From A Second Story Window - Conversations

This band recently broke-up, and I found myself listening to them today, and decided to add this to the blog, cause its by far one of my all-time favorite albums. This band started out as a complete deathcoreish band, but by the end had flourished into an amazing musical act, that is pretty hard to describe, other then just awesome. "Conversations" was supposed to be a concept album about some conversations the singer had been having with homeless people while on tour through out the years. I thought this was a pretty awesome concept, unlike some of the concept albums that people try to pass off these days. This band took a massive turn with this release, and let their singer show his true talents, that werent completely shown on "Delenda". I think they ended it on a pretty high note with this one. More melodic then past releases, but just amazing.

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Hayden - The Place Where We Lived

This album is nothing like the normal stuff I post on this blog. This is an amazing Canadian folk musician named Hayden. This guy has been around forever in Canadian music, and has always released strong albums. This is possibly his finest work. I remember picking up "The Place Where We Lived" while on tour in Winnipeg last June, and I haven't stopped listening since. This album also made me so addicted to his stuff again, that I have since went out a re-bought all his previous albums. If you just wanna listen to a great chilled out album, then this is for you.

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Carnifex - Hell Chose Me

Mostly I wouldn't post a band along the lines of Carnifex, but this band is actually unlike their fellow counterparts. This band has the perfect mix of death metal/black metal/breakdown riffs, and is just extremely fun to listen to. This album is a massive step up from their past releases, which are also good, but don't carry the same level of intensity as "Hell Chose Me". I have fallen away from this kinda music in the past few months, but this is for sure an album I put on every few days, and blast as loud as I can get away with. A lot of people label these guys as a Suicide Silence rip-off, but SS doesn't deserve to have their name said in the same sentence.

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NAILS - Unsilent Death

I never though I would see the day that extreme blast beats would be mixed with 2-step hardcore, but that day has come, and I highly doubt anyone will be able to do this better then NAILS. This band was introduced to me by a friend, who I trade bands with everyone once in a while. I haven't stopped listening to them since. This is one of the most furious releases I have ever heard in my life. "Unsilent Death" is pummeling, and hateful. This band also has some members from some legendary hardcore bands, Terror, and Carry on. Give this a listen, if you wanna hear a band that has its own sound within the hardcore scene. I think the only way to label them is Extreme Hardcore.

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Defeater - Travels

Another amazing B9 band, I recently found out about them with their new album "Lost Ground". I went back and checked out their album "Travels", and it blew me away. Its fast and furious, and the lyrical content is absolutely amazing. Their name has slowly began to creep up more and more. I fully suggest giving them a chance, cause I think they will soon be a main staple of the ever growing hardcore punk scene that is now exploding. Also, this is a concept album about a life from birth to death, and as far as concept albums go, this one is near the top of the list.

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Strike Anywhere - Iron Front

This release is hands down one of the best records to have ever been released, PERIOD!!! These guys have been a pretty legendary band for a few years now, and they have only released 4 albums. With the release of "Iron Front" I believe they will only cement that fact a bit more. This album has everything you could want from a melodic hardcore band. TONS of gang vocals, amazing anthem parts, and amazing lyrics, that make for great sing along's live. . I personally cant find a single bad song on this record, which for me is a rare thing these days. They can also help tickle that political bone in your body, if you have one. Seriously don't make the same mistake I made a few years back, and check these guys out now!

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Dead Swans - Sleepwalkers

Dead Swans is another amazing young hardcore band coming out of the UK. Recently they released their 2nd full length album "Sleepwalkers", on Bridge Nine records. Upon my first listen I was drawn to this bands pure aggression, and anger. It didn't seem contrived, like you will sometimes find among hardcore bands. I first heard of these guys when they released a split with Architects a few years back, and I have to say a lot of people kinda looked them over, and didn't give them a second chance. Now is the time to go back and check them out, or you'll be missing out on one of the best up and coming hardcore bands around. I also really love the artwork on this release. You kinda get an idea of the sound from the imagining. Another amazing B9 release.

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The Ghost Inside - Returner

Ghost Inside might have just released one of the best hardcore albums of the year, with their second effort "Returner". I wasn't a really big fan of their 1st album, so I wasn't expecting much of this release. I must say I was pleasantly surprised with how well this album actually turned out. I highly enjoy this album, even though I am kinda tired of the breakdown thing, they don't seem boring or annoying. They actually fit each song very well. Another bonus of this album, is the stunning production value, that has easily made this record a stand out for sure. Give it a listen, its a 5 star album!!!

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