A Hope For Home - In Abstraction

One of my big musical fears is when a band releases their follow-up to an album that had large critical acclaim and is one of my favorite records. When a band releases a masterpiece, fans (I) expect another masterpiece.

A Hope For Home's Realis is an amazing record. Every song on Realis was great and the album has a larger then life quality about. It's a sonically impressive record full of great dynamics. Loved it. So naturally I was a little worried about In Abstraction. How could A Hope for Home deliver a record that was even half as good as Realis?

With In Abstraction A Hope For Home made sure to not try and release a new version of Realis. Instead they have delivered a record that captures the heart that made Realis so good without returning to that sound. A Hope For Home continues their musical growth and evolution.

In Abstraction doesn't waste any time as Calm kicks right into the post hardcore A Hope for Home fans are familiar with but at over eight minutes long it doesn't take long for the song to move in different directions. Calm goes from post hardcore to a killer post rock song. Where Realis had a nice large sound and had a rich lush production, In Abstraction losses some of that lushness but has an epic quality that Realis didn't have. With the average song length being 7 minutes, it's easy for tracks to get boring but A Hope For Home have created enough space and give the listener enough dynamics and changes within the music that nothing is ever boring and the album is constantly shifting and moving in different directions that create a great listening experience.

The first two tracks feel like A Hope for Home but with a more post rock bent. Firewind and Weaves are real spacey and ambient tracks. Tides is an epic, slow building crescendo, while The House Where You Were Born is about as straight forward a rock song as one will get from A Hope for Home. Everything That Rises Must Converge is a super epic post rock track.

In Abstraction is amazing. A Hope for Home haven't outdone what they accomplished on Realis but reinvented, changed, and built upon everything good the band has done so far. A Hope for Home is one of those bands that doesn't disappoint and In Abstraction is a stellar record.

The Meltdown 57

Looking to spice up the Christmas music in your life? Well the Meltdown is here to help. Merry Christmas!

In the Midst of Lions - Shadows

In the Midst of Lions surprised me with The Heart of Man. And by surprised I mean I was surprised that I liked the album. Deathcore hasn't always found favor in my book but The Heart of Man just worked for me.

The band's new album, Shadows, is heavier, better, but doesn't connect the same with me. Musically I think Shadows is on point, but it doesn't have the same heart as The Heart of Man (no pun intended).

False Idols and the Call are the two best tracks on Shadows and they are the two tracks that kick off the album. The problem with Shadows is there isn't a lot of diversity between the songs and I feel like I'm listening to the same song over and over again.

Is Shadows a good record, yes. In the Midst of Lions delivered a heavy hitting album. But the songs just don't work for me the same way The Heart of Man did. Fans of the band will probably love this album.

O'Brother - Garden Widow

To be honest when I saw the cover art for Garden Widow, I just assumed O'Brother was going to sound something along the lines of mewithoutYou's It's All Crazy. Boy was I wrong. Thank goodness I was wrong.

Garden Widow is a fantastic post punk album that warms my little DC heart. It's the perfect balance of punk fury and passion with that hint of indie rock melody that made bands like Fugazi so great. The feedback and fuzzed out bass that kick of Malum had me paying attention right away. Malum is a build into Lo. Lo is a full on driving assault that reminds me Queens of the Stone Age. Sputnik is a slow, groovy track that will have you swaying and banging. Poison isn't my favorite song on the album. A real indie rock jam that's nice but just doesn't do anything for me. Lay Down keeps things low key and indie vibing but is a much stronger track then Poison.

The albums walks the line between post punk and indie rock perfectly. It's an album I downloaded on a whim and I really enjoy. Only one track that didn't work for me but the rest of Garden Widow is excellent. Great stuff from O'Brother.

Free Music Friday: Matthew Mayfield - Now You're Free

So I wasn't going to do a Black Friday edition of Free Music Friday but then I downloaded Matthew Mayfield's new album Now You're Free and I had to share. Now You're Free is a great record full of really soulful songs from a fantastic songwriter. Matthew Mayfield was the frontman for the short lived band Moses Mayfield. This isn't a record to miss.

You can download Now You're Free here: http://noisetrade.com/matthewmayfield

Eleventyseven - Sugarfist

When I first picked up Sugarfist, I had low expectations. My only other experience with the band was their debut single Myspace. It was terrible and seemed dated at the time (even though it fit with the whole emo/pop punk thing happening at the time). But Wasted was on Punk Never DIes and that song didn't suck and bands mature and grow and get better right? So why not give Sugarfist a spin?

Sugarfist is a little scattered... The first three tracks on the album are really solid musically. Wasted, Ghost, and Give It Up are great electro/pop punk upbeat songs. Maybe not anything special or new but the songs are good. But then things fall apart a bit. Silent Symphony is a weird, drum machine reggae beat driven track. It takes the electronic element to far and brings the energy way down. College Girls quickly brings the energy back up but then Quota quickly kills it. While the rest of Sugarfist is full of solid, upbeat songs, they start to run together and become one. Divers in a Hurricane is a stand out track in the later half of the record.

Lyrically Sugarfist is a little hollow but the music is fun and (mostly) upbeat. If you're looking for something fun, give it a spin.

The Meltdown 56

New music from Run Kid Run, O' Brother, In the Midst of Lions, Moving Mountains, and more.

Run Kid Run - Patterns

Run Kid Run has always been a band that's been hard for me to embrace. I was a big Side Walk Slam fan and Run Kid Run was always a reminder of what would never be again. Run Kid Run has always been a good band... Just not Side Walk Slam.

So I tried to put aside my bias when listening to Run Kid Run's new album Patterns. Patterns follows in the same line that Love At the Core did. It's a great pop rock album. Farewell to Old Self is a great quiet song to kick off the record, really showcasing how good a vocalist David Curtis is before busting into the uptempo Last Hurrah. Last Hurrah is the closest Run Kid Run has come to matching the fun and energy Side Walk Slam had. Back to the Basics, the album's first single, is my favorite song the band has written to date. Great hook that's easy to sing and super catchy.Daylight (the album's second single) and Sunburns also have super catchy hooks while Rely On Her is rocking anthem. My King ends the album on a wonderful worshipful note.

Overall Patterns is a killer record full of catch hooks and solid songs. The best album Run Kid Run has released yet.

Russian Circles - Empros

Rarely do bands of any genre get heavier with time. Most bands are looking to experiment more, branch out, and the idea that bands get heavier with age is a myth that all bands tell their fans with each passing album.

Russian Circles on the other hand are a band that actually has gotten heavier with each album. Maybe heavier is the wrong word but the band has moved from great post-rock band to an almost elite post-metal band. Geneva was an incredible step in Russian Circles expanding their sound and making their craft tighter and better then ever. So how would the band return? Where would Empros fit in a discography already full of amazing albums?

The answer is Empros would continue the evolution of Russian Circles. 309 kicks off the record with a killer face melting riff. Brian Cook's bass playing continues to be stellar and intriguing. 309 is the heaviest opening track Russian Circles have delivered yet. The track is heavy but really cold and I was afraid that I was trading a rich sounding record for a heavy sound record. Mlàdek quickly put those fears to rest.

Empros is the perfect combination of post rock epicness with a metal tinge. Every guitar riff is perfectly placed whether it's a mind shredding lead line or a delayed undertone carrying the melody. Brian Cook's bass lines fill each hole and gap perfectly while Dave Turncrantz's drumming is, as always, solid.

Russian Circles have delivered another great record and Empros is the best post rock album I've heard in 2011.

Free Music Friday: Breanne Duren - Sparks

I downloaded Breanne Duren's Sparks ep based off a facebook recommendation of a friend and fell in love with the album. Beautiful pop album with great catchy hooks. Love it. I was more surprised to see her on stage playing synths for Owl City this past week. Who knew? (Apparently a lot of people. Just not me).

You can download Sparks for free here: http://noisetrade.com/breanneduren

We the Gathered - Believer

We the Gathered are the newest band on the Strike First roster and probably the most impressive band on the label outside of Dynasty. We the Gathered deliver a solid record full of great melodic hardcore that often reminds me of Your Memorial.

Believer has a rawer sound than Your Memorial's Atonement. The drums are less processed, the guitars are richer sounding. Unlike Atonement though, Believer is more of a one note record. It's a good note and every song on Believer is good. While there's not a ton of musical diversity, there are some killer hooks that help hold each track as it's own entity and not an album of the same song. Idolizer, Antihero, and Undefined are great examples of strong hooks.

We the Gathered is a great young band and does bring something different to the Strike First roster. Believer is a solid debut with great songs.

The Meltdown 55

New Music from Run Kid Run, We the Gathered, Comrades, and A Plea for Purging.

Comrades - Collection 2010 -2011

I've heard about Comrades for a couple years but never got around to listening to the band (their former drummer is engaged to my ex-girlfriend's sister so). I was excited to see that the band had signed with Blood and Ink Records and couldn't wait to get my hands on some music. Comrades first B&I release is a collection of songs recorded over the last two years.

Somewhere between early Russian Circles and Gifts From Enola is where I'd place Comrades musically. A great young post rock act with tons of potential. There are great off beats and enough interesting rhythms to remind one of Don Cab. For people who aren't big fans of all instrumental music, there are enough moments with vocals to keep you happy. The vocals aren't sung or pretty, but more of a spoken word/yelled vocal. Answer Me This starts off with a simple riff and a questioning lyric before irrupting. Weights kicks off with a guitar vs bass call and response. Laura McElroy's bass playing on the album is phenomenal.

Collection isn't full of the most beautiful songs you've ever heard or the most interesting songs in the post rock genre but it's a snap shot at one of the great young bands in the genre and show a band with tons of potential for greatness. Best songs: Giants, Hammerhand, Fearless She, and Encourage Encourage.

Free Music Friday: Willows - Walk Home EP

Willows is a hardcore band melodic hardcore band from Salt Lake City whose new ep, Walk Home, is available as a free download. It's a great ep and fans of Blood and Ink and Facedown Records will love this band.

You can download Walk Home for free here: http://willowsut.bandcamp.com/album/walk-home-ep

Thank to Indie Vision Music for this tidbit.

A Plea for Purging - The Life and Death of A Plea for Purging

I've given A Plea for Purging a lot of shit in the past. The band has always written good songs and they're a great live band and some of the nicest guys I've ever gotten to meet. But their production (especially their drum production) has always kept me from embracing the band and being a big fan.

The band's fourth full-length, The Life and Death of A Plea for Purging, is by far the band's best and finest work to date. The album is warm and rich sounding, sonically huge. The drums are rich, the guitars are full sounding, the albums sounds great.

But even outside of the production realm, A Plea For Purging stepped up their game big time. The songs are just better then anything the band has written before. The Life and Death isn't an album full of breakdowns (something I've also been critical of before). The first three tracks all have a familiar vibe with former Plea songs but there aren't constant breakdowns and the overall quality is great. "My Song" on the flip side is one of the most melodic songs APFP has written to date (without losing any of their heaviness). Even songs like "Skin & Bones" and "Hands & Feet" don't feel out of place because of tracks like "My Song" and "Words Misread" have such a great melodic undertone that the softer songs work and keep a great dynamic shift song to song, keeping the album fresh.

The Life and Death is not only A Plea For Purging's best record to date, it sets them up not only as one of the top bands on Facedown but one of the top heavy bands in today's scene. The Plea boys should be super proud of this record. If you weren't a fan of Plea's previous work, you shouldn't let that keep you from picking up The Life and Death. One of the best records of 2011 for sure.

The Meltdown 54

New music from Sins, A Plea For Purging, As I Lay Dying, and Tiffany Thompson

As I Lay Dying - Decas

It's hard to believe As I Lay Dying has been around for 10 years. I remember hearing them for the first time on a Pluto Records sampler. To celebrate their decade of destruction As I Laying have release Decas, a special album for the fans that is just enough of a teaser and hold over until new AILD material is released.

Decas is one part new, one part covers, and and part remix. The new songs are great! Paralyzed might be the best AILD songs ever written. It's up there with 94 Hours, The Darkest Nights, and I Never Wanted (my personal favorites). From Shapeless To Breakable is in line with tracks from The Powerless Rise while Moving Forward is more like An Ocean Between Us. All three of the new tracks are killer songs.

We all know Tim can craft a killer cover song and there are no different. AILD does War Ensemble justice and tear Electric Eye a new one. The cover of Coffee Mug is great and straight forward. A 40 second song... Awesome! There is also a re-recorded medley of Beneath the Encasing Ashes that's equally as awesome.

Remixes of metal songs are always weird and awesome at the same time. Techno music with screaming vocals... It's always a unique sound. And these are no different. Each of the four remixes are different from each other and great in their own way.

Decas is something great for As I Lay Dying fans and a nice hold over until their next record drops.

Free Music Friday: Punk Never Dies

Who needs 75 tracks of punk/pop punk/post punk? Who doesn't? Indie Vision Music's latest compilation is a great punk rock journey that features unreleased and rare tracks from Ballydowse, Twotimer, MxPx, Watashi Wa, new songs from Headnoise and Eleventyseven, plus great new bands like Sins, Good Luck Varsity, and Addison. The stylings range from old school hardcore punk to newer emo punk and everything in-between. If you don't like every song, it's alright because there are 75 tracks and one could create there own cd of their favorite songs.

You can download Punk Never Dies for free here: http://www.indievisionmusic.com/2011/10/31/punk-never-dies-vol-1/

Life in Your Way - Kingdoms

I didn't listen to Life In Your Way until after their break-up. When I did finally pick up Waking Giants I kicked myself for not giving the record a spin sooner. So hearing that Life in Your Way had reunited and were releasing new music was great news.

Life in Your Way's return Kingdoms is actually three eps (Kingdom of Man, Kingdom of Darkness, and Kingdom of God). Each ep deals with a theme but they play as a collective album. Musically, there isn't anything super special here. LIYW plays a brand of metalcore that's been done over and over again. LIYW does it well and Kingdoms is an enjoyable listen but musically there isn't anything new or very exciting.

The best moment on the record is the opening track to the Kingdom of God, Induction, where Joshua Kellam declares that the Kingdom of God is for everyone regardless of ones past or present. It's a great moment and it stands out on the album and grabs your attention.

Kingdoms is a solid record by a good band. You can download Kingdoms for free at http://comeandlive.com/

The Meltdown 53

New music from Plumb, Life in Your Way, New Found Glory, and more.