Heir to the Throne is the initial track on the Our Summer EP, and it provides a solid blend of alt-rock with punk and hard rock. Hints of Yellowcard can be heard alongside Unwritten Law, while there is an instrumental intensity present that makes this introductory salvo a must-listen. The band is able to foster momentum that will keep listeners focused in through all 6 tracks of this release. Carnivale…
Summer Wind Descendent is a laid-back track that will immediately draw listeners in through coy instrumentation and captivating female vocals. As the track spins, Flowerglass is able to add and otherwise bolster their sound into something incredibly dense. As listeners continue to listen to the track, more about the band comes into focus. It Takes A Dream To Kill A Dream establishes a down-home and cozy feel to this part…
Tomko / Marsh is an act that work together at all points during their CD, ensuring that each distinct part of the title pushes all others to a higher plateau. The titular track provides listeners with a solid education about the band’s influences, overall styles, and with a roadmap for how the title will ultimately lay out. Listeners that are fans of a wide array of styles will find something…
“She Comes To Me (So Easily)” is the first single off of Ray Tarantino’s self-titled 2012 disc. The track is incredibly smooth and polished, but the resulting effort is not distant. Tarantino’s lyrics will transform listeners, while the track’s instrumentation will have them absolutely amazed. Futureblind is a track that puts the musical side of things to the fore. While the human / vocal component does not slack, I…
Blue Skies is the first track on Love & Colour, and it provides listeners with groundwork for how the title will ultimately play out. Derek Stroker creates in Blue Skies a track that speaks directly to listeners; the unity between guitar and vocals pushes each to greater heights. The different genres that are broached during this introductory track (rock, soul, and even a little funk) unite to create a wholly…
“Anonymous” starts off a pretty catchy CD, where there are middle-of-the-way guitar lines with Jimmy Eat World and “Sing the Silence”-era AFI style vocals. Sleep Comes Down is actually not afraid to let the bassist take the spotlight, in that there are audible bass lines that sound not unlike the legendary Geddy Lee’s. While some of the guitar lines do not stray much from one style, one level of…
The Daydreamers are an act that attempt to forge their own bold path in music. With Your Love is their new effort, and each of the efforts on this release are integral for understanding the act. Antarctica starts off things; the pop meets rock sound of the track allows listeners to get on board. As listeners become familiar with the work of The Daydreamers, the act’s efforts begin to stretch…
The opening of Sleepaway’s self-titled album may not be the most hard-rocking thing individuals have ever heard, but the one thing that is pure delight is the skill in which they construct a track. The dreamy vocals mix with a tambourine and a very-present bass to make something that works both in the current emo context but also in a mid-nineties alternative context. The band works best in this…
“Take a deep breath ’cause it all starts now when you pull the fuckin’ pin.” The opening line of Slayer’s new record Christ Illusion let you know that they haven’t lost any of their intensity some 25 years after first forming. Slayer’s first album since 2001’s God Hates Us All, and also first album with original drummer Dave Lombardo since 1990’s Seasons in the Abyss, shows that Slayer is…
New-rock in the form of The Strokes and The Hives that does not use clichéd guitar lines and arrangements lifted off the Rolling Stones to maintain relevancy, The Slats seem honest and hard working. They are able to create compelling, well-arranged and well-mastered tracks that do not seem insincere in the least. For example, “The Diabetic Coma” simultaneously mixes The Ramones and Weezer, allowing for a seamless move through genres.…
