Top 5 Albums - November 2017

5. Phinehas, Dark Flag

Phinehas are a band that has been around a while, since 2001 in fact, but haven't broken out until recently. They didn't release any official music until 2009, with their first EP, and their breakout finally came in 2015 in the form of Till the End. On that album, the group solidified their place in the metalcore scene with heavy, frantic riffs and fast-paced drums, helped along by the versatility and sheer talent of vocalist Sean McCulloch. So how does their next effort, Dark Flag, measure up? Well, I'll say it right now. Dark Flag isn't quite as good as the band's previous efforts, mostly due to what I see as a glaring misstep in the production of the album. The guitars are placed well behind the vocals and drums, giving the music an empty feel compared to the heaviness we expect from a seasoned metalcore group. However, looking past this one flaw, Dark Flag is another great outing from Phinehas. The vocals are better than ever, as McCulloch experiments with new screaming techniques and styles. The guitars, if you turn up the volume, sound great as always. Overall, a great effort marred by a singular setback.

Rating: B-

Recommended Tracks: "Hell Below", "Dark Flag", "Communion for Ravens"

4. Like Moths to Flames, Dark Divine

Everything has changed for Like Moths to Flames with their fourth release, Dark Divine. Their previous three albums were pretty standard metalcore albums, with few deviations from a standard, tried-and-true formula. While this worked at first, by album three it became rather stale. Fortunately, the band have seemingly realized this, and changed things up in a big way for their newest record. And it's their best album yet. Now let's not get carried away, Like Moths to Flames are still not reinventing the wheel, and there's nothing groundbreaking on this record, but there's a variety in both style and atmosphere that hasn't been felt before on an album from the band. "Mischief Managed" is classic heavy LMTF, while "Nowhere Left to Sink" opens up a melodic trail that the band have not yet explored till now. 

Rating: B-

Recommended Tracks: "Mischief Managed", "False Idol", "Nowhere Left to Sink" 

3. Walk the Moon, What if Nothing

Walk the Moon broke out in a big way with 2015's smash summer hit "Shut Up and Dance", which climbed its way to the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 10. That was nothing short of a life changing achievement for a band this size. So how did they follow up such a massive increase in exposure and expectation? Immediately start their huge worldwide arena tour on the back of their big hit? Make appearances on every late night talk show known to man to spread their huge single as far as they possibly could? Well, yes and no. There were bigger tours, and plenty of TV appearances (topped off by a performance at the New Year's Rockin' Eve show/party, to be fair). But after a few months in the spotlight, the band retreated to the studio to work tirelessly on their follow up album. One would expect an album full of "Shut Up and Dance's" to capitalize on their breakout song's popularity (see Maroon 5 post-"Moves Like Jagger"). But no. Walk the Moon have instead changed their sound drastically, going for a poppy yet experimental sound with tons of variety. There's some synths, some guitar, and tons of good feels. And at the end of the day, the pop-rockers have produced their best album to date, even if it might not be remembered as such.

Rating: B-

Recommended Tracks: "One Foot", "Headphones", "Sound of Awakening"

2. Bjork, Utopia

Over time, it seems like Icelandic art pop singer/songwriter Bjork's album covers have gotten weirder and weirder. From simple pictures of the singer in a sweater to more and more intricate outfits, masks, wigs, etc, it seems like with every new release the avant-garde icon pushes herself to become even more... well... avant-garde. And Utopia is no different. But enough about the artwork, let's get to the music. Utopia is exactly what one would expect from Bjork, in that it's completely unexpected and unpredictable. Between the schizophrenic, glitchy production and clashing, atmospheric vocalizations, Utopia definitely sounds like a Bjork album, but as always, there's something new brought to the table. This time, it's some real drama. There's songs about divorces ("Sue Me", "Tabula Rasa") love ("Blissing Me") and loss ("Losss"), and lyrical Bjork is at her best yet. In the end, it's another great effort as always from the Icelandic songstress.

Rating: B

Recommended Tracks: "The Gate", "Blissing Me", "Tabula Rasa"\

 

1. Polaris, The Mortal Coil

There must be something in the water down under. Alongside metalcore giants such as Parkway Drive and Northlane, and smaller yet just as brilliant groups like In Hearts Wake and The Amity Affliction, Australia just keeps pumping out new, quality bands into the scene. Polaris are at the head of this new generation of metalcore stalwarts from the southern hemisphere. They take plenty of influence from their compatriots, as well as UK-juggernauts Architects, on their debut record The Mortal Coil. And long story short, they meet, and sometimes even surpass, the standard's set by their predecessors. Singles "Lucid" and "The Remedy" set the tone for the album. Bouncy and heavy, with fantastic riffs from guitarists Ryan Siew and Rick Schneider, topped off by wonderful heavy vocals from screamer Jamie Hails. Some will mourn the loss of his brutal low growls, but Hails sounds more honest on this record than ever before, and Polaris are all the better for it. 

Rating: B

Recommended Tracks: "Lucid", "The Remedy", "The Slow Decay"

Album Review: Polaris - The Mortal Coil

From day one, Polaris have been one of the bands to watch in the metalcore scene. Their debut EP, Dichotomy, was chock full of interesting, fun riffs alongside an exciting atmosphere. This sound was only improved upon in their sophomore EP, The Guilt and the Grief, which led to an explosion of their popularity in their home country of Australia. After gaining the recognition and approval of their Australian counterparts Northlane and In Hearts Wake, among others, it was clear that Polaris were on the fast track to success.
On their debut full-length album, The Mortal Coil, Polaris have given us everything that made their previous EPs so great and more. The riffs on this record are off the charts; they're seriously some of the best metalcore have seen in a while. Guitarists Ryan Siew and Rick Schneider are quickly becoming one of the top guitar duos in the entire genre. The pair are able to create riffs that are both heavy and bouncy in songs such as "The Remedy" and "Lucid", and completely switch gears to a more melodic sound in "In Somnus Veritas" without skipping a beat.
Vocals are nothing short of great as well. Screamer Jamie Hails portrays emotion brilliantly throughout the record. The loss of his low range and growls is a bit unfortunate, as the music loses some of its straight-up brutal heaviness in the process, but his midrange is better than ever. Clean singer Jake Steinhauser is serviceable, providing catchy melodies without doing anything too special, as usual.
Overall, The Mortal Coil reeks of confidence and potential, and is everything we could've asked for from Polaris' debut. Stay tuned for this group's next record, they're on their way towards great things.
Rating: B
Recommended Tracks: "Lucid", "The Remedy", "The Slow Decay"

Album Review: Walk the Moon - What If Nothing

This record has been a long time coming for Walk the Moon. After the Cincinnati pop-rock quartet hit it big in the summer of 2015 with the the classic summer anthem "Shut Up and Dance", the world patiently awaited their follow up. And finally, nearly three years after the release of their sophomore record Talking is Hard, it has arrived in the form of What Is Nothing. And as it turns out, even after taking the longest time to craft new music that they have so far in their young career, Walk the Moon are still in touch with everything that made their first two records great, and have added even more spice along the way.
While What Is Nothing is quite easily the band's poppiest album to date, it's also their most experimental, oddly enough. There's some great variation to be found in the thirteen tracks present here, from radio ready "One Foot" to the six-minute masterpiece "Sound of Awakening". The instrumentals, while not carrying the guitar-led indie flair of their previous sound, are tighter and crisper than ever. Old fans need not fear either, Walk the Moon's sound still carries with it a significant indie atmosphere. This record feels like four guys making music for the fun of making music. No gimmicks or acting. Just pure, unadulterated creativity and joy.
That's not to say there aren't a few missteps. Tracks like "Kamikaze", "All Night", and "Feels Good to Be High" all come and go without establishing much of an identity, leaving the listener to wonder if the album would be even stronger with these weaker spots eliminated. Despite these small flaws, What If Nothing is certainly an enjoyable listen for anyone looking for a pick-me-up, optimistic album to remind them that life isn't all that bad after all.

Rating: B-
Recommended Tracks: "One Foot", "Headphones", "Sound of Awakening"

Top 5 Albums - October 2017

5. My Ticket Home, unReal

It's not uncommon for bands to change their sound throughout their career, one only needs to look in the direction of juggernauts such as Linkin Park and Thirty Seconds to Mars for prime examples. Columbus rockers My Ticket Home are just the latest of a big crowd to undergo a drastic shift in style from their previous album to their latest. However, this one is unique. Instead of embracing the newer pop/electronic sounds that many bands tend to do, My Ticket Home have transitioned from heavy metalcore chock-full of harsh vocals to a grungy, nu-metal outfit reminiscent of 90s stalwarts such as Nirvana and Deftones. And, long story short, it's a success. The guitars are crunchy and pleasing, the vocals are suitably raspy, and there's a general laid back feel to the music while it still manages to retain it's edge.

Rating: B

Recommended Tracks: "Hyperreal", "Redline", "Flypaper" 

4. We Came As Romans, Cold Like War

We Came As Romans last album was a tedious, unsatisfying affair, as the band attempted to broaden their sound and reach a more mainstream audience, losing touch with what made them great in the first place. This time around, the band has realized their mistakes and then some, and on Cold Like War, one of the biggest bands in modern metalcore is firing on all cylinders once again. The vocals are better than ever, by a long long way. Singer (and now DJ/keyboardist) Kyle Pavone has shed all of the highly noticeable effects and correction that marred previous efforts, and his co-vocalist Dave Stephens is back to his heavy, breakneck singing/screaming combo (but mostly screaming). On the instrumental side, the band has reached the peak of their songwriting to date. Everything feels new and fresh, especially after the mishap that was Cold Like War's self-titled predecessor. 

Rating: B

Recommended Tracks: "Cold Like War", "Lost in the Moment", "Vultures with Clipped Wings"

3. Thousand Below, The Love You Let Too Close

A band's debut album is often something that -- while an example of that band at their most raw and sincere -- is also wrought with immaturity and underdeveloped songwriting. So for a band to knock it out of the park on their debut effort is not only surprising, but also extremely satisfying. Thousand Below are one of the newest bands signed by Rise Records, home of greats such as Dance Gavin Dance and Memphis May Fire, and their debut album lives up to the lofty heights set by their label mates. While the album doesn't stray too far from what one would expect of a classic Rise metalcore band, the true strength lies in the lyrics and vocal performance from James DeBerg. The album details his struggles with anxiety and depression, and the weight of such topics comes through with a poignant, emotional performance. 

Rating: B

Recommended Tracks: "Sleepless", "Vein", "The Love You Let Too Close"

2. August Burns Red, Phantom Anthem

Everyone knows what to expect from August Burns Red at this point. Smooth and sexy yet also heavy and blasting riffs from guitar genius JB Brubaker, wonderfully nasty vocals from Jake Luhrs, breakneck drumming from Matt Greiner, and maybe a breakdown or two for good measure. And that's not to discount the contributions of rhythm guitarist Brett Rambler and bassist Dustin Davidson, which are plenty. The metalcore veterans' seventh full-length album provides all of this in spades. While it may not be their best album as a whole (that title still belongs to their previous effort, Found in Far Away Places), Phantom Anthem certainly contains some of the group's best songs to date in "The Frost" and "Dangerous", the latter of which ending with what is probably their most brutal, menacing breakdown yet. Bottom line, it's an August Burns Red album, which can only mean good things for our ears.

Rating: B+

Recommended Tracks: "The Frost", "Dangerous", "Lifeline"

1. I The Mighty, Where The Minds Wants to Go/Where You Let it Go

I've probably already gushed about this album enough on this blog (you can check out my full review of the record here) but I'm gonna do it just once more, at least until its Albums of the Year time. This is the best record that has come out in 2017. It's a beautiful portrayal of whatever shit is going on in the head of Brent Walsh, who it turns out is quite the relatable fellow. Sure, the band has abandoned some of the riff-centric, heavier sound of their previous albums, but when Walsh's vocals (and Dance Gavin Dance singer Tilian's, on lead single "Silver Tonges") are this good, the choruses this catchy, the guitar and bass this smooth and satisfying... who cares? There's really nothing else to say, except that you absolutely must listen to this album. And then listen to it again, and again... and again.

Rating: A+

Recommended Tracks: Every single one. ("Where The Mind Wants to Go", "Silver Tonges", "111 Winchester", "Symphony of Skin")

These Five Bands Are the Future of Metalcore and Post-Hardcore

Any fan of metalcore or post-hardcore knows the names Bring Me the Horizon, Of Mice & Men, Killswitch Engage, Thrice, and Alexisonfire, among many others, but with these bands leaning more and more towards a radio rock sound, or just fading out altogether, where can people turn to get their metalcore/post-hardcore fix? Look no further than the following five young bands, who are all set to carry the torch in these two genres for many years to come.

Polaris

The first band of the five is also the only one from overseas, as Polaris hail from Sydney, Australia. The five-piece have two EP's under their belt so far, and display a sound of unrelenting heaviness paired with engaging riffs and violent breakdowns. Add the brutal screams from co-vocalist Jamie Hails, and Polaris certainly are a treat to listen to. Their debut album, titled The Mortal Coil, is set for release on November 3rd, and if lead single "The Remedy" is any indication of how the it'll turn out, these Aussies have a bright future ahead of them.

Thousand Below

Thousand Below, from San Diego, are Rise Records' newest young signing, and the record label responsible for bringing us The Devil Wears Prada and Dance Gavin Dance seems to have struck gold again. The debut album from Thousand Below, The Love You Let Too Close, released on October 6th to acclaim from those who took the time out of their lives to hear it. To those who haven't yet done so, it's well worth the 41 minutes its runtime demands of you. Vocalist James DeBerg tells a gripping story of depression and anger through his lyrics, which are as real and relatable as it gets. 

Redeem/Revive

Redeem/Revive are a group that have been around for a while; their debut EP came out nearly a half-decade ago in 2013. However, several complications with the lineup and record labels caused their debut album to be delayed. Earlier this year, it finally came in the form of Free Minds. The album sounds as if the theatrics and heaviness of Crown the Empire's early works met the half-soulful, half-brutal vocal duo of Issues' Tyler Carter and Michael Bohn.  Anyone looking for a dose of simultaneously heavy and catchy metalcore can stop right here, as vocalists Joshua Landon and Aldo carry each tune with the power and showmanship of a duo that's been at it for decades, just like the Carter/Bohn pair to whom they owe their influence. 

 

The White Noise

There must be something in the water in Dallas, Texas. The city that brought us metalcore juggernauts Memphis May Fire and Crown the Empire is now the origin of yet another band poised to become a leading force in the genre. The White Noise are easily the most post-hardcore leaning band in this group of five, with some of their songs (see "The Best Songs Are Dead") being straight up hardcore punk. On the other hand, The White Noise are also the band with the most variety in this group, as their track "I Lost My Mind (in California)", taken from their debut record AM/PM, is straight up pop-punk. 

Bad Omens

Bad Omens self-titled debut, released in August 2016, immediately caught fire in the underground of the metalcore scene, with comparisons being drawn to Bring Me the Horizon's 2013 game-changer Sempiternal. And while some of those comparisons certainly hold merit, there's no doubt that Bad Omens are a band of their own, and are reaping the rewards of their success. The group already had a massive social media following prior to the release of their album, evidenced by the immediate popularity of their music videos compared to their peers. With three videos having already passed 1 million views, and a sophomore album set to drop in 2018, Bad Omens are well on their way to becoming just as huge as the world famous Sheffield group that they are so often compared to. 

Album Review: I The Mighty - Where the Mind Wants To Go/Where You Let It Go

Loneliness. Abandonment. Strife. And finally, acceptance. The themes of I The Mighty's third album are things that every person has to deal with at some point or another. And on Where the Mind Wants to Go/Where You Let It Go, Brent Walsh and co. deliver an emotionally poignant and beautiful ode to the feeling of being lost.
As the eleven tracks of the record unfold, Walsh's affecting vocal performance is laden with (for the most part) mellow, pulled back guitar strings. It's as if the abandonment felt by the band's frontman has led to their (once again, for the most part) abandonment of the riff-heavy post-hardcore sound on their previous records. But this is by no means a bad thing.
"Degenerates" kicks off the album, and long story short, it's one of the best songs of the year. Its dynamic crescendos and instrumental payoffs filled with life and color set the stage for the rest of the album to come. Highlights "Pet Names" and "111 Winchester" showcase the band's prevailing knack for a brilliant hook, while "Where The Mind Wants to Go" show that they still haven't lost their heavier edge just yet. Lyrics are unfortunately hit and miss throughout, but "Symphony of Skin" still showcases some of Walsh's best writing yet, and the worst passages aren't totally cringe-worthy. The album's only dud -- and it's still an enjoyable song, nonetheless -- is in "Chaos in Motion", which is a rather safe pop track. Finally, penultimate track "Silver Tongues", which includes a vocal feature from Dance Gavin Dance vocalist Tilian, perfectly ends the albums tale on a rather positive note. It's also possibly the best song of 2017. Fitting, because I The Mighty's latest is top of the pack for this year. As of now, it's our pick for 2017 Album of the Year.

Rating: A+ (first this year!)
Recommended Tracks: All of them, but mostly "Where the Mind Wants to Go", "Symphony of Skin" and "Silver Tongues"

Artist Spotlight: Tonight Alive

In the world of rock music, female fronted bands are unfortunately few and far between. However, when one does manage to gain popularity, they are often a cut above many of their all-male counterparts, due to just how much harder it is to break through. This is evidenced by the success of bands such as Paramore, No Doubt, and Halestorm, all of whom have managed to stay relevant for many years on the international music stage. Another group that carries the banner for girls in rock music is Australian pop-rock group Tonight Alive.

Tonight Alive formed in Sydney, Australia when guitarist Jake Hardy and bassist Cam Adler started the project as a cover band. After recruiting Whakaio Taahi on guitar and then 15-year-old Jenna McDougall on vocals, the band came up with the name Tonight Alive. A year later, they added Matt Best on drums to complete their lineup. They started their musical journey with two EPs, All Shapes & Disguises and Consider This. These EPs included singles "Wasting Away" and "Closer", which caught the attention of large record labels. Eventually, they were picked up by Sony Music Australia, and recorded their debut album What Are You So Scared Of? with producer Mark Trombino. The debut album featured an energetic, catchy pop-punk sound with loud, crunching guitars and bright vocals from McDougall. The single "Listening" became a hit for the band, amassing over a million views on Youtube.

Following their debut was sophomore record The Other Side. The second record is much darker and more emotional than their first album, as the lyrics (written by McDougall) focus on her struggle with eczema as well as the pain of losing friends and broken relationships. The album ended up becoming their most successful yet, charting at #5 in Australia, and it remains their only album to reach the top 5. Lead single "Lonely Girl" is also the band's most popular song, and most viewed music video with over seven million views. 

After the success of The Other Side, the band was under pressure to come back with an even bigger, better album. However, on their third album Limitless, they decided to take a completely different track than their previous efforts. Limitless drops most of the heavy guitars and loud drums and replaces them with light, airy pop-rock led by electronics and Jenna McDougall's powerful yet intelligently restrained vocals. While this change in sound disappointed many fans, the band didn't lose their penchant for catchy melodies and biting lyrics, as Limitless is a story of self-empowerment and becoming a better person. The single "Drive" is the best example of the overall sound and message of Limitless. 

Since the release of Limitless, Tonight Alive have been touring relentlessly as well as working on their yet to be named fourth album. The band released the single "World Away" as a standalone song between albums, and is set to release the lead single from their fourth album in the coming days. If their past efforts are anything to go by, it'll be yet another enjoyable album from the Australian rockers.