Native Nod - Puberty Today, Tomorrow the World

So Native Nod was an emo band from the early 90's that released songs on a few splits and demos that are now super hard to find. This album came out before they split up and I'm pretty sure it's everything they ever released. This band definitely hinted at/helped shape the "screamo" sound that we all (or at least I) now love so much, spoken word and build-ups to loud guitars and screaming, totally worth hearing.

such a terrible album name though

Hunab Ku - The Rewiring Process [EP]

This band is like if the Dillinger Escape Plan, The Number Twelve Looks Like You and The Mars Volta hooked up and inexplicably gave birth to a beautiful, three-way grindcore baby from space. And I guess BTBAM can be like his uncle or something. I'm not sure if that makes any sense but I promise the music is at least twice as insane as that description. Extreme technicality, lots of awesome moments, tons of genre and style shifts within each song, and plenty of sheer weirdness.

Hunab Ku's latest offering is this short EP, and it's seriously an awesome listen. Highly recommended for anyone who's bored with today's metal/hardcore. And did I mention it's crazy??

The Rewiring Process [EP]

Punch - Push Pull

Insane hardcore with a shrieky girl (omg) vocalist. The band apparently shares two members with Loma Prieta, but they really have different sounds. Satisfyingly fast drumming, dissonant guitars, and harsh as fuck vox that somehow don't come off as gimmicky. This will kick your ass all over the place.

take that

Pretty Girls Make Graves

Such an amazing band name: Pretty Girls Make Graves. Anyways, I'm not sure what kind of band this is. I'm going to put it at art punk. Maybe post-punk. Maybe just really aggressive indie. I like art punk, it just sounds cool. But I think post-punk is more proper. Anyways, I'm going to jack a quote from sputnik to describe them:

"From a side sta

nce the band is just as annoying as the garage band that just happened to become your next door neighbor. But when direct in the face, this album is a musical treasure chest of wasted vocals, a mixture of floating and stabbing guitars and a punk paste to impossibly glue them all together. It simply doesn’t make any sense, but it is a creative masterpiece. They utilize electronica in the cracks as a sealant and present a solid surface all across the entire album. It doesn’t bore; it sure doesn't depress or regress in any manner."

To put it simply, this band isn't filled with great musicians. But what they've created is great music. I love it when a band does that.

The New Romance

Good Health

Colossal

Another pretty much awesome indie/math rock band I've found recently. It's a lot like This Town Needs Guns, except it has two guitars. This lines aren't quite as noodly, but the two guitars more than make up for it. They are constantly playing off each other, and slightly changing up lines over time. And the drummer is sick most all of the time. The only downside is the midwest-emo style singing, which took, I dunno, about a day to get into. So it's worth it. Both the EP and LP are good listens.

Welcome The Problems

Brave The Elements EP

Belong - Same Places

Words cannot describe the feeling I get from listening to this at night before falling asleep. This 14-minute ambient track is one of the most beautiful things I've ever experienced. Turn it on, close your eyes and drift away.

(Same Places)

Lemuria - Get Better

Lemuria is a sweet female fronted indie-pop trio. Clever, honestly written vocal lines defined by a nice clash between the emotive singing of guitarist sheena and monotone drone of drummer alexander are my favorite characteristic. The simplistic, yet fresh guitar riffs backed by solid drumming and bass lines combine well, making a statement that sometimes less is better. Short 3 minute long songs seem fleeting but suits the band's simple style well. Ultimately it's a short sweet album that can be a fantastic addition to anyones music collection.

Get Better soon.

The Fad - Kill Punk Rock Stars

This is pretty sick ska tinged punk band I randomly downloaded a couple years ago. The whole group really combines together tightly. Think above average punk with ska-punk sections thrown in just to mix it up. Probably the most impressive is the drummer who throws down slick beats the entire time, but the whole band is pretty much awesome. Check it out if you like punk or ska or both.

Kill them fuckin' Punk Rock Stars.

Million Dead - LPs

Been listening to these guys a lot recently. They're a now defunct post-hardcore band from London who were probably one of the most promising groups in the genre after the demise of ATD-I. I really like their debut alum, fucktons of energy and a totally outstanding vocal performance, one of the best I've heard in the genre actually. Their other album is cool too, but less in-your-face and a little too polished my taste. Anyway, here's both. Enjoy Million Dead responsibly.

A Song to Ruin - 2003

Harmony No Harmony - 2005

This Town Needs Guns

If you haven't heard this sweet indie band, you're sure in for a treat. The first thing to notice is the blistering guitar lines are impressive the entire time, even if only slightly sloppy. Technical drumming and mathy time changes couple in nicely. A smooth bass line connects the music together while a melancholy voice soars overheard. Certainly something fans of indie or math rock should check out.

Animals

This Town Needs Guns

Aids Wolf - Cities Of Glass

One of the noisiest things I've ever heard. Not for wimps. The combination of their grinding, abrasive guitars and the wails and screeches of their female vocalist may not be for everyone, but you might want to check it out if you're looking for something challenging and unique.

I saw them live and it was an awesome experience. Seriously, go see them if you ever get a chance. Even if you hate their music. ESPECIALLY if you hate their music.

Cities Of Glass

Brand New - The Devil And God Are Raging Inside Me

I just discovered this album a couple hours ago. I mean, it was on my hard drive for a couple months, but I'd never really checked it out. Man I had no idea what I was missing out on. This is simply one of the most beautiful albums I've ever listened to. Quiet, melancholy whispers flow to powerful, aggressive sweeps that recede back to uncertain acceptance. The whole album takes you on a flight over huge rolling hills of emotion.

The voices are driving me insane as they rage inside me!?

Loma Prieta

Loma Prieta are from the Bay Area and play a really fast and loud style made up of equal parts screamo, post-hardcore and math-rock (but probably mostly screamo if we're honest). They have three full-lengths out, the most recent being from a little bit earlier this year. Personally my favorite is their first, which almost reminds me of a much heavier version of Tera Melos self-titled album. Their middle album was more post-rocky and not as technical but still pretty cool, and the new one is almost Orchid-esque, super fast and super aggressive. If you're anything like me you'll enjoy these.

Last City - 2008

Dark Mountain - 2009

Life/Less - 2010

City Of Ifa - Black Pyramid

A cool (and pretty much unknown) mathy hardcore group from Orlando, FL. This band sure knows how to write awesomely ridiculous guitar riffs, but what makes this new album "Black Pyramid" stand out from their previous work is a much better sense of cohesion within the songs. They've incorporated smoother transitions without toning down the insanity making this their best album so far, by far.

Here, click on these purple words for a free download.

Kvelertak - Kvelertak

Don't know much about this band except that they're Norwegian and that they fucking rule. Above average high-energy hardcore mixed with just enough black-metal to stand out from the pack. Fun as shit, heavy as hell.

plus, just look at that album artwork. :o