Reviews

ALBUM: Memphis May Fire – ‘Unconditional’ Deluxe Edition

July 17, 2015

Matthew Powers

Not content with topping charts with 2014’s smash-hit Unconditional, Memphis May Fire have taken it upon themselves as artists to enlist a fine-tuning to an already solid record. The original intent of Unconditional was that each song would feature a movie score-esque composition underneath MMF’s trademark combination of soaring choruses, urgent growls and energetic rhythm […]

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Reviews

ALBUM: Silverstein – ‘I Am Alive in Everything I Touch’

May 16, 2015

Michael Bird

Few are the bands that reach the peak of their powers thirteen years into their existence, but that was the case with Silverstein and their conceptual magnum opus ‘This Is How the Wind Shifts’. A refocusing of their energies rather than a significant shift in musical direction, it was as confident and meaty a body […]

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Reviews

ALBUM: The Early November – ‘Imbue’

May 15, 2015

Michael Bird

The general public perception of ‘emo’ has shifted so far away from what the movement originally represented that it’s easy to forget the significance of many of the genre’s less brash, populist groups. Where subtlety and class have never been the strong points of the genre’s alleged mainstream standard bearers, they’re traits that The Early […]

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Reviews

ALBUM: In Hearts Wake – ‘Skydancer’

May 5, 2015

Michael Bird

Double albums are always a difficult product to swallow in one sitting, so doing a System of a Down and staggering their release is a crafty move it’s a surprise fewer acts haven’t cottoned on to. On face value it wasn’t even apparent that 2014’s ‘Earthwalker’ was going to be followed by a second part, […]

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Reviews

EP: Like Moths To Flames – ‘The Dream Is Dead’

April 16, 2015

Matthew Powers

Though they have remained relatively quiet over the past 2 years, Like Moths To Flames are breaking silence with the release of a new 2 song EP entitled ‘The Dream Is Dead’. Both songs included, “Bury Your Pain'” and “What’s Done Is Done”, seem to indicate the end of a difficult time for ever-outspoken lyricist/vocalist Chris […]

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Reviews

SINGLE: Hands Like Houses – “I Am”

March 16, 2015

Michael Bird

As maligned as much of Rise Records’ roster is by rock elitists, some bands seem to have come to command more respect than others. Hands Like Houses have never truly corresponded to the stereotypical sound the label largely exports, and so feel like the black sheep of the label in some respects. More mature and […]

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Reviews

ALBUM: Of Mice & Men – ‘Restoring Force: Full Circle’

February 24, 2015

Michael Bird

There’s nothing like a reissue to justify promotion of an album long after its rightful life span. In an age in which touring and not sales bring in the bulk of income for musicians it’s a wonder more don’t do it. Of Mice & Men in particular seem to have picked up on this, both […]

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Reviews

ALBUM: Palisades – ‘Mind Games’

January 11, 2015

Matthew Powers

New Jersey sextet Palisades want to make it known that their live shows can be just as fun on the dance floor as they are in the pit. The ambitious group began to show this quite obviously on their previous full-length ‘Outcasts’ but on the highly-anticipated follow-up ‘Mindgames’ it’s blatant that the musicians that make […]

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Reviews

ALBUM: Tyler Carter – “Leave Your Love EP”

January 8, 2015

Michael Bird

It didn’t take a genius to identify Tyler Carter as far more than your stereotypical metalcore clean vocalist upon his rise to prominence with the ill-fated Woe, Is Me. His smooth, dulcet tones were a world away from the piercing whine of many of his contemporaries, and even from the start he had a star […]

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