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Guff

Engine Trouble
Go Kart (2003)

Sometimes I really wonder about people. I turn on the television and I see rape, murder, and complete apathy towards the billions of human beings living on 40 cents a day. It's time for a change, it's time for a revolution to make everyone on Earth stop in their tracks and think about things in a brand new way, so … Read more

Multiple Authors

Modern Life Is War

My Love. My Way.
Martyr (2003)

The problem with the hardcore scene is that its music has become so immersed in repetition, unoriginality, and generality, that people are beginning to lower their expectations to the pits of Hell. As a result of this dilemma, large amounts of hype start to swell for bands that really do not deserve it. Case in point: Modern Life is War. … Read more

Multiple Authors

Modern Life Is War

My Love. My Way.
Martyr (2003)

One of the best, if not the best, hardcore album of 2003 so far. If hardcore doesn't strike your fancy, stop being a cold hearted wench and check this out anyways. The only thing that is better than this album is seeing Modern Life Is War live, which is packed with stomping and diving rolls. This doesn't sound like Madball, … Read more

Multiple Authors

These Arms Are Snakes

This Is Meant to Hurt You
Jade Tree (2003)

Nothing sucks more than seeing a band live and loving them, then listening to their recorded material and running into a brick wall. The dissapointment would cause you to do such an irrational action. In short, that 'story' covers what happened to me, verbatim. This record contains many elements that it would require to create a really great band that … Read more

Multiple Authors

These Arms Are Snakes

This Is Meant to Hurt You
Jade Tree (2003)

Apparently These Arms Are Snakes's debut EP was meant to hurt me. I'm not sure what I did to them, or why they're so angry, but I decided to review the record anyways. After giving the record a spin, I decided I wasn't really hurt, just kind of bored. These Seattle veterans really bring nothing new or impressive to the … Read more

Multiple Authors

These Arms Are Snakes

This Is Meant to Hurt You
Jade Tree (2003)

The sticker on the front of this CD's jewel case is going to sell lots of copies of it, I guarantee. It reads "Featuring former members of Botch, Kill Sadie, and Nineironspitfire," and the name of that first band will get people buying in droves. And then, most likely, many of those who buy it will return it because it … Read more

Multiple Authors

Thrice

Artist In the Ambulance
Island (2003)

This record is by no means bad, but it's also not a great record. As a newcomer to Thrice, I was prepared to give this an un-biased review. Once I'd sat and listened through the record, I was sad to hear (literally) that they didn't stand out much from the current crop of hardcore/emo/punk/metal-core bands currently populating the scene. While … Read more

Multiple Authors

Thrice

Artist In the Ambulance
Island (2003)

You've heard this record before. Honestly, you have. The last time that band you know jumped ship from their indie and put out a big budget major label debut, actually. Cave In already made this record earlier this year. Granted, Cave In had a mind-blowing first record to give themselves some credibility, which Thrice most certainly did not, but let's … Read more

Multiple Authors

Thrice

Artist In the Ambulance
Island (2003)

Thrice have built quite a large fanbase in quite a short period of time. Perhaps this was one of the factors that led them to singing to a major label (Island) and subsequently shooting out a new record less than a year and a half after the release of their second full-length record, The Illusion of Safety. Illusion sparked that … Read more

Multiple Authors

Ten Grand

This Is the Way to Rule
Southern (2003)

Who knew that such an exciting and promising musical force was sitting right across the border from me? After hearing so much about this band and being severely disappointed when they postponed their Omaha show (and still haven't made it up), I was glad to finally get my hands (figuratively) on their newest album. In all its underproduced glory, "This … Read more

Multiple Authors

Ten Grand

This Is the Way to Rule
Southern (2003)

Upon listening to this in a moving automobile with my father, he was quick to inform me that the singer of this band sounded like vocalist of The Murder City Devils. I have no idea what he was talking about. Ten Grand manages to give off a raw sounding vibe without playing very simple music, which I'm sure is a … Read more

Multiple Authors

Ten Grand

This Is the Way to Rule
Southern (2003)

Ten Grand (formerly The Vidablue) are definately an acquired taste. Hearing their stuff before I thought it was just alright. Nothing to go nuts over. After seeing them live, my outlook on them changed drastically. I gave them a second chance and found out I had been kidding myself. This new record is no different. I suppose you could classify … Read more

Multiple Authors

Ester Drang

Infinite Keys
Jade Tree (2003)

On previous records, Ester Drang's output had an epic feel to it; it was more drawn-out and atmospheric than that on Infinite Keys. However, the strength and rise-and-fall aesthetic seemed to be more of a focus on density than precise instrumentation. Even as 2001's Goldenwest brought out more focused songwriting effort, the composition on Infinite Keys is leaps and bounds … Read more

Multiple Authors

Ester Drang

Infinite Keys
Jade Tree (2003)

The party starts to wind down and everyone is sitting in lawn chairs around the bonfire. There are at least 3 "marijunana cigarettes" being passed around while everyone kinda just kicks back and gets their chill on. Conversation goes back in forth in a mild manner yet there is always one guy dazed out to the music behind him. That … Read more

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