Human Ruins - 2013 - Demo

Human Ruins is a five piece hardcore band from Melbourne, Australia. Demo is their debut. Human Ruins play a brand of hardcore that can do sludge as well as hardcore speeds while remaining as heavy as they can.



The EP slow burns with the heavy thud of Pandemic but the title track picks up speed which never fully leaves. In The Deep is a real highlight with a spiraling riff and some vocals that could be in a black metal song. If you like your hardcore with a little sludge stomp, Human Ruin's Demo will serve well.

No Crosses - 2013 - Demo

No Crosses is a hardcore punk band from Denver, Colorado, America. Demo is their debut EP. No Crosses play a noisy brand of hardcore punk with some ugly vocals and members also play in Negative Degree. They rip through these five songs, leaving only some gristle and well chewed bones behind. A contender for one of the best EP's of the year. The vocals are buried into the mix and distorted to the maximum and No Crosses are garnering comparisons to band like Strangers, Pukeoid, Aerosols & Sweet Tooth. If you like your hardcore fast and indecipherable, No Crosses' Demo will serve well.

WVRM - 2013 - Despair

WVRM is a heavy band from Greenville, South Carolina, USA. Despair is their debut EP. WVRM (or maybe WURM or WORM) play a brand of grindcore that brings in elements of death metal and powerviolence. The singer has a voice that would be equally at home fronting a death metal band and the guitars would only need to be less thrashy and they could easily play death metal. As it is they switch back and forth between fast grindy hardcore and mid speed thrashy hardcore all while the vocalist screatches and grows like a Nordic demon. I'm not quite sure what to label this other than as extremely aggressive and intensely heavy. If you like your heavy music eclectic but never forgetting to to truly bring it, WVRM's Despair will serve well. Thanks to Dead Air At The Pulpit.

Vessel - 2013 - God.Queen.War.

Vessel is a five piece hardcore punk band from Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA. God.Queen.War. is their debut LP courtesy of Wasted Life Records. Vessel play a progressive brand of hardcore that brings in elements of progressive metal and metalcore but never lets them outweigh the hardcore base. Vessel cites bands like Converge, Dillinger Escape Plan and Eyehategod while garnering comparisons to bands like Botch, Reproacher, Seizures, Convul, and Bone Dance. If Killswitch Engage didn't have a melodic component it might come out like this. A strong contender for one of the top LP's of the year, I would list my favourite tracks but that would be pretty much every one. If you like your hardcore to be a little progressive but never leave their hardcore roots, Vessel's God.Queen.War. will serve well. Thanks to Manic Compression.

Danger! Danger! - 2013 - Of Death

Danger! Danger! is a hardcore punk band from Tübingen, Germany. Of Death is their debut EP. This album is being released by Spastic Fantastic and Crapoulet records



They blaze through these six songs in about nine minutes, the longest barely breaking two minutes. This is politically charged hardcore and not afraid of wearing their ideologies on their sleeves.

 

 Reminds me of Napolean Dynamite if they had the political opinions of the Class War Kids instead of playing excellently silly pop punk.

Infest - 2013 - Days Turn Black

Infest is a four piece hardcore punk band from Valencia, California, America. Days Turn Black is their first new release in over a decade. They broke up in 1991 and reunited this year and are playing new shows. Days Turn Black isn't new music, the music was recorded summer 1995, vocals the subsequent next year and all these tracks are left over from original "No Man's Slave" sessions."



If you know Infest, you know what you're in for, if you don't and you like powerviolence, you are in for a treat. Thanks to We Last Longer.

Trauma Harness - 2013 - Dead And Loving It

Trauma Harness is a three piece punk band from Belleville & St Louis, USA. Dead And Loving It is their third release. Trauma Harness play a synth heavy, reverb drenched brand of moody post-punk. These songs are content to plod along at medium speed while conjuring demonic drones. Throw in a cover of Alice Cooper's (He`s Back) The Man Behind The Mask and what more could you ask for? If you like your post-punk with no artifice just lots of dark synths, Trauma Harness' Dead And Loving will serve well.

Dejection - 2013 - Dead Earth

Dejection is a one man instrumental heavy metal band from England. Dead Earth is their debut EP. Dejection plays a melodic, progressive brand of death metal that brings a djent sound to the table. These songs are heavy but never at the expense of the songwriting or the fluid riffing. Dejection cite bands like Veil Of Maya, Born Of Osiris, Auras and The Faceless. If John Petrucci's Suspended Animation had more of a death metal, djent feel to it it would sound like this. All of these songs combine traces of melody, sometimes with keyboards, alongside a focus on being crushingly heavy. If you like your metal blackened and with some djent, Dejection's Dead Earth will serve well.

Polar Bear Club - 2013 - Death Chorus

Polar Bear Club is a five piece punk rock band from Rochester and Syracuse, New York, USA. Death Chorus is their new LP. Polar Bear Club play a melodic brand of punk rock, this album moving into pop punk territory. Think more poppier brighter Make Do And Mend or Iron Chic and you won't be far off. This is an incredibly solid album, great song after great song though it is front loaded a tad. Not only will these songs bury their way into your ears just try sitting there and not singing along. It can't be done. An easy contender for album of the year. If you like your punk rock with a little gloss and excellent songs that reach for the rafters, Polar Bear Club's Death Chorus will serve well.

Stras X Ser - 2013 - Crowdkillcity

Stras X Ser is a four piece hardcore punk band. Crowdkillcity is their new EP. Stras X Ser play a sludgy brand of metallic hardcore. They rip through these five songs in less than five and a half minutes and with song titles like Welcome To Crowdkillcity and Monday Crowdkill have a clear focus on people beating the living shit out of each other in the pit. They cite bands like Xibalba, Harms Way, Nails and are garnering comparisons to bands like Harms Way, Weekend Nachos, and Trap Them. If you like your hardcore sludgy and metallic, and to serve as the backdrop for you beating the crap out of people at live show's, Stras X Ser's Crowdkillcity will serve well

Childish Gambino - 2013 - Because The Internet

Childish Gambino is a rapper from Stone Mountain, Georgia, USA. Because The Internet is his new LP. You might also know Childish Gambino by his birth name Donald Glover. He was a part of Derrick Comedy, wrote on 30 Rock, and co-starred on Community as Troy Barnes. He released his first EP in 2008, signed to Glassnote Reocrds in 2011, released his first LP Camp for them that year. Because The Internet finds Childish Gambino working with Ludwig Göransson who also collaborated on Camp and features guest spots from Chance The Rapper, Jhené Aiko and Azealia Banks.



Childish Gambino reminds me of Aesop Rock, Sage Francis and Death Grips because Gambino can be incredibly insular and cryptic, is stretching hip hop out and drawing in people who might not traditionally like hip hop and he uses sounds and samples that most other artists aren't using. The production on this album will be a block for some people. Childish Gambino is obviously a talented producer but these songs jump around too much, the beats change too dramatically too frequently. The highlight of that is the beats come from the worlds of pop, psychedelia, dance music and R&B. This album falls to the same thing that held me back from ultimately loving Camp, all the ingredients are here and they are excellently done but it just never explodes to me like it feels like it should. That doesn't mean I won't be listening to this consantly though, Because The Internet is chock full of great, catchy songs.

If you're willing to learn the intricacies of these songs there are treasures to be found but it's probably not a first listen kind of thing. Highlights include WORLDSTAR, Shadows, The Worst Guys Ft. Chance The Rapper, Telegraph Ave ("Oakland by Lloyd"), Shadows, 3005, Sweatpants,   If you like your hip hop of the underground variety Childish Gambino's Because The Internet will serve well.

Cassus - ¡Silencio, Ahora, Silencio! - 2013 - Split

Cassus is a four piece screamo band from Norwich, England. This split with ¡Silencio, Ahora, Silencio! is their second EP. Cassus play a take no prisoners brand of screamo. Right from the moment go they never let up for a moment until their closing track. If Loma Prieta weren't so chaotic it might come out like this. Highlights include Trilogy 1: Ostrich Hearts, Trilogy 2: A Thousand Tiny Explosions Of Glitter and Trilogy 3: All We'll Ever Need. If you like your screamo fast and heavy, Cassus's side of their split with ¡Silencio, Ahora, Silencio! will serve well.



¡Silencio, Ahora, Silencio! is a screamo band from Madrid, Spain. The split with Cassus is their fifth EP. ¡Silencio, Ahora, Silencio! play a lofi brand of screamo that draws from some slightly more melodic places than Cassus. I enjoyed their songs on both the demo and the 4 Way Split W​/​Todos Caerán, Book of Caverns and Lizards Have Personalities and these songs do not disappoint. These songs have time to stretch out and breath, allow a moment of melody before descending into complete chaos (Potentia Absoluta Dei (Unclean Version)). Highlights include Ser Humano & Il Est Bien Vengé Aka Miguel. If you like a distorted sense of chaos and melody in your screamo, ¡Silencio, Ahora, Silencio!'s side of their split with Cassus will serve well.

Dream Caste - 2013 - A Calmer Room

Dream Caste is a screamo band from California, USA. A Calmer Room is their debut EP. Dream Caste play a brand of screamo that pulls no punches. They incorporate bits of melody and gang vocals to great effect. There is little chaos here, only emotional carnage, desperate screams and raging guitars. Members have also played in Ezra, Summer Vacation, Ten Thousand Leagues, Moldar. La Bella and Wilderness. These five songs blaze by all to quickly, make sure to pick up a tape from either KYEO Speaks or Dreamdiver . Admittedly this demo does not sound the greatest but on the other hand I have come to almost prefer the lofi, garage demo sound. If you like your screamo scrappy and explosive Dream Caste's A Calmer Room will serve well.

InVolucian - 2013 - Cementerio De Sueños

InVolucian is a three piece thrash metal  band from Marín, Pontevedra. Cementerio De Sueños is their new LP. Members of InVolucian have also played in Ratxa Mala and Mother Skull. InVolucian play a brand of thrash metal that has learned the right lessons from thrash metal and can head in a crossover direction. The album starts off in a more hardcore direction but by the time Intifada makes its riffy entrance the future course is clear. None of these songs overstay their welcome, they speed on by with riffs to spare. Highlights include Cualquiera, A Lo Bonzo, Kbron, Democracia De Que, Intifada, La Resignacion, Va Por Ti, Vacaciones En El Palomares and InVolucion. If you like your thrash speedy yet still melodic, InVolucion's Cementerio De Sueños will serve well. Link courtesy of Ruido

Beastmilk - 2013 - Climax

Beastmilk is a four piece rock band from Helsinki, Finland. Climax is their third release. Beastmilk play a dark brand of rock they have branded apocalyptic death-rock.



If you were a fan of Terrible Feelings from a little while ago you will find similar music here. Generally Beastmilk play a dark tinged style of rock and roll drawing large influence from post-punk bands garnering comparisons to bands like Echo & The Bunnymen and Rocky Erikson. I would list my favourite songs but what's the point when it's almost every song. If you like dark, post-punk tinged rock Beastmilk's Climax will serve well. Link courtesy of Elementary Revolt. 

Blister Unit - 2013 - Christ Ape

Blister Unit is a two piece grindcore band from Prescott, Arizona, America. Christ Ape is their sixth release. Blister Unit play a straight ahead, take no prisoners brand of grindcore. They come roaring out of the gate at turbo speed on opening track Indigenous Nudity and continue in that vein  until Taung Child, the most melodic, post rock piece on this whole album, full of epic solos and quiet, ambient space. And then it's almost immediately back into the hardcore and grindcore of earlier. Highlights include Our Gang, Thing Baby, Coconut Collider, the aforementioned Taung Child and Indigenous Nudity, Christ Ape,  If you like your grindcore fast with just a hint of melody, Blister Unit's Christ Ape will serve well.

City Hunter - 2013 - City Hunter

City Hunter is a hardcore punk band. City Hunter is their new EP. I don't know what to say about this really, there's not much info about the band that I can find. The EP is released by Blackout Rage records, produced by Will Killingsworth and you can see more of the interesting packaging here. This release is three lofi songs that showcase a very thrashy brand of hardcore punk that isn't afraid to stretch a little in the chaotic noise they make, Stab & Repeat being the best example of this. Easily one of the best EP's of the year. If you like hardcore punk and are willing to suffer the lofi production, City Hunter's City Hunter will reward you.

Distaste - 2013 - Black Age Of Nihil

Distaste is a three piece blackened hardcore band from Linz, Upper Austria, Austria. Black Age Of Nihil is their third release.  Distaste plays a dark brand of hardcore that borrows liberally from grindcore and death metal in building its savage attack which makes it hard to categorize. Members also play in Afgrund, GodHateCode and Underground Groove Front, The basis for these songs is hardcore punk but they are built into terrifying colossal songs that create an atmosphere of dread and raw brutality. Highlights include Enslaved, Einsamkeit, Force-Fed Lies,Regress,   This whole album is played at turbo speed which only adds to the frantic energy. If you like your hardcore super fast and with liberal doses of both black metal and grindcore, Distaste's Black Age Of Nihil will serve well.  

Make Do And Mend - The Flatliners - 2013

Make Do And Mend are a four piece post-hardcore band from Boston, Connecticut, USA. The split with The Flatliners is their seventh release. They have also put out a split with Touché Amoré and have toured with bands like  The Wonder Years, Set Your Goals, Shook Ones, Comeback Kid and Title Fight Polar Bear Club, Fireworks, Balance and Composure and Such Gold

The Flatliners are a four piece punk from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The split with Make Do And Mend is their 11th release. They have put out splits with bands like The Snips, Dead To Me and ASTPAI and toured
with bands like

Braille - 2013 - Braille

Braille is a four piece hardcore punk band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Braille is their third release and their second self titled album. Braille play a melodic, noisy brand of screamo with the vocals low in the mix. Braille is capable of both driving melody and moments of spastic noise. Abate Of Florida starts with a squeal but evolves into a hard driving dissonant riff before stopping and starting again right where it left off while White Braille and Sensitive Teeth never stray far from their melodic, over driven roots. Highlights include Trane Fake, White Braille, Sensitive Teeth and Hong Kong Means Freedom. If you like your screamo some noise, Braille's Braille will serve well.

Holy - 2013 - The Age Of Collapse

Holy is a four piece hardcore punk band from Milano, Italy. Age Of Collapse is their sophomore LP. Holy play a crusty brand of d-beat unafraid of spinning into some powerviolence chaos. They are drawing comparisons to bands like Left For Dead and and Needles. They blast through in 14 songs in just 23 minutes, all of these songs are abrasive, heavy and as in your face as possible. Highlights include War, Ramparts, The End Of All Hope, Old Habits, Restart and Restless If you like your hardcore crusty and relatively straightforward, Holy's Age Of Collapse will serve well.

Kato - 2013 - Buried With The Rain

Kato is a hardcore punk band from Charlotte Hill, North Carolina. Buried With The Rain is their debut EP. Kato plays a thrashy brand of hardcore punk that carries itself with a blackened metal personality. These songs are just as likely to get stuck in some grinding doom as they are speedy hardcore. If you like your hardcore with some blackened metal influences, Kato's Buried With The Rain will serve well.

Baron Samedi - 2013 - Baron Samedi

Baron Samedi is a three piece garage punk band from Zaragoza, Spain. Baron Samedi is their debut ep. Baron Samedi plays a brand of garage rock that owes as much to Roky Erikson and the 13th Floor Elevators as to surf music and to the sixties in general. At their best Baron Samedi can crank out some shaggy garage rock with their freak flag flying high but at their worst all they do is refilter some psychedelia.  Indian Eagle (Skating Like Bullshit) has a classic freak out middle portion and never rises above shaggy dog status after opening with a hardcore rager Radio Sucks. The Frog (R.I.P.) apes their influences well but never rise above them.  Highlights include Radio Sucks, D.R.U.G. and I'm A Posh. If you like your hardcore sloppy and from the lofi confines of a garage with a fearless throwback vibe Baron Samedi's Baron Samedi will serve well.

Industrial Park - 2013 - Cold White EP

Industrial Park is a two piece post-punk band from Portland, Oregan, America. Cold White is their second album. Industrial Park play a cold, driven and deadpan brand of post-rock. If Interpol relied more on droning noise to conjure atmosphere  it might sound like this. There is some Sonic Youth influences in the dead pan vocals and the abrasive guitar noise. These songs range from straight forward repetitive drone to a louder, harsher, oppresive drone. Highlights include Parallel Lines, Hollow Walls, and Cold White. If you like some cold, dark post-punk, Industrial Park's Cold White will serve well.

Fallstreak - 2013 - The Feels

Fallstreak is a four piece post-hardcore band from Baltimore, Maryland, USA. All The Feels is their debut EP. Fallstreak plays a brand of post-hardcore that heavily incorporates emo into their soundwriting, citing bands like Defeater, We Were Promised Jetpacks, Moving Mountains and Pianos Become the Teeth. Highlights include Hollow, Pressure, Trap and Change. If you like your post-hardcore with some noodly emo influences then Fallstreak's All The Feels will serve well.

Makeshift Shelters - 2013 - The Cautious End Of Things

Makeshift Shelters are a four piece emo band from Washington, DC, USA. The Cautious End Of Things is their debut EP. Makeshift Shelters play an indie rock influenced brand of emo. The title track brings in lots of driving, melodic guitars underneath a melodic female voice and is one of the best songs I've heard in a long time meanwhile Thin Yellow Line intertwines multiple vocalists over twinkly riffs spiraling upwards. This EP is bookended with the more driving songs, with the twinkle and ambient pieces in the middle. Highlights include the title track and Overflowing. If you like your emo with a plaintive female singer and alternatively twinkly and driving emo then Makeshift Shelter's The Cautious End Of Things will serve well.

Akupunktura - 2013 - Akupunktura

Akupunktura is a hardcore punk band from Madrid, Spain. Akupunktura is their debut LP. They play a raggedy brand of hardcore that liberally sprinkles in ska and street punk. Akupunktura is able to jump fluidly from hardcore punk into ska on songs like Asesinx, and Terrorcracia while working the hardcore side of the street on songs like Tripalium. Reminds me of Leftover Crack in the vearing from raggedy straight ahead into ska and right back again. If you like your hardcore with some horns and skanking, Akupunktura's Akupunktura will scratch that itch.

Heartless - 2013 - Certain Death

Heartless is a hardcore punk band from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Certain Death is their fifth release. Heartless plays a crusty brand of hardcore punk that borrows liberally from the grindcore and powerviolence side of things. They blaze through these 8 songs in 12 minutes, leaving me wanting more. If you like your hardcore with some crust Heartless` Certain Death will serve well.

Volatile - 2013 - Chin Check

Volatile is a four piece hardcore punk band from North Eastern Connecticut, USA. Chin Check is their debut EP. They make short work of these three songs, the singer is capable of spitting words quickly and shouting with power. The guitars are excellent at both the raging speed of D and the downtempo stomp of Play For Keeps. Highly recommended. if you like your hardcore to pull no punches and get the job done quickly Volatile's Chin Check will serve well.

Psychic Teens - 2013 - COME

Psychic Teens is a three piece post-punk band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, America. COME is their new LP. Psychic Teens play a noisy brand of post-punk, layers of distortions and synths everywhere with an expressively droney vocalist. The singer does a talk singing thing not too far from Iggy Pop or Lou Reed. On songs like H#TE and RIP Psychic Teens conjure a electronic tinged garage punk noise storm hides it's surprises under layers of guitars. If Destruction Unit weren't focused on harshing your buzz they might sound like Psychic Teens. Highlights include LESS, COME and the aforementioned H#TE and RIP. If you like your post-punk with liberal doses of noise then Psychic Teen's COME will serve well.

Coke Bust - 2013 - Confined

Coke Bust is a four piece hardcore punk band from Washington, DC, USA. Confined is their sixth release. Coke Bust play a ragged straight edge brand of hardcore punk. They blast through these 9 songs in less than 9 minutes and it's a miracle they don't fall apart at any time. These songs are designed for maximum carnage and heaviness. Highlights include Identity Destruction, Confined, Red Line and Sent In Circles. If you like your hardcore a little lofi and a pissed the fuck off, Coke Bust's Confined will serve well.

Iron Chic - 2013 - The Constant One

Iron Chic is a five piece punk rock band from Long Island, New York, USA. The Constant One is their new LP.  Iron Chic play a brand of pop punk that has equal footing in pop punk and the other in emo.  Think along the lines of RVIVR or Make Do And Mend with  with gruff but still catchy vocals and you won't be far off.  Iron Chic also remind me of The Menzingers with the little indie rock thrown in occasionaly. There are multiple melodic guitar riffs go every which way and the whole album seems written as if to be shouted along with. A strong contender for album of the year on some lists. Here is where I would sometimes list my favourite songs but I'm not going to list almost every song on here. If you don't mind your emo wearing the clothes of pop punk, Iron Chic's The Constant One should serve well. Link and discography courtesy of Cut & Paste.

Peace Be Still - 2013 - EP

Peace Be Still is a four piece post-hardcore band from Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. Untitled is their new EP. Peace Be Still play a brand of post-hardcore heavenly influenced by the emo side of things. Their debut LP 64 had a more pop punk vibe to it while this new EP focuses on a more post-hardcore sound, even verging to hardcore at some point. Highly recommended. If you like your emo with some post-hardcore influences, Peace Be Still's new EP will serve well.

Foxing - 2013 - The Albatross

Foxing is a five piece emo band from Saint Louis, Missouri, USA. The Albatross is their fourth release, courtesy of Count Your Lucky Stars records. They play a melodic brand of midwest emo with a dash of twinkle and math. The Albatross is back loaded, it's not until Rory that things really start coming together. The guitars can have a little twinkle but it's never overwhelming, there are gang vocals for crowd shout a longs and the singer has a voice that some detractors will inevitably call whiny. The production only serves to fuzz everything into the nostalgia haze. Highlights include Inuit, Bit By A Dead Bee Pt 1 and Den Mother,   If you like your emo slow and brooding with only a sprinkle of twinkle Foxing's The Albatross will serve well.

Blare - 2013 - Blare

Blare is a hardcore punk band from Virginia, Maryland, USA. Blare is their debut EP. They play a straight forward brand of punk rock, heavy on the blaring distorted guitars and gang vocals. They barrel through  songs in 11 minutes and nearly all of them are excellent, speedy hardcore that sounds like they Blare is having a ton of fun. Highlights include I'm You, Reasons, Verbally Empty and Kids. If you like your hardcore blaring and to the point, Blare's Blare will serve well.

Big Eyes - 2013 - Almost Famous

Big Eyes is a three piece rock band from Seattle, Washington, USA. Almost Famous is their sixth release. Big Eyes play straight ahead brand of punk rock with a female lead singer. They sound like if The Demonics didn't play surf punk or if the Ramones played power pop and owed a debt of rock and roll styling to Joan Jett. At their best Big Eyes can crank out some high energy punked up rock and roll but at their worst the songs just sit there no matter how many times they hammer on the distortion peddle.  Highlights include Nothing You Could Say, Wanted Sometimes, The Sun Still Shines, Can't Catch A Break, I Think Of You and You Ain't The Only One. If you like your punk with some snot and straight ahead rock, Big Eyes' Almost Famous will serve well.

Rosetta - 2013 - The Anaesthete

Rosetta is a four piece from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, America. The Anaesthete is their fourth LP. Rosetta play a brand of metal that while loosely based in metal stretches out to include elements of post-metal and space rock. These songs are anchored in heavy metal but Rosetta's use of melody, electronics and a piano blast these songs into experimental territory. If Pink Floyd had a child with Neurosis and had it raised by Explosions In The Sky it might sound something like this. If you like your metal both heavy and experimental, Rosetta's The Anaesthete will serve well.

Dragline Speedway - 2013 - Black Thunder

Dragline Speedway are a five piece noise rock band. Black Thunder is their debut LP. Dragline Speedway features members of Killdozer, Terminal Cheesecake, Head of David, GOD, Transitional, Slab! and Laika and their LP features covers from bands like Scratch Acid, Killdozer, The Bastards, Slab! and Unholy Swill. Instrumentaly Dragline Speedway play a noisy brand of rock that owes some debt to the stoner school as well. This doesn't do a whole lot for me as the band never reaches beyond a mid tempo drone, nothing reaches out and grabs me. But if you like stoner metal and have a soft spot for Killdozer then Dragline Speedway's Black Thunder should serve well. Link courtesy of The Elementary Revolt

The Walkervilles - 2012 - Live At Mackenzie Hall

The Walkervilles are a three piece rock band from Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Live At Mackenzie Hall is their debut LP. They play a soul infused brand of rock and roll that owes an obvious debt to Motown. Detroit is right across the river from Windsor so it's only natural these boys would learn some lessons in soul and songwriting. At their best The Walkervilles are a catchy, soulful trio that will swing away the night. They opened for Tedeschi Trucks Band in Winnipeg last week and blew the crowd away. Highlights include No California, Please Baby Stay, Tell Me How You Want Me, Misunderstandings (Holding You), This Morning, and Get Myself Into It. If you like your rock and roll with old school soul, The Walkervilles' Live At Mackenzie Hall will serve well.

Apocalyptic Terror - 2013 - Apocalyptic Terror

Apocalyptic Terror is a five piece hardcore punk band from Spain. These are tracks from their debut LP Apocalyptic Terror. They play a driving brand of d-beat crusty hardcore that never lets up for a moment. Think in the vein of Severed Head Of State and you won't be far off. The singer has a sharp, desperate bark of a shout that he uses constantly and the only hint of melody comes in the form of chaotic guitar solos that vanish as quickly as they came. Highlights include No Hay Futuro, Secos, Lobotomizados and El Latigo Imperialista. If you find yourself in need of some crusty d-beat, Apocalyptic Terror's Apocalyptic Terror will serve well.

Black Bass - 2013 - Black Bass

Black Bass are a two piece heavy metal band from Spain. Black Bass is their debut EP. They play a sludgy, catchy brand of metal. Think stoner metal like Fu Manchu and melodic sludgy metal like Torche and you won't be far off. The guitars are thick and fuzzy and the vocals are somewhat melodic and catchy which only serves to highlight the sludgy guitars.  Highlights include Muertos and Diosa De Fuego If you like your metal sludgy, catchy and scrappy, Black Bass' Black Bass will serve well.

Dead In The Dirt - 2013 - The Blind Hole

Dead In The Dirt are a three piece grindcore band from Atlanta, Georgia, USA associated with Southern Lord Records. The Blind Hole is their debut LP. If you like grindcore you will probably like this.

Rainmaker - 2013 - Alienation

Rainmaker is a screamo band from Eslov, Sweden. Alienation is their debut LP.  They play an aggressive brand of post-hardcore, starting with a screamo base but stretching out with some melody and a little ambient noise. If you threw The Saddest Landscape, Loma Prieta and some ambient music into a blender, the result wouldn't be far from this. The singer has an excellent desperate shout that he can push into a high pitched scream in multiple languages while the guitars go from raging to melodic and back on a dime. Highlights include Rather Die Young, Than Die Young At Heart, Farewell Swallows and Falling Off The Sky. If you like your screamo with a little ambient, Rainmaker's Alienation will serve well. 

Boatrocker - 2013- Antagonize

Boatrocker are a four piece post-hardcore band from Wilmington, Delaware, America. Antagonize is their new LP. Their music is rooted in hardcore but they draw heavily from both post-hardcore and emo schools. The guitars bring the melody and chaos and the singer puts his gruff below to great use. If Locktender were more concise it might come out something like this. They garner comparisons to Small Brown Bike. Highlights include Blind Spot, In The Key Of Atheism, Still Coming Up Short, White Noise and Nothing To Say.  Highly recommended. If you like your hardcore with a dose of post-hardcore and emo, Boatrocker's Antagonize will serve well

football, etc - 2013 - Audible

football, etc is a three piece indie rock band from Houston, Texas, America signed to Count Your Lucky Stars and strictly no capital letters. Audible is their new LP. football, etc play a melodic, emo brand of indie rock. They cite Mineral and The Breeders as influences. Highlights include Fair, Hut 1, Forfeit and Red Zone. If you like the soft, melodic indie rock infused with emo that Count Your Lucky Stars seems to specialize in, football, etc's Audible will serve well.

Death Grips - 2013 - Government Plates

Death Grips is a three piece experimental hip hop group for Sacarmento, California. USA. Government Plates is their new LP. I'm still absorbing this so I don't have too much to say. Death Grips play an abrasive, experimental brand of hip hop. I tend to describe these songs as schizophrenic, the beats are hyper fast, the singer is rarely anything less than terrifyingly intense and the atmosphere of chaos and tension they create is in a universe unto itself. If you like experimental hip hop, Death Grip's Government Plates will serve well.

Curmudgeon - 2013 - Amygdala

Curmudgeon is a three piece hardcore punk band from Boston, Massachusetts. Amygdala is their third EP recorded by Will Killingsworth at Dead Air Studios. Curmudgeon play a brand of hardcore that owes a debt to power violence. These songs burst out of the gate at top speed and only slow down to smash you over the head with sludgy riffs before exploding on a dime again. The production only serves to accent the crusty, sludgy nature of the guitars, Curmudgeon launch their thick sound directly at your vulnerable parts. Highlights include Tied Hands, Possess and Unchain.  If you like your hardcore punk with a little grind or a little power violence, Curmudgeon's Amygdala will serve well.

Helta Skelta - 2013 - Asbestos

Helta Skelta is a punk band from Perth, Australia. Asbestos is their new EP. The basis for these songs is still punk but Helta Skelta is injecting more melody into their tunes to broaden their songs a little. Face and Suedehead are more snotty hardcore while Rust and Smile on the a-side stretch out with some melody  but never moving much past punk. They are garnering comparisons to Violent Future, Chosen Few, Radio Birdman, Eddy Current and UV Race.   If you like a hint of melody in your punk, Helta Skelta's Asbestos will serve well.

Bug - 2013 - Atropos

Bug is a four piece hardcore punk band from Innsbruck, Austria. Atropos is their new LP. Bug plays an eclectic brand of hardcore punk bringing in sludge and noise rock to fuel their attack.  The guitar has a nice thick, distorted tone than can be pealed away for something approaching a melodic solo while the singer has a gruff shout that he puts to great use. Every song shows a different side of this band, a different facet they focus while still creating a coherent album that explodes at you from all directions. The Great Beast Speaks has an off kilter mathy rhythm while Jesus Wept tears everything apart before rebuilding a monstrous, sludgy beast and tearing it down again. If you like your hardcore chaotic and eclectic but still hard hitting, Bug's Atropos will serve well.

Celeste - 2013 - Animale(s)

Celeste is a four piece hardcore punk band from Lyons, France. Animale(s) is their fourth LP. It is a double album of blackened screamo which Celeste do well. These songs feel like hardcore or screamo songs that get stretched and morphed with black metal instrumentation into tools of darkness and doom. The screamo and hardcore influences keep the songs chaotic and bring an explosive energy. If you like your screamo blackened, Celeste's Animale(s) will serve well.

Dumah - 2013 - Caida Libre

Dumah is a hardcore punk band from San Jose, Costa Rica. Caida Libre is their debut EP. They play a straight forward brand of hardcore. The guitars are thick and distorted, the singer has desperate, angry shout and the songs come crashing down on you with no warning. If you like hardcore punk you will be served well by Dumah's Caida Libre.

Criminal Damage - 2013 - Call Of Death

Criminal Damage is a street punk band from Portland, Oregan, USA. Call Of Death is their new LP. Criminal Damage members have also played in  Deathreat, His Hero is Gone, Face Down, Rueben James, Call The Police and Well Away but this doesn't sound anything like those bands, instead playing an old school brand of street punk that would not be out of place in England in the late 70's. Reminds me of Kremlin in that old school hardcore and street punk vibe. Here's where I would list my favourite songs but this album is really solid. If you like your hardcore with an old school street punk vibe Criminal Damage's Call Of Death will serve well. Link via Subterranean Sedition

Chorygen - 2013 - Chorygen

Chorygen is a d-beat hardcore punk band from Lodz, Poland. Chorygen is their debut EP. Members have also played in ALERT! ALERT! & 45 Revolutions Per Minute. They play a vicious brand of crusty, sludgy d-beat, the lofi production only serves to create an atmosphere of fear and desperation whipped into a frenzy. These songs are a giant yet nimble beasts that will crush everything below them while simply walking around. If you like your hardcore with some crusty d-beat, Chorygen's Chorygen will serve well. Thanks to Dead Air At The Pulpit

CVNNT - 2013 - Charly Two-Shoes

CVNNT is a power violence band from the United Kingdom. Charly Two Shoes is their debut ep. They play a straight forward brand of grindcore liberally throwing in powerviolence and some hardcore by way of Converge. 10 Songs in under 7 minutes, you know what you're getting yourself into. Highlights include Your Mum, and Piss On Your Boots and The Moment Of Dying. If you like grindcore or powerviolence, CVNNT should serve well. Link courtesy of Dead At The Pulpit.

The Ground Is Lava - 2013- Bottle Rockets

The Ground Is Lava is a three piece emo band from Brunswick, Ohio, USA. Bottle Rockets is their second LP. They play a noodly, sloppy, melodic brand of emo. They pull influences from Algernon Cadwallader, Snowing and Cap'n Jazz creating a brand of emo that pulls energy from pop punk, twinkle from that side of emo and just a little math rock and post-punk in how they construct their songs. The singer has a desperate shout that can also be melodic and is accented by some shouted gang vocals while the guitars transition between twinkly and straight ahead emo. Highlights include Not Tonight, Jeff; Look, Babe, An Island (We Can Live On It); Nobody Likes You, Booster; If you like your emo with some twinkle and ramshackle feel The Ground Is Lava's Bottle Rockets will serve well.

Thumbsuckers - 2013 - Baby I'm Just A...Thumbsucker

Thumbsucker is a hardcore punk band from Chicago, Illinois, USA. Baby I'm Just A...Thumbsucker is their debut EP. They play a thrashy, lofi brand of hardcore punk that pulls no punches. They would remind me of Off! if the production was any better. If you like your hardcore punk desperate and lofi, Thumbsucker's Baby I'm Just A...Thumbsucker will serve well.

Terrible Feelings - 2013 - Backwoods

Terrible Feelings is a three piece rock band from Malmo, Sweden. Backwoods is their new EP. Terrible Feelings play a brand of rock and roll that throws proto punk and power pop into a melting pot, adding a little surf for energy. These three songs conjure a dark, melodic sound scape in which we can wallow and play. If you like your rock and roll with a driving beat and a darkly cool sense of melody Terrible Feeling's Backwoods will serve well.

Night Birds - 2013 - Born To Die In Suburbia

Night Birds is a four piece punk band from New Jersey, USA. Born To Die In Suburbia is their new LP. Night Birds play a brand of hardcore punk that is tempered by a heavy helping of surf rock. The opening instrumental track Escape from New York set the up tempo, melodic pace which holds through the whole album. The intro is the most obviously surf influenced track here but these songs are infused with a spastic energy that keeps everything moving at a breakneck pace. Highlights include Domestic Dispute, Ads In My Eyes, New Cults, Silver Alert, and the aforementioned Escape From New York. If you like your hardcore punk with lots of jump straight up and down energy Night Bird's Born To Die In Suburbia will serve well.

Into it Over It - 2013 - Intersections

Into It Over It is a project founded by Evan Thomas Weiss from Chicago, Illinois. Intersection is his new LP. Previously Evan has played in bands like The Progress, Up Up Down Down Left Right Left Right B A Start, Map The Growth and Stay Ahead Of The Weather and put out splits with bands like CSTVT, Everyone Everywhere, Such Gold, Pswingset, Empire! Empire! and Bob Nanna / Lauren Lo and Koji. Link courtesy of A Whole Orchestra.
 

Methmouth - 2013 - Bleach Bath

Methmouth is a powerviolence band from Miami, Florida. Bleach Bath is their third album. They play a noisy, aggressive, lofi brand of powerviolence that pulls no punches. These are six songs full of rage and loathing and they unleash their anger directly at your most vulnerable body parts. If you like powerviolence you will like this, but if you don't Methmouth doesn't seem interested in winning over converts, they're too focused on smashing every thing around them. if you like powerviolence, Methmouth's Bleach Bath will serve will.

A Day To Remember - 2013 - Common Courtesy

A Day To Remember are a five piece pop metalcore band. Common Courtesy is their fifth LP. They play a combination of pop punk and metalcore that has been described as easycore, emo-pop or pop-mosh. They combine growled vocals and standard issue metalcore with clean vocals and catchy pop punk. If that sounds appealing, A Day To Remember's Common Courtesy will scratch that itch.

Bad American - 2013 - American Dream

Bad American is a hardcore punk band from Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania, America. American Dream is their new LP. They play a straight ahead brand of hardcore punk, these songs pummel you for on average a minute and a half before jumping into the next slab of aggressive punk. Highlights include Control Freak, Bash, Failure, Zero Faith, Shitshow and Decayed. If you like your hardcore punk pummeling and to the point, Bad American's American Dream will serve well. Link courtesy of Elementary Revolt

Ovlov - 2013 - AM

Ovlov is an indie rock band from Newtown, Connecticut, USA. AM is their debut LP. They play a noisy brand of shoegaze rock drawing influences from Dinosaur Jr and My Bloody Valentine. The vocals are melodic, whiny and mixed low while the guitars rage underneath layers of distortion. The production serves to bury each song underneath a layer of mud from which distorted guitars and pounding drums escape. Each song starts at full speed and increases from there. The songs do blur together a little bit but that also works to create a more cohesive album. Highlights include The Well, Nü Pünk and Milk.  If you like your indie rock with buried under layers of distortion Ovlov's AM will serve well.

Roanoke - 2013 - Beautiful People

Roanoke is a four piece screamo band from Rockford, Illinois, USA. Beautiful People is their 3rd release. They play a noisy brand of screamo that isn't afraid of some ambient and post-hardcore passages. The guitars can shift back and forth between a more straight forward screamo or hardcore attack to a more melodic, sometimes ambient feel very quickly but these songs never stop being heavy and powerful. The singer has an excellent scream that he puts to very good use. Highlights include Skeletons, I'm Trying and Feeling It Out. If you like your screamo with a little post-hardcore and even some ambient Roanoke's Beautiful People will serve well.

Destruction Unit - 2013 - Deep Trip

Destruction Unit is a psychedelic noise punk band from the United States. Deep Trip is their debut LP. Destruction Unit features members of Reatards, The Wongs and Tokyo Electron and play a noisy, spacey brand of psychedelic punk. These songs drape themselves in various layers of distortion over top a base of hardcore punk and launch themselves into outer noisy psychedelic space. Highlights include Control The Light, The Holy Ghost,   If you like your punk noisy and aggressive then Destruction Unit's Deep Trip will serve well. Link via Elementary Revolt

Gris - 2013 - À L'âme Enflammée, L'äme Constellée...

Gris is a black metal band from Quebec, Canada. À L'âme Enflammée, L'äme Constellée... is their second LP. They play melodic, atmospheric, depressive black metal. Instead of pummeling you over and over in the face with aggressive misanthropy, Gris creates a dark, gloomy orchestral sound scape and sucks you into their dark reality.



There are still aggressive raggers like Les Forges but even it is tampered with some melody. The singer has an excellent scream which he uses with great effect. If you're down for some gloomy atmosphere and a hint of melody in your black metal, Gris' À L'âme Enflammée, L'äme Constellée... will serve well.

Culture Abuse - 2013 - The Day Dreams Of Nothing

Culture Abuse are a five piece punk rock band from Santa Rosa & San Francisco. The Day Dreams Of Nothing is their debut EP. Culture Abuse features members of Defeater, All Teeth, Strike To Survive, and Dead To Me and plays an off kilter brand of hardcore punk. These songs are obviously rooted in hardcore punk but they come out wonky and fuzzy, drenched in fuzz, beer and weed owing a debt to the Melvins. I want to call it mysterious guy hardcore but that's lazy and derivative which this album isn't. If you like your hardcore with some strangeness to it, Culture Abuse's The Day Dreams Of Nothing serves well.

Direct Hit! - 2013 - Brainless God

Direct Hit! is a four piece pop punk band from Milwaukee, USA. Brainless God is their new LP. They have put out splits with bands like Mixtapes, Tit Patrol, Jetty Boys, Hold Tights, the Haverchucks and Braver. They have studied at the feet of Andrew W.K., The Ramones and The Thermals, throwing all that into a blender and never letting their feet off the gas pedal. Now would be the part where I would list highlights but damn near every song on here is really good. If you like energetic, speedy pop punk that hasn't completely forgotten their hardcore roots, Direct Hit!'s Brainless God will serve well.

Casket - 2013 - Casket

Casket is a four piece emo band from San Francisco, California, USA. Casket is their debut EP. There's no twinkle here, just straight ahead punk rock with a plaintive singer. Highly recommended.

American Sharks - 2013 - American Sharks

American Sharks are a three piece punk rock band from Austin, Texas, America. American Sharks is their debut album. They are currently on tour with Clutch and The Sword. American Sharks play a garage infused brand of punk rock that takes tongue in cheek punk and runs it through modern filters of bands like Torche and The Demonics.



 If The Ramones smoked more dope and had kids with The Stooges that listened to Leatherface, those kids would sound something like this. The album is a little front loaded but all these songs are solid jams and this album is over far too quickly.  Highlights include Iron Lungs!, Freak Out, Overdrive, Cocaine, 11:11

http://www17.zippyshare.com/v/17232627/file.html

Doomriders - 2013 - Grand Blood

Doomriders are a four piece band from Boston, Massachusetts. Grand Blood is their third LP released by Deathwish Inc. Members have also played in Converge, Old Man Gloom and There Were Wires. Doomriders have released splits with bands like Coliseum, Boris, Disfear and Sweet Cobras. 

Toasted Plastic- 2013 - June Highs

Toasted Plastic is a three piece punk band from Ridgewood, New Jersey, America. June Highs is their third release. Toasted Plastic plays a brand of punk rock that infuses math rock into their songwriting. These songs have a noodly tendency but not the in the twinkly form that seems to have overtaken emo as of late, there is lots of melody in the guitars and the singer has a gruff shout that he puts to great use. Highlights include Repair, Looming, Last Rites and Greater Thinking, If you like your emo punked up and mathy Toasted Plastic's June Highs will serve well.

Perfect Future - 2013 - Irrational, Malleable, Inevitable

Perfect Future are a four piece emo band from Frostburg, MD / Annandale, VA. Irrational, Malleable, Inevitable is their new EP, courtesy of Count Your Lucky Stars Records. They have put out splits with bands like Reaching Away, List and Wits. They play a brand of emo that Count Your Lucky Stars seems to specialize in but aren't afraid of throwing in some punk influences to liven things up and give the songs some kick. If you like your emo unafraid of crossing genre barriers, Perfect Future's Irrational, Malleable, Inevitable will serve well.

Locktender - 2013 - Kafka

Locktender is a four piece screamo band from Cleveland, Ohio, USA. Kafka is their fifth release under this name. Previously the band was known as Men As Trees. They have put out splits with bands like Oaken, Wounded Knee, Coma Regalia,  Brighter Arrows and Cassilis. Locktender plays screamo but is unafraid of bringing elements of sludge and post-hardcore into their sound. Aphorism #17 starts off as a brutally heavy frontal attack that slows to a glacial crawl before building their hardcore fury again and then infusing melody and some calm. Not being familiar with Franz Kafka I'm not qualified to say if these songs properly represent the The Zürau Aphorisms they are based on but these are amazing songs nonetheless. Locktender's Kafka is highly recommended.

Father Figure - 2013 - Jumping Off A Building

Father Figure is a three piece screamo band from Denton, Texas, America. Jumping Off A Building is their new EP. Members also play in Innards and Two Knights. They play a brand of screamo that isn't afraid to pull its punches There are moments of calm and melody, offset by desperate, throat ripping screams and then moments of all out attack and aggression. Highlights include: what the hell is on jonny's head?, death is my way out (d.i.m.w.o.), mean girls ripoff, maybe i'm upset, no, wait, definitely., and  this is my attempt at an apology . Highly recommended. Via Via Chug Life

Paint It Black - 2013 - Invisible EP

Paint It Black is a four piece hardcore band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Invisible is their ninth release. They play an emotionally charged brand of melodic hardcore with some gruff vocals. Paint It Black is associated with record labels like No Idea, Fat Wreck Chords, Bridge Nine and Jade Tree and feature members from bands like Lifetime and Kid Dynamite. Highlights include Little Fists and Greetings, Fellow Insomniacs. If you like your hardcore with just a driving sense of melody and a refusal to give anything less than 110% Paint It Black's Invisible will serve well.

Kilgore Trout - 2013 - Immemorial

Kilgore Trout is a four piece screamo band from Annandale, Virginia, USA. Immemorial is their third release. They play a straight ahead brand of screamo citing Jeromes Dream and Usurp Synapse as influences. There is a hint of melody in the guitars at times but otherwise this is a chaotic, all out attack on your senses. These songs come hurtling at full speed and if they let up its only slam back into full speed once again. If you like you screamo desperate and chaotic, Kilgore Trout's Immemorial will do well.

Neo Cons - 2013 - Idiot Circus

Neo Cons is a four piece hardcore punk band from San Francisco, California, USA. Idiot Circus is their latest and final EP. They play a straight ahead brand of hardcore punk. No frills, no extras, just fast, pissed off hardcore punk that knows how lay the beatdown. Features ex members of 86 Mentality and Streetwalkers. They throw in a little garage and some street punk for flavour but otherwise this is no frills straight ahead hardcore punk. If you like hardcore punk in any capacity, Neo Cons' Idiot Circus is well worth checking out.

I Kill Giants - 2013 - I Kill Giants

I Kill Giants is a four piece emo post-hardcore band from Boston, Massachusets. I Kill Giants is their fifth release. They play a brand of punk that pulls from the noodly, all most off key shouting brand of emo and run it through math rock filters. I Kill Giants have put out splits with bands like Sinatra, My First Castle, Empire! Empire! and The Greek Favourites These songs are catchy, energetic and unafraid of a little noodling to get their melodic point across. Highlights include Collector, Lucky Shirt, Traveler, Larry Jr, Calender and Boys Of Bummer.  If you like your punk with a dosing of emo and math I Kill Giant's I Kill Giants will serve well.

Moaded - 2013 - Coyote Nerd Demo

Moaded is a four piece screamo band from Milwaukee, USA. Coyote Nerd is their debut EP. They play a straight forward brand of screamo that takes no prisoners. Moaded has members of Khandu, Treehouse, Swear Words, and My Cat Died Where The Sidewalk Ends. The singer has a great rough shout and the band pumps out ramshackle yet pummelling hardcore screamo underneath him. If you like Beau Navire, Loma Prieta or Merchant Ships there will almost certainly be something here for you. If you like your screamo unrelenting and thrashy Moaded's Coyote Nerd will do nicely.

For the Kid in the Back - 2013 - Coffee On An Empty Stomach

For the Kid in the Back is Justin Passino from Plattsburgh, NY, USA. Coffee On An Empty Stomach is his third LP. Throw together The Weakerthans, Mike Kinsella and Trunks & Tales into an acoustic blender and you'll be in the right neighborhood.




Highlights include Bite My Tongue, I See The Worst In Everything, More Than I Deserve, The Sheep Eats The Flower and A Stair Worn Hollow, Some of these songs have driving rhythms, some put multi tracked vocals to great use, and some swell to sad, majestic heights while others just settle into their melancholy. If you like your emo acoustic and unabashedly sad, For The Kid In The Back's Coffee On An Empty Stomach will serve well.

Oswald - 2013 - Blunders

Oswald are a two piece emo band from New Paltz, NY, USA. Blunders is their debut EP. They play a scrappy, noodly brand of emo. If you liked Topbunk from a little while back, you should be into this. These are wiry, indie rock songs infused with emo from the Nai Harvest or 1994! school of thinking. The singer has a desperate shout and they can get a pretty full sound with just the two piece. Highlights include It's Better Than Cannibalism, I Suppose and Number One Feel Good Movie Of The Summer. If you like your emo with some twinkle in the mix Oswald's Blunders will serve nicely.

Elesh Norn - 2013 - All The Pain I Built Up

Elesh Norn is a four piece screamo band from Denton, Texas, America. All The Pain I Built Up is their debut EP. They play a chaotic brand of screamo with a bit of post-hardcore in the songwriting. The singer has a screachy, high pitched voice while the band pumps out a pummelling brand of screamo. Elesh Norm is unafraid of a stop/start dynamic and these songs refuse to die quietly ). Sometimes there is a moment of calm or melody before the chaos ensues but it is only a mirage in the storm Highlights include: Simultaneously Slamming Doors And Screaming, A Pathetic Way to Say I Need You, Hopeless and An Exerices In Breathing. If you like your screamo screachy with a hardcore thump, Elesh Norn's All The Pain I Built Up

Crude Drawings Of Dicks - 2013 - Führerbunker

Crude Drawings Of Dicks are a five piece screamo band from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Führerbunker is their new EP. They play a straight ahead brand of screamo that isn't afraid of pulling their punches. Crude Drawings Of Dicks cite La Dispute, Toru Okada, and Pianos Become the Teeth among others as influences. Reminds me of a more raggedy, screamo version of The Whoopass Girls. The singer has a desperate shout that he puts to good use and the band churns out quality screamo for him and the rest of the band to shout over. Highlights include Roach Killer, Eyluh, and Watching Roman Holiday Alone. If you like your screamo rough and tumble with some post-hardcore influences, Crude Drawings Of Dicks' Führerbunker will do well. 

Guillemet - 2013 - Guillemet

Guillement are a five piece screamo band from Chicago, Illinois, America. Guillement is their new LP. They play a chaotic brand of screamo that rarely comes down from shear aggression. Their style of screamo constantly shifts around but never backs away from aggression. Reminds me of Loma Prieta and Kaoru Nagis. If you like your screamo with some powerviolence and some post-hardcore, Guillemet will serve quite well.

Highness - 2013 - Hold

Highness is a five piece post-hardcore band from Brooklyn, New York, America. Hold is their debut LP. Members have also played in such seminal bands as Christie Front Drive, pg 99, City of Caterpillar and more. Lots of catchy melodic hardcore that borrows heavily from the emo side of things. Gaea (Strings) comes barrelling out of the gates fulling form, trumpeting a band at the top of their game operating at full capacity, We're All We Need builds to a beautiful, melodic crescendo allowing everything to fall apart and Stitched Together simply kicks ass.  These songs build and tear themselves down with ease. The melodic hardcore space a lot of these songs operate in reminds me of Make Do And Mend style post-hardcore. If you like emo, hardcore or post-hardcore in any capacity at all, or just like good music made by old friends, Highness' Loud is highly recommended.

Pity Sex - 2013 - Feast Of Love

Pity Sex is a four piece shoegaze band from Ann Arbor, Michigan, America. Feast Of Love is their debut LP, third release overall, courtesy of Run For Cover Records. Expect multiple vocalists, layers of guitars and a near constant wall of sound. The songs are based around indie rock with shoegaze coming in with the wall of sound, burying the vocals in the mix and throwing in a keen sense of melancholy borrowed the emo side of things. The best song on the album is the opener Wind-Up, other highlights include the slowburn of Sedated and the driving rock of Drown Me Out and Honey Pot. If you like your indie rock fused with shoegaze and just a little emo, Pity Sex's Feast Of Love will serve well.

This Routine Is Hell - 2013 - Howl

This Routine Is Hell is a four piece hardcore punk band from Utretcht, Netherlands. Howl is their 3rd release.



 They play a straight forward brand of hardcore punk that isn't content to stay within the boundaries of anyone genre. The overriding sensibility is of hardcore punk of the beatdown variety but there are also moments influenced by emo and even a little bit of melodic hardcore.



Highlights include the title track, Don't Let Them and Nostalgia. Reminds me of Ceremony in stretching hardcore to it's limits and mining those border regions for aggressive, emotional gold.



 If you like your hardcore punk not content to be simply hardcore punk but never letting up on the aggression pedal, This Routine Is Hell's Howl will serve well.