Tag Archive for melodic hardcore

Caseracer / Ink And Sweat Split (For fans of Kid Dynamite, Hot Water Music, Go Rydell)

/ April 17, 2013 / No comments

When I first heard Delaware/NJ’s Caseracer’s Self Titled EP some time last year, I was blown away by their cohesive melodic hardcore tunes, and anxiously waited for a new full length.  I’m still waiting for a full length, but in the meantime they dropped three new songs on a split with Tampa punks Ink and Sweat.

On the split, Caseracer opens up with “Uncomfortable Silence / The Death Of My Financial Security” which starts with a very Paint It Black-esque riff (which is NEVER a bad thing by the way), and immediately sets the tone for the split: energetic, melodic, and gruff.  Between “Van Envy” and “Untrue”, it’s sure to elicit plenty of two-stepping and sing-alongs (or at least it does in my bedroom.)

I’ve heard the name Ink and Sweat before but never actually heard them until this split, and their two songs definitely have me wanting to check out more.  Dual gal/guy vocals (although even the female vocals are pretty gruff) over melodic midtempo punk rock make for a solid listen.  They are relatively new and this split and their demo are all they’ve released according to their bandcamp.  If they keep it up, I can see them becoming a household name in our neck-beard, beer soaked music world.

Caseracer has it up on their bandcamp as a “pay what you want” download, and it’s definitely worth your time if you dig melodic punk rock.

MP3:
Caseracer – Uncomfortable Silence / The Death Of My Financial Security
Ink and Sweat – Brickwalls and Pitfalls

More:
Caseracer – Self Titled
Kid Dynamite, And The Art Of Moshing Everywhere
Go Rydell – Golden Age
Grey Area / Go Rydell Split

Buy:
The EP

Category: music, punk / Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Paint It Black – Invisible (For fans of Kid Dynamite, Lifetime, The Hope Conspiracy)

/ April 8, 2013 / No comments


I honestly can’t believe it’s been nearly four years since Paint It Black has put out any new music, and anyone who has been reading this little ole’ blog for a while knows how bad I’ve been jonesing for some new tunes from Philly’s finest (although in their defense… Dan’s been busy being a new father and playing with old bands while the other members have been touring with their own respective bands). So how exactly does the brand spanking new Invisible EP fare?  Well, let me just say I’ve been listening to it an average of 3-4 times a day.

With 6 songs in 10 minutes, Paint It Black brings us a new level of melodic hardcore with Invisible.  Lyrically Dan delivers his witty yet pissed lyrics that we’ve come to expect from Paint It Black, but the Dr. charts new lyrical waters with songs such as “Little Fists.” A rebellion anthem written for his daughter with lines like “And when things look bleak/I’ll kiss the tears from your cheek/And watch you clench your little fists in your sleep.” it’s nothing short of touching and stunning at the same time.

While Dan usually gets the spotlight when people talk about Paint It Black, we can’t forget about the other members, who have contributed to creating some of the best PIB songs yet on Invisible (I’m looking at you “Props For Ventriloquism”).  The songs remain incredibly melodic without losing any of their aggression, and many are very reminiscent of their killer album Paradise.

I know it’s premature but I feel pretty confident when I say it: Paint It Black’s Invisible will definitely be on my top 10 of 2013.  Here’s just hoping they don’t take another 4 years before the next release…
FUN FACT: Yours truly is on the album, sort of.  During their secret house show, Dan recorded us in the crowd yell “GO” on his cell phone and put us on “Props For Ventriloquism.”  Philadelphia is incredibly terrible at yelling go at the same time, by the way.

MP3:
Paint It Black – Props For Ventriloquism

We’re Afraid Of Conflict But Always At War:
Paint It Black – Amnesia
Paint it Black – CVA
Kid Dynamite, And The Art Of Moshing Everywhere
Lifetime – Hello Bastards
Bad Side – Demo Review

Buy:
Paint It Black

Category: hardcore, music, punk / Tags: , , , , , ,

Dag Nasty – Can I Say (For fans of Minor Threat, Lifetime, Texas Is The Reason)

/ February 28, 2013 / 2 comments

Maybe it was the Texas Is The Reason show I recently went to, but I’ve been listening to a lot of Dag Nasty as of late.  Along with other DC pioneers Embrace (Ian Mackaye’s band in between Minor Threat and Fugazi), Dag Nasty help pave the way for melodic hardcore back in the 1980s.

Released back in 1986, Dag Nasty’s debut Can I Say contains 10 jams that influenced many melodic/post hardcore bands.  Take their song “Under Your Influence” for example, you can see where Texas Is The Reason pulled a lot of their, uh… influences from.

Singer Dave Smalley shouts with a sense of urgency, while Minor Threat guitarist Brian Baker brings his hardcore influences to the table mixing the aggression with catchy melodies.

Easily one of the most underrated bands of their time, Dag Nasty is definitely worth checking out.

Song:
Dag Nasty – Under Your Influence

There Are Words I Should Have Spoken, But I Kept My Fucking Mouth Shut Instead:
Texas Is The Reason – Self Titled EP
Lifetime – Hello Bastards
Black Flag – The First Four Years

Buy:
Dischord

Category: hardcore, music, punk / Tags: , , , , ,

Lifetime – Hello Bastards (For fans of Kid Dynamite, Saves The Day, Bouncing Souls)

/ July 10, 2012 / No comments


There are seriously some days when I don’t feel like doing anything but listen to Lifetime all day, and no, I’m not talking about that stupid television station that just shows women getting beat all the time.  Maybe it’s my Jersey blood and maybe I’m a little bit biased, but I am willing to say that their second release Hello Bastards completely redefined hardcore and influenced a countless number of bands.

Released back in 1995 and consisting of 12 melodic hardcore tunes, Lifetime brought a completely new element to a scene that was at the time dominated by more tough guy bands from NY, and put NJ on the hardcore map.

Whether it’s desperately singing along to mid-tempo “I’m Not Calling You” or two stepping my brains out to “(The Gym Is) Neutral Territory”, I find myself returning to Hello Bastards again and again.  I could probably make bittersweet, yet triumphant “Ostracized” the anthem of life with it’s chorus We are all alone, none of us don’t know, where to begin. / We’re doing for ourselves. Through Ari’s vocals and the melodic chord progressions and bass lines, the music manages to be emotional without ever losing it’s hardcore edge.

Under appreciated by many, a lot of people will always see Lifetime as “that band Dan Yemin was in before Kid Dynamite and Paint It Black”.  Shit, even when I was an angsty teen listening to them, I didn’t appreciate them anywhere near as much as I should have, but I’ve grown much wiser in my (angsty) adult years.  A gem in hardcore history, and a gem from my home state.

MP3:
Lifetime – Daneurysm

More:
Lifetime Live In Philly 2011
Saves The Day – Can’t Slow Down (Seriously. if you like Lifetime, listen to this first album by Saves The Day, straight up melodic hardcore)
Kid Dynamite, And The Art Of Moshing Everywhere

Buy:
Lifetime – Hello Bastards

Category: hardcore, music, punk / Tags: , , , , ,

Caseracer – Self Titled EP (For fans of Kid Dynamite, Grey Area, Static Radio NJ)

/ February 27, 2012 / No comments

I’m going to be straight up, ever since Caseracer sent me their Self Titled debut EP, I’ve been listening to it nonstop.  Six melodic hardcore songs clocking in around 11 minutes, Caseracer knows damn well how to write a catchy tune.

Hailing from New Jersey and Delaware, their EP features everything you’d come to expect from a band that lists Kid Dynamite and Latterman as influences: catchy hooks, plenty of two stepping opportunities (fuck you, I dance in my bedroom all the time), and shit tons of sing-along.

Maybe it’s my Jersey roots shining through, but in addition to Kid Dynamite, I also hear plenty of influences from bands like Static Radio NJ and Banquets.  If you like melodic hardcore at all, do yourself a favor and check out Caseracer’s debut… I have a feeling it won’t be the last we’re hearing from them.

MP3:
Caseracer – I’m Uh, Fixing a Divot

More Punk Rock For You Kids:
Saves The Day – Can’t Slow Down
Kid Dynamite, And The Art Of Moshing Everywhere
Kid Dynamite – Shorter Faster Louder
Crucial Dudes – 61 Penn

Buy:
Caseracer

Category: hardcore, music, punk / Tags: , , ,

Adelleda – Herkimer Street (For fans of Propagandhi, Strike Anywhere, Ignite)

/ February 7, 2012 / 2 comments

Sometimes it seems like Canada has it all: public health care, better maple syrup, and a plethora of damn good skate influenced punk rock.  Ontario based Adelleda is the latest band to add to great canadian punk, and their 8 track “Herkimer Street” is 20 minutes of melodic skate bliss.

While I realize that it’s certainly cliche to compare a melodic punk band to early Propagandhi, I can’t help but listen to some of Adelleda’s riff’s and be reminded of the Manitoba legends (hell, their song Implausible Denial reminds me of I-Spy a bit before I even knew where they were from).  Adelleda is able to avoid pigeon holing themselves though by pulling influences from other melodic hardcore bands.  Song GBN is incredibly reminiscent of Ignite and opener Farley reminds me a bit of Vision.

If you’re a fan of melodic punk rock at all, it’s hard to steer wrong with Adelleda’s “Herkimer Street”.  Oh, and I forgot to mention they offer it up on their bandcamp completely for free… so really, what are you waiting for?

Mp3:
Adelleda – Just A Shame

More:

Housewives Interview Propagandhi
Man The Change
Strike Anywhere – Change Is Sound

 

Buy:
Adelleda

 

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