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Reviews

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March 9, 2008

Lanae' Hale - Lanae' Hale EP

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Artist: Lanae’ Hale Album: Lanae’ Hale EP Label: Centricity Records Release Date: November 6, 2007 Review by: Eric Pettersson Tracklist: 1. Spring Again 2. Alive Again 3. Love Is Worth the Fight 4. Stay 5. Start Over 6. Quiet Place On listening to this EP, a few thoughts come to mind. One, Lanae’s sound is not as indie as her influences listed on MySpace would leave one to believe. Two, this is not a bad thing, because she’s got a great sound. “Alive Again” could easily end up playing on a new episode of Scrubs with its soft, artistically poppy feel.… Continued →

March 7, 2008

One Star Story - The Empty Room EP

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Artist: One Star Story Album: The Empty Room EP Label: Transatlantic Records Buy It: Amazon MP3 1. Say Anything 2. Tears Behind a Smile 3. So Long 4. Crushed Beneath the Wait 5. Simplicity of a Button 6. Love 7. Call It a Story (Bonus Track) There has never been a better time for One Star Story to unleash their music on the world. Gone are the days of 2003, when the only current female-fronted rock groups known to the average music listener were No Doubt, whose snarky and ska-influenced singles unfortunately pervaded the airwaves about that time, and newcomers Evanescence, whose music contained all the schmaltz that their post-grunge leanings suggested.… Continued →

March 6, 2008

Saravain/Ready the Way- Split EP

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Artist(s): Saravain, Ready the Way Album: Split EP Record Label: N/A Release Date: February 16, 2008 Websites: Saravain, Ready the Way Reviewed by: Cory This split EP is between Baltimore, Maryland’s Saravain and Richmond/Lynchburg, Virginia’s Ready the Way. Both bands are up and coming melodic hardcore bands, but they each take a different approach to the genre. Saravain focuses on clean vocals and catchy melodic hooks, while Ready the Way writes progressive guitar parts with screams and sporadic sung/spoken lyrics. While we normally don’t review secular bands here at IVM, it would be weird to review half of an album when both halves are equally important.… Continued →

February 29, 2008

Children 18:3 - Children 18:3

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Artist: Children 18:3 Album: Children 18:3 Label: Tooth and Nail Records Reviewer: Levi G 1. All My Balloons 2. LCM 3. You Know We’re All So Fond Of Dying 4. Search Warrant 5. Even Sleeping 6. Ditches 7. The City 8. Homemade Valentine 9. Samantha 10. Mock The Music 11. A Chance To Say Goodbye 12. Time and Wasted Bullets 13. Balloons Reprise 14. Final If punk rock was dead, it’s just been resurrected. Meet the (arguable) punk rock saviors, a sibling trio from Minnesota boasting a home schooled education.… Continued →

February 28, 2008

As I Lay Dying - An Ocean Between Us

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Band: As I Lay Dying Title: An Ocean Between Us Label: Metal Blade Review By: JoshIVM Tracklisting: 01. Separation 02. Nothing 03. An Ocean Between Us 04. Within Destruction 05. Forsaken 06. Comfort Betrays 07. I Never Wanted 08. Bury Us All 09. The South Of Truth 010. Departed 11. Wrath Upon Ourselves 12. This Is Who We Are Members/Duties: Tim Lambesis: Vocals Nick Hipa: Guitar Jordan Mancino: Drums Phil Sgrosso: Guitar Josh Gilbert: Bass, Vocals I must first say that As I Lay Dying have been one of my favorite metal bands in the past few years.… Continued →

A Thousand Times Repent - Virtue Has Few Friends

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Band: A Thousand Times Repent Title: Virtue Has Few Friends Label: Tribunal Records Releases: 3/11/2008 Review By: JoshIVM Tracklisting: 01. Curses! Another Shape-Shifting Wraith! 02. A Band Of Hunters Stalk In Edo 03. Take Me To The Witch Of The Waste… We Have Much To Discuss 04. That Was The Night Everything Changed… 05. So Much For Middle-Earth 06. Complete Relinquish. Utter Abandon. Members/Duties: Nate: Guitar Dowd: Guitar Chris: Guitar Jeremy: Bass Shannon: Drums Darsen: Vocals I just happened across these guys on Myspace sometime early last year.… Continued →

Once Nothing - First Came The Law

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Band: Once Nothing Title: First Came The Law Label: Solid State Released: 1/15/2008 Review By: JoshIVM Tracklisting: 01. The Intimidator 02. Avoid Me Like The Plague 03. Juliet Or At Least What’s Left Of Her 04. Gunfire Is The Sound of Freedom 05. The Dust Of A Town 06. My Sweet Medusa 07. Columbus Wasn’t Looking For America 08. Then There Were Nine 09. All My Heroes Are Cowboys 10. The Truth About Me Or Someone Like Me 11. Whiskey Breath 12. …And Then Came Grace Members/Duties: Todd Lowry: Vocals Josh Branas: Guitar Giuseppe Capolupo: Drums Steve Lucarelli: Bass David Burkes: Guitar Upon first listen I started the first song and then quickly moved to the second.… Continued →

Ivoryline - There Came A Lion

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Band: Ivoryline Title: There Came A Lion Label: Tooth & Nail Released: 2/5/2008 Review By: JoshIVM Tracklisting: 01. Days End 02. We Both Know 03. Parade 04. All You Ever Hear 05. Be Still And Breathe 06. Remind Me I’m Alive 07. Left Us Falling 08. And The Truth 09. Bravery 10. Hearts And Minds 11. The Last Word Members/Duties: Scott Socia: Guitar Jeremy Gray: Vocals Wes Hard: Drums Robert Woodward: Bass Dusty Kittle: Guitar Ivoryline is one of the many new signings that the Tooth & Nail empire will be releasing upon the masses this year.… Continued →

The Classic Crime - Acoustic EP

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Band: The Classic Crime Title: Acoustic EP: Seattle Sessions Label: Tooth & Nail Review By: JoshIVM Tracklisting: 1. Seattle 2. Blindfolded 3. The Test 4. Wake Up (Shipwreck) 5. The Drink In My Hand (Live) 6. When The Time Comes 7. Far From Home Members/Duties: Matt MacDonald: Vocals Justin DuQue: Guitar Robbie Negrin: Guitar Skip Erickson: Drums Alan Clark: Bass The Classic Crime have decided to go against the norm and forego a true sophmore effort by releasing an acoustic EP. The band had already stated these songs didn’t fit the sound they normally presented so they needed to do it this way.… Continued →

February 24, 2008

The Black Noise Party Boys - Party All the Time

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Artist: The Black Noise Party Boys Album: Party All the Time Label: Holdfast Records Release Date: January 8, 2008 Review by: Eric Pettersson Tracklist: 1. Pity Party 2. Spend the Night Party 3. Pizza Party 4. Pool Party 5. Guitarty 6. Going away Party How many times can you use the word “party” in a tracklist? All of them, apparently. If one word could describe this record, it would be “guitars.” The Black Noise Party Boys deliver a nonstop southern metal blend with loud guitars, raw screamed vocals (think Every Time I Die), and a lot of chugga-chugga headbanging.… Continued →

February 19, 2008

Tree63 - Sunday!

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Artist: Tree63 Album: Sunday! Label: Inpop Records Release Date: September 25, 2007 Review by: Eric Pettersson Tracklist: 1. Sunday 2. Becoming 3. World Undone 4. Alright 5. Foolishness 6. There Is a Kingdom that Cannot Be Shaken 7. Almighty Silence 8. Walking Home with You 9. Not as This World 10. New Creation 11. The Revolution Once, somewhere between 1995 and 2001, there was surge of CCM bands that were genuinely good. Jars of Clay, Newsboys, Third Day, DC Talk, Deleriou5?… they all rocked in a way that was spiritually empowered and musically creative.… Continued →

February 18, 2008

Jake Smith - Real

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Artist: Jake Smith Album: Real Label: Rocketown Records Release Date: July 31, 2007 Review by: Eric Pettersson Tracklist: 1. Get Up 2. This Is Certain 3. What I Plan to Do 4. Breakdown 5. These Things 6. Real Love 7. Can’t Save Your Soul 8. I Don’t Know 9. Shady (Crazy) 10. Make Me Move 11. Run 12. Outtro Jake Smith is a man of versatile appeal. His cozy singer-songwriter tunes could easily travel from an independent coffeeshop to a larger radio-based prime-time-television-watching type audience. Smooth and soulful, his songs usually rest in a relaxed tempo with paino and heartfelt guitar work.… Continued →

February 14, 2008

We Shot The Moon - The Polar Bear & Cougar EP

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Artist: We Shot The Moon Album: The Polar Bear & Cougar EP Label: The Militia Group Buy: Amazon MP3 1. Sway Your Head 2. Julie 3. The Water’s Edge 4. Ltfp 5. Welcome Home Jonathan Jones is almost certainly known to all of you, if you are at all like me. At the same time you were spinning Destination:Beautiful, you were probably spinning Composure. If piano-based indie-pop-rock is your thing, you’ve probably erected a cozy spot in your music collection for Waking Ashland to occupy.… Continued →

February 13, 2008

Advent "Remove the Earth"

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Artist: Advent Album: Remove the Earth Record Label: Solid State Records Release Date: February 12, 2008 Website I had to listen to this album quite a few times to get beyond the fact that three of the members of Advent were a part of one my all time favorite bands. (Note: This will be the first and last time Beloved is mentioned in this review.) What I found when I got past all the hype was a solid band who is looking to resurrect the Spirit-filled hardcore movement.… Continued →

Edison Glass - Time is Fiction

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Artist: Edison Glass Album: Time is Fiction Label: Credential Records Release Date: February 5, 2008 Reviewed By: Josh F Once upon a time there was a local band here on Long Island by the name of ‘Mannafest.’ And by the time I had heard of them, they had already been at it for years. Eventually, they changed their name to Edison, an appropriate name considering the evolution of sound that was taking place. As time went by, their talent became increasingly impressive, and we all knew what was to come.… Continued →

February 11, 2008

Admiral Twin - The Center of the Universe

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Artist: Admiral Twin Album: The Center of the Universe Label: The Pop Collective Release Date: October 16, 2007 Review by: Eric Pettersson Tracklist: 1. Good as Gold 2. In My Veins 3. Take Me Down 4. Smash It Up 5. Say Your Prayers 6. Get Well Soon 7. You Hung the Moon 8. Fear 9. Renegade Planet 10. Monument 11. The Best at Being Lonely 12. I Confess 13. Big Black Car 14. If Hell Is like You 15. Silence Charming pop-rock jams with a sensible indie twang ooze from this Tulsa, Oklahoma, three-piece.… Continued →

Thieves & Liars - When Dreams Become Reality

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Band: Thieves & Liars Title: When Dreams Become Reality Label: Dreamt Music Released: 1/22/08 Review By: JoshIVM Tracklisting: 01. The Dream 02. Betrayed By Blood 03. Road To Nowhere 04. Slavin’ Away 05. Run 06. Alone 07. Forgotten 08. When Dreams Become Reality 09. Good Times 10. Seven Long Years 11. Reconciled 12. The Author Of Dreams Members/Duties: Corey Edelmann: Guitar Joey Bradford: Bass, Vocals Kyle Rosa: Drums Thieves & Liars, a rock band out of the San Diego area, are here to show that rock ‘n roll is not dead but much the opposite.… Continued →

February 6, 2008

BadEnders - Driving

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Artist: BadEnders Album: Driving Label: None (released independently) Release Date: August 31, 2007 Review by: Eric Pettersson Tracklist: 1. New and Improved 2. Possum 3. Masquerade 4. Don’t Tell 5. Cry for Help 6. Cold Feet 7. Drywater 8. The Lights Indie/Rock/Experimental. Or so says MySpace. This four-piece out of Dallas, Texas, could be enjoyed by fans of such bands as The Appleseed Cast, Copeland, or Radiohead.  The vocals are spacey and can become ethereal when harmonized. The slower songs like “Possum” and “Don’t Tell” lace piano and acoustic guitars over the usual mildly distorted guitar.… Continued →

January 30, 2008

Torn from Red - The Heart Beat EP

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Artist: Torn from Red Album: The Heart Beat EP Label: None (released independently) Release Date: June 23, 2007 Review by: Eric Pettersson Tracklist: 1. We All Die Young 2. Not Tonight 3. Heart Beat 4. Forever 5. This Love With heavily charged guitars and loud and fast drumming, this four piece from York, PA, showcase a sound that lies somewhere between MxPx, Story of the Year, and The Early November. And be warned, it’s a grower, for sure. My first few spins found nothing spectacular, just another energetic punk-infused rock group with moderately loud vocals but a reasonably accessible sound.… Continued →

January 27, 2008

Number One Gun- "The North Pole Project"

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Artist: Number One Gun Album: The North Pole Project Street Date: 1/15/08 1. The Massacre 2. Million 3. The Best of You and Me 4. Wake Me Up 5. Bad Habits 6. I’ll Find You 7. Thank You Ending 8. Find Your Escape 9. The Different Ones 10. This Holiday Rating: 6/10 Summary: Let’s be honest here. We all thought Number One Gun was dead and gone for a while. And for those fans who fear such, redemption was brought with the announcement of the old band coming back.… Continued →

January 23, 2008

The Shackeltons - The Shackeltons

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Artist: The Shackeltons Album: The Shackeltons Label: Loveless Records Release Date: January 29, 2008 Review by: Eric Pettersson Tracklist: 1. Your Movement 2. Tremble 3. The Blood 4. Yellow Cadillac 5. The Ship 6. The Breaks 7. Emergency 8. Soft Heart 9. Madeline 10. Bloke 11. Get Out Hailing from Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, the five men forming The Shackeltons play a hip and unadulterated form of rock and roll that can only be described as what bands like The Killers would sound like if they actually had the indie roots people say they did.… Continued →

January 14, 2008

Rodinia - Year of the Liar EP

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Artist: Rodinia Album: Year of the Liar EP Label: None (released independently) Release Date: September 10, 2007 Review by: Eric Pettersson Tracklist: 1. Bad Habits Don’t Die Easy 2. Sound the Alarms 3. Honestly I’m Lying 4. Year of the Liar 5. [Untitled Instrumental] At ages 18 and 17, this Virginia Beach five piece would normally be written off by most concert-goers before they even began to play. But this is the fault of the audience, because they would soon be won back when Rodinia ripped into their sonic display of sound and energy called music.… Continued →

January 12, 2008

Sonset Down - You Lose

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Artist: Sonset Down Album: You Lose Label: Wounded Records Buy It: Interpunk 1. Medicine and Gold 2. And the Headline Reads…”Terror! Terror!” 3. Running From Serpents 4. Sleeping With Wolves 5. Bullets and Battle Scars 6. The Art of Combat 7. Casualties 8. You Lose 9. Providence 10. The Outlaw: The Messenger 11. Blister (The Black Riders) Dear Josh, I apologize for the lateness of this review. Paraphrasing a line from A Few Good Men: “Since I don’t have a good excuse, I won’t bother coming up with a bad one.”… Continued →

Remove The Veil "Another Way Home"

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Band: Remove The Veil Title: Another Way Home Label: Facedown Review By: JoshIVM Tracklisting: 01. The Crux 02. A Rage Scene Retold 03. Vampire 04. How To Jump A Ravine 05. Burn It Told 06. Watauga 07. Devil Child 08. Wait To Wake 09. The Revision 10. Another Way Home 11. The Secret Syndrome Members/Duties: Mark Hendrix: Vocals/Guitar Cliff McCall: Bass Pat Hood: Guitar Mark Coxwell: Drums Remove The Veil formed just 2 years ago, released an EP and then signed to Facedown. The band plays a punk-metal hybrid with a lot of Southern flare.… Continued →

A Plea For Purging "A Critique Of Mind And Thought"

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Band: A Plea For Purging Title: A Critique Of Mind And Thought Label: Facedown Review By: JoshIVM Tracklisting: 01. Sons Of Vipers, How Will You Escape The Judgment Of Hell 02. While The Sparrow Sleeps 03. The Slaying Of The Serpentine Dragon 04. The Betrayers 05. Perseverance 06. Resurrection Of The Beast 07. A Hymn Of Praise 08. Death Has Been Swallowed Up In Victory 09. Everything And Nothing 10. Turn It Down Members/Duties: Andy: Vocals John: Bass Blake: Guitar Lyle: Guitar Aaron: Drums Let there be shred!… Continued →

Impending Doom "Nailed. Dead. Risen"

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Band: Impending Doom Title: Nailed. Dead. Risen. Label: Facedown Review By: JoshIVM Tracklisting: 01. Left Behind 02. My Nemesis 03. In Reverence Of 04. Feeding The Decomposing 05. Nailed. Dead. Risen. 06. For All Have Sinned 07. At The Churches’ End 08. The Mark Of The Faithful 09. Condemned 10. Silence The Oppressors 11. He’s Coming Back Members/Duties: Brook Reeves: Vocals Manny Contreras: Guitar Greg Pewthers: Guitar David Sittig: Bass Andy Hegg: Drums Finally one of the popular Christian related labels have ventured into more brutal forms of metal!… Continued →

Immortal Souls "Wintereich"

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Band: Immortal Souls Title: Wintereich Label: Facedown Records Review By: JoshIVM Tracklisting: Chapter I – The Awakening 01. Nightfrost 02. Feareaper 03. Frozen Inside Chapter II – Relections Of Doom 04. Icon Of Ice 05. Color Of My Sky 06. Constant Chapter III – The Shadow Of The Valley Of Death 07. Idlestate 08. Heart Of Cold Chapter IV – The Passage 09. Winter Of My Discontent 10. Black Water 11. Wintereich Members/Duties: A. Sarkioja: Vocals/Bass E. Sarkioja: Lead Guitar Pete: Rhythm Guitar Kronqvist: Drums Facedown have once again teamed up with these Finnish metalheads.… Continued →

Inked In Blood "Sometimes We Are Beautiful"

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Band: Inked In Blood Title: Sometimes We Are Beautiful Label: Facedown Records Review By: JoshIVM Tracklisting: 01. Call To Arms 02. Angel Of Lost Hopes 03. Altars 04. To Be Your One And Only 05. Instrumental 06. This Moment 07. Somewhere Familiar 08. With Devils 09. In The Wake Of The Loss 10. Paradise Regained Members/Duties: Joey Trump: Vocals Matt McDonnell: Guitar Steven Gosvener: Bass Kelly Mullinix: Guitar/Vocals Stephen Poole: Drums Inked In Blood are yet another upstream from Strike First Records. After releasing a 5 song EP, they were brought up to Facedown and released 2005’s ‘Lay Waste The Poets’.… Continued →

War Of Ages "Fire From The Tomb"

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Band: War Of Ages Title: Fire From The Tomb Label: Facedown Records Review By: JoshIVM Tracklisting: 01. Intro 02. Stand Your Ground 03. Brothers In Arms 04. The Awakening 05. False Prophet 06. Only The Strong Survive 07. My Solitude 08. Battle On 09. One Day 10. Scars Of Tomorrow 11. Broken Before You 12. Second Chance Members/Duties: Leroy Hamp: Vocals Steve Brown: Guitar Johnathan Lynch: Guitar TJ Alford: Bass Alex Hamp: Drums War Of Ages is a pretty household name now in the hardcore scene.… Continued →

Sleeping Giant "Dread Champions Of The Last Days"

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Band: Sleeping Giant Title: Dread Champions Of Last Days Label: Facedown Records Review By: JoshIVM Tracklisting: 01. The Army Of One 02. This Calls For Patient Endurance On The Part Of The Saints 03. Narrow Road 04. Whoremonger 05. Behold The Pale Horse 06. Dynasty 07. Covenant 08. Blame It On The Holy Rollers 09. The Power Of Prayer 10. Sleeping Giant 11. No Sleep From My Eyes 12. King Of Kings 13. Oh Praise Him 14. This Is The Word Members/Duties: Thom Green: Vocals Travis Boyd: Drums Geoff Brouillette: Guitar J.R.… Continued →