Debut ten track LP from Melbourne's Outsiders Code that marks a return to vocals for former Her Nightmare frontman Baina. This has a real Hatebreed and Madball vibe to it mixed in with hints of Biohazard even. While I find myself bored listening to a Hatebreed record, here the music is kept interestig with an array of leads, overdubs and even some clear channel. Vocal sound is angry and tough, with gang vocal backups but not overdone and suits the music perfectly. Huge production sound on this recording with mixing and mastering handled by Zeuss (Terror, Madball, Hatebreed). Lead track "The End" is a definite standout, with a catchy melodic chorus and undertone. Solid release.
Four song EP from Night Birds on Fat Wreck for the first time, as a precursor release to a new full length out soon on Grave Mistake. Only the title track will be featured on the album with the other three songs exclusive to this release. These songs pick up exactly where they left off on "The Other Side Of Darkness". That Adolescents so cal punk sound backed with surf guitar and whiny vocals hasn't changed a bit and I find the leads on these songs have even gotten more surf guitar influenced, like The Atlantics. Also includes an awesome instrumental track "Boat Trash". Only qualm is that it's too short! Can't wait for the album to drop.
Debut 8 song full length from Power Trip after a string of EP and demo releases since the band's inception in 2008. Power Trip have an old school thrash sound to them ala early Slayer, Nuclear Assault or even "Ride The Ligtening" era Metallica coupled with a Dwid-like, early Integirty, vocal approach.This recording has a lo-fi production feel to it, authenticating the sound of the early thrash metal movement. There is no shortage of neck breaking riffage on here, making you think twice about growing your hair out should they ever tour. All in all an amazing record from start to finish clocking in at around 35 minutes and will rate as one of the best albums of the year no doubt.
Debut 11 song full length from GOOD FOR YOU that features former Black Flag guitarist Greg Ginn along with pro skater Mike Vallely on vocals. Mike V and Ginn previously teamed up on a 2003 Black Flag reunion where Mike V performed "My War" in full. If you listened to Mike V's previous band The Rats you'd already know that he has a very heavily Henry Rollins influenced style of delivery, at times when he speaks lyrics on here he sounds almost identical. The mix is quite annoying, as its basically all vocal and guitar with drums and bass hidden underneath. The more upbeat songs have a listenable groove to it, but overall this album is quite boring.
Debut 7 song EP for Adelaide pop punk three piece Beaver. When I say pop punk, I am referring to the golden era Epitaph / Fat Wreck sound of the 90s. On the back of their awesome demo, Beaver deliver another solid release with this debut 7". In a throwback to the Satanic Surfers, drummer Dan Jones provides vocals for Beaver. Dan is perhaps best known for fronting God So Loved The World or Seraphs Coal and comes a cross a little like Down By Law era Dave Smalley on this recording. Musically this has a modern Descendents feel to it and is rounded off by awesome covers of Face To Face and Dag Nasty. All of these ingredients earn you top marks with me as a reviewer.
Not real sure when Iron Chic went from an average melodic punk band to an amazing one, as I last listened to their full length release "Not Like This" back in 2010 and it didn't sound as good as this. The two new songs featured on this three song EP are simply brilliant and have me really excited about their upcoming full length. There are two versions of this EP. The digital version, the band released, features a Butthole Surfers cover of "Goofy's Concern", while the Bridge Nine 7" version features a Ramones cover of "Bonzo Goes To Bitburg", both of which are some of my fave songs from either band and are handled really well and sound like they were fun to record.
Debut 8 track EP from San Jose's melodic pop punkers Overseas. This has that modern day pop punk sound to it popularised by the likes of No Trigger, Such Gold or Four Years Strong. While the aforementioned bands do shine through in the sound of Overseas, including guest vocals from Such Gold's Ben Kotin, they still retain a fair bit of the traditional Fat Wreck pop punk sound readers may be more familiar with ala Strung Out. Refreshingly the vocals have a very natural sound to them with very little studio manipulation are highly likeable and listenable. For a release and a band I knew nothing about until I received it in the mail, this is a pretty cool find and very promising release.
Debut 12 track full length release from Newcastle's Safe Hands that follows their recent split 7" with Perth's Vanity. Safe Hands take a bit of a manic metal appraoch to their music ala Dillenger Escape Plan, Converge or Everytime I Die. Vocals interchange between screamed and spoken and suit what is going on musically. This is a pretty top notch recording with no over the top layering or studio trickery. While the production sounds huge, it sounds believable and acheivable in any studio. While this isn't really my favoured style of music, this is a pretty solid release and a great acheivement for Safe Hands.
Debut 11 track full length release from Newcastle's One Vital Word that follows up their 2011 EP "Early Days". Musically this release is really interesting, with a melodic and metal tinged take on hardcore ala Comeback Kid perhaps. This band have a dual vocal delivery style happening that seems to be quite popular these days. This has that mix of angry guy vs singy guy, yelled vs autotune clean, CBK vs Strung Out vocals going on that I find realy irritating. Throw in a mix of guest vocals from Driven Fear, Hand Of Mercy and One Dollar Short frontmen and it all comes a little bit too much. I do prefer the vocals stick to the Comeback Kid styling, but hey its not my band, so who I am to say.
‘From Chaos to Order’ is the first LP released by this melodic punk band formed by members of Strung Out, Pulley, Ten Foot Pole and The Tank on the record label of NOFX guitarist El Hefe. The album is a combination of what all these bands bring together, with riffs and drums which could be easily compared to that of early Strung Out. The vocals are delicately sung and clean in delivery. The whole LP has some catchy songs, but not really anything that you could remember the next day, except for a few good metal riffs as the intros to some of the songs. Strung Out fans will definitely enjoy this. - Coby Healey.
Debut ten track LP from Melbourne's Outsiders Code that marks a return to vocals for former Her Nightmare frontman Baina. This has a real Hatebreed and Madball vibe to it mixed in with hints of Biohazard even. While I find myself bored listening to a Hatebreed record, here the music is kept interestig with an array of leads, overdubs and even some clear channel. Vocal sound is angry and tough, with gang vocal backups but not overdone and suits the music perfectly. Huge production sound on this recording with mixing and mastering handled by Zeuss (Terror, Madball, Hatebreed). Lead track "The End" is a definite standout, with a catchy melodic chorus and undertone. Solid release.
Four song EP from Night Birds on Fat Wreck for the first time, as a precursor release to a new full length out soon on Grave Mistake. Only the title track will be featured on the album with the other three songs exclusive to this release. These songs pick up exactly where they left off on "The Other Side Of Darkness". That Adolescents so cal punk sound backed with surf guitar and whiny vocals hasn't changed a bit and I find the leads on these songs have even gotten more surf guitar influenced, like The Atlantics. Also includes an awesome instrumental track "Boat Trash". Only qualm is that it's too short! Can't wait for the album to drop.
Debut 8 song full length from Power Trip after a string of EP and demo releases since the band's inception in 2008. Power Trip have an old school thrash sound to them ala early Slayer, Nuclear Assault or even "Ride The Ligtening" era Metallica coupled with a Dwid-like, early Integirty, vocal approach.This recording has a lo-fi production feel to it, authenticating the sound of the early thrash metal movement. There is no shortage of neck breaking riffage on here, making you think twice about growing your hair out should they ever tour. All in all an amazing record from start to finish clocking in at around 35 minutes and will rate as one of the best albums of the year no doubt.
