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Cloak/Dagger

Piñata
Grave Mistake (2006)

When you look at the pedigree of Cloak/Dagger, you really can't argue with it: American Nightmare, Striking Distance, Count Me Out, and Trial by Fire, among others. But what is refreshing is that Piñata really doesn't sound exactly like any of those bands. Cloak/Dagger deliver four songs of aggressive hardcore-punk, not hardcore, not punk, on this 7". "Daggers Daggers" sets … Read more

Right On

Reality Vacation
Malfunction (2006)

There are a grand total of twenty-four tracks on Reality Vacation, that's a lot of hardcore. However, like most bands on Malfunction their first release on compact disc usually serves as a discography of sorts, which is always nice for the record player deficit out there. So let's divide this up. Tracks one through nine are the actual Reality Vacation … Read more

Rob Zombie

Educated Horses
Geffen (2006)

It's been four and a half years since Mr. Zombie last released an album of new material. That album was The Sinister Urge and I didn't like it. It sounded like an album of Hellbilly Deluxe (Zombie's vastly superior debut solo album) b-sides. A group of orphaned songs that was never quite good enough to be adopted into a real … Read more

108

Creation. Sustenance. Destruction.
Equal Vision (2006)

108 may have been one of the major proponents of the "Krishna core" movement of the early to mid 1990's in the hardcore and punk scene, but the religious or ideological essence of their music does not even come close to overshadowing the energetic, passionate music that they produced over their short but relatively productive lifetime. At this point it … Read more

Panic

Strength in Solitude
Bridge Nine (2006)

At first listen, Panic seems like your stereotypical Bridge Nine band. In a way they are, and in a way they aren't. But I'll get to that in a second. Strength in Solitude is a comprehensive look at everything the band produced in its first two years as a band (2000-2002). This includes the out-of-print Dying For It EP (2001) … Read more

Poison Idea

Latest Will and Testament
Farewell (2006)

The latest Poison Idea record, from the first impression left by the packaging, seems like a somber album rooted in tragedy. Originally dedicated to a recently deceased fan, Poison Idea was struck the heaviest blow of all - guitarist Pig Champion died of health complications. Latest Will and Testament explains itself - this record arrives as a way to remember … Read more

Dangers

Anger
Independent (2006)

It's all been done before. I'm not being jaded; I'm referring to what bands do to be "edgy." Hair in mohawks, boys wearing makeup, and eating your own (or someone else's) shit on stage, none of it is progressive and none of it is offensive. Actually...eating shit would still shake people up. But, anyways, Dangers realizes this and instead of … Read more

Ryan's Hope

Apocalypse in Increments
Punknews (2006)

If you're looking for a catchy yet simultaneously heavy melodic punk album, look no further than Ryan's Hope's sophomore release, Apocalypse in Increments. Blending monster hooks with production that makes every instrument kick as hard as it should, Apocalypse in Increments may have you wondering how you've never heard of this Chicago three-piece. The excellent production is care of Mr. … Read more

The Pledge

Distress
Independent (2006)

I don't really consider myself to be a professional journalist by any means. But in my position as an "in my spare time journalist" I frequently come across fairly unknown yet promising bands that are truly deserving of high praise. The most recent of those being Dayton, Ohio's The Pledge. Distress is the band's debut 7", or at least it … Read more

Hope and Anchor

The Wait and Wonder
Exotic Fever (2006)

I had the privilege of seeing Hope and Anchor on the final show of their tour in D.C.. It was a very personal and emotional set, with most of the crowd sitting down and listening intently as the band played without microphones and switched instruments and duties from song to song. Their set gave me a sense of calm, comfort, … Read more

Underoath

Define the Great Line
Tooth & Nail (2006)

It's pretty commendable that a band like Underoath, who easily could be on a major label right now after their extremely successful breakout album They're Only Chasing Safety, chose to stay with their original label Tooth and Nail. Even more impressive however is that their latest outing, Define the Great Line, is significantly more mature in their songwriting style and … Read more

Golden Bear

Golden Bear
C-Side (2006)

There's a lot of arrogance that floats around the music world, from the self-aggrandized success stories told through the eyes of pop-rappers to the sheer self-belief in the glory and romance of what the neo-punk world is doing. For sheer bombasticism, however, the award surely has to go to the popular-indie set. Full of ignoramuses strutting around and playing songs … Read more

Armalite

Armalite
No Idea (2006)

I have never been a huge fan of Atom Goren's past projects. Whether it was his sloppy but albeit fun pop-punk outfit, Fracture, whom existed in the early 90's, or when he used to crisscross the nation with a sequencer he goofily called "His Package." It's not that Fracture wasn't catchy or Atom and His Package wasn't charmingly cute. I … Read more

Cattle Decapitation

Karma. Bloody. Karma
Metal Blade (2006)

Well what can you say about a group like Cattle Decapitation? First and foremost…they're not emo. Secondly, they have a new album out called Karma. Bloody. Karma, and thirdly…it's one of the best albums of the year. One of the most criminally underrated bands on the grind/gore-core scene should finally get their due. Underrated because let's face it, the genre … Read more

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