamo bands. The Minus Tide was their seld-proclaimed "sci-fi metal". This description was very fitting in both a musical and lyrical sense. After a few members left The Minus Tide everyone in the band felt that it would be best to go on hiatus and form a solid rock band with the remaining four members. Enter Cobra. I will be honest; when I first heard Cobra, I wasn't into it. I liked most of the music but I was having a hard time with the vocals in the beginning. I wanted to give it an honest chance because I've always loved all of the aforementioned bands and I was hearing different aspects of Cobra that I liked. The more I listened the more hooked I became. The '70s style rock riffage and smooth, often group, vocals put me in the mindset of a cleaner version of Clutch. There is most definitely a solid sound here for anyone that is a style of the original kings of this style, Black Sabbath, or some of the newer bands like Wolfmother. (Dana White) MP3: http://myspace.com/thisiscobra Band Website: http://thisiscobra.com

Last Chance To Reason  "Lvl. 1"   (Tribunal)

Let's face it... Musical virtuosos are generally terrible songwriters. They just can't write music that the average person can enjoy while other musicians still get excited by how incredible they are. Usually it's just a bunch of showing off and really boring live shows. This is not the case with Last Chance To Reason. The songs are definitely enjoyable, definitely heavy, and definitely full of talent. I was already curious when I saw a drawing on the cover that looked like Master Chief fighting an alien. This is like the best parts of The Dillinger Escape Plan and The Minus Tide put together with eerie keyboards, versatile vocals and some pretty impressive jazz guitar. It's prog metal at it's finest. Now we just have to wait for the rest of the world to catch on. (Dana White) MP3: http://myspace.com/lastchancetoreason Label Website: http://tribunalrecords.net

Built By Snow  "Noise"   (Independent release)

When you look at the cover of this CD you'll see a Built By Snow cassette pictured with a small caption on it that reads, "Rock music for smart kids, weird kids, rocket scientists, and NASA engineers." Okay, I'm already interested. After I put it in I couldn't get over how much they reminded me of Weezer with some hooks that reminded me a lot of '80s rock heroes, The Cars. The keyboard parts are definitely similar to The Cars. Later on I picked up the bio and I don't know if anyone could top that bio as a solid description of Built By Snow. The best part is that they mentioned Weezer and The Cars in it, so I knew I was on the right track. I've been listening to this quite a bit since I got it and literally everyone that's heard it has loved it. Giving such a nod to two of the best bands in the history of rock music is plenty of reason to check them out. I promise, as a fan of both bands, it won't let you down. (Dana White) MP3: http://myspace.com/builtbysnow Band Website: http://builtbysnow.com

Ringworm  "The Venomous Grand Design"   (Victory)

When hardcore first came about, a lot of it sounded like a more raw version of thrash. It was fast and destructive in its sound. Ringworm take that sound and bring a little of the metal sound back just like they've been doing for years. The Venomous Grand Design could easily be their best work to date. If you just listen and don't pay attention to your CD player, it may seem like one huge, angry song. "Venomous" is a great word to describe the way this sounds. The Human Furnace's vocals really remind me of Karl Buechner's vocals on Earth Crisis' Breed The Killers. The music is very Cleveland style hardcore, right down to the solos. (Dana White) MP3: http://myspace.com/ringworm13 Band Website: http://ringworm13.com Label Website: http://victoryrecords.com

The Fucking Wrath  "Season Of Evil"   (Goodfellow)

It's no wonder these guys are called "The Fucking Wrath". Honestly, it's an incredibly fitting name. Mix Black Sabbath, Coliseum, and Municipal Waste and you've got a good idea what The Fucking Wrath are all about. It's so good to hear a new band that doesn't play dual leads and try to be As I Lay Dying or whatever metalcore band is hot right now. No, this is stipped down, traditional thrash meets punk rock, with an old school stoner rock feel to it. That's it. This rules and you need to hear it. (Dana White) MP3: http://myspace.com/thefuckingwrath Label Website: http://goodfellowrecords.com

Deathkiller  "New England Is Sinking"   (I Scream)

Deathkiller is a band that will kind of sneak up on you. In your first listen you'll enjoy the beginning, but by halfway through the disc you'll seriously love it. They have a diversity that will make New England Is Sinking appeal to a wide range of people including rock fans, punk fans, hardcore fans, post hardcore fans, and a lot of other people I'm sure. I have no doubt that once the public gets their hands on this that they'll blow up, at least like Quicksand did. They sound huge for a three-piece and they don't waste any time showing just how huge they can sound right at the start of "Take Me To Your Bleeder". This was definitely the follow-up I was hoping for after hearing their demo last year. (Dana White) MP3: http://myspace.com/deathkillerx3 Label Website: http://iscreamrecords.com

Living Hell  "The Lost And The Damned"   (Revelation)

It's well known that some cities have a distinct sound when it comes to hardcore and punk. Cleveland, OH, for instance, has a really mean, metal sound that bands like Integrity and Ringworm have spread to the world. Their influence is is reaching out to a larger and larger area with bands like Steel Nation and the subjects at hand, Living Hell. Living Hell hail from Boston and Connecticut, which are two areas also known for some brutal hardcore. The Lost And The Damned rips all 12 tracks right through your stomach with lyrics that scream doom and despair, and music with a mean, raw sound in the shape of metal leads, fast punk parts and floorpunch breakdowns. This is very much everything you would expect from the aforementioned bands, and then some. The Lost And The Damned is definitely a must have for anyone who like their hardcore heavy. (Dana White) MP3: http://myspace.com/livinghellhc Label Website: http://revelationrecords.com

Botox Party  "EP"   (Upchuck)

Yes! This is like mid-1990's Fat Wreck Chords punk. It's about time someone decided to play this style again. Let's face it, there's money in pop punk, but a lot of it just blends together. Botox Party definitely stand out in a crowd. Think Lagwagon, Hi-Standard, and old Blink 182 style punk. It almost sounds too much like other bands, in a way, but it's definitely good and worth checking out. (Dana White) MP3: http://myspace.com/botoxpartyva

Sandra Black  "The 40 Ounce Confession"   (Pigeon)

It's been a long time since I've heard Sandra Black. I booked them a few years back at a weird all ages hall with some other awesome bands and then didn't really hear from them again until we got this full length CD in the mail. I was excited to see that they were still a band and immediately popped the CD in for the long drive I was about to make. It was a perfect, sunny morning for a drive and, thanks to a trip to the post office, I had the perfect music to complete the trip experience. Sandra Black has been home for quite a few different guys that have been in and out of Morgantown, WV. Their biography, which is quite an enjoyable read, tells of the formative days of the band that were a little less that desirable aurally but still held all the fun they were looking for. Years later, The 40 Ounce Confession comes out and the world gets to enjoy the fruits of their years of hanging out, having fun, and learning to be better and better at what they do. If I were to compare Sandra Black to a band that most people have heard of, I would probably say Death Cab For Cutie. It's relaxed, but filled with different musical ideas and different instruments. It's fun but not silly. There's a lot of talent here but they're not showing off. (Dana White) MP3: http://myspace.com/sandrablackmusic Band Website: http://sandrablack.com Label Website: http://pigeonrecords.com

Token Entry  "The Re-Issues"   (I Scream)

It's no wonder I've always heard The Bouncing Souls go off about Token Entry - They were definitely a huge influence on The Souls sound. I don't even remember the last time I heard a Token Entry song, but it was on a road trip to a show somewhere and everyone was talking over the music. I know I liked it, but I never found any of their records anywhere. Now, here I sit, years later with The Re-Issues. The Re-Issues puts 1988's Jaybird & 1990's Weight Of The World records in one place so all the kids today can see one of hardcore's legendary bands do it right. So many bands today draw influence from Token Entry, whether they know it or not, and this music still holds it's weight today just as well as it did then. (Dana White) MP3: http://myspace.com/tokenentryjaybird Label Website: http://iscreamrecords.com

Capital  "Homefront"   (Revelation)

There should not be any doubt that this band, or any band that Tommy Corrigan sings for, wouldn't be seriously amazing. Hearing a record like Homefront stirs up all those incredible feelings of desperation to make a difference and that raw intensity that every day of life should have. So many punk and hardcore bands have no idea how to do this, much less that it's even possible to convey that message through music. It's so good to hear music that isn't predictable but it's still fun to listen to. And it's good to hear lyrics written by someone that isn't afraid to say what they're thinking and someone who actually THINKS. Not many bands impress me on every level these days, but Capital honestly goes beyond impressing me. You would be doing yourself an injustice to not make yourself familiar with them. One of the many beauties of a band like Capital is that they're very accessible. To elaborate, I'm saying that their music is melodic and displays a lot of talent without sacrificing the ability to be catchy and draw you in by itself. The lyrics don't mess around - they point a fe