The Chorus Music Club Society • Page 179

Is it comparable to Whitechapel?

 

Nah, their 'core' aspect isn't that pronounced and they're definitely more death leaning. They're actually closer to more recent Mammoth Grinder stuff tbh

 

@JediMasterKevo182 and I traded AGAIN and he gave me:
Hawthorne Heights: Skeletons (2010) Wind Up Records

In exchange he will be reviewing the new Reggie and the Full Effect.

Once again, Hawthorne Heights are a band that need no introduction. This is the first and only album they released on a major label and see them stripping down their post-hardcore roots. It does peek its head out briefly at times but the screaming is essentially gone and sees them going in a direction more in line with bands like Jimmy Eat World, while not quite living up to their standards. Don't get me wrong, this is a good record but it sees them struggling with this new found weight of the corporate giant pushing them down the yellow brick road. I had made a comment to Kevin that Hawthorne Heights are a DIY band and shine when they are given free reign to do what they want.

My biggest negatives with the record are when they attempt to insert their post hardcore roots on songs like End of the Underground and Broken Man. It feels forced and out of place. They also incorporate a lot of major label production on this record and on one song it may work while on another it seems cheesy. This can best be heard in Broken Man where at the end of the song they incorporate a flatline sound. I totally get it in that it matches the overall aesthetic of the song but once again, its feels cheesy. The monotone backing vocals on Here I Am also don’t sit well with me. The song is a great "rock" track but the backing vocals ruin the mood of the song in my opinion.

My only other complaint is the sequencing on the record and opener Bring You Back being too "slow" of a song. A better opener would be Nervous Breakdown, which is my favorite song on the album.

I give them so much credit for experimenting on songs like Gravestones that incorporates a country vibe and even goes so far as to use a steel guitar. There are also some nice ballads that they do extremely well on songs such as Picket Fences and Boy.

Lyrically, JT is amazing as always. Bring You Back hits close to home for anyone that has lost a loved one and Drive has some of my favorite lines:

“Drive, just drive
roll the windows down and feel alive
all night, all right
I'll drive until the morning light
I need the silence to escape your violent eyes
just drive away, just drive"

They are very freeing lyrics and I rock out every time the song comes on.

This is a record that I will listen to frequently and once again proves how amazing and underappreciated Hawthorne Heights are.

Favorite Songs:
Nervous Breakdown
Drive
Abandoned Driveways(I like the aggression in JT’s vocals on this one)

8.5/10

RIYL: Jimmy Eat World, Post Hardcore, “rock”

 

And as for my second rec from @ugman_2000 , I will be writing about Divide & Conquer by Bokassa. Bokassa is a 3-piece stonerpunk band from Norway.

What? Stonerpunk? Wtf?

Exactly what went through my head when I looked this band up. Opener "Impending Doom" begins with ominous acoustic guitars before the pounding drums and plodding guitars march you through a stoner-infused tunnel. This procession lasts for mere seconds before a whirlwind of hammer-on and pull-offs plunges you into the Southern metal-tinged "Last Night (Was A Real Massacre)." From there, it's a quick 30 minute party full of punk beats and infectious stoner riffs. The ride is short but fun. It's got punk, hardcore, and stoner elements. The riffs are catchy and groove effortlessly. This album will incite circle pits, that's for sure.

Like the album, this description will be brief. Instead of going on, I'll leave you with the video for their song "Walker Texas Danger" which will be stuck in your head the rest of today.

 

wat

 

Awesome write ups @theagentcoma glad you had a good time with them. I thought it would be best to give you a fun record to break up the heaviness of Venom Prison.

I’ve played that Bokassa record relentlessly since I discovered it last month. I’d personally describe it as if Comback Kid got into bed with Slayer and a Southern rock and roll band.

 

The second you said Comeback Kid I was hooked.

 

Nice write up as always!

 

Seriously though check that album out, it’s got riffs for days. Vocally though it really reminds me of Comeback Kid.

 

I already told him in a DM but @theagentcoma’s Venom Prison review had me in stitches, such a great write up.

 

His write ups are awesome and I’m glad we have him in here.

 

aw you guys are too kind

 

Good write up man glad you came to enjoy the album!

 

@suicidesaints and I have agreed

He gave me:
Glasseater - Everything Is Beautiful When You Don't Look Down

I gave him:

Alkaline Trio- My Shame Is True


(@broken22 ya proud?)

 

did we already receive partners for next week or am I losing my mind?

 

yes

 

@theagentcoma

 

I know there was some confusion but @Nate_Johnson gave me Someone Out There by Rae Morris

This was on my radar because I had already heard the pre-released tracks and she worked with Ariel Rechtshaid who's one of my favorite pop producers but I hadn't gotten a chance to listen yet

I really love her voice a lot, sometimes it sounded like Bjork a bit

I really liked this and there was a good match of bangers and more introspective tracks

standout tracks- Altetico, Do It, Wait For The Rain, Physical Form, Dip My Toe, Someone Out There, Rose Garden, Dancing With Character; I don't think this concept works as well if it's more than half the album haha

 

I’m glad you liked it and also thought her vocals sounded like Bjork.

 

@broken22 and I traded and he gave me:

Strike Anywhere: Change is a Sound (2001) Jade Tree/Epitaph

Strike Anywhere are a punk/hardcore band out of Richmond, Virginia. They formed after Thomas Barnett's previous band, Inquisition, broke up. They also have an ex-member of hardcore band Count Me Out. Change is a Sound is their debut, and they have released 3 other full lengths, a handful of EP's and have appeared on numerous compilations. They are supposedly due to release a new record this year. As I mentioned previously, they are punk/hardcore band that definitely lean more towards the punk side but have some hardcore tendencies. Bands they can best be compared to are Avail and 7 Seconds but fans of Anti-Flag and Rise Against would definitely get a kick out of this album.

Let's get one thing clear: this is a quick record at 29 minutes. Throughout the records 11 tracks, you will get blasted with political punk music right from the start and they don't let up. Thomas's vocals can best be compared to Justin Sane and has a nice gravely tone to it. Lyrically, they tackle the typical political punk topics: anti-capitalism, not giving into materialism, oppression of the working class, police brutality and women's rights.

I won't lie and I didn't really latch onto this record at first but after the third listen I was sold. Punk music has never been something I have ever really been able to get into which is weird because I love hardcore. I think I like my punk/hardcore with a bit of melody and this record has very little of that. One of my favorite bands is boysetsfire so I can definitely appreciate the political side of their music. The songs I did enjoy from it the most are the ones that gave me a brief taste of melody. I am really excited to check out their discography and will keep an eye out for their new one.

9/10

Favorite Tracks:
Timebomb Generation
Laughter in a Police State
Sunset on 32nd. St.
Chalkline

RIYL: Avail, 7 Seconds, Anti-Flag, Rise Against

 

This week, @cshadows2887 will be listening to Bad Religion - Recipe for Hate and Fountains of Wayne - Fountains of Wayne

and I will be listening to The Commodores - Midnight Magic and England Dan & Jon Ford Coley - Nights Are Forever.

 

@JediMasterKevo182 hate to do this but im going to have to step out for a bit. just started the recording process for a project of mine and its going to be taking a lot of my free time that i devote to listening to music. i still owe a couple people reviews, ill have them on here soon.

 

Hey friends here are my belated write-ups!

About a month ago (i know i know) @Larry David recommended For Everest - We are at Home in the Body
While I was on my first listen I made the mistake of googling the band. I shouldn't have done that cause now I don't know how much what I read influences how I felt about the music. I stumbled on a Tumblr post that was apparently in response to some emotional abuse allegations one of their singers had made. It was extremely long (over 4000 words, not counting screenshots), I ended up not reading the whole thing, but the whole thing seemed so tedious and petty that it left a bad taste in my mouth.

Drama aside, while I was into the guitar tones and some of the musical elements in the album, I found the vocal melodies and lyricism to be rather cliché. To be clear, I don't have a problem with musical clichés, they're kind of part of music, but these are clichés for the genre, and it left me feeling like I'd heard a lot of the songs before. That said, this is the band's debut full-length, so it's entirely possible they're still coming into their own. I wasn't a fan of the songwriting, but I have no complaints about the execution, and that spells potential imo. I found myself annoyed by the lyrics by the end of the album and musically it didn't really resonate with me, so I don't see myself coming back to this unfortunately.

Next up, @Sheaver10 recommended Owen - The King of Whys.
I'm going to be brief with this review because I really don't have much to say about this album. Each time I put it on, it lost my attention by the third song. I don't normally have a short attention span for music, but I gave the album a few extra listens just to be fair, and I've since concluded that to be painfully frank, it bored me. If I'm remembering correctly, there wasn't much instrumentation outside of vocals and acoustic guitar and there isn't a single fast-paced song on the record. Maybe I'm the wrong generation for this, but it just felt monotonous to me.

Sorry I'm such a negative nancy with these reviews, I tend to be really picky about music anyway. Thanks for the recs y'all!

 

In light of his partner dropping out, I am met with @theagentcoma again.

I gave him:

Senses Fail- If There Is Light, It Will Find You

Silverstein- Dead Reflection

He gave me:

Copeland - Ixora

The Hotelier- Goodness

 

this gon be gud