Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Songs From Home (Pt. 1) by Hometown Heroes

Songs From Home Pt. 1 by Hometown Heroes
1. Desperate Times (Call For Simple Measures)
2. Once In A Blue Moon
3. Sidewalks

An earlier, all acoustic release by Hometown Heroes, Songs From Home Pt. 1 shows that the band can play acoustically. All pop-punk bands need an acoustic EP, right? These three songs are nicely done, guitar, guitar, vocals, recorded simply in a garage with a condenser mic. Just like in Stories, and in most songs by this band, the lead guitar soars over the rhythm in many parts. This is very much like most acoustic releases by any generic pop-punk band, however, Hometown Heroes does a very good job in making the songs different from one another. 

Favorite Track: Sidewalks

Monday, December 23, 2013

Stories by Hometown Heroes

Stories, by Hometown Heroes
1. Stories
2. Once In A Blue Moon
3. Sidewalks
4. The Way The Waves Break
5. Second Thoughts

Rising from the ranks of generic/repetitive pop punk is Hometown Heroes, with their release, Stories. I don't know what it is, but this band seems to stick out to me. I'm getting a The Wonder Years vibe, mixed with some emo action. The opening song on this release starts the entire thing off well, moving the release from a slower pace to a high-paced, action filled energy release that keeps going throughout. I could talk about the lead guitar for a while. It's high-played and constantly moving, keeping my attention throughout; very progressive, I'm getting a Vessels feel on the instrumentation. Vocals are sweet sounding to my ears, and production on a whole is nice and very professional sounding. I'd definitely check this release out, it's an amazing one. 

Favorite Track: Stories

Lawless EP by Iron Born

Lawless EP by Iron Born
1. Lawless
2. Hang My Head
3. Weight
4. My Way
5. Love Song

Iron Born is a Tulsa, OK Hardcore/punk band. Lawless EP has a certain Expire vibe to it, with driven, simple instrumentation, and deep straightforward vocals. The first three songs are really similar and repetitive, the only thing switching it up being the small guitar solo at the end of My Way. The production quality of this release is good, on a whole, however this short release isn't something that I got stoked about. It's really repetitive and not much to differentiate it from the rest of the Hardcore bands out there. 

Favorite Track: My Way, simply because it's the only different one. 

Jared Gills by Jared Gills

Jared Gills by Jared Gills
1. Tommy's Bomb
2. It Begins
3. We Are Falling
4. Swells the Size of Manhattan
5. Train
6. 15th and Martin
7. Bury Me At Sea

Jared Gills is a singer/songwriter from Broomfield, Colorado. His self titled release is high-energy and acoustic. The instrumentation is simply a single guitar, and lyrics are very punk-esq. There is some track-layering, such as on Train, but not much throughout.  Vocals are well done, and production on a whole seems very professional. Not much bad to say about this release, except that the seven songs on it do seem to become one large song, as there is not much to separate/ tell a difference between the songs. 

Saturday, December 21, 2013

Walk Away EP By Companion



Walk Away EP, by Companion

1.Strangers
2.Judges
3.Sleepless
4.Walk Away
5.Question Master

Companion is another local 417 melodic/emotional hardcore band. Companion's last release was in 2012, with the single, "Question Master", a song that we see a new version at the end of this EP. The amount of growth this band has gone through in this year long period is amazing. Although it may be true that many of the band members are not the same members as when "Question Master" was originally released, it is true that Shane is still the vocalist, and his vocals have developed much more, in my opinion. The lyrical structure of the songs have stayed the same, and the song structures, for the most part, have stayed fairly progressive. What keeps me coming back to Companion has to be the amazing amount of emotion put into each song, you don't see that much anymore, many bands seem to write hollow lyrics and sing/play with no emotion, so it's good to see a band that puts their hearts into their songs.
Drums seem to stand out throughout the songs prominently, bass is well writen and driving, and guitar is very well done. For what seems to me to have been done with lo-fi recording equipment, sound quality is good, however it is still pretty lo-fi. Because of this it seems, guitar seems to be a little sloppy in parts and the cymbal rides seem to overpower many song parts, but that's not to say it doesn't all still sound great.
A word about "Question Master". If you are as huge a fan as I am of the original, you'll appreciate this version of the song. However, I do still like the original better. The band puts a new flair on it, but the changes put into the guitar, and into the vocals/how the song is sung at some parts, seems a little lacking, or quickly thrown together to me.
In all however, this is a wonderful release, and shows so much promise for this band. I can't wait to see them start touring.

Favorite Track: Judges
bandcamp

Monday, December 16, 2013

Just Ask The Boys by Dirt Nap

Just Ask The Boys by Dirt Nap
1. Bed
2. Tom Cruisin' 
3. Dog
4. Nag Champah (Ft. Hal Crossno of Blackhole)
5. Touch Myself
6. Peg Leg
7. Scabs
8. Clam Hands
9 .Shore
10. Curse of the Comfort
Dirt Nap is a brand new Surf Rock/Punk/Hardcore band from the 417. Dirt Nap is 3/4ths of Dirk Frazel, my favorite local Emo Band, and is pretty much just Ethnic Women, a local band. Dirt Nap has a wonderful surf rock feel to it, and the vocals throughout are very well done. Production is nicely done, very professional sounding, and mixing and mastering was done almost flawlessly. The entire release is a quick one, and something about this release just gets me going. It's more than just the Surf Rock that you'll find lying around on the side of roads, it's something that is really really worth listening to. 
Favorite Track: Nag Champah



Legs Like Tree Trunks EP by Legs Like Tree Trunks

Legs Like Tree Trunks EP by Legs Like Tree Trunks
1. Pushover
2. Annabel 
3. Dick Whitman
4. Winter
5. Five
6. South Hampton

Legs Like Tree Trunks self titled EP is a wonderful little twinkle EP. You've got your stock Twinkle music, long instrumented sequences played in odd time signatures, and Legs Like Tree Trunks does this very well. Guitar is bright and bouncy, and drums are simple and seem to back up the rest of the instruments well. Vocals are really nasally throughout the entire release, but they go very well with the songs. Really dig the sudden temp/time signature changes in Winter. 
Favorite Track: South Hampton

Sunday, December 15, 2013

Winter Tour Tape by Flawless

1. Eagleton
2. Take My Pride
3. Take My Pride (acoustic)
4. I'll Never Have My Turn

Flawless is a local 417 band, Winter Tour Tape being their second release.
I really dig the production value of this release, and you can tell that the vocalist really evolved at how he does what he does. You've got two full band songs, and then two acoustic songs with this release, I dig the acoustic side of the release, but the full-band songs are amazing. Probably the best band in the 417, hands down.
Favorite Song: Take My Pride
bandcamp

Surf Curse--Buds

Surf Curse--Buds

So I just found this band like an hour ago and I can already tell they're going to be spending a lot of time in my earbuds. Surf Curse is a surf-rock/indie band from somewhere out there on the blue ocean. I really enjoy the lo-fi-ness of all three of their albums but I pick this one because it's got Goth Babe on it. The lyrics are negative and I love it. I mean, you can't be positive all the time right? Anyways, expect a lot more surf stuff on here thanks to locals like Ethnic Women/Dirt Nap
Favorite Track: Goth Babe

Le bandcamp

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

A Truth Within The Story EP by An Enemy In Us

A Truth Within The Story EP, by An Enemy In Us
1. The Contractor
2. A Truth Within The Story
An Enemy In Us is a local 417 Skramz band that I've gotten the pleasure of playing with. A Truth Within The Story EP is a short release, clocking in at around three and a half minutes. "The Contractor" feels more like an intro into "A Truth Within The Story" than it does an individual song to me. 
"A Truth Within The Story" is a hard hitting, head banging song that goes from a heavy heart pounding part to a slow solo guitar and vocals part and back again. 
Matthew's vocals are really well done, and Stephen's guitar playing is excellent for being the only guitarist in the band. 
These guys sound amazing live, and I'd love to hear more from them in the future. 
Bandcamp

Portraits of Dying by Malon

Portraits of Dying by Malon
1.Socks and Socks and Socks
2. Symphonies in Seashells
3. Shitty Art
4. Drowned in the Caspian Sea
5. A Portrait of Dying
6. Cormorants
7. Pretty Art
8. An Osiria Rose
9. Tree Accidents
Portraits of Dying is the newest release by Malon, an Emo/Skramz/Twinkle band. This release however, is one you can't just place into one category. You have your normal Emo/Twinkle music, you have your Skramz aspects in some places, and you have a Powerviolence aspect in "A Portrait of Dying". The final three tracks switch up the entire release in a strange way, giving a more acoustic feeling, filled with actual singing, and recorded tracks played over the music. The Vocals throughout are well done and the lyrics are something worth deciphering. This release is filled with raw emotion, and is one I'll be listening to for a long time. 
Favorite Track:  Tree Accidents

Fuck Everything, by I'm Okay

Fuck Everything, by I'm Okay
1. I'm Going To Quit Big Y
2. Sounds Like Broken Action Figures
3. Twinkle Twinkle Death Star


I'm Okay combines Twinkle music with a punk aspect in "Fuck Everything". You've got your typical Twinkle/emo band instrumentation going on, Guitar, Guitar, Bass, Drums. The Vocals are raw, screaming vocals that in many parts throughout the release are backed up by the rest of the band. Guitar is Twinkle stock guitar playing, but is definitely something that I enjoyed listening to. Bass is definitely noticeable, and in a good way. Drums are simple and well done, complimenting the rest of the instrumentation perfectly, but it doesn't stand out that amazingly. A good release, I'd love to hear more from I'm Okay  in the future, but by their Facebook it seems they might be on a hiatus of some form. 

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Vessel by Vessel

Vessel by Vessel
1. I'm Going To Miss This When We're Dead
2. Flight
3. It's Never Too Late
4. Oceans
5. Alexandria
6. High Noon
7. Gentlemen, It's Been An Honor Serving With You

The self titled, full instrumental release by Vessel has left me with a weird feeling in the pit of my stomach. This release is full of emotion, dynamic, and, if you have a little imagination, seems to tell a story through it's music. Each song is so different and dynamic, that each one leaves you with an entirely different feeling.
Guitar is well done, simple in many, if not all parts, but working and progressing throughout the song/ throughout the release. There are some nice riffs, and tremolo is pulled off nicely in some songs, such as Flight.
In all, this 40 odd minute release left me stunned. To me, it was a release about endings. It's an emotional and beautiful release that I'd definitely check out.

Bandcamp

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

The Doctor Who 50th Anniversary EP by Disinterested Handjob

The Doctor Who 50th Anniversary EP by Disinterested Handjob
1. Five rounds rapid (1:19)
2. The Empty Child (:35)
3. Museum Piece (:45)
4. The Executioners (:58)
5. The Universe according to Mavic Chan (:20)
6. The Ballod of Broton and Styggron (1:15)
7. Vashta Nerada (1:13)
8. This Will be Your Only Warning (:51)
9. The Deathsmiths of Goth (1:05)
10. Omnirumour (1:56)
11. Doctor in Distress (2:55)

So I was looking at my band, and decided to see where it ranked on Bandcamp under the "Trock Category"
First off, it did pretty well. Second, "Trock" music is any kind of music relating to the British Television show Doctor Who. (Yes, it's a real thing). This genre usually holds acoustic bands/indie bands/techno bands, with some weird name relating to Doctor Who. When I saw the name Disinterested Handjob as one of the bands under the Trock category, my interest was peaked. 
So for an EP, you'll notice that this release has 11 songs; however, these songs' run times range from 20 seconds to 2:55. 
What you've got yourself some generic Powerviolence songs, but with this strange techno/digital feeling to it. Many of the songs (all of them) have some Doctor Who clip set into the song, and they all surprisingly work. Not sure how much you know about the show, but if it would fancy you to know, they almost all seem to be from the old series. 
The drums are pretty metalcore, the vocals that are from the actual singer are all low and grumbles, absolutely inaudible. Bass is simple, quick to the point, powerviolence bass. Guitar is the same, with a few nicely added riffs, such as at the end of "The Deathsmiths of Goth".
However, if you're looking for some powerviolence, and pop one for anything Doctor Who, than this is the release for you.

Favorite Song: Omnirumour, Doctor in Distress

Bandcamp