Secret Machines - Now Here Is Nowhere (Reprise)
Secret Machines drop their powerfully dynamic debut, Now Here Is Nowhere. The atmospheric sound of Secret Machines come off like a modernized version of timeless bands like Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd. The standout cut "Sad And Lonely" recalls the epic drumming of the late great John Bonham, with lush landscapes and daunting guitar textures. "First Wave Intact" is an awe-inspiring jam that builds and builds to a climactic burst of distorted chaotic beauty. "Nowhere Again" brings it all together with a vibrant, up-tempo collage of warm guitars and frantic drumming. For those that are looking to get outside of their world, Secret Machines are a refreshing rock experience.
-Preview tracks from Now Here Is Nowhere here

Also out 5/18:
Amen - Death Before Musik (EatUrMusic/Columbia)
The Kinison - What Are You Listening To? (LaSalle/Atlantic)

New Music: Demon Hunter, Silent Drive, Flaw

May 4, 2004

Demon Hunter - Summer Of Darkness (Solid State)
Demon Hunter return with their fierce and daunting new disc, Summer Of Darkness. The second outing for the Solid State quintet contains the same addictively destructive metal that pervaded their debut. The gravely vocals mesh flawlessly with the distorted baron landscape of shuddering guitars and thunderous. Demon Hunter break from the intense enrage with grand climactic choruses on songs like “Not Ready To Die”, bring some relief to the onslaught of tension. The band is equally as haunting on the morose cut “My Heartstrings Come Undone”, a dreary ballad that has a kind of sullen yearning comparative to the late Alice In Chains singer Layne Staley. Demon Hunter bring memorable songs and an unmatched emotional intensity to Summer Of Darkness, defining them as one of the most complete metal bands out today.

-For fans of Killswitch Engage, Avenged Sevenfold, Slipknot
-Preview tracks from Summer Of Darkness at demonhunter.net

Silent Drive - Love Is Worth It (Equal Vision)
Silent Drive drop their genuine and eclectic first set for Equal Vision. Love Is Worth It, a seamless and emotionally reeling experience, is a beautifully varied venture. Silent Drive are not easy to pigeonhole, the only consistency to their mish-mash of styles and sounds is that the album comes off painfully real. From the careful consideration of the quietly performed “Davey Crockett”, to the full-on assault of the confrontational “Henpecked”, the album flows with poise. Silent Drive are an anomaly in a time where the bulk of independent labels are signing bands with a sound consistent to artists they’ve had previous success with. Silent Drive refuse the notion that they have to be one-dimensional, like too many bands out there now, and it makes for a very rewarding and refreshing experience with Love Is Worth It.

Also out 5/4:
Flaw - Endagered Species (Republic/Universal)

New Music: Dead Poetic, The Beautiful Mistake

April 6, 2004

Dead Poetic - New Medicines (Solid State)
Dead Poetic return with their hotly anticipated second set on Solid State. On their debut Four Wall Blackmail, it was difficult to make out just exactly who Dead Poetic was, the album walked an awkward line between hardcore and nu-metal. With New Medicines, Dead Poetic have clearly defined themselves with a record that feels very much at home for the band, rich in beautifully textured melodies and warm, inviting backdrops. The album is graceful and dynamic, accessible, but still emotionally challenging. Tracks like “Vanus Empty” and “Taste The Red” are endearing and not easily forgotten.

-For fans of Thrice, Story Of The Year, Lostprophets, Linkin Park
-Preview tracks from New Medicines at PureVolume.com

The Beautiful Mistake - This Is Who You Are (The Militia Group)
The Beautiful Mistake team with producer Michael Rosen (Dredg) on their lush new album, This Is Who You Are. The second offering from The Beautiful Mistake is a much more streamlined effort, with songs that flow from one to the next with a grand orchestral feel. The songs on This Is Who You Are are pure and honest, boldly emotional and filled with many nuances once you get past the surface. The title track “This Is Who You Are” best represents The Beautiful Mistake’s brand of loud, emotional rock with its clean, powerful guitar backing and grand inspired chorus. The Beautiful Mistake’s carefully constructed arrangement and artful, subtle style set them apart from a crowded pack.

-For fans of Further Seems Forever, Straylight Run, Coheed And Cambria
-Preview tracks from This Is Who You Are at PureVolume.com

New Music: Soil

March 30, 2004

Soil - Redefine (J)
The sophomore set from Soil is louder and heavier than their previous work, a gritty undertow of down and dirty rock. Since their debut album, which at times recalled the likes of Alice In Chains and similar contemporaries, Soil have chiseled out a defined high-octane style with chunky riffs and a straight forward thunderous rock sound. Soil keep real American rock alive with their blistering new effort.

-For fans of Godsmack, Disturbed, Alice In Chains, Metallica, Rob Zombie
-Preview tracks from Redefine here.

New Music: 36 Crazyfists

March 16, 2004

36 Crazyfists - A Snow Capped Romance (Roadrunner)
36 Crazyfists take giant strides on their endearing and intense sophomore set, A Snow Capped Romance. Singer Brock Lindow runs the gamut with urgent seismic screams and memorable harmonies, set atop a pulsating attack of slashing guitar riffs and an inescapable melodic undercurrent. On "Bloodwork", one of the band’s most impressive tracks to date, Lindow showcases his maturing style, vocally sitting somewhere between Daryl Palumbo from Glassjaw and Geoff Rickly from Thursday. 36 Crazyfists have taken off where their debut album Bitterness The Star left off and have reached a new plateau with a distinct sound, thanks to the sonic production of James Wisner (Further Seems Forever, Dashboard Confessional) and quality songwriting. A Snow Capped Romance is a seriously impressive effort, well worth your time.

-For fans of Glassjaw, Thursday, System Of A Down
-Preview the entire new album here.

New Music: LetLive, The Living End

March 2, 2004

LetLive - Exhaustion, Salt Water And Everything In Between (At One)
Los Angeles based LetLive have found their place in this new era of rock music with an intense and infectious style dubbed, "Los Angeles Heart Core". Dropping their debut album, Exhaustion, Salt Water And Everything In Between, LetLive have formulated a fresh new sound meshing elements of modern hardcore, emo and rock. LetLive inject infectious vocals, intense guitar work and powerful rhythms that set the band apart from the pack.

-For fans of Glassjaw, Refused, The Used
-Preview tracks here.

The Living End - Modern ARTillery (Reprise)
Melbourne powerhouse The Living End finally drop their highly-touted new album, Modern ARTillery, on U.S. shores. Produced by Mark Trumbino (Finch, Jimmy Eat World), The Living End unleash a well-written new album that is sophisticated, mature and rarely repetitive. The Living End’s knack for songwriting and seamless harmonies make them one of the best punk bands out there. The Living End’s latest lends comparisons to the likes of The Clash and Green Day, a much more varied and eclectic mix than most of the pop-punk bands out there.

-For fans of The Clash, Rancid, Green Day
-Preview tracks from Modern ARTillery here.

New Music: Blindside, Apartment 26

February 24, 2004

Apartment 26 - Music For The Massive (Atlantic)
Electric and eccentric British rockers drop their swinging sophomore effort.

Blindside - About A Burning Fire (Elektra)
The compelling and passionate follow-up to Silence

Error - Error (Epitaph)
Digital punk EP from members of NIN, Dillinger Escape Plan and Bad Religion.

God Forbid - Gone Forever (Century Media)
Thunderous and challenging metal mavens unleash new LP.

Music As A Weapon II - Various Artists (Warner Bros)
CD/DVD combo features live cuts from Disturbed, Chevelle, Taproot and Unloco

Tantric - After We Go (Maverick)
Platinum-selling rockers return with their long-awaited second album.

Walls Of Jericho - All Hail The Dead (Trustkill)
Hardcore legends return with a heavy and daunting new album.

New Music: Red Tape

February 10, 2004

Red Tape - Radioactivist (Roadrunner)
Red Tape deliver snarling punk anthems and angst-filled rockers on their startling Roadrunner debut, Radioactivist. Stand out cuts like "Stalingrad" and "Divebomb" showcase Red Tape’s driving rhythms and call-to-arms style, infused with chaotic guitar riffs and sociopolitical themes. Red Tape pull no punches with their straight ahead polished brand of angry punk rock. If you’re looking for the real deal, and not some pompous boy band posturing themselves as punk, look no further.

-For fans of AFI, Rise Against, Black Flag, Refused
-Preview tracks from Radioactivist here.

Also out 2/10:
Damageplan - New Found Power (Elektra)
Probot - Probot (Southern Lord)

New Music: Lostprophets

February 3, 2004

Lostprophets - Start Something (Columbia)
It seems as though we’ve been anticipating new music from Lostprophets for years. Back in 2000, the little buzz band that could out of the UK created a deafening frenzy among online rock fans with their insanely infectious debut effort, The Fake Sound Of Progress. With such classic cuts as "Shinobi vs Dragon Ninja" and the ominous title track, the band was quickly swooped up by Columbia Records. The major label release came nearly a year and a half after its original release, and failed to get the big push or connect with U.S. audiences. It was still very apparent though that the Lostprophets were destined for great things.

Now four years later, an aged and refined Lostprophets drop Start Something. The slickly produced return is chalk full of passionate, well-crafted songs. Lostprophets have stepped out with incredible cuts like "Last Train Home", a menacing mix of jarring melodies and addictive hooks. A band that truly deserves to step out of the clubs and into the arenas, 2004 could be a defining year for the Lostprophets.

-For fans of Finch, Incubus, Linkin Park
-See the video for "Last Train Home" here.

Also out 2/3:
Incubus - A Crow Left Of The Murder (Epic)
Gadget - Remote (Relapse)

New Music: Remembering Never, Emery

January 27, 2004

Remembering Never - Women And Children Die First (Ferret Music)
Florida hardcore quintet Remembering Never deliver a pummeling new album on Ferret Music. The overpowering sound of Remembering Never is realized with a massive guitar onslight, thunderous breakdowns, inspired drumming and gut-wrenching vocals. Women And Children Die First is a first-rate hardcore release and a strong record to start the new year off right.

-For fans of Poison The Well, Killswitch Engage, From Autumn To Ashes
-Download two mp3s at ferretmusic.com.


Emery - The Weak’s End (Tooth & Nail)
Not just another band to be thrown in the pile of disposable heavy emo bands, Emery have an artful style and poetic delivery behind their passionately conveyed angst-ridden rock. The track "Walls" floats with power and grace, beautifully textured and haunted with tortured vocals, showcasing the range that Emery possess.

-For fans of Thursday, Further Seems Forever, Saves The Day
-Preview the full record at theweaksend.com.

* Check out New Music features from 2003