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The Setup

Torchbearer
GSR Records (2009)

Many hardcore bands go one way or the other. Either they play ridiculously heavy to an almost numbing degree. On the other hand there are the overly melodic bands that almost sound too clean or almost like screaming pop punk bands. Yes, these are broad generalizations and I do love hardcore of both types. Most bands do very little to … Read more

The Warlocks

The Mirror Explodes
Tee Pee Records (2009)

Sometimes one can be anticipate something too much. Expect too much from something so as to nullify anything enjoyable from said thing. Sadly Expectations are like that. The Warlocks have had a long career of playing spacey over driven rock songs. It seems only right that they are signed to Tee Pee records. They've always carried a psychedelic vibe couples … Read more

Beaten Awake

Thunderstroke
Fat Possum Records (2009)

Some bands exist both inside a scene and outside the sound of the given scene. Beaten Alive are one of those bands. They are a band from Ohio identifying with the garage scene of their state sharing friend The Black Keys. This is where most of the normal characteristics end. While there is a touch of garage rock and some … Read more

Hopewell

Good Good Desperation
Tee Pee (2009)

Psych rock is a mixed up genre. Ok, yeah it is spacey it technically rocks without really being rock per se. The part where i have issue is that sometimes these bands find it more interesting to write songs that don\'t go anywhere. They just stay locked in their moment in time and space never truly building on a riff … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Big D and the Kids Table

Fluent In Stroll
Side One Dummy (2009)

I have to admit that normally I am not a big horns fan. It really has to take the song to another level for it to do anything for me. Unfortunately there is no evidence of that happening on this release. The back-up singers add a bit of texture here and there, but that doesn't help too much when the … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Averkiou

Wasted and High
Sound Study Recordings (2009)

The title track on this 7" is a fitting sound, given its title. "Wasted and High" has a pop structure run through the wash, and the fuzzy guitars and calm delivery of singer Matt Brink would fit under the shoegaze label. On "No One's Holding a Gun to Your Head," the band adds more harmony to Brink's sleepy delivery. Meanwhile, … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Gateway District

Some Days You Get The Thunder
It's Alive (2009)

What would a new band that features members of Banner Pilot, The Soviettes, Off With Their Heads, and Dear Landlord sound like if locked in a broom closet and forced to come up with songs? I'm guessing something like this release. They may be ex-members of some of these bands (I'm too lazy to check) but the influence is still … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Sims

False Hopes XIV
Doomtree (2009)

Lights Out Paris was one of my favorite releases of 2005, but as the Doomtree crew only has so much time and money on their hands, they rotate members' releases. Thus, it's taken Sims until 2009 to release a False Hopes (the Doomtree version of a mixtape). On #14, Sims has ten new songs to show his growth as an … Read more

Call Me Lightning

When I Am Gone My Blood Will Be Free
Dusty Medical (2010)

Is this the band that released Soft Skeletons? It's been 3 years, and clearly the band has opted to go in a different direction. While the band has never hidden their affinity for The Who, naming themselves after a 1968 song by the group, When I Am Gone My Blood Will Be Free takes their influence to the next level. … Read more

Mayflower

Second Best Sunsets
Kiss of Death (2010)

After a brief intro track (what's the point of intros, anyway?), Mayflower kicks things off with the energetic "I Never ", an Off With Their Heads influenced gruff punk song with group choruses and a memorable hook. It's a fitting start to Second Best Sunsets, setting the tone of cynicism contrasted with bouncy, hold-your-beer-in-the-air sing-a-longs. What separates Mayflower from other, … Read more

Rotting Christ

Aealo
Season of Mist (2010)

If you're like me, you've seen the name 'Rotting Christ' thrown around for years, but you never listened to the band because you assumed it was an unremarkable throwback black metal band whose albums suffer from unbearably bad recording quality. But since Earwax in Madison was carrying the band's new album, I figured I'd give them a quick listen, because … Read more

Integrity

The Blackest Curse
Deathwish Inc. (2010)

Finally, after literally years of waiting to hear this new Integrity album and a couple of teaser releases that barely whet my appetite for this monster, The Blackest Curse sees the light of day with all the power of a dark, ominous poison cloud alighting on the bland morass of what passes for hardcore punk these days. Admittedly, as I … Read more

Nachtmystium

Addicts: Black Meddle Pt. 2
Century Media (2010)

Blake Judd has had a rough last couple years, missing two of Nachtmystium's biggest breaks as a result of a strange coincidence and outright misinformation. First, getting thrown off of the first annual Scion Fest for supposedly being a National Socialist band (they are not). The second occurred shortly thereafter losing out on a spot in direct support of The … Read more

Starkweather

This Sheltering Night
Deathwish Inc. (2010)

Wow, a new Starkweather album, and so soon after their last one (Croatoan)? Seriously, it is exciting to hear another album from this long running and challenging outfit; and maybe being on a label run by fans of theirs, Starkweather may finally see some recognition for their forward thinking music (hopefully they do not remain a band's band). In any … Read more

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