SMASH MAGAZINE
08/10/05
CD REVIEWS
Artist: Taproot
Album: Blue Sky Research
Label: Atlantic
By: Homie
Still just as intense as they’ve ever been,
Taproot finds room to bring forward what is probably
their most mature effort to date. Continuing to experiment
with their blend of nu-metal shredding, rhythmic grooves,
and Stephens unmistakable voice, Blue Sky Research
will undoubtedly reach new audiences but old fans
fret not, this is still a Taproot record. Mellow ballads
and intense riffs collide (at times in the same song)
making for a decent listen that doesn’t feel
like the same song on repeat.
Artist:
A Wilhelm Scream
Album: Ruiner
Label: Nitro
By: Homie
If labels were to give out awards for their artists,
Nitro would have given A Wilhelm Scream their rookie
of the year award. Short of only Rufio on the current
roster, AWS have the potential to lead a resurgence
in popularity for the label that AFI once called home.
The prior release Mute Print was simply a re-release.
AWS headed back into the studio with Bill Stevenson
(All, Rise Against, etc.) and came out with perhaps
the years most progressive record in the new frontier
that will blend emo, hardcore, and metal kids together…in
peace and harmony…or not.
Artist:
311
Album: Don’t Tread on Me
Label: Volcano
By: Homie
A predictable sound from the same band you knew years
ago. Don’t Tread on Me blends the bands heavier
sound of yester-year with the considerably more mellow
vibe of their more recent efforts. Covering everything
from the have a good time/believe in yourself themes
to some kind of pent up hostility toward modern day
media/pop culture, the record takes you through a
wide range of 311 stylee that will probably still
leave you with an empty bag of chips and a serious
case of cottonmouth.
Artist:
Rufio
Album: The Comfort of Home
Label: Nitro
By: Homie
Someday Rufio will be as big as Van Halen. Until then,
the band will continue to pay homage to one of their
biggest influences. The new disc is noticeably darker
and presumably deals with some of the more grim experiences
the band has had in the past year and a half. Rufio
continue to write the catchiest songs you’ll
hear. Metal riffs give way to soft acoustic strumming,
only to jump right back into the crunchy rock sound
predominant throughout The Comfort of Home.
Artist:
Blindside
Album: The Great Depression
Label: DRT
By: Homie
New home, tweaked sound. After two discs release by
Metallica powerhouse Elektra, blindside takes a step
back and finds a new place to play. You can probably
count them out of the bigger tours and full blown
rotation on MTV but not for lack of quality music.
Great Depression carries the familiar aggression that
friends P.O.D. once fell in love with, yet with the
new music comes a more danceable sound too. Also worth
noting, the religious undertones don’t seem
to be nearly as apparent on this outing as in those
prior.
Artist:
Pennywise
Album: The Fuse
Label: Epitaph
By: Homie
This should have been the middle school record if
you will. There was something that happened to pennywise
when they transformed their distinguished punk sound
into something with a more defined shape. Straight
Ahead was a shot nearly out of nowhere that took the
Hermosa bro-hymn-ers from beach boys to legionary
legends. The Fuse is the record that fills the gap
from Society to Alien. Somewhere between stripped
down sounds of old and the dynamics of their sound
of late is a familiar place found on this record.
Artist:
Silverstein
Album: Discovering the Waterfront
Label: Victory
By: Homie
So a few months back I spent some time talking to
a couple of the guys from Silverstein at a mutual
friends bachelor party. They were just a few weeks
away from heading in to do this record with Cameron
Webb (Social Distortion, Sum 41, Ben Folds, etc.)
out in Los Angeles. Hands down, I believe this is
the record they wanted to make. A couple kids from
small town Canada have made it out of the woods and
seen the world. I for one will continue to champion
them as they release what has been called the second
(to Taking Back Sunday) most anticipated sophomore
release in Victory Records history. Noticeably more
singing than screaming on this one, Silverstein is
making moves to be the band you, your little sister
and even the folks can appreciate on some level.
Artist:
Suicide Machines
Album: War Profiteering is Killing Us All
Label: sideonedummy
By: Homie
I’m weary. I’ve been preached to by too
many people for too long. Destruction will always
hold its place in history and fans will continue to
be. The band is returning to its former disgruntled
self and you should love every minute of it. If you
can keep the preach away, not that its any more than
the last record, (or you buy into what they’re
selling whole heartedly) you’ll find a great
record, maybe the best since they were lost to the
dark side in a major label world of pop songs they
never should’ve written. Ouch. Glad to have
you back.
Artist:
The Adolescents
Album: OC Confidential
Label: Finger Records
By: Homie
So a handful of the tracks on The Adolescents new
record (including the title cut) originally appear
on an ep they released last year. Familiar old school
punk rock, this record hits it on the head and the
adolescents are just as on-top of their sound today
as they were in the 90’s. The band is celebrating
a 25th anniversary of sorts but you’d never
know its really been that long.
Artist:
Bleed the Dream
Album: Built By Blood
Label: Warcon Records
By: Lauren Napier
Recently
bombarded with many changes in their lives, the members
of Bleed the Dream have persevered and created an
amazing album. The late Scott Gottlieb was able to
play drums on the band’s first full-length despite
his battle with leukemia. The song “Broken Wings”
is their dedication to Scott. This song along with
“Emotion Regression” deals with emotions
and the heart it takes to through the tough times.
“Say G’Night” is a harsh illustration
of reality; the intense guitar intro prefaces the
message. This record shows the maturing of an amazing
band and promises much more to follow.
