Sunday Singles: Dawn Of 7th Sky-"Island in the Sky"

Self-Release/Independent
2017

Dawn Of 7th Sky is a post-hardcore/metal band from Aix-en-Provence (France). Fronted by lead vocalist Marika, Dawn Of 7th Sky released this single in the summer of 2017. Backed up by the menacing yet melodic track "Persecuted" (a rhythmic post-metal meets nu metal number which clocks in at over six minutes!), "Island in the Sky" is as beastly as it is beautiful. Infused with pop rock dynamics courteous of lead singer Marika, Dawn Of 7th Sky's latest single has one foot firmly planted in electronic rock territory while the other foot dangles above modern metal. Thanks to it's clever construction and somewhat somber vibe, this three minute plus song gets stuck in your head while it silently digs deeper into your heart. On a scale of 1 to 10, "Island in the Sky" gets a 8 from me. The hard & heavy "Persecuted" gets a 7. With Mido (guitar), Bulle (bass), and  Bambie (drum) rounding out things out, Dawn Of 7th Sky has a captivating sound that slickly mixes smooth female vocals with aggressive rock, metal, and post-hardcore. It is a style that works really well for this four-piece band and it makes you want to find out what else this band is capable of. You can find "Island in the Sky" at the following link.

8kids-Denen die wir waren

Napalm Records
2017


Falling somewhere between (heavy rock-infused) post-hardcore and emotional metal, Germany's 8kids (Jonas Jakob, Hans Koch, and Emma McLellan) will release their full-length debut later this month. The outstanding album is entitled "Denen die wir waren" and it comes along some four years or so after this group first got together. Effectively sung in the band's native language, "Denen die wir waren" is a hook-heavy release that translates to The Ones We Used To Be. It features angst-ridden lead vocals courtesy of guitarist Jonas Jakob and finds the three members of 8kids cleverly adding small does of (80's and early 90's) alternative rock & heavy metal into the mix. Emma McLellan's rock-steady drumming goes a long way towards the ultimate success of this little experiment. Even though the album is in German it loses none of it's effectiveness. The urgent nature of Jonas Jakob voice cuts right through the language barrier and makes you think about how close this band is to being a punk rock outfit. Given it's pressing vibe, savvy guitar riffs, and Emma McLellan's smashing job on the drums, 8kids' first album is a worthwhile listen no matter where you dwell!

Inconvenience Store-Katabasis Epoch: Enter The 2nd Chapter of Hell

Braindead Media
2015

What's this? Two albums of covers in one day? You betcha! First we had Austin, Texas heavy/power metal band Ignitor with their "Mix Tape '85" and now we have Needham, Massachusetts' (experimental) punk/post-hardcore group Inconvenience Store with their latest release, "Katabasis Epoch: Enter The 2nd Chapter of Hell". Even if it's been awhile (the Summer of 2013 to be specific) Inconvenience Store are not exactly strangers to this site so it was a happy occurrence when I got word that not only did they have new music to share, but they were now signed to Boston's Braindead Media! That just goes to show you how good things come to those who persevere. Especially when you put in years of hard work like this experimental punk/post-hardcore band did! For those who don't know the story it goes a little something like this. Initially formed in the fall of 2011 by Non-GMO Meth and Kcutnief Rehsa Hanoj, Inconvenience Store started off as more of an idea than an actual band before fully becoming flesh and blood in March of 2012. Early on the group was comprised of teenage kids with high hopes (and more than enough talent to go around!) and (long story short) as the musicians have grown up and matured so has the actual music. Now rounded out by Mica Headphones, Inconvenience Store gives us their second studio offering with this extended-EP serving as the progressive follow-up to 2013's "Our Ambivalent Everything". Released this past summer on July 19th (8 days after my birthday in fact!), "Katabasis Epoch: Enter The 2nd Chapter of Hell" provides insight into the vast array of influences that this three piece band holds dear with groups like Black Flag, The Melvins and Naked Raygun finding common ground with The Buggles and Masafumi Takada of all people! It's a unique listening experience to be sure, but a rewarding one all the same. I'll stay away from any major spoilers other than to say that it all leads up to the 12 minute plus "Amezce No Reh Seulg". For the members of this Needham-based band things are obviously looking up so be sure to venture on over to their bandcamp page to see what all the fuse is about.

Kruger-Adam and Steve

Listenable
2015

Influences are listed as Breach, Entombed, Neurosis and Tool and the current band members include vocalist Renaud, bassist Blaise, drummer Raph and two guitarists in Margo & Raul. And for this (experimental) Swiss heavy metal/post-hardcore five piece, who are not to be confused with the two separate Kruger-named bands from Russia, this PledgeMusic-funded LP is reported the end game. As in no more music and "Let's all go out on a high note fellows!" if the rumors are indeed true. If that is to be the case then this Lausanne-based collective (active since 2001 with this 8-track release, once more produced by the band members themselves and mixed by Cult of Luna's own Magnus Lindberg, serving as album number five) has a nice swan song here. Every bit the band that the above four influences suggest, with the cleverly-titled "Adam and Steve" clocking in at just over 47 minutes(!), Kruger here close the gap between music and noise all while traipsing about in the cold dead of night. To be sure this one is bleak and oppressive and filled with little in the way of light, but for Kruger it all ends up well as "Adam and Steve" is heavy hellfire, death and of course all-out devastation! There's no need to expect mercy or compassion out of a record like this one and you are sure to come out of the experience all the more cynical (if not devoid of all emotions like the constant vibe of this soundtrack of the abyss!) and that's not a bad thing in the least ghouls and boys! Thank the dark maker of all things bleak and ominous for this maniacal post-metal stab at hostility as honestly this right here is all we need to make it through another day! It's the life of the party friends! Especially as who amongst us really needs more "hopped up on happiness" Top-40 pop shit? Not I....


https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kruger-official/124642822544

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.

Disparager-Timeless, Ageless

Self-Release
2014

Only a year old now, Brooklyn, New York’s Disparager offer up their first studio piece with "Timeless, Ageless". The band's debut EP was produced, recorded, mixed and mastered by Jay Maas (Defeater, Bane, H2O, American Nightmare, Polar Bear) and for a relatively new project the musicians involved here (Chris AhKao – guitar, vocals, bass and Peter Meluso – drums) did a rock-steady job of capturing their post-hardcore/ post-metal (and post-rock if you really want to be technical about it!) sound on tape. Opening number "Picture" only has a run-time of 3:26 and yet this (post-metal/progressive metal) heavy rock track covers so much ground that you'd swear that it was originally meant to provide a lifetime's worth of rocking out! From there the band serves up as much metallic fury as humanly possible (presented here in blood red color via post-Black Sabbath riffs and time-signatures that would seem to reflect a certain for knowledge of  heavily experimental bands such as Tool, Neurosis, Isis and even Fugazi ) while taking a detour on a number like "Gratitude" in order to take in the sights and sounds of groups like Mastodon, Deftones, The Mars Volta, Sevendust, Nothingface and Thrice. Frontman Chris AhKao is at his best though on a track like "R.I.P. Bill Hicks" as here (over-top of hardened, slick & sick as fuck, post-Refused guitar rock) his wicked as shit voice takes on a greater sense of urgency. It's almost as if he seems to want to shout down the crumbling word that surrounds him while he's simultaneously being tossed about by wave after wave of  people and their frustrating state of apathy! As Chris himself explains it Disparager's music is meant to showcase a "refusal to settle, to compromise, to live any other life than that inspired by unwavering intent, self-expression and integrity." To that end Chris and the band, which is pictured below in it's full live and in living color line-up, hit the nail on the top of the head PERFECTLY. And by perfectly one should also mention that it means by way of post-hardcore/post-metal ass kicking! Just when you think that you've got the band pegged though they pull out the acoustic guitars on "At Least I Still Have Bon Iver", a number that is perfectly self-described as "half folk song, half crushing mix of Isis and Slayer". Where did that come from? Other then from out of nowhere I mean! It's different, but in the sense that it's a different example of this group's devastating assault on the senses! And in the end that's what this little display of sonic post-rock and roll/post metal is all about-assaulting the senses! What a damn fine state that proves to me...

L-R:  Chris AhKao (guitar, vocals), Jason Kim (guitar), Peter Meluso (drums), Sri Rao (bass) – Photo credit:  Merissa Blitz

http://disparager.bandcamp.com/releases 

French Metal Friday: Agrion Splendens-Agrion Splendens

Braincrushing Records/A l'ombre de cette vie
2013

Released at the start of March, 2013, which was somewhere close to the range of two years after the group's formation by guitarists Vincent (ex-Jahiliyya) and Sally (ex-Barbarian Koala) - Limoges), "Agrion Splendens" came my way courtesy of fellow French act Ethersens. Soon after their initial formation, with (dual) voclaists Laurent (Wonderbar) and Mathieu (Eryn Non Dae), bassist Damien (ex-Nutcracker) and drummer Colin (drums) serving among the original line-up, the group went through some shake-ups. With Laurent Mora now fronting Ethersens and Yoan (ex-Disclosed Silence) taking over for the departed Colin this Toulouse, France-based band seem to be a point where they have gotten the who's who straightened out (line-up wise) with the actual "what" (as in what these French post-rockers like to lay down jam-wise) having fallen nicely into place as well. The likes of Isis, Cult Of Luna and Neurosis come to mind as "heavy and dirty riffs with powerful bass-lines" (their words) fill in the spaces of what amounts to a twisted tale of post-metal and post-hardcore rock-leanings. Every-bit as dark and foreboding as one could imagine given the key "buzzwords" (post-this and post-that with dirty riffs and clean/harsh vocal foreplay) Agrion Splendens, the band and this self-titled post-apocalyptic sound-scape, are worth a listen if ones tastes often times flow over to the not-so-sunny side of life!
http://agrionsplendens.bandcamp.com/

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!

Boatrocker-Antagonize

Self-Release/Independent
2014

I've got the great site Stereokiller to thank for this one. And up front I'm just going to admit that I plan to cheat as far as the release date goes on this one. Technically-speaking it was released at the tail end of 2013. Or at least digitally. With CD copies just becoming available earlier this month though I can sneak a release like "Antagonize" right passed the cut of line and we'll just pretend that it came out in 2014. That means I can add it to my 2014 best off list. Booyah! Still, I'm getting a fair bit ahead of myself here so let's rewind the tape shall we? Self-described as a "bunch of dorks playing bad music" (although their Facebook page actually states the opposite, which is way more closer to the truth, with "We are great") Boatrocker is a 4-piece band (Chris, John, Sean, Will) from Wilmington, Delaware whose style could best be described as post-hardcore. But, then again, the band, which, prior to this 7-track thing of beauty, released a 2009 demo ("Turn it The Fuck Up") and one other full-length album (2011's "Delicious Jams" which features one of the best album covers I've seen in a L-O-N-G time!), adds in these different elements/ingredients so they are a bit more then just merely "post-hardcore". Whew, that was more then a mouthful. Especially as all I had planned to serve up was the notion that the cool-named Boatrocker turn-up to 11 their overall potential appeal thanks to some timely-placed heavy metal and pop-punk elements! The Stereokiller "suggestion" was New Jersey's Thursday which I can sort of see. Other names have been tossed out as well, but it's more of the same "take this band (x, y or z) and then add these bands (more x, y and z pieces & parts)" when all that really needs to be said is that Boatrocker, whether they are trying their hand at the various nuances that made up late nineties alternative music or attempting to crush your skull with (early 2000') hardcore riffs which have been miraculously raised from the dead through some mystical source (Radiation? Voodoo? A Strange glowing comet?), rocks to the beat of their own drummer and that said beat is deliciously divine!

http://boatrocker.bandcamp.com/

Carton/Alpha Cop-Alpha Cop/Carton

Negative Fun Records
2013

Even if they've only been in existence since 2012, when it were founded by by Chris DeFusco and Jon Whitney, Negative Fun Records has already started to become one of my favorite labels-regardless of whether we're talking those of the independent kind or majors. I'm sure I've probably said that before, but seeing as this label goes out of their way to cater to such a niche market (people that like limited-run singles* of  the underground and unheralded kind) it sure does come off feeling like these releases are a labor of love! This latest 7" from Negative Fun Records has been pressed on white vinyl and man, does it ever look as good as it sounds! Or is that it sounds as good as it looks? Eh, either way you've got two cool artists here in Carbon and Alpha Cop with Carbon, and their garage rock take on all things post-hardcore, just inching out Alpha Cop as my favorite. On "Fingertips", the Carton track, we find Ryan Hebert (Heavy Winged, Giant Travel Avant Garde, What Doth Life, The Jobz, etc.) and company (Bruce Black, Brendan Dangelo and Davis McGraw) playing this loud and potentially hypnotic little gem of noise-pop. With Carton their music is just like the album art above. Carton is like a raging fire, beautiful to look at and oh so inviting thanks to it's warm glow. But get too close and you know what will happen right? It will burn you. So beware. And what of Alpha Cop? Well, Alpha Cop is like low-fi pop and then again it isn't. It's oddly disorienting as it switches gears often, moving between the cold emptiness of drone and this bold attempt at merging indie rock into thrash rock and while standing knee deep in basement aesthetics. It's an interesting notion that Alpha Cop has. They set about taking in rogue rock, left cold and hungry from wandering the streets at night, before carefully performing surgery on it's cords. All of that is so that they can disassemble and then reassemble the oddity that sits before them into something that more closely looks the part of a rock band. Or at least that's how their number "The Low Flags" presented itself to me. You can find this charming 7" at the link below as well as other nifty releases from this Raleigh, North Carolina and Enfield, New Hampshire-based record label. And as always support your local scene ladies and gentlemen.


http://www.negativefun.com/catalog/nf003/

 *Negative Fun Records does offer this 7" in digital form as well.