BAMBARA DREAMVIOLENCE Emerald Weapon Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Musical chaos crammed between moments of decency. Album Review: While along the same vein as groups like Godspeed You! Black Emperor and Isis, BAMBARA’s DREAMVIOLENCE lacks certain finesse. The album starts out promising with “All the Same,” a melodic, ambient track with a very interesting, dreamlike … Read more
The Vains Acoustic EP Self-Released [2013] Fire Note Says: The Vains release a record of acoustic gold. Album Review: The Vains are bound to take the music scene by storm. On their past releases, they presented a fast-paced, hard-hitting sound that reached beyond the typical indie punk style. With their Acoustic EP, featuring four acoustic … Read more
Grave Babies Crusher Hardly Art Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Far from perfect, but equally far from terrible. Album Review: Here’s the thing about Grave Babies’ Crusher: I couldn’t tell you how many times I replayed this album. I couldn’t decide what to think about it: do I love it or hate it? I have … Read more
Wax Idols Discipline And Desire Slumberland Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Wax Idols is both a breath of fresh air and a blast from the past. Album Review: This album come out of a time machine. Seriously. The more I listened to it, the more I forgot this was brand new and instead thought I … Read more
Ex Cops True Hallucinations Fat Possum Records [2013] Fire Note Says: So much style, it doesn’t need flare. Album Review: This album is odd, for a couple of different reasons. First of all is its mellow mood. In a world filled with high-energy indie rock, Ex Cops presents a simple, quiet record. Many of the … Read more
Coheed And Cambria The Afterman: Descension Everything Evil/V2 Records [2013] Fire Note Says: A solid release, even for a sequel. Album Review: I was excited when I learned I’d be reviewing Coheed & Cambria’s The Afterman: Descension. After reviewing the first part of this double concept record, I had been looking forward to hearing its … Read more
Missing Number Contrast EP Self-Released [2012] Fire Note Says: Make your ears happy by listening to Missing Number’s Contrast. Album Review: I’m gonna take just a second to be a hipster and point out that I was a fan of these guys before they even began recording this EP. I want everyone to know that … Read more
The Bronx The Bronx (IV) ATO Records [2013] Fire Note Says: What can only be described as pure, unadulterated skate punk. Album Review: This is the fourth self-titled record from L.A. punk rockers, The Bronx. It’s also the first album of punk material they’ve released since 2008, taking a two-album break from their norm to … Read more
All That Remains A War You Cannot Win Razor & Tie Records [2012] Fire Note Says: All That Remains seem to be fighting a war they cannot win. Album Review: In 2008, All That Remains released Overcome; the album that I argue is their definitive masterwork. The problem in creating an album like Overcome is … Read more
… And You Will Know Us From The Trail Of Dead Lost Songs Superball Music [2012] Fire Note Says: Art rock at its distorted best. Album Review: Call me nostalgic, but I still think some of Trail of Dead’s best work came off of Source Tags & Codes, their third full-length studio album. They’ve always … Read more
Further Seems Forever Penny Black Rise Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Further Seems Forever comes back to the scene strong. Album Review: Further Seems Forever returns with their first studio record in eight years, and the first to feature the full original line-up since 2001’s The Moon is Down. I’ve rocked Further Seems Forever before, … Read more
Anberlin Vital Universal Republic Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Anberlin makes good on their promise to deliver their most aggressive record. Album Review: I’ve been listening to Anberlin for a few years now, ever since New Surrender [2008] dropped. Needless to say, I’ve been eagerly anticipating Vital, their seventh studio record. In June, frontman Stephen … Read more