Protest The Hero - Scurrilous [2011] [Advance]

New Protest The Hero, need I say more? Well yeah, I probably should, but this album is almost as new to me as it is to you. I'm only halfway through it right now but it sounds awesome so far, like an extension on Fortress, which is a very good thing. Check it out if you know what's good for you.

Genre: Progressive Metal
For Fans Of: The Fall of Troy, Between The Buried And Me,
Contact: Myspace
Tracklisting:
1. C'est La Vie
2. Hair-Trigger
3. Tandem
4. Moonlight
5. Tapestry
6. Dunsel
7. The Reign Of Unending Terror
8. Termites
9. Tongue-Splitter
10. Sex Tapes


- A

Circa Survive - MySpace Transmissions [2010]

Circa Survive recently put up their MySpace Transmissions, which consists of alternate versions of some of the songs off their latest album Blue Sky Noise, and a brilliant cover of Nirvana's Scentless Apprentice. You can download the EP for free, watch videos of performances of all the songs, and videos of interviews with the band about influences on the album, thoughts about their songs, and more. Although you don't necessarily get much "new material" on the EP, this is incredible stuff for anyone who loves Circa as much as I do, and is without a doubt worth checking out (it's one of the best bands out there giving you some awesome music!) Circa's live performances are, as always, entertaining to watch; their talent as musicians is evident and their improvisations on some of the songs are fun to hear.

Genre: Melodic Post-Hardcore, Progressive

For Fans Of: Saosin, In:Aviate, Tides Of Man

Contact: Website

Tracklisting:

1. Glass Arrows

2. Get Out

3. I Felt Free

4. Imaginary Enemy

5. Through The Desert Alone

6. Scentless Apprentice (Nirvana Cover)

-T

Coheed and Cambria - Neverender [2009]

In 2008, Coheed and Cambria announced that they would be doing a series of concerts known as Neverender. The 4-night event would take place in 4 different cites around the world; New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and London. The group played 1 of their first 4 expansive albums each night with a total of 16 concerts. I, unfortunately, was not able to make it but I know many people who had life changing experiences when they went, I guess that's just how this band is. Generally speaking, the songs are the same, some (such as Delirium Trigger) were actually dumbed down from what they normally play so that it would be album-accurate. Keyboardist Wes Styles joined them during the shows in order to make it a more full sound. Though I prefer it key-less, it definitely adds a new layer to the sound which a lot of people like more. Check it out and let me know what you think.

Genre: Progressive Rock
For Fans Of: Circa Survive, At The Drive In, The Dear Hunter
Contact: Myspace
Tracklisting:
I'm not putting the whole list here because it's about 50 songs.


- A

The Fall of Troy - The Ghostship Demos [2004] (Includes Keys Demos)

Released shortly after thier self-titled record, The Fall of Troy recorded the Ghostship Demos (or Ghostship EP) which consisted of parts 1, 4, and 5 of the Ghostship story as well as a demo of Macaulay McCulkin which was later put out on 2005's Doppelganger. Though most versions have only those 4 tracks, I was able to recover a more complete version which has the keys versions of 1 and 5 (which includes keyboard parts and no vocals) as well as live demos of parts 2 and 3. The EP is actually a concept album about a Spanish galleon helmed by the group's members (or characters based off of them) that runs into a ghostship from another dimension and all hell breaks loose. The story supposedly can be taken many different way so there's no perfect story, but it's still a cool idea. After 5 years, the album was re-recorded in secret and released in limited quantities in 2008. Some versions are better, some are worse, but it's nice to have it finally finished.

Genre: Progressive Mathcore
For Fans Of: Protest the Hero
Contact: Myspace
Tracklisting:
1. Ghostship Part 1
2. Ghostship Part 1 (Keys)
3. Ghostship Part 2
4. Ghostship Part 3 (Live)
5. Ghostship Part 4
6. Ghostship Part 5
7. Ghostship Part 5 (Keys)
8. Macaulay McCulkin (Demo)



- A

Coheed and Cambria - In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3 [2003]

Well since I'm in the middle of moving right now, I've had to pack up all of my CDs, and unfortunately, the car only has a CD player. So of course, I decided to grab 2 discs and just keep them out, being the only thing I play until we're all unpacked. I chose to take this CD and Twin Atlantic's Vivarium (which I reviewed a little bit ago), that way I'd have one of my favorite records and a new one too. It was a very good idea. I always forget how good a Coheed album is until I actually play it again, and In Keeping Secrets is definitely no exception.

The record starts off with a phone ringing for a little while until a woman picks up and it jumps into the "Coheed theme song." After dying out, the title track starts up, an epic opener that builds up and makes your fist practically pump itself when it reaches the "whoa oh oh" part. The record stays pretty consistently awesome after that, with a slight dip at Blood Red Summer but is made up for by tunes like The Crowing. After a 3-song sequence and a poppy single ("A Favor House Atlantic"), the album closer "The Light and the Glass" starts up. Possibly my favorite song to end an album, the tune starts off slow but builds to an epic finale, much in the same way the opener did. Of course, that's not all. After some blank tracks (which I decided to take out of the upload), the secret song entitled "21:13" begins. This track contains some of my very favorite musical sections in it such as the pirate-y riff, the "Ohhh when the memories occur, of a life you haven't lived, stay still you will." part, and the Time Consumer reprise. After the final IRO-Bot reprise, the album finally ends, and I can think of no way it could be better. Probably my favorite Coheed record (or at least tied with SSTB), this CD is one that will be sticking with me for a long time.

Genre: Progressive Rock
For Fans Of: Circa Survive, The Mars Volta, The Dear Hunter
Contact: Myspace
Tracklisting:
1. The Ring in Return
2. In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3
3. Cuts Marked In The March of Men
4. Three Evils Embodied (in Love and Shadow)
5. The Crowing
6. Blood Red Summer
7. The Velorium Camper I: Faint of Hearts
8. The Velorium Camper II: Backend of Forever
9. The Velorium Camper III: Al the Killer
10. A Favor House Atlantic
11. The Light and the Glass
12. 21:13



-A

Coheed and Cambria - Year of the Black Rainbow [2010] [Leak]

Coheed is by far one of my favorite bands, I'm in love with their music and so this was definitely one of my most anticipated 2010 releases. Although, after No World For Tomorrow I was afraid Coheed had lost their touch. Thankfully, they got it back. Year of the Black Rainbow may be the worst album name I've heard, but it's an incredible record. Atticus Ross (Nine Inch Nails, Jane's Addiction) and Joe Barresi (Queens of the Stone Age, Tool) were producers and the influences of both are very apparent and definitely gave the album a mechanical feeling. Focusing more on heavy songs, Year of the Black Rainbow sounds like Good Apollo Vol. 1 sprinkled with Nine Inch Nails and My Chemical Romance. But don't worry, there are two ballads (Far and Pearl of the Stars), the intro (One), and the closer (The Black Rainbow) that are much slower or quieter and keep YOTBR balanced. Having listened to the album only a few times, it already ranks pretty well, my order (from best to worst) goes SSTB > IKS > YOTBR > GA1 > NWFT but is likely to change after I play it some more.

Genre: Progressive Rock
For Fans Of: My Chemical Romance, Circa Survive, Torche
Contact: Myspace
Tracklisting:
1. One
2. The Broken
3. Guns of Summer
4. Here We Are Juggernaut
5. Far
6. The Shattered Symphony
7. World of Lines
8. Made Out of Nothing (All That I Am)
9. Pearl of the Stars
10. In The Flame of Error
11. When Skeletons Live
12. The Black Rainbow


-A