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. 

Top 5 Albums - September 2017

5. Nothing But Thieves, Broken Machine

Nothing But Thieves' self-titled debut gained them quite a following. Their first record combined driving alt-rock with smart pop sensibilities, enshrining the British natives as the "next big thing" on UK rock radio. Their follow up to that record comes in the form of Broken Machine, and sees the group continuing their "Jeff Buckley meets Muse" sound that was the centerpiece of their first record. This time, the band have tuned in even more on their pop influences, creating eleven alt-rock tracks that manage to be catchy and fun while still being interesting and original. They don't reinvent the wheel here, but what they do, they do well.

Rating: B

Recommended Tracks: "Amsterdam", "Sorry", "Particles"

4. Lights, Skin & Earth

In the world of pop music, it can be hard to stand out as something different and unique. But Lights, with her sweet, sugary tone and personal lyrics, has always felt like an anomaly in the world of pop. Her brightly colored hair and tattooed skin certainly catches the eye, perfectly matching the addicting melodies and bright synths found in her music. Each Lights album has carried a certain tone: with the spacey sounds of debut The Listening, the deserted wasteland of Siberia, and the futuristic optimism of Little Machines, Lights has always strived to do something different. Her fourth record Skin & Earth is a post-apocalyptic story of adventure and romance, complete with an accompanying comic book written and drawn by the singer herself. The sweet, delicate synthpop is back in the form of "Kicks" and "Skydiving", while the guitar-driven grit of "Savage", which features twenty one pilots drummer Josh Dun, brings something new to the table. 

Rating: B 

Recommended Tracks: "Kicks", "Skydiving", "New Fears"

3. The National, Sleep Well Beast

When you've been around for nearly two decades, and your past five albums have all been met with critical fervor and acclaim, there comes a certain expectation with every new release. With Sleep Well Beast, indie rock veterans The National meet all expectations, and deliver the quality that's always expected of their work. The lyrics of Sleep Well Beast, as usual, revolve around a certain point in vocalist Matt Berninger's life. This time, the album revolves around his recent marriage, and the lyrics are just as potent as ever. However, unlike the dark and cryptic messages found in their past releases, this album carries a brightness to it that is new for the group. Overall, Sleep Well Beast is possibly The National's most experimental release yet, and a great experiment at that. 

Rating: B+

Recommended Tracks: "Nobody Else Will Be There", "Day I Die", "Sleep Well Beast"

2. Enter Shikari, The Spark

Change is something that all artists must undergo if they want to remain interesting, especially several albums into their career. Enter Shikari are normally known as a electronic-influenced post-hardcore band, but for their fifth LP The Spark, the band have shed most of their heavy roots and opted for a poppier sound, bringing the electronics to the forefront. The distorted guitars of the past are replaced mostly with clean riffs and a focus on catchy hooks and melodies. The result is a dystopian-esque pop-rock album that sounds both retro and futuristic at once, a mishmash of styles from the house-tinged sound of "Rabble Rouser" to the tranquil Japanese influenced "Shinrin-Yoku". Make no mistake, The Spark is the best effort the Shikari boys have put out yet.

Rating: B+

Recommended Tracks: "Live Outside", "Rabble Rouser", "An Ode To Lost Jigsaw Pieces"

1. Sufferer, Sufferer

Supergroups are often a bad idea; a hamfisted attempt at combining the name recognition of several bands for a quick money grab. So when members of post-hardcore groups A Lot Like Birds, Hail the Sun, and I The Mighty got together to write a concept record about "a day in the life of someone who suffers from severe anxiety", you could color me intrigued. After two long years of buildup, the result of this project is finally here, and it's fantastic. The three vocalists: Cory Lockwood, Shane Gann, and Forrest Wright, all portray a different "voice" in the characters head. These are his depression, his anxiety, and the character himself, respectively. The music is chaotic and frantic with small moments of peace and solace sprinkled in as it goes through the roller coaster of emotions that depression and anxiety can bring. The lyrics are poignant and real, without being cheesy or over-the-top. The end product is an honest, eye-opening, artistically unique piece of music that deserves all the praise it gets and more. A fantastic effort.

Rating: A-

Recommended Tracks: All of them, this is an album that has to be listened to in full.

Vinyl Records: Why They're Still the Best Way to Listen to Music

The vinyl record is a form of recorded music that has been around since 1877, when Thomas Edison invented the phonograph. Throughout its history, vinyl has undergone many periods of massive popularity, especially in the early-to-mid 20th century, until CD's and eventually digital files overtook it as the masses preferred avenue of music consumption. However, vinyl has been making a comeback in recent years, not only with older music listeners looking for the nostalgia of their younger days, but with millennials as well. Why is this? Well, here are just some of the reasons why vinyl is still the best way to listen to music today.

1. Better Sound Quality

One of the biggest advantages vinyl has over digital is sound quality. The way digital files are created, much of the audio is compressed and distorted -- or even lost completely -- in order to make space for more files on a listener's phone or mp3 player. However, in doing this digital files lose a lot of the depth and clarity of the music. Vinyl, on the other hand, doesn't run into any of these problems. The recordings found in the grooves of a vinyl record are perfect representations of how the artist intended their music to be heard, and not a single frequency goes unheard. Because of this, vinyl has a much fuller sound, making it a much more satisfying listening experience than digital.

2. Vinyl is more than just an auditory experience.

When we think of our music listening experience, we focus on the sounds that we're hearing and not much else, right? Now what if I told you that the experience of listening to music could be so much more than that. When you buy a vinyl record, it comes in a huge 12" sleeve, with album art big enough so you can actually see the detail. Many records come in what is called a "gatefold" sleeve, one that opens up like a book, revealing even more art on the inside. To add to this, some records come in beautiful colored vinyl patterns, such as the pressing of Mae's "The Everglow" pictured below.

3. You can make money from vinyl

When you buy a digital music file, there's nothing you can do to get your money back if you decide you don't like the music. However, when you buy vinyl, not only can you make your money back, but you can actually make more money than you originally spent. The vinyl community is very active on sites such as Discogs and eBay, where hundreds of records are sold every day. Since records are pressed in limited quantities, their value goes up as time passes, rather than down. This means that if you have records that you aren't interested in listening to anymore, you can just sell them to someone else, often times for more money than you originally bought them for. 

These three tips are just some of the reasons why vinyl is still the best way to listen to music, even though digital has become more popular. Even with the convenience and portability of digital, nothing beats the experience of dropping the needle and hearing those first few notes in full clarity. 

Artist Spotlight: I The Mighty

The world of post-hardcore is ripe with top quality bands these days, with the likes of Dance Gavin Dance, Hands Like Houses, Too Close to Touch and more all finding success. One of these bands that fuses hardcore music with pop and alternative sensibilities is San Francisco-based quartet I The Mighty.

I The Mighty began in 2007, when high school friends Brent Walsh (vocals, guitar) and Ian Pedigo (guitar) decided to teach themselves to play guitar and start a band. Their first EP, in 2008, was an acoustic self-titled EP performed by the duo. They then recruited Chris Hinkley (bass) and Blake Dahlinger (drums) to complete the band's lineup.

The group self-released their second EP, Hearts and Spades, in 2010. This caught the attention of several record labels, and the band eventually signed with Equal Vision Records before releasing their third EP Karma Never Sleeps in 2012.

Finally, I The Mighty's first major label full-length record was released in 2013. The album, titled Satori, was met with positive reviews from critics around the country. The album combines post-hardcore with a tinge of progressive and alternative rock, resulting in a unique sound spearheaded by vocalist Walsh's smooth clean vocals and raspy screams. Satori also spawned the single "Speak to Me", which remains I The Mighty's most viewed music video on Youtube. Check it out below:

After the success of Satori, the pressure was on for the band to follow it up with an even better record. Their next effort came in 2015, in the form of Connector. This album added some pop and electronic elements to the progressive post-hardcore sound of Satori. Fortunately, this experimentation worked, and Connector was also met with a positive reception from both critics and fans alike. Listen to the fan-favorite single from Connector, "Psychomachia" here:

Since the release of Connector, I The Mighty have been touring relentlessly, and even released an EP on the side titled Oil and Water. This EP contains mellow, stripped back remixes of several songs from Connector. The band's third album, titled Where the Mind Wants to Go/Where You Let it Go is slated for release on October 20th, 2017. The lead single, "Silver Tongues", features vocalist Tilian Pearson from Dance Gavin Dance. Watch the music video below, and check out more information at ithemighty.com

Album Series Review: The Dear Hunter - Acts I-V

The art of the concept album is one that many have tried their hand at, with varying degrees of success. From Green Day's American Idiot to Pink Floyd's The Wall, concept albums have been popular in the music world for decades. However, The Dear Hunter, a progressive rock band hailing from Providence, Rhode Island, have gone far beyond one's normal expectations of a concept record.

Led by lead singer and songwriter Casey Crescenzo, The Dear Hunter have created the Acts saga, a series of 5 albums all connected by one interwoven story. To claim that what The Dear Hunter has accomplished with the Acts series is extraordinary would be putting it mildly. Truthfully speaking, these 5 albums are some of the best pieces of music created in the 21st century, and possibly among the biggest achievements in music's history. So without further ado, let's get into the albums.

Act I: The Lake South, The River North

The Acts series starts with Act I: The Lake South, The River North. This first album, released in 2006, introduces many of the principle characters of the story, as well as their origins. The protagonist of the series, Hunter, is born in the late 1800s to a prostitute named Ms. Terri. The owner of the brothel she works at, The Pimp & the Priest (TP&TP), is the primary antagonist of the story. He poses as a priest in order to gain favor with the people, so his brothel can be run peacefully. TP&TP beats and abuses Ms. Terri, so she escapes the city that they are living in to a place called "The Lake & The River". This is detailed in the song fittingly titled 'City Escape'. The rest of the album details Hunter's childhood, as well as including an introductory song for The Pimp & the Priest. At the end of the album, Ms. Terri dies of natural causes, leaving a now-teenage Hunter alone in the world.

Sound wise, the album is very cabaret-influenced progressive rock, sounding like a more experimental version of popular pop-rock group Panic! at the Disco at times. There are quite a few interesting time signatures, most notably in the song '1878' which is primarily written in 7/8. There's also a wide range of instruments in use on the album, something that only expands further along in the series. One will hear all the standard rock instruments (guitar, drums, bass, keyboard) accompanied by trumpets, cellos, and various other instruments. The album is also the shortest in the Acts series, at only 39 minutes. Use the video below to listen to standout track 'The Pimp and the Priest'.

Act II: The Meaning of, & All Things Regarding Ms. Leading

Act II: The Meaning of, & All Things Regarding Ms. Leading, picks up right where Act I left off. After Ms. Terri's death, Hunter gets a train ticket to return to the city that they escaped from when he was a newborn. While in the city, he stumbles upon The Dime, which happens to be the brothel that his mother worked at. The Dime also happens to be right next door to the church of the city. Of course, he runs into The Pimp & the Priest, who sees the young teenager as a way to make easy money at his brothel. TP&TP introduces Hunter to Ms. Leading, a prostitute who works at the brothel. Hunter ends up falling in love with Ms. Leading, and is then heartbroken when he sees her with another man. At the end of the album, Hunter decides to leave the city to fight in "The Great War", which is understood to be World War I.

The sound of Act II expands upon Act I. The songs are more structured, and the fact that there are 15 tracks instead of 8 allows the band to experiment with more sounds. There's much more piano on this record compared to Act I, as it is now the primary instrument heard along with the guitars. There are also several other new instruments used, such as a glockenspiel and a harp. The album is also slightly heavier than its predecessor, with vocalist Casey using raspier vocals in certain parts to elicit more emotion. As with any Dear Hunter album, there is plenty of experimentation as well. 'Blood of the Rose' is a cello-driven track with Spanish lyrics, while 'Evicted' sees the band try their hand at the interesting and uncommon 5/4 time signature. Act II is also much longer than Act I, at an hour and 16 minutes. Listen to standout track 'Red Hands' below:

Act III: Life & Death

Act III: Life and Death details the events of World War I from Hunter's perspective. Early in the album, Hunter and his squad come across and enemy tank, and he barely escapes with his life. While wandering alone trying to find his way back to camp, Hunter comes across a rogue doctor who poisons wounded soldiers instead of healing them. The poison woman gives him a bottle of poison to keep. Later, Hunter runs into a thief who is looting the corpses of soldiers. He joins the thief as they return to camp, but they run into a battlefield covered in mustard gas. However, Hunter is able to make it back safely when he is saved by another soldier who looks similar to him. Back at camp, the leader of Hunter's platoon tells a story about how he got several women pregnant at a brothel back in the city. The men then go off to battle, where Hunter's friend dies in his arms. Before his death, he reveals to Hunter that they are half-brothers and the platoon leader is their father. Enraged that his father shows no remorse for his son's death, Hunter poisons him and steals his half-brothers identity as he plans to return to the city.

Act III is far more bombastic than the previous two records. Strings and horns play a much bigger role, creating an epic-sounding, huge record. Saxophones, trombones, and french horns all enter the mix and result in the most full-sounding album yet in the Acts series. There's also a great contrast between the battle songs such as 'In Cauda Venenum' and 'Mustard Gas', and the slower songs like 'This Beautiful Life' and 'Saved'. Of course, there's plenty more experimentation to be had as well, such as banjo-led track 'Go Get Your Gun'. Check out standout track 'In Cauda Venenum' below:

Act IV: Rebirth in Reprise

Act IV: Rebirth in Reprise came out six years after the previous album in the series, the largest gap of any of the albums. So in a way, it was the "rebirth" of the Acts series. In Act IV, Hunter returns to the city, posing as his half-brother. On his way to the city, he reminisces about his love for Ms. Leading, hoping that he may see her again upon his return. When he reaches the city, Hunter finds out that The Dime has closed while he was away. Hunter meets his half-brother's fiance, and very quickly forgets about Ms. Leading, instead getting the fiance pregnant. One night, Hunter goes out on the town and gets drunk, and runs into Ms. Leading again, who is working as a bartender. However, they don't interact as he only catches a fleeting glance at her. However, being reminded of Ms. Leading is enough to cause Hunter to enter a deep depression, and when the fiance realizes something is wrong she encourages him to visit the church. At the church, Hunter sees his arch-enemy once again, The Pimp & The Priest. With his brothel closed, TP&TP is now posing as a doctor, scamming the people of the city for money. Hunter decides to use his fake identity to run for mayor and oust TP&TP to the city as a fraud. Hunter ends up winning the election, but his plan is foiled when TP&TP reveals that he knew his real identity all along. TP&TP then blackmails Hunter into reopening The Dime and keeping his fraudulent activities a secret, threatening to reveal Hunter's true identity to the people otherwise.

Act IV is far, far more orchestral and layered than the previous albums sound-wise. For this record and the following Act V the band was able to use a full, live orchestra to record all the string and horn parts. This, along with better production values, allows for a more full and satisfying sound. This also allows for many, many more instruments to be used in the album. These new instruments include the flute, the oboe, the piccolo, the bassoon and contrabassoon, the clarinet, the tuba, and many more. Act IV is also the most varied album in the series, with many styles present throughout. Lead single 'Waves' is a calm, simple indie rock song, while 'A Night on the Town' is a 9-minute long epic filled with horns and strings. Meanwhile, 'The Bitter Suite IV&V' sound similar to a Disney villain track. The album also holds disco track 'King of Swords (Reversed)' and an electronic rock song in 'Wait'. Listen to standout track 'Waves' below: 

Act V: Hymns with the Devil in Confessional

Act V: Hymns with the Devil in Confessional is the most recent album in the Acts series to date, and marks the climax of the story. The album takes place nearly a decade after the events of Act IV, and Hunter has been mayor for that time. The Dime has reopened, and The Pimp & the Priest is more powerful than ever, with the city's mayor in his clutches. Hunter has also started an affair with Ms. Leading in between albums, yet another thing that TP&TP has to use against him as blackmail. Juggling his duties as the mayor and a father along with the pressure of TP&TP knowing his secrets, Hunter has developed an opium addiction. At the midpoint of Act V, a powerful businessman by the name of Mr. Usher arrives in the city, wanting to expand his business. Hunter is ambivalent towards Mr. Usher, but plots to use his business expansions to overthrow TP&TP once and for all. However, TP&TP is once again one step ahead of Hunter, and has already struck a deal with Mr. Usher to keep The Dime intact. As revenge for attempting to overthrow him, TP&TP kills Ms. Leading. He also reveals Hunter's true identity to the people of the city, and that Hunter killed his own father. Enraged, Hunter decides to take matters into his own hands, and sets The Dime ablaze, burning it down along with the church. This results in a furious mob appearing at Hunter's doorstep, demanding he pay for his crimes. TP&TP enters Hunter's house to negotiate with him, and Hunter stabs him before killing himself.

Act V is by far the darkest sounding album in the Acts, to go along with the dark lyrical themes revolving around death and drug addiction. Instrumentally, the album uses many of the same styles as Act IV as they were actually recorded at the same time. There's a 40s/50s sounding swing track in 'Mr. Usher (On His Way to Town)', as well as a western style song in 'The Most Cursed of Hands/Who Am I'. Acoustic number 'Light' is also different for the Acts, as acoustic songs have been few and far between. Listen to standout track 'The Revival' with the video below:

That concludes our review of the Acts series by The Dear Hunter. There is still one more album planned for the series, Act VI, but no details have been given by the band regarding the release of the final album. In the meantime, you can check out more information about the band and their music at www.thedearhunter.com. 

Top 5 Albums - August 2017

5. Neck Deep, The Peace and the Panic

Neck Deep carved out big expectations for their third record after their second album Life's Not Out to Get You launched them into pop-punk's elite. Fortunately, The Peace and the Panic sees the Welsh group further develop and hone their sound, while not losing the catchiness and addictive qualities that made their last record so great. While The Peace and the Panic may not reach the consistent level of quality offered by it's predecessor, songs such as "In Bloom" and "Don't Wait", which includes a feature from Architects vocalist Sam Carter, may very well be the best tracks the band has released to date. 

Rating: B+

Recommended tracks: "In Bloom", "Don't Wait", "Motion Sickness"

4. PVRIS, All We Know of Heaven, All We Need of Hell

Pvris certainly know how to craft an atmosphere. All We Know of Heaven, All We Need of Hell, the follow up to their debut album White Noise, is a dark, driven alt-pop experience, perfectly in line with their moody black-and-white aesthetic. While the band's last effort had it's fair share of upbeat, poppy moments, All We Know of Heaven... strips all of these away, doubling down on the darker, more atmospheric elements of their sound. Meanwhile, harp interludes played by Mikaela Davis string the whole thing together in a wonderfully cohesive package. 

Rating: B+

Recommended Tracks: "Half", "What's Wrong", "Anyone Else"

3. Wage War, Deadweight

Metalcore has been on the decline for a few years now. With the largest bands in the genre (Bring Me the Horizon, Of Mice & Men) opting to turn towards a nu-metal/radio rock sound, the visceral heaviness of years past has been seemingly forgotten. Well, not if Wage War has anything to say about it. The Ocala-based group are back with the follow-up to their 2015 debut Blueprints, once again produced by A Day to Remember vocalist Jeremy McKinnon. Deadweight takes the formula the band employed on Blueprints and improves nearly everything. Melodies are catchier, breakdowns are heavier, and the vocals display a range not seen before in Wage War's discography. Overall, a delightfully brutal record.

Rating: A-

Recommended Tracks: "Witness", "My Grave is Mine to Dig", "Southbound"

2. Brand New, Science Fiction

The eight year wait was worth it. Nearly a decade after their last album Daisy, Brand New have finally graced the music world with a new record, and it's yet another fantastic outing for the kings of emo. Amid rumors of the band's time coming to an end, when it looked as if that elusive fifth album would never see the light of day, Science Fiction came seemingly out of nowhere to blast Brand New to the top of the charts. While it doesn't quite reach the heights of magnum opus The Devil and God are Raging Inside Me, it comes damn close, and that alone is enough to get excited about.

Rating: A

Recommended Tracks: "Can't Get It Out", "Waste", "137"

1. Young Lions, Mr. Spaceman

Young Lions are now three fantastic albums into their career, and yet they still bubble underground, unknown and underappreciated. Their latest masterpiece, Mr. Spaceman, is the band's first attempt at a concept record. The story of a man lost in space, the album portrays the feelings of loneliness, discovery, and introspection in a beautifully poignant manner. Combining sounds of alternative juggernauts Coldplay, Muse, and Thirty Seconds to Mars, with a touch of Young Lions' unique post-hardcore flair, Mr. Spaceman just may be one of the best records of the decade so far. 

Rating: A

Recommended Tracks: "Destroy Me", "Blue Heaven", "Headspace"

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