Reviews of the latest punk/hardcore/screamo/emo CDs in 50 words or less from Chad Bowar.
Scoring
95-100: One of the best albums of the year (A+)
90-94: A (excellent)
80-89: B (good)
70-79: C (average)
60-69: D (disappointing or below average)
59 and below: F (sucks!)
If you have a CD you'd like reviewed on this site, contact the editor.
With their debut album Philadelphia's Valencia are poised for big things. The pop-punk band has a gift for writing songs that are the musical equivalent of crack. One listen and you're addicted. Their songs are packed with nonstop hooks, crunchy guitars and memorable choruses that stay in your head for days.
posted by Chad Bowar @ 1:30 PM
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With Honor has a different approach than many hardcore and punk bands. They combine old school hardcore punk with melodic singing and optimistic lyrics (posicore). There are still plenty of hardcore style vocals and shoutalong choruses, but the melodic singing adds another dimension to their sound.
posted by Chad Bowar @ 7:16 PM
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The Colorado six piece's debut full-length was produced by Thursday frontman Geoff Rickly. It's catchy punk rock with emo and alt rock influences. Mike Herrera has a unique raspy sounding voice, and there are some excellent harmonies and fun shout-along choruses. This is a rousing and emotional debut CD.
posted by Chad Bowar @ 6:38 PM
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This is the soundtrack to the Showtime TV series of the same name, a 2 disc set of new and unreleased material from punk, hardcore, rock and metal artists. Some of the names you'll recognize include Funeral For A Friend, Thursday, Avenged Sevenfold and The Bled. A highlight is It Dies Today's version of the Depeche Mode song "Enjoy The Silence."
posted by Chad Bowar @ 2:31 PM
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The debut EP from New Jersey's The Fire Still Burns is an impressive one. It's aggressive punk rock that is still really melodic. They have elements of old school punk while still having strong musicianship. The choruses make you want to sing along while the music makes you want to mosh.
posted by Chad Bowar @ 2:23 PM
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This is a re-release of the Danish psychobilly band's 1992 album Back To Life. Uptempo punk influenced rockabilly combines with creepy lyrics straight out of cheesy horror movies. Nekromantix's music is dark, but very catchy and tongue in cheek. It's a perfect Halloween CD, both scary and fun.
posted by Chad Bowar @ 4:47 PM
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Originally a limited edition, Live at CBGB's has been re-released. Kill Your Idols are a New York hardcore punk band influenced by groups like Minor Threat, Bad Religion and 7 Seconds. This recording of a 2000 concert captures the raw passion, melody and aggression of the band's live shows.
posted by Chad Bowar @ 12:03 PM
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If you missed Plow United in the mid '90s, the Delaware punk band's catalog is being re-released. Narcolepsy was the trio's final album, a mixture of punk and thrash that could be compared to groups like Rancid or Jawbreaker. It's a quality release and a worthy addition for punk historians.
posted by Chad Bowar @ 11:47 AM
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Just because a band gets more melodic doesn't mean they are "selling out." What's wrong with a catchy chorus? On Stretch Arm Strong's latest effort they have plenty of hardcore elements, but ratchet up the pop punk hooks and melodic vocals. Their combination of lyrical sincerity and musical melody is an appealing one.
posted by Chad Bowar @ 2:53 PM
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Grace Gale is a band with a sense of humor. Their music is hardcore with some metal and rock influences. The vocals are a little more screechy than your usual hardcore screams, and you'll hear melodic vocals here and there. It's their funny lyrics and great song titles like "Part Time Gravedigger, Full Time Scumbag" that set them apart.
posted by Chad Bowar @ 2:33 PM
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Ten years into their career Hoods have released one of their best albums. It's old school hardcore packed with intensity, angry vocals, chunky riffs and breakdowns. They also add enough polish and metal elements to appeal to metalcore fans without alienating their original hardcore fan base.
posted by Chad Bowar @ 9:37 AM
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Bowar is a freelance music writer and the heavy metal editor for About.com, a New York Times company. He has written for Outburn, Amp, Loud Fast Rules, Caustic Truths, Snaggletooth, Explicity Intense and many other print and online publications.
