Kid:Nap:Kin - Touring The Riot Scene

Kid:Nap:Kin is comprised of only three musicians Dan Ellis, Jamila Weaver, and Patrick Hanlin. The complexity of the music found in “Introduction” feels unreal for the fact that only three artists are involved in all that music. The melodic sound of “Introduction” echoes a very post-punk or indie atmosphere of Mars Volta meets [old] Lost Prophets. The dynamic of the band comes out towards the middle of the track and blends into “Exposition.” (more…)

In Remembrance - We’ll Always Have The Memories

My first impression of the band In Remembrance was at a The Acacia Strain show in Revere, MA that had an absurd amount of bands playing. Surrounded by bands playing drop-whatever breakdowns, I remember how much In Remembrance stood out and how much I enjoyed them. Fast-forward about a half a year, and I ran into a member of In Remembrance at a The Neon Hookers show in New Hampshire. We chatted for a bit, and I couldn’t help but wonder if they had any CDs out. Kris Mission (Rock Vegas Records) came up to me at a show in early 2007 and said, “Hey, do you have the new In Remembrance album?” An hour later, I was blasting We’ll Always  Have The Memories in my room. The RA knocked on the door and yelled at me to turn it down. How could I resist this album? (more…)

Thirteen Yards To Victory - Feudal Efforts Make Futile Friends

A young band from Massachusetts, Thirteen Yards To Victory may not be veterans of the music scene but are definitely making the first leap to make their mark. The full-length “Feudal Efforts Make Futile Friends,” released in December ‘06, is that first give-it-all-we-got effort.

My first impression when the intro track was over and “Fall of Prospero” was blasting was that the vocals reminded me a lot of My American Heart. Backup vocals comprised mostly of stressed screams and shouts add a more emotional, dynamic sound to the band’s sound. The second impression I got was that the synthesizer in the band added a very catchy, almost dance-y Motion City Soundtrack kind of feel. (more…)

A Skylit Drive - She Watched The Sky

A Skylit Drive has represented one of the latest Myspace fads in post-hardcore music. The formula of high-pitched vocals accompanied with raw screaming and splitting metal-core-escque breakdowns is brought back once again in the band’s debut EP She Watched The Sky. Scene fans rejoice!

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The Graduate - Horror Show EP

“God damn it’s great to be alive!” Springfield, Illinois has brought us a very catchy band called The Graduate. A preliminary “taster and teaser” for their album Anhedonia, Horror Show has all the formulas to get some hype out of the underground of catchy pop-punk and rock fans out there. Apparently the band has been causing a lot of commotion among the CMJ community out there, and finally I understand why. (more…)