What do you get when you take Clutch and tell Neil Fallon to take a hike? You get The Bakerton Group. While you might think you've lost a lot, and you have, you've also found something new, different, and unique. The Bakerton Group is the band' debut full-length and first for Emetic Records. I honestly hadn't heard this project's previous EP so I wasn't sure what to expect. The label had me thinking NOLA-influenced metal, but it is not. Instead the listener is treated to eight tracks and thirty-five minutes of instrumental jam-rock. One could loosely compare them to Clutch, but there are other artists that also come to mind. "The Shickley" sounds similar to Led Zeppelin in their jam-freakout phases. Meanwhile "Great Bakertons" and "Last Orbit" have quite a funk and even jazz influence. "Bruce Bigsby" reminded me of Josh Homme's Desert Sessions for some reason, it's got that vibe here and there. This is a solid album to put on if you've got some work to do and need some tunes while you dig in. The music isn't overly powerful or complex that it demands your undivided attention, but it's intricate enough to keep you intrigued. Read more
Bark Like a Dog by Screeching Weasel was the first punk rock album that I ever fell in love with, … Read more
Being a memento type release to commemorate the tour that these two parties undertook in the early part of 2008, … Read more
To be completely honest, I know more about Austin Lucas than I do about his current residence in The Czech … Read more
Doghouse Records used to be one of my favorite labels. Their early roster included Endpoint, Falling Forward, Split Lip, etc. … Read more
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Let’s get right to it. I think we can all agree that lead-off single “Tattoo” is a shitty song. And any album that has the opening lyrics of I've got Elvis on my elbow would have any sane, reasonable consumer checking online for iTunes refund policies.* But this is David Lee Roth we're talking about. The man can get away with more than most mammals. That's right folks, he's back with the Van Halen boys and at times it really does sound like he never left. I'll save you the back story of why it took Roth and the Van Halens so long to work together again – the reasons are legion and available in every source of media (I recommend the audiobook The Van Halen Saga as read by … Read more
With their fourth full-length album, Murder by Death has finally brought all their varying influences together. Each of the band's previous recordings focused on a general indie rock sound, but they also flirted with various musical styles: folk, country, Americana, classical, and post-punk, among others. But with Red of Tooth and Claw all the band's previous flirtations and even some … Read more
Luckily for fans of Earth, Dylan Carlson and company are very productive of late with Hex: Or Printing in the Infernal Method, Hibernaculum, and a host of smaller releases all being released within the last three or so years. This is a tremendous increase in recorded activity for the band considering how long they have been active. The Bees Made … Read more
This album definitely puts the "post" back in post-rock. The album consists of only two tracks, each clocking in over twenty minutes. The result is a pretty minimal endeavor, with lots of feedback and ominous sound effects. Obviously, bands like Godspeed! You Black Emperor immediately come to mind, but even that band has more structure than Basalt Fingers. Throughout the … Read more
Sometimes I wonder if there is any passion left in hardcore - and not passion to be popular, but a passion that inspires a band to play out just to have people connect and sing-along, releasing all their worries. When I first got into the hardcore scene, it wasn't so much what the bands were saying, but the fact that … Read more
These four hellraisers are, if not his new favorite band than, at least highly revered and recommended by Slayer's Kerry King, a bruiser who knows a few things about quality heavy music. Demiricous were accused of sounding a bit too much like Slayer on their debut, but since I unfortunately haven't heard it yet I can't say whether that's a … Read more
Skullflower is the long running project of Matthew Bower, but in its initial incarnation the band did have other members and was a bit more "rock oriented" than the cacophonous oppression of sound and noise that Skullflower is today with Bower as the (pretty much) sole member and driving force. IIIrd Gatekeeper is a re-release of the extremely difficult to … Read more
Love Your Abuser was released in January 2007, just over a year ago. As an intermediary release (before their next full-length), Lymbyc Systym got some friends together to remix their previously released songs. I was very eager to lend my ears to this release as Love Your Abuser is a very eclectic album. The band's unique take on instrumental music … Read more
Last year this California five-piece released a heck of a demo tape; one that had me quite excited to hear more from them. Well here we are in 2008 and what I have before me is the brand new 7" from Restrained. Like their previous release, the songs on this EP are filled with short, raw, and pissed off hardcore … Read more
Massachusetts has pretty much been a breeding ground for hardcore bands since well hardcore started. Defiant Hearts is yet another in the long line of bands to come from the state, and they're armed with a new record. From the get-go of Arlington with "Ghost" it is quite evident what kind of a record you are in for. "Ghost" is … Read more
When I listen to Resonate from South Carolina's Where it Ends I immediately think of individuals my own age that were spinning Strife and Trial records in their bedrooms ten years ago. It's obvious from these seven songs that the members of Where it Ends grew up on the metallic hardcore of the 1990's. "Timeline" kicks things off and definitely … Read more
It is a shame when a band like Brothers goes unnoticed. This five-piece outfit hails from Michigan and Black Friday is their debut offering. The album is filled with eleven hardcore songs just begging for you to sing-along to. The opening combo of "Beginnings" and "The War at Home" kick things off with fast-paced hardcore akin to Comeback Kid and … Read more
Hamburg, Germany is a city that is known more for its architecture than it is for its musical output. In fact, if you were to ask anyone about the music of Hamburg, they'd probably start talking about some classical composer from the 1800's and not a hardcore band of today. And while I'm sure they are popular in their native … Read more
Short Fuse is a hardcore punk outfit from Münster, Germany. The four-piece outfit delivers six tracks of fast and raw hardcore punk. "Blight" packs a mean punch with its gritty guitars and Seb's yelled vocals, which reminded me a little bit of Fucked Up's Pink Eyes. The majority of the songs on this 7" occupy the territory of mid-tempo hardcore, … Read more
Anti-Flag has always been a band about raising awareness, but usually the subject is tied to our country's government in some manner. The band continues on with this EP, but instead of enlightening Americans about the evils of the U.S. government the band is raising awareness and monetary funds to help victims of violent crimes, something that hits close to … Read more
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