Tag Archives: Screamo

Acoustic, Hardcore, Music, Post-Hardcore, Punk, Screamo, Ska

BHP BEST OF 2024

Leave a comment

This blog is not going anywhere at the moment. I am beyond grateful for anyone who stops by at any given time and has checked it out.

As a father of 2, my priorities are toward them and ensuring they have all the dad time in the world, so excuse the lack of content. I promise you I am listening to all the music all the time.

What that said, I never will not do a best of list as it helps me look back to all the amazing music that dropped throughout the year.

Enjoy.

BHP BEST OF 2024 LIST

State Faults – Children of the Moon

One of my most listened to albums of the year. This is an album that dragged me through emotion like none other and truly speaks for itself. It’s screamo, it’s post-hardcore, it’s perfect.

Maxwell Stern – In the Good Light

Max has outdone himself this time. This album is the greatest thing he has ever created, and I will fight those to disagree. He put something together special that will get stuck in the heads of so many for years to come. When I say I love watching someone mature as a musician, I am talking about Max Stern. I look forward to future releases, but it is going to be hard to top this one.

Glass Beams – Mahal

I was so into this sophomore album by Glass Beams upon listening to it that I stopped what I was doing to pre-order the album only later to find out I ordered an overseas copy and not the US version. When I try and tell people about this one, I just say things like disgusting and filthy and mean it in the best way. This band is phenomenal.

The Dopamines – 80/20

I was beyond stoked to hear after 7 years this Cincinnati punk band was dropping a new album. These guys have always been a great band, and this album is a blast to get into.

Hunden – A Calming Press

So much fuzz on this debut by Cleveland’s Hunden. Love to see pals from various bands connect and formulate insane tunes. They need to put this on wax already.

Hollow Suns – Free Fall

Caught these dudes in a basement earlier in the year and became an instant fan of their tunes. Their live performance pulled at all things 90s Sub-Pop roster related and on top of it they were just the nicest dudes. They hail from Tokyo, and apparently that night I saw them was the first time they ever played a house show.

IDLES – TANGK

This is the album that turned me into an IDLES fan. I did not really get into them before, but all is changed after becoming obsessed with this album.

Knocked Loose – You Won’t Go Before You’re Supposed To

I am getting up there in age, but I appreciate the hell out of this album. Insanity at its finest.

Beth Gibbons – Lives Outgrown

Forever a Portishead fan, there’s no wonder why I am obsessed with Gibbons’ solo release. This is a deep and personal journey set to her own town.

The Cure – Songs of a Lost World

I remember as a teen what this band meant to me. I was tossed feelings I tried to hide from then and was reminded how impactful this band is with this release. I am being serious when I say I teared up reminiscing about a young me Cure fan. The band has not lost their touch one bit.

Hey-Smith – Rest in Punk

The LP dropped in 2024 so I am saying this came out this year. This band is one of the best ska punk bands in the game. I adore them and listened to the absolute hell out of this release. I even got to see them open for the Suicide Machines and they put on one of the most energetic sets I have seen in ages.

Alkaline Trio – Blood, Hair, & Eyeballs

This band literally can do no wrong. Skiba and crew have written a start-to-finish classic.

Hot Water Music – VOWS

This band is easily one of my top 10 of all time and they have once again exceeded my expectations with this new album. Cresswell fits in ever so perfectly once again and the band seems stronger than ever. Happy to say I even got to see them live this year too.

Amyl and the Sniffers – Cartoon Darkness

Raw AF hits. I am not sure how else to describe this one. It is damn good.

SeeYouSpaceCowboy – Coup De Gr?á?ce

This one was wild. Jazzy, hardcore, and sewn together so perfectly. It is really a disaster of a masterpiece in the best way.

Omnigone – Feral

Wait… Some of the Link 80 dudes got back together and started a new band? Of course this is going to rip, but I did not expect it to slay.

Kill Lincoln – No Normal

This is one of the most fun ska punk bands out there. Every time I catch them live, I am just left with a sense of satisfaction. I was stoked to snag this album weeks before it dropped and love how they refuse to let off the accelerator.

Soft Play – Heavy Jelly

This album is just hard fun. Some of the lyrics had me busting up. The tunes are just insane too.

High Vis – Guided Tour

I will be forever kicking myself in the ass for missing these guys at a venue minutes from my house. I had no idea they were a supporting act. This album is just about as perfect as it can get.

Carpool – My Life In Subtitles

The emo album I needed this year to feel some feelings. It is so good.

Cursive – Devourer

I have been a Cursive fan most of the 2000s and will admit I was caught way off guard with this one. It is brilliant and ever so poignant. It really made my aging ass feel some emotion again.

Various Artists – Red Scare Industries: 20 Years Of Dreaming and Scheming

What a great collection of tunes to celebrate 20 years as a punk label. Toby has himself a label that has helped so many bands out there I love and adore. The Sidekicks cover on this album by that Laura Jane Grace person no one has ever heard about is one of the best renditions ever.

I am stopping here…for now. If you know me, I always find something else to talk about (and I did at least twice now). There are plenty more I can toss on here, but these were the ones I made note of and wanted to showcase.

Thanks, as always, for checking me out. I really would love to toss more content on here, but between raising the coolest kids, my big boy job, and building/slinging lamps with my homies at Whiskertin, my time sometimes is limited. I have no intention of disappearing and appreciate all the bands and the labels for continually fueling my head with the best tunes.

Happy New Year to everyone out there. Enjoy the day.

Emo, Music, Music Video, New Release, Review, Rock, Screamo

Album Review: Thursday – No Devolución

Leave a comment

I remember the first time I heard the one time post-hardcore/screamo outfit Thursday.  They were of a genre of music I swore I would never get into, but there was something about them I really was attracted to.  Over the years I have watched them mature into phenomenal musicians and it’s no surprise that they decided to try something differently on their sixth studio release.

No Devolución is perhaps the band’s most involved album to date.  It is not like any of their previous material and at times and really feels like a well put together work of genius.  Geoff Rickly still does wonders with his signing ability while the rest of the band seems to have really mellowed out this round.  This is the bands second release under Epitaph Records.

“Fast To The End”, a catchy rock jam, opened up the album.  Rickly and crew seemed to keep to that known Thursday sound intact with some screaming thrown in around.   

“No Answers” without a doubt was my choice track thanks to the catchy synths that easily could be compared to MGMT.  The song flowed so well throughout with very poignant lyrics talking of relations with Rickly singing “No answers, no answers when you’re around” at the end of the track.  Sad track, but beyond amazing to listen to.

The piano playing throughout “Sparks Against The Sun” made for a nice, gentle feel throughout.  The song itself was easy on the ears with the synths and distorted bass lines backing calm singing. 

“Open Quotes” on the other hand had a more aggressive approach.  Hinting back at some of older Thursday material, the track had a couple shouts and screams and a little added distorted guitar playing, but overall really could have been a tougher track.  It just seemed to dissolve by the end.

Starting slow was “Past And Future Ruins”, a killer track with heavy Muse matching guitar riffs as well as xylophone both over a steady floor tom beat.  Rickly had no problem showcasing his vocal ability throughout and even tosses it in a distorted mess a couple of times giving for a very loathing tone.

“Empty Glass” was a sad, sad song.  Although beautifully put together, the track was gloomy as hell and easily could bring the happiest person down to a whimpering lull.  The electronic driven music along the pitch-shifting singing was haunting yet almost comforting to listen to.

“A Gun In The First Act” was a darker sounding track with very NIN simular synthesizers in the background.  The more I listened to it, the more I heard NIN’s version of “Dead Souls” originally performed by Joy Division in it.  Overall the track was amazing and was one of my favorite cuts off the album.

“Turnpike Divides” brought the energy back with a old school Thursday feel to it.  The track is a no-place-like-home tribute to good ol’ New Jersey.  I loved the Bruce Springsteen reference, “it’s hard to sleep when you’re born to run.”  This was another song I enjoyed a lot and just stood out over all the other tracks.

Putting an end to the masterpiece called No Devolución was “Stay True”, a motivational track aimed at just about anyone who wants to give it a listen.  The Rollins-esque lyrics were quite stern yet compelling to follow along to.  Aimed at a novice in life, this song has the ability to shed guidance on those who are looking for answers.  Sometimes all it takes is a song for someone to guide them in the right direction.

No Devolución has made me a bigger Thursday fan.  Over the years, my music taste tends to change and I find myself getting discouraged sometimes are bands who never challenge themselves.  Sometimes the outcome is a disaster, but I have to hand it to Thursday, they put together an outstanding release without forgetting who they once were, and still are.

Thursday will be coming back to Cleveland on 7/23 during their tour with Taking Back Sunday at the House Of Blues.  Tickets are $27.50 and are on sale now.

Download This!, Hardcore, Metal, Music, Music News, Music Video, New Release, Screamo

It Dies Today Next Week…

Leave a comment

Just received word that one of my favorite metalcore/hardcore/screamo bands out there, It Dies Today, is dropping an album next week.

The Buffalo, NY band formed in 2001 at a very young age and impressed me with their furious sound and mature way of handling the scene.  I love the way they incorporate hardcore with metal and even add a little harmonious singing.  Their songs have been blasted out of my car windows more than once this summer and I can not get enough of them.

Teaming up with Trustkill Records they will be releasing Lividity on Sept. 15th.  I have high hopes of the release and will be sure to review it as soon as I get my hands on a copy of it.  My only concern about the new album is that I learned the band has a new singer since their last album and I am curious to see if he can keep the momentum going that was left in my ears from the previously release Sirens.

Until the CD releases next week I have no idea what to expect, but I was able to find the first single off Lividity entitled “Reckless Abandon”.  The song is freaking awesome.  Give a listen for yourself and see why I dig these guys so much.

DOWNLOAD THIS! – It Dies Today – “Reckless Abandon”

I actually like It Dies Today’s take on Depeche Mode‘s “Enjoy The Silence”:

Emo, Music, New Release, Punk, Review, Screamo

Thursday – Common Existence – CD Review

Leave a comment

New Jersey post-hardcore act Thursday has a lot to be proud about.  Being credited with bringing the screamo genre to the mainstream level as well as have been labeled in 2004 as SPIN Magazine’s “The Next Big Thing” are just a couple of reasons why.  This six-piece did not invent the screamo genre but rather took it to a new level.  With all they have accomplished I can not believe they have been a band for just over ten years now.

Currently the band is about to release their fifth full-length album, entitled Common Existence.  This time around the band has teamed up with the punk rock independent label Epitaph Records and hopes to continue to wow their fans while, at the same time, recruit new ones.  The band will be headlining the Taste Of Chaos tour this year in support of their new release alongside rousing acts Bring Me The Horizon, Four Year Strong, Pierce The Veil, and the Cancer Bats.

Just in case you have no idea what screamo exactly is, imagine melodic emo music mixed with post-hardcore fury and occasional throat-destroying screaming throughout.  Some find the music terribly annoying but there are many like myself who can not get enough.  I just love the fragile, sorrow feel during some songs only to be smacked over and over with screams not many can endure.  The first time I heard screamo was actually the first time I listened to Thursday’s debut with Victory Records called Full Collapse and I admit I was highly entertained.

I had already gotten a preview of the CD single “Resuscitation Of A Dead Man” earlier this year when the band streamed the song on their website, but it was not until this second helping that I realized how great of a song it is.  Less screamo and more hardcore is all I can think about on this track that features Rise Against’s Tim McIlrath contributing vocals.  “Last Call” follows with Geoff Ricky’s all-so-familiar, lamenting vocals.

Previously appearing on the band’s 2008 split EP with Japanese hardcore band Envy was “As He Climbed The Dark Mountain.”  The song hinted towards Thursday’s juvenile years with more of their signature screamo fashion but came with a twist as heavy distortion and pitch shifts dominated throughout.

“Friends In The Arms Forces,” which featured Quicksand’s Walkter Schriefels, seemed a little cut down from the other tracks on the CD but was still enjoyable.  The song, inspired by the band member’s friendship with someone currently serving overseas, is a protest of the basis but full of wishes of protection as different emotions spiral throughout.  “Beyond The Visible Spectrum” was very astray from the Thursday norm at times with a more mellow, mostly post-hardcore sound.  As much as I want to say I was not getting into it, the truth is…  I was.  I especially dug the reverb throughout the track and the sudden conclusion that left me wanting more.

“Time’s Arrow” was almost a whisper compared to everything else on this CD.  The song started out ever so gentle and had this, dare I say, almost a Muse/Radiohead experimental style going on.  I loved it.  This song was the most untried song I have heard Thursday perform so far and I still crave more of it.

This album deserves to be listened to over and over again by old school fans of Thursday as well as by random newcomers.  I myself can not keep Common Existence out of my CD player.  The overall sound suggests that the band has taken a departure from the genre commonly attributed to them.  It appears the one-time pioneers of screamo really focused on taking what they know and have expanded it with their musical creativity.  The result is some really amazing songs, some of which I did not expect to hear.

It’s nice to see the band try something new while still holding on to their own uniqueness. Common Existence is ongoing evidence that Thursday continues to mature and, honestly, this album has turned me into an even bigger fan.

Here is a recently released clip of the making of Thursday’s upcoming music video for “Resuscitation Of A Dead Man”:

Thursday – Making The Video: “Resuscitation of A Dead Man” from absolutepunk.net on Vimeo.

???

One of the first songs that got me hooked on Thursday:

Emo, Music Video, New Release, Punk, Screamo

Thursday To Release New CD Soon…

Leave a comment

New Jersey’s Thursday has a new album Common Existence coming out. Here is one of the new tracks for your listening pleasure called “Resuscitation of a Dead Man”:

I was going to review the album early but since some a$$ hat out there leaked the feed I was given, it was removed and now I have to wait.  I am ok with that wait though because I am very excited to hear this release.

I also found this video of Thursday performing “Friends in the Armed Forces” live last month that was featured on AP Magazine’s website.  This song as well will be released on Common Existance which is scheduled to drop on Feb. 17th.  The CD will be released through Epitaph Records.


Thursday – “Friends In The Armed Forces” live (AltPress.com exlusive) from Alternative Press on Vimeo.