ALBUM REVIEW: August Burns Red – Guardians


The ninth album from August Burns Red comes at a time of much-needed strength. They are not here to reinvent the genre or themselves but if you are a longtime fan or just discovering the Pennsylvania natives, Guardians (Fearless) will be one of your favorites of the year.Continue reading


Twenty Years of Blink-182’s “Enema of the State”


In the year of boy band domination, Blink-182 was the answer for the counterculture with Enema of the State (MCA Records). They were there to bring you anthems with no-holds attitude for in between classes to failed crushes and even jokes about diarrhea and animal sex. Jerry Finn who was behind the production of Green Day’s classic Dookie produced the debut album that connected with so many in more ways than one. Continue reading


Taking Back Sunday – Live at Hollywood Palladium


 

 

This year marks the 20th anniversaries for a lot of bands. And it’s a special celebration for those in the melodramatic tales of the emo explosion of 1999 and early 2000s. One of those bands is the always electrifying, Taking Back Sunday. In those 20 years, TBS has grown into an arena rock band of their own. With the neon panther in the background, TBS have killed it on this 20th-anniversary tour—especially at their stop at the legendary Hollywood Palladium for two sold-out shows last month. Expectations always run high, as the band has been thriving and this celebration of their career did not disappoint. Continue reading


Thousand Thoughts – Thousand Thoughts EP


Making it in Hollywood hardly seems realistic but if you were to look closely the story of a Thousand Thoughts, is a Hollywood story. In just a year Ethan Smith, Jack Botterill, Matt Morrell, and Jed Johnson have made their mark the music scene in North London. And now, the quartet is ready to conquer the emo/Alternative world with their self-titled four-song EP on Marshall Records.Continue reading


The Very Very Danger – Witness The Legitness


Ian Clement (Wallace Vanborn) and Michele De Feudis (formerly of Horses On Fire) have put their raw talent and imagination to deliver the outrageously fun, The Very Very Danger. Transforming into their own superheroes—Kitty taming the synths, Bunny behind the drums and Bear chugging away on the bass—they bring you Witness The Legitness (9000 Records/Consouling Sounds)Continue reading


Buckcherry – Warpaint


Buckcherry is always down for a good time. It has been four years since we have heard new material from the So Cal natives. A few lineup changes since then, they are back with Warpaint (Century Media) and this time without original guitarist Keith Nelson but with the same fun attitude. Continue reading


Demon Hunter – War / Peace


Demon Hunter has been around for a while so they can pretty much do whatever they want. War and Peace (Solid State Records) is proof that they probably shouldn’t. The compilations are polar opposites. War is alright—mildly entertaining filled with your typical Demon Hunter tracks. Peace is just a soft listen of nine uninspired songs and one decent ballad.Continue reading


InVisions – Between You & Me


York natives, InVisions are Metal. InVisions are Hardcore. InVisions are outright heavy and they are coming into this year with a blistering sophomore record, Between You & Me (Stay Sick Recordings). While they may possess those familiar tendencies that are all too similar with a host of core bands throughout the scene, they are keeping things consistent with some pleasing tracks along the way—their own way.Continue reading


Set It Off – Midnight


We’ve seen a lot of bands evolve in their discography in recent years, and it seems more and more, heavier bands are taking on the Pop side of things. But what happens when a band known for its Pop Rock tunes tries to diversify their sound?Continue reading