Killswitch Engage
As Daylight Dies
Roadrunner (2006)
Complain all you want about the state of modern music. Yes, we have to deal with fake soul like Maroon 5, fake screamo like The Used, and fake men like Panic! At the Disco. But it's still a remarkable thing that heavy music with abrasive screaming has become at least partially mainstream. You won't usually hear it on radio, sometimes not even hard rock radio, but record sales speak for themselves. People are gravitating towards metalcore more than ever before. Killswitch Engage is arguably the biggest band in this emerging phenomenon, right alongside Lamb of God. Whereas the latter mine Pantera's military-stomp territory, Killswitch Engage excel in two areas: brutality and melody. As Daylight Dies shows a band getting even better at their craft, honing their ability to write concise, catchy metal. The opening title track is a perfect summation of what they do, beginning with atmospheric tones, going into a punishing breakdown with bloodcurdling screams, followed by an anthemic chorus. Howard Jones has a wide range of vocal diversity, from low growls to high-pitched screams to nearly operatic singing. The reason why Killswitch Engage can get away with so much singing is due to the simple reason that Jones … Read more
Sonic Youth
Daydream Nation (Reissue)
Geffen (2007)
When I first heard Sonic Youth, I didn't know about their formidable New York hipster cachet: Glenn Branca confederates, initially … Read more
Andrew Bird
Armchair Apocrypha
Fat Possum (2007)
With the over saturation of the industry, technology making the ability to record a feasible option for anyone who has … Read more
Six Parts Seven
Casually Smashed to Pieces
Suicide Squeeze (2007)
I'm having real trouble introducing this band. How could I set up a band that's been covered by Isaac Brock … Read more
Napalm Death
Scum (Reissue)
Earache (2007)
Surely by now, almost everyone within the underground music community has heard of Napalm Death. If you have not yet … Read more
