DiSvsMatt has written the following articles:
They’re formed from the ashes of the much-respected 88 Fingers Louie and All Else Fails, amongst other local Chicago bands, but unfortunately Break The Silence come off as nothing but a blurry echo of the current tribe of derivative modern-day emo-hardcore bands standing perilously over the fast-eroding cliff of commercialism.»
'Calendar Days’ is a soppy, pillow-hugging, clearasil-nurturing, Dawson’s Creek-worshipping album of “positive, uplifting” songs about “realising your mistakes and moving on in life” for lonely adolescent young girls. Please excuse me while I retch over this irritating piece of filth.»
Live, Avenged Sevenfold are huge and expansive, with songs that manage to clasp at every thread of emotion in your body. But tonight, I’m afraid, these Californian goth-metal superstars were upstaged by bunch of snarling zombie troopers from Leeds.»
Those well-schooled in the world of straight-up hardcore à la Sick of it All will be only too familiar with this raging HC style and it seems Give Up The Ghost are pulling no punches when it comes to where they’re channelling their rage.»
An album bursting with a natural melodic punk songwriting, brimming with powerfully anthemic, riff-heavy tunes fuelled with the jittery urgency of The Dickies and enhanced by the radiant, perfectly-placed harmonies of The Wildhearts and Less Than Jake 'Bottom of The Learning Curve' is one huge slap round the face!»
Feverishly holding my glass of hot water & whisky I huddle into a corner as Ishak gently plucks at his guitar, his distinguished vocals soaring up to those seated in the balcony, his voice tense with passion, with true feeling. These are his first UK acoustic shows, yet while he occupies the stage you sense you’re in the presence of a legend in waiting, a cult hero exuding a simplistic modesty, a carefree aura, his heart beaming through a wide, soft-eyed smile.»
While the pop-punk flusters of their Epitaph brethren seem to be the highbrow critic’s choice of poison, Minneapolis-based Motion City Soundtrack are a band taking a different slant to the whole pop-rock shebang. DiS catches up with them backstage at the Astoria following their strenuous live workout supporting the All-American Rejects.»
Taking their collective cues from the likes of Girls Against Boys and Hot Snakes, Eighty Six carve out a delicious sound that harks back to the rough-hewned melodies of those great mid-‘90s melodic punk bands.»
Coming straight outta Orlando Florida Reno Divorce specialise in solid hook-ridden punk rock that’ll see fans of Social Distortion’s roots-based punk ‘n’ roll giving it a welcome home.»
Originally released on their own White Drugs label in the states and produced by Gilby Clarke of Guns ‘n’ Roses at his LA home studio The Bronx’ self-titled debut is a raucous, blood-pumpin’ maelstrom of super-charged riffs, out-of-control shrieks and cool hip-swinging licks with influence rooted in the brash high-energy grooves of old tour-buddies Rocket From The Crypt.»
Hailing from the "land of viking metal with swords, dragons and fairy tails" Finland's Velcra represent a full-on rebellion against their country's prime musical export, brandishing an intoxicating blend of riff-heavy aggression, industrial grooves and a commanding self-possessed frontwoman unafraid to speak her mind. Ladies and gentlemen we bring you the first true NEW-metal band.»
To be painfully honest with you I wasn’t here to see McClusky tonight, and I wasn’t here to see The Fall headline possibly the smallest venue of their 60-year career. Yes, the air is bristling with excitement at such a rare, intimate ho-down with the crazed mentalcase legend that is Mark E. Smith but to be honest, I’m more excited about tonight’s opening band.»
Resurrecting a time when punk rock was still dangerous and politically minded, and coinciding with their 25th Anniversary Manifesto have re-released, re-mastered and re-booted a bunch of their albums, of which we have the following for review.»
Bristling with dark, contemplative evocations, painful shrieks and crescendos of beautiful, but still quite unsettling bass and vocal harmonies this is leftfield sludge-rock at it's most disturbing.»
It takes a fierce dedication and a real creative flair to gain the approval of old metal-core scenesters in these days of bland-core plagiarists. But Canada’s Jude The Obscure just might have what it takes.»
While revved-up numbers like ‘Da Hui’ and ‘Never Gonna Find Me’ gallop along at a furious pace with Dexter’s highly-strung vocals delivered with the discipline of a metronome in over-drive, they seem like fillers in an album peppered with those ‘wacky’ little moments we’ve come to loathe from this band. Throw-away pop-rock? I'm afraid so.»
More in tune with the angular melodies of 'The Argument'-era Fugazi than the crazy spaghetti strums of The Blood Brothers, Seven Feet Four surf through waves of jagged off-the-hook rhythms that somehow remain in sync while a well of catchy melodies lurk underneath.»
Intense, unrelenting and laden with the kind of uncontrollable runaway riffwork that continually batters you into a near-unconscious state through a web of scorching death metal malevolence: Anata are a truly frightening prospect.»
Drowned In Sound invites you to our second DiScore (Hardcore/eMocore/Somethingcore/Nothingcore) night upstairs at The Garage this Tuesday, featuring: Appease, The Killerest Expression, and Anonymous Tip.»
Due to Islington Bar Academy needing to soundproof their venue we've had to move our show across the road to the wonderful Electrowerkz venue (just behind Angel tube station). Here's a reminder of the details.»
Having spent the past six years since their inception ripening their ear-pricking garage-rock formula Dutch quintet Oil finally appear to have evolved into a band capable of reclaiming the territory stolen by the more commercial NME-hugging, designer-barnetted vagabonds currently polluting the garage waters.»
Ok so this wasn’t strictly a Melvins show. Providing the soundtrack to a trilogy of short films by acclaimed artist and film-maker Cameron Jamie this was less a Melvins performance than a unique, intimate screening of Jamie’s work, brought to life thanks to the Melvins’ dark glowering presence.»
Breezing onto Big Dada with their debut EP South London’s Lotek Hi-Fi create a beat-pumping haze of reggae-laced hip-hop and weed-induced effects, redeveloping the urban music landscape through both a reflection of underground styles and a seamless incorporation of modest fresh beats and samples.»
Compiling their first self-released 7” and two tracks from their split with Japan’s I Excuse this 6-track EP showcases a pre-BYO Manifesto Jukebox delivering a rampant, run through some pretty unimpressive Finnish punk rock.»
It was clear from the start that this was to be no ordinary gig. Of course, anyone au fait with scratching turntablist extraordinaire Kid Koala will have at least some idea of his eccentric Scruff-like character, but when you’re handed a bingo card and crayon upon entering the venue this evening you just know you’re in for a fun night.»
Ensuring they’re not subject to any lazy pigeon-holing any time soon Circle. create a soulful rock ‘n’ roll hybrid of experimental aggressive hardcore, post-punk and a cool song-writing intelligence»
Scathing female-fronted hardcore-punk in tune with the youth crew acts of the late nineties.»
Fronted by the blonde-haired Jessi - a girl whose sassy stage persona comes off like Pink trapped in the body of Aimmee Echo - Finland’s Velcra are metal’s best kept secret. Fusing savage razor-sharp riffs with head-thumping dance beats their intense, riotous eclecticism showcases a band not so much pushing the envelope as posting it to another galaxy!»
Drowned In Sound and Last Band Standing present for your listening and dancing pleasure the first in a series of monthly live music nights focussing on louder, faster, crazier, more chaotic music than anything we’ve brought you before. The night is called ‘CORE’ and, as the name suggests, aims to bring you the very best in hardcore and its many sub-genres (emo-core, metal-core, extremo-core… you get the idea!).»
At first listen Between The Buried And Me sound like your typical death metal band: a torrent of unrelenting sonic depravity and bile-gargling grunts. Which is, essentially what they are. Just be prepared for a few surprises along the way!»
