FANTASTIC album. It somehow tops "Turn it Around". With this release they chose to get a bit more melodic, and dare I say "punk" without having stones cast at me. There's slightly less breakdowns (which makes for a more solid and steadily paced album), but all the classic shout-alongs these guys are great out. Victory actually signed a decent band again.

This is easily the best sounding album to come out of The Blasting Room and one of Bill Stevenson's best production jobs. This album will making waves for a few years. Awesome, awesome album.

Favorite songs (they're all great): Talk is Cheap (at 1:16, it's brutal), Wake the Dead, False Idols Fall

It's still a great album even though it isn't another RPM. They still put on the best live act.

Favorites: Dancing for Rain Rumors of My Demise... State of the Union

An absolutely amazing release from A7X. Better than their usual vocals, insane guitar riffs and solos, amazing drumming, and over the top imagery makes this one of the best releases of the year. Avenged Sevenfold are really gonna go places and this is the album that will get them recognized.

A quality cd from the elite hardcore group, Shai Hulud. It's been a while since "Hearts..." and you can tell the extra effort went into this guy. Think Stretch Armstrong if they went completely hardcore if you haven't heard these guys, which is hard to believe. I don't see how these guys can memorize how to play these completely complex songs. Strongly Recommended.

A pretty solid debut cd for these guys. My only real prob is that the better songs are towards the beginning and the latter songs are rather forgetable. Not a bad album at all though. For the fans of ASL, The Beautiful Mistake, and others along that line.

The Methadones are back at it again. Although this was recorded a year ago and a new one is being worked on already, it's good to know the guys have gotten it together enough to throw us a quality cd to listen to. The Methadones last release, Ill At Ease, was awesome and sounded the way punk rock was meant to sound like. The lyrics, for a bunch of drunk idiots are rather well written too. It's quick, its catchy, and you can't help but sing along. Only 4 stars cause some of the songs seem to sound slightly the same -- but it's like a really long good song. Pick it up, support quality bands like these guys! Hope the next album is just as good if not better.

Not enough can be said about this group. They kick serious ass. Finch-like in which they mix screams with singing and the rhythms sometimes are similar. But where ASL surpasses Finch is their ability to take the hardcore side to the edge. The screams are heartfelt and deep and not just a scream. The guitar work is insane and the drummer has skills. An easy 5 star album. Don't buy this thinking its a Finch clone. They are definetly a more hardcore/"screamo" band. Buy the damn cd already.

Well, I bought this for the unreleased Rise Against, Lawrence Arms and Alk3 songs. It's a good comp just not a great one. The "rugged" sound it goes for is not my style. Sure its gritty or whatever you call it, but it seems rushed and too sloppy at times. A bunch of good songs on this comp though, hopefully they get more than the hour of studio time to record them like it seems they got for each song. I like that clean sound though. If you like some of the bands on the comp it's def. worth pickin up because of the decent price tag.

If Bane, Reach The Sky, Ignite and The Killing Tree had a kid, it would be named Raised Fist. This is some of the best hardcore out there. Yelling, no screaming, so you can hear the lyrics clear as day and you can't help but pumping your fists in the air and shouting along as your driving along listening to this gem. This is one of the top 20 releases of 2002 in my book. Fast driven, with complex drumming, the only thing they lack is some sick guitarwork. But it doesn't matter, the guitar riffs are perfect for the music and never once did I feel they should have added a solo in here or a new riff. It's in your face, its kicking some major ass, make sure to pick this up, like, yesterday.

If you like this, check out: The Killing Tree "Romance of Helen Trent"

Check these out anyhow: Over It "Timing Is Everything" Staring Back "On"

This is a pretty cool DVD. It's got a lotta cool bands on it but dont look forward to any kind of enjoyable story. I wish the menus were a little more straight forward and that there was more live footage but maybe the 2nd volume will do just that. Get this DVD if you like the bands and own a DVD player.