I review albums and provide download links.
I do not own any of the music provided, I just show people to the link.Email me at caverlyjasper@gmail.com to suggest an album to review if you wish.
Brisbane's Dune Rats have been around for not so long now and after two EP's, Smile, is their latest effort. The 'young lads' play chilled out, surf rock, stoner pop tunes about doing nothing and smoking weed. Lots of weed. Although they aren't signed Dune Rats have been around quite a bit, including an American 'tour' and some dates in Asia. The EP was recorded under their own funds.
The 5 tracks are basically set around themes of acting like kids, hanging out, smoking, being kids....did I say smoking? It kinda reminds me of Wavves, but Australian and a little 'rawer'. The EP is no doubt an easy record to listen to and any fan of almost any genre can find enjoyment out of it. Not to mention the incredible album art. Cannot get over the photo. Too good, too damn good.
Easy listening, 'Posi Surf Stoner Pop Rock'. Whats not to love about Dune Rats?
8.5/10
Video - Dune Rats - Red Light, Green Light Music Video
They've done it again. Shackles have shown with their latest release, 'Disposed
Of', that they can write incredible songs whilst keeping it fresh and exciting.
Released through Urbn Rage, this record is a fast, aggresive, face melting
experience, barely reaching the 5 minute mark. For those who aren't aware of
what Shackles sound like imagine Infest meets Extortion meets Mind Eraser. The
recording has a rough sound with a load pf amp feedback and various other noises
wich weren't edited out, giving it a raw, gritty edge. It seems to have left off
where their 'S/T' ended and not so much like the tracks on their ealier
releases. Huge things are coming from this band. Keep an ear to the ground.
One of the best bands going in Australia at the moment, Shackles have big things to come. Download link includes their S/T and Disposed Of.
Released through Rise Records the Make Do And Mend / The Flatliners Split 7" is some of the two bands' best material to date. Make Do And Mend's side (A) is two tracks ('Don't' and 'Tell Me'), one is an all out punk anthem, the other a slower, softer, melodic track. The two are very different, but very good in there own ways. The Flatliners (Side B) is 5 minutes of what they do best. Play catchy, ska-punk rock. 'Daggers' is the edgier out of the two, but they're both decent tracks. On the whole, the split is fairly impressive, but is only a teaser for the two bands who both have records either out relatively recently, or out soon.
Make Do And Mend's side is much better, but I really enjoyed this split.
7.5/10
Misery Signals have been a little quiet for the past few years. After not having put out an album for around five years, Absent Light is the result of nearly two years of writing/rehearsals. There is no denying that a lot of effort has been put into writing this record. The intricate guitar/drum work, time signature and tempo changes can be a little hard to keep up with but 'djent' fans will no doubt love the record. Songs to look out for would be 'Shadows and Depth', 'Luminary' and 'Departure', they just about sum up the technicality and ferocity of the album. Misery Signals fans won’t be disappointed with Absent Light and with them signing recently to UNFD I’m sure we'll be seeing them in Australia soon. Although writing all that for Rest Assured I highly disliked this record. The time signature changes and generic breakdowns/sections at every corner had me yawning. Fans of new Architects, Northlane and 'djent' people will like this though.
After a few demos and jam tapes, Brisbane's Sick People have finally released this much awaited 7''. From track one this record hits hard. Very hard. With their old school hardcore ethics and songs on this 7'', Sick People could very well shape the future of the Australian hardcore scene. 'BOTM' was previously featured on the 'Split Scene Compilation' and speaks of bringing back that old school sound and getting rid of some of the bullshit circling the scene at the moment. You know what bands they're talking about and you know they're in it for all the wrong reasons. The 7'' is available for free on their Bandcamp page, you'd be a fool not to download it. Help put AHC 'Back On The Map'. Top quality 7'', one of the best Hardcore releases this year. 9/10 Video: Sick People Dirty Dawgs 2k12 (Live clips)
Buy and Download here: http://sickpeople-ahc.bandcamp.com/album/fakes-rule-7 Promo Tape and all Demos available for free there as well.
Brutality. Sheer goddamn brutality. Harms Way's 'Isolation' is 8 tracks of heavy, messy down tempo hardcore released through Deathwish. Describing this band is a little hard. They're basically a cluster fuck of angry men playing the messiest, heaviest music that can be considered hardcore today. The singer is literally infectious to shirts. When you have a build like his why wear them I guess?
The album itself is just a mass of feedback smashing bass and distorted vocals. Usually this would turn out to be a terrible band/record but Harms Way somehow manage to keep you interested throughout the whole album. Although the effects on the mic could go and the bass could have been mixed down, the raw sound kinda suits the band. The drums definitely should have been recorded a little clearer, it would help keep the album together.
Songs like the title track ('Isolation') and the opener, ''Scrambled', really give a great example of the album and the bands sound. Especially on the opener ('Scrambled') that low tuned bass is irresistible not to get into. The off tone, low tuned guitars really reinforcing that punishing heavy sound.
A terrifying, crunching record that wont appeal to all, but to those who do like it understand the raw, angry sound Harms Way are striving for.
Released on Record Day 2013 this split was put out through Deathwish Records. The split consists of two cover tracks, Touche Amore covering Title Fights 'Crescent Shaped Depression' (From the album 'Shed') and Tile Fight covering Touche Amore's 'Face Ghost' (From the album 'Parting the Sea Between Brightness And Me').
With both bands having a similar sound it was much anticipated this would be an incredible release. Although, it doesn't quite work. Both songs are so incredible originally,
so topping that was always going to be hard. It just, doesn't work. Not saying the tracks are terrible, but they just 'don't work'. Touche's TF cover is the worse of the two. Frontman Jeremy just doesn't live up to Jamie's original vocals on the track. The same goes for Title Fights TA cover, Ned doesn't quite pull off Jeremy's vocals.
The covers are supposed to be a spin on the original of course but they just cant live up to standard set. A good idea, in theory, but not what was expected.
6.5/10
Video: Title Fight - Face Ghost (Touche Amore Cover)
Defeaters 3rd full-length album, 'Letters Home', is a new addition to the Defeater discography and a new story. The album, as always, is a story set around wartime America. Their second release via Bridge 9 Records (Travels was re-released after initial pressing via Topshelf), Letters Home lives up to the phenomenally high standards set by 2011's 'Empty Days & Sleepless Nights'.
The sound of the album is very similar to that of previous albums but they seemed to have mellowed down a little on many of the tracks, extending the instrumental sections, which in my opinion improve the album from gritty melodic hardcore to something more. Not to say they've lost their edge at all. Songs like 'Hopeless Again', 'Blood in My Eyes' and opener "Bastards' show this. Its tracks like 'No Shame' and the last four tracks (especially 'Bled Out') that show the 'mellower' more emotional side to them.
The guitars, as always, are so incredibly balanced between that aggressive hardcore sound and melodic, slower, clean tone parts. The contrast and 'start/stops' between sections just works in that classic Defeater way. The drums are just smashed to oblivion and the quick fills slot perfectly in time. Frontman Dereks vocals seemed to have changed a little whether its a differentiation in his voice or the recording of the album but the change keeps it fresh. The vocals in songs like 'Bastard' and 'Bled Out' are so strong and 'powerful', which as always makes you wonder whether some of his own personality seeps through into the lyric writing process ("And all I see is the bastard in me").
Until you get your hands on a copy of the album I doubt the full story can be completely grasped but from what everyone is saying, the story is of a Veteran Father who's 'brother' is at war and keeps sending 'Letters Home'. "John' battles depression, the loss of a 'brother' (grievance) and is an obvious alcoholic.
The last song 'Bled Out', just like 'White Oak Doors', ends the album in a 6 minutes epic finale. Along with 'Bastards' these are the blatantly obvious stand out tracks on the album.
A top quality Defeater album which has more than lived up to the high standards set previous.
8.5/10
Forming in 2009, Basements EP, Songs About The Weather (2010), is their first properly recorded release (a Demo was released previously in 2009). The 6-track EP was released on various coloured viynl and limited releases on cassette tape via independent label, City of Gold Records.
The themes explored are very typical to Basement and other bands in the 'Emo Hardcore' genre, alot of the songs being about love, leaving home and personal struggles with life. 'White Elephant', the last track on the EP, is a song Andrew (frontman) wrote about a personal experience with a girl he loved ("Remember when we went to the city? You held my hand as we got off the train....Everything you told me was a lie, something to make me feel better inside").
The tracks themselves are all relatively short, sticking to 2 to 2 and a half minute long songs with no prominent choruses but there are very catchy hooks. Unlike their two other album (I Wish I Could Stay Here and Colourmeinkindness both out via Run For Cover Records) the tracks are very fast (fast for the genre) similar to their 'Grunge' influences. The guitars compliment each other very well in classic Basement style. Often a melodic riff is placed over a simple powerchord progression and the album is best listened to with both headphones to hear both guitar parts compliment each other.
The songs that really stand out are '1104 Porter Street', 'White Elephant' and 'Skip Town', but all tracks are easy and enjoyable to listen to. There isnt a dipping point in the EP, its all killer, no filler.
9/10
Video: Basement - Skip Town/1104 Porter Street/ Spoiled Live (Last American Tour)
Buy: http://basement.bandcamp.com/album/songs-about-the-weather
(Hard copies sold out (Long ago))
In 2011 via Holy Roar Records, Brutality Will Prevails 'Sleep Paralysis' EP is the best Doom/Sludge infused Down-tempo Hardcore recording out. Hailing from Wales, BWP formed in 2006 and have since released 3 full-length LP's, 'Forgotten Soul' (2006), 'Root Of All Evil' (2010) and 'Scatter the Ashes' in (2013), conquering the UK and Europe playing shows and festivals like; Outbreak Fest, Download, Ghost Fest, Leperfest. etc etc
'Sleep Paralysis' is 18 minutes of the hardest, 'doomiest' tracks the band has recorded till today. The off-tone guitars and hard-hit drums make the EP sound so gritty and angry. The intro the 'Heavy Eyes' is a prime example of this, when the guitar finally kicks in its nigh on impossible not to get into the slow hard tempo beat.
Another great thing done throughout the EP is the contrast between the heavy chugging riffs and the clean/off-tone guitar interludes. In 'Heavy Eyes' the guitars trail off into an interlude, midway through the song, and when it comes back in it hits like thunder, the Doom/Sludge influences ringing stronger than ever.
The title track, 'Sleep Paralysis', is a slow, creepy very 'metal' instrumental with excerpts of phone calls complaining of experiencing ''sleep paralysis'' (a state of dreaming where you're conscious yet unable to move). The excepted phone calls talk of seeing "A shadow...of and old woman...with grey hair''. Even further through the track, there is a girl screaming and what sounds like the girl from 'The Exorcist' shrieking. The whole 8 minutes achieves 'scaring' or making the listener feel uncomfortable and on anyones first listen (especially if alone) it can come as a shock.
The heavier guitar parts, like the start off 'Heavy Eyes' and the end of 'Cursed', really stand out and come alive live, the crowds reaction from 'Metalheads' to 'Hardcore kids' and everything in between is incredible.
The EP really gets you worked up, its aggression a contagious temporary infection. It can be hard to listen to for first time BWP listeners, but once you break through the barrier, there is no return from the addiction.
9/10
Video: Brutality Will Prevail Live Outbreak Fest (Euro Edition)
Post-Punk influenced '90's Grunge' band Sonic Youths album 'Goo' was released in 1990 via DGC Records, the first release through a major record label and yet their 6th studio album. At the time its rating on the 'Billboards' were very average, peaking at 96th on the top 200 in the States, yet at the time it was an important album for the scene, along with releases including;
Nirvana - Nevermind
Soundgarden - Badmotorfinger
Alice In Chains - Facelift (Debut)
The album its self consists of 11 songs and they're all different in there own way, songs like ''Tunic (Song for Karen)'' are slow and have more of a spoken word feel to the vocals with the guitars slurred in that ''typical grunge sound''.''Scooter + Jinx'' is just feedback and guitar noises for 1:05, unlike the singles "Kool Thing'' and ''Dirty Boots'', that have edgy 'power chord' guitar riffs and catchy hooks.
Live, SY (at the time) played the songs aggressively with their feedback ringing louder than on the album, almost like bands from the Hardcore/Punk uprising, their attitude helping to shape grunge and 90's alt rock.
The album itself is very dull at points, yet interesting to listen to in a way that is hard to put into words. Although it is definitely an album to listen to late at night or on the road, by yourself to really immersed yourself into that whole other world, where nothing but music matters.
San Diego Surf Rock band, Wavves formed in 2008 and via Fat Possum Records in 2010 released there 3rd album 'King Of The Beach'. With success in touring and playing a festivals like SXSW and Lollapalooza. This year on July 26th, Wavves, are playing at Splendour In the Grass (Sold Out) in Australia so if you have a ticket be sure to see them.
The album is generally a classic summer beach time album but it has its sombre moments. Songs like 'Mickey Mouse' really differ from songs like the title track, 'King Of The Beach', but it creates a nice contrast throughout it. The tracks that stand out are, 'Super Soaker', 'Idiot' and 'Post-Acid' all nice and upbeat with simple positive messages.
The guitar tone is really good but if the guitar were to be turned up a little and made clearer in the studio (even if they were going for a rawer, grittier, 'grunge' sound) it would be just that little bit easier to listen to. The melodies/twin vocals work well but again the drums need to be toned down a bit so the bass is more prominent, especially as they are a 3-piece.
A fun, positive, 'hanging out with friends' record that puts a smile on your face. Every listen.
8/10
Video: Wavves - King Of The Beach (Official Video)
After the release of the EP 'The Sun Has Set' in 2009, and signing to Dead Soul Records, in 2011, Iron Mind released the Hell Split Wide Open LP. The Melbourne based band have toured with some of the biggest and best names in hardcore (Terror, Backtrack, Cruel Hand ect) and played festivals like Break The Ice Fest, Iron Mind are on there way to becoming a name that will go down in Australian hardcore history.
Hell Split Wide Open is an all killer no filler album and has you hooked right from the start. Songs like "Look Into My Eye', 'The Calm and The Storm' and 'Nail Becomes The Hammer' stand out with catchy hooks and side to sides everywhere you turn. The guitar tone, drums and vocals are perfectly balanced and recorded, and the intense riffs come on after the other till the albums end.
Some of the themes explored throughout the album are the struggles of a man, growing up and realising the world isn't what were told and front man, Sam's issues with controlling his anger.
Live is when the songs really come alive and it's well received, judging by the audiences response.
An incredible album that will be stuck in your head for hours after listening.
8.5/10
Video: Iron Mind live, The Iron Mind (The Sun Has Set EP) and Guilt (Hell Split Wide Open)\
'Pendulum Swings' is Expire's debut album and was released in 2012 through Bridge Nine Records.
The band hailing from Midwest, America, has been successful very quickly after releasing only a Demo in 2009 and a 7'' in 2010 and playing festivals including; Sound and Fury, This is Hardcore and Rain Fest all without a full length record.
After signing to B9 Records in 2012, with a half written LP they toured internationally playing in Europe with co-label Foundation.
With the LP, Pendulum Swings, released Expire continued to tour relentlessly through 2012 even passing through Australia early 2013.
From start to finish this record is near perfect. The mix of aggression and emotional release is well balanced and works well live. Songs like, 'Just Fine', 'Spit Out' and 'Bark' really stand out with catchy riffs, beats and vocal hooks.
There is no dipping point in the album and is easy to listen to from Track 1 the whole way through.
9/10
