Roncag
10-19-2006, 08:20 PM
The past several weeks have given us the chance to bring you 10 bands worth checking out. Listen to what we feel are some of the best bands you may have never heard of.
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/bandsyoushouldknow/astallaslions.jpg As Tall As Lions
Website (http://www.astallaslions.com/) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/astallaslions)
As Tall As Lions is not your little sister's emo band, in fact they aren't emo at all. How they got lumped in with that genre and all the dire music that goes along with that subtext is beyond me and so unfair to this staggering group. Their second full length album is a modern art-rock masterpiece in every sense of the word. Drawing to mind underdogs like Codeseven, Paulson, and Ours, As Tall As Lions breed a rare form of piano tinged melodica that is easily one of the most delectable albums of the year. Don't make the unforgivable sin of sleeping on this Self Titled album for nearly three months like me, this is an instant classic and a must hear album.
RIYL: Codeseven, Ours, Paulson, The Mars Volta, Circa Survive, Dikta, Aireline
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/bandsyoushouldknow/redstarsparade.jpg Red Stars Parade
Website (http://www.redstarsparade.com) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/redstarsparade)
If you’re amongst those who feel the Deftones have gone too Fantastic Planet on your ass, and miss the good ol’ days when they melted faces, then you must hear Red Stars Parade. Vocalist Matt Dixon sounds shockingly like Chino Moreno – pre-buffet era – and musically, the band sounds somewhere between early Deftones, the occasional hint of Converge, and a splash of post-metal a la everyone’s favorite Isis. While they definitely know how to bring the RAWK, Red Stars Parade isn’t one-dimensional, and show intricacy and variety on their debut LP Disko, like the Mogwai-esque instrumental interlude “Black Lung.” Hailing from the UK, Red Stars Parade is one of the best acts you may hear all year from the redcoats.
RIYL: ISIS, Deftones, Jesu, Mogwai, Aereogramme, Neurosis, Khanate, Converge
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/bandsyoushouldknow/auditoryaphasia.jpg Auditory Aphasia
Website (http://www.auditoryaphasia.com) :: Listen ( http://www.myspace.com/auditoryaphasia)
Auditory Aphasia are a bit of an enigma. They sent me a brilliant 5 song demo two years ago, that at the time was the closest thing I had heard to Dredg's Leitmotif, ever. Being completely enthralled with the band, I obsessed over the possibility of a full length album that never developed. Their label at the time also supposedly had them on the hook with a major label, so all band movement was frozen until a deal could be made. That deal never materialized and Auditory Aphasia's debut album, The Peripatetics, has toiled away on a shelf since early 2005. Fortunately for the band and myself, all label strings have now dissolved and they are free to do as they wish. The 10 track, 45 minute debut is now firmly in my hands and was worth every penny of wait. Combing the pretension and wildly experimental affront's of bands like Dredg and The Blood Brothers with the intensity and jazzy forthought of Ephel Duath along with the kooky eccentricity of Blonde Redhead, Auditory Aphasia are an aural paragon. The band is now firmly entrenched in the middle of a new 5 song EP. When any of this will see the public light of day is anyone's guess, but holding your breath in sheer anticipation should prove fruitful.
RIYL: The Blood Brothers, Dredg, Radiohead, Blonde Redhead, Circle Takes the Square, Ephel Duath, Kenna
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/bandsyoushouldknow/wildernessoftekoa.jpg Wilderness Of Tekoa
Website (http://www.tekoamusic.com/) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/wildernessoftekoa)
Wilderness of Tekoa is a five-piece passionate rock outfit from West Palm Beach, Florida. They derived their namesake from the battlegrounds of the same name mentioned in the Old Testament, from which they claim much of their inspiration evolves. Earlier this year through Northern Records, the band released their debut LP entitled, The Skies Pale In Comparison. It featured a battleground of it's own in the form of intense melodic rock that was equal parts screaming passion akin to Vaux and Sparta and a touching side similar to Coldplay and Lovedrug. With a penchant for capturing memorable moments over and over through the course of the album, it's likely their time to shine is forthcoming.
RIYL: Vaux, Sparta, The Silent Drive, Coldplay, Sunny Day Real Estate, Lovedrug
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/bandsyoushouldknow/dontdiecindy.jpg Dont Die Cindy
Website (http://www.dontdiecindy.com) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/dontdiecindy)
Despite a forgetable moniker, Dont Die Cindy, who hail from Panama City, Florida manage to create some inspiring music. The four-piece group have a different approach and would prefer to not just play the paint by numbers rock game. Their breed is almost atmospheric, and in turn produces a very epic, gigantic rock sound that is anything but mainstream stadium garbage. Their latest album for Cake Records, Most Imperfect Skies, fits somewhere between Further Seems Forever and Jimmy Eat World, with many luscious, and spacey moments similar to latter day Cave In.
RIYL: Further Seems Forever, Cave In, Copeland, Celebrity, Jimmy Eat World, Mae, Anberlin, Jeremy Enigk
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/bandsyoushouldknow/twinzero.jpg Twin Zero
Website (http://www.twinzero.net) :: Listen (http://myspace.com/twinzero)
Twin Zero is “holy shit” heavy. Comprising former members of Earthtone9, Vex Red, Subvert, and the Blueprint, this UK seven-to-nine metal act has made one of the most uncompromisingly heavy albums of 2006 with The Tomb of Every Hope. This 14-track, 90-minute, double-disc odyssey is a behemoth of post-metal, post-rock, and straight-up brutality. Combining softer, atmospheric elements found in Cult of Luna and Pelican with bone crushing intensity that would soil Aaron Turner’s drawers. And let it be said that our own Rick Gebhardt enjoys these guys just as much as I do, which, in all seriousness, actually says a lot. Not enough can be said about Twin Zero’s sophomore LP, aside from turn up the volume and try not to have your jaw break when it hits the floor.
RIYL: Earthtone9, The Blueprint, Cult of Luna, Aerogramme, Pelican, Sikth, Tool
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/bandsyoushouldknow/waxonradio.jpg Wax On Radio
Website (http://www.waxonradio.com) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/waxonradio)
Emo-rock has been watered down and circumcised so much over the past decade, there seems to be little left of what made the genre great. While most modern acts are drudging the genre through fecal matter, some are still doing things right – like Chicago’s Wax on Radio, who follow the path less traveled behind trailblazers Sunny Day Real Estate. Following the musically sharp format – which doesn’t rely on overbearing distortion – behind explosively powerful vocals – which don’t sound whiny – Wax on Radio help carry the torch of substantially powerful, emotionally electrified rock. Their debut record, Exposition is out now through Downtown Records, and like Arma Secreta’s A Century’s Remains, Exposition could sneak into some end-of-the-year surprise lists.
RIYL: The Mars Volta, Sunny Day Real Estate, No Knife, Gatsbys American Dream, Coheed and Cambria, Jane's Addiction
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/bandsyoushouldknow/teethofthehydra.jpg Teeth of the Hydra
Website (http://www.teethofthehydra.com) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/teethofthehydra)
Lyrically founded in the Scandinavian nerdery of beasts, wars, and Vikings, and musically based in the balls-out ferocity of American stoner-metal, Teeth of the Hydra are a sludgy, rip-snorting, bluesy power-trio from Columbus. On their debut album Greenland – from quintessential stoner label Tee Pee and producer Sanford Parker (Pelican, Yakuza) – Teeth of the Hydra (mega sweet name by the way) don’t break any ground that hasn’t already been broken, but they do it better than many of their peers – except High on Fire whom they are clearly fond of. Greenland is an classically epic concept album based around the sweetness of Vikings’ invasion of Greenland; nerdy for sure, but when the music’s this heavy, who cares?
RIYL: High on Fire, The Sword, Mastodon, Corrosion of Conformity, The Melvins, Black Sabbath, Clutch
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/bandsyoushouldknow/thescatteredpages.jpg The Scattered Pages
Website (http://www.scatteredpages.com) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/thescatteredpages)
Fronted by Kurt Coburn – weird, huh – the Scattered Pages sound exactly nothing like Nirvana, but they do indeed have a foot in great storytelling, indie alt-country folk tunes similar to Okkervil River and the Decemberists. The Houston, Texas trio claims their music is a blend of their personal favorites – Jon Brion, The Flaming Lips, Belle & Sebastian, Nick Cave, Tom Waits – which isn’t totally inaccurate – shocking considering how band’s often lie about their own RIYLs. But within the Scattered Pages’ second LP, Lazy Are the Skeletons you might find a little bit of everything of the aforementioned artists, not to mention the occasional vocal similarity to John Lennon. Lazy Are the Skeletons is folk-rock goodness supported by impressive production, and as music like the Decemberists gains popularity among the masses, expect the Scattered Pages to rise up with it.
RIYL: Okkervil River, Nick Cave, Echo Helstrom, the Decemberists, Wolf Parade, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/bandsyoushouldknow/canada.jpg Canada
Website (http://www.thecanadianfront.com/) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/canada)
The band Canada formed in late 2004 and they are in fact, not from Canada! What they are however, is a beautiful art-folk ensemble who radiate some of the most endearing and beautiful music you will find this year. Their debut album, This Cursed House, released through Quite Scientific Records, draws to mind last year's unexpected suprise that was Amandine, as well as slow-gazers like Sufjan Stevens, Iron and Wine, and actual Canadians like Wintersleep and The Arcade Fire. Featuring duel cellists, glockenspiel and a rhodes piano as well as a subtle cult-like buzz, it won't be long before Americana fans will have no choice but to lend them an ear.
RIYL: Amandine, The Arcade Fire, Sufjan Stevens, Wintersleep, The Decemberists, The Long Winters, Neutral Milk Hotel, Iron and Wine
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/bandsyoushouldknow/astallaslions.jpg As Tall As Lions
Website (http://www.astallaslions.com/) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/astallaslions)
As Tall As Lions is not your little sister's emo band, in fact they aren't emo at all. How they got lumped in with that genre and all the dire music that goes along with that subtext is beyond me and so unfair to this staggering group. Their second full length album is a modern art-rock masterpiece in every sense of the word. Drawing to mind underdogs like Codeseven, Paulson, and Ours, As Tall As Lions breed a rare form of piano tinged melodica that is easily one of the most delectable albums of the year. Don't make the unforgivable sin of sleeping on this Self Titled album for nearly three months like me, this is an instant classic and a must hear album.
RIYL: Codeseven, Ours, Paulson, The Mars Volta, Circa Survive, Dikta, Aireline
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/bandsyoushouldknow/redstarsparade.jpg Red Stars Parade
Website (http://www.redstarsparade.com) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/redstarsparade)
If you’re amongst those who feel the Deftones have gone too Fantastic Planet on your ass, and miss the good ol’ days when they melted faces, then you must hear Red Stars Parade. Vocalist Matt Dixon sounds shockingly like Chino Moreno – pre-buffet era – and musically, the band sounds somewhere between early Deftones, the occasional hint of Converge, and a splash of post-metal a la everyone’s favorite Isis. While they definitely know how to bring the RAWK, Red Stars Parade isn’t one-dimensional, and show intricacy and variety on their debut LP Disko, like the Mogwai-esque instrumental interlude “Black Lung.” Hailing from the UK, Red Stars Parade is one of the best acts you may hear all year from the redcoats.
RIYL: ISIS, Deftones, Jesu, Mogwai, Aereogramme, Neurosis, Khanate, Converge
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/bandsyoushouldknow/auditoryaphasia.jpg Auditory Aphasia
Website (http://www.auditoryaphasia.com) :: Listen ( http://www.myspace.com/auditoryaphasia)
Auditory Aphasia are a bit of an enigma. They sent me a brilliant 5 song demo two years ago, that at the time was the closest thing I had heard to Dredg's Leitmotif, ever. Being completely enthralled with the band, I obsessed over the possibility of a full length album that never developed. Their label at the time also supposedly had them on the hook with a major label, so all band movement was frozen until a deal could be made. That deal never materialized and Auditory Aphasia's debut album, The Peripatetics, has toiled away on a shelf since early 2005. Fortunately for the band and myself, all label strings have now dissolved and they are free to do as they wish. The 10 track, 45 minute debut is now firmly in my hands and was worth every penny of wait. Combing the pretension and wildly experimental affront's of bands like Dredg and The Blood Brothers with the intensity and jazzy forthought of Ephel Duath along with the kooky eccentricity of Blonde Redhead, Auditory Aphasia are an aural paragon. The band is now firmly entrenched in the middle of a new 5 song EP. When any of this will see the public light of day is anyone's guess, but holding your breath in sheer anticipation should prove fruitful.
RIYL: The Blood Brothers, Dredg, Radiohead, Blonde Redhead, Circle Takes the Square, Ephel Duath, Kenna
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/bandsyoushouldknow/wildernessoftekoa.jpg Wilderness Of Tekoa
Website (http://www.tekoamusic.com/) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/wildernessoftekoa)
Wilderness of Tekoa is a five-piece passionate rock outfit from West Palm Beach, Florida. They derived their namesake from the battlegrounds of the same name mentioned in the Old Testament, from which they claim much of their inspiration evolves. Earlier this year through Northern Records, the band released their debut LP entitled, The Skies Pale In Comparison. It featured a battleground of it's own in the form of intense melodic rock that was equal parts screaming passion akin to Vaux and Sparta and a touching side similar to Coldplay and Lovedrug. With a penchant for capturing memorable moments over and over through the course of the album, it's likely their time to shine is forthcoming.
RIYL: Vaux, Sparta, The Silent Drive, Coldplay, Sunny Day Real Estate, Lovedrug
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/bandsyoushouldknow/dontdiecindy.jpg Dont Die Cindy
Website (http://www.dontdiecindy.com) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/dontdiecindy)
Despite a forgetable moniker, Dont Die Cindy, who hail from Panama City, Florida manage to create some inspiring music. The four-piece group have a different approach and would prefer to not just play the paint by numbers rock game. Their breed is almost atmospheric, and in turn produces a very epic, gigantic rock sound that is anything but mainstream stadium garbage. Their latest album for Cake Records, Most Imperfect Skies, fits somewhere between Further Seems Forever and Jimmy Eat World, with many luscious, and spacey moments similar to latter day Cave In.
RIYL: Further Seems Forever, Cave In, Copeland, Celebrity, Jimmy Eat World, Mae, Anberlin, Jeremy Enigk
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/bandsyoushouldknow/twinzero.jpg Twin Zero
Website (http://www.twinzero.net) :: Listen (http://myspace.com/twinzero)
Twin Zero is “holy shit” heavy. Comprising former members of Earthtone9, Vex Red, Subvert, and the Blueprint, this UK seven-to-nine metal act has made one of the most uncompromisingly heavy albums of 2006 with The Tomb of Every Hope. This 14-track, 90-minute, double-disc odyssey is a behemoth of post-metal, post-rock, and straight-up brutality. Combining softer, atmospheric elements found in Cult of Luna and Pelican with bone crushing intensity that would soil Aaron Turner’s drawers. And let it be said that our own Rick Gebhardt enjoys these guys just as much as I do, which, in all seriousness, actually says a lot. Not enough can be said about Twin Zero’s sophomore LP, aside from turn up the volume and try not to have your jaw break when it hits the floor.
RIYL: Earthtone9, The Blueprint, Cult of Luna, Aerogramme, Pelican, Sikth, Tool
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/bandsyoushouldknow/waxonradio.jpg Wax On Radio
Website (http://www.waxonradio.com) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/waxonradio)
Emo-rock has been watered down and circumcised so much over the past decade, there seems to be little left of what made the genre great. While most modern acts are drudging the genre through fecal matter, some are still doing things right – like Chicago’s Wax on Radio, who follow the path less traveled behind trailblazers Sunny Day Real Estate. Following the musically sharp format – which doesn’t rely on overbearing distortion – behind explosively powerful vocals – which don’t sound whiny – Wax on Radio help carry the torch of substantially powerful, emotionally electrified rock. Their debut record, Exposition is out now through Downtown Records, and like Arma Secreta’s A Century’s Remains, Exposition could sneak into some end-of-the-year surprise lists.
RIYL: The Mars Volta, Sunny Day Real Estate, No Knife, Gatsbys American Dream, Coheed and Cambria, Jane's Addiction
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/bandsyoushouldknow/teethofthehydra.jpg Teeth of the Hydra
Website (http://www.teethofthehydra.com) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/teethofthehydra)
Lyrically founded in the Scandinavian nerdery of beasts, wars, and Vikings, and musically based in the balls-out ferocity of American stoner-metal, Teeth of the Hydra are a sludgy, rip-snorting, bluesy power-trio from Columbus. On their debut album Greenland – from quintessential stoner label Tee Pee and producer Sanford Parker (Pelican, Yakuza) – Teeth of the Hydra (mega sweet name by the way) don’t break any ground that hasn’t already been broken, but they do it better than many of their peers – except High on Fire whom they are clearly fond of. Greenland is an classically epic concept album based around the sweetness of Vikings’ invasion of Greenland; nerdy for sure, but when the music’s this heavy, who cares?
RIYL: High on Fire, The Sword, Mastodon, Corrosion of Conformity, The Melvins, Black Sabbath, Clutch
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/bandsyoushouldknow/thescatteredpages.jpg The Scattered Pages
Website (http://www.scatteredpages.com) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/thescatteredpages)
Fronted by Kurt Coburn – weird, huh – the Scattered Pages sound exactly nothing like Nirvana, but they do indeed have a foot in great storytelling, indie alt-country folk tunes similar to Okkervil River and the Decemberists. The Houston, Texas trio claims their music is a blend of their personal favorites – Jon Brion, The Flaming Lips, Belle & Sebastian, Nick Cave, Tom Waits – which isn’t totally inaccurate – shocking considering how band’s often lie about their own RIYLs. But within the Scattered Pages’ second LP, Lazy Are the Skeletons you might find a little bit of everything of the aforementioned artists, not to mention the occasional vocal similarity to John Lennon. Lazy Are the Skeletons is folk-rock goodness supported by impressive production, and as music like the Decemberists gains popularity among the masses, expect the Scattered Pages to rise up with it.
RIYL: Okkervil River, Nick Cave, Echo Helstrom, the Decemberists, Wolf Parade, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/bandsyoushouldknow/canada.jpg Canada
Website (http://www.thecanadianfront.com/) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/canada)
The band Canada formed in late 2004 and they are in fact, not from Canada! What they are however, is a beautiful art-folk ensemble who radiate some of the most endearing and beautiful music you will find this year. Their debut album, This Cursed House, released through Quite Scientific Records, draws to mind last year's unexpected suprise that was Amandine, as well as slow-gazers like Sufjan Stevens, Iron and Wine, and actual Canadians like Wintersleep and The Arcade Fire. Featuring duel cellists, glockenspiel and a rhodes piano as well as a subtle cult-like buzz, it won't be long before Americana fans will have no choice but to lend them an ear.
RIYL: Amandine, The Arcade Fire, Sufjan Stevens, Wintersleep, The Decemberists, The Long Winters, Neutral Milk Hotel, Iron and Wine