News
March 7, 2008
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
REVIEW : Saravain/Ready the Way- Split EP
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 →
March 1, 2008
INTERVIEW : My Interview with Exodus
Exodus is one of four campus praise bands at Liberty University. The band members are committed Christ followers who lead worship at churches throughout America every weekend. They also play at various convocations at Liberty University. These guys have used their passion and talent for music to bring glory and honor to God through worship music. The band produces original material as well as sings modern praise music.
Since this band genuinely wants to lead praise for God and not themselves, I thought it would be beneficial to learn more about their involvement in Exodus. … Continued →
February 29, 2008
REVIEW : Children 18:3 - Children 18:3
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
REVIEW : As I Lay Dying - An Ocean Between Us
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 →
REVIEW : A Thousand Times Repent - Virtue Has Few Friends
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 →
REVIEW : Once Nothing - First Came The Law
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 →
REVIEW : Ivoryline - There Came A Lion
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 →
REVIEW : The Classic Crime - Acoustic EP
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
REVIEW : The Black Noise Party Boys - Party All the Time
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
REVIEW : Tree63 - Sunday!
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
REVIEW : Jake Smith - Real
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 17, 2008
INTERVIEW : Once Nothing Interview With Todd Lawry
Who are you, how old are you and what is your position in the band?
My name is Todd Lowry, I’m 23 and I do vocals in Once Nothing
Once Nothing as been around for quite some time now. How did it all started, and what made you keep going?
We’ve been around since 2000. I was 15 and my friends and I started a band. We started slow and just learned as we went about everything. It keep going because all of us had a passion for music that took presidence over everything else we had going on.… Continued →
February 14, 2008
REVIEW : We Shot The Moon - The Polar Bear & Cougar EP
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
REVIEW : Advent "Remove the Earth"
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 →
REVIEW : Edison Glass - Time is Fiction
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 12, 2008
INTERVIEW : Brave Citizens
Eric, IVM: Alright. You guys can start out by introducing yourselves to our readers. Names and positions in the band.
Adam, BC: My name is Adam Bialik, and I play lead guitar, keyboard, and backing vocals.
Andrew, BC: Andrew Capra: vocals, rhythm guitar.
Adam, BC: Are these answers informal, or should I use complete sentences?
Eric, IVM: Ummm… no, it’s cool. Informal works best.
Adam, BC: OK.
Andrew, BC: Don’t want the kids thinking we have bad grammar, haha.
Eric, IVM: How long have you been playing as Brave Citizens, and what’s the general background story?… Continued →
February 11, 2008
REVIEW : Admiral Twin - The Center of the Universe
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 →
REVIEW : Thieves & Liars - When Dreams Become Reality
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 10, 2008
INTERVIEW : Justin Morgan (Phat Chance, Stereo Motion, Exodus)
Justin Morgan is a talented writer and instrumentalist. Justin used to play the bass for the rock band Stereo Motion. He also lived in Nashville, Tenessee as a song writer for BMI Publishing. He has been to 47 states and five countries. Currently, Justin is a student at Liberty University studying literature and expository writing. He is also a journalist for the Libert University school newspaper. He currently plays in the campus band Exodus.In this exclusive interview we will learn more about Justin’s musical experience, his advice to start up bands, and what some of his future plans are.… Continued →
February 6, 2008
REVIEW : BadEnders - Driving
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
REVIEW : Torn from Red - The Heart Beat EP
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 →
INTERVIEW : Number One Gun
Eric Pettersson, IVM: You can start with your name and duties in the band.
Jeff Schneeweis, Number One Gun: My name is Jeff Schneeweis and I sing and play guitar for the band.
E: For those who haven’t been along for the ride, could you give a brief history of Number One Gun?
J: Well we have been around for about 5 years. We are from Chico, CA, and still live there today. We have put out 3 full length records including the newest one on Tooth and Nail called The North Pole Project.… Continued →
January 27, 2008
REVIEW : Number One Gun- "The North Pole Project"
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
REVIEW : The Shackeltons - The Shackeltons
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
REVIEW : Rodinia - Year of the Liar EP
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
REVIEW : Sonset Down - You Lose
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 →
REVIEW : Remove The Veil "Another Way Home"
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 →
REVIEW : A Plea For Purging "A Critique Of Mind And Thought"
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 →
REVIEW : Impending Doom "Nailed. Dead. Risen"
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 →