Vinyl
A DEATH IN THE FAMILY
small town stories (2009/RESIST)
EMO-PUNK. "small town stories" is the follow up to the 2006 album "this microscopic war" from Melbourne, Australia band A DEATH IN THE FAMILY. "small town stories" focuses on the shared experiences of the band members growing up in smaller communities in Australia, touching on everyday experiences, but imbues them with a universal significance so that anyone, no matter where they live, can relate to it. A DEATH IN THE MAMILY do the LEATHERFACE and Gainesville thing better than pretty much anybody else - for fans of HOT WATER MUSIC, HÜSKER DÜ and SMALL BROWN BIKE. Available on vinyl with a gatefold cover.
A FINE BOAT, THAT COFFIN / MOCK HERO / UTARID / AM I DEAD YE
4-way split (2005/REACT WITH PROTEST)
POST/SCREAMO-HARDCORE. The best band on this record. UTARID are hailing from Malaysia and toured Europe with AM I DEAD YET from Belgium. Both bands play powerful chaotic and screamy hardcore. UTARID more like REVERSAL OF MEN and ORCHID and AM I DEAD YET a bit more dark canadian like URANUS. A FINE BOAT THAT COFFIN (ex-CALLING GINA CLARK) crank out one 6min. song between the ususal jazz-grind and screamo parts and add a touch of doomish stonerism. THE MOCK HEROIC are a bit more calm and play intense emotional hardcore like BOB TILTON.
A HOPE FOR HOME
in abstraction (2011/FACEDOWN)
POST-HARDCORE. A HOPE FOR HOME's new album, "in abstraction", is a rich and dynamic execution of post-rock/metal at its finest. With 7 tracks clocking in at over 51min. of music, A HOPE FOR HOME has proved that their songwriting has pushed new limits and evolved in a very mature way. Colored vinyl version includes a MP3 download card and is limited to 500 copies.
A LIFE ONCE LOST
iron gag (2008/SUBURBAN HOME)
METALCORE. With "iron gag", A LIFE ONCE LOST is set to deliver a truly original, innovative, heavy-as-hell listening experience. It is the rare heavy record with staying power. Supremely well-paced, the music dovetails its blend of raw-power metalcore and fuzz-tripping hard-rock. The vocals are at once sarcastic, cynical and mocking, a troubled humanity lurking just beneath the surface. You want the heavy? It’s all here. Nothing has ever slowed them down. Like a shark, this band can only go forwards and the deeper reaches of "iron gag" are very clearly the sound of A LIFE ONCE LOST finding new waters in which to hunt.
A LOSS FOR WORDS
no sanctuary (2011/RISE)
POP-PUNK. Boston pop-punk outfit A LOSS FOR WORDS having worked relentlessly, touring and doing everything d.i.y. for years. They are a group with unstoppable dedication, perseverance and creativity. A LOSS FOR WORDS is able to bring their infectious tunes to all audiences in the all-ages scene. Colored vinyl includes a MP3 download card.
A PASSING FANCY
i'm losing tonight (2012/UGLY POP)
GARAGE-ROCK. One of the all-time great Toronto singles, this actually had decent local chart success in early '67. The hit's a high-energy slice of quick-paced freakbeat elevated to greatness by an absolutely stinging lead guitar attack, while the eponymous flipside delivers an insistent mid-tempo jangle built around a haunting chorus. Utterly essential for those who dig classic mid '60s garage sounds. Remastered with a brand new picture sleeve.
A PLACE TO BURY STRANGERS
and i'm up (2012/DEAD OCEANS)
POST-PUNK. A PLACE TO BURY STRANGERS interweave threads of krautrock, dream-pop, and '80s goth without ever losing the edge. Unhinged dissonance is artfully framed within a fiercely dynamic and assured melodic sensibility. Here "and i'm up", a highlight from the band's 2012 intense "worship", is paired with unreleased "don't stop".
A PLACE TO BURY STRANGERS
onwards to the wall (2012/DEAD OCEANS)
POST-PUNK. Yes, "onwards to the wall" packs every bit of the searing sonic maelstrom listeners have come to expect from A PLACE TO BURY STRANGERS. Yet, the adroit songcraft that's always been there is brought more the fore, pop hooks are repurposed and more instantly recognizable. A PLACE TO BURY STRANGERS proves that they have not only been leading that charge for some time now, but that they are also evolving and maturing on those front lines. "onwards to the wall" is a fresh, complete artistic statement from APTBS. It's a new chapter, a prelude for what awaits us on the horizon. It is a taste of greatness to come.
A PLACE TO BURY STRANGERS
worship (2012/DEAD OCEANS)
POST-PUNK. Guitars as jet engines; guitars as haunted electronics; guitars as filling-melting white heat: A PLACE TO BURY STRANGERS' new album "worship" is explosive, visceral, and dark. The duo continue the evolution of songwriting that began with "onwards to the wall", interweaving threads of krautrock, dream-pop, and '80s goth without ever losing the edge that is quintessentially strangers. There are ambitious, trend-bucking choices at every turn. A PLACE TO BURY STRANGERS simply push itself further in all aspects of their music. Vinyl includes a digital download card.
A PLEA FOR PURGING
heart of a child/fat pride (2012/FACEDOWN)
METALCORE. This 2 song 7" was originally offered only through Facedown Records' mailorder as a bonus with the pre-order package for "the life & death of a plea for purging". It features the b-side "fat pride". For fans of FOR TODAY and MESHUGGAH. Colored vinyl includes a digital download card.
A PLEA FOR PURGING
the life & death of a plea for purging (2011/FACEDOWN)
METALCORE. A PLEA FOR PURGING have never been a band to stay in the proverbial box. Their new album, "the life & death of a plea for purging", proves, yet again, how versatile and multifaceted these musicians really are. The excellent brutality the band has cultivated over the years is present on this full-length; existing in perfect harmony with the metallic hardcore they've become known for, are some intense acoustic tracks. Colored vinyl version includes a MP3 download card.
A PLEA FOR PURGING
the marriage of heaven and hell (2010/FACEDOWN)
METALCORE. A PLEA FOR PURGING's 3rd album, "the marriage of heaven and hell", is a follow-up to the highly acclaimed sophomore release, "depravity". For fans of MESHUGGAH. Limited colored vinyl.
A STORM OF LIGHT
and we wept the black ocean.. (2008/NEUROT)
PROGRESSIVE/POST-ROCK. Led by NEUROSIS' Josh Graham, A STORM OF LIGHT take the lumbering slowness of sludge-metal to new levels, occasionally riffing at a pace where you forget what the last chord sounded like while you're waiting for the next one. Filling in the gaps, you're presented with a doubled-up drumming approach courtesy of ex-SWANS skinsman Vincent and SATANIZED's Pete, who add an enormous amount of weight to the mix, punctuating monolithic outpourings of low end abrasion on "undertow" with snares that sound like the blasts of distant cannons. Great cinematic doom from the Neurot camp.
A STORM OF LIGHT
as the valley of death (2011/BURNING WORLD)
PROGRESSIVE/POST-ROCK. Apocalyptic band A STORM OF LIGHT formed by Josh Graham (NEUROSIS etc.) have become a whole new musical entity on its own merits. With their 3rd album at hand, not only is "as the valley of death." A STORM OF LIGHT's heaviest and most dynamic release to date, but it is also A STORM OF LIGHT's most song-oriented and most musically inclined release to date. While still maintaining certain elements referenced from their previous releases, elements which ranged from moments of sludge/doom-metal, ambient experimental, and post-rock respectively, "as the valley of death" sees the band focusing more on solid traditional song structures and foundations. To top it all off, this album sees a fair share of musician guest appearances.
A STORM OF LIGHT
forgive us our trespasses (2009/NEUROT)
PROGRESSIVE/POST-ROCK. A tell-tale sign of just how widespread NEUROSIS’ influence and reach has become, A STORM OF LIGHT emerges as more restrained NEUROSIS, on Neurosis’ label. The only thing missing would be a guest appearance from a member of ISIS or Scott Kelly. "forgive us our trespasses" for all intents and purposes, falls under the metalgaze category. Absent are those dreamy, melodic moments that ISIS and ROSETTA love, but the stark, oftentimes minimal nature of these songs allows for some truly striking moments. "forgive us our trespasses" may not be as fully realized as it can be, but the foundation and natural heritage of this band suggests there’s still lots of work to be done.
