My Epic – “Violence” (ep)

 Posted by on September 12, 2019 at 16:51  No Responses »
Sep 122019
 

My Epic has returned with Violence, their promised follow up to 2018’s Ultraviolet (ep) which was an introspective look at faith and questions that are “beyond what we can see and know”.  While Ultraviolet took a quieter approach, Violence shows the band taking a more abrasive tact.

North Carolina natives My Epic now call Fredericksburg, VA home and can trace their roots as a band back to 2005.  The ep This is Rescue (2006), and the first album  I Am Undone (2008) were released on Dreamt Music, an imprint of Facedown Records.   The band’s  follow up album, Yet (2010), ended up on the Heatseekers charts, as did the follow up Behold, in 2013.

As I wrote back in 2018 when reviewing Ultraviolet…

As projects go, My Epic has taken on dealing with things which are beyond what we can see and know, and things that we do see but can’t fit into our paradigm.  Certainly big questions and from a larger perspective, Ultraviolet seems a perfect fit for one side of the story.  Chiming guitars, layers and layers of sound and atmosphere that seems very far from the worlds of metal or punk.  Vocals are smooth and calming and provide just the right atmosphere for the introspective, questioning  lyrics.  In many ways, this reminds me a bit of some of the ambient black metal projects I love so much, but in this case keyboards, electronic effects, and clean guitars provide the background. Continue reading »

Listen to the Title Track from War of Ages’ New Album

 Posted by on August 25, 2019 at 12:49  No Responses »
Aug 252019
 

War Of Ages have just released the title-track  from their upcoming new album “Void” which will be released Sept. 13 through Facedown Records. The track can be streamed below.

War of Ages are back with an electrifying new album. “Void” is the highly anticipated follow up to 2017’s “Alpha”, and these 11 new tracks are well worth the wait. The band sequestered themselves at Sicktones Studios with engineer and WoA guitarist Jack Daniels to produce their strongest and most lyrically honest album yet. “Void” cashes in on the band’s strengths, from Leroy Hamp’s ripping vocals to the to technical artistry of guitarists Daniels and Steve Brown and bassist Elisha Mullins, and introduces fans to the insane skill of metal drummer Kaleb Luebchow. “Void” hits all the right notes and clocks in at the high point of War of Ages’ career so far.

War of Ages has been confirmed for the line-up of the 12th edition of the Brainstorm Festival that takes place on Friday the 8th and Saturday the 9th of November 2019 in Gigant at Apeldoorn. the Netherlands. Other performing band’s will be, Cellar Darling (CH), Hypersonic (ITA) + Sirenia (NO), In Mourning (S) + more info here. Continue reading »

American Arson – “Rise & Fall” (ep)

 Posted by on May 5, 2019 at 15:04  No Responses »
May 052019
 

Two-man powerhouse American Arson are back with their Facedown Records debut, an ep sure to whet the appetite of post-hardcore fans.

American Arson is a Detroit, Michigan based band that is a project by vocalist/guitarist Evan Baker (ex-Good Luck Varsity) who started the project as GLV was ending.  In 2015, Baker added drummer Jesse Gentry and the once solo-project turned into a duo.  Not being familiar with the band, I checked out an older track, “Revival in My Lungs” and was pretty much blown away by how full the sound was from the 2-man project.  Fast guitars and drums and piercing, gritty vocals characterized the sound on that track.  Fast forward to April 2019 and the band now has a presence on Facedown Records and has released a post-hardcore filled ep, along the likes of labelmates Comrades.

The ep conveniently enough has three tracks, “Rise” “&” and “Fall” and show a bit of a maturity compared to earlier material to the point that one might say it’s leans a bit toward the more commercially acceptable.  “Rise” is filled with anthemic chorus and gang vocal sections, showcasing some great vocals by Evan Baker, both clean and somewhat rougher in style.  Continue reading »

Rock n’ Roll Band ‘American Arson’ Joins the ‘Facedown’ Family

 Posted by on April 5, 2019 at 18:12  No Responses »
Apr 052019
 

Facedown Records are very excited to introduce you to American Arson and their brand new EP “Rise & Fall”, out today on iTunes, Spotify, Amazon and everywhere else music is sold and streamed.

Employing on-the-fly vocal and instrumental looping alongside multi-amp stacking, American Arson creates a massive, driving rock sound with just two performers. Punctuated by raw, razor-throated vocals and drop-tuned, buzzsaw guitars, Continue reading »

Dens – “No Small Tempest”

 Posted by on October 29, 2018 at 19:46  No Responses »
Oct 292018
 

My immediate impression of “Deadrise”, the first of four tracks on this EP, is that there is a yearning being expressed. When I consider the lyric, “I’ve thrown myself into the deep…” I recall the figure on the album cover suspended beneath the waves. While the storm rages above, he seems oddly at peace. This kind of rock music will get you thinking.

I like how the vocalist’s melodic voice contrasts with the rest of the instruments, and how Dens evoke both the storm and the calm in one song. How often are we indignant of God when he shows compassion to sinners? How quickly are we to call unfair when the godless continue to thrive?

It sounds like a big space opens up on (W)retched. The progression from slow arpeggio to guitars that trill and positively soar towards the end of the song is very well executed, and speaks to a band who know how to sonically translate emotions. I get the same from the Scottish band, Mogwai.

When I reflect on this poignant lyric: “Whatever my lot, You have taught me to say / “Even so, it is well with my soul”” I think of the many teachings about life in abundance. How, through Christ, we may live a full life. How, when we cast our burdens unto Him, we receive a peace that is not of this world. We are known to the Father, and because we accept that Jesus Christ died for our sins, our names are recorded in the Lamb’s Book of Life. Continue reading »

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