The new album Wretched and Divine is due out early 2013.
BAND: Black Veil Brides
ALBUM: In The End - Single
YEAR: 2012
GENRE: Post-Hardcore/Rock
FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/Blackveilbrides
DOWNLOAD
Reviews, download links,leaks, news and more on the metal/hardcore/alternative music scene. Based in Perth, Australia. Support artists. Buy the music you enjoy! Follow the blog on twitter to keep updated: @ButtercoreBlog
Monday, 26 November 2012
Black Veil Brides - In The End (2012)
Check out the new single from 5 piece rock band, the Black Veil Brides.
The new album Wretched and Divine is due out early 2013.
BAND: Black Veil Brides
ALBUM: In The End - Single
YEAR: 2012
GENRE: Post-Hardcore/Rock
FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/Blackveilbrides
DOWNLOAD
The new album Wretched and Divine is due out early 2013.
BAND: Black Veil Brides
ALBUM: In The End - Single
YEAR: 2012
GENRE: Post-Hardcore/Rock
FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/Blackveilbrides
DOWNLOAD
Sunday, 25 November 2012
Capture The Crown - 'Til Death (2012 Album Leak)
You might love these guys, you might hate them. Their eerily similar post-hardcore/electronica style of rock has been done 'til death' (hilarious) by a few other notable bands such as Asking Alexandria and Attack Attack! Does this mean these guys can't bring their own spin on this style to the table? Definitely not.
For all the bad wrap Capture the Crown have gotten for poor lyrical taste, ('You Filthy ******* ****!' being their Merch sales pitch, I'm not kidding) listening to this album with an open mind can be an entertaining and enjoyable experience.
Gaining online notoriety for their single "You Call That a Knife? This is a Knife!", CTC bring all the same elements to the table on the first copy of their upcoming debut album.
The band has just released pre-order bundles available on their Facebook page.
Check them out here: http://www.facebook.com/capturethecrown
*Keep in mind this leak is of some pre-production quality. The full album will contain more songs and apparently still has to be mastered properly. I'll post the full version when it's available.
BAND: Capture The Crown
ALBUM: 'Til Death
YEAR: 2012
COUNTRY: Australia
QUALITY: Mp3, VBR
DOWNLOAD (Zippyshare)
For the latest updates on blogs, leaks and everything else on the site follow BB: @ButtercoreBlog
For all the bad wrap Capture the Crown have gotten for poor lyrical taste, ('You Filthy ******* ****!' being their Merch sales pitch, I'm not kidding) listening to this album with an open mind can be an entertaining and enjoyable experience.
Gaining online notoriety for their single "You Call That a Knife? This is a Knife!", CTC bring all the same elements to the table on the first copy of their upcoming debut album.
The band has just released pre-order bundles available on their Facebook page.
Check them out here: http://www.facebook.com/capturethecrown
 |
| 'Til Death |
*Keep in mind this leak is of some pre-production quality. The full album will contain more songs and apparently still has to be mastered properly. I'll post the full version when it's available.
BAND: Capture The Crown
ALBUM: 'Til Death
YEAR: 2012
COUNTRY: Australia
QUALITY: Mp3, VBR
DOWNLOAD (Zippyshare)
For the latest updates on blogs, leaks and everything else on the site follow BB: @ButtercoreBlog
Monday, 19 November 2012
Motionless In White - Infamous (2012)
Woe, Is Me - Genesi[s] (2012) Review
ARTIST: Woe, Is Me
ALBUM: Genesi[s]
YEAR: 2012
FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/woeis
RATING: 2.5/5
Have you ever listened to an album and you're just not sure if you like it or not?
For a few reasons, I just couldn't decide what to make of the latest Woe, Is Me release, Genesi[s].
It has some upside for it to be considered a decent response to the mass criticism the band has received over the past 12 months, predominantly for losing left-right and centre to form an almost entirely new lineup the second time around. However, it really has some glaring fundamental problems that keep it from being great.
Head honcho and former Of Machines drummer Austin Thornton still remains, with guitarist Kevin Hanson being the only other remaining original member.
As many people know, (and even more fans by the sounds of things) the debut album Number[s] was littered with potential, ending up to be a pretty enjoyable album from start to finish. It garnered them much of the fame the band has today, and for a group who were signed before playing a show on the back of their infamous Ke$ha (Fuck, is every title in this review going to require the use of extra symbols?) cover, it was a pretty good effort. It was a good blend of melody, electronics, and hard hitting post-hardcore. Certainly this isn't the same band the second time around (notably without the use of vocalist Tyler Carter but I really can't be bothered with the whole ISSUES v Woe shit-fight)
With the Number[s] era behind them, Woe have release their newest album to mixed expectations.
Does Genesi[s] deliver? For the most part, No. It's not of the same calibre that their last release was. However there are a few redeeming features that might make a good chunk of their fanbase stick around.
I've listened to this album a fair few times since it's been leaked, and the biggest problem here is that it's just all too similar. Seriously, you really can't distinguish one song from another, I'm still having trouble picking the album apart. This is largely due to the excessive use of, YEP, you guessed it, breakdowns.
Bring your wife, bring your children, bring your entire family, because there's enough chugging here to last a while.
Every song is probably 80% chugging, (minus the two unplugged tracks) and I'm certainly not against using this to enhance a song. It often works, but on this occasion it just all sounds too familiar from song to song.
From the first song to the last, songs don't differentiate from each other nearly enough. This issue is amplified when the tracks don't have enough structure. Most of the songs don't even have choruses. This isn't such a bad thing if the song flows, but it just feels all too random and out of place.The band will be chugging along and out of nowhere a transition will appear to give their singer (which I'll get to in a bit) a chance to get a word in. At least, that's what it felt like to me, and unfortunately so because a few of the many many breakdowns used actually sound pretty good. (Though they do get stale after a few listens with not much in between)
I'm certainly aware that people don't go to bands like Woe for face-melting guitar solo's or aggressive death metal, but some more creativity here would've been nice.
The unclean vocals of Doriano actually don't sound too bad, he doesn't have a whole lot of range but he has his moments. All in all though, it just all gets old way too fast.
The use of sound-effects here is massive. Backing tracks to give many of the songs an 'epic' feel, which I didn't mind. It's certainly different from the electronics/synth we saw on the first album.
While the band arguably lost their greatest asset in Tyler Carter, clean vocalist Hance Alligood is a fine replacement. His mix of gruff (almost talking to the listener) and uplifting notes work really well together, and for mine is the standout part of the entire album. He really isn't used enough, and a lack of choruses mean plenty of his parts are actually forgotten quite easily. Probably should've played a bigger part in the final product for mine, gives the songs atmosphere even if his parts feel out of place. The final acoustic track is probably his finest moment, he just sounds awesome here, and it's refreshing after the 30 minutes of chugging that fall before it.
Read that he might need a seat for when he's used live, and it's not far off. Doriano probably takes 75-80% of the vocal duties here.
As you might've guessed, instrumentally it's hard to take much out of it. The guitars are very plain and while they thump through the whole album, they don't add much. Much of the change-ups come in the form of transition-effects and the aforementioned background orchestra.
The stand out track for mine was the second single A Story to Tell, as well as With Our Friend[s] Behind Us with Caleb Shomo. (he rocks this song) A good example of what Woe can do when they come close to putting it all together.
Bottom line here is, if you're after something you haven't heard before. Yeah, this will probably anger you. It's essentially 30 minutes worth of breakdowns, with a few positives mainly coming from the quality clean vocal parts. If you were a fan before, this might satisfy . But due to its lack of originality and creativity it might feel stale, But taking it for what it's worth, it's angry, it's in your face and on its merits it's probably a symbol of the changes the band has undergone.
Give it a lesson and judge for yourself.
FOLLOW BB ON TWITTER!
ALBUM: Genesi[s]
YEAR: 2012
FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/woeis
RATING: 2.5/5
Have you ever listened to an album and you're just not sure if you like it or not?
For a few reasons, I just couldn't decide what to make of the latest Woe, Is Me release, Genesi[s].
It has some upside for it to be considered a decent response to the mass criticism the band has received over the past 12 months, predominantly for losing left-right and centre to form an almost entirely new lineup the second time around. However, it really has some glaring fundamental problems that keep it from being great.
Head honcho and former Of Machines drummer Austin Thornton still remains, with guitarist Kevin Hanson being the only other remaining original member.
As many people know, (and even more fans by the sounds of things) the debut album Number[s] was littered with potential, ending up to be a pretty enjoyable album from start to finish. It garnered them much of the fame the band has today, and for a group who were signed before playing a show on the back of their infamous Ke$ha (Fuck, is every title in this review going to require the use of extra symbols?) cover, it was a pretty good effort. It was a good blend of melody, electronics, and hard hitting post-hardcore. Certainly this isn't the same band the second time around (notably without the use of vocalist Tyler Carter but I really can't be bothered with the whole ISSUES v Woe shit-fight)
With the Number[s] era behind them, Woe have release their newest album to mixed expectations.
Does Genesi[s] deliver? For the most part, No. It's not of the same calibre that their last release was. However there are a few redeeming features that might make a good chunk of their fanbase stick around.
I've listened to this album a fair few times since it's been leaked, and the biggest problem here is that it's just all too similar. Seriously, you really can't distinguish one song from another, I'm still having trouble picking the album apart. This is largely due to the excessive use of, YEP, you guessed it, breakdowns.
Bring your wife, bring your children, bring your entire family, because there's enough chugging here to last a while.
Every song is probably 80% chugging, (minus the two unplugged tracks) and I'm certainly not against using this to enhance a song. It often works, but on this occasion it just all sounds too familiar from song to song.
From the first song to the last, songs don't differentiate from each other nearly enough. This issue is amplified when the tracks don't have enough structure. Most of the songs don't even have choruses. This isn't such a bad thing if the song flows, but it just feels all too random and out of place.The band will be chugging along and out of nowhere a transition will appear to give their singer (which I'll get to in a bit) a chance to get a word in. At least, that's what it felt like to me, and unfortunately so because a few of the many many breakdowns used actually sound pretty good. (Though they do get stale after a few listens with not much in between)
I'm certainly aware that people don't go to bands like Woe for face-melting guitar solo's or aggressive death metal, but some more creativity here would've been nice.
The unclean vocals of Doriano actually don't sound too bad, he doesn't have a whole lot of range but he has his moments. All in all though, it just all gets old way too fast.
The use of sound-effects here is massive. Backing tracks to give many of the songs an 'epic' feel, which I didn't mind. It's certainly different from the electronics/synth we saw on the first album.
While the band arguably lost their greatest asset in Tyler Carter, clean vocalist Hance Alligood is a fine replacement. His mix of gruff (almost talking to the listener) and uplifting notes work really well together, and for mine is the standout part of the entire album. He really isn't used enough, and a lack of choruses mean plenty of his parts are actually forgotten quite easily. Probably should've played a bigger part in the final product for mine, gives the songs atmosphere even if his parts feel out of place. The final acoustic track is probably his finest moment, he just sounds awesome here, and it's refreshing after the 30 minutes of chugging that fall before it.
Read that he might need a seat for when he's used live, and it's not far off. Doriano probably takes 75-80% of the vocal duties here.
As you might've guessed, instrumentally it's hard to take much out of it. The guitars are very plain and while they thump through the whole album, they don't add much. Much of the change-ups come in the form of transition-effects and the aforementioned background orchestra.
The stand out track for mine was the second single A Story to Tell, as well as With Our Friend[s] Behind Us with Caleb Shomo. (he rocks this song) A good example of what Woe can do when they come close to putting it all together.
Bottom line here is, if you're after something you haven't heard before. Yeah, this will probably anger you. It's essentially 30 minutes worth of breakdowns, with a few positives mainly coming from the quality clean vocal parts. If you were a fan before, this might satisfy . But due to its lack of originality and creativity it might feel stale, But taking it for what it's worth, it's angry, it's in your face and on its merits it's probably a symbol of the changes the band has undergone.
Give it a lesson and judge for yourself.
FOLLOW BB ON TWITTER!
Sunday, 18 November 2012
Issues - Black Diamonds (EP Review)
ARTIST: ISSUES
ALBUM: Black Diamonds EP (13 November 2012)
FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/issuesofficial
RATING: 3/5
Some interesting twists and superb vocals make for a promising debut release.
Drama and music, specifically the post-hardcore sector, seem to go hand in hand.
Whether there's visible differences between bands that get displayed publicly for fans to continuously throw their two cents in, or groups swapping members like yesterdays fashion, it all seems to happen too often.
Do these musicians really enjoy the negative attention, or do some people really not get along? Whatever the reason, all of the aforementioned 'drama' seems to have taken place throughout the whole Woe, Is Me saga.
I don't see much point in explaining it in detail, because 90% of it isn't relevant to this review. In essence though, a bunch of band members left Woe, Is Me for various reasons. This included both vocalists Tyler Carter and Michael Bohn, as well as brothers Cory and Ben Ferris.
While Woe was left to regroup and recruit it's own new members(that's a whole new story), long story short; boys who left the original line-up went and formed the band known as ISSUES.
There's been a whole heap of anticipation leading up to this release, much of it coming from the perceived 'rivalry' between Issues and Woe. I'd say this has probably been pumped up by their record label as much as anyone (yep, let's release BOTH bands singles on the exact same date and start this big fan-driven battle), but all that aside the debut Issues EP Black Diamonds is finally here. It's time to let the music do the talking.
Does it deliver? Well, it depends on how you look at it.
The first single from the EP King of Amarillo was a straight up attack on their former band, and the lyrics probably weren't the bands brightest spot. A little bit gimmicky for my liking. However, the vocals of Tyler especially were the major driving force of the song, and the almost nu-metal-like approach was fresh enough. Everyone knows this guy can sing, with his pop influenced vocals playing a big part in the bands sound.
It was also cool to see a few R&B elements mixed in, straying away from the same post-hardcore formula we'd come to expect.
The EP is much of the same throughout, and it's pleasing to see the song writing is much improved through the rest of the record.
The R&B influence is definitely a talking point, with slow beats and DJ effects (courtesy of keyboardist Ty Accord) present at different points throughout the EP. On the last song, there's a bonus track featuring Tyler rapping. Yes, rapping.
It's different without being too over the top, and seems to gel with the sound of everything fairly well.
The electronic elements are also fairly dominant, again without being overbearing, allowing room for the guitars and bass to have a place without it feeling overcrowded.
The greatest aspect of the EP has to be vocal tandem of Tyler and Michael. Make no mistake, T Carter is one of the better vocalists present in the scene today, and he carries every chorus he sings and takes the tracks up a notch. Without him, it would turn from a good release, into an average release. But the songs do a good job of showcasing Tyler's talent, which is a credit to ISSUES. The R&B direction the band takes for much of the record also helps him to stand out. He never feels too out of place and is on point for the entire 6 songs.
Michael Bohn, providing unclean vocals, also does a good job of fitting in with the bands style. I personally found his screaming enjoyable on his material with Woe, Is Me, and his rough vocal style seems to gel well with Tyler's smooth singing. It's a combination that fans of Woe will genuinely appreciate.
The guitar work is fairly basic, however only one guitar player is used on the EP, meaning there's limitations on what the band can do here. Nothing instrumentally seems to stand out here, at least from an individual stand-point. When the sounds come together though, it's good to hear tracks that aren't just dominated by simple breakdowns and one-note chugs.
The downside to the EP is that it's hard to get a gage on where the band wants to go with its sound. With the first track being an instrumental introduction, the remaining five songs seem to be a rendition in experimentation. While the songs do sound fairly similar, it's hard to draw a straight line through a band combining metal, hardcore, and R&B. Maybe on a future full length fans will see more of where the band wants to go with its sound and we can see more direction. All in all though, it is nice to see a few elements present on the release that feel fresh.
In a nutshell, this is a promising release. It's good to hear Tyler is back in the metalcore scene, and his set of pipes (as well as his love for R&B/pop helping to diversify the bands sound) really help to separate this band from most. Outside of that however, you might either love or hate this EP. Maybe the electronics and turntables aren't your thing, but the experimentation is an interesting listening experience.
Give it a listen and see for yourself, especially if you were a fan of Number[s] or any previous Woe, Is Me material. Without feeling the need to compare the two bands, in isolation this is a very solid debut release and hopefully on any future material we get an even better idea on where ISSUES wants to go. There's plenty to work with here, and it's certainly nice to see people in the scene trying something at least a little different.
ALBUM: Black Diamonds EP (13 November 2012)
FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/issuesofficial
RATING: 3/5
 |
| Black Diamonds EP |
Some interesting twists and superb vocals make for a promising debut release.
Drama and music, specifically the post-hardcore sector, seem to go hand in hand.
Whether there's visible differences between bands that get displayed publicly for fans to continuously throw their two cents in, or groups swapping members like yesterdays fashion, it all seems to happen too often.
Do these musicians really enjoy the negative attention, or do some people really not get along? Whatever the reason, all of the aforementioned 'drama' seems to have taken place throughout the whole Woe, Is Me saga.
I don't see much point in explaining it in detail, because 90% of it isn't relevant to this review. In essence though, a bunch of band members left Woe, Is Me for various reasons. This included both vocalists Tyler Carter and Michael Bohn, as well as brothers Cory and Ben Ferris.
While Woe was left to regroup and recruit it's own new members(that's a whole new story), long story short; boys who left the original line-up went and formed the band known as ISSUES.
There's been a whole heap of anticipation leading up to this release, much of it coming from the perceived 'rivalry' between Issues and Woe. I'd say this has probably been pumped up by their record label as much as anyone (yep, let's release BOTH bands singles on the exact same date and start this big fan-driven battle), but all that aside the debut Issues EP Black Diamonds is finally here. It's time to let the music do the talking.
Does it deliver? Well, it depends on how you look at it.
The first single from the EP King of Amarillo was a straight up attack on their former band, and the lyrics probably weren't the bands brightest spot. A little bit gimmicky for my liking. However, the vocals of Tyler especially were the major driving force of the song, and the almost nu-metal-like approach was fresh enough. Everyone knows this guy can sing, with his pop influenced vocals playing a big part in the bands sound.
It was also cool to see a few R&B elements mixed in, straying away from the same post-hardcore formula we'd come to expect.
The EP is much of the same throughout, and it's pleasing to see the song writing is much improved through the rest of the record.
The R&B influence is definitely a talking point, with slow beats and DJ effects (courtesy of keyboardist Ty Accord) present at different points throughout the EP. On the last song, there's a bonus track featuring Tyler rapping. Yes, rapping.
It's different without being too over the top, and seems to gel with the sound of everything fairly well.
The electronic elements are also fairly dominant, again without being overbearing, allowing room for the guitars and bass to have a place without it feeling overcrowded.
The greatest aspect of the EP has to be vocal tandem of Tyler and Michael. Make no mistake, T Carter is one of the better vocalists present in the scene today, and he carries every chorus he sings and takes the tracks up a notch. Without him, it would turn from a good release, into an average release. But the songs do a good job of showcasing Tyler's talent, which is a credit to ISSUES. The R&B direction the band takes for much of the record also helps him to stand out. He never feels too out of place and is on point for the entire 6 songs.
Michael Bohn, providing unclean vocals, also does a good job of fitting in with the bands style. I personally found his screaming enjoyable on his material with Woe, Is Me, and his rough vocal style seems to gel well with Tyler's smooth singing. It's a combination that fans of Woe will genuinely appreciate.
The guitar work is fairly basic, however only one guitar player is used on the EP, meaning there's limitations on what the band can do here. Nothing instrumentally seems to stand out here, at least from an individual stand-point. When the sounds come together though, it's good to hear tracks that aren't just dominated by simple breakdowns and one-note chugs.
The downside to the EP is that it's hard to get a gage on where the band wants to go with its sound. With the first track being an instrumental introduction, the remaining five songs seem to be a rendition in experimentation. While the songs do sound fairly similar, it's hard to draw a straight line through a band combining metal, hardcore, and R&B. Maybe on a future full length fans will see more of where the band wants to go with its sound and we can see more direction. All in all though, it is nice to see a few elements present on the release that feel fresh.
In a nutshell, this is a promising release. It's good to hear Tyler is back in the metalcore scene, and his set of pipes (as well as his love for R&B/pop helping to diversify the bands sound) really help to separate this band from most. Outside of that however, you might either love or hate this EP. Maybe the electronics and turntables aren't your thing, but the experimentation is an interesting listening experience.
Give it a listen and see for yourself, especially if you were a fan of Number[s] or any previous Woe, Is Me material. Without feeling the need to compare the two bands, in isolation this is a very solid debut release and hopefully on any future material we get an even better idea on where ISSUES wants to go. There's plenty to work with here, and it's certainly nice to see people in the scene trying something at least a little different.
Thursday, 15 November 2012
The Plot in You vs Austin Carlile
I haven't seen much of this really verified on the internet, or heard about it outside of twitter, but it appears The Plot in You have finished up their second record including in it a controversial song targeting Of Mice & Men front man Austin Carlile.
With the eagerly anticipated second album finished (release dates have yet to be announced), an interesting topic that has appeared online is why Carlile has been singled out by the band, particuarly by vocalist Landon Tewers.
I won't indulge in discussing the rumours as to why the song has been included, but Tewers has confimed it's definite, tweeting that the new record will 'piss off' "Christians and OM&M fans."
More to follow as the record release dates are announced.
With the eagerly anticipated second album finished (release dates have yet to be announced), an interesting topic that has appeared online is why Carlile has been singled out by the band, particuarly by vocalist Landon Tewers.
I won't indulge in discussing the rumours as to why the song has been included, but Tewers has confimed it's definite, tweeting that the new record will 'piss off' "Christians and OM&M fans."
More to follow as the record release dates are announced.
Wednesday, 14 November 2012
Scarlett O' Hara reunion likely after drama with Miss Fortune unfolds
Ex Rise Records band Scarlett' O' Hara are rumoured to be reforming after vocalist Eddie Cano left Miss Fortune in dramatic fashion earlier this week.
Posting a status on their Facebook page reading, 'Help us get to 50k, for some news!', there has been plenty of fan speculation that Cano plans to reboot the band with former clean vocalist Rene Lopez.
Another status was also posted a few days prior asking fans if they wanted the band to 'come back'.
Dropped from Rise in 2011 and forced into hiatus, it hasn't stopped the legion of Scarlett O' Hara fans from pleading with the band to put out new music.
Their wishes may very well come to realisation as a result of Cano leaving his old band Miss Fortune, who were forced to drop him from the lineup following an announcement on their page.
Miss Fortune have gone on to say that they had several good reasons for dropping Cano, this included posting a comparison clip of the new single featuring Eddie's vocals against a mixed version of Mikey Sawyer's (who originally only covered clean vocals).
This has since been deleted.
Despite the backlash from fans (much of it coming from Scarlett fans), the band feels they are in a much better position to move forward.
It will be interesting to see how both bands respond, with Miss Fortune busily preparing their debut album which is set for release sometime next year.
You can check out the clip of their newest single 'All the White Lies in the World' on their page!
@buttercoreblog for all of the blogs latest updates, reviews, interviews and more on twitter!
Posting a status on their Facebook page reading, 'Help us get to 50k, for some news!', there has been plenty of fan speculation that Cano plans to reboot the band with former clean vocalist Rene Lopez.
Another status was also posted a few days prior asking fans if they wanted the band to 'come back'.
Dropped from Rise in 2011 and forced into hiatus, it hasn't stopped the legion of Scarlett O' Hara fans from pleading with the band to put out new music.
 |
| Eddie Cano performing vocal duties for Scarlett O' Hara |
Their wishes may very well come to realisation as a result of Cano leaving his old band Miss Fortune, who were forced to drop him from the lineup following an announcement on their page.
Miss Fortune have gone on to say that they had several good reasons for dropping Cano, this included posting a comparison clip of the new single featuring Eddie's vocals against a mixed version of Mikey Sawyer's (who originally only covered clean vocals).
This has since been deleted.
Despite the backlash from fans (much of it coming from Scarlett fans), the band feels they are in a much better position to move forward.
It will be interesting to see how both bands respond, with Miss Fortune busily preparing their debut album which is set for release sometime next year.
 |
| The first official Miss Fortune promo shot |
You can check out the clip of their newest single 'All the White Lies in the World' on their page!
@buttercoreblog for all of the blogs latest updates, reviews, interviews and more on twitter!
Woe, Is Me - Genesi[s] (2012)
Check out Woe, Is Me and their latest release here!
The first full release featuring the new lineup.
Will be posting a full review of the album once it's been released on iTunes/in stores.
ARTIST: Woe, Is Me
ALBUM: Genesi[s]
YEAR: 2012
FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/woeis
Download link at zippyshare
The first full release featuring the new lineup.
Will be posting a full review of the album once it's been released on iTunes/in stores.
ARTIST: Woe, Is Me
ALBUM: Genesi[s]
YEAR: 2012
FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/woeis
Download link at zippyshare
Wednesday, 1 August 2012
Joel Piper Releases Debut Solo Album, Dying to Live
Drummer and vocalist for the now disbanded metalcore act Confide, Joel Piper has released his solo album Dying to Live available digitially world wide.
The album dropped on the 31st of July, marking the debut full length release from Joel and his self titled solo project.
The album has made its mark on the iTunes charts upon its release, moving in to the top 30 in the Pop genre. Critical reception from fans has been extremely positive to this point, praising his song writing ability and the overall calibre of Dying to Live.
First Impression:
Personally, upon listening to it (and having bought his first EP The Only One) I was surprised by how well the album flowed and how each song offered something different. While each song is generally strucutred the same, it feels like a well written pop record that should bring Joel some level of mainstream success. It's evident how hard he's worked on it (keeping in mind it is self-produced for the most part, with alot of the instrumental aspects constructed by Piper himself) due to the variation in beats and tempo.
The vocals sound fantastic, even without having the most devestating set of pipes in the industry compared to the likes of other 'clean' singers, Joel has put together an album backed by awesome production and has used his voice to full effect. The passion in his voice is evident and that shines throughout all 13 tracks.
I'd give it a solid 4/5 and label it a well written pop record which highlights Joel Piper's dedication, showing experience and ability beyond his years.
You can check out Dying to Live on iTunes here!
For more updates from Joel Piper, follow him @joelpiper
Tracklist:
1. Dying to Live (4:04)
2. Goldmine (3:04)
3. Any Way You Want It (2:51)
4. Safety Net (4:16)
5. Can Anyone Hear Me? (2:52)
6. Call On Me (3:35)
7. Not Better Off (3:54)
8. Simple Things (3:05)
9. Love Not War (3:44)
10. Smile (3:51)
11. The Young (2:54)
12. Careful With You (3:50)
13. We Are the Party (2:58)
The album dropped on the 31st of July, marking the debut full length release from Joel and his self titled solo project.
The album has made its mark on the iTunes charts upon its release, moving in to the top 30 in the Pop genre. Critical reception from fans has been extremely positive to this point, praising his song writing ability and the overall calibre of Dying to Live.
First Impression:
Personally, upon listening to it (and having bought his first EP The Only One) I was surprised by how well the album flowed and how each song offered something different. While each song is generally strucutred the same, it feels like a well written pop record that should bring Joel some level of mainstream success. It's evident how hard he's worked on it (keeping in mind it is self-produced for the most part, with alot of the instrumental aspects constructed by Piper himself) due to the variation in beats and tempo.
The vocals sound fantastic, even without having the most devestating set of pipes in the industry compared to the likes of other 'clean' singers, Joel has put together an album backed by awesome production and has used his voice to full effect. The passion in his voice is evident and that shines throughout all 13 tracks.
I'd give it a solid 4/5 and label it a well written pop record which highlights Joel Piper's dedication, showing experience and ability beyond his years.
You can check out Dying to Live on iTunes here!
For more updates from Joel Piper, follow him @joelpiper
Tracklist:
1. Dying to Live (4:04)
2. Goldmine (3:04)
3. Any Way You Want It (2:51)
4. Safety Net (4:16)
5. Can Anyone Hear Me? (2:52)
6. Call On Me (3:35)
7. Not Better Off (3:54)
8. Simple Things (3:05)
9. Love Not War (3:44)
10. Smile (3:51)
11. The Young (2:54)
12. Careful With You (3:50)
13. We Are the Party (2:58)
Monday, 30 July 2012
Outline in Color Interview!
It's not often you'll be completely caught off guard when it comes to post-hardcore. There's so much of it that will often sound very similar and repetitive, and doesn't do anything different to impress.
However, every now and then you'll come across a band (usually out of nowhere) that surprises you. It's not always through forcing a sense of innovation, but just by producing a sound that displays creativity while showing off originality.
That's exactly what I found when I discovered Outline in Color. The Tulsa 6 piece had some pretty high praise on their self titled debut EP, and from pure word of mouth I purchased it on iTunes. I waited for what I thought would be a generic 5 song release to play through and move on to what I was preferably listening to at the time, but as would be the case every now and then, I was caught off guard and found myself enjoying it from first listen. The hooks were epic, the breakdowns contagious, and the vocals superb. This isn't a review of the EP, but a recount of how from the first play of OIC, they managed to reel me in. They weren't trying to forcefully combine elements from different genres, they effortlessly put their own stamp on a combination of electronically influenced post-hardcore. And it's a fantastic listen to say the least!
With high praise from the hardcore community and an even higher anticipated full length album not far off, I spoke to guitarist See Jay Cochran about all things OIC and their plans for the near future!
---
How would you guys describe your sound, or genre? It seems like it’d be pretty hard to pin you guys down to being just a post-hardcore band.
Yeah, I can't say we are going for a specific genre or sound. Sure,
we want to make catchy break down parts but we also want catchy epic
chorus' and everything in between that. No matter which genre we were
to label ourselves, someone would argue about it, haha.
Where does the band draw its influences from?
This one is a bit crazy. Everyone in the band has totally different
influences. The only band that ALL members like that's near our genre
of music is Pierce The Veil. I personally am influenced by Brand New,
Alexisonfire, Senses Fail. I know that Trevor loves more hardcore such
as The Ghost Inside. KC loves Afi and Green Day a bunch. Austin loves
Foo Fighters and a lot of heavier metal bands. Forrest I believe would
be any old school rock band or new indie pop music. And Skaggs.. his
influence is cats.
Over 17,000 Facebook fans with just the EP release under the bands belt, why do you think that release was such a success?
Well, our EP has been out for a solid two years now I think? haha.
So, we've had plenty of time to promote and get the EP out there. It's
also sold in some stores in Japan which most likely helped our fan
base as well. If you don't have that EP by now then what are you even
thinking?!
What’s the latest update with the full length you guys are working on? So far we’ve gotten a look at one song and it’s safe to say it’s pretty anticipated.
Ah, the full length. Well, we tracked it like 7 months ago I
believe? Ridiculous, we know. It's done. It's ready to go. We had some
issues and we were trying to figure some things out which has held
back the release. But, we are issue free and looking to post a
statement and more about the album very very soon. It's ready for you
guys, I can say that.
In regards to the album, is it sticking to that same sound or are you pushing it further and looking to progress and tweak the style we saw on the EP?
I think our sound has changed a lot from the EP to full length. Not
necessarily changed style wise or we sound like a different band. It's
just noticeably more mature and much more real and means a lot more to
us I would say. We really worked hard on writing and recording this
album. We went through several different producer changes and all
that. But, we got the final product and we love it.
What are the bands touring plans like for the future?
Well, we plan to get the album out and tour to support it
immediately following. We want to tour A LOT. I know there are a ton
of kids out there asking us to come to this city and that city. We
want to be in EVERY city, we promise. Can't wait to get on the road
and meet you guys. Shooting for our first tour within this year!
It’s been a while since your new clean vocalist K.C stepped into the band, was switching vocalists an easy transition? It seems like his voice bodes well with the older songs!
Yeah, K.C. is amazing and he just fit so well. We found him on
Youtube, haha. He lived in Boston and basically dropped his life to
come join us. So, I'd say the hardest part of K.C. joining the band is
the fact that he had to go through a complete change and drop a lot of
his current life to be a part of our band. And we do appreciate what
he's done.
Favourite thing about playing guitar in Outline in Color..GO!
My favorite thing is that I can tell Forrest to suck it up and play
both guitar parts live while I eat corn dogs on stage. :]
---
You can check out Outline in Color and like their Facebook page here: http://www.facebook.com/outlineincolor
Their music is available for purchase on the iTunes store here: http://itunes.apple.com/au/album/outline-in-color-ep/id394255187
However, every now and then you'll come across a band (usually out of nowhere) that surprises you. It's not always through forcing a sense of innovation, but just by producing a sound that displays creativity while showing off originality.
That's exactly what I found when I discovered Outline in Color. The Tulsa 6 piece had some pretty high praise on their self titled debut EP, and from pure word of mouth I purchased it on iTunes. I waited for what I thought would be a generic 5 song release to play through and move on to what I was preferably listening to at the time, but as would be the case every now and then, I was caught off guard and found myself enjoying it from first listen. The hooks were epic, the breakdowns contagious, and the vocals superb. This isn't a review of the EP, but a recount of how from the first play of OIC, they managed to reel me in. They weren't trying to forcefully combine elements from different genres, they effortlessly put their own stamp on a combination of electronically influenced post-hardcore. And it's a fantastic listen to say the least!With high praise from the hardcore community and an even higher anticipated full length album not far off, I spoke to guitarist See Jay Cochran about all things OIC and their plans for the near future!
---
How would you guys describe your sound, or genre? It seems like it’d be pretty hard to pin you guys down to being just a post-hardcore band.
Yeah, I can't say we are going for a specific genre or sound. Sure,
we want to make catchy break down parts but we also want catchy epic
chorus' and everything in between that. No matter which genre we were
to label ourselves, someone would argue about it, haha.
Where does the band draw its influences from?
This one is a bit crazy. Everyone in the band has totally different
influences. The only band that ALL members like that's near our genre
of music is Pierce The Veil. I personally am influenced by Brand New,
Alexisonfire, Senses Fail. I know that Trevor loves more hardcore such
as The Ghost Inside. KC loves Afi and Green Day a bunch. Austin loves
Foo Fighters and a lot of heavier metal bands. Forrest I believe would
be any old school rock band or new indie pop music. And Skaggs.. his
influence is cats.
Over 17,000 Facebook fans with just the EP release under the bands belt, why do you think that release was such a success?
Well, our EP has been out for a solid two years now I think? haha.
So, we've had plenty of time to promote and get the EP out there. It's
also sold in some stores in Japan which most likely helped our fan
base as well. If you don't have that EP by now then what are you even
thinking?!
What’s the latest update with the full length you guys are working on? So far we’ve gotten a look at one song and it’s safe to say it’s pretty anticipated.Ah, the full length. Well, we tracked it like 7 months ago I
believe? Ridiculous, we know. It's done. It's ready to go. We had some
issues and we were trying to figure some things out which has held
back the release. But, we are issue free and looking to post a
statement and more about the album very very soon. It's ready for you
guys, I can say that.
In regards to the album, is it sticking to that same sound or are you pushing it further and looking to progress and tweak the style we saw on the EP?
I think our sound has changed a lot from the EP to full length. Not
necessarily changed style wise or we sound like a different band. It's
just noticeably more mature and much more real and means a lot more to
us I would say. We really worked hard on writing and recording this
album. We went through several different producer changes and all
that. But, we got the final product and we love it.
What are the bands touring plans like for the future?
Well, we plan to get the album out and tour to support it
immediately following. We want to tour A LOT. I know there are a ton
of kids out there asking us to come to this city and that city. We
want to be in EVERY city, we promise. Can't wait to get on the road
and meet you guys. Shooting for our first tour within this year!
It’s been a while since your new clean vocalist K.C stepped into the band, was switching vocalists an easy transition? It seems like his voice bodes well with the older songs!
Yeah, K.C. is amazing and he just fit so well. We found him on
Youtube, haha. He lived in Boston and basically dropped his life to
come join us. So, I'd say the hardest part of K.C. joining the band is
the fact that he had to go through a complete change and drop a lot of
his current life to be a part of our band. And we do appreciate what
he's done.
Favourite thing about playing guitar in Outline in Color..GO!
My favorite thing is that I can tell Forrest to suck it up and play
both guitar parts live while I eat corn dogs on stage. :]
---
You can check out Outline in Color and like their Facebook page here: http://www.facebook.com/outlineincolor
Their music is available for purchase on the iTunes store here: http://itunes.apple.com/au/album/outline-in-color-ep/id394255187
Everyone Dies in Utah - Polarities (New Album)
Artist: Everyone Dies in Utah
Genre: Post-Hardcore/Electronic
Album: Polarities
Release Date: 31/7/2012
Like them on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/everyonediesinutahtx
Upon first listen, the second album from the hardcore outfit lives up to all expectation. Following their first release Seeing Clearly, expect an improved sound the second time around!
Clean vocals again outstanding, with the electronic elements better placed, moving them further away from the group of bands that overuse synth to no real effect.
The first single off the album You Are Now Manually Breathing is already available on iTunes to purchase, highlighting the bands ability to mix hard-hitting verses with a melodic chorus. It's a formula EDIU execute very well throughout the album as they manage to step up their game on Polarities.
Pick it up when it's released on the 31st, especially if you enjoyed the first album!
DOWNLOAD THE ALBUM HERE! http://adf.ly/BC81N
Please support these guys by purchasing the album if you enjoy it.
DOWLOAD THEIR MUSIC FROM iTUNES HERE!
Genre: Post-Hardcore/Electronic
Album: Polarities
Release Date: 31/7/2012
Like them on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/everyonediesinutahtx
Upon first listen, the second album from the hardcore outfit lives up to all expectation. Following their first release Seeing Clearly, expect an improved sound the second time around!
Clean vocals again outstanding, with the electronic elements better placed, moving them further away from the group of bands that overuse synth to no real effect.
The first single off the album You Are Now Manually Breathing is already available on iTunes to purchase, highlighting the bands ability to mix hard-hitting verses with a melodic chorus. It's a formula EDIU execute very well throughout the album as they manage to step up their game on Polarities.
Pick it up when it's released on the 31st, especially if you enjoyed the first album!
DOWNLOAD THE ALBUM HERE! http://adf.ly/BC81N
Please support these guys by purchasing the album if you enjoy it.
DOWLOAD THEIR MUSIC FROM iTUNES HERE!
Friday, 27 July 2012
Miss Fortune New Single - Details
I've taken a serious interest in the band Miss Fortune, I previously blogged about them in an older post with high hopes for their first release The Double Threat of Danger (featuringTyler Carter). The good news is, it does not let down and it's an awesome song. For anyone who hasn't heard it I'll provide a link at the bottom of this post.
The band is extremely different in that none of the members live in the same area, and most have never met face to face! They have however, created a buzz with their first release and are now looking to build on that with the upcoming second single entitled All The White Lies in the World.
The band is extremely different in that none of the members live in the same area, and most have never met face to face! They have however, created a buzz with their first release and are now looking to build on that with the upcoming second single entitled All The White Lies in the World.
This week the band gave fans the first look at a pre-pro demo that has been floating around soundcloud for a few months.
Miss Fortune also released artwork for new single! (see left)
No specific date has been given for when the new song will drop, but I definitely can't wait to see how they follow up what was an awesome first song.
Go like their facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/MISSFORTUNEOfficial
Check out their first single here! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WctmpMHsBQ
Wednesday, 25 July 2012
That's Outrageous! Sign to InVogue Records
Ex Rise Records band That's Outrageous! has recently signed with Findlay label InVogue Records.
The signing comes at just the right time for the Poughkeepie post-hardcore outfit, who were busy trying to kickstart funds for their second album, which was initially planned to be self-released.
The labels newest signing comes after the band was released from Rise due to members leaving.
InVogue records is home of bands such as Before Their Eyes, Famous Last Words and The Plot in You.
The band posted the following statement on their Facebook page after being signed:
"We're happy to announce we have signed with InVogue Records!
We are in the studio now working on our Sophomore album, expect to see it this October! InVogue is also releasing the single “Obliviate” June 26,"
Check them out on their facebook page here!!
You can listen to their single 'Obliviate' on Youtube here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMLOsrQiLyw
Blog update!
Plan on providing plenty of reviews of upcoming albums, download links etc, haven't been on much in the last few months but expect to see heaps of content soon.
Thursday, 5 April 2012
Miss Fortune - Plans &The Double Threat of Danger Teaser
ARTIST: Miss Fortune
GENRE: Post-Hardcore (?)
FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/MISSFORTUNEOfficial
FORMED: 2012
WHY YOU SHOULD CHECK THEM OUT:
Miss Fortune is essentially the product of Scarlett O'Hara and members from other bands who came together after (not officially implied from anything I've seen but widely believed to be the case) SOH went on hiatus.
With months of non-touring and no announcements, fans began wondering where the band was heading. Lead vocalist Eddie Cano, who is currently also working on his other project Chase the Lights, announced via the Scarlett O'Hara facebook page that his new band would be named Miss Fortune after the rights to the original name were no longer his. However, his new hardcore band boasts new members on every front (2 separate vocalists according to their Facebook page) and has generated a whole heap of hype following the release of a few teaser clips for their first single, The Double Threat of Danger featuring none other than Tyler Carter.
It remains to be seen what's really to come from these guys, but the clips suggest Eddie and his new band have brushed aside the tried and tired sound of Scarlett O'Hara for something a little more interesting and experimental.
With the single release highly anticipated and an album supposedly dropping later this year, these guys will be ones to keep an eye on over the coming months. Stay tuned.
Check out their teaser clip for the new single here!
Hands Like Houses - Ground Dweller (2012)
ALBUM: Ground Dweller
YEAR: 2012
GENRE: Progressive Post-Hardcore, Experimental
FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/handslikehouses
TRACKLIST:
01. Antarctica ( 4:06)
02. Dont Look Now, Im Being Followed, Act Normal ( 3:13)
03. This Aint No Place for Animals ( 4:07)
04. Spineless Crow ( 3:33)
05. Starving to Death in the Belly of a Whale ( 3:33)
06. A Clown and His Pipe ( 3:27)
07. The Definition of Not-Leaving ( 2:28)
08. Lion Skin (featuring Jonny Craig and Tyler Carter) ( 4:19)
09. One Hundred ( 3:28)
10. Watchmaker (featuring Matty Mullins) ( 4:01)
11. The Sower ( 4:05)
Download the album here!
You can purchase the album from iTunes here:
ALBUM PREVIEW:
This Australian 6 piece post-hardcore outfit are nothing within the ordinary. In a genre clouded with much of the same sound and trends, Hands Like Houses have managed to create something that stands out. There's a reason these boys have been slowly building up a massive buzz for this release, both in Australia and now overseas in places such as America.
Capturing the soaring vocals of bands such as Emarosa, courtesy of Trent Woodley, and managing to master the ambient and atmospheric sound acts such as Woe, Is Me have attempted previously, Ground Dweller is not to underestimated.
Each track is able to bring you into a world of it's own, intricately using the ambient electronics to capture the listener before throwing you into a powerful guitar/melody assault backed by the impressive drum-work.
This might almost read like the label talking for the band, but I can assure you the album is something fresh, something a little different in a crowded scene, and it's fair to give credit where it's due.
The standout track for me was the song that caught my attention from these guys originally. The powerful Lion Skin, featuring guest spots from a couple of vocalists most of us are familiar with in Mr Tyler Carter and Mr Jonny Craig. It's actually surprising initially to listeners how Trenton more than holds his own against the two vocal powerhouses. The 30 seconds or so where they all join together on this track is certainly impressive.
Some people have said the production sours the album, and it makes (if it didn't already) all the songs sound too similar. I personally felt the production was fine, crisp and energetic, blending everything together nicely. With so much going on, it makes sense to tighten everything up on each track so it all flows. In my opinion it does a nice job on holding the album together. If the songs DO sound a bit similar, I have no problem with this. It's not the same 'hardcore' song over and over again, a criticism of many bands under the same Rise Records label. There's no random breakdown, there's no dubstep thrown in to catch the listener off-guard. If you enjoy the style of music this band produces, a bit of similarity really isn't an issue. This is a good problem for HLH to have at this point in their career, managing to get a handle on creating their own sound at such a young age and capturing it in each track throughout the album.
So anyway, go check out this release, and make sure to support the artists and buy the album if you like what you hear. (See links above) You can also order album packages here!
Thanks for reading, and enjoy!
Tuesday, 3 April 2012
This blog,
Hey to anyone who's reading,
just a blog I started to review, promote and give my opinion on the alternative and metal music scene.
Hoping to publish plenty of content on here when I get time, give show reviews, promote underground music and pretty much whatever else I can think of!
We'll see where it goes!
Tom
@TomKiely_ on twitter
just a blog I started to review, promote and give my opinion on the alternative and metal music scene.
Hoping to publish plenty of content on here when I get time, give show reviews, promote underground music and pretty much whatever else I can think of!
We'll see where it goes!
Tom
@TomKiely_ on twitter
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