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Volcano, I'm Still Excited!!

Volcano, I'm Still Excited!!
Polyvinyl (2004)

Over the past 2 years, the exclamation point has become more played out than "Hey Ya!" has over these past couple months. The exclamation point is used to show urgency, uprising, excitement. Volcano, I'm Still Excited!!, like Stop It!! the previous year, manage to avoid all three of those in their debut record. What you'll get with this record is … Read more

Onelinedrawing

The Volunteers
Jade Tree (2004)

Long before the MTV defined "screamo" fad took the music world by storm, there was the underground phenomenon Far, a four-piece outfit from Sacramento, CA. And fronting this pioneering group was Jonah Matranga, one of the most beloved and respected songwriters in music today. His honest lyrics and soothing harmonies epitomized a genre that owes a lot to him for … Read more

In Control

In Control EP
Indecision/Martyr (2003)

A piece of hardcore music is going to die when In Control bows out later this year. They are one of the most loved, respected, and important bands in the scene currently and the West Coast is going to feel a bigger disturbance in the Force than Obi-wan Kenobi did when Alderon was blown to bits by the Emperor's Death … Read more

Through The Eyes Of The Dead

The Scars Of Ages
Lovelost (2004)

A lot of the time when I see "true metal" kids referring to metalcore they put quotes around the metal because it's not true enough for them. After millions of hours of research upon the topic I came upon a few realizations on the subject of the difference between metal and metalcore. For the most part what it comes down … Read more

Error

Error
Epitaph (2004)

It wasn't that long ago that a band released an album entitled The Shape of Punk to Come. While many ignored its principles, others took the manifesto that Refused declared with that album to heart. By combining elements of electronica, industrial, and punk, Error have done their best to realize the objectives that were intended to "start a revolution." With … Read more

Antioch Arrow

Gems of Masochism
Three One G (2003)

Weird, artsy, dark hardcore was nothing new to San Diego in 1994 when Antioch Arrow released their seminal masterwork, Gems of Masochism. The presses had been putting out consistently darker and stranger albums each passing year, mostly thanks to upstarts Gravity Records. Gravity had bands that were few and far between, but things were on the upswing, as Angel Hair's … Read more

Seemless

Seemless
Losing Face (2004)

It's been a while since I heard a new band that played some outright rock-n-roll. Enter Massachusetts natives Seemless and their self-titled debut. Seemless, is a supergroup comprised of former members of metalcore stalwarts Killswitch Engage, Shadows Fall, Overcast and Medium. Ironically for fans of those previous efforts, they may be disappointed to find an album filled with a balanced … Read more

Rockets Red Glare

Moonlight Desires
Blue Skies Turn Black (2004)

Minimalist tendencies. Math-rock. Post-rock. All good things in proper doses. But can they be mixed to produce something great? Ah, well, there's the real question. Rockets Red Glare seems to think so. Judging by this record, I'd have to agree with them. Hailing from Ontario, the band were a strange exercise in restraint for the most part, always intriguing by … Read more

Pride Kills

Life of Hate
Carjacker (2004)

While the majority of Texas seems to think that listening to indie rock and "emo" is where all the fun and hype are at, there are those in the know that can attest that people like that know nothing about Texas, let alone its music. During my short-lived time in Texas, I came to discover that the true pride of … Read more

Good Riddance

Bound By Ties of Blood and Affection
Fat Wreck Chords (2003)

Oddly enough, this album doesn't start off with a 30 second sound clip. That being said, the album blasts off immediately with pure hardcore fury. For those not familiar with the band, do not let this description repel you. These guys belt out their hardcore with a fresh dose of pop-punk and melodic, yet abrasive vocals. In fact, their style, … Read more

Jawbreaker

Dear You (Reissue)
Blackball (2004)

Many people consider Dear You to be a perfect record. I'm not one of them, and I'm a Jawbreaker fan, too. Nope, I'm one of those finicky kids that thinks they hit their stride around the time that 24 Hour Revenge Therapy was released and that a major label budget nearly ruined them. Nearly. I never said that, while imperfect, … Read more

Hella

The Devil Isn't Red
5 Rue Christine (2004)

Good Goddamn, it's about time. The beginning of 2004 shall be riddled with great albums from such artists as the Catheters and Lightning Bolt, but Hella will start us off with a bang. The Devil Isn't Red is Hella's return to the indie two-man group of Hold Your Horse Is that stole me and Zed's collective hearts a year and … Read more

Deerhoof

Milk Man
Kill Rock Stars (2004)

Deerhoof, never one to rest on their laurels, is back in 2004 with Milk Man. Things seem to be the same as always as the public wonders, "Can Deerhoof really top Apple O'?" The same question was asked this time last year except it was Apple O' being questioned if it could live up to Reveille. The album's "concept" is … Read more

For the Crown

Blueprint
Give Me Strength (2003)

It's so sad when a great band releases a great album and then breaks up soon after before they even get a chance to showcase their talent to the world. Such a thing happened to For the Crown, a melodic hardcore band hailing from the Bay Area in California. The quartet released on one full length in their short lifespan. … Read more

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