It Prevails - Capture and Embrace

It Prevails Capture and Embrace:

Decent melodic hardcore. Doesn't do anything new and you've heard the same sound plenty of other times. Still it's not offense, just the tacks all kinda blend into one large screaming part with singing.

Rating: 9/15 chicks with snake bites and gauges.

Modern Life Is War - Midnight In America

Modern Life Is War Midnight In America:

It's sad to see a great band break-up, but it's nice when the final note is amazing. One of those hardcore albums that you could get away with almost not calling hardcore. Hopefully the next wave of hardcore will look at this as an example of what to do.

Rating: 13/15 intelligent windmills in the pit

Make Do and Mend - Bodies of Water EP

Make Do and Mend Bodies of Water EP:

Really good melodic Hardcore. Intelligent lyrics are backed by decen musicianship crating an enjoyable EP. Can't wait to hear more from this band, they seemed poised to pick up the crown of most interesting hardcore band that Modern Life Is War dropped when they broke up.

Rating: 13/15 actually interesting things to say

Drunkdriver - Born Pregnant

Drunkdriver Born Pregnant:

I'm going to call this No Wavecore. It sounds like this band just started playing in someone's basement and tape-recorder just happened to be on. The guitars, bass, and drums just swirl into this wall of static while a drunk lunatic rants over the chaos. Perfect for lovemaking.

Rating: 12/15 bleeding eardrums

Thank God - For Pregnant Virgins E.P.

Thank God For Pregnant Virgins E.P.:

This is just messy, sloppy, spastic hardcore that doesn't care about the scene. It just charges forward with abandonment screeching and snarling at you, then suddenly stopping and softly chanting before descending into hideous feedback. Kind of like my mom.

Rating: 11/15 seizures on stage

Bane - It All Comes Down To This

Bane It All Comes Down To This:

Whenever I hear this album, I'm always ask “Why aren't more bands like this?” If any other hardcore band made this album it would be preachy and pedantic, whereas this is instead genre defining and an album that other modern hardcore albums should be measured against. The topics range from the personal, infidelity and suicide, to pondering what it means to be in the hardcore scene. It's a bold move to call out your own listeners on their shit, but Bane does it so well that it makes you want to jump and do something. Through out the album there are little artistic touches, like the female vocals on “Can We Start Again.” A must have for fans of hardcore music.

Rating: 15/15 Boston accents

Blood for Blood- Livin' in Exile

Blood for Blood Livin' in Exile: If you're drunk and angry, you really can't do better than this album. Its fast, its angry, its drunk but also intelligent and insightful. This is a no bullshit record.

Rating 13/15 Brawling drunks

Cheap Tragedies - Volume 1: Souvenirs and Evidence

Cheap Tragedies Volume 1: Souvenirs and Evidence:

Oh fuck yeah! This is one of those few new punk albums that wears its influences proudly on its sleeve, but is fresh sounding at the same time. Guitars whirl like buzz saws as the vocals are just drunken shouts that manage to keep on time. Also there are nice touches through out the album, like a sprinkling of Jerry Lee Lewis pianos on “Jesus Just Left Cleveland.” Crank this at your next party and I guarantee a circle pit will erupt.

12/15 Zodiac references

Fucked Up - The Chemistry of Common Life

Fucked Up The Chemistry of Common Life:

Fucked Up rule. They are smart, loud, fast and exactly what punk rock should be like. With that said, this cd was a chore to listen to. I know the songs are good (interesting lyrics, neat hooks) but after one or two I found my mind wandering and itching to hit the forward button. An amazing band to see live, a boring one to listen to.

Rating: 11/15 confused reviewers.

Black Ships - Omens

Black Ships Omens:

“Omens” is the sound of an active quarry: Loud, explosive, and crushing. The guitars are suitable distorted, while the bass is down tuned to the point of sounding almost out of tune. The vocals roar out, incomprehensible but you know he's shouting about angry things like being late for the bus. The drums anchor down the sound keeping simple rhythms that pound like war drums. The whole affair sounds like it was recorded with the Pro-Tools Wall O' Sludge plugin. Black Ships avoid the one pitfall of many similar bands in this genre, that all songs sound the same. Rather the songs are similar in sound, but different enough to keep the listener engaged.

13/15 Oil spills that are on fire.

Scissorfight - Jagernaut

Scissorfight Jagernaut:

Perfect for those who find The Moldy Peaches too raucous. Lacks testosterone.

Rating: 11/15 Pink Lady Slippers