The Blood Brothers // Kiss Of The Octopus

Do you really want to live forever?

Confide // Sooner or Later

Confide's new single, 'Sooner or Later', is a breath of fresh air. After an almost 3 year hiatus, they finally decided to come back together and release a new full-length that will come out later this year. I can't even describe how happy I was when I heard the news since I began listening to them the week before they disbanded, just my luck.



The new single picks up just where they left off from their last album, and everything seems to be just right. Joel's vocals have progressed, and he adds a nice 'poppy' feel in the middle of the song. Confide's new sing is just a great way to continue where they left off, and leaves me wanting the album to come out now.
-Zulu

Audrey Fights Back // No Time Like Present

Audrey Fights Back, a band I've been meaning to write about for a while now, have thoroughly surprised me. Similar to the typical post-hardcore band, they mix screams and cleans, but they seem to do this tremendously well. While they produce a good sound, the drums stand out the most. They're so clean and not your typical, china china snare china china snare.'
Give them a listen and see what you think.



-Zulu

Place Called Home // Reprimanding In A Car Crash

Here is a demo released yesterday (March 7th) by Stockton, Cali based screamo/punk/skramz outfit, Place Called Home.

I'm really digging this new song and while I went on their bandcamp to do a post about a past album, I was pleasantly surprised to see this new release (is a demo considered a half release?)
Anyways if this song is an indicator for what is to come then we all better start paying this band a lot more attention.

Dangerkids // We're All In Danger

They're about to blow up. SO good.
-Zulu



(not normally my style, but I dig this...-CaveBear)

SRVVLST // I Would But I'm Baroque

I know that it is a few months away, but in May, Survivalist is releasing a new album called "The Seven Year Inch" and you can get pumped for that by listening to their last album, "I Would But I'm Baroque".

Kidcrash // Space Between Mountains

All about the guitar work.

The Saddest Landscape // You Will Not Survive

This northeastern band has been around since 2002, playing authentic emo music.

Nova Prospekt // Shift

I don't understand what it is with me and European bands right now, but it seems like its the only thing I'm writing about.

I should start this out by saying, I'm a sucker for synths, catchy choruses, and this kids singing. This kids vocal range is absolutely unreal. How good is his signing?! I could listen to his voice for days and never get bored.

I can't get enough of this band at the moment, definitely gives these guys a shot!
-Zulu

Casino Madrid // Fantasy vs. Reality

Open your ears,, people. Casino Madrid is writing their second album and it's going to be unbelievable (If their debut full-length Robots is an indicator of their talent). While there is not a release date announced or any signs of a single coming soon, there has been several tweets by the bands members letting everyone know they are in the middle of the writing process.

Take a listen to one of their hits from their first CD 'Fantasy vs. Reality'.



While it may be criticized for the lyrical quality, the construction of the song is of good quality.
Most importantly, the slowed down chorus at 1:36 is godly. The way the song flows, from the initial chorus to the screaming, then into the slowed down chorus, is just too good, I literally can't put it into words. Go and jam out to them, and let me know what you think!

-Zulu

Oceans Ate Alaska // To Catch A Flame

Before I get into this, I must say I feel as if there are an unusual amount of bands with Alaska in their name.
Either way, OAA who are currently in the studio writing their first full-length are a band that should most definitely be watched in the near future. To start, this band has SO much talent. I mean like CRAZY amounts. Much like TAIB who I wrote about, they have great instrumental skill and it is shown throughout their songs. The breakdowns through their songs are stunning, and the drums sound unbelievable. I know I’ve talked them up a lot, but I haven’t even got to the vocals yet!

I don’t even know where to get started with the vocals. James Harrison, who does both cleans and screams, has a giant range, and should be put up there with the best of the best in this scene. His cleans could put a baby to sleep, while his screams and growls are brutal yet comprehensible. I can't put into words how talented he is, hopefully all of you agree with me!

I’m thoroughly looking forward to what they come up with, as everything they’ve released so far has been on point. They also recently signed to the Artery Foundation, which signals they could be coming to the States in the near future!

-Zulu

Check out their debut music video ‘To Catch a Flame’

My Iron Lung // Family Traits

In September 2012, My Iron Lung debuted released the album, Grief, with Pure Noise Records.
This San Diego band has recently announced a March and April tour with Vales.

For those of us in DC, the closest dates would be 3/25 in Richmond and 3/27 in Philly. So if you have the funds to make the trip, then I would definitely recommend heading to one of these two places.

-CaveBear

Chronographs // Optiks

To describe Chronographs, a British progressive hardcore band formed in 2010, I'd go with Metal Hammer magazine's description, “Gloriously bonkers, and rather brilliant… It’ll screw with your brain before punching you in the gut”.

It seems as if I have a thing for well-dressed metal bands, but the thought of seeing a Harry Styles look-alike on drums kind of scares me.

-Zulu

Speak Of The Devil // American Whore Story (Demo)

Jordan Blake and Joey Wilson(Former members of A Skylit Drive)have joined up and are starting a project titled: Speak Of The Devil. While Blake had left ASD after their initial EP, Wilson left after their last full-length, Identity on Fire. Speak Of The Devil released their first demo titled “American Whore Story”.



Personally, I think it has hints of ASD sound in it, while at the same time creating their own separate sound. Got some right riffs, and the varied vocal range is present throughout the song, which which sets them apart from many other projects going on at the moment.

-Zulu

Everyone Dies In Utah // Party At The Moontower

Everyone Dies In Utah, a post-hardcore/electronic band from Texas, released a new music video yesterday for ‘Party At The Moon Tower’ from their second album Polarities. (A must listen!)

Who could turn down a video that has Gumby making guest appearances throughout the video! What intriques me the most about this entire video, is the ability to play guitar while doing a keg stand, is this actually possible?!

-Zulu

Aliens Ate My Setlist // To Be Honest, I Haven't Been On Apollo 13

Yet again Germany churns out another quality post-hardcore band that produces jam after jam! While Aliens Ate My Setlist hasn’t had the chance to tour the states yet, they have a growing fan base, and at some point will hopefully cross the ocean and have a tour over here.

Where do I begin? To start, this band is straight BONERS. I found Aliens Ate My Setlist this summer, and have been an avid listener ever since. Not only do they have a great band name, but they also follow in the legion of weird song names, ‘To be honest, I haven’t been on Apollo 13’ for some reason bands that make outlandish song names attract me. It’s always good to add some humor and fun into songs that are the stereotypical full of "sadness and heartbreak".
Either way here’s their first official music video (Pretty typical video and what you’d expect, sort of Asking Alexandria-esque video, but either way, great song with an awesome chorus that is sure to get the crowd moving):



-Zulu

P.S. Drummer is straight thuggin’ in the video. Chillen behind the kit and loving life with his glasses on.

(I hate this music video- CaveBear)

Camisado // I Am Alive Tonight

If you haven’t heard of Camisado, you soon will. Camisado, a Baltimore band, recently released their debut album after what seemed like a five-year hiatus from their initial EP, Pulse, which was popular at its released. While this band has been almost non-existent over the past few years, they’ve come back into the scene with their new album, Faceless. I’m literally in love with every song on this album, and can’t stop listening. The vocalist's wide range is great, and the songs are well constructed. It’s hard for me to pick out a certain song as my favorite, as every song on this album is a JAM and a half, but ‘I am Alive Tonight’ is a really good example of what you can expect to hear.



While each song on the album has a dark feel to it, emphasized by the album artwork, this one in particular stands out. After the breakdown around 1:00, the alternate vocals are sure to bring a strong pit to any of their shows. While the lyrics on this track may seem a bit repetitive, the drums and guitars around them balance it out.
Although I hope they continue to grow, I just worry they fall into the trap that many other bands fall into; their debut full-length is fantastic, and then the second, is rushed or there just isn’t as much effort put into it, which results in a poor record that doesn't live up to the hype (i.e. A Skylit Drive’s Adelphia). Anyway, if you like what you hear, head on over to facebook and give them a like!

-Zulu

Polar Bear Club // Parked In The Parking Lot Of Your Heart

It's New Year's Eve and we are reigning it in with a little PBC

The Plot To Blow Up The Eiffel Tower // Drake The Fake

this band has since broken up, but they're still a good find. The stuff that they have put out is pretty good, but not strong enough to give you that "OMG I'm Obsessed" feeling that people like myself get with other bands.
Still worth a listen.

Fall Of Efrafa // Pity The Weak

Off the album, OWSLA.
What's better than a band whose lyrics are based off of Watership Down.
If you are unfamiliar with the novel Watership Down, it is an anthropomorphic tale about a group of rabbits who escape the destruction of their burrow and seek refuge and a new home.

This isn't your typical Winnie the Pooh -esque animal tale and seems to catch you up just as much as novels like Mossflower and other Redwall novels.

This band definitely knows how to pay tribute to the novel and highlights on the grim aspects of the book. In other words, from the sound of the music, you wouldn't know that it's about rabbits.