Upcoming Shows 8/28/15-9/03/15

Here's another week of shows we would you like to check out. These shows are in the Tri-state area and the eastern side of Pennsylvania.
August 28
1. Amitvyville Music Hall- Cadet, Ring Finger, West Point, Depressant, Petal Head, Mouth.
2. Revolution Bar- Patent Pending, Shiffley, Ignite, The Cavalry is Us, Call The Station.
3. Otto's Shrunken Head- Hot Blood, Eleventh Hour, Enziguri, Bed Pan Fight.
4. Nihil Gallery- Raven, Fate Breaks Dawn, Metalfier, Moniasin, Oblivion, Unholy Dispute.
5. PhilaMoca- Royal Headache, Sheer Mag, Honey Radar.
6. The Silent Barn- Homewreckers, Skarroneros, Ratas En Zelo, Heavy Negatives.
7. The Grand Victory- Fang, The Stuntmen, Nothing But Enemies, Agitator.
8. Asbury Lanes- Koffin Kats, OC45.
9. Shea Stadium- Gemma, Very Fresh, Et Al, Crosslegged.
10. Palisades- Tiny Hazard, Leapling, Moon Honey, Dog.
11. Avia- Evolfo, Oso Oso, Turnlip King, Psymon Spine, Sojill.
12. The Clash Bar- Morning Side Lane, Wailing Kids, Goodbye Tiger, TBA.
13. Dingbatz- Weird and Wonderful Words, Devon Goods, Help me Help you, Quaaludes, The Planet You.
14. East Islip Lanes- Fresh Squeezed Lemonade, It Came From Space, Strange Effect, Felix, Nexus Canvas, This Side of Town.
August 29
1. East Islip Lanes- Oso Oso, Arrows In Her, Forever Losing Sleep, Commonwealth, Survivors Gulit, Ornaments, Sojourner.
2. ABC No Rio- Axis, Of Feather and Bone, Blackest, Ache.
3. The Bowery Electric- Fang, The Stuntmen, Ass Falcon, Gangway.
4.The Grand Victory- Spinechain, Unkempt Herald, Chained to The Dead.
5. Shea Stadium- Pop 1280, Mansion, Pill, Conduit.
6. 10th Street Live- Raven, The Donner Party, Circle of Insanity, Steel Spade Syndicate, Paralysis.
7. Palisades- Royal Headache, Sheer Mag, Flowers of Evil.
8. The Shop- The Cadillac Three, 2/3 Goat, The Grand Central, Lizzie & The Makers.
9. Avia- Jawbreaker Reunion, Puppy, PWR BTTM, Acid Dad, My Kil Love.
10. Union Transfer- Screaming Females, Vacation, Radiator Hospital, Pinkwash.
11. Backroom Studios- So Hideous, Set and Setting, Au Revoir, NY in 64, A Film in Color.
August 30
1. Shakers Pub- Axis, Of Feather and Bone, Jukai, Carcosa, Sanction.
2. Saint Vitus Bar- Royal Headache, Sheer Mag.
3. The Grand Victory- The Pist, Violent Society, Drunken Rampage, Warxgamer, Damn Broads.
4. The Meatlocker- Black Arm, Dejagravy, DopeRider, Sunrot, Intertia.
August 31
1. Revolution Bar- Turnstile, Bane, Power Trip, Backtrack, Forced Order, Blind Justice, Mizery, Jukai.
2. Saint Vitus Bar- Speedy Ortiz, Aye Nako, TBA.
3. Arlene's Grocery- Bear Success, The Ladwigs.
4. The Meatlocker- Dan Roman, Cary Goldberg, Weak Wrists, Jonah, Bedtime Stories, Our Wits, That Make us Men.
September 1
1. Fuze Box- Mizery, Trife Life, Life's Not Fair, Invoke Thy Wrath.
2. Saint Vitus Bar- No Nets, Black River Manifesto, Garbage Brain, Twiga.
3. The Grand Victory- Spinechain, Unkempt, Herald, Chained To The Dead.
4. Shea Stadium- Grooms, Parlor Walls, Faten Katnaan.  
5. The Silent Barn- Washer, Vagabon, Dounies, Slight.
6. The Studio at Webster hall- Ricky Eat Acid, Ed Schrader's Music Beat, Field Trip, Crazy &The Brains.
 September 2
1. Shea Stadium- What Moon Things, Infinity Girls, Happy You, Pencil.
2. The Silent Barn- Leather Daddy, Exit Order, Utah jazz, Nandus.
September 3
1. Shea Stadium- AJ Davila, Total Slacked, Acid Dad.
2. Avia- Dope Body, PC Worship, Pill, Big Neck Police, Pretenginer,
3. Dingbatz- Darrow Chemical Co, Children of October, Graveyard Digger, Half Witted Dog.  

Scott Acquavella of Cryptodira's top five most important albums

We got a chance to ask Scott of Cryptodira to give us his top five most important albums to him, he was more than happy to oblige us, and here is what he had for us!

Five Records That Shaped a Young, Musical Brain

                We often think about what our favorite albums are- probably the ones we find ourselves listening to most regularly, but it could come as more of a challenge to decide which of these records have played the largest role in actually shaping the person we have become musically, morally, or otherwise, and exactly how the hell they were able to do that. That being said, this list is just that for me, and I would encourage anyone who is unfamiliar with these masterpiece records to change that. These are not all necessarily the best albums of all time (although if I were to make that list as well there would be a considerable overlap), but the ones that have changed the way I approach creating music for Cryptodira, as well as how I conduct myself in everyday life.

5. Cynic- Traced in Air

                After only one full length release in 1993 that pushed every single boundary of metal music, Cynic disbanded for a multitude of reasons, most of which boiled down to being unaccepted for being light years ahead of their time. A fourteen year breakup eventually came to end with the release of 2008’s Traced in Air, a (too-short) 35 minute roller coaster that hits every bit of the emotional spectrum. To this day I haven’t heard a record that better combines technically proficient playing, ear-pleasing melody, and, dare I say, “pop-like,” song structure quite like this one. Its emphasis on smooth composition has always served as a reminder to me to make sure everything I write or contribute to writing flows naturally. The way Paul Masvidal’s urgent yet gentle singing sits on top of the growled background vocals during “Integral Birth” has stuck with me since the first time it sent chills up my fifteen year old spine, and the effect-driven, chorus saturated clean tone has become a staple in my own sound thanks to this record.

4. The Dillinger Escape Plan- Option Paralysis

                As a young, babbling idiot (a.k.a. an early high school student), I said my fair share of negative things about Dillinger. I was too young to understand that this garbage-can-falling-down-stairs music was actually brilliant, but somewhere along the line, my bandmates had convinced me to give it another shot (after I had been caught enjoying “Widower”), conveniently right around the time that Option Paralysis was released. I braced myself for the start of the record, but I distinctly remember damn-near shitting my pants after the opening chords of “Farewell, Mona Lisa,” on my walk to the bus stop. Despite my best efforts to not like it and be right (the most important thing in the world in high school), I couldn’t deny how infectious the visceral attitude of the music was. Since then, DEP has shaped the very work ethic and musical dignity of Cryptodira- play the show, play it fuckin’ hard, and leave everything you’ve got on the stage. While it isn’t my favorite DEP record, Option Paralysis sparked my love for one of the greatest bands in the world, and for that it deserves a spot in my heart and this list.

3. Death- Symbolic

                Another legendary act from the Florida death metal scene (I promise, no more after this), Death is arguably the most important death metal band of all time. As a teenager, I remember being turned on to Death by the drummer of my own band and almost immediately, I became fascinated with the story of Chuck Schuldiner, vocalist/guitarist/founding member of Death. After defying all odds to become successful, the evolution of Chuck’s music reflected how important he felt it was to constantly grow as a band in a world where mediocre music reproduces itself constantly, which is an ethic that I’ve adhered to since this time in my life. To me, Symbolic was the golden age of Death where Chuck had found the perfect blend of heavy, traditional death metal and the melodic/progressive elements that had slowly found their way into Death’s music. Death inspired my love for the four-piece/no stand-alone vocalist aesthetic for metal bands and without this record, I most likely would have been way too much of a chicken-shit to suggest that I do vocals in addition to my guitar duty for Cryptodira when our original stand-alone vocalist had left the band. Thanks for this metal masterpiece, Chuck.

2. Green Day- American Idiot

                No, this is not a guilty pleasure. Yes, I still love this album to death. This record is the one that started it all for me. It’s the one that made me harass my parents to buy me a guitar for my birthday, and the one that has ruined my ability to settle for any career path but music, and for that I owe it everything. Despite criticism from fans of older Green Day albums, American Idiot truly is the most complete work that the band has ever produced with its more complex song structures, its use of auxiliary instruments, and its theatrical and cohesive flow. I actually wouldn’t even believe someone who would argue that “Basket Case” is a better song than “Jesus of Suburbia” (not to say I don’t love Dookie as well, because I do). Simply put, this record inspired my love for music and geared my young brain toward liking conceptual records over records that feel more like a collection of songs. Not much else to say about it other than that my life wouldn’t even be close to what it is right now if I had never heard this record. Love it forever, love it to death.

1. Between the Buried and Me- Colors

                While this list is generally in no particular order, I would have to say I put this album at number one for a reason. Sometime in 2007, a friend of mine had showed me the song “Selkies: The Endless Obsession,” from Alaska, and I remember being floored by the incredible melody of the end section, so I figured I’d explore further. Luckily for fourteen year old Scott, Colors had just been released, and that same friend of mine was hell bent on making sure I appreciated this band, so I checked it out. At first, the sheer density of this record made it fly a bit over my head, as I liked it, but I wasn’t convinced it was all that special. Still, for some reason I felt like I had to check it out again. Then again. And again. With each passing listen, the complex layers of the music began to permeate my young brain, making me hear new things every time that I could swear weren’t there the last time. The riffing style was like nothing I had ever heard before and the complexity matched what I was used to hearing from bands like Dream Theater, but with a visceral edge that I felt filled the void of what was missing from progressive music. BTBAM proved to me that it was possible to be progressive and extremely aggressive all at the same time. To this day, the intro riff to “Prequel to the Sequel” is one of the greatest riffs I have ever heard in my life. About eight years later, I am still sitting here trying to peel back the layers of this masterpiece of an album that I consider to be possibly my favorite of all time.

Extremely Honorable Mentions:

Dream Theater- Train of Thought

Converge- No Heroes

Trap Them, Full of Hell, Blackest, and Siblings at The Acheron 8/20/15

             Last Thursday, Trap Them and Full of Hell made it to the Brooklyn stop of their tour. The venue was The Acheron. This was my third time coming to this small venue. The show was close to sold out but the venue sucks when it’s really crowded. The Acheron is very narrow and has a very small stage. Not my favorite venue in Brooklyn but this place is perfect for this type of show. The Supporting acts of the show were Siblings and Blackest.

            The first band of the night was Siblings. Siblings are a local band from Brooklyn. They had an interesting sound. The sound was mix with Powerviolence vocals with 80’s hardcore instrumentals. I really wasn’t interested in this band. The one thing I liked about this band is that the lead singer had a distortion pedal but only used it for one song. I think if they used that more that would have been really cool to watch.  

            The next band up was Blackest. Blackest are a metallic hardcore band from Brooklyn. This was my second time seeing this band. The first time was at ABC No Rio but they didn’t put a good impression on me. Last Thursday I got the same impression. I don’t see what’s hardcore about this band. The riffs were okay but they bring a good stage persona. To be honest I feel these guys look is more hard-rock rather than metal or hardcore. I wasn’t really into them and the first pit of the night didn’t start until the last song. The first two band were okay I guess.

            Full of Hell took the stage and not even 30 seconds into the song a guy stage dived of the small stage at the Acheron. Full of Hell are a grindcore band from Ocean City, Maryland. This was my third time seeing them. I called them “The Sonic Youth of grindcore.” The reason behind the statement is because they are very experiment for a grindcore band. The lead singer had a board full of pedals and or machines just making the craziest sounds you will ever here. The crowd was insane during Full of Hell. The pit was just as crazy as Full of Hell. Also I recommend to wear ear plugs when seeing this band because if you don’t you might go deaf. If you haven’t seen this band you are messing up big time.

            The final band of the night was Trap Them. Trap Them are a band from Boston, MA and Seattle, WA. This was my second time seeing this Grindcore mix with hardcore and metalcore influences. The last time I saw them they had Incendiary opened which caused not a lot of people to stay. This time they had an audience that was really interested to see them. People are going off in the pit and people were climbing each other to sing along. Trap Them were really good and played a great long set. Their set was more than forty minutes which good because two other Acheron shows I’ve been the headline didn’t more than twenty five minutes. Trap Them is signed to Deathwish Inc which means every band on the label is great and you must see Trap Them.       

Trap Them- 9/10

Full of Hell- 10/10

Blackest- 6/10

Siblings- 7.5/10

The Acheron- 7.5/10

Over Concert- 8.5/10

           

ALBUM REVIEW: Everything Is Changing by Begin Again

LA based Begin Again recently put out Everything is Changing, a three track release, which has climbed the bandcamp charts very quickly yet unsurprisingly because of how good this release is. I think what struck me most about this release is how personal it is to front woman, Ashley, whose story leading up to this release is one that's known to me through outside sources.
 Production wise, this release is solid, with some really great riffs, leads and a catchy bass and drumline. The vocals are solid, and I think have a lot more feeling backed to them than Ashley's tenure in her former band. Another few things that got me really stoked on this release were how very much resemblant of 2000's post hardcore and pop punk this record was, as a sharp contrast to it's pet pop punk revival and the like. While this release is audibly very well put together, where I think it really shines is in it's lyrical material. It's heartfelt, honest, and on one track particular though provoking as a retrospective and at the same time contemporary look at pop punk as a genre, and how clique-y it is as a whole. Even if that track is apart of one particular scene, it's most definitely an interesting way of looking at one's own scene wherever they might be.

 This release earns itself a solid 9/10, for not only being sonically pleasing, but having some of the most heartfelt lyrical material I've heard in a long time.


9/10

FFO: Thrice, Silverstein, and Senses Fail

Pick up the EP here

Top 5: Current TRUE Metalcore Revival Acts

Welp. Metalcore seems to be cool again. Or should I say “metalcore revival.” And that's in fact, awesome. Problem is as with any sub genre that becomes particularly popular...There are ALOT of bands that you can just skip over. Bands that aren't doing anything unique to stand out and that are just carbon copies of other bands who frankly execute it much better. That being said I, Sam, your resident jaded old(ish) guy is here to tell you the top metalcore revival bands to watch. I'm going to be focusing on bands that I feel pay tribute to actual metalcore and not so much just 90's style metallic hardcore (sorry Blistered). Moving on..

1. Axis; OK so for a while I had been told about Axis and for whatever reason I just didn't give them the time of day. I don't know if the name didn't catch me or I was just being way too picky and judgmental but I just wouldn't do it. However, after seeing friends of mine whose musical opinion I held in high regard posting up about them. I decided to give them a chance and boy, was I wrong. Their upcoming full-length “Show Your Greed” is a sonic destructive assault on your ear drums plain and simple (see cover art above) . Alot of people have cited Drowningman or Kissitgoodbye but that felt too easy. To me it was part early Eighteen Visions, part poacher diaries Converge, and a shit ton of Turmoil. I'm not complaining in the least. The record doesn't stop at all and just emulates a chaotic feeling long absent in current heavier hardcore while still paying tribute to the style of elder times. Both crazy and ass kicking. If that's not enough, the lyrical content is exceedingly thought-provoking and deep. Half the time I'm not sure if I'm still listening to an album or Nietzsche. That being said, if you aren't either headbanging profusely or punching inanimate objects around you by the end of the first half, then you are stupid and I hate you.

1. Renounced; There is no doubt in my mind that the UK has this so-called revival on lock. With Carry The Weight Records putting in serious work, every release they put out further solidifies that claim. While their first release “Conditioned From Birth” was enough to catch the ears of worldwide metalcore fans everywhere, 2014's “the Melancholy We Ache” really was the one to set them apart. When recently asked to describe them, I said they were a more pit anthem ready 7 Angels 7 Plagues with the heart and soaring harmonies of early Misery Signals (Of Malice era). There was a time when music could both level you emotionally one minute but then have you smashing your surroundings the next. This is that in a nutshell and it's fucking fantastic.
2. Old Wounds; Old Wounds' The Suffering Spirit was easily the sleeper hit of 2015 for me. I had seen them years before at SUNY Oneonta and I could have sworn it was a 100% different band. If I remember correctly they did a more Guns Up!/No Warning style and I just was not overly impressed. Fast forward to a few months ago, when I first saw their music video and I was in love. The first time my jaw had dropped in a long time and it didn't stop there. The entire record just REEKED of early 2000's metalcore (strong nods to both Martyr AD and Eighteen Visions). With a hell of a live show to match it, I am expecting big things from the NJ natives and can't wait to see where they go next.
3. Vatican; Tumblr is a interesting place, that is very well known. I met my current girlfriend on there and I continue to discover various cool shit. Several months ago, I was "Tumblin'" as the youth refer to it and saw someone post a band doing a very well done Martyr AD cover (American Hollow) and proceeded to watch it along with the rest of the set. I was very impressed, this band certainly did their homework. So much to the fact that I tracked down singer Jon Whittle, and ever since we constantly nerd out on Final Fantasy 7 and you guessed it - old metalcore. Plus he's just an all around really great, humble, and caring guy (attn: single ladies). Sidebar: I have never met anyone who emulates the 90s hardcore scene as well as he does. Respect. ANYWAYS, after waiting a hot minute for Vatican's debut EP, Drowning the Apathy Inside to drop..I found myself smiling as this gem of a Georgia band managed to be the closest thing to early Zao than I had heard since...well, since early Zao. That and some definite 108 tribute. I'm looking increasingly forward to seeing them play the Island in early December and watching them grow as a band. Party on.
4. In Tongues; Tribunal Records put out a impressive roster in the early 2000's. With bands containing members who would go on to be in Between the Buried and Me, Dead To Fall, and Glass Casket just to name a few, the label was unstoppable for a number of years. Many of the bands were so connected member-wise that I sometimes joke that I could play seven degrees of Tommy Rogers with all the members. On that list, held 2 of my personal favorites in the more death metal/At the Gates style of metalcore Undying and Prayer For Cleansing. I truly believe Glasgow's In Tongues is Tribunal Records Catalog 2001: the band. Another solid release on Carry The Weight Records..This is a band that just to me is too good to be true. The whole dynamic is straight evil and their tone is just so barren and heavy, to the point where I want to sacrifice my neighbor to the dark lord Cthulhu and then kick back to some old ass Slayer DVDs. This is fighting music and in fact, the soundtrack to Armageddon. Or at least it should be. Also, they just this last week released a new record on bandfcamp titled Rituals of Failure and Ruin.

Honorable mention: Down In It.; My dear friend Shane Harris has been holding it down and paying it forward in both the North Carolina and South Carolina scene(s) for quite some time. Shane is a vegan straight edge kid who lives and breathes hardcore for hardcore and I seriously have the utmost respect for him. Hell, I wish I had the drive to not eat meat/animals anymore but I love a good steak way too much. Anyways, as anyone in that scene will tell you, Down in it. has paid their dues in the past few years playing any show that needs a band to jump on. Notoriously the NC scene is known for both xCatalystx and Tribunal Records bands such as the before mentioned Prayer For Cleansing, Day of Suffering, Undying, etc. so suffice to say they have a lot to live up to rep wise. I had listened to their earlier stuff and was interested, but not overly enthusiastic. So when Shane showed me the early Eighteen Visions rip shirt they were printing (see below)...I just had to hear the newer stuff. I had urged him that if they are going to do that rip, then it better friggin do it justice. And let me tell you, the new shit indeed speaks for itself. With ear-piercing dischords, 90's style spoken word parts, and even guest vocals from Old Wounds' Kevin Iavaroni, this is yet another great addition to that very sought after NC style. AND I can safely say they most definitely earn that rip.

That's it folks. A new top 5 in the ever popular genre of metalcore revival. It's almost 2 AM and I am entirely spent. Adieu. 

Born To Run..40 years later

“When I was a young boy my father took me into the city to see a marching band.” Except that it wasn't a marching band nor was it a My Chemical Romance concert circa 2008. Although, it was indeed a concert, it was several years prior to that particular time stamp in the summer of 2004. My dad had decided to bring me along to Buffalo, so it was a trip to the city to both visit my beloved grandparents and to catch the almighty boss, himself, Bruce Springsteen and his E-Street band. At the time, my palate of known Springsteen songs was very limited..I knew Born to Run, Thunder Road, and..that was about it. But nonetheless I was still excited having only been to a couple concerts before that (Weezer, Saves the Day was the most recent one). I don't in all actuality remember that much of the concert save a few songs (as it was over a decade ago), but I do remember the feeling and sense of American pride after seeing such a genuine rock and roll performance. To me, Bruce Springsteen was rock and roll.

Fast forward several years..I continued to be quite enamored by the boss and his aura he expelled. As I explored Springsteen's extensive catalog, I became particularly obsessed with his 1975 debut album Born To Run. A masterpiece of a rock and roll album that today coincidentally, turns 40 years old. Ahead of its time, it wasn't just the feelgood anthems that made you wanna ride off into the sunset. There was something both salvageable and familiar about that gruff voiced, working class NJ native that forever struck a chord. Painting a landscape of the long forgotten American dream with that steel guitar of his, Bruce Springsteen sweat through his now infamous American flag bandanna onto the walls and hearts of American teenagers everywhere. It was the swan song of a generation..A call back to both innocence and love lost as we come into the realization that the world isn't always so kind and forgiving as we grow older. As Springsteen poetically laments in Thunder Road,“There were ghosts in the eyes of all the boys you sent away. They haunt this dusty beach road in the skeleton frames of burned out Chervrolets” Ugh it still give me chills all these years late.

As I had mentioned, at the time of its release, Born To Run would indeed become the Boss' meal ticket  . The one that broke him out of the underground onto the horizon and radar of the mainstream populace everywhere. In fact up til the albums release, he had been compared to Bob Dylan almost relentlessly (a memory that to this day, Springsteen still hates to talk about). It has become an essential rock album, while containing such classics as the titular track Born To Run, Tenth Avenue Freeze out, and one of my personal favorites, the bittersweet rock anthem Thunder Road. However the real TKO comes from the tear jerker of a closing track, Jungleland. Clocking in at over nine minutes long, there is no denying the song's raw power. So much so that even brash comedian Louis CK has admitted shedding some serious tears to the track in his own car. It brings the album full circle. For me at least, it even measures up against a similarly somber ballad which happens to be another favorite of mine - Miami 2017 by Piano Man Billy Joel. And don't get me started on the soothing sounds of founding member, the late, great“Big Man” Clarence Clemons masterful Saxophone.

To this day, Born To Run continues to be relevant and seemingly influences even current rock bands such as the Gaslight Anthem (a personal favorite). Although the E-Street band has gone through some decent member changes including the aforementioned loss of saxophonist Clarence Clemons, one fact remains the same. Born To Run was a game changer and 40 years later, it is still just as important and influential. Here's to you Bossman and I hope you all enjoyed my short (but hopefully sweet) dedication to one of Rock and Roll's most classic of albums.

Nard Fest 3 Spotlight

This upcoming weekend is the third annual Nardfest. Nardfest is celebration of the Hardcore Punk subgenre Nardcore. For those who don’t know what Nardcore is its Hardcore music that came out of Oxnard area of California. Bands who are Nardcore are Aggression, Dr. Know, and RKL (Rich Kids on L.S.D.) The festival is celebrating thirty seven years of the sub genre. It takes place on August 29 and 30^th. The venue for the festival is The Majestic Ventura Theater in St. Ventura, California. The lineup is mixed with the old school bands and also some of new school bands. This is defiantly a show you don’t want to miss.

August 29 Day One

Dr. Know, Excel, Nails, The Warriors (Reunion), Battalion of Saints, Retaliate, Stop Breathing (Record Release Show), Shattered Badge (Reunion).

August 30 Day Two

Ill Repute, Stalag 13, Aggression, Jughead’s Revenge (Reunion), Rikk Agnew, The Grim, Bad Samaritans, Dogends.

There are so pre-shows and after parties after the fest. The preshow is at Bombay in St. Ventura, California. After each day of the festival there will be a after show located at Sans Souci.

August 28 Preshow

Messenger, Mothers of Dissension, C.O.A., Maask, Out of Trust, DFMK, Loose Nerves, Conquer The Martians.

August 29 After show

False Confession, La Vasa, Infirmities.

August 30 After Show

The Phester Swollen Inexperience, S.R.A., All Blur.  

 

Fall Tours

ALBUM REVIEW: Leech by Full Body Shot

Full Body Shot is a melodic hardcore outfit from Massachusetts who recently put Leech, a follow up to their first release, a three track release entitled Second Impact. Giving this release a listen for the first time I can safely say that I enjoy it quite a bit. Its bouncy and catchy, with some really solid vocals and instrumentals. I can draw some similarities between them and acts such as The Greenery, Vanna, The Dillinger Escape Plan, and Expire.
 Production wise, this record is very nice, props to producer John Dello Iacono at Bridge East Studios for doing some great work on another great record. The instrumentals are solid, with some really nice leads and riffs in the tracks, some really nice sounding breakdowns, and a solid basstone. The drums are also very well done and give great rythm to each of the tracks.
 Lyrical material is solid, and combined with some great vocals, this record is a great way to get into a really great genre of hardcore. I'd highly recommend this to fans of Dillinger, Vanna, The Greenery, and Expire, as listed above. Overall, I have to give this record a solid

7/10

Pick up Leech on Full Body Shot's bandcamp!

Gear 101 by Brandon Vasquez

How to Get the Best Possible Sound for Your Band

A lot of times when I see local bands play, depending on where it is, I see them utilizing gear that isn’t up to snuff with their full potential. This depends on genre to genre and in no way is this a gear snob rant on how someone should spend 2 grand on an amp to sound good, but rather some useful ideas to bring to light for people starting bands or wanting to step up their sound.

1: Learn how your signal chain affects your sound This one is a big one, learning how your signal chain works is a huge factor in how your tone will produce through your whole set up. For example, how many pedals you have can effectively suck the tone out of your amplifier and leave much to be desired. Every pedal will slightly(not noticeably) effect your tone in some way and learning which pedals and cables and guitars work in tandem with each other while keeping the chain as minimal as possible for desired results will make your sound, your foot, and your arms very happy.

Get a Good Cab Many people take the time to spend 2 grand on heads and guitars but many people don’t look into the speakers they are playing out of. This usually makes a really great head like a Mesa or Marshall sound terrible. Look into the speakers you are playing and always look to see if you can play through a friends cab to learn the difference of tone you are going to get. Cabs don’t all sound the same and they are not created equal, spend the money on a good cab and you’re going to have a solid base to keep your sound as clear as you can make it.

Learn to EQ Equalization is something that can make or break a sound and give you what you’re looking for. Whether its hardcore, emo, pop punk, doom metal, black metal etc etc, all these genres have specific difference that makes them unique and understanding how your sound is effected by low, mids, highs, presence etc will make your band be more in tune with each other and let the parts that need to be heard, be heard. Never dime your amps, it’ll only lead to more payments in the end.

Dont Knock Used Gear Usually the stuff sold on retail is extremely expensive and almost unaffordable on a budget. Instead of going out to Guitar Center and trying the new, and mostly blasé gear selections, look into going on Craigslist and find stuff that might interest you and try them out. You can usually find great deals if you look hard/long enough and can really benefit on finding amps you didn’t think you would love until you looked on the used market for them.

Easy on the Gain Gain, oh gain. Biggest thing for heavy bands to learn when they start out is easy on the gain. Its important to have a clear and articulate sound whatever your playing so you want every note to be heard the way you envisioned it. Adding too much gain will effectively garble up your sound and make it into a buzzsaw or muddy mess to where the mix in the band can’t be heard well enough. You want people to feel the notes you play, and the only way is to be heard and when you put too much signal into your amp it ends up making a heavy sound in your bedroom, incoherent on the stage. Note, the louder you will be playing with tube amps, the more you should back off on the signal in the preamp.

These are tips to boost your sound as a band and let what you hear in your head become realities for many people. Keep your friends close and gear closer, and remember that you are only as good as your instrument lets you sound.

Riot Fest Denver 2015 Spotlight

This upcoming weekend will be the first of three, Riot Fest taken place in North America. Riot Fest is an annual music festival that takes place in Chicago but in recent years it has expanded in other locations. This weekend’s Riot Fest is in Denver, Colorado at the National Western Sports Complex. Riot Fest is a Rock festival but it does involve some Hip-Hop. This fest consists of Punk, Indie, Metal, and Alternative. Also there will be some bands performing albums start to finish so be sure to check that out. On Friday August 28 the fest will start and it will end August 30.

August 28 Day 1

System of A Down, Iggy Pop, Ice Cube * Special Guests (Performing Straight Outta Compton), Motorhead, Coheed and Cambria, Cypress Hill, The Airborne Toxic Event, Anthrax, Death Grips, De La Soul, Testament, The Black Lips, American Nightmare, The Get Up Kids, 88 Fingers Louie, Benjamin Booker, Chef Special, Speedy Ortiz, Cayetana, Jazz Cartier, Crobot, Prayers, The Hotelier, Dreamers, Main Attrakionz, Input & Broken, Indian School, Hellazapoppin Circus Sideshow Revue.

August 29 Day 2  

Modest Mouse, Pixies, Run DMC, Rancid (Performing… Out Comes The Wolves) Drive Like Jehu, Kongos, Alkaline Trio, Thrice, Cold War Kids, Iration, The Damned, Eagles of Death Metal, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Desaparcidos, GWAR, The Dead Milkmen, The Vandals , Less Than Jake, The Joy Formidable, Cloud Cut, Bayside, Swervedriver, Joyce Manor, The Bunny Gang, Direct Hit!, Broadway Calls, Northern Faces, Meat Wave, Gateway Drugs, Souvenirs, Pears, Sleep On It, Hellazapoppin Circus Sideshow Revue.

August 30 Day 3

Prodigy, Snoop Dogg (Performing Doggy Style) Tenacious D, Flogging Molly, L7, Explosions In The Sky, Bootsy Collins Rubber Band, Yelawolf, Babes in Toyland, GZA (Performing Liquid Swords), The Lawrence Arms, Nada Surf, Reverend Horton Heat, Andrew W.K., DoomTree, Millencolin, 7 Seconds, OFF!, The White Buffalo, Post Malone with FKI, Teenage Bottlerocket, PUP, Beach Slang, The Moth & The Flame, Elway, White Mystery, Skating Polly, Rozwell Kid, Faulkner, Daye Jack, Hellazapoppin Circus Sideshow Revue.   

Photo Showcase- I Awake//Mutiny Abroad

Photo Showcase- Pro Pain fest(Bellport backyard show)