Conveyer-When Given Time To Grow

Victory Records
2015

Just released this past Friday and already the talk of the neighborhood(!), "When Given Time To Grow" is the latest hard-hitting release from the five-man wrecking crew known as Conveyer. This full-length recording serves as the natural follow-up to 2013's "Worn Out" and with this powerful performance the band makes it's official debut on Victory Records. For the spiritually-minded/emotionally-deep Conveyer it's a clear cut case of divine intervention as this relationship between band and label is a match made in Heaven (no pun intended!). I mean seeing as Conveyer is hardcore to the bone and what not!! OK, technically speaking this is melodic hardcore and really strong melodic hardcore at that. But with that said, Conveyer hit hard and they hit fast. They're also incredibly aggressive and more than a little capable of throwing out razor sharp leads. In other words these guys know how to utilize the almighty riff so there is more than enough here to please our metalhead readers! As for the who, what, and when of this cool band? Let's tackle that next. Formed in 2011, with their debut EP, "Empty Handed" seeing the light of day later on in that same year, Conveyer is based in Minneapolis, MN and comprised of Danny Adams (vox), Ty Brooks (guitar), Nick Matako (guitar), Ben Greene (bass), and Daniel Glover (drums). Since day one this band has had a D.I.Y. approach to life and everything that they have achieved so far they have had to fight tooth and nail for! Obviously the hard work has paid off. The appropriately-titled "When Given Time To Grow" is proof of that! For melodic hardcore fans this one seems like a no-brainer. From the killer voice of  Danny Adams to the slamming guitars this release has it all! There's no question you should jump on this album if you're in that crowd. For everyone else? Well, like I said there is a lot of strength on display with this one. You can feel the power of Conveyer rage through your speakers and it is nothing if not absolutely AWESOME! It's a fierce battle as to which is better-the gripping message at the heart of the band's lyrics or the way in which this band throws down the beat! Either way it's a think to beyond....

Us Amongst The Rest-Follow The Truth

Two Star Records
2014

Heavy metal and hard rock. Emo, alternative rock and (melodic) post-hardcore. And finally, modern, radio-friendly and (nothing short of the potential to have single after single just lying in the wait on this 12-track LP!) heavy rock. Picture all of that packed into the shape of a young, enthusiastic and passionate four-piece from York. After a quick intro track we jump right into the action with "Fields Of Fray" and for Us Amongst The Rest it's history in the making as "Follow The Truth" is nothing short of a brilliant debut debut! First there was the beast of a single "Bring The Fuel" which brought them nothing short of universal praise. Well-deserved universal praise! A video for that beauty can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TxSs9VBMiY. Next there was the album's 2nd single, "Love is the Bull". A hook-heavy MONSTER of a single, "Love is the Bull" brings together the best essences of melody and metal while featuring the fantastic chorus "Happiness is the China Shop, Love is the Bull"! The video of that song can be viewed here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyYXHvGXGd0  . Now Us Amongst The Rest (or UATR for short) have this full-length album to add to their resume and things couldn't be any brighter or more promising  for these York hard rockers! Recorded with Sam and Joe Graves (Axewound, Glamour of the Kill, Asking Alexandria) at InnerSounds Studios, with the track "Falling Skies" even featuring the services of Sam Graves (vocalist/guitarist for With One Last Breath*), "Follow The Truth" features 12 fantastic tracks with not even one filler in site! For a full-length debut album that is something special indeed (especially when you take into account that UATR has only been together for about two years now!). Lead by the captivating voice of bass guitarist Karl Sandor, UATR (who supposedly took their name from the song title of two of the group's members former band) has had it's fair share of line-up changes since their initial formation with the current line-up featuring the additional skills of  Dan Beardmore (guitars/vocals), Paul Fernandez (drums/vocals) and Dan Stockdale (guitars/vocals). Filled with pride and purpose and equipped with strong songwriting ability and enough natural talent to fuel four or five additional hard rock entities, UATR are (dare I say it?) masterful at what they do! For this young band the choice of influences (Atreyu, Thin Lizzy, Alter Bridge, Avenged Sevenfold, Metallica, Black Stone Chery, etc.) is one thing. Taking those vastly different influences (as well as hints of group's like Taking Back Sunday, Seemless, Coheed and Cambria, 30 Seconds to Mars, Underoath and Straylight Run) and building on them to make sure that your own personal adventure is as creative as humanly possible is another thing all together. Thankfully UATR pulls out all the stops while utilizing the big guns (amazing songwriting, fantastic performances and remarkable chemistry being just a few of the strengths of this UK act!) at their disposal. All of which insures that softer moments (the tender hit single in the making "Angels" being a full-out favorite moment!) work just as well as the sonic thunder that is "Blood In Me", the sweeping "Silver And Lead" and "Horizons" (a graceful alternative rocker just made for today's modern rock radio!). Ending perfectly with "Falling Skies" (another hit in the making for this York bunch and yet another favorite moment of mine on "Follow The Truth"!), Us Amongst The Rest has given the alternative rock crowd a reason to rejoice and a surefire fan-favorite for years to come! Don't walk, but RUN when this one drops as it's simply too good for words and another release that should climb into 2014 Best-Of lists long before this year is over and done with!

You can find the band online at here:http://www.uatrband.com/  and https://www.facebook.com/UATRBAND


*A metalcore band from York, With One Last Breath also released their full-length debut album, "The Fearless Ones", this year on Small Town Records.

Where Giants Once Stood-Live Above EP

Self-Release/Independent
2014

"Live Above" is the upcoming release from Toronto metal act Where Giants Once Stood. Due for release on September 2nd and serving as the follow-up to 2013's "The Changing" (a release which garnered high praise from critics and fans alike!) this Jon Howard (Threat Signal) produced EP showcases a young band that has already found it's footing. Standing at the crossroads of thrash, melodic hardcore, classic hardcore and traditional heavy metal this Toronto act is fronted by Reshaun Page, a powerhouse of a lead vocalist whose approach to singing is nothing if not extreme!

Jordan Turnbull – Lead Guitar/Vocals,  Reshaun Page – Lead Vocals ,  Scott Major – Rhythm Guitar/Vocals , Austin Hamilton- Drums  – Photo Credit – Logan Swinkels

 

Having already shared the stage with acts such as Chelsea Grin, Veil of Maya, Iwrestledabearonce and Beartooth (among others!) this young band features a line-up destined to destroy the modern metal scene thanks to mad skills of lead guitarist Jordan Turnbull (classic heavy metal solos mix it up with thrash attacks and down in the dirty streets hardcore brutality!) and songwriting that is fresh and full of energy! You can check out the EP's tough as nails opening track, "Living In Security" thanks to it's official video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zztYBohMvjY .Then be sure to head over to the group's Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/wheregiantsoncestood) so that you can follow this epic young and (if fortune smiles upon you!) see the group live in living/thrashing color!

Deceptic-The Artifact

Dead End Exit Records
2014

Their Facebook page describes their own sound as  "Modern Melodic Progressive Metal". That's sort of a catch all description right? That's Göteborg, Sweden's Deceptic for you. What began in the "early and cold coast of Gothenburg" in the year of 2011 has slowly transformed into the band that stands before you now. That band currently features the following members:

William Gustafsson - Vocals
Tony Gullquist - Guitars
Dennis Svensson - Drums 
Otto Halling - Bass
Martin Carlenfors - Guitars

 




The only thing is both Otto Halling and Martin Carlenfors came on-board after the recording of "The Artifact". And speaking of "The Artifact" it sounds as if this (long worked on) album was a self-produced/self-recorded project that then benefited greater from having Tue Madsen From Ant Farm Studios (famous for working with bands like The Haunted, Dir En Grey, Mnemic, Dark Tranquility etc.) mix and master the recordings when they were all wrapped up. Oh, and then there is the fact that it was only AFTER the band had the masters of "The Artifact" in their hands that they went out and looked for a record label! So, in a very real way this is a D.I.Y. project. While there was a 2011 EP released from the band it featured a different line-up then the one we see today. And besides, "The Artifact" is what we are talking about today and for the band Deceptic all of the hard work and patience sure seems to have paid off! Deceptic's "The Artifact" practically jumps out of the speakers with opener "Heart Of The Swarm" and (fair warning here so pay heed!) it rarely lets up even as this Swedish band explores other genre elements such as melodic hardcore, alternative metal and even metalcore. Vocally-speaking William Gustafsson excels at both singing and doing the whole heavy screaming thing (there's even some near death metal growls going on here!) and his (studio) brother's in arms (Tony Gullquist and Dennis Svensson) play with such fury and energy that you'd swear that there was a full-fledged backing band in play the whole time! Deceptic has a lot going for them and based on this LP, their first-full length endeavor and an album that I let soak in spin after glorious spin, they have the talent and enthusiasm to really make a go for it! This one will drop in late August although it sounds as if a single from "The Artifact" will be made available before that time as a bit of a teaser! You can find out more about Deceptic here: https://www.facebook.com/Deceptic/timeline

Bones To Bury-Arising Voice

Duality Records2014

Bones To Bury are a young melodic metalcore band. Not just in the sense that they're relatively new to the scene (early in August of 2013 per the all-too brief bio), but also age-wise. Just look at the picture of these young metalheads who range in age from 18- 20!

 

Of course age isn't always the greatest indication of talent right? I mean we've all seen/heard both old and young bands that flat-out ROCK as well as flat-out SUCK. Thankfully these youngsters (who for some reason make me want to "sing" Skid Row's anthem "Youth Gone Wild"!) fall into that first category more so then the second one! In their brief existence they have already played with the likes of Bleed From Within, Polar, Palm Reader, Stig Vanj Eijk, Infinity, Oslo Faenskap and Blood Red Throne and have issued this, their 4 song debut EP. With a home base listed as being somewhere in the "south of Norway" (Arenda maybe? That's what their Facebook page states here: https://www.facebook.com/BonesToBury) and with influences listed as such (Bring Me The Horizon, Asking Alexandria, Suicide Silence, Periphery, Meshuggah, Whitechapel and Five Finger Death Punch) the band Bones To Bury did worry me with their genre- description. I like to be honest of course and I'll honestly say that this kind of heavy metal just doesn't move me as much as it is did in my younger years. It's not that I have anything against metalcore (or melodic metalcore as is the case here) it's just that there have seemingly been thousands of similar sounding bands to have come and gone over the years and (along with black metal) it gets hard to tell them apart or pick up on anything substantial. So, that was my fear. I was worried I'd have nothing good to share about Bones To Bury and that there brief EP would be a chore to endure. As it stands though Bones To Bury hit upon some sick notes here on "Arising Voice" and while the screaming vocals were a tad hit or miss musically this one (wisely) leans HEAVY of the METAL side of things and forgoes the usual breakdowns associated with the movement in favor of actual guitar riffing! Ruben Pettersen fronts this band and these days the co-founder is joined by guitarists Jay Caprial (who also handles backing vocals) and Håkon Stensvand, bassist/vocalist Jonas Tellefsen and drummer Kevin Kile. Having hit the studio early this year with Simen Sandnes and Mathias to record "Arising Voice" the guys in Bones To Bury have manged to make their debut EP one which shows promise while pointing towards better things yet to come. For their age (again, not just personally but also as a band) this five-piece might just make people stand up and notice them before too long. Available pretty much wherever digital music is sold (Spotify, Amazon, iTunes, X-Box music, etc.) it's very likely that the four-song "Arising Voice" already has a waiting audience in place (this stuff is still all the rage for a lot of younger males is I'm just going to go by the postings/rants of friends/musicians on Facebook) and as it stands now Bones To Bury has my admiration and support and I'll be rooting for the band from here on out! 

Riot Acts-Walk Where You Struggle

Self-Release/Independent
2014

As someone who has long embraced the concept of a "well-balanced diet", or at least as it pertains to what I listen to over the course of any particular 24-hour period, I made it a goal early one to try everything at the buffet. That of course means that friends and comrades, in a never ending state of well-meaning affection and appreciation of my "unique" tastes, often times drop the names of random bands in my lap with the usual "Hey, check this band out!" tag boldly proclaimed in the e-mail title. As of late I seem to be running hot and cold when it comes to such "suggestions" although (thankfully) Riot Acts proved to be a case where said suggestion was spot on! With this just-released EP, so fresh in fact that it still has that new car smell (!),  Markham/Stouffville-based Riot Acts continues to showcase the overabundance of talent that comes from our friends to the North. It also ends up further proving the merits of melodic hardcore for those few select individuals who still believe that those two terms should never be applied together! With a line-up that includes Tim Hoar and Matt Locicero on guitars and vocals and a rhythm section of Brahm Van Zeeland & Bryan Klotz (bass and drums respectively) this young (at least as far as how long they've been together as it sounds as if they all bring experience to this 5-track release) act is fairly relentless on opener "What's Left After Taxes" up to and including EP closer, "Bar Fight". And it's that sense of urgent uprising that smashes the senses all the more making the aptly-titled "Walk Where You Struggle" highly worth investing in! With that said I encourage even more suggestions as this life our ours is far too short to keep good music to yourself!   

http://riotacts.bandcamp.com/ 

Near Ruin-Smoke & Mirrors (Single)

Self-Release/Independent
2014

Metalcore with synthesizers? Not exactly a novel concept. Still, some do it better then others. And in the case of Maidstone, Kent's Near Ruin it's far from a bad combination. Too be fair it might just be this single which, besides being nearly drenched in heavy, guitar-driven metal, does feature the more traditional sound of pianos. All of which does give this band a somewhat different vibe then a lot of what passes for metalcore these days, whether melodic-in nature like this four-piece act or not. Serving as both a follow-up to Near Ruin's "Rebirth" EP and the first single from the group's upcoming album "No End" (due to be released sometime this year) "Smoke & Mirrors", which can be heard in the YouTube video posted below, finds Near Ruin (lead vocalist/guitarist Marcus Kidner, keyboardist/guitarist/vocalist Simon Beck, bassist/vocalist Luke Knight and Tim Morgan) utilizing their influences (As I Lay Dying, Bullet For My Valentine, Attack Attack, Korn, Slipknot) while simultaneously exploring all of the possibilities that can be achieved by blending such unique (read: varying contrasts) elements as "synth, piano, melodic and hardcore" (their words not mine!). While that might all seem like a mouthful (as it does to me as I read it back over in my head!) what it boils down to is something much more simple in it's delivery, but nonetheless effective! As hardcore and heavy metal influences crush the listener's eardrums, highlighted by the rough vocal-styling of  Marcus Kidner and real ROCK guitar playing, Near Ruin utilizes Simon Beck advanced ability on all things keys-related to balance the (perhaps overused description on my part, but extremely applicable in this instance so we'll just roll with it folks!) madness and the melody! For a band which has already released (at least) one EP and has shared the stage with artists like Blaze Bailey and Silent Descent a single as strong as this one is points towards bigger and better things while also showing off the (charming) underground appeal of Near Ruin. Hopefully their upcoming album will prove to further showcase how metalcore can be made-over into something truly fierce and wicked, but for now I'll just be enjoying the head-rush that is "Smoke & Mirrors"!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1GdiAuAA3c

Ice Nine Kills-The Predator Becomes The Prey

Outerloop/Fearless Records
2014

Formed in 2006 by high school friends Spencer Charnas (lead vocals) and Jeremy Schwartz (guitar and vocals), with the original moniker of Ice Nine being swapped out just prior to the release of the group's debut album, "Last Chance to Make Amends", Ice Nine Kills are a Boston-based melodic hardcore/post-hardcore/metalcore band whose musical exploration/evolution has been, if nothing else, "interesting". From start (2006's "Last Chance to Make Amends") to finish, with the 11-track "The Predator Becomes The Prey" serving as home plate, Ice Nine Kills' transition could best be summed up with a Grateful Dead line: "Lately it occurs to me what a long, strange trip it's been". Early on the band rolled out the pop-punk/emo rock wagon and custom fitted it (by all accounts) with post-hardcore and ska! Thankfully things changed for the better and by the time the group had released the follow-up to "Last Chance to Make Amends", which would be 2007's well-received EP, "The Burning", the band's sound has been greatly-improved with welcomed-arrival of (more straight-forward) hardcore and metallic riffs. Onward the band would prowl and in 2009, after guitarist/co-founder Jeremy Schwartz left the band after having (reportedly) had enough of life lived on the road (thus leaving lead vocalist Spencer Charnas as the sole original member), members of Rochester-based post-hardcore band Remember Tomorrow were recruited to fill out the line-up. Evidently this had the effect of driving Ice Nine Kills, or if you will their sound, further down the rabbit hole of all that is melodic hardcore/post-hardcore because we have on "The Predator Becomes The Prey" is anything but emo and/or pop-punk! Spencer, now credited with vocals and screams, with Justin "JD" DeBlieck (guitars, screams), Justin Morrow (bass) and Conor Sullivan (drums) rounding out the current version of Ice Kill Nine, furiously takes hold of the reins on opener "The Power Is Belief" and never once looks back! With the benefit of a proper-production and the effective interplay that comes by way of Spencer and JD's shared "vocals", and not to mention DeBlieck's well-timed and refreshing metallic solos (something not often seen in post-hardcore/melodic-hardcore albums like this one especially when metalcore gets added to the equation) the picture that is painted when it comes to "The Predator Becomes The Prey" is one of reflection (the previously released benefit single, "The Product of Hate", was a response to the horrific tragedy that was for the Boston marathon bombing) and outright intensity ("The Power In Belief" and "Let's Bury The Hatchet...In Your Head" are just the first two numbers of this nearly 40 minute long release and the way in which they force-feed HUGE metallic riffs and ear-shattering screams down upon the listener is nothing short of CHAOTIC and DESTRUCTIVE!). Along the way tracks like "The Coffin Is Moving", "The Fastest Way To A Girl's Heart Is Through Her Ribcage" (love the tile there guys!), "Jonathan", "What I Never Learned in Study Hall" (featuring very cool guest vocals from former Woe, Is Me front-man/current Issues lead vocalist Tyler Carter) and the previously-released single "Connect The Cuts" keep the energy flowing until "My Life In Two" fulfills this band's obligation to lay waste to everything and everyone in their path with emotionally-empowering rock! Yes, just like any melodic hardcore band worth it's two cents the band slows things down when needed and they do an excellent job at showcases their humanity (as evident by the lyrical narrative of this album) even amongst all of the album's utter-most heavy moments. Still, albums like this one (if there are any ones I mean as this is remarkable fresh!) are meant to be played LOUD and enjoyed for the emotional-release that they give off. Obviously that first part (playing this one LOUD!!!!) is optional, but that second part about releasing ones pent-up emotions? Well, I wouldn't think that would be much of a choice! For a band like Ice Nine Kills, who live in the shadows of the great Boston hardcore scene, this is an album that SHOULD serve as a real door-opener. Other then the album's relentless use of screams there is more then enough of a HEAVY edge about this one to appeal to thrashers out there especially as there is no shortage of metallic solos. Let me put it another way. I would be really surprised if  three or four years down the road (that is provided this shaky world of ours survives that long!) we didn't look back upon "The Predator Becomes The Prey" as the album that broke this Boston-based collective into the mainstream. Yes, it is that strong, both musically and lyrically, and, even if you've never given much thought to post-hardcore and/or melodic hardcore, this is one of those album's that I enthusiastically endorse! It appears as if my best-off list for 2014 is already growing pretty long and we are not even out of January!

Cardinals Pride-Priorities

Self-Release/Independent
2012

Fancy some free melodic hardcore/metalcore? How about some good melodic hardcore/metalcore? Yes you say? Then here's the 4-track EP, "Priorities",  from Quebec's 6-piece band Cardinals Pride. Yes, they really are a six-piece band. I stumbled across this one this morning and found that it's simply too good to keep to myself. Sure, you do get some clean verses harsh metalcore vocals that may (or may not based on your personal tastes) be played out, but when it's backed up with quality melodic hardcore mixed with heavy metal guitars how can you possibly complain? Especially when it's free!



http://cardinalspride.bandcamp.com/