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The Starting Point

It's Something You Learn
Independent (2005)

It's not often that I sit down to listen to a hardcore record from a band I'm completely unfamiliar with, and fall in love instantly. Two weeks later I'm sitting in the same seat of my Algebra II class playing chest-drums to "Let it Take You Home." The thought that there are hundreds of local hardcore outfits like The Starting … Read more

Babyshambles

Down in Albion
Rough Trade (2005)

Pete Doherty has spent the last year in and out of tabloid magazines for many different things: drugs, Kate Moss, fighting, Kate Moss on drugs, causing everyone that is involved in the music industry (it seems) to comment on him, 'crazy' live sets and more drugs. All this comes off the back of two just above average albums with his … Read more

Achilles

The Dark Horse
Hex (2005)

Rising from the ashes of another Hex Records band, Building on Fire, Achilles has made a loud statement with their first full-length, The Dark Horse. Achilles might be recognizable to those who heard their split CD with labelmates Engineer last year. The Dark Horse was produced by Evan Patterson of Black Cross and Breather Resist notoriety and engineered at Chris … Read more

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Wichita Recordings (2005)

I can feel it happening. The hype is a train, rumbling in the distance. Though initially faint, it's growing progressively louder by the virtual second. Soon enough, it will be all encompassing when it finally arrives at the middle of nowhere railway station known as "Release Date." Metaphors, gotta love them. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah released their self-titled debut … Read more

At Risk

At Risk
Bloody Knuckles (2005)

This past summer, while vacationing in California, I decided to do the drive down the Pacific Coast Highway. I drove along the winding road that hugs the Pacific coastline as I made my way towards my Los Angeles destination. On the way, I came to the city of Santa Cruz. I was stoked at the thought of being in the … Read more

Danger Doom

The Mouse and the Mask
Epitaph (2005)

Once upon a time, while on a late evening binge of marijuana and cartoons, a young adult named Zed felt it would be appropriate to create. Well, the "young adult" is actually 21 years old...and he's, like, a total hunk. Anyway, the man covered in glistening oils combined his favorite wrapper and his favorite produce in a cereal bowl. With … Read more

Unearth

Our Days of Eulogy
Eulogy (2005)

I really don't know what came over me. There I was sitting on the bus on my way to work when I slid in Unearth's Our Days of Eulogy into my CD walkman and I was suddenly overcome with the urge to get off the bus and cause mayhem; metal mayhem. I pulled the stop signal cord and exited the … Read more

The (International) Noise Conspiracy

Armed Love
American (2005)

Taking what seems like years, in fact almost two, to come out on the shores of the United States, The (International) Noise Conspiracy's latest album Armed Love unleashes our daily dose of revolutionary approved rock-n-roll. This album has been maligned by critics and fans alike and seems to have an incredible polarizing effect on its listeners. People either love or … Read more

Wow, Owls! / The Setup

Split 7"
The Perpetual Motion Machine/ Life in a Box (2005)

Richmond, Virginia has a lush history when it comes to hardcore bands over the last fifteen years. From Avail to Count Me Out, and as of late Municipal Waste and Stop It!!!, Richmond has always been fertile ground for young hardcore bands. On this split seven inch, two of Richmond's more stylistically diverse bands, The Setup and Wow, Owls! put … Read more

Lair of the Minotaur

Cannibal Massacre
Southern Lord (2005)

In 2004 we were treated to Carnage, the debut effort from this throwback thrash/metal outfit from Chicago. If you heard it, good. If not, well, let's just say that the band is highly influenced by the likes of Celtic Frost. Fake metal fans should be sure to Google that name before continuing. Here in 2005 we are awaiting the band's … Read more

System of a Down

Hypnotize
Sony (2005)

It's official. System of a Down can't spell. I'm sorry to any Americans out there who like to get involved with this whole using a "zed" instead of an "ess" thing, but they can't. And yes, I did say "zed," none of that "zee" crap either. Let's face it. America was born from the remnants of a British people who … Read more

Gospel

The Moon is a Dead World
Level Plane (2005)

I, for one, was initially startled by The Mars Volta. Their melding of prog-rock and post-hardcore required the status of a level-32 dwarf. Maybe it was Cedric's multidimensional vocabulary or Omar's guitarscapades, but they got boring real quick. Simply put, the Mars lacked Volta. My replacement and newest musical addiction was run by a thousand engines and possessed by one … Read more

Coliseum

Goddamage
Auxiliary (2005)

Coliseum's Goddamage EP must be listened to in order to be believed. Hell, looking at the cover art, one has to know what to expect. That is not to say that the record is so obvious. The cover simply represents the mood and salvo of sound on the record completely, even down to the faux sticker on the back: "As … Read more

Bastard Sons of Johnny Cash

Mile Markers
Texicali (2005)

Be not afraid. Mile Markers by Bastard Sons of Johnny Cash is not the soundtrack to Aunt Edna's covert line-dancing ops at the Iron Horse Saloon. This is good country. Mellifluous, melodious, easy on the ears and heavy on the heart; it's where the best of country music always meant to go before it got sidetracked by private jets, monster … Read more

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