The Armed

From: Detroit, Michigan

Genre: Hardcore, Punk Rock

For Fans Of: Some ultimately pissed off music that retains a certain undeniable catchieness and groove.

My first exposure to The Armed was simple. Kurt Ballou, the guitar player for Converge and recording mastermind at God City, shared their new video for their song "Paradise Day" off their new album, Untitled. Being the massive Converge fan I am with the massive respect for Kurt Ballou I had, I decided to check out the music video, and boy was I ever pleasantly surprised. "Paradise Day" hit like a semi truck right out of the gate, but more in the way of one that kept running you over, never giving you time to catch your breath in between each repetition. Oddly enough as well, it had an immediate ear worm chorus, causing me to sing "ALLLL ON MY OWN, I'M SORRY, I'M SORRY" repeatedly through out the course of my day. Needless to say, I was not only impressed by my first taste of The Armed, but completely in love.

Luckily, the LP that "Paradise Day" came off, managed to retain the raw amount of energy and passion, as well as strange knack for melody, that "Paradise Day" originally showed. From the very beginning of Untitled, straight through the end, The Armed pour out their souls into one of the most beautifully pissed off, spine shivering records I've heard in a long time. However, The Armed never allow their pure and utter rage distract them from the fact that melody needs to be heard and appreciated. This is one of the first hardcore records in a long time that I have heard in a long time and have been able to sing along to on only the second or third time through. Songs like "Forever Scum" and "Paradise Day" (which, honestly, is my new ring tone), show The Armed's unique ability to craft a chorus with strong melodic tendencies in a scene currently over obsessed with "how low can we tune and how stupid heavy can our breakdowns be?".

What's also interesting is to me is that The Armed do not list themselves as a hardcore band anywhere, but rather, simply just as a punk rock band. Perhaps this mindset is what allows them to avoid breakdown worship and set themselves apart from their peers. However, I like to think they list themselves as a punk band due to the common saying "Never trust a hardcore kid who didn't listen to punk first". (This paragraph was entirely to try and squeeze in that joke).

Anyways, if isn't readily apparent, I really, really enjoy The Armed, and think that most of you will too. Besides, it can't possibly hurt to check them out, especially since their discography is free on bandcamp. Seriously one of my favorite bands in awhile.

Free Tunes: https://thearmed.bandcamp.com/album/untitled

Where is my Spaceship

From: Hackensack, New Jersey

Genre: Folk Punk, Punk, Power Pop

For Fans Of: Andrew Jackson Jihad, Not Half Bad, Rozwell Kid

Recently, I have become disenfranchised with folk punk. Every time I listen to it, it seems like every band wants to exactly fit the Planet-X roster, be as close to Andrew Jackson Jihad as possible, or want to sound like Days n' Daze. Luckily for me, and everybody else, Where is my Spaceship falls into none of those categories, instead spiking their folk punk with plenty of pure punk attitude, a little bit of ambiance, and some power pop level hooks.

While their unique take on folk punk may set them apart, do not dismiss them simply because they are not your traditional folk punk band. The band still shows significant fondness for folk punk trademarks, such as a dry, cynical sense of humor, with lines like "I'm gonna sleep next to a can of open paint" on songs like Snake Juice Anthem. That also what helps to make Where Is My Spaceship such an enjoyable listen, there is instantly a feeling of familiarity and some common characteristics of a folk punk band, but they also add enough of their own flare to separate them and to prevent them from being completely pigeon holed into folk punk singularly. If you dig tasty jams you can sing along to, Where Is My Spaceship comes highly recommended.

Free Tunes: https://whereismyspaceship.bandcamp.com/

Remo Drive

From: Minnesota

Genre: Emo, Alternative, Post Punk

For Fans Of: Balance and Composure (they just remind me of them a bit, I don't know why), I can't really think of anything else, they're pretty unique.

Are you ready to get sad? If your answer is yes, then good, because with Remo Drive, it's time to get sad. Placing these guys, as mentioned above, is difficult for me (which I mean in the best way possible). They obviously have sort of an emo backbone, but fail to fully meet the standard of what I think of when I think of emo bands. Instead they mix some very loud to soft post punk/post hardcore-ish type sections, and even have a few sections of songs that sound they like belong on a Matador Records release. Now is any of this a bad thing? Absolutely not. This unique blend of styles shows that Remo Drive is a band that refuses to be pinned down and is more than happy to explore their influences a little bit and move a bit out of their comfort zone, and that totally rules. I've stated before that for me, I personally get sick of the millions of bands within emo nowadays who seem to just want to be as close to Algernon Cadwallader as possible. That's why Remo Drive's willingness to transcend genre boundaries and really explore multiple genres is so refreshing. I definitely believe these guys are a band that everyone should be following closely, Also what the hell is what up with Lost State records? Those guys have just been knocking it out of the park with their releases. Seriously an absolutely killer label at this point that I can really trust to put out solid releases. Final thing, but I feel like an Oddities/Remo Drive split would be insanely awesome, but that's just me. Anyways, after all the rambling, just check these guys out. You'll love it.

Free(!!!!) Tunes: https://remodrive.bandcamp.com/

Not Half Bad

From: Fort Worth, Texas

Genre: Folk Punk, Punk, Orgcore

For Fans Of: Andrew Jackson Jihad (Knife Man type stuff), Against Me!, O! Pioneers!!!

Ah, how refreshing. A folk punk band who doesn't want to just rip off Andrew Jackson Jihad or Days n' Daze. It soothes me in a way that I can't quite explain to hear a vocalist that isn't trying to do that weird nasal screech thing Days N' Daze does (no offense love that band) or simply try as hard as possible to sound like Sean Bonnette of Andrew Jackson Jihad. Maybe, though, that is because, while this band does carry many "folk punk" qualities, they're for the most part a folk punk band. Instead of the folk punk goal of sounding exactly like Ramshackle Glory and calling it a day, Not Half Bad is significantly more driven by the punk stylings of "orgcore" bands such as Hot Water Music and O!!! Pioneers!!!. This isn't at all a bad thing, however. It definitely separates them from the millions of other bands playing folk punk now, while their large folk punk influence separates them from all the bands trying to play orgcore. Not Half Bad truly exists in some beautiful middle ground between two genres where I increasingly find many bands to stomach, and in doing so, really present some totally banging punk tunes. If you want to sing along and be pretty out of time while doing it, but be ok with it, Not Half Bad is probably the band for you. (Side Note: I still listen to their song "Punk rock is a full time job" pretty much daily. Check it out.)

Free Tunes: https://nothalfbad.bandcamp.com/album/sorry-dudes-ep

Kill Lincoln (RIP RIP RIP)

From: Moshington, D.C.
Genre: Ska Punk, Pop punk, Joy for ska kids everywhere.
For Fans Of: Survay Says!, Less than Jake, I voted for Kodos, Skacore

Oh, how bittersweet this post is. On one hand, it is important, and necessary, to celebrate one of the greatest young ska bands of our generation, but, on the other hand, it is cruel that they would go on hiatus after such a stellar ep. But alas, that is how life is, and it is better to have loved and lost Kill Lincoln then to have never had Kill Lincoln at all. I first had the good fortune of stumbling upon Kill Lincoln while looking into attending a Big D and the kids table show, where they were opening. Naturally, as I do with all openers, I looked for a bandcamp and jammed out a bit. Upon first fatefully clicking on one song (that song was "Dad fight" due to the amazing title), I was blown away. The band showed a mastery over hardcore that surprised me since I was supposed to be listening to a ska punk band. Upon listening to the rest of the album (the album is "That's cool....in a totally negative and destructive way", by the way), however, I was pleasantly surprised by a band who carried the pop punk/ska blend of Less than Jake, but with much more of a hardcore punk undertone. This was skacore that wasn't about trying to sound as much like Leftover Crack as possible, but
instead forging a sound all their own and powering through with it. With this most recent ep, Kill Lincoln continues on with that sound, plowing through catchy ska/pop punk tunes on songs like "8$ Beer Night" and "Good Riddance to Good Advice" while keeping their hardcore energy on songs "I'm getting too old for this shit". Overall, this is yet another truly stellar release from a ska punk band gone much too soon. Hopefully this break really is just a hiatus, and Kill Lincoln will be back in the future with more songs that I can bob my head and sing along to while getting awkward looks in public. I will miss this band dearly, and highly recommend that anyone who hasn't listened to them yet stops screwing around and gets on it so that they can share in my time of pain/mourning. Also I heard something about a split with the Best of the Worst and Still Alive awhile ago, but haven't seen anything about it in awhile. I really need that split guys, please, for me. And finally, fuck you Alan.

Tunes (Ranked in order of my favorite release by them):
1.) That's Cool...In a Totally Negative and Destructive Way
https://killlincolndc.bandcamp.com/album/thats-cool-in-a-totally-negative-and-destructive-way

2.) Good Riddance to Good Advice
https://killlincolndc.bandcamp.com/album/good-riddance-to-good-advice

3.) You Were There
https://killlincolndc.bandcamp.com/album/you-were-there

Pale Angels

From: England/United States
Genre: Noise rock, Noise pop, Psych rock
For Fans Of: Dinosaur Jr., The Deer Hunter, Perfect Pussy

Despite my deep rooted hatred for modern, warped tour-core pop punk, I secretly have a very sincere love for pop punk that is done well and doesn't make me want to shoot myself in the face. This hidden love for pop punk is what lead me to love and obesses over the Ergs, and more importantly, their ever active drummer/front man, Mikey Erg. Almost everyone knows of Mikey Erg, as he plays in just about every god damn band ever, and most, if not all of those bands, absolutely rule. As one of his bands that rule, is Pale Angels, a noise rock band consisting of two members from England, and him from the U.S. The band delivers a punk fueled noise rock/noise pop sound, dousing all the songs in sweet, sweet, thick, layers of fuzz. Every song on this record is an absolute gem, instantly memorable and forcing you to think of such noise rock/indie giants as Dinosaur Jr.. It really is difficult to sum up this album, so just check it out and give it a listen for yourself, and make sure to keep an eye out for their record coming later this year, as this record was criminally underrated when it originally came out. (P.S. if these guys are ever in the states again, go see them. I had the pleasure of seeing them and they're all the best guys and put on one totally deafening/amazing performance). 

Tunes: https://paleangelsband.bandcamp.com/album/primal-play

Sun Voyager

From: New York
Genre: Psych Rock, Noise rock, fuzzy goodness
For Fans Of: Together Pangea, The Black Lips

Do you like your music fuzzy? Do you like it mellow and obviously under the influence of some weed (or other substances)? Then Sun Voyager is the band for you! From somewhere in New York, these guys provide fuzzy, punky music heavily reminiscent of such bands as Together Pangea and The Black Lips, only with even more fuzz. Don't be fooled, however, as under all that fuzz lie guitar riffs that are laid on thick and bluesy, providing a nice crunch to the sound. This band should be on the radar of every good fan of stoner musics radar, as they will hopefully be around for awhile and keep kicking out the jams while they are.

Tunes:https://sun-voyager.bandcamp.com/album/lazy-daze

Skinny Dip

Skinny Dip is a punk/emo band from Philadelphia, PA. The band heavily utilizes shouted vocals and a strong punk backbone under some solid emo type riffs and much more emo oriented lyrics. In a way, the band definitely reminds me of Spraynard, except less pop punk oriented and much more rough around the edges. Heavily utilized on this release is also a sort of call/response thing going on between the singers which helps to highlight some more key lines in the songs and make them stand out. As far as the music itself goes, it also takes a strong influence from grunge music and at some times is reminiscent of other bands who utilizes that sort of sound such as Superheaven. Personally I think the band could use a bit better of a mix, but that doesn't stop them from kicking out some jams. "Narrow Minded" is definitely a stand out/favorite track and I'd recommend starting there. 

For Fans Of: Spraynard, Superheaven

Free Tunes: http://skinnydippa.bandcamp.com/releases