Portugal. The Man's latest "The Satanic Satanist" is available now! Look out for the Special Edition featuring "The Majestic Majesty" acoustic bonus CD!!! From what we know only a few copies are left!
Portugal. The Man's newest album features fifteen fiercely transcendent vignettes. The band calls the collection 'Censored Colors' - side one is a half-dozen single tracks, while side two consists of a long suite of compositions, segued together into one seamless presentation. "We've always wanted to make a really heavy record mellow," reveals Portugal. The Man's John Gourley. "And I think this time we did it." The album hits stores in Germany, Austria & Switzerland September 5th, 2008. The band's back in Europe a few days later to play with German label-mates Saboteur on selected dates.
“A Place Were Painters meet” is a labour of love that along the way has become a collection of virtuosic exploits in song construction. The songs on this album are marked by their sonic diversity and the attention to detail that was used in their composition. Intention, substance and suspense are prevalent throughout. Airy melodies broken by disharmonic elements occasionally rise to threatening noise, but the element of control is always present. For fans of Sonic Youth, Built To Spill, Dinosaur Jr. or Buffalo Tom.
The much anticipated second full length album from Raleigh, NC will excite
hardcore, metal, screamo, and punk fans alike. Alesana’s first album
“On Frail Wings of Vanity and Wax” spent over 40 weeks in
the New Alternative Artist chart, and sold 45,000 copies. Alesana, toured
in support of their fisrt album 17 months, 370 shows, without more than
two week breaks between tours. December '07 to March '08 was spent working
on their second album with Steve Evetts (Senses Fail, Every Time I Die,
A Static Lullaby) and the band wasted no time getting back on the road.
Their world tour began March 22nd and the tour schedule is booked through
October 2008.
Alesana will Headline the SmartPunk Stage on Warped Tour 2008. The CD
format offers 13 tracks with an enhanced disc that includes bonus video
content, making of the album, and more.
Album after album It's Not Not have proven themselves to be one of the
most interesting bands of spanish independent scene. Always mantaining
an inconformist, rageful attitude, punk for some, avangardist for others,
with every record they've made a step fprward into technical complexity
and creative hyperactivity. While some may consider punk means a simplist
approach to music, where protest means most of the time lack of ideas,
and others think it's all about a revivalist fashion made by chesy synths
and lo-fi beats, It's Not Not believe it's a compromise with the politically
incorrect, even for punk itself. They're never predictable, never academic,
never too tough or trendy, probably because they walk one step further
than the rest. Here comes "Bound For The Shine".
With that ever-present catch in his plainspoken voice, Kevin Devine (Miracle
of '86) is the epitome of the post-emo singer/songwriter. That vulnerability
extends to the lyrics on his major label debut, following a well received
trio of indie efforts. As the New York native explains, "These songs
helped me figure out what I thought about the last year of my life."
Backed by the Goddamn Band (Amy and Chris Bracco, Carey Brandenburg, Mike
Skinner, Russell Smith, and Margaret White), the 26-year-old vows to "get
his head on straight" in the country-tinged "Less Yesterday,
More Today" and "prays for protection" on the spare "Heaven
Bound & Glory Be." Clearly, there's some catharsis going on here.
Highlights include the gentle pop of "Brooklyn Boy" and the
Beatle-esque "Go Haunt Someone Else." -- Kathleen C. Fennessy
Alaska's favorite sons, Portugal. The Man toured the US and Europe relentlessly in 2006 and 2007. Look for their new album "Church Mouth" in stores July 20th, 2007. There will be a limited special-edition 2-CD set including the EP "It's Complicated Being a Wizard" available. The band will come back to Germany from August 29th to September 11th. Don't miss out...
Portugal. The Man - It's Complicated Being a Wizard MLP
Alaska’s favorite sons, Portugal The Man return with a special 12"-EP
on Defiance Records. "It's Complicated Being A Wizard" is a
seamless 23 minute journey on a one-sided 12". Band frontman, John
Baldwin Gourley says of the EP:
“These EP's won't always represent the sound that the albums will
be taking (as is the case here) but it is a fun way to send some music
around. Music should be released as written, right? Hope you are all agreeable
in this this this this this this this this this this this this this this.”
The highly anticipated debut full-length from Raleigh, NC's hardcore innovators
containing four live video tracks and 2 additional bonus audio tracks.
Alesana have built on their already large fan base after touring Mexico,
Brazil, and four times the US with their apocalyptic live shows. For fans
of Underoath, Chiodos & Saosin.
Good Clean Fun - Crouching Tiger, Moshing Panda CD
This brand new Good Clean Fun CD containing 17 unreleased and out of print
songs including: Xmas Time For The Skins (which AP magazine called one
of the top ten Xmas records of all time), Punk Rock Academy, Hats Off
For Halford, Let's Go Crazy, The Seann King Can Suck It Album and all
the cover-songs Good Clean Fun ever recorded. This release is distributed
exclusivly by Defiance Records in Europe!
Alexisonfire have come a long way the last few years. Now a platinum act
in Canada, the band has also established itself as a force in Europe.
Their third full-length album “Crisis” - the highly anticipated
follow-up to the band's breakthrough sophomore release “Watch Out!”
- is heavy, catchy and shows remarkable growth. It is music for both sides
of your brain: in your left ear, the poignant and melodic vocals of Dallas,
injected with the devilishly sweet phrasings of the axe-wielding Wade,
speak of impulse and introspection. In your right ear, George offers the
testimony of the tortured soul, syncopated power-scream vocals that energize
and counterpoint - a couple of cartoon-character angels and devils sitting
on your shoulders, offering 2 very different interpretations of the same
musical message.
Never before had Delorean sounded so sober, so balanced, so elegant and
deep. As a suite, the eight tracks of "Into the plateau" flow
in a succession conceived as a whole, giving less importance to the singularity
of each particular track, avoiding the pop-song concept to concentrate
on the dancefloor guidelines, building the songs through layers more than
parts, controlling the tempo amongst all and playing with atmosphere and
intensity.
Prepare to bear witness to the aurora borealis of electronic sound that
is Portugal. The Man.
Hailing from the arctic wastelands of Alaska and the mountainy mountains
of Oregon, these glacial hike hardened warriors craft a musical tundra
unlike that heard in the sonic botulism of everyday life. With this arsenal
of sound they trek forward not unlike the future writing members of the
starship enterprise.Having met Jesus in upstate New York in the month
of June of nineteen sixty-nine this quartet now knows future. Now lives
the future. Now is the future. Where the mule learned his name and was
forced to become the goat.
Alexisonfire/Moneen
- The Switcheroo Series Pic-LP
2 of Canada's most influential and fastest rising bands take their friendships
to a whole new level by recording and releasing a 6 song Switcheroo EP
- featuring 1 new song from Alexisonfire, 1 new song from Moneen, 2 Alexisonfire
songs covered by Moneen & 2 Moneen songs covered by Alexisonfire.
New-No-Wave? Maybe. Maybe not. Milemarker. Swing Kids. Radio 4. Supersystem. Black Flag. Girls against Boys. Refused. Robocop Kraus. There are many references. Those bands are kept in honor, but there’s also the creation of one’s own boulevard. King’s avenue with squats on it.
Alexisonfire & Moneen: The Switcheroo Series CD.
2 of Canada's most influential and fastest rising bands take their friendships to a whole new level by recording and releasing a 6 song Switcheroo EP - featuring 1 new song from Alexisonfire,
1 new song from Moneen, 2 Alexisonfire songs covered by Moneen & 2 Moneen songs covered by Alexisonfire.
Kevin Devine
- Split The Country, Split The Street CD
A thoughtful, friendly indie rocker with a shock of orange hair
and headful of good words, Devine has already been pegged by some
as an acolyte of Elliott Smith, and his new record might start
you thinking that this is going to basically be what you expected:
a collection of mid-fi folk songs. That'd be before the huge drums,
wall of guitars, and wailing vocals of "Cotton Crush"
deliver one of the biggest explosions you'll hear this year. Fans
of Kevin's prior band Miracle of 86 will be glad to find him stretching
out his powerful, distinctive voice and getting back to blowing
out the PA in the process.
"Split The Country, Split The Street" is his third and best
solo album.
Portland, OR’s Clarity Process is dead-set on the destruction
of media-created, and universally accepted, guidelines, terminology
and philosophy of what a rock band should be in 2005. The labels
have been shed (post-hardcore, emo, screamo), the walls knocked
down in one swift kick on this new release that will leave you
standing, possibly speechless, at what appears to be an effortless
explosion of the senses. All emotions on display, all truths questioned,
and the power-elite on trial.
Ontario's Alexisonfire create a very exciting musical juxtaposition
by combining ear stabbing screams, complex guitar work and ethereal
vocals with a chaotic and sometimes riot-inspiring live experience.
The bands self-titled debut was met with critical acclaim in the
US and eventually broke the Canadian top 200 soundscan chart.
Their open minded approach to songwritting has allowed them to
tour with every band from Hopesfall, and Thrice to From Autumn
To Ashes and the Misfits. Never content to sit idle > the band
will tour relentlessly this coming year and beyond.
Within the first three months of the bands conception they had
played their first show and recorded a three song demo. Southern
Ontario and up state New York quickly picked up on their infectious
sound as well as their live performances which were rumored to
be as intense as two catholic school girls in mid knife fight.
Guitars fly violently through the air, disco balls shatter, a
sea of kids raising their fists and crowd surfing to get a hold
of the mic. Alexisonfire have combined ear stabbing screams, intricate
guitar melodies and beautiful singing to create a very exciting
musical juxtaposition. Their sound is a direct collaboration of
personal influences based on the love of music and the desire
to play.
When members of Europe's premiere post-hardcore extravaganza Standstill
get together with political soul punks Tokyo Sex Destruction,
it can only mean one thing: here comes the newest most stylish
hot shit out of Barcelona! This is danceable wave postpunk, just
as catchy as it is freaky and falling in on the radar somewhere
between Wire, The Rapture, Hot Hot Heat, The Robocop Kraus and
the VSS.
In June of this year, NYC's Miracle Of 86 were ready to meet again
in the studio to lay down the tracks to a new studio recording.
The new material reflects the side projects of each of the members
yet maintains the essential „Miracle.“ This is modern
indie rock with roots: honest and rousing. The band will be storming
the European shores once again late this summer.
Debut album from Solea - the new band of Emo legends TEXAS IS
THE REASON frontman Garrett Klahn and ex-SAMIAM six stringer Sergie
Loobkoff. A stunning album that delivers amazing catchy emotional
driven songs that you will be humming until the next time you
get to go put the album back on again!
Delorean have now recorded nine songs of enigmatic pop music,
which compel even the most self-restrained of listeners to move.
This album lays somewhere between the most accessible of The Cure,
the coldest of The Faint, the most danceable of Radio 4, the darkest
of Sunshine and the most ground-shaking of Hot Hot Heat. This
is an album teeming with adrenaline revisited by the punk attitude
of a band that will take more than one by surprise. The spanish
underground, birthplace to the likes of Standstill, Tokyo Sex
Destruction and It’s Not Not, has once again delivered!
This is dance music for the new generation!
The third album released by Europe’s post-hardcore prodigal
sons from Barcelona is further proof of the musical progression
of Standstill, a band whose name is a constant contradiction to
the music they produce. The self-titled album is, to date, the
quietest and most melancholic, yet at the same time, the most
intensive output the band has unleashed. Sounds of anger, desperation,
angst and soft woe melt together into a melange of magic and epic
vehemence. Standstill prove that a lack of volume and noise does
not necessarily mean a lack of intensity and energy.
The twang of a road-tested Telecaster, a glorious wash of open
hi-hats and snapping snare patterns, the warmth of a perfect bass
line and the earnest declarations of a man yearning to be on the
highway, heading east on the 15 to anywhere but Southern California
– the new century has it's first essential road record.
Limbeck's latest, Hi Everything's Great, is the sort of tribute
to the American landscape only seen through unflappable virtue.
The songs tell of the simple moments that end up meaning so much...
Does the world really need another guy strumming away on an acoustic
guitar? I mean really now, in the sea of emo tinged "Bright
Eyed Dashboard" copycats is another one really necessary?
Well if it's Miracle of '86 frontman Kevin Devine then the answer
is a resounding yes! The result: Make The Clocks Move - an amazing
new record of emotionally charged, beautifully crafted songs with
a simple and melodic lyrical sensibility that shows influence
from artists as diverse as Elliott Smith, Bob Dylan and Stephen
Malkmus.
As is so often the case with art of any form, no label adequately
describes the sound of “Opposites.” Hopeful has been
able to maintain an original voice yet at the same time hailing
comparisons to bands such as Refused, Helmet, The Hope Conspiracy
and Poison the Well. While crediting influences such as Will Haven
and Vision of Disorder, the boys of Hopeful are not about to wet
themselves if a little melody finds its way into the music. What
more is there to say, this is an album that screams to be heard
again and again.
It will be hard to maintain a sense of calm once the first notes of the
debut full length album by JUDE THE OBSCURE reach your ears, as this
Canadian band unloads an incredible onslaught of vicious and progressive
metallic riffage on "The Coldest Winter". A potent mixture of technical,
metallic guitars, thunderous, high-powered rhythms, and vocals that
range from entrancing, moving singing to harsh, spastic screams. The
song-writing is definitely on par with the likes of Converge, old Cave
In, and Norma Jean, with blistering speed, breakdowns, guitar and vocal
effects and crafty song structures. Jude the Obscure then display their
range dabbling in mellow, smooth rocking, dare we say, ballads, and at
times even break out the acoustic guitars. It's frightening to think
what this unit is capable of accomplishing in the future, a promising
one for certain.
Fans of Alabama sextet Haste, the technically proficient, guitar-driven
hard rock outfit hailing from the festering region of Birmingham,
will no doubt be blown-away by the band's third offering, 'The
Mercury Lift'. The album is the product of hard work and Haste's
inevitable musical evolution. On 'The Mercury Lift', Haste does
much to illuminate the darkened corners where aggressive music
and thoughtful melodies conspire creating cutting-edge rock that's
utterly brilliant not only in its composition, but in its delivery.
'The Mercury Lift' finally takes hold of what the band has hinted
at in the past. Fans both old and new will quickly see this album
for what it is – a brilliant, emotional and captivating
journey brought forth from the heart of a band that won't stand
still. Hear it for yourself with The Mercury Lift and experience
a true musical revolution.
One Man
And His Droid - Party People LP/enhanced CD
"Partypeople" doesn't reel you in after the second or
third song, it puts it spell on you immediately with the first
tones of the first song, "Indianapolis," which is more
into your face than any song performed by OMAHD ever before. This
album is like a tree: sturdy but alive, robust but vigorous. One
can feel that the band really worked hard, to satisfy themselves
and their listeners. This is a changing and potent album, with
elements of rock, post hardcore, electronik and emo, played by
a band, who have no need to hide and if it has not already been
one, then now they must be recognised.
Here comes the Copperpot Journals debut full length album 'Pilots'!
The band has taken the sound they had on their last release and
expanded it in exciting new directions. The quieter bits are quieter,
the instrumentation more experimental and in terms of songwriting
and dynamics, the fact they've had time to realise their ideas
in the studio means everything is focused to the absolute degree.
'Pilots' still sounds like the Copperpot Journals... but it's
a shinier, more confident, more epic sounding version that is
gonna be stepping out this Autumn. Check it our for yourself!
What is it about Sweden that enables it to birth one great rock
band after the other, catching the public's eye again and again?
The National Anthems is yet further proof of the quality of Scandinavian
guitar music! Rather than follow patterns layed down by the greats
before them, they have developed a unique style of their own mixing
melodic US-style Indierock, a bit of Britpop and their destinctive
Swedish approach to create epic, lush, heartfelt melodies full
of yearning, melancholy and euphoria. While the sound of the National
Anthems is an original creation, one cannot help but think that
this could be the end product of an orgy between Phantom Planet,
Jimmy Eat World and Coldplay. The band lead by outstanding singer/guitarist
Robert Stålbro has released one of the most beautiful rock
albums of recent years.
Southern California's Gameface has come a long way since their inception in
1991. Gameface's music combines the best elements of punk, hardcore, emo
and pop. They have a desire to make music simpler; something more sincere
beyond a defined scene. Gameface has the ability to reach people with
undeniably catchy melodies, combined with heartfelt lyrics. Tried and true,
Gameface has earned their role as a staple in the post hardcore scene by
consistently producing good, honest rock music. Welcome to Gameface's best
album yet!
The fuckin best new indie rock band from America. Period. Listen
to the record. Nuff said. But if you need more...
New York’s indie outfit The Miracle of 86 deliver with "every
famous last word" an album packed with melodramatic songs that
range from relaxed poppy sounds and modest folk- and singer-/songwriter-influences
to forcing rhythms, noisy guitar distorsions and heartfelt vocals.
Above all is the magic and fragile voice of Kevin Devine, that
causes one shiver down the spine after the other. For Fans of
Desaparecidos, Pavement, Weakerthans and Jimmy Eat World.
Finally! After several EP's and a long hiatus, Germany's hardcore
pioneer, ENGRAVE is back with a new album, "stealing from
death.." It is a hybrid of hectic breaks, manic beats, and
noise attacks exploding from each song, like a atmospheric soundscape
with melodic guitar passages from the "other side".
The energy of Engrave, like that found in bands like Converge,
early Cave In, Botch or Orchid, is combined with innovation and
technical skill that has saved "stealing from death.."
from being just another generic album. Without a doubt, Engrave
have created their own noise catharsis!
Following the split with Never Surrender comes "these two
words", the first full length album from the US Hardcore
allstar outfit, FACE THE ENEMY. Singer Tim MacMahon (Ex-Mouthpiece/Hands
Tied) and guitar player Ken Olden (Ex-Damnation AD, Battery, Better
Than A Thousand) deliver a fist full of Straight-Edge-Hardcore
power with barrel hooks, back ups, old school riffs and slow downs.
The album carries the infectious enthusiasm and positive energy
of '88 while staying on the edge of innovation in 2003. Go!
The political meets the sexy, determination meets teen angst,
bombastic beats meet haunting melodies. The distinctive sound
of native Austrians Wedekind combines elements of Post-Hardcore,
Bitpop, New Wave and Emo. Wedekind’s mixture of drums, guitars
and keyboards (no bass to be found here!) draws beautifully melancholic
pictures.
If able to take a peek into the band members’ private record
collections you probably would find the likes of Interpol, Muse,
Jimmy Eat World, Placebo, …Trail Of Dead, or The Faint amongst
the recently played discs. With a certain dark, yet erotic undertone
Wedekind follows the tradition of Iggy Pop, Joy Division, The
Cure... Fucked up and sexy.
Spain’s very own Standstill return to prove their vast talent
and chamelic abilities to adapt and progess. Once again, they
trek down the path of innovation, this time focusing more on softer
and melancholic elements. The Barcelona 5 piece takes its listeners
through a hypnotic acoustic journey, which is both surprising
and overwhelming. In the realm of Standstill, “unplugged”
does not equal cheesy campfire ballads, but wide instrumentation,
room for experiment, dissonance and intensity. The 5 songs featured
on “The Latest Kiss” resemble a cross of sounds between
those of …Trail of Dead and the young Syd Barrett. This
mini CD will leave old fans amazed at the progression made by
these Spaniards, and is certain to draw new listeners into the
hypnotic world of Standstill.
Finally, we are graced with new songs from emo pioneers, guitarplayer
Sergie Loobkoff (Samiam/Knapsack) and singer/guitarist Garret
Klahn (Ex-Texas Is The Reason). With “Even Stranger”
they rid themselves of the "just a project" characterization,
as it is clear that this project has developed into an entity
in its own right. With this 5-song CD, Solea offers their fans
a hearty helping of upbeat emopop with a side of melodic honesty.
With arrangements reminiscent of Beatles-era beats, these songs
find their way deep into your skull and you will not want to let
them out. These guys are some of the originals and are on the
fast track to becomming one of the biggest names of the genre.
The "Even Stranger" CD is equiped with a video clip
for the song “Smile,” while the 12” version
comes with the classic “Leaving Today,” available
for the first time on vinyl.
The Cable
Car Theory - fables and fictionS... MCD/MLP
The Cable Car returns to follow up their "Deconstruction"
album, with "Fables and Fictions of the Human Condition"
an album packed with straight beats and melodic harmonies which
authentically channels energy and aggression into the music.
Kevin Devine is now crossing the Atlantic for the first time to
present to all you punkrock romantics out there with the songs
off the Defiance release, "Circle Gets the Square."
In support of the tour, Defiance Records is releasing the EP "Travelling
the EU" featuring three new romantic songs from Devine, including
his interpretation of the Lousiana state song, "You Are My
Sunshine". Both formats are made as a limited edition one
time pressing of 500 each!
