Smash CD reviews
By: homie

Stevin Knight
No Rearview Mirrors
Reason 101 Records
By: Lenny Nero
Stevin Knight, the electro-pop one man band hailing from Las Vegas, Nevada should be the next big thing - in the U.K. His dreamy, synthetic grooves are reminiscent of early Depeche Mode or some of the less rocking music the severly underrated Placebo has released. The first single, "Free Your Mind" should give Dave Gahan a run for his money...especially considering the lackluster solo music he's been involved with lately. One can't begin to tell you how refreshing it is to hear something this completely different coming out of Vegas. But is Vegas ready for Knight's sound. Sadly, no.

The Asphalt
Long Story Short EP
By: Homie
If Havasu is still the party spot, this is the soundtrack. AZ’s The Asphalt fuses solid pop rock with obvious punk influences resulting in something accessible across the board. In this, their second release, the band matures covering a wide range of sounds from upbeat rock songs to down tempo ballads including a credible acoustic cover of Elton John’s “Daniel.” If this band weren’t buried in a little lake town, would they already be picked up? Probably. Suggested Listening: “alone again”

Blood For Blood
Serenity
Thorp
By:Homie
The irony is that this is the last thing that I would associate with west coast hip-hop that dominated much of the 90’s but it covers the same emotions and dealings found therein. I believe it was Coolio’s version of “Gangsters Paradise” that put it: “I'm the kinda G the little homies wanna be like on my knees in the night, saying prayers in the streetlight.” The song “A Prayer to the Night Sky” is another ode to the suffering and struggling streets of poverty, loss and faith. Boston’s Blood for Blood is true to the Thorp records roster with a raw, unbridled tough-guy hardcore attitude but before you dismiss it as mind-numbing aggro, a quick shuffle through the tracks will find actual melodies on a full fledged hardcore record. Suggested Listening: “My Jesus Mercy”

Sparta
Porcelain
Dreamworks Records
By: Homie
I recently read that lead vocalist Jim Ward is just now approaching a stage where he can stand to listen to his own voice. One EP and 2 full lengths later, Ward has recaptured pieces of his former glory through a return to his punk rock roots. In an effort that will most likely go overlooked, Sparta cuts through punk and garage clutter and moves to the forefront as an Alternative rock band that is truly Alternative. Whether it’s the raspy vocals or the emotive music that beats them into a common ground amidst the strings, Sparta’s Porcelain release is one of the few examples of a band honestly doing their own thing, and doing it well. Suggested Listening: “While Oceana Sleeps”

Time In Malta
Alone with the Alone
Equal Vision Records
By: Homie
Equal Vision managed to keep the sophomore release from critical darlings Time In Malta. When the band’s not laying down tracks for Guns N Roses tribute records, Time In Malta has some pretty serious matters going on. With some of the same arsenal as Vegas up and comers the Killers in their back pocket, Time In Malta have been making noise of their own with shows dating as far back as 98 (started as early as 94) with everyone from The Bled to Thursday. The latest record is aggressive as ever yet has a very pristine and cleaned up sound to it. Listen for, dare I say it, Bono like moments from vox Todd Gullion and Boy Sets Fire veined screams and chants powering home an overall decent record.

Amen
Death Before Musick
Columbia Records
By: Homie
Casey Chaos and his band of musical not-so-merry men re-appear for the first time since 2000’s “We Have Come For Your Parents” and have toned it down a bit this time around. It was just two years ago the band met up with System of A Down guitarist Daron Malakian and the rest has put Chaos back on the road to recovery giving birth to the new line-up and noticeably new sound (less metal, more garage/punk). On Death before Musick you’re inundated with one fierce track after the next giving new life to something widely believed lost in the shape of late 70’s/early 80’s punk. Suggested Listening: “California’s Bleeding”

Bad Religion
The Empire Strikes First
Epitaph Records
By: Lenny NeroAnother Bad Religion record? Yup. Does it rock? Absolutely. The Empire Strikes First is a brilliant follow-up to 2002's The Process of Belief. Don't let the age of this band fool you...they rock so much harder than what passes for punk rock these days. Good Charlotte and Simple Plan should pay attention and see how it's REALLY done. After an odd introductory overture, Empire blasts into the familiar "oohs and ahhs" of "Sinister Rouge" - the most powerful and agressive track on the record. It seems like everyone wants to make a political record these days, but no one can do it like the kings - Bad Religion. George W. had better watch out...the guys in Bad Religion are pissed...The Empire Strikes First makes that perfectly clear.

The Briefs
Sex Objects
BYO Records
By: Lenny NeroThe garage rock explo...blah, blah, blah. How many times have we heard about this so -called "explosion" of "great" new "garage rock" bands? Plenty, I can assure you. And while shit bands like Jet and The Vines are rolling in the neo-garage-rock dough, bands like Seattle's The Briefs are rocking the underground with their frantic, energetic brand of '77-style garage-y punk. Sex Objects, the Brief's first release for BYO records finds the band at the top of their game. "Orange Alert" attacks the terrorists that threaten to attack us everyday, while "Shoplifting At Macy's" pays homage to everyone's favorite actress-turned-shoplifter, Winona Rider. Don't let the lumping of this band into the neo-garage rock category scare you off, Sex Objects is about as real as garage-y punk can get these days...and it'll kick your ass.

Burns Out Bright
Distance and Darkness EP
Deep Elm
By Yuya Saito
How many more emo punk bands do we need? Probably, one more. Burns Out Bright, who come from South California impress with their debut EP. The sweet voice of bass player Isaac Stone, dramatic riffs from Randy Lee and Forest Montgomery, and lyrical angst and infectious melody immediately draws you in. Bands are not supposed to be this good on their first EP. The only problem is that it is only about twenty minutes long, although that’s probably to make you anticipate their full length that much more.

Outlie
Companions to Devils and Saints
Porterhouse Records
By Yuya Saito
If you are tired of light weight punk, here is something heavier and darker. Outlie's frontman is Luke Pabich, formerly of Good Riddance. If that’s not enough to make you buy this album, then check this out: this is punk with little bit of heavy metal, but little bit slower than you might expect. The metallic, heavy songs are created by Jesse Darling (ex- Lonely Kings ) on bass, Sean Sellers (ex- Good Riddance, ex-Downset, Kidney Thieves ) on drums, and Donovan Cole ( The Last Season ) on lead guitar. With lyrics fueled by a mixture of social, political, and life, what’s not to like?