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Change! is a CD/DVD compilation of 21 tracks and 17 videos of various artists ranging from metal to emo.

Some of the artists on the comp are: As I Lay Dying, Aiden, Silverstein, Chiodos and many more.

I’ll start with the bad first and get to the good.

To start the album is only available at Hot Topic. I guess while your buying your WWF t-shirts and random but witty saying t-shirts you can pick up this album…

Also because it’s only available at hot topic the videos and songs have all profanity removed from the album, which in my opinion ruins just about every song that has profanity. Songs have profanity for a reason and every time the song is censored it ruins the entire flow of the song or video.

These 2 reasons are why I am rating this album as only a 5. I’m sure the album will sell very well regardless but when it comes to an album I find it offensive that a label would censor their own artists work simply to sell at a specific location. Censoring punk rock? Come on people.

One other thing that bothered me was the DVD/Video section didn’t let you skip videos, you had to manually find each video or go back to the main menu; not a big deal but it’s the little things that you have to watch out for like this.

Now for the good.  The album really has many great bands on the release and I really did enjoy the majority of the bands on this release.  The videos and songs have a great flow between artists.   This album really has a great track listing of bands people have heard of; but at the same time artists people might not have heard of before, but would be interested in.

Another fine point is that 5% of the proceeds will be donated (though the hot topic foundation) which I guess is good; but as I have 0% trust in hot topic as a company doing any good for anyone but themselves you can make your own decision if this is a very good thing.

But regardless of the negative aspects of this album which are really just specific to my opinions I do think “the kids” will enjoy this release. It will have some great bands that I’m sure you all ready like, but will also be a great way for you to find other similar artists that you should get into or at least check out. But most likely if you’re an anti-hot topic person like myself or don’t shop at the malls you will most likely never hear this album.

 
http://www.myspace.com/astepbehind
 
This is the 2^nd album form this Houston TX band “A Step Behind”.
 
This is what we’ve become is a independent release by the band and is set to be released November  6^th.

The album “This is what we’ve become” is a 5 song release which really makes it hard to get into the band. The songs on the album are intriguing and interesting with many of the songs about the band members life experiences as individuals (not sure if they are the experiences of one person or all members in the band).

The album is full of energy and really is enjoyable to listen too.  The band has a great rock sound but are still very melodic though the most of the short album.

I would suggest checking out the band on their myspace. Since this is a self release I would guess you can find them on all the usual sites like itunes and interpunk.  Normally I never like short albums like this and prefer to buy individual songs, which I would guess is what the band will be going for too, so check them out on one of these sites and buy a few songs  (truth be told is a great song to check out).

 Track Listing

• 
  
  Kicked our fate and killed desire


• 
  
  Truth be told


• 
  
  Don’t ask me how. I’ll tell you


• 
  
  This could be happening


• 
  
  This is what we’ve become

2/2/2008

Hellcat Records

www.hell-cat.com

This is the first release for Time again so it’s very surprising that this album is so good.  Many of the reviews I have seen popping up online about this band have been very negative as the band has a very similar sound to old Rancid records.  But so what, the album can still kick ass.

Yes their sound and style is very Rancid like, but it’s not an exact duplicate of Rancid. I would say that Time Again “Darker Days” sounds more like how rancid should have sounded these days. The band took a pre-existing style of drunk singing/rough vocals, poppy and fast sound and style and went with it.

Regardless of the Rancid style the album is full of great fun songs.  Many of them you can sing along with, are very humorous and really enjoyable driving to songs.

I would say just about anyone who enjoys rancid or other hellcat releases will really enjoy this album. There are plenty of people out there who hate this style of pop-punk and it is pretty obvious they will hate this album and shouldn’t get near it otherwise you will just have a bitch fest of how much they sound like rancid.

This is a band I will really look forward to seeing as you can tell just from the album their shows would be energetic and pretty chaotic and fun.  If your not planning on buying the album but will be going to Warped Tour (I’m assuming they will be playing warped) you will need to make it a point to see them.

Track Listing

1.       Day like this

2.       Soon it will be

3.       One way or another

4.       Lines are faded

5.       Darkder days

6.       Lucky

7.       Montreal (street kids)

8.       Lookin back

9.       Movin on

10.   You’re goin down

11.   Tv static

12.   Shell Casings

13.   Gonna get mine

14.   Outcast

Angels & Airwaves, the new project of ex Blink-182 guitar player Tom DeLonge, are back with the second part of their concept production. If on their debut, “We Don’t Need To Whipser”, the band told stories about love born in the middle of a war, on the new “I-Empire”, the band explores the deepest and darkest sides of humanity and feelings, talking of love, lost people, and loved ones.

The new songs are quite different, and unique: you can go from the long, harmonic and melodic ballads, to the super catchy power pop songs, as the first single “Everything’s Magic”, or the awesome “Love Like Rockets” and “Sirens”, which have amazing choruses.

The general feeling you get is the one of a dark record, where Tom DeLonge sings about his emotions on his anthemic songs, filled with melodies keyboards and harmonic guitars, where the emotion is driven by the sound.

If you want to experience something new, I highly recommend “I-Empire”.

Tracklist

1.Call To Arms
2.Everything’s Magic
3.Breathe
4.Love Like Rockets
5.Sirens
6.Secret Crowds
7.Star Of Bethlehem
8.True Love
9.Lifeline
10.Jumping Rooftops
11.Rite Of Spring
12.Heaven

I know I am quite late with this review, since this album came out at the end of 2007, but here I am. And I tell you this, “Career Suicide” is the best melodic punk album of the last year.

A Wilhelm Scream are back with a new album and a new sound, more powerful, more technic and more precise than it was on previous albums “Mute Print” (too raw!) and “Ruiner” (too metal?).

The album can be described in one word: FAST! You will not find peace while listening to this record, and if you’re driving, watch your speed. “I Wipe My Ass With Showbiz” opens the disc in the fastest way you could expect. Vocalist Nuno is amazing, and so are Trevor’s guiar riffs.

The album keeps on growing on you with speed and fast tracks: “5 To 9″, “The Horse” and “Die While You’re Young” are the three best songs of the whole record maybe, and their order makes them, together with the opener, the best 4 first songs on a record. EVER.

“Career Suicide”, “These Dead Streets”, “Our Ghosts” and “Pardon Me, Thanks A Lot” are fucking brillant, with a perfect combination of drums, metallic guitar works and screams. The result is a record that will make you sick.

I don’t have a lot of words to say, just put this: if you don’t listen to this record, you’re fucked.

Tracklist
1 I Wipe My Ass With Showbiz       
2 5 To 9    
3 The Horse    
4 Die While You’re Young (FREE MP3)
5 Jaws 3, People 0        
6 Career Suicide    
7 These Dead Streets    
8 Get Mad, You Son Of A Bitch    
9 Our Ghosts        
10 Cold Slither II    
11 Pardon Me, Thanks A Lot    
12 Check Request Denied    
13 We Built This City! (On Debts And Booze)

Purchase autographed copy of “Career Suicide” here.

Release 2/5/2008

www.hell-cat.com

This is a much anticipated release (at least for me) that has been expected from this band for a while now. Kiss Kiss Kill Kill is the latest album from HorrorPops following their last released album “Bring It On” From 2005; much to long for a band like the HorrorPops to go without giving us our much need fill of rock and roll.

Kiss Kiss Kill Kill is exactly what you would expect from a band as unique and disrupting as the HorroPops. This new album like their previous ones has such a great sound that dips into so many styles of music and sound that it  creates a humorous very progressive sound. 

Many of the songs on this album have such unrelated styles/meaning to them that it is almost like it is a comp of new songs by the same band which I personally really liked.  One minute your listing to a song with traditional rockabilly undertones, and then the next song has a new wave meets surf punk.  Because of this the album is a blast to listen too.  So many of this bands songs will surprise and confuse you. But after a second listen your going to be tapping your foot and singing along.

If you’re not yet a fan of the HorrofPops you are really missing out on a great unique band. With blasting female vocals to their chaotic style of play you will be  searching for their other releases in no time.

Track Listing

1.       Thelma & Louise

2.       Missfit

3.       Boot to Boot

4.       Disco

5.       Kiss Kiss Kill Kill

6.       Everything’s Everything

7.       Hitchcock Starlet

8.       Highway

9.       Horrorbeach part 2

10.   Refugee

11.   My Picture

12.   Private Hall of Shame

After the masterpiece/almost rock opera album “…Is A Real Boy” on Doghouse Records (then re-issued as “…Was A Real Boy” by J Records), Say Anything is back with their sophomore studio album. It’s been some years since the band released the previous album, and due to Max Bemis’ health problem, the band took some time to write and record the new songs, with a never ending live activity on tour that took Say Anything on tour with anyone that matters in the world, and this shows in the guest vocals on the new record (that I won’t mention, because this is a Say Anything record).

The new album is intended to be a rock opera, and in fact it’s a double disc with 27 new tunes, where Bemis sings about love disasters, all through sex metaphors, straight in your face “fuck you’s” and religious references. I had a hard time listening to the new songs, because I was so addicted to the older anthems “Spidersong” and “Every Man Has A Molly” that for me it’s been hard to lend my ear to the new stuff, but really, it works.

The first CD is filled with more poppy songs, and more electronic clashes, as  the single “Baby Girl, I’m A Blur” or the song “Shiksa (Girlfriend)”, with their electric beats and catchy choruses. But the real sweetness comes out on tracks like “No Soul” (one of the best songs of the record) and “The Church Channel”, where Max sings about his past few years. “Retarded In Love” and “Died A Jew” are my personal favorite tracks, because of the lyrics and the fact that they sings about sick stories.

The second CD might be called as the “hardest part”: it is filled with anthems, punk rock songs, and less melody. “We Killed It” sounds like a demo, with its 1.53 minutes of pure madness and genius at the same time, while “Have At Thee!” is the rock and roll song. “Spores” kills me every time I heard it, while “The Word You Wield” and “Vexed” are awesome in their simplicity. “Hangover Song” is the best minute of music you can hear for 0.99 bucks.

It’s really hard to label this record with a few words, but I must say “In Defense Of The Genre” is the most intense trip I did this year. Without drugs.

Tracklist

Disc One:
1. Skinny, Mean Man
2. No Soul
3. That is Why
4. Surgically Removing the Tracking Device
5.This is Fucking Ecstasy
6. The Church Channel
7. Shiksa (Girlfriend)
8. Baby Girl, I’m a Blur
9. Retarded in Love
10. People Like You are Why People Like Me Exist
11. Died a Jew
12. An Insult to the Dead
13. Sorry, Dudes, My Bad

Disc Two:
1. Spay Me
2. In Defense of the Genre
3. The Truth is, You Should Lie with Me
4. The Words You Wield
5. Vexed
6. About Falling
7. You’re the Wanker if Anyone Is
8. Spores
9. We Killed It
10. Have at Thee!
11. Hangover Song
12. Goodbye Young Tutor, You’ve Now Outgrown Me
13. I Used to Have a Heart
14. Plea


Listen to new songs here.
Purchase “In Defense Of The Genre” here.

After the amazing “Trainwreck”, Boys Night Out is back with the brand new, self titled, album. The Canadian boys develop a new style in their music, with a more pop edge sound and a less aggressive attitude, with more pop hooks and less screams. The result is a sick album where you have the pop melodies and the melodic rock and roll guitar hooks.

“Boys Night Out” has got twelve tracks of powerful pop punk, with the five guys developing new rhythms, to create new harmonies and trying to play more than just a Fall Out Boy ripoff. And they also can make it on such tunes as “Get Your Head Straight” and “Let Me Be Your Swearword”, which sound fresh, new and original.

I personally loved “Trainwreck”, but this new record has been quite a disappointment for me. Not for the songs - there are some great pop punk tunes here - but for the general mood: too many fillers and I skip a lot of tracks when I listen to this.

Tracklist
1. Get Your Head Straight
2. Swift And Unforgiving
3. The Push And Pull
4. Up With Me
5. Heirs Of Error
6. Let Me Be Your Swearword
7. Hey, Thanks
8. Fall For The Drinker
9. Apartment 4
10. Reason Ain’t Our Long Suit
11. It Won’t Be Long

Purchase “Boys Night Out” here.

Every Time I Die’s new effort is the most intense, crazy and unbelieavable album I heard in a long time. It’s a crazy mix of hardcore and punk played in rock and roll songs, with a straight fuck you attitude.

“The Big Dirty” is quite different from the band’s previous works, where the hardcore rhythms dominated; on this new effort, it’s the rock and roll crazyness to take advantage of the other faces of the band, and it’s incredible the way Every Time I Die can play such anthems as “We’re Wolf” and “Rendez-Voodoo”.

The record is very good if you love to experience new music and destroy the borders between what’s melodic and what is noise.

Tracklist
1. No Son Of Mine     
2. Pigs Is Pigs
3. Leatherneck
4. We’re Wolf    
5. Rebel Without Applause
6. Cities And Years
7. Rendez-Voodoo
8. A Gentlemans Sport
9. Inrihab
10. Depressionista
11. Buffalo Gals
12. Imitation Is The Sincerest Form Of Battery

Purchase “The Big Dirty” here.

After “Hunter”, A Life Once Lost are back with their brand new disc. “Iron Gag” is a record where the band starts to play even - if possible - a more intense kind of hardcore music.

It’s not really melodic or harmonic music, put those words away from “Iron Gag”: the new album shows how the band can displays a lot of angry metal music. Someone would label this metal-core, but to me it’s just metal.

The record does not have any ups and downs, and it passes away very fast, with its very fast guitar riffs, metallic chords and screaming raw vocals.

If you liked the previous works by A Life Once Lost, you’ll enjoy this one too.

Tracklist
1. Firewater Joyride
2. Detest
3. The Wanderer
4. Worship
5. All Teeth
6. Meth Mouth
7. Masks
8. Pigeonholed
9. Others Die
10. Silence
11. Ill Will

Purchase “Iron Gag” here.