The Meltdown 119

New music from The Almost, The Order of Elijah, No Lost Cause, Colossus, and more.

Denison Witmer - Denison Witmer

There are certain artists that I could sit and listen to all day. Denison Witmer is one of them. Witmer's the kind of artist you buy on vinyl, put on your record player and listen to for hours while you read and drink wine. Witmer live is a similar experience. You just sit quietly with your drink in hand and enjoy yourself as Witmer serenades you with lullabies all night.

Dension's new self-titled record is his most laid back record since 2002's Philadelphia Songs (my personal favorite). It's a simpler record than Witmer's last couple of records. Not that Denison's ever released something crazy or gone way off script, but long time fans will hear his new record and understand what I'm talking about.

Ambient piano giving way to Witmer's familiar finger picking on the acoustic guitar open up Born Without Words before  Witmer's voice, drenched in reverb comes. It's a beautiful song about being yourself and not comparing yourself to those around you. Keep Moving Brother, Keep Moving Sister continues in the same vain. The song is a little more groove based (a little) but lyrically the song is about moving forward and becoming what you're supposed to be. The self-titled nature of the record is this brilliant play on words, as lyrically Witmer is addressing the issue of being one's self and moving forward.

Take Yourself Seriously closes the record. It's a song inspired by Rainer Maria Rilke's Letters To A Young Poet. Rilke is my favorite poet and Witmer does him justice. The song is beautiful with a hint of whimsy. A fantastic album closer.

In my opinion, this is Witmer's best record since Philadelphia Songs. Beautifully crafted indie folk songs with a theme of identity and being who you were created to be. An absolutely delightful listen.

Better Off Signs with 6131 Records

Better Off (formerly Friends) has signed with 6131 Records.

6131 Records have announced the signing of Nashville, Tennessee alternative indie rock outfit BETTER OFF to their label roster. The band will be releasing their debut effort, a full length entitled (I Think) I’m Leaving, via the label on August 27th.

The members of BETTER OFF are no stranger to the Nashville alternative rock scene, having played in various other projects in the area in recent years, but this new incarnation undoubtedly sees this group of musicians at their peak… or on their way to it. The album they’ve created in (I Think) I’m Leaving feels remarkably mature and developed for a debut release, sure to excite fans of a wide range of tastes. Comparisons to the likes of Jimmy Eat World, Brand New, and Knapsack seem fitting, yet BETTER OFF provide enough of their own take on the sound to create their own brand of emotional rock. These are stirring, well-crafted songs that get reveal themselves more and more on each subsequent listen.

BETTER OFF have plans for touring throughout the Southeast U.S. (dates below) with more extensive tour expected to be announced soon.

06/06 Nashville, TN @ The Owl Farm
09/02 Tampa, FL @ Ball Pit
09/03 Pembroke Pines, FL @ Talent Farm
09/05 Atlanta, GA @ WonderRoot
09/06 Chattanooga, TN @ Sluggo’s

According to Blood and Ink's twitter page this will be a joint release between the two labels. I was a huge fan of Friends' debut "Better Off Alone" and I'm pretty excited for the Better Off's debut. 

This is the band's first single from (I Think) I'm Leaving. 

No Lost Cause - NLC

When Thumper Punk announced that they were releasing music from their first ska-core band, I was so stoked. I'm a huge ska fan. I was mildly disappointed to find out it was New Jersey's No Lost Cause, a three piece ska/punk outfit. Not that I have any issue with the band, but listening to a three piece ska outfit when you're looking forward to a seven piece band with a horn section... You can see where minor disappointment comes in.

What's not disappointing is the band's debut ep, NLC. While maybe not the ska I was hoping for, No Lost Cause will appeal to fans of Value Pac, Tasty Snax, Goldfinger, and possible old school Squad Five-O fans.

Anywhere But Here is a great punk song with a catchy hook. It's a great introduction to No Lost Cause and the perfect way to start the ep. You're instantly hooked. The One Who Rescues brings in the ska upbeats and will get you skanking. The upbeats on Fight Alone have a great flange/delay effect that give the track a rocksteady/reggae vibe on the verses before the distortion kicks in and you find yourself singing along to the chorus. No Weapon is great punk song that reminds me of Officer Negative's debut record. The call and response chant on the chorus is perfect. My Strength is ska through and through. A great, danceable track that is the perfect album closer. But it's not the album's last song. No Lost Cause gives us an acoustic version of Fight Alone.

Minor disappointment turn into tons of enjoyment. NLC is a fantastic ep. It's fun music. Perfect for any summer playlist.

You can stream NLC at http://www.indievisionmusic.com/2013/05/20/ivm-presents-no-lost-cause-ep-stream/

Ark Of The Covenant - Self Harvest

To say I wasn't a fan of Ark of the Covenant's debut ep, Separation, is being nice. The Potential was there but nothing about the ep was making me a fan or had me looking forward to more music from the band.

The potential that was barely peaking on Separation really shows itself on Self Harvest. It's like I'm listening to a different band. For those worried about that statement, don't be. Ark of the Covenant is still a heavy band playing a deathcoore dominated style of music. But there's an integration of new elements and a maturity of playing together that takes Ark of the Covenant from generic scene band, to something special.

The death metal influence of Self Harvest is almost subtle but clearly there, sprinkled in the various tracks, adding flavor to the album.

Abandoned is pretty straight forward deathcore to kick off Self Harvest. Choppy guitar riffs that give the impression you're listening to a metal version of Korn. But there's an ambience running throughout the song that gives it an eerie dimension that is compelling to me for some reason. Even if the track didn't have that ambient layer, the song is a million times better than anything Ark of the Covenant released on Separation.

There's more gated guitars on the short instrumental, Fire, and I'm starting to wonder if Ark of the Covenant has anything else to show me. But Parasite comes trudging in with a solid (medium speed) blast beat. Transgressors has a killer melodic guitar line kicking the song off. Sentient's opening riff is pretty chill, in the way you'd say the Deftones are chill. The dynamics give the song this beautiful layer of sound.

Ark of the Covenant's growth as a band is evident and Self Harvest is a huge leap from where the band was on Separation. A solid record top to bottom.

The Meltdown 118

New music from Extol, Listener, August Burns Red, Eisley, and Paramore.

A Common Goal - Blessings and Battles

A Common Goal is a cool, old school, greaser punk band. The kind that always reminds you of Social Distortion. Blessing and Battles is a great easy listening record that carries a nice edge and intensity when needed.

ACG is like a punch in the face when you hit play. It's a great hard hitting song with a catchy hook. It's about as crazy as A Common Goal gets. The rest of Blessing and Battles is a solid, easy to listen to record. Frame Of Mind is a fun song about the great times in life.  Hope is a great song about how no matter what is going on in the world, there is still hope and goodness in Christ. The track starts off with news clips of terrible tragedies in the world. Musically there's a great intro lead kick the song off and a catchy chorus to help get the message of hope across. Problems has a fantastic country western slide guitar that gives it an extra dimension and adds something more to A Common Goal's sound. That's followed by Nothing Left, which is the only real circle pit punk song on the record.

Blessings and Battles is full of catchy choruses, songs of remembering the past and having hope for the future. The title of the album is a beautiful description of the lyrical content and just the nature of life. A Common Goal have done Boston proud with Blessings and Battles. A fun, laid back punk record.