Foundation "When The Smoke Clears"

For a good while now Foundation has been putting out some great releases and are now one of the biggest bands proudly carrying the torch for hardcore and straight edge in the new decade. When The Smoke Clears has been out for a good couple of months now but I just haven't gotten around to sitting down and writing about it. The damn thing has been on constant rotation though.

Chugging guitars, galloping rhythms and neanderthal-like shouts bring down the hammer on this record. It's a heavy one to be sure. The album opens with "Purple Heart" a rager that cullminates in one of the best sing-alongs I've heard in a while. "Calloused" is the midpoint of the record and happens to be my favorite track it pounds and grooves it's way into my memory banks on a daily basis. After that track I found it hard to keep up though. Many of the songs begin to blend and sound like more of the same. Still, this is a great listen and these songs come off insanely well live.

Glad to see that Bridge 9 is still putting out some solid releases.
http://www.b9store.com/foundation

Touche Amore "Parting The Sea Between Brightness and Me"

One of the most promising new bands to come around in a while, finally make their Deathwish debut this week. Touche Amore's previous record, "...To the Beat of a Dead Horse" was a stunning debut but this record not only builds upon that success but pushes the band to the forefront of modern melodic hardcore.

One thing that was definately lacking with the bands first LP was a production big enough to handle all of the catchy hooks, witty lines and giant sing alongs. In a way it gave the record it's own sound and feel. Still, "Parting The Sea..." sounds much bigger and brighter, and is all the more better for it. The twangy guitar chords stand out and hold up well against the wall of distortion of the rhythm guitar. Elliot Babin's drumming brings these songs to a new level of energy and excitement (if you've seen them live you know what I mean) and it translates well to wax.

The lyrics;oh the lyrics. They are the one thing that really sets this band apart and is what has won them such a rabid following. Reading more like entries in the jornal of a very angry, sad and apathetic young man then most make believe emotions you hear being spewed ou these days, these songs are wallowing in the muck of damaged goods. But what keeps these songs from becoming overbearing and pitiful is the cleverness in whch they are delivered. It takes a lot of skill to convey all of this emotion, make it rhyme and then force the listener to smirk at the wordplay being screamed into the headphones. Words flow into one another and then before you know it you've entered a new song ("Uppers/Downers"-"Crutch"), proof of the bands impecable matching of music and lyrics.

One great record. It's been on repeat for a few days and shall continue to be.


Here is some video I took at the record release show this week. The song is called "Pathfinder" and it's one of the strongest tracks on the record.