March Wrap Up

So this is the last Tuesday of the month, which means the last time I will get pre releases for the month of March (I will get more but I have to tally them for April).

So in light of such event, jayeMOSH reviews will be giving you a run-down of sorts on the reviews we've done. Some notable releases and not so notable releases will be discussed.

My favorite record for the month of March goes to Vanna's debut full-length Curses (even thhough the record isn't REALLY out yet). It was shockingly good, and a breathe of fresh air amoung so many bands that are trying to do the same thing as them.
Some more really good releases I enjoyed were Sleeping Giant's bedut, as well as the return of From Autumn to Ashes with their latest Holding a Wolf by the Ears, and as always, the great Anberlin.

Some not so great releases this month was one of the worst record i've heard in a long time, The Showdown's Temptation Come my Way. The record was offensive in how bad it was. You really don't have to read my review of it, plain and simple, it's completely different from their debut record which was amazing, and it's a Metallica rip-off. There are only two good songs on the CD, and one of them is a cover song.
Some other that we're just below par, were Haste the Day's latest Pressure the Hinges, and the latest Comeback Kid album,

One final thing I did want to comment on.
I'm kinda going back on the way I felt about Maylene's new record. I still feel the same way about most of it, but after giving it a few more listens, i'm starting to enjoy it. And the packaging is inrcredible. I'm not gonna change the original grade, but based on my latest listen, it's probably a B.

Anyways...
I can't remember too many releases coming in April, but you can expect the new Chariot record very soon.

Thanks
-Jaye

The Almost- Southern Weather

The Almost is Underoath drummer/singer Aaron Gillespie's rock solo side project. He recorded everything on the record himself and tours part time with a band and such backing him up. Southern Weather, is his debut record on Tooth and Nail records.
The record rocks like an honest version of Copeland, Anberlin, Mae, and even bands like The Fray, and All-American Rejects. The album from start to finish honestly has a sort of randomness to it. It's as if Gillespie wrote and recorded the songs, put them on his iTunes and hit shuffle for the song order.
While this record is in no way a concept album, that doesn't mean it shouldn't flow.
Gillespie has a great sense of melody, but rarely has a sense of creating hooks. Where Underoath at least has some lively-ness with their hybrid of singing and screaming, The Almost is just a little on the boring side.
At first listen it's great in the sense that these songs are well written and have some great melodies, but what does any of that matter if I never want to listen to the record?
On a side note, the packaging is impressive. I love the simplicity of the cover plain and simple, as well as the unique colors. I guess when you're as big as Underoath you can just pay people to make you look good.
On a side note, the record reminds me alot of Classic Case, not only from sound, but from the way I can't just see myself listening to this that much.

FINAL GRADE: B-

Sleeping Giant- Dread Champions of the Last Days

Sleeping Giant is one of the most recent signs for Christian hardcore label Facedown records. The band features members of xDeathstarx, as well as Facedown's Impending Doom. With some background knowledge said, you now know that this band is a hybrid of two very different music styles, and with that being said, I will start this review.
Sleeping Giant is one of the most diverse, original heavy music band's I may have ever heard. They bring a blend of EVERY heavy music style I can think of into one of the coolest hardcore records i've heard in a long time.
The record starts out as you may expect. Very in your face vocals, gang vocals, breakdowns etc. nothing too out of the ordinary.
However, from song to song, the record has a different feel to it through that of the song styles.
The most standout track in my opinion is "Whoremonger", what seems to be their take on a melodic hardcore song, that ends up sounding like if Throwdown and P.O.D. decided to join forces, and best of all, this sounds incredible.
The influences of metal are very prevalent as well, with thrashy drums styles, and noodly guitar parts.

It's very hard to pick low points of this record, but lets start off with the obvious. The CD cover of this record is horrific. It's one of the most awful things i've maybe ever seen. It looks like someone learned how to create 3d graphics via somekind of "... For Dummies" book, and thought it would be cool to offer it as a CD cover.
The other downside tho this record that i've noticed, is though each song is different, it seems as if every song has some kind of xDeathstarx b-side part in it, which I guess in a sense is inevitable, but it's just really obvious.
Bottom line.
One of the best, and most original hardcore records we're going to hear this year. It's good plain and simple, and pushes on four wheels. Production is superb for a Facedown record, songs are heartfelt and well put together.
It's just a good listen.

FINAL GRADE: A-

Comeback Kid- Broadcasting

After the success of 2005's Wake the Dead, Comeback Kid found themselves in the promiseland of hardcore. In the midst of this, their original singer leaves, and is replaced by guitar player and former Figure Four lead singer Andrew Neufield.
Considering that two members of the band were ex Figure Four, and they were recruiting another one, my expectations for this album was a new Figure Four record. However instead we got a VERY mediocre Comeback Kid record.
Neufield tries his best to imitate their former front man and succeeds, instead of using his "growl" in Figure Four which was very Hatebreed/Jamey Jasta-esque. This isn't that bad because he sounds almost identical to the former singer Scott Wade, however until you hear Neufield doing HIS OWN BACK VOCALS, you realize that there is quite the bit of head scratching.
Now lets back up for a second. ALOT of bands do their own background vocals right? Yes, but Comeback Decides to do it with the same guy, with a DIFFERENT vocal tone. Huh?
Not only is that a little strange, but half the record seems like they were writing to please fans of Wake the Dead, while the other half is displaying their "progression" by writing slow, droney, Modern Life is War rip-off songs.
Basically this record is just boring. Nothing stands out, and it's MEDIOCORE at its best. Seriously, did we ever think CBK would fall victim to this disease?

FINAL GRADE: C+

Means- Sending Your Strength

I am a huge fan of melodic hardcore, the mixture of progressional guitar melodies, mixed with tasteful growls and deeply emotional singing parts. Bands like Beloved, Life in Your Way, and Changing of Times Underoath perfected this.
Facedown's Canadian imports Means is Facedown's latest melodic hardcore band. Lets start off by saying that this band is just plane good. I heard about them randomly through MySpace, bought their E.P. and liked what I heard. Their full length is an expansion if you will on that E.P.
A little less melody and a little more heavyness which isn't a big deal, some bands do it.
The record is good, it's a decent full length, and it's one of those general debuts. It's nothing special, but it's not bad by any means (no pun intended).
There are alot of high points, in this record, and really aren't any bad parts, other than the fact that the record gets a little boring.
It's not something I wanna pop in because it's great, I almost want to listen to it because I feel bad I haven't in a while.
The production is good, the song composition is good, the only drawbacks is it's just a little too basic all the way around.
Maybe some kind of ELABORATE single, or huge breakdowns, or sometime special in the production.
Bottom line, it's a good record, just not special.

FINAL GRADE: B

From Autumn to Ashes- Holding a Wolf by the Ears

When the words From Autumn to Ashes coarse through my ear drums, the thoughts of one of the most perfect debut records in modern heavy music. I can be tormented and sent hate mail for years to come, but their barrage of insane bi polar core... the mixture of singing and screaming, and the EXTREME change of pace in music was both fresh, and relieving when it first popped on the scene.
However, after their initial release Too Bad Your Beautiful, things seemed to go down hill for this band. Their next release was less that stellar, and the one after that (the album which must not be named) was almost like a joke.
Rumors of breakup circled the band like hungry vultures, and when it finally surfaced that their "screamer" was leaving, things came to a head, and even for fans like myself that had forgot about FATA of old, seemingly gave this band another chance.
Now, Francis Mark (ex drummer/singer) has taken the rains of vocal duties.
Mark's vocals seem to be a baptism umong the music, once a gain, a fresh start if you will to this band.
This album pulses on ALL cylinders, and yes, maybe it's not the FATA of old, but after everything that they've been through (two terrible records) you come up with one of the most brilliant, and honest melodic/post-hardcore record one will hear in a long time.
The album reminds me of old Deadguy, old ZAO, and At The Drive-In, all with a more melodic or metal twist.
Believe it or not, this is one of the most original sounding records from a heavy music band i've heard in a LONG time... not to mention from a heavy music band trying to re-invent themselves. It seems as if all the bands trying to do that lately have failed miserably.

FINAL GRADE: A

Anberlin- Cities

Anberlin has been one of those bands over the past 5 years that has been a delight to watch grow, while still staying true to their sound. Ever since their debut Blueprints for the Black Market, the band has been churning out power pop tunes with aggressive guitar licks, driving drums, and some of the most emotional vocals heard in the genre, if not the most.
While so many have copied of the sound that Anberlin has adopted, the band has realized they needed to branch out on their latest record.
To understand Anberlin, one must understand where this band is coming from. They are taking influences from some of the late 80's rock movement, and combines it with modern swagger. In Cities, the band has nearly perfected their sound. While some of the songs are general masterpieces, I do think that the record overall is not as good as their previous Never Take Friendship Personal, however the composition of some of the songs are phenomenal, showcasing this bands in depth song writing ability. I do think however there was a lack of though on how the record was put together as a whole.
In summing up this review, Anberlin's third album is incredible, and one to be noted for the year. A must have for TRUE fans of rock music.

FINAL GRADE- A-

Haste the Day- Pressure the Hinges

Haste the Day is one of those bands you just seem to not expect much from. I mean they are what they are. From the beginning embracing the theatrics of cliche metalcore, which at the time wasn't so bad. It was at the beginning of the whole explosion with their first record Burning Bridges. After a less than stellar sophomore album, eventually leading to flamboyant frontman Jimmy Ryan's departure, the band has picked up a new singer, for their third record, titled Pressure the Hinges. The band has progressed some with the new record, almost expanding on the METAL side of metalcore, instead of the HARDCORE side of metalcore, like old Haste the Day.
The record is filled with over exaggerated guitar leads, all in basic 4/4, all still predictable, but somewhat tasteful. The record rocks like a metalcore motley crue if one could be so inclined. The singing parts have increased, and are cheesy as ever.
Their new vocalist is a plus to the record, his voice is powerful and in your face, something that keeps bringing me back.
Though this is MEDIOcore, and this is cheesy, and this is everything that makes me want to throw up in my mouth, something about it screams seriousness at me. They get an A for effort on this one, but effort isn't spelled with an A, it's with and E... and in between I give it a C+ (trust me that's good for Haste the Day.

FINAL GRADE: C+

A Day To Remember- For Those Who Have Heart

A Day To Remember have capatalized on something I think so many of us, for so long have had in the back of our minds. A combination of extremely brutal moshcore, with catchy as hell emo choruses. What may seem as one of the worst sound combinations ever (think Bury Your Dead meets Fall Out Boy), ADTR pulls this off well. The band knows how to write some incredible melodies both musically and vocally, they will have you singing the hooks to all of their songs.
However, their breakdowns and anything remotely heavy, is not only appaulingly cliche, but some of the most basic heavy music parts known to man.
Want a break down? How about... chug chug chugh chug
Yeah that's about as complicated as they get.

As bad as this may seem, I can't really rag on them too much. The breakdowns are EXTREMELY heavy, and seem to be placed right, they aren't TOO over done, and overall serve their purpose.
While this record isn't perfect, it is VERY listanable. Some could call it a guilty pleasure, but why bother? This band seems like they are doing what they set out to accomplish.

FINAL GRADE: B

The Showdown- Temptation Come My Way

There's only so much one can say about The Showdown. The band has amazing energy on stage, funny guys, and their debut record A Chorus of Obliteration was one of the the most refreshing metal albums I had heard in a long time.

However with their latest release Temptation Comes My Way, the band has simply failed. Failed on all cylinders. This is the saddest attempt at becoming a radio friendly band I have maybe ever seen. All joking aside, it seems as if they themselves have been defined as one big joke. Whether it's Metallica rip-offs, Pantera carbon-copies, or Megadeth guitar solos, this is not only one of the biggest rip off records i've heard in a long time, but this record is just all around bad.

The only high points I could pick out, was a song they wrote about two years ago (the only song that even remotely resembles their old style), "Breathe of the Swamp" or their conver of the Kanas classic "Carry on my Wayward Son." Other than that... this record should be used a coaster on Superbowl Sunday.

FINAL GRADE: D-

VANNA- CURSES

When I first heard Vanna, I thought they were joke. Just Epitaph's version of jumping on the metalcore band wagon, as their AP ad read: "For Fans of Underoath, Every Time I Die, The Chariot, and Norma Jean." When I checked their debut E.P. out, The Search Party Never Came, it was not impressive at all. A few decent catchy singing parts, sub par breakdowns, and you would have just what i expected, just another part of the trend.
However, with Vanna's new CD Curses, the band has done more than grown. The writing on this record is superb, bringing to mind old Fear Before the March of Flames, the good days of Norma Jean, and even Coalesce. Curses reminds you, that while the progression of the said bands was a good thing, one just misses the sounds of their youth. Think if Metallica never grew out of Master of Puppets, or Norma Jean out of Bless the Martyr.
Curses is just a reminder of what it was like the hear those bands for the first time. The album is also a breathe of fresh air, as produces, and legend Matt Bayles brings home a great recording. I think my ears were so used to hearing digital fakeness, that hearing this was like drinking my first glass of chocolate milk.
This record is simply put, great. From start to finish, i've never heard a band as young as this put so much taste into a sound that is becoming as repetitive as Sportscenter on a day home from school.

FINAL GRADE: A

Maylene & the Sons of Disaster- II

MATSOD's self-titled two years ago was a pinacle in southern rock, southern hardcore, or just the south in general. Dallas Taylor (ex- singer of Underoath) had become the front man of a masterpiece.

While this album IS a progression for the band, the album just isn't par for me. It seems as if they have lost their bearings on what is good song writing. It would have been very easy for them to just create a CD with the same chord progressions in every song, and they didn't, and for that, I applaud them. However, it seems like there is a sense of tediousness to each of these songs, leaving most listeners waiting for some anything besides overbearing guitar work, and the most random vocal arrangements i've heard since Underoath's Define the Great Line (ironic huh?).
Bottom line, I just wasn't feeling this record. Yeah, im sure it's good to put on with your buddies while you're drinking, but I don't drink.

FINAL GRADE: C-

Life in Your Way- Waking Giants

Life in Your Way's latest endeavor is simply incredible. This band is the definition of melodic hardcore, and has been one of the most unique in the genre since 2003. This is their debut release on Solidstate, but their third record overall.
One of the highpoints of the record is the diversity in song styles, while still staying true to the LIYW sound.
This record reminds me more of their first CD, but is definitely a progression from anything they have done.
The only thing I think I will have trouble getting used to on this record, is the rawness in the production quality. In previous records, the quality wasn't that great, but became almost a benchmark in the LIYW sound. I miss that.
On a side note, one thing I fail to mention in other reviews, but I ALWAYS take into consideration, is the amazing packaging of this record. It's something that shouldn't be spoiled, so you owe it to yourself to go out and pick up the hardcopy of this CD.


FINAL GRADE: A