Fringe Candidate-Fringe Candidate

Self-Release/Independent
2017

Fringe Candidate is a hardcore punk band from Akron, Ohio. The group is fronted by Karl Vorndran and this self-titled release looks to be the band's studio debut. It came out in late December of 2017. Recorded by the band's own bassist (Jamie Stillman) at Historic EarthQuaker Devices, "Fringe Candidate" is a vicious collection of (street-legit) hardcore punk with great song titles like "The Boy Who Cried Hitler", "Buy Your Way To The Top", and "At Each Other's Throats". Joe Dennis (guitar) and Josh Leskanic (drums) round things out for this loud & lethal (and decidedly snotty like all great punk acts) group that is like a caged animal just waiting to attack it's prey!At a mere five dollars, Fringe Candidate's self-titled album is a must-have for fans of down & dirty/bloody-knuckle hardcore punk!!

The Giggitys-Songs In the Key Of Awesome

Loserheart Records
2014

For as far-back as anyone can recall (we're talking about the swinging-seventies at the very least kids) Cleveland and Akron have been involved in a ménage à trois with punk rock. As a matter of fact my home-state the of Ohio as a whole can lay claim to such legendary artists as Devo, The Dead Boys, The Cramps, Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders, Rocket From The Tombs, Pere Ubu and electric eels. And that's just to touch upon a  few of the more recognized names to come riff rocking out of our ever-expanding scene! If you really want to see how deep down Ohio's punk rock roots go you should over to the following link (http://www.clepunk.com/bands.htm), but that's after we get done talking about punk rock's new darlings The Giggitys! Formed out of the blood and guts of legendary Akron, Ohio punk band The Nimrods, with Ric Nimrod himself handling vocals and guitars(!), this cleverly-titled band takes it's name from Family Guy character Glenn Quagmire's catch-phrase while their sound is old-school punk rock 101! Prior to this fun full-length album the band released a demo version of the pop-punk instant classic "Balls Deep In Love With You", but it's actually the Ramones-tinged "Not With You (Winter Moon)" that gleefully opens The Giggitys debut offering! But it's not just The Ramones that The Giggitys pay homage to on this ten-track album. Everyone from All to Zero Boys gets a subtle shout-out with "Songs In The Key Of Awesome" carrying on much of the same joyous racket as these top-tier punk bands once did! Fuzzed-out craziness is on full display with "Goodbye Cruel Girl" as is classic, mid-eighties melodic punk while "15 minutes" is the uglier side of yesteryear's crusty punk scene! Through-out the album the band effectively utilities background chants as easily as buzz-saw guitars with "Talk To The Hand" finding that sweet common ground between The Ramones and Sloppy Seconds! "Don't Think" is gnarly L.A. punk while "Take Control" has New York City written all over it! Craving punk that's a little snotty? How about taking "She's Gone" for a ride? This short and sweet number channels The Misfits just as easier as a few other songs here on "Songs In the Key Of Awesome" echo the likes of 7 Seconds and Fear! And speaking of snotty numbers do you remember that pop-punk instant classic "Balls Deep In Love With You" we were just chatting about? Yeah? Well here it is in it's glorious LP version and it's a total kick in the ass my friends! "Balls Deep In Love With You" (along with "Not With You (Winter Moon)" and this album's rabble-rousser closing number!) have all the hallmarks of classic scene of old all but transforming The Giggitys into tomorrows newest punk rock hero squad! What's more we find The Giggitys taking on the failed promises of yesterday as "Total D" is actually where a lot of us wish a certain "Dookie" band would have gone next (here's a hint, it's got grit and integrity unlike the modern day spank fest that is Green Day!). All of which brings us to this album's real deal of a closer and my new favorite love song, "It's Not Me, It's You". I can think of a few "special" ladies from my past who could benefit from this song's timeless message, but that's another story for another night friends! With it's splendid mixture of all things classic punk and modern day pop punk "Songs In the Key Of Awesome" is as good as it gets kids! Hear it right here ladies and gents: http://thegiggitys.bandcamp.com/album/songs-in-the-key-of-awesome

Free Metal Monday: SHVS-"Always Forget" Single and "Feel 4U" EP

And now for something different. May I present to you Columbus, Ohio trio SHVS. A "surf punk band with prog-rock and metal tendencies" (per the band's Facebook bio) SHVS is way too much fun to keep to myself so for this Free Metal Monday feature I've linked the single "Always Forget" and the group's 2013 EP, "Feel 4U". Both are Name Your Own Price downloads, but if you can toss a few coins into this band's fountain. And since the group's previously mentioned Facebook bio is just too righteous for words here it is in it's entirety!(and yes, I totally love the "Freaky Freak-boy music" description!)

SHVS is a surf punk band with prog-rock and metal tendencies.
 
In the fall of 2013, a 7-year-old punk rocker from Pittsburgh named Abby confidently described the band as "Freaky Freak-boy music."
Basically, if Black Sabbath and the Beach Boys had a teenage daughter who wore a ripped-up (presale) Dead Kennedys shirt while listening to only Yes all the time, SHVS would be that daughter.

Now that is how you do a bio! LOL!

Incidentally, "Always Forget" is the third track from the group's upcoming LP, "My, My" 
http://shvs.bandcamp.com/track/always-forget-2 

"Feel 4U" EP:
http://shvs.bandcamp.com/album/feel4u-ep 

One Pretty Minute-"Killswitch" Single

Broad Horizon Records
2014

Hailing from Columbus, Ohio (a short, 2 1/2 drive for me!) and with two releases to their credit so far (2011's "The System" EP released on MyPixo records and 2012's "Addict" released on Cincinnati, Ohio-based Broad Horizon Records) we have the four-piece collective known as One Pretty Minute. Formed back in 2008, with (some) influences such as Sevendust, Nine Inch Nails, Breaking Benjamin, Alkaline Trio and (supposedly) Depeche Mode(!) being held responsible for all of the racket these guys make, the band just recently released this single off of the "Addict" release. Now, usually it would make sense for a group, one (reportedly) aimed at fans of Taproot, Nonpoint, Shinedown, Trapt, & Eye Empire like this Ohio act or not, to release a single in advance of a new recording or at least around the same time as when said recording came out. As "Addict" is from back in 2012 I admit that I am scratching my head a bit on this one, but, with a new full-length release supposedly being prepped for sometime in 2014 releasing a radio rocker like "Killswitch" now isn't the worst idea in the world (and trust me on that one as I've had more then my fair share of them as of late LOL!). Along with the previously released 2013 single "Hurt You", which truly seems aimed at FM radio rock stations nation-wide (and for good reason as it's well-crafted and executed!), that makes two singles off of one six-track release in "Addict". Based on the strength of both cuts though maybe I'll have to do some snooping around and secure "Addict" for further mention here at Heavy Metal Time Machine. That's a topic for later on though so what of "Killswitch" anyway? As stated in the accompanying promo material it's "aimed at fans of Taproot, Nonpoint, Shinedown, Trapt, & Eye Empire". I'd throw in Sevendust fans to and anyone who thinks that modern rock radio urgently needs alternatives to the whats passing for harder-edge rock these days. Admittedly I'm out of the loop on that one as the only times such stations (the ones that would play such horrible noise pollution) are played around me is when I'm feeling generous with my car radio (which usually involves my own teenagers and their like-minded friends) or when I'm out in public with no choice in the matter! Otherwise I still to the original purveyors of heavy and hard rock, but I'm getting off track a bit here so let's swerve back across the road to the nice and crunchy "Killswitch". Available wherever fine rock and roll is sold (meaning this one can be found on Amazon, iTunes, Spotify, Last FM, etc.) "Killswitch" is enough to wet my appetite for more One Pretty Minute so I'll have to try to keep an eye peeled for this Ohio act as well. With so many eyes now looking out for so many bands (here in the U.S. or worldwide!) I'm likely to get all cross-eyed, but when you're always trying to find new indie and underground acts to cover those kinds of things happen!

Seafair-Photographs

Self-Release/Independent
2013

On the surface it might seem strange to have a band like Cleveland, Ohio's Seafair grace the pages of a site like Heavy Metal Time Machine. Formed in late 2010, and with rumors suggesting that their humble roots were at one point planted deep within punk rock's soil, Seafair would likely be dubbed an indie act by the press at large. And yet, as characterized by the group's latest EP "Photographs", these Cleveland scene-toppers offer so much in such a small package that even a slightly-cynical old man like me can't help but smile in appreciation! With her instantly-heartwarming voice, Chayla Hope (who also provides splendid pop keys for Seafair) highlights this act. Fairly-accurately described as bellowing, her classy-style of singing is something that one would naturally expect to find topping the charts of  pop radio not fronting a local band from my part of Ohio! Meanwhile bass player Joshua Riehl (a holdover from the group's early days) and drummer Ryan Kelly (of Cleveland favorites, Unsparing Sea) toss a charismatic rock beat towards the listener and, with little hope of fighting back against the groove, it's a clear-case of hook, line and sinker! As for strings? I mean besides the intricate indie rock bass lines of  Joshua Riehl. Well, that's where the real fun begins when talking about a one-of-a-kind act like Cleveland's Seafair. Along with solo-artist turned (smooth as silk) guitar hero Michael Flaherty (a fine six-string musician whose playing adds to the elegance at the heart of this Ohio act) the band employees a classically trained cellist in Tara Hanish (also formerly of Unsparing Sea) and a classically trained violinist in Andrea Belding! All of which does make Seafair's second overall EP from last November (the first being "Paintings" which was released in May of 2013) a bit hard to describe on paper admittedly (especially as it pulls from pop-rock one moment before shifting over into post-punk territory the next while simultaneously having these delicate classical music elements that I absolutely adored!). Still, even if I can't quite put my finger on what Seafair is supposed to be (live shows reportedly expand the experience ever further with "elements of rock, pop, indie, punk, disco, some blues, and sprinkle a coat of classical on the top of it"!) or how they are supposed to be described (even they kid about such matters as evident by their Facebook page) I know enough to suggest that "Photographs" is as quirky as it is fun! It's geared towards pop fans mostly, but with the ghosts of many a great indie rock band floating around them and the obvious way in which post-punk's shadow can be observed in it's background this one has greater potential then I can properly put to pen. Definitely needs to be heard if one is to truly appreciated everything this act has to offer. 

http://seafairtheband.bandcamp.com/

Norselaw-Serpent In The Circling Sea

Self-Release/Independent-Recording
2013

Let me just start off by saying that there are underground bands and then there are DEEP UNDERGROUND bands. Take a wild guess as to which category Norselaw falls into. That's right folks, this is one of those WAY DOWN deep underground names. We're talking WAY DOWN past the C.H.U.D.S. and even past the Morlocks! That says something alright. Or does it? What exactly does it say (if it says anything at all?) and what exactly does it all mean? Mostly it just means that's not a whole lot to go by when it comes to the somewhat mysterious Norselaw and the slightly-odd album that is "Serpent In The Circling Sea". Here's what I can tell you. First, the band supposedly hail from the bad streets of Cleveland, Ohio. And when I say "bad" I really mean the righteous streets of Cleveland or rather the metal-loving scene that hails from Cleveland. What's weird though is the fact that even though they were supposedly formed during the winter of 2003 this is the first time I've heard of this Cleveland act. More and more there's all these "new" Ohio bands popping up that I never knew of meaning my so-called "expert knowledge" of Ohio heavy metal is pure bull-shit! Oh well and hell. Anyway, the second piece of info that I was able to dredge up suggested that Norselaw originally went by the name "Valhalla Ice" (clever!) and was (maybe?) a rap/metal outfit to begin with! Now that would be strange. The thing is it's all so vague. I ended  up going to what seemed like dozens of sites just to dig up some/any bits of information so I could add some background information to this piece. Who knew that it would be so hard to cut through all the misinformation to get to the truth of about this heavy metal act? It's like trying to get the real scoop on our government! It's a daunting task! But, it is what it is so let's move on down the road and get to the next piece of info. As you may have been able to figure out by that last piece of info Norselaw is less of a band and more of a musician. On the self-produced "Serpent In The Circling Sea", which was written by Norselaw, our main-man "sings"* and handles all the guitar playing. That's not too unusual so far right? Well, not only does he handle lead vocals and all the guitar playing, but he also finds time to showcase his skills on bass guitar by pulling off a bass solo! That's a little different I'd say. On the track "Green Lazer", which FYI is a lovely little track all around, our songwriter/vocalist/guitarist (and part-time bassist!) channels the spirit of the late and, damn wasn't he, great Cliff Burton for a quick little bass solo that is down-right sick! That's not to say that Norselaw (the "band") lacks a bass player as there is a "Theon Greyjoy" mentioned in the credits. Both "Theon Greyjoy" and drummer "Jaime Lannister" go by  pseudo names which only adds to the mysterious nature of not only Norselaw, but also of this recording. Why there was the need for pseudo names is any ones guess. It's not as this rhythm section falters or anything. This pair does a pretty smash-up job all around. So, that brings us to the million dollar question I suppose. What exactly does Norselaw sound like? The easiest answer would be that Norselaw sounds like a N.W.O.B.H.M band as imagined by a punk heavy metal band. That's it. That's all there is to it. It's all so rather simple if you think about it and yet it flat out works. And no one is as surprised about that then I am! But, while it might be a simple mash-up there is nothing simple about Norselaw and his skills as a guitarist. There are some sweet licks on here that bring to mind Motörhead while at other times it's almost as if Norselaw has ripped some pages out the N.W.O.B.H.M. handbook to serve as a blueprint to rock out! Otherwise I have no idea who to compare this band to (sound-wise) which is a remarkable achievement for Norselaw. An original sounding band? Yes, it's pretty true! Sure, you might pick up Motörhead and maybe some Lord Weird Slough Feg. And, truth be told, there were some parts of Norselaw's sound that reminded me of Valiant Thor (another band that mixes in punk, classic metal and Lord knows what else in order to rock to their own beat!), Ironboss, Motherboar and Brutal Attack (minus all Brutal Attack's racist bullshit of course!). But those kinds of flashback moments happen all the time when you're listening to (newer) bands. You're likely to always find something familiar in any metal band these days as there are so many bands that have come before. Even in this case the roots might show through on occasion, but it's still an original sound overall and one which any open-minded metalhead would enjoy! This slab of unique metal is going to get quite a few more spins this week and in the weeks, months and years to come!

*The vocals of Norselaw go from being gnarly to downright weird. Sometimes it came across as if he had been gargling petrol before hitting the mic while other times he came across as some old punk trying to find a measure of redemption. All in all though Norselaw gets it done and gives this act a wicked underground feeling!