Category Archives: Reviews

(record review)BY ALL MEANS-“Cultivated Rhetoric”(Felony Records)

By All Means are the band from the Los Angeles area and when we talk about them we can safely say that they are a veteran band in the melodic punkrock scene. Their path began almost 20 years ago, in 1999. After three full length releases and some lineup change the trio delivers this new record.

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The new album contains 12 songs of powerful melodic punkrock played with experience, knowledge, heart and soul, not necessary in that order hehe. The songs are not over the top fast aggressive hardcore punk stuff, they tend to gravitate more towards pop punk, but the melodies, backing vocals, guitar hooks and lyrics are first class. In fact, one of the most calm songs on the album, namely “Old Friend” is for me the best on the album, having lyrics that make you emotional and give you goosebumps. All of the songs are worth the listening and doing it again and for good measure, spin the fucker one more time to be certain you heard all of the great music on this record. Some more highlights songs:”Stiletto Stars”, “No Longer Yours”.

7/10

https://felonyrecords.bandcamp.com/album/cultivated-rhetoric

https://www.facebook.com/byallmeanssouthbay

https://www.facebook.com/felonyrecords/

(record review)THE OTHER-“Casket Case”(Drakkar)

When I was getting into horrorpunk I have only listened to The Misfits before I found out the whole new and beautiful scene existing in the underground. Horrorpunk scene has some of the nicest people I have ever met besides having awesome bands and I can safely say that horrorpunk scene still is not corrupted by mainstream as some other aspects of the underground scene. As my nights grew longer I discovered some of the bands that became my favorite in the scene, like Blitzkid, The Crimson Ghosts, Balzac and of course The Other.

2017 - Casket Case

The Other is a German horrorpunk band hailing from Cologne and if I counted well, this is their seventh full length album. The album contains 16 songs of beautiful and dark melodic horrorpunk with some goth and metal influences. There are also some beautiful guest lady vocals on “Little Black Riding Hood”, nicely fitting in with Rod Ushers main vocal lines. As is the case on last few albums there is also one song in German language, the excellent “Morgen Ohne Grauen”. The song structures are hard, melodic and melodramatic as only horrorpunks and Germans can do hehe. I could describe the songs hear sixteen times, but it is up to you to listen to the whole album and check out the beauy and maybe horrorpunk will gain another creature of the night, being you. This album has it all, punk melody, hardcore agressiveness and goth sensibility packed in beautiful music. Top songs;”A Party At Crystal Lake”, “A Heart Is Mysterious”, “Shes A Ghost”.

9/10

Visit The Other https://www.facebook.com/theotherhorr…

https://theother.de/

 

 

(record review)THE FLY DOWNS-“Pockets Out ep”

The Fly Downs are a band hailing from Ottawa, Canada. This trio just released their debut ep and I listened to it and liked it so here is the review.

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The ep contains six songs of melodic punk with some hardcore and pop punk influences. Musically, this band is nothing new and revolutionary but they play with heart and balls and make great songs and that is just all that is important. The songs are structured with lots of melodic guitar hooks and fine melodies combined with great harmonized backing vocals. The main vocals remind me in some songs of Joey Cape of Lagwagon, especially in “SFANN”, which is one of my favorite tracks on this record. The lyrics are on more personal level about love, friendship, broken hearts and similar themes and they are good. In all, this is an excellent ep and it is on Bandcamp for free or for donation, so go ahead if you like such music, support the guys and drop them a line to tell them what do you think about their record.

7,5/10

https://www.facebook.com/TFDbandofficial/

https://theflydowns.bandcamp.com/album/pockets-out