A.18 - Forever after nothing - Victory Records
I have been waiting for this record to come to mailbox, and I was not let down at all.
for those of you who don't know anything about a.18 (which i bet is alot of) they have been kickingfor a while, most of the members were is some awesome previous bands like Outspoken , Insted and of course the mighty Chorus of Disapproval they also released 2 other albums on New Age records. A 18 play fast mosh and grove type hardcore while still bringing something new to the table which alot of bands don't do anymore. For newer dudes who have never heard of these guys other bands I would say maybe think of like Most Precious Blood vocal wise with faster less metal-ish music (does that even make sense?) This is heads above the stuff on New Age, which is also very good, I think this album has something for everyone, punk , hardcore, skinhead whatever. It's nice to see victory put out a hardcore band that deserves to be heard by everyone. I recommend "With Kind Regrets" "Scars upon Scars" and "Dig".

Count The Stars - Never be taken alive - Victory Records
I am a sucker for anything pop punk, this record is , for a lack of any other word , Fun!
From the opening note on "brand new skin" to the closing cord on "All good things" I was hooked.
This is one of those bands that your like count the who? when sometime later this year everyone will be talking about them, kinda like victory's mega breakout star's Taking Back Sunday. Fan's of Drive Thru bands like The Starting line and Homegrown will be into this.

Closer Then Kin - The Machineries of Breath - CTK
CLoser then kin play a style of music they like to call horror core, This is their first full length album and a follow up to their countless releases of demos and ep. CTK really brings to mind American Nightmare music wise and a little bit in the vocal style, they then break into parts that sound like Boy Sets Fire or Type O Negative, its different without being too different. I could see these guys getting bigger after the release of this album. recommended tracks "Dead flowers for a dying lover" "a closing chapter" and "the euphoria of strangulation"

Full Blown Chaos - Prophet of hostility - Stillborn Records
Queens represnt. Super tough guy hate mosh metal. I love it! These guys are no joke with mosh's that will make you wanna smash everything in your house. Clear the way cause these guys have made it loud and clear that their coming through.

Holding On - Question what you live for - Bridge 9
This is a really solid release. Fast moshy hardcore like Right Brigade or anything in that vein.
There isnt really that much more to say about it, you've heard stuff like this and you either love it or hate it. I myself am a big fan.

Internal Affairs - Demo 2003
The west coast really has some awesome bands coming out. Last year it was Piece by Piece , Knife Fight and of course TERROR! 2003 looks just as good and leading the way is Internal Affairs this demo is just to damm good. the songs are shot and pissed. Think of every good thing that you like in bands like Youth Of Today , COS and Ten Yard Fight and you'll get idea. I could see these guys on Bridge 9. More info on this demo email internalxaffairs@yahoo.com

Mental - demo 2002
mental rules!!!!!!The best new boston band hands down.Fast hardcore GOOD fast hardcore!!!The rap intro on this demo is the shit!!!!!!These dudes got skills.Musically mental reminds me of early dc sounding hardcore like youth brigade dc and teen idles except with nyhc style mosh busts.The singer sez kick it before a mosh part.you have to get this.they also just released a 7inch so be on the look out for that.the lyrics are great too they tackle the topics of growin up havin fun hangin out self doubt and my favorite a song about high school appropriatly titled high school sucks.Hardcore that is fun to listen to and has great lyrics that any body can relate to.One more note they are a edge band!If you havent heard about mental yet dont worry you will. - Ivan

No Warning - Ill Blood - Bridge 9
How do you describe the best album of 2002? I have been into this band since I heard their demo. This is a record that has it all, awesome lyrics , awesome music/mosh and cool art work. If you don't know what no warning sounds like picture Madball, Cro-mags and a dash of Integrity, this is not for dudes into fashion core this is the real deal. Hats of to bridge 9 and No Warning for putting out such a quality release

On the Rise - Burning inside - I Scream Records
on the rise is a band outta new york that has been playing around for a couple years now and have slowly started to make a name for themselves.I saw these guys recently at the agnostic front 20th anniversary show at cbgbs and they played a solid set.Bassist mike gallo splits time between otr and af.Otr play a good brand of nyhc with some melody and some mosh.kinda like early h20 before they went pop mixed with warzone.Word is this is gonna be re released on bridge nine records.They recently toured europe with af.aaron death threat even does some guest vox.Theres not much thats come out of new york recently to take note of but otr is a band to look out for. - Ivan

Ramallah - Butt a whimper - Bridge 9
white trash rob is back with yet another band.This is some really heavy shit.i dig it.it reminds me of blood for blood mixed with hatebreed.you know the deal if you like hard style hardcore done right you will enjoy this.additional vocals by jacob bannon of converge defintely add something to the songs.and im not a converge fan by any means but he does some cool cat like screams that sound cool.this is hard ass shit with some crushing mosh parts.there is some kind of middle eastern themes goin on with them too which is cool.lyrics tackle the age old topic of this fucked up world we live in and no one is better at conveying this then white trash rob.They are playin out soon i cant wait to see them. - Ivan

The Rocket Summer - Calender Days - The Militia group
The Rocket Summer is 20 yr old Bryce Avary, he plays all the instruments on this and I must say
i am pleasently surprised by this release. I thought this was gonna be some rehashed type dashboard
confessional guy, which i am just sick of, insted you get a cool record that could be the soundtrack to your high school life or a great driving record for that summer trip with your friends, reminds me alot of Ben Folds Five and with a mix of Ben Lee and Matthew Sweet. I am thinking you will hear this on any TV series on the WB network. I am surprised at how well put together the songs are for his young age, some of these songs were written when he was 14 yrs old, at 14 i was more worried about beating Mario. If your sick of dashboard now that your younger sister and all her fat friends like them, get into The Rocket Summer.
I expect to hear alot more from Bryce, job well done.
stand out tracks "What we hate we make" which has a 6th grade girls choir "Cross my heart" and "Skies so blue"

Silenced - Demo 2003
Silenced is a new CT band, this demo is good for their first attempt. The production is top notch (this was recorded at Atomic ie: No Warning , The Promise) and the songs are well put together. These guys combine elements of Stretch Armstrong and Indecision, I feel like they havent really found what they are looking for , if they stay with the style of their track "A Struggle With Autonomy" and a bit more work I think Silenced could make a decent name for themselves in the CT hardcore scene. Worth a listen, track "A Struggle With Autonomy". Silenced Website

Sinai Beach - When breathing escapes - Facedown Records
Sinai Beach brings the heavy hard mosh to facedown records. These guys remind me of Hatebreed with melodic singing (that seems to be all the rage) of Poison The Well. I really enjoyed this record usally not my thing but when a record is good I will admit it. If your into hard and heavy tough guy mosh with some pretty shit thrown into the mix i would pick this up. Track to hear "Candice" and "My gun , Your bullets"

Sugar Daddie - Hell or high water - Thorp Records
mmmmm if you like CLUTCH get this. If not stay far far away from this unless you just wanna hear what sounds like a guy who is trying to sing while gargling scope.

So be it - demo 2002
so be it is a new band from mass.The music is real hard and the vocals sound like a more pissed jules from side by side.Songs are slow and hard and also fast at times.I got this at a show and didnt expect much but when i heard it i was floored.it was in my cars cassette player for a week straight!vocalist joe has a great voice that sounds genuinely angry and not contrived and the music is tough and moshy with out being cheesy.watch out for these guys.they are giving the demo out for free at mass area shows so be on the look out you wont be dissappointed. - Ivan

Snowdogs - Deep Cuts, Fast Remedies - Victory Records
I don't really know what to think of this band at all. Some songs remind me of green day while other ones remind me of bands like bush and everclear. I don't think these guys even know what they are going for. I would say stay away at all costs. Sorry guys .

Somehow Hollow - Busted Wings and Rusted Halos - Victory Records
I was a big GRADE fan this band features a few of its members. This record is really good. It's very catchy without being corney. Kinda reminds me of Midtown meets Hot Water Music. I could see these guys doing some bigger stuff down the line. definatly worth a listen.

The Takeover - Everyone For Themselves - Stillborn Records
The Takeover is a great new band from VA which features members of Time Flies. The Takeover sounds nothing like Time Flies but more like UNBROKEN or INDECISION with a vocal style of a RIGHT BRIGADE, you get it fast and heavy guitars with awesome shout lyrics, Paul has one of the best voices I have heard in a while. There is 7 really good tracks on this and I look forward to hearing more from them. Best song is "Sheets of Glass".

Untold Truth - demo 2002
Poison The well meets Converge, do you like stuff like this? If you do I would recomend giving these guys a listen. The production on this demo is really good, I love that bands have finally raised the bar and started doing quality demos. I am not a big fan of the super high picthed vocal stuff the singer throws in but hey I guess it works for this type of stuff. good job guys!

The Young and the useless - s/t - Thorp Records
These guys are super scratchy type hardcore with like pop punk parts, its defiantly original.
the only thing I could think of when i heard this record was older GRADE. I could see these guys playing with bands like From Autumn to Ashes to bands like Finch, weird huh? I can't tell if I like this or not. I would say download an mp3 and just listen. The production is good. =/

A Death for Every Sin - In a time where hope is lost - Alveran Records
I think these guys are from france.This is pissed off hardcore on the hatebreed tip.Vocalist Nicolas sounds a lot like a less polished jamie jasta.Depressed bitter lyrics that range in topics from hopelessness to love gone wrong.Lots of mosh parts that all you crazy kickboxers will love.Definetly one of the better european metal core outfits ive heard in a while. - Ivan

Bloodlet - Three humid nights in the cypress trees - Victory Records
I was never really a fan of Bloodlet years ago and this record has not changed my mind. Wierd metal with time signatures that constantly change. This record makes me think of a "what if" situation if Converge added less technical parts to their music. Who knows, maybe this will grow on me over time like so many other things have, but I'm not holding my breath for that. This isnt catchy and drones on for what seems like forever. Dont go out of your way to aquire this one. - Matt

Champion - Count Our Numbers - Bridge 9
Bridge 9 never puts out a bad release! Champion hits hard with this ep. Fans of straight edge hardcore done the right way will eat this up. think Turning Point , Bane and What Feeds The Fire. I honestly cant say anything bad about this release, they even recorded an alone in the crowd song for this. - Jay

Dashboard Confessional - Summer Kiss - Eulogy
I guess we cant escape dashboard anymore. Now I have been a fan since swiss army romance on fiddler and booked a few shows with Chris he is a really talented person and this ep does nothing more then show that to people. This ep has four songs from Swiss Army Romance but with a band behind it, I like it but its not the first thing I would reach for if I wanted to listen to Dashboard. Get it to full up the collection but if you wanna turn someone onto Dashboard I would suggest either the first ep "drowning" or "Swiss Army Romance" - Jay

Every time i die - last night in town - Ferret Music
wow.This is pretty good stuff.If you know me you know i dont really dig much of this clever dude metal stuff .im more of a three chord simpleton.But every time i die definetly kept my interest through out the cd.Vocalist Keith has great range he goes form harsh to melodic vocals that really make sense for the different parts in their songs.I really liked the guitar riffs they go from hard to mellow and do both styles great.The song titles are also pretty interesting take these examples "emergency broadcast syndrome""Jimmy tangos method"and "punch-drunk punk rock romance."If your clever or not take note every time i die is no joke. - Ivan

Hoods - 7 years in sacramento - Knife or Death records
Ive always dug the hoods especially there earlier work which is mostly compiled here with some of their newer songs.If youve been in a hole and havent heard of the hoods they sound like madball and one voice era agnostic front.Which is definetly a cool thing.But from what i hear they now have like two singers now and do more of a death metal thing.Why they went in that direction i dont know.But if you wanna hear the hoods in there prime pick this cd up cuz it has some of there best work.Fans of nyhc take note.Hard music and hard moshes.Oh yeah if it makes a difference they are on victory records now. - Ivan

In Pieces - Learning to accept silence - Escape Artist
Every once in a while a record comes along that brings out every feeling and emotion from beginning to end this is that record. I had the pleasure of hearing this record a few months before it was released and I was hooked on the first note sang out of Scott's mouth. In Pieces combines a mix of Thursday meets Shai Huld with a twist on both styles. The preformance on this record is top notch everything from the guitar sounds to the lyrics fits perfect. In Pieces steps up to the plate and I don't see them striking out any time soon. Be sure to catch these guys when they play near you , you will not be let down. - Jay

Jesuseater -s/t - Death Wish inc
I didnt know what to make of this band when i heard there name.Metalilic hardcore?I was wrong.This is good midtempo hardrockin shit.No lyrics which always sucks when a band doesnt include that shit.Nice traditional tattoo art on the cover.This is hard to describe.......heavy and rockin is all i can say.Only four songs which is also a bumout.I definetly feel this though.Gimmie a full length guys.Please. - Ivan

Morning Again - Hand of the Martyr - Eulogy
Ok here is where I pose, I have never heard Morning Again until this came to my mailbox and I must say that I am bummed that I didnt pay attention to them when they were around. Morning Again has that great Florida sound like STRONGARM and SHAI HULUD. This album combines both release "Hand of Hope" and "Martyr" with a live set from Belgium. The artwork on this album is so rad! If your a fan of either of the above bands or just a MA fan this is a must buy , and when you buy from Eulogy you know that the royalties are going to the right people unlike the release before. - Jay

One Nation Under - s/t - Alveran Records
One nation under is a straight edge band from ohio.Lots of slow mosh parts mixed with speed here and there.Open e chugga chugga......... you get the point.At times the music reminds me of a less technical converge.I picture kids ruining each other to this.You ever seen that movie "the shining" with jack nicholson?Remember his son in the movie how he talked to him self and said redrum.The singer from this band sounds like the voice of the kid that said redrum except shouting.I really like the traditional tattoo imagery in the layout.That being said if you are into bands like Until the end you will probably dig this.Worth checking out for fans of that style. - Ivan

Out to Win - Persist and Destroy - Triple Crown Records
Remember Mushmouth?They changed there name to out to win not too long ago.They havent changed much style wise.They still remind me of Merauder/All out war style.You know the style lots a double bass with a few slayeresque riffs thrown in for good measure.On this release you get six new songs.I havent seen these guys in a while but they were definely picking up some steam when i last saw them.If metallic hardcore with bitter lyrics and a tough edge is your cup of coffee.Check out out to win.Not really my thing but i got admit they do their style very well.Not to mention the recording quality is top notch.A solid release. - Ivan

Remembering Never - She looks so good in red - Ferret Music
These guys sound alot like poison the well to me.You know the style melodic and harsh vocals.Really heavy songs.Really mellow songs.This style of metal seems to be the rage of the kids these days.Emo metal done well.Nothing ground breaking but done well
enough to be memorable. - Ivan

Unsung Zeros - Fading Out - Eulogy
in the past i have done reviews for numerous bands that i normally wouldnt listen to. bands that just were not what appealed to me, but i always tried to keep an open ear and review it on content and not just on my personal taste. well i tried that this time, and came to the conclusion that Unsung Zeros are just not good. There is nothing catchy, it lacks energy and the singers voice kinda makes me grit my teeth. If you dont have someone holding a gun to your head telling you to buy this, I wouldnt go flocking to the stores in search of this one. - Matt

Voodoo Glow Skulls - Steady as she goes - victory records
Ahh ska punk. Never was a big fan of this so i dont know what to say really other then the artwork is kinda cool and I got a cool eye patch sent with this. I guess if you like ska punk youll like this if not then you wont, blah. - Jay

V/A - Punk Goes Pop - fearless
see the review for the weezer tribute.

V/A - Victory Style 5 - Victory Records
There are alot of new bands that have been added to the roster at Victory lately, and if you want to get a good overview of the direction that they are heading over there in Chicago, this will help you see that first. Some of those new bands include Atreyu, Taking Back Sunday, and Snowdogs, to name just a few. Victory seems to be taking hold of the rock market strongly and have showcased their newest talents on this disc. Other noteables are a song off the new Ringworm and Blood for Blood LP's and a new track from Angela Delamorte which is the new project from Integrity's Dwid. If you like how things look over at Victory heres a cheapy to sample some new tunes.
Get on it. - Matt

Breathe In - From This Day On (Bridge 9)
This band is what results when you cross Kid Dynamite and The Nerve Agents. Bratty pissed vocals, tons of drum rolls and little rockin parts make this an unrelenting record to say the least. If you are a fan of more punk sounding hardcore, and you love to skank make sure you add this disc to your rotation and ripping up your bedroom. - Matt

Burnt By The Sun - Soundtrack to The Personal Revolution (Relapse)
Like so many other bands on Relapse Records, Burnt By the Sun just don't cut it for me. This record is just about a half hour long and within the first 30 seconds I was ready to turn it off. Think Coalesce or Dillinger Escape Plan in terms of technicality. If you like that stuff, go ahead and cough up the cash, but I'd suggest you save that money to buy the new Piebald. - Matt

Cops and Robbers - Execution Style (Bridge 9)
I like this record alot. The whole thing is catchy as hell and I even caught a guitar solo or two in there! A Boston band that doesn't sound like the other current Boston bands, and they do their thing really well. I've heard rumors recently that C & R have broken up which fucking sucks because this record is top notch shit. I hope those rumors turn out to be just that, and hopefully we will see more from Cops and Robbers in the future. Go get this! - Matt

Coheed and Cambria - The second stage turbine blade (equal vision)
Hummm, I have really never heard anything like this so I don't know what to say it sounds like, not that that's a bad thing actually it's the opposite I found my self listening to this a lot. The musicianship on the record is awesome. The singer at times sounds like the guy from rush. I really enjoyed the track "Everything evil". I would say if you like later era Cave In and newer Codeseven stuff this is for you and if you don't like that stuff you should still give this a chance cause you may just end up loving it as much as I did. - Jay

Chance of A Lifetime - EP
Pop punk and emo fans listen up. This band takes hold of that all the right elements. When I listened to this I heard similarities to A New Found Glory circa "Nothing Gold..." not to mention some Get Up Kids and Jerseys Best Dancers era Lifetime. These songs had me tapping my toes you could say, and for anyone who knows me, I'm a musicly narrow minded asshole. From there website info I'd say that they are either still in high school or just fresh out, so keep your ears focused, because it sounds like they are on the right track. If you want to take a listen right away you can find this EP on www.mp3.com, and you can visit their website at Http://www.chanceofalifetime.cjb.net - Matt
Editors Note : Other then asking as way to many times when this was gonna be up they are really good guys, haha!

Drift - stalkin like killers (alveran)
Drift are a european metal core outfit. They play that tough guy style nyhc meets slayer style of music that is very popular now adays. This is 8 tracks of mosh heavy hardcore, that the kickboxin kids will eat up. They even throw a cover of Integrity's diehard in for good measure. To be more specific the songs remind me a lot of Meruader but not as good .The one beef I have is that the songs seem to run in to each other and the riffs are repetitive. Its like listening to one long song. Not bad just something I probably wouldn't listen to. - Ivan

Finch - What It is To Burn (Drive Thru)
Finch is one of my favorite newer bands. I feel in love with this band when I first heard their EP and booked their show, I was instantly drawn in to their catchy lyrics and music style, which combines elements of GlassJaw and Jimmy Eat World. An odd combination but they pull it off and make it work without giving it a thought. This is their first full length album and it does not fall short. The lyrics are a bit simple and repetitive but it does not take away. There is a few things I didn't like on this album. Darryl from GlassJay (one of my favorite band) guests on this record I must admit that when I first saw his name on it I was siked to hear it but the songs he was on didn't do much for me which is hard for me to say since I like both bands. Each singer works better on their own. I see a lot of big things for these guys if they stick to their guns. All and all I would tell everyone to give this record a chance on a scale of 1 to 10 I would say a solid 9 points off for having a cover that looks a lot like the glassjaw album and trying a little to hard to sound like them. - Jay

This is another up and coming rock outfit that has been making all the right moves. This record does not lax on the power one bit and is more than a toe tapper. Melody, power chords, you name it, this record is going to make Finch huge. I could see them going on tour with Jimmy Eat World and Hoobastank if that helps you get an better idea of how to package this band. Yet another record that will allow me to sing off key even more when alone in my car. Top quality record. - Matt

Invasion - Demo 2001 (Stand Hard)
Invasion from Boston play late 80s style NYHC, Cromags Warzone and Outburst come to mind when hearing this. This is a definitely an awesome demo. Lyrics deal with scene bullshit and growing up. Lots of good mosh parts here as well. Has Jesse Standhard ever been in a bad band?(oh yeah I know what your thinking and EARLY TENFOLD RULED so fuck off!!!) If you liked right brigade and you like good fast hardcore played right you will like Invasion. Oh yeah and they have a song called bust it! Need I say more. - Ivan

Jerk Magnet - Seven Minutes in Heaven (ides of march)
Pop - punk from Kinston, NY fans of New Found Glory, Blink etc you get the picture. This is a lot better then most of the recent pop punk invasion. Short review but you can only say so much about this stuff. It's worth a listen - Jay

No Redeeming Social Value - 40ozs of hardcore (triple crown)
I remember seeing these guys in like 96.I really enjoyed there live show which consisted of getting beer poured on ya and the hilarious double vocal attack of Mike and dray. This cd is pretty much a complilation of there pre triple crown releases that came out on sft records which include nrsv rocks the party, the hardcore your lousy ass off ep, and the split 7inch with 6 and violence. I wasnt really a fan of the first full length but loved the songs from hardcore your lousy ass off ep and the split with s and v. Good moshable metallic party core that's heavy and will make you laugh. The disc is rounded off with some bonus tracks like nrsv live at Wembley stadium , yeah right."64 64 64...I don't think I can drink any more!!!" You get the picture hardcore to get high and drunk to. - Ivan

Panic - Dying For It (Bridge 9)
The debut EP from these Boston boys. You'd be hard pressed to find a slow tempo beat on this record. Panic aren't like any other hardcore band that I've heard, but for some reason it just doesn't do it for me. There are definatly some awesome parts in these songs, but overall I'd have to say this record is about average. The wierd noise at the end of a record thing has been done before, and I still don't understand it, but maybe that's just me. On a scale of 1 to 10 I'd have to give this one a 6.5 - Matt

Piebald - We Are the Only Friends We Have (big wheel rec)
I will start this review with saying that I was not into piebald until late last year. Sure I had heard the name and even downloaded a few songs but never found myself being into them but that was about to change thanks to my friend Big E. We had this huge conversation about piebald. After telling him how I felt about the band he told me to get "If it weren't for venetian blinds it would be curtains for all of us" after a few listen I was hooked on PIEBALD. Flash-forward a few months and I see PIEBALD has a new album coming out, I could not wait to get this (and hearing that Big E was on it only made me want to hear it more). The day this arrived I threw it right into my stereo and was instantly blown away by the great production. Paul Q. Kolderie who has worked with Radiohead and Hole to name a few produced this record and really brought out their sound the vocals are better and the riffs are great. This album is pure rock. Every song on this record is a great track. I think a lot of people who may not have been into PIEBALD before will really enjoy this record. This falls somewhere in between Weezer and Jimmy Eat World and with the success of both bands I don't think it's to far off until we see their name all over the place or even side by side some of these bands. Stand out tracks "Just a simple Plan" which has the best intro to a song ever "King of the road" and "Karate chops for everyone but us". - Jay

Wow. Ok, where to start. I've said in some other reviews that I am notorious for not listening to much music other than straight hardcore and the like. But, I got this record, and decided to just listen without a chip on my shoulder and I'm glad I did. This record is great, a totally rock feel and they manage to keep up the creativity and interesting aspects throughout the whole thing. Piebald is clever without being annoying and "We Are The Only Friends We Have" proves that. From begining to end there is something cool going on. For those of you who are affraid that you'll seem gay for listening to this, get fucked. This rocks. - Matt

Prevent Falls - A Newer More Shattered You (equal vision)
I have never heard of prevent falls before they were on EVR and it was defiantly my loss. This record is really good. At times it reminds me of Quicksand and older Error Type 11 with a good amount of crunch behind it. The production on this record is top notch. Sometimes the singers voice is a little weird but that's what I said about the guy from Thursday when I first heard them and now I don't even think about it. Stand out tracks "My daily surprises" and "As the crowd fades" I would defiantly not sleep on these guys.

Thrice - The Illusion of Safety (Sub-city)
Have you ever listened to a record and felt like you needed to be in your car? This record makes me feel like I'm involved in a highspeed chase. The ability to combine any kind of music is never easy and Thrice takes rocking melody and add in tons and tons of harder drum parts including double bass making this a very interesting listen. I would not be suprised to see these guys getting a ton of recognition very soon. Awesome record. - Matt

This is the record I have been waiting for. It has everything I love in a band , awesome lyrics , great music and the singer has such an amazing voice. The combine elements of punk , metal and hardcore. Picture AFI meets Sick of it All. I have seen bands like Death By stereo try to do the same thing but fall very short. This is gonna be the band that you wish you got down with from day one just so you don't look like you jumped on the bandwagon. - Jay

Until The End - Blood in the ink (eulogy)
Until the end is a sXe band hailing from south Florida and
consisting of members from bands such as where fear and weapons meet,
keepsake, morning again and culture to name a few. They play metallic hardcore dedicated to the edge. Kind of reminds me of HATEBREED at times. I can picture kids killing each other to this. I Love the song titles "Driving this car head first into a wall" "Free of filth" "your sad fucking life". Lyrics deal with the edge,edgebreakers and just pure bitterness about life. This is really heavy moshing music for the spinkicks and split lips crowd. The layout features alot of images of knifes and guns. I'd say if you enjoy HATEBREED check this out. It's not a bad record. I'd say for myself I would of probably enjoyed this record more when I was 16. - Ivan

Various artist - Rock Music - a tribute to Weezer (Dead Droid)
Have you ever been in the store or looking through a magazine and you see a tribute comp with for the most part all good bands so you decided to buy it and when you get it home your kinda let down, well this is one of those comps. I like Weezer not like some other people I know but when I saw this and the bands that were on it I thought it was gonna kick ass, I mean with a line up like Dashboard Confessional, Midtown, The Ataris, Piebald and Grade to name a few how could you not. This comp just falls short. Your better off either listening to Weezer or just listening to one of the bands on it. Although this wasn't for me I am sure some of you guys will like it. - Jay

The Worldwide Tribute to the Real Oi v.2 (Triple Crown)
I'd have to say I was a big fan of real Oi volume 1. Lots of good bands, doing good covers of classic Oi songs. Well volume 2 is no different. You got heavy hitters like Roger Miret and his new band the disasters (AF is better) Harley CROMAG and friends, Murphy's Law, Bouncing Souls, Ignite, Vision, and Death Threat from the states and some bands you might not of heard about from europe like Brightside, Hardsell, Beans, and Second Chance to name a few. The bands cover a wide array of Songs from such classic bands as Cocksparrer, Blitz, Last Resort, Combat 84,Angelic Up Starts, and Peter and the Test Tube Babies. This comp is a definite pickup for fans of any of the afforementioned bands. The best thing about comps like this is that I'm sure after listening to it you will try to search out the original version's of these songs and I think that's what Roger Miret and Onno Cromag (the compilers of this comp)were trying to accomplish with this. From reading the liner notes this was a real labor of love for the both of them. Hats off I cant wait for volume 3

Bane - Give Blood (equal vision)
As Bane's second LP, Give Blood is far removed from their previous effort, It All Comes Down to This. Give Blood is less experimental and it seems that the band have truly found their niche and are a great deal more confident with this release. Give Blood is straight forward, very honest and great record. You will be hard pressed to find another record that can match Give Blood in the originality department. This record is a must have. - Matt

Breaking Point - demo 2001
bp hail from ct and are bringin back traditional fast hardcore to the state.This demo rocks.Its good to see some kids tryin to bring back some good ol hardcore back to kickboxin connecticut.Pick this one up you wont be dissappointed.These guys blow it up every time they play.Hopefully they will stay together,i see them only improving with time.In closing a good demo.I cant wait to hear there next recording. - Ivan

Brothers Keeper - Five Hits From Hell (ides of march)
I saw these guys do this at Hellfest and thought it was kinda cool, when I heard Ides was doing a CD I had to hear it. I was disappointed BK is one of those bands I always wanted to like but could never get into and this did not help. Mike Ski is a kick ass dude but this thing is just bad. On a positive note if you ever wondered what it would be like if Kid Rock did Misfits songs get this. Sorry Guys. - Jay

Carry On - A life less plagued (bridge nine)
Carry on hail from los angeles california.I definetly hear a chain of strength influence in there music.They play hard melodic sing along driven straight edge hardcore along the lines of the aforementioned chain and reminding me of mouthpiece at times as well.Guest spots on the record include wes of american nightmare and sweet pete of in my eyes.If you want mosh these guys got that too.Over all another great release from chris wrenn of bridge nine.Ive heard since this was released the band has since broken up.im pissed i only got to see them once.Another good band bites the dust. - Ivan

The Cause - Human Condition (ides of march)
This is my favorite release from the guys at Ides of march. Picture the Nerve Agents in a fight with AFI. Total fast punk rock with some slight singing that doesnt take away from the songs. Don't let the cover art fool you this is a kick ass record. What's that noise? Thats your CD collection asking you to get this. - Jay

The Dedication - Youth Murder Anthems (death wish)
Every once in a while a band comes along that rewrites the way music is played. The Dedication, coming from Boston, have done just that. Their new EP on Deathwish Inc., Youth Murder Anthems, is a great amalgamation of musicality and power without being too over the top in either direction. You can tell without a doubt that the guys in this band throw themselves full force into their work. As an impressive a release as this is, it pales in comparison to their infamous live shows. If you have the chance to see The Dedication, don't pass it up. Go out and see them, and make sure you get your copy of Youth Murder Anthems. - Matt

Darwin Radio - Brand New Evolution (ides of march)
I have always been a big Sean Mesler fan since Drowning Room. He is one of those guys that doesn' give a shit what you think about him and will tell you to your face what he thinks about you. Ok with that said I heard he had a new band by the name of Darwin Radio when I got this in the mail I couldnt wait to see what it was all about. Darwing Radio is what Sean was meant to do melodic rock kinda like INTO ANOTHER, QUICKSAND. His voice has really gotten stronger since his days in DR. The production is decent I would really like to see them with a real producer and a real studio.The best tracks are "The Only Thing" and "This Years Girl". If you liked Drowning Room or any of the other bands mentioned you should check it out. - Jay

Danzig - s/t LP
So I'm about 13 years late reviewing this but who fucking cares. I've been listening to this nonstop recently and it is just crying out to be reviewed. This is one of the best LPs that I own. It definatly gets a little slow at times, but overall i wouldnt change a thing. It has "Mother" on it which is possibly one of the best songs ever, not to mention the entire mood of this band is dark and fucking nuts. If you havent heard this, dont tell anyone, because you suck. Just go find it somewhere, buy it, and find hell.- Matt

Embrace Today - " F.Y.I.E. (fuck you im edge)"
I had never heard this band before and had no idea what to expect. Well they are certainly a good band, but nothing spectacular. They are very much like American Nightmare vocally and musiclly, which is not a bad thing. This band has alot of potential and alot of heart. Fuck You Im Edge is a really good 7" so go out to their shows and pick yourself up a copy.- Matt

The First Step - demo 2001
generally when you think of north carolina you think of backwoods, pickup trucks and confederate flags. well now you can add one more thing to that list, and thats THE FIRST STEP. i personally never saw this coming. A great positive band with all the right ingredients and they have there own way of changing it up. Really good mosh, and sweet lyrics to boot. If you dont have this demo already, find a way to get it before they are all gone. - Matt

My Revenge - Demo
Holy shit! a hardcore band from VT! and a great one at that. This demo is really raw and sounds like it could have been released sometime in the mid 80's. The entire demo can be downloaded, along with 2 new songs at http://www.xmulletx.com/myrevenge. Make sure you stop by and have listen!- Matt

No Warning - S/T (bridge nine)
if you like late 80s nyhc.....your prayers have been answered.Hailing from toronto canada no warning play hc in the vain of madball and the cro mags.Lots of speed,lots of mosh=great raging hc.My personal fave is track 3 My world.From start to finish you wont be disappointed.Singer Ben Cook sounds like freddy madball....but looks like your 11year old little brother.They put on a good live show as well.If you are a fan HARDcore.........do you self a favor and pick this shit up you wont be disappointed. - Ivan

No Warning - S/T (bridge nine)
These canuks know how to fuck shit up! No Warning are hard. very hard. They have a very distinct NYHC sounds reminiscent of Madball, even though they are from north of the border. Their EP has gained them alot of recognition, and with good reason. If you like to mosh, No Warning can provide a great soundtrack. Look for them on one of their many weekend trips to the States. - Matt

Not A Chance - Demo.
This is the first straight edge band to come out of CT in a long time, and they do not disappoint. All the songs on this demo are catchy and right to the point. This band has everything you have come to expect from a top notch straight edge hardcore band. They are no bullshit and no frills and I'm sure we will see alot from them in the future. Get this demo while they are still around - Matt

Poison The Well - Tear From the Red advance (trustkill)
I could not open this fast enough when it got into my hands. This is, besides Hatebreed, the best record of 2002. Geoff's voice has made such a big improvment since "the opposite of december". The record starts off with Geoff singing quietly "But, I adore her" then it bust into that heavy as shit PTW riff style that we all love. Ok so I bet everyone is wondering is it really as different as they make it out to be? Not at all. It still has everything you love singing, screaming and mosh. It's a natural progression for a band. The heavy parts are heavier and the melodic parts are more melodic and better. There is even this great acoustic track about Geoff's girlfriend I don't wanna give anything away but its the furthest thing from a love song ever. From track 1 to 10 this is a solid record. Stand out track 3,5,6 and 10. Expect many big things from these guys. This is a must own when it comes out in Feb. - Jay

Strife - Anger Means (victory)
Strife is back if anybody cares.(probably not)The new full length is the follow up to their last full length "in this defiance".Alot has changed since the last release,singer rick rodney has since broken the edge,the band has broken up and tryed a name change.Thats about all that has changed though.Anger means is slight progression from defiance.Strife has gotten a bit slower,and willing to try new things as shown on this album.They introduce tribal drumming ala sepultura,a drum machine,and what sounds like a synth string section on various songs.Overall not a bad album.Im afraid its a day late and a buck short.Unfortunately i think they lost alot of momentum with all the contraversys,and breakups.In my opinion it is a solid release.If you like strife and have an open mind and enjoyed there previous albums you will enjoy anger means.- Ivan

What Feeds the Fire - Set Me Free EP (Stillborn)
This record is a CD version of their demo with 4 new songs, and it definatly hits the mark. For those who haven't heard What Feeds The Fire yet, think Ensign, but harder, faster and much better. This record has me moshing from intro to end. I have yet to hear another band that can keep up with these guys, so keep youre eyes and ears open. Your CD rack is dying for this one.- Matt

When Dream Die - My Proudest Invention to Date (ides of march)
Get this...NOW! Only bad thing was that it wasnt long enough. Damm you guys, such a cock tease. - Jay