1. “The Past Should Stay Dead” – 4:33
2. “Just Another Marionette” – 4:04
3. “What’s a Clock Without the Batteries?” – 3:56
4. “Heads or Tails? Real or Not” – 5:01
5. “Even Bad Men Love Their Mothers” [Interlude] – 2:00
6. “Her Advice Cost Us a Life” – 4:36
7. “Set It Off Like Napalm” – 3:06
8. “Sailing in the Dark Isn’t Smart Kid” – 3:16
9. “Pretend. Release. The Close” – 3:01
10. “It’s Cold in the Shade. Let’s Move to the Sun…” [Interlude] – 1:00
11. “I Still Feel Her – Part I” – 4:32
12. “A City Called Coma – Part II” – 4:22

I saw this band live having only heard one or two songs briefly online, so I decided to buy the album off the keyboardist at the the show. Best descision I probably could have made.

This album not only impressed me, but it  suprised me in so many ways. I didn’t have high expectations for it, but the first song caught my attention in the first 30 seconds; and made me want to listen to it all the way through. The fact that this album was released in a time that music had become so unoriginal, especially in the “hardcore/metal etc..” genre, nothing stood out or was worth listening to, to me at least. This album grabbed me immediately.

Within a few listens I knew this was already one of my favorite albums. It has everything a fan of similar bands would want. Creative melodic guitars, faster paced/more complex drums, thoughtful basslines, atmospheric keyboard parts, and to top it all off, a singer who has a talented range, and comes up with some really great melodies.

This album has such a cool vibe and a great flow of songs. They change scales from song to song many times throught the album and do it tastefully, and intelligently. This band brought the creativity back to post hardcore, and I hope a lot of other bands follow suit.

This album influenced me as a guitarist and changed the way i thought about playing guitar. Emarosa is the first band in at least 3 years who I’ve listened to their album constantly for more than 3 months, and thats the kind of bands i really want to listen to. I recommend this album to anyone who wants to hear something different and interesting, but still in a well known genre. This is the kind of “original” music that I like to hear.

Album: Better Ways To Die

Artist: Death Before Dishonor

Release Date: July 28^th/09

Tracks:

1. Peace and Quiet
2. Remember
3. Coffin Nail
4. Fuck This Year
5. Boys in Blue
6. Better Ways to Die
7. So Far From Home
8. Black Cloud
9. No More Lies
10. Bloodlust
11. Our Glory Days

Boston hardcore band “Death Before Dishonor” are back with their third full length album, “Better Ways To Die”. 11 tracks of fast pace, in your face, passionate music. Produced by Jim Siegel( Dropkick Murphys, Blood For Blood) Better Way To Die is proof that Death Before Dishonor refuse to conform to the rules of modern hardcore

The opening track, “ Peace and Quiet” doesn’t hesitate to start the cd off with a bang. A shredding guitar solo on top of explosive drums, and thunderous bass, is how you are welcomed in classic Death Before Dishonor style. With the Cd being only 25 minutes long, one might wonder if it is worth being purchased. I would say most definitely. Sure it might be short with songs such as “Fuck This Year” being only 1:52, but trust me, this CD is worth a listen if you enjoy passionate, classic, hardcore music.

As for the lyrics, they are anything but meaningless. DBD Vocalist Brian Harris, writes about real life issues, and about the struggles of growing up in the projects of boston. The Song “Boys In Blue”, is about police brutalities and unfair tactics used by the police force. Harris is not afraid to express his feelings about any issue in a very blunt fashion, which in my opinion, is the best way to express it.

If you have never listened to Death Before Dishonor, I would recommend them to anyone who is a fan of bands such as The Mongoloids, Terror and First Blood. Fans of any heavy genres should be able to enjoy and respect this bands powerful, blunt lyric, heavy breakdowns and fast pace drumming.

Artist: Brand New

Release Day: September 22nd/2009

Tracks:

1. Vices
2. Bed
3. At The Bottom
4. Gasoline
5. You Stole
6. Be Gone
7. Sink
8. Bought a Bride
9. Daisy
10. In a Jar
11. Noro

The Long Island boys are back again with a brand new LP. But will this be their last one?

Picture above was taken in front of HMV Superstore in Toronto

while waiting in line for their acoustic performance

The album was recorded over a 12 month period from March 2008 and it was not until the band announced in April that their fourth album was to hit stores in summer 2009. And here it is now, Daisy. The album starts off with a classical piano melody and a lady singing? Rather odd and kind of makes you wonder if you picked up the wrong album. But of course, you didn’t- drums, screeching guitars and screaming overtakes the piano recital and you are introduced to Brand New’s, brand new album. Not what most expected for the first song in comparison to The Devil and God are Raging Inside Me’s “Slowing Season (Yeah)” but it is safe to say Brand New has the ability to go from quiet and peaceful to grating songs in a blink of an eye. As the album continues, we get the feeling through their slower songs in the album what the band itself may have planned for their future career.

“I wish that my condition was new but I’m old and rusting” lyrics from “You Stole” defiantly leave people wondering what is truly meant. But perhaps front man Jesse Lacey can clear that up… “I think a lot of the record is about us trying to make decisions about how long the band should go on. When I listened back to it, I realized how many songs are about something coming to a close, or knowing when it’s time to put something away and move on.”

Regardless of what it is that is “coming to a close”, listening to this album only makes you admire their musical talents even more. Each song powerful and interesting in its own way, Brand new deliverers to their fans a mix of something new, and some old musical habits. Yet, some fans aren’t too pleased with the mix of new and old. In an iTunes review, a fan said the album to be “off” and wouldn’t see themselves listening to it in their car and singing along, while other fans describe the album as “dark, moody, and awesome”.

In my opinion, this album is nothing but brilliant. Brand New brings forth something different to the music industry like no other band.

I was able to catch a live acoustic performance 2 days after their CD release here in Toronto’s HMV Superstore located right on Yonge st. off Dundas. I was left speechless and wanting more than 5, 6, songs.
(Click here to listen to “At The Bottom”! )

Brand New comes back to play not one, but two already sold out Toronto shows at the Kool Hause with supporting acts of Glass Jaw and Crime in Stereo on November 21^st and 22^nd.

So all I have to say is go out to your nearest music store and grab a copy of Daisy for $14.99! Or buy it through iTunes for $9.99!

For more information and concert listings visit www.myspace.com/brandnew

1. Split the Sky
2. The Biltmore Hotel
3. Pyramids
4. Catharsis
5. Telegraphic Static
6. Atlantis
7. La Sarena

Kingdoms have finally made their way into stores, with their new album Daughters of Atlas which can be found at HMV for only 9.99!

This picture was taken this morning by the bands vocalist, Hutton Wierzbicki

This album is 27 minutes and 55 seconds of melodies, harmonies, singing, screaming and just plain old pure musicality. First of all, if you haven`t heard of these guys, that is probably because they have only been around for about a year now. They recently just signed to Underground Operations (Protest the Hero, Lights, These Silhouettes)

The artwork on the album is incredible, designed by Sons of Nero who also have done designs for bands such as Dead and Divine, Maylene and the Sons of Disaster, Every Time I Die, Misery Signals and more. The CD case is one of the carboard ones, with the plastic disc holder on the inside (when you pick up a copy.. yes pick it up) you will understand what I mean. On the left are the lyrics, which are by no means simple. Huttons complex and witty way with words are stuck in your head for hours after hearing them. My two favourite songs are Pyramids and La Sarena.

Adressing the actual songs themselves;
Split the sky is a totally new recording, and at this point has up until the CD release only been heard on 88.3 Anger Management (check them out on stickam thursdays 10-12 http://stickam.com/883angermanagement). The Biltmore Hotel can also be heard on their myspace. The other 5 songs however  (Pyramids, Catharsis, Telegraphic Static, Atlantis, La Serena) are also available on their first EP (Atlantis) available for free download online . My guess is they most likely have taken it down by now!

Their sound? Its hard to explain, all I can really say is that it is good. They remind me of a slightly more melodic misery signals, with vocals that are less low screams, and more pitching and singing involved.

This album is definately something worth putting on your iPod, and being some of the top played songs in your iTunes. Head over to myspace, add these dudes, and check out their tour dates to see when they are hitting up a town near you!

http://www.myspace.com/kingdoms

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