A Second from the Surface
The Streets Have Eyes
This Dark Reign (2007)
There's been a lot of words used to describe Minneapolis' A Second from the Surface: metalcore, grindcore, crustcore. All of them are very specific genres, but not one of them is accurate. A Second from the Surface are hardcore, plain and simple. More on the old school side than the "hardcore" that we see nowadays on every Warped Tour. As such, The Streets Have Eyes is a damn good album from a damn good band. "Album" may be a bit of a stretch - ten songs in a little over twenty minutes might just barely meet the qualifications for a full-length, but as always, we're talking quality folks, not quantity. Taking a little piece from most "core" subgenres to create an absolutely vicious sound, these three little Minneapolites ( apolarians?) create a sound that, while not very technical has a thick, meaty quality that would give the impression of a larger roster than a mere trio. Heaven knows you can do wonders these days with Pro-Tools, and it might, in fact be an assembly of trackings and overdubs, but there's a sincerity and honesty in the delivery and execution that has me believing this isn't the case. It reminds me … Read more
Living Hell
The Lost and the Damned
Revelation (2007)
Revelation Records has made quite the turn-around in the past two years. Besides mainstay Shai Hulud, the once hardcore-proud label … Read more
Empire! Empire! (I was a Lonely Estate)
When the Sea Became a Giant
Independent (2007)
The key word that comes to mind when listening to When the Sea Became a Giant is light. Everything is … Read more
Iron and Wine
The Shepherd's Dog
Sub Pop (2007)
I should never set expectations when it comes to music. When was the last time an album was exactly as … Read more
