Angel Du$t-“Rock the Fuck On Forever”
Genre: Punk Rock
FFO: Trapped Under Ice, Turnstile, Give, Bad Brains, The Misfits
The title of Baltimore punk outfit Angel Du$t’s sophomore LP says it all.
The carefree yet positive attitude comes across through each textured track and this time around there some suprises.
While the hardcore sensibilities are still present, the priority here lies in the catchiness of the tracks and the group’s newfound melodic tendencies. Get ready to crank up the volume and Rock the Fuck On with Angel Du$t all summer long.
Eternal Sleep–The Emptiness Of
Genre: Hardcore, Metal
FFO: Code Orange, Harm’s Way, Alpha & Omega
At first glance, this record’s art may envoke assumptions of a Nine Inch Nails worship outfit. While there are trace NIN influences to be found scattered throughout, what we have here is one of the most crushing carmosh anthems of the summer.
Pittsburgh’s Eternal Sleep utilize the traditional beatdown hardcore style as its foundational sound coupled with intensely crushing breakdowns brining about 2007 era southern fried sensibilities along the likes of Maylene and the Sons of Disaster or Once Nothing.
Mutual Benefit-Skip a Sinking Stone
Genre: Indie, Baroque Folk, Orchestral
FFO: Fleet Foxes, Sufjan Stevens, Neil Young, Father John Misty
After six LPs, Boston’s Jordan Lee decided he wanted to do something different and created the moniker Mutual Benefit for his more atmospheric, orchestra-based ventures.
Despite relocating to New York City, Lee’s debut LP under the Mutual Benefit name is a very gentle, rural release.
Skip a Sinking Stone demonstrates the folk-based stylings of bands such as Fleet Foxes with an orchestral presentation similar to more grandoise Sufjan Stevens works such as Illinoise or Michigan. Kick back, unwind, and allow Skip a Sinking Stone to stimulate your senses.
Saosin–Along the Shadow
Genre: Post Hardcore, Alternative Rock
FFO: Circa Survive, Thrice, The Used
If you told me ten years ago that Saosin would eventually release another record with Anthony Green helming the ship, I would have fainted out of excitement.
Cove Reber did an excellent job on the group’s landmark self titled LP, but Green’s shoes are hard shoes to fill.
Nothing can compare to the adrenaline that pumps through the veins of early 2000s emo kids such as myself as when the opening notes of “Seven Years” graces our eardrums.
Green moved on to expand his career with Circa Survive and his pop-laced acoustic rock solo project, while Saosin faded into irrelevance with a luckluster sophomore record shunned by fans.
So the question fans are asking: Does this third record revisit the sound of Translating the Name?
Quick answer: No.
Long Answer: Saosin and Circa continued to grow as bands over the past ten years (despite Saosin‘s hiatus). Along the Shadow is the appropriate intersecting point of the two band’s career and sonic paths. Take that as you will.