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Tag Archives: Good Fight Music
Ion Dissonance Debuts Two New Songs From Cast The First Stone
Die Young – No Illusions
“Everything is bigger in Texas,” the saying goes. Now, I don’t know about the size of the gentlemen of Texas outfit Die Young, but what I do know is that they are not messing around. As no-nonsense as their message, their newest effort No Illusions (Good Fight Music) starts off swinging a few fists. With their Bolt Thrower-like mix of hardcore and thrash, they take no prisoners.
Before reforming and dropping the record, the band released the single ‘Providence’. In an interview, vocalist Daniel Albaugh said that ‘Providence’ is about preferring a chaotic universe to a universe led by one – sadistic, according to the Old Testament and Albaugh – God. The rest of the record also points to a very anti-theistic message, from the title of the album (No Illusions) to songs like the very sarcastically titled ‘God’s Promises’.
The song Providence itself, in terms of sound, is very reminiscent of a young Hatebreed. Aggressive, no-nonsense, no fancy riffs, just honest hardcore. The slowed-down intro gets the listener amped up for the violence yet to come. With a commanding shout they kick the song into a higher gear, ready to fire up a mean mosh pit.
After ‘Providence’ the album barrels on like a semi-truck, floating between almost Slayer-like thrash and classic Knuckledust-, Blood For Blood-style hardcore. In some songs, like ‘I Repent’, they mix the thumping hardcore backing, with a warp-speed thrash metal shred solo. The two genres go together quite nicely, forming an audio barrage of pure aggression.
However, No Illusions does not really stand out for me. Most of the songs are quite interchangeable, and I have a feeling I’ve heard most of them before. It is a solid record, with solid riffs and a solid sound, but it does not manage to surprise the listener. The songs are good for throwing a beer or two and running into the pit, guns blazing, but it does not really have any memorable hooks or riffs.
6.0/10
SAM C.A. VAN DE LEUR
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On The Road… with Tesseract and The Contortionist
Progressive metal stars Tesseract have hit the ground running hard since the release of their new album Polaris (Kscope) in 2015. Re-energized by returning vocalist Daniel Tompkins and new horizons to reach for musically, the band has been slaying out on tour. Will a huge headline run of dates in their native United Kingdom, as well as the rest of Europe, rabid fans were in a froth. Especially to see Tompkins, who is truly a great conduit vocally and lyrically for what the bands lays down. Most of the shows on the tour are already sold-out, attesting to the greatness of this band; already a modern legend. On this night at Rescue Rooms in Nottingham, the band was supported directly by like-minded US proggers The Contortionist and Nordic Giants (not pictured). The Contortionist themselves are another great young band, with a similar career arc of the headliners. Now fronted by Michael Lessard (Last Chance To Reason), the band is touring hardcore behind their own recent release the “Rediscovered” version of their album Language (eOne). As for the headliners, if you have ever seen them live, they are masterful performers. On this night they crafted a set list highlighting their newest work, but always remembering the moments from older albums that got them here in the first place. Captured here for Ghost Cult by Luke Denham of Luke Denham Photography, you get a glimpse one of tomorrow’s best band, today.
TesseracT set list:
Phoenix
Messenger
Concealing Fate, Part Two: Deception
Concealing Fate, Part Three: The Impossible
Of Matter: Proxy
Of Matter: Retrospect
Of Matter: Resist
Dystopia
Hexes
Survival
April
Of Mind: Nocture
Concealing Fate, Part One: Acceptance
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Sweet Cobra – Earth
With their long awaited follow up to 2010’s Mercy (Good Fight Music), Earth (Magic Bullet Records) puts Sweet Cobra back in the spotlight and in front of me for the first time. The internet told me they were “post-hardcore.” What does that mean? I don’t speak English so I have no idea, let’s find out!
‘Future Ghosts’ wound up catching my attention more than the opening track, ‘Far Too Temp.’ This song is more consistently upbeat and easy to start headbanging and stomping around to. It’s there to grab you and make you listen and move. I anticipate this track being included in their set list specifically for this purpose.
‘Complaints’ is on the shorter side and reminds me of 80’s pop/rock songs with its keyboards. Even Botchy Vasquez’s voice sounds like a slightly rougher, more masculine Robert Smith in this piece. Maybe this is what The Cure would sound like if they were a touch heavier. Compared to the rest of the album, it’s a bit odd which makes it stand out and is exactly why I enjoy it.
The opening drums for ‘Jealous of Drugs’ remind me of a far less intense version of Mastodon’s ‘Crystal Skull’. This track starts off slow and starts to pick up a bit about two minutes in where it turns into some catchy rock and roll. While it never comes close to reaching the heaviness referenced previously, there is still something beautiful about it.
Earth is a fun album overall although I would have liked it to be a bit more cohesive. Things are kind of all over the place in the sense that you could pick out almost any track and have it stand on its own. That says a lot about the quality of the music, however, I always look for some kind of flow as an album plays, save for the intro to nearly every song being very similar, and that didn’t seem as strong as it could have been in this release.
7/10
ALEIDA LA LLAVE
Great American Ghost Announce New Album, Single And Video Out Now
The debut full-length from Boston’s Great American Ghost will drop Everyone Leaves on July 10th from Good Fight Music. Recorded, mixed and mastered by Jay Maas of Defeater, who has also worked with Ceremony and Title Fight. Old Wounds drummer Brandon Gallagher created the cover and layout. Gallagher is know for his own bands’ artwork as well as Full of Hell, Incendiary, and Counterparts.
As a teaser of what is to come, the band is streaming a single in ‘Misery’ and also premiered a new video for ‘Shiver’, featuring Bruce LePage of 100 Demons which you can see below:
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Everyone Leaves track listing:
1) Runner
2) An Ever Changing Cast of Characters
3) Shiver
4) 12-16-2009
5) Dead Punks
6) Misery
7) Decay
8) Home Grown Hate
9) Anxious Alone
10) Everyone Leaves
Great American Ghost is:
Ethan Harrison – vocals
Matt Mailloux – guitar
Josh Lacroix – guitar, vocals
Joey Perron – bass
Bryan Nowell – drums
More info:
Album Stream + Tour: Auras – Crestfallen + Tour With Contortionist and CHON
Canadian progressive metallers Auras is streaming their new EP Crestfallen, out now via eOne Music/Good Fight Music in the US here. They are currently on tour with Contortionist and CHON on a brief May tour.
Crestfallen Tracklisting
01: Thrown
02: Terrene
03: Inordinate
04: Adverse Condition
05: Boundless
May 11: Black Sheep – Colorado Springs, CO
May 15: Jack’s Bar – San Antonio, TX
May 16: Trees – Dallas, TX
May 17: The Abbey – Memphis, TN
May 19: Fubar – St Louis, MO
May 20: Expo Five – Louisville, KY
May 21: Tremont Music Hall – Charlotte, NC
May 23: Chameleon Club – Lancaster, PA
May 24: The Voltage Lounge – Philadelphia, PA
May 26: Port City Music Hall – Portland, ME
May 27: The Lost Horizon – Syracuse, NY
May 29: Agora Ballroom – Cleveland, OH
May 30: The Shelter – Detroit, MI
Album Stream + Tour: Auras – Crestfallen + On Tour with Contortionist and CHON
Canadian progressive metallers Auras is streaming their new EP Crestfallen, out now via eOne Music/Good Fight Music in the US here. They are currently on tour with Contortionist and CHON on a brief May tour.
Crestfallen Tracklisting
01: Thrown
02: Terrene
03: Inordinate
04: Adverse Condition
05: Boundless
May 11: Black Sheep – Colorado Springs, CO
May 15: Jack’s Bar – San Antonio, TX
May 16: Trees – Dallas, TX
May 17: The Abbey – Memphis, TN
May 19: Fubar – St Louis, MO
May 20: Expo Five – Louisville, KY
May 21: Tremont Music Hall – Charlotte, NC
May 23: Chameleon Club – Lancaster, PA
May 24: The Voltage Lounge – Philadelphia, PA
May 26: Port City Music Hall – Portland, ME
May 27: The Lost Horizon – Syracuse, NY
May 29: Agora Ballroom – Cleveland, OH
May 30: The Shelter – Detroit, MI
Great American Ghost Releasing Everyone Leaves via Good Fight Music
Boston hardcore outfit Great American Ghost will be releasing their new album Everyone Leaves via Good Fight Music this summer. Stream “Misery” below.