Like a gothic seamstress, sewing a blanket to drown the world in melancholy, Zola Jesus has drawn me into her web. Her music video for “Night”, the only proper single from her 2010 album, “Stridulum II”, is a mesmerizing expression of dark, avant-garde imagery, that at first is hard to understand, but put together with the ambiance of her music makes perfect sense. It’s most likely her sound and approach that doesn’t get Zola Jesus much airplay in the mainstream world, but what could be more perfect than an artist sifting through the mire of overplayed pop-music, offering up to us something new, something different? To me, Zola Jesus is a guide off the treacherous path that mainstream media has taken music; a path filled with, money grubbing, used-up popstars that have lost their edge and are wasting their talent. Zola Jesus isn’t all their is to “music”, but she certainly is a wonderful, forgotten aspect of it that needs to be given a great amount of attention!
TheCrashTest
I'm a restless heart with a strong desire for intellectual expression and visual stimulation. The earth is a big and beautiful place, so I figure, why not dwell in and explore it as much as possible! For me, life is about love, music, and the effect of words on the soul. I look for those who are as passionate about their lifestyle as I am. I'm extremely sporadic. I spend a lot of time going to shows, exploring the hardcore music scene (in ALL its forms) and meeting new people. I'm determined and incredibly passionate about life, interested in only positive vibes. With all intents and purposes I am a firm believer in the "Hardcore" culture, believing that just because you went and got your teeth knocked out at a show and covered yourself in tattoos doesn't mean your hardcore. I'd like to keep all my teeth thank you very much. See, Hardcore set the precedent, but it's not just the music that defined a generation, it's the spirit behind it that defines who we are as a people together, united under one cause. While having piercings and tattoos may define what many define as "looking hardcore", I don't believe that's solely what makes someone a part of the culture. My plan is to write my story through the images I choose to put on my body throughout life, not as a way to fit a niche, but to express what I carry with me, as I grow. I deeply despise over-inflated egos and thoroughly enjoy deep and intellectual conversation. I'm extremely accepting and I tolerate what most people can't. I promote events and book shows from time to time and when I'm not doing that, I'm diving into the shelves and stock rooms of the great, great House of Guitars helping customers satisfy their want for music, daily! Most of the time though, I'm going to shows, taking pictures of bands/artists, and indulging in the modern music scene. This site will host reviews, news, and updates on all of my ventures, on popular releases and underground music. I'm very versatile when it comes to living in the moment. I can create a soundtrack of music for each day of my life on a whim! I also love to make friends so there's never a dull moment! Words are consistently on my mind. I love their sounds, meanings, and the things they put forth through their communication. Every time something is spoken, muttered, or clarified, a light peaks out of a dark confusion shining bright. Simply put, I'm addicted to words, they define my passions. My 3 standards in life are as follows: Music, Philosophy, and Fecundity. I'm Straight Edge, because it's okay to live drug and alcohol free, without judgment of those who don't choose to do the same. Stay posi. XXX circa 2010. <3's to Hardcore!
For Underoath fans, October 18th was a long-overdue day of reckoning with the release of, “Play Your Old Stuff”, a compilation of the bands first three full-length albums. “The Changing Of Times”, “They’re Only Chasing Safety”, and “Define the Great Line” were all seminal albums in the bands history, paving and changing the way the band would travel, arguably pushing them further & further into the musical ether.
Without these three very distinguishing records, we wouldn’t have the Underoath we have today, so if you haven’t had a chance to hear them, considering that you’ve probably been busying yourself with their most recent record, “Disambiguation”, then this is what you’ve been waiting for! It’ll give you a reason to educate yourself on the band, especially on it’s days with former vocalist and current vocalist of Maylene and the Sons Of Disaster, Dallas Taylor. Maybe “Play Your Old Stuff” will help you to decide which era of Underoath you like more, or maybe you’ll just find more to love. It doesn’t matter either way. What does matter though, is YOU getting down to your local record store (RIGHT NOW!!!) and picking up, “Play Your Old Stuff”, a triple CD set for the price of one!
Solid State Records/Tooth & Nail have released plenty of triple-packs just like this for other bands on their roster. Check out their respective web-stores for more releases just like this one, and plenty of other amazing merchandise.
October
”Am I the latest in your art of war? Thought your hands could heal, but they left me sore.” - an excerpt from “Art Of War” by Anberlin.
Words and the view outside have always been my friend on these loneliest of holidays. Halloween, the day where lost souls wander the realm of the living, in search of something, anything; maybe a body to inhabit, or a purpose to fulfill. It is these things that I can relate to, considering I’ve been on a search of my own for a long time. For what? I’ll most likely never know, but I can say that it’s a search for a fulfillment beyond my own existence; beyond anything I’ve ever placed upon paper.
Could it be though, that the words I ever so valiantly fight for, strive to create, and feverishly write everyday, are just small stepping stones to the beyond that I’m searching for?
Today, I take in the town that grew me and let the music of Anberlin craft my story, on this Halloween of 2011.
It’s time! In a little less than a day and a half, “No Shave November” will be upon us. You might ask me, “What does that mean, oh bearded one”? Well, it means…DON’T SHAVE, CUT, DISMEMBER, or REMOVE any hair from your body (even including hair from your naughty places)!
It’s one last shave for me tomorrow and then November is going to turn into one “hairy situation”. (the cliche pun was COMPLETELY intentional)
Being dedicated to the hardcore culture means more than just claiming “hardcore” on your lifestyles resume. It’s about staying positive in the face of negativity, standing strong for what you believe in, and living to no one else’s standards, but your own. Nothing cements those beliefs more than a good hardcore band screaming them nice and loud into yours ears, and one of the best at it are hardcore elites, Terror.
On November 1st, Terror’s latest and arguably strongest release, “Keepers of the Faith” will see itself reissued with a brand new DVD featuring some of their biggest songs from 3 separate concerts recorded around the globe. With huge songs like, “Stick Tight”, “Dead Wrong”, and “Defiant”, “Keepers of the Faith” is a true hardcore kid’s soundtrack to life. Here’s looking to one hell of a ride when this package hits the shelf.
Get ready for the return of gritty, raw, and powerful hardcore on November 1st, when hardcore legends Sick Of It All celebrate their 25th anniversary by releasing, “Nonstop” an album of their classic re-recorded for the modern day! Ranging from all their greatest albums like, “Blood, Sweat, and No Tears”, “Built to Last”, “Call To Arms” and more, all of the songs on the album will boast a higher production quality, that brings the power and the message, that only Sick Of It All could deliver, to the forefront. Want something to chew on from “Nonstop” while you wait? Check out the re-recording of “Built To Last”, one of the bands biggest songs from their 1997 album of the same name, here!
I was 3 years old when “Sonic the Hedgehog” first hit the Sega Genesis console in 1991. Now, 20 years later, the 23 year old me can finally feel like a little kid again, when “Sonic Generations” hits the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3.
Finally, the blue blurs of yesterday and today meet in what’s looking to be the greatest modern day tribute to Sonic’s career in gaming. Now all there is to do, is sit in patience as “Sonic 4: Episode 2” slowly pulls the teeth out of every gamer impatiently waiting for an update. For now though, this release suffices!
”Sonic Generations” hits retailers November 1st.
September
Metalcore fans, look out! If you thought Blessthefall were merely a group of upstarts that would slowly fade away into the obscurity that seems to be culminating from the metalcore scene these days, than you’ve definitely been mislead. On October 4th get ready to hear a much more honest, heavier version of the Blessthefall you’ve come to know and love when their upcoming release, “Awakening” hits record store shelves. It’ll definitely be worth a listen.
Check out two songs from “Awakening” called “Bottomfeeder” & “Promised Ones” here and here. They’re sure to be all the proof you’ll need.
For all you folk out there greatly anticipating the thunderous rampaging rush of Mastodon’s, “The Hunter”, might I offer you some relief? With the official release date now set for September 27th, the band has been gracious enough to give us a proportionally large taste of the album in the form of a song entitled, “Black Tongue”. Much more stripped down than anything you might have heard on 2009’s “Crack the Skye”, Mastodon has made it quite apparent that they’ve not only honed in on “their sound”, but they’ve also managed to progress in skill and musical craftsmanship.
Take a listen here and while you do, the band has married very interesting footage of the creation of “The Hunter” album cover along with the track for your viewing pleasure!
July
Death metal fans the world over can expect to hear something different from progressive mainstays, Opeth, when their upcoming release “Heritage” hits record store shelves and digital retailers on September 16th. Lead singer and longtime member, Michael Akerfeldt has stated multiple times since the announcement of the record that not unlike 2003’s all-acoustic record “Damnation”, “Heritage” will take the band upon a different path, doing away with their death metal influences and focusing more on their progressive rock and acoustic inspirations. Judging by the album cover alone, it seems hard to deny that this may just be a very different record indeed, but the question is, will Opeth push the envelope too far this time, or will this open a door to gaining the band new fans, while also keeping old fans interested as well?
The wait begins…
