Cementing The Seams

This came in the mail last week.  I bit the int'l-shipping bullet and pre-ordered it because I really liked Battle of Wolf's LP from last year, and they were offering a special version if you pre-ordered it (and I'm a nerd), and I felt like spending money.  It was impulsive, that's what I'm saying.  Anyhow, I'm really glad I did because especially impressed with this release.  Battle of Wolf delivers huge on their side with 3 of the best songs they've recorded.  Not much is new but this band does keep getting better and better as time goes on.  If you're familiar with BoW you should probably know what you're getting.  If you're not, expect some hardcore mixed with screamo mixed with d-beat... really these guys are prolific style-blenders, and do it while maintaining ferocious melody and their own unique sonic stamp.  No matter what their influence you pretty much can't mistake Battle Of Wolf 359, and no matter what it will pretty much kick ass.  Resurrectionists' side of the split actually came as a surprise to me.  Not because I didn't know what I was getting into, but because I was so into it.  I'd heard their demo a while back and tried to enjoy it a few times but it always seemed to fall a little flat.  Now though, they have carved out their sound and honed their frantic musical engery in such a way that is quite enjoyable and compliments the other side of the record very well indeed.  Resurrectionists just released their first LP, which I am retroactively kicking myself for not ordering because I'm certain it's not available in the US right now.  Anyway, on their side they offer up a little faster paced mix of grind and power violence that might knock you out.  This album sounds really great (in the recording/fidelity sort of way) and is packaged really well.  It pretty much rules all around.

For fans of:  Dolcim, Graf Orlock, Hammers


Battle Of Wolf 359 & Resurrectionists on Myspace

Get it.

Buy it from Moment Of Collapse Records

Yeah, so I've posted about this band a few times, talking about how they are the next big thing and all that jazz.  This probably isn't true, but it pretty much should be.  They have all the right elements: catchy songs, hip tour-mates, an aire of sincere non-suckiness and occasional gang vocals.  Seriously though, these are some of the best punk songs I've heard in sequence in I don't know how long, and if the world is a fair place (it isn't) these guys will be huge (they might).  Punk-huge anyway.  So, I'm posting this because you can now purchase the cassette version (read: only version) of Hoop Dreams from Mountain Man Records.  If tapes aren't your thing, evidently Protagonist Music is handling a vinyl release before the summer, but I don't really know anything specific.

For fans of: Spires, The Sidekicks, Get Bent

Big Kids on Myspace

Get it.

Buy it from Mountain Man Records

One of my most highly anticipated releases of this year has finally been released and I am thrilled not to be disappointed.  If that sounded sorta tongue-in-cheek it wasn't meant to be, it was merely a comment on my track record of "most highly anticipated releases" lately.  "Completely Removed" is the new album by DC math-rock group Medications, who, if you don't know, is made up of former members of Faraquet.  Medications had previously extrapolated on the Faraquet sound, refining it albeit roughening the edges a bit.  Now, if you had been following this release (like me) you probably got the hint that the new record would be a significant departure sonically from their first 2 releases.   This turned out to be so true that I'm surprised it didn't elicit a name change, what with the band losing a drummer and functioning/recording largely as a two-piece.  Normally I'm not always on board when bands try to reinvent themselves (I say 'try' but it may have been an accident), but it's pretty hard to stay mad at these guys.  "Completely Removed" showcases the range of skill and songwriting Devin Ocampo and Chad Molter are really capable of, and they are seriously capable.  Most of the songs on "Completely Removed" exude a poppy/catchiness that have never really strove for but just happen to be really good at.  Of course their instrumental chops are not to be ignored and while their math-rock roots are still ever-present (if subdued a little) they do a lot of experimenting that seems to jump around from song to song.  There are as many Pink Floyd as Faraquet moments, though this is in no way a bad thing.  Suffice to say, however different "Completely Removed" is from the rest of the Medications catalog, it's a worthwhile addition and one of the best records I've heard in quite a while.

For Fans of:  Faraquet, Karate, Beauty Pill

Medications on Myspace

Get it.

Buy it now from Dischord Records

So this has been playing on my computer/ipod/brainwaves for probably 5 months now and I've yet to post it for reasons I can't really think of.  The Ambulars are a pop punk act from DC (jesus, I swear I don't do this on purpose) who play some of the only pop-punk I've been able to tolerate.  I blame this partially due to the begrudging winter season here.  So now that spring has arrived I'm getting back into the genre (because pop-punk is the genre for spring you know) and this record just keeps getting better and better.  It's an appropriate mix of sweet, catchy, and original that is just long enough not to get boring.  It should be noted that I have probably listened to the song "Bookmarked" a number of times that would require scientific notation to write out.  So, if there is still snow melting wherever you are, listen to this and celebrate.

For fans of:  Good Luck, The Ergs!, Lemuria

The Ambulars on Myspace

Get it.