Sunrise

Debuting off of San Francisco based Owl Paw’s newest six song EP, Carry On, the first single “Sunrise” is a swirling mix of harmonious vocal rhythm's, upbeat guitar licks and soothing hums. The step into the sunlight begins with the head bobbing movement of lead singer/songwriter Derek Schultz’s hand over the his acoustic guitar. Soon joined by the rest of the band as an electric note rings out over the sonic landscape. The band bops up and down as the song progresses. A lonely violin enters the mix, morosely leading the song up to its climax and continuing on throughout the peppy chorus.

“But if the sun won’t rise/The body can’t die again” is chanted in a glorious three way harmony. Highs, lows and mids are all there and executed in perfect unison. A trailing voice echoes the group, yet it lacks the muster to properly accent the line. Leaving a slightly sour tone in the listeners ear. Continuing on in basic pop structure, “Sunrise” ends on a delicate note.  In a desirous, desperate cry for happiness the band sings, “When all I want to see is the sunrise/I’m already running late.” Soothingly tugging at the strings of any listener. 

The folk/indie musings of Owl Paws have long been in motion since their inception into folk world. Their 2011 self titled release captivated listeners with its acoustic ballads and smooth vocal melodies. With the release of Carry On, out in August from Urban Scandal Records, the band continues this legacy with a more full bodied and polished sound. “Sunrise” is the culmination of this hard work and proves to be some of their catchiest and most polished tunes yet. 

Rating: 4/5

Rad Summer 2012

Straight out of Florida, land of retirement homes and vacation destinations, comes one of the most brutal, straight forward hardcore compilations seen on this side of the internet in many years. Featuring the likes of Code X Red, Clockwork, Losin’ It and more, the Rad Summer 2012 compilation brings some the best of the hardcore reality to the world. 

Released by Life to Live Records, this compilation clocks in at a rad 29 and a half minutes and unrelentingly brings the listener to their knees as each song progresses. Chock full of obscure and hungry hardcore champions, this comp spans the whole spectrum of the genre. Fast, aggressive, heavy, brutal, melodic, chugging, driving, dizzying, its all here. 

One of the more outstanding tracks on the record is Code X Red’s song “Never Again.” Straining, high pitch screams release over the ensuing wrath of the guitar and drum attack that backs it up. Circling around the listeners ears until one is dizzy, Code X Red brings the hate effectively in the style of Terror, Alpha and Omega, and American Nightmare. On the opposite side of the lens lies Clockwork. Bringing to the table a melodic style similar to Sinking Ships, Shook Ones and older Crime In Stereo, the bands submission “Ad and Subtract” shows great promise. A speedy intro breaks way into a pounding, toe tapping outro that brings to mind Polar Bear Club in its thickness and heart tugging movements. 

Other mentions within Rad Summer’s walls are Losin’ It and their song “No Apology.” A dragging bass lines calls for stage dives right off your bedside as the drums smack your ears. Releasing into a pounding, mosh heavy riff that brings to mind the aggressive days of More To Pride and Rivalry Records. Even more aggressive is the enormous open ended breakdown at the end of Modern Pain’s “Let Down” that is only countered by the melodic sounds of Tiebreaker’s “Take It Back” two tracks later. The later bringing to mind Verse and Shipwreck, at their more melodic moments. 

All in all their is something for every hardcore enthusiast within the sonic layers of Life To Live’s Rad Summer 2012 compilation. Make the summer even radder than it already has been by picking it up over at their bandcamp for a cheap dollar.

Rating: 3/5

Slave to the Mind

 Straight out of Zanesville, Ohio, Mind Crimes brings hope to all who stand oppressed. Their debut EP Slave to the Mind brings forth an aggressive outburst of disoriented youth through a potent mixture of melodic hooks and abrasive pummelings. Self-released April 30th, 2012 Mind Crimes impressively stakes their claim as a powerful force within the hardcore mentality. 

Focusing in on some of the basic mundanity of society; stress, work, religion and compassion, Mind Crimes tackle these issues in an easily accessible manner. Through straight forward lyrics and powerful vocals executed in true modern-hardcore fashion, these messages are delivered by the band with a great and powerful ease. This can be seen on one of the more impressive tracks on the record, the closer, “Echoes.” A slow drudgingly painful riff eases the listener into the song, Blacklisted comes to mind, soon to be quickly cut out by a powerful burst of guitar and drum noise. When this explosion of energy ends vocalist Drew Stoits emerges in the forefront. “Afraid to lose the love that he’ll give/If she doesn’t give herself to him.” Stoits vengefully declares, claiming victory for the downtrodden women of the world. 

Sex is a powerful tool, too often it is abused and turned into tool of power. Mind Crimes and Stoits forcefully use their awareness and the gift of the hardcore community to fight against these societal wrongs. The song comes to a powerful end in another Blacklisted-esque manner. Clashing guitars crash over and through the ears of the listener as the drums forcefully build up into a head bobbing, head banger outro of sorts. Thrash metal solo included.

Beginning at the end leaves much open space for investigation and Mind Crimes does not disappoint. From the Comeback Kid-esque melodic speedster “Mountains” with its turbulent circle pit ragers that cumulate into overpowering sing-alongs, to the standard hardcore fuck work jam “Managerial Slime,” (complete with an outstanding C3PO/Solo introduction and Kids Like Us influenced outro) Slave to the Mind provides a wide sampler platter of hardcore tastes. Sounding like Comeback Kid at one moment and Blacklisted the next, it is apparent that Mind Crimes are no newcomers to the modern-hardcore scene.

Perhaps what remains now is solidifying these influence into one cohesive unit. It comes with time, but for Mind Crimes it may not take long.Varying the songs leaves the listener with a certain level of excitement as to what will come next, however it  is tough to distinguish Mind Crimes from their predecessors. What they do have is pure anger and enthusiasm, it practically oozes from the pores of my macbook. This is crucial for any band, especially playing hardcore. Only originality and song structure leave something to be desired. The variance within certain songs takes away from the groove of the EP, melody abruptly transitioning to discordant can leave a sour taste in the mouths of many unless properly executed. All criticism set aside however, Slave to the Mind works as a great jumping point for Mind Crimes and is a solid example of the modern-hardcore’s influence on the scene today.

FFO: Terror, Comeback Kid, Blacklisted, Kids Like Us

Rating: 2.3/5