Tag Archives: The Ghost Inside

06.20.12
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[MAGAZINE] LMP #10 June 2012 – Out Now!

Our first issue in over a year and a half is finally here! LMP #10 June 2012 features Every Minute Can Kill and Dr. Acula as the cover features; both interviews are great! Check out below for more details on what you’ll find inside the issue:

FEATURES
Every Minute Can Kill
Dr. Acula

BANDS YOU SHOULD HEAR
Dispensers
The Word Alive
Everclear
Pierce the Veil
For the Fallen Dreams

ALBUM BREAKDOWN
Warped Tour 2012 Compilation

REVIEWS
The Ghost Inside
Miss May I
Buried In Verona
Whitechapel
Madball
Sworn In
Dr. Acula
The Overseer
Children 18:3
Motion City Soundtrack
Icarus the Owl
Bermuda
Write This Down
Altars
Everclear
Sirens & Sailors
Lions Lions
For All Those Sleeping
With Shaking Hands
Restless Streets
Bouncing Souls
Lostprophets
Memphis May Fire
Chelsea Grin
Linkin Park

DOWNLOAD AND READ THE ISSUE FOR FREE RIGHT HERE
*We’re looking for writers. E-mail nate@phmrecords.com if interested

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06.08.12
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[MUSIC VIDEO] The Ghost Inside – Engine 45

THE GHOST INSIDE [Epitaph Records] will be releasing their 3rd full length on June 19. The fist video from the new album, ‘Get What You Give’ is for the blistering track ‘Engine 45′. You can watch the video below. Make sure you buy this record when it drops as it is sure to be one of the years best.

Lyrics:

Grab ahold of me, I’ve got my arms up.
Pull me out from this darkness.
It’s so hard for me to see so light up the end of that tunnel.

If it’s a war you came to see you will never see a waved white flag in front me.
I cant end up dead, I wont be misled.
I’ll keep singing this song inside my head.

A phoenix rise? Or your demise?
Do I have to put your name on this grave? Or give you one more shot?
This addiction came like a freight train.
You’re coming off of the rails again.
It’s hard for you to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

If it’s a war you came to see you will never see a waved white flag in front me.
I can’t end up dead, I wont be misled.
I’ll keep singing this song inside my head.

On a one way course set for destruction, full speed ahead.
The time has come for you to start things over.
So hold on, full speed ahead.

All my life I’ve been waiting for something,
That never came. It never came.
But I’m still saying…

All my life I’ve been searching for something,
To break these chains. To break these chains.
But I’ll keep swinging…

Read our review here as well: http://lmpmagazine.com/2012/06/08/music-review-the-ghost-inside-get-what-you-give/

06.08.12
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[MUSIC REVIEW] The Ghost Inside – Get What You Give

THE GHOST INSIDE
Get What You Give
[Epitaph]
Verdict: 10/10
RIYL: STICK TO YOUR GUNS & TERROR

It’s no secret that THE GHOST INSIDE’s newest record, Get What You Give, was, has been and will be a hot topic. Once it was revealed Jeremy McKinnon of A DAY TO REMEMBER fame was to be involved the rumors were off the charts. With the release of the mighty track ‘Engine 45′, the shit talking commenced. “They sold out.” “I knew Jeremy would make them do cleans.” “I hated Returners.” All of these things are from the mouths of babies as they obviously don’t listen to real music and only ‘like’ a band when it’s cool to. While hearing the clean vocals was a shock, and to find out it’s Mr. Vigil killing these cleans, it’s no surprise. Their band brothers in STICK TO YOUR GUNS are still hard and credible and they have employed cleans for a good while now and it’s not like Vigil hits thes insane highs. These only add a new deeper level of realism and purity in his always poignant lyrics. Musically Get What You Give is the perfect combination of Fury And The Fallen Ones and Returners. They don’t stray far from what makes them THE GHOST INSIDE. Melody. Groove. Passion. They bleed and breathe hardcore and it shows in the music they play and perform. Nothing about Get What You Give screams sell out or even shows any sign of the band slowing down. What it does show is a band fully coming to grips with themselves and what they can do. To try and find anything wrong with this record, or to even attempt to choose a ‘favorite’ part is pretty pointless as it’s a damn near perfect record. This is obviously just one opinion and it shouldn’t be taken as gospel. THE GHOST INSIDE have quickly become one of hardcores heros. Get What You Give just further cements this fact.                       -by Jon Hole

Recommended listening: ‘Engine 45′, ‘Face Value’ & ‘Deceiver’ It’s all there.
Guest appearances: Andrew Nuefeld of COMEBACK KID on ‘Face Value’
Production credits: Produced by Jeremy McKinnon
Release date: June 19, 2012 (USA)
In conclusion…Get What You Give is THE GHOST INSIDE’s most dynamic and mature record to date. Don’t miss out on this explosive band.

06.07.12
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[MUSIC REVIEW] Altars – Conclusions

ALTARS
Conclusions
[Facedown Records]
Verdict: 7.5/10
RIYL: LEGEND, SLEEPING GIANT & THE GHOST INSIDE

Writing and performing genuinely passionate hardcore/metal isn’t an easy feat when it’s almost easier to sell yourself out and clone the top Hot Topic artists at the moment. Luckily, there are more than a handful of artists performing their music to it’s fullest extent and making believers of all those lost. ALTARS, formerly MONUMENTS, are one of these newer, passionate bands. Filled to the brim with awe inspiring breakdowns, groove filled rhythms and pure vocals that make the listener want to learn the words to scream along to. After releasing their Opposition EP last year, it was clear ALTARS were meant for something more. The release of Conclusions furthers this belief. Among the albums 12 tracks, the listener is treated to a bevy of beat downs and few mellower moments with tracks like ‘Portlen’ and ‘Ryland’. Both are instrumentals and done in the same vein as anything that HASTE THE DAY would have done. Opening off this attack is the ‘One-Two Punch’ of ‘Red Brick Army’ & first single ‘Scum’. If these two tracks were any indication of what the listener is in for, then hold on. Every song writhes and undulates with an aggressive but melodic message of hope and faith in Jesus, yes, Jesus. Do not let that deter you though. Many other writers will call ALTARS ‘cookie cutter mosh metal’, but they are so much more than that. Evoking and projecting their heartfelt passion is a huge plus and that makes Conclusions far above and beyond what the Opposition EP displayed, that it would be easy to almost assume this was a new band. ALTARS are easily joining the ranks of some of the futures best and brightest. Conclusions is just a small example of what to expect.                       -by Jon Hole

Recommended listening: ‘Red Brick Army’, ‘Scum’ & ‘Montreal’
Release date: June 5, 2012
In conclusion…Fans of rhythm heavy, aggressive but positive music need to check out ALTARS new record Conclusions.

12.25.11
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[MUSIC] Most Anticipated Releases of 2012…

With 2012 right around the corner, now is the time to try and figure out who’s releasing what and when. Will PANTERA‘s massive classic “A Vulgar Display Of Power” get the Deluxe Re-issue treatment that “Cowboys…” did? Will your avorite band be releasing anything new this year? Who knows. I took the time to compile a few of my Most Anticipated releases for ’12, as well as a few that I knew people would want to know about. If I missed something here, leave a comment and add it!

LIONHEART The follow up to 2011’s ‘Built On Struggle‘ is slated for an early 2012 release. “It’s an exciting opportunity to be able to work with Matt Hyde (SLAYER, HATEBREED & TERROR) and Nick Jett (TERROR) on this album,” says LIONHEART vocalist Rob Watson. “Matt Hyde’s resume speaks for itself, and we know Nick from previous tours done together so it will be awesome to work together on something like this. We’ve been working on this record since the release of Built On Struggle, and we can’t wait to start recording it. It’s heavier, harder, and more pissed than anything we’ve done to date.”

THE ACACIA STRAIN With a slew of tour dates being announced in the new year, it looks as if TAS plan to continue their live dominance over the world at large. The follow up to ‘Wormwood’ will most likely be recorded and released later this year. The bands original guitarist DL has been demoing tracks for both TAS as well as an unnamed project. Hopefully we wont have to wait too long.

THE GHOST INSIDE As of August, TGI announced they were heading to the studio around October or November to begin tracking with Jeremy McKinnon (A DAY TO REMEMBER). No other news has been announced minus the tour with ATTACK ATTACK! to start off the new year. The new record is expected soon. As for the ‘Returners’ re-release with the DVD? Who knows what happened to that…

PARKWAY DRIVE The band have said that they’ve got some “ideas that are bigger than anything we’ve done in the past” for their fourth studio album. “We’ve got ideas for this record that are bigger than anything we’ve done in the past. We’re trying to pencil it in, but we want to get in the studio sooner rather than later.” Also stating that they don’t believe the material would be written with bigger crowds in mind. Winston McCall added: “We’ve never written like that in the first place, we always wrote for ourselves. I mean, it’s cool to be able to write a part that loads of people can sing along to, but you can’t really factor that in. It just happens.” Hopefully we’ll get to hear and see some new material before the end of 2012.

RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE As is the norm, rumors have been getting kicked around now about RATM finally recording and releasing some new material. The bands last offering, ‘Renegades’ was released in 2000. Fans have waited patiently (for going on 12 years now! Some real GUNS N ROSES shit here folks!) for a new record. Guitarist Tom Morello has had this very cryptic message to say on the matter: “Right now there are no… You know, the band is not writing songs, the band is not in the studio,” he said. “We get along famously and we all, you know, intend to do more RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE stuff in the future, but beyond sort of working out a concert this year, there’s nothing else on the schedule.” Hmmm…

HIGH ON FIRE The band has entered Salem, Massachusetts’ GodCity Studios with producer and CONVERGE guitarist Kurt Ballou to begin tracking its as-yet-untitled new album. “We are really stoked about recording this album,” said bassist Jeff Matz. “The new songs are turning out absolutely punishing; there are some seriously sledgehammer riffs on this one! Working with Kurt has been awesome as well. He’s super easy to work with and is full of good ideas. The sounds that the guy gets are ridiculous and raw as fuck but also clear and HUGE. I think this album will capture the essence of the band really well. It’s still early in the process, but so far it’s sounding amazing.”

STONE SOUR On Corey Taylor‘s recent solo tour he told crowd’s to expect a new record sometime next year. Speaking on the new material Taylor said: “We’ve got about 13 songs demoed,” Corey said. “We’ve got about six more than I’m gonna record. A handful more than me and Josh [Rand, guitar] are working on. Josh and Jim [Root, guitar] are in a secret location in Florida right now working on things. And Roy’s [Mayorga, drums] got some stuff that he’s bringing in; he’s still building his home studio right now so that he can play drums and not piss off his neighbors!” Adding, “We’re probably gonna record in Iowa with [producer] David Bottrill, who’s done ‘Ænima’ by TOOL and he’s done work with MUSE… pretty much everybody from TOOL to PETER GABRIEL he’s worked with. He’s a band’s producer, he’s an album producer. What I wanna do with this album is very grandiose. It’s gonna be a little bit of everything for everybody, but just really kick-ass and hard.” As a side note, there has been NO talk of when SLIPKNOT will get together and write again. There hasn’t been sufficient healing time but they are however, touring the US in 2012 on the Mayhem Festival alongside UNEARTH and LAMB OF GOD.

LAMB OF GOD ‘Resolution’, the band’s 7th full length will be released January 23, 2012. The 14 tracks were produced by Josh Wilbur, who was also at the production desk for ‘Wrath’ and who has also worked with HATEBREED, BLACK TIDE and (pffft) LIMP BIZKIT. Let’s hope this is more of a return to the glory and majesty that once was LoG.

BLEEDING THROUGH The band will be releasing their new record January 31 via Rise Records. The new outing will be titled ‘The Great Fire’. It will be released as a CD/DVD combo, as of this moment there has been no word on what will be included on the DVD. Following along the same path they’ve been on the new record should prove to be one of the most volatile in the bands career.

ATTACK ATTACK! Rise Records will also be releasing the new AA! record, ‘This Means War’ on January 31. This will actually be a very important record for the band as they have attempted to define themselves as a more mature sounding band than on previous efforts.

CALIBAN German metalcore giants are set to explode with their highly anticipated (at least by me!) new album, “I Am Nemesis”, on February 28. Caliban’s music has been getting heavier with each release — almost transcending into deathcore territory with their 2009 full-length, ‘Say Hello to Tragedy. “It was important to us to have an elaborate album without any fillers,” declares lead guitarist Marc Görtz. “Additionally, the sound of the album is the best we’ve ever had by far: it is heavy and brutal without being chaotic. The album breaks new soil without forgetting our roots. There are new influences such as shimmering guitar melodies and technical grooves with Meshuggah-like heaviness.”

A FIGHT FOR LIFE Unsigned at the moment but with great management behind them, Atlanta’s own young-blood’s have every intention of recording a full length this year. “We are planning on doing a new single to try and play around with a newer sound, the direction will definitely be harder. We aren’t going for any particular sound though. We’re writing what we feel. Nothing mainstream by any means but a bit heavier while still keeping the melodic hardcore aspect,” says drummer/vocalist Casey Butler. He continues, “After we get a record deal, we will do a full length. We’d love to work with Brian Hood at 456 again. We are also toying with doing a cover song, but something special that we could actually do credit to.”

GIDEON Alabama’s answer to THE GHOST INSIDE will be releasing their new as-yet-untitled record this summer. It’s sure to be as beast as “Costs” was, if not more. Starting off 2012 as part of the HardknocTour featuring: SOVEREIGN STRENGTH, KING CONQUER and AS HELL RETREATS, with several more in store! The band just recently released a new track on their Facebook that proves they are, and will be a force to be reckoned with.

EVERGREEN TERRACE Seemingly always on the road in the US and abroad, the ET boys have been gearing up and getting ready to record their 6th full length, which we can hope will be sooner than later. With their blistering combination of melodic hardcore, metal and punk rock, fans can only expect more of the same.

THE UNKNOWN A new ‘super-group’ of sorts, that features the talented contributions of members from WHITECHAPEL, DR. ACULA, FORTY WINTERS and a guest that can’t be named as of press. The project is the ‘brain-child’, of sorts, by Atlanta’s own Jon Hole. The project focuses on the ‘good and evil’ in man and music is well, uncompromisingly heavy and filled with groove. It will be produced, mixed and mastered by Shaan Singh of Sing-A-Ling Productions and Alex Wade (WHITECHAPEL). Even more enticing? The upcoming EP will be free upon release. Just don’t expect a tour: “This is strictly a project for the sake of making music, trying to get out a message that there just might be some good in all the bad out there and, I honestly just wanted to do something with this group of talented individual’s and am happy to call them friends.” says Jon Hole on the upcoming EP.

BIOHAZARD January 20 will also see the release of the Brooklyn Bashers 9th studio album. It also marks the return of the groups original line-up. This hasn’t been seen in 18 years. It’s also a sad but powerful farewell to bassist/co-vocalist Evan Seinfeld. “BIOHAZARD has always been a mixture of our personalities, passion, chaos and angst that makes us who we are,” says vocalist and guitarist Billy Graziadei. “It’s this energy that comes out of us when we’re together that is BIOHAZARD.” Toby Wright (ALICE IN CHAINS, METALLICA, SEVENDUST, KORN) was brought in to produce the 13-track “Reborn In Defiance”, which was recorded in Los Angeles.

STICK TO YOUR GUNS The band is recording with Jason Livermore and Bill Stevenson at the helm, at The Blasting Room in Fort Collins, CO with an early spring release expected. The band recently released a single, “Bringing You Down (A New World Overthrow)” featuring a vocal contribution from Karl Schwartz of FIRST BLOOD. The song is a perfect representative of the bands newly focused and renewed direction, mixing hardcore, melody and quite frankly, some of the best and most passionate lyrics around in this genre. Next to the new THE GHOST INSIDE record, fans should expect this to be one of the years best releases.

EVERY TIME I DIE Everyone’s favorite dirty swagger, southern tinged hardcore band ETID have been at it again. Ripping up stages once again and debuting, while opening for a less than impressive GWAR, a new track tentatively titled “Underwater Bimbos From Outerspace”. It keeps the trademark sound the band are known for and if the song is any indication as to where any new material is headed, we are in for one hell of a record! Going out on their own headline tour in the first few months of 2012 (with TERROR, STRAY FROM THE PATH and FORMER THIEVES) it is unclear if and when they will actually record and release a new record, but fingers crossed it would most likely be late summer/fall.

ARCHITECTS (UK) Are Brighton, UK’s sons working on a new full length? The release of the “Devil’s Island” two track single would lead many to believe, yes. They start off 2012 with a major European tour with RISE AGAINST. Let’s hope they make time to record a full length this year.

As you can tell, 2012 is shaping up to be a huge year for quality releases. Other bands to watch out for this coming year include CATALEPSY, the possible reformation/reunion of xAFBx, MY TICKET HOME, KING CONQUER, KILLWHITNEYDEAD, CHELSEA GRIN and many more. Don’t be shy. Don’t be cheap. Go see you’re favorite bands when they come through your town. Shake their hands. Buy their merch. Buy a cd. If it’s only in your budget to buy just one a month, do it. Make it count.    -Jon Hole

12.13.11
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[MUSIC] Recognize – Revenge [REVIEW]

RECOGNIZE
Revenge
[Unsigned]
Verdict: 8/10

In just 2 short years Modesto/Fresno’s 6 man wrecking crew, known as RECOGNIZE have made an impressive name for themselves through relentless touring and and releasing music in the vein of FIRST BLOOD and AMERICAN ME. Heavy. Punishing and filled to the brim with groove. It’s a shame, and very sad to type this but…after releasing Revenge, a very impressive slab of beatdown, pit worthy material, the band have announced they are stepping down from the platform of artists. With that bit of news out of the way, the music. Revenge starts off with the ominous pit mover ‘Hail Satan’. It serves as an introduction to the destruction that awaits in the next 14 tracks. From there we are treated to ‘On To The Next One’. A very heavy, brutal afair that damages the senses. Between Aaaron Sy’s Karl Schwartz-like shouted vocals to the triple guitar attack everything about this song is right. While nothing on Revenge is absolutely mind numbingly inventive, it’s the heart and the actual passion the band put into each and every track that makes this shit so special. Displaying a knack for THE GHOST INSIDE kinda ‘realism’ in their lyrics helps the bands sound out immensely. This has to be a California trait as pretty much every hardcore band dropping anything from over there has this crazy emotion in everything. That aside, it’s the breakdowns that will unfortunately be the main focus here as the throngs of ‘scene kids’ will only flock to RECOGNIZE because they can show off their ‘cool moves’ they’ve been practicing at home. Rest assured though, those breakdowns are heavy as hell and sick as fuck. Worthy of tearing up any venues floor for (or sadly, your living rooms now). On ‘G.F.Y.S.’ the band start things off managing to show off their more comedic side with an intro that will leave you chuckling before you start banging your head off. In a world where every genre is over loaded with douche bags and tools champing at the bit just to make some quick cash or have as much sex as possible, trying to live up to the ‘Sex. Drugs & Rock’n'Roll’ lifestyle, it’s a welcome relief to listen to a band that makes/made music from the heart. If you haven’t heard of RECOGNIZE, Revenge is you’re chance to redeem yourself. -by Jon Hole

Recommended listening: ‘On To The Next One’ & ‘New Friend Request’s From California’s Girlfriend’
Release date: October 19, 2011
In conclusion…Recognize have unknowingly released an amazing farewell record with Revenge. Show the band some love and get this destructive piece of music ASAP!

11.12.11
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[MUSIC] Hero In Error – The High Point Of New Lows EP [REVISITED REVIEW]

HERO IN ERROR
The High Point of New Lows EP
[Mediaskare Records]
Verdict: 8.5/10

Are you sick of metalcore bands all sounding like one long breakdown and chug-fest? Enter in Ireland’s Hero in Error for your listening pleasure. They combine the aggression and technicality of some of the genre’s best like August Burns Red with a more progressive, djenty sound akin to the myriad of bands influenced by Meshuggah. The band is a treat to ears for any guitar aficionado. The vocals are mostly screamed and mostly stay in the mid-range. There is some variety though, with some gang vocals and one sung chorus. The sung vocals in “Under the Sky” are a great compliment to the aggression of the song and, at least in my opinion, should have been more frequently used throughout the EP. In fact, most modern metalcore does not utilize clean vocals enough (in this reviewer’s opinion), or well when it does, so hopefully Hero in Error can use the successful clean vocals more on their debut full-length. Going back to the guitar work, the riffs throughout the album are superb. The opening notes of the title track alone are enough for any fans of the genre to fall in love with the album right away. The lyrics are caustic and match the energy of the song. They discuss the band’s frustrations with authority figures in the Catholic Church, which, while it’s been covered before, the band is able to portray their angst very well. Overall, this is definitely an album that fans of technical metal are going to love. – by Nicholas Senior

2nd Opinion (Originally wrote on May 10, 2011)

Verdict: 8.5/10

Mediaskare Records over the past few years has made a very good name for itself. The label currently boasts a fantastic lineup including THE GHOST INSIDE, SUFFOKATE, ENDWELL, BLIND WITNESS, the mighty BURY YOUR DEAD, BETRAYAL and most recently from Dublin, Ireland, HERO IN ERROR. In keeping with the labels choice of music, HERO IN ERROR fit along side the bands roster quite nicely. The band employ muscular riffing and stop start breakdowns and melody with style and finesse. Definitely a nod to the old days of amazing hardcore and the chaos and energy that came along with it. Its like listening to Trustkill records catalog the first 4 years of its existence. Anthony Clavins vocals are a perfect fit as they convey urgency and passion over the tightly weaved music around him. For a band only having been together since late 2008 and having only recorded a 2 song ep previously, HERO IN ERROR are bent on destroying everything around them. Adam Moore deftly flows from chug to grandiose sweeps ala old THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN as founding member Stephen Reilly beats his kit like hes trying to be hardcore’s answer to Dave Lombardo. Crashing china and double bass blast at you like it was meant to hurt you. Bass player, ‘PK’ holds down the groove and low end rumbling in your guts. Stand out tracks? Try 1 thru 5. This EP is a bright light in a sea of whiny sub par music that is flooding the local Hot Topics scene. The band has opened and toured with HUNDREDTH, YOUR DEMISE, IWRESTLEDABEARONCE and the ARCHITECTS (UK). Very good company indeed. Track 5, ‘Under My Sky’ is a re-worked, re-recorded version of the original 2009 demo track and features Justin Hill (of SikTh) and it just kills. Seriously.

“This Is The High Point Of New Lows/Strike The Pose.”
The title track has a nasty nasty grind and amazing chorus that actually reminds of Imprint era Tim Williams (VISION OF DISORDER). These guys are a force to watch your ass around. They are hungry and out for blood. In the mean time, listen to this EP and dream of massiveness that will be the full length.   -by Jon Hole

Recommended listening: All 5 tracks
Produced by: Dan Weller and Justin Hill of SiKth
Guest appearances: Justin Hill of SiKth on ‘Under My Sky’
Released date: October 4, 2010
In conclusion…Modern metalcore meets Every Time I Die’s ferocious punk infused hardcore energy. Awesome.

*This was originally published on LMP May 12, 2011

10.30.11
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[MUSIC] Mandalay Victory – Feels Like Home [UNSIGNED REVIEW]

MANDALAY VICTORY
Feels Like Home
[Unsigned]
Verdict: 8/10

In the past few years, it has become almost painfully apparent that there is something either in the air or the water that allows Australia to consistently produce bands of worth and value. MANDALAY VICTORY can now be added to the rapidly growing list. With the release of their second record Feels Like Home, MANDALAY VICTORY are making a point to the world that they are going to be a valuable asset to the melodic hardcore genre. Having a unique mix of THE GHOST INSIDE’s passion and fury and HASTE THE DAY’s infectious melody MANDALY have unleashed a record full of driving rhythms, hardcore swagger and super tight musicianship. Tracks like ‘Lower Your Guard’ set the bar high as they stomp around bouncy, catchy tones and Dane Warren’s hardcore gravely throated vocals. Adding a smattering of clean vocals to up the ante. Every song on Feels Like Home makes you want to sing along and dance. ‘All Or Nothing’ shows the most diversity as it presents amazing gang vocals and that recognizable HASTE THE DAY melodic rhythm inter twinned with a dirty groove that causes floors to erupt into chaos worldwide, but never imitating, instead making it their own. On the flip side, ‘The Hearts We Left Behind’ explodes out from the speakers like a hidden and pleasantly unexpected treat. Just one listen and you’ll be hooked. It’s the pure, unadulterated passion and heart that is in everyone one of the records 10 high energy tracks that will make people take notice (and hopefully a label). Having already shared stages with PARKWAY DRIVE, THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA and AS I LAY DYING, it’ll only be a matter of time before these Perth boys blow up. -by Jon Hole

Recommended listening: ALL 10 Tracks. Seriously.
Guest appearances: Nick Norsnell of Miles Away on ‘Davey Jones’ Locker’
In conclusion…Mandalay Victory prove that once again, Australia is hot bed of talent with the release of their second, very impressive record Feels Like Home. It’s almost criminal that something this good isn’t signed…

10.21.11
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[MUSIC] Counterparts – The Current Will Carry Us [REVIEW]

COUNTERPARTS
The Current Will Carry Us
[Victory Records]
Verdict: 8.5/10

It seems that when it comes to the current crop of ‘IT’ bands right now, there is more than a handful of Canadian ones floating around. COUNTERPARTS, hailing from Hamilton, ON are the latest in a long line of great music from the great north. The Current Will Carry Us is an amazingly energetic melodic hardcore record, if not the best of the year. Mixing the familiar bite of hardcore’s stomp and breakdowns with melody and style, making a familiar but fresh sounding record in the vein of COMEBACK KID, THE GHOST INSIDE and STICK TO YOUR GUNS. Tracks like ‘MMVII’ and ‘Jumping Ship’ speak volumes about COUNTERPARTS. Mature. Energetic. Abrasive without being insulting. Passionate and furious. Not to much else should, or could be for that matter, said about how incredible The Current Will Carry Us is. COUNTERPARTS have managed to leave me speechless with their new record. -by Jon Hole

Recommended listening: tracks 1 through 11 or ‘MMVII’ and ‘Pedestal’
Release date: October 24, 2011
In conclusion…Amazing melodic hardcore is alive and well with bands like Counterparts releasing such blisteringly good records as The Current Will Carry Us.

09.19.11
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[MUSIC] Hundredth – Let Go [REVIEW]

HUNDREDTH
Let Go
[Mediaskare Records]
Verdict: 7.5/10

Mediaskare Records has an uncanny ability to sign some amazingly hot as shit bands. The only problem here is that almost all the labels releases get pushed back, for one reason or another. The plus to this is that the demand for these releases, which usually are well beyond worth the wait, increases and when it drops? They explode. Let Go, HUNDREDTH’s second release is indeed on the ‘Hotly Anticipated Releases’ list for a vast majority of fans. Let Go begins with an all to short (almost 30 second) intro before gliding into the first song, ‘Weathered Town’. It’s immediately noticeable what direction HUNDREDTH have gone in. Gone are the nasally cleans and the heavier side of a meaty breakdown/riff. The heaviness is replaced by more melody and rhythm. It’s a style and sound that work well for them as the bands brand of melodic hardcore inherently becomes more melodic and ‘grown up’. ‘Monumental Part I’ serves as a cool instrumental interlude with a great sample running throughout it to add flair, as a killer gang chorus builds up the track and finishes it off as it leads into ‘Monumental Part II’, which serves as an example of why HUNDREDTH are the great band that they are. High energy punk-like hardcore, soaring chorus mixed with Chadwick Johnson’s hardcore scream make this 2 part song amazing. Throughout Let Go this style is as in your face as it gets. Admittedly though, a few songs get lost as the over use of melodic guitars kinda takes charge. Standout track, ‘I Hold The Key’ is a prime example of the sound they should tap into and experiment with more. If they had managed to mix the meatiness of 2010′s When Will We Surrender with this new found sense of melody, like on ‘I Hold The Key’,  Let Go would easily be a 10 out of 10. They even toss in a little bonus gem, an awesome rendition of NINE INCH NAILS’ ‘Hurt’. Although this version comes nowhere near the epic-ness of JOHNNY CASH’s cover, this one is very impressive and needs to be heard. This is what puts HUNDREDTH in league with bands like THE GHOST INSIDE and STICK TO YOUR GUNS. All respect goes to HUNDREDTH as they have managed to put out a quality record with Let Go, proving that one doesn’t need to lyrically always talk about the negative aspects of life, but that there is positivity in the world as well.  – by Jon Hole

Recommended listening: ‘Monumental Part I & II’ and ‘I Hold The Key’
Guest appearances by: unknown
Release date: September 27, 2011
In conclusion…if you like your hardcore more on the melodic and positive side, Let Go is the record for you.

08.23.11
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[MUSIC] Stray From The Path – Rising Sun [REVIEW]

STRAY FROM THE PATH
Rising Sun
[Sumerian Records]
Verdict: 9/10

Every so often in a certain genre, a band will emerge that is so genuine and groundbreaking, they end up throwing people off and they sadly go unrecognized for a long time. Hardcore has long been a genre filled with bands like this. From the early days of MADBALL to the current crop including THE GHOST INSIDE. Long Island’s STRAY FROM THE PATH are in this category. After releasing two incredibly pissed and highly energetic records, 2008′s Villians and 2009′s Make Your Own History, this year see’s the release of the bands newest and even more adrenaline fueled angst record, Rising Sun. Keeping with their trademark chaotic frenzy the disc opens with title track and never slows down from there. Every track is a dizzying ride though pure aggression. Not the bottom heavy, bowel loosening aggression of a lot of bands these days, but that deep seething hatred and disgust in man. The grooves are tight and the ‘hardcore brother of RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE’ style chaotic-ness is never ending. Drew York’s distinct vocal approach never tires and keeps assaulting the ears as he blasts everything under the sun. This time, they even employed the vocal talents of a few friends. Jonathan Vigil of THE GHOST INSIDE on the devastating track ‘Death Beds’ switching off vocals the two completely rape the mic, Andrew Neufeld of COMEBACK KID, is a perfect volatile match on the track ‘Bring It Back To The Streets’ and NORMA JEAN’s Cory Brandan who adds his southern fried vocals to the track ‘Prey’. Rising Sun never has a dull moment and is without a doubt going to be one of the top contenders in this genre. Get Negative and Violent, and do yourself a favor, check out Rising Sun and get with the program. WARNING! This record is NOT intended for use by overly happy and obnoxious people looking for a quick fix of heavy. People in pursuit of honest music need only apply! -by Jon Hole

(not that Rising Sun ‘needs’ this but…) Second Opinion

Verdict: 8.5/10

Hot damn STRAY FROM THE PATH is angry! Angry about the state of the music industry, sanctimonious Christian bands who use their religion to make money, and relationships. This is not an album to pick your mood up after a long work day; this is an album to get people to get mad as hell and do something about it. Isn’t that what hardcore is all about anyway? Getting people to rally against (or for) a cause? The best bands are able to do this in spades, and if that’s the benchmark for a good hardcore band, then STRAY FROM THE PATH deserve high marks. However, there are other important factors, like enjoying the listening experience and the band certainly do not let down there either. Of freaking course there are ‘breakdowns’ (but they’re often fairly interesting), and vocalist Drew York still loves to yell “BLEH!!” like he’s literally spewing out the lyrics, but aside from typical genre complaints, who the hell won’t find this album just damn fun to listen to? Rising Sun incorporates interesting guitar riffs that are often much more technical than standard hardcore (they are on Sumerian, home of “Sumeriancore”, which I’m sure might have something to do with that), and almost every listener will find him or herself headbanging throughout this album. Get Rising Sun now, and get in on the angry fun. – by Nick Senior

08.18.11
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[MUSIC] Stand Your Ground – Despondenseas [REVIEW]

STAND YOUR GROUND
Desponenseas
[Rite Of Passage/Mediaskare Records]
Verdict: 8/10

STAND YOUR GROUND from Kingsport, TN have been pounding it out since 2007 and have showed no sign of slowing down. Their take on melodic hardcore is an invigorating mix of groove, breakdown and shouted vocals. With a few twists and turns to keep it interesting. Recently added to the Rite Of Passage/Mediaskare family, SYG are ready for a wider audience to hear what they have to offer. Starting off Despondenseas with the blistering track ‘Castaway’ sets the mood perfectly. Will Fords aggressive, gravely vocals shout over the sonic wall the rest of the band creates, a unique take on this genre. Mixing together the passion and energy of THE GHOST INSIDE with MISERY SIGNALS with ease. It’s track 3, ‘A Sudden Breath’ that brings a little relief and a calm before the storm. Cruising through the 11 tracks is a pure treat as they treat the listener to a musical soundtrack that captures passion, fury and groove in a tight package. ‘Dispatch’ is a cooler than cool interlude that even has a dope but meaningful sample…it sets up the final track ‘An Angry Sea’ to explode and finish off Despondenseas on a high note. If melodic hardcore is going to become the new hotness, then it’s a wonderous thing theres bands willing to take it to the next level. STAND YOUR GROUND are on the forefront of a revolution.

-by Jon Hole