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    THE CHARISMATICS S/T
    2001 Stompbox Records Release
  • Pop-punk in the vein of Green Day is what you get with The Charismatics. Likeable guitar hooks and poppy beats. There is definitely a Fugazi and Dag Nasty influence. The vocals are clean and the lyrics are good, but I think the band lacks in their chorus department. Without any really catchy or memorable lyrical hooks, I came away liking the CD but not remembering many of the songs, which is usually a bad sign. Pump up on the punk-pop hooks and these guys will be big. Stomp Box Records: 3100 W. Arkansas Lane #R, Arlington, TX 76016 (Armand)

    HOODS Time...The Destroyer
    2001 Victory Records Release
  • Take some traditional hardcore beats, mix in some straight-forward death/heavy metal riffs and add a death metal singer and you have HOODS. Does it work? For the most part. The songs are manageable with some shining moments like the slow intro of "Life", which explodes into some DISSECTION speed. If you just put this on without reading anything about them or seeing Victory Records on the cover, you'd swear it was one of those European death metal bands from mid-90s. I listened to this one in the car for a week, but can't quite remember most of the songs. The galloping drumbeats are cool as Hell, too. (Armand)

    Kittie Spit
    2000 Artemis Records
  • Pantera’s sex change finally took hold! No it’s just Canada’s all girl hardcore band from Hell, ‘Kittie’. Throughout the album Kittie rocks harder, louder and faster than most guy bands twice their age. Standout tracks include Brackish and title track Spit, probably the best example of Morgan Lander and Fallon Bowman’s vocal abilities (check out the ultra fast chorus sung by Fallon in Brackish). Kittie’s powerful aggressive sound proves that they can hold there own while never once falling back on the novelty aspect of being an all girl band. Worth a listen between your Slipknot and Slayer CD's. (Brandon)

    Lower East Side Stitches STAJA98L.E.S.
    1998 NG Records
  • Drugs, Nazi’s, nudity, pukin’, and social discontent all in the first three songs! Formed in the summer of ’94 L.E.S. Stitches sound is steeped in plenty of late 70’s NY punk such as The Ramones, and NY Dolls. Lead singer Mick Brown takes on everything from abusive political power in NYC Is Dead to the overall ruin and decline of a society on Rustic City. Throughout the entire album L.E.S. stay true to there roots while maintaining a perspective and sound that is truly there own. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED FOR THE PUNK PURIST! (Brandon)

    NO INNOCENT VICTIM Tipping The Scales
    2001 Victory Records Release
  • To be honest, I'm not too familiar with their past releases, although I have read some good reviews of the band. I see why. Mixing hardcore and metal, these guys come off as a punk-styled PRO-PAIN - very strong vocals ala Gary Meskill. My favorite track has got to be closer "Reunion", just for the great shouting chorus. There is something for the metal heads and something for the HC kids here, but this is a natural mix as opposed to the glut of metal-with-a-DJ crap flooding the airwaves these days. I can only imagine how crushing these tunes sound live. Recommended. (Armand)

    SHADES APART Sonic Boom
    2001 Universal Records Release
  • I had heard of the band but never heard any of their songs, so I was curious. I thought for sure they would fall into one of two categories: 1. rap-metal-hardcore or 2. BLINK 182/GREEN DAY poppy shit. Boy, was I wrong! To desrcibe this in my own words: Picture the vocal styling of BAD RELIGION with the rhythm of STONE TEMPLE PILOTS (who I hate, but give props to some of their ideas) and the great mix of different parts punk, metal, pop and skill. Not as heavy as I thought with some real killer hooks, especially "Gravity" and "Three Wishes", which I listened to several times on the way to work this morning. Now I'll have to find out what else they have out! (Armand)

    SLUDGE! Behavior-Modification Theory
    1999 Twist Of Faith Records Release
  • First impression: looking at the cover art with SLUDGE! being from NJ I'm thinking MISFITS all the way. Nah, not really...but enough NJHC to kill you. The vocals are the strong point, as they get mixed up from guttural growls to hardcore spewing. They run from a rap-like chrous to a slower talking part to some deep growls, all within fifteen seconds on one song. Recommended for the HC fan. (Armand)

    SOMEHOW HOLLOW Busted Wings & Rusted Halos
    2003 Victory Records Release
  • As the opening tune, "Kamloops", began I was immediately drawn to the guitars. Catchy and fun, very modern punk (think Blink 182, Green Day, all the new crap out). However, by the fifth track I was still hearing the same rhythms and ideas in the guitar sound. I think that's what separates Somehow Hollow from the pack in a negative way. Granted, other bands in the Pop Punk world aren't breaking down doors, but I think these guys have the potential to do that and I didn't hear it on this release. With the glut of new releases sounding like this, I hope SH don't get lost in the shuffle or buried behind some great bands on their own label. I'm sure there will be quite a few e-mails coming my way about this one, which is fine. Once again, just one man's (humble) opinion on the state of punk today. (Armand)

    SPITALFIELD Remember Right Now
    2003 Victory Records Release
  • On the Scale O’ Punk ‘Spitalfield’ falls somewhere this side of Jimmy Eat World with its radio friendly generic lyrics and pop rock vibe. From the opening track “Those Days You Felt Alive” to “Make My Heart Attack” not one single track stands apart from the rest, and I was soon lost in the dribble coming from lead singer Mark ‘sugar-would-not-melt-my-mouth’ Rose. ‘Spitalfield’ makes a strained attempt to pull at our heartstrings and make a sincere sounding album but in the end tosses ‘Remember Right Now’ into the Emo/Pop trash bin that I would rather “Forget Right Now”. (Brandon)


    THUMB "3"
    2001 Victory Records Release
  • These guys are apparently to thank (or blame) for the hip hop influence in hard rock. So, if you are a huge Limp Bizkit fan you can pick this one up and love it. Thats the easiest way to call it, really. There are some killer hooks on this record and the clean vocals push the music and set it apart from screaming inane vocalists, but there is a major hip hop influence, which takes away from the power. Thumb has been around for nearly a decade, but I'd love to hear the early stuff to see the progession. I have a feeling the early stuff was heavy and would catch my attention. (Armand)



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