Tag: Melodic Hardcore

December 9, 2022

Song of the Day: Embraced - Hold My Hand

Embraced was a short-lived hardcore band from Florida, active in the early 2000s. I was able to catch the band live a couple of times at local gigs and mini-festivals, and enjoyed their shows. I always liked their semi-melodic take on hardcore (I mean, they were from Florida, after all!) They were clearly playing HC, but with hints of emo and indie rock at times. Perhaps in a similar vein to Bloodshed, Beloved, and Underoath, but with their own take on it. The band only released one mini-album, the 7-song An Orchestrated Failure, in 2002 for Theory 8 Records (who also an album by The Goodbye Letter and an early split with Copeland and Pacifico, among others).… Continued →

September 17, 2022

Life In Your Way "Waking Giants" Vinyl

A critically acclaimed band in their own right and a much needed album on vinyl from Life In Your Way is finally happening. Life In Your Way “Waking Giants” is getting pressed for Furnace Fest along with Embodyment “Narrow Scope of Things”, Dead Poetic “Four Wall Blackmail”, Blindside “Silence”, among many other awesome ones. Life In Your Way, Dead Poetic, and Embodyment, are all being pressed by Solid State Records in association with UnoriginalVinyl and Furnace Fest. What are you looking forward to the most both at Furnace Fest and the merch?… Continued →

May 9, 2022

Stretch Arm Strong Join Iodine Recordings

I’ve been wanting to post this for a week or so but life and time got in the way. Since I am back to posting news stories today I thought I’d share something cool. Long running east coast melodic hardcore band better known as Stretch Arm Strong, have recently reunited, played some big shows and have now announced that they’ve joined the Iodine Recordings family. Make sure to follow the band for further updates. The label and band are working on several releases together and potentially some “new” music?… Continued →

April 8, 2022

Song of the Day: Altars - Eternity

This hardcore band hailed from Colorado Springs. They infused their heavy chugga chugga rhythms with melodic parts without ever getting whiny. This led some fans and writers to dub them post-hardcore, which isn’t fully accurate, but I can see why they said that. What strikes me about this song is the passion behind both the music and the clear-cutting lyrics: Where is the hope? Where is the love? Without these your system will self-destruct While it might seem that the song was aimed at society in general, it is actually pointed at the failures of the Church to stay true to the pure message of the Gospel.… Continued →

January 17, 2022

Could Close Your Eyes be on the verge of a comeback?

One visit to the Close Your Eyes facebook page and it’s clear to see that there is activity on the band side of things. Quite possibly we are looking at some sort of legit return and/or anniversary celebration for their 2 albums. What does that mean? A tour? New Music? New Merch? Return of old Vocalist? What do you want to see more of from Close Your Eyes in the future? What is your favorite song of theirs?… Continued →

October 21, 2021

October 1, 2021

August 8, 2021

Reap and Sow Release Punishing New Album That Will Ignite Your Stereo in an Explosive Ball of Flames

Reap and Sow, an east coast melodic/hardcore band, just dropped one of the best new independent heavy music albums of 2021. Stretching it? Well, give it a listen now and you decide. Remember, all opinions are completely subjective and in my honest opinion THIS is some incredible stuff especially from an unsigned, independent band. New album “Greyworld” is out now and on all digital networks across the world. Listen to the full album in a special link right here.… Continued →

July 11, 2021

June 18, 2021

June 17, 2021

Meadows Sign With Facedown Records

Meadows, a band I’ve written about a bit in the past as well as other writers here, will be coming out with brand new music. They have signed a deal with Facedown Records and have dropped their new single “The Depths”. I encourage you to go check out both of their last 2 releases and give them a listen. It’s great ambient, post-metal/post-hardcore stuff similar in scope to Hands, Between the Buried and Me, Thrice, A Hope for Home, Life In Your Way, Underoath, Architects, etc.… Continued →

June 4, 2021

Song of the Day: Bloodshed - Martha

The amazing thing about “Martha” from Bloodshed’s 1995 self-titled EP isn’t just how complex it is. Yes, it hits that sweet spot, distinctive of top-notch emo-core where the perfect balance of harsh and soft, noisy and melodic come together. It’s also not how mature the lyrics are. They’re inspired by a poem written by a young girl (the song’s namesake) during World War 2. It’s also not how proficient on the instruments the members were. The track features complex, angular riffing that wasn’t all that common in mid-90s hardcore, a mixture of clean singing and hardcore screaming.… Continued →

April 27, 2021

Light The Way Working on Album 2

Light The Way are back in the thick of recording for their 2nd full length record. This will be a follow up to “False Memory Syndrome” which released back in 2018 on the now defunct Indie Vision Music label. Make sure to check the band out on all digital networks and give a listen to their songs. They are extremely talented, fun, and full of unrelenting energy. There really aren’t too many pop-punk-hardcore bands with a strong Christian message like Light The Way. They are one of a kind and you are sure to find something to appreciate in their music.… Continued →

March 19, 2021

Song of the Day: Beloved - Before There Was You There Was Everything

Wow, what a great band, with such potential! Sadly, Beloved released only one EP (originally for Vindicated from the Deep Water and later re-issued by Solid State) and one full length. That first EP rocked my world. I got to see the band live 2 or 3 times in this era and they were rapidly becoming my favourite emo-core band. They had a truly unique take on the genre fusing melodic indie rock with emotional emo and brutal hardcore, all in one go! It was really refreshing.… Continued →

December 28, 2020

August 21, 2020

Beloved Release Best U2 Cover I've Ever Heard

There have been so many u2 cover songs over the years and u2 cover bands (you know who you are) but none as powerful as this new Beloved version. I’m sorry but I just have to say that this is the most powerful U2 cover by a rock band that I’ve ever heard! I used to think Thrush’s version of “New Years Day” was pretty awesome but this one takes the cake. The production is near perfect, all the instruments played with a certain melodic ferocity and the intensity of vocals absolutely blows me away.… Continued →

August 1, 2020

July 17, 2020

DSB Re-Release 2005 Punk Rock Release

DSB, a Southern California melodic hardcore, street punk band, are re-releasing their 2005 debut Scott Silletta (Plankeye, Fanmail, The Franchise) produced album to all digital networks. This was the first band that Ray Torres played in back in the day. Grab the album on Bandcamp right here or on Digital Networks. This raw, street level classic punk rock sound is sure to win fans over of the genre and give you something to get amped about.… Continued →

June 20, 2020

June 19, 2020

Lifelong - Above The Waves (New Song Out Now on Solid State Records)

Lifelong are back with their new song titled “Above The Waves” and first on new label home, Solid State Records. Album out July 17th. Check out the pop-punk influenced Melodic Hardcore song below and read the lyrics as well. “Above The Waves” is now available wherever you stream/download music. Fans of A Day To Remember, Chunk!, No Captain Chunk!, Four Year Strong, Life In Your Way, and Altars will find something to appreciate here. Pre-Order here.… Continued →

June 15, 2020

Song of the Day: Close Your Eyes - The Body

It’s hard to believe it has been 10 years since the release of the first Close Your Eyes album on Victory Records – “We Will Overcome”. This album had a ton of great songs including this one called “The Body”, which is a favorite of mine and perfect for this Song of the Day post. Melodic hardcore and punk combine to make a furious blend of energetic singing and screaming all delivered in one healthy dose. “The Body” has inspiring lyrics and a solid message felt through the music.… Continued →

April 12, 2020

April 5, 2020

February 18, 2020

November 22, 2019

Song of the Day: Hit the Deck - Heads You Lose

I’m a sucker for this style of hardcore–really fast, short songs, with equal parts melody and anger thrown in for good measure. For some reason, this subgenre didn’t have nearly as much of a following in Christian circles as their secular counterparts, making Hit the Deck stand out even more. They released one full-length on Facedown imprint Strike First Records, and had a couple of demos as well, all of which can be found as digital downloads if you know where to look.… Continued →

September 29, 2019

August 16, 2019

Lifelong Return With New Full Length

In what appears to be a complete surprise, the band LIFELONG are working on their new music. It appears to be that debut full length everyone has been patiently waiting for. Featuring former members of the band Confide, Lifelong took a decidedly more spiritual turn mixed with heavy melodic hardcore and pure passion meant to move people. If you’ve been hungry for the next generation of heavy spirit filled hardcore and fill the void left from the departure of Sleeping Giant, then Lifelong are perfect for you.… Continued →

August 5, 2019

July 9, 2019

Meadows - The Inheritance (New Song)

A band called Meadows that we shared with you a few times in the past are back with a brand new song titled “The Inheritance”. As you can expect from hearing their prior material, this absolutely rules. Find the new song below. The group’s new ep titled “In Those Days & Also After PT. 2” is out July 26th through Dreambound. Imagine the combination of Defeater meets mewithoutYou meets Comeback Kid, Hundredth, and Life In The Way and you’ll get an idea for the sounds found on this new song.… Continued →

May 26, 2019

Beloved to Reunite?

Around the interwebs there are rumblings of a reunion of sorts with the band Beloved. If you’re a member of either the Old School Tooth & Nail, Labeled Podcast Group, or a few others, you may have heard about this. Would this make your day or does it not really matter? I dug “The Running Ep” and especially “Failure On”. This is one of those bands that disappeared far too soon and could have been one of the bigger acts around had they kept it going.… Continued →