Metalcore? Hardcore? Who cares? Some songs, in the words of the immortal Bobby Boucher, are just pure tackling fuel. Tackling fuel. Aggressive vocals combine with guitars that'll peel the paint off your walls and double-bass that feels like it's actually being played ON your eardrums to form "Nothing", the newest ballad (kidding, just kidding) from Crippled Fingers. Fans of classic Hatebreed are gonna eat this one up, and it's perfect for an intense gym session or any time y

I rarely say this, but if you're a fan of Metalcore, AUTHORIST kinda has it all. Desperate, frenetic verses, a soaring, spacious, infinitely memorable chorus and a breakdown that'll have you getting fitted for a colostomy bag, (no, not literally) "Echoes of the End" leaves little to be desired, and even less on the table. The riffs are catchy, the drums are punchy and the vocals drift impressively from screams to growls to surprisingly clean singing. The word 'dynamic' comes

A wise man once said, "The only thing that needs a label is an envelope. Label it, slap a stamp on it and send it off." Post hardcore? Metal? Pop punk? When it's a good song like All Gone Grey's new one, who the hell cares? Angular, undulating guitars are complemented by a rhythm section that's as solid as an oak tree, and the vocals drip with desperation, well-sung in the highest register one minute, screamed loudly and passionately in the next. Surprisingly coherent and wel

Juxtaposition. That's a word, right? Damn right it is, it's a great word. Want me to use it in a sentence? Fine, smarty pants, check this out: In their new song, Pluto The Racer finds a beautiful juxtaposition between melancholy and hope. Sorrow and elevation. Ha! And my 8th grade English teacher said I'd never amount to anything. Suck it, Mr. Daniels! Jangly, full guitar sounds combine with a dissonant but very listenable melody and tempo to create an ethereal but strangely

Relationships, whether business or romantic, have always been a unifying vein in songwriting and that's a good thing. Sometimes they go well, and you want to shout it from the rooftops. Other times, not so much, and you might want to shout about that too. And that's also a good thing. Healthy release is such an important part of feeling depression, anger or despair, and music is such a great avenue for that. Enter Lives Lost and their new offering, "Sleepless". Heavier than h

"Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it's the weird kid and no one knows his name." In this case, we do know his name. It's Harry Jxye, and although I've no idea how to pronounce it, I'll not soon forget it. If there's one thing I'd like to tell the youth of the world, it's that being different is a blessing, not a curse. Sure, you may catch hell in high school, but when it really counts, creativity and individuality will take you leagues farther than fitting in or winning Homec

Ain't music grand? Aren't songs just the best? One of the most beautiful things about them is that a particular lyric or sentiment may be very personal to the songwriter AND the listener, sometimes for completely different reasons. The most important part is that they both arrive at the same destination: catharsis. Songs can be a jacket that fits every wearer, keeps them equally warm and makes them all feel BETTER. GRAVE SECRETS' new offering, "Take Your Pictures Back," is ju

Fuzzy, happy, sunny and fun, WAVEBOMB are coming straight out of the garage with this one, and it works really well. For a two-piece band, the instruments fill out the space nicely, and the chorus is earwormy as all get-out. I'm not going to write a dissertation on this one because I think that would be an injustice-sometimes it's better to keep things free and easy, and the band definitely understood that assignment, so out of respect for their aural aesthetic, I'll attempt

"Ethereal". "Atmospheric". "Delicate"? These are not terms I'm accustomed to using when writing about heavy music, but here we are, and I'm not mad at it in the least. After getting pummeled by double bass and alternating screams and growls lately, it's a welcomed respite and a nice change of pace, actually. Thank you, Wiltingflower. Whilst your new single "Siphon" has all the musicianship and quality production we've come to expect from the genre, the vocalist possesses an u

Ah, early 2000's punk. It was a simpler, happier time when bands could embrace their inner nerd and it was acceptable to shrug off the dense, self-important "rock star" vibe and just have fun. Bands didn't take themselves so seriously and the music was better for it. Remember fun? Remember being playfully offensive and everyone was in on the fact that it was just tongue-in-cheek? What the hell happened, people? I'll wager that DEADLAST remember, and their debut (and DIY) sing

The Janes are an Aussie band, and they wear it on their sleeve. I respect that. This indie/punk outfit also exemplifies the edict that sometimes less is more, and I respect that too. This is their first release, and it's not the most polished thing out there, but the rawness and emotion show a helluva lot of potential, and that earns them even more respect points in my book. "Red Wine Riptide" keeps it simple and fun, with lyrics about life and getting by, and the hook is equ

I've been receiving quite a few offerings from Australian bands of varying genres lately, and I have to say, overall I'm very impressed. Of course, the Aussies have put out excellent music for decades, but these recent tunes all share two things: a decidedly modern feel and an audible down-under twist that I find very appealing. Again, I'm not saying this is a new development, only that I'm new to the critic game and I'm really enjoying what I'm hearing. Nervous Light's "Maki

Dark, ominous and dropped lower than the depths of a poisoned well, Sinner Self's new offering, "Warfare," is deathcore done right. Alternately screamed, squealed, and growled vocals are executed incredibly well, and the tempo and tone were made for the pit. The drums are technical and pummeling, the strings are deep and unrelenting, and the synth adds a layer of ethereal dread which fits like a well-worn glove in the midst of the chaos and rage. Watch your head, the windmill

As Americans, we should all give this song a listen. I only had to listen once to realize that this Dutch hardcore outfit was referring to our current regime here in the US, to the gross misuse of power and the ever-weakening grip it has on the World Stage. And you know what? In my humble opinion, they're absolutely right and those of us who are moderate and non-partisan see it coming too. I think it was Batman who said, "You either die a hero or live long enough to see yours

Heavy, technically impressive, and cathartic, Tied in Knots are doing big things. Their new single "Tanglewood" alternates cleanly between pummeling riffs and drums and screamed vocals and softer, synth rock with clean vocals and it does so almost seamlessly, which is no small feat. Additionally, the band's screamer has an original approach: looser, messier, and less controlled than the usual offering of the genre. This is obviously an intensely emotional subject for the writ

"There are more of us than there are you!" I'm hearing this sentiment a lot in my work and I couldn't agree more. I'm all for good-time punk and light-hearted ska, but things are getting pretty dicey out there lately, people, and punk was and always will be a vehicle created to spread dissent. Drama Dolls aren't trying to be technical or artsy, their message isn't veiled in metaphor, it's shouted directly into the public's ear, and sometimes that's exactly the kind of wake-up

One thing I really enjoy about modern music is the mixing of genres. Back in the before time, in the days of flip phones and myspace, it was almost expected that bands had to stay in their lane, to keep churning out song after song that "sounded like their old stuff" or "fit the genre". Well, it's a new dawn, my friends, and bands like Day X Day can blend hardcore, metalcore and hip hop without fear of being shunned. Hell, they can even throw in some beats and no one bats an

I usually try to stay away from using the band's own bio in my reviews because it seems exceedingly lazy to me, and in a world of AI and phoned-in blurbs, I like to try to give that little bit extra. (It is, after all, the difference between ordinary and EXTRAordinary, right? Eh? See what I did there?) With that being said, when you've got a blind rhythm guitarist and a pro wrestler for a lead singer; PLUS you've made AP's Top 50 upcoming pop-punk bands, that bears repeating.

England-based band, Blood of the Argonaut, just unleashed their new single, "A Light Went On". Coming fully equipped with an infectious energy fueled by a dynamic blend of Metal and Hardcore Punk elements, this track wasted no time hitting listeners with ripping instrumentals, powerful vocal flows, and overall impressive songwriting. What a release! Unique transitions keep you engaged from start to finish as spot-on production work and earth-shattering breakdowns make sure th

Call me old school, but some innate stubbornness won't allow me to use AI to write; well, anything. Perhaps it's because I grew up in the Before Times, the Long, Long Ago, but I like the tedium of coming up with my own thoughts and putting them to 'paper'. (Christ, that's not even accurate anymore...) In my years fronting my own band, almost all critics' write-ups were a loose interpretation or direct copy of our own words repeated back to us. Original thought is hard to come