IAmKickass
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Reviews 21
Approval 94%

Soundoffs 395
News Articles 11
Band Edits + Tags 2
Album Edits 78

Album Ratings 867
Objectivity 96%

Last Active 12-09-11 3:27 am
Joined 01-19-11

Review Comments 840

Average Rating: 3.06
Rating Variance: 0.88
Objectivity Score: 96%
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5.0 classic
Bayonet Bayonet
One of the more important factors in any hardcore group is lyricism, most tend to yell about politics or friendship, backstabbers and liars, but it's a little more personal with Bayonet. Side project of Senses Fail frontman Buddy Nielson, these five tracks are straightforward and honest, not taking a second of your time to relax. At it's short length though, a lot becomes proven and accomplished at the same time, and whether it's the painful lyricism or the adrenaline based music, something here has the ability to just grab you and not let go. This might go down to a 4.5 in time, but for now this is superb work that shouldn't go unnoticed.
Brand New Deja Entendu
As Deja Entendu comes to close and silence takes over, I tend to look back at the album as an experience, not just another Brand New album. There is an emotional attachment here that not a lot of bands can manage to grasp, and it's within the lyricism that the true beauty of this album is showcased. Balancing between growing up and the pain that comes with lost love, there is something here that everyone can relate too. It's really mostly the content here that makes me love this album so much, but a huge part comes into the whole memorability factor this album actually has. 'Sic Transit Gloria' and 'Quiet Things' are terrific singles, they're catchy and while a bit overdone by the internet and Youtube, still work as two absolutely terrific songs. Brand New though are masters of the pace, and the more mellow tracks really end up working for them better than everything else. While having to turn up the volume just to hear it a little better, you can actually lose yourself in the sound and just enjoy the moment. I could go on and on about Deja Entendu and it's emotional impact on me, but it would be too much. Fantastic in every bit of the word.
Counterparts Prophets
Hardcore and metalcore coming together for one of the most hard hitting experiences I've encountered in a long time. Hopefully, the band can keep it going and advance forward in their career. For now though, 'Prophets' is a flawless album.
Counterparts The Current Will Carry Us
Defeater Lost Ground
Defeater Empty Days and Sleepless Nights
La Dispute Wildlife
Listener Not Waving, Drowning
Lydia Illuminate
I just get lost in this album, absolutely terrific.
Pianos Become the Teeth The Lack Long After
Senses Fail Still Searching
The Early November In Currents
The Ghost Inside Get What You Give
Touche Amore Parting The Sea Between Brightness And Me
I just completely lose myself in this album, right from the first listen I just couldn't get away from it. 'Parting the Sea Between Brightness and Me' is an absolutely incredible album in so many ways. One I will not find myself letting go of anytime soon.
Underoath Anthology: 1999-2013
Worthwhile Not Fixed but Found

4.5 superb
A Lot Like Birds Conversation Piece
The easiest way to explain A Lot Like Birds is pretty much saying; Dance Gavin Dance on steroids.
Adeste In Parables
A near perfect album that combines all the right elements to create a well crafted, beautiful album that accomplishes it's goals of being different in every single way.
Affiance The Campaign
All That Remains The Fall of Ideals
Amber Pacific Truth In Sincerity
Surpassing all previous efforts put forth by the band, 'Truth in Sincerity' is an extremely catchy, hook-driven album that's so much fun to listen to again and again.
Anberlin Never Take Friendship Personal
Anchors Lost at the Bottom of the World
Architects Nightmares
Archway ...But I walk...Fearless...Invigorated...
August Burns Red Sleddin' Hill
Basement Colourmeinkindness
blink-182 Enema Of The State
Brand New Your Favorite Weapon
Brand New The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me
'The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me' is an emotional based album that aims straight for anything it can. Here is an album that can have you thinking for days, and spending even more time singing along too. Very rarely does an album capture me like this one does, but when it happens I surely won't forget it.
Carousel Kings Speak Frantic
Completely blew me away, got the album from free after my band played with them, great dudes creating great music. If you want an addicting and furiously catchy pop-punk album, check 'Speak Frantic' out now.
Defeater Travels
Emery While Broken Hearts Prevail
Emery ...In Shallow Seas We Sail
While Emery isn't a band I would call different in anyway, they are good at what they do and keep that reputation alive with '... In Shallow Seas We Sail'. This is an awesome album from start to finish, the band shows no signs of stopping now.
ERRA Impulse
Fireworks Gospel
Mature and real, Fireworks have grown up and created an easy album to listen to again and again.
Glass Bones Seasons
Hands Like Houses Ground Dweller
Hundredth Let Go
Junior Battles Idle Ages
letlive. Fake History
Man Overboard Man Overboard
Manchester Orchestra Mean Everything to Nothing
My Heart to Fear Lost Between Brilliance and Insanity
Parkway Drive Atlas
Relient K Apathetic
Senses Fail Still Searching (Deluxe Edition)
Such Gold Stand Tall
Stand Tall is aggressive, loud, fun and catchy, what else do you need delivered by a pop-punk group?
The Contortionist Intrinsic
The Dangerous Summer If You Could Only Keep Me Alive
The Devil Wears Prada With Roots Above and Branches Below
A turning point for The Devil Wears Prada, 'With Roots Above' is a fantastic album showing that the band is capable of doing more than random vocal points and senseless breakdowns, that they can craft an album that impresses on all stages and shows maturity for the band.
The Story So Far Under Soil and Dirt
The Used Artwork
To see how The Used has progressed since their formation is outstanding, shifting their sounds and varieties over time to experiment with genres. Artwork is dark and mature, but keeps a sense of entertainment without divulging the listener too deep into the emotional level. Whether it's the faster 'Blood on My Hands', the catchy 'Empty With You' or the emotionally feathering 'Kissing You Goodbye', The Used blends their sounds and techniques together for a varied album. One of the best works by this group, maturing more and more with every release they put out, this is by far the best of them all.
The Venetia Fair The Pits
There is a long list of words I could use to describe the experience of listening to The
Venetia Fair. These are some creative folks, and The Pits really shows how fresh and
exciting this band can really be. This is an extremely enjoyable listen, it's so varied and
"out there" according to most of the other music I find myself listening too. Their use of
pianos and horns, mixed with some strange vocal patterns blend into a unique and pretty
remarkable bit of ear candy. I'd tell anyone to just listen to this and have fun, this is
the level of creativity that more bands need to be at and it works so well for these guys.
The Years Gone By Forever Comes Too Soon
'Forever Comes too Soon' is a purely fun based pop-punk album. Every song is fun to listen to, slow or fast, and proves that pop-punk is in fact not a dead gene as people tend to claim.
Through the Eyes of the Dead The Scars of Ages
Transit Stay Home
Stay Home isn't that fully upbeat or friendly pop-punk release most people could expect it to be, but it's one of the most mature and appealing releases from Transit so far. As a growing fan, this is the first real unforgettable listen I've heard, this has pulled me in so deep on a personal level it's ridiculous, and though it may sound just that, I absolutely love this EP. It's short and captures a real signature sound without any filler or extra unnecessary material. From the deep softer sound of 'Outbound' to the quite energetic 'Nameless' and 'Stays the Same', there is a variety of sounds to be heard over the short 22 minute length. Still to this day I find Joe Boynton one of the best vocalist in the genre, and Transit to be a force to be reckoned with just in general. Ultimately a great listen, and one I won't forget anytime in the future. r"I hope you find you way back home."
Transit Listen and Forgive
Underoath Define the Great Line
Underoath Define the Great Line Special Edition CD+DVD
Yellowcard Southern Air

4.0 excellent
A Day To Remember For Those Who Have Heart
A Day To Remember For Those Who Have Heart (Reissue)
A Loss For Words Webster Lake
A Shipwreck A Castaway Life in General
A Shipwreck A Castaway are one of those pop-punk bands that deserve a ton more attention than they receive, and if they keep making music like this they will sure find their way out into the big leagues.
After the Burial Forging a Future Self
After the Burial Rareform
After the Burial Rareform (Re-release)
Agent Awake In Their World
Alexisonfire Alexisonfire
It took me quite awhile to really settle down for Alexisonfire. Edgy and raw, the emotion pours out of the music here in buckets, and that's what kept me interested. Bouncing between ratings and really thinking about how the album makes me feel has been an all day affair and after one final listen, I realize the impact this album makes. It's fast and seems to unorganized, yet it's put together so furiously and edgy it works out so damn well. An absolutely memorable album from the earlier days of post-hardcore.
Amber Pacific The Possibility and The Promise
Anchors Bad Juju
Armor For Sleep What To Do When You Are Dead
August Burns Red Messengers
'Messengers' is an album built for excitement, it has tons and tons of great breakdowns backed by awesome musicianship which blends together well to make for a somewhat repetitive, but equally rewarding listen.
August Burns Red Home
August Burns Red Leveler
Bayside Killing Time
Beheading of a King Quasar: Preserving Legacy
Between the Buried and Me Colors
'Colors' is my first real BTBAM experience, and it's not one I am to forget anytime soon.
Between the Buried and Me The Parallax: Hypersleep Dialogues
Blessthefall Awakening
Born of Osiris The New Reign
Born of Osiris The Discovery
The first Born of Osiris album I've actually liked, fantastic work here.
Built on Secrets Reflections
Reflections is one of the biggest surprised I've stumbled upon in months, knowing nothing about the band nor their sound, I entered this completely blind and it really took me by storm. The vocalist(s) are terrific, sticking to one main talent for most of the verses than everyone joining in for the bigger choruses or moments. This is post-hardcore without breakdowns, without all the cliches, it's ripped down to simplest of terms and it works so damn well. I can't really get enough of Built on Secrets and they're definitely at the top of their game here.
Carousel Kings A Slice of Heaven
Carridale Relapse in the River City
Pop-punk is not a hard genre to nail down, and that what makes it such a hard area for bands to stand out it. Carridale pretty much is that, a band that gets the genre and manages to do it well but has never had their true shot. 'Relapse in the River City' is that shot, and if noticed well it could be a big game changer for the band. Catchy, hook driven and well executed, this is an EP for people to check out.
Casey Jones I Hope We're Not The Last
Close Your Eyes Empty Hands and Heavy Hearts
Confide Shout the Truth
Confide Shout the Truth (Re-Issue)
Cruel Hand Lock and Key
Dashboard Confessional So Impossible
Absolutely superb in every sense of the word, So Impossible had the ability to bring a smile to everybody's faces and goosebumps to the arms of those who listen closely enough.
Defeater Dear Father
Emery We Do What We Want
A real surprise right here, doing everything we expect and a tad more. Great album.
End The Century Monsters
It's ashamed End the Century had called it quits, for their music is so well executed and written, it's a pleasure to jam out too.
Fireworks All I Have To Offer Is My Own Confusion
Here is an album that does such a great job at making you feel good, it's fun to sing along with and features some very memorable lyrical lines throughout. If you're looking for a great pop-punk album, this is the one for you.
First Signs Of Frost Atlantic
Fit for an Autopsy The Process of Human Extermination
An absolutely punishing and relentless debut, Fit For An Autopsy know exactly how to just dig into all that built up anger and just tear it out in a manner of a song or two. The Process of Human Extermination is one of the most enjoyable deathcore albums I've heard all year long.
For the Fallen Dreams Changes
For Today Breaker
It all comes down to execution, and with 'Breaker', For Today shows that they can create a devastating album with arm raising lyrics that isn't too easy to forget. A step above anything they've ever done.
Four Year Strong Rise Or Die Trying
Four Year Strong are one of the strongest breaths of fresh air I've ever had the opportunity to breathe in, and Rise or Die Trying is not an easy album to forget about. There is never a dull moment presented here, this is a group that knows how to bring a ridiculous amount of energy and creativity to the pop-punk genre and just might as well become one of the great pioneers of the genre.
Four Year Strong Enemy of the World
'Enemy of the World' shows Four Year Strong at the best point in their career, they have truly defined their sound and have created a pop-punk album that is extremely hard to let go of. Every song is full of ridiculous energy and an amazing amount of catchy moments which keep every moment of the album just as refreshing as the last. A force to be reckoned with this album is.
From First to Last Throne to the Wolves
From First to Last grows some balls and makes their final album as gutsy, energetic and entertaining as it possibly can get.
Funeral for a Friend Casually Dressed & Deep in Conversation
Funeral for a Friend Welcome Home Armageddon
Gideon Costs
Green Day American Idiot
Guns Up! All This Is
Energetic is one of the many words I could use to describe Guns Up!, as 'All This Is' is an album that never wants to let up, and it stays true to that.
Hand to Hand Design the End/Follow the Horizon
If I would've known that Hand to Hand was this great of a group, I wouldn't have waited so long to check them out. Here is an album lead by it's terrific vocals and fantastic instrumental work, especially when it comes to the guitars. The group avoids most things which we would expect of them, and create a fresh experience I hope they carry on with.
Handguns Anywhere But Home
Handguns know what they're doing when it comes down to pop-punk, it's all fast and energetic yet has a spirit to it that only the genre can deliver. It isn't hard to just jam out to Anywhere But Home and just sing along, having so much fun during the listen. I put them up there with one of the premier must-hear's of the genre, it's just something you can't really deny.
Haste the Day Burning Bridges
I Am Abomination Let The Future Tell The Truth
I the Mighty Karma Never Sleeps
I, the Breather Truth and Purpose
If I Die Today Liars
'Liars' is an album built on frantic energy, from start to finish the band expresses every bit of angry they possibly can. While a few songs manage to diverge into a more melodic side of the band, most of this album finds itself on the greater side of things thanks to it's utter catchiness and ability to get your blood racing throughout.
In Fear and Faith Your World On Fire
'Your World on Fire' is a solid album on so many levels, from the vocals to the execution, here is an album that shines some light on the post-hardcore genre and opens a new door for 'piratecore'.
In Fear and Faith Symphonies
'Symphonies' is a creative and original little entry to the bands discography. Props to Scott for performing well in every vocal aspect.
In Fear and Faith In Fear and Faith
It Dies Today The Caitiff Choir
Knowing as much as I do about the current music scene, looking at how they craft their breakdowns and style, it was refreshing to look back to an earlier time before it became excessive. 'The Catiff Choir' is an album that knows how to get heavy, and it does a wonderful job at it while also maintaining their softer singing rhythms wonderfully.
Iwrestledabearonce Ruining It for Everybody
If you have ever listened to Iwrestledabear once, you know exactly what to expect as Ruining It For Everybody begins to play. They haven't lost their sense of fun yet, forget genres or repetition, sit back and enjoy the female screamer, the random instrumentals and all those crazy little breakdowns. To say they've matured is a stretch, but damn did they improve.
Killswitch Engage Alive or Just Breathing
Killswitch Engage The End of Heartache
Kingdom of Giants Abominable
A breath of fresh air indeed, now let's see if they can keep it this way.
Lydia Assailants
A beautiful departure that could use a little more, but still stands as an excellent and unfortunate goodbye album.
Major League Hard Feelings
Make Do and Mend Part and Parcel
Man Overboard Dahlia
Good 'ol Man Overboard doing what they do best. 'Dahlia' is a short but catchy release which adds three more well crafted pop-punk songs to the bands solid reputation.
Man Overboard Before We Met: A Collection of Old Songs
Matchbook Romance Stories and Alibis
Memphis May Fire The Hollow
'The Hollow' is a continuation of the bands new sound which was introduced in their EP released a while back. Memphis May Fire's biggest asset is in their vocals, as they transition between the intense screaming and excellent clean vocals, everything just comes together right. Throw in some breakdowns and electronic background noises and you get a well made album that stands out in the genre.
More Than A Thousand Vol. 4 Make Friends and Enemies
My Heart to Fear Into the Maelstrom
New Found Glory Sticks and Stones
No Bragging Rights Cycles
Of Machines As If Everything Was Held In Place
Of Mice and Men The Flood
A solid follow-up to their debut, raising their own personal bar in so many ways and overcoming all obstacles to create an album worth remembering this year.
Oh, Sleeper When I Am God
When I Am God has always sort of been there in my music collection, a few plays here and there in the background but nothing really more. Now though this all changes, for Oh, Sleeper has crafted an excellent and faithful album which shines so bright in the post-hardcore genre.
Oh, Sleeper Son of the Morning
Oh, Sleeper Children of Fire
Onward To Olympas The War Within Us
Melodic and hard hitting, Onward to Olympas has stepped up beyond what they've done before and created a memorable metalcore album.
Onward To Olympas Indicator
Our Last Night Age Of Ignorance
Age of Ignorance is a slightly new approach for Our Last Night, it's not as heavy or breakdown oriented as both previous releases, it's instead a little more.. mainstream. What we have here is a band slowly progressing, we have a ton of more singing than screaming which is a great thing when you hear Trevor's rough, but well tuned singing voice. Supporting that is Matt with his always terrific voice which when combined with his brother's, comes out excellent. There's such a nice variety of sounds throughout here as well, you can jam out to the technical opener 'Fate', bang your head to the heavier 'Liberate Me' and than slow it down and sing along to the hook driven softer 'Voices'. The only problem with this really comes in when you find that a good portion of tracks here could indeed have some radio value to them, though I doubt that'll happen, it just feels mainstream to a certain point. Beyond that though, Age of Ignorance is a well put together album without any doubt. Those looking for the "We Will All Evolve" sound though will be greatly disappointed, but give this a chance. It's well worth it.
Panic! at the Disco A Fever You Can't Sweat Out
The oddness of this group fascinates me. Very creative, very fun and addicting to sing along with, 'A Fever' is a fantastic start in so many little ways.
Panic! at the Disco Vices & Virtues
Paramore Riot!
Paramore Brand New Eyes
Parkway Drive Deep Blue
Post Season Pop Punk Destroyed My Life
Reign Supreme Fuck the Weak
If you don't have the capability to get angry, avoid this at all costs.
Rogue Empire Rogue Empire
Saves the Day Can't Slow Down
Can't Slow Down is classic pop-punk, back when there was some emotion and meaning
behind it. Looking at where the genre has headed in a more modern time, re-visiting where it
all pretty much started is always enjoyable.
Saves the Day I'm Sorry I'm Leaving
I'm Sorry I'm Leaving is straightforward and raw acoustic at it's very finest. Every song featured on here is catchy, fun to sing along with and one or two you may just find playing in your head again and again.
Say Anything Menorah/Majora
The first time I listened to 'A Walk Through Hell' was the first time I ever really payed attention to a Say Anything song. I sat and just listened to the lyrics, the voice and the music just taking it all in, and I'm pretty sure I realized what I've been missing for so long. I'm happy this interest for the group was sparked with Menorah/Majora cause this seems so overlooked by a lot of Say Anything fans. It's such a sweet little gem though, mostly on the slower side, it captures the two different sounds this band can pull off and shows their ability to craft songs. While this has the ability to be a little awkward to some because of the random jump in sounds, but this EP just doesn't seem to want to be in any order. It just feels like a bunch of songs Max had written at the time that he felt needed to be out, and therefore this EP was created. Forget the randomness though because this is one of those kind of listens that you can just enjoy no matter what mood, it's range is pretty terrific and though the awkward flow is weird, it's an EP worth remembering.
Senses Fail Life Is Not a Waiting Room
Life Is Not A Waiting Room is the most underrated Senses Fail album in their discography, and I noticed that by the one play in a matter of a year my Itunes showed me. This is sort of a different approach, bouncing between these darker and lighter tracks over the course of the album, it's hard to really find an in between here. All of the tracks lyrically are the usual, real as hell, Nielson lyrics, but it comes down to the music that makes it different. There are some really catchy tracks on here that seem like a different approach by the band, songs such as 'Map Out the Streets', which could be a fantastic radio song. I just feel like this album deserves a bit more attention than it really received, while it's not the best Senses Fail album, it's still really solid.
Shadows Chasing Ghosts The Golden Ratio
Finding a young band anymore that doesn't rely on recycled habits is tough, creativity anymore is nearing zero and the world, musically, just feels lazy. Welcome Shadows Chasing Ghosts, a vocally impressive assault on the post-hardcore genre that demands attention. Having the ability to be as impressive and entertaining as this group is, well, is impressive. Relying on energy and the pure ability to just listen is what creates The Golden Ratio, and for anyone who wants to forget about all the breakdowns and formulas, this is that band to explore.
Silverstein Rescue
'Rescue' is a well made album that shows Silverstein still has what it takes to more forward in their career. While some moments feel like they've been heard before, they're easy to cover up with the rest of great tracks featured on this album.
Stick to Your Guns Comes From the Heart
Stick to Your Guns The Hope Division
Stick to Your Guns Diamond
Stray from the Path Rising Sun
Structures Divided By
Such Gold Pedestals
Such Gold Misadventures
It's awesome how well this band can transition between the couple different vocal styles they use on this album. Everything flows so well and it's such an energetic listen. Most likely will up the rating after a few more listens but damn does this album hit you hard.

EDIT: 3.5-4 in one more listen.
Superheaven Dispirit
Taking Back Sunday Tell All Your Friends
Taking Back Sunday Where You Want To Be
Fantastic follow up to Tell All Your Friends, catchy, energetic and an awesome listen.
Ten After Two Truth Is...
Terror Keepers of the Faith
Keeping up what they started with so long ago, Terror is a landmark group in the hardcore genre. They don't seem to be slowing down in their latest album 'Keepers of the Faith' which features everything you expect from the band and even a little bit more. One of the best hardcore albums of the year without a doubt.
Texas in July Texas in July
The Afterimage Formless
The Air I Breathe Great Faith In Fools
Here is an album that breaks down, and it does it in a way you can either love or hate. Pretty heavy stuff here, and a few of the tracks have really catchy choruses, but as breakdown riddled as it is it's actually a lot more enjoyable as one may think and that's why one listen in I'm enjoying this as much as I am.
The Chariot One Wing
The Classic Crime Phoenix
Re-visiting an album isn't usually as satisfying as I'm hoping it turns out. Being asked to re-visit "Phoenix" wasn't followed by hesitation, but by wonder if maybe I was a bit heartless at first. Lyrics in front of me and full focus are what led me to this, to say that The Classic Crime have written an album so led on by emotion, that it just pulls you in. 'Beautiful Darkside', 'Young Again' and 'City of Orphans' just found a way to find me more focused than ever on more than the music, but the heart that went into all the writing on this album. Others are built more for the hooks such as 'What I'd Give Up' or 'You and Me Both', still containing the emotional writing, but also being super catchy and addicting. It was upon the fourth and fifth listen where I found this to just be an absolutely wonderful album that makes me re-think the thoughts of re-visiting some albums. A terrific album.
The Color Morale We All Have Demons
The Contortionist Shapeshifter
The Crosstown Rivalry Pull Down the Sky
Fast paced, catchy and super fun, 'Pull Down the Sky' is a well made, though short, album that was unfortunately the last for the band. They left on a good note, and that's what counts.
The Crosstown Rivalry History Is Just His Story
The Crosstown Rivalry were one of the very few Jersey based pop-punk groups I actually loved as much as I do. Watching these guys grow through shows and all was fantastic, and the earlier works of History is Just His Story showcase this bands talent in five of the easiest and most fun pop-punk songs this group could have possibly created. Innocent and fun, this is a solid release and a must have for any true fan of the genre.
The Dangerous Summer Reach for the Sun
I absolutely love this album, you get a great feel through the entire listen and it's just easy to listen to again and again.
The Dangerous Summer An Acoustic Performance of "Reach For The Sun"
After listening to the original 'Reach for the Sun', I had thought about how great an acoustic album by these guys would be. This is the same exact album, but I'm a sucker for acoustic and the album translates nicely. An excellent release, though not one hundred percent necessary.
The Dangerous Summer War Paint
The Devil Wears Prada Zombie
'Zombie' showcases a drastic change in TDWP's sound, a little darker, a little heavier but a lot more mature. They take a zombie pandemic and turn it into a anger filled, menacing EP that only Prada can pull off.
The Devil Wears Prada Dead Throne
Dead Throne is the step forward any Devil Wears Prada fan has been anticipating for years. Always getting slightly better with each release, this is that moment when we realize exactly what the band has been searching for, and now they have the entire metalcore fanbase in their grip. Mature, dark and exciting are just three words to describe the experience that is Dead Throne, an improvement on every level from their already fantastic With Roots Above. Every contribution both instrumentally and vocally in this album really gives proof that Devil Wears Prada is a force to be reckoned with, and it seems like the storm has just begun.
The Ghost Inside Fury and the Fallen Ones
The Ghost Inside Returners
'Returners' was one of the most looked forward to hardcore albums of 2010, and while the year seemed to be on and off for music, this is one that managed to live up to it's expectations and beyond. It's a hard hitting album filled with memorable chants, big breakdowns and melodic hardcore entertainment from start to finish.
The Morning Of The Way I Fell In
The Movielife Forty Hour Train Back To Penn
Forty Hour Train Back to Penn was more than I really expected it to be, knowing nothing about the band or their overall sound, but I was pretty shocked as I approached listening to the album. The Movielife is ultra catchy, and for any real pop-punk fan this is a fantastic album that reminds us of the better genre times.
The Paramedic If Seeing Is Believing
The Plot In You First Born
An album that constantly beats you down without releasing it's grip, but shines in it's moments where it separates itself from the crowd which is the metalcore genre.
The Swellers Good For Me
Living up to the hype and reputation, 'Good For Me' is a carefully crafted album that expresses the bands maturity while not wholly changing their sound. Some songs here are really catchy, while others just chill you out and keep the mood mellow. A terrific album from a great group, it's good enough for everyone.
The Used Vulnerable
The Wonder Years Get Stoked on It!
There are some really catchy tunes here, but since the release of this album the band has matured and changed in such a way it seems as if this album never happened. Looking back though is fun, and most certainly entertaining.
The Wonder Years Won't Be Pathetic Forever
The Wonder Years Suburbia I've Given You All and Now I'm Nothing
'Suburbia' was one of the most looked forward to pop-punk albums of the year, and it doesn't let you down. It's filled with life like lyricism, catchy hooks and tons of fun along the way. Personally, the only problem here is the lack of plays it's received. Only 3 full plays and I'm already a little meh of it, just in my opinion. Overall though a worthy follow up to 'The Upsides' without pushing themselves over the edge.
The Years Gone By Something You Know Nothing About
Garden state heroes The Years Gone By could've been one of the more noticeable pop-punk
bands coming out of New Jersey, but it's Something You Know Nothing About that proves
the very fact that even though they knew they were going to break up and that rarely anymore
would people be able to shout their lyrics back at them, they would pump out a good set of
songs just to prove their abilities. Each song on here is extremely catchy and fun to listen
too, one of the best genre EP's I've heard in quite a while.
Thirty Seconds to Mars This Is War
This or the Apocalypse Haunt What's Left
This Time Next Year A Place For You
This Time Next Year Drop Out Of Life
Title Fight The Last Thing You Forget
Title Fight Shed
'Shed' is an album that goes above and beyond anything Title Fight has accomplished before,
and in my opinion is a perfect example of how true pop-punk should be pulled off. Varying
between slower based relaxing tracks to the faster paced energetic tracks, none of the songs
on the album ever feel out of place of unnecessary. The album flows together nicely and
makes for a great listen, an absolutely excellent album.
Too Late the Hero Statement of Purpose
Originality is one thing so many bands can't deliver anymore, and while there are many bands who are able to execute well, Too Late the Hero comes around and pushes everybody aside to prove they are a force to be reckoned with. Their debut, 'Statement of Purpose' is energetic, well crafted and a catchy album that is sure to put this band on the map. Keeping everything that people love and doing just enough to branch themselves away from the rest, here is a group more people need to know about.
Touche Amore ...To the Beat of a Dead Horse
Transit Let It Out
Underoath They're Only Chasing Safety
Underoath They're Only Chasing Safety Special Edit
Beyond the new artwork and few bonus songs, this is pretty much the same album therefore deserving of the same rating it originally received.
Us And Them Adventures Into the Dark
Us, From Outside Inspired By the Threat of Failure
Veil of Maya Eclipse
Volumes No Sleep
We Are The In Crowd Guaranteed To Disagree
Pop-punk isn't tough to pull of, it's simple and easily enjoyable most of the time. We Are the In Crowd blends every bit of fun it can and crams it into a half hour of easy to listen too and great to sing along with pop-punk. Never trying to hard and backed with excellent dual vocals, there is nothing about this worth complaining too much about.
Wildways Desolate
'Desolate' is such an awesome album, it features everything you want and a tad more combining for an excellent and hard hitting listen.
With the Punches Keep It Going EP
Keep It Going is an absolute blast to listen to, the energy that surrounds each song is awesome and all of the songs are extremely catchy.
Worthwhile Miracle Me
Yellowcard Ocean Avenue
Yellowcard When You're Through Thinking, Say Yes
Your Demise Ignorance Never Dies
Your Demise is a UK based hardcore band that does everything you expect from a run of the mill hardcore group, but they do it so well you seem to ignore all the cliches and just enjoy the music. Here, we're given a bunch of pissed off, fun to listen to hardcore tracks that brings you back to the older days when hardcore still lived up to it's name. Never using too much of one thing and keeping their sound fresh, 'Ignorance Never Dies' is an excellent album that deserves the amount of attention it received, and shows signs of success for Your Demise.

3.5 great
A Bullet for Pretty Boy Symbiosis
A Change Of Pace Prepare the Masses
A Day To Remember And Their Name Was Treason
'And Their Name Was Treason' is a raw produced album, but it works in the bands favor. Considered the heaviest point in the bands career, the album defines where the group started and hits harder than any other release from the group. A defining start to a successful career.
A Day To Remember Homesick (Special Deluxe Edition)
A Faylene Sky Define Alive
A terrific vocalist and a good amount of catchy tunes work in the bands advantage here. As you get further in though it seems like the lack of ideas is present, and that's the only thing that really brings this down just a tad bit.
A Skylit Drive Identity on Fire
Ace Augustine The Absolute
Metalcore isn't hard to get right, in fact a very few can actually create crafty breakdowns and a noticeable metalcore style. Ace Augustine is not one of those groups, but they're one of the contenders. The Absolute is full of glorious breaking down, and with some okay clean vocals and worthy instrumentals it all comes together very well.
Across Five Aprils Tragedy in Progress
Across Five Aprils brings me back to that familiar "screamo" sound of the late 90's, early 2000's that was so popular at the time. A Tragedy In Progress seems like a mess at times, but their execution is overall performed well despite the abundant number of out of place, random breakdowns. I couldn't help but like it all though, just one of those albums that remind me of all the bands, (that now I realize suck) which I grew up listening to, as cliche as it may sound.
Adaliah Rituals
Adestria Chapters
Affiance No Secret Revealed
Agitator Walls Closing In
All Shall Perish The Price of Existence
Along Came A Spider After the Silence
The vocalist here absolutely destroys it, the dudes got some killer lows and a pretty sweet range. Enjoyed this a lot.
Amber Pacific Virtues
American Hi-Fi American Hi-Fi
American Me Heat
American Me Siberian Nightmare Machine
Anberlin Blueprints for the Black Market
Animals As Leaders Animals as Leaders
Architects The Here and Now
Though I expected a completely different album, I can in no way say that I am dissapointed with the change in sound this band has gone through. The album manages to be heavy and catchy at the same time, proving that this is a band to be reckoned with in the genre. Now, if only every song didn't sound the same, we might have a slightly better rating here, but it's a great album for what it is.
Armor For Sleep Dream To Make Believe
This is such a strong debut album, emotional and capturing in every sense. Compared to 'Dream' though, just slightly less captivating than what the band brought forth their second time around.
Armor For Sleep Smile For Them
Armor for the Broken The Black Harvest
Arms Like Yours .Architect.
Arsonists Get All the Girls Hits From the Bow
Arsonists Get All the Girls Motherland
Here is a band I could never really dig until 'Portals', and 'Motherland' completely gets me re-thinking why I disliked this band in the first place. A little more melodic, a tad more hard hitting and still managing to be the hectic band we remember. Good stuff right here.
Atomic Tom The Moment
Atomic Tom has this ability to bring an amount of relaxation to poppy punk, blending a sense of electronics and instrumentals together creating catchy tracks that never go outside of their comfortability.
Atreyu The Curse
Attila Outlawed
Attila is a recipe for disaster, they're lyrics are absolutely horrible and their whole party-core image is just laughable. There is something about them though that is so entertaining, whether you're as big of a party guy as the band is or completely against everything they stand for, there is something here that can bring a smile to your face. I will admit, this is the most entertaining Attila album to date and I expected myself to hate this, here I sit proven wrong and having fun. Attila, you've finally impressed me.
August Burns Red Thrill Seeker
August Burns Red Constellations
Moving on from the breakdown based sound which fueled their last album, 'Constellations' shows maturity, an album which is crafted in a great manner and pulled off finely by the band. For fans of their old sound, you might find yourself a little dissapointed here, but for people looking for a great release in the metalcore genre, this one is for you.
Avenged Sevenfold Waking the Fallen
Featuring some very memorable songs, 'Waking the Fallen' is a great album in the bands discography, but it's length and what seems to be a few filler tracks drags it down just a little bit.
Avenged Sevenfold Avenged Sevenfold
I find it pretty weird that I ended up liking an Avenged Sevenfold album as much as I do here. Their self-titled offers up a few of the strongest tracks the band has ever put out, including a nice variety of different sounds and experimentation. This is one of those rare instances where I question my musical opinions, but you know what, I enjoyed this so much more than I should.
Before Their Eyes Before Their Eyes
Blessed by a Broken Heart Pedal to the Metal
I could be overreacting here, maybe I'm just a tad bit more excited about this band than I should be, but I'm not ashamed of it. Blessed By A Broken Heart are absolutely awesome, one run through this album and instantly I noticed the amount of talent this group actually has. You have to set your mind away from the things this band does that's more modern, like the breakdowns and lyrics, and think about the little things they do to make those things so much more fun to listen too than any other band has the ability to make them. [i]Pedal to the Metal[i] has become one of my top favorite albums very quickly, and I love it more through each and every listen.
Blessed by a Broken Heart Feel The Power
Blind Witness Nightmare on Providence Street
Bring Me The Horizon There Is a Hell, Believe Me I've Seen It...
Far surpassing any album the band has released before, Bring Me the Horizon's latest outing features a more mature sound which can be noticed within minutes of any song. An energetic and entertaining listen which brings this band to a whole new level in my book.
Broadway Kingdoms
Broadway tears down all the walls the genre has built around itself, and with their debut 'Kingdoms', they show that they have the potential to lead their genre in a different direction. With terrific vocals and a wide mixture of sounds throughout, this all makes for a terrific listen which veers away from the average post-hardcore sound we're so used to hearing.
Broadway Calls Good Views, Bad News
Burden of a Day OneOneThousand
It's too bad this was Burden of A Day's final album, seeing it as the highest point in their career. Fantastic and melodic post hardcore here with terrific vocals, pretty awesome stuff here.
Bury Tomorrow The Union of Crowns
Castle Grayskull To Live as Brutes
Chiodos Illuminaudio
It seems as if dropping off the music map has done quiet a deal on Chiodos, for they've returned with a fantastic album that never seems to want to fit in or do anything different, but prove that the group still has what it takes to stand out in their genre, with or without Craig Owens.
City and Colour Sometimes
City in the Sea The Long Lost
Without a single doubt, there is a huge mainstream influence here from some of the bigger genre bands. Who says you can't have influences though? The Long Lost is an energetic listen, though it could have gone without so many breakdowns, there is still enough of everything else to make it such an enjoyable little album.
City Lights In It To Win It
Damn these guys are mighty catchy, quite the pleasant surprise.
Close Your Eyes We Will Overcome
Code Orange Love Is Love // Return To Dust
Conditions Fluorescent Youth
Crossfaith The Dream, The Space
Not a completely original approach to electronic post-hardcore, but this band sure knows what they're doing. The vocalist is fantastic, the electronics never take over the the exaggerated point and it's an awesome album to listen too. This band knows what they're bringing and they deliver.
Dance Gavin Dance Downtown Battle Mountain
Jonny Craig is the man here, his voice has such power and command behind it, ashamed he's changed so drastically over the years. Downtown Battle Mountain is a gracefully impressive album that some can easily look away from, but most just find themselves lost in all the noise that comes together so finely tuned.
Darasuum Darasuum
It's quite an energetic little experience listening to Darasuum, this is just a band that doesn't quit. This is five tracks of just relentless hardcore, ranging from pretty memorable little gang shouts to the most furious of verses, Darasuum knows how to bring all they can forward without filler. Straight to the point and they know it, really looking forward to what these guys can pull off in the near future.
Destroy the Runner Saints
Destroy the Runner I, Lucifer
Destruction of a Rose American Hell
The thing that makes American Hell such a memorable album is that it doesn't try too hard, it's to the point and simple without being one dimensional. Here, you will not find littered breakdowns or moments that feel out of place, instead everything is orchestrated and put together well without any real complaint along the way. Surprisingly enough, the three songs that feature clean vocals are the three best songs of the album, coming out excellently executed and fun to jam out too.
Die Another Day From Those We Love
I have this problem where I automatically doubt a lot of bands, and I've been learning to ignore my thoughts and just learn to like what deserves to be liked. 'From Those We Love' is similar while also being different, it's a great effort put forth by a talented group. While I feel like this band can do more, I'm happy with what they brought to the table while also hoping they can bring out a little more in the future.
Donnybrook! Lions In This Game
Emarosa Emarosa
Emarosa are one of those bands I can only listen to on occasion, but when that mood hits I sure enjoy them while I can.
Eminem Encore
Every Time I Die Last Night in Town
Frantic and energetic, Last Night in Town is a powerful and thrilling debut.
Existence Misanthropy
Misanthropy is a heavy album, it simply slaughters the listener and sets your mind to angry almost immediately. The real problem here though is that Existence would be a great live group, they have the breakdowns and all the little dancy pit moments they could possibly deliver, but sometimes it seems pretty flat over the speakers. Be ready for an onslaught of junz, growls and some of the most, for lack of a better word, brutal few tunes you'll hear this year in the genre.
Fall City Fall 1629
Fall Out Boy Take This to Your Grave
People love to say that this is an album that changed pop-punk forever, and I can't disagree anymore. Sure, this is a great start for Fall Out Boy but this is nothing near genre changing.
Fireworks Adventure, Nostalgia, and Robbery
Fit for a King Descendants
I really don't care how many breakdowns are in this album, how annoying the singer is or how much the screamer sounds like a more raw Jeremy McKinnon, Fit For A King delivers. There is not a single downfall in energy here, the few "slower" parts don't drag it down in anyway, but just give you a second to breathe before the next explosion of sound. Maybe a breakdown here and there could have been executed differently, and the singer shouldn't belong here at all, but this is a pretty crushing little metalcore album. I liked it so much more than I should have.
For Today Portraits
Forevermore Moths And Rust
Simple metalcore is the best way to explain this. The vocals are solid and some pretty stand out moments along the way as well.
Four Year Strong It's Our Time
It's Our Time is a very appropriate start to the fulfilling career of Four Year Strong, and the thing that allows me to say that is the lack of change in sound. That sounds bad, but it's actually something extremely good. They have kept the same sound through all three of their albums, starting off one way and over time maturing and growing without sacrificing their base sound. It was from this moment on that the band began their take over, and this proves that for quite a while, it has been their time.
From First to Last Dear Diary, My Teen Angst Has a Body Count
From First to Last hasn't always been there as a mainstream listen too me, a few memorable songs here and there (mostly being the singles), but beyond that not too much attention was focused on them from me. As a debut, 'Dear Diary' is a great entrance to the bands overall sound, the heaviest point in their career, but the most inventive so far.
From the Shallows Beyond the Unknown
Gideon Milestone
Glass Cloud The Royal Thousand
Greeley Estates The Death of Greeley Estates
Guns Up! Outlive
Frantic, energetic, true and gripping, Guns Up! has crafted yet another excellent hardcore release. The real problem lies though where most hardcore ends up coming to a stop, in it's repetition. Each song feeling exactly the same, offering up the same sounds and styles as everything before it. This is great, but not top notch hardcore.
Harp and Lyre Clumsy Architects
Haste the Day Pressure the Hinges
Her Bright Skies A Sacrament; Ill City
Here Comes the Kraken Here Comes the Kraken
I love the way this band executes their music, it's the definition of brutal death-core.
Hey Monday Hold On Tight
Hit the Lights This Is a Stick Up...
'This is A Stick Up..' is a one hundred percent fun, catchy and addicting album from start to finish. Despite it's many flaws and cliches, all these problems can be forgotten as you sing along to the lyrics and enjoy all this album has to offer.
Horizons It's All Worth Reaching For
The biggest instant downfall for Horizons lays simply on the shoulders of their singer, whomever that may be. His high pitched tone fits appropriately, but it just doesn't work out when put together with everything else the band offers up. For a metalcore group, this band knows how to tear it up finely, bringing forth many noticeable breakdowns and riffs which are used so finely at times. This is a strong contender for the genre, and one band I have to keep my eye on in the near future.
I Am Abomination To Our Forefathers
I Am Abomination's full length debut is one of the smartest, most technically advanced albums I've heard in a long time from the post-hardcore genre. With fantastic guitar work and true political lyricism, this is a tough album to compare any other band with in the genre anymore. A terrific listen.
I Am Abomination The Passion Of The Heist
Being a huge fan of To Our Forefathers, hearing about the loss of almost every member out of I Am Abomination was pretty shocking. With patience though comes great things, and the two members left weren't giving up too easily, as The Passion of the Heist is one of two releases the band is putting out this year. A concept EP of an apparent alien attack, I Am Abomination hasn't changed a single bit, and as far as instrumental expertise comes, the members of this group can slay. Every song seems like a constant show off from almost every addition this band can offer, multiple mini solos per song and one or two major solos completely steal the show here. It just feels like when they're not shredding around though, things seem to feel a little one dimensional. The rhythm guitar is boring and simple, always just seeming to want to jun it's way through the breakdown based solo melodies and some verses. Attention towards the vocalist here is completely necessary, this guy can sing. He has an absolutely fantastic range and seems to do his job almost perfectly here, even ringing in fine with Caleb Shomo of Attack Attack! in one of the tracks. The problem with this group is the lack of creativity, some moments here feel stolen from their full length, and as the actual notes may not be the same, some full moments just feel borrowed from something they created a song or two previously on the EP. The Passion of the Heist doesn't have all the passion we'd expect to hear from this group, but it's still fun and thoroughly entertaining.
I Am Alpha and Omega The War I Wage
In my opinion, this is miles better than their full length. It's less on the Christian ambush and more on enjoyable post-hardcore. A solid EP.
I Am King I Am King
I Call Fives First Things First EP
I Call Fives Bad Advice
I Call Fives I Call Fives
I traditionally enjoy my pop-punk in small doses, usually an EP does enough justice for me. Growing up in the Jersey scene right along with I Call Fives has been absolutely terrific, and too see them at this point is an awesome thing. What we have is an album that refuses to slow down, it's 12 energetic and upbeat tracks that bring back the feel of those early 2000's without seeming to try too hard. Things are only going to get bigger from here and I Call Fives deserves every second of it.
I See Stars 3D
'3-D' is an album that practically screams fun. The ability to mix multiple genres together and hope it works is one thing, but to throw them together knowing you can do something amazing with it is another. Backed with catchy synth, hook driven tracks and even better vocal displays from the singer and screamer, '3-D' is a refreshing experience. While you could take the time to sit and pick apart this album by each and every single flaw, don't. Sit back and enjoy what this band has done, you won't be disappointed.
I, the Breather These Are My Sins
Icatchfire Hope
Ice Nine Kills Safe Is Just a Shadow
In Hearts Wake Divination
In Motions Distant Horizons
What we have here is some really good melodic hardcore that with some tweaking and adjustment, could be absolutely terrific. One recommendation, less generic breakdowns, little too much of that going on here.
Jamie's Elsewhere Guidebook for Sinners Turned Saints
Job For A Cowboy Doom
There isn't one thing about Doom that doesn't manage to get in your face and personal. From start to end, here is an EP that just crushes the listener into oblivion and doesn't care one single bit. Not being as big as a deathcore fan as some, this isn't something I'd visit again and again though, but 'Entombment of A Machine' is friggin sweet.
Kid Liberty Fight With Your Fists
'Fight With Your Fists' is a catchy, hook driven album through and through.
Kids These Days There Goes the Neighborhood
Imagine of a bunch of your favorite pop-punk bands got together and just shared all their ideas and desires, you would get Kids These Days. Combining all the elements needed for energetic and catchy pop-punk and bringing an extreme level of energy to it' listener, 'There Goes the Neighborhood' is a short and fun little EP that more people should really know about.
Killswitch Engage Killswitch Engage
Life on Repeat As I Grew
'As I Grew' is a terrific debut from a band that can stand out above anything and everything if they keep their execution solid. Never though I'd hear poppy vocals and heavy instrumentals quite like this, I loved it.
Life on Repeat Struggle + Sleep
I had high hopes for this, and it certainly delivered on everything I expected while throwing out a few surprises. The vocals on here are terrific and while the songs sound so familiar, they are catchy and filled with hooks. Catching me by surprise are the amount of breakdowns, something I shake my head too in a few tracks but found as a pleasant bonus in most. Overall, a good listen every now and then.
Linkin Park Hybrid Theory
Sometimes I just wish a band could stay themselves and never change, especially when it comes to groups like Linkin Park. 'Hybrid Theory' is a creative listen, featuring some very memorable singles, fantastic vocals and great electronic work on each and every song. A classic, for lack of a better word.
Madison Affair Teenage Time
Teenage Time feels like one big "-core" experiment, just taking so many things you've heard attempted or sort of executed well and just using them to their advantage, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't but variety is definitely here. To some though it'd just seem awkward, and the rap based closer bonus track 'The Hardest Storm' along with the second to last dubstep experiment track 'You'll Better Keep Your Eyes Open' feel so out of place it's ridiculous, but being based at the end of the album kind of allows some acceptance. Now to the general sound, Madison Affair are catchy, capturing a generic sound in just enough entertaining fashion that it sort of ranks above what mostly comes out of the genre. Expect all the breakdowns and auto-tuned clean vocals to be predictable as hell, but just sit back and try to enjoy it without taking any of it to seriously. That's the only way this album really works.
Major League The Truth Is...
Major League Variables
'Variables' seems like an almost pointless release, with 2 newly recorded tracks and 2
acoustic tracks, one has to wonder, why? Well, the two new tracks are extremely catchy and
so much fun to listen too, but everything gets crushed by the weight of two emotional
acoustic entries that are fine, but feel out of place. Therefore, my rating goes towards the
two brand new tracks.
Major League Mixtape
Just a combination of their two EP's on one disc. Still, infectious pop-punk to say the least.
Man Overboard Real Talk
'Real Talk' is just the foundation Man Overboard needs to do bigger things in the future. It's an album that features many great songs, but rarely any that go beyond that. Freakishly catchy and fun to listen too, this isn't an album you forget to easily. Hopefully, this is just the start this band needs to push themselves farther, which I have high hopes they can do very soon.
Mayday Parade Mayday Parade
Me vs Hero Days That Shape Our Lives
An endlessly fun, catchy and energetic pop-punk album filled with fun breakdowns and even more entertaining tracks. Here is the summer album you've been waiting for.
Memphis May Fire Sleepwalking
Memphis May Fire Between the Lies
'Between the Lies' is the start of a whole new sound for Memphis May Fire. Some may call it a generic approach, but these guys can pull it off well. The breakdowns are well placed, the vocals are spot on and everything flows together very nicely. Let's all look forward to this new sound and hope they can keep it together.
Memphis May Fire Challenger
Molotov Solution Insurrection
Motionless in White Creatures
MyChildren MyBride MyChildren MyBride
New Found Glory Not Without a Fight
'Not Without A Fight' is an energetic and utterly catchy return album from a band built upon being good at being simple.
New Found Glory Radiosurgery
Some things are better off left unchanged, no matter how welcoming progression or maturity might be. With a history like New Found Glory, a new album announcement is huge, and to really expect anything beyond stripped down pop-punk is ridiculous. Radiosurgery couldn't have gotten any simpler, and that what makes it so great. Don't expect anything more than New Found Glory just being themselves and making hook driven pop-punk.
Of Blackest Oceans Vultures
Metal is a rare genre to be found right anymore, it's all been caught up in the "core" and crammed into one little box of all that is generic. Of Blackest Oceans can be considered more metal than anything, but they keep the modern sounds and elements intact, which means there are breakdowns. All in all though, the instrumentals here are absolutely well done, brought forth well by the members. It's easy to lose it's touch though, and after a few listens ends up running dry a little quickly.
Of Whispers Conquest
Our Last Night The Ghosts Among Us
Our Last Night We Will All Evolve
Hearing an album that feels so familiar, yet so new at the same time is a great thing. Coming from a band like Our Last Night makes things even better, and if this doesn't boost the confidence in this young post-hardcore group than I have no idea what would. These boys have matured and created an album worth listening to over and over again, something that is rare in music these days.
Paddock Park A Hiding Place For Fake Friends
Paramore All We Know Is Falling
Before all the rioting and change in eyes, Paramore, like all the other bands who are now
playing stadiums, lived their life in vans and hoping the next show payed enough for gas and
food just to get through their tours. All We Know is Falling has all the little flaws
of a debut album, not all tracks feel like they belong here, and that's the one big problem
here. You could be singing along to an energetic pop-punk gem, just to be almost slammed to
a stop as a slower song begins to play. These songs, while good, just seem to ruin that
awesome pacing set up by previous tracks. All We Know is Falling has flaws, but is a
great listen and everyone can manage to find more than a few memorable gems in here.
Rooks Infinite I
Rooks are simple; it's in this simplicity though that helps them out so much. Infinite I is so angry, it transcends itself into the listener and just manages to grab you, making it the ultimate listen for people like me. I can understand that their creativity level is low and that they're talent as musicians doesn't really get too shine to bright, (the drummer is a beast, though), but within those little opportunities shows that they can be a little more than what they express here. In the end though I completely dug this, it's just one of the more aggressive, entertaining EP's I've had a chance to listen too in quite some time.
Rosaline A Constant North
SafetySuit Life Left To Go
Saosin Saosin
Secret Band Secret Band EP
Senses Fail From the Depths of Dreams
'From the Depths of Dreams' is a haunting and furious album backed by terrific musicianship, trembling lyricism and some unforgettable songs which shot Senses Fail to the fame point they're at now.
Senses Fail Let It Enfold You
Senses Fail Let It Enfold You (Deluxe Edition)
Set Your Goals This Will Be the Death of Us
Silverstein When Broken Is Easily Fixed
Silverstein Discovering the Waterfront
Silverstein A Shipwreck in the Sand
Silverstein Transitions
Silverstein plays it safe and sticks to the sound they're good at, and it definitely doesn't have me complaining a single bit.
Silverstein Short Songs
Sirena The Past That Haunts You
Sirens and Sailors Still Breathing
'Still Breathing' is an energetic and pounding album held together by it's mix of sounds and terrific vocals.
Sky Eats Airplane Everything Perfect on the Wrong Day
Sky Eats Airplane are just one of those bands that can catch your attention; marking themselves as one of the first real electronica lead metalcore groups, they sure made a name for themselves with this first album. There are tons of breakdowns, they're spread all around and used pretty much when they ran out of idea's. The cool electronic effects that lead the album are really fun to listen too, though at times feel like there is just way too much of it at one time. Pretty solid though, and one album I'll definitely be checking out again and again.
Sleeping With Sirens Let's Cheers to This
A wonderful return for Sleeping With Sirens, 'Let's Cheer to This' lives up to it's title as an album that certainly deserves to be cheered about.
Stand Your Ground Despondenseas
Story of the Year In The Wake Of Determination
A little more energy and an obvious sign of maturing work out great for Story of the Year as their second album not only tops the first, but shows signs for an excellent future for the band.
Story of the Year Page Avenue
Story of the Year The Black Swan
Story of the Year are one of those bands that have managed to remain amazingly consistent throughout all their albums. Never changing their sound too much and sticking to basics, 'Black Swan' is the same old band you remember with a tad more to offer. A darker album in just the slightest bet, I find it the most mature album they have yet to release.
Story of the Year The Constant
Story of the Year is fantastic at remaining constant; always bringing forth new material without any drastic change in sound and managing to be just as good as anything else they've put out. The Constant is mature, it's real and presents a slightly darker side of the band without sacrificing everything else which forms the bands sound. Remaining constant is one of the bands main strengths, and yet they continue to step more and more forward over time.
Substructure Monolith
Superheaven The Difference In Good and Bad Dreams
Sworn In Start/End
Terror Rhythm Amongst The Chaos
Texas in July Salt Of The Earth
It is said that the beginning is the best, and in the case of Texas In July rumor remains true. Salt of the Earth is the best material ever released by this metalcore group, with two songs that we're re-done for their debut and three others never seen again, this is an EP that works and put TIJ onto the map. There are a lot of breakdowns, the vocal recordings are a little weak and the main overall sound is pretty damn solid for a first release. Terrific stuff here, I dug every song and what they brought forth.
The Acacia Strain Wormwood
"We might not be enemies, but we cannot be friends."
The Acacia Strain Above/Below
The Academy Is... Almost Here
The Academy Is... Lost In Pacific Time: The AP/EP
This small grouping of songs seem too mediocre during a first listen, how I feel now about
this EP is nothing compared to how I felt before. Now that I can sit down and relax, listen
and take it all in I really can get a feel for these songs. They're never too fast or
energetic, but keep a mellow pacing, keeping a firm style of love and responsibility towards
a relationship. The one thing here is that these are some easy songs to listen too, their
simple and to the point, I just can't help but enjoy than more than I thought I should.
The Air I Breathe Anathema
The Bride The Divinity Devoured
The Divinity Devoured doesn't impress too much at the start, but as this EP progresses on, a true bit of talent can be seen. Some of the breakdowns are messy in an oddly creative form, and the vocals are a bit more than decent. Energy and anger are here though, it shines through all the tiny technical moments found here and works together for a wild listen.
The Color Morale My Devil In Your Eyes
The Dear Hunter Act I: The Lake South, the River North
The Devil Wears Prada Plagues
The Gun Show Discontentment
At first, 'Discontentment' was an utter disappointment to me, but after a few more listens I was happy that I kept giving the album chances. There are moments here that hit heavier than I imagined, and I was absolutely loving the variety in vocal delivery. Give this a chance, it shines within a lot of elements and turns out to be a great album.
The Holy Guile Guardians 2.0
The Plot In You Wife Beater
The Plot In You Could You Watch Your Children Burn
The Spill Canvas Abnormalties
The Starting Line With Hopes Of Starting Over EP
Ridiculously catchy and memorable, can't believe I overlooked this for as long as I did.
The Used In Love and Death
The Wonder Years The Upsides
One of the most real pop-punk albums I have ever heard in my life, while still maintaining to be insanely catchy and utterly fun to listen too at the same time.
The Word Alive Empire
It was at this point in The Word Alive's career when they caught attention, and ever since then they haven't slowed down a bit. 'Empires' features mostly great tracks, and one or two that don't feel as up there as others but in the end an undeniably solid release.
The Word Alive Real.
This or the Apocalypse Monuments
This Romantic Tragedy Reborn
Right off the bat, I must add that Reborn completely took me by surprise. Nothing the band has done before has been able to catch my attention as much as this has, and surprisingly enough, this is damn near top notch electronic post-hardcore. Nothing the band does is new, but they're so good at crafting catchy tunes with interestingly placed and executed breakdowns. This is in fact, a band reborn in a sense that can either hurt them in the future, or shoot them to to point of attention they just might deserve.
Thursday Waiting
Waiting as a debut album is terrific, and being my first full experience with Thursday, it really launched my interest in them as a band. The instrumentals here are well done, I absolutely love the softer guitar moments scattered through some of the songs here and the vocals are terrific at times, they can be a little shaky in brief moments but it can be ignored. My only real issue comes up with the nine track run, it's a pretty short album. Saying that though, once I hit around track six I was finding myself kind of bored of their base sound. A little more variety to separate the tracks would've placed this in a more excellent position as an album.
Tides of Man Dreamhouse
Backed by some excellent vocals and some really catchy tunes, Dreamhouse is an
awesome sophomore album. Like all good things though there are some flaws, and after a few
listens most songs become pretty unforgettable. Pretty solid though for the most part.
Transit Something Left Behind
'Something Left Behind' is a layed back, personal acoustic album that does an excellent job at just being easy to listen too. Most of the songs are very easy to relate too and just fun to listen too, a good hold over until Transit releases something else in the future.
Transit Promise Nothing
A short, but sweet little release that softens things up for a little bit, showing a slightly different side of Transit.
Traveler (USA-OH) Going Home
Traveler brings with them an extremely familiar sound of melodic hardcore, and that was a huge turn off at first. Play through the four songs a few more times though and you realize how good these dudes are at bringing that melody, and when needed pulverizing you down with noise and anger, but not just senselessly. Super excited to see what these guys can do in the future, with the right choices we could be seeing the next big melodic hardcore entry.
Underoath The Changing of Times
Us, From Outside Revived
Vanna A New Hope
For one reason or another, I enjoyed 'A New Hope' a lot more than I did their previous album, 'Curses'. While their debut showed so much potential for what this band can and could do, it still remained more on the just good side of things since there was really nothing to make the band stand out above any other band in the genre. With 'A New Hope', their still not breaking down those walls, but they're surely making an impact. Catchier, cleaner and a little more balanced than their previous album, their second full length album displays a more of a balanced group, working more with their clean vocalist and less on those messy (but enjoyable) tracks that we found throughout more on their previous releases. 'A New Hope' is a step forward for Vanna, and while it might not pave them any new ground in their career, it will certainly be their most memorable record to date in my opinion.
Vanna The Honest Hearts EP
One of those rare yet surprising vocalist changes that actually do justice for the band, and Vanna is at a point where they are proving they can do more with their music, and that is something to look forward too.
Vanna And They Came Baring Bones
Veara What We Left Behind
Instantly catchy and extremely energetic, 'What We Left Behind' is a debut most bands wish they could put out, but leaves fans wondering if they would have any ideas left for any future releases.
Venia I've Lost All Faith In Myself
Venia is everything you love to hear in a hardcore band, and brings some great ideas on the table ever once in a while. Here is an EP that instantly gets the adrenaline pumping and the blood rushing, and it stays that way throughout it's short length. The only question I ask is, what does it do to stand out from the hardcore crowd?
Walking With Strangers Buried, Dead & Done
Where The Ocean Meets The Sky Empires
A solid release from a band that started with barely any potential, being generic while being enjoyable at the same time, 'Empires' is a solid listen for any fan of post-hardcore.
While She Sleeps The North Stands for Nothing
With Life In Mind The Human Condition
With Life In Mind Grievances
A hard hitting, well crafted hardcore/metalcore album that lacks a breath of fresh air, but is filled with enough breakdowns and moments that add together for a really good debut from a band that could've been lost in the crowd so easily.
Within the Ruins Creature
Within the Ruins Invade
Yellowcard One for the Kids
Yellowcard Lights and Sounds
Yellowcard Paper Walls
'Paper Walls' has it's moments of glory, and the undeniable talent of this band still seems intact, but you can't help but feel like you've heard it all before. Keeping that familiar sound you come to expect from Yellowcard isn't a bad thing, but not seeming to even try to expand your sound is another thing. A little more mature than anything the band has released yet, it shows signs of growing up, and that's a huge step for the band. 'Paper Walls' is still a fantastic album, no matter how familiar it seems to sound.
Yellowcard When You're Through Thinking, Say Yes Acoustic

3.0 good
3 Doors Down The Better Life
A good listen every now and then, and a few songs here are extremely unforgettable, but not the triumph I thought it was when I was younger.
A Bullet for Pretty Boy Beauty In The Eyes Of The Beholder
A Change Of Pace Just No Better Way
A Day To Remember Old Record
'Old Record' is unnecessary, but it's something that helps out the band when it comes to newer and younger fans. Pretty much, this is the bands first album re-produced and cleaner, for those who never really had a chance to hear the bands debut.
A Day To Remember Homesick
A Day To Remember What Separates Me from You
A Day to Remember has changed so much over the years, it's hard to believe this is the same band who crafted the wonderfully addictive For Those Who Have Heart back in 2007. With the amount of attention this band has received with this album and their previous, the band has managed to grip success and call it theirs, getting the radio play and therefore the attention to keep expanding their fanbase. With that radio play though and attention, a heavy change can be heard so easily with What Separates Me From You, a collection of listener friendly pop-punk tracks and a band who seems a bit too confused on their musical goals. The heavier-softer song transitions that worked so well before now seem forced, uncomfortable and uneven. The heaviest song on the album, '2nd Sucks' is a dream song for fans of the older ADTR sound, it's so fast and heavy and energetic, it just works. Besides this song though, nothing else really manages to reach the amount of energy or success as this, sure the band is great at crafting catchy melodies and blending them with 10 year old lyricism, but it doesn't work like it used too. rA Day to Remember are running out of steam, looking more towards the amount of attention they can get on the radio and less on what listeners really want. Of course capturing this newer-ish sound can grant them the gift of new fans, but for people like myself who have stuck around since the start and really get to see where they've come from, this is disappointing. It isn't terrible, but forgettable and and a bit more on the generic side than was expected.
A Heros Fate Another Knight Alone
While nothing groundbreaking, A Hero's Fate are one of those bands you have to keep your eyes open for. They have the potential to be greater, and if they stick with it they surely will be.
A Loss For Words The Kids Can't Lose
A Loss for Words rises slightly above the average pop-punk bands in their own ways, but the main problem comes in when you hear just how similar all their songs sound. These guys are one of those bands that are worth listening to and definitely worth seeing, but they can do a lot more with their music that will push them farther, faster.
A Loss For Words Motown Classics
Cover albums are a hit or miss, and it seems a little weird that of all bands, A Loss for Words would go at it. Actually it works though, for their Motown covers are infectiously catchy and capture both the original and new sounds nicely.
A Skylit Drive She Watched the Sky
The only way for me to describe my feelings for A Skylit Drive are to say that I like moments of their stuff. They do have songs that are really good and others that are the opposite, but the band, at the point of this release had massive potential and has definitely grasped it and gone on to the better things.
A Static Lullaby Withered
Back to the days when "screamo" was actually a genre, 'Withered' is a good start to what seemed to be quite a successful musical career.
ABACABB Survivalist
Abandon All Ships Geeving
Accept the Change Escapism Is A Dying Art
Act As One No Looking Back
Adam Kills Eve They Almost Killed us With Their Hypocrisy
Adam Kills Eve are one of those bands that are extremely good at being generic, they do
things we've all heard before but seem to do it with a certain style that makes it fresh in
a way. Featuring some pretty good vocals, the bands strong point comes out in their style,
showing that a band can come out and not be totally new, but clean up what we know as the
old and polish it for a cleaner, clearer listen. Watch out for this Italian group, they have
the room for improvement and will certainly take advantage of it.
Addison Closer To Home
Adept When The Sun Gave Up The Sky
Adept Death Dealers
Adestria Oh The Places You'll Go EP
Potential is one word that comes to mind when listening to this EP, every member of the band can do their jobs and they can move on to do better things, but for now they remain just under radar until they do something worth bragging about.
After Me, The Flood Remembrance
After the Burial In Dreams
Yes, it's heavy. 'In Dreams' is an album that strikes with force, but the traded technicality of their original stuff to the chug oriented style feels way to familiar and doesn't equal up to any of the bands previous efforts.
Against the Flood Against the Flood
Agraceful The Great I Am
I really have to add that Chris Roetter is a talented vocalist, and comparing him to most of the genre frontmen out there he's undeniably one of the best when it all comes together. Agraceful as a debut for him is appropriate, and there are some moments here that just make you wonder, why? It's understandable though that Agraceful shined most of the time, and they make their fair share of mistake along the way, but overall were a pretty good little post-hardcore group at the time.
Aiden Our Gangs Dark Oath
I'm the first person to judge when it comes to music, I've grown to do it more recently without even thinking about. Our Gangs Dark Oath is an energetic and thoroughly entertaining, and that comes as a surprise. I wonder why the band couldn't stick to this main sound, because it surely is enjoyable enough for people like me not looking for something too complicated.
Akissforjersey Victims
'Victims' is a step in the right direction for AKissforJersey, and while it has many flaws throughout, turns out to be a pretty decent attempt. It's better than 'Keep Your Head Above Water' while also showing that with a little bit more cleaning up and tuning in their music, they could've crafted something a little better if they haven't decided to split up.
Alesana On Frail Wings of Vanity and Wax
Alesana The Emptiness
Alesana A Place Where the Sun is Silent
All Time Low Nothing Personal
All of Nothing Personal could be summed up as the opening song 'Weightless' comes to
a close, this is poppy pop-punk, and damn me it's catchy. With their third studio album, All
Time Low have begun to use the studio to their advantage, this is a crisp clear album and
everything sounds near perfect, even the few little electronic effects the band uses every
now and than. Following this crisp production is a more poppier sound than ever heard
before, at times it actually seems too be a little too much. 'Break Your Little Heart' and
'Lost in Stereo' almost seem like a guilty pleasure they're so catchy, but 'A Party Song'
and 'Sick Little Games' seem to reflect a little more on the past ATL sound. Though they're
not exactly their older sound, they are the best tracks on this album. Along with them I
give the soft closing track 'Therapy' tons of credit for being the most mature, yet
lyrically cliched on the album.

As I stated before, Nothing Personal is a pretty catchy little album. Radio pop in
it's fullest, but for a more traditional pop-punk fan like myself, I can place this in my
guilty pleasure section. As for fans of this particular genre, this is a dream album for any
real Disney fan that really cares for the music they present, or bands seem to copy. Nothing
personal, but I miss the old All Time Low.
All Time Low Don't Panic
Amarna Reign Storms
American Hi-Fi The Art Of Losing
American Me III
American Me are pissed off, three albums into their career and in my opinion, they're angrier than ever. It's a good thing because what would this band be without their endless onslaught of insults, the extremely heavy breakdowns and the energy of a raging bull. "III" is everything you want and expect from American Me, it's just missing something, which is weird because I listed everything it could nearly and possibly have. This might have been great with a little more of a raw production, and instead is actually pretty heavily produced so it sounds. The best way to think of it is as a "Siberian Nightmare Machine" part two. A great jam for the car ride or after a day of things going wrong for ya, but not something to play steady throughout your day.
An Early Ending Bloodlines
An Early Ending presents us with a wide variety of different sounds with their debut 'Bloodlines'. Mainly presenting a heavy post-hardcore sound, the band has a way of making minor changes without it feeling awkward, it all just blends right. While the production here is very weak and brings down my liking for the album a bit, I love the clean vocals yet still on the edge when it comes to the harsh screams. I liked most of what 'Bloodlines' had to offer, and will probably like it more after a couple more spins.
An Early Ending Igniter
An Early Ending is definitely trying something new here, or new in terms of their scene, and it's working for them. These are 8 songs that are solid in the vocal department, though lack in those average metalcore riffs. The nicely structured choruses are great and the singer here has a pure talent, but the execution and true lack in variety made a huge impact here.
An Obscure Signal Creations
Annisokay You, Always
You, Always shows Annisokay as a band with a major amount of potential to get bigger. This is really just generic post-hardcore with the occasional breakdown every now and than, but I like it more than I do a lot of unknown genre bands. Besides the random Lady Gaga cover featured on here, the four original tracks are pretty good. The vocals here are the best element in my opinion, especially the singer who really opens up for some noticeable harmonies here and there plus a few scattered hooks. It is generic but it's listenable and certainly enjoyable, but the band needs work and we'll see what the future holds in store for them.
At the Ruins Death Earth Empire
Most of what At the Ruins brings to the table here is pretty good, the breakdowns and the electronics mix well all topped off with a pretty good screamer. The problem is that singer, his voice is way too high and just seems so out of place. A huge impact on the listen.
At the Skylines At the Skylines
Atreyu Suicide Notes and Butterfly Kisses
Seeing where this band is now musically, it's surely pleasant to look back at what they used to be. 'Suicide Notes' has it's moments of ear candy, mainly lead by the entertaining guitar based sections that pretty much make a lot of the songs. Beyond that, everything else here is good but just feels like a bit too much. Without a doubt this is the highest moment in the bands career, and maybe sticking to this time in their career is a safe bet for fans.
Atreyu Lead Sails Paper Anchor
As much as I hate to think about Atreyu going mainstream, there seems something not quite as bad about it as I thought. Though the album does feature some of the worst Atreyu songs to date, the rest peeks through and manages to sound pretty good when they're not all out to sound the same. I would' mark this as right on that mainstream verge, but not all the way there yet, therefore leaving some enjoyment for the rest.
Attila Rage
This is one of those party albums that seem to make an impact in more than one way. It's heavy and fun, making for an awesome experience which is hard to forget about.
Before Their Eyes Redemption
Betrayal Abandonment
Tobi speaks the truth, this is a solid 'mosh it up' album for any hardcore/metalcore fan out there. Keeping the gang shouts and breakdowns to an extreme level, Betrayal manages to push just enough thrills out of Abandonment to make you angry and start pushing a little harder on the keyboard. This would be a great live band for all you pit fans, dangerous for those sit-at-home-and do-nothing kind of guys.
Blessthefall His Last Walk
I always doubted this album, the low production value and catch 22 clean vocals was always a push away. Listening closely, this album delivers at times and it kind of makes up for the rest. The screams are terrific, the music is fun at times and there are a few decent tracks here. Overall not as bad as I thought.
Blessthefall Witness
Losing a vocalist is a pretty big deal, and it's one of those things that is so hard to bounce back from. For Blessthefall, it turn out to be their blessing. 'Witness' overtakes anything this band has released before in just about every way. Displaying a more mature sound, the band shows everyone that they can stand out without having to do something completely new or original. 'Witness' contains all the things you'd want to hear, the well used and sparing breakdowns, some pretty catchy choruses and just overall enjoyment during the listen makes this an album worth checking out, fan of the genre or not.
Blind Witness Silences Are Words
blink-182 Blink-182
I don't know if I can really say I was as big as a Blink fan that most people are and were as I was growing up. Everybody knows the words to their favorite Blink songs, and if it wasn't their favorite, it was just played enough for you to remember the words. I grew up around harder music, Slipknot, Sevendust and Lamb of God being the soundtrack to my pre-teen times. So, sitting here years later and giving Blink a chance, I must say I'm a tad disappointed here. It feels like Blink got soft on everyone, there are still some ultra catchy songs here that can get stuck in your head for days, but most of this album just feels soft and like it's holding itself back. You just don't get the full Blink experience here, and that's how I really feel about this as the album came to a close. With time this could be a grower, but at the moment I feel like this is nothing more than an okay album from a great band.
blink-182 Neighborhoods
Bullet For My Valentine Scream Aim Fire
While 'Scream, Aim, Fire' does nothing too give this band any more credibility as musicians, but it does do a great job at showing a tad bit of improvement. Most of the songs on the album are energetic, backed with the furious drumming and spectacular guitar playing abilities. At the same time though, the album does slow down a but at times to make up for a little more cheesy listening experience. With this balance of the good and the bad, 'Scream, Aim, Fire' has it's moments of glory right there with it's fair share of disappointment, equaling out to something just good.
Burden of a Day Blessed Be Our Ever After
Buried in Verona Saturday Night Sever
Not exactly what I would call solid on all levels, but definitely an angry and punishing album from a pretty unknown group.
Cartel Chroma
Cartel The Ransom EP
I can't really help but feel like I've heard all of this before, and that's my only real negative outlook on Cartel. There are ways to take this genre and make it your own, but Cartel seems to stick right on the border and keep it very safe. These songs are catchy though, most are upbeat and very fun to listen too, but it's not something I'd turn back to again and again for their specific genre.
Chevelle Hats Off To The Bull
Close To Home Momentum
Momentum shows us just enough progression to make it better than the bands previous effort, but it's more of just the same. Seems to not make sense, I know, but while staying as generic as can possibly be, it seems that Close to Home are actually trying this time around. The bit more effort pushed into this album shows through about or a bit less than half of the songs found on this album, and while the album has it's "meh" tracks, it's still a decent release.
Coldrain Nothing Lasts Forever
Constellations Failure & Consequences
Crown the Empire The Fallout
Dance Gavin Dance Whatever I Say Is Royal Ocean
Dance Gavin Dance are one of those bands that I can honestly say I like, but I don't find myself listening to a lot. Over the course of their career, the vocals have always been the most impressive no matter who was belting them out, and that's my favorite aspect about them. 'Whatever I Say is Royal Ocean' is a good start, though I feel the band has moved on to do better, they didn't have a bad start. A good EP at best.
Dance Gavin Dance Downtown Battle Mountain II
Not the strongest point for the band, but definitely a great return album.
Destruction of a King Destruction of a King
Dr. Acula Slander
A huge improvement over anything the band has released before, 'Slander' is a step forward. While it's still nothing amazing, it's a fun and ridiculously entertaining album from beginning to end.
Drop Dead, Gorgeous Hot N' Heavy
'Hot N Heavy' was one of the only Drop Dead, Gorgeous albums I found myself really getting into. It blends the bands older and newer sounds together, and it really works as a "band finding their true sound" album, but at the same time I found myself getting bored of the album quickly and really seeming to forget about it.
Electric Callboy Bury Me in Fucking Vegas
'Bury Me in Fucking Vegas' is very much like an instructional video on what bands shouldn't do. Pig squeals, auto-tune, simple breakdowns, useless synth and just general stupidity that plagues the music world anymore is all put to use here. Is it a joke? Or does this band actually think they're creating music? Not sure, but damn is it fun.
Enter Shikari A Flash Flood of Colour
Escape the Fate Dying Is Your Latest Fashion
Every Time I Die New Junk Aesthetic
Every Time I Die is a group I've always liked songs of, but never an entire album. This is an album that's fun and furious, but not one I find myself playing over and over.
Everyone Dies In Utah Seeing Clearly
I found myself intrigued by the lack of creativity this band pulled off so well, for the first few tracks of 'Seeing Clearly' I was convinced this band may break it's way into my top ten, but as the album moved on I found their ideas to simply run out of fuel and not catch me as well as they did in the beginning of the album. I still really like these guys, but they need to spread that creativity throughout their songs without overdoing them.
Everyone Dies In Utah Polarities (+//-)
Eyes Like Diamonds Mystery
'Mystery' threw me off at first, since the opening track resembles too much of a "trying too hard" feeling, but when you move past that you see that Eyes Like Diamonds can deliver. Flawed as much as any debut would be, this one brings enough familiarity for a few listens.r
Eyes Set to Kill Reach
Fall Out Boy From Under the Cork Tree
I like it, but not as much as I wanted too. It sounds rough, but without those singles the album brings there isn't really too much stand out material here. No matter what FOB does it's catchy, but not the best out there.
Falling in Reverse The Drug in Me Is You
Ladies and gentlemen, Ronnie is back and Falling in Reverse is surprisingly better than Owens DRUGS.
For Today Ekklesia
Forever the Sickest Kids Underdog Alma Mater
Forty Fathoms In/Famous
Four Year Strong In Some Way, Shape, or Form.
As much as a radio-rock album this presents itself to be, and whether or not this is the definitive direction Four Year Strong has been venturing towards, it's a damn catchy album. It's stripped down and not everything here delivers those hooks you'd expect, but it's not a hard album too get into really and I can see it as a sure grower as time goes on.
From Atlantis Echoes And Answers EP
Gaia State of Urgency
Glamour of the Kill Glamour of the Kill
Good Charlotte The Young And The Hopeless
If Sputnik had been around about the time this album came out, and if I had possibly known as much as I do now about music back then, we might just have a different, much better rating here. Now though, looking back at 'The Young and the Hopeless', it's still an undeniably fun record to listen to which reminds you of all the old times. Still, I find myself singing along to a number of tracks on this album, most of which I'll never forget.
Halfway To Winter To the Wolves
Halfway to Winter really messed themselves up by disbanding, looking at who they were playing with and touring around with is impressive, considering their circumstances as an unsigned group. To The Wolves could be an onslaught of a live show, the energy is built up and kept high from start to end. Surprisingly though one thing we're not attacked with are breakdowns, only a select few could be found throughout which is actually a good thing. They make them count, it's called being smart. Instrumentally this album delivers enough ear friendly riffage for the genre, same goes for the vocals. The cleans are terrific at first, but somehow manage to become flat at other times, don't really see what happened there. At first listen though there was a bit of surprise, but after everything suck in and had a chance to really grab me, I've come to find this is a "moment" album. It's cool to check out every once in a while, and I had more fun during little sections of songs than entire lengths. Still worth checking out though, it's entertaining.
Haste the Day When Everything Falls
Haste the Day Dreamer
'Dreamer' is everything you've heard from Haste the Day before. It's an album filled with similar tracks boasting an utterly familiar sound that really does no justice to either the band nor the genre. Though the familiarity could be a problem to some, this still isn't a bad album and shows significant proof that Haste the Day can still do what they love and do it well.
Have Heart What Counts
Hills Have Eyes Strangers
Hit the Lights Invicta
Hoods The King Is Dead
The King is Dead is nowhere near as bad as I really expected it to be, and I can't even really figure out why I expected it to be bad. It's really nothing special either, a few good scattered breakdowns, heavy bass and the speed of a wild train, Hoods brings forth some pretty exciting little hardcore tracks here and there. Overall though it all just feels the same, and in a genre such as hardcore being new is more than welcome, but sometimes sticking to the same old track isn't so bad.
Hoods Pit Beast
Pit Beast is like an adrenaline shot straight to your heart, it starts off fast and doesn't give the listener a chance to breathe up until the very end. This is built for hardcore fans by hardcore fans, and whether they're screaming about circle pits or getting drunk, Hoods takes a fist pounding genre and delivers what they need too in order to get recognized. Saying all this though, you can't take Hoods too seriously. Just sit back and let the energy strike you.
I Am Empire Kings
Though I expected much more from this, I Am Empire proves that they are a band worth watching out for. While nothing in this album is new, it's all very refreshing and keeps you interested enough to get through the album. 'Kings' is a good record, but nothing more.
I See Stars Digital Renegade
I Set My Friends On Fire You Can't Spell Slaughter Without Laughter
It's hard to hate an album that's just so damn fun to listen too, especially when it comes from an album with the name I Set My Friends on Fire. Here is an album you don't want to take too seriously, just hang out with a bunch of friends and let it play.
Ice Nine Kills The Burning
Ice Nine Kills Last Chance to Make Amends
Ice Nine Kills The Predator
In Reference To A Sinking Ship Aimless
While In Reference To A Sinking Ship does nothing you could call boundary breaking, they do a great job at defining their genre. Here is an EP featuring five crushing tracks that never give you a chance to relax. Besides the bands heavy sound though, I feel like I've heard all of this before, and it just seems to familiar to be anything amazing. These guys have a long way to go, but checking out a few songs on this EP will be something you should do.
Jamie's Elsewhere They Said a Storm Was Coming
A band changing in sound can be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on how you look at it. With Jamie's Elsewhere's sophomore album 'They Said A Storm Was Coming', we see the band focusing more on a synth-core style sound than the more focused post-hardcore style of their previous album. Instead of the synth completely taking over here though, it manages to amp the sound and add a whole new element to the actual musicianship of the album. The biggest complaint I have though is the assortment of tracks on the album. When you listen to the album as a whole, most songs feel and sound the same, which is a big problem for bands in the genre. Overall, this band could continue in this path and do pretty good for themselves, or they could improve upon what they've already improved upon and create a much better album in the future.
Just Surrender Phoenix
There are some songs here I really like, and others that fell behind and didn't get noticed as much. I love the vocal duo and the bands amount of catchiness, but with an album that feels like it has as much filler as this, it becomes kind of a let down.
Kids in Glass Houses Smart Casual
Killwhitneydead Inhaling the Breath of a Bullet
It's pretty cool to see how many people love this band and album. Whether it's the movie clips or the completely absence of mind and balance, Killwhitneydead can be described as none other than awesome. All those movie quotes we're bound to know are recognized as the band breaks things down in a mindless sense of chaos. Sure it's unorganized, but a frantic amount of pleasure that isn't easy to escape from.
Legacy Depths
Limp Bizkit Results May Vary
Limp Bizkit Gold Cobra
There isn't too much I can really say about Gold Cobra that hasn't already been said on this page. This is the Limp Bizkit we remember, and it's actually pretty fun to listen too no matter who you are. I enjoyed it to an extent, and that was a surprise to me.
Linkin Park Meteora
There are some really good songs here, and the rest just kind of falls beneath, not gaining as much attention. It seems here is when we find the band venturing into maturity, crafting a new sound while trying to maintain older qualities.
Linkin Park A Thousand Suns
A Thousand Suns yet again proves that Linkin Park is a band that can form their sound with each album they put out, and still manage to put out quality music. Nothing compared to their older stuff though, here are 15 tracks that span more than music, but become an experience in a way. With all the sound clips and atmosphere built here, combined with the absolutely stunning vocals and well put together electronic bits, this album doesn't have that much to complain about. The biggest problem with this is that it's a Linkin Park album, without that name this could've been great.
Lions!Tigers!Bears! Shallow Waters, Endless Depth
Definitely going to be getting a lot more listens out of this album, I'm loving the vocals and their use of synth.
LoveHateHero America Underwater
Lower Definition The Infinite Et Cetera
There was so much anticipation for what Lower Definition was going to do after The Greatest of All Lost Arts. Three long years have past and now we have The Infinite Et Cetera, a five-song EP that borders between opinions and took quite a bit of thinking to really get a true and honest rating of. Expecting more, a three rating is a bit disappointing, but there was more awkward little moments here than truly expected. The one thing I question are the breakdowns, they're not good. They seem to come in at moments where the band doesn't know what else to place there, the simplicity and pure lazy aspect of them just brought me this weird feeling. Another bothering was the repetition of songs, every song brings the same feel and what sounds to be the same basic set up. A few choruses are catchy and there are a few choice lyrical lines worth remembering and thanks to the great clean vocal performance here (and a not so great scream) you can here them without any voice effects. Call their previous albums what you will, Lower Definition was on to something. This next step though is a step in the wrong direction, heading towards the generic and less away from the "art form" they were beginning to craft earlier in their career.
Mayday Parade A Lesson In Romantics
I call this my moody album, it takes a certain thought process and day for me to really want to listen to this album. Mayday Parade is great at pop-punk, but it's not really MY style of pop-punk. A lot of hooks here, some awesome and catchy little melodies and lyrics that seem to jump right out of a teenager's little love diary. This isn't bad in anyway, just not something I can find myself listening to again and again.
Mayday Parade Anywhere But Here
Miracle At St. Anna Shadow Country
My Ticket Home The Opportunity To Be
New Found Glory Catalyst
New Found Glory New Found Glory
Of Mice and Men Of Mice and Men
I couldn't really begin to tell you what I thought about when hearing of Austin Carlile starting another band. It wasn't a surprise, but I had no idea what to expect. Generic is one of the first words to come to mind, but fun is another. Breakdown after breakdown is what you can come to expect here, and if you expect anything more you just might find every single reason to hate this.
Our Final Hour From Heart and Home
Our Last Night Building Cities from Scratch
Outline In Color Jury of Wolves
Vocals mean everything to me; if a band can't successfully pull off their vocal performance than I usually don't have a tendency to like it very much. Outline in Color absolutely delivers when it comes to both vocalists. If you can't handle the crazy high pitched singer than this isn't for you, but Simeson does it very well. Sometimes the pitch gets a little out of hand but I can deal. On the other side of things, screamer Trevor Tatro kills it with his extreme lows and those crazy highs that just brought the largest smile to my face. Beyond that what we have is a fairly generic, yet fun listen. The album can deal without a few tracks and a little less synth, but the obnoxious amount of well placed breakdowns work out for someone like me and some of the vocal and musical arrangements are extremely catchy. I have to give even more credit to the drummer for his extreme handling of his drum kit, he is all over the place. Point is, this is fun, and if you can handle all the generic aspects than check this out.
Papa Roach Infest
When Papa Roach was actually good, 'Infest' is an angry and energetic Nu-metal album that does exactly what is expected from it, entertain.
Periphery Periphery
Periphery has some great ideas up their sleeve, and there are moments here where those talents are displayed. Personally, I feel a lot of the songs are a little extensive in length and the album runs out of steam after the halfway point. This is an album that will have to grow on me, and with the right amount of time it might do just that.
Picture Me Broken Wide Awake
Picture Me Broken have a great amount of potential in front of them, with a female vocalist that just slays both singing and screaming and a good amount of hooks, Wide Awake is a nice little listen occasionally. Throughout though I found a lot of flaws, and while they don't impact this album as much as you would think, they are there and instantly noticeable. I found a few of the tracks to be repetitive, begged for some more variety and technicality during a couple more of the tracks and just found a few songs plain forgettable. I might be taking this a bit too serious, but with a bit of changes they could go on to do bigger things and impress me some more.
SafetySuit These Times
Save Your Breath Nothing Worth Having Comes Easy
As Save Your Breath chants, "Never giving up" at the end of Nothing Worth Having Comes Easy, I can't help but wish the entire EP could be as great as this closing track. Everything else is really good, a good amount of hooks and a few catchy choruses aren't enough to make this as great as I wanted it to be. This just seemed okay to me, not enough to make me really want to just listen to it all again back and back again. The EP title is perfectly acceptable, nothing worth having comes easy.
Scary Kids Scaring Kids The City Sleeps In Flames
My musical taste must have changed a lot over the years, cause I honestly believed that Scary Kids Scaring Kids were spectacular. I was really looking forward to just rocking out to what I thought was one of the best post-hardcore albums at the time, and whether I was just confusing these guys with another band or what, I wonder why I thought so highly of them. SKSK isn't bad what-so-ever, but I never remembered them whining as much as they actually do. There are a few songs here that just tend to drag itself through the run time, and when the energy was picked up in the smallest dose, it was brought down again by another four minute story of love lost or attempted suicide. I'm really not too sure, but I enjoyed the majority of this without rating it blindly so to speak.
Scream Out Loud Live It Up
Secret Eyes Save It
Secret Eyes The Unseen Realm
Set Your Goals Mutiny!
Shreddy Krueger Curses
Silent Screams When It Rains
Silent Screams had me a bit on the edge with When It Rains, took a little more analyzing and listens then usual. They would be much better off with a more ranged approach screamer and more use of the singing, which is fantastic. Nothing terrible here, but nothing certainly great either.
Silverstein 18 Candles: The Early Years
Silverstein When the Shadows Beam
Simple Plan No Pads, No Helmets... Just Balls
I can understand why people are able to hate this band, they have the perfect formula for hateable music. At the same point though, this is an album full of fun and catchy tracks I remember listening to when younger that I still find just as fun to listen to today.
Simple Plan Get Your Heart On!
This is Simple Plan being Simple Plan and pulling off some simple and catchy pop-punk songs just like they've always done. It aims for its target and hits it dead on, without pulling any new tricks out of their hat.
Skrillex Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites
Sleeping With Sirens With Ears to See and Eyes to Hear
To really consider this as a full-length is rough, since the album in whole is actually really short. Aside from the length though, Sleeping With Sirens has really surprised me with this album, it's catchy and entertaining, but seems to rely on to many of the same things for each song. I couldn't help but feel that every song felt and sounded nearly the same way. The vocals are fantastic and most of the instrumental work is fine as well, but as a whole, this is an album in need of some work which hopefully the band can improve on with their sophomore album.
Terror Lowest Of The Low
Texas in July I Am
Texas in July Uncivilized
Texas In July just being Texas In July. Uncivilized is two songs to branch the gap between their two albums, they surely show progression but really doesn't attempt anything new to justify whatever genre approach they're taking. A little less on the breakdowns is one approach we see here, and they're doing well with filling the songs with some entertaining instrumentals.
The Acacia Strain The Dead Walk
The Acacia Strain 3750
3750 in my opinion is The Acacia Strain's defining album, the one that really set them forth into their career. While the junz still remain, there is a more melodic side to the bands deathcore approach, working so well in their favor. Here is a prime example of an angry band, and it's impossible to not feel their anger while listening to them.
The Acacia Strain The Most Known Unknown
The Academy Is... From The Carpet
The Academy Is... Santi
The All-American Rejects Move Along
As much as I can't get into "radio rock", The All-American Rejects are one band I can actually stand to hear once in a while. I enjoy all the singles, 'It Ends Tonight', 'Dirty Little Secret' and 'Move Along', but also found a bit of a decent surprise in tracks like 'Dance Inside' and 'Straitjacket Feeling' that I wasn't expecting. As far as the rest of the album goes, it's just okay. I wouldn't exactly call the rest of the songs terrible, but they're not good.
The Gun Show Currents
'Currents' is a strong debut for The Gun Show, but lacks what the band needs to move forward in the genre. It shows what the band is capable of, but still feels like it's holding back from showing their true potential as a metalcore group.
The Maine Can't Stop, Won't Stop
The Maine Pioneer
Pioneer showcases a more mature and less whiny sound when compared to The Maine's older releases. A little on the long side in my opinion, but I couldn't help but enjoy a nice chunk of songs here more than I thought I would anything off this album. 'Waiting For My Sun to Shine' is an excellent closing track featuring some welcomed softer guitar work, 'Identify' is one of the catchiest tracks on the album and I can't help but love the somber sound of 'I'm Sorry'. If you can look past some cheesy lyrics and just enjoy the album for what it is than you might find yourself liking this, but a good amount of filler tracks just brings this down pretty heavily.
The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus Don't You Fake It
The Starting Line Make Yourself at Home EP
The Used Lies for the Liars
The Who My Generation
The Word Alive Deceiver
I expected much less from 'Deceiver', but at the same time was kind of hoping for so much more. It's a short album that showcases the talent this band has, but in that short time shows that they need to start mixing things up a little better, and create an album that isn't as repetitive and overdone as this album eventually begins to feel.
The Word Alive Life Cycles
There For Tomorrow The Verge
This is a bit more mature than their previous releases, but there are still parts here that
just don't seem as appealing as the band thought they would be. After the first grouping of
songs, everything else seems to fade away in the background. A song here and there manage to
grab your attention again, but it all just goes back to background tunes. There For Tomorrow
can pull it off, but this is still just on the level they've always been just hovering
beneath.
This Is Hell Black Mass
Throw The Fight In Pursuit Of Tomorrow
Tonight Is Glory The Vision and Reality
Tonight is Glory are one of those bands that having everything going for them. With a could-get-better-but-good screaming vocalist and an awesome clean singer, mixed with they're catchiness and execution, this is one of those bands that could've gone and done something with themselves. One of the main things that drags down 'The Vision and the Reality' is the simple fact that most songs sound the same. The familiar style between all of them makes it hard to tell songs apart at times. Within each of these songs though is where this band shines, they're execution is so well timed and set up that it makes for an enjoyable listen. Here is an album that rarely lets up, and keeps you on for an entertaining listen throughout without being too generic or unacceptable.
Unearth Darkness in the Light
Upon a Burning Body The World Is Ours
Vanna Curses
Volumes Via
Walking With Strangers Hardships
War of Ages Unite Us All
We Are The In Crowd Best Intentions
We Are the In Crowd are infectiously catchy, and the male-female duo vocal assortment is a pretty nice little addition to their already listen worthy sound. Best Intentions is a let down though, the bands venture into simple radio-rock was expected to say the least, but not to the point it's at with this debut. That twist in sound isn't something that's completely terrible, since they could become a success with that career path, it became a little too much for me to really enjoy this as much as I wanted too. To really get their full sound, listen too 'Rumor Mill' and 'Better Luck Next Time', the albums opening and closing tracks. If you were a fan of their EP, those are the songs you should be pointing your attention towards.
We Butter The Bread With Butter Der Tag An Dem Die Welt Unterging
We Came As Romans To Plant a Seed
We Came As Romans Understanding What We've Grown to Be
Understanding What We've Grown to Be is a slight improvement over To Plant A Seed, but it seems like as a band, We Came As Romans hasn't learned to much more about crafting an album. Still running into the filler problem, the biggest fault really comes down to their singer, who really isn't all that bad, but has no variation in pitch or melody. It sounds like he's singing the same notes in every song and it just becomes boring, taking away a huge element of the bands music. Stephens is awesome as a screamer and is backed up well by the music, but still a lot of this just feels copied and pasted from the bands previous album. There is a lot more work on sounds and experimentation with different synth effects and when they come around it's awesome, but it isn't enough to really help this album overcome what the band has done before. Label this as To Plant A Seed 2.0, because that's really all it is.
We The Kings We The Kings
With the Punches It's Not The End Of The World
'It's Not the End of the World' is one of the most energetic EP's I've had the pleasure of listening to in a long time, and that's the best part about it. Beyond all of that, every song seems to blend together and follow the same pattern, therefore shows a lack of creativity at most points around the EP. It's still a solid release any pop-punk fan should enjoy plenty.
Woe, Is Me Number[s]
Yashin Put Your Hands Where I Can See Them

2.5 average
A Bullet for Pretty Boy Revision: Revise
I've tried many times to listen to this album through and through and really pay attention to exactly what this band is going for, and though at times it may feel like a breath of fresh air, it's an album full of repetitive moments which never really give this band a reason to stand out. This rating may change over time, but for now it's just an average listen.
A Shattered Hope See You At the Grammys
A Skylit Drive Wires...and the Concept of Breathing
'Wires' is a step down from their previous EP, whether the blame shall fall on the change of
vocalist or anything like that, here is an album that could have done so much more. While it
shows a step in the right direction, it's a slight step backwards which the band can learn
from and grow upon.
A Static Lullaby ...And Don't Forget to Breathe
There's a few good songs here, but most of the tracks just come out as boring and uninteresting. My attention level began to drop heavily after the first few tracks and just kept going down as the album moved on. Average at best.
Abandon All Ships Abandon All Ships!
Most or all of the songs featured on this EP have been re-done for the bands full length, so this EP doesn't really establish itself as worse or better than 'Geeving'. Still, the production is weak and the band is just passable.
Across Five Aprils Collapse
Akissforjersey Keep Your Head Above the Water
Alesana Try This With Your Eyes Closed
You can't argue the fact that beginnings mean everything, and Alesana are one of those groups that just kind of sat on the wire from the start. Even though Try This With Your Eyes Closed is nowhere near perfection, this is a decent start to their career. Most or all of the songs here have been re-done in future releases with barely a change, but the rough production here and sloppy vocal set up brings it down a little bit. Whose to blame for a bad beginning? Nobody really. This is just one that's a little more forgettable than some.
Alesana Where Myth Fades to Legend
Alexisonfire Dog's Blood
Aliens Ate My Setlist Illusions
Angels and Airwaves We Don't Need to Whisper
Artist Vs Poet Favorite Fix
Here we have average pop-punk without the band seeming to try too hard. A collection of songs that are very capable of radio play, while fun at times to listen too, most of the album falls under the "heard that before" category.
As Blood Runs Black Allegiance
As Blood Runs Black is a band full of great ideas, and there are little moments here where that can be justified, but it seems as if all those ideas weren't put on the table. 'Allegiance' isn't a failure in any way, but it's lead upon the few great moments throughout.
As Blood Runs Black Instinct
While the new vocalist is fantastic, nothing else here seems to live up to expectations. You'd think a band could pull off more in the time they've had to create this album.
Atreyu A Death-Grip on Yesterday
Avenged Sevenfold City of Evil
Avril Lavigne The Best Damn Thing
Before Their Eyes Untouchable
Betraying the Martyrs Breathe In Life
Bring Me The Horizon Count Your Blessings
Bring Me the Horizon brings a certain appeal to their music that one can consider forgettable, but it lies more in the memorable moments than it does full songs. This is some heavy hitting stuff, but the real problem comes in when you look at this album as a whole. 'Pray For Plagues', 'Tell Slater Not to Wash His D**k' and 'Black and Blue' are the only real mention worthy tracks here, and that isn't explaining too much because these tracks are easy to enjoy. They'd be excellent live songs because of their energy and level of crowd interactivity, but they work pretty fine as albun material as well. Count Your Blessings shows us a band just starting to tune in, crafting their sound and opening some doors for themselves. Those doors aren't fully open though, and knowledge is one thing this group needs more of before they do any substantial in my book.
Broadway Gentleman's Brawl
Bruno Mars Doo-Wops & Hooligans
Casino Madrid Robots
Close To Home Never Back Down
'Let It Be Known' was a big leap for Close to Home's career, it featured catchy tracks that
did a great job at balancing all the things we enjoy in the post-hardcore genre. Here we
are, two years later with 'Never Back Down', a more pop-punk approach to their sound and a
lot less interesting than what I thought it would be. Moving more into a generic sound than
further away from it, this was one of the biggest downfalls of the album. Close to Home
tends to do a good job at keeping all the elements in place, breakdowns show up just enough
and some of the songs feature great hooks, but all good things come to an end. Most of the
breakdowns feel forced and repetitive, while most of the songs just seem to fall flat in
their familiarity. It's easily noticeable that Close to Home was keeping it safe and
sticking to what they know genre fans will like, which actually turns around to be a bad
thing to people like me who search for a reason to be different. While I'm one of those
fans, I can't find a place to really feel for this album. While it has it's moments and the
occasional shine of greatness, it feels lazy and safe. If you want to create a safe genre
album that's actually good, try to stand out in those breakdowns, and try to make those
choruses bigger and noticeable. The worst part here is that this was a band with potential,
and while this album may not be the end of a career, it definitely makes me hope for bigger
and better things in the future to wash this album away.
Confide Recover
I could think of more reasons to dislike this album than to support what it's doing, but I can't really convince myself that I hate it. Sure, it's generic and may be boring to some, but it's a catchy listen that has it's fair share of cool little moments. If 'Recover' is the reason for the bands break up? I'm not too sure, but they could definitely do better with their sophomore album than they did here.
Dead by April Dead by April
Deception Of A Ghost Speak Up, You're Not Alone
Defiler Pangaea
'Pangea' is a great album too listen to when angry, but other than that comes off as a by the books hardcore/metalcore album. It's full of bass drop breakdowns, tough guy one liners and everything meant for a great live show, but for an album hard to listen to more than a few times.
Disturbed The Sickness
Emmure The Complete Guide To Needlework
Emmure The Respect Issue
'The Respect Issue' is an angry album, just built on pure hatred. Yet, that's the only thing that's really good here. Standing out as my personal favorite Emmure record isn't really saying much here, but when you're in that fighting mood, this is the album for you.
Emmure Speaker Of The Dead
For quite a while there, Emmure had me convinced that they've moved on from 'Felony' and are certainly out to do bigger things. This was until my second play of 'Speaker of the Dead' where I realized that all the tracks on the album are exactly the same, containing everything we come to expect from an Emmure album. Most of the songs are filled with breakdowns that sound almost exactly alike and never diverge away from that simple song structure. It would be a pretty different story if each breakdown stood out and actually offered up something, but they remain simple and could only really be used for a live show. Frankie's vocals show no improvement at all, as he continues to bounce between the rap style talking and scratchy high screams we really never get offered anything too different. I really don't have a reason for why I looked forward to this album, but it's a perfect solution for angrier moments in my life. Don't search for anything beyond what you know about Emmure, because you won't find it here.
Escape the Fate This War Is Ours
Explosions in the Sky Take Care, Take Care, Take Care
Quiet and strange, Take Care, Take Care, Take Care follows the novel sound that has been with Explosions in the Sky for so long, but it seems to be running out of steam here with noise and no real sense of direction.
For All Those Sleeping Cross Your Fingers
Generic is just one word you could use in a complete dictionary of insults to describe this band. In all honesty though, the music featured in 'Cross Your Fingers' is catchy and fun to listen too, combining all the things you love to hate about the genre. There aren't the most creative guys in the world, but they know how to make something fun to sing along with.
For the Fallen Dreams Back Burner
For the Fallen Dreams Wasted Youth
Four Letter Lie Let Your Body Take Over
'Let Your Body Take Over' features a few well done tracks and while generic is one of the many words you can use to describe this album, I still enjoyed it enough to like it in it's own ways. Not too bad, but nothing great either.
Four Letter Lie What A Terrible Thing To Say
At this point, the band seems confused at exactly what to be. While there are some songs that are worth checking out, most of it seems uninspiring and boring. Disappointment.
Freshman 15 Talk of the Town
In the year that it's been since the release of 'Throw Up Your Hands for One Night Stands', Freshman 15 seemed to drop off the face of the earth for a little while. Cutting their lineup down to only three people, they're back with the short EP 'Talk of the Town'. Disappointing is the one word that comes to mind though here, as this is as average as pop-punk can get. The music just feels like it's all been done before, like the band didn't put any effort into making it seem original at all. Saying that, the music is pretty catchy which makes up for all the other flaws. Let's hope for better things in the future, and I say that knowing these dudes can do so much better than this.
From Atlantis Between the Heart and Home
Still not totally sure how I feel about this, and while I can sit here and say it's generic and sounds like every other band in the genre, From Atlantis shows true potential to be one of those bands that are very good at being average. The choruses are pretty catchy, the breakdowns are solid and the vocals are pretty killer, but there are only a few select songs here I'd find myself listening to on more than one occasion.
From First to Last From First to Last
Matt Good was a welcoming addition to From First to Last, Sonny moving on to do better things and the band trying to find they're "destiny" so to speak. You can't come at this album expecting the older FFTL style, everything is now more organized and put on an average song mapping style. You can expect a verse-chorus-verse-chorus set up in all of the songs here, which is quite a change when talking about From First to Last, but it helps in it's own little ways while also taking away what made older albums as enjoyable as they were. Screaming here is rarely heard and everything just presents a more alternative style than the post-hardcore roots. Matt is good though (see what I did there), his higher toned singing style fits with the production and style easily. Like the music though, it feels warn out and overdone about the halfway point. The first grouping of songs, 'Two As One', 'The Other Side' and 'Worlds Away' are fantastic, a true representation of the direction headed towards with the album. As we move on though it all goes downhill, interest flaps away in the wind and things become a little more forgettable. A song here and there can catch your attention and make the listen memorable, but others just make you want to hit that skip button. What it comes down to here is simply; what's next? The album following this has been released and is the strongest in FFTL's discography, but at this point wondering what would happen next was nothing more than a blur. This is good, but work is needed in a lot of places in order to pick back up where the band left off.
Gwen Stacy A Dialogue
Hands Like Glass With Unveiled Faces
Maybe it's just my dislike of the whole trancecore scene, but there wasn't anything to special here. 'With Unveiled Faces' is catchy, but the lackluster songwriting, overtaking synth and meh vocals don't really add up to anything above average.
I Am Alpha and Omega The Roar and the Whisper
I See Stars The End of the World Party
In Fear and Faith Imperial
A complete drop off the cliff for In Fear and Faith, a disappointing and forgettable album.
In Memory of Heather From Love to Hate
Generic in every single sense of the word, but time is of the essence and the potential is hidden in very small moments of this debut.
LGND Valediction
LGND The Pale Horse
I have the same problem here as I did with 'Valediction', this is by the books pissed off hardcore. The endless onslaught of energy and breakdowns just aren't enough to break this away from being just another cliche. I give it up to Chad Ruhlig though for continuing to be an excellent vocalist, one of only highlights this band has to offer.
Like Moths to Flames Sweet Talker
Here is an EP that does absolutely nothing you could call original, but it is an aggressive listen that does a good job at being heavy and making you angry. Therefore, it's worth a few listens every now and then.
Linkin Park Minutes to Midnight
A change in sound could be a bad or a good thing, in this case it kind of floats between the two. A little more mature, a little less entertaining, but there are a few songs on here that I just can't help liking. A step down in the wrong direction.
Lorna Shore Triumph
Triumph is about as hard hitting as it gets, they deliver the breakdowns and drops like it's all they know, but that's the problems. A few simple death metal riffs and two-tone vocals don't do it for me. Where is the technicality? Where is the excitement? Lorna Shore can establish a sense of technicality and be a killer in the genre, but as of now it just seems flat.
Lost In The Light Before What I've Created
An average and predictable metalcore album that shines only for a few moments before losing itself again. Unfortunately the band recently broke up, they had the potential to do something better than this at some point.
Make Me Famous Keep This in Your Music Player
I want to sit here and just bash this band to no end. What we have here is another band doing the same things other bands we don't like are doing, and obviously that's the wrong way of doing things. Saying that though, I have to give credit to the two last tracks on this release. The 'Just The Way You Are' cover is very pleasing, not a breakdown can be heard here and in it's place is a simple guitar solo that is a nice little change of pace. Second, the acoustic version of 'Make It Precious' is fantastic, the atmosphere and sound just sucks you in, it actually shows us that Denis Shaforostov can actually sing without the bit of vocal effects. Those two ending tracks are the single bit of light here, make the whole thing worthwhile.
Miss May I Apologies Are for the Weak
This isn't the worst set of tracks this band could've possible released, and while it does run into the problem of songs sounding the same, there are some pretty good tracks here and most of the instrumentals are well done as well.
Monuments (UK) We Are the Foundation
Not too bad, a little fine tuning here and there and this could've been something a little better. I found after the first few listens, the songs blended together and never offered up anything too exciting. Didn't hate it, but it definitely needs some variety.
My Chemical Romance Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge
'Three Cheers' was the soundtrack to my early teenage years, I played this album everyday and pretty much obsessed over it. Growing up is a complicated thing, and changing my musical taste has allowed me to actually realize how average of an album this is. Besides the few singles, there is nothing really here that can grab my attention.
Nickelback The Long Road
Oceana The Tide
Of Legends Stranded
'Stranded' is a a full force, energetic and relentless album that never gives you a chance to breathe. With saying this, the album also feels like it's been done over and over again a countless number of times. The vocals are good and the drumming is absolutely fantastic, but the rest unfortunately just feels recycled.
Onward To Olympas This World Is Not My Home
This World Is Not My Home unexpectedly fell flat for me, it feels like something within this album was missing. It's noticeable almost instantly that the members of this band are talented, the drummer is technical and the guitarists are up there shredding their way through riffs, one vocalist is fantastic and the other could use work, but it just feels like there is no real attempt here to be different. It's like everyone is showcasing what they can do without fully trying to put together a metalcore album worth mentioning, and songs such as the title track and 'Unstoppable' are fantastic when it comes down to execution. Most of the rest though can be put aside either as lazy or just flat filler, like every other song is entertaining and everything in between is just forgettable. Now that they've put out their sophomore album, we see a band who has their shit together and can execute and perform extremely well, but this as a debut feels just lazy and uninspiring.
Punchline So Nice To Meet You
Rise Against Endgame
As a Rise Against fan, this is just a plain album. While there are many catchy hooks and songs to be found here, nothing truly stands out above anything the band has done before.
SECRETS The Ascent
Sienna Skies The Constant Climb
Silverstein Arrivals and Departures
Silverstein Summer's Stellar Gaze
Simple Plan Still Not Getting Any...
Skrillex Bangarang
Texas in July One Reality
I can't help but feel that I like this album a little more than the rating states, it's like a 2.80 which is slightly better. Replacing breakdowns was a nice touch, but the album wares off after a few songs and mainly comes down to good moments rather than good songs. Still, a could-be-better album in a could-be-better genre.
The Acacia Strain Continent
There is something about deathcore that I find myself turning my head away from, and I can't exactly pick it out and describe it, but it completely bothers me. 'Continent' is a heavy album, based on anger and straight hate for the most part, and this is the best part about it. My problem comes in at the fact that most songs sound the same, and when I'm not in an angry mood, the songs just seem to start and end without me noticing. I don't dislike this album or band in anyway, but it's just a mood thing, and that's what brings me down here.
The Bigger Lights The Bigger Lights
The Browning Burn This World
The Paramedic The Devil in Me
During my first initial listen of The Devil In Me, I really just couldn't stand anything I heard. Maybe it was my distraction because I was driving or my mood, but now that I sit and listen carefully, and have the time to actually hear everything, my opinion has changed in the slightest bit. The Paramedic is nothing groundbreaking, in fact their execution is so predictable that it's laughable. I enjoyed this though, it's better than half of the genre crap out there and the singer is absolutely fantastic. The electronics feel kind of pointless, and some of the breakdowns could've been replaced with something better but shit happens.
The Party Foul! Halfway to Home
It took a long time for me to really be able to get into The Party Foul!, more than usual for me. For most people this could be the absolute worst example of any kind of "core" you could label it under, but give it time and it quickly shoves itself into the guilty pleasure list. Filled with breakdowns, horrible screaming vocals and lazy/generic musicianship, it makes you wonder just how a band like this got as far as they really have. BUT there is always something positive, and that's the catchiness of this album. Songs like 'Fuhgettaboutit' and 'If This Were Gotham City' feature some extremely catchy sung choruses, lead by a singer with more talent than anybody else in the group. A little long in length and sometimes "shaking my head" worthy, this has quickly become one of the guiltiest guilty pleasures I have ever listened too, and yet I continue to listen.
The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus Am I the Enemy
The Red October Standing By
The World We Knew To The Wolves
Then Falls Caesar Survive The Night
Then Falls Caesar is a simple minded group, much like so many others in their genre. They take the safe route through while sticking to the basics, offering up an easily enjoyable yet forgettable release. One of the biggest turn off's here for me though is the sky high vocals of the singer, he sticks to that one high range and never gives any real mixture of tones or anything for that matter. Besides the instantly noticeable though, Then Falls Caesar is another just kind of there genre band that has the ability to stand out, but stays as close to the wall as they can and never jumping a tad closer to the edge and taking a risk.
There For Tomorrow A Little Faster
Thirty Seconds to Mars 30 Seconds To Mars
As long as 30 Seconds to Mars has been doing their thing, it came as a surprise to me that I never really had an honest rating for any of their albums. I tend to think of the band positively and admire their creative tendencies, but never found their albums to be getting as much play as they should be so to speak. So grabbing myself their self-titled album and sitting down wasn't a hard thing to do, it was the second play through when the difficulty kicked in. There is an undeniable entertainment atmosphere here, but it's what the band does with it that made it so easy to turn away from. All the sounds and style can't cover up a run-of-the-mill rock music sound, barely ever was I pulled into a song enough to fully enjoy what it could be. Jared Leto being the main draw here with his fantastic vocal range, but he just can't cover up the more generic than interesting song structure and lack of real hooks.
Thirty Seconds to Mars A Beautiful Lie
'A Beautiful Lie' lacks a lot of important elements it takes to succeed in making a full length album. All of the songs feel utterly similar to each other, and nothing here really grabs your attention besides a few tracks in the beginning of the album.
Too Late For Roses Of Sins And Tragedies
The biggest problem with Of Sins And Tragedies is the production, it just drags this EP down so much. It's not terrible, but everything just feels so flat and dry nothing really ever seems as impressive as it might be. With a slicker production and a little all around vocal improvement, this could have been a more than average release, but we'll see what the future holds.
Trust Company Dreaming In Black and White
'Dreaming in Black and White' is the same old Trust Company we've always known, and that can
be heard right away. One of the biggest problems to be is when I started losing the
attention I had focused on the album, since a lot of the songs sound familiar and never
experiment with anything further. There are some catchy songs here that really bring back
that old feeling the band used to bring to fans like myself, but most of it just falls flat
from being anything too great. Might change after a few more listens, but this is where I
stand as of now.
Upon a Burning Body Red. White. Green.
Us, Ghosts Us, Ghosts
We Are Danger Existence
Run of the mill pop-punk/post-hardcore/electronica thingy stuff that doesn't really do anything to impress is any real way.
We Are Defiance Trust in Few
Not too sure how I feel completely about this yet. Most of it is generic and it really is forgettable, but it isn't terrible. Most of the vocals are meh and the music is simple, average at best.
We Own the Sky This Engine Burns
We Own the Sky is a band that I wish could've grabbed my attention a little more, there are 2 great songs on here but they're followed by 4 other just okay tracks. Hopefully they can do a little more with their upcoming record, because I want to see these guys do a little more than this.
We The Kings Smile Kid

2.0 poor
3 Doors Down Away from the Sun
I wonder what happened after The Better Life that caused this album to be so downed in pace and sound. I could deal with it through the first bunch of songs, but as each song became a little more softer and familiar in that pace, I really couldn't deal with it anymore. The singles are pretty good and a few songs here and there are well done, but for the most part it just seems like the band became depressed, therefore releasing Away From the Sun.
A Change Of Pace Change is the Only Constant
It took a lot to make it all the way through Change is the Only Constant. And it wasn't that it was so bad I couldn't stand it, but much like other bands like them, it takes a certain mood and mindset to enjoy what they have to offer. A Change of Pace at this point is all about love, each song reflects on some kind of situation dealing with a loss or gain of a mutual other, and in all honesty it does hit a point where you just have to wonder, when will they get over it? There is no variety here lyrically, again and again we hear another decent description of love, and the rest moves again towards the rear of the speakers, just passing through rather than sticking around for memorability. It's like listening to a pretty good pop-punk band reading from a teenage diary, whose heart has been "broken" more than he can count on his hands and feet. it's quite ashamed though because musically this isn't bad, it's formulaic pop-punk that genre fans love and can really enjoy, but that upbeat attempt just falls flat when everything comes together. Take a few poor songs and mix it with one or two pretty good songs and you get this, an easily forgettable album that could have been better without all the heartbreak.
A Plea for Purging The Marriage Of Heaven And Hell
A Skylit Drive Adelphia
Stepping down from 'Wires', I can see what the band wanted to do here, but it all fails in execution. The album seems to take itself a little too seriously and the whole more mature label this album takes on just doesn't fit the band all too well. A serious disappointment.
All That Remains Behind Silence and Solitude
All That Remains For We Are Many
All That Remains A War You Cannot Win
Another Hero Dies Arguments
Armor for the Broken Inspiring Stories of Hope and Love
There really isn't too much wrong when it comes to Armor for the Broken, if you could push yourself past the rough production values and all the noise, you might actually find a few listen worthy tracks on here. Some songs here are great, and others just seem to represent laziness and rushing to get a few filler tracks in on the album. With some slight improvement on the vocals, and an overall adjustment on their main sound this band would be one to follow. This is surely a sloppy debut though, but one they could easily grow and learn from.
Asking Alexandria Reckless and Relentless
Stepping above anything the band has done before, Asking Alexandria's sophomore release isn't as bad as most may be lead to believe. Most breakdowns are placed and executed a little better and the songs have a bigger feel to them. The synthy sections are still here but timed differently, either ruining a song or just adding variety, but it never gets to excessive. This is a step in the right direction, but the future seems blurry for these guys as this may be their highest point.
Atreyu Visions
Attack Attack! Someday Came Suddenly
Attack Attack! Attack Attack!
Attack Attack! Attack Attack! (Deluxe Reissue)
I really can't stand Attack Attack! Their first album was fun if you forgot about all you know about good music, but their self-titled sophomore album feels as if it takes itself a little too seriously. The attempt at being hardcore is laughable, the vocals are boring and this is absolutely in every way generic. But, it works as a guilty pleasure with a few songs despite all the problems. Still though, a terrible band.
Attack Attack! This Means War
Avril Lavigne Let Go
Avril Lavigne just isn't my cup of tea, not anymore at least. Let Go isn't a bad album no matter what my rating is, this is just something I can't get into to a point where I can enjoy it. This was her young point and an excellent start into what seems like such a filling and successful career, a little whiny in her lyricism was fine for her age and all, but this just isn't something that works for me.
Backstreet Boys Backstreet's Back
Before Their Eyes The Dawn of My Death
Casino Madrid For Kings and Queens (EP)
Textbook electroni-core right here, from the autotune to the useless breakdowns backed by weak production. Casino Madrid falls into the generic category in every sense.
Chelsea Grin Desolation Of Eden
Deathcore isn't a very appealing genre. It's as simple as that, and it's bands like Chelsea Grin that keep being the reason people like me turn their head away from the genre. Apart from the powerful vocal assault, there is nothing here truly worth listening for. While it succeeds in making you angry, it's also easy to snooze during your first listen.
Chunk! No, Captain Chunk! Something for Nothing
Dancing With Paris There's Something in the Water
Dashboard Confessional The Drowning
Destroy Rebuild Until God Shows D.R.U.G.S.
With some good tracks here and there, DRUGS self-titled debut album is a flawed yet entertaining listen.
Dr. Acula Nation
Emmure Slave To The Game
Endwell Homeland Insecurity
I expected more from this album, especially considering the fact that I remember it being so
much better than how I feel it is now. 'Homeland Insecurity' has it's moments, most of them
lying in a few catchy choruses scattered throughout the album. The rest of the album seems
to try way too hard in the harder elements, the breakdowns and everything else feel rushed
and lazy. As a new Endwell has appeared since this release, that change may be what they
needed to escape the generic level this album falls on.
Endwell Punishment
Ya know, hardcore is one of those genres that seem to impress me less and less lately. 'Punishment' lives up to it's name as it's a pretty punishing album, filled with anger driven tracks that feel all too familiar. There wasn't anything here that really grabbed me and therefore I was left hanging through the entire album waiting for something to make me change my mind. Three strikes, you're out.
Fall Out Boy Fall Out Boy's Evening Out With Your Girlfriend
Expecting much much more from Evening Our With Your Girlfriend seemed to be a little
mistake I made, and yes, I do feel a little let down by this. This is repetitive and
forgettable Fall Out Boy, right before the point when they pretty much exploded into the
world of pop-punk. There are a few really good tracks on here though, 'Honorable Mention'
along with 'Short, Fast, and Loud' are ultra catchy and fun to listen too, but mostly
everything else feels and sounds exactly like the song before it. Forget the new, forget the
old and re-visit the top days of Take This to Your Grave, it was a little more fun.
Famous Last Words Pick Your Poison
Fight Fair California Kicks
You can see what the band was going for here, Summer pop-punk designed to be played through the convertible on your next drive to the shore. 'California Kicks' is a lazy, "heard it all before" album that could've been something more, but instead is harder to listen too than enjoy, and never does anything to give this band any sort of further credit you might have given them.
For the Fallen Dreams Relentless
From the very start of this album, I found myself pretty much trying so hard to make it
through this album. While metalcore is a genre I can usually handle, comparing to 'Changes'
this album is just bland. While an improvement in the vocal department is easily noticeable,
all the songs sound the same and just kind of blend together for nothing more than bunch of
songs that don't do any justice to eachother. I wanted to love this album, and tried so hard
too, but it just didn't work for me.
Forefathers Forefathers
Four Year Strong Explains It All
Reflecting back to your inspirations in anything that you do, whether it'd be film, music or any kind of art, it's always the most respectful to pay tribute too in any way you feel necessary. Four Year Strong keeps their inspirations in mind by releasing Explains It All, a cover album full of songs they made them want to make music. This isn't terrible, in fact some of these covers are done extremely well, but where is that Four Year Strong flavor that makes them so signature? These are bare boned, stripped down covers that get the job done, but do nothing to help the band out or allow them to be too noticed by younger fans who don't recognize these radio friendly tracks.
Get Scared Best Kind of Mess
Best Kind of Mess started good, the first few tracks were pretty catchy and worked well at getting my attention, but things took a change for the worse as the album progressed. Half of this album is whatever filler tracks, and when it's not filler, the rest of the songs only manage to be listenable. On the plus side, these guys have the ability to be catchy, but the whining and teenage emo lyrics do nothing to help them.
Good Charlotte The Chronicles of Life and Death
The Chronicles of Life and Death was that true final stretch for Good Charlotte, bordering in between being a simply amusing album and a mess of filler, it seemed like everything here was either hit or miss. I can dig the concept with two different albums with the life and death thing and everything else, but there are so many songs here which can be ignored and just shoved away, which leaves me to wonder whether or not the band really put most of their time into this. A few solid tracks though can be heard here though, 'We Believe', 'The World is Black' and 'In This World' are three that come off instantly as noticeable despite the one or two singles here. I now would consider this that gap Good Charlotte attempted to jump over yet all so lazily fell into, leaving the rest to float away in the deep sea at the bottom.
Heart Attack High The Honeymoon is Over
Here we have another band attempting to be different, and the worst part about it is that there's a few moments here where the band seems to do just that. Those little moments don't shine too bright though as the EP moves on, every song sounds very similar with one another and is easily forgettable. Try a little harder and this band can do something, but need to work harder on variety.
Helia 2036
I have to completely agree with Tobi here, especially with the closing track 'Memento Mori'. There is a hint of hardcore roots in there and everything about that track just blends nicely, but every song before that just really brings this down. It's as bland as can be, so if they can jump on the path of that last track than the light may still shine.
Hit the Lights Skip School, Start Fights
Skip School, Start Fights has about three or four really solid tracks. Beyond that though the album is full of repetitive filler and pure cliche of the pop-punk genre.
I Am History Visions
Visions is straight to the point metalcore, and establishing themselves in the genre properly will be absolutely no problem for them. Literally, the entire album is one giant breakdown, with very few moments of success. Good for me though, as an absolutely lover of the breaking down, I found myself enjoying this just enough. Keeping it simple is this bands motto, and it does and does not work for them.
Issues Black Diamonds
Legacy With Peace In Mind
Letterbox Tragedy Breathe Beyond Skylines
Liferuiner No Saints
It seems as if each member of Liferuiner had just recently learned how to play their instruments.
Liferuiner Taking Back the Nightlife
Approaching their second album, it still seems as if the members of Liferuiner still have no real idea how to play their instruments. Simple strum rhythms and chugging breakdowns are the only real thing these guitarists manage to bang out, and of course a few squeals of their bottom string. Of course though, all new members included, it doesn't take much to craft hardcore, as even hearing a single song off this album gives me reason enough just to punch somebody in the face. Call it a guilty pleasure, but Liferuiner isn't a band just to toss away, cause once you hear that first gang chant or straightedge morality line, the breakdowns begin and anger ensues.
Like Moths to Flames When We Don't Exist
Linkin Park Living Things
Lupe Fiasco Lasers
There are a few songs here that I really like, and while I'm not a big fan of rap I found myself really getting into those tracks. The rest though could easily be ignored and pushed away as simple radio tunes.
Make Me Famous It's Now or Never
Miss May I Monument
Miss May I seems to have no idea what it takes to create an album, and to keep the attention of a listener. When all of your songs sound exactly the same, feature cookie cutter breakdowns and follow a format held together by any other band out there, you're doing something wrong. This was all noticed in their debut, but to downgrade more into what made something bad, you've hit a point of no return. Variation, key word here.
Motionless in White Infamous
My Chemical Romance Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys
To reflect on the style of 80's rock is a huge thing, since music comes nowhere near how it used to be, for a band to attempt to rekindle that flame is a big deal. This is what My Chemical Romance goes for in their newest record, 'Danger Days'. Similar to sounds of David Bowie and more, they attempt to bring a modern mix into an older style of music. While some songs on the album are very catchy and actually fun to listen too, most of them come out boring and useless, which is what the album totals up to be. A dissapointing album from someone who didn't expect much.
Nickelback Silver Side Up
Silver Side Up started good, a couple of singles and surprisingly good tracks just as a start. As the album moved on though, the rest just breezed by without catching my attention in any way.
No Bragging Rights Illuminator
'Illuminator' is simply an album that tries a little too hard. It features forgettable choruses, forced breakdowns and rewashes a formula we've heard way too many times before. With only one or two listen worthy tracks, it loses itself within the average metalcore crowd.
One Last Hero One Last Hero
Pretty boring electronic post-hardcore, the only thing I really find listen worthy here is the singer and his above average talents.
One Morning Left The Bree-Teenz
Panic! at the Disco Pretty. Odd.
Royal This Portrait, Your Creation
Royal is a band with potential, they have the ability to do more with their music but simply fall behind the rest of the pack. 'This Portrait, Your Creation' features little hints of what could be, but simply falls flat on what is, and that isn't much.
Sea of Treachery At Dagger's Dawn
Sea of Treachery Welcome To Wonderland
With the extreme line-up changes and the time between the bands debut album and 'Welcome to Wonderland', hopes were high for what the band could pull off here. Instead, they take the safe way out and never do anything you could say is worth standing out. The album is lazy and easily forgettable, filled with tracks we've seemed to hear dozens of times before. A dissapointing album to say the least.
Skip the Foreplay Nightlife
You won't find anything here that's breaking down any walls, but with some of the beats and a few heavier key moments, you'll find it definitely worth a spin or two.
Sky Eats Airplane The Sound of Symmetry
It's just not the same, and it probably never will be.
Snow Patrol Fallen Empires
Suicide Silence No Time to Bleed
'No Time to Bleed' is a vicious album from start to finish, it completely crushes the listener from the start and never gives you an opportunity to catch a breath. Within all this chaos though, we find a simple band that relies on the breakdowns to keep their audience tuning back for more. If they branched beyond what we expect of them, they might have a greater chance in the genre.
Suicide Silence The Black Crown
Switchfoot Hello Hurricane
Taking Back Sunday Taking Back Sunday
Ten After Two If You Don't First
I found myself loving one song on here, the rest is plain old boring post-hardcore that tries way to hard to fit in.
That's Outrageous! Teenage Scream
That's Outrageous! are destined to be one of the more hated bands in the genre, but you must come into this album simple minded. Their execution is familiar and their sound strikingly similar to so many other groups, but damn, I had so much fun listening to most of the tracks featured on their debut. Skip all the techno lead songs and skip right to the point with the rest, blasting in the breakdowns and making things catchy in their choruses, this album has managed to become a guilty pleasure in almost every form of the word.
That's Outrageous! Psycho
The Acacia Strain ...And Life Is Very Long
The Academy Is... Fast Times at Barrington High
The Bunny The Bear If You Don't Have Anything Nice to Say...
The Maine Black & White
The World We Knew Exordium
Underoath Cries of the Past
Vanilla Sky Changes
Various Artists (Punk) Punk Goes Pop 4
Various Artists (Punk) Punk Goes Pop 5
Venia Find The Truth
Hm. Big change looking back at this, good thing they've grown and improved from this.
Walkers The Brash, The Broken, The Bereaver
At the surface, hardcore is a very one dimensional genre, especially for people who don't follow it as much as fans like myself do. Most leaders of the genre sound very much alike musically and that turns people away from really getting into hardcore, but to really get a sense of what these bands are all about you have to look deeper. Lead by it's lyricism and passion, hardcore remains, as cliche as it sounds, one of the trust genres of music alive. Walkers, as an up and coming hardcore group, run into trouble with separating themselves. They feature a very flat sound that rarely tends to want to be different. While I've never had a chance to read lyrics or really study the band, musically, there isn't anything really interesting. At only 9 minutes in length, the EP gets across what this is really trying to do, and that isn't much. The acoustic ending in 'The Broken' is a nice change in pace while the EP's closing chant borders between generic and interesting, there are actually a few moments that are pretty cool. Beyond that though, nothing here really gives you a reason to do all you can to listen to Walkers. Maybe they can do something bigger in the future, but for now sit in the background.
We Butter The Bread With Butter Das Monster Aus Dem Schrank
I have tried all day long to just figure out how I feel about not only this band, but this album. Since the album has been playing in my truck all day, I've had the pleasure of hearing it over and over again. At first listen, I was shocked at how much I actually enjoyed the maniacal mess I call 'Das Monster', but after hearing it again and again, my opinion has changed drastically. Once you hear all the songs back to back, you notice how much recycling this band does with their ideas. Each song features breakdowns, pig squeals and unique synth which doesn't always have to be a bad thing, but with only a few songs on here listen worthy the album falls flat on it's ideas. It does a good job at trying to be different, but with the limited span of ideas on this album, it falls into the pile where most deathcore bands fall.
We Can Breathe in Space The First Contact
They seem so confused on sound and this reflects with The First Contact. Between the useless breakdowns and the few hooks here and there, nothing really gives the ability to impress.
Weighed in the Balance Weighed in the Balance
Yes, this is another generic metalcore outfit. One thing I've noticed though is that this band actually has the talent to not be this generic, it shines through in little moments such as the guitar solo backed towards the end of 'Severance' and the little riffs scattered around 'Years From Divine'. The guitarists are too focused on chugging and not enough on delivering the amount of technicality needed to keep this as a listenable album.
Woe, Is Me Genesi[s]
Your Demise The Golden Age
Coming into 'The Golden Age' was a difficult thing to do expecting something "good", from reading others opinions to just general rumors and drama surrounding the group. The pop-punk direction is a sure step back for Your Demise, and even more disappointing is when the more hardcore influenced songs come around, they all sound exactly identical to each other leaving no room to distinguish them from one another. A huge let down.

1.5 very poor
A Hero a Fake The Future Again
All Shall Perish Hate. Malice. Revenge
All Time Low Dirty Work
Three Words to Remember in Dealing with the End: Don't Sell Out. I guess they forgot.
As Artifacts Reclamation
As Artifacts seems to be a group that tries way too hard to follow in the footsteps of their idols. From their breakdowns to the synth lead dance sections, it all feels overdone. There are some pretty awesome moments though, where the energy sky rockets and while it's nothing new, those moments were what lead me through the songs. Without those dance moments and some work on the clean vocals, with a tad bit more in the creativity department, this band could work past the problems and branch away from everyone else.
Asking Alexandria Stand Up and Scream
Aspirin Rose Stay In Your Hearts
I wouldn't even go as far as calling this "bearable".
At the Skylines The Secrets To Life
Atreyu Congregation of the Damned
Atreyu Covers of the Damned
Covers are pointless, it's a fact of life. When a group such as Atreyu, whose been in and around the scene for quite some time, puts time and finances into something like Covers of the Damned, it's quite a shame. I really don't get the point here, and maybe it's because I'm not in the band or in a group that would think of something like this, but the appeal here is dead zero and nothing about any of this is too listen worthy.
Attack Attack! If Guns Are Outlawed, Can We Use Swords?
Attila Soundtrack to a Party
Soundtrack To A Party is nowhere near the soundtrack I'd want to party along too, nor is it an album I want to listen too ever again. Franz's vocals here are absolutely terrible, you can tell he's working on getting the range down pat, as he flexes between the two pretty evenly throughout. It's the actual sound though that's so tough to listen too, from his shrilling highs to the boring lows where nothing is really listen worthy coming from his throat. Production here is extremely weak, it doesn't pull down the weight of the album as much as I'd think it would, but it just adds on to it. Attila and their little partycore genre thing is something that could actually be interesting, and they've accomplished it with their later albums, but the start is practically unlistenable.
Awake the Agony Dual Reality
Black Veil Brides We Stitch These Wounds
The members of Black Veil Brides know how to play their instruments, at times the guitarists really have a tendency to shred around, sometimes a little too much but it's the thought that matters. It only took a few songs in though to notice the lack of variety between their songs, and the fact that this group seems to try way too hard to be different, while capturing a more modern genre sound. Setting themselves up as some sort of modern day 80's hair metal group, it just doesn't work. At all. Image means a lot, and this band is as bad as they look, without a single doubt.
Blessed by a Broken Heart All is Fair in Love and War
Breathe Carolina Hello Fascination
I can see the appeal here, it isn't tough. Here we have two guys crafting songs on their Macs and just happened to get noticed for it. And, oh wait, they scream and feature two breakdowns on one of their cd's. This album is simply a chore to sit through, and with only 2 songs I enjoyed won't be looking back at this anytime soon.
brokeNCYDE The Broken
Bullets and Belvedere Reflections
An embarrassing and upsetting release from the NJ music scene, we have a group so focused on autotune and breakdowns that they screw up timing, listenability and replay value.
Burn Lexington In The Heart Of the Sea
Burn Lexington isn't absolutely terrible, despite the harsh rating. They're one of those groups that could actually do some sound modifications and be noticeable within their fitting genre. Not that the bad production makes them sound weak, but mostly everything the group does is completely expected of them. The "synthcore" sound they represent just feels unfitting anymore, like the band is stuck in the past sporting a sound that doesn't work unless pushed, and pushed well. In the Heart of the Sea is a rough start, but overcoming this is possible.
Chelsea Grin My Damnation
What more can you expect from Chelsea Grin than something as mediocre as this album turned out? Simply put, this is simple, by-the-books deathcore in almost every single way. I give a tad bit of credit though to the band for sticking to themselves, and not listening to all the nonbelievers such as myself, continuing on to craft their brand of deathcore and just not giving a single shit along the way. My Damnation upsets me though, since this was that album where the band could have set themselves straight after their last plunge and really define themselves. Too bad they went in the wrong direction and created an album as boring and repetitive as this is. Mad kudos to the vocalist though, he has a pretty wild range and his highs are absolutely killer.
Cobra Starship Night Shades
Creations The Gospel
Design the Skyline Nevaeh
Design the Skyline has lived up to expectations as one of the worst bands in modern music, and Nevaeh showcases exactly that. Whatever genre you decide to toss this group into, they just plain suck at. The horrible vocals are laughable, the instrumentals and plain and boring and nothing here has any appeal of any kind. Avoid Design the Skyline by all costs, it could save your life.
Emmure Felony
Enter Shikari Take to the Skies
Everlasting Weekend Between Us and Them
Fear, and Loathing in Las Vegas All That We Have Now
Five Finger Death Punch The Way Of The Fist
Five Finger Death Punch War Is The Answer
Five Finger Death Punch are one of those groups that really make it difficult for me too enjoy the genre. Everything here seems to try way too hard to fit in to multiple crowds surrounding their genres, the heavier parts are laughable and the vocals are absolutely annoying. They need to focus on what they want to be, and stop trying to sound so tough.
Forever the Sickest Kids Forever the Sickest Kids
Recycled and generic, Forever the Sickest Kids has created an album that's so filled with cliches and recycled ideas, it does nothing to further this bands career. While catchy at a very few times, most of the album is boring and bland, equaling out to a terribly weak release from a band with a good amount of potential.
From Atlantis Pedestals
It really doesn't get anymore generic than Pedestals. Yeah, I kind of expected a bit of good to come out of From Atlantis here, instead it seems like they got desperate and out came this bag of garbage. It's like nothing here came together well in any way, the production, the vocals, the music itself, it all just came out lazy. You would think two EP's and a butt load of attention and shows would help out the motivation level for writing a decent album, but it doesn't here. Here's some tips for you guys, take the time to write. When you throw together an album such as you did here, this is all you deserve.
Get Up Texas Revelations
'Revelations' is one giant breakdown you've heard before, from beginning to end. The monotone cleans and average screams do nothing for the group as the music continues to do everything we expect and wish didn't happen. Also, for an album so bent on having breakdowns, the very few that are actually good aren't worth checking out this EP for.
Good Charlotte Cardiology
Good Charlotte are one of those bands that have the ability to do so much more with their music, and with their awesome ability to grab the attention of anyones ears, they pretty much deserve to be where they are popularity wise. Over the years though, members begin to mature and think differently, approaching different styles and influences to their music. 'Cardiology' is an album lacking pretty much everything. While a few hooks can be found here and there, the album is filled with recycled ideas that force you to just shake your head in disappointment. They did what they could and failed, and to see what comes next is something I look forward to hearing, but I'll hope it's something to bounce back from this.
Green Day iDOS!
Hawthorne Heights The Silence in Black and White
That moment when you realize a band isn't as good as you remember, just happened.
Hollywood Undead Swan Songs
I can't help but feel like these guys try way too hard, or if they even take themselves seriously as a group. Either way, 'Swan Songs' features two good tracks, with the rest just laughable and even embarrassing at times. Absolutely terrible album.
I Declare War Malevolence
I love my junz, I'm the kind of guy that just loves a good breakdown every once in a while. 'Malevolence' is a shallow album, full of overused breakdowns and cliches used again and again throughout the album. Never again will I find myself playing this.
I Set My Friends On Fire Astral Rejection
You never think you could be disappointed so much by a joke band until it actually happens. The sad thing here is, they tried.
Joel Piper Dying to Live
As whiny as it could possibly get, ex-Confide drummer/singer Joel Piper has reached new lows with his debut solo album. If you find simple electronic beats overlayed with meh singing and even worse lyrics this might find it's way up your alley, but for someone like me, this is pathetic.
Kris Allen Kris Allen
This couldn't have gotten any more cliche if it tried.
Let's Get It Masters of the Universe
Electronica and pop-punk fusing together is something that works on occasion, but runs dry after it's used too much. This all works for Let's Get It, but 'Masters of the Universe' is too poppy, too whiny and while it may be a tad fun at times, is an album that is so easy to forget. The appeal here is for younger teenage girls, and while it may attract that attention it runs further away from guys like me.
Lil Wayne Tha Carter IV
I really gave this a try, dedicated time and computer space on a man I've always wanted to just avoid. Me being faithful though, I put all judgment aside and hit that play button, putting up with it through two full listens. I remember hearing about the release delays this album went through because of the beats he was receiving, that they just weren't up to the level he figured they should be at. He was right, big into the noises of hip-hop more than the lyrics, some of the beats here are downright lazy and unattractive. The only song through this whole album that feels right is 'How to Love', a surprisingly great little gem the album seems to hide towards the end. This isn't anything towards Lil Wayne or rap as a genre, it was just tough finding anyway to enjoy this.
Mac Miller Best Day Ever
Monsters Monsters
This is pretty damn bad, if you can get past everything that is wrong with this you might like it, for me, never listening again.
My Ticket Home Above The Great City
MyChildren MyBride Unbreakable
Unbreakable sucks as a whole, that's just the general consent here. When broken up though, placing seven of the ten tracks in the trashcan and leaving the rest to be listened to every now and then, you realize this group has potential. They can break things down, but repetitive as hell, and they can sure make you angry as hell while you listen, but why would you want to hear the same old angry song over and over.
Nickelback The State
Nickelback Curb
A poor, flat, boring, dull, lifeless debut from a band that really has never expanded beyond being all the above.
Nickelback Dark Horse
Oceano Contagion
A full force, stomp on your face album that crushes itself down in it's repetitiveness and laziness.
Saint [the] Sinner Davinci's Demise
Saint [the] Sinner not only is made up of one helluva stupid name, but everything about this just makes me want to scream, "just stop!". The weird whisper bridge in a few of the songs, the not-so-great production and poor execution does this band no favors, making them just another entry in the metalcore genre worth trashing.
Scarlett O'Hara Lost In Existence
The Bunny The Bear The Stomach for It
The Crimson Armada Conviction
These Hearts Forever Ended Yesterday
Tomorrow is the Day Tomorrow is the Day
Holy auto-tune, here is an EP that shows the laziness of bands anymore. Hoping to gain speed on everything that has slowed down.
Waking The Cadaver Beyond Cops, Beyond God
This is a pretty shocking album, and it works as a belly laugh. Indeed this is a terrible masterpiece.
We The Kings Sunshine State of Mind
xAFBx My Life, Your End
Your Demise The Kids We Used To Be
I went into 'The Kids We Used to Be' expecting more than what was received with their previous album, but it seems the change in vocalist got the best of them as it turned out to be the worst thing they could've done. It's straight pissed off hardcore, but with very few moments to shine, the album never really gets anywhere. As a hardcore fan, I find myself disappointed at what could've been something great, but falls flat.

1.0 awful
Abandon All Ships Infamous
Aiden Disguises
I feel like I'm jumping on the band wagon here a bit, but when you start listening to an album and can't make it to the fourth song, there is a mighty problem.
Asking Alexandria Stepped Up and Scratched
Remixing an entire album is the most pointless thing a band can do, and all it comes out to be is an attention seeking hope to make some money off of it bribe. Saying that, 'Stepped Up and Scratched' is a poor poor release, one that should have never seen the light of day.
Boys Like Girls Love Drunk
Love Drunk brings Boys Like Girls to a whole new level of stupidity, words can't even begin to describe the horrible taste this left in my mouth just a few short songs in.
Breathe Carolina It's Classy Not Classic
I really don't see the appeal or entertaining factor here. Each song is boring, pointless and almost impossible to listen fully too after the first thirty seconds.
Bring Me The Horizon Suicide Season Cut Up!
I wonder what convinced this group that a remix album was necessary. 'Cut Up' is the most
useless thing the band could've probably released, filled with weak techno attempts, the
album leads up to nothing. While you may find one interesting track here, the rest falls
flat on it's face.
brokeNCYDE BC 13
brokeNCYDE I'm Not a Fan, but the Kids Like It!
brokeNCYDE Will Never Die
Capture Til Death
Dot Dot Curve Til the Wheels Fall Off
Truly and absolutely horrific in every single way.
Dot Dot Curve Your Ears Will Bleeping Bleed
Quite fortunately my ears did not begin bleeding, but this is quite the terrible mess. I wonder if these three guys have any idea that people are hating this as much as we are? I wonder if that one kid to gave this a 5 wondering why we hate his favorite band so much?
Dot Dot Curve I'm Still Here
Three albums into Dot Dot Curve and I feel my entire taste in music has changed. I realize there are worse bands out there, and one of them being this. I'm Still Here is completely embarrassing in every sense of the word, and it drastically proves that there is some music out there that is literally impossible to listen too.
Dr. Acula Slobology
EAT ME RAW XALBUMX
Ender This is Revenge
Escape the Fate Escape the Fate
Etienne Sin The Art of Stealing Hearts
Green Day ¡UNO!
Her Demise My Rise The Takeover
In the Eyes of A Mistress Nobody Move! This is A Breakdown Shakedown
It's disgusting how bad this really is, what a joke.
Iwrestledabearonce It's All Dubstep
Keeping on with my hate streak for the day, we visit the oddly fun and amusing Iwrestledabearonce, and the utterly pointless It's All Dubstep. More recently has dubstep become a promising little genre in the techno scene, I can't put blame on a group such as IWABO for pulling off something like this. I understand the "don't take it too seriously" premise, but this is practically unlistenable without flinching.
Lou Reed and Metallica Lulu
Mac Miller K.I.D.S.
Motionless in White The Whorror
It's actually a good thing the band went and re-did all the songs from this EP, since they're songs with good ideas and extremely poor execution. A terrible beginning.
Nickelback Hesher
Nowhere on Hesher will you find "epic choruses" or anything close too substantial music. All you really get here are the most annoying Kroeger vocals ever recorded, terrible musicianship and poor craftmanship. I can't even really understand how this could have been so bad, but believe me, it is.
Scare Don't Fear Blinded
One of those things you just have to ignore, pretty sad.
Stereos Stereos
The Jennifer As Deep As the Ocean (Part I: Deception)
The Morning After Expressions
The Paramedic Smoke & Mirrors
The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus Lonely Road
Underoath Act of Depression
When I look back at what Underoath was, compared to what they've become, confusion settles in. If I was listening to this shortly after it came out, this might be an entirely different rating, but it's the fact that I'm listening to it after hearing Underoath's progression which brings my liking for this EP to a halt. The death metal style vocals mixed with the heavy musical influence is sure to catch some ears, but in my opinion it comes out as a flat album that tried to hard at fitting in to a genre that would never work for them.
Upon This Dawning To Keep Us Safe
Waking The Cadaver Demo
Waking The Cadaver Perverse Recollections Of A Necromangler
I really tried to listen too this, and shut it off after 30 seconds.
Wiz Khalifa Rolling Papers
Wolves Among Men Future Soccer Hockey Love Jams
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