Monday, October 5th, 2009

Insubordination Records

These pop punkers from California have been at it for a few years now and previously put out some amazing songs, with some pretty entertaining lyrics, mostly all about girls and horror movies. Songs such as “Evil Dead” and “Christina Ricci” (which is also on this album) were undeniably catchy and entertaining. In a sub genre filled with tons of bands ripping off Screeching Weasel and the Ramones, this is a hard thing to actually be GOOD at. These guys seem to have it down, the Screeching Weaselesque guitar sound, very unique vocals, and lyrics that make you think singer/bassist Eric must have suffered some tremendous heartache. If you liked what Teenage Bottlerocket came up with, check these guys out, they will be the next big thing.
-Chuck Wurley

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Wednesday, August 19th, 2009

New Romance for Kids Records

A powerhouse of an album has landed from this driving force from Montreal. I’m finding it very hard to draw comparisons to any existing band. If Steve Harris [yes, Iron Maiden's own] moved to Montreal and started eating poutine and joined Corrosion of Conformity I’d imagine it would sound a lot like this. Heavily driven by the art of the riff – the fuzzed out guitars take center stage throughout the nine tracks. Vocalist K. Keaglesmith Commands attention on the microphone Clever track titles including “Beer Today, Bong Tomorrow”, but this band is no joke. It hasn’t left my constant rotation for weeks, and I presume it is there to stay.
-Pauly HC

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Wednesday, August 19th, 2009

Nuclear Blast

The god of the Moabites have released their seven full length,created in 1993 by Helmuth (vocal and guitar) and formerly known as Betrayer, the Austrian Belphegor lyrical themes has always been sadism,blasphemy,and Satan of course. Their music could be best described as blackened death metal with ritual chantings,tremolo picking and blast beats, Bondage Goat Zombie is no different beast that the trademark this band is famous for with a strong emphasis on the Marquis de sade this time. Belphegor are mainly famous for their live incantations,superior guitar playing and satanic devotions. The new world will rise once for all.
-Lolo

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Wednesday, August 19th, 2009

Independent

This album is fast punk rock that borders on a metal tip at times, with vocals that do the same, accordingly. The guitars are doing more than just the punk thing with badass riffs that scream like bad children, all the while backed by a hard-hitting rhythm section. It’s pretty much a shred fest. From technical punk to heavy breakdowns, throw in a few melodies, a few solos and everyone’s happy. “Pump & Tap” is the type of song that will have you knockin’ ‘em down and waking up on the bathroom floor. “Ewe Girls” is about straddling a monster in the dark after drinking your good eye closed, hilarious lyrics. But not all the songs are jokingly fun with “I hate your Fucking President” and “The Bottom Line” expressing more major issues like problems with the world. The bottom line here is that this is hair farmin’ punk from Banff, what more could your summer need?
-Denis Maile

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Wednesday, August 19th, 2009

Independent

Wasn’t sure what to expect from the looks of this CD, it’s plain, simple, no fuss, a name I had heard several times but have not had the chance to see live yet, so the surprise was mine. It’s southern hard rock without the south, straight-up rock and roll with a metal edge. Its grungy, but showy, super charged, and a good to listen to while you are outback knocking back the cold ones this summer. The vocals of Vaahgner remind me of the grunge days, it’s just yelling, but it works. There are glimmers where I’m reminded of Speedealer, or even Nashville pussy minus the sex, or Church Of Misery minus the southern sludge, or even S.T.R.E.E.T.S minus sk8.
-Demonika

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Wednesday, August 19th, 2009

Rebel Time Records

An apt title for this album from these Newfoundland Punks. Poignant & personal songs set to the tone of straight forward, no frills punk rock. Sounds from the streets that make you want to get up and throw a molotov cocktail at city hall while waving a pride flag & putting a brick through the nearest starbucks. Chock full of sing-along chorus’ and catchy riffs, it is sure to please anyone who digs bands like the Rebel Spell, Broadcast Zero & the plethora of other bands appealing to those with kindred spirits and full of angst.
-Pauly HC

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Wednesday, August 19th, 2009

Wasted Breath Records

Hollywood Swank formed in Toronto in 2005, but you would never guess it. Combining influences from both British and American punk from the 70s and 80s, along with late 80s LA glam; this is punk rock and roll in a damn fine fashion. Angry, loud, and fast, but mostly loud. This band seems to be all about calling it as they see it. Lyrically they seem to concentrate on two things, people they don’t like and drugs, which seem to rule their lives, but they don’t seem to like those either. So let’s just say, they don’t seem to really like people, and may or may not have substance abuse problems. Sounds pretty punk rock right? Throw in some really good glam rock licks, and call it done! I am particularly stoked on the tracks, “Sin City”, and “California Suicide”, but honestly all the songs rip equally!
-Chuck Wurley

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Wednesday, August 19th, 2009

Project Records

Jesse Lebourdais is the vocalist/guitarist of Vancouver punk band Cambridge, but on this solo outing has unplugged his guitar. After writing five originals Jesse found a database of old public domain songs that were free for the taking and re-working. He did just this with five more, pieced all ten together seamlessly and created quite a diamond in the rough. Albums like this usually have me craving some drums, but you don’t miss them at all on this go around as an array of cool instruments and sounds are featured. Most of the old tunes have a folky bluegrass feel, while his new ones range from punky all the way to the reggae tinged “Four Doors of Freedom” completed with a great piano line. Other memorable tracks are the summer anthem “Hella Tight” and the Johnny Cash-esque “John Hardy”. There is a lot of feeling evoked from these songs and even as mainly a punk fan, everybody needs to turn it down once in a while to chill out, smoke a fatty and reflect upon times of yore and times of fore.
-Denis Maile

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Wednesday, August 19th, 2009

Synthetic Sounds

At this point, one has to wonder if the late 20 somethings of the Western Hemisphere have found something new to quench their thirst as far as music goes. This is a generation who found solace in the remaining scraps of the punk rock rebellion and more importantly, the post-punk movement. We devoured Jawbreaker, Quicksand, Helmet, Seaweed and so on. For those with a heavier ear, there was Saetia, Refused, Swing Kids, Botch, Even when Falling Forward became Elliot, we embraced it. Ditto when Strongarm became Further Seems Forever, Sunny Day Real Estate became, well, Sunny Day Real Estate and for crying out loud when Minor Threat went onto Embrace and on to Fugazi. The point is, we accepted it. We held onto it because these bands and sounds defined our generation.

It was our teenage angst and it was ours. The scene seniors 10 or 15 years ahead of us could brag about experiencing punk when it was in full bloom. Fuck them. We had the 90’s, and damn it if there wasn’t a lot to be pissed off about at the time. So whatever happened to these guys? Does anyone know?

Enter Vancouver’s Last Plague. This quintet harnesses the energy and creativity of that generation lost and melds it with a new tint that fantastically captures what’s happening in music in the modern day. The riffs are solid. They’re dangerous and relentless, sometimes taking a foundation on simply cacophony and dissonance. The rhythm section is frighteningly precise while still managing to experiment with odd time signatures that makes one wonder if these guys had classical training. Vocally, it’s an exorcism. It reminds you of better days when hardcore wasn’t about a stupid haircut and how many tattoos you had on your neck. This is the real shit. This is the soundtrack for the people who breastfed the genre and felt abandoned by it. This isn’t so much a collection of songs as it is a reclamation. This isn’t a piece of nostalgia, this is proof that good music still exists.
-Mark Sommer

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Wednesday, August 19th, 2009

Earache Records

The follow up to The art of Partying somewhat picks up where they left off, although it seems that they have taken a more serious approach to their Hybrid Thrash/Metal & incorporated some of their punk rock roots into the mix this time around. Divine blasphemer comes out blazing in typical MW fashion & the title track is almost a throwback to late 90’s hardcore while melding thrash elements within the song structure. The rest of the songs follow the script that they have mapped out with their toxic pen. The pace is unrelenting for the most part and they rip through 13 tracks in just over 28 minutes. Thrash revival is still going strong and Municipal Waste are the harbingers.
-Pauly HC

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