Review Rundown: 140 or Less: Kira, Soulfly, Automatic Loveletter, Let Live, Secret & Whisper, Wrath & Rapture, Rikets, Steel Kingdom, FLA & 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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