Free Music Friday: Theory Hazit - Thr3e

Humble Beast Records is without a doubt releasing the best hip-hop and their latest release is no exception. Theory Hazit teamed up with producer Dert and they have delivered Thr3e. Thr3e is a stellar hip-hop record and worth you time for sure.

You can download Thr3e for free here: http://humblebeast.com/downloads/

The Meltdown 62

New music from Blessed By a Broken Heart and Saving Grace. Plus classic tracks from Beloved and Slick Shoes.

Attack Attack! - This Means War

I had, up until today, had a couple of do not's in place to help keep me sane. I was never going to review anything Rise Records ever released. I mean, with the exception of Bleeding Through nothing on Rise Records has been deserving of my attention. I don't want to sit here and bash bands all day and I feel like if I start reviewing bands on Rise, that's what will happen.

But today all that has changed. As Attack Attack's third full-length This Means War found it's way into my hands, I decided, why not. I have beaten and made fun of Attack Attack since they debuted their video for Stick Stickly. The song was not good and the video was a pioneering moment for crabcore. And it's sad that local Baltimore bands have taken to crabcore and auto-tuned dancey metalcore and I have seen more Attack Attack clones at shows in the last years then should be allowed. But this is the way of the world.

So hopes for This Means War were not high. But This Means war is the first album to feature Caleb Shomo on all vocals (screamed and clean). The ridiculous song titles of the band's previous albums are gone and there are no auto-tuned vocals on This Means War. While there are still a couple of synth heavy, dancey breakdowns, the crabcore joke (at least musically) appears to have left the band with Johnny Franck.

The problem with moving past the auto-tune, goofy song titles, disco breakdowns, and the things that made Attack Attack what they were, is they become a pretty standard screamo/metalcore band. By going with a djent guitar sound, mostly tasteful synth lines, and a change in vocal style, This Means War is just another scene album. It's not bad and by comparison to the band's previous two efforts, the record is really good. But in a scene where something similar is released every week, there's nothing about This Is War that makes it stand out among the crowd.

Best record from Attack Attack to date... But their step forward is also a step into an already overcrowded room.

Blessed By A Broken Heart - Feel The Power

Sometimes music should just be fun and enjoyable. From metalcore to over the top glam band, it seems like Blessed By a Broken Heart have finally found their place in music. Feel The Power, the band's third record and Tooth and Nail debut, is full on rock and roll fun. Yes, the glam elements are there. But it's more mature and done really well. If song titles like Shut Up and Rock, Rockin' All Night, and Scream Like You Mean aren't give aways that this is a fun record, it'll take about 30 seconds for you to find out what BBABH has in store on Feel The Power.

Feel the Power is mostly glam inspired rock and roll. Deathwish, Love Nightmare, Forever, Holdin' Back For Nothing are all great glam rock songs that bring back good memories of Bon Jovie, Van Halen, and Motley Crue. But it's not all glam. Shut Up and Rock features Dallas Taylor of Maylene and helps give the song a different vibe that breaks the glam thing up just enough to help keep the record interesting early on. It couldn't be a glam record without a ballad and I've Got You is the ballad on Feel the Power (even if it sounds more like the Backstreet Boys than Poison). Rocking All Night sounds like Bombs Over Broadway era Squad Five-O lite.

Skate or Die, Innocent Blood, and Sleepless Nights close out the record on a strong note. Skate or Die and Innocent Blood are nice throwbacks and nodes to the bands metalcore days. Sleepless Nights is a perfect closer.

I'm pleasantly surprised by Feel the Power. My previous experiences with Bless By A Broken Heart made me assume I wouldn't be a fan of this record. But Feel The Power is fun and enjoyable. Good stuff from BBABH. A record to pick up for sure.

The Meltdown 61

New Music from With Increase, The Attending, Run Kid Run, and Of Virtue.

Free Music Friday: East Ghost - St. Elizabeths EP

The first Free Music Friday of 2012! There were tons of great new album's to choose from but last night East Ghost announced that their debut ep was finally available for download and that it was free.

East Ghost is one of DC's newest and best bands. Their debut EP will be a treat for fans of Snow Patrol, Death Cab for Cutie, and Ester Drang. Great ep from a great new band.

You can download St Elizabeths for free here: http://eastghost.bandcamp.com/

The Meltdown 60

Hip-Hop vs Hardcore: Round 2

Grits - They All Fall Down
Stretch Arm Strong - For The Record
Braille - Give Myself
xDeathstarx - We Are the Threat
Alert - Red Vapors
Advent - Blackout
Pigeon John - Money Back Guarantee
No Innocent Victim - To Burn Again
Mars Ill - Breathe Slow
xDisciplex AD - Lick Your Wounds
Deep Space 5 - Talk Music
Come Back Kid - False Idols Fall
Propaganda - Beautiful Pain
Call to Preserve - Sinking Sun
Sharlock Poems - The Elements
Jesus Wept - Sick City
Cook and Uno - The Program
Close Your Eyes - Song For the Broken

As The City Sleeps

I've been catching up on some releases I missed in 2011. So killer stuff but I probably won't review any of it. Looking forward to new 2012 releases. Hopefully we'll start to get some records in and get some new content for you guys. Until then, enjoy the Meltdown and Free Music Friday (which will return this week).

The Meltdown 59

New music from Five Iron Frenzy. Plus classic tracks from Overcome, 90 Pound Wuss, and Strongarm.