Heartbreak Club – Lamecore (c) 2007 Reign Records In spite of my traditionally better judgment, I went ahead and listened to a band with a CD entitled "Lamecore". Turns out it ain't so bad. Heartbreak Club wrenches up a five track EP of sugary heartache. The songs are emo alterna-pop punk with a sacharrin irony in the vein of Weezer Alkaline Trio or Lawrence Arms albeit with a bit more pop than the latter two references. If you like to rock out while you cry over spilled milk, maybe you should apply for membership in the Heartbreak Club.–Jerry Actually
Category: Punk
Punk Reviews
Revolution Mother [Glory Bound]
Revolution Mother – Glory Bound (c) 2007 Cement Shoes Records Is it metal? Is it hardcore? Is it punk? I guess I don’t know. I’m gonna go ahead and call it rock. Revolution Mother is a hard hitting outfit fronted by skate star Mike Vallely. Their brand new disc, Glory Bound comes on strong with the first two tracks, but seems to suffer from musical premature ejaculation. While it opens strong and fast, by track four, “Bullet”, it begins to plod and chug. The rest of the disc may as well be a tribute to Planet Caravan as far as I’m concerned. If Revolution Mother could have maintained the pace, I would have shown it a bit more love, but tracks like the five minute “Burning from Inside” really just made me want to take a nap. It picks up again later in the disc, but to be honest, I’ve moved on. Just one more thing, holy crap! What is with the freakin’ beards? Scary!–Jerry Actually
The Unseen [Internal Salvation]
The Unseen – Internal Salvation (c) 2007 Hellcat Records The Unseen's latest, Internal Salvation, is the groups second release on Hellcat Records and the follow up to 2005's State of Discontent and just one of some 15 odd releases over as many years. Practice perseverance and dedication have proven yet again that punk is only as dead as the people that give up on it. Internal Salvation presents 13 new tracks replete with angsty wailings of personal tragedy and societal woes. Short and sweet like punk rock ought to be, clocking in right about 30 minutes. Despite all the talk bandied about that The Unseen has sold out, I say, "Bite Me! Let's see you been in a punk band for almost 15 years and still sound that real." –Jerry Actually
Gallows [Orchestra of Wolves]
Gallows – Orchestra of Wolves (c) 2007 Epitaph Records Ok, guess who kicks ass? Give up? Gallows, that's who!. I'm in agreeance with anyone and everyone that says Gallows is the best new punk band to come outta England for a damn long time. Orchestra of Wolves, the band's Epitaph debut contains 14 blistering scathing rants of social commentary and urban survival as well as an homage to Black Flag with a cover of Nervous Breakdown added as a bonus. While I'm not going to comment on each and every track, I will say that Gallows packs a lot of them same energy and vitriolic sonic swirl as the Nerve Agents. Orchestra of Wolves is frenetic and fierce. The songs lash out at you in a disjointed swagger that at every turn threatens to explode. The oddest parts is that while every track is perched on the brink of its own destruction, the same discord keeps everything firmly glued in place. This disc is due out on July 10th. Do yourself and everyone you know a big favor and listen to this as soon as possible.–Jerry Actually
My New Vice
My New Vice – S/T EP (c) 2007 My New Vice: 1. A brand new band on the NorthWest scene. 2. A brand new EP from the aforementioned band. The new self-titled EP from Portland based My New Vice offers five solid tracks of darkly melodic post-grunge heavy rock. There is a punk edge here, but the song writing and arrangements come across as a bit more mature. Tracks three, “The Dead Never Lie” and four, “Mr Tremens” stand out particularly in their diversion from the usual pablum. Both offer fairly different sounds with the former being bouncing yet brooding and the later having more sonic diversity with a soft jangly intro the quickly melds into what is easily the heaviest (though not the fastest) track on the EP. The final track, “Hell America” brings it home by kicking the tempo up and showing off the some of the more punk rock roots. All in all, My New Vice pulls together some heavy rock while portraying a possibly dystopian future. If you live in Portland, by all means pick up a copy and check ’em out at a show.–Jerry Actually
Murderland [Lights Out]
Murderland – Lights Out (c) 2007 Pirish Records Welcome one and all to Murderland, a four piece horror punk act from Santa Barbara, California. Lights Out ponies up seven tracks of ghoulish macabre ala The Misfits, Balzac and others of the genre. Albeit the Misfits influence is prevalent in the vast majority of horror punk style bands, Murderland doesn't fail to bring it with a contagious aggression of their own. If you like your rock all punked up and ghastly scary, pick yourself up some Murderland, crank it up and lurch around your room like a zombie.–Jerry Actually
Third Grade Scuffle
Third Grade Scuffle – Secrets Don't Make Friends … (c) 2006 Hailing from, of all places, Oklahoma. Ok, so maybe there is a college that happens to be in Norman. I guess that there would have to be to get a CD packed with horns and political ideals. All kidding aside, I'm pretty damn pleased by what I'm hearing. "Secrets Don't Make Friends, But They Can Rule The World" from Third Grade Scuffle is a pretty tight little EP. The sound is reminiscent of Bosstones and/or LTJ, but with more aggressive attitude ala H20. Add to that a political bent and you've got a damn good mix of hardcore and horns. My only regret is that this is only an EP.–Jerry Actually
Code 4-15 [Raise Your Glass]
Code 4-15 – Raise Your Glass (c) 2007 Pirish Records At first glance at the packaging of Raise Your Glass, I couldn't help think that Code 4-15 is going to be a rowdy drunk punk rock heavy on the sing-a-long choruses, something in the vein of Dropkick or perhaps Gang Green. Instead what I found is a competent and catchy west coast punk band that leans a bit towards the pop-punk side of the spectrum. Even with a cover of the traditional "Leaving of Liverpool", Code 4-15 comes across more Greenday or Bad Religion than anything East Coast. Despite the bait and switch, I still think that Raise Your Glass is a good disk. I don't know that it is paving the way for a Santa Barbara "Drink Rock" revolution, but it is still nice to hear some punk outta of the coastal enclaves.–Jerry Actually
Capital [Moment of Silence EP]
Capital – Moment of Silence EP (c) 2007 Fresh outta Brooklyn! Capital makes good with a five track debut entitled Moment of Silence. Capital are a rock/punk trio from New York and have a melodic quick paced though somewhat post-grunge sound. I ain't saying that's a bad thing, just think thick wall of sound, heavily compressed music with layers as dense as a Seattle fog. All in all a good effort by a new band on the block. They keep the rock focused and fast and they have enough aggression that the rock aspect doesn't become wanking. In a word, promising. I'm anxious to hear more. –Jerry Actually
The Tossers [Agony]
The Tossers – Agony (c) 2007 Victory Records Just in time to be almost two weeks late for St. Paddy's Day, I submit for you The Tossers' new cd Agony. I assure you this, listening to it is anything but. Chicago's Tossers craft a fine blend of traditional Irish Folk Music w/ all the punk rock intensity that anyone could need in a rowdy rollicking drinkin' band. Don't however mistake The Tossers for just another inebriated group of Pogues wannabes. They brandish a musical fire all their own with depth and sincerity and, frankly, a bit more clarity than the aforementioned. If you're one of the teaming faceless downtrodden masses urning for some musical uplifting, go ahead slap on this CD and toss back a pint or 12 with The Tossers. My personal favorite is Track 7: Siobban – Enjoy!–Jerry Actually