Engineer - Crooked Voices

 listen to The Idiot's Theme by Engineer

This is the 7th release by (ex-The Minor Times band) Engineer (facebook). down-tempo hardcore with an amazing sludgy groove and their signature raw -even somewhat emotional- vocals, that both easily fit under a Post-Hardcore label. which I found interresting, since the label sludge is so often misplaced on downtempo Post-Hardcore bands, not that anyone should take such labels seriously, but this is a band that blends the trve with untr00 with the best from both worlds. nevermind. this is dark yet catchy stuff, with influences from all sorts of slow and extreme music, which always beats tapping from a single narrow source. as these guys proove.

Last fm tags as sludge, hardcore, mathcore, metalcore, metal 

click the image above to order merch from their label

Out Of The Box On Sunday XV

listen to Incomplete by Football, Etc

Football, etc (bandcamp) is an indie/emo rock band that takes me back to when I thought most of bands like Sunny Day Real Estate or Mineral. they take you on a trip to the late 90's emo sound, via the rather typical sound that is the standard for bands on the Count Your Lucky Stars label, like this band in particular. The vocals are hypnotizing and don't seem whiney, when the pace gets really really slow and the melodies would leave no one unmoved.
Last fm tags as emo, indie, indie emo, indiemo, indie rock

click the image above to order stuff directly from the band

Ed Gein - Bad Luck

listen to The Spectacle, by Ed Gein sur Myspace Music

You may have noticed that Ed Gein (myspace) is back! years after last showing any sign of life, they recorded Bad Luck and another year later it was actually released. this record shows only a hint of how you would remember Ed Gein, if you paid little attention to them, since around the time of their last release. it's a more hardcore metal approach of the modern kind. in stead of their signature chaotic structures, you only get a few odd timestructures but decent songs nonetheless! the only thing about the change I regret, is the lack of witty songtitles.

Last fm tags as grindcore, mathcore, hardcore, metalcore, metal 

 click the random image above to order merch directly from them

This Routine Is Hell - The Verve Crusade

 listen to Crooks & Robbers by ThisRoutineisHell, as a preview to this record

This Routine Is Hell (website) is another band that convinced me, when I checked out their live show. They have a varied yet recognizable sound, that fluently transcends from trashing and angry hardcore punk to more melodic or rather with a catchy groove, with seemingly great ease, poured into songs usually barely over a minute long. somewhere in between Panic and Ceremony, if you would feel the urge to locate their sound by comparing theirs with others. the name of the band is only a hint of what ethics they seek to pass on through their lyrics and music all together, which is another huge credit to the total package. I have high hopes for such young people in such an amazing band.

Last fm tags as hardcore, hardcore punk, netherlands, punk, thrashcore

click the image above to buy merch directly from them!

Goodtime Boys – Are We Now, Or Have We Ever Been

listen to Goodtime Boys ' Daylight as a preview to the record.

Goodtime Boys (myspace) is a modern hardcore band with the emotional intensity of screamo music (but the comparison to that specific genre ends there). it seems to suit them that Tangled Talk is releasing this record, as they somewhat remind me of Kerouac, because of the angsty voice and accent. they spew a dark furiousness with nuances that make the overall product sound very delicate and desparate. their mix of those influences with this heavy and dark modern hardcore is refreshing to say the least. very appealing on first glance and very infectious in the long run.

Last fm tags as hardcore, screamo, british, ukhc

click the image above for a chance to support them!

Out Of The Box On Sunday XIV

a sneak peek of Hip Hop. I started listening to this band, after discovering the video below. When I recognised one of the members I got a copy of the cd to show some support. I started paying close attention when I noticed his english/american accent is impeccible and, with it, quikly also became convinced this is one of the best albums in its genre. so much, that the instrumentals stand firm by themselves. click the image at the top of this post for a download of each song's instrumental version and check for yourself. check Beat Drunx on myspace, here. They are four indivduals that are heavyweights in their scene, individually, and together a powerhouse of a team.

Last fm tags as hip hop

click the image above to buy stuff from the Beat Drunx' label

Beau Navire - Hours

 listen to It's Not an Art, It's a Myth by Beau Navire, with Punch guest vocals

Beau Navire (blog) get me excited, by doing what I love in bands like Orchid, Louise Cyphre, Shikari, Jerome's Dream, Usurp Synapse, Palatka, ... you get it. bands that haven't been around in a long ass time. that hyperfast screamo music with the hysterical vocals and layer upon layer of guitar-feedback. the revelation I felt by listening to their music, coincided with seeing them go berserk, throwing their equipment around the room while screaming like maniacs. and if that doesn't get you excited, I don't know what will.
Last fm tags as screamo, emo violence, hardcore, punk, real screamo

buy their record from the React With Protest records store

Grinding Halt - Sprookjeshof

 listen to Neem Het Weg by Grinding Halt

Sprookjeshof is what Grinding Halt released before their split with Drainland. it's packed with hits, usually comprised of facemelting sludge and grinding hardcore, both very heartfelt and tormented. this band (and this record in particular) is the culmination of all the dark hardcore / metal bands with their signature raw mix of screamo, hardcore, grindcore and sludge.

Last fm tags as screamo, emo violence, hardcore, dutch,emoviolence 

click the image above to order a copy from Robotic Empire (was the only copy I could find online).

Man The Change - Forgiver

listen to Them Knives by Man The Change

Man The Change (myspace) is a hardcore band from Germany and a pop punk band from America. so, about that german band... they play modern hardcore that entwines dark metallic and melodic passionate influences very succesfully. there seems to be quite a bucketload of of ethics and subject matter in their lyrics, about things like DIY, animal rights, etc. you know, the stuff that really matters.

Last fm tags as hardcore, melodic hardcore, hardcore punk,new school hardcore, punk

buy this record directly from their label, by clicking the image above!

Out Of The Box XIII

Letter To Raoul Peck by Black Eyes

What the actual fuck? Black Eyes (myspace) were a band on Dischord Records, that build their music out of little more than a funky bass, two drums and two manic voices, each doing their own thing with occasional horns or synths in a frantic way that would make Arab On Radar jealous. on the surface the separate sounds seem to clash with one another. underneath that surface you may recognize the brilliance in their minimalistic dancey noise music, and feel like their approach is more an epiphany, than what you may get from an awkard first impression. 

Last fm tags as experimental, noise rock, noise, indie, post-punk