Our Times
Our Times
Headcount (2006)
Buffalo has a rich history as far as hardcore goes. In recent years things have been a bit stagnant, but bands like Dead Hearts and Our Times are looking to change that. Our Times are a straightedge band that play ultra-fast hardcore punk. Musically, I could see them fitting in with the Youngblood Records catalog. They've got that youth-crew revival … Read more
Ourlives
Den Of Lions
Spartan Records (2014)
Somewhere among the snowy and otherworldly environs of Reykjavik, Jón Björn Árnason and Leifur Kristinsson created Ourlives. They've been together for nine years, having already released two albums in their native Iceland. Their second album Den of Lions has now been released stateside, and neatly displays the band's penchant for minimalist, atmospheric songs. Think early-00s Coldplay, but with more weight.Den … Read more
Out to Sea
Mouth Like a Sailor
Independent (2008)
Hailing from outside of Dallas, this Texas hardcore outfit delivers six tracks of premium melodic hardcore with a slightly metallic edge. Musically their sound reminds me of Shai Hulud, but a little bit more melodic perhaps Kid Dynamite-esque at points. They've got it all, good sing-along parts, some fast-paced two-stepping parts, and of course good breakdowns. For a demo recording … Read more
Outbreak
Failure
Bridge Nine (2006)
The first time I saw Outbreak was at the "last" Suicide File show at the ICC Church in Boston during the baseball playoffs of '03. I had no clue whom Outbreak was except the fact that they were from Maine of all places and the kids went absolutely ape shit for them. After that show they were quickly signed to … Read more
Outbreak
Work to Death
Think Fast! (2009)
I'll be honest here. I was never a huge Outbreak fan. You Make Us Sick was fairly decent, but I was never really sold on the group. I have a lot of friends that swear by that record and the subsequent release of Failure. but I'm just not one of them. Anyway, Work to Death is a new 7" single … Read more
Outclassed
This Might Be Coincidence...
Forcefield (2009)
Outclassed's This Might Be Coincidence is a five-song escape from tranquility. Their satisfyingly raucous punk is filled with energy and misshapen tempos. Song titles like "Kick God in the Face, Hail Satan" and "Fuck Mark" are almost impossible to hate. Their label Forcefield Records is also home to City of Ships, Triac, and Cannabis Corpse. The one-sided LP release of … Read more
Outkast
Idlewild
LaFace (2006)
Andre Benjamin and Antwan Patton have reached an interesting point in their careers. After a handful of exceptional albums, Outkast have finally hit their slump. Since their music is essentially created by two people, it is easy to look at their history as a relationship. Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik was their awkward but promising first date. ATLiens marked the moment they realized that … Read more
Outkast
Speakerboxxx/The Love Below
La Face (2003)
Everybody likes Outkast. How can you not? Aside from some kind of genetic predisposition to bad taste, there really isn't an excuse. Carefully blending innovation with standard hip hop elements and topping it off with an amazing pop-sense, the dynamic duo of hip hop have been able to please all kinds of people, regardless of their typical musical taste. From … Read more
Outrage
Broken
Panic (2009)
Massachusetts has been a bastion for hardcore throughout the years, and 2009 isn't any different. Outrage bring forth their debut full-length, Broken, which follows up the Savior EP they released late last year. Outrage draws heavily from an era of hardcore that I both love and know well: the mid-90's. Therefore, I am predisposed - subconsciously or consciously I do … Read more
Outrage
Savior
Panic (2008)
Here we have a decent seven-song slab of 90's hardcore with some newer influences. Outrage sounds like they take the best riffs from the New Age catalog of 1995, speed it up and toss some impassioned vocals on top of it. I can see anyone into Outspoken to Defeater enjoying this band. I found it to be an enjoyable listen … Read more
Over My Dead Body
Sink or Swim
Indecision (2003)
Throughout the 1990s, San Diego, California, became well known for its lucrative pop-rock scene. Notable artists such as Blink 182, Unwritten Law, and Sprung Monkey sprung up from the depths of the just-north-of-the-border metropolis. Towards the end of the decade a band named Over My Dead Body,or xOver My Dead Bodyx to the Straight Edge kids, started playing decent-sized shows … Read more
Over Stars and Gutters
Consider This Your Curse
Independent (2009)
The whole Midwestern punk sound is something you either love or hate. I, personally love most of the main bands that have come from this genre but when it comes to newer bands, they have to do something to stand out among the others. It's a given fact that I'll enjoy the band but will I be telling my friends … Read more
Overcast
Reborn to Kill Again
Metal Blade (2008)
I would say ninety percent of the fans of the current bands (Shadows Fall, Killswitch Engage, Seemless) that the members of Overcast are in weren't even out of diapers when these metalcore rippers were originally in action. While the members have seen significant success with their current musical endeavors, it is the time spent crammed into a van touring the … Read more
Overmars
Born Again
Crucial Blast (2009)
Yes, yes, there are many bands that descend outward and are influenced in a myriad of ways by a certain band (Neurosis), some more so than others. And still, of those bands, some speak more on their own than others or are more unique. Overmars is just one of those bands that while yes they do owe some to that … Read more
Owen
At Home with Owen
Polyvinyl (2006)
During late November of 2002, I was a sad and bitter person. These feelings were brought about by several factors; the most obvious being that, as freshman in college whose main mode of transportation was walking, I was fucking cold most of the time. This sensation generally brings out the irritability in most. Delving deeper into my psyche it could … Read more
Owen
New Leaves
Polyvinyl (2009)
Most people who listen to Owen are all-too-aware of what I like to call the Kinsella continuum. Chicago-based brothers Mike and Tim are responsible for some of the more infamous 90's Midwest bands, being the minds behind Cap'n Jazz, American Football, Owls, and the ever-revolving doors of Joan of Arc. Their prolific nature has even brought in younger brother Nate … Read more
Owen
New Leaves
Polyvinyl (2009)
Owen made being a self-deprecating, guitar-playing romantic a cool thing again. But its 2009 now, and maybe it's a little played out. Yeah, there will always be a sense of comfort in Kinsella's wistful melodies and twinkling arpeggios. However, the works of Owen were starting to sound too alike, predictable, or reused. Surprisingly, Owen expands its sound with its fifth … Read more
Owen
The Avalanche
Polyvinyl (2020)
I struggled rather mightily on how to summate longtime fandom into a concise review for this record, a Sisyphean task that was slowly running me into the ground. I even had a dream about Owen and woke up at 5 a.m. with some revelatory connection that would be my through line, but I fell back asleep and the conclusions eluded me once … Read more
