Month: July 2010

Mad Sin – Burn and Rise

(c) 2010 People Like You Records

[rating:4.5/5]

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Legendary Psychobilly band-deluxe, Mad Sin, is back with a brand new release.  Burn and , released on 04/23/2010, marks the eleventh release from these German born psychos.  It has been twenty three some odd years since Mad Sin was born out of youthful ideals and punk rock attitude.

Twenty three years appears to be the magic number for breathing new life. While 2005’s Dead Moon’s Calling was no slouch of a release, it lacks that vitality that is apparent on Burn and Rise. It appears that unlike a lot of bands who somehow keep trucking over the years, spewing out increasing blandness and living off their past, Mad Sin keeps getting better and stronger. I think that it is fair to say that Burn and Rise is my favorite release yet.

From what I understand, 2009 was a rough year for Mad Sin, including the death of friends, infighting amongst the band and a brush with death for Koefte Deville. Life in general and a hard living rock-n-roll lifestyle were taking their toll. Yet after all the hardship, the band persevered. They rallied and came back to record a power-house of a release; a true testament to the idea that what doesn’t kill you just makes you stronger.

The nineteen tracks in total (with intros and outros and all that rot) don’t fail to impress with speed, intensity, demon fueled guitar riffs, characteristic vocal inflections and a very full solid sound. Despite the darkness and gloom that is so closely associated with the genre, Burn and Rise is spewing forth with brand new life.

The last word is this, Mad Sin is an integral part of the core of Psychobilly today and Burn and Rise is a juicy bit of blood red icing on a coffin shaped cake.

–Jerry Actually

New Devil’s Brigade Album

July 14, 2010 – Los Angeles, CA – Celebrated Bay Area punk legend Matt Freeman of Rancid and Operation Ivy fame will release the long awaited, self-titled debut album for his side project Devils Brigade on August 31 via Hellcat Records.  The bass player has assimilated a touring band to join him this fall when they hit the road with labelmates Street Dogs on a US tour.

Devils Brigade was conceived in 2000, when bassist Matt Freeman began writing songs with Tim Armstrong between Rancid tours.  This led to a few EPs and some songs on Hellcat’s Give Em The Boot compilation, but the project was put on the back burner when Rancid began touring and recording again.  Years went by and after Rancid took a break from touring on the Let The Dominoes Fall record, Matt got the itch to reactivate the project with a new studio album.

“The original concept for this record was going to be a musical,” says Freeman.  “Tim had been kicking around an idea of doing a musical about the building of the Golden Gate Bridge.  He had the title “Half Way To Hell Club.”  This was based on the name for the bridge workers who fell off the bridge while it was being built and fell into the safety net that was between them and the ocean.  We grew up in the East Bay looking at that bridge and it has always been a part of our lives.  Six of those songs ended up on the Devils Brigade record.  The other songs were all original Devils Brigade songs from the first demo.  We thought they were still good and we should record them again.”

In early 2010, Matt and Tim entered the studio with DJ Bonebrake from the influential punk group X and recorded twelve quick tempered songs featuring Matt’s signature, snarling vocals along with his snap, thumping upright bass, which shine through on roots driven punk tracks like  “I’m Moving Through,” “Who’s Gonna Save Your Now” and “My Own Man Now.”

“It was a great vibe in the studio,” Matt adds.  “The record has a real live and loose vibe.  Loose in a good way.  Tim’s guitar style blended really well with DJ and everything clicked very quickly.  We had a lot of fun making this record.  I am going to take it out on the road whenever I can when Rancid is not doing anything.”

Promises – Hopeless Sons

(c) 2010 Pee Records

Queensland, Australia’s Promises have only been playing together as a band since January 2010, but have still managed to get into the studio, and get signed to a label. This, their first EP, was written and recorded in two months. A week after they’d finished recording, they were signed by independent label, Pee Records.

Right from the beginning it’s clear this isn’t going to be true, old-school hardcore. Realistically, it’s metal- whether the band or the fans like it or not, that’s the truth. Yeah they’ve got the image right, but their sound is nothing like the original heroes of hardcore.

As soon as the vocals kick in on opener ‘No Story Left Untold’, the thing that strikes you is Zaca’s, unusual style. Though it’s not unusual in a good way. He seems to struggle in between the traditional hardcore scream/growl and normal, albeit angry, singing. It becomes unbearable at times, with the voice changing so frequently, with each word comes the ups and downs of growls and singing.

Then there’s ‘Flint Soles’. Only certain bands can pull off really short songs (Agnostic Front’s ‘Victim in Pain’ or Good Riddance and their ‘Overcoming Learned Behaviour’ for example) and even they aren’t as short as this one. It’s not even like it carries on into the next song, or is an outtro to the one before it- it’s just 19 pointless thrashy seconds.

Instrumentally, they’re adequate. Just the typical (so called) hardcore, nothing out of the ordinary.

The drastically varying track lengths add to the disappointment of this CD too. It’s so hard to tell whether this is meant to be heavy, fast hardcore, or verbose metalcore, it’s like even the band don’t know.

Unfortunately, this type of music is becoming increasingly popular the world over, with scene (destroying) kids thinking they know decent music, when they really don’t. If you’re a fan of real hardcore (Agnostic Front, Sick Of It All or even Black Flag, etc.) stay clear of this band.

-Frankii

Good Riddance – Capricorn One

© 2010 Fat Wreck Chords

[rating:3.5/5]

I’ll admit that I’m not super familiar with Good Riddance. Ok, sure I know who they are. I have a couple discs but I was never that into them. From this singles collection that I’m listening to right now, I’m thinking that I have been quite remiss. Capricorn One is some seriously sweet punk rock that spans a career that I intend to spend more time looking into. The earlier more hardcore material easily evolves into the tighter more articulate punk rock that I am more familiar with.

My lack of familiarity notwithstanding, Capricorn One dishes up 21 track of to-the-point punk rock and leaves you wanting more. I’d like to note, however, that this disc, thankfully doesn’t leave me wanting more of a “Phenomenon of Craving” … not my favorite Good Riddance.

At any rate, if you’re a fan, get this. If you’re not a fan, start.

-Jerry Actually

Vaporizer – Straight edge bullshit

There is an art to brevity. There is an art to punk rock. Vaporizer has both. drugs are good, cold beer is good (thank goodness I know that my parks will be safe) Ya know what though, I’m gonna go out on a limb and recommend Vaporizer as a good buy w/o the full review. The music rocks. straight edge sucks! S0me day we shall share beers!

Street Dogs New Release

July 13, 2010 – Los Angeles, CA – The Boston bred punk band Street Dogs return to champion the working class and to re-ignite punk rock with their finest and most urgent record to date, their self-titled fifth studio album, due out on August 31 via Hellcat Records.  Following the release, the band will be touring in support of the new album along with Matt Freeman’s (Rancid) side project, Devils Brigade, and this year’s Celtic punk heroes Flatfoot 56.

Co-produced by bass player Johnny Rioux and Rick Barton and engineered and mixed by Jason Livermore (Rise Against, NOFX) at the infamous punk rock recording studio The Blasting Room in Fort Collins, CO., the self-titled Street Dogs album is a vigorous testament to the band’s longevity and ability to write inspiring punk rock that touches the soul and raises the fists.

Having spent time as a soldier in Gulf War and serving his community as a firefighter, the original Dropkick Murphys’ singer Mike McColgan sings from experience and from the heart on punk anthems like “Rattle And Roll,” “Up The Union,” “Yesterday” and “The Shape of Other Men.”

“We have songs about personal empowerment, personal freedom and the search for personal redemption on our record,” explains McColgan.  “We have a song called “Hang Em’ High” that talks about the corruption of Bernie Madoff and a song called “Wild In Portland” that speaks of economic downturn and it’s fallout.”

“There are also songs that eulogize our fallen friends who didn’t fair too well in the game of life and songs that praise our family and our roots. And a song entitled “Up The Union” for EFCA (Employee Free Choice Act) legislation which would make it less difficult for employees to organize labor unions and lessen the chance of employer reprisal for organizing.  We’ve got a Saturday night, punk rock throwdown anthem in our song “Punk Rock And Roll” and with “Rattle And Roll.”  I pay homage once again to Dorchester and Dot Rats!”

“The album is self-titled because it’s collectively as a group coming forward and saying this is our best and most definitive work so far.”

Punk rock runs deep in the veins of Street Dogs, with McColgan’s uncompromising lyrics alongside bassist Johnny Rioux, guitarists Marcus Hollar and Tobe Bean III and drummer Paul Rucker’s fist pumping street punk anthems.  The band burst onto the scene in 2002 and has released a string of classic albums including 2008’s State of Grace, which critics called “a raucous and purposeful working man’s ride” (Dallas Morning News) with “the kind of political streak rarely heard since the Clash” (Cleveland Scene).

After incessant tours around the world alongside bands like The Offspring, Alkaline Trio, Anti-Flag, Reverend Horton Heat and headlining tours in US and Europe in support of State of Grace, Street Dogs will once again lead the fight against social and political injustices with their signature style of rabble rousing punk rock and the release of their fifth studio album on August 31 followed by a headlining US tour.

Raise your fists and pint glasses with Street Dogs this fall!

Epitaph iTunes Sale

I’d like to remind you that Epitaph is having a massive summer sale on iTunes.com happening right now!!!  We have eighteen albums (listed below) for the low low price of $7.99.  Check them all out here: www.iTunes.com/EpitaphRecords

Additionally, we have the compilation New Noise: Vol. 1 for the insanely low cost of $2.99, which features fourteen tracks from artists/bands like Alkaline Trio, Every Time I Die, Escape The Fate, Frank Turner, Parkway Drive and more!!!

$7.99 Epitaph Album Sale:

Alkaline Trio – This Addiction

Bad Religion – All Ages

Bad Religion – New Maps of Hell

Bring Me The Horizon – Suicide Season

Converge – Axe To Fall

Escape The Fate – Dying Is Your Latest Fashion

Escape The Fate – This War is Ours

Every Time I Die – New Junk Aesthetic

Frank Turner – Poetry of the Deed

Hearsounds – Until We Surrender

I Set My Friends on Fire – You Can’t Spell Slaughter Without Laughter

New Found Glory – Not Without A Fight

Off With Their Heads – In Desolation

Our Last Night – We Will All Evolve

Rancid – Let The Dominoes Fall

Set Your Goals – This Will Be The Death Of Us

Sing It Loud – Everything Collide

Veara – What We Left Behind

JFA To Release Speed of Sound

JFA To Release Band’s First Studio Record in Over 12 Years

Legendary skate punk band JFA will be releasing the groups first studio record in over 12 years on July 27th with DC-Jam Records.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PRLog (Press Release) – Jul 13, 2010  – Skate punk legends JFA are about to release the band’s first full length studio album, the group’s first since the 1999 release of “Only Live Once.”

“Speed of Sound” is scheduled to be released on DC-Jam Records on July 27th, 2010 through both digital download & CD and will eventually be made available on a 12″ vinyl picture disc as well.

The new record will be supported by two new music videos from the song’s “Wilson” & “Danny Sargent’s Trucks”, both which can be seen on www.BlankTV.com with the latter making it’s world premier on July 13th.

“We’re stoked to finally have this record out,” said JFA frontman Brian Brannon. “Fans of our early material will dig our new tunes that reach back to our hardcore skate punk roots.”

Pre-orders for the CD will begin on July 14th at www.Interpunk.com along with a contest for a drawing that will give away 3 new JFA skateboard decks.

Ubermanoeuvre – Burn This

(c) 2010 Spartan Records UK

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Ubermanoeuvre are a five-piece band, from South East London, UK. They have been compared to Rage Against The Machine and Enter Shikari, to name a few, and dub their own style as high energy rock.

There’s so much going on, and so many differences between each track, that it’s only fair to mention (nearly) every one.

Kicking off this, their debut album, is the title track, with an electro intro, leading into a hip-hop (with underlying synths) verse and shouty chorus, I guarantee you will never have heard anything like this before. And it will be a total mind fuck. There’s so many different elements to the one song, but don’t dismiss it yet.

Track two, ‘If I Were You (I Wouldn’t Be Me)’ opens with a very brief piece of acoustic guitar, then it’s straight into the (quite heavy) thrashing guitars. There’s also a creepy keyboard riff, adding an eerie element to the track. Even though there’s not as much going on, it’s still hard to place under a specific genre.

‘Call To Arms’ marks another change in sound, this one’s more emo, but still electro. Think HelloGoodbye meets Taking Back Sunday- cheesy cheerful, but screamo. Adding to this is the piano breakdown and the screamy choruses.

Track four, ‘Apathy Loves Company’ is one of the catchiest on the record. It’s still really odd, but by now you’ll have got used to the sheer weirdness of it all. Track five is more guitar driven, which suits them more, but then it’s back into the crazy mix with ‘Never Bring Your Girlfriend Flowers’- jazz piano under a hip-hop beat. But, somehow, it works. ‘9am: Monday’ is more hip-hop-y, with a emo/screamo chorus.

Then there’s track eight and 10, (‘Now! That’s What I Call Karma, ‘2378’) that are more downbeat and simple hip-hop rock.

As it’s so unusual compared to anything you’ll have ever heard, it’s impossible to really sum it up- so just check it out and decide for yourselves.

But, to recap, Ubermanoeuvre play screamo- electro- hip-hop, with synths- a- plenty.

There’s way too many dashes in that last sentence.

–Frankii