Review Rundown: 140 or Less: Kira, Soulfly, Automatic Loveletter, Let Live, Secret & Whisper, Wrath & Rapture, Rikets, Steel Kingdom, FLA & Stewart
This Review Rundown again walks the other side of the tracks, the side where your reviews come at you 140 characters or less, and houses reviews of new releases from Kira, Soulfly, Automatic Loveletter, Let Live, Secret & Whisper, Wrath & Rapture, Rikets, Steel Kingdom, Front Line Assembly & Stewart.File Under: Baroque Indie Singer/Songwriter
Kira – “Run Where No One Goes” (Mermaid Records): Its only six songs, but this EP is a substantial affair. Kira’s words are often cutting & brutally honest - a good blend of chamber pop & singer/songwriter indie bounce. (http://www.kiramusic.com/)
Grade: B
Go Download: ‘Hard Rain’
Kira – “Run Where No One Goes” (Mermaid Records): Its only six songs, but this EP is a substantial affair. Kira’s words are often cutting & brutally honest - a good blend of chamber pop & singer/songwriter indie bounce. (http://www.kiramusic.com/)
Grade: B
Go Download: ‘Hard Rain’
File Under: Soulfly Being Soulfly
Soulfly – “Omen” (Roadrunner): “Omen” is pretty much par the course for Soulfly, though it seems the songwriting has taken a turn for the worse. See “Jeffery Dahmer.” These guitars are sick though. (http://www.soulflyweb.com/)
Grade: C
Go Download: ‘Rise of the Fallen’
Soulfly – “Omen” (Roadrunner): “Omen” is pretty much par the course for Soulfly, though it seems the songwriting has taken a turn for the worse. See “Jeffery Dahmer.” These guitars are sick though. (http://www.soulflyweb.com/)
Grade: C
Go Download: ‘Rise of the Fallen’
File Under: Sassy, Sultry Female Vocals
Automatic Loveletter – “Truth or Dare” (SIN/Red): “Truth Or Dare” is more Top 40 than expected, but with a voice this talented, that’s exactly where Juliet Simms is heading. Very powerful. (http://www.automaticloveletter.com/)
Grade: B
Go Download: ‘To Die For’
Automatic Loveletter – “Truth or Dare” (SIN/Red): “Truth Or Dare” is more Top 40 than expected, but with a voice this talented, that’s exactly where Juliet Simms is heading. Very powerful. (http://www.automaticloveletter.com/)
Grade: B
Go Download: ‘To Die For’
File Under: Straight Up Post-Hardcore
Secret & Whisper – “Teenage Fantasy” (Tooth & Nail): No, Secret & Whisper’s “Teenage Fantasy” isn’t Circa Survive’s “Juturna,” though it sounds just as good. This is the bands best release yet.
Grade: B
Go Download: ‘Edge of Wilderness’
Secret & Whisper – “Teenage Fantasy” (Tooth & Nail): No, Secret & Whisper’s “Teenage Fantasy” isn’t Circa Survive’s “Juturna,” though it sounds just as good. This is the bands best release yet.
Grade: B
Go Download: ‘Edge of Wilderness’
File Under: Prog-gy Deathcore
Wrath & Rapture – “Wrath & Rapture” (Tragic Hero): A dizzying mix of deathcore stomps & video game worthy leads. Epic surely is the word here, though it probably isn’t everyone’s cup of tea.
Grade: C
Go Download: ‘The Dirge of the Fallen Warriors’
Wrath & Rapture – “Wrath & Rapture” (Tragic Hero): A dizzying mix of deathcore stomps & video game worthy leads. Epic surely is the word here, though it probably isn’t everyone’s cup of tea.
Grade: C
Go Download: ‘The Dirge of the Fallen Warriors’
File Under: Intense Swirling Guitar Rock/Punk
Let Live. – “Fake History” (Tragic Hero): Spaz-core rock/metal w/punk elements that finds itself somewhere between Every Time I Die & Cancer Bats. “Fake History” effing shreds faces.
Grade: B
Go Download: ‘We, the Pros of Con’
Let Live. – “Fake History” (Tragic Hero): Spaz-core rock/metal w/punk elements that finds itself somewhere between Every Time I Die & Cancer Bats. “Fake History” effing shreds faces.
Grade: B
Go Download: ‘We, the Pros of Con’
File Under: Agg-Metal
The Rikets – “All American Death Cult” (Burnhill Union): Chugging industrial agg-metal the result of deep hitting grooves & worthy, melodic hooks. A solid collection of songs, perhaps their best. (www.myspace.com/rikets)
Grade: B
Go Download: “House of Lies”
The Rikets – “All American Death Cult” (Burnhill Union): Chugging industrial agg-metal the result of deep hitting grooves & worthy, melodic hooks. A solid collection of songs, perhaps their best. (www.myspace.com/rikets)
Grade: B
Go Download: “House of Lies”
File Under: Power Metal
Steel Kingdom – “Reforged/Refined” (Prism Break): Emblazoned thrash/power metal wrought w/commanding leads & one of the better rhythm sections you’ve never heard. No shortage of highlights. (www.myspace.com/steelkingdom)
Grade: B
Go Download: ‘Tempted’
Steel Kingdom – “Reforged/Refined” (Prism Break): Emblazoned thrash/power metal wrought w/commanding leads & one of the better rhythm sections you’ve never heard. No shortage of highlights. (www.myspace.com/steelkingdom)
Grade: B
Go Download: ‘Tempted’
File Under: Estrogen Backed Garage Rock
Stewart - “Kicks:” An 8-song clip imbued w/enthusiastic optimism, fueled by riffs & hooks plucked from NYC garages & promising songwriting. It’s pretty good. (http://www.stewarttheband.com/)
Grade: B
Go Download: ‘Dance with Me’
Stewart - “Kicks:” An 8-song clip imbued w/enthusiastic optimism, fueled by riffs & hooks plucked from NYC garages & promising songwriting. It’s pretty good. (http://www.stewarttheband.com/)
Grade: B
Go Download: ‘Dance with Me’
File Under: Deep Darkwave Synth
Front Line Assembly – “Improvised.Electronic.Device” (Metropolis): Concurrently cutting & expressive via endlessly crashing waves of synth, “IED” is simply what Front Line Assembly are all about. Listen up.
Grade: A
Go Download: ‘Release’
Front Line Assembly – “Improvised.Electronic.Device” (Metropolis): Concurrently cutting & expressive via endlessly crashing waves of synth, “IED” is simply what Front Line Assembly are all about. Listen up.
Grade: A
Go Download: ‘Release’
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