CD/DVD
FOUR YEAR STRONG
in some way shape or form (2011/UNIVERSAL)
MELODIC-HARDCORE. Worcester outfit FOUR YEAR STRONG continue to move up in the world, releasing 2011's "in some way shape or form" fresh off a big tour with Bad Religion and Rise Against. Their brand of music mixes melodic hardcore and pop-punk with trudging breakdowns similar to A DAY TO REMEMBER but covered in beards.
FRAGMENTS OF UNBECOMING
Skywards (2004/METAL BLADE)
Zweiter Streich der Deutschen Melodic-Death Metal Jungs. Ueble Blast Parts gehen ueber in derbe doublebass Parts. Darueber liegt eine melodische Gitarre, die jeden AMON AMARTH Fan ueberzeugen duerfte. 12 Songs, die durchaus ueberzeugen koennen. Zwei kleine Schwachpunkte hat dieses Album aber doch a.) haette die Produktion etwas fetter sein koennen und b.) ist das Booklet etwas duerftig ausgefallen. Musikalisch duerfte dieses Album aber Fans von AMON AMARTH oder auch AS I LAY DYING ansprechen.
FREAK ACCIDENT, THE
Tissue sample (2007/NERVE CENTER)
POST-PUNK. Following the most recent disbanding of VICTIMS FAMILY, Ralph put together a record with an eclectic bunch of Bay-Area musicians which became the basis for THE FREAK ACCIDENT, a stylistic rollercoaster ride through punk, pop, latin surf, blues, piano ballads and more. The sophomore effort "Tissue sample" is a tight sinewy set of 11 new brash, satirical rock songs that take on heavyweight topics such as, the teaching of evolution, suicide, cross-dressing, hero worship, consumerism, human cloning, unrequited love, religious fanaticism and the relative merits of various poisonous substances. Musically the band is tight as a drum with giant grooves, a crushing bass tone and moments ranging from raging punk to shimmering beauty to garagey blues.
FREE KITTEN
Inherit (2008/ESTATIC PEACE)
INDIE/POST-PUNK. FREE KITTEN are Kim (SONIC YOUTH) and Julie (PUSSY GALORE) along with drummer Yoshimi (BOREDOMS).. kind of an all-star duo who radically depart from their regular bands with extremely experimental noise-punk. also features guest musicianship by J. Mascis (DINOSAUR JR). "Inherit" is FREE KITTEN's 4th studio album. In short, the thematic eclecticism evinced in FREE KITTEN's present work is a movie that doesn't lie, because truth is its standard!
FREEKS, THE
s/t (2008/CARGO)
PSYCHEDELIC-ROCK. A conglomeration of highly respected into the one communal thing that moves us all.. sound! The union of: Ruben (NEBULA/FU MANCHU), John (MONSTER MAGNET etc.), Scott (KYUSS etc.), Isaiha (EARTHLESS), Lorenzo (BABY WOODROSE etc.), Jason (THE CASBAH etc.), John (LUDICRA etc.), Jack (SKIN YARD etc.), Bernie (WIZARD OF WOO etc.)... has finaly come into being. Construction is complete the final mixes are in the can! Now all are welcome to slip inside this house as they pass by. All are welcome to do thou wilt and let the sounds move them to their newly found oneness. All are welcome to meet and join the new Tribal Council. All are welcome to sample the kool-aide. All together welcomed to FREEK-OUT. The grandest of all welcomes.. THE FREEKS!
FRENZAL RHOMB
smoko at the pet food factory (2011/FAT WRECK)
PUNK-ROCK. Australia's melodic punk masters are back with their 8th full-length record, coming in just as offensive and controversial as ever with 16 tracks tackling topics like cockroaches, goths, racists.
FREYA
all hail the end (2010/VICTORY)
HARDCORE. As every commanding civilization rises to absolute power, it is destined to fail by its own devices. FREYA has crafted a unique record that examines humanity's constant struggle for power throughout the ages. "all hail the end" is their newest effort and the band's 1st real concept record that shows a much darker and complex side of this metal institution that features the charismatic and highly-regarded EARTH CRISIS frontman Karl Buechner. The music is more technical and harsh and the lyrics are dark and overwhelming. Take a journey into humanity’s dark past with "all hail the end".
FREYA
as the last light drains (2003/VICTORY)
HARDCORE. Karl, Eric, and Bulldog from EARTH CRISIS are back, coiled and ready to strike with their latest effort. A bit of a departure from their previous sound, this is a combination of the drive, fervor, and hatred of their past efforts mixed with dark imagery, unpleasant yet necessary perspectives, and slamming, RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE-styled muscle.
FREYA
lift the curse (2007/VICTORY)
HARDCORE. In 2003, the ashes and embers of the legendary hardcore pioneers EARTH CRISIS gave birth to a new impenetrable force known as FREYA. This record is as ferocious and raw as it is positive and forward thinking. Each of the 10 song is an encouraging cry to the listener about personal battles and life-long obstacles that everyone and anyone can identify with. The most promising aspect of FREYA, is that metal fans of SHADOW’S FALL and TRIVIUM, even mainstream fans of DISTURBED and SLIPKNOT can surely embrace it just as much as fans as HATEBREED can.
FRIDA HYVÖNEN
silence is wild (2008/SECRETLY CANADIAN)
SINGER/SONGWRITER. Whereas Hyvönen's 2006 debut "until death comes" was lean and percussive with her distinctive oompah-styled piano and direct lyrics, "silence is wild" stretches her voice across lush arrangements of piano, strings, choirs, and synths. On "silence is wild", Hyvönen continues to take an utterly modern approach to classic songwriting forms: blending the confessional with the fictional; all the while using language which dances effortlessly between the timeless and the contemporary, referencing high art and pop culture in a transcendent manner which masterfully puts Hyvönen at the top of a new international class of singer and songwriters.
FROM A SECOND STORY WINDOW
conversations (2008/METAL BLADE)
EMO-METALCORE. FROM A SECOND STORY WINDOW return with their long-awaited 3rd release, "conversations". Their most honest and sincere record to date. "conversations" showcases FROM A SECOND STORY WINDOW simultaneously at their heaviest and most melodic points. Leaving behind some of the cluttered, confusing elements, the band have found their true identity amidst a combination of their signature style with the ambience and texture of bands like WILL HAVEN, DREGD and ISIS and the creepy, ferocious and ethereal qualities of the DEFTONES.
FROM ASHES RISE / VICTIMS
split (2003/HAVOC)
HARDCORE. FROM MASHES RISE plays dark, slightly metallic hardcore that is not unlike early HIS HERO IS GONE mixed with Scandinavian hardcore like SKITSYSTEM and '80s UK crust like ANTISECT. Drawing on those influences FROM ASHES RISE has moved this sound into it's own territory. VICTIMS from Sweden play aggressive fast Scandinavian hardcore not unlike early SKITSYSTEM or WOLFBRIGADE. You can hear the influence of early Swedish hardcore like ANTI-CIMEX, SHITLICKERS and CRUDE SS mixed with the heavier sounds of '90s crustcore. Cover artwork is done by Pushead.
FROM AUTUMN TO ASHES
Abandon your friends (2005/VAGRANT)
INDIE/METALCORE. Now that it's trendy to combine grinding metallic guitars and hardcore rhythms with heart-on-sleeve vocals and hum-along melodies, dozens of bands are writing predictable songs that alter ingredient levels slightly in what feels like a search for the the perfect recipe. "Abandon your friends", the new album by FROM AUTUMN TO ASHES, shred and burn the recipe book altogether. The result, according to MTV.com, is a split of 6 savage cuts and 6 wispy rockers for a beautiful-as-it-is-brutal hardcore record. FROM AUTUMN TO ASHES once again deliver a honest, tense, and original sound.
FROM AUTUMN TO ASHES
Holding a wolf by the ears (2007/VAGRANT)
INDIE/METALCORE. "Holding a wolf by the ears", FROM AUTUMN TO ASHES' 4th studio album, finds the band playing with a level of passion and intensity not seen since their 2001 debut, "Too bad you're beautiful". The most recognizable sign of this reinvention is Francis Mark's recent shift from drummer and vocalist to full-time vocalist, a result of the departure of former lead singer Benjamin Perri. Over the course of the album's 12 tracks, it becomes clear that for the band, more has changed than just a voice. Fans will still find the searing guitars and bone-crunching rhythms, but there's a new duality - a much heavier sound buoyed by the focused melodies that introduce the listener to Francis Mark's surprisingly dynamic vocal range.
FROM AUTUMN TO ASHES
Live at loony tunes (2008/VAGRANT)
INDIE/METALCORE. FROM AUTUMN TO ASHES gained a reputation for being one of the more melodic bands in East Coast hardcore. Their sound involved a variety of ingredients, from hardcore, metal, to alternative rock and screamo. After spending all of 2007 on tour, FROM AUTUMN TO ASHES decide to return home to record a benefit for their local renowned music store, Looney Tunes, that had suffered a devastating fire. This show was recorded live as a way to not only help raise money, but to show appreciation for a place that helped give life to the scene that FROM AUTUMN TO ASHES grew up in.
